I have enjoyed writing this series of lessons about being a fruitful Christian. In no way have I covered all that could be said about this subject, but I hope this will arouse your interest to do some studying on your own and that as a result you will become a more fruitful Christian.

As I have written these lessons it has been the desire of my heart to fill them with the Word of God. As you read them, I trust that you will pay more attention to the Scriptures that you do to what I have written. Ask the Lord to allow His Word to penetrate your heart and, if needed, make changes in your life.

This book is dedicated to the memory of my dear friend, Betty Ridings, who went home to be with the Lord on August 16, 2004. It was at Betty's home in Juarez, Mexico, last May, while my husband was preaching a revival meeting in the Riding's church, that I began working on these lessons. Betty knew firsthand what the trials of life are all about. Most of her adult life, she had suffered from lupus. In her early twenties, after only seven weeks of marriage, her first husband was taken home to heaven. A short time later she met John Ridings, who had lost his wife and newborn baby in the...

I met Catherine in 1995 when she and her husband, Matt, came to our church to conduct Vacation Bible School. They stayed at our home that week and we had fun playing board games during our free time. It was during that week that Catherine found out she was expecting her first child who turned out to be a boy they named Daniel. Matt and Catherine met while they were students at Oklahoma Baptist College and got married on August 13, 1994. In 1995 they began their missionary ministry to the country of Ukraine where they faithfully served for over fifteen years. During those years the Lord...

I dedicate this series of lessons on "The Virtuous Woman" to my husband, Bert, who for the past 43 years has helped me to become a godly woman. He has been more than a husband to me. He has been my pastor who has faithfully instructed me in God's Word, my friend who has listened to me when I was down, and my encourager in all my endeavors. We have been traveling for the past few months and I was finding it difficult to prepare these lessons. I thank him for buying me a laptop computer, which made it possible to complete my preparation. I love you, Bert, and appreciate all that you do for me.

I dedicate this book of Bible lessons to my Mother, Helen Doan. As I have been at home caring for her the past few months, I have had more time to study my Bible and to write these lessons. For over fifty years my mother was a dedicated pastor's wife. She was always a good example for me and helped to prepare me for my life as a pastor's wife. These eight lessons are full of Scripture and it is my desire that as you study them you will increase your love for God's Word and will make His Word a vital part of your life. My mother went to heaven on December 14, 2004