Ed Christian's World

Peter And Judas…

At the beginning of the Book of Acts, before the Holy Spirit descended, it says that the apostles were in prayer. Why?

They had just been told to go out and spread the word to all nations. Why did they spend their time in prayer? No doubt they were feeling inadequate. They knew they were weak and needed the power of God desperately.

What happened? God poured out His Spirit, His power, and His adequacy. It was no accident. You find it again and again.

Moses thought he was too ineloquent, Isaiah thought he was too sinful, and Jeremiah thought he was too young to serve the Lord. God only chooses inadequate people to be His ministers to do great things.

If you’re not serving the Lord because you don’t feel good, holy, able, spiritual, old, or young enough – time to put away that excuse – time to rise to your call. God’s call always has an inadequacy clause – that is…

The only people who are adequate to minister for God are those who are completely inadequate. Let’s do great things for God. Why? Because we’re not adequate – but thank God, He is.

For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 2 Corinthians 13:9

No matter how inadequate you feel in your calling, all the more step out and take that leap of faith today. Know that great things are ahead for you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Spiritual Disciplines…

Grandfather would always point me in the right direction when I came to him with a problem. Being the Spiritual Leader of the Tribe he talked often about how easy is was to be tricked into believing what Satan was putting in front of me. He taught me spiritual disciplines and the Bible and showed me how to lead my life according to God’s will.

Spiritual disciplines are habits, practices, and experiences that are designed to develop, grow, and strengthen certain qualities of spirit — to build the “muscles” of one’s character and expand the breadth of one’s inner life.

This weeks lesson is about spiritual disciplines and concentrates on chapter 4 of 1 Timothy. This particular chapter of Paul’s letter marks a major transition in the focus of the letter. Here, the primary topic is dangers posed by false teachers and the specific responsibilities of various groups.

Grandfather referred to this chapter as being written in two parts: a description of the false teachers in Ephesus and practical steps for defense against these false teachers.

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:1-5

Let’s focus on what the Spirit says will happen in the end times. As we wait for the return of Christ, many will fall away from the faith. Some of these people will attempt to enforce false rules as conditions for following God.

One early example of such people, present when Paul wrote these words, was the Gnostics. This group taught that all physical matter was evil, leading them to denounce many foods, as well as marriage.

However, according to Paul, “everything created by God is good” and should not be rejected out-of-hand. Anything used as God intended, and with a thankful spirit, has been sanctified or “set apart” through the Word of God and prayer.

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:6-10

Now let’s shift our focus on combatting these false teachers and their teachings. His advice here is extremely practical. For the most part, these directions involve what Timothy needs to accomplish in his own life and teachings.

The goal is to point out these truths to others and discipline himself for godliness. He is especially commanded to set an example for the believers, persist in sound teaching.

So there must be some action or effort on your part to improve your outlook on life. Without action you aren’t going anywhere.

“An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.” Grandfather used that on me many times.

Without taking action very little will be done. However, taking action can be challenging and difficult. There can be much inner resistance. So, to really get where you want to go and to really understand yourself and your world you need to practice. Though books can bring you knowledge. You have to take action and translate that knowledge into results and understanding.

Grandfather would say take care of this moment! I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.

The best way that I have found to overcome the inner resistance that often stops me from taking action is to stay in the present as much as possible and to be accepting.

Why? Well, when you are in the present moment you don’t worry about the next moment that you can’t control anyway. And the resistance to action that comes from you imagining negative future consequences – or reflecting on past failures – of your actions loses its power. So it becomes easier to both take action and to keep your focus on this moment and perform better.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Harvest Overflow…

The ancient Hebrews were given a very special and unique ordinance concerning the harvest. Whenever they reaped their fields, they were always to leave a portion of it unreaped. Further, whatever they dropped or missed in their reaping they were to leave.

They were never to go back to pick up anything they missed or lost but leave it for the poor. This is the law of leftovers. It’s a crucial principle for all God’s children.

Life is filled with missed opportunities, mistakes and mess ups. But you can’t dwell on them. If you belong to God, then you need to let it go. Whatever is passed is past. You want God’s best.

Leave the past behind – the Leave It Behind principle. It’ll lighten your load and free you to find God’s best. And it doesn’t apply only to the bad things but also the good. Even the good in the Lord you have to let go and move on.

God is now and God is moving ahead. Be like Paul who said, “But this I do, forgetting what lies behind, and moving on to what lies ahead, I press on….”

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

What’s in your past that keeps you going back for more? If it’s not God’s best, then leave it behind and move forward in Him today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

When Opportunity Knocks…

When opportunity knocks do you open the door or do you turn away? I ask this question for two reasons, one is that you just may be opening the door to your true calling and two if you turn your back on an opportunity, you just may be passing up on a blessing from God. So that makes the answer to the question very important.

I started my blog with the purpose of putting my life memories and lessons down to share with my readers. Over time I hoped to open people’s eyes to a different world, mine, with the hope that they would see life as a journey full of hope and love. Now, with over 40000 readers, I have found my purpose has changed to one of following God’s will and sharing His message of love and understanding.

Life doesn’t just happen, it’s a carefully choreographed path laid out for us to follow. Oh yes we have free will and do make choices that take us off that path, but He is always there to help lead us back onto the path. His love for us is so great that He will forgive us our sins and gladly guide us in the right direction if we just ask. Yet, in today’s world, so many have trouble acknowledging this love or even considering sharing it with others.

Grandfather had a saying: Life is a gift of Love, we need to share that gift by helping others see life as an opportunity to give love to all they meet. Love just isn’t love until you give it away.

As a Christian I see this as Jesus’s command to love your neighbor as yourself and as I have loved you. This leads me to believe that when I lend a hand or help pick someone up or shine His light, I am serving Him as He commanded. Yet, so many Christians look at this as a burden and would rather turn away a possible blessing.

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:9-10

So I ask another question, why do you as a Christian feel it is beneath you to help someone in need when God lifted you from the depths of sin and saved your Life? Funny, I see so many who feel the under nourished and poor are there because they failed to get an education or could do better and are just leaning on others for support, so why should they help them. What they fail to see is this just may be God testing your faith and love for others.

Love happens when you realise that helping people isn’t a burden, but is an opportunity. It is your opportunity to shine His light within you so that all may see His love and blessings.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

What is a friend…

Many times over the years I’ve been asked to define just what a friend is. I usually respond a friend is one who sees you at your worse and at your best and can’t tell the difference. But that was not how I was raised.

Grandfather had a better definition of a friend. He said a friend is one who, when you needed to talk, stopped what he was doing and sat down and talked with you. Comforts you when you are hurting and lifts you up when you are down.

I have lived my life following Grandfathers example always making myself available when someone asks if we could talk. It sometimes has been hard on the family, but God asks us to love our neighbors as ourselves and I know when I need someone to talk to for a few minutes I would just love for them to do the same.

But, in today’s world, people don’t think like that. They look at life a whole lot differently and can’t stop and listen to a friend because it interrupts what is going on in their world. They say let me get back to you later. Most times later never happens.

That is what is wrong with our world today. Everyone has their agenda and can’t be interrupted to attend to a friends need. My prayer is that we all find the time to care for each other. You just may find that few minutes to help someone blesses you also.

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Find the time to engage with your friends in need. The love you share blossoms ten fold.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Ambassador In Chains..

The apostle Paul found himself in prison for his faith and ministry. He wrote this:
“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Jesus; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident because of my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Philippians 1:12-14

Here was Paul in a Roman prison, literally bound by chains and yet, he appears to boast of them. Not only do his chains not hinder the gospel, they have advanced them.

The point that Paul is making is that nothing can stop the purposes of God – not even chains – in fact, they will actually be used to bring all these things to their fruition. Bound by chains and prison walls,

Paul couldn’t preach to the tens or hundreds that he preached to in the marketplaces and squares and synagogues. Instead, he committed his word to parchment and would reach millions, even billions of souls – even us, to this day.

It was prison walls and chains that unleashed the gospel and unchained the Word of God to reach the world and every age.

That’s how Paul dealt with everything. His life was filled with obstacles, hindrances, problems, and adversities, he didn’t complain about them, he didn’t confess them away, and he never blamed them for preventing things. He always looked for and found a way to fulfill the calling he had been given.

If we look at our present circumstances it is easy to feel hindered, bound, prevented, limited, unable to do what we need to do, unable to advance God’s purposes, unable to fulfill our calling.

All the more we must take and apply Paul’s secret and strategy. No circumstance, problem, adversity, or hindrance can stop you from fulfilling the calling of God. They are nothing more than chains.

Don’t bemoan your chains, your situation, your obstacles – use them all for the glory of God. If a door closes, another will open. If the other door closes, He’ll open a window. Don’t ever stop.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Find the way, glorify God, fulfill your calling – and use the chains to bring forth the unstoppable purposes of God. And may God greatly bless you as you do!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Adelphos…

In the New Covenant writings, Jesus is called “our brother.” But the actual word used in the Greek for brother is “Adelphos.” Adelphos comes from the Greek root word “Delphos” which means “womb.” Why?

A brother is someone who is born of the same womb as you. So if Jesus is our brother, what does it mean? Two mysteries.

