Ed Christian's World

The Worship Healing…

In the Greek New Testament, the word “therapeuo” means “to heal”. But it also means “to adore” or “to worship”. This is amazing because two very important things are connected: worship and healing. All the people who were healed by Jesus worshipped Him.

But the key here is not that those who are healed worship the Lord, but that those who worship the Lord are healed. There is healing in worshiping the Lord.

People go through life carrying wounds in their hearts and scars in their spirits: rejection, anxieties, fears, and other infirmities of the heart. And people spend years in therapy trying to get healed.

Now, the word “therapy” comes from the same Greek word “therapeuo,” which doesn’t just mean therapy or healing but worship. Do you want healing? Get into His therapy. Spend time every day truly worshiping God.

When you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself or to focus on your problems and fears, worship the Lord instead! Thank God and praise Him! Then, you will be applying God’s therapy because God’s healing comes in worship.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior, and my God. Psalm 42:11

Let your worship of the Lamb flow like a river. Open the flood gates of your heart and pour out His praises. Lay any and all troubles at His feet, our God reigns.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Commemoration and Life…

In religion, people end up commemorating things. They commemorate the miracles of God like Passover, Chanukah, Purim, and The Resurrection. So, in a synagogue in Nazareth, they commemorated the power and works of God in prayers, hymns, rituals, and services.

But they were so busy commemorating God that, when He came into their presence, they failed to recognize Him, even when He said, “Today in your hearing, this scripture is fulfilled.” They weren’t able to see God because they had become comfortable just commemorating Him and His power.

So it is with us. When we allow joy and life to go out of our walk with God, we end up commemorating God and the new life we once lived. And we go through the motions – of serving, of worshipping, of praising. Our lives become lifeless rituals, even ruts.

Is this you? Are you in a rut? Then, invite the living God into your rut. Ask Him to clear away lifeless rituals so that you may commune with Him and hear Him just like in the beginning. For, God wants you to live a new life in Him – today!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Never allow our worship and praise to commemorate the past and become a stagnant set of rituals. We serve a loving, living God. Give Him praise and worship from our hearts with joy.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Arch and The Graffiti…

After the Roman Empire destroyed Israel, the Romans built an arch called the Arch of Titus to celebrate the victory. Today, the Roman Empire is gone. Yet the Arch of Titus still stands.

Somebody wrote on that arch in graffiti, “Am Yisrael Hi”, which means “the nation of Israel lives”. Why is it that the most powerful empire of its day is no more, yet the tiny nation of Israel that was scattered for 2,000 years, without an army, without a king, without defense, persecuted and continuously oppressed, still exists?

Why has no force or nation been able to destroy Israel permanently? It’s because of the God of Israel. In God, the weak are strong, and the vulnerable become invulnerable. Are there circumstances in your life that appear overwhelming, causing you to feel vulnerable and weak?

The solution is to stop focusing on your problems and focus on your God. Your problem may be big, but God is greater. You may be weak, but God is strong. In God, you overcome. In God, you win. For only in God can the weak overcome the strong, and the vulnerable become invulnerable.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

On our knees, victories are won. Pray through any circumstance in your life and bring all your needs before the throne. Declare your freedom in Yeshua.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Joy As In Heaven…

The words “heaven” or “heavenly” are often associated with feelings of pleasure. Sayings like “I’m in seventh heaven” and “It’s so heavenly” describe experiences that bring joy.

For many believers, though, heavenly things seem rare. So, they spend their lives looking forward to heaven when this earthly life is over. But the joy of heaven is supposed to be on earth.

We are to live a heavenly life now. How can we know heaven here in this life? The secret the key is this: Jesus says, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” How does heaven come on earth? The answer is in His will.

It becomes on earth as it is in heaven in His will. The joy of heaven comes to earth in His will. If you want His joy and the heavenly life, then follow His will. Get your life inside of His will. Get your heart inside of His will.

Delight yourself in the will of God. Then, the life you live will be heavenly because His will shall be done in your life on earth as it is in heaven.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

The joy of our Lord is our strength. Dwell in His holy presence, center yourself in His will. His blessings will flow. Serve Him with a joyful heart and again; rejoice.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Lincoln and Jesus: Who Is Newer…

Let’s go back in time, a bit more than 150 years back. We enter a world with no movies, no electric lights, only candlelight at night. No telephone, no radio, none of that. What did people do?

They read books, they talked, and prayed. There were no cars. You would have to walk or take a horse, occasionally a train. No electricity, no real appliances. In England it is the world of Charles Dickens. In the United States it is the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery.

Only 100 years before the Beatles, you have the Civil War. Think about this: Messiah, Yeshua, Jesus is far older than that. Yet His words are as new today as they were 2,000 years ago, as new as this morning’s devotionals.

When you read of Jesus and His words, it’s talking to you today. He is God, so it is written. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is always more of Him to learn. He is always new, so seek after that which is always new. Come to Him every day, and you will become like He is – newer than new!

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:7-8

Rediscover the Good News in your Bible, this is the living word and is timeless and true. From Genesis to Revelation His laws are just and His promises He keeps; forever.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Root of The Lotus…

We hear about the New Age and the fads of Eastern religion, and though it’s been polished and repackaged for Western consumption, it remains at its root pagan. They may speak about one God, but they will also speak about three and actually more than that.

Not 33, but 33,333,000 gods. Take New York City and picture everybody becoming a deity and multiply it by about 30 New York Cities. What a mess! 33,333,000 gods and not one of them died for your sins so that you could have eternal life.

Not one of them loved you. Not one of them gave you new life, or rolled away the stone and gave you hope. Realize the treasure we have in Jesus, the Messiah. Don’t forget it.

His treasure is worth more than the world. There is no person, no god, not anything that can ever compare. Nothing compares to the treasure we have.

Therefore, serve and follow Him. Live for Him, glorify Him in a manner worthy of that with a heart and life and walk that is more precious than one in 33 million.

 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ Luke 4:8

Worship the Lord, King of the universe, for there is no other like Him. Sing His praises. He is worthy. Walk with the Lord of Lords and draw nearer to Him continually.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Call Of The Kohaneem….

In the Hebrew temple were the Kohaneem, the priests. There were many facets to their ministry. They offered sacrifices, kept the temple and cleaned it. The Kohaneem were entrusted to praise and worship, even over the Levites.

The Kohanim were in charge of the praise of God with words, music, psalms, harps, flutes, trumpets and timbrels. In the book of Peter it says, “You now are a royal kohaneem.”

You are a royal priesthood. That means you are called to many things, but chief among them is that you are called to be a keeper of praise. God appointed you to be a keeper of praise. That means you have to keep praise in your heart, on your lips, and in your mind.

If you are a priest to God, then you are a keeper of praise. You were born again to worship Him. So to do that, develop a tongue of praise, a mind of praise, a heart of praise and thanksgiving, a life of worship.

The kohaneem are the keepers of the praise, and you are one of the kohaneem, the royal priesthood.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Keep in your heart and mind, that we are all called to be priests of the Most High. There is no place on the sidelines, you have a charge to keep, to worship.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Grand Rabbi…

The head of the church isn’t a pope; it isn’t a minister; it’s a Rabbi. Yeshua, Jesus is a Rabbi. He’s called Rabbi, and He’s the grand Rabbi. The Rabbi in Jewish culture was the one who taught you. He expounds on God’s word.

In fact, there was a word that went along with rabbi; it was always rabbi and talmeedeem. The talmeedeem were the learners. One of the main ministries of Messiah to us is to teach us because He is the Rabbi.

That means that if we are His, we are talmeedeem. You are a disciple; you are a talmeedeem. As a student, we are to learn more about the Lord, about His ways, His word, His love, to become like Him, your Rabbi. The wonderful thing is that you have a great Rabbi. He will lead you if you follow Him.

That means your life is a course and the greatest course ever given. Set your heart to know God and to learn from Him. He will teach you now, every moment, every day of your life, a new lesson, because the head of the church and of you is a Rabbi.

Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice surely; the Lord has done great things! Do not be afraid; your wild animals for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. Be glad, people of Zion rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rain because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Joel 2: 21-23

Sit at the feet of the Teacher, learn the ways of the Master, we are all called to be of the holy priesthood to be like Him, we never stop learning the truth.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Door and The Window…

In Acts 9, Paul is in danger and there are people out for his life. He is being guarded and can’t go out the regular gate of the city. So what does he do? He goes out the window.

The door is the place you think of going out. If the door is closed, we think there is no way to get out. In life, we can get our mind or heart so set on something, that if one thing closes, we lose hope. If a door closes in ministry or a relationship, we lose hope.

Maybe the door wasn’t God’s will. Maybe it wasn’t God’s will to serve Him that way, but it is God’s will to serve Him. So, the door closed, but a window of ministry is going to be open. Maybe it wasn’t God’s will in that relationship, but it is His will for you to have joy.

So, that door of joy may be closed, but the window of joy is going to be open. Don’t give up when it comes to God’s will and His promises. Chances are, there is already a window open.

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

Seek God’s will in all things. Be assured when He speaks His will. It might not be what we see as the obvious answer, but He is calling us to follow Him through the window.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Faith – Hope – Love…

Hope and Faith are synonymous with each other, but does that mean they are the same?

Hope is defined as: A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, a feeling of trust.

Faith is defined as: Complete trust or confidence in someone or something. A strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

Synonymous, but not quite the same. They both define as a trust, one a feeling of trust, the other a complete trust. For me they are so close they could be the same. Take for instance this: Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the reality of things unseen. This verse from the Book of Hebrews Chapter 11 Verse 1 probably defines the very essence of both in one sentence.

We have faith that when we flip the switch, the light will turn on, yet we don’t see the electric power flowing through the wires. Being involved in the electric field I know the electricity is there, because I felt it many times in my life. Shocking, I know. I have faith in God, even though most have never seen Him, I have been in His immediate presence. But that is me, not everyone can say that.

Life is full of twists and turns. Sometimes a curve is thrown in somewhere in the middle. I’ve talked many times about rolling with the flow and living life to the fullest. Many times I have been asked how to roll when you don’t know what is around the next bend.

This is where Faith and Hope enter the. picture. I have faith that God knows what is best for me and hope that everything I need will be provided at the time it is needed. I have never been let down. There has been times that I had to look real hard for the solution, but it has always been there right in front of me.

I have also learned that I need to listen when He is talking to me, even when I think I can see the direction I need to take. Sometimes the path I think I need to take is not the path He wishes me to take and I end up re-tracing my steps and starting again. I’m sure we all have similar stories of life that we could share.

Our lives have had many very dark times, but through faith we have found the little light at the end of the tunnel to show us the way. Isn’t it nice that there is always a light showing us a way out of the darkness?

Faith is that light and hope is the reality that it will be there to lead us home. That is the essence of Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. God is always there to guide us if we will just ask Him for direction.

I see this at night when I go out and look into the heavens. The stars give me hope and a satisfaction that God is watching over me. A long time ago I defined hope as when the darkest times come, the stars will come out.

I guess the essence of this is depending on how you define Faith and Hope in reality is how you define yourself. Are you living a life of joy and happiness, or are you constantly fighting with life, living in despair? Now, let me add Love..

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The many times I have written about Faith and Hope yet we still seem to end up forgetting what they are. Is it because we have little faith in our Father or little hope in our future? If so what can we do about it?

Today I will add the last part, Love, and show why it is the greatest of all three.

God is love! All things are possible through Him and only Him. It is through His love we have faith and a genuine hope for things to come. I believe this to be fact and live my life accordingly. He has never let me down. Even when I fell and fractured my hip He was there to pick me up and comfort me through the pain and surgery.

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

LOVE IS… being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of others without impatience or anger.

LOVE IS… making a daily commitment to resist the needless moments of conflict that come from pointing out and responding to minor offenses.

LOVE IS… being more committed to unity and understanding than you are to winning, accusing, or being right.

LOVE IS… a making a daily commitment to admit your sin, weakness, and failure and to resist the temptation to offer an excuse or shift the blame.

LOVE IS… being willing, when confronted by another, to examine your heart rather than rising to your defense or shifting the focus.

LOVE IS… being willing to invest the time necessary to discuss, examine, and understand the relational problems you face, staying on task until the problem is removed or you have agreed upon a strategy of response.

LOVE IS… being willing to always ask for forgiveness and always being committed to grant forgiveness when it is requested.

LOVE IS… daily admitting to yourself, the other person, and God that you are unable to be driven by a cruciform love without God’s protecting, providing, forgiving, rescuing, and delivering grace.

Love is all this and much, much more. All things we do in love shows others we have God in our hearts and that we let Him be our guide in our everyday life.

So that brings me back to 1 Corinthians 13:13 …and the greatest of these is love.

By the way in case you didn’t know: 1 Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter. You should read it again and again, it will open your eyes and heart to life.

When it is the darkest, the stars will come out.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed