God is always speaking to us, but most of the time we just aren't listening. We either don't discern His voice or we just ignore Him when He does speak. Far too often, He has to use various ways of getting our attention. In my situation, He chose to use what I cherished the most--my dogs--to make me aware of His Love and Goodness. God speaks in the most unusual, extraordinary, and sometimes funny ways. He speaks the loudest during our times of pain and suffering when we need Him the most.Too often, I experienced pain and unnecessary loss because I ignored Him when He spoke. It was during a traumatic event that it finally dawned on me how long He had been trying to get me to tune my antenna to His frequency, which resonated on the wavelength of my heart. There is no static on His frequency, there only was on mine. I finally figured out that by clearing up the static on my channel, I would always receive clear signals from His transmitter and ride upon His wavelength. By obeying and following His instructions, I can experience more joy, instead of pain or loss.The second lesson I learned was to never give up on praying. Praying is the direct channel into God's throne room of grace and mercy, from which He transmits the signals of love that broadcast answered prayers and instructions. It has been through my journey with dogs that He transmitted the most, because they were the bandwidth on my radio receiver that I operated on. He created them, so He can use them in whatever capacity He chooses. They were just one way He chose to show me how much He really loves me. I just needed to listen and then obey Him.

Clark and his Airedale puppy, Patch, grow up around Lake Erie in a time when every boy loves his dog and everyone knows the rules. Patch at first doesn’t appear to hold the life of her young master in her jaws, but time proves otherwise. Soon grown grand in body and spirit, Patch commands attention wherever she goes and she knows it. Savior, teacher and rescuer to most, some see the brave dog as unruly. She is both; gentle and loving, but reckless in fury when need be and just as likely to snatch dinner tidbits or battle skunks as she is to protect Clark from out-of-control adults and a pack of wild dogs. Their days are filled with fun and adventure, but Patch and Clark also bounce between grace and guilt. Knowing the rules doesn’t always mean compliance, despite the efforts of those around them. They find a corpse on the shores of Lake Erie, suffer the aftermath of the dead fish Patch finds irresistible, play a tragic ball game, keep frightening secrets and adventure about in a lifetime full of uncommon escapades. Explore how the love between a boy and his dog replicates the beauty and bitter sweetness of life, of innocence and adulthood.

Is it a coincidence? Maybe not. After all, God made dogs very much like His love loyal, patient, trusting and forgiving. Follow Angel Dog Austin and a few of her friends as she gives us a tour of Doggy heaven and its bountiful gifts. Of course, Austin knows nothing can compare to the greatest gift God has given us: His son Jesus. If you have ever loved or been loved by a dog, you have a glimpse of what it is like to be loved by God.

Life lessons dogs can teach you

God and Dog is a phenomenon. First appearing on YouTube, the video of Wendy Francisco's charming animated illustrations and moving song tells of the unconditional love of both God and Dog. With over 2 million YouTube viewings to date, Francisco's story appeals to all ages, to animal enthusiasts, to people of religious persuasions, and especially to anyone who has been loved by a dog. Now in book format, Wendy's touching narrative will be expanded on through additional lyrics, illustrations, photographs and some of the powerful mail that is continually being sent to Francisco.

Dog Is God Spelled Backward: 101 Notes to Self leads its readers through a collection of musings on the deep structures, issues, aspirations, and possibilities that give shape and meaning to the universe and to daily life. By making her way along this path of exploration and creating 101 insightful notes, Rita Cragwall tells how one can achieve personal growth by guiding one’s life to move in concert with universal laws. This approach empowers bringing one’s imagined future to pass. Dog Is God Spelled Backward gathers its notes into six parts: “Mirror of Self,” “Things We Fear,” “Living Life,” “The Heroes & Storytellers,” “Philosophy & Science,” and “Miscellaneous Ponderings.” By reading and absorbing these notes, one can come to perceive the deep truth about reality. As the author notes, “The world does revolve around you. It is yours. You always get what you asked for so you always get what you want. Whatever you believe the world is, it is. As within, so without. As above so below.” This inspiring guide to personal growth tells how one may use reality’s universal laws to change one’s life and to bring one’s imagined future to pass.