Psalm 103 (and a little more).

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:

  • Psalms is one of the best-known and likely most quoted books of the Bible.
  • While some refer to the Psalms as “chapters” or “divisions”, The Psalms are actually arranged in five books.
  • Today’s focus is from Psalm 103 (book 4) We’ll look at verses 1-12.
  • Main theme: This Psalm tells us the many ways God cares for us.

Book One——Psalms 1-41

  • David is the author
  • God is usually referred to as “The Lord”.
  • Key verse: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1).

Book Two——-Psalms 42-72

  • Eighteen psalms are penned by David and the remainder by Korah and his descendants.
  • The Lord is mostly referred to as “God”.
  • Key verse: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise (Psalm 51:17).

Book 3———–Psalms 73-89

  • Mostly written by Asaph and Korah and his descendants.
  • The Lord is mostly referred to as “God”.
  • Key verse: Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved (Psalm 80:3).

Book 4———–Psalms 90-106

Book 5————Psalms 107-150

  • Fifteen Psalms name David as the author.
  • These psalms are mostly for worship and praise and God is usually referred to as “The Lord”.
  • Key verse: They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever (Psalm 125:1).

Psalms 103:1-12

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

BCU Fam, when we read through this Psalm, it really does tell us how much the Lord loves us! I am so grateful for all He does for us, especially His redemption and assurance of forgiveness——thank you, Jesus!!! My intent was to read this Psalm in it’s entirety, but the Lord gave me so much good background information, I just had to share with you all! Lord will, we will finish up the next time we are together. In the meantime, let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for this exposition and closer look at Your Word. We thank You for this Psalm reminding us for the benefits You give us and we are so thankful for them! We want to thank You for crowning us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Thank You, Jesus for satisfying our mouths with good things, for forgiving us for our transgressions, and we especially thank You for the privilege for being able to bless Your Holy name! Help us to remember this Word as we go through the day and to apply it so You will be glorified, honored and lifted up in our lives. Thank You for this time together and for all You do, in Jesus name we bless You, Amen!

As a reminder, the comments section is open —tell us what you thought about the post! Also, 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.

Also, if you so inclined, join us for our Thursday Night Bible Study––we are LIVE on YouTube 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, AnchorFm, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify,  Stitcher Radio , 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 sauce story

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 am not the most organized person in certain areas, however I do like order for certain things.
  • Lack of preparedness is one of those things–I have a hard time functioning with “thoughtless” last-minute requests.
  • I accepted one such request and was very displeased about it—murmured and fussed for a good bit of time, BCUFam!
  • The Lord heard my cry and answered it in way that I was not prepared for, but it blessed me!

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.

Psalm 63:1

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Philippians 2:12-15

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Colossians 3:23-25

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

BCU Fam, when we think about those verses, it helps puts our tasks and assignments in a proper and godly perspective, doesn’t it? Note that we may feel some sort of emotion about what we need to do (upset, angry, frustrated, etc), and that is fine—–for a mature/maturing Christian, that is a signal for us to take our feelings to the Lord in prayer. This way, He calms our feelings down, speaks to our hearts, teaches us the lesson(s) from the situation, blesses us to get through the tasks, and with His help we walk out Philippians 2:12-15 and Colossians 3:23-25. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for this day You have made–we rejoice and are glad in it. As we come before you, we are reminded that whatever tasks, assignments and projects, You assign us, they should be done in a way that reflects You, Jesus. While we do/did not always get it right, from this point forward and with Your help, please bless us to carry out our duties with excellence and distinction in Your Name and with Your strength, Jesus. Help us to remember to acknowledge You in all of our ways, and to respond according to Your instructions versus being cajoled or guilted into doing things You have not authorized us to do. Please help us in the care-taking, administrative tasks, dealing with difficult people, and all the tough day-to-day things we do not always enjoy doing. Please give us the grace, strength, wisdom, knowledge and understanding to help us complete our tasks successfully so You are glorified, honored and praised, and we are blameless, harmless, without rebuke, considered Your children, and lights in this crooked and perverse nation. It’s in Your Name, Jesus, that we thank You for granting our request and all You do for us, we pray and we bless Your name, 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, Twitter and Instagram.

Also, if you so inclined, join us for our Thursday Night Bible Study––we are LIVE on YouTube 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, AnchorFm, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify,  Stitcher Radio , 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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“Stop Talking”

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:

  • Because of my schedule, I often update my friends about the happenings in my life while I am on the go.
  • In a seemingly innocent conversation, I was in mid-sentence, the Lord told me to stop talking.
  • I initially questioned if I was hearing correctly, but the Lord assured me it was Him!
  • It is important for us to hear God, obey and apply the lesson from the correction so we’ll see Him in peace.

Hebrews 12:11

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

James 3:5-10

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be

Proverbs 21:23

23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Jeremiah 17:9

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I John 3:20

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Psalm 51:10

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Matthew 15:18-19

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Ephesians 4:29

29 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.

Revelation 12:10-11(a)

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;

BCU Fam, the update I was giving was meant as a form of entertainment, so in the moment, it “felt” okay to keep going in the conversation. While I did not understand why the Lord asked me to stop in the moment, after some thought, I realized that perhaps in my zeal to share, the hearer may not have been edified at what was said, maybe it could have caused them to stumble, or perhaps the talk was out of a place in my heart that God needed to work on. Or maybe a combination of all of the above. As I work though that in prayer with God, I do thank Him for hearing and obeying His voice! When we do get the victory, it’s important to testify about it, and therefore God is glorified, the accuser is horrified, the people are edified and Jesus is magnified! Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for the time we had together and the lesson You taught us about our communication, and how we should filter our words through the Word of God. Bless us Lord, to acknowledge You in all of our ways, including in causal conversation. With Your help, we want to have wholesome conversations with laughter and fun, but only from a pure place from our hearts, and that edify and administer grace to the hearer.

Lord, please bless those of us who struggle in this area to be sensitive to Your voice as we interact with others, so that You are well-represented, honored, glorified and praised in our lives. Thank you for the victory in our conversations so that we can see You in peace. It’s in Jesus name that we thank You for this and all You do for us, we pray and we bless Your name, 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, Twitter and Instagram.

Also, if you so inclined, join us for our Thursday Night Bible Study––we are LIVE on YouTube 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, AnchorFm, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify,  Stitcher Radio , 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 Birds…

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 few weeks ago, we noticed a beautifully fashioned bird’s nest.
  • It is estimated that there are almost 20,000 species of birds in the world, and they all build nests and find food relative to their ilk.
  • God, in His infinite wisdom, not only created each species, He told/tells them what to do to function.
  • As God’s greatest creation, how much more will He direct us, if we follow His lead?

Genesis 1:10;19-20

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Genesis 2:7, 20-23

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Psalm 51:5

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

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.

Acts 2:38

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 6:24-31

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

BCU Fam, every time I read this passage of Scripture it blesses me! I have never seen a bird walk the nest worried about the next meal. They do what God tells them to do and they eat and rest daily. Think of all the lilies are that grow each year without working or thinking about what they will put on, yet they grow and are beautiful! How much more will God take care of US? God has given everything He created instructions on how to function on Earth including us, through His Word. With His help, we need to mediate on His Word and follow through with what He tells us, starting with seeking His kingdom and His righteousness knowing everything we need will follow. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for this day you have made and we rejoice and are glad in it. Thank You for reminding us that You take care of everything you created beautifully, and will do so much more for us, who You made in the likeness and similitude of You. Thank You for letting us know that You love us and will take care of us—–we need to follow Your Word and trust Your directions. Remember those of us who are struggling with worry, concern, and doing what You have requested. Help us to remember that when we do things Your way, they will turn out perfectly, because You are perfect in all of Your ways. Thank You for blessing us to walk by faith and not by sight in these situations, and when it’s all said and done, we can look back over those concerns and say that Jesus took care of every last need, so You will be glorified, honored and praised.

We also thank You, Jesus for blessing everyone here who has not made You their choice, to do so, by repentance, baptism in Jesus name and being filled with the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:38. We thank you for Your drawing, saving and keeping power working in lives all over this world, 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, Twitter and Instagram.

Also, if you so inclined, join us for our Thursday Night Bible Study––we are LIVE on YouTube 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, AnchorFm, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify,  Stitcher Radio , 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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Taking a dog by the ears

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:

  • After a productive day, we stopped to get ice cream at one of the local parlors.
  • This evening, the long was pretty long and moving super slowly.
  • One of the staff members was free to assist the line, but was distracted, talkative and disrespectful.
  • The staff member’s comments led to a very loud and embarrassing verbal altercation with a patron.
  • The Lord used this experience to remind and teach me a couple of lessons.

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 26:17

 17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

I Peter 4:15

 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Psalm 19:14

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

BCU Fam, as I thought about what happened, the manager was correct in waiting until she was unctioned to ask “Robin” to take a break. Manager quietly apologized for the wait and as we talked, we agreed Robin needed formal training on how to conduct themselves professionally with guests, and refraining for jumping into unrelated conversations.

I thank the Lord for helping me (unconsciously) to walk out Proverbs 26:17——I was not led to interfere and should not have anyway——-because it was NOT my strife. Unless the Lord tells us otherwise, when strife comes up, we should stay out of it and maintain a posture of prayer for the Lord to intervene. Now that’s where the Lord reminded me that I could have done better. I was so busy (now that I think about it, distracted is more like it) watching the events unfold, I did not have the presence of mind to pray. The distraction is likely a topic for another podcast, but, I will say this is why we need to have a consistent prayer life, so that God intervenes for us, even when we don’t think to pray in the moment. So, I received that correction and with His grace, will apply what He taught me. What a merciful God we serve! Let’s pray.

Father, in the name of Jesus, as many of us are peacemakers, as we should be, thank you for reminding us that our responsibility is to pursue peace and resolution with the strife and conflict in our own lives. We ask you to help us successfully manage the strife that belongs to us, and unless otherwise prompted, help is to stay out of “other men’s matters”, and to remain prayerful for the parties involved. Thank you for hearing our plea and blessing us to follow Your directions accordingly. In Jesus name, 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, Twitter and Instagram.

Also, if you so inclined, join us for our Thursday Night Bible Study––we are LIVE on YouTube 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, AnchorFm, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify,  Stitcher Radio , 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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