Ed Christian's World

The Trumpet Sounds…

Every Biblical Feast links up with a prophetic event, and the next event on the prophetic calendar is the Feast of Trumpets. The Trumpet, the ancient Hebrew ram’s horn, the Shofar, unlocks important prophetic keys into the days in which we live.

In Biblical times, the shofar was sounded by the priests, from the Temple in Jerusalem, to call God’s people to assemble. It’s the instrument that calls everyone in the land to turn their eyes to Jerusalem. For most of the last 2000 years, Jerusalem was in the backwaters of history. Then, in the 20th century, the world started turning its attention to Jerusalem like no other city on earth.

Jerusalem is the center of world attention because we live in the days of the Shofar and Jesus is coming to Jerusalem. The message of the Shofar is this: Prepare. Get ready to meet the Lord, for we all will stand before Him.

Turn away from what distracts you. Put away what hinders you. Lift up your eyes and set your heart on what is forever for the Lord is coming. And you live in the days of the Shofar.

Listen, I tell you a mystery We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1 Cor 15:51-52

Today, hear the sound of God’s trumpet. Put away the distractions. And live this day in light of eternity.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Focus On Your Goal…

We were walking across the sands of the plain. Grandfather said, Walk on and seek to walk a straight line.

So I kept walking as he watched. He let me walk on for a few minutes.

Stop, he yelled from the distance, Now turn around and look. I was sure I had been walking a straight line. But the footprints in the sand revealed that I had veered off to the right. Grandfather then walked to catch up to me.

Let me tell you a story, he said. There was once a king who issued a challenge to the princes of a neighboring land that whoever amoung them could, over a long journey of varying landscapes, walk in a straight line to the king’s castle would have the right to ask for his daughters hand in marriage.

The first Prince embarked on the journey, looking to his right and left to make sure he was not veering off in either direction. But, like you, despite his best efforts, the farther he journeyed, the more off course he veered.

The second prince determined to look down, to keep his eyes on his feet, making sure every footstep folowed in the same path as the footstep before it. But he too ended badly off course.

But the third prince embarked on the journey, looking neither right or left, nor down at his footsteps. And in the end, it was determined that he walked in a straight line. No one could figure out how he did it. So he told them his secret: All I did was look into the fat distance to the light on the crown of the castle tower. I didn’t look at my path or the landscape to my right and left. I just kept my eyes on that light and kept pressing forward to that light until I arrived there.

That, Grandfather said, is the secret to your walk in God. We are all to walk a straight path in God. But how does one do that over the course of a lifetime and over a long journey of changing landscapes and changing circumstances? Not by focusing on your circumstances or even on your own walk. Rather, you fix your eyes on your destination, despite your surroundings, despite the mountains and the valleys, despite the highs and the lows, despite even your own walk and footsteps. You fix your eyes on the Eternal, on Him and you press forward, always onward and closer to that goal, and you will end up there and straight will be your footprints in the sand.

Practice the secret of the third prince. In all things, in all situations, fix your eyes on your goal, on Him, and draw continually closer.

Psalm 25:15 My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Other Side…

We were sitting by the river one sunny morning when Grandfather asked, Do you remember when I told you that when you speak of your existence you must speak the Name of God?

I Am, I replied.

Yes, he said, But there is another side to it. We’ve all fallen. So when we speak of our existence, we speak of a fallen existence. But how can the Name of God be linked to that which is fallen, sinful, defiled, broken and marred? If you say, ‘I am sinful,’ you’re telling the truth, but you’re joining the sacred name I Am to sin. And if you say ‘I am unholy,’ you’re joining I Am to unholiness and defilement. You’re bearing witness against God. It could be called blasphemy, the I Am of God and the I am of man now infinitely separated from each other.

Then what’s the answer? I asked.

When Jesus died for our sins, it was I Am. It was I Am joining Himself, rejoining Himself, to our sins, to our fallen, sinful and unholy I am. It was I Am joining Himself to our sins…I Am becoming sin, I Am joining Himself to all that is not I Am, that by so doing all separations would be ended. So when you find yourself saying ‘I am condemmed,’ then look at the cross and what will you see there? You will see I Am condemmed. When you find yourself saying, ‘I am guilty,’ look at the Cross and you will see I Am guilty. When you’re hurting, you will see I Am hurting. When you’re broken and crushed, you will see I Am broken and crushed. When youre rejected, you will see I Am rejected on the cross. And when you find yourself at your end, you will see I Am at the end… I Am finished.

What happened there is a mystery… The Holy One joining His I Am to your I am, that nothing, no sin, no shame, no darkness, not even death could ever separate you from Him again. That even in those things He will be there with you. He who is I Am has joined His I Am to your I am that your I am would be joined with His I Am. This is the other side of this mystery. For after His death comes the resurrection. It is in the resurrection that we find our new I am. What is it that we find there? We find I Am alive…I Am victorious… And we find… I Am risen!!

Let your fallen I Am be finished in His death and let His risen and victorious I Am become the I Am of your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!!

Love always,

Ed

The Miraculous Life…

In Luke’s account of Jesus’s birth, it’s written that Miriam, or Mary, “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” The original Greek word used for her pondering these things is “sumballo.”

“Sumballo” not only means “to ponder” but “to meet with” and “to encounter.” For Mary, the birth of Jesus was not just an event to experience. It was a reality to be kept and encountered.

In the same way, your life doesn’t consist of your circumstances or experiences. It’s about what you take to heart, what you receive, and what you dwell on that determines and defines your life.

No matter what’s going on around you or not going on – if you take to heart the Lord’s blessings, you will live a blessed life. If you ponder and dwell on His goodness, then goodness will define and fill your life.

For whatever you take to heart and dwell on, that is what you will “meet with” and “encounter” every day of your life. For that which you dwell on, you will end up dwelling in. For what you ponder in your heart, will be your continual encounter.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8

Take time to really dwell on the Lord’s goodness and His blessings on your life. The more you dwell on it, the more you’ll dwell in it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

No Room For The In…

In several translations of the Scriptures, Isaiah 9:6-7 reads “For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor IN the Almighty God…” This demotes the nature of the child born. Any godly person can be a counselor in the Almighty God. But only One can be a counselor who IS the Almighty God.

What does the original language say? It says, Va’yikrah Sh’mo – His name shall be called, Peleh Yoaytz – Wonderful Counselor, El Gibor – Almighty God…” There’s no IN in the Hebrew. So why did they try to add an “in?” Because the prophecy is just too awesome without it. God’s ways are always too awesome to contain. However, we don’t have the right to soften them, dilute them, or to add even one small word, as small as an in.

So take the word of God as is, at full strength, no matter what, because that’s where the power is. For when it comes to His birth, there wasn’t only no room at the inn –but there’s no room for the in.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. Rev 22:18-19

Take a word from the Scripture. Take it as it is at full strength and actually live it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Spread the seed…

Imagine you’re a farmer who hired two people to sow your fields. You give them each a bag of seed of equal size. At the end of fifteen minutes, one has sown all his seed, but the other has just barely started. What are you going to do?

You’re going to give the one who has sown abundantly more seed. You’re going to resupply them quickly, give them extra, and get ready to provide them with still more. You’re going to give to the person who has sown the seed. It only makes sense.

In the same way, God calls us to do His will, to sow His Word, His will, and His blessings into this world. But if you’re not sowing, how can He give you more? Thus if you are sowing, He will give you more and more and more. So be a wise sower, and start giving this world His word, His gospel, your time, your service, your ministry, your money, your treasures, yourself. For as you give, so you shall receive – from the God who never fails to give “seed to the sower.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Cor 9:10

Start sowing abundantly. Sow the Word, sow blessings, sow to His purposes, His ministry, sow to the world. And God will sow to you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Anointing…

Exodus 29 records the consecration of Aaron for the priesthood. For him and his sons to enter their ministry, they must first enter a sacred bath. Only after that can the oil of anointing be poured out.

This is a pattern and a key. First comes the cleansing – and then the anointing. If Aaron didn’t cleanse himself, Moses couldn’t pour out on him the holy oil, and there would be no ministry to enter.

So, too, there could be no anointing of Pentecost without first the cleansing, atoning sacrifice of Jesus. First the atonement and then the Spirit. First the cleansing, and then the anointing.

If you are to do great and mighty things for the Lord, if you’re ever to fulfill your ministry and calling, then you need the anointing. Do you want to fulfill your calling? Then you must be anointed. Do you want to be anointed? Then be cleansed.

Turn away from whatever it is that would defile you. God is waiting to anoint your life with victory, abundance, and power. But first comes your cleansing – and then your anointing.

I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. Ezekiel 16:9

Today, put away that which is hindering your calling – put away that sin and rise to your calling.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Aiding and Abetting…

Satan is called “the enemy.” An enemy is one who’s against you. “An enemy” has to be the enemy of someone or something. “Enemy” is a relative word. But “the” is not a relative word. It’s objective.

Thus Satan is called “the enemy” because no matter who you are, he’s your enemy. So it’s not just that “the enemy” is the enemy of God – he’s just as much personally the enemy of you. He’s the enemy of your soul. He’s personally against everything you are in God.

Thus you have to start taking him personally. Whenever you engage in sin–that action, that thought, that indulgence – you’re not just engaging in the enemy’s domain, you’re actually aiding and abetting the enemy of your soul. You’re actually joining forces against yourself. So any and every partaking or indulgence in sin is actually an act of war against your own life.

1 Peter 2:11 says, “Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” Stop aiding and abetting the enemy. For that sin is not only that which goes against God, it’s that which goes against you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

What Is Joy…

Joy is a choice, a deliberate, conscious choice. That choice is available to us each day. Our joy isn’t controlled by others or by outward circumstances. Joy comes from a deeper place, a place of security deep inside ourselves.

Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.

Joy comes from the inner-self of a person, and is connecting with the source of life within you. It is caused by something really exceptional and satisfying. The source of joy is something or someone greatly appreciated or valued, and it is not only about oneself, but also about the contentment of those people whom you value the most.

There’s a difference between joy and happiness. But what that difference is, is difficult to definitively define. For every person who says joy is an underlying truth that good or bad circumstances can’t dictate, and happiness is rooted in circumstance, there will be others who think the opposite.

Despite the different perspectives, the idea that holds greater sway today is that happiness depends on external factors to exist.Happiness happens to us. Even though we may seek it, desire it, pursue it, etc., feeling happiness is not a choice we make.

Joy, on the other hand, is a choice purposefully made. Joy is an attitude of the heart and spirit, present inside of us as an untapped reservoir of potential.

It’s possible to feel joy in difficult times. Joy doesn’t need a smile in order to exist, although it does feels better with one. Joy can share its space with other emotions – sadness, shame or anger. Happiness can’t.

Happiness is not present in darkness and difficulty. Joy never leaves it. Joy undergirds our spirits; it brings to life peace and contentment.

Joy requires a connection. Often the connection is with other people, but it can also be with pets, creation, creativity, etc. Joy is present. In the moment. Happiness mostly just passes through.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

It’s an attitude, not a passing emotion. Remember to be kind. Remember to be loving, but most of all remember to be happy.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Message…

Every happening, great and small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.

Life is a message and very choreographed path we are lead down throughout. Most of us don’t realize the why’s and wherefore’s of our life, we just live it day to day.

Over the years I’ve searched within, explored and came up with quite a few one-liners of what my message might be:

“Pursue truths and lead others into all truths.”

“There’s no better time than to come alive now. Wake up from sleepwalking through life.”

“Life’s too short to waste it by living someone else’s dreams.”

“Get out of your own way to be who you really are, who you’re purposed to be.”

“Be the inspiring and authentic genius that I am, who loves deeply and acts with courage and conviction.”

“Help people see the masterpiece in themselves, and see the Master.”

“In the end, only Love matters, only Love remains.”

Those were just a few of them. I was exploring on the messages that were burning inside me and what I want everyone to know. Maybe at the end of my life when all is said and done, there will be just ONE overarching message over everything else. And maybe that’s for others to tell, not me.

These days, my message theme focuses more on the word freedom to free myself and set others free.

In my pursuit of wisdom and truths, I’ve learned that there’s so much ‘unlearning’ and unloading that needs to happen for us to reclaim our clarity and innate well-being that are already ours, but buried under many man-made ‘weights’ that pull us down. In our misunderstanding of the nature of who we are and how things work, we have put on more and more ‘weights’ thinking they will help us in many challenges (all of them are thoughts) in life.

I believe we’re meant to travel light. We already have all that we need. We can be free.

So, back to you. If your life is your message, what would your message be? What’s your story about?

Today is a good time for you to ponder. Just explore by writing down the thoughts that come to mind. Journal them. Be inspired by your inner wisdom and dreams. Don’t give up dreaming!

Life ends when you stop dreaming, hope ends when you stop believing and love ends when you stop caring. So dream hope and love…Makes Life Beautiful!

Give it some thought and send me your thoughts on what life means to you. I may use your comments as an idea for another post.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed