Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.

Strengthening Families Across the World through the encouragement of women in their high calling from God as wives, mothers and homemakers.

PEACE...LIKE A RIVER

Rive

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THE GATHERING PLACE

GatheringPlaceThere's nothing more powerful than the family meal table. Sitting around the table together (and often including friends or lonely people) is never a waste of time. It offers opportunities for encounters with one another that you would not normally have. And best of all, encounters with God.

Jesus confessed of Himself, "The Son of man is come eating and drinking" (Luke 7:34). Robert Karris writes: "In Luke's gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal." Jesus loved to gather at the meal table. He still wants to come to your table and join you at your meal, too. Invite Him to come in. Acknowledge His presence with you. Make time at the end of the meal to open the Bible to listen to His words and spend time in prayer together.

These times will be the greatest strengthening times of your family life. Activities, sports, and all kinds of busyness will get in the road of your gathering together. They may be good things too, but the best thing is to gather as a family and invite His presence. Jesus says: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

What could be more important or more amazing than having Jesus in the midst of you?

Blessings to you, Nancy Campbell

Nancy Campbell

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I DIDN'T HAVE A MOMMY

DidntHaveMommyI read some time back that "During the day the emptiest place in America is the home." Isn't that sad? Home is God's idea. He created the home to be a nesting place for families. He created the home for the mother to build a sanctuary to Him, to fill her home with love and joy, and to nurture her babies and children.

God loves to dwell in our homes. He isn't looking for empty homes, but homes that are filled with people and children. He loves a full house. Luke 14:27 says "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in that my house may be filled."

He loves babies coming into the home. It is the right and privilege of every child to be nurtured in the home. A woman shared with me how she asked her little boy why he didn't like going to daycare. He replied, "Because I didn't have a mommy." A mommy is the heart of every home.

When the children of Israel were sent into captivity in Babylon, the first thing God told them to do was to "build homes and dwell in them" (Jeremiah 29:5). That means to make life in them. An empty home can be very boring. A home filled with people--little babies, children, teens, and older people is full of life and excitement.

Have a lovely day,

NANCY CAMPBELL
PAINTING BY JOHANN GEORG MEYER VON BREMEN

PAINTING BY JOHANN GEORG MEYER VON BREMEN

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NOT AGAIN!

NotAgainIt's time to cook supper. "Not again," you sigh. "Why can't I have a break from cooking night after night?" Can I remind you that preparing a meal for your family is not insignificant. It's not a waste of time. It is very much a part of your mothering anointing.

We see a beautiful description of a godly woman in 1 Timothy 5:10 (NASB) which gives a description of her "good works." "If she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she was washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work."

The word "brought up" is teknotropheo and means “to cherish, nourish, and give food to children; it is also used of nursing a baby at the breast.” It’s all about food! This means spending a lot of time in the kitchen! And the bigger they get, the more they want to eat.

Don't look at cooking meals with resignation. Instead, do it with revelation. You have the privilege of feeding your children nourishing food. You are gathering them together around your table again. You are preparing the way to feed their soul and spirit as you read God’s Word at the end of the meal. You are teaching them about life and passing on values to the next generation.

There is too much fast food eating in our nation already! It’s not healthy eating and it negates valuable family togetherness in the home. If you don't lovingly cook meals at home and pass on this tradition, what will the next generation do?

Make every meal a "love affair."

What are you cooking for supper tonight? Oops! That reminds me to get some meat out of the freezer. Off I go.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell.

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HIDDEN GLORY

HiddenGloryGreat miracles don't always happen in the open. Jesus, the Son of the God of Glory was conceived in the hidden place of the womb. This divine miracle happened in "the secret place" which is a term God uses for the womb (Psalm 139:15).

The angel Gabriel told Mary that the Holy Ghost would come upon her and "thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS" (Luke 1:31). Although this conception was hidden, Jesus came forth to be revealed to the world as Savior and Deliverer.

It is the same with every conception. It doesn't take place in the open for everyone to see. God's handiwork (for only God gives conception) takes place in the in the womb, the hidden part of the woman. But, this miracle doesn't stay hidden. Children one day come forth from the home to be the bearers of God's image in the earth.

In Psalm 128:3 (NHEB) God gives the picture of the wife in the heart of the home: “Your wife will be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of your house; your children like olive plants, around your table.” The Hebrew word used is yrekah and means “the recesses, the inner part.”

The amazing revelation is that God uses this same word yrekah that He uses to describe the wife and mother in the home for the Holy of Holies, the place where God dwelt in His Shekinah glory above the ark of the covenant. In fact, He is called “The ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims” (2 Samuel 6:2).

This is just too incredible. In 1 Kings 6:16 (NLT) it says that Solomon “partitioned off an inner sanctuary (yrekah)—the Most Holy Place—at the far end of the Temple.” It was at the far end, the inner part, the protected and hidden part of the temple.

Satan has filled the women of our generation with blatant lies. Through feminism, humanism, and progressivism women have been brainwashed that home and motherhood are insignificant. The opposite is true. The mother in the home dwells in all her glory, the glory that God has divinely given to her.

Home and motherhood are the glory of the nation.

 

Painting: Russian painter Tuman Zhumabaev.

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ARE YOU READY FOR THE BATTLE?

BowReadyLife is not a vacation. We are in a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. We face challenges and battles each day in our daily lives. Praise God, He doesn’t leave us weaponless. He gives us many weapons to face the enemy.

We have our sword which is the Word of God, the same weapon Jesus used to defeat Satan (Matthew 4:1-11 and Ephesians 6:17).

We have the power of prayer that can annihilate hundreds and thousands of enemies (Leviticus 26:7, 8 and Ephesians 6:18).

We have the power of the blood and the name of Jesus from which the devil flees (Revelation 12:11).

But do we use our weapons? Psalm 78:9 tell us about the Ephaimites who “Being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.” Isn’t that amazing? They had their armor on and their weapons with them, but they weren’t practiced in using them. Therefore they were fearful when facing the battle.

We’ve got to get familiar with our weapons. They’ve got to become part of us. Remember when King Saul gave David his own armor and a sword? But when David tried to walk, he was not comfortable because he hadn’t proved them and took them off (1 Samuel 17:38, 39).

If we are not familiar with our weapons, we won’t be ready to use them when the need arises.

LET’S GET PRACTICED.

LET’S TEACH OUR CHILDREN HOW TO USE THE WEAPONS GOD GIVES US!

We have a responsibility to daily fill them with God’s Word. God’s powerful words must get into their mouths (Isaiah 59:21). Let’s teach them how to pray. The way we do this is pray. Never let a day go by, morning and evening, without praying together with your children. Teach them the power of the blood of Jesus and how to use the name of Jesus against the enemy (James 4:7 and 1 John 3:8).

By the time our children leave our homes and go out into this world they should be so proficient with using their armor that they are ready for any battle they face, which of course they will face. Our military don’t go into battle until they are proficient with their weapons! We, and our children, must also become skilled.

Are you preparing your children to be skilled?

We’ve got to be warfare ready families in this hour.

Be encouraged.

Nancy Campbell

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THE CENTER OF ATTENTION

CenterAttentionI often hear young mothers say that they don’t want too many children because they wouldn’t be able to give each one quality time. This is a fallacy of their own imagination.

If only they could see the great life a baby has in a larger family. I watch my little grandbabies and children. They are the king or queen of the home. They’re not only adored by their parents, but doted on from morning until night by older sisters and brothers.

I remember when Breeze was a baby. Her older sisters played with her all day, dressing her up in all kinds of clothes. She was their “live” baby doll. Wherever she went, they followed! Whatever she did, they laughed! Whatever facial expression she made, they’d say, “Oh, isn’t she so cute?”

These children are the center of attention. No firstborn, or even second or third-born, could ever receive this constant attention? And the more children in the home, the more attention they receive. Even mother has more time to give attention to her baby because she has more helpers in the home.

What a blessing to be a baby in a big family! And what a joy for the mother!

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Painting by Tasha Tudor

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RICHLY FILLED

IAmRaisingHow much of God's living Word do you put into your children each day?

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YOU ARE A BUILDER

FamilyFirst2Dear mother, You are a builder. Don't give up on your great building program. Each day do something tangible to strengthen your family unit.

What are you going to do to strengthen your marriage and family today?

Be blessed today. Love from Nancy Campbell

Love from Nancy Campbell

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Make happy memories in your home today!

BestMemories

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THE CALL FOR ENDURANCE

CallEnduranceHave you read the book of Revelation recently? If I need to be inspired in the fear of God, I read Revelation again. It puts the fear of God into my heart, which is good, because we are to daily walk in the fear of the Lord.

The other day I read Revelation 14:12 (ESV): “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus Christ.”

This Scripture comes right in the middle of the warning to not take the mark of the beast upon your forehead or hand. Please read Revelation 13:14-18 and 14:9-13. They tell us that if we don’t take the mark we will not be able to buy or sell and could be killed.

This means hardship, hunger, starvation, and martyrdom. However, what is worse? To receive the wrath of God?

Why am I writing about such things on a Facebook to encourage wives and mothers? Because as mothers we must inform our children. That’s why it is written for us. We don’t know when this time will come, but we know it is coming. Will it be in our generation? Or will it be during our children’s lives? Or will it be in our grandchildren’s lives?

However, we must all be ready for when this time comes. We must prepare our children. Even if it is not in their time, we must prepare them to tell their children. We must warn them to never take the mark of the beast which aligns with Satan and his kingdom.

And so, God sends out the call. The call is for endurance. If we face this time, we will have to endure much suffering and even martyrdom.

The message I receive from this call is that we must learn to be faithful NOW! We must learn to endure in our trials and tribulations NOW! We must learn to persevere NOW! We must teach our children how to endure NOW. As we learn to have patience and perseverance in our sufferings now, we will be ready to face greater trials.

We have a responsibility to prepare our children and future generations. We must teach them how to trust Christ in their difficulties and endure them patiently and cheerfully, even the little ones they face, so they are in the habit of doing this in their lives. So that it will be their habit for bigger trials. And theyu will be ready if they are the generation that face this greatest of all tests that will come upon the earth.

We must teach them to stand for truth and for their biblical convictions, even in the face of ridicule and hostility NOW! How will they say No to the mark of the beast if they can’t stand up for truth now?

This call comes to those who “keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus Christ.” The word keep is hereo and means “to guard from loss or injury, to keep custody, a fortress of full military strength.” We and our children will keep custody of God’s truth. We will not let go the commandments of God even if we can’t buy or sell and suffer persecution or death.

Many Bible versions translate this Scripture: “This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God’s people.”

The Knox translation says: “This is the test which the saints endure, keeping true to God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus.”

We must keep passing on this message and preparing each new generation.

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

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WHO ARE YOUR CHILDREN LISTENING TO?

SpeakLordYesterday we talked about the example of Samuel growing in the ways of the Lord. We notice that the most important part of his growth was obedience.

When God spoke to him in the night, he thought it was Eli. He didn’t roll over and hope that Eli thought he was asleep. Instead, he immediately ran to Eli and said, “Here am I.” Three times he did this without complaint. Eli realized God was speaking to him and told Samuel to answer God the next time.

When God spoke the fourth time he answered, “Speak: for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10). Because he learned to obey immediately, God could take up this young man and use him mightily as a judge in Israel.

What a beautiful thing to teach our children to have an immediate response to God when He speaks to them. Sadly, many children are growing up and instead of saying, “Speak, LORD, for your servant heareth,” they say, “Speak world, for your child is listening.”

Are your children listening to God or to the spirit of this world? To whom they listen will determine the future of their lives.

Of course, this applies personally to us as well as our children. May our constant response be: “Speak, Lord, I'm listening.”

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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ARE YOUR CHILDREN GROWING?

ChildrenGrowingWe love to see our children growing, don’t we? Right from birth we are excited to see each new development. It is so rewarding to see our daughters grow up to be graceful women of God and our sons to be strong young men who really know how to be men! All my sons are over six feet, my oldest son is 6’ 8”. And now the grandsons are all growing up over six feet, many of them about 6’ 5”.

However, we don’t only want to see them grow in physical stature, but in spiritual stature. This is our greatest vision and longing, isn’t it?

I was reading about Samuel this morning and noticed how the Bible records his growth. God is interesting in the physical and spiritual growth of our children.

1. HE GREW

1 Samuel 2:21 says: “And the child Samuel GREW before the Lord.” The phrase “before the LORD” in the King James Version means “in the presence of the Lord.” The HCSB and ESV and other versions translate it: “The boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.” Don’t’ those words really get to you? They certainly challenge me. It is not enough for our children to grow up in our presence, but they should grow up in the presence of the Lord.

I love the Young’s Literal translation which states: “And the youth Samuel groweth up with Jehovah.” He grew up with God. Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t this what we want for our children?

Motherhood is far more than feeding and clothing our children. It is creating an atmosphere where the presence of God reigns in our home. Our children should feel and be aware of the presence of the Lord. It’s in this atmosphere that they “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:18).

2. HE GREW ON

2 Samuel 2:26 says: “And the child Samuel GREW ON and was in favor both with the LORD, and with men.” We certainly want this for our children, don’t we?

3. HE GREW AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM

1 Samuel 3:19: “And Samuel GREW, AND THE LORD WAS WITH HIM, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.” What a beautiful testimony. Oh, that our children will grow up knowing the power and presence of the Lord with them in every aspect of their lives. This is the ultimate vision for our parenting.

Of course, you know the story of how God came to Samuel and spoke to him in the night (1 Samuel 3:1-21). The historian Josephus says that Samuel would have been about twelve years old when God called him and spoke to him about Eli and his sons. It’s interesting that Jesus was also twelve years old when his parents found him “in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:46, 47).

Are we raising our children for maturity? Are they familiar with hearing the voice of God? Are they able to discuss the truths and doctrines of the Word? As we notice their physical growth, we should also see their spiritual growth. I am amazed that so many adult Christians don’t even know God’s Word. How will their children know if they don’t know?

How will our children become used to hearing the voice of God through His Word if we don’t read it to them daily in our family devotions time? If we don’t encourage them to also read it personally every day and listen for God to speak to them?

Let’s raise children who are not only growing up physically, but growing up spiritually—growing up in God, growing up in the presence of God, growing up hearing His voice, growing up familiar with His Word and familiar with prayer.

Amen! (With an exclamation mark)!

Love to you today,

Nancy Campbell

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BETTER THAN DRUGS

HoneyWith one little member of your body you can light a fire for God in the hearts of everyone in your home or set them on a course destruction (James 3:2-12). With one little member you can minister life or death to those you speak to each day (Proverbs 18:21). With one little member you can build up your marriage or destroy it (Proverbs 14:1).

With one little member you can change the atmosphere in your home, melt your husband to pieces, determine the destiny of your children, and inspire and encourage everyone you meet.

You know what it is, of course. Your tongue.

Proverbs 16:24 says: "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Positive and lovely words make your bones healthy. What comes out of your mouth either fills you with life and vitality or make you miserable and in poor health.

The Hebrew word for “health” is “marpe” and means, “a medicine, curative, therapeutic and healing, and a source of vitality.” Proverbs 12:18 uses the same word: “The tongue of the wise is health (marpe).”

It's the same again in Proverbs 15:4: “A wholesome (marpe) tongue is a tree of life.” God wants your tongue to be a healing tongue—healing wounds, hurts, insecurities, resentments, and estrangements. Your healing words are the best doctor's prescription you can give to your husband and children. They work much better than drugs!

Will you ask God to fill your tongue with loving, joyful, positive, and healing words today?

Your words will determine what kind of a day you have.

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

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THE NEW CART

TheNewCartI’d love to share with you an analogy today. Last Sunday my husband spoke at church about how David sought to bring the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. 1 Samuel chapter 6 tells the story of how David prepared a new cart for the ark. I am sure it wasn’t any new cart. I am sure he had this cart made especially for the purpose. This cart was to carry the presence of God. They could not have anything but the very best.

And they did it with all their hearts. The worshipped, sang, and played musical instruments before the Lord all the way.

However, along the journey the oxen carrying the cart stumbled and Uzza put out his hand to steady the ark. What happened? “The LORD’S anger burned against Uzziah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God” (2 Samuel 6:7 HCSB). David was angry and afraid of God. “How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?” he cries out.

David’s heart was perfect before the Lord. He was not rebellious. He did it with the very best intentions and the wisest way he could possibly think of, knowing it was the ark of “the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims” (v. 2).

In the meantime, David left the ark in the home of Obed-edom and “God blessed Obed-edom, and all his household” (v. 11).

Obed-edom was getting blessed and David was desperate for the ark. He had to get it back to Jerusalem somehow. This time, he searched for the way GOD wanted His presence carried. The previous time he did it the way he thought was best. Now he discovered that God had commanded in the beginning that the ark was only to be carried on the shoulders of the priests (Exodus 25:10-15 and Joshua 3:8).

This certainly was not as glamorous and prestigious as David’s first idea, but He obeyed God’s original command and ark of the covenant came safely back to Jerusalem.

I use this analogy regarding motherhood and homemaking. God’s original decree is for mothers to embrace mothering and child-rearing in their homes. The older women are to teach the younger women to love their husbands, love their children, and to be keepers at home (Titus 2:3-4). The picture God gives of a family is of the mother in the heart of the home and all the children sitting around the table (Psalm 128:3).

However, many mothers today are not embracing this mandate. The norm today is for mothers to go out to the work force and leave their children in daycares. This is the new cart. Some do it in rebellion to God’s ways. But many, like David, do it with good intentions. They think it is the best and wisest way. Well, it’s the way that suits their lifestyle!

But it is not good enough to do what we think is the best way or even the wisest in our eyes. We must do it God’s way. We must search His Word to know His way, for His way is always the best way. His way brings the presence of God. His way brings His blessing. His way is for our safety.

Many blessings,

Nancy Campbell

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INFLUENCING FUTURE GENERATIONS

InfluFutureGenDo you sometimes wonder what you are accomplishing each day? You do the same things over and over again. You deal with the constant immaturities of little ones. You wish you could be doing something more worthwhile.

Dear mother, don't listen to these lies that fill your mind. You are in the most powerful career in the nation as you train the next generation. Your mothering is not only for today. It continues down the years. It continues to influence thousands of lives as your children go out into this world--sharpened, polished, filled with God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Every day you are mothering for generations to come.

Genesis 5:24 tells us that "Enoch walked with God." Even more amazingly, we read in Genesis 6:9 that "Noah walked with God." Four generations after Enoch, his great-grandson, Noah, continues to walk strongly in the ways of God. What a great testimony. Don’t you long for this testimony in your family?

And Noah accomplished this in an environment of corruption and violence (Genesis 6:11-13). He not only continued in the influence of his godly forefathers, but "prepared an ark for the saving of his household" (Hebrews 11:7).

Keep this vision in your heart, dear mother. Train your children each day with a generational understanding. Believe for it. Pray for it. Pray that your progeny will continue to walk with God because of your influence as a mother . . . even when you have passed on. And pray for the coming generations. As my husband and I pray for our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren each day, we don’t stop there. We also pray for the coming generations!

You are doing a great job. Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: Hendrik Heyligers (1877 – 1967, Dutch).

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WHERE ARE YOU HEADED?

WhereUHeadedBecause we live in a humanist society that rejects God and His infallible truths, we must constantly guard against being subtly assimilated into the culture. Even righteous people can be fooled.

Lot was a righteous man, but the Bible says he “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12). He pointed the direction of his home toward this evil place. He could have pitched his home toward the mountains and been drawn towards God. What we look at, read, spend most of our time on, and think about, is what we will become.

It wasn’t long before Lot and his family landed up living in Sodom (Genesis 14:12). We then read how he became totally entrenched in the city life. He even became an elder in the Gate of Sodom (Genesis 19:1).

He was still a righteous man who was tormented in his soul with the disgusting lifestyle of the people of Sodom (2 Peter 2:7-8). But he lost most of his family! When God came to warn him of the coming judgement upon Sodom he tried to warn his sons-in-law, sons, and daughters to run from the coming judgment. They thought he was crazy. They were already entrenched in the culture—and were destroyed (Genesis 19:12-28).

What is the passion and direction of your family? The direction you are pointed as a family is where your children will end. Keep pointing towards God’s ways. This takes constant effort and prayer on your part. You can’t take your responsibility lightly.

We must encourage, inspire, fill with God’s Word, show compassion, and sometimes “pull them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 1:23).

Are you raising children who are strong and brave enough to impact our godless culture or are they being influenced by the culture?

Be blessed today from Nancy Campbell

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DID YOU KNOW?

DidYouKnowDid you know that God has appointed you to be a watchwoman over your home?

Proverbs 321:27 says: “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”

The Hebrew word for “looks well” is “tsaphah.” It means “1) to observe and keep watch, 2) to lean forward, to peer into the distance, and 3) to be a watchman.”

This woman constantly observes what needs to be done in her home. She does not let things go unnoticed. She also prepares for the future. She has enough food and other necessities stored up against a day of hard times or calamity. She does not live only for today, but is well prepared for any emergency.

But, primarily, she is a watchwoman. The Hebrew word used here for the woman is the same word that is used for “watchmen” in the Bible. I’ll give you the references at the end of this post.

A watchman cannot be a watchman unless he is at his post. We cannot effectively watch over our home and our children if we are not in our home. The enemy of our children has power to get at them when we are not watching over them. When we put them in daycares and public schools. This not only applies to our little children, but our older children.

When raising our children, I found I had to be a keen-eyed watchwoman when they were teens more than at any other time! I had to be on the job. I couldn’t leave my post. Isaiah 56:10, 11 gives a scary picture of watchmen who are not doing their job. “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark: sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber . . . they all look to their own way, every one for his gain.”

If you have a watch dog, you’ll want it to be a barking watch dog. You want a dog that lets you know someone strange is coming around. We also must learn to be barking watch dogs. No, I don’t mean a screaming mother who is always yelling at her children. As my husband would say, “No, a thousand times No!” We bark at the devil, not at our children.

There are two aspects to motherhood. Firstly, the gentle, nurturing anointing that God has put within us. Secondly, the powerful, protective anointing that revolts against evil and all subtle works of the enemy that seek to pull our children away from God. We will not stay silent. We will not sit around while the enemy lurks. We will bark. In another words, we will take action, lovingly speak the truth, and do everything in our power to save our children from the claws of the enemy (1 Samuel 17:34, 35 and Jude 23).

Read prayerfully the following passages which speak to watchmen. They also speak to us as mother watchwomen (Ezekiel 3:7-9; 17-21; and 33:1-9). God holds us responsible to warn our children. If we don’t, their blood is on our hands.

Blessings and love from Nancy Campbell

P.S. Hope you didn’t scared off by the picture. Maybe it will help us to remember we are watch dogs in our home. But remember, we bark at the devil, (by resisting him in the powerful name of Jesus), not our children.

God is also a Watchman (the same Hebrew word used of the woman in Proverbs 31:27): This time the word “behold” is used: Psalm 66:7 and Proverbs 15:3.

Watchmen, the same Hebrew word as “looks well.” 1 Samuel 14:16; 2 Samuel 13:34; 18:24-27; 2 Kings 9:17-20; Isaiah 21:5-8; 56:10,11; Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3;7-9; 17-21; 33;1-9; Micah 7:4; Nahum 2:1; and Habakkuk 2:1.

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KEEPERS AT HOME, Part 2

Keepers2Today we continue our word study about this phrase that is an offense to many women. However, if we are Bible believers, we need to understand what it is all about.

The second word from which this phrase is translated is “oikouros.” It is also from two Greek words: “oikos” meaning “a home, a dwelling, or by metonymy--a household or family” and “ouros” meaning “to guard, to watch, to keep, to have the oversight and responsibility for something.”

It means we are HOME-GUARDERS! It’s the picture of a “keeper of the castle” who guards it from any intruder.

Because this word is not used anywhere else in the New Testament we must look to similar words in the Greek language to fully understand its meaning. This word and all derivatives of this word were used in the context of a woman who stayed at home to manage her household. In the language of the day this same word referred to a watch dog who guarded the house. It was also used of men who stayed home from war to avoid military service. They were called “stay-at-home” men.

Therefore, this word means a “stay-at-home” mother, which is the exact meaning from the Strong’s concordance--“a stayer at home.” This sounds like a negative phrase, doesn’t it? But that is far from the truth.

THE WATCH DOG

The mother of children does not stay home for the sake of staying home. She is in her home to guard it. She is a Watch Dog. She watches over her marriage. She watches over her children. She conscientiously manages her home. She keeps everything in order (Proverbs 31:27 and 1 Timothy 5:14).

The AMPLIFIED version says: “makers of a home (where God is honored).”

J. B. PHILLLIPS translates it “home-lovers.” It is sad that many women do not love home. They want to get out of the home. I believe the reason for this is that most women have been brainwashed to look negatively on the home. They have been educated to think that the home is a boring place, an insignificant place, and a demeaning place. No one has told them the truth about the power of their home. School and college never taught them that home is not only a place to nurture and train our precious children, but it is the place where we can truly fulfil all the creative and productive dreams God gives to us.

I often say to women: “All mothers love their children, but not all mothers love motherhood! It’s when we love and embrace motherhood that we enter into the joy and fulfillment of motherhood.”

I believe it is also true of the home. God created mothers for the home, but they have been taught to despise it. When they acknowledge the truth, and begin to embrace and love their home, they find how they have been cheated and lied to. They begin to see that the home is their greatest place of fulfillment.

WAY’S translation tells the older women to teach the younger women “to recognize that their sphere is home.” This is God’s ultimate and wonderful plan for their lives. What a privilege to have a home. What an honor to have a dominion where we are QUEEN and where we rule and reign. What a privilege to make a sanctuary for the living God and for our husband and children.

There is no greater power we wield than when we are nurturing, loving, and training our children in our home who will one day go forth to bless the nation and the nations of the world with God’s truth and love.

What opportunity to influence the lives of hundreds of people as we open our doors in hospitality and invite in the needy and those who need encouragement and friendship. It’s not only the poor who are lonely and devastated; it’s often the rich. Every person is desperate to feel the love of God. And you can show them God’s love in your home.

Of course, over all, you are GUARDING. Your beady eyes (physically and spiritually) are watching and you are ready to bark at any entrance of the enemy. What’s the use of a Watch Dog who is not at home?

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

P.S. The following versions translate this phrase as “home-keepers”: KJV, WEBSTER’S, YOUNG’S LITERAL TRANSLATION, 1599 GENEVA BIBLE, BERKELEY, WILLIAMS, and BEREAN LITERAL BIBLE.

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KEEPERS AT HOME

KeepersAtHomeMany women don’t like this phrase. Even Christian mothers. And yet it’s in the Bible! Isn’t that amazing? However, I think it comes down to the fact that we either believe the Bible or we don’t. If we believe the Bible we must receive every word as the living, breathing Word of God. It is an eternal Word. It is as up-to-date as tomorrow’s newspaper!

Therefore, if you believe the Bible, would you like to come with me on a little word study? Let’s look into this phrase and see what it really means, shall we?

The phrase “keepers at home” in Titus 2:5 is translated from two different earlier manuscripts.

The first Greek word is oikourogo, coming from two words:
“oikos” meaning “home” and “ergon” meaning “to work.”
The word literally means HOME-WORKERS!

I am a great believer in working mothers. However, we must know the place where God wants us to work. It’s in the home. It says “home-workers,” not “career workers.”

The home is not a prison to lock us away from all the wonderful things we could do in this life. The home is where we CAN DO all the wonderful things that will bless our own lives, the lives of our family, and many others.

The home is a place of function and action. It’s a place of nurturing where we have the privilege of nurturing and teaching the children God gives to us. It is also a place of creativity where we can accomplish all the creative ideas God brings to our minds. It’s the most exciting place in the world. We make our own hours and are free to create. We are not bound to an employer (submitted to another man rather than our husband).

That’s why we are workers in the home. We are not lazing around, but working. As we work, ideas come to us to do things in a better way. God gives us anointed ways to teach and minister to our children. Solutions come to us to solve problems in our family life. Inspiration comes to our hearts about hospitality and how we can reach out to the lonely, hurting, and those who need encouragement.

When you lift your eyes from focusing on the so-called “mundane” which must be accomplished each day and instead open your mind and heart to God, you’ll never have another boring moment in your life. And you’ll never have time to be lazy. You’ll be working hard and loving it.

Why do I used the words “so-called mundane”? Because if Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe dwells in you, everything you do is sacred—whether it’s a huge project or the daily tasks of laundry, dishes, or cleaning up baby poo! Everything you do pulsates with the power of God and counts for eternity.

Why not decide to be the greatest homeworker in your city? Wow, can you imagine what miracles will happen?

Now we also have another Greek word to study to fully understand this phrase, but I’ll save it for tomorrow.

Love from Nancy Campbell

P.S. The following translations translate the word “homeworkers” or “working in their homes”: ESV, WEB, CEB, CSB, NIV, WMB, NASB, NCV, NLT, and DARBY. There could be others too. The Weymouth translation says: “industrious in their homes.”

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