"Go Ye into All the World and Preach the Gospel....."

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: "MOREOVER WHEN YE FAST!"

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CHRISTIAN FORUMS-PRAYER REQUESTS-QUESTIONS-COMMENTS!

As I stated earlier the book on fasting I use is "The Miracle of Fasting", by Paul & Patricia Bragg. It can be ordered from Bragg Live Foods, Inc., Box 7, Santa Barbara, CA 93102 for nine dollars and ninety-five cents plus shipping and handling. You can also order by dialing 1-800-4461990 or through their website at http://www.bragg.com They use Three John two in a fish as their symbol on the back of the book. "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thou soul prospereth." The book talks about all the toxins we build up as we go through life eating and drinking the wrong things and breathing our polluted air.

WARNING: Whenever a person begins to fast the body begins to flush these toxins out through the kidneys and sinuses and the bowels and a person that is not in good health must be careful not to flush toxins out of their systems too quickly and use wisdom when to quit fasting. Someone that has eaten an unhealthy diet and not exercised needs to be very careful fasting. I would recommend changing eating habits and then just going on short one or two day fast at the beginning. Having said that I would like to share my own experiences with fasting, but strongly recommend purchasing the Bragg’s book before you fast.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:16, "Moreover when ye fast." He did not say if ye fast, He said when ye fast. I went on a fast from May 18th to May 26th, 1996 to break a spiritual stronghold over several things. I am going to give a brief synopsis of the fast so when the Lord calls you to fast you will have a general idea of what to expect. Some of it is written in note fashion, short and choppy, and if this bothers some of you, I apologize, just try to ignore it and let the Holy Spirit help you get what you need out of the chapter.

Day one-May 18th-You will always have a problem thinking about eating. Eating, with most people, is a habit and is difficult to break. You are not resisting hunger when you are on a God inspired fast; you are resisting the temptation to eat. You will have fiery darts about food, but once the devil realizes that you know what is happening the fiery darts won’t cease, but they will lessen and become less bothersome as we submit ourselves unto God and resist the devil and he will flee. Luke 4:2, "Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days did He eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered." After a fast we will be hungry.

Whenever you fast you can have a specific goal in mind to fast about, but really you do not know what the Lord is up to. This fast I tried to make the main focal point my dad and Howard

Pittman. I want my dad set free from medication, but primarily he needs to be saved. I, personally, had a whole list of family and friends that I was fasting for and always remember when you are fasting that God is in control.

I will mainly report the physical aspects of the fast so you will have a general idea of what to expect. How you react physically to fasting has to do with your physical condition and what type of diet you have been on and whether you exercise or not. Sometimes the spiritual aspects of a fast may never be known until you get into eternity and Jesus tells you what you were fasting about, or you could see instant results. Sometime during the day I noticed that my left testicle was swollen about four times it's normal size. From the internet I found that hydrocele is a common cause of swollen testicles in newborns and the elderly, although men can develop hydrocele at any age. Hydrocele occurs when fluid accumulates between the two membranes that cover the testicles. One or both testicles may be swollen. Hydrocele swelling gradually increases over a period of weeks or months.

Hydrocele swelling is usually painless. If the testicles appear to be chronically swollen, medical interventions are available. Surgery can cure hydrocele, or the fluid may be drawn out of the testicular membrane using a fine needle (fine needle aspiration is quite painful, so some men prefer surgical options). But we serve a mighty God that has us on His mind all the time and as you will see He even knew I had a swollen testicle so He called me to fast. I did not drink very much today and walked two miles. It was a fairly easy day once I got past the fiery darts. Day two-May 19th-Slept very well-Not hungry-Testicle still swollen-Urinating just fine-Plan on drinking more today-Walked two miles. I cheated! I picked my dad up at his nursing home and we got bored and split a chicken fajita salad at McDonald's. Feeling fine.

Day three-May 20th-Feel fine-but my stomach is growling, which is embarrassing. Testicle is not swollen as badly. Had fiery darts of chicken parmigiana, spaghetti and chicken breast sandwiches. Walked two miles.

Day four-May 21st-My daughter Maureen's birthday. Had a bad dream and a demon inspired phone call at 4 a.m. I will bind the devil in the Name of Jesus over that mess tonight and surround the bed with as many angels as necessary. Whatever it takes. We need to remember that we have twice as many angels as satan does. Feel fine. Testicle is still swollen but not as bad and is almost back to normal. No hunger. A little weak and sluggish, but not real bad. I feel very good in the afternoon although my sinuses have begun to drain. That is my body beginning to release toxins because I have not fasted in about two years and that is way too long, physically and definitely spiritually. The more you drain the more water you drink to speed up the flushing process and the water also helps the sore throat that results from the draining sinuses.

Day five-May 22nd-Rough Night! When the body begins to purify itself by releasing toxins you can feel it. You definitely know when the body is releasing toxins and I was remembering all those tortilla chips I have been eating and wonder if that is where a lot of my toxins are coming from, but I felt much better in the afternoon and my testicle is no longer swollen. Sinuses are not draining for now, but they will be back. By fasting my immune system was freed to fight the condition known as hydrocele that was manifesting itself in my testicles.

When we overeat, or eat the wrong things [I have known skinny people with horrible immune systems], we begin to overwork, what I call, the filtration system, and that is when we begin to have medical problems. Do not think for one second that the devil does not know this and will shoot fiery darts of wrong foods in our minds. What do you think all the television, radio, magazine, billboard, etc. advertisements are all about that promote things that are not healthy for us to consume. Do not think for one second that the devil has not had a hand in the tremendous success of our fast food industry that will spend millions of dollars to get us to eat a hamburger and fries.

I must discipline myself to begin to fast one day a week and three to seven days every three months. [September 10, 2004-Still haven’t made it. Pray for me!] I also need to eat at home more and take my own low fat baked tortilla chips to the Mexican food restaurant. I have been doing pretty well at walking and/or jogging everyday.

I have been fasting off and on since 1987 and for the very first time, even during the 21-day fast I went on in 1987, my tongue is white. In 1987 my tongue did not turn white because I had been jogging, working out and eating right before I went on the fast. For the last two years I have not exercised very much and have eaten a lot of tortilla chips and have not walked and jogged on a consistent basis for the last eight years. Exercise is very important in our society and a lot of people use First Timothy 4:8 as an excuse not to exercise. "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things." The people in the Bible did not have any problem sweating, but we have air-conditioned homes, cars, shopping malls, grocery stores and jobs and they did not. I was on my way somewhere in my '73 Toyota and I asked God why I did not have an air-conditioned car and He said that was the only way He could get me to sweat which is incentive to exercise. I now have an air conditioned car and I am going to keep it in the Name of Jesus.

The white tongue is an indication of the amount of poison or toxins in someone's system. The Bragg's book, "The Miracle of Fasting", goes into graphic detail about the tongue that never lies. Evidently I have never had this many toxins in my system before and this is incentive to improve my eating habits. God has blessed me with an excellent juice extractor that I am going to start using. This is also incentive to continue my fast, but I must be very careful not to put off too many toxins. A person could overload their kidneys and begin to have real problems. Many times this is what happens when we get sick. The toxins from the food we eat, the polluted air we breathe and a lack of perspiring because we don’t exercise enough allows toxins to build up in our systems and manifest itself as disease and stiffness in our joints and bodies. Regular fasting, proper diets and exercise can help avoid many of the sicknesses and lack of flexibility we experience as we get older.

God will give us wisdom if we need to break the fast. Matthew 10:30 says, "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." God watches over His children. I had a sour stomach and finally remembered that the Bragg's recommend that you add honey and lemon juice to your distilled water during the fast to help break up the toxins and mucus. I bought a gallon of spring water and added two tablespoons of honey and one-third cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice to the water and it tastes much better. I have fasted and worked fourteen days before, but I do not think I could have done that this time and it is nice to be able to lie down when you want to. I walked two miles today.

Day six-May 23-My tongue is still white, but my testicles are normal although I am weak and lethargic. The ringing I have had in my ears for years stopped at 5:45 p.m. today and I, of course, can hear better. I truly thank God for this amazing miracle. [Once I went back to eating a toxic diet without fasting the ringing came back-Help me Lord to live a fasted life.] [7-20-04, The ringing has stopped now because I have finally learned that it is a spirit that is responsible for the ringing. I just put my fingers in my ears if it starts and tell it to go in the Name of Jesus]

Mark 7:32-35, "And they bring unto Him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech Him to put His hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers into his ears, and He spit, and touched his tongue; And looking up to Heaven, He sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain" [I also used to stutter in my youth.]

I walked three miles today. I feel a little sick at my stomach today, but that is good, because that means my body is releasing toxins. Every time I have fasted I have hoped that the ringing in my ears would stop and now I want my eyesight restored. He can lead me to the truth as to how to have my eyesight restored. [I know it is a spirit, and probably the same spirit, Lord give me wisdom.] The important thing here is not my commitment to Him, but His commitment to me. He does it, not the fast. Jesus restored the eyesight of many in the four gospels and if I went to Jesus instead of an ophthalmologist I am sure my eyes would be healed. I can’t tell what the time is on the digital clock in my bedroom without my glasses. I am sure when Jesus was on this earth I would have been seeking Him out for healing and I am seeking Him for my healing now, but I have to turn loose of my ophthalmologist first.

Matthew 9:27-30, "And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when He was come into the house, the blind men came to Him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto Him, Yea, Lord. Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened;" Matthew 12:22, "Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. " Mark 8:22-25, "And He cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto Him, and besought Him to touch him. And He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; [He had to get him away from the non-believers] and when He had spit on his eyes, and put His hands upon him, He asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." Faith, casting out a devil or laying on of hands, whatever it takes. Sometimes we need to get around people of faith and do like Jesus did and get out of town or away from unbelievers and get where our faith can be free to operate.

Mark 5:21-43, "And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto Him: and He was nigh unto the sea. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet, And besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed Him, and thronged Him.

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth. And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

And He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And He cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when He was come in, He saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn.

But when He had put them all out, He taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And He charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat."

I asked why these weren’t in the chapter on healing and the Holy Spirit said that these spirits are much easier to deal with when we are fasting. Mark 9:14-29, speaking of Jesus, "And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld Him, were greatly amazed, and running to Him saluted Him. And He asked the scribes, What question ye with them? And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto Him: and when He saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And He asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

Day seven-May 24-Woke up stiff and feel like an old man and I remembered the three miles. My tongue is still white. I stretched before I showered and got dressed and took off to buy my dad a microwave. After I bought the microwave, I thought I was going to see my dad, but God had another idea and we went to make my dad an appointment with a geriatrics doctor that will evaluate his medication and his diet. Now I have to get him to go and I believe with all my heart that he will be medication free. Once I got out and became active, I felt much better.

Day eight-May 25-Weighed 192-I have lost twelve pounds, but I have always wondered about weighing during a fast because that might demonstrate a lack of spiritual commitment. I have always read that a person should not fast to lose weight even in the natural because they say you will always gain the weight back. Fasting helps me want to eat right and I have no desire to break a fast with or eat greasy unhealthy food when I finish a fast. I need to conquer the fiery darts that influence me to eat unhealthy and learn how to order healthy food when I eat out. After seeing my white tongue, I had better start eating correctly and I know how, but I just do not do it. I also need to eat at home more. Losing weight is a wonderful side effect, but fasting one day a week for 36 hours is very important as it keeps my flesh under better control. My tongue is still white, if not more so and I pray that it clears up. I usually have sinus drainage during a fast, but this is much easier and I do not have to put up with a sore throat. I did not walk yesterday or today and I do not plan on walking anymore during the fast so my body will expend all of its energy on purification of the temple of God so I can serve Him to the fullest. I have begun to make a list of questions, comments and subtle suggestions for when I take my dad to the doctor. I took a nap and woke up dreaming about tacos.

Late afternoon-I began to get hungry and I rebuked it in the Name of Jesus and it went away. I don’t know how that works, but I do know it is a spiritual battle and I am also convinced that obesity is a spiritual battle, and that a spirit of obesity can be cast out in the Name of Jesus. I have a headache and I finally broke down and took two aspirin, but it is not helping a whole lot because I am getting rid of toxins. God is dealing with me about keeping one day a week set aside for fasting and prayer. The Sabbath day. [As of July 4, 2004 I still haven’t made it, but plan to start tomorrow. I never give up! I finally did a seven day fast from July 30, 2004 to August 6, 2004 and fasted Monday the 9th, but I set everyday aside for the Lord and I also realized that I should not allow myself to be in bondage to any certain day of the week and if I miss a week, just do it the next week.]

The Bragg's say to drink copious amounts of water during the fast and I have drunk almost a gallon today. The headache is gone, but I hope the aspirin does not take away from the detoxification process. My tongue is embarrassingly white. I have to go to church tomorrow and I will try not to stick my tongue out at anybody. God is using this time to teach me more about Divine healing. Our bad diets are an attack of the devil and medication is generally used to mask the real problem of a polluted temple. Do not forget, even if we are giving the devil ground through our diets and lack of exercise, we can still go to First John 1:9 and James 5:14-16 and be forgiven and healed.

First John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." James 5:14-16, "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

May 26-Day nine-Bad side effects to the aspirin on a totally empty digestive system since it has caffeine in it. I was wired, shaky and felt miserable until I blissfully feel asleep somewhere between 4 and 5 a.m. and woke up at 11 and had missed church. That's okay, I usually get mad at the preaching anyway. I like the scriptural music and the fellowship, but I don’t know where the song "Reach Out and Touch Jesus as He Goes By" came from, but everybody gets real excited when they sing that song. He is in us and we are in Him just like First Corinthians 3:16, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you." He better not pass by. Had an excellent prayer session last night and who cares if it was caffeine induced.

My tongue is still white, but I feel fine. Need to get my days and nights turned around so I don’t sleep late. Need to pray, shower and go visit my dad. You never know what is going to happen when you are serving God. I told my dad about the doctor's appointment and he said, "Watch out now, I need my medication." I stayed calm and let him know it was his decision to make and as we rode around and talked he finally said it might be okay. He will call me Wednesday and let me know. I had them give me a list of his medications at the nursing home and he is on 14 different medications and has been on Theodur for nine years. Help us Lord.

I was very surprised when I got very hungry on the way home. When the Lord is ready for you to break a fast, you will break the fast. Remember Matthew 4:17 says, talking about Jesus' fast, "And afterward He hungered." God knew that what could be accomplished with my dad had been accomplished and He also knows how many toxins are in my body and whether it would be wise to continue the fast and after the last few days with my white tongue, I am not so sure it would be wise to continue the fast. I broke the fast with stewed tomatoes ala Paul Bragg. I am a little disappointed, but we must always remember, it is God's fast not ours. That is why I always get excited about fasting, because I know God wants to do something. He wants me to eat nothing but fruits and vegetables and exercise and He will let me know when to fast again. He also wants me to have my wits about me to write on this message.

May 27-Woke up supper hungry and ate a salad of grated carrots and cabbage with fresh squeezed orange juice for dressing. Then I had stewed tomatoes and greens with two pieces of toast toasted just as toasted as you can toast them and then you try not to have anything but distilled water all day until supper. I got real hungry about noon and had a salad of grated broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and carrots with orange juice dressing. Then I really cheated and had a can of pinto beans and a slice of toasted toast. I needed the strength so I could cook all afternoon. We are going on the "fat burning soup" diet. ******************************************************************************

1 large bunch green onions    1 pkg. Lipton onion soup mix

2 green peppers                6 beef bouillon cubes(optional)

2-28 oz. cans of tomatoes      several cloves garlic(optional)

1 bunch celery                 several bay leaves(optional)

1 large head cabbage           salt, pepper, parsley, curry, etc.

My version of the soup is made up of green onions, bell peppers, canned or fresh tomatoes, celery, cabbage, garlic and I add tomato sauce and Mrs. Dash original formula and leave out everything on the right side of the formula except the garlic.

This is copied from the actual diet: Cut all vegetables into bite-size pieces. Put vegetables, except tomatoes, into pot. Cover with water and boil for 10 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 30 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

Add tomatoes with juice. Bring to boil and heat thoroughly. Add soup mix and simmer for ten minutes. May be seasoned with salt, pepper, parsley, etc. to taste. You may also add extra cabbage and tomatoes if you wish.

You should lose 5-7 pounds after the first three days. If you lose more than 15 pounds after the seventh day discontinue the diet for at least two days.

NO bread, NO alcoholic beverages, NO carbonated drinks-Not even diet drinks. Stick with water, unsweetened tea, black coffee and skim milk (on the day it is allowed). NO fried foods.

The basic fat-burning soup may be eaten anytime you feel hungry. Eat as much as you wish as often as you like. The more you eat the more you lose [So they say]. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of meat (absolutely no skin on the chicken). If you prefer you may substitute broiled fish for the beef on only one of the beef days. You need the high protein in the beef on the other day. Taking prescribed medication will not hurt on this diet.

Because everyone’s digestive system is different, this diet will affect everyone differently. After day three you will have more energy than when you began, if you do not cheat. After being on the diet for several days, you will find that your bowel movement will change. You may eat a cup of bran fiber. Although you can have black coffee on this diet, you may find that you don’t need the caffeine after the third day.

This seven-day eating plan may be used as often as you like. As a matter of fact, if correctly followed, it will clean your system of the impurities and give you a feeling of well being as never before. After only days of this process, you will begin to feel lighter by at least ten pounds and have an abundance of energy. Continue this plan as long as you wish and feel the difference.

This diet is a fast fat-burning diet and the secret is that you will burn more calories than you take in. It will flush your system of the impurities and give you a feeling of well being. This diet does not lend itself to drinking alcoholic beverages at any time because of the removal of fat build-up in your system. Go off the diet for at least 24 hours before intake of alcohol.

[It is a diet that is designed to help people that are scheduled for surgery to lose weight real fast. Help us Jesus! My version of the soup is made up of green onions, bell peppers, canned or fresh tomatoes, celery, cabbage, garlic and I add tomato sauce and Mrs. Dash original formula. I like the soup and it really helps to like the soup. The diet is a seven-day diet and you can continue for longer than that, but if you lose more than fifteen pounds after the first seven days you are supposed to get off the diet for two days. Here is the basic seven day plan:]

Day one-All the fruit except bananas you can eat. Plus you can have the soup anytime you want.

Day Two-All the vegetables and soup you can eat plus, you can have a baked potato with butter for supper.

Day three-All the fruit, vegetables and soup you can eat. No baked potato.

Day four-As many as eight bananas with skim milk[1/2 % will do] and soup. This is to curb the craving for sweets.

Day five-10 to 20 ounces of beef plus a large can of tomatoes or six fresh tomatoes plus soup and lot’s of water to flush out the uric acid in your body.

Day six-All the beef and vegetables you can eat. Don’t forget to eat the soup at least once today. You can substitute chicken or fish for the beef. No baked potato.

Day seven-Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables plus soup. ******************************************************************************

To continue to break the fast, I had cabbage, broccoli and carrot salad with orange juice dressing and stewed tomatoes, mustard greens and toast for supper. For your information, when you fast you will rarely or possibly never have a bowel movement and this is okay. I had my last one on day one of the fast and did not have another until today for a total of nine days. I walked three miles today.

I went on the fat-burning soup diet and did not cheat and only lost two pounds for the entire week and I am sure the fast had something to do with that. I have been on the fat-burning soup diet before and lost 10 pounds. I am jogging-walking three miles a day and am taking my low-fat baked corn tortilla chips to the Mexican food restaurant with me and ordering a chicken fajita taco salad or chicken fajitas with corn tortillas. I have been using the juice extractor and have to sneak the vegetables in with fruit. I have not found a good pure vegetable juice drink I can make at home so I will stick with V-8. I am looking forward to the next fast.

May 30th-I went to try to get my dad to go to the doctor, but he said he was going to stick with the doctor's at the nursing home. I told him I hoped he did not regret that decision. For the next month I tried off and on to get dad to go to the doctor, but he was feeling real good and although he realized that it would not hurt him to go he just never seemed to be able to make the decision. I went to see him on July the third and he had diarrhea. I told him it was probably his system rebelling against all the medication he was taking.

I felt the urging of the Holy Ghost to go and check on my dad on July the fifth, because the Holy Ghost knew something was wrong. I walked into his room and he was still eating his lunch at 2:30 in the afternoon. He just stared at me and kept chewing and chewing. I started talking to him and finally realized that he was not swallowing his food because he had suffered a stroke on his right side. His face was not drawn, but I picked up his right hand and he had no control of it. He could not talk and I immediately went to the nurses’ station and asked them if they were doing anything for him. They said they were waiting on the doctor to call. I told them we did not need a doctor, who I did not care for in the first place [forgiveness], we needed an ambulance.

I finally got them to call an ambulance and they told me they were not doing anything for him because he was a "do not resuscitate." I told him that was true, but he was not a "do not treat." We took him to the hospital and they discovered he had a massive urinary infection. They told me that his symptoms of a stroke should clear up after the infection was gone which sounded good to me. My main concern at this point, although I did everything I could to get him proper medical treatment, was his eternal destiny. My dad was definitely not a spiritual person. He had a tremendous misconception of God and never trusted God. He was an alcoholic and I had tried to explain born again to him and all he could tell me was that he must not be because he did not know what I was talking about. His main trust was money which he never had much of and although he had quit drinking because he had to because of his health he still had an alcoholics personality.

It seemed like throughout his life that satan constantly was coming up with things to separate him from the people in his path that could explain God to him. At this point he finally could not talk, he had to listen. On July the tenth he was in ICU and was looking good. I went to see him and told him not to be afraid to talk to God and he flinched like I had slapped him, and turned his face away. The good thing was he could not talk. God is so good! I told him to tell God he was sorry for the way he had lived his life and that he wanted to spend eternity with Him and mom.

He seemed to go downhill after that and I did not get a chance to talk to him about God until the seventeenth of July. I asked him if he had talked to God yet and he raised his forehead up and looked up and I knew in my heart that he had talked to God and that everything was okay. My birthday is July 18th and God gave me a birthday present of my dad’s salvation. We will meet again in Heaven and I told him that I loved him and tried to read the book to him but he fell asleep. One of the reasons God had me fasting was to get my dad to Heaven. I had no idea he was going to die, but God did and I thank Him and praise Him for answering my prayer.

My dad was an extremely hard man to get close to and that is why he was an alcoholic so he could escape from a life that he did not feel like he was in control of which, unfortunately, he wasn’t. I always wished that he had cried out to God and asked him "why?" and God would have given him wisdom. After my dad had to quit drinking it seemed as if the devil was always creating a situation where he would be mad at the people around him and keeping him separated from what really counted. First God, and then his family. I was holding his hand shortly before he died and when I went to turn loose he squeezed my hand and wouldn’t let go and this was his way of telling me that he loved me for the first time and that was good enough for me.

I feel in my heart that I was fasting to give my dad a chance to get off of medication and have control of his mind for the first time in his life. He was either on alcohol or prescribed medication since he was at least 24 years old. On May 26th and 30th when dad made the decision not to go see the doctor, that was his decision, and God had to honor that. He could not make him go to the doctor. The main thing I dreamed of was him and my brother, who has been sick for years, and had not seen my dad in fourteen years, would be able to hug each other again before he died. It did not happen in this life, but it will in the next life. Got to get my brother ready, but that is another story.

My dad died on July 24th, 1996. I was in Austin, Texas visiting my brother, who was in the hospital also, and I got to tell him about dad dying. In the natural we would have a tendency to look at this and say that God failed. No way Jose. The main thing in anyone's life is his or her spiritual destiny. We think that if our children or loved ones are "well-off" then everything is okay, but you can be the richest and healthiest person in the world and if you do not go to Heaven when you die you have wasted this life. My dad had what is known as an eleventh hour conversion. His voice box had to be paralyzed to accomplish this, but whatever it takes.

Matthew 20:1-16, "For the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."

God is calling me to another fast. Day one-October 10th-I had an excellent day at the computer and must have written 20 new pages today. If I could write twenty pages a day everyday, we would have finished a long time ago. My schedule is to get up in the morning at the first urging and minister to the Lord by listening to my music tapes and then as I get in the spirit I will begin to praise and worship along with the music. When you minister to someone, especially God, you don’t discuss your needs you concentrate on the needs of the one being ministered to. I tried to get hungry, but I am getting pretty good at this and I can recognize fiery darts and rebuke them in the Name of Jesus. I am curious as to how my tongue will be this time. I have been eating much better since I am unemployed and I haven’t had as much money to eat out.

Day two-October 11th-Tongue is white. Busy day so I don’t have a lot of time to think about eating. Stomach got to growling which is okay when you are at home. Didn’t sleep well after 5 a.m. because the devil was messing with me. I needed to get up and start praying, but I hate it when he wakes me up. I am trying to get a headache in the afternoon and I remembered the aspirin from the last time and I never took the aspirin. I got a lot of work done today after a slow start.

Day three-October 12th-I wish I could sleep that good all the time as I rarely ever sleep eight hours without interruption. I am going to quit talking about the white tongue and just assume that it is white unless I tell you differently. Uneventful day fast wise. I mowed the grass and picked up pecans. Feel fine.

Day four-October 13th-Another good night. Woke up with a headache and took two aspirin and it went away. I am spending time with the Lord and other than being a little light headed and weak, I feel fine.

Day five-October 14th-This is so easy it is almost scary. Could not sleep very well, but that was because of something I wrote, not the fast. Really not much to report other than my flesh is definitely coming under subjection, which means I can spend quality time with the Lord. I have never been able to write very much while I was fasting, but this time the fast is enhancing my ability to communicate and hear the Lord. Good day. Last night as I was going to sleep I began to be vexed in my mind about my son and his wife. I fussed that I had just had a real good day with the Lord and here the devil was trying to get a last shot in before I went to sleep and that is not how I like to end my day so I resisted the devil and he fled which shows me I am submitted unto God like James 4:7 says.

Day six-October 15th-I hesitate to refer to this fast as a piece of cake, but this is definitely a Christ-centered fast. Hallelujah! A little weak, but other than a few fiery darts about food, everything is fine. I just looked up weak in my concordance to find the scripture where Paul wrote, by the inspiration of God, "for when I am weak, then am I strong." The word weak would make an excellent Bible study and I will do that someday when the Lord wants to, but for right now He wants to talk about Paul's thorn in the flesh. It seems satan has taken this and convinced some of God's people that is why they are sick. Please.

Second Corinthians 12:6-10, "For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think above me that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

I have always admired Paul in that he only sought the Lord three times. I would be crying and whining everyday, but He will not give us more than we can handle. Any time we are in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions or distress, we need to seek the Lord with all our hearts. Do not just say, "Oh well, it must be God's will for me to have sickness and disease and constant battles because Paul had to suffer." Look for the spirit behind the problem and settle for only the best. If God allows your flesh to be buffeted like Paul's He will let you know, but don’t be complacent and always bind the devil in the Name of Jesus. This was an excellent day.

Day seven-October 16th-The Lord wants me to establish a regular routine of getting up in the morning and praising and worshiping and then going into prayer. Hallelujah! Something about, watching and praying so I do not enter into temptation-Matthew 26:41, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." I finally realized one of the differences between this fast and the last is that I am not walking. 

Day eight-October 17th-Everything is okay and I am amazed at, other than wanting to eat psychologically, how I do not seem to have any of the side effects of a fast other than being weak. Praise the Lord! Had a good day, but the book is basically as far as I can take it at this point, and I am getting bored and doing what I can to keep busy. What I really want to do is start heading in the direction of helping set the captives free. Help Us Jesus!

Day nine-October 18th-Happy birthday to me. I am thirteen years old in Jesus today. Easy day. I have pecan trees, so I gather nuts and shell them. I also read the Bible and praise and worship and we are reading in the old testament in First Kings which is boring. Nothing to indicate we are going to end the fast.

Day ten-October 19th-Uneventful day until bedtime and I remembered an unexpected expense that I planned on being able to pay in full and cannot, so I began to wrestle. I know I shouldn't worry so to keep from worrying you must wrestle since worrying is wrestling and you wrestle not to worry and I heard the Holy Ghost tell me to calm down. During the wrestling I kept thinking I needed to eat so I would have strength to wrestle and look for a job Monday morning. The Holy Ghost spoke to me and said, "They are trying to get you to break your fast and this is a very important fast." As I told you earlier, you never know for sure why God has you fasting, and you never know for how long. My son used to tell me to "Chill out Dad." and with Jesus that is the only intelligent thing to do. Physically I am weak, but I feel fine. I clean house, pick up pecans, rake up pecans from the bad pecan tree by my house and if I begin to tire I just quit and rest until I feel stronger.

Day eleven-October 20th-Got a cramp in my foot last night. I am going to take a potassium tablet every twelve hours and see if that helps. Good day.

Day thirteen-October 22nd-Nothing to report other than this is a different fast. I have had only the one headache, no sinus drainage, which means no sore throat and my foot only cramped that one time and I only took the potassium twice. Tongue is very white. Of course when you don’t eat you are not going to have your normal physical strength, but you can still do any normal activity that you always do you just might have to stop and rest. You get hungry during a fast but it is the kind of hunger you can resist and when the Lord is ready for you to break a fast you will know it.

Day twenty-October 29th-I did not realize it had been this long since I wrote anything. I have been trying to get a dull headache the last three days so I started drinking more and that is good because that keeps your system flushed out. I told you earlier that you never know what God has you fasting for or how long He wants you to fast. I am weak and need to be careful when I stand up that I do not get dizzy. Once I am up or sitting or laying down I am fine and, as I told you earlier, it is nice to be able to stop and rest whenever necessary. I have been listening to some of the talk shows on radio and everybody seems to know some political candidates faults, but I guess since they look good and sound good that they do not care. I hope God does not want to fast for forty days, I already look like a POW, but that would be November 18th.

Day twenty-six-November 4th-This has been a good day and I am amazed how I have been able to do chores and have not had any adverse physical symptoms. I am weak in the morning, but once I get going I am okay. I cedar lined my last closet on the 31st and the 1st and mowed the grass and put the hardware in the closet on the 2nd, which was day 24. I am now working on finishing some work I have to do with the flooring of my attic. I am also rearranging and trying to get rid of some stuff out of the attic.

Psychologically I want to break the fast tomorrow, but physically I feel like if the Lord wants to continue I can. I have been around some people I have known for a long time and they have not said anything, but they could just be being polite. I weighed on day 24 and I had lost 24 pounds. I wish my tongue wasn't white. The Lord can definitely persuade me to break the fast. Whatever. After someone has not eaten in a long time when you first eat food it is a shock to your system and I usually sweat.

November 6th-We made it. Twenty-seven days. Not bad. I have been my weakest the last two days which includes today. I read in Dr. Bragg's book yesterday that people that go to an English fasting resort fast for thirty days and can only get out of bed for a few minutes at a time. Whoops! Oh well, we survived, and like I said earlier, you never know for sure what you are fasting about. Since yesterday was election day maybe it had something to do with that, but maybe not. Who knows? Now begins the battle to eat correctly and I am going to minimize eating in restaurants. You can eat correctly in restaurants, but you never know for sure how the food is prepared. Next Tuesday will be a test to see if I can go on a fast from lunch to supper on Wednesday that will help me want to eat healthy. You have no desire for greasy or sweet food when you come off of a fast. It is nice to know that a lot of the suggestions to eat incorrectly are fiery darts of the wicked.

January 7th, 1997-Got my old good paying job back and it wasn't that easy since I quit last March without notice. Thank you Jesus. Maybe that is one of the things the fast was all about. I am going on the internet on Monday the 13th and we will see if this can be a possible outlet for these writings and give me something to do to further the kingdom of God. I can do all things through the Word of God which strengthens me. Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." We must always remember that we are going on God's timing, not ours.

On July 18th, 1997, my 57th birthday, I went to have my cholesterol checked at the local Wal-Mart. Total Cholesterol-147. Triglyceride-64. HDL Cholesterol-37. Glucose-92. Triglyceride/HDL Cholesterol ratio-3.9. LDL Cholesterol-97. ULD-13. The man that did the testing said all of these were excellent. I give God the glory because He is the one that calls me to fast and watches over me as I fast. I have tried to get back to exercise and walk-running but it just does not seem to work out, but I will keep trying and maybe when I am through with this I will have time.

 CHAPTER FOURTEEN          

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