MY TESTIMONY
Well, where should I begin..........
I was raised in southern california, and my parents were members of the L.D.S. church. (mormons)
So I guess that I was a typical mormon kid.....I learned that I had to live a life that was a "worthy" one, that the 'book of mormon' was the most accurate scripture available, and that anything that the 'prophet' said was directly from God. Well, as most mormon kids, I was baptized into their church at 8 years old, then they ordained me into their preisthood at 12,..... and I did all of the typical mormon things.
I started feeling that something wase'nt right about the time that I was 14 years old, and before long, I rebelled. I started smoking cigerettes and drinking, I guess because that is just what all the kids around me were doing. It wasent long after that, and I found myself drinking more, smoking marijuana, and listening to rock&roll. I wanted less and less to do with home, family, church or God. It seemed that if there was trouble to be found, that I intuitively knew exactly where to find it.
After graduating high school, I ran off and joined the Navy. It was there that I learned how to really drink hard liquor, and do harder drugs. That habit ended up getting me a discharge, only one year into my term. I gladly left and joined a rock band. I played Rythem Guitar, and it was at that point in my life that my drug habit really reeled out of control, and stayed that way for the next 10 years.
I was playing with my third band, keyboards this time. I was living in Big Bear California, and had been dealing drugs for almost 7 years as a way to supply my habit and make money to live on.
It was there, in Big Bear, that everything came undone. Life was really a mess, and I had just ended a very violent arguement with my lead singer. I was so mad, feeling full of hatred and bitterness, and was at my wits end. I was absolutly sick and tired of all of the hatred, violence, lies and anger that seemed to be the dominating feature of my life.
I had no idea, but the loving hand of Jesus was on my life, and He was about to work a real miracle of His Amazing Grace!
I remember climbing to the higest point on that mountain. I always knew that there was a God, and had never cared. I thought that I had belonged to the devil. About a year before this night, I had tried to make a deal with satan, telling him that I would do whatever he wanted; If he would only help me get a record deal.
I was still so angry with God, and sick and tired of life.
I remember climbing up on a boulder, on the top of that mountain and calling up to God, telling Him that I wanted to make a deal with Him. I said something like...
God, I know that you dont care for me, I've hated you most of my life. I know that you really hate hatred. So, i'll make you a deal..... You take all of the hatred in this universe, all of it....put it all in me, and then destroy me.... We'll both be happy.... You wont have a world with hate, and I wont have to live in this hate filled dump anymore. I can't take it anymore............. And then, I hiked off of the mountain, and went to bed.
Little did I know, not only did God hear me, but He listened! And, He answered.... He loved me, and had a plan for my life. It was not the answer that I had expected, but nontheless, He had a plan.
The next morning, as I was on my way to the bar, I passed a sign that was advertising a huge yard sale. It was being held in the parking lot of a Baptist church. I went over to see what I might see, and then went inside for a drink of water. It was there that I saw a beautiful baby grand piano..., Unable to resist the urge, I went over, sat down and began to play. Before long, a young man came over, complimented me on my playing, and introduced himself as the youth pastor of that congregation.
Before long, he had engaged me in conversation about what I thought about God. Of coarse, I had all of the programed, pat answers I had learned from my mormon background, and he just asked questions. He did'nt preach or anything. He left me with a smile, and invited me to come back in the morning to worship with them. His questions had really left me really thinking, and I found myself wanting to talk with him again. He seemed so happy, and it wasent the psuedo happiness that I was so acoustomed to. Well, I returned for that invitation.
The Lord was already working on my heart...I did'nt know it yet, but Jesus was right there with me, begining to work on my heart.
During their offering, there was this little old lady sitting down at the other end of the pew, hastily scribbling on this peice of paper. As soon as the offering was over, she slid down and handed me this note. It said " The lord wanted me to tell you about this litle church about three blocks from here. It is full of young people like yourself who really love the Lord. Don't think that i'm saying that you are not welcome here, because you are, and I hope to see you here again. That is what He told me to tell you. Oh; He said that you are hungry and to give you this." Inside there was a twenty dollar bill. I thought to myself 'this is really weird." Well, I was starving!
My curiosity was killing me at this point, and as soon as the service was over, I went to see if i could find this place that she had told me about. As I arrived, they were singing a song, and there was this dude up there teaching everyone to sing it in sign-language. I heard drums, an electric guitar, bass and an accoustic....I thought cool!.... The lady was right, and I wasen't the only one in a black leather jacket, and a pony-tail there!!! I stayed, and it was the first time that I heard anyone talk about The Blood of Jesus, The Cross, and about a Personal Relationship with God. It was the first time in my life that I had ever really experienced, or been in the presence of God!
Jesus was really there, just as if He had been sitting right there with us! I continued to return, and before long, I asked Jesus to come into my life and take away all of the garbage that I had spent so many years adding to my life.......
I will never forget that day!!! It was the most incredible day of my life!
The flood of releif, and incredible peace, and overwhelming joy that washed over me was like a flood.
I felt as if I could really feel the arms of Jesus surround me, never, never before had I ever felt such incredible, overwhelming love fill my heart, my mind and my soul.
It was if I had had this monstorous burden, that I had been carrying all of my life, suddenly lifted.
That Love, That peace; a peace that goes beyond all understanding, and that Joy, real Joy and happiness has been an ongoing and ever increacing work in my life ever since!
Jesus has come into my life and changed it forever!
No longer do I have even the smallest desire to have any part of the life that I once lived. Now I know what the scripture means that says;
"YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN" (John 3:3)
When I think of who I once was, I remember that dude, but I do not know him, and it surly is not me!!!!!
Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the Everlasting Father and Creator of all of the universe; Has come into my life, Taken away all of the ugly things this world has to offer, And replaced my hurts, and my sorrows with Himself!!!!!
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
I tell you the truth.....no matter where you have been....no matter what you have done....
Jesus loves you ...... He really wants to take away your burden....whatever it may be...
He wants to give you "The peace that is beyond all understanding"
He has promised that if you would only cry out in your heart....Beleive that His promises are true, Beleive that He really has died, out of His love for you, to pay the price for your sins, that He indeed rose again on the third day, and ask him into your heart....that He would hear from heaven....and answer your call!!!!!!!
If you have never asked Jesus to come into your heart
If you are not absolutly, positively sure of your place
in His kingdom
If you are not positive, beyond any shadow of a doubt that you will join Him in the clouds when He comes back to call His own to Himself, PLEASE, I URGE YOU...DO NOT DELAY EVEN ONE SECOND LONGER...HE LOVES YOU
Time is so short.
He is coming again.
SOON.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW TO ASK HIM INTO YOUR LIFE,
VISIT THIS BUTTON....
