Room A203 – BCU

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!

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

26 Mar 2024

BlenCouragesULeave a comment

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

12 Mar 202412 Mar 2024

BlenCouragesU2 Comments

Moya’s miracle!

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 | But wait..there’s more! | Ep 331

Podcast highlights:

We continue our conversation with my friend, Moya Pugh, founder of Sister 2 Sister International Women’s ministry.
Moya and I connected via a work event, and in chatting, we discovered our mutual love of Christ.
In our initial conversation, we talked about christian conduct, ministry, and being a safe space.
Last time, Moya and I talk about waiting on God, our plans vs God’s plans, and finding love after 40.
As we wrap up our conversation, we talk about disappointments, medical procedures, and Moya’s big news!

KJV Scripture References

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Ephesians 3:20

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..

Psalm 127:3

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Luke 2:19

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 1:37

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

BCUFam, there were SO many good nuggets in the conversation—it’s difficult to choose just one, but if I had to, I loved how Moya talked about how when God blesses us with whatever we are waiting on (according to His will), that we forget the time we waited and just rejoice that He came through! We serve the God of time, so while we do not always understand His timing, whenever God blesses us, His blessings are always worth the wait. And if the answer is “no”, since God created the heaven and the earth from nothing, (Genesis 1:1), He knows what He is doing, and has something BETTER for us! Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we honor You and thank You for Your goodness that is seen is so many different ways, and we thank You for the encouragement You provided through Your Word! Please forgive us, Jesus for the times we ran ahead of You, Lord and leaned to our understanding. We thank You because nothing is too hard for You, You specialize in the impossible, You are all-knowing and You do what is best for us. We pray that going forward, with Your help, that we will trust Your will for us, Jesus, and while we wait, we will serve You with gladness!

For those who may not know You in the pardoning of their sins, Jesus, please speak to their hearts and bless them recognize Acts 2:38 as the plan of salvation, and surrender to You to secure their place in the kingdom of Heaven.

We thank You answering our prayers according to Your will and way, in Jesus name, we pray and thank You, Amen!

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

Love,

BCU

30 Jan 2024

BlenCouragesULeave a comment

“Thank You for the “no’s” | Moya Pugh–Part 2

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 | Thanking God for the "no's" | Ep 330

Podcast highlights:

We continue our conversation with my friend, Moya Pugh, founder of Sister 2 Sister International Women’s ministry.
Moya and I connected via a work event, and in chatting, we discovered our mutual love of Christ.
Last time, we talked about christian conduct, ministry, and being a safe space.
This time, Moya and I talk about waiting on God, our plans vs God’s plans, and finding love after 40!

KJV Scripture References

Psalm 100:2

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:20

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..

Proverbs 18:22

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

Luke 11:11-13

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Moya and her husband, Lawrence ❤️💙

BCUFam, what resonated most for me, is that sometimes we get more “no’s than “yeses” when requesting certain things from God. Because our finite minds “think” we know what’s best for us, the no’s may seem like punishment or the enemy blocking our blessings.

On the contrary, we have to remember that because our grace and glory giving God is our sun and shield, He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk upright before Him (Psalm 84:11). So if it’s good, and His will, we will get what are asking for. Otherwise, there is something God is protecting us from, hence being grateful for the “no’s”. I will admit, that “no” does not always feel good in the moment, but once we realize that God has better, we will give thanks through the tears, and continue serving the Lord with gladness. Amen? What stood out for you? Please leave a comment so we can continue our conversation!

Moya and I have more to cover, so please stay tuned for our next segment, as we leisurely walk through the next part of her story of God’s purpose and plan for her life. In the meantime, Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You today, thank You for the words of wisdom and correction You have provided. While we may not always understand every decision You make on our behalf, we know You, Lord, are a good, good Father and You always do what is best for us. So we thank You Jesus, for the “no’s” and with Your help, will continue to serve You while we wait, and declare Your goodness, for You are God and You are GOOD! It is in Jesus name, we pray and thank You, Amen!

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

Love,

BCU