To my skeptical friends on Easter

Today is Easter, and probably a lot of people you know are smothering their social media with statements like, "He is Risen!" and "He's alive!" and you may be thinking....

"Do they really believe this?"

I want you to know, I understand your skepticism. It doesn't seem to make sense.

But just for one 1 minute, take a step back, and ask yourself, 

"What if it is true?

What if there really is a God who loves you so much that He sent His son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save you?

What if Jesus really did die on the cross for your sin and mine?

What if He really did rise from the grave?

What if the gifts of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life Christians talk about are real?

Then it changes everything.

And the Good News of Easter is that it is real.
This gift of grace is free to you. And it is free to me.
And this gift of eternal life is offered to you. And it's offered to me.

Regardless of your past or current situation, there is hope at the cross and the empty tomb. And it beckons you to come. For there is nothing, NOTHING, that you can do that would make this risen Savior love you any more or any less.

So, I hope on this Easter, you will look past any negative experiences or encounters you've had with "Christians", and look at the cross and the empty tomb. See the risen Savior who came to set you free, and to offer you Hope, grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. And may you see that this gift is much greater than anyone or anything this world can offer. 

Happy Easter.

thanks for reading.

peace,

bg

The Christmas Spirit

I love Christmas.

I enjoy traditions, and like most families, we have our own. My family and I love to put up our Christmas tree together. Kim and I like to reminisce and talk about the stories that go along with each ornament from our vacations, while the kids get excited about their super hero or Disney ornaments. Then lastly, we set out our nativity and explain to the kids why we celebrate Christmas. This whole process really is a special time for us.

Another tradition we have is we ride around one night and look at all the Christmas decorations people have out, then of course cap it off with a trip to Krispy Kreme! But, while I drive past people's houses, listening to the kids get excited about all the blowup things and bright lights, I look in their windows at their trees, and I think to myself:

 "I wonder what is going on with that family and what were the conversations the people had while putting up that tree? What have they experienced over the past year that is gonna make this Christmas different than last year? Will this Christmas be sad for them because of a sickness or the loss of a family member or friend? Are they celebrating new life? Are they stressing about how they're going to make ends meet? Are they wondering if that wayward family member will reconnect with them this year? Etc."

It's a time of similar reflection for me as I look not only at my own life, but also at the lives of my family and friends I closely associate with.

I also enjoy this time of year because Christmas seems to bring a spirit of grace and unity.

I see people longing to help the poor and oppressed, locally and globally, during this season. I see others put away past angers and hurts between friends or family members for this one time a year because something about Christmas makes us long for unity and peace amongst each other. There is a longing to spend time together, and to help each other become "happy" during the Christmas season.

So, before we tear down the commercialism, complain about how people have just forgotten the meaning of Christmas, bark "No you mean Merry Christmas" to the store employee who tells us "Happy Holidays", and cover our cars in "Keep Christ in CHRISTmas" bumper stickers, let's remember the Gospel hasn't left Christmas. The Spirit is still on the move, and no human campaign can stop it.

Look around you. People's hearts are being transformed. People are seeing the joy found in the giving of themselves to make others happy, even if it's only for a brief moment in time. God uses this season, and all seasons, mightily for His glory.

My prayer is that instead of being a scrooge, kicking Santa to the curb, complaining about the business of malls and time with family, gossiping about people who view Christmas differently than I do, is that I would use this time to share with others why there is a hope for something better than this world, why they have a desire to help the poor and oppressed, why they are more open to showing grace to family and friends, and why they have a longing for peace, is not because it's Christmas, but rather because we have been given this spirit of grace and a longing of reconciliation with others through God who has made a way for us to be reconciled to Himself, where all good things come from, and that way is through Jesus Christ...who came to dwell amongst us and is who we celebrate on Christmas day.

thanks for reading.

peace,

bg

Twitter: @gossettbrandon

Christmas? Already?

click on the picture to view the video

I was in a local mall the other day, and saw them.
Christmas decorations.
Hard to believe it's already that time of year.

I actually got excited though.
I love Christmas.
I love the traditions, time with family, riding around with Kim and the boys through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights, excitement of Christmas Eve and Christmas day, the delicious food, etc.

But, it got me thinking, how will I spend the Christmas season?

How will you?  

Stressed out about schedules and family / Church gatherings? 
Spending time in traffic jams and long lines in stores?

Arguing with your spouse over finances, about how much time you're gonna spend with each family, and trying to decide what gifts you are gonna buy them this year?

My family's not. We're tired of it.

Are we giving up on Christmas? No.  

Will I rip my kids heart out and tell them there is no such thing as Santa? Nope.
(insert your individual "you include santa?" judgements here)

Over the last couple of years though we have changed how we celebrate Christmas, and here's why:

We see a world that is hurting around us. 

We see a world where there is massive physical need.

We see a world where there is massive spiritual need.
We see a world that is looking for hope in everything from $$ to stuff to politicians.

We see a world, whether they admit it or not, are asking themeselves, "Surely, there has to be more to life than this?"

And I believe we have been granted the answer. 

The Gospel.

And I believe that He has commanded us to share that News. (Matthew 28:18-20)

And there's no better time than now.

What if, for just one year, you changed the way you did Christmas? And instead of buying more and more gifts, you spent that money to drastically change somebody else's life?

Why not try it? 
Celebrate Christmas differently this year. 

Worship Christ. 

Spread the News. 

Tell The Story.
Live it out in such a way that people ask, "Why?"
Make eye contact with people.
Serve the poor.
Volunteer your time.
Give away some of your money.
Transform somebody else's life, here and around the world.

Transform your familiy's life.

Transform your own life.

Show your family, friends,  & coworkers, the Child.
The Babe.

The Savior of the world.

He is worth it. 

He is the reason, after all.

thanks for reading...

peace,
bg
Twitter:gossettbrandon

Why I was baptized Sunday

On Sunday, September 16th, surrounded by several family members and my community group, I was baptized in my neighbor's pool by a dear brother in Christ.

The decision to be re-baptized was one that I had been wrestling with for quite a while. I've struggled with the fact that I was baptized at a younger age, 13, and did I really grasp what I was doing then. I knew Jesus was good enough to be a "Stay out of Hell" card, but Jesus as my King, well that was a whole other story.

Reflecting on my life, I saw there were extended periods of time that I felt I lived as a Christian. But, there were also long periods of time where every decision I made was based on my own selfish wants and desires.

I abused Grace.

I convinced myself that God had to forgive me, and I would just repent "later". I was playing a game with sin and forgiveness.

I continued to try to live as both one in the "the world" and one as a christian.  The only problem with that is the Bible clearly states this can not be the case. A believer is to be living a life of obedience to Christ, separate from the world, and not a slave to its pursuits and passions.

As I have matured in my faith, I have realized my view of what it means to abide in Christ, my hatred of sin, and my desire to be obedient to Him is vastly different than it was prior to 2010. I can now confidently say that I am a disciple of Jesus, and I long to live a life in accordance with His will.

Below, I've posted what I read to everyone who was a part of my baptism below if interested.

thanks for reading...

peace,

bg

Twitter: @gossettbrandon

My Story: (what I read to everyone in attendance)

By God’s grace, I grew up in a Godly home, where Christ was preached all the time from my parents and grandparents. My parents raised me in a church, and I remember my mom always telling me "God knows your heart." I was baptized at 13 with a belief that Jesus was good enough to be my Savior, but wasn’t good enough to be my King. But God began to change my heart in 2009 and by God’s grace, I repented of my sin, and I submitted to Jesus as my King in 2010. After many months in prayer, reading the Word, conversations with Kim, my community group, and with other godly men, I realized that I had not been living a life that Jesus described as being a true follower of His really until 2010. I believe that God has chosen me and saved me through His grace alone, and I am no longer standing in my sin, but rather in His righteousness, and His payment on the cross and His resurrection has saved me.

Romans 6:1-12 says "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 

So today I desire to be baptized out of obedience to Christ and to tell my family, friends, the church body, and the whole world that because of His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ is my Savior King.

A great question

We are coming to a close in our study of the Gospel of Mark in my community group.  This morning during my quiet time and going through the lesson, the last question was rather difficult:

What difference has Jesus' death on the cross made in your life?

I had to pause, and ask myself, "What difference has it made?" 

Do I live like Jesus' death and resurrection has made a difference in my life?

Can others look at my life and tell it has made a difference?

Do the things I give my life to show it has made a difference?

Do I really understand the profound impact it has on my salvation?  If so, why don't I talk about it more to this world that so desperately needs the Gospel, instead of worrying about rejection?

Am I ever over whelmed by the power of and what really has been accomplished by His death on the cross and His resurrection?

Are the things I'm vocal and passionate about reflect that His death has made a difference?

Do my conversations reflect that my life is different because of it?

Can people I don't even know look at my Facebook and Twitter and see that His death and resurrection have made a difference in my life?

Does the way I spend my time and money reflect it has made a difference?

Do I love others, even those I adamantly disagree with, in a way that reflects it has made a difference in my life?

Do I just do religious routine, or does my worship reflect the power of His death and resurrection?

His final words on the cross were, "It is finished"(John 19:30).  

The Gospel.  

The debt has been paid.  

God's wrath has been satisfied.

This should floor us, draw us to obedience and worship, and truly make a difference in our life.

thanks for reading...

peace,

bg

Twitter: @gossettbrandon

What are you living for?

What are you living for?

Want to know the answer to that question, then look at what you do with your two most valuable resources: your time and your money.

Are you spending these 2 on earthly treasures trying to make your life as safe, pleasurable, and comfortable as you can in this world?  Or, are you spending them on things that are making His glory known and His saving power made among all nations?  

We have the tendency to look at people using their resources for the latter,  the ones building up treasures in heaven, and who sell themselves out for the gospel, and we think they are nuts. We ask them, or more than likely talk behind their backs, why would they leave the comforts of America to go deliver the gospel in some of the toughest areas of the world. We see people risk their reputations, or sacrifice money, gifts, trips, and possessions to making Christ's glory known, and we question their motives.  

But, I believe these kind of feelings should drive us to look into our own hearts and ask...
"Where is my treasure? Am I building up treasures here on earth, or am I building treasures in heaven?"  Jesus tells us, where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

So, let's look upon the cross and the empty grave, and remind ourselves, He is worthy of giving our lives, our time, and our money.  Earthly treasures pale in comparison to His majesty.  Let's live with minds and hearts focused on building treasures in heaven, not the things of this world.

God, give us grace to see the bigger picture.

thanks for reading. 

Peace,

bg

twitter: @gossettbrandon

Do not love the world, or the things in this world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father  is not in Him. For all that is in this world - desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father, but from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. - 1 John 2:15-17

Really?

Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is this:
 ...You shall love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength..(Mark 12:30)

Do I love Jesus with ALL my heart, with ALL my soul, with ALL my mind, and with ALL my strength? Nope.   Does Jesus really mean "ALL"?  Yep.

Believe me, I love Jesus.  I love Jesus A LOT.  But I don't love Him with ALL that is in me.

Of all the things Jesus taught, He called this the greatest commandment. Why? Jesus knew that when He becomes our All, we would experience true joy and fulfillment, and this would drive us to obedience, a desire to deepen our relationship with Him, and to teach others about Christ.

As Christians, obeying this commandment is a struggle. We really have to ask ourselves some tough questions.  Do we love Jesus with our all? Does Jesus even get part of our love, or is He just something we talk about for 2 hours on Sunday, and then kind of forget about Him until the next week?  Jesus fits nicely in our Sunday morning schedule, but after that, sometimes He just doesn't fit in that well.  And, we can come up with great excuses for not spending time with Christ learning to love Him more; "I'm too busy", "Work is too crazy right now", "My kids have so many activities", "I just need some 'me-time'", "I'm too tired", and on and on.

I believe it's safe to say when we think and talk like this, our hearts do not reflect loving God with our ALL. So, what do we do?

We remind ourselves of the Gospel.  We remind ourselves that He foreknew our shortcomings and still forgives us.

And by reminding ourselves of that, it draws us to love Him more.

I pray that I would come to love Jesus more and more everyday, until that day He makes me new, where I will love Him with ALL my heart and with ALL my soul and with ALL my mind and with ALL my strength for eternity.

thanks for reading.

peace.
bg
Twitter: @gossettbrandon


What prevents you from loving Jesus with your all?