Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Men, are we sharp enough to counteract the terrible onslaught of the devil on our Christian marriages?

When we are sharp, we will be more aware of what's going on around us, good or bad. When we are sharp we will be quick to respond to any action that may be required. Sharp men will not allow negligence to control them. They will not keep putting off things that need to be completed right now.

We men need to sharpen up in every way--in our marriage, in the disciplining of ourselves and our children. The most important area where we need to be sharp is in the spiritual realm. We need to be especially sharp in discerning God's voice speaking to us. If we are not sharp in this area, we will be guided by our own wisdom and logic and miss out on the most exciting and thrilling privileges we men have.

Romans 8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." If we are not sharp to hear God's voice, how difficult it must be for the Spirit of God to lead us.

I am very alarmed by the terrible increase of divorce of late in the so called "Spirit filled church." It is a terrible indictment on the name of Christ and reveals just how unfilled with the Spirit of God we really are! Spiritually sharp men are the only answer to this devilish attack.

Be encouraged. Colin

Men, a blunt sword will not do as much damage as a sharp one. Men whose profession demands the use of an axe will wear themselves out if the axe is blunt.

At County Fairs in New Zealand, where I was born, they have axe cutting competitions. They set up pine logs approximately 18 inches thick, four to five feet high, with about 10 men or more competing against each other. It was amazing to see the chips fly as these strong men raced to win the prize. One of the great advantages was to have a heavy axe that was razor sharp.

Men, the devil is not intimidated by blunt weapons. Ecclesiastes 10:10says, "If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct." Let me paraphrase, "If the axe is blunt and he does not sharpen the blade, he will wear himself out. Be wise and sharpen the blade."

Jeremiah 51:20 says, "Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with the will I destroy kingdoms."

Who wants to employ a dull employee who is not sharp enough to be profitable? God feels the same way about us.

Men, it is high time to sharpen up.

Be encouraged. Colin

Men of God who are alert will have their antennas up towards God They will be tuned in to heaven. This is not only possible for us, but is expected of us. It is our privilege and should not in any way be taken for granted. People of the earth have their antennas pointed toward the earth. They mind or think earthly things.

Philippians 3:18-19 says, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." Paul was speaking of those who called themselves Christians, but who were not alert to the message of the cross which cancels out its voice and earthly ways to those who are true followers of Christ.

The last thing we need right now is to listen to the voice of the earth when we should listen to the voice from heaven.

I remember seeing a documentary on a party of men who were early explorers of the Antarctic region. They were testing out the power of radio waves to send Morse code. They were turned into their primitive receiver thousands of miles from where the signal was sent. How intently they listened. And what joy they experienced when finding the Morse code came through.

Men, this should be our attitude toward hearing God.

We should have the attitude of the psalmist in Psalm 123:1-2, "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us."

Be encouraged. Colin

Jesus said that the attitude of Christians in the end times should be to watch and pray. This speaks of alertness. To be honest, the church should right now be full of the most alert men in the world. This would be the case if "Christian" men would take the words of Christ to heart.

Watchfulness and prayerfulness is certainly not on the radar of the modern church. C. T. Studd, one of Christianity's 20th century great heroes, describes the Chocolate Soldier--"Sugar and spice and all things nice must be on our slate."

Jesus said in Mark 13:31-37, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is... Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleep. And what I say unto you I say unto all, WATCH."

The understanding of the Greek word for "watch" means "wakefulness, intent and riveted to a certain thing."

Men, let's be alert and riveted to watch and pray for the great needs of this hour.

Be encouraged. Colin

What does it mean to be alert? Watchful, vigilant, guarding against surprise or danger.

We are living in a time of great "dumbing down." Extreme socialism does not want men to think for themselves. Drugs, moral perverseness, and alcohol, dumbs down society. When men are not working-depending on government hand outs and sitting around vegetating--their brain and body begins to atrophy.

God is calling for men to be aware and alert to the serious dangers of this hour. When Jesus spoke of these "end times" He said they would be marked by deception. Matthew 24:4 says, "Take heed that no man deceive you."

He also said the end times would be marked by spiritual coldness. Matthew 24:12 says, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11, "They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."

Much of the world, and even the church, is in strong delusion regarding Israel, Right now we need to be alert. We must pray that our government will stand and support Israel, who are being constantly rocketed from Hamas in Gaza. Do not be dummed down.

Personally, and as families together, we must pray earnestly for Israel at this critical time.

Be encouraged to pray. Colin

Acts 4:13, "Now when they saw the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

Peter and John, in the face of persecution, did not act like timid lambs or nervous mice. They had so much boldness that it caused their persecutors to marvel. They realized that the source of this boldness did not come from education, for they were "unlearned" men. They also understood that this boldness did not come from knowledge, for they were "ignorant" men. But, they "took knowledge of them that they had BEEN WITH JESUS." This was the real source of their boldness.

The more time we spend with Jesus, the bolder we will be. Their persecutors did not know that Jesus had just baptized His disciples with power from on high which had turn the denying Peter into the bold confessor.

Great boldness to testify for Jesus in the face of hot persecution is the greatest evidence of our own claim to the baptism of the Spirit. Those who spend time with Jesus are the most likely ones to know this power of the Holy Spirit giving them great boldness.

God is calling for BOLD MEN!

Be encouraged. Colin

Proverbs 28:1 says, "The righteous are as bold as a lion."

God is bold and He despises fear and cowardice. As we face the next four years of more progressive (communist) policies being shoved down our throats we will need men of boldness to resist.

This election revealed that many in this great nation are pushovers for progressive (communist) handouts and are already addicted to government provision and take over.

However, the wise know that this country cannot sustain such reckless giving to those who have given up on work. This country desperately needs bold men and women who will raise bold children for not only our present battles, but also for our future battles, against all that is godless and unrighteous. We must be bold enough to defy all our enemies right to their proud haughty faces.

1 Chronicles 12:8 says, "And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains."

These Gadites, whose faces had a lion-like look about them must have indeed been bold men. All these mighty bold men came to help King David. But, our heavenly King Jesus, who is the heavenly David, is surely worth nothing less than the earthly David.

Be encouraged men. Colin

It's easy to cheat on your employer by using your phone in work hours. A real son of God will not text in the boss's time. This is all part of the easy road. No, a thousand times No to all these slouchy easy going attitudes.

When a real man of God goes to work, he rolls up his sleeves, gets stuck in, and does his very best. And he does this consistently.

If you are in a job where the unions are forcing you to take your time and drag your feet, look for other employment. It is bad for your character to be submitted to such godlessness.

The easy road is filled with takers that think the world owes them something. They always have their hands out to get paid for doing next to nothing. The easy roaders wait for others to pay for them at the restaurant. They love to eat food provided by others. Away with such nonsense. God did not create man to be so apathetic and useless. He created us to be people of character.

Those walking the narrow road have true servant hearts and can't wait to do something to help their fellow man.

Be encouraged. Colin

God is looking for men who will deny themselves the easy road, especially if the easy road includes the lusts of the flesh and yielding to temptations. Everything is acceptable on the easy road, as long as it makes you feel good and requires no moral resistance. Homosexuality is okay on the easy road, as is abortion, drugs, sex, alcohol, and witchcraft.

Communism, which is really hard-core socialism, is easily embraced on the easy road for it provides a life of ease and total government dependence. But, the government will eventually take over all property, all large and small business, including all financial institutions and private homes. All media, hospitals, schools, and transportation, will be controlled by the government. All churches will be controlled by the government, including what is spoken in these churches.

The government will dupe the masses into believing that the they are better off and own it all, but in truth, the real wealthy ones will only be the elite government officials who rule with an iron rod. This is all part of the broad way which is the easy way.

Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth until life, and few there be that find it."

When nations surrender their moral values to take the easy way, they soon find out, as have other nations who have sold their souls out to the easy road, that the easy road has landed them in destruction. We only have to look at the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, Cuba etc.

America is choosing the easy road at this time. My God have mercy.

Be encouraged to pray. Colin

It appears that almost 50 percent of this country is bored with all our freedoms and liberties and want something new.

God is looking for men who will stand out from the crowd. Men who will not be crowd lovers, crowd blenders, crowd pleasers, and crowd followers, but men who will dare to be different.

The crowd mentality is the herd mentality. It doesn't take a lot of brains to follow the herd. Most animals think this way. They instinctively feel safer in the herd. Those big fat cattle do not realize that their benevolent farmer, who provides them with fields of luscious green grass and grain, is about to send them in trucks to the slaughter house to be fed to the crowds of his own species.

Socialism is a "give me" mentality. Let the government provide my food, clothing, and shelter, All I have to do is as little as possible in a government paid job. The government demonizes private ownership of homes, business, and wealth. It whips up the crowd to vote for them and then follow them to the slaughter house where all freedoms, liberties, personal ambition, and wealth are destroyed. The government does all the thinking, makes all the decisions for the crowd, and stamps down on all opposition, including Christianity.

But, let's be men who STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.

Be encouraged. Colin Campbell

8. MEN WHO WILL NOT BUCKLE UNDER PRESSURE

Losing the reprieve we felt we so needed by losing this election should not in any way cause us to be faint-hearted and buckle under the pressure. We must not throw up our arms and cave in, not even in the least, to the socialist agenda that won by a narrow margin. And who knows what corruption they employed, especially in the battle ground states to achieve their victory. My prayer is that all corruption will be quickly discovered and brought to the light.

Men, we have to toughen up more than ever. Compromise is the way of the wimp. We must look to God more than ever for the strength to fight, for we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12).

Obama will be expecting more than ever that our Congress, who are his main opposition to his financially destructive agenda, will buckle under his pressure. We must fight in the spirit as never before and pray more earnestly for our Congress.

We must pray for one another that God will strengthen us to not flag in spirit, but be clothed with more power from on high.

"Through God we shall do valiantly; for he it is that shall tread down our enemies" (Psalm 60:12).

Be encouraged. Colin

2 Peter 1:10 says, "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure." We conservatives have lost this election, but we have a more important one to be concerned about. To lose your eternal election would be a disaster.

Colin Campbell

The elections are all over. I, for one, am very disappointed with the results. I feel this country has shot itself in the foot and is too brain dead to realize it. I trust that the counting of the votes was not rigged, that the voices that got Obama re-elected were legitimate, and that each person that voted was a legitimate citizen. I have grave doubts.

Thank God, this election does not affect our heavenly kingdom, for it is unshakeable! Perhaps the Lord is going to use Obama and all his cronies to teach America a lesson or two on what it means to take our liberties and freedoms for granted. May God have mercy on us and may He give our Congress godly wisdom so they will not compromise our true values. They will be severely tested.

I have been fasting and praying for these elections and sense right now to continue to do so. I pray that USA will experience another great turning back to God. I believe this is the deepest need of our country.

MEN, BUCKLE UP YOUR BELTS AS NEVER BEFORE, because we face a real rough ride in the next four years. Stand up for truth in every situation.

Be encouraged. Colin

7. MEN WHO HAVE SPARK

Men who do not have "spark" are bland and boring. Their eyes are dull and lifeless. They have no oomph in their personality or spring in their step.

We know how bad it is when we keep pulling the rope to start the engine of the lawnmower but there is no spark. You feel like throwing the wrench at it! The truth is that some men can be like this.

No woman should marry a man like this and no should ever hire such a man.

Spark denotes life.

As they get older, men tend to lose their spark and zest for life, but I do not believe that it has to be this way. Men should take all the corrective measures possible to stop themselves from oxidizing and getting rusty. We know that drugs, alcohol, and pornography can ruin a man's personality. Sitting around and living a sedate lifestyle, coupled with laziness and not showing initiative, will also take the spark out of a man.

Mountain climbers would never dream of taking a man without any spark on such a dangerous expedition. God also wants men like Abraham with lots of spark to climb His mountains. It takes spark to climb mountains.

Be encouraged. Colin

6. MEN OF COURAGE--RADICAL BRAVERY!

Like the seals in Benghazi, Libya, Christian men should be challenged to be men of courage, even when we believe our leaders to be weak and wrong. I think that most Americans feel frustrated and angry that our leaders, for whatever reason, refused to send help when they had the power to do so, to our Embassy in Benghazi, resulting in the death of an Ambassador and three others.

Two Navy Seals believed it was their solemn duty to defend their fellow Americans, despite the denials from their political feminized leaders all the way to the White House. These two Navy Seals epitomize the bravery that is so desperately needed throughout all sections of our society, a bravery that is prepared to disobey commands in order to do what is morally right to save lives.

One cannot help but question what has so politically restricted our armed forces when it comes to dealing with fanatical groups like Al-Qaeda that operate with any restrictions at all.

Those who allowed these brave men to die while they sat on their easy chairs deserve to be brought to justice.

Be encouraged. Colin

6. MEN OF COURAGE--NO TIME FOR POWDER PUFFS!

Men, if we are going to be men of courage, we must speak up for what's right when the opportunity presents itself. If you have got any truth in you, for goodness sake, SAY IT! Do not hide truth behind closed doors.

Edmund Burke wrote, "All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to
do nothing."

The question we need to ask ourselves is, How righteous are we really when we do not speak up when we should? God is calling for all Christian men to use every opportunity possible to be light shiners and salt preservers.

True men will always cringe when they see men sucking up to the false, especially when the false are rich, predominant, popular, physically stronger, or politically powerful.

When someone is telling a lie, speak up and tell the truth.

It is high time for us men to tell it the way it is, no matter who is listening. We may get persecuted for it. We may lose our job for it. Even our friends at church, who we wish to impress, may despise us when we do not toe the party line. So what! It's time for men to be men and get rid of all that is yellow and gutless.

No more time for powder puffs and prissy men who hold their peace when the sword should be drawn.

Be encouraged. Colin

6. MEN OF COURAGE--DON'T WAIT AROUND, GET STARTED!

Speaking of courage, one of the greatest acts of courage in the Bible (and of course there are many) was displayed by Jonathan, King Saul's son in 1 Samuel, chapters 13-14. In 1 Samuel 13:5-7 we read, "And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horseman, and the people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude... When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits."

But, in chapter 14 we read of how with great courage, Jonathan and his armor bearer discovered themselves to one of the Philistine garrisons. Jonathan spoke words of faith and courage when he said to his armor bearer, "Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restrain to the Lord to save by many or by few."

In that first encounter, Jonathan, with his armor bearer, slew about 20 men, then God took over. Remember that the only people in all Israel with sword and spear were Saul and Jonathan. Through the spiritual weapons God has given us, we can be like Jonathan. Through prayer, we can expose ourselves, slay about 20 devils, and just see what God can do with the rest!

Like Jonathan, we just have to get started!

Be encouraged. Colin

6. MEN OF COURAGE

Men, in order for us to turn things around in America so that we will continue to be the nation God has called us to be from the beginning, we will need to have a revival of godly character.

The nations of the world, through the socialistic and communistic strategies of the UN, are making big inroads into the very heart of American government. It will take men with much courage, in all areas of our Federal Government, to stand up for the truth of our liberties and freedoms.

We who call ourselves Christians will need to fast and pray as never before so that all corrupt liberal politicians, judges, media, and educators will be brought down from their corrupt thrones, irrespective of what party they belong to.

If, in His mercy, God delivers the USA from the wrecking ball of Barack Obama, we will need to realize that only God's mercy has answered our prayers. The question is, what will we Christians do with this reprieve? Will we squander it on self and the flesh? Or, use this reprieve or new window of opportunity to be courageous and make the most of it for God?

Psalm 85:8 says, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto His people, and to his saints: BUT LET THEM NOT TURN AGAIN TO FOLLY."

Be encouraged. Colin

5. MEN WHO WILL REPENT AND PRAY

Last night I watched the third and final debate and while I thought that Mitt Romney did very well on many points and did not let Obama get away with much, I was concerned that he left Obama off the hook regarding Benghazi.

On Sunday evening I watched the film entitled "Dreams of my REAL Father." This movie is very well done and brings to light Obama's real father. It also goes into the background of his mother and her seductive relationship with Frank Marshall David. It also reveals the corrupt communist contacts that shaped Obama's life. It shows how his whole life is dedicated to the infiltration of hard core communism into the education and political structure of American life in order to destroy American capitalism.

You can get this movie on Netflix or order off the Internet.

We must continue to earnestly pray that God will be merciful to our nation and deliver us from the scourge and destruction of progressiveness, which is communism.

We only have 15 days to go!

Another four years of Obama will, I firmly believe, be very destructive to this nation. It will hand over much of our government to UN treaties. The power of Congress and Senate will be seriously undermined. The presidency will become our main form of government. We must pray that the eyes of our nation will be opened so we will vote that the man who governs with the most righteousness will rule our nation.

The most important words for this nation are REPENT AND PRAY!

Be encouraged. Colin

4. MEN WHO WILL NOT COMPROMISE

God is looking for men who will not compromise values. We must not compromise our biblical values, nor the Constitution of this great country.

America is in a precarious position. Extreme socialism, which is communism, has over time infiltrated politics and much of our education system to the point that our highest office of government is now controlled by a red hot communist who is dismantling our national way of life at an alarming rate.

Our present leaders are masters of deception and lies. They would have us believe that they love God, but in fact, they hate Him. Our president was influenced by Saul Alinksy's, book, "Rules for Radicals" on how to destroy capitalism and bring in communism. At the commencement of his book, Saul Alinksy dedicates the contents to "Lucifer, the First Rebel." They are all deceivers and communism is their god and their religion.

If Romney should win these elections he will need all our prayers and support to undo all the havoc Obama has wrought.

God instructed His people in Deuteronomy 8:-17-18, "And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth."

We notice throughout Scripture how God gave righteous men power to get wealth. God is not against wealth. We read of righteous wealthy men in the Bible such as Abraham and Job and many others. God is not for government that penalizes and squashes the wealthy, for it is of God that the wealthy provide employment for the general population so that the country prospers.

Be encouraged. Colin