The April Effect

As most of my regular readers know, my wife April is now here with me in America as her immigration visa finally arrived. In the past three weeks, she has been here, not only have I introduced her to life in America, and our foods, but also our conveniences. It has been an enjoyable experience for me.

One such highlight was when we went through an automatic car wash. You have thought we were at Disneyland and it was a ride. Like “Mr. Toad’s Moving Lilly Pad”, or something. She smiled, she laughed, and squealed through each phase of the process. Evidently they don’t have them in the Philippines, or she had never seen one before.

But an even greater experience, for me at least, has been watching how my friends, and family members have reacted to her. I have taken notice how easily they open up, and start sharing with her. They warm up to her quickly and seem to feel comfortable around her, as if she was their “comfy” clothes they wear when at home. One friend even said to her, “I feel as if I have known you all my life!” Of course I smile with adoration when I witness this phenomenon.

Yesterday though I started thinking more about why this was the case. It didn’t take long for me to figure out. Okay, to be honest, I probably got a download from the Holy Spirit whispered into my mind. God, is love. (1 John 4:8) And my wife, April is a child of God. She loves him very much and has taken on his character of loving people. So whether people realize it or not they are responding, or reacting to the love of God in my wife’s heart.

I believe with strong passion that from the time a baby is born, the spirit man inside that child starts on a journey to be reunited with God. So when a person enters their world, the spirit inside of them recognizes the Spirit of God inside the person who just entered, and they connect with the person easily.

This “effect” begs the question, shouldn’t all, who have a good relationship with God, seek and desire more of him and his love? So when we are out and about in the world people will open up to us sooner, and easier and begin to have serious conversations that can eventually lead to God and potentially lead them to God? Of course, the answer is, “Yes”. What hinders this to happen is us. We get in the way of God with our “rights” and our own “understanding” and “values”. Ones that should be disregarded perhaps, or lined up to confirm to God’s “values”, and truths.

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you,but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.” Rom. 12:2 (TPT)

So, in conclusion, “The April Effect” isn’t really her, but what is happening when people encounter her is “The God Effect”. May we all grow, in our hearts, an enormous amount of the love of God that it effects people. It moves them closer to him then where they were before we entered their world.