Prayer Priority and the Practice Thereof

As the wife of a minister I am often asked "Will you pray for...?” I'm sure many of you in the family of faith receive requests for prayer as well. This has been on my mind of late, even more so as my church is going through an intense 40 days of prayer and fasting emphasis - asking God for revival.

I'm thankful when someone asks me to intercede in prayer. I am blessed to pray for them and with them, and grateful to be part of what God is doing. (I love to pray right then and there - in grocery stores, in the hall at church, over the phone, in a car, wherever - it is marvelous.) I know I have much to learn, but the power and privilege of prayer blesses me so - and I wanted to share about that on this very rainy day here in Georgia.

Besides trying to stay in an attitude of prayer, I have a way that I organize my prayers so that I have a prayer focus each day. Be assured I am not bound by this, but it helps me stay focused and fruitful. I get off track just like we all do, but I always go back to this pattern. I started this prayer plan close to 20 years ago and first got the idea from a book by Emilie Barnes.

Daily: My husband, sons, daughters-in-law, grandson, my sisters and their husbands/kids, and the other pastors/wives at my church

Sunday: My husband as worship leader, my son who is a pastor, my other son who leads worship, and my pastor and other church leaders, our choir and orchestra, the deacons, Sunday School teachers, and God bless the nursery workers

Monday: Extended family

Tuesday: Leadership - Ministry leaders, Missionaries, Political leaders, my doctors and dentist

Wednesday: Those sick, bereaved and with special needs

Thursday: My list of those needing salvation

Friday: ME - specific things in my own life, goals, needs

Saturday: Whatever is on my heart - and also a good time to just read my Bible longer since I don't have to go to work

Also, here are some ideas about praying for others:

• If possible, pray right then! I've NEVER had someone say no when I've asked, "may we pray right now?
• Write down the prayer request and transfer it to your prayer journal.
• When God wakes you up in the middle of the night - PRAY! :) Because I am easily distracted and I know the enemy of souls does not want me praying, I keep a pad on my nightstand and in my prayer chair and if my mind wanders...I jot down what is interrupting me, and get back to praying.

One of life's greatest joys is seeing God answer prayer. As Oswald Chambers says, "Prayer is the greater work." I would love to hear from y'all - do you have any prayer practices to share?
Love & Prayers, Jan

The Life of a Minister’s Wife

Part 1:
The Life of a Ministers Wife - part 1 from stephen proctor on Vimeo.
Part 2:
The Life of a Ministers Wife - part 2 from stephen proctor on Vimeo.
Part 3:
The Life of a Ministers Wife - part 3 from stephen proctor on Vimeo.

Beth Moore and 1,200 Ministers' Wives!!!

This past weekend me (my husband is our Worship Pastor) and three of the other ministers' wives (Senior Pastor, Adult Education, and Recreation) from my church trekked to Nashville, TN for the Living Proof Live Event for Ministers' Wives at Two Rivers Baptist Church. We also attended the pre-conference event on Thursday evening and Friday morning too. The breakout sessions and Q&A panel time was so good! I attended "Laugh a Little for Crying Out Loud," "Balancing Act," and "Armed and Dangerous." They were so good, and very applicable!

Then on Friday evening, we could hardly wait for Beth's teaching and the music from Travis and the Praise Team and band! On Saturday morning we did a "hymn sing," and it was M-A-R-V-E-L-O-U-S. Beth went around the church and asked the women to tell where they were from and what hymn they would like to sing. Some of them were "Blessed Assurance," "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," "Redeemed," "Come Thou Fount," and "I'll Fly Away!" It was so beautiful to hear all the ladies voices blending together.

Beth with her pink boxing gloves - ready to "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!

These are my notes from Beth's sessions. She taught from Galatians and ENCOURAGED us beyond measure! She gave us 6 "Aggravations" and 6 "Alternatives," each with 6 words...

1. Aggravation: Ministry by default. Life long misfit. Alternative: Chosen by God. Have holy fit. 2. Aggravation: Seek Their Approval. Become Their Slave. Alternative: Seek God's Approval. Find Your Peace! 3. Aggravation: Work With People. Expect Titanic Problems. Alternative: Choose to Trust. Not to Rust. 4. Aggravation: Trade Your Bondage. Keep Your Chains. Alternative: Don't Ignore. Get Restored. Then Restore.

5. Aggravation: Sow the Flesh. Reap the Dregs. Alternative: Sow the Spirit. Reap the Life. 6. Aggravation: Lose What Counts. Watch Misery Mount. Alternative: Keep the King the Thing - JESUS!

There was a very special moment that humbled my heart. Toward the end of the event on Saturday morning, Beth asked me to come down and voice a prayer on behalf of all the ministers' wives for the widow of the slain Rev. Fred Winters who was killed in his pulpit last Sunday, March 8th. To have 1,200 other pastors' wives all praying together for our sister, Cindy Winters, was a memory that will stay with me for a very long time. May God continue to bless and comfort Cindy and her daughters and meet their every need.

And lastly, here are some Ministers' Wives SIESTAS!!! Amy W., me, Tammie Fay, and Kristi B!

Much love,

Georgia Jan

Picnic Pictures

These are the pictures from our "Second Annual Family Picnic" a.k.a. "The Crab Fest" because my Dad serves crab legs and shrimp and all the fixins. It began to celebrate our nephew's World Series win in the American Little League!

The Dessert Table...see my Trifle (recipe in last post!)

My Dad, the "King Crab!" Crablegs and Shrimp on the Grill! Cousins! My Three Gorgeous Nieces!

Papaw, Grandmama and the Grands

The Broccoli Slaw has arrived... Relaxing by the firepit at the pond...

The Picnic ends as the sun sets...it was a great day for our family.

Million Dollar Trifle Dessert

I made a delicious dessert for today's family picnic (my parents, my sisters and their kids, my husband and our boys and their wives, and Zeke!!!) I can't wait! I even have a niece here from the the Left Coast, aka, "Californee." :) The weather is picture perfect - I'll post some pictures later! Anyway, this is the dessert called "Million Dollar Trifle." It is light and lush and good to welcome Spring...or to celebrate the beginning of Daylight Saving Day!

MILLION DOLLAR TRIFLE

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 store bought pound cake (vanilla or sour cream flavored, and you'll only use about half of the cake)
• 1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 20 oz. can of crushed pineapple with juice
• 2 11 oz. cans of mandarin oranges (drained), save some of the orange sections to decorate the top)
• 1 small pkg. of Jello cheesecake flavor pudding
• 1 12 oz. container of Cool Whip (save some to "ice the top")

PREPARATION:

• MIX: cream cheese and powdered sugar
• FOLD IN: crushed pineapple and mandarin oranges
• ADD: Cheesecake jello and Cool Whip
• STIR ALL ABOVE WELL TOGETHER!!!
• Slice several pieces of the pound cake
• Cut the cake pieces into cubes
• Layer bottom of trifle bowl with cake cubes
• Add a layer of pineapple/orange pudding mixture
• Layer more of cake cubes
• Add another layer of pineapple/orange pudding mixture
• Cover with Cool Whip
• Garnish with Mandarin Oranges
• I made an M out of the oranges...which could stand for: Morton, Million $ Trifle, Marvelous, Mandarin Orange.....:)
Make one - it's easy and light and good!

Love y'all...Georgia Gran 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

It's a Snowy Day in Georgia!

It is snowing in Georgia - SNOWING, yes I said SNOWING!!! Don't laugh, but we just get so excited every 11 years or so when this occurs, we are absolutely beside ourselves. I know some of you are so used to snow (real snow) but we are NOT - not here in the middle of the state where I live, otherwise known as the coastal plain. Here are some pictures:
This picture above is right off my back patio...see that "giant blob" right above my birdbath? WOW! Now that is a big snowflake :) The daffodils are bravely holding their heads high, because it will probably be 70 degrees by Tuesday or Thursday...
This picture above is from my front porch looking out to our pecan grove and then to the farm across the street. The snow began this morning while we were at church. Folks were headed to Morning Worship after our Bible Study classes. It was coming down so fast and the flakes were so big and beautiful. People were running outside and taking pictures! Silly? Yes! Southern? Even more so!
Now this snow is NOT sticking to anything, but it is so beautiful nonetheless. I just wanted to share with you the joy of our rare occurrence, especially with Spring 3 weeks from today! I'm headed back to get in front of the fireplace and study a little more before my Esther class tonight!

But the greatest joy is that Jesus has washed our sins whiter than snow. Now snow is white and I mean WHITE, but Jesus said our scarlet sins will be as white as snow! I rejoice in that on this snowy day in Georgia.

Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow...

Much Love, Jan