I feel fine. I feel like a cold is coming on. I feel like dying. I feel, I feel, I feel. Feelings aren’t real. It is a temporary state of mind. It comes and goes. Reality isn’t shaped by feelings. It’s shape or formed by faith. What you believe becomes real in your life. Because as you believe so are you. It’s funny how many people trust in feelings. But their life isn’t what they want. We have a free will and decide what we are going to do. And you can’t blame anybody else for what you decide to do. Whether you are a Christian or not. You choice comes from your heart and not your feelings. It is fun to have good feelings, but like I said they are temporary and don’t last any time. So, you can feel good one moment and feel bad the next. Remember your heart rules. So make good choices with your life. And there is help in Jesus for any problems you run across. Now, I feel better.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In proverbs, Solomon wrote that a kind word turns away anger. But angry words stirs up trouble. If you wonder why people get angry when you speak, listen to what you are saying. I’m not suggesting that all you say is wrong. But speaking in anger never solves anything. Even if you are right. Solomon wrote a lot of proverbs about speaking and closing your mouth. He said a wise man knows when to keep his mouth shut. He also said a fool will not listen, no matter what you say. Both old and new testament say, don’t cast you perils before swine. It’s learning to keep your mouth shut. Now the only person who can control you tongue is the Holy Ghost. Our teacher that resides in every Christian. Now it is letting Him have His way in our lives. Then nothing comes out of your mouth that you will regret for years to come. Today, have a kind word for someone new. Open a door or hold the elevator door and pass on kindness.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I was doing physical therapy for my inner ears today. If I close my eyes, I have difficulty maintaining my balance. It is because through my eyes, I perceive time and space. As I thought about it, I realized that the moon missions were about time and space. Man has solved enough of the problem to put a man on the moon. But venturing farther out into space, may take a few more years. Then I thought about how time and space started. God reminded me of Genesis ch.1. God created the heavens and the earth, space. Then He created night and day for signs and seasons and for days and years, time. God put this into motion to help man live his life. So, in the beginning God created. God created man last of all. As the bible says, the first shall be last and the last first.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

We have been talking about loving one another for the past two days. Now let’s talk about the love of God. How much does God love us? Does God love our sinful nature? No. God is righteous and turns from sin. Is it only because we are created by Him? No. But God had to do something to get us back from that sinful nature. God gave us His word to follow but that didn’t work. God destroyed mankind and started again. But that didn’t work. God chose a people to be the light of the world. But that didn’t work. Finally, God sent His son to be our example and to die for our sins. Now that is the plan that does work. As the bible says, I am crucified with Christ. This is the only way man can go back to heaven, if we die to ourselves. Why, because Jesus is our example of how to live and He did this because He loves us with His whole heart. (Galatians 2).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Love is never easy. Sometimes it’s very hard because of heartache. The pain can pierce your heart, where you could feel like dying. Then there are times when your heart sings and there is nothing else. Or when your children are born or when you’re first married. The hope and expectation of your heart soars. And you think your heart will burst. Then when your child gets into real trouble. And you look at him and sigh in pain. Then they accomplish something great and you have never been more proud of them. Or you hold a new born grandson and look at son and daughter in law in love. Or when a Prodigal son returns home. Heartache hurts. It’s no small thing, from the beginning of your life to the end. But if you never love because of pain, you will never know the joy of love. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love bears all things. Love believes all things. Love hopes all things. Love endures all things. Love never fails. Because love is God Himself.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

This is a command from God. We are to love one another as God loves us. If we don’t, God says we don’t love Him or know Him. It is because God is love. This means doing right by people, not giving them everything they want. Being kind and listening to them. Telling them the truth about Jesus in love. Not verbally attacking them because they did something wrong. God says the only offense and defense we have is the truth spoken in love. When people see the truth, they have to make a choice. Now, whether they choose or not is up to them. But there blood is off your hands. God requires us to love to help this world find it’s way home. Sometimes it’s a hard thing to do. But remember what people had to do to get you into the kingdom. Now the question is, were you worth the trouble?

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Forgiveness. Don’t leave home without it. Jesus taught about forgiveness in the Gospel of Mark, chapter eleven, and verse 26, “For if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” We need God’s forgiveness, and we need to forgive others in order to see God’s blessing in this life and heaven in the next life.

John Hensley.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Any body who has gone to church, has spoken and sung songs from their bible. They have repeated scriptures they have been taught. But what do you believe. Repeating scriptures and songs are a way for you to not only hear, but to recieve the truth. The bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speak. Also it says, as we believe, so are we. It doesn’t take long to know what a another person believes. Just let them talk and it will come out of them. Not everyone will believe on Jesus. They will try to fake it, but the truth will out. Next time you sing a song in church, think about what you are singing. And whether or not you believe. As the bible says, life and death are in the power of the tongue.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I look at a picture of my grandson and think about being young. All the things I went through and all the things that he has to go through. God says that a person who is a 100 years old is still a child. We were made to live forever. But because of sin our lives are cut short. God promises a long life if we will listen and obey. When I was young, I would climb trees. There was a large cedar tree in our yard. It was over 50 feet tall. At the top was a fork that I would sit in it and watch the world go by. It was such peace that I only get in presence of God. I want my grandsons to know that peace. And to know the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Who was and is and is to come. The peace of God is yours when you are young and old.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I was reading in Luke 5, about the men who brought a man on a pallet to Jesus. The man had palsy. Jesus was in Peter’s house. There were a multitude of people pressing in to see Jesus. The men couldn’t get close enough to Jesus. But they weren’t going to give up. They climbed on top of Peter’s roof, broke it open and lowered the man before Jesus. Jesus saw the faith of these men and was moved. He forgave his sins and healed him. Faith without works is dead, being alone. If you believe, it must be put into action. When you believe, you must be determined to do something about it. Look around, God will show you people and things that are in need. Then do what God says. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, so that we by faith can change the world. Be determined today to do the will of God in this world.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com