Archive | May, 2021

Humanity – Thankfulness

8 May

Humanity – Thankfulness. ..

When we are thankful, it means that we have been impressed with a sense of kindness that has been expressed toward us, and we desire to acknowledge it. God created us in His image and taught us to love, be kind and to share our blessings with one another.

Thankfulness is the actual expression of our gratitude and acknowledgment of the kindness done to us. Thankfulness is also a state of mind, an attitude. It is a content and positive perspective, which does not focus on what one does not have, but rather values what one does have, no matter how basic.

Being thankful is part of being content. Unfortunately, many people feel that being content means that they have to give up on their dreams and goals. It does not. Like thankfulness, contentment is a state of mind. God wants us to be content with and thankful for what we have been given. That does not mean that we cannot want better and work to make our situations better, but it does mean that we should not approach our proper desire for more with a greedy, covetous attitude.

Nor can we compare what others have and what we may not have from an attitude that we deserve the same or even better. Maybe we do deserve it, but right now God has chosen not to give it to us, and we must be content with that and thankful for what we have been given.

How thankful and content we are can be seen in the illustration of water in a glass. Is the glass half-full or half-empty? Our answer depends on and reveals our state of mind: for a pessimist half-empty or optimist half full or as a general litmus test to simply determine an individual’s worldview. 

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

It is God’s will for us to be thankful because He knows that it is good for us to have an attitude of thankfulness towards Him. When we have a thankful attitude and an attitude of appreciation for Him and what He does for us, it does not leave much room for ingratitude in our lives.

In Psalm 8:3-6, we can see ourselves in perspective to God’s creation:

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man, that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. . . .

God has given us—humanity—dominion over the things that He has created. And beyond that, out of all humanity, we have been given a tremendous responsibility to develop righteous character and have the potential of living eternally in His Kingdom. This thought alone should help us to be thankful each day.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed.

Status

Get Into Your Chrysalas

8 May

Get Into Your Chrysalas…

There’s a beautiful little miracle in nature, that of the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The caterpillar climbs a tree and hangs itself by a silk thread.

The creature dies as a caterpillar, as an earthbound creature. Its outside hardens. It becomes like a mummy, a shell, a sort of tomb. The shell is called the ‘chrysalis.’ It’s in this chrysalis that the worm-like creatures dies. It’s from this chrysalis, that a new creature, winged and beautiful emerges.

How do you change from an earthbound creature, into a heavenly one? The chrysalis is the place where you die to self, flesh, ego, reputation and selfish desires, where you surrender your will for God’s, where you let go and let God.

It’s a place of death to the old self – but really, it’s a place of life. For it’s from that place of your dying to self, out of that chrysalis, that the beautiful and heavenly being you were meant to be emerges.

Find your chrysalis today, that sacred place of dying, so you can live, be beautiful, spread your wings and soar in the heavenlies.

There’s a beautiful little miracle in nature, that of the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24

Take a moment to think about what in your life still needs to be surrendered to God. Today, take a step forward and surrender in the new, to become that beautiful person you were created to be.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Status

Manna

7 May

Manna…

Shakespeare wrote some of the most poetic verses in the English language. However, if you translate those passages into French, German or Russian, they lose their rhythm and poetic beauty.

This holds true for most of what the world calls the sacred writings. Most followers of Islamic, Hindu or Buddhist writings tend not to be in a hurry to see these writings translated.

Yet there’s one Book which stands alone in human history as the most translated of books, the Bible. No matter what language the Bible is translated into, it still retains its power, beauty, resonance, and its ability to touch the deepest part of man’s heart and change the darkest lives.

The Bible stands alone in human history as the most translatable Book because the Bible is the Word of God. It must go to all people. There are a few languages into which it hasn’t yet been translated, the language of your loved ones, co-workers, and unbelievers.

It’s your job to do this translation. Translate His love, joy, mercy, compassion, His presence, into a language they can understand. The next translation must come through you.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

Seek to translate the Bible today for unsaved people – translate the Word into action and life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Status

The Kingdom of Broken Crosses

6 May

The Kingdom of Broken Crosses…

What made Adolf Hitler — Adolf Hitler? How does a man become a monster? Well, if you looked at Hitler’s childhood you found out that he had a very stern, and at times brutal father. Hitler’s father would regularly thrash him.

The boy grew up with a vendetta against his father. And it’s not hard, from that, to go to hating others, even entire peoples. So on one hand, it makes sense – cause and effect.

