SQuire Rushnell - Godwink Stories: A Devotional

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Copyright 2012 by SQuire Rushnell

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSIONS, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica US, Inc. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. http://www.lockman.org. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, which is public domain. Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain. The Webster Bible was translated by Noah Webster in 1833 in order to bring the language of the Bible up to date. This version of the Bible is in the public domain. Scriptures marked as CEV are taken from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. The Holy Bible: International Standard Version is Copyright 19942009 by the ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. The entire contents of this site are Copyright 19962009 by the ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version, copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked WNT are taken from The Weymouth New Testament Bible, which is in the public domain. Scripture quotations marked GNT are from the Good News Translation, Copyright 1966, 1971, 1976, 1992 American Bible Society. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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Designed by Carla Jayne Jones

Jacket design by Bruce Gore

Front jacket photograph by Istock /Getty Images

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:

Rushnell, SQuire D.

Godwink stories: a devotional / SQuire Rushnell.

p.cm.

1. Christian lifeMiscellanea. 2. Spiritual lifeChristianityMiscellanea. 3. SpiritualityMiscellanea. I. Title.

BV4501.3.R8672012

242dc232012019965

ISBN 978-1-4516-7856-7

ISBN 978-1-4516-7863-5 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-4516-7859-8 (ebook)

To Grace DuArt and Mafawna Rushnell,

two wonderful mothers who birthed

the birthers of this book.

Louise and SQuire

Dear Reader,

I want to thank you for picking up Godwink Stories. May I point out a few things?

The centerpiece of this book is the collection of charming, heartfelt, and astonishing letters I have received from people just like you who have taken the time to share their life-altering Godwink stories.

These warm letters reaffirm that Godwinks happen to everyone. We just need to learn how to see them, allow them to unfold, and accept them as direct, person-to-person communications from God to each of us.

As youll see, every note, buoyant with enthusiasm, is from someone like a new friend of yours who tells you that those so-called coincidences youd been dismissing really do mean something. And you need to pay attention. They are like unopened gifts that have been placed upon your doorstep.

If youre like me, you will also be impressed at how every joy, every hurt, and every worry you encounter has already been written about in the Bible. Godwink Stories simply draws upon the parallel between the letters of real people and the wisdom God had others write into the ancient Scriptures three thousand years ago.

Unlike my other When God Winks books, this one is coauthored with my wonderful wife, Louise DuArt. I may be the storyteller in the family, but she is our in-house authority on the Scriptures. Therefore, anytime this book uses the pronoun I, you should know that it reflects the way we live our lives: three as oneGod, my wife, and myself.

Finally, Godwink Stories can be read in various ways. You may decide to read the book cover to cover. You may wish to place it on your night table to read one bite-size mini-chapter per week for fifty-two weeks. Or you may just want a pick-me-up story that fits your need of the day.

For the latter purpose, Godwink Stories is cross-referenced by categorysuiting your desire to peruse a letter that speaks to a time of sorrow or your appetite for an uplifting bedtime story.

Along the way, perhaps youll be inspired to write your own Godwink story. Cant wait to read it!

You may share your letter by writing to one of these addresses:

facebook.com/Godwinks

Godwink Stories

P.O. Box 36

Edgartown, MA 02539

Have a wonderful read, and good wishes for abundant Godwinks!

SQuire and Louise

ENCOURAGEMENT TIMES OF SORROW

Is any one of you in trouble?

He should pray.

Is anyone happy?

Let him sing songs of praise.

James 5:13 NIV

Are you happy?

Perhaps youll say you have problems that prevent happiness such as:

People are not treating you with respect.

Or maybe youve been unlucky; born into a burdensome life.

Does that sound like you?