Tag Archives: bible

When Time runs out?

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What will you do when time runs out? Just like an hour glass, time will run out for everyone. We are given by God a certain about of time. We can do whatever with of lives until time runs out. Then what is going to happen to us? It is a very valid question that everyone must answer. No one can escape answering the question. People put off answering that question until they understand it’s all over for them. Then reality sets in as they see their lives clearly. What they did or did not do in their lives. It is an unsettling dilemma. People have to face that dilemma with uncertainty. Not knowing what is going to happen to them if they don’t settle the issue of their life.

How can we settle the issue or even know what is going to happen? Why do we know about or even be concerned with this issue? There is a hole in our being. To become whole we have to try to fill that hole with something. I have watched people fill that hole with money, power, sex, drugs or anything that they think will fill that hole. The only problem is that hole was designed by God to be filled with only one thing, God Himself.

It is said the people fear death because of this hole and are held in bondage to it. This is when people become slaves to money, power, sex, drugs or anything that they can fill that hole with.

So how do we break free from this bondage and fill that hole in our lives? There is a plan in place for us that is over 6000 years old. It was there at the beginning of time for every human being. God finished the work for us about 2000 years ago. This work was done for us because God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. His only begotten son is Jesus Christ. And all we have to do is to turn to Him and repent of our sins and believe in Him. This will fill that hole in your life and assure you of the life to come when time runs out.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Power of Words.

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We learn to speak when we are young. We can’t wait to able to speak. Many times I have seen small children run around screaming with other children. They were not saying a word, but they were communicating with each other. It can get irritating because of the noise level. But communicating is a real need in our lives. We strive to be understood and become frustrated when we are not. Some people are chatter boxes, while some don’t say two word. Have you ever met someone that didn’t say anything, but you knew what he was saying anyway? It’s interesting how that works. We learn communication all of our lives. Yet, some things are a puzzle.

Words have power. Speaking must be done judiciously. We can encourage, discourage, up lift or destroy with our words. I heard this many years ago, but have found it to be true. You can’t take back hurtful words or reverse what you said. It is like taking a box of feathers to the top of a mountain, then releasing them. Then try to gather all of them back again. You can’t. Our words have a power of its own.

Using our words correctly takes self discipline. We have to learn to speak at the right time. Everybody knows the fable of the boy who cried wolf. In the end, no one believed a word he said. It is important that people can believe what you say. It is not only for your sake, but for others also. This is where using our word correctly comes into play. What if all your words come to pass, just as you have spoken them. I have heard many people say, that kills me or I can’t do that. Guess what, those words come to pass whether or not we want them to. It’s not that we can’t speak. It is speaking the truth and live that way. For as the mouth speaks, so are we.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

How Coincindences Work.

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This is how coincidences work through events happening without any of the same apparent causes. Let’s look at the life of Joseph, the eleventh of twelve sons of Israel, Jacob. Benjamin was Joseph’s younger brother. Jacob protected Benjamin, being the baby of the family. But he also favored Joseph, because he was first son of his favorite wife, Rachel. When Jacob blessed his children right before he died, he called Benjamin a ravenous wolf. Jacob didn’t do right by his other ten sons, who were the sons of Rachel’s sister Leah. When God chose Joseph to be the one who saved his family, God gave him a dream about how Joseph would do it. Jacob also gave Joseph a coat of many colors. Which showed the other brothers that he was the favorite son.

One day when Joseph was out in the field with his brothers, he told them about the dream God gave to him. His brothers had had enough and plotted to kill Joseph and blame it on a wolf. Reuben stopped them from killing Joseph and instead sold him into slavery to an Egyptian. Eventually Joseph was sold to Potiphar and then put into prison for thirteen years. By the hand of God, Joseph could interpret dreams. He interpreted a dream for a servant of Pharaoh, who was restored to service with Pharaoh.

God gave Pharaoh two separate dreams which no one could interpret. Finally, the servant that Joseph helped spoke up to Pharaoh about him interpreting dreams. They took Joseph out of prison, cleaned him up and presented him to Pharaoh. Pharaoh told him the two dreams and Joseph said they are one and the same from God. Joseph gave him the answer and Pharaoh made him Prime Minister of Egypt.

Eventually the famine that God showed Pharaoh came. Joseph had prepared Egypt against famine. They stored enough food to save not only Egypt but the rest of the known world. This made Egypt very rich and powerful. Famine came to Canaan and Jacob, Israel, had his sons to go to Egypt and buy food. They appeared before Joseph twice before telling them who he was. When he revealed himself to them he told them this:

Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

There are no coincidences with God. It may have seemed that the two events were unrelated, but God prepared a way to save as many people as possible through Joseph. God is still making a way for people not only to survive, but to live through His planning.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Why would God create and sustain mankind?

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When God created mankind, He knew that man would fail. How did He know this? His 1/3rd angels that He created rebelled against Him. God had to expelled them from heaven. Knowing this God made man anyway. Why would He do this? The scripture that always comes up explaining this phenomenon is very familiar to everyone. People have heard up signs with this scripture everywhere. There was even a US court case about that very scripture. It was ruled that holding up a sign with the scripture name and number wasn’t illegal, no matter where it was. I bet you can guess the scripture I am talking about.

“ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

So, what does this scripture say? It says that God loves this world, mankind and creation, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. This was to allow mankind to come home again. And anyone that accepts God’s offer of clemency, can enter into heaven once again. You talk about faith in this world. God’s faith that man would accept His offer, from the offset, seems risky at best. So, what makes the difference in this offer? It is the love of God. It is how far God will go to bring us back home again.

So, let me ask you a question. How is heaven our home in the first place? We were wonderfully and perfectly made by God. Our spirit, who we are, is immortal and comes from God. This is what will return to heaven to be with God. Earth is temporary and will disappear in the end. Our home will be either heaven or hell. Heaven is where the children of God reside. Hell was made for the devil and his angels and all the people who don’t chose God’s offer. As individuals, we have a choice to make, whether or not to chose God. With that choice, it decides where we are going to living eternally. I chose to accept God’s offer and to live in the kingdom of His dear son, Jesus.

It has been written out for us for over 4000 years. It is called the bible. Read for yourselves and decide whether God is telling the truth or not.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Uncertainty principle of our lives.

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The principle says that the more something becomes certain, the more everything else becomes uncertain. It is like all things, atoms, are in motion. And they will fly apart if there isn’t a stabilizing element to everything. There is truth to the principle. If you look at mankind throughout the ages, you can see how uncertain or unstable he is. Man has never been able to keep the peace anywhere for any length of time. War always breaks out somewhere. This is a fundamental flaw in mankind. Man doesn’t have the power to overcome this flaw. Mankind can hid this flaw only for a certain period of time. Then it crops up and destroys everything around them. Peace isn’t an attribute of man.

So, why is it that mankind can’t live in peace? It is because we are born flawed or defective. God made us with this hole in our makeup. The only way to fill that hole in our makeup is through obedience to God’s way. As smart as man is, we are powerless to change our makeup. Do you remember all the self-help books that came out? The premise for each book was that we, mankind, can change our destiny through determination. It is a half-truth. Just like the half-truths that the devil spoke to Jesus in the wilderness. They seem to be truthful, but are a trap.

If we, mankind, align ourselves with God and accept His plan, God will use His power to change our lives for the better. We don’t have the power, only God does. Then our uncertain world becomes certain, if we follow after God and obey. This is where determination comes into play.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

This Day in June.

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What do you remember about this day in June? I remember the end of school and summer camp. In high school, I remember working each summer delivering newspapers 6 days a week. I remember missing a vacation trip my parents to California to go to college. My life is filled with memories about every stage of my life. As each period of my life transformed, I saw the future and was uncertain what would happen to me. But I never backed down. I didn’t care if I stumbled and fell. I would get up and go again. I was determined not to stop, even if it killed me. Then one summer, I sat and listened to 2 men about Jesus. It fascinated me that these men lived a life that I rarely saw. I listened intently. And finally decided this life was for me. So, when they asked me to go to church with them, I had already made up my mind.

My life in Christ has never been easy. There has been ups and downs. But I have been determined to follow Jesus, no matter where He leads me. I remember the first time I realized that He was talking to me. I was so excited that God cared enough to want to talk to me. I never thought that I was anyone special to God. But I was wrong. I am a son of God. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus died and was resurrected for me. And not only for me, but for everyone. And the sad part about all of this is that not everyone will chose to follow Christ. God said that Jesus will not return to this earth until the gospel is preached to every creature. So, that everyone will have the opportunity to accept God’s plan and return home. Praise God.

So, remember today what God has done for you and chose to go home to heaven to be with God.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It’s funny how everything changes.

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The Apostle Paul wrote 3 epistles to the churches in Asia Minor. They were to correct errors that the churches started believing, the traditions of men, that you can make it to heaven without Jesus and the Lordship of Jesus wasn’t necessary. The epistles are Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. We don’t fight against flesh and blood. We fight error or heresy with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is the truth of the gospel? It is that we are sinners and separated from God. We need to repent of our sins and without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. God provided the perfect sacrifice in HIs Son Jesus. And though Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can be forgiven of our sins and make peace with God. We are to follow God through Jesus all the way home to heaven. God made Jesus Lord of lords and King of kings. And by the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we have access to God.

This is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ that God set forth in His word (the bible) and in our hearts. With the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can defeat the errors or heresies of the world.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

The Call.

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Do you remember when you were young and one of your parents call you home for supper? You heard that distinctive voice and responded to it. There was no mistaking that voice. You knew exactly who that was and responded accordingly. If it was your dad and he called several times. Each time with increasing volume, you ran as fast as you could until he saw you. All time knowing that there was an urgency about that call. Or if your mom or dad called your full name across a crowded room of people talking. You heard that voice clearly. This is the clarity of the call.

Most people don’t think that they hear God’s voice. But this isn’t true. God place in each of us His word or the bible from our birth. And we hear His voice to varying degrees accordingly to how we have responded to that voice. If we have ignored that voice and push it out of our consciousness, that voice begins to dim. And to that point, we can no longer hear the voice of God. It is a scary place to be, because at that point we don’t have any shame only guilt.

I won’t go into details about shame, but God put shame and fear into our hearts as tools to protect us against evil. And the understanding on how to use them correctly. So how many people can say that they hear the voice of God? And if you answer yes, then why aren’t you answering the call? God calls everyone. There isn’t one person on this earth that God doesn’t call home. God isn’t a respecter of persons. Everyone is equal in His eyes. You see, we are His children and He wants us to come home. It is because home is the only place that we will be safe forever. So the next time God calls your name, turn to Him and say, here I am.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

It’s not if we are going to be persecuted.

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Anyone who is a believer knows that when you speak in the name of Jesus, people will object. The bible says that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and tongue confess that He is Lord of all. We all know that the devil hates this and prods people to object to the name of Jesus. It is unfortunate that we will receive objects from other believers. This is where persecution comes into play.

In the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Jesus said that we will be persecuted. He said that we are blessed when we are. And that we are to bless and not curse the person when they do. So, Jesus is saying that we, as believers, will suffer persecution. And the converse is just as true. If we are not using the name of Jesus, which God commands us to, we will not be persecuted. The devil does not fight against anyone that is not living and doing God’s word. But that is a trap in itself. If you shy away from living out God’s word in your life, you will not succeed in the kingdom of heaven.

God said to follow Him wherever He led us. He says that we are to renew our minds and hearts through the His word. God’s word says that we are more than conquerors through Him who strengthens us. And that we are to take up His armor to protect ourselves against the wiles of the devil. God’s armor is the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, shod, shoes, with being prepared by reading the gospel, the bible. And lastly with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

In Matthew 7:21-23, the bible says that Jesus will turn away people from heaven, who didn’t pursue Him even though they were believers in the church. The reason is that they never did get to know Him. Our relationship with Jesus is how we enter into Heaven. There is no other way. Follow Jesus and pursue Him with all your heart.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

How clear is your vision?

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Everybody hopes for things. We all want to have our needs met. We need to have food, clothing and shelter. Each of us has this drive in us to survive as our needs are met. It is to various degrees that our needs are met. Some people take it to the nth degree and say that there isn’t enough money in the world that will satisfy themselves. They become obsessed with greed. Then there are those who say that having their needs met are enough. They choose happiness with family and friends over wealth.

Then God says to follow Him and He will provide everything that we need. He ask us to trust Him with our lives and our families. God’s word is replete with everything that He will do. It starts in Genesis and ends in Revelation. Literally God repeats Himself throughout the bible. It literally says over 360 times in the bible not to be afraid and trust in Him. You think He’s trying to tell us something. That is about 1% of the bible.

It is funny, interesting, how people deal with the promises of God. Sometimes it is just sad how people don’t even want to hear what God is saying. But back someone into a corner they can’t get out of and they will pray to ask God for help. There is a famous story here in Louisiana, a mafia leader was walking up the steps of the federal courthouse in New Orleans. A preacher was walking with him and he turned to the preacher and ask him to pray for mercy.

It all comes down to what you see all around you. And whether you can see anything at all. Jesus walked on this earth for about 33 years. Everyone in Judah knew who He was and what He stood for. Anyone who wanted to meet Him did. Everyone heard what He said about how to live in the kingdom of God. The spectrum was from those that believed Jesus to those who didn’t and hated Him. The interesting part was that everyone understood what He was saying and how much it would cost them.

That is the difference between God’s children and the world. Everyone knows who God is and what is required for them to return home. God’s children are willing to pay the cost of believing. Where the world isn’t willing to pay that cost. What is that cost? It is the same cost as Jesus paid. We have to die to ourselves and let God raise us from the dead. That doesn’t mean that you can pick up where you left off before Jesus. It means that you are dead to yourselves and follow Jesus wherever He leads. And unless you are willing to pay that price, you will not make it home. We can’t save ourselves from anything.

So what do you see? Is your life on track to go home to heaven or not? If your life is about you, you are on the wrong path. God’s word says that He directs our path and show us how to get home. Jesus said that it is a narrow gate to enter into the path home. Sadly, it also says that few find it. As long as you are breathing, you have a chance. I ask you to listen to what I am saying. Look and see the Lord is good.

Crain Blanchard

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com