*****Having been through many of life's storms, by God's grace Im Alive 2day! I started playing the trumpet in 6th grade, my oldest brother Paul being a guitar player encouraged me to get involved in music at school. At the age of fourteen i started playing in a band Paul was in, it was just a local band, but we were playing at weddings and sweet 16 dances, along with clubs, and bars. I recorded on an album for the very first time at the age of 14. Needless to say that in these types of environments (bars/clubs) there was a lot that a kid my age should not have seen or been exposed to, but being in band all 4yrs in high school helped keep me grounded. I see now that it was God's grace that kept me from being consumed by this nightlife...Thank you Jesus!
Trying to pursue a worldly music career had cost me dearly, and i tell you that the prayers of a mother (my mom) have not gone unheard and she now sees Gods answers. My life really started being transformed because of these prayers, so for you who are listening to me right now, dont give up, God hears the cries of His children, come to Him.
*****So lets fast forward a bit, I had been in the military after high school, after that adventure I got right back into music and recorded on another 5 albums with four other groups. Also since then I have been married and divorced twice, I have a son who is 16now, whom i don't have a relationship with, (from 1st marriage) and a daughter, who I do have a wonderful relationship with, shes 7 (from 2nd marriage). My wife Virginia, present day, were going on 3 yrs being married, has been so undeservingly good to me, i thank my father in heaven for allowing her into my life. We don't have any children together, but she adds to our family, 2 daughters, 23/20 + a 3yr old granddaughter. Whew!...this is a lot to take in huh??
I am sharing all this, because Im trying to paint a picture for you, to show you that my life APART from God, had been a mess!
*****In 2004, After making a trip to Desert Hot Springs, California to see my dad, who we thought was on his death bed, i decided to give up all the anger, resentment, bitterness that I had been holding against him...sitting next to him a day b4 we were to leave back home to San Antonio, i cried out to God in my heart telling Him that i didnt want this unforgiveness to go on any longer. I gave it all up to God that afternoon, i told my dad i loved him and since then we have had a relationship like never before
*****So one would think that i would have found favor with the Lord for doing this, that our father in heaven would be proud of me. A few weeks after having made this triumphant trip i was hit with a bombshell, my 2nd marriage was about to come to an end,(a quick note, my 1st marriage ended because i did not want to give up music career.) i was asked to leave our home, and a custody battle ensued for my daughter. My life as i knew it was over. I was led to believe it was my entire fault, I blamed myself thinking I had failed as a husband and a father. What I now realize is that I failed God. I was claiming to be a Christian when it was all just superficial. You see God wanted me to open my heart to Him, but I couldnt, I didnt know how. Too much of this world had gotten into my heart and into my head. So this is what I believe, it says in scripture that God is a jealous God, and rightly so. Let me explain; We think we can use him for our benefit, only calling or depending on Him when its convenient, it cant and shouldnt be this way. God will let us get away with this for a season, my season came to an end, and a new one was about to begin. What started it was when i forgave my dad. You see dad was never there for me, he was an alcoholic, he abused my mom physically, and God knows what else he may have done, but do you see how wonderful God is? I forgave my dad when everything the world says about a person said i shouldn't. The world screams that a person such as my dad doesnt deserve our love or respect. But i gave it up, i decided that i didnt want to conform to the ways of this world anymore!...and this is where Jesus met me.
*****Now it was time for God to begin stripping away all that was not in his divine plan for my life. He has and still is taking away layers upon layers of worldliness I had put on over many years apart from Him. I tell you that it has been the most wonderful experience of my life. Yes there has been heartache, trials and storms of great magnitude, and there will be more to come, but I can recognize God's hand at work in my life today. I can and will only depend on Him from now on. This doesnt make me perfect in any way, but I dont have to be perfect, I just have to be as obedient as I possibly can in this fallen world. Im spending this time with you, sharing that I have given my life to Christ, and I am going to try and fulfill His purpose for me in reaching out to lost, broken and hurting people, just like I was. Its important to know that Im not lost anymore. I still am broken and I still hurt, but its a brokenness and a hurt for you though. I dont want anyone to spend an eternity apart from God. I dont want this world to keep blinding you and keep you from a joy and peace that will sustain you through the most difficult times of your life. You can have peace that will surpass all understand, that is gonna guard your heart and your mind, but you can only find it in God, through Jesus, and through the power of the holy spirit. The choice and the changes have to be made today, right now. Ask Jesus into your heart, let Him begin a work in you. I plead with you to please quit running from the things of God, quit chasing after the wind by trying to fill your lives with all that this world says is gonna make you happy.
*****It had been almost a decade since playing the trumpet, pursuing a music career had cost me too much, i resented it. Suddenly a conviction, a burden, a hunger fell over me in 2004, to offer up a sacrifice of praise to our Father in heaven. So i picked the trumpet back up, only this time it was to praise God for all that He has, is and going to do in my life, my family's life, and for the many people that i will come in contact with and will intercede in prayer for. Through my trumpet playing i find healing and a yearning to testify of God's love for me and the love i have for Him. If along the way this ministry unto the Lord can bless folks who are broken and hurting like i was and still am, God is getting all the Glory!!!! Trumpet4Christ ministries, Rob Ramos ..... (Ephesians 4:17-32)
A Prayer to Help You Comfort Others - Your Daily Prayer - April 25
Have you ever wondered if there is any purpose in your suffering? We certainly don’t go looking for suffering—it comes to us because life is a journey through difficulties and triumphs. Sufferings are a reminder of what Jesus Christ went through and it is a way for us to encourage others.