Three Wise Men

Three Wise Men, discussed in my Bible reading Sunday, caught my attention in a way I had not noticed.

God "winks" through a star?  God leads three Magi to the Savior Jesus, the promised Messiah through a star in the east.  They would follow the star wherever it led.

I can't imagine the life style they left behind as Magi (priests in ancient Media and Persia) to follow the star.  They were not following any star, but a star they had seen in the East.  A star that would lead them to the promised Messiah they had only read about up to this point.  They knew this was no ordinary star in the sky.

I look forward to reading the birth of Christ in Luke as we do each year on Christmas Eve.  However, this Sunday before Christmas, I am captured by the story of three Magi who followed the star that appeared in the east.  The star led them to Bethlehem, to Jesus! 

Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem and stars naturally travel east to west (Matthew Henry commentary, New Testament, pg. 22).  So, could the star be the glory of God?  Some scholars believe so.  God's glory led them much like it led His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the promised land as a pillar of fire and cloud.

What leads you?  Maybe a moment in time where He seems so close you just know it is Him?

What "star" is God using to get your attention to lead you on a new journey this year?

Will you go willingly?

When you arrive, will you worship God and give Him your absolute best, surrendering your plan?

I am asking myself these same questions as the 2014 rings in a New Year in a little over a week.

We each are on a journey led by something....my prayer is that your journey in 2014 is led by the glory of the Lord, by His shining Star!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

by Joni Ormsbee         

Coincidence at a Christmas Party

God winks at a Christmas dinner with a group of my girlfriends?

Yes, God winks!  I was recently at a Christmas dinner at Brio at "The Greene," an outdoor shopping center.

As my friends and I sat around eating and of course talking, a name came up in conversation for the second time, a local business coach.  Several of my friends are working alongside this person and have begun to see some "ah ha" moments.  These insights are helping them move forward in their goals and building momentum.

Is it a coincidence that I had heard this coach/mentor's name twice in the last week?  I don't think so.

A few days later, I would hear this name a second time from another friend over a text conversation.  I thought, "I should at least meet this this person." 

God winks at a Christmas party through a person's name.  YES!! I met with this person over the lunch hour several days later.  Even getting to the meeting had God winks all over it.  You see my boys had a two hour delay and I had to cancel our appointment at 10 am.  I recieved a text later in the morning that said, if I could make it, there was a cancellation at 12:30.  I, of course, took it, immediately seeing the hand of God at work.

I know God is at work helping me clarify my goals and fulfill His purpose.  Whether I meet with this coach once, several times, or several months, I know it was a divine appointment.

                 Do you believe in coincidences?

                 Do you see the hand of God (God winks!) in relationships, casual or long term? 

Relationships and friendships, I believe are the thread that sews the tapestry of our lives together. God intends to sew for a divine calling and purpose!

I heard it said one time that on one side of a tapestry is a beautiful picture and on the other side an array of threads overlapping and seemingly "chaotic."  In reality, those threads build a beautiful tapestry!

The "threads" of your life: relationships, jobs, joys, sorrows, memorable events, etc... ALL play a part in the tapestry God is weaving.  God sees the finished, beautifully woven tapestry.   Trust God in the "winks" He provides, in the "coincidences" of life.

Let me know of your Christmas party/dinner God winks!  I would love to hear them.

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Tracking a Package .....thankful God Winks

Sit quietly with Me, I hear a small voice.......  I had been praying Monday night that God would help me see the God winks for this week....

Yes, I have much for which to be thankful with the past holiday.   However, I let distractions keep me busy.  Being sick, the worst in the last week, kept me very distracted with getting better, managing a home, and preparing for Thanksgiving.

So, I finally sat quietly with my journal and prayer yesterday morning....no kids...cup of coffee....journal...God...devotional...and prayer.

My friend and assistant came to help me mail and catch up a bit from being down and sick.  We had discovered after my open house from a customer of mine that her package had not arrived.  It had been mailed a week earlier.  I thought, wow, haven't lost a package of product in the mail in some time, so I am fortunate.  The cost to replace the package was not large but still hated too lose it.   I thought, "Oh well...it is a write off.  I will replace it to the customer."

I had asked Tina, my assistant if she mailed it, and of course she had.   When she came in to help Tuesday she had found the receipt.   It HAD a tracking number and Tina informed me that it  was insured!  So excited because we rarely insure a package but the Post office said it was best because it had a perfume.  We didn't  use our regular post office and even that is a God Wink!!

Yeh God...it was covered.  We had a tracking number and the post office is working to find it or reimburse me.  God winks in a tracking number we normally would not have done.  Grateful!!

What have you allowed to distract you....sick children, decorating..., maybe you are sick...worried...just getting through the days...recovering from Thanksgiving, getting ready for Christmas?  

Whatever it is that distracts you, I urge you to get quiet, even if for just a few minutes, and LISTEN to what God wants to say.  Open your eyes to what God wants to show you....He will!

Praying your eyes are open to what God wants to show you over this precious Christmas season!!  Don't let the busyness of the days and the worries of tomorrow steal the joy of seeing God's hand.

How will you get quiet today even if for just a minute or two?

How do you keep your priorities in check when life hits...sickness...busyness of sport schedules...life with kids...work? 

Let me know how you manage to hear God in the midst of life?

By Joni Ormsbee

Thanksgiving: What are you thankful for?

God Winks in being thankful!

This week is thanksgiving and I am sure that if I open my eyes I will see God wink many times.  I pray my eyes are open.  There is always something for which to be thankful.

Can you already see things for which you could give thanks?  In the last week, month, or year?  Could you list them quickly? 

Looking back over the last year, I have much for which I am thankful.  I will list several:

1)  Our blog started in February as God surrounded me with the people that would share my vision and the labor.  Thank you Katie, Tina and Khloe.

2)  I continued to grow personally in my own journey of finding my identity and security in my Father's love.

3)  My boys are healthy.

4)  My husband lost his job and God quickly provided a new job where he is thriving in his strengths.

5)  I found a group of women in Women's Empowerment Univerisity that share my passion for being used by God and sharing Him with those around us through the minisitries He has given. 

6)  I have more than one woman I call a true girlfriend that is a safe place for me, truly I am blessed!

7)  God taught me He is my first love and through that truth I am free to love others unconditionally.

8)  I have a wonderful home that I can share with others through hospitality, which I enjoy!  I am told I can make a pretty good meal!!  I have a few 9 year old boys that love my spaghetti, so I am told. 

9)  I have a committed husband who is a loving and wonderful father to our boys.

10)  I have a career through which I can exercise my gifts and share my faith freely.  I am able to have the flexibility to live out my values and grow as a person.

WOW...I could go on, truly....but I am blessed beyond measure.   I know life is hard, my family and I have had our share this past year, but we have each other and I am grateful.  I know your life might be hard right now, but I pray you will see something for which to be thankful.  I heard it said that each day might not be good but there is good in each day.  What good can you find today?

I challenge you to list at least (more if you can) five things for which you are thankful and see if your attitude changes.  I didn't say your circumstances would change right away, but your attitude just might.  As your attitude changes by thinking about all the good, your circumstances might just change as well.

Blessings to you and your family and Happy Thanksgiving!!

 All of us at God Winks......Joni, Katie, Tina and Khloe

God Winks: Mirror Mirror - how you see yourself

God winks:  How do you see yourself? 

I saw this picture last week and it really moved me.  I am not sure I knew at the time all that it meant to me but over the last few days, I have come to appreciate this perspective even more.

In the last few days, really for more than a year, I have watched my in-laws deteriorate in health with dementia, slowing down, and everyday tasks becoming difficult.  I don't like the idea of getting old without my health. 

But, this picture shows it doesn't matter what you see on the outside, but rather how you see yourself in the mirror from the inside!  How do you see the woman God made you?  As a child of God, you are renewed, free, and beautiful!  You can always see yourself as the princess you are!

 

Today, in the mirror, I noticed the highlights are growing out and the grey hairs are showing.  Every time there seem to be more.  I am not sure I like it or that I have the reminder the clock does not turn back.

But, I remember this picture...although the body changes on the outside, how I view myself from the inside does not ever have to change.  I am a beautiful child of God.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I believe in good skin care and taking care of yourself. You can slow it down. However, no amount of cream can prevent you from aging to some degree as you get older.

 BUT, what cannot be taken from you is how you see yourself. 

See yourself how God sees you:

Psa 139:13-14 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

                         I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
                         your works are wonderful,

                         I know that full well."

God Winks: To Do List God Winks?

 



God winks in a to do list?!

Has your mind every been so full of things to do that you are overwhelmed?

This weekend I was talking with my step-mom about her recent move.  She had a lot on her mind about everything.  I shared how when I have a lot of things on my mind, I write it all down.  I call it my "Bugs List!"  I just dump my brain on a piece of paper.  After I do my "brain dump," I go back and prioritize them into a "to do list!"

The neat thing and the "God Winks" was that I had just read this quote from Jack Canfield an hour or so before our conversation.  I was able to share it with her later and encourage her as well!

God just seem to confirm even to me the importance of putting it all down on paper and then my mind would go to work on what was important.   Thanks God!

What can you do?

1.  Grab a piece of paper and pen.
2.  Go to a quite place if you can.
3.  Write down everything that is "bugging" you, all the tasks, projects, etc..
4.  Go back and put A, B or C next to them to prioritze them  ( A (#1), B (#2), etc.. )
5.  Chart them out over the next couple months if necessary.
6.  Look at what is first and make a plan to do it this week.
7.  Take the next one and keep going

You can do it!!

God Winks: Lost and Found

Did you ever lose something really special, very valuable or not, and fret over it? 

I did.  I lost a gold necklace years ago.  When I let go of the necklace, prayed and released ever finding it, God spoke to my heart.  Now, I know some of you might think God can't tell you where that necklace is!?  Well, He can and He did. 

As I quieted myself before Him, prayed and released the worry and concern, a thought came to me in prayer, "Go to your car and pop the driver's seat up."  I did.  As I released the driver seat forward, out slid the necklace to the rear floor board.

I remembered this story as I traveled to see my step-mom, Joyce, one last time before her move to Ohio.  She had lost a necklace very precious to her because part of it had been in a ring of my Dad's.

When we were eating breakfast the first morning I was there, we caught up like we always do talking for a long time.  I mentioned that I had been praying she would find that necklace as she was packing and sorting up her home before the move.  She was not confidant and was sure it had fallen off the last time she wore it over two years ago.

We didn't think much more about it as we went about doing all the things we love together:  board games, card games, shopping, Hallmark movies and lots of talking too!  We managed to fill a few boxes and put things down in the garage for her upcoming tag sale too!!

I left on Tuesday and got back to my life in Ohio.

Friday morning Joyce calls me and says, "You are never going to believe what I found!"  Of course, somehow I did know.  She quickly confirmed what I already knew in my heart, she had found the necklace while cleaning out her jewelry box!!

God winks BIG TIME in the finding of a precious necklace containing memories of my late father.  I was thrilled!  God had not only answered prayer but showed up and off to my step-mom. 

No, things lost are not always found, but in this case, over two years later, God allowed her to find it after knowing my story and my prayers for her.  HE was glorified.  He was seen as real and personal to my step-mom!!

I was thrilled!  Praising a God who cares for the widows and the little details of life that mean much!!

How do God Winks show up for you in what may seem too small for Him to care?  He does care!!

God Winks in a White Tailed Deer

God winks inside memories of loved ones that run deep and comfort us after they are gone.  My memories of my Dad do comfort and this weekend God winks in the request to see a deer!

                        

 

                                Deer at top center                        Dad's deer stand

 

Some of my favorite memories, next to playing dominoes with Dad, were going over on his hill in KY off the lake.  We would hook the corn spreader on the back of his ATV and then load it up with corn.  I hopped on behind him and off we went around the bay to the other side to the hill (beautiful wooded lots where he would hunt and go to enjoy nature.)

As we drove I enjoyed the peacefulness of the KY hills!  When we arrived he took me up the hill through the woods.  Along the way, we would throw corn out through the spreader on the back of the ATV.   We toured the hill and all of it's majestic beauty:  the birds singing, squirrels running up trees and I would listen to his stories.

We would turn around to head back home and see the deer coming out to eat.  I often saw a doe and her fawns eating and every once in a while, a statuesque buck!!  He would stand pretty still till we passed!

This weekend I came to KY to help my step-mom pack some for her move to Ohio.  We have enjoyed all our favorite things as well.  One thing I definitelywanted to do was go over to the hill one more time.  I wanted to go where we spread my Dad's ashes, to see his deer stand and to re-live some memories on the hill.

I haven't seen a deer in all the times I have been over on the hill since he died 5 years ago, Oct 25.

I had just told Joyce, I would love to see a deer and seconds later I see the white tail of a deer las she leaps off to the left!!! The deer is in the first picture above.

I got off the ATV and quietly went up the path a bit, and there she was.  She was standing very still and turned to look straight at me.  She looked at me until I moved.  It seemed like a long time but I am sure it was probably only a minute.

Thank you Lord for the sight of a deer on a day I would visit down memory lane.

God winks in the request to see a deer to complete a beautiful trip down memory lane!

What "God Winks" can you recall that seemed like "coincindences" but when you look back maybe it was a hug from heaven?

 

 

                                                                                                               By:  Joni Ormsbee



Quotes: God winks through leadership quotes?

1)  UNIQUE:  "Be the best YOU, you can be."  - Heidi Goelzer

 

 

Psalm 139:13-14  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

 

I am unique!!  No comparison needed.  I can be successful being the best version of me.

 

I remember when I was younger realizing, in probably what was another "God wink" at the time, that if I spent time trying to be someone else, then no one was being ME!  I was robbing the world of God's unique gift in me.

 

 

2)  DREAM :  "Become a vision master not a task master." - Heidi Goelzer

 

Reminding people of their dreams and not "the do" list. 

 

My dreams fuel the passion behind the doing!  I needed to remember my dreams.  Too often we stop dreaming!   When I remember my dream, it makes the work worth it!

 

3)  SERVE:  "If we never help someone else do better than we have done, then we will never be further in our success than we are today."  Sean Key

 

It isn't about me!!  Leading is about others.  It is ok to help someone to a position beyond your own.  That was an incredibly freeing to me.  As I serve others and help them get what they desire, I am successful!

 

4)  EXCELLENCE:  "We aren't serving anyone by living in mediocrity."  - Dawn Dunn

 

I heard it said another way too, "Someone else's dream is attached to yours."  WOW!  If I don't live in excellence - the calling on my own life, the unique message He puts on my heart, than others are affected.

 

In and of myself, I am not capable to be all that God has called me to be.  However, in HIM, I can be all that He desires me to be. 

 

Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

 

He doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called.

 

Joy comes in fulfilling YOUR path in this world.  Doing it with excellence, glorifies Him!   You glorify HIM because you live out the creation of you! 

 

5)  "Confidence comes in the doing."  - Emotion follows action.  Be faithful and consistent.

More quotes to consider:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2012/10/16/quotes-on-leadership/


What could you do this week ?

• Rediscover YOUR dream.  Get quiet somewhere, close your eyes, and remember your passion.
• Serve someone else this week.  How might you do that in your business, family, neighborhood, church?
• Do the "and then some" and mark your work with excellence.
• Do one thing you have been putting off....Action creates the confidence.

What will be your WIN this week?  Celebrate your win!

 

                                                                                                                By Joni Ormsbee

How does God wink through a High School Marching Band?

I have shared the struggle I had over our recent move.  I knew God had orchestrated our relocation but I was still sad at some of the things I felt I had left behind.  Among one of the little things I enjoyed at the old house was the Friday night football games.  When the local High School team was playing at home, I could hear the cheers of the fans and the band playing.   It took me back to my High School days and always made me smile.  I never really mentioned this to any one, just felt it in my heart (Psalm 37:4).  After all, it was pretty insignificant in the scheme of things. 

You can imagine my surprise when l heard the sounds of drums and looked down my now-country-road to see the new local High School band marching.  Just so happens that although the school is farther away, it has a bigger band with a bigger sound and yes I can hear them on Friday nights! 

                                                                                                                               By Tina Wagner

What has God provided for you recently that maybe you thought was left behind for good?

14 Quotes about God's provision

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/provision

Provision in tough times: 4 ways to see Him as Provider

Reaching My Gilgal (reminder God’s powerful provision):

These past 3 years there have been days where God winked but this was often overshadowed by the hardship of circumstances in my faith and life journey.  You see in March of 2012 I shut my Business Coaching business down.  That same week I won a website at a Women in Business Networking event.  I looked up at God and said "Really? I just spent our entire retirement on this business, which failed, this isn't funny." I was mad because I was crushed.
 

Fast forward 6 months. The word catalyst kept on coming to mind but I didn't know why.  I still had the free website and in January 2013 I decided to do something with it.  This was only after hearing a sermon, from my new church, Living Hope, about the journey out of the wilderness into the promise land. Then through trial and error, of what was available, I settled on MyDreamCatalyst.com and there it sat for 8 months.  I did nothing with it and was very confused now that I was back in the corporate world.   In August, I started an online class with Donna Partow at WEU having no idea you could make a living selling E-Products on the internet.  This was awesome since I love writing and helping people! So I FINALLY started my blog three weeks ago.
 

Then this past Friday, Donna gave me a word that she sees me as a type of Moses leading women out of the marketplace into the Entrepreneurial arena.  Out of the wilderness of their soul to their promised land using their God given talents, skills and abilities.  Then the next morning my devotional reading in Our Daily Bread was based on Exodus 3:7-15 where Moses gets his assignment to lead the Israelites to the promise land because God heard their suffering!
 

This journey, through my own desert, has been messy and hard.  I have had to learn to have faith, to trust and to let go.  This is simply not my personality so this was VERY hard for me.  I had to trust God and not ask why He wants me to do something.  To be obedient in shutting the business down, to focus on my marriage, to swallow my pride and work for someone else, to let God heal me, and then do the hard work of healing. All this work, all this fighting happened while I was blindly following God taking only...one...step...at...a...time.  He has given me purpose out of what seems like a complete mess.  He has taken me to my Gilgal and revealed a bigger part of His plan. I praise the Lord and want the rest of you to know that yes things are messy and are confusing.  He has a reason and a purpose for your life.  To me His winks in my story tell us:
 

•     I AM HERE NEXT TO YOU, ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT
•     I AM FAITHFUL, TRUST IN ME
•     I AM POWERFUL, LET GO
•     I LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO WORK ON YOUR HEART FIRST, SO WE ARE READY FOR YOUR CALLING

What do you need to ask Him for this week?  

Where do you need to trust Him? 

Where do you need to let go? 

Where in you heart do you need to let Him heal you?

Grocery Checkout Coupon

 

See how God provided in a wink in the checkout lane through a coupon.

You will also find 3 practical ways to find coupons on the internet, enjoy!

The end of the month can be tough.  For those of us who have to watch our pennies when there are a few days left in the month and only a few dollars left in the account., it can be especially tough. 

As I was picking through the grocery store to get what we absolutely had to have to finish out the month, I spotted a yummy Greek yogurt I enjoy.  Although my stomach said “yes” my wallet said “no.”   I chuckled to myself at the mini-battle I was having and said a quick “thank you” to God that I live in America where I have a roof over my head, a warm home and more food than most of the world’s population.  The special treat wasn’t in the budget but I was able to get the things I really needed.  

As I proceeded through the checkout, holding my breath a bit at the total, I was pleased I purchased what was necessary and stayed in the limits of our budget for the month.  I was even more pleased when God winked at me as the cashier handed me my receipt along with a coupon for a free Greek yogurt.

Psalm 34:8

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the  man who takes refuge in Him.

 

How could you help your budget at the end of the month?  What coupons would you find helpful?

Check out a site for printable coupons:

• http://www.couponmom.com/printable-coupons-242

If you shop at a particular store like Kroger or Target, you can visit their sites for coupons as well.

• http://www.softcoin.com/programs/kroger/digital_coupons/?campaign=DigitalCoupons&banner=Kroger
• http://coupons.target.com/grocery-coupons?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=msnstr&CPNG=groceries+search&adgroup=beverage+coupons&LNM=coupon%20for%20drink&MT=broad&LID=28p4598545&KID=5b54ecc2-3590-caa9-6226-00001c674915

 

 



by Tina Wagner



Chiropractor to the Rescue

A weekend to remember with my WEU sisters came with many God winks.  Laughter and tears were shared over thoughts about weekend takeaways, our families, and God working in our hearts.  Of course it was over ice cream at an outside mall.  It all seemed perfect for a weekend surrounded by women of excellence who love God and want to serve Him wholeheartedly.

Here are a couple God Winks from that night after ice cream:

1)      One of the women staying with me on Saturday night, Kristin, is a chiropractor.  The thought of her profession was the last thing I thought as I met Kristin.   She is beautiful, striving to follow the Lord in a difficult situation, and fun to be around. 

Fun after ice cream; Kristin far right

As we were out having ice cream, I checked in with my husband to see how my son’s football game had gone.  It was good, but Daniel had hurt his knee.  I told the ladies staying with me that we needed to go soon.  Kristin offered to take a look at his knee.  Oh, yeh, she is a chiropractor and “happened’ to be staying at my house on the day my son got hurt!   

Ladies who stayed at my home

She looked at his knee and said he would be fine after some ice and rest.  No need for an ER visit on a Saturday night.  Thank you God!!

2)      Leaving early leads to the next God wink!  Marian had gone to dinner with us as well because her husband was still visiting their son at a nearby university.  Marian’s bags were in my car and we left forgetting all about them.  God provided for Kristin in our “oversight.”

Ladies at Dinner; Marian far right

       Marian had to come to my house to get her bags out of my trunk which allowed her to be a part of a conversation with Kristin.  Marian was able to encourage Kristin in her present, difficult situation.   Marian could empathize better than the rest of us because she had walked the path Kristin was walking.  They talked for over an hour. 

Forgetting Marian’s bag in the car was not an accident!  God provided for Kristin and my son.  I love how God shows up and shows off!

Everyday decisions that seem mundane and insignificant line up to show His handprint of provision.  I am grateful that we saw Him winking.

Where has God winked a provision for you in recent days? 

Joni Ormsbee

Job Searching Summer

The excitement from submitting the final paper, graduating from college, and getting a diploma quickly fades with the daunting task of searching for a full-time job. My four months of summer have consisted of several hours per week scouring the web and filling out repetitive and lengthy job applications with little to no response. Despite the fact that I have learned more about myself professionally, the experience has not been my favorite. It can feel like a shot in the dark when I don't have the right connections.

It may help if I explain what I want to do with my degree. I chose a Comprehensive Communications major so that I could pursue a career in event planning. My passion is to positively impact others in a dynamic environment where I can use my organizational skills and still have the opportunity to interact with people. Unfortunately, this type of job tends to be very broad which confused my job title search a bit. I found that there also aren't many event coordinator positions available that didn't require several years of experience. At first, there wasn't much financial pressure which gave me the opportunity to solely apply for my "dream" job. The mood quickly shifted when my college loans kicked into repayment mode this July. Not desperate but following financial responsibilities, I ended up accepting a minimum wage, part-time retail sales associate position (if you know me, I'm NOT interested in sales) located five minutes from our little condo. It would count for something while I continued to search for my "dream" job. 

Two weeks before I had even began training for this sales associate job (start date was set for September 9th, today!), I thanked God and began to pray intentionally for Him to lead me in my "dream" job search. I prayed that if God has a perfect job out there for me that it would happen before I started my little part-time sales job (I would feel horrible leaving a company after only a short time). On a Tuesday morning, I began my normal e-mail purging routine and came across a LinkedIn job listings e-mail. Although I didn't see any intriguing job titles, I still clicked the linked and began to briefly browse. An opening for a Front Desk Receptionist at a golf club caught my eye and I immediately felt a butterfly of excitement. Strangely there wasn't any indication on how to apply for this job, so I called the listed phone number, but there was no answer. Since I wanted to act quickly, I thought I might as well send my resume to their info email address which usually gets glossed over but it was worth a try. Just as I was about to click send, I re-dialed the golf club to leave a message on their voice-mail about my resume e-mail. I was delighted that the receptionist picked up! She gave me the name and e-mail address of the manager who would be hiring for the position. Only a couple hours later, I received phone call about scheduling an interview which was set up for the next day.

Literally EVERYTHING about this job was what I wanted in regards to a first full-time job using my degree to work towards my "dream" job of event coordinator. Of course, I was very excited and very nervous for this interview. Driving up, I was in awe of the beauty of this golf club building and grounds. I prayed in my car that the interview would flow casually and be comfortable enough that I could just be myself, and that is exactly what happened. After talking with me, they offered me the job on the spot saying that I was the only candidate who had followed-up with them over the phone. They thought that I would be a great fit. And I agree! 

After four months of searching on my own terms, God handed me a special and perfect job in just TWO DAYS! It is so wonderful when our Father reminds us of the power of prayer. He is so sovereign in controlling our lives. He continues to show me that my natural impulse to plan my life should be rooted in trusting Him in all things. And so, God winks...

by Katie Sue Hill

Believe in a Wink

What an amazing weekend at "Advancing Your Message" with Women’s Empowerment University (WEU)  in Bellbrook, OH at “Restoration Ranch”, Deborah Lovett’s home, with Donna Partow and Deborah Lovett.

Deborah Lovett and Donna Partow
 

 

 

You may remember the post “Beauty from Ashes” and how God showed  me He would fulfill a dream I had five years prior to meet Deborah and see her home. This past weekend I was able to be in her beautiful home with women who desire to honor God by fulfilling God’s calling on their life by advancing their message.

I am going to share one of the winks that is simple but profound.  Isn’t it like our God to use the simple to blow our minds about Him, His love, and His care? He touched me from heaven through one word: Believe.

Believe became the bookends to a beautiful weekend of experiencing the power of prayer! Many women, including a group of women fasting, were praying for our time with Donna and Deborah.  Prayers were answered mightily!

Someone told me in the past few months that my future would depend on one word: Believe.    

Fast forward a couple months to the Advance:

 

·     The first event was a Luau Friday evening to gather and socialize and get an introduction to our weekend.  Donna and Deborah offered to pray over any lady with anointing oil that wanted to stay.  When Donna prayed it was powerful as always!  When she was done, she said "Wow!  Are you starting to believe?"  

·     Donna and Deborah prayed over every lady there on Saturday throughout the day.   Donna prayed again for me at the end of the day.  This time short, but powerful, she prayed over me the word Believe saying “Believe, Believe, Believe” at the end, holding my forehead on either side with her hands anointing my mind with prayer.  I knew God’s spirit was working.

 

·     Sunday morning I found a bagged gift from one of the women who stayed in my home. This one blew my mind that the God of the universe would put His word to me on a gift bag!!  The bagged gift had the word, BELIEVE, on the outside. Not only the word, but the phrase “Deep in your heart, Believe, you are destined to do great things”!

 





 The weekend had the word "Believe" as bookends to a beautiful story of the power of prayer calling Him to show up and show off!! God did not disappoint, He is glorious!

It was an amazing weekend filled with divine appointments. God winked all weekend, not only in my life, but in many of the lives of the women I met. He allowed me a front row seat to the power of god and the moving of His spirit. I am humbled that He allowed my spiritual eyes to be wide open and my heart to be free to hear.

How is God showing up in your life and showing off His love to you in tangible ways? Maybe it isn't a gift bag, but I pray your spiritual eyes are open to see Him. He is all around you. 

by Joni Ormsbee