Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Foxes are small, sneaky creatures that do not make their presence obvious. Their damage is done while we are not paying attention.

We must not allow our children to get away with negative attitudes or moods. If moods are not dealt with while children are young, it will be more difficult to deal with them later on. Temper tantrums, stomping the feet, and hateful speech (especially to parents) must not be tolerated. Don’t allow your children to get away with pouting, rolling the eyes, or negative facial expressions. We never allowed these attitudes in our children in our home, and hopefully you don’t in your home either.

We men must be on the watch to deal with the little foxes in our own lives. Negative attitudes toward our spouse should not be tolerated. Every critical and negative thought or word should be quickly renounced in Jesus’ name.

God-fearing men should always be mindful of the words of Jesus relating to lust. Matthew 5:28 says, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” We cannot “see God” when such things take place in our hearts. Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

This lustful fox can quickly turn into a large wolf that is more difficult to deal with if we do not put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18). One of the main reasons why we have an epidemic of marriage break-up is because we do not deal with the little foxes before they turn into dangerous wolves.

Be encouraged to watch out for the little foxes. Colin Campbell

Song of Solomon 2:15 says, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”

Fathers, when dealing out any form of correction and discipline, we should not be like “bulls in a china shop!” Healthy discipline is not a time for “rip, tear and bust!” We must remember that the grapes are tender. No potter could possibly create a fine exquisite vessel by working roughly. He would ruin what would otherwise, if molded with loving and caring hands, be something very special.

Fathers, our children will respect our discipline if they are used to our generally speaking in a loving and kind way to them. The Scripture says to “take us” the little foxes. Along with our wives, we should be on the watch for the “little foxes” which in time could spoil the tender grapes.

Beware of foolish jesting that has a hurtful side to it, for in time it can spoil the tender grapes, too. We need to be careful with teasing that it does not go too far. Poking fun at one another must be done with care so as not to offend, or it may quickly back fire.

Husbands, we must apply this principle, first of all, to our wives. If the way you talk to your wife puts her down in the front of others, it will adversely spoil your marriage relationship, as well as your children.

To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin

Proverbs 3:12 says, “For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

Fathers, this Scripture does not say we should find delight in disciplining our children, but rather, we should discipline when needed because we love and delight in our children. If we do not discipline, they will certainly not give us, or others, any real delight.

If grape vines are not cultivated and properly cared for they soon become wild and spoiled. So it is with our children. Without a caring and cultivating father and mother, they also become wild and spoiled. Grape vines need to be carefully pruned in order to produce bigger and better grapes.

Pruning must be accomplished by someone who knows what they are doing; otherwise the vine will be seriously damaged. So it is with pruning (disciplining) our children. All discipline should be implemented without anger. A vineyard owner would not trust the pruning of his choice vines to the cutting shears of a man who was angry with the grape vines. That would be too risky. So it is with children. We can so easily damage them by disciplining in anger.

We must take control of all anger before we discipline. Many children grow up with bad attitudes, hatred and rebellion because the father disciplined in anger. On the other hand, we must not allow the vines to grow without pruning because of fear of losing control as this will also have damaging effects on the children’s character.

Insufficient healthy discipline is a problem of our times and the vines are becoming increasingly wilder, but the end results of godly discipline are the “peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Hebrews 12:9).

Be encouraged as you tend to your vine. Colin Campbell

Jesus says in John 15:1, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” Jesus, the Son of God, describes His father as a husbandman. What a wonderful description of a Father. We men would be wise to take note. I was excited when the Holy Spirit first highlighted to me the amazing description of the true prototype of fatherhood.

A husbandman is a vinedresser. I have never actually grown a grape vine, but I understand that it requires much wisdom, knowledge and work to be a successful vinedresser. Although men know they are the husband of their wife, many fail to realize the magnitude of what it really means to be a husbandman—a keeper, tender and cultivator of vines.

A friend of the family in New Zealand grew specialty grapes for the Japanese market and exported them daily to Japan. Over the years he developed an enormous amount of wisdom and knowledge on how to grow the very best grapes. He was successful and worked hard to maintain his success.

Could we not be as enthusiastic about our family vines as this man was about his “specialty” grapes? We must see our children as “specialty” grapes, the very best!

To be continued tomorrow.

Be encouraged. Colin Campbell

Fathers, please take note: Every child who has loving, wise, and fun-loving parents, coupled with healthy discipline, is at a great advantage to others in this world!

I believe that discipline must be balanced with lots of healthy encouragement. Soon after a child is disciplined wise parents will spend some time hugging, encouraging and reaffirming their belief that the child will, through embracing the right attitude, become a much better person.

It is a good thing to also pray with the disciplined child. We all need God to help us and children need God’s help, especially during their early learning years. It is a healthy thing for a child to be taught to say “Sorry” to the offended party.

If we are always correcting our children without sufficient encouragement they will become morose, discouraged, and lack self esteem. Lots of encouragement will help the child to want to please you because they know you believe in them. Good parenting will also think of fun things to do with the children. Play games with them, read stories to them, and take them on fun excursions.

Use your eyes to communicate your approval. Use your arms to hug. Use your voice to bless.

As fathers, we should seek to be around our children as much as possible. Children love fun, therefore we fathers should daily make time to have fun with all of them. Take time to watch them show you what they have learned. Become interested in what they are interested in. Encourage them every day. You will be surprised what a little encouragement will do.

Be encouraged to encourage. Colin Campbell

It saddens me when I see a worn-out, frustrated mother trying to control an undisciplined rebellious child. I wonder if the father is taking his responsibility in the home. Men, we must not leave all the responsibility of disciplining our children to our wife. It will make motherhood a frustrating experience for her, rather than a joyful one.

The Scriptures teach discipline. Discipline is God-ordained for fathers to wisely administer to their children as needed. Discipline that is appropriate for misbehavior will put an end to misconduct and will also produce peace and order in the home. Proverbs 29:17 says, “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.”

Wise non-abusive spanking is biblical and should not be withheld from an unruly child. Time-out and withholding of certain privileges is often insufficient to stop bad behavior.

In certain cases, time-out and withholding privileges maybe all that is required. In some cases, a strong word of correction may be sufficient. In certain instances a soft word of correction may be all that is needed. However, a strong will that is defiant of parental instructions must be overcome and spanking must not be ruled out.

Good character is not something that we are born with unfortunately. Rather, good character requires training and discipline by loving, caring parents. Our over-filled prisons and correctional facilities are clear evidence that modern, humanistic, no-spanking parenting does not work, and will never work.

Parents who have violent tempers are the result of inadequate parenting when they were young.

If parents cannot control their children, for whatever reason, what hope do the children have to succeed in this world? Very little, I think. It is a definite disadvantage to a child to have parents who have little understanding on child discipline.

An undisciplined child is a deprived child.

We must raise children of character who will make their mark in this world.

Be encouraged. Colin

The second chapter of II Samuel gives great lessons to us fathers on how to restrain our children from evil.

1. We should give godly admonishment. Eli gave very godly admonishment (I Samuel 2:23-25).

2. If the admonishment is ignored, we must take appropriate action and discipline. Eli failed in this point. His sons should have been dismissed from the ministry because of their evil behavior.

3. If we do not effectively restrain our children from evil by appropriate discipline we open the door for God’s severe judgment to fall on them, on ourselves, and future generations (I Samuel 31-36).

4. We must warn our children of coming discipline if our admonishment is ignored.

5. The process of admonishment, with appropriate discipline, should start early in a child’s life. If not, not only your children, but you and your wife, and others will suffer much grief.

6. It is wrong for the father to want to discipline. This reveals meanness, harshness and over-bearing severity. It is better for the child to know that the father has to discipline rather than wants to discipline. Loving discipline will help overcome resentment and rebellion.

7. We fathers must realize that in many cases of wayward children, the father is most likely the main problem. We do not love your children by being soft on them.

To be continued tomorrow.

Be encouraged. Colin

Men, we must pray daily with our families for the sake of our nation. Do not delay. Time is running out! Strange children, speaking vanity and falsehood, will eventually destroy the economy (Psalm 144:11).

Read the prayer David prayed for his nation in Psalm 144:13-15, “That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: that our oxen may be strong to labor; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. Happy is that people, that is in such a case, yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.”

David cried out that God would deliver him from the false deceivers who teach erroneous agendas that pervert and dumb down the sons and daughters of God, and which will eventually bring about the nation’s economic collapse.

Men, I believe it will take much more than electing a conservative, right wing president to reverse the huge inroads of false, progressive, socialistic, communistic Saul Alinsky damage that has reached into almost all areas of our society. The media is full of it, the education system is full of it, much of government is full of it, and much of the judicial system is full of it.

David was a God-fearing king who realized full-well that it would take much more that what he could do to reverse the inroads of evil in his nation. He desperately needed God’s divine help and intervention, and this is the reason he prays.

Men, the winning of an election for the restoration of our economy is not enough. We Christian men must gather our families around us and pray daily, not only for the elections, but that God Himself would stretch our His mighty right arm against all our enemies, especially all doctrines of men and devils.

Be encouraged to pray with your family. Colin Campbell

We continue to discuss Psalm 144. Men, along with our wives, we need to repent for subjecting our sons and daughters to the liberal and socialist mindset that is ever-increasingly being taught in our state schools and colleges.

The Holy Bible, which is the only foundation of truth upon which a true Christian stands, declares that God created all things in a six day period. Yet, state education text books teach evolution as an undeniable fact. All things came into existence over a period of millions of years without any Creator to order it so.

Many years ago, this teaching had a very negative effect upon me as a young child in a state school. I was raised in a Christian home, where my mother taught my Sunday school class and my grandfather was the teaching elder at the family church. I was caught in the midst of conflicting views. Only God Himself knows the incredible turmoil my soul endured as I struggled to reconcile the atheistic teaching of Darwinism with the divinely inspired Word of God. One was a falsehood. Which one?

The bottom line is that it is plainly ludicrous and utterly foolish to subject our children to the teaching of atheistic, humanistic and socialistic textbooks. The textbooks on certain subjects are fast becoming more and more opposed to the Word of God. Homosexual teachers cannot be refused to teach our children. What are we doing? How crazy can we get?

The truth is that even although there may be many dedicated Christian teachers in the state schools, this does not guarantee that our children will not be subjected to classes that will introduce them to a humanistic viewpoint that opposes the Bible.

By the grace of God, there are those who seem to get through it almost unscathed, but have they really avoided the tarnishing of their souls? The state education introduces our daughters to feminism and careerism. Our sons are taught that is wrong to be competitive in sports and that tolerance and equality are the new norm. I am told that in some cases, over-achievers have their results marked down in order to equal the class average. God does not intend our sons to be feminized. Guns are part of a boy’s life growing up. Come on!

Be encouraged. Colin Campbell

Psalm 144:11-12 says, “Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood… that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.”

David prayed that the Lord would deliver him from the strange brethren who were sowing seeds of false doctrine. Men, this should also be our prayer. The enemy of our souls is forever seeking ways to sow seeds of falsehood into our families. He wants to distort the image of God which God wants to reveal in us.

He wants our daughters to be like the polished cornerstones of a palace. Gem stones are not attractive until they are cut and polished. The Lord wants to use us men, along with our wives, to work with Him in the cutting and polishing. As fathers, we must keep close to God, for only God is the Master Diamond Cutter, and only God can guide our hands to polish our daughters to be the cornerstones of our society and culture.

The cornerstone was always the most important stone in the foundation of the ancient buildings. In this Scripture, the Holy Spirit highlights the importance of daughters in God’s plan. How sad it would be if we should allow some false teaching to distort the cutting and polishing. The building becomes less than a palace because of our ignorance, haphazardness or lack of patience and understanding.

Men, our daughters need us fathers almost as much as their mothers to see this beautiful palace come into being.

Be encouraged. Colin Campbell

Psalm 144:2 says “That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth.”

What a huge blessing it is to a family to have sons “grown up in their youth.” This blessing also extends to the nation. This is a picture of sons who are mature and acting as adults in their behavior and character, even though they are still in their youth. The reason for this is that these sons have been brought up and nourished in a loving, godly environment in the home, as well as the church. These sons have also been protected from the influence of bad company. They have not been indoctrinated by the education of false teaching such as evolution, humanism, social justice and the strong influence of the gay agenda.

What a joy it is for me to be surrounded with many godly grandchildren who are homeschooled. Even though some of them are still quite young, because they are not daily surrounded with foolish ungodly peer pressure, the generational age gap is not a problem. They are as willing to talk to an adult as they are to their siblings. Isn’t it great when your grandchildren are your close friends?

I can always tell who are homeschooled and who are state schooled in the meetings I conduct with fathers and sons. In many cases, the most goofy, disruptive, disrespectful sons are those who are familiar with this kind of behavior in their state school classrooms.

Let’s not follow the crowd to the state school. What we need are pure, bright-eyed, respectful, mature, godly and courteous children that are “grown up in their youth.”

We’ll talk about the daughters tomorrow.

Be encouraged. Colin

Psalm 144:11-12 says, "Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be a s corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.”

David mentions this same prayer twice in this chapter. In fact, the whole chapter, is a prayer for deliverance from subtle enemies who are using their mouths to subvert the truth. Through falsehood, they were, and still are, seeking to destroy the godly values of the nation. This psalm informs us that this false teaching also destroys the nation’s economy. Without a doubt, we need to make this psalm our prayer for our nation right now.

At this very moment the youthful sons and daughters of this nation are being dumbed down, perverted and weakened through a socialistic, humanistic educational system that has thrown out the Bible and prayer. At the same time, public education flirts with the teachings of other religions, including progressive, socialist communism, which in itself is a religion that seeks to replace God with man.

I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to two very enlightening DVD documentaries, Indoctrination and Agenda. They are a “must” to inform you of what is happening to our nation and our state school system. I would encourage you to order them both, watch them, and gather in others to watch them with you.

Be encouraged. Colin Campbell

Here are the links for you to purchase the DVDs:

http://bit.ly/AgendaDVD
http://bit.ly/IndoctrinationDVD
http://bit.ly/IndoctrinationCA

We read in Genesis 1:26-27, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Even after the fall in the Garden of Eden God never gave up His agenda that man was created to be in His likeness and image (Genesis 9:6).

In Hebrews 1:3, we are told that Jesus Christ is the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image of His person. Jesus Christ is our true role model. He is the No. 1 pattern man. God, in His infinite grace and mercy has not left us to flounder around searching for the right role model to follow.

Men, we have no excuse for bearing the image of this humanistic world. We also have no excuse for bearing the image of the old self nature. We need to sit down and ask ourselves afresh, “What is my most driving ambition in this life as a Christian man?” If it is not to bear the likeness and image of God’s pattern Son, Jesus Christ, then we have lost our way.

How important to know that our sins are forgiven and that we have been delivered from hell. Yet, from God’s perspective, it is even more important that we should ever increasingly bear the image of Christ, His beloved Son. This simple truth is at the very heart of our Christian manhood.

Earnestly pray that you will be the most Christ-like man your wife and family will ever have the privilege to know, except for Christ himself. By leading your family in devotions each day you can invite your family to join with you in pursuing Christ likeness.

Be encouraged. Colin Campbell

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In the context of this passage, the comparison is drawn between Moses with a veil over his face to cover the glory of the Lord, and believers who should have an unveiled face to reveal the ever increasing glory of the Lord.

Paul explains that Christ has written a letter on the hearts of the believers and the glory of that letter is to shine upon their unveiled faces. Our faces are to be as a glass mirror, reflecting the glory of the Lord. As others behold this glory upon our faces, they themselves are changed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.

Men, we are to be a living reflection of the glorious image of Christ through our faces, first to our wives and families, and then to others we meet. A grumpy, grouchy, critical face does not reflect the glory of the Lord. An unloving, unkind and dominating face does not reflect the glory of the Lord. These negative attitudes put a veil over our face that hides God’s glory.

Men, we must throw away the veils that hide the glorious image of the first begotten Son of God. Men, there are many that do not read the Scriptures to find His glory, but they can see your face.

May the world want what they see by looking at your face.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Men, we cannot be half-hearted regarding our conformity to the image of Christ. It cost Christ Jesus His life blood for us to have the privilege of bearing His image. He gave His all, whole-heartedly, with drops of blood falling to the ground even before the whipping and excruciating pain of His cross. How can we be so nonchalant and casual over any trace of our self-life of which we have not yet abhorred and repented? Whatever is abhorrent to God should be abhorrent to us.

Some may say, “If only I had been with Jesus like the disciples were, then I know I would be more like Jesus”. Another might say, “If only some great painter would provide me with His exact likeness, then I would be able to be like Jesus.” But none of these aids can make us like Him. There is only one way. It is by acknowledging as a fact that my old self-nature was crucified with Christ and I cannot allow any trace of this odorous self to be manifest. Ever!

I must also count as a fact that I am raised with Christ from death to self, to put on the nature of His resurrection life. Every day we have the privilege and power to put on Christ. One cannot paint a picture of what Christ looks like, yet by His indwelling Spirit we can manifest His fruits of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self control (Galatians 5:22-23).

We will then be a living portrait of what Christ really looks like, first of all to our family, and then to the world.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Whose image do we reveal to the world?

Romans 8:29 says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Your family has the privilege to see the image of Christ in you!

Men of God are not conformers, but rather transformers. We will not let the world squeeze us, or our families, into its mold. Never! God has chosen us men for better things. We have been predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The image of Jesus Christ is vastly different to the image of this world.

The image of the world is selfishness--self-image, self-accomplishment, self-centeredness, self-appearance, self-space, self- opinionated, self-reliant, self-aggrandizement and self-consciousness.

Opposed to the self image, the image of Christ is to be crucified with Christ. We cannot be transformed into the image of Christ without a radical denunciation of self. The self-life is at enmity with the image of Christ. The self-life is at the very heart of sin.

The self-life is very subtle, to say the least. Self loves to disguise itself through religion. Religious self is most abominable and nauseating to God as Jesus exposed in the Sadducees and Pharisees.

The Apostle Paul, when facing this dilemma, cried out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-25).

I believe it would be a good thing for each of us men to read a chapter each day from the Bible in order to see what Jesus is like and to hear what He says. We can then pray that the Holy Spirit will change us into His image.

Men, we are called to be non-conformists in this self-centered world.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell