Coincidences, Providence, And Godwinks At Christmas by Bob Jones

Call them coincidences, providence or Godwinks.

When your faith needs re-assurance, they're what you can expect.

God has a timely way of letting you know He's got His eye on you, and you are never alone.

An Angel Named Lynsey

Cory and Lynsey Jones were delayed leaving Saskatoon. Our son and daughter-in-law eventually headed off for a family Christmas celebration in Delmas, Saskatchewan about 80 minutes away. They were just east of North Battleford when a black pick-up truck accelerated past them.

A hundred yards ahead now, the driver, trying to settle the Ford 150 back into its lane, hit black ice and started to fish tail. The pick-up ended up in a sideways slide down the highway before slipping into the ditch and flipping onto its roof.

Cory was already dialing 911 as Lynsey pulled their Rogue over to the side of the highway.

They dug away at the snow to get to the driver’s side door. A young student and her grandmother were trapped inside. Smoke started to rise from the under carriage. After getting the driver out, Lynsey calmly crawled through the door and said, “I’m a nurse. Are you hurt?”

The woman replied, “I’m Norwegian and its gonna take a lot more than this to kill me.”
 

A day later, after being treated for only a minor neck injury, the feisty Gramma called Lynsey her “angel.”

When You Need Assurance

Chemo and radiation treatments had left my friend Kathy suffering from severe nausea, exhaustion and unease.

She knew she was in good hands with the medical personnel at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta. What she wanted was the assurance that she was safe in God’s hands and that He would see her through.

On her way to radiation treatment on December 23rd she and her husband Jim ended up driving behind a Chevy Avalanche. The owner had a vanity license plate that displayed five simple letters – K L B U O. 

The creative arrangement of the letters on the license plate left them momentarily speechless. If you knew Kathy, you’d have to call that a second miracle. The first miracle was the message on the plate. “UL B OK.”

What are the odds of a cancer patient praying for re-assurance, ending up behind a vehicle with a license plate declaring, “You’ll be OK.”

The First Christmas Godwinks

It was like that for Mary.

When you’ve traveled eighty kilometres on a donkey in your third trimester of an unwed but wanted pregnancy, you need a place to rest body and mind.

Your name is “mud” with your family because they don’t believe your story of a miraculous conception as a virgin. The arduous trip has left you too wearied to resist the raging doubts in your mind from all that had happened over the past nine months.

A stable was no place to deliver your first born with only farm animals and an anxious first-time father as attendants. But a stable and a manager is all you have. So, you nestle your son into a feed trough.

Then, you ask for some re-assurance from the God who started this whole thing.

But you never expected assurance to come in the shape of breathless shepherds. 

An angelic host?
Good news?
Great joy?
A Savior?
Peace?
God’s favour?
A baby lying in a manger? 

What are the odds that the very words you needed to hear would come from the least likely sources.

This Christmas expect the unexpected from a God who sees and knows you.

Merry Christmas to all my friends at Inscribe and everyone who reads this post!

All God's best to you in 2026.

 

 

 

What Are The Odds Of That: Answers To Prayer by Bob Jones

What have I experienced through prayer in my life and writing? Just about everything. Much of what I learned about the principles of prayer came to me from walking with and writing about the life of a young woman named Kristen.

 

As a 28-year old, Kristen was diagnosed with inoperable cancer and given 24 months to live. She was a mom to three boys under five and married to a firefighter. We prayed for her to be healed. In fact many in the congregation I was a pastor to, fasted breakfast and prayed every day for two years. 

 

One Friday afternoon Kristen had a doctor’s appointment. Going to visit an oncology doctor isn't one of most people's favorite things to do on a Friday afternoon. She was dropped off early for her appointment and needed something to help pass the time.

 

Kristen happened into a nearby drugstore store while she waited.

 

She happened to see a kiosk with books.

 

A book on the lowest rack happened to catch her attention. It was a single copy of the book, “Divine Alignment.”

 

“What a coincidence," she thought. "My friend just told me about that book!”

 

A coincidence led her to a book about coincidences.

 

Kristen called me to tell what had just happened and suggested that I should read the book.

 

I owe her. As a result of Kristen’s experience and reading the book I added the term, "GodWink" into my vocabulary and worldview of prayer.

 

GodWinks are experiences that people would call a coincidence, an answered prayer, or simply an encounter where you'd say, "What are the odds of that!"

 

4 Things I Learned About Prayer, GodWinks, and Life

 

1. A "GodWink" is a message of reassurance from God directly to you, usually related to something you have prayed about.

 

Through all of Kristen’s pain, setbacks, and disappointments, she was not perplexed. She had multiple reassurances of God's faithfulness through "GodWinks."

 

In June 2013 she texted me about one of those GodWinks. She was being transported by an ambulance attendant to Edmonton’s Cross Cancer Hospital for a chemo treatment. The attendant’s name was Ken and he had a story to tell Kristen.

 

Ken, the EMS worker, happened to attend North Pointe, Kristen's church. Ken and his wife Rebecca actually chose North Pointe as their church because of Kristen. 

 

They were new to the area and looking for a church. On their first visit they happened to hear Kristen share her story of faith. They were impressed. They wanted to be a part of a church that was attended by people like Kristen.

 

Ken's story touched Kristen deeply that day. It was like God had allowed her to see her influence. What are the odds?

 

2. GodWinks are not replacements for miracles.

 

People in crisis want a miracle not a wink.

 

Kristen wanted a miracle. She wanted to be healed so she would live and God would be glorified. She also wanted others to know that if things did not work out for her as she hoped, she would trust God until the end - because the end would be her new eternal beginning.

 

Eternity is heaven was the greatest miracle in her estimation.

 

3. In times of UNCERTAINTY what we need more than anything else is CERTAINTY.

 

We crave certainty when we get a dire medical report. We long for certainty in our relationships. We crave the certainty that we'll have enough in the checking account to make it through the month.

 

GodWinks shore up certainty.

 

GodWinks are intentional reminders that God cares; that He is at work, daily directing and providing for your life.

 

My favorite chapter in "Ornament" – a book I wrote about Kristen - is the one about GodWinks.

 

4. GodWinks are the fingerprints of God on the circumstances of your life.

 

Look back on your life. You will find God's fingerprints on the details - dates, numbers, timing, names, places, words.

 

God's fingerprints are assurances that He is in control in a seemingly out-of-control world.

 

Are you praying about something? No answers yet? Watch for a GodWink today. God wants to bring you assurance of his ever faithful presence and unfailing provision.

 

God's got His eye on you.

 

 I write to grow hope, inspire people to be real, forge an authentic faith in Jesus, and discover their life purpose.

Please follow my writing at REVwords.com

I would love to hear from you.

Coincidences, Miracles and Godwinks by Bob Jones

Some people call these coincidences, others call them serendipities. We can call them God’s connecting points or miracles. I like Squire Rushnell’s term “godwink.”

A godwink is what some people would call an answered prayer, or simply an experience where you'd say, "Wow, what are the odds of that!"

Godwink #1 - In October 2012, I “happened upon” a remarkable account while preparing my Sunday message on the subject of healing. The story was from the life of a Texas pastor, Duane Miller. Duane shared his miraculous healing in a book called Out Of The Silence.

Godwink #2 - I wanted to order copies of Duane's book from his organization so I dialed the 1-800 number. The online click signaled that my call was being re-directed. I heard a puzzled voice answer, “Hello?” My call had been re-directed to Duane’s personal cell phone in Houston. He was as surprised as I was to have a conversation.

I had the pleasure of hearing Duane’s crystal clear voice as he recounted his story. In 1990 he prematurely retired from pastoring because of a virus that penetrated the myelin sheath around the nerves in his vocal cords. His speech was reduced to a raspy whisper.

Godwink #3 - On Sunday January 17, 1993 he was asked to lead an adult Bible class. Teaching the class that day with a special microphone resting on his lips, he reaffirmed his belief in divine healing by referring to Psalm 103. Listening to the recording of that event, you can barely understand his weakly spoken, wheezy words. The miracle happened as he read verse 4, “…who redeems your life from the pit…” He commented, “I have had and you have had in times past, pit experiences."

On the word “pit” his life changed - the word was spoken as clear as a bell, in contrast to the imperfect enunciation of the preceding words. He paused, startled; began again and stopped. He said a few more words - all in a normal clear tone - and stopped again. The class erupted with shouts of joy, astonishment and sounds of weeping. God completely healed him as he was declaring the truth in this psalm.

Duane shared over the phone that he had over 200 doctors that were familiar with his case. His physician was the Head of Medicine at Baylor University. His was a well-documented miracle. He has since appeared on Oprah, 100 Huntley Street and traveled the world sharing his story.

Godwink #4 - Perhaps this post will be your godwink. Do you need encouragement regarding your writing? Do you need a miracle of healing? Listen to Duane’s experience in 1993 as he received his miracle.

Miracles and godwinks will happen to you.

Bob is a recovering perfectionist, who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and drinks Iced Tea. His office walls are adorned with his sons’ framed football jerseys, and his library shelves, with soul food. He writes to inspire people to be real, grow an authentic faith in Jesus, enjoy healthy relationships and discover their life purpose.

Follow his writing at Pointes Of View.