Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

God intends the family to be the greatest institution on earth. We are living in a world where the home and family is being attacked, and in many cases, abandoned. Abandoned by fathers who have never been taught the importance of their role in raising and providing for their family’s needs.

Mothers likewise have abandoned their nests for the glamor of the corporate world. They do not realize they are destroying the “cradles” that become the next generation, children who were destined to be born to make the world a better place.

Marriage and family are the first institutions God created and marriage was mandated to be fruitful and multiply and rule over the whole earth (Genesis 1:26-28). The importance of the family should never be underestimated, and if so, we do to our own peril.

Love begins in the marriage and is revealed and manifested in the raising of the nuclear family which means “father, mother, and children.”

The family is the primary institution where the graces and character of our Creator God should be taught. Dedicated parents, who understand the importance of their respective roles will mirror these roles to their children, along with revelation of God’s character.

We should not mistake God’s love for the casual, half-hearted love we often experience today. God’s love is hot and intense. It does not come from our fallen nature but directly from the new nature provided by the new birth in Christ. It is best taught by example from the moment the child is born, continuing day by day throughout the child’s learning years.

There should never be a doubt in the child’s mind that his/her parents do not love them with heart-felt fervency. This is the way God loves us and expects us to love one another. This kind of love is the essential element of the Christian family home.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Gene is releasing this song for free for you to be blessed. You can pick it up on this link: https://www.collisionpointpublishing.com/standfortheflag

Here are the words:
Verse 1:
She’s stood over battlefields
Wept over soldier’s graves
Been wounded by the cannon fire
Been tattered, torn, and frayed
She’s bowed to weary warriors
For their sacrifices made
She’s sung the song of freedom
When freedom’s voice was stayed
She’s a symbol to the fallen and the brave
A reminder of the freedom won
For president’s and slaves

Chorus:
I’ll stand for the flag that waves proud and free
I’ll stand for the flag that stands strong for me
I will stand for what is true
Of the red (and) white and blue
I will honor all she is with all I have
I will stand for the flag

Verse 2:
As she waves in the stormy winds
She echoes freedom’s cost
Reminds us all to not forget
The heroes that we’ve lost
And she honors those around us
Who still fight for us today
On the streets in our home towns
And in countries far way

She’s been spit upon, and ridiculed, burned, and torn apart
By the angry who’ve cursed her with the freedom she has bought

Chorus:

In Isaiah 63:7-10 Isaiah exalts Gods “lovingkindnesses” (plural!) and His “great goodness” which He bestowed upon Israel.

Verse 9 says: “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”

But verse 10 says: ‘BUT they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and fought against them.”

How sad when God is forced to be the enemy of His own people!

God looked for helpers but there was none to help. He wondered that there was no one to uphold and plead Israel’s cause or to intercede on Israel’s behalf (Isaiah 59:16).

In this great hour of America’s history there is the possibility that we could reach the same plight before God that Israel was in. I hope not.

However, many in the church are indifferent to whole-hearted prayer and standing in the gap to turn this nation back to waiting on God. Who will give time to daily cry out for a breakthrough and a great revival of zeal and strength amongst God’s people?

The question is: if God did not let Israel backslide as a nation without reaping the consequences, why would He let America’s church get away with spiritual apathy and indifference to waiting upon God who alone can save us?

We cannot go very far with a flat tire! We cannot go anywhere at all with a flat battery. We can’t even start the car, let alone go anywhere.

Those of us who sense the great need of this hour must get our spiritual tires pumped up and our spiritual batteries recharged if we want revival and the breakthroughs we long for.

Without God’s Holy Spirit zeal, willingness, fervor, and fire flowing through the veins of the church we will end up in a greater trouble than we could ever dream.

In a short time this coronavirus brought about a lot of death and destruction, not only through the virus, but now through the implications of the lockdown. Many businesses have gone bankrupt. Suicide hotlines have increased 600%. Liquor sales have increased 300 - 600%. The church should earnestly be seeking to stand in the gap lest things get worse than they are right now.

The zeal of God operating in us will not allow us to be indifferent, apathetic, and unmoved to the spiritual needs of this hour. The zeal of God will consume us just as it did Jesus (John 2:17).

Isaiah 40;31: “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell