FULL CIRCLE

During a women's ministry meeting earlier this morning held in Ocean City [NJ] I was blessed to hear what God was speaking to me through each and every person that shared a word. On my drive over to OC I passed the "CIRCLE" sign just before entering the causeway to OC [those of us who live in NJ know what a traffic circle is - and hopefully how to enter and exit one]. When I saw the sign the LORD spoke the words FULL CIRCLE to my heart. So I asked Him - why OC? What's here? I have no real connections here. Show me why, LORD!

Not only did God answer clearly but through several who actually used the words "Full Circle". Later the speaker said to me, "Yes, remember about our Gilgal [referring to a Bible study we had done together] - the part of the promised land that meant full circle?" She smiled brightly!

Then, on my way out of the city I saw the sign once more and it dawned on me that I was saved in Ocean City over 38 years ago. That is the very place I came to know Christ as my personal Savior - just down the street and around the block from where I was this morning. A complete Full Circle for me! I think the LORD has fun with me because sometimes it takes me longer [than most] to 'get it' - !!! I get surprised more often that way!!! Praise God for His surprises.

Have you come full circle with the LORD? Are you living in your own Gilgal? [Your own earthly "Promised Land" - right in the center of God's will?] If not - what is stopping you? What do you need to do to get back on track? God didn't move and His path still remains the same.

Deuteronomy 11 (selected)

8 Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 9 and so that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your forefathers to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.

29 When the LORD your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. 30 As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, west of the road, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. 31 You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, 32 be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.

Joshua 4 (selected)

19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones [as memorials] they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' 22 tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' 23 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."

Joshua 5 (selected)

A Cutting of the Heart

9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.
10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan. [all emphasis mine]

The Israelites had come to Gilgal. God had rolled away the reproach for all their past sins and they had come FULL CIRCLE into the Land Promised by God to their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - and that day they ate of it's fruitful produce. Only by the Hand of our God!

What impossible circumstance has God called you to "cross over"? Will you take possession of the land? Have you come full circle - to your Gilgal?

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led by the Shepherd]