There hasn't been a whole lot of activity here on the Spiritual Journey blog, nor my email newsletter, mostly because life things on my end have been ever-evolving. But here are a few updates. 

Spiritual Direction/Coaching

I continue to serve as a spiritual director in various capacities. I have people I meet with for one-on-one spiritual direction, which is one of my primary ways of living out my calling to be a spiritual guide and companion for others. I love the variety of people I get to journey with as a spiritual director, and honored that people offer that place in their life to me. Currently I have a bit more space to do this, so if you are looking for a spiritual director, please contact me.

Ministry on Oahu

Steve and I are planting a ministry movement that is currently based on the West Side of Oahu in Hawaii. The last few years has been an adventure of seeing God's Kingdom transform individuals, families, and neighborhoods around us. Our faith community has launched several missional expressions of ministry, including a few house churches, a ministry for mothers of young children, and a prayer group for staff and faculty on a university campus. I personally lead several groups for discipleship and mentoring, which is probably where I feel my gifts are best used. It is a joy to see people living their unique purpose and calling, and extending the Kingdom outward into the world.

Spiritual Journey Website

Several years ago I launched this website to house a lot of the spiritual formation resources I had created. Since putting this stuff online, these materials have been utilized by people around the world. On a weekly basis, I get emails from people saying they used the Life Reflection or one of the Creating Space For God guides during a prayer time or retreat, and had a powerful encounter with God. Some of you have found this website because you were seeking online resources for your spiritual growth. I love hearing from you! As long as this website continues to serve people in need of spiritual guidance, I'll continue to keep it going.

Email Newsletter

Another resource that I began alongside this website is my email newsletter. I originally called the newsletter "Weekly Notes," which ended up being a bit ambitious. I now realize I don't have the bandwidth to send weekly emails, and doubt many of you want a weekly email from me anyway. So I've renamed the newsletter, "Notes From Larissa." I'll send them once in a while to offer encouragement or other tools you may find useful. If you've ever replied to one of my emails with a prayer request, please know that I take that request seriously and truly do carry you into my prayer times.

Personal Update

As a wife, mother to three, ministry planter, and a whole host of other roles, I am constantly editing my life and recalibrating to the call of God. I used to write and blog more, but have done a lot less this past year. I've been reading a lot, most recently enjoying memoirs by people with vastly different experiences than mine. Our children are each in different schools, so I'm constantly juggling multiple schedules, school needs, and social commitments. And while pieces in my life evolve and change, my values and purpose remain steady. I know I am a daughter of God, beloved no matter what I do. My commitment is to hear and obey the voice of God. Though ministry forms change, I am a life-long disciple of Jesus, and life-long disciple-maker. 

All that to say, thanks for joining me in the journey.

If you haven't yet signed up to receive my email newsletter, you can do that HERE. You can also find me on Instagram HERE.

Are you trying to pursue and live out your purpose?

In January I wrote about purpose, and shared 6 Reflection Questions to Help You Live Out Your Purpose. A significant part of our spiritual journey is identifying our unique, God-given purpose. But we also need ongoing support and tools if we want to continue living with purpose.

In my own journey, I have learned that one of the most important things in living out purpose is community. We need a community of fellow purpose-driven people. In my faith community, we call this our "Purpose Posse." It is the community of people who are helping to spur each other on in purpose. Here are a few examples from my own life of how community with others helps me live out my God-given purpose:

• We are part of Bluewater Church, where purpose is explored and pursued. In addition to engaging with our larger community, Steve and I also host an Ohana/Family group in our home on the West Side of Oahu. This Ohana group is built on empowering each other in the faith journey. Our weekly times together are some of the most fueling and life-giving for me because it's a diverse group of people actively being purposeful.

• The Spiritual Journeyers Facebook group is an online space to encounter God and receive support from a global community. Our group began about one year ago with just a handful people people who wanted to encourage each other. Now it has over 380 members from all over the world!

• There is a monthly Creatives Gathering, a community of people who are trying to write, create art, start a business, or make anything that doesn't yet exist. We work at our art, and challenge each other to keep going when we get stuck.

• I have an inner circle of people who are my travelling partners. These people - my husband, my spiritual director, mentors, and a few friends - are the key people in my life. They know me at my best and worst, and help me keep pressing forward.

Who is your community? Do you have community with people who help your live your purpose? Do you help others live their purpose? If you don't have a community, what is one step you can take to engage in one?

If you happen to be on Oahu, come check out this awesome seminar hosted by my church, Pathway to Purpose, on Saturday July 29th in Honolulu. If you want to identify and be empowered in your life purpose, come join us! Space is limited, so register now. Email me at hello@larissamarks.com if you're interested - I can get you a great discounted rate! More details are here on the official Facebook event page.

If you enjoyed this post, check out these related posts:
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My Spiritual Practices: An Interview With Alan Fadling
My Spiritual Practices: An Interview With Eddy Ekmekji
My Spiritual Practices: An Interview With Cat Moore