Ed Christian's World

How To Minister To Yourself….

In 1 Samuel 30, the Bible gives the account of how David faced one of the lowest points in his life. He returned with his men to their home base only to find the city burned down and their wives and children taken captive.

There was weeping, grieving, confusion, and even anger against David himself. The Bible records that he did something that most believers don’t know how to do or never end up doing. It says “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

The Hebrew word here is ‘hazak’ which here can be translated as, “strengthened himself.” And what happened? David rose up and turned calamity into victory. But the turning point was when he encouraged himself.

Maybe you’ve been discouraged, down, and paralyzed in your walk. You need to learn David’s secret. Learn how to encourage yourself – with God’s word, God’s love, God’s calling, and with God’s encouragement. This very thing can transform your life – but it all begins when you minister encouragement – to yourself!

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, encourage yourself and strengthen yourself in the Lord.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Reflections…

Proverbs 27:19 has a fascinating truth: “As in water, face reflects face, so the heart of a man reflects man.”

There are several layers of meaning and interpretation, but one of them is the faces of man that surround your life, will in some way, reflect your heart. For what’s in your heart will ultimately affect those around you.

Thus the faces of man become a sort of mirror of you and your heart. So what do you see in the people around you – especially the people who are most close to you or around you all the time.

What do you see in their faces in that first moment when they first see you; joy, peace, smiles? Do you brighten a room by entering it – or by leaving it? What is your effect?

Look into the mirror of the faces of those around you. For in some way, it’s reflecting your heart. And if you don’t like the reflection you see – then start changing it – and don’t stop until the joy on their faces is the reflection of your heart.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. Exodus 34:29

Today look at how your life and presence is affecting others, and make the changes needed to brighten up your world.

Walk daily with God at your side!

The Blessings – On what we didn’t want…

Since ancient times, the society of India has been divided into the caste system. At the top of the caste system are the Brahmans and at the bottom are the Untouchables. The Brahmans are given the most utmost respect and honor – while the Untouchables are held in the greatest contempt.

In recent times, the Gospel has made inroads into the Indian subcontinent. There have even been waves of revival. In these revivals, which of these peoples do you believe are the most open to receiving salvation? The Untouchables are the most open – and the Brahmans the most closed.

Why is that? A general principle – the more comfortable you are in this world, the less open you will be to the kingdom and to the voice of God.

So the next time you seek to be more comfortable in this world – or get upset because your situation is uncomfortable – remember the Brahman and the Untouchable. Rejoice in your uncomfortable situation, and that problem, for these may be the very things which are keeping you in and seeking for the kingdom of God.

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Give thanks to God for all those things in your life you may never have given thanks for, the things you didn’t want, but which have drawn you closer to Him and kept you in His kingdom.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Sunset to Sunrise…

Sunrises are beautiful. People get up early in the morning just to watch them. But sunsets are just as beautiful. And you can’t have a sunrise without a sunset – it’s the same motion of the earth. So for every sunset, there is an equal sunrise. In fact, every sunset produces a sunrise.

The same law applies to our salvation. On that Sabbath eve, two thousand years ago, with the death of Jesus – the light of the world descended to the earth. But for every sunset, there must be an equal sunrise.

The going down of the light of the world on that Sabbath night, would end up producing the rising up of that same light, the resurrection, life from death – the sunrise. And so it is for you in Jesus.

For every sunset in your life, every loss, every heartbreak, every disappointment, every sorrow, every fading to black – you can be sure there is a sunrise. In fact that sunset is even now leading to that sunrise.

For Jesus is both the sunrise and the sunset of our lives. And so for every sunset – will come the sunrise!

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

Today, in every sunset, every ending, look for the beginning, in every loss, look for the blessing, and in every setback, look for the victory.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

48 years…

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

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 real 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 three day trip back from North Vietnam to DaNang where our main camp was.

It was the end of the third day and we were closing in on the camp from the backside. Me and one of the rescued 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 ripped 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 save me.

I am told they thought they lost the battle and I had passed. As they were covering my head 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 multible 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 body I was sent home a broken mess.

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 50th 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.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Let there be…

In the beginning God said, ‘Let there be light!’ And there was light. What did others say about that at the time? Nothing. There was no other voice to say anything. There were no contrary opinions, no other plans, no second guessing, no blogs, or chat rooms. God spoke – and it was.

So with the new creation. It is written in 2 Corinthians 4:6 that the Same God who said “Let there be light” is now at work similarly in your life – in the work of the new creation.

As in the beginning, so too, now, God brings about his creation, through the speaking of His Word. The problem is this – now, unlike then, there are a lot of other voices in the world – voices of doubt, of the flesh, of the past, of the world, and many more.

But when God spoke in the beginning, there were no other voices. And what happened? He said “Let there be” – and there was. So learn this secret. When God speaks – hear no other voices. Hear the Word, and go with it, all out. Let there be… and there will be.

And, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Hebrews 5:9

Receive the Word of the Lord for your life today as the only voice, and just go with it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The New Covenant…

In 2 Timothy 1:3, Paul writes that he serves God with a pure conscience. The word he uses to describe his service is the Greek word, lat-ryoo’-o. That word is the same that’s used to describe the Ministry of the Temple, the Priesthood, the Tabernacle, and the Holy of Holies.

Think of how the priests were to minister in the Temple. They were to minister with awe and reverence. Everything had to be done precisely and exactly. They were walking in the Holy. But that same word is used now of our ministry in the New Covenant, in the Gospel.

This is the higher covenant – and your ministry is a higher ministry. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing for the Lord – preaching, teaching, entering data, cleaning the bathrooms, greeting, printing up flyers – all that is part of the lat-ryoo’-o – the holy, priestly, sacred, awesome, glorious ministry of the living God.

You are not simply figuratively – but truly – a royal priest of God. Keep yourself accordingly. Reverence the things of God, your ministry, and your calling. For you walk in nothing less than the Holy.

May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful people sing for joy. Psalm 132:9

Do whatever you do as a holy act of God, as if you were the high priest ministering in the Holy of Holies.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Sonward Direction…

The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah reveals a spiritual picture of the marriage of the Son, Jesus, with the Bride, the Church. Notice that the father (Abraham) sends his servant to find the bride and to lead her back.

The servant is a picture of the Holy Spirit, who finds the bride and leads her to the kingdom. In what direction does the servant lead the bride? Sonward – to the son. The servant led Rebekah to Isaac. That was the only direction that mattered.

You now are the Bride of the Son. So in what direction is the Spirit going to lead you? The direction of the Son. The Spirit will always lead you into the direction of being closer to Jesus.

You, as the bride must make that your aim, in everything you do. Your life is not about any other direction or any other goal – You have one direction – to the Son.

Only take those steps in the direction of the Son. And only take the step that will lead you closer. For your life has been given only one direction … Sonward!

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

Today, show God that you are wholly sold out for Him and His purposes in your life. Live this day and every moment within it – Sonward!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Momentum Secret…

In order for a high jumper to break a record, he or she must first run a long track to gain momentum. What would happen if the jumper runs and stops, then starts again, then stops and starts again?

They would lose their momentum – and thus, their power to jump. In order to jump, in order to break records, they need momentum. And in order to get momentum, they need consistency – they have to eliminate stops and starts from their running.

So it is for you as well. In order to live in the power of God, to have victory and do great things in the Lord, and in order to have the breakthrough, you need godly momentum. And in order to have spiritual momentum, you need godly consistency.

You need to eliminate the inconsistencies in your walk, the stops, the going off track and the breaks. Do what you have to do to get those stops and starts, those inconsistencies out of your life. Get consistent, and you’ll have the momentum you need for your breakthrough and your big jump!

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Make up your mind and heart to be consistent in your walk. Work on momentum, build momentum, and use that momentum for breakthrough.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Growing Younger…

At the very end of the Bible the Lord says this: “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Think about that. What does it mean? It’s a radical statement. It breaks the rules of time. In this world, things move only in one direction – from new to old. The longer something exists, the older it gets.

But in God, there’s a new flow – in God all things become new. In God you have the power, not to grow old, but to grow new. You have the power to become younger than you were before. The longer you exist in this world, the larger your past.

But God has the power to change the past – even to erase the past. And what happens if you erase the past? If you have no past, you can’t be old – only new. The mercies of God wipe away the past.

Dwell in His mercy and grace every day, every hour, and your past will be continually washed away – and you’ll live your life from old to new!

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

Step out in the newness of who you are in Jesus and receive His new mercies.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed