Sunday, January 26, 2014

Moving On With Life

Shenandoah National Park - Big Meadows
Thistle with Bees on Flowers
View Enlarged Image
by Donna L. Watkins

Sometimes we can place too much responsibility on the Lord and not take our own stand in a decision-making process. God gave us the Holy Spirit to "teach us all things" (John 14:26).

We have to be plugged in to hear. Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice and we follow.  But often we have so many voices we're not sure which one is the Lord's.

Some people have more TV time than God time. Listening to and reading a lot of bad news reports counter-balances the Truth we plant in our hearts by meditating on the Word.  No wonder fear is rampant amidst our minds.

If we are serious about wanting to KNOW what God wants for our lives, then we will make it a priority, as we do other important things in our lives.  Ask yourself honestly ... are television programs more important than God?  If they are, you can stop here.  Leave God behind and continue on the path you're on.  At least you'll have more peace not being in the continual struggle of waiting for God to do something.

Knowing the Word is so critical to knowing the will of God.  God will not violate His Word.  So you can discern whether the voice you believe to be God's is saying something of Truth or know you're being deceived by the devil.

You ALWAYS have time to do what you WANT to do.

We can't expect God to do miracles in our lives every day, when He says that He has given us power over the Enemy (Satan), so we need to stand against the confusion we are allowing him to put within us. (Luke 10:19). God gave us free will and He sticks by that. Consider this ....

Mark 6:5 says that "He (Jesus) could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them." In that instance, it is evident that the reason Jesus couldn't do any mighty work was not because He didn't possess the power, but because our faith is part of the equation.  How often did He ask people what they wanted Him to do?  Or ask them "Do you believe I can do what you ask?"  He also used phrases like, "your faith has made you whole" and "be it unto you according to your faith."  It's something to ponder as you read the words of Jesus and His method of healing.  Notice He didn't go after people to heal them.  They came to Him ... other than the man by the pool of Bethsaida who couldn't move.

We often stay stuck in a situation waiting for handwriting on the wall or a star in heaven to point the way. We have the Almighty God in us (imparted at salvation) and He is directing our steps all of the time.  Isaiah 30:21 tells us, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it."

We need to be able to hear His voice and that requires relationship with Him.  We know the voices of those with whom we speak often.  We gain this relationship by being with Him, not in books and devotionals and teachings, but with Him alone so we can listen to what He wants to tell us.

The Word is alive and active (Heb. 4:12) so it comes alive in our spirit.  God is spirit (John 4:24) and He communicates to our spirit.  If our flesh has been ruling our body (entertainment, food, doing to gain acceptance, etc.), then it's like we've packed away our spirit in the attic.  Don't get hung up on "having to" read the Bible each day, rather read it because you want to discover more and more about Him.

Remember that the early Christians didn't have the written Word of the New Testament for decades and then it was not something every Believer possessed. The Holy Spirit was to be their guide and teacher.  That should still be our focus for today.  I'm just saying that we can get a Law mindset of "having to" read the Bible and God may be calling us simply to sit and listen to Him on some days.

Beginning of Homestead Purple Verbena Bloom
At some point we need to realize that God can work with decisions we make in faith believing they are His will, but to get to that belief, you need relationship.  When you have it, even if you make the wrong decision, I believe God will bless it (and possibly alter it through circumstances) simply because He loves us so much.  He wants to see us stepping out and walking in victory.

The devil wants us walking in defeat and encumbered by many activities.  We live in a swirling whirling world these days.  It takes a determination to keep life simple so that we don't enter into the "hurry, worry, scurry" mindset of life today.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  (John 10:10)

If your life is feeling empty ... it's not because Jesus hasn't given you something better ... you've just not believed and walked in it.  Just like the folks in Jesus' hometown.  They knew too much about Him in the physical realm.  Who His parents were, his brothers, and had seen Him growing up.  How could they believe and receive from this person they knew so well to be simply a person, not the Messiah.

Don't let the devil steal all the blessings God has given you.  His love made a great sacrifice so you could have an abundant life ... make time for Him and you will be amazed at how different life becomes.  Need some practical teaching to kick-off a new lifestyle?  Here's some links to get you started.

Related Articles
Hearing God - Donna L. Watkins
Hearing God's Voice - Devotional by Andrew Wommack
Hearing God's Voice - Donna L. Watkins
How To Hear God's Voice - Andrew Wommack
Leaning Into God - Donna L. Watkins
How To Hear God's Voice - Audio Teaching by Andrew Wommack



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Being Joyful ALL of the Time

Rejoice in the Lord - Always
by Andrew Wommack

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

The world experiences joy and happiness in direct proportion to their circumstances. Bad circumstances produce depression and sorrow, while good circumstances produce joy and peace. That's bondage, and does not have to be the case for a Christian. Our joy is not dependent on things, but rather on the person of Jesus Christ. He is our peace and joy.

The way we take advantage of this joy and peace in the midst of tribulation, is to have our minds and hearts stayed on things above and not on things of this earth. The invisible things of God are eternal while the visible problems on earth are only temporary. All the problems of this life grow very dim when we compare them to the glory of God that is ours through Jesus.

We can rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4) because rejoicing is an action, not a reaction to our environment. Joy is a gift from God that was given to us at salvation. It was placed within our born-again spirit and it doesn't fluctuate or diminish; it is constant. The Lord has put the joy inside us and we are to "work it out" by choosing to obey this command in scripture.

We are commanded to rejoice "IN THE LORD." Many people are not experiencing true joy because their joy is in their circumstances. That is, they are waiting to rejoice when things in their lives are going good, and that doesn't happen very often. We are suppose to "rejoice in the Lord always."

That means we are supposed to rejoice in who the Lord is and what He has done for us. He never changes (Heb. 13:8) and His mercies and compassions are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).

Visit Andrew's Website.


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Winter Fun with Dogs

 Video by Dr. Sarah   
    
Sleet. Snow. Ice. These things make most folks want to huddle indoors cozied up by the fire. But dogs are not most people. Often, the chill in the air sparks their anticipation for fun romps through the wintery mix.

But, there are dangers lurking under that blanket of white. Thankfully, Dr. Sarah is ready to reveal handy tips in the latest episode of Pet Talk, to keep your pet kids fully protected during outdoor playtime.  Watch the video now....


Friendly Birds

Birds have such great personalities and very varied ones too.  They are not only fascinating to watch, but lovely to hear a background serenade as I go about my daily business.

Learn a bit more about species you have in your own backyard at Cornell's website on birds.  Choose your birds from this long list of options and begin to understand more about the behaviors and food choices of the birds that have chosen to live in your habitat.  View bird list.
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Saturday, January 18, 2014

Rest And Receive Your Miracle

From Being Part of the New Covenant

In the healing of the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–16), Jesus knew that for 38 years, the man had been flat on his back, unable to do anything for himself or others, no matter how hard he struggled.

In the case of the woman oppressed with a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:10–13), Jesus knew that the woman had been bowed over for 18 years. And in that condition, she saw very little that was beautiful in life, only the dusty ground, dirty sandals and bruised feet.

What about the man with a withered hand? (Luke 6:6–10) Jesus knew from His carpenter days how a useless hand could have easily given the man a very poor sense of self-worth.

I believe that all three of them must have struggled for so long to get back on their feet, to try to lift themselves up, to attempt to do something about their situations, only to be disappointed each time they failed.

In fact, they got so frustrated with striving to get better that by the time they met Jesus, they had probably given up trying to change their situations. It was then that Jesus came and extended His offer to turn their situations around.

And when they embraced His offer, they received the miracles that they had sought for so long. You too may have been struggling to get back on your feet, or to lift yourself out of the problem that has sorely weighed you down. You have attempted to do whatever you could, hoping that it would amount to something, but you have been frustrated time and again.

My friend, God wants you to cease from all your struggling and accept the offer He extends to turn your situation around. It is no coincidence that all three of them received their miracles on the Sabbath, the day of rest for the Jews. God’s Word says, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” The day you cease from your own laboring and striving, and rest in the finished work of Christ, is the day you receive your miracle. 

Jesus has done all the work. Whatever you need has been provided for at the cross. So just be at rest and receive your miracle!


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The Secrets of Cat Whispering

The Secrets of Cat Whispering (Video)
by Dr. Sarah

If the thought of petting a cat makes you a little nervous or uncomfortable, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

In this episode of Pet Talk, Dr. Sarah shows you all of the sweet spots where cats love affection and offers helpful tips on how to safely approach an apprehensive kitty. Watch this video episode now.

Unusual Food Choices For The Birds


You can attract a variety of backyard birds with these common kitchen foods.  You don't have to buy them just for the birds, you can give them leftovers.  We eat a lot of apples from August through April and I cut mine by making 4 slices around the core, leaving behind a square core which I can break in half and toss out for the birds.

In the winter I try to share a bit more since it helps the wildlife even more.  It's amazing how many critters enjoy banana peels.  Only in winter though ... they have more favorite choices in good weather I guess, because they don't consume them when it's warm.

Here's a few ideas ....

Apples

Biggest fans: Eastern bluebird, pine grosbeak, gray catbird, northern cardinal, northern flicker, American robin, scarlet tanager, cedar waxwing and red-bellied woodpecker.

Serving suggestion: Slice them up and remove the seeds.

Bananas

Biggest fans: Northern cardinal, gray catbird, gray jay, scarlet tanager.

Serving suggestion: Remove the peel and cut in half lengthwise.

Cooked pasta and rice

Biggest fans: Blue jay, brown thrasher, tufted titmouse, red-bellied woodpecker.

Serving suggestion: Serve both plain, and chop pasta into little bits to make it easier to eat.

Get more ideas in the rest of the article ....
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Physicians' Diagnostic Confidence Doesn't Mean Accuracy

According to the latest work from Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) researchers, physicians tend to rate their diagnostic capabilities firmly above average, whether the case at hand is classified as difficult or fairly evident. The problem arises in the fact that most diagnoses for difficult cases tend to be incorrect.

According to the latest work from Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) researchers, physicians tend to rate their diagnostic capabilities firmly above average, whether the case at hand is classified as difficult or fairly evident. The problem arises in the fact that most diagnoses for difficult cases tend to be incorrect. See the results>
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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Newsletter - 1/15/14

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"Human love is fickle but God's love is constant.  It is the bedrock of the universe and the reason you are here.  Just look at the night sky.  He put those stars there to impress you with the astronomical extravagance and of His love.
 -- Paul Ellis, The Gospel in 10 Words
Donna with Chloe the Camel
Blue Ridge Mountains Farm
View Enlarged Image
Hello Dear Friends!
Now that we're into 2014 I've been thinking about how fast birthdays come and go the older you get ... and one of my favorites was my 60th birthday year when I decided to find 60 new adventures to enjoy during that year.  

Our son came to visit for my actual birthday in September and as usual most of our time was spent outdoors and one of our favorite places is the Blue Ridge Mountains.  One of the highlights of the day was to meet Chloe, a camel at Mountainside Petting Farm.  What a delight to be loved on by a camel.  Chloe was super friendly and this was one main adventure of the 60 I discovered that year.  [View blog posts of the 60 adventures.]

We've had some pretty cold days here in Central Virginia but from what I've heard, it's been cold in many places.  It certainly makes you count heat as a daily blessing, along with a nice warm quilt or blanket to cover up with at night.

I am always amazed at God's provision for the creatures.  He uses our hands to provide for them and they give us such enjoyment.  Their persistence of doing what needs to be done each day, which is mostly get a full tummy of food to stay alive during the night.  It sure brings "simple living" to another level with that one focus in Winter.  I wonder if they think about Springtime also.  Many species get paired off during Fall and Winter and others call for a mate when Spring arrives.  Do birds dream of the future?

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The Pain of Promises

by Donna L. Watkins

Many of us carry wounds in our minds from childhood which are based on promises that were never fulfilled. Maybe it was something as simple as a family camping trip, or something as grave as a promise that a parent would never leave you ... and then they did. When promises don't come to fulfillment, they leave a scar on our hearts and a notch in our ability to trust.

Purple Columbine Flowers
View Enlarged Image
When we grow up not being able to trust, we will have a more difficult time when we get saved. As we read more and more of His promises and seemingly factual statements, we become more confused because our lives are certainly not portraying what we read.

We are "a new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17), but we look like the old one in the mirror. We are "more than conquerers" (Romans 8:37), but we seem to be on the losing end of every battle we take on. "By His stripes we are healed" (I Peter 2:24), but we deal with the same health issues, pain, deformity, fatigue, disabilities, that we had before salvation. We have the Holy Spirit in us and the fruit of that “is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal. 5:22), but our harvesting basket has slim pickings.

Putting Nuisance Beavers to Work

With their strong buck teeth and flat tails, beavers are the engineers of the natural world. Their craftsmanship, however, sometimes impacts man-made environments such as houses, roads, and farms. As a result, beavers are often considered to be nuisance animals and killed for the trouble they cause.

Now, beavers throughout central and eastern Washington State are being saved. In March 2011, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) established a three-year pilot project to relocate troublemaking beavers from homes and farms and move them to upper river tributaries.

Eastern Washington is a dry and arid place concerned with water storage and maintaining a healthy water cycle for crops, wildlife, and people. As climate change progresses, concerns about water quantity and quality continue to mount.

“Beaver [dams] create stream complexity,” said Meyer, “Stream complexity leads to more food, more fish, and more wildlife habitat. When we set our monitoring cameras, we very frequently get pictures of deer, bobcat, elk, mice, birds, and a whole host of animals that now live around these beaver dams.”
Over the course of a year one beaver colony provides about $13,000 of ecosystem services. These services range from connecting flood plains to benefit plant growth, preventing floods by enabling water to slowly soak into the soil, and preventing pollutants from flowing downstream into drinking water. The most notable benefit is restoring salmon habitat.  Read the entire article.



Was Jesus The Messiah?

"The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born." -- Matthew 26:24

One of the most convincing arguments that Jesus was the Christ are the hundreds of Old Testament prophecies that He fulfilled. This is a list of some of the main Old Testament prophecies concerning His death and their New Testament fulfillments.

O.T. Reference - Prophecy - N.T. Fulfillment

Genesis 3:15 - Victory over Satan - Colossians 2:15
Numbers 21:9 - The type of serpent - John 3:14-15
Psalms 16:9-10 - The Messiah would not see corruption - Acts 2:27, 31; 13:35
Psalms 22:1 - Christ forsaken - Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34
Psalms 22:7-8 - Messiah mocked and ridiculed - Luke 23:35
Psalms 22:16 - Piercing His hands and feet - Mark 15:25; Luke 23:33; John 19:37, 20:25
Psalms 22:18 - Parting His garments and casting lots for them - Luke 23:34 and John 19:23-24
Psalms 34:20 - Not one bone broken - John 19:36
Psalms 35:11 - Accused falsely - Mark 14:57-58
Psalms 35:19 - Hated without a cause - John 15:24-25
Psalms 41:9 - Betrayed by a close associate - Luke 22:47-48
Psalms 49:15 - His resurrection - Mark 16:6
Psalms 68:18 - His ascension to God’s right hand - Mark 16:19 and Ephesians 4:8
Psalms 69:21 - Given vinegar to drink in His thirst - Matthew 27:34, 48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29
Psalms 109:25 - They reviled Him, wagging their heads - Matthew 27:39
Isaiah 50:6 - They spit in His face - Matthew 26:67
Isaiah 50:6 - The Messiah scourged - Matthew 27:26
Isaiah 52:14 - Lost human appearance by physical mistreatment - Matthew 26:67, 27:26, 29-30; Mark 15:15-19;  John 19:34
Isaiah 52:15 - Gentiles shall receive spiritual cleansing - Hebrews 1:3
Isaiah 53:3 - He was despised and rejected of people - John 1:10-11
Isaiah 53:4 - He bore our sicknesses - Matthew 8:16-17
Isaiah 53:5-6 - He was wounded for our transgressions - Romans 4:25 and 1 Peter 3:18
Isaiah 53:7 - He opened not His mouth - Matthew 26:63, 27:12, 14; Mark 14:61, 15:5; 1 Peter 2:23
Isaiah 53:9 - He was buried with the rich - Matthew 27:57-58 and 60
Isaiah 53:11 - He shall justify many - Romans 3:26 and 5:19
Isaiah 53:12 - He was numbered with the transgressors - Mark 15:28 and Luke 22:37
Isaiah 53:12 - He was crucified with criminals - Mark 15:27-28
Jonah 1:17 - The sign of the prophet, Jonah - Matthew 12:40 and 16:4
Micah 5:1 - Smitten with a rod upon the cheek - Matthew 27:30
Zechariah 11:12 - He was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver - Matthew 26:15
Zechariah 11:13 - The betrayal money was used to buy the potter’s field - Matthew 27:5-10
Zechariah 13:7 - The shepherd is smitten and the flock is scattered - Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27

Source
Life For Today Study Bible Notes


Fruits & Veggies Your Dog Will Like

We all want is best for our pets and keeping their weight down is something that can go a long way to increasing their quality of (and length of) life. But, what kinds of treats are best for our dogs?

Fresh fruit and vegetables as treats are not only better for your dogs waistline, but excellent for their overall health. Here are some guidelines you can use to select the best fruits and vegetables as snacks for your omnivorous friends.  Read the entire article.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Newsletter - 1/1/14

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""The tendency today is to put the emphasis on service.  Beware of the people who make usefulness their ground of appeal.  If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure that ever lived.  The lodestar of the saint is God Himself, not estimated usefulness.  It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him.  All that Our Lord heeds in a man’s life is the relationship of worth to His Father.  Jesus is bringing many sons to glory."
 -- Oswald Chambers


New Year Blessings to You!

Donna and Benjamin - 8/10/87
I'm always excited when a new year begins since it's a great starting place for changing your life.  It's like putting off the old and taking on the new, even if it's just attitudes.  Seems to me to be a great time to reinvent or recreate yourself. 

Before Christmas, I took a whole week off the computer to focus on a super spiritual feast, looking ahead to the new year and all the possibilities we have in Christ.

Several of my friends asked if I was having withdrawal symptoms or seizures being away from the computer that long.  I guess I'm not as fascinated with machines as some.  I appreciate the benefits of my computer, but the week with it in the closet was amazingly incredible and seemed to fly by much too quickly. 

I just stayed plugged into my "temple within" to know more and more of who God is and His love for me.  You know when the Temple veil was split in two as Christ died, it was symbolic that there was no more separation between God and man.  He would now dwell within us, so our bodies are actually the Temple that holds the very Presence of God within it.  A God who loved us so much He came to earth to die for us so He would have fellowship and relationship with man.  How can anybody get depressed or bored when you can commune with the Living God at any time!

After that week I began scanning print photos again.  It's a good winter project till I'm back to where my childhood photos are Brownie style/quality pictures.  I'm working on 1986 now.  It's quite a nostalgic trip looking back 27 years.  Your mind tends to ponder whether life has been good or bad and each of us have a tendency to see it one way or the other.  You tend to remember some of the ways you thought back then, how immature you were in various areas of life, and realizing that how you handled problems then has affected your life for today.  The best thing to do is to focus on all the blessings that God's giving us along the way, besides all the mercy and grace He pours upon us.

It's wonderful that God made our minds so that we can renew them, because I've been working on a lot of renewing since I began Dr. Leaf's 21-Day Brain Detox Program.  I'm currently on my 10th detox.  Toxic thought patterns affect our mental, spiritual and physical lives, so it's been grand to have some of those knocked out of brain storage and replaced with healthy ones.

Deer Eating Banana - View Enlarged Image
We continue to be amazed at all the antics of the wildlife.  We've been reading a book called, "The Private Lives of Garden Birds."  It gives so much insight into the lives of our backyard birds and in winter you seem to be able to really make sense of it all since you can get a much closer look at them without the leaves on the trees and their need to feed more, making them visible for most of the day. 

Besides all the birds that visit us, we had a surprise view of a deer eating a banana one day.  One of the bananas on a bunch we bought had a deep gash (maybe from the machete when harvesting).  It didn't look pretty inside, so we decided to just toss the entire banana outside for the critters.

We always put banana peels out with our fruit and veggies scraps.  They're not fond of them in good weather, but in the winter some night visitors eat them up.  Little did we know that deer eat bananas until we tossed this one out in the morning and later saw a deer trying to grab the entire banana and keep it in her mouth.  It was a funny sight to see and I couldn't get a good picture of it as you can see.

Squeek, our kitty also known as Kitty Girl, had cystitis again.  I'm not quite sure what it's from, but something I do now and then turns her urine pH alkaline enough to form crystals.  I had been giving her nutritional yeast so that may be the culprit.  This is the 3rd time this year, but fortunately we pay attention to what's in the litter box and the reduced output, so I began Cranberry right away and added a Slippery Elm to soothe the irritation so she can rest and not run to the litter box ever 15 minutes.  This has worked all three times, so I'm grateful to her response to it.  Since we catch it early, there's a difference noticed in a couple of hours and it only takes a couple of days to get her back to normal. 

Squeek (aka Kitty Girl) in Cuddly Cozy
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She's one sweet cooperative kitty.  We say she is the "best kitty we've ever had" because she really has been the easiest to train (we don't want cats on the furniture) and she's low maintenance.  No whining and crying.  She's one pretty content cat!  She's 17-1/2 years old now.  Since extensive dental surgery over two years ago (necessary due to FIV-induced gum disease), I've noticed indications of kidney disease from the anesthesia, so we count all of our time with her precious and continue to speak healing over her body.

A subscriber sent me information on a better way to defend yourself from intruders.  The information shared is that a can of wasp spray is the best defense according to some police departments. [Side Note: When I was single I dated a Deputy Sheriff who informed me that people who have a gun in the house that they don't use on a weekly basis, will often get themselves shot or killed by the intruders using the gun ... or there have been many situations where people have killed a family member from severe fright.]

You may have seen this wasp spray email passing through.  There are a few things to consider since many jurisdictions specifically prohibit the use of any self-defense sprays other than pepper spray. Also, most spray insecticide containers include warnings stating that "It is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling."  So there could be legal ramifications since the toxic effects of pyrethrin could potentially be much more harmful or less effective than expected.

One of the benefits was that the wasp spray shoots up to 20 feet away so you don't have to be close to the intruder. There are pepper sprays that will produce a stream of 8-25 feet in distance. Other sprayers produce a cone spray pattern and others models produce a fog that covers a larger area.  Be sure to consider all options if you use this method for self-defense.

My wildlife neighbor friend, Ken Bushell, who moved to Tennessee a few years ago sent me a link to a video of a fox in North Dakota that hunts mice three feet under the snow.  It's an amazing thing to watch.  The fox listens carefully and then jumps as high as he can and dives into the snow head-first to catch the mouse.  The narrative mentions that he almost always comes up empty unless he's facing north which scientists feel is his homing in on the magnetic field of the planet.  Wow!  We will have a lot to learn about God's creatures when we get to Heaven.  View The Fox Video.

Pileated Woodpecker - View Enlarged Image
Do any of you have New Year's resolutions to share?  I've been working on my resolution since November.  It's my mouth!  I can be sarcastic and critical at times and I've not liked that about myself.  So, one of the 21-day brain detox things I did was directed to this.  My husband mentioned the other day that he's amazed at what I don't say any more.  That made me smile and I could see Jesus smiling also.  I've tried for many years in my own strength to tame my tongue, but the renewing of the mind is a better way to go.

There is a lot being said of what the words we speak do to our lives.  Science has now advanced enough to determine that our thoughts and what we say determine our health.  [Read: How Thoughts Create Our Lives]

I heard of somebody who quit smoking by speaking words.  He had tried everything and asked his pastor for prayer and what to do to be free of this addiction.  Since there wasn't anything he hadn't tried, the pastor said, "Every time you light up a cigarette, speak out loud, I HATE SMOKING!"  The guy said, "But I don't hate smoking!"  The pastor said, "Doesn't matter ... just speak it."  In a couple of months, he went to light up a cigarette, said it as was his ritual, and then thought, "I do hate smoking!"  He threw the cigarette and the whole pack away and never had another craving! 

Our words matter and speaking things out loud over ourselves will change our minds.  A pastor in the Charlotte, NC area lost over 100 pounds and got down to a normal weight by doing something similar.  He knew his downfall was sweets, so he decided to speak to his body saying, "I hate sugar and love vegetables."  After awhile his cravings began to diminish and he actually began loving vegetables.  As I mentioned, he lost 100 pounds doing this. 

What a simple way to beat an addiction!  It takes time because our minds have loved the wrong things for a long time, but how much simpler can you get?  Nobody can say they can't do this method!  There's no will power to overcome needed, only a commitment to speak a few words to our brain.  We wired something negative in and we can wire it out.  Not an instant fix, but consider how many years and decades we tolerate it as we travel through life condemning ourselves for what we know to be a bad habit.  Let me know your success story on this method and I'll share your victory (anonymously) in this newsletter.  God's ways are always simple when we finally "get it."

Spider on Obedient Plant
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I've basically been doing the same thing with the 21-day detox program by Dr. Leaf.  For $29 I have a whole year of access to the detox program and can process through 17 brain detoxes.  I have been simply amazed at the results on one specific issue at a time.  It's a process of rejecting a negative thought that does not line up with the Word/Jesus, and instead, speaking the Truth that relates to it.  It does seem too simple for our complicated minds to absorb or believe.  And your mind will go to talking to you when you begin, about how silly it is, and who do you think you are to try to control your flesh with a few spoken words.

If your flesh has been used to having its own way for a long time, you will have an initial battle and many failures, but if you keep going back to this simple method, it will change your life, one issue at a time.

Consider that we are created in the image of God and He spoke the world into existence.  He even spoke light into existence four days before He created a source for that light to come from.  Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  If we put faith into what we are speaking, we will see the evidence of it.  Keep in mind you can't take away another person's free will, so this is about speaking over yourself.  You can bless people with various character qualities so they are more likely to turn from their destructive lifestyles, but you can't change their minds.

Who We Are In Christ

• Even before the creation of the world, I was planned.  Ephesians 1:4
• I am a daughter of the King, adopted into his family. Ephesians 1:5,
• An heir in Christ, Romans 8:17,
• Accepted in the Beloved.  Ephesians 1:6.

Do We Believe It?

If you've not visited our habitat Critters and Garden albums lately, here's the links to take a look at what we've been seeing this year:
Bluebird Cove Critters 2013
Bluebird Cove Garden 2013
Bluebird Cove Videos 2013

There are many possibilities for a new year of life.  We have to keep hope alive and faith renewed daily.  If you're one of those who can't seem to find anything good in a day, maybe you need to use your words to speak, "I see good in today" and look for it.  Whatever we focus on will become our obsession and outlook on life.

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

Donna

P.S.  Anything in here that might help somebody you know?  
Here's a link to the online version of this newsletter: 
Newsletter - 1/1/14
www.thenatureinus.com/2014/1/newsletter-1114.html

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written by Donna


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