Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

What was the first thing God did after He created man? I'll give you a little moment to think about it?

He blessed them. Did you get the right answer?

God is a BLESSER. He wants to bless you. He wants to bless your family.

And because we are created in His image, we should be blessers, too. It should be second nature to us. More correctly, it is God's nature in us.

Did you bless your husband this morning? Have you blessed your children today? If not, there's still more time in the day.

Let's make it a habitual part of life to speak life, blessing, and encouragement to each one in our family each day, and to all we meet.

Love from Nancy

God told His people of old, and I am sure we need to be constantly reminded today, “Do not learn the way of the nations… for the customs of the peoples are delusion” (Jeremiah 10:1-3). Read also Leviticus 18:3 and 20:23). And yet, we assimilate. When we look into the mirror of God’s Word we can be surprised at how much we are like the world rather than the standard of God’s Word.

That’s why it is so important to daily fill our minds and hearts with God’s truths and impart these truths to our children. Otherwise, we have no standard, except what we see around us, and often it is contrary to God’s way.

Why is it that Christian parents limit their families, and sometimes even scoff at having more children? Why do Christian parents want to send their children to state schools where the Bible and prayer (which are foundations of our nation) have been banned? What do Christian parents run their children around to every sport and extracurricular activity? Isn’t it because they have assimilated?

In many cases, the Christian’s standard of dress, movies, literature, and divorce, etc. lines up more with the world than God’s Word. And they think it’s normal!

Isn’t it time for a turning back? Isn’t it time for “normal” to be God’s normal, rather than the world’s normal?

What’s your “normal”?

Love from Nancy

Some extra Scriptures to check out if you have time!
Isaiah 60:1-2; Jeremiah 6:16; 18:15; Matthew 5:13-16; James 4:4; 1 John 2:19-21.

Unless we have been successfully indoctrinated by humanist and feminist dogma, it is inherent within us to love being at home. God created the first home, the Garden of Eden, to be ready for Eve when He created her. He placed her in her home, in the environment He intended for her destiny. The Hebrew for Eden means “delight.” We should delight in working in our garden and our home. It is our sanctuary to raise our children in this dark world.

We read in Micah 2:9 that God was indignant about women being taken from their “pleasant homes.” Most translations read, “The homes they love.” It is feminine to love being at home. The Hebrew word means “delicate and delightful.” The mother brings softness and sweetness to the home. She creates the warm and loving atmosphere. Without the mother in the home, it is stark and cold. And once again, we have the word “delightful” relating to the home.

Take joy in delighting in your home today. Delight in nurturing your children. Delight in spoiling your husband. Delight in making your home a delightful place to live—for your husband, your children, yourself, and everyone who comes in your doors!

Love from Nancy

Horace Greeley said these words, “It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.” It is hard to believe that in this great land, “the land of the free,” that our freedoms are slowly eroding away from us. Is it because we are no longer a people of the Book?

As I talk with Christian young people I find they are more familiar with the names of movies, actors, and singing stars than they are with God’s Word. In fact, they are not very familiar with God’s Word at all.

Dear mother, we are accountable before God to fill our children with God’s Word. We must not only get it into their hearts, but into their mouths (Isaiah 59:21). How can God’s Word be their guiding light if they don’t know it? How can it become their world view if they don’t know it? How can it affect their lives to change them into the image of Christ if they don’t know it?

It won’t just happen. As mother we have the responsibility to make it happen (Proverbs 6:20-24).

John Quincy Adams said, “So great is my veneration of the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society.”

As you impart the principles of God’s Word deep into the hearts of your children, you become a nation-impacting mother, defending the freedoms of your nation.

Love from Nancy

With one little member of your body you can change the atmosphere in your home, melt your husband to pieces, determine the destiny of your children, and influence your world around you. You know what it is, of course. Your tongue.

Ask God to fill your tongue with loving, joyful, positive, and healing words today. Proverbs 15:4 says, “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” The Hebrew word for “wholesome” is marpe and means, “a medicine, curative, therapeutic and healing, and a source of vitality.”

God wants your tongue to be a healing tongue—healing wounds, hurts, insecurities, resentments, and estrangements. Again, Proverbs 12:18 reminds us, “The tongue of the wise is health.”

Speak life and healing into your home today.

Love from Nancy

David confessed in Psalm 26:3, “Thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes.” David did not forget God’s love to him. He continually meditated on it and acknowledged it.

May God save us from forgetting all His goodness to us. We only have to look out the window to see God’s wonderful creation. But, more than that, how can we forget His great salvation?

Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!
Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

How can we go for one day without thanking and praising Him for His sacrifice upon the cross for our sins and for the eternal redemption we have received? I think this is one reason why it is so important to have Family Devotions morning and evening with our families. At least two times in the day we can remember His lovingkindness to us and His great salvation. And isn’t this the least we can do?

David made sure that he declared out loud the lovingkindness of the Lord every morning and every evening. Psalm 92:1-2 says, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: to show forth (declare, tell, proclaim) thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.”

Did you notice this is a good thing? Better than a lot of other things that compete for our time.

Love from Nancy

Have moments of prayer been part of your daily mothering? Whatever need arises, you don’t have to think what to do. You already know. Pray.

We need to constantly be ready to give thanks, too. Whenever something good happens, thank the Lord. Thank Him out loud. I don’t want to be like the nine lepers who never bothered to thank Jesus for their healing, do you? Only one took the time.

It’s so good to get into the habit of thankfulness. Establish this habit in your children. There are so many little things that happen throughout the day for which we can thank the Lord. Remind your children to thank the Lord, too.

This last week we had two big opportunities for praise. We have had no rain for so long and everything is parched and dry. The bans were on throughout Tennessee for no grilling and no fire works on July 4th. You can imagine how the children were praying for rain?

God was good. Two days before July 4th we had a huge downpour of rain which only came down on our county. We praised and thanked the Lord for the rain.

But, it was more than rain. It was a thunderstorm too. Jireh, Evangeline’s son came running in from the storm, slid, and hurt his knee. He stopped to recover on their deck and was hit with the lightning. Evangeline and the girls were even stunned inside their home. But, once again, God did a miracle and he is totally fine. And, we had our huge fireworks as usual on July 4th. Praise the Lord.

Love from Nancy

Do you have a busy day planned? Of course you do. Every moment is filled when we have precious children to care for isn’t it?

How about fitting in some prayer? Romans 12:12 tells us to be “instant in prayer.” Many other Scriptures exhort us to “continue in prayer.”

“Help,” you cry out! “My whole day is filled with cooking, caring for my baby, teaching my children, cleaning the house, and a thousand other interruptions—and you expect me to pray all day too? Impossible!”

I know. My day is filled to the max, too. So, how do we do it? How can we continue in prayer throughout the day? I believe it is having an attitude of response toward God. We turn every frustration and problem into prayer. We turn every sigh into a Hallelujah!

The children are squabbling; hold their hands and pray with them. It sure works better than screaming at them. One of the children is having a problem with his lesson; pray together about it. One of them falls over and scratches his knee; pray for him.

Perhaps a friend calls to ask prayer for a specific need or to share that a friend is in labor. Don’t say, “I’ll be praying.” Instead, pray together immediately over the phone right at the moment.

My, we as mothers can be continuing in prayer all day long as we constantly and instantly bring every matter to God. Don’t forget the “Thank You” prayers, too. Whenever something good happens, even a little thing, praise and thank the Lord.

Have a great day continuing in prayer.

Love from Nancy

Do you feel like you are in a prison and you can’t break your way out?

Look to your Breaker. In Micah 2:12-13 we are given a picture of the Lord, the Messiah as the Breaker of Israel, the One who breaks open a way for His scattered people to come back to their land.

But, He is also your Breaker. Where you can’t see an opening, He will make the breech and lead you forth. He has already done this in His death upon the cross. He defied the power of death. He broke forth, carrying away the gates of sin, hell, and death and is gone before us into the eternal kingdom.

You think there is no way out of your bondage? That’s a lie. There is nothing in your life that God can’t break open. Put your hand in His. He will lead you forth from your darkness into His glorious light.

Then your mouth will be filled with laughter and your tongue with singing (Psalm 126:1-2).

Love from Nancy

Isn’t it amazing that many people would rather stake their lives on the temporary rather than the enduring? Many believers conduct their lives on the contemporary values of our modern society.

Jeremiah 6:16 says, “Thus saith the Lord, Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” What are these old paths we are to seek after? Doesn’t it seem rather old fashioned to ask after “old” ways?

But what does this word really mean. The word “old” is olam in the Hebrew. It means “from time immemorial, without end.” In most places in the Bible this word is translated as “everlasting.” God’s ways for us are everlasting ways. They stand the test of time from the beginning of time to the end. They were refined in the courts of heaven before they were given to us on earth. They are divine, they are eternal, and they work!

Forget the modern humanistic trend. They are going down the wrong track. Dare to stand up and be counted. Go after God’s everlasting plan, no matter what relatives or friends have to say. Rejoice when God gives you another baby. You are walking in the everlasting plan.

Love from Nancy

Philippians 1:1 enjoins to be “filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ.” Isn’t it wonderful that every word that God gives us in His living word relates to us in our daily life? That means right now, in our kitchen with our children, and whatever is happening. And that could mean challenging, or even overwhelming!

What does it mean to be a righteous mother? What does it mean to establish a righteous home?

Let’s get it straight. Righteousness is not legality. Righteousness is not stuffiness. Righteousness is not religiosity. Righteousness is not going around with a long boring face!

Righteousness is the life of Jesus shining through our lives. It is His life shining through our smile, our words, and our actions. It comes forth from our hands and feet as we serve with joy in our home. Righteousness is equated with joy. Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 1:9 says, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

You are not called to create a “religious” home, filled with laws and regulations. You are called to establish a righteous home, filled with the joy and peace of the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17).

Love from Nancy

Jeremiah confessed, “The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one” (Jeremiah 20:11).

Some time back Evangeline’s husband, Howard had a dream or a vision (he is not sure what)--something that rarely happens to him. He saw three black lines that looked like steel bars but they were slightly arched. He wondered what on earth he was seeing when God came to him in a powerful way and his whole body trembled through and through.

The Holy Spirit spoke to his heart, “These are the eyebrows of the Lion. He is much bigger and much nearer than you think!”

We often fail to realize with our puny minds the awesomeness and terribleness of our God. And, dear mother, this is the God who is with you to help you in your divine task of raising your children. He gave you this powerful career and He will not forsake you. He is your great and mighty God. Nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing takes him by surprise.

And, He is with you in your home, right now!

Love from Nancy

We don’t have to do one thing to drift with the current, do we? It happens without our doing anything. We can lay back and relax and watch the world go by.

Hebrews 2:1 Weymouth says, “For this reason we ought to pay the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, for fear we should drift away from them.” He also comments, “Drifting is an unconscious process. Often it is not until we are actually on the rocks that we know that we were in danger.” And Westcott comments, “We are all continually exposed to the action of currents of opinion, habit, action, which tend to carry us away insensibly from the position which we ought to maintain.”

Conversely, it takes concerted effort and untiring strength, conviction and purpose to go in the right direction, which most times is against the current of this world.

I am sure you are living against the grain of this society. Keep standing strong. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t cave in to the easy way. You may receive scoffing and contempt from family members and people around you, but put your shoulders back and lift up your head. You are on God’s course! Your end is “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Your disdainers are deceived and deliriously drifting on dangerous currents.

And please, do everything in your power to keep you children from drifting in the current of this world.

Love from Nancy

Micah 4:5 says, “Though all the peoples walk each in the name of his god (whatever captivates their attention), as for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

Do you want this confession to be the testimony of your family? I want it to be our affirmation, “As for the Campbell family, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

What a great affirmation for you and your children to speak out loud each morning, “As for us (put in your family name), we will walk in the name of the Lord our God.” Perhaps you could all say it together at breakfast time. At least, find the most appropriate time of each day to say it together, especially when daddy is with the family.

What a privilege to walk in the name of the Lord God. And what a responsibility to take His name upon our lives and our family, and all that His holy and awesome name represents. As we make this a family confession and testimony, it will remind us to conduct our lives in a way that will not bring dishonor to His glorious name.

How long are we to walk in His name? Forever and ever. This is my prayer for our family and the generations to come, that they will all continue to walk in the power of His name.

Pray daily, not only for your children, but for the generations to come. Your mothering is not only for today but to influence future generations.

Love from Nancy

Micah 4:5 says, “Though all the peoples walk each in the name of his god (whatever captivates their attention), as for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

Do you want this confession to be the testimony of your family? I want it to be our affirmation, “As for the Campbell family, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

What a great affirmation for you and your children to speak out loud each morning, “As for us (put in your family name), we will walk in the name of the Lord our God.” Perhaps you could all say it together at breakfast time. At least, find the most appropriate time of each day to say it together, especially when daddy is with the family.

What a privilege to walk in the name of the Lord God. And what a responsibility to take His name upon our lives and our family, and all that His holy and awesome name represents. As we make this a family confession and testimony, it will remind us to conduct our lives in a way that will not bring dishonor to His glorious name.

How long are we to walk in His name? Forever and ever. This is my prayer for our family and the generations to come, that they will all continue to walk in the power of His name.

Pray daily, not only for your children, but for the generations to come. Your mothering is not only for today but to influence future generations.

Love from Nancy

God hovers over motherhood. He is with you from the beginning to the end. Are you waiting to give birth to a baby soon? God will be with you in your birth. David confesses in Psalm 22:9, “Thou art He that took me out of the womb.” Many translations say, “You brought me safely from my mother’s womb.” Whether you are having your baby at home or in a hospital, put your trust in God. He is the one who brings the baby safely from the womb. He is hovering over you for the life of your baby.

When the baby is born there comes the very precious awareness of the presence of God in your home. It always comes with a new baby who is sent fresh from heaven. I reveled in this time when my babies came.

David continues, “Thou dist make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.” As the little babe nurses at the continually available breasts of the mother, the baby learns that he can totally trust God. As the breast is always accessible, so he learns that God, Jehovah Shamah, will always be there for him.

Another Psalmist confesses the same thing as David, “Upon Thee I have leaned from birth; it was Thou who took me from the maternal womb. My praise is continually of thee” (Psalm 71:6 MLB). Put your trust in God who is watching over every aspect of your motherhood.

Love from Nancy

In Obadiah verse 11, it talks about foreigners entering into the gates of Jerusalem. My, how we have to watch for the “foreign” sneaking through the gates of our home, don’t we?

The “foreign” is all around us. We live in the midst of it. God doesn’t want to take us out of it, but to be shining lights in the midst of it. Jesus prayed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 13:15).

But, although it is all around us, we must be on guard that none of the “foreign” enters our home. Our home is to be a sanctuary from evil--all that is opposite to God’s standard, His Word, and His heart.

The adversary looks for any opening he can find to intrude into your sanctuary. Guard your gates. Guard your home on all four sides. Guard with prayer. By intercession and prayer, put a hedge of protection around your home (Job 1:10).

Give no foothold for the enemy. Allow no estrangement in your marriage. Don’t allow any worldly spirit to come in through the media. Be ruthless against the enemy.

May we have the testimony of Nehemiah when he confessed, “I purged out everything foreign” (Nehemiah 13:30 NLT).

Love from Nancy

P.S. Read these Scriptures also: Deuteronomy 7:25-26; Palm 144: 7-8, 11-15; Lamentations 4:12; Ephesians 5:11; 6:10-13.

Jacob said to Laban, “I will again feed and keep thy flock” (Genesis 30:31). For 20 long years Jacob shepherded Laban’s flock (Genesis 31:38), but he continued shepherding all his life.

Our mothering is also a shepherding role and even though we may continue mothering for 20 years or more, it doesn’t stop there. We are shepherd-mothers all our lives. This is our role.

What does it mean to shepherd? Two massive tasks—to feed and to keep.

The word “feed” is raah and means “to feed, pasture, rule, and care for our flock, but it also means to associate with as a friend.” The Hebrew literally means “to continue tending.” Like a literal shepherd, we don’t leave our flock. We are always with them—feeding (it’s hard to get out of the kitchen, isn’t it?), leading, and guiding them.

The word “keep” is shamar and means “to guard, keep safe, watch over and protect.” Once again, we are always near our flock. We can’t watch over them if we are not with them. And, of course, we not only protect their physical lives, but their souls and spirits.

A powerful full-time career. Embrace it and enjoy it today.

Love from Nancy

Psalm 37:34 NLT says, “Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along his path.”

I don’t have visions and dreams (I would love to). I don’t live by my feelings. How then do I live out my walk with God? By plodding on from day to day.

I don’t have to be disturbed by my circumstances because God is bigger than all the challenges I face. I don’t have to be intimidated by my antagonists because God’s truth will eventually win the day.

I don’t have to be fazed by what is going on in the world for God is in control. He is the only Potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords. All presidents, prime ministers, and leaders of this world are all in His hand and He will have the last say.

Therefore, by faith, I walk steadily along God’s path. I don’t have to be high one day and low the next. I keep on plodding on faithfully from day to day, no matter what the day brings. I can patiently wait for God to move because His timing is better than mine.

Steady your soul today, dear mother. God is in control of your life and the life of your precious children.

Love from Nancy

How much to do you believe in the power of God’s Word? I read this morning in Psalm 19:7-11 that His Word restores the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, gives us warning, and “in keeping of them there is great reward.”

I believe God’s Word has the power to fill up weaknesses in our own lives and our children’s lives. If you have a weakness in your life, search the Scriptures for God’s victory in this area. Meditate on and memorize these Scriptures. Constantly confess these Scriptures out loud. As you do, you will find that the weakness will turn into a strength in your life.

I also used this principle as I raised our children. When I saw an area of weakness in their lives, or an area where I knew God needed to work in their lives, I would search the Scriptures to find answers. I would then minister these Scriptures into their lives. It is not your words, but God’s Word that will change their lives.

I would encourage you to do this also in the training of your children. Write the applicable Scriptures up on your walls. Teach and explain the Scriptures you researched to you children. Use them as memory verses. Repeat and recite them over and over again.

You will be amazed at how the Word brings change into their lives and mold them into the image of God.

Love from Nancy