One of the hardest things in my life was and is owning up to my mistakes. I like to think that I am a reasonable and bright man. But it isn’t always the case. I make mistakes like everyone else. I have made some I will never talk about. God only knows what they are. This makes me a human being. I am not perfect. This makes me nervous just talking about it. But I had to see my flaws before I could go anywhere with God. It isn’t fun. It is a pain in the rear. God accepts us just as we are. Afterwards, He begins to work of us to change. When His light shines on our lives, it reveals what is there. I had things tucked away so no one could see it, including me. As God shined His light on my heart, things became visible. And I cried a lot. This is what I was supposed to do. God only worked on one thing at time. So I wouldn’t be over powered by the process. What is happening is am being turned into the image and likeness of God. A process of which is not over. Until I stand before God in heaven, the process will continue in my life. Thank God.

I was watching a movie, Sargent York, a true story. It was about a young man who lived in the hills in Tennessee. He was a hell-raiser. Until one day he almost died and he knew that God had spared him. He gave his heart to the Lord and served God as best he could. World War 1 happened and he knew he didn’t want to kill another human being. He became a consciences objector, but served in the US Army. During a battle, thousands of soldiers were being killed. Sgt. York set out to get to the top of the ridge to stop the machine guns killing the US soldiers. He risked everything to stop the killing. He killed 23 German soldiers and the rest surrendered. He captured 132 German soldiers. York was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was the most decorated soldier of WWI. When it was all over he said that he was as much against killing as he was in the beginning. The bible says, no greater love has any man than to lay down his life for another.

I went to supper at a local restaurant. When I was checking out, there was a young mother with her seven year old son ahead of me. They checked out, picked up their food and headed to the door. I finished checking out and headed to the same door. The young boy opened the door for his mother. He saw me walking right behind them and held the door for me. There were two doors to exit and he held the door for me again. I thanked him and he replied. I know his mother taught him manners. But she taught him something even more than that. She taught him to be gracious. Most people think of being gracious as something from the Old South that has died off. People flock to south Louisiana because of the friendliness of the French people. Hospitality was practiced in the Old South. But it is still practiced today. Seeing the need in another person’s life and doing something about is hospitality. It is a form of graciousness. I hold doors open for anyone. It doesn’t make a difference who they are. If there is a need, then it needs to done. The bible put it very plainly, Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

What can a single person do in the face of the world? You would be surprised how much can happen. Let me tell you a story of a small church in North Carolina. If this church had twenty people in the church, they were doing well. But the people in the church were believing that God was going to do something mighty. They had invited an evangelist to preach at their church. The deacon of the church had members of the church to pray with him each night for revival. They trusted God to move in their congregation. This story happened almost one hundred years ago. The evangelist came and preached. There were about five people saved in this revival. Some people would say it was a waste of time. But the deacon knew that God had moved and answered their prayer. Because that night Billy Graham was saved. That little church in North Carolina has part of the reward from God for the saving of millions of souls. What are you believing God for? Do you think it is worth the time to ask God to do something? God says test Him and see what He will do for you.

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joseph1637@juno.com

I look around at the world and see disasters almost everywhere. The storms that occur almost every week are amazing. The flooding, tornadoes, fires, disease, drought, explosions, ice or snow has hit almost every part of this country consistently. The economy is another disaster. No one seems to be able to agree on most anything. What does this look like to you? Does it remind you of something? I hope it does, but I am not encouraged the people even understand what is happening. When 9/11 happened the United States came to a grinding halt. People realized that they were vulnerable. Our country switched from a peace time to a war time mode. The churches in America were filled to the brim for about three months. Until the US govt. became the savior. 9/11 was the opening shot fired across the bow. The disaster was meant to show us we needed God back in our life. I will never say that God doesn’t have a people who are faithful to him. But I wish there were more people in the kingdom.
1 Cor.6: 20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Everybody has a cell phone. Most people use it like a second ear. I have seen more people drive with a cell phone struck to their ear. I always wonder what people have to talk about. If that cell phone gets disconnected they pitch a fit. It is a convenience for most people. Lately I have seen and felt a disconnect between people. People are talking to each other but not communicating. I tease my wife because she likes to speak in French. For every English word spoken, there are ten French words spoken. My wife likes to talk. Computers take so much time just to browse. Video games take hours of time to play. We have so much time in our lives. There isn’t any more time to have. Once the time goes by it is over. It will never come again. What is important to you? What do you hold more precious than anything else? What do you want out of life? I left a good job so I would have more time with my children. I did it because they were more important than the job. The bible says where your treasure is there will be your heart.

Crain Blanchard

Crainb52@juno.com

http://www.joseph1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

Balaam was a prophet of God, just like Moses, Isaiah and Ezekiel. He had to same rights and privileges as all the men of God. Now he lived in Moab before the children of Israel came through on their way to the Promised Land. He wanted money because he was a poor man. All of his needs were met by God, but he wanted wealth. When the children of Israel were walking through Moab, they asked permission to cross over their land. The leaders of Moab didn’t want them to just in case they would suffer calamity. They conceived a brilliant plan. They told Balaam to go curse the Israelites and that would stop them. They promised Balaam a lot of money. God told him no. But the Moabites offered him double the money. Balaam saddled his donkey and off he went. The donkey fell down and Balaam beat the donkey to get up. Then the donkey spoke to Balaam and said, I am trying to save your life. Look at the Angel with the sword ready to kill you. Balaam knew he had sinned. Why did God put this story in the bible? It is very simple, the love of money is the root of all evil.

I was always a shy person. I never did like to share myself with many people. I took a course in communication in college to be able to talk to people better. I could speak publicly but hardly ever privately. I was not willing to expose myself to hurt or ridicule. I remember as a child at my parent’s home, there was a 50 foot cedar tree in the backyard. I would climb to the top of tree. There was a fork at the top I could sit on. It was above the roof of the house and in the open. I could see all around. The breeze would blow through. No one could see me or talk to me except God. There God developed a relationship with me. I saw all of creation there. Its beauty and wonder. This is how I began to know God. When I first accepted the Lord into my heart, I wasn’t willing to share with anyone my relationship. Every so often I would speak about knowing God personally. But most times it had to be dragged out of me. My relationship with my Father is personal and intimate. But if you will read with your heart, you will see me.

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joseph1637@juno.com

When I first started with God, we would sing songs from Psalms. It was very popular among the churches. You learned the scriptures also. And you sang songs like David did in his day. David started having singers and musicians in the temple because he knew it was important to praise God. God never directed him to do so. It became an important part of life in the temple. Even after the Israelites came back from captivity, singers and musicians were the first to be appointed in the temple. God has always wanted his children to praise Him. There are several reasons why. One, it encourages us to do the will of God. It builds our faith to resist evil and go into this world to take it back. Two, you draw near to God. The bible says if you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. You begin to spend time in the presence of God. The place that God has always wanted us to be. Three, it drives the devil away. The devil will not be where God is. I was reading in Psalms this morning and read: Let God arise and His enemies be scattered. I began singing the song that I sang years ago and remembered the faithfulness of God.

Seriously folks, was it when you were in trouble and couldn’t get out of it. So let’s ask God. He can fix any mess I get myself into. Then why are you so surprised that God will answer you. It amazes me what people think about God. He is Santa Claus or the man upstairs. If I would have treated my father like that, I don’t know what would have happened. Is Christianity just a wish list for you? Do you believe that you can live like you want and get away with it? So when was the last time you had a conversation with God? Was it the day you got saved? Well, the load is off of me and I am on my way to nowhere. What struck me in the Old Testament part of the bible was that most everybody spoke to God directly. And God spoke back. They carried on a conversation together. You know what struck me about the New Testament part of the bible was that everybody spoke to God. And God spoke back. That is so strange, that my Father in heaven wants to carry on an ongoing conversation. He made the earth and all of creation for me to have a conversation with Him. Life is just amazing.