Are these signs from God?

[Peleke4]

Almost a decade ago when I attended college, there was this religious student who always invited me to a group bible study. After he asked me several times, I finally attended. There were about seven people in attendance and, one by one, we all read random verses. The verse I read said something along the lines, "...you people have to see to believe." That hit home with me because that was the exact kind of mentality I've always had. I've never experienced nor witnessed anything out of the ordinary and thus I've never had much confidence and faith in my religious, Catholic upbringing. Although it did hit home, I dismissed it as coincidence.

I was skeptical and close-minded in college, but since then I've immersed myself in PD/self-help and especially NLP, I am more open-minded than I have ever been before. Nowadays, I experience synchronicities/coincidences more so than ever in my life. I guess being open-minded allows one to become more receptive to synchronicities. Despite all this, I still lack faith in religion and God.

I started getting haircuts from this hairdresser who cuts my hair perfectly. I actually enjoy my haircut sessions because we're both very passionate about self-help/personal growth. It's like killing two birds w/ one stone: getting the perfect haircut & shooting the **** about topics we're both very passionate about. None of my close friends/family are into PD/self-help, so my hairdresser and online forums are my outlets to discuss what I find fascinating.

My hairdresser is very religious. Although we talk about PD/self-help, she always blends God into the conversations; even more so since I told her about my bible study experience above (she firmly states it's a sign). She told me about her experiences with God; let me tell you, her experiences are VERY out of the ordinary. Now, she doesn't talk to all her clients about her experiences with God. She's fully aware of the fact that her experiences likely would be considered bizarre/far-fetched and even delusional by some. I guess she feels comfortable telling me because she knows how open-minded I am. I truly give her the benefit of the doubt. She is aware of my skeptcism and lack of faith in religion and God. She believes that through my journey in PD/self-help, I will eventually find God. She always invites me to her Christian functions but I decline.

Recently, I've had experiences that together as a whole, really trip me out. Are these signs from God?

Several days or so prior to getting another haircut from my hairdresser, I had an intense vivid dream; the kind of dream that seems incredibly real. In the dream, I was in a church. I looked up and noticed one of the stained glass windows. The image on the stained glass was truly magnificent. I describe it as "magnificent" because it really had this aura around it; "magnificent" is the best I can describe for lack of a better word. On the stained glass was a huge bright and vibrant image of Jesus Christ. The dream then ended.

Days later, I cruise to my appointment with my hairdresser. As she cuts away, I tell her about my unusual dream. She states firmly that it's a sign. After we talk about religion and God for some time, she started to explain how one can find God. She said, "It's necessary that you have a strong desire that you REALLY, REALLY want to find God. It's just like when you messed up with a girl and she leaves you; and you have a strong desire to undue your mistake; you really, really want to get back with her. That's the same kind of desire necessary to find God."

I literally blanked out and just stared at her reflection in the mirror, speechless. Allow me to explain why. The fact that I'm really picky is probably why I'm currently single. Out of all the girls I ever dated, there was only one girl I genuinely, truly felt something for. She was the girl of my dreams. She surprisingly met all my criteria and then some. She was different from the rest, truly one in a million; really sucks that I messed things up (yes, I realize this is big-time wussy talk). I was kicking myself in the ass. I would have done anything to undue my mistake and have her back. This is the biggest regret of my life, literally. I really, really wanted to get back with her and would have done anything for this to happen. This hurt was one of a kind; never felt anything like it before. This regret stayed with me for a few years. Despite the fact that I dated different women, the hurt still lingered. It wasn't until I discovered NLP that I was able to alleviate much of the pain and heartache.

That is the reason I blanked out when my hairdresser explained how one finds God. Out of the all the possible analogies she could have come up with to find God, she happens to come up with the EXACT one that hit home with me. SHE HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD. Perhaps God truly knows all of our personal issues, situations, or what not? If so, was God communicating through my hairdresser that in order to find God, the intensity of desire to do so would have to be at the same exact intensity of desire I had with that girl? I asked my hairdresser how she came up with that analogy but forgot what she said. I didn't tell my hairdresser about this coincidence by the way.

On my way home from my haircut, I hit a red-light. I was thinking about what just happened as I waited for the light to turn green. As I looked up, I tripped out on the huge Calvin & Hobbes car decal. Calvin wasn't urinating like other Calvin/Hobbes decals I've seen. This was the first Calvin & Hobbes car decal of it's kind that I ever noticed: Calvin was kneeling down and praying to a huge cross. Below it in big bold letters, "Born Again." Needless to say, I was flabbergasted.

I'm just curious what some of you think of all this. Are these signs from God? Or am I just tripping? I appreciate any feedback.

[absvan]

I dont want to use the word god because then people tend to objectify god as someone - male/female etc. According to me god is formless and the human mind cannot grasp something that is formless...which means to know god means to not be your mind. So when people say that they saw god what I would consider that is they spoke/saw their higher self.

These might be signs from your higer self. Erin Pavlina’s Blog » Blog Archive » How to Meet your Higher Self. Try getting in touch with your higher self. But I have come to undersand that higher self may might still be communicating with us but we just dont pay attention. It might be in ways which we dont expect.

Hope that helps.

[AndreaHess]

I agree with Absvan ... your Higher Self and your Spirit Guides continually work with you to assist you in aligning with your highest path and purpose. You will attract learning experiences to yourself that you need in order to come into that alignment.

I do think, though, that none of us need to "find God." He's already here. God is infinite, and everywhere. You can find religion, but God is in everything and everyone. What would it mean to you to "find God?" What might this add to your life? What are you really looking for. You are no doubt seeking, of being called, to something. You already know the answer.

[Old Soul]

What I find interesting here is the actual dream itself, Just curious , how did you feel after having this dream, ? can you describe your feelings immediately following the dream, did it "effect" your entire being or just make you shake your head in confussion? or even provoke a sense of wonder ?

[Old Soul]

So when people say that they saw god what I would consider that is they spoke/saw their higher self.

I see God in unity , revelations and understanding :-)

I saw God
walking with a man
I do not know if
the man was a father or a son
They did not war
Instead built a house
And the walls were held up by his brothers
God sat at the head of the table
they broke bread
the man smiled
I hope the man was a father and a son

[Peleke4]

Originally Posted by Old Soul

What I find interesting here is the actual dream itself, Just curious , how did you feel after having this dream, ? can you describe your feelings immediately following the dream, did it "effect" your entire being or just make you shake your head in confussion? or even provoke a sense of wonder ?

This dream was very unusual. I didn't point this out, but while seated in the church, I sensed a negative vibe with the people surrounding me. They just didn't seem welcoming. I jump to this conclusion mainly from this woman near me who gave me a rotten look. However, the image of Jesus Christ on the stained glass window was positive. I really don't remember exactly how I felt after the dream. I do know I was surprised because it seemed so real, three-dimensional; other than that, the dream itself didn't have a profound affect on me. What really tripped me out was how the dream, "desire" as explained by the hairdresser, and the Calvin and Hobbes decal all came together.

Thanks Absvan for posting that link. I checked it out and found it very interesting. Perhaps my "Higher Self" is taking form in Jesus Christ? When I really think about it, I realize I don't even have a desire to find God. So when stuff like this happens, it just confuses me. Maybe it's a sign that I should put some time, effort, and energy into creating an intense desire to find God? Or maybe the simple explanation is that things like this are just bound to happen once in a blue moon... just like how Wizard of Oz syncs up nicely with Dark Side of the Moon

[Max Power]

P4,

If you believe in God and if you believe in signs from God, then they are signs from God.

If I say no they are not, how do you know I'm right? If I say they are, does that make it better for you because someone else believes in God?

I'm not being purposefully critical, but I don't know how an honest answer can help you.

Max

[Peleke4]

Originally Posted by Max Power

P4,

If you believe in God and if you believe in signs from God, then they are signs from God.

If I say no they are not, how do you know I'm right? If I say they are, does that make it better for you because someone else believes in God?

I'm not being purposefully critical, but I don't know how an honest answer can help you.

Max

You've got a strong point. This is just really confusing me. I guess what I really want to know is whether or not anyone has had similar experiences and if so, how he/she interpreted and handled the situation

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by Peleke4

You've got a strong point. This is just really confusing me. I guess what I really want to know is whether or not anyone has had similar experiences and if so, how he/she interpreted and handled the situation

P4, but how will you decide? If lots of people agree, does that make it right? What about if lots of people disagree, does that make it incorrect? You're right in seeking knowledge and being open minded is good, but don't be swayed in a direction that doesn't feel right no matter who or how many propose advice, me included.

Max

[Maguru]

I have had a strange experience lately but I don't believe it to be a sign of anything, not from god or anywhere else. It was all me.
Mine happened early the other morning. I was playing music on the computer whilst I was writing an email to my daughter. I decided to make a cuppa and left the room to put the kettle on. This done, the intro to the song, "read my mind, by the Killers' began. An overpowering urge came over me to go to the music. I remember thinking, "I'm having this one."
I walked back into the office, turned the music up full blast and stood squarely in front of the speakers. I closed my eyes and the rhythm of the music seemed to penetrate my being from the toes up. The feelings were so powerful, so difficult to describe. I sang out loud a couple of times, "can you read my mind," whist being fully focussed on the centre of my forehead, (third eye?)
I was fully aware of my attention and allowed these feelings to course through my body. I know I was dancing on the inside but god knows what my body was doing. (tee hee). I felt powerful. I felt determined. I felt I was onto something. This continued until the end of the song when two thoughts came to my awareness. They were, "I am here" and "I exist."

It was a great experience but I haven't a bloody clue what to make of it.

Originally Posted by Peleke4

You've got a strong point. This is just really confusing me. I guess what I really want to know is whether or not anyone has had similar experiences and if so, how he/she interpreted and handled the situation

[Peleke4]

Originally Posted by Max Power

P4, but how will you decide? If lots of people agree, does that make it right? What about if lots of people disagree, does that make it incorrect? You're right in seeking knowledge and being open minded is good, but don't be swayed in a direction that doesn't feel right no matter who or how many propose advice, me included.

Max

hey thanks! you definitely got me looking at this from a different angle. I have to simply trust myself; trust my instincts, what I feel is the right way

[Old Soul]

However, the image of Jesus Christ on the stained glass window was positive. I really don't remember exactly how I felt after the dream. I do know I was surprised because it seemed so real, three-dimensional;

The reason I asked is because I tend to see windows in dreams like a mirror a mirror reflection of what *YOU* are reflecting, you also say "seemed so real, so 3-dimensional"?

And didn't you say that after you spoke with your hairdresser you :

I literally blanked out and just stared at her reflection in the mirror, speechless.

obviously effected, :-))

we just need the lady in the church to see what you and your hairdresser are reflecting, "-) let your light shine

[ahimel]

Sounds like you're feeling confident, but I'll throw my $.02 in anyway:

I would call what you experienced "Signs from God". But since I'm not too clear on what God is, that answer isn't all that meaningful.

I've found that a lot of different models end up saying the same thing:

Christian (esp Mormon) God is everywhere, and loves you. When you need something, pray, and listen, and God will answer you.

Buddhist Everyone has power within themselves. When you are uncertain, listen quietly to the voice of truth within you.

Erin Pavlina Everyone was incarnated into this world with a purpose, and their higher self remembers this and guides you through life. When you have a problem, talk to your higher self, learn to listen to his/her answers, and it will all turn out OK.

Subjective Reality You're the one creating all this; you are God. When you run into a problem, it's because you created it. Therefore, if you stop and think about if for a bit, how to make the problem go away will become clear.

Jungian Mysticism All life is connected through the overmind. If you don't know the answer to a question, you have only to tap into the overmind, and the solution will be found there.

You'll notice that in all of these cases, their solution is the same: Stop, tune out the ordinary world, and wait for an answer to appear. IMHO, it's all blind men with elephants. The critical point is that it works; once you figure out how to recognize the answer, you'll find that the activity works, whichever model you use to explain it.

So I would say that this God/your subconscious/your higher self/the overmind/the flying spaghetti monster/aliens from Orion is all but hitting you over the head, trying to get this point across to you. It really doesn't matter which model you use - any of them would explain your signs. What matters is that you not reject this area of PD just because some people call it "God".

[Ree]

Originally Posted by ahimel

What matters is that you not reject this area of PD just because some people call it "God".

Excellent point!

[Mark Lapierre]

For an alternative perspective read this article about subjective validation