Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Because they would not bend and turn from God's laws this dear mother watched as Antiochus tortured her fourth, fifth, and sixth sons the same way. The mother had only one son left, her beloved youngest. Antiochus tried to influence the mother to save his life. He promised he would make him rich and prosperous and even a political advisor. She obliged by turning to her youngest son saying: "Son, pity me who carried you in the womb nine months, nursed you for three years, nurtured you, and brought you into this stage of life with care. I beg you, child . . . Don't fear this killer but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death so that in God's mercy I should recover you with your brothers" (2 Maccabees 7:27-29). She watched her last son die before she was put to death herself.

This mother was a nurturing and caring mother. But she had a vision for her children beyond this earth. She raised her sons to fear God rather than man. She raised them to stand for truth, no matter what the consequences. She raised them to see beyond this earth to the endless life of the heavenly.

May God help us to be courageous mothers. May He save us from raising wimpy, mediocre children who are seduced by the humanist trend of an ungodly society. May He anoint us with the mighty power of God to raise children who will have the courage to stand for God and for truth, no matter what persecution they face.

Ephesians 6:13: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all TO STAND.”

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

(You can read the whole of this amazing story in the Apocrypha in 2 Maccabees chapter seven).

They built a new altar with whole unpolished stones (because the altar had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes), brought in the Lampstand, the Altar of Incense, and the Table of Showbread, and offered sacrifices as God originally commanded. "So they celebrated the rededication of the altar for eight days" (1 Maccabees 4:56).

How does this affect our lives? God no longer lives in the Holy of Holies in the temple, but in our bodies, which are the temple of His Holy Spirit. We are not only the temple of the Holy Spirit, but the "naos" which speaks of the Holy of Holies. This is the word which is used in 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16. What an indescribable truth!

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20: “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple (“naos” which is the word for Holy of Holies) of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” You are now the place where God wants to reside in all His glory.

Our temples may not be desolate, but it is easy for us to allow things to come into our lives which grieve the Holy Spirit and spoil and dirty our “naos.” Just as the Maccabees had to cleanse and rededicate the temple, so we need times in our lives when we rededicate our bodies to the Lord.

Therefore, it is a good idea to have a rededication service one night during Hanukah and dedicate our temples again to the Lord. Choose which morning or evening you would like to do this together as a family. Explain it to your children. Ask each one of them to confess to the Lord anything in their lives that grieves the Holy Spirit and to rededicate their "body temple" to the Lord. This includes mom and dad too, of course. Each one can do this silently or aloud, as you feel led of the Holy Spirit.

When we have all dedicated ourselves individually, the father can rededicate the whole family to be a living sacrifice to the Lord and to be set apart for His purposes (Romans 12:1, 2).

I know that the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily as you experience this dedication service in your home.

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: “The Family at Prayer” by Haddon Sundblom.

In the Bible Egypt speaks of darkness, deception, and the spirit of this world. God does not want us to have any part of Egypt. Read Isaiah 30:1-3; 31:1-3; 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18; and Revelation 18:4. He wants us to separate from the kingdom of darkness. Separate. Severe. No blur. No grey.

When dark thoughts come into our minds, or evil tendencies from the enemy, we separate immediately!

As parents, we must guard against the dark things of evil subtly coming into our home. We must watch the little grey areas. They gradually multiply. You can be outside at dusk and the darkness slowly comes. Then suddenly it is black. We must guard against the encroaching darkness in our homes.

Job 5:5, 6 (GW) speaks of the wicked and says: “The flame of his fire stops glowing. The light in his tent becomes dark.” We must not let the light in our homes become dark. We must expose and push out all darkness and daily open our home to the light of God.

Isaiah 670:1-3: “Arise shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Proverbs 20:27 says "The spirit of man is the candle (light) of the Lord." Have you noticed that when a new baby is born into a family that a heavenly atmosphere fills the home? There is an "awe" that we experience with a new babe. It’s a new light from heaven. Little children are so open to God.

Why then, do many walk in darkness? The answer is in John 3:19-21. We are all born with a light from God, but we can either push back the light or open to the light. It is a privilege for children to be born into a home where parents love God. They kindle the light to make it grow brighter. In an ungodly home, the light with which they are born can be gradually extinguished or often smothered completely.

I believe that every time we say Yes to God and obey the prompting of His Holy Spirit within our hearts, we experience more light in our lives. Every time we say No to God and are disobedient to the Word, we accept darkness. Teach your children this principle, dear mother. Teach them that saying Yes to you and to God will bring them to further light (Proverbs 4:18). Teach them that when they say No to you and \ to God's ways, their minds and hearts will cloud with darkness.

Job 18:5, 6 says: "Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him." I don't want it to be dark in my home, naturally or spiritually. I hate to have curtains and blinds pulled over and everything looking dark. My curtains are always open (just as well I live in the country!). I love the light and the more the better. And it’s the same spiritually. I want more and more spiritual light in my home and less and less of darkness. I'm sure you don't want it to be dark in your home either.

Let's open our hearts and minds MORE AND MORE to the light of God. Let’s encourage our children into more and more of the light and revelation of God. Begin each day by praying, "Oh Lord God, please flood my mind, my heart, and my home with your light, today. Amen."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

P.S. Other Scriptures: Job 21:17; Proverbs 13:9; 20:20; and 24:20.

In the midst of this thinking Jesus boldly and publically declared, "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). In other words, He confessed that He was God, which of course, He was! This was too much for the Jews who, remembering Antiochus Epiphanes the evil blasphemer, took up stones to stone him (John 10:22-33).

It was no coincidence that Jesus chose this timing to speak these words. Everything about Hanukkah speaks of standing up for truth even in the face of danger.

May we never cringe to speak the truth, no matter what the consequences. "The righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1).

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Below are a list of Scriptures for you to read during the Hanukkah Celebration, if you would like to do this.

As a family, we love to celebrate Christmas, not the tinsel and glamor, but the preciousness of gathering together as a family. Our family gatherings are so special and wonderful. We also love to remember the most amazing event in the world when God sent His Son to this world—into the womb of a woman and to be born as a little baby.

Bible commentators agree that Jesus was not born at this Christmas time when the world remembers His birth. He would most probably have been born around the month of September during the Feast of Tabernacles. However, this time of the year is most probably that time He was divinely conceived by the power of the of Holy Ghost. Incredible. God coming to the earth as a "seed" from the Father. I am in awe.

“Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!”

I am sure you are like me and can do nothing less than fall to your knees in wonder and worship!

However, we also love to celebrate Hanukkah. We love to light the Hanukkah candles each night and to also read Scriptures about the Light during our morning and evening devotions. Why do we celebrate Hanukkah?

1. It is a celebration that Jesus celebrated. Read John 10:22, 23.

2. Hanukkah in the Hebrew means "dedication." God's temple was desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 BC, but the Maccabees family led a revolt against the Seleucid armies and called the nation back to God. After they had driven them out of Judea and Jerusalem, the Maccabees consecrated and rededicated the temple. However, God no longer lives in a temple in Jerusalem, but lives in the temple of our hearts. We like to use Hanukkah as time to rededicate the temple of our lives to God.

3. It is called the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22) and also the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the re-lighting of the Menorah. They could only find enough oil for one day, but miraculously the lights kept burning for eight days while they prepared the anointing oil, specifically commanded in the Scriptures. Because this celebration remembers the relighting of the menorah, we like to read Scriptures about God and Christ who are the light and how He also wants us to be His light in this world. We do this at our Family Devotions each morning and evening. And each night we light a Hanukkah candle.

I will post the Scriptures at the end of this article. Read and meditate on them in your personal devotional time. Then choose the ones you would like to use with your family. For each day, you may like to take half the Scriptures at Family Devotions in the morning and the other half in the evening, or whatever works out in your home.

If you have older children, it's a lovely idea for each one to have their own Bible and give a Scripture for each one to read aloud--and to share what they feel God is saying through the Scriptures. If you have little ones, you may only want to take one, or one or two Scriptures from the list and talk about it.

And don't forget to ask your children questions as you read the Scriptures. This is how you learn together.

During the eight days of Hanukkah, I usually send out a post each day telling you a little story about Hanukkah that relates to us as mothers, or a revelation from the Scriptures about the meaning of Hanukkah.. You will be inspired, blessed, and encouraged.

By the way, you may like to take time to read the history of the Maccabees in the Apocrypha. The books in the Apocrypha were not chosen to be part of the cannon of Scripture but the books of Maccabees, 1, 2, 3, and 4 are great historical reading and tell how the Jewish nation was saved from extinction at that time. I am sure God used these brave men to protect His people and especially the coming Messiah. No wonder our Savior, Jesus Christ celebrated Hanukkah.

SCRIPTURES FOR YOU TO READ EACH DAY FOR HANUKKAH

Day 1
God is the Source of Light and gives Light
Genesis 1:3-5
Exodus 27:20-21; 40:24-25; cf. Leviticus 24:1-4; Numbers 8:1-3
Exodus 13:21; Nehemiah 9:12,19
Psalm 36:9
Psalm 104:1-2
Matthew 17:2 (You can read the whole story in Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-13; and Luke 9:28-36).
1 Timothy 6:16
James 1:17

Day 2
Jesus is the Light of the World
Isaiah 9:2, cf. Matthew 4:12-17
Luke 1:76-79; 2:27-32
John 1:4-9, cf. Job 18:5-6; 21:17; Proverbs 13:9; 20:20; 24:20.
John 3:19-21
John 8:12
John 9:5
John 12:44-46
Acts 26:22-23
Ephesians 5:14

Day 3
Shine the Light of Jesus to the world
Proverbs 4:18
Isaiah 58:6-8, 10
Isaiah 60:1-2
Matthew 5:14-16
Luke 12:35
John 5:35
Acts 13:47
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
Philippians 2:14, 15

Day 4
God's Word is our Light
Ezra 9:8
Psalm 19:7-11
Psalm 119:18, 105, 130
Proverbs 6:20-24
Luke 24:30-32 (You can read the whole story in verses 13-32).
Ephesians 1:17-18
2 Peter 1:19-21

Day 5
Walk in the Light
Psalm 89:15
Isaiah 2:5
Romans 13:12-14
2 Corinthians 4:4-7
1 John 1:6-9
1 John 2:8-11
Ephesians 5:8-20

Day 6
Out of Darkness into Light
2 Samuel 22:29 (Psalm 18:28)
Isaiah 42:16
Isaiah 50:10
Acts 26:17-18
1 Corinthians 4:5
1 Thessalonians 5:5
1 Peter 2:9

Day 7
Living in God is to live in Light
Psalm 4:6
Psalm 27:1
Psalm 37:3-6
Psalm 43:3-4
Psalm 112:4
Micah 7:8

Day 8
God is the Light of Heaven
Isaiah 24:23; 30:26
Isaiah 60:19, 20
Revelation 21:22-25
Revelation 22:3-5

Blessings, Nancy

Not even eternity will reveal the greatness and the tremendous cost of our salvation. To think God loved us so much that He was willing to give His only Beloved Son to die and shed His blood for our sons. To redeem us from the hand of the enemy. To free us from the kingdom of darkness. To give us eternal salvation.

We dare not ever taken our salvation for granted. When it is time to pray every morning and evening at our Family Devotions, I cannot refrain from thanking God again for His glorious redemption. It is a twice daily habit of my life.

Being saved does not exempt us from the trials and hardships of this life as we walk through as strangers and pilgrims on our way to the eternal realm. But no matter what we face, we can still be happy. We are blessed because we have a glorious future. An eternal salvation. This life is only a vapor ad we rejoice in our life to come.

Don’t you love the promise in 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Do you notice that the afflictions we endure in this life will reap for us a FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT of glory? God uses FIVE adjectives to describe the glory that awaits us!

No need for complaining, despondency, and self-pity. We are saved by the Lord. We are blessed. Rejoice with your family today.

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Job 5;17 says: “Behold, happy (happy happy) is the man whom God correcteth: therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.” The NLT says: “Consider the joy of those corrected by God!”

Do you mean to say we are to be happy when God corrects and chastens us? I think the happiness is not while we are being corrected, but what happens to us through the correction.

We need to be reminded of God’s words to us in Hebrews 12:11 (NLT): “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

Let’s read the TPT translation: ‘Now all discipline seems to be more pain than pleasure at the time, yet later it will produce a TRANSFORMATION OF CHARACTER, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace TO THOSE WHO YIELD TO IT.”

Why can we be happy when we are corrected? Because as we YIELD to the correction, we grow and mature and our character is transformed. But do you notice the secret? We must yield to the correction. Get out of the habit of resisting and into the habit of yielding.

God doesn’t want us to stay the same. His purposes us to be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). He wants to change us into the image of Jesus “from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

One of the most important things in our lives is to cultivate a soft heart, a heart that is open to receive correction. The hardest part is that God usually uses people to correct us. We’d feel good if it was God doing it. But He uses His agents. Yes, He does it, but through people. He uses our husband, family members, or other people in our lives.

It doesn’t matter how old we are. There’s still more correction to come because God does not want to stop taking us from one glory to another.

Do you want to stay in the same place you are now? I hope not. I certainly don’t. I know God has so much more to do in me. But the way it happens is through correction. Through exposing the things in our lives that displease the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

And here’s a good point to remember. As we keep soft hearts toward God and His correction in our lives, it is an example to our children. How can we expect them to receive our discipline when we reject discipline in our own lives?

What joy when each family understands this basic truth. When husband and wife and children are all open to the correction of the Lord! This is a growing and maturing family.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Painting: Ain Vares Art

What word do you use to describe your pregnancy? I guess the most common word today is “I’m pregnant.” Some say, “I’m expecting.” You sometimes hear, “I’m in the family way” which is a phrase dating back to the 17th century. Polish words for pregnant can mean “with hope” or “blessed state.”

I remember reading about a mother who was asked to get involved in a church project, but she answered, “Sorry, I am full-time gestating.” Now, there’s a good excuse for you. It is true. You couldn’t be doing anything more important than growing a child in your womb, an eternal soul that will live forever.

There are other words, some negative and some slang. We don’t want to use them. I think we should use the most beautiful words we can to describe the awesome wonder of God creating a child in the womb.

The Bible tells it plainly and truthfully. It states that the woman is “with child.” Ecclesiastes 11:5 talks about “how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is WITH CHILD.” The Hebrew for “with child” in this passage is male and means “full, filling, fullness.” It is the picture of the womb filled with child. If this phrase was more popular, society would become aware of the truth that the baby is not a blob of tissue, but an actual human being growing and filling the womb—a human being that has the same DNA it will have when he or she is even 70 years of age.

The Hebrew word “hareh” is also translated “with child.” This word is used for conception as well as the child growing in the womb. It’s the language of angels. When the angel of the Lord came to Hagar he said, “Behold thou art WITH CHILD and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael” (Genesis 16:11).

In Genesis 21:2 the same word is used when it says: “Sarah CONCEIVED, and bare Abraham a son in his old age.” The Bible makes it clear that life begins at conception. This word is used for the moment of conception, the child growing in the womb, when the baby is “great” and ready to be born, and then coming into the world. A similar word, “harah” is also used for both conception and being “with child.”

Here’s another thought-provoking point. Exodus 21:22 says: “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her . . .” “With child” is “hareh.” But what is the word for fruit? It is the Hebrew word “yeled” which means, “something born, a child, a young man.” That’s talking about a person who is alive and walking around. But God uses that word for the baby in the womb, confirming that the babe in the womb is just as much the person they will be when they are a child or even older.

Let’s go to the New Testament. Jesus speaks of Mary being “with child” when Jesus, the Son of God grew in her womb (Matthew 1:18, 23 and Luke 1:31) and it is used five other times. The Greek word “brephos” is also used of a babe in the womb as well as a child.

Don’t you think it is time we understood God’s truth rather than listening to human reasoning?

Blessings to you today from NANCY CAMPBELL

Other “hareh” (“with child”) references: Genesis 38:24, 25; Exodus 21;22; Judges 13:5, 7; 1 Samuel 4;19; 2 Samuel 11:5; Isaiah 7:14; 26:7; Jeremiah 20:17; 31:8; Amos 1;13; and 2 Kings 8:12.

The Word of God is likened to water as it washes and cleanses us (John 15:5 and Ephesians 5:26). We must sow the Word of truth into our lives. We must sow God’s precious word into our children’s lives. If we do not diligently sow God’s Word into them, we reap nothingness.

It is sad to see this in many young people today. They are brought up in a “Christian” home, but they don’t know the Word. Therefore, as they go out into the world they are easily deceived and swayed by the lies and deceptions that lie in wait for them. They begin to think like the humanists and leftists rather than being filled with the convictions of God’s eternal truths.

The Holy Spirit is also likened to water as He rains His refreshing anointing upon us and washes us. I love the promise in Isaiah 44:3, 4: “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon they seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.”

If we want our children to grow up like beautiful willow trees—luxuriant and providing shade and rest to many hurting along the way, we must sow the anointing of the Holy Spirit into their lives. Every morning and evening we should gather our families to read God’s Word, pray and ask again for the renewing of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

When the prophet Balaam described the children of Israel, he saw them as “gardens by the river’s side . . . and as cedar trees beside the waters” (Numbers 24:6). We’ve got to be people who live by the water and sow by the water.

Please read John 4;14 and 7:37-39.

Sow by the waters, lovely ladies, and you will reap a beautiful harvest. That is sure to make you happy. But it doesn’t just happen. You have to sow first.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Do you want to fill your home and family life with happiness? Establish these foundational blessings in your home.

THOSE WHOSE SINS ARE FORGIVEN ARE EXTRA HAPPY

Psalm 32:1, 2: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD WILL BE EXTRA HAPPY

Psalm 112:1 and 128:1: “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD.” The TPT says those who fear the Lord will be “blessed beyond expectation.” Read also Proverbs 21:14.

THOSE WHO OBEY GOD’S WORD WILL BE EXTRA HAPPY

Psalm 119:1, 2: “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”

Proverbs 8:32: “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.”

Proverbs 29:18: “He that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Luke 11:28: “Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

THOSE WHO LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE WILL BE EXTRA HAPPY

Isaiah 30:18: “Blessed are all those that wait for him.”

Proverbs 8:34, 34: “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.”

THOSE WHO GREATLY DELIGHT IN GOD’S COMMANDMENTS WILL BE EXTRA HAPPY

Psalm 112:1: “Blessed is the man . . . that delighteth GREATLY in his commandments.”

THOSE WHO GET WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING WILL BE EXTRA HAPPY

Proverbs 3;13: “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

I know you want to be blessed. I know you want your children to be blessed. Make these pointers daily habits in your family life.

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Alexis de Tocqueville scrutinized America’s religion and government, its society and industry. He wanted to know what caused the United States to surpass Europe as the world’s political and economic superpower.

His conclusion? WOMEN.

The women Tocqueville saw were not CEOs or celebrities, politicians, or professional athletes. They were largely confined to the home: cleaning, cooking, taking care of children. But to the young political historian, no position seemed more important. “There have never been free societies without morals, and . . . it is the woman that molds the morals,” he wrote. Tocqueville saw American women as the keystone of the family, the ones who held everyone else together.

By taking primary responsibility for the home, American women allowed their husbands to fulfill their roles as providers and protectors, and they both worked toward a common goal: STRENGTHENING THE FAMILY. These traditional roles of men and women, maligned today as harmful “gender stereotypes,” are precisely what helped to make America exceptional in Tocqueville’s eyes.

Here’s what Alexis de Tocqueville wrote about women:
“Thus the Americans do not think that man and woman have either the duty or the right to perform the same offices, but they show an equal regard for both their respective parts; and though their lot is different, they consider both of them as beings of equal value.

“They do not give to the courage of woman the same form or the same direction as to that of man; but they never doubt her courage: and if they hold that man and his partner ought not always to exercise their intellect and understanding in the same manner, they at least believe the understanding of the one to be as sound as that of the other, and her intellect to be as clear. Thus, then, whilst they have allowed the social inferiority of woman to subsist, they have done all they could to raise her morally and intellectually to the level of man; and in this respect they appear to me to have excellently understood the true principle of democratic improvement.

“As for myself, I do not hesitate to avow that, although the women of the United States are confined within the narrow circle of domestic life, and their situation is in some respects one of extreme dependence, I have nowhere seen woman occupying a loftier position; and if I were asked, now that I am drawing to the close of this work, in which I have spoken of so many important things done by the Americans, to what the singular prosperity and growing strength of that people ought mainly to be attributed, I should reply— to the superiority of their women.”

Picture taken by Victorian photographer, Emma Johnston.

Can you believe it is only four days to Thanksgiving? Help! So much to do as I prepare a sit-down dinner for about 80 of us. What a great time it will be. There is nothing more wonderful than gathering together as a family to fellowship and feast together. Did you know that God loves feasts and celebrations? Yes, they are very biblical.

Psalm 89:15 states: “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.” Once again, we notice that these “blessed” people are the “happy happy” people. Some translations say: “Oh the happiness!” Others say, “Oh the joy!”

This happiness comes to those who know the joyful sound. What is this joyful sound? The Hebrew word means “the trumpeting of trumpets and shouts of joy.” Most Bible commentators state that it speaks of the trumpet calls to the annual feasts of Israel. It’s a call to feasting and celebration.

Let’s read Numbers 10:10 (NLT): “Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the LORD your God of his covenant with you. I am the LORD your God.”

It is obvious that the early children of Israel were a trumpet-blowing, joyful shouting people. Not only did they rejoice and blow the trumpets on their feast days but over their daily burnt offerings!

Psalm 27:6 (NLT): “At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music.” This speaks of the daily morning and evening sacrifices, encouraging us to also come before the Lord with our families each morning and evening. We don’t do it out of religiosity, but with joy, and even shouts of joy. As the people of God, we are not meant to be a boring people, but filled with joy and praise o God. Oh, the happiness of those who know the joyful sound.

Here’s something else God says about our feasting times. In Deuteronomy 14;26 we read: “And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink (help, can’t believe this in the Bible, yes, the King James Version), or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God (in the presence of the LORD), and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.”

The conclusion of our Scripture today says: “they shall walk O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.” God wants us to really celebrate and rejoice when we feast together. And it’s not separate from God. We do it IN HIS PRESENCE. God wants to join us. He loves to celebrate and feast with us. This is the heart of God. Many people have a totally wrong concept of God.

Prepare to feast in God’s presence this Thanksgiving and may you know the joyful sound.

Love from Nancy Campbell

The Thanksgiving Picture by Normal Rockwell. Rockwell's wife, Mary is in this painting, and the family cook, Mrs. Thaddeus Wheaton, is serving the turkey, which the Rockwell family ate that day. The painting was created in November 1942.

This passage goes on to say in verses 6 and 7: “As they go through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the early ran also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.”

What is the “valley of Baca”? “Baca” comes from a root word “bakhah” meaning “to weep.” It can be translated “the valley of weeping” or “the valley of affliction.” The New Living Translation and Young’s Literal Translation translate it this way.

Are you going through a valley? A valley that is so dark and treacherous that it is literally a valley of weeping? Dear precious wife and mother, even in this dark valley, God is still your strength. When you trust God to be your strength, this valley will become a fountain, a spring of fresh water!

And you will go “FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH.” From one degree of strength to a stronger degree of strength.

Did you know that we become stronger in the battle? Hebrews 11:34 reminds us of the great heroes of the faith who “out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in the fight.” They began in weakness but became stronger in the battle.

There’s another valley we often go through, “the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4). This Scripture is often used at funerals, speaking of death. Yes, it is a comfort to those sorrowing, but it’s not about death. It’s about what we go through in life.

Do you notice that it says that we “WALK through” this valley? It tells the story of the shepherd who takes his sheep from one pasture to another. He is not able to take them over the mountain and therefore must go through the valley. Some of these valleys in Israel were dark and gloomy, filled with danger of wild animals and robbers, and eerie shadows. The sheep would never survive a few steps without their shepherd watching over them.

Remember, when you walk through your dark and scary valleys, that your Shepherd never forsakes you. He is with you all the way. He is your Strength, no matter how difficult the way. He will bring you through and you will be stronger when you get to the other side.

Notice again that you “walk THOUGH.” You come through to the other side. He doesn’t leave you in the dark and dangerous valley. His purpose is to bring you THROUGH to the other side. Into a large place. A blessed place.

Put your strength in God’s strength today.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell