The Prophet Samuel came to David’s home town and anointed David king over Israel. He was still a teenager and wouldn’t ascend to the throne until he was older. But for now his life and service to God took him to the king’s court. He first killed Goliath, then served as the king’s musician. His music soothed the savage beast, devil, that was plaguing Saul. The bible says that Jonathan, Saul’s son, and David’s souls were knit together. They were closer than brothers. Then David became Saul’s general and lead the Israelite army into battle. David was so popular because he never lost a battle. His men liked him because he lead from the front of the army. Saul gave his daughter to David as a wife. David was leading a charmed life.

Saul became jealous of David’s popularity. His anger against David was unfounded, but it grew everyday. One day Saul’s anger spilled over and he throw a javelin at David. David knew he had to leave the court of Saul. Jonathan came to him and told him not to come back to the court because Saul would kill him.

That day David was on his own. He knew he had to flee for his life. David was king of Israel and he ran away to save his life. God didn’t leave him only for very long. 600 men of valor joined David in exile. They took their families with them. This encouraged David, but now he was responsible for 600 families. Saul would kill them as well as David. So, what would you do?

David went to the king of Gath, Achish a Philistine. King Achish gave Ziglag to David and his men to live in. All this time David had to encourage himself in the Lord. He provided for all the people that followed him. But this responsibility, he learn from being a shepherd. David knew how to care for a flock of unruly sheep.

When David was 23 years old, Saul died in battle. The people of Judah came to David and asked him to rule over them. David ruled in Judah for 7 years. Then the sons of Saul died and the rest of Israel came to David and asked him to rule over them. David was 30 years old when he became king of Israel. For 14 years David was honored and dishonored. His life was hard and discouraging. Yet he never lost his faith in God. He learned many lessons from God on how to rule and care for people. Even his son rebelled against him and he had to leave Jerusalem. Still he never lost his faith in God. David reign for 40 years and the bible he was gathered to his fathers in peace.

The key to living a good life on this earth is faith in God. Without it there is no hope of tomorrow. Even if our life is hard and unyielding, we still can live by the grace of God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Continental divide is a natural barrier that separates the West coast of America with the rest of the country. It was made over a thousands of years by volcanoes. It took man 100s of years to cross the divide. And then crossing the divide cost many lives and much money. But man didn’t give up and built railroads and highways through the mountains. I have flown over the Rocky mountains on my way to California.

What I want to know is what does the divide between mankind called? If you say there is no divide, you are kidding yourself. There is a divide between the haves and havenots. There is one between the different color races. There is a divide between nationalities. There is a divide between the different religions. There is even a divide between neighborhoods. So, what do you call this madness?

To say it is just insanity, is too simple. Yes it is insanity, but it is curable. Just look at all the problems this insanity has caused. Wars have broken out because of the divide. If you don’t remember that half of the Syrian population drove the other out of Syria. And just look at the war in Ukraine. It is a war over oil. Don’t condemn the Russia too much, because we went to war in Iraq over oil.

So, what is the divide called in our lives? There is only one name that fits this divide. Most people will object to this one word. But it is the truth. It is called sin. God wrote in the bible that all mankind has sinned and come short of the glory of God.

The only way to correct this abnormality is to change your heart. And the only way to change your heart is to come to God and ask for forgiveness. God is the only one that can change your heart. So, why live with the divide in your life. Change your heart and live normally.

Crain Blanchard

Joseph1637@juno.com

joseph1637.com

Sacrifice is when you give of yourself completely to an effort, even if it means your death. No greater love has any man than he gives his life for another. This is what Jesus said about true love. He was talking about Himself, but also was referring to mankind.

In today’s me generation, selfishness is the order of the day. It is all about what we want and can get. We are not considering the needs of others over ourselves. This is why people are getting divorced for no reason and why people are not getting married. Our children and the world around us are suffering because of it.

I can remember how my grandparents and parents lived. When they married, self sacrifice was what they did to maintain a good relationship with their spouse, family and friends. It was nothing to help a neighbor with work or food. They were part of a community that cared for each other. Circumstances have not change all that much. What has changed is us.

Our church is small and we have a food bank each month. About 250 families receive a box of assorted food items. It is different each month, but the boxes usually have milk, eggs and meat in each box. It is a way to give to the local community, so they know that someone cares about them.

If you looked around your community, you would see needs. I know that we can not meet them all, but if you try you will meet some. And meeting some needs, you will find that it will satisfy your soul. Selflessness is an attitude of the heart. To have selfishness in your life, you have to practice it. And when you do practice self sacrifice, you will grow in demeanor. As you grow in demeanor, you will have joy in your heart. At least try to cared for someone else and see what happens to you.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

How long is in a flash? How long is a moment? How is in a blink of an eye? The time that elapses in a moment can’t be quantified. It’s to fast to measure or how to measure it. Yet in that moment is a lifetime. Years ago at church, I shook a man’s hand. The moment I touched his hand, God showed his complete life. I saw when his was a child up unto the present. It was so fast and so intense, it shook me to the core. I wasn’t ready, but the gift of knowledge was working in me.

That gift still works in me. I see many things. Most people don’t believe until I tell them something from their past with varying accuracy. But people are always surprised when I tell them. Then they ask how I knew. That’s when I absolutely know that God said it. I tell them that God told me. That gift of knowledge is used in the work of the kingdom.

Getting back to in a blink of an eye. God talks about this very thing in the bible. In 2 Corinthians 6:2 it says, “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Now is this moment in time. God says that it is the accepted time. Now is in a blink of an eye. That is how fast it comes and goes.

There is another scripture.

1 Corinthians 15:52 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

This scripture talks about when Jesus will return to earth and call away his family. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, how fast is that going to be? Will you have time to ask God to forgive you? Will you be able even to perceive it? Will it happen so fast that you will be left holding your bag of sin?

God wrote the bible to give us a head’s up about what He is going to do on this earth. And with that head’s up, we can plan for eternity. Have you figured out what you are going to do? Nobody know the time that Jesus will return to earth. So this is your heads up about the future.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I have been involved with a prayer group of young men for several years. They come together twice a week early in the morning to pray for personal and corporate needs. One morning, while we were praying, I told them that in spiritual warfare your family becomes fair game. This means that whatever you hold dear can be a target of opportunity for the devil.

Jesus said that He overcame the world and that in His name we too can overcome the world. But this means that we must stay in an attitude of prayer and be vigilant against the wiles of the devil.

James 5:15-18 “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

An attitude of prayer is where we stay in the presence of God continually. When we do stay in God’s presence, we know that our prayers are heard and answered by God. What this means is that we are communicating with God all the time. How can we do this while we are living our lives? It is easier that you think. God made the way back to Him through our relationship with Jesus. We are justified before God by our faith, trusting and believing, in Jesus. This is how we become righteous before God. As we become righteous before God, He will hear and answer our prayers. This is what it means to have our prayers availeth much.

Job sought God everyday, so that nothing would happen to himself and his family. God called Job a righteous man. And no matter what trial Job went through, he never lost faith in God. And God rewarded Job accordingly.

The same happened to Elijah. God gave him 32 miracles during his lifetime. Many people were afraid of Elijah because of his relationship with God. He stayed in an attitude of prayer all of his life. This is also why he lived in the country away from people. But when he prayed, God heard his prayers and answered them.

Any righteous person can have what God has, if you are willing. God has many gifts that any believer can have. These gifts are not just to collect, they are to use in the work of the kingdom. To become proficient in the gifts of God, you must use them continually. Then you will become skilled in that gift and effective in the work of the kingdom. Prayer is a gift of God. Being able to communicate with God and expect an answer from Him.

So, if you want to be a spirit warrior, you have to begin with your faith and prayer.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I’m not talking about outer or inner space. I’m talking about our personal space that we occupy. We are 3 dimensional beings. Actually we are 4 dimensional beings. The first 3 dimensions are height, breath and length. The 4 dimension is what we live in. It’s your birthday. It’s the month you were born in. It’s the year you graduated from high school or college. It’s the day you were married or the day you die. That dimension is of course Time. Most people don’t consider time, they take for granted. We will live forever, maybe. Time is finite or meaning that it will come to an end. Each of us has been given a set amount of time. And we have the authority to use that time as we will. We are masters of our destiny and can do what we want, maybe.

The smartest person in the world can not outwit time and space. We will all grow old and die. It is the cycle of life. Each person has a set amount of time and we can not reverse the aging process. We have to look at our life and see whether or not we use it correctly. What I mean is have you been charitable to your fellowman? Have you given of your time and energy to help mankind? There is nothing better than to give of oneself of what you have to another. This fulfills your purpose on this earth. We live in one large community, mankind.

If you think you can’t affect the world, you are wrong. I wrote a blog, 5 years ago, that literally went around the world. How do I know? I received about 15,000 comments in one month from almost every country in the world. Approximately, 4 million people viewed my blog. Do you think I impacted the world?

What we do doesn’t even come into our prospective of of our life. The events that happen to us seem disconnected with the world. Yet our lives affect so many people and it has a ripple effect. What we do with our time is as important as sleeping and eating. I know that my words won’t have the effect I am hoping for. Some will take it to heart. Some will think it is foolish. But what is real and can’t be ignored is the effects of time on our lives. You can use your time wisely or thrown it away. The choice is always up to you. Use your time wisely and do something that has lasting effects on mankind.

PS. By the way the answer to the riddle is Time.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What has a profound effect upon us, but you can’t see, taste, hear, touch or smell and

is consistent and ever changing? And Why?

Let me know if you have figured it out.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

My son was playing little league baseball one summer. I usually stayed and watched them practiced. One day I was at a game of theirs. I was looking at the catcher. It seemed that he was afraid of the hard ball. Whey they came into the dugout, I talked with the catcher. I said look at the other team’s catcher. He would catch every ball and chase it if he dropped the ball. I told our catcher, he has the want to’s. He wants to play baseball at the best of his ability. And I said if you want to be good at catching, you have to want to. This boy took it to heart. His game increased and he began catching almost every ball. He came up to me and said I have the want to’s.

Passion comes from your heart. If we believe that we can, we can. It is an attitude change in our lives. We are only limited by our ability and knowledge. And both of those things can be learned. But the desire has to come from our hearts.

You have to make the decision to achieve the goals set before you. Then you will have the want to’s.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com