“June is busting out all over!” As a fan of classic musicals, this line leapt into my mind as I sat down to write this newsletter about noticing God’s presence in our midst. Many of us are inspired by Creation and the trace of God’s fingerprint that is everywhere, especially as we have been watching the new life of spring unfold! As Martin Luther once said, “God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” Of course! After all, God created all of it!

But God’s presence was also incarnated in Jesus Christ…in his humanity, his relationships, his way of being in the world. And so the Gospel can also be seen in our humanity, our relationships, our way of being in the world. Do we see it as such? Do we take time to notice God’s presence in these many and varied ways?

I love the photo above as an example of God writing the Gospel in Creation…and the cross that shows up on the rock may just be an example of God showing up through some intentional human effort as well (I doubt God etched the cross in the rock…though that is certainly possible! But it sure would be interesting to learn the story behind how it got there!). Thanks to my friend and professional photographer, Cheryl Hagemeyer (Hagemeyer Photography, Bowling Green, OH) for letting me use this recent photo from her vacation out west! I wonder how many people have passed by this amazing place and never noticed that cross…maybe watching their step and not taking the time to look up.

How often in life do we go about our day on auto-pilot and fail to see and experience God’s presence in the world and people around us? I dare say, it is more often than not.

In 1 Chronicles 16, David first appoints the singing of praises to God by Asaph and his relations. Verses 8 - 36 are possibly David’s first Psalm of Thanksgiving. Within this Psalm it says, “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually. (1 Chronicles 16:10-11). I love these middle verses because we are reminded to “seek his presence” actively and with a spirit of praise and joy! How much would your day improve if you were actively seeking God’s presence all day long?

I believe it would cause a shift within. Instead of allowing your newsfeed and negativity to color your day, wouldn’t you feel more positivity and joy if you were noticing God’s presence in a blossom or a stranger that showed someone kindness in traffic or at the checkout? Wouldn’t you also feel closer to God too?

Our world (or should I say, Satan) is hell-bent on drawing us into arguments, misinformation, gossip, division, judgment, and stress. The antidote is looking to see—as Martin Luther put it—where God has written the Gospel in your path today. As David psalmed it: seeking his presence continually.

That’s why this month, as we focus on God’s Presence, our community of inspired and inspiring women is reading a joy-filled book by Squire Rushnell called: Godwink Stories: a devotional. Rushnell’s book is a collection of letters he has received from people whose so-called coincidences were experiences with God’s presence in some way…most of them were life-changing or at least eye-opening. Rushnell calls them Godwinks. I like that.

So, during the month of June, I challenge you to get a little notebook or start an electronic note on your smartphone and begin to jot down the Godwinks you encounter from day to day. And if you are so inclined, I would love to hear your Godwink stories…just drop me a line at angelstringsministry@yahoo.com. And let me know if I have permission to share or not.

When I read Rushnell’s Godwink Stories, it jogs my memory of many times in my life when God has made his presence known to me. Funny how such poignant, meaningful and sometimes life-altering moments fade from my mind so quickly over time. I wish I had written them all down…maybe I will start now.

If you aren’t already a member of the Spiritual Wellness Community for Women, grab and friend and join us for this month on God’s presence (or Godwinks), as we explore how to follow David’s advice from 1 Chronicles and “seek his presence continually.” First month is free, so you’ve got nothing to lose! And it’s a beautiful thing to have a small group of women praying with and for you, learning together, holding each other accountable to following Jesus, and encouraging each other through life’s challenging seasons. For me, this group of women is often a Godwink…and for that I am so very grateful!

We meet via Zoom at noon ET on Tuesdays….you can sign up at angelstringsministry.com. Recordings are posted in the members only section within 24 hours….but it’s most fun when we are all live together! I hope to see you there.

May you be blessed with Godwinks.

May your joy multiply as you learn to notice God’s presence winking at you in so many ways.

And may God wink through you at others too!