Saturday, July 31, 2010

Newsletter 8/1/10

Can You Find The Four Goldfinches?
Hello Friends!

Most of this month has been rather hot for Central Virginia, but the birds and butterflies don't seem to mind at all.  Our black-eyed susan flowers on the deck are now seeding and attracting goldfinches.
© 2010 Donna L. Watkins
Female American Goldfinch on Rudbeckia

Can you see four (4) goldfinches in the above photo?  One of the males is rather hidden.

There are two bright yellow males and two females that are a bit more drab, but nonetheless beautiful as you can see from the photo to the left.  However, I know that it's the males that really makes us notice American Goldfinches.

The bright color is what makes the female notice also, since females select their mates based on the brightness of the male plumage, according to research done by Keith Tarvin and his research team at Oberlin College in Ohio.

The carotenoid pigments that create the bright color (the same factors that make carrots orange) are acquired from their diet.  So, when females pick the brightest male to mate with, they're getting an expert forager / provider for their offspring.

When we lived in Alabama, we had the goldfinches in the winter.  The males look pretty much like the females in the winter with a deeper black.  When they begin to get some of those bright yellow feathers in, they were ready to migrate north, so we didn't get to enjoy them in full breeding colors.

Here in Virginia we enjoy seeing the brilliant color and to know they are also nesting here.  They use down from the thistle plant to line their nests, so they nest much later than most birds since thistles don't bloom till July.  Maybe they take the time to wait and see which males will be the brightest also as their breeding colors become more and more bold.

We've had a lot of butterflies this year and I've photographed a few new ones.  I'll share more about that in the next newsletter.
© 2010 Donna L. Watkins - Male American Goldfinch

For more critter and garden photos of our acre in the woods, visit my Photo Gallery.

Have a blessed month of August and take time every day to notice something amazing in God's Creation.  It always has a lesson to teach us if we ponder what we see.

Love and Hugs,
Donna

New Posts Since Last Issue of Newsletter

How Big God Is (DLW)

Landscaping Plants Toxic to Dogs

Fungus Killing Our Bats

Longer Lasting Roofing Options

Pain and Suffering

Cats Eliminating in the Wrong Place

Carpet Cleaner That Works on Pet Stains

Energy-Efficient Appliances Get Rebates

Seek Beauty

Plant Trees With Your Group

Factory Tours - Free Travel Fun

Previous Posts You May Have Missed

Newsletter - 7/15/10

What Does God Want? (DLW)

Enviro Friendly Slow-Release Fertilizer

Making Nest Boxes for Bees

Will Power and Marshmallows

Home Health Exam for Cats

Ticks: Natural Prevention and Remedies

Battling Japanese Beetles

World’s First Bionic Cat

God Sent a Whale to Israel .. What Is He Saying?

The Creation Museum in KY

Installing the Best Garden Fences


Sponsored by The Herbs Place - Wholesale Prices Always 
On Sale NowOnline CatalogWomenMenChildrenEssential Oils

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: © 2010 Donna L. Watkins - This article was reprinted with permission from TheNatureInUs.com. The link to use is: www.TheNatureInUs.com.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

How Big God Is

by Donna L. Watkins

The Bible tells us we are engraved on the palm of God's hand (Isaiah 49). That may seem unreal to you, but God could engrave every person's name on one of His hands because God is literally so big!

© 2010 Donna L. Watkins - Double-crested Cormorant on Branch - Savannah River National Wildlife 
Isaiah 40:12 asks, "Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?" Of course the answer is that only God has. And when you think about being able to measure all the waters in the world in the hollow of his hand, that pictures a very big God.

Water covers seventy percent (70%) of our planet. It is beyond our imagination to see and comprehend how large God is to be able to hold that much water in the hollow of His hand. The Hebrew word for measured in this passage is 'madad'. It means "to measure or stretch" so can you picture a hand spread wide from thumb to pinkie as wide as the oceans of the world?

Have you ever stood by the ocean and looked as far as the eye can see and then left and right as far also? It's incredible how large even one ocean appears to us from one point on land. When you look at a global view of the planet, the amount of water is beyond our imagination. And remember that He holds it ALL in His hand.

Sometimes when people read things like this they think it's just a metaphor or figure of expression, but we need to ponder the reality of it. If we could begin to fathom that our God is this big ... and that He has engraved us in his palm ... well, I think we would have less trouble trusting God.

The problem is that we often don't see God even as big as our current crises or problem. That's where anxiety comes in. Anxiety is nothing other than a lack of faith and inability to trust God to take care of our lives and circumstances. The Bible tells us to be anxious for nothing and compares our troubles and worries to how God provides for His Creation, commenting that we are more important than even those to Him (Matthew 6).

We need to increase our view of God. We need to trust that He is in every situation. I like the illustration I read recently of a situation.

The story was told of a who man stopped and got a drink from a well and dropped his wallet. A second man came along, got a drink, picked up the wallet and looked through it and put it in his pocket and left. A third man came and got a drink and was very tired, so he laid down nearby to rest and fell asleep. By now the first man realized he had lost his wallet and that it had happened at the well, so we returned to find the third man asleep. He promptly awakened him and told him to give him back the wallet. The man had no idea what he was talking about but the first man was so angry he killed the man.

Now ... if somebody was overseeing it all, they would ask, "Why did God allow a thief to get away with stealing the wallet and then allow an innocent man to be murdered?" Things like this make us want to think that God is not in control and that His ways do not make sense to us. They aren't supposed to. The Bible tells us that His ways are NOT our ways (Isaiah 55:8) so we aren't supposed to be able to understand all things.

But, if God were to explain the facts behind this story they would be: "The first man's wallet was filled with money that his father had stolen from the second man's father. The second man recognized that by looking through the wallet and only took what was rightfully his (and probably thought God was answering prayers). The third man was a murderer but had not been brought to justice.

Now that you 'know all' like God does, things look very different.

So it is with our own lives. We don't know all the details and things that we cannot see. That's why we are to have faith in God and trust Him to direct our steps and know that He has a plan for us that is good not evil (Jeremiah 29:11). It's all about trust and the more we do it the more blessed we become because we literally tear ourselves up inside trying to take care of our own lives and control all circumstances.

We must cast our care on Him knowing He does care for us (I Peter 5:7) and He will make all things good (Romans 8:28). Give up trying to juggle and handle it all. We are human and were not designed for it. Ask your Father right now to help you be more faith-filled and to be able to trust Him more with all of your life. After all ... if you trusted Him with your salvation and believe He'll take you to Heaven, you may as well believe He's got this life on earth figured out also.

This website is sponsored by The Herbs Place, distributor of Nature's Sunshine herbs, supplements, essential oils and more at wholesale prices.

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: © 2010 Donna L. Watkins - This article was reprinted with permission from TheNatureInUs.com. The link to use is: www.TheNatureInUs.com.

Landscaping Plants Toxic to Dogs

If you’re a dog lover, thoughts of summertime conjure memories of long evening strolls and outdoor recreation with your dog. In fact, you may have already started this summer to create new fond memories. Given that, the last thing you want on one of your nature walks is for your canine companion to be sidelined by an injury.

Unfortunately, many pet parents don’t realize until it’s too late that there are menacing toxins lurking in the plants of both cultivated and wild landscapes. Plants that you are used to seeing in public parks, your neighborhood and perhaps even in your own backyard can lead to devastating effects.

What follows is a review of five of these dangerous plants so that you will be able to identify and avoid them when you’re with your dog. Landscaping plants toxic to canines.

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Fungus Killing Our Bats

Like bees, bats are important pollinators in our world, so bats dying is a major concern. The problem was originally discovered in New York, but has now even spread as far west as Oklahoma. The "White-Nose Syndrome" is apparently involved in the massive die-off of bats in mines and caves.

What is white-nose syndrome?

In February 2006 some 40 miles west of Albany, N.Y., a caver photographed hibernating bats with an unusual white substance on their muzzles. He noticed several dead bats. The following winter, bats behaving erratically, bats with white noses, and a few hundred dead bats in several caves came to the attention of New York Department of Environmental Conservation biologists, who documented white-nose syndrome in January 2007. More than a million hibernating bats have died since. Biologists with state and federal agencies and organizations across the country are still trying to find the answer to this deadly mystery.

We have found sick, dying and dead bats in unprecedented numbers in and around caves and mines from New Hampshire to Tennessee. In some hibernacula, 90 to 100 percent of the bats are dying.

While they are in the hibernacula, affected bats often have white fungus on their muzzles and other parts of their bodies. They may have low body fat. These bats often move to cold parts of the hibernacula, fly during the day and during cold winter weather when the insects they feed upon are not available, and exhibit other uncharacteristic behavior.

Despite the continuing search to find the source of this condition by numerous laboratories and state and federal biologists, the cause of the bat deaths remains unknown. A newly discovered cold-loving fungus, Geomyces destructans, invades the skin of bats. Scientists are exploring how the fungus acts and searching for a way to stop it.

This government website is being updated with current news and information. Read the entire article.

Source: US Fish and Wildlife

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Longer Lasting Roofing Options

Choose from a variety of durable and environmentally friendly roofing materials.

Most homeowners have to replace their roof shingles at some point. Exposed to sunlight, heat, cold, rain, wind, and sometimes snow, sleet and hail, conventional asphalt shingle roofs last 20 years, if you’re lucky.

Almost half the world’s original forests have disappeared, one-fifth since the late 1950s....
If you’d like a roof that will outlast a conventional asphalt shingle roof and is made from environmentally friendly roofing materials, consider the products outlined here. Many of them are virtually immune to hail.

Green roofing products are many and varied, ranging from recycled-plastic shingles to recycled-metal roofs to sustainably harvested or reclaimed wood roofs. The best option for your home depends on the design of your home, local building codes and price considerations. Read the entire article.

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Saturday, July 24, 2010

Pain and Suffering

Maintaining a Biblical Balance in the Spiritual Battles of Life

Some people will do anything to avoid pain. It is most important for Christians to know how to respond during suffering, for hardships will surely come (James 1:2-3). Sin loses the power to defeat you in your suffering if you focus on Christ and what He wants you to do.

God wants to make you mature and complete, not to keep you from all pain.

Consider the following:

PAIN IS USED TO CONFORM US TO CHRIST

Paul wrote in Phil. 3:10, "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings... " Jesus' head was crowned with thorns, His body was covered with stripes. Being part of His body may result in our suffering with Him. Suffering is a tool that God uses to conform us to the image of Christ.

PAIN CAN BE THE CURE FOR SPIRITUAL DISEASE

As fire separates the dross from the gold, so pain removes spiritual disease. David wrote, "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I keep thy word." Ps. 119:67. Ecc. 7:3 says, "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better."

PAIN DEVELOPS OUR MINISTRIES

The God who comforts us has designed that we "may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." II Cor 1:4. God tends to break what He uses. Like a wild colt, we are of little use until we are broken. Jeremiah wrote, "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." Lam. 3:27. Read the entire article.

This website is sponsored by The Herbs Place, distributor of Nature's Sunshine herbs, supplements, essential oils and more at wholesale prices.

Cats Eliminating in the Wrong Place

Must-See Video: Feline Inappropriate Elimination
by Dr. Sarah

Feline inappropriate elimination is one of the most frustrating and common behavioral problems some cat lovers must endure.

In the first of this video series, Dr. Sarah talks about one of the most common medical causes of feline inappropriate elimination.

View Video Now!




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Carpet Cleaner That Works on Pet Stains

I was contacted with a request to review a green cleaner:
CLEAN + Green Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, Odor Eliminator and Stain Remover.

Since we had some spots from vomit on our carpet from a previous cat that had passed away, I figured it would be a really good test since we buried him 5 years ago. When I received the can, I tried it out on the most obvious one and in seconds it totally eliminated it.

The problem was that the spot was now lighter than the silver-toned carpet around it. The carpet is almost 10 years old. So, I decided to spray lightly around that area, brushed it around, and it cleaned up the darker dirty look instantly. The can says you don't need to use a brush and I certainly didn't to remove the spots ... but I wanted to have a broader sweep of it and the brush helped to disperse it to a larger area.

I felt addicted. I did all the spots left from the kitty, and then attacked a traffic path area that looked dark and dingy. It's at the entrance to the kitchen from the living room and also where the deck entry door is. It gets a lot of traffic and it showed. But after lightly spraying and then brushing it in the whole area looked new.

From there I headed back to our bedroom where the kitty had a few more spots. I cleaned them up with the last of the can's contents. About that time I remembered I was going to take before and after photos. I went back out to the living room and took a photo of the high traffic area that had cleaned up looking like it was new carpet. That is the photo I've included. I also zoomed in for a closeup of it so you can see it at close range.

We tried quite a variety of carpet cleaners to clean up those stains when the cat made them ... and also after he was buried. Nothing took the full stain out. Everything else just partially cleaned up the stain.

I'm a thrilled housewife! Clean+Green has a huge line of products targeted for pets ... but they do so much more than that.  The company was started by pet owners.  Visit Sea Yu for all kinds of great information about this product and more.

They even have a de-skunk spray!  My neighbors with dogs will be glad to know about that.  We live rural and have skunks as regular visitors.  They don't like dogs.  :-)

They sent me a can of Auto spray also for odors and stains.  We have no pet stains in the car, but almost a year ago we were hiking in a muddy area and I got into the car and got mud all over the carpet on the passenger side because the floor mat had moved up.  It's orange clay-colored and has been quite unsightly.  So, when the heat wave leaves us, we'll be cleaning that up too.  I will remember to get a before and after on that one.  More to come ....

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Energy-Efficient Appliances Get Rebates

By: Sid Kirchheimer

Dreaming of a new dishwasher? Now may be the time to buy. States have finalized their plans for the government’s “Cash for Appliances” program and will begin issuing rebates in coming months.

Some have already started.

You can get rebates—the amounts vary—if you buy new, energy-efficient major home appliances. The $300 million program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Unlike the Department of Transportation’s popular “Cash for Clunkers” car deal, the appliance program allocates funds to each state, and states decide which Energy Star-designated appliances and consumers are eligible.

To check your state’s program, go to www.energysavers.gov.

Sid Kirchheimer writes about health and consumer issues at AARP Bulletin.

Source: AARP Bulletin

This website is sponsored by The Herbs Place, distributor of Nature's Sunshine herbs, supplements, essential oils and more at wholesale prices everyday.

This website is sponsored by The Herbs Place, distributor of Nature's Sunshine herbs, supplements, essential oils and more at wholesale prices.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Seek Beauty

by A. J. Russell

Draw Beauty from every flower and Joy from the song of the birds and the color of the flowers.

I am with you. When I wanted to express a beautiful thought, I made a lovely flower. When I want to express to man what I am - what My Father is - I strive to make a very beautiful character.

Think of yourselves as My expression of attributes, as a lovely flower is My expression of thought, and you will strive in all, in Spiritual beauty, in Thought - power, in Health, in clothing, to be as fit an expression for Me as you can.

Absorb Beauty. As soon as the beauty of a flower or a tree is impressed upon your soul it leaves an image there which reflects through your actions. Remember that no thought of sin and suffering, of the approaching scorn and Crucifixion, ever prevented My seeing the beauty of the flowers.

Look for Beauty and Joy in the world around. Look at a flower until its beauty becomes part of your very soul. It will be given back to the world again by you in the form of a smile or loving word.

Listen to a bird. Take the song as a message from My Father. Let it sink into your soul. That too will be given back to the world in ways I have said. Laugh more, laugh often. Love more. I am with you. I am your Lord.

Source: God Calling by A.J. Russell

This website is sponsored by The Herbs Place, distributor of Nature's Sunshine herbs, supplements, essential oils and more at wholesale prices.

Plant Trees With Your Group

Trees for the 21st Century is a unique educational and tree-planting program for children ages 6 to 18, involving science-based learning, tree-planting, and ongoing stewardship activities.

Through the Trees for the 21st Century initiative, we aim to teach children about the value of the environment; expand the world inventory of trees to protect and improve natural resources; and to help children value long term stewardship of trees.

The Tree Kits provide everything a youth group needs to take action and enhance learning through tree planting and related activities, including:

Trees for the 21st Century patches and DVD
Activity Guide for Facilitators (by grade level)
Seedling trees (native to region and approximately 6"–12" tall)

Order kits now for Fall planting.

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Factory Tours - Free Travel Fun

We've always loved factory tours. It's fascinating to see how things are made before they get to you. Very educational for children and adults. We all need to keep learning. Now there's a website that allows you to look up tours for your area or any area you'll be traveling to or through.

This site celebrates American imagination and industry. What better way to appreciate those qualities than to visit and tour America at work. The information on this site is maintained by many people throughout the United States who enjoy visiting American industry. Visit now!

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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Newsletter - 7/15/10

Hello Friends!

I hope this day brings you many blessings to count as you drift off to sleep tonight. Some days can seem to hold no blessing at all, but there's often a brighter side to even the darkest of times. Summers seem to be very bright with the long days of sunshine. We like to go to bed early because we like getting up very early in the morning. With the later sunset, time slips up on me. Some evenings I find it's 9:00 before I've even headed for the bedroom.
© 2010 Randal J. Watkins - Donna with Sculptures at Azalea Park, Summerville, SC

Randal and I enjoy playing games and we keep a race going on who can win the most. The winner of one game gets to choose the next game.  One of our favorites is RummiKub and another is Sequence, which one of my friends introduced to me while visiting last Fall.

Anybody have any favorite games to suggest?  I know we'll want to get a new one when winter gets near.  Leave your comment below with your suggestions so all viewers can benefit.

Have you ever seen Hummingbird Clearwing Moths? They are called that because they can be mistaken for hummingbirds as they gather nectar from flowers. This is a moth that feeds during the day. When one of them came to the deck pots of phlox, I decided to get a close-up video. Although the birds are singing in the background, you can hear the buzz of the moth's wings. They are so amazing. View the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Video.

Have you seen the video of one of "our" catbirds singing away to his missy? View the singing catbird video.  Or the bee drinking nectar from phlox on our deck?  View close-up of bee in phlox.

Next time and every time you're outdoors, take time to look closely at something God made.  It will amaze you!

Hugs and many blessings,
Donna

Posts Since Last Newsletter

What Does God Want? (DLW)

Enviro Friendly Slow-Release Fertilizer

Making Nest Boxes for Bees

Will Power and Marshmallows

Home Health Exam for Cats

Ticks: Natural Prevention and Remedies

Battling Japanese Beetles

World’s First Bionic Cat

God Sent a Whale to Israel .. What Is He Saying?

The Creation Museum in KY

Newsletter - 7/1/10

Being Loved (DLW)

New Uses For Wildflowers

ID Hummingbirds with Free Poster

Shenandoah Park - Pres. Hoover's Rapidan Camp

Help Gulf Migratory Birds in Your Yard

Abiding in Christ

Take Kids Hiking - Tips To Make It Fun

Share Your Birdwatching Observations

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Visitor Center

Quick Links to The Herbs Place


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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

What Does God Want?

by Donna L. Watkins

Too many people see God as a heavy-handed ruler who expects a lot and punishes a lot. God's plan from the beginning of Creation was to walk and talk with us ... to have relationship, not religion. He is a loving God. What we sometimes can't separate in our minds is that He is God, therefore, He's a God of justice also.

© 2010 Donna L. Watkins - Daffodils - Rock Hill, SC
Parents are to be loving to their children, but they are to also be just, exacting punishment when needed, in love, so that necessary training and life skills are learned. We've all seen the results of children who are left to do what they want, who have no boundaries or rules in their life. When they grow up into adults they are very challenged to relate to anybody.

So as a good Papa, God guides us into right thinking and holy living and He disciplines us in that guidance. Job had a problem with fear. In Job 3:25 it says that what Job feared had come on him. God doesn't want us to live in fear. Fear is opposite of faith so we cannot live in both realms and we cannot please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). It is said that fear is faith in the devil and the devil will take that faith and put it to work for ruin in our lives.

The Bible is filled with many stories and it includes the law and what the prophets spoke, but when Jesus came He gave us a new covenant through His blood shed for us. Luke 16:16 says, "The law and the prophets were until John (the Baptist): since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it."

Too often we live in the law of the Old Testament without realizing we have been set free by the blood of the sacrificial lamb (Jesus). Just as the blood, put on the doorposts of homes in Egypt before the death angel came, saved Israel, the blood of Jesus protects us when we enter into that covenant ... what Luke quoted above says is "the kingdom of God."

In Matthew 22 somebody asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. They were wanting to know what they could DO to fulfill the law and be accepted. Jesus replied in verse 37, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," saying this was the first and greatest commandment.

Then He said (verse 39), "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself" and continuing in verse 40, He told us that "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Although it sounds simple, it is obviously most difficult since the world seems to have a hard time finding Christians who fulfill these two commandments. Most churches have so many programs and methods that there is no need of seeking God daily for instruction in righteousness. There are obligations and assignments from the classes and programs, so often we have turned our seeking God into seeking reasoned answers. Obligations don't end with church activities ... the entire day for most people is filled with expectations on our time.

Where do we find the time to do what God created us to do? Walk and talk with Him in quiet places. Even with Jesus' short ministry timeframe and urgent needs of His day, He made getting alone with the Father a priority.

Jesus told us before He left this earth that "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Do we fellowship with that Counselor, also called Helper in some translations? Do we seek Him throughout our days to know which way to walk, to know what to say, to know what we are to be doing, to make the right choices that would honor God?

Too often we are so indoctrinated in busyness that even our service to God becomes automated. We have a program of service, so we pass by the "Samaritans" of our day believing we've got our service thing taken care of in whatever programs we're involved in. No time for the Samaritan woman at the well who needed Living Water ... no time for the fallen Samaritan who is beaten up and needed help.

It's interesting to note that Samaritans were mentioned often in the New Testament. They were willing to listen and change. They were open to the Gospel, while the religious folks of the day were opposed to it. There are still many who are opposed to the love of God, who see God has a God of laws and judgment. They have not found the freedom in the kingdom of God that John the Baptist preached. Some are more comfortable with a list of rules and laws and consequences. It certainly eliminates the need for the Holy Spirit that Jesus gave us.

We all have some legalism in us. I believe it's human nature to see cause and effect. Grace and mercy are unfamiliar to our mental reasoning, but to our hearts and spirit they are life and blood itself. If we hang on to the law, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God that Jesus brought to us.

If we don't see and love God for Who He really is, we cannot fulfill the greatest commandments. Jesus also said, "Therefore all things whatever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Matthew 7:12).

That Scripture gives me some insight into why we treat others so badly. Is it because we don't love ourselves? We do to others what we ourselves expect. If we expect judgment and condemnation, then we will surely receive it, for Proverbs 23:7 says, "As a man thinketh, so he is."

I've been focusing on the greatest commandment for months now. Studying and reading and pondering and meditating on who God is and how much He loves me, because when you fathom a bit of God's love it changes who you are and how you look at yourself. I believe this to be the very foundation of the "abundant life" that Jesus came to give us. May I challenge you to join me on this journey? It's a path that leads to deep peace, joy and purpose.

Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly." Let's not let the thief steal what is rightfully ours. Walking through life with joy in your heart and love for God, yourself and others is a grand stroll down a beautiful garden path. God will bring opportunities your way to service in the smallest of ways, but in it you will know you are walking in the will of God.

Anybody out there already on this path? I'd love to hear your thoughts and so would other readers. Please leave a comment of encouragement below. Let me know if you are also struggling through the crowds of Pharisees who are more comfortable with condemnation and judgement, than love, grace and mercy. Let me encourage you to follow the example of Jesus. Stay in the Word and He will feed you.

This website is sponsored by The Herbs Place, distributor of Nature's Sunshine herbs, supplements, essential oils and more at wholesale prices.

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:
© 2010 Donna L. Watkins - This article was reprinted with permission from TheNatureInUs.com. The link to use is: www.TheNatureInUs.com.

Enviro Friendly Slow-Release Fertilizer

Fertilizers are added to lawns and gardens across the country at alarming rates. While they may be necessary for plant growth, excess fertilizer runs off into streams, rivers, and waterways, causing pollution. Phosphorous is one of the top culprits causing contamination and algae blooms in lakes.

Slow-release fertilizers are better for plants and the environment because they release their nutrients over time rather than all at once, allowing the plant to take up fertilizer as it needs it and reducing the amount that is wasted.

Now comes a new slow-release fertilizer that is made from recycled materials.

Crystal Green fertilizer is claimed to be the only slow-release fertilizer that contains a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium (5-28-0 +10% Mg). Unlike other slow-release fertilizers, the phosphorus in Crystal Green is derived from recycled waste water, not mining operations, so its production has less of a negative impact on the environment.

It's been tested to be low in heavy metals and other contaminants. Crystal Green fertilizer slowly dissolves over 8 to 9 months, feeding lawns and garden plants. There is little chance of fertilizer runoff or plant foliage burning.

For more information on this new slow release fertilizer, visit the Crystal Green website.

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Making Nest Boxes for Bees

Bees are some of our best pollinators, and 30% of our food supply is dependent on bees for pollination, as well as the fruits and flowers in our home gardens.

Right now the Honey bee is in decline due to mite infestation, however, this bee is not our only pollinator - other bees, known as 'Solitary' bees are just as hard working but because of their small size they go unnoticed and due to lack of knowledge about these fascinating insects, are greatly under appreciated.

In most cases, mention the word 'Bee' and most people will be squirming, recalling tales of bee stings and thus labeling all bees as bad. Unfortunately the bees that do sting, such as the wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and occasionally the honeybees, give these other Solitary bees a bad name and instantly cause fear. In most cases bees will ONLY sting if roughly handled. Get more info and instructions to build simple nesting blocks.

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Friday, July 9, 2010

Will Power and Marshmallows

From Ellel Ministries International

"Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct, or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual should set him right and restore him without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also."Galatians 6: 1, Amp

There is an amusing clip on YouTube at the moment called ‘The Marshmallow Experiment’. A number of little children are invited into a bare room and seated at a table with a single marshmallow on it. They are told that if they can leave the marshmallow alone for 15 minutes they will be able to have two, but if they decide to eat it they won’t get another one. The parents watch from another room through a video camera, together with the professor making the experiment. The children who are able to leave the marshmallow alone show the strongest wills and apparently will grow up to be confident adults.

It is interesting to watch the different children as they pass the 15 minutes. Some just wait, some give in quite quickly and one little boy picks up the marshmallow, licks it, puts it in his mouth and pulls it about – in fact he does everything but eat it. It is a thoroughly sticky mess at the end, but still uneaten - just!

This is rather like us when we are being tempted. Sometimes we manage to walk away, turning our backs on whatever it is, other times we give in and on some occasions we flirt with it, getting dangerously close to giving way, but finally managing to resist, even though we might get a bit “sticky” in the process.

If sin wasn’t fun we wouldn’t give into it. It’s the after effects that aren’t fun, but we have an Intercessor praying for us at the Father’s throne that we won’t fall into sin (Hebrews 4: 14 – 16). May we learn to lean on Him in times of temptation.

Prayer: Father God, there are so many times when I feel tempted to sin and often I am not strong enough to resist. Please forgive me and help me always to remember that Jesus is interceding on my behalf. I am so very grateful and may I learn to lean on Him. In His precious Name, Amen.


About the Author
Angela Weir Angela Weir has been associated with Ellel Ministries from the very beginning, first as an associate member of the ministry team and later as an associate teacher. She trained as an actress and after her marriage and move to Cumbria, taught drama in a girls’ school.

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Home Health Exam for Cats

Tips for Feline Heart Health
 
by Dr. Jane


Cats are masters at concealing any illnesses that they may have. A cat can have a medical problem and even the most watchful owner may not realize it until the condition becomes full-blown. 


Unfortunately, an unhealthy heart is an all too common feline illness, regardless of age. In this article, I show you how to give your cat a routine home-health examination. It’s easy, fun and can even save a life. 


Read more...


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Ticks: Natural Prevention and Remedies

There are better ways to survive tick season than using chemical insecticides. If you live near or often spend time in a wooded area, blood-sucking ticks are part of your world.

When tick populations rise in July and August, you’ll again feel those familiar tickling sensations on your legs and neck, and again drag the dog into the sunlight so you can spot and remove those darn ticks.

During this process, you may be wondering whether there are better ways to survive tick season, especially if you don’t want to use DEET (a chemical insecticide that may cause eye irritation, rash or other side effects) on yourself or veterinarian-grade pesticides on your pets. Even if you do use chemicals in your tick management plan, it’s still a good idea to back them up with sound natural strategies.

The stakes can be high. First described in 1977 as “Lyme arthritis,” tick-vectored (transmitted) Lyme disease is now the most common critter-vectored disease in North America. More than 30,000 cases were reported in 2008, including many in towns and cities where no previous infections had been recorded. Like an invasive weed, Lyme disease is slowly spreading inland from its stronghold along the northern Atlantic coast. Read the entire article.

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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Battling Japanese Beetles

These little guys not so fondly known as JB's are back again.  With our cooler evening they arrived a bit later than usual, but we have three Rose of Sharon bushes they adore.  For years I dumped them into a bucket of water, feeling real icky about it ... and then I read about the birds that enjoy them and decided to just let them go through their cycle, since the bushes still produced lots of blooms and color.

Next to beneficial insects, songbirds consume the most pest insects in your yard. Grackles, meadowlarks, crows, catbirds, cardinals, blackbirds, robins, and starlings eat lots of grubs as they move to the surface of the soil prior to emerging as beetles. Starlings, robins, catbirds, and purple martins, blue jays, and cardinals eat adult beetles.

That has worked well ... along with neighbors no longer using the hanging traps that were sold to gather them up.  Current research shows they are more of an attractant and don't lessen population of them in your garden after all.  Gardens Alive has a great article with many suggestions on  Beating the Beetles.

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World’s First Bionic Cat

The amputee cat has a new spring in his step, thanks to some high-tech prosthetic paws.

After Oscar the cat suffered a terrible accident and lost both of his back paws, his owners thought their beloved feline friend wouldn't survive. But thanks to a revolutionary operation, not only was he saved but he's healthy, happy and back on all four paws again.

The operation, the first of its kind in the world saw veterinary surgeon, Noel Fitzpatrick from Surrey attach high-tech custom-made prosthetic paws to Oscar's ankles, during a three-hour operation, reports BBC News.

The cutting edge implants, known as ITAP (intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics) combine engineering mechanics with biology and if little Oscar is anything to go by, the successful operation could lead to amazing work in the field of human prosthetics too. Read rest of article and view video.

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Saturday, July 3, 2010

God Sent a Whale to Israel .. What Is He Saying?

by Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda
(Bolded and colored text is part of the author's original notations)


Recently, a 40-foot gray whale was spotted off the coast of Israel, astonishing researchers around the world. Gray whales are only found in the Pacific Ocean, and this sighting was the first in modern history. (* See References below for link to article on whale)  

Our conjecture is the only other time a whale has been spotted in the Mediterranean was more than 2,700 years ago in the prophet Jonah's dramatic rescue!

Whenever something extraordinary like this happens, take note, especially when it takes place in Israel. What happens in natural Israel is always an indication of what God is doing in the spiritual realm. He is speaking to us as a nation, as a Church and as individuals in this hour. God is likening our days to the days of Jonah and He is awakening our spiritual senses to recognize the hour in which we are living.

Many people think the story of Jonah must be a fable. There's no way that a man could be swallowed by a whale and turn up three days later a little worse for the wear, but fully alive. (** see references below) 

Jesus didn't seem to think so. When the religious skeptics of His day demanded a sign that He was the Son of God, Jesus replied, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here" (Matthew 12:38-41).

Again in Matthew 16, Jesus said, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah" (Matthew 16:2-4).

Now in 2010 God is giving us another sign! Like in the days of Jonah, He sent His messenger on a journey to speak to us in our hour of need. God wants us to meditate on what the book of Jonah is telling us for today.

The book of Jonah gives us a type of the most important event in history: Jesus' death, burial and resurrection from the grave. It is the singular event that affects your life, past, present and future, personally. God is indicating a great deliverance in our day.

Jonah's testimony tells us a little bit about God and His ways. First, God came to His prophet Jonah and said, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me" (Jonah 1:2). 

God calls Nineveh a great city. In Jonah's day it was certainly large, stretching nearly 60 miles in both directions. It was also a regional terror to all its neighbors, known for merciless genocide and oppression. Israel had not escaped Nineveh's cruel reach. 

But God's definition of greatness is different than man's. The word translated as "wickedness" in Hebrew also means "disaster." God had heard the cry of the Ninevites themselves for deliverance from the principalities and powers of darkness that had settled over their city and culture. He commissioned Jonah to go and cry out against the darkness that oppressed them.

Of course, Jonah didn't see it quite like that. He probably ran through the personal testimony of friends, relatives and neighbors that had been massacred by Ninevites. He probably went through an entire list of reasons that he thought judgment and destruction was just what Nineveh deserved and he wasn't going to be the messenger that let them in on God's mercy. So, he suddenly remembered some pressing needs in Spain and jumped in a boat heading in the opposite direction.

How many of us have discovered that it is impossible to run away from God and His calling? Scripture says Jonah intended to go away from "the presence of the Lord." He went down to Joppa; he went down to the ship, he went down to the pit of the ship and there he went down into a deep sleep. Didn't work! That ship that set sail on a sunny bright day soon encountered that Presence in the midst of a great storm. 

After throwing all the cargo overboard and giving up all hope of survival by human strength or wit, the captain decided it was time for a prayer meeting. Being an equal opportunity pagan, he didn't want to miss out on any source of help. He went down to the pit looking for Jonah. Astonished to find him asleep, he said, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." (Jonah 1:6).

Jonah is a type of the Church in this hour. Asleep and seemingly off the map of our calling, preoccupied with the temporal comforts of this world or content with being a light to our own enlightened community, God wants to shake us awake and give us the word of peace and direction to the people and nations all around us.

The nations are trembling. People are scared. The Euro is collapsing in Europe. Oil is spewing out of the depths of the Gulf, destroying the livelihood and environment along the coast for decades to come. Iran and North Korea are rattling their sabers, and Israel is once again singled out for the ire of the world. Everything is shaking.

But when people are scared, they are ready to hear from God. The pagan crew and captain asked Jonah to call on his God. When he gave them the word of the Lord and they obeyed by throwing Jonah into the sea, they were saved. The crew gave praise to the God of Israel, offered Him sacrifices, feared Him and made vows. Revival broke out on the deck. The Lord is saying to His Church, "When the world is shaking around you, it's not a time to be afraid, but to wake up and share the word of the Lord." 

His presence was in the storm. We need to recognize God's presence in every situation. He has called us to be salt and light. In the middle of the darkest hour, He wants to give you the anointed word for those who are terrified around you.

While the pagans are rejoicing, Jonah is sinking lower than ever before. His lungs about to burst, tossed and turned in the undersea currents, he was probably running through what he thought was His last prayer when he was suddenly swallowed up and found himself in the belly of a whale. 

The Bible says God had prepared a great fish. God knows the end from the beginning. He knew what Jonah's reaction would be to His calling, and He went ahead and sent His transport in advance. Who knows how long and how far Jonah's whale had to travel. It may have been weeks or even months in getting there. But God knew that on a certain day in a certain location this fish would have a mission to deliver Jonah to his destiny and ultimately to deliver a nation from destruction!

This is why we took note when a whale paid a visit to Israel recently. If God can commission a fish all the way from the Pacific Ocean to give us a sign, we want to tell you that God is going to give us a great deliverance. He is preparing us for a great awakening and return to our destiny as a nation and as a Church. 

No matter how far down we have gone as a nation, as an economy as an individual, we have a great God and He has prepared a great deliverance. No pit is too deep for His hand to pull us out. No distance too far for Him to pick us up and put us back on the shore of our calling.

This is a word for you and for your house. Begin to declare the Lord's deliverance for your children. Begin to thank Him for His victory. Remind Him of His destiny for America as a Christian nation and friend of Israel. Declare His word and the prophetic promises He has given you and your family.

This is the time of great deliverance. This is the time for great awakening.

Drs. Mahesh and Bonnie Chavda
Mahesh Chavda Ministries

References:

* Discovery News Gray Whale Spotted on Wrong Side of World. 

** There have been several published accounts of people and animals swallowed alive by a whale. One such is that of James Bartley, a sailor on a whaling vessel that was knocked overboard and discovered days later unconscious and bleached white by the whale's stomach acid, but alive when the crew killed the whale and brought it to shore. Another is of an account of barking inside of a whale. When the whale was opened up, they found a dog that had been swept overboard and swallowed. In 1925 Sir John Bland-Sutton shared another account of a whale story from 1771 and gives the dimensions of a whale, concluding that it is entirely plausible for a man to be swallowed and kept alive in the belly of a whale. Sir John Bland-Sutton, "The Psychology of Animals Swallowed Alive," British Medical Journal July 18, 1925  
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/pdf_extract/2/3368/104

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The Creation Museum in KY

What a cool idea for a summer family trip if you're in the area of the state of Kentucky. This state-of-the-art 70,000 square foot museum brings the pages of the Bible to life, casting its characters and animals in dynamic form and placing them in familiar settings.

Adam and Eve live in the Garden of Eden. Children play and dinosaurs roam near Eden’s Rivers. The serpent coils cunningly in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Majestic murals, great masterpieces brimming with pulsating colors and details, provide a backdrop for many of the settings. Get more info about the museum.

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Installing the Best Garden Fences

From Mother Earth News

Most gardeners eventually have heated encounters with unwanted wild animals. The best and kindest solution is to keep them out with the right kind of garden fences. A good farm dog can be a huge help, and repellents and scare devices work sometimes for some animals, but you can’t beat well-chosen garden fences for reliable long-term, around the- clock protection.

Assessing Your Needs
When the primary purpose of a garden fence is to deter animal pests, you need to know what they are before deciding which kind of fence you need. The eight most prevalent wild animal pests of gardens are (in alphabetical order): deer, groundhogs (woodchucks), pocket gophers, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, squirrels and voles. Note that opossums and moles are missing from this list. Neither species directly damages garden crops, and both eat enough insects to be considered beneficial. Read the entire article.

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