Ed Christian's World

Maya…

The Eastern religions and new age philosophies hold to a concept called “maya.” “Maya” means that everything is basically an illusion. But that creates a problem. Because if everything’s an illusion, how could you ever know it? Then that too would be an illusion.

Without truth, how could you ever determine an illusion. If everything is an illusion, a lie, then what choice does anyone have. That’s why Eastern religion is ultimately hopeless.

On the other hand the Bible never says that reality is an illusion. Rather it declares that Truth is real. And where there is Truth, there is also falsehood. And where there is truth and falsehood, there is a choice.

So in biblical faith, everyone has a choice. Therefore God says, “Choose life.” Every moment of your life, every moment of your day, there are choices, choices between good and evil, truth and falsehood, the spirit and the flesh, the best and everything else.

Make the right choice, choose the good, choose the truth and every choice will propel you up to the next level. For Jesus is the Truth and it’s for us to choose Him, every day, every moment.

I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.  1 John 2:21

You know what to do. Make the right choices today; choose to live each moment, each day choosing the good.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Dunamis…

In Luke 10:19, Jesus says this: “I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.” But in the original Greek of the New Testament, it’s not the power of the enemy – it’s the dunamis.

Dunamis is the same word used of the Holy Spirit. So what does it reveal to us? The enemy has a dunamis, a power, of his own. And he uses his dunamis to attack you, hinder you, frustrate you, make you fall, defeat you, destroy you.

So how do you fight him? How do you overcome his dunamis? You can only overcome the dunamis of the enemy by the dunamis of God. And the dunamis of God is only found and given in the Holy Spirit.

How do you overcome the enemy’s power, His schemes against you, the temptation and pull of sin? You do it by the dunamis of the Holy Spirit. Fight your fight a new way, overcome the power of sin, by going on the offense.

Practice moving in the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh and you’ll overcome the dunamis of the enemy.

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:16

Fight the power of the enemy, the force of sin, the habits of the flesh, a new way – by the power of the Spirit.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Mighty Skeleton…

The prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of a valley of dry bones. In the vision, the wind or Spirit came upon the bones and the bones came together to form an army. The army represents the army or nation of Israel.

Now notice something, it all starts with just two ingredients, bones and the Spirit. Now bones are not known for being strong. Even if you assemble them into skeletons, you still end up with something that has no strength.

Yet these bones become something mighty, a mighty army for God. It doesn’t matter how weak you are in righteousness or self-control. What matters is the Spirit. It doesn’t matter how weak you are in the flesh or in your own strength.

The key is don’t go by your own strength, go by the Spirit. The more you move by the Spirit and not by the flesh, the more powerful you’ll become in the Lord.

It was the Spirit that made Samson strong. And it’s the Spirit that will make you mighty. For in the power of the Spirit, even skeletons become mighty.

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!’ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.  Ezekiel 37: 4-5

What area in your life do you find yourself weak or unable in. Give to the Lord, ask for His Spirit to become your strength in that area – And move in that power.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Intimate One…

Saul, the apostle Paul, was one of the most influential people who ever walked the earth. He changed the world. He changed history. He lived a practical life, a strategic life, an effective life.

But notice something else about him. He also was a man of the Spirit. He would pray and fall into a trance. He would receive supernatural words and dreams. Paul treasured being intimate with God.

That’s why he was able to do such great things. That’s why he was unstoppable and why he changed the world. Prayer is not often seen as something practical but prayer is the most practical of things.

Without prayer, everything else you do, every plan, every effort, every work, will be hindered. It will be like walking against the wind. But with prayer, everything else will fall into place.

So if you want to do great things. If you want to live an effective and powerful life… then be practical – get into God’s presence. Become a person of prayer and the Spirit. Yes, it’s supernatural – but it’s the most practical thing you can do!

The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. Luke 1:19

Take time to pray and get into the presence of God. Great things await you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Are We Doing His Will…

A friend of mine recently asked if I set spiritual goals and how did I measure them. I answered as follows:

Yes, I set spiritual goals! The only way I know how to measure them is by the peace I am given in my heart and soul, the more peace and contentment the more I am achieving my goal. I don’t know if this is what you are asking, but that is what works for me.

Reply from Larry:

I’m not sure how I make that work for me, Ed. What makes it difficult to me is that it all comes down to a relationship and I don’t know how to set goals and measure those.

Me:

Are you saying you are not sure of your relationship with God? There are no ways that I know of to measure the quality of a relationship, so how can you set goals? A relationship with God is so personal, only you can judge how well you are doing. Doing God`s will to the best of your ability, and you know if you are doing your best.

Larry:

No, I’m just saying I would love some metrics that told me what I was doing was doing some good.

So how do we know if we are doing some good, especially when it comes to God? How do I make good decisions? What does God really want from me? Does God care about every little choice I make?

The big question behind all of these questions, of course, is this: What’s God’s will for my life? Do my decisions really matter to God?

God cares about what’s going on in our hearts. In any decision we have the opportunity to choose who we will worship. Will we worship God or will we worship ourselves? God desires to be the highest priority in every part of our lives.

In some areas of life it’s clear that there are right decisions and wrong decisions—like the choice of whether to do something we know is wrong. In other areas, we need to make choices between two good things—like making a decision between two great books. It’s quite possible God would be present in and honored by either decision. Other times the choice may have to do with a gray area—something that’s not necessarily right or wrong. These are opportunities to practice wisdom. For example, spending a lot of time talking on the phone or texting friends may be a good thing. But if there’s never any time when we are just quiet and still, it can be harder for us to be aware of God’s presence. Being wise might mean turning the phone off from time to time to quiet your heart so you can be more attentive to the presence of God in everyday life.

Sometimes when we make decisions, it can seem like we’re trying to work God into our life story. But really, we are part of God’s story and God is delighted by our desire to live with that focus in mind.

How do I discover God’s will? First, you have to make sure you’re seeking to obey what God has already revealed in Scripture. This includes things like honoring your parents. That’s a clear instruction from God. It doesn’t really work to ignore God’s revealed will but yet expect God to answer specific questions like where you should go to dinner.

As you study God’s Word and spend time in prayer, your relationship with God grows and you begin to understand God’s character. You will then be in the right place to hear God’s instruction for other areas of your life. In addition to Bible study and prayer, be willing to seek godly counsel from a mentor or pastor.

If we’re serious about following God’s will, we have to recognize that it’s not about getting what we want, but doing what God asks. We must trust that He is faithful and good, and that His will is what’s best for us.

Will God ask me to do stuff I don’t want to do? God may call us to do things that don’t feel natural to us at first. But as we listen and respond to the call of God, we get connected to our deeper desires. After all, the things God calls us to do are things that he created us to do. Many of us have habits that we find comfortable or that we enjoy. In the long run, though, those things may not meet our deeper spiritual needs. For example, we may have a habit of seeking acceptance by conforming, following the crowd. This is easy and can make us feel like we are accepted, but actually this habit can prevent us from being who we really are meant to be. It’s scary to take the risk of letting your true self be known, but God calls us to do that.

What if I miss God’s will? Making a poor decision doesn’t mean we’re forever out of God’s will. That’s part of the beauty of Scripture: It has story after story of people who make bad decisions, but God still uses them mightily. Just look at Abraham and David. They both did some things that were clearly wrong, but God worked through them to accomplish great things. God can use all of our decisions, whether they’re right, wrong, or neutral.

We need to remember God is our Father. God is not here to condemn us, but to help us become more like Christ. If we are focused on Jesus, and on holiness, some of those other things will fall into place. God is not a cosmic trickster who only gives us one shot to get things right.

In summary I feel the Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you. As long as I am covered by the Grace of God I feel comfortable going where ever He guides me. Do I expect He will give me feedback? He gives me daily feedback through our daily conversations and when I do stray off the path, He always guides me back. The key is LISTENING when He is talking to you.

What do you think? Are you getting the feedback you need from God? Is there any way I can help with your goals?

Walk in daily conversation with God.

Love,

Ed

The Unmet Needs…

One of the key strategies of salesmanship is to locate an unmet need and seek to connect that unmet need with the product or thing you’re trying to sell. If they can do that – they’ve got the customer hooked.

The enemy, too, wants to sell you something. He wants to sell you sin and evil. And he does it the same way. He looks for an unmet need in your life.

A need for recognition, love, praise, a relationship, financial security, vindication, comfort. Then seeks to convince you that the only way you can get it is his way, by finding it illegitimately – in immorality, cheating, substance abuse, or just anything that isn’t the way of God. If he can convince you of that, then you’re hooked.

So what’s the key? Don’t give the enemy anything to work with. It’s the unmet need that is your weak spot. Close up the gap. Give your unmet need to God. Bring it to Him. And get it filled by Him. For when you remove the need – the salesman is out of business.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18

Bring all of your unmet needs to God today – be filled with God’s presence.. Don’t leave any gaps for the enemy to enter in.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Where Is Our Compassion…

As most of you know I spent part of my life on an Indian Reservation. What you may not realize that we were raised to respect everybody, regardless of how they believe.

My Grandfather was an elder on the council and was very much into our lives as we grew up. One of his favorite sayings was: Walk a mile in the moccasins of your rival before you pass judgment on his actions. I always found that to be sound advice.

Our Country, right now, is so divided it almost feels like we have lost all our compassion. The Right is pushing it’s values and the Left is pushing theirs. Yet no one is thinking of what is happening to our Country in it’s wake. There is no compromise, there is no bending – it is all my way or the highway attitude and guess what we are losing our Country because of it.

I served our Country for the big part of my life and am proud of it. I fought for our Constitution and all it stands for. I served to keep the freedoms we as a Country have and rights that go with it. I have seen many of my friends loose their lives fighting beside me. Yet when I mentioned I support the second ammendment a while back I was told; If you live by the sword you will die by the sword.

What has happened to our Country? Where is the compassion we used to have for each other? Why can’t we pick each other up and work together as we used to in this Country?

We are so wrapped up in our own little worlds that we forgot we are America, the greatest Country in the world, and we are great because we stand up for each other beside each other. We all need a little compassion for our fellow man and our neighbors. We all need to walk a mile in the moccasin’s of our neighbors to realize that life just may be a little harder for them. We need to be more tolerant of each other.

We need to work together to take back control of our Country and get it out of the hands of the big corporations. We need to remind everyone that we the people are America and we are what makes America strong.

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Let there be peace on earth! Courteous comments are appreciated.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Sabbath Mystery…

A mystery of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the day that the Jewish people come before the Lord. It’s their holy day. Now notice something.

The Sabbath doesn’t come at the beginning of the week – or in the middle of the week. The Sabbath comes at the end of the week. It’s the seventh day.

Just in this alone is a deep mystery – The Jewish people will come to the Lord, they will return to Him. But it will not happen at the beginning of the age, nor in the middle of the age. It will happen at the end of the age.

The Jewish people will return to God, and to their Messiah, Yeshua, at the end of the age. And when they come to the Lord, then the world will know the Sabbath. It will usher in the Age of the Sabbath, the Millennium.

So don’t be discouraged if your Jewish friends are not yet coming to Jesus. They will. And the fact that the fight is so great is because the stakes are so high. Keep witnessing. Keep praying. For when they come – the Sabbath comes.

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7

Take time to pray for the salvation of the Jewish people today and for the peace of Jerusalem.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Titanic Fact and The Tomb of Jesus…

A few years ago, the director of “The Titanic” called a press conference announcing a discovery that was supposed to shake the world and disprove the Gospel.

What was it? The discovery of the “real tomb” of Jesus, full of the bones of Jesus and his family. The media swarmed around it.

It turned out that it was all based on the fact that there seemed to be an inscription reading, “Yeshua bar Yosef,” or “Jesus son of Joseph.” Israeli archaeologists scoffed at the “revelation.”

The fact is “Yeshua” and “Yosef” were among the most common names in first-century Judea. It would be as ludicrous as going through the records of everyone born in an American city named “Joe” with a son named “John” – and concluding that they all had to be the same person.

The claims were dismissed and this “titanic theory,” promoted by the director of “The Titanic,” hit its iceberg and promptly sank. It was just the latest of two thousand years of attacks against the resurrection.

The attack failed. The resurrection stands. And nothing will overcome it or the one who walks in it.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John16:33

Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might – Take on the day and all its challenges with confidence in your Messiah who overcame the world.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Fall Of The Ottoman Empire…

The land of Israel had been under the rule of the Islamic Ottoman Empire for four centuries. But being Muslim, the empire was hardly sympathetic with the idea of the Jewish people returning to the land of Israel.

Yet the Bible said it would happen. So what happened? The First World War happened. And because of a series of geopolitical factors, the Ottoman Turkish Empire became involved in the conflict and sided with Germany against the British Empire.

Because of that war, the great and many-centuries old Ottoman Empire, suddenly collapsed. The British entered Jerusalem and granted the Jewish people the right to return to their homeland. The words of the ancient Hebrew prophecies were fulfilled.

Think about that. God allowed a whirlwind of history to cause the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, in order to be faithful to His people and to fulfill His promise.

That same God will work all things together, even the entire world, and every event of human history, for your good and to fulfill the promise of your life.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Take account of the things in your life which didn’t seem good at the time – but from which God brought good – Take time to thank Him.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed