Jordan Ministries August 2018 Newsletter

Dear friends,

 

On two of my previous trips to minister, I encountered detours due to road construction. While my GPS was telling me to turn left, the road was closed, leaving me no choice but to turn right. I found myself literally going in the complete opposite direction from where I needed to go, adding time I did not allow for when I left home. Same thing again last Sunday. This led me to pondering how life is often like this. Detours. We never welcome them, but ultimately if we follow the signs, we will end up where we needed to be.

As I returned to Cross Roads Baptist Church in Easley, SC, I was reminded how oftentimes the Lord has a purpose in those detours, while at the time we cannot see it. I had sung there in October 2015, just about a month after a heartbreaking situation had occurred in my life, resulting in a broken relationship with someone I love dearly.

As I had the rare opportunity to hear pastor Phil Henry preach after I had shared special music that morning, it was as if the Lord had singled me out and his sermon was specifically for me. His message was entitled "Persevering in Patience" out of James 5:7-11, "Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

As the pastor's wife Sharon and I visited, updating each other on the past 3 years, the Lord opened my eyes to see how that "detour" was the very thing He had allowed to be used to bring reconciliation in that relationship. While I had pleaded and fought tooth and nail for that very thing not to happen, today I can thank Him for what He has done as a direct result.

If it feels like your path has taken a turn you did not see coming, take a deep breath, ask the Lord to help you trust Him, and follow the signs He gives. My life Scripture Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He WILL make your paths straight." (emphasis mine.) Hindsight is 20/20 the saying goes. There is a lot of truth to that. This current detour may be the direct path the Lord planned all along to accomplish His purposes in your life and the lives of those He also sees and loves. Trust Him.

Blessings to you and yours along your own faith journey,

Dawn

Ministry at a Glance:

Thank you to each and every pastor, minister of music and ladies' ministry leader for inviting me and welcoming me into your churches and ministries. Without you, I would not have the 31+ year ministry that the Lord has allowed me to have, and it has been my sincere privilege and joy to serve alongside of you in bringing the Good News of the Gospel into your church family and communities. Thank you to these churches for allowing me to serve them in July: Memorial Baptist in St. George, SC; Kelleytown Baptist Church in Hartsville, SC; Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Hopkins, SC; CrossRoads Baptist Church in Easley, SC; Macedonia Baptist Church in Gaffney, SC and Aynor United Methodist Church in Aynor, SC.

Pastors, Worship Leaders, and Women's Ministry Leaders, as you are looking ahead to your 2018 Christmas calendars, I am available to share special music, a Christmas concert, a Christmas message/music, or be your guest vocalist to join your church choir's musical. We are scheduling into 2019 also, and I would love to come share my ministry as a part of yours as we partner together to reach people with the Good News of the Gospel. www.dawnsmithjordan.com

**Timeless Hymns II Update**

I’m excited to share with you all that my Timeless Hymns II project is slated for completion by the end of October and available just in time for Christmas! Thanks everybody for your patience. This has been a very trying year for Phillip Sandifer and his family, as his mother passed away, they had to put their beloved dog down, Rene had breast cancer, and recently Phillip had skin cancer surgery. I can hardly wait to share this new CD with you guys!

After a wonderful evening worshiping with Kelleytown Baptist Church in Hartsville, SC, the Minister of Music (Lin Kirkman) and his sweet family treated me to dinner at Shoney's before I drove back home to Columbia. We had a good laugh over the poster (of me) that they had put up there (among other places of business in town) to promote my concert.

 

On the Homefront:

July was the month of birthdays...Allison turned an age young enough for me to still be her mother! Hannah turned 25, and Ross turned 22. The 4th of July was a day packed with family and friends as my neighbor Martha turned 94, I made a road trip to celebrate Independence Day with my friend Julie (also a July birthday) and family, and then that evening Aunt Sue and I took in the Lexington County Peach Festival.

 

Ross's girlfriend Brianna and I successfully pulled off a surprise visit for me to fly to Denver to celebrate Ross's birthday! He was totally surprised when he opened his birthday card from me to read that I had so hoped to be able to celebrate his birthday with him, so I was on the way. Four days in beautiful, cooler Colorado included off-roading in the mountains in Ross's new truck (his request, a first for this mama), paddle-boarding on a lake surrounded by mountains (a first for Ross), and eating vegan the entire time (another first for me.) Malakai, my grand dog, loved his "grandma" coming and always welcomes the treats I bring him. Time with family is precious, especially when they live so far away.

Sammy finished his last heart worm treatment and is doing well, loving his new life and home here with Zoey and me. His restricted activity orders while the heart worms are dying off will be lifted on September 13th, and I can't wait for him to be able to run and play, completely well.

As the summer is winding down, I treasure each opportunity to spend with family and friends. Another season is about to have come and gone again, and fall is next, my favorite time of year.

 

 

On the Road Again: