Make every day count for eternity.
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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.
Grumbling and complaining is not the way,Keep your eyes on Jesus to have a good day!
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If I engage in too many things,I won’t be good at “any things.”
And I won’t have time for
Prayer that changes things!
~ Joy Witheford
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Lord, please bless our home sweet home,
Grant it love and cheer;
May the folks You bring to us,
Feel Your presence here.
Cast out thoughts of wrath and hate,
Cause all strife to cease,
Clear the air of fear and doubt,
Fill each room with peace.
If we stray from off the path,
Lead our steps aright,
Walk with us through each new day,
Hold us close at night.
May Your angels watch o'er us,
As we go down life's road,
Please make Yourself at home,
Dear Lord, Abide in our abode.
~Author Unknown
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I thought that the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon because of his fame, wisdom, and all his riches. However, I noticed in 1 Kings 10:1 that there was more to her curiosity. Let’s read what it really says: “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon CONCERNING THE NAME OF THE LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.”Her biggest interest was because of the name of the Lord. We notice this again in 1 Chronicles 2:1: “And Solomon determined to build a house FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD.” This was Solomon’s passion.
What is your passion as you build your home? Is it to have the most beautiful décor? Or do you want your home to be a home where the name of the Lord is honored, uplifted, and magnified? In every room. In every life. In the atmosphere.
The name of the Lord is so powerful. All God’s attributes are revealed in His names. Do we know these attributes? Are we experiencing them in our homes? Are we teaching these attributes to our children? May our children be in awe of His name. May people around know that our home belongs to the name of the Lord.
Through the name of Jesus we can defeat the devil, have power over temptation, and receive answers to prayer. We are more than conquerers through His name. His name is a strong tower into which we can run.
Does the fame of His name go out from your home to your neighborhood? Is your passion to build a home to honor the name of the Lord?
Blessings to your home today,
Nancy Campbell
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Ever since my childhood
I dreamed of marriage and motherhood
But I suppressed that dream and made another choice
For I listened to the deceiver’s voice
I sought to perform like all my friends
And I set my sights on empty ends
I got my education from the world
And learned some things that are not good for a girl
Because . . .
I BOUGHT A LIE!
I know of a couple who grieves their sin
Of rejecting the blessings God intended for them
They felt overwhelmed with young children
So she got fixed though she was not broken
Years later she longer for another one
And it was costly to reverse the damage done
Now they recognize God is in control
And will never again try to take His role
For she cries . . .
I BOUGHT A LIE!
I know a woman who lives with great pain,
Due to the memory of the child she had slain
Many proclaimed that it was her choice
And she did not recognize the deceiver’s voice
She has since repented and trusted Christ
And He has forgiven her and changed her life
She shares this truth with those who are grieved
And tries to keep others from being deceived
She tells them . . .
I BOUGHT A LIE!!
Will we serve self, or will we serve Christ?
Will we promote death, or will we promote life?
Will we seek God’s glory or seek man’s praise?
Will we humble ourselves and walk in His ways?
Will we train up God’s soldiers to wage this war?
Or will we tell Him we don’t want any more?
Will you seek God’s guidance for every choice?
Or will you listen to the deceiver’s voice?
A hope you never have to say . . .
I BOUGHT A LIE!
~ Paula Thorson
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I BOUGHT A LIE – IT’S A SONG
After posting the poem above, "I BOUGHT A LIE", Paula contacted me. Paula was originally one of my very first Above Rubies helpers years ago. She is now the mother of teens. The poem is actually a song Paula wrote and she has given me the link to the song if you would like to check it out.
By Paula Smith (nee Thorson)
And her current email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Motherhood does not end when the last child leaves the home. We are mothers until we meet Jesus. We will always be nurturing. A hurting world waits for mothering and nurturing hearts. And we as older mothers must keep showing the way of Nurturing and mothering to the next generation of mothers. We don’t do this by leaving the home. We must show the right example.
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We either build up or destroy our marriage and our children by the words that we speak to them. Be a builder, not a destroyer.
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Never underestimate the power of daily praying with your family. Imagine if every Christian family prayed daily for this nation! What great answers to prayer we would see. Praying families are nation changing families. Praying families are world changing families.
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A mother has a ministryThat all too soon will pass,
Too often held in low esteem,
But its influence will last.
She daily shapes eternal souls,
Patterns life skills, sets the goals,
Guides and counsels, eases pain,
This season will not come again.
The world would lure her out the door,
Thinking that there must be more
Than dirty faces, grimy hands,
And constant things that home demands.
But nothing on the earth compares
With the awesome role she shares
Of being to her girls and boys
Their greatest source of earthly joy.
Other interests sure will keep
Until she rocks her babes to sleep,
Things can wait, the time will come
When she won't have these little ones.
As she seeks God's kingdom first,
He'll fill her plate and quench her thirst,
For what it is she's looking for
Lives there with her, not out the door.
So, if you have a precious child,
Cherish them this little while,
Shun the pressure that could make,
Their longing for you to forsake.
That time to serve them fast will fly,
And then you'll wish for days gone by.
VAL HALLORAN
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Have you heard the recent news of how Paul Vaughn (a loving father of 11 children) and five others are branded as “convicted felons” and could expect 10.5 years in prison for singing hymns at an abortion clinic?A few months ago, I interviewed Bethany, Paul’s wife, who tells the story of how the FBI raided their home in the early hours of one morning, grabbing her husband at gunpoint without even a warrant. The following is a poem one of her children wrote after that traumatic event:
Banging, Banging, Banging at our front door,
“Who has come?” we ask, “our neighbors for sure.”
But alas, no. Agents armed to the teeth,
Guns drawn and their fury on us, release.
Handcuffed, absent from wallet, keys, and phone,
Agents take dad away, hearts cold as stone,
Lights flashing and engines whirl as they go,
We, left in shock, disbelief, and woe.
Ev’n in midst of horror, we still survive
And will know: Demons don’t just arrive
To break our bodies and steal our gold,
Rather, they try to ransom to Satan our souls.
So fight now and stand for the preborn’s cause!
Stand against tyranny and wicked laws,
Though in jail, your destination may wait,
In heaven, your reward shall be great!
Then last month, January, they went to trial. After six exhausting days and continual false accusations Vaugn and five others were found guilty. Here is a little excerpt from Bethany as they continue to trust their lives into God’s keeping:
“On January 30, 2024, a Nashville jury, after about 3 hours of deliberation, found all 6 defendants guilty on all charges, (each defendant had 2 charges each: FACE Act Violation and Conspiracy). A sentencing date is set for July 2, 2024. An appeal will be forthcoming. We walked out of the courthouse after the verdict and gathered with a large group of family and friends and sang to the Lord.
“While this is a heavy outcome for our family, it is still a glorious one that Christ has chosen for us to bear. Jesus is Lord and He rules and reigns from on high . . . His Story is the best story. If we believe Christ and we understand that we were born for such a time as this, we can rejoice wherever we find ourselves and trust that He who began a good work in us will be so faithful to complete that work He started! We can joyfully commit our souls to our faithful Creator and, though the storms rage all around us, be still and know that He is God!”
Please pray for the Vaugn family and the others who were also sentenced.
Go to this link to read more of the story:
If you didn’t get to hear the two interviews with Bethany Vaughn, you can go to these links:
277. THE VALUE OF LIFE
Introducing Bethany Vaughn, wife of Paul Vaughn who faces up to 11 years in prison for saving babies. Bethany, mother of 11 children and 8 grandchildren (so far) tells the beginning of their story. And guess how Bethany was dressed when her husband proposed! Check it out.
278. “VIOLENT CRIMINALS”
These are the words our government and the FBI call God-loving, children-loving, freedom-loving families. Bethany Vaughn is with me again today as she tells the horrific story of how the FBI kidnapped her husband in the early hours of the morning at gunpoint, without even showing a warrant! Do you really know what is happening in our country?
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
Picture: Paul and Bethany Vaughn at the Court with their youngest daughter and four of their grandchildren.
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(A testimony from a Grateful Wife).How lonely and neglected I felt! I was a young mother with several small children and still a new Christian. My husband, who was antagonistic to Christianity, spent most of his weekends on the golf course. During the week he would arrive home from work, eat his dinner with scarcely a word to his family, then disappear into his workshop where he would work, sometimes until midnight.
It seemed to me, at the time that we were completely incompatible, so I turned to the warm fellowship I found in the church which I attended.
It was during this state of rebellion against my situation that I “fell in love” with a Christian married man. He seemed to me to be everything my husband was not, and I lived for prayer meetings and the weekends when I would be able to see him and talk with him. I thank God that this man never knew of my feelings for him and there was nothing improper outwardly in our relationship.
