Ed Christian's World

The Wolfmen Believers…

Remember the wolfman, those movies we used to watch on Saturday morning on television? The guy and his face would start getting hairy, long fangs, long ears would grow with a nose like a wolf.

Well, some of you, as you drive home from church begin undergoing this strange transformation. The first hair starts coming at the traffic light, and by the time you reach home, your face is covered, and you are unrecognizable to the people from the church, except your family recognizes you.

The Bible says to be different. God sees us everywhere. Be the same in the service, in your home and at work. That is where the victory is! Take it home with you. Try a new thing. Be just as spiritual at home as you are in the service.

Take the love from the service, bring it home. Take your joy, bring it home and you will be a light to your home, which is what God called you to be and not a monster.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

As spiritual, loving, and Messiah-like as you are in God’s house, or with God’s people, be that way with everyone today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Drive Through Orders…

We all know the drive-thru in fast food places. You drive around and the point is you can get the food without having to see anybody face-to-face pretty much with almost no relationship.

We have a drive-thru culture too. Even in Christianity, there are people who preach that God will work for you, just say the right words, say the faith formula and you will get what you asked for.

Instead of a relationship, we are just trying to get what we want from God. Have you been coming to Him more to get your order filled than to relate to Him? Have you been driving past his presence instead of coming in?

Get out of your spiritual car, forget the order, leave it outside, come into His presence, that is the blessing, that is the treasure, come back to your first love. Because the Lord is a lot more than a hamburger and your relationship with Him is not a drive-thru.

And to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:6-8

Stop the fast pace, rush of your day – spend time in His presence.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Lender…

A king sought to find out which of his two sons was worthy of wearing the crown. He gave them each the same amount of money to see which one would end up with more money at the end of five years.

The older son bought expensive possessions and kept everything locked up in the mansion. But the younger son lent the money away. Then, when he received it back, it came back with interest.

The older son who saw his treasure all the time added nothing and ultimately lost it. But the younger who let go of his treasure, and didn’t see it with his eyes, ended up with everything.

So with you, when you give to the Lord and to his work, it may seem as if you’re giving something away, but you’re actually increasing what you have.

The only way you can keep something forever, is to give it to the Lord. Lay up your treasures in heaven. For “he who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord.”

Reference: 2 Corinthians 7-9

There’s something you’re holding onto (a possession, a treasure, money, an idol, etc.) – let it go. Give it to the Lord. And rejoice.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Fullness of Time…

In Galatians 4:4, it says that in the fullness of time, God sent His son. Some people argue about the right time, having the Roman peace, the law, the Greek language and culture uniting.

You had the Jewish Diaspora so the gospel could spread. You had a great crisis in spirituality and the Roman Empire was just ripe for it. There’s truth to that. It says “in the fullness of time God sent his son” can be read in another way.

When God sends His son and when the gift of God comes into your life, it’s the fullness of time. When you let God in, it becomes full not just once; but every day we ought to let God come in.

We so often focus on the situation; we want it to be right so the blessing of God can come. But if you’re focusing on the situation, you’re never going to focus on the presence of God.

The point is, let God come into the situation and it’ll become right and it will be perfect. And it will become the fullness of time for your life.

Reference: 2 Corinthians 7-9

What situation in your life or around you is a problem? Pray and invite God into it to have His way.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Eternity in Their Hearts…

Among the Bantu languages in Africa, the creator is called Kora. One tribe speaks of Kora as having a son. When the missionaries first reached these people, the tribesman told them Kora sent word to our forefathers that he already sent his son into the world to accomplish something wonderful for all mankind.

Later, our forefathers turned away from the truth about Kora’s son. Since that time, generations have longed to discover the truth. But all we would learn was that messengers would eventually come to restore the forgotten knowledge to us. So we resolved that whenever Kora’s messengers arrived, we welcomed them and believed their message.

This amazing thing; the gospel came to the village of the priests of Kora in 1950. They all received the Lord. They were so far from God, yet God prepared them. Just like Paul spoke on Mars Hill of the unknown God. In Ecclesiastes it says, “He has placed eternity in their hearts.”

So don’t ever give up on that person who seems so separated from God. There’s always a way, for his or her heart was created to know God. Just remember, “The priests of Kora.”

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Who seems hopelessly outside of God, or outside of His will today? Pray for them in faith, and, if you can, reach out.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Stepping Outside Of Yourself…

Did you ever look at a photograph of yourself? There’s something about it; you can’t fool yourself. But when you see a photograph, and you don’t realize it’s you at first, and that person looks so different – you may be seeing yourself objectively for the first time.

The reason is you didn’t realize it was you first because you were beside yourself. Paul spoke of being beside himself. It can be good to be beside yourself. Put yourself beside yourself.

Step out of your life and imagine if it wasn’t yours. See how it matches up to the way it should be. Put yourself in your wife’s place, and see how it is to have you as a husband.

Put yourself in your parents’ place to see how it is to have you as a child, or your children’s place to see how it is to have you as a parent.

Put yourself in the Lord’s place to see what kind of service you’re giving Him, and then do unto others as you would have to yourself. It all starts when you get beside yourself.

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39

Today seek to see yourself from outside yourself – take a good hard, objective look at your life, your attitude – and make whatever changes you need to make.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

There It Goes Again!…

You’ve had this happen to you. Something goes wrong and you say, there it goes again! Something happens and you say whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.

But, when things go right, do you ever stop and say, hey, there it goes again! No, we tend to take for granted all the good things; we do not give thanks. We dwell on the things that go wrong. One thing goes wrong, and that is all we think about.

The Bible says, you are a child of God; you are blessed. Your life is not characterized by the bad. The next time something good happens say, hey, there it goes again! How about the sun comes up; there it goes again! You have breath, there it goes again! Hey, you can walk, you are in good health there it is again! There is food on my table there it is again! “Thank you God!” I have clothing; there it is again!

Stop and thank God for all those blessings and you will start seeing more and more blessings and reasons to thank God for. Everywhere you look, you will see a blessing.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Today, make it your aim to take nothing for granted – but to thank God for every good thing.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Aliens With A Mission…

In the 1950’s, there were many films about aliens coming to earth. They spoke English and would say, “Take me to your leader”.

They would never say, “Hi, how ya doin?” or “How’s business?” It was never, “some weather we’re having, did you like those Yankees?” No, it was just, “Take me to your leader”.

The point is that the strangers or in Greek, aliens in 1 Peter that he is referring to, are us. We are the aliens. The aliens in the movies were on a mission, and likewise, we are not here to be caught up in worldly things, petty things or just hanging out.

We are on a mission and we are to accomplish something. We are here to affect the world, to be a light to the world; we have a job to do. Have you forgotten your mission?

Are you caught up in small things? You are on a mission to spread the gospel, shine a light and be the light of the earth. You are not here to hang out. Remember, this is not your home, you are an alien. Get to work and start acting like it!

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11

Imagine you’re not of your earthly life or situation, but have just been transported to it – as an agent on earth – Well that’s what you are. Live today like an alien!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Honor Of Your Tests…

In heaven there will be good things: streets of gold, angels and we cannot even imagine what there will be. But, there is something that there won’t be anymore, no more tests.

You are thinking, “No more tests, great!” But, tests are not bad for us. We are given tests so we can have victory, so we can pass, so we can graduate and so we can fight the good fight.

We are not going to have tests in heaven. No tests, we are there. Now is the time for all eternity you have the chance to pass the test. You can turn down temptation, turn away from unrighteousness, stand for righteousness when no one else does, and rejoice and praise God when it is hard.

Next time you are tested, tempted, or confronted with that problem or thing, do not complain, and do not despair, rejoice in the opportunity you will never have again.

Show the Lord you love Him, turn down that sin, turn down that despair, rejoice, and praise Him. Have victory and pass the test. You will never have the chance to do it again. There are no more tests in heaven.

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

Today seek to see every problem, challenge, setback, temptation, trouble, choice, as a test – and pass it!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Prepare Ye The Way…

There was a holy man who went to dinner. The host brought him to the most honored seat. In humility, the man refused, and instead sat by the door.

Other honored guests came and were brought to the seats where the holy man was. “Why are we not sitting near the center of the table; the place of honor?” they complained. The host said, “You’re in the most honored seat. For wherever the holy man sits, that’s the center of the table.”

The same with us. We focus on our situations, our circumstances, our seat, our status, how others treat us. We want better attention, a better place, better everything, but we’re missing the point. We should not live a life focused on our circumstances, but rather focused on being with Him.

Wherever He is, that’s the center of everything, that’s the place to be. Wherever you are in your life doesn’t matter; aim to be near Him. That’s what matters. If you’re near Him, you’re in the place of honor.

Your circumstances don’t matter. Stay close to Him because wherever you are, you will be sitting in the center of the table of life.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

Seek the Lord…draw near to Him…rejoice in His presence…marvel at His goodness…bask in His holiness…in the center of the table.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed