Search Results

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

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Psalm 37:3 (ESV) As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (ESV) Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14 (ESV) In various church communities and elsewhere, you will find some faithful people always seeking to do good. When you come across their paths, you expect their good works and deeds to always shine through, each and every time. But have you ever stopped to realize, that we all should have those traits and characteristics? That all of us should be good and have a desire to do good at all times? If every person on this planet sought to always do good to those around them, to the environment, and to society at large, the sin and evil of this world would not be as prevalent as it is today. To be a good person and to do good works should be second nature to everyone. However, in reality, as we continue to live in this sin-laden world, it can sometimes become increasingly difficult to always be good and kind, on a continuous basis. Most of us can be good and do good works from time to time and perhaps even frequently but, to exhibit this type of behavior on a continuous basis? That can be challenging and difficult for many. Despite the challenges of living a Godly life and seeking to do good always, it is not impossible to practice on a daily basis with all those we meet. Of course, there will be times when you’re upset and angry, and trying to instill the characteristic of being good will prove to be difficult and at times impossible. But we can take courage with this verse in the Bible from Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God”. So, as we go throughout our lives, may we at all times seek to do and be good. We can sum it all up with this quote by theologian John Wesley: ‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.’ Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. Proverbs 10:17 (ESV) Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. Proverbs 15:32 (ESV) Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Proverbs 8:33 (ESV) When you make a mistake or you’re about to make one, do you want someone to correct you? Are you teachable? The verses listed above, as well as many more in the Bible, let us know we all need to allow correction in our lives and be teachable. We should all strive to be people who are open to gaining knowledge and insight that leads to wisdom. No one can, or should, live their life feeling they know it all and that they’ve got everything figured out. No human (except Jesus) has life figured out and has all the answers. Every person can be teachable and should always be open to learning, even in areas they feel they have great understanding and knowledge. Being teachable also shows a sign of humility, which is something we all should exhibit at all times. No one likes a person who is arrogant and full of themselves. A person who thinks they have it all together and know everything. This person is considered annoying, and most people do not like to be around them at all. So, as we proceed forward in living our lives, may we always have the attitude that we are open to learning new ideas and new ways of understanding. May we seek to always be teachable, no matter where we are on life’s journey. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 (ESV) I listened to a sermon recently where the pastor made comments in reference to the Bible characters of Ruth and Boaz. I liked when he highlighted the part of the story where Ruth was not seeking a man or a relationship at the time, she met Boaz. When he met her, she was serving/working for the survival needs of both Naomi (her mother-in-law) and herself. And in the course of working, Boaz presented himself to her, speaking kindly and offering her his protection. Before he approached her, he saw her working and was told who she was, how hard she worked, and that she was the widow/daughter-in-law caring for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Her actions caused him to pay attention to her and realize this woman was busying herself with what was important in life. This leads me to ask the question, are you seeking or serving? Of course, the story above is about an eventual love story but, in asking the question, it’s not just about love relationships. Are we mostly in the state of seeking: love, fame/glory, a lot of money, etc.? Or are we busy serving God by using our gifts/talents and spreading His messages with the world? As stated above, instead of focusing on seeking, we should instead focus on working and serving God and others. As God stated in His word in Matthew 6:33, “But seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Now, there is nothing wrong with us seeking a relationship, a better job, financial security, etc. The problem can come when we find ourselves constantly seeking as opposed to serving and building up God’s kingdom. God knows our hearts as well as our desires. Whether we seek a mate, financial success, recognition, etc. Instead of putting most of our energies and efforts into seeking, may we get busy doing the Masters work by serving in various capacities, according to our gifts and talents. As we serve, let us allow God to order our steps and, allow Him to create divine interventions within our lives. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah 43:18 How many of us, whether it be good thoughts or bad, dwell on our past? There are many who seem stuck in yesteryear which means the past. If in our minds we feel everything was great in prior years, then we want it to continue and never let changes occur in society at large, in ourselves and in others. We want everything to be the same as years past and everyone to fall into the same roles that they played in the years prior. For example, if we’re talking about racial inequity, those who were part of the minority races acted and behaved in a subjugated manner to those who were in the majority, who held positions of authority and power. In this example, those who were once in power, “long” for times past and want everything to be as it was before. Then, there are those who suffered pain and heartbreak, especially over a past love relationship that ended or have lost loved ones. Many may find themselves stuck in the past, reliving it in some ways and wanting everything to be as it once was before. For them, they have a hard time accepting their present life and moving forward. I know a lot of the times due to losses we have experienced, it is not easy to move on and one may need to seek professional counseling and/or group therapy. Please know there is no shame in this and actually it can be very beneficial as one seeks to heal, to grow, to move forward in life. Of course, we all will reflect and remember what has happened in our past, whether it be good or bad. But as God’s word states, we need to not dwell in the past. To not dwell is to not live there but, to move forward in Him and to share His messages of hope, faith, and love to others. No one can control past events but we all can reflect, remember, and at times learn from our past, then look to move forward making choices/decisions rooted in God’s precepts. As God says in Isaiah 43:19…“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” May we seek healing, restoration, and strength in God, and allow Him to lead us as we accept the present and look forward to our future. Blessings, Angélique To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com