Category Archives: Change

LIVING YESTERDAY

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Living Yesterday 2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

THIS IS THE DAY WHICH THE LORD HATH MADE, REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT! PSALM 118:24

 

“The Good ol’ Days!” WOW! Remember? But what is it about memories? Either time has a peculiar way of tainting our perspective or our minds automatically default to selective-perceptions when the moment ends.

Somehow, as we reflect upon days gone by, we seem to remember that gut-wrenching pain (that you were utterly convinced was terminal) and the high that would get higher and the groove gets groovyur; the music never stopped; the laughter would become heartier and the flood of tears would never subside; the mornings came too soon and the nights were eternal; puppy love would grow into a couple, a family and divorce and you’d just…and recess lasts for a lifetime…and then! IT’S TODAY and you’re still alive! #wannacheckurpulse?

The infamous THEY said that the richest piece of real estate in any town, city, state or nation is the grave yard!  #DIDJAGETIT?  Can you imagine all of those hopes, dreams, secrets, recipes, thoughts, conversations, hugs, apologies and plans that remain unfulfilled beneath the soil! WOW! 

Release the coulda’s, woulda’s, shoulda’s! Smile triumphantly over conquests and the sweetness of successes! Sigh sheepishly over the guilts and regrets—then thank GOD for all the second chances!

My Precious Ones, whatever happened, good, bad, ugly and indifferent; you survived it all!

“You can’t alter your past, but you can always take your past to the Altar!” (unknown)

Thank GOD for the Sufficiency of yesterday’s Grace and Hope-Filled tomorrows!

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK GOD FOR THIS BRAND-NEW BLESSING CALLED DAY! DON’T WASTE A SECOND OF IT! LIVE TODAY AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

THE GOD IN ME!

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THE GOD IN ME

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know Him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

 

Looking back through the lenses of 21st Century influence, we see that since the birth of The New Testament Church it has been plagued with  external and  interal controversy!  While most Biblical scholars agree that the Church was born on The Day of Pentecost, generally that’s where the consensus begins and ends.

According to The Scriptures, The Risen Savior showed Himself to His disciples, who were still reeling from the horrific events that had just taken place, and instructed them “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”. Acts 1:4-5

God knew how much the disciples had come to rely upon Jesus’s Presence during the past 3 ½ years He’d walked with them, teaching, guiding and protecting them but now at Christ’s Ascension, would fall victim to their fears, confusion and discouragement!  Although, Jesus had on numerous occasions assured them that He would not leave them without Divine Assistance, but promised to send them another Comforter in the person of Holy Spirit to empower them to complete their assignment to spread The Message of Christ throughout the whole world–this revelation seems to have escaped them in the ensuing threat of impending persecution!

What is this PROMISE?  The Holy Spirit is known as the third person of The Triune God! While The Holy Spirit functions differently from God The Father and God The Son, He is reverenced as equal in Holiness in The God-Head!

Beloved, as a believer in The Saving Grace of Lord Jesus, God has given us the very same Promise. The moment we make a sincere profession of faith, The Holy Spirit moves into our hearts and fills us with hope, conviction and confidence that we are now a part of God’s Family, a Royal-Priesthood, a Holy Nation! (Ref. 1 Peter 2:9)

However, this is only the beginning! Along with this regeneration (the new birth) comes a challenge and a charge! As a born-again-blood-washed Child of The Kingdom, we are called to be ambassadors of our King to a lost and dying world! Therefore, we also need to be filled and empowered with the enabling Grace and Authority of the indwelling Spirit of Jesus in order to do The Father’s Will and glorify Him in the earth!

Just as the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples in the Upper Room, God wants each of us to experience this same anointing! (Ref. 2:1-4) Unfortunately, NOT EVERYONE accepts this spectacular gift that God promised to as many who would receive Him! Yet, this does not preclude any one from partaking of the fullfilment of The Promise! (Ref. Mark 7:13)

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people…” Acts 2:17 

While it’s not my intention to persuade any away from their affirmation, as Martin Luther, “I cannot in good consciousience deny my own personal experience!” Therefore, I can stand firmly fixed in humily with adoration proclaiming, ‘There is absolutely no doubt in my heart nor mind, that any good that I do, any wisdom that I have, any knowledge that I’ve gained, any challenge that I’ve overcome over these past 30 years of walking in Christ, is a direct result of ‘The God in me’!

There is no way for mere man to live the HOLY abundant life as prescribed in The Word without the counsel, guidance, and help  of the indwelling navigation of Holy Spirit! And isn’t that what God expects of all of us? Revolutionary, huh?

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)

WOW!  IF YOU SUPPLY THE SACRIFICE, HE SUPPLIES THE FIRE! GOD IN US!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

YES LORD!

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YES LORD!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Hebrews 4:2

 

WOW! Just thinking about backndaday, when the Saints gathered on Sunday afternoon for Holy Convocation! Talkin’ about The Grand Ole Church of God In Christ. I’m here to tell ya, did we ever have some sho nuff churrch huh?  I remember how I felt when the Elder would approach the pulpit and begin bellowing out our International COGIC Anthem, “YES LORD!”  Still not sure whether it was meant to call the church to order, calm the shoutin saints down, to take up the offering or what. But what I do know is that just hearing those words that were first uttered from the mouth of our Founder, Charles H. Mason, always took our worship into another dimension of God’s Presence!

Unfortunately, you don’t hear that song sang much anymore. At least not in the same manner, huh? Don’t shout me down now! #ijs

The Holy Spirit just said, ‘that’s because My people aren’t saying ‘YES’ to Me that much anymore!’ OMG! Honestly, that really doesn’t suprise me! There’s so much noisey chatter going around the Christian Community these day, folk aren’t sure what’s of God and what’s not! One side of the church is saying, “It’s a new day and we’re no longer under The Law, we’re under Grace”! The other side is saying, “If you don’t have a new house, drive a certain car, live in a certain zip code, the favor of God is not on your life because you don’t have enuff faith!” And hardly anybody is preaching what God expects of those who claim His Son as Lord and Savior! (Ref. Micah 6:8)
We’re living in a day-n-time when every man wants to do what seems right in their own eyes. If we don’t like what that preacher’s preaching, we can keep driving until we find one that affirms and validates what we want to do, right? To make the transition easier, we can even search the internet until we find one that suits our lifestyle and e-church!

Problem is, while times have changed, The Word of God HASN’T! IT IS ETERNAL!! While the world is busy legislating and flaunting their rebellious unrighteousness, it’s  virtually impossible for mere man to dismiss the boundaries and rules for living that God has established! Jesus is Lord! Saints, there’s another side of God’s Holiness that the world (and some of the church) has completely rejected! ‘The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath” (Nahum 1:2)

Hence,  it may seem as if God has turned His face away from this world and is allowing everything to fall apart, however God wants us to know that everything is falling right in place! Remember, Goshen? “They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” Exodus 10:23

What does God want us to do? It’s simple, walk with HIM! Trust HIM, agree with HIM! Regardless of how the circumstantial evidence appears to contradict The Promises, have faith in The Immutable Word of God! (Ref. Proverbs 3:5-6)

Set your face toward Jesus and just keep saying ‘YES LORD’! #didjaheardat?
SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

BELIEVERS’ DELIGHT!

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THE BELIEVERS' DELIGHT

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doeth he meditate day and night! Psalm 1:1-2 KJV

How well God must like you – you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.2 Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. THE MESSAGE

 

When the Holy Ghost pricked my heart with this text, immediately my mind went to the scripture about the sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was complaining to Jesus ‘Lord, it ain’t right that Mary should be sitting in here with all yall, while I’m in the kitchen working trying to get this food ready’. However, I don’t think she expected Jesus to respond like He did, huh? Jesus didn’t rebuke Mary, but he told Martha that Mary had chosen, ‘the best part’. (Ref. Luke 10:42) Unfortunately, Martha’s got a whole lot of sisters and brothers out here, even those who are in the Kingdom of God!

I gotta confess, I was totally shocked when I realized that not everyone who’s name is written in The Lambs’ Book of Life, finds the WORD OF GOD delightful. I’m not trying to be sanctimonious or self-righteous, I’m just giving my experience, k?

The truth of the matter is, Satan wants to keep all of us, saved and unsaved alike, from the WORD OF GOD—By Any Means Necessary! He works deligently to distract us from spending time, reading, studying, and particularly, meditation and prayilng the Word.

Case in point, how many times have you made a decision (especially at the beginning of a New Year), that ‘This year, I’m gonna get in my Bible and see what God has promised me! I want to know what God wants to say to me. I want to know WHO GOD IS AND WHO I AM in him’. And what happens? Suddenly—out of nowhere, here comes something or someone that needs your immediate attention. Seriously, fires just seem to pop up everywhere you look, right?

Beloved, don’t take the bait! Somebody said, the best defense is a good offense! Hence, it’s important for us to hide God’s Word in our hearts, so that when challenges, tests, trials and tragedies interrupt our lives, instead of caving in to the pressure of temporary circumstances, out of our hearts will flow the Eternal Well-spring of Life, a confident assuring hope that our ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13) When we make time to fill our spirit, with the Immutable Word of God, we might bend, but we won’t brake!

We must remember that while the issues of life are often a surprise to us—nothing that has, is going on now, or will ever happen in our life, will ever make God say “OOPS! WHERE DAT COME FROM – HOW DID THAT GET PASS ME”! #didjaheardat? Com’on now!

As believers, we must be fully persuaded that The God we serve is SOVEREIGN! HE IS ULTIMATELY ABSOLUTELY COMPLETELY IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. And when you know that you know this, YOU KNOW that SATAN AIN’T RUNNING NOTHING! In fact, before he can get to you—HE’S GOTTA GO THRU JESUS!

The scripture says, that ‘Greater is He who is in us, than who is in the world’. (1 john 4:4) and even when our own heart condemn us, “He’s greater than our hearts”. (1 John 3:20) WOW! Beloved, if you are truly Born-Again, Blood-Washed Believer, your spirit man is always on, we just need to stay tuned, and open to hear what the Spirit is speaking to our spirit. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

Truthfully, many of God’s people are so busy, (just like Martha) caught up in the grid of daily life, trying to get their children to sports activities, a promotion, a new degree, upgrade their house, car, purse or spouse that there’s rarely time left to fellowship with Jesus around His Word!

Precious one, when we take time, pausing to delight ourselves in His Presence, meditating in His Word, GOD Will direct your steps, instruct your hearts and lead us in the right pathways! God delights in our deligent seeking and rewards us with Grace to walk secure in His Peace, regardless of what’s going on around, and even on the inside of us.

I know it ain’t my business, but I’m jus say’n, WHAT DELIGHTS U?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

LET GOD BE GOD!

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LET GOD BE GOD

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:19

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen 1 Peter 5:10-11
‘He’s got the whole world, in His Hands! He’s got the whole wide world, in His Hands! He’s got the whole world, in His Hands! He got the whole world in His Hands!’

WOW! I’m good with that; for about the first 22 seconds of consciousness! Then I realize that I’m awake! Opening my eyes, immediately hell’s hounds pounce onto my thoughts filling them with the residue of yesterday’s drama, failures, guilt, shame; which gives way to loneliness, dispair, taunting fears and ravaging accusations! Puff! There goes my  joy, hope and confidence.  Oh, don’t get your knickers twisted! I’m talking about me, yall!!!

Oh Yeah! It’s easy to quote the scriptures and sing the songs when life is beautiful, all is well, the air is filled with the sweetness of His Wonder Working Power. The problem is, life is not always bliss because we’re still living in a fallen world! I don’t care how long you’ve been walking in da way, trusting God in times of tests and tragedy is trying, huh?

One of the most difficult things I’ve ever been asked to do, is absolutely nothing! It’s kinda like asking your child to sit for five minutes without saying a single word? Obviously, stillness is not one of our more dominating genetic traits.

Particularly, when it comes to waiting on God’s answer in what we perceive as  ‘time-sensitive’ issues. Unfortunately, the art of stillness doesn’t always get better with age. Quiet as it’s kept, even the more seasoned of saints find ourselves boppin up and down in a faith dance every now and then. Oh, we start off fired-up, after all ‘We know God is able to do all things’. That is, until He doesn’t do what we’re expecting—when we expect it!

What happens after you’ve been faithful to follow (as best as you can) all that God has required of us, and yet find yourself backed up against a stonewall, surrounded by situations that are hell bent on taking you out? What can you do when the realities of your circumstances collide with His Promises and the suffering and the pain are screaming ‘this will never end’? Apparently, the only thing God expects any of us to do is trust Him to be God!

