Seasons

Hello Everyone :)

Thank you so much for taking the time to be a part of this journey. Your support means more than you will ever know.

A quick update and prayer needs--then I would like to share a little of my heart with you.....

Since I have been here, the to-do list for September seems to have grown in leaps and bounds. I am beyond excited, but realizing that I will need every moment of the next 4 months to do all that needs to be done. I successfully bought 70 pillows for our little kiddos to use in September and transported them in my car--if you've seen my car you know this is quite a success story! I have also had the opportunity to meet with various people who will be a part of The Hidden Place in September. It has been such a privilege to share the vision with people and here there input. I am so thankful for the people God has placed in my life that are joining me on this journey in so many different ways.

Please continue to pray--there is so much to be done still. Pray that the correct people will be placed in my path to shape this into what God desires it to be. Pray that God clearly gives direction as to what Scripture we should focus on during the week--pray for the kids that will be joining us in September, pray that I have clear vision as to the direction the week should take--pray for the churches we will partner with to do follow up after the camp is over---

The list could honestly go on and on....just pray please--and allow the Holy Spirit to intervene.


Today I was reading in Psalm 1--let me share v.3 with you--"He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season. And its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers."

I don't know about you, but I would love for that verse to describe my spiritual life. I want to be planted--I want to yield fruit in my ministry for Christ--and I want the things I do for Him to prosper. However, what I am slowly realizing is that I desire the joyful, fruit-bearing times without graciously accepting the difficult seasons of pruning and growth. I'm not sure about you, but I don't know of any trees that are constantly bearing fruit--they must go through seasons of being pruned to produce fruit in the next given season. And yet as believers, we pray and ask God to deliver us from the difficult times--when instead we should be asking Him to use them to grow us into what He desires us to be. So that in season we will be able to produce fruit--let your Father prune you--allow Him to rid your life of the things that are holding you back from living the life He has for you.

Finally here..

Hey everyone--so I have been back in South Africa for a few days and just want ed to give everyone a little update on what is going on.

I arrived on Friday evening and have been doing my best to beat jet lag, unpack, and get settled. The main goal for this week is to spend some time with God focusing my mind on what He has me here for. I must say there have been many factors trying to steal my attention away; however, I am praying that God would help my mind to stay focused on what He has me here for.

The family I am living with is truly amazing. I am so thankful that they have opened there home up to me and taken me in as one of their own. Even though I am missing my family and they could never be replaced--I feel so blessed to have a "surrogate family" for this season in South Africa.

It has been wonderful to catch up with friends and be reminded of the beautiful, supportive network God has given me here. I truly am blessed with people who share life with me--we have laughed, cried, shared our hearts with one another, and rejoiced for what God has in store for the future. 

I have been reminded in so many moments in these past 3 days that God has me exactly where He wants me. I am privileged and honored to be able to live out my dream--and I know that takes place here. There are so many things left to figure out--to-do lists to cross off, meetings to arrange, logistics to sort out--and yet my heart is so at peace with the ministry God has given me. I am overjoyed.

I do ask for your prayers--while the past few days have been full of joy, there have also been some difficult circumstances to work through. God is faithful and I know His hand is on my life. However, I am human and facing some struggles. I ask that you pray that I will face these things head on and work through them so that I can continue to focus on why I am here. Pray that satan will not have a foothold in any area of my life--and that God will triumph in human weakness.

Thank you for your continued support--it is because of you that I get to live my dream every day! I will do my very best to keep you all updated on what is going on with The Hidden Place--thank you for sharing in my life with me. Thank you for being a part of the ministry He has so graciously given me. I can't wait to see what the future holds--and September isn't too far away :)

Provision

Sometimes I wonder why God has chosen me to be a part of this ministry He has created. Most days I feel ill-equipped and unprepared---and everyday I feel unworthy. People have told me it is a great thing I am doing, but I am quick to tell them that I am the privileged one. For some reason, God has placed me in a position in which I get to live my dream each and every day--there is no sacrifice in that, only joy. And yet I still have moments when I feel responsible--when I feel like all of the weight of the success of The Hidden Place rests on my shoulders. I am realizing more and more that when that thought crosses my mind, I am basically saying that this is mine. I am claiming ownership on something that I was given.

The Lord is so very faithful. In spite of my doubts, failures, and shortcomings--God still chooses to give more than I could ever ask or imagine. I wonder where the finances are going to come from--and I am answered by people committing to donate monthly, or by a Sunday School class taking up an offering to sponsor two kids for a week at camp, or by a church spontaneously taking a love offering that was more gracious than I could ever have asked for. And it's almost like I hear God say, "Oh ye of little faith." Who do I think I am to doubt that God will provide for a ministry that He has placed me in? After all that I have seen Him do in my life, how can I still doubt His faithfulness to his children?

God is continuing to humble me--and overwhelm me with His love and the love of His people. To each of you who support The Hidden Place, whether financially or through prayer and encouragement, thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you for partnering with me to take the love of Christ to the precious children of South Africa. Thank you for being faithful, for giving sacrificially, and for loving like He does.

Everyday I get more and more excited about what God has in store. Some days I am giddy with excitement and some days I am humbled to tears about what God is doing. He truly is faithful.

news :)

Hi everyone :) Thanks again for your interest and support in The Hidden Place. God is continuing to open doors, and we are excited to see all that He is going to do through this ministry.

Just a few bits of news to share--First of all, the website is officially up and running! Please check it out at www.thehiddenplace.org and let us know your thoughts..

Some more exciting news is that I will be sharing about The Hidden Place at Mars Hill Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg, TN on the 10th of March, so please be in prayer concerning that.

And here is a way that you can get involved--we are holding a fundraiser at Pizza Inn in Ardmore on Tuesday the 12th of March from 5-8. All tips and 10% of sales go directly to supporting The Hidden Place. We would love to have you out to share in this night with us and enjoy dinner while helping to support us!

Please continue to pray for us as we are awaiting confirmation on non-profit status. We are praying that everything goes through within the next 6 weeks. Also join us in praying for the children we will minister to. September is right around the corner, and we are excited for what God has in store! 

Anticipation

Some days I wish I could wake up and it be September. My heart races at the thought of loading up fifty something kids in vans and starting this journey--I can't wait to meet them. I can't wait to see their beautiful faces and hear their sweet voices. I can't wait to run around with them, tuck them into bed at night, shares meals with them, and watch them try new things. I can't wait to share stories, tell jokes, and get to know what makes each one of them unique. But most of all, I can't wait to try and share the love of Jesus with them.

And then I realize how unworthy I am--A girl from North Alabama who is full of mess ups and sin and my own issues...who I am to get to have this chance?

My Jesus blows my mind. I have moments when the chaos stops, when I stop trying to figure out how everything will happen, and I just allow myself to get excited. In these moments I realize that He could very easily do this without me. I am utterly insignificant in the entire thing. On my own, I can't change a child's life. I can't impact them for eternity. I can't show them the compassionate and unfailing love of Jesus. I don't know why God chose this path for my life; I really don't--but I can tell you one thing, I am so glad He did.

He knows each face that will load that bus on Monday, each face that will lay down at night in a warm bed. He knows each of their names and their stories--all I can do is pray. Pray that the right people will come alongside us as we venture into the unknown of The Hidden Place.....and pray that what we do will not be in vain. Most importantly--pray that each precious child that embarks on this journey with us will know and experience the sweet love of Jesus.... 

Psalm 67

I am often times so quick to question God. Maybe not flat out--but in doubting something He has clearly guided me to, that is what comes through. It's actually quite crazy that I even have the audacity to doubt or question my Creator. It's like in Job 38, when God decides to speak to Job. In verse 4, God asks Job a question--"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding."

For the past few weeks I have been wondering how everything was going to come together for September. I know, it seems like a long time away, but it is less to do with the amount of time and more to do with it seeming impossible. I was in need of a major boost of faith--I know in my heart this is what I have been called to do. The Hidden Place is a dream that God constructed in my heart....Right when things began to seem overwhelming, I believe that the Holy Spirit led me to this passage in Psalms--

"God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us--That Thy way may be known on the earth, Thy salvation among all nation." 67:1-2

Such a peace came over me. Who am I to question God when He is the very one who led me to this vision? I am at such awe at my Creator--that in spite of my abundant mess ups and doubts, that He still chooses to lead me to find peace in His word. He loves in such a way that I sometimes find it hard to fathom....

Website..

Hi everyone! Just to let you know, the website will be live soon--it is still being worked on and finalized, so if you gain access, now that it isn't completely finished yet! I will post info here as soon as it is complete and ready for viewing!! Thanks for your support!

-Courtney