Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Are you rejoicing today? “Help, I don’t have anything to rejoice about,” you exclaim! Sometimes you can feel like that when everything goes wrong, insurmountable problems confront you, or you feel just plain lousy.

However, Psalm 89:16 inspires us: “IN THY NAME shall they rejoice all the day; and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.” It is true that you can’t always rejoice in your circumstances or what is happening in your life, but you can rejoice in the name of the Lord. His name never changes. It is always constant. His name is holy. It is awesome. It is glorious. His name is Jehovah-Jireh--the Lord who provides, Jehovah-Rapha--the Lord my Healer. The name of the Lord is a strong tower into which you can run. And on and on.

Do you use a Prayer Box in your home? We find it a wonderful blessing. Did you know you don’t have to be limited to only one Prayer Box? You can make up more than one for different subjects. You can then alternate them each week. Here are some ideas for different Prayer Boxes you may like to have in your home.

OUR FAMILY PRAYER BOX

On your prayer cards, write the names of each member of your family, plus extended family.

OUR WORLD CHANGING PRAYER BOX

Write on your prayer cards the needs in our nation, international needs, missionaries you are praying for, and current needs that require prayer. Look up this link to get ideas to pray for the needs of the world: http://tinyurl.com/IdeasForPrayerCards

OUR CHURCH FELLOWSHIP RAYER BOX

Going through my cupboards the other week I found this very box which we used for some time. Write cards of the different families in your church who need prayer and encouragement.

OUR PERSECUTED CHRTISTIANS PRAYER BOX

This is such a powerful and biblical Prayer Box to use. There are so many countries persecuting Christians that it is hard to keep up with all the needs of the persecuted church around the world. The persecution of Christians in the 10/40 Window has increased by 400 percent over the last 10 years. That’s why it’s great to have a box especially designated for the persecuted church.

Your box will be fat with cards, especially if you write in every one of the 60 countries who persecute Christians. Then you have specific needs happening to those who are being persecuted. Don’t forget North Korea which is the most persecuting country of Christians in the world.

And how can we not pray every day for what is happening in Iraq and Syria where they face beheadings, rapings, and cruelties beyond measure.? No wonder Hebrews 13: 3 tells us to pray for them as though we were in prison with them and to feel their suffering as though we were suffering their pain in our own body.

Here is a link to give you more information about the persecuted church:
http://www.worldwatchlist.us/world-watch-list-countries/

OUR 10/40 WINDOW PRAYER BOX

The 10/40 Window is the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude. These countries include the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists--a high percentage of the least evangelized and unreached peoples with the Gospel.

These countries include: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei, Burkina Faso
Cambodia, Chad, China, Hong Kong China, Macau
Djibouti, East Timor, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan
Laos, Lebanon, Libya
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma)
Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam,
West Bank / Gaza, Western Sahara, Yemen

Wow! Do you know where all these countries are situated? What a great project to learn about each one gradually and add to your Prayer Box. It is such a great way for your children to learn about these countries and get a heart for missions at an early age. Not only a heart for missions, but a heart to pray for the lost and the unreached peoples of the world.

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER BOX

If you have a vision to reach out to your neighborhood, your community, and city, the best idea is to start with your Prayer Box. Put in the names of the families God puts upon your heart to pray for. As you pray for them, God will show you how He wants you to reach out to them. Maybe He will inspire you to invite them over for a meal to show them God’s love and what it’s like to live in a Christian home.

Get your children helping to make the Prayer Boxes you would like to use in your home--and also writing the cards.

Another good idea is to use pictures of people (missionaries, a certain person you are praying for to be saved or healed, the kind of people who live in a certain country and so on) and places (pictures or maps of the countries you are praying for), especially when you have young children. This helps them to pray more effectively.

May you be blessed above measure,

Nancy Campbell

P.S. More links to check out:
http://tinyurl.com/OurPrayerBox
http://tinyurl.com/RecommendedLinks
http://tinyurl.com/PrayerInTheHome
http://aboverubies.org/morning-evening-principle

Do you remember the account of Jesus when he was only twelve years old? The family came to the Feast of Passover at Jerusalem. On the way home, along with all the other hundreds of families returning from Jerusalem, his parents noticed Jesus’ was missing. They immediately returned to Jerusalem but it was three days before they found Him.

Where was he? In the temple, sitting among the teachers and doctors, asking and answering questions about his Father. What did Jesus answer to his frantic parents? “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

Ephesians 6:8 tells us: “Whatsoever GOOD thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive the Lord.” Dear mother, I want to remind you that you are doing a GOOD work.

God tells us in Titus 2-5 that the “GOOD” things the older women must teach the younger women are all about the home--loving your husband, loving your children, and being a keeper at home. When you embrace this lifestyle God planned for you, you are doing a good work. When you nurse your baby, teach your children, prepare the meals, and clean and keep your house in order you are doing GOOD things.

Some people allow themselves to get eaten up inside with bitterness, hurt, and jealousy etc. We cannot allow this to continue in our lives for it will only destroy us and our entire family. We have a responsibility as mothers to keep our spirit whole--pure, blameless, and continually forgiving.

However, there is one area where the Bible tells us we are to get eaten up in our spirit? Do you know what it is? John 2:17 says of Jesus: “The zeal of thine house hath EATEN ME UP.” These words were spoken after Jesus made a whip and cleansed the temple, driving out all the sheep and oxen, and tipping over all the tables and money and cried out: “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise” (John 2:16) and “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13).

I wonder what kind of table you have in your home? Is it round, square, or rectangular? Is it old or new? It doesn’t really matter what it looks like. The real question we have to ask ourselves is: who does our table belong to? Is it my table? Or is it the Lord’s table?

If God dwells in our home, it will be God’s table.

Did you know that God loves to have a table? In the Old Testament He says: “They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to MY TABLE to minister unto me” (Ezekiel 44:16). Everything changes when you understand your table belongs to God. It changes how you conduct your meals. It changes what you do at your table. We understand that the table is not only a place to eat some food, but a place where we feed our children body, soul, and spirit. We feed their bodies, but God is present to feed their souls and spirits.

We notice four wonderful things about your table which belongs to God.

1. God reminds us to “enter into my sanctuary.” We cannot taste the delights of God’s table unless we come to the table. Oh how many hours of delights families miss together because life’s programs stop them from sitting at the table together. So many of our activities happen around the evening meal time. They may be good, but they deprive us from the best.

We have to come to the table. We have to enter into His sanctuary. We have to understand that our table is a sacred place because it is God’s table. When we understand it is God’s table, we won’t want to miss being at the table to meet with Him.

2. God reminds us to come NEAR to Him. God doesn’t want us to be far away from Him. He doesn’t want everything else in the world to captivate our hearts. At the table we come near to one another and near to Him.

3. God reminds us (as we have mentioned) that our table is HIS TABLE.

4. God reminds us that the table is where we MINISTER UNTO HIM. God had His table in the Holy Place in the tabernacle. Every single day the twelve loaves of bread sat upon the table. Every week the priests came in and ate of the bread and fellowshipped with God and then placed new bread upon the table. The table was never without bread. It was called the “CONTINUAL shewbread” (Leviticus 24:5-8 and 2 Chronicles 2:4). Even when they traveled to a new place the continual bread had to be upon the table (Numbers 4:7).

God always has bread on His table. It’s there every day for us. It never runs out. We never have to go hungry in our souls and spirits. And therefore at our table each day, we open God’s precious Word and read it. It ministers to us and to our children. It prepares them for life. It prepares them to face the world. We cannot do without it or we starve spiritually. And not only does God minister to us by filling us with His eternal bread, but we minister to Him as we pray, and praise Him for all that He is.

Don’t vacate God’s table. He waits at His table in your home to meet with you, to feed you, and to have fellowship with you.

Be encouraged,

Nancy Campbell

Painting is by a Scottish painter: John Henry Lorimer (1856-1936)

I remember seeing a cartoon many years ago. It was a picture of a mother looking at the adverts in the newspaper. Around her were children out of control and the house in utter chaos. The caption read: “I’m looking for a job, I need a rest!”

This may be just how you feel sometimes. Dear mother, I want to remind you today that you already have the greatest career in the nation. I know it’s not easy. It has the longest hours. It’s full of challenges. Sometimes you feel so tired you can hardly see straight. But no job that is nation-changing, generation-influencing, and eternity-investing is easy.

It’s so easy to get carried away without thoughts, isn’t it? I find that that when I don’t discipline my thoughts they can often tend toward self-pity, “poor me, why do I have to put up with all of this?,” selfishness, and even my own pitiful thoughts about God which are not worthy of Him.

We must bring our thoughts into captivity for we live according to how we think. Our mothering is according to how we think. The whole atmosphere of our home depends on how we think! That’s why God wants us to think correctly. That’s why He wants us to be transformed by the daily renewing of His living Word (Romans 12:1 ,2).

THE GREATEST MAN in history
had no servants, yet they called him Master.
had no degree, yet they called him Teacher.
had no medicines, yet they called him Healer.
He had no army, yet kings feared him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
He is my Savior and Redeemer.
His name is Jesus Christ, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!

What’s happening in your home today? Is everything piling on top of you--laundry, dishes, and teaching the children all waiting to be accomplished? Don’t throw in the towel, dear mother. Don’t look at everything waiting to be done. Just tackle one job at a time. Priorities first. But do each task with ALL YOUR MIGHT. Not half-heartedly, grumblingly, or lazily. And teach your children to do their chores with all their might, too. Inspire this attitude in them as they see the way you begin each responsibility.

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I hope you enjoy this beautiful poem about children. I’d love to know what is your favorite line. There are some beauties. ~ Nancy
Come to me, O ye children!
For I hear you at your play,
And the questions that perplexed me
Have vanished quite away.

The following are a couple of statements (of thousands that we could quote) stating publically and unashamedly the aim of the public education of our children:

“I think that the most important factor moving us toward a secular society has been the educational factor. Our schools may not teach Johnny how to read properly, but the fact that Johnny is in school until he is sixteen tends toward the elimination of religious superstition. The average American child now acquires a high school education, and this militates against Adam and Eve and all other myths of alleged history.” ~ P. Blanchard, “Three Cheers for Our Secular State,” The Humanist

King David was passionate about building as house for the name of the Lord, although his son, Solomon completed the vision. 1 Kings 8:17-19 says: “And the LORD said unto David my father . . . thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house UNTO MY NAME.”

God wants us to also build a house unto His name. A home that honors and lifts up the name of the Lord. A home where God delights to dwell. Solomon acknowledged in 1 Kings 8:13: “I have surely built thee a house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in forever.” And when He dedicated the house to the Lord, he prayed: “Now therefore arise, O LORD God into thy resting place” (2 Chronicles 6:41). Is your home a resting place for God, where He feels comfortable, and is not continually grieved?

And to what name are you building your home? Is it for the glory of your own name? Is it to the name of your own agenda? Or are you building it to God’s name?

To answer this question, we have to ask another question: Do we know the name of the Lord? This is a huge challenge to me. How can we build a home to the name of the Lord if we don’t truly know the name of our God? We often think we know God, but sadly, it is often a name we have conjured up in our own imagination. We so easily bring God down to our level, to fit into our lives. or into the “box” we make for Him.

The greatest challenge and pursuit of my life is to know more and more of the character, the attributes, and the name of God. It is only as I know His name and His attributes that I really know Him. And I can only know His character as I see it revealed in His Word.

We will never ever fully know God. It is impossible, for He is God. He is incomprehensible! But in His mercy He chooses to reveal to us what He wants us to know of Him. Therefore, here is a good idea for you. I did this when raising our children as I not only wanted to know God for myself but to reveal Him to my children.

When I read in God’s Word of an attribute of God or one of His names (for He has many names), I wrote it in a notebook at the top of the page. Underneath I wrote the reference. As I read the Word each day, I continued to write attributes I discovered. As I found more Scriptures about that name or attribute I wrote them under the heading. Eventually, I had my own book, filled with Scriptures about the character of God.

Gradually, one at a time, you can read the Scriptures regarding a certain attribute of God to your children in your Bible reading time and discuss it together. This is the way we get a true understanding of God.

And the more and more we know of Him the more we can build our home to His name, not a false name of our imagination, but the true image of God.

Hope you take up the idea.

Love from Nancy Campbell

P.S. Go to this link to read more about building a home to the name of the Lord:
http://tinyurl.com/BuildHomeHonorGod

Here some wonderful books to read about the character of God:
“The Knowledge of the Holy” by A. W. Tozer
“The Attributes of God” by A. W. Tozer
“The Attributes of God” by Arthur W. Pink
“The Names of God” by Andrew Jukes
“The Names of God” by Lester Sumrall
“Names of God” by Nathan Stone

We talked yesterday about living in the true reality, the reality of the heavenly world. How on earth do we do this?

We come to the understanding that when Christ dwells in our hearts everything is sacred. No matter how mundane the task at hand, it cannot be anything less than holy if God dwells in us, for He is doing the task with us. You have to just acknowledge this truth and believe it!

To us mothers, the reality of life is the day to day responsibility to manage our homes; feed, nurture, and train our children; and everything else that clamors for our attention. But there is another reality, a reality that has the power to affect our daily life in our home. It is the reality of the heavenly.

Colossians 3:1-3 (NLT) states: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” These words seem so far from our experience, don’t they? And yet this is normal Christianity. The realities of the heavenly realm are the TRUE REALITIES. The eternal realm is the real world. This world is passing away. It is like a vapor that appears for a moment and is gone.

The greatest blessing, stability, and power of the nation are godly homes--homes where the husband and wife love one another and together seek to raise godly children to influence the world. Satan also knows the power of the home and therefore tries to woo women away from their greatest place of influence.

However, he is not content with eliminating the mother from the home. He even comes to homes where mothers have come home to raise their children. He searches for ways to get his foot in the door, bringing in his deception and evil.

For 100 years, Noah did the same old thing-- hammered, nailed, and kept on building his ark. He did not have time to do all the things that everyone else was doing. He just kept on slogging and being faithful, doing the same thing every day for all those years. In doing so he condemned the world.

He changed the world because he stuck with the job he was given to do! While others did their own thing, Noah gave his life to building his ark. He was mocked, ridiculed, and persecuted, but he was the only one who saved his family!

Peter encouraged the believers in Asia: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” The NLT says: “Don’t be surprised.”

Do you wonder why you have to endure the trial you are experiencing? Your world is falling apart. Family relationships are estranged. You are ridiculed for your godly convictions. Dear mother, please don’t lose heart. This is not something strange. It is part of living in this fallen, hurting, and deceived society. We are in a fight against evil and it will not stop until Christ comes to bring vengeance upon His enemies and all evil into subjection to His sovereignty.

Most of us have more clothes in our wardrobe than we need. Did you know that you also have an amazing spiritual wardrobe? And it’s free. It has been given to you by Jesus Christ, paid for by His death upon the cross and His precious blood which He poured out for you.

God doesn’t want you to leave your beautiful clothes sitting in your wardrobe. He wants you to wear them. Did you wake up grumpy and irritable this morning? Take off that grumpy dress and put on your “garment of praise” (Isaiah 61:3). Oh yes, you’ve also got a dress called “Joy” (Nehemiah 8:10).