What's your sacrifice?

An excerpt from a letter I recently wrote to someone whose life challenges me so much!

Dear  X,

"God gives us material for sacrifice.  Sometimes the sacrifice makes little sense to others, but when offered to Him it is always accepted."

I don't know if you remember reading this quote but it is from Elisabeth Elliot's Passion and Purity.  I always thought it meant in regards to purity and relationships but lately God has given me a new clarity of what it really means.  I thought it was so applicable to you that I had to write you and share it.  To some older Christians in the world I know you may think they see you as "strange" (sorry I didn't know what other verse to use and wanted to convey a point) because you aren't pursing marriage at this time.  While we both know it is something you'd love to have one day it isn't your focus.  You didn't go to college to get your MRS. degree and you aren't going about life constantly waiting for that moment.  I love that trait in you.  I love that God has worked in you and directed your heart and passions towards Him.  There is really no greater love than that and no greater expression of Christ himself.  If we are truly to become like Christ we must become like Him in all of our actions in such a way that everything we do and want reflects Him.  I was thinking of the verse John 15:13 today which says " greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."  I used to think this verse was in regards to how we should treat others until I took it in context with the next verse "You are my friends if you do what I command" (John 15:14).  The verse isn't just in regards to how we treat others but rather in regards to how Christ has treated us and how we should treat Him.  I pray that your love for Christ becomes like this, that you are so in love with Him that you are willing to go wherever He leads.  I love that you have already stepped out in doing this.  That you are laying down your plans of what you thought your life would be for His plans for your life.  It is an encouragement for me to see that your love for Him goes before anything else in life. 

And the letter went on but in my heart I was so challenged by this person's love for God.  My prayer for all of us today is that we would use whatever material God has given us for sacrifice despite what others may think.  I pray that we remember in putting God first that it is always accepted by Him!!!

I will not leave you...

As you may know during Thanksgiving I took a group of college age girls to the Dominican Republic to go on a missions trip.  You can read more about the trip here.  Before this trip we would meet weekly to go over verses in the Bible that discussed orphans.  During one of these bible studies I shared with the girls something God had laid on my heart.  I had been driving to church one Sunday and heard the song "Jesus Paid It All".

The Reality of the Orphan Crisis

Orphanage In India

Please pray for India, the orphans there and the future of how God may have us to be involved in the future...

Lifesong India from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

What should the church look like?

Do you ever wonder why our churches look the way they do?  Do you ever read Acts and become convicted over what they should look like?  Today I was listening to a message while working on some things at work and I was completely convicted.  I don't know if I've ever heard another message that so perfectly illustrated the church in Acts compared to the church now.  If you attend church this is a must listen to.  Enjoy!

Pray for Asia

This video breaks my heart but puts the reality of the world right in front of my face.  This will be a challenge to every believer who doesn't understand why we want to send people overseas if there are unsaved people in America. Really makes Romans 10:14-15 hit home.  "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 

Happy New Year!

For those of you who follow my cooking blog also (www.cookingwithcourt.blogspot.com) this may be a little redundant to you but I wanted to make sure I posted on both blogs about the New Year. This year has been wonderful, crazy, stressful, busy and scary all at the same time. This year I became Mrs. Latter - yep that's right I'm no longer Courtney Greer, I'm now Courtney Latter. Still sounds a little weird but I'm getting used to it. Probably the biggest shock was that it was easier than I expected. I know weird right? Honestly though, people had me completely freaked out. I kept hearing "the next 5 years will be the worst years of your life, but don't worry you'll be fine after that". I was honestly so freaked out that the week before the wedding I kept having to tell myself "it's ok, they say that's only 5 years, just look forward to year 6". All I can say now, is that if this is "hard" then year 6 is going to be awesome!!!! I love that Shale and I are so compatible and that he supports every passion I have. During this year I also had the wonderful privilege of figuring out some of my passions in life. I've realized that I am in love with cooking, my heart breaks for orphans, and I find more fulfillment in discipleing college age girls that I ever thought I would. Due to this I have started 2 blogs and I love being able to have an outlet for sharing with my friends. Thank you to everyone who reads either of my blogs. I love each of you and the fact that you put up with my ramblings about orphans in India, girls who need mentors, or the best way to roast a turkey.   I hope you have a wonderful New Year!

11 Prayers in 2011

These are my prayers for 2011 that I hope you will join with me in.

1. For my friend S in India, pray that as he begins his journey into Northern India God would keep him safe from persecution.  Pray for the orphanages he comes in contact with and that we would find a way to help them.  Also pray that as they start secret churches that God allows His word to multiply all throughout this community.
2. For my friend J who is leaving in a few days to go to India. Pray that as he is speaking to students that God would open doors to share the gospel. 
3. For my friend Caitlin as she moves to NYC to minister to refugees from India.  Also pray that God gives her direction as she begins her journey after NYC.  Pray that as she goes through the journeyman process that God would have His will in her acceptance or rejection of locations. (you can follow her journey on her blog at www.mynextstepoffaith.blogspot.com)
4. That God would reveal to me what He desires for me to do with the passion for orphans that He has developed in me over the past year and a half.
5. That Shale and I would continue to glorify God with our lives and be a witness to others of what a life of denying yourself and following after God looks like.
6. That God would open doors for Shale and I to follow our passions in ministry. 
7. For church planters in the Tampa-area.  I have heard recently of several churches beginning in the Tampa area.  Each of these could potentially reach a different group of people than local churches are reaching now which I feel is exactly what the bible says to do.  Pray for these people as they start a hard process in some difficult areas of Tampa.
8. For the girls in the college ministry that I cannot reach. I look out every Sunday and Tuesday and see so many that need someone to invest in their lives.  I've realized over the past year that trying to invest in all of them just leads me to not making an impacting investment in any.  God has shown me a few to invest in deeply and I pray that He will lead others to help reach the rest.
9. Pray for L, A, and W (not giving their names because they would be embarassed) but these three girls are the three girls I mentor.  Each of them have grown so much in the last year.  Pray that they continue to grow and that they find someone they can invest in also.
10. That God would show me someone else He would like me to make an intentional investment/discipleship with.  I have been praying and this is a hard decision because there are so many girls in our college ministry that desire a mentorship but I want to make sure I'm praying about this before I just choose.
11. As this year comes I pray that I wouldn't settle for lukewarm.  That I would take verses like Galatians 1:10 seriously.  I pray that I will stand firm in my faith no matter who may question.