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The Sabbath is Alive and Well!!
By Uva Shakes AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2015 Uva Shakes
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4969-7185-2
CHAPTER 1
THE EARLY DAYS:
GOD'S REVELATION
AS A CHILD..........
I STILL RECALL GROWING UP,
AT THE FOOT OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
GOD PROVIDED US WITH A LITTLE TASTE OF EDEN,
DURING THOSE FOMATIVE YEARS!!
THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE HILLS.........
EMERSED IN LUSH GREEN –
ALL YEAR ROUND!!
MADE GETTING UP IN THE MORNING QUITE A DELIGHT!
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS EACH YEAR,
ONE OF THE DELIGHTS......
WAS THE BUCKETFULS OF RAIN!!
THROUGH THE RAIN
THE SPARKLING RAINDROPS TRAVELLED IN A MIST,
FROM
THE TOP OF THE HIGHEST PEAK.....
AND PLUMMETTED DOWN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN,
INTHE EARLY EVENING......
MY SIBLINGS AND I WOULD RACE EACH OTHER,
JUST TO GET UNDER THE COVERS,
AS WE AWAITED ITS ENTRANCE.................
THE GENTLE TAPPING OF THE RAINDROPS ON THE ROOF,
LULLED US TO SLEEP MANY NIGHTS....
AND KEPT US ASLEEP THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT!!
TO THIS DAY..........
IT REMAINS A VERY WELCOME
PHENOMENON!!
THEN THE LIGHT OF DAY,
WOULD ALWAYS PRESENT ITSELF,
WITH ALL THE OTHER REMINDERS,
OF THIS EARTHLY PARADISE!!
THROUGH THE FRUITS
THE BALMY MID EIGHTY DEGREES FARENHEIT.....
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,
ALLOWED ALL VARIETIES OF FRUITS TO FLOURISH,
AND NOURISH OUR YOUNG BODIES.............
THERE WERE SUGAR CANE, JACKFRUIT,
NEESEBERRY, STARAPPLE,
GUINEP, BANANA, PLUMB,
AND AT LEAST FIVE
OR SIX VARIETY OF MANGOES!!
WE WOULD GORGE OURSELVES ALL DAY!!
DURING THOSE LONG,
SUMMER MONTHS.........
IT WAS ALL THE FOOD WE NEEDED!!
THEIR SWEETNESS,
JUICYNESS,
AND DELICATE FLAVORS,
STILL REMAIN MORE THAN A MEMORY TO MY
TASTEBUD!!
AS WE PACKED THE REMAINING ONES IN A BAG,
WE WOULD HEAD FOR THE SECLUDED BEACH......
THROUGH THE SEA
A MILE AWAY!!
THE BEACH SYMBOLIZED,
THAT GOD WAS SMILING AT US!!
HE PROVIDED ABOUT A HALF A MILE OF
WADEABLE,
WARM,
CLEAR,
PRISTINE SEA,
FOR OUR DAILY PLEASURE ..........
AS WE FEASTED ON THE DELIGHFULL,
SEA GRAPES,
SURROUNDING THE WATER'S EDGE!!
THEIR UNIQUE TASTE,
ADDED TO THE SOFT FEEL OF THE BLACK SAND............
THE BRILLIANCE OF THE SUN
KEPT US REMOVED FROM REALITY.............
FOR THE TIME BEING!!
WE THEN HAD THE LUXURY OF SPENDING OTHER DAYS –
BY THE RIVER!!
THROUGH THE RIVER
IT WAS A SWIFT MOVING RIVER............
CLEAR,
CRYSTALINE,
WITH TINY,
SILVER LOOKING FISHES.............
ALWAYS SHIMMERING AS THEY SWAM HAPPILY........
REFLECTING THE BRILLIANCE,
OF THE RAYS OF THE SUN!!
IT WAS AGAINST THIS MAGNIFICENT BACKDROP,
WE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS WITH FRIENDS!!
JUST WADING ...
PLAYING ...
AND BASKING IN THE SUN!!
SOMETIMES WE WOULD RETURN HOME JUST BEFORE
DARK!!
EXHAUSTED,
CONTENTED...........
SUNDRENCHED......
WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO THIS ONLY SUNDAY
THROUGH THURSDAY......
THE EXCEPTION WAS FRIDAY,
(PREPARATION DAY)............
WE HAD TO RETURN HOME BEFORE SUNSET!!
THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING VESPERS
OUR CALL TO RETUN HOME WAS SPECIAL!!
IT CAME IN THE FORM OF THE MELODIOUS,
FIRST SOPRANO VOICE OF MOTHER!!
WAFTING THROUGH THE TREES,
FROM THE TOP OF ONE OF THE TINIEST HILL – HOME!!
MOTHER'S POWERFUL RENDITION OF ...
JOHN ANDERSON'S HYMN;
WOULD QUICKLY DRAW US HOME!!
"HOLY SABBATH DAY OF REST.........
BY OUR MASTER RICHLY BLEST,
GOD CREATED AND DIVINE;
SET ASIDE FOR HOLY TIME!!
YES, THE HOLY SABBATH REST,
BY OUR GOD DIVINELY BLEST........
IT TO US A SIGN SHALL BE .......
THROUGHOUT ALL ETERNITY!!"
A CALL TO HOLINESS!!
EACH FRIDAY BEGINNING AT SUNSET......
ON THE EVE OF THE SABBATH DAY (SATURDAY)!!
IT USHERED IN COUNTLESS SABBATHS,
DURING OUR GROWING UP YEARS........
IN THE MOST UNFORGETABLE WAY!!
THE EARLY SABBATHS
IT WAS A CALL TO SET ASIDE THE NEXT TWENTY FOUR
HOURS...............
IN CELEBRATION OF BEING CREATED BY THE MOST
LOVING.....
KIND.........
COMPASSIONATE .................
GOD!!
AND SPEND GRATEFUL TIME IN HIS PRESENCE!!
SABBATHS WOULD REMAIN THE MOST SPECIAL,
DAY OF THE WEEK!!
NO SCHOOL....
NO WORK.....
NO TELEVISION......
NO RADIO........
NO SPORTS........
NO BUSINESS......
YET STILL,
THE PEACE.......
THE CALMNESS.....
THE WARMTH OF FAMILY........
CHURCH FAMILY.....
AND FRIENDS,
MADE IT STAND HEAD AND SHOULDERS.......
ABOVE THE OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK!!
AS CHILDREN,
WE WOULD GATHER IN THE HALL,
AROUND MOTHER'S FEET,
(FATHER CLOSE BY).....
IN ANTICIPATION OF, THE CALL TO WORSHIP!!
THROUGH HYMNS/SPIRITUALS
MOTHER LED US IN THE SINGING OF HOLY.............
SABBATH HYMNS...........
HYMNS OF PRAISE......
HYMNS OF COMFORT.......
HYMNS OF PEACE......
HYMNS OF CHEERFULLNESS!!
HYMNS OF HOPE..........
HYMNS OF JOY.........
HYMNS OF OUR HEAVENLY HOME!!
HYMNS OF HIS IMMINENT RETURN TO EARTH!!
THEN THERE WERE THE GOSPEL SONGS............
WHICH ENDORSED,
THE HEAVENLY - HOME CONCEPT!!
SHE LABLELLED THEM SPIRITUALS!!
NO ONE IN THE FAMILY COULD MATCH THAT ANGELIC
VOICE!!
THAT VOICE THROUGH HER SPIRITUAL SONGS,
SPOKE OF...................
GOD'S UNSPEAKABLE LOVE..................
GOD'S ENDURING MERCY!!
GOD'S MATCHLESS GRACE!!
GOD'S INFINITE PARDON FOR SINS..............
GOD'S INTENTION TO BUILD A MANSION,
FOR EACH ONE OF US!!
IF WE ONLY BELIEVE!!
FROM HER MEMORY........
NEVER HAD TO OPEN A HYMNAL!!
SHE WOULD THEN MOVE INTO THE READING OF
SCRIPTURE.........
WITH THE SAME PASSION,
AND STRAIGHT FROM MEMORY!!
WE WOULD SIT ENT R ANCED AT HER FEET ALL
EVENING......
LISTENING TO WORDS FROM THE PSALMS,
PROVERBS....... ISAIAH......
AND JOHN THE REVELATOR!!
THROUGH THE BIBLE
THE MOST PROFOUND............
AND LASTING BIBLE VERSES...................
FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION!!
SHE HARDLY NEEDED TO OPEN THE BIBLE!!
SOMETIMES,
SHORT VERSES.........
LONGER VERSES.........
WHOLE CHAPTERS!!
BIBLE VERSES, TEACHING US ...........
HOW TO LIVE WISELY!!
HOW TO TALK TO GOD DAILY...............
HOW TO TREAT EACH OTHER............
HOW TO ACT IN THE WORPLACE.........
HOW TO CHOOSE OUR FRIENDS!!
HOW TO ADDRESS OUR ELDERS...............
HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE IN AUTHORITY!!
HOW TO STRIVE FOR THE MASTERY................
AND PERSUE OUR DREAMS WITH COURAGE!!
WE WOULD THEN SPEND THE BULK,
OF THE SABBATH HOURS IN CHURCH!!
REINFORCING ALL THE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES,
SHE ENDORSED......
CANNOT EVEN RECALL MISSING,
A SINGLE SABBATH!!
DID NOT CROSS OUR MINDS!!
THROUGH CHURCH
CHURCH ON SABBATHS BECAME A PLACE OF JOY!!
EACH OF US WERE TREATED LIKE LITTLE PRINCES AND
PRINCESSES OF OUR HEAVENLY KING!!
WE HAD TO MEMORIZE SEVEN BILBLE VERSES EACH
WEEK,
AND PRESENT THEM IN FRONT OF VERY
PROUD PARENTS!!
(OUR INTODUCTION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING)!!
AT THE END OF EACH QUARTER,
WE WOULD PRESENT THIRTEEN MEMORIZED VERSES!!
IT ENHANCED OUR ABILITY TO MEMORIZE AT SCHOOL,
MAKING LEARNING A MORE JOYFUL EXPERIENCE!!
AS WE BECAME MORE AND MORE, SURER OF
OURSELVES........
AT HOME..........
AT CHURCH........
AND AT SCHOOLL!!
THE TEACHERS AT CHURCH ALSO MADE IT PLEASANT,
WITH STORIES FROM THE BIBLE, AND A SONG TO
MATCH!!
THROUGH STORIES
FROM THE BIBLE
TO THIS DAY, I CAN STILL RECALL THE DETAILS!!
ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS,
WAS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT;
"ZACHEOUS,
WAS A WEE LITTLE MAN........
AND A WEE LITTLE MAN WAS HE,
HE CLIMBED UP INTO A SYCAMORE TREE......
THE SAVIOR THERE TO SEE!!
AND AS THE SAVIOR WAS PASSING BY......
HE LOOKED UP IN THE TREE,
AND SAID;
ZACHEOUS,
YOU COME DOWN......
I AM COMING TO YOUR HOUSE FOR A MEAL!!"
TOO SHORT TO BE SEEN BY JESUS IN THE CROWD,
HE WANTED TO GET JESUS'S ATTENTION SO BADLY........
HE CLIMBED INTO A SYCAMORE TREE!!
(JESUS DID SEE AND ACKNOWLEDGED HIM)!!
JESUS WENT TO HIS HOUSE FOR A MEAL!!
THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER STORY, WITH A SONG.
THIS WAS RECORDED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT...........
AND DEPICTED JACOB'S DREAM!!
"WE ARE CLIMBING JACOB'S LADDER, CHILDREN -
(REPEAT THREE TIMES).....
SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS!!
EVERY RUNG GOES HIGHER AND HIGHER -
(REPEAT THREE TIMES).....
SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS!!
IF YOU LOVE HIM WHY NOT SERVE HIM –
(REPEAT THREE TIMES).......
SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS!!
YOU NEVER FORGET THE SONGS!!..... OR THE MORALS!!
MANY....
MANY.....
MANY.....
MORE MORALS CAME FROM THE PULPIT....
THROUGH THE VOICE OF THE MINISTER!!
THROUGH THE MINISTER
EACH SABBATH, THE MINISTER WOULD DEDICATE.........
A PORTION OF THE WORD TO US - CHILDREN!!
IT WAS HARD TO SLEEP....
AS WE WAITED OUR....
WORD FOR THE DAY!!
BE KIND ...
DO NOT LIE....
DO NOT STEAL.....
HONOUR AND WORSHIP GOD.......
DO NOT MAKE AND WORSHIP ANY IMAGES,
OF GOD'S CRETION!!
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.......
DO NOT ENVY EACH OTHER.....
REMEMBER TO KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY!!
DO NOT BE PROUD,
OR UNGODLY!!
DO NOT BE MISCHEVIOUS......
DO NOT TELL A LIE IN COURT ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR!!
DO NOT KILL.....
PROTECT THE INNOCENT!!
GIVE TO THE POOR....
VISIT THOSE IN PRISON..........
FEED THE HUNGRY......
CLOTHE THE NAKED!!
DO NOT HAVE INTIMATE RELATIONS BEFORE
MARRIAGE!!
DO NOT HAVE INTIMACY WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S
PARTNERS!!
LOVE YOU ENEMIES!!
BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU.....
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO TREAT YOU WRONG!!
PRAY ALWAYS.......
AND BELIEVE HE HEARS ALL THE TIME!!
THROUHOUT THE DAY, PRAYING
AND SINGING WAS AN INTEGRAL...
. PART OF THE WORSHIP........
THROUGH THE CHOIR
THEY TOOK US THROUGH ANTHEMS.......
HYMNS.....
CHORUSES.......
GOSPEL SONGS.......
SPIRITUALS,
AND THE ENTIRE SCORE, FROM HANDEL'S MESSIAH,
CULMUNATING IN....
OF COURSE......
THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS!!
AS I MOVED AWAY FROM HOME,
THESE MEMORIES LEFT......
A PERPETUAL ETCHING IN MY MIND!!
THE PERPETUAL ETCHING......
OF THE SABBATH,
AND IT'S ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE –
GUIDED ME.......
MILES AWAY FROM HOME,
AS THE THRESHOLD OF ADULTHOOD BEGAN FULL
BLAST!!
SABBATH WITH RELATED PRINCIPLES: ETCHED ON MY
MIND
IT BECAME THE REASON TO SAY NO,
ON SO MANY DIFFERENT OCCASIONS!!
GOING TO THE MOVIES,
ON FRIDAY EVENINGS
THAT SAME ETCHING ......
CAUSED ME TO SAY NO.....
TO FRIDAY EVENING CONCERTS ...
DINNERS......
CLUBS.......
THE THEATRE........
THAT SAME ETCHING ON MY MIND,
CONTRIBUTED TO......
NO SHOPPING.......
NO WORKING.....
NO STUDYDING....
NO FINDING MINE OWN PLEASURES,
ON GOD'S SABBATH!!
BUT I COULD TEACH OTHERS ABOUT GOD'S LOVE.....
VISIT THE SICK,
COMFORT THOSE WHO MOURN!!
GO WALKING....
HIKING....
BIKING.....
PICKNIKING......
AND SPEND TIME LEARNING MORE ABOUT GOD....
THROUGH HIS WORD,
THROUGH NATURE,
AND SOCIALIZE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, ON
SABBATH!!
THE EARLY SABBATH DAYS....
HAD CAPTURED THE ESSENCE OF
LEARNING TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC....
RETAINING A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE,
FOR THE WALK OF
FAITH!!
LEARNING ABOUT THE INFINITE LOVE OF GOD!!
AND IT ALL HAPPENED ON THE SABBATH!!
AS THE ADULT YEARS PASSED,
GOD WAS ABOUT TO SHOW ME, THE TRUE
SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE SABBATH,
IN WAYS.....
I NEVER DREAMT.
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS,
BOTH IN CHURCH,
AND IN THE WORKPLACE!!
THE FIRST REVELATION CAME THROUGH,
A PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER!!
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Sabbath is Alive and Well!! by Uva Shakes. Copyright © 2015 Uva Shakes. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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