Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

WhatIsYourPurposeIt is important to have purpose and vision in our lives, isn’t it? In our great role of mothering and homemaking we also need purpose. Purpose keeps us motivated. Purpose keeps us going even as we face trials.
 
As I was raising our children, I took hold of the Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your WHOLE SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lod Jesus Christ.” My constant prayer was that one day when I stand before the Lod I could present my children before Him, whole, in spirit, soul, and body. This is a huge vision.
 
We may not fulfil completely our dreams, bu if we keep them before us, we will be constantly motived to keep pressing forward in our goals.
 
I have also refined my purpose a little more with an acrostic. My desire as a wife and mother is to:
 
P Passionately love my husband and minister to his needs.
U Unflinchingly keep my eyes upon the goal of raising a godly generation.
R Resist all temptation to come down from my high calling.
P Persevere in building my marriage and home in the face of all obstacles.
O Order my home with diligence.
S Saturate my children with God’s Word and loads of encouragement.
E Embrace my life-giving role of mothering and nurturing.
 
Blessings to you today,
 
Nancy Campbell
 
Picture by William S. Kendall
 
It is important to have purpose and vision in our lives, isn’t it? In our great role of mothering and homemaking, we also need purpose. Purpose keeps us motivated. Purpose keeps us going even as we face trials.
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

HOW DO WE DO IT IF WE DON’T KNOW?

howdontknowKing David was passionate about building as house for the name of the Lord, although his son, Solomon completed the vision. 1 Kings 8:17-19 says: “And the LORD said unto David my father . . . thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house UNTO MY NAME.”
 
God wants us to also build a house unto His name. A home that honors and lifts up the name of the Lord. A home where God delights to dwell. Solomon acknowledged in 1 Kings 8:13: “I have surely built thee a house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in forever.” And when He dedicated the house to the Lord, he prayed: “Now therefore arise, O LORD God into thy resting place” (2 Chronicles 6:41).
 
Is your home a resting place for God? Does He feel comfortable in your home? Or is it a place of conflict and tension?
 
Like Solomon, are yo building a home for the name of the Lord? Or for the pride and glory of your own name?
 
To answer this question, we have to ask another question: Do we know the name of the Lord? This is a huge challenge to me. How can we build a home to the name of the Lord if we don’t truly know the name of our God? We often think we know God, but sadly, it is often a name we have conjured up in our own imagination. We so easily bring God down to our level, to fit into our lives. or into the “box” we make for Him.
 
The greatest challenge and pursuit of my life is to know more and more of the character, the attributes, and the name of God. It is only as I know His name and His attributes that I really know Him. And I can only know His character as I see it revealed in His Word.
 
We will never ever fully know God. It is impossible, for He is God. He is incomprehensible! But in His mercy, He chooses to reveal to us what He wants us to know of Him. Therefore, here is a good idea for you. I did this when raising our children as I not only wanted to know God for myself but to reveal Him to my children.
 
When I read about an attribute of God in His Word or one of His names (for He has many names), I wrote it in a notebook at the top of the page. Underneath I wrote the reference. As I read the Word each day, I continued to write the attributes I discovered. As I found more Scriptures about His name or attribute, I wrote them under the heading. Eventually, I had my own book, filled with Scriptures about the character of God.
 
Gradually, one at a time, you can read the Scriptures regarding a certain attribute of God to your children in your Bible reading time and discuss it together. This is the way we get a true understanding of God.
 
And the more we know of Him the more we can build our home to His name, not a false name of our imagination, but the true image of God.
 
Love from Nancy Campbell
 
P.S. Go to this link to read more about building a home to the name of the Lord:
 
Here some books that I love about the character of God:
“The Knowledge of the Holy” by A. W. Tozer
“The Attributes of God” by A. W. Tozer
“The Attributes of God” by Arthur W. Pink
“The Names of God” by Andrew Jukes
“The Names of God” by Lester Sumrall
“Names of God” by Nathan Stone
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

MY FAVORITE BIBLE

MyFavBibleOh yes, time to get a new Bible too. This is the Bible I use daily. My favorite. It is the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, edited by Spiros Zodhiates. I use the King James Version, but you can get it in other versions too.
 
I have worn out three of these Bibles and must now order another one. I love it because when giving the number for a Hebrew or Greek word, it not only takes you to the Strong’s Concordance at the back of the Bible but also to a Lexicon which gives a fuller understanding of the word.
 
If you like to study when reading God’s Word, you’ll find this a wonderful Bible to use.
 
~ Nancy
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

OUR DAILY BIBLE READING

dailybiblereadingOh my, it’s time we got a new DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH! We have worn this copy out. We use this devotional every morning and evening at our Family Devotions. After reading it day after day, month after month, and year after year, we really wear it out. We love it because it is only the Scriptures—verses put together on a particular theme for each reading.
 
You can also see by the picture of the inside pages (of a new book) that it has just the right amount of Scriptures. Not too many for little children, but enough to talk about, ask questions, and discuss together with older children.
 
We have this devotional available on our Above Rubies store. You can purchase either the NKJV version or the KJV version. The KJV version has the added blessing of CREATIVE WAYS TO READ GOD’S WORD TO YOUR CHILDREN, a new idea at the beginning of each month.
 
Even with the few Scriptures provided it is easy for children to get into a daydream and not hear what is being read. These ideas will help to keep your children on their toes and make it exciting for them.
 
This devotional is also a great blessing for fathers who may not know what passage of the Bible to read to their children. This saves the day. Takes away all the stress. All you have to do is go to the date, and PRESTO, the Scriptures are WAITING FOR YOU TO READ!
 
Some parents think that the King James Version is too archaic to read to their children and you may like to read a more modern version. However, I think it is a good thing to enlarge our children’s vocabulary rather than keep them to a limited vocabulary. It also opens up wonderful discussions as you talk about some words that may not be used so much in our language today. It’s an opportunity for them to come to a greater understanding of truths in the Bible and enlarge their vocab at the same time. So don’t be scared of the KJV.
 
Although I love to read the KJV I am not a King James Only person. Often as we read, we check out other translations to see how they compare, and that sometimes give more understanding.
 
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
 
To order the King James Version with creative ideas to keep your children on their toes go to:
 
Or the NKJV which does not have the ideas for each month:
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

MY PRAYER FOR YOU, DEAR MOTHER

PrayForYouDear 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,
Tain them, discipline them, and oversee their play,
May you be filled with joy and overflowing with love,
That God has given you these “rewards” from above.
 
Each precious child is a blessing from the Lord,
You will no longer ever 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 confess God’s promises, 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 deterred by those who don’t embrace God’s way
And who limit their children and leave them each day,
As you receive God’s “gifts” and at home with them stay
You are a beacon light to save others from going astray.
 
Your sweet, gentle spirit is very 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 the 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 “arrows” for God’s purpose and pleasure.
 
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
 
Painting by Mary Casssatt
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

WHAT IF THEY WON’T LISTEN?

oldwayI am replying to a frequent comment on the thread of the post below, GOD’S MANDATE FOR OLDER WOMEN. A number of older women shared how they feel the younger generation are not interested in listening to them. There are many who are desperate for the teaching of older women, but there are also many who would rather do it their own way.
 
They are not interested in the “old way” which is actually the best way. Jeremiah 6:16 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 biblical way is the good way, and it is the way of rest. Sadly, many young mothers are involved in so many things outside their home that they can no longer live in a state of rest. They join with the answer at the end of that Scripture: “But they said, We will not walk therein.”
 
I was reading about Rehoboam the other day. He was the son who began to reign after Solomon died. The people of Israel came to him and asked him to make the burden lighter than they had experienced under his father.
 
Rehoboam first went to the older men who had been with Solomon and asked them what they thought. They advised him to be a servant-leader to the people and to speak good words to them.
 
Rehoboam then check out with his peers, the younger guys he grew up with. They advised him to tell the people: “My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins . . . whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father that chastized you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions” (1 Kings 12:10-13).
 
And that was it! The 10 tribes rebelled and deserted. Rehoboam was left only with the tribe of Judah.
 
It is sad that many younger women would rather listen to the voices that are all around them. However, we never give up our mandate. We always keep encouraging. And as many shared on the thread, the greatest thing we can do is not tell them what to do, but to encourage and inspire them.
 
When you see a young mother with her little children, take a moment to tell her what a great job she is doing. That she is fulfilling the greatest and most important career in the whole nation. That she is determining the destiny of the nation. Tell her what lovely children God has blessed her with. Pray for her and bless her if the moment if right.
 
We can be a “blessing older mother” wherever we go. There are always young moms around—at church, in supermarkets, and at functions who need encouragement.
 
Invite a young mom with her children for lunch. Wait on her. Bless her and encourage her. Take some young mothers on a picnic at the park. Hospitality is such a wonderful ministry. As you sit at the table together and she unburdens her heart, you can minister to he and pray for her.
 
Begin a Bible Study in your home for wives and mothers. Even to facilitate some mothers to get together for a morning tea or lunch is a great idea. Mothers need fellowship with other mothers. It’s a necessity. It’s survival for mothers! As you seek the Lord, He will give you wonderful ideas.
 
The main thing is to keep our vision. To be faithful to our mandate. We do what God has commanded us to do. We will all do it in different ways. Seek God for how He wants you to do it. And remember, we not only teach, but we SHOW!
 
The Jerusalem Bible says: “The older women . . . they are to be teachers of the right behavior and SHOW the younger women HOW they should love their husbands and love their children, HOW they are to be sensible and chaste and HOW to work in their homes and be gentle and do as their husbands tell them.” We must keep living the way God intends us to be an example. We can’t be out doing something else. The young women should see us in our homes—loving and serving our husbands, loving homemaking, loving preparing meals for our families, loving to serve, and loving hospitality.
 
The Message Bible paraphrases it: “By LOOKING AT THEM the younger women will know HOW to love their husbands and children . . .”
 
Will the young women be inspired as they look at you?
 
Love to you today,
 
Nancy Campbell
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

GOD’S MANDATE FOR OLDER WOMEN

Mandate4WomenIt seems that many older women are not aware of the mandate God gives to them. Titus 2:3-5 tells us that the older women are to teach and show the way for the younger women.
 
These Scriptures are very specific about what we are to teach—to love their husbands and to submit to their husbands, to love their children, to be keepers at home, to be self-controlled, kind, and pure. It’s all to do with the home.
 
The sad thing is, that once their children have grown, many mothers move on to other things and other careers, forgetting that it’s not time to give up motherhood. It’s time to extend and enlarge our motherhood.
Now that the new Above Rubies is arriving to women, I often receive emails from woman who say: “Thank you so much for encouraging me in motherhood over the years, but now my children have grown, and I no longer need it.”
 
My heart grieves because we older mothers still need the message of Above Rubies (which is the message of Titus 2) as much as ever. If we don’t continue to walk in the truth of this message and continue teaching it to the younger generation, we fail our mandate from God. And we older mothers constantly need refresher courses. I am now in the great-grandmothering stage and yet I am still learning more about God’s ways for marriage and motherhood. There is always more to learn. And if we don’t keep learning, how can we teach the younger generations?
 
Do these mothers not care about the younger generation of mothers? And what about their own children? That’s an even greater responsibility, to teach and train them in God’s plan for marriage and the home.
 
But God’s word is even more definite. It goes on to say that if we older mothers do not fulfill our mandate that we blaspheme God’s Word. Oh wow. That’s a strong word, isn’t it? It’s not mine, it’s God’s.
 
Some other translations of the Bible use the words: slander, revile, malign, insult, dishonor, disgrace, discredit, bring shame, disrepute, reproach and shame. All powerful words too.
 
Oh for a powerful army of older women to rise up to show the way for the next generation.
 
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT?

WHATSMostImportantThis morning at our Morning Devotions we sang the beautiful old hymn written by Isaac Watts. I’d love to share the words with you:
 
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Does its successive journeys run,
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
 
To Him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown His head.
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.
 
People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song,
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on his name.
 
Then all the earth shall rise and bring
The highest honors to our King,
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen.
 
This old hymn gives a picture of families all over the world meeting together for their morning devotions (and evening devotions). This is what godly families did in those days when this was written way back in about 1719. It even talks about the little children bringing their praises to the Lord each morning. Sadly, this biblical practice has gone out the window in most Christian homes today.
 
But can you image what He is picturing here? As parents gather their families to meet together each morning to read God’s Word, to pray, and to worship together, they are part of families all over the world who are giving their allegiance to God.
 
As the sun rises and goes across the world each family wakes at a different time and so there is a lifting up of continual praise to God from homes all over the world. Isn’t that beautiful? Its how it is meant to be. What does Psalm 113:3 say? “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.”
 
And what about Malachi 1;11: “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in EVERY PLACE incense (which speak of payer and praise to God) shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.”
 
Do yo notice the words, “in every place”? Every morning and evening. In every home. In every state. In every country. Continual praise to God from all over the earth.
 
But oh, isn’t it sad, that so many families are breaking the continual praise going up to God? Is your family schedule too busy to fit in your morning and evening sacrifice?
 
When we don’t make time to gather our families to meet with Him each morning and evening, we show to our children that God is not No. 1 in our home. They grow up knowing that that all the other things that fill our lives (which are usually just things) are more important than God.
 
I have found in my experience that I have to MAKE THESE GATHERING TIMES in our home. If we don’t make them happen, they won’t happen. Life is so busy. There is so much going on. Every other thing in life can take the place of meeting with God. Therefore, we make these times happen and everything else in life fits around them. If we have to forego or miss out on other things, who cares? We are doing the most important.
 
Love from Nancy Campbell
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COME, LORD JESUS

ComeLordJesusDo you want God to come to your home? I do. I am looking for the Lord’s coming, but I am looking for Him to come before He comes! In other words, I need Him now. I want my home to be filled with His presence.
 
I love the words of Psalm 24:7-10. Some commentators believe these words speak of bringing the ark of the covenant into the temple to dwell between the cherubims where God resided in His shekinah glory.
 
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty inbattle.
 
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.”
 
God no longer dwells in a temple in Jerusalem. Since Jesus died and rose again, He now dwells in His born again people. We have become His Holy of Holies on this earth.
 
We should also lift up our heads and our hands toward the Lord and ask Him to come in. We can be so focused on our problems and difficulties and that is all we look at. God waits to come but we would rather concentrate on our heartaches and tribulations.
 
Can I encourage you today to lift up your heart and your head to Him? Who is this One who wants to come into your home? It is the King of Glory! He wants to bring His glory to your home which speaks of His presence. Heaven is a place of glory and He wants to make your home on earth a place of glory (Matthew 6;10 and Luke 11:2).
 
“But I’ve got too many battles going on in my home,” you say. Read the Scrpture again. Who is this One who wants to come into your home? He is the LORD who is MIGHTY IN BATTLE. He is the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Heaven. He is a man of war (Exodus 15:3). He fights for you (Exodus 14:14). And He wants to come into your home.
 
Lift up your heart to Him. Lift up your head. Lift up your hands in your home and ask Him to come!
 
Be blessed today,
 
Nancy Campbell
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MOTHERS, MAY YOU BE BLESSED TODAY

MomsDayDear mother, may you be blessed today. Of course, you are already blessed. You have the privilege of revealing to your children, and to the world around, the nurturing character of God. You reveal the tender and compassionate heart of God. Your work is powerful. Your influence is enormous. As you raise your children you determine the future of the nation. You impact future generations. Your work is eternal. Every other career will one day be left behind, but you have the privilege of taking your children into eternity with you. Be encouraged today.
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

ARM YOUR HUSBAND FOR THE DAY

ArmHusbandDear ladies, I discovered something new this morning! It’s radical, but I love it. But you are used to my sharing radical things with you, aren’t you?
 
At our Family Devotions this morning, my husband read Psalm 85:109: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." These are some of the twins mentioned in the Bible. I decided to look up the word “kissed” in the Hebrew and was surprised to see the full meaning.
 
It is the Hebrew word “nashaq” and means “to put two mouths together” and also “to array oneself for battle, equip with weapons, armed for war.” It is identical with “nasaq” which means “to kindle a fire or become passionate.”
 
