Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.

Strengthening Families Across the World through the encouragement of women in their high calling from God as wives, mothers and homemakers.

MAKE ME LOVELY!

MakeMeLovelyGod, who touches earth with beauty,
Make me lovely too,
With Thy Spirit recreate me,
Make my life anew.

Like Thy springs of running water,
Make me crystal pure,
Like Thy rocks of towering grandeur,
Make me strong and sure.

Like Thy dancing waves in sunlight,
Make me glad and free,
Like the straightness of the pine-tree,
Help me upright be.

Like the arching of Thy heavens,
Raise my thoughts above,
Turn my dreams to noble actions,
Ministries of love.

God, who touches earth with beauty,
Make me lovely too,
Keep me ever, by Thy Spirit
Pure and strong and true.

~ Mary S. Adgar

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THE LOVELY THINGS THAT YOU’VE BEEN TAUGHT TO DO

LovelyThingsLaying in bed last night I was thinking about living a lovely life which I wrote about below. A quote filtered through my mind over and over again about “the lovely things that you’ve been taught to do.”

Where did that quote come from? Who wrote it? I checked Google this morning on my iPad and couldn’t find it. Eventually, it came to me! How could I forget. It’s the words in one of the rhymes in Nanny’s Nursery Rhymes called LEARN TO SHARE. The last lines of the second stanza say:

“For each other you should care
And always be aware
Of the lovely things that you’ve been taught to do!”

It made me realize how powerful the lines of little rhymes are for our children. These simple lines for children came back to also remind me to live a lovely life. Our children need constant reminders, and so do we.

Love from Nancy Campbell

If you haven’t ordered NANNY’S NURSERY RHYMES yet, you can go to:
http://tinyurl.com/NannysNurseryRhymes

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LIVE A LOVELY LIFE

LovelyLife1 Peter 2:12 (Barclay) tells us: “Live a LOVELY life among the heathen.” I was surprised to read the words “a lovely life.” I checked it out in my Greek Lexicon and yes, Barclay’s translation is correct. The word “kalos” means “beautiful (even more than lovely), good, honest, worthy.”

We also read this word in Matthew 5:15, 16: “A lamp is not lit to be put under a bowl. It is lit to be put on a lampstand, and then it shines for EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE TO SEE IT. Just so, your light must shine for everyone to see, so that, when they SEE THE LOVELY THINGS YOU DO, it may make them want to praise your Father who is in heaven.”

Can people describe my life by the lovely things I do? Can they describe your life this way? Firstly in the home, because that’s where it all starts. Our light first shines for everyone in our home to see and then shines out to neighbors and people around us. How do they see this light? By the lovely things we do and say.

It’s not only what we do. What about our lovely words? Do we speak lovely words to our husbands? Do we speak lovely words to our children? It’s hypocritical to speak nice words to others outside the home if we are angry, shouting, and nasty in the home.

If we are born again, Christ dwells in us by His Holy Spirit. He wants to live His lovely life through us with all His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, patience, and kindness, etc.

Let’s yield to the life of Christ who lives within us and live a lovely life today--doing lovely things and speaking lovely words.

In His love,

Nancy Campbell

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ACT LIKE NEWLYWEDS

NewlywedsWould you also like to read a devotion from Pearl?

My husband and I attended a New Year’s Eve function where we sat at a table with people we had never met before. About halfway through the evening we mentioned our five children. The couple sitting opposite us acted surprised that we had children together.

"How long have you been married?" they asked. When we told them 19 years, the husband shook his head and chuckled. He had presumed we were newlyweds! His wife admitted she wondered the same thing. I asked why and the man said, “It’s the way you act together, how you look at each other.”

My husband and I do not act like we are all over each other when we are out, but we usually hold hands or touch in some way. It’s a habit we’ve formed. We still gravitate to one another when we are in a group of people; we enjoy conversations with others but never separate completely in a social gathering. Who could be more important to me than him?

There are many reasons we could have ended up like the typical stereotype of a bored and passionless, long-time married couple. We’ve gone through the same issues that most married couples have that threaten passion and intimacy: children, challenging years, health concerns, financial stressors—so many excuses to drift into relational complacency.

Our strong bond is only because we choose to cultivate it every day. As with food, you change destructive habits with better, fun ones day by day and yes, the results are fantastic!

~ Pearl Barrett (Trim Healthy Mama)

This devotion also comes from the book, 100 DAYS OF INSPIRATION (Three generations sharing their family wisdom).

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CAN I STILL BLUSH?

100DaysOfInspiration3D wI thought I would share a devotion from Serene for you today, which I am sure challenges us all.

It is easy to become numb to the evils around us, for the very reason that they are all around us! We live in a fallen world, filled with the devil's perversions and all manner of abominations. But, can we still blush?

God asks of the people of Jerusalem, "Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done? they certainly were not ashamed, and they did not know how to blush" (Jeremiah 8:12 NKJV).

We cannot control evil, but we can stay sensitive to its offensiveness. We don't want to turn into haughty prudes with hardened hearts. We pray with compassion for the lost and reach out our hand into their world of pain, but can we still blush? Evil should jar our spirits.

Have I become desensitized to the things which should make me blush as a daughter of our Holy God? Is TV constantly in the background with its lewdness and humanism seeping into the atmosphere? Could I watch this movie and be comfortable if Jesus sat beside me in the flesh? Would I lose my temper and justify it because I had a headache if God was over for dinner? Actually, He is over for dinner every night!

What do we accept through the gates of our hearts and homes that doesn't even bother us, and yet should make us blush?

~ Serene Allison (Trim Healthy Mama)

This devotion comes from the book, ONE HUNDRED DAYS OF INSPIRATION:
http://tinyurl.com/100DaysInspiration

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GOD WILL HELP YOU BEAR IT

BearItDear friend, are you going through a trial that weighs you down? You find it hard to bear. I want to encourage you with God’s Word: “There hath no temptation (or testing) taken you but such as is common to man: but GOD IS FAITHFUL, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God has promised that He will enable you to bear it. He will make the deliverance or way out for you. He will help you to undergo the hardship. He will supernaturally enable you to endure it as you lean on Him. The Berean Study Bible says: “He will also provide an escape, SO THAT YOU CAN STAND UP UNDER IT.”

Look to Him and trust Him. With God, and God only, you can BEAR ALL THINGS.

Love to you today,

NANCY CAMPBELL

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I LOVE HOME, DO YOU?

HomeDoYouUnless we have been successfully indoctrinated by humanist and feminist dogma, it is inherent within us to love being at home. God created the first home, the Garden of Eden, to be ready for Eve when He created her. He placed her in her home, in the environment He intended for her destiny. The Hebrew for Eden means “delight.” We should delight to work in our garden and our home. It is our sanctuary to raise our children in this dark world.

We read in Micah 2:9 that God was indignant about women being taken from their “pleasant homes.” Most translations read, “The homes they love.” The Hebrew word means “delicate and delightful.” The mother brings softness and sweetness to the home. She creates the warm and loving atmosphere. Without the mother in the home, it is stark and cold. And once again, we have the word “delightful” relating to the home.

Take joy in delighting in your home today. Delight in nurturing your children. Delight in spoiling your husband. Delight in making your home a delightful place to live—for your husband, your children, yourself, and everyone who comes in your doors!

God bless your home today,

Nancy Campbell

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THE HIGHWAY OR THE BYWAY

BywaysWe tend to forget that God's Word is for all generations, and that includes our 21st century. God, who created mankind, designed and planned the way for us to live. And what is His plan? Marriage and family life. Because God planned it, it is the healthiest and happiest way to live. Sadly, we don't always see the evidence of this today, do we?

Why? Because people are too modern for God, even though He is the same, yesterday, today and forever! They think the "ancient paths," the principles God established in the very beginning, are too old fashioned for them.

We live in a humanist and deceived age. There are bypaths everywhere and many of them look wise and good, but if they veer off the highway of God's plan, they eventually take us down a road of destruction.

Jeremiah 18:15 (MLB): "My people have forgotten Me . . . they have stumbled in their ways, in the ancient roads, and have walked in bypaths, not the highway." This is the way it is translated in most versions, but the ESV says they "walk into side roads, not the highway." The NLT says they "walk in muddy paths." Moffat's translation says that they "take to bypaths of their own."

The Hebrew for "walk in bypaths" is translated in other places in the Old Testament as "desolation, astonishment, or waste."

Are you on THE highway, or walking a bypath? Make sure you and your family fill your minds and hearts with the Word daily. This is the only map to keep us on the highway, and unless we constantly refer to it, we often don't realize we are on a bypath.

Jeremiah 6:16: "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

Enjoy the “good way” today,

Love from Nancy Campbell

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WHO RULES YOUR HOME?

RulesHomeWhat is the kingdom of God? It is the rule and reign of Christ in individual hearts, families, the church, and the nation. Does your home and family belong to the kingdom of God? You will know if you are at odds with the kingdom of Satan. God’s kingdom is opposite to Satan’s kingdom. Neither the two do meet. If we fit in nicely with the world, we better check carefully which kingdom we truly belong to. We can only belong to one or the other and belonging to God’s kingdom will not make us a favorite with the world.

Satan’s kingdom is one of lies and deception; God’s kingdom is a kingdom of truth. When we are part of God’s kingdom we passionately seek after truth. We discern what are lies and deception and depart from them.

Satan’s kingdom is a kingdom of death; God’s kingdom is a kingdom of life. When we belong to God’s kingdom we embrace life. We open our hearts to the children He wants to give us (Matthew 19:14). We are life-givers and not life-stoppers. Life-stoppers are antithesis to God’s kingdom.

God has laws and commandments for His kingdom and we can only enter His kingdom on HIs terms (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The devil’s kingdom loves to compromise God’s ways and preaches we must tolerate evil and never judge.

God’s kingdom is an unshakeable kingdom (Hebrews 12:28). When things in our lives begin to shake and fall apart around us we continue rejoicing because we belong to an unshakeable kingdom that will never pass away.

Living in God’s kingdom we are not moved by our circumstances or in a continual state of self-pity or depression because God’s kingdom is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).

The kingdoms of this world will all pass away but we belong to an everlasting kingdom! Hallelujah! Doesn’t this make you shout for joy? Read Psalm 145:13; 146:10; Daniel 4:34; 7:27; 2 Timothy 4:19; and 2 Peter 1:11.

God’s kingdom is glorious and majestic (Psalm 145:11, 12). We talked yesterday about how God wants His people to walk in the anointing of His majesty. Because we belong to a royal kingdom, we are no longer normal. Because Christ dwells in us we bear the image of the heavenly. We walk in majesty and dignity. We die to our flesh and live the life of Christ which abides in us. God has “delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).

May God rule and reign in your life and in every room and every area of your home.

Love from Nancy Campbell

P.S. FOR THE BEREANS. Some good teaching on the Kingdom of God.
http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachi…/kingdom-of-god.htm
http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teac…/kingdom-of-god-2.htm
http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teac…/kingdom-of-god-3.htm
http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teac…/kingdom-of-god-4.htm
http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teac…/kingdom-of-god-5.htm

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CLOTHED WITH DIGNITY

ClothedDignityBecause Saturday was the 31st November, I read Proverbs 31. I love to read a chapter of Proverbs according to the day of the month. I was arrested by verse 25: “Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” This clothing is not just talking about her garments, but the attributes with which she is clothed.

The interesting thing is that these two beautiful attributes, although used here to describe the capable woman, are actually used to describe God. How incredible that God’s attributes are can become our attributes. Of course, it is not anything of our own making. We are reminded in Ezekiel 16:14 that any beauty or glory we have only comes from God Himself.

The word “honor” is “hadar” and means “magnificence, splendor, beauty, excellency, glory, honor, dignity, and majesty.” Psalm 96:6 describes God in this way: “Honor and majesty (hadar) are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.” Majesty is a royal attribute. Majesty belongs to God who is King of kings and Lord of lords. Dear ladies, we belong to a majestic kingdom and therefore our lives should show to the world that we belong to this kingdom. We should have a sense of majesty about us because God dwells in us.

I found that 19 different translations translate this Scripture with the word “dignity.” I posted Saturday about raising dignified children. If we are going to raise dignified children, we need to be dignified ourselves--dignified in manners and behavior. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says that dignity means: “true honor; nobleness or elevation of mind, consisting in a high sense of propriety, truth and justice, with an abhorrence of mean and sinful actions.”

May God help us as home-advocating, home-loving, home-keeping, home-cooking, home-working, embracing children, nurturing and training mothers to have about us a sense of dignity and majesty. We have embraced our God-given noble calling. Let’s walk in it with dignity.

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

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DIGNIFIED CHILDREN

DignifiedChildrenYesterday I wrote about having faithful children. Did you know the Bible also talks about raising DIGNIFIED children?

1 Timothy 1:4 (NASB) reveals that God doesn’t want unruly children, but dignified children. This Scripture once again talks to pastors and elders (but it applies to all parents): “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity.”

The word for “dignity” is semnotes and means “dignity, decency, honesty, and inspiring respect and honor from other people.” Dignified children have a good testimony before the world.

When specifically speaking to the young men, Titus 2:7 encourages them again about dignity: “In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

How many of us have dignified children? Dignified in their speech, conduct, and manner of life? So dignified that other people take notice.

Let’s elevate the standard and raise dignified children in this world--children who are good examples of belonging to God’s kingdom and the King of kings and Lord of lords. We must constantly remind them that they belong to royalty.

Blessings to you from Nancy Campbell

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FAITHFUL CHILDREN

BeFaithfulGod specifically encourages us as parents to raise FAITHFUL children. Titus 1:6 writes to pastors and elders that they must be men of unquestionable integrity who have “FAITHFUL children not accused of riot or unruly.” This is God’s standard for all parents, but a pastor who leads a flock, must of course hold up this standard.

The word “faithful” is pistos and means children who are “believers who hold to the faith, truthful, trustworthy, and faithful in all things.” The same word is used in the following Scriptures:

Matthew 24:45-47: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant . . . Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.”

Matthew 25:21, 23: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Luke 16:10: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”

We have a responsibility to live this truth before our children. Do they see us being faithful in the little things of life? Do they see us faithfully doing the same things day after day without grumbling and complaining? Do they see us happily and contentedly changing diapers, preparing meals, and cleaning the house?

As they SEE this attribute in our lives it becomes easier to train them to be faithful in the little things of life. It is a God-given principle that we will only move into greater things as we are faithful to the daily routine of life.

The opposite of faithful children are children who are “accused of riot or unruly (disobedient).” The word “riot” is asotia and is used for extravagant squandering (the same word used of the prodigal son in Luke 15:13). It describes one who easily gives into the flesh, worldly lusts, and appetites.

May God help us we lead our children to faith in Christ (No. 1 ultimate vision for our children) and train them to be faithful and trustworthy in the daily duties of life and home. They will not be ready for greater things unless they learn to be faithful in the little things now.

Be blessed.

Nancy Campbell

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GOD MAKES THE IMPOSSIBLE INTO THE POSSIBLE

ImpossiblePossibleAre you currently facing an impossible situation? Can I encourage you to not look at the “impossible” situation, but to look to God? Did you know that the word “impossible” means nothing to Him. It’s not in His vocabulary.

What did Abraham do in the impossibly looking situation when God promised him a son? He was 100 years old and Sarah was ninety! It couldn’t happen naturally. Romans 4:20 says: “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith giving glory to God.” The ESV makes it clearer: “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.”

I was challenged again as I read this Scripture. Abraham became strong in faith AS HE PRAISED AND GAVE GLORY TO GOD. His faith would have weakened if he had kept dwelling on the impossibility of the situation.

Praise God in your situation, even when you feel the opposite. Even when you can see not light at the end of the tunnel. Give glory to God that He is in control and can do what man cannot do. Even when doubts consume your mind, keep giving glory to the Lord, and your faith will grow strong. Our faith doesn’t grow strong when we can manage the situation ourselves, but only when we are totally cast upon God.

God bless you today,

Nancy Campbell

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AN IDEA FOR YOU

EducationStartsHereI talked with a mother at our Above Rubies Saskatchewan Retreat last weekend. She shared with me that she has given her oldest son the project of gradually writing out the whole Bible. He writes two chapters a day and at 12 years old is now up to Deuteronomy. She wants him to write the whole Bible before he is married. What a great blessing for his future life. Anyone want to utilize this idea? Sounds pretty good to me.

Love from Nancy

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COLOR CODING

ColorCodingA mother talked with me over the weekend about what she does with their PRAYER CARDS for the family. Because she has children of varying ages, she writes very simple prayer needs on colored cards and more intense or political needs on white cards. The older children know to take a white card out of the PRAYER BOX and the younger children a colored card.

I thought this was a great idea and want to pass it on to you.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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20 LITTLE THINGS

20LittleThingsDon't forget to say something special to your husband today. And don't forget to say, "I love you." And don't forget to give him a hug and a kiss.

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THE GREATEST CAREER

ILoveMotheringDo you want to be inspired today in your powerful role of mothering?

Check out these pictures of beautiful mothers and babies. Your heart will melt and you will be stirred again in your high and noble calling:

https://www.pinterest.com/abov…/i-love-motherhood-paintings/

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ENDURING OR TEMPORARY

EnduringTempIsn’t it amazing that many people would rather stake their lives on the temporary rather than the enduring? Many believers conduct their lives on the contemporary values of our modern society.

Jeremiah 6:16: “Thus saith the Lord, Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” What are these old paths we are to seek after? Doesn’t it seem rather old fashioned to ask after “old” ways?

But what does this word really mean? The word “old” is olam in the Hebrew. It means “from time immemorial, without end.” In most places in the Bible this word is translated as “everlasting.” God’s ways for us are everlasting ways. They stand the test of time from the beginning of time to the end. They were refined in the courts of heaven before they were given to us on earth. They are divine, they are eternal, and they work!

Forget the modern humanistic trend. They are going down the wrong track. Dare to stand up and be counted. Go after God’s everlasting plan, no matter what relatives or friends have to say. Rejoice when God gives you another baby. You are walking in the everlasting plan. You are doing something that is eternal.

What could be more important that nurturing and caring for an eternal soul who will live forever? All other careers will be left behind.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Painting: Motherly Love by Gabriele Baber

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WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

LoveHusband2Every marriage tells a story. What story does my marriage tell? What does yours? We first tell the story to our children for they perceive marriage as they look at us. Is it a sweet, loving story? Does it make them excited to be married? Do we show them a picture of the relationship of Christ and His church?

Is it a story of constancy that makes them feel secure? Do we tell them a story of God’s ways, showing them clearly the different roles God gives to husband and wife, father and mother? Do they see us functioning joyfully in our particular role? Hopefully they don’t see a blur, or our taking our husband’s role.

We also tell a story to everyone around us, either positively or negatively. Let’s show our children and the world a beautiful story of God’s plan for enduring marriage. Amen.

Love from Nancy Campbell

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SEEK TO KNOW THE NAMES OF GOD

NamesOfGodYesterday we talked about rejoicing in the name of the Lord. However, to effectively rejoice in His name we need to KNOW HIS NAME. We can never know God fully for He is incomprehensible. However, in His mercy He chooses to reveal His attributes to us through His names.

To know and understand the names and attributes of God should be the greatest pursuit of our lives. Our knowledge of Him determines our walk with Him. And our walk with God determines the way we run our home and mother our children. Also, it’s only as we know God that we can reveal Him to our children.

Here is a good idea for you that I found a great blessing. As you read God's Word, look out for Scriptures which reveal the names of God and His attributes--His faithfulness, longsuffering, love, mercy, justice and judgment, vengeance, holiness, goodness, wisdom, and so on. We often stay stuck on God's love and do not understand the full character of God. Get a notebook and make headings of God’s names and attributes you discover. Write the appropriate Scriptures under each heading. You will eventually have your own personal concordance of the character of God.

As you meditate upon these Scriptures and ask God to give you more understanding and reveal Himself to you through His names, you will come to know Him more and more. You can also take a different heading from time to time and read the Scriptures to your children, perhaps at Family Devotions, and discuss them together. There is no more powerful thing you can do than teach your children to understand and experience the names of God in their lives. I am sure you are like me. You don’t want your children to only know about God, but to truly KNOW Him.

And the more you know of His name, the more you will rejoice in His names.

God bless you and your family today,

Nancy Campbell

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Above Rubies Address

AboveRubies
Email Nancy

PO Box 681687
Franklin, TN 37068-1687

Phone : 931-729-9861
Office Hrs 9am - 5pm, M - F, CTZ