BCU podcast-100 celebration chat: Stewardship & timing.

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 interview, please tune into the podcast recording. We pray the post blesses and encourages you.  If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

The BCU 100-podcast celebration-conversation continues where I answer your questions, fielded by my fellow teacher, sister and friend, Jewel Taylor.  In our 100th podcast, among other things, we talked about the start of the  BCU ministry and what it takes it keep it (and any other ministry) going.  In our last podcast, we talked about what was difficult about the keeping the ministry going and started talking about the dispensations. 

In this third segment we ended up talking/teaching about how precious the time is that God gives us, and how we are to steward over it properly, as it’s a commodity we often realize (in many cases, too late), that we cannot get back. The teaching series Jewel refers to is on Periscope under the BlenCouragesU moniker and have “stewardship” in the title.

As a reminder, we are planning to answer all questions, so please, keep BlenCouragesU.com close by notification-wise, as we’re planning to continue this series throughout the month of October.

Click below for the podcast and drop us a line give us your thoughts on the podcast content! Also, please stay tuned to the BlenCouragesU social media accounts (located below) for our giveaways the week of October 23-October 27, 2017.

So, are you a part of the BCU family? All you need to do us subscribe to BlenCouragesU.com. Subscribing is free and this is 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 and being a part of the celebration!  God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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So…what did the BCU Family want to know? We’re answering YOUR questions!

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 interview, please tune into the podcast recording. We pray the post blesses and encourages you.  If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

The BCU 100-podcast celebration-conversation continues where I answer your questions, fielded by my dear friend and sister, Jewel Taylor. Last time, among other things, we talked about the start of the  BCU ministry and what it takes it keep it (and any other ministry) going. If you missed it or want to re-listen, please click here.

Below are the podcast questions we answered this round.  If you don’t see your question, keep BlenCouragesU.com close by notification-wise, as we’re planning to continue this series throughout the month of October.

  • What is the most difficult thing about keeping the ministry going?
  • What are the dispensations? (Because of time constraints and the sheer depth of this awesome question, we talked very broadly about this topic. Please take a look here for a more in-depth information).
  • I also mentioned a BCU podcast that covered if we should be paying attention to the people who don’t clap for you when you win. Take a listen here. 

Click below for the podcast and drop us a line give us your thoughts on the podcast content! Also, please stay tuned to the BlenCouragesU social media accounts (located below) for our giveaways the week of October 23-October 27, 2017.

Are you a part of the BCU family? All you need to do us subscribe to BlenCouragesU.com. Subscribing is free and this is 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 and being a part of the celebration!  God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

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BlenCouragesU is celebrating podcast number 100!

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 interview format,  please tune into the podcast recording. We pray the podcast blesses and encourages you.  If so, please give it a thumbs up and leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Well BCU Fam, we are celebrating 100 podcast episodes—to God be the GLORY!!!
So, for this podcast we are answering your questions and my friend and sister, Jewel Taylor is asking me those questions interview-style. You all may remember Jewel from her teaching series on forgiveness which included Jonah and Joseph! That study was amazing and is well worth a re-listen!

Below are the podcast questions we answered this round.  If you don’t see your question, please keep BlenCouragesU.com close by notification-wise, as we’re planning to continue this series throughout the month of October!

  • How and when did this ministry start?

  • How did you know it was time to go forward with what the God had given you to do?

  • How did you transition from potential to actualization? So many people live excitedly on their ‘potential’ in God, but what needs to transpire from living in the ‘potential’ to actually doing what God has for you to do?

Click below for the podcast and stay tuned to the BlenCouragesU social media accounts for our giveaways for the week of October 23, 2017-October 27, 2017. 

So, are you an official part of the BCU family? All you need to do us subscribe to BlenCouragesU.com. Subscribing is free and this is 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 celebrating this awesome milestone with us! We appreciate you ALL more that you’ll ever know! Stay tuned for our next post and until then, may God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

 

BCU

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The cost of emotional decision-making

Hey 👋🏾 there BCU Family!

Typically, you have the option of listening to our podcast, reading the notes or both. This week you have a bit of both! Please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights wrap-up and corresponding Scriptures. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

So in our *Periscope class, we’ve been talking about procrastination and how that cheats us out of out chronos and karios moments. This brief podcast is on the opposite–making hasty, emotional decisions and the consequences to that. A young man by the name of Jephthah had to walk out his vow. Read the entire chapter of Judges 11 to get the whole story, as you listen to the “podcast on the go” and the commentary afterward. As a point of reference, below are the action and consequence Scriptures from chapter 11.

30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord‘s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord delivered them into his hands.

33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.

36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

37 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.

38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,

40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

Hopefully you caught the last part of the podcast where Jephthah had to keep his word about his daughter. The Scriptures do not go into detail about how he kept his vow, but suffice it to say, the remembrance of his victory would always be bittersweet.

You may be thinking, well I don’t vow anything, especially to God, but in actuality we do. Anything we say we’ll do is not just in front of the individual, but God is also there listening and recording all we utter.

We casually say, “I’ll call you this week,” or ” I’ll get that to you”, “I’ll take care of it”, “I’ll be praying”. And yes, we say these things with a well-intentioned heart, yet we often forget or skip over our promises due to competing priorities. Even when we forget, God remembers–He takes us seriously and He expects us to keep our word. Consider Ecclesiastes 5:3-6.

3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

This is serious business BCU Family! In order to avoid hasty mouth, we really should acknowledge the Lord in all out ways, so He can direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6). As we slow down to listen to what God is telling us and (yield to Him) we can make promises that God can bless us to keep.

So if you’ve made rash, emotional decisions that you have not followed through on (I KNOW I have), let’s repent and ask God’s forgiveness as we walk out Proverbs 3:6 in all our decision-making. Are you as excited as I am about that? Amen!

 Question of the podcast:

What are your thoughts on making emotional decisions?  There’s a comment section here on the BCU site, just waiting for your thoughts so we can continue our conversation! Let’s talk!

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

*Join us on Periscope every Thursday night at 8:05pmEST on channel BlenCouragesU.

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2016 Loopback: In GOD we trust

Hi 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 your study!

For the month of January, we’re taking a walk through some of the lessons God taught over 2016. Last week, we covered how our words can hurt or heal (you catch that post here). This week, we’re focusing on who we need to really trust.

The change in administration has brought/is bringing out the thoughts in many hearts and they range from the staunchest supporter to the psychic doomsayer. And depending on if you are for or against the President, you’re either counting on His promises or……you’re very concerned about those promises. In any case, God has news for you. Yes, He does.

First off, we have to recognize that while it may not SEEM so, God IS in control of everything. He already knew and allowed who HE wanted to get into the chair for whatever purpose HE has. For promotion comes neither from the east, west or south, but God is the judge, He puts down one and sets up another (Psalm 75:6-7).

We’d do better to ask God to show us the lesson behind His decision, so we can learn and apply it to our lives, but that’s another post.

Secondly, we while we may not like, understand or agree with the WAY God is doing things, Isaiah 55:8-9 says, for My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.  

Because our ways and thoughts are so limited and finite, against God’s infinite knowledge there will NEVER be any wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30). In other words, we will never know better than God (I don’t know why we think we do–didn’t we learn from Adam and Eve)? Therefore, we cannot advise Him. He advises us.

Next, keep in mind, that any promise made and carried out, if we support it or not, will never surprise or be outside of what God ALLOWS to happen. The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord, and just like the rivers of water, He [God] turns it wherever He wants (Proverbs 21:1). God is in charge of all decisions because they accomplish His perfect will. In fact, Psalms 18:30 says, as for God, His way is PERFECT, the Word of the Lord is tried [proven]. He is a buckler to all those that trust.in. Him. Regardless of what your take is on the President and his proposed actions, policies or decisions, our trust should be inGod and Him alone. Let’s see what the Word of God says.

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not to your OWN understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,  but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen, but we are risen and stand upright (Psalm 20:7-8).

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118:8).

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25).

Put not your trust in princes, nor in a son of a man, in whom there is no help (Psalm 146:3).

What time I am afraid, I will trust in You [Lord] (Psalm 56:3).

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:6-7).

And finally..that supplications, [specific requests] prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings and for all those that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (I Timothy 2:1-2).

BCU Fam, I could go on and one about the many words of warning and comforting promises of the Word of God–there simply is not enough time or space in this post! As this administration unpacks and you find that there are declarations that were kept and broken, just go back to the Word of God and rest assured on what He tells you.

God always keeps His promises. We have His Word on it.

I have to admit, it can be a challenge to trust God when we don’t know or understand why He allows things to unfold they way they do. On occasion, He may clue you in on a part of His reasoning, but most times, He is trying to teach us to trust in the God of all flesh, who knows exactly what He’s doing. With God’s grace, let’s do just that. Amen? Amen!

We have to stop here–but no fear, there are other podcasts for you to enjoy on the  BlenCouragesU.com site that are available 24-7!  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 iTunes.

Before you go, we’d LOVE to dialogue with you! We’ll make it easy to comment by asking you to please answer this question:

Which promise from the Word of God is most encouraging to you?

As always, thank you for stopping by and may God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you! #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

 

BCU

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