Ed Christian's World

Rise Up….

Watching the Olympics gymnastics competition, you’ll see mistakes, slips, falls, and tears. The athletes train their whole lives. This is their one shot. One mistake and everything can go up in smoke.

It happens also in the Lord. Believers make one mistake and they’re crushed as if God will never use them again and the prize has been lost. Maybe you’ve messed up. Maybe you felt that your call is over and you can never be that close to God again.

I have good news. Your walk isn’t the Olympics. God isn’t an Olympic Judge. Our hope isn’t Mt. Olympus, but Mt. Zion. God’s mercies are new every morning. Many of God’s people have known what it is to mess up and fall, and yet have gone on to be champions.

Abraham, Moses, David and Peter messed up. However, after they messed up, they got up, kept going and won the race. You do the same.

The most important time of rising up, is when you feel least worthy of it. The walk isn’t the Olympics. It’s greater. So is God’s mercy – you were called to win the race.

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17

Just as God has done, give yourself another chance today. Get up, get going and win that race.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Greek Mythology…

When I was going to AYOP ( At Your Own Pace) classes one of my favorite was Greek Mythology. All those Greek “Gods” seem to know all and do all. Zeus in particular was one I liked reading about.

The Greek Zeus comes from the Indian Sanskrit ‘Dyaus’ which means, “The Bright Sky,” or the “Brightness of the Day.” He is also called “Dyaus Pita”, or “Zeus Pater,” which means, “Father of the Day.” Zeus Pater passed into Latin and English as “Ju-Piter,” Jupiter.

In the Germanic languages, Zeus became Ziu or Tiw, from which we get ‘Tiwsdaeg’ or “Tuesday.” In ancient times, a Greek general even set up a statue of Zeus in the Temple of Jerusalem, thus making the Temple desolate and defiled.

The Feast of Chanukah is all about the cleansing of the Temple, and the smashing of Zeus. Zeus was an imitation of God. So Zeus teaches us something important: “Beware of imitations.” There’s only one Real One, but there are many imitations, and substitutes, and the enemy will gladly offer you a wide selection.

You only have room for one God in your heart. Your life only has room to follow one course. Make sure it’s God’s best. There’s only one Light. Reject Zeus. Choose God. And your days will be filled with brightness.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

Get rid of the false imitations of God in your life and make Him the center of your heart today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

To Fight For Freedom…

Chanukah means the Feast of Dedication. It is also called the Festival of Light also known as the Festival of Freedom.

Why Freedom? Because of an ungodly man, Antiochus Epiphanes. He made it illegal to keep the Sabbath, to learn God’s Word and to follow God’s commandments.

And it seemed as if he would have succeeded except that a group of those who sought to be faithful to God rose up against him. It took faith, courage, and the risking of their lives.

In that faith and courage, in God’s power, they won the fight and gained freedom for themselves and all Israel. God has called you to freedom but freedom means a fight. If you are truly to know freedom in your life, you must fight.

Do you want to overcome that bondage, that sin? Good, are you willing to fight for it? Are you willing to sacrifice for the victory? If so, then good. God has not called you to slavery but to freedom.

Therefore do not submit to a yoke of slavery but freedom requires a fight. For God has called you to be a FREEDOM FIGHTER.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Seek to live in freedom today – freedom from the past – freedom from bondage – freedom from sin.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Lead Others To Serve – Rights and Priorities…

We, as God’s children, are born with certain inalienable rights. Freedom of speech, religion and the right to choose our own direction. These rights are given to everyone by God and along with them come certain responsibilities and priorities.

Let’s not confuse these God given rights to those guaranteed by our Constitution, they are similar but different. Something our church leaders have yet to learn, but that is a different post.

As Christians, we use the Bible to guide us through life and believe it is God’s word. We are instructed to live our life to serve God by serving others. How soon we forget that serving others sometimes means putting others first and us last. God commanded us to love our neighbors as ourself and as He has loved us. He told us to care for the widows, the poor and the children. He told us how to care for the land so we would have bountiful crops over the years.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Somewhere along the line this message was lost. We as a society have turned our backs on the poor, the sick and the elderly. We have failed our neighbors, ourselves and God. We are openly hostile towards those who need help and have placed ourselves ahead of all others.

We have closed ourselves off from those who don’t believe as we do, rather than opening our doors to them to lead them to God. Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus turn his back on anyone, in fact He was the first to include everyone.

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10

Our priorities are messed up on so many fronts. When it is easier to snap at someone rather than smile, offer a hand and a kind word, our priorities are messed up. When it is easier to turn your back on a neighbor over a disagreement, our priorities are messed up. When we put our beliefs and thoughts above those of others, our priorities are messed up. When we fail to serve God by serving others, our priorities are really messed up.

So what can we do to straighten our priorities up? The first thing we can do is pray for forgiveness and guidance to help put our priorities in order. Then we can remember why we are here in the first place, to serve God by serving others.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13

Speaking for myself, I am here to serve, this is my station in life. I am always ready to lend a helping hand to my neighbors. I am here to lift people up when they fall and to offer them a kind word and a warm smile. I am not here to judge others on what they believe or how they live, rather I am here to share my love of God with them and offer them a path to God.

It is by leading we encourage others to follow our example to reach out to others with lifting hand. Love is not complicated, it is contagious for when we share our love and blessings with others they in turn share it with others. So let’s all be the example for all to follow.

What about you, what are your priorities? Who comes first in your life?

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Heart – The Never-Ending Banquet…

You probably think that if things are going bad, you’re having a bad day and if things are going good, it’s a good day. However, the Bible says something completely different that can change the way you live.

Proverbs 15:15 says this: ‘All the days of the downcast are bad, but a cheerful heart has an everlasting banquet.’ In other words, the days are bad because of the downcast heart. On the other hand, ‘a good heart has a never-ending banquet’.

There’s a never-ending banquet because the heart is good. It’s not bad days that make the downcast heart. It’s the downcast heart that makes the days bad. It’s not the continual banquet that makes the good heart.

It’s the good heart that makes the continual banquet. The days don’t make the heart. It’s the heart that makes the days. If your heart is complaining, your days will be rotten. If your heart is full of praise and thanksgiving, your days will be full and beautiful.

Want a good day? Stop seeking after a good day, and seek to have a good heart. Give thanks in all things. And your life will become an everlasting banquet.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Don’t let today be determined by what’s around you – but by what’s within you – practice living with a cheerful heart.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Lifeguard…

Imagine you’re in the water, and you’re drowning. You call out for help. But the lifeguard isn’t responding. You yell out, “Excuse me, I’m drowning.” The lifeguard answers, “I’d like to save you but this seat with a new cushion is so comfortable. I just can’t.”

This is an accurate picture of modern western Christianity. God has appointed us as the lifeguard entrusted to save this generation. We are the ones appointed to save. The truth is most believers are too wrapped up in their own little worlds. Most are more concerned about being comfortable at home, in the Lord, in life…

We care more about being comfortable than doing what we were entrusted to do… preach the Gospel, save the lost and drowning, and bring them to the shore of salvation.

How about you? How about it, Lifeguard? God has a great calling on your life. But you have to move out of your comfort zone, and jump into the waters of ministry. You need to fulfill your calling as lifeguard. And it will only happen, when you get off your cushion of comfort!

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 2 Timothy 1:7-8

Don’t make excuses for not sharing the Gospel – Go against your excuses and share the love of God with one who needs to hear it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Blessed…

Blessed is the man you choose and bring near to dwell in your courts,” Psalm 65:4. In Hebrew, the word “blessed” is really the word “asher.” “Asher” doesn’t just mean “blessed.” It means “happy” or “joyful.”

The Bible is telling you how to be joyful. What’s the secret? Those who are “asher,” “happy” or “joyful” dwell in the courts of God, in His presence. You see, happiness and contentment do not come from material things.

You can have all in the world and still be empty and miserable. But, you can’t dwell in the presence of God and be empty or miserable… for the presence of God fills all things.

Moses dwelt in God’s presence and came down the mountain glowing… so much he had to cover his face. If you want to glow.. you need to be in His presence.

The more you spend in God’s presence, the greater the glow. Spend more time with God, in His presence. And your life will be filled with fullness. For “Blessed,” “Asher,” “Happy,” and Joyful is the man chosen and brought near to dwell in the courts of God.’

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns,q even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young a place near your altar, Lord Almighty,t my Kingu and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Psalm 84:1-4

Make it your aim today to be filled up with the presence of God – glowing, happy and joyful.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Pre-empter…

A snake slithers into a nest of eggs, contorts its mouth around the egg, then swallows it whole. Here’s a principle: the serpent represents a spiritual reality..the enemy. Its tactics are the tactics of the enemy.

As the serpent swallows the egg, so the enemy seeks to destroy life before it emerges, crush God’s plans at the very beginning while still incubating. He seeks to destroy your life before you get saved, your calling before it’s fulfilled, and your ministry while still just a promise.

Here’s the encouragement… if you find yourself being attacked by the enemy… it’s a good sign; something good is on the way. Persevere all the more because God has a plan for you, a blessing waiting to happen.

When the enemy tries to discourage you, turn it upside down. Take it as encouragement. It’s revealing that God has something good if you just persevere. So press on my friend be encouraged.

For the snake is an egg swallower trying to stop the blessing. If he’s giving you a hard time, press through all the more, for how big is the egg and how great the blessing that awaits you.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

If you’re living in God’s will, take any setback and attack as encouragement on the greatness of what God has ahead.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Gospel By The Tomb…

Yeshua, Jesus of Nazareth, was crucified around 30 A.D. Soon after the crucifixion, His disciples began proclaiming He had risen from death. This proclamation began in Jerusalem, “the city of the tomb.”

If there were any questions, weaknesses or gaps in the resurrection account, Jerusalem would be the place it would be revealed and the Gospel proven a fabrication. Jerusalem was the last place on earth to preach the Gospel.

The authorities had every interest in stopping the message of the resurrection. They had the tomb, and where it could be found. The disciples were preaching the empty tomb in the city of the tomb.

The fact that they began preaching in Jerusalem, and could not be stopped, means only one thing… the tomb was empty! The disciples had full confidence in that fact, that they were willing to give up their lives in Jerusalem.

What about you? Do you believe the power of the resurrection? If so, then go to your Jerusalem… the place of that tomb in your life… that problem, that hurt, that darkness… and proclaim the resurrection. You will be victorious there..for the tomb is empty.

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:6

From your heart, target that dark place in your life and proclaim to it the victory of light in the resurrection.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Passover Principal…

Jesus, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let’s celebrate the Festival… How do you celebrate Passover? You pass over. How did God celebrate Passover? He passed over.

When He saw the blood of the Passover Lamb on the doorposts of the Hebrew homes, He passed over them in mercy. You must celebrate Passover the same way. You might have reasons to judge that person, to be bitter, to condemn or hate, be upset, or get back at them.

But, if you’re born again, you’re a Passover person; saved by Jesus’s Passover. To celebrate the Feast, you too must begin passing over. How do you pass over someone’s sin against you? Simple… as God did.

When He saw the blood, He passed over. When you see the blood, you pass over. That’s how it works. If you’re not passing over, then you haven’t seen the blood.

Look for the blood, not their sin, and onto Calvary, to the love of God poured out for your salvation in the Blood of Jesus. Because when you see the blood of the Passover Lamb given for your salvation, you can’t help but pass over.

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Today, whenever you’re tempted to judge another, look instead for the blood, and pass over it, even over long-held grudges, even over your own sins.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed