Dear squad,
Ive sat with these words and thought through them for a few weeks now. Im confident that it’s from the Lord on two parts. 1-being for me personally in preparing to be united with you guys. In preparing to live life so differantly; in giving up everything. 2-being you all. I think its something encouraging for us all. The Lord is and will continue to ask us to give up things and allow our hearts be known by many. Thus allowing the Lord be known…so here goes:
Isaiah 54: 1-10
“Sing, O barren one who did not hear; Burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children that is married, says the Lord.
Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns.
Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
For the Lord has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man’s youth when she is cast off, says your God.
For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion i will gather you. In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love i will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.
This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so i have sworn that i will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be moved, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Squad bear with me…the Message version really hits what the Lord wants to convey:
“Make your tents large. Spread out! Think Big!, Use plenty of Rope, drive the tent pegs deep. You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your GROWING FAMILY. You’re going to take over WHOLE NATIONS;You’re going to resettle abandoned cities. Don’t be afraid–You’re not going to be embarrassed. DON’T HOLD BACK–you’re not going to come up short….It’s with lasting love that im TENDERLY caring for you.”
***So yeah, life is going to get crazy! I think God is calling us into our shoes, if you will. He wants us to own who we are and what he’s given us, be it gifts, people (family, eachother etc.), or words or dreams. I know we all bring something that is God-given to the squad and being together is gonna be so amazing. Its gonna be life-changing; radical. We will never be the same. So i pray we continue to seek wisdom; that we continue to allow God to plow the fields of our hearts. That we walk in righteousness…clothed sons and daughters. we will need eachother and i pray the Lord continues to prepare our hearts. Honestly, i barely know you guys but I love you…each one of you.
Be blessed and encouraged my friends…my family.
nikki
