The Godwink Effect: 7 Secrets to God's Signs, Wonders, and Answered Prayers (5) (The Godwink Series) - Softcover

Rushnell, SQuire; DuArt, Louise

Softcover

ISBN 10: 150112708X ISBN 13: 9781501127083

Publisher: Howard Books, 2018

Synopsis

From the authors of the popular and bestselling Godwink series comes a new and inspiring collection of true stories about people whose lives were changed by specific and extraordinary answers to their prayers.

Prayer is a universal act that anyone can participate in. Simply stated: prayer is a conversation between you and God, and oftentimes brings incredible and astonishing results. The outcomes are called “answered prayers.” Yet, with no alternative word in the English language for answered prayer, readers have begun to fill the void with Godwink, which is now making its way into dictionaries.

In The Godwink Effect, SQuire and Louise, husband and wife, make the case that Godwinks and prayer are inextricably intertwined. The first of seven secrets for more Godwinks is to pray. Moreover, when a Godwink occurs, like a pebble tossed into a pond, there are subsequent ripples that touch the lives of others.

Typical of all Godwink books, this volume will be packed with amazing real-life stories about ordinary people, as well as some well-known figures, that reinforce the power of prayer in their lives and the Godwinks that followed.

About this title

From the Author

SQuire Rushnell is a popular speaker and New York Times bestselling author who has coined the term “Godwink,” now in mainstream usage. Within more than one million books in print, SQuire’s Godwink stories are a popular monthly feature on the NBC Today Show. He has also appeared on several national television programs including Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends and CBS Sunday Morning. As a veteran ABC Television Network executive, he led Good Morning America to the number one spot and oversaw the acclaimed Schoolhouse Rock! series and the ABC Afterschool Specials. Programs under his direction have captured more than seventy-five Emmy Awards. 

Louise DuArt is known as “one of the world’s greatest comedic-impressionists” and costarred with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman in sold-out performances for fifteen seasons. Clean and funny, Louise executes fast-paced conversations between herself and Bart Simpson, Judge Judy, Barbra Streisand, Hillary Clinton, and dozens more. She was a popular Women of Faith speaker and has coauthored three books with her husband, SQuire. She hosted a popular daily talk show on the ABC Family channel for eight seasons, Living the Life, and has starred in various Broadway productions, garnering rave reviews.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Godwink Effect SECRET #1

PRAY

Godwinks and prayer are inextricably linked. When you pray more, you experience more Godwinks. The best prayer is intentional, but God occasionally proves He can hear your heart by answering unintentional or even unasked prayers.
DOUBT

In the beginning I was feeling uncertain.

Who was I to be spouting this thesis about Godwinks? I’m not a theologian, a philosopher, or a scholar. I’m merely a TV executive. Just one of the guys who brought you Schoolhouse Rock.

But then I came across a statement that gave me encouragement, a statement by seventeenth-century religious leader Sir William Temple:

When I pray,

coincidences happen.

When I don’t,

they don’t!

I’m not alone! I thought.

Sir William lifted my spirits by validating my theory that Godwinks are connected to prayer. And this notion existed not just in my head but was held by others!

Of course I now joke that I can’t fault the knighted evangelist for failing to use the proper word—Godwink instead of coincidence. The word wasn’t around in the 1600s.

But I do enjoy paraphrasing Sir William:

When I pray,

Godwinks happen.

When I don’t,

they don’t.

So, in partnership with Sir William, we would like to introduce you to the first of Seven Secrets to God’s Signs, Wonders, and Answered Prayers.

The first secret, very simply, is . . . pray.

When you pray, you clear the way for blessings that are waiting to be released. More prayer, more power. Less prayer, less power. Prayer is mysteriously related to the rate of Godwinks that flow into your life.
YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH HIM

Simply put, prayer is communication between you and God. You can talk to Him anytime from anywhere about anything, and you can talk to God much the way you would chat with a dear grandfather whom you admire and respect, who hangs on your every word, and who wants to know everything about everything you’re doing, about what excites you and what concerns you.

One difference between your grandfather and God, though, is that the latter can literally move mountains and earth to comfort you, protect you, inspire you, and guide you to where you need to go.
GOD’S COMMUNICATION TO YOU

God hardly ever speaks to us in an out-loud, human voice. It happens, but very rarely.

Instead, sometimes you hear an inner voice that seems as clear and as distinct as the words to a song inside your head. That’s infrequent as well.

More commonly, you feel a powerful inner sense that you need to do something—go check on the baby, watch that car that’s coming from another direction, say something specific to a specific someone.

For most people, however, the most frequent form of direct, person-to-Person communication from God happens through Godwinks. Why not? Why wouldn’t God use a nonverbal and totally amazing way to communicate to let you know that it’s Him?

As you develop the ability to see Godwinks all around you, you’ll see more and more of them more and more often. For Louise and me, it is now rare that we don’t see Godwinks several times a day.
INTENTIONAL PRAYER

Intentional prayer is the best kind of prayer: you intentionally speak with God about a very specific need or issue. That’s what Kate Hughes did, and her astonishing story will touch most of us. One medical issue after another drained her bank account, tested her stamina, and gave her a stage on which to demonstrate that when you engage in daily intentional prayer, God listens to you.

If you don’t already agree, Kate’s story may change your thinking.


Kate’s Godwinks and the Wedding

Kate sat on the couch, opening mail. One envelope was plump and clearly of a high-quality paper. She carefully opened it.

As if it were a precious treasure map, she held the wedding invitation with both hands. It was beautiful. The raised lettering, in script, announced that in about a month her son, James, would marry his fiancée, Dana, in Sedona, Arizona.

Kate broke down in tears.

Regaining her composure, she sighed audibly and unconsciously ran a finger over the lettering on the card.

“God, I know that if You want me to go to this wedding, You’ll make the way.”

The statement was matter-of-fact because Kate was strong in her faith. In her daily chats with her Creator, she always spoke in a conversational tone. She believed God listened not only to her prayers—and answered them, according to His will—but also to her heart. She knew that He knew how desperately she wanted to be at that wedding! He also knew she was flat broke!

With only a part-time job and piles of medical bills, there was no way on earth she could afford a plane ticket from Melbourne, Florida, to Arizona.

Her recent phone conversation with Dana and James had been sad. Aware of her situation, the bride and groom wanted her to know the invitation was going out. They knew she’d been praying and praying for God to provide a way for her to attend. They truly wished they were in a financial position to be able to get her there, but that wasn’t an option. No one had a solution.

All three of them cried.

For several years Kate had been dealing with some serious health issues. First, an auto accident left her with a fractured back. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. After that, a heart disorder that had lingered since childhood required open-heart surgery. Next was the grim discovery that she’d suffered a stroke.

During this time the company she worked for collapsed and her mortgage underwriter job disappeared. Managers at a second mortgage company had no patience with her health problems, so she lost that job and couldn’t find other work.

Yet Kate stood by God because she knew that He stood by her.

Her faith was tested, yet she refused to let any of these circumstances rob her of her joy. She maintained her upbeat personality and kept her vow to make at least one person smile every day.

Kate felt blessed the day she went for a job interview with Jeanne Ford, a manager at Cracker Barrel in Viera, Florida, a half hour from Kate’s home. Jeanne was encouraging. Even though Kate did not try to hide her health issues—not even the scars on her chest from heart surgery—Jeanne said, “I love your bubbly personality. I don’t have a lot of work, but we could try you out part-time.”

When a server’s position turned out to be too hard on Kate physically, Jeanne suggested she might be better suited to work as a cashier.

Kate thanked God profusely.

Again and again Jeanne saw the wisdom of the decision to have Kate work as a cashier. But what Jeanne didn’t know was that she herself was a Godwink Link. (That’s the term I’ve coined for someone who delivers another person a Godwink without even knowing they’re doing it.) Jeanne had no idea that her decision to hire Kate when others wouldn’t would set the stage for Kate to experience the biggest Godwink of her life.

Kate was thrilled to get the part-time job as a cashier. It didn’t completely cover her needs, but she would keep praying for another part-time job to cover her shortfall.

As Kate prayed and waited, Cracker Barrel treated her well, and her coworkers felt like family. So she always arrived a half hour before her shift to deliver cookies or just spread a little joy. And her job as a cashier continues to be a great fit.

“I love my job,” exclaims Kate, “because I love talking to people!”

We can all learn from Kate. When, like Kate, we greet each day with an attitude of gratitude for the things God has given us, rather than donning a cloak of dark resentment for the burdens we must bear, He lets others see the joy in our hearts as He shines through us. Some will see—but not necessarily recognize—God’s love in our warm smiles and welcoming ways. A few people will know the true Source of Kate’s thankful spirit and ours.

As the day of the wedding grew closer, Kate faithfully prayed her intentional daily prayer just a teeny bit louder: “God, I know that if You want me to go to this wedding, You’ll make the way!”

When the week of the wedding came, Jeannie considerately saw to it that Kate’s schedule required more work hours than usual to help her keep her mind off the big event.

When Kate looked over the schedule, she appreciated that it called for her to work on Saturday, the day of the wedding, as well as the evening before.

So on Friday Kate arrived for work at three thirty, greeted her colleagues, put on her uniform, and, promptly at four, took her place behind the register.

It was a typical Cracker Barrel dinner crowd. The restaurant was jammed between five and six, and Kate chatted with everyone as they left, asking if they’d enjoyed themselves and cheerfully inviting them to “please come again.”

“Kate, what in the world are you doing here! You should be at your son’s wedding!”

It was Rose, one of Kate’s coworkers, as she walked past the cashier’s station. Kate knew Rose had been out of the loop, because pretty much everyone else had known for weeks that she would be missing the wedding.

“Well . . . I was feeling pretty good . . . till you mentioned it,” Kate replied with the best smile she could muster.

She turned to see a man and a woman next in line ready to pay their check. They both wore airline uniforms. Eager to change the subject, Kate smiled and said brightly, “Southwest! My favorite airline!”

The flight attendants smiled.

“You’re missing your son’s wedding?” inquired the woman, who had obviously overheard the exchange with Rose.

“Oh, yeah . . . I can’t afford to go. He’s getting married tomorrow north of Phoenix.”

Not wanting to sound like she was feeling sorry for herself, Kate turned on her most cheerful attitude. “Hey, do you two fly to Vegas?”

“Yes,” they both answered. “That’s our regular route.”

“Well, why don’t you sneak me onto the plane, strap a parachute on my back, and shove me out over Phoenix!” Kate giggled.

Everyone laughed.

The airline workers paid their bill and said good-bye.

Kate continued ringing up customers.

Moments later she looked up and was surprised to see that the airline workers had returned. Both wore wide smiles. The woman glanced at Kate’s name tag and spoke first.

“Kate, I’m Angela Gibbs. This is my fiancé, Ruben Darancou.”

“Can you get tomorrow off?” asked Ruben.

“What?” said Kate, startled.

“We found two Southwest Buddy Passes in our bags in the car. Those are standby tickets to get you to Phoenix and back,” Ruben continued.

Kate was dumbfounded. Her eyes began to fill with tears.

“Oh my! Thank you—and thank You, God!” said Kate as she put everything together and realized what was happening.

“She sure can get tomorrow off!” shouted Katrina, a coworker who was at the register next to Kate’s. “I’ll take her shift!”

I don’t believe this! thought Kate as her oft-uttered prayer flashed like a neon sign in her mind: God, I know that if You want me to go to this wedding, You’ll make the way.

“Well, then, let’s see how we can get you there,” said Angie, pulling out her cell phone.

“What time is the wedding?” asked Ruben.

Wow, God! You really did it! said Kate inside her head. “Oh . . . uh . . . the wedding’s at four p.m.”

“OK, can you be at Orlando Airport for a six fifteen a.m. flight?” continued Angie, looking at the schedule on her phone. “That would get you to Phoenix at about eleven in the morning.”

“Sure,” said Kate, dazed by what was unfolding.

A small group was now gathering around her, all smiling joyfully. Everyone was feeling the excitement.

Before they left the restaurant, Angie handed Kate a business card with her number on it.

“Let us know how you make out,” Angie said, smiling sweetly.

A short while later Kate was in her car, driving home to pack, grab about an hour’s sleep, and then get up for the one-hour drive to Orlando Airport.

During the drive she kept repeating aloud, in disbelief, “Wow, God! You did it! You really did it!”

Later on, when she had time to reflect, she would clearly see that first Jeanne and then Angie and Ruben were all Godwink Links. Each of them was an unwitting player in a drama that became Kate’s best Godwink ever! This experience reaffirmed for her that prayer works . . . and that when you are faithful to God every day of your life, when you remain in conversation with Him, He is right there beside you and faithful to you!

When Kate landed in Phoenix, she found her way to a bus to Sedona, learned the drive would take two hours, and was soon on her way. By the time she was close to her destination, Kate had made friends with the woman sitting next to her. Kate’s excitement was visible.

“I can’t wait to surprise everyone!” said Kate, beaming. “No one knows I’m coming. But I have a sense from God that when I walk into that hotel lobby, I’m going to see my eleven-year-old grandson running around.” She laughed and added, “Most of my grandchildren call me Grammie, but Ethin made up a new name. I called him ‘Pumpkin’ one time, so he decided to call me ‘Cupcake.’?” She laughed again.

About two p.m. Kate walked through the front door of the hotel.

“Cupcake! What are you doing here?”

It was Ethin, just about to get on the elevator.

God was winking again.

The boy ran to Kate and hugged her.

She put a finger to her lips. “Shh. I want to surprise everyone. I need your help. Where’s your mom?”

“She’s in the beauty salon with Dana . . . and Uncle Jamie’s upstairs. They have to get pictures taken.”

“Then let’s get busy,” said Kate, lifting an eyebrow and smiling at her co-conspirator as she nudged him toward the front desk. There she shared her secret with the attendant, asking if she would call up to her son, James Kramer, and tell him there was a time-sensitive package for him in the front lobby that he had to come down right away and sign for.

* * *

James was feeling a bit annoyed. He had to finish getting dressed, he needed to be at a particular place for the bridal party photo shoot at a particular time, and now the front desk was insisting that he go downstairs right away for a “time-sensitive” package.

What the heck could be so time-sensitive? he kept asking himself as he rode down the elevator.

When the elevator doors opened, there she was! His mother!

“Wha— Wow—Mom! What are you doing here?” he blurted with a huge smile.

He took her in his arms and gave her a bear hug.

“Mom, you’ve got to tell me how you pulled this off! But not right now! Later! I’ve got to get to the photo shoot.”

“All right! You go, honey,” said Kate with a kiss. “We’ll talk later.”

She couldn’t help giggling. This was definitely the best surprise ever!

A few minutes later Kate walked into the beauty salon and saw that Dana, the bride-to-be and her future daughter-in-law, and her daughter, Michelle, were...

Edition details

• Publisher: Howard Books
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 150112708X
• ISBN 13: 9781501127083
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240