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Amy Duncan: God Don’t Make No Junk

Amy Duncan: God Don’t Make No Junk

Genesis 1:26-27K
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:31
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day.

The Moody Bible Commentary (2014, the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago), states the following: “Since God could have created man in any other way He chose, such as by simply calling a man into being (as he did for everything else), the question naturally arises, “Why did he create humanity in this way?” and the answer is, “To demonstrate his special care (love) for man and his desire to relate to him in an intimate way.”

Mark 12:13-17
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch hm in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance to the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Who’s portrait is this? And who’s inscription?” “Caesars.,” they replied. Then Jesus sad to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” They were amazed at him.

John 3:15-21
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the son of man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 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. For God did not send his Son into the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Please take note of how many times the words ‘everyone’ and ‘whoever’ were mentioned. Six times, these words scream that Jesus freely climbed that hill, carrying his own cross for each and every person that has taken a breath. The Bible does not teach that Jesus had a pre-arrangement with God specifying his blood was only for a particular group, race, sexual-orientation, gender, etc. The blood of Jesus covers all sin, washes white as snow, and transforms us to our original creation, from glory to glory.

Luke 10:27
He answered, “Love the Lord God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”

What does it mean to be a Christian? It’s very simple. It means to be Christ-like. This is something I have to work on daily. Do I fail? Many times. Do I need his grace and mercy each moment of each day? Without a doubt. Because I fail him, does that mean I don’t belong to him? No way, Hosea… I am WHOSOEVER. You are WHOSOEVER. When I write and read this, it brings tears to my eyes. My sin did not knock me out of this category. Your sin does not prevent you from claiming that marvelous gift so freely given to us so many years ago at Golgotha.

You and I are created in God’s image and we must render unto God what is his. We must give our lives to Jesus, grow in him daily, and strive to be as Christ-like as possible. The one thing we must all accept and know in our hearts is that God don’t make no junk!!!

Amy Duncan

Much Love
Amy Duncan

Amy Duncan was raised in a conservative Christian home, being one of two children of Reverend Grant and Shelia Duncan. She and her sister were on the stage singing as soon as they were old enough to hold a microphone. This legacy continues to be passed on through Amy to her three sons.

A former member of the ‘Riders, Amy continues to sing and has also taken on several speaking engagements. She continues her ministry through writing articles, speaking at revivals, conferences, and one-on-one counseling.  She has recently signed with Green Family Ministry Promotions and will be sharing the love of Christ wherever the doors may open.

Amy has also signed with Holland Management Productions (HMP) as a model. Understanding that beauty is not standard, it is Amy’s desire to express to women that we are all created in the image of God and are beautiful in his sight.

More on Amy Duncan HERE.

Amy Duncan is Laughing

Amy Duncan is Laughing

Genesis 18: 1-15 (NIV)
The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat so you can be refreshed and then go on your way – now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” So Abraham hurried into the tent with Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and kneed it and bake some bread.” The he ran to the heard and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and sat these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. “Where is your wife, Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent” he said. Then the Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she though, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I’m old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

I have been so guilty of having Sarah’s limited point of view and trying to make decisions based on my circumstances. Being so close and intermingled in situations have prevented me from trusting in the unseen, mighty hand of God.

Faith can be hard. It can be extremely difficult when you do not know how something can possibly turn out for the good. If you are anything like me, you have had many thoughts like, “Will God do that for me? I mean, I know he did it for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and so many more during the days of the Bible. I also know he has done things for mom, dad, and so many others. But, will he actually do something for me?”

Again, let me just reiterate, faith can be hard. As a woman, I cannot imagine what Sarah thought when she heard the news regarding Isaac. I very well may have laughed, as well, if I heard I would be having a child at the age of 90. Looking at the entire truth of Abraham and Sarah, we find Sarah still had lingering doubt. This is proven through her actions. Genesis, chapter 15, teaches that God had already promised Abraham decedents that would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

However, apparently, Sarah felt she needed to “help” God with his promise; therefore, she gave her servant to Abraham that he may have heirs. And, guess what? Her actions caused so much hatred, anger, jealousy, and heartache.

Sarah’s intentions were good. However, if she would have trusted in God and believed his word, so much negative may very well have been avoided. Can you relate to wanting to know what will happen next? Do you ask yourself, “How will this problem be fixed? Does God really care about me and my situation? Am I important enough to God that he will intervene? Does God really know what is going on in my life and how I really feel?”

If you are breathing, I think it is safe for me to say you have asked yourself these questions. I have asked these questions many times and each time I have been reminded that God has a specific purpose for me. God is not a man, neither the son of man that he should repent. What he says will be, will be…..and that’s a fact, Jack!

I am so very thankful that we only need faith the size of a mustard seed. God’s love for me and you is not conditional on our belief. It is who he is. My God loves me even when I can’t love myself. And, he reminds me very often that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God created me, Amy Duncan, exactly the way he wanted Amy Duncan to be. He gave me specific talents for Amy. He gave me a specific voice for Amy. He gave me specific physical characteristics for Amy. He gave me a specific personality for Amy.

God made me, he sustains me, and he will provide for me. He loves me, he cares for me, and he extends great mercy and grace for me. As my mother often tells me, “God can see further than the end of my nose.” When my vision is limited and my faith is weak, just like Sarah’s, I can still trust that God is the God of all things, including the things that are important to me.

Psalm 139: 13-16 (NIV)
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Jeremiah 29: 11 (NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

So, as for me, I will pray God will help me to continue to laugh, but laugh with joy and not with doubt. For my God is able to provide all of my needs according to his riches. I am loved beyond all measure, beyond belief, and beyond understanding. And, I am so glad I can say, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.”

Amy Duncan

Much love and may God richly and abundantly bless you.

By Amy Duncan

Amy Duncan was raised in a conservative Christian home, being one of two children of Reverend Grant and Shelia Duncan. She and her sister were on the stage singing as soon as they were old enough to hold a microphone. This legacy continues to be passed on through Amy to her three sons.  

A former member of the ‘Riders, Amy continues to sing and has also taken on several speaking engagements. She continues her ministry through writing articles, speaking at revivals, conferences, and one-on-one counseling.  She has recently signed with Green Family Ministry Promotions and will be sharing the love of Christ wherever the doors may open.  

Amy has also signed with Holland Management Productions (HMP) as a model. Understanding that beauty is not standard, it is Amy’s desire to express to women that we are all created in the image of God and are beautiful in his sight.  

More on Amy Duncan HERE.

Amy Duncan: Am I good enough?

Amy Duncan

Amy Duncan: Am I Good Enough?Absolutely Not!

God has many names that have been called upon for thousands of years. Elohay Selichot, the God Who is Ready to Forgive, is one of the names that we all can call him with such great meaning and awe. We all will reach a point in our lives when we must make a decision. Do we choose to accept the love that has been freely offered, or do we turn our back on the truth of the Cross?

If we wait until we change our lives, we will never make the right choice. We are not strong enough, good enough, or powerful enough to forgive our sins and make us righteous in the sight of God. Only the blood of Jesus Christ has the power to save and cleanse from all unrighteousness.

We can easily look at the life of Saul. He was an educated man, Roman citizen, and very respected in his culture by the Roman authorities at that time. He was responsible for the torture and murder of many early Christians.

However, the life of Saul was completely changed, and his path in life was altered, on the road to Damascus when the light of Christ blinded him in order to make him see truth. He then became ‘Paul’ and a dedicated man of God.

Elohay Selichot, the God Who is Ready to Forgive, took what the devil intended to use as harm, and turned it to good. He changed a murderer into a martyr. God took one of the darkest hearts of all time and used it’s voice to proclaim the gospel of Christ. Our God is mighty to save.

One can also look at the history of the children of Israel. Nehemiah 9:17 (NIV) states the following:

“They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them.  They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery.  But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore, you did not desert them.”

The children of Israel had a very long history and track record of hard hearts, poor memories, stubbornness, and rebellion. There was actually a time when they wanted to return to Egypt even after they saw the plagues, including the Angel of Death, and the hand of God wipe out the Egyptian army in a matter of minutes.

But God is a God of unconditional love. He is extremely patient. Jesus did not die for the “good man,” but for the “ungodly man,” which we all were at one time. Romans 5:6-8 (NIV) says the following:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were all still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Jesus came to provide salvation not because we deserved this phenomenal gift, but because of his phenomenal love for each and every person upon this earth.

The Bible teaches us that through Adam we are sinful. But, by the sweet blood of Jesus, we become children of God. Through his blood, we are no longer ruined but rescued; no longer in sin, but made righteous in the sight of God; no longer bound to death, but have eternal life; and, we are no longer under the judgement of the law, but we are delivered due to his grace and mercy.

We must never forget that Jesus can bless a mess. He can take a cracked pot and allow his love to shine through the brokenness in order to prove his amazing faithfulness. He can take the worst among us and make them a mighty warrior in the awesome army of God. One’s past does not determine the goodness of God.

 We can never be bad enough to make God not love us. The conviction of the Holy Spirit can reach into any home, any gutter, any church, and any jail cell. God can take our most atrocious acts and use them to bring glory to him. He can turn the darkest of hearts into the brightest star.

So, are you and I good enough to deserve the love of the Most High? Absolutely not! But the good news is we don’t have to be. God’s love is enough.

Amy Oxenrider

Psalm 36:7 (NIV) “How precious is your unfailing love!  Both high and low among men fined refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Much Love, Amy Duncan

Amy Duncan was raised in a conservative Christian home, being one of two children of Reverend Grant and Shelia Duncan. She and her sister were on the stage singing as soon as they were old enough to hold a microphone. This legacy continues to be passed on through Amy to her three sons.  

A former member of the ‘Riders, Amy continues to sing and has also taken on several speaking engagements. She continues her ministry through writing articles, speaking at revivals, conferences, and one-on-one counseling.  She has recently signed with Green Family Ministry Promotions and will be sharing the love of Christ wherever the doors may open.  

Amy has also signed with Holland Management Productions (HMP) as a model. Understanding that beauty is not standard, it is Amy’s desire to express to women that we are all created in the image of God and are beautiful in his sight.  

More on Amy Duncan HERE.