Seriously? Absolutely! The same God who created the entire world, faithfully ordered, maintained and sustained everything since it’s beginning, is He not also capable of taking care of anything that’s happening in your life? Duuhhhh! The last time you breathed, ought to tell you God’s Still Reigns, huh?

However, He’s such a gentle Savior! He never forces Himself into situations uninvited. However, the moment we let IT go, releasing and casting the care of the circumstances into His Almighty Hands, entrusting Him to make everything work together for our greatest good and His Highest Glory, His Incomprehensible Peace comes in; flooding our hearts, overwhelming the burdens of fear, doubt, anxiety and hopelessness!

As we acknowledge The Inseparable richness of His Lovingkindness and Compassion towards us, suddenly, His Amazing Grace begins to restore quiet rest and ernest expectations to our po-wearied soul!

BE still, and know that I AM GOD; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

I know, feels strange, huh? I’m not saying it’s easy, but I’m a living witness,  IT IS POSSIBLE! Hey, don’t knock it until you try it!

Take a couple of days off, from running your world, k? Pray and wait for God’s answer! HENCE, LET GOD BE GOD 2 & 4 U!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE

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FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:48

Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. 1 Samuel 17:51

 

Us  ‘baby-boomers’, have witnessed  major transformations in the culture of this country and the world at large. We’ve seen the powers that be set into motion various legal and judicial orders, reforms and deregulations calling for separation of church and state, which under the radar,  were really directed to push the very Presence of God out of the focus of our daily lives.

This Satanically-induced plot was introduced under the guise of safeguards to protect our human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of choice, etc. But while the flesh was enjoying its emancipation from the antiquated codes of morality and moving  into the land of parta hardy, it’s your thang, do what you wanna do, we were lured into a false sense of security. Never realizing that there would be consequences of this so-called liberation. When you eliminate God from the equation, what you’re left with is hell on earth!

Along with free love, free sex, free drugs, fast money, came increase in teen pregnancy, abortions, STD’s (and worse), drug addictions, divorce, fatherless homes, suicide, fraud, just to name a few by-products of an ‘it’s all about me’ generation!

In January 2001, President George Bush signed an Executive Order establishing a program that would ‘Rally America’s Army of Compassion’ to stimulate and enable private, charitable and religious organizations to access federal funds for social service programs to address the rising challenges and concerns that the nation was experiencing.  At least, this was what The White House Press Release reported.

But in ‘laymen’s terms’, America was jacked up, unraveling at the roots, and they were clueless as to how to turn this mess around. Hence, somebody realized that the Church was the only real hope to preserve this nation. They invited churches and community leaders to come get this free money (grants) and do something to calm the restless beasts who were getting out of hand. Perhaps you’ve already guessed, this program was dubbed ‘Faith-Based Initiatives’.

If the world got sense enough to know that God is the ONLY ONE who can fix the wiles of this world, what’s up with the real faith-based people—THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD? Over a decade has passed, and what’s changed?  What are we waiting for? When will we start taking some faith-based initiative and start walking in the power and authority that we shout about in the sanctuary?

According to today’s scripture text, 1 Sam 17:45-51, we see one individual, David,  who put his faith to work to impact the environment and to make a difference in the lives of the people. May I submit for your consideration, that the underlying strength of Satan’s kingdom is the persistently passive complacent Saints. His whole kingdom is utterly reliant upon what I call the ‘spirit of toleration’ that has many believers shut-up and locked down with a victim mentality. #ijs

The Apostle James says, ‘you show me your faith without works, and I’ll show you my faith by what I do’. (Ref. James 2:14-26). The devil is not impressed because your faith gets a bigger house, a new car, 20 credit cards—for a season. He knows that with you paying 32% interest rates, any time he’s ready, he can pull the rug right out from under you, while you’re walking around so high and lofty. However, just don’t take your faith to the trenches of the marketplace, hospital rooms, schools, court room, prisons, crack house, state house and certainly not into your own house!

Unfortunately,  many of God’s elect have  become lethargic, disgruntled and are merely biding their time, waiting for Jesus to show up and rapture them off to Heaven? Can you imagine what could happen if instead of blaming God for what’s going on in the earth we’d actually believe that God is Sovereign and satan ain’t running nothing? 

Saints, this is war! Like David when challenged by Goliath, we must stop waiting for the devil to make his next move. The Bible says, “Since the days of John The Baptist, the Kingdom of God has suffered violence, but the violent shall take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12)

It’s time for the Church to take the initiative and confront the devil on our terms! God has given us weapons of mass destruction that enables us to pull down Satan’s strongholds — THE WORD OF GOD, PRAYER & PRAIZ! “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Those who recognize their Godly lineage and legacy, will not be content to sit behind the doors of the church, bracing for the devil’s next blow. There’s a remnant of true believers, who will put their faith into action, as the Army of The Living God, and take dominion over the works of the kingdom of darkness!

God has not given us the spirit of fear, but a holy bodacious faith! We ain’t scarred to let the devil know, “I am not losing my mind and I’m not giving in!  I will bless The Lord at all times! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! I’m fully persuaded that Greater is He that’s in me. I am more than a conqueror through Christ and ain’t no devil in hell gonna walk on the Jesus in me! NOW BACK UP OFF OF ME, YOU LYING DEVIL!”

Didjagetit? NOW, GET UP AND DO SOMETHING! TAKE SOME FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE!

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AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me. Your widom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself “I am, and there is none beside me.’ Isaiah 47:10
I still remember, as a child being ushered from my classroom, thru the halls and down to the basement to the make-shift -fall-out-shelters. Despite of that lingering black cloud of fear looming over the atmosphere, most of the time folk went about doing life as usual. We hardly ever thought about the fact that there was a ‘cold war’ going on between our country and the Russians. That is, until the alarms went off alerting us to proceed immediately to the designated Bomb-Shelters! The thing is, we never knew whether it was just another drill or had the OTHER shoe finally dropped.

Like today, there’s a war going on all around us and a whole lotta folk are clueless to what’s unfolding right before our very eyes! Truthfully, most of this 21st Century New Millinieum High-Teckies are so entrenched in staying abreast of what’s trending, obsessed with pursuing personal power and pleasure and lounging in their own security, oblivious to anyone or anything that does not coincide with their self-god-centered lifestyles! That is, until the roof is blown off of their homes!

Didjaknow? There are people among us who wouldn’t think of leaving home without first seeking the advice (magic spells) of their private socerer, astrologist and stargazers to make sure they’re equipped to sucessfully navigate through their day! Oh Yeah! There’s no shortage of kindred-spirited demons who will gladly validate your personal preferences, as long as you can afford to pay them! Unfortunately, those who seek such are generally much too sophisticated to acknowledge the foolishness of relying upon pet idols who are absolutely powerless to deliver themselves from what shall come upon them from the Almighty Hand of The True and Living God! Whatever happened to dat 1-800 Dial-a-Demon lady? #ijwondering, yall!

According to the Holy Writ, Hell is enlarging herself daily to accommodate those unsuspecting idolotrist slain at the hand of satanic snipers! And they never knew that they’d volunteered to join forces with so many others who reject even the remote possibility of an alternative-lifestyle, other than their own sin-induced-self-centered-flesh-rewarding reality! WOW!

As citizens of The Kingdom of Heaven, we’ve been charged to stand boldly, sound the alarm and shout with Joy, whether they accuse you of being a hater or not… ‘LEAVE BABYLON, FLEE FROM THE BABYLONIANS! (Isaiah 48:20) JESUS IS SOON TO COME! That’s what LOVE does.

Don’t be scarred to let folk know that there is a more EXCELLENT WAY! TELL ‘EM! It’s available to anyone who will accept God’s Grace Gift of SALVATION by simply  placing your personal trust and faith in JESUS ALONE!

UR 2 SMART 4 DAT!  Y go to Hell when JESUS HAS ALREADY PAID THE BILL IN FULL! TAKE THE DEAL WHILE IT’S STILL ON THE TABLE! CHOOSE THE ALTERNATIVE…ETERNAL LIFE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I NEED A DRINK!

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I NEED A DRINK

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
They taught us in the ol’ church, first the physical then the spiritual! Most of us know that water is essential to our survival. Experts tell us that we can live without food a whole lot longer than we can live without water. As one who struggles to get near the recommended amount of water ingested daily, my 60 sumptin body quickly sounds the alarm, ‘you’re thirsty, fool! Drink some water’. Likewise, my spirit man has a innate personal service announcement alert system that lets me know that your soul is thirsting for The Living Water—JESUS!

Life has a way of siphoning out the wellspring of  joy, strength, hope, calm, favor, peace and sheer delight of being a Child of The Eternal Father. We can become so distracted by the happenings of daily duties, drama and disappointments, that the benefits of our new Life in Christ takes a backseat, to the stress, chaos, depression, mumuring and complaining.

Like the Samaritan woman, many of us we come to Jesus believing that will make life easier not understanding that Christ doesn’t promise us a life gliding into Glory on a flowery bed of ease, but the power to overcome life’s challenges by trusting in His Faithfulness! As you learn to walk with Jesus, knowing that Christ (your personal Savior and Lord) lives in you, changes you, empowers and enables you to live in continual, hopefilled-joy…REGARDLESS OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES! #WOW #Didjaheardat? 

However, this is not a one-and-done-once-a-week-only transition! The Apostle Paul, a faithful companion, sheds insight as to how we can keep the stream of living water ever-flowing in the midst of  the drought, famine, confusion and persecution that often encompasses us on this journey. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” Ephesians 5:19

Saywhaaa? ‘Lady, you obviously don’t understand what I’m going through!’ Perhaps not, BUT GOD DOES! And not only does He know every detail but He’s the Only One who can solve every problem and bring you out better than you were coming in! The Ol’ Skool Mothers said it like this, “Baby, keep a song in your heart and a praise in your mouth, bcuz you’re gonna need it!”

Didjakno how doing this confuses hell? Imagine Satan’s hounds scratching their heads, having dealt that last blow, thinking that would surely make you turn away from trusting Jesus! Ha! Ha! But instead, as you remind yourself of how good God’s been to you, it awakens a fresh view of God!

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

Beloved, when you’re tempted to fall head-first into the pit of hopelessness and accept the devil’s invitation to your own private pity party, just remember, HOW GREAT IS YOUR GOD! He forgives all of your sins, heals all your diseases, redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion; satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. (Ref. Psalm 103:3-5) And suddenly, your well swells up and fear turns to trust, dispair gives way to hope, grumbling erupts into gratitude and your soul gets intoxicated on praise for all the blessings that God’s Grace avails! 

Aaaawwww shucks, SOUNDS LIKE YOU’RE PRIMING THE PUMP, huh? ITZ ALL GOOD! GOD’S RESERVED AN UNLIMITED SUPPLY SO, GO HEAD..DRINK UP!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

YOUR ANSWER IS AT THE DOOR!

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UR ANSWER IS AT THE DOOR

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she wa so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” Acts 12:13-14

 

According to Acts Chapter 12, the 1st Century Church was experiencing phenomenal growth as the Gospel spread. Not surprisingly, everybody was not excited about what God was doing! The people were leaving the synagogue in droves to follow the Message of this relatively new (and suspect prophet) Jesus Christ. The religious leaders were quite upset because their social and economic status was diminishing as the offerings were declining with so many of their big time supporters leaving the Temple. In order to gain political clout, recognition and favor within the Jewish community, King Herod Agrippa launched an all hands on deck campaign to quench the fire of this Gospel preaching by killing as many leaders of this so call “Christ Ones’ Movement”. Now, it’s Peter who was locked up awaiting execution. BUT GOD BLOCKED IT!

God sent an angel into the Maximum-Security Detention Center, where Peer was chained hand and feet in stocks under the watch of 16 armed guards assigned to secure one unarmed Preacha! WOW! I must point out that (unlike a lot of us) Peter was not up pacing the floor crying, ‘Why me, Lord’ or accusing God for letting this happen to him, but according to the text, Peter was sleeping so hard that the angel had to hit him forcefully just to wake him up! The Bible says, immediately the chains fell off of him. Everything happened so fast, Peter thought he was having a dream or a vision!

Once he came to himself and realized that he was free, Peter decided to catch up with his boys (who were most likely at John Mark’s Mother’s house) and let the know what The Lord had done. Unbeknownst to Peter, while he was locked up in prison, they were having a shut-in (all night prayer meeting)! While they were ernestly seeking God’s help on behalf of their brother, Peter knocked on the door! Rhoda, the servant girl, went to the door, seeing Peter, got so excited that she ran to tell the others and she forgot to open the door to let Peter in. When they finally opened the door and saw Peter standing there, the scripture say they were utterly astonished. Didjaheardat? They were praying to God, but not really expecting their prayers to be answered. #OUCH! Sounds like some of us, huh?

How many times have you, with your sanctimonious self, taken the time to pray for something not really expecting God to answer your prayer? Or worse yet, failed to recognize the answer when it came knocking at your door? Yall know, we have a tendency to allow what we’ve experiences in the past to get in our present circumstances and rob us of now faith!

God is Sovereign! Hence, His Ways are not our ways! We must remember that when we pray, we’re not praying to a mere mortal or some distant-disinterested,-sub-diety—BUT THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD WHO CAN DO ANY AND EVERYTHING! In fact, it grieves the Holy Spirit when He sends answers to our prayers and they’re returned to Him stamped ‘unclaimed’! When we pray we must know not only does God care about everything you care about, but He is willing and able to give you those things that you desire of Him, that’s according to His Word!

Precious Ones, don’t miss your breakthrough because it doesn’t look like what you were expecting. Don’t give up! Keep on praying; keep on knocking! Keep on believing! God’s listening and any moment now expect to be blessed! TRUST2KNOW; YOUR ANSWER WILL SOON BE AT THE DOOR!  SSHHHH! What’s dat?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

WORD PROCESSORS

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WORD PROCESSORS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Hebrews 4:1-3

 

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we vow to live our lives according to the testimony God reveals in The Holy Bible. As our knowledge of God’s Word increases, we discover how God has ordained certain rights, privileges and promises to us and for us.Yet, even as confessing Believers, sometimes we fall short when it comes to experiencing the fulfillment of God’s exceedingly great and precious promises. Now don’t shout me down, yall!

Consequently, our churches are filled with frustrated, anxious, angry and unsatisfied folk who’re secretly disappointed with God. Amen? For the record, let’s concede this, God’s not the problem! His faithfulness is not on trial! God’s Word is Eternally Immutable, Faithful and True. Am I right about it? So what’s up? We go to church and hear the gospel—well most of the time—anyway, preached with power and conviction. We enjoy the sermon, buy the CD’s and the DVD’s. We’ll leave the sanctuary talking about “Man, we had CHUURCH today”. But, where’s the fruit? Where’s the evidence? How has the message profited our lives? For real, where’s the change in our personal situations and even more important, what’s changed in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

The Bible warns us how Satan, comes immediately to steal the Word before we can reap the benefit. The devil persistently preys on our frustrations, anxieties and fears with one goal in mind, to cause us to distrust God. Can we go a little deeper? Ask a Saint who knows a little Bible and they’ll religiously proclaim that The Gospel has the ability and power to save and transform the lives of anyone who believes it. But—the Bible also says, “be ye doers of the word and not hearers only”. (James 1:22)

Therein lies the underlying issue! If nothing changes, then nothing changes! However, thru the completion of proper processing (a series of actions, motions, or occurrences intended to achieve a certain results), you get the right results!

According to Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” As followers of Christ, we know the Word is True, we must ultimately concur that the breakdown is not with the Word, but with the processing of the processor!

Mark 4, says, “the Sower sows the word” Hence, the preacher preaches the Word ; but, the harvest is determined by the condition of the soil. Wow! Didjaheardat? Sounds like The Word must be properly processed in order to produce the harvest! (Ref. Mark 4:15) How? By applying it to your everyday life through confession (speaking those things as though they were); meditating on the promises rather than your problems, meditating on who you are now in Christ Jesus, as opposed to who you were and acting on your convictions rather than impulse. (Ref. Romans 4:17)

It’s important to note, that The Advesary has been observing you from the moment you entered the earth realm. Hence, he knows just what buttons to push to get you to do what he wants you to do. Then he hides his hands, leaving you to deal with the guilt, shame and self-rejecting disappointment, causing you to exclude (thus disqualify) your ownself as an eligibile beneficiary for God’s Mercy and Grace!

Precious One, don’t let the devil intimdate you into allowing fear and frustration to cause you to abort your promise. Instead, embrace The penetrating Light of God’s Word to break up the hardness of your heart and be processed in the perfect ground of a yielded, trusting, believing rest-filled heart! 

BELOVED,  AS YOU DILIGENTLY WORK THE WORD, IT WILL WORK IN, FOR AND THROUGH YOU! TODAY, MAY YOU PURPOSE IN YOUR HEART TO REST IN THE FAITHFULNESS OF JESUS’ PROMISES, IN JESUS NAME! AMEN 3X #WORD PROCESSOR

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee