Growing up I always had a secret place. We had cedar trees in our backyard. They were close to 100 feet tall. I would climb to the top of the tree and sit in the fork in the branches. It was above the roofline of our house. I could see all around. The breeze would blow, and I couldn’t hear anyone or any noises. The birds would fly by and chirp. It was just me and God. I climbed as often as I could. Because I wanted the peace and the presence of God. As I got older, I seemed to have lost what I had gained. I didn’t climb any more. I was too old or too big. After my parents died, we sold the property. And that was that. I missed the peace that I had found there. It wasn’t until I dedicated myself to God, that I found the peace again. My journey had been up and down with a wife and sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. But I still have a place where I can go to be alone with God and the peace is still there. I go there often. That place is my prayer closet. And I am there when I close my eyes and pray.
Crain Blanchard.
Joseph1637@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com
Category Archives: Uncategorized
A free will offering.
When God gave Moses the 1st 5 books of The Bible, A mandatory sacrifice was written into the law. Everyone was required to give to this sacrifice during the year. It was for a sin Offering. Although this offering was mandatory God wanted people to give out of the abundance of their heart. So what God established was a free will offering. This was an offering that you could give at any time of the year. Just when you were moved by God and you felt that it was necessary to express Thanksgiving. A free will offering is not given because you have to, it was given because you wanted to. This is the only offering where the priest could eat from. In psalms 100 and says to enter his gates with Thanksgiving into His courts with praise. This is how you to give a free will offering by wanting to give to God because he had blessed and kept you all year. And this is how God wants us to go to Him. This is our free will offering, A thankful heart.
Crain Blanchard
Joseph1637@juno.com
Www.joseph1637.com
Staying in an attitude of Prayer
Did you ever notice that the Apostle Paul begins and ends all of his letters with prayers? Why do you think that Paul prayed so much? Also the majority of his letters were written from prison. The roman emperor imprisoned him for 2 years. I guess he had more time to write letters in prison. The letters I am talking about is the New Testament. He stayed in an attitude of prayer. What does that mean? It means that Paul stayed in God’s presence. Did you know that his prayers are still in effect some 2000 years later? Prayers don’t end until God says so (Rev.5:8). I mean that all the prayers of my family for 100’s of years still affect me today. There are prayers for your wellbeing or health, and prayers for your prosperity. These prayers are automatic. They work by themselves. Then there are prayers that require our participation. We have to personally get involved with the prayer. These prayers are for salvation or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. All the prayers of the saints will stop at the end of the world. How can we get into an attitude of prayer? I have a series on prayer on my blog. Starting with “Developing a skill” unto the last part “Where to begin, Part 11”. If you follow along and ask God to show and help you, you can get into an attitude of prayer. I hope and pray that you reach that point and stay there. Fellowship with God is the reason we are on this earth. I have wanted this more than anything God could give me. And I still do. Give God the opportunity He deserves and let Him bless your life. Let me know what happens.
Crain Blanchard.
Joseph1637@juno.com
The Prayer…of Salvation.
Although, from our youth, we hear the voice of God, there comes a time we must answer the call of God to come home. A lot of people pray all sorts of prayers. The first prayer that God will listen and respond to is the prayer of salvation. This is when you sincerely ask God to forgive your sins and live in your heart. This begins a relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The gospel has been preached for 6000 years. I am sure that Adam preached the gospel. Did you know that Adam wrote down the covenant he had with God, the gospel? In Egypt, the Levites taught from the book of Noah. They had dedicated themselves to the study and teaching of the gospel. This is why God chose them to carry the ark and tabernacle. There has always been a people who trusted and believed God. We love convenience. How many bibles do you have in your house? I have about 20, different versions. But the prayer of salvation is where you begin your journey with God.
Crain Blanchard.
Joseph1637@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com
Hindered Prayers
The bible is quite specific about God listening to prayers. God doesn’t hear the sinner, except for the prayer for salvation. All God has ever wanted is fellowship with man. Adam walked with God in the garden of Eden. Cain and Abel both talked to God, until Cain killed Abel. When God chose the Israelites as a people, they could if they would, talk to God. Most people don’t want to talk to God. Because it means shining God’s light on our lives. This is where you see everything, including all the flaws. But God has had a people, who would talk to Him no matter what. These people, we would call prayer warriors, because they have God’s ear. The bible says that we first must believe that He is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek God. it also says that if we believe that He hears us, we have the petitions we ask of Him. But, if we harbor unforgiveness in our heart, it will block our prayers. The bible says that if you are going to church and your brother has ought against you, go to that brother and be reconciled. Then come to church and offer your prayers and gifts. It also says that if a husband is angry with his wife or the wife with the husband, it will cancel out their prayers. No one who is in sin can approach God with any prayer, unless it is the prayer asking for forgiveness. There are many ways to hinder your prayers, but only one for God to hear you. That is the prayer of repentance from sin.
Crain Blanchard.
Joseph1637@juno.com
Godly Contentment
How many people do you know that are content, including yourself? Long time ago, God told me not to look at catalogs anymore. Because it leads to greed. And if I was greedy, I wouldn’t be content. How many things or actions in your life that you can identify that leads to greed.? Greed is the opposite of contentment. There are many other things that will rob you of contentment. Contentment is being able to enjoy who you are and what you have. It is one of the effects of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If you don’t know what they are, let me tell you. They are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance and against such there is no law. This is one of the ways that people can tell you belong to God. Jesus said it, by your fruits you will be known. It sets you apart from the rest and people can see it. Contentment as the bible says is great gain. Isn’t that one of the goals in life, great gain. And now you see that God’s way isn’t our way. It is totally opposite to us. That is why God says we must turn from our wicked ways and seek Him. Then when we find God and accept Him, we can have contentment. Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. 1 Timothy 6:6 “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Crain Blanchard
Joseph1637@juno.com
joseph1637.com
God’s Judgment
It’s not unusual for people to forget about God’s judgment. If they don’t see or understand it. It has been around for a long time. God in his infinite wisdom doesn’t bring catastrophic judgment unless it is necessary to correct an error in man’s judgment. What I can witness to began 52 years ago. It began with the 6 Day War in Israel. They took back Jerusalem. God’s revival began. It lasted for almost 2 decades (1960-1970’s). Then came the decade of learning about God (1980’s). Then God sent out people to preach the gospel (1990’s). God also sent missionaries to America for the 1st time in 400 years. Unfortunately, the people of America didn’t respond to the gospel. They went to the other side. In 2000, it started with the tsunami in Indonesia. Then came 9/11/2001, destroying the world trade center. Churches were filled for almost 3 months looking for answers. But it didn’t last. Then came disaster after disaster, California fires and bankruptcy, hurricane Katrina and others, political downturns, tornadoes in Midwest and every disaster known to man. Everything was sent by God to get man’s attention. How do I know? There’s a scripture written almost 4000 years ago that says so. It comes from 2 Chronicles 7:14. And it says, “If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Crain Blanchard.
Joseph1637@juno.com
Joseph1637.com
Philippians 1,2 – Prayer, Emptying Oneself.
Philippians 1 – Paul is thanking God for the Philippians, because when the gospel was preached among them, they began to live like Christ.
vs.3-11 – That good work begun in you, God will perform until the day of Jesus Christ.
vs.12-18 – Paul explains why he is going to Rome as a prisoner. It was to preach the gospel to Nero and his court.
vs.19-26 – “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” The work on earth is needful for the saints, by his heart’s desire, to be with Christ.
Philippians 2 – The Kenosis Passage.-emptying one self. What we can do. Vs.1-4 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
What Christ does. vs.5-11 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Crain Blanchard.
Joseph1637@juno.com
Fervent Prayer
Everybody want to be effectual in their prayers. We all want our prayers to be answered. But there are requirements for our prayers to become effectual. So how do we become effectual? I have heard all kinds of prayer. Some were loud and boisterous. Some were quiet and low. But what I have found is that none of that is required. You don’t even have to say a word out loud to be heard by God. God is all-knowing. That means He knows everything that is said or done in advance. Not to chase a rabbit, but God will get us to pray so that He will perform a miracle in our life or someone else’s, then give us the reward for praying. God isn’t looking for you to put on a show. When you pray, it becomes personal and private. This is where you talk to God about a situation. He never made it complicated to talk to Him. It is man trying to control the situation that makes it complicated. Now, how do you know that God will hear you? One thing is the He doesn’t listen to anyone that isn’t one of His children. The only prayer that God will listen to from a non-believer is the prayer of salvation. So, you must be a believer for God to listen to your prayers. This is the starting point with any Christian. You must believe that He is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Crain Blanchard.
Effectual Prayer
Everyone that prays, wants their prayer to be effectual. It doesn’t matter whether you are sick or praying for someone else, we want our prayers to work. For the longest time, I really didn’t know whether or not God even heard me. I would pray and it seemed that I was hitting a stone wall. I will tell you a truth, I was hitting a stone wall. Although God hears everyone, He only answer His children’s prayer. This doesn’t mean that God will not get one of His children to pray for a person who isn’t His own. Many times, God will use redirected prayer to get someone’s attention. God is His own person. And we, as outsiders, have to get to know God to enter into His family. Once we are in His family, we have that right to petition God for help. This is all in God’s plan. But being effectual in our prayer requires effort on our part. Prayer isn’t verbiage. God doesn’t hear our prayer because we repeat it over and over again. Have you ever walked up to your dad and began to talk excessively? His eyes glaze over and his thoughts go elsewhere. God is our father and He doesn’t want to listen to nonsense. Prayer is communication with God and God communicating with us. Don’t be surprised that God talks to us. It was a shock to me also. So, what I am saying is that prayer is two-way communication. You want to be effectual in your prayer, then get the two-way communication going with God. You must believe that He is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. This is effectual prayer.
Crain Blanchard.
Joseph1637/Crain Blanchard 