Between the Directive and the Destination is the Journey

By Charles E. Doolittle

Like Joseph, all of us have dreams or aspire to become, but like Joseph, there is journey and/or path one must take to arrive at that place. This is the unknown. Had Joseph known what was going to be required he probably would not have signed up for that journey. This book is about a vision I was given, which is symbolic of his life; Joseph was sold into slavery (by family), was accused of rape, and imprisoned. Yet at the end, he became the second most influential person in the land. Will you accept your call, and will you follow your path to your place of destiny?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9781098032395

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Between the Directive and the Destination is the Journey

Charles E. Doolittle Jr.

ISBN 978-1-0980-3238-8 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-3239-5 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Charles E. Doolittle Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Conclusion

About the Author

Introduction

In writing this book, I know that what you read will be strong and possibly hard to digest. I don't want to sound flippant or glib whenever you read the phrase the Lord said or the Lord spoke to me; if it is easier to accept using the phrase I had an impression or thought, please use that phraseology. But whatever the case, please recognize, the Lord by HIS spirit still speaks to us and will give us ideas on what to do; how to do it; when to do it, and even where to do it. My job and your job is to obey his prompting or HIS urging (with faith).

I can only say to you (with conviction) that this book is a result of one of those promptings. It is born out of a vision and subsequent revelation when I studied the various passages of the scripture. In fairness to me, be open in your heart and hear what the Holy Spirit might be saying to you. Maybe you have even had similar thoughts or ideas, that thing would be a confirmation; and hopefully, you will move with faith toward that revelation and confirmation.

I am praying for you.

Charles

Chapter 1

The Catalyst and Joseph

This book is the culmination of three different revelations over three different prayerful conversations. In October 2001, I was driving to Orange County, California, where I was scheduled to speak to a group of business leaders. During the drive, I had an open vision and what I saw was very unusual. Having read about and visited the country of Nepal, I knew where I was. I was in a crevasse that was only wide enough for me and what I was wearing. As you know, Mt. Everest has crevasses large and small. Because of the extreme weather, I was dressed appropriately for the location. However, because of the tight quarters; I had to remove the layers of clothing that I was wearing. In fact, I had to strip down to the bear minimum of clothing (in order) to feel comfortable.

The next picture that I saw, I was now above the same crevasse looking down into it. I saw scores of people climbing out; then I heard this voice say these words: Many of My people develop spiritual claustrophobia and never reach the broad place that I have for them. Immediately, I was back in the crevasse. To my left, I saw a small sliver of light. But to get there I had to shuffle not walk as a normal person (shoulders) facing forward. This crevasse had jagged rock walls; the ground wasn't level, there were spiderwebs, etc. I eventually got to the light. I have no idea how long it took to get there by shuffling.

The second part of this catalyst is based on the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis and his dreams of leadership and ruling (ultimately) for his nation, and being (strategically) positioned when and where God wanted him.

Finally, in December 2001 this phrase; How long will you ignore the ideas that I give to you? (we will look into this more closely in another chapter). Thus, the title of this book also was given to me during this same time. Friend, I have had many God-given ideas of which some I have seen come to fruition. One as recent as days ago; (I actually took a photo); then I shook my head. This book will look at the principles and revelation necessary to accomplish the God-given, inspired ideas that he has given to you.

Life to your broad place is a like the race: the steeple chase. If you have ever watched this race during any track meet or during the Olympics, it is a combination of distance or endurance running and obstacles to overcome (repeatedly). Every journey has a starting point; for Joseph, it was a dream that resulted in a series of awful incidents. He was sold into slavery by his own family (go figure). It would have been one thing if people he did not know did this to him, but his family? What kind of mental challenges did he have to overcome there?

Now Joseph is serving as a slave in another country; then he was imprisoned for a false accusation. How are all of these events going to work together (ultimately) to see the fulfillment of the dreams that he shared with his family? How will all these events get him to his broad place? These events are him shuffling to this broad place.

Here is what happens: the phrase between the directive (that is the dream of Joseph); and the destination—(the end goal of ruling a nation not of his own); yet; impacting his own nation. But none of us know the journey that is required and that is necessary to get to this location or destination. Joseph had no idea that all of these events were necessary to arrive to the destination of rulership. I can say with extreme honesty; if; God showed us the journey (beforehand) necessary to arriving to our place of destiny many would find the cost is too great and would settle for mediocrity.

When I was preparing to go to Nepal, I had a (not-so) grandiose idea of only training (cardiovascularly); then going on this mountain climbing and trekking expedition (Not wise). But God the Father knew my heart and allowed me to go and participate in another capacity. The Himalayan Mountains are not for the novice or inexperienced. The altitudes of these mountain ranges are where aircraft consistently fly.

In the movie Lord of the Rings, those hobbits are an example of people on a journey to return and destroy the ring of power. Those little fellas encounter so much along their way. In fact, being led by that weird creature, smeagol, they entered a crevasse-like place. The hobbits had no idea of what their journey would be like to return this ring. Neither did those that would ultimately try to rescue them.

Most people that feel they are entrepreneurial do not know what they will encounter when launching their business idea/vision, whether it is with their own product or service or whether it is in the sales arena of another's product or service. Many are sold on the idea of the end product: which is the money to be made or to have their product becoming a house-hold name. The entrepreneur does not see the obstacles that must be hurdled, the water jumps, etc., to becoming a house-hold name (product or service).

Many start off very well; just like in the race the steeplechase many start off great; with energy and enthusiasm. But a reality hits six months to a year later when the return on investment isn't there yet. What do I do? As one that has had good to great ideas, my problem was I did not have the knowledge or where to find the knowledge to accomplish some of the ideas that I have been given. After a while, you give up when you do not see results.

Let's look at the journey toward a college education. If you are not one that is affluent or your family did not know about the early college savings plan, that journey will be more challenging than for others with that knowledge. For others that enter that journey toward their formal education, life interrupts the journey. During that race (steeplechase) someone usually will fall because of that hurdle. Fatigue sets in and their jump is too early or the person slips on the top of the hurdle and they tumble. If that happens, the outcome (normally) isn't good. Their finish (usually) will not result in a medal or trophy. But in life (unlike) that race, if you are determined, if you will get up and be persistent and remained focused where you are going, you can reach your destination.

Joseph, after being thrown into a pit and is sold into slavery, he started doing good in this new country under a new regime. He receives a promotion, then he encounters the wife of the king in whose house he is serving. Refusing her advances and then false (LIES) accusation, resulted in his imprisonment. There is one variable that the world rarely accounts for: God's favor on the life of a person.

Even while in prison, Joseph rose to the top among the inmate population, by interpreting dreams of others with accuracy and specificity. But then, the person that can put in a good word for him forgets to tell the king about (this guy) Joseph. Then the three D's try to dominate your mind: Disappointment, discouragement, and deception. These three D's will show up at differing times of our journey. Presently, I work with a man that has launched his own watch/time-piece brand. I have (personally) watched him battle his way to seeing his vision come to fruition. He had multiple opportunities to quit and give up. But at the time of this writing he is going to production with his own brand.

The Bible says; the trying of our faith works patience, but let patience have its perfect work. Bad employers, supervisors, hardship; this is the narrow place that we must all travel in order to get to our broad place. Choosing to follow the God idea/vision or dream will make you into the person the Father wants you to become. But He isn't going to show you the journey itself that you and I will take to get there.

Leaving the Nest

It is said of the eagle that the mother will after a while will make the nest so uncomfortable for her current eaglets that at a certain time she will force each of them out of the nest. Friend, if you have a real God dream/directive and you refuse to obey that calling; that dream or vision, He will allow the circumstance around you to make you so uncomfortable; so unbearable that you feel no other recourse but to leave. Sometimes it will leave a sour/bitter taste in your mouth. Relationships become damaged in the process. Leaving the nest takes faith that you can fly solo and that this move is one that has been orchestrated by your heavenly Father.

Wilderness or the Dungeon

The wilderness and dungeon or imprisonment will test all of our mental faculties. Moses faced it on his way to meeting his wife and stepping into his destiny of leading Israel out of bondage. However, he had a (tremendous) learning curve that he had to endure. Neither of these are places that any of us aspire to being left in. But both Jesus and Joseph went to these places prior to their places of prominence. Jesus went as far as going to the cross and suffering