I love the different words God uses to describe our children. God loves to reveal His plans to us by pictures. Psalm 128:3 tells us that our children are like "olive plants" sitting all around our table. The Hebrew word for "olive" which is "zayith" means "an olive (as yielding illuminating oil)." Among many other uses the olive was used as oil for the lamps to light up their homes. It was also used to light the golden candlestick in the holy place of the tabernacle.
Think about it. God gives you your children to light up your home. John 1:9 says that Christ lights each one who comes into this world. As we feed this light with God's Word, our children will become more and more filled with light, not only to bring more light into our home, but to one day take the light of God to a dark and deceived world.
Every child you embrace from the loving hand of God is another illuminating light to light up this world. In fact, the only way God can bring His light into this world is by His people (Matthew 5:14-16). Don't deprive the world of God's light by saying No to His children.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
Painting: One of Jessie Willcox Smith’s beautiful paintings.
My husband asked everyone at breakfast, "What good things are you going to do today?" That's a good question to start the day, isn't it? It's a good question for us wives. "What is something good I can do for my husband today? Take time to think about it. Be creative. Do something you’ve never done before.
The greatest temptation from the enemy of our souls is in our minds. Revelation 12:9 calls him “that old serpent.” The mind is where he seeks to attack us most, or should I say, even torment us. He brings to our minds thoughts of doubt, deception, despondency, rejection, anger, self-pity, and even despair. And yes, worry, worry, worry! If we are not aware of his tactics and do not resist them, they become bigger in our minds and he wins the victory.
Yesterday we discussed whether we are wilting, just surviving, or flourishing in our home. God's will for you is to FLOURISH. Here's some ways to flourish in your home:
Did you know that God's plan for you is to FLOURISH? And He has a special place where He wants you to flourish? Guess. Yes, it’s in your home. Psalm 128:3-4 (TLB) says: “Your wife will be like fruitful vine, FLOURISHING within your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around your table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is the Lord’s reward for those who fear Him.”
Did you know that you don't have to teach false doctrine to pass it on to your children? You teach it by the way you live. Our children learn more from observing our lives than from what we tell them. Do your children see the image of God in you? Do they see you as a feminine, nurturing mother, the picture God wants you to reveal as a female?
Yesterday I posted the Scripture: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). I am posting it again today. In fact, one day, I would love to get a beautiful painting with this Scripture to put on my wall. Not a little one, but a huge one!
Tomorrow I will vote against Hillary. Forget politics, I must be faithful to my conscience. Because I belong to God’s kingdom, I belong to a kingdom of life. Therefore, I must vote for life, to save life, to preserve life, and to vote against murder. Dear fellow wives and mothers who love life, we must face the fact that to vote for Hilary is to vote for death.
Tell me, what is half so sweet
Put a smile on your face!
Here's a lovely quote by Marianne Neifert, which an Above Rubies reader sent to me. I'm sure you will identify with these same feelings . . .
Have you begun praying as a family?
It's hard to believe what is happening in our nation, isn't it? It’s difficult to comprehend the corruption in someone who wants to lead our country! There was a time when America was the least corrupt nation in the world. Now it is rife at the top! But we thank God for answering prayer. We have been praying earnestly and consistently for God to expose all deception, corruption, and the hidden agendas in our government. God is answering prayer and exposing it
You’ll enjoy the lovely poem typed below, written by a dear friend of mine, Val Halloran. Val shares the message, and as an older mother I also reiterate it:
Reading Psalm 95 this morning I noticed the inviting word, Come. In fact, the invitation comes three times. Let’s read it:
We speak of the glory of God, often not knowing what we speak about. Our finite minds will never understand God’s eternal glory. Even in the eternal realm I think it will still be difficult for us to comprehend. However, God deigns to reveal His glory on earth—through creation and through His people.
Yesterday we talked about how “sound doctrine” is practical godly living. We read about the BEAUTIFUL things God wants us to do as wives and mothers (see BEAUTIFUL THINGS post below). However, Titus 2:5 goes on to say that if we don’t embrace this BEAUTIFUL lifestyle, that instead we become “a scandal to the gospel” (MOFFAT).
If you stand for the Christian principles upon which this nation was founded and if you love to hear the beautiful carols and Christian hymns during the Christmas period, here’s your opportunity to take a stand. You can call or email the company who are banning Christmas carols from their mall this Christmas. I’m not sure about you, but I think it is wonderful to have Christmas carols play in the public arena during this time of the year. It is so uplift
I know you believe it is important to have a foundation of “sound doctrine.” You want to teach your children “sound doctrine.” You are not one who is “tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.”