October 7, 2011 by Stacy McDonald
Win a FREE Copy of the New Raising Maidens of Virtue
To enter a drawing to win, simply go to RMV’s Facebook wall and click “LIKE,” share on your own FB wall (or blog), and then come back here and comment. The drawing will be held one week from today!
Big sigh of relief! The new Revised and Expanded Edition of Raising Maidens of Virtue went to the printer this morning. Why do I still feel the urge to go back and proof read “one more time?” LOL I’m sure that’s a sign of some sort of personality disorder! LOL
When I wrote the first chapter of Raising Maidens of Virtue so many years ago, I never imagined that nearly a decade later, after six printings, I would be writing a revised and expanded edition. Actually, in the beginning, my intention was to simply write short messages for my daughters; something that I could use to hopefully help them “get” certain truths without me “lecturing” them. It was my husband who suggested that others may be interested in such a tool as well.
Topics pertaining especially to young women are discussed in various ways using allegories, short stories, conversational teachings, and memory-making projects. Some of the topics include: Guarding the tongue, idleness, sibling relationships, honoring parents, contentment, modesty, purity, cleanliness, and feminine biblical beauty.
Here is a sneak peek portion from the introduction of the new edition of Raising Maidens of Virtue:
When Dennis Gunderson of Grace and Truth Books first expressed an interest in publishing a revised and expanded version of my book, I was thrilled. I was eager to spit and polish certain chapters and add new things I had learned over the years. However, editing my own writing from so many years ago, proved to be more difficult than I first thought.
At some point, I had to use sheer will power to stop editing, for fear of completely rewriting the entire book!As always, God’s Word remains steady and true; however, many of my approaches to raising daughters (much like my middle-aged body!) has expanded and matured over the years. Yet, while my four oldest daughters are now adults, I still have three virtuous maidens to train and prepare. I hope I am already implementing all that I learned while raising their older sisters.
Since writing Raising Maidens of Virtue, I have received hundreds of amazing testimonies from mothers and daughters whose relationships were transformed by using Raising Maidens to study the Bible together. This blessed me so much because I wanted women not only to catch a vision for godly womanhood, but to also seek something that has been lost in our culture: strong family ties.
In the first introduction, I warned mothers not to use this book as a workbook—to make sure it was used as a relationship builder by reading it aloud and openly discussing the topics contained in the study. Now, I have an additional warning: Don’t simply teach your daughters to look like maidens of virtue; instill in them a foundation of love and grace, so that they will actually become maidens of virtue.
Mothers are destined for disappointment if they admire only a vision of purity; and seek only to create an image for their daughter, but not a reality. Don’t attempt to cleanse the outside of the cup while neglecting the inside (Luke 11:39-40).
We can teach our young daughters to speak politely and wear modest clothes; but, that is no guarantee they will grow up to be chaste women in their hearts. As Judy Rogers so wisely says in her catchy children’s song describing Proverbs 11:22, “Isabelle is a pig with a ring in her snout. You can dress Izzy up, but you can’t take her out…cuz Isabelle is a pig.” A woman with an unchaste heart will remain an unchaste woman regardless of what she wears until God convicts her of her sin, she repents, and the transforming work of Jesus creates in her a clean heart (Psalm 51:10).
Focus on your daughter’s heart—that is where real change begins. Use the Word of God—His Truth—to reach her. If she feels that your convictions are born out of fear, embarrassment, or pride, she is likely to reject your instruction, and judge your words as legalism.
Our daughters—our children—must be taught to embrace their own convictions. Teach them to be Bereans (Acts 17:11). They need to know what they believe and why they believe it so they aren’t at the mercy of false teachers and charlatans (Ephesians 4:14).
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:6)
If we neglect to win their hearts (their love, respect, affection, and honor), they may turn to strangers or false teachers for direction and support. If we focus only on outward appearances—on an image, then we are in danger of either alienating our children or producing a crop of legalists who have simply learned to “go through the motions” of an empty faith. If this happens, we will have raised up hypocrites, “sons of hell” (Matthew 23:15), or “maidens of hell,” rather than maidens of virtue.
And, most importantly, we must live out the biblical truths we are teaching. If we tell our daughter to be kind and patient with her little brother, but we are regularly sharp and critical when we speak to her, then she will learn by what we do, not by what we say. “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.” (Proverbs 23:26) We must live out Christ before our daughters, as much as we teach them His Word. “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Hear, my son, and be wise; and guide your heart in the way. (Proverbs 23:19)
We are in a battle for the hearts and souls of our children. Using false doctrine, false teachers, sensual temptations, and, in some cases, parental blunders, Satan is pulling children away from their families and creating much confusion in the church today. By God’s grace, we must win this battle—for the sake of our children, for the sake of future generations, for the sake of the church, and for the glory of God!
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I liked and shared on FB.
Liked on facebook
I already preordered but I am doing this because if I win I have 2 friends raising the same age girls that I am.. so liked and shared on my wall.
I ‘liked’ and shared on Facebook!!
Liked and shared! :)
Liked and shared the page! Thanks!
Thanks for your books Stacy. Shared the link on my Face Book page.
I ‘liked’ on facebook
I shared on facebook
I’d love to win a copy of this book!!
I ‘liked’ on FB!
I ‘liked’ on Facebook!
Thank you so much for this opportunity!
I would love to win a new copy! I “liked” on Facebook!
I Liked on Facebook and shared about it on my wall. I LOVE your book, and can’t wait to read the new version!
I ‘liked’ on facebook
Shared on facebook
Would love to read this with my daughter! Thank you for the chance to win.
I liked and shared! Just bought the “old” one a few months ago, and have been reading through it, about to start reading it with our 8 yr old. Great stuff, especially for those of us mothers who were not raised in to be maidens of virtue!
I have read several books from Stacy but haven’t had the privilege to read this one. Looking forward to getting the book.
Liked on facebook.
I don’t have a facebook account :( But I would love to win a copy!
Like! Like! Like! :-) And shared on FB.
Liked and shared! Thank you for your encouraging work.
Liked and shared. I’d love to read this book!
I already liked the page before this – - – but I shared it on FB!
May God bless the relaunch and the women, young and older, that will be moved by the message!
—Mrs. Gina Weeks
I liked Raising Maidens of Virtue on FB. Thank you for entering me in the giveaway. This book looks wonderful!
I liked on FB. And shared too!!
I “like” RMV of FB and I shared it as well. I would love to read this. Thanks!
Liked and shared on fb! Can’t wait to read the book and explore your blog! :) Thank you!
Oh! Looks like such a good read!
Liked, shared and leaving comment!!
I like it and share it on facebook.
We dont ‘facebook’ but I am so pleased about the new and expanded version! I cant imagine the book being better though! God bless, Dana
I “liked” this on Facebook!
So excited to incorporate these truths with the raising of my first daughter!
I like RMV on Facebook and I shared this giveaway!
I liked it on facebook and would love to read it with my 6 maidens!!!!
I liked and shared with others on facebook. Love letting others know about this great resource. Loved the original and thanks for the chance to win this one.
I am so excited to read this new, well, old-new book!
I read Passionate Housewives Desperate for God in 3 hrs crying and getting smacked in the face with each page turn! Just reading the small excerpt you posted brought me to tears. I hope that the Lord uses this book again to spurn mothers to reevaluate their training/teaching and examples that we’ve been providing for our daughters. May we grow even more with this new encouragement (book) you’re sharing once again.
Thank You!!!
I shared and liked on FB as well :)
I liked and shared this on facebook. I have the original and loved every part of it. I can’t wait to read the new edition with my little sister.
I liked and shared on FB. Hoping to win, as I have a sweet little maiden I pray will be virtuous throughout her life!
I “liked” and shared on FB. My 13 year old daughter and I are currently going through this book which I purchased several years ago from Books on the Path. It would be very special to have the updated version to read together.
liked you on fb :)
Done and dusted, as the British say :)
I’m entered! Thanks for the opportunity, hope I win!
Liked and shared on Facebook
liked would love to win this book
Very interested in reading your book and applying God’s principles to raising our girls!
I liked and shared. Thanks Stacey for your work on this. Excited to check it out :)
I shared this on FB. I’m joining our local homeschool area group because I think that helping other families is important and mostly because my small daughter will need good friends to be around. I’m trying to start her life out on the right track. I’m looking forward to reading this book to help guid her little mind and heart. Thanks so much!
I “Liked” and “Shared” this on FB! It looks SO great, Mrs. McDonald!!
Liked it and shared it. Thanks!!
Liked and shared! Would love to have another copy to share.
This is an answer to prayer. I desire to impart all that I possibly can to my daughter to prepare her for life. Most importantly a true heart for God. I was raised to love the Lord and in church, but I did not receive the training or guidance your book and website provide; and as a result I made many bad choices. With God, my husband, lots of studying the Word, and websites like yours I am learning and equipping not only myself but my daughter with a virtuous future. Your book will also help me with this journey:) Thank you for taking the time and energy to give us this wonderful tool!
Liked and Shared! I was raised in a house with shouting, angry words, name-calling, swearing.. In my own home(more than a house) by the end of the day I am out of patience and shouting. I had less trouble somehow with the older boys who are now men. The little daughter clashes with everyone. I need help!
I am thrilled to see the new expanded version as my beloved daughter is now 10. We have been working on growing our relationship and growing together in God’s word. I think this would be an excellent and very tiely tool for us. Thank you for the opportunity to learn more as a mom.
I liked and shared on FB!
Nicki was the winner of a free copy of Raising Maidens of Virtue! Congratulations, Nicki! I wrote you privately with further instructions.