Ed Christian's World

The Preserver…

Jeremiah 31 declares that as long as there’s the natural order of creation, God will preserve the Jewish people. The Shehecheyanu is a Hebrew prayer thanking God for preserving us and sustaining us. All of hell has sought to wipe out the Jewish people from being preserved, yet God fulfilled His Word.

Many civilizations have vanished, but the Jews are still here. God preserved them and returned them to the land of Israel, just as He promised. In your life, it may sometimes seem that all hell is against you.

You may wonder what’s in the future and if you’re going to make it. God is very good at keeping His word. He kept the Jewish people through all hell for thousands of years. He who keeps Israel is the same One who will keep you who are His child.

As a believer, you’re part of the commonwealth of Israel, and He’s the Keeper of Israel. You don’t have to worry about your future because you know Him who holds your future. He’s the One who will hold you because He who keeps Israel, and you, will neither slumber nor sleep.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.  Philippians 1:6

Today, trust the Lord with all your concerns for your future. Give Thanks for His taking care of it all. Trust in His peace.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed.

The Timeless Time Code…

I once sent an email to an office worker that was only able to open it a week later. When she did, it showed that current day’s date on the memo. She thought that by the power of God’s Spirit.

I knew the exact date she would open it. I explained to her that I’d simply used the date code that updates itself every day, and her wonder faded away.

Though it was written thousands of years ago, the Bible has a date code. Every time you open it, you’re reading a Word for today. God’s Word is alive and new. If you look at the Word you read yesterday again today, it isn’t dated for yesterday. The date is for the moment you receive it.

Receive the Word as if it’s dated for today to be applied, obeyed, followed, and walked in. Open up the Bible, and in God’s Spirit, see the fresh living Word of God specifically for you, for this day.

It can change your life when you discover that every scripture contains, within the moment you receive it, a super natural date code.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.  1 Peter 1:23

Today, ask the Lord for one verse. Take that verse as a living word for you and for today and live it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Pausing Man…

Saul/Paul zealously persecuted believers until the light of God knocked him off his feet, and life was changed. It seemed like he became a totally different person, but in truth, the moment he was struck by the Light was the moment he was born for.

When the Lord asked him why he was persecuting Him, he asked the Lord, “What is Your name?” Saul’s parents gave him the Hebrew name Shaul, meaning “he who asks,” and Paulos, or Paul, is linked to the words to pause. For the first time in his life, he’s pausing and asking.

This was what he was named for. God had a purpose for his life, and confronted with it, he stepped out and took the risk.

When you step out and respond to God’s call, you change – not into someone else but into the person you’re made to become in the first place. Believe the Lord, obey, step out in faith, and do what you’ve never done before.

Like Shaul, you’ll fulfill the destiny for which you were born and become the person you were always meant to be.

And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.  Joshua 24:24

Believe the Lord today – step out in faith and do what you’ve never done before.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Protecting The Perfect…

In Philippians, Paul said, “One thing I do[…] I press on. ” He then said, “As many as are perfect have this attitude.” You’d think that if you’re perfect, then you’ve arrived because perfection is about getting to the full state or becoming complete.

Yet, he’s saying that all who are perfect have to have the attitude that they haven’t yet arrived. Those who are pressing ahead to be perfect – and who know that they’re not – are those who are perfect in God; imperfect in themselves, but perfect in Him.

The greatest saints I’ve known in my life aren’t those who thought they arrived, but those who always want to go deeper – to learn more, become more loving, more holy, more pure, more on fire, more like Jesus.

There’s always more to Jesus, and the only way you can be filled up is to never stop filling yourself up with more of Him. Have this attitude that Paul had – never stop pressing on for more until you’ve arrived.

In always seeking and finding more of Him, you will have arrived, and in that will be your perfection.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if at some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.  Philippians 3:13-16

Press on today and continue on in the perfection of Jesus.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Greatest Love Story…

As dawn breaks and a new day unfolds, let us all be reminded of the most profound love story ever told. This narrative is summed up succinctly but powerfully in the verse, John 3:16.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.    John 3:16

At the heart of the Christian faith lies this profound truth: God loves us. Not just a little, not just when we’re at our best, but with an immeasurable, unconditional, and sacrificial love.

John 3:16 is more than just a verse; it’s the gospel in a nutshell. It tells us that God’s love is so vast and so deep that He was willing to give His only Son for us. It’s a love that bridges the gap between our brokenness and His holiness, a love that offers us the gift of eternal life.

But this verse isn’t just about the quantity of life—it’s about the quality. The eternal life that God offers us is not just an endless existence but a life filled with purpose, joy, and intimate fellowship with Him. It’s a life that begins not when we take our last breath, but the moment we believe.

And that’s the key: Belief!

God’s love and gift of salvation are available to all, but they must be received through faith. It’s not about earning or deserving but simply about believing and accepting.

Today, wherever you are in your journey, know this: you are loved. Loved with a love that will never let you go, never give up on you, never run out. A love that pursues you, redeems you, and gives you hope for today and for eternity.

So take a moment to let that truth sink in. Let it dispel your fears, heal your wounds, and anchor your soul. And then, with a heart filled with gratitude, step out into your day, living in the light and power of this incredible love.

Remember, your story doesn’t end with your struggles. But with God—the greatest plot twist in the history of the universe. So keep believing, keep hoping, and keep walking in the unshakable love of your Heavenly Father.

God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung and bled and died, it was God saying to the world, “I love you.”

Our job, as Christians, is to share this love and blessing with all who cross our path. Can you honestly say that you are?

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Test…

Growing up, we had tests in school and spent lots of time preparing, studying, and staying up late cramming for them. The bigger the test, the more time spent studying for it. The key with the tests was to prepare beforehand.

In God, we know that we go through tests. Why is it that most believers spend no time preparing for the tests? We did it for school, but not for life, not for God, who alone really counts. Maybe that’s why sometimes we have to take the same test over and over in life.

Instead of just waiting for tests to come in your life and quickly trying to handle the challenge in the middle of the trial, try something new. Start preparing for them beforehand. When things are okay and peaceful, use that time to grow.

Prepare to get stronger in God in all areas of your life when you’re not in the middle of the conflict or being tempted. Those who passed the tests are those who prepared for them. Prepare for your tests, and you’ll pass them and move on to graduation.

He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.  2 Chronicles 12:14

Take time today to prepare for future victory. Spend time today with the Lord – meditating on His word.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Live Free From The World…

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…

As many of you know, I am constantly telling you to stay focused on Jesus and let the world go by. I also push 1 Corinthians 13 a lot because it is the love chapter of the Bible and, to me, one of the most important passages in the Bible, along with Psalm 23.

I often hear people ponder about what heaven must be like and complain about how hard life is here on Earth. So today, I am going to talk about my life a bit, tell you about Heaven here on Earth, and explain how these chapters help us, as Christians, to live our life as we are in Heaven.

A little over 50 years ago, September 9, 1971, on what turned out to be my last mission in Vietnam, my spotter and I rescued six American servicemen from a prison camp. Needless to say, the Vietnamese were not very happy with us, and they sent a troop looking for us. We radioed for a pickup at a designated site, but the North Vietnamese were waiting for us and shot down the Hueys, killing our rescue group and destroying our radio, so we had no other choice than to hike back. It was a five day trip back from North Vietnam to DaNang where our main camp was.

It was the end of the fifth day, and we were closing in on the camp from the backside. Me and one of the rescued ones were brushing the trail while the rest of the group went on ahead. As we approached the camp, the serviceman accidentally tripped on a wire to a Claymore mine, setting it off. I was caught with the outside edge of it.

It blew into the right side of my body, tearing my right arm almost out of its socket and ripping into the right side of my scull. I was the lucky one. My rescued serviceman was killed.

Needless to say, the explosion raised alarms in the camp, and several Marines appeared with rifles raised. They picked me up and packed me back to the camp where the medics attended to me. I had lost a lot of blood, and they worked hard to save me.

I am told they thought they lost the battle and I had passed. As they were zipping up the bag around me, my body shook, and I came back to life. As I recall, I was basking in light, full of peace, with no pain looking into the eyes of the most beautiful man I have ever seen, then as fast as that I was back in camp in agonizing pain. Did I die and come back? I can’t really say, but I do know I have never experienced peace like that ever since.

They transported me to the hospital ship Sanctuary, where I was further patched up and sent to Germany and eventually home. I had suffered multiple injuries to my right arm, shoulder, and chest plus 360 stitches in my head where the beebees from the mine penitrated my scull. I was told they removed over 200 beebees from my head and body. I was sent home a broken mess. I arrived stateside on Veterans Day, November 11th. Since then, I’ve had over 12 surgeries on my right shoulder and 4 on my head and neck all to get my right side to function somewhat normal.

God saved me for a purpose, and I think that purpose is to share His blessings and grace with all I cross paths with, which is what I strive to do on a daily basis.

I can truly say I have been blessed over my life and that God has kept me centered. I thank Him daily for all the wonderful people He puts in my path and promised Him to live my life to His glory.

This is an abbreviated version of my life. As I said, September 9th marked the 52nd anniversary of the mine incident. I feel old at times, but know I am not finished with what He sent me here to do.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come, T’was Grace, that brought me safe thus far, and Grace will bring me home.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

As I’ve said, this is one of my favorite chapters because when you dig into a bit, you see something most people overlook. So maybe we should take a real close look at the 1 Corinthians 13 verses through different eyes: God is patient, he is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He does not dishonor others, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. God never fails.

This looking deeper into the Bible is true throughout because when we look at how it is written to guide our daily lives, we see a whole new reason behind it. The 23rd chapter of Psalm, another favorite of mine, is one of the most quoted in the bible. But, have you really looked closely at it to see how it fits our everyday life?

The Lord is my shepherd and makes sure I have everything I need. Without Him, I would be lost.
He gives me a green pasture for which to graze and sleep. He provides still water for me to drink. In case you didn’t know, lambs won’t drink from moving water. He restores my soul: He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. He provides guidance in all circumstances, if we ask. He offers me comfort and protection so that I have nothing to fear. He is always there to watch over me. He stands with me in the presence of my enemies. He covers me with His love and blessings and my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy follow me everywhere, and He has prepared a place for me in His house for me to live forever.

As Christians, we are to love all as we love ourselves so as we live our lives with love and have faith that the Lord is watching our every step, we the realize the joy of our Lord is our strength. Dwell in His holy presence, and center yourself in His will. His blessings will flow. Serve Him with a joyful heart and again; rejoice.

Many times, I am asked how I stay so positive when it seems like the world is crushing in on me. I have always responded that life is a choice, and I can choose to be negative or positive for all the challenges. I always choose the positive, knowing that He is right here beside me and knows what is waiting around the corner.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

A life of love.. It is here, the very essence of life, where life itself takes on a whole new meaning. Harmony, love, trust, and faith in, with and around your fellow man step up and take a leading role in the meaning of everyday life. It takes a unique balance of all of these to maintain human relations in our complex world. The pressures put on us by our social peers, for lack of a better word, tend to drive us all in opposing directions from the center of life’s true meaning.

Eternal life does not begin with death; it begins with faith.

Let us live our lives full of love for all and share our blessing along the way. Then we will see that the world is not collapsing on us and the Lord is always at least one step ahead of us.

This is my life of peace and grace. Join me and learn how to live free of the world.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Lions Roar…

Every believer is part of a fight against some kind of evil, temptation, habit, or situation. Scripture records that on the day of battle, God’s Spirit came upon His people. His Spirit came on Gideon, Samson, and Joshua and they fought their battle, overcame the enemy, and won.

The key is that they didn’t just fight their battles, they were filled with God’s presence in that battle, and so they won. You can’t fight evil by just fighting evil. You can only fight evil with the good, in the good, through the good, by the good, and for good.

Fight the darkness by being filled up with the light of God’s presence. Fight the flesh by being filled up with God’s Spirit. Remember, the great biblical warriors never just fought their enemies, they fought in, by, and through the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit.

Stop dwelling on your conflict, what’s against you, and what you’re against. Start getting filled up with the good. In that, you will overcome, and you will emerge from your battle victoriously.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8

Before you fight your battles or deal with your problems today, receive from God the anointing for victory.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed

The Active Kind Of Holy…

The Pharisees had a problem with Jesus going to the house of Matthew. The word Pharisee comes from the Hebrew word kedoshim, which means separated ones. Their holiness was about staying separate from the unholy.

There are two kinds of holiness. One that stays away from the unholy, and the other kind that cleanses the unclean and makes it clean. Jesus’s holiness touches the unholy and makes it holy. He came to earth to touch the sick- the lepers, the untouchables- and heal them.

Many religious people are scared of touching the unholy because they’re afraid they will become unholy as well. Jesus’s holiness is so great that It’s not content to leave evil alone, or let the dark stay, but to shine the light in the dark and make the darkness light. It’s so holy that It makes everything around become holy.

That’s what It’s about. So have nothing to do with sin, keeping your heart free of the slightest trace of sin, but have everything to do with the unholy people, the lost and unsaved, because the truly holy do not fear the dark- they light it up.

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.  Luke 19:10

Don’t fear the dark today. Instead, illuminate it, touch it, overwhelm it, share the Gospel with it, and transform it with the presence of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Dawn, The Moon, and The Sun…

The Song of Solomon speaks of the bride as the moon but finishes by speaking of her as the sun. The final picture and mystery of the bride goes from moonlight to sunshine.

The moon and the sun are two different kinds of light. The moon is a light that shines conditionally. There has to be nothing blocking its face, nothing hiding it from the sun. The sun shines regardless of where it’s facing, or anything blocking it, because its nature is to shine.

We are the bride and we are still in the moon phase. We’re rejoicing, but our joy is conditional. The real victory comes when you move from the moon stage to the sun stage. It’s when your joy moves from being conditional to becoming unconditional.

You praise not just when things are good, but when things look terrible – at all times. You shine not just because things are shining around you, you shine because you are a light.

That’s what a light does – it shines. You’re the bride, and the bride begins as fair as the moon but ends as bright as the sun.

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.  Daniel 12:3

Commit to being the light of Jesus today and shine like the sun!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed