I am new here, and thought I'd add my voice to this thread.

I find it a real struggle to be prepared for Sabbath and to keep myself from doing the many things I do during the week (cleaning, working in the garden, stopping by the market, etc) since I am truly a 'Martha' type, with many responsibilities and interests.

All I know is, that my walk towards Him is a slow work in progress, and I can't do it without prayer and relying on YHWH's strength. My life situation seems to frequently bring my spirit to a grinding stop, necessitating my full reliance on His Spirit. (But I guess that is what He wants, eh?)

My biggest amazement is how the 'spirit of antichrist' has turned our lifestyle upside down by reconstructing our calendar, taking us from a lunar-structured to a sun-structured process, giving us a sun-up to sun-up reckoning of a 'day', and pretty much mucking up everything as Elohim had orignially set up, and giving it the legitimacy of 'it-being-so' for millennia. It is quite a process to tear all that down in our minds, hearts and lives, and rebuild the model in His pattern!

BTW, my name 'czygyny' is taken from a Polish/Hungarian word csigany, meaning gypsy, wanderer or in otherwords--'sojourner', which those of us who keep faith in YHWH (and His Son Yahshua) are to be considered in this world, sojourning in a world that is not ours, for our estate is not yet obtained. The name had its beginning in a story I wrote years ago (and was actually a space-ship, no less ;-) ) and I made it my own moniker when I became more seriously embarked on this journey on the narrow path Home.

I have been without an internet fellowship since the site I was involved with decided to consider extra-biblical writings to be on par with the Word given to us in the Bible, and they denied the validity of the Torah in our lives in this age, and I am weary of holding the Light up in the 'conspiracy' forums. Enough time has been spent watching what the 'enemy' is up to, now I need to focus on what my Father is doing.

I hope to make friends here and to be a part of this fellowship. To help and be helped. There are entirely too few of us!

shabbat shalom, czygyny,

glad to meet you and welcome to EliYah's discussion forum!

they have online shabbat meetings, maybe meet you there?

Susan

Welcome to the Forum!

I hope to see you around here on the forum. I'm a hit and miss as my husband and I are over the road truck drivers.

I understand your strugle very much!

May Yahweh Bless You.

czygyny - I'm sorry I didn't write sooner, I forgot my password and didn't know it was so easy to get it! Your post was so honest, it made me feel better to know others struggle too.

You are so right,...as truth is revealed it's almost shocking to the system to realize how far gone everything in this world is, how mixed up and far from the way YHWH intended it to be! I can *almost* see why some people just stick with the status quo, as it's so hard to change and do what's right. It's much easier to say, "Well, this is the way we've always done things, I'm too old to change" and just leave it at that.

I don't struggle much with going places on the Sabbath, but getting everything done before it, and maintaining at least some sort of order is very hard for me. I often wonder what other families DO continue, and what they just quit doing for the day altogether. For example, we have a big family, so after just one meal the clean up is huge. If I were not to do dishes or clean up after meals, then by the end of Sabbath the amount of work I'd have to do would be overwhelming. We do have a dishwasher, so we try and have it completely empty by sundown, so we can put everything in there as we're done with it, but even so, it's usually filled after our Sabbath dinner. I've heard some people talk of using paper plates, cups, etc, but the expense of it plus, I don't know, we just enjoy that meal being the nicest of the week, so it's a big deal to bring out the silver and the best plates we have (though those aren't all that nice!)

Anyhow, I'd love to hear how other women and their families "do" the Sabbath each week. Do you have a format for the meal, service, etc? Do you sing songs? What songs? That's something we want to start doing.

Nancy

Thank you for letting me know that I'm not the only wife out there that struggles. My mom wasn't a very good role model, so when I got married...who was I to look to? I knew that my mom wasn't a good role model, but I didn't know who else to look to for an example.
Reading what Eliyah posted about wives brought tears to my eyes. Scripture tells me how to act, and I am so happy to oblige to Yahuah's word now that I know and realize how I should act. :-) HalleluYAH!

Another good source of reading material would be Created to Be his Help Meet By Debi Pearl.
A very good book...very much recommended.
You can find it at:
www.nogreaterjoy.org
------------------
In Yahuah's Service
~Sarai

[This message has been edited by Sarai (edited 06-15-2007).]

[This message has been edited by Sarai (edited 06-21-2007).]

Shalom Nancy,

Once I found out the truth about Sabbath from sunset to sunset, it really opened up a whole new world to me. Since I'm the only one in my family who cares about it and studies the Word of Yahweh it made things "hard" for me to work around.

My husband and I are over the road Truck Drivers, I work 12 hours during the Day and he works 12 hours during the "night shift". When home we keep to our routine, (sleeping patteren) So since I work days and he works nights so to speak and our Son works seconds, meals around here are a big problem.

I then came up with a plan to make a large Turkey, pot of chillie, chicken, roast, anything that could be used as a left over type meal. This way with the three of us eating/sleeping different times around the clock during the Sabbath I wouldn't have to cook and since I too have a dish washer (even though I'm the only one who knows how to fill/empty it...lol) I just let the dishes pile up in the sink and walk away. (Yes the dishes piling up use to really bother me, but not anymore.)

The other thing my husband and son came up with is paper plates. I buy them at Wal-mart or the dollar store, this alone really saves on the dishes pileing up in the sink. Since I've made the meal ahead of time there are no pans to worry about.

I then study the word of Yahweh on the Sabbath. It really frees me up, now that I've accepted to let the dishes pile up and follow Yahwehs Word. Although I will admit a little water in the sink for the dishs to pile up in neatly really makes a difference when the sun goes down on the Sabbath and I then load the dish washer, as the food hasn't dried on them. I even find if both sides of the sink fill up, once again soaking in water, so be it.

I understand what you mean about using the good dishes, but if you can use paper plates and it makes less work for you afterwards and it frees your mind from the worry of the dishes that are piling up on you, then by all means go for the paper plates. At first it's hard I know, but oh what a relief it is! Remember it's not that Plate or silverware that makes the Sabbath meal so special. On the rare occasions that I do get to sit and have a Sabbath meal with my husband and son, it's such a blessing that paper towels could be used and I'd be thrilled.

I have found it's GREAT to at last have a day of rest...no laundry, no cooking, no dishes, nothing but studing the word of Yahweh or spending time with my family.

Since this is all still so new to me and I'm still learning many new things, at least with tons of prayer from everyone here on this forum and myself, Yahweh has softened my husbands heart to where he no longer gives me any problems with/or about it. The Sabbath and my studing so much.

May Yahweh Bless you.

Shalom ladies,
So glad to see the interaction and to see that we are all striving to enter His rest as His word says. I too didn't have any role models of YHWH fearing women growing up. I am so blessed that YHWH has such great mercy and grace on us. I praise Him for my husband who is so patient with my short comings. May we continue to share our struggles with one another and pray for one another. May YHWH be praised and glorified in all of our lives and may we we women be His hand maidens. Shalom to your homes and YHWH bless!!!
In the love and shalom of Yahushua

I have no example, either, and I am leery of the 'traditions' of orthodox sabbath keeping, but try to come at it fresh and scripturally sound. Doesn't mean it is perfect yet! No one in my family believes, so my trying to change our usual routine has been difficult.

I have no spouse, nor children of my own, but my brother's twins come and stay with me on the weekends (they are next door at my mother's during the week) and my 'adopted' oldest son, who was orphaned at 16 and ended up with me. (I have the tendency to attract all lost souls, both animal and human) so they have had to struggle with the concept of no television Friday evening, no shopping, and my not being there half of Saturday while I am attending services.

It is also hard for me not to keep 'busy' like I said before. I always manage to sneak pulling a weed or two while walking through my gardens. (oops)

They're coming around, but my Sabbaths are far from being perfectly kept, as of yet. But, as is practically my motto: 'I am a work in progress'. I am walking toward perfection.

Paper plates work great, and purchased in bulk, make an economical alternative to a sink and counter full of dishes. I have no dishwasher, so being able to discard most of the dishes appeals to me.

I long for the day when it will be easy to keep a perfect Sabbath, but it is an uphill struggle for now. Our Elohim appreciates the effort we make if we do it with a pure heart and honest attempt to improve.

We are bucking 2,000 years of tradition and habit, after all.

Adelore,
QUOTE:
at least with tons of prayer from everyone here on this forum and myself, Yahweh has softened my husbands heart to where he no longer gives me any problems with/or about it.

Praise Yahweh! I didn't know things were getting better and easier for you, how wonderful!

Shalom Ladies,

I have a couple of questions.

1. What does someone do when they are the only one in their family that studies the word of Yahweh? (I have no other fellowship near where I live. Which makes fellowship with anyone pretty much out of the question. The closest thing we have to us is a Seventh Day Advent Church. All other Churchs are on Sunday around here.)

2. So does this mean I should stay home forever, not fellowshiping at all with anyone? What does someone like me do?

3. I've read on different sites where many gather together for "The Feast". They travel many hours and some even from different states. There's no way I can do this (although I wish there were.) My husband and I are over the road Truck Drivers and I'm lucky to even make it home at the start of the Sabbath.

If you have any ideas or thoughts, please post them.

May Yahweh Bless you,

[This message has been edited by adelore (edited 06-17-2007).]

Shalom achoti Adelore,
We understand the predicament of not having people to fellowship with. My husband is handicapped and there are no believers close to us. We have been fellowshipping on EliYah's chat room for about four years. We are under the screen names of Y_and_T (Yochanan) and Y_and_T_2 (Tahar). Yahweh has blessed our fellowship and we have met many people from other places through this chat room. We met Nancy b's husband, we met another brother from Texas, we met a couple that live about 1 3/4 hours from us, we met a family that used to live about 3 hours from us but have now moved to the south, and we recently met a couple that live about 50 minutes from us, although we do have some major doctrinal differences. If you have a computer, my suggestion would be to join the chat room on erev shabbat and shabbat. On shabbat, there is a live broadcast (audio) and at the end you are able to call in. It is not people physically in your home, but it is pretty close as there are several people that are in the same boat. Hope this helps you and I pray for Yahweh's blessings on you and your husband!! Shalom to your home.
In His love and shalom,
Tahar

I want to second the praises for the live broadcasts on Shabbat morning, it has been such a blessing. Without it, I know we never would have come as far as we have, nor would I probably be converted. My husband actually has the chatroom screen put up so all the kids can watch the chat during the audio, and we have the audio blaring :o) so we can hear it all over the house. We have no believers in our area either (though we're working on some!! LOL) but the online meetings have really filled a void. And for us, having "church" at home has simplified our lives like you wouldn't believe...we have 6 kids at home, and I used to be the only one that would take them to Church, talk about stressful!

I also wanted to clarify, that when people talk about going far and near for the feasts, they are not talking about the weekly shabbat meeting. THat WOULD be impossible for us too, and we are not truck drivers!

What they are mentioning is usually the big feasts, either Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles, in Sept/Oct of the year. This year, they are having the feast of Tabernacles at a big campground in Missouri so there will be plenty of room for everyone! Maybe choosing one big feast a year to get together with other believers would be possible. I know as soon as we found out about it we have begun a budget to try and put money away for the trip. And the cost to camp there is VERY minimal! Maybe with enough time to plan, it is something you could do Adelore! Would't it be wonderful to meet up with other believers to just sit and talk face to face with!!

Nancy B.

Wanted to add, we just got back (an hour ago or so) from visiting EliYah and his wife and children, and getting our whole family baptized! It was wonderful...very cold, but exhilerating! I've already been to bed, but I'm so full of blessings and happiness from the trip, I can't sleep!

They are such down to earth, humble, sweet people, we love them dearly! Being new believers, we went there trying to be on our best behavior, nervous that we would make a bad impression or something. But they put us at such ease, we soon felt very much at home. And Oh MY!! They are definately not revealing enough of their talents (especially musical) at the audio meetings...their guitar playing and singing lifted our spirits so much. We need some CD's of their praise music around this house!! One of our sons is dying to get his hands on my other son's guitar, so he can practice already. Our foster son (slightly autistic, developmentally delayed) kept saying after each song, 'One more time" or "Anoder one!"

I can't even sleep I'm so charged with the desire to learn more and praise Yahweh!

Nancy B.

Nancy,

What a wonderful time it sounds like you had. I praise Yahweh that you got to share the many blessings with them. How wonderful that your family was all baptized!

I would love to attend one of the Feast this year. Yet I highly doubt I can/could talk my husband into it right now. Since he's not a follower of Yahsuhua and Praise Yahweh, my hubbys heart has "softened" where my studies are concerned; but one day I know without a doubt that Yahweh will provide a way for me to attend.

Sometimes when my cousin stops by for coffee I'm sitting at the Computer and I have papers on the table,(I'm printing and folding some of the pamplets on this web site to place in Truck Stops ect.) My cousin will tease me and ask me if I'm going to turn the pole barn into a church. He's done this more than once, trying to make fun of me. Of course he does this in front of my hubby. The first time I really wondered if this wouldn't turn my hubby against my study again.

So my reply was, "Nope I don't plan on turning the pole barn into a church." Of course he made a few more downing (really not very nice at all) comments to me about Yahwehs Word, in front of my husband and I knew I had to say something to stop it as I wasn't about to let Satan try to take away my freedom of my study.

Then I said, "Well, I could be doing a whole lot worse things. I could be like T. (his soon to be x-wifes name) out bar hoping, sleeping around and wrecking my family by leaving my husband for another man. Maybe if she would have been studying Yahwehs Word this wouldn't be happening."

"Since I'm sitting here quietly and not out Bible Thumping or Preaching to anyone here and I'm not trying to change my husband or bothering anyone and my husband knows I'm doing this and he doesn't mind. I guess I'm better off being into this than those other things that T. is into."

My husband smiled at this and my cousin got quiet for a moment and then my cousin said, "You know, you're right."

Since then when my cousin stops by he's Very supportive about my study and never knocks what I'm doing. He's even read a few of the tracts that I've printed out. That happen to be laying on the table.

He now has a Jehovah Witness that drops by their Magz to him. Since he doesn't read them and knows I'm into studying the word of Yahweh he brings them to me, (He doesn't understand yet all that I'm studying, but his thought/intentions are good as he thinks I can use them) so I use them as a "topic starter" about Yahweh the Sabbath and so on. He's very receptive to it!

Just thought I'd share this.

May Yahweh Bless.

Adelore! Oh my! I am so happy for you! This is wonderful! You are doing an excellent thing for YHWH. I bet your husband may get involved when the time is right for YHWH to touch his heart! And wow.. you really handled yourself so well with your cousin! A lot of people wouldn't have had the courage. They just would have been embarrassed. I am so glad to have read this today! YHWH is really doing great things in your life!

I will pray for you and your family. And I hope that YHWH continues to bless your life! Reading this today sure blessed me!

In Messiah,
Missy