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. 

Jackie's Journey "Where is Your Heart Today?"

Today is Valentine’s Day!

Women all over America look forward to this day

that is set aside to receive and to share 

our devotion by gift-giving and celebratio0n.

 A child is the most undeniable magical gift given to us…and “to him who is given much, much is required”. This verse from Luke 12 is a call to action and we, women, are being given the unending challenge of our lives!

 My first child, Christina, was born during our missionary training in Boot Camp. I sat on an imaginary precipice with a volume of great practical and biblical preparation and instruction, facing a world of unknowns and in my arms…the unbelievable responsibility of a new, beautiful, precious child that was pure magic…

 That tiny loving and compliant daughter brought such joy into my life.  I was sure my heart would burst!  She also brought a fear of failure, because I know me…the real me…and I knew I could not do this job right.  God gave me a wonderful promise verse during this time that I claimed for my own.  “Faithful is He who called me, who will also do it (ifI get out of His way!).”

 Over the years, I have drawn strength from God’s promise in that verse and I have journaled these truths… both my failures and God’s faithfulness.  The only part of us that goes on and carries us into the future when we are gone is found in our heritage.  They “will pass the baton” of our beliefs, our character, our philosophies, our ideologies, etc., into the next generations.

 Motherhood is the most significant investment we will make in our lifetime!

 “Without a vision, the people perish.”  What is your vision for your child?  Do you believe that God laid out a plan for your child’s life, taking into consideration his personality, engiftment, talents and abilities?  Are you convinced that God knows best?  

 What goals and priorities have you set in order to see that vision fulfilled?  Does your husband share that vision? “We have been created in Christ Jesus for a life of good works that HE has already prepared for us to do.” Can you hear the intention and resolve in that verse?

 Each child God has entrusted to us has a personal destiny and designed purpose.

 What is your commitment?

 Our investment today will determine the fulfillment of tomorrow.

“…to whom much is given, much is required.” (Luke 12)

 Have a great week!

~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 "Plans Made...Plans Shattered!"

Ever have your plans disrupted and all your expectations blown to smithereens?  I don’t know about you, but when someone says… “Life is but a Vapor”, I get a bit antsy.  Since the New Year is looking at time and re-accessing how to use it best for another year…I don’t want to hear…” life is just “a puff of smoke”! 

I’m busy lining up my plans, my priorities and my important, meaningful goals! I can remember my 101-year-old mother, sitting on the side of the bed saying, “How did I get here…it’s impossible…it went so fast!”

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.’” (James 4: 13-17)

 Why did God call life a “vapor”? Does that mean I should not be making my own plans? Just relax and go with the proverbial “whatever will be, will be”!  What should be my attitude regarding my plans?  If I ask God’s blessing on MYplans, MY ways and MY will, I could be called a “practical atheist”!

Job lost his whole family. He loved them dearly. He sacrificed for them (to cover for any sin that they may have committed. (1:1-21).  Job’s reply to God when all was lost: "The Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.  Job had other plans for his life and his family, I am sure, yet he responded with and lived in gratefulness.

 Joseph was his father's heart. He was sold into slavery, then placed in jail on false pretenses for 13-17 years. Then he was placed second in command to the King in Egypt.  There are no records of his complaining…ever!  Joseph’s plans were altered when his brothers’ jealousy sold him into slavery, yet he lived content with God’s plan in gratefulness. (Gen 37-50)

 Ruth was married and loved her husband and extended family. She lost all of them accept Naomi, her mother-in-law.  They were left in utter poverty.  With plans other than she envisioned and a grateful heart, Ruth became the great-grandmother of Jesus Christ. (Ruth 1-4)

OUR carnal planning, asking God to bless OUR will, is presumption on God. 

 Plans made without a real and genuine "Lord-willing".

 Peter’s plan was clear when he swore his unyielding faithfulness to the Lord Jesus.  Then denied knowing Him three times! We need to take note…have we denied Him in our silence?

Our calling is to live for HIS pleasure in HIS Plan in HIS will…not our own!

 King David’s plan ordered his general to get a count of the army.  His general said, “No”, but did it.  That self-reliant plan cost the lives of 70,000 people in three days.   David’s plan failed because he had HIS plan apart from God’s will.  C. S. Lewis wrote, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, “All right, then, have it your way!’”

Life is just a Vapor…

What is done in HIS plan, HIS will and HIS purpose has eternal value. 

 Any plan apart from harmony with HIS will …will burn as wood, hay and stubble!

~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 "What? ...Why Not?"

“Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. 

 If encouraged, it cuts a channel 

into which all other thoughts are drained.” Arthur Somers Roche

I’m a mom and when someone says, “Don’t worry”, I instantly balk!  I know worry is sin.  I know God is in control of all the current chaos.  The command in this portion of Scripture is “do not worry” about life, our future (current chaos included!), food, our bodies, or clothing.  God feeds all the birds in the air and the animals in the world. (Luke 12:22-31) His question to us is, “how much more valuable are people, believers, than the birds?”  

 For us women worry has a purpose that gives it value!  Do you know what it is?   Worry is purposed to place needs on our hearts to be converted into prayer.  We are to cast our cares or worries on Him who can do something about it.  The question is, then, “why do we worry?”  Why do we feel we have an ounce of control? Being responsible is not the issue here.  Being negligent in our relationship to Him is.  Our only real concern should be how we are linked to God in this existing growth process.  Is He really first in my life?  Is my primary concern in life pleasing Him?  Am I a light to those in darkness?  Do I prepare daily for the task or desires that He places on my heart?

 “…Oh you of little faith.”  

God is asking us…why we doubt Him?

 What has He done that is not believable?  “Do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink: do not worry about it.”(Lu. 12:28,29)   Why Not?  That is not our goal.  Lost people worry about such things because they are their own and only hope.

 What is the promise?

 “Seek the King and His kingdom, and all these things will be given to you”. (Luke 12:31)

 Place your future (regardless of present circumstances), wealth, talents, time and pleasure in His hands, so He can convert it into souls.  Aim for treasures that will last forever. (Lu.12:32-34)

 All the above is to prepare our lives for service to the King and to be at His service for the benefit of others.  The exchanged life is our hearts and lives alert to His commands, while He is concerned about our needs…future (regardless of chaos all around), food, clothing, housing, health, family, education relationships etc.  (Lu.12:35-38)   He will return to get His people… when? (Lu. 12: 40)

Will we be ready?

 In verses Luke 12:45-46, God finds the unfaithful doing his own thing.  His life is a fraud.  Hell is his final destination.  He enjoyed his sin for a season and had his time of pleasure. (Luke 12:45-46)  We are held accountable for our relationship to Him and how we have spent our lives. 

 “Worry is Prayer Inside-Out…” 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 "Don't Waste Your Life!"

Two days ago, we celebrated the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ…”a Name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4: 12 “But indeed, all the earth was filled with the glory of the Lord, for the earth was full of the knowledge of our God…” Num.14: 21; Isa. 11:9   This Lord will be “king over all the earth and on that day there will be one Lord, and his Name the only Name.” Zecharaih 14: 9

The best part of Christmas is the promise that “everyone who calls on that Name will be saved…” Rom. 10: 13-15  The climax of the ages with its ultimate victory is encompassed in our taking the Christmas message, as the cross-bearing family of God, and making the Name of Jesus known by word and deed.  

In 200 A.D, Tertullian said, “Go on, rack, torture, grind us to powder; our numbers increase in proportion, as you mow us down.  The blood of Christians is their harvest seed.”  “The Calvary road is where all the riches of the glory of God in Christ are found. All the sweetest fellowship with Jesus is there.  All the treasures of assurance.  All the ecstasies of joy.  All the clearest sightings of eternity.  All the humblest affections.  All the noblest camaraderie.  All the most earnest prayers.  These are all on the Calvary road where Jesus walks with His people.  

 Take up your cross and follow Jesus.  On this road and this road alone, life is Christ and death is gain!  We don’t make the name of Christ famous by our strength, our financial success, our outward glamour.  No, His strength is made perfect in our weakness!” John Piper

How will they hear without a preacher?  The lack of denying self and an unwillingness to bear the shame of His name hinders the Christmas promise from becoming reality in someone’s life.  Most of us are not satisfied with the permanent output of our lives.  “Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within His followers except the adoption of Christ’s purpose toward the world He came to redeem.  Fame, pleasure, and riches are but husks and ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy of working with God for the fulfillment of His eternal plans.

