Jackie's Journey "Where is My Life Going?"

In 2012, a few months before my Dad unexpectantly left me to be with the Lord, he asked, “How have you invested your life, Jackie?”  I was caught off-guard and his always “Chatty Cathy” daughter was at a loss for words!  I was speechless. I was so busy living my life, I never stopped to think how I had spent my life up to the moment of that question!  It was definitely worth reflection and I began to jot down a few ideas after thanking him for the thought-provoking request.  My thumb-nail sketch began the year of my encounter with God at the University of Arizona.

 It is a challenging question

and if I were to ask you the same thing…

how would you respond?

 I began to mentally line up my priorities.  We have such a short time here on earth and what we do for Him is the onlyeternal investment that carries value or goes on after we leave this earth.  “Only one life will soon be past; only what’s done for Him will last!”  We are to be busy about His work, which is exactly what Jesus would do if He were in my situation. Matt. 6: 10  

 We are women with massive responsibility and job descriptions.  We are stewards of the time allotted to us and accountable one day to a sovereign God who is trusting us to find Him sufficient in all areas of our lives. No excuses or rationalizations for our commission and duty.  No blaming, laziness or procrastination for what we know we are called to do as women of faith, mom’s, grand-mom’s, professional’s, aunts, etc.…  Because He has given us everything we need to lead a godly life and made every provision for His living His life out of us, we have no justification for walking any other way!

 Many of us have reason to double down and find that path of peace in turbulence, contentment in chaos, wisdom in the battle with our natural inclinations; authentic love over “me first!” selishness; gratefulness over unfulfilled expectation’s; humility over arrogance; self-control over self- indulgence; joyfulness over self-pity; meekness instead of anger; etc…. As women, we are prone to live in the “I am going to survive this” mode (there is certainly enough controversy and activity in it!) and not in God’s focus…the “what is going to count for eternity” mode. 

 How have you invested your life?

 We can be inspired to get “on point “

with what is going to withstand time and space

and put our energies there… what do you think?

Just saying…

~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 "Whose Story Is It, Anyway?"

“Grace is when God gives us good things we don’t deserve.  Mercy is when He spares us from bad things we do deserve.  Blessings are when He is generous with both.” Ralph Johnson Truly, we can never run out of reasons to thank HIM…He is good ALL the time!  “Gratitude is the memory of the heart”.

Recently, my husband shared these seven points with our family after dinner out of Romans.  All four of our oldest daughter’s college age students were packing up to move into Universities. With Covid, masks, vaccinations and the controversies surrounding on campus living, etc., it seemed appropriate to re-focus on God’s ultimate plan in the individual life.

 1.     When we were born again, we were in God’s continual cross-hairs, created to be what He has designed us to become.  The story is NOT about me, but about Him in me.  It is HIS story. 

2.     We are fearfully and wonderfully made in HIS image. Psalm 139 “We are a letter; known and read by all men” …II Cor. 3: 2-3 

 3.     Our lives have destiny and purpose that God designed specifically for each one of us individually for this exact time in history…we have an assignment.  He will, one day, hold us accountable. Rom. 3:19; Ezek. 3:18; Luke 7:23; Romans 14: 12

 4.     The Cross has the final Word.  Our declaration is to live in victory.  HIS victory, found in HIS will and HIS purpose. Rev. 2: 26

 5.     We serve at the pleasure of the King…from death to life; from darkness to light. We are commissioned servants to righteousness. Romans 6: 19

 6.     Jesus is Lord, King, Ruler, Owner… One day every knee will bow and confess HE is Lord. Romans 14:11

 7.     Our God turns ashes into beauty…Wait on the Lord…He has the last word.

 His grace is sufficient, His mercy is everlasting.  If God could close the lions mouth for Daniel; part the Red Sea for Moses; make the sun stand still for Joshua; open the prison door for Peter; put a baby in the arms of Sarah and raise Lazarus from the dead…then He can certainly take care of us, regardless of the circumstances around us!  Nothing we are facing today is too hard for HIM to handle in our life.  

Our only focus should be on the purity of our walk and

our commitment to His will and purpose…not our own!

His Story lived through us!

 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 "Beware of Batting Your Wings!"

My husband has an office in the garage and occasionally a tiny hummingbird will fly in and spend two days fluttering frantically to get out!  We have both tried to gently coax its darting frame out the door, fearful that it might break its flickering wings, but it persists in batting itself higher and higher against the ceiling, until we finally give up and it drops to the floor exhausted!  Its continual struggle to get free is heart-wrenching to watch…but they are little soldiers…they never give up!

 Our current world-wide disorder, confusion and contradiction clearly defines the obscure position we are finding ourselves in.  Like the hummingbird, our brains struggle to make sense of it all and we look for a way out. With the national chaos in Afghanistan and local talk of “defunding the police” in various cities across our nation, I am curious to know how we will govern our country, homes, schools, churches, communities and lives.  We are at war and don’t even know it!  The greatest battle we are facing is in our minds.  It is easy to think we are just victims to our circumstances, BUT WE HAVE A CHOICE!  The panic, disrespect and anxiety that has over-taken our thinking is running amuck in the rhetoric of lie after lie. 

When I mention the terms “Law, Statutes, Commands, Ordinances, Judgements and Precepts” …what comes to mind?   Do you bristle at the thought?  Ever wonder what these are for or why God counts them important?  Are they necessary?  They are referenced all through scripture.  Lawlessness is becoming common place in California, with permission to steal as much as you can carry up to 900.00 dollars with no consequence.  Marijuana is legalized! There are is no law protecting the homeowner from breaking and entering, criminals are walking out of court and released from serving time and child trafficking is off the charts…need I go on?  

 What am I to think?  It’s all so negative and toxic!  How are we to cope with all the turmoil and uncertainty?  It doesn’t help that from the very beginning in Genesis, the fall brought broken fellowship with God and man, broken thinking, broken emotions, fear of death, rebellion, lies and much more.  We are told by self-help guru’s that “we are awesome”; this or that medication will take the edge off the mayhem and “we are beautiful and the world is getting better”! 

SAY WHAT???

 “All stress and anxiety can be traced back to three basic lies: (1) I am helpless (2) I am worthless (3) I am unlovable.” 2 Thess. 2: 9   There are more suicides among young people than ever before.  They believe one or all of these lies!  Scripture answers those lies with: (1) the power of the Godhead dwells in us…we are not helpless! (2) I was worth dying for…I have great value! (3) I am accepted in the beloved…I am VERY loved!  

 We are at war.  “Transform your thinking and you will transform your life.”  We are to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” II Cor. 10:5     This is the battleground.  It’s a war.  We are warriors.  The choice is ours.  We are not victims. 

 Get to know these terms…they frame our thoughts…they are the remedy…

Line your thoughts up with God’s truth…

 “The law of the Lord is perfect…restoring the soul (the mind, will and emotions); the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the Lord are right…rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure…enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the Lord (fearing the consequence of sin) is clean, enduring forever; the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous.  Your servant is warned, in keeping them there is great reward.”   Psalm 19: 7-11

~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 "Are You Quarreling with the Process?"

“Sometimes God lets a stinging blow fall on your life. The blood spurts. The nerves wince.  The soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake.  But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God.” J.H. McC   All of us have lived to experience one or more of these times.  But when I recently read this quote, my youngest daughter came to mind. It’s her birthday on Wednesday. 

 She is a perfect example of a child of God that does not quarrel with God’s process in her life and is continually responsive with gratefulness.  “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.”  Gratitude is the memory of the heart. She takes the blow and welcomes the pressure, disappointment and pain, and simply and quietly…matures! She understands God’s extended grace. She has always been able to walk into a room and fill it to the brim with enthusiasm and energy! She can, without any effort on her part, entertain us for hours.  Her presence consistently brings joy wherever she is.  I cannot imagine my life without her in it!

 “The grace of God is equal to…the most unfavorable circumstances.

Its glory is to transform a curse into blessing and show

men and angels of ages yet to come that where sin abounded,

grace did much more abound.” A.B. Simpson

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIMBERLY JOY!

~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 Broken Link in the Chain!"

I have had the privilege these past months to have entertained numerous angels unaware. Most were strangers to me, initially. I had just started this blog, when God began to minister its message to my own heart…

 Did you know that we will be blessed in the same degree and in equal measure to the blessings God confers on others through us?  The life we women live will either blight or bless those around us?  Every act we do is the first link in a chain of consequences so long that we cannot foresee the resulting end of it.

 The Christian ideology is a philosophy of self-denial, self-control and self-restraint.  The satanic philosophy is one of “live as you please”; “have what you want”; “don’t let anybody tell you what to do”; “it’s your life, you have a right to live it”, “It’s me first”.  When the “great Physician” applies a knife to my heart and there is pain…there is evidence of “live flesh”, a self-first attitude and a break in the chain!  If humility and a willing service do not instantly manifest themselves, then I know I have chosen the satanic philosophy and acted on it.

 God does not attack in us that which is lifeless and unresponsive.  It is the living only that must die to self-desires.  The remedy to our problem isn’t cure…it’s death!  Death to the “don’t tell me what to do” voice.   Satan loves uncrucified flesh!

 Someone once told me that when I hesitate before responding when I know the right, answer or reaction, I have already set in motion the philosophy that will destroy me. The devil did not tempt Adam and Eve to steal, lie, kill, commit adultery; he tempted them to live independently from God!  A rebellious spirit and “get out of my way” attitude will define my position every time!

 Are you aware of the acts you are occupied 

with that are affecting a break in that first link 

in the chain of resulting consequences?

 Have you checked the links in your chain, lately?

“For the Christian, life is not divided into the secular and the sacred. 

To us…all ground is holy ground, every bush a burning bush, and

Every place a temple of worship”. Dr. Bob Jones, Senior

~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 "War-Torn, but Inimitable!"

On May 14, 1989 my two, then, teen-age daughters gave me an NAS monogrammed black Bible for Mother’s Day, that I have loved and protected, as a dear friend for over thirty years.  It carries within its once blank pages a wealth of notes as God spoke to my heart and taught me life-long lessons.  I am a prolific note-taker and this Bible is packed with names, stars, highlighting, hearts and steps of action searing its pages. I read the Bible through each year so you can imagine what it looks like!

 Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.  They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head.  Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. (Mark 2:3-4)   The note I have in the margin…” Who will you carry, Jackie?”  A simple reminder of a given responsibility.  

 J.B. Philips (my favorite Bible that carried me through college) wrote, “The danger to professing Christians lies not in more glaring and grosser temptations and sins, but in a slow deterioration of vision, a slow death to daring courage and willingness to adventure with God.”  If I have lost sight of my responsibility…. I have a definable loss of vision…and the notes go on…calling me into accountability.

 Whether you are single woman, a mom or grandmother, we each carry responsibility for the short life we live here. Life is simple…a stewardship, not an ownership; a trust and not a gift.  With a gift you can do as you please, but with a trust…you must give an account. (Eph. 2:10)

 As I slowly bend the pages of this war-torn Bible, I am reminded of the privilege we have been given to yield to HIS purpose and will in this life and how HE has given us everything we need to live a life that pleases HIM. (II Peter 1:2-3) No excuses for loss of vision or misuse of HIS gift.  His Word is the path through this maize called life.  The other choice…chaos and loss.

 What is your choice?

 “…every mouth will be silenced and the whole world 

held accountable to God.”  Romans 3: 19 NIV

~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 Battle of the Mind"

How many of you are struggling today with life?  Rest and relaxation have escaped your grasp and you are longing for relief. Your mind will not rest! The unknowns have overwhelmed you and you are confounded by the whole process of mentally resolving whatever is weighing on you. Preoccupation and worry have become your bedfellows and patience is a non-existent entity.  Would a vacation from your troubles do it?  Or maybe just a few hours alone, sitting on the warm sand at the beach? Whatever comes to mind with the word “escape” is where we are going this morning.

“I have been a long-distance runner for 6 years now. I run for the physical benefits, but even more for the mental benefits, a complete and total escape from my own thoughts. As I set off on my run early Tuesday morning, I found myself crippled with thoughts of uncertainty. As I began to feel like I couldn’t breathe, I walked a bit and then sat in the sand. My mind raced between focusing on the music playing loud in my ears and the beauty of the crashing waves in front of me. A woman walked past me, grinned, and then sat in the sand to my left. She introduced herself as Deception and proceeded to say, “I can see you are overwhelmed; it must be tough feeling like you can’t catch a break; everything just keeps going wrong.” 

I looked at her in disbelief. I thought to myself, “what an intrusive comment to make”. I then said, “You’re right, I am feeling overwhelmed, but I have so much good I can be focusing on.” The silence was deafening, as I began to mentally list out the ways God has blessed me greatly. 

A few minutes passed and another woman came walking up the shoreline. She, too, smiled at me and then, serenely sat down in the sand to my right. She introduced herself as Peace and then proceeded to say, “I can see that you are overwhelmed; you must find so much rest in knowing that God’s plans are currently at work and that even though you feel this way, you are exactly where He wants you to be.” I smiled at her and responded, “Thank you! That is a reminder my soul was craving to hear.” 

Then a third voice rang through my head, “Trust me” it said, with complete and total calmness. I leaned forward expecting to see a third person coming to sit by me, but I saw no one. As I shifted my gaze from the ocean to my left and right sides, I saw no one. 

Deception and Peace were not physical beings but rather the voices in my head. One fostering a mentality of self-pity and the other empowering me to lean into the Spirit. But who was the third? 

The voice of God. 

A voice so calm,

yet so powerful

that the other voices residing in my head were now silent.”

Most of us live our lives in “whirlwinds” of varying degrees of tolerance.  My granddaughter, Alexandra Grace, has again captured the battle we face within our over-taxed minds.  Deception is screaming at us from every side. God offers HIS peace to govern our lives, if we will let HIM. Col. 3: 15 The daily renewed mind, saturated in HIS Word, will lead us into peace that passes understanding in the midst of our chaotic lives.

I am submitting to that “still voice” this morning…

Will you?

Alexandra Grace graduated this past June, Summa Cum Laude in Business. She is pursuing her MBA from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.  The allegory was written by her for Professor Dracott at Biola University this past year.

Jackie's Journey "Eating Crow!"

Eating Crow is never fun!  If we never opened our mouth or spoke, we would not have to eat our words.  Words have the power of life or death. Pro. 18: 21 They can bless or curse.  They can encourage or bring despair.  

 William Boetcker was a Presbyterian minister in the early 20th century.  He once spoke on the seven “Mischievous Misses” of the tongue.  They were misinformation, misquotation, misrepresentation, misinterpretation, misconstruction, misconception and misunderstanding. I think he pretty well covered for all of us the areas responsible for our tongue troubles!  

 James, the half-brother of Jesus in the New Testament called the tongue a “fire, a world of iniquity”.  He compares it to the bit of a horse and a rudder of a ship. Both of these control and influence direction. We are to keep a tight rein on our tongue. Bridled speech manifests maturity.  Impulsive speech manifests the opposite. We all stumble in our speech at times.  We may say something unintended or maybe we meant to say it, but it created trouble and we want to take it back.

 Just like the bit and rudder control the horse and ship, our speech needs to be under control.  “How can you, being evil, speak good things. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  A good man (woman) out of the good treasure of his(her) heart brings forth good things, and an evil man(woman) out of the evil treasures brings forth evil things.  But I say to you that for every IDLE word we speak, we will give account of it in the day of judgement.  For by our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned.” Jas. 3:34-37

 The point is we cannot “just share what is on our heart, as long as, what we say is what we really believe.”  “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked”. Jer. 17: 9 Our intent should be to speak as we are led by a gracious God who has our best interest at heart and has the success of the person we are attempting to help in focus. Advice is cheap, but if not regulated and controlled by His Spirit, we can be assured of having to “eat crow”. We are admonished to ‘let no corrupt word proceed out of our mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it might impart grace to the hearer. Eph. 4: 29  

 We can control Shamu, the whale at Sea World, but fail to take control of our own tongue!

We can either nurture blessing with our tongue 

or cause damage that cannot be undone.

 Which will it be 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 "Some Contagious Things are Worth Catching!"

While living deep in the Darien jungle of Panama, we occasionally were entertained by little river otters and their playful antics.  One day an orphaned otter followed one of us home.  His talented acrobatic ways won us over, as he attached himself to David, our partners teenage son. There wasn’t anywhere David went that “his hyper-active, pint-sized otter” wouldn’t shadow.  This happy creature had a joyful and adventuresome spirit.  He could slide into the river without making a splash and could stay underwater four minutes!

 I found myself observing his happy-go-lucky attitude, as he totally trusted his new master, and as he merrily went about his day.  His cheerfulness oiled the machinery of his life and he was gliding through with grace!  It was contagious and I wanted some of that oil!  Many people go through life with their soul, like the dry axle, creaking…I did not want to be one of those!

 We had been in Pucuro, our river village, for almost three years and the Kuna’s had grown accustomed to us and were spending more and more time in our house.  Before light, we would hear a friendly call from outside our screen door, “Could we trade a little oil for 2 eggs?”  Our day, then, blurred into regular activities: like washing two dozen diapers in the river after a quick breakfast of fish and rice; then, language and linguistics study. The small medical clinic had taken off, as the Kunas had come to trust us and allowed us to give T.B. injections, deliver their babies, suture their injuries, etc.  Sweeping the entire village, two times a week with large palm leaves had become routine. Christina’s Abeka home-schooling course had begun and she was thriving.  Kim was almost three and loved jungle living and life with her dog, Tinker and multiple cats (they ate the rats and vampire-bats!).

 My busy days and little sleep identified me as one of those axles that needed some of this otter’s oil of optimistic enthusiasm!  “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance…” Pro. 15: 13   “Now, listen to me (God says),because those who follow My ways are happy.”  Pro. 8:32   If I am not expressing God’s cheerfulness to those around me, I need to make a change!  If I follow HIS will and ways…the promise is, I will be optimistically contagious and walk happy, energized and with a merry heart. I’m choosing His will and ways over my own today...

 How about you?

 Enthusiasm is contagious and so is gloom!

 Which are your children and those around you catching from 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 "God Has a Big Eraser!"

These were a gift from my daughters, Christina and Kim, over 40 years ago!

I have forever been intrigued by lambs.  They are docile and are crowd followers.  They are submissive and easily led.  They do not utter a sound when they lose their warm wool coats while being sheared or even when they lose their lives!  What they give is for the benefit of the lives of those who took it from them!

 Sheep are instructors of one of the most valuable character qualities known to mankind.  Without it, we find ourselves adrift and separated from both God and man.  Without it, we become angry and bitter.  The fruit of its absence is unresolved relationships and needless stress. Our children watch and adopt the same negative response to life’s situations, with the same harmful results! “Parents, so often, are the persons wondering why the streams are bitter, when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.” John Locke

 I was recently talking to a young married woman in ministry, who assured me that she knew the problem she had with this other person was her problem, but she could not do what is required of her to resolve the conflict in her heart and re-establish her relationship with God.

 Are you wondering what invaluable character quality we are talking about?

 “It is nobler to forgive. ‘Love your enemies…bless them that curse you…

do good to them that hate you…pray for them that use you ill’…

these are the commands of the blessed Savior of men.”  Noah Webster

 When asking forgiveness from God, He tells us to go to the offended brother first and make things right…and then come to the altar. Matt. 6: 24 Forgiveness is when we release our offenders from angry and resentful reactions and instead look for ways to benefit their lives. 

 We always have the choice.  We can blame and poison the fountain, where those following us drink!  Who is more important in God’s eyes?  Can God forgive us, if we refuse to forgive others?  Of course not!! Eph. 4: 32  What entitlement do we have that would keep us from forgiving, as we have been forgiven? Mark 11: 25  “He who cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself.” George Herbert  

Do you forgive others quickly?

or

Do you blame and allow your anger to become toxic?

Booker T. Washington said, “I will not permit any man to narrow 

and degrade my soul by making me hate him.”

~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.