Jackie's Journey " The Four 'D's'"

It is Winter, but it feels like Spring. The rains have brought blankets of blooming flowers on the hillsides and an early garden is in the offing.  From my upstairs  window,  I recently observed what I thought was an injured bird but realized it was a little chubby gopher being chased by his identical twin.  Round and round they went, scurrying through the flowers and planting boxes of my garden!

 The pair of squirrels that return each spring also made their first appearance and I watched them run across the deck, “be-lining it”, to check out the hole they had made in the garden mesh last year that gave them total access to everything yummy and nutritious.

 Sooo…I started thinking about the dogged commitment these little fluffy mammals have.  There is no double-mindedness here…there dedication is 100% all in!  They have David Livingstone’s mind-set when he said,  ”I am determined never to stop until I come to the end and achieve my purpose.”

 Life is a continuous series of exchanges based on wise or unwise decisions.

Decisiveness is focusing on our destination, rather than focusing on distractions. And there are always distractions!  Double-mindedness is the opposite of being decisive.  James says, “… a double-minded man(mom) is unstable in all her ways and cannot receive from God. 

 We build decisiveness when we refuse to reconsider a decision that we know is right. Difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to harmonize with God’s will…over our own! 

 Daniel, a captured slave in Babylon, predetermined that he would choose to do what was right in God’s eyes…whatever the cost.  Have you decided who you will serve?  God has set before us “life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore,  choose life, that both you and your seed (children) may live”.

 Here’s a suggestion when at the point of decision:

 1.    DON’T – If it is the responsibility of others, let them do it.

2.    DELAY – If it should be done at a better time, wait.

3.    DELEGATE -If others can do it better, let them.

4.    DO IT – If none of the above apply, do it!

                                      Dr. Glen Heck

 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 "... No Retreat!"

How determined are you, mom?  How often are we called to teach our little princesses not be discouraged or be disheartened?  We say, “It’s going to be OK, no more tears”.  Maybe the job you asked them to do seems too big or they are struggling with being left out or have a sense of abandonment.  We have the opportunity to share the divine purpose from God’s point of view that will wash tears away and build a new determination.

 The character quality of determination deals with a mind-set prior to the task.  The character quality ofendurance involves the carrying out of the task.

 Solomon “determined to build…” II Chron. 2: 1

Daniel  “purposed in his heart…”Dan. 1: 8

David “determined to mourn…” II Sam.3: 35

Disciples “determined to send relief…” Acts 11: 29

Paul “determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ & Him crucified…” I Cor.2

 Determination presupposes careful consideration of the cost and requirements of the task and a decision that the task is worth whatever expenditure is necessary to accomplish it. It may be a garden in the back yard or a marriage! 

 Life consists of choices.  After a wise choice is made, determination is needed to carry it out.  Wise choices are usually challenged by difficulties and temptations. Do you persevere on tasks that are more difficult than what you expected?

 Moses chose to “suffer affliction with the children of Israel rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin…”

Esau, on the other hand, did NOT determine to protect his birthright and sold it!  Years later, he tried to recover it…but it was too late. Heb 11:25

 Do you commit to each goal and overcome any obstacle you encounter along the way or do you contemplate “giving up?” “When God is about to do something great, He starts with a difficulty.  When He is about to do something truly magnificent, he starts with an impossibility.”   Armin Gesswein  Whatever your circumstance today, determine to know He has the path that leads to His divine purpose, and walk  confidently, in the reality of His unwavering leading and directing.

DETERMINATION  IS LIKE A BOMBER PILOT PASSING THE POINT OF NO RETURN,

THEREBY CUTTING OFF THE OPTION OF RETREAT!!

~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.