All my life I search for someone who would accept me as me. All I saw was people with their own agendas. People said they loved me ,but it was only when it was going their way. So, I searched. It’s a lonely way to live. Then I heard about this person, who gave His life for me. He was both man and God. He lived 2000 years ago. At first I didn’t believe it was true. It took a long time, before I was close to believing. Then I met Him and stories were true. He loved me for who I was. Jesus accepted me, sins and all. It doesn’t matter what people think, say or do to me. I am loved my Father, God, and my older Brother prays for me continually. God sent His Spirit to live inside of me. Now I’m whole and headed home. Romans 5:5-8.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

God made this world and everything is His. When we came into this world, God gave each of us gifts, talents and abilities to be able to live here. But everything is still God’s. All that God wants from us to listen, obey and follow. He is the only one who knows the way home. There has been so many attempts to replace God, it isn’t even funny anymore. Even in the Christian world, God is being replaced with programs. God has written so many letters to man to show how to get to Him. And only a few have even tried. As the bible says, strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads home. God also said how to walk with Him on this earth. He said to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him. And God wants us to give 10% of our income back to Him, through our church. This is to pay for the business of the church. Each minister lives by the gospel. but when you hold it back, you rob God. And that isn’t a good place to be. The money withheld will bring nothing but trouble. It is better to give to God and let Him bless you, than to keep it and be cursed by God. I don’t have time to go into offerings, but they are just as important to our spiritual life. You can’t out give God. For what you give, you will receive in return.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What do you think would have happened to Jesus, if Joseph didn’t obey God’s command? The bible describes Joseph as a just man. When he found out his espoused wife, Mary, was pregnant. It took the intervention of God to convince him to take her as his wife. If he hadn’t, she would have become a public disgrace and by the law could have been stoned to death. God moved the whole earth around with the tax from Ceasar. Otherwise, Joseph wouldn’t have taken Mary to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Then after the wise men came to see Jesus, God warned Joseph about Herod wanted to kill Jesus. God provided money to live in Egypt, the gifts of the wise men. Then when Herod died, God told Joseph to come home and warned him to go to Nazareth. No one knew who Jesus was except Mary and Joseph. Until, He began His ministry. If Joseph didn’t obey God, what would have happened to Jesus? Now look at your life and ask the same question. Because we are still following God and developing Jesus in our life. What would happen if you don’t obey and follow Jesus? It is because obedience is better than sacrifice.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Everything today is given almost instantaneously. The X generation wants it now. The faster the better. But is it better? The price of cell phones is ridiculous. Companies now finance them so ordinary people can buy them. But they will never match your mind and a pencil and paper. When Jesus was born, there were 3 men and their entourage travels for almost 2 years and they traveled on camels. They were looking for the new king of Israel. They were kings in their own right. They saw a star, which was 5 planets that aligned in the sky. They came from Persia. After they left for home, they left with great joy. They were satisfied that they found Jesus. It changed their lives. How is your search going? Do you think you will be satisfied as these men? If you end game is Jesus, yes you will be. My search took 28 years. Turn around, God is standing there waiting for you. Ask and shall recieve forgiveness. It doesn’t take a lifetime to find Him. Jesus is waiting for you now.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I have heard most of my Christian life not to concern myself with the Old Testament. It’s the law and we aren’t under the anymore. Guess what? If you sin, what happens to you? You fall under the consequence of the law. In Romans 3:23 and 6:23, the wages of sin is death. The old testament completes the picture of Jesus. It’s as relevant to us today as it was to the Christians of the first century. They only heard scriptures from the old testament about Jesus. We stand upon the law and prophets as our firm foundation. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus said there are 2 great commandments, to love God with all we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Deuteronomy and Leviticus. Every scripture has meaning for us. If we only believe and trust God. Abraham was justified by faith and so are we.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Everyone wants God to do something for them. And God turns around and asks, what’s in your hand? Why? Because God already gave you what you need. God gave you the measure of faith when you became a believer. God said you could move mountains if you believed. God said you are more than a conqueror through Jesus. Now what is the truth? Is God a liar or does He speak the truth. God said life and death are in the power of the tongue. Do you speak life to your situation or not. Faith and doubt are the same. They work in either direction. You can use both. It all depends on what you believe. The longest prayer answered by God was 22 years. The shortest prayer answered by God was in the twinkling of an eye. So, I’ll ask you again, what is in your hand?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

We quote that scripture all the time. We bolster our faith and step out. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. But it’s never about doing the great miracles of God that counts. When we are away from our church community and a test or trial comes your way, what do you do? When people tell an off colored joke, do you laugh? Do you listen while people tell the sorted details of their life? Do you watch a TV show with your family that proudly displays everything you stand against? The apostle Peter followed Jesus the night He was arrested by the religious leaders. Peter and John followed Jesus to the religious leaders home. They got in because they knew John. Peter stayed in the courtyard. Before sunrise, 3 people asked Peter if he knew Jesus. Peter denied Jesus 3 times, by the time the cock crowed. Peter looked at Jesus and begin to cry. It said he cried for days. God forgave him and brought him back. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation.” (Roman’s 1:16) KJV.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I want to tell you a true story about Eric Liddell. Eric was a Scottish missionary to China. He also was an Olympic runner. In 1923, he won a gold medal in the 400 meter race. What was so unusual about his running, his arm were flailing. He looked like he was beating on the wind. He said, he ran because it pleased God. There is a movie about Eric called “Chariots of Fire”. When God made everything, including man, it pleased Him. Enoch had the testimony that he pleased God and God took him home. Jesus pleased God by doing and being what God wanted. It pleases God when we do His will on this earth. When we walk with God, it pleases Him. Phil.2:13, “For it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. “

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When God made Adam, He didn’t give Adam a bible. All God did was talk to him face to face. Still, Adam didn’t obey and lost his place with God. In each generation, God wanted to restore man, but couldn’t until Jesus. So, God devised a different plan. God gave man covenants. They were written down so man could read them. God and Moses codified the law in the 10 commandments. Then God gave Moses the first 5 books of the bible. God told the Hebrews to teach their children’s children about the law of Moses. And throughout the ages, God gave the next generation the word of God. Why did God give this lengthy book to us? God did it to give us a picture of Jesus. There are still only 2 commandments we must keep. The first is to love God with all we are. And the second is to love our neighbors as our self. Then we become the picture of Jesus to the world.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

You are going to find that what you believe about God and Jesus is going to be tested. No matter who you are, testing is necessary to prove you and that God is real. John the Baptist was thrown into prison. Jesus had begun His ministry. John was Jesus’s cousin. They grew up knowing each other. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan river. But when he was in prison, John began to have doubts. He sent 2 disciples to Jesus to ask Him if He was the messiah. Jesus used the prophecy in book of Isaiah to speak to John. It was the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the dead ate raised and the poor hear the gospel. The Jesus said, blessed is he who isn’t offended in Me. When you are tested and we are all tested, recount the testimonies of God concerning you. Then you will realize that they will pass and you won’t be offended in Jesus. Matthew 11.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com