30 Day Fast - Day 4

Good Morning!  I started my day with today's readings - Judges 16-21 and 1 Corinthians 13-14.  As I am reading I am running into questions and some areas of these readings I am digging in deeper as I have time.  As always I took my measurements in the mornings.  I am down about 4 pounds.  I am not expecting to loose as much weight as quickly as I did with my first fast, because there is less fat to loose.

Fast measurements	Day 4
Weight	153.2
Bust	39
Chest	35
Waist	33
Hips	42
Thigh	23
Calves	14
Upper Arm	12
Fore Arm	10
Neck	14

We did school in the morning.  I love the kids science curriclum that we use.  The Micah and I went to his speech therapy, which is going really well.  Then once hubby got home, he let me go run around I had some errands to run and finally got my eye brows waxed (about 3 months too long on that)

I really have very little to report as far as fasting symptoms.  By very little, I mean nothing.  I dont know if its because im just not focused on it.  I dont think "im not eating" like I did last time, I just dont eat.

Day 4 down!

30 Day Fast - Day 3 (May 31, 2015)

Weight - 154.2

Bust - 38

Chest - 35

Waist - 33

Hips - 42

Thigh - 23

Calves - 15

Upper arm - 12

Fore arm - 10

Neck - 14

I have been playing somethings over and over in my mind.  Last night I had the song "Beyond Me" stuck in my head.  I finally listned to the lyricks my brain was singing.

"Beyond Me"

Call it a reason to retreat
I got some dreams that are bigger than me
I might be outmatched, outsized, the underdog in the fight of my life
Is it so crazy to believe
That You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
You keep on making me see
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
Yeah, it's out of my league
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond
Anything that I got the strength to do
In over my head keeps me countin' on You
I'm leaving the sweet spot, sure shot
Tradin' it all for the plans You got
Is it so crazy to believe
That You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
Yeah, you keep on making me see
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
Yeah, it's out of my league
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
You take me to the place where I know I need You
Straight to the depths that I can't handle on my own
And Lord I know, I know I need You
So take me to Your great
Take me to Your great unknown
It's way beyond me, w-way beyond me
It-it's way beyond me, w-w-way beyond me
Yeah, You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
Yeah, you keep on making me see
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
Yeah, it's out of my league (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me
You take me to the place where I know I need You
Straight to the depths that I can't handle on my own (it's way beyond me)
You take me to the place where I know I need You
Oh take me to Your place
Take me to Your great unknown 

 

I felt like God was letting me know that somethings were out of my control and that was okay.  Then the church we visited this morning talked about worry and how sometimes its things we have no control over that we are worried about.  That's totally true and it is what I was doing.  I am so grateful that God spoke to me through this song and his word this morning.

For breakfast I had 9oz grape juice, coffee and some orange juice.  We went to a new church, they have a truly wonderful children's program, we are so excited. I came home and took care of the animals.  I had some grape juice and V8.  I really have not had any symptoms at all to report.  Last night I had some insomnia.  But other than that, this time has been so much easier than the first time.  Other than the first day, I did think about giving up.  I asked my husband "should I really do this?"  You miss out on date night dinners and things like that.  But its only for a month, and to me the benefit, spiritually, is so worth it.

I am going to pack up some drinks for my moms house, we have an afternoon of swimming, naps and family fun.  School tomorrow and on to day 4!

Readings:

Judges 11-15

1 Corinthians 11 & 12

30 Day Fast - Day 2( May 30, 2015)

Today I woke up & took my measurements.  Today they were:

Weight - 156.4

Bust - 39

Chest - 35

Waist - 33

Hips - 42

Thigh - 23

Calves - 15

Upper arm - 12

Fore arm - 10

Neck - 14

I let our ducks out, had some coffee & did today's readings.  Judges 7-10 and 1 Corinthians 9-10.  I had 16 oz of orange juice.  We cleaned the house took care of the animals and did the laundry.  For lunch I had grape juice and V8 juice. 

We went shopping at whole foods where I grabbed some kombucha.  Kombucha has a very small alcohol content (.5%)  and I have to admit I felt it (it was store bought)  I think it was due to the lack of food.  I normally feel no alcoholic effects from Kombucha.  This fasting time my husband commented that drinking the different juices I don't seem as tired as last time.

That wraps up day 2 on to day 3!!!

Day 1 of 30 Day Fast (May 29, 2015)

 Today was the first day of my 30 day fast.  I had arranged for my kids to be with my mother this weekend, because the first three days of the fast is the hardest.  I started by taking my measurements:

Weight - 156.4

Bust - 39

Chest - 34

Waist - 34

Hips - 42

Thigh - 24

Calves - 15

Upper Arm - 12

Forearm - 10

Neck 14

I am unsure about the three pound fluctuation between yesterday and today.  I guess it was the orange chicken.  I made my coffee, grabbed some orange juice (8oz) and sat down to do my morning readings.  Today I read: Judges 1-6 and 1 Corinthians 7-8

After my readings I took a nap.  When I woke up I was achy, hungry and sore.  I drank 16 oz of orange juice.  I went out side and took care of all of our animals.  We have 4 turkeys, 9 rabbits, 25 ducks and some where around 75 chickens.  Some are full grown and some are babies.

Wes and I went to buy some juices and he suggested that I get more than just orange juice, which is all that I drank last time.  So I grabbed some V8, black cherry juice.  I had a glass of V8 juice and black cherry juice when I got home, the black cherry is too sweet for me, so I will cut it with water.  The symptoms I had in the evening were: I was cold, and I had a headache.  I ended up falling asleep around 12:30am.  Day one down.

Preparation for fast - day 4 (May 28, 2015)

The final day before the fast begins.  This morning I took my measurements:

Weight -  153.6

Breast -  40

Chest - 35

Waist - 33

Hips - 41

Thigh - 24

Calf - 14

Forearm -  13

Neck -  14

This morning I woke up at 7:00am, I got dressed made my coffee and had some yogurt with fruit and honey mixed in.

The kids have gone to this awesome creative arts camp for the past few summers, and last summer I started volunteering at it.  I lead the "God's Great Outdoors" class.  Today was supply room day so at 8:30 we headed in to Friendswood.

I gathered up most of the things I would need for camp.

When we were done there we ran to HEB to get the kids organic lunchables (tomorrow is shopping day)

Ordered orange chicken as my "last lunch"
I decided that instead of eating healthy today that I was going to order what ever I wanted for lunch and dinner.  So I had orange chicken for lunch.  And Wes took me to Gringos for dinner.

I asked Noah to take some pictures of me.  For comparison later.  Hes an awesome photographer :)

I

Fast starts tomorrow 

Preparation for Fasting - day 3 (May 27, 2015)

Today I am focusing on the kids and continuing to make good eating decisions.

6:00 am - woke up, dressed, made coffee, I had fruit for breakfast, the kids had Panda Puffs

6:15 am - woke up the kids

6:30 am - headed to Galveston to see the release of the sea turtles.  It was pouring down rain when we got there.  I had the kids take off their shoes and grabbed an umbrella.  It did not really help that much.  We were freezing cold and wet.

Then the turtles came out.  And the boys realized why I had brought them there.  It was absolutely amazing.  To think that God created such awesome creatures.

8:30 am - headed home
10:00 am - let the kids play/ relax before starting school, fixed an early lunch
10:45 am - lunch

2:30 am - left for Micah's speech therapy

I worked on my supply list for camp

Cooked an easy dinner.

Had some sunggle time with my little before I put him to bed.

7:30 - Little guy is in bed, I'm exhausted heading to bed for today

Preparation for fasting - day 2 (Tuesday, May 26, 2015)

Up until Thursday the only real "prep" work I am doing is staying away from alcohol and drinking more water. (All of our food is organic from Whole Foods)

 Here is a recap of my day (starting super early):

12:35 am - We have lost power twice and the weather warning went off on both of our phones, right as I was drifting to sleep.

8:00am, fixed breakfast. (panda puff cereal)  started laundry

9:30 am - left to drop things off at good will and pay for creative arts camp

10:30 am - stopped by moms, she was off 1/2 a day due to the flooding in Houston

10:42 am - the kids started their science work

11:00 am - left for lunch at mod pizza

12:30 - 1:00 - pm science

1:00 - 1:30 pm -  Eli works on geography while Noah does math.

1:30 - 3:00 - Break/nap

3:00 pm - Lesson on China, lesson on Andrew Jackson, and William Henery Harrison
          Reading time with Noah & Eli (30 min each)
          Cleaning and Laundry
          tend to animals
          started 2nd fermentation on my Kombucha

6:00 pm - Dinner (Mexican casserole, rice, beans)

7:00pm - run to a friends house to grab some toys she picked up for me

8:30 pm - lock the ducks up for the night, tuck the kids in and tell them about tomorrows great adventure.

9:00 - bath & goal to be asleep by 10pm.

Preparation for fasting - day 1 (May 25th, 2015)

My first 30 day juice fast in January was so life changing for me, physically and spiritually that I decided it was something I wanted to incorporate into my life every 6 months.  On my last juice fast I did zero prep work.  I basically just started.  This time I wanted to prepare a journal and have a better idea of how I would record my fasting.

       Today was Memorial day, the kiddos were with my mom so we slept in until about 10am.  That is totally unheard of.  I fixed my coffee and had a banana and peanut butter for breakfast.  We fed all of the farm animals, moved the chicken tractors, collected eggs and did some laundry.  Then it was time to head over to my mothers where we had a wonderful time swimming and eating with family.  I did very little food wise to prepare for the fast today.  I just ate as normal.  This week leading up to the fast I will not be drinking any wine.  I will be increasing my water intake and drinking Kombucha.  Kombucha is something that I have been introduced to since the last fast and will be drinking this time.

    We headed home about 7 and I prepared our home school lessons for the week.  I worked on my fasting journal.  Each day has the daily scriptures that I want to read, a spot to journal my weight, measurements and a recap of my day.

Currently we are getting ready for a big storm and I
 will be loosing my internet soon.  Stay safe!!!


My fast will last from May 29th to June 29th.  If at anytime during the fast you would like to join me and have a cheerleader on your journey, please let me know.

***This is my personal fasting experience, it is not medical advice***

Why I decided to do a 30 day fast

My fast has gotten a lot of attention. Because I posted it on Facebook and because if you saw me in person you noticed that I lost a lot of weight. I have been asked a lot of questions about the fast.  What lead me to do it?  What did I do exactly.  Things along those lines.  I have decided to share what lead me to this point and what it was like.  I also have a 4 or 5 part blog on the actual fast.  Its basically weight loss and any symptoms I felt that day.

I have basically been overweight since having children.  And I was really okay with it.  I had accepted my role as "the fat sister"  I'm so busy that I really didn't care.  And my weight fluctuated quite a bit.  It was very normal for me to be 150-170 in  a year.  Typical y closer to 150 in the spring and summer and 170 around the holidays.

After deciding how much back ground I needed to give, I decided to start when Micah was 8 months old. in October of 2012.  My husband, Wes had finally made the decision to leave a job he had been very unhappy with.  He found a new job and had been there 3 months when he was let go, due to work shortage.  It was basically last one in first one out.  It sucked.  He was unemployed for the next three months.  We used our savings, I sold pies at Christmas, I cleaned houses.  Anything I could think of so we could stay afloat.

He got a new job and life went on.  Around April or so I was feeling like God had something different for us.  We had always applied the idea of "the purpous of a car is to get you from point A to B" to our car.  All of our cars are used and we typically pay cash.  I said "Why are we not applying this to our home?"  Our payment was going up and up every year and we had a big beautiful home.  But no money.

Wes and I have been on a "Dave Ramsey" plan for a while, but we had back slid.  In May of  2013 we decided to sell our 2700 sq foot home and move in to a 1300sq ft Mobil home on 2 acres.  We were just shy of paying it off in full, and have a very small note on it.

We had purchased this home, and still owned our big home.  It sold in August 2013.

The same week we sold our house & expected to start saving a lot of money each month, Wes's mom was taken to the hospital where she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and we began driving back and fourth to help take care of her.  We saw God in this, if we had not sold our house we would not have been able to do this.

Wes's mother died in November of 2013.  There were a lot of un-delt with issues there that over flowed into our marriage.

From December of 2013 to August of 2014 we began to have very bad marriage problems.  We went to counseling, but things were not looking very good.

In August of 2014 We were in a very bad car wreck.  In the spirit of being honest.  A lot of times when I drop something or if I think I am going to get in a wreck I yell out "Sh*t"  Wes and I were on a two land country road when a car began swerving all over the road.  At the last minute Wes went to the left hand side of the road to try to avoid a head on collusion.  Just as I thought we were going to pass this person with out being in a wreck I saw his head lights swerve right in to us.  I yelled out "God save us"  Everyone who saw the car could not believe that we both basically walked away from the accident.  It was definitely a miracle.

I think that the wreck kind of put things in perspective for both of us and we were able to move past the marriage issues.  I think somethings were dealt with that should have been handled years ago and we can move forward from here.

I attended a bible study in November with a friend.  It was on rest and God bringing you to a place of rest.  I broke down and cried and summarized my life.  Everything above, and I home-school.  I was so tired.  So at this time I made a conscious decision to simplify my life.  I prayed more, I just rested in God.

In January, I felt like God wanted to take me deeper.  I talked to my husband about me doing a 30 day juice fast.  I told him I needed a reset, for the year, for myself.  To help jump start my weight loss.  He was on board and very supportive.  What my juice fast consisted of was drinking 3 16oz glasses of orange juice a day.  If i needed more, then I drank more some days.  I also drank coffee.  I did not buy a juicer, it was not organic juice.

The nature of a fast brings you to a place of rest.  You HAVE to be slower.  You HAVE to be choosy about what you do.  I prayed a lot, I read my Bible a lot.  I only did necessary things.  The kids said I seemed happier, I was calmer.  I felt like I would ask things of God and feel them immediately.  For example if I was hungry, I would ask God to fill me with him and the hunger would go away.

I hope this long winded explanation helps answer some questions.  For me it was a true fast.  It did have the weight loss aspect but it was about connecting with God.

Day 1
Day 2-3
Day 4-7
Day 8-14
Day 15-30

30 day fast - days 15-30

I began a 30 day fast on January 2nd of 2015.  The following post are my experiences as I went through the fast.  This is not medical advice.

Summary of Day 15:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 152.2 lbs (lost 17.8 pounds)
Symptoms -No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 16:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 151.6 (lost 18.4 pounds)
Symptoms: No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 17:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 151.2 (lost 18.8 pounds)
Symptoms - today was a difficult day

Summary of Day 18:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 150.8 (lost 19.2 pounds)
Symptoms: No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 19:

Height - 5'1

Weight -149.8 (lost 20.2 pounds)
Symptoms:No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 20:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 150.2 (lost 19.8 pounds)
Symptoms:No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 21:

Height - 5'1

Weight -150.2 (lost 19.8 pounds)
Symptoms:

Summary of Day 22:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 149.0 (lost 21 pounds)
Symptoms:No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 23:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 148.2
Symptoms:No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 24:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 147.2
Symptoms:No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 25:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 147.0
Symptoms: today was difficult

Summary of Day 26:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 145.8
Symptoms:No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 27:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 145.8
Symptoms:No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 28:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 145.6
Symptoms:No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 29:

Height - 5'1

Weight -145.2
Symptoms:No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 30:

Height - 5'1

Weight -145.6 (lost 24.4 pounds)
Symptoms:
No symptoms to report




 I hope that this helps explain what my fast was like.  It was really a beautiful experience where I relied on God and he filled me with his spirit as I did this fast.  I feel that I left the fast, healthier, physically, and spiritually.

This 30 day juice fast was followed with a 15 day raw fast & that will be posted at a later time.


Read More:
Day 1
Day 2-3
Day 4-7
Day 8-14
Day 15-30

30 Day Fast: Days 4-7 of 30 Day Fast

I began a 30 day fast on January 2nd of 2015.  The following post are my experiences as I went through the fast.  This is not medical advice.

Summary of Day 4:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 159.1 lbs (11 pounds down)
Symptoms:
Tired
Not Hungry
God gave me unbelievable patience and strength today in parenting.

Summary of Day 5:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 158 lbs (12 pounds down)
Symptoms - I dealt with a lot of mental stuff today.  Wanting to give up.  My husband helped to encourage me.

Summary of Day 6:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 157.6 lbs (12.4 pounds down)
Symptoms: No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 7:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 157.6 lbs (12.4 pounds down)
Symptoms - No symptoms to report



Read More:
Day 1
Day 2-3
Day 4-7
Day 8-14
Day 15-30

30 Day Fast: Days 8-14 of 30 Day Fast

I began a 30 day fast on January 2nd of 2015.  The following post are my experiences as I went through the fast.  This is not medical advice.

Typically the fast was more difficult in the evening, or at night.  But this subsided with time & again when ever I had will power issues, I would pray and ask God for strength. 

Summary of Day 8:

Height - 5'1

Weight -157.0 (13 lbs lost)
Symptoms: No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 9:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 156.2 (13.8 lbs lost)
Symptoms -Today was difficult

Summary of Day 10:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 155.4 (14.6 lbs lost)
Symptoms: No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 11:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 155.2 (14.8 lbs lost)
Symptoms - No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 12:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 153.6 (16.4 lbs lost)
Symptoms: No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 13:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 153.2 (16.8 lbs lost)
Symptoms - No symptoms to report

Summary of Day 14:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 152.6 (17.4 lbs lost)
Symptoms - No symptoms to report






*Note - My activity level during the fast was sedentary, I took less than 2000 steps a day.  Basically I felt this as God bringing me into a place of rest where I totally depended on him.

Read More:
Day 1
Day 2-3
Day 4-7
Day 8-14
Day 15-30 

30 Day Fast - Day 2 - 3 of 30

I began a 30 day fast on January 2nd of 2015.  The following post are my experiences as I went through the fast.  This is not medical advice.

Summary of Day 2

Height 5'1

Weight - 163 

(7 pounds lost, I was very unsure if this was accurate)

Symptoms: 

sleepless night as body detoxed

no hunger

tired

I do not know if I believe the "detoxing" but in the begging of the fast it helped me to think any pain or discomfort was "detox"

Summary of Day 3:

Height - 5'1

Weight - 161 lbs (9 pounds down)

On the third day of the fast I had several things to do.  I have not been sleeping very well and woke up with a pain in my right side.  After some internet research I decided it was gas.  (It went away)

Today I prayed when I fixed the children's meals.  I feel like God is walking me through this process and I felt like he was saying "This is the deeper place I want to take you."

I did feel more aware of my surroundings.  Today I laid down for a few hours but did not sleep.  I am trying to rest in God and not use much energy.

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control... Galatians 5:22-23

Read More:
Day 1
Day 2-3
Day 4-7
Day 8-14
Day 15-30

30 Day fast - Day 1 of 30

I began a 30 day fast on January 2nd of 2015.  The following post are my experiences as I went through the fast.  This is not medical advice.

I have been at least 35 to 45 pounds over weight since I had my first child, almost 9 years ago.  To be honest my first reason for doing the juice fast was weight loss.  My second reason was religious.  However as it says in the bible "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28.  So I would say that although this may have started for weight loss, it changed fairly early on and the focus became on God.  I also wanted to add that I did this with orange juice from the store.  I didn't buy a juicer and it wasn't organic juice.  (Gasp)  It still worked.

I started with a monthly goal sheet, that I found on the Dating Divas.  Whom I love.  I split bubbles on it so it smeared.

Goals - 30 Day juice fast

How can this be accomplished?  Prayer, support, will power & prayer.

Why am I doing this/benefits of doing this? self control, will power, be healthy , break food addictions, not eating because some one want me to, eating because I am hungry.

(Before I started the fast, I talked to my husband and his support got me through it.  With out him and other people supporting me I may have given up)

What specific do I want to accomplish?  weight loss.

Summary of Day 1:

Height - 5'1

Starting Weight - 170lbs (at the beginning I left of the 170.5 or what ever, dont do that.  You will want it later)

Symptoms:  I was emotional, moody, tired and had diarrhea.

Goal: To break food addiction with Gods help.

Things I am hoping will come from it: weight loss, will power, accomplishment

DO NOT LUST AFTER FOOD - Your brain is very powerful.  If you feel you are thinking about foods, pray and ask God to direct your focus back to him.

Goals for after fast - Eat fruits, nuts & veggies, increase % of raw food, eat unprocessed food, eat when hungry, fast for spiritual and physical cleansing, exercise for physical well being.

If God is for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31

Read More:
Day 2-3
Day 4-7
Day 8-14
Day 15-30

Are You Tired?

Friend, are you tired?  

I am too.  The past two years have been exhausting for my family.  Job loss, death of my grandfather, moving, life style changes, death of a parent (my husbands mother), marital problems (from grief of a parent), a car wreck, learning difficulties (dyslexia & language delay), and in addition to all of this I still had to do my responsibility as a mom, wife and home educator.

Have you been here?  Are you here now?  You're exhausted.  In God's perfect time I attended a bible study on Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
 (emphasis mine)

The emphasis of the class I attended was focused on verses two and three:

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. 

I was so desperately, wanting, needing my soul to be refreshed.  I did not realize how tired I was.  God placed on my heart to begin forty days of rest and allow him to lead me beside still waters.  The idea of forty days of rest came to me from 1 Kings 19.  Elijah tells God that he is so tired that he wants to die, then he falls asleep.  God cares for him and then Elijah travels for forty days and nights.  At the end of the forty days and nights God appears to Elijah in a whisper.  

To me this looks like rest.  In that 40 days all we see is that Elijah traveled.  Nothing else happened to him.  That's what I was so desperately wanting.  Rest.

To prepare for rest I had to do somethings on my end.  God could be wanting to take us to a place of rest, but if our schedule is so busy, he cant.

How I Prepared:
I cleared my calendar of stressful things
I cleared my calendar of stressful people (to the best of my capability)
I allowed my self time to accomplish what I HAVE to do (no over booking)
I am spending time with God
I gave myself permission to rest, permission to take care of myself.
I meditated on the 23rd Psalm.  

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.  - James 4:8

I do feel like God has taken me to a place of rest, this is day 12 of day 40.  

If you are searching for rest and you are tired, my suggestion is to start with Psalm 23.  

Say it over and over, meditate on Gods word day and night.  

God refreshes your soul.  

Meet him there

If you are interested in further reading you may like:

The Shepard Psalm - William Evans

The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence

Finding Spiritual White Space - Bonnie Gray

I would like to state that while I find the Shepard Psalm to be a very good book, the story that countless pastors use about a Shepard breaking a sheep's leg himself to then care for the sheep.  To the best of my research, this is a Christian urban legend.  And its not a picture of God that we get from the bible.   The God of the bible allows us to be tested, and then he cares for us.  Although he is allowing the pain, he is not causing it.   I understand trying to tie it to "He makes me lie down"  but he dose not break our legs, and to the best of my research, no Shepard has either.  Especially not a GOOD SHEPARD.