Room A203 – BCU

Room A203: A Story of Love, Friendship & Sisterhood🌷🌷

Hey there BCU Fam!

For this special presentation, please tune into the video recording, and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages your heart today!

Podcast highlights:

This is a special conversation about an amazing individual in the person of, Lydia “Tulip Petal” Edwards.
We met years ago and became fast friends and sisters in the Lord, sharing conversations of everything and nothing.
In this impromptu video post, among other things, I highlight a stretch assignment she gave me, and how that changed my life.

KJV Scripture references:

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

²And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

³For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

⁴Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

⁵I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

⁶I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

⁷Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

⁸Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

⁹Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

¹⁰Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

¹¹Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

¹²And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

You know, BCUFam, I had no idea that Psalm would minister to Lydia and the BCUFam the way it did! Many of us have experienced feeling overwhelmed and desolate—-and that is NORMAL! What David did in that Psalm was to teach us feel our feelings, and to take them to the Lord, who is the ONLY one who can comfort, strengthen and advise us on our next move—–even if it’s just to trust that He knows what He is doing. And that’s what Sister Tulip Petal did.

BCUFam, Lydia passed away late last week. My Tulip Petal was beautiful flower who wasn’t called to speak on a program, did not have a dedicated platform to teach from, or a mass following, but quietly ministered in an impactful way to all the people the Lord assigned to her. I am blessed and enriched to have had her in my life for the time God allowed, and not one moment squandered. May God bless us to all be the same way about our relationships. The people in our lives are assignments from the Lord, and we want to be sure we are about our Father’s business in every interaction. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father in the Name of Jesus, as we come before You today, our hearts are heavy for the loss of our sister, yet light because she was saved, full of the Holy Ghost, and is resting without any tubes, medication or pain. And Jesus, with Your help, when we see You for the first time, we will see Lydia again, as Heaven is our final destination. Please bless and comfort all who were connected with this wonderful woman of God.

We ask You, Lord to help us be mindful of and loving in all of our interactions, and that You bless us to be an excellent witness to all around us, so that people may ask, “what must I do to be saved?” We thank You answering our petitions and for all things, in Jesus Name we pray, Amen!

As a reminder, 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, X, and Instagram. Also, if you so inclined, join us Thursday nights––we are LIVE on YouTube 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify!

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

Love,

BCU

4 Mar 2025

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Room A203: Rides, Caffeine & The Stories.

Hey there BCU Fam!

Because of the informal format, please tune into the podcast recording (click here or on the BCU avatar below) 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:

It has been awhile since we have visited Room A203 which are typically posts that are lighter in content.
In this impromptu post, I am poolside while musing about some of the things I realized I have grown away from, including amusement park rides, caffeinated beverages and “stories”.

BlenCouragesU · BCU podcast | Room A203 | Coasters, Caffeine & Stories | Ep 357

KJV Scripture references

2 Peter 3:18

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

You know, BCUFam, I did not intend for the podcast to go into the direction it did, but I LOVE when the Lord comes in and takes over! Also, the clarity and maturity that comes with spending time with Jesus is unmatched, so let’s get in as much prime time with Him as we can! Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father in the name of Jesus, as we come before You, we thank You for all Your goodness, grace and mercy! We also thank You, Jesus for maturity and growing in grace——not only in the natural, as we age, but in our spiritual lives, as we age there as well. Please help us to hear Your voice and follow what You tell us to do, so that You are completely glorified, honored and praised!

As always, we ask the You bless us to be an excellent witness to all around us, so that people may ask, “what must I do to be saved?” We thank You, Jesus for helping is to do all we are supposed to, so we see You in peace and are welcomed into Heaven, in Jesus Name we pray, Amen!

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

Love,

BCU

20 Aug 2024

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Survivor’s Song | Interview with Connie L. Johnson

Here there BCU Family!

You can access the podcast here , or click on the avatar below, as you refer to the show notes below for the highlights. We pray the content blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the podcast!

BlenCouragesU · BCU podcast | Survivor’s Song | Connie Johnson | Ep 339

Podcast highlights:

We are wrapping up our conversation with my songwriter, author, advocate and friend, Connie L. Johnson.
In our first conversation, Connie and I talked about christian conduct, advocacy and blessing others.
Our last talk was about trauma, grief, AIDS advocacy, “busyness” and healing.
This time, we chat about introversion, “Ted Talking”, and being a good neighbor.

KJV Scripture References

Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

James 2:8

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Where are all my introverts who are living in this extroverted world? LOL! lThe struggle is real, but so is our amazing God who is able to strengthen us to stand up and out for Him. Also, this was a good reminder for us to be a good neighbor to the people we come in contact with.

As a gifted speaker, Connie has a Ted Talk which you can access here. She has also written a book about women in Kenya who are living with HIV and AIDS. If you would like to purchase Connie’s book, Beyond Measure, please visit her site here: www.IamConnie.me, or you can reach out to her at “IAmConnie40” on all social media platforms. Let’s end in prayer!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You today, we thank You for the blessing of love, fellowship and friendship. We also thank You for remembering those of us who are on the shy side to allow Your Spirit to rise up in us, so we can boldly live and speak for You without fear—in the empowering name of Jesus!

Jesus, we ask that you please touch the body and mind of someone who is in pain today. Please remember all who are living with HIV, AIDS and any other disease, and heal as only You can, Jesus! We thank You that someone will now know that You are a Healer, Savior, deliverer and a very present help in the time of trouble!

Please help us, Jesus, to know how we can love on and be a good neighbor to everyone, so we do our part in honoring and caring for the people who are made in Your image. We thank You for continuing to bless and keep us as only You can, in Jesus name, we pray, Amen!

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

Love,

BCU

26 Mar 2024

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Beyond Measure | Interview with Connie Johnson

Here there BCU Family!

BlenCouragesU · BCU podcast | Beyond Measure—Connie Johnson | Ep 338

Podcast highlights:

We are continuing our conversation this week with a sweet friend of mine, Connie Johnson.
Last time, Connie and I talked about christian conduct, advocacy and the importance of blessing others.
In this conversation, we talk about trauma, grief, AIDS advocacy, “busyness” and healing.

KJV Scripture References

Psalm 147:3

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

Luke 10:38-42

³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

BCUFam, when Connie asked, “am I busy, or about My Father’s business?”——that question resonated with me on a few different levels! Over the last few years, the Lord is helping me to realize that it is better sit at the feet of Jesus, to actually hear and do what He is calling us to do, versus proving our “faithfulness” to others by being overly busy in every area that needs help.

As a gifted speaker and author, Connie has written a book about women in Kenya who are living with HIV and AIDS. If you would like to purchase Connie’s book, Beyond Measure, please visit her site here: www.IamConnie.me

When we are together next time, Connie and I will wrap up our conversation, so please stay tuned! In the meantime, let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You today, thank You for the reminder Jesus, that we do not have to prove our love to You by being over-scheduled. Please help us to know which assignments are ours and when to do them, so You are honored and pleased with us.

Jesus, we also ask that You please heal all who are broken-hearted. Please touch the body and mind of someone who is in pain today, Lord. Please remember all who are living with HIV, AIDS and any other disease, and heal as only You can, Jesus! We thank You that someone will now know that You are a Healer, Savior and a very present help! Glory!

Please help us, Jesus to know how we can be a blessing to at least one person according to Your will and way, so we do our part in honoring and caring for the people who are made in Your image. We thank You for continuing to bless and keep us in Your care, in Jesus name, we pray, Amen!

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

Love,

BCU

19 Mar 202419 Mar 2024

BlenCouragesU1 Comment

Room A203 | Interview with Connie Johnson

Here there BCU Family!

You can access the podcast here, or click on the avatar below, as you refer to the show notes below for the highlights. We pray the content blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the podcast!

BlenCouragesU · BCU podcast |Interview with Connie Johnson | Ep 337

Podcast highlights:

We are in Room A203 this week with a conversation with a sweet friend of mine—-singer, songwriter, poet, advocate and so much more, Connie Johnson.
Connie and I connected via “accidentally” via social media, and found we had many things in common.
In this segment, Connie and I talk about christian conduct, advocacy and the importance of blessing others.

KJV Scripture References

Luke 6:31

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Luke 10:25-37

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

WHEW!!!! BCUFam, when Connie said we have to be mindful of how we interact and view people, that was a spiritual gut check and call to action. As followers of Christ, we are called to love and care for His people, rather than name call, shame and neglect them. That was a good reminder that we have work to do!

Interestingly enough, I interviewed Connie late last year, with the intent to have podcast uploaded in January. God’s timing worked out so much better, since it is Women’s History Month. And with the help of the Lord, this amazing woman is definitely making history and changing the future for many children, and I am sure inspiring others to do the same as the Lord leads! Amen? Amen!

Lord will, I plan to continue our conversation the next time we are together, where we will cover trauma, grieving, and healing. In the meantime, let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You today, thank You so much for all our ears have heard. Jesus, we ask You to search our hearts and please forgive us for any times we made someone feel marginalized for the situations or choices that were made. We truly want to do unto others and we would have them do unto us. Please help us, Jesus to know how we can be a blessing to at least one person according to Your will and way, so we do our part in honoring and caring for the people who are made in Your image. We thank You for continuing to bless and keep us in Your care, in Jesus name, we pray, Amen!

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

Love,

BCU