Rainbows, Potholes & Nuggets of Gold
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Rainbows, Potholes & Nuggets of Gold
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Have you ever gone through a bunch of old files and documents only to find some that you'd forgotten you'd written? That's what happened to me and I thought I'd share one with you today. The Bible talks about "entertaining angels unaware," and that God gives His angels charge over us. Back in 2024, on a cold, wet morning the 2nd of February, I was on my way to work in order to run end-of-month statements that hadn’t been done on January 30th because I had to bury my dog of 14 yrs who’d been put down the day before. I despise cold, wet weather and prayed for God’s hand of protection to be upon not only me and my husband -who was about three minutes ahead of me- but every driver on the road at that time. No sooner had the words left my mouth when taillights came into view. A car had left the eastbound lane of Interstate 10, spun through the median and was sliding backward into my westbound lane! Unable to switch lanes, all I could do was hang on and pray, “oh, God. Oh, God,” when the back end of his car hit the back door on the driver’s side of my car, throwing me into a tailspin. When my car stopped spinning, I was facing oncoming traffic, and my car had died. It is a sheer miracle that no one hit me head on! One on-comer barely had time to swerve into the median to avoid hitting me. Had he not been so observant, his full-sized pickup truck would have climbed all over the front end of my car. Others would come within mere feet, stop and stare a moment, then switch lanes and go on about their business. On top of that, I called 911 twice and was put on hold! After finally reaching the Louisiana State Police, it took a full ten minutes to get my car started and moved out of oncoming traffic. There’s no doubt that even though the accident occurred, God’s hand was all over that car and His angels were encamped all around me. Have you ever experienced something like this that reassured you God has His hand on you and His angels are looking out for you? Share your story in the comments! Until next time take care, God Bless and remember to give gratitude to God and the angels for they many ways they protect us from seen and unseen forces. PamT
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I've written posts about signs and wonders on this blog before, Here, Here and Here. So when I received Jamie's newsletter about the very same topic, I just had to invite her to share it with us! Take it away Jamie... One of my family’s favorite movies is Monte Python’s Holy Grail. In it, an animated God cartoon often appears in the sky giving King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table the guidance they need to find the Holy Grail. (See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-iWe4qXUD8). Wouldn’t it be great if we could get direct communication like that from God (or from whatever form you accept as the Divine) all the time? But it doesn’t really happen that way, does it? In the case of Monte Python, though, it makes for great comedy. So, if God is not hanging around in the clouds, how does S/He/it speak to us? This past June, I opened one of my reference books that offers predictive guidance based on one’s numerological personal year in any given month. (Life Cycles by Christine Delorey). This is not to say that I want to talk about numerology, it just happens that Delorey’s book gave me my first June "hit." (A "hit" is when an insightful aha grabs your attention.) So, here I am, looking through the book, counting on my fingers to remember my personal year—I’m in my "one" year—and turned to the given month, June. Right away, Delorey writes something to the effect of, "Hey, don’t bother trying to push anything forward this month because, no matter how hard you try, there is no way it is going to happen. Just give it up. Have a nice day" (Okay, it's not quite that cheeky.) Ummm. Okay. So, what should I do instead? Delorey goes on to suggest that I use June to plan or "step into some learning" (my emphasis) about whatever I hope to fulfill over the next nine years. (Nine is the length of each numerological cycle.) That’s a lot of pressure, though. I mean, do I really know what I want to be doing in nine years? (Not a chance!) But I do have some ideas as to the direction I’m moving toward at least for the present year (kinda — I want to keep writing books, set up some YouTube training videos, and do some live Q&A sessions with my following). I don’t always listen to random advice, but nothing was really going on otherwise in June, so I just took note of Delorey’s words and went on about my day. Next, I opened my journal to start the new month. I began reading the opening for June, and guess what? It also began with a projection. June, it said, would be a month of learning. (Yup.) It offered other suggestions as well, but seeing as I had just read the previous notation about June and learning, it struck a chord. It’s common to think of two "hits" or mentions of a thing to be "noticeable," and three "hits" as a bullseye, good-enough-for-a-lottery-pick, you'd-better-sit-up-and-take-notice, confirmation. This was number two. Not long after, maybe the same day, I opened my email to find a newsletter with the opening welcome right at the top saying, "Welcome to June! The theme for June is 'Connect to Learning.’" Hit number three. Okay, maybe I’d better take notice. I don’t know how many "hits" YOU need about something to consider it "a sign," but I took this repetitive message to heart. I first set aside time to figure out what my focus should be, and then I thought about what I might need to learn to bring it about. I made notes, then more or less set it all aside, because, well, life is busy. The next day, while surfing YouTube, a video popped up about June. Guess what it said? (Which just goes to show that if you really need a talkin’ too, God (the Divine, your angels, guides) will find a way.) And that is the message I want to get across today. Are you paying attention to the signs and wonders all around you? Are you grabbing up the guidance freely given and designed to help you achieve your highest and best? Are you taking notice of those subtle coincidences that seem to show up when you least expect them? Recently, I came across Conversations with God, by Neale Donald Walsch. Most people were raving about this writer back in the 2000s, but I had never read his books. I didn’t find them interesting back then. Walsch (or God, depending on how you look at it), says, "My messages will come in a hundred forms, at a thousand moments, across a million years. You cannot miss them if you truly listen. You cannot ignore them once truly heard. . . I will bring you the exact right thoughts, words, or feelings, at any given moment, suited precisely to the purpose at hand, using one device, or several." So often, we ask for guidance, for help, for a "sign" but when it arrives, we ignore it. Maybe we pass them off as insignificant. Maybe we think we are imagining them. Or maybe we are just so busy and unaware that they flit right by us like an unwanted gnat at a picnic. One acquaintance of mine would continually ask for a sign during her prayers. Her heart longed to know that her deceased mother and son were with her still and watching over her. One day while sitting on the edge of the bed praying, a nearby calendar flew off the wall. Not straight down as if the nail had given away, but forward, towards her. She asked, "Was this a sign?" While I didn’t see this happen, she later related the phenomenon to myself and a friend, we both asked, "How much of a sign do you really need?!" Maybe she wanted her mother and son to appear in an apparition like in the Monte Python movie? How much of a sign do YOU need? Another friend, after losing her job of 30-plus years, related how she traveled all over the country for a year, always hedging. She claims she would always say, if this happens or that, she would go to chiropractic school. (The signs, no matter what she asked, always said, "yes," go back to school) She finally acquiesced and went to chiropractic school at age 50. She could no longer ignore the signs. She happily practiced chiropractic for 20 years. Are you paying attention to the signs and wonders around you or are you letting them pass you by as coincidence and speculation? What would happen if you gradually, quietly, gently, secretly, tested them out? What if you picked one or two and paid attention to what they were telling you to do? In my book, Hatch — a Change Your Life Guide, I share the story about "eggs." While at the store, all signs pointed to buying some, but I ignored my intuition. Turned out, I thought about making brownies later that day, but couldn’t. No eggs. Start with something easy. Maybe it’s to grab an umbrella, take a different way home, or an unusual job interview. Are you seeing any signs? Don’t worry if you are making them up. Just edge yourself forward and give whatever is nudging you a try. Let me know how it works out. Will they all pan out as 100% true? No. Sometimes you won’t know if it made any difference at all. But the more you listen, the more your angels/guides/Divine know you are listening, and the more signs and wonders will appear. Another of my favorite movies is Michael with John Travolta and an all-star cast. In this 1996 classic, a rag-tag team of Chicago reporters and others are called to a woman’s house in Iowa as she claims Archangel Michael is living there. Although they don’t believe her, they decide to check it out, and indeed, he is there. But then they realize the only way to prove it is to take him back to Chicago, thus beginning an unusual journey for the troupe, each learning their own lessons along the way. My favorite part of the movie comes near the end where signs are shown in such a way as they often happen in real life. Subtle and hidden among the ordinary in plain sight. I won’t offer up any spoilers, but this shows in grand fashion how the answers we seek are all around us and within us if we but become open to them, listen, and follow them. For some, these times are often chaotic and filled with frustrations that many times are not of our own making. We are dealing with AI, autobots, lost missives, incorrectly filled orders, and much more. What if by simply watching for and following the signs we are given we could make each day just a little easier? Let’s give it a try. I don’t yet know where my learning endeavors will take me. You’ll have to stay tuned to find that out, just as I will. I do know without a doubt I got the message—and yes I followed it. What answers are you seeking? Are you paying attention to the signs and wonders? *~* *~* *~* *~* *~* Jamie Linn Saloff assists those seeking relief from grief, pain, and strife by empowering their internal guidance system. She is a graduate of the renowned Fellowships of the Spirit in Lily Dale, NY. And the author of twelve books including Hatch – A Change Your Life Guide. Visit her on the web at https://www.MarvelousMessages.com. I received the entire 9/10 year series of this iconic television show for Christmas a couple of years ago and I am on my second time watching through it. Why? You ask. Because I absolutely LOVE every, single, episode. Rewatching these brings back memories of curling up on Sunday evenings with my family or even by myself and getting lost in a story about the amazing power of God's love and His provision. The Bible talks a lot about angels, that they are "encamped around us, take charge over us," and warns us to be careful how we treat strangers as we might be, "entertaining angels unaware." That particular Scripture, Hebrews 13:2 is one of the reasons I love this series so much! Though they don't shy away from some of life's toughest issues like racism, suicide, addiction, etc., the overall goodness and benevolence of this series, in comparison of what's on television today, makes me long for the "good old days" when there wasn't so much filth and violence on the "boobtube" (as my mom used to say LOL!). If you haven't seen any of these shows, you can watch Touched by an Angel on streaming services like Netflix, Paramount+, fuboTV, and Philo, Prime Video and Apple TV. The show is also available for free with ads on Pluto TV. Also on Hallmark+ and Fox Nation. I hope you'll take the time to watch, be encouraged and inspired. PamT Good Morning Dear Ones, I started this blog to share my spiritual journey and people, books, movies, etc., that speak to me on a faith level. As you've noticed in the past, I occassionally posted something from a friend that was meaningul, beneficial, and fit into these guidelines. Today is one of those days and you'll see them more often as I've invited folks to share their spiritual truths with us. I hope you'll enjoy these visits as much as I do and welcome our guests. Jill DeVille is a devout lover of Jesus, multi-published Author, Motivational Speaker, the Pastor of Gift Minsitry of Louisiana and my dear friend. In her latest book, This Holy Day: Be the Light in the Darkness, Jill reveals what the Lord showed her about being the light on even the "darkest" holidays and that every holiday should be a holy day. I feel the same way! In fact, after Jill's book came out, I shared with her a poem I wrote years ago about this very subject. I'll share it with you now and then we'll hear from Jill... Holy Holidays © 2007 As we journey through this special time of year We give Thanks, share Joy and spread lots of Cheer Let us keep in mind that life is a gift and offer God praise And always remember to keep the holidays, Holy Days. Take it away Jill... Once I truly surrendered all to the Lord, I began reading the word of God a lot. Within four months, my bible looked like I’d had it for decades. I was seeking and wanted answers. Why did I feel like I could do some things that religion was saying, “no” to? Why did I feel God saying, “you can be the light in the darkness”? With my attempts to be the light, pastors or Christians would look at me funny or make comments when I carved a pumpkin for Halloween. Matthew chapters five, six, seven, and twelve stood out to me the most in regard to the Holidays. That is where God would take me. God’s voice sounded like this, “be the Light in the darkness.” “How can I be the light in the darkness,” I would ask? Holidays look like the celebration of self or sin to me. I wondered and asked God, wouldn’t others think I am trying to have the holiday another way to please myself? Then He would take me to Matthew six, in all things do it for Me so I can see you and I will bless you. Seek me first and my right standing then all will be added to you. All and first stood out to me. All…So all things? Interesting, right? All things that would still honor and please the Lord, to be clear. If we take all the things that God has given us access to and turn them for the good of God, others, and us, like He taught us, traditions and religion would change. Then when our children come into this world knowing the way, truth, and life of the Lord in our traditions, they will naturally follow Him in all things without feeling uncomfortable. It will be what they know and believe naturally. It will allow them to be the light in others’ darkness too. Many will give up what appears to be the worst of sin. While they keep a death grip on a tradition like a sport event or holidays like Halloween or Christmas. They will pray, like I used to, for the Lord not to come each year during that season. Crazy right? I know! Maybe I am the only one. Ha! Why not find a way to serve the Lord in all things and be that very light for others to see their way through it too? This Holy Day: Be the Light in the Darkness can be found at Amazon and at The Charmed Page bookstore in Lake Charles, Louisiana & Gospel Book Store in Gretna, LA. Pastor Jill Deville is the Speaker, Founder, and CEO of Jill Deville Ministries founded in 2023. Through Jill Deville Ministries, Jill is a speaker at conferences and events throughout the world both online and in person with God’s Girls and Book It! Conferences and Events. You will find her on Tik Tok, YouTube, Facebook and in your community. If she is not there then she will be, just ask her! Email Jill at: [email protected] Going through boxes of stuff I moved from storage, I found a trio of battery-operated candles that said Faith, Hope and Believe. The ‘believe’ one was bent and when I took it out of the box to set it along with its mates on a shelf, it broke. I taped it but it’s still bent and broken. This started me thinking… How often are our beliefs tested so strongly we wonder what we’re believing for anyway? Have you ever had faith in or for something so long, you’re tempted to just throw in the towel and forget it all? Have you ever gone off on a spiritual tangent, clinging to a certain promise (or promises) in the Bible until you know them so completely and yet…nothing changes despite the ‘belief in your heart and confession of your mouth’? Ever ask God, “what do you want me to do in this situation, or to help this along?” Yeah, me too. I’ve been so high on my faith and belief, especially when I feel God has shown me something or given me a promise of something to come, that I doubt I’ll ever come down much less be disappointed. I’ve also believed and waited so long for some things, I doubt the visions or promises will ever come to fruition. So long that I’ve gone from hope and faith to doubt and despair and then something will happen, or I’ll hear a message and go right back around to believing again. So, what are we supposed to do in such situations? In Mark, 9:23 Jesus said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” And in Mark 11: 23-24 He said, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” AND “Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Eintein said, "imagination is the preview of life's coming attractions." Psalm 37:4 says that when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart." Know that if you truly, honestly, deeply desire something that will not harm yourself or others, you are worthy to receive it. So, when you’ve done all that you can do, the only thing you can continue to do is just believe. Believe and Wait for it with patience, joy and expectation. After all, Habakkuk 2:3 reminds us that the vision is for an appointed time. Don't give up and trust in Divine timing. Something to think about! "Inspirational with an Edge! ™ "Coaching in Pjs" ™ *©2015 Previously published as Pamela's Ponderings September 2015
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AuthorPamela S Thibodeaux is a native of SWLA. She is an award-winning author, life coach, and spiritual mentor. About this Blog
I've been on a spiritual quest most of my adult life. In the last 40+ years I've listened to podcasts & interviews, and read books by some of the worlds most popular Religious, Spiritual and New Thought leaders. I've shared the information in different formats such as Pamela's Ponderings in TWJ Magazine which is no longer a viable website. Therefore, some content you may recognize, other will be new. Either way I hope to encourage and inspire you with every post! This film will change your life!
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