Yesterday I encouraged you to keep your eyes and ears open for Godwinks. What did you see? What did you hear?

I heard a song that reminded me of the promise of blessings from God. Those of you who have followed the blog for a while know that I feel a connection to the prophet Elijah. I have always been drawn to and encouraged by stories about him.

My favorite comes from 1 Kings 18. The land has suffered a three year drought. Elijah has just had a showdown with the prophets of Baal and challenged them to pray to Baal to start a fire. Long story short, nothing happened but instead, God showed off! Then…

“And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.”
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:41-46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love, love, love this story. I love the faith Elijah shows in the promise of rain…the promise of blessings. I love that he tucks in his cloak and runs ahead. So yesterday, as I was looking for Godwinks, I was overcome with emotion when I heard this song. Click here to listen to the song and worship.

Then, after church, we went to the beach for a couple of hours. I love the beach. The massive ocean, the tides, the roar of the waves all remind me of God’s power. While we were there, the clouds rolled in and rain drizzled on us sporadically. As I covered up with my towel and the large, cold raindrops pelted me, I couldn’t be mad. While it wasn’t the perfect day to get a tan, it was another Godwink so I soaked in the hope and promise of God’s blessings.

On this Mindset Monday I again encourage you to look and listen for Godwinks as you go about your day. The idea of a Godwink comes from the book “When God Winks” by Squire D. Rushnell. The book explains a Godwink as an “event or personal experience that some call coincidence but is so astonishing that could also be viewed as divine intervention, especially when perceived as an answer to prayer.”

On this Mindset Monday keep your eyes and ears open. Where do you see God intervening on your behalf? What have you heard that underscores the presence of the Almighty in your life? What answers have you received to prayer? May our Mindset this Monday be that of hope and focused on God’s promises. When we see a cloud let us praise God for the blessings that come with rain.

Last Sunday, while waiting on a baseball game to start, I walked on this trail located beside the ballpark. The further I went into the woods, the trail became darker and more shaded. As I walked, I prayed and talked with God. I took the moment of solitude to share my joys and thanksgiving as well as my worries and burdens. Realizing the time was drawing near for the game time, I turned around and made my way back towards the entrance of the trail. Then I noticed the light shining through the trees. I snapped this picture as a reminder of the Godwink. As I continued on the trail I recalled the various Scriptures about Jesus and light and praised God for the beautiful reminder of the presence of Christ.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
‭‭John‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
‭‭John‬ ‭12:46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Spend some time this Spiritual Sunday looking intentionally for the Light. Click here to begin your day of worship. Spend some time in Scripture by looking up one of the verses listed above. Read the surrounding verses to get a sense of the context. Finally, as you go about your Spiritual Sunday, have your eyes and ears open to the presence of Christ in the light around you. Look intentionally for Godwinks. We would love for you to comment below your Godwinks or Christ sightings today so we can share in your praise.

Click here to watch today’s “See You Saturday” YouTube video.

We will Finish Friday with a beautiful picture from Ray White. This picture reminds me of the hope and promise of each new day. The full, bright, beautiful sun shines on us each day. God has set in motion the exactness of the sunrise and the sunset. Although some days may be rainy or stormy, underneath it all, the sun is still rising and setting on time. Always.

Today is the last day of the 2021-2022 school year. Yesterday we celebrated our coworkers who are retiring after many years in education. I would be willing to say that the last two years were the hardest in their career. The last two years have been unlike any in the history of education. Yet, each day the sun rose and set and each day educators put in the work to do their best to serve students. This scripture from Galatians reminds us to keep going when things are tough.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

While many are ending this school year knowing their next school year will be different, we know that the sun will still rise and set. Better than that is knowing that through it all, Jesus Christ is by our side to guide, support, and strengthen us for the journey.

Today I encourage you to ponder the extreme circumstances education has undergone in the last few years. Give praise to God for all the hard work and dedication of educators and take a moment to express gratitude to an educator for finishing strong for students.

Draw strength and courage from this beautiful picture and be reminded of the promise that no matter the circumstances, the sun will still rise and set because Our Heavenly Creator has set it all in motion. Also remember the promise that God will never leave or forsake you. NEVER!

What does your day hold? Do you have it all planned out or is your schedule uncertain? Will today be a restful day or one filled with many tasks? Are you at peace or are you feeling anxious? How are you greeting the morning?

On this Thankful Thursday, no matter what is ahead of you, focus on giving thanks as you do it all in the name of Jesus Christ your Savior. As you face an already planned day or an uncertain schedule, give thanks for the blessings your day will hold. Begin your day with an attitude of gratitude and be a witness to the love of Christ in your life as you interact with others. Be mindful today of your words and actions. May all you say and do be a reflection of Christ at work in you.

The liquid in the bowl in this picture is punch which is a long way from wine. However, it is an example of starting with water and it resulting in something quite different which reminds me of the first miracle Jesus performed when He turned water into wine. Read the full account in John 2:1-12.

There are so many aspects of this story that intrigue me. However, on this Water walking Wednesday I ask do you believe miracles happen today? What miracles have you witnessed? How have miracles affected your life?

I believe there are millions of miracles happening around us that we don’t often see or recognize. We rush through our days trying to accomplish the next task and stumble past the miracle that God’s hands have created or performed. Our eyes are closed or blinded by the shiny distractions of the world. Today I ask you to slow down, clear your eyes, open your ears, heart and mind, and intentionally look for miracles big and small.

Water walking really is a miracle too. So today as you step out of your boat to walk on water, thank the God of miracles for your faith, trust and courage that sustain your steps. Begin your day by clicking this Link and listen to “Million Little Miracles” by Elevation Worship and Maverick City. Then go enjoy the miracles of your day!

On this Transformation Tips Tuesday I encourage you to do a self-examination. We are on the 22nd week of 2022. The sun has risen and set many times. At the beginning of the year you likely set resolutions, goals or even chose a word for the year as Julie and I did. Are you where you wanted to be? Have you accomplished what you wanted? Are you making progress?

Today’s picture is from the day I shared with you my word of the year for 2022.

Click here to read that post.

Today I will be examining my progress. I will be checking to see what I have accomplished and how I have incorporated my word of the year: simple. I will be setting new goals and making intentional plans. What about you? How will you respond to your own self-examination? Will you give up or will you continue to strive for progress? My tips for you today: not only examine but also keep moving forward, keep setting goals, and aim for progress instead of perfection!