Special Effects

Forgive my lack of posts lately. Our children's choir Christmas musical was last night and we've been busy!! The kids were incredible as usual. I was very proud of all my fourth graders. They were leaders in every sense of the word.

Today is my Father-in-Law's birthday. I wish we lived close enough to celebrate with them, but Florida is just a little far to hop down for dinner! Hopefully, we'll see them soon and will celebrate then.

I wanted to share something I read this morning that was very calming to my spirit. I jumped around in Proverbs and I kept being brought to passages that deal with the effect of keeping God's word, His commands. Here are just a few that jumped off the page.

Prov. 3:2 says that "they (God's commands) will prolong your life many years and bring prosperity." Then down in verse 13-14 it says, "Blessed is the man(or woman) who finds wisdom, the man (woman) who gains understanding. For she (wisdom/understanding) is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold."

I've said for several years that blessings follow obedience. Often, people who hear that automatically think of material blessings. (money, gifts, new house, better car...) That isn't exactly what I mean. Obviously, if God chooses to bless our obedience with a tangible "thing" He can. I've been on the receiving end of that and it's awesome. BUT, more awesome is when He blesses in other ways. I call them "special effects".

Things I would list as special effects would be:

peace, patience, love, quiet confidence..... you get the idea.

There are few hints in Proverbs 3 about the "special effects" of walking and living in God's Words and commands.

Remember verse 13 tells us that blessed is the man who finds wisdom and gains understanding? Go on down to verse 16 and God starts giving the "effects".

Verse 16 says that long life is in the right hand and riches and honor in the left.
Then in verse 17 He tells us that the way of wisdom and understanding is a pleasant way and has paths of peace.

A pleasant path of peace. That is one effect I want to experience and I long for my girls to experience. Doesn't say an easy path, God never promised easy, but He did promise to be with us. This is what I feel God is saying to me here. As long as I am seeking Him and His ways, He will cover me with peace and make the path pleasant. Even when the scenery all around me doesn't seem that pleasant. It's part of the "special effect". It's choosing to look at each and every situation with holy eyes. It's asking, "God, help me to see this situation like you do, show me what to do and which way to go." Once we do that, God makes all the Hollywood special effects artists look wimpy.

I sure hope this is making sense. I'm typing faster than my brain is working. :)

The last thing that I'll share with you comes from verses 21-24. God says to "preserve sound judgement and discernment, do NOT let them out of your sight!" He then goes on to give us some "effects" of keeping this command. Get ready, they made my stomach flutter!

First verse 22 says they are life for us! Second, as if anything could top that, they will be an ornament to grace your neck. (The finest of all jewelry!) Then on down in verse 23 God says that we will go in safety and our feet will not stumble. I believe this an effect of being on God's pleasant path. Psalms tells us He is our front and rear guard. I think it's safe to say that no matter what is thrown onto our path, when we are on God's path we're protected. May not be easy, but we're safe.

Finally, and this is HUGE to me, verse 24 says: "when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. vs.25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, vs.26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared."

In other words: when I am seeking my God, when I'm earnestly asking Him for wisdom, understanding and discernment He will give it. Along with those things, He gives more! Today, the most precious to me is in verses 23 and 24. Sweet sleep and No fear. Those are some special effects that can only come from God.

This week is extremly busy. Freedom's Call is leading worship at our women's event Tuesday night, and then I'll be singing with a group of people Wed., Thurs. and Frid. night at Christmas on the Corner. I may be out of the loop this week, but will be reading and commenting as I have time. This is why I said "sweet sleep and no fear" were the most precious effects to me! I can't take a step without Him, much less do the things He's asked me to do this week!

Have a wonderful week!