I update and repost this every year on this day. I am so grateful for the work of Christ in my life and I want to glorify Him and to make much of Him every chance I get!
26 years ago today the Lord, in His sovereign love, grace, and mercy, changed my heart and adopted me into His family. His forgiveness and acceptance truly know no bounds!
As a 20 year old punk, I wanted nothing to do with Jesus or His church – actively working against Him, ridiculing and mocking everything “Christian” (though I was raised in church). I lived a life of self-indulgence, doing anything and everything my heart desired. I was truly His enemy, and slowly killing myself. Then, in one beautiful moment (in a small town post office of all places), right in the middle of my sin and debauchery… He opened my eyes to see my need for Him and HE gave me faith to believe. I placed my trust in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, trusting His sacrifice and work for me, taking the punishment I rightly deserve. And He saved me! He saved me not only from sin and judgement; He saved me from myself. He gave me hope and a future, both here in this life, and forever with Christ in the life to come.
Because I am still me, it has not always been a straight path. It has not all been easy; and has been quite messy at times. There have been very deep hurts, very big questions, and some very dark seasons! Yet, through it all, He has kept me. Though I have given Him more than enough reasons to reject me and regret His decision to save me and call me His son, He has never left or abandoned me. He has never nor will never remove His promise of salvation from me! His choice is eternal. The comfort, gratitude, and love I have because of that knowledge is overwhelming! I have a joy that goes way beyond mere earthly happiness because of Him; and a genuine peace that goes beyond understanding. Thank God His mercy endures forever!
He has blessed me so much, in so many ways, with so many wonderful people that I do not deserve! I would not be the man I am today without the people He has placed in my life. He has given me a beautiful wife who loves and accepts me for who I am and encourages me in the Lord. He has given me three awesome kiddos, and blessed me with three bonus children. My prayer is that my life points all of them to Christ – His holiness and sovereignty, His mercy, grace, and forgiveness, His power, peace, and joy for life! He has filled my life with friends who stick with me through it all, faithfully pointing me to Christ, helping me live and enjoy life one day at a time.
This gracious gift of forgiveness, peace, and eternal life with God is available to anyone who confesses Jesus Christ is Lord and trusts in His work, not their own for salvation!
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:9-10 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Soli Deo Gloria!