Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

This is the week of HANUKKAH which actually began last night. It’s now Day One and we celebrate it for eight days. For the last few years I have posted devotions about Hanukkah and readers have asked if I will do it again this year. I’ll send Day One post to you soon. We enjoy celebrating Hanukkah in our family each year. Why?

1. It is a celebration that Jesus celebrated (John 10:22-23).

2. Hanukkah in the Hebrew means "dedication." God's temple was desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 BC but the Maccabees family led a revolt against the Seleucid armies and called the nation back to God. After they had driven them out of Judea and Jerusalem, the Maccabees consecrated and rededicated the temple. However, God no longer lives in a temple in Jerusalem, but lives in the temple of our hearts. We like to use Hanukkah as time to rededicate the temple of our lives to God.

3. It is called the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22) and also the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the re-lighting of the Menorah. They could only find enough oil for one day, but miraculously the lights kept burning for eight days while they prepared the anointing oil, specifically commanded in the Scriptures. Because this celebration remembers the relighting of the menorah, we like to read Scriptures about God who is the light and how He also wants us to be His light in this world. We do this at our Family Devotions each morning and evening. And each night we light a Hanukkah candle.

I will post the Scriptures in a separate post for you to print out for the following week. Read and meditate on them in your personal devotional time. Then choose the ones you would like to use with your family. For each day, you may like to take half the Scriptures at Family Devotions in the morning and the other half in the evening, or whatever works out in your home.

If you have older children, it's a lovely idea for each one to have their own Bible and give a Scripture for each one to read aloud--and to share what they feel God is saying through the Scriptures. If you have little ones, you may only want to take one, or one or two Scriptures from the list and talk about it.

And don't forget to ask your children questions as you read the Scriptures. This is how you learn together.

During the eight days of Hanukkah, I will also send out a post each day telling you a little story about Hanukkah that relates to us as mothers, or a revelation from the Scriptures about the meaning of Hanukkah. By the way, you may like to take time to read the history of the Maccabees in the Apocrypha. The books in the Apocrypha were not chosen to be part of the cannon of Scripture but the books of Maccabees, 1, 2, 3, and 4 are great historical reading and tell how the Jewish nation was saved from extinction at that time. I am sure God used these brave men to protect His natural people and also the coming Messiah. No wonder our Savior, Jesus Christ celebrated Hanukkah.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Day 1
GOD IS THE SOURCE OF LIGHT
Genesis 1:3-5
Exodus 27:20-21; 40:24-25; cf. Leviticus 24:1-4; Numbers 8:1-3
Exodus 13:21; Nehemiah 9:12,19
Psalm 36:9
Psalm 104:1-2
Matthew 17:2 (You can read the whole story in Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-13; and Luke 9:28-36).
1 Timothy 6:16
James 1:17

This is a lovely idea we used to do with our children when they were growing up. I put the names of each one in the family in a bowl or hat, mom and dad and children. Each one pulls out a name and that person becomes their SECRET FRIEND for the week. They have to something special for that person every day without his or her knowing who is doing it, until they find out at the end of the week.

You can give your children ideas for when they first start, such as:
Write an encouraging or loving note and leave on or under their pillow.
Clean their shoes when not looking.
Put a chocolate or something they like to eat in a special place where they know they'll find it.
Make their bed.
Clean their bedroom for them when they are not around.

Before the world began she was in God’s mind,
A God who loves to create and is very kind,
He’s the author of life and destiny
And He already knows what He wants her to be.

Who can resist a baby
Sent from God above?
An eternal gift to you
From His heart of love.

~ Nancy

Today I am sending you a lovely article from Bonnie Loveday. I have spoken at two Above Rubies retreats in the large meeting room in their home near London, Ontario.

Here is Bonnie with her husband, Ben and their beautiful children: Duke (14), Dorian (12), Sunny Mae (11), Tobin (10), Tucker (7), Snowy Belle (5), Auden (3), Poppy Lane (2) Cotton Song (1) and expecting a new baby in the spring.

The only woman in the Bible we are encouraged to look to is Sarah. Isaiah 51:2 tells us to “Look unto Sarah that bare you.” We go to the New Testament and read in 1 Peter 3: 6 that we will be “Sarah’s daughters” when we do what is right and good.

Names are very important in the Bible and each one has a meaning. Sarah was first called Sarai, which means princess because she was born of noble birth. But in Genesis 17:15 God changes her name to Sarah. This is a sacramental name because God Himself names her. It still means princess, but this time not only within her family, but in a greater way, yes, even worldwide. When God renamed her, He said: “She shall become nations; kings of people shall be of her.” Sarah means "lady, princess, noblewoman." It also means “to rule, or chieftainess.” It is the feminine of “Sar” meaning a “captain or commander.”

