Ed Christian's World

Heaven and Earth As One…

The Feast of Tabernacles is a beautiful and even mystical feast. For it celebrated two things at once. They would celebrate God’s faithfulness to them in the wilderness while living in the Promised Land.

The tabernacle in which they camped out represented the wilderness, and yet it was made of branches of fruits from the Promised Land. It was a joining together of the wilderness and the Promised Land.

This is a profound thing. For the Promised Land represents to God’s children the Kingdom of Heaven. And the wilderness, or the journey to get there, represents this life right now. So the Feast of Tabernacles reveals a rarely understood truth….

For the child of God, Heaven and earth are joined. What does it mean? It means, though you journey on earth, your journey is not to be of earth. It’s to be of Heaven. For it is written that even now, you are to dwell in the Heavenlies. And you can only do that if Heaven is here and now.

Learn to see Heaven in the midst of your life today, walk Heavenly, live Heavenly. For where the Lord and His camp is… there is Heaven.

 On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’” Leviticus 23:40-43

Think about one situation where God has brought you out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land – and celebrate.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Butterflies Rage…

Alright, you’re not really satisfied with your walk, not real happy with the way you act. You’re sick and tired of living less than joyous, less than holy, less than consistent, and less than victorious.

It’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. The sin isn’t good, nor is the defeat. What’s good is that you’re not content with it. Suppose you spent your life something like a worm, crawling around, eating dirt.

You’re doing all this, but you’re not happy with crawling, and you don’t even like dirt. It means you’re not a worm. If you were, you would have no problem with it; you’d enjoy it. If you’re not content with it, it points to something else.

Are you not content with your present life, or that sin, that compromise, that failure? Good. Because you’re not a worm. You’re a butterfly. You’re not of this world. You’re born from above.

You’re a beloved child of God. That raging discontent in your spirit is that of the new self: victorious, waiting to break free. So be discontented, but be encouraged and rage through to victory. Your very struggle is proof of your heavenly call.

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1

Look now at that thing in your life that doesn’t line up with where you want to be in your walk with the Lord. Break it open and break through to your calling.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Faithful In All Things – Without Hesitation…

The Emancipation Proclamation officially abolished slavery in the South. It was brought to Abraham Lincoln’s desk on January 1, 1863. Lincoln picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and unrolled the document. He was about to sign it when he hesitated.

He laid down his pen and did nothing for several minutes. His hand was tired, and he was afraid it might tremble as he signed the document and that his trembling would cause people to think that he hesitated in signing what would be the greatest act of his life. After resting his hand a few minutes, Lincoln again picked up his pen and wrote with a firm hand, “Abraham Lincoln.”

One of the secrets of living a life of greatness is not only doing what’s right, but doing what’s right with all your heart, without hesitation, or wavering.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God  who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, Deuteronomy 7:9

The Bible tells us to do all things wholeheartedly. Therefore, whatever you can’t do with your whole heart – stop doing it. But, on the other hand, if something is right, then do it with all your heart, without hesitation or wavering and like Abraham Lincoln, with a very firm hand.

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; considerwhat great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

Today, do what’s right in the sight of God with all your heart, all out, with full assurance, and without any hesitation.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Temptation of Jesus…

What is the nature of the devil? The English word “devil” comes from the Greek word “diabolos” which comes from two Greek words: “dia” which means “against,” and “bolos” which means “to cast.”

Together you get “to cast against” – “diabolos” – devil. This is the primary nature of the devil, to cast against. What does he cast? Words… thoughts…. notions; not performing scary special effects, but rather to slander, to defame, to libel, to charge, to impute, to accuse.

If this is the very nature of satan, how much more must you, as a child of God, stay away from anything that remotely resembles it? Your nature must be the opposite. You must not only have anything to do with the enemy’s nature, but actively oppose, undo, and overturn it.

Have nothing to do with gossip or slander. They cannot proceed from your mouth, nor can they enter your ears. You cannot receive them. You must actively oppose such words by stopping them in others and undoing them with words of life.

Renounce all gossip from your lips and ears, and fight the devil with words of love. Anything less… is diabolical.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Fight the good fight of faith today, take the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God–undo the enemy’s words with the Lord’s.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Mystery Of The Scapegoat People…

A scapegoat is someone you blame for your problems, someone you cast your sins upon. Of all the peoples in history, one stands above all for being the scapegoat of the nations… the Jewish people.

From ancient times to our day, the Jews have been the most accused and vilified of peoples. Israel is the scapegoat nation. For this is the same nation that God linked to the scapegoat three thousand years before.

Only the Jews have Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which involves placing sins on the goat’s head, who then escapes carrying the iniquities of the nation. Jesus is the King of the scapegoat nation who took the sins of all upon Himself and carried them away.

If you belong to Jesus, you too must be a little scapegoat called to bear the burdens, iniquities, even the unjust treatment of others, and love them in return. The Lord, your Scapegoat, bore your burdens to bring you salvation, so you are called to be a little scapegoat, to bear the burdens of those around you, so you might also bring them salvation.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Purposely ask those around you how they’re doing today; and if they start to unload the burdens of their heart, use it as an opportunity to bare their burdens and share the love of God with them.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Shadowing The Snow Plow…

A friend of mine lived in upstate New York. When winter came, the snowfall would become so great that he couldn’t continue driving. He’d pull over and wait until a snow plow came. As soon as the snow plow passed him, he would pull out his car and follow it for as long as he could.

The Lord taught him something through the snow plow. When you try to proceed in the Lord, you often encounter resistance. There’s a spiritual opposition that will throw anything it can to slow you down, discourage you, make you stop, and give up. It’s like a blizzard blocking up your path.

What you have to do is pray. Prayer is like a spiritual snow plow. Without being in touch with God, you’ll end up stuck in your tracks. Prayer is like a plow that clears away the spiritual obstacles so you can move unhindered.

Are you encountering obstacles? Did you pray about it or complain instead? Replace complaint, fear, discouragement, anger with prayer. Go for the spiritual snow plow and you won’t have to spin your wheels on the side of the road.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

What problem in your life have you been concerned about? Convert your worry into prayer.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Who Was I?…

An old man stands in the desert before a burning bush and the voice of God calls him to a great mission. Moses answered the call of God by saying, “”Who am I, that I, should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”” Then Moses gives further objections: “”They won’t believe me,… I have trouble speaking…””

What’s the obstacle stopping Moses from being the deliverer he was called to be? Moses’ biggest obstacle- is Moses. Moses’ response sounds humble and holy, but it’s not. Moses is all wrapped up in Moses instead of God.

Many of you are called by God. You’ve also seen that calling hindered and you think the problem is your situation or other people. That’s not the issue. No one can stop you from your calling being fulfilled but you.

Every time God called a prophet, the biggest obstacle was never anything other than the man himself. Moses’ first mission was to get Moses out of the way.

You do the same. Lose your smallness in the greatness of God. It all starts when you get Moses out of the way.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Today, try not to give God any excuses of why you’re not doing what He has called you to do. Step asides, get out of your own way and let God do it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Mission World…

Who was the first missionary? Who was the first one to leave home for the foreign mission field? Paul? Silas? Barnabas? Philip? Peter? No. It was Jesus.

Jesus left His home, Heaven, to come to the distant shores of a foreign land… the planet earth. All missions are reenactments and manifestations of the incarnation of Jesus leaving Heaven because of God’s love and entering this world.

If Jesus is the first missionary, then this world is the first and primary mission field. But if earth is your home, how can it be your mission field? If you’re born again, then earth is not your home. You’re born from above. Your home is heaven.

You see, this world is either your home or your mission field. If you’re not saved, it’s your home. If you’re saved then it’s not your home, it’s your mission field. So why on earth are you on earth?

To hang out, get rich, expect from and take from the world? No. You’re on earth to be a blessing, a light. To show forth God’s love and spread forth His salvation. Get moving. You’re already in the mission field.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60:1-3

Remember what your mission on earth is today. Go out and show the lost the way to God’s house – a more permanent home – it’s called Heaven.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Vigilant Against Complacency – Between Heaven And Earth…

Grandfather was one who always had the answer to my questions, no matter how trivial they were. I remember one time I asked what is between heaven and earth, what holds us together?

He looked at me and pondered on how to answer the question, then opened up and started talking.

LOVE is what holds earth to heaven and it is our job to keep LOVE alive and well so there will always be a connection between the two! Then he sat back, smiled and waited for me to respond.

Ok I said, I know our greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves but I never gave it any thought that love is what holds us to heaven. Then I sat back and thought more about what he said for a few minutes then smiled at him and added. It is the fulfillment of the law and overcomes all other laws.

 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10

Grandfather sat back, smiled at me then said you have found your answer. Without love we fail His law for He is love. Without Him we don’t exist. As Christians we are to keep LOVE alive and shine our lights to lead others to Him. That love is the connection between heaven and earth.

Now, I have to admit Grandfather always challenged me to think and his answer did catch me off guard, but it also forced me to think about the lessons he has taught me over the years. Many times we, as Christians, fail to realize the commitment we made to God when we accepted Jesus as our savior.

We committed to live by His laws and to share His love with our neighbors. As hard that it is, He has promised to be there with us along the way. He is patient and caring, forgiving us when we falter, always guiding us back on the correct path. He asks so little, why is it so hard for us to love each other? Why is it so easy to find fault with others rather than to see the good?

The answer just could be it is easier to see the faults of other than it is to admit we have some, if not all the same faults. It’s easier to turn our backs than it is to offer a hand up. It’s easier because we, as Christians, chose to take the easy way rather than step up and set the example. We, as a whole, have become lazy and complacent!

The time has come for each and everyone of us to wake up and see what we have done and how we have failed God. It takes no more energy to smile and say hello to someone than it does to turn your head and pretend you didn’t see them. It takes love to reach out and help someone, but that love is returned many times more.

Are you fulfilling your obligation as a Christian? If not why? Get up and shine your light!!!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Rock House…

The Empire State Building rises one hundred and three stories, nearly a quarter of a mile into the sky. It weighs around 303,000 tons. How can you build something that massive without it crashing down?

The answer is the foundation of the Empire State Building descends thirty three feet below the sidewalk. It rests on stratum granite, the very rock that’s the earth itself.

If not for this thirty-three foot foundation, all its one hundred and three stories, six thousand windows, seventy-five miles of water pipes, and 303,000 tons of steel would come crashing down.

Your entire life is like the Empire State Building. You build it upwards, with career, family, homes, goals, reputation, all sorts of things. If your life is not firmly founded on the rock it has no sure foundation and will ultimately fall apart.

Jesus said to build our house on the rock. The Rock is God – the only sure foundation. That which is built apart from the Rock will ultimately come crashing down. That which is built upon the Rock, firmly grounded on the Lord and His Word, will rise to the heavens and neither fall nor be shaken.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

Schedule a building inspection today. Go over Jesus’s checklist to see if your life, your footings are rooted and grounded in Him. If not, you can always reschedule.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed