pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID052 – click on link below for correct layout and photos

id052-recommended-reading-list.pdf

Monday, 20 August 2007

Dear Girls,

Recommended Reading List

In the previous newsletter Kedesh shared a testimony regarding how she came to choose more edifying reading material. The types of things that I have read have changed as I have matured. When I was a child I read a lot of fiction (Enid Blyton and Milly Molly Mandy). These were children’s stories about animals and toys and pixies and brownies and children and the adventures they had. In my early teens I would scour the library for books, but the pickings were very slim. I ended up reading a lot nonChristian fiction. My parents wisely guided me from books with unedifying content or themes such as divorce or having boyfriends. When I was 15, my parents discovered Christian fiction and gave me the first book in the Russian series by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella. I couldn’t believe there was such a thing as Christian fiction. Reading books which actually showed a character’s spiritual growth and journey in faithfulness was remarkable to me. I was hooked! But as I grew and matured, I began to look for books which were better written and dealt with deeper matters. I began to read classics and at my Dad’s encouragement, histories and biographies. Then in my late teens and early twenties I began to read theology and Christian living books. Books became more to me than entertainment or an enjoyable past-time. They became a source of information, a help in research and an aid to my spiritual growth. I have heard Doug Phillips of Vision Forum say that you are the same person at the end of the year as the beginning of the year apart from the people you meet and the books you read. How true! And how important then to make sure that the books you read are edifying and challenging in the right direction.

Following is a list of books I have really appreciated. None are perfect. They don’t all come from my theological perspective. But they are helpful in many ways. Some are fiction. Some are non-fiction. Some are even simply cookbooks or books about things like oils and vinegars. I read one like this and discovered that it really aided my understanding of those substances and as an added bonus also my ability to prepare delicious meals!

I have a list of categories and you can cross reference the category number with the number before the books to get an idea of what sort of book I’m recommending. These are all good books, but I can’t help but draw your attention to some in particular and so I have bolded some that I think are particularly wonderful.

Categories

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

Recommended Books

1 The Sovereignty of God by A W Pink

1 The Fear of God by John Bunyan

2 Christianity Among the New Zealanders by William Williams

3 The Duties of Parents by J C Ryle

4 Keep Yourself Pure by B Charles Hostetter

4 Looking at Myself Before Loving Another by John Coblentz

4, 5, 6 Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S Whitney

4, 5, 6 Becoming a Woman of Grace by Cynthia Heald

4, 5, 6 Becoming a Woman of Excellence by Cynthia Heald

4, 12 Emotional Purity by Heather Paulsen

1, 5 The Attributes of God by A W Pink

5 Journeys of Faithfulness by Sarah Clarkson

5 Gift Wrapped by God by Linda Dillow (for you or your friends who have compromised in the area of physical purity).

6 How God Wants Us to Worship Him by Dr Joe Morecraft, III

7 Understanding the Times by Dr David Noebel

7 How to Be Your Own Selfish Pig by Susan Schaeffer Macauley

8 Refuting Evolution volumes I and II by Jonathan Sarfati

8 Evolution: a Theory in Crisis by Michael Denton (recommended by my father and brother)

9 The Genius of Puritanism by Peter Lewis

3, 10, 12 Home-Making by J R Miller

10 The Hidden Art of Home-Making by Edith Schaeffer (my sister Charmagne recommends this)

10 Intimate Home published by Victoria Magazine

10 Disciplines of the Home by Anne Ortlund

10 Chicken Cookbook by R & R Publications

10 What’s Cooking? published by Tormont

10 Oils and Vinegars by Karen Farrington and published by Carlton

10 Bread by Ingram and Shapter

10 Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots by Lovejoy

10 The Family Meal Table and Hospitality by Nancy Campbell

10 Bedrooms by Victoria Magazine

10, 18 Romantic Touches by Victoria Magazine

11 When You Rise Up by R C Sproul Jr

11 Safely Home by Tom Eldredge

12 Creating a Beautiful Wedding published by Victoria Magazine

12 Me? Obey Him? by Elizabeth Rice Handford

12 Preparing for Marriage by Dr Wayne Mack

12 Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson

13, 15 Outside Hollywood by Isaac Botkin

16 The New Maori Myth by Michael Drake

16 Fear and Fallacy by Michael Drake

16 The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto

16 Discussions of Robert Lewis Dabney

17, 18 From Playpen to Podium by Jeff Myers

17, 18 Ethel Cotton’s Course in Conversation

18 Scope English, Grammar and Composition, Level four

18 How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler

19 The Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn

19 The Thinking Toolbox by Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn

16, 20 Animal Farm by George Orwell

16, 20 One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

20 He Fell In Love With His Wife by Rev Roe

20 The White Company by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (your brothers will enjoy this too!)

20 The Adventures of David Simple by Sarah Fielding

20 The Following of the Star by Florence Barclay

20 Mother by Kathleen Norris

20 Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz (with caution. Does have romantic sub-plot so may be better for those 18+)

20 The Twenty-Fourth of June by Grace Richmond

20 Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe

20 Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell (book and movie)

20 North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (book and movie)

20 Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

20 The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott

20 John Halifax, Gentleman by Mrs Craik

20 The Pocket Measure by Pansy

20 Moby Dick or The White Whale by Herman Melville

20 Aunt Jane’s Hero by Elizabeth Prentiss

20 Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

20 The Lamplighter by M S Cummins (my sister Charmagne recommends this)

20, 21 The Family Friend (pre 1900)

20, 21 The Sunday at Home (pre 1900)

20, 21 Mother, Home and Heaven

22 The Chronology of the Old Testament by Floyd Jones

22 The Practical Works of Richard Baxter

22 Understand by Walter A Henrichson

2, 22 The TimeChart History of the World based on Bishop Ussher’s chronology.

6, 22 Topical Memory System put out by NavPress

1, 22, 23 Institutes of Biblical Law by R J Rushdoony

23 Understanding Commercial Law by Gerbic and Lawrence

3, 24 Raising Maidens of Virtue by Stacy McDonald

24 In My Father’s House by Tamara and Naomi Valine

12, 24, 25 More Than a Hope Chest by Amber Dawn Moeller

16, 24 So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

24 Beautiful Girlhood by Mabel Hale

24, 25 Handmaidens of the Lord by Crystal Paine

25 Let Me Be a Woman by Elizabeth Elliot

25 How to Be a Lady by Harvey Newcomb

21, 25 Verses of Virtue edited by Bealle Phillips

10, 15, 25 Bound for Glory by R C Sproul Jr

25 Disciplines of a Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund

25 Becoming a Titus 2 Woman by Martha Peace

26 Praise Her in the Gates by Nancy Wilson

10, 16, 25, 26 The Way Home by Mary Pride

10, 16, 25, 26 All The Way Home by Mary Pride

12, 24, 25, 26 As Unto the Lord: a Tool for Wives Who Want to Glorify God by Pam Forster

12, 24, 25, 26 Domestical Duties by William Gouge

27 The Mark of a Man by Elizabeth Elliot

27 Federal Husband by Douglas Wilson

28 Bless the Lord by Johanna Bluedorn

28 The Lord Builds the House by Johanna Bluedorn

28 The Princess and the Kiss by Jennie Bishop

28 The Squire and the Scroll by Jennie Bishop

29 God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew

29 The Autobiography of George Muller

29 The Genius of Puritanism by Peter Lewis

29 Free! by Rita Nightingale

29 Captain My Captain by Deborah Meroff

29 Joni by Joni Eareckson

29 Coronation of Glory by Deborah Meroff

29 Foxes Book of Martyrs

30 The Christian View of War by Lorraine Boettner

30 The Reformed Faith by Lorraine Boettner

30 William the Baptist by James M Chaney

30 A Summary of Christian Doctrine by Louis Berkhoff

30 Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards

30 The Shorter Catechism by G I Williamson

31 Jeff McLean: His Courtship by Mr and Mrs Stephen B Castleberry

31 The Courtship of Sarah McLean by Mr and Mrs Stephen B Castleberry

31 Waiting for Her Isaac by Mr and Mrs Stephen B Castleberry

31 Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris

31 I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris

31 His Perfect Faithfulness by Eric and Leslie Ludy

31 Of Knights and Fair Maidens by Jeff and Danielle Myers

31 Her Hand in Marriage by Douglas Wilson

31 The Art of Choosing Your Love by Pastor Jim West

31 Christian Courtship vs the Dating Game by Pastor Jim West

There are so many good books out there. Every day I’m reading more and more. This is quite an incomplete list. I would like to invite all of you Issacharian Daughters and all mothers who receive this newsletter to email me your book recommendations. You can even use my category numbers to describe what sort of a book it is that you are recommending. Or you can simply email me a list of titles and authors. It may be possible for me to compile these and email them out in a future newsletter.