But, on the other hand, there have been many others in history who have likewise been thrashed by their fathers and who didn’t grow up to be monsters. How?

They chose not to be defined by the bad, but by the good, not by the abuse of their childhood, but by the grace of their salvation.

Don’t be like Hitler. Be like Paul. He chose to define his life, not by his past, not by his circumstance, but by the grace of God.

You are not a victim of your past. You are a recipient; if you choose, of the grace of God. You do the same. And you’ll end up like the Apostle Paul, and not like Adolf Hitler.

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15

Seek today not to be defined by your circumstances, but instead to define them by the power of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Forgiveness Is Important

6 May

Forgiveness Is Important…

In my post “Do We Complicate Christianity” I touched on forgive and forget writing:

Jesus taught us how to love and to forgive and forget. Yet so many Christian’s have a problem over the forgetting part. They have no concern over the forgiving, but insist on keeping the burden and stress of the problem with them; they just can’t forget. As Christian’s we should, like God, wipe the slate clean, purge our minds of the problem and continue living a loving life.

Why is this so important to God and for us? Today I will touch on the reasons I learned from my Grandfather and hopefully help you understand the importance.

The phrase “forgive and forget” is not found in the Bible. However, there are numerous scriptures commanding us to “forgive one another”. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you Matthew 6:14; Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:14-15. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 2 John 1:8. Forgiveness is a decision of the will.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Since God commands us to forgive, we must make a conscious choice to forgive. This frees us from the past. The offender may not desire forgiveness and may not change. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44. Ideally, the offender will seek reconciliation, but if not, we should still make known our decision to forgive.

In one sense, it is impossible to truly forget sins that have been committed against us. We cannot selectively “delete” events from our memory. The Bible states that God does not “remember” our wickedness. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:12. God is all-knowing. God knows that we have “sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

However, having forgiven us, He treats us as if the sin had not occurred. If we belong to Him through faith in Christ, God does not hold our sins against us. In that sense we must “forgive and forget.”

When we forgive someone, we must act as if that sin had never occurred. We remember the sin, but we live as if we did not remember it. Ephesians 4:32 tells us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

I am not saying it will be easy, but, if when you forgive and ‘wipe’ the sin into the past, time will heal your wounds and the memory of it will fade away. Grandfather probably said it best:

“When you carry all those hurts with you, you are adding a great burden on your shoulders. Not only are you keeping the hurt alive in your mind to dig at you every time you think of it, you are also giving the offending person the glory over and over for hurting you. That means every time you remember it, the person who worked so hard to hurt you, just hurt you again.”

To me this is a win-win situation, you forgive to release the hurt and forget to get it completely behind you. This is the love Jesus talks about when he said to love your neighbor as I have loved you.

There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.

I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I know, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps. It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.

I think it’s important to remember that we are all human and prone to make mistakes. Holding people to unreasonable standards will only create more unnecessary conflicts in your world and negativity within you.

Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting. You can’t forgive without loving. And I don’t mean sentimentality. I don’t mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, ‘I forgive. I’m finished with it.’

It’s also important to remember this to avoid falling into the pretty useless habit of beating yourself up over mistakes that you have made. And instead be able to see with clarity where you went wrong and what you can learn from your mistake. And then try again. Without forgiveness life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.

Most importantly see the good in people and help them. I try to look only to the good qualities of people. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others. Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow-men. I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.

So where do you stand on forgive and forget? Can you put it behind you? Your happiness just may depend on your answer.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Status

Longing For Moses

5 May

Longing For Moses…

The book of Joshua begins, ‘Moses, My servant, is dead.’ Did you ever wonder why God had to tell Joshua that in the first place?

It was through Moses that some of the most glorious events took place: the judgments of Egypt, the Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Ten Commandments.

It would be easy for the children of Israel, even for Joshua to long for the days of Moses. So by telling Joshua that Moses was dead, God was saying this: ‘Don’t long for the days of Moses. I am alive and I am with you.’

So you were once strong or beautiful or you had all the time in the world. And now that’s all gone. Who cares? Not God. That’s all in the past. And the Spirit is saying ‘Moses is dead.’ Stop looking back. Stop looking for the past. God is not there.

God is here and now. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of His presence. Now is the day of the miracles He has yet to do in your life. Now get moving. You have a Jordan to cross.

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

Today seek to not ponder or dwell on anything from the past. But seek instead to look forward to the miracles and blessings that are ahead of you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Message (5/9

4 May

The Message – Doors and Windows…

The Book of Acts records the ministry of the apostle Paul in Corinth. While Paul was in Corinth, he attempted to spread the Gospel in the synagogue there. His message was rejected.

But it turned out that there was a man named Titus Justus who lived right next door to the synagogue. Titus opened up his house to Paul and the Gospel.

From that came the Church of Corinth, one of the most important churches in world history. And it all started right next door to the place where the Gospel was rejected.

God always makes a way for His will to be accomplished. He always makes a way for His purposes, His glory, and the victory of His people. So, too, for you.

The Bible never promises an obstacle-free walk or a problem-free life. You will have problems and obstacles and closed doors. But don’t let them stop you.

For when God closes a door, he opens a window. When God closes a synagogue door, he opens the Church of Corinth next door. Keep going, and you may find that the victory you thought was gone, was right there under your nose… next door.

Make the effort to reach out to your next door neighbor and share your faith; i.e., It’s the least thing you can do to “love your neighbor.”

Reference: Acts 18

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Status

The Lots Of Prophecy

4 May

The Lots Of Prophecy…

When Jesus was dying on the cross, the Roman soldiers cast lots for His clothing. Why was there gambling at this holy scene? Lots and gambling depend on random events, chance.

People often wonder if that’s what life is, the casting of the lot with no particular purpose or meaning. And with Jesus dying, the disciples must have wondered in the same way.

In the twenty-second Psalm, David had prophesied of the entire event, the Son of God being pierced and dying before his enemies. Even the casting of the lots was prophesied.

In your own life, there are things that happen that don’t make sense, even tragedies. There are times when it looks as if God’s purposes have failed and hope is gone. There are times when you say, ‘Why God?’

But whenever it looks that way, remember the crucifixion and the lots. It looked worse then. It was not out of control, not random, and not by chance.

For even the lots fulfilled God’s prophecy. In the end, it’s God’s will, God’s purpose, and God’s word, that prevails. For your life is sealed not by the roll of the dice; but by the blood of Jesus.

So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. Luke 23:24

Is there something in your life that doesn’t make sense or you’re not at peace with? Today cast it, and any burden upon the Lord.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Status

The Secret Of Evangelism

3 May

The Secret Of Evangelism…

John Eliot had just graduated from Cambridge University and had arrived in Boston. The year was 1631. He immediately noticed that the English so-called Christians were treating the Indians in a less than Christian way.

They probably viewed the Algonquins as savages. But it disturbed him. ‘With God’s help, I must do something’ he said. And he did. He converted the Algonquin language to writing, taught it to his Indian disciples, and then translated the entire Bible into the Algonquin tongue.

John Eliot’s Algonquin Bible was the first Bible ever printed in the New World and the first to be published for a people who had neither alphabet nor written language. And so, how do you treat people? You treat them as John Eliot treated the Algonquins.

You give them the Word of God; you love them. But they don’t understand it? Well… learn their language and translate God’s Word and love into the language they can understand.

It may be hard, but it’ll be worth it when they get saved. They might be savages. It’s ok. Translate His love. Translate His word. And that’s how to treat the Algonquins.

Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25

Today, seek to be a translater of God’s Word – take the Word of God – and communicate it to those who are from God – in their language, in a way that can reach them.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Status

Prophets Of Lies

2 May

Prophets Of Lies

What if your bedroom is filled with a blinding light and there at the foot of your bed you behold the most magnificent being you have ever seen. He tells you that he’s been sent from God and has a message for you:’In order to be saved you have to keep the Sabbath.’

What do you do? You uncover your face. You stand up, look him in the eyes and say, ‘Go to hell, angel. For according to God’s Word, that’s where you belong!’

The apostle Paul says it this way, “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!’ Or in other words, ‘Let him go to hell.’

The point is, when it comes to the truth of God’s Word, we need to be so pure, radical, and uncompromising. Any teaching that is contrary to this; any Gospel that is different; any sign that would lead you away; even if an angel from heaven… you have full Scriptural authority, and a holy mandate and responsibility to tell it on purely Biblical grounds… to go to hell.

Reference: Galatians 1

Take a Scripture, ponder its meaning and follow it, even stubbornly, let nothing get in the way of applying it to your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Newer Entries →