Handmaidens - Pen in Hand

Pen in Hand	Topics
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Dear Blabby

Dear Blabby;
My in-laws are wealthy and already have all they want, so it is hard to find anything they will truly appreciate. How do you buy gifts for such people?
Poor in Portland

Dear Poor;
You don't... buy them gifts, that is. It would just be a waste of money and you already signed off as "Poor." Make them something, instead. Perhaps you could write a little piece about your love for them, print in a fancy font on your computer (you e-mailed, so you do have a computer, even if you're "Poor") put it in a nice frame... and voila! The perfect gift they will love!

Now a note on being "Poor," Take a stroll around Portland, Dear Heart, and see the homeless, those who have no shelter against the cole... look at the shacks some folks call home and are thankful to have... I assume you'll be walking because "Poor" people have no cars.

Tempoal poverty is not the problem here, I suspect, but spiritual poverty. Look at your blessings, praise God for them and know that you are rich indeed!
Blabby

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Dear Blabby;
If Santa is'nt reel how come they put him in the news show?
Cindy (age7)

Dear Cindy;
I'll bet your mother and hubby both have a few "bad" habits of their own. I'd also guess you're more concerned about this dumb thumb deal than either of them, so my advice is simply this: enjoy the kid for who he is. If he's happy, you should be, too! Let him drift off to na-na land in his own way and next time someone bugs you about it tell 'em not to knock it till they've tried it!
Blabby

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Dear Blabby;
I've got a friend who goes to church and pretends to love the Lord, but there are things in her life that make me think she's not a real Christian. She overeats and her prayers are quite casual - she just talks to the Lord like He was her next door neighbor. She dresses in a very worldly way and enjoys the attention she gets from men even though she's a married woman.
A Worried Friend from Omaha

Dear Worried;
I guess I can call you "Worried," (or maybe just "Worrisome") but I'm not too sure about the "Friend" part. Your letter was a series of statements, not a question among them... hummm? Let me ask you this - are you more "worried" about this woman's salvation or your own sense of spiritual superiority? Since when did God appoint you to the bench? How can you qualify to judge her, for I know that you are no more perfect than she is or I am or anyone else who ever lived, save Jesus.

Let's see now, she overeats? Surely no believer would ever do that! And she prays in a close, intimate way, like one would talk with a friend? Heaven forbid! I'm sure God would never hear a prayer that wasn't in stilted and lofty language... no, never! Oooh, she dresses in a "worldly" way. That could be taken many ways, just as her "enjoying" male attention. Here's what I suggest: ditch your judge's robes and borrow some of her clothes and see if you don't enjoy an admiring look from a fella, too. But you know what? It may be her smiles more than her clothes (I kinda think she's a smilin' lady) that make men like her. You might learn a lot about love and the Lord from your friend if she'll put up with you that long.
Blabby

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Dear Blabby;
I'm a man who has trouble relating to women. At 38 I'm still single and can't seem to find the courage to ask a woman out. My fear is that she will expect intimacy before marriage and as a believer, I could not be a party to that.
Lonely in Loveland

Dear Lonely;
You sell the fair sex short, my man! Being the believer you are, you surely aren't trolling for dates at the local bar, and if you want to date a Christian, she'll have the same values you espouse, so the "fear" you express isn't the real issue at all. You're just scared you'll get turned down! What's so bad about that? If you ask a lady out and she declines, it isn't the end of the world as we know it. You probably will get a few turn downs, but it's worth it. Just keep socializing among Christian singles and let your kin folks and married friends play match maker. You never know what may come up. If God has a mate for you, He'd at least like you to make yourself available.
Blabby

Our Readers Write...

Iona,
Below is a web page I made a few years ago in honor of the song SilentNight. You can read the origin and listen to the song in 15 MIDI versions. See the German and English translation. Click on a link to Gruber 1855 sheet music arrangement and can even click on link to hear Silent Night sung in German (wav format), Takes awhile to download but worth the wait for a new clear version.

My mother and her father sung me songs in German when I was small. MyGrandpa even in the nursing home would play his guitar and see. So the version playing in the background brings back memories of long ago.

Merry Christmas from Susan & Neil Click on below link & please enjoy:
http://nstanley.tripod.com/silentnight

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Dear Sister in the Lord:
What a blessing to come upon your website:
I would like to submit some poetry and special writings for consideration on your site
Carol Jackson

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Hi,
I have a prayer ministry called Psalm 91 Prayer Ministry. We accept prayer requests from all over the world! Would you consider putting an email link and/or our page link on your site? My prayer board are all women across the u.s.a. and canada.

I really like your site and have joined up with your online fellowship. Thank-You and may God richly Bless you and your ministry!
Traci Forszen
Founder> > Psalm 91 Prayer Ministry
email; prayerwarriors@cbnnow.com

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You are such a blessing to a lot of people. Anything I share with you is yours to continue the wonderful work God has given to you. I'm so glad to have shared something with you that can be of help.
Deborah Smith

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Please consider adding us to your website.
Dancing for Him Ministries International is a biblically based, spirit-filled organization whose purpose is to minister healing and deliverance through creative expressions of worship, prophesy, and dance. Please view our website at http://www.dancingforhim.com or email me for more information.
God Bless!
Lori Mroz Director of Marketing
Dancing for Him Ministries International
http://www.dancingforhim.com

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Hi, my name is Constance White and I have been blessed from the Lord with many poems. I also have a small internet ministry for over a year now where I send out encouragement in the Lord, through many different methods, stories, poetry, testimonies, prayer requests/praise reports and even some teachings.

I have just entered this poem into a contest and felt led by the Holy Spirit to send it you for submission. I have several others that I will send from time to time. If you would like to keep them on file for future use that is okay. If there is anything that you don't want to print I won't be hurt. Like I said they are a gift from the Lord, sometimes as I read them I can hardly recognize writing them down. It feels like they are a gift as much to me as they are to others. Almost as if I am just the pen writing them down and in reality that is exactly what I am to the Lord, a tool to be used.

I thank you for the handmaidens newsletter and all your prayers. You have lifted me up for the past year at various times. May the Lord bless and keep you, your family and your loved ones. Below is the poem written just like it should be printed. Thanks and I look forward to your uplifting work.

I hereby give you permission to print any poetry that I have submitted to you. with love and prayers, your sister in Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
Constance White

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I love Handmaidens! Why is it aimed at women when so much of it applies to any Christian?
Bennett

Bennett
Handmaidens came about not by my design but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Iona

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Iona,
You are Blabby, aren't you? I just love her!
Millie

Hi, Millie;
No comment ;-)
Iona

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