Stepping Out in Faith
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I am moving to Maui for 6 months in January and at times I can hardly believe it. I find myself thinking, is this real? Can I trust my inner voice and have faith that this is a call from my soul and spirit? Before I went to Maui in September, I said to my kids “It would be nice to live in Maui for half of the year.” It was kind of a daydream because at the time, it didn’t seem at all possible for that to happen. Apparently, Spirit heard my desire and Mother Maui is calling me back to live in Hawaii for half the year to teach, speak, coach and give workshops/retreats. I trust that the right and perfect person will rent my condo while I am away and that I will be led to the right and perfect place to live in Maui – and I’m asking for a place to live for free. While this wasn’t “My Plan,” I truly believe it is the “Divine Plan” for my life. I love God’s Plan, so much better than my plan.
As I look back over the last 37 years and remember all the “stepping out in faith” miraculous stories I have experienced with God, it gives me the courage and strength I need to step out again and follow my heart. That doesn’t mean that I don’t feel afraid at times, because I do. I have learned to face my fear and do it anyway. Isn’t that what faith is all about? It is a big leap of faith to trust the divine plan and move in another direction (even if it is to Paradise.) It requires me to step into the unknown even though I don’t know HOW everything is going to unfold, I know the HOW is up to God. Through prayer and meditation, I am learning to trust that everything is in divine perfect order and flowing with peace, ease and grace. While I was in Maui last month, several people I met said that moving to Maui will bring up all of your “stuff.” Well, it is already happening, Spirit is shining it’s light into my heart and showing me areas that I need to change. I guess that is a good thing!
A call to faith is always a step into the unknown. Our conscious mind wants to figure out all the details, so that it knows what lies ahead and can have a road map, and our subconscious mind wants to keep us safe. So if we allow our mind to make all of our decisions, we may never move in the direction that our hearts and spirits want us to take. A call to faith is also a step towards a deeper level of service and will often require an immediate and radical shift in how we live our lives.
For many years, I looked outside of myself for my answers and needed the approval of others to tell me it was OK to live my life the way I wanted to. Learning to go within for my answers and to hear and trust God has been a lifelong process for me. It takes practice and the more I practice, the more I am divinely guided to the next adventure and chapter in my life. I no longer need to control everything and everyone around me in an effort to keep myself safe and know what lies ahead. Today, I am allowing God to lead and provide for all of my needs and as I step out in faith, I wait and watch the miracles unfold (and I learn patience.) What we expect, we get. I expect miracles in my life and I will get them. And so will you, if that is what you expect!
Today I am saying YES to myself, to life, to Spirit, to the Divine Plan and to live my life to the fullest, because one of the greatest gifts we can give to God and the world around us, is to live our life to the fullest.
Are you living your life to the fullest? Where is God calling you to step out in faith and follow your heart? Take a small step in the direction of your dreams and watch how the universe will immediately support your decision and doors will open in a way that seems like magic.
AINE – Leap of Faith (received in prayer)
Take a risk , and put your heart’s true desire into action. Don’t worry about making a wrong decision. Instead worry about making no decision at all. Then take time to pray, meditate, investigate, and make your decision. Once made, the universal energies will immediately support your decision, and doors will successfully open as if by magic. The magic, you see, is that you have set your mind to accomplish something. And this intention is what sets you on a magical journey. Trust that the universe will support you in all ways. Trust that your intention is clear and right for you. And then take a leap of faith and jump fully and squarely into the midst of putting your dreams into action. Don’t hesitate or delay a moment longer.
Goddess Guidance Cards – Doreen Virtue
P.S. If you know anyone who is interested in renting my condo in Providence from January-June. please let me know.
The Power of Radical forgiveness
A few months ago my friend Sandra, who was in the middle of a painful divorce asked me to teach her how to pray. A few weeks later, she invited me to go on vacation and stay with her at her time share in Datona Beach, Florida- all expenses paid. Since it was the week before going to Hawaii for a month, I didn’t see how I could swing it. But as I prayed about it, the peace came and I knew it was God’s plan for the both of us. I felt excited to share my prayer life with her and how to connect more deeply with the Divine within. In return for her generosity, I offered her an intensive retreat and spiritual coaching sessions with me.
