God-Bumps & God-Incidences
Some people call these moments “coincidences”:
When the friend calls you with impeccable timing.
When the preacher in the pulpit talks straight to your heart.
When they’re playing your song.
When your prayer is answered.
Or the lost is found.
Or the miracle happens.
But what if our coincidences were actually God-incidences? What if we discovered anew that life is sprinkled with holy happenings? What if we found that the extraordinary miracles of this life were cradled in the ordinary moments? What if we stretched our eyes and our hearts to find that yes, an unseen God is at work in the seen and unseen things?
In the sun that rises.
In the familiar hymn, stirring something new within you.
In the breath you just took.
This is the spirit behind our new weekly writing community here at Getting Down With Jesus. Welcome to God-Bumps & God-Incidences.
Every Wednesday, I invite you to write in community about the God-Things that make you go, “Hmmm…”
We’ll gather here each Wednesday, exploring the coincidences God-incidences of this life. We’ll also share about those life-moments that produce goosebumps God-Bumps. You know the feeling? It’s when the Holy Spirit swoops in and — with a song or a Bible verse or a kind word from a stranger — we sense His presence. You might say to your friend: “Oooo … that gave me goosebumps.” Around here, we like to call them God-Bumps. 🙂
I’m thrilled to invite you to explore with me those life moments that are thick with God’s presence. Let’s collectively open our soul-eyes to see the God-incidences unfolding, and the “God-bumps” growing.
So, now it’s your turn. Come sit at the table. Share your story.
It can be a story of a God-incidence — how God ordered events in a way that only He could do. It can be a snippet of life — a word-portrait, a pretty scene that you captured through your camera lens, a Bible verse that jumped fresh off the page, a story about a chance encounter that changed things.
Some weeks, I will offer specific writing prompts for you, provided in advance. But this week, write in any way that you think fits. No story is too unimportant. It’s all good. Because it’s all God.
My prayer is that we would awaken more fully to see God at work in every thing, even the little thing.
I pray that our minds would see what our souls already know: That for every seen thing of beauty, it first passed through the hands of an unseen Creator. I pray that even in a world polluted by pain, we can encounter the Prince of Peace.
We’d love to hear your story — any way you want to tell it. Then come back here, grab a button by clicking the button page here, attach it to your post, and enter the direct URL to your post in the linky below.
If you aren’t a blogger, feel free to share your God-story in the comment box or in a Facebook status.
{I can’t wait to hear your stories. Oh my! I have God-Bumps already!}
Blog button code found here …
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I kind of have God-Bumps over your timing on the launch of this new community. I had just published a post about a “little” thing that just WASN’T a coincidence. It was a big thing for me on a night when my faith felt weak, and I feel privileged to share it here. Congratulations on your new community–I’m excited to see what God will do in our midst!!
How cool, Shaunie. I was so excited to see you here. Your posts are routinely full of God-Bump material. 🙂 Thank you for being the first one through the door of this little soiree. It’s officially a par-tay!!!!
I get those bumps whenever I see someone smiling unexpectedly. I just gravitate toward those with laugh lines and easy faces.
There’s this 89-year-old woman at our church — never married, lives life more simply than anyone else I know and she is always, always smiling with an easy face like that. God-Bumps, for sure.
Ahh, the party has started. Tell David to get the lampshade off his head. 😉
What’s that you said, Lyla? I can’t hear you over Depeche Mode. (What’s a party without some 80s music?)
😉
Thanks for popping your head in the door.
I kinda like David’s lampshade. 🙂
Thanks for this, Jennifer!
I’ve got another lampshade in the den, Sheila. Shall I get it for you? 😉
If Nancy Franson comes over today, I’ll ask her to bring her boas.
Oh wow…so many in a day…to narrow it down into a coherent post…that’s a challenge! Will see what rises to the surface…
Oh, I’d be delighted to read your story, Connie. Thank you for stopping by this morning. Have a blessed, God-Bumpy-type day. 🙂
I love this idea! Can’t wait to read the stories here.
I’m thrilled that you’ve linked up. 🙂
Sitting here at my kitchen table reading this post, I’m thinking about my son’s basketball game the other night. As Brad and I cheered, we realized what a generous player the star of the team is, not a ball hog or glory hound at all even though he could be. Then we watched my son, a bench warmer (who only see brief moments of playing time when there’s a huge point spread) and saw the same unselfish spirit in him. Needless to say we were proud.
So, when I mosied on over here and read what you’re doing, it struck me how unselfish you are with your blog and your writing. You could keep this space for yourself and your own ideas and not invite others in to share. But you generously open your cyber home. Even though you’re a clear “starter”, you invite a bench warmer like me to play. Thank you.
And I realize that’s not exactly what you were looking for, but I just had to say it.
p.s. I love Depeche Mode. of course. 🙂
I think the invitation is not only a good idea it’s a God-Idea. All around us,His band plays, the party goes on, but unless we are invited we walk by, unnoticed, afraid to step in.
Yay, Jennifer — whoot, whoot! What a great idea for a community! I don’t know if my topic today fits exactly — it’s more a God nudge — but I just couldn’t help myself. I wanted to join in and help get the party started!
Love you, girl!
Mine’s not enough to link a post, but right after I read this, I got an email from my Dad. It said simply
Psalm 46:10
“Be STILL and know that I AM GOD”.
I guess my Earthly father knew what I needed to hear from my Heavenly Father, hmm?
Rebecca,
This is perfect. Thank you for dropping your “God-incidence” right here in the comment box.
You’re doubly blessed, with two dads who love you. 🙂
Still am struck by your Thanksgiving story and the generosity of those two girls that are yours. I am travelling in England this week with my husband seeing things from a different perspective. Thought I would link up with today’s post. Thanks so much, I feel privileged to join you!
Shelly — I’m so glad you did. Your photos were stunning!
Thank you for your kind words about my girls. It’s been really special to watch God work in and through them. No vessel is too small for the Holy Spirit.
Glad you’ve come by again. It’s really nice to get to know you through your words and pictures.
I seem to always be the one who comes late to the party…so I’ll have to wait until next Wednesday to link in, Jennifer, but I LOVE the theme. And I’ll say this, several of my closest friends know that I’ve been in much pain recently. Humbling pain. Hosted Thanksgiving at my home, but had to ask my sil to make the gravy because I was in too much pain to stand. My husband has had to wash my feet, and help me so that I can eat. I’ll say it again – humbling. I try to hide my pain, but Sunday I could barely walk. Earlier this evening I got in the shower and realized that I was suddenly much better…and my very first thought was “someone has been praying for me.” There’s no other explanation. =)
That. Is. DIVINE.
Thank you for sharing your story Patricia. I’m praying for you today, joining that chorus of friends asking God to lift the pain.
((HUGS))
Jennifer! I”m just now discovering our new community. I”m hopelessly behind on everything. Everything. But I’m so glad I dropped in here tonight. I can’t wait to play along. Love. This.
Hi Laura! Thanks for coming to the party. 🙂
Well, honestly, I decided on a whim to start this new community on the day that I posted. I’m usually not so spontaneous, but I couldn’t resist.
Kelly made these pretty buttons for the linky. I had intended to wait a week or two, so I could announce the community in advance here at GDWJ. But on a whim, I just started the party early!
My husband accuses me of doing the same thing when I buy a new shirt or a pair of jeans. I can never wait to wear them. In fact, sometimes I wear them out of the store! (I do pay first, of course.) 🙂
Oh, Wow! You and I are kindred spirits in this idea!
I teach memoir and encourage people to look back, recognize, and then write about what you said, “But what if our coincidences were actually God-incidences? What if we discovered anew that life is sprinkled with holy happenings? What if we found that the extraordinary miracles of this life were cradled in the ordinary moments? What if we stretched our eyes and our hearts to find that yes, an unseen God is at work in the seen and unseen things?”
I’d like to use excerpts from your post on my blog to invite others to participate in your project, but I think I’ll wait until after Christmas, when people have more time–people are very distracted this month with Christmas activities.
THANK YOU for this inspiration!
Linda
Yes, I know it is not Wednesday but I hope you don’t mind a little Thursday link up! Sounds like a fun lamp shade party, you have going on!
Yes. I LOVE. So fun to be a part of this!
You know, this is a really good idea. Thanks for pushing us, Jennifer. Love the theme.
Every time I see a beautiful sunset, or the moon and stars in the night sky, I get this “tugging” on my heart… God Bumps?