Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

When everything seems to be going wrong, reach out to the Lord and acknowledge His presence. Stop and pray: “Thank you, Father, that You are here with me. I acknowledge Your presence in my home. I thank You that You watch over the walls of my home. Fill this room now with Your presence and Your peace. Thank you, dear Father.”

Not only does God watch over your walls, but if you fear the Lord, He encamps around your house. Psalm 34:7 (HCSB) says: “The Angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.” The angel of the Lord can refer to a messenger of God, but most theologians believe this Scripture speaks of the Lord Himself, the captain of the hosts of heaven, encamping with His warring angels around those who fear Him. He sets His warriors with sleepless eyes to guard on every side of your house. I love to think of God’s angels all around our home. Thank Him for His divine protection over you and your children.

Zechariah 9:8: “I will encamp about mine house because of the army.” This Scripture speaks of God’s house, the temple. However, it also relates to us. Have you dedicated your home to God? If so, your home belongs to Him and if your home belongs to Him, He will guard it.

The NLT says: “I will guard my Temple and protect it from invading armies.” The enemy continually seeks to invade the sanctuary of our homes--to bring in his evil ways, to take away our unity and peace, and to cause confusion. But as you walk in the fear of the Lord and give Him the preeminence in your home, He promises to guard and protect your home even while you sleep. Don’t you love this wonderful promise?

Hebrews 1:14: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

Hebrews 13:5, 6: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Claim these wonderful promises for your home and family today,

Nancy Campbell

What did Paul do when he was in this situation? I kept reading: “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.”

At that moment, God gave me a revelation. I saw the light. I realized that I was trusting in myself and my own resources! Of course, my resources were not enough to carry me through. When I trust in myself there is nothing to learn on. I repented: “I am sorry, Lord,” I cried, “I repent of trusting in my own strength. I forgot that You are my Deliverer. I confess out loud that You are my Refuge. You are my Rock on which I can lean. You are my Strength. You are my Song. You are my Hope! I hand everything over to you. It is yours. I trust you, dear Father.”

As I did this, great peace swept over my soul. Although this was years ago, I can still remember, later in the day, trying to think of all the problems that were weighing me down. Can you believe it? I could not even think of one of them! It was all in my mind!

It’s amazing the difference that comes to us when we put our trust in the Lord instead of ourselves. So many of our worries, depressions, fears, and frustrations are simply because we try to manage in our own strength and with our own resources. All the while God waits for us to put our trust in Him.

Do not try to carry all the burdens of the day yourself. Roll your burdens upon the Lord. He has promised to sustain you and His promises never fail.

Be lifted up today,

Nancy Campbell

Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving His staff and His rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings,
Pressed into faith for impossible things,
Pressed into living my life for the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-Life out-poured!

~ Source Unknown

However, as we come into the light of His presence, He exposes the darkness and the things that displease Him (Psalm 19:14). And He waits to clothe us again with His garments of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Zechariah 3:4 continues: “And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” The WEB translation, plus many others say: “rich clothing.” The YLT98 and ISR98 translate it “costly robes.”

Our garments of salvation are costly garments. We receive them through the sacrificial blood of Christ shed for us upon the cross. Let’s embrace these costly garments and wear them each day in our home. Let’s not negate the power of the cross of Christ. How blessed we are to put on fresh, new, clean garments each new day (Ephesians 4:23, 24).

Not only do we receive costly garments, but a head piece. Zechariah 3:5 says: “And I said, Let them set a fair miter upon his head. So they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with the garments.” The word “fair” means “clean and pure.” God wants to take away from us the unclean, unbelieving, doubting, bitter, and impure thoughts with which Satan tries to fill our minds and instead give us a clean turban.

Can we allow the Lord to purify our minds today? Let Him come into our minds with the searchlight of His holiness. As we confess ours sins, He forgives and clothes us with a pure turban of clean, wholesome, and filled with faith thoughts (Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5).

Wear your beautiful garments in your home today, given to you at the great cost of the precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:18).

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

But this is not his place. The right hand is the place of power and authority. The only One who deserves this place is Jesus Christ who defeated Satan at the cross and now sits at the right hand of the Father. The adversary acts as though he has authority, but it has been wiped from under his feet through the power of the blood of Jesus when He died upon the cross. At the cross, Jesus defeated the devil and the power of death.

But the devil doesn’t give up. When he comes to your right hand and speaks his lying thoughts into your mind, do not receive them.

Most translations say that Satan was at the right hand of the angel of the LORD. The New Century Version says he was “standing by Joshua’s right hand to accuse him.” Either way, he has no permission to take this place. He is usurping his authority that does not belong to him. It only belongs to Jesus. Give Jesus the authority in your life, not the devil.

How wonderful that we have an advocate who resists Satan on our behalf. Listen to these words: “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee.” The NCV translates it: “The LORD said to Satan, The LORD says no to you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem says no to you!”

I am sure there are thousands of time when our Advocate has said no to the accuser when he has come to trip us up. Often we are unaware of the intercession on our behalf by our Savior, Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for us. But there are also many times when He wants us to resist the devil too. God fights for us, but we also have to fight. We have to take up our authority through the powerful name of Jesus and resist the devil, send him kicking, and say no to his deceiving, lying, and accusing thoughts.

Remember dear mother, the accuser has no authority and no right to come along side you. You do not belong to him. When you become a child of God, you belong to Him. He has all power and authority at the right hand of the Father and He also wants to come to your right hand with all His mighty power to enable you to live in victory and push back the devil.

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

The amazing thing is that as we cry out to God for Him to show forth His mighty power in the situation, God is working in us. He is doing wondrous things in all of us, and in all the children’s lives, as we pray. How wonderful to see the children, even down to the youngest, pressing into God and crying out to Him.

If we will pray
God will move mountains
He will move nations
He will do the impossible

If we will pray
The skies will open
With glorious sunshine
Or much-needed rain

If we will pray
God promises to hear us
How gloriously He'll answer
And the world will be changed
If we will pray ...

~ Patricia Holmes

What desperate situation are you facing in your life, or your family? Cry out to God. Yes, many times we have to do more than pray a little prayer. We have to cry out to God with all our hearts.

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

THIS RECIPE IS GUARANTEED INFALLIBLE.

Don’t you love these promises? What a wonderful God we have. But . . . God says something to us immediately after each one of these promises. After each one He says, “And I will multiply you.”

The way God wants to show His love, blessing, and compassion to us is to bless us with children. They way He shows His goodness to us is not always with material possessions, an easy life, and getting everything we want, but with the blessing of children from the womb.

Is this the God you love and worship, or is it some other god?

Many blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

Painting by Lucia Coghetto.

THREE MOTHERS
A woman once came upon three mothers at work. “What are you doing?” she asked?
“I am doing the weekly washing,” answered the first.
“I am doing a bit of household drudgery,” replied the second.
“I am mothering three young children who will someday fill important and useful spheres in life. Wash-day is part of my grand task in caring for these souls who shall live forever,” replied the third.

Only she had caught the vision of the great work she was accomplishing!

Painting: “Laundry Day” Canvas Art by Diane Leonard

Listen to His words to you in Isaiah 40:11: “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

You are already doing is a full-time job. There is no greater way to serve the Lord and please His heart. You do not have to do extra things to please Him. Give yourself totally to nurturing your little lambs. You cannot do it effectively if other things, even other service for the Lord, competes for your time and attention. Even if you don’t do one extra thing in the day, you are already accomplishing great things.

The Good Shepherd understands that the mother who is “with young” or who has little lambs must not be hurried. She should be restful and peaceful. Isn't it true that we mother so much better when we are rested in our souls and bodies? If other things crowd in to make us tense, it is our children who receive the brunt of our tension.

One pregnant mother says that when she receives calls to be involved in this and that, that she answers, “I’m sorry, I am not able to help at this time. I am full-time gestating.”

Let the Good Shepherd gently lead you.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Painting: “Mother and Child” by Junko Ono Rothwell

You may think, “How on earth could I ever cope with another child? My hands are full already.” Dear Mother, God is your strength. He promises to give you strength for each new day. He doesn’t give you strength for tomorrow, but for TODAY. And He doesn’t give you strength and energy for a baby that has not yet come to you. If God sends you another blessing from Heaven, He will give you the strength when that baby comes.

What a wonderful God we have. He tenderly watches over you and cares for you.

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

What DID I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess it’s true,
Unless you think that what I’ve done
Might be important to someone
With bright blue eyes and soft blonde hair,
If that is true, I’ve done my share.
~ Anon.

This poem is published in QUIET REFLECTIONS FOR MOTHERS, a book of beautiful poems for mothers. Go to: http://aboverubiesbookstore.mybigcommerce.com/quiet-reflections-for-mothers-101-poems

They told me how my life would change and that I’d sit and weep
For time to make a peaceful bath, for uninterrupted sleep,
They said my home would lose its shine and that I’d get depressed,
But no one ever mentioned that you’d sing while nursing at my breast.

They tried to raise my consciousness to think about myself,
They begged me to go out alone to help my mental health,
They told me that by leaving you I could improve our bond,
But no one told me that you’d notice I was gone!

They said that Day Care’s just the thing and Nursery’s all the rage,
To encourage “independence” in a baby just your age!
They said there’d be no money with the mortgages all due,
But they all forgot to me how I’d fall in love with you!
~ Source unknown

This beautiful poem is published in QUIET REFLECTIONS FOR MOTHERS, a book of beautiful poems for mothers. Go to: http://aboverubiesbookstore.mybigcommerce.com/quiet-reflections-for-mothers-101-poems

Isaiah 26:15 tells us another way we glorify His name. “Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased nation: thou art GLORIFIED.” God is a God of increase and therefore He is always glorified by increase. This was His plan from the beginning and He hasn’t changed His plan. Even in difficult circumstances. When the children of Judah were taken captives to Babylon, God sent a message to them: “Increase, and do not diminish” (Jeremiah 29:6). But they were captives in Babylon! Surely they couldn’t keep increasing in a land of captivity? But God reminded them to continue His plan because He wanted His name glorified in Babylon too.

Jesus continues the same theme in John 15:8: “Herein is my Father GLORIFIED, that ye bear MUCH fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” God is not satisfied with little increase, but much increase. “But this is talking spiritually,” you say, breathing a sigh of relief. Yes, you’re right. God wants us to be fruitful in every area of our lives--revealing more and more of the fruit of the Spirit and having a heart to lead more and more souls to Him.

But the principle of God’s Word is always first that is which is natural, and then that which is spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:46). To want to bear fruit spiritually, but not naturally is a foreign concept to God. He wants us to increase naturally and spiritually. He wants us to have natural children and spiritual children.

We do not glorify God by stopping life; that’s the devil’s strategy. We glorify God by embracing life.

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

Painting: Newborn by Steve Hanks.

Rather, God holds us responsible for what goes into our children’s minds and hearts. Do they receive a godly education each day? The teaching that enables them to be wise in their latter end? The instruction that prepares them to continue walking in the ways of God as they leave our homes?

God’s counsel stands; humanistic wisdom fades.

God needed 40 years to get Moses’ Egyptian education out of his system before He could use Him to lead His people out of slavery. And he still faced opposition when he stood in Pharaoh’s court. Moses told Pharaoh he was taking the people out of Egypt, a three day journey, to sacrifice to the Lord. Pharaoh tried to get him to leave the children behind, but Moses would not compromise. He would not go to serve the Lord without all the children with them (Exodus 10:8-11).

God’s instruction is “the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23 and Matthew 7:13, 14). Man’s ways lead to deception and destruction (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; and Deuteronomy 30:19).

Are you choosing life for your children?

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

How can we live in continual rest? God commanded the people that they must not bring any burdens through the gates of the city on the day of rest. The word for burdens is “masa” and depicts the packs upon the backs of the donkeys or camels. It can even mean an utterance, especially of doom.

If you want to live in the rest of Christ, you must leave your burdens at the gate of your heart. Yes, many trials, heartaches, and burdens come your way. But you must not lift them up and carry them through the gate of your heart and mind. Leave them outside! God is able to bear the burden that you cannot bear. Don’t bring self-pity, depressions, constant worrying, and tensions inside your heart.

God continued His message: “If ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day . . . Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David . . . “ (verses 24, 25).

There can only be one king on the throne of your heart. It is either King Jesus or your burden which you make king. When you choose to bring burdens into your soul, they become king! They rule your thought life and everything else. When Jesus reigns as King in your heart, you will live in rest. When you make your burdens preeminent, you live in tension nod stress.

Who is king in your life today? Jesus Christ who is your Rest, or your problems and worries?

May you live in rest today,

Nancy Campbell