"If your Christianity was deeper, it would not be so dumb. You strengthen your convictions by speech. A man's belief in anything grows incalculably by the very fact of proclaiming it."
~ Alexander MacLaren
864 Hits
Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.
"If you have got any truth in you, for goodness’ sake, SAY IT! Don't hide truth behind closed doors or closed lips!"
~ Colin Campbell
866 Hits
There are many folks in America who live in beautiful homes. On the outside they look like mansions with a gorgeous, grand appearance. The lawns and gardens are spacious and delightful to the eyes. Even on the inside they have everything that the heart could wish for. But sadly, the real treasures are nowhere to be found.Where is the atmosphere of love? Where is the sense of sweetness? Where is the sound of joy? Where are the joyful sounds of children?
As Christian parents we must do our very best to open up the treasure chests that the indwelling Spirit of Christ has placed within each of us. Th No. 1 place for these to be manifested is in our homes. Proverbs 15:6 states: “In the house of the righteous there is much treasure.”
The enemy is, without doubt, trying to destroy the real treasures of our homes. He seeks to subtly bring into homes debates, arguments, tension, divisions, accusations, separation, and unforgiveness. The enemy tries his best to infect our homes with “the world, the flesh, and the devil” which rob our homes of real treasures.
Be on guard against the enemy. Stand watch over your home. And pray for God’s beautiful treasures of love, sweetness, forgiveness, joy, laughter, harmony, and seeking after truth to fill your home.
Be encouraged.
COLIN CAMPBELL
Painting: Harry Anderson
906 Hits
Father--
"When linked to heaven, you and your family are the answer to this nation's needs."
~ Colin Campbell
756 Hits
No matter what challenges you face, God will see you through.
831 Hits
The word anonymous means “to be unknown, to be veiled, to write something without revealing your true identity.”
In other words, if you are a father, then be a father!
Many men hide their identity of fatherhood away from their children. Even if they are present in their homes the characteristics of fatherhood are veiled or masked behind other things—personal entertainment, the Internet, or other activities that get in the way of the revelation of fatherhood.
Selfishness is creating an epidemic of a fatherless society. Selfishness is perhaps one of the main problems that veils fatherhood because it gets one absorbed with their own personal desires. I believe that one of the greatest needs of all society is to raise high the standard of fatherhood.
What a blessing it would be for every child born into this world to experience all the good and great qualities that every father could possibly give to his child, not just to one of his children but all his children.
Unfortunately, we live in a very fallen world. Multitudes of children suffer and are damaged for life by the low standards that are often prevalent in many homes of our modern society.
Isaiah 13:2 says: “Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain.”
Every man who had children must make every endeavor to raise the banner of fatherhood higher. Let’s make it VERY HIGH.
Be encouraged.
COLIN CAMPBELL.
876 Hits
Father, do you sit together for your evening meal around your family table? Do you engage your children in conversation? Do you end the meal with Bible reading and prayer?
861 Hits
I believe that most men respect the manly virtue of having backbone for it speaks of the ability to stand up in the face of opposition. A man may appear strong physically but if his spine is injured, he is still a weak man. There is something wrong when a man speaks the truth but backs down when he is opposed by friends or foes. He reveals that he is a pushover.
Every man should stand by his convictions to truth and never back down, not for anyone, no matter how important or wealthy they may be. It is morally wrong to cave in and compromise on matters of truth.
Speak the truth and stand by it, come hell or high water!
We must never bow down or compromise on moral values such as homosexuality, abortion, and adultery. If we keep compromising, the day will soon come when we will not know right from wrong and we will start calling what is wrong right. This is the world we are facing now.
There will always be multitudes who will pat you on the back when you compromise values to their way of thinking, but deep down they would respect you more if you stuck to your guns about the truth.
"Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23).
Be encouraged,
Colin Campbell
770 Hits
The word “patriarch” means “a family ruler.” It comes from two Greek words, “pater” for father, and “arche” for ruler (the source, the beginning).
The patriarchs of the Bible, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, plus the twelve sons of Jacob were all considered to be the patriarchs of Israel.
Every godly father should consider himself to be a patriarch of his own family.
Rule your family well, father. Rule and shepherd them with love, kindness, and mercy. Teach them the ways of the Lord and you will be a true patriarch.
COLIN CAMPBELL
Painting: "Walking With Dad" by Vickie Wade
799 Hits
How do you come home to your family? Like a wet blanket with a frown and gruff voice? Or do you bring joy and happiness the moment you arrive home?
Why not come home with surprises sometimes? Some interesting things for the children or flowers for your wife.
Walk in the door with an encouraging word and a smile for everyone. What a difference you can make to your wife who has been home with the children all day! Let your wife and children anticipate your homecoming with joy and excitement.
~ Colin Campbell
763 Hits
When training children in character think of the saintly, matured character of Matthew Henry, famous Bible scholar of Wales in the 1660's.
His statement after he was mugged and robbed:
"Let me be thankful . . .
first, because I was never robbed before;
second, although they took my money, they did not take my life;
third, because although they took my all, it was not much;
and fourth, because it was I who was robbed , not I who robbed."
845 Hits
By Henry Wadsworth LongfellowUnder a spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.
His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
His face is like the tan;
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns what'er he can,
And looks the whole word in the face,
For he owes not any man.
Week in, week out, from morn till night,
You can hear the bellows blow;
You can hear him swing his mighty sledge,
With measure beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the village bell,
When the evening sun is low.
And children coming home from school
Look in the open door;
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar.
And catch the flaming sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing floor.
He goes on Sunday to the church,
And sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and preach,
He hears his daughter's voice,
Singing in the choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.
It sounds to him like his mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise!
He needs must think of her once more,
How in the grave she lies;
And with his hard, rough hands he wipes
A tear out of his eyes.
Toiing, -- rejoicing, -- sorrowing,
Onward in life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close;
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned his night's repose.
Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou has taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought.
This poem is a tribute to the hardworking blacksmith who used to be an essential part of the community. It gives honor to this hardworking and heroic figure.
I like the lines:
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns what'er he can,
And looks the whole word in the face,
For he owes not any man.
890 Hits
When the pace seems slow
And few there be to care or know
That the world’s crept in the doors
And slackened every godly cause.
When folks no longer want to pray
And seek the Lord to know His way,
For sloth and ease have broken in
And robbed the church of the power to win.
Then do not let this crippling sin
Take hold of you and lock you in,
Buckle up as ne’er before,
Take hold of Heaven and knock its door.
Smash every tendency to be
Like others around who cannot see,
When the tempting battle gets to boilin’
Treat the world as deadly poison!
No matter how many are your foes,
They will never stand your knockout blows,
When all around are misbehaving
Sound the trumpet with banners waving.
Though the world and devils around may scoff,
Just lift your sword and write them off!
There’s no time to mess about,
Tell the lazy ones, “Stop being a lout!”
For there will be a sure reward
For those who diligently seek the Lord,
It’s true you see, the surest way to victory,
Is always on the bended knee.
~ Colin Campbell
787 Hits
Home based upon Christian marriage is so evidently an institution of God, that a man must become profane before he can deny it. Wherever it is planted there stands a bulwark of the state. Wherever it is pure and true to the Christian idea, there lives an institution conservative of all the nobler interests of society.
~ Dr. J. G. Holland
Painting by Dennis Dame
812 Hits
“In the beginning God” is the foundational truth of all real theology. False systems of theology and philosophy begin with man and seek to work up to God. But this is upside down. We must, in all our thinking begin with God and work down to man.
~ Arthur Pink
917 Hits
This is shared for husbands from an older married Christian's woman's point of view to make tough spousal moments smoother. We have observed through the years that there are two common misunderstandings among married men:ONE: submission: whose responsibility is it?
TWO: a husband's use of a specific Scripture to correct his wife.
Submission:
It is interesting to note that the concept of submission (as commonly cited in Ephesians 5:22-24 is not directed to the husband but to the wife. When a man takes this to mean that the Bible is telling him to get his wife to submit to him, the result of that misunderstanding is that he attempts to force submission upon his wife and she (since she is a "responsive being") begins to act stridently.
The underlying reason is generally that she feels misunderstood and/or treated poorly and/or hurt, and the only way she can handle that in a “marital siege” is to grow more rigid. Seeing this concept of submission as the husband's responsibility (to enforce the behavior) produces a tyrannical husband and a resistant wife.
Submission is a continual godly choice a godly woman makes as she grows in spiritual maturity and as she sees the glorious fruit of it over the years issuing in far more peace in the home. For sure, a discussion of submission is entirely appropriate between the two spouses—at peaceful moments between you, never in the heat of the moment when emotions are already out of control and the fierce fleshly desire in both parties to win is "up front and central."
We must remember that we want the "marriage" to win, not for the man or the woman to win only as a "victory" for themselves.
When such moments occur (and they will, in every marriage), do whatever you can to diffuse it—to move past it. Get through it in any way you can. Lay your life down in servanthood and love at those moments and the result of your godlier attitude at that time will work upon her later in the day or night as she contemplates the scene you two have just been through.
In peace and in love a couple can talk through the troublesome dynamic they experienced earlier and can re-think a better way for each of them to have worked through that. These later discussions are invaluable for mapping out new behaviors for future "moments."
Misuse of a specific Scripture upon a wife:
Scripture lies upon a page of the Word inviting us to partake of it like a banquet as we mature and as we grow in hunger for God's ways. It is not to be used as a weapon. If someone uses a specific Scripture at a moment of spousal upheaval to declare “you must do this or that,” it becomes a tool of carving on each other, to make them into our image. It becomes a searing spotlight over a victim. We were never given to each other in marriage to remake each other but to love each other in all our unevenness and flesh. To use a specific Scripture upon a spouse is too scalding. It will not have the desired effect. It will have the effect of triumph for the husband (I have Scripture on my side!) and increased anger for the woman (who feels that he is not seeing the core issue here).
Therefore, husbands . . . trust the Lord, alone, to use His Word in sanctifying your wife. He can do it, via individual devotions and also through regular family devotions (not cherry picked to aim at the wife). Refrain from using a particular verse to point it at her like a laser weapon in the midst of conflict. Instead, turn your own heart to developing unconditional love for your wife. Conduct yourself with kindness and steady patience at all times, but especially in the heat of "battle," and she will grow to trust you and more easily don a submissive attitude toward you.
Result?
God—not we, makes the one flesh unity in a marriage happen. Over time you will see that you have influenced each other greatly but at no time is that seen baldly and overtly as a result of something one person attempted to force upon the other.
RENEE ELLISON
910 Hits
”Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without repentance,
Baptism without church discipline,
Communion without confession.
Cheap grace is grace without discipleship,
Grace without the cross,
Grace without Jesus Christ.”
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
911 Hits
"Think of the possibility of raising a multitude of men and women whose bodies have never been poisoned by vicious indulgences, whose minds have been enlightened and filled with the principles of divine truth from their infancy, and whose hearts, from their earliest days, have been inspired with the love of Christ and possessed with the one supreme ambition to GLORIFY THE FATHER, DETHRONE THE DEVIL, DESTROY SIN, AND SAVE THE WORLD!"
~ General William Booth
Fathers, what a great responsibility we have!
1018 Hits
Father, are you taking your responsibility as the spiritual leader of your home?
942 Hits