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Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8 (ESV) How many times do you find yourself trying to assimilate a person into various groups or gatherings? Whether they felt comfortable with the idea or not? If they by nature were introverted, you and others would “push” them to be included at all gatherings, whether or not they wanted to be. I read a story recently that was eye-opening and very inspiring. It involved a son-in-law who was introverted and who really didn’t feel comfortable being in the middle of large family gatherings. Now, there were some in the family who complained that he was not in the area with all of them but, he was in another room reading. However, when this was told to the matriarch, the mother-in-law, she was elated. She knew he needed to unplug and did not want to be around the livelier group on a constant basis. So, she found out his favorite author, bought the latest book, and placed it in another room next to the recliner, in the hopes he would find it and begin reading. She understood that he needed to plug into what makes him feel comfortable, which in this case was sitting quietly by himself and reading. In this story, the mother-in-law showed an excellent example of relational maturity. She taught a valuable lesson to the other members that everyone is not “wired” the same. We need to allow others to process life and approach various gatherings in their own unique way and not let them feel out of place. She taught everyone to not let others feel as if something was wrong with them because they were not joining the main group. The above example describes different personalities. However, there are many other differences we will come across in life: various ethnicities, cultures, physical attributes, religions, political parties, etc. The main point is that we need to allow individuals to be who they are, and not try to force them to assimilate so that they can “fit in” with the rest of the group. In the story above, I am sure the introverted family member at times was a part of the main group. However, there were times when he needed to decompress and to be alone. As we go about life, may we learn to look upon others as God’s children and appreciate their unique differences. May we not make others feel they are not welcome because they do not behave the way we want them to. May we have the behavior God intended by showing love, respect, and kindness to everyone we meet. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:13 (NIV) I had a conversation not too long ago regarding being seen and noticed in this polarized world we live in today. There are many people who go about their day who may not be in a committed relationship, do not live with family, and their friends are few or, there’s none at all. At this stage in their lives, they are alone. And we discussed that what all people really want is to be seen and for their existence to be acknowledged. When looking around, we see it’s not just family, friends, church members, co-workers, etc. It’s also the store cashier, a food service worker, or anyone who works in the service industry. They all want to be acknowledged, to be appreciated, to be seen by others. When seeking to give acknowledgments, it doesn’t have to be over the top or a grand gesture. It can be done just by simply saying hello with a smile. A simple “Hello how are you”, “Thank you for your help or service”, “Have a nice day”, “Make it a great day”, “God’s Blessings to you and your family”, etc. These are just a few positive, uplifting phrases that one can say to another, that lets them know they are acknowledged, they matter, and they are seen. For all we know, it could be the only positive/uplifting messages they have received all day. In the verse above, Hagar acknowledges God sees her during her time of need. We all must remember that God acknowledges us, He sees us, He loves us. If we perhaps do not get positive acknowledgments from one day to the next, we can rest assured that God loves and cares for us. He formed us in our mother’s womb (see Psalms 139:13-15). He knows every single hair on our head which He numbered (see Luke 12:7). Have you ever stopped to think about those facts? So, when things are not going well in our lives and the lives of our loved ones, we can rest in the knowledge that God not only sees us and the situation but, He is also working out a plan. We can trust and believe He will be with us no matter what. All of us will have times, and seasons of life when we may find ourselves alone. During those times, instead of waiting for others to reach out to us, let us seek to reach out to them and show kindness and love. If possible, may we let them know we worship and praise the God who sees us. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. Psalm 119:9 (ESV) Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. Proverbs 19:2 (ESV) Dating in today’s 21st century is so different from centuries in the past, especially for Christians, who are looking to date in today’s modern world. For the most part, dating many years ago used to be very respectful and considerate, especially with a young man seeking to date or court a young lady. But in today’s societies, a lot of that respect, consideration, and discipline, regarding what should and should not happen within a dating relationship, has gone away. In today’s society, there are very loose expectations, parameters, or boundaries when dating. People are encouraged to just have fun, be open, and be willing to participate in a lot of different activities/behaviors that are not physically or emotionally healthy and, most definitely not Godly. Dating rules by worldly standards will have no direction or intentionality in the relationship. In those relationships, one is encouraged to just live and let live, be easy/free, and do whatever makes a person” feel good”. However, in contrast, in Christian dating, there will be a clear direction of where one wants the relationship to go, and they will engage in having clean fun and targeted intentionality. In Bible times if a man and woman were dating, they would have a courtship of about a year that was not consummated (meaning no sex) until after they were married. And during that year, the direction of the relationship and the intentionality was clear. Fast forwarding a few years from Bible times, there was respect and intentionality in dating or courting as it was called at the time. A young man would go and ask a young lady’s parents’ permission to take their daughter out on a date. They would date very innocently and respectfully for a few months, and eventually, they would become engaged and then marry. For those who are single and seek a Godly relationship, be encouraged to date with intentionality and direction. In researching this topic and speaking with others, below are my thoughts/suggestions on the stages of Christian dating: Friend-dating Stage: This is a term I use to describe when you first meet someone, and when there are no labels of boyfriend/girlfriend at this time. This stage should be light, fun, casual, but very intentional. Dating should be in groups as well as some one-on-one dates at various locales, and not in one or the other’s home. Even though there are no permanent labels at this point the direction and intentionality should be known that you want to get to know this person and, to see if it should move forward. At this stage, if you don’t find the compatibility there for whatever reason, do not move to the next step. End the relationship as friends and move on. Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Exclusive Stage: Before moving to this stage, it should be clear/understood this is not a causal relationship any longer. At this stage, you’re both clear that you are working towards the direction of engagement and then marriage. In this phase, you’re making sure to introduce your partner to family and friends and engage with family activities on both sides. Seeking to have serious discussions about the relationship, the future, and what that looks like for the both of you. If you’re continuing strong in this phase, and before moving to the next (engagement), it might be a good idea to have pre-engagement counseling. Engagement Stage: At this stage, the wedding is being planned and pre-marital counseling should be underway. From my research, many pastors mentioned that the engagement does not have to be years and years in duration. A point was made that in Bible times, most people were married as soon as their year of courtship/engagement ended. Many of the pastors suggested usually six to eight months after becoming engaged, the wedding should be held, not years and years later. I encourage any single person to consider intentional Christian dating in their efforts to find their future spouse. Before you begin dating, make a list of your boundaries, as well as what you’re looking for in a mate. Be clear on who you are, and do not allow yourself to change to please another. Next week, we will look at celibacy and dating in the 21st Century. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV) But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:2 (ESV) In the world we live in today, there are various types of thoughts and philosophies about dating. There are open relationships, having multiple partners, engaging in sex before marriage, and the list can go on and on. And for those who want to walk in line with God’s word, a lot of times they’ll be ridiculed by friends, family, and society at large, for adhering to God’s principles. There are many topics to cover in the dating arena, but today we’ll focus on celibacy within the dating relationship. There are good reasons why God in the Bible gives instructions for one to wait to engage in sexual activity after marriage. Our Creator knows the physical and emotional repercussions that can occur, by having sex outside of a holy covenant relationship. Some of those repercussions can be unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, feelings of doubt, and questioning why you engaged in sex with this person. It can also lead a person to question their abilities/their performance and whether or not they please their partner. In addition, others engage in sex seeking a loving/committed relationship and/or feel they “have to” engage, in order to “keep” the other person. They feel pressured into sexual relationships so as not to be thought of as “strange or weird” because everyone is having sex outside of marriage. These various thoughts and emotions can lead many to not be true to themselves or their values when dating. There are many situations where a person is not ready for a sexual relationship and regrets entering into the sexual arena within the dating scene. One other factor many do not realize or think about when entering into a sexual relationship with another is the fact that they are creating soul ties with this other person. One will forever carry around a part of this other person, long after the relationship has ended. Another major problem that can occur when engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage, is that the person you’re with could have glaring red flags before your physical encounter. Had you not engaged in sex, you might have ended the relationship and moved on. But once a person engages in sex, you create that soul tie/that bond, so now you’re striving to make the relationship work, despite the serious misgivings you had in the beginning. Depending on the physical encounter, one might start seeing green flags in place of the definite red ones. One can end up defending this person and their behaviors to others, who can see clearly the type of individual they are. But due to the sexual/physical nature of the relationship, your senses are not as sharp or discerning as they once were, and you’ll begin to view them through “rose-colored” glasses. When deciding to be celibate before marriage, there are many resources to guide you. The first is to always read the Bible and maintain a close relationship with God. In addition, seek out various YouTube videos from pastors and other couples who have shared their stories and testimonies. There are books for both men and women that will give insight and encouragement on your celibate journey while dating. Within these resources, you also will find practical tips on how to conduct yourself while dating. Giving you advice on what you should and should not do, so as not to fall into temptation. Do not think that you’re strong enough to engage in certain “activities” or get close to the “edge” and not fall. Many strong individuals have fallen into temptation and regretted it afterward. Ultimately, do what works for you but, make sure your boundaries are in place and they align with God’s word. May God’s blessings be with you as you navigate Christian dating in today’s world. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore, let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. Romans 14:10-13 (ESV) “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; Luke 6:23 (ESV) 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. Are you a character assassin? Are you one who constantly picks apart others and judges them based on their appearance, their economic status, their culture, their religious beliefs, etc.? In the verses above, God speaks to us about judging others. So often when one seeks to criticize or put down another, this is usually an indication of their own unresolved issues that need to be addressed. And instead of seeking to address their issues in a healthy manner, they resort to pointing fingers and judging others, assassinating their characters and their value to the world. In truth, we all will discuss different individuals or situations and give our opinions. But we have to be careful that our opinions and words, don’t turn into judgment and a takedown of other individuals. All of us are sinners who have been saved by grace through the death of Jesus Christ. None of us are perfect and none of us are without sin. Everyone has faults and struggles as they transverse this life. Some may appear to have it all together and perfect from the outside but, that is not true for any human being. Throughout their life, they too have had challenges and struggles like every other individual. So let us not seek to look down upon, or judge another, because we feel (for whatever reason) they are less than what we consider ideal and/or perfect. God’s word states we are judging others by the “speck” in their eye but missing or ignoring the large log” in our own eyes!! This should definitely not be!! As stated in Ephesians 4:29, let us not allow corrupt talk to come out of our mouths but let us speak good and uplifting words about others. May we exhibit grace and forgiveness to others who are on this journey of life. May we continuously seek to pray that everyone in time develops the character that God would want us all to have. Blessings, Angélique To contact:  Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

“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

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 (ESV) Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) Have you ever prayed “never” prayers? These are the prayers as stated in the verses above that signifies how God will never leave us, nor give up on us. I believe all of us have prayed and cried out to God at various times in our lives and referred to these verses from time to time. Even when our belief and our faith was weak, we still clung to the hope that God would hear us and supply all of our needs. As we approach each new day, may we pray to God using the “never” verses. May we seek to call out to Him and quote the Bible passages where God states He will never leave us. May we daily choose to believe God and His promises, despite how we feel and what we see happening in the world. All of us have a desire to see the world become a better and safer place. At times it becomes hard to believe God is with us when we look at all the negative and destructive forces, actively working to destroy individuals, families, and societies at large. However, despite what we see and have experienced, God is asking for us to trust Him and, to still call out to Him with our “never” prayers in faith. I would like to close with one of my favorites 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. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-3 (ESV) When you read the verse above in Matthew 18:3, what comes to your mind initially? When I first read this, I thought to myself, how can anyone become a child again after they’re an adult? Then, as you continue to study the Bible, and what Jesus is saying here, you understand fully His meaning. God wants us to have the same type of belief and trust in Him, as a child does with their parents. A child being raised in a good home will have total trust, faith, and belief in their parents, as well as extended family members. That child will not worry about being cared for and being loved. They will go about being carefree, playful, and having total belief/trust, knowing that everything will be okay. God wants us to have that same faith and belief in Him as a child does in their loved ones. He wants us to believe that despite the ups and downs of life, we ultimately will trust and believe He has the situation under control. Now, there will be times when certain events occur that are not the outcomes, we prayed for or want. And during those times we will need to have that childlike faith and belief in whatever the outcome will be. Despite how painful and difficult life can become as an adult, God longs for us to still love, trust, and have total faith in Him, the Creator of the universe. As we embark on the new year of 2024, may we always remember that no matter what challenges life brings, we should always have a childlike love, faith, and belief in God. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12 (ESV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 (ESV) During this holiday season, as we are about to bring in a new year, one can become caught up in the joyful celebrations that seem to be ongoing all around. However, even though some are experiencing happy, joyful times, there are others who are experiencing pain, sorrow, and loss. In a devotional article I read recently, a woman went to comfort a friend who recently lost a loved one who had died. In checking on her friend and asking how she was doing, she responded: “It’s hard but, I choose joy despite it all”. There are times when the feelings of joyfulness and happiness are easy because everything is going as planned. But how does one choose joy when they don’t have those feelings? When in fact everything is not going as planned and the feelings are actually the very opposite? In order to have God’s joy at that moment, one has to intellectually make a choice to be joyful, to be grateful, to be content. Not saying when you choose to have joy that everything around you and, in the world, is going the way you would like. More often than not, things will not be going the way you would prefer. Not only in your life but also in the lives of others. It is during this time as God’s children, we need to reach out to do what we can to render help and assistance, for whomever God places on our hearts. But ultimately, despite pain and heartaches of various degrees, we must choose to have faith and belief that God is in control. We need to ultimately learn to choose His peace, His contentment, and His joy, as we navigate life. So, as we embark on the new year of 2024, may we choose daily to have love, humility, patience, and joy, as we look to share God’s messages of love, faith, and hope that the world so desperately needs. May you have a blessed and joyful 2024! Happy New Year! Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42. (ESV) During this busy holiday season, it’s easy to become distracted with decorating, shopping for gifts, attending parties, etc. However, not only during the holiday season can one find themselves distracted. It can also be that way throughout the year with our schedules crowded with many activities and obligations. The Bible story of Martha and her sister Mary describes when Jesus came to their house and was speaking to a small gathering there. Being the hostess, Martha of course wanted to make sure enough food was prepared for Jesus and their guests. During the preparations, Martha was busy and stressed trying to have everything ready when they finished their discussion. It was at this time that Martha went to Jesus and complained her sister Mary was not helping. But Jesus lovingly told Martha that he understood her concerns, but He was not going to take this time away from Mary, as she chose what was most important. Now, one can sympathize with Martha, who wanted to provide for others who had come into her home. But the point here is that choosing to take time to learn from God is more important than being constantly torn away due to the busyness and distractions of life. As stated above, there can be many distractions/commitments that can pull us away and cause us to lose sight of what’s important as we journey through life. God is not taking us from work which we need to do, to provide for ourselves, and our loved ones. But in this story, as in many others in the Bible, God is making the point to say we need to have balance and understand which is greater, our distractions or to stop and connect with Him on an ongoing basis. God is not asking for all of our time to be directed to Him. But daily, we all should have time set aside to pray, study God’s word, and reflect on our lives. The time we take can be just a few minutes or longer; just as long as we take the time to be still and relish in God’s goodness and His many blessings. So, during this holiday season and for the upcoming new year, may we be aware of the many distractions life will place in our path. Some things we cannot control but, there are others we definitely can, and should control. May we have good boundaries in place that will help us not be too distracted, so that we don’t miss the opportunity to “sit” at Jesus’s feet and learn from Him. Blessings and happy holidays, Angelique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” Exodus 20:17 (ESV) Do you ever find yourself wanting what others have? Their material possessions or even their relationships, i.e. their friends, their kids, or perhaps their partner/spouse? So many times, a lot of us do not appreciate what we have but, long to have what others have been given. What does the Bible say about covetousness or wanting what others have? In Luke 12:15 the verse states: And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” By fixating on what others have, this can lead to a host of problems in one’s life. It may cause thoughts of taking from others the things you did not work to have or, longing for their relationships which were granted to them by God. When one becomes so obsessed with what others have, it could lead them to neglect their relationship with God. In addition, it could cause them to compromise their integrity, and do whatever it takes to make more money to have more possessions and/or people. When God says, do not covet, He knew that the insidiousness of being covetous can lead to sinful desires that if unchecked, could eventually lead us down a path where we’d forfeit our very soul. During childhood, we all at some point wanted what the other kids had. However, as we mature and take control of our desires and our thoughts, we should be at a place where we can control the need and hunger to have what others possess. Of course, we all must work to provide for our needs, as well as the needs of our loved ones. But we should not go to the extreme, trying to keep up with others, at the neglect of our soul salvation. May we remember what’s most important in life: having a relationship with God and others, as well as spreading God’s messages throughout the world. So, as we go forward in life, may we seek to be people who shine the light of humility, kindness, and love to others, instead of seeking to covet what they possess. Blessings, Angelique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Are You Ashamed Of The Gospel? For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (ESV) Are you ashamed to read the Bible? Do you hide from family and friends that you are a Christian and that you have daily worship and prayer time with God? When interacting with others outside of the church environment, do they know you are a Christian by observing your actions and your words? As I’m asking these questions, I am answering them as well. At this stage of my life, I can honestly answer yes to all the above concerning my Christian journey. However, truth be told, early in my Christian walk, I would have not answered yes so strongly, outside of a church setting. In asking these questions I’m not looking to shame anyone, just wanting to have us reflect on being a Christian, and how we all should be reading and sharing the Gospel of Christ, to those in our world. Of course, it’s easy to study God’s word, and share His precepts when we are surrounded by like-minded people. But the test comes when we come in contact with people who do not have a relationship with God, and who seem to be worldly in their attitudes, their actions, and their conversations. For some, there may be times when around these individuals, they will close down and seek to diminish and/or downplay the light of God that is shining within their heart, within their soul. God in His word calls for us to be bold and not ashamed as is stated in 2 Timothy 2:15, “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker, who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling, the word of truth. So, as we go forward in life, may we never be ashamed or downplay our faith. May we always behave in a Christ-like manner and be quick to share His Gospel whenever we can. When we are afraid or tempted not to stand up for God may we remember this verse from Isaiah 41:10, “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. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com #Ashamed