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Godwink Stories: A Devotional

Review

Godwink Stories: A Devotional

According to thefreedictionary.com, the definition of “wink” is: To close and open the eyelid of one eye deliberately, as to convey a message, signal, or suggestion. SQuire Rushnell and his wife, Louise DuArt, are convinced that God sends us messages and signals every day. It’s just a matter of paying attention. For example, if someone winks at you and you aren’t looking, that doesn’t mean they didn’t wink, only that you missed it. Things we chalk up to coincidence or dismiss as happenstance may just be God communicating with us. This is a term the authors have dubbed Godwinks.

GODWINK STORIES is a CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL of sorts, and is based on Rushnell’s bestselling GodWinks series (WHEN GOD WINKS AT YOU; WHEN GOD WINKS ON NEW BEGINNINGS; WHEN GOD WINKS ON LOVE). It contains inspirational true stories from real people, which the authors use as parallels to God’s wisdom and truth. As Rushnell explains in the opening note to readers, “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.” Lots of scripture is included to coincide with the stories and the authors’ own observations.

"This book offers more than a shot of encouragement or feel-good medicine, although it certainly provides those things. It inspires us to open our eyes and see our situations, our circumstances, and even our struggles and challenges in a new light."

Although labeled as a devotional, this book can also be read in one sitting, one chapter per week (there are 52 chapters), or simply opened at times when you need a pick-me-up. For convenience and reference, each chapter has been categorized with a specific theme so you can read one you might most relate to that day. You’ll find entries on the topics of Love, Encouragement, Prayer, Perseverance, Health, Just in Time, Angels, Times of Sorrow, Divine Alignment, or a combination of any two. There are stories of God’s miraculous healing, people’s lives intersecting at just the right time, incredible answers to prayer, supernatural direction, unexpected blessings, and unexplainable tender moments of comfort and peace.

Towards the end of the book, Rushnell points out: “Sometimes miraculous Godwinks are waiting for us right around the corner. But God waits for the perfect time to reveal them so we’ll know the blessings are directly from Him.” He goes on to say that God wants us to reach out to Him, and reminds readers of the words from Jonah 2:2 (NIV): “In my distress I called out to the Lord, and he answered me.”

This isn’t to say we can just “name it and claim it,” but if there’s one thing that’s clear from the stories shared throughout GODWINKS, it’s that God is still in the miracle business. And oftentimes, if we just take a moment to look around, we’ll find that we’ve experienced an abundance of miracles in our lives already. This book offers more than a shot of encouragement or feel-good medicine, although it certainly provides those things. It inspires us to open our eyes and see our situations, our circumstances, and even our struggles and challenges in a new light. When we focus our gaze on God, we’re sure to catch those winks He sends us every day.

Reviewed by Lynda Lee Schab on January 16, 2013

Godwink Stories: A Devotional
by SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt