God Winks: God Shows Up in the Clouds

Promises in the Clouds

This week I came across a picture that was very similar to what I saw on a trip of my own.  While flying back from one of my trips, I looked out the window and saw a rainbow.  Then I looked again, it was not only a rainbow but a circle rainbow.   Just like this picture, the sun was on the opposite side and hit the plane just right to put the shadow of the plane inside the rainbow!!  I couldn't believe it.  I couldn't get my camera out fast enough.  I am so glad I saw this picture because although it was from the other side of my plane then this picture, it is the same idea!

It was as if God was saying to me that day, "I got you!  It will be ok."  You see, like most of us, I was going through some hard things.  I was personally struggling through some hurts.  But, God spoke or winked through His creation and a rainbow.  He spoke to my heart through something very tangible but rarely seen.   I was in awe of His personal touch for me.

It made me thankful and want to smile.  I saw this picture today and really it is what prompted me to think of God Winks - those times when we just look up and say "Thanks, I knew that was You, God!" 

Being Thankful!

Although I didn't have to look up that day because I was already in the clouds, I still was very grateful for His personal touch, His Wink!!

       I Thessalonians 5:18  In everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

          Hebrews 12: 28  let us be thankful, and so worship God

May you see God wink through His creation this week so you smile and look up to say, "I just knew that was you God, Thank You!"

By Joni Ormsbee

Valentine's Day: God Winks in an Everlasting Love

God rejoices over you!

What is your first love?   Who has every inch of your heart?

Over the past couple years, the last especially, I spent time healing my heart and seeking the only One who could ultimately fill every hole of pain and sadness.

Was it selfish?  I don’t think so.  Over the last year I got closer to the One Valentine, the One who can fill every void of my heart if I let Him inside the emptiness.

I had to face the reality and truth that my husband or anything else for that matter cannot fill every part of my emptiness felt in my heart and soul.  I found only He can fill the voids.  In the moments where marriage was hard and I found myself looking to him to fill the “holes,”  I had to realize only my God could.

As I took time to spend with Him over the last few years, especially the last one, I found out a few things which led me to some truths that healed the emptiness.  The truth of His love for me filled the voids and granted me a new found freedom.  It was wonderful.  Other friends noticed as well as my face radiated the peace only He granted.  And, my marriage was better too!!

Here is what I would call “God’s Love Letter” to me!!   I reference scriptures so you can find the truth in His word too. 

      My dear daughter,  

      You are enough. 

“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  II Corinthians 5:21   Through Him we are made perfect.  Surely perfect is better than good enough!

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 

“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.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” 

Psalm 139:13-18

You have a unique purpose, only you can fulfill.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10

You are significant. 

“But now, this is what the LORD says----

He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel:

‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’” Isaiah 43:1

You are loved with an everlasting love. 

“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:  ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving-kindness.’”  Jeremiah 31:3

Nothing can separate you from My Love.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.”  Romans 8:38-39

I AM your refuge!

“But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.”  Psalm 94:22

     Love,

     Your Father

I know the heartache of being single much longer than I desired.  I know I ran to other things to fill the void in my singleness and my marriage.  Loneliness can occur at any season of life. 

What I did find it when I ran into the arms of my Heavenly Father, I found a peace I found no where else. May you find a quiet peace as you look to Him for the everlasting love of your heart.

By Joni Ormsbee

Love in a Sign and a Rainbow: God Winks

To know who I am or the specifics I face, really isn’t relevant. What matters is the commonality my story has with anyone else. In reality, this isn’t even the story itself, but a story within the story; the mechanics of how my story is to unfold: my God Winks.

I am standing at a crossroad. In my life journey, it has never been more clear or apparent. In soaking myself in the Word alongside the joined forces of a collection of beautiful, godly women in Women’s Empowerment University (WEU), since the beginning of January, I feel a strength and a lightness while knowing I’m in a battle. No longer am I in darkness with my decisions, as this class has helped to shine God’s light so I may make wise and bold actions based on my listening to him through my now open line of communication. He is confirming and reaffirming His mighty glory...

This particular day was one of the loudest conversations the Lord and I shared so far. The night prior, I couldn’t sleep, troubled with a heavy family matter. I tossed and turned and finally opened, yes, Facebook. Before me was one post, “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.” I let go.

In the morning, I awoke to my Donna Partow routine of lemon water and reading my outline for the day, “Topic Thinking.” Of course it was. Until this point in our class, I had been so focused. Targeted. I headed out to volunteer at my daughter’s school.

My thoughts turned against me. I rehashed the nightmare. Lies of the past. I then pulled out a pocket-sized notebook filled with the hand-written affirmations based on scripture that Donna’s book, “Becoming The Woman I Want To Be,” encouraged us to keep close. I meditated on one in particular. My heart slowed and the pressure in my chest disappeared.

Then, the image came from the words...”I have the power to change my life because the spirit of the Lord rests upon me.”  ‘Power,’ equals strength, force and might. ‘Rests,’ insinuates peaceful, ease, etc. Then I see it: the image of a gentle, slow snowfall. No wind, as if each flake was pronounced and intended but in choreography with God. I pictured the Spirit of the Lord resting on me like a snowflake would on my face.

On my way home, about a mile in, I passed a sign in front of a church. “Decisions, Decisions,” it read. Yes, I turned around a took a photograph. Then, another mile down the road (and unbeknownst to me at the time, almost simultaneously with a posting from Donna Partow directed at me on Facebook about not focusing on my outside circumstances, but rather on that which is going on inside me), I saw the sun. 

I pulled over immediately and took another photo. To be sure of what I saw, I stopped again a few blocks further. There was a bizarre and beautiful circle around the sun with a protective rainbow to keep it in; The Son! I understood; this new group of women at WEU is my circle around the SON and the promise of His rainbow keeping us all safely in His presence.

My spirit and soul smiled, as God winked.

By Kristin Jacobson

Pay it Forward: God winks through a gift

There are many times when I know I miss God’s prompting, but this is a time I actually got it. Fortunately, God made it so clear, even I could not mess it up.

Christmas 2012 my boss gave me a wonderful Christian devotional. I really enjoyed it and bought the same devotional for several of my friends. This life changing devotional came up often in my conversation with others who also purchased it for their self and friends.

I was sharing a prayer request for my sister-in-law and my friend suggested I send her a copy of this devotional. I thought it was a good idea, but said I would pray about it because she is of another faith.

The next day I was talking to a different friend and she says to me “I got an extra copy of that devotional for Christmas if you know anyone who needs one.” (John 10:27)

HUGE God wink. I did get it and sent it to her. She acknowledged she received it, but had not had time to read it yet. The important part for me is I was obedient (this time) to God's promptings. 

It was a blessing that God provided the free book also. It was a beautiful leather bound gift edition. God does this right! (Luke 6:38)  

By Tina Wagner