Ed Christian's World

Your Own Garments…

The good Samaritan sees a wounded man on the road. He stops, cares for him and bandages up his wounds. But what did he use as bandages? Was he carrying a first aid kit or Band-Aids? Undoubtedly he used his own clothes.

Back then clothes were really important. They were your bed or your blanket at night. Clothes were linked to your identity, status, and wealth. But he took his clothes and wrapped the wounds, getting them bloody, soiled, and ruined–all for a total stranger.

He saw his clothes as something to be used for God’s purposes, not something to be hoarded. So what does this say to us? It means we should have the same attitude and willingness. All we are, all we have is to be used solely for God’s glory, to bless others in demonstration of His love.

Jesus gave up all for us. He gave up His status, His reputation, His possessions, even His earthly ministry so our wounds would be bandaged up and our souls could be saved. He didn’t hoard. He didn’t keep it for His glory. He sacrificed for you to be saved. Go and do likewise.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

What can you give of your possessions, your resources, and yourself today to help those in need? Go ahead and give it!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Beating The Bully…

A number of well-dressed gentlemen were sitting in a smoking room; drinking, playing card games, and enjoying the night. The problem was that the smoking room was on the Titanic. It was 11:40 p.m.

Outside, two lookouts spotted a strange shape in the distance that grew larger by the second. Within 37 seconds, the ship’s fate was sealed. Those in the smoking room did not see the next sunrise.

This happens all the time. This life is a sinking ship. No one gets out alive. We have a limited time and then eternity. Most people, even believers, spend their time chasing after material possessions, following trivial pursuits, focusing on what is petty, vain and meaningless.

Could that be you? If so, wake up! We only have a limited time to live in holiness, fulfill our calling, spread the Gospel, and help save those who are perishing. So glorify God with all your heart because this life is too precious to waste another second in the smoking room.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

When the enemy comes against you, when problems come against you, and oppose you; stand in the strength and power of the Almighty God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Fullness Of Joy…

Psalm 16:11 says: “In your presence is fullness of joy.” Do you want joy? Real joy? Of course you do! But you won’t find it in things, or religion or success.

You find joy in the presence of God. And not just joy, but fullness of joy. Not an empty, fading or fleeting joy either, but a complete joy. This joy is more than emotion; it is lasting. If you don’t have joy in the Lord, there’s a good chance you’re not spending enough time with the Lord.

The joy of the Lord comes from the Lord. It doesn’t come from activities for the Lord, but from being with the Lord. Believers who are truly filled with joy are the ones who spend time with God and delight to spend time with Him.

God is their delight. And that’s not all. This verse also says “…at your right hand are pleasures evermore.” Now that’s a whole lot of pleasure! So make God and your time with God the priority of everyday of your life. Cherish it, treasure it, and rejoice in it for that is the only sure way to joy.

Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation. Psalm 35:9

Experience the joy of the Lord today. Get in His presence and don’t leave until you have the ‘fullness of joy’.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Whispering Hope…

The less, the more – the good, the bad – the sweet and bitter. If we wish to pry within the truths of a thing, we must perforce have recourse to it’s opposite, it’s twin. But know that our Creator’s eyes are blind because He has no opposite, no like, comparison nor similitude; and His Essence, all such opposites are one. How faint, how small our knowledge of this truth, for knowledge is distinction, nor can we distinguish aught except between two things. The portals of distinction have been closed by Unity, and if you should attain the knowledge in the One, then recognize that though He be possessed of attributed, His Essence is but one.

Now that I have your attention, let’s break all that down to something a little easier to comprehend.

Life is multi – dimensional….
You need to look beyond the surface to appreciate the heights and depths of your life’s experiences. Every experience we encounter has depth, width and height. We must learn to look beyond the surface to realize the full potential of what life is handing us, the blessings we are being given. Rarely is the full meaning only on the surface.

Genesis chapter one tells us: in the beginning God created the heavens and earth…. Ever wonder what was before the beginning? – God was! God had already known of us and created a world for us to live in and a heaven for us to return to. He gave us the best of what He had, then later came to earth to live among us and to set the example as how we were to live.

Following His example you should give the best of what you have and the best will come back to you. In a previous post “I can only touch you now” I talked about ascending the mountain, spreading seeds of hope and you will reach the sun tipped peaks of your life experience. Know that when you have reached the mountain top, then shall you begin to climb. You discover another dimension of life to explore and share. There is much to be said for challenging fate, instead of ducking behind it. Never be afraid to step forward to try a new direction, and always be willing to share your experience with others.

It is one of the most beautiful compensation’s of life that no man can help another without helping himself. We have be given unlimited access to knowledge, so there is really nothing you can’t do, if you are willing to work for it. The one way of making a thing unattainable is by believing it is. Don’t limit yourself or your life. All things are possible to those who believe and nothing is impossible for those willing to work for it.

There is something in humility which strangely exalts the heart. Humility is the true key to success. Successful people lose their way at times. They often embrace and over indulge from the fruits of success. Humility halts this arrogance and self-indulging trap. Humble people share the credit and wealth, remaining focused and hungry to continue the journey of success.

What is success? To me, it is a measure of how you spread the seeds of hope along the way, the love you share with your neighbors and the joy of making others happy. It is how you measure success that counts with Him.

QUESTIONS are the constant companions of our transit in this world. FAITH, if you have it, will provide relief, but not an explanation. Faith is to worthy accomplishments what seeds are to bountiful harvests. So as you walk your path, you are always going to have questions as to where and why, just continue on your journey with faith, spreading your seeds of hope and love, the answers will be there at journeys end.

Wherever you are going… God will be there with you. So don’t be afraid to look into the many dimensions of life.

Psalm 139:9-10: If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.

On a final note: It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.

Soft as the voice of an angel, whispering truths yet unheard. Hope with a gentle persuasion whispers her comforting word. Wait till the darkness is over, wait till the tempest is done, hope for the sunshine tomorrow, after the shower is gone.

Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice, making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Preists Redemption…

Though Jesus was crucified by Roman soldiers, the Pharisees and Sadducees plotted to put Him to death. What does the word Sadducee mean? It comes from the Hebrew word ‘tzadak’, which means righteous. Sadducee, or Tzadikim, means the righteous ones. They were the keepers of holiness and righteousness.

But the Sadducees wanted Jesus crucified. It was those who saw themselves as righteous who set up the Inquisition and imprisoned, tortured, and killed multitudes of people; many of them Jews and Christians.

So the Sadducees can teach us a lesson. Those who see themselves as righteous are those who most crucify Jesus. Many believers are convinced that they are the only righteous keepers of God’s way. But they are self-righteous, filled with condemnation, not love.

When we let ourselves become self-righteous, we crucify Jesus, and His grace, love, mercy, and holiness. Be humble, because the only one who is righteous in Himself is Jesus. Our righteousness is only borrowed from Him.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Follow the humility of God today with no righteousness of your own – He will lift you up.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Cherubim Sword…

After the fall of man, it is written that the Lord stationed cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the way of the Tree of Life. What does that mean?

Most people think it means the cherubim and sword are there to prevent anyone from approaching the Tree of Life. There is truth to this, but it’s not the final truth. It also means that you can approach the Tree of Life, but only if you walk through the cherubim and the sword.

The only way to eternal life is through the sword, through dying. When Jesus opened up the way to life, He did so by passing through the flaming sword–through death, through judgment, through the cross.

So the cross is the sword of the cherubim! If you want to partake of the Tree of Life and all the blessings thereof, follow Jesus. Pass through the sword, the cross; die to yourself and let go of your old life.

Because the cross isn’t an end, it’s a beginning that opens up the way to peace, hope, and joy. The way of the cross is access to the Tree of Life!

