I love how God reveals Himself to us in so many ways, sometimes through the littlest things…
Today I went to a bridal shower for a friend who’s getting married in July. It was really fun, seeing people I hadn’t seen in forever and playing catch-up with Sophia, a close friend who’s leaving for the Peace Corps in August. In typical girly fashion, we played a game of “How Well Do You Know the Bride?”. Surprisingly I know more about Caitlin than expected and actually got second place (her mom got first, of course).
The hosts grabbed our prizes and just handed one to each of us. Her mom opened hers first: a set of glass bottles to put around the house. I assumed I had the same thing in my bag and honestly felt weird about opening a gift at someone else’s shower, so I set the bag on the ground next to me. But there was something sticking out of it; definately not bottles. So I push away the pink tissue paper and lift out a sign. It’s a pretty wall sign, like one you’d buy at Target or Bed, Bath, and Beyond maybe. At first I saw the word “HOME” and thought “wow that’s ironic”. I laughed to myself about the fact that not only am I moving out of my house very soon to travel the world, but also because my mom sold our house back home this week: so technically at the moment I am homeless. Funny stuff, God. I was about to put it back in the bag without reading the phrase on it, figuring it was something typical like “Home sweet home”. But then the word “Lord” caught my eye. I read the verse on the plaque…“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”
WHAT?!?!?!?!? NO WAY!!! I quickly reread the 11 words that had gained enormous significance since the days of training camp. GOD YOU ARE SO AWESOME! I busted up laughing and tried to explain to everyone what just happened. Halfway falling out of my seat, trying to find the words to explain it to them in the simplest way, I just blurted out something like “Oh my gosh. You guys I just got back from training camp and this was like, whoa, like one of our theme verses! I’d never even heard it before camp! Joshua 24:15! And now it’s on here! This is crazy! Ahhhh!!!!” While silently questioning my sanity, they all politely acknowledged my excitement and went back to talking about somebody’s vacation. I wanted to scream “No SERIOUSLY you guys this is from GOD!” My mouth just hung open for a second. A grin spread wide across my face and I was filled to the brim with joy in that moment. It was like a little inside joke between me and my Father.
The more I think about it, the more I see Him speaking to me through this little event on a random Sunday afternoon. All the unrest I’d been feeling about my mom selling our house has been dissolved: the Lord is my house, my shelter, my comfort, my home. Everything I do, everything I am, was designed to serve Him. He reminded me today that He is in EVERYTHING and is by my side, holding my hand every step of this crazy journey.
