ABOVE RUBIES NEWSLETTER #3, July 2014
Dear Above Rubies reader,
Many blessings to your home today. May the atmosphere of your home, and everyone in your home, be filled with joy and peace. This is God's intention for us, isn't it? Every family should be a little replica of the kingdom of God. And what does the kingdom of God look like? Romans 14:17 says, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." These wonderful fruits should fill our home.
In Todays Newsletter:
ONE WEEK SALE-NEARLY A GIVE-AWAY
THREE DAYS PRAYERS FOR NEEDY CHILDREN
GERMAN HOMESCHOOL FAMILY NEEDS HELPER
THROW OUT THE GARBAGE
I love the way God puts everything in order. There is not one haphazard word in the Bible. In this Scripture He puts righteousness first. We can't have peace and joy in our home if righteousness doesn't reign. There is no peace in a home with disobedient or even rebellious children. There is no peace when there is a wrong that has not been put right. There is no peace where there is bitterness and unforgiveness.
And there is no peace and joy when there is sin in the home. Sin must be dealt with. Often we would rather do nothing and hope that it will go away, because we don't want to rock the boat! But can I tell you something? You have to rock the boat. It may be messy. It may not be nice. But you must deal with it. You won't have any peace until you do. And we must deal with it thoroughly.
God said to His people, Israel, "If ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell" (Numbers 33:55).
There were 12 gates in Jerusalem in old times and each gate had a name. One of them was called the Dung Gate through which they took all the garbage of the city to be burnt or buried. Without the Dung Gate they could not keep the city clean. We have to have a Dung Gate in our homes too through which we throw out all the garbage and sin that destroys God's presence filling our home.
I talk more about this in my book, "Gate-keepers of the Home" which I describe the names and meanings of the 12 different gates and how they apply to our home.
What a blessing to have a clean house! All the garbage thrown out! Joy and peace fills the home again. No wonder Hebrews 1:9 says of Jesus, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." Jesus was filled with joy more than anyone else because He loved righteousness and hated iniquity.
We read the same truth in Hebrews 12:11 ESV, "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of reighe4ousness to those who have been trained by it."
GATEKEEPERS OF THE HOME (How to Guard Your Home from the Inroads of the Enemy)
To receive the book I mentioned above, go to this link:
http://tinyurl.com/GatekeepersOfTheHome
ABOVE RUBIES # 90
I am looking forward to preparing the new magazine. Haven't started yet, but will start very soon. As usual, I am waiting for the money to come in (only need about $50,000!!!). However, I will get started as I wait. I find that when I go ahead and have the magazine prepared that God comes through mightily. Therefore, if you have a special testimony regarding your life as a wife or mother, I am always happy to hear from you. I am always looking for testimonies of marriage restoration or how God is teaching you to live in victory in your marriage.
To send an article for my perusal, do the following:
Keep it to real live experiences regarding your life as a wife and mother.
Don't make it too long - 1500 words is adequate, but shorter is even better.
Only put one space between sentences, please. Very important.
Send as a Word Document by email attachment.
Please also add at the end of the article:
Your full name.
Your husband's name
The names and ages of your children.
Your email address
ONE WEEK AMAZING SALE--IT'S NEARLY A GIVE-AWAY SALE
I am sure you have already purchased 100 DAYS OF BLESSING, Volume 1. This week, I am giving an amazing special for 100 DAYS OF BLESSING, Volume 2. It sells at $14.95, but for this week only (ends 27 July), you can get it for the ridiculously cheap price of . . .
ONLY $5.95
http://tinyurl.com/100DaysVol2
"Thank you for commitment to crank out these wonderful goldmines for us!"
Every day, I am encouraged, challenged, educated, and sometimes rebuked and lovingly put back on track. I wish I had the funds to buy case after case, to hand them out to every wife and mother I encounter!"
"I am uplifted, encouraged and challenged to try and change just one little thing in my life each day. I cannot recommend this book highly enough."
"Your devotions rock my world!"
100 Days of Blessing -Volume 1
http://bit.ly/100DaysofBlessing
Only $14.95
THREE DAYS PRAYER FOR NEEDY CHILDREN--JULY 20, 21, AND 22.
The Coover Families for LOVE THE UNBORN BABIES write:
It is our prayerful desire to ask all of you to join us again this year in a special three-day period of fasting and prayer for all the children (born and unborn). Since Mother's Day is in May and Father's Day is in June, we plan the "The Children's Days" in July.
We understand that some are not able to fast for three days. You may like to pick one day. Even if you are unable to physically fast, it is our earnest desire that you would join with us in intercession and prayer to the Father for these three days. Some things that we can pray are:
1) for the unborn to be protected and cherished and allowed to continue growing and developing until it is time for them to be birthed, so that they can have the opportunity to be born and to live and to continue to develop
2) for safe pregnancies and deliveries for all expectant mothers and babies
3) for people to realize the value of children and to really invest in them, physically, emotionally and spiritually, realizing that they are very important, and an incredible gift from above
4) for the children who face the challenge of physical disabilities to know that they are special and that they are not a mistake
5) for the children who do not have enough to eat
6) for the children who are sick, hurt, or in the hospital, and for those who do not have access to good medical care
7) for the children who are homeless
8) for the children who do not have parents
9) for the children who are kidnapped, for protection over them physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and for them to be found and safely returned home
10) for the children who are abused, for them to be rescued from a bad situation and to find healing and hope
11) for the children who do not have love and security in their homes, to find refuge in "the Father of the fatherless"
12) for the children to find genuine faith, hope, and love, and to grow up to pass these on to their children as well
Thank-you for praying with us. Let's lift our hearts up before the throne of grace. He truly loves the children and He hears our prayers.
For more ideas of things to pray about for the unborn during July 20, 21, and 22 (and all the time), please visit www.LoveTheUnbornBabies.name/prayer.html .
For further updates on The Children's Days and on Love The Unborn Babies, please go to: www.facebook.com/lovetheunbornbabies
www.LoveTheUnbornBabies.name
www.RoadOfThePilgrims.joyintheworld.info
GERMAN HOMESCHOOL FAMILY NEEDS HELPER
4 months
This message comes from Kathleen Engelhardt, our Above Rubies Representative in Europe. Colin and I have stayed with Kathleen and her husband and family. They are a very precious family and wonderful parents.
"We are Sebastian (30) and Kathleen Engelhardt (29) and so far have four precious children with us, Elias (almost 9), Sarah (7), Johanna (almost 4), Benedikt (1) and one in heaven. Because of homeschooling we had to leave Germany and are now living in France, very close to the German and Swiss border. We got to know Above Rubies through American friends about 10 years ago when we were still engaged. It was and still is a great blessing to us, which is one reason why we decided to distribute the magazine in Continental Europe.
Our parents live quite far away. There is no one nearby who could come to help me out with household chores etc. and the children are still in the learning process. So we had the idea to invite a young lady to live with us who could help me with laundry, cooking, or cleaning the house so that I find more time for teaching and training our children. It would give the children the chance to hear someone speak English every day which might encourage them to speak English ,too. (Elias and Sarah are learning English with the Rosetta Stone program at the moment).
We thought spring would be the best time to come. Maybe from March till June or July 2015. Our helper would have her own room and a separate bathroom. If she likes she could learn German (our French isn´t good) and visit places in France, Germany and Switzerland together with us. She would be part of our family and experience the European culture. Of course we would take over the costs for the flight to us and back home.
If you are interested, please contact us for more information. Over Skype we could get to know each other in advance so that you can decide if you would want your daughter to stay with us.
Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TEACH YOURSELF TO DRAW
This message comes from Sarah Janisse Brown who has been an Above Rubies readers for years.
"Hi Nancy - Good news! We are expecting Baby #10. You have seen our family grow from four to ten now! We are self-supported missionaries in Croatia right now.
AND we just released a wonderful set of homeschooling workbooks for creative children! Here is the link to our workbooks:
Love from Sarah * This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I LOVE ABOVE RUBIES
Did you know that in September I will have been publishing Above Rubies for 38 years? I never dreamed of looking this far into the future when I started so many years ago. And I can't stop now. The need to encourage mothers is as great as ever and this magazine keeps being a life-line to all who receive it. Here are just a few snippets . . .
"Each time AR comes I receive new strength and renewed vision to 'keep on keepin' on."
"Your magazine and ministry has changed my mothering amazingly."
"After each issue I am uplifted, energized, and yes, admonished, too."
"Thank you for your ministry of encouragement to mothers. We get weary in the day to day routine of laundry, meals and runny noses, and need to be reminded of the bigger picture of God's eternal plan. What a privilege and daunting responsibility to be molding arrows for the army of God!"
"Above Rubies has truly touched my soul, and has inspired me to be a better wife and mother, all for the Glory of the Lord. It has taught me how to deal with submission when not even wanting to. You are changing the way women view the most important job ever! With the Power of the Holy Spirit, families will never be the same."
"Your ministry has blessed my life, saved my marriage, fueled my spirit. I could go on, but need to go rock, kiss, nurse, and give attention to my five little lambs."
"I love your publication because it is the one place (besides the Bible) which adequately describes all the beauty, wonder, joy, work, and adventure of our calling."
"Above Rubies sure makes a woman proud to be one, and constantly encourages all mothers to be proud of their high calling!"
"I have been reading Above Rubies and being blessed for years. In fact, I have been blessed with six more children since being convicted about birth control through a testimonial letter in Above Rubies ten years ago."
I PUT MY DAUGHTER IN DAY CARE
"The ministry of Above Rubies is vital to the United States. It opened my eyes to mothering my 18-year-old daughter. I put my daughter in daycare when she was four years old and I broke her heart. She asked God to help her forgive me and literally she went to bed one night saying that prayer and woke up the next morning with a heart healed of bitterness toward me.
"You see I was "ministering" to the tiny babies in the nursery. When my daughter's naptime came she didn't want to lie down so the daycare workers sent her to me. I tried to reason (all she wanted was her mom but it was against the rules) with her and since she just cried I popped her on the backside and sent her back to the nap room. I can still hear her cry as she walked through the sanctuary to the nap room. She never forgot that either.
We homeschooled her from 7th to 12th grade so that gave us time for many heart-felt discussions and allowing God to heal all her hurts from the inside out. She is a precious girl but I so wish I had not hurt her and gave her those negative memories. Again, I say, thank you for being that voice that continually cries out for God's way in families."
PRIORITIZE
Recently I read this quote from St. Francis de Sales, "Every Christian needs a half an hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy, then he needs an hour." Immediately I was convicted and wrote beside it, "This is for me." My life is exceedingly busy each day (as I am sure yours is, too). It's easy to crowd out prayer when there is so much to do in our day and our list is so long. But, what's the use of all our activities unless they are bathed in prayer? They are like hay and stubble which will be burned up (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
It's the same with reading the Bible. The more activities we pack into our lives the less time we have to read God's Word. However, the busier we are, the more we need the sustenance of His Word. We'll soon get off the beaten track if we don't have daily doses to keep us in the right direction.
It affects our family life, too. When the schedule is full and everyone is going their various ways, it's easy for the family to become fragmented. Once again, the busier the family, the more we need to prioritize coming together as a family. Nothing is more important as gathering around the family meal table each day to connect, fellowship, pray, and worship together. Other things may seem necessary, but they are often detours from the enemy to keep us from God's best.
Love and blessings,
NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org