Susan Hunt - The True Woman (Updated Edition)

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Susan Hunt is a friend and mentor to many, including myself. In The True Woman , she comes alongside women to encourage and equip them with a theological framework to live out their womanhood to the glory of God. May Susans exhortations here equip another generation of women to reflect their redemption in their home, church, work, and community.

Christina Fox, Womens Ministry Advisor, Presbyterian Churches of America; retreat speaker; author, A Heart Set Free ; Closer Than a Sister ; and Idols of a Mothers Heart

True (adjective): genuine, faithful, steadfast, consistent, and loyal. If you desire to understand these characteristics of your true God and long for these words to be a descriptor of your life, then you have picked up the right book. Susan Hunt courageously unpacks the multifaceted dimensions of the calling of a true woman. I have seen firsthand how this book has stood the test of time, not only in its content but also in the contours of the life of its author.

Karen Hodge, Coordinator of Womens Ministries, Presbyterian Church in America; coauthor, Life-giving Leadership and Transformed

Certain books stand the test of time and serve as guidebooks for the next generation. Susan Hunts The True Woman is such a book. A classic must -r ead . Bold, countercultural, and more relevant than ever.

Mary A. Kassian, author, Girls Gone Wise

In this book, Susan Hunt articulates profound biblical truths clearly, from a heart nurtured for many years under the authority of Scripture. You will be challenged to think more biblically about Gods redemptive calling and to become a cultivator of true community. These are the marks of the true womana beacon of hope and faith. As the wife of a minister for over forty years, I am thankful for this invaluable resource.

Karen Loritts, speaker; coauthor, Your Marriage Today... and Tomorrow

The True Woman

Crossway Books by Susan Hunt

Big Truths for Little Kids (with Richie Hunt)

By Design

The Legacy of Biblical Womanhood (with Barbara Thompson)

My ABC Bible Verses

My ABC Bible Verses from the Psalms (with Richie Hunt)

Spiritual Mothering

The True Woman

Womens Ministry in the Local Church (with J. Ligon Duncan)

Your Home a Place of Grace

The True Woman

The Beauty and Strength of a Godly Woman

Updated Edition

Susan Hunt

The True Woman: The Beauty and Strength of a Godly Woman (Updated Edition)

Copyright 1997, 2019 by Susan Hunt

Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law. Crossway is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Crystal Courtney

First printing 1997

Updated edition printing 2019

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: --4-6-3
ePub ISBN: --4-6-3
PDF ISBN: --4-6-0
Mobipocket ISBN: --4-6-6

Library of Congress Cataloging -i n -P ublication Data

Names: Hunt, Susan, 1940 - author.

Title: The true woman: the beauty and strength of a godly woman / Susan Hunt.

Description: Updated Edition. | Wheaton : Crossway, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018041000 (print) | LCCN 2018054104 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433565090 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433565106 (mobi) | ISBN 9781433565113 (epub) | ISBN 9781433565083 (tp)

Subjects: LCSH: WomenReligious life. | Women in the Bible.

Classification: LCC BV4527 (ebook) | LCC BV4527 .H86 2019 (print) | DDC 248.8/43dc23

LC record available at https:// lccn .loc .gov /2018041000

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

2019-04-24 11:35:55 AM

To our daughters and daughter -i n -l ove

Kathryn Barriault

Laurin Coley

Shannon Hunt

With gratitude that they are true women

To our granddaughters and granddaughter -i n -l ove

Mary Kate Barriault

Suzie Barriault

Sara Barriault

Heather Hunt

Cassie Coley

Maggie Coley

Kate Coley

With the prayer that they will be true women

And in memory of our granddaughter

Annie Grace Barriault

My mother

Mary Kathryn McLaurin

And my great -g randmother

Cassie Barnes

True women who gave us the legacy of true womanhood

The children of your servants shall dwell secure;

their offspring shall be established before you.

Psalm 102:28

Older women... are to teach what is good, and so train the young women... that the word of God may not be reviled.

Titus 2:35

Contents

1997

This book is a family affair. My family saturates me with their love, support, and prayers. My husband, Gene, read every word, talked me through the rough places, and watched ball games with me when my mind was on overload and needed a break.

Our children cooperated superblyno one had a baby while I was writing. This was a first! Baby Cassie arrived after the manuscript was turned in, but just in time for her name to be added to the dedication page. Good timing.

Three of my sisters in Christ made huge investments in this book. Lynn Brookside, Karen Grant, and Barbara Thompson read each chapter as it was written. Their reactions and suggestions strengthened the book and reassured me. These true women are true friends.

My church is a place where believers share their gifts and graces with one another. I am especially blessed by the fellowship of my Sunday school class, the patience of the Tuesday morning womens Bible study as they allowed me to teach what I was writing, the prayer support of the mens Wednesday morning prayer group, and the godly leadership of our elders.

Thank you to the prayer warriors across the country who faithfully surrounded this project with prayer protection.

My thanks to the Presbyterian Church in America Christian Education staffespecially Charles Dunahoo, Dennis Bennett, and Stacey VanVoorhisand to the Womens Advisory Subcommittee. I am grateful that I work in the context of their oversight, advice, help, and encouragement.

I am especially grateful for the true women who opened the pages of their lives and allowed us to read what the Lord has done for them. Their stories are their gifts to us, and it is a costly gift. An exorbitant amount of emotional and spiritual energy was required to open and share this portion of their life -d iaries , but I am confident that this investment will reap rich rewards in Gods kingdom. As you read their stories, I am sure you will join me in praising God for his grace in their lives and in thanking them for touching our lives with that grace.