I have been a skeptic most of my life. I don’t take what people say at face value. I want to but that isn’t reality. I listen then they have to prove it. God knew this when He spoke to me in that church. So, my friend took me up to the altar to talk to the pastor. I prayed a prayer for salvation. Then he asked me if wanted the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I said yes. I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into. But I wanted everything that God had to give me. We prayed and God came down and surrounded me. I was surrounded by the Holy Ghost. People shook my hand and talked to me. But I was a 1000 miles away. God put a hedge around me. And no one could get to me. God knew I was a skeptic. And He was going to prove to me that He is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. This was the beginning, the first day with God. That happened 40 years ago. And His presence is no less then when He began. God proved to me that He loved me because and He has never forsaken me. God says prove Me this day. I will continue with the skeptic tomorrow.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com
My Journey Continues.
As I listen to those 2 men talk about what this person had done for them, I became interested. There was a hope growing in me. These men talked about a person who is alive. This person was willing to help them for no apparent reason. This was what I was looking for. I would like to say I was a sterling character. But the truth was that I was more a character than sterling. I thought maybe this person would be willing to help me. Finally, they asked me if I would go to church with them. I said yes. They took me to their church the next Sunday. It was about 500 people. I shook hands with, it seemed, everyone. We found a place to sit. They began singing. I was just looking around at the people. Then we sat down. The preacher began speaking. I was still looking at everyone. It was interesting. Then the preacher stopped, and it was dead silence. Then he turned to the audience and said hello. It was an expression that I used. I never heard anyone else say it. Then God spoke to me. He said, “what more do you want?” I looked around to see who was talking to me, but no one was even paying attention to me. I knew from that moment on that my prayers were answered. I will continue tomorrow.
Crain Blanchard.
Crainb52@juno.com
http://www.joseph1637.com
My Journey
My journey was from hell and back. I don’t know if you understand that you have a choice. Everything you do in life is a choice, good or bad. And you are responsible for every choice you make in life. For the longest time, all my choice were the wrong ones. I dug a hole that I couldn’t get out of it. I came to a point where I was throwing dirt on top of myself. I was going to bury myself, if I didn’t get help. Two friends reached out to me through my older brother. They wanted me to join their Amway business. I was interested. We would meet at one man’s business for coffer each morning. The conversation became one-sided. The 2 men would talk about what Jesus had done for them. They weren’t talking to me directly, but God was. It took a lot to convince me of anything. So, for three months, they started our business meeting with what Jesus had done for them. And so, my journey continues.
Crain Blanchard.
Wanting Super Powers
If only I had super powers, I could change the world for good. If you are waiting for super powers, you will wait forever. It would be nice to change the world back to good. But that is only in comic books or as they say today, graphic novels. So, I will keep on searching for someone who can change my life. How do I know that there is a person who cares enough to help me? I looked around and saw people would help to achieve their agenda. It was never because I needed help. I looked for someone who wanted to help me. In college, I fell in love with a young woman, who loved me because. I saw a glimpse of what it could be. Because I was who I was, I lost her. And began the search again. The anger and frustration grew in me. Until no one wanted to be around me. But I still had that need in my life. Where in the world could I find someone, who cared for me? I kept looking, doing what I could to survive. I’ll will continue tomorrow.
Crain Blanchard.
Is there Someone out there?
I wondered about that for a long time. Is there someone greater out there who can help me? I have gone to church all my life. But I didn’t believe everything everyone said. I had to have proof that what was said was true. I looked around at mankind and saw nothing but heathens. So, if there is a God, where is He? Why isn’t He doing something about these heathens? I was included in that group of heathens. I needed help and I didn’t have the power to change. In fact, I had no power to change anything. I didn’t know that was the first step in getting to know God. When you come to the place that you know you need help. Then you start looking for that help. There are so many self-help books out there. But they don’t work. Even if you change your diet, exercise, use crystals or meditate until you go numb, you still don’t have the power to change anything. You don’t believe me. Command a tree to grow tall now. Command your gray hairs to turn back to their original color. We don’t have the power to change our lives. I will continue tomorrow.
Crain Blanchard.
Who can know God?
Who can know God? He is as vast as far as east is from the west. How can you get to know Him? Where do you begin? The Creator of our entire universe is so massive and all encompassing. Do you know why He created man and the earth? He didn’t need us to exist. God is all powerful and knowing. To even think that we are even significant in His life, is mind boggling. For academic sake, let’s say we can get to know Him. Then where do you even start? What is His name? who can even introduce us to God? Why would He want to know us? These are good questions that are answerable. He once told me, He didn’t need us. But He wanted us. God’s love for mankind know no boundary. God created the heavens and the earth as a home for us. then we can say we aren’t alone. And if we aren’t alone, then someone is watching over us. In the next few days, I will try to answer some of these questions. Hopefully, to your satisfaction.
How far will God pursue you?
How many people believe that the man upstairs has a big stick and is willing to hit us if we do wrong? It is such a lie. Christians have found out the truth. Before I knew God, I always thought I was on my own. What I did was wrong my fault. And it is still true today. My faults will send me to hell. Then I gave up hope, before I accept the Lord, of a decent life. The scripture in Romans 8:28 says, all things work together for good, to them that love God and are called according to His purpose. Did you know that we are all called according to His purpose? But the other part of the scripture says that we must love or know God. Even, if you have gone as far away from God as you can, there is still hope of redemption. The Apostle Paul was a murderer. He, with God’s help, wrote most of the New Testament. If God can take Paul, clean him up and make him a leader in the church. God can do the same for you. The first thing is to turn to our Father and ask for forgiveness. Then follow Him home. The story of the Prodigal Son is everyone’s story.
Crainb52@juno.com Crain Blanchard
What do I say? by Crain Blanchard
All my life I have struggle to be understood. I would go to great lengths to explain my plan and purpose in life. Many have gotten angry and refused to listen. One, it wasn’t what they wanted to hear. Secondly, they didn’t understand. There have been a few people who knew what I was saying. I gravitated to those people first. Because they were like-minded. But I had to reach more people. I don’t like to talk incisively. I say what I need to say, then stop. It didn’t work well for the general populace. So, I would lengthen my sentence to get my thoughts across. I have always believed you say what you mean and you mean what you say. When I came to the Lord, my words became more valuable. So, I would use them sparingly. I took communication in college to learn to speak effectively. I have over the years, developed my craft of writing. I have so much to say and so little time left. I want to just scream it out. But I have to do everything decently and in order. God isn’t the author of confusion or guilt or fear or anything that will destroy us. God is the author of love, joy and peace.
Facebook/Crain Blanchard.
The Crushing Blow by Crain Blanchard.
You have heard the saying, it is the last straw. The whole saying is, it is the last straw that broke the camel’s back. No one want to get to that position. Where it is the final blow that crushes you. But so many people set themselves up for that crushing blow. So, how do you get out of it? Or even prevent that final blow? We are humans and flawed to a fault. And we try to live our life our way. It usually ends up in a disaster. Even if you win, you still have to go over someone and crush them. We have that drive in us. And we know we can win. When you come to the end of yourself and are sitting in your own rubble, there is hope. This hope isn’t in your strength or your making. For it is impossible for men to do anything. But it is possible, the hope, for God. And all we have to do is to turn to God and ask for forgiveness. Then follow after God. For the hope that we seek is in God.
Facebook/Crain Blanchard
Where in the World are you? by Crain Blanchard.
I went to visit friends in California. It was a 4-hour plane ride. Then they live 100 miles north of Los Angeles, that was a 2-hour drive. Then add the 2-hour trip to the airport. It took me 8 hours to travel from my home to theirs. I have friends all over the world. Yet in minutes, I can talk to or see them. My journey has taken me many places. I have seen some wonderful sites and some horrible ones. Yet I always look for the good, in people and places. I always have a smile on my face. I know that sometimes people look at me and wonder how sane I am. People are always fixing their face with surgery. Because there are permanent wrinkles or sags in their face. It only takes 2 muscles in your face to smile. It takes all 42 muscles in your face to frown. My secret is a scripture in Proverbs. Pro.17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Smile at someone today. Make their day better. I’ll tell you a truth. It will make you feel better.
Crainb52@juno.com
www.joseph1637.com
Facebook/Crain Blanchard
Joseph1637/Crain Blanchard 