Thomas Shipley: A Voice in the Storm and the Beauty of Creator's Timing

There is a specific kind of silence that happens when the grid fails in a small town. No fridge hum, no furnace rattle—just the wind howling across the Saskatchewan prairie. But the oddest part of the night wasn't the blackout; it was my phone suddenly giving up the ghost at 8% charge. It wouldn't recharge or even flicker, despite being plugged into a backup battery. It just stayed dark.

That’s when I heard the nudge in my heart: "Listen to the radio."

A prairie storm reminds us of the light Thomas Shipley brought to human history and the beauty of the Creator's timing.

I picked up my trusty crank radio and started turning the handle, generating a small beam of light and a crackle of static in the shadows. I tuned in just in time to catch the tail end of an interesting tale on Our American Stories. It was a story about a man named Thomas Shipley.

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Who was Thomas Shipley?

I’d never heard the name before, but the timing felt like a clear tap on the shoulder from the Creator. Thomas Shipley was a Christian abolitionist in the 1800s. He wasn't just a man of words; he was a man of radical action.

As a Quaker, Shipley believed with every fibre of his being that every person was created equal, carrying the "Inner Light" of God. While the world around him was filled with the darkness of slavery and kidnapping, Shipley stood his ground. He used his own body as a shield during riots and spent his life in courtrooms fighting for the freedom of those the world tried to ignore.

Light in the Darkness

There I was, in the middle of a literal prairie storm, cranking for a tiny bit of light, hearing about a man who was a beacon of light in a much grimmer storm of human history.

It’s a reminder that the Creator’s timing is always perfect. When my "modern" power cut out at that odd 8%, the Ruach HaKodesh led me to a story about a different kind of power—the power of a person who knows their worth and the worth of their neighbour. Shipley didn't need a power grid; he had a soul-deep connection to the truth.

Sometimes we need the lights to go out so we can finally hear what we’re supposed to. If you’re sitting in the dark tonight, whether it’s a power outage or just a hard season of life, keep cranking. The light is coming, and the message you need to hear is already on the airwaves. We just have to tune in.

"For you light my lamp; ADONAI my God lights up my darkness." — Tehillim (Psalms) 18:29 CJB

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Digging Deeper

If you are curious about the life of this remarkable man, I discovered a book by Isaac Parrish that provides a moving portrait of his courage and faith:

Brief Memoirs of Thomas Shipley and Edwin P. Atlee: Read Before the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, &C, Tenth Month, 1837

This classic reprint offers a window into the dangers and daily work of these reformers. It’s a powerful read for anyone interested in how principled activism, grounded in faith, can change the world.

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About the Author

Sister Su is a survivor through her Saviour and has been blessed to see many miracles in her life. Currently digging her way out from under a mountain of debt while battling chronic illness, she dreams of one day earning her doctorate in practical theology.

For more information, visit her Linktree- Sister_Su.

Dream Interpretation Books: Seeking a Messianic Perspective

Which Messianic Dream Book Would You Choose?

For a while now, I have been getting a persistent internal prompting: "Get your dream book published."

Before writing my own, I wanted to see how other authors approach dream interpretation from a Messianic perspective. My search on Amazon led me down a fascinating rabbit hole. Now, I am completely stuck between two highly compelling books.

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I need your help deciding.Which one would you read and review first?

Let me know which unique perspective you want to explore first by dropping your vote in the comment section below!

Option 1: The Ancient Language of Dreams by Ken Johnson Th.D.

Being Holy But Not "Holier Than Thou:

Today is three weeks and six days of counting the Omer, 27 days! Are you counting the days up towards Shavuot (Pentecost) too? Can you believe we are already 28 days in? Almost four full weeks of preparing our hearts for Shavuot; we are just past the halfway mark. We are also at the midpoint of the month of Iyar—how time flies!

Today is also Pesach Sheni (the Second Passover). It’s such a beautiful reminder of our Creator’s heart for "second chances"—He literally built a day into the calendar for those who missed the first feast because they were away or ritually unclean. If you feel like you’ve "missed the boat" on your spiritual goals this month, today is a wonderful reminder that His grace provides a way back.

I had great plans to create a Pesach Sheni Seder plate because I was quite weak on the first Passover, but the power was off for most of the day. When I tried making the chana flour matzah recipe from memory, it turned out too thin and then too thick—it looks more like pieces of a hard tack map (Australia, Antarctica  China and South America Japan!) than matzah. Frankly, I was plum tuckered out from dragging my cart with drinking water and groceries up the hill yesterday!”

Even my matzah got a bit 'puffed up' with pride! These three pieces—resembling Australia, Japan, and China—remind me that sometimes our best attempts turn into something entirely unexpected.

This Week's Readings: Parashat Emor

• Torah: Vayikra (Leviticus) 21:1–24:23
• Haftarah: Yechezk’el (Ezekiel) 44:15–31
• Brit Chadashah: 1 Corinthians 8

Who Really Changed the Sabbath? A Look at History and Ezekiel 20:20

Today marks twenty-one days of counting the Omer—three full weeks of preparing my heart for Shavuot.

The Messianic Sabbath readings for today contained a scripture I hold very precious: Ezekiel 20:20.

About two years ago, I was trying to come up with ways to memorize where different scriptures were located in the Bible. I had come across a Psalm I really liked and wondered, "How am I going to remember this and where it’s located?" Then, it came to my heart: "Look in the Book."

I picked up the Bible beside me, let the Holy Spirit do the talking, and let my fingers do the walking. I opened it directly to Ezekiel 20:20: 

"Sanctify My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God."

I couldn’t believe it. It was the answer to what I had just asked. It was as if God was saying it would be an easy task to remember if I looked at it with "20/20 vision"—by sanctifying the Sabbaths our Father set aside as holy.

I made a conscious decision right then and there that I was going to do my very best to do as He asked. However, sanctifying the Sabbaths has not been easy.

I thought it would be simple. I had been raised to sanctify Sunday as the Sabbath, so how could it be so difficult to switch the day to the actual Sabbath—the seventh day of the week? Let me tell you, it’s been a big surprise. I have never faced so much temptation to not properly observe the Sabbath in my life. Chores can sit there for a week or two, and suddenly, once the Sabbath comes, they feel incredibly important to get done. Then, as soon as the Sabbath is over, that urgency disappears. Pretty weird, eh?

This experience has shown me that there must be something vital about observing the Sabbath as set out in Scripture; otherwise, I wouldn’t be facing such a difficult time doing it.

Who Changed the Sabbaths?

Constantine - The Pagan Roman Priest Behind Sunday Worship

Have you ever wondered why people worship on Sunday and not on the seventh day?

I knew the change happened in the early days of the church, but after the days of the Apostles. When I did a little digging, I was surprised to find who actually outlawed Sabbath services. They were outlawed by a Roman leader who was a sun worshipper claiming to have converted to Christianity. This leader did some horrible things during his lifetime and resisted being baptized until he was on his deathbed.

Here are some of the horrible things that he did:

• Megalomaniacal Acts: Even while claiming to be a Christian, he remained High Priest of the pagan sun worshipers. He even set up a statue in his new capital that depicted himself with the features of the sun god. He built a city in his own honour, Constantinople, and littered the empire with colossal statues of himself.
• Execution of His Eldest Son: In 326 AD, Constantine ordered the execution of his son and heir, Crispus. He then had his son’s name and image erased from all public records to scrub him from history.
• The Brutal Killing of His Wife: Shortly after his son's death, he had his second wife, Empress Fausta, killed by suffocating her in an overheated bath—some historical accounts say she was essentially boiled alive.
• Betrayal of Family and Allies: He ordered the execution of his brother-in-law, Licinius, after promising him safety when he surrendered. He didn't stop there; he also had his own young nephew, Licinius II (the 11-year-old son of Licinius), killed to prevent any future challenge to his throne.
• Ruthless Political Murders: Throughout his reign, he was known for being an absolute autocrat who would eliminate anyone—including close advisors and friends—whom he perceived as a threat or who simply displeased him.

In addition to this, he set about trying to get rid of anyone who chose to follow the laws set out by the Creator after decreeing all Sabbath worship be moved to Sunday

What boggles my mind is how anyone in their right mind would think it is a good idea to follow what this man decreed. It boggles my mind even more that in this day and age—where the truth is so readily available—we continue with traditions established by such a person.

I have to ask you: Do you really want to follow the decrees set out by a man who was so clearly demon-possessed?

Today, I challenge you to look at your own traditions with "20/20 vision." Open the Book for yourself, let the Holy Spirit do the talking, and see if it’s time to stop following the man-made rules of the past and start sanctifying the days our Father actually set aside as holy.

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About the Author

Sister Su is a survivor through her Saviour and has been blessed to see many miracles in her life. Currently digging her way out from under a mountain of debt while battling chronic illness, she dreams of one day earning her doctorate in practical theology.

For more information, visit her Linktree- Sister_Su.

Keeping the Light Shining: Standing with the Artisans of Bethlehem

Today is Day 19 of the Counting of the Omer, two weeks and five days preparing my heart for Shavuot. Today I am counting my blessings. Though I may have huge bills to pay, I am inside, warm, dry, and fed. Most importantly there are no threats of bombs going off over my head. Please pray for the protection of our Brothers and Sisters who follow The Messiah in Yisrael.

In the quiet of a Bethlehem workshop, faith takes shape in olive wood even as the world outside remains uncertain.

Table of Contents

• Living Under Uncertainty
• The Current Situation

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Living Under Uncertainty

Can you imagine leaving home in the morning and not knowing if you will be able to get back home that night? For our brothers and sisters in Bethlehem, this isn't a "what if"—it is a daily reality.

When I came across these beautiful olive wood crosses hand-made by followers of Yeshua living in Bethlehem, it hit me like a tonne of bricks. With sudden road closures, checkpoints, and rising tensions, the simple act of going to work or the market is a leap of faith.

The Current Situation

While there are constant calls for a lasting ceasefire, the reality on the ground remains fragile. Even during periods of relative calm, the scars of conflict are everywhere.

• The Struggle for Shelter: Many families have faced the devastating loss of shelter due to ongoing conflict and administrative demolitions. For those who still have homes, the fear of losing them hangs heavy over every meal.
• The Cost of Food: The economic blockade and disrupted supply lines have caused the cost of food to skyrocket. Basic staples that we take for granted are now luxury items for many artisan families, making the income from their olive wood carvings more vital than ever.

By choosing these handmade gifts, you aren’t just buying wood; you are providing a "lifeline" to a family trying to keep their light shining in the Holy Land.

Please prayerfully consider purchasing some of these handmade olive wood crosses to give to friends as a reminder to pray for Our Brothers and Sisters in Yisrael.

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About the Author

Sister Su is a survivor through her Saviour and has been blessed to see many miracles in her life. Currently digging her way out from under a mountain of debt while battling chronic illness, she dreams of one day earning her doctorate in practical theology.

For more information, visit her Linktree- Sister_Su.