Special – Page 7

Procrastination and self-care.

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 conversational story, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the highlights 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!

Podcast highlights:

This is based on a Stewardship study series we’re doing on *Periscope, specifically time management/procrastination (meaning to forward to tomorrow), and the reasons for doing so. One such reason for procrastination: I don’t have time/I don’t feel like it.
The Lord showed me how that very reason came up in an area of my life…I’m sharing it with you today in prayerful hope that we all make the necessary changes to eliminate this habit with God’s help.
We talk through that illustration and the explore the possibility of consequences of procrastination when it comes to self-care.
Time definition: chronos=measured time (when the concert starts; your plane takes off), and kairos time=”God’s time” (God’s windows of opportunity to be a blessing to someone or being blessed).
We are accountable to God for all assignments, including caring for our temple.
We have to discern the voice of God and YIELD to it in ALL areas–natural and spiritual.
Feelings are not an accurate litmus test when it comes to deciding if we’re going to get the work of God done.

Here is the podcast link!

Scripture references:

Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does not do it, to him, it is sin (James 4:17).

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments (Psalm 119:60).

He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matthew 25:22-23).

BCU Family, many of us (women especially) neglect self-care, and if we procrastinate too long, the consequences can effect not only us, but our loved ones, friends and countless others to whom we had the task to minister to or serve. When we have to give an account for all we’ve done (see Matthew 25:14-30), what can we possibly say to God about procrastinating on sleep, eating correctly, taking our vitamins, meds, managing our stress levels, etc.,to the point where we “didn’t feel like it” or didn’t have time?

Nothing.

We will be without excuse. God will reward every one according to his action or inaction (again, see Matthew 25:14-30).

When we look at it this way, it behooves us to get our accounts in order starting today, so we can hear the Lord say, “well done, thou good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things–you were faithful over keeping my commandments, you were faithful over serving others, you were faithful over taking care of your temple, till I called you home. I will make you ruler over many. Enter into the joy of the Lord.” Hallelujah! With the help of God, let’s keep those words in mind and they will help keep us off the road of procrastination. Amen? Amen!

What are your thoughts about procrastinating about taking care of yourself, BCUFam? Let’s continue the conversation in the comment section here on the BCU site!

As a reminder, I am answering YOUR questions the #BCU100th podcast coming up the week of Monday, October 23, 2017! Please post your questions on any of the BCU social media accounts (below) and stay tuned for your chance to win some BCU, Weight of Glory, Bubble Bistro or Simply She Boutique goodies!

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.

14 Oct 20171 Aug 2023

BlenCouragesU1 Comment

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.

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

³¹Then 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.

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

³³And 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.

³⁴And 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.

³⁵And 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.

³⁶And 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.

³⁷And 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.

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

³⁹And 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,

⁴⁰That 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.

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

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

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

⁶Suffer 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!

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.

7 Oct 20179 Oct 2017

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Procrastination reason number 14: “Waiting for someone else do it”.

Hey 👋🏾 there BCU Family!

Podcast highlights:

This is based on a Stewardship study series we’re doing on *Periscope, specifically time management/procrastination (meaning to forward to tomorrow), and the reasons for doing so. One such reason for procrastination: waiting for someone else to do it.
The Lord showed me how that very reason came up in an area of my life…I totally missed it!
We talk through that illustration and the detriments of waiting and delegating.
We are accountable to God for all assignments He delegates to us.

Here is the podcast link!

Scripture references:

Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does not do it, to him, it is sin (James 4:17).

And Gideon said unto God, if you will save Israel by mine hand, as You have said, behold I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth besides, then I shall know that You will save Israel by mine hand, as you have said (Judges 6:36-37–read through to verse 40).

There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same [steward] was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he [the rich man] called and said unto him, how is that I hear this of you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you may no longer steward (Luke 16:1-2).

And the foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil for our lamps have gone out. But the wise answered and said, not so, lest there be not enough for us and you. but rather, go to those that sell and but for yourselves. Ans while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying Lord, Lord open to us. But He answered and said, verily I say unto you, I know you not (Matthew 25:8-12).

Whew! This was a sobering, but needful lesson, BCUFam! With God’s grace, we want to be in God’s perfect chronos/kairos timing in ALL assigned tasks. And that may mean us having to take an assignment the Lord gives us–one that we would not have chosen for ourselves. That’s another podcast, but suffice it to say, I know ALL about that! Nonetheless, as stewards, our responsibility is to carry out the duties that our wise God has assigned us.

What are your thoughts about avoiding the things God tells you to do, BCUFam? There’s a comment section here on the BCU site, just ripe for us to continue our conversation!

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.

29 Sep 20177 Oct 2017

BlenCouragesU6 Comments

All things work together for the good…

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. A suggestion is to please LISTEN as you read as there is a little “unplanned” commentary in the podcast. In any case, we pray the post blesses you. If so, please thumbs up, share and/ or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

I was going through my notes earlier this week and ran across this thought-provoking-“dialogue” between God and the original author (I’m not sure who that is), that I picked up about five years ago. I changed a bit of the conversation here and there, but the poem is still intact and an awesome reminder of the wisdom and protection of our intentional Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Me: God, can I ask you a question? (and yes, we can respectfully ask God questions. See Psalm 62:8b). Why did you let so many bad things happen to me today?

God patiently listens…

Me: Well, I woke up late.

My car took so long to start.

At lunch they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait.

On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call.

(tears in my eyes)

And on top of it all off, when I got home, I just want to soak my feet in my new foot massager & relax. BUT it wouldn’t work!!!

Nothing went right today! Why did that happen?

God: The Death Angel was at your bed this morning and I sent one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

Me: (humbled): Ohhhh..

God: I didn’t let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.

Me: (ashamed)

God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn’t want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn’t afford to miss work.

Me: (embarrassed): I see…

God: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call. I didn’t even let you talk to them so you would be covered.

Me (softly): Oh.

God: And that foot massager–it had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn’t think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: (in tears of repentance and gratefulness) Lord, please forgive me.

God: I forgive you, Daughter, just learn to trust me…..in all things. They work together for the good to them love Me and are the called according my My purpose. (Romans 8:28). That’s you–you are the called according to my purpose.

Me: With your help, I will trust you.

God: And don’t doubt that My plan for your day is always better than your plan.

Me: I won’t God. And let me just tell you, Jesus, thank you for everything today. I love you!

God: You’re welcome, Daughter. It was just another day being your Heavenly Father and I love looking after my children…I love you.

Did this speak to your heart? Stir up some feelings of repentance? Prompt you to be more thankful? Cause some rejoicing? (that Psalm 24:7-10 will take you to a place of praise)! Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below and we’ll continue our conversation!

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

Love,

BCU

16 Sep 2017

BlenCouragesU2 Comments

A lesson from an ice cream cone.

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 conversational story, please tune into the podcast recording and refer to the written post for the 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!

For those who know me personally, you know I have a thing about going out for ice cream. I think it had to do with a unfortunate incident with losing that ice cream cone when I was a kid! LOLOL!!! (If you know the story, you can post it in the comments) 🙂

Anyway, while the creamy dessert was a minor indulgence, the Lord used it to teach me a BIG heart lesson. Click below to listen in.

Scriptures to meditate on:

…The little foxes, that spoil the vines… (Song of Solomon 2:15).

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked–who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9).

…Man looks on the outer appearance, but God looks on the heart. (I Samuel 16:7).

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).

For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow , and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord, you shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve Christ the Lord (Colossians 4:23).

So, BCU Fam, what’s your reaction to the podcast? What about the quote, “When you go to do something, when you do it, be sure to do it and NOT look for something in return?” What else resonated with you? Please scroll on down to the comments section and let’s continue our conversation!

Thank you SO much for tuning in and Lord will, until the next time we are together, may God bless you, keep you, make His face to shine upon you and give you peace, as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU