This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. I will be glad even if my heart hurts with sorrow. God gave us strength. That strength is God’s joy. It doesn’t matter about the circumstances. They aren’t the determining factor. God’s word is our standard, our banner. I love to use King David as an example. His life isn’t perfect. He lived his life making mistakes, but always coming back to God. If you don’t know God’s mercy is new every day. Each morning God will forgive a repentitive heart. Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes you have to go through hell to get to the other side. But Jesus said I will never leave you or forsake you. He is always there. Jesus said that I am the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Now it is up to us to walk in this truth. This is when we need our courage to shine through. I have always believed this scripture, a merry heart works good like a medicine (Proverbs 17:22). I have laughed my way through hell many times. I find the it puts the devil in the right prospective, a loser who have no power and can easily be defeated. If you don’t believe me, read God’s word. Also, my grand baby girl is being born today. It’s my 4th grandchild. My inheritance from God. Rejoice always and again I say rejoice.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

We all know that no matter what we do times will change. From one day to the next, from one minute to the next, our lives are always moving forward. There are moments in our lives that we wish we could live in, but in reality, it doesn’t happen. As we get older, our perception of time seems to spends up, like we have entered into a race that won’t stop. Today is no different than the day we were born. The universe was set into motion by God when He created everything. Our part in this world is to use our share of time to the best of our ability. Not to squander the time we have been given. Although, we try not to change everything, it still does. The only constant in this world is change. It is how we judge everything. From a baby to a toddler, from a toddler to a child, from a child to a teenager and finally from a teenager to an adult. Our perception of this world is based on time. So, here is my question. What are you doing about the changing times that you have left? Everything will come to an end. This world has so much time left, then it will end. Are you rushing headlong into eternity, not knowing what is going to happen to you? I was 28 years old before I discovered who I was and what was going on around me. The thief on the cross next to Jesus discovered who he was just before he died. Which tells me that everyone has a chance to see who they are in this world before you die. The bible calls it coming to oneself. It is where you understand where you are in relationship to God. But if you die not knowing where you are in this relationship with God, it is all over but the crying. God gave us this time, although it’s changing constantly, to figure out our relationship or the lack of it to God. Jesus said, I am the door, no man comes to the Father but by Me. Turn to God and repent. Use your time wisely. And figure out who you are in your relationship to God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@Juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 23:1-12, Jesus is still in the temple teaching. After the religious leaders had asked all their tricky questions, Jesus began to talk about what not to be. He told the people how the religious leaders loved fine garments and the praise of men. How they liked the best seats and money and power. Jesus told the people that this isn’t how you serve God. Jesus told the people in the temple, to serve God you must be the servant of all. When you humble yourself before God then God will be please with you. It is the only way to reach God. As it says in Micah 6:8, God requires that you do justly, you love mercy and that you walk humbly with God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line. Mathematically it is correct, but not always in life. You have heard the sayings, I take 1 step forward and 2 steps behind. It seems that harder the task the behinder I get. It took me 2 years to research a book. The next one took me 5 years. And that’s not the longest. I took 25 years to research my best one. It sometimes get frustrating when I don’t receive the reward up front. But I know that the reward isn’t always measured in monetary gains. I am a distance runner. I am in for the long haul. I like to run also. When I began running, most people would double over in pain after a mile. I developed a resistance to pain. I wouldn’t even be breathing hard. I enjoyed running. No one could catch me. So I ask you the question again, How far is far? I was watching a movie where children were walking across a wilderness to reach to other side. They commented how far it was. And the people responded and said, what did you expect, it is the world. Do you ever think you will reach the other side? Where will your travels take you? Some people end up across the street from where they started. Some end up across the world. To get to the other side of where you are going is always a journey. I like to do that in a hurry. But it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes I receive my reward instantly. Sometimes I receive my reward after 25 years. But I always know that I will not stop until I get to the other side, come hell or high water. So how far is your far?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 22:41-46, Jesus had stumped all the pharisees questions. Then Jesus asked them, who’s son is the Christ? They said He is the son of David. Then Jesus quoted a scripture that David said. David called his future son Lord. God said, my Lord sit at my right hand until I make the earth thy footstool. Then Jesus said if David call Him Lord, then who’s son is He? Pharisees couldn’t answer and didn’t ask any more questions. The religious leaders had examined Jesus and found no blemish. Now Jesus was ready to be slaughtered on the cross. Jesus didn’t leave yet, He had more to teach the multitude and HIs disciples. The old expression, make hay while the sun shines. Hurricane Delta passed through last night. Pray for the people of Lake Charles. 2 hurricanes in 6 weeks. God bless and keep ya’ll.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus and the disciples were in the temple. Jesus was being examined or questioned by the religious leaders. So far, no one could say anything against Him. Then a pharisee ,who was a lawyer, came and asked a question. What is the great commandment in the law? Jesus told him, to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Then Jesus added, the second commandment is like the first. You are to love your neighbor as yourself. These two commandments are all of the law. The lawyer just walked away. Once the truth has been spoken there is no need to argue the point. Many people will hear the truth and argue the point because they don’t like it. But it doesn’t change the truth. The gospel is the truth. And whether it’s a pharisee in Jesus’s time or someone in our lives, the gospel is the truth.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com