Walking With Jesus

Perspective

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.” (1 John 4:4-6 NLT)

The first time I flew I wanted a window seat, and I had my camera in hand. It was a very cloudy, rainy day, and the sun was completely hidden. But as the plane broke through the clouds, the sun was bright and all I could see were puffy, pillow-like clouds. It was breathtaking, a sight I’d never seen before, an opportunity for me to gain a new perspective on the majesty and magnificence of Almighty God.

Perspective is a value that’s grossly underrated in the day in which we now live. We get so locked in on our perspective of things we too often fail to realize there are many others whose views of life are quite different from our limited and too often very narrow view. For example, overtime we begin to believe that all Christians are just like us. They think like us, act like us, believe like us, sing the same songs, love the same translation of the Bible, have the same traditions, view doctrine like us, in short, are just models of us.

But the plot thickens when we make the shift from simply thinking they’re like us to believing they SHOULD be like us and therein lies a very big danger. The God of heaven loves diversity. If He’d wanted us to all be alike, that’s how He would have made us.

Did you realize there are more than 400 species of sharks and 17,500 species of butterflies? So? So, why would we expect the Lord to make one kind of follower? Our church has over 50 language groups represented in our family and it’s a slice of heaven. When we sing together, we raise our voices to one Father, one Savior, one Redeemer, one Lord, but we’re all very different!

Yet, our experience of Him is as unique as each of us is unique. God doesn’t have a “one-size-fits-all” view of us. He loves us uniquely, as if we were His only child. He knows us individually and understands our needs like no one else can. God doesn’t make rash statements of condemnation, He understands exactly who deserves condemnation and who doesn’t, and He treats us each accordingly.

A quote from Darlow Sargeant was included in a devotional calendar that I have where he wrote: “People will know that you live in a constant state of anxiety by the lines on your face, the tone of your voice, your negative attitude, and the lack of joy in your spirit. So scale the heights of a life abandoned to God, and your perspective will change to the point that you will look down on the clouds beneath your feet.”

That’s the perspective I long to have! How about you? “A life abandoned to God.” What do you envision when you think about that? To me it means freedom from anxiety, relaxation in the strong arms of my Savior as He undergirds and supports me in every endeavor, every need, fear, sorrow, confrontation, or concern. Its life lived in harmony with the Lord of my life who owns me and has my best interests in His heart and mind.

I’m not a shark, butterfly, or bird, but I know my heavenly Father watches over me.

That’s my perspective.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Why Trials?

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT)

Could it be our faith as Jesus followers in the United States of America is so weak because we face so few real trials? The writer of the Hebrew letter gives us insight when he wrote: “But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.” (Hebrews 11:35b-38 NLT)

“Yeh, but that was during Bible times. People aren’t treated like that today.” Do you not realize that more people are being martyred for Christ today than ever before? More than 365 million believers live under the constant threat of persecution and death. We must get our heads out of the proverbial “sand” and see what’s happening in our world.

In America we’re lax in our Christian disciplines, rarely reading our Bible or taking our precious time away from our pleasures to spend five minutes in prayer. We’re not persecuted because our faith isn’t strong enough to merit it. We’re not a threat to anyone. Would to God we could spend an hour with a brother or sister in a persecuted land.

Currently I’m reading a book I would highly encourage you to read. It’s The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun, a contemporary Chinese Christian brother who has been through unimaginable torture for the cause of Christ, yet continues to glorify and honor the Lord through his powerful life and testimony.

According to Peter in the verses above, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine.” Every day I marvel that the Lord allows me to continue bearing His Holy Name with the small measure of commitment I display in and through my life.

While in Guatemala on a Mission’s trip, a few of us from America stood in a small hut like church that had been rebuilt by the widows of the men who had originally built it. Anti-Christian rebels came to the church during a service, gathered all the men, bound them, poured gasoline over them and burned them to death forcing their families to watch. In the strength only the Holy Spirit can give, these precious women of God stood strong together and defied the forces of evil and rebuilt the church where their husbands had died rather than deny their Lord.

What is it going to take before we get serious about our faith? It’s coming, dear frightened believer, sooner than any of us want to imagine. The only way to be prepared is intimacy with Jesus. There is no fear in His presence. He never leaves us or forsakes us. May we, by His grace, determine to never leave Him regardless of threats to our life or safety.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed (*Please read Brother Yun’s book)

What Time Is It?

“The Lord rescues the godly; He is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in Him.” (Psalm 37:39-40 NLT)

You’ve likely heard what to me is alarming news that a radical socialist, Zohran Mamdani, won the Democratic primary and is now the clear frontrunner to become the next mayor of New York City. His victory comes despite his unashamed endorsement of failed socialist policies such as government-run grocery stores, stiff tax hikes, and communist-style rent control housing that are nightmares waiting to materialize.

Additionally, he has openly embraced the slogan “globalize the intifada” calling for global violence in support of Islam. If this isn’t a wake-up call for America and the world, I don’t know what is. Behind his smiling face and seeming “concern” for the poor, is an evil intent set on changing life on earth as we now know it.

Is this a call to panic? Of course not! It’s a call to prayer. Think about it, when are we most prone to seek prayer? When things turn south! When the phone rings and the doctor’s diagnosis is very negative, when the surgery we thought would help leads not to a better life, but to tragic outcome.

Why can we not see the essential nature of prayer when things are good? Why must we wait until the world is seeming to spin out of control? NEWS FLASH! It’s never out of God’s control, and He’s the only One who can bring about any lasting change, not only in the world, but in our individual lives.

Dr. Michael L. Brown gets my attention when he writes: “Far too many preachers today are playing a lullaby when they need to be sounding an alarm.” Of course I’m not advocating preachers forsake their responsibility to preach the Gospel and seek to guide their people in growing up in Christ, but part of spiritual development is being mindful of our key role in praying for the needs that personally affect us, including the radical and demonic activities that affect life on planet earth.

When I read about a man like Mamdani I wonder if he might be a type of anti-Christ that is being allowed to gain a following that the Lord might use to usher in the end times and the coming of our blessed Redeemer. Even so, Lord Jesus come!

In the meantime, we are losing loved ones and friends who are on a course leading them straight to hell unless and until you and I determine to take or maintain our responsibility to pray much more seriously. Honestly, I’ve read Revelation, and I know how all this ends. I don’t fear what’s coming, I invite it, but my concern, as yours if you’re devoted to the Lord Jesus, is the fate of our family and friends.

Mamdani and his like will stand before the Lord the same as each of us, but given the track record of jihadist policies and those who promote them, it’s not looking good for him from an eternal perspective. We must pray for Mr. Mamdani, as we pray for those who torment godly Jesus followers across our world, asking the Lord to change their hearts and minds and allow them to see the compassion and mercy of the Lord Jesus before it’s eternally too late.

This is not a time to panic. It’s a time to pray…earnestly!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Theology’s Greatest Danger

“Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’ ‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing Me.’” (John 20:27-29 NLT)

If you believe in Jesus, why do you believe? What was it for you that nudged, pushed, or dragged you over the line of faith? Unlike Thomas you didn’t see His physical presence, yet you DID see Him with your eye of faith; otherwise, you wouldn’t be a believer.

Theology is a word that literally means “God words” or “words about God.” As a student in a literal “School of Theology,” I learned the difference between religion and Theology; the sources of Theology; erroneous sources of Theology, and on and on about what it was and wasn’t; why it was important, and what I needed to understand about it if I was going to be a Pastor.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

You know what happens to a lot of “Theology” students? They get so intrigued with words about God, they lose their focus on God. Kelly Kapic touched on this when he wrote: “One of the greatest dangers in theology is making our faith something we discuss rather than something that moves us.”

Do you think Thomas was “moved” when Jesus appeared to him? My sense is Thomas’ knees hit the floor before he had a chance to think about what he should do. He may have been face down, ashamed he ever doubted. I can see Jesus gently cupping Thomas’ face in His strong hands, inviting him to stand, allowing him to do what he now knows he doesn’t need to do.

What about you? Have you “seen” Him? I’ve never seen Him like Thomas did, with my physical eyes, but I “see” Him every day with my eye of faith. He’s just as alive and real to me and millions of others, as He was on that day for Thomas.

