Jackie's Journey "Christmas is in TWO DAYS!"

“A blanket of powdery snow covered the castle walls.  The princess sisters found themselves in a scene right out of a fairytale.  The most remarkable winter in years has arrived.  Christmas is only a night away.  Princesses Joy, Grace, Faith, Charity and Hope are surrounded by glittering gifts, a huge Christmas tree in the parlor, sparkling candles, and a dramatic night sky with one star bigger and brighter than all the others.  A sudden rap at the door of the castle puts the kingdom on immediate alert!  Will a marauding band of outlaws ruin the princesses’ perfect Christmas Eve?”

 In two days we will set time aside to gather with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Our seasonal book,  “A Royal Christmas to Remember” was written for your little princess to capture the true essence of why we remember the arrival of a tiny baby in a manger. 

 This is the second of our seasonal books.  Its appearance before the holiday season is perfectly timed to arrive before the Christmas crunch.  Its story is timeless, taken from Luke 12:15-21, the Parable of the” Rich Young Ruler”.  It is dedicated to the parents who strive to rescue their children from the materialistic focus of this time of year.  It is for those of you who desire to introduce your child to the person, who is the “reason for this season”…Jesus Christ.

 In Sally Clarkson’s book “Ministry of Motherhood” she wrote:

 “Children need the authentic strength that comes from the true foundation of a biblical worldview and a proper understanding of the real Christ who is worthy of their worship!  They need an unwavering moral and spiritual compass that will help them weather today’s storms and will guide them for the rest of their lives.  They also need to see what a real faith looks like when lived day in, day out, so they will have a pattern to follow.”

 The Princess Parables Series has been written with God’s worldview that teaches biblical character, eternal values and is designed to cultivate a desire to be a child of the true King of Kings!  The Series is bible-based on a parable taught by the greatest teacher that ever lived.  Each of the five books encompasses character-emphasized prince and princesses with eternal values targeted.  A Royal Christmas to Remember is written with these principles imposed onto every page. 

 Jeanna and I are blessed with the privilege of working together

 to make this Christmas book available to you.

We are wishing you the MERRIEST 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. 

Jackie's Journey "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"

In life we cannot anticipate what our future holds but we know who holds the future.  In the Princess Parable Series, in our seasonal book, “A Royal Christmas to Remember”, we find our 5 princesses and 5 young knights busily preparing for the upcoming Christmas festivities.

 Opening the castle doors over the holidays is a tradition that opens the hearts of the entire village to the message of Christmas.  In an instant all their plans are dashed when a message of imminent danger arrives at their front door! The King hastily leaves with his knights to protect their kingdom.  The real meaning of Christmas quickly comes into focus. The girls choose to seize the moment of turmoil, changing their destiny and bringing joy to their father and the whole kingdom.

 December has arrived here in California and the events and activities of the season are in full swing.   Having our “castle doors” open to family, neighbors and friends is a tradition we welcome each year. 

 ♫ It’s truly beginning to look a lot like Christmas. ♬  

 A few years ago, in the midst of our preparations and a very busy afternoon, I received an urgent call from Kim, my youngest daughter, who was teaching at an Elementary School a mile or so from our house.  The school had abruptly been put on “lock-down”!  There were policemen on campus and helicopters were swirling in circles overhead.   She was yet to be informed of the circumstances…but waited silently.  Was it a bomb threat, someone on campus with a gun, …what??

 Her daughter Megan Joy was in the classroom next door huddled down behind locked doors and desks!  The teachers and students had been in this imposed silence and been inaccessible for almost two hours!   Frantic, my mind immediately went to pictures of Columbine in Colorado…

 Now that… was a wake-up call!  In an instant my holiday plans took second place to the more important, as my priorities slipped back into a more realistic focus.  Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. used to say, “Don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate!”  No chance of that happening here. 

 As I watched and listened to the helicopters circling, hovering overhead, my curiosity overwhelmed me.   A song that comforted me in the jungles of Panama immediately came to mind. 

♫ He is my hiding place,

He always fills my heart with songs of deliverance

whenever I am afraid, I will trust in Him … ♫   Psalm 32:7   “

 God is our strength and power and makes our way perfect.”  2 Sam. 22:33   Our sovereign God was in control and He brought His “peace that passes understanding” in the turmoil.   Two days from today families will gather to rehearse and celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world.  Christians will pause to praise their blessed promise and hope fulfilled in a manger bed.  Many will kneel and pray together giving thanks for His coming, His life and His sacrificial death in our place and His glorious resurrection.

 Will you be one of these?

 Somehow… this particular Christmas

 was a singularly outstanding one for our family…

~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 "Christmas Surrender!"

In The Princess Parable Series, “A Royal Christmas to Remember” our five princesses are faced with exercising their loyalty in ways that resonate with us as mom’s during this time of year. Christmas is a wonderful time to put our busy lives back into Scriptural perspective.  We celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…the One who gives us everything we need to live a godly life. (II Peter 1: 3) This year 2024 is closing down…how did you do in your surrender to Him this year?

 Genuine Christianity is an unconditional surrender to His Lordship.

 Years ago, while attending the University of Arizona, I was faced with confronting my true loyalties in one of the most challenging seasons of my life.  I was invited to join a highly respected national sorority.  I had a sense of acceptance and grew to love the girls and the accountability.  After a semester of pledging, we had a night of mild hazing that culminated in stepping, individually, behind a veil for the final step of repeating a “pledge of our loyalty” and unconditional allegiance to the group…

 A few months earlier, over Thanksgiving holiday, I had attended a church service and heard for the first time in my life that I could know the God of the universe in a personal way through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Now, standing behind that veiled curtain, listening to the call to Theta loyalty, I was profoundly struck with the words and realized I had already given my total allegiance to the beloved Savior that we celebrate next week!  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.

This time of year calls our attention to the things most important to us.

 Where do our loyalties lie…

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 "The Joy of Giving!"

Life is simply a stewardship, not an ownership; a trust, not a gift.  With a gift you may do as you please, but with a trust, you must give an account. (Eph. 2: 10) This is the beginning of the holiday season when we begin spending money on gifts and essentials that make this time of year delightful and challenging. Christmas, after-all, is in two weeks! 

 In The Princess Parable  Series, “The Royal Christmas to Remember” seasonal book finds our princesses pre-occupied and ecstatic about opening all their presents on Christmas morning.  Their frivolous chatter was checked by their father, the King, reminding them that giving and sharing is necessary to being a true princess. He would say, ”Be on guard against all kinds of greed, we are stewards of what we have been given”.

 John McArthur has a tape called “Mastery of Materialism”. He said, “16 out of 38 of Christs parables deal with money.  More is said in the New Testament about money than Heaven and Hell!  Five times more is said about money than prayer.  There are 500 plus verses on prayer and faith, but there are 2,000 verses dealing with money and possessions.”  Obviously, the point is the Bible has much to say about money management!

 There are four basic biblical principles of regarding money in Matthew 25: 14-30. The first is simple…God owns it all!  Hence, He has the right to whatever He wants, whenever He wants it. It’s all His and the Owner has rights and I, a steward, have only responsibility.

 A good example of this is when my daughter started driving my car.  I’m the owner; my daughter has only privilege, while I maintain all responsibility.  I can take it back for any reason, at any time. In the same way, every single possession that I have comes from His hand.  I possess much, but own nothing.

 Stewardship is the God-given resource for the accomplishment of God-given goals.  It is an active definition, not theoretical. It acknowledges God’s ownership over my possessions and His direction of my use of these resources. Not only is my “giving” decision a spiritual one, but “spending” decisions are also.  There is nothing more spiritual about giving than buying a car, taking a vacation, buying food, paying off a debt, paying taxes, paying for college…These are all uses of His resources.  The princesses learn that stewardship involves giving and it is far more rewarding than receiving!

 The second money management tenet is that God uses money as a tool to teach us, as a test of our trustworthiness and as a testimony to distinguish us from the world.  The third rule is not the amount we have but how we handle what God has entrusted to us and lastly, the fourth, is that stewardship requires faith and volitional action. “What is Christmas without sharing and giving?”, the King told his 5 princesses, as they packed up their decorations to carry them to the town to replace all that had been destroyed by a band of outlaws that Christmas Eve!

 My husband always said, “You can’t take it with you, but you can send it ahead”.  “Lay not up…treasures on earth, but lay up for yourselves in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6: 19-21)   His point… invest in eternity! (Lu. 16: 1-9)

 There are only two weeks before Christmas!

 Our stewardship of His resources will come into full view…

 How are we doing?

~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 "Time Robbers!"

Did you enjoy your Thanksgiving week-end?

 These are busy days, are they not?  Friends and family gathered recently for Thanksgiving  and Christmas is just around the corner, lapping at our heels!  Preparation time, tree-decorating,  meal-planning, welcoming guests… is all-consuming.

  There is a thief that is also busy and focuses on robbing us of the best. In “The Royal Christmas to Remember” book, the five princesses are busy in the kitchen preparing for their Christmas celebration, when their activity is abruptly interrupted by circumstances beyond their control. Marauders had envaded their town and the thieves were now bursting into their kitchen! What could they do?

 As busy moms, time in the Word can be lost to the immediate demands of responsibility and the whirlwind of activity around us. The thief is at our front door! Finding a “War Room” where we can read and pray, uninterrupted, is imperative to maintaining our walk.  Little things can begin to bother us and when people “bump” us, we react selfishly or inconvenienced.

 Sound familiar?

 One day away from the Word and I am aware of my desperate need and its crucial impact in my life.  Two days of letting the thief have my private time in the Word and not allowing it to dwell richly in me, and my family is intensely mindful of my desperate need! The princesses were quick to assess their priorities and act accordingly, bringing joy to their father the king. They were tested in the thickest of all that was happening around them and passed the test with flying colors.

 When tested… what is our response when:

·      We are evil spoken of

·      Our loyalty has been betrayed

·      Our will is crossed

·      We are forgotten or neglected

·      Our friends forsake us or

·      We find compromise more inviting than maintaining claimed convictions?

 Our response reveals the REAL us,

as it did our princesses.

When confronted with the “time robber”,

Are we women of conviction or double-minded ones?

(The definition of a “double-minded” person is the practice of one who is willfully in conflict with their soul (mind, will, emotions).

 Which are you?

 Choose carefully this holiday season.

Little prince and princesses are watching and learning…

~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 Grace of Gratitude!"

Little princesses love Fall…my sweet niece, Catherine

 It’s that time again…and it came quicker than any year in the past!  Hobby Lobby, and everyone else, has had their fall and Christmas decorations out long before Halloween!  The Princesses Hope, Grace, Charity, Faith and Joy in their A Royal Christmas to Remember book had so many decorations they asked the king for another storehouse to keep them all!

 I love the different seasons and decorating.  Fall is one of my favorites and all that it brings with it. Thanksgiving is celebrated in the fall and it comes this week!   It screams change is coming.  Did you know that Thanksgiving is not a season?  It’s a posture of the heart…

LET’S GIVE THANKS…

• For God’s grace and f orgivenewss

• for God’s blessing in our lives

• for freedom to worship as we see fit

• for God’s promise in response to our giving

• for the modern technology which enables us to receive and share the Gospel

• for the guidance of God’s Word, the Bible

• for the work of the Holy Spirit directing our paths day-by-day

• for the sustenance, the sheter, even the clothing which we take for granted

• for strength to carry-on

• for the “hope of glory” (Colossians 1: 27)

Jeanna and I are giving thanks for each one of you

that follow along with us and

THE PRINCESS PARABLE SERIES each week.

Enjoy these days of family and friend gatherings…

~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 "Lost and Alone?"

“Princess Grace and the Little Lost Kitten”

In the Princess Parable Series, Princess Grace is faced with her fear and we see through the eyes of a little princess her sense of anxiety at the loss of something she loves and cherishes. And ultimately, through understanding she is not alone, her faith is realized.

The Hillsong worship band has a song entitled, “Another in the Fire.” It speaks of the story of the three Hebrew children who after refusing to worship King Nebuchadnezzar were thrown into a fiery furnace. But as the King peers into those flames, he declares, “Look I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed.”

At a great moment of stress and fear, God showed up. There was “another in the fire.”  They were not alone!  When Princess Grace was lost in the dark forest looking for her favorite kitten, her heart was encouraged when she reached out in prayer and knew she was not alone. There was another there with her in her search.

One of the stanzas of that song says, “And I can see the light in the darkness as the darkness bows to Him. I can hear the roar in the heavens as the space between wears thin…”

This is referring to those special moments where we meet with God in our turmoil.  They are, personal and very real. Princess Grace found that moment and space. One writer suggested that they are a kind of “skywalk between heaven and earth.” They facilitate real connection between the Lord and His kids. Little princesses need this assurance.

The song was suggesting that sometimes that “space” is so thin that we can actually hear the worship in Heaven. Another author suggested that the “veil between heaven and earth becomes transparent and there is a peace and presence from God that is almost tangible.”  I think Princess Grace experienced this peace. That’s what He promises if we lay it all at the foot of the cross and trust Him for the rest …and she did.

Sitting in a “thin place,” sensing the very presence of God, “hearing” the Heavenly host worship Him, remembering how His love and grace have been extended to us was life-altering to Grace.   It is the school we are in as believers. Princess Grace found that “thin space”.  His using adversity to teach her to accept with joy His drawing her toward Himself…

He is all we need…Princess Grace let Him work out the rest

 and in trusting Him, she found her lost kitten hiding in the shadowy woodland.

 And you are in that “thin space” this morning?

Remember…He is “in the fire” with you…

You are not alone…

~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 "Born to Soar!"

The Princess Parables Series was created to address the “Born to Soar” thought. What makes some people seem to soar, to take on one challenge after another and still be capable of more?  What makes a person so satisfied and enthusiastic about life that they want to share with everyone, and others listen because they know this person has something worth sharing?

 We are parents or the “parents-to-be” of a little prince or princess one day.  The question is, “How can we take our children to that place?”  For that matter, how do we, personally, get to that place?  We are not designed to exist in a state of distraction, always being entertained by our phone, music or social media…  God expects more from us.

 It starts early!  When my four little league grandson’s played soccer and they would win, the excitement was palpable!  Winners feel better than losers and God created us to win…not a contest with others, but in our struggle against the world, the flesh and the devil, against demons of doubt, ignorance and inaction. There is no joy apart from personal growth, fulfilling the desire to know that God instilled in us…a  drive to excel.

 Children’s success starts with you and me.  By sharing what we are learning, how God is teaching us and by communicated hopes and dreams translated through our struggles to overcome and grow, our children catch the vision, purpose and our willingness to believe God for something bigger than ourselves.

 We are known and read by these little ones coming after us.  We can’t fool them!  They are watching and learning and time is short.  Are you “a hands-on-mom”, taking every opportunity to live and speak truth into your little one? What are they seeing?  Most things are more easily caught than taught.  Living a life with vision and intention must be caught.

 How are your responses to life’s situations?

These are the shadowy corners where they watch and learn.

They are counting on us…

 They are counting on us…

~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 "Freedom is Not Free!"

In The Princess Parable books, each of the five princesses is encouraged to learn and take the responsibility given her. We see this lesson of personal responsibility in ways that resonate with us as mothers.

This week, as we approach a critical election season in America, we have a great responsibility as not just Americans, but Bible-believing Christians to stand up for biblical truth, faith and righteousness.  “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” Proverbs 29: 2

 Tomorrow is Election Day!  We have the privilege of going to the polls and voting for our values.  We have veterans who have put their lives on the line to maintain the freedoms we greedily enjoy. We are a nation where our people are groaning.  Everything that has made America strong is being dismantled and if never before, we have an obligation to do what we can to preserve this great country.

 November 5th, 2024 is a day of reckoning…

join me… let’s get out and vote…

~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 Fire of Offense!"

Seems to me that we are a people that are easily offended.  Have you attempted to talk to someone about the upcoming election?  The peaceful world of long ago has left us with angry and entitled people on every front.  We  see it in on the internet, the freeway, in our  homes, churches, on the street,  in grocery stores…

 It’s a great day…you walk into a public place , smiling and enthusiastic, and someone says, “What’s wrong with you?”  Maybe, it’s just California, but I don’t think so.  Verbal dissatisfaction and public controversies are common place.  Words are spoken unguarded.  We are women and we love words! One of the leading problems among women in maintaining relationships is the abuse of the tongue.

 “The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit.”  It’s, also, a source  of offense. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed on us by someone else! “Great peace have they that love your law and nothing will offend them.”Psa. 119: 165

 We are responsible for five areas of our life without excuse, rationalization or wrong response.

1.     Words

2.     Actions

3.     Attitudes

4.     Thoughts

5.     Motives – reveal our character; the why we do what we do.

 I am accountable before God for what I say.  If somebody offends me, it is my problem. They  are only reflecting a need in my life, if I respond wrongly.  When Christ, the great physician, applies a knife to my heart and there is  pain…there  is  evidence of live flesh!  My need to die to my flesh is exposed. God sees what I cannot see, and knows exactly where to place the knife.  He cuts away that which we are most reluctant to give up!  And how it hurts. 

 God does not attack in us that which is lifeless and unresponsive…It is the live flesh that must die.   There is only room for one of us to be alive and in control!  The remedy to my problem isn’t cure; it is to get out of  the way…it is death to my selfish expectations.

 “Great  peace have they that love my law and nothing will offend them.” Psa. 119: 165

 How easily are you offended?

~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.