My Sabbath Story

By Lanice Shults

In the early 1980’s I met my husband to be Bill Shults. We were young and excited about living our lives with a bold independence. This was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Both of us had a hunger for truth, and we weren’t intimidated by opposition. In pursuit of truth, we were going to be divinely directed by the very hand of God.

My husband Bill was brought up in the Presbyterian Church and I was brought up Catholic. Bill had read about the true Saturday Sabbath before we met and was trying to honor it by not working on that day. He would tell me and show me in the Bible that Saturday was the seventh day that God had set apart for us to honor. I could see this was true and in my heart I knew that I needed to move toward Sabbath observance. He did what he thought was right with what he understood at that point.

I was watching television one Sunday morning and The World Tomorrow broadcast came on sponsored by the Worldwide Church of God (WWCG). This lovely gentleman named Herbert W. Armstrong was speaking about the Saturday Sabbath. He spoke the truth about the Sabbath being a command given by God with such intensity and passion that I became enthralled. He explained how mankind has rejected the commandments of God and changed them. He offered free booklets that would go deeper into the subject. We ordered some booklets and were eager to dig deeper into the study of the Saturday Sabbath.

Together we continued to watch the World Tomorrow Broadcast and order literature from WWCG. We eventually read all available literature alongside of our Bible as God was pouring truth into our hearts. We were proving everything we read in our Bible. It was a very exciting venture that transformed our thinking.  Eventually we contacted the headquarters of the WWCG and found a church in Orlando, FL about an hour away.

Saturday morning Bill was heading to Orlando and I was heading to work. I was a bit jealous and I really wanted to go also. This went on for some weeks. He would come home and tell me about all the wonderful things he had learned and how friendly everyone was. He never pushed me to come with him. I just really wanted to be with him and be a part of what God was doing.

I decided that I had to make a commitment to God to observe the Sabbath. I prayed and asked God to give me strength to handle the outcome of whatever happens. I just told my boss I need off on Saturdays. I told her that I had come to a place in my life where I had to make a change in my religious beliefs which was going to require that I have Saturdays off. I explained that I believed that Saturday was the Sabbath and that I wasn’t going to be able to work on that day. I was expecting the worst outcome and yet I received the best outcome. My boss said: “You are my best Stylist and you may have every Saturday off and any other time you need.” Wow! I was so amazed at how well it went. I felt such a burden lifted off my chest. God had made a straight path for me. I thanked God and gave my commitment to Him to follow in His Commandments, Laws and Statutes.

Bill and I kept Sabbath together from then on. This way of life is a constant growing process as we are being transformed into the Body of Christ. As a child of God who seeks to be obedient to what the Bible says, I enjoy the wisdom and revelation that He provides so freely. Obedience to the Word is like walking in living color vs. black and white. You can feel His presence always with you guiding your steps as a lamp unto your feet. It makes you alive, aware and awake.

Lanice Shults attends Hungry Hearts Ministries in Jackson, TN www.hungryheartsministry.com