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I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33 (ESV)   As I write this, people in Florida are feeling the force of Hurricane Milton. Just several days before, the state as well as other Southern states dealt with Hurricane Helene and were still trying to recover from that devastation. The hurricanes were so close together that the cleanup of debris from Helene had not been cleared before Milton descended upon Florida. Newscasters were saying the Category 5 Hurricane was the strongest and worst hurricane to hit the state, in the Central Florida area, in many years. Due to its size and intensity, many were told to evacuate and to prepare and brace for this monumental storm.   I felt God leading me to share encouragement on how one is to get through what could be a crisis. It is not just physical damage, many will suffer physical harm to themselves and/or their loved ones, and even some will be dealing with a loved one's death, all related to this storm. There will be many other crises in life that we all must deal with from time to time, not just this storm. In researching crisis management, many articles will tell you to make sure to have all important papers, insurance information, emergency phone numbers, etc on hand. And of course, this advice is crucial however, what about the mental, emotional, and spiritual state one should be in, to prepare for a crisis? The following are just some tips that one can implement to keep a sense of calmness and peace, as one “weathers” their crisis: 1.  Limit media to just necessary consumption. Do not overload on watching, reading, or listening to the media. This can reduce your anxiety if it is limited to only essential consumption.   2. Gather important paperwork and phone numbers together. Whether it be a paper or digital folder (I prefer digital on your cell), have it at the ready.   3. Reach out to your social network for support. Look to family, friends, church family, etc. One can look at various Christian organizations/programs as well.   4. Try to get proper exercise and sleep and keep a balanced diet.   5. Even as you are going through your difficulties, still seek to express kindness and compassion to others. Look to encourage them and try and help if you can.   6. Incorporate a rest period. A time to rest physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, to recharge and re-energize yourself so you can continue the tasks ahead. Every day one should have moments of connecting with God. But just as God rested from creation on the seventh day (see Genesis 2:1-3) we too need to do likewise.   These are just a few tips to help in navigating this and any other challenging time in life. As always, constant prayer and connection with God daily is key for any of us to deal with life and the various challenges that it brings. My prayer is for everyone to be strengthened as they meet daily challenges and that eventually, they will have a testimony to share on how God brought them through.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, Romans 7:22 (ESV) That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, Ephesians 3:16 (ESV)   I read of a tribal legend where an Elder was passing on wisdom to the young. He stated: “There is a battle between your two inner wolves, one good, one evil. When the student asked which wolf wins, the Elder answered, whichever one you feed". Of course, this is a metaphor, a lesson about the inner conflict or the battle within each of us. It is one everyone must deal with and with the help of God, we will be able to feed the “good wolf” within.    You have heard it said you are what you eat, as relates to your physical body. But that can also be true for what we allow to come into our minds and our thoughts, what we allow to affect our inner being. What we watch, listen to, and the people we surround ourselves with have a definite impact on what we are feeding our inner selves. Are we ingesting God’s word, (the Bible), wholesome programming, movies, music, and other forms of entertainment? Are we being mindful of the people or groups we follow or allow in our inner circle? Or do we constantly ingest worldly programming/entertainment, and hang with people who do not have wholesome characters?   Life is hard at times and due to our choices, it can be harder if we are not careful. We can cause unnecessary stress and grief if we are not wise in our choices of what we ingest physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. When you study God’s word, attend a Bible-believing-teaching church, and surround yourself with like-minded individuals, you will be able to discern what is good and wholesome to feed your inner self versus what is not. Depending on what “wolf” you are feeding, will show in your behavior, your values, and your character.   I pray that we all will look to feed our inner “wolf” with honesty, integrity, and Godly values. If all of us on this planet did this, what a wonderful world we would occupy.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression. Proverbs 29:22   Anger. It is a destructive emotion that has the potential to wreak havoc on anyone or anything in its path. Recently in the United States, outside of Atlanta, Georgia, there was a recent school shooting where four people were killed and nine others injured by another student.  It is still unclear what was the student’s motive to do such a heinous act. Currently, the police are investigating to figure out the student’s motive. Whatever his motive, you can rest assured that anger, resentment, and any other negative emotions, were definitely involved, which led to this minor obtaining a gun and shooting/killing others. His anger-filled rampage caused untold damage to the families, classmates/school personnel, friends, society at large, and possibly others in various parts of the world, who have heard this horrific story.   As the verses state above, as well as many others in the Bible, it is imperative that we as human beings, control our anger as well as any other powerful/negative emotion. In life there will be situations where one will become angry and upset due to events and circumstances however, what is most important is how you control your response to those emotions when they arise. No one has the right to act upon their anger to the extent that they cause bodily harm and/or physical property damage to others.   Some steps to take to diffuse your anger can be: 1.  Walk away from the area that is causing you stress/anger. Change your environment. 2.  Do a strenuous workout. 3.  If you feel your emotions are getting out of control and that feeling is frequent, seek out professional counseling. One can call SAMHSA, #800-662-HELP (4357), 24/7 and they will gladly speak with you. 4.  Journal. Write (or type if digital) everything that you’re feeling. You can express yourself however you like as it is yours and no one needs to know. However, if you express that you want to harm yourself, or others, or cause major damage, call the hotline listed above and speak to a professional. I pray that for all of us reading this awful news as well as other devastating news happening around the world, we will vow to do the following: ·      Keep the families involved in constant prayer. ·      Look to champion responsible gun laws and perhaps volunteer to help in areas that can assist others in mental, emotional, and physical need. ·      Look to monitor ourselves and any powerful/negative emotions we may be feeling. Seek to channel/release these emotions in healthy ways. ·      If we feel our emotions are growing and seeming on the verge of being out of control, let us seek professional counseling as needed.   Please keep your anger in check. Your life and the lives of those around, you depend on it.   Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Proverbs 10:9 (ESV) Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”  1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.  Proverbs 10:7 (ESV) Definition of character:   is the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Definition of reputation:   is the general belief or opinion that other people have about you.   Which would you rather have, an awesome reputation with those around you or a Godly, wholesome character? Of course, we all want to have a great reputation to follow us as we interact with others. However, having a great reputation is not necessarily an indication of having a morally upright and Godly character. As outlined by the definitions above, one could have a fantastic reputation amongst other people but, have a morally corrupt character.   All of us should desire to strive to have Godly characteristics as opposed to a popular reputation. In the current times in which we live, people who seek to have high integrity and Godly characters, are at times ridiculed for their principals and their values. When a person follows God and His precepts, as opposed to worldly ideals, they may be teased and given unflattering nicknames like Mr. or Ms. “holier than thou” or “holy roller.”  These are just two out of many derogatory comments people will use.   In the current political, as well as the entertainment world, there are many people who may have popular reputations but, how do they behave with others? Do they show good values and a morally upstanding character? The way a person speaks and behaves, on a consistent basis, will usually tell you, their character. As God’s children, He expects us to move through life showing upstanding values and morals. In addition, He expects that if we do follow or associate with others, they too should seek to have Godly characteristics and values as well. Of course, no one is perfect, and we will slip up from time to time however, even in making mistakes, people with integrity will own up to their mistakes and look to make amends. People who are the opposite, seek self-gratification and will blame others for their mistakes. They will exhibit behaviors that show they do not care about anyone, only themselves.   Character or reputation? Pursue a Godly character and you will naturally have a great reputation.   Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, …Titus 2:7 (ESV) For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.   1 Peter2:21 (ESV)   Who is your role model? As humans, we always will look to other human beings as role models. And that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. Other people we look up to can be very inspiring on how we should live our lives. They are not perfect ( no human born into sin will be perfect ) but, if they are consistently seeking to be good, morally upright, Godly individuals, then these are people we can definitely seek to model after.   Now, seeking good  role models is not the issue. It becomes an issue when the people we idolize/look up to, do not model good behavior and Godly standards. There are many people in pop culture that are extremely popular, entertainment figures such as actors, singers, sports personalities, business leaders, etc. A lot of people will look to them as role models because of their popularity and will overlook their characters and how they conduct themselves on a consistent basis. This can become a problem for the individual looking up to them, as well as their concentric circle of family, friends, and acquaintances whom they influence. This is especially true if the person being influenced starts incorporating the bad behaviors of their role model. Instead of spreading love, goodness, and holiness, they are spreading disinformation, lies, hate, and divisiveness.   I say all the time to look to the Bible for good role models and this is true however, there are also bad role models listed in there as well. The Bible gives us examples of people to follow and emulate, and those not to follow due to their behavior and their choices. So, what was true in Bible times is true for us today, looking to follow people who are seeking to consistently choose to have integrity in everything they say and do, as their normal way of interacting in this world. And actually, the one person listed in the Bible we all should follow and seek to emulate is Jesus Christ. As Christians, that is what our title means: to be Christ-like in all we say and do.   So, as we go forward in life, may we seek to first and foremost have Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit as role models for all of us to follow. May we seek to live our lives so that others will see Godly characteristics in us. We too are role models for others, whether we know it or not. None of us are perfect but, if we intentionally strive to live with integrity and God’s precepts, we can be good role models for those who come behind us.   Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; Luke 6:37 (ESV) “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment, you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.   Matthew 7:1-2 (ESV) 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; Romans 14:10 (ESV)   Who made you the judge of other people? That is a strong question that a lot of people will be taken aback if you ask them. But it is a question all of us need to think about and ask ourselves. At some point in our lives, we’ve all had opinions regarding others. We want to judge them on their looks, the way they speak/carry themselves, their life choices, how they move/operate in this world, and the list can go on. Many times, we judge and criticize others on what we consider to be the “ideal” of how someone should live their life. Because of this belief, the question must be asked again, “Who made you the judge”?   Looking at the Bible verses mentioned above, God makes it clear we are not to judge others. We are all God’s kids and being our Father, the Creator of us all, He and He alone should be the only true judge. We are not to point fingers and judge anyone but ourselves. What God does call for is our humility and a willingness to spread His message of hope, faith, and love to all the world. Witnessing and sharing His light and love to others should be our number one priority. If we focus our energy and time on establishing good, wholesome relationships with others, we could then lead them to Christ and His principles on how to live a righteous life.   When people choose to taunt and bully, this behavior will not bring about a positive change in other people, nor will God and His word be glorified. By calling ourselves Christians, we are telling the world ( or we should be ) that we are Christ’s followers, and we are acting/behaving as He would in all we say and do. Christ never made fun of other people, called them names, bullied them, made crude jokes about them, etc. He won them over by showing love and kindness and, how they can turn from the darkness of this world, into His marvelous light.   So, as we go about living life and interacting with others, let us keep in mind that as God‘s children, we are not called to judge others. God does call for us to live honest and humble lives so that we can be a witness to those around us. He calls for us not to judge but to spread His message to all the world. Blessings, Angélique To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.  Colossians 4:6 (ESV) Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Romans 12:10 (ESV) If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Romans 12:18 (ESV)   During this political season in the US and in many parts of the world, negative and divisive rhetoric, language, and discourse is constantly on display. Unfortunately, many of the conversations, attitudes, and behaviors, cause our Father in Heaven to be appalled, ashamed, and disappointed in His children. People can be crude and mean-spirited, seeking to bring others down with their words and actions, in order to lift themselves up. At times, we will not agree politically, socially/economically, on religion, and the list can go on. We will encounter those who live lives that differ from other groups of people throughout the world. It does not mean one group is better than the other, it just means they are different. And despite some differences ( most people won’t admit it but, there are more similarities at times than there are differences ) we should all be able to handle ourselves around each other showing integrity, dignity, and respect.   The definition of civil discourse calls for civility in discussing topics that are of the general public’s interest. However, God expects us to not only be civil in public or while dealing with public matters but, we should also display civility in all of our actions and at all times. He wants His children to interact in a kind and respectful way. God knows that we will not fully agree on various topics however, that does not mean we are to behave in a negative and degrading manner toward one another.   In this difficult time we are living in, I pray and encourage everyone to seek to behave as if God Himself were physically standing next to you. We must realize that even though we may not see God physically, He sees and hears all that we say and do. May we seek to pray, study His word daily, and ask God’s Holy Spirit to help us in our day-to-day interactions with others. May we all strive to have civil discourse with others that will make our Father in Heaven very proud.   Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord…   Jeremiah 30:17 (ESV)   The definition of soul wounds:    Soul wounds are a type of trauma that can cause deep and intense pain that affects a person's life.  Or… And overlooked, unassessed, emotional, spiritual, or psychosocial wound that traumatically or insidiously separates one from their own sense of self.   Life can be difficult, especially for those who are dealing with deep-down personal, as well as generational soul wounds. These are wounds that can affect a person, even though they themselves did not go through the trauma but their ancestors did, and they have been passed down to this present day. Many people in order to cope, just compress their emotional pain and move throughout their day and life, with a smile on their face to the outside world while carrying a painful void inside.   If one realizes that their actions/decisions are causing or have caused pain, it would be wise to stop and seek the help of a professional. A professional counselor can help one confront the pain and triggers from the present as well as from the past. No one should feel ashamed for seeking help for any emotional and/or mental situation. If anything, that is the wisest and healthiest thing one can do.   In addition to seeking professional help when needed, one should also turn to God and the Bible as well. Seek out a Christian Pastor or church counselor, who can also help to unpack the trauma, and begin the journey of healing their soul wounds.   God does not want any of His children to experience soul wounds, or any physical pain and suffering. We must realize this world, due to our choices from the beginning until now, has always rebelled against God’s precepts. As a result of our decisions, God’s children (in varying degrees), will suffer from the sin and the degradation of this world.   A few helpful tips in seeking to heal from soul wounds: - Acknowledge your feelings by perhaps writing them down in a journal. - Look to get involved in activities that bring joy/happiness into your life. - Be patient as you work through your pain. - Seek support from close-trusted family/friends and, seek professional help if need be   God loves His children and when they are hurting, He hurts too. Continue to trust Him and seek help for any deep-seated soul wounds that you might have. And then, when you have been healed and strengthened, make sure to turn back, and help those who come behind.   Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Colossians 3:16 ESV For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Hebrews 8:10 (ESV) In the world in which we live, there is so much anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, pride, arrogance, and the list can go on and on. The Bible was written thousands of years ago, and it is just as relevant now as it was back then. I always like to say the Bible is our blueprint for how to live our best lives. There are many human philosophies and ideals on how one can live life. And not all ideals are bad, some of them are actually based on God’s Holy precepts. However, some are focused solely on themselves and pleasure-seeking, not caring about other people and how our behavior may impact their lives. In God’s word as stated in the verses above and throughout both the Old and New Testament, He encourages us to read, study, and apply His principles written within its pages. He wants us to allow it to dwell in our minds and our hearts and, to apply His truths to our everyday decisions, as we go about living life.  Despite the crazy noise of this world with its divisiveness, wars, and political rivalries, currently playing out across the globe; may we seek to continuously keep God‘s principles of righteousness, honesty, integrity, mercy, and love ever before us. May we seek to associate ourselves with churches as well as individuals who also strive to live by these principles. May His precepts be a shield against all the ungodly attitudes and behaviors that we encounter every day. And finally, may God’s word be a guiding light of hope and love, shining onto the path of our life, as well as the lives of others. Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (ESV) And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.   Isaiah 60:3 (ESV) When we study and fill up on God’s word, follow His precepts, and marvel at the wonderful changes in our lives, does God want us to keep it all to ourselves? The answer is a resounding no!! In Matthew 5:14-16 God states in these verses that we are not to hide our light, meaning the knowledge and blessings He has bestowed on us. We are to share with everyone, what our Father has done for us.     When we are in step with God and manifesting His character and principles of daily living, one does not have to force God’s light to shine forth. For example, at work/school or in our relationships, we at times try to influence others or the situation, in order to put ourselves in the “best light” before others. But if we maintain and establish a consistent connection with God, our light will shine always, and to everyone we meet. The light of God’s knowledge, love, grace, and understanding, will never have to be forced and/or manipulated, in order to shine onto others as stated above in today's verse from Isaiah 60:3.   We need to understand that by letting our light shine, we are lighting the way for others who may need to be encouraged. By being a “living” representative of Bible precepts people who have never read the Bible, will see firsthand how God wants us all to behave. By letting our light shine, we may be able to help lead a person out of physical, mental, and spiritual darkness. And finally, by letting our light shine, we are paving the way for those who will come behind us, our future generations.   Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  Colossians 3:2 (ESV)   Where has the majority of your focus been this week? How about the last few weeks? Were you focused mostly on your job/career, your finances, your health, your family, society, or the world at large? Or a combination of all the above? Most of us are dealing with one or more from the above list and not just once in our lives but, usually on a continuous basis. God said in His word we will have trials (problems), but He left us with encouragement and hope by also saying to take courage, He has overcome the world, see John 16:33. When faced with difficulty and challenges, of course, we will put our focus on trying to rectify our situations. God expects us to do what we can to fix the problem areas in our lives. He does not want us to sit back and cry out to Him to fix our situations when we have the capability to work on the problem for ourselves. However, He is looking for us to do our best to remedy the situation and once we have done all we can, to trust and believe that He will step in a make a way. Now we must keep in mind that the outcome we envision may not be in line with God’s will, His plan. It is important for us to trust God and to place our focus ultimately on Him and His will in every situation. It does not necessarily come easy for any of us to put our complete faith and focus on God and His will after we’ve done everything to rectify our circumstances. However, God is calling for us to trust that He knows what is best, even with our limited human understanding, and knowing that what is best, can possibly be very painful to accept. My prayer going forward is for each of us to tackle the various problems/challenges that we have to the best of our abilities. But ultimately, we learn to place our focus, our complete trust and faith on God, and His will for our lives.   Blessings, Angélique 💐 To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.   Proverbs 6:16-19 (ESV) As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11 (ESV) The definition of divisiveness is the “tendency to cause disagreement or hostility between people”.   Divisiveness, of course, has occurred since the beginning of time pretty much from Cain and Abel in the Garden of Eden to the present day. And currently, in the 21st century in the United States and the rest of the world, divisiveness seems to be at an all-time high. People dislike another group due to the color of their skin, their political party affiliation, their religious background, and the list can go on and on. God is truly not pleased! I would dare say, He’s disgusted at how His children ( which is all of us ) are behaving.   Due to our human nature, we will be divided into our various groups, family dynamics, etc. But the problem comes into play when we are not just divided, but divisive. We are behaving as the definition states above, causing division and hostility towards one another. As the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg famously said, “We can disagree, but not be disagreeable”. And of course, our original teacher of all mankind, our Father in Heaven, has stated this same message for His children throughout the Bible. I may not agree on the same ideals as others but, I never want to be divisive towards another individual and/or groups of people, demanding/expecting them to behave and think like I do.   As we live our lives, may we adopt God‘s principles on how to deal with and interact with each other. May we exhibit Godly characteristics on a daily basis. Even though we will have different likes and opinions if we adopt the mindset of being kind, respectful, and loving toward everyone, what a beautiful world this would be.   I hope and pray we will all seek this mindset and lifestyle as we move forward in life.     Blessings, Angélique 💐   To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com