Fearless Daughters of the Bible

Lee Grady J.

Description

Bestselling Author Reveals How God Empowers Women for Leadership and PurposeChristian women are often led to believe they are God's afterthoughts--as if they were created inferior to men or destined by God to play a secondary role in life. Not so, says bestselling author J. Lee Grady, father of four daughters and a leading international voice confronting the abuse of women. He counters that the Bible's message is neither sexist nor patronizing.Through sharing the lives of 23 mold-breaking biblical women, Grady shows how God enables his daughters to do amazing, even impossible things. He also reveals the empowering, yet often-overlooked, gifts God longs to give each of his daughters--gifts like wisdom, fruitfulness, leadership, family, and boldness. When women learn to receive each of these, and more, as a divine inheritance, they will live the fearless and beautiful lives of purpose God desires for them.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781441260888
• Langue: English

Extrait

© 2012 by J. Lee Grady
Published by Chosen Books
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.chosenbooks.com
Chosen Books is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means for example, electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-6088-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations identified T HE M ESSAGE are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Cover design by Dan Pitts
“Lee Grady’s book Fearless Daughters of the Bible provides powerful keys to help women unlock God’s potential for their lives. The stories of biblical women and also modern-day women will encourage the reader to take bold steps of courage. It will help women close the door to past wounds, fears, inadequacies and old religious mind-sets. I highly recommend Fearless Daughters of the Bible to all who are seeking to fulfill their destiny in God!”
Barbara Wentroble, founder and president, International Breakthrough Ministries
“In Fearless Daughters of the Bible , Lee Grady, who has championed the cause of women for many years, reveals the strengths and weaknesses of women God used throughout history. As you read Lee’s insights into their lives, you’ll find yourself. I did. This book is loaded with godly counsel to encourage and challenge us to unlock our self-imposed reservations and restrictions and release us to our destinies!”
Dr. Alice Smith, author/speaker; executive director, U.S. Prayer Center
“J. Lee Grady’s refreshing style brings to us this timely and timeless book that is an inspiration and a challenge to all women, redeemed by Christ and reclaimed as God’s daughters. Come with Lee to the Scripture and discover the power and the purpose of women who dare to trust God.”
LaDonna C. Osborn, D.Min.;CEO, Osborn Ministries International; president, Women’s International Network;bishop, International Gospel Fellowship of Churches & Ministries
“Lee Grady’s Fearless Daughters of the Bible is a welcome effort to reclaim bold stories of godly women of the past. Their courageous actions raise the bar for this generation. I pray God will use this book to raise up fearless daughters for Him today.”
Carolyn Custis James, author of Half the Church ; president, Whitby Forum
“It takes a fearless man to write a book like Fearless Daughters of the Bible . Lee Grady is such a man. After all, by his own admission, he has been ‘drowning in a sea of estrogen for more than two decades. . . . For God put [him] in a house full of women to show [him] how much He loves His daughters.’ I read the stories of the women in the book; now I must compile a list of men to whom I will send copies of Fearless Daughters of the Bible so they can see what a loving God really wants for His daughters.”
Abby Olufeyimi, parish pastor, Builder’s House (Redeemed Christian Church of God), Croydon, England
To the fearless Christian women leaders I have worked with in 26 foreign countries during the past ten years. They include:
Funke Adejumo (Nigeria); Milagros Aguayo (Peru); Connie Birungi (Uganda); Sharon Bixler (Hungary); Monica Castro (Colombia); Emilia Ceuta (Romania); Aida Cornejo (Ecuador); Athena D’Souza (Singapore); Mercedes Dalton (El Salvador); Naomi Dowdy (Singapore); Yinka Ekwugum (Nigeria); Eunice Enujuba (Nigeria); Indri Gautama (Indonesia); Lilla Gere (Hungary); Dellis Gomes (India); Teresa Gomez (Peru); Carol Hanes (Australia); Royree Jenson (Australia); Doreen Kaahwa (Uganda); Angela Kovacs (Hungary); Gloria Madugba (Nigeria); Judy Mbugua (Kenya); Nori Menendez (Colombia); Esther Milian (Colombia); Ilma Morales (Guatemala); Mihaela Moza (Romania); Eva Nagy (Hungary); Remi Ogunrinde (Canada); Deola Ojo (Nigeria); Abby Olufeyimi (England); Hala Saad (Egypt); Silvia Comacho Salcedo (Bolivia); Natalia Schedrivaya (Russia); Igna Suarez (Colombia); Mariamma Thampy (India); Taiwo Thompson (Nigeria); Ingrid Tressler (South Africa); Ansa van Neikerk (South Africa); Rodica Voluntiru (Canada); Daphne Yang (Singapore); and Bini Zachariah (India)
These brave women proved to me that God is serious about raising up an army of gifted, empowered women leaders in the Church today. They are models of sacrifice, character, humility and radical devotion to Christ.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endorsements
Dedication
Foreword by Margaret Feinberg 9
Introduction: Reclaiming Your Father’s Love 11
1. Sarah, the Mother of Our Faith 25
The Courage to Be a Pioneer
2. The Five Daughters of Zelophehad 39
The Courage to Challenge Tradition
3. Ruth, the Moabite 53
The Courage to Forsake the Past
4. Achsah, Daughter of Caleb 69
The Courage to Claim God’s Blessing
5. Hannah, Mother of Samuel 83
The Courage to Believe God
6. Esther, Queen of Persia 97
The Courage to Challenge Injustice
7. Miriam, Sister of Moses 109
The Courage to Lead in a Man’s World
8. Deborah, Judge of Israel 125
The Courage to Fight
9. Jehosheba, Daughter of King Joram 137
The Courage to Protect
10. Mary, the Mother of Jesus 149
The Courage to Surrender
11. Mary of Bethany 161
The Courage to Worship
12. The Samaritan Woman 175
The Courage to Forgive
13. Mary Magdalene, Witness of Christ’s Resurrection 189
The Courage to Go First
14. Priscilla, Spiritual Daughter of the Apostle Paul 201
The Courage to Mentor Others
15. The Four Daughters of Philip the Evangelist 215
The Courage to Speak for God
Appendix: How to Begin Your Journey with God 227
Notes 230
Index 234
About the Author 237
Back Ad
Back Cover
Foreword
T hroughout the years I’ve spent writing and teaching, I’ve found godly men who have been not only gatekeepers but champions of women using all the gifts that God has given them. And I’m grateful for every single one. Their kind words, generous encouragement and gracious support have meant more than they will ever know.
While some may wonder why a man would write a book about women, I don’t ask such questions. Instead, I simply say thank-you.
Thank you, Lee Grady, for reminding us that God’s fearless daughters line the pages of the Bible. Each of their stories serves as a courageous call to follow God with abandon serving, loving, leading and leaning into all that God has for each one of us.
Throughout the upcoming pages, you’re going to hear stories of much-beloved as well as lesser-known women found in Scripture. Audacious faith, bold prayers and a passionate love for God mark their adventures. Each of these biblical stories is complemented by more modern examples of women from around the globe who are living courageous lives introducing people to Christ, helping free people from the entrapment of sin and transforming communities. Through vivid storytelling, we are reminded that the stories of Fearless Daughters of the Bible are meant to be all our stories. We’re called and created to be a people who pursue God with everything we’ve been given all for the glory of God.
My hope and prayer is that through the upcoming pages you’ll sense the areas in your own life where God is calling you to become more courageous. And along the way you’ll find yourself looking and acting even more like your heavenly Father.
Margaret Feinberg, Author of Scouting the Divine and The Sacred Echo ; www.margaretfeinberg.com
Introduction
Reclaiming Your Father’s Love
Y ou may wonder why a guy is writing a book for women. I am asked that question often since I speak at women’s events all over the world. I respond by telling people that I have been drowning in a sea of estrogen for more than two decades. God put me in a house full of women to show me how much He loves His daughters.
1985 was the year my wife, Deborah, and I had our first baby a girl we named Margaret. Less than two years later we had our second baby, another girl, Meredith. Almost two years later we had a third girl, Gloria. (We had multiple girls in disposable diapers at one time, and we probably have a landfill somewhere with the Grady name on it.) Three years after Gloria’s arrival we made room for Charlotte, our fourth daughter. Four girls in fewer than seven years!
I was in the delivery room for each birth, but I cannot say I did too much to help except stroke my wife’s arm, offer reassuring comments and stay out of the nurse’s way. I felt helpless while my wife strained, sweated, gasped and pushed. Birth is an awful, painful, bloody mess and quite humbling for a father who feels responsible for the pain yet cannot do a thing to alleviate it except pace the hospital floor.
In all but one case we knew we were having a girl because of an ultrasound image (Meredith crossed her legs for the picture to keep us guessing). But I can promise you that I never once felt a tinge of disappointment when I learned I would be the father of a daughter. I was overjoyed each time.
I will never forget when Margaret finally emerged from the birth canal around 7 A . M ., all slimy and shivering at her first contact with outside air. I burst into tears as soon as I heard her pitiful, whimpering cry. I was in awe as I studied her tiny feet, the cleft in her chin and the way the skin on her fingers had wrinkled in the amniotic fluid.
The reality hit me hard: I was a father, a