But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
2 Cor. 11:3

My Life with Christ started off with a dramatic change. From a prospering marijuana farmer to a sold out Christian in in just a few deep encounters with our Lord. I do not want to share my life's testimony now but rather, I want to convey where I have come from.  The first decade of my Christian walk was full of wonderful experiences with the Lord. He continued to show me favor allowing me to see, and be a part of miracles, healings, deliverance's, Bible understandings, and the things that are characterized in a "Book of Acts" type of Christian experience.

I was attended a progressive "cutting edge" Bible school and leading intercession meetings that had up to two hundred people involved sometimes praying up to three hours a day with a group. The point I am making is that I was not a backslidden half committed Christian. But quite the contrary, fasting, seeing people healed through my ministry, prophesying, interpreting tongues, were all a way of life.

During the time of all this church activity I had heard about a conference in a town a few hours away. My wife and I decided to go to the conference. During that conference the man ministered about Jesus. My mindset was that of " I have Jesus lets, get on to the important things". When he was done preaching my wife and I looked at each other puzzled wondering if that was all he was going to minister. The church we regularly attended at that time was always full of fresh revelations, Holy Spirit power demonstrations, and intense Bible understanding. So when the gentleman was done teaching we felt kind of "short changed".

The man that had been ministering gave time for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of the people. He gave a simple encouragement to the people in the conference. He said, "If you want to fall in love with Jesus again come on up front". In my heart I reasoned why I did not want to go forward. Thoughts like these went through my mind like machine-gun fire, I pray everyday, I can quote hundreds of Bible passages, I fast, I love Jesus.

However, something undeniable was going on in my heart, God was telling me to go forward. There were a number of folks that came to the conference from our home church my pastor's wife being one of them.  I was concerned about what she and the others would think about me. I did not want to humble myself and go forward knowing that they would think I did not really love the Lord.

The Holy Spirit was tugging on my heart with such intensity that I had had to make a choice. Was I going to choose image or obedience? I decided to swallow my pride and go up. My wife joined me in my walk forward. I got up to the front and stood there not knowing exactly why the Lord was wanting me to go forward. As I stood there I came face to face with the realization that I had left my first love. The pain, the disappointment, the sorrow, overwhelmed me. The tears and weeping started flowing at a uncontrollable rate. I was broken as the Holy Spirit revealed to me that Christ had taken second place to the ministry. This deep remorse went on for what seemed like hours. My wife was having a similar experience as the Lord revealed her need to return to Him.

When all that began to lift off me, I was enrapture with renewed and newfound zeal to Love Him with all my being! God had restored me to Himself! Glory to God it was a new day for me!

Now ten years later I have found that the person of Jesus is to be my chiefest of goals. To love him with all my strength and watch out for all the distractions that compete for that intimate place in my heart.

I hope that this testimony has encouraged you to seek this Lord of ours, with all you heart.  All heaven is rejoicing when that first love is rekindled. Please, if you have been encouraged send a note to let me know, I would love to rejoice with you.

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:4