*Quick note from the author: This next installment takes place during a period that will be talked about more in book 4. I tried my best not to give anything away, and I even contemplated pushing this chapter off to be released at a later time but that just isn't how the story is meant to be told. I was careful not to share any spoilers, and even took a bit of comfort in knowing that the two previous books, had some events and timelines cross reference as well and it all worked out in the end. The only advice I have to offer is that you try to read what's given without worrying too much about fitting any pieces together just yet. When I let go and allow the story to be told naturally it works out in the bigger picture. I'm convinced that this too will be the case. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

"Beth"

 

   "I don't know why it's such a big deal. Don't get me wrong, the betrayal is no joke, but to me, the more lies I find out about the more it proves how special my soul must be that the enemy and pretty much all the earthly powers that be are working so hard to keep me separated and sleeping." I said as we were closing up shop for the day at Taste & See. I may not have shared how I was feeling as I had if Julie had been there, but it was her day off.

 

   "We all have our issues. For me, it was a lot. Mike isn't at all open to hearing about it. I'm pretty sure he even thinks I'm insane and I'm a bit shocked some days that he hasn't had me put on a psychiatric hold. That being said, it wasn't something I had to fight for myself, but it was something I had to think about for more than a second. I didn't know what to do with any of it once I realized it was true. You guys are in your own little world here, and you have this support group that I think works in your favor. I know it's so much easier for me when I am here at the shop, but the moment I go home, or I'm away from all of you, it feels as if  I'm a foreigner in a place that's familiar in looks but that's about it." April shared and I couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken for her.

 

   "I think you are right. We do have it rather nice here on the ranch that's for sure. Oftentimes, I forget there's a whole other world outside those gates." Betsy confirmed with a nod, before asking, "How's Mikey taking it all?"

 

   

   "That's a tough one. I'm not completely sure. I know he struggles with things, but mostly with why things at school and church had to change. Makes sense to me being that he's eleven. I'm just playing it by ear and trying to answer whatever questions he has when he asks, but he doesn't. I will say this. I've read through the bible before but now as if it's a whole new book." April answered and I felt relieved that my boys were too young to have to unlearn anything.

 

   "Wyatt struggled a bit with it, which makes sense to me too. I unknowingly or maybe naively thought the traditions we passed on before were harmless because I didn't know any better. I understand his confusion though, I mean, the Tooth-fairy, Santa, Easter bunny all of the lies. I loved that y'all didn't go crazy here and you celebrated differently than what I'd seen before, but it was still all so wrong. I'm sure or I hope in time, we will figure things out." Lily added. The two of them understanding one another since their boys were only a year apart.

 

 

 

   "Speaking of school, Mom, have you heard more about what's happening? I know it hasn't been all that long, and Mrs. Brook's has been working on things from the legal side, but man…it's unreal at times." I asked. It had only been a hot second since I started down the line of questioning I was on, and already it felt as if I should apologize for being so off.

 

Betsy was right. Being on the ranch had me in a sort of bubble that sometimes caused me to forget that what happened here wasn't the same for everyone else. I'm not sure how I forgot that Lucas and Elizabeth's marriage was far from the happily ever after it once was. I suppose that's how people end up taking things for granted though. I knew how fortunate I was, and I never wanted to forget it.

 

   

   "We are trying to lean into Yahuah and wait for His guidance. You know we asked the parents who are still interested in seeing this through if they would homeschool until we figure things out. The teachers that we haven't lost have been a wonderful help and came up with ways to be there in whatever capacity they're needed. I'm not sure what this will look like in the end but with so many people praying, seeking, and working together, I am convinced we will get it sorted. There really aren't any how-to's…or what's next after you've been awoken pamphlets out there. Samuel and Ruth have been a huge help, but things are different even for them since they live on the reservation. They were the ones to suggest the home school community concept, and shared with us how it works for them." My mother answered and while it was clear that we all were concerned and saddened (more for the ones we lost), the overall mood was one of hope that Yah would make a way.

 

 

   "I think the biggest help so far for Mikey has been Marcus's new group for the 10 to 13-year-olds. I was struggling before it. Truly, I've never been so happy that I barely see my husband anymore. Him being a work-a-holic has its perks when so much has changed in such a short amount of time." April broke the brief moment of silence before continuing, "Now, I do have to say, my heart breaks for Elizabeth. In no way do I mean to talk about her behind her back and I will not gossip, but as you all already know, she is still having a hard time with this. Especially now that the kids have been leaning into the Truth since Marcus's group started up. Sadly, she feels like she's completely alone." April informed and my heart broke for my brother's wife and their family.

 

   "She resigned from the school even before we knew what we were doing. What I will say is that she is trying her best to figure out how to live in what has to be a devastating situation for her. I can't imagine how she feels. I wish there was something we could do." My mother added and without having to say another word it was clear we were all in agreement.

 

"This whole thing has been completely life-changing. I have never felt more determined to seek things out for myself, and confidently too. It's like I no longer feel as though I need validation after I read something in Scripture. Have any of you noticed that each one of us is being convicted of things at different times but ultimately the same things? Like, Beth, you were the first one that started covering your hair all the time and then Leighton I think you were next. I just got rid of all of Mikey and my clothes and things that were mixed fabrics and started paying more attention to what we eat." April added keeping on topic but moving us away from gossiping, while she finished cashing out the register and restocking the area; with everything needed the next day.

 

   "I struggled with wanting everyone to just get with it already. I don't understand how a person can say they love the Most High but then refuse to seek Him outside of what they've been taught. I mean He tells us repeatedly to actively look for Him and yet so many people are okay with clinging to what they hear on Sundays. Marcus and his new family do help tremendously, but it's hard to just leave people to continue down the wrong path." Leighton offered her two cents.

 

 

My best friend only struggled for a few hours after her husband shared the Truth with her, and once Josh told us how he saw things she grabbed a hold of the Truth and took off running with it. Leighton tells everyone she meets the Good News, and if they refuse to seek for themselves or reject It all together, she struggles with letting it be as we are instructed to in Scripture. Her heart is in the right place but this whole thing offers such clarity to the verses where we are told to not cast our pearls before the swine or to brush the sand from our feet if we meet people with closed hearts. I previously fought to understand what those verses meant before, but not so much anymore because more and more…it all made sense.

 

The very things I struggled with, all the questions I had to force myself to push off- telling myself that my brain wasn't able to grasp the magnitude of whatever it was that I had been tripping over. When I think back to what my faith walk looked like before I was led by Yahuah to the Narrow Path, I can't help but feel that most of it I dismissed after hearing over and over and then eventually repeating it myself, that I just have to have faith. While it is absolutely true that our faith in Yahusha is what it takes for salvation to be given a way, we were so completely lost. Sadly, each generation only brought us further and further away from the Truth.

 

 

~~~

 

 

   We were having dinner on the ranch with what turned out to be our regulars only that night April and Mikey joined us as well. Since being awakened those of us that lived on the ranch usually did a lot more things together as a group. Don't get me wrong, we did this at least once a week before our awakening, and we'd even switch up the location when we'd get together for the weekly bonfires too, and all that still happened only now we added Samuel and Ruth's place into the rotations as well.

 

Most nights, we'd help one another cook and work together as if we were all parts of one body just like Scripture tells us. Being able to partake as well as witness what had clearly been a demonstration of what the early church looked like brought forth a feeling of unity I was convinced had been orchestrated by our Creator. Working together strengthened us as a unit and it was easy to see how fortunate we truly were.

 

April pointed out how different things were for those of us who lived on the ranch, but to us, it was what we knew.

 

   Things had changed a bit, but life on the ranch was always something I found myself giving thanks for. It wasn't until Samuel pointed out how different we were in our little community that I even realized that most of the world didn't live like those of us in Spring View, let alone the ones that called Stolt Ranch our home. Sure, we had it wrong before we learned the Truth, but only because we didn't know any better at that time. Scripture tells us that when we walk in Truth life change will happen and those walking the Narrow Path will be made "new". We are even told about the awakening itself, and how Yah's children, the ones that know His name will remember who they are and will return to Him. The Law Itself will be written on their hearts and they will truly be Set Apart.

 

 

The hardest thing I've experienced so far is just how heartbreaking the very Truth we read and thought we knew really, is when people aren't given eyes to see. Let me just say, telling people the savior they've believed in their whole lives is a counterfeit meant to keep them away from their Heavenly Father-it doesn't go over all that well. Especially when it's the very thing they cling to.

 

That alone should be a red flag, but there is something inside of them, usually some sort of hurdle routed in a form of pride that prevents them from letting go of their false idols and truly seeking their true Creator.

 

   

  Yahuah tells us that He alone is the true and living Elohim and we are to put no other gods before Him, yet we are indoctrinated to believe the falsehood of the trinity, which breaks the very First Commandment. Unyoking oneself to the trinity was a real struggle for many people from FCC. In fact, a good portion of the ones who didn't run from the Truth chose to push that part aside and are still searching it out in Scripture. The way the lies are fed to people without any proof apart from human belief and misinformation is the reason why I'm convinced that fear plays a big part in those who reject the Truth outright. It's not easy when you find out and then have to accept the fact that pretty much every single thing you've been taught your entire life, is a lie.

 

   The 2nd Commandment tells us, you shall NOT make for yourself any image in the form of anything in heaven above, or on the earth beneath, or in the waters below. We are then told to never bow down to or worship them, and then the Almighty tells us, "For I, Yahuah, am a jealous Elohim"

 

When I read it now, I find myself at a bit of a loss on how in the world any of us missed what is clearly spelled out by the Almighty Himself- more than once too. All of my life I was taught to kneel before the wooden idol of a cross. I was surrounded by and encouraged to look at images and sit in pews where I could be misled and fed lies by people who were just as lost as I was. Unknowingly or not (and I say that only because in my case, I know Pastor B and my brother didn't know that they were a part of the enemy's misinformation plan because they too were taught by false teachers), nevertheless, what they taught still went against the first 4 of Yah's Ten-Commandments each and every week.

 

The design of church buildings themselves is pure evil, but the biggest lie that keeps so many people on the road that will lead directly to their own destruction is the one they keep telling themselves in hopes that they can continue sleeping at night, it's the one where they believe that their intentions mean more than Yahuah and Yahusha's very Word. And that all comes from PRIDE

 

 

~~~

 

 

   "Did you catch a glimpse of that moon yet? It's so amazing. All along it's been there yet I- never knew just how significant it truly was." Lily made mention which got everyone's attention.

 

   "Working the land you learn to pay attention to the sky, there's two distinct seasons for farmers, ranchers, or anyone that makes a living off the land. Seeing it written out in Scripture though was truly something else. Our Creator knew what He was doing for sure...it just took me a little while for me to sit down so He could show it all to me." Butch added.

 

   "Even I can tell when our day of rest is supposed to be now," Wyatt said proudly, causing each of us to smile.

 

   "Oh yeah, bud. You think so?" Josh pressed, as we all looked over at the 11-year-old while we waited to hear what he had to say.

 

   "Yeah, I do. Yah said He made it so even the shepherd boy in the field would know when His Set Apart days were. That means it's not on some calendar. Uncle Mo taught us that the New Moon means two things- the sign of a new month, and it's the last day of rest from the month before so Yah gets you ready for the month ahead. If you just pay attention to the moon you see that the half moon tells you the next day is a rest day. And then when it's full, the next day is a rest day, and then half again, before we are back to the new moon again. I think it's pretty cool and I feel like Yahuah is smiling at me when I look up at night to see what day it is." I got teary-eyed when Wyatt explained his perfect answer because he was spot on, and he said it with the faith of a child who knew exactly Who his Abba in Heaven was.

 

Since I was sitting right next to him I gave him a quick squeeze and a peck on his cheek. Being eleven and eating, he was not a fan.

 

   

   "You know Wyatt, I didn't realize how easy it was when I was trying to figure it all out, so good for you," I admitted, and apparently my confession made up for the kiss.

 

   "What did you struggle with Beth?" April asked and I was glad to see that she was making herself more and more at home with us.

 

With my mouth full, Josh decided he'd answer for me.

 

   "My pretty little lady nearly blew her mind when she decided she would try and decode the big secret of Shabbat for all of us after we learned the importance of honoring it and what it entailed. She had charts and Scripture verses all over the place. Then she started countin' I don't even remember what you were counting, Bee…" Josh recalled and it was Danny who filled her in next.

 

   "I know it had something to do with the timeline of Creation. Day 4, right?"

 

I knew my face turned red, but I also knew that none of them were picking on me. I rolled my eyes more at the memory and how convinced I was I had been on the right path before I tried to explain where it was that I had gotten lost.

 

   "I knew that the sun, the moon, and the stars were created on the fourth day, so I assumed the full moon may have been what Yah started with. That assumption led me to count the nights I saw the full moon in the sky as a literal day four to which I added three days to it- thinking that would give us the seventh day. Once I remembered that Yah is NOT the author of confusion, and my way had been super confusing even to me, I knew I was wrong."

 

   

   "Yeah, but Bee, you knew Yah was calling you to figure it out and it was so cool the way you searched all the Apocrypha books and letters, as well as the Scriptures. All that along with your charts and notes and going outside each day to see what Yah would show you in the sky was kind of neat to witness." Leighton added.

 

   "I just took all y'all's word for it," Betsy admitted and we all laughed a little.

 

   

   "I think that's the best part about all of you having one another. You get to talk it all out in real-time. I'm just grateful you share what you learn with the rest of us outsiders." April said. And while I knew she'd tend to speak in sarcasm sometimes, the thing is, when Yahuah takes someone and then sets them apart in the Spirit, those old ways- the ones we grew accustomed to before when our eyes were closed, were no longer the same for us anymore. Sure, we'd joke now and again, but not the way we used to.

 

 

   I wanted to make sure that April knew she was just as much a part of our family as the people who physically lived on the ranch. Turned out I wasn't the only one either. I think the way each person included her and let her know how much of an asset she was, truly helped her believe it. It was clear to me that Yahuah had everything to do with it, too.