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 "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 "Courage on Fire!"

GOD HONORS US MOST WHEN HE PUTS US WHERE WE WILL TRUST HIM MOST

 The closer we get to the fire, the more purified we will become.  God wants to draw us close to Himself.  We tend to fight and resist the very thing God uses with divine purpose to purify us…the inconvenience, turmoil, fears, trouble,  discomfort, distress and trials of many kinds.  The goal is “so that the tested genuineness of our faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to resort in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Pet. 1: 7

 ”Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;

I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.” Isa. 48: 10

 It really matters what seeds we are planting.  Courageous people find value and gratefulness in each struggle and they grow up! There is certainty found in God; not in their self-reliance.  His courage is manifested in us, as we make Him king and master in our life and not just a subtitle.

 There are 9 Points that mark people who are courageous:

1.     Pray constantly -in harmony with  God; others-focused, not self

2.     Embrace the greatness of God – practicing His presence

3.     Rely on daily bread (Him), not their own ability

4.     Invite accountability for the blind spots and wise counsel

5.     Live expectantly with their hope in God alone and when He says “go” or “do”; there is no delay; instant obedience

6.     Understands the divine purpose in the spiritual stretching Jas. 1: 2

7.     Are radically generous (with their time, giving, service…)

8.     Impart courage by staying in the fight – no excuse or rationalization, just example

9.     Fight fear with continual practice of gratitude

      Courage is fear under God’s protection – walk through that door of fear and it dissipates!

En-courage is helping someone else control their fear and doubt

Dis-courage is  fear controlling me

Despair is fear has conquered me.  Psa. 42: 5-11

 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not,

nor be afraid; for the lord, your god,

he it is that goes before you, he will not fail or forsake you!”

Dueteronomy 31: 6

 Whether life grinds you down or polishes you depends on your courage.   Cynicism is the last resort of the coward. Disparagement or doubt in His faithfulness undermines the character of the courageous soul who confidently puts total trust in God.  Some give Him a place; some give Him prominence; but what Christ wants is pre-eminence…

 Courage is defined as grace under pressure!

Whatever you are facing today, choose Courage!

~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 "Inspiring Imprints!"

Christina and Kim, my daughters, asleep in our jungle hammock

As a young missionary mother reading to these two little ones sitting next to me in a hammock in the middle of the Darien jungle, my heart yearned for books that would introduce my girls to bible-based, character-emphasized prince and princesses that they could aspire to become.  I would take every book I picked up and purpose to impose these two principles into the pages in terms they could understand that had eternal values targeted. 

These girls are grown and have given me seven grandchildren!  Christina encouraged me for years to sit down and put on paper what I did to the stories I read in those early years.  Her cry for these books for her four little ones was my primary motivation in writing The Princess Parable Series.

The opportunities are unlimited when it comes to God building His character in us, and then, into those we love.  Understanding the need and exercising the steps of action required to see them implemented is our challenge. 

When you look at your children where do you see their primary need?  Taking into consideration their age and temperament…maybe the need for them to be more alert or to respond more quickly in obedience?  Maybe rebellion is the issue or selfishness? 

Where would you begin to help

 the little prince or princess in your home?

 Values are based on the changing opinions of what people or groups of people practice in their principles or ideals.  Character is based on universal standards that are time-tested and recognized as being ethically correct.  Character is written in every person’s heart and conscience (Romans 2:15).  Even though the basic truth of a character quality is understood, there is a need for further clarification on how to apply the truth in our daily circumstances. 

I have collected positive character quality definitions for years because they describe pieces of the Godhead and assist in my personal spiritual exercise and transformation.  They equipped me to pragmatically instruct my girls as we walked through daily activities living in a culture very different than our own. The qualities of kindness and compassion wereright up there at the top!

 In the village where we lived, the Kuna practice of polygamy and early marriages combined with witchcraft and a village witchdoctor opened up interesting teaching opportunities.

It brought to mind a time not too many years ago when my two granddaughters accomplished an extraordinary act of compassion in just a few days.   I was asked to wrap a collection of gifts, gift cards and get-well cards with money that Catherine and Alexandra had gathered to give to Alexandra’s teacher at school.

Catherrine and Alexandra,

my granddaughters

Alexandra’s heart had been challenged to encourage this young single woman, who had recently left her parents and siblings on the East Coast to answer a call to serve at her school in our community here on the West Coast.

 This teacher had taken a daily six-hour cancer treatment three months earlier and had quietly gone alone for treatment here the last six weeks, not wanting to burden or inconvenience anyone else.  During her follow-up appointment, the doctors found the cancer had returned…aggressively!  

Alexandra tearfully shared with her sister, Catherine, the sadness she felt.  Catherine, who was the school’s “Kindness Club” director, immediately joined hearts and hands with her sister, their mother (Christina), and many who heard of the need. Within just a few days they had rallied friends, families, neighbors and they handed me a huge box-full of “gifts” to be wrapped!

We respond to life according to our character, good or bad.  Our wrong responses indicate our need.  Our correct responses validate our victories.  For me, this was a victory of a life-lesson well-taught and learned. The blessing of three generations clasping hands to compassionately encourage a hurting heart!

Compassion is doing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts and meet the need of another.  Christ is the greatest teacher that ever lived and our example. His compassion for us carried Him to the cross!  Living outside our own self-life, being alert to another’s pain and not walking by without lifting a hand is our “call to action”. 

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother

in need but has no pity on him,

how can the love of God be in him?” 1 John 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 "Standing on that Promise!"

While living in the jungle, I was a notorious pursuer of the promises in the Word to ease the rigorous life required to live interior…Don’t you just love promises?  The circumstances of life, with its hurdles and opportunities, give us great comfort, if a promise comes with it.  “

 One day Ralph (who carried the heaviest load) in our jungle journey, gave me a promise after observing my daily activities with two little girls, the medical clinic with my missionary partner(Sue Gunsteens), the linguistic work, the washing of three dozen diapers (plus clothes) on a rock in the river, hanging three dozen diapers and clothes on a line in my back yard (at least twice in one day to avoid the rain clouds that threatened to soak it all again!), cooking meat and vegetables I had never ever seen or heard of, doing 4:30 to 9:30 hour days, and at the end of the day, with the house still full of people, putting Christina and Kim into bed with mosquito netting, carefully tucked tightly under their foam rubber mattresses…

 It occurred to me that these non-stop, long days in 95-degree heat with 95% humidity gave me an excuse to pause and do my own thing.  Just the thought seemed selfish and when I verbalized it, it sounded really wrong!  “To him that knows to right and does not do it; to him it is sin.” Jas. 4:17  My faithful watchdog, Ralph, had been pitching in to lighten my load and realized that was not my REAL need.

 Are you familiar with the promise that comes with that portion of Scripture that tells us not to worry becauseof God’s promise and provision for us. “Seek His kingdom (presence) and His righteousness and ALL these things (the list mentioned in the prior verses) will be given to you as well.” Matt. 6: 33  The… “all these things will be added unto you” sounded perfect!

 BUT…this promise comes with a huge condition!

 I was given a concise definition of what that condition meant and where I had dropped the ball.   It was clear that the promise was contingent on my seeking the Lord first and foremost. “He (She) did evil because he(she) did not set his (her) heart to seek the Lord.” II Chron. 12: 14   I was robbing God and myself by not living in a state of “seeking and setting my heart on Him moment by moment.” I was too busy sacrificing the immediate on the altar of the permanent!

 Evil is doing our own thing.  We have two choices: Seek Him and the wisdom from above or seek the wisdom from below…which is Satanic, selfish, proud, envious, and everything EVIL.  God’s will or Satan’s…there is no…MY WILLl!   My will makes the choice of which master I will submit to.

 Is your heart set first on seeking Him?

Let’s grab hold of God and ask Him for a passion to pursue Him…

 “If you seek me with all your heart, You will find me.”

~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.