True Beauty: A Review

Each year Vision Forum hosts a very special weekend for fathers and daughters to deepen their relationships and to be encouraged. Although I have never been to one of these retreats I have had the pleasure this past month of listening to the eight CD set from last years retreat.

At the 2008 Father Daughter Discipleship Retreat speakers Doug Phillips, Scott Brown, Geoffrey Botkin and daughters Anna Sophia and Elizabeth Botkin brought six messages that were filled with biblical exhortation, practical advice and vision for biblical father daughter relationships. The issues addressed included how a daughter should relate to every member of her family, how to prepare for marriage to a godly courageous man, what a true beauty looks like, the Proverbs 31 woman, and how fathers are to protect the daughters in their home. Every message painted the picture of the biblical woman God wants each of us to become and aim for to His glory.

It took me several weeks to get through this set, there was just so much to chew on. I have read several books on the subject of biblical womanhood, yet I still find I need the fresh encouragement as it is a subject so highly contended not just in the culture of the world but the church as well. As I listened I was exhorted, I learned new things, I renewed my vision for what God wants me to become, and I was rebuked for where I have failed. All of the CDs were good, but if I were to pick a favorite it would be the message by Scott Brown on the Proverbs 31 woman. He presented 12 key principles from Proverbs 31 that should be the mark of a godly woman, I found this especially helpful in guiding me as I seek to educate and prepare my self toward that ideal.

If you too are looking for encouragement as a daughter remaining at home or are just catching the vision to return to your father's house you will find this set a great blessing. It would also be great if you and your father could listen to it together. To read more about this set or purchase it click this link to the Vision Forum website.

List of the CD titles included in True Beauty:

1. Foundation Vision for Father & Daughters ~ Doug Phillips
2. The Proverbs 31 Woman ~ Scott Brown
3. Transitions from Beautiful Girlhood to Noble Womanhood ~ Anna & Elizabeth Botkin
4. Beauty: What Is It? ~ Doug Phillips
5. Fathers, Daughters, & Family ~ Panel Discussion
6. Continued from CD 5
7. How to Prepare a Daughter for Marriage ~ Geoffrey Botkin
8. How Fathers Can Protect Their Daughters in a Defiling Age ~ Scott Brown
   

Ten P’s in a Pod: Book Review

A family on a mission: that describes the ten members of the Pent family in this humorous, but inspiring story. It was a mission that included traveling over a million miles, lots of faith, family unity, and consistent leadership. The rewards? A treasure laid up in heaven of many sons brought unto glory, and plenty of treasure left here on earth; including a book that will bless and encourage you as you build a vision for your family, present or future.

They were by no means your average American family from the 1950’s, in fact they named themselves “The World’s Most Unusually Family”. What made them so unusual? They were pioneers of home schooling (before the word was even in anyone’s vocabulary), they traveled singing and preaching the Gospel, and lived by faith not by bread alone but by the Word of God. Their father’s devotion to God’s word, not only for himself but for his family as well, was the sustaining force of their lives. He knew that the Scriptures were able to make his children, and all who heard them, wise unto salvation. As they traveled all those miles they had a great time and learned to love God and each other in a deep and meaningful way. Arnold and Persis Pent may have never been able to give their children much in the way the world’s wealth and success, but they gave them things much more meaningful. They trained them in the way of the Lord, the way that they should go, and gave them a life full of experiential faith and love.

When I started reading this book I was seeking to find a vision for my future family that would truly glorify God. I doubt I could have found a better book outside of God’s word to give me such a vision. I was challenged, encouraged and all around inspired to be more devoted to God and His Word. I hope that if I ever have a family of my own that we can live by the principles of God’s word as the Pent family did, but I hope as well, by God’s grace, to start living more fully by them now. This book was a real blessing to me and now ranks up there with my favorite books. I think that if you read it you will find it just as much a blessing.

To purchase this book visit this link to Vision Forum.