Ed Christian's World

The Four Unendings…

Take a look at the end of the four gospels and how they end. Matthew 28, Jesus commissions them to go into all the earth making disciples of all nations.

Mark 16, “Go into all the world and preach the good news, then Jesus was taken up to heaven. And the disciples went out preaching everywhere with miracles confirming the word of God.”

Luke 24, “Jesus ascended blessing them, and the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy, staying continually in the temple praising God.”

John 21, “Jesus did many other things, which if they were written down, the whole world wouldn’t have room enough to contain them.”

Why do the gospels have no real endings? In Jesus, the good news never ends. So forget your troubles, they are nothing in Jesus.

There is nothing compared to the good news, so start rejoicing again and don’t stop, because the joy of the Lord, like the good news of the Lord has no ending.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20

The good never ends. So today, don’t let anything stop you in the purposes of God – press on, persevere, and keep going in the good.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Mantle…

Now when you were a child, your parents bought you clothes. Most of the time they bought you clothes that were a few sizes too large because they knew you were growing and you would fit into them eventually.

Believers do that too! They start out their walk going for the heights, searching for their calling and aspiring to fulfill the Great Commission. But many believers after they mess up, or don’t see all they hope to see, they start lowering their expectations.

But your calling does not shrink, never. He is waiting for you to rise to it. Rise to your calling. Don’t give up the calling, give up the doubt. Believe what God’s plans are for your future. Believe a few sizes bigger than you are.

Believe you will become a person of victory, of righteousness, a person of the Spirit, of joy, of purity, of unstoppable love, walking in the power of the resurrection, because God will only give you a calling that is perfectly tailored a few sizes too big.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. Ephesians 4:1-4

Envision who you want to be in Jesus, put on the calling that the Lord has given you, and rise to it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Who’s Life Did You Touch Today?…

Many people believe the days of miracles are long gone and that we never see any miracles today. I don’t know your feelings on this subject, but I do believe we see miracles everyday of our life and fail to recognize them. Do you realize that every time you cross someone’s path there is a blessing there to be shared? It’s little things like this that are little miracles in the making.

Grandfather taught me as I grew up that we are led through life by an unseen guide, making turns and decisions based on a common goal. Everything has a reason and nothing is by mistake. There really is a plan for each and everyone of us. That guide is God!

I can’t really tell you when this finally hit home and I realized that everyone I met in life and everyone I touched in life blessed me and I them in one form or another. It was then when I learned that we are put on this earth for a very particular reason and everything we do is designed to complete the plan for our or someone else’s life.

God has planned every step of our life and, for me, when I realized this I stopped questioning His reasoning and started following the path He set forth for me. That little decision to follow His lead has turned into continuous blessings for my life. I wake up every morning eager to see what He has laid out for me this day and I am never disappointed.

I encourage everyone to open their eyes to His plan and learn to follow it without question. The enlightenment you receive will amaze you. Stop complaining about the rough times you are delt and make the best of every incident in your day. The resulting blessings will more than make up for the rough ride.

We wake up to blue skies with birds, flowers and trees everyday, yet we don’t really notice them. We have the stars and a moon at night, but we just take them for granted. These are there, not because of something man did but because of the grace of God.

We witness the miracle of birth, the blooming of a flower, and even the magic effect of a simple smile, yet we don’t think we see miracles daily. Most people don’t realize the power of their smile, or the simple strength of a soft touch. We all are part of a miracle without even realizing it.

That smile you shared with a stranger while walking into the grocery may have turned around his or her day. That simple thank you that you shared with the checkout girl may have lifted her spirit. It is the little things we do everyday that changes someone’s world for them. You are someone’s miracle today and you just may be the recipient of someone’s gift tomorrow.

We have known and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them. 1 John 4:16

So the next time you feel you are going in different direction than you thought, take a few minutes to ask God what lesson He is sending to you. Step into that lesson and share the blessing He gives you with someone. It just may turn out to be the miracle they needed to continue on. Who’s life did you touch today?

