Sharing My Testimony

[Mossman]

Greetings:

I would like to share My Testimony with the Spirituality Community. I hope that it will be a blessing to all that take the time to read it. God Bless all of you as you journey through your healing process. I am in the first week of the program and I am incorporating daily scripture readings into the program. I have already experienced progress. The program is based on what scripture tells us to do. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.



My Testimony of Faith in Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
By Richard Moss

As a small child I remember my Mother praying with us and those prayers led to a 45 year long journey of faith to come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a child I prayed, went to church, and accomplished all my religious obligations; however, for the first half of my life I did not follow the council of those prayers. I followed after the desires of the flesh; career, money and security were my god’s, and I pursued them with a passion. However; C.S. Lewis put is succinctly, “What satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea they could be like god’s—invent some sort of happiness for ourselves outside of God, apart form God. That is what I was trying to do. God brought events in my life such as brushes with the face of death in the military, career challenges, the divorce of my parents and early retirement from the military. At the time, I did not know that he was drawing me closer to him and teaching me perseverance. God also brought me my wife and two special children and a mentor during my college years, to remind me of the important things in life! I was also compelled to volunteer at soup kitchens during my travels in the military. I think partly, as a sense that I needed to do good works to get right with God, and partly because I was drawn to these people. I gained Godly wisdom from some experiences, and others; developed a sense anger and bitterness in my heart against my father, which I held on to. At times I neglected my family and would later pay the price of a wayward teenager that brought a lot of heartache to our family. I had these plaguing questions in my head—what is the meaning of life? Where was I going when I die? I do remember times throughout my life praying intently during the tough times. I do remember some of my prayers were even answered; however, I never really felt a true sense of God’s peace. It was the summer of 1994 that I retired from the military and decided to build our dream retirement home and start a computer business. Well that was not in God’s plans. The location we chose to retire turned out to be a disaster; my kid’s and wife were unhappy; my business did not prosper, so we moved to Wichita. I went back to my first love which was volunteering at a homeless shelter in 1997. After several years of reading the Word and listening to Christian radio I realized that even though I went to church and prayed and tried to be a good parent, I had not given my heart to Christ. So, during the summer of 1999 on bike ride in Sedgwick County Park in Wichita Kansas, I said this prayer I composed from scriptures—“Lord Jesus thank you for showing me how much I need you. Thank you for bearing my sin in your body on the cross, so that I might die to sin and live for righteousness, by your wounds I am healed. Please forgive all my failures and sins. Wash me with Your Precious Blood and make me clean, and help me to start fresh with You. I now receive You into my life as my Savior and Lord. Help me to love and serve You with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength.” Amen. I felt a sense of peace, but no earth shaking revelations happened. I started reading scripture almost daily. Over the course of the next few years I noticed the anger melting, I reconciled with my father and he shared with me how he came to know Christ through Billy Graham. I was able to reconcile with my daughter. My wife shared with me how she came to Christ. I got involved leading a Homeless Bible study and became involved with the Kansas Right to Life Organization. The Lord gave me the strength to overcome an addiction that had been plaguing me for some time. My grandmother who never professed any faith in God thorough her whole life—at age 100 accepted Jesus into her heart after my sister and I led her in prayer. Only two short weeks later God called her home! My Christian walk has not been without trails. My mother was near death twice and could no longer take care of her mother. My sister, brother, brother-in-law, and I flew back to California, sold the house and transported my Mom, and Grandma in an RV outfitted like a hospital; from California to Springfield Missouri, to stay with my sister. My Dad was diagnosed with stage four incurable lung cancer in April of 2006, and I brought him home to live with us. My brother was diagnosed with a disorder that my have him bed ridden in the near future. Dad had a massive stroke and died in my arms on July 12, 2006; and just five short months later Mom died of pneumonia on Dec 12, 2006. I recorded Dad’s life story on tape and he gave a beautiful testimony of how he came to know the Lord. I made a tribute video to my Mom and Dad and sent it to all my family; may it be a blessing to all. My brother who was staying with us, decided to venture out on his own. He has been holding a job steadily now for the past year and a half in Aurora Colorado. My brother is a nonbeliever and through the Holy Spirit, I am trying to reach him for Christ. My Daughters have left the Catholic Church and are trying to find a new church home. I have been talking with them and there spouses’ about the Truth of Salvation in Christ. I have also been moved to leave Catholicism and seek a new church family for both my wife and I. I have been plagued with depression and anxiety most of my life, I surmise, was inherited from my father, since he suffered with it also. I have been beset with back problems from a job injury in 1996. I have asked the Lord to take these conditions away, however they remain, and I and reminded of these truths—“My Grace is sufficient for thee”. One day I was listening to Bott radio and I heard a saying from Pastor John Piper—“Only one life to live, soon past, only what’s done for Christ will last” I have done a lot of soul searching and asked the Lord what his will is for my life; His answer—servanthood. So, I will serve my family, volunteer at Tiller’s death camp, to rescue the innocent, pursue a degree in Christian Counseling and share the Gospel as the Lord directs. I have been convicted to be water Baptized as a public sign of my inward change of heart. On October 20th 2007 my good Christian friend Dean Smyth baptized me at his church in Derby Kansas. I still have a long way to go on learning how to walk in faith but I know that those that are in Christ Jesus will receive the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things and remind us of everything that Jesus has said to us!

Richard Moss

Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Jas 1:2-8). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.


God Bless
Rick

[newrunner]

Hello!Thank you for posting such a inspiring story!I agree 100% when it comes to having to have faith to overcome our issues.I am struggling right now but I'm giving it to the Lord and just simply trusting in Him.I'm being tormented in many ways but I intend to push forward through faith.I wish you much luck on your journey.I thank it's awsome that your so dedicated in serving the Lord.I plan to do the same.I have to become stronger and finally just walk through this bondage of fear.My dream is to help other people.God Bless and thank you for reminding me how important it is to stay strong in faith.

[cream cheese]

RICK,
i see that GOD has a plan for you and , what a testimony you shared..i know that what you wrtie was such a blessing...i am retired army and in the process of writing a book on my life and want to get it published when i get finished. it hads to be retyped and proofed because i write like a country boy lol..
i am looking for someone that can do it for me...
just thought that i would share that with you.GOD is good to us in more ways then one. if you get a chance sometime read a part of my profile.
take care and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and GOD BLESS..
DON
P.S.i would love to have a copy of your testimony if its ok..thanks
don

[Guest]

Thanks for sharing a beautiful story that ends in a life with Christ! God bless you and yours!