Before we even started the vacation, God was at work in Sandra’s life and preparing her to uncover some beliefs that were blocking her from the love and peace she was seeking. Something happened that brought up a lot of anger and she felt like a victim. Sandra slept at my house the night before the flight and before going to bed, she found a book to read from my book shelf. Several years ago, this book literally found me and transformed my life from the inside out. It’s called Radical Forgiveness by Colin Tipping. Radical Forgiveness goes beyond the forgiveness I was taught growing up. What I learned from the book is that we attract everything into our lives for our highest good and to see the perfection in all that is happening in our lives. When we blame or judge someone who has hurt us, we live in victim land.
Each morning Sandra and I prayed together and she learned step by step how to pray and release resentments and anger from her past. Sandra was like a sponge, open and willing to receive all that God wanted to give her. She was shedding the old for new life to come. Sandra told me she never felt so cared for and loved.
We had an amazing vacation together. Not only did we pray, but we played, swam, shopped, walked, hugged, cried and laughed together. God was present and provided for all of our needs. Not only did Sandra make a commitment to a daily prayer life to connect more deeply with the Divine, but she is now looking for a spiritual community to enhance her new found spirituality.
Sandra’s last divorce settlement meeting was 3 days after our intensive retreat. She said, “I prayed each day and filled my thoughts with love and light. I made it through the meeting with peace, ease and grace as Pat and I had visualized. When it was over, with a very shaky voice, I said to my now ex- husband -thank you for what you were able to share in our marriage and I wish you well. An entity of forgiveness entered my body and filled the whole room. After I spoke, his attorney put her hands in the prayer position over her heart and bowed from the waist to me with the acknowledgment of, “I see the light in you.” Only she and I knew what her gesture meant. My ex. and my lawyer just stared with open mouths.
I feel so blessed watching Sandra’s transformation right before my eyes. As a Spiritual Life Coach, I am humbled and grateful to walk this journey with women. Do you want to learn how to pray and have a deeper connection with the Divine? I can help you. I am excited to share that the “Travel Coach” has been born. I will go away with you for a day, weekend or a week and help you transform your life and connect more deeply with the Divine.
Take Time to Smell the Roses
I am a recovering “Rushaholic.” I didn’t take time to smell the roses because I was just too busy with life and “DOING.” I didn’t know what it meant to BE and relax. I have a chapter in by book about rushing. “Rushing was my addiction. If I rushed and stayed busy, I didn’t have time to feel my feelings and go within. It gave me energy when I rushed. I felt powerful and in control when I multi-tasked. When I rush all the time, I disconnect from myself and the divine energy of God within. When I rush, I’m not respecting myself or the God within.” When I rush, I lose my peace and feeling the presence of God.
As I took my daily walk around Providence College today, I stopped to watch the men remove a 35 foot locus tree off the truck with a huge forklift. The foreman walked over to me and, of course, I had all kinds of questions to ask him. The tree had just been delivered from New York and it took 3 hours to drive it to Providence College. It cost $10,000. Why would I write a story about watching a tree being removed from a truck?
Because I realized how stopping and smelling the roses (and watching a tree being taken off a truck) and being in the present moment was crucial to my spiritual well being. The peace that I experienced was a peace that passes all understanding. If you want peace in your life, I encourage you to slow down and practice being in the present moment. I know you may be saying, “But I work and have a family and there is just so much to do.” Yes, that is true, but take 10 minutes each day for yourself and do whatever you want and do it purposefully. You are responsible for the pace and peace you bring to each moment.
When I am living in the present moment, I listen to my intuition and follow it, even if it doesn’t make sense. For example, I decided to take the day off and go to the beach this week. I had planned on going to Horseneck Beach in MA. As I was driving on the highway, I changed my mind and took the turn to Narragansett Beach, which is the opposite direction. No big deal, I thought. As I was driving to the beach, I decided to get off one of the exits and go to a consignment store that I hadn’t been to in years. I wanted to find a dress to wear for my speaking engagements in Hawaii. I wanted it to be “Hawaiian looking”, and of course, I wanted a bargain. I found a dress that I loved, the perfect turquoise color and it was on sale for ½ the price.
Stop every once in awhile and smell the roses. Look around and see God’s miracles. Listen to your intuition. You have one life to live so live it to the fullest because you never know if you will be blessed with a tomorrow.
What You Think About You Bring About
I have shared in recent emails that my daughter Mary just bought a farm. Mary owns Farmacy Herbs in Providence and now she will have more land to grow and harvest herbs, as well as have some of her own animals. Mary has dreamed of owning her own farm since she was 16 and she’s now 35! One year ago she found a farm in W. Greenwich that she fell in love with. It was a lot of money and she didn’t have any money! But that didn’t stop her from dreaming and visualizing herself on that farm. A short time after that, the farm was taken off the market.
A few months ago, a friend who is also a farmer told Mary about a loan she received through the USDA. Mary contacted them immediately to see if she would be eligible. One of the requirements was that she should be in business as a farmer for 3 years and that was exactly how long her business had been operating. She contacted the owner of the farm and asked if they were still interested is selling the farm. They said “Yes.” She applied for the loan and the best part was that the price of the farm was significantly lower than last year. She was also able to get the loan at an interest rate of 1 ½%. It is totally amazing that she was given a loan with no credit of her own. Mary also has plans on giving retreats and workshops at the farm.
My whole family was there to help Mary move in. I felt really excited for her as we unpacked the boxes and found the perfect spot for everything. My excitement was doubled as I visualized my family helping me move into my house on the water, which has been my dream for many years. I even have a picture of my dream house on the water in my intention book that I pray with daily.
I told Mary how I visualized my house on the water as we were unpacking boxes and she said, “Mom, you have to start looking for houses on the water now.” “But, I don’t have that kind of money for a house on the water,” I said. “It doesn’t matter, I didn’t have any money either and look what happened.” Wow, wasn’t that great wisdom coming from my daughter. I followed Mary’s wisdom and have started looking for houses on the water. I trust that the right and perfect house will show up and the money will come easily and effortlessly.
What you think about, you bring about. Although it took many years, Mary never gave up on her dream to have her own farm. I will not give up on my dream to have a house of the water. Think positive, believe and visualize that good that is coming into your life. Have faith that dreams do come true and watch the miracles happen.
What are you thinking about? Are you bringing about what you are thinking about?
YOU CAN’T OUT GIVE GOD
My father had many sayings growing up that I didn’t understand until I became an adult. One of them was “You can’t out give God.” That saying came to my mind this week. I am allowing myself to receive and to know that I am deserving of the good coming into my life.
As you know from my last newsletter, I have been selected to be a speaker on a holistic Cruise to the Mayan Country in January 2012 – WOW. I am so grateful and excited to be a part of this amazing event. I left a message for the travel agent to call me so we could discuss airfare since the Norwegian Spirit is departing from New Orleans. I had my mail in my hand when the phone rang and it was Fay from the travel agency. She informed me that they were looking into getting group rates from the airlines. I thanked her, hung up the phone and continued opening up my mail. I was shocked when I opened the letter stating that I qualified for an award for 2 airline tickets anywhere in the US. “Well, isn’t that interesting”, I thought. The timing couldn’t have been any better. I accepted their offer and the next week I attended a 90 minute presentation trying to get me to buy into their company. I graciously accepted my free airline tickets and had a chance to practice my talk for the cruise “Saying no to others and YES to yourself!!!” I was also the only one there without a partner. Lucky me, I got two free tickets just for me to travel.
When I went to bed that night I was thanking God for providing me with free airline tickets. Then, God brought to mind what happened just that morning. A friend of mine needed money for her rent and after praying about it, God put it on my heart to give her $200. I didn’t know it, but that was exactly what she needed for the rest of her rent.
What I learned from this is that when you give from your heart, whether it is money, time or giving support to another, God always returns the favor, if you will. Mine came in the way of 2 airline tickets worth $1400. My father was right, you can’t “out give God.”
GODINCIDENCE – NORWEGIAN SPIRIT CRUISE SHIP
I don’t know about you but I get loads of daily emails that I don’t open. About a month ago, I received an email and didn’t know why I was led to open it (I know now it was a Godincidence.) They were looking for speakers for a holistic cruise to the Caribbean in January 2012. Right up my alley, I thought. I immediately shot them off an email telling them I was interested in applying to be a speaker. I didn’t hear back and assumed they had already chosen their speakers. I received a phone call this week that they wanted me to send in a proposal of what workshop I would present. I felt the excitement mounting especially after I saw the website and the fantastic deal they were offering. Of course, I filled in the application and sent the proposal right off. I knew in my heart of hearts that I was going to be selected to be a speaker. The next day I received an email, “Pat, congratulations, you have been selected to be a speaker on the Norwegian Spirit Cruise Ship.” I screamed with excitement and gratitude.
You see, this has been a dream of mine to be an inspirational speaker on a cruise ship for several years. I have an intention book that I pray with daily and in the book was a picture of me speaking on a cruise ship. My trip to Maui, Hawaii and swimming with the turtles was also in my intention book. What is in my intention book are prayers in pictures and words. It really works, not in my time – but in God’s time!
What are your intentions? You must be clear about what you want and you must believe and expect your prayers to be answered.
If you would like to cruise with me and 150 other like-minded spiritual people, please click on link below. If you sign up before May 15, there is a discount of $150. Contact me for more information at 401-521-6783 or email me at Pat@SimplyaWomanoffaith.com. Check out www.yourholisticcruise.com?ap idpathas
TRUST YOUR FEELINGS
Do you ever feel crazy with people telling you what you should do in your life, whether it be how to find your soul mate, how to make 6 figures in your business or how to lose weight? Just recently I listened to a Calling in the one soulmate seminar on the internet. One speaker said throw away your list of what you want in a mate and the next speaker said be very clear about what you want. One speaker said do the inner work and allow him to come to you, another said hire a dating coach and join Match.com. It certainly made me crazy and I felt overwhelmed at first. Thankfully, I had done my inner work and knew what I needed to do for me.
I have come to the conclusion, neither answer is right nor wrong. It’s what’s right for me. Instead of looking outside for someone to tell me what’s right or what to do with my life (and I did that most of my life) I have learned to go within and see what feels right for me. I ask myself the question – does it make me feel peaceful or stressful? How do we discern what is right for ourselves? Our feelings are not right or wrong and they are clues to what we need to do next. Our feelings are our gifts from God and come to give us messages.
You are invited to trust yourself and your intuition. I believe that your answers are within. If you have been looking outside for your answers, it takes practice and a conscious decision to go within. I teach people the importance to spend time with themselves in quiet meditation and prayer. By going within you get in touch with what you want and desire- and what you don’t want.
There are so many outside distractions and information coming in that it is easy to feel overwhelmed. I am learning the importance of setting boundaries for myself so that I live in peace. I am learning to say no when it doesn’t feel right. It is my responsibility to keep myself in peace and to continually check in when I’m feeling overwhelmed, especially when I need to make a decision. If I am feeling pressured to make a decision or if I am asked to make a decision that I am not ready to make, I am learning to give myself the time I need to gain clarity and discern what is best for me. I may even give myself the time not to decide, until it feels right. In this space of quiet, I can go within and ask God for direction and guidance. When it feels right and there is peace in my heart, I trust myself and move forward.
LET MIRACLES FIND YOU
Do you believe you get what you need when you need it and at the perfect and right timing? I believe everything happens for a reason and it’s always for my highest good and the good of others. I’ve learned to expect God’s favor and to look for signs that I’m on the right track and in God’s perfect plan.
After my daughter-in –law Suzie died 3 years ago, while still at her wake, my son handed me her pewter angel with the inscription, “Let Miracles Find You.” He said, “Mom, Suzie wants you to have this.” I often think about what it means to “Let Miracles Find Me.” It means I trust that God is with me and that I am never alone. It means that God will show up at the perfect and right timing. It may not be my time, but it is always the perfect time.
A few days before Christmas, as I sat all by myself in church, I was really missing my mother – even though she died 42 years ago. She died on January 1st, so the holidays can be a trigger for me. As I looked around at the families gathered together in church that day, I felt sad, lonely and vulnerable. I knew I needed to really nurture and take care of myself, so I went home, took a hot bath and a long relaxing nap. One of my favorite ways to nurture myself is to curl up in my bed with my soft blanket after my bath. Each of us do that in different ways, but what’s important is that we take the time to soothe ourselves, so that we can open and receive God’s love in our lives.
The next day after church, while I was praying, I wrote in my journal, “Thank you for the miracles that will find me today.” That afternoon, I stopped at my friend Mary’s house to exchange Christmas gifts. I literally gasped when I opened her gift. There sat a beautiful angel with the inscription “Let Miracles Find You.” What a confirmation and sign that God was with me and that I wasn’t alone. Miracles are always finding us when we expect and believe. We must be awake and plugged into the Power within to receive our miracles from God.
I AM A STAR OF MY OWN BEING & I LET MY LIGHT SHINE
Thanksgiving morning in Hawaii: I had just finished writing in my journal “I am stepping into my greatness” when I looked up and witnessed this breathtaking rainbow over the ocean that spanned from one end of the sky to the other. Rainbows are always a sign of God’s blessing in my life and it felt like God was stamping His approval on my life’s work.
I thanked God and watched the rainbow as it faded back into the sky. I continued praying and journaling. Within five minutes, I looked up again and there was another rainbow gracing the sky. WOW, I felt so blessed and grateful. I watched it again fade completely into the sky. I broke down into tears and my body felt like it was vibrating when two more rainbows graced the sky (the last one was a double rainbow.) Within twenty minutes, I had witnessed 4 rainbows. I felt totally embraced in God’s love and care. I didn’t connect it right away, but I have 4 children so it was very symbolic of the gifts I have in my life.
I would like to share the message I received from God that morning in prayer.
“You can be as great as you want to be. It’s up to you. Just say yes to the doors I am opening for you. I have prepared you to step into your greatness and let your light shine. Not for you, but for the world to see me. I am the light and I am in you. So when you shine, I shine. When you hide because of false pride or not feeling good enough, you hide me. I am asking you to let your light shine so others will see me and be drawn to me. I have chosen you to do my work. The world is hungering for me and I need you to be the light in the world. Feel my love Pat, breathe it in, cherish it, let it radiate out. You are my star that is shining brightly. All you need to do is shine and radiate love.”
While reading my spiritual book I opened to:
“I no longer stand in my way, for I am God in expression and God does not have obstacles or obstructions. My consciousness is on fire with will and purpose and I am fired up. I now go forth to joyfully accomplish my mission because the power of God is working mightily in me now! I am hooked up to the dynamo within and I am electrified with the Divine energy of will and purpose. I am quickened from head to toe, galvanized into action by the invincible currents flowing in and through me.”
The same Power that is God lives in me and lives in you. Will you let your light shine and will you say yes to your mission and passion? The world is waiting for you. It is time to be a star of your own being and let your light shine.
LIVING MY DREAM & SWIMMING WITH THE TURTLES.
Happy Holidays and may you always know Gods unconditional love in your heart. It is God’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom and it is your good pleasure to RECEIVE it. I arrived home last night from my two week vacation to Hawaii. It was truly a gift from God with magic and many miracles. Prior to going to Hawaii, I had prepared my heart and soul daily to receive more of God’s love and abundance. I know many people (including myself) who have a hard time receiving because they don’t feel deserving or worthy. This is not the truth. As children of God, it is our divine right to receive abundance, wealth, health, joy, and love.
“I am living my dream” was a recurring theme and affirmation I said to myself while vacationing. Going to Hawaii started with a thought, then a deep desire and then pictures in my intention book that I prayed with for over two years. On one page of my intention book was a picture of a turtle swimming in the ocean in Maui, Hawaii (where I stayed.) Directly across from it was a picture of a man and woman snorkeling in the ocean.
It was next to the last day before my vacation ended and I still hadn’t swum with the turtles and snorkeled yet. I knew it was dangerous to go in the ocean alone and I didn’t have anyone to go with me. Each day as I looked out into the ocean, I kept saying to myself and my friend Ellen (with whom I stayed with and was 84 years old) “I will snorkel and swim with the turtles before I leave, I will do it.” I knew it in my heart, I believed it, but I didn’t know how it would happen.
I took my usual walk after dinner on the night before returning home. I stopped to chat with a couple I had met the week before that I promised to bring my book to. In our conversation, I casually said, “I really want to snorkel and swim with the turtles before I leave tomorrow, but have no one to go with me.” To my surprise, the man said, “Oh, my son Rich has been snorkeling every day since he’s been here. I am sure he would accompany you and I have all the equipment for you to use.”
The next morning, the day I left the beautiful island of Hawaii, my dream came true. Rich and I snorkeled and swam with the turtles for one hour. Words cannot express the excitement, exhilaration, gratefulness, and joy I felt! It was truly an amazing, miraculous moment that I will always treasure and never forget. Turtles are my symbol and I have them all over my house.
Never give up on your dreams, keep believing and trusting. You don’t need to know HOW it will happen. All you need to do is to “Show Up” and believe. Your dreams will come true. And, it always helps to ASK.
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