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Lemonade Principle…

In the Book of Acts, chapter 8 describes how the believers were scattered. They were persecuted so they were scattered. The word in Greek is “Diaspora.”

We get the word dispersed or dispersion from that. It’s the same word used for the worldwide scattering and persecution of the Jewish people, which is the “diaspora” the dispersion of the Jewish people. The disciples were dispersed so they would go forth.

What did they do? As they go, they would spread the gospel and people got saved. It’s interesting that the word “Diaspora” actually means to sow seeds. As persecution disperses them, they use it to “diaspora,” to sow seeds of the gospel.

Something really profound: you see when things seem bad, persecution, “diaspora,” it ends up being the sowing of life which tells us something. For a child of God, hidden in every problem is redemption.

Whatever problem you are going through, there’s something good about it. God is waiting to bring it forth. Start looking for the life that has come forth from the seed of God which is to be sown, there is waiting a Diaspora.

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

What problems are there in your life – take them and use them for God’s glory and to spread His salvation.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Gentle Men…

In 1 Peter it says, “Husbands, give your wife honor”. What does that mean? The word in Greek is timay which also means preciousness.

Husbands, give your wife preciousness. See her as precious and you will never take her for granted again. Continually minister that to her. Give her timay, give her preciousness.

It’s not about whether she is worthy of it or not. It’s not about you seeing the things she does, or doesn’t do, and saying, well, that’s worthy of preciousness. Preciousness is what you are supposed to give her.

Do you want a precious marriage? Love her with a precious love and treat her as a precious vessel. Forgive her with a precious mercy. This is true not only for husbands and wives, but for everybody.

Don’t treat people as they deserve to be treated. Treat them as God treats you, with a gift of timay. God didn’t give His life for you because you are precious and worthy of it. He gave His life to you so you would become precious and worthy of Him. His gift, His life, is the timay which makes you precious.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7

Look at the people in your life – at home, at work, etc. – with new eyes. See them as being precious – as precious as you are in the sight of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Bikoreem…

The Bikoreem was the first fruits of the harvest. When the first fruits were given to God, they were lifted to Him. It was understood that all the rest of the harvest was yet to come and was sanctified by that.

Jesus was the First Fruits of the dead. It is amazing because He rose on the Hebrew day when the First Fruits were offered. He was the First Fruits of what was to come and in James 1:18 He calls us the first fruits, the Bikoreem of creation.

That means you are not to follow this life, you are to lead this creation. You have the power to lead in this creation. Do not follow your troubles, your problems, your sorrows, your bitterness, but lead.

You have the power to go in a new direction, to live in newness of life. You have the power, the Bikoreem. Stop following the creation, your situation, your circumstance. You are the Bikoreem – lead it.

Start leaving your problems, your emotions and start leading creation. When Jesus rose as the Bikoreem, it was so that you might also become the first fruits, the glory.

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23

Don’t be led by this world, by your problems, by your sins, or by your situations – take the lead today and step out and walk in the newness of life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Christmas 2021

The Other Wise Man…

As we celebrate Christmas , I’d like to add an interesting little story by Henry van Dyke titled “The Story of the Other Wise Man.” Born in 1852, van Dyke was educated at Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary. A noted educator, author, and minister, he wrote the lyrics to “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” that we sing to the tune of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”

In “The Story of the Other Wise Man,” van Dyke tells about Artaban, his fictional magus who saw the star, sold his house and possessions, and bought three precious jewels — a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl — to present to the newborn king. Friends discouraged his quest, but Artaban listened to his oldest and best friend and set out to join the other wise men who followed the star. Along the way, he came upon a dying stranger and spent several hours ministering to him and reviving him. But the delay made him miss his rendezvous with the other wise men who went on without him. Needing a train of camels to cross the treacherous desert, Artaban bought them with his precious sapphire.

Arriving in Bethlehem with his ruby and pearl to give to the king, he discovered that the other wise men had been and gone and that Joseph had taken Mary and Jesus to Egypt. When soldiers stormed through the town killing the babies, Artaban used his ruby to bribe the captain to spare the baby of the woman who befriended him.

After 33 years of searching for the king and ministering to prisoners, the hungry, the sick, and the poor along the way, Artaban made his way back to Jerusalem at the time of Passover. Joining the crowd making its way to Golgotha, he used his pearl, his only remaining treasure, to purchase freedom for a young girl sold into slavery.

Following the star leads us, as it led Artaban, to the cross. Thinking he had failed, “A calm radiance of wonder and joy lighted the pale face of Artaban like the first ray of dawn on a snowy mountain-peak. One long, last breath of relief exhaled gently from his lips.” But not before he heard the soft voice of Jesus saying:

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me ( Matthew 25:40).

When we have nothing left to give, God gives us everything that matters! Christmas ends where it begins, with God giving us his most precious jewel.

From my family to yours Merry Christmas to all. May your day be full of Joy, Peace and Love! Most of all be full of Jesus!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Heavenly Ant Lessons…

In Proverbs 6, it says, “Go to the ants, you sluggard. Go to the ants and learn.” Ants are pretty incredible. When an ant dies, the other ants waste no time. They take it right out of the nest and into the dump. Ants have no ant ceremony praising the deceased ant. They just throw him out into the dump.

You die, you are out and they waste no time. The ants are serious; they have nothing to do with dead ants. So learn wisdom. If you want to live a fruitful life, efficient in God, productive and successful then throw out that dead thing. That thing will only stop you from being fruitful.

If something is past, get on with it. Those things that cannot produce any life, take them and throw them out of your life. Dead also refers to anything that is not of life, something that is futile.

Bitterness and grudges are dead. That sin or habit, throw it out. No more funerals, no more mourning, just throw it out. Learn to be as wise as an ant and throw that dead thing into the dump.

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

Is there any dead thing in your life, an ungodly habit, action, attitude, thought, etc – get that dead thing out of your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Waters of Zion…

On May 14, 1948, Israel was born from the dead as a nation. Israel as many of you know, is the size of New Jersey. And yet, did you know that Israel is the most fought over land in history?

Now you would think, with all this fighting, Israel must be filled with natural resources. It’s not. It has almost nothing – but one thing – it belongs to God. And so, if you’re saved, you’re of Israel and it’s the same for you. You might often feel like you’re in a fight, and every day’s a battle.

There’s a reason for it. You’re God’s Israel. You belong to God. So your life is precious. There’s a calling on it, a high calling, and a good promise of great things to come. So it’s worth the fight.

The enemy knows it. And his job is to discourage you from persevering and inheriting the blessing waiting for you. Be encouraged. Fight the good fight.

Press on and keep going until you inherit the blessing. You knew you had a fight. But now you know you’ve got something worth fighting for.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

Think of all the conflicts, problems, attacks, obstacles, resistance and warfare in your life… but don’t complain about it, but thank God that the enemy is against you – stand even stronger.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Jesus – The Sunset…

In Scripture, Jesus is called the Light of the World. If Jesus is the Light of the World, what happens when Jesus dies and goes into the earth?

When Jesus died, the Light of the World went down into the earth, and because the Light of the World goes down there is a sunset. When the sun goes down the day is over.

Because Jesus went down, the old life, the old creation and the old past are over. If He died, we died and the old life is gone. The good news are if you live in Jesus, the day of the old life is over.

The sun has set on the old bondage, the old sin, your failures, your guilt and your sorrows. It is all over. The sun has even set on your mistakes and your gloom. The sun has set on it all.

The light of the World has gone down, the sun has set, and the day is over. Now, put the old life to bed and you will rise in the dawn of a new day, a new life, in the light of His sunrise.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

The sun has set – take everything of your old life, your old self, and your old nature that’s still up and around and put it to bed – say “good night.”

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed