When we are born, we are born with rebellion in our hearts. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of children and the rod of discipline shall drive it far from us. All throughout the bible God called his children stiff-necked and obstinate. They were in rebellion to God. God chastens His children because He loves them. God wants us to listen and obey. Not only is obedience a choice, but it is a belief. In Matthew 8:5-13, Jesus was returning to Capernaum after the sermon on the mount. A centurion approached Him. He asked Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus said I will come. The centurion said I am not worthy that you should enter into my house. Just says the word and servant will be healed. He said I am a man under authority. I have under my authority soldiers and servants to do my bidding. Jesus looked at him with amazement. Jesus turned to his disciples and said, I haven’t found so great a faith, no not in all Israel. To be in authority, you must be under authority. Accepting and believing God’s word and authority. Then you will be under authority.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In Matthew 8:1-4, Jesus had finished teaching and came down from the mount. The bible says a great multitude followed Jesus. He had taught them the truth of God’s word and feed a multitude. Many believed and followed. On His way, a leper came to him. He said to Jesus, if thou will, thou can make me clean. He believed Jesus could cleanse him. We must go to God for Him to draw near to us. But it is only by faith that God is moved. Jesus saw his faith and said, I will, be thou clean. He further instructed him to go to the priests and offer a gift that Moses had commanded. Jesus followed the law perfectly. But also as testimony to the priests. No one had been healed of leprosy in Israel since Haman the Syrian by Elijah. We are healed by His stripes. But you first must believe that God is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. In the midst of every disaster God will keep you. Just like the leper, Jesus said, I will.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

If you have lived in Louisiana since 2016, you know what I’m talking. A perfect hurricane formed over Louisiana and there were no prevailing winds. So the hurricane stayed put for a month and rained. In August of 2016, there were 62 inches of rain. Anything that could flood did. 250.000 homes were under water. Over a million people where displaced. It was the largest disaster in Louisiana since hurricane Katrina. Now there is another disaster, the Corona virus. How many disasters will it take before people will hear Jesus and respond? In Matthew 7:24-28, Jesus talks about people hearing His words and doing them. Then He talks about the people who don’t listen to what He is saying. Jesus said, the rain came and the winds blew and their house fell. And great was the fall of it. Will you wait until you are taken away? Jesus is calling everyone. Those who respond, Jesus said their houses will not fall. Can’t you see the storm that is before you?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It was the first day of the week. Passover was over. Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary, Jesus’s mother, went to the tomb. Jesus didn’t have a proper burial, because the sabbath was beginning the day He dead. When they got to the tomb, the stone was rolled away. They went in and His grave clothes were folded. And there stood 2 men in bright clothing. They asked Mary why she was crying. Mary Magdalene asked where they had taken Jesus. They said, Jesus isn’t here as He said. Mary went outside and sat down and cried. She saw a man standing there and thought He was the gardener. He asked her why are you crying? Mary asked where have you taken my Lord? Jesus said to her, Mary. Her eyes were opened and cried out Lord. Jesus said don’t touch Me. I haven’t ascended to My Father yet. Go and tell my disciples what you have seen. After she told them, Peter and John ran to the tomb. Both went in and John believed and Peter didn’t. As Jesus said later to Thomas, blessed are those who haven’t seen and yet believe. This happened 2000 years ago. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Our journey started in heaven. We came from God to earth, when He united us with our physical body. We were born into this world. Our parents raised us the best way they could. Our journey took us from our birth to here, today. Ever searching, ever learning who we are and what this life is about. But one thing is true, our hearts tell us that there is a reason why we are here. God put that into our hearts to know who God is. Some people find out that reason. More reject it than accept it. For those who find the way home, they accept Jesus into our hearts. This is the beginning. Where some people accept Jesus, they think that it is over and they are safe. But this isn’t the truth. Our life is a journey, a walk, home to God. The bible says those who endure to the end shall be saved. Not those who accept Jesus and do nothing. Our journey is to get to know Jesus and Him crucified. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus told people who were active in the church, to depart from Him. Jesus said this because they never knew Him. Salvation is getting to know Jesus. If your heart is there, then you will make it home.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I’ve asked that question many times. You look at something and wonder if it’s good or not. Many things look good on the outside but are garbage. In Matthew 7:15-21, Jesus talks about false prophets. He gives the example of a fruit bearing tree. Jesus said you will know them by their fruits. If you remember, Jesus and the disciples were walking into Jerusalem. He was hungry and stop at a tree that would normally have fruit on it. There was none. He cursed the tree. The next day, they passed by again and the tree was dead. Jesus explained the same narrative. This is why it is so important for us as Christians to live the life before man. Because a person is known by the fruit that they produce. And beware that there are false prophets out there. But the word of God is true and will produce fruit in you life. And people are always looking for the right fruit.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Knowledge + Understanding + Experience = Wisdom = Discretion.

Proverbs 19 King James Version (KJV)

Proverbs 19 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

It’s Wise To Be Patient

1) Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

1) It’s better to be poor and live right than to be a stupid liar.

Job 2:3 King James Version (KJV)

3 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Titus 2:7-8 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity[a] in your teaching. 8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.

2) Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

2) Willingness and stupidity don’t go well together. If you are too eager, you will miss the road.

Romans 10:5 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

5 since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

3) The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

3) We are ruined by our own stupidity, though we blame the Lord.

Psalm 37:7-9 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the person who carries out evil plans.

8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
9 For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.

4) Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

4) The rich have many friends; the poor have none.

1 Timothy 6:17 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Instructions to the Rich

17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,[a] who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

5) Dishonest witnesses and liars won’t escape punishment.

Matthew 15:19 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.

Exodus 20:16 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

16 Do not give false testimony against your neighbor. 10 Commandments.

6) Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

6) Everyone tries to be friends of those who can help them.

Luke 22:25 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

25 But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’

7) All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

7) If you are poor, your own relatives reject you, and your friends are worse. When you really need them, they are not there.

Job 19:13 King James Version (KJV)

13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.

8) He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

8) Do yourself a favor by having good sense—you will be glad you did.

Mark 12:31 King James Version (KJV)

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Crain Blanchard

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden, Adam had to make a choice. He choose to follow his wife instead of God’s way. Everyone since that time has had to make a choice with their life. We all have a free will. This is how God is glorified. When we choose God’s way. Everyone knows that Jesus is the son of God. And we know that we have to choose Jesus to have God’s life. The world knows this. But how many people have chosen God’s way? Adam was in the way and walked with God. Then he choose his wife over God. And lost the kingdom. Now bring it down to our life. Which way have we chosen? In Matthew 7:13-14, it says strait is the gate and narrow is the Way, and few find it. In our lives, God is first over everyone else. Then comes our wife or husband. Then our children. Then the rest of the world. Walking in the Way requires all that we are. Anything less is sin. And sin separates us from God. We have a free will and can choose anything we want. It also can get us to choose the way to hell. It is up to us to use our free will to choose the narrow gate and walk home to Jesus. Your free will is a choice and you are without excuse before God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When all of the virus alert began, there was a panic and fear across this country. People were hoarding supplies. Then the government wanting and demanded that only essentially businesses stay open. They sent everyone home, to try and stop the virus. This virus was and is an attack on the believers in Jesus Christ. It is the same as the attack upon Job. Job lost everything, but it didn’t shake his faith in God. Job said, though He slay me, yet will I praise Him. What are we as believers supposed to do about this crisis? That is the real question. In Acts 10:30, Jesus went about doing good, because God was with Him. Then, Jesus said greater things shall you do, because I go to my Father, John 14:12. So what are we supposed to be doing? Yes, you should be praying and seeking God. But now is the time to do. What can we do? God isn’t stopped by this virus. I know of a man who went to see about his homeless son. Although he knew that he could die from the virus. He is older than me, but he believes God and went anyway. He told me that he went for 7 days straight ministering to the people on the street. So, what is God telling you to do?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com