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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 Whatever! This word, as it’s used in our modern-day era, can have a negative connotation attached to it. Many have used the “whatever” moniker to dismiss a situation or individuals as if what they are saying/doing is of no importance. Being used in this matter gives off a very condescending tone and many individuals have come to hate the word because of those negative undertones. However, as we see in God’s word from today’s passage, this word is not being used negatively nor is it being used to dismiss anyone. In the breaking down of this verse, let’s see what God is saying: Whatever is true…God is asking that our lives be one of truth. Where we seek it out and have truth be a part of our lives continuously. Whatever is honorable…Choosing to live a life of doing what is right for others, as well as in every situation. To seek a path that is not deceitful but one that shows high honor, always. Whatever is just… Live a life of being fair and honest in your everyday dealings with situations and others. Whatever is pure…Seek goodness and purity in life. Do not seek that which is impure and wicked. Whatever is lovely…Seek the good in life. In what you allow in your presence, especially what one may read, watch or listen to. Whatever is commendable…Seek to live a life where others will offer praise due to your consistent behavior and attitude toward life and others. Not that you are doing good to be praised but, you always seek to live a life of integrity that others will notice. God is looking for His children to lead a life that overall exhibits excellence in what we think, say, and do. One cannot control the negative connotation of the word ‘whatever’ as used by some but, we can strive to put into practice the ‘whatever’ God has outlined in His Holy Word. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) Mary the mother of Jesus was near the end of her pregnancy when her husband Joseph stated, they both had to travel to Bethlehem to register for the census. She like any other woman, who is preparing to give birth, would not choose to make such a journey at that stage of their pregnancy. Mary probably prayed earnestly asking God to have the trip delayed or for her not to have to go at all. But, she likely had the same attitude as she did when the angel gave her the news, that she would be the mother of the Son of God. Mary may have known about the prophecy regarding the birth of the Savior, that was to take place in Bethlehem however, she more than likely did not know of all plans that were set in motion and awaited their arrival. Some of the universe’s plans were: going to Bethlehem to register for the census, all the inns being full and they were given the stables as an alternative, the star in the sky shining brighter than ever before, the shepherds being told of the Savior’s birth, the Three Wise Men traveling to see this earthly marvel and who started their journeys (separately from their own countries) weeks before to arrive on time, Herod’s pride and jealousy, now at a high point where he would make the fateful decisions that he made. All of the above were plans set in place and were foretold many years before through the prophets. So, despite Mary’s prayers and desires, God’s plan to announce the birth of His son far exceeded her and Joseph’s temporary discomfort. As God’s children, we live life to the best of our abilities day by day. We have no way of knowing what the future holds for our lives or the lives of those around us. What we do know is that if we are connected and stay connected to God (the ultimate life source) no matter our future paths, all will work according to His timing and His purpose. I understand this notion can at times be painful to accept due to unforeseen loss. However, even if we do not understand fully now in our present life, we will understand in the eternal life yet to come with God. So, at times when we pray and feel the requests we make to God are small and of no consequence, pray and ask God anyway as He loves hearing from His children. And if/when those prayers are in His master plans, what you prayed for (and perhaps even more) will be granted to you. But, let us not fail to realize that God looks at the entire plan of life that we do not and cannot see. So if He does not grant our prayers, do not feel God does not hear nor care because He cares and loves us all very much. If we become disappointed or discouraged, may we remember the example of Jesus’s mother Mary, as well as many others throughout the Bible. “Dear Lord, may we pray to thank you for all you have provided, make our requests known, and ultimately state: may your will be done in our lives now, and always. Amen.” Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) Have you heard it said the Christian journey is not a sprint but a marathon? This statement is so true about life in general. I recently heard a sermon where the pastor preached that after we have gone through tough situations in life, we expect nothing but smooth sailing after having endured the hardships. We feel that once we’ve overcome, everything will be great and life will be good as we move forward. However, we fail to realize that sometimes our expectations, may not be in line with God’s plan. Many times in the Bible, various biblical characters had to overcome challenges and hardships, only to find more to come in the roads ahead. One must know the Bible is an account of God and His interactions with mankind after sin and its unfolding aftermath since creation. We need to realize there is a larger picture regarding life for all of mankind and that we cannot see nor fully understand it but, God does. And as His children, we need to adjust our wants/expectations to God’s ultimate will. We must realize that with the hardships we endure, God has strengthened us and will continue to do so as we forge ahead in this life. Of course, there will be times when we do have that blissful rest and great happiness after having overcome hard life situations. But, if we don’t have the rest we expect when we expected, we still must hold fast and know that God will bring us through. May we look at life with positive, expectant hope for our lives and our future. But with this outlook, may we ultimately trust in God’s plans and timing for our lives. If there seem to be trials that never end, I pray that you will just hold on and be able to endure. Be encouraged to keep moving forward and allowing God to strengthen you, as you forge ahead. May you be resilient and never give up and never lose faith/hope in God, and His ultimate plans. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV) Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) On your commute from your home to work, school, or running errands, have you ever stopped to thank God for your safe arrival? Many of us take for granted our goings and comings as we transverse this life. We take credit for our own safety and/or we give credit to other people, other objects, or environmental/structural designs of a place. But, have we ever stopped to think that our well-being and safety are not because of these individuals or things but, it is by the hand of God and His Holy Angels, who are continuously protecting and preventing calamity towards us? For instance, a quick trip to a store could have had so many detrimental obstacles that we did not even consider. For this “innocent/harmless” trip, Angels could have been working tirelessly to prevent harm that Satan and his angels have concocted for our destruction. And it is not just physical pitfalls they are preventing from occurring but, they also can prevent certain harmful people or situations to come and bring harm to our lives. Now, does this mean that we all can go through life and never experience harm in some form? No, it does not. I won’t attempt to debate why some go through really hard/difficult situations and others, seemingly not so much. However, one thing is certain, every human being on this planet will face hard/difficult times. Knowing this, we can take comfort in knowing God and His Angels will be with us every step of the way. I for one have a goal to make Heaven my permanent home. And when I get there, I intend to seek out Jesus and ask Him the hard questions that could not be answered here on Earth. Until then, may we seek to glorify and thank God always, for His continued protection from people and situations, seen and unseen. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) We live in a very chaotic, unstable world where it’s hard to find true contentment and peace on a consistent basis. Because we live in this sinful world, we all from time to time, will feel agitated and not in a state of true peace/contentment. So, one question people grapple with is this: ‘How does one function in life according to God‘s word, while trying to find peace when you don’t feel it? When you’re in an environment that does not promote a peaceful atmosphere?“ We all may have heard it said many times from those who are older and mature, that the kind of peace we seek, is only found in a relationship with God. It can be obtained by studying and applying His word to our lives, by attending a Bible-believing /teaching church, and, by having a consistent prayer life. For us to have true peace, it will be up to us to have faith to believe everything will eventually be okay, despite not seeing or feeling the contentment we seek. It is easier to have belief and faith in what we see and feel. However, it’s difficult to have true peace or faith, when you don’t feel it and you don’t see any change in the current situation. Do you recall the story of the little bird fast asleep in the clef of a rock while a fierce storm raged around him? This little bird did not waste energy fretting. He knew to just hold on and maintain trust in God, and eventually, the storm will cease. May we all seek to be like that little bird, trusting and having faith that God will be with us, and He’ll calm our storms, despite what may be occurring around us. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV) For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. Psalm 18:28 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 (ESV) “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In this world, there’s a lot of darkness in the form of hatred of others due to the way they look, their religious beliefs, their sexual orientation, their wealth or poverty, their social standing in society, etc. There is also envy and covetousness of another person’s objects or of the people who are connected to them. Beyond what is listed here, there are numerous other people, places, things, and situations, we know are also connected to evil or the darkness of this world. Even though there is evil and darkness in this sinful world, God gave all of us a way of escape through His Holy Word, belief/faith in His Son Jesus Christ, and listening to His Holy Spirit, the Comforter. When we live every day according to God’s holy precepts, we are lighting a candle that will and can, dispel the darkness. There will be times we may not see the darkness dispel but trust and believe, our light of God’s truth and love is working. I believe we all know that one lone candle or source of light, can fight back the darkness and, light a room or a dark area. Light always can dispel darkness. And the light we can choose to have by being connected to God will be able to shed light on our life’s path as well as the path of those around us. As it states in the first part of Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world…” and continuing in verse 16 it says this: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” May we seek to be the light this world so desperately needs. Let us light our candles of God’s promises of love, hope, peace, and kindness to all we meet. Every day as you live life, light your candle and keep it burning. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com #Candle

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 (ESV) The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16-17 (ESV) Blind Bartimaeus, ex-spouse, ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, beggar, spinster, homeless person, Drug addict, Alcoholic, ex-offender, obese man/woman, etc. There are so many labels others use to identify people by their current or past circumstances. Some of these labels are used with a negative, descriptive connotation however, some are positive and encouraging in their usage. In writing this I want to focus on the negative labels that society may have placed on you. Are there particular labels, you find others using when they seek to describe/identify you? Now at times, labels will have to be used to describe a person to another who may not be aware of whom they are referencing. That of course is understandable, especially if they choose to use those Identifiers respectfully. However, when a person chooses to use descriptors from a negative/condescending standpoint, that is when God is not pleased. One needs to be careful not to allow their emotional state to become affected by the negative words/labels uttered by others. We must not allow the labels people may use to define who we are based on the current circumstance/situation. In not allowing others to place negative labels on us, we must also refrain from using negative labels when describing others. We need to always keep in mind every person has had inner and outer battles and/or struggles while dealing with life. They may be in a situation where they have no control over the outcome of a matter or because of wrong choices in life, they find themselves in unfavorable circumstances. As a child of God, one must believe in the labels God has given His children as referenced throughout the Bible. Being that God is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and we are His children, our true labels should be either Prince or Princess; the true labels for children of the King. In the Bible verse for today, it says as children of God, we are His heirs, meaning heirs to His heavenly kingdom. So, if others try and place negative labels on you due to your past or current circumstances, know for certain those labels do not define who you truly are. Remember you are a son and daughter of the King of the Universe, the Most High God. Always remember you are royalty, you are loved. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34 (ESV) The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31 (ESV) The series of shooting events in the United States and other racially charged incidents that have occurred must have God crying over the behavior of His children. Shooting someone who’s ringing the doorbell, someone turning around in a driveway, killing someone asleep in their bed, harming a person who’s walking home with a hoodie on their head, killing someone who is jogging, and many other instances, is absolutely, positively, ludicrous!! People’s prejudice and biases are running rampant in the social construct of our current time in Earth’s history. Of course, it is not new to our country or the world but, it is tiring and getting old. It causes one to think and ask the question, “Haven’t we moved beyond these toxic ideals/thoughts that one race is better than another, due to the lighter pigmentation of skin tone?” It’s really disturbing and shocking to realize people are being radicalized by listening to and/or watching various people and media pundits, who are putting out sick/toxic extremism, and racially charged narratives. Individuals are allowing this toxicity to infiltrate their mindset and their thinking, and then looking to act out against someone different from their class or group. I’ve written a couple of blogs a while back titled God‘s Kids that touched on this topic. God made each and every one of us with different shapes, hair/eye colors, as well as skin colors. As the Father of all creation, He has the right to color this world, as He wishes. When we look around at all of creation, we don’t see only one type of plant, animal, flower, etc. We see an array of various created species, all over the world. So, with other non-human creations that God made, why can’t people accept the concept that He too can have variety as it relates to His human children? It baffles me how people can feed on and allow false/toxic narratives to permeate their minds and in turn cause their irrational thought patterns and behaviors. They falsely believe lies about others and their superiority because they happen to belong to a particular racial group and/or religious class. However, we all must understand and get this in our minds, no one race or group of people is superior to another. All of us are fallen, sinful human beings, who need salvation. And that salvation has come to our world through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No one who has lived, is living or who will live in the future is perfect except for Jesus. No one else can boast that they are perfect and have it all. Every person will have ups and downs in life and we all will have areas in our lives, that we need to work on by God’s grace. As we look to God and His holy precepts, may we allow His ways to infiltrate our minds and our hearts. May we pray constantly and work on our attitudes and our actions and behaviors toward our fellow human beings, so that we will not behave in a manner that will bring harm to ourselves or others. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 (ESV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) I recently saw a video where a young pastor mentioned that in his youth, he was in charge of getting portfolio packets together for various teams. He was a newly baptized Christian and he was in charge of stapling the packets together. As he worked, he felt impressed to have everything lined up perfectly and to make sure each staple went in with precision. Looking back on that behavior, many would shrug and ask ‘What’s the big deal’? But to him, he was doing this for the glory of God and it was important. When I thought about that story I wondered, how many of us take to heart the tasks that we do daily? No matter where we are, no matter to whom we are working, and no matter the task; as we do the work, are we working to honor God? The task could be something menial, it could be something complex/of great importance or anything in between. The point is, our focus should not be the work itself but, our attitude and thoughts while performing our tasks. Are we seeking to perform to the best of our abilities? Are we seeking to honor God? Or, are we just giving the bare minimum in effort? Our challenge for today and going forward should be to seek to have God and His principles always before us. Let’s always seek to tell ourselves that as we work, let’s strive to give glory and honor to God, with everything we do. May we look to perform our daily tasks, no matter what they are, with the attitude that we will do our best as if we are working directly for our Father in Heaven. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. James 3:9 (ESV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Did you know King Solomon (the wisest man that ever lived) wrote 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs and within those chapters, he devoted 150 proverbs to the subject of controlling our tongue/our speech? Do we realize, our words have the power to heal or to destroy others, as well as ourselves? We think some of the hurtful things we say only affect others but, in some ways, it harms us as well. Being human it is understandable that we will get angry from time to time and want to say hurtful words at another, in an attempt to “get back” at them. To lash out and seek to hurt them as they have hurt us. In the past, I know I have been guilty of this behavior; lashing back at others with angry words, because of the harm they caused. However, we all know this is not the behavior we should have and, we must work to master our reactions to others, most importantly our speech. We need to make sure to not allow uncontrolled anger and resentment to build and fester inside. If we do, and we allow it to build up, there will come a point where it will unleash in the form of uncontrolled words and actions. And then, after everything calms down, we can very well experience hurt, sadness, and regret over our behavior. To be successful in life we all must learn to control our tongues and our speech. We must learn how to communicate with others in an effective, uplifting manner while learning how to avoid using destructive speech patterns to communicate. As the Bible verses above state, as humans, we have the capacity to give blessings to God and then in the same breath spew out curses to others. This should not be and our Father in Heaven is definitely not pleased. My prayer is that we seek to get closer to God and His word daily. May we put into daily practice the usage of uplifting and kind words, as our normal speech pattern. When we seek God’s ways and put into practice His words of wisdom, we will gain strength and understanding so when those trying times come our way, we will find ourselves better equipped to respond in a manner pleasing to God. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (ESV) What comes to mind when you think of proximity to someone, like a spouse/mate, relative, or friend? Usually, you look up to these individuals and want to be like them in some way; especially if they are loving, kind, and healthy people to emulate. Having proximity to certain individuals and/or groups of people, will usually cause one to take on their characteristics, their values and possibly mimic their personality to a very great degree. As we grow and mature in life, all of us should look to emulate positive role models to help in honing our character and life skills, which will be needed as we interact with others throughout our lifetime. But, before looking to emulate fallible human beings, has it ever occurred that we should look to emulate God? Have we given a thought to developing proximity to God and His son Jesus Christ who lived on this Earth, and who gave us an example of how we as humans should behave? With all that goes on with life’s, ups and downs, it would behoove us to seek to shape our personalities and to adopt characteristics based on Godly principles. It’s tempting at times to emulate worldly, famous people, or those we see on social media. But what we fail to realize, is that all of us were created by our Father in Heaven. He knows us inside and out! He knows all of us better than we know ourselves. So who better to emulate than our Creator? When seeking other people to emulate, choose wise, Godly individuals to follow/to copy. Now, there may be some good characteristics of those who are worldly and who do not lead Godly lives but, be wise and use Godly principles to discern what to emulate and allow into your life. However, the best decision for all of us would be to seek proximity to God and His principles and emulate the Divine Creator of us all. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2: (ESV) But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 1 john 3:17 (ESV) In many societies of the world, there is an underlying thinking that is constantly being pushed and encouraged and that is ME, ME, ME!! Thinking that says it’s all about me!! It’s all about what I want/need to make ME feel good, what makes ME happy, and the meaning of life is ME, ME, ME!!! How utterly contrary this thought is to the Bible teachings and the example Jesus lived while He was here on Earth. When we look at babies and little ones whose brains and emotions are not fully developed, it is acceptable and understood their reactions will always center on me, me, me. This of course is to be expected. But when it comes to adults, who should be emotionally mature and/or maturing, it’s unacceptable. Not saying anything is wrong with at times needing to pamper and take care of ourselves when needed. Even Jesus took time out to pray and be alone with God. The time he needed to regroup and recharge. So taking time out to care for yourself is essential/necessary. But the pervasive thought of ME, ME, ME, goes way beyond that! God would long for His children to stop placing major focus/concentration on ourselves and for us to look around at those in need, and place some of that focus on helping them. Not saying we can take care of all the ills and problems of this world but, we each can use some of that energy/focus, into helping those in need. To make it a life practice and/or habit of reaching out to others and helping them. Whether it be financially, physically, or just emotionally, God would love for us as His children, to seek to be available to assist others. Every one of us has gifts and talents given by God that we can use to help our fellow human beings. How beautiful it would be to bless another by utilizing our natural gifts and abilities. There is beauty in our world however, there is also a lot of darkness and pain. If we would be willing to shine our lights, and our talents into the craziness of this world, what a different place it would be. Think about this, if every human being adopts God’s ideals of how we should behave, this world would already be heaven on earth. So in going forward in this life of course, take some time to care for yourself but do so in a healthy and balanced manner. And then, seek to make it a practice to use your gifts/natural abilities, to reach out and help someone in need. Some of us may never know how our acts of kindness made a positive impact on another’s life. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com