What is the Joy of Christmas? I can remember when I was young, waiting for Christmas day to arrive. The anticipation of receiving gifts from Santa Claus. I know that my parents enjoyed blessing us with gifts. We were 4 boys and my parents had a limited budget. But amazing gifts always showed up. At the age of 9, I wanted to test the idea of Santa Clause. So, I asked for something without telling anyone. And of course, it didn’t show up. It shook my faith and trust in people. It took a long time before I trusted again. This revelation also took the joy out of Christmas. Many people think that learning the truth about Santa Clause is a right of passage for children. But it really shakes the faith and the ability to trust people. Our focus should be on Jesus and the gifts that God brings to us. When we believe in Jesus, he won’t let us down. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. It is because the joy of the Lord is our strength. We say that the reason for the season is Jesus, but we go around with our heads hung down and cussing. We spend to much money on nothing and hope that it will bring us joy. Having faith and trusting in someone is where Christmas should lead us. Jesus paid a price for us that we couldn’t pay. This gift is freely giving to us. And if we accept this gift from God, we will forever be transformed into the image and likeness of God. This gift is what we need to be excited about. Things are nice, but they don’t last. It is like happiness. It comes and goes. But the Joy that God gives will last forever. This is the true joy of Christmas.

May God bless and keep you in this Christmas season. And that Jesus will prosper you in the coming year.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Nehemiah and the Israelites had returned to the land of promise. He gathered all the people and had Ezra to read the Bible. He read from early in the morning until noon. The people began to wept. They hadn’t heard the word of God for years. The people were so upset that Nehemiah and the Levites had to try to calm them down. Nehemiah stopped the reading at noon. He told the people that the joy of the Lord is our strength. The Israelites had just come out of captivity. God had set them free, but they knew they had cause the captivity in first place. The people had repented of their sins when they heard the word of God. The word of God leads us to repentance. As it is read, we see the truth of God, how much He loves us and wants us to come home. For whatever reason you celebrate Christmas, if you turn your focus on Jesus you will see the real reason for the season. It isn’t that He was born. The real reason is that God loves us and is moving heaven and earth to get us home. Make your Christmas about Jesus, so your family and friends can see the truth of God. They may cry at first, but the joy comes in the morning. It is because the joy of the Lord is our strength. The word Christmas means having communion with Christ. Have a blessed communion with Christ and a prosperous New Year.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I am listening to Christmas music and memories are flooding in my mind. I sang in the choir both elementary and high school, Music has been an important of my life. God is the person who invented music for worship and praise. When angels sing it’s such heavenly music. But the best song is reserved for the saints. It is the song of the redeemed. It is so sweet and beautiful that the angels stop and listen. As I was growing up, our family would always gather for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. But Christmas was so special. Usually it was at our home. When I was young, it was my grandmother, grand aunts, aunts and uncles and all my cousins and us. There was always room. The kids played outside, the women were in the kitchen and the men were in the front room. We all sat down to eat together. Afterwards we would open presents. Those memories are like they happened yesterday. I miss my parents, my grandmother and all the family that has gone on. My brothers and my cousins are scattered across the country. We don’t get together often. But I have my memories. I have tried to teach my children the value of family. I tried to make as many memories as I can for them. As you grow older, things change. Nothing remains the same. Except for one thing. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I want to encourage you to make as many memories for your family as you can. These memories will last for a lifetime. Merry Christmas and have a blessed New Year.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1627@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Christmas season is upon us. Although it has changed due to Covid-19. This year has been life altering for most people. Sometimes change is hard. And with change comes the blues. There is such a disconnection between people with the social distancing and masks. With masks, people don’t know or see who you are. I see fear in people all the time. I tell people hello and some answer back. I tell people Merry Christmas and it is like I’m from another planet. Christmas is about family and friends, connecting or reconnecting to establish our relationship. But it is now about overcoming fear. Fear is unbelief and doubt. The devil is trying hard to discourage Christians from reaching out with the gospel. Unfortunately, it is working. Our life isn’t about food, shelter or clothing. As a Christian we were called to a higher purpose. Jesus gave us the example on how to live. The religious leaders of the day wanted to kill Jesus. And Jesus was stalked everyday. Yet you don’t find Jesus crying about it. He went about doing good and healing everyone that came to Him. Our path is clear. The road home is before us. Now if you walk down that road, you are going to receive opposition or persecution. Jesus said if the world hated Him, how much more will they hate you. So, what are you going to do? How do we overcome mountains? It is simple. We use our faith to navigate this world. Jesus always said it going to be simple to follow Him. He never said it was easy. Christmas season is a time for us to rejoice. Be joyful with your family and friends. Let them see Jesus in you. Then they will know that God is alive and real. And we fulfill our part of the gospel. I pray that your Christmas season is blessed and fruitful. Amen.

With the changing times, I added a donation button to the Menu at the top of the page. Thank you for your support. Crain.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It all started with hope. I wanted to believe in something that was worthwhile. As I came to believe in Jesus, I saw all the wonderful things that God had to offer. Christians have supported me and encouraged me to go on. But now I have to walk this walk and it seems that I am walking alone. I know that the bible tells me that I will never be alone, because Jesus is always there. But I don’t seem to feel His presence all the time. And it’s scary sometimes. As I begin to walk and do the things that God wants me to, it’s just me. I would feel much better if it were a bunch of people walking with me. This happens once in while and I love it. To have a group of people that are in one mind and one accord. We seem to accomplish many things for God. But I am by myself most of the time. I know that the bible says that I must work out my salvation with fear and trembling. This means that no one else can do this for me. I have to walk this walk with Jesus and endure to the end. I am a social being and want company. But I am responsible to God for myself. After Jesus ascended into heaven, each of the disciples knew that they were going to be die the same way as Jesus. They didn’t stop preaching the gospel to the world. All but the apostle John were crucified. The courage to walk this Christian walk comes from our belief in Jesus. Most people don’t understand that Jesus didn’t want to die on the cross. He wanted to stay with us on earth. But as Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, He submitted His will to God’s. For all practical purposes Jesus died in the garden of Gethsemane. This is why the bible says that He went to the cross with joy. We each have a plan and purpose from God. And only I can fulfill that plan and accomplish God’s will in my life. So this is where I go from here.

With the changing times, I added a donation button to the Menu at the top of the page. Thank you for your support. Crain.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It’s the middle of the night and you can’t sleep. Every thought about what is real or not comes to you and you wonder if you made the right decision. You have believed on the Jesus, but doubt has come and you wonder. Hope is where you started and you really want this to work in your life. You have read the bible and see the miracles, but now you have to stand. This is where the rubber meets the road. Either it’s true or it isn’t. Somethings have gone wrong and you are wondering. This isn’t unusual. Everyone will be tested to see if they believe. This isn’t a game that you play and walk away. You will always face doubt and unbelief. The apostle Peter talked about these trials we face. He called them fiery trial. The stronger we are in the Lord, the most the devil will fight us. It doesn’t mean that he will win. But it does mean that we have to stand against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. As we begin to worship God in His holiness, we enter into His courts. The closer we get to God the further the world seems to be. And the closer we get to the presence of God. And in His presence there is peace and joy and love. All the things that you come to the Lord Jesus for in the first place. Do you understand that God is our Father and Jesus is our older brother? Though they are God, this is our family and heaven is our home. And our Father wants us to come home and be with Him in heaven. So until that time happens, we can visit home and our Father though praise and worship and have a relationship with our Father, God, and our older brother, Jesus. And where God is, there is no doubt or unbelief. And this is what I believe.

With the changing times, I added a donation button to the Menu at the top of the page. Thank you for your support. Crain.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Everyone has heard of Santa Clause. But hardly anyone has ever heard of Nicholas of Myra, or otherwise known as Saint Nic. Nicholas was a Christian man who lived in Asia Minor in Turkey. He lived in the 3^rd and 4th century. He was a member of the Eastern Orthodox church. He became a priest and eventually a Bishop of Myra. He was known as a kind and gentle man. He prayed earnestly for the needs of people. He was known as an intercessor. Many miracles were attributed to his prayers. Nicholas would not only pray for people, he put himself in the middle of many a struggles in his community. Nicholas helped so many people without them knowing that it was him. Whether people needed food, clothing or money, he would do his best to help. Nicholas was jailed by the Roman Emperor Diocletian and released by Emperor Constantine. When you look at this Christian man from the 3^rd century, you see what a Christian is. A person who prays for people and goes about doing good just as Jesus did. So, where did Santa Clause come from? In the 1700s, as the Dutch settle in the new world, they brought with them the feast day of Saint Nicholas. The Dutch called him Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas. Americans pick up on this feast day and called him Santa Clause. What ever he was called, Nicholas was Christian man that followed the teachings of Jesus. He lived his life trying to be the example of Jesus on this earth. And this is the story of Nicholas of Myra.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

There are many archetypes in this world. In the most basic unit of this world it is our parents, in particular our fathers. When God designed this world, He formed the basic unit in the garden of Eden. It was Adam and Eve. Adam had responsibilities to God and the garden. After God built the garden, He placed Adam in it. This was an inheritance from God. As Adam’s Father, God wanted him to be successful and to take responsibility for the garden. Each day God would come and walk with Adam in the cool of the evening and talk about the days activities. In this way God could teach Adam about bearing responsibility. This is one of the duties of a father. Adam didn’t go through childhood like every other person. But God was teaching Adam about life through the garden. God saw that Adam was alone and needed companionship and help. So God created Eve out of the side of Adam. This is why Eve was called a woman. The word woman means from the side of man. Eve was Adam’s partner in the garden. Actually God called them two halves of one person, and they shall be one flesh. God had to teach Adam about being married also. This is the responsibility of a father toward his children. The shame of this country is the 50% divorce rate. Single parents homes are hardest on the children. Children need to see the struggle for parents to live together. Nothing is perfect and everything needs to be worked out with love and patience. Jesus told the religious leaders that God allowed divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. Children need to see forgiveness working in our lives. So that they will know that God is real and alive. This is the responsibility of a Father toward His children to be a Father Figure.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

There is a difference between passion and obsession. Passion is doing something with your whole heart. Obsession is doing something because you have to. The last week of Jesus’s life is called the passion of Christ. Why passion and not obsession? Jesus, like every other man, had a choice in the way His life went. When Jesus was 12, He went with His parents to Jerusalem for Passover. When it was over, His parents thought that He was with the other children in the caravan. After a day’s journey, they looked for Jesus and could not find Him. They rushed back to Jerusalem. They found Him in the temple discussing the law with the priests. His mother expressed her fear for Him and He went home with them. The Bible says that He grew in wisdom and favour with God and man. A choice He had to make. His ministry was a choice that He also made. The religious leaders wanted to kill Him from the start. Because He was a threat to them. The last week of His life, Jesus was in the temple in front of the religious leaders for three days. It was to fulfill the scriptures saying the Passover lamb had to be inspected to make sure there were no blemishes. Jesus had to face His killers. Then after the Last Supper, Jesus and the disciples went to the Mount of Olives for Him to pray. Jesus had to make a choice and God gave Him the choice. Jesus prayed that He didn’t have to die. And He did this three times and then made a choice to go to the cross. This is passion. Making a choice to do the right thing even though it will kill you. Jesus went to the cross with joy, knowing that God’s will and plan would happen. Passion is what God wants for us. With passion, we can face all the difficulties in the world. Passion rules out fear and doubt. It gives us clarity in our life. We can see God’s will and plan for us. Passion will take us from here to home. So, it is up to us to decide what we are going to do. Will it be passion or obsession.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I like to watch people. It is always interesting to see what they will do. As I watch the antics that people go through, I begin to see something phenomenal. All the people who refuse to accept God and His son Jesus, make references to Him. My favorite thing is an expression that people say, O my God. Or they say Jesus. I have seen people say they will pray and not know what they saying. For people who claim that there is no God, they make a lot of references to God. There is a real reason why. Some 2600 years ago, God did something extraordinary. God made a covenant with man and Jeremiah wrote it down. What God did was to write His laws and commandments on our hearts. So that we could know the word of God. With that knowledge came our accountablity to God. No longer was God going to punish the children for the sins of their fathers. Each person was accountable to God personally. This means that we have no excuse before God. God created us because He loved us. He wanted to share all that He had with us. Starting with Adam and Eve, God gave He very best to man. The garden of Eden was no piece of junk. Adam controlled all that saw. With his word everything changed or was corrected. He named every animal, plant or living thing in the garden. The weather was controlled by Adam. And yet with all of this, Adam sinned against God and was cast out of the garden. This is who man is, a sinner separated from God. God could have destroyed man or left us in sin and dying. But God loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever would believe on Him would have everlasting life. Unfortunately, God only gives us our lifetime to accept His offer to go home. We have this lifetime to hear God speak and listen. This is why God wrote His laws and commandments in our hearts and minds. And this is why we are without an excuse when we stand before God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com