BCU Word of The Week: “Provoked”

Hey there BCU Fam!

For this post 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:

  • We are continuing our word study this week by looking at the Biblical definition of a word or phrase.
  •  “Paroxsuno” is the Greek word for “provoked.” It is a compound of para, meaning alongside, and oxsus, which means to poke, to prick, or to stick, as with a sharpened instrument.
  • When compounded together, the new word portrays someone who comes alongside another and then begins to poke, prick, or stick that other person with some type of sharpened instrument—–usually resulting in a verbal or physical altercation.
  • Provoked can also mean irritated by people—–especially when people delay our plans, tell us “no”, or when they interrupt us.

Scripture references

I Corinthians 13:5

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

James 1:19-20

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Acts 15:27-41

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

BCUFam, this word admonished, corrected and encouraged ME! I thank God for a pliable heart to hear and receive what He is saying, as well as for the mind to apply the Word. Irritation and being provoked are a part of the walk with Christ, and our reactions to those areas are what the Lord is interested in. With His help, we can choose to respond in a way that brings God glory, honor and praise. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray about it!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You, thank You so much for the timely reminder that we are not to be easily provoked or irritated when it comes to our interactions with others. Please help us to be mindful of the things that trigger our irritability, and to take those areas to you in prayer. We never want to operate in a selfish way, rather we want to be sure to represent You in our words, and how we interact with people. The Scriptures remind us that we will be known by the love we exhibit to others.

Please help us to remember to apply Your word when we are tempted to respond the wrong way after being provoked. Help us not to be the provokers! Bless us to remember to pray before we speak, to be peacemakers, and to be slow to speak, slow to wrath, and quick to hear the other person, but also to hear Your instructions. In doing so, You will be glorified and lifted up in our lives. In Jesus Name, we thank You! 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 for our Thursday Night Bible Study––-we are LIVE on Facebook, at 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform BCU is available on. Some of those platforms are Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and many more of your favorite podcast platforms!

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

Love,

BCU

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“This Is A Test….”

Hey there BCU Fam!

For this post, 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:

  • I had an interaction with a service provider where frustration (unintended) was mounting by the minute!
  • I was contemplating walking away and rescheduling the appointment for another time.
  • The Lord quietly told me, “this is a test” and urged me to pass it.
  • In today’s podcast, I will share my test and “results”.

KJV Scripture References:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

James 1:19-20

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 3:2
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men…

On top of everything BCU Fam, I forgot (the person pointed it out) that I had a shirt on that said “Be The Few” (Matthew 7:14)! If I had been quick to anger, if I had been quick to speak, if I had been slow to hear what God had to say to me in that moment, I would have tainted my witness for Christ! I barely passed the test, but I THANK GOD I did!

What I learned is that it behooves us with the help of God, to slow down and know that any circumstance, situation or interaction that happens, is God-ordained. Thus, we need to listen to receive instructions from God as to how to conduct ourselves so that He is represented properly, AND that we can be in a position to be a blessing to someone.

Doing things God’s way assures us that we are walking in the Spirit versus the flesh, we are handling the matter perfectly, God is being glorified in our lives AND we will be rewarded accordingly! Now that’s something to get excited about! Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father in the Name of Jesus, we come before You, thanking You for today’s reminder! With Your help, Jesus, as we are interacting with people, we want to be very conscientious of what it is that you would have us to say, and how we conduct ourselves so that Your presence, Jesus takes over, and that people are healed, encouraged, saved and set free!

We ask that you will continue to strengthen and keep us, as always, Lord, and we will continue to represent You well, and to serve You with distinction in every capacity possible. In Jesus’ name that we thank You and praise You, 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 for our Thursday Night Bible Study––-we are LIVE on Facebook, at 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform BCU is available on. Some of those mediums include Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and many more of your favorite podcast platforms!

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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Same Instructions, Different Day.

Hey there BCU Fam!

For this post, 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:

  • A couple of years ago, I posted a podcast about how a thoughtless customer jumped front of me in line, and how the Lord instructed me to handle the offense.
  • Recently, I went to the same service provider for routine maintenance, and the SAME thing happened!
  • What lesson did the Lord want to teach me this time?

Scripture references:

James 1:19-20

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Ecclesiastes 3:1;7

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

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak

Ephesians 4:15;26

 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

   Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Romans 12:19

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

BCUFam, I had two opportunities to confront this person, but did not get the release to do so. Because grievous words stir up anger, my timing and current tone may have been the match that lit the fuse. Rather, I took things to the Lord in prayer and left them there. If God wants us to have a challenging conversation with someone, He will arrange the timing, wording and circumstances where things will turn out perfectly, because we serve a perfect God. Also, the Lord reminded me to pray for her according to Matthew 5:44-49. That should have been one of the first things I did, but with the help of the Lord, I’ll remember for next time. Aren’t we thankful for such a loving and forgiving God? Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Eternal God and Heavenly Savior, as we come before You in the name of Jesus, we thank You for the lesson and reminder to practice the pause before going into reaction mode. So many times, we have flown off the handle, done or said things that did not always reflect You, Lord and for that, we ask your forgiveness. And please help us, to recall Your words Jesus, as we interact with people and situations that may be challenging. We know that we can do all things through You that strengthens us! We thank You for your continued patience with us, as You mold us to become more like You, Lord. 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 for our Thursday Night Bible Study––-we are LIVE on Facebook, at 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform BCU is available on. Some of those platforms are Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and many more of your favorite podcast platforms!

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

Love,

BCU

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Capturing EVERY Thought

Hey there BCU Fam!

For this post, 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:

  • God, in His infinite wisdom created us with a magnificent brain that can hold about around 2.5 petabytes, or a million gigabytes of information.
  • To sketch that out, if your brain worked like a DVR, 2.5 petabytes would be enough to hold three million hours of TV shows.
  • A 2022 Healthline.com study purported that people had more than 6,000 thoughts per day.
  • While some of those thoughts are random musings or duties to perform, (Hmm…I wonder what the temperature is?, or I need to call for an oil change appointment), still others can come from the enemy and if not controlled, can lead to inner dialogues that can work us up into an unneeded emotional froth that does not glorify God.

KJV Scripture references

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (Luke 18:7)

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer (Psalms 19:14).

BCU Fam, what we think will spill over into our words and actions, so we have to take an active stance when it comes to which of the 6,000 thoughts we will entertain. And while we cannot control the thoughts the enemy will bring, we can filter those thoughts through the word of God. If what we are thinking is not acceptable in God’s sight (and He will let us know), we need to cast them down in the name of Jesus and replace them with other thoughts that line up with Philippians 4:8. It may take some discipline, but the Lord is able to help us make sure our thoughts are pleasing to Him. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for reminding us that what we think is just as important as what we say. Please forgive us, Jesus for the times we have allowed our thoughts to take us to conversations and places that do not please You. Thank You, Lord for helping us to actively capture, cast down or keep our thoughts——all according to Your Word versus our way. 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 for our Thursday Night Bible Study––-we are LIVE on Facebook, at 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform BCU is available on. Some of those platforms are Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and many more of your favorite podcast platforms!

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

Love,

BCU

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The Power of Words: Life and Death in the Tongue

Hey there BCU Family!

For this rebroadcast, you have the option of listening to our podcast (click here or on the BCU avatar below to listen), 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! 

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I was talking to a friend of mine recently about the power of words.  We often do not give much thought to the words we say and how they effect and infect those we come in contact with, nor do we consider what God has to say about our speech. Let’s take a look at a few verses that we should use as a filter for what we say.

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1. Our words are life and death. What we speak, we eat.  

Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21).

2. When we talk too much, we usually end up saying the wrong things and eventually sin. 

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise. (Proverbs 10:19).

3. “Idle words” means words with no profit–they mean nothing at all. Our words should always add value to a conversation and the company we are in. Jesus reminds us about what happens when we are speak empty words.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37).

4. Our words can either hurt or heal. 

“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” (Proverbs 12:18).

5. Our words should be like a beautiful picture.

 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

6. Our words should instruct or improve someone. 

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).

7. Before we speak–and get/respond in an  extremely angry state, we should listen prayerfully first. 

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20).

BCU Fam, I intended for this post to go one way, but the Lord took it in a totally different direction! When we consider the implications of our speech and how seriously God takes what we say, our resolve, with His help should be pray before we speak whether it’s a casual conversation, meeting, discussion, disagreement or even in correcting someone.  When we do pray before we say,  our conversations will be more meaningful, rich and bring glory to God. Amen? Amen.

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This is a HEAVY topic, BCU Fam! What do you think about words and their weight? Are idle words a struggle? Maybe telling someone a thing or two because you just have to say it? Or maybe you have gotten the victory when it comes to conversation! Let’s talk more in the comments section!

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, 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

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