SQuire Rushnell - When God Winks: How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life

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Copyright 2001 by SQuire Rushnell

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked (GW) are taken from GODS WORD, Copyright 1995 Gods Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked (HCSB) are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used with permission by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

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Jacket design by Bruce Gore

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

ISBN 978-0-7434-6707-0

ISBN 978-1-9821-0726-0 (pbk)

ISBN 978-0-7434-7086-5 (ebook)

Dear Reader:

This book will validate your feelings that theres more to so-called coincidence than meets the eye.

It also fosters hope for the dreams of your future by unveiling the wondrous map that has quietly guided you along the paths of your past.

God has been winking at you.

SQuire Rushnell

P.S. Please contact me when these promises come true.

Write to

P.P.S. Yes, in case you are wondering, the Q in my name is supposed to be capitalized.

COINCIDENCE

A sequence of events that although accidental seems to have been planned or arranged.

WINK

To give a signal or express a message.

American Heritage Dictionary

GODWINK

1. Not a coincidence but an event or experience so astonishing it must be of divine origin.

2. Another term for answered prayer.

The author

I am deeply grateful for the support of my darling wife, Louisemy spiritual guideand my daughter Robin for her skillful editorial assistance, and Marian Christy, a wonderful writer whose wisdom this book reflects. I also thank each of youand you know who you arewho, along the way, helped God nudge me in the right direction.

It may have been a Godwink itself that this book about hope and encouragement arrived on bookshelves in late summer 2001. America was about to be shaken to the core. Our nation was soon to be attacked by foreign forces with no motive other than incomprehensible hate and the desire to rob us of our joy. We stared in shock as the World Trade Centers in New York tumbled into ashes and our countrys military headquarters became engulfed in flames.

For a brief moment the television images sapped our hope.

Then, America came togetherthe United States of America. We dug deeply into our inner spirits and found comfort in Gods promises and began to see things from a wider perspective, and even learned to acknowledge mysterious, supernatural experiencesthings that we were maybe too busy to notice earliermessages of reassurance that were being sent directly to each of us, to lift our spirits, and provide a tangible handrail to a benevolent force who was up there watching over us.

As we struggled to find a name for these wondrous events, the word coincidence seemed odd and inadequate. If we understood the Hebrew language, wed have known that the word didnt even exist.

As the final act before this book was delivered to the publisher, my dear wife, Louise, and I initiated a questwhat do you call a coincidence that isnt a coincidence?

For several months we wrestled endlessly with that question, prayed about it, and then, one day, the little word Godwink simply floated into my mind. Thats a fun, non-threatening word , I thought. I went back to the manuscript and began replacing the term coincidence with Godwink.

It fit! More important, readers instantly began using the word to fill the vacancy in the language.

From that moment on, youour readershave played an integral role in the evolution of the Godwinks Thesis. For example, readers led us to comprehend that the word Godwink actually has two dictionary meanings. The first describes a mysterious event thats not coincidence, but of divine origin. The second is another term for answered prayer. Moreover, together with our readers, we came to understand that prayer and Godwinks are inextricably connected.

In short, Godwinks are signs of hope; Gods way of providing you with encouragement, comfort, and certainty. True stories prove that, in this and each of the books in the Godwinks series. I promise.

SQuire Rushnell

When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I dont, they dont.

Sir William Temple

Have you ever found yourself thinking about someone who hasnt crossed your mind in years, and then you run into that person the next day?

Or has something unpleasant happened to youlike getting laid off from your jobonly to find out that you had a better opportunity a short while later?

Just before brushing off these seemingly random acts, did you find yourself quietly saying, I-e-e-e wonder. Was that coincidenceor something more?

As a matter of fact, what motivated you to pick up this book?

Was it chance?

Or were you led to this moment to learn more about yourself and the mysterious guidepostswhat I call Godwinksthat cause you to meet certain people, propel you in new directions, and place you into situations you never anticipated?

Youre about to confirm something you have suspected all along: that what you thought were coincidences, were actually Godwinks, little messages to encourage you on your journey through life, nudging you along the grand path that has been designed especially for you.

This book is a simple bridge to your self-discovery.

In part one, youll learn ways to open your eyes to see the amazing ways that God has been working in your life.

Then, in part two, youll read about ways you can use Godwinks to enrich your life as you go forward. You will even learn how to create more Godwinksturning your wishes into winks. And youll read about everyday people, as well as celebrities, who have taken comfort in Godwinks and have found them to be empowering.

Part three is packed with fascinating stories demonstrating that winks from God guide us through every aspect of life, from relationships to careers, from films to sporting events.

As you embark on this marvelous process of discovering the Godwinks in your life, I ask you to keep your mind open to possibilities you have never imagined and to be prepared to take action steps toward goals and dreams that may now seem distant.