Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

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

God bless you in your home today.
Nancy Campbell

God has more for you, dear mother. He wants you to flourish and bloom. I believe we only come into the flourishing mode when we embrace our mothering role with all our heart; when we know we are in God's perfect will. No matter what the hardships and challenges, we face them with joy. We are not dreaming of some day when we will be through these mothering days. Instead, we live every moment to the full. Every moment is an abounding moment because Christ lives in us and His life is not wilting, but full of life and power (John 10:10).

Embrace your powerful calling of motherhood. Make every moment a God moment. Think of yourself as a flourishing plant--abounding, blooming, blossoming, enlarging, expanding, flowering, growing luxuriantly, increasing, and thriving (Isaiah 54:2-3)! This is God's plan for you.

God bless you today,

Nancy Campbell

Do they see your sweet spirit of submission toward your husband who is your head and covering? Do they see you delighting to serve? Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church and we certainly wouldn't expect to see the church ordering Christ around, would we?

Titus 2:3-5 describes the lifestyle God wants us to live and goes on to say that when we spurn this lifestyle that we blaspheme God’s Word. That’s because we reveal a false doctrine.

What kind of doctrine do you show to your children?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

This Scripture was also the cry of my heart yesterday and last evening. And truly God moved by His Spirit. No man can take any glory. In His mercy God came and answered the cries of millions of His people all over this nation, and the world, as we pleaded for mercy to save us from an agenda of progressivism, of murdering babies, of appointing liberal supreme court judges, the influx of terrorists into our nation, hidden corruption, lies, and more.

We were not fighting flesh and blood, but principalities and powers. And the surprised liberal media had no idea of the thousands of praying believers across the land who believe that “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

That’s why only the power of the Holy Spirit could bring down “the great mountain”! The words following this Scripture say: “Who art thou, O great mountain? . . . thou shalt become a plain.” God brought down a huge mountain last night.

We humbly give God the glory. But we cannot relax and think it is all over. It is only the beginning. We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness more than ever. We must cry out for revival in the church and across the land. We must be faithful to pray every day—pray individually, pray as families, and pray as groups of believers. God comes by His Spirit in answer to prayer. Amen.

Humbly and thankfully,

Nancy Campbell

It is morning and he lies
Uttering his happy cries,
While his little hands reach out
For the feet that fly about.
Then I go to him and blow
Laughter out of every toe;
Hold him high and let her place
Tiny footprints on my face.

Little feet that do not know
Where the winding roadways go,
Little feet that never tire,
Feel the stones or trudge the mire,
Still too pink and still too small
To do anything but crawl,
Thinking all their wanderings fair,
Filled with wonders everywhere.

Little feet, so rich with charm,
May you never come to harm.
As I bend and proudly blow
Laughter out of every toe,
This I pray, that God above
Shall protect you with His love,
And shall guide those little feet
Safely down life's broader street.

~ Edgar Guest

Isn't it true? We experience the delirious joys of motherhood and also the aches and pains of motherhood, but our lives are richer for them all. How much we would have missed out on if we hadn't been blessed with each child God has given us. And we get more than we start with. As each of our children marry and have children, we receive the blessing of grandchildren! That’s unbeatable! And then great-grandchildren. That’s even more amazing!

Dear young mothers, forget sighing and grumbling about all your frustrations. These precious days with your little ones go too quickly. My three oldest children are all over 50 years of age, but it still seems like one blink of my eye since the day they were born. As I look back on raising our children, do I regret that I didn't get involved in more activities outside the home or further my career? Oh no. I regret every moment I didn't spend with them. I never felt I had enough time to pour into them all I wanted to before they were gone and flown the nest.

Treasure every moment with the children God has given you, today.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Picture: Back when my twins were born, 1965 (Evangeline on the left and Stephen on the right). At that time I had three children under 17 months.

Do we have enemies to fight? Yes. Many years ago, before we ever came to live in America, we made a visit to Disneyland and I watched an animated speech of President Abraham Lincoln. I have never forgotten hearing him say: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” Nearly 30 years later, we face this destruction, and right now at election time.

We have enemies of abortion where Hilary Clinton and all her hordes advocate murdering babies in the womb right up until the day they are born! We fight the enemy of euthanasia. I heard yesterday that now Obama Care states that chemotherapy is not allowed for anyone over 75 years of age. They want to eliminate the aged, and yet many men are, or have been, leaders of countries in their seventies!

Do you fear terrorists from overseas? They are already here. We have terrorist sleeper cells waiting for the right time to destroy us in every city in America. Hilary wants to bring them in by the thousands. We have the enemy of homosexuality which the Creator of mankind calls an abomination. Plus corruption and deceit and more and more and more.

How are we going to fight? Do you have three children in your family? Three children and mom and dad makes five! God says that five of you can put 100 enemies to flight. Twenty families of five can cause 10,000 enemies to bite the dust.

What about families with six, seven, eight, nine and more children? Think about all these prayer warriors. Just imagine if God-fearing families would really get to prayer! Don't let the devil get you so busy and so involved in other things (yes, even GOOD things), that you don't have time to pray and cry out to God for our nation. Don't let all your prayer warriors be wasted. Even little children can learn to intercede.

Praying together is THE MOST POWERFUL THING you can do together as a family. Amen.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

We must keep praying. Praying begins with families, not the church. Are you praying earnestly as a family each day for these coming elections which are just about upon us? This country is at tipping point. These elections will determine the course of this nation and ultimately the world.

We must pray and we most vote against evil—against corruption, against the murdering of babies in the womb right up until the day they are born (which is Hilary’s agenda), against euthanasia, against the appointment of liberal Supreme Court judges (which Hilary plans to do) and it goes on and on.

We have a friend who is very close to our family and recently he arrived with a replica of the LIBERTY BELL for us. And yes, it even has the crack in it, and the Scripture written on it which is on the original in Philadelphia: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10).

Our friend knows we have Prayer Boxes on different subjects that we use each morning and evening in our family prayer times. Now we use the Liberty Bell to pray for the nation (and now the upcoming elections). Each card tells a different need to pray for our nation. We find the prayer cards help to stimulate our prayer times, especially for the children, who often run out of ideas to pray. It teaches them to stay focused and gives ideas for prayer which they often don’t have.

If you are not currently praying, can you begin today? Gather your family together at your evening meal tonight and PRAY TOGETHER, Everyone around the table. Don’t just pray. CALL out to God to save our nation. You may have to rearrange your whole schedule. We can’t even consider that sacrifice when we consider that our nation hangs in the balances.

Can you imagine what could happen if every God-fearing, Bible believing family began to gather their family together morning and evening and cry out to God for this nation. We can quote 2 Chronicles 7:14 by heart, but do we believe it or do anything about it?

Luke 18:7-8: "Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry DAY AND NIGHT unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily."

Let’s take up our responsibility as God-fearing families.

Love from Nancy Campbell

For further reference, clink on these links:
http://tinyurl.com/OurPrayerBox
http://tinyurl.com/TryDifferentPrayerBoxes
http://tinyurl.com/IdeasForPrayerCards
http://aboverubies.org/morning-evening-principle

You only have their childhood to train them and it goes by so quickly. Don’t waste this great privilege from God by giving your God-given gifts to someone else to train. God has given them to YOU to train in His ways. Embrace every moment of your high calling from God.

Love from Nancy

THEY GROW TOO FAST
I think back to the day you came
To bless me long ago;
All I knew about you was your name
And that I loved you so.

A tiny bundle, soft and sweet,
God's special gift to me.
Uniquely made to be like Him,
To live eternally!

The days and months flew quickly by;
I was told the time would pass;
But with lots of babes and work to do,
I didn't know then how fast.

I wanted more than anything
To lead you in God's ways,
To teach you that to live for Him
Was the reason you were made.

Now that you're grown and on your own,
And time to train has passed,
Though you say you saw faith in me,
I still wish I could go back,

To cherish more those fleeting times,
To show you of His love.
Though I tried to point you all to Him,
I'll never feel I did enough.

But I'll say to you what was said to me,
That as you love and train your own,
Slow down, enjoy these precious ones,
In a blink, they'll all be grown.

@2013, Val Halloran

There are so many aspects to God’s glory, but are you aware of a specific glory God has given to you? In the book of Hosea, God tells Ephraim that He will take away their glory from them because of their sin. What was this glory? Let’s read it in Hosea 9:11 RSV: “Ephraim’s glory shall fly away like a bird – no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!”

God looks upon motherhood and the bringing forth of children as a glory. He told Ephraim they would have no more conception, no more pregnancy, and no more births. This was not only Israeli’s glory, but God’s glory.

Every new baby that is born is created in the image of God. They are born with the glory of God upon them. No wonder we experience such a special atmosphere in our homes when a new baby comes to us.

God wants to reveal His glory on the earth through our children. They are for signs and for wonders (Isaiah 8:18).

When we hold back conception; when we put a stop to the function of our womb, when we refuse pregnancy; and when we don’t want another baby, we limit the glory of God.

Let’s embrace our motherhood which is the glory of the nation. Let’s exude the glory of God.

Be blessed today, Nancy Campbell

Painting by Nora Kasten
https://www.pinterest.com/so…/norakasten-artist.blogspot.com

Blaspheme the Word of God (KJV).
Bring disrepute to the Word of God (NEB).
Bring reproach to the Word of God (AMP).
Bring shame on the Word of God (HCSB).
Discredit the Word of God (RSV).
Disgrace the Word of God (TJB, CJB).
Dishonor the Word of God (NASB).
Malign the Word of God (NIV).
Revile the Word of God (ESV).
Slander the Word of God (MLB, HCSB).
Speak evil of the Word of God (GNB).

It is not a pretty picture, is it? I’m sorry I need to write this, but I must be faithful to declare the whole truth, and not only half of it.

The word in the Greed is “blasphemo” and comes from two words:
Blapto – to hurt, and
Pheme – reputation.

Therefore, it means that when we do not walk in the beautiful things of Titus 2:4, 5 that we hurt the reputation of God’s Word.

Because there have been so few older women teaching the younger women how to love their husbands and children and how to be keepers at home, we now have a whole generation who have no understanding of God’s plan for women. They have not even seen the lifestyle before their eyes. They did not see it growing up in their own family. Many come from two-child families and were never around babies. They spent most of their lives at school and college and did not have time to learn the art of cooking and managing a home.

Many have embraced the workforce, rather than motherhood--many times living on fast food, with no time to sit together as families around a homecooked meal, enjoying interaction and family devotions together. Because of the “me first “and the “entitlement” mentality in our society today, many marriages are falling apart.

May our nation of Christians turn back to the beautiful lifestyle God ordained in the very beginning so that we will become a “good advertisement” for His Word and His plan that was devised in eternity.

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting by Anna Silivonchik

I couldn’t get through on phone but emailed instead. Go to:
https://www.afa.net/…/take-action-no-christian-music-or-ch…/

Blessings from Nancy

Sound doctrine is practical living. In your home, in your kitchen, and mothering and training your children. That’s why Paul immediately follows the message of sound doctrine by telling the older women to teach the young women how to live. They are to be “teachers of good things.” The Greek word is “kalodidaskalos” and means to be a teacher of beautiful and valuable things

What are these beautiful things? You remember them. To be self-controlled, pure, to love our husbands and to be submissive to them, to love our children, to be keepers at home, and to be kind. These are all BEAUTIFUL things in the sight of God. No wonder the J. B. Phillips' translation says they are “a good advertisement for the Christian faith.”

What a privilege you have in your home today. You have the opportunity to practically live out sound doctrine. You have the blessing of doing BEAUTIFUL things all day long.

Have a BEAUTIFUL day,

Nancy Campbell

Our God is a God of life. He creates every precious new life that is conceived. He loves each new life. He has plans and destiny for each special life (Psalm 139:13-16). And these lives are eternal.

The kingdom of God is a kingdom of life. If we belong to the kingdom of God we must stand on the side of life. If we do not cringe and cry at the devastation of life in the womb in this way, we belong to the kingdom of darkness which hates life.

We must stand against the candidate, Hilary Clinton, who unashamedly promotes the murdering of babies in this way, right up until the birth of the baby. We must do everything in our power to stop her anti-life agenda.

~ Nancy Campbell

http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/pba/linedrawings/
http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/pba/illustrations/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vnOaq7nWU