Encouragement – Page 45

Let’s talk about “re-gene-ration!”

Hey there, BCU Fam!

BlenCouragesU is excited to bring you thoughts from my VERY special guest in the person of Erma Nurse-Williams! Enjoy the post and be blessed!

The second half of 2017 brings with it promises of joy, peace, and hope, but as Bishop T.D. Jakes says, we cannot be the old us and get the new blessing.

Actually, the inspiration for this post comes from his sermon on January 3, 2016 titled, “Ground Level Zero.” In the sermon, he talks about how we need to be “re-gene-rated” to claim the blessings that God has for us.

“Re-gene-ration” is the uprooting and restructuring of our genes in the spiritual sense. We have physical and spiritual genes, and it’s important to note their differences. Physical genes are made up of DNA. They contain the genetic information that determines how we look and function. Spiritual genes are made up of spirit matter, a.k.a., that stuff that determines how our soul functions.

God wants our soul to operate in His likeness. He wants our soul to be a reflection of Him. We may want that too, but sometimes our soul gets polluted with the trappings of life. When that happens, God steps in to re-gene-rate us. He gives us a new soul by reshaping, and in some instances, replacing our genes to His liking. He removes the contentious genes and replaces them with Christ-like genes. You notice that I’m using “re-” a lot, right? “Re-” is a prefix that means “again, anew.” It indicates that a birth has occurred. We are reborn several times throughout our lives as God calls and commands. These rebirths are necessary filtration processes that draw us closer to the Lord. God wants us near to Him so that we can advance His kingdom. It is through doing His will that we shall receive the ultimate peace.

As we march through the remainder of 2017, let us remember that our re-gene -ration is God’s glory manifested in us in spiritual form. The earthly works that we perform as a result of our re-gene-ration are the physical fruits of God’s goodness, grace, and mercy.

God bless you and thanks for reading!

Erma is an avid lover of pomade. She created her online store, The Pomade Shop, to share her love of pomade with the world. Find her online at ThePomadeShop.com.

BCU says: As I read Erma’s encouraging words, Paul’s words to the Romans 12 come to mind.

1)I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2)And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2).

26 Jul 201726 Jul 2017

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Rejoice, people of God! The fight is FIXED!

Hey 👋🏾 there BCU Family!

As usual, you have the option of listening to our podcast (click the BCU avatar below to listen), reading the notes or BOTH. In any case, we pray the post blesses you. If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

I Samuel 17:4-54 tells how giant Goliath, champion of the Philistines taunted the Israelites twice daily for over a month–looking for someone to fight him. He was “kind” enough to make a deal with the Israelites: if they won, the Philistines would be their servants, but if he won the Israelites would be servants to the Philistines. (verses 8-10). I wonder if Goliath and his crew rested assured thinking, “yep, we got them right where we want them.”

Meanwhile, the word tells us the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid! (verse 11). These were the same people who experienced the blessings (and punishment) of God, but likely because Goliath was so big (almost ten feet) weighted with all that armor, and so confident, he frightened his opponents so NO one wanted to fight him. That is, until David, a youthful shepherd came by.

David heard about Goliath’s behavior, the Israelites’ fear, and was incensed that he would defy the army of the living God. David went to Goliath with no armour, rather with The Lord on his side, and a rock to Goliath’s forehead. As I was reading this story, the Lord pointed out three points.

Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? (David–1 Samuel 17:26b)

1)Notice Goliath never touched the Israelites—he just spoke to them and they fell to pieces (see verses 8-10). In comparison, the adversary is a type of Goliath. He taunts, accuses, brings feelings of doubt, fear, worry —sometimes paralyzing us so we fall apart and we will not fight. We allow the enemy to stop us from doing what God called us to. We draw back when we notice the stern, unsmiling faces at church when we speak. We stop praising God freely because someone is looking at us. We stay out of the prayer line fearing the congregation will be wondering why we are up for prayer–again. We think,”what if God doesn’t…..” or “maybe people will laugh” or “what if I mess up?” The list can go on and on, but you get the picture. Proverbs 29:25 reminds us, the fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. Whose side are we trusting on?

Let no man’s heart fail because of him [Goliath], I [David] will go and fight with this Philistine (1 Samuel 17:32).

2) While the feelings of fear, worry and doubt may creep up (that’s a normal reaction in the flesh), we have to think and act in The Spirit. Recall what David said to Goliath: You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou has defiled (1 Samuel 17:45). David had total confidence in God and the ability God gave him. AND David didn’t have the Holy Ghost, but WE do. We’ve got THE power in the name of Jesus, we just have to use it!

3) While we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (no stones needed) 😄, we do wrestle against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Our battles are fought and won with fasting, prayer, reading and applying your Word in faith, knowing that our God is God and following His battle plan ensures victory EVERY time! The fight is fixed!

The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, he will deliver from out of the hand of this Philistine. (David–1 Samuel 17:37).

Bottom line: while there are some “Goliaths” in all our lives from time to time, those of us who are Holy Ghost filled have the privilege to know the same God on whom David relied, is the same one we can call on for help. Psalms 98:1 reminds us His [God’s] right hand and His holy arm has gotten Him the victory. Because He lives in You, you can rest in knowing God is working on your behalf to ensure you will be victorious, according to His will! Glory to God!!!! Fight on and share your victory (or your struggle–we’ll be praying with you) with us in the comment section below!

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, and YouTube! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and iTunes!

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

Love,

BCU

22 Jul 201722 Jul 2017

BlenCouragesU1 Comment

Hearing vs. listening to The voice of God

Hey 👋🏾 there BCU Family!

About 4 years ago, my brother, Minister Garry, preached a sermon entitled “The Voice” based on John 12:20-32. This post is in reference to listening to that still, small voice that tells us what to do. Do you hear it or listen to it? There is a difference.

Awhile back, I was talking with a handyman *”Lou” who was trying to restart his business and offered to quote my friend, Lee and I for some work we wanted done on our places. Lou was polite, friendly, professional and sounded reasonable! Great!

After we talked, The Lord told me to mention a contract to Lou–we need to get this on paper, right? I left a message for Lou one evening to write up what he quoted me, what materials I needed, etc. I mentioned the contract to my friend, Lee, who said “why would we need a contract? Lou is just starting out, it’s a small business….”

Family, I was torn! How many judge shows had I seen where verbal contracts were not honored? AND I have a business degree. I know better! But, I felt bad, Lou was starting over, and needed a break. So I hushed the Lord’s voice about pushing the need for a written contract. Lou said he didn’t have any contracts anyway🚩 (red flag).

So, Lee, Lou and I scheduled a time we could all meet, to see what Lee needed done. That day, Lou was over two hours late–no call. We telephone out of concern and Lou gets on us about the heavy traffic, citing we don’t understand, he was coming from another town, and since we were expecting him, he figured we’d just wait. 😼(bright red flag).🚩🚩🚩

While I’m listening to this frippery, trying to exercise self-control over my rising temper, I kept trying to explain to him that we understand traffic, just call if you’re going to be late. After a 15-minute conversation, Lou still didn’t think he needed to call if he was tardy (flashing red flag). While Lee dismissed Lou’s attitude and finalized plans, I heard The Lord tell me to not let him do any work on my place. I second guessed a little though–was I in my flesh? Maybe he had a bad day. We all mess up from time to time, right? I admit I hoped I misheard, but I kept watching and praying just the same.

Lou came and worked on Lee’s place. It started to look REALLY nice! Lou even called when he was late or not coming….initially and sometimes. He didn’t show up for a day or two, but when he did come, he sang, worked and did a FANTASTIC job. When I stopped over Lee’s, Lou kept asking me when he could start on my place. I told him to finish up Lee’s first, (while I watched and prayed). Even though the work was getting done at Lee’s, The Lord’s voice was clear. Don’t do it (final waving flag with flashers).🏁🚩🏳🏴

How’d Lee’s story end? While what was done was indeed beautiful, some other major work was only three-quarters of the way done. Lou didn’t show up to finish. He decided to start another job with another client! Lee was VERY upset, and ended up having to get someone else to finish up the work. Messy, I tell ya!

With the help of the Lord, we’ve got to get to a place where we HEAR and LISTEN to His voice.

Why is it that when the Lord speaks, we sometimes second (or third) guess His direction? Granted, we want to make sure we are walking in the Spirit, but in many cases it can be fear, worry and unbelief. Sara and Abraham (Genesis 16), feared they were too old to have a child and went outside God’s divine will to start the process. Yes, you may be bobbing your head, but we are not exempt!

Bottom line: Sometimes the fear of hurting feelings, worry of losing out on a good deal, getting “cussed” out or looking foolish keeps us bound and making unwise decisions. The enemy has a way of trying to drown out the voice of God by using this age-old tactic. It’s our responsibility to know the voice of God and yield to it as Jesus said in John 10. As we steep ourselves in the Word of God, in prayer, meditation and study, God’s voice will become clearer and the voice of that stranger will cause you to flee from it and the things it suggests.

Let’s practice tuning out the noisome pestilence of the world and the enemy and tune in The Voice of God to ensure that the things we do and say will be pleasing to Him, Amen? Amen!

So, BCU Fam, that’s my story! What are your thoughts about the post? Please scroll on down to the comments section and let’s continue our conversation!

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 , Instagram, and YouTube! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and iTunes!

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

Love,

BCU

Commit your works to The Lord and He will establish your thoughts (Proverbs 16:3).

*names have been changed and details omitted to protect privacy.

24 Jun 201725 Jun 2017

BlenCouragesU2 Comments

Hope, healing and a prayer for the abused woman.

Hey there BCU Family!

For this post, I STRONGLY recommend tuning into the podcast, (click the BCU avatar below to listen) as the Lord suddenly led me in a conversational and prayerful direction that could not be captured in words. Please feel free to drop us a line in the comments section or contact us at Blen@BlencouragesU.com for prayer or assistance. God bless you!

So the Lord blessed me to write this many years ago and I posted it on my blog back in the day where there were no podcasts, it at least I didn’t know what one was!

The reason I thought to resurrect the piece, is because there is a show I watch from time to time that chronicles true stories of people, (mostly women), who have died at the hands of someone who says they “loved” them. The heartbreak for the families and friends is painful to watch and in some cases, avoidable.

Many women, myself included, have a natural desire to love and be loved–and there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem comes in when we fill the specially crafted, God -sized void in with the wrong man/men. Trying to fill that void outside of God can lead us onto a path that, if He doesn’t intervene, can lead us to our own demise.

At this point in the post, the Lord started talking, so, if you are not already doing please listen to the remainder of the post for the words He gave, as well as the prayer of hope and healing.

There was a time I was not free.
There was a time I was hurting.
There was a time I was being hurt.
It was mental, it was physical, it was psychological, it was emotional.
It was from someone who said, but, “Bae, you know I love you”.

I was bound in bondage–at the time I really didn’t know,
The enemy had this sabotage planned
in order to forever claim my mind, body and soul.

I went through life trying to mask the pain
A voice telling me that I was to blame!
I just wasn’t good enough; I needed to improve
Then he’s really love me–hey, that’s a good move!

But even with this brand new me,
The changes I made that everyone else could see
They STILL weren’t good enough for he
I was still being lied to, he’s still cheating on me

But the prayers of my family, my loved ones, my friends–
they did not fall on deaf ears, for God heard and saw my pain.
And He wanted to dry my tears.

After leaving from that mess, a new freedom I’m in!
I could be myself– FINALLY and the healing could begin!
I let that bad man out of my life– and praise God I let Jesus in!

To forgive me, love me and show me love
That unconditional agape amour that comes from above
To show me how to forgive and love others, too
And to learn to love myself and all that God blesses me to do.

Love my skin, my lips, and my hair
to learn from my past mistakes, with others I’ll share,
The real way to love is yes, though a man,
His name is JESUS– it’s part of His divine plan!
Oh, to trust Him to give us whatever it is that I need–including a man
A real man who will love, honor and cherish me correctly,
Like the fearfully and wonderfully made person that I am.

I want women everywhere to know that true love starts and ends with Jesus, as “old school” and cliche as that sounds, it’s true. He can heal your broken heart and make you whole again. He desires to fulfill all your needs, we just have to wait on Him. It’s not easy, but totally worth it. Need help? Contact us here: Blen@BlenCouragesU.com, and with the help and leading of the Lord, we’ll do what we can to be a blessing to you.

Thank you so much for tuning in and your prayerful support! Lord will, until the next time we’re together, may God bless you, keep you, make His face to shine upon you and give you peace as you, #StayOnTheWall.

Love,

BCU

17 Jun 201719 Jun 2017

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Attention passengers: Can of ugly opened in seat 13C!

Hey there BCU Family!

A previous post of mine talked about forgiving people who have wronged us, and believe me, I had to and continue to try to be the first partaker of the fruit! When I wrote the post, I was thinking of people close to us like family and friends, as we interact with them so often. Well, the forgiving and attitude check must extend to the “stranger” as well.

A while back, I had to take a trip for work, so I skipped on to the airport, boarded my plane, stowed my carry-on bag and took my seat. An older lady boarded after me with her roller board bag, looking for an empty spot in the overhead to stow it. She opened up the area where my bag happened to be and took it out. I see people do this all the time, to shift and make room for all the bags, so no big deal right? WRONG!

“Miss Lady” proceeded to stow her bag, and leave mine in the floor, and take her set behind me, claiming my bag was in her spot!! HELLO????!!!!!!!!!! The seated passengers looked at me in horror, while I blinked in disbelief and scrambled to make an audible sentence. I think I said something like, “I wasn’t aware this was kindergarten where we had assigned spaces, ” to whit another passenger told her, “that isn’t the way things work”. At that point without realizing it, I actually started praying aloud and asked the Lord to help me to deal with the situation. I thought about the scene that could have ensued had I yelled at her–I’d probably be the one escorted off the plane!

The Lord heard my cry and some of the other passengers aided me to help find a place for my bag and even offered to help me get it after we landed. I looked at her a few times to get a read on her face, but she wouldn’t really look my way. God bless her.

I don’t know what was going on in her head to exhibit such crazed behavior, but let me tell you, the grace of God surrounded my mouth and actions, and to Him I am grateful. I am not confrontational anyway, so getting in someones face is not my style. I will say, I don’t like being mistreated, either, so suffering in silence is not always apropos–I’m telling you all prayer was the fastest route to the right answer.

Looking back, I know this was an attack of the enemy and the Lord must have been testing my reaction and way of handling the situation in the spirit and not in the flesh. While the Lord blessed me to get through part of the situation successfully, in retrospect, I wished I had talked with her.

When people are depressed, hurting, upset or whatever, they direct their anger at whoever is in the path. Often, we take it personally (sometimes it is personal), but mostly not. As people professing salvation, and knowing Jesus can heal, save and deliver like nothing/no one else, we have to practice letting people know that, rather than sucking out teeth in disgust or laying people out.

Titus 3:3-5 reminds us we ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lust and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after the kindness and love of God our Savior towards us appeared, not by our righteous works, but He saved us according to mercy, by His blood and Holy Ghost. These verses sobered me right up! With God’s grace, let’s hide that Word in our hearts, so we can dig deeper in our hearts and remember that Word when something like this happens again.

Bottom line: People of God, when we see someone “acting up”, we really want to avoid reacting to the outburst, rather should seek to get to the root of the issue. So, let’s ask the Lord what the best way is to minister to them! Whether through a quiet prayer, conversation, scripture sharing, a tract (my mom says I should have given her one :-D) or witnessing, in all we do, we want God to be glorified, the people we are witnessing to and those in the vicinity are edified, His name magnified and that enemy horrified! Someone needs to know that Jesus IS the answer for ALL of life’s troubles. Amen? Amen!

So BCU Fam, that’s my story! What are your thoughts about the can of ugly that was opened up on me? Please scroll on down to the comments section and let’s continue our conversation!

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

Love,

BCU