The greatest gift anyone can give another is a sacrifice. You have seen it all of your life. We honor those that sacrifice their lives in combat. We recognize that sacrifice is giving of your life to another. Parents do it all the time. Their lives are sacrificed for their children. There something very real about sacrifice. It is where we come alive inside. Knowing that you have sacrificed brings such joy and contentment to our lives. Of course, sacrifice costs. We have to pay for it with our lives. Sometimes it is to the death. But the moment we sacrifice, we have done something real and meaningful, let alone coming alive. I look back in time and see another who sacrifice for me. He actually saw me and died for me anyway. It is what drew me to Him. I saw the real love and meaningful sacrifice for me. His name is Jesus, my lord. You too can see His sacrifice. All you have to do is to look in His direction and let God open your eyes. He is there for everyone. Because of His sacrifice, I am called to a sacrificed life and am blessed for it.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

Nothing is ever great all the time. Nothing is ever bad all the time. It is usually up and down. We all have to go through the bad times to enjoy the good times. It is funny how that works in our lives. No one ever plans for the bad times, but they happen to us anyway. It is because we plan for the good times, that we are prepared for the bad. What is that old saying, success follows the prepared. When King David would hit the bottom of his bad times, he would recount the blessings of the Lord. This would encourage him to go on. God says that when we are tempted, that He will make a way of escape for us. So, we can get through the trial. So, how is your nothing today? Are you rejoicing and laughing at your circumstances? Or have you given up? It seems that our way out is through God, Himself. Turn to God and ask Him for forgiveness. Then follow Him out of the circumstance.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

To Testify, has many meanings. There are actually three words in that one word. It means to prove, and, to affirm. Did you know that you have to prove something before you can attest to it? That means you have to go through it, to be tested. You can’t be a witness without your experience. Then you can prove what you say is true. We all know how much we want to go through trials. Its like pulling teeth. We have to sometimes, but who wants the pain. Change is like this. We have to change but who wants to. But each time we do, we can testify about it. What are we trying to prove with our lives? So, we are going to prove that we went through a change and came out on the other side, relatively unscathed. It doesn’t make any difference that we are better off for it. The journey was this big, hard arduous task. We scaled this giant mountain and came out on the other side. Its funny how embellished our stories become. Change is necessary for us to improve on our lives here. God sees to it that we will enter the challenge. How we come out on the other side, is up to us. Then we can testify about our daring exploits.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and runs to its place where it arose. The wind does the same, the rivers run into the ocean, yet it is never full. Everything is full of labor. But everyone isn’t finished looking or hearing. Everything that has been, will be again. There is nothing new under the sun. it is funny how people forget after a while. Solomon searched for wisdom from God to understand what was happening on earth. God showed Solomon wrote the book of proverbs in one day. The kings of the earth traveled to Jerusalem to see the riches of Solomon. God made him the richest man on earth. And he was the only ever to control the earth, besides Jesus. Solomon looked at everything. He had 900 wives. It was a foolish thing. His son that succeeded him, killed as many of his brothers and sisters as he could. He didn’t want anyone to take his throne. Solomon said that he gave his heart to know wisdom. And he found much grief and the increase of knowledge causes sorrow. All this is written in the book of Ecclesiastes.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

Everyone likes to listen to music. I like a variety of music, jazz, not Dixieland, classical, Bach, Beethoven. But mostly of I like Christian, Southern gospel, hymns and Adult Contemporary. I never thought I would like Toby Mac or Lincoln Brewster. I was the music director for a Christian Radio station. I got to listen to all the music all day long. It was great. I chose music that push the boundaries at that station. They were conservative. But they said as long as they could hear the lyrics and it talked about Jesus. My big push was Amy Grant and her song Emmanuel. Today, it’s Citizen Way and their song Bulletproof. Do you know why music connects with everyone? It is because God made music. In the old testament, they were limited with the instruments they had. But David using a harp, discovered a musical progression, that is still used today. Music is an expression of who we are. If there is light in your heart, your music will worship God. If not, it is of the other side. Choose carefully. What you listen to because it will affect who you are.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

I have always been looked upon as peculiar. Some would even say I was odd. I have always looked at things differently. Sometimes it sideways. But I always look for the truth, no matter where I find it. You can find the truth in some strange places. I looked at a garbage dump and found beautiful flowers. It is out there. And it is waiting for you to find. I have a dry sense of humor. And I laugh sometimes at what other people would say as inappropriate times. But I still see things that most people pass by. The world is serious enough and I don’t need to add to it. So, I look for things that are worth more than all the gold in this world. I look for love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Because it is a sign that God has been there. And wherever God is or has been the world will never be the same. You have to know that bread will not sustain you. It is only the word of God that will sustain us. So, what are you wanting for. Seek God and let Him change you into something beautiful.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

Everybody talks about love. There are many movies made about love, but not one of them actually knows what they are talking about. The drive for sex isn’t love. If people would know how they wreak their lives with unmarried sex, they would leave it alone. Love can be seen in this world. People don’t even know that when an act of kindness is done it is love. Showing gentleness toward a person is love. Being longsuffering toward an idiot is love. Giving a person a hand-up is love. Rejoicing with a person who has accomplish a goal is love. Weeping with a person who has suffered loss is love. Providing food, clothing or shelter for the poor is love. Doing for someone without expecting a return is love. Love doesn’t fail, it bears all things, believes for all things, hope for all things and endures all things. If you want a good example of love all you have to do is look at God. God loves man unconditionally. And man has done everything they could to destroy the love of God. Yet God still loves us. This is true love.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

Although, from our youth, we hear the voice of God, there comes a time we must answer the call of God to come home. A lot of people pray all sorts of prayers. The first prayer that God will listen and respond to is the prayer of salvation. This is when you sincerely ask God to forgive your sins and live in your heart. This begins a relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The gospel has been preached for 6000 years. I am sure that Adam preached the gospel. Did you know that Adam wrote down the covenant he had with God, the gospel? In Egypt, the Levites taught from the book of Adam. They had dedicated themselves to the study and teaching of the gospel. This is why God chose them to carry the ark and tabernacle. There has always been a people who trusted and believed God. We love convenience. How many bibles do you have in your house? I have about 20, different versions. But the prayer of salvation is where you begin your journey with God.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

We always start at the beginning. Sometimes we must keep on going back to the beginning to figure out what we are doing and where we are going. It is true with God and the world. We sometimes refer it as moving mountains. If we don’t remove the mountain, we will go around it one more time, hopefully. I have seen people struck going around the mountain, because they refuse to listen and obey. God gives us everything we need in the kingdom. God gives us the measure of faith. We are to take that faith and use it. Until, we are proficient and effectual. The bible talks about Elijah, a man like us. He prayed that it wouldn’t rain in Israel. It didn’t rain for 3 ½ years. He become so hunted for, that he had to hide out from the people. Then he prayed, and it rained, effectual prayer. God was giving us an example of how to use faith. There are many examples of faith being used in the bible and in the world. So, when you start at the beginning, use your faith. Exercise your faith and become effective in the kingdom of God.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com

It is the thing today to make connections with different people. I’m on several social media sites. I have made connections with many people all over the world. Some are business, some are social, and some are because of God. But the connection is so important. With the world becoming so deceptive, knowing who you are connected to makes a difference. It seems that lying, cheating and stealing are trying to become the standard for living. What a horrible way to live. Not being able to trust anyone. Believing that anyone will destroy you just because. This is why in the first century; the church was underground. Because they were hunted as criminals. If they were found, they were put to death. The church, in the first century, was strong and vibrate. It was because of the persecution. Anyone who is a Christian sees and understands what is coming. And it is the connections that you make among believers that will help you. Trust and believe God will direct you where you need to go. And you will find out what a friend that is closer than a brother truly is.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com