Friday, June 29, 2012

Tick Bites Trigger Red Meat Allergy

The ticks were so bad last summer that Dr. Fred Robinson, a retired cardiologist, could hardly go for a walk in his yard in Midlothian without coming in to find a tick somewhere on his body.

They were a nuisance, but he now suspects they also are to blame for an unusual allergic reaction he has developed to beef.

It sounds improbable, but allergy doctors say patients such as Robinson are cropping up more and more, and research is pinning down a plausible explanation for what may be happening. Read the entire article and another more detailed article.

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Jesus vs. The Father

JESUS SHARED HIS FATHER'S GLORY
by Andrew Wommack

John 5:18, "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God."
JOHN 5:16-27

When the Jewish authorities heard Jesus call God "my (own) Father", they immediately understood that Jesus claimed for Himself deity in the highest possible sense of that term. That claim was either blasphemy, to be punished by death, or else Jesus was who He claimed to be.

Jesus never associated Himself with His disciples by using the plural pronoun "our" Father. Rather, He always used the singular "my" Father, since His relationship was unique and eternal, whereas theirs was by grace and regeneration.

We should ponder carefully our Lord's own conception of who He was. He said "I am from above" (Jn. 8:23); "Before Abraham was, I AM" (Jn. 8:58); "I and my Father are one" (Jn. 10:30); "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (Jn. 14:9); and "I am not of the world" (Jn. 17:16). He also declared His eternal pre-existence and that He shared the Father's glory (Jn. 6:62; 17:5).

We can't just honor Jesus, but we have to honor Him "even as" (in like manner or the same way) we honor the Father. This is what separates true Christianity from the religions of the world.

Most religions honor Jesus as a great man (examples: Islam, Unification Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.), but they are violently opposed to making Jesus equal with Almighty God (1 Jn. 2:23).

The names and titles given to Jesus in John's gospel clearly present Jesus as being equal with God. He is all you need Him to be.

Visit Andrew's Website.

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Aphids - Natural Alternatives - Bug-eating Birds

by Donna L. Watkins

Every year we have plants that have aphids on them.  It's not always the same ones.  Last year we had oodles of them on the Anthony Watererer Spireas, but we also had oodles of lady bug larvae to eat them up.

Aphids On Joe Pye Weed
This year we have them on our Joe Pye Weed.  Oodles of them again and I only saw one ladybug so I kept watching to see what would happen.  Was I surprised to find the Carolina Chickadees jumping all over the plants like they were in a salad bar of delicacies.

I snapped a few photos but the leaves didn't make focusing easy, but you can see from the photo that there are aphids and that's a chickadee munching away.

That took me to researching what else eats aphids since we don't use sprays and pesticides in our garden.  We used to make up some simple home recipes but it's been years since we've bothered even doing that since it seems any problem presents itself with a solution if we watch and wait.

Hummingbirds don't just drink nectar. They eat insects as well and enjoy aphids, ants, mosquitoes, gnats, midges, caterpillars, flying ants, weevils, small beetles, whiteflies and insect eggs. They eat small spiders.

The female feeds her young with a mixture of nectar and tiny insects and spiders, that she collects in her crop and regurgitates into the mouths of the young. The insects provide the protein the babies need to grow.

Chickadee Eating Aphids on Joe Pye Weed
It was interesting to find out that Bald-faced Hornets and Yellow Jackets enjoy aphids since they are both meat-eating insects.  We had another nest this year of Bald-faced Hornets in another location, but something got into it and destroyed it and obviously ate the contents.

As a side note, natural predators of adult hornets include dragonflies, robber flies, hornets, centipedes, mantids and spiders. Some species of birds and frogs consume them. Nests are preyed upon by raccoons, foxes and striped skunk if they're close to the ground (this one was not). The mammals usually rip them open in the fall, when nests aren't as active. They eat adults, pupae, and larvae.

Here's a list of birds and their insect preferences from Gardeners.com.

Bug-eating Birds

Bluebirds: grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, larvae, moths
Cardinals: beetles, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, stinkbugs, snails
Chickadees: aphids, whitefly, scale, caterpillars, ants, earwigs
Grosbeaks: larvae, caterpillars, beetles
Nuthatches: tree and shrub insects such as borers, caterpillars, ants and earwigs
Oriole: caterpillars, larvae, beetles, grasshoppers
Sparrows: beetles, caterpillars, cutworms
Swallows: moths, beetles, grasshoppers
Titmice: aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars, beetles
Warblers: caterpillars, aphids, whitefly
Woodpeckers: larvae, beetles, weevils, borers

It's sure a lot less work gardening to have the natural force of nature helping out.  There's no words to describe the joy it brings us to watch all the species flying about and eliminating many of the tasks we used to do.

Creating a backyard wildlife habitat is simple if you enjoy gardening.  We have a front and backyard habitat and it's our favorite source of entertainment, besides not mentioning how rewarding it is to provide for God's creatures here on earth.  Get more info on Creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

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Pets: Talking About Ticks

Video by Dr. Sarah

Dr. Sarah’s back with a brand new episode of Pet Talk to discuss one of nature’s nasty little creatures, ticks, revealing how you and your companion animals can deal with these blood-sucking menaces.

Unfortunately, tick populations have blossomed in recent years, a bane to almost anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. And, with tick season about to begin, you need to know how to protect – and defend – against these disease-carrying critters.

Dr. Sarah shares her best tips and dispels common myths about how to handle one of nature’s nuisances.   Watch this informative video now ….

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Saturday, June 23, 2012

Making Life Good

by Donna L. Watkins

We were created for relationship and ministering unto the Lord is of great delight to Him. When we praise and worship who He is and what He has done in our lives, it blesses God. It's hard to imagine that we can bless God. It would seem God has all He needs to be blessed, but obviously He had a need to create Adam and Eve and wanted relationship.

Faith also pleases God. Our faith in Him and in His Word. Our belief of The Word rather than what the world and our physical realm tells us. It's a huge choice to make. What will we believe? If you're watching the media (television, newspapers, magazines, online news feeds), your mind will struggle to believe the Word because we definitely live in a counter-culture to The Word of God.

© Donna L. Watkins - Front Walkway in June
We have choices every day to believe what God says about something ... or to believe what we see, hear or feel which is believing in our flesh. Our physical senses is how we perceive much of life but we are 1/3 spirit being with the Holy Spirit in us. So either our spirit rules our bodies, or our soul does.

Our mind, will and emotions are generally what is placed at the control panels. It's a great default because the sad fact is that many Christians are not even reading their Bibles. With multi-media within the church setting, most do not even take a Bible to church.

So, how can we choose to believe The Word when we don't know it. Fifteen minutes a day reading a devotional with a couple of Scriptures in it does not overcome the flood of input that is often received from the media we are soaking up online and from the television.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please God." We can't build our faith and belief in HIs Word if we're not spending a great amount of time in it. We spend so much time complaining and rehearsing our problems, rather than finding a Truth to take into our hearts to resolve them.

Proverbs 4:20-22 has a great promise to stand on: "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh."

If we believed that we would be soaking in and speaking God's Word all day long. That's the kind of guarantee I can count on! When we buy an appliance we look at what the warranty is in case it breaks, but when we have problems or a health crisis, do we think about God's promises which are forever true and faithful? There is so much self-help stuff in the marketplace today, for those who buy into the "if it's to be, it's up to me" mentality. Even within the church there is an endless procession of methods and 12-step programs.

I believe the reason more Christians are not turning to God and His Word is because they don't really know Him. They don't believe He is a good God because there is confusion between the Old Testament covenant and the New Testament covenant that Jesus ushered in. The True Nature of God is not understood by many Christians.

Hebrews 11 mentions many characters of faith in the Bible, but have you ever thought about their individual lives? We think we have to be good and sinless to be in relationship with God. When we truly know Him and love Him we will want to do all that is right and good, but God has forgiven us of ALL our sins when He placed judgement on Jesus. ALL - past, present and future. Jesus is no longer dying for sins we're committing now.  Don't let sin keep you away from Him.  When you get a revelation of His love for you, avoiding sin will be effortless.

© Donna L. Watkins - Rail Trail, Palmyra, VA
So, if you're not snuggling up to the Father just because you think you've got too much sin, think about Abraham. He is listed in Hebrews as one of the great. When you read the account it keeps saying "he believed God" and that he obeyed God's instructions. Was he sinless? Far from it, but God counted Abraham righteous even though Abraham was not living a holy life.

According to Leviticus 18:11, it was an abomination for a man to lay with a half sister. Sarah, Abraham's wife, was his half sister (Gen. 20:12). Abraham's marriage to Sarah did not please God. Abraham had already lied about Sarah not being his wife, even allowing a man to commit adultery with his wife, so that he could save his own neck (Gen. 12:10-20). Right after this situation is when the Lord counted Abraham's faith for righteousness (Gen. 15:6). Abraham tried to accomplish God's will in the flesh with Hagar (Gen. 16) and then repeated the terrible sin of denying that Sarah was his wife again (Gen. 20).

Looking at the life of Abraham and the favor he had with God, you have to see that it was not his sinless lifestyle that ruled his relationship with the Lord. It's the same with any of us. The only thing that we can do to please God is put faith in Jesus as our Savior and to believe His Word. God is not an angry God. He loved us enough to sacrifice His Son. To come to the earth with the limitations of a human body and to take all of man's sin, sickness and disease upon Himself so that we could again have personal relationship with Him, as He designed in the Garden of Eden, and to live life more abundantly through Him.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

This world is messed up because there are evil people who choose not to follow God and there are good people who make wrong choices. Satan uses them both for his deceitful purposes. But we have the promise that we can live above this because Jesus overcame the world. Obviously we don't believe it because we have too much worldly input and not enough time in the Truth.

If you have time to worry over things all day long while you go about your job and tasks, you can hide the Word of God in your heart and meditate on it all day long. Worry is simply a bad form of meditation. God has given us life-filled words that can overcome our present circumstances. Romans 8:6 says, "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." Do we want peace? Then we have to get our mind off the physical realm and into the spiritual realm. It's available to all!

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!" Deuteronomy 30:19

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Keeping Rabbits Out Of Your Garden


From One Green Generation

My sister Lori wrote me last year asking for advice about her new vegetable garden in St. Louis. They have loads of little bunnies. Apparently they’re extremely persistent and have been known to eat even jalapeno peppers! She was worried they will eat her yummy new lettuces, carrots, radishes – and considering their track record, even her tomatoes.

We had jackrabbits at our Northern California home. Have you ever seen one? They’re not your little St. Louis bunny: they are amazingly fast, and they are much bigger than our dog! They eat grass and clover, and presumably they would find our carrots and lettuce absolutely delightful…. but guess what? They were everywhere in our yard EXCEPT in our vegetable garden. I never saw – or found evidence of – a single nibble.

It could be luck, but considering that the rabbits regularly hopped within inches of the vegetable garden, I think it may have to do with a few other things. So I wrote this post to help Lori and all the rest of you who have bunny problems.

Home Remedies for Dogs

Having a sick dog can make you feel powerless. While there's no substitute for the care of a veterinarian, there are things you can do at home to make your pup feel better.

Knowing the symptoms of common illnesses, as well as when it's time to get professional help, could mean a longer, happier life for your dog. Read on to learn how to evaluate, diagnose and even treat some conditions that might plague your pooch.

How familiar are you with your dog's health? Knowing when your dog needs to go to the vet and when a home remedy will do the trick can save you time and money, and it can also save your dog discomfort and pain. Read the entire article.

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Butterflies and Weddings— Don't Do It!

... lots of folks will be releasing live butterflies at their weddings. It’s a way try to make the day special and connected to nature—and it sure seems more appealing than throwing rice or flower petals at the ceremony’s end. As one advertisement proclaims, the effect is “uniquely romantic, genuinely moving, and unforgettable.”

Unfortunately, such releases also may be harmful. And not just to the butterflies set free but to the other butterflies native to the location as well.

On one side of the debate are the people who breed butterflies for profit and those who want butterflies for their weddings. On the opposite side are the conservationists who consider the practice a form of environmental pollution. Read the entire article.

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Saturday, June 16, 2012

The Mysterious Prophecy of Isaiah 53

Do you have questions about the meaning of life and spirituality? Maybe it is time to go right to the source and rethink your relationship with the Creator.

Isaiah 53 Explained will help kick start your personal pilgrimage and introduce you to a chapter in the Scriptures that has the potential to revolutionize your life!

Isaiah 53 Explained makes the story of the Bible understandable, practically and simply explaining how you can have a soul-satisfying relationship with God and revealing the surprising key that makes this relationship possible.

Watch the movie.
Get the book free or read the book online in English or Hebrew.

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National Pollinator Week

Five years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of the final week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations.


National Pollinator Week takes place June 18 to 24, 2012. Let's focus on getting more butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and wasps into our backyard habitats.

To celebrate, National Wildlife Federation asked gardeners across the country who’ve created wildlife-friendly habitats to talk about some of their favorite native plants for attracting bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinating species. Here's the descriptions and images they shared.

Get more info:
Fast Facts
Garden Guides

Events In Your Area

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Tips for Canine Dental Health

by Dr. Jane Bicks

Everyone knows “doggie breath” can be quite unpleasant. But few realize its presence can indicate an actual disease … sadly, it’s one that affects the vast majority of dogs over the age of three.

While it may prove offensive to you, it might actually be painful for your pup, and could lead to other more dangerous health issues, too. Fortunately, there is something you can do to help your furry companion!

In her latest veterinary-health post, Dr. Jane provides pet parents a brief, three-point review of doggie dental health. Read this post now ….

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Friday, June 15, 2012

Free Photography Workshops at National Parks

Canon U.S.A. and American Park Network are pleased to announce the 6th Annual Canon Photography in the Parks Program, where national park visitors can take unique, hands-on photo and video workshops and create lasting memories. All workshops are FREE and open to the public and equipment is available for use at no additional charge.

The Canon Photography in the Parks Program offers participants free professional photography instruction as they take part in a guided walking photo tour of some of the most scenic national park areas. Following the tour, participants have the opportunity to print their work on site, and to download their image collection later from a secure server. Visitors of all ages and experience levels are welcome to participate.

New to this year’s program are Canon video workshop sessions. Visitors can experience and learn about shooting video using camcorders or EOS digital SLR cameras and participating in a hands-on videography demonstration with experts.

Those interested in the workshops should show up 15-30 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. Instructors are expert at putting artistic and technical concepts into language that participants of all ages will understand and will help unleash their creativity.

The Canon Photography in the Parks Program will take place at various dates through the summer at the following national parks:

• Grand Canyon: May 31 – June 20
• Zion/Springdale: June 24 – July 9
• Yosemite: July 13 – July 19
• Yellowstone: July 23 – July 31
• Grand Teton/Jackson Hole: August 1 – August 2
• Rocky Mountain: August 5 – August 11
• Acadia: August 18 – August 29

For more information on the Canon Photography in the Parks program, visit Canon U.S.A. on Facebook at facebook.com/canonUSA or photographyintheparks.com.

Source: Oh Ranger!

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Newsletter - 6/15/12



Hello Dear Friends!

© Donna L. Watkins - Doe and Newly Birthed Fawn
Click For Closeup and More Photos
One of the most exciting events since the last newsletter is that we had a doe birth a fawn in our front yard habitat. How magnificent! A friend who is a painter was painting the front door and told me earlier there was a deer in the yard. We're used to seeing them, but they are always special to me, never considered a common sight. I talked with her and she just looked at me and then I went inside.

Later Cindy, my friend, called me again and told me she had a fawn with her. I went for the camera and noticed in the zoom that she was being very detailed at licking the fawn's entire body while the fawn was nursing. When the fawn moved a bit and was wobbly, I thought to myself that the doe must have just birthed that fawn. Mentioning it to my friend, she said that she heard a couple of grunts but didn't look around, figuring the deer was just concerned about her working on the front porch.

When she did look, she saw the fawn and called me. I got some photos and did try for a video but it's a new camera (new to me, generously provided by a wonderful wildlife friend) and the video is choppy since it's a manual zoom feature, but you can still see the mama cleaning the fawn and the fawn nursing.  View Video of Doe and Fawn.  View More Photos of Doe and Fawn.

Speaking of painting the front door. We have a Paper Wasp nest to the right of the door, so I was concerned that Cindy might be allergic to bees and wasps or simply afraid of them as many people are, but when I called to check on that, she informed me she wasn't allergic as is commonly known, but she does swell up if she's bitten. Yet, she had no problem working with them there as long as they allowed her to. Since the nest is on one of the sidelights to the door it would be impossible to paint that area, but I can do that later when they're finished with the mothering process.
© Donna L. Watkins - Paper Wasp Nest With Varying
Stages of Larvae Growth - Click photo for better view.

We have paper wasps every year at our place and consider ourselves blessed since they are beneficial insects. Getting to know the good guys in your garden and habitat is nice since they save you a lot of grief in plant damage. As you can see from this 2007 article: Living With Beneficial Paper Wasps, they have nested before in the same spot.

One year they attached their nest to the plastic insulation strip at the top of the door between the frame and door. Obviously every time we would open the door they would be alarmed and fly off the nest and probably into the house. Makes for a lot of work capturing them and getting them outside again, so I moved the nest. I carefully took it off with the little attachment they build it on and super-glued it to the lamp to the left of the door. They didn't seem to mind since they stayed for the summer making little baby paper wasps.

It's been real quiet around our home. Randal left last weekend for 18 days in Oklahoma City. It's an annual trip he makes to visit his family and do some gardening and things for his parents who are now in the 80's. He enjoys every minute of it except for the part of us missing each other. But being an only child, I do enjoy alone time. I would like to have it spaced out through the year though instead of in one big chunk. It's been great God time and the weather has been nice.

Family was concerned about him going with me still battling this heart issue, but we have wonderful neighbors and friends who have offered to do anything and I am so much better I've not found anything I need help with. I'm rather independent but I will ask for help if I need it. It's been a week and all is well.

My friend, Kathy, across the street switched to a vegan diet a couple of months ago and makes all kinds of wonderful recipes and she's been sharing them with me now and then. Yum! She's an excellent cook and although she doesn't like everything she makes since she says her taste buds haven't changed yet (she said it takes 90 days), I think it's all terrific and delicious! I tend to forget about all the eating I need to do when Randal isn't here to remind me.

© Donna L. Watkins - Darcie & Ruby,
A Red-tailed Hawk - The Wildlife Center Event
On the day that Randal left for Oklahoma, I had plans to attend an event with Kathy for The Wildlife Center of Virginia. This is the place we take any injured birds or animals. It's about 45 minutes away and we feel so blessed to be able to have a great rehab place that close. They are actually an international teaching hospital for veterinarians who want to know more about working with wildlife.

The event was on top of the mountains at Carter Mountain Orchards. We get apples and peaches there and more recently they have planted grapes and there was a vineyard sponsoring this event. My friend likes wine, I like wildlife, so it was a great fit! When we arrived there were two hot air balloons visible over near the Blue Ridge Mountains, so that was a nice greeting and since it was in the evening we watched the sun set behind the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lovely evening!

We got up close and personal views of some of their education raptors. When a bird is injured too greatly to be released back into the wild, it is often trained for education. They become wildlife ambassadors so children and adults can learn more about wild birds and how to help them. View the photo album of the event.

I mentioned I would report on using the Yarrow for the breathing problems, since I was considering the problem might be pleurisy since "pleural effusions" were part of the diagnosis given initially, and Yarrow has been historically used for that. My report is not good since I still have times of not being able to breathe well, but it doesn't take my energy away.

© Ken Bushell - Lily of the Valley
See more of Ken's beautiful photos
I began a new herbal formula for the heart to continue rebuilding.  It's called Lily of the Valley & Blessed Thistle. The information on it said it actually healed heart valves, even the large mitral valve. Here's some excerpts about this formula:

Indications For Use:
arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, edema of cardiac origin, cardiac asthma, heart valve repair

Therapeutics and Pharmacology:
Tailor-made for serious heart problems that look hopeless. Relieves fluid build-up around the heart; specialist at repairing heart valves, including the large mitral valve. Delivers oxygen to oxygen-starved heart and brain, repairs blood vessels, improves memory. It increases myocardial efficiency and stroke volume without putting extra demands on coronary supply, and reduces excessive irritability of the myocardium.

The whole plant appears to be more gradual in its effect than isolated digitalis glycosides, but produces comparable effects with a smaller dose. The active cardiac glycosides are released sequentially rather than all together and are readily excreted by the kidneys, thus avoiding toxic buildup. The flavonoids encourage the arteries to dilate while the asparagin acts as a diuretic. It may be used in the treatment of heart failure and water retention where this is associated with the heart. No harm has been known to occur from taking it in full and frequent doses, it being preferable in this respect to Digitalis, which is apt to accumulate in the blood with poisonous results.


That may be more technical than you may want, but I think there are others out there that may want the detailed information. You can Google for more, of course.

Surely you can see why I would be excited. It totally fits the bill and I definitely have faith in God's power within the herbal kingdom. I've had more energy and I notice I can bend over (like to empty bottom of the dishwasher or put the pet dish up and down) without feeling like my heart flips out. It's obviously made gardening easier too! Many gradual improvements, so I'm trying to be patient with the progressive healing and the breathing challenge, although I'd like for it all to totally heal tonight while I am sleeping.  What a dream to have!

© Donna L. Watkins - Blue Ridge Mountain Sunset
View more Blue Ridge photos here.

I'd like to be able to shout Acts 3:16: "By faith in the name of Jesus, this woman whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed her, as you can all see."

Divine health is my prayer and getting out all of the doubt and unbelief is my goal. We all have enough faith for what we need since Jesus said it can be as small as a grain of mustard seed. And the Bible tells us we've all been given a measure of faith. So faith isn't the issue ... the doubt and unbelief stored up from our physical senses is what tips the scales in the other direction. But God works with us where our faith level has less doubt and unbelief, and I'm grateful for that.

I wrote an article called, "How Does God Heal?" that has some wise words from my friend, Mary, in it.  She's been a faithful prayer warrior from the onset of this health challenge and I treasure her words.  I also asked others to share their healing journeys, so be sure to add yours in the comments section.

All of our "new creation" package was downloaded to our spirit. God relates to us spirit to spirit, so we have to get to where the soul (our flesh and emotions) choose the things of the spirit, so that our bodies can reflect that choice. Since God is a Spirit and we in our physical state cannot see Him, hear Him, touch Him, we must communicate with Him through our spirits. He speaks to us through the Bible. In a miraculous way the Bible speaks to each of us according to our need. Its truths apply across generations, across cultures, across all life experience. It's a book beyond books and definitely created by God as much as our natural world is.

© Donna L. Watkins - Front Yard Garden
Our natural world here has had frequent rains to keep the gardens well watered.  We have native plants so we don't water any more since they're established, but getting rainwater on a regular basis will get things to growing fast.  That's great for the flowers, but it keeps me busy pruning the bushes.  I don't use a hedge-trimmer since I want them to look natural, so every snip is done one at a time.  But it's a great time to be praising God for all the beautiful things He has made.

The hummingbirds are very happy for the front garden which contains the flowers they love.  Black and Blue Salvia and red Bee Balm.  There's also some purple Upright Verbena that the birds dropped in years ago.  Butterflies and bees enjoy that.

I hope you're taking the time to be outdoors and view all that God has given us not only for pleasure, but to know Him through what He has created.  It's certainly healing.  I can feel every cell of my body smile when I sit on the chaise on our screened porch.

Enjoy life!  Every moment is precious and full of many blessings!
Donna

P.S.  If you enjoy this newsletter and The Nature In Us website ... share it with somebody else!  Maybe you know of somebody who needs something in this issue.  Thanks!


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written by Donna

Posts Since Last Newsletter

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Living For Jesus or Jesus Living Through Us

What a Dog’s Tail Wags Really Mean

Secret National Parks of New York City

How Does God Heal?  (DLW)

Antifreeze-Like Blood Lets Frogs Freeze and Thaw

Canine Lymph Nodes

Newsletter - 6/1/12

Previous Posts You May Have Missed

Be a Life Changer  (DLW)

Our Words - Life or Death

Biblical 'Eco' Miracle Saves Land!

Financial Aid for Pets

My Designated "I Can Garden" Day  (DLW)

Watching Wildlife - God Is All Around Us

Medical Proof of Healing Power of Prayer

How To Stay Positive In A Negative World

Cat Detects Aneurysm in Owner

Newsletter - 5/15/12  (DLW)

Healing Is God's Will

Video: Snowboarding Opossum

Canine Vestibular Disease

God's Word Has No Limits

Medical Tests Dangerous & Overused

Mice Who Farm

Feline Digestive Disorders

Newsletter - 5/1/12  (DLW)

You Were Made For This (DLW)

Canine Grooming Tips

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The photo(s) and article are copyrighted. You may use either of them if you include the following credit and active link back to this website: © 2012 Donna L. Watkins - This article was reprinted with permission from TheNatureInUs.com. The link to use is: www.TheNatureInUs.com.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Living For Jesus or Jesus Living Through Us

LET CHRIST LIVE THROUGH US
by Andrew Wommack

Matthew 9:9, "And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him."

MATTHEW 9:9-10, MARK 2:14-15, LUKE 5:27-29

To "follow" means to come or go after; move behind in the same direction; to come or go with; to accept the guidance or leadership of; to adhere to the cause or principles of; to be governed by; obey; comply with (Jn. 10:27-29; Rom. 10:9-10, 13).

When a person first comes to Jesus, it is impossible to know everything that following Jesus entails. No one, however, should be fearful of making a total commitment because of some imagined problem that may never come to pass. There should be a willingness to forsake everything to follow Jesus. Once we make that decision, then Christ begins to live through us and we find a strength that is not our own, equal to whatever test we may encounter (Gal. 2:20).

It is Christ living through us that is the secret of victorious Christian living. It is not us living for Jesus, but Jesus living through us. Failure to understand this simple truth is at the root of all legalism and the performance mentality.

The law focuses on the outer man and tells it what it must do. Grace focuses on the inner man and tells it what is already done through Christ. Those who are focused on what they must do are under law. Those who are focused on what Christ has done for them are walking under grace.

Just as the life of a root is found in the soil, or a branch in the vine, or a fish in the sea, so the believer's true life is found to be in union with Christ. The Christian life is not just hard to live, it's impossible in our human strength. The only way to walk in victory is to let Christ live through us. Visit Andrew's Website.

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What a Dog’s Tail Wags Really Mean

From Psychology Today

Perhaps the most common misinterpretation of dogs is the myth that a dog wagging its tail is happy and friendly. While some wags are indeed associated with happiness, others can mean fear, insecurity, a social challenge or even a warning that if you approach, you are apt to be bitten.

In some ways, tail wagging serves the same communication functions as a human smile, a polite greeting or a nod of recognition. Smiles are social signals and are thus reserved mostly for situations where somebody is around to see them. For dogs, the wag seems to have the same properties. Read the entire article.

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Secret National Parks of New York City

New York City is better known for its sweeping avenues, towering skyscrapers and massive crowds than its green pastures. But there’s more to the Concrete Jungle than meets the eye.

Outdoor areas and recreation are plentiful here—if you know where to look. This article uncovers three noteworthy spots that take you away from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.  Read the entire article.

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Saturday, June 2, 2012

How Does God Heal?

by Donna L. Watkins



I have a very special friend, Mary, who adds a lot of wisdom to my life. She's also a great intercessor and along with many of you, keeps me encouraged and steadfast on the path to total healing and walking in divine health.

Garden Snail Eating Worm
© Donna L. Watkins - Garden Snail Eating
Worm on Walkway
With this most recent health challenge of the heart valve, I guess I've had my own way that I wanted God to heal me. I guess I generally have my own way of how things should be done ... maybe there's a few more out there that have that tendency?  When life seems to be going at a snail's pace, we think we've got better ideas.

I believe that we truly limit God when we give him our agenda of how to fix things, and the awful part of that is that we actually miss the way God intended to bless us. I wanted instant healing, just like Jesus says it should be in the Bible ... but He also said, "according to your faith, be it done unto you." With so little healing taking place in "the church" today, Christians have a lot of natural doubt and unbelief stored away to compete with our faith on being healed.

So, God in His love for us, provides a way regardless, but if we're dead set on seeing something happen one particular way, we certainly won't see His provision. After writing about this in an update to some friends on the healing that's taking place within me, and my struggle to continue to use His herbal remedies to build and restore, rather than have instant healing.

It also brings up the topic of unworthiness, which I think many of us struggle with without even knowing it. Growing up being rewarded for good grades, being grounded for bad behaviors, we often believe that we may not deserve something unless we perform a certain way ... and who is perfect every day of their life? God's grace has provided our healing. It's nothing we can earn any more than we can earn salvation.

My friend Mary responded with some thoughts that I think may help somebody else also.

Mary Wright, My Love For Creation Friend
Our Woods Walk at Scheier Natural Area
From Mary Wright:

God knows what each of us needs ... He knows our hearts. God partners with us uniquely to guide us in the way we will be able to receive. And we need to partner with Him in obedience because He knows us best. He wired us uniquely because our various gifts are ALL needed in the Kingdom.

Some of us operate totally by faith, but need the vision and mental analysis that someone else brings into the mix. Sims [her husband] and I are a good example of that. He needs to be thinking about how things get done ... fixed ... figured out. I'm the dreamer. It takes BOTH of us to get things done in a way that honors God. Our gifts complement each other and when we partner, we have better results than if we worked solo.

So God provided healing agents in nature ... and He provided healing faith in His people. And it may take ALL of those things to bring to pass the healing He has for us. It's a partnership. Each unique situation may require a different mix to bring victory, but it's all there.

I just touched base with the man who took over the prayer ministry at my former church when we moved down here. He was thanking God for the surgery 24 years ago which totally healed his heart and gave him new life. In that case, his partnership with the healing process was uniquely victorious for where he was in his walk with the Lord at that time. Today, he would be trusting in prayer alone. But then, the surgery did the trick! God knows where we are, how much faith we have, and what we need. And He calls us to trust Him on whatever level we can, based on our gifts, our trust level, and our receptive gifts.

I don't see you lacking in faith at all. I think deep down you feel you are not worthy to RECEIVE. It shows up in many ways and it's a common condition of many of us who are "givers." We aren't good at receiving, we are far better at giving. God will heal that, but it is a pattern that has built up over a lifetime, and it will take time and work to undo it.

© Donna L. Watkins - Dandelion with Wasp
Medicinal Properties of Dandelion


In the meantime, God has resources in His beautiful creation that can be used in a unique partnership of healing - because the goal is to see you healed - in whatever way your body, mind, and spirit can receive it at this point in time.

He knows that the herbs will help because He created them with healing properties. So He is working with you to get healing into your system, while building your faith and trust in His divine love and purpose for your life.

And when you minister to others, you will be using the full arsenal of tools the Lord has given you: prayer, herbs, diet, counseling - everything - because the people who come to you will have unique places in their spiritual walk and "one size does not fit all."

Looking back on the 33 years since I began using herbal remedies, I've had so much healing and have seen so many others be healed through these God-created plants. I truly believe that God made a plant for every malady that mankind will ever have until the return of Christ. It's a great comfort when you think about it. And now with the power of the internet and our inner wisdom and spirit-led direction, we can have that power at work in our lives.

I was Googling a search for something on heart valves when at the top of the list was a website that had information Lily of the Valley extract being used to repair heart valves, even the Mitral Valve which is the one that's too destroyed for repair. Yes, it can be replaced, but my faith does not include options for surgery, so it's wise not to tread into areas where you have to faith to return from them.

If you have a wonderful healing story, please share it in the comments section below the blog post so others can be encouraged. We all are truly one in God's eyes. We need to begin looking at others the same way.

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Antifreeze-Like Blood Lets Frogs Freeze and Thaw

From National Geographic

The freeze-thaw, freeze-thaw see-saw of this winter's temperatures may be a sign of global warming. But for now wood frogs are weathering the flux in style, according to an expert on the amphibians.

"They undergo freeze-thaw cycles all the time," said Kenneth Storey, a professor of biochemistry at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.

Some animals migrate to warmer climes for the winter and others burrow deep underground to sleep until spring. Wood frogs instead seek cover under leaves near the surface, where they actually freeze and thaw with their surroundings.

In his lab, Storey has taken the frogs through multiple consecutive freeze-thaw cycles and found no adverse effects. In nature the frogs consistently go through freeze-thaw cycles, he said.

"We have false springs here all the time where it gets really warm and all the snow melts and then suddenly—bam—the wind comes from the north and it's back down to minus 10, minus 15 [degrees Celsius], and they're fine," he said.

"So in nature and in the lab they have to do it, and they do."

Freezing Frogs

Storey studies the molecular mechanics that allow wood frogs to freeze and thaw. He hopes that doctors will one day be able to copy the technique to aid human organ transplants.

Currently doctors only have hours to get a donated organ into a living patient before the organ becomes too damaged. Freezing organs isn't an option, as the cells dehydrate.

Once the first ice crystals reach a wood frog, however, its skin freezes. The frog becomes hard and crunchy. "When you drop it, it goes 'clink,'" Storey said.

Special proteins in their blood, called nucleating proteins, cause the water in the blood to freeze first. This ice, in turn, sucks most of the water out of the frog's cells.

At the same time the frog's liver starts making large amounts of glucose—a type of sugar—which packs into cells and props them up. Read the entire article.

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Canine Lymph Nodes

Video by Dr. Sarah

On the frontline of the body’s defense system, lymph nodes are located throughout your dog’s body. If you’re not trained in what to look for, though, finding them can prove pretty challenging. Because lymph-node health is so important, we’ve dedicated an entire Pet Talk episode to the subject.

Accompanied by her trusty canine companion Alma, Dr. Sarah demonstrates just how easy it is to do a lymph-node exam right at home! Watch this informative video now…

Sponsored by Life's Abundance Pet Foods.

Friday, June 1, 2012

50% Off Green Cleaning Products While Supplies Last



Nature's Sunshine Products

Announcing Nature's Fresh Inventory Clearance!
June 1 - while supplies last

We launched the Nature's Fresh line in 2010 and created some wonderful, safe, effective formulations of green home cleaning products. Unfortunately, product sales do not meet minimum batch requirements, so this line will be discontinued when supplies run out.

The Nature's Fresh Enzyme Spray will NOT be discontinued and is not on sale.

This is your opportunity to save 50% on NSP Nature's Fresh products while supplies last. Stock up on all-natural, biodegradable home cleaning products.


IMPORTANT! 
Order these products through the links below.

Stock No.
Product
Discounted Price

Suggested Retail
1564-8
$2.98

$8.95
1565-4
$3.25

$9.75
1566-6
Dish Soap (28 fl. oz.)
$3.25

$9.75
1567-7
Dishwasher Gel (40 fl. oz.)
$3.98

$11.95
1563-2
Fabric Brightener (3.2 lbs.)
$7.48

$22.45
1561-5
Laundry Soap (50 fl. oz.)
$5.48

$16.45
1568-3
$2.48

$7.45
1545-5
Laundry Soap Sample (4 fl. oz.)
$1.00

$3.00


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