Open, so God can Fill

Yesterday morning I opened my new bedroom door to find this:

Streamers and flowers and celebratory posters filling my new home, graciously placed there by my new roommate Sara.

It was a symbol of the day to come.

Soon after, I opened my door to these lovely ladies

bringing me goodies,

bringing me themselves.

My home was filled,

and so were our hearts.

There is a Psalm that says 

For it was I, the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.

There is ample evidence that opening my mouth is not a problem (see above if you missed it...), but the question I have been faced with recently is:

Are you willing to open your home, your heart, your life?

And the answer I have stepped out in faith to say is:
"You are the Lord my God.  You have brought me out of my Egypt. So, yes.  I trust you to fill my home, my heart, my life--my mouth--with good things.  I trust you so completely that I will open them in expectation." 

That would be why I re-traced my steps in the latter part of my celebratory day, back to Harrisburg, back to friends old and dear who have walked through some of that Egypt with me--back to friends who are proof that God redeems even the years that appear to be built of darkness and oppression.

First, there was Marina, who shares my birthday and who made for us a delectable dinner.

Then, we headed over to Amanda's,

where many giggles ensued,

and where there were more goodies to fill my wide open mouth,

my wide open heart.  

A birthday marks the end of one year, the beginning of the next.

This particular birthday--in my new home and in my old home, with new friends and old friends--marks the end of Egypt still full of its redemption:

My mouth is open wide.

I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.  I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good.  I will praise you in the presence of your saints. 

[Psalm 52:8-9]