This is an excerpt from my second book, The Reality of Being a Believer. My first book, Prayer, is on Amazon. This excerpt is from Ch.10:Following God.

The command is to follow Jesus. I want to talk about commands. When non believers hear the commands of God, they usually say nobody is going to tell me what to do. But as believers we hear the commands of God and know that God is expressing His love for us. How many times did your parents tell you not to do something. And you did not listen to them. What they told you was a command. And you had a choice in the matter. God is not going to hit you over the head if you do not follow Him in this world. But the destruction will come because of us. We will choose to go to hell or not. God does not send anyone to hell. We have to choose it. Jesus showed us the way to follow and would give us a purpose in the kingdom of God. As we follow a plan begins to emerge to work in the kingdom of God. Then we will gather people to Jesus.

When Jesus said that we would be fishers of men, He added the details of how to do this. We are to gather people to Jesus through the things that we do in the kingdom. What things do we do? Jesus said to love God above all and love your neighbor as yourself. Everyone needs help. It does not matter in which area they need help. Have you ever walked up to someone and you felt their heart reach out to you. Whether they needed love or comfort or food or money. Their heart touched your heart and you knew there was something wrong. Most people won’t admit it, unless the situation is desperate. But if you listen to God and speak what He tells you, you can win a soul for Jesus. The list of things to do is very simple. Shelter to the stranger. Feed the hungry. Give water to the thirsty. Clothe the naked. Pray for the sick. Visit the imprisoned. Jesus said when you do these things to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me. The opposite is just as real and final. Following God is personal. We have to choose to have a relationship with God. We can not follow any other way. We do not have the power or the insight to do what God has called us to. If we do not listen we will stray from the path.

Following God is not about the big things of God. It is about the little things that God wants us to do. God choose us to do the work of the kingdom. It is about loving God and our neighbors and caring for them. The little things of God are walking in the path that God chooses, following with Joy, living the life of God, seeing the darkness and not walking in it, becoming fishers of men, entering the path at the strait and narrow gate, sheltering the stranger, feeding the hungry, praying for the sick, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, developing a relationship with Jesus, doing the will of the Father and being faithful in the little things of God. Then this path of God will lead us home to heaven and to salvation.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Christmas is almost here. This year again has come and gone. We look at what is happening in the whole world and there is not much peace and good will toward man. But when has it ever been different. When Jesus arrived in this world, the Romans ruled most of the known world. Jesus came to bring peace and love to this world. And the world goes on as it does each and every year. So, what is the difference? The difference is that we have a choice to make whether or not we carry on with the same old same old.

My mom and her sisters saw the same world I see and they did something about it. We would gather at our house or either of my two aunt’s. We would meet for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. It would be at one of the sister’s home. Our whole family would meet. The women were in the kitchen cooking and talking. The men were in the front room watching football and talking. The kids were outside playing. When the food was ready, we would all sit down and eat together. Our family was and is more important than any gift or holiday. We loved each other and showed it. Soon as we grew up, we would bring girl friends to our family gatherings. Then it was wives and children. You see our family was all boys. There were 9 cousins, my grandfather’s baseball team. All of our parents and grandparents are gone. We are down to 6 cousins and families. But we have all the memories that we made all of those years.

In this Christmas season, the difference is that we can unashamedly show love and care for our families and well as our neighbors. Jesus said to love God above all and to love your neighbors as yourself. In this Christmas season make a difference and choose to show love and compassion for your families and your fellowman. Joyeaux Noel et bonne annee.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

This is from my up-coming new book called The Reality of the Believer, Jew and Gentile. My first book is called Prayer by Crain Blanchard. And you can find it on Amazon.

From the beginning, God has professed His love for mankind. In every generation, God has had a people who would followed Him. Moses wrote about God’s love when he said that God will keep His covenant and mercy to those who love God and keep His commandments to a thousand generations. There is not one person who has ever come into the presence of God was not affected by it. In the presence or love of God, you will see yourself for who you really are. The light or love of God brings to light everything that is hidden in our hearts. You can not hid anything from God. And He knows it anyway. The love of God is to show us what is there in our heart. Then we can make the decision on what to do next. Not everyone chooses to follow God. It is a personal choice that we must make in our lives. Whether or not we choose God is up to us and we have to live with the consequences. Every thing we do has consequences, good or bad.

Moses wrote that the love of God is an all consuming fire. In other words having compassion on man. The word compassion is two words joined together. The first is com meaning multiple. And the second is passion which is a driving force in our lives. So the word compassion means a multiple driving force in our lives to help our fellow man. It is fueled by the Love of God which is an all consuming fire. In other words, it is the love of God that consumes us to help our fellow man.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

If you look at all the things that God can do and look at who we are, you will see how we are like God. The one thing that stands out is that we can sing. We can make music with our voice. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. It is true that some of us can not carry a tune in a bucket, but God says to make a joyful noise unto Him. In Zephaniah 3, it says that God will rejoice over us with singing.

Singing is not new in the bible. It says that we should sing to God and He sings to us over 119 times. That is specifically telling us that we should sing. When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, they sang a song of praise to God. And in Revelations it says that the redeemed of the Lord in heaven sing the song of Moses to God. It is the song of redemption. In heaven when the saints sing the song of redemption, the angels stop what they are doing and listen. The song is so sweet and the angels can not sing this song.

One day I asked the Lord to see heaven. He told me to close my eyes and listen. The first thing that I noticed was the air smell fresh like after a rain. Then I heard children playing. I opened my eyes and saw green rolling hills with plenty of trees. I looked down and I was standing on a road made of gold. The next thing I realized that I was sitting on top of a great wall overlooking the throne room in the city of God. I looked down and saw Jesus and God sitting on their thrones. I could not see the face of God nor enter into the throne room, because I was not dead. I could not see God because there was a cloud and a rainbow around Him. Then Jesus talked to me. Then the saints began to sing the song of redemption. It was so sweet and pure that I began to shake uncontrollable. And every time I hear that song I shake.

Singing is one of the attributes of God. We sing because it comes out of our heart. So when we sing, we are like God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Who has not experienced the vulnerability of life. We are here today and gone tomorrow. We are like the grass of the field. There is no permanence in our lives. If you knew your grandparents, you might remember them. But what about your great grandparents? What do you remember about them? Our lives are designed to be that way. This life is temporary. There is an immortal part of us, which will never die. When we are young we have that feeling of invincibility. We will live forever. Then we begin to see death for what it is, the termination of life. We struggle with the reality all of our lives.

God sees that conflict in us and has a solution for us. If we are willing to accept the plan of God in our lives, we can resolve that conflict. God shows us mercy and grace. The most widely known scripture in the world is John 3:16. And it says, For God so loved the world that He gave. This is mercy and grace. When we give through love and compassion, not asking for it in return. It is healing for the soul.

I wonder why so many people fight against this mercy and grace. Thinking that they can control their own destiny. We do not have the power to change anything. You can say no, but does not change anything. This is why God gives us His mercy and grace. Because this is the power of God to change our lives and it is all done in the love of God. All we have to do is to ask for forgiveness and God will. Life is to short to fuss about your rights and desires. We all have a higher calling and purpose. We are to be the example of God’s love, mercy and grace.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

There is a story about a gangster that was headed up the steps of the courthouse for trial and he was accompanied by a minister. The gangster asked the minister to pray for mercy for him. Everybody knows the value of mercy. Especially when we need it the most. God has had mercy on us knowing that we would turn away from Him. The bible says that the most deceitful thing in the world is our own heart. Yet God still wants us. All human beings are wonderfully made by God’s hand. He is our Father and wants the best for us. What father when a child ask for bread, would give him a rock. Mercy is a way of life.

I think about the time that I cried out in pain and asked for forgiveness. I knew that I did not deserve to be forgiven. But I hoped that God would have mercy on me. I called out with my heart and God heard my cry. He reached down and held me in His arms and gave me the mercy I so badly needed.

You look at the world wonder how it still exists. It seems that everyone is more interested in tearing apart the world than trying to heal it. We need mercy and forgiveness for the world to be healed. It is never easy to have mercy on people. When those people did something to you. But Jesus said that we are to forgive people 70×7 each day. So when God gives us mercy and grace, we are to pass it on to people who would curse you.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The gift of Hospitality is given by the Holy Spirit to enables us to open our homes willingly and offer lodging, food, and fellowship cheerfully to other people. This gift causes the believer to joyfully open his or her home for meetings and overnight visitors, making people feel welcome and comfortable. Guests and strangers are graciously served.

The Greek word for hospitality is philoxenia, meaning, the love of strangers. The hospitable person is comfortable entertaining others, family, relatives, friends, but most especially when welcoming strangers. People with this gift have a special sensitivity with others, and they know how to make people feel at ease and wanted. Making strangers feel comfortable and at home takes the form of a ministry that helps dispel loneliness and builds a sense of community.

Hospitality is the love of God for the world, for God so loved the world that He gave. This is what God wants us to do. He was the one who gave us this gift. The bible is full of stories and commandments about being kind to one another and to strangers. One scripture talks about being mindful of strangers because you don’t know when they may be angels.

Finally in Matthew 25:34-40, it says, Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:For I was hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in:Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me.Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you were hungry, and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you drink?When we saw you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you?Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and came unto you?And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of these the least of my brethren, you have done it unto me.

It goes on to say that anyone who doesn’t see about the strangers, the hungry, the sick or imprisoned, God will not recognize as His children or let them into heaven. Hospitality is a gift and lifestyle that God wants us to have. It is showing the love of God to the world.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Longsuffering is having or showing strength though patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people. Long-suffering, from the Greek word makrothumia, means long tempered or patient. Person who is long-suffering is not weak or meek. Instead, They are strong in character and bold in resisting rash reactions. We should all be grateful that God is the epitome of long-suffering love.

The works of the flesh or weakness of character are Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:

The fruit of the Spirit manifest itself through strong moral character by a changed heart and they are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise. He is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God is rich in His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance. Peter reminds us that God was long-suffering during Noah’s time. When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. God call us, holy and beloved, and to put bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. He also says that love is long-suffering.

Paul exhort us, as believers, to warn them the unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient (longsuffering) toward all men. It is because we walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. For God comforts us with His rod and staff. Jesus talked about persecution for righteousness’ sake. He said when we show longsuffering in the trials the kingdom of heaven is ours. This is because longsuffering is a good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

When do we receive these gifts? Jesus said in Acts 1:8, we shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon us: and we shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. For we are saved by grace through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Then if we are saved and God has given us the Holy Spirit, then we have the gift of long-suffering. And if we have the gift of long-suffering, then it is up to us to use this gift of God now.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Commitment is defined as a promise that transforms into reality or to love God with your whole heart, soul and mind. Dedication. Loyalty. Allegiance. Devotion. Fidelity. Faithfulness. Steadfastness. Covenant. In Genesis chapter 1 is the story of God’s commitment to create a world and place man into it. God wanted to share all that He had with man. When man proved to be unfaithful to God, He made a covenant with several men, starting with Adam and ending with Jesus. All the covenants were contingent upon each participant keeping the promises made, including God. And anyone could come into the covenant that God made with man. All covenants are made between two parties, one strong than the other. Where the stronger party protects the weaker one. It requires a commitment on both sides of the covenant.

In reading and studying the bible, it shows God’s faithfulness and the faithlessness of man. In the Old Testament, man didn’t have the power to be able to keep God’s covenant. So, man ran off and did his own thing. Usually getting into more trouble than he could handle. Then when he was about to be destroyed, man would run back to God for help or not.

The difference between the Old and New Testament is the last covenant God made with Jesus. This covenant not only showed what God would do for us, but God would give us power to live the life of God. The promise of power to live the life of God was given to Adam. And all who believed in that promise shared in the reward when Jesus died and rose again from the dead.

What is required in this last covenant of God is commitment to Jesus. Then God will give all the things that are promised in this covenant to us, including the power to live the life of God. Now man is without excuse. He can no longer say that he doesn’t have the power or protection or provision to live like God.

Many people are afraid to make that commitment. They are afraid because they don’t believe. This fear has trapped them into a life of hell. It takes a person, as they say coming to oneself, to reach out to God to enter into this commitment or covenant. It all starts with hope. With hope it will turn into faith. Then faith will turn into commitment. And commitment will turn into the covenant of God and all the promises. In 1 John 1:9 it says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Turn to God and make that commitment and in turn enter into His covenant with man.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What so important about the mind of Christ? I know that we are made up of 3 parts, our heart, the soul and the body. Our body is the physical body that we live in. Our soul is God’s connection that binds our heart and body together. So, what is our heart? It is who we are. It is our spirit, our mind and our intellect. We have 5 senses, sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. They are inputs into our spirit. You have heard the old saying, garbage in, garbage out. That means if you only process garbage in your life, that is only what is going to come out of you. Our senses process all information into our spirit. That why the bible says to guard your heart, it is the wellspring of life. Your heart and spirit are one and the same.

When you began with Christ, your heart and mind were made new as you became a new creature in Christ. Just like a new born baby, we had to learn and still do who God is. The portal for our senses is the mind. Everything passes through our mind to get to our heart. Like the bible says, corrupt company, corrupts good morals. The job of guarding our hearts and minds starts with us. We choose what we are going to watch, read or participate in. then if we let God have His way, He will guard our heart and mind through Jesus Christ.

This is where the mind of Christ comes in. In Romans it says, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Now how do we transform our minds? We start by reading the bible. Then we talk to people about what we have read. Then we do what the word of God says. When we take knowledge and experience it, it becomes wisdom. Then with wisdom comes discretion.

Our mind is the first line of defense against the devil and his wiles or darts. If our mind is the mind of Christ, we will know what to do with the devil. Our second line of defense is our heart. When we read the word of God, it becomes knowledge in our heart. And with our faith, it become an offensive weapon. We war not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. With God leading the way into battle, we will come out victoriously.

This is why we need the mind of Christ in everything.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com