Sweet Conviction

Sweet conviction, Oh what bliss!
My Jesus set me free
T'is such joy to feel His rod
Gently probing me

I will not listen to the lie
That t'is unkind of cruel
T'would be much worse to stumble on
Without His gentle rule

His guiding hand ever upon
to comfort probe and keep
T'would be sorry, without a shepherd
To be a wayward sheep.

So do not tremble, dread or fear
My Lord is at the helm
He knows the things that must be done
To reach the heavenly realm

So gently will He guide you
Through valleys of death and life
and you will reach that sweeter land
no more to harbor strife

But e'er to dance before your King
"All glory honor and praise"
Will be the song we are will sing
And worship all our days


Inspired by the session "Pain" given by Eric Ludy

The Call of God - Steve Gallagher

This was prayed for us!

Roomies!!

Hello! I am posting for Kourtney who has been ever so busy these past few weeks.

This is her roomie Amy.

Hopefully she will have time to post soon.

-Kayla

Hi All!

Hi Everyone!

I am nearing the end of my second amazing week here at Ellerslie!
There are so many amazing things that God has been teaching me this last two weeks, but it would take longer than I have to go into that.
I will say that He has been showing me more of His wonderful nature, which in turn draws me closer to Him.
I don't know how often I will be able to post. But I will try to update you all as much as possible.

The Staff here are great! They are truly living lives pored out for Christ.
The students are wonderful too! They all have a hunger and fire for Christ that is truly inspiring!

Well I have to run!
Hope to talk at you soon!!

Kourtney

Hello All!

I am so sorry that I haven't been vary faithful about posting :/

Just one more week until I leave for Ellerslie! I think we're leaving on Sunday the 30th. Check in is at 1:00 on Monday. I am SO excited!!! I can't wait! And yet, I dread leaving home for so long.

I have allot of thank you's for a lot of wonderful people who gave me wonderful gifts/donations that are WAY overdue. So here they are.
A HUGE Thank you to:
Dale, Tam, Dallas and Rachel Scribner and their church, The Powell Holiness Church
Dana Hargus
Susanne Woolley
Dorthy Pilkington
Dan, Alisha, Ashton, Landon, Mason and Samson LaFrance
Tom and Laurie Krawczyk and family
Gordon and Sandy Gerber
Frank Harrison
Jim and Peggy Theile
Pam Sawyer and family
Eric, Dianne, Annie, Even and Andrew Peterson
Dan and Danita Fenn and family
Jeanene and Kaleigh Taylor
Jerry and Debbie Christian
Terry and Loretta Abney
Elzie "Papa" and Joann "Meme" Priest (my Dad's parents)
Joe and Loretta Priest
David Gray and Nancy Gates (who don't even know me, but heard about what I am doing from a friend and decided to help out anyway!)
Uncle Melvin and Aunt Kim Priest and family
Melvin and Deborah Priest
Aunt Judy, Cassie and Jessica
Stacy, Rebecka and Stacie Jewel
Sharon "Nanny" Buckmaster (my Mom's mom)
Bonita Blackburn
Uncle Max and Aunt Carolyn Graham
Denver and Della Ferguson

Thank you all SO much!
I hope one day you'll know just how much I appreciate all of you and how blessed I am by your support!

P.S. Sorry if I misspelled any of your names!

Why I'm Going

The lady talking in this video is Danita Estrella of Danita's Children, the orphanage that I will be working at the end of this Summer.

Doesn't this just melt your heart and make you want to be there helping save these children from a life of bondage, a life without Jesus Christ our Savior?

Another Wonderful Blessing

Has come my way this bright and beautiful Tuesday afternoon!
I would like to say thank you to Mr. Richard and Mrs. Cinda Bailey for their loving gift, and for listening when God called them to give. Thanks guys! You are truly a blessing to me!

This Is SO Cute I Just HAD To Share It!

This Two Year Old Is Oh So Close To Knowing Her Scripture Verse from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

Hello To All Of my Adoring Fans!

I thought you all might be interested in "meeting" some of the other students that will be attending Ellerslie this Summer and see some pictures of Ellerslie so I put up a link to the Ellerslie Students website (it's in the right hand corner :D)

Salvation - Ian Thomas

I think this one speaks for itself...

All I Can Say Is WOW!

Praise Him From Whom All Blessings Flow!

God has really been providing this week!

First of all, I got a very loving gift from Dan and Joanne Priest! Thanks guys!



I got another (one time) house cleaning job.

My cousin Lisa called and asked if I would be willing to take on a few more houses, because she has some friends that are looking for some one. So of course I told her yes.

She also asked if I would be willing to watch her little girl sometimes. Yes again :D



So even though none of this is permanent at the moment, "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Phl 4:19)

Thank You God, Gary and Debi!

I received a very generous gift from Gary and Debi (my cousins from AZ) this week!
It puts me that much closer to being fully funded for Ellerslie and Haiti and the plans that God has for me there.

I am still about $4000 short (for the first part), but my God owns "every beast of the forest, and the cattle upon a thousand hills." (Psalms 50:10 KJV) So I'm sure He can handle it :D

Have a great day!

Today

I am rejoicing in the love of Jesus Christ! And trusting Him to provide for me in this great venture!
For "It is the LORD who provides the sun to light the day, and the moon and stars to light the night. It is he who stirs the sea into roaring waves." (Jar 31:35 NLT) I'm sure if He can do all that He can provide the few thousand dollars that I need:D

The Work Begins

Before the opportunity for me to go to Ellerslie was even presented, I had a job offer from Nathan and Jenelle Baughman. They asked if I would be willing to spend a month helping Janelle out with there two baby girls while Nathan worked.
I wasn't really sure about it at first. Then after I got excepted into Ellerslie God showed me that this was how I could come up with the first $1000 that I needed within thirty days of getting excepted.
I already had four hundred in the bank and Nathan and Janelle agreed that they could pay me six.
This was really a blessing!

I had been working on raising more, but then my Dad got really sick and I had to help Mom allot with the kids (watching them while she took Dad to the doctor, taking them to and from counseling, speech, etc.) So, haven't really had much of a chance to work.
Thankfully Dad is now on the mend and I am TOTALLY open to any jobs that God brings my way:D

I am very blessed to have been given a job helping Miss Sophi Watters clean houses. It's only one day a week but ; "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin" (Zac 4:10)



Thank you all SO much for your prayers!!



Love, God bless and have a GREAT day!

What Should I Do?

This is the question that had been rolling around in my head for weeks.

I had thought about going to nursing school, and I even had what I thought was an opening. But, thankfully God closed that door (although I was kinda bumbed at the time).

So, I just kept praying, "God what should I do with my life? What is your plans for me? I don't mind staying at home for a couple more years, maybe getting a job teaching violin or something, then eventually getting married and raising a family, if that is what you have for me."

Sometimes I would get discouraged with the not knowing. Other times I was content to let God do things in His own good time.

Then one day Mom got an email from Pure Life Ministries about a college that was being set up in CO.

Mom showed me the email. She had gotten one a couple of months before from "Set Apart Life" (a ministry set up by Eric and Leslie Ludy, the authors of "When God Writes Your Love Story," and many other great books). I didn't remember it at the time, but later I recalled that when she had gotten the email from the Ludy's about it she had said that if I were ever to go to a college that that would be the one she would choose for me.

When Mom got the email form Pure Life we were getting ready for a trip to MO. We didn't really have time to consider it, but we decided to pray about it.

You can probably guess what we talked about on the way to MO:D

After I had prayed about it and felt peace I talked to Dad and Mom about applying. I asked that if this was what God had for me that He would open the door and I would get excepted and if it wasn't that He would close the door and I wouldn't.

So, I filled out the application and sent it in.

About a week afterward I got an email from Steve Gallagher, Dean of Ellerslie, and founder and president of Pure Life Ministries. We set up a time to have my phone interview.

I was very nervous and could hardly eat for the next five days!

Then the day came. We had our interview and when we were through Mr. Gallagher said, "You'll get a letter in a few days, but I guess I can tell you right now, Kourtney. You are excepted! Your are exactly the kind of person we are looking for here at Ellerslie." My replay was a dumbfounded, "REALLY?" He laughed and said, "Really!"

So that is how God pointed me in the right direction and my journey to Ellerslie began.