Jackie's Journey "Unconventional Springboard!"

What do you do with temptation?

Do you believe that everything God created is for God’s Glory?

 Does that include Satan?

 Then, how do you think Satan is used to glorify God?

 John 10:10 says that Satan has come to do ONLY three things…steal, kill and destroy. 

Steal our joy, contentment…

Kill our ambitions, goals…

Destroy our life, our destiny our purpose…

 The word ONLY needs to be understood.  It’s inclusive, all-encompassing and means…ONLY…No more and no less! God has limited Satan in his scope and ability to those three paradigms. Therefore, the big secret to this is, “How do we use Satan, instead of him using us!!

 How do you use Satan for the glory of God?

 Satan’s means of communicating to us is through temptation, using ideas (my husband calls them thought bombs!). Our job is to acknowledge the temptation and use that as “a springboard to pray”. For instance, a lustful thought comes…we know if we follow it, it leads us too nowhere good or profitable. 

Our response needs to be:  Take the temptation as a signal (a red flag warning) to pray for the same unsaved person for his/her salvation for each specific temptation.  That prayer is using Satan for God’s glory!  HOW?  By forcing Satan to build our prayer life!

 Once you’ve done that, you have neutralized Satan’s power in your life, because he has only come to steal, kill and destroy.  So, he has no choice but to leave you alone.  Your consistency in resisting him in this way sets you free to serve others.   

 Most believers spend their time playing Satan’s game… (I tempt you; I make you feel guilty and weak and convince you that God cannot give you victory or the joy of your salvation).

 What do you do with Satan’s scheme to destroy you?

 The “gates” of hell will not prevail against the church (believers). Matt. 16: 18 The idea is “the door” (that separates the church from hell) does not chase anyone; but now, with Satan in his place; we can open that door and rescue some of the lost. 

 We are, now, actively using Satan to develop our prayer life and glorify God!

 How long did your New Year’s resolutions last?

 Do you have a nagging pattern in your life that needs breaking

or a hidden area in your life

 that you just can’t seems to get victory?

I challenge you, this week, to use “the springboard for prayer” …

(Study Given by Pastor Ralph Johnson)

~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 "ARACHNIDS...Scared but not Defeated!"

Washday in the jungle was an event, not just a necessity!  It required a trip to the river with two little ones under three years of age in tow, a washtub (like great-grandma used) full of clothes, diapers, sheets, etc., a bar of soap and a washboard.  Finding a rock that wasn’t already being used was the next challenge, after descending the 12’ bank to reach the river’s edge!  The swirling river was the agitator and the most difficult part of the whole exercise was wringing the dripping clothes tight enough, so they would dry after being hung.

The Kuna women would laugh at me, while their little ones entertained mine by chasing, splashing, and diving around us.  Those were the “good old days”.  One blessing, and there were many, was that my girls learned to swim like little fish very early, against the raging current!

 If it was dry season, the wash would dry in 2 hours.  During rainy season we might hang the clothes two times, or more, in one day. Most garments were mildewed and never really dried completely until dry season returned!

 One spring day, my clothes carried in an unwanted visitor inside the house.  We had open wooden shelves and as I lifted the last folded clean sheet, I caught something moving in my peripheral vision.  Now…let me be understood…I will take a snake, any size, over a spider…any day.

 This particular arachnid was a creature of undeniable presence!! I screamed so loud that half the village came streaming through my front door.  One look at the intruder and my husband and Arturo, our neighbor, told us all to get out! Apparently, this venomous feral spider was dangerous!  I could not understand their hesitation in just eliminating it!  I wanted that trespasser DEAD…I did not want him alive for an encore another day…

Earlier that month, our cat found a huge, and I mean huge, scorpion under our bed.  I picked up Ralph’s size 14 army boot, stretched under the bed with one hand and squashed its 12” body dead, in one fell swoop, as our 8-month-old daughter came rapidly crawling into the room!  Now…“hear me roar” …I’m not kidding…I REALLY wanted that spider DEAD!

 Fear is our friend…it is an emotion induced by a threat, which causes a change in brain and organ function and ultimately…a change in behavior.  My husband, Ralph, used to tell me, “Courage is being scared to death…and still walking through the door of fear to victory”. 

 In the book “Hinds Feet in High Places” I would clearly be “little “Much Afraid”.  Shortly after being challenged to carry the name of Christ to unreached tribal people, I read in Luke 10: 19 where Jesus sent out the seventy-two with the promise, “I have given you authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you”! 

That verse came pounding into my consciousness and I claimed that promise, given to those who take the gospel into uncharted territories.  As jungle living became my daily experience, I would often return to those precious words that brought peace that day, and over and over again during those years of the unforeseen and unexpected…I would claim its truth when I was tempted to yield to fear and panic.

 Not too much has changed over the years.

These days, in this asphalt jungle, events seem to fall into

the same category of unforeseen and unexpected events.

We can fret and panic in defeat or

we can claim the promises and maintain our peace…

~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 "Never Sacrifice the Permanent on the Altar of the Immediate!"

 In 2015 I was asked to write a weekly blog for the Princess Parable website.  At that time, I had never seen a website, a Facebook page, Pinterest or a Blog.  I officially welcomed a new world of technological communication with the opening of all four at once!  With its availability came a huge responsibility to use them wisely…they have altered our means of communication and have become intensely time consuming!  

 “Our greatest danger in life is in permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important.”  Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. used to say, “Never sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.” 

 Everyone receives an equal supply of time.  The only difference between us is in the way we spend it.  Each week brings us 168 golden hours.  We spend approximately 56 hours for sleep and recuperation.  We spend approximately 28 hours for eating and personal duties.  We spend approximately 40-50 hours for earning a living. We have 30-40 hours left to spend just as we wish.  But how do we spend them?  How many hours for recreation?  How many hours for family communication?  How many hours for the regular worship of God (devotion, fellowship, meditation, etc.)  How many hours for personal service in the name of Christ?  Will we rob God?  We can and we do! 

 Perhaps we may be very busy with good things, yet too busy for the best things.  The great question is:  Have we made wise use of our time as good stewards of Christ? Life is simply a stewardship, not an ownership; a trust, not a gift.  With a gift you can do as you please but with a trust…you must give an account.

 Henry Clay Trumbull said, “Today is, for all that we know, the opportunity and occasion of our lives.  On what we do or say today may depend the success and completeness of our entire life struggle.  It is for us, therefore, to use every moment of today as if our very eternity were dependent on its words and deeds”…

 Welcome 2023…Let’s make it count…

~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 "An Extraordinary Life!"

“Where is the Life we have lost in living?” T.S. Elliot

 My daughter Kim walked into my bedroom with a list of 15 components for a satisfied life! Now…who wouldn’t want that inventory?   I was really interested in knowing what was on her mind and what was on that list!  She was so enthusiastic and I was REALLY curious…

I knew it was NOT going to be money, a big house with a pool, a Lamborghini or fame, beauty, maybe being 10 years younger or 20-pounds lighter!  No…this daughter doesn’t roll that way.  Sooo…what could those 15 “pieces of life” be?

Let’s take a look:

1.     A Divine life

2.     A Life with Purpose

3.     A Life of Faith

4.     A Life of Continuing Surrender

5.     A Life of Joyful Obedience

6.     A Life of Prayer and Praise

7.     A Life filled with the Holy Spirit

8.     A Life of Total Dependence

9.     A Disciplined Life

10.  A Challenging Life

11.  An Unshakeable Life anchored in God’s Truth; Resting in God’s Promises; Focused on God’s principles; Strengthened by examples in God’s Word

12.  A Fruitful Life Invested in other’s

13.  A Rich Life Saturated in God’s Word

14.  A Life of Love

15.  A Rewarding Life

 “Life is so short that the wood of the cradle rubs up tight

 against the marble of the tomb!”  G.S.

Let’s take a look at our life this week and take caution to focus on

the 15 qualities of this eternal, “extraordinary life”…

These notes Kim shared with me came from a Charles Stanley sermon. 

I’m so glad she shared with me…

~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 "Time Out to Take Time!"

“Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer

except that which lies outside the will of God.”

Anonymous

God has said that He will answer those prayers that are in His will. This is a dedicated Mom’s prayer for her Prince and Princess that is in the perfect will of God.  Pray with me…

 As a Mom, Lord, seeking only Your will, I come to you on behalf of the heritage You have given me, to pray for their:

Salvation -Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they will obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  Isa. 45:8; 2 Tim. 2: 10

Growth in Grace – I pray that they will grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3: 18

Love – Grant Lord, that my children will learn to live a life of love through the Spirit who dwells in them.  Eph. 5: 2; Gal. 5: 22

Honesty and Integrity – May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection. Psa.25: 21

Self-control – Help my children not be like many others around them, but let them be “alert and spirit-controlled” in all they do. I Thessalonians 5: 6

A Love for God’s Word – May my children grow to find Your Word “more precious than gold, than much pure gold; and sweeter than honey from the comb.”  Psa. 19: 10

Justice – God, help my children to love justice as You do and to “act justly” in all they do. Psa. 11: 7; Micah 6: 8

Mercy – May my children always be merciful, as their Father in heaven is merciful”. Luke 6: 36

Respect (for self, others, authority) – Father, grant that my children may show proper respect for everyone, as your Word commands. I Peter 2: 17

Strong Biblical Self- Esteem – Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are perfect, “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2: 10

Faithfulness – “Let love and faithfulness” never leave (my children) but “bind these two virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts”. Prov. 3: 3

A Passion for God – Lord, please instill in my children a soul with a craving for You, a heart that clings passionately to You.  Psa. 63: 8

Responsibility – Grant that my children may learn responsibility, “for each one should carry his own load”, to take responsible and not be blamers or victims.  Gal. 6: 5

Kindness – Lord, may my children “always be kind to each other and to everyone else.”  I Thess. 5: 15

Generosity – Grant that my children will “be generous and willing to share (and so) lay-up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age”. I Tim. 6: 18-19

Peace, Peaceability – Father, let my children “make every effort to do what leads to peace”. Rom. 14: 19

Hope – May the God of hope grant that my children will overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 15: 13

Perseverance – Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to “run with perseverance the race marked out for (them).”  Heb. 12: 1

Humility – Lord, please cultivate in my children the ability to “show true humility toward all.” Titus 3: 2

Compassion – Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion. Col. 3: 12

Prayerfulness – Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they will learn to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Eph. 6: 18

Contentment – Father, teach my children to be grateful, “the secret of being content in any and every situation…through Him who gives (them) strength.” Philippians 4: 12-13

Faith – I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them. Lu. 17:5-6; Heb. 11: 1-40; Eph. 2: 8

A Servant Heart – Lord, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they will serve whole-heartedly “as if (they) were serving the Lord, not men.” Eph. 6: 7

Purity – “Create in (them) a pure heart, O God.” And let their purity of heart be shown in their actions.  Psa. 51: 10

A Willingness and Ability to Work Hard – Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, “as working for the Lord, not for men.” Col. 3: 23

Self-Discipline – Father, I pray that my children will develop self-discipline, that they will acquire “a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.” Pro. 1: 3

A Heart for Missions – Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psa. 96: 3

Joy – May my children be filled “with the joy given by yielding to the Holy Spirit.” I Thess. 1: 6

Courage – May my children always “be strong and courageous” in their character and in their actions.  Deuteronomy 31: 6

 Take time this week to appeal on behalf of your heritage…

 “And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.”

Anonymous

~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 Needs a Title?"

In a global environment where who you are is an imperative and keeping track of your every move and accomplishment or failure is a priority, it might serve us well to take a look at our titles…because they describe our responsibilities!  Knowing and doing what God and others are expecting from us gives meaning to what responsibilities are all about. (Rom.14:12) 

Abraham Lincoln said “You can’t escape the responsibility

of tomorrow by evading it today.”   

1.      I am called a wife; mother; mother-in-law; daughter; daughter-in-law; grandmother; aunt; teacher; missionary; bush nurse; author; Pastors wife…to name a few…each with unending expectations and responsibilities.

2.      Ralph, my husband, is called a Pastor, Missionary, Nutritionist; CRA Doctor; Husband; Father; grandfather; father-in-law; teacher; provider, protector…

3.      A policeman may be a traffic or patrol officer; a detective or a Captain. Responsible for our safety and to a community at large. 

4.      Soldiers carry all kinds of titles depending on their rank. Responsible for our national security and defense. We are “soldiers of the Cross”. Responsible for being “battle-ready” to defend the faith & promote the gospel. II Tim.2:2

5.      We are “Priests”. Responsible to pray & represent Him to the lost and encouraging the saved to be alive and functioning. (I Pet.2:5,9)

6.      We are called “chosen” people. (I Peter 2:5,9)

7.      We are “Saints”. Taken from the world; sanctified and set apart for His service. Serving Him in every attitude, thought, word, action, opportunity with pure motives is our primary responsibility. (Phil.4:22)

8.      We are called “Disciples”. Responsible to delight Him as followers & students of His heart, will, purpose and plan for us. (Deut. 30: 15-18) 

9.      We are called “Ambassadors” …Responsible to make Him known & to represent Him to the world everywhere. (II Cor. 5:17-19)

10.    We are called “Believers” (Present Progressive!)  Responsible to “trust in the Lord withALL our hearts and lean not to our own “stupidity” (my husband’s rendition), in ALL our ways make him known and He will direct our path.” … (Proverbs 3:5,6)

11.    We are called the “light of the world” to light the way. We are known and read by all men. (II Cor. 3:2) Responsible for our daily walk and life-message. (Matt. 5:14)

12.    We are called “Spirit-controlled.” Responsible for yielding to His control, priority & purpose. (Gal.5:22,23)

13.    We are called “slaves of righteousness”. Responsible for our choices…right or wrong! (Rom.6:16-18)

14.    We are called “Servants” for the success of others, dedicated to pleasing Him first. (Matt.20:26-28) 

This is not an exhaustive list, but a starter…

One day we will be held accountable to God for how we worked out our salvation and God-given responsibilities… (Rom. 14:12)

Are you ready?

~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 Price of Liberty"

“We hold these truths to be self-evident:  That all men created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,

that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

 We are all familiar with these words but, not so well-known, the concluding words of the Declaration of Independence reads, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred Honor.”  Fifty-six signatures of great patriots follow these profound words. These were the American heroes to the core!

 And what did they get for pledging their lives, fortunes and honor for our country?  

·      Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.

·      Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

·      Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

·      Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy.  He sold his home and property to pay his debts and died in rags.

·      Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.  He served in Congress without pay and his family was kept in hiding.  His possessions were taken from him and poverty was his reward.

·      Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

·      At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr. noted that the British General Cornwalls had taken over his home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire.  The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

·      Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed.  The enemy jailed his wife and she died within a few months.

·      John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying.  Their 13 children fled for their lives.  His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.  For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.  A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.  Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

 Such were the stories and sacrifice of the great Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.  These great men were not wild-eyed, rebellious ruffians.  They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security…but they valued liberty more!

 So… this July 4th, as we celebrate our freedoms with family and friends,

take a few minutes to silently thank these founding fathers 

who paid such a great price for America’s freedom?

 Freedom is never free!

~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 "Forgotten Father's!"

 “It was Grandfather’s birthday.  He was 79.  He got up early, showered, combed his hair and put on his Sunday best so he would look nice when they came.

 He skipped his daily walk to the town café where he had coffee with his cronies.  He wanted to be home when they came.

 He put his porch chair on the sidewalk so he could get a better view of the street when they drove up to help celebrate his birthday.

 At noon he got tired but decided to forgo his nap so he could be there when they came.  Most of the rest of the afternoon he spent near the telephone so he could answer it when they called.

 His has five married children, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  One son and daughter live within 10 miles of his place.  They hadn’t visited him for a long time.  But today was his birthday and they were sure to come.

 At suppertime he left the cake untouched so they could cut it and have dessert with him.

 After supper he sat on the porch waiting.

 At 8:30 he went to his room to prepare for bed.  Before retiring he left a note on the door, which read, “Be sure to wake me up when you come.”

 It was Grandfather’s birthday.  He was 79.”

 This fell out of my Dad’s bible when I picked it up to read while visiting my Mom.  My Mother had read it in Ann Lander’s daily advice column many years ago.  It so touched my heart for lonely and forgotten father’s and grandfather’s that I decided to share it with you.

 Yesterday was Father’s Day…did you remember to celebrate your father and grandfather?

 This was worth repeating again this year…

My never-forgotten, wonderful Father…

~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 "Have You Met 'Rebellion'"

“The purpose of life is not to find our freedom, but our Master.”  “Why are you in despair…downcast, depressed, discouraged?   And why is your soul disturbed?  Put your hope in God.  Determine to praise Him for the help of His presence. He is your Master.” Psa.42 5

  Our soul wants to go its own way from God.  God seems to demand what we do not want to do. Why can’t God bless our plans and ideas? Of course, there is a very good reason!  Because… we desperately need salvation from ourselves!  We are consumed with the temporal and our focus is on survival, comfort and convenience.

 God thinks eternity, the lives of others and a higher goal.

God is in control despite our efforts to make our own decisions, apart from him. We miss the blessing, if we are not in harmony with HIS will.  

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done.

The things you have planned for us.   No one can recount them.

They are too many to declare!!” Psa.40: 5

 Why are we so slow to understand that our Master, who has planned it all before hand, can be so easily ignored?  What do we think is wrong with His plan? Will our natural self ever be able to see the super-natural, without God?  That’s rhetorical…of course not!

·      Look at the wonders of creation in the detailed planning He did.

·      Think of your own situation… the miracles of health, sight, and hearing…

Why would we not want to be led by the One who sees the future?

How many bad experiences have you had with God?

 “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord His trust, who lives to please Him.” Psalm 40:3 “I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly.  I do not seal my lips.  I do not hide Your righteousness in my heart.  I speak of Your faithfulness and salvation.  I do not conceal Your love and truth from the great assembly.”

 Psalm 40:9,10

I want the blessing!

We are not our own.  We were slaves to sin in rebellion,

but now, slaves of righteousness.

“The purpose of life is not to find our freedom…

But to find our owner and boss!”

~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 "Evil Trick!"

I am a person who does NOT like to be misled or tricked!  I am programed to take things earnestly and I don’t always get a good joke or know what everyone is laughing about at the dinner table.  So… to be deceived by any trick is certainly NOT in the docket I came in with! For me, understanding that in addition to crafty false teachers in any realm of learning and deceiving spirits, I can fool myself!  We are to “see to it that no one takes us captive through philosophy and empty deception…” (Col. 2: 8)

 There are many ways we moms can deceive ourselves.  Thinking others can sin and get away with it with no consequence, is one.  Hearing God’s Word but not doing it (Jas. 1:22; 4: 17); thinking I am something I’m really not (Gal. 6: 3);  not calling sin…sin (I Jn. 1: 8); thinking I am wise in the things of the world (I Cor. 3: 18, 19) ; thinking I will not reap what I sow (Gal. 6: 7); thinking that ungodly people who live lives of sin will share in God’s kingdom (I Cor. 6: 9); thinking I can hang out with bad people and they won’t have any bad influence on me. (I Cor. 15: 33); thinking I can be a good Christian and still hurt others by what I say. (Jas. 1:22)… are but a few of the lies we believe…proven out by the fruit of our life.

 Often when confronted by someone who is demonstrating love to us (more than they love themselves) and is taking a chance on our friendship to shed light on our area of need, we defend ourselves, instead of taking responsibility for it.  We refuse to face the bad things that have happened to us (denial of reality); or we escape from the real world by distracting activities (computer, video games, music, involvement in social media, losing ourselves and our issues (fantasy).  We withdraw from people to avoid rejection or we take our frustration out on others.  We make excuses or blame others for our problem.  There are names for all of these responses but none of them set us free from the “evil tricks” of Satan that work against us in life!

“The best way to show that a stick is crooked is

NOT to argue about it or to spend time denouncing it,

BUT to lay a straight stick along-side it.” (D.L. Moody)

 When faced with issues like legalizing marijuana (because we are told we must allow them to exist because we cannot legislate morality), I am reminded that The Law was given for the immoral! Pro. 12:17 Or abortion…the argument states that a full-term baby is only a “fetus”, hence…murder is acceptable!  Deception is believing a lie that begins when the mind and emotions agree on error and is fulfilled when we will to do it!

 We are responsible for the false philosophies we adopt.

 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, 

after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, 

and not after Christ” (Col 2: 8).

~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.