Today is a day of reflections. We look back at this past year and groan for the mistakes we made and the victories in our life. Then we look forward to 2020. What is going to happen this year? Then we look at the things that are carried over to this year. Now we make New Year Resolutions to change things. I’m sorry it is almost a standing joke to make New Year resolutions. The book Great Expectations was written 150 years ago about basically the same thing. The rise and fall and rise again of an individual. He went through grief and pursued life with his heart to achieve his goal. But there is a way that we can achieve Great Expectations. King David, when he was in trouble always went back to what God had given him. And he would speak it out. Not only to bolster his courage, but to remind him of what God has done for him. In Psalms 103, David speak of the benefits God gave to him. A Psalm of David, Bless the Lord, O my soul, all that I am, bless His Holy name. Forget not all His benefits, Who forgives us, Who heals us, Who redeems us, Who crowns us with love and mercy, Who satisfies our mouth with good things and renews our youth like an eagle. (Ps.103:1-5). If you want Great Expectations, then recount the testimonies of the Lord.

Crain Blanchard.

joseph1637@juno.com

joseph1637.com

It has come to my attention the questions about God’s love and our sins. The love of God is shed abroad in our heart, when we confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness. (Romans 10:9,10). And God loves all creation, even those in hell. God doesn’t send us to hell, we have to chose it. But God will not listen to the sinner’s prayer.(Isaiah 59:2)(John 9:31). Regretfully, there is no distinction between an unbelieving person and a Christian in sin. Sin separates us from God. And only confession of our sins and asking for forgiveness will make a difference to God.(1John1:9). God has proven this over and over in bible. Jesus died for our sin on the cross. God raised him from the grave to make Him, Lord of lords and King of kings. Jesus took our sins to the cross to pay the price for us. So, we could come to God and ask for forgiveness. So when we confess our sins, God will forgive and restore us to our rightful or righteous position in the kingdom of Heaven. Then God listens to what we have to say to Him. Then He answers.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

joseph1637.com

A lot of people pray and don’t receive any answers. How can I know that my prayer will be answered? It’s not as difficult as you think. You first have to be one of His children. God doesn’t listen to anyone who isn’t one of His. To become a child of God, ask for forgiveness and believe on Jesus, accept Him in your heart. God didn’t make it difficult for us. Once you believe that God is, then accept that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Then you have His ear. Ask, believing that you will receive and you shall have things that you ask for. But don’t waste your prayers on material things. God knows what we need before we ask, but ask for the things of God, healing, salvation, deliverance, prosperity or peace. Then you will know that God answers your prayers.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I was driving to work yesterday morning and God brought to remembrance a scripture. It says, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it enter into the heart of man, what God has prepared for them that love Him. No one knows what the future holds for us. We go about living our life from day to day, trusting that God will lead us in the right direction. But God controls the future. At some point in time, God may tell us what is about to happen, but He is under no obligation to tell us. But there is a way to affect our future and even our present. And that is prayer and fasting. Jesus performed a miracle and the disciples ask Him how he did it. Jesus said, by prayer and fasting. A new year is here and we can effect changes in our lives and others by prayer and fasting.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What starts out the same and is made to be different and ends up the same? The answer is the heart of man. When we are born, we know nothing and can do nothing. We are dependent on our parents. As we grow, we mold ourselves into our image of ourself. When we die, we are the same. Nothing we have can be taken with us. In Matthew 5, Jesus spends a lot of time talking about the condition of the human heart. And how everyone kept the law, but their heart wasn’t right with God. Jesus said in the beginning, it was always about the heart and what you believed. And believing is what will get you into heaven. Yes, the human heart is a riddle. But with Jesus’s guidance it can become right before God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

How long will God’s word last? Man is about 6000 years old. Noah received a covenant from God about 5000 years ago. God has added to it ever since. Now God says that His word will not disappear until all of it is fulfilled or the end of the age. Basically, everything will be over but the crying. So, what do we do with the word of God? Jesus said, unless your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So, knowing the word of God isn’t the problem. It is believing it. The devil knows the word of God and fears. When you believe it becomes righteousness. And this is the righteousness God is talking about in Matthew 5. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Have you ever heard something that wasn’t palatable? It left a bad taste in your mouth. We all have. You just walk away. I have always heard to let your speech be seasoned with salt. So that it is palatable to everyone who hears. Jesus taught it first. In a parable about cooking Jesus said, if the salt sours it is good-for-nothing but to be thrown out. Then it is only good to be walked on by man. If our speech is too hard, it will be rejected and is worthless. To get your point across, people have to understand and think it is in their best interests. Then Jesus talked about letting your light shine before men. When people see the light of God they will generally except what you say. If they can’t see the light, you can talk to your blue in the face and people won’t listen. Jesus uses stories to teach the truth. Because most people will listen to stories. Season your speech with salt and let your light of God shine in your life that people will hear the truth from God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Everybody has their own idea of what being good is. Our ideas of being good don’t even come close to what God’s are. Even doing good Jesus says, without knowing him is worthless. The Bible is clear about being good. Jesus said it himself, there is none good but God. So, how do we achieve what God is talking about? In Matthew 5, Jesus talks about what we must do to become good. It is known as the beatitudes. It means something that we need to adopt in our lives. Jesus talks about being humble, morning for our sins, meek, merciful, pure in heart, hunger and thirst after righteousness, peacemakers, rejoicing for being persecuted for righteousness and joyful for being reviled for righteousness. This flies in the face of everything we have learned about this world. God’s way is not our way. But Jesus is trying to change all of that. Although it is the truth, Jesus proves the validity of the gospel by signs and wonders. Even the scribes and the pharisees knew that Jesus was of God, by the signs and wonders. But Jesus wants us to believe and trust because of the truth of the gospel. Not because we get a miracle in our lives. The truth of the matter is, that we become the miracle that God uses to preach the truth of the gospel. So what is the truth? It is found in Micah 6:8 ” He have shown thee O man what is good and what the Lord requires of thee, but to do justly, and love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. ”

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

When Jesus came out of the wilderness, He went home to Nazareth. His mother and brothers and sister lived there. As The Bible says we are to begin at home. Jesus preached in the local synagogue. They became so angry, that they wanted to kill him. Jesus moved to Capernaum on the sea of Galilee. You know, everything that Jesus did was by the word of God. Jesus preached in the local synagogue and began to pray for people’s healing. Everyone that He prayed for was healed. The word began to spread throughout the region. Jesus began to call the disciples and to teach the core of the church. What Jesus was preaching, was repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Peter, Andrew, John and James were among the first to answer the call. Jesus was living at Peter’s house. The word of the healings went out through all of Israel, Jordan and Syria. People needing healing came from everywhere to Jesus. He prayed and healed all that asked. This is what is called a revival. So many people kept coming that he had to go on a mountainside to preach. This is what comes from prayer and fasting. I like to eat regularly, but I’d rather see miracles. God has given every believer the tools to work in the Kingdom of God. It just depends on how committed you are to the work of the gospel. What are you willing to give to God? Life is short and even if you don’t have much time left, you can still commit your life to God. (Matthew 4).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I want to continue talking about our crucible. The Holy Ghost led Jesus into the wilderness. It was a place that was unknown to Jesus. He had to rely on the Holy Ghost to lead him. We are led into crucibles. Yes, there are more than one in our lives. The Holy Ghost will not tell us where we are going, but we are to follow. Jesus went into the wilderness, fasting and praying. He did this for 40 days. I have fasted and prayed for 21 days. I have done this were 3 times in my life. It’s called the Daniel’s fast. Each time God was directing me in a certain direction. Just like Jesus, it was an area that I had never walked in before. Each time, I receive God’s strength and power to begin His work. Every time, God required me to do things that I had never done before. I begin praying for people and God healed them. The 1st time, I close my eyes and said, God do something. And God healed a man. God knew before I open my mouth, exactly what was wrong and performed a miracle. It is how He works in our life. We have to step out in faith and God will do the work. When Jesus finished His crucible, the angels came and ministered to Him. It is the same for us today. (Matthew 4).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com