Ed Christian's World

The Wine and The Loves…

In the Song of Solomon, it is written, “For your love is better than wine.” Only it doesn’t really say that. In the original language it reads, “Kee to veem do-dekha mee yayin.” Which is this: “For your LOVES ARE better than WINE.”

The word for LOVE, the Bridegroom’s love, is plural. But the word for WINE, YAYIN, is singular. It means that whatever the world has to offer you, the things you can see with your eyes and touch with your hands – they’re only singular. They end. They run out.

Maybe you’re being tempted by some thing, some pleasure that is not of God. God wants to keep you from misery and emptiness – because that’s what you’ll be left with when the YIN, the wine runs out.

But the love of God is not like that. The love of God never ends, will never fail you. It’s always more – more than you think it is and more than you expect.

Put away that wine, whatever your wine happens to be and find what is better and never ending. That you too might say, “Your love is better than wine.”

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Today, put away that distraction, that diversion, that sin, or that idol God wants you to let go of and replace it with the love, the presence, and the joy of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Bridegroom’s Better House…

In ancient Israel, a Jewish man had to prepare a house for his intended bride. When the house was ready, the groom would come to the bride’s home and take her away into the new house he had built for her.

But there was a law in Israel, the law of the bridegrooms. According to that law, a bridegroom could never take his bride out of a house that was better than the house he was taking her to.

Well, Jesus is a Hebrew Bridegroom, and we, the Church are a Hebrew bride. He’s come to take us out of our old house and to a new one that He’s prepared. God can only lead you to something better. God will only take you to a better joy, a better love, a better peace, a better life.

Don’t be afraid to really follow the Lord and to go all out for Him. Don’t think it’s ever a step down. It’s only up. Everything He calls you to do will lead you to a better and higher place. Trust Him. Follow Him. That’s His job. And that’s the law.

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3

Take a step out of your comfort zone and go higher in the Lord today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Their Sister’s Keeper…

Our culture is one of increasing depersonalization. When many of us were growing up, we knew our neighbors, and people in our community. Now, it’s a big thing if we know people on the next street; even sometimes the people next door.

A few years ago, a woman was raped and killed as thirty-five people walked by and did nothing – a famous case of a culture becoming a culture of strangers.

A Bible prophecy says in the end times the love of many shall grow cold. The gospel calls us to get involved. Even, as believers, we sometimes can be cold and uninvolved, and separate ourselves. But, we must be involved; God was involved in you.

Would you let someone be killed right in front of your eyes? You’d say, “no, of course not!” But, when you let your neighbor pass into eternity and you don’t get involved and share the gospel of salvation you’re doing the same thing.

How much more must we share the gospel? Yes, we are our neighbor’s keeper. Share the gospel; bless them with the Word. Don’t let them perish because we are our neighbor’s keeper.

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18

In some way, share the Gospel, plant seeds of eternal life, for those who need salvation.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

As It Is In Heaven…

How do you solve the problems you’re dealing with; the ones you’re dwelling on; the problems that are on your mind? The Lord’s prayer says, “on earth as it is in heaven.”

The original language doesn’t say, “on earth as it is in heaven.” It says, “as it is in heaven so on earth.” It’s about letting heaven reach your life. First as it is in heaven then let that touch your life.

Start by forgetting the problem that’s on earth. It doesn’t start with earth. You start with heaven. All good things come from heaven. Forget about the problem; start from heaven.

Get your eyes on the Lord; on His love. Start with the answer which is from heaven, then let it also be on earth. Jesus is the answer. He didn’t start from earth, but from heaven and came down to earth.

This problem of yours is going to be solved when you forget about it; get your eyes off it. Trust the Lord and get your eyes on the Lord and heaven. Let it be so as it is in heaven, so let it be in your life.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Seek to live your life not from earth to heaven, but from heaven to earth.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Where He Art – Not Where You Art…

I want to talk to you about Our Father Who Art in Heaven. Notice it says art. It’s God’s art but there’s nothing about your art at all.

It doesn’t say where you art because then you’d have to be in a particular place. It would be limited. It doesn’t matter where you art, it only matters where God art.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re in one place or another, whether you’re in a high place in your life, or a low place, whether you’re going through a tough time, or whether you’re in a place where you feel far from God.

You still pray because it doesn’t matter where you art. It only matters where God art. He’s in heaven – and He’ll be there for you. Even if you feel far from God, or you feel you’re not in the right place with God, or you’re up, down, or you don’t feel like praying – pray, because it doesn’t matter where you art.

It only matters where He art. He’s in heaven and He loves you. Reach out because He’s reaching out to you. Pray because you don’t have an art but God does.

This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Matthew 6:9

Reach out to your Father Who Art in Heaven today, no matter where in your life or situation you art or art not.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Abba Prayer…

There are seminars, books, and teachings on how to pray. Jesus knows best and he taught you how to pray. He started out by saying, Our Father, just like it says we cry out, Abba.

That’s not even just Father, that’s Daddy. That’s the Hebrew Aramaic word for Daddy, a baby word. The Lord is saying forget all your ideas of prayer – the complexities, formulas, all the special things.

You can learn the most profound truths in the word Abba, Daddy. You don’t have to go to a seminar. Go to a cradle and learn from that little baby. He doesn’t know many words; there’s no liturgy – but when he’s sad or hurting, he cries out.

When you’re hurting, pour out your heart to God – that’s it. If you have a need, bring it to him. When the baby is happy, it laughs. When you’ve got a joy, share it with God. Let your joy overflow in praise.

No eloquent words, but simply like a baby resting in his Father’s loving arms. It doesn’t have to be eloquent, just pour out your heart to God. Keep it simple, keep it basic, keep it Abba.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord heard them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

Today seek to relate to God as His little child – get simple, get childlike, get to the heart – relate to Him as your “Abba.”

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Midbar…

The promised land is the shadow of heaven. When we speak about going home, crossing the Jordan, coming to the promised land, we’re speaking about going to heaven. The wilderness is a symbol of the place that we go through to get there, which is this life right now.

The Hebrews journeyed through the wilderness, crossed over and went into the promised land. That’s the way we picture it. But there was one wilderness, the Negev; which was part of and inside the Promised Land itself.

So if the Promised Land is a shadow of heaven and the wilderness is a shadow of this life, and they’re together, it means that heaven and this life are much closer together than you might think. If you’re a believer, heaven begins now. Even in the wilderness, the dry times, in the hard times, and in sorrows you can find heaven.

Whatever you’re going through in this journey, God is going through it with you. If you’re born again, God is with you and that makes it heaven. Learn to see the good in all things. Live in the heavenlies now because the promised land is also in the wilderness, and heaven is also in your life right now.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

Seek to live today as if Heaven were already in your circumstances, and as if you were already in Heaven – And in the Spirit, you will be.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Thus The Lord Has Already Said…

Throughout the Bible as in Ezekiel 37, it says “Thus saith the Lord” which we understand as the Lord is saying. But when you read “thus saith the Lord”, most of the time it doesn’t quite mean “thus saith the Lord” – as in the present tense.

The Hebrew word for “saith” is most often, ‘Amar.’ ‘Amar’ is not the present tense – but the past or perfect tense. That makes a big difference. It means it’s already done, finished. It means that it’s already perfectly established.

The Word of God is perfect, finished, done. Thus, when God says something, it’s as good as done. So when you take the Word and promises of God, there’s no question, no if, no maybe. Amar means it’s settled, done, sealed, finished, accomplished – it’s a done deal.

Stand on the Word, believe in it, be confident in the Word because the Word, promise, assurance of God is as good as done. Thus says the Lord, the Lord has spoken.

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

Today, look for a promise of God in the Word of God. Consider it as good as done.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Changes…

I picked this topic for discussion because as I listen to everyone talk about what is happening in our worlds today and what they perceive as right and wrong it was time to take a different look at life and ourselves. My prayer is this will cause you to take a closer look at yourself and see where some changes can be made.

We were sitting under a tree down by the river that afternoon. I was upset over something and complaining how life seemed so unfair at times. Grandfather sat there and listened to the whole story without a word.

As I finished he sat there for a minute, then said very softly and calmly – If you change the way you look at things, the things you are looking at will change.

That little statement to me, at the age of eight and half, seemed both a little abstract and challenging. I admit Grandfather always had a way to get me thinking, but this one made me realize just how important the choices we make shape our life.

If I were to ask you if you were happy with your life, most of you would answer yes. However, if I were to ask what you would most change in your life to make you happier or make life easier, most of you would realize you are not as content as you think. 

Grandfather used to tell me that actions speak louder than words and all the sweet talk in the world could not hide the real me if my actions don’t match my words. Then he added “Be the true person you seek, everyone should see the same you.”

Our life consists of one decision on top of another and in retrospect there is probably many things we could do better if we just took the time to think before we made our choices. We are the sum total of choices we made throughout our life and whether we want to admit it or not, we all have made our share of bad decisions. Most of them have taught us lessons and helped turn us back to the right path, however some remain hidden in the closet hoping never to see the light of day again.

How we perceive ourselves and how people perceive us usually turn out to be two different persons. Sometimes in life we need to look into a mirror and take an honest look at ourselves, then realize we just may have to make some hard changes to become the person we really want to be.  

Ok, I hear some of you saying there is nothing in my life that I would change. That is your ego standing up and denying your misgivings for you. Don’t let your expanded ego control who you really want to be.  Humble yourself and admit you made some bad choices you wish you could turn around. I know there are a few I would change.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

So, I ask you, if you could  change one thing in your life to be happy what would you change and why? Before you answer, think about it. Are you the same person to everyone who crosses your path? Now, what would you change and why?

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Learning To Have Poor Eye Sight…

In Genesis 27, it describes the scene where Isaac, the father, is blessing his sons. He wants to bless Esau, but Jacob comes to him in disguise and Isaac ends up blessing him because he had poor eye sight. Because of that he would bless Jacob.

Now if he had good eye sight and he had seen Jacob for what he was he would not have given him that blessing.

So there’s a key; in order to bless these people in your life that you have a hard time with, you have to learn how to develop “poor eye sight.”

You look at them and you see all their faults, and you can’t forgive them, you can’t bless them. But, you know what? If you’re to bless them, you have to have faith not to see, but to see the blood of Jesus.

God has chosen not to see your sins in the blood of Jesus. The eyes of your heart need poor vision so that you will see only the face of God and you will be a blessing – because you are not only blessed by what you see – but by what you don’t.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— Jude 1:24

Today seek to develop poor eyesight – poor eyesight for the faults, shortcomings, weaknesses, and sins of others.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed