Jackie's Journey "Fainthearted Persistence!"

I have been thinking about our need to be “warrior women” with passionate resolve…mothers that look at the insurmountable obstacles that face us, as opportunities to cry out for God’s supernatural intervention!  Motherhood calls for extreme determination and presupposes that we have considered the cost and requirement necessary to see the task at hand accomplished and what it will take to achieve that goal.

 While on the mission field, I was continually challenged with what seemed to be the impossible.  To mention a few “obstacles”…from the time it took to just live… without electricity or running water to the medical clinic where we sutured, set broken arms and delivered babies; to the breaking down the language and  learning it; and then, the desiring to be the “hands on” mom with two little girls isolated in a jungle environment, who needed me and… needed to learn to read. I am not the best multi-tasker, so it all seemed over-whelming and unachievable!

I was not seeing from God’s perspective! Life consists of choices.  Making right choices is imperative…I wanted the blessing that came with that.  Checking my choices became a daily exercise.  At the Memorial for Charlie Kirk, there was a catch phrase that resonates with my remote living experience…”NEVER GIVE UP!  NEVER SURRENDER!”  Hudson Taylor wrote, “At first the task looks difficult, then impossible; and then it is done.”  I had to reject distractions, like guilt, failure, discouragement and doubt.  I had to accept that “faithful is He who called me, Who would also do it”. Gal. 6: 9

 I don’t know what you are facing this week,  but be encouraged that we have a calling, God has a plan and our right choices will keep us in harmony with Him or our wrong choices will mark our defeat. “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, “iF WE DO NOT GIVE UP!”  Once a decision is made, it takes determination to carry it out.

 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 "Never Give Up!"

“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 claim 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 discipling 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.