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You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:43-44 (ESV) To love and pray for our enemies?? Really?? That’s a tough one! In reading the above verses, the Bible teaches us that God desires we get to a place where we can show brotherly/sisterly love towards a person who has hurt us. To earnestly pray for a person who may have caused hurt while in a romantic or friend relationship, at work, at church, within the family dynamics, etc. Showing love, forgiveness, and praying for such a one can, and will, be very difficult for most. (Now, before I go on, I do want to make a point here for those involved in criminal situations. Please be responsible and take the necessary steps to protect yourself physically and emotionally from any type of abuse). The Bible speaks of loving those who love us as being easy (see Luke 6:32) and this is usually very true. Who doesn’t love and want the best for a person who shows love and care for our wellbeing? Of course, to love and pray for such a one is usually something we would gladly jump at the chance to do. But to have the same or similar attitude and feelings for a person who has wronged us, will be difficult. It will take us allowing God, through His Holy Spirit, to work in us to accomplish this task. I (and I’m sure many others) have had to face people who hurt us and in following God’s word, chose to offer forgiveness, as well as pray for their wellbeing. To love, forgive, and pray for people who caused us grief and pain, can be an extremely difficult task. I can honestly state it was not an overnight process. For me, it came about after some time had passed and by studying God’s word, listening to sermons, much prayer, and fasting. Eventually, I came to the point where I cared about this person, prayed for them, and wished them well. By allowing God into my life and allowing His precepts (not the world’s) to take hold of me, what poured out of me was His love and compassion. Now, do not think I or any others who have accomplished this have “made it” and we don’t have struggles as we move forward in life. All of us have to take control and deny our sinful desires (see Luke 9:23). Meaning, we’re not to go back to old sinful patterns of behaving that are contrary to God’s word. My prayer is for everyone to allow God into their lives and to seek to have a close relationship with Him. To allow Him to open up a pathway of healing and restoration in your life, that will guide you to be able to love and pray for your enemies. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

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. Colossians 3:23 (ESV) Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  Matthew 6:1-5 (ESV) What motivates you to give to those who are in need? Giving should be natural and a part of our human experience. But, for many it’s not natural and it’s not something a lot of people willingly like to do. Whether it be giving their time, money, gifts/talents, etc., there are many who do not want to give to others who are in need. However, when we seek to share with others, do we have the right motivation? Of course, any amount of help will be wanted by organizations whose aim is to service their fellow human beings. But internally one can ask themselves, what is my motivation? Is it to see what can be gained monetarily? To see if there will be recognition or be viewed as someone pious and important? Or is it to impress others and gain the attention of a special individual? Hopefully, regardless of one’s motivation in the beginning, eventually, it will turn into a true desire to help someone in need. In Matthew 6: 1-5, God warns of seeking praise and rewards from people when we seek to do what is right by helping others. His word states when we do this, we will receive our reward from people and not from the storehouses of Heaven, not from God above. Most people want some form of recognition for doing good from the time when they were toddlers, all the way through adulthood. And we can believe that God understands this, He knows how all of His children are wired. But when our sole motivation for doing good toward others (most of the time) is to gain some type of ego boost, God is not pleased. When giving to others, may we all eventually learn to give because it is right, and it is what God would want us to do. So, what’s your motivation for giving? Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:24-25 (ESV) Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Psalm 39:5 (ESV) Facing the end of life is hard for those facing this truth and for the loved ones who are facing it with them. I’m not wanting to have a morbid or sad post however, I would like to stress how we all view the reality of our lives. Life is but a vapor (James 4:14 AMP), meaning we are here on this earth only for a short while as no human being can control their future. None of us will live forever so what we do while we’re alive, whether positive or negative, can have a lasting impact on those who we have encountered throughout our lives. I read an article about a funeral business in South Korea that offers free funerals for the living. They simulate a funeral service for those who are alive with the hopes they will consider their current choices/decisions, as they move forward in life. The article states it has allowed individuals to reconnect with family and friends they were separated from, due to past hurts and/or misunderstandings. However, one would hope that a person would not have to take it to this extreme, in order to live life as you should. As stated in Psalm 39:5, we are reminded that our time on Earth is short compared to eternity. As such, we should seek to live a life of being kind, loving to others, honest, and choosing to do good always. To be who God would have us be, and not striving to have worldly attitudes, nor to focus on gaining wealth and/or position no matter the costs (see Matthew 6:19-20). Instead, be people who seek to give and help others, not looking for anything from them in return. Let us from this point forward choose to live life well, the way God (not the world) intended. Of course, we will work hard to build our financial legacy for ourselves and loved ones but, we will not compromise our core character to do so. May our natures and our desires, be in line with God’s so that when we go out into the world, we will naturally seek to do good and not harm. As we arise each day, may our mission (whether great or small) be to make a positive impact in God’s world and with His people. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com #Life

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:11 (ESV) No one likes to face trials, suffer, and go through painful experiences as they go through life. But every single human being at various times in their lives, will go through times of difficulty. And when one goes through fiery trials, they can be painful and feel as if they will never end. It’s when you find yourself in despair, that you must hold on and not let go of the promises from God. Trust and believe that He is walking in that valley with you and if you have faith and do not give up, He will bring you through. Then after you have come through your ordeal you’ll be able to look back and see how faithful God had been. You will seek to praise God for bringing you through and for the relative calm and peace that you’re experiencing afterward. During this time, God can bring a person or group of people in your life, who are currently going through what you have endured. It is precisely during this time that if given the opportunity, God would want you to share all or part of your journey/ your testimony. The Bible states in Revelation 12:11 how God’s children overcame by the blood of the Lamb (which is Jesus Christ) and our testimonies. This means we are to share our belief in Jesus as our Savior and share how God brought us through our trials. God wants us to share with others what we have learned by encouraging them to hold on and trust God to bring them through their difficult situation. We should let them know that it was not easy for us and that there were no quick fixes. We can encourage them by stating everyone’s situation, journey, and experience can be different, so don’t try to compare. Let them know that whenever possible, you will try to be there to help during this trying time. We may never know the positive and life-changing impact we could have on others, because we shared our testimony of a difficult time in our lives. Going through tough times in life is not easy and perhaps sharing those experiences with others may not be easy either. But God knows that by sharing our testimonies, everyone can be strengthened and encouraged. May we realize while we are going through difficulties and afterward, that our pain and suffering do not have to be wasted. It can be used to bring hope and healing to others. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4: 6-7 (ESV) Do you remember the story of Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam in the Bible, Genesis 4:1-16? In the story, both worked, one with the land in bringing forth crops and the other with raising sheep. When the time came to give an offering back to God for the blessings He bestowed, Abel chose to give the best of his flock as a gift to God. However, when it came time for his gift, Cain did not seek to give his best. It is not specifically stated in the Bible but, one can infer from the story, that Cain decided to just give some crops, not the best he had to offer. As the story goes God accepted Abel’s offering but not Cain’s and as a result, Cain became very angry. God chastised Cain and stated if he looked to do right, then his gift as well would have been accepted. The difference between Cain and Abel is not about what was brought before God but, about their heart and attitude of giving their best to God. In looking at this story, who do you identify with when giving your gifts to God? Are you Cain or are you Abel? I believe we all want to identify with being Abel but, are we? Do we have an attitude of giving our best as a sacrifice to God? In looking at our lives in modern times, what gifts/talents has God given to us that we bring forth to honor Him? God’s desire is for us to give our best for the uplifting of His world and His people. He wants our best and not our “whatever” or our leftovers. This also brings to mind the thought that many times to impress other people, we will bring our best selves or whatever we have to offer. However, if we take time to impress others, can we not do the same or even more when it comes time to praise and worship God? Further on in the story another lesson one can learn is how not to allow our anger/jealousy to take hold and potentially cause further acts of disobedience. God warned Cain to check his attitude, as his anger/jealousy could lead to destruction. He did not listen and later, as a result, he killed his brother Abel. We all have two choices when we are upset, angry, and/or jealous like Cain in this story. We can choose to repent and turn away from our anger, hurt feelings, and destructive thoughts or, we can go further down sin’s path. As we go forward in life may we have a grateful and humble attitude, acknowledging all the wonderful gifts God has given to us. May we eagerly seek to give God our best efforts toward uplifting His world and His people. May we not go around with an attitude of entitlement but, may we always model an attitude of gratitude, in everything we say and do. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; James 1:19 (ESV) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6 (ESV) Have you ever angrily snapped at someone that really didn’t deserve it? I believe we all have been there from time to time. I was reading an article the other day, and it shared this acronym: H-A-L-T which stood for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. How many times have we all made rash snap decisions, due to one of the four above? I think more times than we would like to admit. There’s another popular term people use as well which is Hangry; a combination of hungry and angry that also showcases two of the four we referenced above. So, it is safe to say that we should not make decisions, especially ones that affect others or even ourselves, when the four situations listed above exist. Because when the above feelings are going on, we’re in a very vulnerable state and need to be careful before we move forward. Now of course life happens, and sometimes it’s not possible to not be hungry, angry at a certain person, or event, lonely for several reasons, and just tired from dealing with the stress of life. But, knowing ahead of time and arming oneself with this knowledge, should help when the time comes to making various decisions in our lives. So, remember to H-A-L-T before making a decision and check in with yourself to make sure you’re not hungry, angry, lonely or tired, before proceeding forward with your life choices. Blessings, Angélique To contact:  Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” John 7:24 (ESV) But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:9 (ESV) Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:4 (ESV) I recently watched a video of an experiment where a white young man pretending to be blind would come from behind and grab the elbow or arm of a stranger. At first, the unsuspecting stranger of course would jump but then, after turning to see him, they would allow him to still latch on and would kindly guide him. Then in the same video, another young man who happened to be black, would in turn do exactly what his white counterpart had done. Except in his case, the attitudes and behaviors were totally different. Unsuspecting strangers would also jump when he latched on but, when they turned to see him, they would jerk their arm away, were rude, and move quickly away from him, clearly annoyed and upset. As the video played, it showed the black blind man alone walking with his arm outstretched for assistance. To say that video was extremely upsetting is an understatement. I watched until the end hoping that at least one person would not behave rudely and callously toward the black man but, every single one of them did. Some of the comments underneath this video stated they were not shocked. They stated this is how they (meaning people of different races who were non-black) see and treat those of color, especially Black people. One would hope this was an isolated incident and that most people would not behave in this manner. One can only hope. As children of God, how does Our Father in Heaven view this type of behavior? In studying the Bible, He would be appalled and very upset to see His children behaving in such a manner. I had tears in my eyes watching this and I’m sure God would have had tears as well. He would be upset and hurt knowing He created every human being and placed them on the Earth with their various colors, shapes, sizes, skin/hair textures, cultural backgrounds, etc. As for the above story, this happened to me some years ago when I was leaving an afternoon matinee. A middle-aged gentleman, who was of a different race than me, reached for me seeking guidance. His wife was gathering their things, and he was walking out with the rest of us. At first, I was startled and jumped like the people in the video but, when I realized he was blind and needed assistance, I guided him. No questions asked. And at the time I was a teenager, not an adult like those in that video. In closing, I pray that as we go forward in life, may we always choose to care for and treat all of God’s children (no matter their color, religion, ethnicity, or political background) with decency and respect. 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) Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 (ESV) We all make them. Big plans, medium size plans, and small ones. We make plans on where we’ll go to college, if we want to go to college or join the workforce right after graduating high school. We make plans to date, who we’ll date, whether to marry, to have kids, various financial decisions, where to live and the list can go on and on. Here is the question…do you place your plans before God and seek out His blessing? Or, do you forge ahead with your thoughts and ideas without ever once thinking to ask God for His blessing? In this fast-paced world we live in, it’s easy to just forge ahead with our life plans without asking God for His guidance and blessing. And all of us are guilty of this from time to time. However, I would like issue a challenge that as we move forward in life, we’ll begin to ask God what He would have us do with the plans we’ve made. May we begin to ask Him to be involved in blessing and directing our plans, our thoughts and our actions, as we move forward with our lives. One may then ask, how exactly do we go about doing this? Many people have said they do not hear God’s voice audibly, telling them to do this or that. Some will not hear His voice audibly however, there are those of us who have heard it but not always. But if one prays and asks God to bless the plans, thoughts and their actions, doors and opportunities will open up that were before impossible; if it’s within His will. You will know God is blessing when you feel and believe the path you are on is ordained and sanctified by God. However, we all must remember that these plans and ideas we form, cannot be contrary to His word and precepts. Therefore, do not ask God to bless plans that you know are illegal or immoral. Let us remember that every detail of our future is already known to God. As the verse above says, “It is the Lord who goes before you..”. So, make your plans, map out your strategy, and then commit it all to God. And with faith, confidence, and belief it is within His will, God having gone before you, will prepare the way. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise. Luke 8:54 (NKJV) In the Bible, the story of Jairus and his daughter shows how Jesus had to put the doubters away from what He needed to do. This leader of the synagogue came to Jesus asking Him to come to his home and heal his daughter (Luke 8:40-56). By the time they made it to his house, the mourners stated she was dead. Jesus told them to not weep as she was only sleeping and they laughed and mocked Him. It is then He put them all out except the child’s parents and three of His disciples. After this was done, Jesus healed and brought Jairus’s daughter back to life. How many times have you come across people who are doubters/mockers that cause you to doubt your belief and faith in God? Now, to be clear, all of us have had situations where we asked God for miraculous signs and it was not granted. I believe we all know there will be times when God may not grant all of our petitions. But today’s focus is on individuals who ridicule our faith, belief and trust in God, seeking to plant seeds of doubt in our lives. Many times life can be hard for all of us and the last thing anyone needs during difficult times is to be surrounded by doubters and mockers. If we come across these individuals, we must adopt the same approach as Jesus did; kindly but firmly move them away or, seek to move away from their negative talk and behavior. Granted, in these uncertain times in our world today, it is understandable many will become doubters and even mockers. However, if possible and they are willing and open to listen, this would be a great time to witness to them about God and His ultimate plan for all of humanity. However, if they refuse to listen and continue with their mockery, then it is time to move on. At that moment, all one can do is pray and hope for the best for them. From time to time there will be people who will offend and criticize God and your faith and belief in Him. However, when you are facing a crisis or a depressed time in your life, seek to surround yourself with people who will pray and stand with you on God’s word. Look to those who will help reinforce your belief in Him for the answers. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

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) Living in today’s world can be a scary place. One can fear for the safety of our loved ones and friends, have fear over economic as well as health challenges, and the list can go on and on. Currently, in various societies around the world, there is a lot of animosity, anger, and hatred that’s just boiling under the surface waiting to be unleashed or, it has been unleashed onto various unsuspecting individuals. And due to this animosity/hatred, it stands to reason that a few segments of the human population can and will have a greater fear than others. However, when we go to the Bible, what does it say about being afraid? During my study, I came across a devotion that reminds us that within the Bible, God‘s word declares 365 times to not be afraid. He has given us this reminder that we can read and say daily throughout the year. As I’ve written before, the Bible is God‘s instruction manual to His children on how to live their best life. So within that manual, God has given instructions 365 times for us to not fear. This is really significant and so important that our Father felt the need to have this phrase repeated over and over throughout the scriptures. God knew that His children will face many trials and testing while here on Earth and He knew they would need that daily dose of encouragement. Living day-to-day and with challenges on every side, sometimes we can lose sight and will at times be gripped with fear and anxiety which is understandable. But hopefully, this blog post will cause us to stop and think that we are His sons and daughters, and He has told us we will have ups and downs but, do not be afraid. So, our challenge as God’s children is to go out and live our lives according to God‘s will and share His word with the rest of the world. May we fully embrace and accept God’s commission to go and teach the good news to others, to be a blessing to all we meet, and to teach them to Not Be Afraid!! Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15 (ESV) Do you feel that God loves a certain class of people versus another class? Do you feel some are worthy to hear God’s messages and to be saved, and others are not? If so, you are exhibiting the same behavior and attitude Jonah had in the Bible. Last week we discussed using our gifts and talents to spread God’s messages throughout the world. This week we’re focusing on our willingness to spread God’s word to all people, not just the ones who look and act like we do. In various polarize societies around the world, racism, sexism, religious bigotry, etc will cause some to forget that every person on this planet was created by God. God chose their genders (male and female), He chose their different colors, shapes/sizes, the part of the world where they would be born, etc. When we look around at everything God created (animals, plants, oceans/rivers, the weather, etc.) it is not hard to see that the Creator of the Universe loves diversity. And when one reads God’s word, they understand and know He loves everyone and wants His messages shared with all. In the book of Jonah Chapter 4, God takes time to show and explain to Jonah that he has no right to pick and choose who he feels is worthy to receive God’s love and forgiveness. We are not to judge others by their current lifestyle or their past and decide who is worthy of God’s love. ALL of us are God’s children and ALL of us are loved and precious to Him. One can understand from God’s teaching to Jonah, that He wants His message of love and forgiveness to be spread throughout the world. So, the encouragement for us this week is to spread God’s message of hope, faith, love, forgiveness, and peace, to all we meet regardless of what we may think about them and their circumstances. As we go forth, let us remember the final departing words of Jesus as stated in Matt. 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. Jonah 1:1-2 (ESV) Have you in the past or are you currently running away from what God has told you to do? In the book of Jonah, God told the Prophet Jonah to go and preach His message of repentance and forgiveness to the people of Nineveh. But Jonah took it upon himself, not to go because he felt the people were not worthy to receive God’s message of repentance, forgiveness, and love. Instead, he tried to run away from the duties God gave him. The point I would like to share is this: are you also running away or avoiding what God has directed you to do? When I started writing this weekly blog well over three years ago, I did not start it right away when God told me to (see the blog titled Introduction). I did not so much as “run away” as I ignored or dismissed the instructions from God. I thought at first that this random thought just popped into my head for some crazy reason and I ignored it. That of course is normal and can happen to anyone. But when God came back to me again and again, I knew it was not “random” and it was an assignment from God. And every week, by God’s Grace, I continue to write what He imparts for me to share. Now your turn. What gifts or talents has God given you to use in your ministry? Every human being is a child of God who has been assigned gifts to be used for the uplifting of His kingdom. There are many gifts given, for example, some are comforters and have the gift of encouragement. Some are writers, teachers, preachers/evangelists, helpers, and administrators. Some have the gift of hospitality and others are prayer warriors. Whatever gift you have been given, are you using it to share God’s messages with those around you? There will be some who feel they’re not qualified to share God’s word with others. Some feel due to their past, they cannot be a witness for God. But this notion is further from the truth. None of us have perfect qualifications in sharing God’s wisdom and messages with the world. It is only by the Grace of God, that we can undertake this mission of sharing the gospel. I’ve heard it said many times before, God doesn’t call the qualified but He qualifies the call. So, do not run away from your gift but, use it to share God’s words of love and hope with all the world. Also, do not feel you’re inadequate to carry out your ministry. Whether your ministry will be great or small, move out in faith and believe that He will be with you, will teach you, and sustain you, as you move forth doing His will. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com