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 "Mother's Understand Sacrifice"

Christina, my oldest daughter and my beautiful Mom

at her 101 year old birthday party…

 Love is not a passion.  It is the pulse of sacrifice”.

 This Sunday is Mother’s Day! For seventy-seven years my Mother taught me about genuine love and Motherhood. She was 101 years old when God took her home.  I watched her as she maneuvered through life.  She was strong and courageous, especially in the latter years without Daddy.  She faced life with grace each day with acceptance of God’s Hand and timing.  She had no fear of old age which is the assumption that we still have many years of life ahead of us. “The length of our days is seventy years or eighty, IF we have the strength; yet this span is but trouble and sorrow and passes quickly and then we fly away”! (Psalm 90:10)  

 She learned to be “satisfied in the morning with His unfailing love. She did not sing for joy out loud but she was clearly grateful and glad for every day.”  And she looked forward to any, or all of us coming and visiting with her as often as we could.  She was the best listener and I can remember my high school friends coming home with me to talk to her, not me!  

 She was wise… my precious Mama.  She taught me, by example, to number my days, to be deliberate with my heritage, to think generations and to see how short and quickly life passes.  I am paying attention.  So, you see…your job has been well done… 

 Thank you for leading the way, leaving a print for me to step into 

and showing me the pulse of sacrificial love…

I love you…I miss 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 "Wait a Minute!"

The year 2021 has come and gone!  Year 2022 is precipitously on its way to the half-way mark!  My commitment to blogging was for one year.  What an incredible blessing to be able to jot down thoughts and rehearse what God continues to teach me through His Word and the people and events in my life.  Thank you to those of you who continue to follow my journey with the King. 

 All any of us has to share with others is our weakness translated into a life message for the benefit of another.  I trust God has used my flaws to manifest His strength for your benefit.  

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

II Cor. 12: 9-10

 Jim Elliot, husband of Elizabeth Elliot, who was martyred at the hand of the Auca Indians, once said:

  “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  

 Listen to the spirit of his devotedness…

 “Father, let me be weak that I might loose my clutch on everything temporal.  My life, my reputation, my possessions, Lord, let me lose the tension of the grasping hand…Rather, open my hand to receive the nail of Calvary, as Christ’s was opened, that I, releasing all, might be released, unleashed from all that binds me now.  He thought Heaven, yea, equality with God not a thing to be clutched at.  So let me release my grasp.”

 Spring is a wonderful time to put our busy lives back in Scriptural perspective. We celebrate the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…the One who “gives us everything we need to lead a godly life! “ II Pet.1: 3

 Genuine Christianity is an unconditional surrender to His Lordship!

 While attending the University of Arizona I was invited to join Kappa Alpha Theta, a national sorority.  I had a sense of acceptance and grew to love the girls and the accountability.  After a semester of initiation, we had a night of mild hazing that culminated in stepping individually behind a veil for the final step of becoming a Theta.   As the pledge of loyalty was read and the words were spoken to me… I was asked to repeat them.  At that time, I realized I had already pledged my loyalty to my new Savior, Jesus Christ.  

 A few months earlier, over the Thanksgiving holiday with my parents and sisters, I had attended a church service and had heard for the first time in my life that I could know God in a personal way through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Standing behind that curtain I was struck, profoundly, when I realized I had already given my total allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ that Thanksgiving weekend!   When He walked into my life everything changed, I had no more allegiance to give.

 Time has tested on life’s stage that unconditional surrender I made to my loving Savior and Sovereign Lord in those college days.

 What is your present commitment? 

 When we talk about a total surrendering of our lives to the Lordship of Christ, we are talking about yielding all our rights and expectations! 

·      A dying to self and self-attitudes

·      A yielding of all entitlements and self-interest

 WHAT??  That can’t be right…WAIT A MINUTE!

 Don’t we run from the people and circumstances that call us into total commitment?  It is much easier to go with the flow as the secular, ungodly world dictates to us relativity, independence and “I have my rights!”   The world’s motto: “Strength only…show no weakness!”  The human struggle wants His power to do OUR will.   

 Is humility a position of strength or weakness, in your opinion?

 Humility is me… seeing the contrast between my spiritual condition (a sinner) and God’s holiness and then receiving His grace to live Christ-like, not Jackie-like!   

  Grace is doing His will with His power! Phil. 3:10

 It is acknowledging His presence and His power to live the Christian life.  

Victory is living in that truth!  

 Are you living in Victory?

 Have you surrendered your life to His Lordship?

~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 "Untested Unknowns!"

“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 day’s 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 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 "Who Needs a Title?"

In a global environment where who you are is an imperative and keeping track of your every move and accomplishment or failure is a priority, it might serve us well to take a look at our titles…because they describe our responsibilities!  Knowing and doing what God and others are expecting from us gives meaning to what responsibilities are all about. (Rom.14:12) 

Abraham Lincoln said “You can’t escape the responsibility

of tomorrow by evading it today.”   

1.      I am called a wife; mother; mother-in-law; daughter; daughter-in-law; grandmother; aunt; teacher; missionary; bush nurse; author; Pastors wife…to name a few…each with unending expectations and responsibilities.

2.      Ralph, my husband, is called a Pastor, Missionary, Nutritionist; CRA Doctor; Husband; Father; grandfather; father-in-law; teacher; provider, protector…

3.      A policeman may be a traffic or patrol officer; a detective or a Captain. Responsible for our safety and to a community at large. 

4.      Soldiers carry all kinds of titles depending on their rank. Responsible for our national security and defense. We are “soldiers of the Cross”. Responsible for being “battle-ready” to defend the faith & promote the gospel. II Tim.2:2

5.      We are “Priests”. Responsible to pray & represent Him to the lost and encouraging the saved to be alive and functioning. (I Pet.2:5,9)

6.      We are called “chosen” people. (I Peter 2:5,9)

7.      We are “Saints”. Taken from the world; sanctified and set apart for His service. Serving Him in every attitude, thought, word, action, opportunity with pure motives is our primary responsibility. (Phil.4:22)

8.      We are called “Disciples”. Responsible to delight Him as followers & students of His heart, will, purpose and plan for us. (Deut. 30: 15-18) 

9.      We are called “Ambassadors” …Responsible to make Him known & to represent Him to the world everywhere. (II Cor. 5:17-19)

10.    We are called “Believers” (Present Progressive!)  Responsible to “trust in the Lord withALL our hearts and lean not to our own “stupidity” (my husband’s rendition), in ALL our ways make him known and He will direct our path.” … (Proverbs 3:5,6)

11.    We are called the “light of the world” to light the way. We are known and read by all men. (II Cor. 3:2) Responsible for our daily walk and life-message. (Matt. 5:14)

12.    We are called “Spirit-controlled.” Responsible for yielding to His control, priority & purpose. (Gal.5:22,23)

13.    We are called “slaves of righteousness”. Responsible for our choices…right or wrong! (Rom.6:16-18)

14.    We are called “Servants” for the success of others, dedicated to pleasing Him first. (Matt.20:26-28) 

This is not an exhaustive list, but a starter…

One day we will be held accountable to God for how we worked out our salvation and God-given responsibilities… (Rom. 14:12)

Are you ready?

~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 "Where Do We Focus in all this Muddle?"

I’ve been thinking this past week of the myriad of issues that we, as mom’s, are being challenged with and the decisions we are being asked to make, both for ourselves and our children.  How are we to know what is best, not just expedient?  

With social media giving unprecedented direction into every area of our lives, where should our focus be?  The supreme court is arguing this morning over “mandates” regarding some of these issues and what should be Federal Law?  With the turmoil in our world and the global world spinning out of control, where do we go to get grounded?  Where is the hiding place of refuge? 