It lines up with two other Hebrew words:
“chashaq” which means “to love, to delight in, to desire.” And . . .
“chazaq” which means “to be strong, courageous, help, repair, conquer, encourage, to strengthen.”
 
Do you remember to kiss your husband before he leaves or work? I am sure you do. Not just a peck, but a loving and lingering kiss. What will this do for him?
 
Scientists tell us that when we kiss, we release such chemicals as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. We know that oxytocin is the “love hormone,” the “bliss hormone,” the “calming hormone,” and the “stress-relieving hormone” among many other names. One study said that the kiss will "buffer the individual against the physiological effects of stress."
 
These hormones light up the pleasure centers in our brain and give feelings of euphoria. That’s good for you as you start the day with all your stresses, but also good for your husband as he goes out to face the foe as he faithfully provides for the family.
 
Kissing increases your heart rate, making you more alert and ready for action.
 
This also lines up with God’s meaning of the kiss. Didn’t we read that it also means to arm for war? Check it out. It is the same Hebrew word for “kiss” when you read these Scriptures about going to war: 1 Chronicles 12:2, 2 Chronicles 17;17; and Psalm 78:9.
 
When you lovingly kiss your husband goodbye, you are arming him for the day. You are arming him for war and all the stresses he will face. YOU ARE STRENGTHENING HIM TO BE STRONG, COURAGEOUS, AND TO CONQUER! Isn’t that cool?
 
And did you know that kissing lowers cholesterol and heals the mind and body?
 
What about at the end of the day? You are tired. Your husband comes home tired. It could lead to a grouchy and unpleasant atmosphere. But just wait. Kiss one another lingeringly and passionately and the stresses of the day will dissipate.
 
And the more you kiss, the more you will fall in love with one another.
 
I love God’s ways, don’t you?
 
Love from Nancy Campbell
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AS IN HEAVEN SO IN EARTH

MotherNameWe frequently pray the Lord’s prayer from Mathew 6:9-15, praying “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” What an amazing statement! Do we fully understand what we are praying?
 
God wants the atmosphere of Heaven to be the atmosphere in our homes. In Luke’s Gospel it simply says: ‘As in Heaven, so in earth.” I love to bring these words down to the nitty gritty of life and pray: “As in God’s home, so in my home.” Don’t you think that’s a good prayer? A good prayer to pray each morning as you rise.
 
We understand more as we read Jesus’ prayer for His disciples and for all who would believe on Him. That means us today! Jesus prayed in John 17: “All mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I AM GLORIFIED IN THEM . . . As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world . . . And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them . . .” Isn’t this so amazing too?
 
The glory that God gave to Jesus He has given to us. We are created to reveal His glory. We are in this world to reveal His glory. Dear mother, you are in the heart of your home to reveal the glory of Jesus. God wants you to show what He is like to your children.
 
You wonder sometimes what you are accomplishing in your home. Let me remind you that to daily reveal the character of JESUS to your children is the most powerful thing you can ever do. If you are born again by the Spirit of God, Jesus Christ lives in you and He lives in you in all His glory.
 
Let me encourage you with one more Scripture in 1 John 4:17: “As He is, so are we in this world.” That’s it, dear mother. Jesus wants you to be like Him in your home.
 
I love the quote by William Thackeray: “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.” Let your children see Jesus in you. They learn from you what God is like.
 
Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
 
Many blessings to you and your household today,
 
Nancy Campbell
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BIBLE LANGUAGE

biblelanguageIt’s amazing, isn’t it, how we think so differently to the way God thinks. Especially about children coming into the world.
 
Let me give you a couple of examples from Scripture. The Bible tells us in Genesis 14 of how four kings and their armies came against Sodom and Gomorrah and
defeated them. Along with confiscating all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, they also took Abraham’s nephew, Lot and his family.
 
Abraham rose up and went out with his home-trained army of 318 men, defeated them, and rescued Lot and his family. On his way home he met Melchisedec, King of Salem and priest of the most high God, and Abraham gave him tithes of all he had gained.
 
Then we go over to the New Testament and Hebrews 7: 9, 10 tells us that not only Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, but his great grandson! How could that be? He wasn’t even born!
 
Let’s read it: “And as I may so say, Levi . . . paid tithes in Abraham, For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.” He paid tithes years before he was born!
 
God saw Levi, his great grandson in his loins, even when he was not a twinkle in Abraham’s eye.
 
We also read in 2 Samuel 7: 12, 13 how God told David that a son who was not yet even thought of by David would come forth from his loins to be the next king.
“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of this kingdom forever.”
 
The Bible says a seed would come forth from David. The word is “zera” in the Hebrew and is a word that is used for sperm as well as for people. God planned for Solomon to be born and build the temple before he was even thought of by David.
 
God sees future generations before they are born! He has children planned to come into the world. We had better not stop God’s plans. His plans are far greater than our plans.
 
Be encouraged today,
 
Nancy Campbell
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CONTINUAL SUNSHINE

ContinSunshineWhat is it like to walk in the presence of God? Psalm 89:15 says: “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.”
 
In the Scriptures, the countenance of the Lord speaks of His presence. This is the ultimate vision for every believer--to walk continually in the light of His presence. How can you walk this kind of life in your home? Notice the Scriptures says “walk.” It doesn’t say we are blissfully sitting in the presence of the Lord away from all interruptions! Instead, it talks about your daily walk--whatever you are currently doing in your kitchen and with your children.
 
Are you facing squabbles and constant immaturity of children? Are you overwhelmed with all you must do in your home today? I was just talking to a mother on the phone she said, “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
 
I would encourage you, when you have a spare moment, to go to the following link. It is the commentary of this Scripture by Alexander Maclaren. You will be so blessed:
 
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TRUE TO THE END!

TrueToEndComfort or conviction
Are the options today.
Will we stand, or be silent
When the choice comes our way?
Though culture is changing,
God's ways stay the same.
Will we yield to the pressure
Or the truth still proclaim?

This life is a vapor,
This world will not last.
Will we seek the eternal
Or the things that will pass?
We may suffer scoffing,
Persecution, or loss,
But to follow the Savior
Is to yield to the cross.

Help me love you, my Savior.
Keep me faithful to you,
Let me stand against falsehoods,
Unashamed of the truth.
Walking the old paths,
Embracing your Word,
Filled with your wisdom,
Not the voices I've heard.

I trust you to keep me,
I can't keep myself.
When I'm tempted to falter,
Let your strength be my help.
No matter the battle,
Keep me true to the end,
I want only to please you,
My Redeemer and friend.

2021, Val Halloran
www.valhalloran.com

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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS USE FINGER PLAY TO TEACH THEM TO YOUR LITTLE CHILDREN

TEN COMMANDMENTSFrom Renee Ellison
 
Teach the Ten Commandments EASILY to your children and grandchildren with finger play.
 
Number 1:
Hold up one finger.
"Only one God. No other gods."
 
Number 2:
Hold up two fingers of left hand (pointer and tall man) and make them touch side by side (like they were glued together to function as one) and then bow them up and down tightly together.
"Don't bow down to idols."
 
Number 3:
Hold up three fingers of left hand (pointer, tall man, ring man) then place across lips as if to say "mums the word."
"Don't take God's name in vain."
 
Number 4:
Hold up four fingers of left hand and then fist them up over their folded-in thumb to make a pillow and then "sleep" on it to connote day of holy rest.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
 
Number 5:
Reach full right hand of five fingers forward in a hand-shake to parents.
"Honor your father and your mother."
 
Number 6:
Take pointer of right hand and stab palm of left hand (that is employing six fingers to "make the point!" of . . .
"Do not kill."
 
Number 7 :
Hold up left hand fingers splayed, then hold up only thumb and pointer of right hand, (splayed). Explain that each hand's fingers represent a separate family/household, then interlock only the thumbs telling the child that the thumbs are wrongly connecting with the other household's wife or husband as if he or she were their own. The interlocking thumbs is a powerful visual image of adultery.
"You shall not commit adultery."
 
Number 8:
Tuck thumbs in splaying eight fingers up while saying "who stole my thumbs?"
"You shall not steal."
 
Number 9:
Lay left-hand palm facing up to ceiling, bring four fingers from right hand over to lay in left palm, close left fingers over the four fingers like covering them with a blanket while they lie in bed (like four monkeys in a bed).
"Do not lie."
 
Number 10:
Spray all ten fingers, bring tips of thumbs together to touch, making a vacant box shape between the two hands in the middle. Bring the hands up to face, putting that box shape under the chin (the thumbs touching, fingers of both hands standing tall and glued together like walls of a house) and look through it like a window, coveting what is in your neighbor's yard.
"Do not covet."
 
Bingo! Got 'em memorized for life!
 
RENEE ELLISON
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GIVE THANKS FOR TODAY

OnlyAThankfulGIVE THANKS FOR TODAY
By Val Halloran
 
I'll savor the moment,
The joys of today,
Lest by worry and wishing,
The best slips away.
 
Each view of the sunrise,
Each close of the day
Means God is sustaining
And guarding my way.
 
Moments as memories,
Gather through time.
Pleasure and sorrow
Are both gifts of mine.
 
Each need of my children,
Each broken nights' sleep
Means I make a difference
With a calling to keep.
 
My Savior has been there,
Through triumphs and falls.
He ever will hold me,
I'll give thanks for it all.
 
This moment, this hour,
Offers a choice,
To grumble and worry,
Or praise and rejoice.
 
Even when challenges
Come to dismay,
I know God is good.
I'll give thanks for today
 
2017, Val Halloran
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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LOOK UP!

LookUpFrom my daughter, Evangeline Johnson
 
There is so much ‘light’ to be lived and so much ‘life’ to be lived under the grayest of skies and bluest of skies! Yes!
 
The skies of our brain are made up of 60,000 to 70,000 thoughts a day! Can you imagine seeing 70,000 stars twinkling and pulsing with life through an inky black sky? It would pulse our breath into sheer wonder and glory! That’s how I feel!
 
My stars are my thoughts! I must choose them! I don’t let the inky black displace the light of 70,000 twinkling light choices even though the dark night says it’s always going to be there in the background!
 
No! It’s the very war cry against the inky black that has my soul breathing the words of Light Himself: “Shine! Shine! Shine like stars in the universe! See! I have set you as a light to shine!”
 
And how? Ho do I do that?
 
In the epic revelation that ‘shining’ begins in “my own sky,” my own mind! Will I light my own backdrop to see the light, goodness, glory, and beauty of the everyday?
 
Will I realize that the mystical music of living each day is doing the little things that need doing with a smile? The things that no one gives a nod to play the music of life more beautifully than Beethoven’s greatest symphony!
 
Why should we live for those fleeting high moments when we can have the thrill of enjoying a million mundane everyday moments of time that make one love life?
 
These moments, these notes, each one supporting the best music ever played! To live nother note is thrilling!
 
Imagine sneering at the sound of a new heartbeat? Impossible! That sound brings triumphant celebrations, yet what does it do? A job that is day in and day out, year in and year out, never changing. When it begins, we give parties and when it stops, we cry!
 
Then why should we sneer at the day in and day out heartbeats of our season? Why should we cry over the mundane rituals that accompany our season?
 
When we are changing diapers and they say they are “changing the world,” you beam your smile wider! While they are standing to receive accolades and you are falling on your knees from a stray Lego, keep smiling!
 
Yes! Feed the children, get them to bed, and wake up and do it again. And what for?
 
Because it is beautiful!
 
Because this is what makes life! Our everyday moments. The ritual of the everyday! The business of breathing, bathing, work, and the hours people call mundane to live, are in fact our treasure!
 
The secret to loving life is not in pursuit of life but of loving every moment in the ritual of the everyday!
If the joyful heartbeat of daily living dies in your whining, you will live for yourself and lose your soul trying to find a purpose for life.
 
NOTHING is as dead as not realizing your season and the ritual of it! To escape the mundane is to escape the incredibly beautiful whole of life! The sheer goodness of having a work before us that is enduring, made up of scars and healing, laughter after pain, dancing after mourning! It is beautiful, utterly beautiful. To look for anything outside of that is to look for something that doesn’t exist!
 
It is a fast-paced, fleeting fame, and burnout world that offers you false highs, empty escapes, and thousands of new toys to try to make you happy.
 
But you, yes, you have the market on life! Your mind can choose its skies where the insignificant and daily duties are quite literally the bulbs of blazing life and awe!
 
Look up, my friend! Look up! There are 70,000 twinkling stars for the choosing!
 
EVANGELINE JOHNSON
 
Picture: Evangeline still healing from her broken shoulder.
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WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?

WhoseSideUOnI stated in the post below, WHO ARE YOU A SLAVE TO? “The devil wants to keep everything about God in a little box. He does not want us to spread the truth and light of the gospel. He hates the truth. He hates the light, and he wants to keep people in darkness.”
 
He also wants to keep us in the dark about the blessing of having children. He really hates this truth! To bring forth the godly seed is anathema to the devil.
 
We see how the enemy became very agitated when the children of Israel multiplied in Egypt. The new Pharaoh was shaking in his boots. He said to his people: “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; LEST THEY MULTIPLY.” The devil is scared of God’s people multiplying. He does everything in his power to “rob, kill, and destroy” to stop children coming into the world.
 
Will we give in to his strategy to hide the revelation of God in the earth? Or are we on God’s side? We can be so assimilated and even mesmerized by our godless and humanistic society that we fail to recognize that when we oppose or deny life coming into the world that we are on the devil’s side. It’s a plain fact that the devil hates life but God loves life. And we are on one side or the other.
 
Each new baby is a fresh revelation of the image of God on earth. Let’s not hold back the revelation of God. Let’s not hold back the children God wants to bring into this world.
 
I am so glad you are a testimony of God’s truth and that you are shining His light in the midst of the darkness. Keep spreading the truth. Never be silent.
 
Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell
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WHO ARE WE YIELDING TO?

SlaveToThe devil wants to keep everything about God in a little box. He does not want us to spread the truth and light of the gospel. He hates the truth. He hates the light, and he wants to keep people in darkness.
 
Do you remember when Peter and John prayed for the man who was lame from his mother’s womb and he was immediately healed? He began walking, leaping, and praising God. All the people saw it and began to praise God. In fact, about 5,000 people believed on Jesus. This was too much for the devil.
 
The priests and Sadducees put Peter and John in custody until the next day when they met together to make their decision. Their verdict? “’We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. But to keep them from SPREADING THEIR PROPAGANDA ANY FURTHER, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.’ So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:16-18 NLT).
 
Do you notice that they called the truth PROPAGANDA? A visible miracle was performed for all to see but to the enemies of Christ it was propaganda. That is what’s happening today. Anyone who stands up against the tyranny in our nation is called a conspiracist. Unless you fall in completely with the liberal agenda, your beliefs are propaganda.
 
Did Peter and John become victims to their verdict? No. They answered: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19, 20).
 
The devil wants to close our mouths. He does not want the gospel to be proclaimed. He does not want the truth to get out. He propagates lies and deception and fake news.
 
He has also used his recruits to deceive and bring fear upon the whole world during this last year for a so-called virus. Yes, a virus which has proved to be another strain of flu with a 99 percent survival rate.
 
And now they are brainwashing the masses with mandating a vaccine that has not had time to be proved. People are dying. Many more could die. But people find it easier to listen to the lies of fake news than to live and abide in God’s word. They fear the words of man rather than God. It reminds me of Nehemiah 9:36, 37: “Behold, we are servants this day . . . also they have DOMINION OVER OUR BODIES, and over our cattle, AT THEIR PLEASURE, and we are in great distress.”
 
I will never yield my body to this vaccine. You may feel differently and want to. That is your prerogative. My prayer is that it will not be made mandatory. Those who do not mind those whose goal is “the depopulation of the world” to take dominion over their bodies are free to go ahead. But there are thousands who will not.
 
“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?” (Romans 6:16 NLT).
 
I will not yield to tyranny.
 
Be blessed today,
 
Nancy Campbell
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