Sarah ruled as a queen in her home and wherever she traveled. She was queenly in her demeanor, her spirit, her graciousness, her beauty, the ruling of her home, and in every manner of life. Although queenliness revealed her personality, we read many other things about Sarah.

1. She was a submissive wife (1 Peter 3:5, 6).

2. She honored and revered her husband (1 Peter 3:6).

3. She wholly trusted God, no matter what the circumstances (1 Peter 3:5).

4. She was a woman of faith (Hebrews 11:11-13).

5. She was beautiful (Genesis 12:11-14). Not only the Bible, but Hebrew tradition informs that Sarah was exceedingly and bewitchingly beautiful. One writes that she was “One of the four most exquisite women in the world and was regarded as the fairest, even in comparison with all the women in the nearby lands. Of all women, only Eve was comelier.”

It caused her problems. Imagine ravishing kings wherever you go! When Abraham and Sarah went to Egypt, the princes noticed her beauty and she was taken into the Pharaoh’s house. King Abimelech of Gerar was also captivated by her beauty (even when she was 90 years of age) and took her to his house. Praise the Lord, God delivered her in these situations.

6. She was beautiful on the inside “with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:4).

7. After a lifetime of infertility, she embraced motherhood and nursing a baby even as an older woman (Genesis 21:7).

But of all these great attributes, we go back to the meaning of her name--lady, princess, queen. As Sarah’s daughters, shouldn’t we seek to also live and act like queens? We are not only Sarah’s daughters, but royal daughters of the King of kings and Lord and lords!

It’s sad that there are some women who don’t really want to be a lady today. They would rather be like a man--dress like a man and take on the man’s role. They do not rule as queen in their home because they are either not there, or there is nothing much to rule over. What does a mother do when she limits the number of her children and sends the limited number off to school? She has to find a life elsewhere, and usually this is working for someone else, not being a queen and ruling her own domain.

Let’s aim to be Sarah’s daughters.

~ Nancy Campbell

Further to my post above, you will be encouraged by reading this article about Sarah.

http://tinyurl.com/SarahsDaughters

I love the words of God to Abram in Genesis 17:7: “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, TO BE GOD TO YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS AFTER YOU.” God wanted to be God to Abram. God also wants to be God to you. He is the One who seeks us out. He wants to have a personal relationship with us--every day and all through the day. As John the disciple confessed, “We loved him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

How blessed we are in this nation to have a day to celebrate together as families and give thanks for God’s goodness throughout the year. It’s one of my favorite days in the year and along the way we have gathered many traditions.

We began at midday with a big family sit-down meal with name places for 82 people! And even then, 21 of our immediate family were not able to be with us. And there will be more next year as the family keeps enlarging.

Because we originate from New Zealand we love to celebrate with not only turkey, but lamb. I cooked a huge turkey and a big leg of lamb (well actually mutton). Our son, Stephen, also brought two pieces of lamb. We have a competition every Thanksgiving and Christmas to see who cooks it the best. And forgive me saying it, but you have to be a New Zealander to really know how to cook lamb. Although once again, I rarely cook lamb. I prefer hogget (which is a one year old sheep) or even mutton (which is two years or older).

But, we actually had a lamb feast this Thanksgiving. Our grandson, Zadok, recently led an Islamic guy to the Lord, who now loves His Savior with all his heart. We asked him to join us for Thanksgiving. The night before he arrived with not a piece of lamb, but a whole, live sheep! Can you believe it? All the guys killed and dressed it at about midnight and began cooking it in an outside oven ready for our Thanksgiving.

We also had many extra dishes and after our wonderful meal and fellowship we began toasting which we love to do. It was a rich time of sharing God’s goodness and giving thanks to Him.

After this we moved outside. We were certainly blessed this year in Tennessee. It was such a warm glorious day. We usually have to put on coats and are often shivering, although we still never give up our traditions, no matter how cold. We were just spoilt this year. We began with our egg-throwing competition. Each person has a partner to whom they throw the egg. Those whose eggs broke go out of the game. The others move back so they have to throw it further, and so it continues until the last couple are left throwing quite a long distance!

We then have tug of war with the adults against the children--always fun. The children then have their running races, three-legged races, and sack races and so on which they love.

Now it’s getting later and time for dessert. Back inside for a table full of desserts and more great fellowship. After this the children like to gather around and share poems and Scriptures they have learned, etc. Toward the end of this time last night, one of our Above Rubies girls received a call from their family in Montana to say that her 15 year old brother was lost out in the wild. He and his sisters had been out hunting elk. They shot two elk, and he went off to find his but the tracks were covered and they couldn’t find him. He had been out for many hours and it was now getting late. We all gathered round and cried out to God that he would be found. Praise the Lord, before we went to bed, we got the news that they had found him. We were all praising the Lord.

We thank the Lord for another Thanksgiving and we’re already looking forward to next year’s celebration. And of course, wondering who else God will have brought into our family in another year. We already know of one as Rashida and Jack are expecting a precious little baby. They rejoiced to receive a honeymoon conception after their wedding in August.

~ Blessings from Nancy

P.S. This picture is from last year--our son, Stephen and someone else on the father’s side. These days the children are getting so big and strong that they are winning. I’ll try and post some up-to-date pictures for you this coming week.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and your precious family. May you be filled with thankfulness, today, and every day of the year.

Some good Scriptures to read today are Colossians 2.7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18. And say out loud, “I am thankful today.” Thank God for specific things for which you are thankful. Here are some things for which I am grateful.

Almighty God, You have given us this good land for our heritage. We humbly ask You that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Your favor and glad to do Your will. Bless our land with honorable endeavor, sound learning and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties and fashion into one united people the multitude brought here out of many nations and tongues. Endow with the Spirit of wisdom those to whom in Your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Your law we may show forth Your praise among the nations on earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble do not allow our trust in You to fail. Amen.

~ President Thomas Jefferson, Washington D.C. (March 4, 1801).

We’ll all be enjoying Thanksgiving tomorrow with our families. What a blessed time. I absolutely love Thanksgiving, don’t you? It is always another opportunity to be thankful for all God’s wonderful goodness and blessings to us through this last year. Of course, we should never limit giving our thanks to the Lord and one another for Thanksgiving. It should be a daily habit.

The Bible tells us it is a GOOD thing to do. Psalm 92:1-2: "IT IS A GOOD THING to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: to show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night." And Psalm 147:1: "IT IS GOOD to sing praises unto our God."

Do your children need to be encouraged with a love for reading? Why not gather your children around and show them these wonderful pictures of children reading? Here’s the link:
https://www.pinterest.com/aboverub…/i-love-reading-children/

Inspire their interest for reading as you ask them some of the following questions. There’s nothing like questions to get children thinking:
1. Which picture do you like best, and why?
2. As you look at these pictures, what reading position do you think is the most interesting? What position do you like best when you are reading?
3. Which child looks the most interested?
4. Which child looks to be having the most fun?
5. Why do you think these children enjoy reading?
6. What do you love best about reading?
6. Can you find two different painters who love to paint children reading books?

Every child that is conceived is uniquely designed by God. There has never been another person like this one in the history of the world and there will never yet be another one to come.

Each child is very special--eternally loved and planned by God. We should welcome every child with awe!

It’s a pink line! You’re pregnant! Wow!

Maybe you’ve been longing for this day. Or maybe it’s a surprise! Maybe it wasn’t the news you wanted to hear! Whatever the reason, I want to remind you that it is a MIRACLE FROM GOD. God is the author of this life. He destined this child. He has plans and purposes for this precious one. Let’s contemplate on the MIRACLE.

We reminded each other yesterday that we are strangers and pilgrims in this earth. However, we have to do more than know this truth. We have to confess it.

The great faith chapter reminds us: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were PERSUADED of them, and EMBRACED them, and CONFESSED that they were strangers and pilgrims on this earth” (Hebrew 11:13).

I know you are aware that this world is not your home and you are a stranger and pilgrim on this earth (1 Peter 2:11). But did you know that you are not a sojourner on your own? God Himself sojourns with you. God says in Leviticus 25:23: "For you are strangers and sojourners WITH ME.”

We do not walk alone; God walks with us. When we feel like an outcast because we don’t fit in with the culture of this world, God is an outcast with us. When we suffer pain and persecution, God suffers with us. What wonderful comfort to know that God pilgrims with us through this time of exile.

Dear friend, can I please encourage you today to put your trust in the Lord? Anything and anyone else you put your trust in can fail you. When you lean on your own resources and your own flesh, they are not strong enough to hold you. But when you lean on God, who is your Rock, He is strong enough to bear all that you put upon Him--all your burdens and traumas.

I love the confession of Moses in Psalm 90:1, 2: “LORD, thou has teen our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

We sang this wonderful hymn at our Family Devotions this morning. What great words which are all taken from Scripture. Take a moment to look them up. You will be blessed and encouraged:
Isaiah 41:10 (which has seven promises, one for each day of the week).
Isaiah 43:1, 2
2 Corinthians 12:9
Hebrews 13:5, 6
1 Peter 1:6, 7