Jackie's Journey "Woman-Power!"

We have all heard and probably repeated the old adage which is the biblical proverb, “Where there is no vision, the people languish and perish”.  (Pro. 29: 18) I have been focused on the vision God has for my life since I was in college.  It wasn’t until I got to II Peter in the New Testament that I understood God has a designed vision for me that He makes available to any those of us who desire to be a godly woman, wife, mom, grandma, powerful in her influence, firm in her faith. 

 “He has given us everything we need to live a godly life…”

(So, there are no excuses for patterns of failure!)

 There are two powers in relationships given by God that dominate the world.  The first is the power of authority.  It’s not a choice, its positional.  The second is the power of influence, which is a choice.

 Which one is the greater or more powerful?

 The power of influence is the greater power because it is a choice and it chooses to have power over another person. Our family, friends and every other relationship is affected…either inspired or manipulated by our use of influence. We learn to appeal to persuade our children and others to make right choices. (Esther is a good example!) We’ve all heard of “woman-power”.  Have you ever thought about it?  The man was given the power of authority and the women the power of influence. (Gen. 16:3)

 What determines our influence?

How is our power manifested?

 For good or evil, we woman are influencing ALL THE TIME.  We are a letter and “we are known and read of all men”. (II Cor. 3: 2) Others are always watching to see the REAL us through our responses to life’s situations and our attitudes which result in actions. “The serene silent beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world, next to the might of God”. (Blaise Pascal) Holiness vanishes when you talk about it but becomes gloriously conspicuous when you live it!

 A good example (instead of a bad excuse!) is the most inspirational influence.

 What’s your vision for your family?

How are you using your power of influence

to see that vision fulfilled?

 As a basic principle, what we do in moderation our children will do in excess.

Let’s commit to using our power of influence for a life of godly influence,

 that others might speak well of Him because of us!

~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 "It's A Choice!"

We have all heard and probably repeated the old adage which is the biblical proverb, “Where there is no vision, the people languish and perish”.  (Pro. 29: 18) I have been focused on the vision God has for my life since I was in college.  It wasn’t until I understood that God has a designed vision for me that He makes available to any woman who desires to be a godly woman, wife and mom, powerful in her influence, firm in her faith. 

 “He has given us everything we need to live a godly life…” (II Peter 1:3)

(So, there are no excuses for patterns of failure!)

 There are two powers in relationships given by God that dominate the world.  The first is the power of authority.  It’s not a choice, its positional.  The second is the power of influence, which is a choice.  Which one is the greater or more powerful of the two?   The power of influence is the greater power because it is a choice and it chooses to have power over another person. Have you ever thought about it?  The man was given the power of authority and the women the power of influence. (Gen. 16:3)

 What determines our influence?

How is our power manifested?

 For good or evil, we woman are influencing ALL THE TIME.  We are a letter and “we are known and read of all men”. (II Cor. 3: 2) Others are always watching to see the REAL us through our responses to life’s situations and our attitudes which result in actions. We have been given a wonderful gift to benefit others, if we chose…

 In order to exercise the power of influence to glorify God and live-in harmony with others, we need to take a look at our attitudes.  “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important that facts.  It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.  It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.  It will make or break a company…a church…a school…a home.  The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace that day.  We cannot change the past…we cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude.  I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.

 And so, it is with you (and I)…we are in charge of our attitudes.” (Charles Swindoll)

Have you captured His vision for you?

How are you exercising that vision ?

Your life is your message to the world…make sure its inspirational!

~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 "Authentic Answerability!"

Are you a Mom of a prince or princess?  Albert Schweitzer said, “An example is not the main thing in influencing others…it is the only thing.”  We teach what we know, BUT we reproduce what we are!  We should never under estimate the power of our influence…both for good and evil.

 On a scale of 1-10 how would you say you are using your power of influence for good, mom?  What would your children say?  With the multitude of distractions from the world and its cultural pressure to sway you to adopt what your conscience has already told you is wrong…”how ya’ doin?”

 “Without a vision the people perish.” Pro. 29: 18   What is your vision for your child?  “We have been created in Christ Jesus for a life of good works that he has already prepared for us to do.” Do you sense God’s vision for us and our children in that verse?  Do you hear the destiny and purpose in that promise? 

 Each child entrusted to us by God has a personal destiny and specific purpose, as you do.   My children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the fulfillment of my vision for the future.  My investment today will determine the fulfillment of that determination…tomorrow.

 Authentic answerability is taking responsibility for becoming the godly mother with a sacrificial heart that will walk carrying the burden of HIS heart. That makes being a mom a doable task empowered by our God that can and will do it, when we are yielded to His leadership and submitted to HIS vision and purpose for us and our children.  I Thess. 5: 24

 Can you hear the clear voice of God when He speaks to you?  He speaks in ideas.  The most important aspect of motherhood is learning to hear and respond to HIS promptings and to teach your child to do the same.  Are you acquainted with that still quiet voice?  “Be still and know that I am God” is written with promise, direction and intentional purpose.

 If you are a mother, you have a calling from God.  God entrusting into your care…a life, a future, a piece of what the world will become.  For those of you who have entered the battle with a vision and often feel overwhelmed…“let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we will reap, if we faint not” for “His divine power has given us everything we need…” Gal. 6:19; II Pet. 1: 3

 Will you take time to listen to that “still quiet voice” this week?

Those little feet stepping into your footsteps are counting on it…

~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 to be Just Like YOU!"

“What if God should place a diamond in your hand and tell you to inscribe on it a sentence which should be read at the Last Day and shown there as an index of your thoughts and feelings!  What care…what caution… would you exercise in the selection! 

(The diamond is your child!)” Russell  Payson

 This is the month we dedicate to Motherhood and our focus, Mom, is asking our “self” … What kind of Mom am I?   Being a mom is a massive responsibility.  Is there a test we can take to know if I we are on the right track?  I don’t want to get to the end of the road and realize I have been on the wrong trajectory!  Little feet are stepping into the print I leave behind… 

What should my life look like?

 Let’s take a look…Here’s a little test…A godly woman is clearly defined in Proverbs 31…    She is:

 PURE.  “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Vs. 10 Virtue is the moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiates from a life that obeys God’s word.  Are you a virtuous woman?

 TRUSTWORTHY. “The heart of her husband has confidence and safely trusts in her, so that he lacks nothing of value.” Vs. 11 Being consistently truthful earns future trust from your husband, when you accurately report past facts.  Are you a faithful and truthful woman?  Can he trust you?

 COMMITTED.  “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”  Vs. 12 Being committed means we are using difficult times to demonstrate our dedication to God, family and to those 

DILIGENT.  “She seeks wool and flax and works willingly with her hands…She rises also while it is yet night and gives meat to her household…with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” Vs.13-16   When we are visualizing each task as a special assignment from God and using all our energies to accomplish it, we are being diligent.  Are you a diligent woman?

 INDUSTRIOUS AND OPTIMISTIC. “She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms.  She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle does not go out by night.  She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.” Vs. 17-19   Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of our work or words if neglected, contributes to the completeness of the task at hand.  Are you a woman of gratefulness that doesn’t quit when the job gets tough?

COMPASSIONATE.  “She stretches out her hand to the poor; she reaches forward her hands to the needy.  Are you a woman who invests whatever is necessary to meet the need and heal the hurts of others?

 GENTLE.  “She is not afraid of the snow for her household…she makes fine linen…strength and honor are her clothing…she opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Vs. 21-27   Are you a woman who is fearless, demonstrating wise and gentle assurance with kind concern in meeting the needs of others while eagerly doing what is right with transparent motives?

 HONORED.  “Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her…Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that fears the Lord…she will be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” Vs. 28-31    Do you want to be praised and honored by your family?  Ask yourself…Am I a woman who fears God by my obedience to His Word …literally terrified of the consequence of compromise and sin in my life?

Did you take the test?

How did you do?

Those little footsteps behind you are counting on you passing the test…

“But the wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, 

 and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits,

 without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 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 "Who Rocks the Cradle!"

Where have all the real mothers gone? Dr. Brenda Hunter wrote, “It’s difficult to be a mother today. At every turn, we are3 told how to exercise, diet, dress-for success, find fulfillment in a career, and share tasks equally with our husbands. Additio0nally, we are encouraged to rear good children on minimal time! The ideal mother by today’s standards is one “who can do it all. As family demands and responsibilities are changing, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for mother’s to keep proper balance between what is priority and what is not!

Are we convinced that she who rocks the cradle, rules the world?” Mothers are “the first book read and the blast book set aside in every child’s library.” There is no more influential or powerful role on earth than a mother. As significant as political, military, educational or religious public figures may be…none can compare to the impact made by mothers on their children. “Their words are never fully forgotten. Their touch leaves an indelible impression. The memory of their presence lasts a lifetime.”

I ask you…who else is anywhere near that influential?

How do we become this kind of godly mother?

“We have been given everything we ne3ed to live a godly life…” (2 Pet. 1: 3) Godly mothers walk in truth. They are attentive to their walk and keep short accounts. They practice His presence by yielding to His voice,n leading and control. They are not an excuse for other mothers, but an example. They do not claim personal “rights” or live in expectations. How do I know if I am claiming a right God never intended me to have? My anger ratio!

Albert Schweitzer said, “An example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the ONLY thing! We teach what we know, but we reproduce what we are. We should never underestimate the power of our influence…both for good and evil! Let’s purpose to do two things: Create in your prince or princess, the assurance that you yourself are what you want them to become and practice daily the same unselfish love and righteousness you ask of them.

The Goal: God’s life unhindered, through your life and mine.

Have a great week, Mom…loving those He has untrusted to you.

~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.