CrossOver

About slightly more than a week ago, our cell went for a retreat up at Penang.
It was also in conjunction with the launching of our new cell name...

This is a devotion guide prepared for the cell for Saturday morning.
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Crossing Jordan: Getting our feet wet…moving forward in faith

BIBLE READING: JOSHUA 3:1-17; 4:1-7

In these passages, we see a miracle happen as the Israelites begin their conquest of Canaan. The LORD told Joshua that he should go among the people, telling them to move and make camp on the banks of the Jordan river. When they see the Ark of the Covenant pass by, they are to follow behind it at a distance of about half a mile. When the priests reached the bank of the river and stepped in, the water went upstream and bed became dry ground for the people of Israel to cross under. The ground remained dry as long as the Ark remained in the river bed. In the midst of crossing Jordan, the Lord commanded His people to take 12 stones, carry them over to the other end symbolising the memorial of their victorious journey to their children.

Notice that as they made ready for the crossing, it was necessary for them to have a reminder of God's presence and promises to look toward. They needed something to occupy their thoughts (v3) as they crossed over into a new land. If not:

• Some might fix their sight upon the past looking back at the time of Egypt where they felt familiar with and want to remain right where they were.
• Others might fix their eyes upon the river and be afraid to cross over.
• Still others might look at the unknown land upon the other side and because of fear, turn back.

I believe that through this journey called life, many of us may tend to look back and remain in our “Egypts” because it feels familiar and there is a certain amount of ‘security’ in the past, we know what has happened and we can cope with it. Fear grips our hearts and we are afraid of what might happen in the future, and we determine to live in the past. When we see the “Jordans” in front of us, fear and impossibility starts to take over and pollute our sight!!

However, when we fix our eyes on God, just as how the Israelites kept their eyes on the Ark of the Covenant, we are ABLE to CROSSOVER to the other side, claiming our victories, conquering our giants in boldness and courage because we know that God never forsaken us!

I believe as a child of God, we surely had some “Crossing Jordans” experiences throughout our walk with Him. Just like how God has called the Israelites to lay the 12 stones as a memorial of their victorious journey, let’s do these activities together to reflect upon our journey thus far:

1. What were the “Egypt”(s) that you had to leave behind?
2. What were the “Jordan”(s) that you had to face? How did you “cross” it?
3. In all the above, how did God play a role in helping you leave your Egypt(s) or cross your Jordan(s)?
4. Are there any “Egypt”(s) in your life at this moment that you are struggling to leave behind?

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We had to do a "lifeline" to reflect upon our life journey, marking down the various "Egypts" and "Jordans" we faced in our lifetime.

My lifeline...

Often times we get so busy that we don't take time to pause and reflect, doing this lifeline really helped a lot as I had to intentionally recall the significant seasons in my life. The points when I was at my lowest and highest, spiritually, emotionally, physically.

There is nothing more important in times of transition, closure or upheaval than to reflect on God’s faithfulness to us in the past. Sure, a lot has changed. I've had some “mountain-top experiences” and crossed several Jordans.... Also hearing a calling of some kind somewhere along way when things I thought was meant to be were interjected. That's when some "Egypt experiences" arose and it was just so so so hard to get out of it. These were the seasons when I was really so lost in my wilderness. Seasons and cycles in life changes and arrows are pointing at different directions. However, I do know that the Lord of the Universe, the Hope of the World, the Ordainer of History isn’t changing. He’s still the same steadfast, loving Lord.

“I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. . . . Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty~Malachi 3:6–7

As I look back and reflect upon God's faithfulness to me, He is always walking along side with me and showing me the way. I'm thankful. I remember His memorial stones. There's so much to share and tell even to those who need to hear how good God is.

Prepared some personal "memorial stones" together with my Cell Leader, May Lee for the cellies in the car together on the way to Penang, while Gavin drove us.... heh heh.

A new season has just begun... no turning back, no turning back.....
CrossOver!!
We are more than a conqueror!