I remember reading the best-selling book, "The God Chasers" by Pastor Tommy Tenney, and even today, I wonder... Are there any God chasers in the Catholic Church?  How about the Baptist or Methodist or Full Gospel churches?

I'm not talking about Church goers or man pleasers, but God seekers. 
 
The Bible says that "God is no respecter of persons." 
 
Why are we? 
 
There are seven things God hates, one of which is "one who sows discord among the brethren." 
 
Why do we?  Why do we judge and criticize those who are not of the same "faith" as we? 
 
Jesus said, “Judge not lest ye be judged.” I try to live my life by that Scripture as well as my own personal motto which is: Don't mock what you don't understand.
 
Many of us used to wear bracelets that encouraged us to think W. W. J. D. We spout the phrase, “What would Jesus do?” We don our pins and proudly display bumper stickers, crucifixes and key chains, but how often do we really consider what Jesus would do in our situations?  How many of us talk the talk but don't walk the walk?

Even Jesus praised the Canaanite woman for her faith. Why can't we praise each other? How many of our church doctrines and church laws (regardless of the denomination) are Scriptural based but man enforced without the love, mercy, and forgiveness commanded of us by Christ? 
 
Why have we made love and forgiveness a job instead of a joy?  
 
How often do we approach the altar of God with sin in our hearts, minds and lives?  How often do we really repent whether through the Sacrament of Reconciliation or on our face before God?  How often do we go to church without really going to God?  How often do we seek the approval of man, or seek God's hand and not His face?  How often do we really worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, instead of ritual and tradition?  How often do we put church over God?  How often do we really minister to Jesus?  Do we sit at His feet, seek His face, serve Him with our whole hearts or do we become enslaved by what we once loved?  How many of our priests and ministers have lost their reverence for God and simply perform rituals?
 
Some say the Catholic Church is the one TRUE church, started by Jesus, but how often do Catholics practice what they preach?  How often do we fast and pray other than lent?  Do we really hunger and thirst for righteousness?  How often do we fast from negativism and feast on the positive? 
 
What about you?  What about your church? 
 
I AM NOT writing to judge or condemn any religion or denomination - I am writing to encourage ALL people, all religions and denominations to become more lovingm more forgiving, more accepting.

In other words, to be more like God.
 
So, let us pray.... Dear God, we cry out to You.  From the bottom of our hearts and the depths of our souls, we repent of our judgements and ask your guidance on changing our minds and hearts to love our neighbors as ourselves. Open the floodgates of heaven, Lord, and make us one heart, one mind, one in our desire to be an instrument of Your peace, a vessel of Your love, a fount of Your wisdom, a channel of Your blessings and a conduit of miracles. AMEN and Thank YOU.

Something to think about!
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Hi, Pamela. Thank you so much for including me on your blog. I was excited to get the email about opening up to guests about their lives and faith. Our walks are vast and varied while remaining connected with the thread of salvation. I’ve been a Christian for thirty years. There were no shouts and trumpets. No visitations from angels or flashes of light. Only a conversation between me and God about where I’d been and where I wanted to go. Since that moment, my life has been not only on paths, but roads, highways, and even wandering through the woods. The only constant was that no matter where I found myself, Jesus was beside me. 

I’d like to share a story about my first mission trip to Appalachia.

I’ve visited inner cities, worked in food kitchens, and collected food and clothing. Then an opportunity arose to visit West Virginia. The primary focus of the group was similar to Habitat for Humanity. Those who were able were assigned to rescue a nearly uninhabitable house.

 (*Note to reader* Many, including me, have a vision of what unlivable is. Most have no idea of how some people live. It was eye-opening and heartbreaking. It taught me not to feel guilty of the blessings I’ve been given, but never to take them for granted.) 

My “job” was to be a version of housemother, cooking for a group of about thirty and handling any problems that arose. This was in my wheelhouse. No problem. I’d also agreed to help with vacation bible school and other outreaches because why not, I was doing “the Lord’s work.” 

You know what, Pam. Wrangling thirty Christians is not much better than herding cats. We’re not perfect as believers, only saved by grace and mercy. I found myself stressed and wondering what I’d gotten into. My temper was short. Exhaustion led to discouragement, which pointed the way to self-pity. After another clash of someone messing around in “my” kitchen—not God’s kitchen—I left and went for a walk. 

A few minutes later, I found myself on a wooden bridge leading into the nearby park. I stopped and leaned, looking down into the water, questioning my decision to come here. I wasn’t making a difference. I hadn’t accomplished any “missionary” things, i.e., leading people to Jesus. In fact, I was probably getting in the way. 

After a full bathing in woe-is-me, a younger woman approached asking if I was okay. My response? “Of course,” with probably a bit more attitude than acceptable. She only smiled and leaned next to me. 

We ended up in a long conversation. The gist? What does the Lord require of you?

Is it to make sure everyone has and appreciates your food? He fed the crowd with five loaves and two fish. 

Was it to be everywhere doing everything? Be still and know He is God. It wasn’t my job to be everywhere doing everything. He is the One who is in control. One of my favorite verses came to mind. What does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? I wasn’t doing any of this. 

We eventually said goodbye. I don’t know who this woman was. I never got her name. But I learned more from her than from any person I’ve ever met. I went to minister to others. Instead, I was ministered to. I learned more about walking humbly. I learned that it’s not about me. 

That was many years ago, and I returned to this place often in the following years. I never saw her again. But the lesson I learned carried me to a better relationship with God and other Christians. Do I sometimes forget? Yes, I do. But when it happens, I turn around. Because you see, I realize it wasn’t because He left me to my own devices. No. It’s because I wandered. 

Because of some medical issues, it’s been a while since I’ve been back to this town. But this November, I’m returning with a small group to distribute 240 Thanksgiving baskets to those who need them. Do you want to bet I’ll be looking for her?

Hebrews 13:2 New King James Version: Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some have unwittingly entertained angels.

*Update: We distributed 260 Thanksgiving Baskets this year and received enough donations to refill the food pantry. I had concerns since the signups last year for baskets were about 150, almost double this year, but I kept repeating loaves and fish. 

Although I did not run into my Angel Lady, God certainly provided!

Ephesians 3:20: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

D. V. Stone is known for her engaging and captivating storytelling, often weaving elements of romance, fantasy, and adventure into her novels. Her official website, dvstoneauthor.com, serves as a central hub for fans and new readers alike to explore her literary works, learn about upcoming book releases, and gain insights into her creative process. The site typically features detailed book descriptions, author blogs, and exclusive content such as interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at her writing journey. Additionally, visitors can find information on where to purchase her books, sign up for newsletters, and connect with DV Stone on social media. Whether you’re a long-time follower or new to her stories, dvstoneauthor.com offers a comprehensive and inviting space to immerse yourself in the world of DV Stone’s imagination.

Thank You, SO Much, DV for sharing your awesome story with us today! Boy, angels have sure been getting some recognition on here lately LOL!

I hope you enjoyed DV's message as much as I did, friends and that you'll come back to Rainbows, Potholes and Nuggets of Gold every 2 weeks for another beautiful, faith-filled message.

Until next time, take care, God Bless and remember... You are never alone because angels surround you.

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

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.