Gilgal.

Gilgal.

Gilgal means circle.

According to Beth Moore, "gilgal was a word that was used to describe a place where God brought the Israelites full circle and broke the old cycle. At Gilgal God cut away the sign of their unbelief, and they wore the mark of their new beginning. Often a wounding precedes our full reception of God's promises, but healing always follows."

The following seems to be a long post, but the ending is worth the wait, I promise.

Several things in my life have come full circle recently.

First, I was able to participate this week in offering up advice on how to reach out to newly grieving moms and families for a new branch of the MomsBloom organization, which I currently volunteer for.

Presently, it is an organization that sends out volunteers into the homes of families that have requested help adjusting to the new life of caring for a newborn.

MomsBloom wants to extend the services they offer, and also reach out to families who may be adjusting to a new life without their newborn. The organization wants to offer services for families grieving the loss of their baby due to miscarriage, still birth, or perinatal death. And, they asked for my input. I was honored to have been given the opportunity to use the experiences of my grief to help families who have found themselves in similar situations.

Secondly, I volunteered at a homeless shelter last night.

It has been recommended that those who plan on going overseas for missions, also reach out to those in need right here in their own hometown before the big trip to Guatemala.

The experience last night has left me more blessed, more on fire for God, than when I first signed up for Guatemala. I love those people.

Some of the guests last night had more manners than the perfectly healthy, well to do, fortunate patients that walk up to my desk everyday. Children of God who have no home, no job, and what society would tell them: no hope, had more manners and more joy than those more fortunate than they.

And, I loved every minute of serving them dinner.



How have parts of my life come full circle, you ask?

Well, allow me to explain.

You are reading the writing of a woman who was held back a year from starting pre-school because she was too shy.

You are reading the writing of a woman who now goes into the homes of strangers and shows them love. One who has found a desire and fulfillment in reaching out to strangers.

You are reading the writing of a woman who once was pregnant. Once was holding her living, breathing, cooing baby, but now visits his grave instead.

You are reading the writing of a woman who is now able to overcome the debilitating grief and help others instead of feeling sorry for herself.

Glory to God.

He is so good.

"...gilgal was a word that was used to describe a place where God brought the Israelites full circle and broke the old cycle. At Gilgal God cut away the sign of their unbelief, and they wore the mark of their new beginning. Often a wounding precedes our full reception of God's promises, but healing always follows."

What personal Gilgal has God brought you to?

"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."

Joshua 5:9

"The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you"

Judges 2:1