stewardship – Page 2

BCU podcast-100 celebration talk: stewardship, procrastination and boundaries.

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 interview, please tune into the podcast recording. We pray the post blesses and encourages you. If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

The BCU 100-podcast celebration-conversation continues where I answer your questions, fielded by my fellow teacher, sister and friend, Jewel Taylor. In our 100th podcast, among other things, we talked about the start of the BCU ministry and what it takes it keep it (and any other ministry) going. In our second installment, we talked about what was difficult about the keeping the ministry going and started talking about the Dispensations.

In our last segment, we ended up talking/teaching about how precious the time is that God gives us, and how we are to steward* over it properly, as it’s a commodity we often realize (in many cases, too late), that we cannot get back. This round, we’ll continue our talk on timing/stewardship, talk about boundaries, and round up the third Dispensation– Human Government.

Click below for the podcast and drop us a line give us your thoughts on the podcast content! Also, please stay tuned to the BlenCouragesU social media accounts (located below) for our giveaways the week of October 23-October 27, 2017.

As a reminder, we are planning to answer all questions, so please, keep BlenCouragesU.com close by notification-wise, as we’re planning to continue this series throughout the month of October and the beginning of November.

Have you become part of the BCU family? All you need to do us subscribe to BlenCouragesU.com. Subscribing is free and this is 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 and being a part of the celebration! God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

*The teaching series Jewel refers to is on Periscope under the BlenCouragesU moniker and has “stewardship” in the title.

26 Oct 2017

BlenCouragesU11 Comments

BCU podcast-100 celebration chat: Stewardship & timing.

Hey 👋🏾 there BCU Family!

The BCU 100-podcast celebration-conversation continues where I answer your questions, fielded by my fellow teacher, sister and friend, Jewel Taylor. In our 100th podcast, among other things, we talked about the start of the BCU ministry and what it takes it keep it (and any other ministry) going. In our last podcast, we talked about what was difficult about the keeping the ministry going and started talking about the dispensations.

In this third segment we ended up talking/teaching about how precious the time is that God gives us, and how we are to steward over it properly, as it’s a commodity we often realize (in many cases, too late), that we cannot get back. The teaching series Jewel refers to is on Periscope under the BlenCouragesU moniker and have “stewardship” in the title.

As a reminder, we are planning to answer all questions, so please, keep BlenCouragesU.com close by notification-wise, as we’re planning to continue this series throughout the month of October.

So, are you a part of the BCU family? All you need to do us subscribe to BlenCouragesU.com. Subscribing is free and this is 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 and being a part of the celebration! God bless, keep and make His face to shine upon you as you #StayOnTheWall!

Love,

BCU

25 Oct 2017

BlenCouragesU12 Comments

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

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

How are you managing? A lesson on stewardship.

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 post blesses you. If so, please thumbs up or leave a comment! Thank you and enjoy the post!

A while back, the Lord blessed me with a thought about stewardship and what our responsibility is, so I thought I’d share a condensed version. Let’s start of with some background. So what is a steward?

In the Old Testament a steward is a man who is ‘over a house.” In order to get the whole picture you can read the story of Joseph starting around Genesis chapter 38, for the sake of time, we’ll look at selected passages in Genesis 43.

1 And the famine was sore in the land.

2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.

18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our donkeys.

19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house.

A steward also had to be trustworthy and follow directions in their entirety.
Once again in Genesis (chapter 44), the steward’s duties were mentioned.

1And he [Joseph] commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.

2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.

4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? (once again, for clarity, please read the whole story of Joseph starting in chapter 38).

Similarly, in the New Testament, a steward is a person who’s been entrusted to care or honor something. This could apply to Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard:

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first’ (Matthew 20:8).

Steward also means a manager. This would likely be more around the parables of the Talents and the Unjust Steward. (See Matthew 25:14-30) for the entire story).

After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest (Matthew 25:19-24, 26-27).

Jesus also said to His disciples: “there was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ (Luke 16:1-2).

WOW! Since we know what a good steward is and what NOT to do, what are some areas can we exercise good stewardship in?

Money–besides tithes and offering, alms or giving to the poor.

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given (Proverbs 19:17). When God pays back, it’s going to be FANTASTIC! Now, we do not give to get, BCU Family, rather just to be a blessing to someone in a tangible way and however the Lord leads you.

Time–we make time for what we want. Let’s ask God for better time management skills and commit with His help to break the cycle of time wasting tasks that leave us unable to start or finish our assignments. We also should allocate proper time for things like chores, family time and of course, prayer and time with Christ. We should be thirsty for Him!

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water (Psalms 63:1 NKJV).

Body–Physical health–How are you feeling?

Yes, yes, we are not here to stay, gotta die of something, etc. While that may be true in theory, why purposely self-inflict illness? Isn’t it a blessing to witness, praise and worship God in a working temple? Sometimes things just happen and we fall ill (different story), but we want to do what we can to honor the temple or home God gave us by giving it whole foods, vitamins, rest, water and treats in moderation.

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 (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 KJV).

Gifts–God does gives gifts and talents, what are we doing with them?

Are we burying the gifts God gives us? Or are we using them well? Think back to the parable of the Talents.The servants that took risks had to get up, go out and do something to earn the other talents! While the Bible doesn’t say, I wonder if they immediately got the new talents or if they messed up a couple of times? Most things take some trial and error to perfect and God will honor your faithfulness. There is a cost of not using what God gave you:

For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:29-30).

If fear, doubt or concern of failure, what others will say comes up in your spirit, take it to God and trust He has properly equipped you. The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25).

Bottom line? ALL things, including time and money that we have are on loan to us by God. He trusts us to take good care of His things, so we should want to always do our best with His help! Yes—this is a TOUGH post to swallow, BCU Fam! We can do it with God’s help! Let’s talk about this some more in the comments section!

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, 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