Archives for February 2013

1,000 GIFTS, #985 to #1,000!!!

February 11, 2013 11:03 PM 6

 My journey to ONE THOUSAND GIFTS will finish with this post, but the counting will not stop! I’m thankful for the discipline that this sojourning has grown in me.  An intentional attitude of heart, mind, soul and spirit…to see His grace in everything. Everything! It has truly been so good for me, and I hope for you too!

985.  The sound of rain as I type this post. Blessed rain on our tin roof.  I love the sound of rain, the smell of a fresh rain shower, and the way my gardens look after God waters them. We’ve had several good long DAYS of rain.  So thankful.

986. A text message from my friend and praise team member that says “WE HAVE A NEW SISTER IN CHRIST!”  Her precious little girl came to faith in Jesus last week.  God’s GRACE manifested in the most wonderful of all ways – salvation. By Grace we are saved through faith.

987.  My sons serving together in ministry – Jeremy preaching at our church’s Disciple Now event this past weekend and Jonathan leading in worship. I love when Jeremy can “come home” to his home church, and that Jonathan still attends his “home church” with his wife and two of  my grandchildren.  I’m so thankful for the investment our church makes in young people called to full time vocational ministry.

988.  A trip to Covington this past Saturday to honor Memama, the Morton family Matriarch and  my wonderful mother-in-law.  She will be 91 in four months – it was good to spend time with her. Here she is holding great granddaughter Emery. Priceless.Emery-Memama

989. The Metro 2 Music Conference ended in a wonderful way last week as we were blessed to be led in worship by Christy & Nathan Nockels. It was pure joy to share a meal with them too. One of my favorite things is when she told us we were “her people.”  Indeed we are! They are precious people.Nockels

990.  I am not sure I can even share the JOY that this picture gives me.  Jackson was standing on the steps to the stage (he wanted to be up there so badly) and he was “playing” his little guitar as he watched his daddy play his guitar. And bobbing his head in time with the music…Father-Son

991.  A quiet time place that calls to me. The privilege of prayer and God’s Word so readily available in several translations, a journal, pens, highlighters, and even the ability to be able to read and understand. Thankful for my Teacher, the Holy Spirit.

992.  GRANDSONS.  Gran.Jan’s.JOY! Can’t wait to see these two cousins grow up together. They remind me SO much of their daddies. Jackson-Zeke

993. LIVE OAK TREES.  Savannah. Hearing Christy Nockels sing “For Your Splendor.”   I love THIS CD and the lyrics about our roots deep in Christ and becoming branches bearing fruit. LiveOak

994.  Being around young worship pastors and their wives – and being refreshed by them, and praying that they were encouraged by older worship pastors and their wives…like me and mine.

995.  RIVER STREET in Savannah is a special place. Gary and I love to go there – we went to both Savannah and Charleston for our 25th anniversary. Walking River Street again this past week and thinking about how good God has been to us the past 10 years (as we’ve now been married 35 years) and our family has grown to include two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren this past decade!  So very thankful!River Street

996. I am especially thankful for my job and the good people I work with. As hard as my schedule is sometimes with family, work, and church commitments, God gives me the health, grace, and blessing to work.  I’m thankful for His daily provisions.

997.  Refreshing times that include a glass of good old Southern iced tea. I like mine “cut in half,” which means half sweetened/half unsweetened.  I don’t like really sweet tea, so this is just right!  I enjoyed this glass while sitting at the table at Paula Deen’s Restaurant.  The sprig of fresh mint was just like the icing on the cake…that special touch!Tea

998.  And may I tell you how much I love coming home and driving down this driveway of oak trees? Especially on Friday afternoons when the weekend awaits! Time in the garden, time on the front porch, time to just be.HomeDriveway

999.  The Blessed Assurance of my faith in Christ that daily gives me the JOY, HOPE, and STRENGTH to live and abide in His love.

1000. Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.  Grace, grace, God’s grace.  Grace that is greater than All our sin.

Thank you Jesus for this Journey.

Much Love,
JAN

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February 11, 2013 11:03 PM 6

1,000 GIFTS, #967 to #984

February 4, 2013 9:24 PM 2

967.  MY DAD CAME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL after 54 days! Praising God from Whom ALL Blessings Flow! Thankful for his healing, for this journey, and for the JOY of having him back home.  Thank you to everyone who prayed.  We are most grateful. Here he is with his little dog “Dixie.”  Dad-Home

968. I’m writing today from beautiful Savannah, Georgia while helping my husband host the Metro 2 Music Conference, an annual conference for worship pastors and their wives.  This conference has meant so much to me when I’ve been able to attend.  This year serving as one of the hosts has been very special.  It is good to serve. This is the view from our room on the Savannah River!Riverview

969.  It is really a blessing to be with a group of women whose husbands are ALL worship leaders. We have an immediate bond, and that bond is Jesus, but that bond is also music ministry.  I was in our room early yesterday wondering who will fill these chairs…Metro-Ladies

 970.  This dear lady, Mrs. Esther Burroughs, is speaking to the wives attending the conference alongside their husbands.  She is JOY!EstherandMe

971.  I enjoyed sitting at the registration table on Sunday afternoon greeting all the music pastors and their wives as they arrived with a big “Hey Y’all!” Metro-Books

972. I’m excited about another conference that is coming up May 31-June 1, 2013.  Enjoyed a meeting last week as the Planning Team met for a rally in Atlanta.  Click here for all the details for the Living Proof Live with Beth Moore and Travis Cottrell event!LPL

973.  I cannot imagine a trip to Savannah without a stop at Paula Deen’s “The Lady & Sons” Restaurant.  We had a joyful time here and the staff loved hearing all the music pastors “singing the blessing” as they beautifully lifted their voices to sing The Doxology. LadyandSons

974.  These grandbabies are the JOY of my heart – you all know that if you’ve read much of these gifts to 1,000…here are the oldest three atop a hay bale visiting with Pop’s cows…GrandsonHayBale

975. I worked in a different office a couple of days last week and was blessed beyond imagination when a lady told me at the end of the day…”You love Jesus and it shows.”  I cried and hugged her and thanked her for affirming me that way.  Oh God, may my light shine for You in all I do.

976.  A big, long, tight, squeeze around the neck from Zeke.  I know he loves me because he tells me and then hugs me so tight. I sometimes think my heart will just burst from  the JOY. 

977. The joy of watching sweet Madie Ruth talk and express herself with her eyes and face that lights up.  We had lunch at “flick-chil-a” last week.  I LOVE the way she says Chick-fil-a.  She is precious.

978. My mom with my granddaughter,  her great-granddaughter, Miss Emery.  Sweetness.EmeryandGigi

979.  And my mom has been an amazing pillar of strength during my dad’s illness.  She’s an old-fashioned strong woman, who endured long times away from my dad while he served in the Vietnam War.  Her faith was a testimony to her girls.

980.  Sweet fellowship and bonding with my sisters Joan and Jo while dad was so very critically ill.  I saw the goodness of their love for him and realized what my family “is made of.”  I know they will be there in the tough times – they proved that the past 2 months.

981.  Cards in the mail.  That someone took the time to write, address, stamp, and mail.  I love emails and I love Twitter and quick text messages, but nothing beats a card to read and hold in your hands.  I love how God graces us with perfect timely messages.

982.  Love stopovers at little restaurants in the country… Scotts

 983.  This is my son Jonathan (on the right) with his baby girl and one of our staff pastors (Dawson) and his baby girl Brylee.  The dads are the same age and the baby girls are the same age.  Delight! Dawson&JW

 984.  New mercies every morning…to count His gifts of GRACE, of family, of service, of healing, of ministry, of work, and knowing that they are ALL grace gifts from His Mighty Hand.NewMercies

 Blessings my friends,

Gran Jan

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February 4, 2013 9:24 PM 2