Carolyn Mahaney on Biblical Womanhood

[Andy and Jenni Naselli live in Deerfield, Illinois and are members of CrossWay Community Church. Jenni is a  preschool teacher of four-year-olds at Christian Heritage Academy and is eagerly expecting her first child in June. Andy is pursuing his second PhD at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where he serves as a research assistant to Dr. D. A. Carson. More from the Naselli's is available on their website. - David Kotter]

Last year a close friend began telling me about the book Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood by Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole (Mahaney) Whitacre. Carolyn and Nicole are the wife and daughter respectively of C. J. Mahaney, who serves as the Vice-Chairman of the board of directors for CBMW.

My friend had recently given birth to her first child, a baby girl, and was thoroughly enjoying the book's emphasis on teaching daughters about biblical womanhood. I soon began devouring it! Then I discovered the Girl Talk Blog and two other books written by Carolyn Mahaney:

• Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother (an ideal place to begin reading Carolyn Mahaney)
• Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed (coauthored with her three daughters)

I also found a treasure trove of free teachings. I began spending hours each day listening to Carolyn on my MP3 player while working in the home. I even bought the three books above and gave them as Christmas presents to my Mom, sister, mother-in-law, and three sisters-in-law!

Throughout these past few months, Carolyn has mentored me at a distance through her books and talks on the disciplines of biblical womanhood:

• Her Titus 2 series has challenged me to think seriously about my role as a believing wife and mother.
• Her emphasis on "discovering the idols of your heart" in our motivations has convicted me to examine my own life and discern what motivates my decisions.
• Her practice of encouraging others about God's grace at work in their lives has challenged me to be more intentional about edifying others this way.
• Her seriousness about confessing and dealing with sin has sobered me to examine and deal with the sin in my own heart.
• Her teaching on motherhood has meant the most to me since our own baby girl, Kara Marie, is on the way! May God give me the grace to be half as intentional in teaching baby Kara about the disciplines of biblical womanhood as Carolyn was with her daughters.

I am so grateful for Carolyn's mentoring over the last several months. Rather than giving fluffy women's talks, she applies the gospel to all of life—especially to our roles as wives and mothers for the glory of God.