"Connecting the Dots of Your Purpose" - Joey LeTourneau

"Connecting the Dots of Your Purpose"

Joey LeTourneau, Redding, CA

The Elijah List

"I know the plans I have for you..." Jeremiah 29:11

Growing up, for my 16th birthday, my parents asked if they could give me a "Father's Blessing" for my birthday. I was reluctant while imagining the other things a 16th birthday could bring, but I ended up receiving a gift that has altered my life, family and purpose forever.

One particular line my dad spoke over me really stands out: "I hope you never believe that just because you're not like me in every area of life that I think you're a lesser person; that's a common belief among sons of type-A dads. In fact, I believe the very best hope for the LeTourneau name lies in the very ways that you are different from me."

What a revolutionary statement! As people, and Christians, we can struggle not to judge others or expect them to conform to our ways. We often condemn differences that are actually a big part of God's creative design. We often want people to recognize our way of doing things as the "right way."

But here, in a father-son relationship where such conforming expectations can often be at the greatest heights, my dad was actually blessing my differences, recognizing—and helping me recognize—that it was those very differences in my life that were not like him that would probably make the biggest difference in the world. I tend to think our Heavenly Father sees much the same way. (Photo via flickr)

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all." 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

You are going to reach people that I will never reach. You have gifts I can't dream of. You are called to different places, through different ways that I am not. And that's a beautiful thing! 

But those intentional differences crafted straight from the Father's heart are also why we often struggle to live out our purpose—because it's different than the person on our right, or our left. We too often compare and end up hiding the very light that is supposed to rise up and shine from within us!

Identifiers to Help "Connect the Dots"

Here is a stepping-stone like path of identifiers that can help you recognize different, important parts of your life and how they may fit with other pieces God has given you. 

These areas of our lives can look like a big, scattered "connect the dots" puzzle as we try and decide which one to pursue. But start to connect the dots and you just might see the picture He is trying to show the world through you! (Photo via pixabay)

Dream: What do you want to give the world, in a big picture sense? Do you want to give hope? Second chances? Education? Resources? What about new ideas and inventions?

Compassion: Who or what does your heart naturally break for? It might be a cause or subject that always wrenches your heart when you see it in a movie or story. It might be something you or someone close to you has passed through. Is your compassion for orphans or widows? The poor or oppressed? Perhaps broken families, or maybe for those impacted by slavery/trafficking? Your heart has probably already been talking with God about your compassion fairly frequently, we just have to slow down to recognize and identify that it just might be Him speaking to us.

Passion: What subjects do you enjoy? What talents or gifts has God given you? Is it art or music? Sports? Media or technology? Maybe business, government or education? When you combine your compassion with your passion, you can begin to see a new way you might be able to reach out to those you have compassion for.

Purpose: How are you going to make an impact? Will you open a facility or start a business? You could teach, coach, or mentor others in a formal or informal way. Might you write or speak, or maybe travel to encourage or deliver resources? You might simply become a professional in your field. And there are so many other ways.

Nations: This part is pretty self-explanatory. Where? What nation, community, culture or neighborhood grabs your heart? Is it your nation/neighborhood? Is it an Asian nation or an African nation? Perhaps it is a European nation or somewhere else. There are so many possibilities and yours is important.

So imagine you start to connect those dots: What if you wanted to give New ideas and inventions to those who are poor, using your passion for business to open a facility in an urban area. Or, what if you wanted to give hope to victims of trafficking in an Asian nation using art as a method of reviving their spirits. (Photo via pixabay)

First Steps

The truth is we aren't just called to dream big dreams; we must have the courage to persevere and live them out. This all starts with taking a first step into what may start out as unknown territory.

Our impact rarely comes from trying to live out some great thing, or build a great ministry. I believe it starts in a very simple way when we stop looking at what we do not have in our hands, and start to look at the pieces of His heart that He has put into ours. 

Great faith lived out is often little more than great obedience in the presence of difficulty, opposition or the unknown. Our obedience starts simply by taking those first steps with Him into the "Yes."

Our first steps might be to write out a goal or plan. Maybe start to research more about your compassion. You could even take a vision trip to visit the people or place you are called to—not necessarily to do anything yet—just to ask the Lord what He is doing and how He is calling you to join Him. (Photo via flickr)

Each dot in your life might not bring much clarity on its own, but together they represent something awesome! Whether it's a nation you are drawn to or a compassion that makes your heart well up with hurt and hope at the very same time. 

To truly live your purpose don't simply look for the road that goes towards one of these dots as a destination in your life, but get childlike before God and play a good ol' fashion game of connect the dots with your Father. See the picture He has already painted within you, the picture He is trying to reveal through you to the world!

"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you." Isaiah 60:1

Joey LeTourneau
Imagi-Nations LLC

Email: joey.letourneau@gmail.com
Website: goimaginations.com

Joey LeTourneau, along with his wife Destiny and their five kids, live in Redding, California, and work across the nations to see the Father's heart revealed, and want to see God's children empowered to live out every purpose they've been created for–that no purpose would fall to the ground. Joey has authored six books and recently created a revolutionary new board game that helps people dream into their potential purpose–especially for youth around the world. Together, he and his wife founded Imagi-Nations LLC, a movement to "Imagine nations changed because you lived your purpose and dream."

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Anti-Christian Zionism Movement Continues to deceive.....political deception disguised as "Christian love and compassion"

Cathy Hargett

highwaytozion@aol.com

Shalom, Shalom, Lovers and Worshipers of the God of Israel!
Once again I am compelled to proclaim this warning and to encourage those of you who stand on the Word of the Lord for Zion's sake, to not be silent!

Many of you are aware of the modern movement in the so-called "Christian Evangelical" camp against Christian Zionism and against Israel.  It is a highly political onslaught appearing as a "love the oppressed" (the Palestinians) and "destroy the oppressor" (Israel and her friends) message. 

When this movement hit me very close to home in the very church I had attended for 16 years, the wake-up call for me was not subtle.  I was appalled, sickened by the fact that the international missions pastor and his son were influencing our church members to take a stand against Israel and Christian Zionism.  The son later produced a film aimed strategically, and without apology, against Christian Zionism.  The film is called "With God on Our Side". 

There are many "evangelicals" who have taken up this mantle of anti-Christian Zionism, anti-Israel, people like Bill Hybels, Tony Campolo, Gary Burge and Steven Sizer.  Watch for it in charismatic and pentecostal circles, too.  

There is also a focused effort to put this anti-Israel doctrine into college campuses and to persuade those in the "millenial generation" (18 to 30 year olds) who are ripe for a "cause".  It is a truly sinister, endtime attempt to deceive the people of God concerning the foundational truth of God's Word and His choice of Israel by creating confusion aimed at getting the focus off of His choice and onto another subject entirely - namely their political activism.  
Here are a few excerpts from an article that recently appeared in MIDDLE EAST NEWS:
A mere decade ago, Christian Zionism was seen as an emerging force in American politics. As if out of nowhere, a block of fifty to one hundred million friends of Israel were poised to enter the national debate and safeguard the U.S.-Israel relationship for generations to come. Evangelical love for Israel appeared so solid that the only debate within the Jewish community was whether or not to "accept" it..........

This situation is changing dramatically. With every passing month, more evidence is emerging that these anti-Israel Christians are succeeding in reaching beyond the evangelical left and are influencing the mainstream. In particular, they are penetrating the evangelical world at its soft underbelly: the millennial generation. 

These young believers (roughly ages 18 to 30) are rebelling against what they perceive as the excessive biblical literalism and political conservatism of their parents. As they strive with a renewed vigor to imitate Jesus' stand with the oppressed and downtrodden, they want to decide for themselves which party is being oppressed in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Whoever first defines the conflict for these young people will win lifelong allies........

The year 2010 was one of dramatic escalation in the efforts to drive a wedge between American evangelicals and Israel using the medium of film. In the span of that one year, no less than three major documentaries were released attacking Christian support for Israel. These were hardly the first anti-Israel movies to be produced. What made these films special was that they were focused on discrediting Christian support for Israel. 

While First Run Features' Waiting for Armageddon was produced and directed by a team of secular documentarians, two other films—With God on Our Side (Rooftop Productions, 2010) and Little Town of Bethlehem (EthnoGraphic Media, 2010)—were made by Christians specifically for Christians. With God on Our Side was produced by Porter Speakman, a former Youth with a Mission[2](YWAM) activist while Little Town of Bethlehem was funded and produced by Mart Green, chairman of the board of trustees of Oral Roberts University and heir to the Hobby Lobby arts and crafts stores fortune.

These two Christian-made films are masterpieces of deception. They feature compelling protagonists wandering earnestly through a Middle Eastern landscape in which all Arab violence, aggression, and rejectionism have been magically erased. Thus the Israeli security measures they encounter along the way—from the security fence to Israel's ongoing presence in the West Bank—are experienced as baffling persecutions, which any decent person would condemn.

More recently, in November 2013, another anti-Israel documentary—The Stones Cry Out—was released. Like its 2010 predecessors, this documentary specifically tailors its anti-Israel message to a Christian audience. The film's website laments: "All too often, media coverage of the conflict in Palestine has framed it as a fight between Muslims and Jews." The not-too subtle goal of The Stones Cry Out is to reframe the conflict as a fight between Christians and Jews.....

........Since its founding in 1979, Bethlehem Bible College in the West Bank has been a leading source of the anti-Israel Christian narrative. In 2010, it launched a biennial conference called "Christ at the Checkpoint." The name of the conference along with a photo of the Israel security fence that forms its logo invoke the increasingly popular meme that Jesus was a Palestinian who would be suffering under Israeli occupation today much as he suffered under Roman occupation millennia ago.

In 2010, the conference brought 250 Christian leaders and activists to Bethlehem; in 2012, that number was more than 600 including such mainstream evangelical leaders as mega-church pastor Joel Hunter and Lynne Hybels, wife of mega-church pastor Bill Hybels, who has since become a key evangelical critic of Israel.

The days when one had to travel to Bethlehem to hear such anti-Israel voices are now over. The anti-Israel narrative of "Christ at the Checkpoint" is now being shared at major Christian conferences in the United States including those organized by Empowered21 and Catalyst.

If you are receiving this email, I trust that you know the truth about God's heart for His people, Israel, the people He chose to reveal His glory.  To read the Word of the Lord and not understand that this is His choice is incomprehensible.  From Genesis to Revelation He unveils His plan - it is the foundation of His redemption story - and we are actually living today right in the midst of His prophetic Word - as He brings His people from all over the world back to the Land He promised them.  

This is the absolute culmination of His plan - that Israel will possess the Land He gave them.  And Messiah Yeshua will return to Jerusalem, the King of the Jews, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lord of all, to rule and reign in Zion.

"This is what the Lord Almighty says:  I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.  This is what the Lord says:  I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem.  Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth...."  Zech. 8:2-3

Do not be deceived by those who want to pull you into a debate about "loving all people", insinuating that if you believe the Word of the Lord concerning Israel that you are against Palestinians.  Their goal is to deceive you into believing that those who stand with Israel hate Palestinians.   

This is deception of the highest order and a totally unethical attempt to sidetrack the real issue - the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people.  No amount of "social activism" is going to change the Word of the Living God.  Their view is political and socially based, not biblically based.  These folks for the most part do not believe that modern day Israel is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

Friends, we have a command from the Lord to speak the truth.  Take your stand.  Do not be swayed or deceived.  And proclaim the truth:

"Sing with joy for Jacob.  Shout for the foremost of the nations....."  Jer. 31:7

"O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them.  I will bring you back to the Land of Israel.  Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.  I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own Land.  Then you will know that I the Lord have spoke, and I have done it, declares the Lord."  Ezekiel 37:12-14

"For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in His glory".  Ps. 102:16

"Hear the Word of the Lord, O nations (Gentiles); proclaim it....."  Jer. 31:10

"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.  The nations will see your righteousness and all kings your glory.....You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand..."  Isa. 62: 13 

The spiritual warfare is intense as the Lord prepares to take up His throne in Zion.  We are blessed to be called to serve Him in these days.

Blessings and love over you in the Name of Yeshua ha Mashiach,

Cathy

Cathy Hargett

Highway to Zion Ministries, Inc.

www.highwaytozion.org

highwaytozion@aol.com

To the Prayer Warriors for the Restoration of Israel -

Below is a letter I received today (Feb. 26, 2014)  from friends in Israel requesting prayer for the impact that the upcoming "Christ at the Checkpoint" Conference in Bethlehem is having on the body of believers in Israel. 

I feel so much love, affection and unity with these friends, our mishpocha (family), and all true believers in the Land.  My heart desires for all of us to cover them in prayer and protection and encouragement as they walk out these days when the enemy so wants to destroy the Truth in their midst.  And we must pray for those walking in deception that the Lord's mercy would prevail and His Truth would go forth in their hearts. 

Please pray as you read.
Prayer bulletin, 26 February 2014

Our hearts are heavy over some events happening in Israel and the Body of Believers and we would like you to join us in praying for the situation. The third "Christ at the Checkpoint" conference is scheduled for March 10th through 14th. 

It is advertised as an international and local forum for promoting peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, specifically between Palestinians and Israelis. This year's theme is "Your Kingdom Come."

On the surface this sounds good, however, in the past two conferences there have been
overtones of anti-Semitism and Israel bashing, which have caused many in the Israeli believing community to be concerned about the true motives of the organizers. Having said that, at every conference there has also been a token number is Israeli and international Messianic Jewish speakers (not keynote of course), as well as a few Israeli believers in attendance, all hoping to foster true reconciliation.

The point of this bulletin is neither to promote nor condemn the upcoming conference, but rather to ask for prayer for the Israeli and international Messianic believing communities which are currently torn asunder over this conference. There are those who ardently seek reconciliation between the Israeli and Palestinian believers and see this as a viable opportunity. 

There are others who see this conference as anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, and undermining the plans of the LORD for the nation and the end-times. We have, in essence, a civil war, where brothers are vehemently at odds with brothers and families are torn asunder ideologically.

It is only the grace of the LORD that will restore brothers and families to one another. In reality, it is only the grace of the LORD that will bring peace and reconciliation to this Land and to the Middle East. Please, over the next number of weeks, lift up the conference before the LORD, that His will would be accomplished regardless of human agendas.

Lift up the Palestinian Christians that are suffering, and not only because of struggles with Israel. Also, pray for the Israeli and international Messianic believers that unity in love and focus might be restored even if diversity in ideology remains.

Ahava Love Letter (#49) - "Fill My Heart"

"Fill My Heart" "So when He came ashore,  He saw a huge crowd;  and, filled with compassion for them, He healed those of them who were sick.”  (Matthew 14:14) Complete Jewish Bible

Dear family of friends,

The red light on the clock radio shone a bright 3:00. As in “a.m.” As in “early in the morning.”

As He has been doing these last four weeks, since that week of Passover in March, which was the same week as Resurrection Sunday, Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) woke me up. By now I was looking forward to it. Time with Him again  - in the quiet morning hours. No noise. No TV. No distractions from hearing and receiving instructions from Him. From His heart to mine.

I did the usual, just to further wake up - check the Blackberry for new messages. Yes, 12 e-mails, 31 Facebook postings. Even a Tweet appearance this morning from Wane.

After the birth of our 5^th grandchild yesterday (April 20), the honorable Jack Andrew Blade, to our youngest daughter Christen and newly commissioned father Andrew, (making Jack the 4^th grandson prince, with Dylan Joy still as the single Princess), there was a bit more clamor on my social media networks. I love connections!

When I finally sat down in my black, fake leather rocking chair, that has dutifully served as my place of prayer to meet with my loving Creator, I opened my Jewish New Testament Bible to the next chapter I was to read this day. It was Matthew 14.

When I got to verse 14, He touched my heart.

“ So when He came ashore, He saw a huge crowd; and, filled with compassion for them,

He healed those of them who were sick.” CJB” (Matthew 14:14)

As He sometimes does when He wants me to share something with others, my own heart started to beat a bit faster. I could sense the inspiration come into my spirit, as that “feeling” started to rise in my chest. (And I knew it wasn’t the cup of coffee.)

His words to me were to simply pray, “Fill my heart with those things that fill Yours.”

And so I did. And I repeated it again. And again. And again. (Even as I write this my spirit continues to flicker with His excitement building in me, and my vision increasing, for the nations, and love for His people.

He is also wanting to speak to you too. Maybe by having you pray this same enduring word. By speaking softly out His love for you and the crying nations. Speaking it purposefully out of your own heart.

“Fill my heart with those things that fill Yours.”

I know He will. By simply asking. And then see what happens! (I dare you!)

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Messianic Jews in Israel. You can send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)

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Ahava Love Letter #49   Date: In the year of our Lord 2031 (04/21/13 Sunday, 5:00 a.m. Charlotte, NC)

Prince Jack Andrew Blade (April 20, 2013)

My heart beats faster for my newest grandson!