My husband, Paul Sr. and I recently were rewarded a free five day hotel stay in Orlando, Florida. Our suitcases were packed in a heart beat. Our imaginations ran wild and we both shouted, ‘Let’s take the family to Universal Studios!” My birthday was coming up and, well, since we love to celebrate life events in our family., it was time for fun. To sweeten the deal, we also received a $200.00 Visa gift card to help defray the entrance fees to Universal Studios. What could stand in our way? Any days our son, Paul Henry took off from work were used up to restore from chemotherapy. He could use a vacation. We all checked our calendars and coordinated time off from work while seeing visions of crazy fast roller coasters double looping in our heads.

My husband, myself, our son, Paul Henry, and his girlfriend, Red piled in the car on a Tuesday morning Orlando-bound for fun in the sun. Our daughter, Lauren was able to join us four days later on Friday. Two of her good friends studying law in Tampa found a break in their studies and were able to join us too. We were pumped for plenty of fun with family and friends.

Flash forward to Friday. We were the first to open Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios at 9:00 am, excited to test our nerves of steel on The Hulk and Dragon Challenge roller coasters. We turned down the offer to buy Express Passes, an extra fee to avoid long lines on rides. No one in our “Band of Merry Adventurers” had extra money to spend. Staying on our budgets was a top priority. So we patiently waited in the lines, passing the time in excited anticipation of fast thrills.

My husband, always looking to add happy laughter to our day, egged me on to get a Birthday Button. What fun! Everywhere I went, jovial park employees greeted me with a wave and a shout of “Happy Birthday”, making me feel honored and special. My daughter’s friend, Kristen, also would celebrate her birthday in just two days, so we asked for a Birthday Button for her, too. We laughed and giggled through the park. At Dragon Challenge, a roller coaster ride full of twists and turns, had a really long line. I guess our faces showed our disappointment at the long lines, and we turned to hear a park employee, named Jerry, call us over to the Express Line. He had noticed our Birthday Buttons and decided we deserved some very very special treatment. His ticket machine jammed and would not print out Express Tickets, but he exclaimed, ‘Don’t worry guys. Just tell them Jerry sent you at all the rides and use the Express Line.” We thanked Jerry profusely and ran merrily to ride the skies. But could it be that easy on the next ride?

Sure enough, at the Poseidon Adventure Show, we tested the waters. At the entrance to the Express Line, my husband declared, “Jerry sent me.” The park employee said, “Sure, no problem! Enter in.” Just that easy. And this happened all day long. Sweet! All we had to do was mention Jerry’s name and we slipped through the crowds. “Jerry sent me.” and we were onto our next adventure.

So, this got me thinking. If Jerry’s name could have such power and authority to get us amazing service in Islands of Adventure, then how much more can calling on the name of Jesus accomplish in our lives! Wow!

“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

“And Jesus said to His disciple, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:18-19