Jackie's Journey: A Treasure Found!

This little dolly is the granddaughter of a dear friend.  She is reading her Princess Parable Grace book and clutching her Princess Grace Doll.  I was reminded of the message of the parable in this book and challenged again to live in the blessing of God’s pursuing love, understanding that grace “is the will and power to do what God desires.” Phil. 2: 3   Not my desires with my will in my power!

What is it that God desires?  What is His will?  Do we care? 

I certainly know what my will is!  I am tempted daily, multiple times to give in to the cry of what my will wants!  We live in an age where entitlement and personal demands are rampant.  We see it in our homes, relationships, schools, churches and communities.  We saw it in the jungles of Panama.  The human heart is wicked and deceived.  Deception believes a lie that begins when our mind and emotions agree on an error and it is fulfilled when we will to do it.  The world is screaming for personal rights…we hear it every day when one of us is complaining!  Contentment is elusive and unattainable by the ungrateful heart.  Whining and “woe is me” has become an acceptable sin!

As moms, God’s desire is for us to learn to walk in His way and to teach our little ones His way.  They learn our way by watching and listening to us!   We will be held accountable for the spiritual teaching our children receive from us.  Seeing that they are nourished from God’s Word and given godly instruction is within our sphere of responsibility.

Many years ago, I sat in a hammock deep in the middle of the Panamanian jungle with my two little princesses, reading to them. Each book I picked up presented a unique challenge.  It told a story but did not introduce my girls to a biblical worldview or a character quality they could incorporate into their young lives.  I would purpose to impose these two principles into the pages of every book I picked up in terms they could understand that had eternal values targeted. My heart was burdened for just such a book, not just for myself but also for other young mothers who needed a tool that would give their little princesses both of these elements with a clear application and a pragmatic understanding of the Word of God.

My two little jungle princesses!

My friend’s little granddaughter is being given the opportunity at a very young age to fall in love with a biblical parable. She will be challenged to respond to God’s pursuing love in the diary of Princess Grace at the end of the book.  Her heart will be inspired to live outside herself and to adopt attitudes that will bring blessing on her life.  This is the book I dreamed of as a young mom living on the Colombian border!    Jeanna, my co-author, and I are blessed to be able to make The Princess Parable Series, plus our newest release, “A Royal Easter Story” available to you and your little princesses.  

I am an 18” Princes Grace doll!  I am a Limited Edition and available at

www.theprincessparables.com

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Easter Eggs: History and Faith Lessons

Growing up, I was always told Easter traditions began in the depth of pagan rituals.  So when I became a Christian, I shied away from certain holiday festivities.  Now as a mom, I have begun to come back to many of these “fun” traditions to take a close look for myself.  I have been pleasantly surprised at the history of many traditions.

With Easter quickly approaching, Jackie and I are taking a couple of traditions and exploring their roots and meanings.  We are so excited about Easter ourselves with the release of our new book, A Royal Easter Story.  The book has Easter eggs throughout the story and we did it on purpose! 

I have a new appreciation for all things commercially Easter.  You see, if our nation didn’t have these traditions to experience, they would not celebrate Easter.  They just would not do it!  Similar to Santa Claus, the Easter bunny and all the trimmings allow us to invite friends to Easter service and talk about Easter freely in our community during this time of year.  Saying, “He is Risen!” to the grocery clerk is not as crazy as it would be any other time of year.  For that reason, I think God looks down upon many of these traditions (although not in the Bible) and smiles!

Eggs were the symbol of new life before Christ’s crucifixion. Eggs are God’s creation and they do carry new life, regardless of who claims the symbol. When Christians began celebrating Lent in the year 330, they fasted for 40 days prior to Easter.  They abstained from all meat . . . including eggs.  Once the 40 day fast was over, they had an abundance of eggs to consume.  Breaking the fast on Easter morning, lent itself to eating eggs, which quickly became tradition.  In Jewish Seder Passovers, a hard boiled egg is also part of the meal.

Various traditions are associated with the dying of Easter eggs. An ancient story tells of Mary Magdalene being summoned by Emperor Tiberius where she explains Christ had been resurrected. The doubtful Caesar pointed to an egg and exclaimed, "Christ has not risen, no more than that egg is red"—after which the egg in question miraculously turned blood-red. One Eastern Orthodox myth presents either Mary Magdalene or Mary, the mother of Jesus, placing a basket of eggs under the cross. The blood of Christ fell on the eggs, turning them red. According to another tale, Simon of Cyrene was an egg merchant who had to leave his basket of eggs to help Jesus carry the cross. When he returned, he found that his eggs had changed color!

Eggs can be used to teach faith to your kids this Easter.  You may dye them, hide them, fill them, roll them or eat them! Your traditions are as personal as your family heritage is to you.  There is a quick faith lesson you can share with your children of any age. An egg’s hard shell can represents Jesus’ sealed tomb, and cracking the shell symbolizes His Resurrection. Eggs, which often remind people of new life because some creatures are born from them, reminded early Christians that Jesus is the true source of new life spiritually. 

Deepening the symbolism for your children you may choose a couple of ways to demonstrate this to your children. 

Egg knocking

This two-player game is messy, but does bring the point home.  Each player takes their egg and knocks it against his or her partner’s saying “Christ is Risen”. The one whose intact egg breaks open the other egg is considered the winner, and the broken egg is symbolic of Jesus’ empty tomb on Easter morning. You can do this with each family member until there is a “winner”.

Egg rolling

The tradition of rolling Easter eggs down hills began centuries ago in Europe as a way for children to celebrate how the stone that had sealed Jesus’ tomb rolled away on the day of His Resurrection. In the 1800s, one of the world’s most famous Easter egg rolls began: the one on the White House lawn (which first took place on the U.S. Capitol lawn), where children gather on the Monday after Easter to roll Easter eggs across the grass with spoons. Your family may choose to participate in a community egg roll if there’s one in your local area, or hold your own.

Easter egg trees

Decorating our dining table is the hollow eggs that hang from our egg tree.  This Easter tree represent Jesus’ tomb, which became empty (hollow) on the first Easter after his Resurrection. I brought this tradition back from Germany in my college years. It recently has become more popular in the United States, but is a centuries old tradition in Europe. You and your children can create an Easter egg tree by making small holes with a knife or needle at the top and bottom of uncooked eggs to blow or drain out the yolk and white parts inside, then putting either ribbons or hooks through the top holes to attach the hollow eggs to the branches of a tree. If you’re short on time, you can substitute modern plastic Easter egg ornaments that are as easy to decorate with as Christmas tree ornaments. The tree you choose to decorate may either be a live one that’s growing outdoors, or a craft tree that is small enough to fit indoors.

No matter what you choose to do this Easter, I hope you are able to incorporate the faith lesson of Easter eggs with goal to appreciate Jesus’ resurrection better and add a bit of fun for the kids!

~Jeanna Young

When Jeanna is not writing, speaking, event planning, or homeschooling, she can be found scrapbooking her life, redecorating her home, loving on her husband, planning fun events for her kids or eating healthy to stay cancer-free!

Jackie's Journey: Snakes!

I have never been a fan of reptiles!

Panama is the home to some of the most frightening snakes on the planet.  Our corner of the dense jungle was full of boa constrictors, pit vipers, fer-de-lance (this snake bears 60 live babies at a time!), etc.  We were cautious not to poke under rocks or fallen branches, always scanning for any slithering menaces.  Behind our house there was a massive tree that extended its immense roots out into the river shoreline where the girls and I bathed and swam.  The thick mangrove swamp harbored snakes that would lie in the hollow places of the trunk of that tree.  

More than once I cried out Psalm 16:1

 “Keep me safe, Oh Lord, for in you I take refuge.”

Fear is no stranger to me.  I am habitually challenged to walk through the door of fear.   I was told during Missionary boot camp that courage was not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it.  Years ago, while reading Hind’s Feet on High Places, I had no difficulty in identifying with “Little Much Afraid”! 

“The highway of fear is the shortest route to defeat”.  William L. Brownell

Ralph had built a screened-in back porch to the house.  It became home for our gasoline-run wringer washing machine.  The Indians thought the machine was the most ridiculous apparatus.  It was noisy, the water had to be carried from the river (or in rainy season, we could utilize the convenience of the rain barrels).   The agitator was a mystery (why would you jerk clothes around in dirty cold water when the river is running and clear!) however; the wringer was another story…it worked really well.  Hand wrung clothes could not match that wringer!  I had to agree with them on all counts!  

While I washed, Kim would play on a blanket or crawl around the porch.  The floor was slightly elevated, lined with wooden planks roughly cut and loosely fit together.  It was not quite finished and as I washed I saw Kim crawling toward something moving under the slats.  I turned off the deafening machine, snatched Kim up into my arms and yelled for Ralph!  Right under our feet, only a few inches away, was a 5’ venomous snake! He had quite possibly been a houseguest for “who knows how long” before we noticed him! Let me repeat…I am not a fan and I intensely dislike reptiles!

Arturo, our nearest neighbor had heard me scream and came running, He quickly surveyed our predicament, raised his machete and removed the head of that reptile with one swift blow.  He held it up like a prized Marlin…its length was above his head and its tail draped to the muddy ground!

This story could have had a much different ending, were it not for our Sovereign God, His plan and the life-lessons He was busy teaching me!  School is always in session if we have eyes to see it. The need to grow and mature will never end on this side of eternity. Fear has been my biggest challenge.  I am to fear the consequence of sin, not snakes.  Easy concept until put to the test!

“Be strong and of a good courage, Fear not, nor be afraid of them (in this case…snakes); for the Lord your God, He it is that does go with me, He will not fail me nor forsake me.”  Deuteronomy 31: 16

“I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:4

What do you fear?

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Fairy Tales: A Mom's Perspective

Once upon a time . . .

A fairy tale stirs within most of us the vision of childhood.  Images of a land filled with princesses, knights, dragons and castles fill our minds.  Here is where God had us build the Princess Parable stories.

Tomorrow is “Tell us a Fairy Tale” Day for our nation.  Yes, there is such a day! The founders of this day encourage us: “From classic Grimm tales to modern-day stories, this day is all about letting your imagination roam free. Read fairy tales to your kids, or just read them for fun!”

As a Christian, fairy tales hold both cautions and benefits for our children.  I am a mom of four who lives 20 minutes from Disneyland.  We are annual pass holders and enjoy “The Happiest Place on Earth” many days of the year.  So I am not anti-fairy tales, but I have come to grips with how I feel about them.  I hope my findings will be helpful for you.

As the author of the Princess Parables, I have wrestled within my own heart and mind about traditional fairy tales for my kids.  While most Grimm fairy tales are written for adult audiences, Disney took them and made them into childhood favorites.  I made up a list of pros and cons for our family just to keep me on the right track.

The “Good” in fairy tales

I love a good story, and fairy tales capture our imaginations.  First of all, most fairy tales are good literature.  Written with elegance and enchanting vocabulary, they stretch the minds of young readers.  Second, they encourage our children to dream and think beyond their day-to-day life.  Encrypted within the words, visions of lands faraway beckon our children to explore and grow.  They can face a ferocious beast, climb the sides of a castle or join a ship of pirates from their own home. Next, most fairy tales introduce a hero to our children that they relate to and look up to. Nothing makes me smile more than seeing a little girl dress up in a shimmering gown or a boy in a super hero costume.  Those kids see greatness in these heroes and want to be like them.  Lastly, some stories offer a setting where good is against evil. We can take our own Biblical examples and interface them with the storylines.  Teaching good always wins shines through fairy tales.

The “Bad” in fairy tales

Many parents tell me the problems with traditional fairy tales.  I agree we must be cautious when introducing our young ones to many of the stories.  I cringe when I hear parents tell me they had set their 3 year old down to watch Sleeping Beauty and their sweet girl has had nightmares ever since.  First, fairy tales have an abundance of evil characters who are “too evil” for a child’s young mind.  At the ages of 2-7, most children believe these characters are real and do not understand even if we tell them they are not.  Second, as a Christian, I struggle with the world of “magic”, but fairy tales are full of magical creatures, spells and witches.  So much conversation must be had with our children in this regard.  I don’t believe we can just ignore it and our children will be fine.  Next, most of the parental examples are questionable in most of the stories.  The heroes can encourage us to disobey our parents and follow our hearts.  This has not been the way I have raised my kids so I always want to address counterproductive influences.  Lastly, I haven’t agreed with the portrayal of women in most fairy tales.  While I believe women to be feminine, I don’t believe they just have to wait around for a prince. . I certainly believe some fairy tales encourage relationships much too soon. I also see the attention to physical beauty is accentuated where I want to inspire my children’s character instead.

Why do we love the Princess Parables?

So now you can see why God picked me to write the Princess Parables!!!  I love all that fairy tales offer; however, there are just a few bumps that need to be ironed out along the way!  God created all of us to be royalty.  I know each of us is a daughter or son of the King.  I think we took the best from fairy tales – developing imagination, giving them a good story and a hero to emulate – while leaving the “bad” out of our stories. I hope you will enjoy our stories, especially our new story, A Royal Easter Story.

Take some time today, snuggle with your kids and tell them a fairy tale.  After all, it is National Tell a Fairy Tale day!

They love to sit in our laps enjoying “happily forever after”!  Have fun!

~Jeanna Young

When Jeanna is not writing, speaking, event planning, or homeschooling, she can be found scrapbooking her life, redecorating her home, loving on her husband, planning fun events for her kids or eating healthy to stay cancer-free!

Jackie's Journey: True Greatness

Who doesn’t want to be acknowledged and occasionally praised at the gates?

All of us want to be important…to be accepted… to be successful…to experience meaningfulness…to get to the end of our life and have accomplished something that will live on after our departure.  God builds a desire for greatness into us.  Our understanding of the term and means of achieving it will surely vary depending on our character.

While in missionary Boot Camp training we were privileged to have a veteran missionary from Brazil as our instructor.  His hip had been crushed in a boating accident on the Amazon River.  He was bravely battling cancer and in constant pain, yet his focus was on us succeeding and getting us to a foreign field.  His name was Jim McKnight.  He and his wife, Betty, would never claim greatness, but those of us who knew them would say their character was marked by it. They walked with God and taught us by example how to live and selflessly serve.

“Greatness is not a goal to be sought after but a by-product of learning to serve.” (ATIA)

Man’s idea of greatness and God’s idea are diabolically opposed.  We all know of successful people who have sacrificed their family while reaching their goal.  Their marriage is in shambles and their children have no honor for them.  They are in the Hall of Fame by the world’s standard, but have failed to reach true greatness by God’s standard.

What price would you be willing to pay for a sense of importance?

True greatness is accomplished by understanding the difference between God’s view and man’s view of importance.  We tend to focus on possessions, power, position and prestige.  God’s focus is on humility, service and character.  Our concern is on what we will gain…God ‘s concern is on where and to whom can we give.  We spend a lot of time seeking the approval of men…not the approval of God.  We strive to be out front leading others…rather than striving to follow God.   We are competitive…God’s interest is in cooperation and being a team player. Does our spirit function independently of Him and others, or do we understand how to live in harmony with the success of the other person being our priority?

Do we clearly understand the difference between the two views?

By whose standard do you live your life?

We are often tempted to fulfill God’s vision for us with human effort.  If we yield to that temptation, we will experience continuing negative consequences and totally miss the blessing God has for us, and for others through us!  It’s a choice we make…

When the disciples disputed among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus said, “… The greatest among you, should be as the youngest; and the one who rules like the one who serves.”  Luke 22: 26

 When He, their Lord and Teacher, washed the feet of His disciples, He said,  “I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master...”  Jn.13: 15,16  

He clearly set the bar for us.

Do we think more highly of ourselves than we ought?

 “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matt. 23: 11,12  

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Dedicated to Inconvenience

I rush to put my shoes on as I am yelling to my children, “Hurry up!  Get your shoes on and meet me in the car!” I grab my purse, turn off a couple of lights and fly down the stairs.  Thinking to myself, We are so late! If we hurry we will just make it. . .

As I round the corner, I stumble upon my youngest sitting at the bottom of the stairs crying.  Big crocodile tears stream down his face.  He is half dressed and no shoes to be found. Oh no, I don’t have time for this. I gave the kids ample time to get ready . . . 

My first instinct is to speak sternly and explain to him loudly that he has to get in the car, right now, or we will be late.  Where are your shoes? Why aren’t you dressed?

A small voice barely audible over my own selfish expectations says, Slow down!  Be patient! Extend grace!

AHHHHH! I don’t have time for this!

Truth is a person and He reminds me. Who are you dedicated to? Who do you follow?  What is the right response?

Early on in my Christian walk, I learned the phrase “Being dedicated to Inconvenience”.  In other words, it is a practical way to live out the Biblical principle “To die to Oneself”.  This principle was much easier as a single woman.  I have struggled ever since I got married and have had children.  Mostly because the inconveniences come more often and they are right in my face, daily.

The disruptions in my day may look like . . .

A daughter who wants Mommy to come play house when I am busy doing housework

A son who wants me to throw the baseball when I am working on the computer

A husband who asks to talk (or other things) when I am tired in the evening

A child who wakes me in the middle of the night because they had a bad dream

A friend who reaches out for help when my schedule is full

An argument between my kids right when we are leaving to go somewhere

A need at church when we already have plans to do something else

Inconveniences arrive in all shapes and sizes.  They are as different for each of us as the days are long.  But I promise you one thing, they will happen.

As we are on a path towards Easter, I am reflecting on this verse.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."  Luke 9:23-24

Jesus calls us to die to ourselves, if we are his followers.  For me, this death to self looks a lot like “dedication to inconveniences”.  If I am committed to drop my own agenda, for others, daily, then this is an active way for me to die to myself.  If I stop and spend time with my husband, meet my children’s needs at my expense and serve others in my sphere of influence, then I am “taking up the cross” on a regular basis. 

I love our new book, A Royal Easter Story, as it is a perfect example of this principle of “Being Dedicated to Inconvenience”.  The princesses are racing the newly-introduced knights.  The girls desperately want to win (just like our kids do!) They happen upon a lost little girl who needs their help.  They have to abandon their own plans to serve Alina.  They have to be “dedicated to the inconvenience” God allows in their life.  This is not only a lesson for us, but also for our kids during Easter!

Here is where I struggle.  I am selfish.  I have so many thoughts about me daily.  I don’t like to be interrupted in my plans.  Do you feel the same way? 

I love the small still voice of the Holy Spirit reminding me daily where I can “take up my cross and follow Him”.  I just need to strain to listen to it and not allow the loud voices of selfishness to drown out His voice!

How are you taking up your cross daily?

What is a story of inconvenience in your life?

~Jeanna Young

When Jeanna is not writing, speaking, event planning, or homeschooling, she can be found scrapbooking her life, redecorating her home, loving on her husband, planning fun events for her kids or eating healthy to stay cancer-free!

Jackie's Journey: Raising a Triumphant Knight

Little boys are born with an adventurous spirit!  Our young boys search for answers on how to translate their personal manhood into a viable and productive reality in a culture that is guilty of misrepresenting their calling.  As parents, we are seeking other role models than the secular similes that are readily available for our sons to emulate.  These “hero” images are not giving clear instruction against evil and worldly attitudes, but are actually encouraging them!

Little boys want heroes who take risks and slay dragons.  The fact that we can’t keep a weapon whittled out of a stick from their hands tells us our knights-in-the-making dream of being daring conquerors.  They sense the need to become strong…the champions of good over evil…defenders of the Universe!

Strength is often misunderstood.  Pride and bullies are the result of the world’s view.  As moms we desperately need a Godly worldview and a path into the “wild” heart of our little man.  “The only way to live in this adventure…with all its danger and unpredictability and immensely high stakes…is an ongoing, intimate relationship with God.” (John Eldredge) Humility is the natural response of being in the presence of God. It is the qualifier for receiving grace. James 4: 6

I love the animated film “Charlotte’s Web”.  The whole premise is outrageous, yet the characters represent exactly what real strength is.  It comes from the heart of a tiny insect…Charlotte, the spider.  She single-handedly saves the life of a pig, destined for slaughter, with vocabulary words of genuine strength.  Humble was the word that turned the heart and mind of the farmer and a whole community!

Humility is seeing the contrast between God’s holiness and our sinfulness!  Humility provides the critical, fundamental heart for any other character quality.  Without humility any other character quality is worthless!  There is no pride in humility.  Humility recognizes that God and others are responsible for any achievement in our life.  Real success is investing in the lives of others and seeing them succeed.  Humility seeks forgiveness and lives life for others, experiencing the joy of God.

Sir Timothy illustrates the character quality of Humility.  His anger and pride find him alone and afraid, encountering unimaginable danger and wishing he had never fled from the safety of the castle!  Young Sir Timothy learns a life-lesson that not only brings him back to the castle but into the heart of his family. 

We hope Sir Timothy will encourage and inspire your little knight as you teach him to live triumphantly by walking in humility. I Peter 5: 5

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Love Is the Foundation

Bickering floats through the air as we are on our way to Awanas.  My children, who are blessings from the Lord, argue and complain to each other.

“Mom, she is humming too loud!”

“Mom, she is on my side and is leaning her arm against me!”

“MOOOOM!  He just stuck his tongue out at me!”

I sigh.

Do you ever sigh? 

I want them to love each other.  To love our little family.  To love the church. To love others. And most importantly, to love God.

Sometimes, when these daily episodes of selfishness and irritation creep in, I have to remind myself that they are learning.  They are sinners, just like me.  So I will sigh and recall this truth.

I don’t always respond the way I should either, even though I love all of them deeply.

As we go into this weekend, I am prodded by this verse in Matthew, where Jesus tells us the greatest commandments.  There are only two and they both involve LOVE.

“You shall LOVE the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second like it is this, you shall LOVE your neighbor as thyself.” Matthew 22:36-39

As we roll into Valentine’s Day, I know it is a consumer holiday.  But I can’t help it, I want to buy my kids candy and gifts because I love them.  Remember, my love language is “gifts”.

But more than that, I want them to know God’s love, which they will learn from me first, before they know it is God.

By a kind word.

By a helping hand.

By time spent with them.

By a smile when they come in the room. 

By a kiss and a story before bed. 

By daily prayers for them.

They will never know how much I love them until they have children of their own.

Until then, Bruce and I will be God’s love to them, until they own their faith.

One way we help them see how to love others is my surrounding them with great examples.  We hang out with cool people who serve and love Jesus.  We discipline them when they do something wrong because we love them.  We engage with community in love and generosity.  We watch movies that bring out the good and love in others.  We READ BOOKS that focus on the love of others.

If you are looking for a good Valentine’s Day present for your princess this Valentine’s Day, may I suggest one of our Princess Parables books?  Each of them was birthed out of LOVE and teaches Love.

Princess Hope and the Hidden Treasure shows the love between a child and her grandmother.  She would sell everything she owns to buy her lost ring.

Princess Joy’s Birthday Blessing teaches little girls to love their family and to be generous towards others because she is blessed to be a blessing.

Princess Charity’s Courageous Heart demonstrates love by the princess rescuing a hurt boy.  She cared more for another person than herself - showing love in her actions.

Princess Grace and the Little Lost Kitten presents the opportunity to love her father by being responsible for the kittens.  When the kitten is lost, she not only loves the kitty enough to search for her, but she brings her home to show her father her devotion.

Princess Faith and the Mysterious Garden lays out the dilemma of the never-ending problem garden.  The princess shows her love to her family and her father by persevering and having patience.

A Royal Easter Story focuses on saving a little girl in the woods and finding her family.  Love is the central theme of this story from the little girl to the Easter Celebration where Christ is center.  The greatest love is Jesus dying for us on a cross.

There is still time to order these books off of Amazon or from your local Christian bookstore for Valentine’s Day.  We hope your girls will love them and learn to LOVE because of them.  Our prayer has always been to give you moms tools to train up your kids in righteousness.

As for loving our kids and teaching love, I am right there with you.  I pray for each of us an extra dose of grace as we speak into this generation.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you!

~Jeanna Young

When Jeanna is not writing, speaking, event planning, or homeschooling, she can be found scrapbooking her life, redecorating her home, loving on her husband, planning fun events for her kids or eating healthy to stay cancer-free!

Jackie's Journey: Raising a Virtuous Knight

Little boys are born with an adventurous spirit!  Their priorities include competition and, at all costs, winning!  You have heard of Jedi knights and princes of kingdoms in faraway lands.  Well, young Sir Christian, like his brothers, carries with him the noble destiny of our future!

As moms we realize the privilege and responsibility of building godly character into the lives of our little fledging knights-in-the-making.  Their character and personalities begin at an early age to express the reality of the challenge, boldly and often times loudly.  The character quality of Virtue seems auspicious, yet unattainable at first sight. 

Little eyes and ears are watching, listening and imitating.  Realizing that virtue is learning to build personal, principled standards that will cause others to desire a more godly life clearly places the task in our corner first - and then in others!  I cannot teach and expect others to learn if I do not practice what I preach.  I am to be an example, not an excuse!  

Virtue is the fruit of grace as we are given light from His Word.  Our little guys are drawn toward a mommy that is sensitive toward their spirit and definite toward their will when they call for it.   

There is a thief that focuses on robbing our opportunities

to build virtue into our children.

It’s called Deception!  Time in the Word can be lost to immediate demands of responsibility and a whirlwind of activity.  Finding a “War Room” where we can be equipped to meet the challenges of virtue in our own lives and in the life of the future generation that is represented in our little knight is lost!

Our little men are watching our responses.  Crisis is the true test for our virtue.  We demonstrate what we really are spiritually in times of adversity…not when things are going smoothly!  Proverbs 24:10

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 response reveals to us if we are virtuous women or hypocrites!

Sir Christian exemplifies the character quality of Virtue.  Facing the possible loss of his mother, young Christian’s destiny, as well as his brothers’, is drastically challenged.  A chivalrous knight understands sacrifice and the laying down of one’s own life for others.  Sir Christian’s moral excellence radiates from his life as he obeys his authority and God’s word.

We hope Sir Christian will encourage and inspire your little knight as you teach him to live righteously.

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights. 

Jackie's Journey: Raising a Wise Knight

"Raising a Wise Knight"

Little boys are born with an adventurous spirit!  They are challenged by obstacles and are great problem solvers.  This belief convinces them that they can find friendship with snakes, snails, frogs and caterpillars!  Their favorite pets are ferrets, hawks, huge dogs, bearded dragons and, of course, tarantulas! 

It is important to us that our little boys grow to be strong, bold and wise.  As their personalities develop, our task takes on tremendous significance.  We see the need for wisdom in our own lives and the need for teaching wisdom to these small ones following us, stepping into the footprint we leave behind!  Our worst nightmare is that our child will be regarded as foolish and unteachable, persuaded by every wind and doctrine, unprepared for life.

Scripture says that “wisdom is better than gold, yea, than fine gold…” Pro. 8:19   God puts great value on our being wise.  He says it is more precious than jewels (verse 11) and more valuable than riches (verse 18).  “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom…”  Pro. 4: 7  

How important is wisdom to you? 
 Do you value wisdom as God does?
 Are you a wise woman?

As our children grew we looked for the marks of a wise child:
•    A wise child will love the one who rebukes him. (Pro. 9:8)
•    A wise child loves the law of God. (Scripture) (Pro. 10:8)
•    A wise son delights the heart of his father. (Pro. 10:1)
•    A wise child listens to counsel and instruction. (Pro. 13:1)
•    A wise son controls his tongue. (Pro. 11:30)
•    A wise child seeks wise friends. (Pro. 13:20)

Can we raise a wise child in this generation?
How do we get this wisdom?

While living in Panama, our good friends, Johnnie and Ruth Jenkins, put the definition of wisdom to music:

“Wisdom is seeing life situations from God’s point of view
and acting in harmony with it. 
So be wise my son, heed my instruction, 
leave that road that leads to destruction. 
Hallow my name, don’t walk in shame…
Wisdom is…”   

As we raise our little knights to be wise, we teach them that the fruit of being wise is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (Jas. 3:17).   Is your home marked by this harmony?  Is your little knight bringing you joy or are you ragged by the end of the day?  In the first chapter of Daniel it is recorded that “God gave them (Hebrew boys) knowledge and skill in all matters of learning and wisdom…” (vs. 17-20).  The King found the young boys ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers. 

God gives wisdom to those who ask and all the keys to understanding wisdom are found in His living Word.  (Jas. 1:5; Deut. 4:6; Pro. 9:10; Pro.1:1-3; Pro.13:20: Psa. 119:98; Psa. 19:7…)  Just reading the Proverb of the day would begin to equip you with what you need to lead your fledgling young knight into wisdom!

 Sir Jonathan illustrates the character quality of Wisdom.  One night a fierce storm arrives with howling winds, bringing the surging sea into the village.  The heaving waves sweep in and swallow everything in sight!  Young Sir Jonathan awakens to a frenzied scene and a life-lesson that will eternally alter his life forever.  A noble knight sees life from God’s point of view and eminently acts in harmony with it.  This makes him a wise young man indeed.

We hope Sir Jonathan will encourage and inspire your little knight as you teach him to walk wisely.

~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America.  Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California.  My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.