Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

6. MEN OF COURAGE--NO TIME FOR POWDER PUFFS!

Men, if we are going to be men of courage, we must speak up for what's right when the opportunity presents itself. If you have got any truth in you, for goodness sake, SAY IT! Do not hide truth behind closed doors.

Edmund Burke wrote, "All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to
do nothing."

The question we need to ask ourselves is, How righteous are we really when we do not speak up when we should? God is calling for all Christian men to use every opportunity possible to be light shiners and salt preservers.

True men will always cringe when they see men sucking up to the false, especially when the false are rich, predominant, popular, physically stronger, or politically powerful.

When someone is telling a lie, speak up and tell the truth.

It is high time for us men to tell it the way it is, no matter who is listening. We may get persecuted for it. We may lose our job for it. Even our friends at church, who we wish to impress, may despise us when we do not toe the party line. So what! It's time for men to be men and get rid of all that is yellow and gutless.

No more time for powder puffs and prissy men who hold their peace when the sword should be drawn.

Be encouraged. Colin

6. MEN OF COURAGE--DON'T WAIT AROUND, GET STARTED!

Speaking of courage, one of the greatest acts of courage in the Bible (and of course there are many) was displayed by Jonathan, King Saul's son in 1 Samuel, chapters 13-14. In 1 Samuel 13:5-7 we read, "And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horseman, and the people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude... When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits."

But, in chapter 14 we read of how with great courage, Jonathan and his armor bearer discovered themselves to one of the Philistine garrisons. Jonathan spoke words of faith and courage when he said to his armor bearer, "Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restrain to the Lord to save by many or by few."

In that first encounter, Jonathan, with his armor bearer, slew about 20 men, then God took over. Remember that the only people in all Israel with sword and spear were Saul and Jonathan. Through the spiritual weapons God has given us, we can be like Jonathan. Through prayer, we can expose ourselves, slay about 20 devils, and just see what God can do with the rest!

Like Jonathan, we just have to get started!

Be encouraged. Colin

6. MEN OF COURAGE

Men, in order for us to turn things around in America so that we will continue to be the nation God has called us to be from the beginning, we will need to have a revival of godly character.

The nations of the world, through the socialistic and communistic strategies of the UN, are making big inroads into the very heart of American government. It will take men with much courage, in all areas of our Federal Government, to stand up for the truth of our liberties and freedoms.

We who call ourselves Christians will need to fast and pray as never before so that all corrupt liberal politicians, judges, media, and educators will be brought down from their corrupt thrones, irrespective of what party they belong to.

If, in His mercy, God delivers the USA from the wrecking ball of Barack Obama, we will need to realize that only God's mercy has answered our prayers. The question is, what will we Christians do with this reprieve? Will we squander it on self and the flesh? Or, use this reprieve or new window of opportunity to be courageous and make the most of it for God?

Psalm 85:8 says, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto His people, and to his saints: BUT LET THEM NOT TURN AGAIN TO FOLLY."

Be encouraged. Colin

5. MEN WHO WILL REPENT AND PRAY

Last night I watched the third and final debate and while I thought that Mitt Romney did very well on many points and did not let Obama get away with much, I was concerned that he left Obama off the hook regarding Benghazi.

On Sunday evening I watched the film entitled "Dreams of my REAL Father." This movie is very well done and brings to light Obama's real father. It also goes into the background of his mother and her seductive relationship with Frank Marshall David. It also reveals the corrupt communist contacts that shaped Obama's life. It shows how his whole life is dedicated to the infiltration of hard core communism into the education and political structure of American life in order to destroy American capitalism.

You can get this movie on Netflix or order off the Internet.

We must continue to earnestly pray that God will be merciful to our nation and deliver us from the scourge and destruction of progressiveness, which is communism.

We only have 15 days to go!

Another four years of Obama will, I firmly believe, be very destructive to this nation. It will hand over much of our government to UN treaties. The power of Congress and Senate will be seriously undermined. The presidency will become our main form of government. We must pray that the eyes of our nation will be opened so we will vote that the man who governs with the most righteousness will rule our nation.

The most important words for this nation are REPENT AND PRAY!

Be encouraged. Colin

4. MEN WHO WILL NOT COMPROMISE

God is looking for men who will not compromise values. We must not compromise our biblical values, nor the Constitution of this great country.

America is in a precarious position. Extreme socialism, which is communism, has over time infiltrated politics and much of our education system to the point that our highest office of government is now controlled by a red hot communist who is dismantling our national way of life at an alarming rate.

Our present leaders are masters of deception and lies. They would have us believe that they love God, but in fact, they hate Him. Our president was influenced by Saul Alinksy's, book, "Rules for Radicals" on how to destroy capitalism and bring in communism. At the commencement of his book, Saul Alinksy dedicates the contents to "Lucifer, the First Rebel." They are all deceivers and communism is their god and their religion.

If Romney should win these elections he will need all our prayers and support to undo all the havoc Obama has wrought.

God instructed His people in Deuteronomy 8:-17-18, "And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth."

We notice throughout Scripture how God gave righteous men power to get wealth. God is not against wealth. We read of righteous wealthy men in the Bible such as Abraham and Job and many others. God is not for government that penalizes and squashes the wealthy, for it is of God that the wealthy provide employment for the general population so that the country prospers.

Be encouraged. Colin

4. MEN WHO WILL NOT COMPROMISE

God is looking for men who will not compromise, no matter what! Uncompromising men are few and far between, but thank God, there are some.

The Holy Spirit who indwells all Christians is not a compromising spirit. He must be grieved at the way we compromise so easily over divorce, accepting the children He wants to give us, and homeschooling them to save them from humanistic propaganda and morally corrupt peers.

An ever-increasing percentage of "Christian" homes are infected with pornography and now we face courts that rule in favor of same sex marriage! These courts declare that it is unconstitutional to rule marriage to be exclusive to one man and one woman. May God have mercy on America and help us to repent quickly for we are trampling underfoot the gracious liberty He has given us. We desperately need a revival of good old-fashioned biblical holiness.

We Christian men can, and should, fast and pray against all forms of moral compromise. This in turn will have its cleansing effect upon the church and then the general population. What happened in McDonalds in Florida, which is unclean and corrupt, is sticking a sinful finger right into God's face at a time when we need God to help our country so desperately.

Be encouraged. Colin

4. MEN WHO WILL NOT COMPROMISE

This nation needs men who will not compromise their moral values, even under extreme pressure. It needs men who will not compromise truth, even if it financially advantages them to do so. Some men will say anything to get what they want, whether it be in marriage, promotion, election to public office, or on the other hand, government hand-outs. The list is never ending.
Once these men get what they want they will cop out on what they promised and lie through their teeth.

There is an ever increasing percentage of our nation who want the government to look after them, from the cradle to the grave. They have compromised all personal responsibility and have sold out their souls to the devil's lie.

God said that man should work by the sweat of his brow, six days a week, whether that work be in the office or in the field. If a man does not have a full time job, and is capable of working, he must take personal responsibility and put himself in a full time job looking for a job. A man who works full time looking for a job will soon have a job.

The rich who work hard should not be penalized in any way to support and provide for those who compromise work values and believe that the government should take from the hard working man, in small or large business, and provide for them. This is communism and it has never worked in any country. It compromises creativity and the nation becomes bankrupt and third world!

Be encouraged. Colin

3. MEN WHO ARE EXEMPLARY

I think the debate went pretty well last night for Romney. I didn't mind the feistiness when the two candidates were "toe to toe" with each other. It was a gutsy debate and I felt Romney was the only one who lifted my hopes somewhat for the economic future of our nation. I was not impressed with the mocking laughter and rolling eyes of Joe Biden in the Vice Presidential debate.

Romney will most certainly need to be an exemplary man who will be able to fight and resist the current socialistic mindset of those who favor our present administration.

To me, he demonstrated last night the Scripture that says, "The righteous are as bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1). Face to face against angry opposition, he demonstrated the charter of righteous boldness that will be necessary to turn this nation around.

If Romney is elected, and I pray and fast that he will be, he will need an army of truth-loving, falsehood despising, evil rejecting, toe-to-toe combaters. He will need men who will be exemplary in righteous boldness to stand with him in prayer and support for the battle to take our country back, for both Gold and man.

Be encouraged. Colin

3. MEN WHO ARE EXEMPLARY

These are men who are worthy of being imitated. Jesus Christ was, and still is, forever the perfect man, who is infinitely more worthy to be followed and imitated than all other men.

The supreme reason why God has given us His Holy Spirit is that we should be conformed into the image of His son. Romans 8:29 says, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

The Apostle Paul was called by Christ to be an example to follow. Acts 9:15 says, "He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." Paul himself stated in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be ye therefore followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

In this desperate hour in our nation, we need Christian men who will not be content with the status quo. We need men who will refuse 21st century normality. The image displayed by the 1st century Christians is a far cry from His image revealed in our current century. It is almost barely recognizable.

To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin

T'was the night before elections,
And all thru' the town,
Tempers were flaring
Emotions ran up and down.
I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap,
Had shut off the TV,
tired of political crap.
When all of a sudden,
There arose such a noise,
I peered out my window,
Saw Obama and his boys
They had come for my wallet,
They wanted my pay
To hand out to others
Who had not worked a day!
He snatched up my money,
And quick as a wink,
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink.
He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart.
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!
'On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, on Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!
They took off for his cause,
And as they flew out of sight,
I heard him laugh at a nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!
So I leave you to think on this one final note...
IF YOU DON'T WANT SOCIALISM GET OUT AND VOTE !!!!

Author unknown

2. MEN OF INTEGRITY continued.

When the leadership of a nation is corrupt, what hope has the nation of prospering and being blessed by God?

Psalm 9:17 tells us, "The wicked shall be cast into hell and all the nations that forget God." Forgetting God is wickedness for it replaces truth with lies. It does not fear God and casts aside His judgment on sin. When we forget God we elevate man.

Integrity is vital to the preservation of the nation, the city, the family, and the individual. If America is going to survive this time of gross darkness it will need a revival of old-fashioned, and yet as modern as tomorrow, integrity.

David's prayer in Psalm 25:21 is, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me."

Can a man's word be trusted these days? Have we clean forgotten that the one who weighs the hearts of men on His scales of perfect justice observes our national and individual behavior?

"Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord" (Hebrews 10:30).

Be encouraged. Colin

2. MEN OF INTREGITY.

It is flat out wrong when men and women whom we elect to be our representatives and place in a position of prominence, power and responsibility because of what they have promised us to straight-out lie to us once elected. They think this is normal and is what is expected of them as a politician.

Enough is enough! This has to stop! No wonder a huge proportion of the country will not vote any more for they have been let down and discouraged by leaders who do not have integrity.

However, not voting does not shut the gate on corruption and lies. Instead, it opens it wider for the corrupt to lead and pass laws that will adversely affect our lives. We must use this privilege of voting to exercise our own responsibility of integrity to elect the most righteous of the candidates who hopefully will exercise the most integrity. We must vote out the most unrighteous when we have the power to do it.

Do we not lack integrity when we simply wash our hands of it like Pilot and do nothing to stop it? I think so.

Be encouraged. Colin

1. MEN WITH BACKBONE (continued).

I believe that most men respect the manly virtue of having backbone for it speaks of the ability to stand up in the face of opposition. A man may appear strong physically, but if his spine is injured he is still a weak man. There is something wrong when a man speaks the truth, but backs down when he is opposed by friends or foes. He reveals that he is a pushover.

Every man should stand by his convictions to truth and never back down, not for anyone--no matter how many important or wealthy they may be. It is morally wrong to cave in and compromise on matters of truth.

Speak the truth and stand by it, come hell or high water!

We are living in days of much pressure to compromise on moral values such as homosexuality, abortion, and adultery. If we keep compromising, the day will soon come when we will not know right from wrong and we will start calling what is wrong right. This is the world we are facing now.

There will always be multitudes who will pat you on the back when you compromise values to their way of thinking, but deep down they would respect you more if you stuck to your guns about the truth.

"Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23).

Be encouraged. Colin

1. MEN WITH BACKBONE.

Who can tolerate a spineless man?

This nation needs men with backbone? Men with backbone in their commitment to Christ and His course. Men who have stickability in the battle of life. Men who will not bend and bow in the face of opposition. No matter what the enemy may hurl at them, they will not quit.

As the saying goes, "Winners never quit, and quitters never win."

Men, as we face these coming elections, who will hold the course and fast and pray that the man who has the most character and who will resist the false, the lies, and the corruption in government will win?

We desperately need a president who will have the backbone to make a strong stand against all the compromises of spineless government and waste of taxpayer's dollars, a man who will root out all weakness wherever it may be found.

God's calling to the men of today's Christian church is the same today as it was in the past. We are either salt halting decay and corruption, or we are "good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men" (Matthew 5:13). We are the light scattering the darkness or light that is hidden and of no use.

It will take Christians with backbone to hold the course with fasting and prayer in order to elect the right president.

Will you be one?

Be encouraged. Colin

Men, I am very concerned about the coming elections. I feel they are perhaps the most important this nation has faced for many years. This present administration seems to me to be as hard-core communist as they could possibly be, and we haven't seen anything yet!

If this president gets another four years in office, I fear that the United States of America will be hard to recognize as the great country it has been. The next four years under our current president would be heavy duty dismantling of America as we have known it.

All the cities and states in this nation that have been following this extreme socialistic agenda are either broke already, or are going broke at an alarming rate. Many are looking to the federal government, or other cities and states, to bail them out. But, from where will this money come? They should not be bailed out by any means unless they change their liberal agenda.

It is highly possible that God would allow the present form of Obama government in order to bring a form of judgment on America for all of this nation's sins, which are many.

Men, we must call upon our God of mercy that He will have mercy upon us and deliver us at this crucial time.

To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin

21. Make memories with your wife and family. Surprise her!

Men, life can become so routine, for ourselves, as well as our wife and family. In order to make memories we need to break with the normal routine.

Surprises make memories!

Take your wife for a pleasant walk somewhere. Fast walking is not conducive to fellowship; therefore remember to stroll hand in hand, or arm in arm--a nice walk in a park, around a lake, or in the woods (although I have to confess that it is hard to get my wife to take a stroll--she likes to walk fast!) Take time to sit down somewhere on a park bench to chat, or find a private spot in the woods to cuddle and kiss (my wife won't say No to that!).

Bring home flowers or something special she really likes to eat. Think of unexpected surprises which will generate pleasant memories.

Take time from your normal routine to spend a romantic night in a nice motel nearby. Include a romantic meal as well. It doesn't have to be far away, or expensive, but you will be creating lovely memories.

Family vacations are always create great memories. Go somewhere different. Try to be more adventurous. Be more creative. Start making plans today.

Be encouraged to think about your first surprise! Colin

20. Keep yourself physically clean, tidy, and in good shape.

Most men, when seeking to court a lady in view of marriage, will take stock of their appearance in order to make the most of what God has given them. They will shower, spruce up their hair, put on a clean shirt and pants, pull themselves up to their full height, and put on all the graces they can master. They do this to win the "love of their life" and hope she will accept him as her man.

It seems sad to me that once he has won her affections and the wedding is over that he begins to gradually let the standards of grace slip. In a way, he has given her a false impression. It was all just "a put on" to get her.

I believe that all husbands should clean up and tidy up their appearance for the evening meal. Your wife will notice that you still seek to honor her as your wife and lover. You should still count it as a privilege to sit with her and your family for the evening--looking, smelling, and acting your best, or at least close to your best.

As the years go by, do your best to keep yourself trim, not only for your own sake, but for the sake of your wife and family. Do not allow yourself to be scruffy and unkempt for the rest of your life.

Start today.

Be encouraged. Colin

19. Keep yourself spiritually and mentally clean.

Men, in order to encourage our wives to be homekeeping, homeschooling mothers, they need to have a husband through whom Christ's light shines as brightly as possible.

Just as all creation needs the light of the sun to survive, so does your wife and family. They need all forms of darkness cut off so they also will not only survive, but will actually thrive.

If the head of the home is infected by some form of darkness, be it pornography or some unclean habit of lust, it will have a negative impact upon the wife and family. Remember, you can't keep darkness to yourself alone. It will affect the atmosphere of your home, as well as all your family.

Light brings encouragement when the storms of darkness are raging around us.

The Scripture admonishes us to not walk in darkness (John 12:35; Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:11; 1 John 1:5-7).

Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16). In order to light up the world, we must start first with the world around us-- our wife and family.

Be encouraged. Colin

18. Bless your wife by taking the lead in conducting Family Devotions with the family.

Men, I truly believe that God will bless the homes where families gather together at appropriate daily times for reading the Scriptures, prayer, and singing and praising God. This will encourage your wife and family.

God is the source of true encouragement (1 Samuel 30:6). By reading the Scriptures, praying, and worshipping together you open up a pipeline of not only encouragement, but many other blessings to flow from God to your wife and family.

Your wife will feel deep within her spirit that her effort in being a home-keeping mother is indeed worthwhile. And she will respect you more for taking this spiritual stand.

Without daily devotions to God there comes a sense of barrenness and emptiness in the home.

Once you start setting aside this time for devotions each day, you will soon see and feel the fruit of it happening in the lives of all your family. They will begin to exude life in many different ways.

Be encouraged. Colin

17. Do not expect instant perfection from your wife and family.

Remember, maturity is not an instant thing. Maturity takes time and some are slower than others. Whilst it is true that we should aim for perfection (Matthew 5:48), yet it is possible to be mature in some areas of life and not in others.

A child may be perfect for his or her age, but if the child remains at the same level of maturity as time goes by, we have a problem. The same rule applies to each one of us.

Remember that your wife and family cannot be viewed as you would your office and workers over which you have charge. You cannot fire your wife and family if they do not measure up. They will mature better in an atmosphere of love, patience, and encouragement than in an atmosphere of tension and too much expectation of perfection.

Part of our own maturity is to know when to relax a little, loosen up, and not get so uptight when people around us do not measure up to our expectations.

Be encouraged. Colin