Jackie's Journey "10 Little Reasons Why..."

The New School Prayer

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene.

The law is specific; the law is precise

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate

God’s Name is prohibited by the state.

We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the “unwed daddy”, our Senior King.

It’s “inappropriate” to teach right from wrong,

We’re taught that such “judgments” do not belong.

We can get condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It’s scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the schools a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

My soul please take!

Amen.

This was written by a teen in Bagdad, Arizona and it speaks volumes, doesn’t it?

There are 10 little reasons why I choose to:

1.     Offer Hope… “Children desperately need someone to believe in them, to encourage them, and to help them see the future optimistically and positively.” Wm. T. Weathers, M.D.

2.     Be and example and not an excuse by modeling forgiveness and respect for others…”Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another…Forgive, as the Lord forgave you.”  Col.3: 13

3.     “Never sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.” Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.

4.     “Pray twice as much as I fret and listen twice as much as I speak.” Max Lucado  Little ones need our time, patience and a kind listening ear.

5.     Teach dependence on God’s presence.  Isa. 40:31 Oswald Chambers

6.     Demonstrate the character of God by walking in HIS attributes.

7.     Discipline fairly…”A child who lives with consistent, fair correction learns that you value him or her…well-loved yet justly disciplined children…mature to be more productive, secure adults than those raised in ultra-permissive environments.”  Chuck Swindoll

8.     Teach personal responsibility.

9.     Love deeply with undivided loyalties.

10. Yield my rights in deference to those I am called to serve with a joyful heart.  Patterning humility is more powerful than teaching it.

We are the only Bible our children know for those first few years

and we have a privilege and responsibility “to walk in the light” we have

and serve God faithfully in all He chooses to trust us with.

The “New School Prayer” gives us a glimpse of the world

that our young people face and live in. 

These are the leaders of the next generation. 

Our work is cut out for us and the pace to keep up is daunting.

We are blessed with a greater power in us…

than the power that is in the world!

~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 "IT'S COMING THIS FALL!"

We have been blessed to have had new releases to The Princess Parable Series every year since 2011.  But this year we are abundantly blessed to bring you TWO NEW books!  “Princess Prayers” was just released a few weeks ago in time for this Easter!

“Princess Prayers" includes fifteen sweet prayers for little girls who want to live like princesses.  This padded glittered cover board book will help your toddlers engage with Scripture and open their hearts to God at night time tucked into bed, in the morning devotion times or anytime!  Taking time with your little one to thank God for all the blessings of the day…but especially for each other is a privilege all mothers can enjoy.  “Princess Prayers” is available now at www.Amazon.com, www.BarnesandNoble.com or a local bookstore near you.

Our second book this year and our newest addition;  “Daughters of the King Devotional” is due out this October 2017! 

Please rejoice with us as we reflect glory back to God for His faithfulness!!

~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 "What is a Mother?"

“What is a Mother?”

If this had been presented to us this way, I don’t believe any of us would have volunteered to participate!

POSITION AVAILABLE

Mom, Mother, Mommy, Mama, Ma

JOB DESCRIPTION

Long term, team players needed, for challenging,

permanent work in an often chaotic environment. 

Candidates must possess excellent

communication and organizational skills and be willing to work

variable hours, which will include evenings and

weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to

primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and

endless sport tournaments in far away cities!

Travel expenses not reimbursed.

Extensive courier duties also required…

RESPONSIBILITIES

 Commitment for the rest of your life.

Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.

Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.

Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule

And be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat

In case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges…

Author Unknown

My mother turned 98 this past January and I am so grateful that she not only, signed up for the position but is still on the job, is my best friend, and is my most encouraging cheerleader.  She is a hard act to follow and I will be forever grateful to God who has allowed me to walk through my life with her.

                                                   My Mother on her last birthday...!

Celebrate Your Mother today...and everyday...

~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 "Look What's NEW...!"

“Look What’s NEW…!”

Our newest release, “The Princess Prayers”, is a marvelous new opportunity for the five princesses to accompany your toddler in prayer from a princess point of view. Princess Joy, Grace, Faith, Hope and Charity are found rehearsing the truth of the verse being taught in the form of a heartfelt prayer in her own words. 

Sometimes prayer seems distant and impersonal…with words that seem empty.  “Princess Prayers” takes God’s words from the verse and prays them back to God.  It’s a loving tribute to a caring and loving God who listens for us to take time to spend precious moments in earnest communication with Him. 

As moms we are looking for an opportunity to hold our little prince or princess close and lead them into understanding an open communication with God.  They watch us and listen as we talk to an unseen God with the faith of a mom that intimately knows Him.

We are a letter…known and read by all men (II Cor. 3: 2), and our prince and princesses are reading us with intense interest when we humbly bow our heads in prayer before our Almighty God.  “Princess Prayers” reveals a mom’s heart that is yielded to God and with joy and brokenness is praying God’s words aloud with her little one.

We are so grateful and pleased to be able to introduce you to the

 latest book in “The Princess Parable Series”.

“Princess Prayers” is available now at www.Amazon.com,

www.BarnesandNoble.com or at a local bookstore near 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 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 "Still on the Fence?"

The fence in my backyard is a kaleidoscope of color and buzzing with activity.  There is new life in my garden…rabbits, with fluffy bunnies, squirrels and their scurrying offspring, raccoons, crows, coyotes, deer …and none is more captivating and entertaining than the assembly of fluttering birds…hummingbirds stopping on their long trek north, tiny yellow finches, chirping red robins, nesting swallows… all come in droves to eat from the sumptuous feeders that my tiny backyard provides.

While living in the jungle we expected to be awakened by the town rooster or by a flock of colorful parrots squawking loudly in the surrounding Quipo trees. Birds have habits that make them good studies for life lessons.  We live in a community that anticipates the arrival of a small bird that returns every year on or around March 19th and that little creature never fails to migrate within 48 hours of this appointed time!

The Cliff Swallow and its most notable characteristic is mentioned in Scripture four times.  “The swallows observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.”  Jeremiah 8:7   The distinguished characteristic of the swallow is its predictable return every year in the same month to San Juan Capistrano.  We have a nest outside our bedroom window and this tiny bird returns every year and entertains our Ragdoll kitty for weeks!

Just as there are fixed times for the arrival of the swallow, there are fixed times for God’s judgment.

Do you find your walk is wrapped in His presence

or is your “up and down” spiritual life inviting God’s correction?

 “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young…a place near your altar.” Psalm 84:3   

Is your home a place that makes room for Him in your pursuits of life? 

Is your life drawing those around you closer to His presence?

The prophet Isaiah, in his many warnings to the “easily forgetful Israelites” (not unlike us!) notes Hezekiah’s anguished cries and the persistent chatter of this little bird in Isaiah 38:14  “Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter:  I did mourn as a dove…” I, somehow, take comfort in this petite, yet tenacious little bird as I step near my bedroom window and appreciate her gentle and non-intrusive echoes.  It resonates protective, yet nurturing.  The sound is quiet…like the wooing of the Holy Spirit. 

Can you hear the Spirits voice when He speaks to you?

Elijah did when he heard the “gentle whisper” on the mountain in I Kings 19:12.

I love the reference to the swallow in Psalm 26:2.   “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.”  An undeserved curse is as unpredictable as the flight of the swallow and returns to the one who spoke it without affecting the one who is cursed.  The swallows’ flight pattern may be unpredictable but their destination and arrival time can be precisely set!

Is your speech predictable?  Do you speak truth with kindness?

What does your husband and your children hear?

The arrival of our Savior was predicted, appointed and His mission was undeniable.  In life there are few certainties, but many variables.  However, settling the course of our eternal future is a given…it’s predictable…we will die.   As predictable as the return of the tiny swallow, death is inevitable!

What we do with Jesus Christ will determine our eternity! 

 Does His humility draw you to Himself and His way of life (Philippians 2: 1-5)

 or…are you still on the fence?

~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 ""What Helps the Medicine Go Down?"

“What helps the Medicine go down…?”

 I am a mom and as a mom I am continually challenged with the need to communicate clearly.  First, I have to get past the typical and prevalent counsel of the world outside Scriptural truth, finding the path that will lead my girls and grandchildren to understand the only true and absolute values in life that will free them to know themselves, their children and the ultimate plan and purpose God has for them.  This is often over-shadowed by worldly pressures and ideologies.

The challenge of communicating in a foreign language with my neighbor and friend, Mikaela

We all want to be heard.  We want our little ones to listen to us.  After all, our job is to make them successful!  Fortunately, our children are a face-to-face venture.  We are looking into cherub faces and reading what prompted their attitude or wrong response. 

Communication is a forever challenge.  There are so many “impersonal” ways to dialogue in this day and age.  A response of more than three words with an emoji of some sort is usually all that is required.  There is no face-to-face, no reading of their expression, no sensing their heart and understanding the attitude that is pre-empting their response.  Judgments are made based on guessing the heart of the person responding. 

Was I misunderstood?  Was I heard?

Was I clear and kind in my communication?

With technology as it is, one never knows for certain what is being communicated or how it is being received.  You presume the high road and trust the person on the other end of the e-mail, text, tweet, FB, etc. is open to doing the same.  We all need help and correction and the people who love us enough to tell us where and how we would be more successful if we would “grow up” in an area of our life are to be commended, specifically if the help comes with a right motive and attitude.

It’s more difficult to receive a messenger who is angry; however, it is important to listen, nonetheless.  We don’t choose the messenger God sends!  It doesn’t “make the medicine go down” easier, but if received, the benefit and blessing is the same.

As a wife, it certainly goes a long way in helping the “medicine go down” when my husband takes the time to express his understanding my response toward him, rather than just taking the issue on.  Men are programmed conquerors and the temptation is usually…just let me solve the problem, without attention to validating the personal need we have to be heard.

“Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19

Every challenge we face today will either lead us

into the victory of gratefulness

 or the trap of bitterness.

How are you communicating these days?

~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: "The Finished Work"

“The Finished Work”

“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection,

not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” Martin Luther

Springtime, after 10 years of drought, has displayed its beauty as never before!  The parched California ground has been flooded with life-giving rain and the mountains and valleys have exploded into the most spectacular and abundant colors and fresh new life! 

Revival has come to a dry and thirsty land!

The death, burial and resurrection of Christ, which we celebrated yesterday, was the revival of revival!  Easter is the annual reminder to us of the desperate need we have for revival in our lives daily.  Revival is the power of the Holy Spirit transforming God’s Word into our soul.   There has never been a need, as great as today for revived lives, revived families, fellowships, communities and nation. The desperate need is there but the realization of our personal need is not!  And revival starts with us!  

“For revival is not a green valley getting greener, but a valley full of dry bones being made to live again and stand up an exceeding great army. (Ezekiel 37)  It is not good Christians becoming better Christians—as God sees us there are not any good Christians—but rather Christians honestly confessing that their Christian life is a valley of dry bones, thus qualifying them for the grace that makes all things new”! (Roy Hession)  For the Christian, death is a promotion!  New Life springs from our continual choosing to die to our pride and selfishness.

 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy,

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God,

which is your reasonable service.” Rom. 12:1

Some give Him a place; some give Him prominence; but what Christ wants in our lives is pre-eminence.  The fruit of His being pre-eminent in our life is a spiritual renewal that restrains the anger of God, restores our God-consciousness and reveals His continual activity in us.

For those who have humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God at that place where sin is washed away, it has meant revival of their Christian lives in the truest and simplest sense of the word.

As we celebrated the finished work of our Savior yesterday, let’s use this reminder to revisit our need for personal and continual revival.  His death and resurrection came with plan and purpose.  It was to give us life from death.  New life does not begin with someone else.  It begins in each of us.

Let’s exchange dry bones for New Life!

 “If you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,

where Christ sits on the right hand of God.”  Col. 3:1

~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'sJourney: "Praying God's Words"

“Praying God’s Words”

Would you like to inspire greatness and godly ideals in your little princess?

“Prayer is the preface to the book of Christian living,

the text of the new life sermon,

the girding on of the armor for battle,

the pilgrim’s preparation for his journey;

and it must be supplemented by action

or is amounts to nothing.”  Anonymous

“Princess Prayers” is the latest of our books in The Princess Parable Series.  This charming hardbound book introduces your child to the wonderful world of communicating with God.  As you read the pages, your little one will be listening to God’s words from the verse that is intertwined in a delightful rhyming prayer. It has been carefully written with your child’s perspective in mind.  Your princess will be caught up in the sincerity of the melodious tone of the words.  The illustrations are captivating and will visually invite your child to listen and participate with you.  Crystal Bowman penned the thoughtful content and we are thrilled to be able to bring Princess Prayers to you and your little one.

Arriving just in time for Easter, “Princess Prayers” is available on www.Amazon.com, www.Barnesandnoble.com  or at a local bookstore near 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 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 "Princess Prayers"

“Princess Prayers”

Once upon a time, in a magnificent castle perched high on a hill, lived five princesses.  Their names were Joy, Grace, Faith, Charity and Hope.  They were blessed to be the daughters of the King…together they explore the kingdom, grow in virtue and discover the importance of beauty within.

As moms we prayerfully believe God to reach each of our little prince and princesses for His kingdom.  Our greatest joy is to know our little one is secure in the heart of the King of Kings.  We look for ways to creatively take the Word of God and through reading and teaching, to see each one come to understand the acceptance and provision of our loving God.  Developing character and virtue is included in those teachable moments we are given consistently every day!

Inspired by Jesus’ Parables our little girls can learn about God, His Kingdom and His love for them from a princess perspective.  This month The Princess Parable Series is overjoyed to announce the arrival of our newest release, “Princess Prayers”!

The five princesses invite you to join them

as they begin to pray verses of God's Word

into the heart of your little one

through the pages of Princess Prayers.

Arriving just in time for Easter, “Princess Prayers” is available at www.Amazon.com, www.Barnesandnoble.com  or a local bookstore near 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 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. 

Jackies Journey "Obedience Required?"

As moms we’ve got this wired.  When we talk about obedience, our mind instantly goes to the need we have to teach our little prince and princess to be obedient, to listen and respond to our voice and learn the difference between the peace obedience brings and the chaotic consequence that comes when disobedience triumphs. After all, we are convinced that the right choice will determine their success in the future.  In the Princess Parable Series we were careful to reinforce the principle of obedience to their authority and father, the King.  It is important that our little ones learn to respect us and hear our voice, so, that one-day, they will hear the voice of the King of Kings.

This is great for the kids, but what about us?

Obedience should be the inspiration of every action and approach to Him.  As moms we are confronted continually with circumstances that call us to note if obedience to God’s truth is the rule in our life or just the exception.  If our obedience is the exception to the rule and disobedience is the practice, we need to be reminded that the provision for our success has already been made for us!  We have been given everything we need to live in godliness (obedience required!)…so we have no excuse!  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…!” II Peter 1: 1

Obedience to what the Word says has supreme importance in the Bible

and should have in our hearts and minds.

 Have we given obedience that supreme place of authority over us?

 It is easy to get up running and not look back until we collapse in bed at night!  Often disregarding that little voice that calls us to yield to the one certificate of Christian character…obedience to what He says.  “Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth. I Pet. 1: 22   “The whole acceptance of the truth of God was not just a matter of intellectual assent or strong emotion; it was a subjection of the life to the dominion of the truth of God.   The Christian life was in the first place obedience”.  Andrew Murray 

”He that says I know Him but does not keep His commandments is a liar”! I John 2: 4 Obedience is the demonstrated fruit that authenticates a new and productive life.  Obedience is the secret of a good conscience and assures us that God hears us.

“And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him,

Because we keep His commandments

and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” I John 3: 22

Our little ones know when we are lying on the phone (that so and so is sick or not home).  They know when we write a doctors excuse for the school office for an unexcused absence.  They watch us text and drive.  They listen to our attitudes and conversations with others and our spouses.  They watch as we take notes in church and nothing changes.  They see us consumed with social media, FB, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. They read our spirit when we are fearful.  They are continuouslywatching and listening…

Are we living a double standard where disobedience is accepted behavior

or do they see a confirmation that obedience

has that supreme place of authority in our lives?

 Obedience is not optional!

~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.