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

Follow Jesus through the sword of the cherubim. Follow the way of God, even when it means the dying of the flesh, the ego, and the old man – and you’ll find life on the other side.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Ancient Proverb and America…

The Book of Proverbs says, “Righteousness exalts a nation – but sin is a reproach to any people.” America has known unprecedented greatness, not because of its abilities but because of goodness – in its ideals and purpose.

This proverb has held true in that God has blessed America more than any other nation in history. Yet, the second part is true as well: ‘sin is a reproach to any people.’ So as America ceases to follow the ways of God, it also will cease to be great.

That’s because true greatness comes from goodness. This is as true for people as it is for nations. We often think of greatness in terms of achieving and expanding. We seek to expand our bank accounts, careers, influence, ministries, or reputations.

But that’s backwards. You want greatness? Then seek goodness. If you want to live a great life, get your eyes off of status, influence, and possessions – and focus on the kingdom of God. Live a life of righteousness, integrity and godliness. Forget about being great. Be good instead; for goodness is greatness.

For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. Ephesians 5:9

Today, don’t seek to lift yourself up, to make yourself known. Seek to do what is right no matter what the cost. And you will find greatness.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Removing The Berlin Wall…

The Berlin wall was such a powerful symbol, a monument of oppression and division of the world. A believer was led to pray for the removal of the wall when he heard a voice of the Spirit saying “I said don’t just pray, but say to the mountain you shall be removed.”

At first he prayed alone, then with other believers speaking to the wall to be removed in the name of the Lord. The wall of communism came down. When we think of walls, we think of obstacles not of objects to speak to.

For 2000 years the Jewish people have been talking to the wall, so we have to learn to talk to our walls. Do you have a wall in your life? Walls of anger, failure, bad relationships and bad habits?

Stop accepting these as walls and begin to speak to it. If we can talk to the mountain, then we can talk to the wall. If that wall is blocking God’s purpose, tell it “Be thou removed,” and it will surely be removed.

The process of declaring and decreeing the Word of God will surely begin to work in your life.

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Mark 11:23

Find your wall that is blocking God’s purpose in your life today and in prayer speak to that obstacle to be removed in God’s name.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love.always,

Ed

Seeking The More of God…

No matter how hard you try, you cannot rationally understand the Trinity. God is singular, God is plural, God is one. God is more. That’s the point.

Whatever you know of Him, He’s more. However good you think He is, He’s even better. He cannot be contained by a word, by thought or by trying to figure Him out.

You think God is one, God is three, God is more. He’s more than you can comprehend. The only way to contain Him is to overflow with more-ness; overflowing abundance.

After years of knowing, Paul writes, “That I might know Him.” There is always more. When you think you know all of Him, that’s when you stop knowing Him. When you realize how awesome He is, there’s so much more. That’s when you start knowing Him.

He’s more incredible, more forgiving, more patient, more glorious than you can dream of. Don’t ever give up. Seek more of Him, there’s more joy, more power. You are more than a conqueror. He’s always more than you think, and that is more than wonderful.

The Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son 1 John 5:8-10

Seek to find more of God today, more of His presence, more of His love, all the more of Him you don’t know yet.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The War of The Archay…

I want to show you something really cool that can give you victory every day of your life. It’s in scripture: the keys of victory–spiritual warfare, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against rulers” (Eph. 6:12).

In Greek, the word for rulers is “archay.” You see it in archbishop, archeology, archetype. It means the first things, the principle thing, the beginning.

You want to have victory over sin? Fight the arches, war against them, against the beginning of sin: the first inkling, the first thought, the first appearance of it, when you are being tempted, the very first thing.

Don’t let it go and give it room. Then at the end you’re fighting against something very big. Fight at its beginning. That’s the key. That’s when you’ll have the victory.

The arch of doubt–fight it when it first comes in, when it’s a little thought. Fight sin at its first sight, before you get to it and you will be successful, because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against archayes.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Be vigilant for the first signs of temptation before it becomes sin and fight it at the earliest sign – fight the archay.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed