Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

How is your soul today? Downcast? Reveling in self-pity? Or even dead? I have answer for you. It’s God’s living Word.

Psalm 19:7 says: “The law of the LORD is perfect converting the soul.” Most other translations say either: “restoring the soul.” “refreshing the soul,” “reviving the soul,” and “renewing the soul.” I love Knox translation which says: “The Lord’s perfect law, how it brings the soul back to life.” Don’t you love that? Does your soul need coming back to life? Get back into God’s Word. You cannot expect to keep your soul alive when you don’t feed it.

What happens when we have a baby? We receive a child from the Lord. When Eve gave birth to Cain she exclaimed, “I have gotten a man FROM THE LORD” (Genesis 4:1). Some translations say “with the help of the Lord.” I love the Knox Version which says, “I have been ENRICHED by the Lord with a man-child.”

What an awesome privilege we have as women! Every child God gives you comes from Him. He is the giver of life. You cannot even conceive without God visiting you (Genesis 21:1, 2 and 1Samuel 2:21).

Do your dreams and prayers include the generations to come?

I am sure all mothers will enjoy reading this article. Here are a couple of lovely quotes:

“Becoming a parent looks—at least in the brain—a lot like falling in love.”

My life touched yours for a very brief space,
And what, oh what did you see?
A hurried, a worried, an anxious face?
Or the beauty of Jesus in me?

Home based upon Christian marriage is so evidently an institution of God, that a man must become profane before he can deny it . . . Of this realm woman is queen. It takes its cue and its hue from her. If she is in the best sense womanly--if she is true and tender, loving and heroic, patient and self-devoted--she consciously or unconsciously organizes and puts in operation a set of influences that do more to mould the destiny of the nation than any man, uncrowned by power or eloquence, can possibly effect.

~ Dr. J. G. Holland

Words have power. God gave us the gift of speech to communicate to one another with words. Jesus Himself is THE WORD! John 1: 1, 2, 14 says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” God gives words of truth.

However, words can also deceive. Words can lie. Words are misleading the majority of this nation. By euphemisms-- nice sounding words to cover up the true meaning of something so it no longer sounds offensive. Our humanistic society and the political left use euphemisms to cover up their agenda. To change your thinking! Hide the real truth.

Let’s not be fooled. Don’t allow your children to be fooled either. If they grow up accepting these words they will be brainwashed and imbibe falsity. They will hook into an anti-biblical mindset and become self-deceived.

Let’s look at just some of the examples. Please forgive me, the list got a little longer than I intended:

Abortion mentality. Currently accepted as the “right to choose,” “pro-choice," "women's health," or "reproductive freedom." The real truth is: “I choose to murder my own flesh and blood baby.”

Abortion act is called the “termination of pregnancy, “removal of fetal matter.” Would abortion clinics have as many clients if they posted the sign: “Come in here to have your baby murdered”?

Abortioner. The evil act of the abortioner which kills a live human being is called “Embryo Reduction Procedure” (ERP).

Adultery which breaks sacred vows proclaimed before God and betrays the marriage partner is called “temporary marriage,” “extra marital affair,” or just “an affair.”

Assisted Suicide by physicians giving a lethal overdose to kill a person is called the nice sounding phrase of “Death with Dignity.” No matter how nice it sounds, it’s still murder.

Baby in the womb is called everything but a human baby. Instead it is called “uterine contents,” “birth matter,” “products of conception,” etc.

Bad debts are called “under-performing assets.”

Bums. The accepted word is “homeless.”

Charity is called “entitlement.”

Child sexual abuse is watered down by the words “intergenerational sex.”

Collapse of American society. Our president calls it “fundamental transformation.”

Confiscation by threat of what belongs to others is called “social justice.” It’s really injustice.

Contraception is advocated by “Every child a wanted child.” Sounds lovely, but does that mean that a mother who does not find the timeframe convenient to have a baby can abort?

Fornication which is sexual intercourse before marriage is accepted as “pre-marital sex.” God calls it sin and says that no fornicator (along with other listed sins) will enter the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 5:9, 10). Of course, God gives total forgiveness when someone repents (1 John 1:7, 9).

Downright lies are called “inoperative statements” or “terminological inexactitude.”

Drug abuse is called “substance abuse.”

Gangs are called “youth groups.”

Expecting people to accept lifestyles that are contrary to the Bible is called “tolerance.”

Government spending is called “investment.”

Homosexuals are called “gay.” How can it be gay when it is an abomination in God’s eyes?

Illegal aliens are called “undocumented immigrants,” or Obama’s favorite term, “Americans-in-waiting.” My husband and I came from a different country and had to pay thousands of dollars and work hard to receive our Green Card on which was printed “Resident Alien.” Even though we were here legally we were stilled called “alien.” Today people are no longer called alien even when they are illegal! We later went on to become US citizens.

Liberal Left are called “progressives” or “progressive change agents.” They are not progressive and it is more correct to call them “leftists” or “statists.”

Marxism (which is really socialism, communism, or collectivism) currently practiced by many in government is covered up by the misleading names of “fairness,” “economic justice,” “redistribution,” “progressivism,” and “spreading the wealth around.”

Southern American children from infants to 18 years, arranged by gangs and drug cartels and welcomed by Obama into this nation, are called “unaccompanied minors.”

Micromanagement of our daily lives, thoughts, and businesses by self-appointed elitists is called “socialism.”

Pedophiles who prey on young children are called “minor-attracted persons” (MAPs).

Perverts are called “sexual variants.”

Porn movies are called “adult movies.”

Prostitutes are called “sex workers” or engaging in “social activity.”

Wasteful spending is called by our government “legislative directive.”

Rejecting the female role is called “feminism.” This term is devious because it sounds so much like the word feminine which gives the picture of a gentle, submissive, and nurturing woman. Instead, they want to annihilate motherhood and the family.

Sex change is called “Gender Assignment Surgery.” Everything that is against God and His creation is changed to a misleading word or phrase.

Twenty-four hour government-funded child care is called “flexible child care.” That doesn’t sound like a takeover, does it? But that it is the eventual plan.

Taxes. Obama, the professional euphemizer calls tax increase “Revenue enhancement,” “shared sacrifices,” or “advanced approach.” And yet he has already spent, using the people’s taxes, over $40 million on his vacations alone while in office. It will be over $50 million by the time his term ends.

We dare not be fooled by these euphemisms. The political left tells us like it’s not. Let’s not be afraid to tell it like it is!

We will not be seduced!

~ Nancy Campbell

No children in the house to play-
It must be hard to live that way!
I wonder what the people do
When night comes on and the work is through,
With no glad little folks to shout,
No eager feet to race about,
No youthful tongues to chatter on
About the joy that’s been and gone?
The house might be a castle fine,
But what a lonely place to dine!

Today is the first day of another year. The word filling my mind is AWAKE. In the midst of our busy lives and trying to keep up with everything we can still be asleep.

Asleep to the dangers of the changes happening to our communities and country. Asleep to the insidious plan of the enemy to keep us slumbering while he sows his deceptions into the minds of our children and this generation. Asleep to the plan of the progressives (the new word for socialists and Marxists) who are redirecting our nation from its core Judeo/Christian values to socialist and humanist ideology--opposite to our fundamental belief in God and family. Asleep to the plan to reeducate the children of our public schools to reject God, morality, the authority of their parents and instead embrace multiculturalism and political correctness (and everything that goes along with that word and which is also a form of Marxism). Asleep to our own materialism, half-heartedness, luke-warmnness, worldliness, and apathy. Asleep to the needs of others, the hurting world, and the persecuted church.

Good morning, dear ladies. Today begins another New Year. I pray God’s richest blessings upon you, your husband and your children. May we each come closer and closer to our wonderful Redeemer this coming year. May we seek to know Him MORE AND MORE, not according to our own imagination of what we want Him to be, but Who He is--our Savior from our sins, the Mighty God of the universe, King of kings, Lord of lords, and the Potentate of all.

Let’s seek Him MORE, pray MORE urgently and intensely, compromise less and stand MORE strongly for righteousness, and shine our lights MORE brightly (personally and as families) for God in this coming year.

“Christian parents who don’t have daily family devotions and don’t make time to build a solid Christian foundation to their children’s impressionable years should not be mystified when the children, in their teenage years, turn from the things of God.”

~ The Evidence Bible, Compiled by Ray Comfort

Children love to have friends. As they get older they love to have more friends. They love to get in the groove with their friends. In fact, many times peer pressure from friends becomes a greater influence than parent pressure! That’s why it is imperative to guard your children’s friends. Pray and look for godly friends for your children. Refrain from putting them into environments where they can be influenced by worldly and unbiblical influences.

When raising our children, I tried to do something different at the meal table one night a week. One of the things the children loved was COLOR NIGHTS. For example, I would choose a color and put up a notice:

“Tonight is RED Night
No admittance unless wearing something Red.
Supper at 6.00 p.m. Please knock before entering.”

She . . .
adds to his happiness,
subtracts from his cares,
multiplies his joys,
divides his sorrows, and
practices reduction in the
expenditure of his household.

~ Unknown

Painting: William Kay Blacklock (1872-1922) British Painter

Nowhere is Christianity more beautifully displayed, than in the home. It changes the home of wickedness, strife, and contention into a peaceful and delightful Eden. It converts the home of the wicked into a palace. It drives away discontentment, uneasiness, fear, and darkness and showers contentment, peace, and sunlight into every heart.

Christianity in home life makes all love and kindness between brothers and sisters; love and dutifulness between parents and children; love, peace, harmony, honesty, and faithfulness between husband and wife.

Home is the true wife's kingdom. Very largely does the wife hold in her hands, as a sacred trust, the happiness and the highest good of the hearts that nestle there. In the last analysis, home happiness depends on the wife.

Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere.

...to each one of you today. May you and your husband and families be blessed as you enjoy one another and give praise to God for the coming of our Savior to this world.

We look forward to a wonderful family gathering, about 75 for a sit-down meal (although not as meany as Thanksgiving). The aroma in the home is delightful. I have lamb cooking in the upstairs oven and a turkey in the downstairs oven. Wherever you walk the smell is delightful and the carols are playing. More of the family will arrive tonight for dessert.

I just had to share this picture with you. Isn't it wonderful? May we all have the same AWE AND WONDER of God's incomprehensible plan of salvation to send our Savior, Deliverer, and King into the world as a little baby.

Here's the story of Simeon:
Luke 2:25-35
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

There’s a story in the Bible that uses over and over again the words . . . baby, birth, with child, bring forth, conceive, and womb. These are not popular words amongst many women today, and yet they tell the greatest story in the history of the world when Jesus Christ, who was God, came to this earth.

The king of kings and Lord of lords could have sent His royal and beloved Son to the world on a chariot of fire! He could have sent a legion of angels to escort Him from the glories of heaven. But no! He planned for His Son to be conceived and nurtured in a womb, to be born of a woman, and to be suckled and nourished by a mother.

We are now in the season of remembering the most wonderful celebration in the history of the world--when Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth as a little baby. We know that this was not the actual time of his birth, but it is the time we remember His miraculous incarnation.

Just as we celebrated that Christ is the Light of the world during Hanukkah, so we continue to celebrate that He is the Light. God spoke through the prophecy of Zacharias that He was sending His beloved Son into the world "TO GIVE LIGHT TO THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79).