Letters from the Heart…

…and Treasures from Our Mailbox

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Nothing but the Best

Greetings in Jesus Name from Montezuma! I hope this letter finds you growing “in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”* (2 Peter 3:18)

Yesterday, Bethany stepped on a harmless-looking pile of ashes, but hot coals were undemeath! She screamed and cried for a while, but we finally soothed the bums on her feet by soaking them in cold water for hours. She seemed better toward the evening until Dad put aloe-vera gel on her burns. (The doctor had told us to do so.) She was crying hysterically because of the pain and Dad was afraid she’d go into shock from staying in cold water for so long. We were all trying to find a way to sooth her by asking her what she wanted.

“Beth, do you want some juice?”

“You want your doll?”

“Want me to read you a book?”

She ended all this by saying (or sobbing out), “I just want to be healed!”

So we prayed! We also called some friends to pray. And, almost suddenly, she calmed down and the pain stopped. She was ecstatic and we were so thankful! The next day she was walking fine. Praise the Lord!

Yesterday I was happily surprised to see Dear Princess (the Summer issue) in the mail! I really enjoyed it and was encouraged and strengthened by quite a few articles especially! Thanks so much, Skye, for sending it to me! I read the child’s story “Penny Plays Rabbit” to Bethany, and then Bethany enjoyed it a second time when I read it to her and Noah! They both really liked it, and so did I! I think “Stitches ’N’ Stories” is a wonderful addition to Dear Princess! Laura’s illustrations for “True Love” were darling and beautiful! Thanks so much, Laura! “The Gift of Conversation” was a good reminder for me! When we just focus on ourselves, what opportunities to reach out are missed! “Pika’s Treasure—What About Mine?” was so good! I really appreciate Lisa sharing ways in which Jesus’ Words have kept her from sinning.

One thought that seems to instantly stomp out the devil’s fires of discontent or wishful dreaming in my heart, is this: God (the Maker of the universe, Master Designer, King of Creation, my Merciful Redeemer and Unfailing Friend Who wants nothing but the best for me!) has a perfect plan fit my life! Praise the Lord! When I really dwell on that glorious truth—I get so excited! My “running ahead of God’s plan” immediately stops. My heart is then at rest (no more fear of the future!) when I realize that the safest place to be is in the will of God! May we always stay in His will! (I don’t want to imply the untruth that it’s so easy for me to surrender to God’s will and plan, my heart only thrills to this thought when I dwell on it with an open heart!)

Another thing that is so comforting to me is to realize that whenever we fall, the Lord wants us to run back to Him, wash in the blood of Jesus and re-surrender ourselves to Him—immediately! So many times I feel like I have to linger, like the Prodigal Son, for a while before I “arise and go unto my Father”—but I was so glad to find that this was wrong. How would you feel if Amanda did something wrong to you and when you were wanting so truly to forgive her and embrace her, she stayed miserably in the shadows? I love this sentence: “The greatest wrong we can do to Love is to stay away”—Amy Carmichael.

Sarah Morrison
Montezuma, GA

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No Reputation But Christ’s

I recently received my first issue of Dear Princess and I really enjoyed it! I love “finding” magazines that help and encourage me in my daily walk, and show me that there are many others who are different from the world and who desire to follow and serve our mighty Savior “with all their hearts”! Thank you, Skye, for sharing about this magazine with me! I would like to continue to receive DP, and whenever possible, I’d like to have all the back issues, please. I greatly look forward to getting them and the next issue of DP!

There were many things about DP which I enjoyed (okay, I’ll be honest—Ienjoyed all of it!) I found “Seek Him Early” by E. M. Bounds to be a needed challenge to rise earlier and make my time with Him more precious! “Pika’s Treasure—What About Mine?” by Lisa J. Panasuk was also convicting, especially since patience and cheerfulness are two of the things I usually struggle with daily. Sylvia Kembel’s “Throw Out the Lifeline” was very good, for it seems to me that family members are the hardest to witness to. How easy it is to worry too much about others’ opinion of us (especially family) instead of what our Father in Heaven wants us to do and what He thinks of us! Your article, Sylvia, was a good reminder that (as you said), “we have no reputation to lose as our reputation is Christ’s.”

Laura Erickson’s “The Colors of Our Country,” and Hannah L. Clayton’s “True Love” were excellent studies of Colossians 3:12-14 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, respectively. How terribly I fall short of truly loving others as Christ does! Ladies, your articles were eye-openers, and much needed by me. Only with our Redeemer’s triumphant help can we ever even hope to develop these precious qualities and attitudes.

“The Gift of Conversation” really has shown me the importance of being hospitable and friendly to others, and Skye, your article, “Forgetting and Reaching Forth” didn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated either! I often struggle with doing just as the title said, so your words were very encouraging! I was also helped by what you said, Abigail, for it’s easy to get overwhelmed by trials, whether big or small, and often feel we must do something about it when we only need to keep our eyes on Jesus and give it all to Him!

As with my other magazines, I also loved the reader interview and the letters from fellow sisters in Christ, and even found “Penny Plays Rabbit” cute and amusing.

Thank you, Abigail and Skye, for following the Lord’s leading and publishing this magazine! It is appreciated! I’ll keep you in my prayers. God bless!

In Him,
Micah Cooper
Canton, TX

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So Very Important

Thank you so much for adding me on your mailing list! I just received the Summer ’98 issue, and enjoyed it a lot. “Pika’s Treasure—What About Mine?” by Lisa J. Panasuk was wonderful! I read it over several times, and each time made a deeper impression on me—sometimes it’s so easy to neglect spending time in prayer and Bible study, yet it is so very important! Thank you, Lisa, I need that!

“True Love,” by Hannah L. Clayton really hit hard, too, and got me really thinking! Every word was very true and prompted me to examine my own attitude and feelings. The illustrations were great, too, Laura—I enjoyed looking at them.

I could comment on each article and story, but I suppose it would take too long! Instead, let me say I loved reading Dear Princess from cover to cover and look forward to the next issue!

May God bless you as you continue in His plan!

In Christ,
Jessica Lee Dorfsmith
Big Bear City, CA.

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A Prayer List

As I was reading the Summer 1998 issue of DP, I came across “Seek Him Early” by E. M. Bounds. And while reading a thought came to me, “Why not make a list of God’s blessings, prayer needs and other things and pray about them the next morning?”

“Throw Out the Lifeline,” by Sylvia Grace Kembel, was an encouragement, since my mom’s mom and dad are not saved. Thank you, Sylvia, for your encouraging to keep on praying for my unsaved family!

DP is so encouraging; keep up the good work, Abigail and Skye!

Love in Christ,
Katelyn Adams
Tahuya, WA

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All-Seeing, All-Knowing

Praise the Lord for how He guarded you from the wrong printer! He truly is our protector. I read your article, “Forgetting and Reaching Forth,” in this current issue of Dear Princess. The part about “I find myself easily doubting about getting married, as there are no possible options around, yet doesn’t God know?” I could easily identify with. Sometimes I wonder… but God does know. Just recently a friend of mine began courting, and another became engaged after courting. Hearing their stories reminds me that there is a God Who sees—El Roi. In one case, the young man had noticed this girl for six years and yet she had no idea that he was interested in her. I was so impressed by what her sister said: “I didn’t think there was anyone this perfect for Sarah.” So God knows, and He will get the nght one to the right place at the right time. But pray for me that I will actually live with this faith…

Jennifer Quackenbush
Woodstock, GA

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As Strangers and Pilgrims

Thank you for printing Dear Princess. I found this issue so encouraging—both yours and Abigail’s articles were so good. “Forgetting the past.” Hmmm… something extremely difficult to do. I am glad you are writing about it, as I often need to be reminded of that!

Anyway, I’m glad I “met” you and Abigail! And I am very thankful for HC and DP. They often come right when I need them the most. I am also very thankful God has given us His Word, good books to read, fellowship with godly families (through the mail for now), and excellent magazines!

I suppose you are wondering who I am, my family etc….

I was born in Oregon in 1984 and lived near Eugene with my parents until I was 8. We then moved to Oklahoma and lived there for three years. I did not like living in OK because I was afraid of the storms and tornadoes. God was very gracious for protecting us while we lived there. Then in spring of ’95 my nana was diagnosed with cancer, and so we moved out here to care for her and Grandpa. In the fall of that year Nana finally, after years of prayer, accepted Jesus as her Lord and personal Savior. She died in ’96, and now we are taking care of my grandpa. He is not open to Jesus, but we are praying for him.

We are living in an apartment right now, in the middle of the city, in southern California. I live with my Daddy (Mark), Mom (Ann), and one sister (Hope), who’s 9. I enjoy reading my Bible and other Godly books, cooking, baking, making stationary, cross-stitching, playing with stuffed bears with Hope, and more.

We dress modestly—I wear below-the-knee dresses, jumpers, skirts, and split-skirts all the time. We read mostly the King James Version of the Bible and believe in courtship (saving one’s heart for her future husband). Hope and I have been homeschooled our whole lives and are thankful for it. Mom is a keeper at home, and is teaching Hope and me to follow Jesus, to be submissive to our dad, and other “keeper at home” things. Daddy is a great father! He teaches all of us so much. He likes to communicate and talk things out, joke, make us laugh, lift people up, and tell people about Jesus—how Jesus changed his life and how He can change theirs. Daddy doesn’t have a job right now. He is studying in computers, and we are praying God will provide him with a pleasant job afterwards. We don’t “fit in” here at all! I’m glad that we don’t, but I wish the people here weren’t worldly. God has and is really calling us away from the world to peace and a quiet lifestyle. We don’t have TV, don’t go shopping, don’t go to the beach, don’t go to movies, don’t believe in dating, etc. I am glad we are being called away—I wouldn’t want to “fit in” here.

I need to be going now… I’d love to hear from you when you can write, but no hurry.

Love in Jesus Christ,
Faith Hellikson

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Forgetting and Reaching Forth

How can we tell you or thank you for sending Dear Princess to us?! We absolutely loved it because of the deep spiritual content! Please do keep us on your mailing list. We would like to donate, but don’t have any personal money at the moment. We hope to send something soon. We also appreciated your desire to “freely give.” What a blessing! The Lord has also laid it on our hearts to offer YWSH totally free, starting with this next issue.

How I could relate to your article on “Forgetting and Reaching Forth” in Dear Princess. That is what I keep having to remind myself. “Don’t look back, Melody! Look forward. God has a perfect plan for your life. Just trust Him! You can’t see the complete picture now, but it really is true.” In the past, I’ve found myself looking back, and I know that it caused discontentment with where God had placed me at that time. I don’t want that to be the case.

Much Love,
Melody Chapin
Sherman, TX

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Grace Bigger than Our Problems

Thank you so much for printing such a wonderful magazine! It is so encouraging to hear what God is doing in other young ladies’ lives. I searched for years to find a magazine for young people whose goal was to help us learn to be more like Christ. Discouraged by my findings (sometimes to the point of being repulsed!), I had nearly give up finding a truly God-centered, uplifting, wholesome magazine. Then, thank God, I met Abigail at OMSI!

There were so many things in this latest issue that spoke to my heart, but I will just mention two that especially encouraged me. The first one was your article, Abigail, “With Love, from the Editress.” I have been extremely depressed lately, but I am not certain I know what was causing it. I have naturally been a little stressed on occasion, but this was abnormally severe. It stretched on day after day, week after week, until I thought I couldn’t take anymore. I felt like I had a black cloud pushing me down and smothering me. But God’s grace is much bigger than our problems! Your article was so encouraging to me! (Only God knows how much!) Thank you, Abigail.

The other things that encouraged me was the article by Skye. I especially noticed one paragraph in which she mentioned she sometimes doubted she would get married, as there are no possible options around. I, too, have that problem. No, I shouldn’t call it a problem, because in His time, if it is His will, He will lead me to the right young man. It was encouraging to read Skye’s thoughts on this subject. Thank you!

Thank you both, once again, for this wonderful magazine! May God bless you as you follow His leading in your lives!

In His love,
Ruby Johnson
Bend, OR

P.S. Might I suggest a corner in DP for a recommended book list? Those of us who are avid bookworms would greatly appreciate the opportunity to share book titles. It is getting increasing harder to find Godly, wholesome books!

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More Precious than Silver or Gold

We (my two sisters and I) received our sample issue of Dear Princess. We really enjoyed it! It’s so encouraging to see what the Lord is doing. I can certainly see there are the “seven thousand” who are seeking to be faithful to the Lord. I believe that we are in the last days and that God’s people need to encourage each other and build each other up in Bible faith and in obedience to all of God’s loving requirements.

I sure could relate to Abigail’s feelings expressed in the editorial, as I have suffered with depression off and on and sometimes don’t know the cause. Usually, though, if I really search I can find several contributing factors. If I can identify the sources of the sadness, anxiety or resentment, regret—then I can face that and say, “It’s not so bad, especially with the Lord taking care of it,” and can “Commit [my] way unto the LORD; trust also in him,”* (Psalm 37:5) and He will act, as the Psalmist said. Talking faith—I should do that more. God will not let bad things happen to me while I’m truly seeking to do what is His will—unless those bad things are actually for my good. Then He will help me through them, if I stay with Him. Other remedies for anxiety and depression include: singing hymns, prayer, reading Psalms, Isaiah, and other encouraging, uplifting Bible passages, and seeking out someone else to help and encourage and witness to them. Talking of the Savior’s love, and seeking to enumerate and magnify His charms lifts our hearts and fills us with the Holy Spirit and takes the mind off of self and onto holy, lively, thankful themes.

My favorite article was “Seek Him Early.” It was so true! I always feel I shouldn’t do studies or read the newspaper, if I haven’t yet taken time for personal Bible reading. Prayer before meeting and talking with others really makes the difference too. I also liked the picture with it—outdoors. Even when I lived in the city, I would go out under the stars and ponder God’s many promises. I recalled how God told Abraham to see the stars and try to number them adding, “So shall thy seed be.”* (Genesis 15:5) Another: “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things.”* (Isaiah 40:26) “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”* (Psalm 19:1) I feel like exclaiming with the prophet, “His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.”* (Habakkuk 3:3) I feel happy; His love seems real to me; faith and energy spring up anew in my heart, I feel loved and ready to love and to serve in His strength. Nothing I see with my natural eyes are as lasting as the stars or so far out in space. But they are meaningful on/v because seeing them I naturally think of God, who lives on high. Abe Lincoln said he did not know how anyone could look up at the sky and deny the existence of God. Other natural things that really impress me are birds, flowers, and trees.

I also liked the interview with Angela LeFevre. Thank you, Angela, for sharing with us! Your story touched my heart because I have long had the dream of adopting older children who need a good home and to learn about Jesus right away. Children are precious souls (we should think of everyone that way) and they grow up so fast! Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me” (Mark 10:14)—and let their parents come too! If I do marry (if that be the Lord’s will) I want to consider adoption, as a ministry. Our Heavenly Father has adopted us at a price much more precious than silver or gold—and building that saving relationship with Him takes time, just as it takes time for the adopted ones to actually feel like family. It must be truly enriching.

I also liked the sharings from Lisa Panasuk, Hannah Clayton, and Sylvia Kembel. I have at times felt the urge to write to someone whom our family has been out of touch for some time, because some Scripture popped out of the page as I was reading and reminded me of that person. Then other kindred verses started coming to mind. I just felt impressed I had to write! Praying about it, I would get out my Bible and paper and pen and write an anonymous letter, leaving off the return address, leaving the Spirit of the Lord to make the impression. Then I could still address the reader personally and wish him/her God’s special blessing.

I read “The Gift of Conversation” with intense interest. How my heart felt for the one who wrote it! Perhaps she recently moved to a new place. I can truly sympathize. But let me tell you, I might also speak up on behalf of the short-winded girls. Some people are sensitive and shy because of family or personal troubles. Some have few friends or little time allotted to visit, so they feel overwhelmed when they get together with others, especially with the outgoing type. I’ve been in those situations. I surely hope I have never impressed someone as being unfriendly or uninterested, though.

Speech is a talent; influence is a talent. So, what about it? Are we using these to encourage and welcome each other to Christ? “Talk ye of all his wondrous works”* (Psalm 105:2)! the Psalmist says….

I also could really relate to Skye’s article, “Forgetting and Reaching Forth,” as much of our extended family doesn’t get along with us because of our faith and “odd” practices like homeschooling. As we near the close of time as we know it, truth and error become more distinct from each other as the Great controversy between Christ and Satan becomes more intense. Yet the enemy will seek to deceive even the elect. “[S]he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”* (Matthew 24:13)

May the Lord richly bless you.

Till He Comes,
Jamie Lee Whitaker
Defuniak Springs, FL

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An Inspitational Message

Dear Princess is becoming a very inspirational message to those who peruse its pages. How valuable are the contributions within each one!

My prayer is that you and Skye will be an even greater motivating force in the lives of those young girls who are endeavoring to please the King of Kings. With all my love,

Mrs. Spinks
Shreveport, LA

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Something I Didn’t Have

I am a wife of sevens years and a mother of two beautiful boys. I picked up your summer edition of Dear Princess at the Homeschool Conference in Beaverton, OR, on August 28, 1998. I picked it up to take it to show to the young ladies who attend my church. I started to read it and immediately began to cry! All I could think about was how I wished I would have had such a blessed magazine when I was single. I was saved when I was just a child, but I was not raised in a strong Christian family. My mother subscribed me to secular teen magazines and I was pushed to attend college. All through high school I prayed for a godly husband some day, because my heart’s desire was to be a wife and a mother. Unfortunately, this was not looked upon as praiseworthy, I really struggled because I didn’t have the guidance, encouragement, or knowledge that I was receiving a Godly call as a woman. After a year and a half of college, I married my high school sweetheart. He was a God-fearing man. Praise God He answered my prayer! I guess what I am trying to say is that I am praising God for your magazine, even though I didn’t have such a thing available when I was a young woman, but can be sure that I will tell every young woman I can about your Dear Princess magazine! Even though I am married, your magazine encouraged me in my “single” walk with the Lord. May the Lord richly bless you for the work you are doing for Him and His Kingdom! You really blessed my soul!

Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Carrie Hagerty

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