Isaiah 54: 2-6
2 Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes,
3 For you will spread abroad to the right hand and to the left; and your offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4 Fear not, for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded and depressed, for you shall not be put to shame. For you shall forget the shame of your youth, and you shall not [seriously] remember the reproach of your widowhood any more.
5 For your Maker is your Husband—the Lord of hosts is His name—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called.
6 For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken, grieved in spirit, and heartsore—even a wife [wooed and won] in youth, when she is [later] refused and scorned, says your God.
Over the past month and a half God has been stretching me. At the beginning of this school I received several prophetic words about the season I was walking into. Specifically reverencing Isaiah 54. God wanted to stretch me to a new capacity. He wanted to broaden my horizon. If only I had known it would be so painful.
I have been stretched this season, to say the least.
Graduation for the Hravest School 20 students has long passed and my heart has been only that I finish well giving God all the glory for the amazing work He has done not only in my life, but especially the lives of all the students in this school.
My trust and faith, my theologies and belief systems, my relationships, even within the government have all been under the fire this Harvest school. God was holding nothing back. I guess this was one of those be careful what you pray for lessons.
In order to respect the privacy of other people involved I can not go into detail of what this school has entailed, therefore, making this blog post some what vague, but God knew this season was so pivotal for me. I have learned so much more about myself and the weighty significance of real oil of intimacy you can only get from pure alone time with our beloved Jesus.
Julie Meyers from IHOP ( International House of Prayer, Kansas city, Missouri) was here in Mozambique the last week of Harvest school. An example she gave of her two sons in class one day spoke to me so much.
One of her sons was pouring milk and another one was holding the cup. The son holding the cup was constantly moving it around as to make it difficult for the son pouring the milk to actually get any milk into the cup. The son with the cup was moving so much so that only a few drops were landing in the cup. Julie talked about how God, even though she was so frustrated with her two sons making a mess, spoke to her in that moment. The Lord was giving her a physical picture of how we as Christians are sometimes moving around so much and never stopping long enough to actually get filled up. To actually let the Lord pour out the gifts and intimacy He has for us each day. Even still the lord is so sweet and in those few drops we get here and there he lavishes His presence on us. But think, how much more of Him we could get if we would stop just being satisfied with just the drops! It is all about Hunger!
I am really hungry for more of God. I had been crying out for more and more of Him and I am so thankful for this difficult school cause it really has given me an opportunity to grow in my faith and trust in Him. I never want to stop growing I always want to have learned something no matter how big or small.
This season I have seen so much of God's goodness. I can't believe we have gradutated 350 students and I have completed my 3rd Harvest School as staff.
After school is over I will no longer be co-leading the Jordan outreach. I am sad, but God knew what I needed and what was best for me. So I will be heading to Israel on August 11th to meet up with Nathan ( my Man-friend for those of you who dont know) to take some time to rest as well as do ministry with some friends there. Then I head back to Johannesburg, South Africa on the 29th of August to wait until Harvest School 21 takes off. Thats right. I am going into school number 4. God willing.
One of my amazing and beautiful daughters in my house joyfully blessed me with all my flights from Pemba to Israel and back to Johannesburg. Taking me one step closer to a new season. I couldn't have been more undone by this jester. There are no words to express the goodness of God in that act.
Having family here in this school has definitely had its down sides, but has that much more had its upsides. I don't think I would have made it through this school in one piece had it not been for family. Signifying that much more the importance of family to me and the ministry I know God is calling me into. I want to create family around me no matter where I am. I truly believe the Heart of God rests in real family atmospheres. No performance, but raw real family. Embracing each person for who He created them to be and calling them higher than worldly standards with intentional and loving communication.
God is real my friends. He walks among us everyday. I see Him in my House 9 daughters as they prophecy and proclaim destiny into one another. I see Him in the little african mama selling bananas outside our gate. I see Him in the mozambican evangelism team who every weekend are excited go out into the bush and see their people know the love of Jesus like they do. I feel Him when I am exhausted and want to scream He never leaves my side.
I am so honored by the life I get to live. That I was chosen for this generation. My life is of no significance in the big picture, yet the Creator of the world chose me for such a time as this.
Thank you to those who have been so faithful In supporting me. Whether it be financial or spiritual! It is a huge blessing for me and the yes cry of my heart! To be able to go knowing I have family in Christ backing me up in the movement of the Holy Spirit. I pray the Lord pours out 10 times the blessings upon you and your lives.
This next season is going to be a really exciting one. I have been given so many opportunities for the new year and I can not wait to share them with you all. So please be praying for my decision making and to have lots of wisdom. More and more God is pouring out the desires of my heart! It is all so exciting!
More details to come. Please feel free to email me or contact me whatever way is best for you if you have questions or would like to be involved in covering me.
Much Love,
Rachael Michelle Singleton
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