up for a story?
my good friend Shelby and I used to (and sometimes, still do) play a game we like to call
the Bible game. <- must be read with a narrator voice inflection
the rules of the game are as follows:
FOR 2 PLAYERS | AGES 17-ADULT
Player One holds a Bible in his/her hands. Player Two thinks of a question or great issue weighing on their heart. When Player Two is ready, he/she will give a signal to Player One. Player One will then flip to a random page in the Bible and point to a COMPLETELY random verse. The verse that is pointed to MUST be the verse read aloud. Player Two must then ponder whether or not the verse read speaks to the issue or question on his/her heart. If there is no connection, swap positions. If there is a connection between the verse and heart issue, still swap positions, but do so only after recording the entire connection/heart issue in leather bound journal.
THIS GAME NOT SOLD IN STORES.
I can remember one time, while playing this game and of course being 18... I asked the Lord who I would marry. Whatever verse Shelby pointed to that day, it had a name in it. Shimei. When she read the name aloud, I looked at it myself and being the strange homeschooler who can remember everything... I took a picture of it in my mind and told myself to never forget it.
I did though, well sort of. A week or so I ago, I was trying to remember the whole name. I could remember that it started with an "Sh" but that's pretty much it.
Two days ago, the name showed up in my Daily Light and I knew it the moment I saw it.
I am a big believer that name are prophetic. Don't freak out you baptist folk. I just believe that with the LIVING HOLY SPIRIT inside of us (believers) the words we speak mean something. We have life inside of us. When you speak something over someone everyday of their lives, over and over again, you are continuing to speak that into them.
In some translations, Blair means field of battle.
for anyone who knows me.... things are starting to make sense right about now. eh?
So naturally, I looked up what Shimei meant two days ago, because I OBVIOUSLY didn't marry someone with that name. Would you like to know what it means?
Shimei - to hear, listen, and obey
look it up for yourself.
[I have to say something here. I don't believe that the Bible game is always going to be right on target. That's why Shelby and I have always called it that - a game. But I do believe in the Word of God and I believe that it does NOT return void. If God so chooses to speak to us through it, so be it. Regardless, the Word of God comforts and brings peace to anxiety.]
I found it interesting upon this discovery that this was the meaning of a name I have been aware of and sensitive to for 5+ years now. I'll tell you why.
As much as Garrett Day is "brave" and full of "hope" (Garrett-"brave", Day-"hope), he is a man who hears God, listens to Him and then obeys Him. I have come to be more aware of this within the last 4 months although I have known it for many years. I can still see a photograph I took in my mind of him when we were 15-16 years old. He had come to visit with his family and we were at the same church event. I remember sitting along the wall at the back of the room watching him worship. I remember the moment he got down on his knees and worshiped on his face. I remember the recognition of a heart that was devoted to Jesus Christ.
Now, I live with that heart. I experience it everyday. I have a man whose desire is to obey his Lord. I am grateful.
So even if the Bible game really is just a game, my dear husband has two names to me.
One of them, Shimei.
T H E E N D.
happy 25th birthday my love.
so glad I waited on you.
