IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE
Part 1

“And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living”
(Genesis 3:20).

How far have we degenerated from God’s original plan?

Recently a new mother mentioned to me that before her post-partum checkup, the hospital called to check if she was suffering from depression.

“Why would they ask you this question? I asked.

“Oh, don’t you know it’s a standard question?” she replied. “Most mothers have depression after a baby. Didn’t you hear about the new mother who recently committed suicide because she was so depressed because of her new baby?”

I was appalled. What is their purpose? To get them started on anti-depressants? Make them victims? Give them a pill to counteract our deceived society?

Yes, I concede that there are some mothers who suffer severe hormonal PPD, but this is not normal motherhood. This is not what God intended.

Again, I can see how many young mothers today feel depressed as they begin motherhood. But a pill is not the answer. The reason is that we live in an environment where motherhood, originated by God, is not the vogue. Most mothers having their first baby are not conditioned for this role.

It’s time to come back to God’s original plan. It’s time for change. Let’s think about some of the reasons:

1.    THEY ARE NOT PREPARED EXPERIENTIALLY

Many young mothers grow up in two-child families. They don’t grow up in homes where new babies keep arriving, the joy and delight of the home. As they grow older, they don’t have the opportunity to care for a baby, to see their mother nursing the baby as a natural part of life, or to experience the responsibilities of daily motherhood.

Friends and family don’t have babies in their homes either. Some never hold a baby until they hold their own baby in their arms. No wonder they feel overwhelmed. Their depression is not due to a clinical state, but because they don’t know what to do. They feel inadequate! Unprepared!

2.    THEY ARE NOT PREPARED EDUCATIONALLY

Most young women today are not educated for motherhood. In fact, they are educated against motherhood. They’re educated and trained for whatever career they want to pursue in this world. Anything except motherhood.

They are brainwashed to think motherhood is an inferior career. Even when they prepare for marriage, counselors (even Christian counselors) tell them to delay motherhood and continue pursuing their career. Motherhood is always delegated to the lowest item on the list.

3.    THEY ARE NOT PREPARED EMOTIONALLY

They are not encouraged toward motherhood. Because they don’t live in an environment of motherhood, it is unfamiliar to them. They don’t feel comfortable with being at home, cooking meals, or looking after a baby.

4.    THEY ARE NOT PREPARED PSYCHOLOGICALLY

When the new baby comes along, they feel it is an interference to their career, college, or their plans for life. Although they love their baby because it is their own flesh and blood, they are thrown into confusion. This baby is a “wrench in the machinery.” How do they fit this baby into their lifestyle or well laid-out plans? No wonder they feel depressed.

We will share more reasons next devotion. But you can see how far we have degenerated from God’s original plan. How can we turn the tide? It begins with older women understanding truth and passing it on to the next generation.

Let’s get started.

Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Oh God, there is a young generation of mothers who do not know Your plan for them. Please raise up older mothers to be teachers to the young mothers. Please help me to embrace motherhood with joy and delight and to be a testimony to the other mothers around me. Help me to show them that motherhood is the glory You have given to us as women. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am shining the joy of motherhood everywhere I go.

PAY UP!

“But if any man provide not for his own,
and especially for those of his own house,
he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel”
(1 Timothy 5:8).

We are living in an entitlement society where many people want everything for nothing, especially young people who are currently educated in our colleges. They are consistently brainwashed in socialism where they think they should get everything free without working for it. They want free education, free housing, free health care etc. They don’t even use their brains to think where the money would come from.

I believe we should live with an attitude of expectation that God is going to do good things. That’s the meaning of hope and hope is a godly attitude. But when things cost money, we should always be prepared to pay our share of it. This is a biblical principle .

When the children of Israel passed through the land of Seir, God told them to make sure they paid for anything they ate or drank.

Deuteronomy 2:6: “Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.”

The same happened when they passed through the land of the Moabites. When they came to the land of Sihon, Moses told King Heshbon: “Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money that I may drink” (Deuteronomy 2:28). They were ready to take responsibility for what they used.

God gives us a biblical principle for everything in life. We should always seek to pay for what we need, for what we eat and drank, and for what we use. If we break something that belongs to someone else, we should replace it. If we lose something that belongs to someone else, we should replace it.

If we are invited to eat with a family for dinner, we should bring something toward the meal. If the hostess says not to bring anything, we can purchase a little gift such as flowers, or make a little home gift, or write a card etc.

Let’s not be those who take everything for granted. Away with entitlement mentality.

Paul, the great apostle, worked hard at what was considered at that time a low-grade job to provide for his own needs and the needs of others!

Acts 20:34, 35 (NLT):“You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and EVEN THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO WERE WITH ME. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive,’”

Read 1 Thessalonians 19 and 2 Thessalonians 3:8 (NLT): “We never accepted food from anyone WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you . . . Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: ‘Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.’”

I am always challenged by the example of David when he wanted to purchase the threshing floor of Aruunah in order to build an altar to the Lord, Araunah offered it freely to David. He told David: “Take the threshing floor. And look, here are oxen for you to use. And here are the threshing instruments. Use them all freely.”

What did David answer? “I will surely buy it of thee AT A PRICE: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that WHICH DOES COST ME NOTHING. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver” (2 Samuel 24:21-

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, Please help me to be responsible before You and to do what is right toward my fellowman. Save me from being selfish and thinking of only my needs. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I will take responsibility for my own needs and also the needs of others.

ONE-ANOTHERING

 
“Let us think of ways to MOTIVATE ONE ANOTHER
to outbursts of love and good works”
(Hebrews 10:24 NLT).

Family life is togetherness. Church life is togetherness. It is also one-anothering.
 
As the curve of the current virus is flattening and our president seeks to get the nation’s economy fueled again, we should also see churches opening. In fact, President Trump gave a proclamation on Friday 22nd May that “Church is Essential” and encouraged churches to reopen Sunday 24th. Sadly, many churches are still closed. They still seem to be paralyzed with fear and yet the current statistics state that the percentage of deaths from this virus are only 0.03% of the population. There is nothing to fear so why are Christians continuing to hide in their homes?
 
This last week hundreds of doctors wrote to President Trump pleading with him to end the coronavirus shutdown and stating it was a “mass casualty incident.” Suicide hotlines have increased 600%. Liquor sales have increased 300 – 600%. God never intended us to hide away in our homes. He knows we need each other. We need each other in our families. We need the extended fellowship of families in the church.
 
Zoom and online meetings are great. They reach out to many people. But they are not the LIFE of the church. We cannot really do church life without being with one another. God knew that we would need to be reminded about this. He is so concerned about our being built up together that He has given us 31 commands to do to one another. That’s one for every day of the month!
 
Many of the following you need to do in person when you meet together.
 
1.    ACCEPT one another (Romans 15:7 HCSB).
2.    BEAR one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2 and Colossians 3;13). The Amplified Version states: “Bearing graciously with one another.”
3.    BLESS one another (Matthew 5:44 and 1 Peter 3:9).
4.    CARE for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25).
5.    COMFORT one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
6.    Have COMPASSION on one another (1 Peter 3:8).
7.    CONFESS YOUR FAULTS one to another (James 5:16).
8.    CONSIDER one another (Hebrews 10:24 NKJV).
9.    ENCOURAGE one another (Hebrews 3:13 and 10:24).
10.  EDIFY one another (Romans 14:19; 15:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:19; and 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
11.  ESTEEM AND DELIGHT in one another (Psalm 16:2-3 and Philippians 2:3).
12.  FELLOWSHIP with one another (Malachi 3:16 and 1 John 1:7).
13.  FORBEAR with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2 and Colossians 3:13).
14.  FORGIVE one another (Matthew 6:14, 15; 18:21-35; Ephesians 4:32; and Colossians 3:13). The Amplified Version states: “Willingly forgiving each other.”
15.  Live in HARMONY with one another (Romans 15:5 TLB and RSV).
16.  HELP one another with your gifts and abilities (1 Peter 4:10 (GNB) and Hebrews 10:24).
17.  HONOR and PREFER one another (Romans 12:10 and Philippians 2:3, 4).
18.  Show HUMILITY to one another (Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:3; and 1 Peter 3:8 (all GNB).
19.  Practice HOSPITALITY to one another (Acts 2:41-47; Romans 12:13; and 1 Peter 4:9).
20.  Be KIND to one another (Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:32; and Colossians 3:12).
21.  LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER’S INTERESTS, not just your own (Philippians 2:4 (GNB) and 1 Corinthians 10:24.
22.  LOVE one another (John 13:34; 15:12; 17:26; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 3:8; 4:8; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12; and 2 John 1:5.
23.  Have PEACE with one another (Mark 9:50).
24.  PRAY for one another (1 Samuel 12:23; Romans 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:3; and James 5:16).
25.  SERVE one another (Matthew 20:26-28; Galatians 5:13; and 1 Peter 4:10). Wash one another’s feet which is symbolic of serving one another, no matter how servile the task (John 13:14-17).
26.  SING to one another (Ephesians 5:19).
27.  STIR UP one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24 AMPC, ESV, Moffat, RSV).
28.  SUBMIT to one another (Ephesians 5:21 and 1 Peter 5:5).
29.  TEACH AND ADMONISH one another (Romans 15:14 and Colossians 3:16).
30.  Be TENDERHEARTED to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
31.  THINK MORE HIGHLY of one another than you do of yourselves (Philippians 2:3 AMP).
 
Would you like to be stirred up even more by some other translations of Hebrews 10:24?
 
“STIMULATE one another to love and good deeds.” (Beck, MLB, NASB, TBV, and Williams).
 
“LET US OUTDO each other in being helpful and kind to each other.” (TLB).
          
“SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON toward love and good deeds.” (CJB and NET).
           
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
 
PRAYER:

“Dear Father, Thank You for showing us how You want me to serve my family and others around me. Please help me to think of others rather than always thinking of myself. Please help me to look out for the interests of others, not just my own. Help me to live beyond myself, laying down my life, and serving others. Amen.”
 
AFFIRMATION:

Yes, others, Lord, yes, others, Let this my motto be; Help me to live for others, That I may live like Thee.
~ Charles D. Meigs

THE HATED WORD

"Let this mind be in your, which was also in Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 2:5).

We have a word in our vocabulary that is not popular today. It is either hated, avoided, or scoffed at. I think you've guessed. It is the word submission. Yet it is a Bible word. So why is so hated?

I think it is because it cuts across our fleshly nature. It is the opposite to our self-nature. It is also one of the most powerful attitudes Jesus revealed in His life. The devil has the opposite nature to Jesus. He was cast out of heaven because of his pride and independence and he continues to tempt us with his same attitude.

Let's looks at the attitude of Jesus. When He sweat drops of blood as he faced death to take the sin of the world upon Him, He still submitted to His Father's will crying out: "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). And please read Philippians 2:5-8 where the Bible exhorts us to have the same submissive attitude as Jesus when He submitted to the cross. Verse 5 says: "Let this mind (attitude) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

Jesus said in John 5:30: "I week not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."

Jesus confessed again in  6:38: "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

What does this word submission mean? The Greek word is "hupotasso" and is a combination of two words: "hupo" - under "tasso" - to arrange in an orderly manner, to assign to a certain position.

Why does God want the wife to come under the husband? For her blessing. For her protection. For her covering. For her provision. Isn't this a blessing?

Can I show you some other Scriptures where the Greek word hupo is used?

When Jesus looked out of Jerusalem, He cried: "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathered her chickens under (hupo) her wings, and ye would not" (Matthew 23:37). Is it a bad thing for a hen to gather her chickens under her wings? No, it is a beautiful thing. Isn't a beautiful thing to be protected under our husbands?

Do you notice that the citizens of Jerusalem did not want to be gathered? They didn't want to come under God's protection, just like some wives do not want to come under their husband's covering.

Jesus talked about the little mustard seed that grows up to be a big tree "so that the fowls of the air may lodge under (hupo) the shadow of it" (Mark 4:32). Another lovely picture of protection.

1 Corinthians 10:1, 2 tells us how God protected the Israelites in the wilderness "under (hupo) the cloud." God gave them a cloud by day to protect them from the heat and a cloud (a pillar of fire) by night to keep them warm. The testimony of God's protection and covering.

The Bible speaks of the mystery of marriage which is to reveal the relationship between Christ and the church. Christ as the Head--covering, protecting, and leading His people as they submit to Him.

It is not always easy to submit. It is not for the immature, but the mature. It is three-year-old behavior to demand our own way. It takes maturity to submit.

One caution. We submit to our husbands "as unto the Lord" (Ephesians 5:3). Wives should not submit to anything that is contrary to God's Word. Jesus' submission was unto His Father.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

"Dear Jesus, please come and fill my life. I want Your divine life to
overcome my fleshly nature. You lived in the anointing of authority because You were totally submitted to the Father. Help me to have this same attitude as I live my daily life. Amen."

CONFIRMATION:

Not my will but God's will.