Ed Christian's World

Get Your Directions First…

Have you ever stopped and asked for directions and it didn’t help. You were still lost. When you’re on a long journey, you want to get your directions right from the start.

You don’t want to waste any time going the wrong way. You don’t want to make a wrong turn because, ultimately, you’ll pay for it by losing time and energy. One wrong turn, and you’re off track.

So in the Lord, you don’t want to make wrong turns. You don’t want to proceed down a wrong course because you’ll have to pay for that sin, that mistake, that jumping ahead. It will take you off track and away from your destination, and you’ll have to get back on. So save yourself the problem.

Wait until you know it’s God’s will. If you’re feeling uneasy, don’t do it. If there’s a question, don’t go there. Stop, get the direction right. Go in righteousness and don’t mess up your journey with sin because it takes a lot longer to get back on track than to not go off in the first place.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

Get out your spiritual “road map” the “Bible” and study your route for today. Seek God’s will in every decision. Then go in it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed

Appearing Beautiful or Being Beautiful…

1 Peter 3:4 says, “Women are to have a quiet spirit.” The Greek word there means, undisturbed. Are you disturbed? It’s not beautiful. What does God find beautiful or ugly?

When you’re disturbed, upset, or angry, it’s not a beautiful thing. When you’re a bitter person, filled with fear, discontent, frustrated, and never satisfied, that’s not beautiful. A person who’s in conflict with others, jealous, full of self-pity, always worrying, that’s not beautiful either. All these things are different ways of being disturbed. God calls us to have an undisturbed spirit.

Start becoming truly beautiful by adorning yourself with an undisturbed spirit of peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, contentment and blessing.

We’re all called to be part of the bride. Cultivate a spirit that doesn’t get upset so easily, doesn’t get anxious, or bent out of shape, full of crisis, and fearful.

Keep yourself in Jesus’s shalom by resting in His love. You’ll not only have peace, blessings, and contentment, but it’ll be something else. You’ll be beautiful to God.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

Today, seek not to look beautiful – but to be truly beautiful in God’s Spirit.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Antichrist Book…

Friedrich Nietzsche, the son of a Lutheran pastor, wrote a book called Antichrist. In it he called Christianity the one great curse, the one enormous, innermost perversion, the moral blemish of mankind.

He said, “I regard Christianity as the most seductive lie that ever existed. I condemn it.” A young Austrian named Adolf Hitler, read Nietzsche’s books and was fascinated by them.

He became a disciple of Nietzsche and his philosophy becoming the epitome of the title Antichrist and a foreshadow of the Antichrist to come.

The result was The Third Reich, the Second World War, the Holocaust, and millions of people dying. Behind world history and the news are spiritual things; good and evil.

What you do in the spiritual realm, what you believe, and what you receive makes a difference. Hitler is evidence of that, going back to Nietzsche.

So, turn away from the ways of the enemy. Live as a child of light, and you’ll prevail and crush the serpent under your feet. The enemy is real. But God is even more real!

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Ephesians 5:8-9

Today, take the war you’re in more seriously. Reject and turn down anything of the evil one.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The All-Encompassing Son…

Hebrews says that God who in past times spoke to us in many ways has now spoken to us by His Son. But in the Greek it doesn’t say “by His Son” it says, “by Son” without anything before the noun. We do that when we say, “I’m going home.” We don’t say I’m going to the home. The reason is “home” is all encompassing, so you don’t put something in front of it.

In the same way, the Son of God is so all in all, so incredible, so everything, that you don’t put anything in front of Him. He doesn’t need a modifier. He doesn’t need anything in front of Him. He’s everything. He’s not just a son, not just a light, not just the life.

We can’t separate ourselves from Him because we’re in Him. There’s no need to qualify Him. There’s no end to Him. He’s our life and we’re in Him.

So live your life in Him as if He’s everything. There’s no limiting Him. He’s not just the Light, the Life, and the Son; He’s light and life itself! He’s all in all, SON!

God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1:22-23

Don’t put anything in front of Him today. Make Him your all in all.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Who’s Your Angel?

Have you ever met or had a conversation with an Angel? Would you know if you did?

I ask because I believe Angels walk among us everyday and interface with us more than we realize. Grandfather was a firm believer in us living a multidimensional life. LIFE is multidimensional … .You need to look beyond the surface to appreciate the heights and depths of your life’s experiences.

From time to time, we come across an incidence that causes us to stop and take a day to reflect on life. Over the years, I’ve written many times about Angels in our lives, and I have found that there aren’t many people who actually believe that Angels walk among us. Some don’t even believe there are Angels.

I guess until they experience one themselves, in person, they will never believe they exist. I find it amazing they believe in God and the Bible but don’t find it possible that Angels are part of the picture. Then again I’ve witnessed situations where if it wasn’t for Divine input many more lives would have been lost. Yet, even then a few people failed to recognize the many arms of comfort and protection surrounding them.

I, myself, have walked and talked with the Angels for pretty much through out of my life so recognizing them in everyday life is second nature, it’s sort of like greeting friends on the street. Maybe I’ve been lucky that my ancestors pushed so hard for us kids to learn these lessons in life. The path we travel isn’t random and the road we take in life is full of pitfalls, yet we somehow manage to find our direction of we listen to the whispers in our ears. Yes, God does whisper in our ears once in a while and sometimes He has our Angels whisper to us also.

Our problem is we don’t always like what we hear and decide to go another direction, many times to our own detriment for we end up asking for help getting back on the right path. When we finally realize that we are not alone in life and that we have many Angels standing by eager to step in and help, life suddenly becomes easier. Life is actually fun for me as I go my way lending a hand where needed, a shoulder to cry on or even a soft touch of comfort to a stranger on the street.

Grandfather always taught me that a smile is a great umbrella and that a soft word of kindness will bring a world of sunshine into a person’s life. That has been my goal in life to make things easier for my neighbors and to share His love with everyone I meet every day.

I grew up with Angels around me, so I just thought everyone else has to. In retrospect, I know the Angels were there because I was taught they were there, and I can’t say that for everyone else. It doesn’t mean they don’t have Angels, it means they just haven’t been taught to acknowledge or recognize them.

I can’t say if that is a good thing or not, for we all have our own way of processing things. I still follow the old ways of my ancestors and have raised my children the same way. I have had my eyes opened at an early age, and it has given me great wisdom.

So as you travel down your path of life and encounter something that made you happy or saved you from a fall, consider that maybe an Angel smiled at you today. Love comes in many forms.

The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. Matthew 13:41

Grandfather was adamant that we are multidimensional in life and that sometimes we take on the role of Angels to fulfill the wishes of God. It is only when you apply yourself and the gifts given to you by God that your grow in your life.

This was one of Grandfather’s favorite statements. Never hold back, give 100% to every person you meet. He or she just might need the Angel in you. As you enlighten them they will enlighten you.

I believe we all are Angels to someone and many times throughout our life, we see and talk to Angels without even knowing it. I believe the blessing God gives us are to be shared with others and that we should be a shining example for others to follow. Shine your light brightly and speak your truth softly. You just may be the Angel somebody needs today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Breath Of Saul…

Acts 9:1 records the persecution of believers. It says “Saul was breathing threats.” It’s an interesting way of putting it. Saul may have been making threats, but he did it while he was breathing.

That’s important. Even though Saul was an enemy of faith, a persecutor, as long as he was breathing, there was hope. He could still use his breath to confess Yeshua, Jesus as Lord. So he would say, “Who are you Lord?”

You look at people who seem so far from God, but as long as they’re breathing they can change and there’s hope. Breathing is not forever. Remember our breaths are numbered.

If you think you’ll never live the life God has for you or tell yourself that you might as well give up, you’ll never change. In order to say those things you have to be breathing.

There’s still hope for you. Saul was breathing threats, but he was breathing, and he became the greatest apostle who ever lived. So be encouraged.

You might be telling yourself there’s no hope, but when you do that, you’re bearing witness that there’s hope because you’re still breathing.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40.31

Today, pray for and reach out to that one who is still breathing.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Good and Good For You…

When your parents wanted you to do something unpleasant, they said it’s good for you – going to bed early, doing homework, eating vegetables. Other things in life felt good, like milkshakes, cheesecake, or potato chips, but they weren’t good for you.

Often, things that feel good aren’t good for you and things that are good for you don’t feel good. It’s the same way in the spiritual realm. Sin may feel good, but it’s not.

Then, there are things that don’t feel good like going through trials, dying to self, or taking up your cross, but they’re good for you. We have to choose to turn down what seems or feels good and choose what may not feel good, but is.

But scripture also tells us to rejoice in the Lord. It’s good for you and it feels good, too. That’s why it says the joy of the Lord is your strength and rejoice in the Lord always.

Start rejoicing in the Lord, in all of His blessings and you’ll love it and be blessed for it. So get into and rejoice in His good joy. It’s good and it’s good for you.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Turn down that which feels good but isn’t – and embrace that which is good and right – regardless of how it feels.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Stricken or Advanced…

Luke 2 speaks of Anna or Hannah, the prophetess. It says in some versions, “she was well-stricken in age.” In our modern youth culture, “well stricken” is usually seen as a curse, like you’re getting beat up.

But other versions render it “advanced in age” or “of a great age.” In Greek, polus, means abundant, plentiful. This tells us a secret. We can go through life in two ways – being well-stricken in age or advancing in age; being abundant of great age.

Live by the flesh and you’ll be well-stricken, because the flesh goes downhill. It gets beaten up. But if you live in Jesus, you’re not called to go through life dreading age. You’re called to advance, to move forward, to press on, to be promoted, not to fear the future, but embrace it.

We’re to be advancing in grace, in love, in hope, and in faith in God. Don’t live in the flesh fearing age, but press forward. Let the years follow you. Advance in the Spirit of God and you won’t end up being well-stricken in years, but rather advancing and being of great age.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Proverbs 3:16

Advance in God’s Spirit today and embrace your future.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Holy Anger…

Scripture says, “Be angry, but sin not.” Some believers use this to justify anger in judging. But our problem is that we’re usually not angry enough. In Hebrew, the word Holy Spirit is Ruach HaKodesh.

Ruach doesn’t just mean Spirit. It also means anger. We’re to have a holy anger at sin itself – selfishness, apathy, lack of love. If you’re angry at people or yourself, that’s not it. The Spirit has anger, but it’s never prideful. It’s anger at sin.

Be so angry at your own sin that you determine to live the most unselfish life. So angry at people being lost, that you determine to spread the Gospel no matter what. So angry at a lack of love that you respond by being a fountain of love.

That’s the Ruach HaKodesh being so angry that when you see unsaved people, you have the burden of the Spirit to share the Good News and save them.

You should get so angry that you leave that sin once and for all and live a life of righteousness. But it starts with a holy anger. That’s the Spirit, that’s the Ruach.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Get so angry at sin that you’ll actually put it away once and for all.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Joy In The Desert…

On a pilgrimage tour to Israel, our accommodations varied. We were in a luxury hotel with waters flowing in from the Dead Sea. Then we stayed in a kibbutz, an Israeli farm community.

It was in the middle of the desert. It was so bare, so beautiful, and yet, it was one of the most special experiences of the pilgrimage.

Our pilgrimage on earth is the same way. Often, what you think is the most meaningful: gaining money, riches, comfort, big houses, reputation, or status turns out to be nothing in the end.

But those things you didn’t expect – the times of prayer, of love with your family. Giving, helping, those times that maybe weren’t comfortable, but were God’s will, growing closer to Him, worshiping Him. Persevering in righteousness, being faithful in Him are the things at the end of the journey that have the most glory.

Because it’s not the luxury hotels that are going to mean anything, but the places you spend being faithful, doing His will, loving, rejoicing, blessing, close in His arms, your kibbutz in the desert – that’s what will mean everything in the world.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20

Today, forget being comfortable. Seek to do what is right and meaningful in God and forever.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed