Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

She washed it clean and it was all ready to wear again!

She shared how this can be a little bit like motherhood. It’s certainly not all perfect. It can even get pretty dirty. And we as mothers are not perfect either. We can get angry and shout! Oh help! That’s spoiled our lovely mothering day.

But praise the Lord, we have an advocate (1 John 1:1, 2). We can repent and ask forgiveness and our Savior is always ready to forgive and wash us clean.

When you lose your temper and “blow it,” don’t give up. Come to Jesus. Ask His forgiveness and for His precious blood to wash you clean. 1 John 1:9 says: “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Things may get dirty from time to time, but don’t stay dirty, dear mother. Keep washed and clean in the precious blood of Jesus.

Have a wonderful mothering day.

Love to you,

Nancy Campbell

There is no greater goal,
Or place of high esteem
Than to teach a child God's way
To become all they should be.

Yes, we each have gifts
To do all kinds of work,
But to nurture human souls
Should not be snubbed or shirked.

It seems as if today
"Just" to be a mom and wife
Is seen as low and boring,
As if missing out on life.

But stop and take a look
At what this view has wrought.
Do things keep getting better?
Are we prospering, or not?

The world is going crazy
As we value fame and wealth
More than faith and family,-
God's plan for life and health.

Let's seek the ancient paths
Where mothers are held high;
Where children aren't just burdens,
But the essence of blessed life.

There is no work that's higher;
God's word reveals it's true.
To love your spouse and children
Is His plan and will for you!

2019, Val Halloran
www.valhalliran.com

Do you love work? When I was a child, I used to think that God gave work as part of the curse! But of course, that’s a lie. God introduced work at the very beginning. As soon as God had created the Garden Home, He put the man in it to work and guard it. The Hebrew word “avad” for work means “to serve, till, labor, to make weary.” That sounds like hard work.

But work is a blessing. Physical work saves us going to gym. Work releases creativity. In my last post, I shared how God created us to be creative beings with the anointing “to make.” But work precedes creativity. As we work, we think of better ways of doing things. More efficient. More ingenious. And then of course, when we think of these things, we get involved in more work. But that will release more creativity. Isn’t that exciting?

Let’s embrace work with a joyful and exciting attitude? Let’s have the right confession. Do you ever say, “I love work.”? I love to say these words.

Get your children to love work. This is a very important habit to instill in them while they are young. It breaks my heart to see lazy children who don’t want to work. They haven’t been trained. We train our children to work. Not by nagging them. Not by yelling at them to stop being lazy. Not by punishing them. But by encouraging them. By thinking of ways to show them how to make it fun.

Work is part of human dignity. Work is an expression of the image of God. He is a Creator and therefore He works. After resting on the seventh day, He began working again. He created the Garden of Eden and then He planted a garden. Yes, God, the ruler of the universe, prepared the soil and put His hands right into the soil and planted (Genesis 2:8)! Some people think they are better than God and they would rather not get their hands dirty.

Jesus said: “My Father is always working, and so am I” (John 5:17).

God looks upon all work as holy, whether it is sacred or secular. Working in your home—scrubbing toilets, changing diapers, vacuuming, preparing meals, and washing dishes are just as sacred as the pastor preaching on Sunday. We often think of the priests as holy men of God. But the majority of them were butchers, slaughtering beasts and cutting them up all day long. They were tough and I am sure had well developed muscles. Others were bakers and cleaners and watchers over the temple (yes, they were bouncers!). And they were all holy and anointed for these “sacred” tasks.

Oh yes, something I didn’t tell you. I left it until the last. Another meaning of the word “avad” means “to worship.” Work is worship to God. When we do it with a willing and joyful spirit, we are actually worshipping God because He created us in His image to work! As you are busy working in your home, you are worshipping all day long.

Are you getting excited about work? Gather your children around and remind them how God created work for our blessing. It is holy and sacred. And when they do their chores with a willing heart, they are worshipping God. And if they try to do them to the best of their ability, God will show them better and quicker ways of doing them. And they’ll have more time for play!

I love work, don’t you?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Photo: My granddaughters, Georgia, Breeze, and Haven working hard to rake up leaves in the woods for my compost pile.

Dear wives and mothers, you are created in the image of God to reflect His glory. As a female God has destined you to reveal His nurturing and compassionate anointing to the world.

Our God is the Creator and loves to create. Because He created you in His image, you also have within you a desire to create. When God came to the sixth day of creation, He said: “LET US MAKE man in our image.” The essence of “let us make” is not only in God, but He has put it in His human creation.

Erick Gray writes: “Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she will make a baby. If you give her a house, she will make a home. If you give her groceries, she will make a meal. If you give her a smile, she will give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.”

Yes, it is true, cooperating with God you make babies. Some women will say, “Is that all I’m good for? Making babies and keeping house?” Of course you are good for that. You were made physically and innately for motherhood. It is your glory. It is not only glorious, but powerful! Mothers are the greatest influence upon the next generation, and therefore the nation, and therefore future generations, and therefore eternity! For our children are eternal souls that will live forever.

But dear ladies, your whole life is creating. You were created “to make.” Because you are in the home you make it a beautiful home. You have the freedom to create it to be what you want it to be. Your imagination is limitless.

You create a beautiful table to gather your family and visitors around. You have complete freedom to develop the gifts and talents God has inherently put within you. Maybe you love to cook, so you’ll make wonderful meals, not only your family, but to invite others to join your table.

You love to bake cakes or homemade bread? You can even sell it. Everything you make you can turn into a home business if you want to. Although we have to guard that desire. There are seasons for everything. When we have little children around us, it is best to wait until they are older when you have more helping hands. Or you have older children to help with the younger ones and even help with the home business you are creating.

You may make crafts and sell them. You can write books and sell them. You can paint pictures and sell them. Do you sew or knit? Oh I am sure you make the most amazing things with these abilities. You can create a wonderful garden. You can do whatever gift God has given you. Your creativity is boundless.

But here’s another thing to remember. You don’t have to make money out of everything you do! Yes, it can be a blessing (especially as you have older children) to help bring income into the family by selling your creative works. But we should never do everything for money. We do it for the joy of being creative. The joy of fulfilling the gift God has given to us. Or the joy of bless others. That’s the greatest motive of all.

1 Peter 45;10 (HCSB) says: “Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.” Do you notice those words, “to serve others”? Yes, you may do it to make money, but the greatest purpose is to serve and bless others. Don’t let’s forget this word from God.

You don’t have to leave your home to be liberated! No. You are in your glory in your home as you bring forth babies and create a glorious homelife for your family. But you are also FREE to fulfill the gifts that God has given you in your home. The sky is the limit. You are free to create in whatever gift God has uniquely given to you. Please say Hallelujah!

John Garr writes: “There is no doubt that the term ‘image of God’ . . . refers to man’s inner charismatic endowment as a creative being. Man’s likeness to God expresses itself in man’s striving and ability to become a creator.”

Be blessed as you create in your home today,

Love from Nancy Campbell

Painting by Hans Heyson (I have this painting hanging up in our visitor’s bedroom).

Oh, Lord, please help me notice what’s important and what’s not,
To cherish precious moments and to mother as I ought,
Please keep me from distractions that would rob me of the joy
That you have planned to give me through my precious girls and boys.
Please help me teach them of Your ways, this is my highest aim,
I long to see my children live to glorify Your name.

O, help me be the model that would draw them to Your throne,
Let me make for them a haven that would turn their hearts to home,
And in these fast and fleeting years, please help me not to miss
The treasures that you give me in each cuddle and each kiss.
When I am old and looking back at every blessed year
I will rejoice that I was there to share each joy and tear.

By Val Hallaran
www.valhalloran.com

No. 12: MODESTY AND FEMININITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY
https://www.buzzsprout.com/…/776938-episode-12-modesty-and-…

Painting: “At the Cottage Door” by William Henry Margetson

I was an insecure wife. I had the most affectionate and loving husband who adored me, but that did not cure my insecurity. This was because my identity was in the wrong place. No matter how much my husband assured me, I kept buying the lie that many women believe these days that I will never "be enough.”

This past year, God has been showing me where my true identity lies. Even though it's wonderful that my husband finds me beautiful and loves me, my value does not come from what my husband or others think of me. It comes from what God says about me, and who He created me to be.

Now that I don't have to look to my husband to find my value and worth, I can just love him, truly love him. Insecurity is so selfish. Sometimes we think it's humility, but it's really keeping our eyes on ourselves, instead of becoming love.

A few months ago, I told my husband, "I'm so sorry I've been insecure for so long. That wasn't loving to you."

Marriage isn't about having your needs fulfilled by someone else. It isn't about finding your value. Marriage isn't even 50/50. Marriage is "I love you." It isn't "I love you; do you love me too?"

My husband is such a blessing to me. I'm still amazed that I got to marry him. I think about how much God must love me to give me such a wonderful gift as him, but that's exactly what he is for me. He's my gift. But I am only fulfilled by Christ. And when two people are fulfilled by Christ, there are no more false expectations you put on your spouse.

I'm so thankful God is showing me how to love Kendall more. I know I have more to learn, but He is creating a work in me.

MEADOW HALL
Facebook: Meadow Hall
Instagram: _m_e_a_d_o_w_
Photo: Celebrating their wedding anniversary at the New York Grill in Tokyo.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass;
He even found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod,
And blew out all the 'filler.'

A bird's nest in a tree overhead,
So wisely placed up so high,
Was just another wonder,
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zigzag course,
And hailed him from the lawn;
Asked him where he'd been that day
And what was going on.

‘'I've been to Bible School,” he said
And turned a piece of sod.
He picked up a wiggly worm replying,
‘I've learned a lot about God.’

“M'mm, very fine way,” the neighbor said,
“For a boy to spend his time.
If you'll tell me where God is,
I'll give you a brand new dime.”

Quick as a flash the answer came!
Nor were his accents faint.
“I'll give you a dollar, Mister,
If you can tell me where God ain't.”

~ Unknown

We breathe without thinking; it is completely natural to us. It should also become natural to us to breathe out truth. Truth breathing mothers are powerful mothers. Of course, before we can naturally breathe it out, we must be filled with truth. Richly filled. And then we’ll be richly filling our children’s hearts (Colossians 3:16).

May we become so filled with truth that we breathe it out unconsciously. This is the picture of the virtuous women. Every time she opened her mouth, she breathed out godly wisdom (Proverbs 31:26). Constantly dropping seeds of truth throughout the day.

Be blessed today, Nancy Campbell

Before I was a Mom
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth every day.

Before I was Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies.

Before I was a Mom
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on,
Pooped on, spit on, chewed on, peed on,
Or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Mom
I had complete control of . . .
My thoughts, my body, and my mind.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could
do tests.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't
want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces; when I
couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my
life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside
my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to
feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me
feel so important.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every
10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love,
the heartache, the wonderment, or the
satisfaction of being a mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

~ Unknown.

Painting by George Moreau de Tours (1848 – 1901) French.

Who softly croons a cradle song?
A Mother!
Or soothes her babe the whole night long?
A Mother!
Who tends with such unwearied care,
Her household, and her children, fair?
Who bears them up to God in prayer?
A Mother!

~ Anon

Painting by Michael Malm

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo)
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo)
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for
stew,
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo,
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait ‘till
tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my
sorrow,
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep!

~ Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

PAINTING BY MICHAEL GARMASH