The first is that Jesus is born of the same womb as we – thus the incarnation. Jesus was born into this world, in flesh and blood, as from the same womb as we are born.

The second mystery is this – We now have the chance to be born of the womb from which Jesus is born. Born of heaven’s womb. Born of the Spirit of the second birth.

In fact, the two mysteries are joined. He was born of earth’s womb, that we might be born of heaven’s. In other words, Jesus is your adelphos, in that He so intimately joined every part of His life to your life, that you now would make it your aim to so intimately join every part of your life to Him. Your adelphos.

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Today, seek to join every part of your life, the good, the bad, the ugly, the godly and the ungodly to God in Jesus.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Message To The Fig Tree…

2000 years ago, on the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit fell on a gathering of Jewish believers. In the Bible, Israel is spoken of as a fig tree.

The fig tree puts forth early figs and late figs. The early figs are called the bikureem – or the first fruits. When do the bikureem, the first or early fruit come into their blossoming? They come into their blossoming in June – the time of the Feast of Pentecost!

So it was during the actual time of the blossoming of the early figs, the first fruits of the fig tree, that the first fruits of Israel, or Israel’s early figs, came into their blossoming on the Day of Pentecost!

What does that tell us? The fig tree not only puts forth its early figs – but also its late figs. And what does that reveal? It means that the children of Israel are due for another revival, another blossoming, another outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

It’s still to come. So pray for the Jewish people and for that day. For when they blossom a second time, it will mean the redemption of the world.

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Matthew 24:32-33

Pray today for the peace of Jerusalem, pray for the salvation of the Jewish people, and the redemption of Israel, and for those who don’t yet know God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Flag Of Jesus’s Tallit

The flag of Israel consists of the Star of David and two stripes, all in blue on a white cloth. Why is that? It’s because the flag of Israel is modeled after the Jewish prayer cloth – the tallit.

The tallit is white with stripes on each side in blue – because God commanded the children of Israel to wear garments with blue fringes.

Jesus also wore blue fringes on His garment or tallit. In fact, it was these fringes which were the “hem” of His garment – the sacred fringe that the sick and disabled would touch and be healed.

For 2000 years the dye that produced that blue on Jesus’s garment was missing from the tallits of Israel. Only in modern times has it been restored – and now even the flag of Israel bears it.

So the flag of Israel is the color of Jesus’s garment, with the blue that marked the hem by which the sick were healed.

Take it as a sign and a reminder to pray for the day when Israel will again reach out and touch the hem of Jesus’s garment – and find their healing.

And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. Matthew 14:35-36

Close your eyes and imagine touching the hem of Jesus’s garment as you lift up your prayers to Him today – believe God for His power to touch your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Our Wonderous God…

How many times in life have we started out looking for help or to help another when we stumble over something completely unsuspected that contains the answer we were looking for in the first place?

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Psalm 31:1-2

Sometimes life is about finding something you didn’t even know you were looking for. To say God works in mysterious ways would be an understatement, for He is always at least one step ahead of you and always there to shine a light on His little surprise at the end of the path.

Whether it be finding away to help someone in their grief, or to shelter us from fear, share our joy and blessings, guide us through our anger and worry and even lift us up when we are blue – God is always there to calm us, guide us and lead us along our path.

Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Psalm 31:3-4

I’ve been writing since late 1971 and sending copies of my stuff to just about anyone who asked for it, mostly missionaries around the world. I get emails almost daily about how I touched someone because of something I wrote. God gave me the words to put down on that paper and guided me as to what to write and how.

Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place. Psalm 31:5-8

Over the years I’ve started writing this blog, now in its eighth year, to reach out and touch people in their time of need. Little did I know when He started me doing this blog, that I would start hearing from people I’ve not seen in years to hear how my words have helped them in so many ways.

I’ve mentioned before that sometimes I am woken up in the middle of the night with urgent thoughts that He wants me to write about. Many times as I write, I feel Him watching over my shoulder, patiently making sure I word it exactly as He wishes. It is times like this that it becomes very clear we serve a very Wonderous God.

Nothing says it better than the 23rd Psalm: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I have broken it down here for a bit of a clearer understanding:

The Lord is my shepherd and makes sure I have everything I need. Without Him I would be lost.

He gives a me 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 follows me everywhere and He has prepared a place for me in His house for me to live forever.

My blog posts are written to touch people when they hurt, have questions they need answers to and to help them understand what a wonderful God we serve. I encourage my readers to ask questions of me and to comment to me their feelings about what I write. I will answer everyone of them.

Like I said before: Sometimes life is about finding something you didn’t even know you were looking for.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed