Well, we are one week away from departure for South Africa. I am sharing our itinerary below. Please pray for me and my husband as God brings us to your heart and mind. (Remember, it is a 16-hour flight….) Sunday 8/16 Flight leaves at 8:10 p.m. Arrive in Johannesburg 5:15 PM (Monday) Monday 8/17 Arrive in South Africa Tuesday 8/18 Travel to Lichtenburg Wednesday 8/19 Outreach – North West Thursday 8/20 Travel to Pilanesburg – Outreach Overnight – Manyane Friday 8/21 Back to Johannesburg / Fly on to Cape Town From Lanseria – Arrive 19:10 Saturday 8/22 Planning & Ministry in Cape Town Conference Monday 8/24 Flight to Lanseria – Arrive 16:35 Tuesday 8/25 Depart from Johannesburg to home 8:45 PM Wednesday 8/26 Arrive Atlanta 7:00 A.M. I am so very excited about this adventure, and can’t wait for all God is going to teach me. I am praying He will use me to encourage and minister to others in His Name (and I believe that I will be the one that will be CHANGED). I am so thankful for the opportunity to go.
South Africa – 3
Brothers – Preacher and Worship Leader
This mother’s heart is so full of joy and gratitude tonight as I write this post on Gran Jan’s Joy. Last night, both of my boys were “back together” at our home church for a special youth service.
My oldest son preached and my youngest son led worship. I sat there and just cried with joy to the Lord, so did my husband. Both boys grew up at Second Baptist Church. We dearly love our church, my husband has served on staff there 21 years. Our oldest son has been gone since he was 17 when he began to pastor a church his Junior year of high school…yes.he.did. He is still the pastor of Cross Point Baptist Church and is now working on his doctorate degree from SWBTS. He has always been a great student. 
My youngest son leads worship in the student ministry here at our home church, and also sings in his daddy’s choir. He is a tax assessor, a real estate appraiser. Both boys are married, and our daughters-in-law are beautiful blessings, and we love them.
for me and wants to stay with me, and I love that so much. Heaven Came Down on July 7, 1985
Please let me share the wonderful day that Heaven Came Down for me! It was 24 years ago today, on July 7, 1985. I was 27 years old…a young minister’s wife and stay-at-home-mother to two little boys who were not quite one year old, and not quite four years old, and the absolute joys of my heart. Here is my story… It was a Sunday morning and our routine was the same. As was his custom, my early-bird husband was already long gone to the church, and I was home getting myself and my two little fellas ready for church. 
Another “sameness” to the routine was the nagging doubt that had filled my heart for quite some time. I knew deep inside that something was just not right. My heart was heavy and unsettled. I was lacking peace…but I had lots of pride. After years of being a church member and A.G.G. (Always Good Girl), the realization that I was trusting my goodness and not His grace were ever before me. For you see – I had never seen myself as lost. To be found you must first be lost. I was a card-carrying, rule-following, obedient hypocrite. But on that hot summer day of July 7th as the Sunday morning service was nearing an end, I could take it no more! The plagues of doubt were destroying me…but the Holy Spirit of God reached down that morning and brought the deliverance I was desperate for. I quickly slipped out of the choir and made my way to the front of the church. I took the Pastor by the hand. I told him that I had been going through the motions – and that I had never truly accepted the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross as payment for my sins. I had lots of “cranial” knowledge but no “cardio” knowledge. My head was full – my heart was empty! The surprised Pastor told me to have a seat on the pew and fill out a card to “join the church!” I gently told him that was what had gotten me off track years before…and this time I wasn’t joining the church, I was joining with Jesus! I turned aside and knelt down at the altar of that precious church and for the first time in my life realized my lost soul needed a Savior – a Redeemer – not a religious experience. I remember praying and asking Jesus to forgive me and come into my heart. My heavy heart was lightened, and the pride in “what would the church members say when they discovered the Music & Youth Pastor’s wife wasn’t even a Christian?” would worry me no more! Heaven came down and glory filled my soul! There’s an old hymn of the same title by J.W. Peterson that I absolutely love. Go here Heaven Came Down to listen to the festive melody that reminds me of a carousel at the fair!
1. Oh what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget.
After I’d wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Savior I met.
O what a tender, compassionate friend, He met the need of my heart. Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling, He made all the darkness depart.
Chorus: Heaven came down and glory filled my soul! When at the cross the Savior made me whole. My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day. Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!
2. Born of the Spirit with life from above into God’s family divine.
Justified fully thru Calvary’s love, O what a standing is mine!
And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came.
Took of the offer, of grace He did proffer,
He saved me, O praise His dear name!
3. Now I’ve a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time.
I have a future in heaven for sure there in those mansions sublime.
And it’s because of that wonderful day, when at the cross I believed.
Riches eternal and blessings supernal, from His precious hand I received.
So on this my Spiritual Birthday, I wanted to share my joy with you. The joy of knowing Jesus and the blessed assurance that it isn’t about what I do – but about what He did! It isn’t about my works, but the wondrous exchange of His death for my life! Born on November 16…Born Again on July 7! (Pastor’s wives make such better church members when they get saved!) 🙂
Because He Lives,
South Africa – 2
Flights will be booked next week and that is a serious prayer request from my heart to yours! I am not askeered (scared), I am a-claustrophobic! Seriously claustrophobic. In fact, my “most requested story to tell and act out with lots of drama” is about my trip to Chattanooga and RUBY FALLS back in the day when I was a young woman and certainly knew better than to act like I did. The problem was I did not know that Ruby Falls was an UNDERGROUND waterfall until I got down there…all the way down there in a mineshaft. My, my, my. My husband knew we were in trouble when he saw me laying on the ground, holding on to the tour guide’s ankles and begging her to take me back UP! She didn’t, and I still suffer today…bless my heart. Anyway, back to South Africa. The flight from Atlanta is around 16 hours, so pray for me. That’s a long time to be confined. Any good ideas besides a double dose of Ambien? Love y’all so much! JanSouth Africa – 1
Today marks the beginning of a journey to South Africa! The actual trip is late August of this year, but the process has begun in earnest. We have known about this mission opportunity since late Winter, but the details are coming together and I am beside myself. My husband and I finally got everything together and applied for our passports today! After finding out that I wasn’t “certified,” there was a delay. I have had a copy of my birth certificate for a VERY long time :), but only recently discovered it wasn’t certified. I got that taken care of this past week, so we are well on our way. The nice gentleman at the Post Office told us the turn around time is actually just 3 or 4 weeks! I want to keep up with this journey on my blog, so I’m going to number the posts…so today is number one! I appreciate your prayers as God brings me and this mission trip to your mind. Much love, Jan
Me and My Minister Man
This post is: “dedicated to the one I love…” My sweet husband of 32 years…The Reverend Gary Timothy Morton… My sweet girlfriend, Mrs. Lisa McKay, better known by her wonderful blog, “The Preacher’s Wife,” is beginning a new feature on her blog. Go here to read all about it…The Woman BESIDE the Man… I was thrilled to find out that I was to be the first PW she is featuring. I told her I feel like I won a “prize,” and I mean it! Let me tell you about my real PRIZE: my minister man! I am the most blessed wife in the world, and it is first of all because of the ONE I love, my Savior, Jesus Christ. He blessed me in my marriage with a precious young minister almost 32 years ago, and I have been honored to serve alongside him all these years. I have been to so many choir practices and church dinners and Sunday School classes and retreats and banquets and youth fellowships and lock-ins and missions conferences and revivals and Sunday mornin’, Sunday night, and Wednesday church…and NONE of that matters as much as the way this man lives out the life of a Christ-follower at HOME and in the trenches Monday through Friday! May I say this? HE IS THE MAN IN FRONT OF THIS WOMAN! Gary – I love you and I treasure you. Thank you for being genuine and loving and supportive of me – in all my seasons of life. Thank you for being an awesome daddy to our boys, and now “G-Daddy” to our little Zeke… May God continue to bless us as we sojourn together. I count it a privilege to be your bride… And as you say so sweetly, “our nest ain’t empty, we’re still here!” I love you, Jan
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
