The Girls Adorn Vision: Womanhood Founded on the Cross

The Girls Adorn Vision is an articulation of Biblical Womanhood, captured from Titus 2:15, proclaiming that biblical womanhood is the display and glorification of the Triune God, to the world, by the imperishable beauty of a holy Christ-enjoying femininity. This is our ‘chief end’, our anthem for life!

The most natural and foundational question for each of us is ‘why I am here?’, ‘what is the purpose of my life?’ Well this is it! Biblical Womanhood is about letting God’s design for women define who you are, your values, your worldview and ambitions for life. Biblically defined womanhood is True Womanhood as it traces womanhood back to its Creator and allows Him, in His holy and eternal genius, to carve out for us His glorious and unique calling for women and what womanhood looks like in the U.K. in 2011.

Every beginning of a new year, I take time out to ponder upon the year past and areas of my life where I can see God’s refinement and areas I need to change. I commonly find myself alone in a Starbucks, with my journal open and pen in hand, trying to breathe out in some unified way all those goals, plans, and aspirations for a holy life in Christ collected from sermons, talks, books and prayer times where God has challenged me in the past year, so I may take them into the next. Articulating a resolution, a mantra, a confession of faith, or vision or mission statement is an instinctive human response as we filter through endless material in our hearts and minds – trying to get a handle on what is core, foundational and ultimate.

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on what biblical or true womanhood is, particularly what it really means for us here in Britain in all our secular feminism and covenant-belittling sex-obsession. As I have fallen more in love with the central call in Titus 2:15 to adorn the doctrine of God in everything, by healthy spiritual minds and living (Titus 2:1), I’ve thought that marrying together the vision of Girls Adorn with a resolution for godly female living founded on the gospel, will help us all move into 2011 with a determined Christ-exalting walk. For the sake of the gospel in the U.K., our families, churches, workplaces and university campuses, we need to be women with resolute steps for purity and holiness; and allow a God-given biblical vision to shape who we are instead of the shifting and empty portraits of the world.

You want to see more of your female friends sold out for Christ? Let’s pray for this exciting time and pray that God would start a movement in the U.K., and across Europe, of women committed to a gospel-centred cross-definition of ‘woman’ that would turn women upside down for the glory of God!

Why not pray about signing up to the Vision yourself and join others committed to ‘Adorning the Doctrine of God by Biblical Womanhood’?

                                      READ THE VISION                |                SIGN THE VISION  

                   

Marilyn Monroe and the Greek Word Kosmeo

It has been famously said that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend and a man’s worst enemy”. From this, iconic material girl Marilyn Monroe sung “Men grow cold, as girls grow old, and we all lose our charms in the end. But square-cut or pear-shaped, these rocks don’t lose their shape. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

The Bible, however, throws this lyric on its head in the book of Proverbs, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels” (Proverbs 31:10). So we see biblical womanhood is more precious than a Bvlgari necklace. 1 Peter 3 confirms this, since “the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” is in “God’s sight very precious” (1 Peter 3:3-4). Whereas diamonds perish, biblical womanhood is imperishable and treasured by Him who thought up diamonds.

Sorry, Monroe, you’ve got it backwards.

God made women for the eternal purpose to glorify and enjoy Him. When we live godly lives, with a healthy God-centred worldview or theology that filters down from our intellects to our wills and our lifestyles, we kosmeo the doctrine of God (Titus 2:1-10).  What?

Kosmeo, used 10 times in the New Testament, is the verb generally translated as “adorn, garnish” or “decorate”, from which we get the English word “cosmetic.” It is used in Matthew 12:44, when Jesus tells a parable of a house being “put in order” and similarly in Matthew 25:7, with Jesus’ five wise virgins who “rose and trimmed their lamps” in readiness to meet the bridegroom. Peter uses kosmeo to remind his readers that the holy women of old, like Abraham’s wife Sarah, used to adorn themselves with submissive hearts towards God and their husbands (1 Peter 3:5).

This does not mean that God needs Max Factor, Rimmel or No.7. The doctrine of God, like God, is the most stunning, glorious and wonderful truth in the universe! Check out Titus 2:3-5. Paul is saying that a holy female life of self-control, purity, hard work, kindness, love to one’s family and submission to one’s husband (when you’re in that season of life), will not only NOT revile the Word of God (Titus 2:5) but will ADORN IT!

John Calvin writes, ‘this ought to be a very sharp spur of exhortation to us, when we learn that our becoming (godly) conduct adorns the doctrine of God, which, at the same time, is a mirror of his glory.” St John Chrysostom, one of the Church Fathers, simply reminds us that Paul’s readers and their Greek peers, like us, would not judge beliefs by themselves but would make life and behaviour the test of what people believed. Therefore, Paul is begging his readers to validate and enhance Christian theology by holiness.

What a high calling, that we women should adorn the incomprehensible infinite doctrine of God to the world! If we live counter-cultural lives, bent on Christ’s reputation and not our own, then people will tangibly see God. As Matthew writes, “in the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:16).

Grey Livingston once coined in a small poem, “My soul will be your pendant: I live to adorn you – You’re the precious one.” What a great tagline for Girls Adorn as we seek to glorify God in this way laid down for us in Titus 2:10.

The most precious jewels are not made of stone, but of flesh.  ~Robert Ludlum

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Title: Feminine Threads

Author: Diana Severance

Publisher: Christian Focus

ISBN: 978-1-84550-640-7

The author weaves a wonderful tapestry illuminating the stories of the women, from the New Testament era right up to the 21^st century, many of whom have given so much to the cause of Christ. A true historian, Diana Severance brings to life the times of the women she introduces, with relevant, helpful and interesting background and cultural allusions. She deals with the disputed biblical texts about women in a clear and theological way, with no polemic or irenic spirit.  Although she demonstrates the liberating power of the gospel in the lives of women, she is no feminist. Quotations, for example from the early church fathers, help us with information about the development and importance of the role of women in the spread of the gospel in the home and in society. Extracts from hymns, poems and other writings of women pepper the book. The author presents us with real women, not hagiographies and she is ready to engage with controversy, such as Mariolatry. The book is full of interesting asides, for example, Susannah Wesley’s rules for bringing up children. 

The author has been meticulous in her bibliography and has numerous footnotes, signposting to books, articles and websites where further information can be found. This book will make a valuable contribution to church history – but it is more than an academic treatise. Christian women who want to approach their Christian service from a complementarian perspective should read this book and be encouraged.

Sheila Stephen

Lecturer in Women’s Ministry at  (WEST) Wales Evangelical School Of Theology 

Spirituality for the Mid-Week Drag | Hidden with Christ, Part 2

Has the mid-week drag hit you? The weekend past was sunny, warm and relaxing. But its rainy outside, the clock mocks you with almost “slow-motion” time keeping, and you have three more days until happiness will find you – you punctuate every hour with a loud sigh.

In the mid-week drag we can fight discontent and disappointment. We can revel in the glorious unchanging truth that Jesus is ours and we are his. As we saw last week, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col.3:3). HIDDEN – concealed, inaccessible, difficult to find, secret, sheltered, cloistered. Like Moses who hid in the cleft of the rock to see the glory of God pass by, we are hidden in The Rock! (Cue singing, Rock of Ages, cleft for me…)  We are wrapped up in Jesus and he is wrapped up in us.

As we saw in part 1, Paul gave the Colossian Christians this ‘Hidden with Christ’ motto to confirm to them that they have all they need: Jesus is supreme and sufficient for their lives, for their salvation, for their spirituality.  And nothing has changed! Jesus is sufficient for us, our salvation, our spirituality, . . . and our mid-week drags.

Because we are all personally wrapped up with Jesus, we can trust his sufficiency for all areas of our lives. Tim Keller tells of a conversation he had with a 16 year old girl struggling with singleness. “I am a Christian. I know Christ died for me,” she said, “I know he rose from the dead, conquered sin, brought me into newness of life, promise of heaven and eternal glory, I know he cares for me, will provide for me and has blessed me abundantly in Christ……BUT WHAT GOOD IS ALL THAT IF I DON’T HAVE ANY DATES?”

This girl has completely missed the point!

When we struggle with singleness, broken relationships, or the fallibility of our husbands, we can remind ourselves that we are IN Christ. We can celebrate the fact that we are united to beautiful King Jesus, and he is the most handsome of the sons of men (Isa.45:2). Let’s tattoo our minds with this sweet reality, “My beloved is mine, and I am his” (Song of Songs 2:16).

Union with Christ changes the way we “do” the Christian life!

Wendy Horger Alsup writes in Practical Theology for Women, “instead of seeing ourselves as connected to Jesus at all times, we tend to view our relationship with God in terms of intersecting moments during the day. We think that the more times our lives intersect with God, the more ‘spiritual’ we are. In this paradigm, God goes on his way and I go on my way until we intersect at another corner that day, week, month, or year. Instead we need to think of ourselves walking with Jesus continually, twenty-four hours a day, seven-days a week.” In God-given, Spirit-powered, union with Christ – we are permanently intersected with Jesus. This is true, authentic spirituality.

The Dreaded Question

Do you ever beat yourself up for not spending time with God? Someone asks you that dreaded question, the Christian equivalent of “how’s your love-life?” – “how’s your quiet times?”

This can be unhelpful because many of us tend to measure our enjoyment of God on our daily practice of prayer and Bible reading. We can lure ourselves into a works-based spirituality that is governed by our spiritual disciplines. Sure, I’m enjoying God at the moment- I’m getting up at 6.45am to do it!

But we can still be doing this and not enjoying God. We can be doing all the “right things”, the routine, the rituals, but we are not dancing with joy over our salvation.  We might be full of spiritual pride or doing it as some sort of penance for ignored sin. The gospel isn’t about performance. It is about loving the LORD our God with all our hearts, mind and strength.” Maybe “how’s your love-life?”, then, would be a better question?

Savouring union with Christ is about knowing it as a certain reality, like knowing our hair colour, our nationality, our friends and family. Union with Christ is where our identity starts and once we’ve plugged ourselves into this glorious truth we will find we can enjoy Jesus during the mid-week drag of endless marking, emptying bed pans, slogging through essays and standing at the sink – again!

 

                       Next week . . . part 3, the BIG finale –

                                                              Hidden with Christ | MY TRINITY   

Stay tuned or in the mean time check out our page on Biblical Womanhood

Spirituality for Monday Mornings | Hidden with Christ, Part 1

The alarm clock buzzes rudely and you let out a long sigh . . . its Monday morning – you’re facing another week. While you’re sat in traffic or at your desk, or are standing yet again at the kitchen sink, you try to recall to mind the lessons of yesterday’s sermons; the joy you felt, the sober challenges and the promise you made to have a week walking closely with God. You preach at yourself a little, ask God to help you stay focused, and get on with day. But as you later settle down to sleep you have a sudden pang of guilt . . . you’ve not had a God-thought all day!

Sometimes we all struggle, not yearning for Christ as we long to, wondering whether we are really knowing him, walking with him, enjoying him. So what can arm us for Monday mornings as we face the diversions, temptations and trials of the week? . . . The central truth of our Christian life, our union with Christ, is key to our enjoying Christ, walking in step with the Spirit, and bringing glory to God.

If you are a Christian, you are wrapped up with Christ in God! Colossians 3:2-3 reads, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” You…yes, you…are hidden with Christ in God – Mind-boggling stuff!

Here Paul writes to the brand-new Christians in Colossae because rumours of a ‘secret’ spirituality are circulating the church. Like us in Britain, Colossae was full of spiritualities, religions, and philosophies relating to the divine (check out the RELIGION section in your local bookshop). Mystery cults abounded and there was lots of man-made spirituality.

But Paul teaches his readers that they’ve got all they need in Jesus. He warns them, ‘See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8). Jesus Christ is both supreme and sufficient and because we are locked into him – WE NEED NOTHING ELSE! Paul reminds us that our “in-Christness” is our true, authentic spirituality!

We read throughout the New Testament that we have died with Christ and are raised with him (e.g. Rom 6:4-5; Col 2:11-12). Have you ever wondered how a 2000-year-old cross in Israel has any relevance for you in the U.K. in 2011? It is because of this God-authored spiritual union with the buried and resurrected Jesus.

‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Gal 2:20). The fact that our sinful, pre-Christ identity has been nailed onto the cross of Christ, never to be removed, leaves us with the call for a pretty radical transformation! Indeed, union with Jesus Christ is a lifestyle! The most fulfilling way we can live the Christian life is to seek to live and breathe this truth every day. But how can we do this?  We have to continually challenge ourselves…

How does my union with Christ change what I am going to say and how I am going to act in this family argument?

In what ways do I allow my union with the Son of God to influence the way I express my frustration with this person?

How does my perception of self and others change because of my identity in Christ?

Can I forego my own need to be accepted by others because of my perfect acceptance in Christ?

Because I am in Christ and Christ is in me I am compelled to remove these impure thoughts I allow my mind to dwell on.

Knowing that Christ is in me I cannot allow myself to do this ungodly thing with my body.

Because my soul is the house of my lovely Lord and Saviour I cannot allow myself to be exposed to this particular entertainment.

Because Jesus is my life I cannot tolerant this blasphemy.

The fact that we are one with Christ is a raw, living, practical truth! To live a life spent in Christ we must let the knowledge of our belonging to Christ be the starting point for everything. Thank God that His Grace is sufficient even for us!

 
Check out the Girls Adorn Vision

“I’m Taking Your Home!”

It was the largest house in the world to her, and the best. It had the kind of layout where you could just run and run and you’d know you’d end up somewhere exciting. It had 5 bedrooms, the biggest kitchen imaginable, and a magic space in the living room where she could sit all day and watch the sun streaming through the large windows. Living with her two brothers and her parents, it was the homeliest house in the entire world!

It was -10 degrees but he sat wearing only a thin shirt and shorts. He had nothing else. His house, if you can call it that, contained four sloping walls, placed roughly on a square metal plate. When it rained, the water would gush inside and spoil everything. The most precious possession he owned was a book he had once been given by a friend of his parents. It told of wealth and riches, of love and kindness, things he had never known. His home contained 2 rooms, which he shared with 4 brothers and sisters and his two elderly parents. It was small and damp . . . and all he’d ever known.

As millions of people around the world live in utter poverty, we often forget that here in the UK . . . we live in palaces.

Last Friday, Japan experienced a devastating earthquake and tsunami, causing whole towns to be completely wiped out. A dangerous level of nuclear radiation is on the rise; threatening further lives. Thousands of people have been lost to the furious water and many homes have been destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. This should be a sharp challenge to us as we sit here comfortably at home, earthquake and tsunami free. As we women are sometimes prone to obsessing about our home-making, even to the point of idolising our homes, we can ask ourselves . . . what if God said, “I’m taking your home!”

In Luke 12 we read the parable of the Rich Fool. This man has stored up immense wealth and told his soul to “RELAX” and “ENJOY” what he has built for himself. But God says to him, like a tsunami sweeping through, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” The Bible teaches us that worldly possessions cannot make us happy and nor can they help us after death. Japan reminds us of how short life can be and that we must “store up our treasures in heaven” by “seeking first the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:19-33).

 

A Gospel Reminder
The truth is whether you are a millionaire or a homeless child, you need the love and care of a gracious Father, one who loved sinners so much that he sent his Son to die on the cross so that we might have a relationship with him. By trusting and putting your faith in Jesus Christ, you can start to have a relationship with God. He doesn’t promise that life will be easy but he does promise he will guide and help those who are his children (Deut 31:6). At the end of your life, you will spend eternity with the One who made you, and cherishes you as a daughter. Isn’t that amazing? In Christ, God is our true home.

Alex Taylor

Know God, Love Theology

In our modern world, women are harassed from Christian truth from every angle. It is because these assailants, such as the media, liberal theology, popular feminism or new spiritualities, that it is so important to spend time in “God-truths” (or Theology). Especially if we want to give God glory in our own lives and offer godly wisdom to others.

Immersing ourselves in the gospel fundamentals is basic to Christian discipleship (John 8:31). Women who love doctrine will ‘grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (2 Peter 3:18). Pursuing the knowledge of God will increase holiness and humility in our lives and conform us into the image of Christ Jesus (Hebrews 12:14b).

Wanna be a woman of the Word? Remember 2 Timothy 2:15 powerfully instructs us to study the Bible because it is sharp and effective truth, and Colossians 3:16 advises us to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly! . . . Not a little . . . not now-and-then . . . not even a lot, but RICHLY! Cue Webster: Richly: in full measure: amply.

As women we are all called to motherhood, whether biological, spiritual or both,  and so knowing our doctrine is vital as we seek to bring up the next generation of worshippers (see Titus 2). Interestingly to the authors, who are both pastor’s wives and mothers (Angela has 4 and Natalie has 1 pending), most pastors admit that it was their mothers who had the most profound spiritual influence on them.  Yet how can we teach others if we have not dived into the depths of knowledge of God ourselves? For so many of us even fundamental concepts as the Trinity, for example, are familiar but rarely clear in our own minds. Recently, I (Angela) was puzzled when my son began to ask questions about the Trinity and I was caught by surprise at how little thought I gave to such an eternal truth! The Bible warns us not to be tossed with every wind of doctrine but also we cannot afford to be lazy when it comes to knowledge of our glorious Saviour. We need more contemporary women in the U.K., who know God and love God-truth! For how can we love God if we don’t know much about him?

Here is a sweet promise for you as you skip, dance, plod or wrestle through ‘God-truths’ in your life:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (Jas 4:8). For God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

What better motive is there than knowing God himself, and in the mean time we will become Girls-Gone-Wise, gaining wisdom and understanding ‘more precious than rubies’ (Proverbs 3:15).

                                                                                                  Angela Novak & Natalie Brand

Why not share with us what doctrines have really impacted your Christian life and why? Use this form below………x

Black Swan deserves an Oscar? | Mary Kassian

It’s Oscar week — the time of year when we have to endure Hollywood’s unending fascination with itself. I didn’t watch the Oscars, nor did I see most of the movies that were nominated. But reading this morning’s paper, I did take note that Natalie Portman won an Oscar for best actress for her role in Black Swan. To me, this is a telling sign of current ideas surrounding female sexuality.

In the movie, Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a dancer, is chosen to compete for the lead role in the “Swan Lake” ballet. However, the lead must maintain an adequate portrayal of both the delicate, virtuous “white” Swan, and the evil, sensual “black” one. Nina’s precise technique makes her an ideal casting for the White Swan, but her director, Thomas, claims that she lacks the sexual passion for the latter role. When Thomas forces a kiss on her, her fierce response convinces him that she just might have the capacity for darkness, and he gives her the role.

The remainder of the movie chronicles Nina’s emerging awareness and experimentation with the dark side of her sexuality. The audience watches as she masturbates, hallucinates about having sex with her understudy, Lily, and envisions a three-some encounter with Thomas and Lily. As Nina gives way to her violent and passionate dark side, the white and black aspects of her personality battle with one another, but in the end, Nina is able to hold both together in the performance of her life. The film draws to a close with Nina staring up at the stage lights while whispering “I felt it. Perfect. I was perfect,” as the screen fades to white and the audience chants her name.

Now you may think that this is just a Hollywood movie, but the ideas about female sexuality it promotes are dangerous, and becoming more and more pervasive. Today, young women are inundated with the idea that they need to explore and discover their dark, seductive, sensual side through masturbation, pornography, same sex and/or multi-partner sex.  Until they do, they will remain frigid, undeveloped, and incomplete. Sexual experimentation is how a woman gets in touch with her power. Embracing both “darkness” and “light” brings out her true beauty. It is what made Nina “perfect.”

The lie is as old as time. Satan tricked the first woman into believing that “white” was boring… incomplete, lacking passion—and that “black” was beautiful, harmless, and oh-so-desirable. He convinced her that God’s rules were ridiculously restrictive, and that she’d attain a greater level of perfection by indulging in the forbidden fruit. The temptation to believe the lie was—and still is— incredibly powerful.

I have not seen the movie Black Swan — the storyline and graphic sexual images would not be healthy for my soul. But I know that many young Christian women have seen the movie, and have secretly been intrigued with thoughts of darkness, as the main character, Nina was. To all who are tempted to look, think about, or indulge in darkness, please DON’T!  Hollywood entices you to think that doing so will make you as beautiful as Natalie Portman’s Black Swan. But this could not be farther from the truth. Darkness mars the spectacular beauty of light. It turns white swans into messed-up, crippled, ugly ducklings. No woman is as dazzlingly attractive as the one who turns her back on darkness and passionately embraces the light.

In Black Swan, Portman presents the lie that embracing sexual darkness leads to beauty and perfection. And for this convincing act, I suppose Hollywood got it right. She probably does deserve an Oscar!

                                                                                                    Mary Kassian | Girls Gone Wise

The Biblical Womanhood Booklist

Let’s unwrap GIRLS ADORN’s Valentine’s Day gift from Sheila Stephen (Titus 2 mentor, biblical woman, and Women Studies Lecturer at WEST)

. . .it’s her Biblical Womanhood Booklist. . .  Thanks Sheila!

The Biblical Womanhood booklist highlights some of the contemporary material available to us on this subject of the role and character of evangelical Christian women. A lot of the material is from U.S.A where they have done most academic, biblical and practical writing on this subject. The list is not exhaustive. All books are helpful and prompt us to think these issues through and apply them to our own culture and lives. Remember that the Word of God tells us that if women don’t behave godly then God’s word is maligned (Titus 2:5).

The usual disclaimer – I don’t agree with everything all the authors write – BUT I am so grateful for each one who has stimulated my thinking on this important subject. These books are almost exclusively from a complementarian perspective.

Love from Sheila x 

Academic books:

Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth by Wayne Grudem. IVP Apollos.

The Feminist Mistake by Mary Kassian. Crossway.

Two Views on Women in Ministry. Edited by Stanley N Gundry & James R Beck. Zondervan.

The Essence of Feminism by Kirsten Birkett. Matthias Media.

Slightly less Academic

Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood by John Piper & Wayne Grudem. Crossway.

God’s Design for Women by Sharon James. EP.

The Gender Agenda by Lis Goddard & Clare Hendry. IVP.

Radical Womanhood by Carolyn McCulley. Moody.

Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Horger Alsup. Crossway.

Other Books:

Womanly Dominion by Mark Chanski. Calvary Press.

Does Christianity Squash Women? Rebecca Jones. B&H Publishing.

Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild by Mary Kassian. Moody.

Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes. Crossway.

The Hospitality Commands by Alexander Strauch. Lewis & Roth Publishing.

What Women Really Want edited by Lesley Ramsay. The Good Book Company.

What’s Submission Got To Do With It? by Cindy Easley. Moody.

Purity by Lydia Brownback. Crossway.

Books on Marriage:

 Rocking the Roles by Robert Lewis & William Hendricks. Nav Press.

Books on Singleness:

Single Women, Challenge to the Church by Kristen Aune. Paternoster.

God’s Care for the Widow by Austin Walker. Day One.

Moments for Singles by Leigh McLeroy. Nav Press.

Books by Susan Hunt

By Design. Crossway. (For those of us who are afraid that biblical womanhood is being chained to the kitchen sink!)

The Legacy of Biblical Womanhood. With Barbara Thompson. Crossway.

Books by Martha Peace:

The Excellent Wife. Focus Publishing.

Becoming A Titus 2 Woman. Focus Publishing.

Books by Nancy Leigh DeMoss:

Lies Women Believe. Moody.

Lies Young Women Believe. With Dannah Gresh. Moody.

Voices of the True Woman Movement. Moody.

Becoming God’s True Woman. Crossway.

Books by Carolyn Mahaney:

Feminine Appeal. Crossway.

Girl Talk with Nicole Mahaney Whitacre. Crossway.

DVD Study Series:

What’s The Difference? John Piper.

God’s Design for Women. Sharon James.

Books for Women Helping Women:

Release Your Potential by Elizabeth Inrig. Moody.

Women Helping Women by Elyse Fitzpatrick & Carol Cornish. Harvest House.

Transforming Together by Ele Parrott. Moody

Women in the Bible Extraordinary Women by Grace by Mary Whelchel. Christian Focus.

Large number of study guides by Elizabeth George mostly published by Harvest House.

Influential Women by Wendy Virgo. Monarch.

Biographies & Autobiographies:

Christian Heroines by Catherine Mackenzie. Christian Focus.

Missing Believed Killed by Margaret Hayes. Day One.

The Reluctant Missionary by Margaret Hayes. Day One.

Sheila’s Tip: Read any bios by Sharon James, Faith Cook, Elizabeth Elliot and Helen Roseveare. For an inspiring series for girls the “Ten Girls Who…” by Irene Howat, Christian Focus is a must.

Now you’ve read that - CHECK OUT our VISION for BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD