I’ll tell you this, there are no “snips and snails and puppy dog tails” with this little bundle of blessings! He is pure delight to me! I kept Zeke for a while around noon today so my son could take his wife, my daughter-in-love, out to lunch…he is sweet that way. My husband set a good example and for that I am so thankful, he’s a sweetheart too. I pray Zeke will grow up to be sweet too – I believe he will because his parents are committed to raising him up in the Lord. He is a delightful baby and I wanted to share some updated pictures of my grandboy. Indulgent, yes – but hey…I’m Gran Jan!!!
What Are Little Boys Made Of?
Beth Moore: Graciously Genuine, GLORY!
Last weekend I was privileged to attend Travis Cottrell’s live recording concert at the awesome First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia. It was a fast-paced weekend of pure D-E-L-I-G-H-T. I was blessed to stay with my precious friends, Sonny & Mary Perdue…at their residence, otherwise known as the “Govnah’s Mansion.” 🙂 We had two very special guests join us at the Mansion…Mrs. Beth Moore and her beautiful daughter Melissa (who lives here in Georgia). They were delightful…understated elegance, mother and daughter, two precious peas in a pod. We laughed our heads off, enjoyed a meal together, and had the sweet fellowship of Jesus all around.
Having loved Beth Moore “from afar” for many years and having facilitated all her Bible studies…currently “Esther, It’s Tough Being a Woman,” I was so excited about having some face-to-face time with her. Even though I have spent innumerable hours watching and listening to her on CD, DVD, TV…I knew this would be different. To be honest, I was a little jittery inside. I knew for sure that I was going to have a GREAT time…but I wanted it to be a GENUINE time. I wanted to know for sure that the lady IS what she IS and what I felt in my heart that she IS! Praise God, as my spirit bears witness – SHE IS!!! Delightfully real and genuine to the bone. She prayed a blessing over the Perdue home, she loved on their granddaughters, she listened intently as others talked, she came downstairs Sunday morning with her comfy clothes and her black fuzzy houseshoes on and NO MAKE-UP (still gorgeous with flawless skin)! She is no pretense, just precious, polite, and very petite! I don’t know why God allowed me, a simple Baptist Pastor’s wife the opportunity to spend time this past weekend with Beth Moore, a woman who has done more to encourage my spiritual walk than anyone else on the planet…but this I do know: I thank Him and I receive this gift straight from His Hand to my heart. Thank you Jesus – I love You! And I love you all too!
Georgia Jan
PS: I did not take a single picture while we were together – proof of the great fun and bonding time! But my heart holds the memories and will until Jesus comes…Beth said the same thing!
My Boy and His Boy
I love this picture, it brings me (Gran Jan) lots of joy! This is my boy and his boy, my Jeremy with his Zeke. I love watching my son and his precious wife (my daughter-in-love) with their son, my grandson. They are happy parents, grateful for the opportunity to be parents, when they were “told” they probably would not have children. My God is a mountain mover, and He has blessed us indeed with this gift of love. This is the reason for my blog and hence the title…Gran Jan’s Joy. I blog to share my joy – joy in Jesus, joy in my family, and joy in sojourning until He comes to take me home. Until then, my heart will go on singing, Until then, with JOY I’ll carry on…
Do-Overs and A Focus for 2009
Good Evening Y’all: Have you ever heard the term having a “do-over?” That’s how I feel when a new year begins – fresh and clean! A new beginning, a clean slate, a “do-over” so to speak. (My sisters and I use to give each other do-overs in games – at least once a game – for when we would mess up…we were sweet to each other that way…occasionally!) I love to keep order and make lists, even in my prayer journal. It helps me stay focused and on target, as I’ve been told by my precious and loving friends that I “tend toward ADHD.” I know I do, oh yes I do. (I have been known to leave my bathroom while brushing my teeth to go do “something else” and end up slurping the toothpaste foam until I can get back to my bathroom and finish brushing…)
Anyway, I wanted to share Psalm 15 with you all and hope it will touch your heart as it did mine. I am going to memorize it as part of my commitment to memorize scripture in 2009.
Psalm 15 (New Living Translation)
1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts.
5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
I want to do all these things in 2009 (and beyond). From Psalm 15, I want to: worship in His sanctuary, enter His presence, lead a blameless life, do what is right, speak the truth from a sincere heart, refuse to gossip, refuse to harm my neighbors, refuse to speak evil of my friends, despise flagrant sinners, honor faithful followers of the Lord, keep my promises even when it hurts, lend money without interest, and take no bribes or lie about the innocent. I WANT TO STAND FIRM FOREVER!
I love y’all so, Georgia Jan
Excited, Energized, and Eager for Esther!!!
This coming Sunday – January 4th, 2009 – I will begin facilitating the new Bible Study by Beth Moore, “Esther, It’s Tough Being a Woman,” at my church, and I am excited – ecstatic – eager – energized! I have no idea how many women have signed up – I’ll know in just a few days, but this I do know: whoever God chooses to bring to Bible Study will be blessed as she digs deep and determines her destiny.
I know many of you are starting this study soon as well, and some (Jenny Hope!) are already through. I love you all – thank you for your encouragement to me as I began my blog this past summer. 
2008 has been full of celebrating for “Gran Jan” and my joy in Jesus is complete. I thank God for my precious grandson and look forward to all God has in store for our family in 2009.
Blessings, Georgia Jan
Romans 15:13
Siesta Ornament Exchange 08
This Ornament Exchange has been a wonderful blessing because I had our very own Siesta Patty’s name and she had my name – how about that??? Patty is precious and thoughtful and the gifts matched my season of life during this Christmas season. She blessed me with a box of goodies. Several ornaments – one that said “Believe” (see it there between Redeemer and Jesus) because she knew I believed God for a grandbaby that wasn’t supposed to be here! She also gave me a picture frame that said “M-I-R-A-C-L-E” because that is what I believe happened when Zeke was born against all odds. Thank God He is in control of “all odds.” She also sent me a gift card to Hobby Lobby and I applied it toward my new Christmas wreath…I am so proud of myself because I am not a crafty person. 
Patty introduced me (through her blog) to a drink at Starbucks called a “Caramel Apple Spice” (or is it Cinnamon Apple Spice)? Anyway, she sent me a gift card to Starbucks and I will be able to enjoy this drink several more times thanks to her generosity! You know what else I absolutely LOVED? My Christmas card from Patty. The back said “Christmas on the Farm” and I live on a farm. (Did you know my card said that Patty?) It is the prettiest card I have received all year. Thank you Patty for your generosity amidst all you have gone through – being sick and the changes in your life. You are a true blessing and I am praying that God will return your giving spirit in ways that only He can do!
Merry Christmas to all, Georgia Jan
Soli Deo Gloria “To God ALONE the Glory”
This beautiful maple tree is all alone in a pasture of evergreens. The name of this tree is “Glory Maple.” This is Mr. Glory Maple’s first year at our farm and it is showing off! We planted him back in January.
I am re-naming this tree: Soli Deo Gloria! To God Alone be the Glory! For He is the one Who made this tree and all glory is due Him. I love Him because He first loved me and He “planted me” too…and I want my roots to grow deep in Him so that I can truly say, so that I can TRULY say…To God ALONE be the Glory!
So what is it that truly matters to the Lord? The great composer Johann Sebastian Bach signed each one of his masterpieces soli deo gloria…to God alone the glory.”
I met a wonderful woman named Tammy (a.k.a. “Grateful in Georgia”) at the Siesta Fiesta back in August, and with whom I bonded in an instant (over Holly’s [a.k.a. Crown Laid Down] wonderful cookbook compilation). Tammy and I are the same age, same birthday (one day apart), same JESUS (THE Reason for the instant bond). She wrote a blog post about her life and grandbaby that blessed me so very much this morning. Go here to read it Breaking Free. She is attending the re-taping of Beth Moore’s study by the same name. What a powerful post to ascribe to “Soli Deo Gloria.” The people of Micah’s day had much the same problem that we see in our lives as believers today. In Micah 6:6-8, the prophet asks a question and then answers it himself.
“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
To Act Justly, To Love Mercy, To Walk Humbly,
Help me Lord,
Soli Deo Gloria, Georgia Jan
