Pray First

Before you overreact—pray.

Before you jump to conclusions—pray.

Before you make a serious and even a life-changing decision based off of emotions, your own wisdom, or fears—pray.

Before you give up . . . on God's promises, on that person, on that important thing, on yourself—pray.

Before you move in fear—pray.

Before you consult your past to make a decision about your future, instead of consulting God about your future, when it is God who lovingly holds our futures—pray.

Before you sabotage a good thing—pray.

For some, the finish line is RIGHT THERE, CLOSELY APPROACHING . . . and the enemy would LOVE nothing more than to see God's precious daughter/son give up now: RIGHT BEFORE the beautiful changes. RIGHT BEFORE the new beginnings. RIGHT BEFORE the breakthrough. RIGHT BEFORE that second chance. RIGHT BEFORE God's promises, and even long awaited promises, are finally fulfilled. Some are ALREADY IN "THE PROMISED LAND", even if it doesn't feel like it . . . ALREADY THERE . . . but the enemy DOES NOT want that to be understood or realized. KEEP GOING! We must keep trusting God and in His perfect timing, love, plans, ways, and will.

These are the words the Holy Spirit is pouring into my spirit right now [May 12, 2021].

Glory to God.

In Obedience to My Heavenly Father,

All Glory to God,

Charrese Monique

Boldness & Virtue Ministries

Copyright 2021, Charrese Monique. All Rights Reserved.

When God Tests Us

When God Tests Us:

God tests us all. Please understand: When God tests us, it is not for HIM, it is for YOU and for ME—as GOD ALREADY KNOWS EVERYTHING:

God already knows how you will react.

God already knows that you will judge that person or those people.

God already knows that you will gossip, or that you will go tell something that was not your place to tell.

God already knows that you will fall.

God already knows that you will succeed.

God already knows that you will be kind; just as well as He knows that you will be unkind.

God already knows that you will be patient; just as well as He knows that you will be or become impatient.

God already knows that you will jump to the wrong conclusion(s) about a person or their words (even twisting their words), or about a situation.

God already knows that you will take advantage of that person’s kindness or in contrast, that you will appreciate that person’s kindness.

God already knows how you will treat that person or that animal—with love, recklessly, with patience or impatience, kindly or maliciously.

God already knows what you are capable of—both good and bad.

God already knows when you will pass His tests, and when you will fail His tests. Here is the thing: God needs YOU to know all of this as well. Here is why:

God needs YOU to see where you have grown—congratulations!

God needs YOU to see where you still need to grow—with God, you can do it!

God needs YOU to KNOW YOURSELF, to KNOW YOUR CAPABILITIES (both good and bad), and to LEARN MORE ABOUT LIFE.

With all of that knowledge, God needs you to do what needs to be done, with His guidance, to live according to His perfect will and live out your awesome purpose in life. All that we learn in God's tests are meant to HELP us; we can apply all that we learn to our present and to our future. Also, what we learn and how we act on this knowledge can affect those around us, as we, essentially, are all connected.

Be thankful for each test, no matter how that testing feels, as everything God does is done out of His abundant, immense, and unconditional LOVE for us.

God is patient. God is kind. God is loving. TESTS are actually gifts, while TEMPTATION is not. SO, PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE TEMPTATION OR YOUR FLESH WITH GOD'S TESTING. GOD DOES NOT TEMPT US:

13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

-James 1:13-17

Lastly, keep this in mind:

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

-Romans 5:3-5

Let us all continue to grow, and to grow in the LORD! In Jesus mighty name, amen! Hallelujah!

I love you all, but God loves you BEST of all! May God bless you all!

In Obedience to My Heavenly Father,

All Glory to God,

Charrese Monique

Boldness & Virtue Ministries

Copyright 2021, Charrese Monique. All Rights Reserved.

God's Surprises

 

God's Surprises:

 
 

I share this, without shame, as led by the LORD.

 

 

When I was a child, I "dumpster dived" a few times. Some of you probably seen me wearing a treasure or two and thought it was cute, not knowing that I had picked it out . . . of a dumpster.

Was I really struggling badly? No. However, the extra help was surely appreciated . . . and God seen that.

Did I feel humiliated? No. In fact, I was excited about this treasure we had: There was a local thrift shop that was throwing away good clothing and more. It seems they just could not sell the clothes, so they would throw away what they could not sell into the dumpster. Unbelievable! Or was it?

You see, God had this to be noticed ON PURPOSE. This was an opportunity to be blessed! I was excited to sneak out there at night with a flash light and grab a few things (even for my life-size Barbie)! Understandably, I was asked not to tell, as not everyone would see those moments as moments of "blessing," and some people can be cruel and say mean and hurtful things, and I was only a child—so that was for my protection. With my being an adult now, the LORD is leading me to share this story to express the following message:

Some of you are missing your blessings, that are right before your eyes, right in your grasp, right within your reach:

—because of your perception being wrong.

—because you are too ashamed of the avenue you will have to travel in order to obtain what you have been waiting for.

—because you are too concerned with what other people might think.

—because you are expecting that blessing, that person, that opportunity, that job, to come to you appearing a certain way, as well as in a very particular manner . . . according to YOUR flesh, according to how YOU think things should go and be, according to YOUR understanding, according to how YOU think a person should look.

—because you have expectations, but you have not sought after God and His will for your life.

Stop looking at things only surface-level. God's blessings and opportunities do not always come in the forms and ways that we expect them to. This is part of why we should REMAIN prayerful. Pray, trust God, lean not on your own understanding, and wait for God patiently. God's Holy Spirit can guide you along the way, helping you to recognize His blessings when they have arrived. Be thankful. Worry not about what others will say. Only YOU will have to live with the decisions YOU make, not them. Enjoy what God has for YOU, humbly and with gratitude.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

-Proverbs 3:5-6

Glory to God.

I love you all, but God loves you BEST of all. May God bless you all.

In Obedience to My Heavenly Father,
All Glory to God,
Charrese Monique
Boldness & Virtue Ministries

P.S. The outfit in the picture is not one I got from the dumpster. I used that picture as led by my Heavenly Father. It is reflective, same smile . . . . Humbly said, God is my Provider. 

 
 
 
 
 

Copyright 2021, Charrese Monique. All Rights Reserved.

Our Feelings DO Matter to God!

 

Our Feelings DO Matter to God!

Stop telling people things like, "When it comes to God's Word, YOUR FEELINGS DON'T MATTER." Why? Because to our Heavenly Father, our feelings DO matter:

If our feelings did not matter to God, He would NOT offer us His Holy Spirit, who is also referred to as our "COMFORTER"—and comforting addresses our FEELINGS.

If God did not care about our feelings, He would not offer HEALING—for our HURT FEELINGS.

If our feelings did not matter to God, He would not offer us His TRUTHS—for our CONFUSED FEELINGS.

You hear people say, "It's not about WHAT you say, it's about HOW you say it." While that is true for a lot of situations, that is not true for ALL situations. Sometimes, no matter how "kindly" you say a thing, your words can still hurt (doing more harm than actual good)—and telling someone that their "feelings do not matter," can really hurt.

For some, your true (humble and faith-filled) intentions are recognized: What you are trying to convey is that God's truth is God's truth, no matter what. That is righteous and true. However, God DOES care about our feelings, even those feelings that do not align with God's Word or His will . . . and that is part of WHY He provided for us His Holy Word in the first place—to provide correction to what we might FEEL is "right" and provide for us His TRUTHS, and to then provide comfort and healing regarding any FEELINGS that often times follow after we are corrected or are trying to turn our lives around to align with God's Word.

Instead of saying, "Your feelings don't matter," try saying the following: "How you feel matters to God and to me. However, how we feel does not justify our sins. How we feel does not change God's truths." Then, LOVINGLY, refer them to God's Word about whatever the matter is. Do all of this led by the Holy Spirit, of course.

Be careful how you speak to people. While one should never take how PEOPLE have treated them out on GOD, the reality is that people WILL and sometimes DO take how you—a proclaimed Christian and "representative of Jesus Christ" in their eyes—have treated them, out on God; sometimes, this pushes them away from Christ. So, be patient. Be loving. Be honest, but without being insensitive. Again, be loving. GOD cares about everyone's feelings, and so should we.

This is what God's Holy Spirit stopped me in my tracks to share. Glory to God.

I love you all, but God loves you BEST of all! May God bless you all!

In Obedience to My Heavenly Father,

All Glory to God,
Charrese Monique
Boldness & Virtue Ministries

 

Copyright 2021, Charrese Monique. All Rights Reserved.

Judging God's Messengers

 

Judging God's Messengers:

Stop judging people based on the titles and statuses they do and do not have, or do not have yet:

Paul was a murderer, and he specifically murdered Christians—but God chose Paul to become an Apostle!

In Paul's singleness—God used Paul to give instructions and advice on marriage!

David was not a giant—but God used David to slay Goliath, a giant!

Mary was a virgin—but God chose Mary to become pregnant (giving birth to our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ)!

Moses was not good with words—but God called Moses to be a leader, to free God's people from slavery, and God also used Moses to deliver to us some of the most read and vital words in the world: the Ten Commandments!

Jesus Christ did not have MANY titles—but He instructs on ALL things!

Also, stop judging people by how they appear:

One day, I had someone not believe that the LORD had a warning for me to deliver to them . . . ONLY because of my physical appearance. The Holy Spirit let me know this. He actually had me to let this person know that they were judging me and also why they were doing so: They were speechless, clearly shocked that I knew this information [because of God]. However, they still did not receive what GOD was saying to them through me . . . because they were blinded by their judgments about ME. Not too long after that, when what God was trying to warn them about through me came to pass in their life, they returned to me in tears wanting answers. (Of course, God is loving and, humbly said, so am I. We dealt with their situation, led by God.) That has occurred in my life on other occasions as well.

I did NOT share that to make myself look good or holier than anybody—GOD IS ALWAYS TO BE GLORIFIED, I am just a vessel for Him. I am sharing this, as led by my Heavenly Father to do, to say the following:

SOME OF YOU ARE MISSING

*GOD'S MESSAGES*

BECAUSE YOU ARE

TOO BUSY JUDGING

*THE MESSENGERS*!

When someone is filled with the Holy Spirit—whether you believe it or not, whether you accept it or not—IT IS NOT THEM SPEAKING: The HOLY SPIRIT is speaking THROUGH that vessel!

19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

 

-Matthew 10:19-20

Because someone does not LOOK LIKE what YOU think they should look like—you judge, and you miss God's words.

Because you are too busy judging a person based on their PAST—you judge, and you miss God's words.

Because you will not HUMBLE YOURSELF to listen to someone whom YOU feel does not have the appropriate position or title (in YOUR mind) to be able to advise you—you judge, and you miss God's words.

Because you have allowed your mind to be swayed about a person based off of GOSSIP and NOT KNOWING A FULL TRUTH ABOUT A SITUATION OR PERSON—you judge, and you miss God's words.

The list goes on. The point remains the same: Stop judging the vessel—God uses whomever He desires. God does not need the approval of man to make decisions about whom He will or will not use or speak through!

God's Word tells us in 1 John 4:1 to test every spirit because not every spirit is sent from God. So, we SHOULD be seeking God about everything and everyone that comes our way. However, this is about your judging and not humbling yourself, and consequently, you missing God's warnings and even some of your blessings as a result of your judgments and lack of humility.

When you dismiss a person, mock them, laugh at them, or gossip about them, when all they have done is be a vessel for the LORD—it is YOU who misses out, not them, and it is YOU who will have to answer to the LORD. If you do not understand what someone is saying to you on God's behalf, or even why God chose them to speak through, do not mistreat them or be so quick to dismiss them: TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER. After all, God and God's Word (line the message up with God's Word, the Holy Bible) have ALL of your answers. Choose to seek God, instead of choosing to be judgmental or evil.

I love you all, but God loves you BEST of all! May God bless you all!

In Obedience to My Heavenly Father,

All Glory to God,

Charrese Monique

Boldness & Virtue Ministries

Copyright 2021, Charrese Monique. All Rights Reserved.

"JOURNEY" Versus "RESULTS"

 

JOURNEY: What You Do Not Always See
-Versus-
RESULTS: What You Do See:
 
 

It is very clear that appearances and social media posts can cause people to desire what other people have, as well as things that do not actually exist—like flawlessness, an always easy life, and (sometimes) an absolutely happy smile—causing them to feel bad if they do not have a thing or certain experiences in their own lives. Humbly said, due to compliments and comments I have received over the years, I have a spiritual and human responsibility to share what I am sharing with you now (as led by my Heavenly Father):

"Flawlessness" does not exist in my personal life. However, both my love for God and my love for others do exist. "Easy" is not always my situation—but I count all experiences "a blessing", in some way.

In my heart, genuinely expressing Godly love, patience, and forgiveness, will always be important—and while I am NOT perfect—I try to live my life according to God’s Word, lovingly, with patience, and with a forgiving heart. Laughter will always be welcomed, "silly" is who I am. I like to smile, so I do so often. At times, wrong assumptions are made in light of all that I have just expressed—because, sometimes, people make assumptions based on what they see on the surface. However, please know this: Aside from God Himself and His perfect will—flawlessness does not live within or amongst me, but love certainly does. My life is not always easy. My blessings and spiritual gifts do not always come without opposition and/or struggle. My smiles do not always express happiness—but rather, strength, survival, and hope in my Heavenly Father. Additionally, on my own, I have nothing . . . but with God, humbly said, I have everything I will ever need: God is my Provider.

I am 100% me, real, genuine. What I post about IS reality. However, naturally, it is not my entire reality. I go through hardships, just like everyone else does. There is just no need for me to share about my hardships, unless God has called me to do so for His purposes, for testimony. My family has issues too, just like everyone else's. However, I do not believe in bashing, blasting, or gossiping about my family members (or about anyone).

My not sharing when I am experiencing tough times does not mean that difficult times do not exist in my life. I am human too. Humbly said and all glory to God: I am a warrior and I am a survivor in multiple senses, beyond what most people know. My Heavenly Father gets me through and is my Guide.

This is NOT AT ALL just about compliments and comments that have been directed toward me; God just led me to use my life for an example. Many people make assumptions about other people and about their lives, and sometimes, they start comparing, they even start competing. That is universal. It is so important that you remember the following:

NEVER compare yourself to someone else. NEVER compare your family to someone else's family. NEVER compare your walk with someone else's walk in life. It is okay to be inspired or motivated by someone, and admiration is fine—but NEVER desire to be someone else other than yourself, NEVER desire someone else's life, and NEVER desire what someone else either has or appears to have in any envious, jealous, or covetous ways: YOU DO NOT TRULY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE REALLY ASKING FOR! We are all built with different capacities of what we can and cannot handle. For example, you might not be able to handle what I can, just like I might not be able to handle what you can. Why? Because when it comes to God's will for our lives: What God asks and requires from us all, in order for us to do our parts in the fulfillment of His will and our purposes in life—"individually" speaking—what God asks and requires from us will differ from one person to another when it comes to levels, intensities, and amounts.

Simply put (this is just a parable): Suppose God gave you the capacity to only be able to carry 200 lbs, and this is all your purpose in life requires. However, your friend can handle carrying 400 lbs—because this is the capacity God gave him, and his purpose in life and profession requires this amount of strength. Instead of angrily wondering why your friend is capable of reaching that strength and build, and being envious of him because he can carry 400 lbs, and you cannot: you should consider all that he had to go through in order to achieve those results, and why being able to do so is called for in his life.

Even when God blesses multiple people similarly (for example, five individuals are blessed with a new job): God blesses them each in ways that are unique to how He created those people individually and unique to their lives and purposes—and their journeys WILL NOT BE EXACTLY THE SAME. Desire God's will for YOU. Desire God's will for YOUR life. God's plans for YOU are perfect for YOU.

Please make no mistake, I feel blessed in my life, no matter what. I am accepting of God's perfect will. I smile. I laugh. I enjoy. God has things in store for my life that I look forward to. However, please understand this: Generally speaking, most times, YOU WILL ONLY SEE THE "RESULTS" BUT NOT THE "JOURNEY" IN SOMEONE'S LIFE. You will only see the results of someone's obedience to God. You will only see the results of having a loving, forgiving heart. You will only see what someone looks like only after they have survived. You will only see the results of someone's prayer life. You will only see the results of someone's patience through spiritual and personal attacks. You will not always know about all the pain, mistreatment, spiritual attacks, emotional and physical weariness, health issues, tears, heartbreak, heartache, breakdowns, disappointments, satanic opposition, and all of the tough life lessons, that someone PERSEVERED through and that happened ON THE WAY to that person’s blessings, breakthroughs, new beginnings, and happiness!

All that was just stated about one's behind-the-scenes, at times, tough journey: that is also MY truth. I will never brag or over-share about my blessings—God calls us to be humble, loving, wise, and compassionate toward others and what they might be or are certainly going through (Proverbs 25:20 can be referenced here). However, whatever blessings, moments of happiness, smiles, laughter, gifts from the LORD, and rewards I receive from my Heavenly Father, that I do share (of course, by God's leading), and whatever works I share for my Heavenly Father—just KNOW that there was a JOURNEY . . .  and a mostly tough one . . . . Humbly, I accept and have learned and grown from it all. I count all of it to be blessings.

Gladly, embrace your own journey. Be prayerful through it all. Trust God's will for YOUR life. Be patient. Be thankful along your journey—there is a reason for everything. Be thankful in your results—do not forget about God, and remember to keep God first, when you get what you have prayed for and were patient for. God has perfect timing; there is a season for everything and everyone. Trust God's love for you.

I love you all, but God loves you BEST of all! May God bless you all!

In Obedience to My Heavenly Father,
All Glory to God,
Charrese Monique
Boldness & Virtue Ministries

Copyright 2021, Charrese Monique. All Rights Reserved.

"Submitting" to Your Husband

 

"Submitting" to Your Husband:

 

 

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

-Ephesians 5:22-23

 

"I am NOT 'submitting' to a man!"

Chill, sister soldier. "Submit" does NOT mean that a woman should allow a man to control her, abuse her, belittle her, or use her. God is LOVE, and that does NOT reflect God's love.

In short, to "submit" to your husband means the following: Your husband is to be the head of the household, taking care of you and your family; your husband is leading AS he is being led by GOD.

You cannot submit to just ANY man. Make sure he is God's will for you—because a man who truly loves the LORD and is submissive to God and His will, while you cannot expect him to be perfect, he will certainly love and lead you and the household righteously and faithfully.

As for you, the amazing wife: A good man knows the incredible value of a good woman! You are to be your husband's "help meet". What does this mean? "Help meet" means "suitable helper". This means you are a TEAM. This means that a woman's "help" is IMPORTANT in a man's life—as God's Holy Word tells us the following:

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

-Genesis 2:18 (KJV)

The Amplified version explains the following:

Now the LORD God said, “It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him.”

-Genesis 2:18

Ladies, please read Proverbs 31:10-31: The virtuous woman is an amazing partner for her husband, while still being amazing in other areas as well. This woman had her own business, purposes, and skills (not that all of this is required of her, but she was capable and she achieved her goals, and she still took care of her family as a wife). You becoming one with your husband does not mean you lose purpose. Not at all. You will have purpose as individuals, and you will have purpose together as one with each other.

In marriage, you are a TEAM. You LOVE each other. You are to be PURPOSEFUL with each other. You SUPPORT each other. A man has his duties as a husband, it is quite a responsibility to care for a household. Keeping this in mind, ladies, (prepare yourselves if you are unmarried, evaluate yourselves if you are married, and) bring something to the table as well—and that is YOUR VALUE AS A WOMAN. Please, KNOW that you are VALUABLE and ACTIVELY STAND in this beautiful truth. LOVING your husband also means being aware that men have feelings too, this is part of where being a loving "help meet" comes in: Love him faithfully. Encourage him. Talk to him. Be his confidant. Be his best friend. Be loving ears that listen when he needs someone to talk to—be that someone. Be a shoulder for him to cry on (yes, men cry, and that is okay). Make love to your husband selflessly and lovingly; your husband is not an object of lust, he is a man who desires every part of your love, just like you desire every part of his love (sex is one of the many expressions of love, and 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 are also important verses here). Edify him. Pray for him. Pray with him. Love his soul.

Let your union be a reflection of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His bride (the body of Christ)—loving, caring, at times self-sacrificial, united, a team, purposeful, respectful, in God's will, pleasing to God. You submit to each other in special ways, ways that are unique to your positions as "husband" and "wife", and in the same ways simply as children of God. SERVE EACH OTHER, LOVINGLY. (Please read Ephesians 5:21-33.)

Humbly said, it is now 5:58am [at the time this was recorded]. It has been over an hour and a half since God started pouring all of these words into my spirit. As led by God, prayerfully, I wrote them all down and am sharing them now.

I love you all, but God loves you BEST of all. May God bless you all.

In Obedience to My Heavenly Father,

All Glory to God,
Charrese Monique
Boldness & Virtue Ministries

Copyright 2021, Charrese Monique. All Rights Reserved.