God and the granola lesson | #rewind

Hey there BCU Family!

I have been thinking about what to post this week, and the Lord brought my attention to a #RandomYetIntentional moment He taught me back in 2017–and is still relevant today (that’s just goes to show how timeless God’s Words and directions are. I actually recorded the moment on video and it is up on the BCU YouTube channel, or if you’d prefer, you can watch it here>> Granola lesson video.<<

If you’re reading here or listening on the podcast, not to worry, the audio file from that video is below (click on the avatar), and you’ll be able to get the message just the same! Scripture references are below as well, so you’ll be able to link back to God’s Word as you apply the lesson accordingly.

Diligence–Hebrews 11:6

Daily Bread– Luke 11:3

Thanksgiving in all things–Colossians 3:17

Chastening–Hebrews 12:6

Being “busy”–Luke 10:38-42

Seeking God’s face continually– 1 Chronicles 16:11

Hiding the Word–Psalm 119:11

Seeking God early–Psalm 63:1

Being equipped for the day–Ephesians 6:10-18

Walking in the Spirit–Galatians 5:16

You know, BCU Family, it’s AMAZING how God takes something as “small” and temporal as granola to teach us a HUGE and ETERNAL lesson! With His help, let’s be intentional, diligent and purposeful in spending prime time with God. Amen? 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 Thursday nights–we are LIVE on YouTube 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple Podcasts!

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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Helllloooo BCUFam!

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 informal format, please tune into the podcast recording 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!

  • 2021 was a year of challenge for many of us—myself included.
  • God gives us people for a season–it’s important to nurture relationships.
  • The people we are given are not always easy to deal with, but God commands up to love them anyway.
  • We can do that with His help.

Scripture references: (King James Version)

Matthew 5:38-48

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

BCUFam, my intent was to come on for a “casual” conversation/update, but the Lord led me in this way and I THANK Him! I’ve been dealing with some unlovely people, and this was a timely reminder to do what God says–exercising humility and kindness, rather than “clapping back”. God saw everything and will take care of the offense in His own time and way. Meanwhile, I want to be sure with His help, that I continue doing what I am supposed to do, so I may have the honor of being called a child of my Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:45a). Amen? Amen!

If you have not already 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! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and  Apple podcasts. Finally, please join us LIVE on Thursday nights at 8:05pmEST onYouTube.

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

Love,

BCU

The people we are given are not always easy to deal with, but God commands up to love them anyway.

@blencouragesu

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A walk through Psalm 24!

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 AND leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

Podcast highlights:

  • This was one of the first Psalms I recall after I got saved in 1992.
  • The song “Who is the King of Glory”  by Commissioned helped me to remember this Psalm. I STILL love that song!
  • I LOVE how it starts off with establishing how everything belongs to God.
  • David tells us how we are to live to even get to God.
  • And the encouragement at the end is my FAVORITE! Let’s dig in!

Psalm 24

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

So what is/are your favorite verse(s) in this Psalm? Is there a different Psalm encourages you? Or mayhap there is another passage of Scripture that does? Please head down to the comments section to share your thoughts so we can continue our conversation and praise to our God!

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,  and Instagram! You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

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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Singles chalkboard: Haste, waste or wait.

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 podcast blesses you. If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy your study!

Years ago, I was talking with a lady who has gotten married for the first time in her 40’s! Like how awesome is that?! When speaking about her hubby, I expected to hear all the wonderful (ok…and maybe some trying) things that happen in a new marriage, but with a positive overall outlook. Instead, my heart wept as she recounted some troubling issues and wondered aloud about the hasty decision-making process leading up to the nuptials. Eventually the union ended up in a nasty divorce.

Don’t I know about making unwise and quick decisions! In some cases, I needed to work a little overtime to cover those decisions, but in other cases, my heart suffered as well as my “spiritual bottom” in getting chastened from the Lord.

As the Lord is blessing me to mature more in Him, I found that running ahead of God’s timing and getting  in His permissive will (versus His divine will) causes unneeded stress, heartache and suffering. David reminds us the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, (Psalms 37:23 (a) and many times those steps may lead us in a direction of waiting. In this “microwave” society we live in, even as people of God, we often veer off the ordered path in lieu of a shiny-“Mr.-Right-Now” blessing. While God does work suddenly and will guide you to some relationships, in many cases we need time to check him out to see if the “blessing” is a possible curse.

*Sister Lola met brother Mark who claimed salvation and loved to worship in the house of God, yet resorted to unholy and vile name calling when he didn’t get his way. Lola terminated the relationship. When confiding to a friend as to why she cut the relationship off, Friend said, “oh he didn’t mean it, he was just upset. HELLO?! If he’s acting like that NOW, and claims to be Holy Ghost filled, how much more can that escalate later on towards her or possible future children? Physical abuse? Thank God she rejected the unwise counsel from friend and is waiting for whoever God has for her.

What about how he treats his mom or sisters? Rachelle met Erick and it was love almost instantly. She noticed a little, no a LOT of friction between him and his sister, but who doesn’t have a little sibling rivalry, right? Turns out in a fit of anger years prior, Erick hurled an ash tray at his sister’s face, permanently scarring her and she only spoke  with him on an as needed basis.  Even with this knowledge, Rachelle continued in the relationship, only to experience years of mental and physical torment. Rachelle finally got the courage to leave Erick, and repair her brokeness through the healing blood of Jesus Christ and salvation.

Leesa’s relationship with Dean developed after a short friendship. Dean was smart, successful and loved the Lord. As they were getting to know one another, Dean lost some money when the stock market crashed. He was so upset about it, he stopped speaking to Leesa for months. This pattern continued one form or another when there were unexpected bills that came about. As they eventually ended the relationship, Dean angrily commented, “all that money I spent [on you].”

While everyone is at a different place in their spiritual walk and growth must be allowed for, there are some situations God just warns us to stay away from, as they are not His intent for us. However, we are occasionally to lured to AND stay in these relationships thinking we can “help” the person, listening to those well-meaning, but wrong family or church members, or we settling out of fear and worry that no one else will be around for a while or ever. But our God loves us SO much He truly wants to bless us with our hearts’ desires as we delight ourselves in Him (Psalms 37:4) while we wait! WHEW! What an assurance, BCU Family!

“If you go outside of the will of God to get something, you have to stay out of the will of God to keep it.”

Matthew 7:10 reminds us that we, being as evil as we are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  We may need to wait it out, but knowing that we’ll get God’s best is ABSOLUTELY worth it! By His grace, let’s stay in God’s divine will–and follow the steps He orders, so we are in position to get His best!

What are you thoughts about waiting? Have you ever run ahead of what God told you to do? How did it work out? Please head down to the comments section to share your thoughts so we can continue our conversation!

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,  and Instagram,  You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

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

Love,

BCU

*Names have been changed to protect the identities of persons involved.

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Let’s make a deal…

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 podcast blesses you. If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy your study!

So while it’s back on now, as I child, I remember watching the original “Let’s Make A Deal”, with Monte Hall as host. For those unfamiliar with the show, Wikipedia describes it this way:

  • The format of Let’s Make a Deal involves selected members of the studio audience, referred to as “traders,” making deals with the host.
  • In most cases, a trader will be offered something of value and given a choice of whether to keep it or exchange it for a different item.
  • The program’s defining game mechanism is that the other item is hidden from the trader until that choice is made.
  • The trader thus does not know if he or she is getting something of greater value or a prize that is referred to as a “zonk,” an item purposely chosen to be of little or no value to the trader.

In watching the show, I’ve observed people trade good money or a solid prize in intrigue, mystery, curiosity and greed for the hidden items behind doors number 1, 2 or 3.

While the show was entertaining and fun, we can apply the Let’s Make a Deal premise to our own lives. When we think about it, those of us who know Christ in the pardoning of our sins and have the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Acts 2:38), received the best “deal”–eternal life in Heaven in exchange for the one-way reservation we had to hell. While God blessed us with salvation, it’s our responsibility to maintain that salvation–and that means making the right decisions according to what the Word of God says, versus exchanging His will and Word for what may seem better–until you get it.

How many of us have traded what God said for “the hidden item” or zonk you’d find out about after your exchange?

  • Our purity for a little love aka lust (which can end in unwanted pregnancy, unexpected responsibilities,  disease and heartbreak).
  • Our honesty for a larger income tax refund (which will rapidly be blown through or the item not be as wonderful as when you purchased it).
  • Our time with God for a movie or TV show (leaving your flesh temporarily satisfied and your spirit restless and empty). All these consequences are the “zonk” that wasn’t calculated into your exchange.

The adversary works through our flesh, if we let him. And he who would like nothing more than for us to “make a deal” with him to trade what we KNOW to be true–what we have in hand– (what God said or asks for),  for something that might seem better, but after the reveal,  turns out to be of of little or no value.  Let’s take King Saul for example.

In 1 Samuel 15, Saul, the anointed king of Israel, was told by God to destroy Amalek and spare NOTHING. Rather, Saul spared Agog, the king of the Amalakites and choice sheep, calves, oxen and lambs (vs 9). The Lord then spoke to Samuel, the prophet telling him that he regretted making Saul king, because he turned his back on God–and would not keep His commandments. This upset Samuel so much he cried the whole night.

The next day, Saul told Samuel he had done what the Lord said, to whit, Samuel asked about the animals he heard bleating. Let’s take a look at the exchange:

15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

Saul made a deal.

He exchanged what He KNEW to do, what was sure, traded the divine will of God for people approval and choice animals—that God didn’t even ask for. In fact, He said t DESTROY everything.

Saul’s trade cost him his place on the throne.

And no matter how sorry Saul was—he could not and did not get his throne back.

Once God says “no”, His decision is final.

This is SO sobering, BCU Family. And yes, while we live in the dispensation of grace, we STILL are accountable to God to maintain holy living which means not practicing sin. I know firsthand how tempting going outside of God’s will is to get what you want–especially if you’ve been waiting a long time. While trading God’s commands for what looks/sounds good or may offer instant gratification, the trade always ends up with us losing. Losing our blessings, miracles, peace of mind, favor with God and yes, even our place in Heaven. Is anything on Earth worth that? Saul would tell us no.

With the help of the Lord, let’s hold onto God’s Word and obey it as He asks. In doing so, we can rest assured that His gifts will never compromise His Word and they will ALWAYS be perfect! Amen? Amen!

What are you thoughts about what we chatted about? Are you all done with deal-making with the help of the Lord? Please head down to the comments section to share your thoughts so we can continue our conversation!

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,  and Instagram,  You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher Radio , Google Play, and Apple podcasts!

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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