The Lost Keys

The year was 1993.  My husband Mark and I were newlyweds and struggling financially.  I was finishing coursework for my degree in Education and he was working full time for Universal Studios. His responsibilities included exercising the horses for the Wild Wild West show.  One day as he was horseback riding through the 20 acre + property.  His keys, including our one and only key for the 1969 Chevelle fell out of his pocket.  My husband searched the vast acreage, but to no avail.  

At the time we had no money to pay a locksmith to make another one. Living from paycheck to paycheck gave no luxury of a savings or an emergency fund. Thankfully, when we got married, we each had a car. Both of our cars were older, and it was reassuring to have a transportation backup plan, in case one of them needed repair. So we still had a vehicle, but we HAD to find the missing keys.

After Mark spent hours searching for the lost keys, I picked him up from work.  The car stayed parked at Universal Studios over the weekend and the keys remained lost.  Sunday, after church, with heavy hearts and a little faith we rode out to Universal, parked the car, and walked out to the enormous field.  We knew it would take Divine help to find ANYTHING in that field. We joined hands and prayed, pleading with God for what we needed.  Finding the keys looked impossible as we scoured the 20 + acres.  Time passed, our search was becoming more hopeless by the minute. We were just about to give up, when I noticed something shiny in a clump of scrubby weeds about a foot away from where I was standing.  Examining the the silvery glint a bit closer I realized it was a set of keys. Yes! It was the missing Chevelle keys. We stood rejoicing in the middle of the 20 acres of pasture land at Universal Studios! We knew God had answered our prayer of desperation and given us a miracle.

That was about 20 years ago, but miracles still happen. God is still God! Maybe you haven't lost a set of keys, but maybe it's something else? Maybe you've lost your health, joy, hope or passion? Maybe you have unsaved family members or lost loved ones? God still works miracles. He can restore what you've lost. Keep praying! Keep believing!                                --by Jennifer Jones

Give Us...THIS Day...

Thank you Lord for the sunrise THIS morning. I have never before seen this exact sky.
The delicate blues and yellows, streaked with feathery wonder.

Thank you Lord for THIS morning's warm breakfast.  Provision for THIS day, brings a sweet reminder that You are taking care of me.

Thank you Lord for THIS day's relationships. Phone calls, emails, texts, on THIS day. The thought that I am loved and alive brings my heart joy!

Thank you Lord for grace THIS day. I know you remember that I am human. As I take the first deep breath today, I commit to let every breath I take today, bring glory to YOU.

Thank you Lord for the beauty in my life. Let me see with eyes of gratitude each natural work of art. May I notice the exquisite design of Your creation.

Thank you Lord for the calm assurance that no matter what happens on THIS day, that as long as You are with me, I have all I need.

Thank you Lord for reminding me that I serve you THIS day.  I cannot undo the past. I cannot live in tomorrow. THIS day is all I have.  Thank you Lord for THIS day.  ~Jennifer Jones

A Love Letter from Heaven

Dear Child,

I want to write to you today to reaffirm my love for you.  If you ever doubt my love...stand on the shores of the ocean. View the waves, imagine the depths. My love for you is deeper. Now gaze at the sky. My unfailing love and mercy extend farther than you can see, into the vastness of the galaxies.  I know it's difficult to fathom such love.  Human love is often depleted and leaves you longing for more.  You try to fill the pockets of your soul with man's affirmation and acceptance. All you really need is to be filled with my love.  My love is unending and eternal.  I gave my life for you my friend. I knew it wasn't enough to say I love you through my creation.  A thousand sunsets and stars could never make the statement that was made on the cross. I not only loved you, I wanted to spend forever with you.  I died, to prove my love for you and resurrected so that you could spend forever with me. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man would lay down his life for His friends." So my friend, today if you're feeling empty or unloved...remember I Love You!  

Forever & always,

Your Savior, Jesus

strength for the journey

A Strong Woman

knows she has strength 

enough for the journey, 

but a woman of strength, 

knows it is in the journey 

where she will become strong.

---C.S. Lewis (shared by Jo Alice Walker)