I heard once that the definition of favor is undeserved merit. It is when someone gives to you their blessing, their help, their whatever to make sure that you achieve your goal. So when you receive favor it is just a gift. A gift from the person who can help you. There is a scripture in proverbs that says he that finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. Our favor that comes from God is due to the covenant that he made with Abraham. God being the stronger party in the covenant is able to give to mankind all sorts of gifts that will help us to walk through this life and to go home. Favor is an important part of our life. We need it to go home. But there’s only one way that we can receive favor from God. We must come to him and receive him as our savior. Then as children of God, we have the blessings and the favor of God.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
Www.joseph1637.com
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Seek Ye First
When we want something, we look for it. We will search wherever to find the item. And depending on how much time, effort or cost, is depending on how much we want it. It’s funny, we can search the galaxy, find something, acquire it, then throw it aside. It all depends on it’s worth to us or value. What is worth more than your life to you? Is there anything in your life that is worth so much? What is your life worth? Some difficult questions that we must answer if we want any kind of life. What makes your life valuable? Is it a person, place or thing? What is there in this life that we can base our life on? Trust sometimes is a difficult thing. With all the changing morays, what can you trust in? There is nothing that remains the same. The only constant in this world is change. I searched for 28 years, before I found something that I could trust in. What surprised me the most, was that it was always in front of me. I never saw it because I wasn’t looking. When I began seeking the truth, it presented itself in front of me. Someone had to point it out to me, first. So, I am going to point it out. Right in front of you, is a person who had been there since the beginning of your life. His name is Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the Life. And if you seek Him first, you will find the value in your life. So, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Crain Blanchard.
Stepping up
When I came to the Lord I Knew I hadn’t done anything worthwhile on this Earth. If God was going to use me I had to step up. My knowledge of God was poor. I hadn’t read The Bible except for a few stories of king David which I still like to read. As I read I found out who God really is. Again as I read I found out who I was. And looking at who I was as I stood in God’s presence. But the one redeeming thing is that God accepted me as I was. I didn’t stay that way. I want to become like my father God and changed the world. I began to use the things that God gave to me like faith hope love peace and the big one long suffering. I was stepping up to the challenge that God presented to me. I haven’t reached perfection. But I know what to do and what not. God help me all along the way. As he says in his word all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
Www.joseph1637.com
For King and Country.
Pride in our servicemen and women isn’t new. Do you know how many times Americans have sent their young people to war? Since the beginning of our country, we have defended it. I began thinking about this why our son first went to war. My wife and I had to come to the realization that only God could keep him. We began to pray and believe. A young friend, whose parents were believing as we were, died in Iraq. It didn’t mean that we were better. It was God’s plan for that young man. There are 1000’s of young men and women who sacrificed themselves for our freedom. This is why, we the living, must never take our freedoms for granted. We were given a precious gift by God and those young people. Freedom is never free. It always costs. Sometimes we might think the price is too high. But that’s the cost of freedom. Our duty to our king and country doesn’t end with military service. It ends when we go home to our Father, God.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
Veteran’s Day.
Veteran’s Day: My Families Rollcall
Calvin and Luther Blanchard, Massachusetts Minute-Men, 1775.
Thomas Blanchard, North Carolina Militia, 1776.
Thomas Newton, Commissioner, US Navy, 1776.
Francois Boutte, Atakapa Militia, Louisiana, 1776.
Thomas O. Blanchard, War of 1812.
Albert G. Blanchard, Maj. General, 9th Louisiana, CSA, 1861.
Calvin and Ebenezer Carson, 16th Alabama Cavalry, CSA, 1861.
Carey Edward Blanchard, 17th Texas Brigade, CSA, 1864.
William P. Blanchard, Sgt., 71st Inf. US Army, 1941.
Neal Blanchard, Doctor, Capt., US Army, 1941.
Dyer Blanchard, US Navy, 1941.
Hal McGown, Lt. General, US Army, Korea and Vietnam, 1948.
Felix Castille, 1st Marines, Korea, 1951.
Charles Blanchard, Sgt., US Air Force, Vietnam.
Carson Blanchard, US Army, Vietnam.
Crain Blanchard, US Air Force, Vietnam.
Jonathan Blanchard, US Army, Iraq.
Joel Blanchard, US Army, Iraq.
Joshua Blanchard, US Air Force, Afghanistan.
Tully Blanchard, Louisiana Army National Guard.
Will Blanchard, US Army, Iraq.
My older brother was a Physician’s Assistant in US Army during the Vietnam War. My cousin Charles and I served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. He died in Thailand. Three of my sons and two of my nephews serve in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since my grandfather Blanchard came to this country in 1637, our family has defended it. My family are patriots. There are a lot of people who have served our country and I am thankful for it. We are blessed by God with a good land to live in. And it is worth defending our country, no matter how bad it seems to be. I just want to thank the men and women who have served our country in the military. It is right to honor them. Have a blessed and safe Veteran’s Day.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
The Work Ethic
The definition of the Work Ethic is a belief that hard work and diligence have a moral benefit, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. I agree with the definition. But it didn’t originate with per se. It originated with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Adam was hard working and industrious in the garden of Eden. When Eve was decieved by the serpent (devil) and ate of the forbidden tree, then got Adam to eat it. They were both removed from the garden of Eden because of their sin against God. God told Adam the earth was cursed because of his sin. It wouldn’t yield anything but thorns and thistles. God said by the sweat of your brow shall you eat. So, Adam had to farm the land to eat. It has never changed. People still have to work the earth. The Work Ethic is a good thing. God does bless the effects of people who work. And God also dealt with the sin problem. This is why Jesus came and died and rose again. Ask for forgiveness and you shall receive.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
Www.joseph1637.com
Paradise
God promised us paradise. To the Jews, it’s the land of Israel and heaven. To the Christian, it is heaven. So, why is man trying to build one here? Wealth and riches seem to be the goal in life to make a paradise here on earth. Technology has increased. Wealth has increased. If we have improved so much, why is there so many homeless? Why is there so much misery in this world? Yes, Jesus said that the poor will always be with us. But He came for everyone, not just the people who support a church with their wealth. Jesus went to the poor and sick, because they needed the Physician. Jesus went among the people who were left out of society. He didn’t care if they were jew or gentile. Jesus felt compassion on people, because they were a flock without a shepherd (pastor). It’s great to fellowship with the saints. But look around you in this world. There are people suffering and dying without God in their lives. Jesus came for everyone, every human being.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
Www.joseph1637.com
Rainbows
Cold front coming in. It rained over night. This year I have seen more rainbows. The rainbow is the promise of God that He will not flood the earth again. A promise that He has kept. The promises of God are yea and amen. Something you can bank on. When you see a rainbow remember that God is there and wanting for you.
Humanity
I was listening to a song, which I put on Facebook before. It isn’t Christian, but it calls to me. I listen to the lyrics and how it speaks about humanity. It calls for man to be better. I find that appeals to everyone. Unfortunately, man doesn’t have the power to change. But the song pulls on my heart strings. A man who looks in the mirror and forgets what he sees, is doomed to repeat himself. And will never get any better. The one thing about the song is that it calls for us to see who we are, not who we think we are. Because only then can we actually begin to come to the truth. It is call coming to oneself. The prodigal son came to himself and saw that his father’s servants live better than what he had. And he went home and repented to his father. Who, by the way, took him back into the family. My Father, God Himself, is waiting for us to come home. And what God wants for us, is to come to ourselves and realize that there is a way home for us. He is waiting and praying that we return home.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com
Fear
Fear, fright, horror, panic, dread, dismay, or distress, are some definitions of fear. Fear is a belief. It is just like faith, but the complete opposite. I have dealt with fear all my life. It is a devil and one to be cast out in Jesus name. I had a discussion with my son the other day, about the devil and his power. I should say the lack thereof. Lucifer, the arc angel, was God’s right hand man. Until he led a rebellion in heaven against God. Of which he didn’t win. Jesus told His disciples that He saw satan(Lucifer) and his followers fall from heaven as lightning. Unfortunately for us, he fell to earth. Lucifer doesn’t have any inherent power. God strip him of it. He has to get his power from us. It is by believing him, he attacks us. And if God allows the devil to attack us, God always makes a way of escape for us. God gave believers in Christ, dominion over this earth. This includes power over the devils in Jesus name. The power of belief is enormous. We as Christians can move mountains in Jesus name. But first we must believe that He is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him(God).
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
Www.joseph1637.com
Joseph1637/Crain Blanchard 