When the storm comes: peace or panic?

Hey there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights:

  • No matter where we live in the world, at some point we will experience a storm (i.e. rain, snow, wind..)
  • Depending on the type of storm and our preparedness or attitude about it–they can produce a feeling of peace or rest. OR they can invoke waves of emotions such as anxiety, worry, fear or nervousness.
  • Similarly, at some point/points in our lives, we will experience a/storm/s. And we either rest in the peace of God, or be tormented in our minds with anxiety.
  • Even in the stormiest and scariest storms in our lives, Jesus is with us and wants us to have His peace.

Scripture references:

Mark 4:35-41

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.       (1 Peter 5:10).

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5 b).

So what are your thoughts on our topic-du-jour? What is your go-to behavior when the storm clouds rise and the ship is full of water? Do you immediately go to fretting? Or take the storm to our mighty God? A bit of both? Please head to the comments section below and let’s chat some more!

In the meantime, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by. God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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Your choice: Store or stew?

Hey there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights:

    • A couple of members of the BCU Youth Squad were talking about the cost of making unwise choices.
    • We talked through the story of Esau in a “21st century way” while keeping the integrity of the Scripture.
    • When we operate in our flesh or out of emotion/impulse, we will always make foolish now decisions that will effect us negatively later.
    • Even when we feel “pressed” we should stop and ask God what to do. His way will always be right.

Scripture references

Genesis 25:28-34

28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Hebrews 12:15-17

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17).

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?  (Matthew 7:11).

The bottom line here BCU Fam, is that once we acknowledge God in our decision-making,    He WILL direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6). While His instructions may feel like a “loss”, we have to remember our finite ways and thoughts are beneath God’s perfect ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).  And as a good Father, His way will set us up for success every time, so we WILL win.

So BCU Fam, I know I’ve struggled with the store and stew situation before, but I am GRATEFUL that the Lord was/is so patient with walking me through asking, trusting and waiting. What about you?  Maybe you’ve mastered the impulsiveness with God’s help? Let’s talk about it in the BlenCouragesU.com chat section below!

As we wrap up, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter,  and Instagram! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by. God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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Special post: 10 Random facts about Blen!

Hey there BCU Family!

You have the option of listening to our podcast (click the BCU avatar below to listen–you’ll get more conversation), reading the notes or BOTH. In any case, we pray the podcast blesses you. If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy your study! 

So this post actually lands on my birthday (thank you, Jesus!) and I thought to do something a little different—give you a little insight into what Blen is about, in no particular order. Ready? Let’s go!

  1. I’ve been reading since I was 18 months old. Now, I am NO genius at all. God simply blessed me with amazing parents who instilled a love of the printed word at an early age. I still love to read–and have countless books in the house to prove it. 🙂
  2. I learned how to say the alphabet backwards in the 3rd grade (shout out to Patricia Dickerson). I can still recite it!
  3. Sometimes, I am a serial eater. I’ll eat a/particular food(s) for a period of time and then not eat it again for months.  For example, I “discovered” asparagus and ate them almost every day for about 6 months straight. Then I quit them cold turkey–well, cold asparagus. I only eat them on occasion now. I’m working my way through my salad and cake phase. I do not see that stopping anytime soon. 🙂
  4. On the rare occasions I do eat chips, they must be the Wise Brand–golden original.
  5. I have not had a soda in years. Water/seltzer water is my go-to drink. Tea after that.
  6. I LOVE cars from the 70’s! Chevy Chevelles, Buick Electra 225’s (deuce and a quarter), Oldsmobile Regency…I could go on. Why? There is just something classic, and “let’s go to the drive-in, kids” about them (happy sigh).
  7. The first thing my dad taught me to cook was oatmeal. I STILL love it.
  8. Because I have a schedule to keep, when I have a day off/am on holiday, I like to MOVE SLOW. I do not like to rush to do anything, including eating. #SlowHurry is the order of the day.
  9. I have a deep affection for lip gloss. I may have about 5 of them in my handbag at any given time. It’s not confirmed why there are so many of them open–I just don’t  like to be without them.
  10. Two of my favorite gospel songs are “He knows” (Walter Hawkins) and “More love to Thee”(John P. Kee). #Henry Nelson #EarlySavedDays 

There you have it, BCU Family! So, did anything surprise you? Or did something on the list resonate with you? Let’s talk about it in the chat section below!

As a note, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter,  and Instagram! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by. God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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Tribute: Three lessons I learned from Apostle Floyd E. Nelson, Sr.

Hey there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. For this post, because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights:

    • Apostle Floyd E. Nelson Sr., the presiding apostle of the International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ passed away on April 2, 2019.
    • I am veering away from my usual topic/format to talk through the impression and impact he (and his wife, Dr. Yvonne Nelson) made on me.
    • I’d like to share three lessons I learned that God blessed me to implement in my life and ministry.
    • The related podcasts I mentioned are here–> who isn’t clapping and the power of the surrender. 

 

You know, those very lessons helped BlenCouragesU.com to get “back on track”–unbeknownst to him, but very obvious by the growth in BCU subscribers! I love and thank God for ALL of you! So while we mourn his passing, I thank God for the life lessons and legacy he brought to all who interacted with. May God continue to bless and comfort all who were touched by this great man of God!

BCU Fam, as much as we do not like to think about it, our days on Earth are numbered. Psalm 90:10 reminds us that the days of our years are threescore and ten (age 70) or by reason of strength fourscore (age 80), and after that we fly away. Obviously some live longer or shorter lives and that’s all up to God. How long we live is not necessarily the point, it’s HOW we live that makes a difference. Psalm 90:12 says teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. This means we need to wisely do all God has assigned to us in the time allotted, to be a blessing to all those we come in contact with here AND  so we can hear “well done, thou good and faithful servant”, when we go to see Jesus. Amen? Amen!

So how are you walking out your calling from God? What do you want people to remember most about you? Let’s talk about it in the BlenCouragesU.com chat section below!

As we wrap up, if you have not subscribed to BlenCouragesU.com, please do so! It’s free and a good place to get the encouragement, inspiration and information based the Word of God! Additionally, you can also see what we are up to on Facebook, Twitter,  and Instagram! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

Thank you SO much for stopping by. God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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