Dear Girls,

You could call this a letter from the editor, letter of explanation, an announcement or even an invitation. I want to let you all know a little more about what has been going on with me the last few months, although most of you probably already have an idea.

In January of this year, I was introduced to my future husband. It was a very low time in life for me, and I didn't expect our acquaintance to go very far. However, this young man had a testimony with those that knew him, and they convinced me to give him a chance with my parents' permission. After several things prevented our getting to meet, we finally did on January the twenty-first at a baby shower at my church. ( LOL ) I remember looking deep into those dark chocolate-brown eyes the very first time and thinking he looked like a kind, warm-hearted person. For him, he says it was love at first sight, and I guess that would be Biblical if you read the book of Ruth. As I got to know him, his strength of character reminded me of the same story if you reference the figure of Boaz.

When I was sixteen, I gave not only my life but my body to God at Faith Baptist Camp in Resaca, Georgia, and committed to purity for my future husband. As I knelt that night in the altar with my hand on my Bible, I asked the Lord for someone who would have God first in his life and who would endeavor to love me as Christ loved the church. There are other little details that all of us pray for ( like chocolate-brown eyes ), but I knew that those two things were all that would really matter. That was the same year the Princess Letters were started- nearly four years ago now. It has absolutely amazed me how God has given me almost everything I have prayed for in submission to His will ( including chocolate-brown eyes, OK maybe I'm being silly, but really! ) I want to encourage you that God can do the same for you. There have been two verses that have stuck in my mind here lately, and I want to share them with you and you can apply them to yourself however you want: "Keep thyself pure." ( I Timothy 5:22b ) "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." ( Titus 1:15 ) Girls, my friends for several years now, keep yourself pure; the rewards are worth it, and, remember, there is more to being pure than just 'being a nun'. Be pure in your language, in your clothing, in your attitude, in how you present yourself around others; be pure in your thoughts and mind, and most importantly be pure in your heart before God. I promise that no matter how hard it may seem, God will reward you "abundantly above all that we ask or think" "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over...."

On October 26, of this year Jeremiah Douglas Bishop and I will be united in marriage at the Georgetown Baptist Church at seven o'clock in the evening. Both dressed in white, we will pledge ourselves to each other before God and share our very first kiss. We both wanted to invite you to attend, as we want all our friends and family present that can come. After our honeymoon, we will be residing in Old Fort, NC, in a darling little house the Lord gave us ( there is a story there, too ) just across from a creek that was dammed up years ago for baptizing. With all of the eminent wedding plans, we didn't have time to run through our regular printing of the newsletter. Also, we are trying to synchronize a new printer with our different computers, and that is why the last newsletter is so late. I hope you all will bear with the delays between technology and love. Our next full edition will be coming to you in color the first of January, created with a new editing team ( which means Jeremiah is now helping. )

May God bless you all, and we hope to see you soon, here, there or in the air!

Five Sponges

There are five sponges laying on your kitchen counter. Each member of your family has been cleaning up a different area of your home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned, but you can't tell by looking. They all look the same. So, what do you do? As you squeeze the first sponge you see that cola comes out, and you decide someone cleaned the kitchen with that one. Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner. That one was used in the bathroom. In the third you find motor oil. Someone cleaned the garage. In the fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out. The baby's nursery was cleaned with that one. In the last sponge is floor wax. That was the one you used on the hall floor. As you lay the last one down, you look again at their similarity.
They all look the same until they're squeezed. Christians are the same!
As life squeezes us, different things come out: anger, revenge, tears, remorse, greed, untruth, lust and finally death. At the same time, from another saint pours forth the love of Christ. Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in. Stay in the Word daily, and be in continuous prayer so that when life puts the squeeze on you, Jesus, and Jesus alone will shine forth.
As you think upon this, ask yourself, if I was squeezed, would Jesus and Jesus alone shine forth?

- Author Unknown -

Quarter Notes

"How Firm A Foundation" was wedded to a Christmas tune, "Adeste Fideles", a Latin hymn which we have translated as "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Nothing definite is known of the author save a mysterious "K" followed by the Scripture II Peter 3:4.
Originally printed in 1787 with seven stanzas by the Baptist preacher Dr. John Rippon, "How Firm A Foundation" still rings across the nations today, because, as one venerable lady said, "It is so full of Scripture."
Perhaps that is what comforted the boys of the 7th U.S. Army Corps who were encamped on the hills surrounding Havana, Cuba, on Christmas Eve, 1898. It was a lovely, quiet, tropical night when suddenly a sentinel from the Forty-ninth Iowa called, "Number 10; twelve o'clock, and all's well!" Following that assuring announcement, a strong voice lifted the chorus, and the others began to join in until, as General Guild said, "on the long ridges above the great city whence Spanish tyranny once went forth to enslave the New World, a whole American army was singing:

"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed;
I, I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."

The Northern soldier knew the hymn as one he had learned beside his mother's knee. To the Southern soldier it was that and something more; it was the favorite hymn of General Robert E. Lee, and was sung at that great commander's funeral. Protestant and Catholic, South and North, singing together on Christmas day in the morning -- that's an American army!"

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, tho' all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

(image courtesy of francoandluigis.com)

Historical *Flashback*

June 6th, 1944, the Allied invasion of Europe began. Shortly before midnight, the first planes, loaded with paratroopers, roared down the runway, climbed into the air, and headed for France. Standing nearby, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme commander of the Allied Forces in Western Europe, silently and solemnly watched the planes heading toward the horizon. His eyes filled with tears.
Operation Overload included nearly 3 million men, 11 thousand planes, 5 thousand large ships, and 4 thousand troop transports. This huge task force moved across the English Channel under a partly cloudy sky toward the five beaches at Normandy during the early morning hours on D-Day.
The Nazi's fought desperately, but they were out-numbered and out-planned. The victory at Normandy on D-Day opened the way for the British and American soldiers to move at about 5 miles a day with little resistance across France. On August 25, 1944, the Allies regained Paris. Meanwhile, the 7th U.S. Army landed on the southern coast, pushed rapidly up the Rh*ne Valley, and joined the Allied troops sweeping in from Normandy. By December 1944, just 6 months after D-Day, France was Freed!
Let us never forget!

- Sarah E. Williams -

age 14, NC

"He's Calling Me"

He's calling me -
I know not where,
But I know
I shall find Him there.
He's calling me -
'Cross stormy seas,
And through all doubt
He's leading me.
He's calling me -
Close to His side,
To flee all sin
And in peace abide.
He's calling me -
I hear His voice:
Who's call has made
My sad heart rejoice!

- Tabitha Williams -
3-15-05

A pastor's daughter wasn't feeling well one evening. So, her mother put her in bed early. This meant that she would miss her special evening time with her father. When the pastor came home and sat down to a late dinner, a small voice called from the back bedroom, "Mommy, can I see Daddy?"
"No, you need to lie down. Daddy will come in after while."
After another attempt at coaxing her mother to relent, all was quiet. Then suddenly the little girl's voice boomed from the back room, "Ma'am, I am a very sick young lady, and I need to see my pastor!"

-Lindsey Deaton -

14 yrs, SC

From My Mother's Pen...

She huffs, she puffs, and blows her house down!

Who is this young lady that would do such a thing? Surely not one of the King's daughters! Young ladies, I exhort you to examine yourselves and see if this could be said of you. Please read carefully Proverbs 6:16-19. I can see Miss Huff & Puff in these verses. She's proud -- always looking in the mirror. She lies to Dad and Mom. She fights with her siblings. She feeds her mind on the wicked things of the world. She's always in a hurry to get to some mischievous event. --Truly this is no King's daughter!
She huffs and she puffs and she blows her own house down. Isn't this a sad picture? Only prayer and conviction from God could meet the need of this young lady. I can see some of this kind of person creep into anyone's life, even a King's daughter. We must guard against it. Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogancy, and the forward mouth, do I hate." I often ask the Lord to help me fear Him.
Another verse for us is in Philippians 2:14, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings." You know, things like making your bed, vacuuming, washing dishes, folding laundry, ext. ext. Let's pray for each other while we work. Let's sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Why? Philippians 2:15, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as the lights of the world."
Young lady, go to the mirror and take a good look. Remember, there are some things a Princess doesn't do. You are the King's daughter. Pray, do right, and shine for Jesus!

With Love,
Mom - Mrs. Tammy Williams

( image courtesy of solarhaven.org )