Testimonies - Mark Rose
Mark
Rose
Mark Rose
B.A.S.S. / FLW
Professional Bass Fisherman
Although my testimony may not be as exciting as someone who has been a
rebel most of their life, then saved by God's grace and are now serving God to
the fullest; it is still very special. Anytime we are living without God
in our life and then come to know Him as personal Lord and Savior of our life
and so have a personal relationship with the Creator of this world, it is
exciting no matter how wicked we were or weren't.
Growing up in
the delta of eastern Arkansas I was just an ordinary kid, 100% boy.
Hunting, fishing and baseball were in my blood from the start. My
granddad grew up living off the land, hunting, commercial fishing, and trapping
for food and money. His passion for the outdoors passed right on down to
his four boys, then on to me. Even though neither my granddad nor my dad
taught me what I now know about bass fishing, I owe all of my outdoor skills to
them because they both kept me in the woods or on the water during much of my
childhood which is where the seed was planted. Then there was
baseball which was where I was going to make my millions. But after
suffering injuries to both ankles and then my knee during my four years of
college ball, I left my hat and glove on the bench at the University of Texas
after the last game of my senior year and never looked back. However, it
was through baseball that I first met and became friends with Keith Garner.
Keith and I were also members of a small high school fraternity called
Delta Sigma. Each month we would have to get together as a group to
participate in a local social event, our “Good Turn” for the month. So one
Sunday we decided to all go to Vanderbilt Baptist Church, which was where
Keith's dad, Bro. Bill Garner, was the pastor. I felt very uncomfortable
that Sunday. This was the beginning of my conviction. My parents
loved me very much, but I was just not required to be at church on Sundays so I
wasn't. Ironically, Keith and I became good friends and he kept inviting
me to come to church and I started going more and more. The conviction
kept growing stronger and stronger and I wanted to walk down that aisle after
every invitation but my pride just wouldn't let me. There were people I
knew there, girls, teammates, etc. Finally, after the service one
Wednesday night, I stayed and asked Bro. Bill if I could talk to him about it
and when he closed the door of his office tears began running down my face and I
didn't have to say a word. He gave me a big hug and asked me if I would
like to accept Jesus into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior. After
gladly accepting the invitation he told me to come forward the following Sunday.
With the help of Jesus this time, I went forward and to my surprise when I
looked out across the congregation, I didn't see any negative, critical people,
just teary-eyed people who were sinners like me, now saved by the grace of
God.
There's a
country music song by Aaron Tippin that has a lot of spiritual truth and
describes my life up to that day perfectly. It says, “You've got to stand
for something or you will fall for anything. You've got to be your own
man, not a puppet on a string.” Even though I wasn't the worst kid on the
block, if this group wanted me to join in, I would. Then if another group
wanted me to do something just the opposite, I would.
You know, many
people look for happiness in so many different ways: through money,
divorce, prestige, plastic surgery, alcohol or drugs, etc. I'm just so
thankful that God showed me the way. There have been many struggles,
tragedies, etc. in my life since that time, but I now have help from the One
that can get me through any problem. He may take me on a different route,
and many times I don't like it. But I always know that now I'm headed in
the right direction!
Thank you for
your time and God Bless!
Mark
Rose
If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you
can do so just like Mark. It is the easiest thing you have ever done in your
life. And it doesn't matter how good or bad you may you have been. Jesus loves
you and died for you in spite of the things you have done. All you have to do is
acknowledge your need of a Savior and accept Him.
Romans 3:23
says, ‘Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal;
yet now God declares us “not guilty“ of offending Him if we trust in Jesus
Christ, who in His kindness freely takes away our sins’.
Romans 6:23 says, ‘For the wages of sin
is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord’
Romans 10:9&10 says, ‘For if you tell
others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord, and believe in your
own heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by
believing in his heart that man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he
tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation.’ Living
Bible
God wants you to experience life in a way that only He
who created you can give. He is reaching out to you right now and saying,
‘Come unto
me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ Matt 11:28
KJV.
All you have to do is
accept it. You can do so by saying this prayer and meaning it in your
heart.
Father, in the name of Jesus, I
come to you and ask you to forgive me of my sin. I believe that Jesus Christ
died for me and rose again to set me free. Lord Jesus, come into my heart, come
into my life, be my Lord and my Savior. I thank you now that I am saved I am
your child and I will serve you all the days of my life.
Amen
If you prayed that prayer you have now become a child
of God. Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book Of Life and you are going to
live for eternity with God. Do like Romans 10:9&10 says and tell
somebody.
If you would like a Bible or literature that will help you in
this new life, or to locate a church near you or maybe you have a prayer
request, please call us at (618)235-6373 and we will be happy to assist
you in whatever way we can. God bless you and welcome to the Family Of
God!!!
David Harbison Ministries
Copyright 2003