Monday, December 30, 2013

A War Is Being Waged For Your Heart Daily

The Believer's Authority
By Andrew Wommack

Is there someone in your life who just rubs you the wrong way? If there is, it may surprise you to learn that it’s not really that person who is creating the rub. There is someone else at work—your real Enemy—and he may be using them in an attempt to gain an inroad to your life. There is a spiritual war going on, and as a believer, you must be aware of it.

Many Christians have adopted a humanistic view of things. They do not realize the spiritual implication behind what is going on in their lives. What I mean by humanistic is that they only look at things on a surface level. They think most everything they encounter on a daily basis is either physical or natural.

The truth is, there is a battle raging every single day in the spiritual realm. That battle is for your heart and the hearts of every other person on earth. God is trying to influence people and draw them toward righteousness and toward Himself, to live consistent with Him so that His blessings can manifest in their lives.

Satan, on the other hand, is waging all-out war trying to steal the hearts of people away from God. He wants to fill their hearts with his trash and corruption. And honestly, although most Christians recognize this to a degree, I don’t think they realize how intense the warfare really is and how much their actions are contributing to it.

If I could sit and talk with each of you reading this, I would find that many of you aren’t aware of the spiritual significance behind what’s going on in your lives. You attribute much of what is happening to circumstances and therefore passively accept what comes your way. When you do that, you’re ignoring the intense battle that is being waged for your heart every single day.

The choices you make, the things you say, the actions you take, and what you believe about what is happening around you determines whether God or Satan dominates in your life. Satan cannot control you outside of your will. He cannot do anything without your cooperation and consent. But you need to recognize that you’re in a battle.

Many people choose not to believe that, but whether they do or not, the fact is that it’s taking place. Your unwillingness to engage in battle doesn’t mean that the battle isn’t raging; it just means you’re going to lose. But once you realize the battle is real, you can then learn to recognize what’s going on and take the proper action to improve your situation. You can resist the devil.

James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Ephesians 6:10-12 reads, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

This is referring to demonic powers. There’s a chain of command, an authority structure in the demonic realm, and this is listing these different levels. But notice that it says you are not wrestling against flesh and blood. Much that goes on in your life is not just human.

I’m not going to get into this thing about, “Are people possessed, oppressed, or depressed?” I believe it’s useless to debate that. In the Greek, where the Bible says a person was demon possessed, the word literally means “demonized.” It just means they were under the control of the devil. Christianity has tried to make something out of possessed, oppressed, or depressed. But it’s not in Scripture.

The fact is that people are being influenced and controlled and used by the devil—they really are. This needs to be said because there are a lot of people who honestly believe that all the demons are in Africa.

It’s not the person sitting next to you at work, it’s not your neighbor, and it’s certainly not your husband or your wife that’s the problem. Anyone who is not paying attention can be influenced and inspired and used of Satan to come against you. If you were to recognize that, it would make a huge difference in the way you respond to them.

For instance, I get a lot of hate mail. There was a time when I took what was said personally. But I’ve come to realize that Satan uses these in an attempt to get my attention off of what God has told me to do. Now I look beyond the person, recognizing that Satan is just using them. That allows me to keep it in the right perspective.

I’ve had good friends come against me and do some pretty mean things. And you know what? I was able to look right past what they did and forgive them. I could see that Satan was taking advantage of them to hurt me through some weak area in their lives. When you finally see that, you don’t get angry or bitter with the person, and you are able to walk in forgiveness. Then, when they do turn around, the relationship can be reestablished.

There are also times when you have to engage the Enemy directly, even if the Enemy is using a friend. That’s exactly what Jesus did when He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan.” That was the same day Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” And Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said, “You are the CHRIST, the Son of the living God.”

In Matthew 16:15-17, it says, "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

After this, Jesus began to talk about what was going to happen to Him: “They’re going to take Me, they’re going to kill Me, and I will rise again on the third day.” And this same Peter, who had been inspired and controlled by the Holy Spirit just moments before, began to rebuke Jesus, saying, “Be it far from You, Lord. This will never happen to You. I’m going to stand here, and the rest of us will defend You. But we are not going to allow this to happen to You.”

Then Jesus turned and spoke these words to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan.” I’m sure Peter was shocked, but Jesus wasn’t really talking to him;He was talking about Satan to Satan, the one who was controlling Peter. Peter’s words were not coming from God; they were inconsistent with the will of God. Peter was being inspired and controlled by the devil in the things he said.

Now, that’s a pretty strong statement, and a lot of people honestly think this is a little over the top. They think they don’t need to respond to people this way. But I can guarantee you that there are times when Satan is speaking directly to you through people. He is using people to get at you. Whether you recognize it or not, this goes on much more than you know. You are in a spiritual war.

I tell you there is a supernatural war waging today for your heart and mind. In fact, for some of you right now, the devil is trying to oppose the words you are reading in this letter. He wants to discredit them and cause you to ignore or reject them. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is bearing witness in your heart and trying to get you to open up and receive these words. It’s spiritual warfare.

To win in this war, you must know who you are and the authority you have as a believer. To help, I have a teaching series called The Believer’s Authority. Don’t go another day without understanding how to defeat the real Enemy. You have the power and authority to do it, and now it’s time to use it.

Get More Insight Into This Topic.


Coffee Increases or Decreases Risk of Heart Attacks?


The Journal of the American Medical Association found that drinking coffee with caffeine (not decaf) may raise the risk of heart attacks.

The Journal of the American Medical Association found that drinking coffee with caffeine (not decaf) may lower the risk of heart attacks.

Make up your mind?

Actually both findings are correct.

Whether coffee is heart-healthy or heart-harmful seems to depend on whether you have a "slow" or a "fast" version of the gene that tells the liver how to use an enzyme known as CYP1A2. This enzyme breaks down the caffeine in coffee.

If your liver can break down caffeine quickly, then the body benefits from all the antioxidants coffee provides. If your liver breaks down caffeine slowly, then the benefits of coffee's antioxidants is more than offset by the stress on the heart caused by caffeine.

But that's not the entire story.

Even if you have a "fast" CYP1A2 gene, the liver also uses the enzyme it codes to break other potential toxins besides caffeine. The reason some people with asthma breathe easier when they drink caffeinated beverages, for instance, has to do with the fact that the enzyme is busy breaking down caffeine so it doesn't break down the active chemicals in asthma drugs.

The same principle explains why some coffee drinkers experience increased blood pressure when they take calcium channel blockers or angiotensin II antagonists to lower blood pressure. The CYP1A2 is occupied clearing out the medication, so it can't clear out the caffeine.

So how do you know whether caffeine increases or decreases your risk of heart attack?

It seems logical that if drinking coffee after dinner keeps you up at night, you might have a "slow" version of the enzyme, but it's also possible your brain is just very sensitive to caffeine.

When I've traveled and had to drive, I could drink coffee in the morning and it would keep me "zinged" past bedtime, so I now already know my liver's not breaking down the caffeine. Having avoided caffeine considering it not a good substance, I now realize that it was a wise decision for me.

Right now, the only way to know for sure is through genetic testing to determine how your body makes CYP1A2. (More info on testing.)

Source:
Cornelis MC, El-Sohemy A, Kabagambe EK, Campos H. Coffee, CYP1A2 genotype, and risk of myocardial infarction. JAMA. 2006 Mar 8;295(10):1135-41.


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Newer Wind Turbines Still Killing Birds

A new study shows that in spite of updated designs, U.S. wind turbines are killing hundreds of thousands of birds annually—a number that may balloon to about 1.4 million per year by 2030, when the ongoing industry expansion being encouraged by the federal government is expected to be fully implemented.

The findings were issued in a new study by scientists at the Smithsonian Institution Migratory Bird Center (SMBC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Oklahoma State University (OSU).

The study, “Estimates of bird collision mortality at wind facilities in the contiguous United States,” was based on a review of 68 studies that met rigorous inclusion criteria and data derived from 58 bird mortality estimates contained in those studies. The studies represented both peer-reviewed and unpublished industry reports and extracted data to systematically estimate bird collision mortality and mortality correlates.

“The life expectancy for eagles and all raptors just took a big hit ..." said Dr. Michael Hutchins, National Coordinator of American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) Bird Smart Wind Energy campaign.

According to George Fenwick, President of ABC: “This study by top scientists says that hundreds of thousands of birds are being killed by the wind industry now, and that the number will escalate dramatically if we continue to do what we have been doing. The biggest impediment to reducing those impacts continues to be wind industry siting and operating guidelines that are only followed on a voluntary basis. No other energy industry gets to pick and choose where they put their facilities and decide how they are going to operate in a manner unconstrained by federal regulation.”  Read the entire article.


Disaster Preparation for Pets


by Dr. Sarah

Your family deserves the best life has to offer even when hot, flaming curveballs of destruction are thrown your way. That’s why you should make preparations now for future emergency situations.

Let Dr. Sarah show you how to get your ducks in a row and learn how to prepare your pet family for evacuation contingencies, in case your house should ever come under siege from natural disasters or extended power-outages.

Avoid confusion by putting together a plan of action now, and not when catastrophe strikes.

Watch Dr. Sarah’s video now and be prepared …



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Friday, December 20, 2013

Billy Graham's Grandson Takes a New Direction

William Graham Tullian Tchividjian is the grandson of the iconic American evangelist, Billy Graham.

In his most recent book, One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World, Tchividjian takes Christians to task for their legalistic focus on performance. But he also casts a vision for a more grace-filled future. Here, we talk about what he thinks is wrong with the Christian church today and what he believes the answer is:

"There’s no question that for far too long the church has been primarily concerned with external change. Preachers are afraid of grace because they think it undercuts obedience and encourages apathy. If Jesus paid it all and it is finished, if the judgment against us has been fully and finally taken care of, aren’t we opening the door to lawlessness? This is what Judaizers were afraid of: they didn’t like Gospel of free grace because they thought people would get out of control. If God is not mad at me and if he will never love me more than he does right now, then why can’t I party my way through life? The underlying fear is that unconditional grace leads to licentiousness ...

We’ve concluded that grace just doesn’t possess the teeth to scare us into changing. As a result we get a steady diet of “do more, try harder” sermons; we get a “to do list” version of Christianity that causes us to believe the focus of the Christian faith is the life of the Christian. So we end up hearing more about “Christian living” than the Christ.

We think this will be what gets people to clean up their act, to fix themselves, to volunteer in the nursery, to obey, to read their Bibles, to change the world–but it actually has the opposite effect. A steady diet of “do more, try harder” sermons doesn’t cause people to do more or try harder … it makes them give up. Legalism produces lawlessness 10 times out of 10."  Read the entire article.



The Tide Changes on Stem Cell Research

In 2007, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) funded 100 embryonic stem cell research projects. In 2012, it was only six. Meanwhile, CIRM gave 15 grants to scientists conducting non-embryonic stem cell research.

In Maryland, 11 embryonic projects and four adult stem cell projects were funded in 2007. Five years later, 28 non-embryonic grants were made, but only one embryonic stem cell grant.

Because it destroys a human life, embryonic stem cell research been opposed by many in the religious and ethics community. Adult stem cells have no such moral concerns.

"A decade ago researchers, media, and Hollywood alike dismissed moral and ethical concerns to hail stem cell research using, and destroying, human embryos, as the 'only hope' for developing efficacious therapies," Donovan said. "Despite the millions spent on this research, cures by embryonic cells have proven elusive, while adult stem cell research applications have exploded."  Read the entire article.



One Way to Victory

There Is Only One Way
by Andrew Wommack

Read John 14:5-6

John 14:5 "Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?"

Thomas knew Jesus. He just didn't realize Jesus was "the way." Likewise, people today know portions of God's Word but they don't realize that God's Word is their way to victory. Often, people cry out for God to speak to them while their Bible lays unopened on their nightstand. God has spoken to us through His Word. We just need to believe it and receive its truths as our way to victory.