We can read books about Him, but all the words in the world won’t make Him “visible” to our spirit until we recognize Him as our Lord and God. Jesus is so much more than God of Creation, Lord of history, Savior of the world, though He is all of those things. To me He is “MY LORD and MY GOD!” as He was for Thomas and the other Disciples.

Theology will never truly make sense until you understand Who it’s about and how He personally loves you. The most profound lesson Theology can teach us is this: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!” In a very real sense, that’s all you need to understand to begin your journey of faith in the God of the Bible.

He’s real! He’s alive! He loves – you and me and every person who has ever lived or ever will live. He can’t help it, it’s just who He is. Please click on the highlighted link and watch this brief description of our King of Kings by Dr. S.M. Lockridge. You’ll be soooooo glad you did!

Blessings, Ed 😊

Change the Way You Think

“We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV)

*This article was written by Pastor Rick Warren and published on 05-21-2025.I think it is just too good not to share. Please read carefully and pass on to those you believe will benefit from reading these helpful words. Blessings, Ed 😊

Here’s the secret to temptation: Don’t fight it. Refocus—because whatever you resist persists.

Did you know that the Bible doesn’t tell you to resist temptation? It says to resist the devil, and that’s a whole different issue. But the key to overcoming temptation is not to push back. It’s to change your focus.

Whatever gets your attention gets you. The battle for sin always starts in the mind. That’s why the Bible says in Psalm 119:6, “Thinking about your commands will keep me from doing some foolish thing” (CEV). Why? Because if you’re thinking about God’s truth, you’re not thinking about other things—like temptations!

It’s true in every single area of life—good or bad. If you focus on godly things, your mind will begin to naturally gravitate towards them. If you focus on worldly or negative things, your mind will begin to naturally move in that direction. Whatever you focus on gets your attention. And whatever gets your attention, gets you.

The key is to change your mind.

Temptation always follows a predictable pattern: attention, activation, and action. Your mind gets hooked, your mind kicks in and emotions come into play, and then you act on it.

So instead of trying to fight a temptation; turn your mind to something else. “We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV).

After Jesus was baptized and went into the wilderness for 40 days, Satan tried to tempt him by saying, “Tell these stones to become bread” Matthew 4:3 (NIV). Jesus didn’t say, “Oh, no I’m not hungry.” He was hungry! He’d been fasting for forty days. But he turned his mind to something else. He quoted the Bible. He said, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4 NLT).

The more you fight a particular temptation, the more it controls you. You can’t fight a feeling, but you can choose to focus on other things. When you do, the feeling loses its attraction because your attention is on something else.

Capturing every thought and turning it to Christ takes lots of practice. You can’t always control your circumstances, and you definitely can’t always control the way you feel. But you can control what you think about. That’s always your choice.

And if you change the way you think, it changes the way you feel, and that will change the way you act.

Talk It Over

What do you spend your time thinking about? Where does your mind wander when you’re not focused on something specific?
In what situations do you know your mind will focus on things that will cause you to sin?
How can you train yourself so that it is more natural for you to focus on God’s Word and truth instead of the things of this world?

Undivided Presence

“For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” (Hebrews 9:24 ESV)

What does it mean to be in someone’s presence? To my point in this article, it means to be “face-to-face” with the one with whom we’re speaking; to be able to have physical contact, to shake their hand or give them a hug; the ability to make eye contact, to see one another’s responses and reactions as they speak with one another; to know one another and find joy in one another’s presence.

I can tell you I was in Chuck Colson’s presence or Billy Graham’s presence, and while I wouldn’t be lying, I’d be exaggerating. I was in the same room with them, but they didn’t know me from Adam. It’s not the same as what I’m inferring in this message.

To be in God’s presence is to have an audience of ONE with Almighty God. He has the capacity to sit with us and love us as if we were the only person in the universe. There is a sense in which when Jesus died on the Cross, if you’d been the only one who needed a Savior, He would have died just for you. That’s how much you’re loved; that’s how much you mean to God!

The privilege of God’s undivided presence with us is a gift given to anyone willing to take the time and make the effort to let it happen. God is always willing, so, whether it happens rests on us. Are you willing? Before you answer, think of the implications of a “sit down” with God.

Perhaps many of us would jump at the chance to sit and speak with the Lord of Creation. We have this long list of complaints and questions we think we’d like to bring before Him, but it’s my sense that we have little frame of reference to understand what it’s like to sit in the presence of pure love. Think of those, like the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43ff) who came up behind Him wishing only to touch the hem of His robe, or the young man in Mark 10:17 who knelt in reverence to the Lord.

My guess is if we really thought about it, we’d be speechless in His awesome presence, so in awe of Him whatever questions we thought we had would be gone. But that’s essentially the attitude I believe we need to approach Him, waiting for Him to acknowledge us and allow us to speak. I’ve grown so accustomed to relying on His presence, His voice, His directives in my life that I sometimes apologize to Him and ask Him to forgive me for presuming I have the right to rush into His presence as a small child into the presence of their father.

But He assures me that’s exactly what He wants us to do. He’s given us that privilege, and it saddens Him that so few take advantage of the opportunity to find an audience with Him. Please, if that’s you, get over yourself, come humbly, but boldly into your Father’s presence, knowing He is waiting with open arms to hold you, listen to you, love you, and meet your needs.

Do you have questions? He’s a great listener, but I have a feeling being in His presence will answer a lot of them. It’s amazing how many questions are answered by loving acceptance, grace, and kindness. And here’s the best part: He NEVER leaves you! So? That means you are ALWAYS in His presence, which means whatever your need, whenever it occurs, He’s not distant; He’s as close as your breath.

Speak to Him. He’s always listening.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Our Life in Christ

“And Christ lives within you, so even through your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” (Romans 8:10-11 NLT)

It’s ironic on some levels that the life within us isn’t our own, but He who gave us physical life in the beginning. What are the implications? Physical life is existence and constitutes the presence of the ability to function as a human being without being plugged into the source of real life, the Lord Jesus Christ. In some ways it’s like being a “moon” who has no light of its own. It’s “alive,” in the sense that it exists, but without the light of the sun few would even notice it.

That’s how many people on planet earth go through their day – unnoticed, blank faces plastered on a wall with billions of other faces no one recognizes, or cares exist. At least that’s how they feel about themselves. The fact is, Jesus came to earth to change all of that.

To Him, EVERY face matters! When He hung on the Cross, every face passed before Him and He made the conscious decision to die for each one. Every life matters, even the ones that are snuffed out before they draw their first breath. Your life matters! The Lord Jesus, Creator of all that is, knows your name and cares about every detail of your life.

He died for you. That’s how much He loves you. He so desires for you to know Him and love Him in return. It’s not that He needs your love. He doesn’t. He doesn’t need anything. But He knows that when we plug into His eternal life it brings light and life to us that is available in no other way. We can be given a fresh new start and can learn what it means to be alive and in love with the Author of life.

Frederick P. Wood gives us clues as to what that can look like when he wrote: “Ask the Lord to make your life a glory to him, a menace to the devil, a strength to your church, and a witness to the world.” Think about the impact our life could have if our life was a glory to Him. What might that look like?

What comes to mind when you think of the word “glory?” Honor, praise, credit, renown. The Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary suggests “resplendence” or “magnificence.” How might we have to live to render those kinds of considerations to our Lord and Master? Selfless, dependent (upon Him), loving, kind, caring, considerate, compassionate, Spirit-filled and Spirit-led.

It would have to be a life lived in total surrender to His will, knowing that every detail of our life matters as it relates to how we reflect His life being lived out in and through us. Our life should be a menace to the devil as a dripping faucet is to a homeowner, but how? By constantly staying in tune with our Savior, desiring His will above our own. Marching to the beat of His desires.

We are a glory to God additionally, by being a strength to our church, but how? By being more than an attender! By being a “belonger!” What does that mean? It means being a part of the family by doing our part. Getting involved in serving the needs of others in and through our church. Volunteering to work or serve in ways that may stretch us spiritually. Support your church financially and with positive reports about them to others.

That’s an important way we are a positive witness to the world, as well as sharing our love of the Lord with others with our words and deeds. These are just a few ways we can give visibility to our life in Christ.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Temporal or Eternal?

“And what do you benefit if your gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26 NLT)

Being human beings, having flesh and blood, having appetites and longings that draw us to the world and the things of the world, create a hard sell when it comes to wanting Jesus more than the world. For most humans losing their soul is a no brainer if it means giving up what they most desire – pleasing themselves!

The majority of people alive today give little consideration to what’s temporal or eternal. Their concern is more focused on themselves and what pleases them. Their favorite radio station is WIIFM – “What’s in it for me!” The world teaches “Religion is for those who can’t make it on their own or who are too weak to fight for what’s ‘theirs.'”

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Most of us were completely self-focused at some point and the shift to understanding what eternity is and what it means took a while to grasp. Even spirit-filled people who have walked with the Lord for many years still let “self” get in the way more often than we’d care to admit. We still want “our” brand of Christianity, our “style” of worship, our “doctrinal preferences,” our way in most things.

We want the eternal, we just like it with a twist of temporal. John Piper brings clarity when he writes: “The greatest issues are not temporal, but eternal. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” What are the “greatest issues” in your mind?

When we’re honest sometimes our greatest issue is getting our infant child to stop crying or training the dog to stop doing its business on the carpet. Sometimes the “temporal” is so in-our-face we hardly have time to consider the eternal. What are we to do? How do we get off the merry-go-round of routine and find balance in the eternal?

The only way I’m aware of training ourselves to think eternal thoughts, with application to our temporal “duties,” is prayer. Grounding our mind in Scripture by daily spending time reading or listening to God’s Word and carving out quality time to speak to the Lord in focused prayer. Initially, I wrote out long lists of requests and “prayed” those needs and people to the Lord.

You have to tailor your requests to the time you have, but that doesn’t mean you have to pray everything in one sitting. Pray throughout the day. If you get 45 minutes for lunch, eat in 20 minutes and pray for 20 minutes. If it’s a pretty day, take a 15-20 minute “prayer” walk. Put a verse of Scripture on a card or note on your desk or at your work station with something that will remind you why you’re working is to honor the Lord, not simply to do a job.

Turn it so it faces you, it doesn’t have to be an advertisement of how spiritual you are. You can even keep it in a drawer, so you see it when you open that drawer. It’s a reminder for you to keep your thoughts on Jesus even when you’re doing other things.

Pray when you’re driving (keep your eyes open 😊), when having conversations, working, playing, eating, even watching TV. Our thoughts are the playground of Satan, so, we can’t let him have a foothold. I’m praying as I’m typing this message, asking the Lord to use it to bless and challenge you to determine to become more like Him. We must think of Him and think like Him before we can begin to be like Him.

There’s nothing this world can offer that compares with freedom from sin and hope for eternal life in Jesus. NOTHING!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Trusting God With Our Pain

“Though I am surrounded by troubles, You will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out Your hand, and the power of Your right hand saves Me. The Lord will work out His plans for my life – for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.” (Psalm 138:7-8 NLT)

Pain can come from many sources. I can stub my toe, have surgery, experience a loss, or drift from God. What do you do when you’re in pain? What’s your “knee-jerk” reaction when pain strikes? And here’s an irony of pain – it doesn’t have to be our own. For many of us when a loved one is hurting or experiencing challenging circumstances, it breaks our heart and, too often, crushes our spirit.

“Where is God in my/our suffering?” is often the cry of our heart and mind. Why is it when we need God most, He seems so far away? Ray Majoran addresses this issue in his prayer from “Preserved and Protected 05-29-25). Please read carefully. “God of unfailing love, we bless You for the mercy that holds us when everything else falls apart. You are not far off or watching from a distance — You are near to the broken and the overlooked, near to the ones whose stories have been forgotten by everyone but You (Psalm 34:18). You hem us in behind and before, and even in the depths of trouble, You stretch out Your hand and draw a line the enemy cannot cross (Psalm 139:5). You preserve what You have purposed; thank You for making us part of that plan.

Many of our friends and family (and perhaps even we ourselves) are walking through fire — things that keep us awake long into the night. Some are wrestling with shame from past decisions; others feel like they’ve out-sinned grace. But Your Word says that You will not lose even one of those You’ve given to the Son (John 6:39). We simply need to trust and believe in Him (John 3:16).

And so we trust You — not just with our days, but with our pain. You have not forgotten us; You will finish what You started. Keep us grounded in the truth that You are enough, for we are preserved and protected in Your love.”

Don’t you love that – “Keep us grounded in the truth that You are enough, for we are preserved and protected in Your love.” Trust grows out of truth and Jesus IS Truth! Our pain and suffering can dull us to the warmth of our Savior’s presence when, in fact, He’s closer than the air we breathe. Suffering can insulate us from the very One who most desires to comfort, preserve, and protect us.

Please don’t allow your emotions to keep you from what your mind knows is true – the Lord loves you, is with you, and will make a way for your where there seems to be no way. Trust Him! Express to Him how you feel and allow Him to comfort, strengthen, and walk with you through these difficult days. Find a believing friend who loves Jesus and loves you who will gladly listen to you and pray with and for you.

Each of us has days and seasons of darkness that seem to close in on us, some because of sickness or accidents, but at other times for no apparent reason. Embrace these times as an opportunity to see the Lord more clearly and sense His closeness more personally. It’s in these times our trust can be deepened and our love for our Savior can grow.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Speak Good

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16 NLT)

Every good thing we think, do, or say begins in our heart, motivated by the Spirit of God who indwells us as God’s child. Good does not originate in us, as we’re dominated and directed by our sin-nature from which the only deliverance and cure is forgiveness through Christ our Lord.

To believe we are capable of good without the Spirit’s prompting is to misunderstand the source of all goodness. God is good; thus, everything that is good is derived from Him. That’s why even people who don’t know Him, because they were created by Him, can have some measure of goodness in them. My parents were very good to me even before they came to know the Savior.

However, as God’s child, the good things I do must be credited to the activity of the Spirit; otherwise, I may wrongly believe they originate with me, and I take credit that only God deserves. Am I splitting hairs? Maybe, but I’d much rather err on the side of giving God too much glory, honor, and praise, than not enough.

The title of this article may throw some of you a “curve ball,” as you may be thinking: “Shouldn’t that be ‘Speak Well?’” And, technically, you’d be correct; however, after reading the following quote by Craig Groeschel: “Each time you think something good, speak it. Never rob someone of the blessings of an unspoken treasure,” it launched my mind into considerations of how we might do that, how we might “speak good.”

What do you think? What do you think about that is good? The first thing that comes to mind in this moment is my wife 😊, but closely behind is the Lord who gave her to me. Speaking good involves sharing with others the good that the Lord has shared with me. That’s the basis of these articles.

As long as the Lord gives me breath and the ability to write, I will share insights, understanding, and revelations of anything good that I can find, whether from my heart or someone else’s. I already regularly use Sylvia Gunter’s beautiful and impactful devotionals on the 15^th of each month. Periodically I have used articles from Ron Hutchcraft, Ray Majoran, John Stonestreet and others from the Colson Center, as well as Rick Warren and writers from Family Life.

It behooves us to pass on the good things we read or hear to others in our spheres of influence. For many reasons, the Lord has prompted me, beginning July 1^st, to use the articles of various ones whom I respect and from whom I’ve learned over the years. So, for now, I will dedicate the 1^st and 15^th of each month to those whose words have blessed me, in hopes they will bless you as well. Additionally, as I have been doing, I may sporadically use others when prompted by the Lord.

I invite your feedback as to how you feel about this idea and whether you believe it will be helpful to you. You can respond by giving feedback to this article or writing me directly at walkingwithjesus09@gmail.com.

My heart is to be God’s instrument of blessing to you and to those in your spheres of influence. Words cannot adequately express how much I appreciate those of you who read these words. With all my heart my prayer is that they come to you from the heart of God. Be blessed, dear friends. I love and appreciate you and often thank the Lord for you and your faithfulness.

Blessings, Ed 😊