Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

"The finest gift you can give anyone (and especially your husband and children) is encouragement. Yet, almost no one gets the encouragement they need to grow to their full potential. If everyone received the encouragement they need to grow, the genius in most everyone would blossom and the world would produce abundance beyond the wildest dreams. We would have more than one Einstein, Edison, Schweitzer, Mother Theresa, and other great minds in a century."

~ Unknown

Lift up your head today, dear mother. This day, with its challenges, and frustrations, goes beyond today. Your influence is powerful. Live this day with the hope of influencing future generations in the ways of God. Don't be part of pulling down or eliminating future generations.

Amazingly, God's Word says that two women built the house of Israel! Speaking to Naomi, the elders and people in the gate of the city said, "The Lord make the woman (Ruth) that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel." That's a powerful statement, isn't it?

And not only Rachel and Leah, but Ruth, although a Moabitess, became a mighty builder in Israel too. Her great-grandchild was King David, a man after God's heart. And the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, came from the lineage of Ruth and Boaz.

Do you have dreams for your future generations? Do you pray for your generations to come? Do you live each day in the light of building godly generations?

Love from Nancy Campbell

I do. We can't fulfill this massive and life-stretching career of motherhood in our own strength, can we? We need God. Praise God, He has promised to strengthen us with "ALL his might, according to his glorious power." Isn't that amazing? And the word "might" is "dunamis" meaning "power, strength, and MIRACLES."

But, let's look a little closer to this Scripture in Colossians 1:11. God strengthens us for something very specific. And it's something we need every moment of every day as we mother our children. He gives us His power for "ALL patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." Wow! This is even more amazing. He doesn't give us this power to wield authority. Because He dwells in us, He gives us His power to be PATIENT and LONGSUFFERING. And to do it JOYFULLY!

If you start to lose your patience today, immediately call upon the Lord, "Thank you, Lord for your presence and power in me. Thank you for giving me your dunamis power to be patient with my children. Thank you for empowering me to be longsuffering. And thank you for your joy. Amen."

Love from Nancy Campbell

Dear manager of the home, beloved of the Lord,
Your power as a mother cannot be ignored,
You are the heart and the Queen of your home,
Making a haven of love so your children won't roam.

As you nurture and teach your children each day,
Train them, discipline them, and oversee their play,
May you be filled with joy and overflowing with love
That God has given you these "gifts" from up above.

Each precious child is a blessing from the Lord,
You certainly never have time to be bored!
You have the greatest career in all of the land
As you teach your children to follow God's command.

Lift up your head; be proud of your calling,
It's an eternal work and totally enthralling.
I know that you often feel tired and worn,
But keep confessing God's Word, His truth He has sworn.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength," God has stated
And whatever He promises cannot be negated!
As you shine with His joy, you'll be a testimony to all
That embracing children is God's perfect will and call.

Don't be intimidated by those who haven't found God's way
And who limit their children and leave them each day,
As you receive God's "rewards" and at home with them stay
You'll be a beacon light to save others from going astray.

Your sweet, gentle spirit is precious in God's sight.
As you serve in your home with all of your might
You are revealing the spirit of Jesus the King
Who showed us His example to serve in everything.

May God bless you and strengthen you each new morning,
May you know His faithfulness each new dawning,
May God's presence be with you in a mighty measure
As you train your children for God's purpose and pleasure.

~ Nancy Campbell, Above Rubies

Here are the last two blessings:

5. GOD WILL BE WITH US

I think that the worst thing we can face in life is to be on the wrong track and not experience the presence of God with us. Sometimes we can get so deceived that we are unaware that God's presence has left us. Moses cried out to God, "If you yourself don't go with us, then don't send us away from this place" (Exodus 3:15 NCV). He wouldn't go unless God was with him.

2 Chronicles 12:11 says, "Deal courageously, and the Lord SHALL BE WITH THE GOOD."
Amos 5:14 says, "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord of hosts SHALL BE WITH YOU."

6. WE BRING BLESSING ON OUR DESCENDANTS

We can choose "life and good" or "death and evil" (Deuteronomy 30:15). God exhorts us to "Choose life, that both you and your descendants may live."

When we choose the "good old ways" of God's eternal Word, we not only reap blessing ourselves but on our children and children's children. We are not an island unto ourselves. It is a powerful fact that should keep us living in the fear of the Lord, that the decisions we make affect future generations to come.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Here are some more blessings when we choose the "good old ways." (Make sure you read Point 4).

2. IT WILL BE WELL WITH YOU

Deuteronomy 6:18 says, "Thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it MAY BE WELL WITH THEE."

3. GOD WILL THRUST OUT YOUR ENEMIES

Read Deuteronomy 6:19. When we choose our own path, we side with our enemies. When we choose the "good old way" God is with us to give us power over our enemies.

4. IT WILL BE FOR OUR GOOD

I love that God's ways are always for our ultimate blessing and good (Deuteronomy 6:23 and 10:12-13). They may not be the easy way. They may be tough and challenging. They may be the hard choice. They will most probably be counter culture to our current society. We may face persecution. But, in the end we will be blessed, plus reap an eternal reward.

God's way for Joseph were years of suffering and full of heartache, but in the end he reaped a triumphant reward. He confesses in Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Read also Genesis 45:5-8.

Be brave and trust God's timeless ways. They always bring blessing.

Love from Nancy Campbell

We discovered yesterday that the good way is the old way. And, even more wonderful, when we choose the "good old way" we will walk in blessing. God has five blessings for you:

1. REST FOR YOUR SOUL

Jeremiah 6:16 reminds us that when we choose God's old "tested by time and eternity" principles that we find "rest for our souls." Oh what bliss. We long for rest, don't we?

When we choose God's way, we don't need Prozac (with its side affects) or other drugs to keep us calm. Our peace comes from doing it God's way, which is embracing what we were created for, to mother and nurture children and raise them in the home.

Stick to your home more. When you are involved in too many things and gadding about here and there, you become more and more stressful. Create a life for yourself and your family in the home. This is where you are meant to be and this is your peace. The Knox translation of Hosea 11:11 says, "And in their own home, says the Lord, I will give them rest."

I remember talking to a mother who complained of being totally stressed out and overwhelmed. I asked her about her weekly plan. She was involved in taking her children to so many extracurricular activities. I encouraged her that it was quite unnecessary and to cut back. "Oh no, I can't do that," she answered. I had no more advice to give.

It's the same response the children of Israel had in Jeremiah 6:16. God promised them rest if they embraced His way. But they said, "No thanks. We'd rather do it our way." Read also Proverbs 24:15 and Isaiah 30:15.

What are you choosing?

Love from Nancy Campbell (more to come).

Which way do you want to walk? Your own way, or the good way?

Jeremiah 6:16 tells us that the good way is the old way. It says, "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye 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."

The old way is that which God spoke forth at the beginning of time and God hasn't changed (Genesis 1 and 2). He doesn't have to adjust or improve on His ways, because they were perfect from the beginning. They are perfect for every generation, including this 21st century.

Some seem to think that the humanistic ways of our modern society are better than God's ideas, but they never work out in experience. We see the fruit of them with the epidemic breakdown of marriage and family life.

The Hebrew word for "old" is "olam" which means "from time immemorial, everlasting." God does not only want us to accept His "old" ways, but to ask for them. He wants us to seek them out and understand them more.

My daily prayer is that God will show me the paths He has planned for us to walk in as wives and mothers and to understand more and more revelation of what it means to walk in them. I am sure this is your prayer too.

Let's seek the "good" way.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Jul 27 2012 (HealthDay News) -- Women who have their last child after age 30 have a reduced risk of endometrial cancer, according to a new study.

Endometrial cancer occurs in the tissue lining the uterus (womb) and is the most common gynecological cancer in the United States.

Researchers examined data from more than 8,600 women with endometrial cancer and more than 16,500 without the disease. The analysis revealed that the risk of endometrial cancer decreased after age 30 by about 13 percent for each five-year delay in last births.

Compared to women who had their last child before age 25, those who had their last child between ages 30 and 34 had a 17 percent reduced risk of endometrial cancer, those who gave birth to their last child between ages 35 and 39 had a 32 percent lower risk, and those who gave birth at age 40 or older had a 44 percent lower risk.

This protection persisted for many years and was the same for both types of endometrial cancer: the more common type 1 endometrial cancer and the more rare and aggressive type 2.

"While childbearing at an older age previously has been associated with a lower risk of endometrial cancer, the size of this study definitively shows that late age at last birth is a significant protective factor after taking into account other factors known to influence the disease -- body weight, number of kids and oral contraceptive use," principal investigator Veronica Setiawan, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, said in a Keck news release.

However, when the researchers looked at the women by race/ethnicity, they found that association between older age at last birth and protection against endometrial cancer was evident among white and Hispanic women, but not among the small number of black women in the study. This finding warrants further research with larger groups of black women, Setiawan said.

The study was published online July 23 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in American women. In 2012, more than 47,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with uterine cancers and more than 8,000 will die of such cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. -- Robert Preidt

How does the virtuous woman treat her husband? Proverbs 12:31 says, "She will do him GOOD and not evil ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE." What does it mean to "do him good"?

The Hebrew word for "good" is translated by 43 different words in the Bible. In fact, it is not only "good," but "goodlier," and "goodliest!" As we look at some of these other words we get more of an idea on how to do good to our husband.

It is translated "best" eight times and "better" 72 times. You are to be the best wife for your husband, better than any other wife. Seek to always be the best for him--the best lover, best helper, best encourager, best cook, best homemaker, and the best at making him the happiest man in the world.

It is translated "cheerful," "glad," "joyful," and "merry." This sounds like a happy home, doesn't it? A cheerful attitude will make a happy husband. A nagging and complaining wife sends a man running and certainly doesn't do him any good (Proverbs 15:15; 19:13b; 21:9, 19; 25:24; 27:15). Don't load him with all your problems the moment he walks in the door. Welcome him with a happy smiling face.

It is translated "kind." Can you think of kind things to do for your husband? Can you lavish him with kind and loving words?

It is translated "please, pleasing, and pleasure." Seek to be pleasing to your husband in the way you serve him, submit to him, respect and honor him, dress for him, and love him. Delight to give him pleasure.

It is translated "sweet." Will you be s-w-e-e-e-e-t to him today?

Here are a few more of the 43 words for you to think about--"beautiful, bountiful, loving, pleasant, and precious." And what about "most"? Seek to be the MOST wonderful wife your husband could ever dream about. Be the MOSTEST!

Love from Nancy Campbell

Did you know that when you conceive you receive a visit from God? Isn't that amazing? 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.

Who would want to stop God visiting them? Wow! You never know what purposes God has planned with the birth of each new baby. And just think how we can actually hinder God's divine plans and purposes when we don't want Him to visit us?

Love from Nancy

Yesterday I talked about how back in Bible days it was expected that sons would be strong and courageous. But, that's only half the truth. David continued to exhort his young son Solomon to "Keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies" (1 Kings 2:3).

It takes a young man of strength to seek the truth and walk in it. It takes a man of courage to stand against the tide of public opinion and walk in God's ways, no matter what the ridicule.

I talked to a young man recently who favored Obama, not because of his stand for abortion and gay marriage, but because of his handouts! Oh my. God is looking for young men who are not one of the "uninformed voters" but who seek truth and stand for truth, no matter what cost to themselves.

Let's raise young men with who will keep the charge of the Lord and walk in the ways of the Lord in the midst of a deceived society.

Love from Nancy Campbell

As he was nearing death, David encouraged his son, Solomon with these words, "Be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man" (1 Kings 2:2). The HCSB translation says, "Be strong and be courageous like a man." I like the Knox Version. Wherever it talks about being strong and courageous, he translates it, "Play the man." In other words, to act like a man means to be strong and courageous.

How old was Solomon when he became king? Some commentaries say 12 years old. Josephus says he was 14 years old. And other commentaries say 20 years old. Whatever is correct, he was a very young man, and yet expected to be strong and courageous and take on the governing of a nation.

We have lessened our expectations for young men today. In fact, it seems this nation wants to dumb them down. They are frowned on for doing manly things and babied into their twenties. Yes, mothers, we'll mother and smother our little baby sons, but as they grow, we'll take our hands off, let go of fear, and allow them to grow into men--at a young age!

Why do so many young men get into trouble in their teens? There's never meant to be a teen stage. By the time they are 12, they should be training in manhood and have opportunity to do manly things and act like a man. They should face difficulties with courage and strength. They should be preparing to provide for a home.

Let's raise men, not wimps!

Love from Nancy

What is the first thing you do when you start the day as a family? 1 Timothy 2:1-3 tells us. I shared about it yesterday and I have been thinking more about this Scripture. It tells us that the FIRST THING we should do is pray. Well, my husband and I pray for our family before we do anything else. But, I have to confess that we eat breakfast before we pray as a family. At least we all pray together before we get on to our plans for the day!

If we really mean business, if we are truly desperately concerned for our nation, if we truly have a burden for prayer, it will be TOP PRIORITY to start the day. I think we have to change our mindset, don't you? The Bible says, FIRST OF ALL! Is this how we feel about praying together as a family? Is this what we do? Do our children see that prayer takes precedence and first priority in our home?

And what are we to do? It's more than saying a little prayer each. We have to be earnest. We have to pour out our hearts to God. This Scriptures tells us to get into "supplications, prayers (EARNESTLY PRAYING), intercessions, and giving of thanks..."

And it's all so we can live a QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE! We have the answer so let's do it.

Love from Nancy Campbell

I do, and I am sure you do, too. However, we have to do something to make it happen.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE in all godliness and honesty."

We know this Scripture, but do we do it? We have to be faithful to the prerequisite if we want the promise.

When you gather your family together for Family Worship each morning and evening, don't forget to pray for your nation, pray leadership (which is in desperate need of prayer) and for all those God lays upon your heart. Get everyone in the family to pray, right down to the littlest one who is learning to talk. God hears the sincere prayers of children.

When Judah was taken captive to Babylon, the prophet came to them with a word from the Lord of Hosts reminding them that if they wanted to live in peace they must pray for their city in which they live (Jeremiah 29:7).

Love from Nancy Campbell

There are those who would spurn the vocation of
mothers
And say of careers, it’s inferior to others,
I'll have to admit that it's not easy work,
It's relentless and from it you cannot shirk.

It takes all your energy to be a mother and wife,
It requires daily commitment and a disciplined life,
It demands all your resources of patience and love,
Longsuffering and wisdom from the Father above.

It takes self-control and continual endurance,
It needs constant faith and great perseverance,
It means total sacrifice, forgetting your self,
Sometimes you think you are left on the shelf!

And what about time? It’s no longer yours,
It belongs to all those who are within your doors.
Claim your own rights? No, they're all gone, too,
Like your right to sleep the whole night through!

It's not easy to crawl into bed with a book
Or go off and dream in some quiet little nook.
It seems like you're totally losing your life
To be a good mother and a submissive wife.

But oh, faithful mother, please do not despair,
In God's perfect plan you do have a share,
To fulfill your destiny planned from creation
Which is to nurture children and BUILD A NATION!

You’re walking in the footsteps of Jesus your Lord
Who sacrificed all, His life He out-poured,
He didn't cling to His rights with selfish futility
He didn’t claim any privilege but walked in humility.

He gave up His life to save millions of others,
This principle works in the lives of all mothers,
When you lose your own life you find it again,
A rewarding life, without guilt or shame.

So lift up your head, embrace your calling so high,
You're in God's perfect will, there’s no reason to
sigh!
You may often feel worthless, don't listen to this lie,
Your influence goes higher than the clouds in the
sky!

As you nurture and train your God-given seed,
As you sharpen your "arrows" by word and by
deed,
You shape the nation, you determine its course,
Your mothering’s not wasted, it’s a great mighty
force!

As your children leave home and go into the world
The proof of your training will soon be unfurled
You’ll influence countries where you've never been,
And down the generations its effect will be seen.

Your work is so powerful, no wonder it's tough,
But God is behind you, He's the GOD WHO IS
ENOUGH,
His strength and His wisdom He will give to you,
He stands by His promises which are totally true.

He'll always be with you right through to the end
As you follow His leading and deny the world's
trend,
Each morning you wake, your strength He'll renew,
He'll fill your home with His presence and His
blessed peace, too.

Nancy Campbell

Further to my post earlier today, I must share with you a very important point. After the Holy Spirit came upon Othniel and he went out to war, God delivered the king of Mesopotamia into his hand, and guess what? The children of Israel had REST for forty years (Judges 3:11).

We will never have rest in our family life or any situation in our lives if we don't defeat the enemy! While the enemy is still having his way in our home, we won't have rest. While evil still remains, we'll never have rest! You have to wipe out the enemy before you have rest.

It's the same way with raising our children. If you allow your children to rule the roost, have their own way, or be disobedient, you'll never have rest as a mother. How can you enjoy motherhood when your children are out of control?

God intends us to teach our children to be obedient and submissive so we can enjoy a restful home and enjoy our great career of motherhood. Proverbs 29:17 is a powerful Scripture, "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee REST; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

Hope you are enjoying a state of REST.

Love from Nancy Campbell

I am sure I don't have to remind you that we are in a war. We are in a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan, between light and darkness, truth and deception. Every day we wake up we go out to war against the enemy. Praise God, we don't go on our own. The Lord of hosts is with us to give us the victory.

The children of Israel had become servants in the land God had given to them because they gave up warring. After eight years of servitude, they cried out to the Lord, and in His mercy He gave them a deliverer called Othniel (Caleb's younger brother), a man who loved to face challenges (Judges 1:12-13). Judges 3:10 says, "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he ... went out to war." The Holy Spirit who lives in you is ready to go to war and defeat the enemy!

When you face a battle in your home or in your life, call upon the Holy Spirit. In His power you will defeat the enemy. In the name of Jesus you will have the victory. Through the power of the blood of Jesus you will send the enemy running. Don't despise battles. They are for conquering. Every battle you win is another defeat for the enemy of our souls.

God is with you as you war in the battle (Deuteronomy 9:1-3; Zechariah 4Z:6; Ephesians 6:1; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:11).

Love from Nancy Campbell

Did you gather your family around and pray together this morning? How important it is to do this morning and evening. Every God-fearing family needs to be praying for our nation. And just imagine what would happen if we all committed ourselves to this great task. Read 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jeremiah 25:10.

Love from Nancy