You Are Not Alone With Debbie & Greg Gold

From Broken to Beautiful: The Promises of a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ

• Debbie and Greg Gold • Season 2 • Episode 13

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What does it really mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? In this heartfelt conversation, mother-son duo Debbie and Greg Gold strip away religious complexity to reveal the beautiful simplicity at Christianity's core.

Many people believe their past mistakes disqualify them from God's love, but as Debbie and Greg explain, this couldn't be further from the truth. The foundation of Christian faith isn't about earning your way to heaven through good deeds or religious rituals—it's about accepting a free gift of forgiveness that transforms your entire life.

The contrast between life with and without Jesus becomes strikingly clear when Debbie shares her powerful testimony. She describes her former self as anxious, self-centered, and unable to form deep connections before finding faith. "I didn't trust anybody, not even myself," she reveals, in a description that amazes even her son, who sees now a completely different person in his mother.

Greg adds his own perspective as someone baptized at age 12, emphasizing how important it was to make that decision at an age where he fully understood its significance. Together, they lead listeners through a simple salvation prayer for those ready to begin their own relationship with Christ.

Ready to experience this transformative relationship for yourself? Visit debbieandgreggold.com to download Debbie's Bible study "Crossing Over" and begin your journey toward a personal connection with Jesus that will change your heart, your mindset, and your life in ways you never imagined possible.

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SPEAKER_01:

Hello, this is Debbie and Greg Gold, mother and son team, and you are listening to the You Are Not Alone podcast where we are going to navigate life together. Welcome back, everyone. Today the Greg and I are going to be diving into what it really means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And um to walk you through that, we're going to be talking about three points. And the first one is that God wants a relationship with each of you. And um, you know, it doesn't matter what you've done in the past or uh what you've done, who you are, who you are, uh anything. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

I I think like that's like the biggest misconception about religion is like I've done this, so I won't get accepted into this, this, this, and people will think hell and heaven, you know. Exactly. Because I've done this, I won't be able to be accepted into this, you know.

SPEAKER_01:

So I know I talked to my sister one time three, four years ago, about this, and she's like, Well, why why are we even talking about this? She goes, I already know I'm going to hell because of all the bad things I've done. I go, No, no, no, Linda, it is not that way. It is not. He he, if you walk into a relationship with him, um It's about forgiveness in the world. Yeah, or accepting, you know, you accept him into your heart, Jesus into your heart. It that's that's all you really need to do. And anyway, we can get more into that free gift that he gives us, but to continue with that, he wants a relationship with us. Um, he wants that more than anything. He wants to know you intimate. Well, he already knows you intimately. He wants you to know him intimately and to walk every day of your life with him. And he just wants you to open your heart and let him in. It's really simple. And in the Bible, John 1, um, chapter 1, I'm sorry, verse 12 says, Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. So that's it. You believe in his name, you're a child of God.

SPEAKER_00:

It's a comforting feeling, so it really is. And a relationship with him is there for the taking, but you just have to seek it. You gotta you gotta ask for it, you gotta want it, you know. Yes, right. So Revelations uh 320, Jesus speaks. Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they will eat with me, which is referring to fellowship.

SPEAKER_01:

Right.

SPEAKER_00:

So let this be in your invitation, open that door. It's real simple.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, let let this podcast today be your invitation to just um knock on the door.

SPEAKER_00:

It's free. Doesn't cost any money, no subscription fees, nothing like that.

SPEAKER_01:

And that to me is just such a in the community. It's non-judgmental, it's it's unconditional, it's all of those things that we so in this world of ours don't always experience. We do experience a lot of judgment and condition and and all that. And so that, you know, it warms my heart just to be talking about this. Because I think a lot of people feel alone and and don't know where to go. And and Jesus is your answer.

SPEAKER_00:

I've seen in my uh I'm doing a small group with my church right now, but I've actually seen I've met some people that are like, oh, this is my first time going to City Reach, the church that we go to, and I was kind of nervous to walk in here originally, and then I went to the service, and everyone was so like nice and opening and open-armed, and they were just inviting me into the space, and I'm like, that's what it's about, right there. It's about supporting other people on the journey towards having a relationship with Christ.

SPEAKER_01:

So I know um the support's insane. It truly is. Pastor Chris.

SPEAKER_00:

You don't feel any negativity in that building at all. No, or just in the community that you have. I mean, the guy came up to me today, my small group, and he was like, How are you doing, Greg? You remember my name. Yeah, I haven't been there for two weeks, and you remember my name. So it's like that means a lot to me, and it builds a community.

SPEAKER_01:

So it does. It's a great place to meet people and and like you said, build your community. But you know, PC Pastor Chris, he said, you know, he started this church and it was like, Come as you are. And I have to tell you, in in serving in that church and being in that church, I mean, everyone is so happy. I mean, everyone, the the people that serve, the people that work there, the people, the people that come to hear Pastor Chris talk.

SPEAKER_00:

I've seen come as you are. It's non-judgmental. I've seen every type of culture, religion, race. I mean, it's insane. So I mean, I've seen I've seen people with hijabs on in the service. So I'm like, whoa. And you know, it's insane.

SPEAKER_01:

And and it's growing and growing so big and exponentially.

SPEAKER_00:

They have to build a new church.

SPEAKER_01:

They are, and they're in the process of that.

SPEAKER_00:

But I don't know.

SPEAKER_01:

We got off sidetracked there. But if you're in the Austin area and you're listening, um, I encourage you to check out City Reach. Right now it's on Hatch Road, um, technically in Cedar Park, because it's on 620 and it's on that side where Cedar Park.

SPEAKER_00:

And um amazing place.

SPEAKER_01:

It's just amazing, amazing.

SPEAKER_00:

Lots of services and um the effort they put into their service is really, really detailed.

SPEAKER_01:

Highly standard, high standards, as you said earlier. I did everything they do. Everything is high standards.

SPEAKER_00:

They don't they don't cheap out on anything.

SPEAKER_01:

So No, it's amazing. All right, well, let's move on to the second point, which is God's promise and his free gift. So, you know, we were some I didn't, I guess we didn't really talk about this. We kind of did a little, but but I want to just emphasize that some religions teach that you have to earn your way into heaven, right? But as Christians, Christianity believes that you all you need is a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. And that relationship promises you forgiveness of your sins and eternal life in heaven. That is it. Pretty simple, you know.

SPEAKER_00:

It's not I've done this, so I can't go this, or can't get into here. No. No.

SPEAKER_01:

So it's it's all you are just forgiven, and it God just wants that relationship with you.

SPEAKER_00:

It's one of the main points of Christianity, I think, is forgiveness.

SPEAKER_01:

So this is evidenced in scripture in Matthew 26, uh, 28, it says, For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for the many for the forgiveness of sins.

SPEAKER_00:

And then one of the most famous verses, I think, of all time, one of the most well-known verses, supports this by saying, John 3 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Yeah. Which is important because it says that whoever believes in him. It's not, it's not you have to do a physical act, you have to sacrifice something, something. You just you have to believe in him and read the word. It's very simple. So and Jesus died on the cross so that we can be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life in heaven.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. And so we will not perish if we believe in him. Perish meaning go to going to hell. Um, you know, or not going anywhere, or being wherever, I don't know, stuck somewhere. I don't know exactly. But um, yeah, pretty, pretty awesome. And yeah, so this is all he really wants from us in exchange for sacrificing his son on the cross when he was 33 years old. And so let's go on to point number three. Greg, why why choose a relationship with Jesus? You know, besides what, you know, why should we? So besides the fact that, you know, God wants a relationship with with us and that God has this amazing free gift. What do you think?

SPEAKER_00:

It'll change your life. I think it it'll change who you are, it'll change your mindset, it'll change your heart in ways that you've never imagined. Um I've lived my both, I've lived my life both with and without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And there's no doubt in my mind that living life, having a personal relationship with Jesus is far better. Because I was baptized when I was 12 years old, thinking about it, 10 years ago, February 12th, 2012. Yeah. I remember the date. Oh, I love it. I love it.

SPEAKER_01:

So um that that was a really proud moment for me.

SPEAKER_00:

And I remember that moment like every second, which is crazy. Yeah, I remember getting the towel, standing in the hallway, and just waiting, getting the directions, okay, you're gonna go here and here, lining up and all that. And I was just so excited.

SPEAKER_01:

So it was nervous and excited at the same time. Yeah, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_00:

So but um that's when I took my next step, and that's when I committed. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

And I have to say for me too, and and I'm gonna read my testimony in in just a little bit for you all, just a brief intro of it. But I can say that too. I lived my life without Jesus, and I lived my life um next to him walking in his walk for the or walking with him for the last 20 years. And I, you know, grew up in a a home where um it was pred pre I'm sorry, Presbyterian Presbyterian um church, and my parents didn't go and would drop my sister and I off at church for Sunday school, and then her and I would have to go or would go to church following that, and they would pick us up after. And I really don't understand that. I'm not sure what that was all about. Um, I know my parents worked a lot at that time, um, and that maybe that was part of it, and they just wanted us to have that upbringing, but uh, you know, we just never talked about anything, it wasn't carried on into the home. It was just a thing like going to school and you know, that was it. Come home. So um, yeah, anyway, so I g I guess uh I kind of did a little diversion there, but that was my experience too, and and I really didn't want Greg to grow up that way. And so I had left, you know, my faith or my church, and um really started looking for just a Bible church that talked about just the Bible, and that really is what Christianity is. And so Greg was raised uh with that at the age of about two or three, started that um going to church and Sunday school and all that stuff, so and then committed when I was 12.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, so exactly and I I wish I did it earlier, but I'm I'm glad I did it at the age to where I knew uh what it was.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, where you understood.

SPEAKER_00:

I understood it, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00:

It wasn't like, oh, I get dunked in water. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm going.

SPEAKER_00:

It was like, oh no, I know I want to commit my life to Jesus. Yeah. That's what it's about. And solidify it.

SPEAKER_01:

So anyway, I think if you're if you know, if you're not happy with your life or who you are and what you're what's going on in your world, we really urge you to take um this next step by accepting Christ in your heart. And we're gonna tell you about that in just a little bit. But um first, I've I have written my testimony in order to share my story of salvation and my my story of how I was rescued, really. And um, I don't want to go into it all today, but I just want to share a little piece of it um so that you really get a sense about um I don't know how how I was and how God really has was able to change my change my life. Um so let me go ahead and read that. What I experienced in childhood had lasting effects on me. As an adult, I avoided conflict, I was filled with anxiety, I felt the need to be in control of everything around me and had trouble identifying my feelings. The only feelings I knew were happiness and anger. All other feelings were foreign to me. I didn't trust anybody, not even myself. I had friends, but few of the relationships were deep like I longed for them to be. Mike and I struggled, my my husband and I struggled in our marriage. Um, and it was far from loving and supportive and connected. I was self-centered and cared only about me. My focus was on what everyone around me had and what I didn't have. I lacked confidence, and inside I was scared and miserable.

SPEAKER_00:

Damn. Yeah, that's deep.

SPEAKER_01:

And that is the truth. And that's when I look back at that, I go complete opposite of who you are. Thank you. Yes. Yeah. I know, and I almost go, really, I was I was, but really, like antisocial?

SPEAKER_00:

The heck? No. I don't see that. Rid of conflict? No. You take your head on.

SPEAKER_01:

Like, let's talk.

SPEAKER_00:

There's there's no there's no comparison about that.

SPEAKER_01:

So you know, it's just it really truly is amazing.

SPEAKER_00:

I didn't know you before you knew Christ, and hearing that, it's like completely different person.

SPEAKER_01:

Who wait, no? Who are you?

SPEAKER_00:

Who isn't my mom? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

So he he's amazing. God is truly amazing, like I said, or we said he'll change your heart, he'll change your life, and it's all really good.

SPEAKER_00:

So um I want us to say, I mean, at City Roots, our church that we go to every Sunday, our uh our pastor, Pastor Chris, he says a prayer, a salvation prayer to bring, you know, new people to Christ. And it's a simple thing, and it's a simple prayer, but it's a beautiful prayer. And he asks everyone to close their eyes, bow their heads, and then the people that are you know firstcomers or might not be connected to Christ yet, they raise their hand. And then once you raise your hand, put your hand on your heart and say this prayer. So we're gonna say this prayer nice and slow so you guys can read it back if you'd love, if you'd like, which I love. So yes, if you're ready to take if you're ready to take the next step of living your life with Jesus, place your heart, place your hand on your heart and say the salvation prayer with us. Father God, I love you, and I want to get to know you better and live by your ways. Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross, so that I can be forgiven of my sins and have eternal life. Please forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart. I receive you now as my Lord and Savior. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen. So if you said this prayer and accepted Jesus into heart, congratulations. I'm proud of you, and we're proud of you.

SPEAKER_01:

We are so proud of you. We are so proud of you. It will be the best decision of your life.

SPEAKER_00:

Life-changing.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, and um special mention. Yeah, kind of a special mention. It is a special mention. So I also want to just mention that um I have written my first Bible study, and it's been a it's been a work in progress uh for a while, and um, it's it is called Crossing Over, and it is available um on our website in digital download. Um, the study is for Christians who really want to start on the life-changing journey toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And um, yeah, I hope you check out our website. It is Debbie and Greggold.com. We've been doing some updating and making it look better and hoping it's um navigational, and I think it is. Um, but anyways, go out there, go there and check it out. It's Debbie, and that's D-E-B-B-I-E and Greggold.com. Um, and I think that is our show for today, unless you have something else, Greg. What anything on your heart that you want to share?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, really? That's all I got.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

We've been seeing the support uh ever since we took a little break or a big break. Yeah. And we much want to say thank you guys for the support and keep downloading, keep listening, and visit the website.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. It's been wonderful.

SPEAKER_00:

We're trying to grow this thing as however we can.

SPEAKER_01:

So well, we are trying to, our mission is to get people to come to Jesus because that is what that's the end goal.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

That's it that is what Jesus that's this one thing that he wants all his believers to do is to get other people to come to Christ.

SPEAKER_00:

Because and by growing this, the more we can do that.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely. So thank you.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you guys for your support. It means a lot.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, for sure. So again, um, Bible study is called Crossing Over. It's available on digit for you know digital download. And then also um check out our website. We'll see you back here next week. We are going to talk more about having a personal relationship with Jesus. And um we always, you know, God is He's in our presence right now in our in this room where we're recording this. He is in your presence right now, wherever you are. And um, I really want you to start believing that and feeling his presence. And um just want to thank you, God, for this episode and the words that you have given to us to present to um to to our listeners. And uh, you know, we love you all and we love God and um make it a great day.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, and thank you all for listening.