What a grief it is to parents to have a child grow up and depart from the Lord. There are a number of factors that can cause this to happen, but God gives us His answer in Jeremiah 32:40: "I will put my fear in their hearts, that they SHALL NOT DEPART FROM ME."

The fear of the Lord will keep us, and our children, from departing from the Lord. We read this again in Proverbs 3:7; 14:16; and 16:6.

How do we keep in the fear of the Lord? How do we keep our children walking in the fear of the Lord? This is a good subject to bring to your family discussion at the table this evening. Ask each child to share how they can walk in the fear of the Lord. Then you and your husband can share your convictions and Scriptures of God's Word.

A great way to learn is to discuss together.

Blessings form Nancy Campbell

"God didn't make the course and destiny of nations and of individuals dependent on the decisions of Congresses and Parliaments, nor did He lay this power in the hands of rulers and kings; but rather God placed it in the praying family! This is why the devil cannot ruin nations or men until he has destroyed the homes of prayer. That's why Satan hates the Family Altar."

~ Norman V. Williams

PRAYING THROUGH THE 100 GATEWAY CITIES OF THE 10/40 WINDOW

We love this book and use it in our Family Devotions. It not only lists the most needy cities of the world, but gives you a picture of where they are in the world and tells you a little about them. We started off praying for one of these cities each new day, but felt we weren't giving enough prayer to them. Now we read about a city and then pray for it each day for the next week or so before going on to the next one. I know you find that an added blessing in your family prayer times.

Go to: http://tinyurl.com/Pray10-40Window

40 DAYS 40 BITES (A Family Guide to Pray for the World by Trudi Parkes)

This is also a wonderful book for young families in helping them to understand and pray for the needy and poverty stricken countries of the world. Brightly illustrated and easy for children to understand. You can order from amazon.com or go to:

http://www.christianbook.com/days-bites-family-guide-pray-world/trudi-parkes/9781781914014/pd/914014

PRAY! EKBALLO! by Lou Engle

http://www.thecall.com/Store/Products/1000058266/_store_products/Books/Pray_Ekballo.aspx

The more information we can get to help us as families pray for the world the better we will be equipped.

Love, Nancy

In my post yesterday I shared the vision of having a PRAYER BOX, or PRAYER BOXES to help you and your family pray more effectively. Each individual family will have special people and countries the Lord is laying upon your heart, but here are some of the needs that are currently written on our cards. I cut pieces of white card and write the prayer request on them. These may help to give you some ideas.

PRAY THAT THE GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED TO ALL NATIONS AND THAT GOD WILL RAISE UP LABORERS TO THESE UNREACHED NATIONS (Matthew 24:14).
To check a map of the unreached countries of the world go to:
http://www.worldmap.org/updates/?p=44

PRAY FOR THE COMING MID-TERM ELECTIONS THAT MEN WILL BE ELECTED WHO ARE RIGHTEOUS AND WILL NOT COMPROMISE THE TRUTH.

PRAY FOR A GREAT MOVE OF GOD AMONG THE MUSLIM PEOPLE OF THE WORLD AND THAT THOUSANDS WILL COME TO SALVATION.

PRAY THAT ISRAEL WILL BECOME A "LIGHT TO THE NATIONS" (Isaiah 49:6).

PRAY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED YAZIDI CHRISTIAN FAMILIES IN NORTHERN IRAQ.
Check out what's happening: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/20/opinion/ronald-lauder-who-will-stand-up-for-the-christians.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C{%222%22%3A%22RI%3A13%22}&_r=0

PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM. (Psalm 122:6).

PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD (Hebrews 13:2).
Got to this link to check out the top 50 countries who are persecuting Christians. You may like to write a card for one country a week to put in your PRAYER BOX so you can gradually pray for them all.
http://www.worldwatchlist.us/world-watch-list-countries/

PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS IN NORTH KOREA--THE MOST BRUTAL REGIME IN THE WORLD AGAINST CHRISTIANS--up to 60,000 in prison for their faith (Hebrews 13:2).

PRAY THAT GOD WILL THRUST FORTH LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST FIELD (Matthew 9:37, 38).

PRAY FOR THE MUSLIM PEOPLE IN USA, THAT THEY WILL COME TO SALVATION AND THAT MANY LABORERS WILL BE RAISED UP TO WITNESS TO THEM.

PRAY THAT THE TERRORIST GROUPS WHICH ARE RISING UP MORE AND MORE WILL BE PUT DOWN. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE THERE ARE NOW 59 DESIGNATED TERRORIST GROUPS IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING the most well-known--ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Boko Haram, and Muslim Brotherhood.

PRAY THAT THE BOKO HARAM WILL BE BROUGHT DOWN AND THEIR KILLING AND KIDNAPPING OF CHRISTIANS WILL BE STOPPED.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/08/15/boko-haram-kidnaps-100-people-chad-forces-frees-most-them-security-official/

PRAY THAT THE TERRORIST GROUP, ISIS WILL BE DEFEATED. PRAY AGAINST THEIR EVIL BRUTALITY-BEHEADINGS, RAPINGS, BURYING ALIVE, AND OTHER UNBELIEVABLE CRUELTIES (You won't be able to share these with young children).

PRAY AGAINST THE SEX TRAFFICKING IN THE WORLD AND THAT YOUNG GIRLS AND TEENS WILL BE DELIVERED FROM THIS TERRIBLE LIFE.

PRAY THAT JERUSALEM WILL BECOME A "PRAISE IN THE EARTH" (Isaiah 62:6-8).

PRAY AGAINST THE DECEPTION OF THE PALESTINIAN PROPAGANDA. PRAY THAT THE MEDIA WILL WAKE UP TO THE TRUTH.

PRAY THAT ABORTION CLINICS WILL BE CLOSED DOWN. PRAY THAT MOTHERS WILL BE SAVED FROM HAVING AN ABORTION.

PRAY FOR THE TURNING OF THE HEARTS OF FATHERS AND MOTHERS TO CHILDREN. PRAY FOR GOD'S ANOINTING UPON ABOVE RUBIES AND THAT GOD WILL OPEN UP GREATER DOORS FOR THE MESSAGE TO GO OUT.

PRAY FOR MISSION ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SEEKING TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO THE MUSLIM PEOPLE
http://www.gospelformuslims.com/church_partners.php
http://www.christianaid.org/Projects/2012/201204-444SHM.aspx
http://www.gfamissions.org/ministries/equipping-christians-to-evangelize-muslims.html
http://reachingunreachedpeople.com/about.php

PRAY FOR THE BRICK YARD PEOPLE OF VARANASI AND INDIA WHO ARE SLAVES TO THEIR EMPLOYERS. PRAY FOR THE GOSPEL TO COME TO THEM AND FOR THEM TO BE DELIVERED.
To find out more about them go to: http://www.tellasia.org/blog/brick-yard-children-find-hope.html

Plus we pray for missionaries, organizations, and other needs that are personally known to us. You will have specific needs that you will want to pray for also.

I pray that your daily prayer times will become more meaningful as you give specific needs to your family to pray for. Children need to be steered in how to pray for the needs of the world. Give them a vision for prayer while they are young.

When you have visitors, include them in your PRAYER BOX time also. It will give them a vision to do it in their home too.

Love from Nancy Campbell

When all our children were at home we used to have two prayer boxes at our Family Devotions. One was the FAMILY PRAYER BOX where I wrote on a card the name of everyone in the family, plus every person in the extended family--grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We would pass the box around and each one would take a name from the box. If they weren't very familiar with the name of the extended family member they chose, it was a great time to remind them and tell them about them. Prayer is a wonderful way to keep connected with the extended family, even when they live in different countries as was the case in our family. I am sure you will find this a great blessing in your family too.

We also had another boxed called the URGENT NEEDS PRAYER BOX. In this box I wrote on cards the names of missionaries we were praying for, the names of people we knew who were facing specific trials or sickness, and needs of our country and the world. They would each take a card from this box also. This way, the children learned to pray beyond their little "God bless Mommy and Daddy" prayers.

Now that our children are raising their own families and we have other people living in our home, we use the URGENT NEEDS PRAYER BOX. Currently in this box we have written on cards the greatest needs for prayer in our nation, and in the world. And oh, what great needs there are.

Never has there been a time when there are so many Christians being persecuted and it is continually on the rise. We pray for these precious people in the countries where they are being persecuted. This is not something we should do if we feel like it. We are commanded to do it, and to pray for them as though we were suffering with them (Hebrews 13:2).

We pray for Israel, for we are commanded to pray for this nation also. We pray for the unreached peoples of the world. We pray for the Islamic countries of the world. And on and on. There is so much to pray for.

Dear mothers, can I plead with you to make time to pray as a family together each day, morning and evening if you can. The devil will do everything in his power to stop you from doing this. He doesn't want you praying, but God does. And this desperate world needs your prayers.

You may be doing lots of good things in your family, but this is the most powerful and world-changing thing you can do.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Life is not perfectly calm when you have little ones around you. Sometimes they get beside themselves and begin to act out very negatively. The worse they get, the more frustrated you get until you are ready to shout and yell, or spank them all!

But wait a minute. Before you scream, try an alternative. There are better options to calm them down.

1. CHILDREN LOVE SURPRISES
"Children, Mommy is going to give you a surprise! I want you all to hide behind the sofa and wait. No one looking!" Then arrange a little plate for each one with perhaps cut apples, pieces of cheese, raisins, a cookie you have made, or whatever they like. Make them into the shape of a smiley face.

"Okay, children, come for your surprise!" Although it is only simple, a little surprise and a little food in their stomachs makes a huge difference.

2. CHILDREN LOVE STORIES
"Come children, let's read a story." Gather the children all around you, cuddle them up tight, and read a couple of stories to them. I found that this never failed to calm my children. Can you guess that we had story time quite frequently throughout the day?

3. CHILDREN LOVE TO GET OURSIDE
"Children, let's go outside for a little walk." Take them all out to look at the birds, the butterflies, or any insects, lizards, or salamanders you can find. Ten to fifteen minutes outside will also change their behavior and they'll come inside with refreshed spirits.

4. CHILDREN NEED SLEEP
Sometimes when a child, or all the children, are bouncing off the walls, we forget that they may be tired and no longer know how to control themselves. Perhaps they just need a sleep.

With most of these little alternatives, you have to stop what you are doing! That's the secret. Children become more difficult to handle when you are engrossed in something you are doing. To stop and spend a little time with them makes all the difference.

Love from Nancy Campbell

You may have tangible wealth untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be--

I had a Mother who read to me.

~ The Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan

It’s been confirmed! How exciting!
This is the most wonderful experience that can ever happen to you.
Check out what God says about you and your baby.

1. You have been VISITED BY GOD. Conception is a divine visitation. When Sarah conceived the Bible tells us God visited her (Geneses 21:1). After Hannah dedicated Samuel to God and took him to the temple 1 Samuel 2:21 tells us that God visited Hannah and gave her five more children.

2. You are the recipient of a PRECIOUS GIFT from the hand of God. It is God who has begun the life of this child with in you. It is His gift to you (Genesis 33:5; 1 Chronicles 25:5; Psalm 127:3 and Isaiah 8:18).

3. You are CHOSEN by God to be the one to nurture this child within your womb and to bring it forth into the world. On God’s behalf, He has chosen you to prepare and mold this life for heaven (Malachi 2:15).

4. You are receiving a REWARD from the Lord (Psalm 127:3).

5. You are BLESSED and will continue to be blessed as this child is born and brings you great joy and delight (and especially as you fill your quiver and the chairs around your table!) (Genesis 1:22,28; 49:25; Deuteronomy 7:12-14; 28:4,11; 1 Chronicles 26:4-5; Psalm 112:1-2; 127:5 and 128:3-4).

6. Your body is the sanctuary where a life is being “fearfully and wonderfully” made and “intricately fashioned.” You are the nurturer of a life that God is CREATING (Psalm 139:14-15.)

7. God CARES for your unborn baby. He has already written a book, planning and recording every day of your child’s future life (Psalm 139:16).

8. You have an ARROW in the making to put in your quiver (Psalm 127:4). And God has chosen you to be the one to polish and sharpen this arrow to accomplish great things for Him

9. You have a little OLIVE PLANT growing in your womb, who will one day bless and grace your table (Psalm 128:3).

10. You are FRUITFUL which is always a sign of God’s blessing. (Genesis 1:28; 9:1,7; Leviticus 26:3,9; Psalm 128:3—cf Genesis 17:6,20; 28:3 and 35:11).

11. You have within your womb a potential PROCLAIMER of God’s testimonies and ways (Psalm 78:5-7).

12. You are preparing a CROWN to give to your parents (Proverbs 17:6 and Ruth 4:14-17).

13. You are WELCOMING God Himself to your life (Matthew 18:1-6; 19:14 and Mark 9:36-37).

14. You are embarking on a GOD-HONORING LIFESTYLE (1 Timothy 5:9-10).

15. You will experience great JOY (Psalm 113:9).

16. You can relax! God doesn’t expect you to keep up your usual pace now that you are nurturing His child. He promises to GENTLY LEAD you (Isaiah 40:11).

17.You are bearing an ETERNAL SOUL within your womb. You are now beginning an eternal mission. All the possessions you spend time procuring on earth will one day have to be left behind. The only thing you will take into eternity is your redeemed soul and the redeemed soul of your child. Motherhood is an eternal career.

18. Above all else, you are being OBEDIENT, which invokes God’s blessing. (Genesis 1:28; 9:1,7; 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 112:1,2 and 1 Timothy 5:14).

Therefore Rejoice!

“He will love you, bless you, and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb” (Deuteronomy 7:13).

1. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BLESS YOU (Genesis 1:27-28; 9:1, 2, 7; Psalm 128:3-4 and loads of others). There is a whole chapter on these blessing Scriptures in the book, Be Fruitful and Multiply.

2. BECAUSE HIS FACE AND FAVOR IS TURNED TOWARD YOU (Leviticus 26:9).

3. BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU (Deuteronomy 7:13).

4. BECAUSE OF HIS MERCY AND COMPASSION TOWARD YOU (Deuteronomy 13:17).

5. BECAUSE HE REJOICES OVER YOU (Deuteronomy 28:63).

6. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO DO YOU GOOD (Genesis 32:12; Deuteronomy 28:6; and 30:5).

7. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO HONOR YOU (1 Chronicles 25:4-5 and Psalm 127:5).

8. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO ABUNDANTLY PROSPER YOU (Deuteronomy 28:11).

9. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO REWARD YOU (Psalm 127:3).

10. BECAUSE OF HIS LOVINGKINDNESS TOWARD YOU (Psalm 107:41-43).

11. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU JOY AND GLADNESS (Psalm 113:9; 127:5; and Luke 1:13-14).

12. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO FILL THE EARTH WITH HIS IMAGE--AND FILL ETERNITY (Genesis 1:28; Malachi 2:15 and loads of others). Check out Be Fruitful and Multiply.

How many more reasons do you need?

Love from Nancy Campbell

"Tolerance" is the popular word of the day, not only in the secular world, but in the church. Consequently, sin and immorality are often overlooked. People come along to church while still living in fornication and adultery! No wonder we are a weak and anemic church.

But what does the Bible say? Jude warns the believers to "earnestly contend for the faith" because "some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have DENIED our only Master and Lord, Jesus  Christ" (Jude 1:4 NLT). Read the rest of the chapter.

This is the truth. This is what we must teach our children. To live in immorality is to DENY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Love from Nancy Campbell

When Jude wrote his letter to the believers, he called them "those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ"(Jude 1:1 NET). Think of yourself wrapped in the love of God today.

Not only are you wrapped in His love, but His everlasting arms are underneath you. When you fall they are waiting to catch you (Deuteronomy 33:27).

And even more. God's mighty hand which speaks of His great power is always ready to strengthen you and deliver you (Exodus 32:11; Joshua 4:24; and Psalm 89:13, 21).

What more do you need?

Love from Nancy Campbell

I experienced one of our nation’s biggest, flashiest, liveliest cities earlier this year. When asked how I enjoyed it, I explained that I had two very strong emotions. The first emotion was that my mind was overwhelmed that there was so much to do. My eyes constantly shifted to be able to see all the sights. I was excited. I was thrilled. I was amazed.

The second emotion was that I was getting the wrong vibes . . . bad vibes. I wanted to go home. No, not just go back to my earthly home, but to my heavenly home. I didn’t even know if I wanted to live in this world if it was all like this.

We will have moments of fun and happiness in this life, but times are getting darker. Once I was back home, I realized that it’s not just that big city I went to that’s full of evil; there are struggles, sadness, and sin everywhere. I can barely go anywhere without being exposed to it. To Christians, this may make us want to escape the world itself. But that’s the wrong mindset.

Yes, we are to flee sin (see 2 Timothy 4:22 and James 4:7). We are to flee so that we won’t sin. We are to flee the ways of this world. But we are not to flee from this world. Why do you think God put us here? What else is our purpose on earth, but to be lights?

Meadow

INTRODUCING MEADOW

Meadow is the first one to write some thoughts for you. I know I don't have to introduce Meadow to so many of you. You have looked at pictures of her in Above Rubies since she was a baby (anyone been reading Above Rubies that long)? Meadow is Pearl's daughter, author, along with Serene, of Trim Healthy Mama.

Many have got to know Meadow over the years as she has come to Above Rubies retreats and blessed you with her beautiful songs and voice. But the years roll on and now Meadow is a beautiful young woman of 19 years old. She loves the Lord and loves God's Word. And she loves to write, and so everyone now and then (or hopefully as much as I can) I will post meditations from Meadow.

Call in your teens and young people. Tell them to like the Above Rubies Facebook too. They will be blessed, encouraged, and challenged by her writings.

Love from Nancy

MORE BLESSINGS FOR YOU
I have been thinking about asking my daughters, and even granddaughters, to write to you from time to time. I know you will love to hear from them, too. It will be hard work--I'll have to crank them up to do it, but let's see what I can do. Keep checking the Facebook in the next few days, weeks, and months!

Love, Nancy

What do you think is one of the greatest things we should have in our homes? I'd love to hear your response.

I think it is the light of God. God is light and the very first thing He spoke into being was light. Jesus came to this earth to be the light of the world. He confessed in John 9:5: "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

He is no longer physically in the world, but now He lights the world by dwelling in us. Therefore, if Christ dwells in you, He wants you to light up your home with His light.

Mothers certainly need to be filled with the light of God. The light of God in you exposes all darkness, danger, and evil in your home. You are a darkness exposer! While you are around, it can't hide. The light of God in you measures up everything, and every decision, with God's character and His Word, just as people such as surveyors use light to measure distances and angles.

God wants to shine His light through you to your husband and to your children. Can you confess these words, "As long as I am in this home, I am the light of this home"?

How big is your light today?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Have you written you list for today? I write lists most days, but can I tell you a secret? I rarely ever accomplish everything that is written on my list. It often carries on to the next day, and the next day again, for God only gives us so many hours in a day.

However, it is not so important that I get everything done on my list. Or that you do either, especially when you are a mother with your little children around you. Often you will not even manage one extra thing, except loving and nurturing your precious children, lovingly preparing meals for them, and training them in the ways of God.

But there is one thing we can seek to fulfill each day. Jesus stated in John 17:4: "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. Every day on earth Jesus magnified and honored His Father."

This is your greatest plan for today. Whatever you do, whether it is cleaning toilets, catching up with your big load of laundry, cooking meals, or training your children, do it to honor the Lord. If you make this your plan, dear mother, you will accomplish what God wants you to do today, and for each new day.

Let's glorify the Father today, in everything we say and do. And can you encourage your children to do this too? Your home will then be filled with people glorifying God.

Be blessed. Nancy Campbell

We talked yesterday about DELIGHTING in every task we have to face. This was Jesus' example to us. Now we can be an example to our children. When they see us delighting in motherhood, delighting in preparing meals, and delighting in the work we have to do, they will learn how to have the right attitude in life too. Your children will learn by your attitude in the little things of life far more than all you say to them.

Do you find it hard to get your children to have a right attitude about work? What are they learning from you? Do they hear you complaining and sighing, or rejoicing in the activities of the day?

Teach your children to have an attitude of delighting to work, delighting to do their chores, and delighting to obey. Yes, this should be their attitude toward obedience too. Anything less is not the way Jesus revealed for us.

Show them the way, mother.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Psalm 40:7, 8 are prophetic Scriptures speaking of the Son of God's submission to the will of His Father: "Then said I, Lo, I come in the volume of the book it is written of me, I DELIGHT to do thy will." Jesus delighted to do the will of His Father, even though He had to endure the supreme sacrifice for our sins.

Philippians 2:5-8 exhorts us to have the SAME ATTITUDE that Jesus had when He went to the cross. This is always such a challenge to me. What is my attitude like? Do I delight to please the Father? How is it that I can find it hard to submit in some little area when Jesus was willing to submit to death?

This gets to the nitty gritty of our daily life, too. Has God blessed you with children? Then this is the Father's ultimate will for you, to nurture and train the children He has given to you. He doesn't give you children to give to someone else to care for. He gives them to you. Are you delighting to do the Father's will in your home? Are you delighting in your mothering?

God delights in each one of your children. Are you delighting in them, too?

Jesus Christ, who DELIGHTS to do the Father's will, lives in you. Let's learn to yield more and more to the life of Christ within us. Let's DELIGHT in every task we have to face, the easy ones and the difficult ones. The enjoyable ones and the yucky ones. God wants us to delight in every one of them.

Can you make it your aim today to delight in EVERY TASK YOU FACE, no matter what it is.

Have a DELIGHTFUL day.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Did you know that taxpayers pay over 542 million to Planned Parenthood each year, which is one of the largest abortion businesses in the US?

Did you know that more than $16 trillion in federal revenue, roughly the size of our national debt, has been lost due to abortion? This comes from a research by Mark Olson (former liberal activist).

Did you know how many babies have been aborted in the world today? I have just checked http://www.numberofabortions.com/ which has a clock ticking and so far today there have been 64, 565 worldwide.

Did you know how many babies have been aborted in US since Roe vs. Wade in 1973? The clock tells us 57,058,511.7. Over 57 million!

What can we do? We have to do something! We can all do different things. Some of our older grandchildren and their friends have started picketing at an abortion clinic in the city. Both times they have been able to encourage a couple to change their mind about aborting and to keep their baby. This fills them with great joy. The organization they work with, http://cities4life.org/, continue to care for these mothers and couples, give them a Baby Shower, help to provide for them, and keep in touch.

You may not be able to get into the trenches in this manner, but you can speak up. Proverbs 31: 8, 9 says, "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." The NIV says, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves."

We all must speak up. We can lovingly encourage a mother to keep her baby who may be thinking of abortion. We can speak up for life at every opportunity. We can sign petitions and give financially. But, most of all, we can pray. Pray together as a family.

When you get to read this post, go to http://www.numberofabortions.com/ and check how many have already been added to the count.

How long do we keep silent?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Dear Mother,

Your mothering is never wasted. Every little moment adds up to your influencing your children for God--to impact this world, to affect generations to come, and most of all, for eternity!

Mothering is an eternal career. Every other career will be left behind, but you will take your children into eternity with you.

Be encouraged.

NANCY

We have been talking about how David longed and pined to dwell in the "lovely" dwelling place of God (Psalm 84:1). But the half has not been told! Not only can we dwell in God's presence, but He wants to dwell in us! In days gone by God dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle, and then the temple. But now God has a different dwelling place. When Jesus died upon the cross the thick curtain that separated the Holy of Holies was torn apart. Now He comes to dwell in our hearts.

First Corinthians 6:19 tells us that we who are born again by the Spirit of God and cleansed by the blood of Jesus have become the dwelling place of God. The word "temple" in this Scripture is "naos" and literally means "the Holy of Holies." This is too awesome to take in. God wants your body to be His Holy of Holies where He can abide. In John 15:4 Jesus not only said, "Abide in me," but He also said, "and I in YOU."

The big question is: is my heart and my body a "lovely" place for the dwelling place of God? Is He welcome? Does He feel at home in my heart? Is it a holy place?

And what about our homes? God is a dwelling God who loves to dwell in our hearts, but He also wants to fill our homes with His presence. Are our homes a beloved place for God? Does He delight to dwell in our homes? Some mothers think their role in the home is insignificant. Nothing could be further from the truth. Apart from the most powerful career of nurturing and training the next generation who will impact the nation and the world for good or evil, you have the glorious task of making your home a lovely, delightful, and holy place for the King of Kings.

Ask God to show you anything in your home that grieves His Holy Spirit. Ask Him how to show you how to make your home a suitable place for His presence.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if God could say of our hearts and homes, "How lovely is your dwelling place."

Love from Nancy Campbell

Psalm 84, known as the "pearl of psalms," speaks of the joy and loveliness of dwelling in God's presence. It also means, "dear, beloved." It is the beloved place to live. And it is your inheritance through Jesus Christ's death upon the cross for you.

Verse 6 tells us how that even when we go through the "valley of Baca" which means "the valley of tears or weeping" that it becomes a fountain or a place of refreshing springs. Maybe you are facing heartache and tears are flowing down your face. Perhaps you are in a desperate situation. When you dwell in Christ and put your trust in Him, He makes your valley into a place of refreshing.

And more than that. You will go "from strength to strength" (verse 8). In the midst of hardship you can become stronger and stronger every day. In fact, your sorrows and tribulations are for the purpose of growing you in Christ. When you dwell in God and trust Him to do His work in you, your difficulties mature you.

Don't let your mothering challenges frustrate you. Dwell in the lovely presence of God. Abide in Him. And instead of weakening, you will become a stronger mother each new day.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell