But God…

Hey there BCU Fam!

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 while back, a close acquaintance reached out to me about a family needing some godly counsel.
  • The family gets along well most of time, but when they do not, things escalate in an enormous way.
  • The last family incident led to a heated verbal skirmish, and no matter how we counseled, things got WORSE!
  • As my heart began to sink in defeat, the Lord reminded me that He was in control.

Scripture references:

Matthew 11:28-30

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.

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 19:26

26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

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.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

Isaiah 26:3

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.

BCUFam, the Lord wants us to know He heard our cry and that we do not have to keep worrying and putting worse case scenarios together in our minds. With His help, we want to let God be God and allow Him to take care of the situation, rather than us trying to control the outcome (which we cannot do anyway——-it’s futile!) So let’s take our “but God” to Jesus and cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You, as always, we thank You for the Word, and for letting us know we can turn whatever we are concerned about over to You. We are asking You to calm our minds and spirits down, Jesus. Help us to hear Your comforting voice, and relax knowing You are able to do exceedingly, abundantly above ALL we can ask or think according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20)——and we thank You for that. Thank You that we don’t need to be anxious or full of care about anything, but in everything, with prayer, thanksgiving and supplication we make our requests known unto You and Your peace, that passes all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6). So we thank You that we can walk around care-free and confident, knowing You will take care of everything.

We commit the family in the podcast to You, Jesus——thank You for moving in a super-natural way on their behalf. We ask that You remember any and everyone else that has a situation, care, concern, worry, or request before You, Jesus, and we thank You for working it out according to Your excellent greatness. Thank You in advance for the victory, good report and testimony You will provide. And in the meantime and in between time, we thank You for covering and keeping us as we continue to serve You. And when the enemy comes in with the ifs, ands, buts or suppose, we know we can refer to and rely on Your Word to sustain our minds in perfect peace, as we keep out minds stayed on You because we trust You! Thank You for helping our thoughts to glorify You at all times, 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 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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The client, Jesus and waiting….

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:

  • I have been an instructor for many years—–teaching many types of classes and people on a regular basis.
  • In my “housekeeping” portions of class, I verbally and visually outline the criterion to receive credit for the session.
  • One student escalated a request to receive their class credit almost immediately after class concluded.
  • The Lord used this situation as a test for my response to the individual, and to teach me lesson about listening, waiting and trusting what He says.

Scripture references:

James 1:19-20

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

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.

Proverbs 30:5

5 Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:6

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 34:19

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

Isaiah 65:24

24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Hebrews 13:5

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Numbers 23:19

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

BCUFam, I can relate to the client in terms of anxiousness and concern about waiting for a promise. When we feel that way, rather than lean to our own understanding, we can to go back to what the Word of God says and trust He will take care of whatever the situation is. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray!

Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before You, thanking and praising you for Your Word once again! We thank You for the encouragement, the admonishment, and for the correction. Please forgive us for the times we ran ahead of You, and tried to do Your work. Bless us to rest assured that your have heard our cry, and for believing that when You say something is going to come to pass, that it will. Bless us not be be anxious or agitated in our spirit——–and if we do feel that way, please help us to cling to You all the more, knowing that You are able to do exceedingly and abundantly above ALL we can ask or think according to the power that works in us.  We thank You for the rest You give us, knowing that You are taking care of us, Your plan is perfect, Your will will be done and Your name will be praised! 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 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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Word study: “Rest”

Hey there BCU Fam!

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 (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:

  • We are wrapping up our word study series we started last month by looking at the Biblical definition of a word or phrase.
  • One Greek word for “rest” is anapausis, which means to cease from movement, intermission, or tranquility of the body and/or mind, even when there is chaos all around us.
  • The people of God should be resting on a regular basis as God did, and as Jesus said.

Scripture references

Luke 19:13
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

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.

Genesis 2:2

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Matthew 11:28-30

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.

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.

Are you operating in the primarily in the chronos time zone? If so, you may not be resting properly.

BCUFam, our bodies and minds need to rest on the regular in order to hear God and to function optimally. While we cannot deny that we have situations here, if we know Jesus in the pardoning of our sins, we can take our concerns to the Lord in prayer and leave them there without the situations consuming us with rest-stealing worry and anxiety.

Also, let’s commit to practicing taking time away from the hustle and bustle of our lives on a regular basis and get to a “desert” place where Jesus is, so we can operate more in the “kairos” time zone.* In doing so, we will find that although the situations have not changed, our yokes are easy and our burdens are light. Amen? Amen! Let’s pray about it!

Father, in the name of Jesus, as we come before You, we thank You for the Word of God that has refreshed our souls! Thank You for reminding us, that when we are overwhelmed, we can go to the Rock that is higher than ourselves, just as David did. We can come to You in prayer with all of our concerns, situations, thoughts and feelings, and leave them with You, so we are no longer consumed, but feel peace and experience rest as only You can give.

Please remember those of us who are really in the thick of the worry struggle. Some of us are not resting because of situations going on our our families, on the job, with our children, our spouses, friends, our desire for a spouse, our physical and/or mental health, past trauma, or any number of things. We ask Lord, that your Spirit touches all who are going through even now, Lord Jesus——–bless them to feel Your presence, and to hear Your voice as You speak over their situation and work things out according to Your will and way. Bless everyone listening to remember that You are able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or think according to the power that works in us. 

Thank you for blessing someone today to repent, be baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost so they can experience the rest that comes from You, Jesus. We thank You for answering our prayers today, 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 mediums include Amazon Music, AnchorFm, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, 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

* Check the BCU Facebook page for my “rest” video.

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Three lessons I learned from Joseph

Hey there BCU Fam!

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 (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:
  • Recently, BCULive finished up a study called “The Law of Kindness”, starring Joseph from the book of Genesis.
  • Joseph is a very familiar Bible figure who has been taught on and preached about many times over.
  • The Lord really brought out many lessons that we can and should apply to our daily lives.
  • Today, we will focus on being chosen/disliked, ministry and forgiveness.

KJV Scripture references

 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness (Proverbs 31:26).

Genesis 37:10-11

10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying (Genesis 37:10-11).

Genesis 39:8-9;20-23

8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

Genesis 40:8

 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

Genesis 41:15-16; 38-40.

15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

Genesis 45:4-8, 10-11

4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

Joseph continued to work as unto the Lord and minister as a slave and a prisoner. His faithfulness took him to being the governor of Egypt.

BCU Fam, I could go on and on, but I had to stop for the sake of time and space! 😆 We thank God thank we have enough to pray about and apply as the Lord leads. Being ostracized, ministering and forgiving is not always easy, nor does it feel good, but it all works together for our good, because we love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). 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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And…we’re back!

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!

  • 2020 was a year of challenge for us all.
  • It is imperative that we continue to hold on to Jesus.
  • There are times when God does not always reveal the “why.”
  • While we do NOT always everything God allows, we CAN trust Him.

Scripture references: (King James Version)

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 (Romans 8:28).

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (I Peter 4:17-18).

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).

BCUFam, this is NOT the time for us to grow weary and quit on Jesus! Rather, we want to hold on to Jesus all the more, as we see this world looking for answers that can ONLY be found in Him. And especially now, we may be the ONLY example of Christian living that some may see , so we want to be the ones to point people to our Jesus whom we have our hope in. So with God’s help, let’s continue to pray, fast, read our Word, and live this life so that God will get the glory out of us. AND one day soon, we will get to hear Jesus say, “well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord!” That’s something to be EXCITED about! 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!

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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