Ed Christian's World

Healing Are The Wounds…

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend…” The word translated as “faithful” is the Hebrew word “aman.” Aman can mean many things, but one of its meanings is “to nurse.”

A strange thing, because “to nurse” would seem to be the very opposite of “to wound.” The wounds of a friend can actually nurse and bring healing, especially when that Friend is God.

The Lord allows His children to be wounded – to know hurt, emotionally, mentally, or physically. But He promises to work all things, even the wounds, for your good. That means whenever He allows a hurt or a wound to touch your life – even that is for your good. God will use every hurt in your life to bring about a greater blessing; a deeper relationship with Him, spiritual growth, or healing for your soul.

So here’s a new way to look at the hurts and wounds of your life. Every one of them has a purpose to bring you a blessing. Seek God for that blessing, even when you don’t understand it – and that wound will turn from hurtful to healing.

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:19

Bring your wounds to Him and receive the healing that comes from His wounds.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Sixth Day – Of Likeness…

The Book of Genesis records the creation of the world was in six days. But what happened on the sixth day? God created man. And He created man in His own image. Man was the epitome, the culmination, and the crown of creation. So what was the ultimate aim of creation? To create man in the image of God.

Now God is working on a different creation, a new creation, and the ultimate purpose of the new creation is for you to be created in the image and likeness of God. So it’s not about whether you become rich or not, or successful in your career, or whether you’re well-liked or hated. God’s purpose for your life is that you become conformed to His image, molded to His likeness; that you become like Him.

Don’t make it your goal in life to become rich, famous, comfortable or powerful, but make it to become like Him; loving, pure, righteous, godly, generous, compassionate, merciful, good– just as He is. For the creation of God in you is only complete when you bear His image and likeness.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 1 Peter 1:14

Make it your goal to be more like Jesus in every way. Conform to His image.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Preparing For Heaven…

When I was in middle school, we would have air raid drills. We were ushered out into the halls, where we would get down on our knees, and put our hands over our heads. I guess they thought that the best defense against a bomb dropped by the enemies air force was to cover our heads. Of course, it was only a test. We were preparing for the possibility of a real crises by going through the test.

Real life is filled with real dangers, real threats, real problems, real disasters, and real crises. And yet, this life is neither the final story nor the final reality. This life is preparation for eternity, for the ultimate reality. This life is only a test. Its problems, its crises, its impossibilities are only tests.

For a believer, everything that happens in this life is for a purpose – to prepare you for eternal life. Every problem is an opportunity for you to rise higher and manifest your faith. So the next problem you encounter – don’t fear, don’t panic, and don’t get discouraged – See it for what it is and pass – It’s only a test.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1Cor 10:13

Face any problem you encounter as a test that you already have the answer to and pass it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Camping In Heaven

Chag Sukkot is the Hebrew name for the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. This was because, during the feast, every worshiper camped out in a sukkah; a type of tent, under the skies of Jerusalem.

There is a profound truth here. Israel was home in the Promised Land, and you don’t normally camp out at home. But God wanted them to remember the days when they journeyed through the wilderness in tents, and when God camped out with them.

The Promised Land speaks of Heaven, and the wilderness speaks of this present life. Nothing here lasts forever, and all your circumstances are only tents on your journey to the place where things do last forever. Remember, you’re camping.

In the Promised Land, you’ll dwell in places that never pass away. And there you’ll remember this life as the days of your camping out; as tents in which you slept the night. And you’ll give thanks and say “how lovely were your dwelling places”- because God was there with you – those were the days of your journeying when you camped out with God in tents.

As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Exodus 33:9

Today, view this world and this life in a new way as a camping trip, where everything is a temporary tent – and live in view of your final destination – heaven.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Seed Of The Fruit…

In agriculture, the seed produces fruit. But fruit also bears seed. So within fruit is found seed. So, too, in the Spirit. In the fruit of the Spirit is the seed of the Spirit.

So when you bear the fruit of love, that love which you bear contains the seed of another generation of love, the seed to generate love in others. When you bear the fruit of joy, you are also bearing the seeds of joy, the power to bring joy to others.

In other words, the fruit of love contains the key to producing more love, love begets love, joy begets joy, faith begets faith, and goodness begets goodness. So what is it that you want to see in others, in your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, your co-workers, your brothers and sisters in God? Whatever that is, give them seed to produce that fruit.

But in order to give them the seed, you must first bear the fruit yourself. What you want to see more in the lives of others, bear more in your own life. For in every fruit there is seed.
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8

What is it that you want to see produced in the lives of others? Give what you want to receive – bear the fruit you want them to bear.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Best…

We were on a mission trip to an impoverished country. The heat was sweltering. There was no air conditioning, barely any electricity, and no clean water, yet everyone was fine with it. We knew we were on a mission trip – not to get – but to give.

On the way back, we missed our flight and were put in a hotel and given a free meal so everyone ordered. When our dinner was served, someone noticed that the restaurant had gotten their order wrong. They were upset that their chicken sandwich came with extra cheese when they didn’t order cheese. Just a few hours before we would’ve been happy to have had clean water.

If you live expecting to be served by this world, then you’ll always be unhappy. But if you live your life as one whose life is to serve and bless this world – without expecting to get – then everything you do get in this life is a gift and an extra blessing.

So live your life as a servant of God, a heavenly visitor on a mission to this world – and you’ll never lose your joy over a slice of extra cheese.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

Thank God for all your blessings and set your heart, not on receiving, but on serving, and giving of the blessings from heaven.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Choose Your Battles..

George Washington was not only America’s first president but the victorious general of the American Revolution. Yet, most people don’t realize that Washington spent much of the war not fighting or advancing – but running away.

Why? It was because he knew that he was in no position to win. And if he fought those battles which were a losing proposition, he would end up losing his army and thus losing the war. So he waited until the right time and the right battle to fight. And he ended up winning the war.

So too, the enemy wants you to fight the wrong battle – to fight self-centered battles, to strive with others, to spend time defending yourself, to strive after things of this world which have no importance in the age to come. He knows that when you fight these battles, you’re guaranteed to lose the war.

Learn from Washington – you don’t have to fight every battle, in fact, you have to not fight every battle. You can let go and withdraw so that you’ll end up being victorious and winning the war!!
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. Proverbs 21:31

What are you fighting today that perhaps the Lord wants you to stop. Let go and let God fight your battles, because He will be victorious.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Water Pouring…

During the Feast of Tabernacles, the people went down to the Pools of Siloam to draw water – and then brought it up to the Temple where the priest would pour it out.

This was called the Water Pouring Ceremony. As the water was poured out, Isaiah 12:3 was read “Therefore with joy, you shall draw water from the wells of Salvation.” The Hebrew word for salvation is Yeshua. Jesus’s real Hebrew name is Yeshua – Salvation.

Learn what it is to draw water from the wells of Yeshua. Waters that come from wells are hidden waters, deep waters, waters that must be drawn out. The outside of a well is dry, for the waters of wells flow from inside out.

So too the abundant life flows from inside out. Even in dry times, the wells of Yeshua will always flow if you draw deep enough and in joy. For it was undoubtedly at this moment in the feast that Jesus said “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’”

Make it your aim to draw deep from the well of Yeshua and let His living water flow out of you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

God Will Provide…

The phrase “Jehovah Jireh” or “Yahveh Yireh” comes from Genesis 22, when Abraham names the mountain on which he offered up Isaac. It means “The LORD shall provide.” So many believers invoke the name “Jehovah-Jireh” to claim the promise of God providing for whatever they need or want.

But the name “Jehovah Jireh” or “Yahveh Yireh” is much deeper than that. Yahveh Yireh speaks of God providing the Lamb for the sacrifice – the Messiah Himself. Thus, God does provide for the needs of His people.

So “Jehovah Jireh” declares that God will provide for your needs, but not necessarily the way you think. For what God provides is Himself. He is the answer to all of our needs – the need for love, for security, for meaning, for peace, for joy, for purpose – Jehovah Jireh – Yahveh Yireh – God will indeed provide for your need.

But your need will only truly be answered when it’s answered in Him, who is the Answer. For Jehovah Jireh is the name of a mountain, the mountain on which God gave Himself on a cross for you.

Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. Psalm 79:9

Whatever you’re dealing with, a problem, a need, a conflict, a concern – lift it up to God and give Him thanks that He will provide.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed