When God Winks : How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life

The Godwink Series #1

by Squire Rushnell

Arguing that coincidence helps shape an individual's life, the author--a former television executive--posits that these special events are in fact the work of a supreme being.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christian, Inspirational, Religion, Self Help, Philosophy

164 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2001

Reviews

[Kate Vocke (bookapotamus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, my friend made me read this. Even thought I didn't want to. Granted there was no gun to my head, she's a big believer in coincidence and signs, and I appreciate her silly stories and how convinced she is that there's a cosmic force (not a religious force, she just likes the idea of a bit of magic) making it all happen. She always makes wishes at 11:11, thinks that every dragonfly is her grandfather and is just as obsessed with the number 613 as I am (we are June 13 birthday twins!) BUT I couldn't help thinking about Kathie Lee Gifford the whole time I was reading this! Full disclosure, I'm not a big fan of hers and she irritates me on The Today Show. The "God Winks" segment she hosts is cutesy and to me, a bit barf-able. But whatever floats your boat.

I have a hard time believing any of these stories are winks from a higher power. Just coincidence, particularly for the fact that a lot of the book tries to TEACH YOU how to MAKE GOD WINKS HAPPEN. Um... what?? So, I read the cute stories. Yes, some are pretty cool (the Lincoln/Kennedy and president stuff in particular was really neat for me!) but others - like the Kevin Costner thing... um no. Just a thing that happened. Not much more. Some are a BIG stretch. But I guess you have to take it with a grain of salt amirite?

So, I read the cute stories, but skipped the rest. "Track your God winks" "How to Make God winks happen more often" ... what is coincidence about that? But, my friend was happy I read it and that's all that matters.

[Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that changed my life and opened my eyes to the signs and the Winks that God sent me every day ,it only takes awareness to follow the path that unfold your destiny
God will put situations,people ,books and everything needed to awaken you to which direction you should go in life hence God winks at everyone
I was so unaware of the winks of God before and sometimes totally resisted them ,being such a control freak ,I always tried to control the outcome ,Now I knew better and trying to be open to life and go with the flow certainly makes life easier and more fun
There is no such thing as coincidence in life ,it is all planned and it is up to you to be aware of God's winks and choose to follow the right path that leads to your happiness and prosperity .if you find it hard to make a decision,just keep looking for God's wink and once you saw it ,be sure you are on the right track
Interesting and eye-opening book,I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it ,Highly recommend for Everyone ;)

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The word that comes to mind is "fluffy". This book discusses "God winks" - those uncanny occurrences that point you in the right direction or give you that nod that lets you know that things will turn out okay. The book is filled with remarkable coincidences from business to history, from sports to families. The premise is that if you look for these signs, whether big or little, and they will give you comfort or lead you to the right decision. Some of the examples were amazing, but it's sometimes difficult to see as a "God wink". How are the remarkable coincidences between Kennedy and Lincoln anything but just that. I see no lesson or message in the facts that their names had the same number of letters or that both were warned not to go where they were assassinated. But I do think some things are signs. I know that there are times when you start thinking about someone and soon they are back in your life. Or you see the same word or phrase or image and it taps into some problem or decision you need to make. Overall this was a nice read but one with a lot of fluff.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book (obviously!). I completely believe in "God Winks", but for some reason, Rushnell concentrates on the experiences of celebrities rather than real people. I know of many people that have had far greater and more breathtaking God Winks than any listed in this book. Plus, this book just reminded me of The Secret, ie the power of positive thinking. Which is odd, because that book refrains from mentioning God which was a big problem I had with it, and this book too, despite the name, is too similar. Don't recommend this book.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is re-read for me, and was recommended by a 97-yr old in my prayer group. What we think of as co-incidence may in fact be a bigger plan than we imagine. When we look at the chance events in our lives, we begin to see that perhaps things weren't really so haphazard. I recall the timing when my FIL was losing his battle with cancer, and our son "happened" to stop in when the ambulance crew needed help to navigate the walkway to the door of their home. I no longer look at things quite the same way, and love finding others who have such experiences. (don't we all!)

[Lori P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find pennies from heaven everywhere!!

[Mom]

Great book! Makes you think about how even tiny coincidences are God's way of showing us He's always with us.

[Lori Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came to me at a point that was not a coincidence but God's perfect timing. I love it and it still speaks to me.

[Jane Gakere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was narrated by the author and he did an awesome job!
The definition of Coincidence- A sequence of events that appear to be arranged or planned.
The author looks at ‘Coincidences as guidance from God ‘God Winks’ in our lives. I’ve always believed nothing is a coincidence in life and this was such a great book for me. It requires an open mind and the belief in intuition and a higher power. The biggest take out is the more one identifies ‘God Winks ‘ the more they show up just like intuition that is regularly trusted is sharpened.

[Jennifer Kabay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I’m a believer in these ‘coincidences’ and their Source. I checked this out during a difficult time wanting a little moral boost, and was halfway thru when my house burned. Then trauma took over and I couldn’t read. And when I could read again, I couldn’t find the book, now long overdue at the library. But then it reappeared on my bedside table, in our second temporary home. I’ve no idea who packed it, or when. And how did this book survive when others burned? Anyway. These are private musings made public for this review. This is a fast, anecdotal read. A little too glossy for my sooty spirits. Still. I believe.

[C.S. Areson · Rating 2 out of 5]

How can you strongly agree and absolutely disagree with someone at the same time? Somehow I did with this book. His theory on coincidence is weak and based on personal experiences alone. For some, this book could be very comforting.

[Emily Peterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book years ago due to the title and finally actually got around to reading it. What a disappointment. I absolutely believe in "God winks", as in He is always working all things out for our good and His glory and sometimes there are coincidences along the way which remind us of His sovereign hand in this.

The author mentioned attending church, but at best, his faith seems to fall under the vagueness of cultural Christianity, and at worst, it very well may be heretical.

For a book supposedly all about "God winks", there is very much a vague "powers of the universe working in our favor" vibe to much of the book. He occasionally calls that "God", but his lacking acknowledgement of God makes it seem as though he thinks God is just a "god" among a plethora of gods. This is a dangerous line to walk, as it inevitably leads people astray, even if it is well intended. They say the path to Hell is paved with good intentions.

Many of the examples of what the author calls "God winks" are not even coincidences, but happenstance observations, or the result of a very logical chain of cause and efect. Much of the logic and reasoning in the book isn't well thought out. The theology is even more atrocious.

There's lots of talk of cliche "feel good" phrases basically about making up your mind to do something and then manifesting the results. That whole concept leaves little room for a sovereign God who rules and reigns. Also, many of the examples are just randomly hobbled together about celebrities, and definitely not ones walking in fear and admonition of the Lord. Bill Clinton, Viagra, non-believers and several other cringey type characters make up those in the author's examples.

I could continue on, but I won't...I didn't want to finish this book, but I did because I think it is important for those who lack discernment to be countered by those who do. I would give it 0 stars if I were able to do so.

[Carol Wit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book! Very interesting stories of well known people that have experienced God winks (Unexplained Coincidences) and how it directed their lives...

This book just confirmed my belief in what was happening in my life...One very good suggestion in this book was to carry a small notepad with you or have one where you see it all the time, so when you receive a God wink, you can write it down, and at the end of the year, you can look back on all the miracles, small or large, that have happened in your life. I am now doing this.

SO many strange "coincidences" have happened to me in the past year and a half since I made a major discovery about my life. I really didn't want to tell anyone when these "coincidences" happened, since I thought they would look at me sort of sideways lol, but they kept happening and I was unable to ignore them.

For me, it was just confirmation of all the "God winks" I have been receiving and to let me know that the people that I discovered knew about me and wanted me to know this......This was a very big issue for me that caused me quite a bit of trauma & extreme sadness, but the more the god winks happened the calmer & more "back to normal" I felt.

I'm so happy I found this small book and that it addressed what exactly these coincidences were that kept happening to me, they were God Winks to let me know I am not alone and that I am heard & loved, that my loved ones know about me and that it's all going to be ok. Look for the God Winks in your life, you may be surprised at all of them that you find!

[Roy Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great uplifting and quick read. Full of true stories that have great similarity to my own. I'm sure anyone could identify with Squire Rushnell's analogies and stories. When GOD Winks: How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely believe in the idea of a high power but I thought this book was very superficial. Provided no theological bases. Very cavalier about divorce and perpetuating the myth of a "soul mate". Two stars for at least encouraging me to think about the turning points in my life.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agreed with 80% of this book. The other 20 I really disagree with and don't see as God Winks at all. In order for something to be from God, it needs to be consistent with his character and who he says he is and what he says he does. The majority of this book fits that.

[Mike Bernstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read - Pretty cool

All of us have have had déjà vu or have had strange coincidences throughout our lives. This book sets out to tell us they are God Winks. Mission accomplished

[Elizabeth Hudacko · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book because I love Godwinks!! I had read excerpts from the second book and loved the stories of how God works quietly in people's lives. I found many of the stories in this book to be a bit contrived and the filler content to be without substance

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read, confirms that our loved ones are always with us.
Thanks, Heather.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

You won't look at coincidences in your life the same way after reading this book!

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, read it in 2 days even with 3 kids at home.

[Lisa Tangen · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun, quick read

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy to read, yet important book about recognizing the Greater force at play in our lives. Sometimes events seem very obvious to us that things must’ve happened for a reason but even small seemingly insignificant “coincidences” can be recognized as ‘God Winks’ too.

Although everything is basically applicable today as it was then (when the book was written in 2000), I would like to see a newer, revised version of this book. It does include some very interesting historical coincidences that I never knew about.

The following are specifics I wanted to remember from my reading:

A God Wink is also a message of reassurance coming when you most need it. Coincidences are the best way for God to establish a perpetual presence in your life.

Your life is not a series of random experiences taking you like a twig on a moving stream to destinations unknown. You are part of a much greater plan. Your existence is not random and you DO have a role to play in life’s grand plan.

“God if you want me to be single for the rest of my life, that’s ok, just put peace in my heart.” Her plea exposed the pain of her depressed feelings. Everyone of Alice’s relationships had ended in heartbreak.

Stop struggling and open yourself to seeing the unexpected and unplanned. There is a guiding power and an order to our lives. It may not guide us on the paths we choose for ourselves or at the pace we want it to, but it guides us nevertheless. When we carry ourselves as far as we can and feel we can go no further, that’s when we should be on the lookout for a God Wink. Things would look different to us if we could see them from a higher perspective.

Use a little notebook to record your God Winks. Rediscovering your dismissed, repressed, and long forgotten coincidences requires perseverance. Your effort to recall your coincidences will give you renewed hope for the future as well as new confidence about where you are going.

Our view of life is limited. We go from day to day, looking at one puzzle piece at a time. But there is another perspective while we are trying to make sense out of one odd looking piece after another. We can take comfort knowing that all of the pieces do fit into a plan that could only have been created by a higher power.

“Good things always come from sad times.” Kevin Costner

You must have unswerving faith in yourself. (Example of Mary Lou Retton & gymnastics). She knew her abilities and more important she would not give up on her dream.

Let go, and let God. “I surrender all.” Look for God Winks.

Believe that if you wish for something, it will happen. Return to that state of mind where imagination allowed you the absolute freedom to ask for the impossible, the impractical, and the inconceivable. As adults we call it prayer/ visualization.

When you wish for something, you also need to take action yourself. Place yourself in the direction that you wish to go, the direction that you believe to be in alignment with your destiny then let go and wait for the God Wink.

Winks from above don’t happen in a vacuum. They happen because someone has a dream, a vision, and focus so intense that it creates ones own coincidences.

When you’re out there doing the hard work of making your wishes come true, you’ll have periods when nothing seems to be happening. Don’t stop! The God Winks are coming.

“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes life seems incredibly cruel. We wonder why bad things happen to good people Life is an unfathomable mystery and much of what happens is outside our understanding or control. But how we choose to respond to life is up to us. We can choose to look for and remain open to Gods comforting winks and move ahead confident that we are part of a cosmic plan or we can ignore the winks from above and lose heart.

We must remind ourselves that we are seeing only a small piece of the puzzle — that there is a whole picture and we all fit into it.

Your perfect mate - if not already in your life - is out there waiting for you. In the cosmic web of life you are holding an invisible strand of love held at the other end by the mate who is intended for you.

One thing is certain: people who have found their perfect partners - their soulmates- attest that the turning point in their relationship was accompanied by clear and powerful winks.

There is a perfect mate for you.

Nature loves symmetry.

God winks are messages to the living. They are loving messages meant to reassure you that life is not a continuum but a circle and that connections to loved ones are never lost.

Everything WILL be ok. You are seeing but one small piece of the overall puzzle. From a cosmic perspective it all makes perfect sense.

As you reflect on the coincidences that have lined your path, you will be encouraged to see that they have unfolded in a pattern, not randomly.

Unlike much of the daily humdrum of our lives, coincidences are not subtle: they jolt us, awaken us to the marvelous possibilities that an ordered world provides for us.

* *As I write this on 8/4/21 I fell this morning while waking down the stairs in my home. The sac city EMTs we’re from unit 19 and then when I went to the hospital the first and only exam room I saw was #19. (Yesterday I picked my sons jersey number of 19.) I was then rolled into the hallway and stayed in front of room 7 which is my life path number. **

“Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.” By William James

Little winks DO mean something: that you’re not alone, that there is a constant cosmic presence in your life. More often than not, little God winks, like the big ones, are simply a confirmation that you’re on the right track.

Winks of numbers and dates also exist.

Don’t dismiss winks (or signs from God) just because they seem small or insignificant.

Accept that while life is often a mystery, we- each age every one of us- have a role in it as the mystery unfolds. We need to act on our dreams and be present to the appearance of the divine in our day to day existence.

[Jack Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book. Some good stories. It felt celebrity focused in the beginning and to some degree that made it feel disingenuous to me. One example of God winks he uses is President Clinton. To be clear, I live in a glass house, so I am not judging, but it seems ... off ... to me that President Clinton is the guy to use as an example of God saying "yeah, you're doing it right." That's one example of why this book felt a little off to me, even though the message was good.

I believe, very much, in God winks. And I was hoping this book would give me more "visibility" to God winks in life. The book does this, I guess I just wasn't overwhelmed like I hoped I'd be.

I finished this book on a plane and the lady next to me asked if the book was good, that she was "always wondering about that stuff"

I let her know that maybe her inquiry was a God wink and handed her my finished book. I'm sure Mr. Rushnell would rather a sale but it felt right to pay it forward, so that's what I did.

It's a decent read. It feels good. It's a fast read. Worth the small amount of time taken to read it. But I'm not sorry it isn't in my library any longer and I hope that the lady who inquired gets a lot out of it.

[Perssis Namour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal!!! I picked up this book when God said, "go talk to that lady sitting across from you. She had something for you." After talking with her this book and author squire rush popped up on her head with a suggestion to read it.I bee lined it to the Public Library looking for the book.

This book opened my spiritual eyes to see how God has ALWAYS been moving behind the scene in my life, and in my family, in my friends, in my career, in history, and in numbers, and ultimately brings people into your life to bring about change for the kingdom....and specifically to bless you. Why? Would the creator care to do this for me or you?

Because He sent His beloved son to die for you to never be separated from you. Because He first loved us (you, and me.)

[Lee Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the premise and do think God talks to people in present day but we don't always notice. A friend who is a former nun told me when you feel compelled to do something and don't know why, that's God talking to you. That's basically SQuire Rushnell's idea. (And, yes, the Q is capitalized.) Where the book goes off-base for me is his examples are almost all good things (new job, new love, etc.) happening to the individual rather than the individual having God's winks making them a force for good in the world. This despite one of the famous quotes he uses being "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."

[Rosanne Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the book as an audio book – While I enjoyed the concept of the connections and winks, the narrator was so over-the-top with this preachy enthusiasm that it made it difficult to process the information. Much of the book sounded like a informercial for God Winks.
I have taught myself to sift through the junk to find the gems in all walks of life, so that is what I did with this book.
There are a lot of good gems of information in this book, but the delivery could use some better tuning.
Most of all, the book is about finding the connections for you own life. This is not a book where you can make connections and meaning for others.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure how this ended up on hold for me, so given the subject, I read it. I'm just not convinced. I believe we are indeed given signs of things that we often miss. This book however really felt like a huge stretch to create coincidence when none existed or only the smallest of link can be found. It's easy when you say the link is the comfort others found in something happening.

Pay attention to your world and your gut--yes. This review is saying, sure this is interesting--go look for links, don't bother with the book.

[Abdullah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book is based on the belief that our presumed inability to explain extraordinary coincidences is an indicator to a higher meaning.
All the coincidences the author mentioned in his book can be explained by the law of large number and statistics.
Our brain is wired to make false assertions and beliefs. We tend to associate meaning to things that are meangingless and consider them to be true.
Carl sagan said: “extraordinary beliefs require extraordinary evidence”. The extraordinary evidence for godwinks is still to be found.

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I totally believe that God provides moments, large and small, that guide us. Sometimes we don’t recognize those moments until much later, but they are there. What I don’t fall into, is the true coincidences- names and birthdates that align, all the numerology points between Lincoln and JFK, etc. Did God use those coincidences to guide us at all? I don’t see it. I’m not skeptical of everything Rushnell says, but...