God Says, "It's My Dream Too, Remember" - Joey LeTourneau

God Says, "It's My Dream Too, Remember"

Joey LeTourneau, Redding, CA

The Elijah List

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." Ephesians 3:20

When was the last time you asked God about His dreams? For many of us, it has been a tremendous process just to learn that God invites us to dream with Him. So what do we do when we reach a point when our dreams aren't enough as currently constructed, or are moving forward differently than we expect?

We remember that God dreams too! When God entrusts a dream into our hands, it is an amazing thing. But when we trust Him enough to let go and still put it back in His hands, that's where the "exceedingly and abundantly" we often talk about starts to come to life.

Sacrifice or Multiplication?

...because you have done this thing, and not withheld your son, your only son – blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the Heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore... Genesis 22:16-17

Sometimes we're afraid to surrender the way Abraham did at Mt. Moriah. We're often worried surrender will equal loss; but that's not our Father's nature, He prefers multiplication!

Abraham dreamt of Isaac, and while this was a wonderful start according to the extent of Abraham's vision, God still dreamed of many more "Isaacs" beyond what Abraham could number. When our dreams and God's find their place of conception together, His dreams complete ours to even greater extents as we continue to surrender through the dreaming process. To dream with God, and live those dreams with Him, requires a tension of BOTH ridiculous trust and fearless action. (Photo via Pixabay)

Emphasizing "With"

When we dream with God, "with" becomes far too underrated a word of emphasis. It's easy to focus on the "dreaming," and hopefully on "God" too. But it's the "with" where an unusual power of eternal multiplication is truly birthed – here on earth and in Heaven. If we're not mindful of it, our version of "with" can quickly become dreaming "about" God or "in regards to" or "on behalf of."

Like in most cases of life, we tend to focus on the "end" more than the "means." But it is when we embrace the mysterious tension of "with" that it truly becomes a joint effort, a back and forth at Heaven's white board and earth's canvas; not just dreaming into His possibilities, but allowing Him to dream into ours.

The "with" gives God permission to take His "exceedingly and abundantly" and use it to re-model what we ask or imagine. "With" is a tension that doesn't focus on the answer, but upon the back and forth trust relationship that will bear more answers than we could count. To see our God-dreams become reality in this ripe season ahead, "with" must become our renewed point of emphasis, and an active trust will become our means.

"Foot On the Gas, Hands Off the Wheel"

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

So how do we go forward in this "with" mode? The last couple years God has given me a clear word I continue to move forward by. 

As I asked Him how to move forward, He said, "Foot on the gas, hands off the wheel." To me, it's like a child would drive. 

They can't press the gas and steer at the same time. They have to choose. God doesn't make us go forward, but He does help us steer. So I have learned to choose to go forward boldly in trust and faith, while yet surrendering the wheel, even and especially when I want to hold on, see, or understand the most. (Photo via Pixabay)

Childlike is one of the most effective revelations of the Kingdom here on earth, as Jesus pointed to in Mark 10:14-15. I believe that's why we must learn to "drive" childlike. It's a powerful position of forward-moving dependence on God, and a position that lets God's dreams lead ours towards His very best.

"It's My Dream Too, Remember"

We were recently in the middle of getting a new resource ready to launch and needed to develop a launch strategy. I love to strategize in all sorts of ways, but this was one of the times God was telling me to take my hands off the wheel and "watch" instead. However, I also did not want to be a poor steward, so I double-checked with God, wanting to make sure He really did want me to let go of this aspect and just leave it with Him for the time being, still ready and willing to do my diligent part.

The next thing I heard from the Lord felt like a playful nudge from a friend, "It's My dream too, remember." 

I laughed, nodded, and upon hearing this remembered that truly our current endeavor of a board game that empowers people to dream into their purpose was indeed a combo of my dream starting to be infused by His. I had never set out to create a board game, but I had been dreaming with God for years about empowering people, especially youth around the world, into their purpose. The fact that it came about through a game was very much His idea.

With these joint dream ventures, God is partnering with us and has a very vested interest in seeing them come to life. He wants us to trust Him to fulfill His part too. This requires that we trust Him with both faith and patience.

Joseph has often been known as "the dreamer" with the way he dreamt of what would happen in Israel through his life. And Joseph watched and waited for those dreams to come to reality. All along, God was trying to show him something he didn't expect: "Yes, I'll give you your dream for Israel, but it's part of My much bigger dream for your life. I want to give you Egypt, which will give you the nations, which will also include Israel."(Photo via Pixabay)

Joseph waited for Israel to take notice, but God sent Pharaoh to take notice and be the one who helped launch Joseph's dream instead. God dreams differently than we do, but it's an exceedingly and abundantly kind of different. And, suddenly, our dream might be remodeled or re-routed in a way we never knew possible!

He's given us permission to dream with Him, but do we trust Him enough to give it back and see His dream empower ours? God dreams too – thankfully!

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 and blessings revealed, and want to see God's children empowered to live out their unique purpose and calling. Joey has authored six books, and together with his wife they have founded Imagi-Nations LLC, a movement to "Imagine nations changed because you lived your purpose and dream."

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Elaine Tavolacci: Birthing the Promises of God: "Get Ready to Push"

Elaine Tavolacci:

Birthing the Promises of God: 

"Get Ready to Push"

The Elijah List

In the New Testament we read about the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and telling her that she was going to conceive and bring forth a Son, and His name would be called Jesus. Mary's reply was "Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word" (Luke1:38).

The Holy Spirit is showing me that although every one of us are carrying a promise from God, some of us are spiritually tired and emotionally drained. The time of being pregnant with God's promises may be exhausting and seem long term, but don't get weary in the process. A natural pregnancy is measured in three stages which are called trimesters. 

Many of you are in your third trimester. Don't abort the baby because your due date is drawing near. Get ready to push.

"You Are About to Give Birth to What You Have Been Predestined For"

The Lord says, "The water is about to break and you are about to deliver. Stay strong and stay focused during the process. There are gifts that have been lying dormant inside of you and it is now time to give birth to what I have imparted to you.

Doors are about to open for what I have called you to do."

John 16:21 A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

"Although the waiting has been arduous, you are about to give birth to what you have been predestined for. You may have been in hibernation for so long and are afraid to step out, but now is the time to be released into what you have been created for." 

(Photo via en.wikipedia)

Luke 1:26-28 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

"In the same way that Gabriel came to Mary and said that she was highly favored, I say to you that you are also highly favored. You did not conceive through artificial insemination but through My Spirit.

"I Will Place People in Your Life Who Are Also Pregnant With the Same Vision"

"The seed that has been implanted inside of you will come into fruition, and My divine presence operating within you will be regenerated. In the same way that Mary was impregnated supernaturally, you will also conceive supernaturally. 

You are also carrying something so valuable that will change the world if you submit to it.

"Just as Mary's cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant and the baby leaped in her womb, I will also bring others to you who are also carrying divine destiny.

I will place people in your life who are also pregnant with the same vision. They are those who are in alignment with the same dream. Together you will work in unison and there will not be any disunity."

(Photo via pixabay.com)

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

"Trust Me when you feel that the process is too difficult. Know that it is I who works in you both to will and to do for My good pleasure. Do not say that this is an uncomfortable place, but know that it is necessary to bring you into My purpose and plan for your life. You will know that you are in the third trimester as the discomfort intensifies. Don't try to induce labor before its time, but welcome My plan as it comes into existence.

"This is not the time to give up but get ready to push because you will soon see the fulfillment of the promises that I have for you," says the Lord. 

