You're A Messenger of Courage: For Such A Time As This by Joey LeTourneau

Redding, CA

"And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!'" Judges 6:12

"Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" Luke 1:28

As happened with Gideon and Mary in these two instances, my heart has been pulled for the courage rising up within God's children to step into their purpose and calling. It's not just any courage, but a kairos kind of courage that empowers us to leap beyond the hope of our calling and into its appointed time of action and fruitfulness.

It's a crossing over of the mind, and an empowerment of the heart to fully believe, fully receive, and then to seize the purposes and promises we've prayed and waited for as the moment arises.

The last few weeks I've found myself sharing about a quote I hadn't recalled in a long time, from a movie called "We Bought A Zoo." I believe the words are very relevant to us in this time as we learn to seize what God has placed before us:

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." (We Bought A Zoo)

I believe this is a now word for you and me. We are being presented "suddenly" moments, for such a time as this, to step into a breakthrough that is bigger than our hope can comprehend. These might be moments that look like immense risk or require vulnerability, but we have to seize that incoming wave at the opportune time with fresh courage. (Photo via Wikipedia)

We must realize the breakthrough starts within us – so it can be brought to life all around us – by stepping outside our comfort zone and recognizing the new thing that He is doing now.

Breaking Out of Our Comfort Zone

"I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?" Isaiah 43:19

Often, the hardest thing about receiving something new for us is that it almost always requires something new of us. Those new breaker waves we pray and believe for rarely flow through our familiar comfort zone. They don't stay within our boundaries or control, rather, they are the move of His Spirit calling us to jump outside our self-imposed box and ride the wave of a lifetime.

The above verse from Isaiah is quoted frequently, even hung as a banner to declare the new thing God is ready to do. But how often do we leave off that last part? How often do we turn a deaf ear to the question the Spirit asks us each day when He inquires, "Shall you not know it?"

Will we know the new thing God is doing in, through and around us? Will we recognize His fresh move, beyond our insecurities, critiques or judgments? Will we be able to embrace the very thing we've been praying for when it passes by just outside familiar waters? If we will, it will take courage.

It will require us to be lion-hearted, found among those through the ages who have – like Gideon – lived a courage that is not so much about a valiant charge into battle but about a radical step of obedience that joins God in what He is now doing.

Your Messenger of Courage

The Lord doesn't just send us into such a leap out onto the waters without equipping us. Like with Gideon and Mary, there are different times throughout Scripture where we see the Lord send a messenger to one of His chosen ones to call them over the chasm that lies between the promises they hope for and the purpose they are created to live. God goes all in to help us be who He has created us to be, and to prove it, He sends us messengers of courage to strengthen our leap.

"Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree...Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress...And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!'" Judges 6:11-12

"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. 'Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!'" Luke 1:26-28

Gideon was addressed as "mighty man of valor." Mary as "highly favored one." It is not coincidence that God called them by such terms not after they completed their purpose, but before. This is how they were addressed from the outset; then God called them to step into the appointed time of their destiny.

You have a Messenger of Courage within you, a Helper, the Spirit of Truth, and He is calling to you like He did Gideon and Mary, already addressing you as beloved and a victor, not just hopeful of such. He wants to visit you, meet you, and call to the courage He already sees within you. He wants you to see yourself as He does, and He is imparting to you the courage necessary to leap out and seize the moment that is only just beyond your reach.(Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

The Lord has aligned timing. He has aligned circumstances. He is calling you by a powerful name like "Mighty" or "Favored" to remind you who you are in Him, and that He is with you. For when you know who you are, you'll also know what you are supposed to do.

He calls you by your identity before you discover your victory. So, what is your messenger of courage saying over you?

"Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." Luke 1:45

Joey LeTourneau
Imagi-Nations LLC
Email: joey.letourneau@gmail.com
Website: www.goimaginations.com

Align with Hope's Expectation by Joey LeTourneau

Redding, CA

"Now hope does not disappoint..." Romans 5:5

Hope may seem like a simple word to us, but we must not allow the familiarity of our definition to rob the eternal potency of God's truth and power when it is applied in its full measure. Right now, I believe we have huge, collective reason to hope like never before. Half measures of hope are gone and our measure is being bound to His again.

It seems the enemy has been working overtime lately to create fear. You may have seen or felt it too. Social media and mainstream media are brimming with subjects that can cause our perspective to be far too fear focused while it tries to rob our hopeful future. You may even be experiencing a greater amount of anxiety, or areas of setback lately while the enemy's lies seek to add pounds of pressure and try to make you feel like hope would be deferred. BUT, as we know, fear is nothing more than a lie trying to lure us to agree with a false reality, seeking to keep us from being the reformers of hope we are created to be!

In fact, the amount of fear's lies that are being sprayed about tells us that it is the enemy who is actually quite afraid. He is afraid of the hope that is in you. We must not take on his fear, for it is his, not ours! He is afraid of Christ in you, the hope of glory!

"...I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." Romans 16:19-20

Stamped By Hope!

Recently, I was walking through our house from one room to another when God did one of my favorite things; He gave me one of His seemingly random interruptions when, out of the blue, He says, "I have something for you." These always leave me eager when He greets me like that.

So, I stopped what I was doing just to stand in His presence and receive. First, He spoke some loving affirmations that really strengthened me. And next, He gave me a word. But it was simpler than I expected. I saw a big stamp of the word "HOPE" come down and it marked me with great intention.

Immediately I kept listening to understand what that hope was towards, or what else He was saying about such hope. But every time I looked and listened, I just kept seeing and hearing nothing but hope. At first, it felt incomplete. Where was the rest? But that's when it hit me, even now I sense His nodding agreement, He was showing me a word picture that there was indeed: "Nothing but hope."

Here I was wondering where the rest of the word was, and the Father was telling me, "Nothing but hope" as He stamped down and marked me with the word in a very revived sense. Since that moment, the word has been LOADED! Same word, BUT renewed power! What if we lived according to the expectation that there is nothing but hope? The very reformation we long for among culture would ooze out of us everywhere. Hope breathes through those who choose to be awakened!

Imagine with me, if you will, a big rubber stamp of hope from Heaven coming down and putting its imprint upon every day, every thought and every promise and purpose in your life and family. "Expect" according to that stamp and its imprint. Determine yourself to renew your mind and expect nothing but hope!

Align with Hope's Expectation

Hope does not disappoint! (see Romans 5:5). No matter what season you've been in or are coming out of, hope cannot be dictated to or under defined by that season. Hope is hope is hope. It's always the same and it does not disappoint. Rather, hope APPOINTS the truth and love of God into its rightful place here on earth as it is in Heaven.

There is no partial hope. We must right now knock (and continue knocking) on the door of this next season and harvest the same way we knocked the very first time. Hope is an all or nothing proposition and we must not temper it to ease fear of disappointment. Tempered hope is destined to be a self-fulfilling prophecy towards our negative expectation.

I believe God wants to remind us that no matter what we've been through, in His eyes, there really is nothing but hope! Hope is ready to produce, and does not disappoint. Do not let go! When we appoint hope, hope appoints all the goodness of God!

Hope Appoints!

"(Abraham) who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken..." Romans 4:18

Abraham's faith and hope were not dictated to by circumstance or feeling. Rather, Abraham's undaunted hope appointed the promises that had been spoken. If there has ever been a time in this world, and perhaps your life personally, when we need to believe in hope, it is now! Our hope can appoint something much greater than that which fear is trying to feed us. Our hope can appoint the promises and purposes that have been waiting to come forward. (Photo via freeimages)

What is your hope pointing to? Watch hope APPOINT something that is contrary to circumstance and outside the pattern that your past season would try and teach you to expect. Bring each piece of your life before the Father and allow Him to stamp every piece of it, especially your thoughts, emotions, feelings and expectations with His giant rubber stamp of HOPE!

Declare it with us: I will not forebode with negative expectation, but I will allow my hope with God to APPOINT a new season that rises higher, digs deeper, and brings Heaven's perspective into and through every part of my life! In the name of Yeshua, Amen!

Joey LeTourneau
Imagi-Nations LLC
Email: joey.letourneau@gmail.com
Website: www.goimaginations.com

A Time For Radical Generosity by Joey LeTourneau

Redding, CA

But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20

Recently, I had consecutive visions/dreams from the Lord about gold. Since these two experiences, God has continued to impress upon my heart the need to explore them further.

The first vision came seemingly out of nowhere one night in our living room while spending time as a family. Suddenly, I saw the image of a person, however the figure of the body was made out of ore, the rocky/coal substance that often encapsulates gold. It has to be mined or broken through to retrieve the gold. This "person" was fully made of ore on the outside, but on their right shoulder there was a "breakthrough" of sorts and their internal "gold" was starting to show. (Photo via Wikipedia)

The next day I had a dream. I held what I can only describe as a book, which again was made out of ore. Each page had been mined and revealed more gold. However, none of the pages had what we might classify as the appearance of gold in color or typical substance. Every page of the book offered gold in different, brilliant, shining forms. It was clear to me that the "gold" that is being revealed is coming forth in many different forms and for us to be ready to recognize each, and be generous in each.

Are We Ready?

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. 2 Corinthians 9:5

Your gold is starting to show, but are we ready? There have been many awesome words and prophecies about the transference of wealth into the Kingdom. The gold is here! But I believe the real question is: Are we prepared to steward it forward generously, without fear of lack, understanding that it's natural for Heaven's abundance to live in us but it must have a way through us first?

Adam and Eve were given a mandate to take dominion over the earth and be fruitful and multiply. But after the fall, their vision changed, so stewarding their purpose changed as well. Now, they couldn't fully move forward to give life while being so mindful of gathering fig leaves to protect their own lives. They became double-minded in vision and purpose because they hit a point where they had to decide which one to serve. I have to imagine they still wanted to live their purpose, but a new version of stewardship crept in – the stewardship of protecting self. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

If we will be ready for the gold of the Kingdom that is coming forth in our lives, we must take back that which Jesus has already given back: a single-minded vision and purpose that trusts God to protect and sustain while we multiply.

Your Promised Land Now

This reminds me of a vision I had several years back, shared in the first chapter of my book, The Life Giver. In the vision I was caught up to my "Promised Land" that I was to live and give from while still on earth. I wasn't being called to live and give by what I had in my hands, but to live and give by what I already owned or possessed in Heaven through Jesus Christ. In this particular section I was met and instructed by Adam:

"As I believe you are somewhat understanding, this is your promised land. This is a piece of Heaven that God has passed down to you through Jesus. However, this is not only the place for your heavenly dwelling; it is the place you are to operate, live, and give from for the rest of your time on earth. Your heavenly inheritance, though eternal, must first be used to bring fruit to earth. This land, just as the Lord gave me in Eden, is a land of promise that you are to take dominion over. I lost sight of that. I let self and worldly deceptions creep in to steal my God-given vision and purpose. I had everything I needed in the land the Lord gave me, but I acted as if it wasn't enough to sustain self, let alone pass on fruit and the taste of Heaven to others. I had the opportunity of Heaven on earth in my very own hands, but I missed it. I was given a land like this but did not understand how to use it, how to own it for the benefit of all, or how to harvest it and pass its free and powerful blessing on to others." (Photo via Wikipedia)

But this I say: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

The key here isn't trying to figure out how to get or receive heavenly abundance here on earth; Jesus already made a way for that part. But we have to make a way as well; we have to create abundant avenues and strategies that are already set up so that the given "gold" of the Kingdom has a way to multiply out through us to others. Bill Johnson has a quote that speaks to this incredibly well in his book, Dreaming With God: "What comes into the house must have a way out of the house, or it will die in the house."

Generosity in Spirit, and Strategy

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word..." Genesis 41:39-40

The Kingdom is grown through generous offerings of love. Before we can discover or create a strategy, we must start by bringing ourselves into alignment with the spirit of generosity. That is where multiplication comes to life, when we give of self in an intentional and generous way. It might be your time, your treasures, your talents, or all three!

Generosity is a spirit we operate in that creates tangible, earthly abundance—not because of what we have, but through how it is given. At the same time, wisdom is necessary. Our generosity can't just be aimless or else we waste its abundance.(Photo via Pixabay)

Joseph received an output strategy from God before the riches of the Kingdom were actually entrusted to him; it was that discussion with Pharaoh what triggered the transference of wealth from Egypt to Joseph and the Kingdom. When power and riches were entrusted, they already had a plan in place for everything that came in to be ready to multiply out. This is how Joseph became such a vessel of multiplication to the nations—because he had a spirit and a strategy of generosity.

Live it & Give it!

I've long grabbed onto the mantle of my distant uncle, R.G. LeTourneau, a famous inventor of earth-moving equipment often referred to as "God's businessman." His biography, "Mover of Men and Mountains," tells stories not only of his innovative ideas but also his extraordinary giving. They actually reached a point in their business/missions where they were giving 90% of their income away. He had a vision of generosity I am still learning to pick up.

When we lived in Ethiopia working to empower youth to live their purpose and calling, I recall one of our most abundant seasons of growth, beyond what we could contain, was when we were giving away 80-90% of what came in on a daily basis. Our ability to give in that fashion didn't come from any ministry growth or an expanding budget; rather our growth as a movement came following the set-up of our plan to steward generously what we already had, sometimes even beyond our means.

We must be diligent, ready, and realize the moment upon us. If the gold is coming forth, as many have said, we need pipelines of strategic generosity in place through each of us so that the wealth of the Kingdom never has to hit a kink or blockage in our lives again. May it be said about each of us:

As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." 2 Corinthians 9:9

Joey LeTourneau
Imagi-Nations LLC
Email: joey.letourneau@gmail.com
Website: www.goimaginations.com

But, God! – Tug on Superman's Cape by Joey LeTourneau

Redding, CA

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment..." Matthew 9:20-21

The world will tell us its cultural reminders not to ever tug on Superman's cape. But, such a saying doesn't know the love or power of Jesus – for He is our Superman. So, like the woman who reached out to touch the hem of His garment, we tug on Superman's cape. That was the Lord's instruction to me recently when we reached another place of having no earthly answers. I was praying for strategy, seeking His wisdom and revelation for a different way forward, and, instead, I simply and surprisingly heard Him remind me: "Tug on Superman's cape." (Photo by Linda Harris-Iorio"Bow Down and Touch the Hem of His Garment" via elijahshopper.com)

We are sons and daughters of an abundantly good Father. We don't tug because we've earned it or deserve it. We don't tug because we're entitled or by some spiritual formula. We get to tug on His cape because He loves us and waits for us to approach Him in such a believing, childlike, confident manner because of Who we know He is.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding... Proverbs 3:5

Sometimes our current circumstances don't make sense, nor do they add up, leaving us without the ability to understand. Sometimes we're not supposed to understand or figure it out. We're just supposed to know the One who wears that cape so well, and tug on it for the mysterious power that is our only way through.

Crossing Our Jordan

Eight years ago my wife, our daughter Mercy, and myself were on a strategic trip across seven nations of Africa spanning seven weeks. We were conducting various trainings to empower young leaders, and it was also a vision trip for us to see where we would plan to live for the next season of our lives. We got the entire trip lined up, but were only a few days before leaving and still only had provision for our arrival in Rwanda in February, and tickets home to the U.S. from South Africa in April.

Seven weeks and several thousand miles, not to mention meetings we were committed to, sat waiting in between. We had no other flights or funding outside of $500 for food, transport, and lodging, already well below what those necessities would cost. However, as we prayed, God said to step, that He would answer, and that we would walk across such a river on dry ground.

To make a long, awesome story short, God did miracle after miracle, each one different in each different nation we visited. We hadn't missed a meeting nor been late to even one.We then found ourselves in Botswana, feeling sick, with less e-mail communication with family and friends than we'd previously had access to, and in need of provision for the rest of the trip through the island regions of Madagascar and Mauritius before heading back to South Africa. We needed at least $4,000 to finish the flight parts of our trip. And just as He had done in each other nation, we watched God suddenly provide $4,000 exactly the last day we could have it to book our travel. (Photo via Pixabay)

But, it was Easter, a huge and busy holiday in the area, and all the flights were full and the cost had gone up another $1,500 now from our previous inquiries. Plus, we now needed to add an extra flight to make the new itinerary work. Our office in the U.S. couldn't find any other flight options. We needed a miracle and our circumstances didn't make sense. Why would God bring us this far on a path only He could pave to leave us stuck in that place?

He wouldn't! He doesn't! He didn't! We replied to our contacts to please try one more time, that we would pray and believe God would do a miracle. All we had left was to humbly, yet confidently, tug on Superman's cape. He had brought us this far by His voice, and only He could finish what He started.

...I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Acts 27:25

George Mueller's testimonies had long been food for our family and calling (he was an evangelist from the UK in the 1800s). And, in this moment, I was reminded of a story I'd read over and over again of Mr. Mueller on a ship towards an engagement and his conversation with the steamship captain. The fog was so dense they couldn't go forward. The circumstances were unbending and impossible in the captain's eyes. But Mr. Mueller knew the goodness of His Father, not in an entitled way, but with humble confidence.

He stated to the captain that his Father had never let him miss an engagement, had brought him this far, and this one would be no different. He prayed a simple prayer, not too different than a child walking up to tug on Superman's cape. They opened the door and found that the fog was indeed gone and George Mueller made his engagement right on time.

As my wife and I sat on our knees in a simple home in Botswana, we recounted this story as we looked back at how far and how miraculously God had led us across the continent. Provision had no answer, as it had already come in and by itself wasn't enough. Our travel agent had no answer, as all the flights were booked. Our office had no answer, but they were willing to keep knocking. And we certainly had no answer, except that it was time to reach out and tug on Superman's cape. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

"Lord," we said, "You have brought us across the continent. You have not let us miss a meeting, nor be late for one. You said we would walk through this river on dry ground, and now, we need You to do this in Jesus' name." Then we went to sleep.

We woke up to the phone ringing the next morning. It was our office calling and the first words out of their mouth were, "Joey, it's a miracle!" Not only had they found tickets, they added an extra flight, even added business class, and now the tickets were well under the original $4,000 need. God answered abundantly, in a way that only He could, and when we eventually finished that trip, just before we boarded our flight back to the U.S., we picked up three stones, one for each of us, to remember that we had indeed walked through the river on dry ground.

"But, God."

I've grown up with a long legacy before me of those who trusted God through unbelievable difficulty and circumstance. And over and over again I would hear them say, "But, God." In essence, that's what we were doing when we hit our knees in Botswana. That's what Mr. Mueller was doing when He prayed such a simple prayer upon that ship. And that is what we are saying with utmost childlike confidence when we walk up to Superman and tug on His cape. But, God!

We still must have works to go with our faith. We still must be diligent, obedient, and keep persevering and moving forward with Him – that part is still vital and we mustn't remove that role of ours in our co-laboring with Him. But, there comes a moment in our current season or journey when we must stop, get childlike, remember who our Daddy is, and tug on Superman's cape in the name of Jesus, believing God that it will be just as He has told us. (Photo via Pixabay)

...I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Acts 27:25

Joey LeTourneau
Imagi-Nations LLC
Email: joey.letourneau@gmail.com
Website: www.goimaginations.com