Jackie's Journey "The Silent Cry"

     “…and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp

           how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love

           surpasses knowledge…”  Ephesians 3: 18

If you are struggling this morning in some way

that you do not understand…this blog is for you…

 Recently, a stranger placed in my hand a small book written by Amy Carmichael (a missionary to India 1867-1951).  Immediately, upon hearing her name, a vivid memory came knocking at the door of my heart.    

 While we were in Boot Camp in Fredonia (make that "Freeze-don't ya"), Wisconsin!), preparing for missionary service I became so sick that I wasn't sure we would be able to finish the course.  Yet, my husband and I knew God had brought us this far.  There was a tribe, deep in the rain forest of Panama that had never heard the name of Jesus Christ and they were waiting for someone to come and bring His Name to them.

 We had been seeking local medical help for over two months.  I was in my first trimester with our first child.  My physical symptoms were severe, I had lost six weeks of missionary training and I was lost in my understanding of it all when diagnosed with an unyielding case of pneumonia!  The infection was suffocating my compromised lung and I would have to take a drug that could adversely affect my unborn child!  The choice was my recovering or possibly both of us not going full term!  I was confused and consumed by fear.  

 Have you ever been there?

Faced with impossible decisions and lost in your imaginations?

 At this juncture of my journey, someone gave me a quote of Amy Carmichael that stopped me in my tracks and I realized I had the concept of my Father's love and means of communication to me all wrong!   

 “If I cannot catch the ‘sound of the rain’ long before the rain falls, and going to some hilltop of the spirit, as near to my God as I can, have not faith to wait there with my face between my knees, though six times or sixty times I am told ‘there is nothing’ till at last ‘there arises a little cloud out of the sea’ then I know nothing of Calvary love!"

   I Kings 18: 41 says, “And Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go, eat and drink, for there

Is the sound of heavy rain’.  So, Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah

climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face

between his knees.  “Go and look toward the sea”, he told his servant.

And he went up and looked.  “There is nothing there’, he said.  Seven times

Elijah said, ‘Go back!’  The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as

  small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea’…The sky grew black with

clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came…’”

 I felt a little like Elijah may have felt when he was in danger for his life. Why didn’t I understand?  I should, shouldn’t I?  I was a missionary candidate (soon to be deployed!), I had spent a year at the University of Arizona, 4 years of Bible School, 2 yrs. of Boot Camp and Language School...I was completely committed to God with everything I knew, in all the light I had …But God always has much to teach me about Himself. I waited for Him at the front door of my heart and He silently entered through the back door and shattered my concept of Him and His promises!  He came with new light, new peace and new understanding of His divine nature. I re-focused, solely, on the author and finisher of my faith…

 “There are times when something comes into our lives which is charged with love in such a way that it seems to open the Eternal to us for a moment...it may be a small and intimate touch, as the touch of the dawn wind or it may be the pain experienced in the storm of life along the way... But we know it is our Lord.  And then perhaps the room where we are, with its books and furniture and flowers, seem less ‘present’ than His presence, and the heart is drawn into His sweetness… Can we ever cease to wonder at the love of our companion?  And then suddenly we recognize our Lord holding us in a new way?  Dimness seems to be more wholesome for us here...not understood by us.  After all, how little we see!    Confounded and abased, we continue to hold fast to the Rock and hide in the dust, before the glory of the Majesty of love--the love whose symbol is the Cross.  

And the piercing question then:  What do I know of Calvary love?”

 I am praying for you, this morning, for your sensing the whisper of His Presence in that "cloud out of the sea" in a new way and for the power of His healing.

 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 "Put that Rubber Back on the Road"

“Perseverance is a lowly virtue whereby mediocrity

achieves an inglorious success!” Ambrose Bierce

 While attending Bible School, I met my husband and we were married a year later.  We had never heard of tribal people who had never had an opportunity to even hear the name of Jesus Christ!  Can you imagine?  God challenged us to take His Name to them!  My husband responded immediately to the need before him.  Yes, he would go!  He stood up quickly, as the seasoned visiting missionary, challenged the crowd for tribal missions; however, I stood frozen with my mouth wide open, in shock!  I could not believe his independent, instant response.   God had work to do in my stubborn heart.  My self-consumed willfulness held me captive!  

 I was not equipped to live in the jungle…I hate spiders!  It took three days travel to get to this Indian village.  One and half days journey by banana boat (that’s right we slept on wooden benches) following the coastline, arriving in a remote small town to make a connection for the last ten hour day trek upriver in an open dugout canoe!  Let’s see, I have two babies less than three years of age fighting the rapids during rainy season!  Surely, there was someone in that crowd of churchgoers more mature than I am that is willing and ready to go…not me!  I, fearfully, contemplated another 24 hours before I silently knelt with my husband and acknowledged God’s beckoning whisper to submit to His will and His very clear call to GO! 

 As a young student, untested missionary, wife and new mother I stepped out in blind obedience.  The unknown was my constant companion, as was my all-knowing God with His directing will and promises.  “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, so shall your offspring be.  Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…since he was about a hundred years old…and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.  YET he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God being fully persuaded that GOD HAD POWER TO DO WHAT HE PROMISED.”(Romans 4:18-21)

 For over 50 years now, God’s pursuing love has driven us to proclaim the name of Christ.  First, to those living in the remote jungles of Panama, “in the farthest corners of the earth” (Psalm 65:8), and today, to those living in the asphalt jungles of the United States.

 We have counted it a privilege to walk day-by-day wrapped in His strength, following where He leads us.  Joyfully persevering has become a fulfilling way of life… His receiving the glory is our reward…

 What are you facing today that seems unbelievably overwhelming and impossible?

~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 "Warrior...or not?"

I’ve been listening to the news regarding the new possible “lock-down” in our state and the re-introduction of mandates because of the threat of yet another virus… “monkeypox”.  I don’t know about you, but I have not had the opportunity to relish the newfound freedoms, recently given, long enough to entertain the next round of implemented directives!

 With all the conceding and disorder in our world…our nation…our communities…our homes…and our families, we need a plan of attack! There has to be something we can do. 

We can’t solve all the evils, but we can focus on a God who is Sovereign and is in total control, and devote ourselves to effectively use the tool He has given us when entering battle and pray for our leaders.  “Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance, but taking hold of God’s willingness.”  The promise is that God will answer all prayers that are prayed in His will.

 Here are some key elements that are in His perfect will

should you choose to take up this challenge:

 1.     Know your own need.  Check your relationship with Him. Romans 10:9

2.     Confess your sin.  Psa.66:18; I John 1:9

3.     Forsake your sin.  Rom. 13:  14; Proverbs 28:13

4.     Know your God

        He has all power and authority Romans 13: 1

        He establishes governments   Romans 13: 2-6; I Peter 2: 13-19

        He knows how to humble the proud rulers Daniel 4:37

        He uses wicked rulers to chasten Jer. 5: 19-22

        He requires us to give an account to Him Hebrews 13: 17

        He commands respect to authorities. I Peter 2: 17

5.     Get the facts right. Proverbs 18:  13

6.     Resist the Enemy.  James. 4: 17

                      Recognize him

                      Ask God to rebuke him

                          Satan can be recognized by wrong thoughts, ideas, suggestions, and impulses which he plants in our mind that are contrary to biblical truth.

7.     Examine our motives by cleansing and purifying our secret longings, goals, desires, ambitions…

8.     Ask God to bind Satan in any attempt he would make to deceive those who are in authority over us.  Mark 3: 27

9.     Ask God to build a hedge of protection around our authority from those who would bring godless influences to us and our family.

10.  Express our thanks. Phil. 4: 6

 Will you join me in praying for our leaders

Satan laughs at our tolling, but he trembles when we pray!  Prayer based on God’s Word is the powerful weapon we can use today to touch the invisible foe.  It has been said that the people who are not praying…are straying.  No man stumbles if he is on his knees! 

 The world we leave for our children and grandchildren is dependent on our winning this battle.  We are soldiers of the cross, yoked together with the command to “watch and pray that we do not enter into temptation, “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 “Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer, except that which lies outside the will of God.” Anonymous

 Let’s step up to the plate and be the committed

Prayer Warriors that He has called us to be!

~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 "Crawling Babies and Hiding Snakes!"

I have never been a fan of reptiles!

 Panama is the home to some of the biggest and most frightening snakes on the planet.  Our corner of the dense Darien jungle was full of boa constrictors, pit vipers, fer-de-lance (this snake bears 60 live babies at a time!), etc.  We were cautious not to poke under rocks or fallen branches, always scanning for any slithering menaces.  Behind our house there was a massive tree that extended its immense roots out into the river shoreline where the girls and I bathed and swam.  The thick mangrove swamp harbored snakes that would lie in the hollow places of the trunk of that tree.  

More than once I cried out Psalm 16:1

 “Keep me safe, Oh Lord, for in you I take refuge.”

 Fear is no stranger to me.  I am habitually challenged to walk through the door of fear.   I was told during Missionary boot camp that courage was not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it.  Years ago, while reading “Hind’s Feet in High Places” I had no difficulty in identifying with “Little Much Afraid”!  

 “The highway of fear is the shortest route to defeat”.  William L. Brownell

 Ralph had built a screened-in back porch to the house.  It became home for our gasoline-run wringer washing machine.  The Indians thought the machine was the most ridiculous apparatus they had ever seen!  It was noisy, the water had to be carried from the river (or in rainy season, we could utilize the convenience of the roof rain barrels).   The agitator was a mystery (why would you jerk clothes around in dirty cold water when the river is running and clear!) however; the wringer was another story…it worked really well.  Hand wrung clothes could not match that wringer!  I had to agree with them on all other accounts!  While I washed, Kim would play on a blanket or crawl around the porch.  The floor was slightly elevated, lined with wooden planks roughly cut and loosely fit together.  It was not quite finished and as I gave attention to the wringer, I saw Kim crawling toward something moving under the slats.  I turned off the deafening machine, snatched Kim up into my arms and yelled for Ralph!  Right under our feet, only a few inches away, was a 5’ venomous snake! He had quite possibly been a houseguest for “who knows how long” before we noticed him! Let me repeat…I am not a fan and I intensely dislike reptiles! 

 Arturo, our nearest neighbor had heard me scream and came running, He quickly surveyed our predicament, raised his machete and removed the head of that reptile with one swift blow.  He held it up like a prized Marlin…its length was above his head and its tail draped to the muddy ground! 

 This story could have had a much different ending, were it not for our Sovereign God, His plan and the life-lessons He was busy teaching me!  School is always in session if we have eyes to see it. The need to grow and mature will never end on this side of eternity. Fear has been my biggest challenge.  I am to fear the consequence of sin, not snakes.  Easy concept until put to the test!

 “Be strong and of a good courage, Fear not, nor be afraid of them (in this case…snakes); for the Lord your God, He it is that does go with me;  He will not fail me nor forsake me.”  

Deuteronomy 31: 16

 “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.” 

Psalm 34:4  

 What do you fear?

~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 "Thorns and Thistles!"

“By His wounds we are healed”.  Isa. 53

 This Friday is Good Friday!  The cross is the center of our commemorating the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  His selfless and sinless sacrifice in our place is our reason to celebrate and praise His Name.  We call the holiday Easter and for a moment in time we stop and rehearse His ultimate sacrifice…His life for ours on that thorny and thistled “old rugged cross”.  Not only did he die for us but also on the third day He rose from the dead and gave us the promise of a resurrected life after death!  

 This deliberate and divine act of love was to give our lives promise, plan and purpose.  We are destined and programmed to serve others first, not ourselves.   In our Easter release to the Princess Parable Series, “A Royal Easter Story”, we have introduced our five young knights who present a challenge that draws our young princesses into a chariot race that reveals the truth of what the cross teaches.  

 Do you live a life selflessly and sacrificially serving others?

  We cannot be consumed with a life that seeks its own and find life abundantly.  It is impossibility.  Local churches open their doors on Good Friday to give us the opportunity to take a personal account of our commitment to our first love and renew our loyalty to live as Jesus challenges us to live…Holy!  We are reminded to live serving others, as He did, with eternal values and purpose in view.

 As moms, we are dedicated to living and then, teaching the character of Christ into our little princes and princesses.  We focus on drawing their attention to the importance of serving, helping and caring for others.  That is why we find ourselves saying, “Can you comfort your little brother” or “Will you help mommy?”  Teaching by example, without excuse, is the most powerful tool in our toolbox!  We are “known and read” by these little eyes and ears.  They know if the cross is real in us, or not.  We don’t fool them, but we do confuse them when our life message does not speak the reality of Christ in us!

Are your little ones confused?

“Then said Jesus to his disciples, IF any man will come after me,

 let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Matt. 16: 24

 The cross holds the hope of humanity.  Denying self-life (our pride and selfishness in all its ugly forms)…and taking up His cross (His desires and His perfect Will for us)…  authenticates His life in us.  Living life consistently with no unconfessed sin and nothing between another person and myself enables us to follow Him.  “His crucifixion is the key; His resurrection the door…it is only by His death that we have the mandate to enter into the gates of eternal life.  His door is open always.  Christ is King.”  Isrealmore Ayivor

  “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; 

yet not I, but Christ lives in me: 

and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, 

who loved me, and gave himself for me?” 

Galatians  2: 20

“There are no crown-bearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below.”

Charles H. Spurgeon

~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 "Lock-Down... Again!"

Lest it be forgotten…not a chance in my life-time…I started noting on paper a few of the lessons I’m learning.  I don’t know about you, but “lockdown” was a very profitable journey of slowing my pace and listening more fervently.  I have had the opportunity to read a few books that I have wanted to pull off the shelf for years!  Time seems to turn to liquid when I am not scheduled by the hour by the day.  I do miss the personal contact with others, but He has pulled me under his wing and decided I would listen and learn better “locked-down”. 

 One lesson that I treasure has been understanding how important it is to declaring God’s Word.  Speaking in agreement with God’s will prompts our renewal “thinking” process so we can think more like God thinks.  This will cause us to talk more like God talks. Then talking like God talks will produce our walking like God walks…without fear, without anxiety, in peace and victory, instead of defeat.

 The week before last Easter a good friend from Nebraska (Connie Weinman) shared a precious thought with me regarding the choice Christ made to go to the cross.  She said, “He would rather go to hell for me than go to heaven without me”!  As we look to Good Friday next week and the privilege, we have to set aside time to rehearse all that He is and did on our behalf and accomplished by His sacrifice, we can exercise the mystery of faith, which is a pure conscience and receive the grace to walk with Him in gratefulness and harmony. 

 Paraphrased…”It shall come to pass, IF you hear it intelligently, be obedient to, declare wholly, completely, far, fast, louder and louder what God has said, to observe and to do all His commandments, THEN all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you”.(Deut. 28: 1-6)

 Let’s think, talk and walk reflecting glory back to God this 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 "Untold Future!"

Life had become routine in the Darien jungles of Panama. The sounds of Howler monkeys, the screeching of magnificent multicolored parrots and the beauty of the bright colored Toucan had become commonplace.  One morning we woke up to find two little spider monkeys on the front porch crawling on the girl’s bikes! 

I still could not reconcile with: the colossal spiders, the over-sized scorpions, the copious species of snakes, the blood-sucking vampire bats or the jungle army ants!  Nor would I ever find harmony with the dripping humidity and the ever-present roaches, chiggers and mosquitos!  However, I did learn to appreciate the large Iguanas for their tasty eggs.

 Daily, the Kuna’s would greet us, early, looking for sugar or oil and a morning visit.  We had become part of the community and they had begun to accept us.  We had brought healing medicine, oil, and sugar after all! 

 The Indians had, somewhere along the line, become part of our family and we had become attached to them and their way of life.  We had learned so much from them and were amazed at their physical strength compared to their small stature.  Their ability to take one bullet and return with a deer or two bullets and return with two deer was uncanny.  We, also, learned much from their survival skills in the dense jungle.  But their openness to listen to the truth of God’s Word after a year and a half of total mistrust and resistance was the most astounding of all!  

 Watching the young mothers with their babies and the respect and trust these women had for the older women in the village was heart-warming.  We had grown to love these very special people and had developed a mutually fulfilling relationship.  As they came to know Christ, our hearts were full of gratitude for the privilege of serving the King in such a rugged border region.

 The women swept the village once a week during dry season and it was an opportunity for Sue Gunsteens, my partner, and I to listen to the women chatter and hear the community gossip.  You didn’t want to miss the sweeping because you would then become the object of their conversation that day!   

However, I was consistently on guard because of something my Uncle, an orthopedic surgeon, had told me while he was visiting us at Language School.  He spoke quietly: “Jackie, you carry the TB germ from birth; it lays dormant now but could activate in the right environment or as you get older”.  I was 25 at the time, so I only had to focus on the environmental issue, I thought to myself!  Then, a year or so later, during a “Congreso” meeting, we knew we had reached a level of tribal acceptance when they offered us a gourd filled with “Chicha” and everyone drank from that one rustic cup!  Needless to say, I did not want to offend by NOT drinking from it!  

 But for me the sweeping and the common drinking gourd became an act of faith because the sweeping stirred up the tuberculosis germs and of course, the tubercular women would contaminate that cup! 

 The Lord had given me a promise while we were in missionary training.

 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future”.   Jer.29: 11

 The Lord used these powerful words of promise to banish my fear and sustain me as we swept the village, drank the “sugar-cane-sweetened platano (cooking banana) drink” and treated the TB patients in their homes and the clinic.  

 He knew my future and had it planned. There was, therefore, no reason to be troubled.  My focus was not on my fear but the need to keep in harmony with Him, His assignment and His will.

 Are you ever preoccupied with the future 

and what it holds for your life?

 In a world full of uncertainties, it is easy to “roll into” the pattern of helping God design your future, rather than simply submitting to Him and His plan that comes with assurance and hope!

~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 Woman!"

Do you know how you were designed?

Ah, yes…woman…programmed and empowered with destiny and purpose!

What did God have in mind in I Peter 3: 7, when He wrote

“Husbands live with your wives in an understanding way…

as with SOMEONE WEAKER, SINCE SHE IS A WOMAN”!

I have no doubt, at this point, I have your full attention…

 We know that marriage is the proving ground for development of our loyalty to God. 

I Cor. 7:11   Understanding His purpose frees us to live within our God-given design and to fulfill the beauty of His intention.

God’s design for Women is to use sensitivity and the truest sense of loyalty to her husband:

  (1) To equip and give her tools to fulfill her role on earth, as a giver, not a taker!

(2)   To give her direction and purpose in her life

(3) To give her a sense of success and an opportunity to reflect glory back to God

(4) To know fulfillment in her calling and service

(5) To sense acceptance and appreciation for her distinction from man and to man. 

(6)   To allow her to be the completer and helpmate to her husband 

 Satan’s evil design for Women is to use sensitivity, and disloyalty to cause in man:

(1)   Suspicion in place of trust

(2)   Competition in place of unity and oneness

(3)   Insecurity in place of giving refuge and comfort

(4)   Self-protection in place of exercising protectiveness

(5)   Pride of self (man’s ideas and concepts are the same as God’s!) instead of servanthood

(6)   Defensiveness and blaming wife in place of brokenness and genuine love.

 Our Goal is to fulfill God’s design:  To learn to use Satan for God’s Glory

 Interested? 

 HOW DO WE DO THIS?

 The purpose and goal being to continually reflect glory back to God by using Satan and his co-horts and their evil, divisive thought patterns, as “springboards”, to remind us to step outside our little world of self-sensitiveness and offenses and pick a needy unsaved person to pray for. 

 In doing this, we reflect glory back to God, as we pour out our heart for a lost person and resist our self-life!  Of course, Satan runs when he realizes God’s power to answer that prayer! The more we are reminded to pray by our needless and petty offenses…the more God is glorified and our loyalty to Him is developed.  It’s a win…win.

 Our attitudes must reflect HIS grace in life’s situations

and not reflect our self-love…Psa. 119: 1-6

We make the choice…

 OK…how are we using our God-given sensitivity… for others, not ourselves? 

Who are you loyal to?

~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 "Do You Hear Voices?"

We, women, are drowning with voices in this day of social media. There is continual distraction from real life and the suffocating perplexities that we are forced to face daily.  The continual changing and re-defining the rules of engagement in this swirling complex current life is enough to demand a shut off of all voices!  

 “Therefore, (in the light of our frustration!) we ought to give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard from God, lest at any time we should let them slip.” (Heb. 2: 1)  My husband always asks unsuspecting groups, “How many of you talk to the devil? The answer, of course, is that we all do! Discerning which voice we are hearing and responding to has to be an imperative recurring consideration.

 Hearing the still, quiet voice of God (my husband calls them “thought bombs”) should be our daily experience because this is the preparation needed to be alert and attentive in the midst of life’s situations. “…failing to prepare is to prepare to fail.” One of the most important aspects of womanhood is learning to hear and respond to that still, quiet voice in instant obedience and teaching our children to do the same!  

 There are three intercommunications that we hear.  The first is the human level which is our conscience (which can be trained and untrained, can’t it?). When God walks into our life, we become re-educated in line with Biblical truths and begin to form new convictions. The second is the demonic level (comes in temptation which we have to argue with to defend our position).  This voice purposes to destroy the moral value system that God has written on our hearts, and keeps us from becoming what God has pre-determined for us. The third, and most important, is the Holy Spirit’s communication to us. He never violates His word or our conscience; He tells us what to do, when to do it, and with whom it is to be done; He rewards us with joy and a sense of peace.

Whose voice do you hear?

 Can you discern those voices?

Be alert and take earnest heed to the one voice 

that will never steer you wrong!?

~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.