Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Be the keeper of your own vineyard, not someone elses vineyard (Song of Solomon 1:8).

How do we take possession in the land? By increasing. When God told the Israelis to possess the land, He said, "I will not drive them out from before thee in one year... by little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be INCREASED, and inherit the land" (Exodus 23:30 and Deuteronomy 7:22-23).

If they drove out the enemy all at once, but did not have enough population to till the land and inhabit the cities, the wild beasts would take over and the land would become wild. It takes people to fill the land, and this is God's plan.

God told His people to INCREASE MIGHTILY (Deuteronomy 6:3). Even when the Jews were taken to Babylon as captives, God told them they must not diminish, but INCREASE (Jeremiah 29:6). Even in a land of captivity!

God's will is always for His people to increase and fill the land with the godly, revealing His love and truth.

God loves increase. Are we in line with God's plan?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Would you like to hear the story? Throughout the pregnancy, no one ever detected I was having twins. That was back in the days when we didn't have ultrasounds. I conceived the twins in the Philippines where we doing missionary work. We came back to New Zealand when I was eight months pregnant and at last I went to a doctor. He checked me, but didn't detect twins! He said he was off to England and so when I began labor to go to the hospital and the doctor on duty would attend to me (I knew nothing of homebirths back then). I went to the hospital on a false alarm a week before the twins were born, and still no one detected twins!

It wasn't until the day I came into labor again (on my due date) and went to the hospital again that a nurse, listening to the heartbeat said, "I hear another heart beat. But, it could be an echo. We'll wait and see!"

And so we waited to see! Evangeline was born--breech birth, which is quite normal for twins! I didn't notice any difference than a normal birth. They felt my tummy! Yes, there was another baby still there! That was the first inkling we had that we were going to have twins! Although I have to admit that I wondered what was growing inside me and secretly thought that if it wasn't twins I would have trouble birthing this "baby!" I hardly felt any movements as they were packed in so tightly!

Anyway, five minutes later, Stephen arrived. He was a gentlemen and allowed his sister to go first. Evangeline was 6 lbs. 13 oz. and Stephen was 7 lbs. 5 oz! I was carrying around nearly 14 lbs. of baby, plus everything else, and no one ever guessed I was having twins! The blessing of being tall!

Colin and I were ecstatic. We enjoyed these glorious moments of elation before we faced the hard work--going home to care for twins and a 17 month old, with no help. We had just arrived back from the Philippines and were living out of suitcases. I had three in "nappies" (what we call diapers in New Zealand). I used to lay them down in a row to change their nappies. However, I look back on those when I was so tired that it was painful. And yet they were such wonderful years, full of joy and fun as we watched them grow, along with their other siblings as they came along. When the twins were little I used to say, "There's only one thing better than having a baby, and that's have two babies!"

I read the following words at that time and can truly say they were wonderful years. "These are the never years. Never enough money, never enough time, never enough sleep--but always enough love. The sweetest kiss of a baby the tooth-paste-flavored kiss of a child and the sleepy kiss of a husband who is just as tired as you. These are the busy years, the wonderful, hectic, impossible years. Soon the children will be grown and I'll have plenty of time to organize my house, to sew and to cultivate outside interests. I wonder if it will be as wonderful as I sometimes dream it will? Or am I in the middle of the wonderful years... right now?"

Now they are 48 years old and have been influencing the world for God all these years. Truly, there is no greater thing we can do as a woman than to bring a little life into the world, destined to reveal the image of God, push back the enemy, light up the darkness, and expose the deceptions of Satan with God's eternal truths! There is absolutely nothing more powerful. And they have only started. I trust they have at least another 48 years to serve God!

Not only have they blessed the world, but have begun many other dynasties--Evangeline and Howard have begun 10 dynasties (at 48 she is still desperately praying for another baby, or hopefully twins). These dynasties will continue as their children have children and their children have children, continuing a godly generation in this world. Stephen and Simone have begun three dynasties with their wonderful children. And so their influence continues--all from one birth 48 years ago!

Dear young mothers, never under-estimate the power of the birth of a child! I love the quote by Frank Boreham, "We fancy that God can only manage His world by big battalions abroad, when all the while He is doing it by beautiful babies at home. When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants opening, GOD SENDS A BABY INTO THE WORLD TO DO IT. That is why long, long ago, a Babe was born in Bethlehem."

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

P.S. Someone asked if Stephen is as much fun as Evangeline. Those of you who know Evangeline know that there is not another person in the world quite like her. Stephen is also a magnetic personality, the life of the party, and loved by all. But they don't look alike. Evangeline is golden-haired and brown-eyed, usually in jeans with knives hidden in amazing places, ready for an emergency (although when she dresses up for a special occasion, she comes out looking like a New York model). Stephen, blonde and blue-eyed is always dressed perfectly--Mr. Cool!

P.S. Another interesting thing. In the beginning of my pregnancy I was violently ill. My husband was concerned and found a Chinese doctor to diagnose me. He diagnosed that I was pregnant! But, he then injected with me with Vitamin B and I didn't have another day of feeling sick from that day onwards. With my future pregnancies I always took big doses of natural Vitamin B or Brewers' Yeast tablets which helped a lot with sickness.

On a cold day, isn't it nice to sit by a window where the sun is streaming through. You feel warmed and comforted inside and out. A cloudy day may cause you to feel dismal; a sunny day fills you with joy and positivity.

What kind of an attitude do you have as you mother your children in your home? Is it a cloudy attitude, filled with frowns, sighs and grumblings. Or do you have a sunny attitude, filled with joy and happiness? This is the kind of attitude that makes your home a place where everyone loves to be. Your children are content and happy. Your husband can't wait to get home to enjoy the loving atmosphere.

How do you keep sunny? Smile continually. Smile at your husband and children each time you look at them. Laugh lots. They say that children laugh 300-400 times a day whereas adults only laugh an average of 15 times a day. How boring. Change that statistic in your home. Praise the Lord in every situation and look up to the Lord instead of dwelling on your problems and challenges.

Enjoy a sunny day, today.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Our God, the God of the universe, is the eternal KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS.

The instructions He gave us are written in the eternal BOOK OF BOOKS.

Do we really believe this?

How does it affect our daily lives?

How does it play out in our family life?

Does it cause us plan our whole day around gathering our family together morning and evening to come into His presence to worship Him and listen to His words?

Or, do not really believe who He is?

Love from Nancy

"The only institution that man brought as he stumbled, sad and guilty, out of the Garden of Eden after sin came in was marriage and the home... Marriage is a divine institution. Marriage is older than the church, older than Mosaic law, older than any sacrifice, older than any religious rite or duty. The institution of marriage and home is more more important than the church, is more important than government or school, and older than either."

~ John R Rice.

It is difficult to survive without encouragement, isn't it? Our husband needs encouraging. Our children need encouraging. And MOTHERS NEED ENCOURAGING. I believe mothers need to encourage one another.

A weekly, or even monthly, Mother's Bible Study can be a great blessing in the lives of mothers. I found it a great blessing when raising our children. I ran a Mother's Bible Study in our home for years, with little ones around me, and often nursing a babe at my breast.

Charles G. Finney talks about the importance of mothers getting together, too. He says,

"Mothers must make the training of their children the subject of much consideration, study and prayer. If any mind should be well stored with knowledge, it is the mind of a mother. If anyone needs to understand philosophy – mental, natural, and moral – it is a mother. If anyone needs the wisdom of a serpent and the harmlessness of a dove, it is a mother. It is, therefore, all important that mothers should meet together, exchange views and books, and converse, pray, and devise every measure for training up their children in the way they should go."

In the next post, I'll give you some ideas you could use when getting together.

Love from Nancy Campbell

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

~ Unknown

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

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

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

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

Love from Nancy Campbell

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

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

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

Love from Nancy Campbell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~ Nancy Campbell, Above Rubies

Here are the last two blessings:

5. GOD WILL BE WITH US

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

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

6. WE BRING BLESSING ON OUR DESCENDANTS

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

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

Love from Nancy Campbell

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

2. IT WILL BE WELL WITH YOU

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

3. GOD WILL THRUST OUT YOUR ENEMIES

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

4. IT WILL BE FOR OUR GOOD

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

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

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

Love from Nancy Campbell

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

1. REST FOR YOUR SOUL

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

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

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

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

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

What are you choosing?

Love from Nancy Campbell (more to come).

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

Jeremiah 6:16 tells us that the good way is the old way. It says, "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

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

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

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

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

Let's seek the "good" way.

Love from Nancy Campbell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love from Nancy Campbell

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

When Sarah conceived the Bible tells us God "visited" her (Geneses 21:1). After Hannah dedicated Samuel to God and took him to the temple 1 Samuel 2:21 tells us that God "visited" Hannah and gave her five more children.

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

Love from Nancy

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

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

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

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

Love from Nancy Campbell

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

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

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

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

Let's raise men, not wimps!

Love from Nancy