Although I have tried to limit the books I have included on this list to those which truly are edifying or instructive in some way, my memory of the content may have failed me in some instances, and what I find helpful may not fit within what your parents would want you to read. So may I recommend that prior to reading or acquiring any of these books yourself that you read a description of these books online or have your parents look them over to ensure that they are happy with you reading these.

While we might not live this way, I think many of us will be able to empathise with this sentiment!

When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left, I buy food and clothes. ~ Desiderius Erasmus

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

Genevieve Smith

Issacharian Daughter

pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID051 – click on link below for correct layout and photos

id051-christian-romance-novels.pdf

Dear Girls,

Here is a note from an Issacharian Daughter regarding the last newsletter.

Dear Genevieve,

Wow! This newsletter was so good! I’m definitely going to print this one out.I’ve never realized that the definition of a leader is someone who has a follower. May the Lord continue to teach all of us to make our fathers leaders, and prepare to follow our husbands.

The simple answer sounds like something my Papa would come up with.I usually miss the obvious, but I’m learning to think better, to be a better helper.

I was reading something about the learning differences between males and females in Rousas J Rushdoony’s The Philosophy of the Christian Curriculum which made me realize that our created, God-given abilities as women are to equip us to be better help meets. Through Rushdoony’s comments the Lord showed me that I shouldn’t be proud if I’m smarter than a man in a particular area. Instead I need to realize that God has given me this ability to be able to better serve Him through the help I can give my father and one day, Lord willing, my husband.

It occurred to me, that if a man had some task to perform, he wouldn’t want an incompetent assistant or someone who constantly needed his oversight. Neither would he want a helper who constantly needed him by their side, assisting the assistant. Instead the perfect assistant would be an expert who was also submissive to his desires and directions.

The grace which God has given to us girls and women, by giving us talents, abilities and intelligence, is to make us “super helpers!”

In my own life, I can see how my father is able to multitask by giving instructions and delegating tasks to his wife, and daughters (and his sons too!). In this way, Papa is able to accomplish so much more than if he worked alone.

It’s as if Papa is the composer, and we are all instrumentalists, skilled in what we do.And by God’s grace, we make beautiful music.

Love, your sister in Christ, Erin Mallon Southbury, Connecticut

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

Regards,

GenevieveMonday, 13 August 2007

Dear Girls,

Christian Romance Novels

I want to introduce you to a friend of mine and have her share a testimony with us. I first met Kedesh at a Girls 4 Christ Conference north of Auckland in New Zealand in 2004 [note for readers in New Zealand, there are two G4C Conferences planned for early 2008. One in the North Island and one in the South Island. Watch this space for further details]. And I had the privilege of spending more time with her in 2006 at another G4C Conference where we were both leaders. If I were to pick one word to describe Kedesh, it might be charisma, but why limit myself to one word? Kedesh is a young woman of passion and energy, zeal and zest. In some ways she is like Lowry’s Seasoning Salt. We don’t have Lowry’s in New Zealand, but in many homes in the USA food is boring, mealtimes aren’t appealing, and eating is mundane without Lowry’s. Kedesh brings to life what Lowry’s brings to food, with her sparkly eyes and huge smile, her creativeness and dynamo personality, she is great fun to have around. The best part about Kedesh is that she is on fire for her Saviour! This means that her passion and energy is harnessed towards glorifying her Lord and striving towards Christlikeness. I want to let her introduce herself, and then she will share her testimony. Perhaps by the end you will feel like she is not only my friend but yours too!

Introduction

Greetings and salutations!

My name is Kedesh. I am 18 years old. I have the huge privilege of being the third daughter of Roger and Meryl Simmons, whom I fondly refer to as my best friends. I have six siblings: two older sisters, Michaiah (22) and Amana (20); two younger brothers, Jasher (16) and Zethan (12); and two younger sisters, Rhesa (10) and Nissi (8), whom I love very dearly. We have all been home schooled. My two older sisters live away from home, so I am the eldest daughter/child at home and take the responsibilities of that role.

God has recently been convicting me to turn my heart toward my Father, my family and my home. I have never been career-oriented but have often worked outside the home for various Christian women and their families on a part-time basis. The Lord has been gradually opening my eyes to see the needs in my own home, needs that He desires me to meet before accepting work elsewhere. Both of my parents run home businesses, my daddy is still building the house we currently live in, and I have four younger siblings in whose lives I long to have a greater input. So, as you can imagine, there is always plenty to do. So far it has been a delightful journey! Already I am seeing the fruit of my labour. I am also beginning to comprehend just how much I still have to learn in order to be capable of the highest calling of being a wife, mother and home-maker someday, God willing.

My passions include dancing, acting, singing, reading (particularly the Bible), health (which includes food; fitness; and spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being), interior decorating, photography, craft, clothing and hospitality.

My family and I reside in Swanson, West Auckland, New Zealand, on a four-acre plot of farmland and bush with a beautiful view overlooking West Auckland.

Your sister in Christ,

Kedesh

Testimony In recent years I have become an avid reader. With the guidance of my discerning parents, I have always tried to choose books that upheld Godly morals. My favourite genre of books is historical Christian romance. An author or two whose works I have read were a genuine spiritual blessing to me. I have gleaned much from their incredible talent and the characters they so vividly brought to life.

But as 1 Corinthians 6v12 so excellently states, “‘Everything is permissible for me’ -but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’ -but I will not be mastered by anything”. Although I had always ensured that the books were written by Christian authors, and they usually contained powerful depictions of God’s redemptive love and grace, many of them also had, woven throughout the pages, moral standards that were lower than the standards I held to. The characters would take up much of my thought life as I pondered what was going to happen to whom. Sometimes, instead of focusing on reality and the present, I poured my mental energy into the fictional characters and their situations. I would also often daydream about my own ‘Prince Charming’ and imagine the day he would appear on the horizon on a handsome steed with a red rose in his hand, an engagement ring in his pocket and promises for a happy ever-after future.

At the same rate as my appetite for the novels increased, so did my standards for the books I consumed decrease.

One day, as I visited one of my favourite websites, I came across an article written by an older woman regarding Christian romance novels and the dangers therein. She shared her own testimony in a simple and straightforward manner. To say the least, I was challenged. But my stubborn will would not yet bend.

Not long after, I attended a camp and spoke with a young woman who shared with me why she had abstained from reading romance novels for a year. She said they only “stirred up feelings that were best left unstirred.” As she said those words, God spoke Song of Solomon 2v7 (3v5, 8v4) to my heart, where it says, “Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”

The crunch point came during one of my ‘quiet times’ when I came across the following verse in James 4v6: “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins.” The passage haunted me for days (as did my conscience, strengthened by the Holy Spirit). I had a constant battle at war within me, until at last I determined in my mind, “I will not read any more unedifying romance novels.” I took the novel I was in the middle of out of my handbag, replaced it with a more edifying, non-fiction book and gave the novel back to the friend I had borrowed it from. After I had submitted my stubborn will to the good Lord’s perfect will, a peace that passed all understanding came over me (Philippians 4v7). The battle that had raged within me ceased.

As a result of that decision, I am now directing more of my mental energy and thought space towards praying, as God commands us to do in 1 Thessalonians 5v17, “Pray continually.” Instead of imagining my ‘Prince Charming’ with his handsome steed on the horizon, I am now praying in earnest for my future husband’s character development and spiritual growth.

One of the concerns I had when I began to feel convicted about abstaining from the less Godly novels was that I would have no other decent material to read. I felt God say to me, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6v34). Sure enough, I have too many books waiting for me to read! Indeed, the One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5v24).

Thanks Kedesh for that great testimony! May we all be so conscientious in the material we choose to read.

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

Genevieve Smith

Issacharian 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.

pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID050 – click on link below for correct layout and photos

id050-the-definition-of-a-leader.pdf

Monday, 6 August 2007

Dear Girls, The definition of a leader

Over the past couple of weeks I have asked you a question: How would you define a leader?

It has been so neat to know that you have been thinking about this question from the emails I have received from you sharing your thoughts on this subject. I have loved reading your answers to my question. They have all been well thought out and clearly articulated.

So what does make a leader a leader?

The answer is surprisingly simple.

Isn’t that the way it is with truth oftentimes? Look for the simple answer!

The answer to this question is not only simple, it is exciting! And it has a lot to do with us. Which makes the answer to this question a great focus for this newsletter.

So how do we know if a man is a leader?

If he has a follower.

And how would we define a leader?

A leader is someone who has a follower.

And what is it that makes a leader a leader?

Whether or not he has a follower.

No matter how you look at it, a leader is not a leader without a follower! How can he lead if there is no one following?

Simple, isn’t it?

Here is the exciting bit: I was asking this question in the context of fathers and husbands. So let us re-word our question slightly: How do we know if our fathers and husbands are leaders?

The answer: by whether we are following!

Are we going to be followers, girls? I want to tell you a couple of stories about two friends of mine who have clearly been learning to be followers:

Coral Johanna I have always admired Coral for her femininity and winsomeness. The last time I visited her, she looked so absolutely charming that I couldn’t help but ask her,??Why do you dress the way that you do? ?? Her answer thrilled me! This is what she said:??I try to dress in a way which Dad would like and which my future husband would like if he saw photos of me. Take this dress for example. [She lifted up the skirt of the dress she was wearing.] The fabric is precrinkled. Dad doesn’t like precreased material. He doesn’t mind it on this dress, but in general it is not to his liking. So I try to avoid wearing this sort of thing. It has been good to learn what Dad does and doesn’t like. ??

Issacharian Daughter Another friend shared with me that after she turned her heart to her father and determined to honour him that he began to say to her how glad she makes him and how proud of her he was because she was seeking his wisdom and was valuing his opinions.

How can we be followers? Here are some suggestions and some observations that have helped myself and others I know to learn to be followers:

Ask your father for his opinion regarding [you fill in the blank]. It could be regarding what he believes in a particular area, regarding something you are struggling with, regarding how he would like you to live, you name it.

2. Ask your father for his opinion regarding your friends, your mobile, your car, your activities, your music, your reading material, your clothes, boys, etc. Make sure you know what his opinion is of each of these things.

3. If your father gives advice or direction or makes a decision about any of those things, be sure to accept it.

4. Ask your father for advice.

5. Ask your father for direction.

6. Ask your father for a decision.

7. Listen to your father with interest and respect written on your face.

8. Ask your father how you can help.

9. When your father tells you he doesn’t like black boots or uneven hemlines (as an example) then don’t wear black boots or uneven hemlines! In other words, show by your life that you want to please him and that you value his opinion.

10. When your father tells you he thinks it would be wise not to spend so much time with a particular friend, then don’t spend so much time with that friend. In other words, show by your life that you really want his advice and are ready to be guided by it.

11. When your father tells you that he would like you to spend more time helping your sister learn the piano, then praise the Lord for the direction your father is giving you and make more time in your schedule to help your sister learn the piano.

12. When your father decides you can’t make that overseas trip, or it has to be half as long as you wanted, give him a kiss and say,??Ok Dad, I know you have made the best decision. ??

13. Thank your father for working hard to provide for your family.

14. Imitate your father’s virtues. Is he thoughtful? Be thoughtful too. Is he generous? Be generous too. Is he kind? Be kind too. Is he hospitable? Be hospitable too.

15. Be cheerful.

16. Be happy.

17. Encourage your father.

18. Support your father.

??My dad isn’t a leader. ?? I often hear girls complaining that their fathers aren’t leaders. There can be all sorts of things which can cause a girl to say this, but remember our question: What is a leader? And the answer: Someone who has a follower.

Girls, rather than concentrate on what those around us ought to be doing or on their failings, let us concentrate on what we ought to be doing. We might say,??My dad isn’t a leader. ?? But are we doing what we ought to be doing? Are we being followers? Let us all search our hearts and determine to be followers so that our fathers can be leaders.

Not long ago my parents made a suggestion to me. My initial impulse (which sinfully I acted upon) was to argue and to bring up reasons why their suggestion was no good. I watched in horror as my attitude killed their motivation, drained them of energy and made them lose enthusiasm for the project. In just seconds after I reacted negatively I could see clearly that their idea and suggestion was fine and that I had simply acted consistently with my fallen nature rather than submitting or following as I ought to have done. It also struck me quite strongly that the last thing I wanted to be for a future husband was someone who robbed him of motivation, energy and enthusiasm. I repented to my parents straight away and agreed to follow through with their suggestion.

I mention this to show that I’m not perfect in this area. I’m learning day by day too! More importantly, I mention this because it is so exciting to think that when we are being followers we can energise our fathers and husbands to be leaders. We can motivate them and give them enthusiasm for leadership.

Let us all seek with the help of the Holy Spirit to learn to be followers, and, as we are obedient to God in this area, may we all be a true source of energy, enthusiasm and motivation for our leaders!

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

Genevieve Smith

Issacharian Daughter

Notes: I am indebted to my suitor Pete de Deugd for the inspiration to write this newsletter. He asked me this question and was the one who gave me the simple answer. 2. I am indebted to the Botkin family and their speeches at an Evening for Young Women in Christchurch, New Zealand, for helping me to understand some of the areas in which a young woman should ask for or heed her father’s counsel.

3. I am indebted to Debi Pearl’s Created to be His Help Meet and Pam Forster’s As Unto the Lord for giving me a greater understanding into what it means to be a follower.

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.

pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID049 – click on link below for correct layout and photos

id049-it-is-so-worth-it.pdf

Monday, 30 July 2007

Dear Girls,

It is so worth it!

When girls know that I am at home helping my dad in his ministry and assisting my mum in the home and building my relationships with my siblings and preparing for marriage and learning home-making skills and learning about feminine, beautiful and Biblical womanhood and developing relationships with younger girls, they’ll sometimes ask me,??Is it worth it? ????Are you content? ????Are you really happy? ????Don’t you wish you were somewhere else doing something else? Like doing your own thing? ??

Oftentimes these girls ask these questions because they are really and truly interested in this paradigm. Either they or their parents have been moving in this direction, and they are having to face a lot of decisions such as: how to equip themselves for the future; how to get the best education without defilement; how to live under the authority of their fathers and benefit from his protection; how to prepare for marriage and maintain that hope that, if it is the Lord’s will, He will bring about a marriage in His good timing, and that in the meantime He is preparing them for a future husband and preparing a future husband for them; how to give up an independent income and learn to rely on parents or how to start up a home business; how to deal with an already accumulated student debt; how to help a father; how to die to self; how to be joyful and contented; how to respond to the criticisms or kindly-meant advice from others to leave home, study or do their own thing; how to cast a vision for others for what they are doing and many, many, many other things!

I can’t tell you how many times I have praised God for bringing me home and teaching me about my role as a daughter and the wisdom of preparing for the future and helping to strengthen my family. I can tell you quite honestly that I have never questioned whether it was worth it! Day after day, event after event and Scripture after Scripture confirms to me over and over that visionary daughterhood is SO worth it, that it is so right and good!

Let me share with you some of the experiences which have happened to me and other girls I know which in some way, great or small, confirm that this is the ideal path:

When older men ask what you are doing and you tell them you are engaged in administrative duties for your father to free him up to do more important things and they bless you for honouring your father so and look at your father from that point on differently, giving him more respect and kudos.

When your sibling comes to you with a trouble they want you to fix or when your brother proudly tells you about an achievement or when your siblings write you little love notes because of the work you have put into building the relationships.

When other girls/women come to you thanking you for the standard you set in femininity, grace and womanliness and how it encourages them and challenges them to pursue these things themselves.

When young men enjoy your company (on a platonic level) because they know you are safe (you aren’t going to chase them, but will treat them as brothers in all purity) and because you dress modestly (they don’t have to guard their eyes around you).

When lots of things are going wrong at home, but when just you decide to be cheerful and happy and it changes the whole atmosphere in your home and causes everyone to stop being grumpy and instead to laugh and be joyful.

When a missions minded individual asks you if you are interested in going on the mission field and you answer that your energies are devoted to helping your father. If he decided to go onto the mission field or your future husband (Lord willing) were to decide to go on the mission field, you’d be thrilled about helping them in that environment. But you yourself aren’t going to go because your calling is as a helper and a help meet to these men (first one and then the other). And then the individual pats you on the hand and says,??If only more girls were to think like this. ??

When your family finishes a big project or accomplishes something great together because they were working together and it was not something that could have been accomplished by any one member individually.

When you overhear your mum telling someone what a great help you are around the house.

When an older women tells you what a blessing you will be to a future husband one day.

When a grandparent tells you how proud he is to have you as his granddaughter.

? When a father says you bless him with your work and make his burden easier to carry because of your help to him and your mother.

What about that day when a suitor comes and asks your Dad if he can court you? On that day, what are you likely to feel about the worth of what you have been doing?

Shall I tell you what I felt?

That day for me came a little over a week ago. A Godly man by the name of Pete de Deugd asked my father for permission to court me and received it! Lord willing our courtship will culminate in marriage.

As I contemplated the now very real prospect of marriage in the future, I can tell you what I wasn’t thinking about!

I wasn’t thinking about how much I wished I pursued this or that selfish endeavour or done my own thing or lived my own life.

I wasn’t thinking about how much I wished I’d had a million different boyfriends before being stuck to one man for life.

I wasn’t wishing I’d had a lot of fun blowing a lot of money.

? I wasn’t wishing that I’d spent more time free of authority or parental restraints.

Rather I was in awe that the Lord had protected me from these things to the extent that He had. And I was thinking about how thankful I was to Him for enabling me to prepare for marriage in these ways:

Submitting to my father’s authority.

Learning to appreciate my father’s protection.

Learning to respect my father and brothers.

Learning to bring comfort to my fathers and brothers and be a blessing to them.

Learning home-making skills from my mother.

Discipling and building relationships with my siblings

Saving money.

Learning to be a good steward, to stick to (or be under) a budget, to meal plan, to cook and to prepare healthy, delicious meals.

Coming to appreciate femininity and womanliness (and seeking to develop these in myself).

Learning to be content at home.

Learning to die to myself.

Developing character qualities such as selflessness, patience, kindness, etc.

Learning to be a self-motivator and to be self-disciplined.

Developing a cheerful spirit and an attitude of joy.

Learning to help my father.

Learning to save my heart and emotions for my future husband.

Learning home-making skills such as sewing and cleaning and changing blown fuses.

Learning how to be a follower, a supporter, an encourager, a responder.

Learning business skills such as accounting and writing a letter.

Learning from my mother how to do my future husband (Lord willing that I marry) good all the days of my life including when I didn’t know who he might be. Proverbs 31v12

Reading good books and studying subjects such as Titus 2, worldviews, the dominion mandate, Biblical education philosophy, photography, gardening.

My regrets are not that I should have been doing something else, but that I wasn’t doing these things enough, that I haven’t learned these lessons more completely, that I haven’t taken more advantage of the fact that I was home to learn more, to sit at my father’s feet more, to develop even better relationships in my family and to develop greater abilities and capabilities in the area of home management and home skills or developed more practical skills to be able to be of greater help to a husband in practical matters.

To meet a man in the flesh and to realise that I am so much better prepared for marriage and to be a helper to him because the Lord many years ago changed my heart and brought me home is amazing. I’m left praising the Lord for His work in my life (as I’m sure you will too when a suitor approaches your dad) and thinking enthusiastically,??I’m so glad I’ve followed this path. It is SO worth it! ??

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

Genevieve Smith

Issacharian Daughter

pdf of Issacharian Daughters – ID048 – click on link below for correct layout and photos

id048-dominion-oriented-femininity.pdf

Dear Girls,

I have a question for you: How do you define a leader? What makes a leader a leader?

I’m thinking in the familial context with fathers and husbands.

I would love to receive your feedback on this one. Email me your definitions and comments.

Being a Comfort and a Blessing to Fathers and Brothers

Here are some comments on the Issacharian Daughters newsletter #046,??Being a Comfort and a Blessing to Fathers and Brothers. ??

??Thank you so much for this lovely newsletter Genevieve! I really enjoyed the wonderful sense of the vision you conveyed in the email, and the many practical and handy hints.I really enjoyed the instructions about shoe polishing.I never thought of heat melting the polish more! Thank you again so much.I feel so inspired ;).Praise the Lord. Love Katherine, North Island, New Zealand ??

??Dear Genevieve, Thank you very much for the latest Issacharian newsletter. I had read a neat article at www.visionarydaughters.com (one of my favourite websites) about serving our brothers. Your newsletter has done a fantastic job of explaining in more specific detail HOW to serve,encourage, motivate, and uplift them in a practical way. I really appreciate it, my sister in Christ. Love from, Kedesh xox, North Island, New Zealand. ??

??Dear Genevieve, Thanks for the newsletter, I really enjoyed it! It had a lot of great lessons in it that I’ll definitly remember! Love Ruth, South Island, New Zealand ??

This next newsletter is really excellent! It is attached as a pdf (open this to see the newsletter format and images) and the text from the newsletter follows below this note.

Welcome to all of you who are joining us for the first time this week.

Regards,Genevieve Smith Monday, 23 July 2007

Dear Girls,

Dominion Oriented Femininity

My friends, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin spoke at the recent Vision Forum Father/Daughter Retreat. Here is a small portion of their speech entitled, Dominion Oriented Femininity, Cultivating Sturdy Virtue in Modern Daughters which they have kindly given me permission to reprint. Keep an eye on the Vision Forum website in case they come out with a CD of the full speech. It will be well worth obtaining!

What is Biblical Femininity?

??What is Biblical femininity? What does it look like? What is its purpose? ??

Some say that Biblical femininity is whatever the feminists have rejected. That’s bad hermeneutics. We have to be careful that we don’t build our philosophy of womanhood or anything on a knee-jerk reaction to something bad. The Bible is our only standard, and it should be our motivation to do right. Besides, the entire feminist movement is so splintered it’s not even consistent in what it rejects.

Some say that Biblical femininity is any picture of womanhood from before the woman’s suffrage movement. Actually, feminism has been around since the garden of Eden, and has had its advocates in every century.

Some have suggested that femininity is the opposite of masculinity. Certainly we’re supposed to be distinctly different from men, but that doesn’t necessarily mean opposite.

In Genesis God reveals to us the essence of femininity when he shows us how Eve was supposed to correlate to Adam.

??Then the LORD God said,??It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.’?? (Genesis 2:18)

So we see, the woman was made for the man, like it says in 1 Corinthians 11:9. She is a different creature, made for a different purpose. Her role is different, as we see in Genesis 3, and she is to look different, as we see in Deuteronomy 22:5. She should rejoice in that difference, because that difference is what makes her complementary to the man.

And the purpose of this difference, which we call femininity, was, to help masculinity and suit masculinity ??to complement it and complete it. The two of them together would be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.

True femininity is about helping men fulfill their calling.

Any departure from this is a departure from Biblical femininity. Throughout the Bible and throughout history, we really only see two kinds of womanhood. The kind that devotes its identity to helping men fulfill their calling ??and the kind that wants power over men. The first lives a life of self-sacrifice, the latter only wants its own way. The latter is what we call??feminism. ??

Feminism appears in many guises throughout history. Sometimes feminism tries to subdue masculinity with its womanly wiles/charms.Sometimes feminism is narcissistic and self-absorbed, purely ornamental and consequently useless. It’s not interested in helping men take dominion.

And sometimes it tries to compete with masculinity and out-man it.

But one thing is consistent ??feminism is always independent and self-seeking, and its desire is to weaken and dominate men.Understanding this is very helpful when it comes to sorting through all the images around us.

It’s the privilege of our generation to purposefully and deliberately pioneer real femininity.

Based on the examples of the virtuous women in the Bible, we can construct a basic picture of a Christian lady, a real lady.

A lady is a woman who understands that she has been bought with a price, and therefore glorifies God in her body and her spirit, which are God’s.

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1Corinthians 6:20)

She surrenders every aspect of her being and identity to God. Like a shepherd, she thinks of everyone before herself, and endeavors to lead others back to Christian civilization and obedience to God by her public and private example.

As a servant of the people, she realizes that every attention to her appearance and education is for the benefit of others and not herself. For this reason she thinks carefully about how she presents herself. Because the way she dresses communicates her loyalties, whether she’s loyal to pop culture or to her own comfort or to her King and His law. Her appearance can set an example to people and show modesty and femininity to be as beautiful as they really are. Like the Proverbs 31 woman, she??maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing [is] silk and purple. ?? She thinks carefully about how she speaks and carries herself, because she knows the world is watching, and as an ambassador of the Most High King, she must be a model of strength and dignity.

But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

She wants everything she does to inspire and edify others and glorify God. She radiates regal serenity, grace and poise, a gentle and quiet voice, discretion, self-command, sincerity, peace, cheerfulness and humility.

[Here comes a great description of dominion oriented femininity. See how different it is to seeing ourselves as merely made for decoration ??Ed. Remember the Issacharian Daughters newsletter #047 entitled, I Am An Eve.]

No task is too big or too small, too high or too low, for a lady. She’ll be able to rise or stoop to the occasion, however demanding it may be, without losing her poise and grace. She is not too dainty or delicate to do the dirty work in serving her family. Understanding that there is a time for everything, she is balanced and flexible; ready to serve tea or to take up a tent-peg against an enemy.

She is hospitable and warm, gentle and kind, filled with compassion for those with real needs. Her manners show a concern for the comforts of others instead of an absorbing focus on herself. Many girls are inhibited by shyness, and I was one of them. I was so shy and self-conscious that I had a hard time even talking to people, let alone reaching out to people in a Christlike way. A few years ago I [Elizabeth] realized that shyness is nothing more than excessive focus on self and often a fear of man. These are both sinful. It wasn’t until I purposed to focus on the people I was around and their needs, that I was able to overcome my reclusiveness.

A real lady learns to ignore her comfort zone. Like the pilgrim women, she is intrepid, brave, hard-working and sacrificial. Instead of pursuing her own interests, she has studied to be useful.

And finally, she is distinctively feminine in a way that complements and completes masculinity,rather than clashing with it.

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

Genevieve SmithIssacharian Daughter