Jesus didn't say: "I am a way, a truth, and a life." He claimed to be the only way, truth, and life. No man can come to the Father except through Jesus. This means that anyone who claims to honor Jesus while advocating other ways to get to God, truth, or life, besides Jesus, is deceived or a deceiver.

Jesus' claims about Himself, of which there is only one, left no room for other means to salvation. He is either who He says He is, or He is the greatest deceiver of all time. His own statements about Himself leave no other alternatives. Therefore, other religions that recognize Jesus and His teachings as wonderful examples, but don't believe He is the only way to achieve salvation, are false.

The Word of God is a spiritual book written under the direction of the Holy Spirit. It was not written to our head but to the innermost part of our heart. This is why some people find the Bible so hard to understand. They are trying to comprehend it using only their mind. The Word of God has to inspire our heart before it can enlighten our mind.

Visit Andrew's Website.
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Sunday, December 15, 2013

Newsletter - 12/15/13

                    View This Newsletter On the Website.                    


"No matter how lost we feel in the tangle of our circumstances, even there the favor of God will find us out to do us good." -- D. Brown" 


Hello Dear Friends,

Donna & Santa - 1953 or 1954
Continuing down memory lane with older photos of me ... this is the last one I have and I can't say I remember much about.  It's a photo that was amongst many others in my mother's cedar chest when she died. I would imagine I was about 3 or 4.  I don't remember being on Santa's lap, so it must not have been an annual thing.

I do remember leaving cookies and a glass of milk for Santa on Christmas Eve before I went to bed.  What I remember most about Christmas time was all the holiday music everywhere you went and the town being decorated on many streets with lights.  I grew up in a small town.

I've been chewing on segments of a book called, "The Real Faith" by Dr. Charles S. Price.  It was mentioned in a teaching I listened to months ago and the title and name just seemed to hit my spirit, so I wrote it down.  God's focus with me for quite some time now has been to deepen my understanding of Christ in me.  I hope you will get some insight and revelation from these words from Dr. Price also:

"Oh, that our eyes might see the divinely appointed purpose of His ministry and that we might embrace with our hearts the fullness of His redeeming grace!  The Word that came once to live among us now has come to dwell within us!  He is our Life.  He is our Healing.  He is our strength.  The Word made flesh - the Living Word who dwells within us.  Paul did not cry for wisdom to know more about Him; but from the hungry depths of his innermost being, he cried: 'I count all things but loss ... that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection!' (Phil. 3:8) 

Art by Erin Leigh
View Enlarged Version at Bottom of Page

It is this vital union with Christ that is necessary in our lives.  We must stop our struggling to become "like Him."  The miracle of His grace is not merely what He would do for us, but what He would become in us.  Maturity is not the development of human understanding; neither is it an increase in our intellectual knowledge concerning prophecy.  It is, however, the unhindered outflow of the knowledge of Christ Himself, giving us understanding of the heart commensurate with our spiritual ability to receive Him.

'He that believeth in (into) Me, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of Living Water.'  (John 7:38)  The surge of this Divine Flow or Resurrection Life will cover body, soul and spirit; and the Divine virtues of our adorable Lord will nullify and abrogate absolutely everything we have received under the Curse of the Law.  This provision includes healing.  It means more than healing; it is the perpetuation of health!  It means the continuous operation in us of the Divine Life."

We still do not have the usual flock of Dark-eyed Juncos so it is a mystery.  I see one or two at a time feeding with the many White-throated Sparrows.  One day I saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet which is a bird we get during it's migration south.  It seemed to be a little later than other years.
We still have our deer families coming through daily.  Water is so critical for wildlife in winter in areas where it freezes.  I'm sure we have all kinds of night wildlife strolling through for a sip at our pond or to check on whether the last visitor left any of the veggie and fruit scraps we throw out each day.  When I think about how much food is thrown out in the garbage that could help wildlife survive, it's a sad thing.  But then some of that "garbage" is not what you would want to feed wildlife.

View Enlarged Image
One of the deer families seems to come right after I put out cracked corn for the ground birds.  I don't do it at the same time each day, so I am beginning to wonder if they hear me toss it to the ground.  I throw it into the bushes that are at the breakfast window so the deer can't just eat a pile of it off the ground, but they still stick their noses under those bushes and get a few licks.  After that they like to lie around in the backyard.

Can you see the three (3) deer in this picture?  Their coats are sure colored to blend in with the dried leaves on the ground.  One day while they visited the two young ones decided to clean each other.  That was so sweet.  View Video of Two Young Deer Cleaning Each Other.

I've been reading about critters in Australia since our neighbors took a trip there this year and brought me back two books on wild critters.  One was on ocean critters where I discovered a lot about octopuses.  They live mostly on the floor of the ocean or among coral reefs.  Did you know they are more intelligent than a dog?  They have terrific short and long-term memory and a highly developed nervous system.  They feed on some things with hard shells and break them by force or by drilling a hole in it and extracting the soft-bodied creature inside.

Octopus
View Enlarged Image
One of the ways they escape danger is to squirt what looks like black ink, which is actually melanin.  That's the chemical that gives us our hair color and skin color.  Since I have vitiligo (lack of pigment in patches on my body) I'm very familiar with that chemical's name.

Octopuses are skilled problem solvers.  There have been reports of octopuses boarding fishing boats and opening holds to get at the crabs.  The most bizarre information about this critter is that when it reproduces, it dies.  Males live for just a few months after mating, while females stop eating as they tend their eggs and eventually starve to death.  So, now you have a little knowledge about octopuses.  I don't expect to find any here at Bluebird Cove.

We happened upon some huge poinsettias for $14.99 earlier this month.  I've never seen any this big and they looked so healthy and lush.  Couldn't resist such an alive looking plant in the midst of a dreary winter.  So I picked out the best one [grin] and Randal put it in the cart.  You can kinda see from the couch behind it that it's the width of it.  The angle I shot at isn't allowing for much viewing.

Huge Holiday Poinsettia
View Enlarged Image
When I visited Costa Rica they grow as trees.  When we lived in Alabama I actually planted one after the holidays and it lived for a couple of years until we had a hard winter.  So, our home looks like Christmas with our 16" fiber-optic tree on the fireplace and this poinsettia on the end table by the front door.  I talk to it every day telling it how beautiful it is and how long it's going to live and be honored in our home.

Here's something shared by Marilee, a subscriber friend, on the Grace of Christianity:

An elderly professor of world religions surprised his colleagues by declaring his commitment to Christ. He explained: "It was as if I had fallen into a deep, abandoned well. Muhammad came by and told me it was the will of Allah that I be in this well, then he left. The Buddha came by and told me if I would cease desire I would cease to suffer in the well, then he left. A Hindu teacher came by and told me if I was faithful in the well I would escape through reincarnation, then he left. Confucius came by and told me if I'd not tripped I would not be in the well, then he left. Jesus came by, saw me, and got into the well with me. That is why I am a Christian."

Who We Are In Christ

• My faith can move mountains. Mark 11:23
• My words contain life and death. Prov 18:28
• My life was bought at a price - Jesus covered it! 1 Cor 6:20
• My life is protected. Mark 16:18
• Angels encamp around me. Ps 34:7

Do We Believe It?

Donna on Butterfly Bench
A Gift From Charlie
With all the busyness in the month of December, I made this issue shorter than usual.  There are many festivities to enjoy for Christmas.  I pray you keep peace in Christmas and your "to do list" short.

I'm already praying for your new year of 2014 with blessings of provision, health, relationships and more depth of understanding of the love of God for you.

Have a truly merry Christmas in Him.

Donna

P.S.  Anything in here that might help somebody you know?  
Here's a link to the online version of this newsletter: 
Newsletter - 12/15/13
www.thenatureinus.com/2013/12/newsletter-121513.html

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Posts Since Last Newsletter


When Unbelief Consumes Our Heart

How to Find a Lost Dog - Tried & True Method

Nine-banded Armadillo

Get Your Focus Off The Problem

Previous Posts You May Have Missed

Newsletter - 12/1/13  (DLW)

Thinking Impacts Eating

Healing Isn't Always Instant Even For Jesus  (DLW)

Preventing Bird Window Collisions

Hanging Out With Sinners

God Will Fix Your Mess  (DLW)

The Loss of Losing a Pet

Newsletter - 11/15/13  (DLW)

What Do You See In This Picture?  (DLW)

Martha Missed It  (DLW)

Plants Won’t Grow Near Wi-Fi Router

Can We Command Angels?

Pets: Household Items For Use In Emergency

Newsletter - 11/1/13  (DLW)

Amazing Love in Christ  (DLW)

Vitamin D Link to Ear Infections

Oral Health For Pets

Choose Life and Blessings  (DLW)

Benefits of Hand Feeding Your Dog

Don't Fight The Devil  (DLW)

Love Conquers Fear


Feline Asthma




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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

When Unbelief Consumes Our Heart


by Cecil Paxton

What you allow to consume your heart you become.  Another way of saying this is you take on the identity of whatever of life's problems you allow to consume your heart.

This is why unbelief, which is directly related to natural knowledge, is so destructive to our faith in trusting God and having confidence in Him.  The more you think and meditate on your problems to find a solution, in the arm of the flesh (our own strength), the more we identify and become the problem.  What you become in your heart comes out in your thoughts, words, actions and attitudes.

At times there are people who come for prayer with their heart in this condition who want to receive from God but they are not identifying and have not become the promise found in Christ.  They are not prepared to receive the manifestation into the natural realm from the spiritual realm - they just want it.

Receiving has to do with identifying with our freedom in Christ which is found in consuming our heart with the promise and the person behind the promise, not the problem.

Consider Abraham's faith:"And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."  Romans 4:19-21

If you are fearful in your heart then you are identifying with the problem which means to some degree you have been dwelling on the problem.  Fear in our heart is the result of believing the problem resulting in an emotional response in your thoughts, words and attitude.  In other words, we emotionally feel our strong beliefs from our heart.

As I was talking with a minister friend of mine about the subject of fear he made a statement out of Matthew 24 about the body of Christ. He said there are Christians who are constantly consuming their hearts with all the social/political problems going on within our country and that this is causing the love of God within them to begin to wax cold as they are constantly fearful over the negative they are seeing.

As Christians we do not deny that we have problems or that there are problems in life; although there are some Christians who think that denial is having faith. Denial, or pretending we do not have a problem, is not faith. The answer is in persuading our heart in the faithfulness of God and in His promises found in Christ.

Being fully persuaded in His promises as it says in Psalms 16:11 is spending time in His presence resulting in fullness of joy because it is at His right hand that there are pleasures forever. It is not joy, but the joy of the Lord that is our strength. The answer is always found in Him.

Source
August Newsletter - Cecil & Lisa Paxton Ministries


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How to Find a Lost Dog: Keep This Info!


How to Find a Lost Dog: Tried & True Methods
by Nicole Wilde, Author


This week’s post is a follow-up to Five Things to do Now, Before Your Dog is Lost. If your dog isn’t currently lost, check out that blog, then come back and print out the tips that follow for future reference. Some of these are standard procedure, and others are a product of my years working with dogs in shelters, rescue, and training. My sincere hope is that you’ll never need them.

Search your neighborhood:

Search area: Draw a circle on a map with your home at the center. Extend the radius out a few miles so you can cover the area in a comprehensive, methodical way. You will cover the paths where you normally walk your dog, and then move gradually and methodically out to surrounding areas.

Dogs are crepuscular, meaning they’re most active at dawn and dusk. You’ll want to search at other times as well, but focus on those two time periods.

Walking search: Grab a leash and take along some super-stinky, yummy food you know your dog loves, such as sardines, hot dogs, or fresh pieces of roasted chicken. If your dog has a favorite toy, bring it along. Toys that make noise, such as ones that squeak or jingle, are best. If you have another dog, bring that dog along, too. If your dog is an only dog but you have access to another yours is friendly with, ask the owner to walk with you.

Call out your dog’s name as you go, jingle the toy, and keep the stinky food exposed to the air. Do visual sweeps, paying careful attention to places such as bushes, the undersides of cars, and other areas your dog might take cover if he’s sleeping, injured, or frightened. Brainstorm about local places your dog might venture, such as the local dog park, woods, or fields where rabbits or other wildlife are found; or, in a more urban environment, perhaps your dog might head for a neighbor’s house where a canine friend lives.

Driving search: If possible, have someone else drive so you can focus on searching and calling out your dog’s name. If you’re alone, drive slowly and keep your eyes on the road as you do intermittent visual sweeps of the area. Keep the windows rolled down and call out your dog’s name as you go. If your dog knows, “Wanna go for a ride?” call his name followed by the phrase, uttered in the same happy tone you’d normally use. Whether you are searching by car or on foot, if your dog knows a recall cue, use his name and call him to come to you. Even though you’re understandably stressed out, remember the happy voice!

Photograph: Bring a few recent photos along, preferably one head shot and a few full body photos. Show them to everyone you encounter. If your dog is currently wearing a different collar, harness, or other “clothing” than what’s shown in the photos, say so. Ask whether anyone’s seen your dog, and give them a way to contact you.

Get the word out:
Inform your neighbors: If you feel it’s safe, knock on doors and explain, and/or leave flyers. If your dog is not people-friendly, don’t expect people to attempt contact. Instead, supply them with the phone number of your local animal control agency along with your cell number, and ask them to call both if they spot your dog. 

Even if your dog is friendly, ask people not to chase him, but to turn their body to the side (and even crouch down with body turned sideways if they’re willing and able) and clap gently, using a high-pitched, happy voice to lure your dog to them. If they have a yard or other potential containment area, ask them to coax your dog inside, close the door/gate, and then call you. Let people know too whether your dog is dog-friendly, in case they have a dog of their own.

Post “Lost” flyers around your neighborhood, using your targeted map as a guide. Keep the text large so it’s easily readable, and post strategically so motorists passing in both directions can spot them; be sure to post at traffic signals and stop signs, where motorists will be more likely to have a moment to read.

Include a clear photo, preferably in color. The word “REWARD” should appear prominently. (Positive reinforcement works for people, too.) Now, I know some will disagree with this, but I also recommend printing “NEEDS MEDICATION,” whether the dog does or not, as it helps to dissuade those who believe in a “Finders, Keepers” policy from keeping your dog. Create small tear-off tags at the bottom of the page with your phone number so the tags get removed and the flyer remains up.

Post flyers at veterinary offices, emergency clinics, shelters, humane societies, groomers, pet supply stores, kennels, other dog-related businesses, and dog parks. Post too at laundromats, supermarkets, community bulletin boards, and anywhere else that will allow it.

Distribute flyers to your local postal workers and delivery drivers. They’re the ones who cover your neighborhood in a comprehensive way daily, and have the best chance of spotting your dog. Give flyers to kids who are playing or hanging out on the street and let them know there’s a reward. Alert local dog walkers, since they are not only out and about in the community regularly, but will have other dogs with them who might attract your dog. Other people to hand flyers to include bus drivers, taxi drivers, highway workers, utility workers—you get the idea. Give ‘em to anyone who’s spending time in your neighborhood and is willing to help.

Alert local trainers and groomers in case someone decides to keep your dog and engages their services. Let local rescue groups know, too. If your dog is a purebred, alert the breed rescue, even if it’s not in your immediate area. Even if your dog is a mixed breed, alert the breed rescue for his predominant breed, as well as mixed-breed rescues.

Spread the word online. Post information and photos on Facebook, Twitter, and any other social media you subscribe to, and ask that it be shared.

Place “Lost dog” ads in your local and surrounding newspapers, and on Craiglist.

Search Shelters and Humane Societies:

Search shelters in your area, and any within roaming distance, daily. Depending on where you live, strays may be euthanized after just a few days of not being claimed. Don’t just call—you must show up in person. Often the office staffer who answers the phone will not know what dogs are in the actual facility. Also, your dog might have been marked down as the wrong breed upon intake.

Be sure to search all of the runs, even those reserved for the opposite sex (every now and then a mistake is made as to gender). And don’t skip the medical area! If your dog was hit by a car or otherwise injured, that’s where he’ll be. Ask a shelter staffer whether you’re allowed inside; if not, give them a few photos and ask them to take a look. Also, ask in the main office where to locate the Found postings.

Miscellaneous:

If your dog is a purebred or a mostly-purebred, keep a vigilant watch on the website of any local groups who specialize in that breed. Check the websites too of any local mixed-breed rescue groups.

If you’ve got a GPS tracker on your dog, use it. Be sure you know how wide of a geographical range the product covers.

There are companies that will, for a fee, help search for your dog by generating flyers and employing a voluminous contact list. This can be especially helpful if you work full-time or are otherwise too busy or unable to conduct a full-on search on your own. Depending on the state you live in, there may even be services available where a bloodhound or other breed can help to track your dog.

If you spot your dog:

Hopefully, you’ll soon spot your dog. Although you’ll be thrilled to see him, since the outside world is one big Doggie Disneyland, he might not be inclined to run directly to you. If that happens, try to get him to chase you instead. If you’re near your home, have him chase you all the way into the yard, then close the gate; if not, try to maneuver to where you can grab him gently. Another trick you can try is to fall down and pretend to cry. Use a high-pitched, distressed tone. Many dogs will run to their owners in that situation.

The most important thing:

Think positive. Visualize your dog home safe and sound. Most importantly, don’t give up! I know of a few cases where a dog was lost and someone took him in for a few months and then gave the dog up to a shelter. Keep looking, keep spreading the word, and stay strong. Here’s to your dog getting home safe and sound.

Print this Checklist:

____ On a map, circle a radius with your residence as the mid-point.
____ When searching, take: treats, toys, your other dog, a familiar dog.
____ Create a “Lost Dog” flyer. Photo, large text, tear-off contact info.
____ Post flyers at:


– street corners
– veterinary offices
– groomers
– kennels
– shelters
– dog parks
– pet supply stores
– non-pet-related stores
____ Give flyers to:
– passersby
– kids hanging out/playing in street
– bus drivers
– delivery drivers (e.g., UPS, FedEx)
____ Inform:
– local rescues (breed-specific if applicable, too)
– trainers
– groomers
– boarding kennels
____ Post online to social media and other groups.
____ Place ads in local newspapers and on Craig’s List.
____ Search shelters thoroughly and regularly.
____ Monitor local rescue websites, especially if your dog’s a purebred.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Article used with permission from author.  You can find all of Nicole’s books, seminar DVDs and products at www.nicolewilde.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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Nine-banded Armadillo


When we lived in Alabama a large forested area behind us got cleared and afterwards we had various species of wildlife in our yard that had not previously visited that we knew of.  One of those critters was the Nine-banded Armadillo.  I was so excited because I didn't even know they had armadillos in our area of Alabama. Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning “little armored one.” They are certainly an unusual species ...

Of the 20 surviving varieties of the world’s armadillos, only one species can be found in the United States. While the nine-banded armadillo’s population is increasing, many of its cousins in Latin America are threatened, over-hunted and used for traditional dishes.

Their range is from southern Texas to the southeastern tip of New Mexico, through Oklahoma from the southeastern corner of Kansas and the southwestern corner of Missouri, through most of Arkansas to southwestern Mississippi. The range also includes central Alabama, Georgia and most of Florida.

Because of their low metabolic rate and lack of fat stores, cold is their enemy and spates of intemperate weather can wipe out whole populations.  Most species use their sharp claws to dig burrows and sleep prolifically up to 16 hours, then forage in the early morning and evening for beetles, ants, termites and other insects. They have very poor eyesight and utilize their keen sense of smell to hunt. Read the entire article.
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