No substitute will do

One of our Christmas traditions it to make caramel apples. Lovingly creating the caramel, gently coating the apples with caramel, chocolates, and various toppings. Each apple is then placed into a festive bag and delivered to a friend.  Although I love making them they take time and apples this year are more expensive than usual. As I was scanning the delicious pictures on Pinterest, I saw what appeared to be an answer to my apple making season. It seemed so simple!

apple

I washed and sliced the apples then began to love them up with the toppings. They look so pretty! I covered the apples and refrigerated them.  The next morning I took out the Christmas themed tray to take to work with me and I was sadly disappointed. The apples had turned rather soggy, not a good option for caramel apples!  I learned a lesson, faster-is not always better!

To read about making my caramel apples enjoy this post  

I went back to making whole apples and I am much more pleased with the results!

Cutting corners, trying substitutions and looking for other things or people to fulfill can have disastrous results for us as Christians as well. 

There are no substitutions for a relationship with Jesus! 

There is No person that will meet our needs.

There is No career that will satisfy our longing to belong.

There is No food that will fill us with joy.

There is No game that will provide us with peace.

There is No drug that will take away our pain.

There is No amount of money that will give us eternal life.

There is only One Savior, Jesus Christ.  We need no other!

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Have you seen my Keys?

"These keys don't work!", I grumbled as I tried and tried to get them to turn the lock in the door.  I knew it then, but didn't want to admit it, these were not the right keys. They looked similar but they were not the ones that would open the door! 


Don't you hate it when you misplace something? Usually if I retrace my steps I can find what I have lost. This time things were very different! 




My experience was like the song by Francesca Battistelli

Lost my keys in the great unknown, And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone.
This is the stuff that drives me crazy,This is the stuff that's getting to me lately.In the middle of my little mess,I forget how big I'm blessed.This is the stuff that gets under my skin,But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing.It might not be what I would choose, But this is the stuff You use

Searching continued;

• In the pockets of my jackets, vests and sweatshirts.
• Under the bedroom dressers and even under the bed.
• In both cars, in the glove compartments, under the seats and in the cup holders.
• In the drawers of the kitchen, office and living room.
• In all of my purses.
• In my school classroom.

I Looked Everywhere and still have not found them! 


These lost keys remind me that Jesus is the only way to the father.

He is the key

He is the Only one who can open the door

Through Him we may walk through

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

What have you been searching for? 

Father, thank you for reminding me that you hold the keys to life, forgiveness, joy and eternity. 

May I come in? Jann