What happened to my website?!

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:

  • UPDATE: The BlenCouragesU.com site is BACK UP. GLORY to God!!!!!
  • Currently, there is some sort of debacle with my domain name which is now http://www.bl-encourages-u.com. (insert face palm).
  • I tried to get this fixed straightaway, but am still awaiting a response.
  • After taking this to the Lord in prayer, we are going to give thanks and go in another direction with our format.
  • Please listen in to see which of the questions below I answered.

Scripture references:

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.

I Thessalonians 5:18

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Questions:

  1. What’s your favorite childhood memory?
  2. How did you meet your spouse/significant other?
  3. What is your favorite holiday movie, and what does that say about you?
  4. What has been your favorite job you’ve held?
  5. What has been your least favorite job to date?
  6. If you could go back and give your 18-year-old self one piece of advice, what would it be?
  7. Tell me about the three most influential people in your life and how they impacted you.
  8. What does your morning routine look like?
  9. What was your favorite subject in school?
  10. What was your favorite trip you’ve ever taken?
  11. What’s your favorite color, and what does that say about you?
  12. Who has been your most important professional mentor?
  13. What’s one lesson your job has taught you that you think everyone should learn at some point in their life?
  14. At what time of day do you get your best work done?
  15. What are three other podcasts you’d recommend to my audience and why?

BCU Fam, I hope you enjoyed our chat—I know I did! I confess I was a little stressed about this situation, but after taking it to the Lord in prayer, my choice was to leave it with Him and work around the situation with His help. Additionally, I was thinking to do a post like this for my 300th episode, but since things got shifted, we pivoted and adjusted as needed. Sometimes, these light afflictions come to test our faith and reliance on Jesus. With His grace, I believe I passed the test and we thank the Lord for that! Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You today, thank You for this special time together with my BCUFamily! And we bless Your name in the midst of the confusion that surrounds us. We thank You for the privilege of taking all of our concerns to You in prayer, and to hear Your voice as to the next steps we should take. As many of us wait for You to handle our situations, we thank You for helping us to maintain a demeanor and countenance that reflects You at all times, so that You are praised and honored 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, 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

BlenCouragesULeave a comment

Obedience vs. Sacrifice X 2

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 “red flag” situations happened the week of this recording, prompting this “unplanned” podcast.
  • Admittedly, in one of the situations, I did not recognize one of the flags until after the incident happened.
  • Oh, but thankfully, I heard the Lord loud and clear for the second flag.
  • Acknowledgement is a requirement—–if we want to do correctly and God’s way.
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Scripture references:

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.

Proverbs 24:19

The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

Psalm 37:23

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

I Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing.

BCU Fam, I have to confess I was really looking forward to the items in my on-line basket—and I was a bit disappointed that things did not work out the way I wanted. BUT, I do thank God for the warnings, and for me actually heeding them (this time). It may seem “unnecessary” to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways, (meaning, I already know what to do—it’s the same routine I do everyday), but it’s important to speak to Him for guidance in everything that we do. Yes, even in the simple things, like which sale to partake in, which route to take home, how to conduct that meeting, or even the sequence of our routine tasking. This way, we get used to hearing and obeying God’s voice, and avoid the pitfalls that come with not listening. Now, this can take some practice and thankfully, if we do mess up, there are some situations that we can come back from, with God’s help. Keep in mind, though, there are other decisions that can be more difficult or even impossible to recover from—and we do NOT want that testimony (See I Kings 13:1-30). So now that we know differently, with the help of the Lord, we will do differently. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray about it!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before you, today, thank You so much for reminding us to acknowledge You in all of our ways. Bless us, Lord to make it a habit to spend time with You in prayer, so we can hear Your voice clearly and obey You completely, so that we stay on the paths you have for us. Bless us Lord to trust that if it’s a no, or there are roadblocks, that it is for our good and Your glory, Jesus. We thank You for hearing us and helping us, 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

BlenCouragesULeave a comment

Resting comfortably

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:

  • Generally speaking, we are a “busy” society. Spouse, kids, church, ministry, appointments, family, pets, parties, work, chores, self-care, practice, bake sales, lessons, the list goes on, right?
  • Staying connected, tiredness, and multi-tasking are considered to be a necessary hallmarks of living this life.
  • While God designed us to take care of what He gave us to steward over, He also designed us to intentionally rest, as He did.
  • Resting, in part, is defined as being free of toil, strain and mental exertion; ceasing of movement in body, and freedom from anxiety or worry.
  • The rest-struggle is real, but God is greater. Optimal rest is achievable—-if we do things His way.

Scripture references:

Mark 6:30-32

30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

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.

Matthew 11:28-31

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I Peter 5:7

7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

Psalm 63:1-2

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;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Philippians 4:6-8

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.

BCU Fam, when following God’s will, some things on our to-do list just WILL NOT GET DONE, and we need to rest in that. While it seems “better” to do task how we want, if we ask the Lord about what we are doing and how to do it, His ways become ours—and what we do and how much of it gets done will be perfect. That’s when the rest comes in.

Our bodies and minds need to rest on the regular in order to hear God and to function optimally. Why needlessly continue to be restless in your body, heart and mind when our Good Father wants to take care of us? Let’s pray about it!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before you, thank You so much for reminding us that we need to rest. We are so thankful to You that we can cast all our cares on You because You care for us. Please help us to acknowledge You in ALL our ways, so that You can direct our paths and in all our tasks, so that we are walking in Your perfect will for the day. Bless us to rest in the fact that You are a Good Father, Jesus, and when we feel anxious, worried, concerned or overwhelmed, we can come to You in prayer, and exchange our heavy yoke, for your light burdens so we can rest in our minds, souls and body. Thank You for taking good care of us, Jesus, and with Your help, we will make rest a priority in our lives so we can hear your voice clearly, and do as You say without being guilted or pressured by anyone or anything. It’s in Jesus name we thank You for hearing us and helping us, 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

BlenCouragesULeave a comment

Independence, trust & trauma

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:

  • Independence is an encouraged and prized trait in our culture—–especially for women.
  • Books, songs, and movies tout the fact that women do not need anyone at all——they can do everything on their own.
  • Admittedly, shifts in society, lack of resources, unforeseen circumstances, and sometimes our choices make it where women have to hold things together alone.
  • While some independence is needed AND a wonderful thing, too much of it is actually unhealed trauma manifesting itself in our relationships, or lack of them.*
  • Jesus knows all about what happened, and wants to and can heal us from the trauma and bless us to trust again.

Scripture references:

Jeremiah 17:5-8

5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

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 147:3

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

Psalm 34:18

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Isaiah 55:9

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

Proverbs 4:23

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

The Lord will sort things out, if we let Him in.

BCU Fam, many of us, myself included, have been on the receiving end of trauma and it can/does break your heart and spirit. For others, we may now realize we were the trauma causers. Or, perhaps, we continue in the “spirit of ultra-independence” (rooted in pride), and leave Jesus out of our circumstances——–and then things really become messy. Whatever the situation, there is an Answer! Jesus is available and is offering us help only He can give. He wants forgive us, heal us, redirect us, and make us whole. Let’s pray about it.

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before you, we thank You that Your presence is Here. We pray for those who have been on the receiving end of trauma, those who are going through trauma now, and those who have been through trauma and are unsure what to do. We pray now in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that You will speak to broken hearts and spirits everywhere, Lord! Please touch someone, even now, where they are, in Your healing Name, Jesus——speak to their heart, and please mend it and put them back together again! Please speak to the minds of Your people and help them to forgive the person(s) who caused the trauma. Bless all who are listening, who this post and prayer is for, to hear Your voice, to feel Your Spirit, and to be renewed in both heart and mind. We thank You that the trauma will no longer identify them, that they will no longer live in hurt, guilt and shame, but that they rise up in the Name of Jesus with a renewed heart, mind and spirit. Bless us to be able to deal with people according to how you would, with Your help, Jesus.

No more, will we walk around with in independence saying we do not need anyone——-rather we thank You for the people you put in our lives to undergird and support us. Bless us to know how far to take our relationships, what to do, and what to say, who to keep in our lives, and who to let go of, so that You are glorified, honored and praised. Remember and forgive those who have caused the trauma. If we were the perpetrators, help us to acknowledge what we’ve done, apologize where we need to, and not to repeat the same patterns again. Please forgive us for walking in independence and leaning to our own understanding. Bless us to remember we can depend you on You, Jesus, to help us make the right decisions. Ahhh, we thank You, Lord for making and keeping us whole in the Name of Jesus!

As the tears flow for some of us, we thank You comfort, strength, mercy and restoring relationships today! We thank you healing and delivering and we bless Your Holy name! Thank You for coming to speak to our hearts and minds and we will continue to give Your name the praise, glory and honor that belongs to You, as we live our lives out loud for and through You, Jesus! In Your 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

*The source post I refer to in the podcast–the author is unknown. If anyone recognizes the content, please let me know so we can credit the wonderful person who brought this matter to our attention. Thanks, BCUFam!

BlenCouragesULeave a comment

The unjust judge

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:

  • Years ago, a pastor taught me that a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning”–and so began my love of the parables.
  • The “Unjust Judge” is a story about a widow who had a situation that only this judge could rectify.
  • The judge was corrupt, but her insistence eventually wore him down.
  • This parable is a good reminder that persistence in prayer in the face of adversity will keep us from fainting and, that God, our Just Judge will always avenge His elect.

Scripture references:

Luke 18:1-7

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

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

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Job 14:1

1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

Isaiah 40:31

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.

I Thessalonians 5:17

17 Pray without ceasing.

Proverbs 24:10

10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

BCU Fam, persistent prayer is a necessary staple in the Christian’s life. We want to keep in mind that sometimes, our prayers are not answered “in our favor” (meaning, the way WE want) because our Just Judge has a better way of doing things. There are several things I “thought” were good for me, at the time, but thanks be to God HE KNEW differently and answered accordingly. So, when we pray consistently and persistently, God hears us, yes, but if we listen, we will hear Him, and in that, our hearts will acquiesce to His perfect will for our lives. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for Your Word today and for You being our Just, Holy and Righteous Judge. Thank You for reminding us that nothing escapes Your knowledge and that You will always take care of Your elect. Bless us to remember that when we are wronged, You will right the wrong in Your way and on Your time——and that rather than us being consumed with how and when You avenge us, we want to continue praying and living so You are pleased with us in all that we think, say and do, 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, 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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