Sojourner Truth, Part 1 of 3

A Sabbath keeper and an Amazing Woman

By Dianne McDonnell

No one is sure when she was born since she was born into slavery to Betsy and James Baumfree (meaning “tree” in low Dutch as he was very tall). Slaves, by law, could not be taught to read or write so no record was made of her birth. Her parents had “10 or 12 children” but each was sold in childhood. One sister was only three years old when she was sold as a slave together with her five year old brother. Isabella, Sojourner Truth’s birth name, was nine years old when she was taken from the Ulster County, New York, location of her parents and auctioned off together with sheep. She spoke Dutch and her owners spoke English, so she was frequently severely beaten because she couldn’t understand their orders. Isabella was sold four times. As a young woman, a slave named Robert from another farm loved her and sometimes visited her. Finally, he was pursued by his master and horribly beaten as Isabella watched. His crime was selecting a woman outside his master’s farm.

Instead she was given Thomas as her husband. Thomas was older and had already had two wives in the past, but each in turn was sold and sent away from him, and after each time his master selected another woman for him. Isabella was the third wife his master chose for him. Together they had five children. By 1827, Isabella was determined to escape. Her master had promised her she would be set free a year before the day the state of New York had set by law as the freedom date for her and 10,000 other New York slaves. Yet when the promised early release day came she was not freed. So she first spun 100 pounds of wool into yarn so she would not leave her work undone. Then after much prayer, just before sunrise she took a handkerchief full of her belongings and her infant youngest child, and quietly set out to escape on foot. She really didn’t know where she was going. She trusted God to guide her, and He did. Thomas stayed behind to care for the remaining children. Isabella was taken in by a couple who hated slavery, and when her owner arrived to take possession of her, the couple paid him twenty dollars so he would not take her or her baby back with him. But, Isabella’s life was still not smooth and easy for there were no easy paths set before freed slaves. She worked as a servant to the couple and rejoiced that God had led her into freedom!

Precious freedom! Do we value it? Do we guard and protect it? Do we stand up for freedom as Sojourner Truth did? Do we do everything in our power to protect our Constitution which was inspired by God? We must not take our freedom for granted. Sojourner Truth didn’t just leave everything to God—she did her part bravely and boldly relying upon God’s help.

Next in Part 2: Her only son, Peter, was sold into slavery before she escaped. Only six years old, Peter was sold again to a plantation owner in Alabama.  It was illegal to sell a slave out of New York to any southern state. What did she do? How did God help her?

Dianne McDonnell is the founder of Freedom Ministry.

http://www.freedom-ministry.com/

Sojourner Truth, an Introduction

by Dianne D. McDonnell

(or Sojourner Truth and Understanding the Bible)

Sojourner Truth was a freed slave in the 1800’s and could not read or write. She was a zealous Christian, and eventually, also a Sabbath keeper. She wanted to hear what the Bible said, but she wanted only what was written. When she asked adults to repeat what they had just read they always launched into their own ideas. She wanted only the words themselves repeated, so she found that children were her best readers as they repeated as often as necessary and didn’t add their own words.

Do we sometimes let people explain away what the Bible says? I like her way of thinking. Let the Bible speak for itself! Yet there are two additional steps to fully understanding what is being said when it seems a bit confusing or seems to be contradicting another verse.

First step: understand the context, which starts with reading all of what was written in that passage. Then look at the time frame, and where the action was happening.

Secondly: check on the accuracy of that verse’s translation which was a step not available to Sojourner Truth, but is a luxury we have available to us today. With software like PC Study Bible, we can check how accurately a verse is translated. Englishman’s Search is useful to see how the same word is translated in other places in the Bible. Both content and translation accuracy are vital to fully understanding some of the more difficult passages. Sojourner Truth wanted accuracy, truthfulness, and understanding. So do we!

We will continue this series next time!

Dianne McDonnell is the founder of Freedom Ministry.

http://www.freedom-ministry.com/

Sabbath Evening (Erev Shabbat) Family Service

(also Called “Erev Shabbat”, Hebrew for Evening of the Sabbath)

Throughout the week, we are all running to and fro. We are going to ballgames, work, school, and other events. The Erev Shabbat Service is a special service performed by the Jewish people for over 2,000 years. It would have been performed in the time of Jesus. It is a great way to welcome in the Sabbath as a family and make the dividing line between Holy Time of the Sabbath and the common time of the week we are leavening behind.

While it is mostly performed by Sabbath keepers with a Messianic background, it is a great learning tool for all Sabbath keepers. It is a way to speak life and blessing into your family. It is a great way to spend interactive time with your family.

Just click the link below to access this FREE resource!

https://kellymcdonaldjr.com/erev-shabbat-ceremony/

The Sabbath: A Prophecy of Eternal Life

by Bill Fowler

(This article is an excerpt from the May-June 2000 edition of the Sabbath Sentinel)

“In my early teen years, my dad gave me some advice that I have remembered—though not always followed as I should have. What he gave was simple common sense—and it works. He passed down this simple but practical “wise counsel” by introducing it to me with these guiding words: “If you want to be happy and effective in life, with it’s continuing problems, then you need to apply this principle.” He continued, “When you have a decision to make, if you are not positive that it’s the right thing to do—then don’t. Just put it off for now, and come back to it later. See if the thought stays with you…. You will make fewer mistakes in life, if you are confident your decisions are correct. Don’t make hasty decisions. Get the facts first”.

How could anything be simpler? Yet, such is not a way of life with so many in our, “buy now—pay later” society. Human thoughts tend to be base and instinctual: instant gratification seeming to be a primary need (“It feels good, so I’ve got to have it— NOW!”). Thankfully, some of us have learned, over time, that the things in life, which are really worthwhile, are worth planning for—and waiting for. All good decisions are based on right knowledge and proper timing. Two verses in Proverbs certainly support this principle of not rushing into important decisions. Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” Proverbs 29:20 “Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” I really came to understand this principle in 1966 when I was first exposed to the Sabbath day and the commitment required to respond to the calling of God. I grew up in the Methodist church; we had many good friends and were involved in Sunday school class, youth activities, men’s prayer group, and all of the holidays. We were having a good time; it was family. My brother and his family had not been to services for a couple of weeks; so, I called him and asked if one of them was sick. He answered, “No, we just don’t go to church on Sunday anymore; we…”

To read the rest of this article, which starts on page 16, click this link:

http://biblesabbath.org/tss/483/tss_483.pdf

I Love Sabbath: Embracing Joy
by Kelly Vonner

“But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create…”

Isaiah 65:18a NKJV

I could honestly say that I never went to church with true excitement until I started observing the Sabbath. It’s a joy knowing that you’re doing something that pleases God. To set aside the appointed time that He deems holy is an honor and a privilege. One of the commandments with promise, written with His very finger, and spoken aloud before the children of Israel. Joy!

Joy in not being confused if I’m keeping the right day. Joy in the worship and fellowship with like-minded believers. Joy in the time spent in the Word of God. Joy in the growth that comes from obedience. Joy in embracing what God created; joy in service to my King. Joy in the renewal and sweet rest that God provides just as He promised.

God’s Word is true and precious and leaves me speechless more times than not. I joy in Sabbath because I love Him and He calls me to rejoice forever in what He has created.

“And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath”. Mark 2:27 NKJV

52 Sabbath Activities for Teen Groups

By Don Pate

Here are 52 proven, surefire, guaranteed ─ fun activities to make Sabbath really special for teens! Each activity section gives you step-by-step instructions for making it happen and tells you what preparation and materials you’ll need and the minimum time required for the activity. Whether you’re a youth leader, teacher, or pastor, you’ll find this book a valuable resource for creating Sabbaths that bring teens exciting fellowship with God and Christian friends.

To order this book, just click the link below:

https://biblesabbath.org/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=104&=SID

My Journey to Becoming a Sabbath Keeper

By Brian Sargent

Some people are blessed to be raised knowing about the Sabbath and what is special about it.  Me?  Well, I was raised in a good Christian home. I understood the Sabbath to be a Jewish custom that was not for Christians anymore.  It was never really an outwardly spoken lesson that I remember learning, but rather an unspoken lesson that you pick up over years of going to church on Sundays and reading in the Bible.  To me, the Sabbath day was just something that Israel was instructed to keep, not me.

The question that must be addressed is: “Who is Israel?”  God told His people that the Sabbath is a sign between them and God (Exodus 20:8-11, 31:12-17).  Are the Jews the only ones that can claim to be “His people”?  Are Christians not a part of “His people”?  It is the “His people” part that throws everyone off.  Ask anyone in most churches who “His people” are and they will tell you that it is “the Jews”.  If you conduct a short investigation into the matter, you will find that the Jews are just a small subsection of Israel.  The word “Jew” can actually be traced to the word “Judah”.  To oversimplify things, the “Jews” are really only a small part of the whole…one-twelfth to be exact!

Paul tells us in Romans 11 that through belief in Jesus the Messiah, we non-Jews are grafted into Israel.  This, in a nutshell, is the process that I went through close to 4 years ago now.  I had to find out who God was actually giving these instructions to.   I realized that they were given to all of Israel, both natural born and the ones who have come into the faith.  For us, it all started when my wife felt as if we should research the roots of Christmas.  From there, we started watching videos from ministries like Passion for Truth and 119 Ministries who teach that the whole Word of God is applicable today if you believe in Messiah – specifically this part called the Torah.

I didn’t buy any of it to begin with.  I knew better than to believe all that I was hearing.  I had taken some Bible classes online and I knew my stuff.  I knew every bit of this was wrong.  The only problem was that the more I studied, the more I realized that I could not prove any of it wrong.  God began to chip away at the false doctrines that had been laid as the foundations in my walk with God.  According to Paul, I am part of Israel because of my faith in Messiah.  I was no longer able to say that God’s instructions, Torah, or Law was for the Jews only.  They were for me as well.  It is no longer a question of whether I have to keep His Sabbath or not.  Instead, I get to keep His Sabbath because I love Him and want to obey Him.  He called His people to be set apart or holy.  What better way to be set apart from the world by keeping His Sabbath, His feasts, and His commands?  It has been a tremendous blessing to my family as we walk in this new light and learn as He continues to open our eyes.  What a coincidence!  It says exactly that in Deuteronomy 28!

Brian Sargent is co-founder of Thirsty for Truth Ministry, which seeks to bring about a restoration of God’s truth. You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. www.tftministries.wordpress.com