Those who are putting everything into Christ’s undertaking are getting out of life its sweetest and most priceless rewards.” J. Campbell White

 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 

‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’ 

 Then I said: ‘Here I am, send me.’”

Isaiah 6: 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. 

Jackie's Journey "Run for Your Life!"

“Lasting spiritual results are destroyed by failing to

deal with the weights and sins that so easily dog our feet”. (Heb. 12: 1)

 As women we are bent on counting the cost, whatever that entails and we make all kinds of sacrifices for the benefit and success of our family.  We have our eye on the prize and nurture our spiritual opportunities as they present themselves daily, looking ahead for the promise of lasting spiritual results. Part of the “cost” is dealing with what… so easily “besets” us! “The tragic destruction of these “weights and sins” is vividly illustrated in the life of the zebra.  He is stalked by brutal packs of cape hunting dogs.  One cape dog is not large enough or strong enough to bring down a zebra, hence the need to run in packs of twelve to twenty.

 The hunt begins with each pack member following the lead dog in single file.  They move slowly at first, but as their victim is separated from the rest of the herd, the dogs begin to pick up speed.  A pack of cape dogs can maintain a steady pace of up to thirty miles an hour!

 As the lead dog catches up to its tiring prey, it locks its jaws into any flesh it can reach and tenaciously hangs on.  The clinging predator slows down the zebra and further weakens him.  Other dogs soon catch up and find vulnerable spots on which to clamp their jaws.  Eventually the whole pack converges on the struggling zebra and pulls him to the ground.

 The cape dogs begin to feed immediately, often before the zebra is dead.  Once down, a complete zebra may be devoured by a pack of cap dogs in less than thirty minutes!” Bill Gothard

 As women, we are faced with the “Cape Dogs” in our lives.  Feelings of inferiority, guilt for past failures, bitterness and anger for past hurt or pain, rationalized addictive habits, a sense of lack of purpose and direction in life…etc.  Are there things in the past that you wish had never happened or you could change and every time you remember them, they bring guilt and shame?   How many battlefields are you fighting in your moral life: impure thoughts, questionable actions or an enslaving habit?  Have you been deeply hurt by others and you cannot forgive them?  Can you answer life’s three BIG questions (Where did I come from? Why am I here? And… Where am I going?) …

 The race is on with the cape dogs of temptation and sin weakening us, as they nip at our feet!  The challenge is to clear our conscience continually and maintain our “walk” with Him so the mouth-watering cape dogs, don’t have an opportunity to capture and destroy us and our heritage.  Children, and husbands, are eagerly counting on us to keep pace and deal with anything that would easily hinder and defeat us by our “failing to take care of the weights and sin that dog us” so routinely.

 Let’s learn from the ensnared Zebra and the tenacious Cape Dogs…

~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 "A Perfect Plan!"

 “When we look at life’s generational history of families, we see the many failures spiritually, socially, financially, globally and every other way.   We see a record of pain, discord, dissolved marriages, unprecedented addictions and unnecessary death…to mention a few.    We should conclude that something is not right…even drastically wrong!

 However, there is good news…a world-wide hope

has been placed on one of the many religions.

 What is the common failure that religions face?  Every religion works on the theory that man’s nature is basically good but needs some adjustments.  Each one has a system that promises an outcome that never works!  All of the systems are based on disciplines of varying forms.  Each one has rewards that are attractive to the listeners.  None of them deliver on their assurances.  

 Biblical Christianity gives no credence to a make-over or an improvement plan of hope in the natural self.  Why not??  Because the Bible understands the real problem.  God looked down on mankind and saw that ‘every thought and intent of man was only evil continually’!  (Gen. 6: 5)   We humans are locked into pride and selfishness. These two attributes are poison to our soul and to the souls around us.  The result is we contaminate one another.  Our very tongue is influenced by hell itself. (James 3: 6) We note this most clearly when we are angry and ‘carelessly letting it fly’, only to wonder later why the reaction was so ‘off the charts’ when the rage has passed.

 ‘The heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it’. (Jer. 17: 9)   Who can know its limits!  God gives a summation and states that ‘NO ONE is naturally good, not even one’.  (Rom. 3: 10-12) We need a major change in our souls. But how?  God’s provision is to place the Holy Spirit in the hearts of humbled souls so He can live His life through us for the benefit of others.

 There are three conditions noted: ‘If you want to come to me, you must deny yourself, take up the cross and follow me’. (spoken by Christ in Lu. 9: 23) Denying-self means turning our life over to the controlling design of God and His future He pre-planned for us to fulfill. (Eph. 2: 10) The cross was a murder weapon that is a reminder to continually die to our selfishness and pride.  The final condition is to ‘follow Him’…which is impossible without the leading and control of the Holy Spirit.  He, alone, knows the future reality. 

 Those that fear the Lord walk in darkness (not knowing the future).  Crisis on every level.  God will lead us in the right direction for the right reason and it will be with superlative results.  It will allow us to teach our children and grandchildren to live in blessing.  There is no greater gift than can be given to our families than understanding the path God has prepared for all of us to follow.

 We cannot follow Him without knowing where He is going.  He is involved in activities winning people to Himself or encouraging Christians to do the same. 

 How does the God of the universe live inside people and

not encourage them to follow the His patterns?

 How can a person read the Word of God and be so indifferent?

 No one born of God can continue in sin. If he does, he has not seen God, nor does he know Him’.  He is required to practice righteousness, as a normal way of life. (I John 3)   Herein lies the truth and with it the assignment that we all have in common.  We tell others about His birth, life, death and resurrection.  We are not ashamed of our relationship with Him and His Spirit that lives in us.  We have compassion for the lost and rebellious people who have been blinded by the god of this world, Satan himself.  

 Most Christians are willfully ignorant of how to present the gospel because they fear rejection and are indifferent to the will of God.”  (written by Ralph Johnson for our Family Night dinner and Bible study).

 The challenge in this day and age of confusion,

unruliness, rebellion and unprecedented chaos

is to stand up and be counted among 

the faithful and harmonize with “God’s Perfect Plan”…

~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 Am Never Wrong!"

“Our insistence in proving that we are right is mostly always

an indication that there has been some point of disobedience.”

Utmost for His Highest

  My wise Grandmother loved barn owls and when I was small and stomped my feet demanding my own way she would say, “Little Jackie, don’t you know that pretty is, as pretty does!”  The point, of course, was that I was acting “pretty ugly” and I needed to change my attitude.

 As willful as I am in insisting “my own way” and that I am “always” right, God’s simple two-fold purpose for my life has not changed since 1963.  (1) Maintain a right relationship with God and (2) Be rightly related to my fellowman with the intent and purpose of seeing them rightly related to Him!  I’m to be the stepping-stone for another’s success…whatever the cost, personally.

 Pragmatically, to do this, by necessity I need to “choose for myself this day (and every day) whom I will serve.” Joshua 24: 15 This requires that my will is dedicated to only one Master…no divided loyalties…

 The Will has been defined as the whole man active!

 I cannot give up my will.

I must exercise it.

I must will to obey and die to my selfishness.

I must die to the pride that protects it.

I must will to walk in the light.

 When God reveals more light, it is never a question of what He will do, BUT what I will do.  My focus should not be on “where is He leading me, BUT where am I in relation to Him!  I must will to be loyal to Him…

it’s a choice!

 There are only two choices:  God’s way or Satan’s way.  I always thought there was another choice…”MY WAY”!  Spoiler alert…There is no “my way”! The truth is: I choose with my will whom I will serve on any given day. My will submits to God’s will or Satan’s will.  “The right choice manifests a huge dividend in God’s grace and blessing.   The woman “who does not desire the highest state of grace, does not desire any”.  It all hinges on the Master you choose to serve…

 Which master will it be today?

~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 "More Obstacles?"

Meet my backyard squirrel and the obstacle he faces daily!

The world is facing a number of obstacles from which no one is exempt. Wildfires, hurricanes, and health crises (with baffling mandates galore here in California) have forced all of us to face the current challenges. These are big tests, but not bigger than God’s drive to see lives changed. 

 As women, we face the ultimate challenge of practicing our convictions, sharing with those in conflict and comforting those around us who are struggling with how to handle it all.  Abraham’s life demonstrated that even the heathen around him recognized the difference between their lives and his. Gen. 21:22 Abimelech spoke to Abraham saying, “God is with you in all you do”!  God told Gideon, “there is a might in you so powerful it can save Isreal, and that might is MY PRESENCE.”  

 The Isa. 43:1-5 verses confirm that when God’s presence abides on us, we can go through any fire, pass through any waters, through rivers that overflow us (Pucuro, in the jungles of Panama) and know His presence is all we need abiding in us. We are responsible to choose to “practice His presence”.  As we do this, God will guide our steps, open doors of ministry, move obstacles, lift cares, remove fears and abide in us!  “Fear not for I am with you” is the promise and comfort we all need to combat the steady barrage of disorder.  

 God’s abiding presence brings peace and victory.  The presence of the Spirit-controlled life, directed and trusting only God, is the key to laying hold of the power of God. God attaches a condition to having His presence in our lives. It is useless to attempt any endeavor apart from God, which can only be maintained in our lives, as we choose to confess sin and not allow any unresolved relationship to hinder it!

 “God works through holiness, not a dirty cup.”

Roy Heisson, Calvary Road

 When the Isrealites were in the wilderness, God manifested His presence to them in a cloud. This cloud was a pledge.  They never had to figure out their direction or future because their confidence was in that visible cloud of the Lord’s presence.  Today, the cloud of God’s presence hovers over our secret closet of communion with Him through His word and prayer. 

 Peace is the prize and it will lead us, empower us, and keep us in harmony with God in every area of our lives, regardless of the turmoil.  “The continual pursuit of God’s presence will direct us into a revelation of Christ’s glory. ‘God’s presence will go with us and He will give us rest.’” (Moses, Exodus 33:13)  

 Our guide through this perplexing maze is waiting 

to give us that peace and rest.

 Are you finding rest in Him these days?

~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 "Having a Bad Day?"

“I believe that every right implies a responsibility;

every opportunity, an obligation;

every possession, a duty.”  John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

 As women, we are forever being confronted with a sense of our worth and usefulness or a lack of it, are we not?  If someone asked you what your treasures were, how would you answer?  

Our usefulness is generally wrapped in the package of what we do with what we value.  What would your list look like?  Would you list…Parents, husband, kids, faithful friends, life-lessons, influence, experiences, relationships, personality, money, salvation…?  

 What have you done with what you have been given?  Invested it?  Buried it?  Lost focus?  Been too busy for it? Counted on others? Made excuses? Procrastinated?  Been fearful of failure?

The value of a life is measured by how much is given away with eternal purpose.

 “After a long time, a man returned from his trip and called his workers to him to give an account of how they had used the money he had left with them.  The servant who had been entrusted with five bags of silver came forward with five more and the man said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now, I will give you many more responsibilities.  Let’s celebrate together!”  Matt. 25: 19-21

 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said,” Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate.  I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth.  Look, here is your money back.”  But the Master replied, You wicked and lazy servant.”  Matthew 25: 24-26

 God has given each of us exactly what we need to equip us (women) to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ (starting with our nuclear family).  We will be mature…no longer undeveloped and useless.  We won’t be tossed and blown about.  We will not be influenced when other’s around us try to trick us with the lies of this world and our current culture.  Instead, we will speak God’s truth in love (because the Word has been read and implanted in us!), growing in every way more and more like Christ.  As each part does its own unique work, it helps other parts (our husband and children) grow, so that the whole body (beginning with our own family) is healthy and growing and full of love.”  Eph. 4: 11-16

 How am I to use my treasure to build my family and the body of Christ; to cause other’s to speak well of God because of us; to invest in relationships that will multiply; to translate life-lessons into tools to benefit others; to influence my children to seek the heart of God above all else…etc.…? 

My children are grown and I have seven grandchildren.  They carry the truth of those verses in Ephesians…or they don’t! Being responsible to build a healthy, growing family is an intentional challenge and it is never over until they are throwing dirt on our coffins!

BUT GOD has given us everything we need to do the job He has called us to and HE will do it, if we get out of HIS way, stay dead to our selfishness and pride and allow HIM to live through us…. Phil. 4: 13

 We, then, become valuable tools in HIS hands

With a huge sense of worth…

 HAVE A GREAT DAY!

~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.