Daughters Of Sarah ~ Biddy Chambers

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Books Worth Reading

Thoughts Concerning the King by Elizabeth Prentiss
Originally published in 1890, these selections from Elizabeth Prentiss' private papers represent the cream of her thoughts and relationship with the Lord. While simply a collection of quotes and poetry, the depth and insight of these quotations make this book a treasure indeed.

Children of the Storm by Natasha Vins
Natasha Vins tells the story of life as the daughter of the persecuted Russian pastor Georgi Vins.

Release the Power of Prayer by George Muller
George Muller testified that he had received at 50,000 specific answers to prayer. Read the powerful testimony of a man who looked to God for all needs and believed that God delights in the prayers of His children.

Studies In The Sermon On The Mount by Oswald Chambers
The Sermon on the Mount would bring us to despair apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Oswald Chambers expounds on the meaning of these commands of Christ and shows us that Christ enables us to follow His teachings.

Mimosa: A True Story by Amy Carmichael
A young Indian girl one day heard of a Savior who loved her and from then on she chose to worship only Him even though for many years she could not remember His name. This story reveals the amazing power of our Savior's love.

If by Amy Carmichael
If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
This convicting book, in short, pointed sentences, reveals the true meaning of Calvary love.

Rose from Brier by Amy Carmichael
Written not from the well to the ill, but from the ill to the ill, this book contains the treasures of Amy Carmichael's spiritual life during the final years of her life. This collection of poetry, short stories, and encouragement for fellow-sufferers addresses many aspects of human suffering and points us to Calvary as the only source of peace and comfort.

Set-Apart Femininity: God's Sacred Intent for Every Young Woman by Leslie Ludy
In contrast to the shallow, selfish, pleasure seeking femininity found today, Set-Apart Femininity lays out a blueprint for life-changing, world altering femininity that is based on God's sacred call and purpose. This book calls young women to make an eternal impact on this world rather than indulge themselves in today's self-focused culture. Speaking forthrightly to the corruption of today's culture and its infiltration into the church, the message of this book drives deep into the heart of true set-apart femininity and the heart of God.

To Have and To Hold by Mary Johnston
A fascinating story from Colonial Jamestown. As a struggling colony faces the threats and dangers of the new world, a Godly soldier braves all odds to defend the sanctity of marriage. This is a story of courage, faithfulness, and total dedication to God's sacred laws.

Golden hours: Heart-hymns of the Christian life by Elizabeth Prentiss
In this book, Elizabeth Prentiss puts into verse her experiences of both intense joy and suffering. Born out of a time of the darkest pain, these poems reflect the lessons learned by a life consecrated to God.

Essays on Various Subjects Principally Designed for Young Ladies by Hannah More
Written over 200 years ago, this thought-provoking collection of essays expounds on various qualities that are unique to femininity. Chapter topics include conversation, meekness, education, and religion. This book affirms the God-ordained distinctions between men and women and encourages young ladies to pursue excellence. A very refreshing book for those who desire to return to a Biblical pattern for womanhood.

Vanya by Myrna Grant
The story of a young Russian soldier whose faith did not die in the face of torture and martyrdom. The amazing miracles God did through his life fanned the flames of Christianity in Russia.

A Day's Time-Table by E. S. Elliott
Written over a century ago, this simple tale of one day in a young unmarried woman's life incorporates and reveals powerful truths concerning the relevance of God's Word to every detail of our lives. This fictional story is written in the style of a novel, yet is full of Scripture. God's design for womanhood flows throughout the book, untainted by modern feminism.

Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot
A collection of letters written to the author's daughter on the meaning of womanhood.

No Graven Image by Elisabeth Elliot
The fictional story of a young single woman missionary who is given the enormous task of starting a work among the Quichuas of the high Andes. As she begins her life as a missionary, she quickly learns that she is supposed to project an image of herself as a successful, spiritual missionary. Then something happens that shatters that image and she learns to put no created image, no matter how "spiritual", in the place of God.

The 1599 Geneva Bible
The original 1599 Geneva Bible with notes written by the reformers. Nothing has been updated except the spelling. This translation is characterized by simple and beautiful language that is surprisingly understandable even to modern readers.

Aunt Jane's Hero by Elizabeth Prentiss
The heartwarming story of a Christian couple seeking to establish a home whose happiness flows from a beautiful relationship with the Lord Jesus. Biblical truths about marriage and family life are interwoven throughout this lovely story.

Gold Cord by Amy Carmichael
The story of the Dohnavur Fellowship in Amy Carmichael's own words. An amazing testimony of the work of God.

They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman
This is a book about the exchanged life, the life that is of Christ. This collection of 20 short biographies of men and women who discovered the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will increase your desire to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your own life. The Christian life is, first and foremost, about a mighty, resurrected Lord whose Spirit can indwell and completely transform those who surrender to Him.

Edges of His Ways by Amy Carmichael
Selections from the notes of Amy Carmichael arranged in a daily devotional style.

Toward Jerusalem by Amy Carmichael
A collection of poetry and songs written for those who are about the King's business.

His Thoughts Said. . .His Father Said . . . by Amy Carmichael
The thoughts of a child of God are often troubled and questioning. The Father has an answer to all of them.

Thou Givest They Gather by Amy Carmichael
Gleanings from the previously unpublished writings of Amy Carmichael arranged in daily devotional readings.

A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot
My favorite biography of Amy Carmichael. Full of excerpts from Amy's writings, this well-researched book gives us a glimpse into the life of one of the great lovers of God.

Love to the Uttermost by F. B. Meyer
An exposition of John 13-21. The author digs deep into the events of Jesus' last hours in order to bring us to a closer, passionate devotion to the Messiah.

God's Missionary by Amy Carmichael
"The Cross is the attraction." This fiery little book reveals Christ's standards for the true soldiers of the Cross.

Testament From Prison by Georgi Vins
A collection of personal testimonies, stories, sermons, letters, and poetry written by Georgi Vins, his family, and other persecuted Russian believers.

Daughters Of Sarah ~ Biddy Chambers

March 6th, 2010

When people think of Oswald Chambers, they usually think of the dozens of books that bear his name as the author. It may come as a surprise, then, to find out that Oswald Chambers only published a few books during his lifetime and never aspired to become the famous author he is now. His works and his name would probably have been forgotten apart from the work of his diligent and faithful wife Biddy, who carefully edited and published his sermons in book form after his death. The life of this humble lady is a story in itself.

Gertrude (later nicknamed “Biddy” by her husband) was born in 1884. Bouts of illness often kept her confined at home, but she used her extra time to become proficient at shorthand. Her father’s death close to her fifteenth birthday created much financial hardship for the family. After Biddy finished school, she continued to live at home and helped support her family through her skill in shorthand.

In 1908, Biddy met Oswald Chambers and in 1910, they were married. Oswald started a small Bible college shortly thereafter, and Biddy proved to be the perfect helpmeet for the task. The entire college became her home and she cheerfully and hospitably cared for the students and a constant stream of visitors. She took careful shorthand notes of her husband’s lectures and served as his secretary. The birth of her daughter in 1913 only added the joy of a busy household.

A major change for the family occurred in 1915 when, with World War I in full swing, Oswald sensed God’s direction to go and minister to soldiers in Egypt. The Bible college was closed, and Oswald, Biddy, and their little daughter Kathleen started pouring their lives into a new ministry. Biddy continued her diligent lifestyle of hospitality, often serving groups of hundreds of soldiers. Somehow, in the midst of so much work, she found time to record her husband’s sermons in shorthand, carefully preserving them for the future. Little did she know that this would form the basis of her future life work.

After just two years in Egypt, Oswald died suddenly of complications from appendicitis, leaving Biddy a widow. Still in her thirties, she suddenly found herself alone, unsure of what to do next. Just a few months later, however, a friend showed her a folder of her husband’s sermons and suggested she have them printed as leaflets. When the first one was eagerly received and requests poured in for more, Biddy realized that she had discovered a way to continue her husband’s work. She possessed an enormous quantity of her own shorthand transcriptions of Oswald’s sermons and lectures. After returning to England, she poured her heart and soul into what she called “the work of the books”.

Over the next few decades until her death in 1966, she trusted God to provide for her while she diligently edited and compiled her husband’s sermons into book form. All profits she received from the sale of books were used to print more books. In spite of the work she put into publishing her husband’s words, she never put her name to any of them. She was content to be a servant, not desiring to be noticed for her work. All fifty of the books she compiled bear her husband’s name, not her own. The most well-known of them – My Utmost for His Highest – is read by people around the world every day. Millions of people have been blessed through the humble work of this one woman.

“We are not called to be successful in accordance with ordinary standards, but in accordance with a corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying, becoming in that way what it never could be if it were to abide alone.” -Oswald Chambers

This mini-biography is part of an ongoing series of stories about Godly women of the past and present. Do you have a story about a Godly woman who has impacted your life? If so, post it on your blog and place a link to your post here in the comments! Click here to learn a little more about this meme.