Issacharian Daughters – ID057

pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID057 – click on link below for correct layout and photos

id057-is-she-a-lady.pdf

Dear Girls,

Thank you so much for your lovely emails congratulating me on my engagement. For those of you who asked, yes, Pete did give me a ring. He picked it out himself. It fit perfectly and I love it! And, no, we don’t have a wedding date as yet?? though it will probably be early next year. I hope to share our story with you all in the future.

Letters from readers

Good morning Genevieve,I’ve wanted to email you for some time now, just to let you know that I grow increasingly grateful for the weekly Issacharian Daughter email. At least the last month or so, the content of the ezine has been “hitting the nail on the head” for me, so to speak. I’m continually finding it dually encouraging and challenging. I just want to thank you for the effort, time and thought that you (and your family) put into Issacharian Daughters.

Also, the book you kindly gave me– “So Much More”–is living beside my bed again. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that has so head on challenged my thought patterns–patterns I’ve simply adopted without really delving into the heart of the issue(s) and understanding the whys and hows. “So Much More” is soooo thought provoking for me. I’ve held a very staunchly independent view on life and my roles. This has healthily challenged that and opened up to me so much more. I’ve been asking Dad to have a read of it (like the book suggests) since early this year. Since he is a pastor he already has a STACK of books to read that others have given him or he’s wanted to read himself, and he’s also working on the church building project and our own home, so it hasn’t worked out so far although he knows I’d really like him to read it. So, just this week, I came up with a plan!! Monday nights are usually our family nights. And, I realized that I could read one of the chapters aloud to the family. It worked. I read the one that dealt mostly with the root of feminism and then we got into discussions till after ten that night!

One of my sisters has also expressed interest in the book and has asked that we read it together some nights before we go to bed. So thank you Genevieve. Your gift to me is getting a lot of use and it’s challenged me and continues to challenge me ALOT. I’m starting to have a different view than that of the friends I’ve kept. I’m starting to get a better handle on why an independent career world view isn’t as beneficial as I once thought it was. My heart is starting to break when I walk past day care centers. I’m starting to see the value in encouraging my dad and brothers to be real men, and how important real Christian men are. More and more I’m getting built up on the inside that it’s not embarrassing or belittling myself to say that I want to be a mother. Before, I was embarrassed to admit it and I felt that when people asked me what I wanted to do, I had to have a list of career moves stacked up so that it looked like I was heading on one swish pathway to success.

Gradually, it’s settling different in me. I’ve always known that motherhood is going to be a huge part of my calling, but I wrote it off to “outsiders”. I was ashamed to tell others about it. I’m starting to see how shameful it is not to be confident in that valued calling where so few are bold enough to be what God called and designed them to be without getting tangled up in what others think. Another beautiful thing is that I find myself growing more and more grateful that I am at home with my parents. Four years ago–I was despising being at home and I moved out!! What a turn around.

I realize I have a long way to go, but I wanted to thank you again Genevieve for giving me the book. It’s been the best thing I’ve read in a long time and what it presents, will challenge, encourage and pursue me for a lifetime. I definitely know that other Christian women need to get this book into their hands and hearts!!

God bless. Thank you, thank you, thank you so, so much for the wonderful encouragement you are. I’m so blessed!

Love,Anny Edwards

The emails you send every week are such an encouragement to me. It’s a
time where I can be reminded about Biblical standards in amongst all the
comings and goings of my week.

At the end of this year I will have nearly finished my degree in music, with only two papers to finish next year, one being a theology paper and the other a dissertation. I am so looking forward to finishing and have decided to stay at home and to not do anymore study. I will start a music-teaching studio here at home. This way I can help mum with homeschooling the twins and take part in cooking and cleaning which she can’t do very much because of her back. I finally feel satisfied and in my decision now have an answer to that famous question “What are you going to do when you finish school?” ;-)Through your emails and G.F.C conferences I have become aware of the real role of womanhood. Thank you. 🙂

From Emma in New Zealand
Regarding My Engagement

Hi Genevieve,

Congratulations!Your fiancé is a wise man to have chosen you for his wife. Ü How exciting. I’m sure your father will have a challenging time when he gives away his dearest, eldest daughter. Ü “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) God continues to amaze me. He knew Pete would marry sweet Genevieve even before you two were ever born. He knows who your children will be, their children, and their children’s children. Don’t we have a faithful God? Sometimes we may wish to see our future, but why? God’s plans for us come as a mystery. How exciting. We’re living His plan for us every day. I laugh when I think how God loves to surprise us. (He probably chuckled (past tense! Ü) and said, “Won’t Genevieve Smith be happy when I send Pete de Deugd for her husband.” Ü)

May God bless your upcoming marriage and your new life together.

Love from afar (Sunnyside, WA, USA! Ü),Jackie Kilian, 13 yrs old(a new subscriber)

I love this note from Jackie. In it she demonstrates a wonderful faith and trust in God. And what she says is true. If we are to marry God is preparing us for our husbands and preparing our husbands for us. He will bring us together in His perfect timing. We don’t have to worry about it! ~ Genevieve

Response to ID053 – Can’t My Husband Be

My Helper?

My dear Miss Genevieve,I love your newsletters!They offer such a refreshing perspective, even for an “older” married woman, such as myself.I had to laugh (in sympathy), though, at your story about giving up your dream of starting an African orphanage. For years and years, I treasured such dreams, although I’d think I’d rather go to cooler climates.Amy Carmichael was such an inspiration to me.I prayed for God to give us a large family, so I could have many children, even if I didn’t get my orphanage.However, God had other plans.After three miscarriages, God has only given us two daughters on this earth.I’m no longer able to have children, and I’ve been struggling…really struggling with surrendering my dreams of more children.My husband and I used to discuss adoption, but there was just no way, given where God has placed us financially.The past two years I keenly felt the death of my dreams and really worked to further cultivate contentment with our small family.

Your newsletter caused me to laugh, because God has recently re-awakened my dreams of having several children, but in a way I never dreamed of before!My husband and I are in the process of becoming foster parents.We expect our first foster baby sometime in October.You can read more about our decision to become foster parents at http://www.positivelyfeminine.org/maternal/aw/foster.htm

I would encourage all the young women who still have those desires to serve orphans to first of all cultivate their homemaking skills, especially organization and child care.Then, with their parents’ permission, find a foster family to bless.Foster families are under tremendous stress, from within (these children have serious baggage) and from without (government regulations, non-understanding friends and family, etc.).And they desperately need help. I recently read of one woman who showed up at the front door of a foster family and took all of their laundry – weekly – to the laundry mat, did it all in 3 hours, and returned it all dried and folded.The family called her the “Laundry Angel.” What a blessing!

I would also encourage young women to pray that their future husbands would have a tender heart toward orphans.Maybe even consider becoming a foster family themselves, after they get married.There are over 500,000 foster children in the US alone.The numbers worldwide are staggering.There are millions of Christians world-wide.If 1 family in 10 took just one orphan, the impact world-wide would be nothing short of revolutionary.

One doesn’t need to go to the ends of the earth to find an orphan to bless.I’ve found that they are right here in my own hometown, and they need me and my family to love them.The dream has been resurrected, and I’m more excited than ever, waiting to see what God will do in our family.And I prefer the climate in Indiana much more than the climate in Africa!

For more ideas on blessing orphans, please read:http://www.familylifetoday.com/hopefororphans/TenWays_inside.pdf

Blessings on you and your ministry,Anni WelborneWest Lafayette, IN

The next newsletter is attached as a pdf and the text follows this note. To see the pictures you will need to open the pdf.

God bless,Genevieve

Monday, 24 September 2007Dear Girls,

Is She a Lady?

We often give the title of lady to those who do not deserve it. A lady is a woman who is honourable, truthful, refined; who regards the comfort of others before her own; who never forgets how important little courtesies are to the happiness of life; who is loyal to her friends and never betrays a trust; who scorns to think a mean thought or speak a mean word or perform a mean act; who reverences age, protects weakness, and maintains her own womanly self-respect.

~ Taken from The Girls Own Annual, 1896For the Greater Glory of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

Genevieve SmithIssacharian Daughter

Notes: I have sent this email to girls who have embraced a vision of victorious daughterhood as well as those who may be thinking about doing so (and even to some girls who may just like some encouragement regarding different areas of home life). Some of the girls are in the USA, UK, Australia and other parts of the world. Most are in New Zealand. You are welcome to forward this email on to others so long as you do so in its entirety. If you do not want to receive these emails please just send a return email to me stating that fact. If you know of other girls who would be encouraged by receiving these emails, feel free to forward the email to them or send me their email address. Locations of visitors to this page

Issacharian Daughters – ID056

pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID056- click on link below for correct layout and photos

id056-beautiful-words.pdf

Monday, 17 September 2007

Dear Girls,

Beautiful words

Will you marry me? Will you be my wife?

These beautiful words were spoken to me on Thursday, 18 September 2007 on a bridge overlooking a little stream which flowed behind a little white church built in 1895.

They were responded to on my part with some other words,??I would love to marry you! Yes. I will be your wife. ??

You can see the bridge in the picture above where my fiancé, Pete de Deugd, proposed to me.

More Beautiful Words Our world doesn’t understand love or romance and this is evident in the words they use. But we Christians have every reason to truly understand these concepts and rejoice in the use of these beautiful words which are somewhat old-fashioned but pure and that speak of all that is good and right.

AdmirerNoun: a man who is attracted by a particular woman; someone who esteems or respects or approves.

Verb (admire): to regard with wonder, pleasure, or approval.

Beau

Noun: Attendant suitor of a lady.

BelovedAdjective: greatly loved; dear to the heart. Noun: a person who is greatly loved.

ChaperoneNoun: protector.

CherishVerb: to treat with affection and tenderness; hold dear.

DarlingNoun: a special loved one; a lovable person; one that is greatly liked or preferred; a favourite.

DearestAdjective: precious in one’s regard; cherished; heartfelt; earnest. Noun: a beloved person; used as terms of endearment.

FiancéNoun: a person to whom one is engaged to be married.

IntendedNoun (informal): the person one plans to marry.

SmittenAdjective: Very much in love.

SuitorNoun: a man who courts or woos a woman. An old word for a man who tries to gain the love of a woman.

WooVerb: to seek the favour, affection, or love of, esp. with a view to marriage; to seek to win.

For the Greater Glory of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

Genevieve SmithIssacharian Daughter

Notes:

I have sent this email to girls who have embraced a vision of victorious daughterhood as well as those who may be thinking about doing so (and even to some girls who may just like some encouragement regarding different areas of home life). Some of the girls are in the USA, UK, Australia and other parts of the world. Most are in New Zealand. You are welcome to forward this email on to others so long as you do so in its entirety. If you do not want to receive these emails please just send a return email to me stating that fact. If you know of other girls who would be encouraged by receiving these emails, feel free to forward the email to them or send me their email address.Locations of visitors to this page

Issacharian Daughters – ID055

pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID053 – click on link below for correct layout and photos

id055-responses-to-cant-my-husband-be-my-helper.pdf

Dear Girls,

Official notice

The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007 came into effect last week. To ensure that we comply with the requirements of this Act, we are sending you this email.

You are receiving this message because youaccepted an invitation toreceive email communications fromIssacharian Daughters.

If you no longer wish to receive email communications from us, simplyclickyour “reply” button and write,”unsubscribe”in the subject line.

If you would like to continue to receive email communications from us, you do not need to take any action.

If you decide to unsubscribe in the future, you are able to do so at any time.

Book recommendations

I have sent out many lists of book recommendations and each time have most sadly neglected to tell you all about one of the best book recommendation lists I have seen! A dear friend of mine, Amber Moeller, compiled this list. She has a wonderful website, and after you’ve looked at the list of books I’d recommend you have a little snoop in other corners of the website. One thing you might find very valuable is that Amber has typed up and has available to read on her website some old, out of print books which make for excellent reading. So see if you can find those! http://www.beingvirtuouswomen.com/cms/bvw_shelf/bookworm_corner/

From the Mallon family

My sisters and I have a few book recommendations. Love, Erin Mallon

Mathematics: Is God Silent? by James Nickel (I love to plan how I could best teach my children in the future and this book has helped me to prepare for that. I have also had a lot of trouble with math, and this book is so beautiful. The history is fascinating.)

To Have and To Hold by Mary Johnston (the Quadricentennial edition from Vision Forum. Don’t read ahead! Go straight from cover to cover. I could hardly put it down!)

From the Kitchen of Two Sisters by Danielle and Lindsay Voeller (They have new last names now :)?? this is one of the yummiest cookbooks!)

My younger sister, Sarah (14), recommends the GA Henty collection. One of her favourites is Winning His Spurs. She just finished David Copperfield and Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens. It is incredible how much more beautiful a story becomes when you see it with a Biblical worldview. Dombey and Son is the story of a faithful daughter.

Emily, the non-fiction treasure hunter in my family, has two great books which she says, “Taught me to sew.”Emilyis able to explain how clothes are masculine or feminine by their tailoring and cut.

The Complete Encyclopaedia of Stitchery by Mildred Graves Ryan

The Complete Book of Tailoring by Adele P. Margolis.

From Ruth in New Zealand

Dr. Ida by Dorothy Clarke Wilson. A biography of a brilliant woman missionary doctor in India.

Take My Hands by Mary Clarke Wilson. A biography of Mary Vergese, a student of Dr. Ida Scudder. She too was a missionary doctor in India, even though she was a paraplegic.

Helen Keller

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. An autobiography of Corrie Ten Boom.

Serving The Good And The Great by Mary Batchelor. A biography of Violet Liddle, a girl who dreamed of being a missionary in China but instead became a maid for famous people like Winston Churchill during the Second World War.

As you can see I like reading biographies!!! Bye!

Letters

In response to ID049?? It is SO Worth It!

??Thank you for your testimony, Genevieve! What a story that will be told as generations come from you! God bless you and the young man who is courting you! We’ll keep watching to see how and where our Lord leads. He is SO real and your transparency, patience, godly example and faith help gird us on.

Mrs. Pamela Marshall ??

In response to ID054 – Sisters, What Is Our Vision?

That newsletter was brilliant!!! Thanks Genevieve! I can’t wait until I’m a mum (if I become one – which I really hope I will!!!). Ruth

This week’s newsletter is attached as a pdf and the text follows this note.

Warm regards,Genevieve Smith Monday, 3 September 2007Dear Girls,

SisterS, What is our Vision?

An Issacharian Daughter kindly agreed that I could share her testimony with you all. She tells a little about herself and then gives her testimony. My name is Mary Daniels. I am 21 years old, and the youngest of my parents’ six children. I have three older sisters and two older brothers. I live in Beechgrove, Tennesee, with my sister and her wonderful family. I moved here from Texas at the beginning of February 2007. The Lord has blessed me richly with the opportunity to help my sister while learning homemaking skills at the same time. We stay busy being keepers of our home. It has been my pleasure to help her homeschool her two boys, go grocery shopping, clean house, cook tasty meals from our garden, go for walks and discuss topics from the Word of God.

I enjoy greatly the blessing of being able to invest time into my precious nephews as well as my new niece who was born June 4, 2007. There are constantly opportunities at my home to swing a little boy, jump on a trampoline, make up a fairy-tale, read a story, throw a baseball, hit a golf ball or rock a lovely little girl while singing her a song. I even find it hard at times to get away to have some time to read; but I’m not complaining, I’m blessed, so blessed! I wouldn’t trade this season of life God has me in right now for anything. I value every moment, I cherish every second! These children are valuable, their lives are eternal; it is my pleasure to invest time into them each day.

The Lord has blessed me with a different ministry through the month of August 2007. I have had the opportunity to stay with Nancy Campbell to help with her encouraging ministry to women: Above Rubies. It has been so wonderful getting to meet other like-minded girls who have also come to help. It has been a pleasure getting to know Mrs. Campbell and how she runs her ministry.

I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for my life as He trains me for the journey of being a Titus 2 woman:??to love my husband, to love my children, to be discreet, chaste, homemaker, good, obedient to my own husband, that the word of God may not be blasphemed ?? (Titus 2:4-5).

Testimony: Sisters, What Is Our Vision? ??So where will you be attending college? ????What are your plans for this fall? ????Have you enrolled in classes yet? ????When are you moving out on your own? ?? Do these questions sound familiar? I used to be bothered by these questions all throughout my senior year of high school. I would scream inside,??Stop asking me that! I can’t stand the idea of going off to college, and when you ask me that, it makes me feel horrible. ?? I had little to no hope. I didn’t know what to do with my life. I didn’t know where to picture myself even one year in the future. What was I supposed to do? What would happen to me? I was so scared; I desperately needed vision and I had none.

I grew up in a small town in Texas the youngest of my parent’s six children. We attended a Southern Baptist church nearly every Sunday morning. I love my parents greatly, and I know it was and is important to them that their children know the Lord. However, I was not raised with the same Biblical mindset that I believe God has recently, in His grace, taught me and caused me to embrace.

I attended public school from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Even so, I absolutely could not stand the thought of going off to college after graduation, but I felt pressure coming from everywhere. I often got the message that I needed to??do something with my life and make something successful of myself, ?? so I tried to think of??noble ?? things I could do besides go to college. I wanted to be used as God’s vessel; I wanted to bring Him glory, but how? After a few short-term mission trips and prayer, I truly felt God giving me a burden for orphans and to become a mother to the motherless. I looked into doing long-term mission work after high school, but the Lord did not allow me to go down this path, I didn’t understand why at the time; I just knew He was sovereign and I needed to trust Him. Confused about what God wanted with my life, I moved in with my great-grandmother and got a job as a teller at a local bank. After working there for ten months, the pressure that I felt was coming from family, friends, co-workers and even acquaintances to??go to college, become successful and make money, ?? was too much for me to bear. I felt worthless, like I would never be anything great without a college degree and a successful career. I felt like I would die a poor homeless woman if I didn’t have the??security ?? of a college degree. So, I went to college. I thought I would become a registered nurse.??At least then I could help people, and it would be of great use if the Lord ever did allow me to be a missionary, ?? I would think. I was glad, at least, that the people in my life seemed pleased with my decision. However, I can honestly say that the four months (one semester) I attended college were, by far, the most miserable four months of my life. I knew that??all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose ?? (Romans 8:28), but at the time I had no peace whatsoever; I was so anxious and worried. I would cry out to God:??Please help me; I’m desperate, I’m scared, I don’t know what to do Father! I need you to rescue me; there must be some other way! ?? I began to confide in my older sisters. They shared with me all that the Holy Spirit had been revealing to them. We spent hours upon hours discussing what the Word of God had to say about God’s calling for women verses what our culture, and even many churches, say is wisest. I felt like the million-pound brick I had been pulling around was lifted off of me. Indeed, His??yoke is easy, ?? and His??burden is light ?? (Matthew 11:30).

Over the Christmas holiday my sister, Tess, gave me several of Doug Phillips’ sermons on CD and the book, So Much More, by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin. This was such a refreshing time that just confirmed everything the Lord had been teaching me. I was so thankful that God used His children to show me at such a crucial time in my life that it was okay not to chase after the world’s standards for success. I had never been told this before. I knew in my mind that the Word of God said,??And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God ?? (Romans 12:2). However, before I was told not going to college was okay, it was very hard to put behind me what I had always been taught was??true success. ?? What freedom truth brings!

So now what? I wanted out of college, and I desired greatly to live with family, like-minded family, where I could help and learn. Proverbs 31:12 says, speaking of how a wife can bless her husband,??She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ?? Living with a family who had the same vision as mine would help me to learn how to be a Proverbs 31 woman now to be better prepared to help my husband, God willing, in the future. It makes more sense for a young lady to invest her time into learning this instead of investing time into a college degree. Even though I had this vision in mind (by the grace of God, nothing from myself), I still needed to bring my heart and concerns to my parents. God has taught me the importance of honoring them (Exodus 20:12) and as a result, I desired the blessing of my wonderful father. However, being the shy and quiet person that I have a tendency to be, I thought I would be able to explain everything the Lord had been teaching me best if I wrote him a letter. I was up until the wee-hours of the morning on New Year’s Eve (2006) writing my Dad a several page letter pouring everything out before him, explaining to him my burdens, my heart and my God-given desire to be a Titus 2 woman and simply follow what Christ has called me to as a young woman and not what my culture says I must be. I asked him if he would give me his blessing not to return to college and instead move in with my like-minded sister and her family. She was homeschooling her two boys and due to have a little girl in just a few short months. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to help and learn. By the hand of God, and my father being the understanding and loving person that he is, I received his blessing. After I went and stayed with him for a few days to talk with him in person, he helped move me to Tennessee to live with my sister, Charisa, at the beginning of February 2007. I have been here filled with peace and totally content ever since. I feel so blessed, oh so blessed! Jesus has done exceedingly abundantly above all that I asked or thought (Ephesians 3:20).

God has been teaching me so much about homeschooling, adoption, children, homemaking, waiting patiently on His best for a husband; and the best part is that it is all for His glory! He has shown me how corrupt and godless our public schools are and how much He has been involved in the homeschooling of His children. I can’t imagine sending my children off to a godless, government run public school system for eight hours a day to be raised and educated by complete strangers. It is God’s heart for parents to walk with their children, invest time into their children and constantly be speaking the Word of God to their children all day long (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). This is not possible when children are dropped off at school while their mother spends eight hours a day investing her time into her career and not her children. Nor can we be the helpmeets God created us for (Genesis 2:18) to our husbands if we do not focus our time and energy on helping him and serving him as Proverbs 31 women. God has already revealed to us, as women, what is pleasing to Him to consume our time. We are called to bear children, raise children, serve and help our husbands in whatever God has called him to, and make our home a welcoming place for all who enter it. This, if done on the behalf on God, blesses His heart. And as His children, it is our blessing, pleasure and joy to please Christ!

One Bible verse that I find so encouraging is Genesis 24:60 which says, “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.” I know this was spoken to a woman who actually did become “the mother of thousands of millions” by God birthing the great nation and people of Israel through her descendants. However, I think it is still very significant to us today (even if a nation isn’t birthed through our descendants) to see that they blessed Rebekah by declaring motherhood over her; it is, indeed, a blessing. I hope that God would bless us, today,to become mothersof many, for His glory. I find much encouragement through this verse; it thrills me actually. Even if we don’t literally become the mothers of thousands of millions, we still see a glimpse of the heart of God through this verse; my prayer is that until the return of Christ we, His children, would have descendants in every generation that would stand up for righteousness! Who knows how many descendants this would be, possibly several thousands. My prayer is that the Bride of Christ would begin to think generational and not, out of selfishness, of just their own short life on earth. Children/people are eternal, and any present struggle is only temporary.God is the creator of life. May the Lord be the Lord over our wombs, and our minds, for His glory. If everything is not for His glory, everything is in vain (Ecclesiastes).

So now I ask, sisters, what is our vision? God’s vision for His people is much greater than us blindly walking down the path our culture has laid out before us. We don’t have to conform!??God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ?? ?? (1 Corinthians 1:27). By the grace of God I have been blessed with vision, vision from the Scriptures, vision of older women admonishing the younger women??to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed ?? (Titus 2:4-5). For the glory of His name, Jesus has given me this vision for family, children, homemaking and being a helpmeet to my future husband so??he will have no lack of gain ?? (Proverbs 31:11).

“Where there is no vision, the people perish… ?? Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Mary welcomes your emails. You can contact her at marydaniels14@hotmail.com.

For the Greater Glory of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

Genevieve SmithIssacharian Daughter

Notes: I have sent this email to girls who have embraced a vision of victorious daughterhood as well as those who may be thinking about doing so (and even to some girls who may just like some encouragement regarding different areas of home life). Some of the girls are in the USA, UK, Australia and other parts of the world. Most are in New Zealand. You are welcome to forward this email on to others so long as you do so in its entirety. If you do not want to receive these emails please just send a return email to me stating that fact. If you know of other girls who would be encouraged by receiving these emails, feel free to forward the email to them or send me their email address. Locations of visitors to this page

Issacharian Daughters – ID054

pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID054 – click on link below for correct layout and photos

id054-sisters-what-is-our-vision.pdf

Dear Girls,

I’ve had some more great correspondence this week:

Announcement!

The Return of the Daughters film documentary being produced by Anna and Elizabeth Botkin, authors of So Much More has been completed and will be released shortly. To view a trailer for the film go to the first link and to see some of the footage which couldn’t be included in the documentary (but which is fantastic!) visit the second link:

http://visionarydaughters.com/return-of-the-daughters/

http://visionarydaughters.com/2007/08/return-of-the-daughters-update-1

Introduction
Dear Genevieve,

Thank you for your encouraging words on being a help and support for our fathers while we are at home.

My father works a government office job, so helping him at home by tending to the garden or taking care of our farm animals is often the best way to free him up to rest or do something else that he enjoys. Lately, I’ve been looking for more ways to help him in the little things – things like changing his shoe laces or polishing his shoes – and by doing this I feel that it is one more way to show him how much I appreciate the hard work he puts into his job. Often when Dad is at home working on a project, he may not need my help at the moment, but I’ve found that by just being there with him and chatting with him is what he wants even more. I am blessed that God has placed me in a family where my parents have encouraged me to stay at home and focus my time and talents on family and serving others.May God bless you Genevieve as you embark on this courtship. I’ll be keeping you both in my prayers. In Christ,Heather

Waverly Hall, Georgia, USA

Helping Father Testimony
Hi there! My name is Narelle. I’m 31 years old, the second of six children, all homeschooled.I’m the only one home now.My dad and I have done four Operation Christmas Child presentations together this month, with other bookings to local churches/schools/clubs flooding in. I am so enjoying working with my dad. It’s more than decade since I was involved in any family ministry (I have a chronic illness). When Mum and I help with these presentations, I give the closing comments and sing “My Child,” accompanied by Mum.I treasure a comment Dad made when we got homeafter one such presentation.He said that the last time he gave a presentation by himself,he got to the closing comments and he realized he hadn’t figured out how to draw it to a conclusion because I usually do that. He missed me! And he said he really likes the way I sing.Those comments coming from my dad meant a huge amount to me.To know that he values me, that I’m useful to him, and the joy of working together in harmony is a priceless blessing.

Narelle really does have a lovely voice. If you want to hear a clip of her singing visit Songuine at www.songuine.blogspot.com .

More Book Recommendations!

Genevieve,

Thank you for another encouraging newsletter. I am excited to have new book recommendations. Here are a few other titles that I think are also the cream of the crop and excellent books.

12 The Hope Chest: A Legacy of Love by Rebekah Wilson

24 Letters to a Daughter by W.B. Sprague

24 Fathers and Daughters by David and Elysse Barrett

24, 31 Before you Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally

29 Daughters of Destiny by Noelle Wheeler Goforth

Books by Nancy Leigh DeMoss are excellent. I would highly, highly reccommend these four books:

4, 5 Surrender by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

4, 5 Holiness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

4, 5 Brokenness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

4, 5 Choosing Forgiveness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

I am always looking for good books. Thank you for publishing Issacharian Daughters.Serving Christ,Emily Prouty

Dear Genevieve,Thanks for the awesome newsletters about books! I have a few that you couldadd to the list, all of them are full of Godly morals and they are greatreads.

20 Viking Quest: Raiders from the Sea by Lois Walfrid Johnson

20 Viking Quest: Mystery of the Silver Coins by Lois Walfrid Johnson

20 Viking Quest: The Invisible Friend by Lois Walfrid Johnson

20 Viking Quest: Heart of Courage by Lois Walfrid Johnson

20 Viking Quest: Raider’s Promise by Lois Walfrid Johnson

All the Viking Quest books are a story about a girl who gets kidnapped by Viking raiders and she must learn to love her captors and to trust God with her future, these are brilliant historical fiction adventure books that are great for kids, young ladies, and young men, the whole family will enjoy them. Once I started reading them I just couldn’t put them down!

I would also like to recommend these books:

20 Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard

20 Mountains of Spices by Hannah Hurnard

These two are biblical allegories that encourage and challenge to have virtues such as longsuffering with joy and other good things. The first one is about a young woman who decides to embark on the journey to the high places and kingdom of love in the service of the shepherd. The second one is about how she goes back to her homeland and shares the good news of the shepherd, king, and everlasting love to her relatives and friends.

I love reading all these books and have read them many times over.

With Love,From Bethany

Dear Genevieve,

A few books I would recommend are as follows:

10 Rejuvenate Your Life by Serene Allison

10 Daniel’s Diet by Phillip Bridgeman

26 Above Rubies – edited by Nancy Campbell (magazine for mothers, but very inspiring, none the less)

Thanks, Kedesh xox

Book Categories
You will notice that the books above have numbers in front of them. These are the category numbers so you can get a general idea of the sort of book that is being recommended. Feel free to send in your book recommendations. I may be able to use them and email out more lists in the future. 1 Theology, 2 History, 3 Child Training, 4 Christian living, 5 Relationship with God, 6 Christian Devotion, 7 Worldviews, 8 Creation, 9 Church History, 10 Homemaking, 11 Home education, 12 Marriage, 13 Reconstruction, 14 Theonomy, 15 Dominion, 16 Social commentary, 17 Public speaking/conversation, 18 Skill Building, 19 Logic, 20 Wholesome fiction, 21 Poetry, 22 Bible, Commentary/Helps/Aids/Hermeneutics, 23 Law, 24 Daughterhood, 25 Women’s Role/Womanhood, 26 Motherhood/Wifehood, 27 Man’s Role/Manhood, 28 Children’s Books, 29 Biography, 30 Doctrine, 31 Courtship.

Thanks so much girls for your emails! The next newsletter is attached as a pdf and the text from the newsletter follows this note.

Regards,GenevieveMonday, 3 September 2007Dear Girls,

SisterS, What is our Vision?

An Issacharian Daughter kindly agreed that I could share her testimony with you all. She tells a little about herself and then gives her testimony.

My name is Mary Daniels. I am 21 years old, and the youngest of my parents’ six children. I have three older sisters and two older brothers. I live in Beechgrove, Tennesee, with my sister and her wonderful family. I moved here from Texas at the beginning of February 2007. The Lord has blessed me richly with the opportunity to help my sister while learning homemaking skills at the same time. We stay busy being keepers of our home. It has been my pleasure to help her homeschool her two boys, go grocery shopping, clean house, cook tasty meals from our garden, go for walks and discuss topics from the Word of God.

I enjoy greatly the blessing of being able to invest time into my precious nephews as well as my new niece who was born June 4, 2007. There are constantly opportunities at my home to swing a little boy, jump on a trampoline, make up a fairy-tale, read a story, throw a baseball, hit a golf ball or rock a lovely little girl while singing her a song. I even find it hard at times to get away to have some time to read; but I’m not complaining, I’m blessed, so blessed! I wouldn’t trade this season of life God has me in right now for anything. I value every moment, I cherish every second! These children are valuable, their lives are eternal; it is my pleasure to invest time into them each day.

The Lord has blessed me with a different ministry through the month of August 2007. I have had the opportunity to stay with Nancy Campbell to help with her encouraging ministry to women: Above Rubies. It has been so wonderful getting to meet other like-minded girls who have also come to help. It has been a pleasure getting to know Mrs. Campbell and how she runs her ministry.

I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for my life as He trains me for the journey of being a Titus 2 woman:??to love my husband, to love my children, to be discreet, chaste, homemaker, good, obedient to my own husband, that the word of God may not be blasphemed ?? (Titus 2:4-5).

Testimony: Sisters, What Is Our Vision? ??So where will you be attending college? ????What are your plans for this fall? ????Have you enrolled in classes yet? ????When are you moving out on your own? ?? Do these questions sound familiar? I used to be bothered by these questions all throughout my senior year of high school. I would scream inside,??Stop asking me that! I can’t stand the idea of going off to college, and when you ask me that, it makes me feel horrible. ?? I had little to no hope. I didn’t know what to do with my life. I didn’t know where to picture myself even one year in the future. What was I supposed to do? What would happen to me? I was so scared; I desperately needed vision and I had none.

I grew up in a small town in Texas the youngest of my parent’s six children. We attended a Southern Baptist church nearly every Sunday morning. I love my parents greatly, and I know it was and is important to them that their children know the Lord. However, I was not raised with the same Biblical mindset that I believe God has recently, in His grace, taught me and caused me to embrace.

I attended public school from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Even so, I absolutely could not stand the thought of going off to college after graduation, but I felt pressure coming from everywhere. I often got the message that I needed to??do something with my life and make something successful of myself, ?? so I tried to think of??noble ?? things I could do besides go to college. I wanted to be used as God’s vessel; I wanted to bring Him glory, but how? After a few short-term mission trips and prayer, I truly felt God giving me a burden for orphans and to become a mother to the motherless. I looked into doing long-term mission work after high school, but the Lord did not allow me to go down this path, I didn’t understand why at the time; I just knew He was sovereign and I needed to trust Him. Confused about what God wanted with my life, I moved in with my great-grandmother and got a job as a teller at a local bank. After working there for ten months, the pressure that I felt was coming from family, friends, co-workers and even acquaintances to??go to college, become successful and make money, ?? was too much for me to bear. I felt worthless, like I would never be anything great without a college degree and a successful career. I felt like I would die a poor homeless woman if I didn’t have the??security ?? of a college degree. So, I went to college. I thought I would become a registered nurse.??At least then I could help people, and it would be of great use if the Lord ever did allow me to be a missionary, ?? I would think. I was glad, at least, that the people in my life seemed pleased with my decision. However, I can honestly say that the four months (one semester) I attended college were, by far, the most miserable four months of my life. I knew that??all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose ?? (Romans 8:28), but at the time I had no peace whatsoever; I was so anxious and worried. I would cry out to God:??Please help me; I’m desperate, I’m scared, I don’t know what to do Father! I need you to rescue me; there must be some other way! ?? I began to confide in my older sisters. They shared with me all that the Holy Spirit had been revealing to them. We spent hours upon hours discussing what the Word of God had to say about God’s calling for women verses what our culture, and even many churches, say is wisest. I felt like the million-pound brick I had been pulling around was lifted off of me. Indeed, His??yoke is easy, ?? and His??burden is light ?? (Matthew 11:30).

Over the Christmas holiday my sister, Tess, gave me several of Doug Phillips’ sermons on CD and the book, So Much More, by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin. This was such a refreshing time that just confirmed everything the Lord had been teaching me. I was so thankful that God used His children to show me at such a crucial time in my life that it was okay not to chase after the world’s standards for success. I had never been told this before. I knew in my mind that the Word of God said,??And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God ?? (Romans 12:2). However, before I was told not going to college was okay, it was very hard to put behind me what I had always been taught was??true success. ?? What freedom truth brings!

So now what? I wanted out of college, and I desired greatly to live with family, like-minded family, where I could help and learn. Proverbs 31:12 says, speaking of how a wife can bless her husband,??She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ?? Living with a family who had the same vision as mine would help me to learn how to be a Proverbs 31 woman now to be better prepared to help my husband, God willing, in the future. It makes more sense for a young lady to invest her time into learning this instead of investing time into a college degree. Even though I had this vision in mind (by the grace of God, nothing from myself), I still needed to bring my heart and concerns to my parents. God has taught me the importance of honoring them (Exodus 20:12) and as a result, I desired the blessing of my wonderful father. However, being the shy and quiet person that I have a tendency to be, I thought I would be able to explain everything the Lord had been teaching me best if I wrote him a letter. I was up until the wee-hours of the morning on New Year’s Eve (2006) writing my Dad a several page letter pouring everything out before him, explaining to him my burdens, my heart and my God-given desire to be a Titus 2 woman and simply follow what Christ has called me to as a young woman and not what my culture says I must be. I asked him if he would give me his blessing not to return to college and instead move in with my like-minded sister and her family. She was homeschooling her two boys and due to have a little girl in just a few short months. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to help and learn. By the hand of God, and my father being the understanding and loving person that he is, I received his blessing. After I went and stayed with him for a few days to talk with him in person, he helped move me to Tennessee to live with my sister, Charisa, at the beginning of February 2007. I have been here filled with peace and totally content ever since. I feel so blessed, oh so blessed! Jesus has done exceedingly abundantly above all that I asked or thought (Ephesians 3:20).

God has been teaching me so much about homeschooling, adoption, children, homemaking, waiting patiently on His best for a husband; and the best part is that it is all for His glory! He has shown me how corrupt and godless our public schools are and how much He has been involved in the homeschooling of His children. I can’t imagine sending my children off to a godless, government run public school system for eight hours a day to be raised and educated by complete strangers. It is God’s heart for parents to walk with their children, invest time into their children and constantly be speaking the Word of God to their children all day long (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). This is not possible when children are dropped off at school while their mother spends eight hours a day investing her time into her career and not her children. Nor can we be the helpmeets God created us for (Genesis 2:18) to our husbands if we do not focus our time and energy on helping him and serving him as Proverbs 31 women. God has already revealed to us, as women, what is pleasing to Him to consume our time. We are called to bear children, raise children, serve and help our husbands in whatever God has called him to, and make our home a welcoming place for all who enter it. This, if done on the behalf on God, blesses His heart. And as His children, it is our blessing, pleasure and joy to please Christ!

One Bible verse that I find so encouraging is Genesis 24:60 which says, “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.” I know this was spoken to a woman who actually did become “the mother of thousands of millions” by God birthing the great nation and people of Israel through her descendants. However, I think it is still very significant to us today (even if a nation isn’t birthed through our descendants) to see that they blessed Rebekah by declaring motherhood over her; it is, indeed, a blessing. I hope that God would bless us, today,to become mothersof many, for His glory. I find much encouragement through this verse; it thrills me actually. Even if we don’t literally become the mothers of thousands of millions, we still see a glimpse of the heart of God through this verse; my prayer is that until the return of Christ we, His children, would have descendants in every generation that would stand up for righteousness! Who knows how many descendants this would be, possibly several thousands. My prayer is that the Bride of Christ would begin to think generational and not, out of selfishness, of just their own short life on earth. Children/people are eternal, and any present struggle is only temporary.God is the creator of life. May the Lord be the Lord over our wombs, and our minds, for His glory. If everything is not for His glory, everything is in vain (Ecclesiastes).

So now I ask, sisters, what is our vision? God’s vision for His people is much greater than us blindly walking down the path our culture has laid out before us. We don’t have to conform!??God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ?? ?? (1 Corinthians 1:27). By the grace of God I have been blessed with vision, vision from the Scriptures, vision of older women admonishing the younger women??to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed ?? (Titus 2:4-5). For the glory of His name, Jesus has given me this vision for family, children, homemaking and being a helpmeet to my future husband so??he will have no lack of gain ?? (Proverbs 31:11).

“Where there is no vision, the people perish… ?? Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

Mary welcomes your emails. You can contact her at marydaniels14@hotmail.com.

For the Greater Glory of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,Genevieve SmithIssacharian Daughter

Notes:

I have sent this email to girls who have embraced a vision of victorious daughterhood as well as those who may be thinking about doing so (and even to some girls who may just like some encouragement regarding different areas of home life). Some of the girls are in the USA, UK, Australia and other parts of the world. Most are in New Zealand. You are welcome to forward this email on to others so long as you do so in its entirety. If you do not want to receive these emails please just send a return email to me stating that fact. If you know of other girls who would be encouraged by receiving these emails, feel free to forward the email to them or send me their email address.

Locations of visitors to this page

Issacharian Daughters – ID053

pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID053 – click on link below for correct layout and photos

id053-cant-my-husband-be-my-helper.pdf

Dear Girls,

I’ve had some wonderful communications from you this week:

Letters regarding Kedesh’s testimony in ID051?? Christian Romance Novels
Hi. I was greatly encouraged by Kedesh’s Testimony about the Christian romance novels. I have recently been convicted about them but like Kedesh, struggled to submit them to the Lord. I find Issacharian Daughters a good encouragement to me also. Thank you again. Courtney Silvester.

Dear Genevieve,A few weeks ago I had been discerning whether or not to stop reading romantic novels. This issue came at just the right time to remind me that I must do what I ought do; that is, to not read those anymore. It is very hard, but with prayer, I hope to get better at resisting them. I think that it’s a wonderful blessing that this is the second time that one of your newsletters dealt upon something I have been struggling with. It is so very nice to know that I am not the only one, and read about the experiences of others. Thanks so much and God bless you,Lisa Marie

Book recommendations from other Issacharian Daughters
It is always good to exercise caution with book and media recommendations. So, as with the books I recommended, I would advise you to look these up on the internet to read descriptions of them or talk with your parents about them before deciding to track them down and read them yourselves. With that said, here they are!

From Angela Robb

4, 5, 6 The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges

4, 5, 6 The Practice of Godliness by Jerry bridges

10 Square foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew

20 The Princess and the Goblin by George Macdonald

20 The Princess and Curdie by George Macdonald

20 Sir Gibbie by George Macdonald

20, 24 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

20 Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott

20 Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

20, 26, 27 Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott

20 All the Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis

From Rebecca Whitaker

4 The Way of the Master by Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort. I recently did this course and read the book and it is the most incredible and amazing evangelism book I’ve ever read! It has given me the tools to share my faith effectively.

4, 25 Lady in Waiting by Jackie Kendall and Debby Jones. This is a book,journal and study guide all in one. It is a study of Ruth and the nine characteristics we should develop as women – no matter what stage we are in life. The thing I love about this book is that it is not just for ‘singles.’ A woman of any age can read it. It is a fantastic resource and working through it has really helped me develop a much deeper quiet time with God.

That is a couple from me… perhaps you could also mention many of these Christian books can be found second hand or at a cheaper price on www.trademe.co.nz

From Lydia Wilwerding

2 (American History) The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel

2, 25, 26 Marriage to a Difficult Man by Elisabeth D. Dodds

3 To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl

4, 24, 25, 26 Female Piety by John Angell James

5, 6 Heaven Opened correspondence of Mary Winslow

10, 25, 26 True Womanhood from The Parables

10 Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon

10 Whole Foods for the Whole Family by L.L.L.

10 Tightwad Gazette I, II, and III by Amy Dacyczyn (frugal living)

10, 18 Joy of Gardening by Dick Raymond

20 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Book Categories
You will notice that the books above have numbers in front of them. These are the category numbers so you can get a general idea of the sort of book that is being recommended. Feel free to send in your book recommendations. I may be able to use them and email out more lists in the future.

1 Theology, 2 History, 3 Child Training, 4 Christian living, 5 Relationship with God, 6 Christian Devotion, 7 Worldviews, 8 Creation, 9 Church History, 10 Homemaking, 11 Home education, 12 Marriage, 13 Reconstruction, 14 Theonomy, 15 Dominion, 16 Social commentary, 17 Public speaking/conversation, 18 Skill Building, 19 Logic, 20 Wholesome fiction, 21 Poetry, 22 Bible Commentary/Helps/Aids/Hermeneutics, 23 Law, 24 Daughterhood, 25 Women’s Role/Womanhood, 26 Motherhood/Wifehood, 27 Man’s Role/Manhood, 28 Children’s Books, 29 Biography, 30 Doctrine, 31 Courtship.

Thanks so much girls for your emails! The next newsletter is attached as a pdf and the text from the newsletter follows this note.

Regards,GenevieveMonday, 27 August 2007

Dear Girls,

Can’t my husband be my helper?

Hello Genevieve

I was just reading your latest newsletter [ID047 ??I Am an Eve] and it made me wonder, is that all we as females are supposed to be, helpers to our husbands and our fathers?? I want to be a missionary and my future husband will have to fit in with my plans as I want to start a school in Africa and teach the kids there. Am I supposed to give up my dream to follow my husband’s dream, or is he allowed to be my helper and help me fulfil what I believe God has called me to be??

Thank you for the newsletters,

Your Sister in Christ

??Sarah ??

Dear Sarah,

Thanks for your email and your open and honest questions. They are good questions, too and touch on concepts which are vitally important to understand.

May I ask you a question? If you knew that God wanted you to do something however small, would you be willing to do it?

I sense that you would. I sense that you are the sort of girl who wants to glorify God and help Him extend His kingdom! This is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

May I share a little secret with you? I once had the dream of going to Africa and starting up an orphanage.

Somewhere along the line I gave this dream up to God. I knew I had done so when an elder lady asked me onetime if I was thinking of going on the mission field. I answered that I saw my calling as helping my dad to be successful and one day it would be to help my husband be successful. If my dad wanted to go onto the mission field or my husband one day in the future, then I’d gladly follow them and help them in that endeavour, but I said that I wasn’t thinking myself of going onto the mission field.

I was really surprised when this 69 year old women reached over, squeezed my hand and said, “If only more girls thought like you.” That is not the usual response to what I believe. And that is because our world is always telling us that we ought to do what we want to do. That we should pursue our own thing and seek to satisfy and fulfil ourselves. Because of this, people usually don’t understand when I or others try to cast a vision for what God would have us do?? for what His calling is on our lives.

In between when I first felt the desire to set up an orphanage in Africa and when I traded that desire for God’s far better plan, I had a lot to learn. God taught me about why He created men and women and what our respective roles are. To put it simply, God created Adam and gave him a job (to take dominion). But He saw that this arrangement was not good. So He created Eve and gave her to Adam as a helper and as a companion. This arrangement was pronounced by God as being good! Eve was to be a helper to Adam and a companion for the purpose of being fruitful and multiplying and taking dominion. All this comes out in the Bible in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. As an aside, the great commission in Matthew chapter 28 is simply a re-stating of the dominion mandate. It is given to the Adams of this world, and we Eves are to help our Adams in this task.

Our role as women, Sarah, is to be helpers to the men God has given us to: first our fathers and later our husbands. We are to help them with their vision. It is to turn God’s order and plan upside down to insist that they help us with our vision. An important verse for understanding this is 1 Corinthians 11v8-9 where it says, “For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” God didn’t create men to help us. He created us to help them. God has a very special plan in all this: that a husband and wife would represent Christ and His bride the church. Christ isn’t the church’s helper, but rather the church is Christ’s helper. The church takes on Christ’s vision (as it is outlined in the Word). Christ doesn’t take on the church’s vision. There is more to God’s plan too! It includes children. And it brings glory to God.

God has given men and women separate and distinct roles. These roles don’t make men superior to women. Men and women are equal in dignity and purpose before God. He has simply called them to serve Him in different capacities and has equipped them each differently for these capacities. For men that includes being leaders, initiators, providers, protectors and heads, and for us women it includes being followers, responders, supporters, encouragers, nurturers and being submissive. I have come to realise, for example, what a blessing it is to live under my father’s authority and to have the benefit of his protection. The responsibilities he takes upon himself as my head free me up to love and nurture and not to worry or fear. God sure knows best!

Coming back to my initial question to you: If you knew that God wanted you to do something however small, would you be willing to do it?

You said, “Is that all we as females are supposed to be, helpers to our husbands and fathers?” That is indeed our calling, but that isn’t all. It is through helping our fathers and husbands that we take part in a much bigger work and that is the work of helping Christ. Whatever the Lord has for us isn’t small. If it is what He has specifically for us, it is big. And when it is the Lord’s work it automatically means that we are plugged into something big?? God’s eternal and universal plan?? we just have to be faithful in our little part. So helping fathers/husbands isn’t small, it is our part in God’s eternal and universal plan.

Don’t despise the calling of helping a father or husband. Because it is what God has for us, it makes wiping a baby’s nose more glamorous than walking the red carpet, and it makes serving a hot meal to a hungry family of far greater kingdom significance than starting 50 schools or 50 orphanages in Africa. I’m so glad the Lord taught me this, and I know you will be too.

As an aside, Sarah, may I add that sometimes God places desires in our hearts in order to fulfil them. It might be part of His plan for you to marry a man with the desire to set up schools in Africa. But may I caution you that your role in that case would still be to help your husband to be successful in his calling, not to set up the schools yourself. For more information on this concept, read the Issacharian Daughters newsletter #030, “A Word to Women.” You can find it here: https://hef.org.nz. On the other hand it may be His desire for you to marry a man with a much different vision. If that is the case, Sarah, be an encouragement and a motivator to this man in what the Lord is calling him. Lend him your energy and passion. Let the Lord lead you and call you through your husband and in the meantime, through your father.

God bless you, Sarah, as you seek to serve and glorify our good God and wonderful Heavenly Father. May He make your path clear to you.

With Christian love and affection,

Genevieve

Notes:

I have sent this email to girls who have embraced a vision of victorious daughterhood as well as those who may be thinking about doing so (and even to some girls who may just like some encouragement regarding different areas of home life). Some of the girls are in the USA, UK, Australia and other parts of the world. Most are in New Zealand. You are welcome to forward this email on to others so long as you do so in its entirety. If you do not want to receive these emails please just send a return email to me stating that fact. If you know of other girls who would be encouraged by receiving these emails, feel free to forward the email to them or send me their email address.