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.

Strengthening Families Across the World through the encouragement of women in their high calling from God as wives, mothers and homemakers.

THERE IS A FOUNTAIN

ThereIsFountainAt our family devotions this morning we sang this glorious hymn by William Cowper. Once again, we read that the blood will NEVER LOSE ITS POWER. It is as powerful for you today as when Jesus poured out His blood for us.
~ Nancy

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed ones of God
Be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

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ONE MORE QUESTION

WhyDear folks, please forgive me asking all these questions. I am asking them myself today as I pace the floor? I have been asking them for days and am now voicing them to you. Please forgive me if I tread on toes. I’m just asking.

Yes, I just have to ask. Why does the media intentionally fill the nation with fear? Why has a whole nation, the greatest and freest nation on earth bowed to a lockdown of life? This is far scarier to me than this virus. It shows the nation is ruled by fear.

I love to imagine that the churches did not bow to silence and instead gathered, not for normal services perhaps, but to pray and intercede and storm the gates of Heaven for this virus to halt. Can you imagine millions of Christians praying in groups together (Matthew 18:18-20)? This would be far more powerful than hiding ourselves away.

Imagine the sick coming to God’s people to be healed!

There is power in corporate prayer, Instead, we are isolated. Instead many are locked down with fear. It’s hard to believe how fearful people have become. I know many families are praying in their homes, but I know that there are many who are not. Sadly, it is not the usual habit for even Christian families to all pray together every day. I pray they have begun to do this since this lockdown, but are they? Is their less prayer because we are not meeting together?

Could I humbly ask this question? Did you gather your family to pray together for this nation this morning? And will you be doing it again this evening with your family?

Oh I know some would say that we would be a threat to others by passing on the virus, but I believe in the power of God. I believe that when God’s interceding saints get together to come against a virus, that the virus could not touch them! God is much bigger.

And does not Christ dwell in us? His powerful healing life that dwells in us is greater than any virus. As one of my daughters says, “I do not fear. Because Christ lives in me, any virus just falls off me.”

Romans 8:11 (ESV): “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

I believe that God’s people should be available for the sick to come to us to pray for their healing. My grandson who loves to pray for people was sharing how he was convicted of Jesus’ words, “Go, cleanse the lepers” (Matthew 10:8). He reminded us how Jesus didn’t hide from the lepers. He touched them and healed them. He was likening the lepers to this virus. But although he goes looking every day, he hasn’t found any yet. He’s ready to pray for anyone. But one good thing, he said that although he hasn’t found any corona victims to pray for, that people are about 40 percent more open to hear the gospel.

My dearest readers, I don’t write this casually. According to the statistics, my husband and I are in the most “vulnerable category” according to our ages, but we do not fear. How can we fear, when our trust is in God?

Isaiah 8:11-13 states: “For this is what the LORD has spoken to me with a strong hand, instructing me not to walk in the way of this people: ‘Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread. The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded’” (Isaiah 8:11-13 BSB).

I think back to when the government took prayer and then the Bible out of schools What did the Christians do then? Nothing. Imagine if every Christian family had taken their children our of our public schools? They would soon have put prayer back again!

Last question: Why don’t we the people of God stand up for what we really believe?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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ANOTHER QUESTION

AnotherQuestionAre we being brandished with incorrect numbers regarding the corona virus?

How we hate to hear of anyone dying. We hate the word. But it seems the powers that be want to put fear into our lives about the numbers who are dying. Deaths are attributed to the corona virus with those who already had serious underlying conditions. In fact, the majority of people who die from this virus are not healthy, immune-boosted people but those who are overweight, have existing health traumas, or the older population (who usually have underling health issues).

I personally heard of two cases that did not die of corona, but the following day their death certificates were changed to corona virus being the cause of death. Why?

A couple of other examples. They found the corona virus in the blood of a man who had a serious accident and therefore attributed his death to corona, not his accident. They found traces of corona virus in a baby who was suffocated by the mother and instead of suffocation the cause of death was noted as corona. Why?

Interesting information is also coming from Italy where they have had the most deaths. Professor Walter Ricciardi, scientific adviser to Italy’s minister of health writes: “On re-evaluation by the National Institute of Health, only 12 per cent of death certificates have shown a direct causality from coronavirus, while 88 per cent of patients who have died have at least one pre-morbidity - many had two or three.”

But there are other factors that may have contributed to Italy’s fatality rates, experts say. This includes a high rate of smoking and pollution - the majority of deaths have been in the northern region Lombardy region, which is notorious for poor air quality.

Another study says: “Rome-based institute has examined medical records of about 18% of the country’s coronavirus fatalities, finding that just three victims, or 0.8% of the total, had no previous pathology. Almost half of the victims suffered from at least three prior illnesses and about a fourth had either one or two previous conditions. More than 75% had high blood pressure, about 35% had diabetes and a third suffered from heart disease.

Yes, we know there is suffering and death and our hearts grieve. But at the same time, we want to know the truth, don’t we?

~ Nancy Campbell

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IT'S BETTER TO SING THAN SIGH!

BetterToSingDon't you love the words to this hymn which Kim Witham shared below? It's written by Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843-1919).

Too many people are sighing at the moment. Why don't we all start singing instead of sighing?

O let us rejoice in the Lord evermore,
Though all things around us be trying,
Though floods of affliction like sea billows roar,
It’s better to sing than be sighing.

Then rejoice evermore, rejoice evermore,
It is better to sing than be sighing:
It is better to live than be dying;
So let us rejoice evermore.

O let us rejoice in the Lord evermore,
When the darts of the tempter are flying,
For Satan still dreads, as he oft did of yore,
Our singing much more than our sighing.

O let us rejoice in the Lord evermore,
When sickness upon us is stealing,
No cordial like gladness our strength can restore,
For joy is the fountain of healing.

Have a joy-filled day. Get your entire family singing.

~ Nancy Campbell

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THE PLAGUE WILL NOT TOUCH YOU

PlaugueNotTouchThis coming Wednesday Passover begins, and this weekend is Easter. Both celebrations remember the greatest truth in history that when God sees the pure and precious blood of His Son, He passes over the judgment that we deserve.

The Israelites were saved from death in Egypt because they put the blood of lamb on the top and side posts of their doorframes. And God said: “The blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I WILL PASS OVER YOU, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).

We are also saved from the judgment of our sins when we acknowledge the blood of Jesus upon our lives. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says: “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” Jesus Christ is our Passover. What a glorious and wonderful redemption we have.

I love this picture which a dear friend of mine sent to me. She flies her red scarf at her doorway representing the power of the blood of Jesus as she remembers this Passover time. She also flies it to acknowledge the protection and power of God over her home as we face this “c” virus.

We do not have to fear any plague as we abide under the Shadow of the Almighty and plead our protection through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Many blessings,

Nancy Campbell

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HAVE YOU GOT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE?

SmileFaceI love these words from the Message in Ephesians 6:6, 7: “Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And WORK WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.” Isn’t this a wonderful reminder?

Are you working with a smile on your face today? If not, you could put one on your face now. It will change your attitude and the atmosphere of your home.

It teaches your children how to work. We all want our children to have a good work ethic. Let’s show them how. They learn more by our “showing” than our telling them what to do.

Have a great smiling day,

Nancy Campbell

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WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?

WhereLookingWhere are you looking? To whom are you looking? Especially in this time of COVID-19 in the world. I hope you are not looking at all the negativity and “doom and gloom.” God wants us to look to HIM.

God calls to us, His people, in Isaiah 45:21, 22: “There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me. LOOK UNTO ME, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.”

This virus is going out to the ends of the earth, but God is bigger! This thing is under His feet. He doesn’t want you looking at all the projections (which are only “might be’s). He wants you to look to Him.

I can understand those who don’t know God becoming fearful because they are not looking to a Savior. But we have a Savior! Yes, a Savior!

If you are saved by the blood of Jesus, you will put your trust in your Savior. This word “yasha” is used twice in the above passage and 105 times in the Old Testament. It not only means that God is your Savior, but He is your Preserver, your Deliverer, your Defender, your Rescuer, Your Succorer, and your Avenger. It also means you will be made free.

Our trust in not in government, in hospitals, or vaccines! Our trust is in God.

Look to Him. Encourage your children to look to Hm. Encourage the people around you to Look to Him. As we look to our Savior, we have hope. When when we have hope, we live in joy and peace and divine health.

Be filled with joy and peace today,

Nancy Campbell

P.S. A few weeks ago I did two podcasts about looking for the coming of the Lord, not only for His second coming, but for Him to come into every department of our lives now. I believe that as we look for His coming, we also look for Him in every aspect of our lives. We look to Him in this current crisis and as we LOOK TO HIM we are set free from all fear.

You can listen to these podcasts again:
86: https://www.buzzsprout.com/…/2655406-episode-no-86-even-so-…
87: https://www.buzzsprout.com/183665/2705560

P.P.S. If you really want to be encouraged and blessed out of your socks, go to your concordance and look up the 105 Scriptures which include the Hebrews word “yasha (2467). Read them over personally and share them with your family.

Then go the New Testament and read the 119 Scriptures for “sozo” (4982) which also means to be “saved, healed, protected, preserved, delivered, and made whole.”

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THE HOPE ATTITUDE, Part 3 - KEEP SPREADING HOPE

HopeAttitude3Today’s attitude about hope is rather amazing. Romans 15:13 reminds us that . . .

IT IS AN ABOUNDING HOPE
God does not intend us to live an ordinary life. God gives adjectives for every attribute He wants us to enjoy and experience. When He talks about hope, He wants us to ABOUND in hope.

Now get ready to understand this word. It is “perisseuo” and means “to superabound, to be excessive, to excel, abundant, enough and to spare, over and above.”

The hope God gives is far more than “I hope this might happen.”

• It is exuberant hopefulness,
• It is speaking words of confident expectation when everyone else is negative,
• It is an overflowing spirit of optimism,
• It is believing God will do good things when everything looks bleak.

To everyone else you will seem “over the top” and crazy. But it is normal Christian living. We all live so abnormally according to the biblical way of life.

We are all facing a world-wide dilemma as we face this corona virus. We read or watch on TV all the different projections of how many are going to die and how long it is going to continue. Dearest ladies, these are only projections. They are what MIGHT happen. They are not fact! And yet we say, “Yes, Sir,” and give into fear.

I know you are praying, but what could happen if we REALLY took time out to intercede and take authority over this virus in the realms of prayer? Prayer is powerful. But not little prayer. It is MUCH prayer (Revelation 8:3). It is the “effectual fervent prayer” of the righteous (James 5:16).

Psalm 53:5 says: “There were they in great fear, where no fear was.” I believe that we can see a BREAKTHROUGH as we pray and release words of HOPE to our families and everyone we are in contact with. Oh yes, you’ll be met with “doom and gloom,” but answer back with faith and hope. We must spread faith and hope, not fear.

We hang on to hope even when we don’t currently see any results. Paul writes in Romans 8:24, 25: “Hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

I recently read the wonderful little book, “MAKE YOUR BED – LITTLE THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE . . AND MAYBE THE WORLD!” by Admiral William H. McRaven. He states in this book:

“Hope is the most powerful force in the universe. With hope you can inspire nations to greatness. With hope you can raise up the downtrodden. With hope you can ease the pain of unbearable loss. Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference.”

IT IS A PATIENT HOPE
1 Thessalonians 1:3 talks about out being “patient in hope.” The word “patient” means cheerful and hopeful endurance. It means to keep joyfully hoping as you endure troubles. It does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.

IT IS A HANGING ON TO THE END HOPE
Hebrews 6:11, 12 says: “And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Hebrews 10:23 (NET): “And let us HOLD UNWAVERINGLY to the hope that we confess.”

Be blessed today and keep spreading hope,

NANCY CAMPBELL

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THE HOPE ATTITUDE, Part 2

HopeAttitude2Sharing more with you today about our hope attitude. We learned yesterday that our hope is a living hope that we must daily feed it to keep it alive and growing. Let’s look closer at a few more adjectives about hope.

IT IS A REJOICING HOPE
We not only have hope but we rejoice in hope. In good times or bad—or even rotten times, we keep smiling. We continue rejoicing. We speak good things. Words of fear do not come out of our mouths! Can I hear an Amen?

Attitudes are contagious. When people speak words of fear it affects everyone around them. But when we rejoice and speak positive words, they affect everyone around us for good. Even in the midst of this virus, rejoice. Let your rejoicing be contagious.

I passed my neighbor in the car the other day. As we wound down our windows to greet one another, he said to me, “When people are full of fear, I ask them, ‘Do you know anyone who has this virus?’” He continued. “No one has yet told me they know anyone who as it.

I know many people, not only around where I live, but across the nation and the world, and I personally don’t know of one person who has this virus. Of course I know there are many who do (and statistics now reveal that anyone who needs to be hospitalized or may even die, are those whose immune systems are compromised or they have existing medical problems), but I personally don’t know of one yet.

I have shared before how fear is powerful. What we fear comes upon us (Job 3:25). I think fear is spreading more than this virus. It’s time we got out of fear and into hope. It’s time we began to spread messages of cheer and hope.

Dear ladies, I’m not being unthoughtfull (I grieve for those who contract serious cases of this virus, and we are in daily prayer) but I know the power of words. To spread words of health, positivity, and cheer brings salvation and healing. Words of fear bring death.

Romans 12:12 tells us to “REJOICE in hope.” This same Scripture reminds us to “endure in suffering.” The New English Translation says: “Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.” We keep hoping in the midst of stress and tribulation.

Romans 15:13 reminds us that when the God of hope dwells in us that He fills us with “ALL JOY AND PEACE in believing.” Did you get it? ALL joy! Not half joy and half fear, but ALL JOY. Not a little peace, but ALL PEACE. The Passion translation says: “Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him.”

Romans 14:17 says: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost.”

May you live in the overwhelming blessings of joy and peace today,

Nancy Campbell

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THE HOPE ATTITUDE

HopeAttitudeI woke up the other night with the follow Scripture pounding into my mind: “”Now the God hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).

This Scripture does not tell us to abound in hope only when everything is going well. It is an attitude we should have no matter what we face. At the moment, it seems that much of the current attitude is doom and gloom. And even worse, the spirit of fear. But this shouldn’t be the attitude of those who call themselves believers.

If God is truly our God, we will live in hope. Why? Because our God is a GOD OF HOPE! Yes, did you read those words? They are truth. God is a GOD OF HOPE! No matter what is happening in our individual lives or in the world, God is still in control, and when He dwells in us by the power of His Holy spirit, we dwell in hope.

Would you like to know the full meaning of the Greek word for hope? It is the word “elpis” and means:

• An energizing principle
• A spontaneous overflowing spirit of optimism
• A looking ever on the bright side of things
• A looking forward to only that which is good
• Believing that God is going to do something good
• Confident expectation
• Expecting continued blessing and joy
• Exuberant hopefulness, leaving us no room for worry
• To anticipate with pleasure

We can’t work this kind of attitude up. It comes through the power of the Holy Spirit who resides in our hearts. It’s is God’s attitude and therefore it becomes our attitude when He dwells in us.

And it is not a dead hope. It is a living hope. 1 Peter 1:3 tells us that we are born again unto “a living hope.” My grandson, Zadok, was talking to me about this hope yesterday. “Nana,” he said. “Because it is a living hope, we must feed it. If you don’t feed something that is alive, it soon dies.”

Are you feeding the spirit of hope that God has put within you? We feed it by . . .

• Living in the Word
• Standing on the truth of God’s Word
• Confessing God’s Word out loud
• Confessing our confidence and expectation in God
• Believing and confessing that God is doing good things! It is the opposite to doom and gloom and fear.

The other day I posted on my personal Facebook the fact that there is not one case of the corona virus in our country in Tennessee! Not one. Nor has our closest hospital had one hospitalization, and that’s a different county! What totally surprised me is that not one person acknowledged this good news with a positive comment. No one said: “Praise the Lord that you have none in your country. That’s wonderful.” Or “God is good. That’s great news.” Instead, even though this was good news, most of the comments were full of fear and doom and gloom.

Dear ladies, it concerns me that many are living in fear rather than hope.

Are we believers or are we nonbelievers? If we are truly believers, we will live in hope. Not a surviving hope, but a LIVING and ABOUNDING hope.

I’ve got more I want to share about hope, but you’ll have enough for one day. I’ll share more tomorrow.

In the meantime, let’s change gears from becoming victims of fear and a lot of information that is not true! Let’s be who we say we are. Let’s be believers who . . .

• Live in hope
• Speak words of hope to our family members
• Speak hope to a hurting and fearful world around us
• Release the spirit of hope instead of the spirit of fear
• Keep hoping when there is no reason to hope (Romans 4:18).

Overwhelming blessings to you and your family today,

Nancy Campbell

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DON’T YOU LOVE WORK?

DontULoveWorkI am sure I don’t have to remind you that mothering is hard work! It’s how it’s meant to be. When God put Adam and even in the garden home, he gave them work to do—and that was before the fall of man.

Don’t complain that your mothering career takes work! Work is a blessing. Work is therapeutic. Work releases creativity. God told the first couple to “dress” the garden. The word in the Hebrew is "avad" and means to “work until weary, to be fatigued.”

God reiterates the same theme in the New Testament in I Timothy 5:10 where He tells us that feeding and raising children is a “good work.” The Greek word is "ergon" and means, “work that is not accomplished by a single act but by accumulated labor and continued work.” That sounds like daily mothering, doesn’t it?

If you don’t already like work, can I suggest as I did yesterday, to start confessing that you love it. When you get up in the morning say aloud, “I love work.” “I’m looking forward to a day of work in my home today.”

Rejoice as you work. Sing while you work. You are in the perfect will of God.

Are you singing Hallelujah?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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RECLAIM THE NATION

ReclaimNationMotherhood is the highest career of all careers in the nation. Without motherhood the nation will die. Yes, that is true. Without the womb of a woman, nothing happens in this world. It all comes to a halt. Every invention, feat, discovery and anything that happens in this world comes through a person and that person originates in the womb of a mother.

Without godly mothers in the home, the nation weakens. Without godly mothers in the home, reading God’s Word to their children from the time they are born, Christianity dies. The enemy knows this fact and therefore seeks to woo mothers out of the home. He knows that if he can steal the children from Christian families, he wins the battle.

Don’t be asleep to the enemy’s tactics. Be on the offensive. Embrace your career of motherhood with all your heart. If you don’t love motherhood, begin confessing that you love it. You’ll be amazed at how you will change when you change your confession. Every morning when you get up, confess out loud, “I LOVE MOTHERHOOD!” Keep saying it until it is part of you.

Rise up in the power and anointing of motherhood. Build a strong marriage and home. Take up the challenge to raise godly sons and daughters who will not be influenced by this world system. In doing so, you will be part of reclaiming your nation for God.

Rise up today,

Nancy Campbell

Picture: Trisha Romance (1951, American).

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FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT

OneGenerationMany young women today have no clue about cooking. Often it is because their mothers did not pass on this important art to them. Cooking nutritious and aroma-filled meals and sitting around the table together to enjoy them is a tradition that should continue down the generations!

And yes, cooking is an art. We learn it We hone it. I think that one of the reasons my daughters are doing TRIM HEALTHY MAMA today is that mealtimes were always the most special time of each day in our family life. We loved eating good food. We loved sitting around the table together and discussing, and yes, debating too. Our mealtimes were not quiet. They were filled with robust conversation and even loud voices!

That’s why cooking is so important. It’s not just cooking; it’s what it leads to. It paves the way for fellowship and interaction which is the spice of life. It’s one of the most important things to establish in your family home.

The art of cooking is being passed down the generations in our family. It’s already up to the fourth generation. My mother loved to cook healthy meals. She was famous for her nutritious soups, date scones, and bran muffins—apart from her dinner meals which were always delightful. It was a privilege for anyone to sit around her table.

Now my grand-daughter, Rashida, has the same anointing (among the other granddaughters), too, of course. Rashida is now married and expecting her third baby, but did you know that the next TRIM HEALTHY MAMA cookbook to come out (when it is ready) will be TRIM HEALTHY MAMA recipes by Rashida! Oh you will love them.

Rashida has always loved to cook. She started cooking for their family of twelve when she was a little child. The whole family missed her cooking when she married!

When my father was alive, he would come to visit us all from New Zealand each year. And each year Rashida would cook a special meal for her great-granddad. It was something special she loved to do for him. And he would go back to New Zealand and boast about it to everyone!

You’ll hardly believe what I’m going to tell you, but it’s true. I wrote it down all those years ago so I wouldn’t forget! She was only seven years old when she prepared this feast for her great-granddad—roast turkey with coos coos stuffing (including sundried tomatoes, cashews, pine nuts, figs and raisins) * marinated grape leaves stuffed with lebani, placed in a bowl with figs, dates, and black and green olives * mashed potatoes and gravy * salad with homemade dressings (almondaise and Green Greek dressing) and tamarind date chutney. Yes, there was dessert too—ginger steamed pudding and raw nut balls.

If a seven-year-old can do it, you can too. Hone the art so you can keep passing it on down the generations.

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

P.S. You may like to read this article, MORE THAN TOAST AND POTS AND PANS, that Pearl (my daughter) wrote years ago (before she was married) about my mother. It brings me to tears every time I read it.
http://aboverubies.org/…/846-family-meal-table-more-than-to…

Picture: Rashida Simpson, Meadow Hall, and Kahoru Barrett. Rashida and Meadow, cousins who spent every day of their lives together until they were married. Rashida and Jack have two darling little girls, Ezra and Emory and are now expecting a little boy. Meadow and Kendall have a little boy named Warren and they are also expecting a little boy (they are currently living in Japan).

You will see Meadow and Rashida (and their little ones) and other granddaughters in the new magazine, #97, page 2.

Meadow (Pearl’s daughter) and Kahoru are sisters-in-law. Kahoru is married to Bowen, Pearl’s oldest son and they have a little boy named Finn. Kahoru also loves to cook. She makes amazing creations, and everyone loves her desserts! They are all passing on the wonderful art of cooking and the love of family meal times.

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THE PREEMINENT THEME

PreeminentThemeIs the cross of Jesus Christ the preeminent theme of your home? Do your children know, without doubt, that it is only by embracing the cross of Jesus that we have hope in this life and the next?

Paul confessed: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

What do you honor most in your home—the cross of Jesus Christ or the things of this world?

I love to sing hymns about the cross, don’t you? The following are words from the hymn by Thomas Kelly:

The cross: it takes our guilt away;
It holds the fainting spirit up;
It cheers with hope the gloomy day,
And sweetens ev’ry bitter cup.

Do your children know the hymn, “Tell me the story of Jesus” by Fanny Crosby? Here’s one stanza:

Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain;
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see;
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
“Love paid the ransom for me.”

May the cross overshadow everything we do and say in our home today.

Love from Nancy Campbell

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ARE WE WALKING IN FAITH OR FEAR?

DreadDiseasePsalm 91. Are we walking in fear or faith? I wrote about how fear can work against us on Facebook yesterday. Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to read it. #fearorfaith #godhasnotgivenusaspiritoffear #walkinfaith #thejustshalllivebyfaith #aboverubies #nancycampbell

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ARE YOU IN FEAR OR FAITH?

FearFaithDear lovely ladies,
How are you making out? I am writing a few thoughts again today about the current virus. I am surprised that so many people are living in a state of fear. I guess it is hard to resist fear when we are being blasted with negatives every minute from the media. Sometimes it’s better not to listen. But does God want us to live in fear? No. He does not give us the spirit of fear. He wants us to live in faith.

Of course I know that COVID-19 is real. But we must not allow ourselves to be overcome with fear. Fear is a powerful thing. Job confessed “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:2). These are not light words. Fear can often produce the very thing you fear.

Let’s look at it more diligently: “The THING (pachad, 6342 – alarm, dread, fear) which I GREATLY FEARED (pachad, 6343) is come upon me.” His fears which were nor reality became a reality.

Look up Proverbs 3:25: “Be not afraid of sudden fear.” These words are the opposite to Job 3:25.

We must encourage ourselves to live in faith. Faith in our God is bigger than this virus. Faith to believe that God will keep us in His care. Faith to trust Him as our Savior, our Healer, our Deliverer, and our Strong Tower.

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

I think back to a couple of incidents when raising my children. Back in those days there were no vaccinations for every childhood disease that came along. When I was a child, we all got the measles, the chicken pox, and mumps, etc. It would go through the family and then we all be fine, set for life. The same happened with my children. They all got each of the diseases as it came around the neighborhood or city. We got through it and once again they were set for life.

I remember one time I heard that the measles (or one of them was going around) and I got into a state of fear (I think I may have been pregnant, and fear came upon me!). Because I got into this state of fear, what I feared came upon me, and all the children came down with “the dreaded lurgi.”

Another time, I truly don’t know how it happened, but I didn’t even know this particular epidemic was going around. I found out later that the children of all the families around had been sick. Because I didn’t know, I didn’t fear and merrily went about my daily life. And not one of the children came down with the epidemic.

I don’t think it was only coincidence. I believe that fear is a powerful thing. Yesterday the president informed us that one out of every 10 people who are tested for the corona virus is positive. That’s nine out of ten people who are fine but are obviously fearful and therefore being tested. That unnecessary testing can waste time and money when there are so many more urgent cas

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Psalm 91

rescueyouAre you reading Psalm 91 as a family each day? A little reminder! #psalm91 #psalm91protection #readpsalm91aloudeachday #godismyrefugeandstrength #godismysafety #godismysalvation #godismyhealer #aboverubies

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RUN INTO HIS NAME TODAY

SweetestNameHow often does the name of Jesus fall from your lips during the day? How often do your children utter the name of Jesus?

The name of Jesus is salvation. His name is healing. His name is deliverance.

Acts 4:12 says: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” That word “saved” does not only mean saved! It is “sozo” and means to be “delivered, protected, healed, preserved, and made whole!”

What about Proverbs 1818? “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

You can not only speak the name of Jesus. You can run into His name. As you run into Him you are safe. As you run into His name, you run into His healing for His name is Jehovah Rapha, “I am the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 1;26).

I love the words of the old hymn by John Newton:
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Speak His name often today. Run into His name.

Love from Nancy Campbell

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SARAH'S DAUGHTERS DON'T PANIC! (1 Peter 3:6).

SarahPanicWe are encouraged to be Sarah's daughters! And how do we do this? By not giving in to fear! Every time you are tempted to fear about the current situation of COVID-19 or anything that sparks fear in your life, speak these words out loud: SARAH'S DAUGHTERS DON'T PANIC! You don't have to fear when God is on your side!

~ Nancy Campbell

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COVID-19 – WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

NoPlagueI could write about many things today, but perhaps I should write my thoughts about COVID-19. Although, of course, if you are like me, you’d like to hear about something else. It seems we don’t here anything else from the media at the moment.

However, it’s the issue we are facing and therefore we must take it seriously. But even as we use wisdom and do everything we can to protect ourselves, our families, and all those around us, we should never panic. It seems that people are prone to fear, and fear leads to panic. But why do we do this when “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a SOUND MIND” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Do you notice that? He has given us a sound mind. That means a mind that is self-controlled and doesn’t give way to panic. 1 Peter 3:6 exhorts us to be “Sarah’s daughters.” And how do we become her daughters? By not giving way to fear. The Moffat's translation says that “Sarah’s daughters do not yield to panic!”

When I discovered this Scripture years ago (still living in New Zealand and raising my family) I shared it with the mothers in my Bible Study. We took up this affirmation and whenever we faced a trauma or difficulty we would confess: “SARAH’S DAUGHTERS DON’T PANIC!” We would encourage each other with these words, and they helped us through many heartaches.

Therefore, while we live in a state of rest in Christ and do not fear or panic, what should we do? Here are a few things I’d love to share, and you may have others to add.

1. TRUST IN GOD. That certainly is No. 1., isn’t it? God is bigger than this plague. God is bigger than anything we face individually or as a nation. We can trust Him. The greatest way to eliminate fear is to TRUST IN GOD. One of my favorite Scriptures is Isaiah 26:3, 4: “”Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

2. CLAIM THE PROMISES OF GOD. Open Psalm 91 and read it daily. Read it together as a family, out loud, each day. Of course, as we embrace the wonderful promises, we must accept the command as well. The promises are to those who dwell in the secret place of the most High, who abide in Him. To those who confess that God is their refuge and fortress and that they trust in Him.

3. PRAY. Yes, we pray for our families, but we must pray for our nation, and for our president, and against this virus. We have authority in the powerful name of Jesus. The most powerful weapon against this whole scenario is PRAYER. Are you praying? Make time to pray with your families together every morning and evening. Many people are no longer at their jobs and have more time to pray!

4. LIVE IN DIVINE HEALTH. This is God’s perfect will for you. Confess it over your life and each member of your family. God is Jehovah Rapha, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” That’s who He is! Nothing less. My daughter Pearl shared on Sunday Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

The name of the Lord is also HEALER and we can run into Him. As we run into Him and abide in Him, we receive His healing.

5. ENJOY FAMILY TIME TOGETHER. Don’t waste the opportunity to enjoy more family time together. One of my daughters-in-law was sharing with me yesterday how her husband is no longer out on the road (he manages the Newsboys and there will be no more concerts until June) so she is enjoying him home with her. Her youngest son is home from his Christian school. Her older daughter is doing her college course on-line and her married daughter and son-in-law are both in fields where they cannot currently go to work. So they are all home enjoying life together.

6. SPEAK POSITIVELY. Just because we are facing a few challenges, don’t speak negative words. They only bring destruction. Positive words heal. Proverbs 16:24 says: “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, AND HEALTH TO THE BONES.” My dear husband, who will be 80 years in a couple of weeks, says with a huge smile on his face, “The worse this thing gets, the better I feel!” He loves making positive statements!

7. UPGRADE YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. In fact, we need to supercharge it! Eat healthily and eliminate all sugar and every food product with sugar in it as it weakens your immune system and makes you more susceptible to colds at any time, let alone now. Take extra vitamins. Take big doses of Vitamin C. Some may also like to add Olive Leaf Extract, elderberry tincture, L-Lysine, etc. Others suggest mullein for lung health.

8. WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY. That’s what we are reminded to do, and it is common sense. One person told me that he is washing his hands frequently with chlorine! Ouch! I would hate to do that to my hands. We are encouraged to use hand sanitizers and I am sure most of you will do this. However, I don’t even like chemical hand sanitizers. I am making my own home-made sanitizer with handmade soap which I grate and simmer to the right consistency and add coconut oil and lots of drops of Thieves. It’s gentle and healing on my hands.

9. KEEP YOUR HANDS FROM YOUR FACE. Isn’t this the hardest thing to do? We do it subconsciously. Ooops! I just put my elbow up to my chin and then over my mouth as I was re-reading this sentence! I didn’t even realize I was doing it. We must make new habits!

10. KEEP YOUR MOUTH AND THROAT MOIST. A good idea is to sip water or a supercharged drink all throughout the day (about every 15 minutes). Trim Healthy Mama ladies will enjoy their Singing Canary or Good Girl Moonshine and other THM healthy drinks. I am currently making hibiscus tea and adding Baobab, ginger, cayenne, and loads of other goodies! Scrumptious and healing.

You can order Baobab from Trim Healthy Mama. As it says on their packet, “Baobab has five times the fiber of oats, more antioxidants than any other food on the planet, more than twice the calcium of milk, double the magnesium and iron of spinach, six times more potassium than bananas, and the best way to boost your vitamin C levels:”

A Japanese doctor who is treating this virus says that if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash it down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the virus. If you don't drink regularly, the virus can enter your windpipe and into the lungs.

11. KEEP SURFACES AND DOOR HANDLES SPRAYED WITH DISINFECTANT. It’s a good idea to do this every few days.

12. WHAT ABOUT BUYING UP EXTRA FOOD AND PRODUCTS? I think it is a good idea to get basic foodstuffs that you know you will definitely use. But I think many people panic. Some people must have purchased toilet paper for a year! By the time we got to the store, we couldn’t find any! Can’t even find any on-line. But I am sure more will come in soon. Although my husband says we always have the grass! Just joking!

There is still plenty of food on the shelves. My main storage foods are my rye and spelt grains to make my sour dough bread. And plenty of dried beans, etc. Most people don’t have the funds to purchase loads of extra food. Even if you can get some extra, that’s good. Springtime is coming and we’ll plants gardens.

The above are a few thoughts for you. Hopefully this shut down will finish soon. But remember, the most important thing we can do, especially as mothers who are the heart of the family, is to put our trust in the Lord, and DON’T PANIC. Just keep praying and praising the Lord.

Many blessings,

Nancy Campbell

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Above Rubies Address

AboveRubies
Email Nancy

PO Box 681687
Franklin, TN 37068-1687

Phone : 931-729-9861
Office Hrs 9am - 5pm, M - F, CTZ