“He (She) did EVIL because he (she) did not set his (her) heart to seek the Lord”. (2 Chron. 12: 14)   For moms, the thought of “missing the boat” with our children is pre-eminent!  We only have one short span of opportunity with them.  To seek the Lord is a present progressive verb…meaning… ongoing, never-ending action.  We are to connect with Him daily. (Romans 6:18 )  We are “freed from sin and forgiven… to do right”.  New Focus!

This is the most concise definition of evil found in the Bible.  It says that we are robbing God and ourselves by not living in that way.  “Setting our heart” is fixing it on the Creator, the one in total control. We are created to fulfill what we, with Him, are to do.  Our designed purpose is “to do the will of God on earth, even as it is being done in Heaven”. (Matthew 6:10)

We are “created for a life of good works that He has prepared before-hand for us to do”. (Ephesians 2:10)   He has given us the equipment we need to face the disorder and to step up to the plate, with God-confidence that we are not hindered by “evil” in our lives and can face the future without fear.

 “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (and all these things mentioned above v. 27-32) will be added to you”. Matthew 6:33    This is the section in Scripture on why we, moms, do not need to worry! He wants to supply for His family, like any good father, as His family yields to His will and ways.

Evil is doing our own thing.  We have two choices:  “Wisdom from above”, as described above or “wisdom from below”…Satanic, that which is selfish, proud, and envious. (James 3:13-15)   We cannot separate selfishness from Satan or pride.

 Sacrificing our will and desires means surrendering to God’s will, bringing us into His will and our purpose. (Romans 12:1,2) In Matthew 7:21,22, there was a group of people doing their version of God’s will, but doing it their own way.  He said, “depart from me, I never knew you.” They were doing, what appeared to be the same as the apostles, but it was in self-motivated satanic power.  

Who discerned that?  The Lord Jesus did!

What is His will in general for all believers?  Fish for men. (Matt. 4:19); Walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16.); Seek Him in the Scriptures daily to understand His heart.  It always involves service.  He came to serve, not to be served.  He lives in the believers to continue to do just that.  He is the same today, yesterday and forever.

 “The eyes see what the heart loves.  If the heart loves God and is single in this devotion (focus), then the eyes will see God whether others see Him or not.” Warren Wiersbe, Live Like a King

Let’s be wise moms this coming year and stay God-focused…

~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 "The Significance of Christmas Past!"

Christmas is nearly upon us.  There will be parties to attend…food to prepare, guests to entertain, gifts to purchase and greetings to send…all wrapped in a whirlwind of activity.  During this busy time of tree trimming and family gatherings, we have an opportunity to rehearse and learn the lessons from the birth of Christ.

 Let’s look at Mary’s Willingness…  “And the angel said unto her, ‘Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and you will call his name JESUS.” Luke 1:30-31 On that very first Christmas Mary, the mother of Jesus, exemplified how WE should live our lives!  Always willing to trust God first… no disbelief, no fear, no panic.  Always willing to be used of God, no matter what He asks us to do!

 Then there was the Star’s Brightness! “There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, ‘where is he that is born King of the Jews, for we have seen HIS star in the east and have come to worship Him.’” With everything going on around us, we are instructed to “let our light so shine (sparkle with the hope, love and peace of Jesus Christ) before men, that they will see our good works, and glorify our Father, which is in heaven”, regardless of our “hustle and bustle” and harried circumstances.

 Of course, we can’t forget the Hastiness of the Shepherd’s, “as it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘Let us NOW go even to Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.” Luke 2: 15,16   How quickly do you follow HIM?  Are you consistently God-conscience or consumed with the chaos of the day?  Have you paused long enough to know if your will is in harmony with HIS?

 Lastly, the lesson of The Wise Men’s Unselfishness.  “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matt. 2: 11 The wise men found Him, fell before Him, worshipped Him and gave Him the very best that they had to show their love, devotion and adoration.  This is exactly what we should do! 

 We celebrate this time of year because of the incredible gift

God gave us in the birth, life, death and resurrection of His Son!

 Will you join me in celebrating the TRUE meaning of Christmas?

~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.