Jesus has the same question for every person: “Do you know me personally, or do you just know ABOUT me?”

“…Many will come to me in that day and say ‘’’’did we not prophesy in your name””…and I will say “”Depart from me, I never ‘KNNEEEEEW’ you.’’’’ – Mat 7:21-23

No event EVER takes place that isn’t ‘first cleared’ by God!

 God never says:

“What now?”

“Well-I-be-!”

“I wasn’t expecting that”

“HOLY COW!”

“I wasn’t countn’ on that one!”

Today’s events in the world make it seem like a rough time to be a Christian. However, there have been multiple periods in the history of the Church that have been FAR MORE challenging. Our brothers and sisters in previous years have had much greater opposition to their Christian faith…so much so, that today’s events aren’t even worth comparing! Even still, there IS A PARALLEL in that if you hold to your faith in Christ, today you can experience the hostility of the world.

As Christians, we should always be conscious of how we represent ourselves, and much more importantly, how we represent Jesus. We should always be unshakeable when we speak our beliefs in His Word, but we also need to be caring and loving to those who do not believe.

This is sometimes difficult because we may be called names or insulted. But if our true desire is to show/share the goodness of God and His Saving Grace and to be Ambassadors of Christ, then we should always respond in a manner that He has given us….

God bless you,

Bryan & Wanda

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QUESTION: Why is Jesus called the ‘LILLY OF THE VALLEY’?

ANSWER: In the long-ago dry ground of Israel there was a flower called the ‘Lilly of the Valley’. This was a beautiful flower, giving a sweet-smelling fragrance and lived in areas where no other plant life could survive. 

Seeing how God is INFINITE, we only know a small portion of who He is (the portion that He has allowed us to), however, there is a point known as ‘IRRESISTIBLE GRACE’ where we actually can’t get enough of Him.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” –  Ps 34:8.

After this, a person cannot stop talking about Him. “But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” – Jer 20:9      

People can say many different names (Mohamed, Buddha, a higher-power, etc…) to reference their faith, but the fact is the fact is the fact…the only name that can offer a person salvation from an eternity of suffering in hell is JESUS!

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

When a person stands before God they will be judged for THEIR OWN sins, not the sins of another person…for example: the person standing before God will not be able to say “I reacted in this sinful way because of what this other person did”…NO…instead, the person in front of God will be held accountable only for his/her REACTION to what the other person did!