Ed Christian's World

It’s More Than Forgiveness…

Luke 6:37 says, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” The Greek word translated as forgive in that Scripture is apoloo’oh. In Acts, the same word is used to speak of the disciples ‘sending away’ the other disciples on their journey.

We tend to think of forgiveness as an overlooking of sin. But the word apoloo’oh means far more. God’s forgiveness isn’t just to overlook a sin. It’s to literally ‘send it away.’

Forgiveness is an act of actively sending the sin or issue into the hands of God, never to be taken back. When the disciples sent the other disciples on their journeys, they laid hands on them, prayed for them, escorted them out of the city, or sent them off on ships – apoloo’oh.

So it is with God’s forgiveness. It isn’t enough to overlook sin. You have to take the time to send it out of your life once and for all. Take that offense, hurt, or wound, and by the power of God’s love, escort it out of your heart and life. Set it off in a ship of grace, into the sea of God’s mercy.

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.  Titus 3:5

Today, practice actively sending away from your life that has no business being there.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Serving Him…

Good morning, I wish you all a very blessed day! Today, let’s reflect on how serving those in need is serving Christ Himself.

The King will reply, ‘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

These words of Jesus reveal something extraordinary about how He views our acts of mercy. When we feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, care for the sick – we’re doing it for Him. Every tangible expression of compassion to those in desperate need becomes an act of worship.

Think about that. The meal given to someone who hasn’t eaten, the clothes shared with those who have none, the visit to someone who’s suffering – these aren’t just good deeds. They’re holy moments. When we serve those Jesus calls “the least of these,” we’re serving Him.

This isn’t about earning favor; it’s about following our King’s example. He who had everything became poor for our sake, showing us how to give ourselves away in love.

Today, let’s look for opportunities to serve Jesus by serving those in genuine need. For when we serve them, we serve Him.

Sometimes, we are so wrapped up in ourselves that we forget those around us. Let’s begin our day by asking ourselves:

Who has God placed in my path today that needs His love shown through me?

How might seeing Jesus in others change the way I respond to needs around me?

Dear Heavenly Father, Sometimes, I get so caught up in my own little world that I miss seeing those in real need around me. Open my eyes today to see as you see. When I encounter someone hungry, lonely, or hurting, remind me that serving them is serving You. Thank you for showing me what true love looks like through Your Son. Help me follow His example – not just with good intentions, but with hands and heart ready to help those who need it most. Let my life today be a glimpse of Your kindness, a reminder of Your hope, and a reflection of Your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The Radical.Heaet…

At a VA meeting last month a man claiming to represent beings from another planet contended that soon, selected people from earth would be taken to this planet. But, in order to prepare for their departure in a UFO, they would have to sell all their worldly goods.

About twenty people were convinced, sold everything, and followed the man out of their town. Every so often, a cult leader comes along speaking of some apocalyptic event, and people give up everything to follow a lie.

Yet, the followers of the true Jesus are often the least likely to give up their comforts to follow Him. We of all people have something so great that letting go of anything else should be an easy thing.

The Lord never called us to be foolish or crazy. But He does call us to give up our hold on what is only temporary. So let go of that thing you’re holding on to. Give to the poor, and those in need, because you have a sure hope and a real destination… and you don’t need a UFO to get there.

Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.  Proverbs 23:17-18

Today, let go of anything that is distracting, keeping, or hindering you from your time, your love, and your devotion to God. Spend the time with Him.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Faith In Prayer…

Today’s the day to dive deep into what faith in our prayers really means. Let’s unwrap this gift together.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mark 11:24

In the tapestry of life, we often find ourselves facing challenges that seem insurmountable and dreams that feel out of reach. But Mark 11:24 offers us a thread of hope, a promise that has the power to revolutionize our prayer lives and reshape our realities.

Jesus’ words beckon us to approach prayer with an audacious faith, to believe that the very things we’re asking for are already ours in the spiritual realm. This isn’t a call to ignore reality or to treat God like a cosmic vending machine. It’s an invitation to align our hearts with the heart of God, to trust in His goodness and His ability to do the impossible.

When we pray with this kind of mountain-moving faith, we begin to see the landscape of our lives shift. Doors that once seemed sealed shut start to crack open. Dreams that lay dormant spring to life. Fears that held us captive lose their grip in the light of God’s promises.

Today, let us take hold of the thread of faith and weave it into every prayer we offer. Let us approach God with confidence that is rooted not in our own strength but in His unfailing love and boundless power. And let us watch in wonder as He takes our mustard seed of faith and grows it into a flourishing tree, bearing fruit that will last for eternity.

Gracious God, Life’s journey holds challenges that can overwhelm and dreams that seem distant. But today, I cling to the hope You offer in Mark 11:24. Inspired by Jesus, I pray with audacious faith, believing my prayers are already answered in Your spiritual realm. Help me align my heart fully with Yours, surrendering my will and trusting in Your goodness. Steady my faith when circumstances seem unchanged. Remind me that even a mustard seed of belief can move mountains. I place my fears, dreams, and struggles into Your capable hands, knowing that You work all things for my good and Your glory. Thank You for the gift of prayer and the joy of witnessing Your faithfulness unfold. AIn Jesus’ name, Amen.

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The Power of The Gift…

The La Santé prison built in 1867 in France is considered hard to escape from. But in 1927 Leon Daudet escaped by simply walking out the front gate. One of Daudet’s friends telephoned the warden falsifying Daudet’s pardon. Daudet was escorted out the front gate and set free. Only later did they discover it was a prison break.

If you believe a lie, you become subject to the lie. A secure prison that doesn’t think it has the legal power to keep a prisoner will become weak. A strong man who believes he’s really weak will act weak.

So, too, the enemy of our faith bombards us with lies. He’ll tell you, “you’re weak, bound to your sins, you can never break free, you don’t have the power to overcome, and you’ll never really know a life of victory, joy, peace, and fulfillment.”

If you believe that you don’t have the power, then you won’t use the power you do have. Don’t believe the lie!

You have the power of God to overcome all bondages, all sins, and all obstacles. Believe the good news and overcome. You have the power!

 “If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”   Mark 9:23

Today, take a specific promise of God for your life. Believe it with all your heart and apply it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Cast Your Cares…

Good morning! Today, let’s find strength in casting our cares upon the Lord, even in our darkest moments.

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 15:22

Does it feel like the weight of the world is pressing down on your shoulders? Worries, fears, anxieties – they pile up like heavy stones, threatening to crush your spirit. In Psalm 55:22, David, a man familiar with such burdens, offers a lifeline: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

“Cast” isn’t a passive word. It evokes the image of throwing something heavy, a deliberate act of release. It’s not about ignoring our problems or pretending they don’t exist; it’s about acknowledging we were never meant to carry them alone. God invites us to transfer that weight – the sleepless nights, the unanswered questions, the heart-wrenching decisions – onto Him.

And here’s the incredible promise: He will sustain you. Not just rescue you, not just fix it all, but sustain you. Like a loving parent holding a child through a thunderstorm, He’ll provide the strength, the peace, the courage you need to weather the storm.

Today, let’s take that step of surrender. Name your burdens, one by one, and lay them at His feet. Feel the weight lift as you trust in His unfailing love and power. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. The God who holds the universe in His hands is holding you, too.

Dear God, When life feels overwhelming, it’s such a comfort to know that You’re right here with me. Today, I bring all my worries, fears, and uncertainties to You, trusting that You will carry them for me. I know that I don’t have to bear these burdens alone, and that brings me peace. Please fill me with Your strength and calm my anxious heart. Hold me close when the storms of life rage around me and remind me that even when things feel out of control, You are always in control. Thank You for Your unwavering love that never lets go. I’m so grateful that I can lean on You, no matter what comes my way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Turtle People…

In the old story, ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’, the outcome seemed obvious. The rabbit would be the sure winner. At the start of the race, he shot out and disappeared into the distance. He was so confident in his speed that he stopped to take a nap. Meanwhile, the turtle just kept slowly moving forward without stopping, until he crossed the finish line… first.

So, when it comes to the race set before us, Hebrews tells us to “run the race,” not with speed but with endurance. Many people make an impressive start. They go all out for God, riding a wave of emotion that crashes because they never counted the cost or committed to persevering no matter what.

If you want to win the race, you must be like the turtle. Run the race set before you with endurance, perseverance, and resolve. Count the cost and commit yourself to following, come what may.

Be faithful daily in prayer, the Word, and fellowship. Be consistent when you feel like it and when you don’t. Then, step by step in due time, like the turtle, you’ll win your good race.

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.  Luke.14:13

Today, commit yourself all the more to running your race in God, steadily, consistently, persevering, and to the finish line.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Transformation…

Today, let’s embrace transformation! Remember, through God’s love and the renewal of our minds, we can break free from the world’s pressures and align our lives with His perfect will.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

In a world where we are being pressured to fit in, Romans 12:2 is a lifeline. It invites us to a transformation far deeper than mere outward change– a renewal that starts in the hidden places of our hearts and minds.

The key lies in saturating ourselves with God’s Word. As we dwell on Scripture, the Spirit starts to untangle the lies that have twisted our thinking – the doubts, fears, and worldly desires that keep us from living in full freedom. We begin to see ourselves through God’s eyes, replacing the world’s fleeting standards with His eternal truth.

This transformation isn’t easy or instant. It’s a daily journey of surrender, choosing God’s perspective over the world’s pressures. But as we allow His Word to rewire our hearts, we become more like Christ, one thought, one decision at a time.

Let’s not settle for the exhausting chase for conformity. Today, let’s embrace the transformation that sets us free. As we invite the Holy Spirit to renew our minds, we’ll discover a life overflowing with the joy and purpose that come only from walking in His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

In what areas of your life do you find yourself most tempted to conform to the world? How can you actively choose God’s perspective today?

Dear Heavenly Father, I confess my weariness of trying to fit into the world’s mold. My heart aches for Your transformation. Renew my mind, untangling the lies and doubts that have held me captive. Saturate my being with Your truth, so I may clearly see Your good, pleasing, and perfect will. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to live differently. Help me to choose Your perspective each day, to walk boldly in Your ways. Let every thought and decision reflect the transformation you’re working. May my life bring You glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Broken Pieces…

It’s actually a Jewish tradition that the Jesus would be a carpenter. Why a carpenter? A carpenter specializes in putting things together. A carpenter takes pieces of material and out of them forms something beautiful.

If you’re human and living on this planet, chances are you’ve seen parts of your life break apart – dreams, relationships, promises, and hearts. We’ve all experienced missing pieces. Our lives need the hands of a carpenter.

Jesus’s specialty is to take the brokenness and piece it together until your life turns out to be something beautiful. Your part is to let Him have all the pieces. Bring to Him all of your brokenness – your sorrows, losses, frustrations, hurts, and wounds.

Give Him your broken dreams, relationships, promises, and broken hearts – all of it. Put them all into Jesus’s hands. You don’t have to struggle with your life. You can entrust it into His hands because His hands are the hands of a carpenter. He is the Master Carpenter of life.

So, let Him be the Carpenter of your life. That’s when your life will come together and become something beautiful.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: ‘I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself, and spreading out the earth alone.  Isaiah 44:24

Today, give the Lord any part of your life or heart that is or has been broken. Trust Him to redeem the broken pieces.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Follow The Light…

Good morning! Today, let’s explore what it means to find true light in a world full of temporary solutions.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’
John 8:12

We all experience dark days—moments when disappointment, loss, or uncertainty leaves us feeling stuck. In those times, it’s tempting to look for solutions we can control. We reach for emotional “flashlights,” hoping to find clarity.

Maybe it’s a new relationship, a career change, or even moving somewhere new. But no matter how bright those flashlights seem, they eventually flicker and fail. Why? Because the darkness isn’t just around us—it’s within us. And no flashlight of our own making can fix that.

What we need isn’t more effort or another self-made plan. We need Jesus, the Light of the World. His light doesn’t just illuminate the path ahead; it transforms the way we walk through life. It reveals the truth, strengthens our faith, and fills our hearts with hope.

If you’re in a dark place today, stop relying on dim flashlights. Invite Christ to be your Light. He doesn’t just lead the way—He is the way.

Dear Father, So often, I try to light my own path, relying on solutions that only flicker and fade. Today, I’m laying down those dim flashlights and turning to Your perfect, unfailing light. When doubt and uncertainty creep in, remind me that Your light doesn’t just guide me—it transforms my heart and my steps. Thank You for the peace of knowing I don’t have to figure everything out on my own. I just need You. Shine into every corner of my life today and fill me with Your hope and truth. Help me, Father, to be a light shining for others to see You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

All the darkness in the world can not extinguish the light of a single candle. Are you shining your light so others can find Jesus?

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed 🙏🏼