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Jan. 30, 2009

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ What Kind Of Children?

Posted in Devotionals

WHAT KIND OF CHILDREN?

Malachi 2:15 RSV, "Has not the one God made and sustained for us the spirit of life? And what does he desire? Godly offspring. So take heed to yourselves and let none be faithless to the wife of his youth. For I hate divorce, says the Lord the God of Israel."

God reveals His heart about marriage in the above Scripture. He wants the wife and husband to be one. He wants them to be faithful to one another. He does not want them to be divorced. And He makes His reason for saying this very clear. The disruption of marriage tampers with the godly offspring. The thing that God looks for in marriage more than anything else is godly children. This is His heart's desire. He looks eagerly for the coming children. This is His plan for marriage.

It is the nature of God to want children in His image. And because we were made in the likeness and image of God, it is inherent in mankind to want to have children in our image. We long to see who they will be like. And yet we now live in a distorted age. Couples have been so brainwashed by humanist deception that they often refuse to have children, or at least limit how many they have. They live counter-culture to God's kingdom and to their own instinctive design. While they live to their own desires, God waits with patience to see children born in His image. Grandparents wait to continue the godly dynasty.

Each new precious baby is created in the image of God and He wants His image multiplied in the earth.

But even more challenging is that it is not just offspring that God looks for. No, it is godly offspring. The margin in my Bible says, "the seed of God." What kind of children are the seed of God? It is even more challenging again when we find that the Hebrew word is elohim. As you know, the name Elohim is one of the names of God, the first name that God introduces himself to us in Genesis 1:1. This is only one name of God and it occurs 2,570 times in the Bible.

Elohim is used 35 times in Genesis 1:1 to 2:4 revealing God's creative and governing power. He created this vast universe by His spoken word. Elohim is the one who brought "cosmos out of chaos, light out of darkness, habitation out of desolation, and life in His image." (Nathan Stone) Because we are created in His image, we also have the ability to create. God has put into our mouths the power of the spoken word. We can minister life or death by our tongue. (Proverbs 18:21) God wants us (and each new babe that is born) to create and speak for His kingdom and His glory. He wants the godly offspring to fill the earth with His words, His truth and His character.

Elohim also reveals God as a covenant keeping God. There are many Scriptures revealing this but here are a few.

Genesis 17:7, "I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God (Elohim) unto thee, and to thy seed after thee."

Genesis 9:15-17, "And I will remember my covenant... And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature..."

On Joseph's death bed he said, "God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." (Genesis 50:24)

When Solomon dedicated the temple he prayed, "There is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart." (1 Kings 8:23)

Elohim is a covenant-keeping God. He wants us to also manifest covenant keeping. This is how we reveal the image of Elohim. He wants each godly offspring to be a covenant-keeper. It is interesting that God talks about the godly seed coming forth in the context of a covenant keeping marriage. Malachi 2:14 RSV says, "The Lord was witness to the covenant between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant."

It is not having lots of children that will solve the world's problems. It is having godly children who will impact the nations for God. May God enable us to welcome the godly seed and train them to truly reveal the character of Elohim. There is no career that can come anywhere the enormity and power of this vision.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Oh God, please help me to be a faithful covenant-keeper and to train my children to be the same."

AFFIRMATION:

I have the awesome privilege to raise the "seed of God."

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week. If you are printing this devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and change to a smaller font.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

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Jan. 20, 2009

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ The Secret is to Begin

Posted in Devotionals

THE SECRET IS TO BEGIN

Deuteronomy 2:24, "Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle."

Begin! What an important word.

Are you dreaming about doing something? Perhaps getting that bedroom cleaned up. Or catching up with the laundry so that your laundry room looks spic and span. Maybe you have some great ideas about homeschooling you are planning to put into operation. Then there's that habit you want to break.

It's easy to dream about it, isn't it? It's a lot harder to do something. But there is a secret to accomplish the thing you dream about doing. It's simple too. All you have to do is begin. That's right. Start. Don't look at the whole job. It will put you off. Just start. It is amazing what happens when you begin. You'll be amazed how that room will soon be cleaned. You will be amazed at what you accomplish.

What about that habit you want to get rid of in your life? Begin tackling it. They say it takes three weeks to establish a new habit. Start today with a positive response to your bad habit. Keep it up for three weeks and you will win the victory.

What about that mountain that looms before you? That problem you feel you cannot face. Take a step to go after it. Everything happens with that first step! In fact, nothing will happen without the first step! God told the children of Israel to begin to possess the land. They faced giants, fenced cities, high walls and gates and bars, but they began... and they possessed. They didn't possess the land all at once. But they began. They took a step of faith. You will have to too. You have to go beyond your normal routine. You have to get out of your comfort zone.

In Exodus 23:29-30 God told His people, "I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased and inherit the land."

The big thing is to begin, then tackle the job, the vision or the problem little by little. Little by little you will finish the task. Little by little you will overcome!

I love the poem, It Can be Done by Edgar Guest. This poem was required learning for our children. Some of the lines say...

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;

At least no one ever has done it!"

But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,

And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.

Once you begin, don't stop until you conquer and win the victory. Oh yes, it may be hard work. You will face battles. God said, "Begin to possess it, and contend in battle." The children of Israel did not win any victories without first having to fight a battle. It's part of possessing and overcoming.

The secret? The final victory starts with the verb begin!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, please save me from procrastinating. Give me courage to take the first step to obey and do what you want me to do. Thank you, Lord. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

No more dreaming, I'm doing it today!

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

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Dec. 31, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Home Destroyers Pt.5

Posted in Devotionals

HOME DESTROYERS

Part 5

Proverbs 14:17 "He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly." Read also Ecclesiastes 7.9.

Today is our last devotion in this series of things that have the power to destroy our home.

5. CONTENTION

Proverbs 19:13, "The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping." This is repeated again in Proverbs 27:15. In fact Proverbs 27:16 continues, "He who would restrain her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand."

Proverbs 21:19, "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman." This is also repeated again in Proverbs 19:9 and 25:24.

Other versions of the Bible translate this contentious woman as 'crabby, complaining, nagging, quarrelsome, ill-tempered, cross and petulant, scolding and irritable.' The actual Hebrew word is madown which means 'to quarrel, to cause discord or strife.' Not a very nice description, is it?

It's easy to nag. It's easy to pick a quarrel. But it is destructive, so why do we do it?

Does this mean that we cannot tell our husband something that we are concerned about? No. We are workers together in building our family. Share your concern with your husband-- in a spirit of meekness. Ask him how he thinks the situation could be remedied. Men love to give answers.

Once you have shared your concerns, keep quiet. But here's the secret. You don't keep quiet on your knees. Cry out to God and ask Him to deal with your husband. Don't give up praying until you see the answers.

The opposite of contention is harmony and unity. May God help us to work on another habit in our lives. What can you do next time you feel contentious? Say No to your fleshly feelings and by faith speaks harmonious words. You won't feel like it. You'd much rather nag or start a quarrel. But that is your old nature which you are so used to. Instead, remember that the Holy Spirit indwells you. Turn to Him and ask Him to reveal His Spirit of harmony and peace-making through you.

6. ADULTERY

Proverbs 2:18, "To deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. For her house leads down to death, and her paths to the dead." Read also Proverbs 7:27.

Adultery not only destroys a marriage and the home but hurts the children. When God talks about the breaking up of the covenant of marriage in Malachi 2:13-16 he uses the words "violence" and "treacherously". In fact, in this short passage he repeats the word "treacherously" three times! God sees the breaking up of the marriage through adultery as treacherous! The Hebrew word is bagad and means 'traitorous, unfaithful, deceitful and also implies pillage.' Read Jeremiah 3:20.

How can it be that adultery is prevalent in the church today? I remember growing up in a little town in New Zealand. If a husband or wife went off with someone else it was the disgust of the town. And that was the attitude of non-Christians! And yet now it is prevalent for Christians to show tolerance for something God calls treacherous!

7. RENDERING EVIL FOR GOOD

Proverbs 17:13, "Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house."

How important it is to show a grateful heart to those who have blessed us in our lives. We can take things for granted so easily, can't we? It is easy to carry on with life and forget the goodness of others. There are times when people will speak evil about those who have blessed them. We have experienced this many times in our lives. But we dare not get bitter. We must keep on blessing them and trust God to work in their lives. And God does not forget. God does His own avenging in His own time and in His own way. We can leave it totally with God.

Romans 12:19-21 says, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves... for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." (Proverbs 25:21-22; Romans 10:30)

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Oh God, please save me from being cranky and contentious. Please convict me when I become irritable or quarrelsome. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me establish unity in the home. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I'm changing from crabby to happy!

P.S. The following are two books you can read about the Karen people of Burma.

"A Land without Evil" by Benedict Rogers

"Displaced Reflections" by Oddny Gumaer

There are many more, but these happen to be two I have read. Check the Internet.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

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Dec. 16, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Home Destroyers Pt.4

Posted in Devotionals

HOME DESTROYERS

Part 4

Philippians 2:14-15, "Do all things without murmurings and disputing: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke,in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."

We are up to No. 4 today. One more to go in this series.

4. COMPLAINING

Psalm 106:25, "They murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord." Read the story in Numbers chapter 14, especially verses 2 and 27.

Where were the people complaining? In their tents, which were their dwelling places in the wilderness. Where does most complaining happen? In the home. But what does it do? It tears down the home, whether we complain about our circumstances, the work we have to do, or our husband. Not only do the walls of our home hear it, but our children hear it--and God hears it!

The children of Israel murmured and complained against Moses and Aaron, but when God heard it, He said they were complaining against Him. God says in Numbers 14:27, "How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against Me? I have heard the murmuring of the children of Israel, which they murmur against Me." Stop press! Help! When we murmur and complain about all our problems, God hears it as murmuring against Him.

The ten spies had returned from spying out the land of Canaan. It was a land flowing with milk and honey, but they complained about the fortified cities and the giants they would have to fight. It looked impossible! Even after all the miracles of coming out of Egypt and provision in the wilderness, they did not believe God could help them. They blamed Moses for bringing them out of Egypt. They complained that all their children would be taken as salves.

What happened? God told them, "Get back into the wilderness..." He told them that they would all die in the wilderness and their children who they complained would be taken as slaves would be the ones who would go into this magnificent land. Where do we end up when we complain? In the wilderness.

Wives and mothers,

we take our families into

a wilderness journey

when we complain!

The root of complaining is unbelief. "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" The Israelites cried out in unbelief. (Psalm 78:19). "How could we ever have another baby?" you cry out in unbelief. "We can hardly make ends meet now!" "How can we afford to educate our children?" "How can I put up with this little house any longer? I need more room" And so it goes on.

Here's a good habit to start. Change every sigh into a Hallelujah! Every time you are tempted to complain, turn your heart to the Lord and acknowledge His power and His presence. "Thank you, Lord, I trust you. I know that you are ordering my footsteps. I thank you that you are with me in these circumstances." It will take time to establish this new habit, but keep at it.

It doesn't mean that your circumstances will necessarily change, but you will change. God promises in Isaiah 43:1-3 that when you pass through the waters, that "I will be with you. They will not overflow you." God says that when you go through the fire that "You will not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon you."

What is our confession? "I'm going through a fiery trial. I don't know how I can make it." Or, "Thank you, Lord, no matter how hot it gets, I will not be burned because you are with me!"

I remember when complaining as a young child that my mother would immediately direct me to think about those who were poor and suffering in the world and didn't have all the blessings that I had. It's not a bad idea. There are millions in the world who live in abject poverty, without running water, adequate food, shelter or any of the basic amenities of life which we are used to. My husband, who has ministered in the slums of India and many third world countries, often says, "Just to live in a tent in America makes you a millionaire!"

I think about the Karen people, the displaced people of Burma who have been fighting a genocidal war against them from the Burmese government for over 50 years. We complain about keeping up with homeschooling. The Karen try to school their children while they live in hiding. We complain when things are not just as we want them when we give birth. Many Karen mothers give birth while running from the enemy. No time for recovery. No time for relaxing with their baby. No gifts. No excited calls from family and friends.

The wife the founder of the "Free Burma Rangers" shares about the love, forgiveness and generosity of the Karen, even in the midst of suffering and hardship. She says, "The gifts they gave were of themselves--their time, energy and love. In my experience in the West it is easier to go to the store and buy a trinket as a gift. For this reason I have chosen to raise my children in this war. The influence of these people is something I have never experienced anywhere else."

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Oh Lord, I find it so easy to complain. Please give me strength to create a new habit of praising instead of protesting, gladdening others instead of grumbling and being content instead of complaining. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

"Not for the lip of praise alone,

Nor e'en the praising heart

I ask, but for a life made up

Of praise in every part!"

Horatius Bonar

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

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PO Box 681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

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Dec. 11, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Home Destroyers Pt.3

Posted in Devotionals

HOME DESTROYERS

Part 3

Proverbs 14:3, "In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride."

Today we talk about the third tool that can pull down our home.

3. PRIDE

Proverbs 15:25, "The Lord will destroy the house of the proud."

God hates pride. It is always destructive. Yet how easily we succumb to this sin. Sometimes women feel ashamed if their house is poorer than their friends' homes. They want to keep up with the Joneses. They want their children to wear designer clothes. They want them to go to the best schools and best colleges. They want them to have degrees after their names. How are they going to do this?

Maybe they will be lured into the workforce to gain these aspirations. But the root of it all is pride. Instead of bringing blessing, it weakens home life. Children can enjoy a richer life and receive more blessings by having a contented mother in the home than wearing designer clothes and living in a fancier home. Learning to be content is not easy but it is one of the godliest lessons we can teach our children. 1 Timothy 6:6 reminds us that "Godliness with contentment is great gain." Of course, the only way we can teach it is by example.

We definitely don't need all the things we think we need. We can live on a tenth of the stuff we think we need! Nor do our children need all the things they think they want. I am always challenged by the words of Nehemiah, "You gave your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing." (Nehemiah 9:20-21, Deuteronomy 8:3-4 and 29:5)

What did they have in the wilderness? God faithfully provided food and water and miraculously kept their clothes and shoes from wearing out. But they lived in temporary tents. They had none of the modern conveniences that fill our homes today. They had to TVs. No décor. No running water or instant electricity. And yet God said they lacked nothing.

Proverbs 17:19 says, "He that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction." Matthew Henry comments on this Scripture: "He that exalts his gate, builds a stately house, at least a fine frontispiece, that he may outshine his neighbors, seeks his own destruction."

We know how Satan's pride wrought havoc and destruction in God's heavenly home. When we read about this in Isaiah 14:12-15 we notice that this pride not only caused Satan to be cast out of heaven but he became the one to "weaken the nations." Pride does not build up a home. It weakens a home. It tears it down.

May God help us to remember that each time we put on a proud look, speak prideful words and hold on to our stubbornness, we tear down our home a little more. Eventually we will destroy relationships altogether.

Proverbs 16:18-19 says, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." Through divorce, many wives and husbands divide the spoil of their homes as their home folds up. The marriage is destroyed and consequently the children's lives are negatively affected--all because of pride! Too proud to say sorry. Too proud to ask for forgiveness. Too proud to take the humble attitude. Too proud to change.

Pride is a bitter pill.

Pride is all about self! Humility is all about serving. Are we building up our home or tearing it down?

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

P.S. There are more Scriptures for you to check out below!

PRAYER:

"Oh God, please show me the hideousness of pride in my life. Save me from tearing down my home because of my stubbornness and pride. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I've decided to take the humble road,

It's the "blessing way" for my abode.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

WHAT IS GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PRIDEFUL PERSON?

God will cut off the tongue that speaks proud things.

"The Lord shall cut off the tongue that speaks proud things: who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?" (Psalm 12:3)

God cannot tolerate the proud.

"Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer." (Psalm 101:5) Also Isaiah 2:11.

God resists the proud.

"God resisteth the proud." (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5)

God keeps the proud at arm's length.

"Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off." (Psalm 138:6)

God hates pride.

"These things doth the Lord hate: a proud look..." (Proverbs 6:16-17)

God sees pride as an abomination.

"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." (Proverbs 16:5)

God sees pride as sin.

"A high look, and a proud heart is sin." (Proverbs 21:4)

God brings down the proud.

"The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down... For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low... And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low..." (Isaiah 2:11-17) Read also Isaiah 3:16-24; 5:15; 10:33 and Proverbs 16:18.

WHAT IS GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE HUMBLE?

God exalts the humble (in due time).

"He that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14;1 Peter 5:6)

God gives grace to the humble.

"He giveth grace unto the lowly." (Proverbs 3:34) Also 1 Peter 5:5.

God lifts up the humble.

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:10) Also Psalm 147:6;

God saves the humble.

"He shall save the humble person." (Job 22:29) Also Psalm 34:18; 76:9 and 149:4.

God gives joy to the humble.

"The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord." (Isaiah 28:19)

God hears the cry of the humble.

"Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble." (Psalm 10:17) Also Psalm 9:12.

God dwells with the humble.

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15)

God revives the humble.

"To revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15 b)

God rewards the humble.

Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4)

God turns away his wrath from the humble.

"Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the prid4 of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah." (2 Chronicles 32: 26) Read also 1 Kings 21:29; 2 Chronicles 12:6-7, 12; 33:12-13)

God respects the humble.

"Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly." (Psalm 138:6)

God looks to the humble.

"But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

God guides the humble.

"The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way." (Psalm 25:9)

God will cause the meek to inherit the earth.

"The meek shall inherit the earth." (Psalm 37:11) Also Matthew 5:5.

PO Box 681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

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Nov. 20, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotion ~ Home Destroyers Pt.2

Posted in Devotionals

HOME DESTROYERS

Part 2a

Jeremiah 4:22 RSV, "For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are stupid children, they have no understanding."

Today we continue talking about things that destroy the home.

2. FOOLISHNESS

Proverbs 14:1, "Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands."

What does it mean to be foolish? Simply, it means to do it my way rather than God's way. God's way, although different to my way always ends in blessing. My way, although it may look good, always ends in destruction.

If we are not building our home, we are pulling it down. How do we pull it down?

We pull it down by vacating the home. God wants the mother in the home--nurturing, nourishing and training her children. We can't do everything successfully. We either build up a business (usually someone else's business) or we build up our home. God has given us a full time job to tend our little flock. God gives a warning to the mother shepherdess when He says in Zechariah 11:17, "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock!" Notice that this Scripture has an exclamation mark!

We pull it down by our words. Negative words. Critical words. Reactive words. Spiteful words. Angry words. And on it goes.

We build our home with words or

we destroy our home with words!

When God allowed Satan to get at his servant Job, he smote him with terrible boils from the top of his head to the sole of his feet Job was in agony and pain. Instead of encouraging him, Job's wife said, "Do you still hold on to your integrity? Curse God, and die." Job replied, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (Job 2:9-10)

Do you speak as one of the foolish women, or one of the wise?

Sometimes it may not be negative words. It may be wasteful words. Proverbs 15:2 says, "The mouth of fools pours forth foolishness." Often we speak unnecessary words when we should keep out mouths shut. I am always challenged by Proverbs 10:19, "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." The more we blab on about anything and everything, the more opportunity there is to sin with our mouth. The NLT makes it clearer, "Don't talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!"

We pull it down by spending frivolously and unwisely. The foolish woman buys according to her whims and what takes her fancy. She buys groceries without thought for nutrition or without reading the ingredients. She fills her cupboards with devitalized packaged foods instead of cooking from scratch. She purchases unnecessary "things" to fill her home which could be used for wiser needs.

Proverbs 21:20 says, "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man (or woman) spendeth it up." The foolish woman spends more than her husband can afford. The wise woman lives frugally within her means. I often have to remind my new adopted daughters that we don't have to eat what we want whenever we want. We must learn to live thriftily rather than extravagantly.

We pull it down by wasting. Many women not only waste time but waste products. They throw out everything. It is not wise to be a hoarder and clutter up your home, but there are many things that can be re-used to save re-spending.

Many mothers allow their children to pick at their food and leave it on their plate without teaching them to eat what is in front of them. Good food is thrown in the trash. This is wasteful.

May God deliver us from being in the "foolish women category" that pulls down their home.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Father, please touch my lips with coals from off the altar. I don't want to speak negative words. Fill my mouth with encouraging and life-giving words that will build up my husband and my children. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Building up my home with uplifting words,

To do anything else is utterly absurd!

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org?subject=devotion

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Nov. 8, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Home Destroyers Pt.1

Posted in Devotionals

HOME DESTROYERS

Part 1

1 Timothy 6:8, "Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content."

Reading through Proverbs recently I noticed that it mentions five things that destroy the home. I prefer not to write about negative things, but, on the other hand, we can't wipe any of God's Word under the mat. And God's negatives always turn to positives. When we read His warning signs which mean, ROAD BLOCK, WRONG WAY-GO BACK or DEAD END we know that it is not the road to take, even though it looks beautiful and such an easy road. We must swerve back on the road God has planned for us from the beginning of time. God has never changed his plans. His ways are still the only ones that work effectively. Jeremiah 6:16 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."

Let's look at some of these WRONG WAY signs.

1. GREEDINESS

Proverbs 15:27, "He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house."

No wonder one of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house... thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife... nor any thing that is thy neighbor's." (Exodus 20: 17) When we see friends with things that we don't have it is easy to hanker after them too. Most people like to be like everyone else and have everything that their associates have.

How can this negatively affect the home?

a) By becoming despondent and full of self-pity because we can't afford what we want. This takes away our joy of living and being "content with such things as we have." (Hebrews 3:5-6)

b) As we crave a better house and more things to put in the house we start to plan how we can get these things. Ideas take shape. That's it! I could do what everyone else is doing who has more things. I could go out and get a job! Yes, that's the answer. But is it? To go out and get a job you have to leave the home behind. You have to vacate the very place where God wants you to be--in the heart of the home. (Psalm 1228:3) You have to put your children in daycare or leave them with someone else. God didn't give your children to you to give them to someone else to look after! He gives the responsibility to you. You are the only one who can truly nurture and nourish your baby and children.

c) The home becomes a show piece of material riches rather than filling it with the true riches of children. When you get your eyes on material riches, children become a nuisance.

May God save us from a greedy spirit.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

Prayer:

"Father, I pray that you will take every spirit of greediness from me. Give me a contented spirit. Help me to enjoy the riches you have given me - my precious children and the (little) house you have provided for me. I thank you for the blessing of food and clothing. Amen"

Affirmation:

Content in my home, that's for me,

With coveting gone, I'm now free!

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Oct. 5, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Disarming The Gainsayers

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DISARMING THE GAINSAYERS

Zechariah 8:12 (NLT), "I believe, therefore have I spoken."

"Who am I? Have you sighed these words on your difficult mothering days?

It's a good question, for if you don't know who you are, you will flounder in life. Fortunately, it's not a hard question to answer. God created you uniquely, like nobody else on earth, with special gifts that no one else has. But, transcendentally, you are a mother. You have an in=born urge to nurture. If you don't want to mother children, you will find yourself mothering something else, maybe your pet dog or cat. It is distinctive to us as females.

God created you with a womb and with breasts to nurture and nourish life. Why not embrace who you are? Be the best at who God created you to be instead of running from it. Start enjoying it. Disarm the feminists! Disown the lies! Destroy the deceptions and delight in motherhood.

What a mission. Have fun.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"I thank you, Lord, that you created me to be a mother. Help me to shine with your glory and lift up your truth wherever I go."

AFFIRMATION:

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Sep. 23, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ All The Days Of My Life

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ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE

Psalm 27:4, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."

David longed for the "House of the Lord." It was his favorite place to be. But David could not be in the house of the Lord continually, as much as he longed to. He was king of a nation. He had battles to fight; administration to attend to. But dear mother, we have the opportunity to live David's longing. Let me explain.

The house of the Lord is no longer one temple as it was in David's day. It is not even a church building where we attend on Sundays or Saturdays today. The house of the Lord speaks of His presence. God wants your home to be His house where His presence dwells; a place where you abide in Him and He abides in you. The house of the Lord is abiding fellowship with Christ. The house of the Lord is your kitchen where you prepare the meals; the house of the Lord is your dining table where you feed your family and make every meal a love affair; the house of the Lord is any room in the home where you are working or interacting with your children.

In your home you can behold the beauty of the Lord. As you abide in Him and look to Him, He will impart His grace to you in your time of need. He will show you that He is the God who is Enough for every challenge and every situation. He is with you, in your home, and will never leave you or forsake you. No, not even when everything seems overwhelming and you feel like tearing your hair out! You are still in the house of the Lord at this moment. Instead of despairing about the situation, stop for a moment and realize that God is with you. He has promised that He will not fail you. Thank Him that He is with you. Thank Him that He cannot fail you.

In your home you can inquire in His temple. David had to go God's temple to inquire of the Lord. He faced battles, enemies and challenges; He needed God's discernment, wisdom and strength. You also long for God's wisdom. You are desperate to know what to do. You cannot go on without His strength. Praise the Lord, you don't have to get into your car and rush off to a church building. You are in the house of the Lord right now. You can inquire in His temple right now. He will give you His wisdom. He has promised, remember.

All you have to do is abide--that literally means to live in His presence. It means to acknowledge that Christ is living within you and that you are in Him. You are inseparable. You are one. He is your life source. You can't live without Him (well, I can't anyway!). Your own strength wains; you need His. Your wisdom is human; you need His divine wisdom. Your love runs out the door; you need His agape love. You are depressed and down in the dumps; His joy does not depend on how you feel. You feel your life is worthless; you can only bear fruit to bless your family and touch other lives as you abide.

John 15:4-5 says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me can do nothing." There it is. The secret to living in the house of the Lord all the days of your life.

How I love those words... "all the days of my life." It doesn't matter what my day is like, God is with me. It doesn't matter whether I think God has left me; He is bigger than my thoughts. My thoughts deceive but God doesn't change.

See your home in a new light. It is the house of the Lord. You can live in it all the days of your life.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Thank you, Lord, for showing me that my home is the house of the Lord. Help me to enjoy my home in a new way. Thank you that I don't have to visit the house of the Lord. I live in it! Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am not a visitor but a dweller in the house of the Lord.

SCRIPTURES REFERRED TO IN THIS DEVOTION:

Look up Isaiah 41: 10, 13; Hebrews 13:5-6; James 1:5-8.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

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Aug. 12, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Sowing Seeds Of Peace Pt.2

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SOWING SEEDS OF PEACE

Part 2

Romans 16:20, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly."

How did you get on last week with sowing and speaking seeds of peace? You sowed a few seeds? That's great. You wished you could have sown more? Don't despair. Keep at it. Make it a habit and it will become a way of life. Here are some more seeds to sow.

Hold your Tongue for Peace

Perhaps this is one of the biggest ways to keep peace. It is so easy to spout off words that cause discord. It is so easy to react with words that cause pain or even incite rebellion. It is so easy to answer back when accused. I am always challenged by Jesus' reaction when he was accused:

Isaiah 53:7, "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth."

Matthew 26:62-63, "The high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace."

Matthew 27:11-13, "When he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word."

1 Peter 2:23, "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again..."

If we cannot give a soft answer, it is best not to even open our mouths! Wow! This takes self control, doesn't it? But the Holy Spirit, who is self control, lives within us to help us.

Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

Discipline for Peace

This doesn't sound very peaceful, does it? We often think that if we rock the boat we won't have peace! But the opposite is true. Discipline precedes peace! Read that again. Yes, discipline precedes peace! If your children are playing up, disobeying, being defiant and causing havoc in the home, you won't have any peace. To get peace, you must deal with the disobedience or bad behavior.

One of my favorite Scriptures for parenting is Proverbs 29:17, "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

Do you want rest and peace in your home? Don't gloss over disobedience. Deal with the issues. Sow loving but firm discipline for disobedient behavior and you will reap a reward of rest. Many parents have no rest. Their children are a constant hassle to them because they have not been trained. They constantly yell at them but their behavior doesn't change.

It is a joy to watch parents who live a life of rest. I think of my daughter, Evangeline, who has nine children. Her husband, Howard and she have trained their children to respond with instant obedience from the time they were very little. They have never allowed disobedience or defiant behavior. They dealt with it immediately. They have reaped a wonderful reward of rest. Their children, aged from 15 years to 16 months are extraordinarily behaved. They give delight to their parents and everyone who is around them. They can take them anywhere and trust their behavior. Evangeline lives a life of a queen for her children give her no bother.

Hebrews 12:11 reiterates this, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

I was quite taken aback when reading Romans 16:20 recently, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." You would think that when it speaks of God defeating the devil that He would be referred to as the God or War or the Lord of hosts (which is the Lord of the armies of heaven). It will not be a peaceful task to conquer Satan. It will be war and blood and tears. But, no. He is called the God of peace. I am sure this is because there can never be true peace while evil reigns and therefore it is the God of peace who wages war to bring peace.

If you have to have a little war before you have peace, don't be afraid. Covering over things will not bring peace. It is like a festering sore that will not heal until it is totally cleansed.

Keep sowing seeds of peace. We'll look at more next week.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, it is so easy to retaliate. Please help me to hold my tongue, and when I open my mouth, please help me to sow words of peace. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I aim for peace, but not by compromising.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

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Aug. 5, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Sowing Seeds of Peace Pt.1

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SOWING SEEDS OF PEACE

Part 1

Zechariah 8:12 (NLT), "I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you..."

God spoke these words to encourage the people when rebuilding the temple of Jerusalem. God loves to sow seeds of peace. If we walk in God's ways, we will also sow seeds of peace. This is God's character and His way. Because we are created in His image, it should also be our way. When we sow seeds of peace we will reap a harvest of peace.

How can we sow seeds of peace in our home and family? The following are some seeds that I am sure will bring a harvest of peace. If you can think of other seeds, you are welcome to share them with me.

Pray for Peace

I believe that this is the first thing we need to do. Every morning when we have devotions as a family, my husband prays for peace to fill our home. If we constantly pray for it, we are well on the way toward making it happen.

God commanded us to pray for the peace of His city, Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:6) It is just as important to pray for the peace of our homes. If every family prayed for the peace of God to be in their home, we would have peace in our homes, in our cities and then in our nation.

Speak Peace

We should not only pray for it, but speak it. As we were raising our older children, my husband would constantly confess these words, "I am a man of peace" or "I am for peace." We needed that confession in the midst of our six very exuberant and outspoken children. Unfortunately, our children have it in their genes. My husband comes from a family of nine children, who, although most are totally radical for God and serving the Lord full-time, have very loud voices, are very opinionated and not afraid to speak their opinions. It is a fun riot to be together.

I come from a smaller family, but just as loud. A friend of ours, who lived with us for a while as we were raising our family used to say, "What hope is there for your children with a "crowin' Campbell" for a father and a "blowin' Bowen for a mother!" Amazingly, in the midst of all our loudness, we mostly had an atmosphere of peace.

As you pray for your children each morning, minister the peace of God upon them. Walk into your kitchen with your "gospel of peace" shoes on your feet and release peace on each one of your children. Pray it over them. Confess it over them. Speak it into their lives. Be a peace-bearer rather than a tension-bearer.

I love the Jewish greeting of Shalom, meaning peace. What a wonderful way to greet people. This is the way Jesus greeted people and encouraged others to do the same:

Luke 10:5, "Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace to this house."

Luke 24:36, "Jesus himself stood in the midst of the, and said to them, Peace to you." (John 20:19, 21)

Psalm 85:8 says "God will speak peace to his people and to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly."

Peace is a noun, but the Bible verbs it. It tells us to extend peace, pursue peace, love peace, make peace, establish peace, preach peace, proclaim peace, seek peace and speak peace. If you seek to do these things each day, you'll be constantly sowing seeds of peace.

Love and Obey the Word of God

We sow peace into our home when we love the Word. Of course, if we love the Word of God, we will want to read it and impart its truth to our children.

Psalm 119:165 says, "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing causes them to stumble."

Isaiah 48:18 says, "Oh, that you had heeded my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

It is not always easy to obey the Word of God. God's ways are usually the opposite of the way we feel, but obedience always bring peace.

Start sowing seeds of peace. The more you sow, the more you will reap.

We will discuss more peace seeds in the next couple of weeks.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, I long for peace. I hate it when there is tension in my home. Please help me to daily sow seeds of peace in my home. I know it won't happen unless I make it happen and start doing something about it. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am a Peace Sower in my home.

Peace verbs: Isaiah 66:12; Hebrews 12:14; Zechariah 8:19; Isaiah 27:5; Isaiah 26:12; Acts 10:36; Isaiah 52:7; Nahum 1:15; Psalm 34:14; 1 Peter 3:11; Esther 10:3; Psalm 85:8.

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Jul. 17, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Hold On To Your Crown

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HOLD ON TO YOUR CROWN

Revelation 3:11, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

When God appeared to Moses as I AM THAT I AM out in the backside of the desert, He commissioned him to deliver the Hebrews from their slavery in Egypt. But Moses was fearful to take on such a task. He had no strength of his own to accomplish it. God then said to him, "What is that in thine hand, Moses?" (Exodus 4:2).

What was in his hand? A shepherd's rod. Nothing fancy. Nothing powerful. Just a simple rod he used each day to guide, prod and protect his flock. God took that plain shepherd's rod and made it a mighty weapon in Moses' hand. Whenever he stretched forth the rod mighty miracles happened. It released the plagues upon the Egyptians. It showed forth God's mighty power.

Sometimes you wonder what you are doing in your home. Your friends have high-powered careers and are raking in the money. You are trying to make ends meet from day to day. Your family remind you that you are wasting your life and your education.

But what is in your hand? It is the rod of motherhood. It may look insignificant, as Moses' rod did, but it wields a mighty power. Motherhood is the most powerful career in the nation. As a mother, you determine the course of the nation. You are in God's hands preparing your children for the purposes God has laid out for them before the foundation of the world. This is a top notch job. It is high powered!

Mothering is your crown. It has been invested in you by God himself. It is your anointing of womanhood. It is your authority. Do not take off your beautiful crown of motherhood to allow someone else to mother the children God has given you. Never let your crown go. Hold on to it. Lift your head high and be proud of your divine calling.

You may be going through circumstances that cause you to feel like giving up. You feel an utter failure. This mothering business is not working out. Your children are giving you heartache. Do not give up. Do not take off your crown. Rise up in the anointing and authority that God has given you as a mother. Do not let your circumstances rob you of your crown.

Do not let other people rob you either. Do you notice that this Scripture says that man will try to take it from you? Those who are ignorant of God's heart for children will speak negative things into your life. Those who are deceived by this world's philosophy will try to lure you away from your high calling. Do not be swayed by what people say. Do not let them take your crown. Hold on to it tightly.

Do not for a moment be intimidated by your antagonists! (Philippians 1:28)

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, I thank you that you have given me the crown of mothering. Help me to see that it is a crown to wear and be proud of. When I wear this crown I am walking in your perfect will. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Mothering is a crown I wear with dignity.

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Jun. 29, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Storing Up Treasure

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STORING UP TREASURE

1 Timothy 6:19, "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

The above Scripture encourages us to lay up in store for the time to come. In the context, it is actually speaking to those who have riches in this world, exhorting them to be rich in good works and generous to the needy. But I do believe this message is for all of us. I think it is one of the greatest exhortations we can have, don't you?

Every moment of our lives we should be "laying up in store" for the eternal kingdom. We cannot take any material possessions out of this world. It is all vanity. 1 Timothy 6:7 says, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." We will only take what we lay up in heaven.

We need to remind ourselves again of Matthew 6:19-21, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will you heart be also."

I have always been challenged by the statement,

"Life is a dressing room for eternity."

Everything we do and say, either builds for this world, or for the eternal world.

I think we will have a lot of surprises in heaven. I remember reading about a man of God who had a vision of the eternal realm. He said that he saw that the people who were closest to the throne of God were mothers and intercessors. Our liberal society does not have time for these ministries. Even the Christian world does not always affirm them. They don't receive the limelight. But they are powerful in God's eyes.

Dear mother, I want to remind you that as you sacrificially pour out your life for your children, as you mother and nurture them in the ways of God, as you pour out your heart in prayer for them--you are laying up treasure for eternity! Your mothering is never wasted. It builds for eternity. You are preparing your children for the heavenly realm. And you lay up heavenly treasure for yourself as you do it.

You may feel inferior because you think you are wasting your education as you lay down your career for motherhood. You may feel sorry for yourself because you are not making money like your neighbor who is choosing her career over motherhood. You may feel insecure because you don't feel that you are accomplishing great things in your home.

Don't listen to these deceptions and negatives. As you mother your children in your home, you are in the perfect will of God. You are building for eternity. You are laying up store for the time to come.

You are building a big mansion for yourself up there! This is certainly not a waste of time!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, please help me to put value on the eternal things, on the things that you put value on. Help me to remember each day that motherhood is building for eternity."

AFFIRMATION:

I have given up hoarding for this world: I am hoarding up treasure for the heavenly kingdom.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

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Jun. 11, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Follow the Leader!

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FOLLOW THE LEADER!

John 10:3-4, "The sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out ... he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice."

Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep. He is the One who shows us how to be shepherdesses of our little flocks.

I was born and bred in the land of New Zealand, down the bottom of the world. New Zealand is a sheep country and my father was a world champion sheep shearer. In New Zealand, the sheep farmers do not have a little flock of sheep like the eastern shepherd. They have thousands of sheep. When bringing the sheep in from the paddocks for drenching, crutching or shearing, the shepherds drive the sheep. They do this, riding on their horses and with the help of trained barking dogs called Hunterways. My father was an expert trainer of these dogs.

However, the Eastern shepherd to whom Jesus is likened does not drive his sheep. He walks in front of them and leads the way. He watches out for the pitfalls. He faces the danger first and protects them. When visiting Israel, I loved to watch the Bedouin shepherd leading his little flock of sheep and goats across the desert.

This is what we have to do, dear mother. We must not drive our children. It only leads to rebellion and defiance. We walk in front of them and lead the way. Jesus beckoned each of his disciples to "Come, follow me." In the same way, we tell our children, "Come, children, follow me. I'll show you the way to go. I'll lead you on the right path. You won't stumble if you follow me." (Jeremiah 31:9) We give them vision. Inspire them to greatness. Motivate them to godliness. Encourage them to dream great dreams. Stir them to fulfill their destiny which has been marked out for them before the foundation of the world.

I am always challenged by the Scripture in Ezekiel 16:44, "As is the mother, so is her daughter." As we walk out in front of our children, what kind of an example are we giving them? Are we happy for them to follow in our footsteps?

The good shepherdess also leads her flock to still waters. She makes her home a place of peace. I know this is not an easy task, especially if you are raising a large family. Children are not perfect (nor are we) and there are often storms to quiet. The good shepherdess not only protects her children from the storms outside but seeks God's wisdom to quell the storms inside the home. (Psalm 23:3 and Isaiah 49:10)

We are to also lead our flock in the paths of righteousness. Did you notice that it says to lead them? Our children will watch what we do and follow in our paths. They notice whether our walk with the Lord is genuine or hypocritical. They notice if we take them to church on Sundays but do not live like a believer throughout the week. They notice whether we love to pray. They notice whether we love the Word of God and it is a living book to us. They notice if we watch movies that we wouldn't want them to see. Do we have one standard for our children and another for ourselves?

Remember, we are out in front showing them the way. May we be like the great Shepherd "Who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go." (Isaiah 48:17)

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, please help me to shepherd my little flock like you shepherd me. Help me to be a good example for them to follow. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am walking out in front of my children, inspiring them to godly living.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

To unsubscribe from the Above Rubies Devotional, send a blank email to subscribers-off@aboverubies.org

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Apr. 30, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Wear the Right Clothes!

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WEAR THE RIGHT CLOTHES!

Ephesians 2:22-24, "Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which was corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness."

When you were born again by the Spirit of God, you received a new wardrobe. It is a very expensive wardrobe, paid for by the precious blood of Christ. You have so many beautiful garments hanging in this wardrobe. You have lovely dresses of love, joy, peace, longsuffering gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). You have delightful garments of tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and forgiveness. (Colossians 3:12-17).

The strange thing is that although we have this expensive wardrobe, we don't always bother to wear the clothes. We are so used to our old shabby clothes of the flesh. We feel more comfortable in them. They feel familiar, so we stick with them instead of trying out our new wardrobe. To put on a beautiful dress of gentleness or patience can seem foreign because we are not used to wearing them.

But they belong to you! They are yours! Imagine if your husband purchased a very special and pricey dress for you. You couldn't believe how posh it was. But you never wore it. You thought it was too good for you. How would your husband feel when he paid so much for it and wanted to be proud of you wearing it?

I wonder how God feels when He gives us this glorious wardrobe, purchased at an enormous price, and we never wear the garments? He gives them to us but He doesn't put them on us. He tells us to PUT THEM ON. "Put on the new man ..." I love the J. B. Phillip's translation which says, "Fling off the dirty clothes of the old way of living ... And put on the clean fresh clothes of the new life ..."

Make sure you put on a new garment each morning. Have you had a lousy night with the baby waking all night? Are you going through a fiery ordeal? Put on the garment of praise. (Isaiah 61:1-3). Let me tell you a secret. You won't feel like putting it on. You'd much rather put on your dirty old dress of grumbling and complaining. But do it by faith. Don't worry about your feelings. Put on your praise garment. Start praising and thanking the Lord. As you do it by faith, you will actually wear it.

You can change garments as you need them throughout the day. Are the children getting on your nerves? You feel your anger rising. Quick! Change into your garment of long-suffering or patience. Put it on by faith. Thank the Lord for His patience which is in you because He lives in you.

Are you starting to shout and yell because everything is getting on top of you? Put on the garment of gentleness. Thank the Lord for His gentle spirit which lives in you. This is the new man. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He lives in you now.

All these beautiful garments belong to you. They are yours. All you have to do is put them on by faith!

Strip of your old shabby garments. Wear your new ones each day. Live in them. Let Christ live His beautiful life through you.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Thank, you Lord, for all the beautiful garments that you have given to me. I am sick of my old rags. They look so ugly to everyone. Help me to put on your beautiful new garments which reveal your beautiful life in me. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I may have little in my literal wardrobe, but I have access to the most glorious garments in my spiritual wardrobe. Praise God.

PO Box 681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

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Mar. 29, 2008

30 Day Bible Reading Challenge

Posted in Devotionals

I hate to admit that some days I need motivation or that I have not committed to allotting a certain amount of my day to reading my bible, but truth be told I don't have that one on one time with the Lord everyday. So I am joining a wonderful group of ladies and taking on the 30 Day Bible Reading Challenge by making sure that I take a Mama time out of at least 15 minutes each day to read my bible :) If you want to join in and encourage each other along the way, then hop over and sign up before it begins April 1st. And if you need a little bit of incentive then check out some of the goodies waiting there for a couple of lucky gals.

Blessings,

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Mar. 27, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Face The Challenge

Posted in Devotionals

FACE THE CHALLENGE

NO.197

John 18:4, "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?"

Jesus knew what He had to face. He had just come from the Garden of Gethsemane where he sweat drops of blood in agony of facing the cruel cross and taking upon himself the sins of the world. He prayed that his Father would take "this cup" away from him. But knowing all he would face, he went forth. He went forth to face the agony. He didn't hold back.

This is a challenge to me. We will never have to face what Jesus faced. But what do we do about the problems we have to face each day? Do we cringe from them? Do we turn a blind eye so we don't even have to face them? Or do we go into depression and self-pity?

Perhaps you find it hard to get up out of bed and even face going out to the kitchen each morning. Do you have a hard time facing dishes, the big pile of laundry, or that room that is in such a mess? Can I encourage you to get up and "go forth", even as Jesus did. Tackle your task little by little. Don't think you have to do the whole overwhelming task all at once. Make a start, and keep going until you finish.

Perhaps you are facing a huge challenge in your life--a mountain that looks impossible in front of you. Mountains look impossible to us, but they are nothing to God. Go forth in His name and His power. I think of a chorus that we used to sing as young people.

Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?

Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?

God specializes in things thought impossible;

And He can do what no other can do.

It wasn't until recently that I found out that the source of this chorus came from the Panama Canal builders who faced a nearly impossible task and where well over 25,000 people died in the building of it.

You may be facing a raging battle in your life. It seems too much for you. It is bigger than what you can handle. Don't look at the bigness. God is with you. He will handle it for you. Read the instructions God give to the Israelites when they faced battles and armies who were far bigger than them. In Deuteronomy 20:1-9 He tells them not to be afraid because He will be with them. "There must be no faint hearts among you, no flinching, no yielding, no trembling ..." Of course you can't win this battle on your own, but God will fight for you. Trust Him. Go into the battle, not in your own strength, but trusting totally in God.

The name of God is a noun, but God is also a verb. Jesus said in John 5:17, "My Father worketh, and I work." God, who lives in you by His Holy Spirit, wants to work in you to do His will. Philippians 2:13 says, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Will you allow Him to work in you? Will you allow Him to "go forth" in you? He will face your problems with you. He will go with you. He will help you.

Perhaps you are facing a cross. Can I encourage you to embrace your cross and go forth! Go forth by faith! Go forth, knowing that Jesus lives in you. He has faced more than you will ever face and He lives in you. He wants to live His in life in you. He is in you to help you. You can go forth in His name.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Father, I thank you that you are with me. I pray that you will work in me and help me to go forth to do the tasks that you have given me to do. Help me to trust in you as I face my problems. Amen.

AFFIRMATION:

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

P.S. The above words are an excerpt from the hymn which the five missionaries sang before entering the Ecuadorian jungle to bring the Gospel to the Auca Indians over 50 years ago. Their names were Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Jim Elliott, Roger Yoderian, and Peter Fleming. After reaching the Aucas, the Indians murdered them on the Curaray River. (January 1956) The hymn comes from the Scripture in 2 Chronicles 14:11 where Asa faced an Ethiopian army of one miillion men. He cried out to God, "Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power; help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee."

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank Email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

To unsubscribe from the Above Rubies Devotional, use the link at the bottom of the email to either update your email address information or to unsubscribe from this email list. You may also send a blank email to subscribers-off@aboverubies.org

PO Box 681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

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Mar. 21, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Winding Paths

Posted in Devotionals

WINDING PATHSNo. 196

Isaiah 40:3-5, "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed ..."

We read in Luke 3:3-6 that John the Baptist came as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness" to prepare the way of the Lord. Each one of the Gospel writers confirms this--Matthew 3:1-4; Mark 1:1-2 and John 1:23. The last verses of the Old Testament also prophesy it and Luke 1:16-17 and 76 fulfill the prophecy. These Scriptures explain in more detail exactly what it means to prepare the way for the Lord--"And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

To prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, John had to make the way straight. He was anointed to "turn the hearts of the fathers (which includes the mothers too) to the children ..." But the prophetic word of Malachi 4:5-6 says that it must happen again "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord." We are getting close to this time. It is time to prepare. It is time to straighten the paths.

When the hearts of fathers and mothers are not turned to their children, they are on a crooked path. There are many deviant paths in this humanistic world. There are luring detours off the straight road. They may look enticing. They may even seem the right way, but they are often subtle "windings" to steer us away from God's perfect plan. Yes, this is what the Knox version calls them, "the windings are to be cut straight."

Are you on a winding path? Sometimes you don't even realize it until you get lost; until you wake up to find that the devil's tempting ways are not what they seem; until your family life is out of order and you wonder why. Perhaps, without realizing it, you have landed up on a winding path of independence from your husband. You are too busy to serve him and your family. Perhaps you have got on a crooked path of busyness--running here and there, attending this meeting and that, getting involved with this organization and that. You are in a whirlwind of activity. It seems great, but where is this winding path taking you? What will be the end result?

It's a long way off the path God planned for you as a mother--to be nestled in the heart of your home. And what are your children learning? That life consists in going to this and that, being involved in this sport and that organization and not having time to sit around the dinner table together? Will they ever learn the power of the home? That in the home great things can happen. It is here they learn the pattern to pass on to the next generation. They have time to create, think great thoughts and bask in the joy of home and family life.

Our children will follow the path we take. We dare not take them down winding paths of deception. The decisions we make and the paths we choose will determine the course of not only our children, but generations to come.

Keep alert for these crooked roads and remember that we only prove the salvation and deliverance of the Lord on the straight path. It is only on the straight path that His glory is revealed. He wants to show His power in your life--to bridge the lonely valleys with His love and compassion; to level every mountain that looks impossible in the natural but can melt in the power and presence of His Spirit and to cut a straight path of truth through all the windings that criss-cross over and back through God's straight road. Will you let Him lead you?

I love the Way's translation of 2 Timothy 2:15, "Be earnest ... a labourer who needs not to blush for his work, but who drives the ploughshare of truth in a straight furrow."

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Father, I ask that you will help me to keep on your straight path, never turning to the right or the left. Please expose every winding path the beckons me away from your truth." Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I will plough a straight furrow in my life and the life of my family.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank Email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

To unsubscribe from the Above Rubies Devotional, use the link at the bottom of this email to update or unsubscribed or send a blank email to subscribers-off@aboverubies.org

PO Box 681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

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Feb. 27, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Hidden Jewels

Posted in Devotionals

HIDDEN JEWELS

No.195

Malachi 3:17, "And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels."

Every saint is a jewel of God. I am convicted by God to look at people (and also my children) in this light. Often we cannot see the jewel as it hides behind the rough exterior. All we see is unsightly hard rock, but God wants us to look beyond what we see on the surface.

We sometimes hear the phrase, "He's a rough diamond." This means that the person is pretty rough on the outside but inside they have a heart of gold. We need to be reminded that there is a diamond, or perhaps a sapphire, an emerald, an opal, a ruby or an amethyst in each person. The jewel in every person is different. Each jewel will reveal different colors and lights of God's character. But we cannot see the beauty shining from the jewel until it has been cut and polished. And what a painful process this is. Much cutting has to be done o reveal the many-faceted hues and beauty of the gem. The cutting goes on and on. And when it is finished, the polishing starts. It hurts

I know God has to do so much more cutting and polishing with me. May we let Him do His work and cut away all the roughness and hardness. May we also have patience with all God's saints, even those who are still rough and uncut.

May God give us patience with our children. God has given us the task of being a lapidary (a cutter and polisher of gems). It is the lapidary's art to reveal the gem. Sometimes we may feel it is a hopeless job. But we must never give up hope. There is a jewel in every child of God. There is a precious jewel in every one of our children that waits to be revealed. We must see it by faith. We must pray it into being. May God give us vision, patience and understanding as we fulfill this great task. It does not happen over night. It is painstaking and time-consuming.

There will come a day when God will make all His jewels into a crown. I am thinking of the hymn we used to sing as children...

When He cometh, when He cometh

To make up His jewels,

All His jewels, precious jewels,

His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,

His brightness adorning,

They shall shine in their beauty,

Bright gems for His crown.

God promises that there will be a day when Israel will sparkle like the jewels of a crown in their land. Although this literally talks about Israel, I believe that God wants His redeemed people to also shine in this world like glittering jewels in a crown. It's time for all the roughness, hardness, mediocrity, worldliness, selfishness and indifference to be cut away and for God's glory to be revealed in the land.

Isaiah 62:3, "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."

Zechariah 9:16, "They shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land." The New Living Translation says, "They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How wonderful and beautiful they will be!"

Philippians 2:15, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine as lights in the world."

Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

"Lord, please cut away all the rough exterior that clouds your beauty from being revealed in me. I want to shine like a precious gem in this world for you. Help me to also see each one of my children as a precious jewel in your kingdom, waiting to shine with your glory. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am a lapidary.

NANCY CAMPBELL

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank Email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

To unsubscribe from the Above Rubies Devotional, use the link at the bottom of this page to update or unsubscribe or send a blank email to subscribers-off@aboverubies.org

PO Box 681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

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Feb. 9, 2008

Above Rubies Email Devotional ~ Response to Where There's A Will.....

Posted in Devotionals

Responses to

"Where There's a Will there's a Way"

No.194

Joshua 1:8, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

I receive responses from each email devotion I send out, but this time I received more than most. I thought I would share with you a few of the responses so you can be blessed further about this subject.

One mother shared that she was glad I mentioned that I found it hard to have special times with the Lord when my children were little and how I had to learn to do it in the midst of mothering. I answered, " I could not leave my children to go off to have a Quiet Time. I had to do it in the midst of noise and everything happening around me. But it's amazing what we can do with little ones all around us, isn't it? It also trains us to be able to cope. I started Above Rubies with children all around me. I now do it with everyone coming in and out and talking at once, grandchildren coming in and out, my new adopted teenagers needing me every minute and the phone going non-stop. Most people wouldn't even be able to concentrate on one line but this is how I edit Above Rubies. If I didn't do it this way, you'd never get it. If I waited to find one quiet moment, you'd never see a magazine!"

"I had been having a very rough week and had actually found my self in tears for two or three days, each of my six children asking mommy, "What is wrong?" The only explanation I had was nothing and yet everything! I am expecting my seventh little blessing and am a little over half way through my pregnancy. I am definitely adrenal fatigued, exhausted and find myself actually needing to sit down during the day. I know this is normal for many women but very unusual for me. I was on the road to a pity party.

I felt I needed to share with my husband what was happening As I broke down and the tears started flowing he held me in his arms and quoted, "Great peace have they that love thy law and NOTHING shall offend them." Nothing shall offend them!" He asked me to say it every time I felt upset with the children, at wit's end exhausted, hurt by a friend or starting a pity party. He said it may not seem soothing the first or second time but the Word of Yahweh is powerful and will bring the peace. Every time (many times this week) that I have recognized my flesh taking over I have quoted it and then found time to be with Him. It has definitely made all the difference in me and my attitude. I even woke my older girls up early one morning just to have tea time and bible study with me alone...What a difference.

When I finally got a chance to open your e-mail today I was so blessed. It was such a confirmation and testimony to me when I saw the verse from Psalm 119:165, "Great peace have they who love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." I knew it was just for me and am planning on using many of your suggestions."

"This was just what I needed. I'll start my Meditation Basket tomorrow. January has been the most trying month of our lives--our house flooded, we've had terrible weather and some shocking news that has changed our lives... I was having a hard time finding the time to read the Word like I should, thinking I had to set down at intervals. I'll continue that, but now I will put Scriptures over my sink at my window, on my fridge, in my bathroom and wherever I can. And I will stop grumbling over what I can't do!"

"Your devotion reminded me of what I read this morning in Matthew 14:13-14. Just as you had little time to spend in quiet alone when your children were small, so did the Lord Jesus. After He heard the news of John the Baptist's death, he wanted to go to a place alone but then the needy crowd came. So He put aside His own desires and attended to their needs. This happens to us at all stages of our lives, doesn't it?"

"Thank you for this word today. So much of what you shared in is what the Lord has been speaking to me in the last year. My children are five, three and 18 months and my husband and I are on staff with Youth With A Mission. We lead busy lives and I miss the time alone with the Lord that I experienced before I became a mother. The Lord has been showing me exactly what you wrote--that I don't have to be condemned but to take my "quiet time" throughout the day."

"One way I found to get our children to eat spiritual food for themselves is to have them copy entire books from the Bible (a little bit every day) in their best handwriting, for their handwriting practice. The amount depends on their maturity. It may take all school year to finish a book but they are proud to show off an entire handwritten copy of a certain book! And it is a precious keepsake! And, hopefully, they think about what they are writing.

It is our goal for Japheth, our last one who is 15, to read through the whole Bible together before he graduates from high school. I want to do it chronologically so he gets the BIG PICTURE. For Christmas I got us copies of The Daily Bible: 365 readings in chronological order. A HUGE blessing! I was having a hard time figuring out which books to read when. Now it's easy as pie and we have great discussions as we do it together first thing every morning. If he's in the chair by 8.00 am ready to read, he gets a dollar. It works!"

Hope you were blessed by these writings from other readers.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, please help me to be creative in finding ways to spend time with you and in your precious Word. I thank you that I can make a sanctuary even in the midst of noise and happenings. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?

To do the will of Jesus--this is rest!

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

To unsubscribe from the Above Rubies Devotional, click on the link at the bottom of the page or, send a blank email to subscribers-off@aboverubies.org

PO Box 681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

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~About Me~

Hello from Canada! I am a homeschooling mom to 3 very rambunctious children ages 10, 6 & 3 years old while holding down the fort as tug boat captain 'Dad' sails the seven seas *grin*. We're located on 40 acres in a tiny rural community in beautiful British Columbia and this is my quirky journal about our homeschool journey, running my home based business 'RosyUndPosy' making 'Eco Friendly Bags 4 Green Living', and everyday life home on the farm. Hope you enjoy your visit :)

Looking East down Race and Current Passages to Helmcken Island

Want to have a peak at what the weather looks like here today? Here's a cam showing the lovely scenic view looking east down Johnstone Strait past Helmcken & Hardwicke Islands.

Looking North across Johnstone Strait to Hardwicke Island

And this one is looking north across Johnstone Strait towards Hardwicke Island. Hit the refresh button on your browser to update the picture and make sure you stop by during daylight hours :)