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.