Letters From:
Unfolded Hearts
Thank you all for your encouragement! What a blessing it is to have
so many sisters in the Lord! Please note that all letters sent to us have
the possibility of being printed, unless you indicate otherwise.... :-)
- Ed.
Dear Summer and Melody,
Hello! I just got my first issue yesterday and loved it! :-)
I was wondering, how can I get the very first issue? I’m guessing that
I should just send 3 stamps, but I wasn’t sure.
My favorite parts of the Sept./Oct. issue were: A Day at Our Home;
very amusing :-), My Heart’s Desire (great job, Jana!), and Two Shall Become
One, although everything was great.
I’m enclosing two healthy dessert recipes for you to print as well
as a book review.
Much love,
Elizabeth Perron
(For anyone wishing to receive back issues, please see
page 2 of “YWSH”... - Ed)
Greetings!
A special thanks for printing my article in YWSH. My Mom was amazed
that someone actually reprinted our “ for more information” lines exactly
as we wished (specifically, to spell out their name and address to our
answering machine) :-) .
I especially appreciated the lengthy and well written articles on dating
vs. courtship and am eagerly looking forward to part 2 of “God’s Plan for
Finding A Mate”. Does Dr. S. M. Davis have any other materials on the subject?
It’s encouraging to know that there are others willing to take a stand
regarding those beliefs. I’m also thankful to HopeChest and YWSH for taking
a stand regarding “Christian Romance” novels — an area I have been convicted
on :-). My mom had always felt cautious regarding the ideas portrayed in
those types of books, and it was a real eye opener to finally read those
cautions in writing and say “yes! that’s why!”:-)
I also greatly appreciated Brandie Clayton’s honest , real
life article. I’m sure it wasn’t easy writing “His Mercy to Me!”
It showed great sacrificial love for her to disregard any concerns on her
part of what others might think , to compose this timely warning to her
sisters in Christ. If you ever have contact with her, please give her a
hug and thanks from me! :-)
I will soon send my subscription so I can be added to your mailing
list. It’s rather difficult to send stamps through e-mail :-) . I am grateful
to our mutual friend, Jana Baldridge, for introducing your magazine (and
family) to ours...I have never seen anything like “I
Love My Sister” — what a precious way to lift up our “best friends”
! :-) The way you and Melody conducted your dialogue in “How
Can I Be a True Friend?” made us feel like we were privileged to listen
in on a private conversation, in order that we might learn something important!
When convenient, would you send me the booklet and cassette tape of
the KJV Psalms put to music? My two younger brothers listen to tapes at
night when they go to sleep, so this sounds like something I could give
to them at bedtime. I also like to listen to music while I bake, so I would
enjoy it as well! :-)
Sheila won’t soon be forgotten. Our family has also gone though a few
traumatic times when beloved pets have died. Many tears were shed over
the hailstorm death of our itty bitty wild bunny. :-) A burial ceremony
somewhat lifted the sorrow — sort of saw the bunny off to heaven, so to
speak.
God Bless!
Christy Baum
Dear Summer and Melody,
Thank you so much for putting the time and effort into Stepping Heavenward
to make it possible! You have no idea how refreshing and challenging it
is to me.
Jamie Carman had Stepping Heavenward sent to me! I love it! I plan
to continue my subscription when it runs out after the next issue. I am
praying for you, and I hope Stepping Heavenward continues to come out.
Thanks again!!!
Your friend and sister in Christ,
Rachel HOPE Poteet
(Melody, we share the same middle name! Hope!)
Dear Melody and Summer,
I was absolutely thrilled to receive my September/October 1996 issue
of “Young Women Stepping Heavenward” today! Finally, after days of hearing
several of my pen-friends in Texas commenting on the articles, I was able
to read the issue myself. (That’s what I get for living up in Wisconsin,
huh? :-)) You should have seen me this afternoon: I ran out to get the
mail right in the middle of lunch. After glancing through the mail, I frantically
hurried back inside, and before I even had my coat off, began reading the
back cover. Somehow I made it to my chair in the dining room and then attempted
to read the articles AND eat soup all at once. (I don’t think I’ll try
it again, though.) Mother was laughing at my awareness to the family at
that moment and suggested I eat my soup and then go upstairs to read it.
With much hurrying, I did so, and then flopped across my bed to thoroughly
read “YWSH” for . . . 1 1/2 hours straight!! How shocking to have my sister
come upstairs to ask if I was doing okay!! :-) The articles were so wonderful
and encouraging that I didn’t even notice the time!
The courtship articles and stories were - oh, what’s the word! Inspiring?
Insightful? Reassuring? Probably all three!! :-) Although I am only 15,
it’s been on my mind lately about how I will ever meet the man I might
marry. As far as my parents can tell, there is no one who even believes
like we do, which my parents like. Jennifer
Ervin’s story was so reassuring to me - that a man in another state
could be for me- he doesn’t have to live in town. Crystal
Rae Nelson’s letter of her courtship was beautiful, also. It made me
pray all the harder that my own possible courtship would be pure and guided
by the Lord . . . totally.
My parents also enjoyed reading “God’s Plan
for Finding a Mate” by Dr. S. M. Davis; we have just recently heard
about the whole courtship plan, and although they never wanted me to date,
articles like that one help them as well as myself.
Every single one of the friendship topics and articles I enjoyed reading
also. Jamie Carman’s point of that the Lord can be your best friend is
entirely true. I am going to copy Renee
Hackman’s poem and put it on my wall; I truly enjoyed the way she wrote
her thoughts in poetry form. I also have to say that Summer did a great
job on “A Day at our Home”. I always find
it amusing and interesting to read what a day is like at the home of a
friend.:-) It says to me that the editors of “YWSH” are not perfect . .
. as I sometimes believe editors of magazines are!!!! :-)
May the Lord continue to bless your efforts! E-mail me soon- I love
hearing from you.
In Christ’s Care,
Jana Baldridge
We thought we’d now share part of one of Melody’s e-mail letters
to Crystal Rae Nelson (our pen-pal) with all of you so you can know the
latest news on our defective copy machine! :-) Here it is... - Ed.
Blessings Dear Sister!
I have been intending to write for some time now. Sorry that it has
taken me so long!....
Well, I guess that it is high-time that I explain to you about the
copier... We got it working for a while, but then it quit on us AGAIN!
:-| It still isn’t totally fixed, and we will probably just end up selling
it. I can really see God’s hand in the whole deal, although sometimes it
is hard to understand why He is holding things up. (Maybe to teach
us patience, that we have no control over the magazine, and to keep us
humbly trusting in Him with our every move? - The Lord can stop “YWSH”
just as quickly as He started it. The whole story how it started amazes
me everytime I think about it! Maybe in one of the future issues, we will
tell how it all began.... :-) ) Well, anyway, the Lord has provided us
with another source to make our copies. PTL!
There is a copy-mart about 25-30 minutes away from us that willingly
delivers and picks-up (for FREE!), sorts all the copies so that just about
all we have to do is “staple and fold” to make a magazine, makes decent
copies, and has excellent prices! (It is really a blessing to not have
to stand beside the copier for hours! :-) ) The Lord is SO good to us and
has been teaching me patience through all this. I believe that it is good
for us to be continually reminded that WE ARE NOT in charge - the Lord
is!
Much love in Christ,
Melody
Dear Summer and Melody,
I was so pleased to hear from you yesterday, and am very excited about
the issue of "YWSH" I just received. Hearing you share all about
the copier and what God did with that is definitely a reminder that HE
really is in direct control of everything that He has made important in
our lives.
Before I forget, I want you to know that I am more than willing to
help you with the typing for each issue. I will probably want to send it
to you via e-mail, rather than on a disk. Thank you so much for asking
- I consider it a privilege to help and serve YWSH (or rather, the God
who is its purpose and orchestration!)
Please give my love and blessing to the rest of your family - and know
that my prayers are with you!
God Bless!
Crystal Rae
A big thanks to all of you who offered to type for "YWSH"!
We received so many offers that we will not be needing everyone
to type an article for each issue... We will probably put all of your names
on a list, and as the need arises, we will pick and choose different people
to type for us.
We do want to clear up a slight misunderstanding, though... We're
afraid that we may have made ourselves somewhat unclear to some of you...
When we said that we needed people to type for us, we didn't mean
that they would have to write an article for every issue and then send
it to us on a disk or through e-mail. We merely meant that we wanted people
to type out articles (that we would send to them through
the mail).
In other words, we were requesting regular "typers",
not regular writers (although those would be wonderful, too!!!! :-) :-)
) Also, if you wish to write an article, testimony, etc. you don't have
to send it on a disk or through e-mail. Writing it out (or typing) by hand
and sending it through the post office, is fine, too!
Just wanted to clear up that misunderstanding for some of you...
- Ed.
Dear Summer and Melody,
I have been blessed by reading “Young Women Stepping Heavenward”. So
many of the articles were a blessing and a challenge to me that I am not
quite sure which ones to mention. :-)
I can certainly relate to Crystal Rae Nelson’s article on "A
Warning Against “Christian Romance” Novels". I too, read those
kind of books and got too involved in the absolutely wrong kind of books.
It was encouraging to hear of other girls doing courtship God’s way. I
thank the Lord that He gives us the grace we need to live a life that is
pleasing in His sight. As I continue seeking God’s perfect will for my
life, it is exciting to see where God leads me and then to follow in His
ways. I also was challenged by “How Can
I Be A True Friend?” As I continue relating to my friends, I want to
continue putting these things into practice. Reading it gave me a lot to
“chew” on. May the Lord bless you as you follow in God’s ways!
Because of Jesus,
Elizabeth Zellers
Dear girls,
Thanks for sending me “Y.W.S.H.”. It made my day. Please pray for me
as some of my dear friends are turning their backs on me and it really
hurts. All the things you had on friendship were good.
God bless you,
Janene Schalabach
Dear Melody and Summer,
We received your little (or should we say large) newsletter. You have
been hard at work. It was a blessing to see our daughter’s testimony there.
Thank you so very much. Would you consider running the second half of it?
Please do not consider this too bold, for you have been very gracious to
run it in the first place. Let me explain myself. The courtship testimony
is really one large work. It is hard to separate Jennifer’s story from
that of her parents. The reason being is that when we were researching
as parents our responsibility to our children in this area, we found that
there were many duties we were accountable to God for that we didn’t even
know existed. We live in such dark times, girls, that we are very ignorant
to who the real God is and what our responsibility to Him really is. Courtship
is truly more than an opinion or chosen life style. It is an obedient step
before God. In the second half of the courtship story, we have various
quotes that helped us greatly in understanding this very neglected role
of the parents. Many think that the emphasis is on the role of the child
in being submissive to what the parents desire, but Oh, girls you just
have no idea how many of us hungry and thirsty parents are out there just
waiting for someone to bring some meat to our hungry souls! We know that
when we found the information that is contained in our section of the courtship
testimony we were overjoyed at God’s mercy to us in bringing these things
to the light. There are many understandings of courtship that really are
nothing more than glorified dating. True courtship is a very complicated,
serious, issue needing great amounts of study, prayer and consideration
on the part of the parents. Many of us that are older that have followed
vain imaginations in the past and are desiring now to follow only God’s
truth, relish things like your newsletter coming to their mailbox. Even
my husband was overjoyed at what you are doing.
Oh, girls....pray that God would keep your hearts humble and submissive
to His will in what you are doing, as there always comes great temptations
with being lifted up. Keep your hearts!!! Oh, but who can do this great
thing? Who can keep their own hearts pure? Here is where you must live
upon and in Christ. You must see your every move as needing His guidance
and will.
It is a blessing to have you as new friends. We count it a privilege
from God!
Blessings,
Mrs. Nancy Moline
Greetings!
Thank you so much for your letter; It was a blessing to us!
We hope to print your “side of the story”
on Jennifer’s courtship in this issue. Many people have received a blessing
from Jennifer’s testimony, and we want to thank you all for sharing it!
...Yes, please pray for us about keeping our hearts! The Lord has
been showing us that it is He who is in total control. He is entirely
sovereign, and He is the One who will burden those who write. He is the
One who will decide how long we will print “YWSH”. He is the One who graciously
allows us to even print it! This, we must constantly remind ourselves of.
We are so unworthy to do this for Him and are grateful that He has made
it possible... not only because it has proved to be a blessing to others,
but because it has also been a blessing to us. It truly is a soul-searching
thing to be confronted by your own writings and held accountable by your
own words! Our own words challenge us, and we realize how much we really
fail... What a humbling thing!!!
Blessings,
Summer and Melody
Greetings Dear Sisters,
I received your magazine yesterday and have really enjoyed it. It was
really fun to see the pictures of all of you and put faces to names!
I am glad that you were able to use my sister's (Jennifer
Ervin’s) courtship story in YWSH. It has really been a testimony. She
is three years older than me and a great joy! Sisters are truly your best
friends (on earth that is). Cherish them while you can as someday they
will be gone.
I would like to receive YWSH and will hopefully send you stamps soon.
:-) Please keep striving to enter the straight gate and studying to show
yourselves approved.
Your sister in Christ,
Patti Moline
Dear Summer and Melody,
Hi! I have a few questions for you guys that I would really appreciate
for you to think and pray about. I will be 17 on November 21st, and I’m
a senior this year. I’ve been in public school all my life, but last January
I started homeschooling because I really got fed up with the secular atmosphere
I was in everyday. I have grown up with the rule that I can (or could)
start dating when I turned 16. Well, I started dating when I was 14. Now,
my parents and I are hearing about courtship. We didn’t even know about
it before. How do I go about changing? (Which is really hard at this age;
I wish I’d have been taught this when I was little.) Also, what is your
opinion on emotional attachment and when you’re “ready” for that? I know
you guys are extremely busy with your family and your magazine (which I
really liked by the way!) :-) Please don’t feel that you have to write
back right away. I wish we lived closer so we could get together for a
cup of tea! :-)
Love in Christ,
A Sister
Dear Sister,
Greetings in Jesus’ precious, holy name! Melody and I received your
letter a few days ago, and as I read it, my heart thrilled!
I am glad to be able to say that perhaps you may be able to find
the answers to your questions in the up-coming Sept./Oct. and Nov./Dec.
issues of “YWSH” through Dr. S.M. Davis' article titled “God’s Plan For
Finding a Mate.” (We are so grateful to Him for giving us permission to
print it, as I know there must be numerous girls our there with the same
questions you have!) ....And I also hope that you will be greatly benefited
and encouraged by Jennifer Moline Ervin's (and her parent's) testimony
titled "Two Shall Become One".
To quickly answer your question, “What is your opinion on emotional
attachment and when you’re ready for that?”.... Well, as I think that we
are to only be attached to “one” for life, I think it’s best that we save
even our emotions for that “one” as well. (In other words, stay emotionally
pure as well as physically pure.)
As to when you’re ready for emotional attachment... I guess
I feel that as soon as your future husband shows up, you and your parents,
and he and his parents all feel certain that you are the one for him, and
you and he begin courting (with definite plans for marriage) then
it is time to allow yourself to get emotionally attached.
To assure you that this is best, let me explain the protection in
not allowing your emotions to go until all commitments are made.
Naturally, a boy or girl who has a crush on someone will find it
terribly difficult to assess his/her character. Perhaps you’ve heard the
sayings, “Love is blind” or “She’s looking at him through rose colored
glasses.” I think we all know what those sayings mean! :-) Well, it is
true that looking through rose colored glasses at your mate or fiance
is good.. but, it isn’t good to do this at all before you’re sure
that you are going to marry him - lest you end up totally ignoring his
faults, thereby setting yourself up for a big surprise to reveal
itself to you after marriage. :-)
The other protection in not letting your emotions go until all commitments
have been made, is that by keeping your heart for that “one”, you will
be saving yourself from a lot of emotional distress... and from future
problems with your marriage partner. For, by allowing your emotions to
go out to every other boy you meet, you are quickly developing a habit
that you will find is very hard to break after marriage!
:-(
Your other question was, “How do I go about changing?” Well, the
answers to this are fairly simple, but putting them into practice is not
necessarily going to be easy! First of all, you need to realize that your
crush-developing habit is not going to be easy to break. (Habits never
are easy to break, are they? :-( ) You’re going to have to be strongly
convinced in your mind that dating is not good and that a pure,
godly courtship with strong, parental involvement (I call a courtship like
this, “betrothal”. :-) ) is what you would like to have when, and if, it
is God’s will for you to marry. You will need a lot of will power and determination
to overcome in this area of your life... A good idea would be to read material
and / or listen to all of Dr. S. M. Davis’s sermon tapes on this subject.
I think it would help you and your parents to develop strong convictions
on this, thereby making it easier for you to adopt the idea of courtship,
and throw out the dating! :-)
You need to ask your parents to protect you from all young men that
come along, until they strongly feel that the “right one” has inquired
about you. (I believe that the young man’s parents and the young lady’s
parents should be the first ones to decide whether the couple are
really meant for each other, whether they would be compatible, and whether
they are both spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and financially ready
for marriage. The parents are the best judges, not the couple. If the parents
decide that the marriage would not be good, then that would be the end
of it, but if both sets of parents are in favor of the marriage, then the
girl would be given her choice to either accept, or decline, depending
upon her own assessment of the young man (without having to look at him
through rose-colored glasses! :-) )
Back now to your question, “How do I go about changing?” Well, after
you’ve firmly developed your convictions to court instead of date, and
you’ve fully received your parent’s support, I’d say that your next step
would be to let your friends know about your new decision... Some may think
you’re wierd, but give them the reasons for your decision, and perhaps
they will become more sympathetic. If not, that’s still okay. Sometimes
you have to stand up for what is best, despite the gawks and jeers you
may receive from your peers. This will probably seem a hard thing to do,
but it is necessary, unless you want all the boys to continue asking
you for dates, and all of your girlfriends to continue teasing you about
boys. They need to know where you stand, and they need to know that you
stand firmly, or else they will continue to be a constant source
of temptation to you in your efforts to stay emotionally pure for that
“one”.
I know that it will not be easy to break your “crush” habit (having
once been caught up with one myself), but I do feel that there are some
things you can do to help yourself overcome. I hope that you will find
the following suggestions helpful...
1. Ask God every morning (as soon as you wake up) and every night
(right before you go to bed) or any other time during the day! to help
you to save your emotions for that “one.”
2. Pray for your future husband, that God would work in his life
to make him fit for marriage, and also that God would make you fit
for marriage, and that both of you would be deeply in love, first and foremost
with Him only when you first meet.
3. If, and when you find your emotions beginning to escape you,
quickly go and read courtship testimonies, and listen to tapes or read
on this subject (the destructiveness of dating, the blessings of courtship,
and saving yourself (body & emotions) for that “one”) to strengthen
your convictions once again. Also, meditate on your decision to stay emotionally
unattached, and why you made that decision...
4. Avoid being around the person you’re struggling with, and resist
even thinking about him, until your feelings go away. Sometimes,
you literally have to “starve” the crush, or “take the oxygen away from
the fire” to make the fire go out, if you know what I mean. :-) ..And usually
it takes a lot of self-discipline to “starve” yourself!.. but it’s good
practice to do it, since it’s for your own future benefit!
:-)
Well, I wish you the best of success in your endeavor to keep yourself
pure for your future husband, and I will be praying for you about this.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of
life." - Proverbs 4:23
May God bless you richly in your endeavor to serve him!
With much love in Christ,
Summer Joy Chapin
Would
you care to write us a letter, too? We would love to hear from you at any
time, and who knows? Maybe we will even print your letter in
Young Women Stepping Heavenward! Just
click here! :-)