Check over your paper…

Here there BCU Family!

I typically record our content in an informal “podcast on the go” format. Many times, the Lord gives me subject matter as I am driving or waiting, so I record on the spot! 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!

Podcast highlights:

  • In school, tests are a regular part of the landscape–there was NO way around them.
  • In my day, it was a “badge of honor” to be among the kids who finished first.
  • That honor was sometimes “stripped” as the work was riddled with some avoidable or careless mistakes.
  • The Lord wants us to check over our work to ensure we have no glaring errors.

KJV Scripture References

Matthew 24:45-51

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

John 9:4

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Ephesians 5:27

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Romans 14:12

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Isaiah 58:8-9

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

BCUFam, I have to confess that there are some hard assignments in this life——and they can have us rushing through our work to get it done. But how did get get it done? Did we respond in the right spirit? Was the outside sweet and the inside sour? Did we skip the assignment because we have not forgiven the person? The list goes on, so while we are here and can, let’s ask the Lord what “careless mistakes” we made, what assignments (over)/due, and the wisdom, knowledge and strength to get them done, so we can hear, “well done, thou good and faithful servant…..Enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:23). Amen? Amen! Let’s pray about it.

Father, in the name of Jesus, we bless and praise Your name! We magnify You, Lord, because You are worthy of the praise, honor and glory!

We thank You, Lord for the opportunity and the reminder for us make sure to go over all of our work while it is daytime. Please help us to come to You honestly and to review all you have tasked us with—the families, finances, people, gifts, talents, and everything You have given us to steward over, Lord. We may not always have done things the way You have instructed us, Lord, so we repent and ask Your forgiveness. Please help us to be aware and cognizant of our tasks, Jesus, and help us not to do things with an attitude, or out of obligation, but in service to You, so that all our interactions are to YOUR glory, honor and praise.

We thank You for blessing us to be ready to see You in peace. With Your help, Jesus, we will continue to serve You as we are serving others, and we will continue to bless and praise Your holy name! It is in the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, and 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 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

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Bosses versus leaders

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!

We’re back with our Nehemiah series where we’ve chatted about overcoming people approval, the importance of gates , what do do when attacked,  when you are weary on the wall, getting back to work on the wall, the enemy within and how to confront him. We’re now switching gears to take a look at how Nehemiah carried himself as a servant-leader. Let’s dig in!

Nehemiah‬ ‭5:14-19‬

 v14Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

Nehemiah was appointed official governor or leader of the people for 12 years. First, take note the wall wasn’t finished, yet the people didn’t wait to appoint him. Sometimes, the Lord will move you up based on your faithfulness over someone that is more qualified. When we serve, we do so not with eye service, as menpleasers, but in sincerity of heart, as to the Lord and not unto men. Knowing that the Lord will reward us, for we serve the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24).

In another servant-leader move, Nehemiah made it a point to say that for the time he was in charge, he and his family did not eat up the food allowance they were entitled to. Just because you can does not mean you should. I Corinthians 10:23-24 reminds us that all things all lawful for me, but not expedient, all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify and that no one should seek his own, but every man’s wealth. 
v15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

BUT The former governors (bosses/managers) charged the people and ON TOP of that took from  bread, wine AND MONEY–about 40 shekels worth!  (This equates to around $15,000 in U.S. money–most people earned 30 shekels in 4 months). This was nothing more than unlawful extortion. Can you see why Nehemiah got upset with the rulers who were charging the people all that interest for food earlier in chapter 5?  But wait, there’s more!

Proverbs 29:2 says, “when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” So imagine what must have been happening when Nehemiah mentioned the former governor’s servants ruling (bossing/managing) over the people. That’s like the governor’s aides from your state or country coming down to tell you what to do, how do do it, how to live, when and where you can go, etc., that’s neither lawful nor expedient–-that’s what a manager or boss does. 

However, Nehemiah tells us he did not such things, because of the fear of the God. Very wise leader, that Nehemiah! Proverbs 9:10 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.  If more “rulers” had a fear [reverence, concern for what God thought, realizing they have to answer to Him], there would be less wickedness and mourning in the land.
v16 Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.

Nehemiah, the GOVERNOR, continued to be a servant-leadership example as  he CONTINUED (not stalled through, assigned, delegated, chilled, loafed, goofed off) IN THE WORK of the wall. Despite Sanballat and the posse, the people’s fear,  their unlawful practices, the obstacles, HE KEPT on! He did not buy any land—he and his servants were focused on the work that was assigned along with everyone else. 
v17 Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
v18 Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

For mealtime, notice there wert no separate table for the leaders, no VIP section for an extra 40 shekels, no or pomp or circumstance. Nehemiah, like Jesus ate with everyone else–that’s what leaders do. Also, God took care of Nehemiah—his 150 member cabinet workers and people from other nations were fed well on the daily and elected not to tax the people any more than they were already responsible for. Nehemiah cared enough about the people who trusted him to lead them to not fleece them. To him that knows to do good and does not, to him it is sin (James 4:17).

And Nehemiah closes with the simple request to the Lord: 

v19 Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
BCU family, the Lord broke down those last few verses so we could understand how a leader (in any capacity–work, church, home) should conduct themselves with the grace of God. An easy, yet powerful way to remember what we read in one scripture:

But he that is the greatest among you shall be your servant (Matthew 23:11). 

Well BCU Family, this completes our study of Nehemiah chapter 5! Looking forward to going into chapter 6. In the meantime, we’d love to dialogue with you so, please post your thoughts in the comment section below!

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, Twitter and Instagram, and now 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

 

 

 

 

 

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