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. 

Jackie's Journey "When Life Seems Impossible...What Do You Do?"

Someone recently asked me, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?”  “Prayer is the preface to the book of Christian living, the text of new life testimony, the girding of the armor for battle, the pilgrim’s preparation for his journey, and it must be supplemented by action or it amounts to nothing!”  The fact that Satan laughs at our striving, but trembles when he sees the weakest believer on his knees, should tell us how important prayer is!

 “We know that nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God.”  To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. One of the functions of prayer is to set God at the center of our attention.   Prayer is, then,the world in tune.  It is the gymnasium of the soul. 

 How active is your prayer life?

 “Whoever only speaks OF God, but never or seldom TO God, easily yields body and soul to idols.  The Christian, thus places his whole future in jeopardy by a stunted prayer life”.  Talking to men for God  is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still. If we are too busy to pray, we are too busy!

 When life seems impossible, what do we do?  We pray!  We know that prayer does not influence God’s purposes, but it does influence His action:

 I asked for strength that I might achieve;

HE made me weak that I might obey.

 I asked for health that I might do great things;

I was given grace that I might do better things.

 I asked for riches that I might be happy;

I was given poverty that I might be wiser.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I received nothing I asked for, yet, more than all that I hoped for.

My prayer was answered!

~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 "Evil?"

“First, we overlook evil

Then  we permit evil

Then  we legalize evil

  Then  we promote evil

   Then  we celebrate evil

Then we persecute those who still call it evil!”

 Woe to them who call evil good, and good evil.  Isa. 5:20a

 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. Ephesians 2:10  One day we will be called upon to view evil, as God sees it!

 Wickedness in all its forms seems to dominate the culture on every level.  Instead of seeing trials and conflict serving as a continual process to personal growth, they are seen as an interruption to our walk because we refuse to view them through humility and His divine purpose.

 J.P. Phillips once wrote, “The real danger to professing Christians lies not in the more glaring and grosser evils but in the slow deterioration of vision, a slow death to daring courage and willingness to adventure.”  The adventure referred to here is in the context of our daring to stand alone against the throes of evil, in a world that is fraught with lies and deceit.

 Accepting truth with humility is a lost art!  Self-defense, self-esteem and rationalization are the resources used to confront conflict.  Our homes, children, communities…all of life is consumed by it.  Hence, evil takes control and prevails, with division, divorce and destruction. All in Satan’s plan to steal, kill and destroy us.

 Our challenge for our sake and the sake of our children, who are stepping into the print we leave behind, is to step up to the plate of maturity and receive “the meat” of His Word and respond to life’s situations from God’s point of view and act in harmony with it!

 In these days of uncertainty, “we renounce secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God.  On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”

 God’s  Word calls Evil out…

 How often do you get in God’s Word?

 Is His Word dwelling richly in 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 "Princess Perplexity!"

The original intent of this weekly blog was to encourage young moms to be all they could be for the benefit of their little princesses. It takes intentional planning, commitment and direction.

From their earliest memories our little girls are swamped with a princess course that introduces them to an unreal world filled with wizardry and lacking strong moral themes with eternal values. They are asked to define love and romance by standards that are not true to life or a representation of clearly defined biblical standards.

These little girls are needlessly exposed to the illusion of life and love  through the many Princes Charming’s and young squires that are so readily available to them in most story lines; however, the child is not exposed to the truth of genuine love. Children are caught in a quagmire of choices that offer only temporal values, but not eternal ones.

Their personal identification with a fantasy character is deceiving on many levels because the charge to discern the good and evil is often obscured by wrong motives and intentions on the part of the “hero” in the story line. Often the attitude of the leading character is questionable and the continual interjection of clairvoyance and magical fantasy is confounding.

The child is left to choose from bad and really bad, instead of from good and bad. Neither choice is particularly clear, but the medium being used (book, film, cartoon, etc.) is “thought” captivating and attention binding. Both of these goals are shortsighted and not fulfilling for the long term.

Living in a post-Christian era, we seek to carve out a more excellent and realistic milieu for our children, these little ones that are so literal and entrusted into our keeping for so short a time. Most Christian parents are seeking an alternative to the present prince and princess culture trend in books and films presently available. Their main reason…our worldview influences all areas of life!

Every exposure a child has (visual or auditory, etc.) is adding to their life experience and their worldview.

Presently, how would you describe your child’s worldview?

How would you describe your worldview?

The original intent of this weekly blog was to encourage young moms to be all they could be for the benefit of their little princesses. It takes intentional planning, commitment and direction.

From their earliest memories our little girls are swamped with a princess course that introduces them to an unreal world filled with wizardry and lacking strong moral themes with eternal values. They are asked to define love and romance by standards that are not true to life or a representation of clearly defined biblical standards.

These little girls are needlessly exposed to the illusion of life and love  through the many Princes Charming’s and young squires that are so readily available to them in most story lines; however, the child is not exposed to the truth of genuine love. Children are caught in a quagmire of choices that offer only temporal values, but not eternal ones.

Their personal identification with a fantasy character is deceiving on many levels because the charge to discern the good and evil is often obscured by wrong motives and intentions on the part of the “hero” in the story line. Often the attitude of the leading character is questionable and the continual interjection of clairvoyance and magical fantasy is confounding.

The child is left to choose from bad and really bad, instead of from good and bad. Neither choice is particularly clear, but the medium being used (book, film, cartoon, etc.) is “thought” captivating and attention binding. Both of these goals are shortsighted and not fulfilling for the long term.

Living in a post-Christian era, we seek to carve out a more excellent and realistic milieu for our children, these little ones that are so literal and entrusted into our keeping for so short a time. Most Christian parents are seeking an alternative to the present prince and princess culture trend in books and films presently available. Their main reason…our worldview influences all areas of life!

Every exposure a child has (visual or auditory, etc.) is adding to their life experience and their worldview.

Presently, how would you describe your child’s worldview?

How would you describe your worldview?

~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 "Duty or Devotion?"

My oldest (Catherine) reading to my youngest granddaughter (Megan)…

 As parents, grandparents or parents-to-be one day, it is imperative to understand it is ONLY as we develop others that we permanently succeed.   Have we adequately prepared ourselves and our children to face the world with a godly world view or have we dropped the ball?

  There are going to be distractions and temptations along the way that will make the vital and continual necessity to consider the question,, “am I committed to my heritage or am I sacrificing the permanent on the altar of the immediate?”  What is really important to me?  Are there areas of compromise in my life that are exposing my true priorities?

 Did you know that “parents who read 1 picture book with their children every day provide their children with exposure to an estimated 78,000 words each a year. Cumulatively, over the 5 years before kindergarten entry, we estimate that children from literacy-rich homes hear a cumulative 1.4 million more words during storybook reading than children who are never read to.” 

 Can you imagine the impact of reading Voss’ “Bible for Children” to your child daily would be? Just the time sitting next to you while you read would be invaluable. Time singing and explaining simple truths of right and wrong, could begin to form a character that would one day make you proud.

 Are we aware of the fact that “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight!  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before His eyes and to him we will give an account.” Heb. 4: 13  Personally, these words have always been a “call to action” for me! They have been a strong motivating force all my life.

 Our dedication to see our child prepared to face the worldly chaos with a godly worldview, will take a personal faithfulness to God (we are only stewards of these little ones entrusted to us), and it will be the benchmark of our permanent success.

 Where do your loyalties lie?

Duty or Devotion?

~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's Worth Dying For?"

During the reign of Maximian in the third century(A.D. 286), repeated persecutions were brought against Christians.  Yet the greater the persecutions, the more  the early church grew.

 One day Maximian ordered  all his armies to assemble near the city of Gaul.  Tens of thousands of soldiers were there.  They stood at attention to give a loyalty oath which included the killing of Christians.

 The captain of 6,ooo men, known as the Thebian Legion replied to this oath by saying, ”We  will fight and die for Maximian in battle, but we will not kill Christians.  We, ourselves, are all Christians.”  

 Maximian became infuriated.  He ordered their ranks to be decimated.  Every 10th man was killed by the sword.  The remaining legion still refused!  More men were killed until the entire legion was martyred for their faith!

 The tens of thousands who watched saw men who had something worth dying for.  Soon, thousands became converted, and in A.D. 313 the entire Roman empire adopted the Christian faith.

 These men were strong in God’s Spirit.

Their faith was grounded in conviction, not preference.

 We live in a time when our fear of God is at an all-time low and our love of the world and all it offers, is at an all-time high!  God wants us mighty in spirit, “’To be strengthened with might by HIS SPIRIT in the inner man.’”

 This means God’s Word is dwelling richly in us, we are sensing His presence and recognizing His promptings. We are alert to spiritual dangers that would draw us away from Him and His purpose in our life and we are discerning of wrong attitudes and ideas that would neutralize our ability to make decisions with godly convictions and His blessing.

If HE is worth dying for…

HE is worth living for…

~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 "Profoundly Unbecoming!"

In life we are confounded with choices, preferences and demands.  They come as fast and as remarkably contradictory, as presumably thinkable!  Demands on us and demands we make on others!  We live in an age of personal rights and what we consider a “need”.  If life and experience have taught me one thing, it would be that my “needs” are minimal and my wants are unreasonably extravagant!

 C. S Lewis said, “When I am in the presence of God, it seems profoundly unbecoming to demand anything!”  We just celebrated Christ’s surrendering HIS will completely and HIS victory over death…our promise of resurrection. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; YET not my will, but yours be done.”  Luke 22: 42  In anguish our Savior cried out on the Mount of Olives, as HE faced death in our place!” 

 How often in our choices, preferences and demands do we stop and consider HIS will first?  Do we seek the author and finisher of our faith in the midst of our decision-making process? Do we take thought to get into HIS presence and acknowledge that the God of the universe has a will to be considered?  Can you hear His voice when HE whispers HIS will to you?

 Have you ever put your will in “neutral”; having no preference or will of its own in regard to making a decision?   Our battle ceases when we acknowledge HIS sovereignty and accept HIS perfect will for us.  HE’S got the plan and it is for our good…we are blessed if we find which way God is moving and get in harmony with HIM.

 The history of all the great characters of the Bible is summed up in this one sentence:

 They acquainted themselves with God, and acquiesced HIS will in all things.” Richard Cecil 

 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 "Thorns and Thistles!"

“By His wounds we are healed”.  Isa. 53

 Family celebrations are on the horizon!  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, 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 an 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 women, we are dedicated to living and then, teaching the character of Christ to 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 us and another person 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?”

Gal.  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 "Listen Up!"

Are you a mom?  Not yet?  I have been thinking about my life spent as a mother, first and then, a grandma and I am, as I am sure you are, desperate for our little princesses and young knights to be equipped to face the world waiting to devour them!  They will be required to be wise and disciplined, ones who understand the words given for help in direction and insight, able to willingly receive instruction in prudent behavior, ever learning to discern good from evil and accept guidance in making right choices, etc.

 Are we not urgently seeking answers in preparation?

 We get on google (the new ‘how to’), read books on how to love and nurture our little ones, etc.  We get pre-occupied with how our friends are raising their children. We join groups of young moms desiring instruction.  We ask, “What should be our goal for their benefit?  What works best in this  or that situation? What words should I use? How should I address this?”

 It is a huge responsibility!

 When all the time the tools are readily available and written in uncomplicated and straightforward terms…the work has been done for us, ladies.   It calls to us every day and screams for our attention to its clear teaching.

 Where…you say?

These tools are found in the Word of God.

If you feel you are too busy to spend time studying the Bible…

you ARE too busy!

I started reading Proverbs this morning and the first verses

give the key to attaining these desired goals mentioned above and

are written in one long sentence!

 “Listen children to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  For attaining wisdom (is seeing life’s situations from God’s point of view and acting in harmony with HIM) and discipline (accepting trials as God’s fastest path to growth and giving thanks for it) for understanding (applied wisdom) words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent (projected wisdom; a person who thinks consequences!) life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple (without wisdom), knowledge (familiarity gained by insight to truth, experience and accumulated facts and reports) and discretion ( the God given ability to understand why things happen) to the young…let the wise child listen and be discerning (seeing through surface problems to root causes).”Proverbs 1:2-4, 8

 The definition of a word has a way of putting feet to its purpose.  God calls us to get in HIS Word, to call out for insight, to cry aloud for understanding and to search for wisdom as for hidden treasure. Proverbs 2: 3

 The reward is we will understand what God says is right and just and fair…”for wisdom will enter our heart andknowledge will be pleasant to our soul (our mind, will and emotions).  Discretion will protect us and understanding will guard us!  Proverbs 2:10

 I will meet you in the morning…

 Let’s read Proverbs this month…31 Chapters…one chapter a day

~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.