“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:11

Since I have no prior experience writing a devotional, I will just tell you about how Jesus has saved me and some of the exploits that we have been on together.  Enjoy.

My story begins in the early morning hours of January 5th, 1982, the 12th day of Christmas, in the West Texas town of Midland.  Despite that part of the country being an arid desert, and mostly experiencing winters on the milder side, this particular year had the worst winter storm in a century, or so I’ve heard it told.  I don’t exactly recall due to the fact that I was just born that day.

So anyway, there I was, roasty toasty warm, swaddled up tight in my momma’s arms on that cold winter morning. God has graciously surrounded me with family members who were already walking with our Savior long before I arrived.  These family members poured God's great and powerful message into me for my whole life long.  I’ve never known a moment of life without Jesus, but I wasn’t always a Christian.

I suppose that’s a great place to fast forward to next.

I remember the day that Jesus became my personal Savior like it was yesterday.  My sister and I were sitting on stools at the pale orange counter in the kitchen of our grandparent’s home.  Grandma had just finished putting the vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup back into the avocado green ice box, while we were thoroughly enjoying a milkshake made with love and laughter in our plastic blue cups.  She would sing to us about Jesus like He was there with us in the room.

Grandpa walked into the kitchen, and as per usual, had a serious look on his face.  He looked us both square in the eye and asked us, “Children, do you know how to get to Heaven?”  

Being the oldest, I boldly answered him with, “You have to believe in God!”

“No, that’s wrong.” he said sternly.  His words startled me into silent reflection.  “You have to confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved.”

So without delay, I quickly asked grandpa if I could do that now.  His face softened and he smiled and he led us in prayer and I was saved.  

My family has been members of more than one church over the years.  Some had a steeple, choir, robes, stained glass windows, candles, and an organ.  Others met in school cafeterias or broom closets or living rooms or wherever.  No matter how different each of these churches was, they all had Jesus.  

I am incredibly grateful to have such a life as this, filled with love and blessings.  My life is the product of the good work that Jesus did on the cross and the generational blessing of a Christ honoring family.

Now that I am grown, and have a wife and children of my own I have the great responsibility, privilege, and honor of passing on that Truth to them and others.

So from someone who has walked with Jesus for quite some time now, I suppose I will leave you with a few questions to ponder and my favorite Bible passage of all time.

How have you shared your story of when Christ saved you today?

If it was against the law to be a Christian, what evidence from your life would there be to convict you of the crime?

How has Christ working in your life had an effect on the lives of those around you?

May God Bless You and Keep You Forever and Always!

"Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there.  Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.  His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns.  A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.  He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.  The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.  From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations.  He will rule them with an iron rod.  He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.  On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords."  -Revelation 19:11-16♠