Hope is a very strong emotion. It’s what drives us to go on. Without it, we wouldn’t get out of bed. I just saw a picture of a friend’s new grandson. And I saw the hope of the future. What that child could become and the joyful experiences we could go through. Without that hope, we would never accomplish our dreams. I have seen what hopelessness can do to a person. I have gone through it myself. It is a belief in something. Believing will determine who you are. Then the next step is doing what you believe. But it all starts with hope. The Apostle Paul was in Ephesus and found some disciples. He ask them if the had recieved the Holy Ghost since they believed. They said, we haven’t even heard that was a Holy Ghost. Hope is also seeing the truth.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

There is a plan for our lives. What it doesn’t mean that it always goes right or perfectly. We have a direction in which were supposed to go. But knowing the plan doesn’t mean that it’s going to be all peaches and cream. We learn the truth and began to walk in the way. We know that our lives are not perfect. And there are things that we need to do to clean up our lives. With God’s help we can walk in this way and clean up our lives. So why be surprised when things go awry. As they say the best laid plans of mice and men go awry. But we know that we have someone who is there to help us and to keep us in the way. Jesus has never lied to me and I’ve trusted him. He has directed my path and I have progressed in this life. As the bible says, all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Of the things that man needs is provisions, like food, clothing and shelter. But there are many other things that are needed. A few are knowledge, understanding, practical applications and wisdom. One thing Jesus said was, man shall not live by bread alone. But it is agreed that we need provisions. God did say to Adam, by the sweat of your brow shall you eat. We can’t get out of working for a living. But God has provided for His children. Through Jesus, we can receive God’s blessing. God does provide not only food, clothing and shelter, but wisdom, protection, salvation and healing. And God said, seek His kingdom first and all these this shall be added. These are some of the provisions of God, The Lord my provider.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It’s interesting how people perceive Jesus. Those who have met Him, worship Him. Those who haven’t curse Him. There isn’t a one soul on this earth that doesn’t know who He is. The devil knows who Jesus is. But Jesus is the only hope humanity has of surviving. I watch how far man will go not to surrender to God. And see the disasters that happen because of it. Man believes that he is right and God is wrong. Do you know how absurd that is? No matter what man believes, the only truth is, we are sinners separated from God. And there is no relief for our grief and misery except through Jesus Christ. People have to face God and see their sin, before accepting the awful truth. When ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus into our lives, that awful truth becomes a fond memory.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Jesus taught on the mountain side for 3 days straight. People came and stayed the whole time. The disciples came and spoke to Jesus about the people needing food. They said they only had a little bit of food. 5 loaves and 2 fish to be precise. Jesus told them to have everyone sit down. He blessed the food and began dividing it. Jesus gave to the disciples to distribute to the people. Over 5000 ate their fill. And there was 12 baskets of bread left over. Our church did something similar last night. We didn’t feed 5000, but more like 500. We had our annual Thanks for Christmas Dinner, where we give a Christmas dinner to our city. People from all over came and had dinner and fellowship. Although, our church is small, we had more than enough food. And people saw and heard Christianity in action. I praise God for this opportunity He gives us to shine the light of Jesus in our city. Preach the gospel in Jerusalem first and then to the utter most parts of the world.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

There isn’t any scripture about Jesus growing up. But Jesus followed the law all his life. The bible is filled with how to train up a child. Joseph, Jesus’s earthly father, was an orthodox practicing jew. He followed the law like Jesus did. Jesus was bar mitzvah the year He went to Jerusalem with His parents for Passover. It means to become a man. He would have started working with His father as a carpenter. And He went to Jewish school to become a rabbi. He led a pretty normal home life. Which all lead to Him becoming a man. Jesus was subject to Mary and Joseph, so He would have a normal life. At the marriage feast in Cana, all Mary had to do was to speak to Jesus and He complied. Because He was a man under authority and grew up the way God wanted Him to. This is becoming a man.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The birth of a child is a marvelous thing. It’s a scary and joyful event all at the same time. You’re excited about the new little person coming into the world. Then it hits you, you are responsible for this life to God. You have so many questions about what will happen. And you have to wait to see what will happen. You love this little person with your whole heart and you don’t know them yet. A child is a mixture of love and pain all rolled into one. The pain comes because you love them unconditionally. Yet you believe the best for this person. If they cry it breaks your heart. Mary felt all these emotions with the birth of her first born son, Jesus. All His life , Mary believed in her son and trusted God, including up to His death and resurrection. All the love and longsuffering that goes with children. But the joy that a child brings is worth everything. This is what my children have taught me. And I am better for it. Mary and Joseph knew this too.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The bible says you must believe that God is and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. To believe that God is requires faith. Why is it that children believe without any problems? While adults have trouble believing at all. Could it be that our free will gets in the way? Or maybe it is knowledge that’s the problem. Jesus said if we don’t believe like a child, we can’t enter into the kingdom. Mary understood that the time of the messiah was near. She believed God and trusted that He would provide. She wasn’t expecting that God would choose her. God chooses faith over circumstances. When Gabriel appeared to Mary, she had a choice, to believe or not. Mary chose faith and believed. Gabriel told her a little about what would happen, but she had to walk it in faith, even to the death of her son. God requires Faith.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I was reading in 1 Peter ch.1, it struck me that the gospel is about the journey home. It talks about many things, fiery trials, believing, Jesus’s death and resurrection and salvation. And by themselves, they would be a good bible study. But together they show a picture of events in each of our lives. Events spanning from the beginning of time through our life and beyond. Giving us directions to live the life of God. It’s the journey home. 1 Peter 1: 24-25 “For all flesh is as grass, and all thr glory of man as the flower of grass. The flower withereth and the flower gallery away. But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which bt the gospel is preached unto you.” It’s the journey home.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseoh1637.com

I was thinking about time and how fast it goes by. When I was young, it seemed that time almost stood still. But I know it was because I was moving faster. As I got older and slowed down, time seemed to spend up. In the first 8 versus of Genesis Ch. 1, God deals with time and space. It has been constant ever since. Time is relevant to how fast we move through our space. I look at the my time and see the years passing like days. And I am trying to catch up to my time. God has given everyone so much time. And once it is over, we are gone. It is up to us to use our time wisely. We have to decide what is relevant to us. Then to pursue it with all our might. I could have pursued money, or power, but instead I pursued God. I figured that if I was going to spend eternity with my Father, I needed to know who He is and my older brother Jesus, who died from my sins. In turn, my world became better. I have a family and I work for a living. But my heart belongs to God. There is no other place I would rather be than in the presence of God. My heart keeps saying, are we there yet?

Crain Blanchard.

joseph1637@juno.com

joseph1637.com