Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

 

Satan also knows the power of the home and tries to woo women away from their greatest place of influence. However, he is not content with eliminating the mother from the home. He also 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.

 

Mothers, we must be watchwomen, constantly on the alert for his crafty ways. 1 Peter 5:8, 9 says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom RESIST steadfast in the faith.”

 

When you notice the devil putting his toe in your door . . .

Boot him out before he gets any further.

Speak the name of Jesus out loud.

Confess the Scriptures out loud.

Don’t allow the enemy to become entrenched in your home.

Raise up the stand of righteousness.

Cast out all worldly practices and entertainment, and “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:15-17).

Deal strongly with negative and evil habits.

 

God spoke to His servant, David: “I have cut off all thine enemies OUT OF THY SIGHT” (1 Samuel 7:9). God reveals the way He wants us to also deal with Satan’s temptations.

 

We cast them OUT OF OUR SIGHT!

We don’t allow them to linger around.

We don’t tolerate them.

We send them kicking, OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND.

 

James 4:7: “RESIST the devil, and he will flee from you.”

 

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

 

Matt Walsh does an incredible job in interviewing doctors, professors, and young people to find their definition of “What is a woman?” Not one person, professor or doctor alike, would answer the question!

 

He decided to go to a woman’s march (a liberal one) and ask if they could tell him. Not one could tell him. It’s interesting that these people stand up for a woman’s right to choose when talking about abortion but when it comes to confessing who a woman is they cannot say!

 

How can a woman be a woman and yet not know who she is? Of course, we know that they don’t want to know. Well, they either refuse to know, or are totally brainwashed by our education system today which is now educating our children from their earliest years that transgenderism is the way to go.

 

I can’t understand how any God-fearing parent could any longer allow their children to go into our public education system today. It’s through the education system that they are changing the nation. I was once a high school teacher myself, but can no longer compare the education system today with that time. Parents must be aware of what is happening.

 

Romans 1:26 tells us that when women turned away from their “natural function” that God gave them up unto “vile affections.” And then verse 27 tells us that THEN the men “began to burn in lust toward another.” This downward and destructive path first began with the women. And we notice that these people do not balk at “What is a man?” They can’t take the question “What is a woman?”

 

I believe it is time for us as women to magnify our role of womanhood. We must show to the world what is a woman? She is a womb man. The womb is our most distinguishing characteristic as a woman.

 

When we embrace the gift and privilege God has given to bring forth life from the womb, we glorify God as a woman. God created us with breasts to nurture life and we glorify God as we fulfil this God-given function. Yes, this is who we are as women and in this role, we find our true glory and joy.

 

But of course, you will be saying, “there are many women who are not able to give birth.” But there is more to the woman than the physical. God has also created her with His anointing of compassion and nurturing that is inherently within her. Even if she cannot physically give birth and nurture form her breast, she can pour out her life to comfort and minister to the needy in society. This is our ultimate role as women.

 

We also show our womanhood in the way we dress. Yes, it’s time to dress like a female and show to the world that we are different than males. If we want to turn this society back to its God-given foundation, we cannot blur the sexes. We must show that we are unique as male and female as created us in the beginning.

 

Many blessings,

 

Nancy Campbell

 

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!

 

Sometimes you may feel like Noah. You may wonder what you are doing. Family and neighbors think you are strange. Life is not always easy. Dear mother, I want to remind you that your daily faithfulness in the home is not in vain. You may not have time to do all the “vain” things that others are doing around you. But as you commit your life to building your ark, you will save your family. Also the generations to come, and for eternity.

 

Hebrews 11:7 says: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark TO THE SAVING OF HIS HOUSE; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

 

It’s another building day. Keep at it.

 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

 

 

Painting by Steve Atkinson

 

BE OF GOOD CHEER

 

Dear friend, please Listen to these words from Jesus in John 16:33: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but BE OF GOOD CHEER; I have overcome the world.” Some translations say “Cheer up!” Others say “Take heart!”

 

Jesus says these words to you when you are going through tribulation, not just when everything is rosy. He has the authority to say them to you because He has already overcome the world! He doesn’t only say “Cheer up,” but “be of GOOD cheer.”

 

 

God is an affirming God. He is always encouraging us through His Word. Psalm 27:14 says: “Wait on the LORD:

BE OF GOOD COURAGE, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Perhaps you feel weak and inadequate. Not only physically, but emotionally, and spiritually? Look up to the Lord. Wait on Him. He will bring courage and strength to your heart. Not just courage, but GOOD COURAGE!

 

 

2 Corinthians 13:11 states: “BE OF GOOD COMFORT.” And please read 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.” Are you sorrowing or grieving? Have you lost a loved one? Have you suffered a miscarriage? Who can comfort the ache in your heart except God? He will comfort your sorrowing heart if you let him.

 

 

Are you cheered up yet? Just in case you haven’t taken hold of God’s wonderful promises to you yet, here is another one. 1 Peter 5:7 says: “Casting ALL your cares upon him; for he careth for you.” Why can you give Him all your anxieties and troubles? Because, dear one, He cares for you. The word “cares” means “interested in.” God is interested in everything that happens in your life. He is Omniscient. He knows your every thought. He knows your thoughts next week and next month even though you don’t know them yet. He knows what is happening in your home right now. And He cares about it.

 

But He can’t do much about it until you give Him your anxieties. Instead of clasping them to yourself and constantly worrying about them, give them to Him. Will you please say Amen with me?

 

You don’t have to stay in the doldrums. God waits to cheer your heart.

 

Love from Nancy Campbell

 

God Himself loves sweet aromas (Exodus 30:23-25, 34, 35). It’s not hard to put on some perfume, but often it is a lot harder to wear the sweet perfume of Christ. This means saying No to the flesh and allowing the beautiful life of Jesus Christ who dwells within us to shine through us. This brings delight to our husbands even more than perfume from a bottle. This fills our home with love, peace, and happiness.

 

The Bible talks about a lovely perfume. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (PHILLIPS) says: “Thanks be to God who leads us, wherever we are, on his own triumphant way and makes our knowledge of him spread throughout the world like a lovely perfume! We Christians have the unmistakable “scent” of Christ, discernible alike to those who are being saved and to those who are heading for death. To the latter it seems like the very smell of doom, to the former it has the fresh fragrance of life itself.”

 

Do you carry around that “unmistakable scent” of Christ? Is the life of Jesus spreading out from you like a lovely perfume? Notice that the Scriptures says this should happen “wherever we are.” The KJV says “in every place.” This does not only mean when you are all dressed up to go out to a function with all the children left behind. This means right in your home, in the midst of everything that is happening--housework piled up, laundry waiting to be completed, homeschooling to organize, and new challenges that arise each new day.

 

No matter what is happening or where you are, Christ is in you. He doesn’t change with circumstances. Draw on His life, His strength, His peace, His patience, His joy, and His love. And as you do, you will spread forth the lovely perfume of His presence in your home--to your husband and to your children.

 

And by the way, remember that we are not only saved by the death of Jesus by also by His life, His beautiful and triumphant life that dwells within us.

 

Have a wonderful day in your home today,

 

Nancy Campbell

 

To speak a language, it has to be part of us. In our minds, our hearts, and come freely from our mouths. God gives a miracle to parents in Isaiah 59:21 (NRSV): “And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD; my spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your children, or out of the mouths of your children’s children, says the LORD, from now on and forever.”

 

So, what is coming out of your mouth? What is coming out of your children’s mouths?

 

Let’s look at a few examples today. I began thinking of this as I am doing my current podcast series. We are journeying through THE LAND OF MOTHERHOOD and we are now discovering that it is a JOYFUL LAND. The Scriptures about joy are far removed from our language of today.

 

The Bible tells us to JUMP FOR JOY with ecstatic joy and delight, not just when everything is happy and great, but when we are going through trials. When people persecute us, revile us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely (Matthew 5:1, 12 and Luke 6:22, 23). What kind of language do we use when we go through trials? Grumbling and complaining and “poor me”? Or do we rejoice in God’s unfailing goodness no matter what we are facing.

 

What is our daily language? Pessimism, “down in the dumps,” negativity, and even self-pity? Or do we speak Bible language? Jesus came to not only give us life but life ABUNDANTLY. Over and over again, the Bible tells us to ABOUND in our lives – in joy, hope, love, faith, self-control, patience, thanksgiving, and so on. He wants us to “abound in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58), and of course the work that God has given us to do is our realm of motherhood.

 

The Greek word for abounding is “perisseuo” and means “more and more, to excel, to exceed, to go beyond that which is necessary, superabundant in quantity and superior in quality, over and above, enough and to spare.”

 

Therefore, this is how God wants us to live and the language He wants us to speak. It’s over the top! It’s beyond the normal. In fact, how can we be anything less when we are indwelt by the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? Normal Christianity is abundant, abounding, and beyond the norm. It is sub-normal Christianity to be average, normal, status quo, and fitting in with the crowd.

 

If we are not speaking an abounding language, we are not speaking Bible language.

 

What about the answer of most mothers of two or three children when asked if they are hoping for another baby? “Help, No. I’m done!” Christian men talk about “getting the snip” like having a cup of coffee.

 

Is that the language of the Bible? No, it is the opposite to God’s heart. It is opposite to the very first words God spoke into the ears of man. Whenever God speaks of blessing His people He speaks of multiplication. The Bible is opposite to the language of the church today.

 

We could go on. But I think it is time for us to line up our language with the Bible, don’t you? Do we speak Bible language or a foreign language?

 

Love from Nancy Campbell

 

 

Although I speak the English language, I still have a New Zealand accent and continue to say many words we use Down Under that are unheard of here in the States. It’s amazing that even though nearly all of our grandchildren have been born in America they will often come out with New Zealand words, and you can sometimes detect a New Zealand accent which they have received from their mothers.

 

I noticed the power of this the other day when reading Nehemiah 13. I have always loved the book of Nehemiah because it reveals how Nehemiah did not give up but continued on building the walls and the gates of Jerusalem in the face of ridicule, opposition, and persecution. His enemies did everything to stop him building the wall.

 

We are also in a building career of building godly marriages and families. The devil doesn’t want us to do this and constantly seeks to thwart us from our great and high calling from God. We must have the attitude of Nehemiah who when his adversaries tried to get him to come down from his building project, he replied: “I AM DOING A GREAT WORK, so that I CANNOT COME DOWN: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it hand come down you?” (Nehemiah 6:3).

 

Back to Nehemiah 13 which somehow, I hadn’t noticed before with all my reading of Nehemiah. Nehemiah became aware of a huge problem. Many of the Jews had “married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab” (v. 23). And guess what? Their children “could not speak in the Jews’ language, but each according to the language of each people” (v. 24). Wow! The children were growing up speaking a foreign language. They didn’t even know the language of the land, the language of their heritage!

 

And who was teaching them these foreign languages? THE MOTHERS! The mothers were not in only influencing the children but the whole nation!

 

Nehemiah soon put a stop to this. You can read what he did in verses 25-28. He certainly didn’t beat about the bush.

 

But dear mother, this incident is also a challenge to us. I know you are teaching your children the English language because you live in America but are you also teaching them the language of the kingdom of God. Ultimately, this is the most important language we must teach our children. If we belong to God’s kingdom, we should certainly teach them the language of thIS kingdom.

 

Of course, we can’t teach our children language of the kingdom if we don’t know it—if we DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD! Sadly, I hear most of the church speaking the language of the kingdom of our enemy, Satan. They spout forth more ideology of his kingdom than they do of God’s kingdom. They are more familiar with the lifestyle and language of our humanistic society than of the lifestyle of the God’s Word.

 

God’s kingdom language should roll off our tongues. It should be familiar to our children so that they grow up speaking it. Instead we are often guilty of Hosea 8:12: where God says: “I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a STRANGE thing.” Isn’t that such an indictment to the people of God? That God’s words are strange to us and the language of humanism, liberalism, materialism, and the things of this world are more familiar than God’s ultimate truth?

 

What language are you speaking to your children today?

 

Love from Nancy Campbell

 

Painting by Jessie Willcox Smith

 

The full understanding of the Hebrew word (sameach) is that we will be glee-FULL, merry-FULL, happy-FULL, cheer-FULL, rejoicing-FULL, and of course, joy-FULL! Not a half-measured life, but a FULL life.

 

"Oh my," you retort. "How do you expect me to be joyful when I hardly have time to get one moment for myself? I'm over-worked and underpaid! I've got crying little ones around me all day!"

 

Dear mother, can I let you into a secret? It's all in your attitude. If you think you could be doing something else, you'll resent you powerful role of mothering. If you think you deserve to be in some more "significant" role, you'll be frustrated.

 

Dear mother, don’t listen to the brainwashing of our humanistic society. You could not be doing anything more powerful. You are in the perfect will of God. You are fulfilling the greatest career God has given to women. You are determining the course of this nation. You are doing an eternal work. As you embrace your high calling with all your heart, the joy will come. God intends you to be filled with joy, not just because everything is perfect and easy, but because you are doing what He wants you to do.

 

Enjoy your precious baby and children today. Don't waste these precious years with self-pity and pining for something that is vain and empty. Revel in your FULL life that is impacting this world and eternity.

 

Have a wonderful merry-hearted day,

 

Nancy Campbell

 

We are not only to love our husbands, but to be friendly and affectionate to them. Throughout the day we should take every opportunity to cuddle, kiss, hug, and touch. The more we do this, the more we release love to each other. We have to work at being loving. We can so easily forget about it in the challenges of the day and the tiredness of the evening.

 

We should speak to them as though we were speaking to our best friend. Do we yell at our best friend? Do we give the silent treatment to our best friend? Exodus 33:11 tells us that God spoke to Moses "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." He told things to Moses that He didn't tell anyone else. There is a special way we speak to friends. We are usually polite, sweet, kind, and with respect. This is the same way we should speak to our husband.

 

If your husband is your best friend, you’ll love him even when he's not so nice; even when he's being difficult. Proverbs 17:17: "A friend loveth AT ALL TIMES."

 

Another wonderful thing about friendship is learning from one another, encouraging one another, and sometimes debating with one another to greater intellectual and spiritual heights. My husband and I love to discuss subjects together (especially from God's Word), and we don't always agree. How boring that would be. My husband says, "We don't have to agree with one another as long as we love one another."

 

Proverbs 27:17: "Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

 

Forget Girls' Night Out! I'd rather go out with my husband (or stay home with him) than anyone else in the world. And that's after 59 years of marriage!

 

Have a wonderful day,

 

Nancy Campbell

 

14) Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

 

15) To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area, instant relief.

 

16) Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.

 

17) When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers. Simply put a piece of tape over the splinter and pull. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

 

18) Look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer: To clean a toilet, drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush.

 

19) Clean a vase - to remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.

 

20) Polish jewelry - drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

 

21) Clean a thermos bottle - fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

 

22) To unclog a drain, drop three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz white Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

 

23) The best distinguishing agent for fire in the kitchen is baking soda. Use a whole box if needed.

 

24) If you store candles in the freezer, they burn longer (and incidentally, drip less).

 

25) Don’t throw out your potato water. After cooking your potatoes, save the water. You can place in it your jewelry or tarnished silver. Leave for 30 minutes. Take out and they will wipe clean and sparkly.

 

Have fun from Above Rubies

Your tips for today:

MORE HOUSEHOLD TIPS, Part 1

 

Some are old,

Some are new,

Try a few,

Some will work for you!

 

1) Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

 

2) To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

 

3) To prevent eggshells from cracking, add salt to the water before hard-boiling.

 

4) To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

 

5) To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan and bring to a boil on stove-top - skillet will be much easier to clean.

 

6) Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces - no more stains.

 

7) If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up.” I sometimes add tahini.

 

8) Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

 

9) Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.

 

10) To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh - if it rises to the surface, throw it away.

 

11) Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

 

12) Don’t throw out old bicycle inner tubes. Cut the good portion into rubber bands. They’ll make great slingshots for your boys.

 

Have a happy day from Above Rubies.

Your homemaking tips for today:

 

 

1. THE TELEPHONE

You can waste hours of time talking and gossiping on the telephone. Not only are you wasting time, but this is usually when your children get into trouble or do naughty things because they realize the phone has taken mother's attention away from them.

 

2. TELEVISION AND SOCIAL MEDIA

I would rather live life than watch it! Teach your children to LIVE life rather than watch it go by. Remember that the day is for work, the evening is for relaxation. A good rule for your home is to never turn the TV on during the day. (It's still a time waster in the evening too!)

 

3. READING NOVELS WHEN THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE

Don't be tempted to read a novel during the hours of the night, only to wake up too tired to cope with your children during the day.

 

4. SELF PITY AND WORRY

Thinking about yourself is a deadly time waster. You can't adequately nurture your children or bless others while you use all your emotional energy on yourself.

 

5. GET ORGANIZED

If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it. It is important to have long-range goals and a goal for each day.

 

6. BE DICISPLINED

Do what has to be done, not just what you feel like doing. This develops character.

 

7. ONE THING AT A TIME

Tackle one job at a time and finish it completely. Then start another job. Clean one room at a time. You don't have to get everything done in one day.

 

8. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SAY NO

Stay focused. Don't get sidetracked. Your first priority is to be a wife, mother, and homemaker. Everything else comes second.

 

9. TOO MUCH STUFF

The more "stuff" you have in your home, the more you have to clean. The more gadgets and ornaments you have, the more you have to dust. The more toys your children own, the more you have to pick up. They only need two or three at once. Put the others away. Continually 'de-junk' your house. Keep only what you need.

 

10. INEFFICIENCY

When cleaning up, don't carry one thing to another room and then come back for something else. Put everything for one room in a box, and then take one trip to that room. Save on unnecessary movements. Practice washing dishes quickly, learning to avoid unnecessary movements.

 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

 

26. Limit the number of women’s meetings, coffee mornings, and playgroup sessions that you go to.

27. Be the manager of your home. Your name is Mother, not slave.

28. Allow 15 extra minutes to get ready when you are going out. And what about turning the clock forward half an hour when getting ready for church?

29. Listen to constructive criticism. Be willing to learn new things.

30. Spend time in the garden with your children.

31. Guard the sanctity of your home. Don’t allow others to selfishly invade your life.

32.If you don’t have time for an early morning Quiet Time, write out one or two Scriptures and pin them up on your fridge or near your kitchen work area and meditate upon them during the day.

32. Take the phone off the hook if you want a rest.

33. Cook two meals at a time, eat one and freeze the other.

34. Make children responsible for making their beds and keeping their own bedrooms tidy.

35. Don’t try to do too much. You are not a super-mum!

36. Remember Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

37. Hum, sing, or whistle while doing your work. It creates a happy atmosphere.

38. Eat a healthy diet. Take extra supplements if needed.

39. Don’t compare your family with others. Your family is unique. You don’t have to live up to other people’s expectations.

40. Be a “keeper at home” and try not to go out too much.

41. During rest time, pin a note to the door say: “Mother and children resting. Please do not disturb.”

42. Learn to say “No” to others. Family comes first.

43. You are not a taxi service. Train your children to be contented at home.

44. Dress neatly and attractively. Staying at home shouldn’t mean a slovenly appearance.

45. Teach your children to clean up after themselves.

46. Don’t try to pack more into your days than you have time for.

47. Make time for some quiet moments alone with your husband each evening.

48. Fellowship together is so stress-relieving. Arrange a little picnic at a park to meet another mother and her children so you can chat together, and the children can play together. Or even at your own home.

49. Eliminate all sugar from your children’s diet. Too much sugar makes them hyper!

50. Instead of yelling at your children when they are arguing and fighting, move right in and pray with them instead! Pray against the arguing spirit and speak God’s peace into their hearts.

 

Love from Above Rubies.

Dear ladies, This week I am going to send out to you some tips for mothering and homemaking. The first one has 50 tips so I’ll send out 25 today and the next 25 tomorrow. I found them again from an article in an old Above Rubies! Trust you’ll be blessed.

~ Nancy

 

 

1. Write things to do on a list and plan your day. You most probably won’t get through your list, but at least you have a plan.

2. Make a game of household chores as you do them with your children.

3. Make your schedule your servant, not your master.

4. Play a game or have a competition while doing the chores with your children.

5. Enlist the children to fold the laundry and put it away.

6. Teach your children: “Don’t put it down, put it away.”

7. Teach your older children to wash and dress the younger ones.

8. Play peaceful Christian music in your home.

9. Do you daily exercises with your children.

10. Go on a journey with your children through an old photograph album. They love seeing old family pictures.

11. Gather your children around you and read to them when they are bouncing off the walls. Reading stories quietens them all down.

12. Wear clothing that is comfortable and easy to maintain.

13. Talk less, listen more.

14. Eliminate or restrict the amount of caffeine in your diet.

15. Take a nice warm shower or bath.

16. Sit down and sing some songs with your children.

17. Take the children (and the dog) for a walk.

18. Be practical when buying household furniture etc. Expensive items spell stress.

19. Do a kind deed for someone else. Include your children as this trains them to do kind deeds too.

20. Put a special stick-on pen by the phone with a pad for messages.

21. Leave the kitchen clean and tidy every night.

22. Train your children to politely answer the phone and door.

23. Be prepared to change your plans.

24. Don’t ignore problems but tackle them head on.

25. Do your shopping on off-hours during off-days to avoid crowds.

 

Reprinted from Above Rubies magazine.

 

However, he is not content with eliminating the mother from the home. He also 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.

 

Mothers, we must be watchwomen, constantly on the alert for his crafty ways. 1 Peter 5:8, 9 says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom RESIST steadfast in the faith.”

 

When you notice the devil putting his toe in your door . . .

boot him out before he gets any further.

Speak the name of Jesus out loud.

Confess the Scriptures out loud.

Don’t allow the enemy to become entrenched in your home.

Raise up the stand of righteousness.

Cast out all worldly practices and entertainment, and “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:15-17).

Deal strongly with negative and evil habits.

 

God spoke to His servant, David: “I have cut off all thine enemies OUT OF THY SIGHT” (1 Samuel 7:9). God reveals the way He wants us to also deal with Satan’s temptations.

 

We cast them OUT OF OUR SIGHT!

We don’t allow them to linger around.

We don’t tolerate them.

We send them kicking, OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND.

James 4:7: “RESIST the devil, and he will flee from you.”

 

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

 

 

Daniel 7:25 speaks about the coming anti-Christ (although this same spirit is already in the world): "He shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High." The words "wear out" in the Hebrew mean "to afflict mentally." These words are only used in a mental sense. This is Satan's strategy. To wear us out in our minds with unbelieving and deceiving thoughts. If you are filled with worry, confused, and tormented in your mind, you can't function emotionally or physically.

 

Therefore, you must be on the alert. You don't have to let the enemy wear you out! This is not God's plan. You can't stop these thoughts coming to your mind, but you stop them embedding in your mind! You don't have to dwell on them for one minute! Resist them in the name of Jesus. Throw them out of your mind. They don't belong in your redeemed mind. My daughters call them “bucket thoughts” which they throw in the garbage!

 

1 Peter 1:13 says: "Gird up the loins of your mind." In Bible days the men wore long tunics and when doing physical exercise pulled up their tunic and tucked it in their belt so they would not be hindered. In the same way, we must eradicate of any thoughts in our minds that hinder us from walking in the victory which Jesus Christ died to give us.

 

Be encouraged again today with 2 Corinthians 5:4, 5:"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ."

 

May you have a victorious day triumphing over the wiles of the devil. You do not have to let him wear you out.

 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

 

1. CHILDREN LOVE SURPRISES

 

Try this idea. My children loved it. "Children, Mommy is going to give you a surprise! I want you all to hide behind the sofa and wait. No one is allowed to look!" I then arrange a little plate for each one with perhaps cut apples, pieces of cheese, raisins, a wholesome cookie, or whatever you have on hand. Make them into the shape of a smiley face.

 

"Okay, children, come for your surprise!" Although it is only simple, a little surprise and a little food in their stomachs makes a huge difference and calms them all down.

 

2. CHILDREN LOVE STORIES

 

"Come children, let's read a story." Gather the children all around you, cuddle them up tight, and read some nursery rhymes or stories to them. found story time never failed to calm my children. Can you guess that we had story time frequently throughout the day? Have you purchased “Nanny’s Nursery Rhymes”? You’ll love to read these to your children: http://tinyurl.com/NannysNurseryRhymes

 

3. CHILDREN LOVE TO GET OUTSIDE

 

"Children, let's go outside for a little walk." Take them out to look at the birds, the butterflies, or any insects, lizards, or salamanders you can find. Ten to fifteen minutes or more outside enables them to let off steam, changes their behavior, and they'll come inside with refreshed spirits.

 

4. CHILDREN NEED SLEEP

 

Sometimes when a child, or all the children, are bouncing off the walls, we forget that they may be tired and no longer know how to control themselves. Perhaps they just need a nap!

 

With most of these little alternatives, you have to stop what you are doing! That's the secret. Children become more difficult to handle when you are engrossed in what you are doing. Stop and spend a little time with them. It makes all the difference.

 

Have a great day.

 

Nancy Campbell

 

Painting by Jessie Wilcox Smith

 

Maybe you feel like this 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.

 

And to top it all off, God is with you all the way through. He does not give up on you halfway through your commission. He is with you to the end. David reminded his son, Solomon that “God will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, UNTIL THOU HAST FINISHED all the work for the service of the house of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 28:20).

 

God is also with you as you build your “house of the LORD” and daily serve Him as you mother and train your children. And did you get the message? He will be with you UNTIL YOU FINISH THE WORK! Not halfway through, but all the way through. You may feel exhausted along the way, but because God is with you, and giving you His strength each new day, you will make it to the finishing line!

 

God’s promise to you in Hebrews 13:5, 6 says: “Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament reveal the full meaning of this Scripture: “I WILL NOT, I WILL NOT, I WILL NOT let thee down, leave thee in the lurch, leave thee destitute, leave thee in straits and helpless, abandon thee.”

 

Lift up your head today. You are not doing this on your own. GOD IS WITH YOU UNTIL THE FINSIHING LINE!

 

Be encouraged.

 

Nancy Campbell