Ed Christian's World

The Wrong Card…

Once a friend and I went to a fairly nice restaurant. When the meal was over, the waitress brought over the check. I looked at it and pulled out my credit card to pay. I then discovered that instead of bringing my credit card – I had accidentally brought my library card. And the restaurant was not accepting library cards.

I tried to figure out how to get out of the situation. I could excuse myself, rush to my car, drive home, rush back – and then pay the check, or I could plead for mercy. Either way, it was embarrassing. There are many cards in this world, but library cards cannot pay for meals or purchase anything else.

So, in the same way, there are many words in this world – but only one Word of God. Your words may be nice, but the Word of God is what has true power. So seek to use the Word of God in every situation, follow it, live it, obey it, and proclaim it. The Word of God is powerful and crucial. Don’t leave home without it!

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:7,8

Access the power of the Word, use it, apply it, act on it, declare it, believe it, fight by it, and overcome by it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Giving Thanks…

In eastern thinking there’s no real distinction between God and creation—the creation is God and God is the creation. So there can be no real relationship; no giving, no receiving, no giving of thanks for having received a gift.

In eastern religion and New Age spirituality, there is really no one to give thanks to. That’s why eastern religions are not known for thanksgiving.

But the Bible is filled with thanksgiving. The people of God are called to be people of thanksgiving. Every major festival in Israel was a festival of thanksgiving. In fact thanksgiving in America is based on Sukkot, the Hebrew feast of tabernacles.

In eastern teachings, you’re told to extinguish all aspects of your individuality. But in the Bible you are told “Hodu L’Adonai ki tov, ki l’olam chasdo” which means “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.”

If you’re a child of God you can’t live a thanksgivingless life. You’ve received the greatest of gifts and your life must reflect it. So give thanks today. Because for you Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday, it’s a way of life.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalm 95:2

Today, give thanks for all things and in everything.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Lights to the world…

Before WWII, much of German culture, politics, and religious life held an underlying belief that there were two spheres of life – the religious and the secular. And that each sphere did not affect the other one.

Holiness was something that related entirely to the spiritual realm – and not the realm of this world. Faith had to do with religion and not the rest of life – certainly not the political realm. The result of all this was when Hitler rose to power, much of the church just gave in or didn’t see that it was its job to oppose him.

We often do the same thing with our lives – we keep the two realms separate – there’s the realm of our faith – and then there’s the realm of real life. But the Bible never speaks of a religious realm and a secular realm.

For if the Lord is not Lord of all – then He’s not Lord at all. So don’t let there be any such wall of separation. There is no religious or secular realm of your life. For the Lord your God is Lord of all.

I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

What is it in your life that has not been touched and transformed by the power of God? Start breaking down that wall today and let the power of God have its way.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

For His Love…

Annmarie was a young Slovak Christian imprisoned for her faith in Communist Eastern Europe. While imprisoned, her main desire was to see her torturer saved. So she spoke of the beauty and love of the Lord.

Her torturer responded with more beatings, to which she responded with more love. In every pause of his whip, she would share God’s love for him. “I’ll beat the love out of you,” he threatened.

“When you beat me,” she said, “I saw your hands and thought of how you must hold your wife with them and how blessed she must be… and how when you use those same hands to torture, it must bring pain to others in your life, and to you.”

Her continual love ended up breaking his resistance. One day he asked her how to be saved and gave his life to the Lord. He then risked his life to obtain her freedom.

If she could so love her torturer – shouldn’t you too love those who persecute you, certainly those who bother and irritate you? For the faithful and continuous love of God can turn even your torturers into saints.
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

Apply the radical, revolutionary, and totally unexpected power of love to those who have sinned against you. Surprise them with grace.

Walk daily withGod at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Genes From Heaven…

When I was 5 years old, I saw a girl extremely tall for her age, and we were the same age. My mother told me the reason she was so tall was because of her genes. I thought to myself, “Why would she be tall just because of the pants she wears. I also have jeans but I’m not as big as she is.” The point is, if your parents are tall, you’re more likely to be tall as well.

In the same way, if you’re born again, God is your Father. Thus, your spiritual characteristics come from Him. That means that who you are is not based on what you were. You become you based on your parents’ DNA. And so if your Father is heavenly, then your identity is now no longer earthly but likewise heavenly.

You’re born again to become heavenly. And if your Father is holy, then your identity is now no longer unholy, but likewise holy. Holy is what you were born again to become. And if your Father is perfect, then it’s for you now to start becoming likewise – perfect.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Today, ponder your heavenly DNA. In psalvation, you have the spiritual genes of heaven. What does that mean? Live accordingly.

Walk daily with God at your sode!

Love always,

Ed

Miracles Of The Handkerchief…

In Acts 19, the Lord chose to bring healing to the sick through the handkerchief of the apostle Paul. The Greek word for handkerchief is “soudarion.” It literally means “a sweat cloth.”

We often think of miracles as works that God does entirely apart from man. But there’s a whole realm of miracles which God does through the works, the labor, and the sweat of man – miracles through sweat cloths.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:26-27

For the Holy Spirit works not only through inspiration but also through perspiration. Some of God’s greatest miracles come through the hard work of man. The walls of Jericho came down by a miracle – but that miracle required God’s people to march.

Jesus healed a man of blindness but required him to go down to the Pool of Siloam to wash. If God can use a handkerchief to bring healing, then God certainly can use all your hard work, labors, toil, sweat, and tears for His kingdom to work miracles.

So don’t grow tired of doing good, for God will work miracles in your good works for Him, just as he did through the sweat cloth of the apostle Paul.
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

Make it your aim to live for God and do all things for God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength – with all your might and all His Spirit.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Leaving The Nest…

Proverbs 27: 8 says, ‘Like a bird wandering from its nest is a man who wanders from his place.” There are many truths in this Scripture, some for the individual, and some, much larger; true not only of men but of civilization. An entire civilization can be as a bird, wandering from its nest.

That’s exactly what’s happening in our world today. Western Civilization, as we know it, was born of a Judeo-Christian foundation or nest. Virtually everything about it was linked to that foundation – its morality, its legal system, its culture, its music, its science, and its thoughts.

But what we’re now witnessing is this same civilization rapidly departing from its biblical foundations, its nest. This is part of the prophesied “apostasy” of the last days. But we who belong to Jesus are especially joined to the foundation, to the nest.

Thus, in these last days, it’s crucial that we stand all the more strong for the Lord and that we all the more proclaim the Gospel; to call home every soul and a world which has wandered far from its foundations, like a bird from its nest.

For no one can lay any foundationf other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 3:11

Today, look for any opportunity to bring others to Jesus. Share the good news!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Signs Of The Blessing…

When I was a little boy, my Grandfather began bringing me strange gifts. First it was a dog leash. Then it was a six pack of dog food. It went on like that for some time until one day, when I was six, I came home and there waiting for me, was a little puppy. All those gifts were given to me as an encouragement, a foretaste of things to come, to keep me excited.

Now there’s no comparison between those gifts and the gift given to the first believers, except this – 2 Corinthians 1:22 tells us that the Holy Spirit is given to us as a pledge, a down payment, a guarantee, and an assurance. God gave us His Spirit as a foretaste of what lies ahead of every believer – the life of Heaven. It’s to keep you assured and excited.

So live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and move in the Spirit then all the more you’ll never lose your excitement, your hope, or your joy in the Lord. For by the Spirit, you can live a heavenly life, even now.

For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. Ephesians 5:9

Walk in the presence, the joy, and power of the Spirit. And live in expectation – it’s a taste of what’s coming – Heaven!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Miracle Of Change…

What does Scripture mean when it says that Jesus multiplied bread? In order to have bread, you need bakers. For the bakers to bake, they need to have flour. To have flour, there must be first those who grind the grain. In order to have grain, you must have the harvesters. And for the harvesters to reap, there must have first been sowers. Every loaf of bread has a history behind it.

So what does it mean that the Lord could make bread come into existence that had not existed? It means He has the power to change the past and create a new one. Every loaf of bread was there as if from a newly created past.

So the Lord not only creates the present, but the future, and the past. Through the blood of Jesus, even your past can be redeemed. It doesn’t matter what kind of past you had or have, whether a fallen past of many years or a messed up past of days. Bring it to Him just as the disciples brought Him bread. Let Him change your past. It’s as simple as multiplying bread.

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:22

Live as one who has been given a new past, a past of blessing, spotlessness, purity, and godliness. Let a changed past change your present and your future.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Bait And Switch…

There’s a deceptive sales practice called Bait and Switch. It consists of this: the seller offers a great bargain or savings. Then, when the customers come in, they try to sell them something more expensive.

Satan uses the same tactics. He will always seek to have you switch your love of God for something else. Satan will try to draw you off track and will do it by attempting to shift your focus and your affections. It happens with many believers.

They start out with zeal and passion for the Lord, but then their heart becomes misdirected. They end up doing things out of other motives: for the love of status, the love of approval, the love of a person, the love of money or comfort, or even for the love of religion and ministry; for the house of the Lord instead of the Lord of the house.

Has that happened to you? Come back to your First Love. Guard your heart and your affections. Seek to grow even more in love with God than before. God is the real deal – don’t be fooled by imitations.
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1

Take inventory. Have you in any way been moved from your first love? Turn away. And come back to the joy of your first love.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love alway,

Ed