GOD WINKS, LOVE NOTES FROM ABOVE.....

Oh No! It's Thursday and I'm posting Wednesday's entry!! You would think after 2,500+ posts, I could get it right. Why did my brain, or lack there of, forget to tell my finger to press publish????Oh well day late post is below.

God winks, love notes from God . . . God's hand seen, no matter the idioms. If you have ever experienced one, you'll remember it. 

I know the above sentence including its . . . (ellipsis) will be viewed with skepticism and disbelief  by some folks--- God winks, how hokey is that! What's a love note from God???  

I also know the participants in my intercessory prayer time earlier in the week will "get it" because God provides . . . another's idea as a spring board to take new thoughts & prayers in a new, but related, direction.

So "filled with the spirit" as I drove home, I began seeing glimpses of God with me, even in the blinding rain that faded to a drizzle so I could get a snapshot at the stoplight....

Do you see it? Check out the top left.

The sign of the cross. At least that's what my eye took in>

Returning home I saw the Kentucky tag of the truck ahead. Underneath the state name was a phrase I love. . . 

"In God we trust."

A phrase that reminds me why I'm glad to be a Kentuckian by birth. 

More importantly I'm glad to be a child of the King, by rebirth, who shows me His very presence in unique ways throughout each day!

CHOOSE: TO PRAY

Weary from travel, though all was fun, we decided to go ahead and drive home. It's just that we left about 4 hours later than we originally intended, even knowing rain was a possibility to the north of us. Factor in dismissal time at Fort Campbell and stress becomes an added factor. I wasn't even driving but when the possible rain turned into thunderstorms which deserved a numerical rating, if their was such, for ferociousness of such a storm, I noticed my shoulders were up around my ears and my hands were gripping the "chicken bar." 

Cell service was sketchy on the rural back roads but one came through from my prayer warrior, JoLynn, ending with her addition of the praying hands, emoticon.

What an encouragement to me. I had been "shooting up" panic prayers as well but her note had me calming immediately.

I felt like I received another "God Wink" when we passed this truck as we drove out of the bad weather and got closer to HOME!!!

From the back of an 18 wheeler, I was given a BIG God Wink.

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

What a reminder that the Lord was "near" in the midst of the storm, honoring my "yes" answer to  the truck's question, "Did you pray today?" 

How grateful I am that I could say "yes" because I did choose to pray!

Dance Step "C"

Book: When Wallflowers Dance: Becoming a Woman of Righteous Confidence

Author: Angela Thomas  A Springboard for "Dancing with the Lord" Discussions 

There is….a time to dance….Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (NKJV)

Last week's Dance Step "N" had each one “take notice” of God’s hand in all aspects of life. Once the "noticing" had one really looking to see the Lord's participation, there was cause to segue to the next step----"C" for celebration. 

Intentionality, in looking for God's hand often results in Glory Bumps.  The more we see His involvement in life, the more prevalent those "bumps" become.

Glory Bumps are similar to the goose pimply feeling that you get when you read a Hallmark card or hear a story that touches your heart. But “glory bumps” are more than that. Glory bumps are precipitated by an awareness of God’s involvement--a “God thing” a "God wink"---those incidences in our lives with a spiritual connection.  Glory bumps might result from seeing a miracle or a moving of God’s hand or just from experiencing the grand sense of LIFE that is beyond our comprehension. 

One's circumstances and situations might not change but an attitude adjustment can give a new perspective. Thanksgiving follows and a thankful heart is always a cause for celebration!

An "attitude of gratitude" helps to make even the seemingly "small" steps toward a life of abunDANCE seem worth celebrating! Dance Step "C," a dance of celebration, goes hand and hand with gratitude! 

D eciding, Delving, Discovering  (Psalm 119: 139 & 160)

A ccepting & being Attentive (1 Thess. 2:13)

N oticing God’s Hand in ALL Circumstances (Genesis 50:20 & Romans 8:28)

C elebrating God’s goodness and being thankful (1 Thess. 5:18)

E 

Finding great summation notes in the front of a "used copy from Amazon" of a study book, could cause "glory bumps" if one was prepping for a test!

God-Speak

First and Foremost-----Know this----God speaks through His word!!!

Yet, occasionally, I can't help but see God's hand in "mysterious" instruction.
A "God-wink" of sorts, as Ann Martin says.

"Take Time for Family and Prayer. Always give Praise."
It's even quoted on their web page.

Thanks to Rucker's Candy for this sweet taste of God-Speak!

A Cuppa Almigh-TEA Providence

For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7, NASB)

Not coincidences---but God-incidences. Providence. Son Buddy's recent sermon from Ruth chapter 2 reminded me to watch for "God's Providence" in my life. For me, seeing His hand often occurs in hindsight, so....I need to continually be alert as the "zeal of the Lord accomplishes His purpose" in my life and throughout His kingdom. What a trust builder that can become.

Sipping a cuppa almigh-TEA remembrance each day builds trust from the inside out.

How do I know.....?

9/18/13 "How do I know?" is a question one often ask's self about a variety of topics. Personally, I'd like it in sky writing just to be sure----especially in the area of God's will, purpose, etc. 

I often use a 3 x "heads up rule" to help me focus on an area----in a "before the fact" situation. 

This week, the DAY AFTER my blog post, the Lord used 3 "after the fact" occurrences to give me affirmation for that entry.

Verses for meditation are posted on this blog each Monday. The day after the most recent (9/15/13) meditation posting, 3 God winks were received. My passage choice…..Numbers 6: 24-26 was the RIGHT one for meditation this week.  How do I know?

1. 1.     Benediction at funeral
2. 2.    Greeting on a card I received
3. 3.    Citation on a card I was sending which I didn’t notice until I was sealing the envelope.

#2

1. How grateful I am to know.

GOD STORIES

8/24/13 God Story #1. Or maybe it was just a "God Wink." Either term works for me because God blessed my socks of earlier this week.

It all started Tuesday morning while perusing the local section of the Commercial Appeal. A mere glance at a child posing for his first day of school caught my attention. The little fellow looked so familiar. The caption underneath gave the name of the child's parents. Oh my! No wonder he looked so familiar! He looked just like his daddy had looked when I had taught him at that very same school 39 years ago. My next thought was wondering how that young man was faring in life. I wondered how to get in touch with him----but with phone books obsolete & LinkedIn requiring an email address, I didn't have a clue. Oh well, I kept the sweet picture of the little one to show hubby, who allowed me to reminisce. I remember lots more about all those early years of teaching and making home visits than I do about more recent events.

That night I attended a Give365 event with my other like-minded folks and as I'm waiting to enter the auditorium.......there is that same little face all grown up. What are the chances? Coincidentally, I don't have a clue! I don't do numbers. But spiritually, to me, it was a God-incident and my chances for those seem to beat the odds of humanity's numbers.

I approached him and he remembered his "Miss Dotsy" saying that he and Ann, another "alum" of my class, had visited at a recent parent's meeting. What a fine young man,.....husband and Daddy of 3. What a blessing to meet him. What a God-wink!

He emailed me a picture so there's pictorial proof of this God Story.

BTW, it seems as if there might be a God Story #2 just around the corner. It's imbedded in hope. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Michèle’s Morsels

7/1/10 One year ago yesterday, I met Michèle Phoenix stateside. The face-to-face / scar-to-scar meeting took place in Louisville, KY where my older brother Buddy lives. The timing, of her being there from Germany for a MI doc appointment, and me being there after a high school reunion weekend, was such a God-thing. Of course, the two of us (MAC victims) connecting at all, especially continents away, was miraculous in and of itself. Musing on all of this I as I read back through my journal, I realized that Michèle mentored me, albeit from afar, and it was her personal knowledge of the cancer and her spiritual grounding that God used to equip me to find joy in my journey.
My memorable morsels from Michèle:

• MAC (our cancer) is a gift we can embrace because it flows from God’s grace;
• Ceaselessly seek reasons to celebrate a life turned toward Him;
• Make note of kindnesses of strangers and the serendipitous occurrences that lend a ray of unexpectedness to your days;
• Acknowledge “Divine Winks;” (similar to my "glory bumps")
• Focus on God’s truths throughout your journey/dance;
• The Center of God’s will might not guarantee physical safety but it does offer utter fulfillment, purpose, comfort and peace;
• We are to each other a priceless gift from a tangible and intimately present God;
• Be a galvanizing inspirer and come to the rescue of others by using your first hand experiences to serve an eternal and invaluable purpose; (A-MEN!)
• In your “new normal” (cancer victim), continue to seek and lean on the One whose love redeems your pain;

Some of these morsels are found in her beautiful book, Postcards from the Waters Edge, which she shared with me early on in my cancer journey. It’s a book that continues to minister to me and one I can share with others who are now in the midst of their own cancer struggle.
http://michelephoenix.com/postcards-from-the-waters-edge/

One week from tomorrow in Nashville, TN where my younger brother, Bobby & his wife now have a condo (near their grands) Michèle and I will meet again. Such another God-thing!