My Salvation Story

me at around 13 years old
I was saved in the summer of my 13th year. It was a hot Saturday, and the preacher and my parents had organized a youth group experience on the church grounds. My parents served as the youth directors. The church is located out in the country...lots of land around. One of the ladies in the church, an accomplished equestrian, brought her horses out for the day to let the youth group ride around on the grassy acres. As I was riding, the preacher rode up on another horse, started talking to me, asking questions, gave me my own personal plan of salvation and lead me to the Lord. But, the preacher had told me that I needed to "go public" with my decision to follow Christ by walking the isle on a Sunday morning...whenever I was ready. I don't recall how long it took, but it was probably more than a month before I gathered the courage to walk that red carpeted isle. When I finally made my public profession of faith, the preacher called on my mom to take me into the back counseling room where she prayed with me and for me. It was very emotional. In the following week, the preacher made a visit to our home to organize my upcoming Baptism, and all I remember is that when he sat down in my mom's wooden rocking chair, he broke the back out. I felt sorry for him. He was so apologetic. Dad eventually fixed the rocker. I was Baptised a few weeks after that and became a member of our Baptist church.

I realize everyday that I was lucky to be adopted and raised by loving Christian parents; an ordained father and a wonderful mother. And that I had an earlier exposure or a sort of a "back stage pass", if you will, as compared to most kids to the introduction of how important it was that Christ should be first in my life. I was the typical "church brat". Like any kid, I rebelled...not too much, but enough to cause my parents undue grief. I never experimented with drugs or alchohol. But I did venture out and tried smoking, which I thoroughly enjoyed at the time. After several boughts of bronchitis and a pnuemonia spell and my desire to get pregnant, I eventually quit -- cold turkey, Thank God! I was definately a "closet smoker"! You see, I knew that I was harming my body, which God calls His temple. I knew it was wrong and was constantly ashamed. When I quit, cigarettes were around $1 a pack.
Well, I eventually got out of the smart mouthed, disrespectful, rebellious stage and stumbled around trying to figure out where God wanted me and what my niche in life was to be. It wasn't long until He helped me choose my path...the path and the life that I follow today with Christ Jesus and my loving husband at the helm. I have been blessed!

GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION

God's Plan of Salvation

The Bible says there is only one way to Heaven
Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)
Good works cannot save you.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Trust Jesus Christ today! Here's what you must do:
Admit you are a sinner.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)

Be willing to turn from sin (repent).

Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)

Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

What to pray:

Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, as a Christian you should:

Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)

Talk to God in prayer every day.
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)

Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19)

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)

Tell others about Christ.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)