This is an excerpt from chapter 24 of my upcoming book, the Reality of being a Believer, whether Jew or Gentile. My first book, Prayer, is on Amazon.

What is the most well known scripture in the world? Of course it is John 3:16. Most people saved or not can quote it from memory. It is an iconic scripture standing for what it means to be a believer. I have seen it displayed at football or baseball games. It has appeared any where there were people to see or a camera to broadcast it. People have fought against displaying this one particular scripture because it has such meaning for everyone. Ever look at what this scripture says and means? The meaning it has for the believer is basic. It is about who God is and what He has done for us. Then the second part speaks of what we have to do for God and ourselves. So, what does it say specifically?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

For God so loved the world, that pretty much includes everyone. It does not exclude anyone. God loves everyone on this earth. Then what did He do because He loves everyone? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. This means that God gave Jesus to be sacrificed for our sins that we could come back to Him. This is a very strong love to do that for His creation. God gave to us the most important gift He had to rescue us from eternal death. This is something that we could not do for ourselves. Only God has the power to be able to transform us into the image and likeness of Himself. After man sinned and was separated from Him, God gave to us a redeemer to come back to Himself. Giving is a most important part of our life here on earth.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

This is an except from chapter 21 of my upcoming second book, The Reality of being a Believer, whether Jew or Gentile. My first book, Prayer, is on Amazon.

Commitment to God requires courage on our part. We can not continue unless we believe that God is true and worthy of our commitment. The day I gave my heart to the Lord, was the day that He came down and surrounded me for most of the day. His presence was so thick that everyone else was a million miles away. It was God and me. I did not understand what was going on and became afraid. That is when the presence of God left me. I turn to my friend who brought me to church in the first place. He and his wife began to disciple me. They had a new baby and I became their second one. For 6 months I was at their home every night, listening and learning about God and His purpose for me. It took the fear out of following God. As I learned I grew in the Lord. My faith grew exponentially. Soon I became taking on the commandments of God. As they worked through me, I grew. The word of God taught that I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. And that I can move mountains if I believe and do not doubt.

The power of God does not flow through someone who is not committed. We as a human do not have the power to changed anything. But when we as believers ask God to do something, He will work through us to accomplish His will on this earth. I have seen many miracles and the hand of God change the world right in front of me.

As I walked with God, my faith grew to where I was using it to accomplish God’s will on this earth. But I was committed to God’s plan. God began to teach me and lead me in paths where I did not see anyone walking down. One, it was not for anyone else what God was teaching me. Two, God wanted me to be reliant on Him alone. This is where courage and commitment come into play. The paths that God was leading me on, scared me. I had to have courage to walk in the valley of the shadow of death. And commitment to follow God into hell and back. So, where do you stand?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Jospeph1637.com

This is an excerpt from my new book, The Reality of Being a Believer, Jew or Gentile. it is chapter 18, God’s Plan. My first book, Prayer, is on Amazon. My second book will be published this year.

In the beginning, God developed a plan for the universe. It included mankind. God wanted to share all that He had with someone who would appreciated Him and His effort for us. We do not think that God has emotions like we do. But He passed on His emotions to us. There is a scripture that says, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. If you do not think so, ask the people before the flood or ask the Egyptians that persecuted the Israelites, from Moses until today. The one thing that is a blessing is that God can control His emotions. God loves us and is longsuffering toward us. This is part of His plan for us.

We will never know the full plan of God until we reach heaven. Until we do, God reveals here a little, there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept. We learn from God a little at a time. As smart as we think we are, if God explain everything to us at once. We could not understand it. It would be overwhelming. Sometimes the little bit that God reveals is hard to swallow. I have had to walk in difficult situation. And most of the time I did not want to be there. But I am willing to serve God and trust Him. I did not see the purpose for many of my expeditions with God. Yes they were adventures into the dark continent of my heart. Otherwise known as the Valley of Death. What God wanted to do with me is to change me into the image and likeness of Jesus. My adventures with God were alone. It was just God and me. I did not see anyone see walking in my path. It was scary because I did not know what to expect. But I knew that God went before and protected me wherever we walked.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

This is an excerpt from Chapter 15 of my second book, The Reality of being a Believer, whether Jew or Gentile. My first book, Prayer, is available on Amazon.

When I came to the Lord, I knew nothing about God. I began to read the bible to see what God said and who He was. I knew that I wanted to speak to God and for Him to speak to me. God was a stranger, but I knew that He loved and cared for me. I read incessantly. I had a bible at home, one in my car and one on my desk at work. So, where ever I was I could read the word of God. I was a baby in Christ stumbling and fumbling around to be able to walk on the path God had for me. I read the King James English version. It is still my version of choice.

I read until I heard a voice speak to me. Usually the voice would quote a scripture in King James English. I became familiar with the voice because it would explain the scripture that was quoted. As I became familiar with that voice, my faith grew in the Lord. I knew that God was talking to me. Later on God began to speak to me in regular English. I asked Him why He spoke to me in King James English instead of regular English. God said it was because I had learned the scripture in King James English and that was what I was familiar with. In other words to trust His voice.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What did you see the first time you held your new baby in your arms? I saw the hope of the future. I also saw the responsibility I had for a new human being. As I looked at each of my children and saw the that little face smile at me, it melted my heart. I was in love with this little person, who could not say a word, but spoke volumes to my heart. All I could see was the opportunity or hope of this little one to become more than I did. I knew the joy and the love and the pain this life was going to have. But I was hoping and praying for a better life. I was beside myself when I held that child. I have four sons and five grandchildren. My children and grandchildren are busy and loud and rambunctious. In other words, full of life. Some have already surpassed my expectations. I pray for my family every day. I have not always done right by my family. But I have always tried to be what they needed.

That is the thing about children, they will teach you to see what is in your heart. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. No one can change the past. We can only correct the present and pray for the future. When my children would go to spend the night at a friend’s house, the parents would tell us how nice our children were. Then I would asked who are they talking about? I love my family. Something I learned as I studied the bible. Our prayers for our families do not end at our death. As long as my family exist, those prayer will continue before God. My family has been in America for over 400 years. They came to America for religious freedom and have practice their religion in every generation. And I know that they prayed for me and my family. And those prayers are still working for us. I have no doubt that their prayers and mine will continue until my family is no more. Think back and remember the faces of your children and grandchildren and that sweet smile.

Crain Blanchard.

Jospeh1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

This is an excerpt from my second book, The Reality of being a Believer. It is about the everyday requirements of believing in Jesus. My first book is Prayer by Crain Blanchard. This book is about learning how to pray and to get closer to God. It is available on Amazon.

The Apostle Paul was a very smart man. As leader in the Jewish religion, Paul or Saul, was destined to become the High Priest. Paul wanted this more than anything. He pursued this by trying to destroyed the church that the Apostles and disciples established in the first century in Jerusalem. Paul went about killing and putting in prison men, women and children that followed Jesus. Paul was a very learned man, a doctor of the Law. What he did not know was that this learning worked against him. On the road to Damascus, Paul met Jesus. The light of God was so strong that it knocked him off his donkey. Paul knew that this was God. That is when he asked God what He wanted. As Jesus told Paul what he was and what God required of him, Paul was blinded and understood who God is for the first time in his life. Jesus told him to wait in Damascus until a certain man came to him and tell him what to do. Paul was blind for three days. Then a believer came reluctantly and told Paul what God required of him. Paul was converted and wanted to join himself to the church. But no one wanted him to associate with them. Paul began teaching in the synagogues that Jesus was the Messiah. Then the Jews in Damascus plotted to kill Paul. He escaped over the wall in a basket. Then the Apostle Barnabas took Paul in and discipled him. No one wanted to accept Paul until God took him to the backside of the desert to teach him. God had Paul to unlearn the teachings of man and relearn to truths of God. When the church saw the results of Paul preaching the gospel in Antioch, they accepted him.

The book, The Reality of being a Believer will be out soon. Thank you so much to those that follow my blogs. I appreciate you and pray for your pursuit of God. God bless and keep you.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

You know how you just keep putting off things until later. I have a calendar hanging on the wall. I look at it and say I need to take it down. Well it is still there. That’s not the bad part. It is a 2022 Calendar. Well it is 2024. This year promises something new and something old. The old part is me, but the new part is that I don’t know what will happen. A brand new year and set of circumstances will present itself to me and everyone else as we walk in this world. I wonder what will happen this years? It seems that the world has gone to hell in a hand basket. But that is only on the surface. As we watch this pagentry played out what will happen? I have assuance, I am not talking about insurance. I have assurance that no matter what happens in this world I am going home to heaven. Did you know that the same assurance that I have, you can have. You see that assurance is not man made. Everything that is man made will fail, completely. But the Assurance that God gives will last forever. Yes, God guaranteed through the death and resurrection of His son, Jesus, our assurance. So, as you go about your new year, remember that we as mankind don’t have the power to change anything. But there is someone who has the power to help us through this life, God Himself. Have a Happy and Blessed New year.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Where have all the flowers gone? Long time passing. It’s a song by the kingston trio from the fifties. It’s melodramatic but but it makes a point. What it’s talking about is the cycle of life. We’re born. We live our lives. Then we die. Is that all there is to life. We want more. We try to make more and see more. But death is inevitable. There is a point to life. God didn’t put us here to be frustrated with life. He wanted us to have a good life. Our efforts here are to make it home. You see this is not our home. Our home is heaven. I know many people are feeling the depression and let down after Christmas. Our families came together now they’re going home. And we miss the family that has passed on. Each of us has a specific function on the earth. We do our best to find out what it is. And i’m not talking about being a doctor or a plumber. Our purpose in this life is to make it home to heaven. It is a journey. We have to walk it out. And the only way that we are going to find the gate to enter to go home is through Jesus. For God so love the world that he gave to each and everyone of us. God bless you all Jesus name.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May God bless you keep you in this coming year. Also, pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Six years ago I lost my younger brother. I thought I was doing good until I started hearing Christmas music. I began to cry when I heard specific songs. Usually they were the ones that mom and dad played during the Christmas season. We always had a wonderful Christmas. Our family would gather and share a meal, then open presents. As we grew up, we started bringing our girlfriends to get together. Then it was wives and children. Dad’s first grandchild was a little girl named Christy. Dad lived long enough to see my firstborn. Mom lived another 20 years.

This year has been difficult. My younger brother Bill’s wife died. Then my older brother Carson died. I thought I was handling the grief well enough to carry on. Then I began to hear Christmas music and cry. They were the songs I listen to when I was young. Christmas has always been a special time of year. I still remember the little 2 bedroom house we lived in. My 3 brother and I shared one bedroom. My younger brother Bill would sing songs and that would put us to sleep. I was 12 years old when we moved into a 4 bedroom house. And Christmas got bigger.

Christmas is about making memories with your family. It’s about doing things together, sharing a meal, going to a play or musical. You make memories so that when you are older, you remember the wonderful times with you family. Even though they are not there anymore. And no one can take them away from you.

The Christmas song that triggered my grief is “I’ll be home for Christmas”. I’ll put a link below for the song. It is an old WWII song that I still love today. It is about a soldier wanting to be home with his family for Christmas. I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com