New Living Translation: “This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands.”

Are you getting the picture? Let me give you one more passage where the word “beauty” is mentioned SEVEN times! It’s the Barclay version: “Your BEAUTY must not be the superficial BEAUTY which depends on elaborate hair-styles and expensive jewellery and the wearing of fashionable clothes. No! Your BEAUTY must be the BEAUTY of your inner character and personality. It must consist of the BEAUTY of a gentle; and serene character, a BEAUTY which the years cannot wither, for in God’s sight that is what is really precious. This was BEAUTY with which once upon a time consecrated women, whose hopes were set on God, adorned themselves. They accepted the authority of their husbands. It was in this that Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him master.”

New English Bible: “Thus it was among God’s people in days of old: the women who fixed their hopes on him adorned themselves by submission to their husbands.” God never commands a husband to make his wife submit to him. God’s commands the husband to love his wife like his own body and as much as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:25-33). It is something she does of her own volition, from her own heart, from her humble heart of submission to the Lord. Submission is an adorning. It is how we clothe ourselves, and it is an adorning that makes us beautiful.

Why is submission a beautiful thing? Because it is the same attitude of Jesus who submitted to His father’s will. Although Jesus was God He was willing to leave glory and become a man, humble Himself, even to the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

Do we have a submissive heart or a stubborn and rebellious heart? Are we making ourselves beautiful?

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

Can people describe my life by the lovely things I do? Can they describe your life this way? Firstly, in the home, because that’s where it all starts. Our light first shines for everyone in our home to see and then shines out to neighbors and people around us. How do they see this light? By the lovely things we do and say.

It’s not only what we do. What about our lovely words? Do we speak lovely words to our husbands? Do we speak lovely words to our children? It’s hypocritical to speak nice words to others outside the home if we are angry, shouting, and nasty in the home.

If we are born again, Christ dwells in us by His Holy Spirit. He wants to live His lovely life through us with all His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, patience, and kindness, etc.

Let’s yield to the life of Christ who lives within us and live a lovely life today--doing lovely things and speaking lovely words.

In His love,

Nancy Campbell

God uses His word to guide us (Psalm 119:19, 54 and Hebrews 11:13). As exiles of eternity we must keep His words in our hearts and mouths. The people who belong to earth live by a different mindset than the God-fearing sojourner. They belong to a different kingdom with different values and worldview. Therefore, if we don’t continually hold on to God’s words we can easily be dragged into the mindset of this world system instead of living by heavenly rules and principles.

It is also important to teach your children that they are only temporary residents and foreigners on this earth and have a greater destiny than this world.

Love from Nancy Campbell

M God chose you to be the MOTHER of His child.
I God is INTERESTED in every minute detail of your baby, from creating every part of his/her body in the womb to His plans for his/her life in the future.
R God will REVEAL more of His character and His ways to you as you embrace and nurture your precious baby.
A God will give you His ANOINTING and ABILITY to train this child. He knows you cannot do it in your own strength. And He will AMAZINGLY provide every need for this coming baby. He doesn’t necessarily provide before the baby comes, but when your baby arrives, you will see His daily provision.
C God has CALLED and COMMISSIONED you for this great task.
L God will LAVISH you with His LOVE for this sweet baby. You will not only be overcome with love for your baby, but if you have other children, you will fall in love with them all over again too. And what about all the negative gainsayers and family members? When the baby is born, they will fall in love with the baby too.
E God is creating within you an ETERNAL soul that will live forever. You are embarking on an ETERNAL mission.

Praise God for your miracle.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Picture source: http://www.bellelumieremagazine.com/hampstead-heath-baby-b…/

Are you facing squabbles and constant immaturity of children? Are you overwhelmed with all you must do in your home today? I was on the phone to one of my daughters and during our conversation she said, “Mom, got to go. I’ve got children fighting, and even punching!”

The wonderful thing is that God’s presence is not limited to church meetings. God’s presence is available to you constantly. And please remember, dear mother, it is not the hassles, the difficulties, or even sorrow that hides God’s face from you. The only thing that hides His face is our sin and rebellion against Him.

As we seek to walk in holiness because we fear the light of His countenance, we also walk in the unspeakable joy of His constant presence because of His nearness to us--to strengthen us, give us peace, wisdom, and even rest in the midst of chaos!

The Bible commentator, Alexander Maclaren calls it living in “continual sunshine.”

Live in the sunshine of His presence today.

Love from Nancy Campbell

You may think, “How on earth could I ever cope with another child? My hands are full already.” Dear mother, God is your Strength. He promises to give you strength for each new day. He doesn’t give you strength for tomorrow, but for TODAY. And He doesn’t give you strength and energy for a baby that has not arrived yet. If God sends you another blessing from Heaven, He will give you the strength when that baby comes. What a wonderful God we have.

Look to Him for His strength for today.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Painting by Tuman Zhumabaev

So, keep trusting, dear one.

Psalm 4:1: “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast ENLARGED ME when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

We call her "The Mad Scientist." Serene and Pearl are now working on their new TRIM HEALTHY MAMA cookbook. Every afternoon Serene works on inventing her new recipes--tastes, flavors, and textures that you have never dreamed of before! You can see her writing on her board as I see her every afternoon. But oh, the recipes. When it is eventually printed you are going to be blown away. They are delectable! Amazing! Healthy! And scientifically worked out to not put on any weight! I don't know how she thinks of all she does. It can only be God who gives her the inspiration.

~ Nancy

Proverbs 13:7 was one of my favorite Scriptures in raising our children: “He that walks with wise men will be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Many wonderful parents cannot understand how their teenagers go astray. Most times it is because they are influenced by the wrong crowd.

I certainly don’t believe in keeping our children at home forever. Our children are all grown and are changing the world. We train them to send out into this sinful and dark world to bring God’s light and truth.

But we don’t send them out . . .
Until they are ready.
Until they are strong.
Until they are ready to face the wolves.
Until they can “withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” against the foe that comes against them (Ephesians 6:13).
Until they come to that place in their hearts where they love righteousness and hate evil and will say No to all temptation.
Until they are established in the truth of God’s Word and can therefore discern all the deceptive garbage that fills our society.

Until then we have a big job getting them ready. Training their senses to understand discernment. Filling them with the truth of God’s Word. Giving them godly convictions. This is our responsibility as parents which we cannot take lightly.

Blessings to you and your children,

Nancy Campbell

To pour out life-giving words, we must fill our minds with loving, beautiful, faith-filled, and joyful thoughts. We always speak what we are thinking about. If you are meditating on truth, you’ll want to talk about it at every chance you get.

What are your children drinking from your lips today? What about your husband? Are you a well of life to him?

Have a beautiful day,

Nancy Campbell

Picture by Tacsha * http://www.designing31.com/…/its-a-process-drawingcloser-1/…

Here are some other Scriptures to encourage you:
Job 5:19: “He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.”

Psalm 37:23-24: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”

Psalm 40:2-3: “He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.” You don’t have to stay in your pit of despair. Put your hand up to the Lord. He will take hold of it and pull you out, no matter how far you have sunk in the mud and the mire. He will do more than that. He will put a new song in your mouth. People will not only see it, they will see the joy on your face.

Proverbs 24:16: “A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” Is it just the wicked who fall? No. it is the godly also. You don’t have to feel a failure for falling—so long as you get up again! The NLT translates it: “They may trip seven times, and each time they will arise.” Take heart from these words. I want you read them again . . . “each time they will arise.”

EACH TIME YOU WILL RISE UP TOO!

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

Dear friend the following article is longer than my usual posts, but I hope you will take time to read it. I share my thoughts about depression in young mothers which is becoming rampant. It is an issue that needs to be addressed and needs to have positive answers. I believe we have to turn back as a nation to God's original plan to experience the full answer.
Blessings from Nancy

IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE
How far have we degenerated from God’s original plan?

Recently a new mother mentioned to me that before her post-partum checkup, the hospital called to check if she was suffering from depression.

“Why would they ask you this question? I asked.

“Oh, don’t you know it’s a standard question?” she replied. “Most mothers have depression after a baby. Didn’t you hear about the new mother who recently committed suicide because she was so depressed because of her new baby?”

I was appalled. What is their purpose? To get them started on anti-depressants? Make them victims? Give them a pill to counteract our deceived society?

Yes, I concede that there are some mothers who suffer severe hormonal PPD, but this is not normal motherhood. This is not what God intended.

Again, I can see how many young mothers today feel depressed as they begin motherhood. But a pill is not the answer. The reason is that we live in an environment where motherhood, originated by God, is not the vogue. Most mothers having their first baby are not conditioned for this role.

It’s time to come back to God’s original plan. It’s time for change. Let’s think about some of the reasons:

1. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED EXPERIENTIALLY

Many young mothers grow up in two-child families. They don’t grow up in homes where new babies keep arriving, the joy and delight of the home. As they grow older, they don’t have the opportunity to care for a baby, to see their mother nursing the baby as a natural part of life, or to experience the responsibilities of daily motherhood.

Friends and family don’t have babies in their homes either. Some never hold a baby until they hold their own baby in their arms. No wonder they feel overwhelmed. Their depression is not due to a clinical state, but because they don’t know what to do. They feel inadequate! Unprepared!

2. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED EDUCATIONALLY

Most young women today are not educated for motherhood. In fact, they are educated against motherhood. They’re educated and trained for whatever career they want to pursue in this world. Anything except motherhood.

They are brainwashed to think motherhood is an inferior career. Even when they prepare for marriage, counselors (even Christian counselors) tell them to delay motherhood and continue pursuing their career. Motherhood is always delegated to the lowest item on the list.

3. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED EMOTIONALLY

They are not encouraged toward motherhood. Because they don’t live in an environment of motherhood, it is unfamiliar to them. They don’t feel comfortable with being at home, cooking meals, or looking after a baby.

4. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED PSYCHOLOGICALLY

When the new baby comes along, they feel it is an interference to their career, college, or their plans for life. Although they love their baby because it is their own flesh and blood, they are thrown into confusion. This baby is a “wrench in the machinary.” How do they fit this baby into their lifestyle or well laid-out plans? No wonder they feel depressed.

5. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED FOR RESPONSIBILITY

It is true that motherhood is not easy. It is not for wimps. It is a life of selflessness rather than selfishness. Most young people today grow up with an entitlement attitude. They think everything revolves around them and nothing should get in the way of their plans. A baby arrives. Suddenly, they can no longer live their own life. Or do what they want when they want to. They must sacrifice for another person. They can’t even have a full night’s sleep. A little baby arrives to change their life forever.

But no matter what we do in life, nothing will always be perfect. Everyone who wants to do something great will face challenges, hardship, and sacrifice. A businessman has setbacks, trials, and disappointments. But he doesn’t give up and go into depression. He faces them head on, understanding they are part of life.

A missionary often faces hardship and persecution. Does he or she get into depression because life is not a bed of roses? No. They face the battles head on because they’re doing a great work.

It’s the same with motherhood. It is the most important career in the world. It is the highest career God gave to women. He equates it with joy. But every mother faces challenges. She will face laying down her own life for her baby. Sacrifice . . . yes. Selfless love . . . yes. But isn’t this what grows us into maturity? It takes us from the selfish and ugly to beauty and joy?

6. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED BIBLICALLY

Most young women have no idea of God’s plan for them as a woman. They don’t know what God’s Word says. Even young mothers in the church are often as ignorant as those in the secular world. Where are the older women who teach the younger women about being a wife and mother (Titus 2:3-5)? They are nonexistent in our churches today. Will they be responsibility for a nation of mothers who have no idea of God’s plan for motherhood?

I am saddened when I hear older women saying, “I don’t need to hear about motherhood any more. I’m well past that time of life.” I beg your pardon. We are never “past that time of life.” When the time comes that we can physically have no more children, we don’t abdicate motherhood. We were created to be mothers and nurturers until we go into eternity. We begin enjoying grandbabies. And then we move into the responsibility of teaching the young mothers of the next generation how God wants them to mother. How can we do that if we say “we are past that kind of thing”? I think many older mothers desperately need to hear God’s truth for mothers so they can pass on the truth to the next generation, rather than leading them astray.

Our humanistic society puts mothering at the bottom of the list. When God gives a description of the attributes of a godly woman in 1 Timothy 5:10 He puts mothering at the top of the list!

God did not create haphazardly. He created each female with a womb to conceive life and breasts to nurture life. He reminds us we will be preserved through embracing motherhood. Many scientific studies now reveal that the more children a mother has and the more babies she nurses at the breast the more protection she has against female cancers.

1 Timothy 2:15 (NASB) says: “But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”

The Greek word for “saved” or “preserved” is sozo, pronounced sode’-zo. It is a powerful, multi-encompassing word meaning “to save, deliver, protect, heal, cure, preserve, keep safe, and make whole.” That means that through embracing motherhood a woman is saved, delivered, protected, preserved, healed, and made whole--physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. You can’t beat that!

The reason many young mothers (and older mothers) feel depressed and confused is because they have not embraced their role of motherhood. They love their baby. They love their children. But they don’t love the career of motherhood because they think it interferes with their life.

The true joy of motherhood comes when a mother not only loves her baby, but loves and embraces her role of motherhood. A mother who embraces mothering WILL NOT BE DEPERESSED. She experiences the joy, delight, and glory of motherhood that God intends for her.

7. THEY ARE PROPAGANDIZED TO DENY MOTHERHOOD

Liberal teachers and professors teach the students of this generation to despise motherhood. They direct them toward alternative lifestyles and that to murder the unborn babe is accepted behavior. They are heading them down a path of destruction. To get back to normality their brains must be reprogrammed again in God’s infallible truth.

8. THEY ARE ISOLATED

Another reason many young mothers feel depressed is because they are isolated. They don’t know many other mothers living around them. Their own mother is often working and not available. Or, even if she is, it is so long since she had babies that the is not confident herself.

Why do we have this scenario? Because mothering is not accepted as an important career in our society. I believe that when motherhood becomes the norm in society that depression will disappear (except for the genuine clinical PPD).

Mothers need one another. It is fun to have babies when family members, friends, and neighbors have babies at the same time. This is how God intends it to be.

When I was mothering my children I always had a Ladies’ Bible Study I my home. Every week, mothers, babies, and children filled my home. The children broke things and messed up my home, but we had great fellowship together. It was what kept us going through the difficult times.

I would encourage every young mother to find an encouraging Ladies’ Bible Study group where she can learn more about motherhood and find strength from being with other mothers. Make sure you find a group that encourages biblical mothering and not the opposite which is counter-productive!

Go to: http://bit.ly/PowertOfMotherhoodUS and order the manual, THE POWER OF OTHERHOOD. Every mother in the world needs this manual which takes you into the Bible to see what God says about you as a mother. It is a great manual to use at Ladies’ Bible Study Groups to share and discuss together.

LET’S WORK TOGETHER TO BRING CHANGE

We cannot let things carry on the way they are. Unless we rise up and make known the truth, the next generation will degenerate further away from God’s plan. You may not feel you can do this in a big way. But you don’t have to. Be faithful in the little opportunities. Start with your family, filling them daily with God’s truth and His plan for family life. Give them a love and awe for embracing life from God and an understanding of the horrors of abortion. Give them strong convictions to live by.

When you and your children see things wrong in society, don’t let it go without speaking about it. Teach your children what is wrong. Help them to have discernment between the right and the wrong, the clean and the unclean. Ephesians 5:11 says: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVE them.” Some translations say “expose” them. I don’t think there is anything sadder that seeing a young person grow up in a Christian home without godly convictions and without courage to stand up for truth.

As you go out of your home, always be prepared to drop seeds of truth wherever you go. Take a few Above Rubies magazines with you. Put them in a plastic bag in your purse so they don’t get mutilated. Give them to people and to mothers when you meet them. You may not have a chance to say a lot, but you’ll never know how the Holy Spirit can speak to them through the pages of the magazine. We need to get this magazine out in greater and greater ways. I’m tired of being bombarded with liberal and progressive jargon. The feminists and liberals do not keep quiet. Why do we when we have the truth?

For more ideas of how to spread Above Rubies, go to:
http://aboverubies.org/…/ideas-for-distributing-above-rubies

Encourage friends to go to the Above Rubies Facebook, and Above Rubies Instagram where they can be constantly encouraged in motherhood.

Most of all, live the plan. As we embrace God’s plan for family life with joy and positivity, we are a testimony to all around us. Happy, united, loving, and God-fearing families are the biggest blessing of the nation. When motherhood returns to normality in our society, we will see happy mothers instead of depressed mothers.

Many blessings from NANCY CAMPBELL * www.aboverubies.org

Painting: “Mother and child” by Lin Wang

Isaiah 49 speaks of the restoration of Zion. Allegorically verse 23 speaks of nursing mothers and says that “queens” will be “thy nursing mothers.” Breastfeeding is elevated to queenship. You are a queen when you nurse your little babe.

I love the way Sarah describes her motherhood. She could have talked about playing with her baby, teaching her baby, and all the things required to care for him. Instead, she talks about breastfeeding. Genesis 21:7: “And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children su.ck? For I have born him a son in his old age.”

We also read a similar description about Hannah. After crying out in agony for a baby at the temple in Shiloh, God blessed Hannah and she conceived. The next year she didn’t go up to the temple because she wanted to stay home with her baby. 1 Samuel 1:23 says: “And the woman abode, and gave her son su.ck until she weaned him” after which she took him to the temple. It doesn’t say that she stayed home to care for her baby and enjoy all the the lovely mothering moments. Instead the Bible describes these years (maybe three to five years) as a breastfeeding mother.

Are you nursing your baby? You are doing a great thing. A queenly thing. A glorious thing.

Enjoy the nursing moments (and hours) with your baby today (and tonight). Don’t try to wean your baby too soon. Nursing is mothering.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Teach your children to pray aloud too. Encourage them to pray aloud in their personal praying. Encourage them to pray aloud when you have Family Devotions each day. When we gather together, we get everyone to pray, right down to the youngest who can talk. Children should be comfortable with praying aloud.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He didn’t go into a great discourse on how to pray. Instead, He prayed. He showed them how to pray by praying. We learn to pray by praying. Your children learn to pray by praying.

I am frustrated when I go prayer meetings and end up listening to a message. Or people talk more about the needs than praying about them. I thought we came to PRAY! Why don’t we get stuck in and pray? The need is so great. The nation is in peril. Our only hope is to call upon the Lord. Let’s do it.

We all know 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and hear another sermon.” Ooops! Did I get it wrong? Sorry. But isn’t that what we do? We come together for another sermon. Prayer is the last thing on our minds! But God won’t save our nation by another sermon. He will save our nation when we pray.

Let’s get it right: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

But we don’t have to wait to go to a church prayer meeting. You can have a family prayer meeting every day in your home with your children around you. What a blessing.

Be a praying family,

Love from Nancy Campbell

Painting: “Lord, Teach Us How To Pray” by Ron DiCianni

I am challenged how Paul tells the new believers to observe and follow him. He was God’s living example for them to emulate. 1 Corinthians 4:15, 16: “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” Because Paul brought them to birth, he was responsible to show them the way. Because we bring our children to birth, we also have the same responsibility to show them how to live.

1 Corinthians 11:1: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

Philippians 3:17 (PHILLIPS): “Let my example be the standard by which you can tell who are the genuine Christians among those about you.” Do your children see that your walk with God is real? They see through hypocrisy easily. Your life should be such an example that it exposes the fake and sham in other lives. Your lifestyle shows them the true way.

Philippians 4:9: “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God peace shall be with you.” Can we say to our children? “Children, watch me closely. God wants you to do what you see me do. God wants you to speak the kind of words you hear me speak!” Your children learn more from watching you and your husband than from all the curriculums you will ever purchase.

You teach them how to have a successful marriage (or an unhappy one) by the way you and your husband relate together and show love to each other. My parents gave me an amazing example of a godly marriage. This set my husband and me on the path of a wonderful marriage (54 years on Thursday). Although we give marriage counseling, Colin and I have never been to a marriage seminar. We learned it by example (and experience) which is the most powerful way. This is the best way for your children to learn too.

Have a wonderful day,

Nancy Campbell

The MLB translates it: “unlimited patience”! Wow! Our patience runs out quickly, but God’s patience is unlimited. God promises to fill us with His glorious power so we can exercise His unlimited patience in our lives.

This reminds me of James 1:3-4: “Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” The strange thing is, most of the time we are not patient enough to let patience have its full work! We give up before God has finished working out in our lives what He wants to accomplish.

I love how The Living Bible puts it: “When the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.”

Dear mother, don’t despair when everything is going wrong. Rejoice! Let God work out His patience in you. This is how He makes you strong in character. God doesn’t want to do a half-work in you, but a full-grown work!

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

God poured beauty and intricate design into the tiniest of His creations, some that can’t even be seen by the eyes of men. You also are being transformed into the character of God when you make beauty and joy out of your little and menial tasks, tasks that you think are boring. Nothing is boring when God is in it! Seek ways to do your little tasks faster, better, and more creatively. Sing while you do them. Thank God that He is with you as you do them.

I am challenged by Frank Bunker Gilbert in Cheaper by the Dozen who sought to do every household task more efficiently and quickly. He timed his children doing each task to see if they could do it more quickly the next time. That’s why we have so many wonderful inventions in the world today because people seek ways to do things more swiftly and resourcefully! The little can lead to the amazing!

Make everything you do in your home exciting. Encourage your children to make each task they face exciting and adventurous. Inspire them to think of doing it a better and quicker way.

Love from Nancy Campbell

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

Picture: Leah Thurber. Leah used to be one of our Above Rubies girls. Now she is a happily married wife and mother. Here she is enjoying motherhood with one of her little ones.