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Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. Jeremiah 29:12 (ESV) Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12 (ESV)   The other day I was about to enter the hardware store when an elderly lady walking next to me commented about the beautiful day and asked if she could give me a folded piece of paper that contained a prayer. Now, I rarely take anything from a stranger, but at that moment, I felt the Holy Spirit stirring and I said yes, then took the paper. I did not read it right away but continued my shopping, however, when I returned to my car, I read it. As I read, I felt the words were a blessing from God. I may never see this lady again and to my knowledge, the author is unknown. But for today’s post, I would like to share this prayer which, I did have to alter slightly for the sake of clarity. I hope this prayer will be a blessing to you and others with whom you will share. Lord ,  I am yours. Whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life. I realize I am not here on Earth to do my own thing or to seek my own fulfillment, my own glory. I am not here to indulge my desires, to increase my possessions, to impress people, to be popular, to prove I am somebody important, or to promote myself. I am not here even to be relevant or successful by human standards. I am here to love, to serve, and to obey You. I offer myself to You for You are worthy. All that I am or hope to be, I owe it all to You. I am Yours by creation and, every day I receive from You all things, especially the breath of life. I am Yours because You bought me with a price - -the precious blood of Christ. You alone are worthy to be my Lord and my Master. I yield to You, gracious and glorious Heavenly Father, to Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave Himself for me, to the Holy Spirit – for His gracious influence and empowerment. All that I am and all that I have I give to You. I give You any rebellion in me that resists doing Your will. I give You my pride and self-dependence, in order to do Your will throughout my life. I consent to let You energize me – to create within me every day  both the desire and the power to do Your will. I give You my body and its members, my entire life:  my mind, my emotions, my will, my loved ones, my marriage, my hope for marriage, my singleness, my abilities, my gifts, my strengths/weaknesses, my health, my possessions. Lord, I surrender to You my past, my present, and my future. Lord, I pray, may I be a joy to You. Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Repost. Originally posted in April 10, 2020 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (ESV)   I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28(ESV)   I listened to a sermon recently regarding true peace. Imagine if you will two paintings that depict peace. One painting is serene and calm with perhaps rolling meadows or the ocean, showcasing sunny, beautiful, clear skies. And the other is dark with tempestuous storm clouds. Very menacing and dark painting. However, in the corner of this painting, there is a little bird that was highlighted. Its head is tilted toward heaven and it’s singing his songs to God, while in the midst of that storm. As it is lifting up praises, God’s light is shone down from heaven. Thinking about the notion of true peace, initially, we all may identify with the first portrait of calm and serenity. Which is beautiful, and there’s nothing wrong with this notation. But actual biblical peace is when chaos is all around, and you are truly comforted, knowing God is in total control. Knowing that He will set everything right, in His time. In the meantime, you will anchor in, and focus on the work he would have you to do in this world. It’s easy for all of us to have peace when everything is going great and our life is good. But the real testing comes when everything is not so good. Do you have peace when a raging pandemic is causing sickness and death all around you? Do you have peace when due to the said pandemic, you’ve lost your job? Do you have peace when perhaps you’ve become sick and have been given a diagnosis, that is not so good? We all need to strive for the biblical peace that God speaks of in His word. The true Godly peace that surpasses all understanding. Not just some understanding. But ALL understanding. For those who don’t have a relationship with God, they may find it hard to understand how you can be like the bird, praising and worshiping God, when all around you is crumbling. I pray that you and I will have that biblical peace that surpasses all understanding. That despite all going on around us, we will remain anchored in God and His word. To understand that having biblical peace is not always a feeling but it’s a knowing, that God will make a way. With this knowledge, you will be able to continue to fight the good fight of faith. Because you know your God has you through it all. So, sing your songs children of God. Sing to your Master sweet songs of praise and adoration, in the midst of whatever challenges and storms you may go through. Because He has you in the palm of his hand. He has you, in the midst of the storm. Blessings, Angelique~

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)   Today many individuals and groups use the word Christian or Christianity, to gain favor for one reason or another.  These individuals or groups distort true Christianity because they do not live by Godly principles as stated throughout the Bible and highlighted in the verses above.  The verse of the day above outlines the “fruits” of the Holy Spirit. Let us look at each characteristic below. Love  -There are many definitions and meanings but basically, it is characterized by strong feelings of affection, warmth, care, and attachment towards another person or object. Having or showing love for another individual shows how much you care about them, about their wellbeing. Joy  -Can be characterized as having happiness and pleasure. But deep-seated joy from God, comes from contentment and faith in Him, despite what is happening all around the world. Having this Christian characteristic, one would look to share God’s joy with anyone they meet. Peace  -In living a Christian life, peace will not be obtained by looking at changing the world but, by looking inwardly as individuals and collectively as a group; seeking to allow God’s peace to permeate every aspect of our lives. If individuals and groups of people everywhere look to have this characteristic, we would not have the problems and devastation that occur worldwide today. Patience  - Everyone seems to be short-tempered in the times in which we live. They want their way, and they want it now! Having this Christian characteristic means having patience in dealing with family/friends and those around us. It is not always easy, but it is something we should strive to incorporate into our daily lives as we interact with others. Kindness  -Being kind to other people. It sounds simple but sometimes it seems so hard for others to do. Again, looking at the current state of the world and reading and listening to the news, we see that this world is filled with mean-spirited people who inhabit this earth. God calls for us all to show kindness in all we say and do. Goodness  -Be good! Always look to be a good and honest person in all of your interactions in life. Faithfulness  -To be a faithful and trustworthy person. Someone that others can rely on and know that your actions and words have proven to be faithful and can be trusted. Gentleness - Along the same lines as kindness is gentleness. It means not to be rude and rough when dealing with other people. Now, it does not mean you will not have times when you must be firm and have healthy boundaries in place. But one can strive to show gentleness always when interacting with others. Self-Control  -To control one’s emotions and behaviors. To not allow oneself to behave inappropriately towards other individuals and within a society.   Are we going to show the above characteristics all the time, daily? We may not but, if we strive to incorporate these Godly characteristics within our lives, what a tremendous difference it will make for us individually and, collectively as a people. What a beautiful world this would be if everyone strived to have the above attributes be an integral part of their character.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 (ESV) Currently, we are navigating a tumultuous time here in the United States as well as in the rest of the world. Daily we hear negative and grim news, that seems to become worse with each new day. When one listens to or reads the news, there is a heightened sense of anxiety, sadness, unbelief, and utter discouragement, that is felt by the vast majority. The uncertainty of not knowing what will happen throughout the day or the days to come is prevalent in a lot of people’s minds. It is at that time when one must stop and take a step back, for your own emotional and mental sanity. A time when one must say, I cannot obsess over what I cannot control, and what I do not know; but what I can do, is focus on what I know. As Christians, we know that God sees all, has a master plan, and is in control, despite what we currently see happening daily.   The reality is there is so much we do not know about the present as well as the future. This is why it is crucial to focus on and follow what we do know as opposed to obsessing over what we cannot control. As Christians, God has proven His faithfulness from the beginning of time until now. He sees and knows all that has happened, is happening, and what will happen in the future. Though we will not understand everything here on Earth, we can trust God’s word and His promise of salvation. As stated in 2 Timothy 3:14 God says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.” This verse, as well as many others throughout the Bible, will give us encouragement and strength, as we move forward navigating our lives.   With human nature, we tend to want to control every aspect of life and to know everything that will happen; however, we know this is not humanly possible. This is where trust and faith in God are paramount, and the knowledge He has given must be at the forefront of our minds. At times many will ask why God allows certain circumstances to happen, but we must remember, that God sees all, and He sits high and looks down low. He understands what is ahead and what needs to happen for the greater outcome to manifest. As the Bible says in Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”   The problem is not that God does not see, care, or have the ability to communicate with us; the problem is that we do not have the ability or intellectual capacity, to understand His plans fully.   So, as we go through life, may we continue to nurture a strong connection to God. Let us focus on God’s prophecies in the Bible that have already happened as He has said. May we continue to pray for ourselves, family/friends, and even people we do not know. The act of continuously getting close to God as well as lifting everyone in prayer, is something we all can focus on, and what we definitely can control.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

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 (ESV) If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:20-21 (ESV) I am a huge fan of the Star Trek (movies & TV) series, Star Wars films, and Marvel films. Of course, like many who are fans of these franchises, you love the action and the knowledge of good conquering evil. But what I have noticed in all of these films, is that they are accepting of various individuals who look different from one another. There is no looking down at another person because of their skin color, their physical size, their hair texture, their religion, their culture, etc. Mostly the physical or cultural differences are not discussed, and the only concern would be one's character or the intent of an individual or a group. These films embody the sentiment Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of years ago in his famous I Have a Dream speech: “ I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. “   The definition of racism is basically when a group or an individual feels they are superior to other people whom they consider inferior due to their looks, their religious beliefs, their cultural/ethnic differences, their political leanings, etc. I firmly believe that racism is a societal sickness that infects many people around the globe. Most of the ones infected with prejudice and racism were brought up in an environment where that type of thinking and behavior was encouraged. From an early age, people who were raised by racist, parents or caregivers felt emboldened to degrade others who did not look like them or have the financial means that they might have.   God is extremely sad and hurt that His children would behave in such a manner towards one another. He is not shocked however, from Bible times until now, there have been individuals or groups who feel they are superior to others. Unfortunately, this has been a common thought process throughout history that is a devastating, sinful, and sick humanistic trait. God created every human being on the face of this Earth, and no one is superior to the other. God is the author of the diversity of His children as well as the entire planet! He may not agree with various lifestyle choices however; He does not condone His children practicing racial prejudice or racial discrimination against one another.   God calls for us to love and care for each other. Now that may come in various degrees, depending on the relationship you have with the other individual. However, all of us can behave as He would like with empathy, kindness, and respect towards each other. Even though we might have differences and may not agree, He still expects civility between His children. As God’s Word states: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24). And in Acts 17:26 He also says: “And He made from one man every nation of humankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.”   As you go through life, you will meet these individuals and when you do, look to inwardly pray for them remembering they are filled with darkness and hatred. May your prayer be that they will come out of their darkness, and into the light of God’s love and grace.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Now faith is a confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) For we live by faith, not by sight.  2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) During worship this week I read a story of a young man who gave a speech about trusting and obeying.  He had just joined the army and used his army boots as a visual aid. He called one boot “trust” and the other he called “obey” and he went on to describe how this is the foundation of the Christian life.     Let’s be honest, in the current world in which we live, with all of the constant confusion, division, hatred, greed, uncertainty, etc., it is hard to find trust.  Yet when we read and study God’s word, He calls for us to trust in Him.  As stated in the verses above as well as many others throughout the Bible, we are reminded to have faith in God in every aspect of life. It’s easy to have belief and trust in Him when things are going well and when everything is great. The difficulty comes when life comes at you hard, and you see no end in sight. That’s when we must have that boot of trust firmly in place so that we will be able to move forward on our life’s journey.   Obedience, the other boot is just as important as trust. God calls for us to be obedient in everything we say and do. And this is not worldly obedience where everyone does what makes them feel good and whatever is trending at the moment. The obedience God outlines is to have integrity, purity, honesty, empathy, love, and kindness towards others.  God wants us to be obedient and strive to incorporate these and other positive characteristics into our lives and to utilize them when we interact with others.  At times it will not be easy because some people are negative, mean, and really difficult. But as Jesus endured horrific atrocities when He died, in order to be obedient to God the Father, we too can be obedient and trust God and His plan for our lives.    Trust and obedience go hand-in-hand in living a Christian life. In all honesty, I as well as many others, are upset with what we see happening in this world. However, I have to eventually take a step back from it all and turn it over to God.  Now, I will do my part and be obedient  in spreading God‘s message of love and hope to the world but ultimately, I realize that I can only do so much, and I have to trust Him with the rest.    My prayer for myself, my family, friends, and everyone, is that we all seek to diligently accept God, and the salvation He offers, and to daily grow closer to Him.  What we are witnessing here in the US and the rest of the world, the Bible has predicted many centuries before. These are very troubling times in which we live and it’s unknown whether this is the beginning of the end of Earth’s history. But what is being felt by many, is that we are nearing (if not already in) that period in time.  As we journey forward, we are going to encounter a lot of trials and tribulations but, by trusting and obeying God and His plans, we will have comfort and a sense of peace, amid life’s storms.   So, for today and every day hereafter strap on your boots of trust and obey in God and arise and walk through life with confidence that your Father in Heaven sees all and knows the ultimate plan.     Blessings, Angélique   To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.  Psalm 96:5 (ESV) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  John 4:23 (ESV) It is usually easy to tell when someone is idol-worshipping famous and/or political people, various objects, their achievements, places, etc. But sometimes it gets a little difficult to tell when they begin to worship or esteem power to religious  objects, places, as well as other people.  Yahweh-Adjacent or God-Adjacent is a term that can describe a person worshiping or placing high regard to items, places, or people that can be related to or remind them of God but, they are not God and do not possess any power.   For example, people may place a lot of belief and faith in religious objects and feel that if they have this object, God will bless them and be with them.  It could be religious jewelry, a cross, a Bible, etc.  These items are nice to have however, the power of God is not in the objects but comes from our Father in Heaven.  In other examples, some will look to place a religious individual on a pedestal and lift them on high, not understanding they too are sinners saved by grace and it is only God, Yahweh that can bless and restore us all.   Any objects, places, or people should be viewed as reminders only, and point to the one true God, which is in Heaven. As reminders, they are not to be viewed as a substitute for Yahweh where one focuses their thoughts, prayers, and efforts towards the substitution and not Heavenward.   Now there is nothing wrong with feeling the presence of God when you’re in church or enjoying a religious experience with music, movies, art, etc.  The problem can come when one starts assessing power to various objects, people, or places.  Of course, one can feel a heightened experience in church or at a religious gathering. However, the same experience, the same wonderful presence of God can take place in other places as well.  One should never feel, they have to have  a certain object on them in order to feel that God is with them. Or they feel they have to be in a certain place, like church, to feel that God is listening to them. Whether you have certain objects or you don’t, whether you’re in a church building or you’re not, one must understand and know that God is still with you no matter what.   Having a person, place, or thing, that is Yahweh-Adjacent can be beneficial, as long as one keeps the proper perspective that the true healing and restorative power comes only from God.    Blessings, Angélique   To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 (ESV)   Picture this, you wake up in the morning and rush around getting ready for the busy day ahead.  Then after school and/or working all day, you run errands, prepare dinner, clean up afterward, tackle home projects, take care of the finances, wash up for the evening, hop in bed, and then the next day, rinse and repeat. Now, in all the running around, busyness, and constantly making decisions, did you ever stop to ask God to fill you with His wisdom first , in order to help navigate your life?  When you do eventually turn to Him for guidance, do you wonder why you don’t hear or understand His word?  If so, you need to ask yourself this question, “Are you already full”? Have you filled up on the world's wisdom on living life instead of listening to God first?  Have you placed His precepts about life to the back of your mind, and instead moved forward with what you felt is right and good?     Most people will turn to God when life has become too difficult, and they are at their wits end. It is at this time they look to God and plead with Him to fix their lives. Of course, our Heavenly Father loves us and will never turn away but will be there to help His children. But the question remains, were we “too full” before, that we could not hear Him?   All of us from time to time have “filled up” with the things of this world where we do not place God in the forefront of our thoughts and actions.  God longs for us to empty ourselves of worldly cares and to fill up on His wisdom and precepts.  There will be challenges as we navigate this sinful world but, if we allow ourselves to be filled with His goodness and His ways, we will be able to deal with what comes our way. And not only for ourselves but we would be equipped to help others navigate this life as well.   So, as we go forward, we need to daily ask ourselves, are we already “full” of our own agenda? Or have we allowed God to fill us first with His will and His desires for our lives?  I pray that we will seek to constantly allow God to fill us with His Holy Spirit, who will show us the right way to live and to flourish, today and always.     Blessings, Angélique   To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com   Snippet:   Seek to allow God to fill you with His Holy Spirit, who will show the right way to live and to flourish, today and always.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)       For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV)     Have you ever stopped to think that you and I were meant to be born? When you look at how a human baby is created, you can understand how incredibly unique and ordained it was for us to be born.  Not getting too deep into the science but, approximately 11 million sperm are usually needed to begin the journey for a successful pregnancy. However out of the 11 million, only one will make it to fertilize the egg and create a human being. So, out of a chance of 11 million possible creations, you and I came to be!!  God is truly Awesome!!     Despite how you may feel on some days when life is hard and, you're confused and upset about your circumstances; try and remember that out of 11 million potential humans, God wanted you.  Despite what some may say about your birth, it was definitely not an accident!  We were created by design to enjoy God‘s beautiful Earth, one another, and, for a divine purpose ordained by God. It is not only for our selfish ambitions and desires that we were brought into existence. Each of us is gifted with talents and abilities that can be used to impact others and our world, in a beautiful and positive way. God delights to see His children use their unique skills and personalities, to share His glory, honor, and light to this dark and troubled world.      And one does not need to spend a lot of time trying to discover their gifts and talents. Your gifts are usually found in what comes naturally to you, what you enjoy, and the areas where you excel. Now there will be some areas where you’re not so great but, you’re still able to have some accomplishments.  Of course, some areas will be more dominant than others but, all of your unique characteristics can be used to glorify God and uplift His people.     In closing, I would like to encourage everyone to seek to live out their divine purpose here on Earth. Know that you are an important part of God’s creation and whether your impact here is either great or small, it is still needed and cherished by God. My prayer is that while living out your divine purpose here on Earth, you will seek to spread God’s message of hope, love, and peace, to all the world.  Blessings,     Angelique    To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13 (ESV)   So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17 (ESV)   And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9 (ESV)     In the current political environment in the United States (and perhaps in other parts of the world), the apathy that people have regarding what is happening to family members, co-workers, neighbors, acquaintances, etc. is very disturbing and sad. Many people are losing their jobs, their financial stability, their healthcare, and other benefits, at an alarming rate due to the current political administration's wide-scale job cuts.  In addition, their family members are celebrating and applauding this administration for causing the job loss deficit. So, not only are they suffering from the financial and emotional stress due to the loss of their job, but they are also grieving emotionally from the utter ridicule and disdain from their family members. These same family members are quick to call them and their former jobs a waste, and then state they are glad their jobs were cut!        The question I have is this:  where are the empathy and the compassion? It is truly sick to think people would celebrate anyone losing their job and their benefits.  God is very hurt and not pleased with His children’s behavior. And unfortunately, many are uncaring, that is, until what’s occurring affects them. When a situation/circumstance begins to affect an individual, then  they will begin to care and seek to “wake up” and do something about it.      When we are solely focused on ourselves and not attempting to reach out to care for others, God is not pleased.  Of course, we need to take care of ourselves as well as our immediate family however, most of us can show compassion and reach out and help others in need, whether the situation affects us or not.  With all the dramatic happenings in our society daily; people losing their jobs, the cost of living going up exponentially, and a lot of anxious and uneasy feelings felt by many; one can have empathy and compassion for everyone they meet. I pray that no one adopts the apathetic attitude that states: “It doesn’t affect me!!”  My hope and prayer will be for us all to seek to help in any way we can, even if the current societal ills are not affecting us.    Blessings,   Angélique     To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Repost. Originally posted in April 10, 2020 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (ESV)   I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28(ESV)   I listened to a sermon recently regarding true peace. Imagine if you will two paintings that depict peace. One painting is serene and calm with perhaps rolling meadows or the ocean, showcasing sunny, beautiful, clear skies. And the other is dark with tempestuous storm clouds. Very menacing and dark painting. However, in the corner of this painting, there is a little bird that was highlighted. Its head is tilted toward heaven and it’s singing his songs to God, while in the midst of that storm. As it is lifting up praises, God’s light is shone down from heaven. Thinking about the notion of true peace, initially, we all may identify with the first portrait of calm and serenity. Which is beautiful, and there’s nothing wrong with this notation. But actual biblical peace is when chaos is all around, and you are truly comforted, knowing God is in total control. Knowing that He will set everything right, in His time. In the meantime, you will anchor in, and focus on the work he would have you to do in this world. It’s easy for all of us to have peace when everything is going great and our life is good. But the real testing comes when everything is not so good. Do you have peace when a raging pandemic is causing sickness and death all around you? Do you have peace when due to the said pandemic, you’ve lost your job? Do you have peace when perhaps you’ve become sick and have been given a diagnosis, that is not so good? We all need to strive for the biblical peace that God speaks of in His word. The true Godly peace that surpasses all understanding. Not just some understanding. But ALL understanding. For those who don’t have a relationship with God, they may find it hard to understand how you can be like the bird, praising and worshiping God, when all around you is crumbling. I pray that you and I will have that biblical peace that surpasses all understanding. That despite all going on around us, we will remain anchored in God and His word. To understand that having biblical peace is not always a feeling but it’s a knowing, that God will make a way. With this knowledge, you will be able to continue to fight the good fight of faith. Because you know your God has you through it all. So, sing your songs children of God. Sing to your Master sweet songs of praise and adoration, in the midst of whatever challenges and storms you may go through. Because He has you in the palm of his hand. He has you, in the midst of the storm. Blessings, Angelique~

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18 (ESV)   Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:4 (ESV)   In this crazy world in which we live, there are at least four levels that describe caring about others and/or various situations.  I have placed the caring levels from not caring at all, to caring at a level God desires for all of His children to follow.      The first would be apathy .  Apathy is defined as a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest; basically the very opposite of caring.  It describes a person who doesn’t care at all.  A person who goes around with a sense of emotional detachment or impassiveness for the concerns of others and, for what’s going on in society and the world at large.  As a follower of Christ, this is definitely not how our Father in Heaven wants us to feel or to behave.   Next would be sympathy . Sympathy is an emotion where you feel sorrow for the person or the hard/difficult situation.  It basically involves recognizing and acknowledging a person’s suffering or a difficult situation and feeling sorry that the current circumstance that has occurred.   Then there is empathy . This caring emotion goes beyond just feeling sorry for a person and actually feels the pain alongside the hurting individual. With empathy, one seeks to connect with those hurting and to go through this tough time with them. This caring emotion is deeper than sympathy, in that the person is willing to connect with the suffering individual or situation, at a deeper level of understanding. A lot of Christians will show empathy and will look to pray with and check in on the individuals going through their difficulties.   And ultimately there is compassion .  Compassion goes beyond empathy in that one does not just feel sorry for the person or the situation that is occurring, but will try and help in some capacity. They will feel the sorrow and pain that this individual or the situation brings but, they will also try to help alleviate the difficulties by stepping up to try to manage or take care of the situation.        All levels of caring from sympathy up to compassion are extremely important and God is pleased when we allow these caring emotions to shine forth in our hearts.  Of the three, however, God would want all of us to be at the compassion stage. Now, we may not be able to step in and help in every circumstance but, there are a lot of different ways one can help.  Even if you’re not able to step up and help, showing sympathy or better yet, being empathetic, can help lift someone as they go through their difficult time.    I pray that we all have the heart and the character disposition to show compassion to those in need. As we journey through life and come across those who are in desperate situations, may we be willing to step up and help and not just feel sympathy and/or empathy for their difficulties.  May we strive to always show Godly compassion to those around us. Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com