Daniel 20:20-23
(All Scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated)
When God Winks is a book published on September 1, 2002, written by SQuire Rushnell (that’s how he often displays his name). The subtitle says, “How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life” I have had many “God Winks” in my life, and sometimes they have powerfully touched other lives also. Let me share a couple with you.
But first, consider this Scripture from Daniel 2:20 through 23:
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom
and might are His. And He changes the times and seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to
the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in
the darkness, and light dwells with Him. I thank You and
praise You, O God....
God is in charge of everything!
- In Psalm 139:1 through 4 it is written:
O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know
my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my
thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my ly-
ing down, and are acquinted with all my ways. For
there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, You
know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and
before, and laid Your hand upon me.
- Jesus said, in Matthew 10:29 and 30, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
- According to Colossians 1:16 & 17 and Hebrews 1:2 & 3, Jesus created all things and holds all things together! If the Lord is so powerful and knowing, it is no wonder that He controls the situations of life. It is He who orchestrates “coincidences” and makes them “God Winks”!
The first “God Wink” I will relate occurred just a week and a half ago. I had received a strange text telling me to hasten to claim my $100 bonus from Walmart, being a super- shopper! First red light: I rarely shop at Walmart! The second was that I had never heard of Walmart giving a bonus to shoppers, super or otherwise! The text also told me to hurry and claim my bonus because I had reached the maximum of the $100 limit, and if I didn’t claim it immediately, it would be rescinded. I did not click on the telephone number listed for redemption!
I went to Walmart that evening instead! My trip there was to purchase dog food and treats. My golden retriever Carson is a lovable pain, but being lovable, he gets plenty to eat and a couple of treats a day – plus plenty of attention from me!
I accomplished my shopping, then went to the Customer Service desk to report what I considered was a scam. The lady at the desk called for a supervisor but, being a busy shopping evening, I had to wait half an hour for the supervisor to show up. After a few minutes of standing and waiting, my low back started bothering me. Yes, I have a bad back and have had two lumbar surgeries, a laminectomy and a fusion. So I told the Customer Service rep I was going to sit down on one of the benches provided for shoppers, about thirty feet to the right of the Customer Service entrance. She said she would send the supervisor there to talk with me.
As I approached the bench, I saw an older, elegantly dressed black lady sitting there. I said to her, “I have to sit down, if you don’t mind. My back is really hurting.” She smiled, motioned for me to sit down, and said, “I know what you mean. I had to sit down also since my back was bothering me.” We started talking and, after introducing myself, I found out her name was Susan. She was waiting for, I think, her daughter to finish shopping.
As the conversation continued, I enquired, “May I ask you a question?” She said, “Sure!” So I proceeded, “Are you a Christian?” I am not necessarily a bold person, but I have pushed myself to ask that question as I go about my daily business. Jesus said, “You shall be witnesses to Me…” (Acts 1:8), and I try to obey, often using that opening. And the more I do it, the easier it becomes! And I have never received an angry response!
“Are you a Christian?” Susan didn’t answer immediately, but then she said, “I’m not sure I am. I was raised in a good church family.” So I tried to clarify what is meant by being a Christian. I asked, “Have you received Jesus Christ as your Savior?” Again she paused before telling me, “I don’t think so.” I thought it was time to let her know I have been a Baptist pastor for the last fifty years.
The conversation continued back and forth maintaining her interest. But, for lack of space, I will highlight some of what I gently shared with her:
- “You know you and I are not spring chickens anymore. I turned 76 earlier this month, and I don’t know when the Lord will call me.”
- “Jesus Christ was the only perfect human being who ever walked this earth.”
- “Then He took that perfect life and voluntarily laid it down, dying on the cross to pay for our sins – yours and mine.”
- “He rose again from the grave three days later, and ever lives to receive anyone who comes to Him in faith believing.”
- “It is realizing that I am the sinner, and He is the only Savior.”
- “Receiving Him is having an open heart and asking Jesus to be your Savior.”
Susan asked a question, “How can someone know if they are a Christian and are saved?” So I shared with her this Scripture from I John 5:11 through 13:
...this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he
who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These
things I have written to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life....
Then I gave Susan my card. It has my name and phone number on it, with my photo. I told her, “You can blow that photo up, and it will scare crows out of the garden!” She laughed. And about then her daughter showed up and she had to go. I said, “Thank you, Susan, for talking with me. God bless you. One more thing, do you mind if we share a hug!” She laughed and said, “Of course!” I told her I would be praying for her.
Although I tend to be a hugger, I do not usually hug people I have just met, especially people of the opposite sex! But I have also tried to develop a spiritual listening ear to what the Holy Spirit is saying, and I feel He was leading me to ask her that last question.
A couple of points concerning my business card:
- The front of the card is my photo, my name and title: Rev. Dr. D. W. “Chip” Norton, and my phone number.
- Below that I give the name of this website, Gems for Living, and the web address, gemsforliving.net.
- On the back of the card, I have two Scriptures:
✞ I John 5:11 through 13 (written above):
...this is the testimony: that God has given
us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
He who has the Son has life; he who does not
have the Son of God does not have life. These
things I have written to you who believe in
the name of the Son of God, that you may know
that you have eternal life....
✞ John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.”
I find that a personal card given with pertinent Scriptures on it will be retained more often than an impersonal Christian tract. Also, it gave Susan a contact person with a name and phone number should she have questions or comments.
I hope and pray I hear from Susan!
It looks like I will share the second “God Wink” I promised in the next Gem!