Jackie's Journey "Unthinkable Sacrifice"

This Friday is “Good Friday”.  This day is “specifically set aside for us to meditate on all that Jesus suffered, all the pain, the shame, and the curse that characterized his death. My eyes well up with tears when I consider the unthinkable affliction Christ endured.

 Every year around this time—right before Easter—a certain plant comes alive on my patio with bright, red blossoms. It is commonly known as “Crown of Thorns.” 

I always enjoy parking my chair close to it to examine its delicate flowers, so thin, fragile, and brilliant with red color. But then, I take a moment and let my eyes linger on its huge, thick, nail-like thorns, rumored to be those used in the crown placed on my Saviors head.

The pain and humility Jesus physically suffered leading up to his death was a mere warm-up to the real dread he faced.

As he hung on the cross, he began to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during those hours that his body was impaled, an earthly foul odor must have wafted, not around his nose, but in his heart. He felt dirty. Human wickedness began to crawl upon his spotless being—the living excrement from our souls.

The apple of the Father’s eye began to turn brown with the rot of our sin.

I let the thought settle deep, forcing my heart to imagine the rage, the wrath of God being poured out like hot oil on the wounded heart of the Son of Man. God the Father watching as his heart’s treasure, the mirror-image of himself, sank drowning into raw, liquid sin.

There is no room for a casual sentimentality regarding the cross—as an instrument of unspeakable torture, the cross is far too gruesome for any light-hearted fondness”. Written from the heart of Joni Erikson

 After reading Joni’s article, my heart began to sing and

I took on a new, magnified, eternal gratefulness

 for all that HE did for me on the cross of Calvary… 

  How about you?

Join me today in carving out quiet time to reflect on the awful weight of Good Friday. And then, breathe a prayer of wonder and thanksgiving to our Savior

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey "I Want EVERYTHING!"

"“A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.  They had everything in their collection from Picasso to Raphael.  They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

 When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to war.  He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier.  The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.  About a month later there was a knock at the door.  A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

 He said, ‘Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life.  He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.  He often talked  about you and your love for art.’

 The young man held out his package.  ‘I know this isn’t much.  I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this’.  The father opened the package.  It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man.   He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting.  The father was so drawn to the eyes  that his own eyes welled  up with tears.

 He thanked the man and offered to pay him but the soldier replied, ‘I could never repay what your son did for me…it is a gift’.  The father hung the portrait over his mantle and when visitors came, he took them to see his son before he showed them any of the other great works of art he had collected.

 A few months later, the man died. There was to be a great auction of his paintings.  Many influential people gathered, hoping to purchase a famous painting for their collection.  First, on the platform, was the painting of the son.  The auctioneer pounded his gavel.  We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.  Who will bid for this picture?

 Someone in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings.  Skip this one.”  But the auctioneer persisted.  Will someone bid for this painting?  Who will start the biding. $100.00 - $200.00??  Another voice shouted angrily, ‘We did not come to see this painting.  We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts…”  Get on with the real bid’s’.

 But still the auctioneer continued, “The son…the son…who will take the son?”  Finally, a voice came from the very back of  the room.  It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10.00 for the painting.”  Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. ‘We have $10.00, who will bid $20.00?’

‘Let’s see the Masters!’ $10.00 dollars is bid, won’t someone bid $20.00?  The crowd was becoming angry.  They did not want the picture of the son.  They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.  The auctioneer pounded the gavel.  “Going once, twice, SOLD for $10.00.”

 A man sitting in the second row shouted,” Great, now, let’s get on with the collection’.  The auctioneer laid down his gavel and said, ‘I’m sorry but the auction is over.’ ‘What…what about the paintings!’ ‘I am sorry.  When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will.  I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time.  Whoever bought the painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.  The man who took the son gets everything!” ( author unknown)

 God gave His Son 2,000 years ago to die on the cruel cross.

 Much like the auctioneer, His message today is,

“The Son, the Son, who will take the Son?” 

 Because you see…whoever takes the Son gets everything!

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey "Earnest Influencers!"

We hear so much about “influencers” in social media…it has even become an official  title.  These are persuasive people who are passing on what has worked for them. We can be swayed for good or bad.  We can be persuaded by truth or by what appears to be sound reasoning, but will lead us astray.  How can we know the difference?

  As a former tribal missionary,  persuasiveness is convincing others to follow God’s ways because of how His ways are working in our lives and we are confident the Word of God is truth.   Influencing is helping people find out what they need and then showing them the best way to get it. Inspiring people requires a confidence in our message that matches the truth and love in our hearts. 

 We are all “influencers”… we either bring people nearer to Christ or we repel them from Christ. Our lives are more persuasive than our words!  We are known and read by all men…like books! II Cor. 3:2   Our attitudes are being read daily by our little prince and princesses and our influence is mighty strong. 

 Our need to communicate truth through sound reasoning and motivating our children to follow the ways of God are imperative and we cannot begin soon enough. When we talk to people, they are reading  us and asking themselves… what is in it for me and what difference does it make if I disregard the information given me?  In witnessing, the ultimate gain is Heaven and the ultimate loss is hell.

Paul was a master at persuading people to turn to Christ.  He “testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus…”Acts 28: 23  How are we inspiring others to believe in Christ,   influencing friends to join us in doing good for others in need, or in drawing the rebellious around us to clear their consciences?  We are inundated with persuasion that leads to divorce, division and unbelief. Let’s choose to intentionally influence for  good  this week…

 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt,

 that you  will  know how you ought to answer every man.”

Colossians 4: 6

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey "Enthusiasm Rocks!"

My Enthusiastic Granddaughter!

Do you experience emotional drain or depression by trying to act enthusiastic when you feel anything, but?  I have always associated energy with enthusiasm.  I lived with a man for 60 years that had boundless energy and his enthusiasm was outrageous and contagious! We, moms, encounter  it at our children’s soccer games as we stand and cheer them on or in an auditorium where our little princess is performing…

 In the Princess Parable Series each princess had her own source of energy (their names are Grace, Hope, Faith, Charity and Joy) that expressed itself in never-ending momentum.

Enthusiasm turns ordinary actions into extraordinary achievements. Jim Elliot wrote, ”Whoever you are, be all there.  Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”  Abraham Lincoln once said, “When I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees!” Biblically speaking, enthusiasm is God’s energy in my spirit expressing itself through my mind, will and emotions. The provision HE gives for us to be “fervent in spirit”. Rom. 12:9-11

 Am I energized and inspired by God today?

If any people ought to radiate passion, joy and enthusiasm…we should!

 Then,  I guess the question is, “Why aren’t I?’ “ What should I be enthusiastic about? How do I become a zealous Influencer for good?”  Genuine enthusiasm is not something we generate on our own.  It is the harmony we have with God when our spirit is expressing the joy of our soul.  How fervent am I about the things that have eternal value?” 

 What and who do I get excited about?  Do I look for it by pursuing social media, etc.… more than the Word of God? Am I zealous toward God, His Word, prayer, good works?  Am I “exceedingly glad” when I am spoken evil of? Matt. 5: 12  Do I, like Paul,  “pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,  in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses?” I Cor. 12: 10

 Am I an example or an excuse in my responses to life’s situations?

 Enthusiasm is the by-product of having a life purpose that is worth dying for.

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey "The Touch of Compassion"

The Touch of Compassion

 When suffering is fresh, answers don’t always reach the problem where it hurts. In “A Royal Easter Story”, a seasonal book included in “The Princess Parable Series”, we find our  five princesses in a fast-moving chariot, racing five squires through the forest to the annual Easter Celebration. A fierce storm has interrupted their furious activity, and puts them in position to discover and rescue a little girl who is alone and lost.

 The teaching of the parable of the selfless and caring Good Father, who not only gives us good gifts, but answers us when we seek Him was the lesson the girls remembered their father teaching them when they stopped and reached down to pick up the little drenched and sobbing waif.

 The race was important, but not as important as the needs of this small lost child.  The life-lesson to a True Princess is that she must learn to lose her life serving others first, no… I CAN BEAT YOU…ME FIRST” attitude.  That diminutive lass opened the girl’s eyes to see the real race in life.

 “I led them with cords of human kindness.” Hosea 11:4  This means God helps, serves, leads, guides, comforts, heals, and loves through the compassion of believers. The need is great…

 What is your response when you see someone hurting?

 Sympathy is feeling sorry for people who are hurting.  Empathy is feeling pain with hurting people.  Compassion is doing something about the pain. Three men saw a wounded traveler by the side of the road.  The first one must have felt sympathy as he passed by but left him lying there.  The second might have felt empathy because he stopped and looked at him, but the third man had compassion because he stopped and helped him.

 Which one are you?

 Compassion is not a virtue.  It is a commitment.  It is not something we have or don’t have. 

It is something we choose to practice.

“But whoever has this world’s good, and sees his brother in need,

and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him,

 how can the love of God be in him.”

 I John 3:17

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey "Is Anyone Listening?"

When you are making a decision or looking for an answer, where do you go?  The internet, social media, a trusted friend…where?  There are voices everywhere.  How can we be confident that we are listening to the right one?  

My Dad called me “Princess” all my life…he had four!  As a teenager, working at his office one summer, I was asked to drive into the airport in Los Angeles and pick him up.  It was a workday and I stood quietly waiting as the plane landed, watching carefully for my father.  Somehow, he had disembarked and I had missed him! Running to the street…he was nowhere in sight!  All I could see was a blanket of the backs of fifty business men in black suits, all carrying the same black valise, scurrying for taxis and limousines.  In my panic, I simply called out…one time…”Daddy!”.  A very tall handsome man promptly turned around to smile at me. My dad instantly knew my voice and immediately responded!

 Can we hear the voice of God like that?

How do we recognize HIS promptings when HE speaks to us?

 We can be confident that the quiet urging will be to do HIS will and will be in harmony with the Word of God.  When the “power of the godhead” walked into our lives at salvation, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit.  This HELPER is given to govern us and is one of the most important aspects to living a life in harmony with God.  We are able to discern when HE is prompting us to think, speak and act according to HIS Word.

 This small, quiet voice will warn us of temptations and if obeyed, will produce godly character in us.  When we resist the voice, it doesn’t force us, but becomes quieter and quieter. It can be quenched!  Knowing and understanding that voice is imperative to our relationship with God.

Listening for that voice when I am looking for an answer or making a decision is the difference  between a life of peace or one wrapped in chaos.

 “When we rely on organization, we get what organization can do.  When we rely on education, we get what education can do.  When we rely on eloquence, we get what eloquence can do.  But when we rely on the Holy Spirit, we get what God can do!” A.C. Dixon

 Are you listening for His voice?

 “It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers

 that his Helper is omnipotent.”

Jeremy Taylor

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey "Pardon me...I am Not Wrong!"

Have you ever been grievously offended? 

Can you recall someone who deeply hurt you?

 With five little girls in “The Princess Parable Series”, there is always the challenge of learning how to maintain mutual respect and harmony.  In life, our pain often turns to anger, and if not dealt with, becomes  resentment and bitterness, which ultimately torments us and damages our peace and our health!  Bitterness is like leprosy.  It loses any sensation of pain.  People are then, unaware of when they are hurting themselves or others with their words, attitudes, and actions.

There is only one solution.Being able to forgive is an act of the will and “if we forgive others their offense, then God will forgive us.  If we choose not to forgive, God will not forgive us!”  Matt. 6:14-15  You may have a story of anguish…a time in the past where you felt betrayed and your heart was broken…your dreams shattered. 

True forgiveness disregards any thoughts of cynicism, retaliation or revenge. 

 How forgiving are you toward offenders?

Are there people you have not forgiven?

 The more we comprehend how much we have been forgiven, the easier it is for us to forgive others.  Forgiveness is mentioned over 120 times in the Old and New Testaments.  In reality, the offender is the instrument God is using to develop our character.  To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed on us by someone or something else.

 The offenses of others should cause us to become aware of others needs . It gives us the opportunity to allow God to heal them through us, instead of our self-protection with anger and self-pity…”woe is me”, victim mentality.  “God has a BIG eraser!”   We are commanded to forgive to maintain a clear conscience and to fellowship with our forgiving God.

 “Great peace have they that love thy law and NOTHING shall offend them.”

Psalm 119: 165

 Are you willing to forgive?

”I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul

by making me hate him.”  Booker T. Washington

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey "Danger Zone!"

“Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others.”

Winston Churchill

We live in a world of conflicting ideology and duplicitous standards and convictions.  The world’s view is “conforming” with an independent spirit, wrapped in a “me first” attitude, with a demanding and rebellious entitlement issue. A godly worldview is just the opposite.  It calls for spiritual-mindedness, the focus on the success of other’s and a mighty spirit dependent on someone bigger than ourselves.

 God wants each of us to be mighty in spirit…”To be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.”  One of the purposes in writing “The Princess Parable Series” was to help equip young moms to know how to build courage and “might” into the lives of their little princesses.

 To be mighty in spirit means we have a sense of our relationship with the God of the universe and we know His presence.  We are continually developing a fear of Him, which is a healthy understanding of the consequence of wrong choices and sin.  There is a requirement, with no compromise, to instantly respond to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit and to be alert to temptations and spiritual danger. 

 Learning to build our lives around basic scriptural principles and convictions is a given, no excuses; and knowing how to “bind Satan” with the springboard for prayer and rescue others from his grasp is a basic necessity.  When we teach our children to become wise and “mighty”, we realize the intense responsibility we have to be wise and mighty! 

 Are you “mighty in God’s Spirit”?

 We are in a battle for the minds and hearts of our children. 

Today is the day the battle stage is set for definitive action. 

Are you ready?  What will you do?

 “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”

Zechariah 4: 6

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey "You say...JOY?"

One of the five books in The Princess Parable Series is titled, “ Princess Joy’s Birthday Blessing”.  In it she finds the real meaning of her name and the blessing of knowing what true JOY is.  “Joy is not a luxury or a mere accessory in the Christian life.  It is the sign that we are really living in God’s wonderful love, and that His love satisfies us.” Andrew Murray 

 How can Joy and Sorrow exist together?  I have had one year to contemplate the answer to that question.  I can affirm that it is possible to have them at the same time because joy is an expression of the spirit, and sorrow is an expression of the soul (mind, will, emotions). 

 Do people see a bright countenance when they look at you and me?  Joyfulness is the bright spirit and radiant countenance that I have when I am in full fellowship with the Lord.(Bill Gothard)  Ralph used to ask, “What is the purpose of joy?”  Joy has no value until it is given away and the one who gives it away becomes richer.

 In the jungles of Panama, a little river otter followed one of the boys up from the river and attached himself to our families.  This little fellow made even the most mundane chores a delight, by turning everything into a playful pursuit!  He made me believe that “Our purest and noblest joys are transformed sorrows!” Alexander Maclaren

 Joy is proof to the world that God can fully satisfy the human heart!  To experience joy, we need to understand that :

§  All things come from the hand of God. He is Sovereign. (Job 1: 21; Matt. 10: 9)

§  Everything that happens to us is ultimately for our good. (Rom. 8: 28)

§  Every circumstance can build character in us. (Rom. 8: 29)

§  Trials & difficulties can teach us God’s ways.  ( Job; Psa. 119: 71)

If you are struggling with grief, as many out here in the California wildfires are, or those mourning the loss of life in the Potomac River plane crash recently, or a multitude of other heart-rending events…know that joy is yours when you surrender to Him, under His protective hands. C. S. Lewis said, “Joy is never in our power …”

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey "... No Retreat!"

How determined are you, mom?  How often are we called to teach our little princesses not be discouraged or be disheartened?  We say, “It’s going to be OK, no more tears”.  Maybe the job you asked them to do seems too big or they are struggling with being left out or have a sense of abandonment.  We have the opportunity to share the divine purpose from God’s point of view that will wash tears away and build a new determination.

 The character quality of determination deals with a mind-set prior to the task.  The character quality ofendurance involves the carrying out of the task.

 Solomon “determined to build…” II Chron. 2: 1

Daniel  “purposed in his heart…”Dan. 1: 8

David “determined to mourn…” II Sam.3: 35

Disciples “determined to send relief…” Acts 11: 29

Paul “determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ & Him crucified…” I Cor.2

 Determination presupposes careful consideration of the cost and requirements of the task and a decision that the task is worth whatever expenditure is necessary to accomplish it. It may be a garden in the back yard or a marriage! 

 Life consists of choices.  After a wise choice is made, determination is needed to carry it out.  Wise choices are usually challenged by difficulties and temptations. Do you persevere on tasks that are more difficult than what you expected?

 Moses chose to “suffer affliction with the children of Israel rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin…”

Esau, on the other hand, did NOT determine to protect his birthright and sold it!  Years later, he tried to recover it…but it was too late. Heb 11:25

 Do you commit to each goal and overcome any obstacle you encounter along the way or do you contemplate “giving up?” “When God is about to do something great, He starts with a difficulty.  When He is about to do something truly magnificent, he starts with an impossibility.”   Armin Gesswein  Whatever your circumstance today, determine to know He has the path that leads to His divine purpose, and walk  confidently, in the reality of His unwavering leading and directing.

DETERMINATION  IS LIKE A BOMBER PILOT PASSING THE POINT OF NO RETURN,

THEREBY CUTTING OFF THE OPTION OF RETREAT!!

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.