If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I am in him.

~John 10:37-38 KJV

Hello Friend,

If you would like to know Jesus, we at VineWords encourage you to read my testimony and say the prayer below. Saying “yes” to Jesus is the best decision you’ll ever make. He will do the same for you as He did for me, and for everyone on our team. This could be your new day!

I questioned who Jesus was while I was in college. A friend told me to pray and then read the Gospel of John.  When I got to John 10:37-38, I felt it would take more faith to not believe that Jesus performed miracles, than to believe. Furthermore, who, except God could perform so many miracles? No matter where Jesus went, He performed miracles and did amazing things.

My conclusion–Jesus’ assertion that He was one with Father God was true, the only difference being that Father God had allowed Jesus Christ to manifest in bodily form on earth, whereas God was in Heaven.

(Later I would learn of the Holy Spirit. At that point I did not know the Godhead was three–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.)

Jesus became real to me. As I took Communion I got saved. As I thought about the Scripture passage I had just read, I felt Jesus was prompting me to take Communion. It was late at night so I wondered how I was going to follow through with this inner prompting, having no wine or bread.

I felt Father God saying, “Crackers and water will do.” So, I got a cracker and filled a Dixie cup with water. With these rudimentary elements, I took Communion. I thanked Jesus for His sacrifice on the cross that made forgiveness of sins possible. I confessed that I needed His forgiveness. I thanked Him for allowing His body to be crucified to redeem mine.

Thus, on Saturday, November 5th, 1979, I bowed the knee at my bedside and prayed to Jesus for the first time, inviting Him into my life. This was and still is the most memorable day of my life. For the first time ever, I felt the tangible presence of my Savior Jesus Christ as He surrounded me with His peace and love. I felt clean, new and invigorated.

I continued in prayer late into the night, speaking to Jesus passages in John 3. Then I read Him some of His miracles, and I felt He expounded my understanding. Then, I read the Gospel of John aloud, again to my audience of One, and when I got to the crucifixion, I wept until I felt I didn’t have a tear left to shed. The sacrifice He’d made FOR ME amazed me.

He loved me! I knew it!

Jesus’ tangible presence stayed with me until I fell asleep. It was my birthday, November 6th, when I awoke and hurried to get to church. We were required to go every Sunday. But this Sunday, it was not a ritual. I wanted to attend church.

I made my decision to follow Jesus public knowledge. Up to this point, taking Sunday Communion at the University was just something I did because we were supposed to. But that Sunday, I took Communion with understanding. Once again, Jesus overwhelmed me with His tangible presence.

The contrasts between taking Communion with a cracker and a Dixie cup in my room, verses taking Communion with a wafer and a silver chalice of real wine in a cathedral with 30-foot stained glass and ornate arches amazed me. Both times I’d felt the tangible presence of Jesus.

I understood from this that what matters is our heart’s condition.

After church, I shared with preacher Al Jenkins my decision to follow Christ. I was sure I would suffer persecution from an unsaved person who would not approve. Pastor Al gave me a pocket cross, and told me to keep it with me to serve as a reminder that I belonged to Jesus. He also prayed with me.

Bible reading and praying began. I read the Bible all day when I got back to my room. I felt like a sponge, feeling I could not absorb Bible truths quickly enough. Jesus gave me Isaiah 43:1b KJV as my life verse, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by they name, thou art mine. This still is my favorite promise in the Bible, especially since I’ve needed it.

Persecution strengthened my faith. Three days after I got saved, I was confronted by the people who rented a room to me. The father of the house had read my diary that I kept on my desk. Not knowing anyone would even enter my room, my diary lay open. The family was so offended I had become a Christian, the father demanded I denounce my faith. I was certain I would face persecution when I returned home, but this spiritual attack caught me by surprise.

The father of the family drove me to a cliff where he lectured me for three hours, demanding that I stay in the car. He said I’d have to find another place to live if I chose to keep journaling to Jesus. He was red-faced as his words only caused me to cry, but had not elicited the response he was desiring. I refused to denounce Jesus. Finally, he told me to get out of the car and he sped away. I knew I would not be welcomed back into his home.

Despondency overwhelmed me as I looked over the cliff until I felt the cross in my pocket. I knew this was a symbol and had no powers in and of itself, but touching the cross in my pocket helped me to re-focus on Jesus and my salvation experience. I recited my life verse. I turned from the cliff, thanked Jesus I was His, and walked to the student affairs office to switch from off-campus housing to a dorm room.

Once I got back home, as expected, I came under persecution. When a certain person found out I’d given my life to Jesus, they were extremely angry. They abused me, shouting at me, striking me in the face, and choking me, trying to force me to denounce my faith. I stayed strong, touching my pocket cross, reminding myself I belonged to Jesus, silently reciting my life-verse between blows.

After the physical conflict had passed, I asked the harasser to tell me if they believed there was a God. Hesitantly they agreed. I told them “His name is Jesus Christ. I belong to Jesus now, and I will never denounce Jesus as my personal Savior. Even if you try to kill me, I’ll die as a Christian, and I will never ever deny Jesus Christ’s name. He is my God and I serve Him now.”

Although the person at my home town did not get saved, they stopped harassing me. They even gave me Christian gifts after a few years had passed and I’d stayed a Christian. They finally came to respect that having Jesus in my life was part of my new identity. I also started  attending church where I met lots of friends who became family in the Lord to me. I read my Bible through and through, and I prayed daily, and I also married my husband Phil who became a Christian when I shared my story.

Rather than the persecutions I’d endured being a hindrance, they only served to strengthen my faith. I have resolved to believe in Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord, and I will never turn back from loving and serving Him.

I share Jesus’ story often. I share Jesus with whomever will listen. He has revolutionized my life, and I want others to experience His love and peace too. As for the cross, wherever my husband and I have lived, the cross has hung over the door frame of our home, continuing to remind us that we belong to Jesus, and we need to live lives that honor Him.

I am more in love with Jesus now than when I first got saved. Jesus Christ is my best Friend, Savior, soon-coming King, and Lord of my life. Song of Solomon 6:3a KJV sums up my beliefs about my Jesus, I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. Jesus is my everything, and I now know  I am His Bride and He is my Beloved Bridegroom. I await the day I will see Him face to face.

HOW TO GET SAVED

Friend, now it’s your turn. Please consider asking Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord. Here’s how to get saved:

• CONFESS JESUS AS LORD Romans 10:9-10 says if we confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts God has raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. We speak our belief in Jesus with our mouth. We show this belief by boldly professing Him as Lord.
• ALL HAVE SINNED, SO ALL NEED A SAVIOR Romans 3:23a says, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. We’ve all sinned, except for Jesus. He lived a perfect life void of sin. The Bible says Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, victorious over death, Hell, and the grave so you and I can escape the judgment of death for sin.
• DEATH IS THE PENALTY FOR SIN Romans 6:23a says, For the wages of sin is death…God desires justice. Therefore, the consequence for sin is death.  That’s what we deserve because we are sinners. BUT, God is also merciful so He sent Jesus, who willingly paid the penalty FOR US extending GRACE to us. Our part is to confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Romans 6:23b continues, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
• GOD IS JUST BUT HE ALSO IS MERCIFUL God is BOTH just and merciful, so He chose His own Son, Jesus Christ, who came in the flesh, a substitute to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus is uniquely qualified, because He is fully God and fully Man in His nature. He is fully God, having been born of the Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary’s womb. He is fully man, having been born of His earthly mother, Mary. So, Jesus the God/Man, has both characteristics. He therefore qualifies to redeem sinful mankind. When Father God asked Jesus to die in our place, Jesus agreed with His Father, knowing we are worth this high price.
• JESUS CHRIST DIED BUT NOW HE IS ALIVE Jesus Christ rose, victorious over death, Hell, and the grave, and He defeated sin for us, having paid the penalty when He died on Calvary’s  cross. The resurrection power is within Him enabling us also to be freed from the power of sin as we believe in Him and make Him Lord of our lives.
• JESUS GIVES US A PLACE IN HEAVEN Jesus goes before us and prepares a place in Heaven for us as His gift to us. He says, Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
• PREPARE FOR ETERNITY Let’s face it, life here is short, but eternity is long. Let’s prepare for the day that will soon come, when all who believe in Him will go to Heaven.

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A PRAYER JUST FOR YOU

Please say this prayer aloud, and mean it from your heart:

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me, and for dying on the cross and rising from the dead to pay the penalty of death for my sins. I need You and I give my life to You. I turn away from how I was living, and I ask You to direct my steps. Come into my heart, cleanse me, and make me new. Thank You for forgiving and healing me.

Help me to daily walk in ways that please You. But when I fail, thank You that You will forgive me as soon as I confess my need of You. Guide me, and give me things to do that bring You glory.

Thank You for securing a place in Heaven for me where I’ll live with You forever. I look forward to the day You will return. While I am waiting, help me to boldly proclaim You as Savior and Lord, so others can find the peace I’ve found in You.

Amen.

If you’ve said the prayer above and you meant it with all of your heart, welcome to the family of God! You just got saved!

Please find a church or home group you can attend regularly so you will have support while you learn more about Jesus. I hope the devotions on this site will also serve as encouragement, helping you to grow in your newfound faith. Read your Bible and pray to Jesus every day, and enjoy your new life with Him.

This is the best decision you could ever have made, and it’s a new day for you. Start fresh, and know Jesus loves you!

We at the VineWords Team would love to hear from you.

Shalom,

Diane Virginia

Founder/Administrator

VineWords: Devotions and More