Elaine Tavolacci
A Word in Season

Email: Elaine@awordinseason.info
Website: awordinseason.info

Elaine Tavolacci resides in Staten Island, New York. She has been a student of the Word for twenty-nine years. She has a prophetic gift as well as a ministry of encouragement, which teaches the Body of Christ to walk in the fullness of what the Lord has called them to. She teaches others how to be overcomers in every area of their lives and understands the power and authority that Jesus has assigned to them. Her ministry, "A Word in Season," has been an encouragement to others for nine years. She has learned the transforming power of the Word of God and encourages others that nothing is impossible with God.

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Giving thanks...as we reach another milestone on the journey.

Giving thanks 

to the Lord Jesus (Yeshua)

as we reach 250,000 pageviews 

on our 

LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE blog

...on April 12, 2014.

Even as the Lord commanded the Israelites to place stones and altars along the way, as markers on the journey to remember His grace, leading and provision, so do we follow in those footsteps. 

Thank you you Lord for this milestone, as we look back to what YOU have done, and look forward to what You will yet do through His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) working through us.

Trusting as the journey continues...

Steve & Laurie Martin

Love For His People

April 12, 2014

Sat. at 9:05 am

“Let Go & Let God” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin

“Let Go & Let God”

Now Think On This

by Steve Martin

“The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and He saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth!” Psalm 116:6-9, New Living Translation

“Let go and let God.”

I heard the words in my spirit. I knew it was the Lord. Even in that deep sleep, when He speaks, I have learned to recognize His voice.

The day had barely turned to March 21, 2014. It was going to be the first full day of spring. The clock’s red letters said “2:12”. As in “A.M.” As in, “It is still quite dark outside here in Charlotte, NC.”

But I had woken up, or to put it correctly, I had been woken up with His words, “Let go and let God.” When I confirmed the time on the clock placed at the headboard of our bed, I quickly reminded the Lord that I had a long day ahead that Friday. It was going to be around midnight before I’d probably get to bed again, and I really wasn’t wanting to get up just yet.

But in learning to trust Him in these things, having experienced Him this way in the past, when awoken with a word spoken from Him, I responded. I got up. The five hours of sleep would have to be enough for that day.

There were a few things that I knew He was speaking that word to me about. One was the upcoming income tax due, whereby the remaining $1100 was going to have to get paid. There were yet another 24 days to see His hand provide for that. I was being challenged in my trust.

My faith level had already risen a degree, when He sent the unexpected room renter from Minnesota this week. He had arrived just last Sunday, after responding to an ad I had placed on a website that morning at 5:30 am. This upcoming rental income would cover three fourths of the tax bill. Thank you Jesus.

I am most grateful for this provision, as the Lord takes care of our needs. The years in walking His chosen path for our lives, for my good wife Laurie and I, have proven His love over and over again to us and our family. Walking His walk brings the joy and fulfilment He desires for His children.

But I actually don’t think this word, His word, “Let go and let God,” was just for me. I think it is for you who are reading this.

Our Lord, God of heaven and earth, Creator of all and Caretaker over Israel, truly cares about matters in our lives. That income tax bill that is due in three weeks; that long day ahead where more sleep would have been good in preparation for it (or so we think); the child whom we have raised, with as much love as we knew how, and yet still has not followed the Lord’s ways as we had spent long hours praying they would; He most certainly cares about that.

The Lord is saying to you, “I am in control. I am taking care of that concern. You can put it back in MY hands, and watch Me take care of it.”

In addition, there is the thought that the "Let go and let God" may be in connection to something else. Sometimes He calls us to let go of the "cup" we are holding - that treasure or object we know came from the Lord in days gone by. It may be the best cup we have ever had. It may actually be an actual object, like the  #24 Jeff Gordon NASCAR cup I used to really admire, or you might have even a championship cup from your favorite team 20 years ago.

On the spiritual side, it may be that prestigious role you have always filled, but now the Lord is calling you to let go of that one, for the new one He has prepared your for these past years while doing that one. In my life, it was letting go of leading worship and a praise band, so I could give that time to writing books. I love it even more now - the new role He has placed me in!

It may be that event, person, or passion that is keeping you from letting go so you can take the next path the Lord has in store for you, which you won't know about until you let go of this one.

But if we let go of that past, He has a better one for us now. He wants us to move on and live in the here and now. We have to let go of that and go forward with the now. Fresh manna daily, right?

As the Psalmist wrote in the Scripture shared above, “And so I walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth”, we too can choose to walk in our Father’s presence, each and every day, with His Holy Spirit as our Guide and Comforter. We can choose to abide under the shadow of His wings, protected by the flurry of activity around us, remaining peaceful in His loving care.

My prayer for you, for my family, for those who have entrusted prayer concerns to me, is that you will also this day, “Let go and let God.” I am trusting in Him and keeping my eyes fixed on Yeshua, the Author and Finisher of my faith. I hope you do too.

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

  

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these letters minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH  OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

Please share Now Think On This with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

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No Think On This

Full website: Love For His People

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Now Think On This #133  “Let Go & Let God” by Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (03.21.14) Friday at 3:30 am in Charlotte, NC.

All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on our newest website: Now Think On This

"Finish the Race" - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

 

                                  Finish the Race

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. All that awaits me now is the crown of righteousness which the Lord, “the Righteous Judge,” will award to me on that Day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for Him to appear.” 2 Tim 4:7-8 (Complete Jewish Bible)

Dear family of friends,

Do you ever get that sense, “Yes, that is done, what is next” feeling? Not necessarily the one when you have actually just finished a project, and there is a clear ending point, but the one where you just know in your knower that this season in life, completed over a long term, has been accomplished? Yes, that sense. Let me share further on that.

I truly believe there are seasons of the soul, similar to seasons in nature. Just as the Scripture says, “...the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.” (1 Cor. 15:46 NKJV), the Creator has given us another visual of how life develops in our soul. His very creation, using the four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter in many locations on the earth, give us understanding in life matters. There is a time of birth (spring), many years of anticipating, experiencing and doing with full activity (summer), and then the wind down (fall) before the completion in death (winter).

And for those who have raced, either on foot or in a swimming pool, or have been a fan of NASCAR or open wheel car racing (FORMULA 1 style), you too have participated in or seen the starting point, the long stretch of ups and downs during the race, the high point right before the completion, and then the finish line. Another concept of how our lives are.

In the spiritual realm, similarly understood through these natural occurring events, the Lord gives us seasons and races. In His revealing of Himself to us, through our five senses of our sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh in Hebrew) is showing us His life and purpose – to give us further understanding of His purposes and ways. While the spiritual also includes dreams and vision, and other aspects in revelation, this is how we learn.

One example of season and race concepts has been apparent in my good wife Laurie and my lives. It has been in the area of leading worship. Both Laurie and I have been gifted in music, with voice and instrument (more voice than instrument!) We have shared this gift with the Lord and His people, by participating in many settings of song and instrument over a period of 40 years each, from our teenage years through our 50’s.

There were the early years of lessons in vocal, piano and guitar. These were followed by the musicals, the school choirs, the seven church groups, and then the three bands. The point has now come to where the Lord has said, “That season is done. I have some other plans and purposes for you now.” Sure, we may lead a small group now and then in our gatherings, but we know that another race, another season, is on the new horizon. We lay down that which has finished, while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our ongoing faith (Heb. 12:2). We are called to continually pursue His next passion, coming forth out of His heart,  being instilled in us together.

I love seasons. I love races. I love how the Lord uses these in our lives to provide encouragement for our spiritual seasons and races. Understanding that each of these however come and go helps us to let go as needed, so we can begin the next one. Often, they happen whether we like it or not. But in giving Him our ongoing trust and appreciation, our understanding can be better served as the next season or race comes our way.

Be content where you are at now in life. That was one of Paul’s heavenly insights. If it feels like you are in an all out race, then give it all you got. If the season you are in seems as if you’d really prefer the next one right about now, just wait a bit. It will happen. For another one is on the way!

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder

Love For His People. Inc.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these letters minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. 

Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH  OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blogs: Love For His People

           Ahava Love Letters

           

  Full website: Love For His People

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Ahava Love Letter #104   “Finish the Race”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (02.01.14) Saturday at 5:24 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava Love Letters

"Pressing On With Encouragement for the Long Haul” - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

                 

               "Pressing On – Encouragement for the Long Haul”

“My times are in Your hands…” (Psalm 31:15 NAS)

Dear family of friends,

As I sat in my prayer chair that Saturday morn, having already read the Lord’s Word which I keep beside me on the lamp stand, and now accompanied with a fresh cup of java my good wife had brought me, I pondered on what the new year would bring. Weariness had taken a bit of a toll on my body, my mind and even my spirit. I looked forward to the road ahead, but as many of us do, we wonder what is on that road. Is it good? Will we make it? Will our faith be strong enough? And so I asked Him for more strength and hope.

In a brief message I had written to one of my five sisters that week, who was anxious about an upcoming job situation, I encouraged her to daily pray His words, one of many given to us in His Book of Promises. He simply says for us to believe, “My times are in Your hands.” 

I found myself praying that same prayer again – for her, others on my prayer list, and for myself. As Derek Prince once said about receiving Scripture, it is like taking daily medicine. Here is an excerpt from a devotional he wrote.

Daily Devotional by Derek Prince.

God’s Medicine Bottle

Proverbs 4:20–22
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” KJV

For many years I have known those three verses from the fourth chapter of Proverbs as “God’s medicine bottle.” God declares that if we will rightly receive His words and His sayings, they will be life to us and health to all our flesh. The marginal translation for the word that is translated “health” is “medicine.” That’s why I say it’s “God’s medicine bottle.”

And God says His medicine will provide us with health in all our flesh. In every area of our physical body it will provide health, but remember, the directions are on the bottle. The medicine only works if you take it according to the directions. There are four directions.

First, attend to God’s word.
Second, incline or bow down your ear and listen to His sayings.
Third, let them not depart from your eyes, keep them before your eyes continually.
And fourth, let them settle and abide in the midst of your heart.

If you take the Word of God according to those fourfold directions, you will find, as I did many years ago, that God’s medicine bottle produces just the results that He claims. It brings life and health to all our flesh. I found that after a year on end in a hospital when doctors couldn’t heal me, God’s medicine did the job.

Whitaker House Publishers, 1996

Personally I can’t comprehend how people who do not know the Lord God of Israel, Yeshua (Jesus), make it through their day to day life. It astounds me how many keep trusting in their own abilities or someone else’s, which will ultimately fail, when they too could be having an ongoing faith in their Creator, and Knower of the road ahead for them. I am so thankful we can know His will, walk in His ways, and gain daily encouragement through His Holy Spirit.

For the long haul, for the marathon we run, we must keep pressing on in our faith and hope in Him. Our Good Lord will see us through. He will provide daily strength for the journey, to the end of time. His reward will be great.

Keep your eyes fixed on Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Keep pressing on to the mark He has set before us. His promises are sure. We can count on Him. Thank you Lord.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin

Founder, Love For His People

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.

Please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless the known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. 

Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH  OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People

If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

I hope you read my first two books The Promise (CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon Press, 2013). Both available through Amazon.com Xulon Press.com, plus other website book stores.

You can also order both books, The Promise (on Amazon.com for $7.19 plus $3.95 S/H) and Ahava Love Letters Xulon Press for$14.90, plus $3.80) or you can get both from our office for $29. Send check to the address above. I will autograph all copies ordered through our office. (Hey, and please include a contribution for Israel too!)

Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  

  

Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

Blogs: Love For His People

           Ahava Love Letters

           

  Full website: Love For His People

YouTube: Steve Martin/Love For His People Inc.

Ahava Love Letter #96   “Pressing On”   Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (12.28.13 Saturday at 8:00 am in Charlotte, NC).

All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava Love Letters