Rainbows, Potholes & Nuggets of Gold
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Rainbows, Potholes & Nuggets of Gold
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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.
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Hello and Welcome back to Rainbows, Potholes and Nuggets of Gold blog! Back in May I mentioned how much I missed sharing spiritual truths with you and vowed to be more consistent. Then in June I left for an extended vacation and well, there was too much to see and do to blog so again, I, let it slide. That didn't stop me from reading though, and today I'd like to tell you about two books I read that are filled with nuggets of gold. We'll begin with Thank & Grow Rich by Pam Grout. I LOVE Pam's writing (check out my previous post on two of her other books!). All about the power of gratitude, Thank & Grow Rich is another gem to treasure and read regularly, but moreso, to actually participate in the 30 day experiment and see for yourself how gratitude can transform your life. In her book, Pam mentioned, The Gratitude Jar by Josie Robinson. I read this book, and mentioned it on my book blog back in 2019, and decided to reread it. Boy am I glad I did! Ms. Robinson talks about how a simple gratitude practice she did with her four-year-old son, helped her evolve from a hopeless alcoholic to a woman of grace and power and changed the trajectory of not only her, but her entire family's, life. If you've ever felt grateful for something or someone, not just a fleeting "thank you," grateful, but a bone deep emotion that permeates to your very soul, you'll appreciate reading these two books. According to teachers of the Law of Attraction, gratitude and appreciation raise your vibration, enabling you to attract more of the things you want in lieu of those you don't. Therefore, if your life seems to be nothing but headache and heartache, implement the practices in either or both volumes. I promise you won't regret it! Something to think about... PamT “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ "Coaching in Pj's" ™ We’ve all heard the story of David and Goliath but many of us aren’t so bold in our faith that we would tackle the job of fighting an actual giant. Or so we imagine. If you think about it, we face giants every day… We come up against giants of health issues, financial burdens, and relationship woes. We wrestle with temptation and forgiveness. We penetrate walls of anger, and scale mountains of gloom, despair and misery. Giants, every one when it comes to exercising and building our faith. So how are some ways we can face and overcome these? Prayer: This goes without saying but how and what kind of praying? IMHO the best is when you find a scripture that addresses what you’re dealing with. Personalize it and stand firm. Affirmations: Write and speak positive statements of resolution about your situation. Words have power and some say the written word is much more powerful. Don’t focus on the problem; focus on the answer or desired outcome. Forgiveness: Sometimes the best way to deal with the giants in your life is to forgive…others, yourself, God. Meditation: Take time to get quiet and listen to and appreciate the silence. Once your mind is quiet, God can speak to you. Stay in the NOW: There is great comfort, peace and power is staying in the present. After all, many of our ‘giants’ are actually thoughts from our past or anxiety about the future. The bible tells us that “now” is the time of salvation and that “now faith” is the substance of things hoped for…. It’s OK to think, dream and plan for the future but not to the point of missing the blessings in your present (moment). These are just a few ideas…. I’m sure you have your own way of facing the giants in your life, I’d love to hear them! Until next time, take care and God Bless. PamT PS: I will be traveling extensively June 13 - End of July or later so posts may not be consistent. *©2014 Previously published as Pamela's Ponderings June 2014
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay If you’ve followed my spiritual quest for long, you’ll see I often refer to the Law of Attraction (which I consider the law of sowing and reaping, or faith in action)…Anyway, two of the Scriptures quoted in The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (a LOA book) are Matthew 21:22 and Mark 11:24 where Jesus says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” AND “Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” If these are the words of our Savior, then why aren’t we receiving the things we desire? After all, Psalm 37:4 exhorts us to “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Now I know many will get off into semantics here, telling us there is more to the meaning of those scriptures than what meets the eye. They will tell us that our sin is what keeps us from receiving and that there are a whole lot of rules to apply before God will bless us. We will be filled with guilt and shame for asking and doubt and fear that God will not stand up to His promise and bless us. Really? I honestly believe this is where we mess up and why we don’t receive the things we need from God much less those we desire. The Bible talks a lot about being worthy and there is a prayer in the Catholic mass that says, “Lord I am not worthy to receive you but say the word and I shall be healed.” Is it possible we don’t receive from God because although He desires to bless us we don’t feel worthy? Bottom Line: If you’ve committed your life to God, have asked for forgiveness of your sins and have received pardon from Him – You ARE Worthy! Period. So how do we get to the point of receiving? #1: Realize you are worthy to receive from God. #2: Ask for what you need. #3: Find and stand on God’s promises related to whatever you are asking for. #4: Believe you have received whatsoever you’ve asked for. #5: Expect God to answer but understand He may not answer in the exact way you imagine. God always has our best interest at heart so trust He will bless you in the way that’s best for everyone concerned. #6: Watch what you say! Just because you don’t get what you want, when you want, be careful not to get into negativity over God’s timing or ways. There’s no quicker way to negate your faith and block your blessings than that. Sounds easy right? Not always. In the spiritual/LOA books I’ve read and all the things I’ve studied, feeling as though you already have whatever it is you desire is a big part of receiving. The catch is, feeling it with gratitude and not fear. Gratitude draws, fear repels. So how do we get from fear to gratitude? #1: Be thankful in advance. #2: Write or say affirmations such as, “I receive (fill in the blank) with grace and gratitude.” #3: Make room for whatever it is you’re asking for in your heart, mind, and life. Asking for new clothes? Clean out your dressers and closets. Asking for a new automobile? Keep the other one in good shape, clean and well tuned. Looking for a new house? Clean, repair and/or refresh your current home. Wanting a new job? Appreciate the one you have, trusting God to open doors for your advancement. More than that work your current position with integrity and excellence! #4: Learn to appreciate what you already have. Nothing opens you up to receive more than gratitude for what you already have! After all, God will not give you something else to complain about. In her book, You Can Heal Your Life, Louise Hay says to sit with your arms open wide and say, “I am open and receptive to all of the good God/the universe has for me.” Go a step further and say, “I am worthy to receive all of the good God has for me!” Try these things and again, watch what you say. Negativity blocks so stay positive and remember faith is like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it becomes and keep in mind that all things are possible to them that believe. Something to think about! Pamela S Thibodeaux “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ "Coaching in PJs" ™ *©2015 Previously published as Pamela's Ponderings May 2015
You may or may not realize that I am a YouTube junkie. Ok, 'junkie' may be a strong word, LOL! but I DO love finding and listening to podcasts and interviews that support and enhance my spiritual growth. During my holiday break from blogging, I came across a video with Cheryl Richardson and Louise Hay titled, Transform Your Life in 2 Weeks with THIS Self-Care Secret. I tuned in and to my surprise and utter delight these beautiful ladies were talking about their book, You Can Create an Exceptional Life. I've owned this book for a while and watching that video encouraged me to pull it off the shelf and read it again. I am SO glad I did! There are SO many nuggets of gold in this gem that I just had to share some with you.... *Self Love is the core issue with every body and every thing. Isn't this the absolute truth? I mean, we're taught that love covers a multitude of sin and to give and not count the cost but seriously, how can we love or give to others if we don't love and care for ourselves? *Our thinking either makes us feel good or it makes us feel bad. Another nugget of truth! If we would make a commitment to pay attention to our thoughts and words for even 1 day we'd see the areas in which we need to shift and grow and change. Listen to what comes out of your mouth LOL! *It is the alignment of head and heart that creates the alchemy that gives your affirmations power. THIS struck me straight in the heart! Dr. Joe Dispenza say's that you can say, "I am wealthy, I am healthy" or whatever all day long but if your mind is a mess and your heart is incoherent, those words don't get past the brain stem and into the body to generate the corresponding feelings and emotions for us to embody the change we want to create in our lives. So, how do you get into heart and head alignment? Breathwork, Journaling, Yoga, Prayer, Meditaion and other forms of Self Care are first steps as are, setting loving boudaries and weaning yourself off of the negative narrative of the world. This wonderful book is filled with stories and examples from the authors' lives as well as beautiful affirmations that we can start with like, "Life loves me and all my needs are met." It also has questions like this one from page 105, "What one habit do I need to dissolve to create the {financial} life I want?" I put financial in brackets because this is a direct quote from the book but you can ask this about any/every area of your life and start there to make the changes you want to make in your own life, knowing that when you do, the lives of those you love are subject to change also. I highly recommend you get this book and take the time to really study and apply its teachings so that you can create the exceptional life you desire and deserve! Find You Can Create an Exceptional Life at Amazon for Kindle and in Hardcover and Paperback. It is definitely one worth having and sharing. Something to think about. Pamela S Thibodeaux Inspirational with an Edge! ™ Coaching in PJs ™ |
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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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