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 & Mrs. Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick. 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