Saturday, November 21, 2015

On Journey: Passionate Pursuit of God & His Kingdom!

On Journey: Passionate Pursuit of God 
& His Kingdom!

Update for Ray & Laurel Farris


“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” 
(Romans 1:14)

Being led by the Spirit is a fundamental characteristic of being children of God! Being led by the Spirit is not something unique to a few believers but rather should be common to all who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ! And, by definition, “being led” implies that we are all on journey with God! There are many examples of “being on journey” in the Scriptures. Perhaps the most familiar is the journey of the Israelites through the desert on route to the Promised Land! 

What is the significance of journey with God? It is much more than simply moving from one place to another. It is God’s way of discipling His people to know Him and trust Him along the journey. Eventually God will bring us to a place where we are prepared to enter and receive the promises He has for us! When we understand the purpose of the journey, then we can find joy in the process of coming into the destiny God purposes for us! 

I very much see the hand of God leading us on journey of discovering our God-purposed destiny! Sometimes part of journeying with God is “waiting!” Holy Spirit has had me (Ray) in a season of waiting on Him; a time of testing whether I would pursue God, desiring His presence and will more than feeling the need to move;  or to make something happen when I couldn’t see what was ahead! This was actually a very encouraging time for I believe God purposed to show ME that He could trust me to wait and not jump ahead of Him! The passage God showed me was that of King Saul being stripped of his authority as king because he refused to wait for Samuel to come and offer sacrifices (1 Sam. 13:8-14). God cannot use us fully until we come to the place where He can trust us to wait on Him and not move until He says so! 

One of the things that came out of this time of waiting is that God began to show me things about myself, and our journey. How we can identify with the Israelites in that our journey seems like is has been so chaotic! Yet God showed that He has been with us throughout, and He has been refining certain things in us. One thing Holy Spirit seemed to show me is that I have been searching for a place of destiny. The journey has brought us through many forms of ministry which are very valid and valuable for the work of the Kingdom; and we have often leaned toward them because we inherently knew their value. However, Holy Spirit also revealed the difference between choosing based on human reasoning (a valuable ministry) versus being led by the Spirit into the place of God-given passion and destiny! 

Consider these thoughts: Do we serve God out of duty or destiny? As servants or as sons, daughters, and friends? Out of obligation or passionate love? Which would you rather do? What do you think of this statement: “If you are not passionate about how you are serving God and others, then you may not be walking in your God-given destiny (yet)”? Allow me to respond in this way: We are created by God to serve people and pursue God with great passion! To believe that God wants you in a place of drudgery and joylessness is to misunderstand the heart of God who is unfailing in love and faithfulness! My testimony is that my journey with God has brought me to a place of deep passion! Being led by the Spirit through faith is the road to discovering our place of passion and destiny in God’s Kingdom!

Next Step!

We are still on journey with God, and as sojourners on this earth, will continue to be until we dwell face to face with God! Holy Spirit has shown that what we have been doing has been good, but, for me, not where my God-given passions lie most! So, to be fairly direct, we have been released from YWAM Colorado Springs and full time ministry with Discipleship Training Course, and have been accepted on staff with YWAM Denver!

Why YWAM Denver? First, this is where we have taken two schools over the last couple of years. We have a sense of family where we know the integrity and passion of the leaders and staff! Second, I believe Holy Spirit has led us to return here because this is a place where we may most effectively be discipled in the the ministry God is calling us to. Different YWAM bases have differing focuses of ministry, and YWAM Denver aligns best, from what we currently know, with the direction God is leading! The third reason is closely related to the second: the spiritual environment as well as ministry opportunities fit better in how God is leading! Included in this is the possibility of being involved with staffing the WISE School (Worship, Intercession, Spiritual Warfare and Evangelism). This is where my passions lie! And most importantly, we believe Holy Spirit has led and opened the doors for us to move in this direction! 

To keep this newsletter from getting too long, I will end at this point but  will continue to share more of our vision of ministry in the near future!

Prayer Points!

  • We need about $500 (US) more of monthly committed support. 
  • Housing is diUSfficult to find in the area of the base, so we ask for intercession for this need!
  • Favor in the process of transition!
  • That God would “prove” our faith as rightly placed, and give witness to many through this!

Contact Info!

  • Mailing address (temporarily):
  12750 W. 63rd Ave., Arvada, CO 80004 



In Passionate Pursuit,

Ray & Laurel 

  • US Donations Can Be Sent To:
YWAM Colorado Springs Strategic Frontiers
Attention: Accounting
PO Box 60579
Colorado Springs, CO  80960
USA

Please make checks payable to "YWAM" and write our code in the memo line: #590. Please do not put our names anywhere on the check! Phone: 1 (800) 367-9926 if interested in setting up automatic monthly donations!

  • To our current financial partners in the US, we will be sending you information about an address change to Denver YWAM in the near future!  Thank you for your faithfulness as we’ve traveled this journey!
  • Canadian Donations can continue to be sent to:
Y Project Funding Office
PO Box 57100
RPO East Hastings
Vancouver, BC, Canada 
V5K 5G6

Phone: 1.604.436.4433
Fax: 1.604.436.4466
Contact directly if interested in donating through credit card or monthly withdrawal!


 Canada: Please do not put our name on a cheque. Instead, write our code, FR04, on the memo line and make cheque out to YWAM! 
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