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And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”  Isaiah 6:8 (ESV) In the Bible, from both the Old and New Testaments, there were two women who longed to have a child but were well past the age of childbearing. God came to them and their husbands and said they would give birth to sons. They were told their sons were to be set apart for God from birth, and they were given specific instructions on how they were to be raised. From the moment they were born, God placed a special anointing on them as well as His spirit, for their roles in His Kingdom on Earth. One of these sons, from the Old Testament, was named Sampson. The other was referred to as John the Baptist, whose story was chronicled in the New Testament. Sampson was given great strength and power and was to use the gifts God had given him, to be the appointed Judge over God’s people in Israel. Unfortunately, Sampson chose to gratify his fleshly desires and did not place a focus on being God's messenger. He judged Israel for 20 years but, he made a lot of decisions because of his passions and his lust and did not seek to follow God wholeheartedly. Eventually, his desires led him to fall in love with a woman who betrayed him. After this, the Spirit of God left him, along with his great strength for a period of time. Eventually, he came to his senses, and he asked God to give him strength one last time. He did this in order to set an example against the people who caused so much harm and destruction to God’s people. In the end, he was triumphant however, the totality of his story is there to show the choices a person should never make. Moving forward hundreds of years to the New Testament, there was a son born to another barren couple who was named John. In later years, he would be referred to as John the Baptist. He too was to be set apart and raised to be a messenger of the soon coming Savior. John more than likely had choices, as humans do: to follow God wholeheartedly or, to follow the world and our lust-filled desires. Unlike Samson, John chose to follow God wholeheartedly. And in so doing, John became the messenger preparing the way for Christ, the Savior of the world. We may think that our lives are not as spectacular as Sampson or John the Baptist. But we are wrong. Whether we are well known to the world or only known by a few, if we seek to use the gifts and talents God has given to uplift His kingdom, we are then living to please our Father in Heaven. Does that mean every second of the day we’re doing ministry? No. But if we are focused to walk with God daily, and to be His witnesses to the world in what we say and do, we will be living the life He ordained for us. Two messengers. Which one are you? Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:9 In the current state of our world, our communities, and even our families, it’s hard to not have a negative mindset or outlook on life.  But when we read Philippians 4:8, as well as various verses throughout the Bible, we understand as God’s children how He expects us to behave and interact with one another. In Philippians 4:8, God outlines how we should seek to think and behave, as we navigate life. The verse begins by stating to think about things that are true, honorable, and just. In this world where lies abound, as well as not behaving honorably, these words are very much needed. What God is essentially saying is clear, we need to be individuals who are truthful, honorable, and just in what we say and do, at all times. God further encourages us to be pure and lovely. This is not speaking about superficial beauty and looks. God is asking for us to have pure and lovely thoughts in our minds, our hearts, and our outlook towards others. Granted it's a little difficult in this world to maintain this when we see the ugliness that we encounter daily. But can you imagine, the type of world it would be if everyone adheres to God's word? If everyone has pure and lovely thoughts and actions toward each other? What a beautiful place this world would definitely be. Finally, God encourages us to be commendable, to look for excellence and anything worthy of praise, and to think about these things. Not just to think about but to exhibit these characteristics. We should strive to be commendable and to always seek excellence in anything we say and do. To be people who seek to give praises to others and especially to God, for His many blessings bestowed on us all daily. Despite all the competing voices and narratives being spun in this world that pull us away from God‘s word, may we daily seek to keep our thoughts on His precepts on how to navigate life. Only by doing so, will we inhabit the characteristics of being true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, showing excellence, and being praiseworthy. Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.  Genesis 50:20 (ESV) There are countless stories in the Bible, where God uses the evil plans of His wayward children, to bring about positive and effectual change for the greater good.  One example is at the beginning of the Bible, the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. To rescue and restore humanity, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, had to devise a plan that would lead to the birth and death of Jesus, centuries later. In another example, God used the evil plans of Joseph’s brothers to bring about a plan that saved thousands of lives, many years later. In the story, Joseph’s brothers became jealous of him due to the favoritism their father lavished upon him. In addition to their father‘s constant praise and lifting Joseph before them, Joseph himself exhibited slight arrogance in the telling of his dreams and how all (his father included) would eventually bow down to him. Due to their rage boiling under the surface, they plotted to kill him if given the opportunity. But instead of killing him, they end up, selling him to traders that were bound for Egypt. After many years of suffering through slavery and prison, Joseph was eventually released and became the second most powerful man in Egypt. God took the evil plans of Joseph’s brothers and turned them around for good. In life, others can hatch their evil plans against us, but as followers and believers of our Almighty God, those plans can be turned around and used to bring about good. Of course, no one likes to be caught in evil plans that someone has devised. But God asks us to trust Him and to have faith that He will right the wrongs and bring about good not just for us, but for many others as well. May we trust and believe that God is the restorer and healer that can bring about positive changes, despite their evil origins. Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Romans 12:12 (ESV) That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, Philippians 2:15 (ESV) Have you come across individuals when you’re out running errands who cut you off in traffic or even while shopping? Their actions cause you to wonder, how can people be so mean, so rude? And depending on how they behave directly or indirectly towards you, may cause you to become extremely angry and lash out at them because of their behavior. But have you ever stopped to consider their story? To consider what is going on with them and what is causing their behavior? Not to say their behavior gets an excuse due to whatever is happening in their lives but, it does help one understand why a person behaves the way they do. There are those who’ve had significant hardships throughout their lives and yet when they encounter others, they’re loving, kind, and helpful, to the point that if you learned their story, you would be shocked based on their current actions. Then there are others who’ve also hard a hard time in life but, not nearly as bad as some, and yet they are extremely bitter and nasty to everyone they meet. We all will encounter down moments in life that we have to endure. However, that doesn’t give us the right to mistreat others and take our frustrations out on them. God calls for us to be His ambassadors to the world. When Jesus walked this Earth, he did not have an easy journey. During His time of ministry, I’m sure there were happy times but, due to living in this sin plagued world, He encountered a lot of difficulties. To maintain His composure and to be a witness, He continuously prayed and connected to God the Father in Heaven. By doing this, His response to the negativity was to heal and teach everyone how to live a Godly and a righteous life. And even now, God calls for each of us to do the same. No matter how another person behaves (you cannot control them), we must control how we are to respond. Sometimes by responding in love and kindness, the other person may instantly change their attitude. At other times, you may not see the change but, in time they could turn from their evil ways, and begin to see the world in a different light. Remember, everyone has a story, and we are in control of our actions, not theirs. May we seek to show kindness, love, and patience with others, despite how they treat us. May we proudly be God’s ambassadors and shine His light to the world. Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Answer my prayers oh Lord for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, but your mercy is plentiful. Psalm 69:16 (NLT) Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.   Isaiah 46:4 (ESV) As we transverse life, many of us may wonder from time to time if God really cares for us. We’ll ask the question, is He really going through life with us? We especially have this question come up when we’re dealing with challenges and difficulties in our lives. I think some people have the belief that once you become a Christian and put your faith in God, from that point on, you won’t have significant problems or burdens.  However, this is far from the truth. Everyone, whether they believe in God or not, will still have ups and downs as they go through life. The difference with our belief in God, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, is that we know the down periods in life, are just a moment in time. That God will be with us and will eventually bring us through to the other side. Now, there will be times when some who go through trials will fall asleep in Jesus.  Even though their life has ended, they, as well as their loved ones, have faith that they will live again on the Earth made new, at the resurrection of the righteous.  So, no matter what course our life will take, we must know and believe that God will be with us every step of the way. As the verses above have stated, as well as many others, throughout the Bible, God truly cares for His children. The entire Bible is His manuscript to us on how to live our best life and, how much love and sacrifice He has done in order for us to one day be with Him in paradise. An example of God‘s love is like loving parents here on Earth but, even deeper.  God's love for His children cannot truly be comprehended with our limited human minds. So, when you ask the question, does God care for me? The answer is yes!  He does now and will always! Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  Lamentations 3:25 (ESV) I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!  Psalm 27:13-14 (ESV) Waiting! It is one of the hardest things for all of us to do! We could be waiting to: finish school, for a relationship, for a job, for our paychecks/compensation, to retire from working a job, to go on a long-anticipated vacation, and the list can go on and on. Most of the time our waiting is self-focused. We’re waiting on things, people, or situations, that we want to obtain or to move/go in the direction we desire. And as we wait, many times we get antsy or impatient for the end result.  Unfortunately, due to our impatience, we’ll decide to take matters into our own hands and force certain situations in order to get what we want.  And many times, the result of doing this can create more problems than if we had originally waited on God to bless and lead us. Despite what we may feel, waiting is not all about us or our wants and desires. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows what we all need and in the time that we need it. And sometimes it’s not just fulfilling our needs, but as God looks at the bigger picture, He will seek to do things His way, and in His time. While we wait, we can take the time to grow and develop, as well as seek to further deepen our relationship with God.  As we grow in our faith and belief in Him, we will come to realize that trusting and waiting on God’s timing is not a “feeling” but a decision. There are many times we may not “feel” we can trust God to act as we would like but, we make a decision to trust anyway, despite how we feel. I heard a pastor recently speak about waiting and he said this: "If we learn to wait well, we will probably live life well"! There are so many people mentioned in the Bible that had to wait for their promised fulfillment: David to become king, Joseph to see his dreams come to fruition, Sarah to give birth to the promised child, etc. They waited and eventually saw God’s promises being fulfilled. So, as you wait for God to move in your life, seek to work on your personal growth and your relationship with Him.  Then in time, His plans for you will be revealed. Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13 (ESV) When you look at the word repent, what comes to mind? When looking at various verses throughout the Bible from the Old and New Testament, repent is mentioned many times, as well as what it truly means. Unfortunately, there are those who feel repentance means it’s okay to sin.  They feel after their sinful act, all that is required is to ask God for forgiveness and cleansing, and then sometime afterward, they’ll return back to their sinful ways. There are some who do not even try to stop their sinful behaviors.  They use Jesus’s death and sacrifice as “cheap Grace” to cover their sinful lifestyle. This “rinse and repeat” mentality towards sin is of course not true repentance at all. Of course, God knows His children are not perfect and we’re not walking around this earth as sinless human beings. Whether great or small, all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23).  God did not give His Son, Jesus Christ, as an atoning sacrifice for our sins only for us to perpetually continue with our sinful behaviors. Behaviors we are not truly willing to stop nor turn away from because of the pleasures we’ve experienced. We must understand that God does not want to withhold pleasures from His children.  He just wants our pleasures to coincide with His wisdom and to be honorable and pure. In order to have true repentance, one must confess and turn away from their sinful desires.  One must daily choose to say no to sinful past choices, to seek to die daily to temptations and to turn and study God’s word to learn the precepts of right living.   Now, there can be times when some are caught in a strong vice grip of sinful behaviors, and it is very difficult to shake free. But God, who is all-powerful, can help this person overcome and shake free from whatever is binding them. And once freed, they need to completely cut off their sinful past and continuously walk in God’s direction. As we seek a closer relationship with God, may we continually ask for forgiveness of our sins with all diligence, and seek to walk in the light of His truth and love. And, while we are walking in that truth, may we seek to share it with others, so that they too can learn of God’s forgiveness, His goodness, and His grace. Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) Even as the son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 (ESV) Holy Friday or Passion Friday are terms used to describe the day Jesus Christ was crucified for the sins of all humanity. Many refer to it as Good Friday, and still others refer to it as Black Friday. Regardless of the various names that are used to reference this day, one fact remains; Jesus willingly gave of Himself to be tortured and murdered (despite His innocence), so that all humans (past, present, and future), have the opportunity of salvation because of His sacrifice. Just like there are many terms that describe Holy Friday, there are also many traditions people around the world, adhere to during this solemn and sacred time. Whatever way you choose to honor this day, make sure you take time to reflect on what Jesus went through in order for us to have access to God the Father, and eternal salvation. Jesus showed love, compassion, and empathy to His children during the three and a half years of His teaching and healing ministry.  As we reflect on the ultimate sacrifice Jesus gave for us, may we seek to align our thoughts and actions with His word and His principles of right living. We need to remember that our lives are not only for our own pleasures and gratifying our fleshly desires. God does not begrudge us our desires (that are within His will) but, our main purpose here on earth is to uplift His kingdom by sharing the Gospel to others. There are so many people in this world who do not know the love of God and His son, Jesus Christ. They do not know of Jesus’s sacrifice and the access we have to the Father because of His sacrifice. And God is looking to partner with us to be His disciples to go throughout the world, sharing His love and soon return. As we think about Holy Friday, let us take the time to lament over the pain and agony of what Jesus went through on our behalf.  Then, after our time of grief and reflection, may we seek to move forward and commit to doing what He told us to do in Matthew 28: 18-20.  Jesus charged us to go and make disciples and spread the Gospel to all the world. So, despite the sadness we feel on Holy Friday because of Jesus’s death, we look forward to Resurrection Sunday and can declare to all the world that He has risen, as He said!  As stated in Numbers 6: 24-26, “May the Lord, bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14 (ESV) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 (ESV) There are many names in Hebrew, that describe Jehovah (the name of God) and His love and care for His Children. Below we will look at just a few. I encourage you to feel free to go and search other names of Jehovah and get to know their beautiful meanings. Jehovah or Yahweh are the Hebrew names that describe God or Lord. All of the following names will have God’s Hebrew name of Jehovah in front of it and the name that follows showcases the beauty being used in scripture to describe how Yahweh has shown up continuously in our lives. Jehovah-Rohi means the Lord is my shepherd. David used this term in Psalm 23 to describe how Jehovah is the shepherd of His flock, which are His children. And just like a good shepherd, His son, Yeshua (the Hebrew name of Jesus), gave His life for us to be saved. Jehovah-Jireh means the Lord is our provider. Throughout scripture and even now, you will find Jehovah providing for His children. He provides for our comfort as well as our emotional and spiritual needs. There are times we do not feel He is near but, we must know and understand that He never leaves our side. Jehovah-Rapha means the Lord who heals. There are over sixty references in the Bible regarding Yahweh healing His people but, the first reference is believed to be mentioned in Genesis 15:26. Where God challenges His people to obey His commands, and in so doing, He would heal them of their physical infirmities and restore them. Jehovah-Shammah means the Lord who is there. This name is used once in the Bible in Ezekiel 48:35. When you feel alone in this world and do not know when your burdens will be lifted, it is nice to know Jehovah-Shammah is there, walking with you through the difficult trials of life. Jehovah-Shalom means the Lord who is peace. This term is found once in the Bible in Judges 6:24. There is true comfort in knowing Jehovah’s peace when one has to go through trials and tribulations. Having the kind of peace that Yahweh provides versus the world, makes all the difference when dealing with challenges in life. Having peace based on worldly standards is fleeting. Having the peace that comes from Jehovah, one can withstand the ups and downs of life. There are many names of Jehovah in the Bible. Pick your favorites and keep them and their meanings near as you journey through life. Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV) Have you ever stopped to realize what you say and what you do, especially on important matters, has a lasting impact on your life, as well as those around you? There are countless stories in the Bible that give us examples of how past choices that were made, went on to create lasting ripple effects from generation to generation. Take for example the story of Abraham, his wife Sarah, and their servant Hagar that begins in Genesis 16:1. Just to recap the story, Abraham and his wife were very old and never had a child, despite God telling Abraham that he would be the father of nations.  So, Sarah gets the idea of using her maidservant, Hagar, to have a child with Abraham, thus fulfilling God’s promise. In the culture at that time, this was a normal practice, something like a surrogate parent in modern times. From what we can tell, both Abraham and Sarah, did not ask God beforehand, if this is a plan they should implement. Instead, they felt they could “make it” work using their own initiative and cultural norms. Ultimately, however, Sarah did have a child years later that they named Issac.  As for Hagar and her son Ishmael? They eventually were banished and sent away from Abraham’s Camp.  Most scholars will agree that to this day, that decision has resulted in the current relations between the Muslim and Jewish people in the Middle East. Another biblical story is the one with David and Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 1.  The recap here is David lusted after another man’s wife (Bathsheba), committed adultery with her, and as a result, she became pregnant with his child.  Due to a series of events and decisions, David had her husband killed in order for him to marry her. Check out the entire story, in the Bible. From these decisions, the first child they created died, and David from that moment on had major family drama and problems that also spilled into future generations. One could easily look back on the mistakes those in the Bible made and think that we wouldn’t make the same mistakes, however, we certainly do. Perhaps not the exact same scenarios but, we all have made mistakes based on our own decisions. By not listening to God’s word and instead listening to the world and/or our flesh, we end up creating situations that can have ripple effects for generations to come. Not saying we all have to walk through life on eggshells, trying to be perfect because we cannot. But I am encouraging us to daily read God‘s word, pray, and really seek to walk in the light of His precepts. If we make decisions based on His principles, we will avoid a lot of headaches and heartaches, for ourselves, for others, and for future generations. Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.   Isaiah 59:2 (ESV) O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.  Psalm 97:10 (ESV) There are many sins that are outlined in the Bible, but those listed in Proverbs 6:16-19 are stated as sins God hates and are an abomination to Him. We will look at each and give the modern-day definition. Haughty eyes- This describes a person who feels they are superior and better than others. It is one who tends to look down at other people and feel they are greater in all areas. A lying tongue- This describes a person who continuously lies. They rarely tell the truth. Instead of being honest and telling the truth, they are quick to think of a lie, even with small insignificant matters. Hands that shed innocent blood- Of course, this should be self-explanatory…murderers. Those who seek to kill another person, and it was not an accident, it was intended. A heart that devises evil plans- This is a person who is always manipulating and creating wicked ideas/schemes against another. They are usually always thinking of themselves and how they can manipulate a situation or another person, to get what they want. Feet that make haste to do evil- This describes a person who’s always looking to get into trouble and do wicked/evil things. Someone who may steal, lie, manipulate, and cheat other people. They’re always quick to run and do evil. And for some, it’s not out of some sort of necessity, they do it for the thrill of just being wicked and evil. A false witness, who breathes out lies- These are those who will tell lies/give false testimony about others. With this sin, I can easily see God referring to those who gossip. Those who revel in “embellishing” a story or a tale. Basically, they tell lies with perhaps some small amount of truth, about another person and/or situation, and then pass the info on as if it were all true. One who sows discord among brothers- These are people who always stir up descension and trouble amongst other people. They are quick to stir up tempers and situations, that will cause a person or groups of people, to be against each other. Of course, with all of these, some will possess all of the listed sins, and some will have just one or a few as part of their characters. However, despite living in a sinful and fallen world, God does not want any of His children (all humans) to have any of these sins (as well as others listed in the Bible) to be a part of who they are. Everyone has sinned but we need not stay there and make it a part of our everyday life. All of us can seek to confess (turn away from) our sins and ask Jesus’s blood to cleanse and cover us. We all have the choice to not sin and choose to always look to do what is right and honorable. May we go forth confessing and turning away from our sins, and seek to walk in God’s light of love, truth, and honor. Blessings, Angélique

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Luke 8:5-8 (ESV) In reading the parable of the sower in Luke 8, have you ever contemplated where you are in your spiritual journey? The seed represents God’s word. Let’s break down the four ways God’s word can be received in one’s life. The seeds that are out in the open, lying on the ground, represent those that hear God’s word however, they can be easily tempted and fall away rather quickly. They feel good about giving their lives to God initially but, if they don’t fully understand God’s word, instead of choosing to learn and seek to get closer to Him, they allow themselves to be easily persuaded and lured away. The seeds found on rocky ground represent those who hear God’s messages and are filled with immense joy. However, when trials and stresses of life appear (and they always will), they fall away because they too never sought to have a closer, deeper relationship with God and His word. They never allowed their roots (faith, trust & belief) in God to grow so when times become hard, they leave and no longer follow God. As for the seed that falls among the thorns, it represents those who allow the constant allure of pleasures and riches of this world, to pull them away from walking with God and reading/studying His word. However, the seed that falls on good soil represents those who seek to have a relationship with God. If they do not understand some of the passages in the Bible, instead of quitting, they will seek to get clarification. If troubles in this life fall on them and/or their loved ones, they run to God, as opposed to running away. They enjoy the wholesome pleasures the world offers but, they do not allow it to interfere with their walk, with their relationship with God. As you contemplate your life, and where you are in regard to your walk with God, I pray you allow the seed (God’s word) to fall on good soil. In reading the verses from the Bible as well as the descriptions above, allowing the seed to grow in good soil is not automatic. It’s not something superficial that one just thinks about, and suddenly happens. It takes consistent action in order to allow God’s seed, His word, to grow deep and strong roots in you. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com