Ed Christian's World

To Lead A Horse…

It’s said, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” Have you ever tried to lead a horse anywhere? Pushing doesn’t work. But you can guide this gigantic animal almost anywhere with its head and neck.

It works for horses and also for people. Do you want to avoid temptation? Think of the horse. Use your head and neck. When you’re being tempted, use your neck to turn your head away. Righteousness involves looking away.

When you’re at the beach, when you’re driving past that thing, when something comes in the mail, when you’re on the internet, if it’s something that’s not good, turn away. Whatever it is, turn away from it and turn to where you want to go, just like a horse.

Turn to the Word of God. Turn your head to prayer. Turn your eyes to the things of God. If you can move a horse, which is a lot heavier than you, just by turning its neck; how much more can you lead your life to God? Next time you’re in that situation, don’t forget you have a neck. Use it.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Plan your actions today on how to turn away or avoid that temptation. Follow your plan and have victory. Use your neck.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Receiving The Decender…

Jesus headquartered His ministry in Capernaum, north of the Sea of Galilee, where the Jordan River flows into the sea. Israel’s main river, the Jordan, “Yarden” in Hebrew means “to descend; the descender.”

It starts from the mountains and flows down. It’s a symbol of Jesus, the One who comes from the heights and descends to earth. It’s also the place where Jesus, the Descender, healed the sick and crippled and touched people’s lives.

Here’s the secret. The blessing of Jesus pouring out His life doesn’t mean anything if we don’t receive it. The Galilee has to receive the Jordan. Those who are healed, born again, redeemed have to receive it.

Jesus’s life is always flowing more blessings than you could ever contain. If your life isn’t being blessed, it’s not because He’s not blessing. He is who He is. It’s because we’re not being like the Sea of Galilee and receiving.

Receive the One who comes. You’ll be blessed with all the blessings He has, just as the Jordan River flows into the Galilee.

They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior. Psalm 24:5

Open up your heart, mind, soul, and strength today to let Jesus flow through every part of your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Casting…

There’s a Jewish ceremony called Tashlich. It takes place during the high holy days when observant Jews symbolically cast their sins into the water. Micah 7:19 says “You will cast away their sins into the sea.” Cast away is the word tashlich.

God wants to have mercy on us, to save and forgive us more than we want. He wants us to be free more than we want it. Salvation comes from God. So God’s the one who ultimately performs tashlich – He casts your sins into the sea of forgetfulness. It’s His work.

On the other hand, since God has cast away your sins, it doesn’t mean you don’t do anything. It means you do the same thing. He gives you the power and responsibility to cast your sins away from your life, their stain, their guilt, their habits, their presence, their remembrance and practice.

Cast away every trace as far as possible. God hasn’t only removed it. He’s cast it away as far as the east is from the west. You need to do the same. You have the charge, the call, and the power. So, start casting.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

Make a list today of things you need to cast out. Then throw that list in the trash and declare that you will serve the Lord.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Zacchaeus Tree…

Zacchaeus was too short to see Jesus passing by, so he ran ahead and climbed a tree. Jesus commended him by going to his house and blessing it. Zacchaeus didn’t let his shortness stop him.

He was limited, but he’s remembered for not letting his shortcomings keep him from Jesus. He did whatever it took to get close to God.

You need to do the same. Don’t let anything stop you from drawing near to Him, whatever you have to do. Even if it means planning for the long term, ask yourself, “Will this action get me closer to God or lead me farther away?”

Then do whatever you have to do to get closer. You’ll be commended by God because it’s His will. He wants you to come closer, to overcome that obstacle, hindrance or that sin that separates you; ruling it out and other things in.

Closing the door on it and opening a new door to righteousness. Whatever you have to do, make the decision once and for all. God will honor it. Get running and climb that tree, because God is waiting to bless your house.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Today, base all your decisions on whether they will draw you closer to God. If the answer is no, go the other way.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Olah 2…

Proverbs 30:4 says, “Who has ascended into heaven and descended?” The word ascended in Hebrew is olah. The same root word is used in Genesis 22 when God tells Abraham to offer up his son as a burnt offering. The word for burnt offering here is olah. The olah is the whole offering because it ascends.

Jesus is the One who ascends or goes up. It says throughout the gospels that He’s going up to Jerusalem. Do you know where He’s going to? The Temple on Mount Moriah, the same mountain that Abraham offered up Isaac. He’s going up to become the offering that goes up.

That’s what it’s about. Jesus, the Son of God, went up by giving His whole life as an olah. By lowering Himself, He was exalted. If you want to go up in your life or ascend, then you need to offer your life, live sacrificially, give of yourself, die to your flesh.

The way to go up is to give yourself completely to God. That’s the olah offering. When you give yourself completely, everything you do will ascend as an olah to the heavenlies.

And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2

Seek today to live your life as an olah, a whole, total, complete sacrifice for God, ascending to the heavenlies.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Opening Your World – He Touched Me…

When I started writing back in late 1971, I was fighting to recover from injuries received in Vietnam and was lucky to be alive. They said I died, but God had other plans for me, and that was to share my life experiences wth the world. He touched me and gave me a second chance. He blessed me with a new life. My assignment is to share my life with all I cross paths with.

It brings back memories that Grandfather taught me sayings like: What the caterpillar thinks is the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly. I really thought it was the end of my world. Little did I know the butterfly in me would be the Hope for so many around the world.

Hope… Imagine just how much we can change the world if we share hope with everyone we touch on a daily basis. I have found my thoughts shared in many books and even on a television show. What I find amazing is that God will use us to spread love and hope throughout the world.

In my post What Love Is I shared this: Light is love and the more of our light we shine, the more love we share. The more love we share, the brighter our light shines. Seek the light!

As Christians, we are the love and the light God wants shared with all in our path. We are His example of what love can do and be the light to His path. If we all would share His love and light, peace just may be possible around the world.

Life just doesn’t happen. We are here for a reason, and to me, that reason has turned out to be the light for others to find Hope and Love. As I share my Life experiences with my readers, I ask you to help spread the love, light, and hope with all you can. I also ask for comments and questions as they open the door for more subjects to write about. Between the teachings of grandfather and my extended education, my life experiences are open for anyone who asks. He touched me, and I am no longer the same

How about you? Are you ready to open your world? Has God blessed you with a second chance? You just may have the hope that someone’s needs to go on. Shine that light and share that blessing.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Kings Law…

James 2:8 says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s called the Royal Law. It’s the royal law because it’s God’s law that He Himself followed. The gospel is God manifesting the Royal Law.

He looked at us with love and said, “If I were them, what would I need?” God was your neighbor in the universe, and He loved you with all His life, heart, and soul. He gave Himself for you. He put Himself in your shoes. He loved you as Himself. It’s the Law of the King of the universe.

Live by it. As He did for you, you do for others. He loved you; love them. He put Himself in your place; put yourself in their place. He lowered Himself to raise you up; lower yourself to raise them up. Ask, “What would I need if I were them?”

Then give it to them. Because this is the Royal Law of the King of the universe. Those who live by it will be blessed by the king. Their lives, their souls, their heart, their journey, everything in their lives, and everything in your life will become royal.

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Look around you today and find someone in need that you are able to help. And seek to help them.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Grace Of God…

When Saul/Paul came to salvation and regained his sight, the first person he saw was Ananias; in Hebrew Khananyah. Khananyah means, “The Grace of God.” The first thing he saw was the “Grace of God.”

That’s the first thing any of us see when we get saved and it has to stay the first thing. When we come to the Lord, we’re amazed by everything because the grace of God is amazing. But we often get used to it and aren’t seeing it anymore.

If you want to keep growing in God, then never stop seeing Khananyah. Never take the grace of God for granted. Never get used to it, get dull to it, think you deserve it and think, hey, I’m doing pretty good now.

Never forget where you came from, that you shouldn’t have it and can’t earn it. Always be surprised by it. Always see it new each day and be amazed that God saved you from hell and seated you in heavenly places with Him because He loved you.

Never stop seeing, beholding and keeping first in your mind and heart the Grace of God–Khananyah.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter.3:18


Meditate on Ephesians 2:8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Seek to memorize it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Never Sit In The darkness…

Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light.” The light is shown on those who dwell in the shadow of death. Dwell in Hebrew is “yeshev,” meaning to remain, live, abide, or sit down.

It’s the root word for “yeshiva,” a school where religious Jews sit and study, and “moshav,” an Israeli agricultural settlement where they live. It’s one thing to go through darkness. It’s another thing to abide or dwell in dark things.

We might pass through, but we’re not to sit in it. If you’re tempted, don’t dwell in it. It’s one thing to get angry, but don’t remain in it and become bitter. We’re not to abide in darkness, defeat, bondage, gloom, or carnality.

As a child of God, darkness is something you only walk through. Walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Never pitch your tent, take your seat, stay, or get comfortable there. Just walk through it.

Keep your eyes on the Lord’s Light because you are one who doesn’t sit in darkness but overcomes it as you walk through to the sunrise.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Today, resist focusing on the dark things that stop you from walking in His light. Meditate instead on the goodness of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Jesus Standing…

Acts 7:55 Stephen sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God. But Ephesians 1:20 says Jesus was seated at the right hand of God. Is there a contradiction? What’s the explanation?

Stephen is bearing witness while he’s being stoned to death and calling for forgiveness of his murderers. The Lord couldn’t sit for that. He rose to His feet as one rises for a standing ovation. As if to say, “Well done My good and faithful servant. Enter the joy of your Master.”

He sits on His throne, but He rises to His feet when He sees a man love his enemies, when He sees you triumph in salvation, when He sees you have victory over that sin.

When He sees you rise up, He will rise to see it. When He sees you overcoming in love and mercy–when He sees you living a life of greatness. It will cause your Lord and Master to stand.

So do something extraordinary this week. Do something great in God, something that’s going to cause the One seated at the right hand of God to stand up.

He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. Acts 7:5

Do something today that will not only bless Jesus but would cause Him to stand up.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed