We have crossed the bridge over that gap between God and the world. Now we can see that there are people left behind that want to come across the bridge. Like us, we needed someone to stand in the gap so we could find our way across the bridge. The only person who can lead anyone across the bridge is the God Himself. But we as believers can get God to move on the people on the other side of the bridge. The bible says that we are led by the goodness of God. All God wants is for someone to believe and trust Him to move on someone’s heart. We did not come to the Lord on our own. There was a multitude of people praying and believing for our salvation. There may have been one particular person who talked and showed you the way. But that was the tip of the iceberg. God woke me up one night and said pray. I got up and prayed until God said it was finished. There was a believer who needed God’s help in Africa. I’ll never met this person until I get heaven. When God places a person on your heart, and you think about them all day, it is time to pray. Standing in the gap is not always easy. But it is necessary. This is where you use your faith and grow in the Holy Spirit.  Jesus intercedes for the saints continuedly. This is standing in the gap.

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Do you still feel the call of the world to cross back over that bridge? The bridge back only leads to one thing, death. Remember why you cross the bridge the first time? It was because you were dying in your sin and needed someone to set you free. Do you remember to pain and agony of sin? That is all that you have if you cross back over that bridge. Sin is the fastest way to your death and hell. The world will always call you to come back. But we are use our faith to block all those fiery darts the devil throws at us. The call of the love of God is stronger than anything. The love of God will take us from where we were in the world and bring us to heaven. Do you remember the day that you gave your heart to Jesus? We did not have to clean ourselves up before God accepted us into the kingdom. The love of God showed our hearts the truth that we were sinner and now we are redeemed. We understand that as we walk with Jesus, our heart is changed into the image and likeness of God. And our faith grows as we walk with God. Even if we are reminded about the bridge we crossed, it is just a distant memory. It is the same choice that God gave Adam and Eve, to follow God and obey. Adam and Eve did not obey but God even provided for that. Sinning against God is picking up the trash of the past and preferring it to God’s love. Why eat out of garbage cans instead of at God’s table? As you walk with God, the world and it’s sin, becomes distant memory. Jesus set us free from sin. It is up to us to stay free.

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Bridging the gap is the first step in our journey home. Many people think that once they cross the bridge that the fight is over and sit down. They think that they are waiting for redemption to happen. It is true that Jesus overcame the devil and the world to make a way home for us. But we have a part to play in all of this. And if do not participate in our salvation, we will not make it home. I do not care what you believe. If your belief does not line up with the word of God, you have nothing. That is why it is so important to read and study the word of God. Once you begin to learn what to do in this world, you can fulfill what God is calling us to do. And this is our part in the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a believer, we are expected to follow and obey the word of God. Which as you read and study, you will see that it is Jesus. The word of God says that we are all given the measure of faith. That is to believe and trust God. That faith is to be used in this world to accomplish God’s will. But if you never use your faith, it is like a person who uses a hammer for the first time. All you will hit is your fingers. Faith has to be used and developed into a skill. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus taught them what we know as the Our Father prayer. It says that we pray for God’s will that is in heaven to be brought to earth. This is where our faith comes into play. We must believe that God is working on our behalf. So, once we cross the bridge, we are to read and study the word of God. Then we are to use of faith through prayer to bring God’s will from heaven to earth.

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

There is a story in the book of Luke about a rich young ruler. He only thought of himself. His life was about acquiring things. At his gate was a beggar named Lazarus. He had nothing and was sick. He begged for food because he was starving. The rich young ruler ignored the beggar. He would not help the man at all. Lazarus died at his gate and the rich young ruler died the same night. Lazarus woke up in the arms of Abraham in paradise. The rich young ruler woke up in hell. The rich young ruler called out to Abraham to send Lazarus with some water to quench his thirst. Abraham said there is a great gap between you and me that cannot be bridged. Then the rich young ruler asked Abraham to send someone to his 5 brothers on earth. Abraham said they have Moses and the prophets. If they will not listen to them, they will not listen to someone who was raised from the dead. The story is about bridging the gap between our lives and God’s. we have the opportunity to close that distance here on earth. But if we wait until we died, there is no help for us. We must make sure of our salvation here on the earth. Then we are assured that salvation in heaven. Bridging the gap to God is simple and doable. It is all about accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior here on earth. Then when we crossover to the other side, we will make it into heaven.

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Many things have been attributed to the love of God. And most of the time, it has missed the mark. God is love. That is a statement of truth. God created this world and man because He wanted someone to share in all that He had. God created the garden of Eden for man, Adam. He gave Adam dominion over the entire earth. Adam did not lack anything. All he to do was to speak what ever he needed into existence. Even when Adam sinned against God, God’s love provided a way of redemption for man. The angels in heaven do not have the plan of redemption. If they sin, they casted out of heaven. Redemption is the love of God for mankind. How far will God go to redeem man? In the book of John, it says “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The love of God sent Jesus to die for our sins and redeem us to God. The love of God heals our broken bodies. The love of God provides for our needs. The love of God leads us back to God and home. We do not think that God suffers the pain of loss because of man. I could not bear the pain that God bears for His creation. The bible says that in hell there is a torment that is so great. It is called the worm that turns. Do you know what that torment is in hell? It is the love of God. God loves everyone equally. And the people in hell cannot share in the love of God. The torment of hell last for forever. The strangest thing about all of it is that man has to choose to go to hell. God does not send anyone to hell. They have to choose to go to hell. Just like those that choose to go to heaven, it is a choice in our life. So, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Since the fall of mankind, man is the most treacherous being on the planet. There is nothing that man will not do because the heart of man is the most deceitful thing. People look at man and judge God. Did not God make man? Aren’t we not the image and likeness of God? I have heard this since I gave my heart to Jesus. I said it once or twice before I knew God. It is not that we are just the image and likeness of God, it is that we do not have the power of God in our lives to control anything. The only power in this universe is God Himself. Even if we do not believe God, He remains faithful to His word. God cannot deny Himself. In the Old Testament, book of Numbers, God said I am not man and do not lie. Nor am I the son of man that I should repent. God said have I not spoken it and will I not do it. Why should God be faithful to His word? Because God has placed His word above His name. Now, I am talking about God’s children, those who have accepted Jesus in their hearts. To the sinner, God has promised that if they repent of their sins and ask for forgiveness, He is faithful to accept them into His family with all rights and privileges. For the sinner, God goes so far as to get His children to pray for individuals and circumstances. This is to get the sinner to the place to hear and accept Jesus into their hearts. No one can ever laid the charge against God that He is not fair to every human being. God is faithful to His creation. (Numbers 23:19; 2 Timothy 2:13).

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Many people talk about believing or faith. But how do you move from hope to faith? Hope is where you start. You see something that is marvelous. You hope that it could happen to you. And you begin to seek someone that could help you. Depending on how desperate you are, is how much you will tell someone about it. If you listen to people, they will tell you, their needs. Once they express themselves, then it is up to you to act upon it. I’m talking to believers in Jesus Christ. God called us to do the work of an evangelist. That work is to preach the gospel of Jesus to every creature, to lay hands on the sick and they will recover. The bible also says to cast our devils. The same grace and mercy God gave to us, is the same that we are to give to everyone else. So then hope can turn into faith in Jesus Christ. If that name offends you, there is hope for you that you are not to far gone. We start with hope, seeing miracles that are possible for us. God opens our eyes to see that it is for us. Bless His holy name. So don’t stand there twiddling your thumbs and do something about it. God is always present and ready to do for you. So, take your hope and move it into faith.

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

In this life of uncertainty, who can you depend on? Who are the people who care enough to be dependable? Are they your parents, or your brothers or sisters? Maybe they are your children. It could be your husband or wife? But who is it that you can depend on with your life? You learn early those friends will go so far in being dependable. Your parents will try their best to help you, but there is a point of no return. So, what do you do when you need a person to help you? People search all their life for someone. And when they do not find someone, they turn to things, such as drugs, or sex. What is interesting is that in America, most people have heard of Jesus. They even seen Him do signs and wonders. Yet, they refuse to call upon Jesus for help. He is the one person who correct everything. I was raised in church and it took 28 years before I called upon the name of Jesus. He took my broken spirit and reshaped my heart. He did it little by little. That way it did not hurt as much. But I have found that Jesus is the only person that I could truly depend on. Jesus loved me and gave His life for me before I was born. He is the only person to truly depend upon.

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I have been homesick for many years. You see my home is not here on this earth. My home is special to me. It is where I was born. I was raised on this earth and have lived a better part of a century. But I do not belong on this earth. I am a stranger in a foreign land. I have never been at home here on this earth. My family have gone home, and I want to be with them. But I know that I am needed here and now. My family that are alive here need me. And my work for God is not over yet. But sometimes it is just hard to live on this earth. I have been home several times in this lifetime. I could only stay a little while. But my time in heaven was beyond description. When the saints in heaven began to sing the Song of the Redeemed, I began to shake. The song was so beautiful. This is why the angels stop and listen as the saint’s sing. I am not the only person who is homesick for heaven. The Apostle Paul wrote about it in his letter to the Philippians. My Father, God, is calling me home. And my desire to go home is getting stronger.

Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

What are the issues of Life? Everyone is hustling to acquire money, food, clothing, and shelter. People are climbing over each other to make their way in the world. They are acquiring educations, positions, power and influence to effect the outcome of the their life. Unfortunately, making their way in this world, means trampling someone else to get ahead. What is even more unsettling is that the church does the same thing. When I say the church, I am talking about the children of God. Those people who have given their heart to God. Since the beginning of time, God has provided for His children, protection, provisions, food, clothing, and shelter. But it seems that people are not willing to want on the Lord for provisions. I read a story in the Old Testament about Elijah. When he prayed that the rain would stop, it brought a famine to Israel. For 3 1\2 years, it did not rain in the middle east. God told Elijah to go to a certain place and stay there. Each day God provided food and water for him. No rain came until they were willing to listen to God. We have not had famines in our country. But we do have fires, floods, tornados, and hurricanes. Our economy has almost collapsed because of the Covid-19. Don’t you think God is trying to get our attention, just like He did for the Israelites and no rain. The Issues of Life are not food, clothing, and shelter. The Issues of Life are about seeking God and His righteousness. Because when we do seek God and His righteousness, He said that He would provide food, clothing, and shelter.

This is the link to my book.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com