Abigail: A Great Woman of God

Here there BCU Family!

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 had the honor of giving a short word of encouragement relating to any great woman of God from the Bible.
  • There are many to choose from—–but one, Abigail, is one of my favorite virtuous women!
  • Thanks to my sister, Jackie Williams, in this recording, I’ll highlight a few of Abigail’s most wonderful qualities.

KJV Scripture References:

I Samuel 25:2-39

And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:

And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

And when David’s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

10 And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

12 So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.

15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:

16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;

31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

34 For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.

39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.


In summation, BCUFam, a great woman of God:

Presently, the world would have us to believe that in order to get anywhere, women have to be loud, clamorous, rude and snarky. And believe me, it’s tempting that go in that direction!

When these situation arise, with the help of the Lord, let’s pause for prayer and think of Abigail as a good example. Then ask the Lord for wisdom on how to follow HIS instructions on how to handle tough situations so that He is glorified and you will be recognized as the virtuous women God has called you to be. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You so much for Your Holy Word, and the reminder of how we should conduct ourselves as women of God, so that You are glorified, honored and praised in our lives. Bless us to be the women that people can come to in a time of need. Please help us to pause, pray and speak the law of kindness as we interact with others——especially in hard circumstances. Thank You, Jesus for letting us know that on every assignment you give us, that a meek and quiet spirit is of great price to You. We thank and praise You for us hearing Your voice and following Your Word. 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, 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, Pandora, Spotify and many other podcast platforms!

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

Love,

BCU

Accepting Disciplinary Action

Here there BCU Family!

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:

  • As of this recording, we have three kiddos in our lives—–two teens and an almost two-year old.
  • The youngest little is learning how to navigate this new world as the trusted adults do the teaching.
  • One area that is a challenge—-accepting correction without “retaliation”.
  • Listen in to what happened, and what the Lord reminded me about chastening.

KJV Scripture References:

Hebrews 12:6-11

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

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

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.

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.


BCU Fam, I cannot describe the warmth love I felt when the little hugged my neck after our conversation! And after that, we had no further issues or incidents when the answer was “no”. That was an example of the peaceable fruit of righteousness, meaning, although the baby did not enjoy the correction, once it was received, the right behavior came about. Similarity, we do not enjoy God chastening us either, but God does so that we can be more like Him, represent Him properly in all our interactions, AND so that we will not be condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:31-32). So with the Lord’s help, let’s receive and apply the perfect correction He prescribes for us. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You, we thank You so much for the reminder around chastening. We admit that while correction does not feel good in the present, it is needed for our present and future, as we endeavor to be more like You, Jesus. We thank You for the peaceable fruit of righteousness and its continued growth in our lives. 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, 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, Pandora, Spotify and many other podcast platforms!

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

Love,

BCU

Avoiding Haste, Waste, Stress & Mess

Here there BCU Family!

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:

  • Blogging/podcasting is such wonderful blessing to me—–the Lord has truly brought BCU a LONG way!
  • Experience has taught me that I need to break my podcast production into two parts.
  • One particular week, I leaned to my own faulty understanding and did not follow that teaching.🤦🏽‍♀️
  • Listen in to what happened, and what the Lord taught me about haste, waste and prayer.

KJV Scripture Reference

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

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;

Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

I Thessalonians 5:17

 Pray without ceasing.


BCU Fam, we live in a society where it is almost a badge of honor to be busy, running, stressed and tired. There is no biblical evidence of that being a requirement for salvation, or living the Christian life. In order to combat this worldly mindset, with the help of the Lord, we should acknowledge Him regarding ALL our tasks, even the things we know we have to take care of routinely. I am not saying that we need to ask the Lord if we should brush our teeth or clean up the spilled milk before we leave for work. Rather, if we make it a habit to start our day with prayer (Psalm 63:1), and pray throughout the day, asking the Lord for the wisdom, knowledge and understanding on how to carry out our assignments, and which ones take priority for the day, He will help us. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You, thank You so much for the reminder, as always to acknowledge You in all of our ways. Whether we are going to work, school, at home, taking care of family, whatever it is, please help us to ask You, Jesus, in what sequence things should go in for the day.

Help us, Jesus to hear You and follow that sequence, so that we are not walking around tired, stressed, angry, agitated, irritated, or any of those things that are not of You. Thank You for giving us the grace to follow what You tell us to do, as we look forward to being more productive and doing things in the kairos time zone, according to Your will and way! 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, 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, Pandora, Spotify and many other podcast platforms!

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

Love,

BCU

Room A203: A Story of Love, Friendship & Sisterhood🌷🌷

Hey there BCU Fam!

For this special presentation, please tune into the video recording, and refer to the written post for the highlights. We pray the post blesses and encourages your heart today!

Podcast highlights:

  • This is a special conversation about an amazing individual in the person of, Lydia “Tulip Petal” Edwards.
  • We met years ago and became fast friends and sisters in the Lord, sharing conversations of everything and nothing.
  • In this impromptu video post, among other things, I highlight a stretch assignment she gave me, and how that changed my life.

KJV Scripture references:

Psalm 143

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”


You know, BCUFam, I had no idea that Psalm would minister to Lydia and the BCUFam the way it did! Many of us have experienced feeling overwhelmed and desolate—-and that is NORMAL! What David did in that Psalm was to teach us feel our feelings, and to take them to the Lord, who is the ONLY one who can comfort, strengthen and advise us on our next move—–even if it’s just to trust that He knows what He is doing. And that’s what Sister Tulip Petal did.

BCUFam, Lydia passed away late last week. My Tulip Petal was beautiful flower who wasn’t called to speak on a program, did not have a dedicated platform to teach from, or a mass following, but quietly ministered in an impactful way to all the people the Lord assigned to her. I am blessed and enriched to have had her in my life for the time God allowed, and not one moment squandered. May God bless us to all be the same way about our relationships. The people in our lives are assignments from the Lord, and we want to be sure we are about our Father’s business in every interaction. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!


Father in the Name of Jesus, as we come before You today, our hearts are heavy for the loss of our sister, yet light because she was saved, full of the Holy Ghost, and is resting without any tubes, medication or pain. And Jesus, with Your help, when we see You for the first time, we will see Lydia again, as Heaven is our final destination. Please bless and comfort all who were connected with this wonderful woman of God.

We ask You, Lord to help us be mindful of and loving in all of our interactions, and that You bless us to be an excellent witness to all around us, so that people may ask, “what must I do to be saved?” We thank You answering our petitions and for all things, 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, 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 podcastsGoogle 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

Why Salt is Essential for Health and Faith

Hey there BCU Family!

I was honored to teach on the subject of salt years ago, last month, and I recently had a very special request for an encore of “salt talk”. For our final segment of this three-part series, you will have the option of listening to our podcast (click here, or the BCU avatar below to listen), or, if you are short on time, reading the basic notes below, or you can do 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! 

Podcast Highlights:

  • A couple of weeks ago, I started on a “salt series” that talked about salt production and how vital it is to our natural body and in the body of Christ on a spiritual level.
  • Last post, we learned that salt was just not a food enhancer or monetary trade item, it was also used as a covenant symbol.
  • This final post will review/ round off that series by exploring why we need (more) salt in our lives.

 Let’s dig in by reviewing our anchor Scripture, (which we will refer to later).

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matthew 5:13 NKJV).

Photo by Sarah Chai on Pexels.com

Salt gets a bad rap because of its link to high blood pressure, fluid retention, etc. While anything in excess can be harmful, iodized salt is not the best for the body. Common “table” salt is void of vital nutrients except iodine, which is added back after processing.

Sea salt contains nutrients that are needful for the body like sulphate, magnesium, calcium, potassium, bicarbonate, bromide, borate, strontium, and fluoride. In addition, sodium regulates the passage of nutrients into the cells. Without it, nutrients cannot enter your cells and you will have malnutrition and exhaustion, no matter how good your diet. Some other salt functions are:

Muscle cramps prevention
Regulator of:
–blood pressure
–blood sugar
–sleep
Eliminates dry coughs (just a bit on your tongue)
Soothes a sore throat (warm water & salt gargle)
Draws out infections

And that’s just the a small fraction of what salt does! Just as its needed in your body, it’s needed in the “Body Of Christ” as well.

Consistent salt regulates the “Body” by keeping “infections” out such as: idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and things like this. Willful engagement of these behaviors will prohibit us from entering into the kingdom of God, according to Galatians 5:20-21. Having salt on the regular will keeps us functioning and keep the “good” in. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22, 23 NLT).

Additionally, salt was also used as a food preserver. History teaches us that salt was used to keep fresh fish from spoiling (there were no freezers in biblical times). In relation to the above paragraph, spiritual salt “preserves” us from practicing sin.

We also need salt for our conversations with family, friends, co-workers and the not-so-nice store clerk. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every one: (Colossians 4:6 NKJV). Another example comes from Proverbs 15:1–“a soft answer turns away wrath, but grievious words stir up anger.” Salt helps temper your responses.

Few things are as bad as a flavorless, or what I call a peppered Christian—acting bitter and nasty due to hurt, cares of the world, practicing sin or bad habits. In fact, let’s go back to the verse that started the series–Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

In the Bible days, when harvesting the salt, if any of it was contaminated with dirt or marsh, it was put on the dirt roads to keep the dust down, hence the reference to being trampled underfoot by men. A contaminated Christian NOT the testimony we want. We have to stay seasoned in order to draw the world AND love folks. Jesus said,“have salt in yourselves and peace with one another” (Mark 9:50). If there is no salt in you, you will not have peace with others. Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?

Bottom line: Salt is a necessary nutrient needed in our natural and spiritual lives. Adequate salt intake comes from prayer, fasting, regular bible study and attending church. Also, just like when we season our food, we want to use the correct amount of salt in our speech and actions. Too little salt is not effective—too much salt and is not palatable. Let us purpose in our hearts to ask God to help us to always use/the right amount of salt in ALL our interactions. Amen? Amen!


So what are your thoughts on our topic-du-jour? Did you know that salt is a necessary nutrient both naturally and spiritually? Do you get enough salt?  Please head to the comments section below and let’s chat some more!

 

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 at 8:05EST/7:05CST. You can also listen in and subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcastsPandora, 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