My mind was full of “good reasons” and excuses for myself – after all, didn’t God want His children to be happy? My husband and I had not been Christians when we were married, and I was sure God wouldn’t expect me to stay united with an unbeliever.
When my nights became full of dreaming about this man, my conscience started pricking, but I brushed conviction aside and continued for several weeks in a lonely and miserable state.
I am grateful that deep down in my heart I knew that God had the answer to my problems if I was willing to listen to His voice with an obedient spirit. Eventually, in desperation and distress, I cried to Him my first honest prayer for weeks, “Please, Lord, show me the way out of this mess and show me the root of the problem.”
His answer came almost immediately, and it made me tremble with fear – a message that shook me to the roots of my being. Across my mind, in letters of fire and accompanied by a voice I can only describe like thunder were burned the words: “Remember My commandment: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”
For the first time I saw clearly how objectionable and evil were my desires. I was thoroughly convicted of my whole attitude towards my husband and this other man.
God’s words left me in a state of shock, but I was still suffering and in pain because of the emotions which I was still unable to control. At night I was frightened to go to sleep because of adulterous dreams, and in the mornings I would awaken sick to the heart with myself.
After several thoroughly miserable days, I knew that for the first time I was completely willing to give up all thoughts of this man I thought I was “in love” with. Then I cried my second honest prayer to God.
“Lord, Jesus, You know what is best for me and my family and I trust You to work out the difficulties in our family life. Please forgive my disobedience and cleanse my heart of all sinful desires. Please, Lord, take away the pain and show me what to do about the dreams.”
As bedtime approached there was still some trepidation about sleeping but there was also a peace and a deep knowledge that God had heard my prayer and would answer in His own way.
As I was settling down to sleep, I heard His voice again, this time tenderly bringing to my mind a verse in John 1:14 which says: “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” I prayed, light flooding in, “Lord Jesus, You are the Word, so I want You to hold my hand all night and I trust you to give me a peaceful night’s sleep.”
I took my small copy of the New Testament, tucked it under my pillow and placed my hand between its pages. In a few minutes I drifted off into the most restful and deep sleep I had experienced for a long time. When I awoke in the morning my heart was singing with joy and release from the burden I had been carrying for so long. The assurance of my restoration to fellowship with God was very sweet.
Now I could see a completely new view of my husband and our family to which I had been blind. God showed me my husband as a loyal and hardworking man who was being sadly neglected by his wife. Now I genuinely thanked Him for all the blessings of a fine husband, bright healthy children, and a comfortable home.
Gradually I learned how to love my husband and how to accept him as he was. I must not try and change him but leave him completely to the Lord. I also learned about submission to my husband as head of our household – placed there by God Himself.
Now, many years later, I look back and thank the Lord from the bottom of my heart for loving me enough to discipline me on a point that could have wrecked the lives of many people. It frightens me to think of what might have happened and the wonderful blessings I could so easily have missed.
I praise and thank Him for His love that is manifested in our happy, peaceful home, our loving grown up children, and a husband who has come to know the hand of God upon his life.
A VERY GRATEFUL WIFE
(Name withheld).
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Yesterday I wrote about WHAT DO OUR HUSBANDS NEED MOST? I believe it is showing them respect and honor. Of course we do this so much with our words. Each new day we are either building up our marriage with our words or slowly destroying it with our words.My podcast for this week was about THE WORDS WE SPEAK. You can pick it up at this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/183665/14449300
And next week, Tuesday morning, we continue the same subject, THE WORDS WE SPEAK, Part 2, speaking about the kind of words we should be using in our homes. Don’t miss these podcasts.
~ Nancy
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To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.
~ Ogden Nash
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To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.
~ Ogden Nash
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What do you think is your husband’s greatest need? What would be your answer?After many years of marriage I have come to know the answer. More than love, more anything else husbands long for respect and honor. God created them to innately desire it. The reason is that marriage is the picture of Christ and the church. We who are the bride of Christ are to give honor and reverence to our heavenly Bridegroom. When we do this to our husbands we are showing the true picture of marriage.
What happens when we don’t respect our husbands? They withdraw. They become grumpy. They become distant. Often, they don’t even know why themselves, but it is because they are not receiving respect.
I am constantly challenged regarding this myself and continually need to remind myself that this is my husband’s greatest need.
