Ed Christian's World

Many Sides of Ruth…

The Book of Ruth starts out one way and ends up much differently. Naomi – expected to stay in Israel her whole life, see her sons marry Israelites, and give her grandchildren. Ruth- probably expected to remain in Moab, marry a Moabite and live and die that way.

Boaz – undoubtedly expected to marry an Israelite, but then he got older and probably thought he wouldn’t marry at all. Then Naomi moves to Moab, her sons marry Moabites, and her husband and sons die.

Ruth marries a foreigner who dies. Then Ruth returns with Naomi to Israel where Boaz is now an older man, expecting never to marry. But the old bachelor marries, Ruth becomes an Israelite, and the bereaving Naomi is comforted and rejoices.

Nobody’s life went as planned. So, too, if you follow God, your life may not go according to your plans. But God’s plans are better. He never promises a perfect picket fence life. He promises a redeemed life.

It will turn out better than your plans for a “perfect life”. Go God’s way, for His way is better, and His life is better than what you planned.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

Today, choose to walk in God’s plan for your life and not your own.

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. But with God, it’s 100% about how He can work everything out for your good.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Reflection- Judgement vs Grace…

Today, let’s reflect on the power of judgment and the beauty of grace.

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:2

Have you ever caught yourself quickly forming opinions about someone else’s actions or decisions? We all have. It’s a common pitfall, especially when we overlook the grace we’ve received ourselves. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:2 that the same standards we use to judge others will be applied to us. This powerful truth calls us to reflect on how we treat those around us.

Imagine a world where we measure others with the same grace, understanding, and kindness we hope to receive. Recall a moment when someone extended grace to you, even when you didn’t deserve it. How did that make you feel? We have the incredible opportunity to be that source of grace for others.

This teaching echoes the essence of the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. By choosing compassion over criticism and understanding over judgment, we reflect the heart of Jesus. It’s a challenging but transformative way to live, bringing light and love into our interactions.

Today, let’s make a conscious effort to live by this principle. Let our actions be filled with love, our words with kindness, and our hearts open to forgiveness. Remember, the grace you give is the grace you will receive.

How often do we judge others without understanding their full story?

How can we show more kindness and understanding in our daily interactions?

Dear God, forgive me for the times I’ve been quick to judge, forgetting the grace you’ve so freely given me. Help me to see others as you see them – not through the lens of my own flawed perspective but through the lens of your boundless love and compassion. Fill my heart with your grace, that I may extend it generously to those around me. May my words and thoughts be kind, my actions loving, and my heart always open to forgiveness. Thank you for showing me what true love looks like. Help me to follow your example, treating others as I long to be treated. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The Trilogy is One…

God is one God, He exists as one, and yet He exists as three. 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. So, how can three be one? The Father, the Son, and the Spirit do not exist independently of each other, but rather, each exists by the other.

In mathematics, the word “by” is represented not by the + sign but by the x sign. So, to see the mystery, you need to change the equation to: 1 x 1 x 1. And what does that add up to? One. Most believers relate to God with the mathematical mistake of adding God plus them – two separate lives living side by side.

But the Bible speaks of living in the Lord, by the Lord, through the Lord, and He with you and through you. The secret of living victoriously is to change the plus sign into a times sign.

By embracing the “times sign” instead of the “plus sign,” we can experience a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. It’s not about living next to God but through Him and Him through us. This beautiful union is at the heart of our faith.

Don’t live next to God, live through Him and He through you. Exist by His existence, live by His life, move in His moving, and love by His love. The two shall become one. How? Not by 1 plus 1, but 1 times 1… equals 1!

Yet for us, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:6

Today, make it your aim to do all not just with the Lord, but through the Lord, by the Lord, and in the Lord.

Unity is not uniformity but rather a harmony of diversity.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Restful Peace…

Good morning! Today, let’s discover the restful peace our Shepherd provides in life’s chaos.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.
Psalm 23:2

Imagine being led to a place where your soul can breathe, where the noise of life fades, and you feel completely at peace. That’s the picture Psalm 23:2 paints. God doesn’t just provide physical rest; He restores our souls in ways nothing else can.

In a world constantly pushing us to do more and be more, God calls us to simply be still. He leads us to “green pastures”—a symbol of abundance and peace—and “quiet waters” where our spirits are refreshed. This isn’t a reward for being strong or having it all together. It’s a gift from a loving Shepherd who knows exactly what we need, even when we don’t.

Today, take a moment to pause. Rest in the truth that you don’t have to carry everything on your own. God is inviting you to find peace and restoration in His presence. Let Him guide you to those quiet waters, where your soul can be renewed.

Where in your life do you need to allow God to lead you to rest?

How can you trust Him to refresh your soul today?

Dear Lord, my soul longs for some quiet time with You. Help me find moments of stillness and surrender my worries at Your feet. Guide me to those peaceful places where my spirit can rest. Deep down, I trust in Your perfect plan for me, even when the path seems uncertain. Lead me to that place of rest and renewal, where I can truly recharge. Thank you for being my Shepherd and for always knowing what’s best for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We need to find God, and he can not be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The Four F’s…

The prophet Isaiah says, “When you go through the flood, you will not drown. When you go through the fire, you won’t be burned.” David says that when you go through the famine, you will have more than enough. Notice the three F’s—through the flood, the fire, the famine.

They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.
Psalm 37:19, NLT

The good news is that God has one more F; it’s favor. When you’re in the flood, don’t complain. Get ready for favor to lift you above it. When you’re in the fire, get ready for God to make a way where you don’t see a way. When you’re in the famine, favor is what’s going to help you overcome the challenges.

You may have been through the flood, fire, and famine. God will not mismanage your life. He will not allow things to happen that won’t somehow move you toward your destiny.

If you could see where God is going to take you, if you could see the favor, the influence, the abundance, the health, or the friends, you wouldn’t complain about what you’re going through. Get ready for the favor that is coming.

Father, thank You for Your promise to be with me through the fire, flood, and famine. Even when life doesn’t make sense, I choose to trust in You and believe that You are working all things for my good. Help me to grow through it, increase my faith, and let my character come up higher. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You don’t need everyone to help you. You just need one touch of favor, and you will accomplish in a split second what could have taken your whole lifetime.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The Battles We Face….

Today, let us find encouragement in the enduring truth of God’s sovereignty and the assurance of His guidance in every challenge we face.

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
2 Chronicles 20:15

Today’s verse speaks to us in moments of overwhelm and uncertainty. It’s a powerful reminder that we are not alone in our struggles. The battles we face, whether they are personal challenges, conflicts, or moments of doubt, are not ours to fight alone – they are under God’s command.

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat faced a daunting army. Yet, this verse was God’s assurance to him – and to us – that He is in control. It invites us to step back from our instinct to take charge and instead, trust in God’s power and plan. This doesn’t mean we are passive; it means our action is rooted in faith, not fear. Our role is to stand firm, hold our ground in faith, and watch God work on our behalf.

Today, let this verse embolden you. Whatever “vast army” you face, remember that the battle belongs to the Lord. Your strength lies in your trust in Him, and your victory is in His hands.

Dear Lord, In the face of life’s battles, I am often tempted to take control, letting fear and worry guide my actions. Today, I choose to remember that the battle is Yours. I lay down my fears and anxieties at Your feet, trusting in Your power and wisdom to guide me through. Give me the strength to stand firm in faith, the courage to face each challenge with confidence in Your protection and guidance. May my heart find peace in the assurance that You are fighting for me, and may my life reflect Your victory. In the powerful name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

When Your Buttons Are Pushed…

When you take the high road and remain calm and quiet when someone offends you, some people may mistake that for weakness, but the truth is, that’s a sign of strength. It takes a strong person to overlook an offense and not retaliate.

That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity.
Psalm 94:13

It takes maturity to not get into an argument and just ignore them. Some people will try to bait you. They love to argue. They’ll do things on purpose to try to stir you up. Their mission is to get you all riled up.

If you give in, if you take that bait, you’re allowing them to control you. If they push this button, you get upset. If they push that button, you lose your temper. If they push that button, you give in and compromise.

Do yourself a favor and turn off those buttons. Don’t take the bait. Don’t sink down to their level. Next time that happens, just smile and move forward.

Turn it over to God and let Him handle that person. You have a destiny to fulfill. You don’t have time to play those games.

Father, thank You for Your Word that says You have given me the power to keep calm in times of adversity. Help me relearn how to respond when someone pushes my buttons for a reaction. I declare that I will not let others stir me up and control me any longer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Strength doesn’t come from reacting, but from responding. Responding is what happens when you take a moment to breathe, think, and choose your words. Reacting is what happens when you let your emotions take over.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The Peacemaker…

Today, let’s explore how we can be peacemakers in a world of conflict.  Good morning!! Have a blessed day.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Romans 12:18

Have you ever found yourself in the heat of an argument, tensions rising and tempers flaring? In today’s world where conflicts can ignite in an instant, Paul’s words in Romans 12:18 offer a challenging yet beautiful standard: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

This isn’t a call to be a doormat or to avoid difficult conversations. Rather, it’s an invitation to become architects of peace instead of agents of conflict. Think of that family member whose views oppose yours, or the coworker who knows exactly which buttons to push. In these moments, Paul encourages us to take the high road, even when the climb seems steep.

“As far as it depends on you” reminds us of our role in cultivating peace. While we can’t control others’ actions, we can choose our responses. It’s about offering olive branches rather than throwing stones, listening more than speaking, and choosing forgiveness over resentment.

Today, let’s commit to being peacemakers wherever we are. By intentionally bringing Christ’s love into our relationships through our words, actions, and attitudes, we can transform potential battlegrounds into bridges of understanding.

Where in your life are you struggling to live at peace with someone?

What one step can you take today to foster peace in a challenging relationship?

Dear Lord, In this world where conflicts flare up so easily, help me be a beacon of Your peace. When tensions rise and harsh words tempt my tongue, remind me of Your gentle ways. Give me the courage to extend olive branches instead of building walls. Open my ears to truly listen, Lord, and guide my words to speak with love. When others push my buttons, help me respond with grace. In moments of disagreement, let me see Your image in those I struggle to understand. Thank you for your peace through Jesus. Help me follow His example and build bridges of understanding. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Peace begins with a smile..

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

It’s A Choice…

Often, in some communist countries, when men were put in prison for their faith, agents from the state would harass the prisoners’ wife, threatening her, pressuring her to divorce him. Sabina Wormbrund was one of those women.

She responded to the threats by saying, “I didn’t marry Richard only for the happy times. We were united forever in the Lord. Whatever may come, I will not divorce him.”

We live in a society where people leave each other, not with threats of hardship or prison, but because they don’t feel ‘in love’ anymore, or they think they love somebody else. That is not love. That is a sin against love. Remember, God is faithful to you even when you don’t deserve it. True love is precious.

True faithfulness has a price, but it’s more than worth it. When you call yourself by His name, then you be faithful too, in sickness or in health, in good times and bad, when it’s easy, or when it costs you everything.

When you don’t feel love for that person anymore, love them anyway. Because that is the way God loves you.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18

Today, even if you don’t feel like it, faithfully love those whom God has put in your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed 🙏🏼

Closer Than You Think…

Good morning!

Today, remember that you are not alone in your struggles. God sees your tears, hears your prayers, and is closer than you think. May this truth bring you comfort and peace.

Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now, you will go up to the temple of the Lord.’   2 Kings 20:5

Have you ever received news that felt like the end of your story? One moment, Hezekiah was leading a nation. The next he was facing death, turning his face to the wall as tears became his only prayer. The prophet’s words still hung in the air: ‘Put your house in order.’ Final. Devastating. Hopeless.

But between his tears and heaven’s answer was only a courtyard’s distance. Before Isaiah could even leave the palace grounds, God stopped him with words that would change everything: ‘I have heard your prayer; I see your tears. I am with you.’

Don’t miss the tenderness here. The God who commands armies of angels notices tears. The One who holds the universe together pauses for a broken heart. He doesn’t just see—He responds. He doesn’t just hear—He moves. No committee meetings in heaven, no lengthy deliberations. Just pure love answering pain.

Maybe you’re facing your own impossible today. Let this truth sink deep: the same God who noticed Hezekiah’s tears is noticing yours. Your tears aren’t wasted. Your prayers aren’t ignored. Between your pain and His comforting response might only be a courtyard’s distance.

Dear Father, some days, my heart is so heavy that words fail me, and tears are my only prayer. Thank you for catching every one of them. Thank you for meeting me in my brokenness, even when my prayers are messy and my emotions are raw. Today, I bring You my deepest hurts, trusting that You not only hear my cries but hold my heart. Help me rest in the truth that You are already working, even when I can’t see it. Thank you for loving me always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