Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

What is the first thing you do when you start the day as a family? 1 Timothy 2:1-3 tells us. I shared about it yesterday and I have been thinking more about this Scripture. It tells us that the FIRST THING we should do is pray. Well, my husband and I pray for our family before we do anything else. But, I have to confess that we eat breakfast before we pray as a family. At least we all pray together before we get on to our plans for the day!

If we really mean business, if we are truly desperately concerned for our nation, if we truly have a burden for prayer, it will be TOP PRIORITY to start the day. I think we have to change our mindset, don't you? The Bible says, FIRST OF ALL! Is this how we feel about praying together as a family? Is this what we do? Do our children see that prayer takes precedence and first priority in our home?

And what are we to do? It's more than saying a little prayer each. We have to be earnest. We have to pour out our hearts to God. This Scriptures tells us to get into "supplications, prayers (EARNESTLY PRAYING), intercessions, and giving of thanks..."

And it's all so we can live a QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE! We have the answer so let's do it.

Love from Nancy Campbell

I do, and I am sure you do, too. However, we have to do something to make it happen.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE in all godliness and honesty."

We know this Scripture, but do we do it? We have to be faithful to the prerequisite if we want the promise.

When you gather your family together for Family Worship each morning and evening, don't forget to pray for your nation, pray leadership (which is in desperate need of prayer) and for all those God lays upon your heart. Get everyone in the family to pray, right down to the littlest one who is learning to talk. God hears the sincere prayers of children.

When Judah was taken captive to Babylon, the prophet came to them with a word from the Lord of Hosts reminding them that if they wanted to live in peace they must pray for their city in which they live (Jeremiah 29:7).

Love from Nancy Campbell

There are those who would spurn the vocation of
mothers
And say of careers, it’s inferior to others,
I'll have to admit that it's not easy work,
It's relentless and from it you cannot shirk.

It takes all your energy to be a mother and wife,
It requires daily commitment and a disciplined life,
It demands all your resources of patience and love,
Longsuffering and wisdom from the Father above.

It takes self-control and continual endurance,
It needs constant faith and great perseverance,
It means total sacrifice, forgetting your self,
Sometimes you think you are left on the shelf!

And what about time? It’s no longer yours,
It belongs to all those who are within your doors.
Claim your own rights? No, they're all gone, too,
Like your right to sleep the whole night through!

It's not easy to crawl into bed with a book
Or go off and dream in some quiet little nook.
It seems like you're totally losing your life
To be a good mother and a submissive wife.

But oh, faithful mother, please do not despair,
In God's perfect plan you do have a share,
To fulfill your destiny planned from creation
Which is to nurture children and BUILD A NATION!

You’re walking in the footsteps of Jesus your Lord
Who sacrificed all, His life He out-poured,
He didn't cling to His rights with selfish futility
He didn’t claim any privilege but walked in humility.

He gave up His life to save millions of others,
This principle works in the lives of all mothers,
When you lose your own life you find it again,
A rewarding life, without guilt or shame.

So lift up your head, embrace your calling so high,
You're in God's perfect will, there’s no reason to
sigh!
You may often feel worthless, don't listen to this lie,
Your influence goes higher than the clouds in the
sky!

As you nurture and train your God-given seed,
As you sharpen your "arrows" by word and by
deed,
You shape the nation, you determine its course,
Your mothering’s not wasted, it’s a great mighty
force!

As your children leave home and go into the world
The proof of your training will soon be unfurled
You’ll influence countries where you've never been,
And down the generations its effect will be seen.

Your work is so powerful, no wonder it's tough,
But God is behind you, He's the GOD WHO IS
ENOUGH,
His strength and His wisdom He will give to you,
He stands by His promises which are totally true.

He'll always be with you right through to the end
As you follow His leading and deny the world's
trend,
Each morning you wake, your strength He'll renew,
He'll fill your home with His presence and His
blessed peace, too.

Nancy Campbell

Further to my post earlier today, I must share with you a very important point. After the Holy Spirit came upon Othniel and he went out to war, God delivered the king of Mesopotamia into his hand, and guess what? The children of Israel had REST for forty years (Judges 3:11).

We will never have rest in our family life or any situation in our lives if we don't defeat the enemy! While the enemy is still having his way in our home, we won't have rest. While evil still remains, we'll never have rest! You have to wipe out the enemy before you have rest.

It's the same way with raising our children. If you allow your children to rule the roost, have their own way, or be disobedient, you'll never have rest as a mother. How can you enjoy motherhood when your children are out of control?

God intends us to teach our children to be obedient and submissive so we can enjoy a restful home and enjoy our great career of motherhood. Proverbs 29:17 is a powerful Scripture, "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee REST; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

Hope you are enjoying a state of REST.

Love from Nancy Campbell

I am sure I don't have to remind you that we are in a war. We are in a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan, between light and darkness, truth and deception. Every day we wake up we go out to war against the enemy. Praise God, we don't go on our own. The Lord of hosts is with us to give us the victory.

The children of Israel had become servants in the land God had given to them because they gave up warring. After eight years of servitude, they cried out to the Lord, and in His mercy He gave them a deliverer called Othniel (Caleb's younger brother), a man who loved to face challenges (Judges 1:12-13). Judges 3:10 says, "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he ... went out to war." The Holy Spirit who lives in you is ready to go to war and defeat the enemy!

When you face a battle in your home or in your life, call upon the Holy Spirit. In His power you will defeat the enemy. In the name of Jesus you will have the victory. Through the power of the blood of Jesus you will send the enemy running. Don't despise battles. They are for conquering. Every battle you win is another defeat for the enemy of our souls.

God is with you as you war in the battle (Deuteronomy 9:1-3; Zechariah 4Z:6; Ephesians 6:1; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:11).

Love from Nancy Campbell

Did you gather your family around and pray together this morning? How important it is to do this morning and evening. Every God-fearing family needs to be praying for our nation. And just imagine what would happen if we all committed ourselves to this great task. Read 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jeremiah 25:10.

Love from Nancy

Isaiah 57:15 tells us that God is "the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy." And yet, God who is high above everyone else, wants to dwell with a certain kind of people. Who are they? He wants to dwell with those who have "a contrite and humble spirit."

Do you want God to dwell with you? Do you want Him to fill your home with His presence? Then we must keep a humble heart. We can think we're great when we stand up for our own rights, harden our hearts, stay full of pride, and resist the desires of our husband. Sadly, our attitude not only pushes our husband away, but it pushes God away! God runs from pride, but comes running to the humble heart.

The word "contrite" also means "crushed, bruised, broken in spirit and cast down." Don't despair, dear one, when you are going through this experience. But, remember, there is no excuse to stay in this state, because God has promised "to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

Psalm 34:18 says, "The LORD IS NEAR to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."

Let's keep humble hearts today.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Is your burden heavy, is it weighing you down?
Do you no longer smile, all you wear is a frown?
Are you feeling stressed out? Your body’s in pain?
Are you confused, tormented, feel like going insane?

Hang on a minute! You don’t have to endure this strain,
There is a Burden-Bearer who will carry your pain,
He left the glory of heaven to come and die for your sin,
And carry your burdens, anguish, and sorrows on Him.

Give your heartache to God, He’s promised to carry it all,
To try on your own, you’ll only stumble and fall,
He’ll not only carry your burden, but sustain you too,
Holding you up in His arms to see from His point of view.

All you have to do is come to the foot of the cross,
Hand over your burden and all that is dross,
Give up your rights to do it your own way,
Trust your life to His hands and He’ll lead each day.

He is your Savior, Deliverer, your Resting Place,
Your Fortress, your Shield, and your Hiding Place,
Your Sustainer and Helper with everlasting arms
Who’ll carry you through storms and bring you to calm.

He is your Fountain, the fresh Eternal Spring
Who takes your sadness and makes you sing,
He is your Comforter, Healer, and He is the Dew
Who comes with His mercies each morning anew.

He is your Hope, your Refuge, your Song,
Strengthener, and Shepherd who carries you along.
He is Almighty God who bears your sorrow,
Give it to Him today, don’t wait ‘til tomorrow.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved”
(Psalm 55:22).

Love from Nancy Campbell, Above Rubies

Of all the animals in the world, God chose to liken His people to sheep and also to flocks. Psalm 107:41 says, "He makes him families like a flock."

In Ezekiel 36:38 He says that the waste cities will be "filled with flocks of men." God does not think of families as one or two children, but as a flock. A flock is more than one or two, isn't it? We need to have a God mindset, rather than a humanistic mindset.

Love from Nancy Campbell

We are living in a time when "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13).

What do we do in the midst of deception and lies, especially when it comes right down from the White House? The Bible never leaves us in the dark. It tells us in the very next Scripture what we must do, "But CONTINUE thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Read the whole passage from v.13 - 17.

We must continue more than ever in reading and imparting God's Word to our children, right from when they are little! The word "child" is "brephos" and means infancy. It is also used of a babe in the womb and a newborn babe. Our children must be steeped in the Scriptures from infancy so they can detect deception. Many people have no clue they are deceived because they don't know God's Word which is the plumbline for truth.

I notice that even many homeschooling children know more about movie and music stars than they do of the Word of God! Unless they know the Word, they won't stand strong for God in a deceived world. Instead, they will be sucked into the deception.

However, it comes back to us, mothers. It's our responsibility! How did Timothy KNOW the Scriptures? Because of a faithful mother and grandmother! And we are still reading about them over 2,000 years later!

It wasn't mothers who were trying to make a name for themselves who were recorded. It was two women who were faithful to impart God's Word! Will you be recorded in history like them?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Do you feel as thou you don't have much strength to fight the battle against evil? In the nation? And sometimes it may even be in your home. Be encouraged.

Even with a "little strength" you can stand your ground. The angel wrote to the church at Philadelphia, "I know you have little strength, but you have OBEYED MY WORD AND NOT DENIED MY NAME" (Revelation 3:8).

Keep standing strong for righteousness. Never give in to evil. Never compromise. Do not tolerate what God hates. Never deny the holy name of God. Even with your little strength, you can be a voice for righteousness.

Did you know that God chose you before the foundation of the world to walk a holy life for Him (Ephesians 1:4)? God is with you to keep you standing strong, even with your "little strength."

Love from Nancy Campbell

It's not enough for us to know a few Scriptures of the Bible? It's not enough for us to rely on a Sunday sermon each week. God wants His words to dwell in us RICHLY (Colossians 3:16). He wants His words to LIVE IN US!

In other words, our children should not only hear God's Words from us, but they should SEE THEM LIVING OUT IN OUR LIVES (Psalm 40:3). His Word should show forth from our countenance and from the way we act and speak. This was the testimony of Lois and Eunice.

Paul writes to Timothy, "I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which FIRST LIVED in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded now LIVES IN YOU also" (1 Timothy 1:5 NIV). Can we make this our heartfelt prayer? That God Words will LIVE IN US and will therefore have such an impact upon our children and grandchildren that they will also LIVE IN THEM! Amen.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Do you remember reading the wonderful testimony of the Waller family in the last issue of Above Rubies # 86 (they serve the vineyard farmers on the West Bank of Israel)?

This last weekend Colin and I looked forward to attending the wedding of their daughter, Victoria to Aaron Hood. Everyone was invited to come for the whole weekend to Kenlake State Park in Kentucky. We did not know the exact time the wedding would take place. It was to be a surprise-- a picture of waiting for the Heavenly Bridegroom who comes for His bride, but we know "neither the day nor the hour" (Matthew 25:13).

Colin and I drove up Saturday morning, thinking they surely wouldn't have the wedding before then! However, we arrived to find we missed the wedding! They blew the shofars in the night and the wedding was held at midnight, down by the lake in the moonlight--a glorious two and a half hour ceremony! We were slumbering and sleeping in our bed at home when the cry came, "Behold the bridegroom comes, go ye out to meet him" (Matthew 25:6)! Can you believe it? We missed!

However, although the ceremony was at midnight, we learned they were going to have the wedding feast at 3.00 pm on Sunday. We drove home again Saturday, and then drove up just in time for the feast after our Sunday service. We were glad we could at least be part of this wonderful celebration.

Love from Nancy Campbell

This was Serene's recent post on TRIM HEALTHY MAMA, but I thought you may like to cash in on what's happening in our neck of the woods...

How are all my THM Sistahs? Is your summer season shaping up well? Yes, the pun was intended… it thrills us to pieces to hear about how far and wide the message in our book is reaching and of the fantastic shape ups that are happening all over THM Nation.

As we mention in the book, Pearl and I live in rural Tennessee. Our children’s summers are all about creek fishing and swimming. Pearl and I take our children to our local fishing/swimming hole and sit in the shade together. We keep busy praising all their aquatic acrobats, (some more graceful than others) and cheer on the fishing experts as they reel their beauties back to shore. In between this wonderful splashing chaos we try to get our noses back down to our research papers and writing material that we bring to the creek to keep all our sisters at THM in the know.

WHY CAN'T SHE GO IN THE BUSHES?

I have to tell on Pearl though. Yesterday a beautiful balmy breeze blew across the bubbling, cool creek. Earthy scents of mossy rocks and wet river grass and the intoxicating, almost magical fragrance of wild honeysuckle and jasmine vines danced around our happy gathering. I could have stayed all day accept for the fact that “Miss Princess prima donna Pearl” didn't want to go pee in the bushes and had to go home to her civilized toilet.

But, this is just a good example of how it takes all different types to make the world go around.

Trim Healthy Mama embraces all types of Mamas and approaches to food. There are lots of purists like me but plenty of relaxed short cut queens like my sister Pearl. You don’t have to be a “Granola Mom” to be a THM and it is even more an enjoyable and entertaining journey knowing that we are not all cookie cutters of each other. But, sometimes Pearl can drive me a bit nuts when she decides to leave me at the creek alone just for the loo and the way she uses her dreaded microwave! (Hey Pearl... love you heaps, mate!)

THE SNAKE FRIGHT!

However, I have some more news about my yesterday. I was in my room about to start my “Spew Session.” You know, the quick exercise routine I tell you about on page 558 of our book. I cinched up my vibram five finger shoes and checked for my proper form in our bedroom mirror as I began my set of jump squats for my "spew" session. In the upper corner of the mirror I noticed a reflection of the wall right next to me and a shadowy dark apparition that swung back and forth. The head of a huge snake… (did I mention HUGE) jutted back and forth, slithering down the pictures on my wall. Horror movie worthy!

An unconscious surge of adrenaline catapulted me into the air. I have never jumped higher in any of my spew sessions. If I was participating in the Olympic Games as a high jumper I may have brought home a gold medal and a world record jump.

Snakes are my creepy thing. I mean, I hate snakes! I would rather have seen a crocodile or huge guerrilla in my room than a slithering, slippery, SNAKE.

I screamed and shouted for all the children to run outside. I grabbed the baby, dashed outside and did a head count while dialing my husband’s number and sputtering about the snake.

My husband who was working an hour away told me to get my Dad quick (he lives close by), find the snake and kill it, or we would never sleep soundly again. Good news is that after much searching in my bedroom, the snake was found. It had slithered under my bed… Ahhh!

This summer in our county has been labeled as one of the worst in a long time for snakes. Our children love to run in and out to the trampoline and then in for a snack and then out to play with their puppy and then in again. I suppose with the door left open half the day it was a welcome mat for our snake.

My children who play outdoors so much (we make them wear big leather cowboy boots) and see snakes more than I do, were not as bothered by the whole fiasco. I am still checking behind every door and bed and even behind the toilet before I can relax enough to pee! But all this is just part of the fun of summer in the country and now that the snake is dead I can appreciate the funny side of it.

Love, Serene Allison

EVANGELINE--PEARL AND SERENE'S SISTER PIPES IN...

Serene does not know this.... but I came home from selling our organic produce at the best Farmer's Market ever and took the children and cuzzies down to the creek.

Well folks, there swimming in the water over to the rocks where Serene had been was a Copperhead! Being more of a kiwi (New Zealander) than my sisters, I did a "kiwi snake-terror freak-out" and called them all out of the water. The snake went under some rock where most probably millions of them live there!

The children couldn't care two hoots and went back in after I realized we were not all dead! Now... don't tell Serene this either, BUT, I just heard from my neighbor down the holler that they released Timber Rattlers into the Natchez Trace--a stone's throw or two from us!

ANOTHER SNAKE STORY FROM VANGE

Once my daughter went to the bathroom with a flashlight and came out saying there was something big and black in there. I went to look and there was this humongous snake doing the dance! Howard was away and I did not know what to do-- shoot, stab, or scream! If I shot, I would shoot the plumbing out of the floor, screaming would freak the tiny children all night, and I could only quickly find a broom to hold the thing at bay.

I called Serene's husband who grew up with snakes and he came a running. He stood there bewildered, as I was, with the huge thing continuing to do its dance.

We decided to stab it with a sword so we would not destroy the plumbing. I held it with the broom and Sam stabbed and stabbed, then I tried stab - stab! Finally, we pierced the thing and I went to sleep safely. But I always, ALWAYS check bathrooms for snakes ever since!

God gives the prescription for health. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soil, and health to the bones."

Do you want to be healthy? Do you want your husband to be healthy? Do you want your children to be healthy in soul and body? Fill your home with pleasant words?

What are pleasant words? The Hebrew word means, "agreeable, beautiful, delightful, gracious, suitable, and sweet."

This is the way you build a healthy home.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Further to my post yesterday, there is more involved in the word building than meets the eye. The word in the Hebrew is "banah." Yes, of course it means to build. However, it also means to repair. We have to keep repairing things in our home or it will soon fall down around us. We also have to keep repairing our relationship with our husband and children. This is all part of the building program.

But, did you know that there is another aspect to building? This word also means "to have children." To build a home you must embrace children.

I love the blessing the people of Judah gave to Naomi about her daughter-in-law, Ruth, "The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build (banah) the house of Israel" (Ruth 4:11).

How did Rachel and Leah build a nation? With hammers and wood? No, they built it by embracing children.

Here are some other Scriptures that speak of building by embracing children, Genesis 2:22; 16:2; 30:3; Deuteronomy 25:9; Psalm 127:1 and Proverbs 14:1).

Be a great builder as you build your home and consequently the nation.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Father, hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the powers of evil,
From the secret, hidden peril,
Father, hear us for our children.

From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the treacherous quicksand, pluck them,
Father, hear us for our children.

From the worldling's hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Father, Father, keep our children.

Through life's troubled waters steer them,
Through life's bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be Thou near them.

Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging,
Holy Father, for our children.

And wherever they may 'bide,
Lead them Home at eventide.
~ Amy Carmichael

The above prayer is a heart-cry for our children. I would encourage you to print it off so you can pray it OUT LOUD to the Father. Don't just read it, but pray it.

Love from Nancy Campbell

As wives and mothers, we are in the biggest building program in the nation. We have the responsibility to build a strong marriage, a godly family, and children who will also grow up to build strong marriages and families. God calls us builders. Proverbs 14:1 says, "Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands."

Any builder who is successful in his business works hard. He works long hours. He sweats it out. It's the same for us. We don't build a great marriage and home by just dreaming about it. We have to work at it. We have to pray. We have to work at our attitude. We have to work at the way we speak to our spouse and our children.

But, we also have to be practical and work hard physically. We haven't got time to be lazy. We have to keep the home running smoothly. We have to make sure we prepare nutritious meals for our family. We seek to have a meal ready for our husband when he walks in the door--and we'll make sure that the house is tidied up and ready for his home-coming.

I remember a mother saying to me, "All I ever wanted was to be a wife and mother," and yet her marriage fell apart. She dreamed about it, but she didn't do what was needed to make it happen. Her life was wrapped up around herself.

Building takes forgetting about yourself and living to serve your husband and family. Your mind is on your job, not on gratifying your own fleshly desires. You constantly think of things to say and do to make your marriage stronger. You think of new and creative ideas to make your family life stronger

And as you build into your home, you also build for eternity.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Paul confessed to Timothy, "Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, PURPOSE, faith, longsuffering, love, patience" 2 Timothy 3:10).

Do you know your own purpose in life? Do those around you know your purpose? Without purpose we have no zest for life.

As a mother, we have no doubt about our purpose. God has chosen us to reveal His maternal and nurturing heart to the world. He has chosen us to diligently teach and train the children He has given us for righteousness and the destiny He has for them. We can wake up in the morning with a smile on our face and a spring in our step because we know what we are meant to be doing.

As I raised our children, God gave me a vision from 1 Thessalonians 3:23, "I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming our Lord Jesus Christ."

My purpose and vision was to not only minister to their bodies, but their souls and spirits, in order to present them WHOLE before the Father in eternity. Wow. This is certainly a full-time career. And what purpose!

Love from Nancy Campbell