"Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot. "
~ Clarence Thomas

"One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness."
~ Josh Billings

"Associate with well-mannered persons and your manners will improve. Run around with decent folk and your own decent instincts will be strengthened."
~ Stanley Walker

"A man's manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait."
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance."
~ Arthur Ashe

“Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

God's ways are always opposite to our fleshly ways. We think if we hold on to our rights we'll win. We think that if we make sure we keep everything we need for ourselves we'll have plenty. But, God's ways are different. Jesus said that if we try to save our life we'll lose it, but if we freely lose our life we'll find it (Mark 8:35).

Proverbs 11:24-25 says, "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that witholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." We usually think of these words in the context of giving to the needy, financially and materially, but I believe it is even bigger than that.

We have to have an attitude of liberality in every department of our lives. It is so easy to have a stingy attitude, isn't it? And therefore we withhold blessings from those around us. How often do we withhold words of love, blessing, and kindness from our husband and children? We may think the words, but don't get to say them. Or, many times we can be too busy thinking about ourselves to take time to think of positive words to speak to those around us. "The liberal soul" literally means "the blessing soul."

How often we withhold cuddles and kisses, just because we get too busy. Don't worry, I am challenging myself as well as you! Because of selfishness we withhold God from blessing us with children and thereby we deny the world and eternity of blessings. And yes, we can be stingy about sexual intimacy. That's a horrible stinginess.

Let's ask God to work in us a generous and liberal attitude, freely giving in every area. We won't lose. We'll only be blessed.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Proverbs 11:24-25 MSG, "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped."

Slow down, Mummy, there's no need to rush,
Slow down, Mummy, what is all the fuss?
Slow down, Mummy, make yourself a cup tea,
Slow down, Mummy, come and spend some time with me.

Slow down, Mummy, let's put on boots and go out for a walk,
Let's kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk,
Slow down, Mummy, you are looking very tired,
Come, sit and snuggle and rest with me a while.

Slow down, Mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,
Slow down, Mummy, let's have some fun and bake a cake!
Slow down, Mummy, I know you work a lot,
But sometimes, Mummy, it's nice when you just stop.

Sit with us a minute and listen to our day,
Spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood will not stay!

~ Rebekah Knight (c) 2011

Why does God give us life? To LIVE! To enjoy life and to experience fellowship with Him. But, also to continue life. God's wondrous plan is that He doesn't create us to be end with ourselves, but to carry on life. To pass on something of who we are. How amazing.

God states in Deuteronomy 8:1, "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may LIVE, AND MULTIPLY." I wrote these words in my journal in response to this Scripture... What is our purpose for living? To multiply! God doesn't give us life to be sterile, but to continue bringing forth more life! We were created a life-giving creature. The first woman was called, Eve, meaning LIFE-GIVER. To receive life from God and not be a life-giver is sad and selfish.

Let's look again at what God said. He didn't tell us to be stingy about continuing life, but to MULTIPLY! That's the heart of God. Now, please don't react and get mad at me, because I didn't say those words. God did.

Why don't we just get in line with God and His plan? It's the best! Man's ways lead nowhere. God's ways lead to life. And we'll be in the perfect will of God.

And you are allowed to say, Amen!

Love from Nancy Campbell

I wrote yesterday about how everyone who comes in contact with us should SEE that we are called by the name of the Lord. How will they see? By living out in the country and becoming self-sufficient? That's a great dream, but not the answer. By the way we modestly and conservatively dress? It's important to be modest, but that's not the answer.

Then how will they see? People will know we are called by the name of the Lord when they are aware of God's presence upon our lives. I experienced this in a little incident in my life before I was married. I was seeking after God with all my heart. I was school teaching at the time and got this thought that if I didn't wear make-up that people would see that I was a Christian. This was hard thing for me to do because I was like Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, plus a freckle face! But, I wanted to really show people, even if they had to look at my red nose!

I lived this way for a number of months until one day God spoke to me in my heart. The words were strong and clear. "Nancy, is this the only way people will see you belong to Me? Immediately I was convicted. Immediately I realized that I was relying on works rather than the power of God. Immediately I comprehended that the only way people will know that I am called by the name of the Lord is when they SEE CHRIST LIVING IN ME It is when they observe His powerful presence in my life. It's nothing to do with outward religious show. This gets in the way of God's presence.

Moses realized that He couldn't take the children of Israel into the Promised Land without the power and presence of God with him. He cried out to God in Exodus 33:16, "For how then will it be known that your people and I have found grace in your sight, EXCEPT YOU GO WITH US? So we shall be separate, your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."

What separates us from the spirit of the world is not hiding away, or outward works, but the presence of God in our lives.

Love from Nancy Campbell

What do your children see as they observe your relationship with your husband? What do your friends and acquaintances think as they watch your family life? Does it make them want to have the life you live? Does your lifestyle bring glory to God?

God told the children of Israel, "The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself... if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. And all people of the earth shall SEE that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee" (Deuteronomy 28:9-10).

Do people SEE that we belong to God? Are they in awe of us because of God's presence with us? This is God's purpose for us as His representatives on earth. May God help us individually, and as families, to truly seek after Him and His righteousness so that folks will really see that we belong to Him.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Did you know that your husband doesn’t have to be like you? He has a different personality to you. And, most of all, he is a man! He won't act like a woman, unless he is a wimp! He will do things differently to you because he is a man. He will feel things differently because he is a man.

Give up trying to make him like you? Why not stop conforming your husband to your plans and let him be who God created him to be? It may be different to what you have planned, but it will much better than your idea. And your husband will be able to breathe! And, be the MAN God wants him to be.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Home is where we prepare our children to face life.

Home is where we prepare our children for their future marriage.

Home is where we prepare our children to establish their own godly home one day.

Home is where we prepare our children for their destiny.

Home is where we prepare our children to influence the nation.

Home is where we prepare our children to have a relationship with God.

Home is where we prepare our children for heaven.

IT ALL HAPPENS IN THE HOME.

Without this training in the home the nation will be impaired.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Proverbs 12:4 tells us that a virtuous woman is a CROWN to her husband. She is worth more to him than the diamonds and jewels that adorn a crown. The wife who crowns her husband...

C Cherishes her husband (Titus 2:4).

R Reverences her husband (Ephesians 5:33).

O Obeys her husband (Titus 2:5).

W Watches over her husband to do him good (Proverbs 31:11-12).

N Never nags her husband. (Proverbs 19:13; 21:9,19 and 27:15).

Love from Nancy

Your daily duties become a delight when you know that God is with you in every little task, no matter how mundane.

My garden harvest is slowing down. Only a few tomatoes ripening now, but still loads of hot peppers. Okra is still growing prolifically. But, what did I choose to eat from my garden this evening?

Sweet potato leaves. I grow the sweet potatoes to enjoy them, but also to use the leaves throughout the growing season. I only discovered I could do this when our Liberian children came and now it's one of our favorite dishes.

I sauté onions and hot peppers in red palm oil (we like things HOT). When they are cooked, I add the finely cut sweet potato leaves. Our Liberian children love to cut it really finely with a knife. I am lazy and use the food processor. I add salt and pepper, Nutritional Yeast, and more palm oil as needed.

Tonight I also added Italian sausage. Everyone loved it.

Nancy

Yesterday we talked about how God's Word must be the plumbline and foundation of our lives and our nation. But, there is still more. People can believe the Bible and yet not believe that Jesus Christ is the only Savior of the world. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and there is no other way. Acts 4:12 states, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Let's constantly lift up the name of Jesus in our home. Never let a day go by where we forget to thank Him for His great and eternal salvation which He wrought for us on the cross. Let's lift up His name wherever we go because it is not only the Bible, but Jesus Christ who must be the Chief Corner Stone of our lives and our nation (Ephesians 2:20)!

Love from Nancy Campbell

We are so blessed to live in a nation that has a godly constitution as the basis of our nation. There is no nation that has such a foundation. May it continue, even against all current trends. But, is it enough? No. Even though it is such a powerful document, there is one even greater. It is God's living Word, the Bible. The Bible must be our foundation for every part of our lives--our marriage, family life, and everything we do.

Without making it our foundation, it is easy to build on a shaky foundation. It is so easy to get off key, to move slightly away from God's plumbline. And God doesn't allow for deviation. His way is the only way that works! But, it will not work unless we know what He says. As mothers, we have to be filled with His Word. It has to not only be in our heart, but in our mouth (Isaiah 59:21).

It's not enough for us to know it, but we are responsible that our children should know it, too. That's why we need to come to the Family Altar morning and evening to read God's Word to our children. Do you get tired of my reminding you about this? Oh forgive me, but I cannot stop until I see God's people, all over the land doing this in their the family life. Without it our children will not grow up familiar with God's plan for every department of our lives. And if they don't truly KNOW God's plan, they will easily be sucked into the deceiving propaganda of our humanistic society.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Home is a place of...

Admonition
Beauty (a lovely atmosphere for everyone to enjoy)
Caring
Direction
Encouragement
Fun
Giving (each treating the other better than themselves)
Hospitality
Inspiration
Joy
Keeping children safe
Love
Making Memories
Nurturing
Opportunity
Prayer
Quietude (sometimes)!
Responsibility (each one pulling their weight)
Serving one another
Teaching
Understanding
Valuing each child
Wisdom
eXample
Yeanling love (a yeanling is a little lamb and a home is where we love babies)
Zoe (the Greek word for LIFE--Home should be filled with life and happiness, not legality!

Love from Nancy Campbell

Our son, Wes Campbell, Manager of the Newsboys is releasing a free download to all Above Rubies readers--a song from the latest Newsboys CD, Restart, which has only just hit the market.

Michael Tate, four times Grammy Award Winner, sings "That Home" about the power of a mother in the home -- it is Michael's own mother. The youngest of nine children, Michael sings of the love of his home and also of the hundreds of children who were nurtured there.

Sadly, as this CD hits the market, his mother of 86 years has just passed away (only four days ago).

To receive the FREE download, go to:
 http://tinyurl.com/ThatHomeMp3

To purchase RESTART, go to: www.newsboysstore.com

I know there are many days when you feel overwhelmed with all you have to accomplish in your great career of mothering and homemaking. Sometimes it's more than you can keep up with. Or maybe you are going through a difficult time. I want you to know that you are not forgotten. God KNOWS exactly what you are facing and He is with you to help, guide, and comfort you.

When David was hiding from Saul he cried out, "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou
KNEWEST my path" (Psalm 142:3). The Hebrew word is "yada" which is an intimate knowing. God knows the path you are going through right now and it is all for your good. You are not forgotten to Him. As you look to Him rather than your difficulties, you will experience His KNOWING and His presence carrying you through.

Love from Nancy Campbell

We give answers all day long, don't we? Sometimes they are answers to questions; other times they are reactions to the words and deeds of our husband and children. What kind of answers do we give? Answers of wisdom? Answers of kindness? A soft answer when facing anger? Or do we give reactionary answers? Frustrating answers? Angry answers? Impatient answers?

I read this morning in Proverbs 16:1, "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord." May God fill our hearts and our tongues with answers from the Lord. Answers that bless in the face of accusation. Answers that are sweet even in the midst of harshness. Answers that are positive and filled with God's wisdom.

Can we make today a day of godly answers?

Love from Nancy Campbell

It's amazing the difference it makes when we look to Jesus, rather than dwelling on our circumstances. Our situation may stay the same but our attitude changes.