Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

ID93 - Wedding Reception - Part 6

Following are the blessings that my dad read at the reception:
From Bill & Diana Waring of Lake Stevens, WA, near Seattle (author of Beyond Survival and Reaping the Harvest plus other historical/musical resources for home educators)

Our Father God, Though we as Your children are separated by a vast ocean, yet we can join together in this moment to ask Your blessings on this marriage. We ask that by Your Spirit, You would increasingly root Pete and Genevieve in Your love, that they would be equipped by You to see with spiritual eyes-and increasingly comprehend with their hearts and minds-the width and length and depth and height of Your love which passes human understanding. We pray for them that their love for one another would be rooted and grounded and utterly entwined in You, so that as they grow in their love for You, their human love for each other would grow ever deeper, ever stronger, ever more encompassing. We ask that You would fill them to overflowing with the fullness of God, that they may experience the riches of knowing the day-to-day reality and presence of our Savior, Immanuel, God With Us. And, that in Your presence, as Your Word declares, there would be fullness of joy. We commit this marriage and these two precious people to You. We ask this in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Love you guys,
Bill & Diana

From Alfredo and Carmen Torres of San Antonio, Texas (parents of my close friend,
Lourdes, one of the daughters in The Return of the Daughters, and a young woman who
has been a real example to me of servanthood and femininity)

Dear Pete and Genevieve,
Here is the blessing Alfredo and I have for your wedding day. Thank you for giving us this special privilege. Blessed be the Lord, God Almighty, who before the foundations of the earth knew that you were for each other. On this day He is uniting your souls until death. Together may you serve the Lord, Christ Jesus, with all your heart, mind and soul. May the love for the vision God has given you grow each passing day. May you both glorify Him in the works He has prepared for you to walk in. May you take every God-given opportunity to give the gospel to a soul in want or to serve a saint in need. May the God of life bless you with many, many children; that together they may co-labor with you to further the Kingdom of Christ on earth. May your love for Jesus Christ grow deeper each day. May He continue to knit your hearts together and grow your love for one another stronger year after year. God bless and Keep your marriage always. To God be the glory!

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

From Geoffrey Botkin of San Antonio, Texas (father of Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin,
authors of So Much More, directors of The Return of the Daughters and close friends of
mine):

Dear Craig and Barbara,

Allow me to begin with this prayerful blessing: Pete and Genevieve, for the Glory of Christ alone, may you be the deliberate and conscientious parents of thousands of ten thousands, and may your descendants possess the gates of those who are determined to destroy Christendom from the face of the earth. May your children be as honorable with the Fifth Commandment as you have been, and may they all disciple millions of lesser-advantaged peoples in the Southern Hemisphere. May your family unity and example show many cultures the blessings of dominion as you extend the Crown Rights of Christ Jesus far outside the borders of Australia. May your blissful marriage recover and model the picture of the Christian home, and may your estate be a great incubator of economic success, civil society, righteousness and applied theology as you work together to build a multigenerational dynasty. And may the Lord your God sustain you both with ever-increasing happiness. So be it. Amen.

Since I have known Genevieve, I have regarded her as the kind of historical heroine about whom such a prayer and blessing would be fitting. This is one reason I have prayed so desperately to God to find her the right husband. Craig, the daughter you give away today has been very precious to our family for many reasons. In past years, I have prayed with great urgency for a good husband for Genevieve because she is such a special and important asset to the Kingdom of God.

It was with special urgency I was praying for her on her last visit to the US. I confess there were times I despaired of her finding a worthy mate in New Zealand and cried out with a mixture of emotions as Genevieve bravely and confidently returned to serve her earthly father, trusting her heavenly father for her future. She was magnificent in faith and her radiant love for her father was noticed and remembered by many in the US.

I want to tell you how sorry we all are we cannot be with you to see that victorious moment which represents God’s great sovereignty in joining Genevieve and Pete in covenantal marriage. Her marriage is especially glorious to me because it so vividly represents God’s goodness, his faithfulness, his majesty, his love and his providential plan for history in leading Genevieve to Pete at exactly the right moment in history.

Genevieve is one of the greatest heroines I know. Her testimony in standing with her father is now a popular story in the US which has become legendary for the right reasons. I believe this marriage will become legendary for the right reasons. With the greatest of affection and overflowing joy, I remain your faithful and loving friend,

Geoffrey Botkin

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

Genevieve de Deugd

Issacharian Wife

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Dear Girls,

The next newsletter is below. 

Warm regards,

Genevieve

Introduction

Name: Judith

Introduction: Dear Genevieve,

Greetings from England!

My name is Judith. I'm 24 years old. I live in England with
my parents and younger sisters. I found Issacharian
Daughters through Anne Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin's
website, Visionary Daughters. I've been SO blessed by
reading through the archives and I've enjoyed (and been
encouraged by) each of the more recent newsletters as
you've published them on your website. I live at home and
embrace my parents' guidance and protection in a culture
that mocks young ladies who seek to be godly and virtuous
and attacks their desires to live at home and prepare to be
wives and mothers. It's SO refreshing to read your words
and to know that I'm not alone in this battle! There ARE
other young ladies with similar convictions and ideals.
Thank God for the fellowship He provides! 

May you and your husband and your little one be
blessed richly beyond all measure!

In Messiah,

Judith

ID092 - Wedding Reception - Part 5

Following is the speech that Pete de Deugd, my new husband, gave at the reception:

About 18 months ago, I was in town waiting for some machinery parts to be made at a local engineering firm, when on a whim I thought I’d pop in on an old work colleague.

During our conversation, the inevitable question came up, “Have you met anyone yet?” The conversation concluded with my friend saying, “So let me get this straight…you are writing to a man you have never met, about a lady you have never met, in a country you have never been to????????!!”

Well. “Yes!” And the next chapter in the tale is even better.

On a Sunday evening in June last year, I was on an Auckland/Palmy flight, and the air hostess announced that we would be making the decent to Palmerston North. I knew that Mr Smith would only have invited me over to New Zealand if he believed it was worthwhile.

So there I was.just 15 minutes away, after having written to Mr Smith for almost a year, potentially about to meet my future wife at the airport! I did meet the family, but no Genevieve!! She had to collect young Gracie who had caught a ride up the nearby escalator.

Then I saw her! And in her wonderful face I saw gentleness, confidence and sincerity. Over the past months I have seen that these traits characterize Genevieve. It doesn’t end there either.

It’s been inspiring to witness her faith, her loyalty, insightfulness, diligence, self-control,charity and the fastest touch-typing I have ever seen!

I have been calling Genevieve a little pet name. But before I tell you what it is let me mention something about my own hometown. Ballarat was one of the first and I think the largest gold rush town in Victoria.

Funnily enough, many of the miners from the Californian goldrush were amongst those who flooded into Victoria looking for a rich claim in Ballarat.

Ballarat has a historic tourist township, and while I was working there, I learnt that the gold miners would tunnel along the seams of quartz rock, remotely hoping their quartz seam would intersect with an old dry riverbed. The reason being that the quarts seam/river bed intersection would almost certainly contain a rich gold deposit called a mother lode - hence the term.

On occasion I’ve called Genevieve my mother lode, because she is my rich treasure, a lady of rare virtue and beauty.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank her father (a Californian no less!) for granting me the honor and priviledge of caring for and having his daughter’s hand in marriage. I would also like to say a special thank you to Mr & Mrs Smith for fostering a close friendship and camaraderie with Genevieve over the years.

It would seem to me that one of the greatest wedding presents a groom can receive comes from his new parents in-law, particularly the bride’s father.

It is the special gift of knowing that one’s bride is acquainted with strong feelings of friendship, trust and respect for the man who first held her in his arms, then carried her on his shoulders and finally lead her down the aisle. It is a gift to know too that she has heard firm words such as, “No, child,” as well the tender words of, “Yes, Princess?” So Mr Smith, I would just like to say thank you for being both my wife’s father and friend over the years.

As for things at my end, my parents have also been my closest friends. Through thick and thin (he he. a lot of thin), Mum and Dad have rallied around. Few friends (if any) would stick by, encourage and support in the way that my parents have. I will always remember the 2am morning teas with my mum, as we took shifts operating machines to fill army contracts.

So thank you, Mum and Dad for your care, direction and support all these years. And Andrew, although we have been geographically apart much of our adult lives, we have shared very similar roads. Sometimes there has been an ocean between us, a long drive, or just a silo wall. We have always bridged these things for each other in a flash as needed, and I’m sure we always will.

Actually, Andrew has a new understanding of engagement too. He hasn’t been able to get Mum or Dad on the phone for months!!!

Pete went on to give a number of thank yous to folks who had helped with the wedding and finished by thanking me for marrying him. Something he still does to this day. And I’m always thanking him for asking me!

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

Genevieve de Deugd

Issacharian daughter

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

ID091 - Wedding Reception - Part 4

Following is the speech that Pete’s best man, Jonathan Field, gave at the reception. Jonathan is also the man who recommended me to Pete. He tells the story of his involvement in our courtship in his speech.

G’day all,
My name is Jonathan Field and in case the accent hasn’t already betrayed it, I come from the West Island of New Zealand-also known as Australia. Today is a special day for all of us-most especially for Pete & Genevieve, but also for us their myriad family and friends as we rejoice in God’s goodness and anticipate God’s rich blessing both on and through this marriage.

I’m thrilled to be celebrating with you all, and thrilled to see so many in attendance. Today is a day to rejoice, and I thank you for joining the celebrations.

There are many people and unusual circumstances through which the Lord brought Pete & Genevieve together. I was one of the cogs in the Lord’s wheel, if I may so say it, and in fact have the unique privilege of being one of only three people in the entire universe who knew both Pete and Genevieve long before they finally met. This is their story, and I’d like to share it with you. But even moreso, this is God’s story, and we have all been thoroughly delighted to see His hand at work.

Pete

I first saw Pete in about July 2003 at a friend’s 21st birthday party, although I don’t specifically recall him from that event. My first recollection of Pete is roughly a year or two later (in March 2005) at a bonfire held on his parents’ farm in country Victoria, just north of Ballarat. Ballarat is roughly two and a half hours west of Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria in Australia where we live, and Pete’s parents own roughly 80 acres of land just north of Ballarat. Technically speaking, they live in Coghills Creek, a place so tiny you’ll hardly find it on the map. And I must confess that a few wrong turns jeopardized my chances of arrival, but in the darkness I finally saw the roaring flames of the bonfire and knew I had arrived. To my surprise and delight, I already knew many of the people there- invariably friends through homeschooling-and so passed a very pleasant evening. I met Henk, Pete’s father, that evening, and remember enjoying a good chat and being impressed with his sincere passion for truth and righteousness.

Many of us slept over that night-myself in an open-air hammock near the dying fire-and then attended church with Pete the next morning, heading home en-masse early or mid afternoon. I got into conversation with Pete, and we discovered much in common, and I ended up staying late into the night that Sunday after all other guests had departed. In the end I caught a few hours kip and left at some unearthly hour on Monday morning! That’s how many hours we spent in conversation!

It was truly delightful to begin to get to know Pete. I don’t think I’d ever even heard of him or his family before, but we quickly discovered much in common. Both home-schooled-and proud of it. Both running a business-him in woodworking, and myself in computer software. Both passionate about seeing Christ and His truth impact every aspect of culture and lifestyle. Both committed to seeing every aspect of life as “sacred”, instead of buying into the false “sacred/secular divide”. And despite some differences in theological background, we discovered that the outworking of our faith was very similar indeed.

And here I must stress how extremely refreshing it was to meet Pete. Those who have been running a business for any great length of time, know how very different a mindset is required for running a business than for being an employee. Not that one is good and one is bad, but simply that employed friends rarely comprehend the struggles and stresses of business life. In addition, open, honest, trustworthy, passionately committed Christian young men who really think about every aspect of their life and let Scripture shape every aspect of their thinking-such men are rare and delightful treasures indeed-and when I find them, I like to stay in touch!

These are the men with whom I hope to see Christ’s purposes outworked in the decades to come. For those who don’t know Pete, he’s an honest, reliable, hard-working, Truth-loving disciple of Christ. He’s a country fella-or “country bloke” as we say in Australia. He’s very skillful with his hands. He’s a “philosopher” in the original sense of the word-a lover of wisdom. And, taking after his God, he has a strong creative flair too-evidenced in creative innovations in business, as well as decorative woodwork, metalwork, and even the occasional prose. I am proud to call him “friend”.

Now, I should say-and this is very important later in the story-that there is another thing Pete and I had in common. And it came out quickly in conversation. We’re both very, hmmm, particular about what we were looking for in a future wife. We both knew dozens, if not hundreds, of “nice Christian women”, but we both had a very strong sense of marriage as a calling with God-ordained purposes that wouldn’t simply be fulfilled by niceness alone. And as we compared checklists, if I may be so brutally honest, we discovered even a great similarity in the kinds of things we did and did not want in a future wife.

And because it is relevant, let me take a moment to list some of the things that Pete was
looking for :

• He wanted a wife who recognized that work is not merely something that a man must do in order to survive, but is in fact a noble calling and blessing designed by God Himself.

• He wanted a wife who recognized, valued, and joyfully embraced her calling as his primary earthly helper.

• He wanted a wife who was not afraid to undertake the different, the difficult, or the new. Who knows what challenges may come in the years ahead, and a woman who crumbles at the first sign of challenge or change, is not the kind of help we need! And the calling of helper-as Proverbs 31 demonstrates-may engage the woman in ways beyond what Western tradition recognizes.

• He wanted a wife who was passionately committed to letting Scripture impact and shape every aspect of her life.
• He wanted a wife who understood and loved theology-not merely able to recite the “what”s, but also with a good grasp of the deeper “why”s.
• He wanted a wife who loves children, and looks forwards to raising a new generation of culture-shapers.
• And in case that wasn’t enough, he also wanted his wife to be of compatible sense of humor, easy-going nature (i.e. not a “stress-head”), pretty, and with a creative flair.

Understandably, Pete was having some difficulty finding the girl of his dreams.

Genevieve

I first met the Smith family four years ago in January or February 2004. I had been studying at the Reformed Theological College in Geelong, and made fast friends with a vibrant Christian man there named David Waldron-known to most of you. I love New Zealand, and travel here every few years, and David, knowing my interest in home-schooling, suggested that I meet the Smith family on my next visit to New Zealand-as they run a prominent home schooling organization in New Zealand, and are passionate committed Christians. I travel widely, and I very deliberately network very widely-especially within the body of Christ, and lengthy journeys on far more tenuous connections have been made on many an occasion.

I’d also been interested in taking my only sister with me on my next trip to New Zealand. And so it was finally organized. Sophia (my sister) and I would spend two weeks in New Zealand, on a busy schedule involving visits to Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Feilding, and Marton, visiting many friends new and old. It was a delightful time. We spent two nights with the Smiths. They were extremely busy at the time, running a conference and hosting other international guests. And so our interaction was very limited. But what interaction we had was very good. I remember cleaning up after dinner one night, I think I was trying to help with the dishes or something. Genevieve was also involved in the cleanup, and we began discussing life, the universe, and everything, as those who know me know I am wont to do. I was quickly impressed with the depth of thought behind her convictions, and with her gentle, personable manner. She was clearly a woman of many virtues.

She was also a prolific reader, having read many good non-fiction books. And she was also home-schooled, and had been exposed to some of the same influences as I. So we found a great deal in common and a great deal to discuss. I was interested in her book-importation ministry-having been interested myself in importing good Christian resources into Australia. And she had access to some excellent Christian messages on audio tape which she had license to distribute freely, and which were well worth disseminating widely. At some point during our short visit, Genevieve gave me a copy of a “wanted” poster she had drawn up-somewhat in jest-advertising for a good Godly husband. Unbeknowst to her, I had reasons for not counting her as a “prospect”, despite her many and evident virtues, and unbeknownst to me, she had her own entirely different reasons for not counting me as a “prospect”. I was trying in my manner of communication to be open and friendly but to not imply non-existent “interest”. Genevieve showed me a copy of the poster, as it was relevant to a discussion we were having, and I asked if I could keep a copy-there were a few fine young Christian men in Melbourne whom I thought at the time might find a woman of her virtues worth pursuing.

And so we parted. For my part, I was greatly encouraged to meet a woman of her passionate commitment to Christ, and her conscious, deliberate application of God’s Word. Whilst she wasn’t the woman I was looking for, it encouraged me in my wait for the one of great virtue who would be my own.

Pete & Genevieve

The art of match-making is not usually practiced by young unmarried men, but why, I ask, should old wrinkled European women get all the fun?

Yes, the allegations are true. I suggested to Pete that he find out more about this Genevieve Smith. The distance seemed insurmountable, and the suggestion went nowhere. Months later, I suggested it again. And I think a third time. But understandably, he was hesitant. His only knowledge of this lass was my report of her virtues, and my assessment of their mutual suitability, and he had no simple way of confirming things for himself. In addition, how could he begin to get to know her without risking his preliminary investigations being interpreted as an irreversible commitment? Real risks, no action taken, and many more months passed.

In the providence of God, I traveled to the USA in July 2006 to participate in some fossil digs in Texas, USA. Whilst in the USA, it worked out very neatly for me to spend a week in Virginia attending a Vision Forum conference. It so happened-we didn’t plan it this way- that Genevieve Smith also attended the same conference. It was our second time meeting and we got on well-the only two representatives from our respective countries and the two furthest from home attending the conference.

I felt strongly that she and Pete would make a great match, but how to encourage things in that direction? Further, how could I be sure Genevieve was still ‘unattached’? I plucked up courage, and at risk of having things horribly misinterpreted, I asked Genevieve why it is that she and some other virtuous Christian women we both knew or knew of, were still single into their mid to late 20s, when they are so passionate about marrying and helping their husband and raising a family? I said “Surely any astute young man would be looking for a woman like this-why haven’t they snapped you up by now?”

It was a serious question on my part. How do so many young women with such evident qualities and ready for and desiring marriage, remain unselected for so long? But in addition, I was trying to find out if she was still “available”. And I confess I felt horribly awkward asking the question, but I knew that my motivation was right and that the reason for my question would soon be revealed.

And things moved fairly quickly from there. After my return to Australia, I emailed Genevieve, and acknowledged that what I was doing was highly unusual, and didn’t fit the standard models found in the typical courtship books, but there was a very worthy young man I had commended her to, and what would be the best way for him to learn more about her without being irrevocably committed to marriage thereby? She suggested getting the young man to email her father.

I spoke with Pete, and he was cautiously interested, and willing to begin walking that road. I had raved on Genevieve’s many qualities to Pete, so he already knew something about her, but the Smiths knew nothing of Pete. So to give them the same advantage, I wrote them an email of introduction, raving on Pete’s many qualities. Both Pete and Genevieve are very rave-worthy.

Introductions made, I stepped out of the way, and the rest was up to them. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Closing Remarks

This story is a remarkable story of God’s trustworthiness. I said that there were only three people who knew both Pete and Genevieve before introductions were made. One was, of course, myself. Another was my sister Sophia who was with me in New Zealand when I met the Smiths. The third, of course-and most importantly-is Jehovah Jireh, God Himself. He knew Pete & Genevieve inside and out. He knew His calling on their lives. He knew their strengths and weaknesses, and how best to bless them and equip them for future fruitfulness. He knew, and He designed for them a “match made in Heaven”. And today we share in their joy and celebrate God’s goodness. In hindsight, it’s interesting to note that I met Pete and Genevieve within about six months of each other. Of course, I had no idea at the time that I would later be introducing one to the other, but in the providence of God, He already had it in mind.

God has done great things, and we are glad because of them. This day was made by the Lord. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Finally, I would like to briefly acknowledge the unusual-and oftentimes humorous-ways in which the Lord works. Pete met Genevieve through my introduction. But I met the Smiths- and hence Genevieve-through David Waldron’s introduction. But how did David know the Smiths? Well, he became good friends with them years ago when Mount Ruapehu started rumbling seriously. Houses were being evacuated, and without going into detail, one family offered emergency accommodation to the other, and they became good friends. Without the volcano, there might never have been that strong Smith-Waldron friendship. Without that friendship, there might never have been the Field-Smith connection. And without the Field-Smith connection, there might never have been the joyful event we’re celebrating today. Thus, in God’s good providence, and perhaps showing God’s sense of humour, we can quite literally say that God used a volcano to bring Pete & Genevieve together.

Blessing

Pete & Genevieve, may your marriage be fruitful. May joy, peace, and hospitality mark your home. May your children rise up and call you blessed, and walk in the ways of the Lord. May His favour and grace be on you and with you in all that you do. May His Word in your mouth touch people and nations. We rejoice with you, we thank God for what He’s done, is doing and will do, in, through and for you, and we stand with you, believe with you, and pray with you for God’s good pleasure to be accomplished in your lives and family, from this day forward.

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

Genevieve de Deugd

Issacharian Wife

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

ID090 - Wedding Reception - Part 3

24 Nov 2008

Following is the speech that my father, Craig Smith, gave at the reception:
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have witnessed in my own household the most remarkable sequence of events, developments which, on a day to day basis only occasionally attracted notice. But over time they have amounted to a tidal wave of change, a massive paradigm shift.

Genevieve went from being a gung-ho pursuer of academic excellence and qualifications, striving for notoriety and to make earth-shattering changes in both the people and the environments around her; from being a power dresser who acted as a bailiff for a law firm, serving subpoenas and debt collections with harshness, firmness and intimidation. She was good. Then she returned from her two years in the USA, where she had quite an encounter with the Lord, so much so that even Doug Phillips of Vison Forum told me, “I think Genevieve had a sort of epiphany while she was here.” Amen to that.

Upon her return, Genevieve immediately set about lifting jobs from my shoulders. One was debt collecting from the dark days, now happily gone, when we were landlords. “I can do that,” she told me. “I’ve done it heaps.” Before the day was out she was returning the papers to me with the apology that she just couldn’t face doing it anymore. That I could understand.I hated doing it. But the thing that struck me was that Genevieve knew precisely why she couldn’t do it any more: it wasn’t the kind of job the model of a Proverbs 31 Godly woman, toward which she was striving to become, was meant to be doing. Debt collecting was calling upon her to take on masculine, aggressive characteristics that she no longer wanted to have.

Genevieve has always been a good communicator. At her birth, when the weighing and bathing were completed and Barbara was taken away for a shower, Genevieve and I were left alone in the room. I bent over and talked quietly about how the Lord God was going to bless her and our future together. She fixed her eyes on me, folks, and while she didn’t say much, we communicated.

She has worked on communication especially hard in the last few years: to be clear, concise, endeavouring to recruit people to her position by employing the communication principles the Bible commends: graciousness, friendliness, respect, yet not compromising on matters of urgency and moral non-negotiables. When she was nine, she wrote a letter to the New Zealand Minister of Finance, David Caygill, who had introduced a bill to tax children’s bank accounts. I explained this Bill to her and on her own she promptly wrote a scorching letter saying to the Minister,

I think it’s disgraceful that you are taxing our savings, so calm your greedy fingers down a little.

The Opposition spokesman on Finance, Ruth Richardson, was sent a copy of this letter and she immediately invited Genevieve to Parliament for what turned out to be a Press Conference. Genevieve had three points to tell Ms Richardson. She explained the first one and then Ruth launched into some political speech for the benefit of the rolling cameras. Genevieve reached out her hand and laid it on Ruth’s arm, stopping her speech. “Yes, Genevieve?” “I haven’t finished yet. I have two more points.”

So when Genevieve returned from the USA, she then set about changing her personal habits of speech.and controlling the way she responded or reacted to things.and how she dressed.and she re-evaluated her relationship with each other member of the family and strove to improve them in any way that it was possible for her to do. When the rest of us would blurt out criticism of some family member’s actions or words, with a harsh or sarcastic edge in our voices, Genevieve would pause for a moment and consider how better to respond. Then you would see a master at work as she gently and yet authoritatively and yet submissively would sort of suggest yet sort of guide the person to see the situation in a different light. She could do that with her siblings; she could do that with me. It has been remarkable to watch.

And most remarkable of all is that when she received unjust and undeserved criticism and even vitriol from siblings or those outside the family, she would respond with gentle, loving kindness. It was Romans 12:21 in action where it says, “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

As the years ticked by and all the predictable buzz about her getting older and being left on the shelf floated around- insensitivities endured by plenty of women in this very room-Genevieve determined not to be affected by it. So what should she be focussed on in the meantime? Pursuing academic excellence and practical excellence in the things to which she-like the general calling to all women of God-has been called: to be a helpmeet. And I and her mother have been the prime beneficiaries of this wife and mother and homemaker in training as she took over the shopping, budgeting, tidying up, menu planning, cooking, child rearing and even parts of the home education.not to mention the accounting, correspondence, editing, typesetting, proofreading and so forth for the Home Education Foundation. And she still had time to start up an international weekly newsletter plus bookselling business. And pattern drafting and sewing lessons and bread-making classes and cooking with herbs lessons. The latest was to take massage lessons to ease Pete’s weary shoulders after a hard day’s work.

Back in ‘04 when our son Zach set the date for his marriage to his lovely wife Megan in the USA, Genevieve and Charmagne hatched the plot for them to go over a couple months early and work for Megan’s dad in order to earn the cash to help pay for the rest of the family to get over there for the wedding. The name of the game is making personal sacrifices in order to advance the interests of others. And Pete! When I had the privilege of first getting to know Pete, I found a guy so remarkable I couldn’t help but say to everyone I met, “I thought they’d stopped making people like Pete!”

He would routinely undersell himself, but as I scratched his surface, all I ever found was pure gold. I cannot say I’ve ever seen before, embodied in one person, such discipline, talent, creativity, commitment to what is right, and a vision for godly dominion over the earth through unwavering habits of honest, debt-free work to a high standard of excellence. And Pete is a communicator too! When he first came to visit and stayed for 10 days, Pete and I stayed up late nearly every night talking about things.he’d report on his impressions, would ask advice about how he was coming across, wonder if he was too forward or not paying enough attention to others; I’d probe his background; we’d discuss Genevieve’s many attributes. Pete was a thorough gentleman and went out of his way to pay respect to us all and especially to honour Barbara and I as Genevieve’s parents. This was a good move. It set him way out there on his own. It won our hearts.

And very early every next morning, Genevieve and I would take a long walk and discuss the many new and exciting attributes of Pete’s that we had each discovered since our last talk together. Folks, these were exciting times!

There was a landowner on a steep hill early last century who needed to hire a man to drive his family down the switchback trail to town now and again. Three applicants turned up, and he took them to the sharpest curve with the steepest drop. He asked the first applicant how close he reckoned he could drive the coach to the edge of the curve without going over. The young fellow eyed up the curve, kicked at the dirt and announced he could get to within 12 inches.

The landowner posed the same question to the second applicant who made a similar survey and boasted that he could surely get those coach wheels to about six inches from the edge. When the third applicant was asked what he thought he could do, he replied, “Well, sir, I don’t know how close I could get, and I’m not really interested in finding out. If I’m to drive your family down this hill, I’m going to keep the horses and the coach as far to the inside of the curve and to safety as I possibly can.” The landowner’s instantaneous response was, “Son, you’re hired!”

Tying that tale back into my speech, I’ll say this: Pete and Genevieve have taken a similar approach to their physical interaction during this courtship and engagement period-I mean they’ve discussed these kinds of things at length-you know, instead of seeing how close they could get without falling off the cliff, they’d see how far apart. Hey, this engagement period ended today.you’re married now! Man, you’re going to have to come up with a new strategy for physical interaction.

During their courtship, Pete would initiate only such things as they both knew would please God, pass muster with both sets of parents and that would not cause either of them the slightest twinge of conscience now or later. They did not take every opportunity to hive off alone somewhere but stayed close to the family. Genevieve was always dressed so elegantly. Pete was never seen without collar and tie. Pete would ask my permission to take Genevieve out for a walk into town. These actions, in pursuit of holiness, righteousness and purity, have not only secured a greater level of love and trust in one another, greatly enhancing their future married life, it has secured the everlasting thankfulness and blessing of their parents, Henk & Sue, Barbara and myself.

Pete & Genevieve, may the Lord our God richly reward and honour you for doing your utmost to honour Him.

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

Genevieve de Deugd

Issacharian Wife

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

ID089 - Wedding Reception - Part 2

17 Nov 2008

Dear Girls,

Following is the speech that my father-in-law, Henk de Deugd, gave at the reception:

Opportunity & Privilege

“I count this opportunity to talk to this fine gathering of family and friends an honor and privilege. Let me commence by saying how proud I am of both of my sons, Andrew and Peter.

Andrew lives in Moree, NSW and grows the famous Australian hard prime wheat and in addition operates an agricultural contracting business. Peter operates a wood milling and wood product manufacturing business in a little place called Coghills Creek north of Ballarat in Victoria. Both Andrew and Pete are entrepreneurs, talented business men, and they both love freedom and private enterprise. They are very committed to their respective callings, they are enthusiastic, and possess thatDutch determination and tenacity.

Furthermore, they understand the importance of obedience to God’s Law-Word, and that blessings flow from that obedience. Today is a real special occasion for the de Deugd and Smith families because today marks the beginning of a whole lot of new relationships, friendships, and the formation of a much larger extended family.

A Little About Sue & I

Many of you know a lot about Pete already. I know that, because of all the emails that have been received in response to the engagement story in Genevieve’s newsletter. Recently, someone asked Sue what her secret was in training boys to grow up to be like Pete and Andrew. I won’t elaborate on what Sue said, but let me tell you a little about us, the people who have shaped the lives of both Andrew and Pete.

First, let me tell you that the shaping process started for me by marrying a Christian girl, one specially chosen and created to be my helper. Sue is Godly, gracious, gentle and loving and unswerving in her support of me as head of the family, and she is everything that I am not! Second, we provided a challenging environment for our boys, one in which their masculinity could develop. This included having old cars, go-carts, welding equipment, a pulling-thingsapart place, water rafts and going camping, hay carting through the night, hunting, and so on.

Third, we have encouraged family business which involves dad, mum and the children. Family business is a real good way to build character, practice innovation and develop entrepreneurship.

And fourth, we have built a home that encourages family worship, and around the meal table debates which tackle the tough, “Why?” questions. This, briefly, is the way we have grown together as a family.

About Pete

Let me now focus on Pete a little more, and tell you some things not commonly know. Everyone thinks Pete is a cabinet maker, a wood worker, a maker of fine furniture. This is true, but not altogether accurate. Pete is an inventor and entrepreneur. He sees opportunities everywhere. He is also a practical scientist and engineer. I think of him as a Manufacturing Process Engineer. Often we would sit at the kitchen table for morning or afternoon tea and out would come the blunt pencil, the old envelope and he would say, “I think I can shave about 30 seconds off the process by …. and this will make the product more competitive in the marketplace.” If after the conversation we agreed, then there would be a flurry of activity, and I would say to Sue late that night, “Where is Pete?” “Oh,” she would say, “He is in the shed making a new machine-you know the one that is going to take another 30 seconds off the process!”

In this context, Pete’s business continues to grow and that mainly by word of mouth. He is building a solid reputation for his manufacturing skill. Furthermore, Pete has clearly established his calling, and it is this calling that Genevieve has identified with, and really appreciates. She has seen the real opportunity in making this a family business. Her dad and others will tell more about Genevieve and how this day has come about.

About Genevieve

Now what do Sue and I think about Genevieve? Well, Genevieve, you are beautiful, attractive, chaste, modest and now married to a very special man. Not only that, you are capable, intelligent, virtuous, and your gifts, abilities, and character superbly compliment Pete’s entrepreneurial and innovative talents. I am excited to know, that you will stand by Pete, and strengthen his calling by ably complementing him in the many areas of life. I am even more excited to know that you appreciate and desire to help Pete build his family business, and be a friend to all his friends and family.

I am also pleased that you and Pete have a multigenerational focus, and want to establish a
sure foundation for your children’s, children.

About the Future

Over the last six months or so, Pete shared with me some of the conversation he has had with Genevieve about the future. Recently, I asked Pete, “How does Genevieve picture married life to be like?” He replied, somewhat starry-eyed, “She says I am really wonderful, so much so that she looks forward to a whole lot of little Petes running around. And what did you tell her I asked? He immediately replied, “Genevieve is so wonderful that I am looking forward to seeing a lot of little Genevieve running around.” Well, as I see it, both families will need more process engineers, designers, farmers, secretaries, lawyers, environmental engineers, plumbers, etc, so we look to God for His blessing in this regard.

Now, Genevieve I know you are a visionary and multigenerational thinker and this is certainly an advantage because it makes the present hardships easier to manage. In thinking long and hard about this multigenerational perspective, I thought to myself, how can I encourage you both?
Well, I snuck into the innovator’s bedroom looking for a clue for an answer to my question. Surprise, surprise, on the wall that doesn’t have exotic timbers stored against it, I noted a shelf with some interesting things on it that Pete has gathered over the years. These things obviously mean a lot to him. On this shelf is a very old decorative timber trinket box, a special old red wine glass, a ship’s captain’s wheel with a bell mounted in the centre of it, and…

Next to that ship’s wheel was something very special-something very durable. Genevieve, I quietly took this from that top shelf so that I would have the priviledge of giving it to you.

This, Genevieve, is a multigenerational gift for your little Petes. These are about 30 years old. They would have been secondhand when we got them and have been on some special little feet. This is the end of my speech but today is the beginning of the establishment of a new extended trustee family. Welcome Genevieve. We will love you like our own daughter!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

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

Genevieve de Deugd

Issacharian Wife

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters #088 - Wedding Reception Part 1

Dear Girls,

The next newsletter is attached. (because there are no notes this time I am adding this below instead of in a  pdf)

Warm regards,

Genevieve

ID088 - Wedding Reception - Part 1 

10 Nov 2008

In the weeks leading up to the wedding people would ask my family and I, “Are you stressed?” And in the week before the wedding people would say to us, “Now, don’t tell us that you aren’t stressed!” Days before the wedding someone bought us all little stress balls to squeeze.

And yet these comments had my family and I all flummoxed. We weren’t stressed. Rather we were really enjoying this time leading up the wedding.

We were not relieved of stress because we had handed the whole wedding over to a wedding planner and were now simply sitting back sipping pina coladas while waiting for the big day to arrive.

No, the wedding was a project that my whole family took on and we were blessed with a great deal of help from our church and from friends. We did the wedding on a budget and tried to be resourceful and creative to keep outgoings minimal. Friends donated bunches and bunches of lavender which was made up in bundles for each table at the reception.

More lavender and help was given to make wedding favour lavender bottles as well. And a friend also helped us to make chocolate cameos which were put at each place at the reception. We fashioned the reception meal after a very successful Reformation Day party dinner our church had put on. The dinner was fresh breads and buns, cold meats, cheeses and soup-very simple, but hearty, and much talked about. We figured it was the perfect menu for our reception since we would be self-catering and needed to keep preparation as simple as a meal like this allowed. Dessert was wedding cake, fresh fruit, fruit kebabs and after dinner mints. A baker at our church made all the fresh bread for us and women from church and other places made the soups-big jobs considering we were catering for 350.

One of Dad’s friends heads up a church youth group which is very service-oriented. He said that under the oversight of a talented woman he knew, the young folks could prepare and serve the food at the reception-that it would be a great service activity for the group. We gladly accepted this offer of help. It was a real blessing.

Our church loaned us lots of tables, chairs, plates and cutlery for the reception dinner and a friend with a flat-bed truck along with a crew of others helped us to transport it all to the reception venue the day before the wedding. Another friend was just closing up a portable and homebased cafe and catering business. She loaned us screeds of equipment to make life easier for the folks who were preparing and serving the food at the reception.

Our family was ever so grateful for all this help. And delighted because it made the wedding so much more of a community affair. It was very significant to me that the community I had grown up in and been influenced and nurtured by would take part in so important a step in my life.

Apart from all this help-and we couldn’t have pulled off the wedding without it-my family and I believe the occasion was so pleasant and stress-free because of:

A. Dad’s leadership. He initiated all the strategy meetings and kept things underway.

B. The way my family embraced the wedding as a family project. We had worked together on things before and enjoyed working together. It was natural to now work on the wedding together.

C. The way my sister, Charmagne, and I were at home. We weren’t having to juggle outside work. We could dedicate a lot of time and energy to the wedding in the relaxed atmosphere of our home. This was pretty key. Charmagne did a lot towards the wedding. She made and decorated the wedding cake, designed and made my wedding dress, her bridesmaid dress, the flower girl’s dress, my sister Gracie’s dress, the 14 maiden daughters dresses (drafted and cut out all though only sewed up two), cravats/European ties for Pete and his groomsman, boutonnieres for these two and Pete’s and my mothers, Mum’s outfit and she put together a feather basket for the flower girl and with the help of another friend assembled all the flower bouquets for herself, myself and the maiden daughters. And this is just the beginning! If either of us had been out working 9-5 then I think the time before the wedding would have been stressful. But it wasn’t and this was a wonderful and unanticipated blessing of being daughters at home.

Friends and enthusiastic supporters of Pete’s and my
courtship, the Schultz family, wrote and recorded a
blessing song for us. They couldn’t attend the wedding but
we played the DVD of the song at the reception.

May the Lord be Glorified
(Pete’s and Genevieve’s Song)
Groom (imagine a male voice singing):
From this moment till I die, I will love you as my life
(Ephesians 5v28, 33)
I will leave my family, and will cleave only to thee
(Genesis 2v24, Ephesians 6v31)
With God’s Word I will wash you, I will lead and protect you
(Ephesians 5v26)
As God’s faithfulness is true, with His strength I will be too
(Lamentations 3v22, 23; Psalm 119v90)
Bride (imagine a female voice singing):
From this moment till I die, I will be your chosen bride
(Romans 7v2-3; Proverbs 18v22)
And these vows that I will say, bind our hearts in Christ
always
(Ephesians 5v31, 1 Peter 3v7)
I will love and reverence you, and I will submit to you
(Ephesians 5v22, 33; 1 Peter 3v1)
As God’s faithfulness is true, with His strength I will be too
(Lamentations 3v22-23; Psalm 119v90)
Together:
Now our hearts are one in Christ, and heirs of the grace of
life
(Malachi 2v15; 1 Peter 3v7)
What God has joined together, let no man put asunder
(Matthew 19v6)
With God’s blessing we will seek, to raise Godly offspring
(Genesis 1v28; Malachi 2v15)
Now as we live man and wife, may the Lord be glorified
(1 Peter 5v10-11)
May the Lord be glorified

Pete and I treasure this blessing song, particularly the
prayer it contains that the Lord would be glorified by our
marriage.

During the reception my brother, Zach, initiated toasts to Mr and Mrs de Deugd and to my parents as well-honouring and thanking them. My brother, Alanson, toasted Pete and I. We also had speeches by Mr de Deugd, Dad, the best man and Pete. And Dad read out some blessings from people who had played a significant part in my life and who were unable to attend the wedding. I hope, Lord willing, to share these in future newsletters.

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

Genevieve de Deugd

Issacharian Wife

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters #087 - Maiden Daughters

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters #086 - Wedding Ceremony Part 4

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Dear Girls,

Attached is the next newsletter. Click this link to see the photos and article:  id085-wedding-ceremony-part-3

Regards,

Genevieve de Deugd

.

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters #084 - Wedding Ceremony Part 2

Website: http://www.issacharian.com
Archived newsletters: www.issacharian.com/?page=daughters

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters #083 - Wedding Ceremony Part 1

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters #082 - Order of Service

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters #081 - Wedding Invitation

Dear Girls,

Here is the next newsletter id081-wedding-invitation

We welcome introductions from any of the readers of the 
Issacharian Daughters newsletter. If any of you would like to
introduce yourself or are interested in networking with other
readers feel free to email me an introduction. Tell us about
yourself and your family and what the Lord has been teaching
you and why you are doing what you are doing. It is now also
possible to send in an introduction online at
http://www.issacharian.com. 

Regards,
Genevieve

Name: Anna Hartlaub

Introduction: I am 13 years old and live in the country with my
six siblings and parents. God is graciously conforming me
into His image. I am excited about all He has in store for me.

Issacharian Daughters #081 - Wedding Invitation

Monday, 22 September 2008
Dear Girls,

WEDDING INVITATION
Mr Henk and Mrs Sue de Deugd
together with
Mr Craig and Mrs Barbara Smith
invite
to join them in coming before the Lord and
celebrating the marriage of
Peter Alexander de Deugd
to
Genevieve Elizabeth Smith
at All Saints Church,
Cnr of Church Street and the Square,
Palmerston North, New Zealand
on Saturday, 16 February 2008 at 10:00am
and to a dinner reception
at 4:00pm until 7:30pm at the
Ashhurst Village Valley Centre
on Guildford Street, Ashhurst, New Zealand
(venue open from 3:00pm until 9:00pm)
RSVP: 16 December 2007
Address: Barbara Smith, 4 Tawa Street,
Palmerston North 4414, New Zealand
Phone: ++64 6 357 4399
Email: barbara@hef.org.nz
Dress: Semi-formal and modest

What a delight it is to be able to send out such an invitation to
friends far and near! As a side note, my family and I were very
thankful that we added that word, “modest” at the end of the
invitation. We had some queries from folks as to what we
meant—friendly queries and we responded in kind. It meant on
the day however that we could all celebrate and enjoy one
another without the discomfort (for men and women) of
immodesty in dress in one another. 


Pete and I discussed at length with our families the tone we
wanted both during the ceremony and at the reception.
We concluded we wanted these events to be ones of
reverence, of acknowledging all that God had done, of giving
Him all the glory and of rejoicing in His goodness. Asking
guests to dress modestly helped greatly in creating an
environment of reverence.
Guests gracefully acquiesced to our request and we were
grateful to them for it.
After the wedding we had some encouraging comments about
how nicely everyone was dressed. One young lady emailed
me and said that the Holy Spirit had been dealing with her
on this issue ever since the wedding. She wanted to ask me
some questions about modesty. Here are some of her
comments:

I've grown up in an environment (home, school and church)
where modesty isn't exactly valued, although saying that,
the topic of modesty did and does get raised occasionally
(although seemingly less and less) so it wasn't entirely
absent. My parents think that a lot of what you would call
immodest is not immodest and is quite ridiculous to make a
fuss over. When I was making the swap into secondary
school, for example, my school dress had quite a low slit on
the chest, and I was very embarrassed and wanted to pin it
up—but was told off for it (although I pinned it up anyway).
Whilst I quite insistently clung to what I considered to be
modest for quite a long time, I eventually "got over it" (as
most people around me were telling me to do) and just
started to wear whatever everyone else was wearing.
[Although raised in a Christian home I didn’t become a
Christian until my teen years. After that I read] the Bible
cover-to-cover and had read the Scripture in the New
Testament about needing to be modest, so I was extremely
careful to wear only what I considered to be modest.
During this time, large numbers of my friends were wearing
less and less (starting to wear bikinis, short-shorts, lower
and lower tops etc.—Christian friends mind you) but I very
insistently clung to wearing clothes that were extremely
modest compared to my friends, family etc. because of my
convictions and the fact that I wanted to obey God in
EVERYTHING I did. Hence I was pretty much convinced that
I was the epitomy of modesty.
Which is VERY ironic, because that brings us to the start of
2008. My normal clothing consisted of extremely tight jeans,
tops that didn't show cleavage but that were well below the
collarbone, some very tight tops etc. I also started to wear
dresses when they came into fashion, and wouldn't mind if
they were a bit short, as long as I was wearing fairly opaque
skin-tight leggings with them. But generally everything I'd
wear would be at least knee-length. Then when [my friend]
asked me to come [to your wedding I was told I should] get
a new wardrobe [for the events and helping at the wedding
and that] I should be wearing mostly dresses and skirts, not
jeans, and that my tops shouldn't be tight—but should cover
chest, back etc. Which is when I started to feel quite
uncomfortable, and lots of questions were raised in my mind.
I guess what really bothered me was that I had considered
myself to be extremely modest—and didn't really realise
that there was a totally different definition of modesty (which
I now realise is reasonably common amongst the right
circles). Not only that, as I gave it some thought, and talked
it through with [my friend], I realised that the standard that
you and your community uphold is by no means the "most"
modest that girls can be. I was convinced that I was living
by modest standards until I was challenged in my thinking
by [my friend], and then you obviously want to live modestly,
so you have developed your own standards. I wanted to
and still want to dress to please God (although obviously the
way we dress is a minor thing compared to a lot of other
issues) but I find it rather daunting trying to work out what is
actually modest.
My friend went on to raise the issue of how people around
the world and in different cultures and different time periods
have all assumed that they were being modest. The muslim
in the Burka as well as the 17th century lady who won’t
expose her ankles but will expose rather a lot of cleavage.
Everyone is modest in their own eyes.
I thought this was a rather astute observation. As Christians
seeking to be modest, by what standard can we measure
ourselves to know if we are being modest?
As I have studied this issue over the years it has been born
 in upon me that there is only one standard in this area (as i
n every other!). It is God’s standard as recorded for us in
Scripture.
I’m not at the bottom of my study of Scripture on this issue
and I’ll never be able to say that I’ve attained perfect modesty
or reached the pinnacle. However, in my study I have
discovered that the Lord leaves what one might call hints all
through Scripture which we can be guided by as we seek
to dress modestly.
Here are just a few references here:

Genesis3v7,21
Jeff Pollard the author of Christian Modesty and the Public
Undressing of America (the best book on modesty I’ve ever
read) says in relation to the cloaks that God made for Adam and
Eve in the Garden of Eden that: 

“Although Adam covered his loins, God covered him from his
neck to his knees.”

SM Davis in his DVD, The Language of the Christian’s
Clothing (which is excellent) comments that what was true for
Adam and Eve is true very often that what we deem to be
sufficient is not sufficient in the eyes of the Lord. This does
make it important that we don’t use our own wisdom or
common sense or our culture to determine what is modest or
not, but rather that we seek God’s wisdom.

Isaiah 47v1-3
This passage talks about making bare the leg and uncovering
the thigh as being a shameful thing.

Proverbs 5v18-19
In this passage God says that there is a part of our anatomy
which is to satisfy our husbands. As I meditated on this
passage I thought to myself, “this implies that they shouldn’t
satisfy other men...just my husband which in turn implies
that I should keep them covered when around anyone
except my husband.”

Next week, Lord willing, I will share Pete’s and my Wedding
Ceremony Order of Service with you.

For the Greater Glory of God through our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ,
Genevieve de Deugd
Issacharian Wife


Website: http://www.issacharian.com,
Archived newsletters: http://www.issacharian.com/?page=daughters

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters #080 - Exhorted into Marriage - Part Two

The next newsletter is here: id080-exhorted-into-marriage-part-two1.

Warm regards,

Genevieve

Introductions and Messages:

Name: Rebecca Papavgeris

Introduction: I am a young homeschooling mother of currently two
blessings (Timothy and Abigail). My husband and I live in Gunning
(near Canberra and Yass), and have attended Westminster
Presbyterian Church for almost two years now. My husband and I
are first generation Christians who were saved as teenagers, and
attended a pentecostal church for the first 6 years of our marriage.
The Lord was always leading us and growing us, and when we
decided to homeschool he led us to a lovely group of homeschoolers
in Yass who changed our lives. These families were unlike anything
we had ever seen. The Lord led us to wonderful sites where we could
order good teaching (such as Vision Forum, and I have previously
order from you when you were in New Zealand). The Lord kept
patiently teaching us (and He still is), and led us to change churches.
We still have so much to learn, but the Lord is ever patient with us.
Thank you for the wonderful work that you do.

Name: Marilyn Case

Introduction: Hello I am a woman of 52 years old and am very
interested in getting this vision out to daughters of today, to follow
God's command of staying at home till they are married. It is
something God has been burdening my heart with greatly.

Name: Marcie Pennington

Introduction: Hello, I am a wife of 19 years, mother of two sons,
Joel Aaron (15 yrs) and Adam Caleb (14 yrs).  We currently live
in Redmond, Washington due to my husband, Phillip’s, job. Our
homeschooling journey is wonderful and rewarding. I LOVE
being a full time wife and mother and thank God everyday for the
opportunity. 

Name: Ashleigh Hanssen

Introduction: I am 23 years old. I have one younger brother (21)
and one younger sister (16). I have lived at home all but five months
when I homeschooled three missionary children in Russia. My
parents and I are missionaries in Italy currently ministering to
American military. 

Issacharian Daughters #080 - Exhorted into Marriage - Part two

Dear Girls,

EXHORTED INTO MARRIAGE—PART TWO

Here are some of the other exhortations married women gave me
just days before I entered into the blessed estate of marriage:

“The Secrets to a Special Marriage...I asked my husband what these
are and he said, ‘there is just one Genevieve needs to know...marry
a fantastic man and the rest is easy!’ 1 Peter 3v7 says that husbands
and wives are heirs together of the grace of life. Being heirs together
equals companionship which in turn equals the best relationship
earthly life has to offer. Value it. Cultivate it. Be thankful for it. God
created you and Pete. He created each of your characters and
shaped your being, your life to be a perfect match for each other.
Never forget the uniqueness, the specialness of your marriage (the
unity, togetherness the oneness). Foster it. Feed it. Grow it. Spend
time together talking, sharing, trusting, serving. 1 Peter 3 also says
 that wives are to be submissive. The person you should look to share
your thoughts, heart and life with is your husband—not your friends.”

“Value these first years with Pete working together. Beware of the
desire to control. Always be the first to say sorry. The home belongs
to you and Pete. Let it be masculine. Don’t be nagging or contentious.
Learn about your limitations. Plan your day so that your husband
doesn’t get the dregs.” 

“Jonathan Swift once wrote a letter to a young lady on her marriage.
I want to share parts of it with you, ‘The grand affair of your life will
be to gain and preserve the Friendship and Esteem of your Husband.
You are [to be] married to a Man of good education and learning,
of an excellent understanding and an exact taste. It is true, and it is
happy for you, that these Qualities in him are adorned with great
Modesty, a most amiable Sweetness of Temper, and an unusual
dispotiion to Sobriety and Virtue: But neither Good-Nature nor
Virtue will suffer Him to esteem you against his Judgement.
And although he is not capable of using you ill, yet you will in time
grow a thing indifferent and perhaps, contemptible; unless you
can supply the loss of Youth and Beauty with more durable
Qualities. You have but a very few years to be young and
 handsome in the eyes of the World; and as few months to be so
in the eyes of a Husband, who is not a Fool. For I hope you do not
still dream of Charms and Raptures, which Marriage ever did, and
ever will, put a sudden end to. Besides yours was a match of
Prudence and common Good-liking. “’You must therefore use all
endeavours to attain to some degree of those Accomplishments
which your Husband most values in other People, and for which
he is most valued himself. This must produce in your Husband a
true Rational Love and Esteem for you, which old Age will not
diminish. He will have regard for your Judgement and Opinion in
matters of the greatest weight; you will be able to entertain
each other with a Third Person to relieve you by finding
Discourse. “’I will add one thing although it be a little out of
place, which is to desire that you will learn to value and esteem
your husband for those good Qualities which he really pocesseth,
and not to fancy others in him which he certainly hath not. For
although this latter is generally understood to be a mark of
Love, yet it is indeed nothing but Affectation or ill Judgement. It
is true, he wants so very few Accomplishments, that you are in
great danger of erring on this side.

“’I can give you no Advice upon the Article of Expense, only I
think you ought to be well informed how much your Husband’s
Revenue amounts to, and be so good a Computer as to keep
within it, in that part of the Management which falls to your
share. And not to put yourself in the number of those Politick
Ladies, who think they gain a great Point when they have
teased their Husbands to buy them a new Equipage, a lac’d
head or a fine Petticoat, without once considering what long
Scores remain unpaid to the Butcher.’ “The only thing I would
add to Mr Swift’s eloquent words would be for you to always
look to the Lord Jesus Christ in all things, at all times. There
will be times (although now you can’t possibly imagine how
or when) that you and Pete won’t see eye to eye, when
an issue becomes insurmountable or life is just too hard.
When (Lord willing) you have four children under 5, the
plumbing doesn’t work, the cat just spewed on the baby,
and Pete is out of town. Especially at times like those (and
they will come, sooner or later) trust in the Lord. He is
your comfort and joy, your strength and light in the dark.
May God bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face
shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His
countenance upon you and give you peace.” 

“The ABCs of marriage are Appreciation (with a smile) Best
Friend (make time with each other) Cuddles and Kisses.”

“Proverbs says, ‘a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband’
and do you know what a crown does? It sparkles! Your husband
needs to see love for him shining from your eyes. Therefore
prepare your heart and mind by dwelling on the good and
excellent. If there be any virtue, if there be any praise [in your
husband], think on these things.”

“Beware of Overtiredness (overdoing things), Overcommitment
(outside the home), O Poor Me! (feeling sorry for oneself),
Overbearing (towards husband) and O What a Mess! (your
children need to help with the housework). While all these
things are normal at times we need to recognise them and
re-plan things so these things don’t put undue strain on our
marriage. Stand back from the situation and plan your day or
week so that the stress times are avoided.”

“First, regarding cheerfulness and contentment: My usual
piece of advice has to do with cultivating a heart of
cheerfulness and contentment in your life as this will enable
you to face life and all that the Lord brings along as you
walk down life’s pathway together. But you’ve left me with
nothing to say on that as you’ve already sought to cultivate
that at this stage in your life which can be one of the early
testing times: when you are in your 20s and still single!
Second, regarding Proverbs 31v25 which says: ’She is
clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days
to come.’ I’ve found this verse to be a real encouragement
to stay close to the Lord. To be able to do this, you have to
live without fear. And the only way to minimize fear is to
know Him and His character so well, that you can completely
trust Him with whatever He may bring into your life such as
loss of property, draughts, fire, plagues of insects (like
Australia is prone to!), loss of loved ones, health issues,
disabilities, accidents, even just waking up one day and
thinking, ’I didn’t know Pete thinks this or that!’ Not that
’serious’ things will happen immediately in your married life,
but I don’t know what the Lord has in store for you—what
rials and joys you will have to face. But whatever the Lord
 has for you to face, may He enable you to ’laugh at the
days to come’ because you walk with Him and can trust Him
with every aspect of your life. Psalm 112v1, 7 says, ’Blessed
is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His
commands. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is
steadfast, trusting in the Lord.’ Third, remember these faces:
May you always find encouragement in remembering these
ladies and these evenings [I have put on a Titus 2 evening
about once a year for the past five years—Genevieve].
Because we’re not always surrounded by people who are
able to encourage us to do and believe what we believe is
right before the Lord, may the memory of the faces of these
ladies strengthen you and keep you faithful to the personal
standards that you’ve set for yourself. With moving around
into different churches we’ve found that there is always a
measure of pressure to conform to be like ’the group’. ’If you
want to fit in here you must look like us, think like us, speak
and behave like us.’ May you be strengthened to live above
and beyond these pressures as you remember these faces.”

For the Greater Glory of God through our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ,
Genevieve de Deugd
Issacharian Wife


Website: http://www.issacharian.com,
Archived newsletters: http://www.issacharian.com/?page=daughters

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Dear Girls,

Here is the next newsletter id079-exhorted-into-marriage.

Warm regards,

Genevieve

Introductions and Messages

Name: Candace

Message : Dearest Genevieve, I just read your article of your God-written love story in “SALT” magazine a few days ago. It couldn’t have been more timely. I am 27 years old, soon to be 28. I’ve been on one date in my teenage years. I’ve “never been kissed” and have waited for God’s choice for a husband. My situation is a bit different in that my parents did not share my convictions. I am an only child and went to public school, although God protected me tremendously. I hope to home-school my full quiver of children some day if God allows me to marry and bear children. God placed these “strange” and “peculiar” convictions of not dating, not even getting emotionally attached to a boy or young man when I was still quite young and I had to walk the road alone much of the way, with extended family shaking their heads in disgust and my parents going along with it, but not truly understanding it all. God has blessed me with an accountability couple who share my convictions. I still live at home and try to serve my parents. My dad has Alzheimer\’s and needs a good deal of care. This walk has been hard at times w/ little support, but I am certain it is the path God has placed my feet upon. When my love story unfolds, surely God will get every inch of glory because I’ve not had a father to seek or pursue a godly relationship on my behalf. My trust is in God alone, as I honor my parents the best way I can. I want to thank you for sharing your story. It was a great blessing to me. I also have a small newsletter especially for Christian, single young ladies who are waiting on God for a husband. It is called “Watching for the Morning”. It is a free, non-profit publication. Thank you for your time in reading this. Congratulations on the fulfilling of God’s dream in your life!

Blessings,
Candace

Dear young ladies, serving the Lord with joy and patience,

I would like to extend an offer of encouragement to you!

God dreamed a dream in my heart over a year ago to begin a magazine. The purpose of Watching for the Morning is to encourage young, single, Christian women in their journey of serving their families and keeping busy for the Lord to provide the husband He has ordained for them in His perfect time and way according to His will. Hopefully, each issue (which goes out quarterly) is a reminder to fully trust the Lord to provide, rather than pursue a mate through dating. The ultimate vision of the magazine is to challenge young ladies to take Jesus as their Bridegroom and the Lover of their soul, seeking to please Him above all else with pure hearts, preparing as the “ten virgins” for His glorious return and touching the lives of others for His glory while He yet tarries.

To subscribe to this free publication, please e-mail candace714@ntelos.net.

Name: Katherine

Message: Hello Genevieve, I was just thinking of you and thought I’d write you a quick letter. I hope I’m sending this email to the right place! I’m so happy for you, getting married and being able to build a house and family with Mr de Deugd to glorify God :)! God is always good to us, all the time! I just wished to share with you the many blessings that God has been working in my life since I last emailed you.

As you know, my parents had desired for me to stay at University and not drop out, but complete my degree despite my feeling the sense of waste at being there.  Now I look back to a few months where things had been so precarious, and thank God so-o gratefully that He kept me here.  And moreover, thanking Him for changing my mindset.  I’m at University now, and I’ve just felt a great burden to make the best use I can of my last year with these unbelieving friends of mine for whom Christ died.  Perhaps a somewhat “expensive witnessing exercise” - but God covers the cost! He can even “restore the years that the locusts have eaten”, as in Mrs Jennie Chancey’s testimony. I am so grateful for Him.

This semester, people have been thinking a lot more about the deeper questions of life due to one of our ‘postmodern planning theory’ papers.  The lecturer is one who completed a degree in 16th Century Catholicism and has now turned to several French poststructuralist philosophers to answer these questions.  Of course, they are ultimately unsatisfactory, and yet point so deeply to human problems - “power abuse”, “the lack” which people feel, the emptiness of material goods and the need for something more, “environmental ethics” - in an attempt to proclaim human goodness, humans attempt to create a new moral code, simply because we couldn’t live up to the timeless one (”do not murder” vs. euthanasia and abortion).  The paper involves writing a weekly journal that we will submit at the end of the semester.  I hope that I can clearly display the gospel to my lecturer just as I had the chance to explain to one of my friends, the value of Jesus’ sacrifice for inherent human moral corruption.

However, I have been praying to God for guidance and wisdom on how to retain godly femininity and modesty while seeking to stand up for the truth. In any case, I feel so grateful to God for saving me from sin and making me seek Him in these ‘crisis’ situations.  I hope He will teach me how to be more faithful and humbled before him, and let me not swell into spiritual pride (which I am so prone to doing).

I hope this letter will bless you, and am certain that God will be faithful to you and enable you to be faithful to Him.

God bless you, my sister in Christ

Katherine

Name: Renee Pratt

Introduction: My name is Renee Pratt and I am the 21-year-old daughter
of wonderful parents, and one of thirteen children. I am an aspiring writer
and have two unpublished manuscripts ("Ordinary Lives with
Extraordinary Purpose" & "Wildflowers: Poems and Testimonies from
the Hearts of Maidens"). I am a living room musician, and scrapbooking
junkie...and a lover of my King Jesus.

Name: Erna Stelma

Introduction: Hi, I am Erna from the Netherlands. I found your website via
the Botkin sisters and I joined your newsletter since I feel like a newly wed
in so many respects (although I have been married for more tha n fourteen
years :-)). The part I am referring to is the stay-at-home part. I always
wanted to be a mother and homemaker, but was directed otherwise by
society and ended up being quite feministic in my thoughts. The Lord
brought me home the 1st of January 2006 and I have a lot to learn. I am
very grateful for the newly weds that learned a lot at home about becoming
a wife and serving your husband. That's all quite new to me (although my
parents really did the best they could in the given circumstances.
Homeschooling is not very common in the Netherlands, to say the least :-)). 

The Lord has blessed us with one son, who is now 13 years of age and
we are looking forward to receiving more of his blessings in our home by
way of adoption. We are currently homeschooling our son (since the 1st of
August 2006).

 Issacharian Daughters #079 - Exhorted Into Marriage

Dear Girls,

Exhorted Into Marriage

Dear Girls,

On the Wednesday prior to the wedding, we organised a Titus 2 Evening. Printed above is the invitation. At the same venue at the same time, we also organised a Titus 2 Evening for Pete, asking the older men he knew in New Zealand to exhort him into marriage. His was held in a separate room at the church, and then all the men and women got together for supper.

My mother was the Matron of Ceremonies (MC) and did a wonderful job. She opened the evening for us in prayer and then gave me her exhortation. Afterwards she asked all the married women to share with me the advice, message, Scriptures or prayers they had for me. Finally there was a time of prayer when we ladies all bowed our heads and various ones prayed for my future marriage and committed it to the Lord.

Pete and I spent a long time discussing this event afterwards. We both felt it set just the right tone for us and was the biggest blessing. It reinforced the solemnity of what we were about to do-covenant together in holy matrimony. And it was a dedication of sorts of our marriage to the Lord.

Following are some of the things the married ladies shared with me:

"[My husband] and I have been reading a book recently titled Love and Respect written by Dr Emerson Eggerichs. The basis for his message is Ephesians 5:33. However, each one of you also must love his wife, as he loves himself and the wife must respect her husband. What a wife most desires is love, but what a husband most desires is respect. Showing respect to your husband is how you show him that you love and honour him. We can all understand the concept of unconditional love, but few of us have ever thought of the idea of unconditional respect. The author describes how couples can get into a crazy cycle where a wife might be disrespectful to her husband, so he reacts without love, which causes her to react without respect, and round and round it goes. Instead, if we show respect to our husbands, he reacts with love, which causes us to react with respect. The book then has several chapters that show ways a wife can show respect to her husband, such as appreciating his desire to work, protect, provide, serve and lead, as well as appreciating his desire for friendship and intimacy. I highly recommend this book. I know it has helped me better understand the need to respect my husband. May God richly bless your marriage." "May joy be in your marriage, 'for the joy of the Lord is your strength.' (Nehemiah 8) There is much joy to be found in life. Joy in our great God: 'Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.' (Psalms 37v4) Joy in your husband: 'As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight.' (Song of Solomon 2v3) Joy in your children: 'Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is His reward.' (Psalms 127v3) Our prayer for you both is that you always have joy. Joy is a gift from Jehovah."

"Congratulations on your faithfulness to your parents and family. You have been a blessing to them. Soon it will be your wedding day and the faithfulness, love, devotion and loyalty that you give Pete will be a blessing to you both. Your future can be a fantastic adventure or drudgery. It's your choice. 'The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.' (Proverbs 14v1) Marriage is NOT a 50/50 partnership. Marriage is all of you; your total commitment. No matter how busy you both are, you must always reserve some time alone with your husband each day. Your marriage comes BEFORE your ministry to others."

"This may be an obvious one...but pray for your husband. It doesn't always have to be a long prayer. Every day as [my husband] leaves for work it's a kiss at the door, a wave at the window and a prayer for him as he drives down the driveway and down the road. Your husband needs prayer. It is also very humbling for yourself as you are daily reminded of God's wonderful goodness in blessing you with a husband."

"Guard against self-pity in your submission. [We wives are] required to submit even when our husband may be in the wrong. Do not let self-pitying thoughts breed resentment and bitterness. Remember Proverbs 15v15 and Colossians 3v15. Show honour [to your husband] by positive thoughts and actions in every circumstance." "May you accept and rejoice over the position our Lord is about to bestow upon you, the wife and helpmeet of Pete. What joy it is for me to share that the training of a wife and helpmeet is never mastered. No wife is perfect but if she is teachable what a treasure she will be to her husband and our Lord. Never disregard words spoken by Pete, as just ideas, rather [hear then as] directives he fully intended to convey. Never underestimate Pete's ability to communication just how easily, yet selflessly you can help him by noting and instituting the little things. Be eager to help him in the work God has given him. Do not do Pete's work, anticipate ways you can add joy to his day and share his yoke. Please be humble enough to never think that you have Pete figured out, that you know exactly what he needs. Pray to remain humble, selfless and willing. You will be thrilled to continue to discover things that God has chosen to slowly reveal to you about your husband, your servant leader. May you recognise that fearing, respecting and serving Pete is a joy that lasts and that in serving and respecting Pete you are serving, honouring and respecting our Lord. What disciplined believer would not fail to rejoice at such an opportunity. And finally do not be nervous about the responsibility you are about to take on. Our Lord says He will never leave you not forsake you and He does not lie! Blessing, prayers and love. P.S. Please be eager to stop whatever you are doing when Pete needs your listening ear."

"Keep the Lord in the centre of your lives."

"Tell God about Pete's faults first. Then leave a bit of time for God to change you."

"Keep reading. Keep growing."

"Our circumstances change. We change. Our husbands change. God doesn't change. During times of trial remember, 'this too shall pass.' At those times remember to pick up the broom and do the next thing."

"Even if you fail, start again."

"Say encouraging things to Pete as you think of them. Verbalize encouraging thoughts. Begin the practice of asking at the end of each day, 'Have I done anything today which has offended you?' Keep the slate clean."

"Remember to tell Pete, 'I love you.'"

"Keep your relationship with God strong."

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

Genevieve de Deugd

Issacharian Wife

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.
The name Issacharian in Issacharian Daughters derives from Issachar,
the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the Old Testament the
men of Issachar were commended for understanding the times. Because
they understood the times, they knew what they should do. One of my
aims with the Issacharian Daughters newsletter is to equip girls to
understand the times we live in so that they will know what to do.

Website: www.issacharian.com

Archived newsletters: www.issacharian.com/?page=daughters

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters #078 - Seven Days of Dancing and Feasting

Dear Girls,

The first newsletter after my break from the Issacharian Daughters newsletter was sent 
out last Monday, 25 August 2008. I’m having some teething problems with my new email 
system and believe that many of you may not have received the previous email. If that is 
the case, feel free to access it via my website. There is a link to it from the home page:
www.issacharian.com. Lord willing, you will all receive this newsletter.
Many apologies if you receive it more than once. 

This weeks newsletter: id078-seven-days-of-dancing-and-feasting

Regards,

Genevieve

Introductions and Messages

Name: Angie

Introduction: I'm a homeschooling mother of three beautiful daughters  currently under 
12 years. I live in Auckland, New Zealand, and my heart's cry is that the Lord shows me 
His way to raise my girls so that they can glorify Him. In order to do this, I realize we 
have to do things VERY differently, even from those around us who are Christian.
I look forward to hearing from you all as right now I feel quite alone in my stance and 
values. I've read "So Much More" and it sounds far more akin to my values than anything 
else I've read to date. Good on you Genevieve, I hope you are able to continue your 
ministry here, even as a married woman. 

Name: Emily Shamburger

Introduction: Hello. My name is Emily. I live in central Texas with my parents and four 
brothers and sisters. I have been taught from a child that young ladies should stay at 
home under the leadership of their father until marriage. I am looking forward to 
receiving your newsletter because I know it will provide Biblical encouragement in this 
area that is sorely neglected by so many. Thank you! 

Name: Angie Marshall

Country: New Zealand 

Location: Golden Bay, Nelson

Hey there! I am from Sunny Golden Bay which is at the top of the South Island of 
New Zealand! I am one of 15 children. I am 21, and my parents and siblings are 
wonderful!  There is something very special in being a part of a big family! I love it! 
 I serve at a Christian homeschooling Training Centre in Marton New Zealand, called 
Arahina. With my parents' blessing, I have been able to serve there for almost three 
years, serving in the comercial kitchen, helping with troubled youth as a mentor (I had 
two young ladies from troubled homes, as my encouragment cases), and now I am in 
the Homeschooling department, keeping in touch with, and encouraging all the families
enrolled in our program (Advanced Training Institute). The Lord has been blessing me 
so much through the different challenges that come up through this area of ministry!  

He is a wonderful friend to have! I look forward to receiving the Issacharian Newsletters, 
thanks Genevieve!

Name: Mrs Ron Shipman

Introduction: I’ve always been a homemaker, home educator etc, and am very serious to 
stand regarding what Scripture says regarding my life rather than the world. I currently 
live on our 83 acres with five blessings in the central USA. God provides. No living 
extended family.  No government aid. God is sufficient!

Name: Joy McCalib

Introduction: Hello! I am a 22 year old maiden from Minnesota. I love serving my family in 
my father's home and under his authority. God has been leading me to focus my single 
years on serving my family in the capacity that He wills with leading from Himself and my 
earthly father. I look forward to receiving the newsletters from Issacharian Daughters. I 
also look forward to being taught, encouraged, and convicted through them. Thank you.

Name: Christina

Introduction: I have finally found your website!  After many years of sharing with you over 
several message boards - admiring you from that distance - I was blessed to find an ad 
for this website in a recent issue of Hidden Wisdom (Abigail Paul).  I am the oldest in the 
family (at home, after my older brother is moved out and married), aged 21, and a 
returned daughter.  My aspirations were  from childhood, to become a missionary to 
India after reading a biography of Amy Carmichael several times over.  When I was 16, 
I hoped my parents would let me go after I finished Homeschool High school "early" but
it was not to be. Instead, I daydreamed about becoming such a "wonderful woman of 
God," until the Lord allowed me to go at age 18. When I returned, I made plans to move 
there after getting some formal "Biblical" education accomplished.Though my father 
never said, “No,” to me, he was always very sad and downcast when I spoke of leaving
to fulfill what I believed to be God's will for my entire life. Experiences three months into  
my residence in South India led my father to put his foot down and buy me a ticket out of 
there at once. I am so grateful to be home now, and aspire, each and every day, to  fulfill 
his dreams, support his decisions, and do whatever I can to help him (and my mother 
and six siblings) in these, my remaining single years. Thank you for such a wonderful 
ministry.  I look forward to the encouragement I truly have needed! Blessings through 
Him, Christina (daughter to John & Shawn)

Name: Janalee

Introduction: My name is Janalee Duarte. I am a "MK" in Brasil, SA. I love helping my 
parents in the ministry. I love reading your articles. May God Bless You, 
Janalee Duarte www.theduartes.blogspot.com 

Name: Lisa Parker

Introduction: Hi there! I'm Lisa and I'm 22 years old. I live in the lovely Tauranga,  
New Zealand and I work here as a primary relief teacher. My mum's friend sent me this 
link as I read the “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” book by Josh Harris. When I read it I was 
amazed at this new way of thinking and knew that it made sense in light of Scripture. 
For the past few months I've been feeling like a bit of an island. I feel like I'm the only
one who thinks this way about courtship and encounter a lot of ridicule for it. I made 
the decision not to hang out with a guy on my own - even if he's just a friend (which 
they all   should be anyway!) but my friends don't seem to understand and say that I'm 
being too extreme". The way I see it is that we have to refrain from the appearance of 
evil. Hanging out with a guy is not evil, but I think about the way other people will see it 
and their opinions of me and what I say I believe. Bill Randell has a box set of sermons 
on the 10 commandments. On the one for adultery, it really hit home that God has 
already got the right guy for me. For example, if I was dating and I kiss a boyfriend, that 
guy is not my husband at that present time, so essentially I am committing adultery 
against the  guy   God does have for me. The way I behave as a single woman of God 
will dictate how I behave as a married woman (if that is God's plan for me).  What  I 
view as acceptable as a singleton will be what I accept as a married woman. Can't wait 
to read he newsletter! God bless! Lisa:) Psalm 46v10

Name: Miss Nomvula Ndlala

Subject: Welcome back and Congratulations

Message: Congratulations Mr. and Mrs de Deugd on God's blessing of the womb. I was 
not raised with the convictions I embrace today. Genevieve's testimony was one of the 
ways that the Father opened my heart and eyes to embrace the Old paths of the faith. I 
am a 23 year old South African woman and never appreciated Australia or New Zealand
for anything until I came across your story. I always felt as though emigrated nationals to 
these two nations gave my country a bad name. By faith, we look forward to the army of 
saints which will be raised by you. Genevieve, thank you for your frank honesty as to 
adjusting to Mr. de Deugd's vision and what a journey/work a happy marriage is/requires. 
Thank you.

Name: Louise Morrison

Introduction: Hi, I am Louise, wife to Kris and Mum to 5 children ages 10 months-10 years.  
We live in Christchurch, NZ and attend Grace Presbyterian Church in Christchurch 
where we are very involved. Four of my children are girls and so I am always looking for 
encouraging websites for young ladies (for me to glean information  from for my 
daughters when the time is right). I believe a wife and mother is to concentrate on 
serving her husband and children at home and this is what I am attempting to do with the 
Lord's help (something I need a lot of!). Congratulations on your marriage and your 
pregnancy! What wonderful news. Louise

Name: Apphia Long

Introduction: Hello, I am twenty years old (a homeschool graduate) and delight in serving 
my family! We live on a farm in Southwest Missouri, where I not  only enjoy the "farming" 
part of life (canning, hay-hauling, etc.), but also help my mom with our little home 
business.  With my father's blessing, we sew aprons, bags, and little girls' clothing to 
sell. We are also marketing our sewing patterns and selling fabric.  I have three sisters 
and three brothers at home... we enjoy working and playing together! I am serving at 
home because it is the beautiful calling I was given by the Lord Himself.  There is no 
other job as fulfilling. Thanks so much for this newsletter - I will look forward to receiving 
it.  May the Lord bless you richly! In Christ, Apphia Long

PS-- Our family/sewing blog is www.mariemadelinestudio.typepad.com.

Name: Megan Petersen
Introduction: Hello, my name is Megan. I am 19 years of age and the eldest of 6 children. 
We all work together for my father's home business and love spending time as a family. 
I am a stay-at-home daughter who desires to honor her parents in all things and seek 
the Lord for His will. Cooking, cleaning, reading, playing piano, cross-stitching, sewing 
and helping my mom to teach the younger children are some of my favorite things to do. 
Thank you for putting out this Newsletter to be an inspiration to young ladies. 

ID078 - Seven days of Dancing and Feasting

02 Sep 2008

Dear Girls,

I have often expressed the idea that a 30 minute wedding ceremony just doesn’t seem to adequately encapsulate all the joy that ought to go into such an event. For years before my own marriage I was fascinated by the idea of seven days of dancing and feasting—now that ought to just be able to encapsulate all the joy!

From a practical point of view, the idea of seven days of dancing and feasting had its pros and cons. A big pro in my mind was that friends coming from afar would have something more than a short event to attend. And it would give more time for mingling between the guests and bride and groom. On the other hand, I figured that after just one and a half days I’d be exhausted! The logistics would be terrifying. How would one live through seven days? One day in 2006, I was sitting in the Sydney International Airport. I was in transit waiting for my flight to Los Angeles. My father was sending me to attend a conference in the USA for him. I was to join various households while in the USA and do interviews with all the speakers for my dad’s magazine. Sitting in the transit lounge, I noticed a large family of Jews come into the area. Evidently they were flying to Los Angeles too. “Please Lord,” I prayed, “can I sit right in the middle of this family?” Guess where my seat on the aircraft was? I was seated right next to the eldest daughter who was about my age. As the journey across the Pacific began, I enquired what was bringing her and her family to the USA. Her sister, she told me, was getting married. “Was it an arranged marriage,” I enquired. It was. “Would they be having seven days of dancing and feasting,” I asked. Yes they would. I was very excited and put many questions to her.

It turned out that on the first day the couple would be married and given seven blessings. Each of the events on the coming days would be in honour of one of those blessings. It would be organised by a different person who would invite the bridal party and families and then whomever else they wanted. That certainly solved the difficulty with logistics and getting exhausted if other people would do the organizing!

When Pete and I began planning our wedding, we agreed with our families that seven days of dancing and feasting was certainly do-able. We didn’t do it the traditional Jewish way, but here is what it looked like:

Wednesday, 13 February 2008: Titus 2 Evening

Thursday: Family day

Friday: Setting up the reception, big family dinner and rehearsal

Saturday: Wedding ceremony and reception

Sunday: Our normal two church services with a big lunch in between

Monday: New Zealand National Premier of the film documentary, The Return of the Daughters

Tuesday: English Country Dance

Wednesday: BBQ

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

Genevieve Smith

Issacharian Daughter

Posted in Issacharian Daughters

Issacharian Daughters: ID077 - Blessed Fruifulness

Dear Girls,

Thank you for your patience! I said in the Issacharian Daughters newsletter #076 that I would be taking a four month break from the newsletter and, Lord willing, would start them up again after that. You will discover in this newsletter why the four months was extended to seven months!

With warm regards,

Genevieve de Deugd (nee Smith)

Introductions and messages

Name: Hannah Pietzsch

Introduction: Hello, I am the eldest daughter in a family of eight. Mummy has home-schooled us since I was 9 (I am now 17) and I finished year 12 last year. I am serving my family by helping Mummy schooling and furthering Daddy’s ministry which is by pastoring  in our remote community. My daily goal is to truly live for the praise of His glory, and more of my King.

Name: Ruth Capill

Message: Hi! My name is Ruth and I’m 14. I live on a small farm right outside Christchurch. I have 9 brothers and sisters - it’s really great having such a big family! I’m homeschooled and I really enjoy it. I love swimming, reading, writing, and animals (especially cats!). My Mum told me about Issacharian Daughters and I have enjoyed getting the newsletters for about a year. They’re great! Goodbye, and God bless!!!

Name : Lydia Nugteren

Introduction : I’ve finally gotten around to joining this newsletter!  I fully enjoy my role as wife and mother at home, supporting my husband as a pastor, and helping raise a daughter and four sons.

Dear Genevieve,

First off, I would like to congratulate you on your engagement and marriage to Pete. Your newsletter has been a blessing to my family, myself, and the girls that attend Heroines Of Faith & Hopechest Club. I’m so happy for you!!!! I was so excited to hear of your courtship, (I squealed and jumped around), and then when you got engaged, (I ran to tell my mom) I was ecstatic. You would have thought it was me getting engaged. I shared with the girls at Heroines Of Faith It Is So Worth It! . They were happy for you to, as were the mothers there that day. Anyways, once again, congratulations on your soon to be enhanced fulfillment. I can only imagine your joy.

Love a sister walking the same road,

Rejoicing with you,

LaReina

Wow, Genevieve, I just read your story. You have no idea how much it blessed me. I am 27 as well and am just as single as I can be. But God has taught me the value of being patient and loving my single years as a late twenties girl! I look to Rebekah in the Bible as my role model: when she was approached by Abraham’s servant to pursue her for Issac, she was watering sheep. She was honoring and serving her Dad when the servant met her. This was huge to me because it helped me understand: learning to serve your family and dad is a priceless gift while you are still single! I love how the very first time Rebekah sees Issac he is out in the field meditating. It just goes to show what kind of godly young man God had in store for her…and it makes me content to know that if God has someone in store for me, he will also be a godly man. So “all” I have to do is keep watering those sheep…you just never know who is watching!

May the Lord truly bless you as you enter this new phase of your life!

Thanks so much for sharing your story!

Rebecca Tucker

Name : Mrs. Keith Hayden (Sherri)

Introduction : I am encouraged and exhorted by all I have seen here with God’s faithfulness and truth evidenced. Godspeed to you!

I am Keith’s wife and mother to our five children (ages 12-25) who all live at home with us in Wichita, KS. We serve at home in obedience to the Lord, based upon Deuteronomy 6:4-18; 11:18-21; Psalm 34:1-3,11-22; Ephesians 6:1-4; 2 Peter 1:2-10. I look forward to reading more here in the days to come and sharing with my daughters. God’s blessings to you and your family (and your approaching gift of marriage to your husband)!

ID077 - Blessed Fruifulness

27 Aug 2008

Dear Girls,
Work. Good, honest work.

When Pete and I finished our honeymoon we were both looking forward to getting back to Australia and working together. We knew that working together on projects and in Pete’s sawmilling/woodworking business would add another dimension to our relationship, strengthen our marriage, grow our friendship and be a whole lot of fun! The first couple of months were full from morning to night. We were settling into married life, Pete was teaching me about his machinery and I was learning how to be a helpmeet to my new husband. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply.” Genesis 1v28 We thanked the Lord often for the work that He had given us to do. It was a desire we discussed during our courtship that we could be fruitful for the Lord in business, in our personal lives, in every way we could (for example by running a successful and growing business, by assisting other believers and by seeking to grow in character and faith). Pete would set the vision; he would follow the calling God had for him and seek to be fruitful in the areas God wanted him to take dominion. And I would help him to be successful in being fruitful. I would help him to see his vision to completion. In the Issacharian Daughters newsletter 076 dated 4 February 2008 I said that Pete and I thought it would be prudent for me to take a break from sending out the newsletter for a period while Pete and I got married and established ourselves as a family and while I learned how to help Pete in his work. We hoped Lord willing that I could resume the newsletters four months later.
This break was a wonderful thing and has allowed me to concentrate fully on my wifely role. And it has been a necessity and a delight to be able to dedicate all my time and energy to this-my priority. Being a daughter in my father’s home and helping him was predominantly an intellectual and sedentary lifestyle. Being a wife in my husband’s home and helping him involves a lot of manual work and is a very active lifestyle. I’ve had a lot to learn. And on top of this, have gone through a very interesting process: the process of leaving behind my father’s vision and taking onboard my husband’s vision. Before I was married, much of who I was, what I believed and understood was wrapped up in my father’s vision. Since marrying I’ve undergone a surgery of sorts to replace Dad’s vision with Pete’s. My loyalties had to undergo a change. I was used to thinking that Dad knew best. Now I needed to learn to think that Pete knows best. I used to do things and invest my time in projects according to what I knew Dad would want me to do. Now I needed to be guided by what Pete wanted me to do. When faced with a problem or an option I couldn’t think, “What would Dad have done in this situation?” Now I had to think, “What would Pete do in this situation?” These were exciting times and difficult as during this state of flux-learning to replace one man’s vision with another-the devil would come around and say, “But what about what you want? What about what you think?” Ephesians 6v14 talks about girding oneself with truth as a spiritual weapon which will help one stand fast against the temptations and lies of the devil. Once again on this journey from Maidenhood to Mrshood I find myself ever so grateful to the Lord for how He brought me home and prodded me to prepare for marriage. The Lord was girding me with truth through the things He was teaching me and the books I was reading so that I could easily bring the truth to mind when presented with the devil’s lies. God is good! Taking on Pete’s vision is a very exciting thing. Studying him, learning more and more about his vision, his convictions, his desires for our family, our time, our money, our spiritual walk has been, well, romantic! Like RC Sproul Jr says, “the most romantic thing in the world is when a man shares his vision with his wife.” And this process of becoming more and more one with Pete will continue (!!!) every day I’m sure and as a result our love for one another will grow and our ability to be fruitful for the Lord will increase. This break from the ID newsletter has not only been wonderful, but more recently proved to be rather necessary too-and this is a big reason why four months came and went and still no newsletters were sent out.

The Lord decided to open up a new area of fruitfulness to us-through multiplying us. He has blessed my womb and is knitting together within a precious child. He is giving Pete an arrow for his quiver, an olive plant for around his table, a blessing to bring up in the fear and nurture of the Lord. This little one is due on 28 December 2008. When that four month mark drew up and passed I was taking a lesson on morning sickness and nausea! Pete was being my knight in shining armour. Like the thorough gentleman he is, he was changing my sick bowl, putting me to bed with hotties at night, checking on me and leaving me with a walkie talkie so that I could call him if I needed him. One day Pete saw me struggling to do the dishes. My energy was evaporating. He told me to go and lie down and said that he would finish them up after work. Work that day finished at 2am for him. He was overhauling a boiler to heat his kiln to dry out his wood using equipment which needed to be returned the next day so he had to keep working on it until the job was done. When he came in, he saw the dishes and remembering that he said to me that he would do them after work he finished them off before coming to bed close to 3am. That is my husband-my hero-a man described by Psalm 15, “He who swears to his own hurt and does not change…shall never be moved.” As I am learning about how to help my husband to be fruitful, may I encourage you as you do this too. Perhaps you too are married and learning the best ways you can be a help to your husband. Or perhaps you are learning how you can bless and support your father. Or perhaps you are preparing for marriage and God’s calling to be fruitful within this state by learning new skills now which may be of use to a husband in the future such as accounting, stewardship of money, home maintenance (painting, wallpapering, etc) and decorating, child raising, cooking and more. May God be with us all as we seek to be obedient to Him in this area. May He give us abundant joy in real, God-glorifying fruitfulness.

For the Greater Glory of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Genevieve de Deugd
Issacharian Wife

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