that put you on the specific spiritual or religious path you're on? If it's not too personal I'd love for you to share it.:)

i had been studying kabbalah/qabala for 3 years and still didnt know much about judaism. after having a talk with my southern baptist mom about the movie "the passion" where i said that i have always believed in a higher power but i have always had issues with the whole jesus as the saviour of mankind and wanted to concentrate more on my relationship with G-d. she said i should probably be jewish (she said this in a joking manner). i actually kept thinking about this for weeks and starting look for more information about jewish beliefs, etc and now my husband and i are in the process of converting.
ironically, my mother is thinking of disowning me bc of it.

i totally believe in things happening for a reason, seeing things as signs, etc.

:sadhug: I am so sorry your mom is doing that to you. Hopefully she will come to her senses. I also have a BAptist mom and she thinks I am Christian, whereas I am still trying to figure out what I am.

What "branch" of Judaism are you converting to?

thank you, i needed that hug :)

it is the reform branch

Originally posted by adorkable
that put you on the specific spiritual or religious path you're on? If it's not too personal I'd love for you to share it.:)

Yes, I have... Numerous ones. And yes, very personal. Mainly dreams, visions, or visitations.

Grassaf,

Becca

I can't think of any "signs" per se.

There is one experience I had, but I am not sure what to call it. I am a believer in transubstantiation, that is, that the Eucharist actually becomes the body/blood of Jesus Christ. This is not a common Protestant belief (in fact, one of the reason that Methodists exist is that they objected to the Anglican church leaving the issue of transubstantiation up to the individual). Once, I was kneeling at the altar for Communion, and when I placed the wafer in my mouth, I felt--I can best say that I felt the Spirit move through me. For a moment I was filled with the Holy Spirit. Very fleeting, but very moving. I took it as a subtle hint that I am on the right path. :)

I have also felt God working in my life before, almost as if He reached down and turned me so that I was facing in the right direction. I'm not sure exacty how to explain it. Like my whole world slipped sideways for a moment, and when it snapped back it had moved itself and was now right. It happened when I met my husband, and again when I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter. It is awesome in the original sense of that word.


~~~

Branwyn, I too am sorry your mother feels the way she does about your conversion. We all worship the same diety, after all.

Not really signs, but God called me through many ways: tv, radio, an acquaintance, etc.

It's hard to explain how I knew He was calling me, but it was almost like a physical addiction....I *had* to learn more, even though I was very annoying with my needing 'proof' I'm sure :p And I could feel Him pulling-it seemed both mentally AND physically in a way.

Looking back at how all the little things added up to my becoming Christian (all within a few weeks time), I'm just amazed and in awe.

My husband and I have also had many personal signs, mainly dreams and visions.

oh i cant believe i forgot to mention the most important one i have rcvd. this time last year i was preparing for my hysterectomy. i was having spiritual issues (not believing in G-d, etc). i had a breakdown one night and said "G-d if you actually exist, this is the last month i can get pregnant. they are saying my ovary doesnt work, if you exist let me have this last chance."

i found out i was pregnant with sarah on dec 25.

I also feel G-d working in my life all the time. Every day. There are signs everywhere if eI remember to open my heart, ears and eyes.
Thats what i pray for every single day - that i remember to listen and watch for Him in everything I do - and that I try to base everything i do in honoring Him. It takes work, practice and I mess up - but i'm getting better every day.

as for signs. Yes. songs i happen to hear on the radio, themes on tv shows, people showing up in my life i've not seen in years, other people leaving my life - everything happens for a reason and its leading me exactly where i need to be

Yes....dreams, visions, strong feelings or just "knowing"......feelings that something is so familiar. Signs in nature too.

I'm still waiting patiently for a sign regarding something spiritual. I think oftentimes when I am waiting and looking.....I miss things.

Looking back over my spiritual life and growth, I can see signs all the way along my path that took me sometimes into painful, but growing phases......all which brought me to where I currently stand.

I'm sure I will look back again in another decade and see the same thing.............

Michelle

Yes.

I received a sign once, ignored it, and am still kicking myself in the arse for it.

I had prayed that God show me he was real - that he give me something concrete to touch, see, feel, etc. OMG, I tear up just thinking of this.

The very next day (!) I was driving down MLK blvd in Portland, and came to a stop light. What I thought was a homeless man turned around on the sidewalk holding a sign - well, he was no homeless man. I just know. He had the most piercing blue eyes. They absolutley bore into my soul. He had white hair, a white beard and the most peaceful smile on his face. He was looking at me like he knew me - like we were best friends. I didn't even read the sign in his hands - I couldn't take my eyes away from his. I knew I was supposed to talk to this man. I felt it in my soul.

The light turned green, someone honked, and I was startled. I slowly drove on looking back over my shoulder at him and he followed me with his eyes also. I immediately took the next street to turn around and go back. I hit every green light on the way - less than 1 minute to get back there. I HAD to talk to him!


He was gone. Poof. gone.

I knew in my heart that I had missed something. I also knew that this was God's answer to me. And I didn't take that chance to get out and talk to this man. Who cares if I stalled traffic? This was a message from my creator.............and I missed it because I was afraid.



I now try to take every opportunity to hear his message. Yes, I am still afraid and stubborn sometimes. But when I do pay attention to the signs he sends, and follow what I know in my heart He is trying to say, then I am rewarded beyond my wildest dreams.

Not so much a sign of faith but a few months ago I was taking my exam to get on the waiting list for Nursing School and I said "G_d if this is what I am intended to do I need your help to get through this test, if it is not what I am intended to do I need you to give me a sign as to what I am supposed to do." I went in took the test and passed with flying colors. I still have 8 months to sit on the waiting list to get into Nursing school but with his help I do know I am on the right path to my lifes calling.

I had been in a flood about 7 years ago, the basement apt I was in had 5 feet 4 inches of water in it,,,it was awful. 5 people died, it was a huge traumatic event in my life, and the life if my best friend who I was sharing an apt with for the summer. (Half of my belongings were at my mothers house, but I was staying with my friend to help her do catering for the summer while I was out of college classes. that night we got my daughter and the cat out of the water pouring down the stairs, had to wade through waist deep water to get to higher ground, left my daughter caring for the cat in my car,which happened to be up the street, and went to get the senior couple out who lived next door. It was such a scarey awful night)

About 9 days after the flood, we hit maximum emotional chaos levels, and my Best friend and I had a huge screaming match that came out of neither of us being able to really process the chaos we had been hit with. I left her at the apt we had found for her, and cried out to God,,truly. I was broken and aching for the loss, the days of surreal stress, the chaos, (Oh, I had just watched my mothers dog be hit by a car the night before too, so it was a bad day) the feeling of fear every time it rained,,,

On the radio came the newest song from the newest album by my favorite Christian Artist (Amy Grant, don't laugh!),,it was the first time I heard it, the album had only been out for a few days and I had forgotten that fact for all of the chaos..

But the words to the song " It takes a little time, sometimes, to get your feet back on the ground, it takes a little time sometimes, to get the Titanic turned back around...."

I pulled over, crying, looked out the window and saw the first rainbow I had seen since the flood,,and we all know that the rainbow was a promise from God to Noah that he would not cause such destruction again by flood..

It was all for me,,to let me know that it would be ok, that I would recover, that life would be ok.......I was so thankful that God used that song for such a simple reassurance,,,

I did get a chance to hand Amy (snuck backstage at her concert..) a letter about it to read after she got on the bus,,,I sure hope she did, and knows how God used her song to speak to me that moment...

I think most of my "signs comes through dreams/visions. I only listen when I'm unconscious. (lol.)