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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (ESV) You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26: 3-4 (ESV) I heard a sermon recently in which the pastor discussed having total faith and trust in Jesus, and that He will guide us through life’s journey. He used an example of being a frequent flyer and how he had become familiar with certain flight crews and pilots he had flown with many times in the past. As a result, he stated he knew some of the pilots' patterns: their take-offs, their landings, etc. He stated that he always arrived at his destinations and returned safely home. He then thought to himself how he never once felt the need to ask for their flight plan ahead of time or question the routes they chose. He and the other passengers placed their trust in the flight crew and trusted that they knew what they were doing. In using that analogy, it is the same with us when we look to trusting Jesus with the ‘flight plan” of our lives. Years ago, there was a trending bumper sticker that said Jesus is my copilot. But in all honesty, Jesus is the  pilot!   With human nature, we want to know what will happen in our future right now. We want to have foreknowledge of our lives and have it mapped out ahead of time. But this is not how God works and quite honestly, we probably should not know what is ahead as that knowledge will definitely impact our current decisions. It can be difficult living in the present and not knowing the future, especially when you have to deal with present challenges and difficult news. In order to trust Jesus now, we need to strengthen ourselves in His word and believe in His promises, despite not knowing the future. Just like we do not know the flight path of a plane, we will still fly and place a lot of faith in fallible humans and the plane itself. We need to take that same thought process to trusting in God for our life’s journey. We need to study, pray, and get close to Him daily, so that we will be able to withstand any tests and trials that lie ahead.   I pray that we all will allow Jesus to be the pilot of our lives and we will do our part to listen, be obedient, and follow His leading. May we share this encouragement with others and gain strength as we move along life’s journey.   So, as you fly with Jesus, buckle up, sit back, and experience your life’s flight plan!   Blessings, Angélique To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 (ESV)   We face many spiritual and emotional battles in life. During my devotional reading, a writer mentioned this and said there are different battles that come at us spiritually and emotionally. The writer mentioned three separate fronts however, I feel it boils down to two: the world with Satan’s influence (the enemy around us) and our flesh (the enemy within us). In this world many are allowing Satan to rule their lives and fall for his many evil, wicked, and downright diabolical schemes. They allow temptations and the lure that this world offers, to influence their decisions which results in failure for them as well as those around them. Of course, some things in this world are not all bad, but there is sin and a prevailing evil that people willingly get involved with, leading them down a dangerous, depraved path. People can turn away from sin and evil however, this leads us to the next battle, the enemy within - our flesh. Many will allow their sinful/fleshly desires to rule their decisions on practically everything in their lives. Instead of having control of their will and their bodies, they give in to what “feels” good and is popular, according to worldly standards. For example, people feel free to engage in various activities that go against what God has outlined in the Bible. People are allowing their desires, pride, and egos, to rule them all for the sake of pleasure, fun, and even power, regardless of the consequences. Of course, God does not mind us having pleasure and fun, as long as we live according to His Holy precepts. Being that our Father in Heaven created us and this world, He would know what is good and what is not. Satan comes into play because he is in this world enticing and luring God‘s creation, (all of us) into sinful and shameful behavior, continuously. However, being that we all have free will/free choice, God wants us to choose to turn away from the sin and darkness of this world and turn towards His light.   We all will face battles however, God gives us the strength to turn away from a sinful path and chose to do what is honorable and right. May we be strong and seek to fortify our minds and hearts against temptation and choose to die daily to sinful/fleshly desires. Let God’s word renew us and focus on living life as He would have us to live. May we share this knowledge of love and light with others, so that they too can turn away from the dark enticements of this world and turn to God’s light and love. Blessings, Angélique To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (ESV) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8 (ESV)   Here in America and perhaps other parts of the world people do use the word love in a serious manner however, they also use it to describe their feelings for common items or situations. For example, people can say I love going to the movies, or I love pizza, or I love watching football. Of course, for many using love in this form is based on tradition and habit however, when you think about it, do you really feel it is true love when talking about pizza? Below, we will go over four types of love that are mentioned and referenced in the Bible.   Eros This type of love is characterized by passion and intense desire based on the physical; on looks and on fleshly desires. It is interesting to note that this word on love is not used in the Bible however there are many references to Eros. Eros is God-given in its purest form however it has been manipulated (not in a good way) over time by sinful human beings. Throughout various societies around the world, with varying media influences, this physical type of love/attraction has not been utilized the way God has intended. There is nothing wrong with this type of love as long as it is being shown/used in the proper context of what God has outlined in the Bible.   One problem with Eros is that it objectifies people as well as objects. It likes to rely on physical appearance and the self-gratification one feels due to this physical attraction, as opposed to viewing individuals as God views them. Ultimately, no one wants to be loved based on surface appearance only. Everyone wants to be truly loved in a deeper manner. Eros can be beautiful however, when one allows it to consume them and not control its passion, it can be destructive for the individual and those around.   Philia This type of love is characterized by brotherly love or friendship. It can be described as the love between friends or family members. This love is based on mutual appreciation, shared values, and a common bond. The verb definition describes it as having a natural attraction or fondness for someone or something.   This word is seen in the Bible once as a noun but over twenty-five times in the verb form. In knowing this it seems that God puts an emphasis on the action of this type of love as opposed to the concept (the noun) of this word. God’s definition of this type of love is opposite to the world's values, see James 4:4.   Storge This type of love is familial love. A love that is natural and instinctive that is found within families, for example a parent-child relationship.   In the parental relationship, this love is almost as if your child is a part of you, like an extension of oneself.   Another characteristic of Storge is that just like in parental love, the parent can love their young child without expecting the child to love them back. It is a love that is not about reciprocity, but it is an instinctive, intrinsic love that is shown toward another.   Agape This type of love is characterized by selfless love for humanity and nature.  It is given without expecting anything in return. It is unconditional and independent. It does not require the other person to be likable or to love you back; it is a decision of the will. It is a decision to love even if the other person is an enemy. This word is powerful and is seen over 250 times throughout the Bible. It is a perfect word to describe God’s love for His children. Despite our flaws and faults, He chooses to love us completely and wholly and chooses to believe what we can become, despite our behavior and what we have shown Him. This is the type of love that many who have healthy marriages and have remained married have for one another.   Of all the various types of love we have, the greatest of these, of course is Agape. It is one that God longs for all of His children to have for Him as well as His creation. May we all choose Agape as we seek to show love toward one another.   Blessings,  Angélique To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (ESV) Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10 (ESV)   I read this devotional by Pastor Christopher McKee that I wanted to share here. He stated that nearly all key relationships can be broken down into three categories: confidants, constituents, and comrades.   Confidants : Are the lifelong relationships. They love you unconditionally, stand by you, have your back in good times as well as bad, and they have your best interests at heart. They do not use what they know about you for their own personal gain, nor do they seek to throw it back in your face.   Constituents :  Are those who share the same goals, values, and principles but, they are not always there for you. Having these types of individuals in your life is important as they do contribute to your energy, passion, and enthusiasm. And you can work with them to accomplish common goals and build bridges. However, do not expect constituents to have the same loyalty as confidants. Usually, these individuals are with you for a reason and a season, and then they move on.   Comrades : Are people who are attracted to you and are with you because of what you both stand for or stand against. They may not get to really know you and sometimes, may not even like you. However, on the field of “battle,” they will join you like soldiers to defeat the common enemy; once the fight is over, the relationship ends or at least cools to a great degree. Your only bond was the common enemy or goal.   After reading this I found it helpful and enlightening, in that it helps one to realize the different categories or roles people who come into your life fall into. Not saying this must be exact, but it does give a guideline to really think about various relationships and people you come across. It can be helpful in understanding individuals who come into your life. For example, when a constituent friend seems to fade away and is no longer active in your life, you can understand that this relationship was just for a reason and a season. It can help you realize that there should be no hard feelings, but you need to move on in life and not become upset because the relationship ended. Or there are those who may really be a comrade and you want them to become a confidant.   Regardless of the roles various people may play in your life, you should look to be a true child of God and to love and care for humanity as God expects. Blessings,  Angélique To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

…” The  Lord  does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the  Lord  looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” John 7:24 (NIV) Do you have unconscious or even conscious biases? In answering honestly, I believe all of us to some degree have them. Whether it be against others due to race, ethnicity, culture, languages, religion, body shapes/sizes, hair textures, etc. Everyone, at least once, has looked at a group of people who have similar outward appearances/characteristics, and jumped to conclusions about them based on those biases; without really knowing the background or facts of that person or the situation.   I have seen this time and time again, but an actual incident that came to mind I would like to share. During a meal serving event for the community, an African American guest standing in line to be served came up and began asking questions of the volunteers (another African American and a Caucasian). The Caucasian woman turned to the African American worker and asked what he was saying as the guest spoke Ebonics with them. The African American worker looked at her and said I don’t understand either. She looked shocked and they continued serving. Later the African American worker went to her and explained she grew up in suburbia, went to private schools, and did not grow up speaking Ebonics. She then asked, why would you assume I knew what was being said? The other worker blushed and apologized saying I should never have assumed you would know. I just automatically thought you would know what he was saying. She then said I understand how wrong I was when I think about it. The African American worker said yes because for example, if a person who speaks Russian came up to us, should I ask you what they are saying? No, right? You may look the same outwardly however, you come from different backgrounds.   Of course, we all have many more examples of biases we hold onto. Perhaps they were ingrained in us due to our upbringing or, they have become a part of us as we go through life. Despite how we acquired them, we all need to work on ourselves so that we can remove them from our lives. Many times, there are similarities between individuals who may look the same outwardly however, it does not automatically mean they have the same characteristics, backgrounds, etc.   We all have some sort of biases, and according to God‘s word in the verses above, as well as many other verses in the Bible, we need to respect people based on their actions and the content of their characters, and not the color of their skin. This was stated eloquently in the powerful I Have A Dream speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I pray that as we go forward in life, may we not allow our biases to be in the forefront of our minds, whenever we cross paths with individuals different from us. Blessings,  Angélique To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ Deuteronomy 20:4 (ESV) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 (ESV) Have you ever thought that God fights against us? Yes, God is love and we are His children but, based on our decisions and actions, God can and will seek to actually fight against us. What do I mean? When we look to engage in sinful/harmful behavior with our words and actions, God is not uplifting and encouraging this behavior but just the opposite. When we consistently engage in fleshly/sinful behaviors that go against His precepts and laws, God can fight against this for our benefit, for our good.   However, with our awesome God, the opposite can be true. He will fight against us for our good, but He will also fight for us. When there are evil individuals and circumstances that are looking to destroy our loved ones and us, God will fight for us. He and the Heavenly Hosts from above will do what needs to be done in order to protect His children. We can be confident in knowing that God is there as a shield against the evil that is prevalent in this world. As I have stated many times in the past, this world is truly not our forever home. We are here to occupy (work, raise our families, and do God’s will) until He comes again. We can trust and believe that He is faithful and that as His children, He will look to protect and guide us along life’s journey.   It is beautiful how God fights against us as a strong parent who is protecting His children. Children who at times may not have any idea how the sinful patterns and worldly decisions they make, can lead to utter destruction. Then on the other hand, our Heavenly Father seeks to fight for us against those forces that are trying to harm and destroy us as well as those around us. God looks to help us find a clear path that leads away from evil and sin. When I acknowledge I am His child and want to follow Him, I am permitting God to order my life the way He wishes and for Him to actively fight against me and for me always!   Blessings,  Angélique To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (ESV) It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. Luke 6:48 (NLT) I recently listened to a sermon series that discussed our spiritual roots and how deep and anchored they need to be in God‘s word and in His promises. With so much going on right now in the United States, as well as the rest of the world, it is important to be grounded/rooted in God and His Holy Word. Some will try to anchor themselves in popular culture, doctrines, or famous people, whether they are in entertainment or politics. They will seek to follow these people and listen/hang on to every word they utter and emulate everything they do. But we must realize that every human being has sinned and needs salvation from the one true anchor, which is God.   In order to weather the difficult and challenging storms of life, we must have our spiritual roots, grow deep and latch onto God’s never-changing presence and truth. God did state in His word that we will be tossed back and forth in this life, and we will encounter difficulties from time to time. These trials/difficulties at times will make us question our belief/spirituality, and even God’s existence. But during those times we especially need to take hold of His word and His promises and not let anyone lure us away from God our Father. When digging deep spiritual roots, it is not easy nor glamorous but, it is definitely what needs to happen if we are going to brave the storms of life. For us to have a strong, mature Christian faith, we must allow ourselves to be connected to and dependent on God, His will for our lives, and the lives of our loved ones.   Part of being rooted and grounded is to be humble and open to accepting God‘s plan for our lives. With a strong/rooted faith, one can be prepared for the strife winds of life to blow. Once grounded and rooted in God, do not keep this good news but seek to reach out and share it with others.   So, how deep are your roots? That is a spiritual question you need to ask yourself by taking an honest assessment as to whether your spiritual foundation is built on sand or on solid ground. Once you know, begin building up and strengthening your roots by connecting to the ultimate source of strength and power, which is God.   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)   In the headlines of late you see numerous articles and talking points regarding DEI which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. The premise was to seek to have a diverse background of qualified employees in companies as well as diverse student populations enrolled in universities/colleges across the country. The argument for those opposed, falsely claim that those getting the jobs or enrollment in schools, were not qualified. However, facts have shown that their assumptions are wrong and those given the opportunities were indeed qualified.   With all the hatred, racism, and bitterness that is currently going on in the United States and the world, I began to think how does God feel? What does He think about His children fighting and with one another because one is different from the other? Would He have a problem with diversity? All human beings were created by our Father in Heaven and yet, some honestly believe their race, ethnicity, cultural diversity, or religion, is superior to all others. They not only feel they are superior but also want to go so far as to belittle, ignore, or looked down upon others because they are different. But have you ever stopped to think if there will be diversity in heaven? Do you really think that all the people in Heaven will be homogeneous? Meaning the same weight, skin, eye, and hair color, same shape; everyone will look just like everyone else? Do you really believe that?   I believe we all know the answer is a resounding no! There will not be one class of people in heaven. God is all about DEI, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Just look all around at nature. Look at the world God has created. He did not create one type of tree, one type of plant, one type of flower, etc. He did not create one type of rock or one type of soil. There are parts of the world that have red clay soil, and other parts have rocks, other parts have sand, and yet others have grassy meadows/fields. When one stops to look around, God has diversity interwoven in every area on our planet.   God longs for His children to accept the diversity of His beautiful world / His creation. If we are Children of God, even though we may not be perfect, we should strive to do His will and love and support each other as we journey through life. We all must realize that if we have a problem with diversity here on Earth, we will not be happy in Heaven. Now is the time for us to seek to break down barriers by stepping out of our comfort zones, and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion; and get to know someone not in your normal people circle.   Is there a DEI in heaven… You bet there is!   Blessings,   Angélique To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast . Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)   How is your relationship with God? Is it relational or transactional? Do you feel you have to perform certain tasks or behave in a certain manner for God to grant your desires? For you to be approved by God? For you and your family to earn salvation? So many treat their relationship with God as a transaction that they must undertake, in order to obtain favors and blessings from our Heavenly Father.   When you are pursuing another person for a relationship, you are hopefully being sincere and honest in your pursuit and not looking for it to be transactional. You are pursuing this relationship because you really enjoy getting to know this person and spending time with them. In many respects, this should be our same approach in pursuing a relationship with God. As His children, we should want to get close to Him, to understand His ways, and to learn how we should behave in this world and towards each other.   In seeking a relationship and a walk with God, He is not looking for us to have a check-the-box mentality with our Christianity. Meaning, if we go to church – check, if we return tithes and offerings – check, if we get involved with various church activities – check. All of these are well-meaning and good however, if we are doing them as a checkmark, God is not pleased.   God is longing for a relational interaction with His children, not transactional. As His children, He will grant and bestow upon us many blessings and favors, but that does not mean we should seek to have a transactional attitude and/or relationship with Him.   We should not be looking to play the role of being Christ-like to earn favor with God; in an attempt to get our wishes granted as if He were some sort of Genie from a bottle.   We must let go of the check-the-box / transactional mentality and move toward an honest and pure relational connection with our Father. God wants us to get to know His ways, His heart, and His mind, by reading the Bible, going to a Bible-believing church, and having a prayer life. By doing this on a consistent basis, we will be on the path of having a deep and meaningful relationship with God.   As we journey through life from this day forward, may we make it a priority to establish and maintain a relational connection with God, and stay away from the transactional/check-the-box mentality.   Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 1 John 4:14 (ESV) Last week we discussed how the Bible was divinely inspired. This week we will look at the prophecies that foretold the birth of Jesus. When it comes to Jesus, many like to question the validity of His birth and whether He is really God’s son. Some say He manipulated events to coincide and fulfill the prophecies that were foretold in the Old Testament. What people do not realize is that many of these prophecies, that foretold His coming, were written hundreds of years before His birth, when He was a baby or a toddler.   In Isaiah 7:14 from the Old Testament, the prophet noted that a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel, which means God with us. Also, in Isaiah 9:6 it states, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Going on to Micah 5:2, it states that the birthplace of Jesus would be Bethlehem. A point to note here is that when this prophecy stated Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, his parents Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth; 90 to 100 miles from Bethlehem. And to travel to Bethlehem in those days was not a quick trip, it would have taken several days to accomplish. It was by divine orchestration allowed by God, that a census was ordered by Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus, which forced Joseph and Mary, to return to Bethlehem (where Joseph’s family roots were) in order to register for the census. Thus, Jesus was born in Bethlehem as the Prophet Micah foretold over 700 years prior to His birth.   In Jeremiah 23:5-6 from the Old Testament, it says that out of the line of David a king will come forth who will reign wisely, be just, and righteous. He will be called the Lord Our Righteous Savior. Also in the Old Testament in Hosea 11:1, it tells how God called His Son out of Egypt. Sometime after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary took him to Egypt to live, to avoid the massacre of young children in Bethlehem that was ordered by Herod. This massacre was foretold in Jeremiah 31:15 and reiterated in Matthew 2:16, from the New Testament.   In Matthew 1:23 from the New Testament, the verses state “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him, Immanuel, which means God with us.  Due to Mary becoming pregnant before her marriage to Joseph (she was engaged to him); Joseph wanted to end the engagement and send her away quietly so that she would not be stoned to death for being impregnated by another man, and not her betrothed. However, an angel appeared to Joseph in Matthew 1:20-21 telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife, as it was by the Holy Spirit that she conceived. Also, in the New Testament, in Matthew 2:1,2 and 10-12, it is written that the Magi came from distant lands in the east to Jerusalem, following a bright star in the sky after the birth of Jesus to pay homage to him. The verse also tells that after their visit, they were warned in a dream, not return to Herod to tell him they found the child, but to return to their country, by another route. In the Old Testament, this visit was foretold in Psalm 72:10-11.   There are many prophecies and writings that foretell of Jesus being born and coming to Earth in the Old and New Testaments. Just as we said last week how the Bible is God’s Holy inspired word, we understand and know from reading the sacred texts, that Jesus Christ, Yeshua, is the Son of God. May we study the Bible and seek to have a closer walk and relationship with our Father in Heaven, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.   Blessings, Angélique   To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21 (ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)   Have you ever met someone who questioned the validity of the Bible? They ask questions like, "Where did the Bible come from? Who wrote it? Was it really written under the inspiration of God? The fact is that the Bible was written by people under the inspiration of God. Below let us go through some facts that will set your mind, as well as others, at ease that the Bible was divinely inspired by God.   First and foremost, the Bible was written over a span of 1600 years, by 40 different individuals, writing primarily in three different languages from various countries. It was written by people from all walks of life including kings, shepherds, captives in prison, and everyday people. Of note, the majority of the writers did not know each other and were born in different decades. Despite being written by writers who lived hundreds of years apart from one another, the prophecies from the Old Testament to the New Testament are woven together in a remarkable cohesive design. In the Old Testament, a few prophets existed at the same time, and it is believed they worked together in spreading God’s messages to His people. In the New Testament, there were apostles and other teachers who knew one another and worked together to spread the gospel. However, it is important to note that many of the writers of the New Testament were not living in the same areas at the time of their writings. Many of their writings were about their journeys and life experiences that occurred when they were hundreds of miles apart from one another.   What is also remarkable is that they did not have 21st-century technology that we have today. Meaning, they could not call, email, or text ideas about their writing and what they should write about. As stated before, the Bible was written over a span of 1600 years, by 40 different individuals, who lived in various time periods and were spread out across the known world. In the Old Testament, prophets wrote about various events that were to occur and did finally occur, hundreds of years in the future. There is no way they could have predicted or known what was to happen except being divinely inspired to write what God instructed. Many of them did not understand what they were writing at the time God inspired them. As a result, the fluidity of the stories and events that happened hundreds, even thousands of years apart, fits perfectly in the Bible’s timeline and overall meta-narrative.   Despite what naysayers claim, to this day the Bible is still the most widely read and best-selling book in the world. It is estimated that between 5 and 7 billion copies have been distributed, and it has been translated into 3600 languages around the world.   Without a doubt, we can trust, believe, and rely on the accuracy and authenticity of the Bible. I pray we take up the daily practice of reading and studying our Bibles in order for us to live our best lives. As 2026 has begun, look for a one-year Bible reading plan and begin your reading journey. Even if you have read it before, get into the habit of reading a new plan every year. I have done this for many years and every time I find nuggets of truth that I could not believe I never noticed before. May you enjoy your trip through the Bible as you seek to gain a closer relationship and walk with our Heavenly Father. Blessings, Angélique   To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)   And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (ES V)   We are living in unprecedented times in the United States and the rest of the world. We have those in power within governments who do whatever they want. They have a serious power/ego problem, they do not follow decency, decorum, or the laws of the land. When you read headlines and watch constant breaking news, it makes one fearful of the future. Times like these cause one to stop and ask God, what is happening? Why is this happening? What is the future going to be based on everything going on? If ever there was a time people needed to have faith and trust in God, that time is definitely now.   In my Bible reading the other day, an article talked about various mnemonics that use the letters in the word faith. I wanted to share them here and hopefully they will bring encouragement and help us to remember that God is still in charge. No matter what the future holds, He knows the beginning from the end. F.A.I.T.H…. F orsaking A ll I   T ake H im or, F orsaking A ll I   T rust H im or, F eeling A fraid, I   T rust H im or, F antastic A dventures I n T rusting H im or, F ear A in’t I n T his H ouse and finally, F orward, A head, I n, T ruth,  H eaven   Of course, there could be others, the main point is that faith is the essence of our relationship with God, and that relationship hinges on trust. You may be facing impossible situations in various areas of your life: health, marriage, family, friends, work/school, etc. But just like all of those mentioned throughout the Bible, they faced incredible odds that were stacked against them, and they held on to their faith and trust in God.  We must remember that everything we see all around is only a tiny fraction of what exists. For example, in looking at the stars at night, what is visible to us is a small fraction of the billions that exist. Without a powerful telescope, they are invisible to the human naked eye. Other things in life are invisible to us, but we know they exist: our thoughts, love, and most importantly God. We may not see our thoughts, our love, or God but, we know all exists.   As we continue forward on this journey called life, may we instill unshakable faith and trust in our Heavenly Father despite all the chaos the world offers.   Just remember to always have F.A.I.T.H!   Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:   21stcglmediateam@gmail.com