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And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:3 (ESV) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9 (ESV)   For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  Mark 8:36 (ESV) Greed : the intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.  Greed is the driving force for a lot of the ills we find in most societies today. A few people on the top of the financial wealth and power hierarchy, are driven by greed, in order to have more: more money, more position, more dominance, more power, and the list can go on and on. Continuing this series on what makes God sad, greed is definitely one of them.    God is sad because He knows the destruction greed causes and the ripple effect of how it can impact so many people; especially the greed of money, position, and power. People are obsessed with wanting preeminence, power, and money, and will do whatever it takes to obtain it, no matter the harm it causes others. They already have plenty of whatever they are trying to obtain, yet they are never satisfied, it is always never enough.   Currently, all over the world, you see this being played out with various political systems/regimes. Those who have power and control are destroying democracy and reveling in putting fear and anxiety in the hearts of many people who do not have the same level of power, money, and influence. Of course, this type of behavior is sickening to God. Every human being is a child of God and was created by Him.  And for one group to feel they are superior to another group, is utterly and completely ridiculous to God. We are all given different talents and gifts, and different roles to play in life but, that does not mean one person is better than another. Of course, God wants all His children to strive for excellence and to achieve personal goals but, He does not want it to come at the expense of another’s well-being nor, does He want our efforts to lead to sin.    Despite greed and the repercussions it causes, we still can choose to overcome this sin by clinging to God and spreading His message of love, hope, and encouragement to everyone we meet. Of course, we all have to hang in there when the effects of greed hinder our lives personally. Just remember God is with us, and will be there every step of the way as we navigate life.  Continue to lift in prayer those who are bent on greed and destruction. Continue to shine God’s love and hope, and pray they will turn away from this evil, and into His marvelous light.   Blessings, Angélique   To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place. Acts 17:26 (ESV) 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)   I am beginning a series that God put on my heart that touches on things humans do, that makes God sad and disappointed in His children. Today we will touch on hatred and racism.   Since Bible times and up to the present day, people have always engaged in some form of hatred and dislike for another group of people. In every area of the United States and in other countries around the world, there is disdain and at times hatred toward others due to race, ethnicity, wealth, religion, gender, societal position/status, etc. This pervasive sin and evil, that people instill in their children and is encouraged to grow and fester, both angers and saddens our Father in Heaven.   God did not create this world and all the people that inhabit His world, to hate each other and cause harm whether it be mental, emotional, or physical. He allows everyone to have free will and free choice in their actions and treatment of others. With this power He expects everyone to behave in a respectful and kind manner to all. Even if one has grown up in a hate-filled, negative environment, they still have the choice to continue, or not , with those past thoughts and behaviors.   For those who have to daily deal with forms of hatred and racism, whether it be full-on or, microaggressions, please consistently turn to God in prayer, His word, and look to join a Bible-believing/teaching church. We all must constantly stay prayed up and on guard with the shield of faith, truth, and love. Despite the anger and hurt felt due to the negativity, one must try to be respectful, and empathetic and seek to pray for those who are still in darkness with their attitudes and behaviors. Because if you harbor anger and resentment, it will affect your health as opposed to the person or persons that you are targeting. You want to be healthy and not carry around this same type of negativity that is inside of them.   For those who feel empowered by spreading evil and hatred, may you too realize that this is not the way to live and let go of this sick thinking and behavior. You too need to turn to God, asking for forgiveness and seek to walk in His light of hope and love. Look to stop treating people as if they are dirt beneath your feet, but instead, as fellow sisters and brothers of the King Most High. It is never too late for anyone to learn to have humility, empathy, and love for their fellow human beings.   May we all seek to be a beacon of hope, light, and love, that God has created us to be. May we all work to spread these attributes to this dark and dying world.   Blessings, Angélique   To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 (ESV)   During a morning devotion, it occurred to me that with every aspect of our lives, we should walk with God. Walking with God does not only mean physical, but it also refers to our relational, emotional, and spiritual walk with our Lord and Savior.   In the physical sense of walking with God, we need to be mindful of the bodies He has given us. We need to treat our bodies with love and respect and, we should look to give them the proper care and rest needed to function at peak performance. We honor God by using our physical bodies to adhere to His precepts and, by witnessing/ministering to others. The Bible mentions in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 the importance of our bodies to God. The verses basically state our bodies are our temples in which the Holy Spirit dwells.   In our walk with God relationally, we honor Him by the way we interact with other people. Whether it be a spouse, children, other family members, friends, coworkers, church members, neighbors, etc. In all aspects and with everyone we meet, God expects us to give our best and in doing so, we are upholding His principles and being a guiding light to the world.   This world in which we live has a lot of crazy things happening daily. Because of this, it is even more important for us to be vigilant with our emotional and mental health. Despite the darkness that we see in other people and the world at large, may we seek to connect daily with God.  May we allow His light and love to permeate our thoughts and our hearts, and then in turn radiate that light to the rest of the world.     And finally, spiritually, may we daily feed on God‘s Holy word and exercise faith and trust in Him. May we believe in God despite what we see happening all around us every day. We may not understand in this life why God allows certain things to happen. At the end of time and in the Earth made new, we will understand. However, until then, we must constantly seek Him and continue to exercise our spiritual faith and belief in God and that His divine will be done.   Let us seek to walk with God in all aspects of our lives and to daily fortify our lives with the spiritual food that God provides.   Blessings, Angélique   To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”  1 King 8:61 (ESV) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14 (ESV) Covenantal love is a type of love that is faithful, generous, and unconditional. It is characterized by commitment and a promise that is based not on feelings, but on a decision to choose to love and to seek the other person’s best interest.   When wanting a permanent relationship, like marriage, for example, everyone should strive to have covenantal love for their partner. So, when disagreements arise ( because they will from time to time ), you will look to resolve those differences with the utmost respect and care for each other. Covenantal love is not based on feelings, that are always up and down. For instance, there will be times you may not feel  in love or have that fiery passion for your spouse. But, due to your covenantal love and commitment, you will choose to work out your differences, and your disagreements, and choose to stay together and look to rekindle the passion and fire for one another once again.   A true, Godly marriage is an example of what covenantal love should be. God loves us, His children, with this type of strong love and holy commitment. Even though we are constantly breaking His heart with our actions and behaviors, towards Him and each other, He still decides to love us, to die for us, and to save us. God‘s desire is for all of us to be saved, and to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.   May we all seek to have covenantal love in all our relationships. Whether it is with a spouse, a family member, or a close friend. May we love and care for each other as God expects, with honesty, purity, and respect, one for the other.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

"He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep" Psalm 78:15–17 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  The earth shook, the rocks split, and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. Matthew 27:50–52     Have you ever felt weighed down due to life’s troubles? Someone close hurt you and you never thought they would, you lost a loved one that should still be here, you have encountered financial problems and wonder how you are going to pay the bills, you have received a bad diagnosis, and the list can go on and on. These and many other problems will weigh us down and make us feel there is no hope or joy in life any longer.   While listening to a recent sermon and reading the above verses in the Bible, I felt God leading me to write this post to encourage us whenever life challenges weigh us down. We need to remember that the Almighty God, Yahweh, the Creator of Heaven, and Earth, can split rocks for you, as well as for me! There is no situation or problem, that God cannot turn around for our good.   In the Bible, it describes God, splitting a rock in the middle of the desert, and allowing water to gush forth and nourish the parched Children of Israel. In using divine imagination, I can see God dividing the Red Sea and surely moving/splitting rocks from the seabed, to clear a way for the Children of Israel to cross through. And the ultimate splitting of rocks came when God split rocks to open the tombs of the saints, after the death of His Son Jesus Christ.   When we are faced with difficulties in dealing with our own struggles in life, may we always remember that God can and will split rocks on our behalf. He knows our present and our future, and He knows when it is time to split the rocks that are an obstacle in our lives. Trust God to lead you through your difficulties and praise Him even now, for the rocks He will split for you! Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:14 (ESV) “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)   2025 is just around the corner. In the United States and perhaps in other countries as well, new political parties or regimes will be taking command of their governments. Also, in the coming year, individuals will start new chapters in their lives, whether they are retiring, getting older and downsizing, moving into retirement communities, moving to a new city/state, becoming empty-nesters, moving on from the loss of a loved one via divorce or death, and the list can go on and on. When change occurs, do you find yourself devastated because of the changes? Ask yourself this question, where and with whom did you place your faith and hope?   When we place all our hope on getting a job, making money, living in an expensive house/neighborhood, or placing it on our looks/bodies, we are not being wise. What happens if the job does not work out? The house is costing more to upkeep/maintain than initially thought? You spend a lot of time, energy, and money on your looks and then a sickness, accident, or injury occurs, what then? Sometimes we unwittingly place so much focus/hope on things and situations, we cannot control.   How about placing hope on other people? Some place hopes on their spouses, their children, other family members, friends, etc. As much as we depend/rely on our family and friends, we ultimately have no control over our lives or theirs. The amount of time we all have here on earth is up to God, not us. Others can leave us voluntarily or involuntarily and if we place a great amount of hope and faith in them when they are gone, we are left devastated and possibly falling into a deep depression.   Above are just a few examples of putting our hope in people, places, and things, as opposed to the one and only, Father in Heaven. Connecting and staying connected to God with prayer, Bible study, and attending a Bible-believing church, is what is needed to keep us focused on trusting God. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Yes, we are to make good choices and to live, learn, and grow, until God returns. However, we need to realize our true and ultimate hope and trust cannot be in people, places, or things; it must only be in the one true Creator, God. Because when situations occur, and they always will , you will be able to get through that trying time when your hope and faith are in God and His plan. We need to be anchored in God and His Son Christ Jesus, to withstand the winds of change in this world.   My prayer for everyone going into this new year and the years to come is to place your faith, your trust, and your hope in God and His will for your life and the lives of your loved ones. Do not place your ultimate trust/faith in people, places, or things. Instead, place the core of your hope and trust in God and God alone. May you have a safe and happy 2025. Happy New Year!!   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV)   DEI, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a hot topic of discussion with various individuals in the U.S. and quite possibly the rest of the world. From one end of the spectrum to the other, there are varying opinions about diversity in today’s society. However, I am not here to debate DEI, especially from a corporate prospect, but I am here to remind everyone that God is the author and creator of diversity in His world.   One can just look around the planet and see the diversity that is constantly on display. A lush forest, fields of plants and flowers, the types of animals on land and in the sea, various terrains--whether it is mountainous or valleys, the diverse weather patterns throughout the world, etc. One can go on and on citing many examples of the diversity in the earth God has created.   God, the creator of this planet and human beings, could have made everyone and everything look and taste the same. Every part of His creation could have been identical to each other if God did not embrace diversity. However, based on all of God’s creation, diversity is not to be eliminated but celebrated! As you read further in Revelation Chapter 7, the Bible states there will be multitudes holding palm branches and singing songs of worship to God. These multitudes are not people who are identical to one another. They are all from various backgrounds and various parts of the world.   Diversity has always been part of God‘s plan on this beautiful earth He has created. And within that diversity, God is expecting every one of His children, His creation, to accept and love each other as Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. We may not agree with the lifestyle choices of some, and those choices may go against what God says in the Bible. But it is not for us to condemn or judge these people. It is for us to love them and show them God‘s love and His will for their lives. All are given free choice and free will, and it is up to individuals to seek to make a change. In the interim, we are to accept and care for God‘s people and continue spreading His message of love, light, and hope, to this dark and dying world.   Celebrate the diversity around you and reach out and get to know someone who may not be from your race/ethnicity, religious background, or social/economic status. Be God’s true child and look to show His love and acceptance of the diversity of His world.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31 (ESV)   So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV) Have you ever felt you do not have the luxury of not  being, okay? You may be parents with children still in the home, a single parent, have a stressful job, financial difficulties, dealing with health challenges, marital strife, and the list can go on and on. While handling the various challenges of life, people on the outside may feel you have it all together   and always seem to be okay. In addition, you feel as if you must put on a front for others letting them believe you are fine and have it all together. However, the truth is you do not have it all together, and you are emotionally, mentally, and physically tired, of constantly behaving as if you do.   We are human and there will be times when we are not okay, and we need to be honest and stop pretending otherwise. In all honesty, none of us can handle life at 100%, all the time. This is the time we must admit we are not okay, and we need to rest and take time out to recharge.   If anyone feels that taking time out to rest and recharge is not enough, and they are having deeper mental and emotional struggles, please do not hesitate to reach out to a professional counselor/therapist, to get the help that you need.   God gives all of us strength to run the race of life. But He also expects us to take time out to rest and recharge. He knows if we do not take mental, emotional, and physical breaks, we run the risk of making mistakes and causing harm to ourselves or others.   So, take time out to rest and know that it is okay, to not always be okay.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)   How many times do we choose to continuously seek to enjoy our comforts, rather than look to serve God with our gifts and talents? Each of us have been given the gift of life and have been bestowed with various callings, and various gifts/talents. God placed each of us here for a reason and a purpose, and it is not just to pleasure ourselves and to bask in various comforts. With our unique gifts/skills, God expects us, His children, to go out and impact this world for good. There’s so much evil, hatred, jealousy, division, etc., that this world needs God’s light of love and hope. Spreading God’s message to the world is one of the main reasons why we are here on this earth.   Now, of course, God does not mind His children enjoying the comforts of this world and taking some time to relax and get away. But a lot of us will focus on getting what we want out of life and will put God’s ministry of sharing the gospel on a back shelf. We do this when we get stuck in our comfortable routines, and our constant striving to get more, more, more. However, at some point, there should come a time when we must ask ourselves, what is more important, God‘s calling for my life or my comfort? I believe many of us are guilty from time to time looking to choose comfort over seeking to do more for the kingdom of God. I pray that many will begin to turn away from always seeking to be comfortable and will begin branching out and using their talents to evangelize and be a witness for Christ, in order to bring more people to Him. This world is wicked and is starving (whether they know it or not) to hear God’s gospel.   May I encourage us all to not just seek comforts in life but to look to be a witness, using our various talents for God. There are so many who need to hear the good news of the gospel; that Jesus Christ who died and resurrected for all of humanity, will be coming back soon for His children.   Calling or comfort? Look to choose calling as much as possible!   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 5:20 (ESV) I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. Psalm 7:17 (ESV) I have a question. Do we look to thank God daily for what He has done for us? Or do we always feel we need to see miracles and wonders?   I read that a pastor did the following exercise at his church. He asked everyone to list their prayer requests and their needs of God and to bring them to the front and form a line. He then asked for them to list their praise reports and bring those to the front. What resulted was a large crowd going up for prayer requests but not as many for the praises and thanksgiving. What he discovered when he polled the congregation is that some felt they did not have anything “big” happen to them so, they did not see a reason to list any praises. This made me think, do we need to have something “big” happen to us, for us to praise and show gratitude to God? Or can we be thankful and give Him praise for the little things He does every day of our lives.   Thanksgiving in the United States took place yesterday, Thursday Nov. 28, 2024. For this Thanksgiving season and everyday, I would hope we look to constantly give praises and thanks to God for every aspect of our lives. We may not have everything we want and what we have asked for may not materialize. But as we grow in spiritual maturity, may we give praises to God and thank Him for our lives and the lives of our loved ones. May we not look to only give praises when a “big” miraculous event occurs in our lives. Instead, let us strive to always have a praise report to give because of the continued blessings He bestows on us.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.  Romans 12:6-8 (ESV) We all can agree that when we see/hear dynamic preachers, as well as singers sharing uplifting worship music, it can be said they have been gifted with wonderful abilities/talents from God. And sometimes when we see these larger-than-life individuals, whether they are involved in preaching, evangelism, writing, music ministry, etc., at times we will compare our talents to theirs and feel we are lacking. But this thought process is so far from the truth.   God wants us to allow ourselves to be available  to go out and uplift the people in this world. God does not want us to be concerned about our abilities versus others. He wants us to focus on our naturally gifted talents and to use those abilities to spread His message to the world. For example, if you’re an individual that has a sunny-uplifting personality, and likes to greet people, being a greeter at your church is a wonderful ministry for you. Outside of the church, one can look to spread that emotional sunshine and happiness to others you meet. You may not preach a sermon but, by giving someone a wonderful greeting can touch the other person in ways we may never know.   In another example, there are those gifted in cooking. One can seek to make meals for other individuals. They can take it to an elderly person/neighbor who doesn’t get out much or an elderly church member. They can bless a new mom who just gave birth or a single mom who is tired and overwhelmed with caring for herself and her children. By sharing a meal, one could spark a conversation or even a friendship and in time, share God’s message of love, hope & peace. In addition, there are those who are good with crafts and making items with their hands. They can look to give gifts to others and/or sell their crafts and use the money to help other people in need.   The point is, God is looking for individuals who will not focus on their talents or lack thereof but, will focus on being available  to be used by God. Look to pray and ask God to show you the talents He has given you and how they can be used to further the gospel. God does not want us to compare our gifts/talents with others. We are all individual and unique and need to be content with what talents we have been given. God just wants us to be available to use them to shed His light and positivity, to change the world.   So, go out and spread God's messages, using your beautiful abilities/talents that you have been gifted from our Father above.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.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) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 (ESV) When humans engage in darker emotions of hatred and “othering” people, a deep divide and polarization can occur. People can become so entrenched in their evil and dark thoughts towards others, that they begin to think this is reality but, it can be so far from the truth. They conveniently “forget” that people different from them are also humans created by God who have feelings, the same body functions, etc. Instead of realizing we are stronger together as God’s children, they allow darker thoughts to prevail and then division and dissension arise.   God knows the children and the world He created. He knows our thoughts as well as what the future holds. Throughout His Holy Word, He has made it clear that He wants us to walk in the light of love and spread hope, peace, respect, integrity, etc. With His light we can crush darkness, which is hatred, division, arrogance, envy, malice, destruction, and the list can go on and on.   One of the ways to shine God’s light of love is to daily fill up with His word and to pray. We need to constantly ask for guidance on handling evil and negativity that we will encounter, and to know how we are to respond. Eventually, many people who have hatred and dark thoughts in their hearts and minds will turn from their darkness into the light of love and hope. Honestly, this is part of the great commission God has called us all to do; to spread His message to all the world.   Seek to show kindness daily to all you meet. Especially reach out to others who do not look like you and seek to help and /or get to know them. Volunteer to help in various programs that serve the underprivileged, the elderly, and people who are marginalized.   When we look to daily shine God’s light of love, it will definitely crush the darkness of this world.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com