Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

I experienced one of our nation’s biggest, flashiest, liveliest cities earlier this year. When asked how I enjoyed it, I explained that I had two very strong emotions. The first emotion was that my mind was overwhelmed that there was so much to do. My eyes constantly shifted to be able to see all the sights. I was excited. I was thrilled. I was amazed.

The second emotion was that I was getting the wrong vibes . . . bad vibes. I wanted to go home. No, not just go back to my earthly home, but to my heavenly home. I didn’t even know if I wanted to live in this world if it was all like this.

We will have moments of fun and happiness in this life, but times are getting darker. Once I was back home, I realized that it’s not just that big city I went to that’s full of evil; there are struggles, sadness, and sin everywhere. I can barely go anywhere without being exposed to it. To Christians, this may make us want to escape the world itself. But that’s the wrong mindset.

Yes, we are to flee sin (see 2 Timothy 4:22 and James 4:7). We are to flee so that we won’t sin. We are to flee the ways of this world. But we are not to flee from this world. Why do you think God put us here? What else is our purpose on earth, but to be lights?

Meadow

INTRODUCING MEADOW

Meadow is the first one to write some thoughts for you. I know I don't have to introduce Meadow to so many of you. You have looked at pictures of her in Above Rubies since she was a baby (anyone been reading Above Rubies that long)? Meadow is Pearl's daughter, author, along with Serene, of Trim Healthy Mama.

Many have got to know Meadow over the years as she has come to Above Rubies retreats and blessed you with her beautiful songs and voice. But the years roll on and now Meadow is a beautiful young woman of 19 years old. She loves the Lord and loves God's Word. And she loves to write, and so everyone now and then (or hopefully as much as I can) I will post meditations from Meadow.

Call in your teens and young people. Tell them to like the Above Rubies Facebook too. They will be blessed, encouraged, and challenged by her writings.

Love from Nancy

MORE BLESSINGS FOR YOU
I have been thinking about asking my daughters, and even granddaughters, to write to you from time to time. I know you will love to hear from them, too. It will be hard work--I'll have to crank them up to do it, but let's see what I can do. Keep checking the Facebook in the next few days, weeks, and months!

Love, Nancy

What do you think is one of the greatest things we should have in our homes? I'd love to hear your response.

I think it is the light of God. God is light and the very first thing He spoke into being was light. Jesus came to this earth to be the light of the world. He confessed in John 9:5: "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

He is no longer physically in the world, but now He lights the world by dwelling in us. Therefore, if Christ dwells in you, He wants you to light up your home with His light.

Mothers certainly need to be filled with the light of God. The light of God in you exposes all darkness, danger, and evil in your home. You are a darkness exposer! While you are around, it can't hide. The light of God in you measures up everything, and every decision, with God's character and His Word, just as people such as surveyors use light to measure distances and angles.

God wants to shine His light through you to your husband and to your children. Can you confess these words, "As long as I am in this home, I am the light of this home"?

How big is your light today?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Have you written you list for today? I write lists most days, but can I tell you a secret? I rarely ever accomplish everything that is written on my list. It often carries on to the next day, and the next day again, for God only gives us so many hours in a day.

However, it is not so important that I get everything done on my list. Or that you do either, especially when you are a mother with your little children around you. Often you will not even manage one extra thing, except loving and nurturing your precious children, lovingly preparing meals for them, and training them in the ways of God.

But there is one thing we can seek to fulfill each day. Jesus stated in John 17:4: "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. Every day on earth Jesus magnified and honored His Father."

This is your greatest plan for today. Whatever you do, whether it is cleaning toilets, catching up with your big load of laundry, cooking meals, or training your children, do it to honor the Lord. If you make this your plan, dear mother, you will accomplish what God wants you to do today, and for each new day.

Let's glorify the Father today, in everything we say and do. And can you encourage your children to do this too? Your home will then be filled with people glorifying God.

Be blessed. Nancy Campbell

We talked yesterday about DELIGHTING in every task we have to face. This was Jesus' example to us. Now we can be an example to our children. When they see us delighting in motherhood, delighting in preparing meals, and delighting in the work we have to do, they will learn how to have the right attitude in life too. Your children will learn by your attitude in the little things of life far more than all you say to them.

Do you find it hard to get your children to have a right attitude about work? What are they learning from you? Do they hear you complaining and sighing, or rejoicing in the activities of the day?

Teach your children to have an attitude of delighting to work, delighting to do their chores, and delighting to obey. Yes, this should be their attitude toward obedience too. Anything less is not the way Jesus revealed for us.

Show them the way, mother.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Psalm 40:7, 8 are prophetic Scriptures speaking of the Son of God's submission to the will of His Father: "Then said I, Lo, I come in the volume of the book it is written of me, I DELIGHT to do thy will." Jesus delighted to do the will of His Father, even though He had to endure the supreme sacrifice for our sins.

Philippians 2:5-8 exhorts us to have the SAME ATTITUDE that Jesus had when He went to the cross. This is always such a challenge to me. What is my attitude like? Do I delight to please the Father? How is it that I can find it hard to submit in some little area when Jesus was willing to submit to death?

This gets to the nitty gritty of our daily life, too. Has God blessed you with children? Then this is the Father's ultimate will for you, to nurture and train the children He has given to you. He doesn't give you children to give to someone else to care for. He gives them to you. Are you delighting to do the Father's will in your home? Are you delighting in your mothering?

God delights in each one of your children. Are you delighting in them, too?

Jesus Christ, who DELIGHTS to do the Father's will, lives in you. Let's learn to yield more and more to the life of Christ within us. Let's DELIGHT in every task we have to face, the easy ones and the difficult ones. The enjoyable ones and the yucky ones. God wants us to delight in every one of them.

Can you make it your aim today to delight in EVERY TASK YOU FACE, no matter what it is.

Have a DELIGHTFUL day.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Did you know that taxpayers pay over 542 million to Planned Parenthood each year, which is one of the largest abortion businesses in the US?

Did you know that more than $16 trillion in federal revenue, roughly the size of our national debt, has been lost due to abortion? This comes from a research by Mark Olson (former liberal activist).

Did you know how many babies have been aborted in the world today? I have just checked http://www.numberofabortions.com/ which has a clock ticking and so far today there have been 64, 565 worldwide.

Did you know how many babies have been aborted in US since Roe vs. Wade in 1973? The clock tells us 57,058,511.7. Over 57 million!

What can we do? We have to do something! We can all do different things. Some of our older grandchildren and their friends have started picketing at an abortion clinic in the city. Both times they have been able to encourage a couple to change their mind about aborting and to keep their baby. This fills them with great joy. The organization they work with, http://cities4life.org/, continue to care for these mothers and couples, give them a Baby Shower, help to provide for them, and keep in touch.

You may not be able to get into the trenches in this manner, but you can speak up. Proverbs 31: 8, 9 says, "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." The NIV says, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves."

We all must speak up. We can lovingly encourage a mother to keep her baby who may be thinking of abortion. We can speak up for life at every opportunity. We can sign petitions and give financially. But, most of all, we can pray. Pray together as a family.

When you get to read this post, go to http://www.numberofabortions.com/ and check how many have already been added to the count.

How long do we keep silent?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Dear Mother,

Your mothering is never wasted. Every little moment adds up to your influencing your children for God--to impact this world, to affect generations to come, and most of all, for eternity!

Mothering is an eternal career. Every other career will be left behind, but you will take your children into eternity with you.

Be encouraged.

NANCY

We have been talking about how David longed and pined to dwell in the "lovely" dwelling place of God (Psalm 84:1). But the half has not been told! Not only can we dwell in God's presence, but He wants to dwell in us! In days gone by God dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle, and then the temple. But now God has a different dwelling place. When Jesus died upon the cross the thick curtain that separated the Holy of Holies was torn apart. Now He comes to dwell in our hearts.

First Corinthians 6:19 tells us that we who are born again by the Spirit of God and cleansed by the blood of Jesus have become the dwelling place of God. The word "temple" in this Scripture is "naos" and literally means "the Holy of Holies." This is too awesome to take in. God wants your body to be His Holy of Holies where He can abide. In John 15:4 Jesus not only said, "Abide in me," but He also said, "and I in YOU."

The big question is: is my heart and my body a "lovely" place for the dwelling place of God? Is He welcome? Does He feel at home in my heart? Is it a holy place?

And what about our homes? God is a dwelling God who loves to dwell in our hearts, but He also wants to fill our homes with His presence. Are our homes a beloved place for God? Does He delight to dwell in our homes? Some mothers think their role in the home is insignificant. Nothing could be further from the truth. Apart from the most powerful career of nurturing and training the next generation who will impact the nation and the world for good or evil, you have the glorious task of making your home a lovely, delightful, and holy place for the King of Kings.

Ask God to show you anything in your home that grieves His Holy Spirit. Ask Him how to show you how to make your home a suitable place for His presence.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if God could say of our hearts and homes, "How lovely is your dwelling place."

Love from Nancy Campbell

Psalm 84, known as the "pearl of psalms," speaks of the joy and loveliness of dwelling in God's presence. It also means, "dear, beloved." It is the beloved place to live. And it is your inheritance through Jesus Christ's death upon the cross for you.

Verse 6 tells us how that even when we go through the "valley of Baca" which means "the valley of tears or weeping" that it becomes a fountain or a place of refreshing springs. Maybe you are facing heartache and tears are flowing down your face. Perhaps you are in a desperate situation. When you dwell in Christ and put your trust in Him, He makes your valley into a place of refreshing.

And more than that. You will go "from strength to strength" (verse 8). In the midst of hardship you can become stronger and stronger every day. In fact, your sorrows and tribulations are for the purpose of growing you in Christ. When you dwell in God and trust Him to do His work in you, your difficulties mature you.

Don't let your mothering challenges frustrate you. Dwell in the lovely presence of God. Abide in Him. And instead of weakening, you will become a stronger mother each new day.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

The psalmist exclaims in Psalm 84:1 (NLT), "HOW LOVELY is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven's Armies." He yearned to dwell in the house of the Lord. There was no place he wanted to be more.

Because Jesus Christ died and rose again, we now have the privilege of living in His presence continually. Yes, in the midst of all that is happening in your home. With your little ones needing you all at once. No matter what you are facing, Jesus wants you to "abide in Him" (John 15:4, 5, 7). Dwelling in the One who is all wisdom, love, peace, and holiness. It is the most lovely place to be. It is the most powerful place to be--He is the Lord of the armies of Heaven!

Sadly, we don't always live where God wants us to live in our daily lives, do we? We forget what Ephesians 2:6 tells us that He has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

What is the result of dwelling in Him? Psalm 84:4 goes on to tell us that those who dwell in His presence "will be singing Your praises all the day long." All day long? "You don't know what's going on at my house," you reply. Dear mother, you can experience this "how lovely" as you dwell in Christ Jesus. Instead of allowing your circumstances to overcome you, live in Christ.

Thank Him that you live in His presence where there is fullness of joy. Thank Him that you are seated with Him in the place of authority and power over all your enemies challenges.

Have a LOVELY day.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Did you get to see this movie when it came to the theaters? It is very powerful. It is now out on DVD. We watched it again as a family on the weekend. If you haven't seen it, I'd encourage you to get hold of it. It really exposes what is being taught in our colleges today--and of what can happen when even one young person is not afraid to stand up for truth.

Our eldest son (manager of the Newsboys and who got the inspiration for this movie) were with us for supper on the weekend. He shared so many amazing stories and miracles of lives that have been changed through the movie. He shared one story of how, after seeing the movie, a young teenage boy who was at lake with his family, wrote on the sand, GOD'S NOT DEAD. His father gave him a fist bump and he went out in the boat. Very tragically, there was an accident and he didn't come back alive. But what a victory that his last words were GOD'S NOT DEAD. And because of this wonderful truth, he is alive in eternity.

Now in the making for the future is BELIEVE, and GOD'S NOT DEAD II.

Love from Nancy

Last night Serene and the children stayed with us again. This morning our discussions were on many different subjects. One of them was Israel.

I shared a Scripture I read this last week that I hadn't noticed before. "When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord's portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance" (Deuteronomy 32:8-9).

My Bible references Genesis 10:5, 25, 32; 11:5-9; and Acts 17:26). God first apportioned this land in the center of the earth for His people before any other nation. And that was even before the birth of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was already in His plan and heart from the very foundation of the world. He allowed the Canaanites to live there until Israel had grown into a nation and were ready to possess the Lord.

Again in Exodus 6:4, 8 (Knox), God reminds the people of the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when they were sojourning in the land of Canaan as pilgrims to give them this particular land for "AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION" (Genesis 17:8). They sojourned the land but it was not yet their home, but at the appropriate time He led them back to make it their home.

No matter what we think best in with our humanistic minds, nor what propaganda we listen to on the liberal media, it will not stand against the eternal Word of God which will last forever. God gave this land to Israel for an everlasting possession, and what we think will never change this fact. The best idea is to get on God's side. It's scary to be on the wrong side of God.

Blessings from Nancy

We have been discussing how God wants us to overcome and conquer in life. Another description the Bible uses is to "reign in life" (Romans 5:17). To reign means to rule and live like a king, and as believers, we are now "kings and priests" (Revelation 1:6 and 5:10).

What does this mean? It means that our circumstances, our difficulties and tribulations, and even our frustrations and disappointments should not overpower us. We can live on top of them, not by our own strength, but by the power of the resurrection life of Christ who dwells within us. We can even look down upon them because positionally we are seated in Christ Jesus in heavenly places where He rules at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 2:6). Oh, don't we fall far short of all that Christ has done for us and wants to effectively work in us each day?

Lift your vision today, dear mother. I know you will face many frustrations and challenges as you live life and mother your children today. Don't let them overpower you. Instead, lift up your eyes to the Lord, thank Him that He, the Conquering Christ, dwells in you. Thank Him for the victory. Praise Him that you have an opportunity to reign. You can't reign if you don't have something to reign over!

And let's be encouraged by the two million precious believers who are being persecuted right now around the world. They are facing "tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, peril, and sword" and yet they are conquering and reigning in their suffering (Romans 8:36-37). Our little problems fall into insignificance in the light of their suffering.

Be encouraged to reign in your home today. Love from Nancy Campbell

In my post about raising young men I cited 1 Samuel 10:12 where Joab encourages his soldiers to "play the man." The word in the Hebrew is "chazaq" and means "to be strong, courageous, valiant, to conquer." What the Bible is saying is that it is the characteristic of men to be strong and courageous to protect their homes and their nations.

Every time it talks about being strong and courageous in the Knox translation, he translates it "play the man." You will notice how over and over again God inspires His leaders and His people to be courageous and "play the man." I'll list the Scriptures here for you. They are very powerful and I am sure you will want to print them off for your husbands and sons.

God told Moses to "Give charge to Joshua, bid him take heart and PLAY THE MAN" (Deuteronomy1: 28 and 3:28).

Moses charged the Israelites, "PLAY THE MAN, and keep your courage high; there must be no cowardice, no flinching before them" (Deuteronomy 31:6).

"Then Moses summoned Joshua, and said to him in the presence of all Israel, PLAY THE MAN, and keep thy courage high" (Deuteronomy 31:7, 23).

God charged Joshua, "Courage then, PLAY THE MAN . . . PLAY THE MAN thou must, and keep thy courage high, carrying out faithfully the law my servant Moses enjoined on thee; never swerve to right or left and thou shalt order thy life truly. . . . Courage and A MAN'S PART, that is what I ask of thee; no room for fear and shrinking back, when the Lord thy God is at thy side wherever thou goest. . . . Courage, then, PLAY THE MAN" (Joshua 1:6-9, 19). Do you notice that he encourages him to play the man four times in this one message?

David charged his son Solomon who was to be king in his stead, "Do thou keep thy courage high and PLAY THE MAN" (1 Kings 2:2).

Joab to his army, "PLAY THE MAN, fight we valiantly for our people, and for the city walls that are sacred to our God" (2 Samuel 10:12 and 1 Chronicles 19:13).

"David charged Solomon, "Courage, then, my son; the Lord be with thee, and prosper thou ever. Build a house for the Lord thy God, as he has promised . . . PLAY THE MAN, and keep thy courage high, never doubting, never daunted. . . . To the task, then! The Lord will be ever at thy side" (1 Chronics 22:11, 13, 16).

David to Solomon again, "Here is this house to be built, the Lord's sanctuary; on thee his choice has fallen; courage! To the task!" (1 Chronicles 28:10,).

"PLAY A MAN'S PART said David to Solomon; courage! To the task! Never doubting, never daunted; the Lord thy God will be at thy side, never failing thee, never forsaking thee, and see that thou hast strength to do all that must be done for his temple" (1 Chronicles 28:20).

God encouraged King Asa through the prophet Azarias, "But you, take courage; never slacken your resolve . . . Upon hearing the inspired words of this prophet, Asa's courage rose" (2 Chronicles 15:7, 8).

When the king of Assyria ;came to fight against King Hezekiah, he gathered the people for war and encouraged them, "PLAY THE MAN, he said, and keep your courage high; let there be no shrinking, no faint hearts, at the sight of the Assyrian king and the hordes that follow him; we have many more on our side than they on theirs. Theirs is but mortal strength; we have the Lord our God to aid us, and fight on our side" (2 Chronicles 32:7, 8).

God spoke to Daniel, "Nay, fears are not for thee . . . Take courage, and PLAY A MAN'S PART! With that, I found my strength again; Speak on, my Lord, said I; thou hast put new heart into me" (Daniel 10:19).

"Take heart, keep high your courage, all you that wait patiently for the Lord" (Psalm 31:14).

What is a man's part? To be strong, courageous, and valiant. May God give wisdom and anointing to train our sons accordingly.

Be encouraged. Nancy Campbell

Here is a poem for your sons to read, or even better, to learn:

GUARD YOUR LIFE--Body, Soul and Spirit!

Keep yourself pure, spirit, body and soul,
And keep your mind absolutely whole!
If a bad thought creeps in, send it flying!
It will save you heartache and lots of crying.

If you resist the devil, he will surely run
And you’ll have victory in the name of God’s Son,
The name that has power to conquer all sin,
Confess His name and send evil for a spin!

God promises to help you keep your mind clean
When from God’s Word you read and glean.
As you fill your mind with God’s Word every day
There will be no room for the devil to stay!

Remember to pray! You can’t live without prayer,
It should be as familiar as breathing air!
Prayer brings the victory and wins the day
When temptations come along the way.

Never stay on the fence, choose what is right,
Choose what is holy in God’s sight,
Hate what is evil, love what is pure
And no matter what, you will endure!

~ Nancy Campbell

What a privilege, and yet great RESPONSIBILITY to raise sons. We are raising them to be family leaders. Many of them will also be leaders of organizations, communities, churches, and even strategic positions in the nation. To us is given this great privilege of training them.

But God doesn't leave us floundering. He shows us how He wants us to do it. 1 John 2:14 gives a picture of what young men are to be like: "I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." The inspired Word of God lists three things we must impart to our sons:

Do any of you remember doing Sword Drill as a child? I used to do it when I was a child and then I did it with my children as they were growing up. It's a great way to help them get used to looking up Scriptures and finding their way around the Bible. They love it.

I used to get all the children stand in a line with their Bibles on their heads and hands by their sides (that's good posture practice)! Or you could do it as in the picture, or get them to hold up their Bible like a sword. I call out a reference (e.g. 1 Timothy 3:16) and say, "Get set, r-e-a-d-y, GO." Or you could use the word, "CHARGE!" They immediately grab their Bible and look for the Scripture. The first one to find it reads it out loud. It 's good to give some references from the Old Testament and some from the New.

Have fun teaching your children to use to use the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).

Love from Nancy

Serene and the children stayed with us last night seeing Sam is away in China at present. As Serene read her Bible this morning she commented, "I used to read my Bible on my iPhone, but I now like to use my Bible. When they see me on my iPhone, they automatically think I am working on Trim Healthy Mama or doing research, but I want them to see that I love the Word and it is my sustenance and wisdom for the day."

Most mornings at our home we have great theological discussion, and often on other subjects, too. This morning this topic became our discussion. I agreed with Serene. Now that most people have the Bible downloaded on their iPhones or iPads, they don't need to pick up their Bible. I feel sad about that. Yes, I have the Bible downloaded on my iPad. I love it. On my King James Bible download I can click on any word and it takes me to the Hebrew or Greek word and also gives me every other place where that same word is used. Most informative. Did you know that sometimes there are 20, 50, or even 100 or more different words translated in the English from the same Hebrew or Greek word?

I also have many other translations downloaded and although I read the King James Bible, I love to refer to other translations.

But I like to use these helps alongside my Bible. I like to hold my Bible. I love my Bible. When I go to church, I take my Bible and my iPad. I follow the Scriptures in my Bible, but can refer to a word on my iPad that I would like more understanding about. I feel sad that it is rare for people to carry their Bible to church these days. Even most preachers preach from their iPhones. I'm certainly not against this, but I love to see the Bible open. There is something about it!

And can I let you in on a secret? I often feel disconcerted when people open their iPhones when I am speaking. I can never be sure if they are really following the Scriptures or if they are just checking their emails. Sadly, I have noticed women texting! Can you imagine how distracting that is? It can just about make you forget what you are saying!

Serene went on to say that her husband, Sam, reads the Bible on his phone. However, when he was away doing contracts, the guys would all play games on their phones. Although Sam was reading the Word, they most probably thought he was playing along just like them. He didn't want them to think this, so purchased a little pocket New Testament to read during those lunch hours.

The Bible is a testimony! I like to read it when flying. People get convicted seeing someone reading the Bible. They don't get convicted by iPhones.

I am not sharing these thoughts as law--just how I feel about it. If you joined our morning or any other time discussions in our home, you would soon find that we don't all agree. We all love to share our convictions as this is what sharpens one another. My husband constantly says, "We don't have to agree with one another, but we do have to love one another."

Love from Nancy