Some time back I asked this question on Facebook. Here are some of the answers I received.
* Allow your husband to decide things.
* Ask his advice instead of giving it.
* Talk respectfully to him.
* Talk respectfully about him to others.
* Thank him for providing and working hard.
* Praise his good points instead of focusing on the not so good.
* Think of specific things about him that you're thankful for.
* Don't undermine him.
* Make sure dinner is ready for him when he comes home from work.
* Make his table place at the head of the table.
* Think of all the good things he does and focus your thoughts on them, then your thoughts will turn into respectful words and actions.
* Stop telling him your "better way of doing things.”
* Listen without talking. Let him finish talking without interrupting.
When we do it God’s way rather than our own way, we will be amazed at what happens.
Love and blessings,
NANCY CAMPBELL
P.S. Would love to hear more ideas from you on how to show respect to your husband.
Beautiful painting by Vickie Wade.
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Don’t you think this is a good idea?A happy mother makes a happy home! What is the atmosphere like in your home today?
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Jesus Christ was our supreme sacrifice. He became the sacrificial Lamb, slain upon the altar for our sins. His ultimate sacrifice gives us forgiveness of sins, victory over sin in our daily life, sweet fellowship with Him, and eternal life. Romans 12:1 beseeches us that our logical and reasonable response should be to yield our lives back to Him as a living sacrifice. What does this mean?Because Jesus laid down His life to be our sacrifice, we should also lay down our lives to be a living sacrifice.
We face this principle every day as wives and mothers. Constantly we choose whether we will demand our own way, do what pleases us, or lay down our life for our husband, our children, and sacrifice our own selfish desires.
Sometimes this is a battle. We need to be constantly reminded of Psalm 118:27: “Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.” We willingly lay our life upon the altar as we feel the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But then we get back to the challenges of daily life and mothering and off the altar we jump!
We need His cords to bind us. What are the cords? God says in Hosea 11:4: “I drew them with cords of compassion, with bands of love.” He says again in Jeremiah 31:3 “Yes, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Because Christ now dwells in our hearts (if we have been born again), we no longer live to ourselves, “but unto him which died and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14). This lifestyle of dying daily to our own selfish desires does not ruin our lives. Instead, it releases us into the joyful life of serving that is the life of Christ (Mark 8:35).
I read about a mission board that had an ox for its seal. On one side of the ox was an altar, on the other side a plough. Their motto was “Ready for either.” There are millions of Christians being martyred for their faith today (more than at any other time). They are literally dying upon the altar. Others (like you and me) become a living sacrifice as we take up the plough of the daily grind of life. Not doing it grudgingly, but with joy and exhilaration.
May God save us from being jumping jacks--jumping off the altar as soon as anything becomes too difficult, looms bigger than we can imagine, or does not work out the way we planned. Instead may it become our lifestyle to be bound with joy to the altar. This is the least we can do in response to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us.
Love from Nancy Campbell
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Gathering your family together for family meals is a wonderful way to strengthen family life.
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We need great discernment to truly know what is good and what not just “looks good,” don’t we? Many times, things that are good rob us of the best! We can be involved I so many “good things” in our parenting and in Christian work and yet they are not God’s best. They are what we think is good. Or even what the enemy tricks us to think is good.This is how Satan tempted Eve in the beginning. He didn’t tempt her with anything evil, but what looked good and wise (Genesis 3:6). If Eve could be so easily tempted who walked with God each day in the garden, how much more are we be susceptible to Satan who is “an angel of light.”
The greatest antidote to deception is God’s Word. It is our plumbline for everything we believe and do. It is also a great lie detector. Many times, we don’t know things are lies until we line them up with God’s Word.
One of the ways the enemy robs families of what is best is many of our extracurricular activities. None of them are bad. They are all good. And yet often they rob us of what is the most important.
The tricky thing is that most of them are always about the time we should be in the home preparing the meal for the family so we can enjoy family togetherness around the table each evening. And of course, to have family devotions and worship together. And pray together.
The devil hates families praying, and he will use good things to stop us. He’ll get us doing all these great things for our children, which are good, but which stop us from coming together as a family to pray. And the devil laughs. He wins the victory.
It’s praying families who are world-changing families. And as you know, this doesn’t easily happen. It takes a complete life change in our families to make it happen. But world-changing families are also sacrificing families. They’re families who know what is the BEST, not only what is good.
Blessings,
Nancy Campbell
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