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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: 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.

Easter: The Greatest Event for Mankind by David Staton

Good Friday. Celebrate the Risen Savior with David Staton

Can You Handle It? by David Staton

Easter: The Greatest Event for Mankind

There are key events that happened in scripture that are staples for those who follow Christ. Christmas is a big one. Scripture says that Jesus was conceived supernaturally and born through a virgin girl. While most Christ followers believe this, it is still debated and argued by those who refuse to believe that Jesus was God in the flesh.

The many miracles that Jesus performed were witnessed by hundreds of people, many of which wrote about what they saw. Despite the strong historical evidence of these events, many dismiss, deny, or try to explain them away.

The deity of Christ has always been disputed and attempted to be disproven. Ask any politician or public figure who has ever made a false claim, and they will tell you that you are asking for a huge magnifying glass to be placed over your life by those who want to prove you wrong.

Before Jesus was ever born, it had been prophesied and Mary let it be known that her firstborn Son would be the long-awaited Messiah. With such a claim, you know that every day in the life of Jesus was scrutinized and examined by those who were just waiting to prove that Mary’s story was a lie.

Then after He predicted His own death, Jesus faced the cross. If you are the harshest skeptic, you could say that Jesus was not the first and certainly not the last religious leader to lay down their life for their cause. If you want to ignore the earth becoming dark in the middle of the day, the earthquake, the veil in the temple being torn from top to bottom, and dead people walking out of their tombs, then I guess you can debate the purpose and the epic battle that took place at Calvary.

You can ignore, argue, debate, dismiss and deny all of these things, but there is one thing that forces each one of us to face the glorious reality of who Jesus is, and that is the empty tomb.

Because Jesus had said that He would rise from the dead, all eyes were on that tomb. The Romans sealed it and guarded it with their lives. On that Sunday morning, when the immovable stone was rolled away, and what seemed impossible became possible, it had to have set off the greatest search for a body that the world has ever known. Finding the body of Jesus would have done what they thought they had accomplished with the cross. It would have killed any thought that Jesus was the Son of God.

The body of Christ was in fact found, but not by those who were looking for a corpse. The body of Christ was found by over 500 people, but they found that body very much alive. That is why we celebrate Easter. That is what proves every word that Jesus ever said, explains every miracle He ever performed, and opens our eyes to the meaning of the cross. That empty tomb is what drives us to our knees and brings us to our feet when we hear the name above all names, Jesus.  

He is alive.

Photographs courtesy of David Staton.

David Staton

By David Staton

First published by SGNScoops Magazine in April 2017

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Jesus Christ: A Life for Love

Would you drive 1,000 miles to have dinner with a complete stranger? Could you spare 72 hours of your time to help someone in need? Would you risk your life in an attempt to rescue an individual who sought to murder you?

While these complex scenarios may sound somewhat outrageous, they truly pale in comparison to the sacrifice Jesus Christ made to show his love toward us. Jesus gave his life for every single person on this planet. Why did he go to such lengths? He gave his life for love.

When I think about love, I am reminded of the unconditional love my Dad has for me. He would do anything to ensure my safety and contentment.

Additionally, I think of the times I have spent with family and friends, enjoying fellowship together. I even recall the special unexpected gifts I have been given from friends all around the world. Small tokens of their love for me, yet they are items I will treasure always.

Every day, we constantly strive to show our love toward one another, with the ultimate hope that we will be loved in return. Yet with all of our loving gestures bestowed upon family and friends, we cannot even begin to scratch the surface of the love of Jesus Christ.

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Cross and Crown Music Signs Southern Salvation

Cross and Crown Music has a rich heritage in Gospel music, working with a long list of Gospels greatest artists. Southern Salvation, the newest addition to their family, has its own rich heritage to use as a foundation on their path to excellence. The name Hess has long been associated with musical excellence and ground breaking groups in Southern Gospel music. Steve Hess, nephew of legendary Hall of Famer Jake Hess, and the rest of Southern Salvation are showing that this rich tradition will continue. Joining Steve are Sean Link and Judd Suker.

www.southernsalvation.com or check them out at www.crossandcrownmusic.com