Category Archives: christian warfare

COURAGEOUS TRUST!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee, for thou hast delivered my soul from death; …will, not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? 

Psalm 56:3,13

 

Today’s scripture text is a reminder that each and every day we might as well expect to be attacked by the enemies of our soul. In fact, according to the Apostle Paul we should not even consider it a strange phenomenon. Yes!  Even after we’ve confessed our faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, you can’t expect that deceitful devil to wave a white flag, pat you on the back and throw you a retirement party! For lack of a better word, he is committed to tearing down The Kingdom of God, one soul at a time.
 
Does this mean that the people of God are defenseless? Absolutely, positively NOT! As a born-again, blood-washed child of The Most High God, just as sure as there is an enemy determined to destroy you,  you have The True and Living God, Who has sworn by Godself, to always cause you to be victorious! (Ref. 2 Corinthians 2:14)
 
As a child of The Most High God, we have been anointed and authorized by the Lord of Hosts to annihilate the works of the devil. But you must remember, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual! It is THE WORD OF GOD!  When you speak God’s Word, it comes alive and releases the power to rebuke  the threats and pull down the strongholds of your enemies, unmercyfully!  If he is bold enough to raise his ugly head, because you are IN Christ, you have been empowered to step on his throat and cut off his head!
 
Be aware of the enemies attempt to diminish your confidence and trust in God thru FEAR (FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL)! As soldiers in The Army of The Lord,  you must stay on high alert, clothed in The Whole Armor of God, armed with the mind of Christ, fully persuaded that “No Weapon that’s formed against shall prosper!” you shall overcome the wiles of the devil  by God’s Grace! (Ref. Isaiah 54:17) Keep in the forefront of your consciousness that your God is Jehovah Shamah!  Hence, He’s not coming, HE IS ALREADY HERE  ready, willing and able to execute judgment on your behalf!
 
Rest assured, my precious ones, you and God make a majority! So, take a stand, dig in your heels, draw a line in the sand and with Holy Boldness proclaim, “COME WHAT MAY, I WILL TRUST IN THEE, MY GOD; NOW DEVIL, ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!”
 
The same God Who  delivered your soul from the clutches of eternal damnation, will He not deliver your feet from falling prey to those awaiting to conquer your hope as well?#shonuff!
 
As Believers, our steps and  stops are being Divinely orchestrated by The Good Shepherd! As we walk confidently in the path that God sets before us, be confident of this very thing we are never alone!  Goodness and mercy SHALL  accompany me all the days of my life. Therefore, as I walk thru valleys overshadowed by death,  I shall delight in the Light of His Loving Presence! COURAGEOUS TRUST!!
 
SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

COME BACK 2 THE TABLE

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COME BACK 2 THE TABLE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 1 Corinthians 11:29

 

At our church, it’s every 1st Sunday! The table has been prepared by Deac, anticipating the moment when the scripture will be read and Pastor will extend the invitation to the congregation to come to the table and partake of the bread (wafer) and the wine (grape juice). The charge is given, to let every man examine his/her self and let them eat of that bread and drink of that cup, lest you bring a curse upon yourself by mocking the Body and The Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! #heartpounding, huh?

Unfortunately, since we don’t know what’s residing in the hearts of our brothers and sistas, how many folk refrain because their own hearts have condemned them or not just because they don’t want others to think that they’re not in right-standing with Christ? Anyway, it’s not my business, right? #juswondering

Chances are even some God-fearing-sanctified-baptised-holy-walking-tongue-talking believers don’t really understand the significance of The Communion Table and wrongfully approach this feast as a religious traditon ritual. Hence, this is just something we do 1st Sunday! Oh, Precious Ones, there’s so much more taking place that meets the eye! Journey with me as the Holy Spirit lluminates the spiritual reality, intimacy and implications of this sacred fellowship with The Risen Savior!

The Communion Table is Divinely instituted to take us back to The Cross of Calvary and The Blood that was shed for the remission of our sin. When we come to The Table, we’re revisiting remembering the whipping posts where The Lamb of God was beaten with 39 stripes + 1  before He was nailed to an ol’ rugged Cross atop Calvary! While many who watched self-righteously believing that they were doing God a favor,  there were a remnant of others who knew that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and the stripes that He bore in His flesh were for our healing!

When we come to the Communion Table, remembering the Cross, you gotta come correct! Not in pride nor condemnation; but in joy-filled anticipation, humbled by Jesus’ humiliation! Come, humbled by Jesus’ Holiness, His Faithful submission to death, hell, the grave and to His Father’s Will–in order that we could have a right to eat the fruit of Eternal Life!

Come to the table, remembering the falability of your humanity and the infallability of His Divinity, acknowledging that not only do I need The Atoning Blood to get saved, but to stay saved!

The Word of God reminds us that there’s a devil who’s constantly plotting against us, determined to stop us from living holy and righteous before God. He’s always lurking about us, awaiting the opportunity to sneak up, entrapping you with that sin that so easily besets you, drapping your heart with burdens of guilt, shame and condemnation destroying your peace! He’s strategically scheming to flood your mind with fear,worry and doubt, drainining your spirit of the Jesus’ joy, strength and hope! But the Communion Table, reminds you that just One Drop of The sanctifying Blood applied to the door post of your heart and mind is enough to shake off temptation, depression, gloom and doom and lift you up out of the pit of hopelessness and dispair!

When you drink of The cup of Redemption, your strength is refreshed, renewed and your holy boldness is restored, empowering you to repel the firey darts of Satan. When you eat The Body, remember you now stand clad in The Full Armor of God, declaring to the kingdom of darkness, ‘I refuse to deny the Testimony of Jesus on The Cross – I gotcha covered, IT IS FINISHED!

Beloved, the next time you partake of the Communion Table, let the Blood cleanse your heart of the guilt by acknowledging that it was your sin that betrayed Jesus, even since you’ve been saved. The devil will choke on that, because you know He certainly was planning to throw that back in your face, k?

But be of good courage, that’s why Jesus suffered The Cross, once and for all who will receive Him as the propitiation of their sin. As you eat His Body and drink His Blood, remember, Jesus prayed, knowing you’d fail Him again before you leave this world. That’s why He asked The Father to send you The Helper to live on the inside of you to empower you to live faithfully and obedient to His commandments!

As you fellowship with The Savior, hear His plea, ‘All I want you to do, when you are converted is go strengthen your brother! Go tell them how much I still LOVE them! Go tell them about My Blood that frees them from sin! Go tell somebody how I saved, healed and delivered you! Go tell one somebody that if Jesus was able to saved me, a wretch undone, He can saved anybody! WOW! #didjaheardat?

Maybe you need to come back to the table? C’mon, THE BLOOD STILL WORKS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I WON’T BE SILENT ANYMORE!

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I WON'T BE SILENT ANYMORE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to Me.” Acts 18:9-10
Several years ago, The Grand Ole’ Church of God in Christ, came out with a slogan, guess what? Exactly! ‘I won’t be silent anymore!’  I wonder why I haven’t heard that one in a while! Especially in light of all the other voices that a bellowing out all kinds of crazy comments! #wink #wink!  Yall don’t mind granting a sista a few moments of folly, do you? AWESOME!

Have you noticed that every one and their cuzzins have come out of the closets, declaring and decreeing their rights. WOW! But where are the Saints? What’s the matter Zion? Perhaps, it’s got more to do with frustration and disenfranchisement than fear, huh? Them ol’ skool church Mothers were right! We’re living in times that will definitely try men’s souls. Seems as if everybody’s got rights…BUT THE CHURCH!

I ain’t scurred! Why are we the brunt of  such vicious accusations and slander, if we dare to uphold the moral standards of The Word of God?  What happened to our freedom of speech rights? Why are we subjected to blatant mockery and defamation of character when we defend our Declaration of Dependance on The True and Living Creator of The Universe? #ijs

Last time I checked, The Holy Bible still says that there’d come a time when the people of God would be forced to make an individual conscious decision, for Jesus I live, for Jesus I die! Well?  Churrch, do we really believe The Word of God or are we pretending to fit in to get in?  Have we forgotten that the Ol’ Ship of Zion is not a cruiseliner but a battleship?  

It’s time to show whatcha working with! Ain’t no where to run and no where to hide. The stage is set and the rubber is treading  the road. Timeout for playing church and teetering on the edge of the fence! You know, how close can you get to the world and still make it to Heaven?  Either you’re all in THIS….OR UR OUTSIDE OF THE ARK! 

I still believe that the safest place in the whole wide world, IS IN THE WILL OF GOD!

Now, that’s just my two cents…do U, Boo!  BUT AS THE OL’ CHURCH USED TO SAY…AS 4 ME AND MY HOUSE….WE SHALL SERVE THE LORD!

#speak-up? #SILENCEAIN’TBLISS! #datzmystoryugottaluvmehuh!  #NLOL

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

WHATZ STOPPIN’ U?

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the LORD has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.” Genesis 26:-22
Has God ever promised you something that seemed absurd not to mention impossible in your own mind? Well, you’re in good company! Remember, Abram and Sarai. When God promised to give them a son,  considering Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 years old, (waaayyy past the childbrearing age), they both laughed at the very thought of such a thing happening. But God got the last laugh! At the appointed time, Isaac (laughter) was born to this barren couple! Is there anyting too hard for God?

Isaac grew up and married Rebekah. Everything was going well, until suddenly there was a famine in their land which drove them to move to Gerar, a land occupied by the Philistine King Abimelech. Isaac settled there, and planted crops in that land, and reaped a hundredfold in that same year, his cattled increased and so did his servants! Now, don’t miss it, K? Remember, they were in the midst of a famine and water, being extremely scarce, was as precious as gold. Therefore, the land was barely producing, but because God was with him, everything his hands touched, prospered and Isaac became filty rich! #Didjagetit?

Howeverrr, be prepared for the repercussions of  increase! #ijs!!! Everybody ain’t happy when things are going well for you, huh? Oh yeah, as God begins to elevate you, some folk will start disappearing from your life. Are you ready for some pruning!

Soon jealousy reared its ugly head and King Abimelech told Isaac ‘This land ain’t big enough for the both of us. You ain’t gotta go home, but you leaving here.’! To make sure that his land couldn’t produce, The King ordered the wells that Isaac had dug to be filled up with dirt. Have you ever known somebody who was so jealous about what you had that they didn’t, that they began to spread lies to tear down your character and tarnish your reputation? Hence, throwing dirt in your well?

Sometimes, to keep the peace and unity, it’s better to take the low road! Isaac moved to the Valley where he discovered wells of fresh water! Yet, this infuriated the herdsmen of Gerar even more! Time and time again they’d come claiming these wells as their own.

Beloved, don’t be surprised at the opposition that shows up whenever you make a decision to seek the Fountain of Living Water! Nevertheless, God says to ‘count it all joy’! (Ref. James 1:2-4) He only allows it to try your faith and prove your trust through a furnace of affliction! Isaac, refusing to let oppostion stop him, kept right on seeking and digging wells. He did not give in to the ways of the world just because his circumstances were not what he’d expected. HE WAS IN THE WILL OF GOD!

It’s important to note, Isaac didn’t rebel against the ol’ land marks but remained steadfast to the promises that God had given to his Father. Saints, we don’t have to come up with a new bunch of truths to inherit the promises of God! We certainly don’t change our beliefs just because the world says, times have changed.  Them ol’ skool Mothers said, “Yep, it’s a new day, but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater! You might get what you want, but lose what you had!” It’s okay to dig new wells, but make sure that you build on the foundation of those who have gone on before us and make sure that we get where they are! #ijs… Amen!

Isaac moved three times, looking for new wells just to avoid conflict! Yet, Isaac had something that his enemies didn’t. He had the comforting assurance that no matter where he was, no matter what his circumstances, God’s Presence and Promises abided with him!

His hope, faith, trust and patience were rewarded in the end! They dug another well, and no one quarrel after this one. Isaac named it Rehoboth, meaning the Lord has made room for us and we will flourish!

Saints, you don’t have to push nobody down, lie, cheat, hook-crook-back-stab to get what God has planned for your life. Your gift will make room for you! (Ref. Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 18:16)

Some might look at Isaac and call him a whimp, but God looks at him and calls him BLESSED!

GOD DID EVERYTHING THAT HE PROMISED HE WOULD DO. AND IF HE DID IT FOR ISAAC, IF YOU REMAIN FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT, YOU TOO SHALL EAT OF THE GOOD OF THIS LAND!  GOD SWORE MY GOD-SELF, NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHOLD FROM YOU, AS YOU WALK UPRIGHT BEFORE HIM! SO, WHATZ STOPPING U? #RUSERIOUS??

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

RUN TO THE ROCK!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou has been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever, I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Psalm 61:1-4
I know we’ve heard it in the church so often that it almost seems common, but don’t fool yourself, it’s still  true!  “These are the times that will try men’s souls”. I’d venture to say,  in light of the upsurge in horrific atrocities perpetrated against humanity along with the cataclysm of floods, earthquakes, and social/political upheaveals confronting the nation, this TRUTH is even more substantiated in this 21st Centry, huh?  Sadly, our society has become somewhat desensitized to the reports of violence that’s dispensed daily via media, we’ve closed our eyes and ears in an attempt to conjure  up a simblance of normality!   Seriously, yall know backndaday, we never imagined that we’d see days like this. Can the churrch say,  AMEN?

But God knew! Remember, absolutely nothing  happens that takes our Lord by surprise! In the midst of the gross darkness, turmoil, threats and stress, God offers us His Word to assure, comfort and console us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Ref. Hebrews 13:5) While sometimes it may seem as if Satan has the upper hand, it ain’t what it looks like. God is still God! His Kingdom is everlasting and SHALL never be overtaken!  Remember what happened when the devil led a third of the angelic host to revoke against The Lordship of Heaven? Yeah, Lucifer does too! Hence, he’s still trying to recuperate from that foolish mistake!

With that being said, driven by his intense hatred for God,  he persists in going after the closest thing to God’s Heart, humanity, with a vengence! However, God promised His Beloved, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but 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 Corinthians 10:13

Saints, the way to escape out of the enemy’s snare is by entering in to His Presence!  HOW? Ephesians 5:19 invites us to “speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”.

During times of overwhelming fear, danger, distress and persecution, The Psalmist encouraged himself and reinforced his trust in The Faithfulness of His Shepherd penning psalms, hymns and prayers such as Psalm 61:1-4.

Precious ones, we also can enter into God’s Rest by singing songs of hope delighting the spirits, minds and hearts of the wearied!  Try this one, it always helps me…

Where do I go, when the storms of life are raging,
who do I talk to when there’s no one there to listen,
who do I lean on when there’s no foundation stable…I go to the Rock, I know He’s able, I go to the Rock.

I go to the Rock of my salvation, I go to the Stone that builders rejected, I run to the Mountain and the Mountain stands by me.

When the earth all around me is sinking sand, on Christ the Solid Rock I stand. When I need Shelter, when I need a Friend, I go to the Rock.

You see, it still works! When you don’t know what to do, it’s time to go to The ROCK. His Name is Jesus! Let Him hide you in His secret place!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

TRUTH OF CONSEQUENCES!

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TRUTH OF CONSEQUENCES

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 7:29

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 2 Timothy 3:5-6

 

One day in the winter of his life, King Solomon, God’s proclaimed wisest man in the world, sat pondering events, adventures and experiences of former seasons, and penned the words left in Ecclesiastes 7:29. Theologians have various perspectives on how and even if somethings happened that caused a quantrum shift in this young man’s overview of life. Since, I am unqualified to object or sustain either I defer the question to the more capable intellectual biblical scholars!

However allow me, with the aid of Holy Spirit, to share a few insights that I gleaned as I visited these texts. Hopefully, someone might find them useful for practical daily application. I am firmly convinced that every one of us born into the earth has at some point, looked up inquiring, ‘Why me, what’s going on and when is it gonna change for my good?’ But it’s alright, ain’t nobody here but you and me, ok?

It’s a whole lot easier to hide somethings in the closets of our minds, rather than openly subjecting them to the speculations of folk we need to impress and even more so advantagious to cover them up from self, huh? But somebody a whole lot smarter than I said, ‘You can’t conquer what you’ll not willing to confront’! Don’t you just hate those addages? LOL!

Recently, I was confronted by an opportunity to delve heart-first into a long-standing personal dilemma, ‘how is it that we, humans—save and unsaved—are able to justify our actions even while acknowledging that they’re wrong!’ I use that word wrong, because they say in this New Millennium Age, it’s more palatable than SIN!

Most of us have, at varying degrees, mentally assented to the reality of GOD! While there may be a multiplicity of individual opinions of Who,Where and What role does He play in our lives, I don’t think I’m way out on a limb with this assumption. The unregenerated soul cannot be expected to receive the things of God because they don’t know HIM. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:14) Problem is those of us who name the Name of Jesus Christ, are obviously able to conjure up in our minds an IMAGE of our own God. Beloved, trust2kno! I know better than anyone, I am far from a finished work! Hence, I say this not out of a superficious self-righteous spirit, but as a statement of observation over the past years of pastoring God’s sheep!

We all know that The Word of God is alive and speaks to us taking into full account our personal circumstances and situations! Nevertheless, there are inherent truths that flow through generations, that are immuable! Whether we understand, believe, agree or disagree! Truth is ABSOLUTE because God is Truth and God is Sovereign!

Can you imagine the angelic conversations, looking down from Heaven’s view, witnessing humanity’s arrogance, self-will, pride, power coveting, resistance to the authority as we perpetually deny the Soveignty of God? Probably not, huh? Perhaps even more perplexing to the heavenly host, is our prevailing response to the consequences of our disobedience. We got some nerve, blaming God when we reap the wages of doing what seems right in our own eyes. As if the clay can demand the potter to relent from His Purpose for His creation. (Ref. Jeremiah 18-19)

I guess, we never looked at it like that, huh? After all, God knows out hearts, right? It’s more self comforting to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our good intentions! After all, what would become of us if we looked in the mirror of God’s Word and saw ourselves as God sees. Why we might have to plead guilty to the myriad of alleged charges railed against us of repeated abuse of God’s Love, breaking His Commandments, gross dis-honor and negligence, denying His Right to rule over His creations, refusal to submit to His authority and Power as Eternal Soveign Lord God!

Well, when you put it like dat! Kinda makes you wonder, what’s your response to the ultimate question ‘WHO DO U SAY I AM’?

I’m not Holy Ghost, Jr. so I can’t tell you what King Solomen’s final conclusion meant or didn’t. I can only speak for myself. But! Think about it! At the end of the day, we’re all slaves; yet GOD honors us as Sons! #AWEMAAZZIN!

IT BEHOOVES ANY /ALL OF US TO REMEMBER THAT BABYLON WILL BE JUDGED IN ONE DAY! WOW! TRUTH OF CONSEQUENCES!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

IT’S ONLY TEMPORARY

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IT'Z ONLY TEMPORARY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal wieght of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things wich are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

 

One of the most difficult things for us to comprehend , especially in the midst of chaos and drama, is the reality of our being creatures in time while God is Eternal. As creatures of time, we have a tendency to focus on the intensity of our current struggle, losing sight of the unchangeable nature of The Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent Creator and Sustainer of the Ages!

Despite personally experiencing numerous historical testaments of our previous deliverances, apparently there’s an innately human proclivity to suffer spontaneous outbreaks of accute spiritual amnesia when faced with a new challenge! Hence, we forget that the same God who brought us out the last time is still with us.

While there’s no known cure for this dis-ease, it is treatable! The Word of God subscribes that as a child of God, arm yourself with the Mind of Christ. Consider your present condition, in light of The Word of God rather than the intimidations and threats of the wicked, deceitful raving antics of God’s enemy, Satan! And Yessss, it’s easier said than done, nevertheless IT IS POSSIBLE!

How, you say? We do it all the time! Seriously! Just think about a cute lil’ cuddly brown and white kitty, can you see her in your mind? Okay, now think of a pit bull! Uuuhhh! What happened to the kittycat?

God has so wonderously created us with the ability to cast down images, overthrowing arguments, and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of Christ. (Ref. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

If you make a conscious decision to rely upon your spiritual eyes regardless of what your natural eyes see, faith will always trump fear! In other words, the strongest man always wins!! Recognize the source. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound mind, right? The devil is a thief, a liar and the father of lies! Well? Who you gonna trust? (Ref. 2 Timothy 1:7; John 10:10)

Keep in mind, your Heavenly Father is never taken by suprise, never caught off guard and will never scratch His Head saying, “Wheredatcomefrom?” The Holy Scriptures assure us that before we ask, He already knows what we need! And don’t forget, His delay does not mean automatic denial. The Good Shepherd doesn’t lead us anywhere that HIS GRACE can’t keep us.

Beloved, remember God does not move in time according to circumstances. He’s more interested in eqipping and furnishing you and I with His characteristics that your faith and trust is not easily moved, come what may! The ol’ skool Mothers said, ‘Baby, He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always on right on time, k?

During moments of stress and afflictions, God wants you to focus on the things which are not seen in order that the knowledge and assurance of His Amazing Grace will sustain us throughout Eternity may be perfected in us! Be not dismayed,Ye are spiritual beings, created in His Image! Encourage yourself to remember, this is only temporary! At any moment now, I know God ‘s gonna shall breakthru and change my circumstances around for my good and HIS GLORAAA.

Just like He brought me out of THAT, HE WILL BRING ME OUT OF THIS! When I come out of this, I’ll be able to tell somebody else, my God is Faithful and worthy of your trust, patience and praiz! This came to past not to stay!  SPEAK UPWORDS! IT’S ONLY TEMPORARY!
SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

IT’S TIME 2 PRODUCE

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IT'S TIME 2 PRODUCE

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord. Isaiah. 54:1

 

When I think of the word ‘barren’ I get an image of a desert, a wilderness, dry, desolate, unfruitful place. Obviously, The Prophet Isaiah could not be talking to God’s Chosen Ones. Or could he? I know this doesn’t quite fit in the New Millennium Church Prosperity Theology. After all, aren’t we the head and not the tail, above not beneath. Aren’t we the blessed coming in, and blessed going out, right?

Well, I don’t mean to intrude into your celestial comfort zone and burst your balloon, but for those of us who’ve been walking with The Lord for more than a week, can testify that sometimes real-life contradicts everything that we’ve ever heard, studied and believed about what it means to be “saved”.

Many times the saints believe because we love God and know that God loves us, the favor of God automatically guarantees a life of levitating thru this world on a flowery bed of ease; that is until life doesn’t produce the fruit of righteousness that we expect! That’s Barrenness! I’m talking about even after, we’ve made all of our faith confessions, planted faith seeds all across the nations; only to end up broker, busted and even more disgusted. Don’t shout me down, nah? #ijs!

What about when Prophet Lightning Buzz told you that your soul mate was on his way to you and up pops Sis. Rahab or Bro. Bozo and she or he snags the very one you just knew God said was yours? I’d call that a barren place!  #4REAL!!!

And what about this one, you make up your mind to stop robbing God and start paying your tithes and giving your offerings faithfully and consistently, and you still can’t make ends meet? Okay! Now you see what I’m talking about, huh?

Sometimes it appears as if God brought you into the L&D room, watched you suffer the pain, exposing you for everyone to see and then stitched up your womb and left the building!

O YE BARREN, HEAR YE THE WORDS OF THE LORD! “It ain’t what it looks like!” God uses our barrenness, to mature us and to prepare us to take possession of our heritage!

Perhaps, some of you have been wandering around the desert for quite a while, aimlessly drifting without direction or purpose. Have you considered that God’s been trying to bring you out, howevvrrrr, because you’ve refused to trust Him and keep trying to deliver yourself, you continue to go round and round in circles!  Beloved, might I offer an alternative perspective,  God had to make the brook dry up just to get you in position for your miracle!

Stop It! It’s time to go in and to take possession of everything that God has promised you.

Remember, your  next blessing is never in what you’ve lost, but it’s always in what you’ve got left! God can produce more in a famine than the wicked can in his wealth. It’s time for you to stop trying and start trusting.

O Ye barren; get ready to enlarge your tent! TRUST2KNO, IT’S TIME TO PRODUCE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THE WONDER OF GOD!

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the-wonder-of-god-3

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 2 Samuel 9:7-8
 

“Why me?”
 
How many times have we found ourselves spurting this out? Whether out of a sense of cynical-rhetorical contemptuousness or an overwhelming comeback to the lusciousness of God’s unexpected favoritism, we can all identify with Mephibosheth’s response to King David. (Ref. 2 Samuel 9) Especially, since none of us can honestly claim that we deserve to be so blessed in the first place, huh? Truthfully, any good that we do is generally accidental. So as far as standing up to the standards God’s of Righteousness, we are all lame in both feet! (Ref. Romans 3:23)
 
But that’s the whole point! It’s the Wonder of God’s unmerited goodness that sets us apart from the rest of the world!
 
Knowing us from the inside-out, not just what you did–but why,  your Heavenly Father blessed you anyway! Despite all the justifiable circumstantial evidence to support our accuser’s objections, The Eternal Judge over-rules them, dismissing the case, covers you in His Robe of Righteousness, leaving them (and sometimes even us) scratching their heads, dumbfounded and paralyzed uttering in amazement “What jus happened?” 
 
Creation clearly demonstrates God’s propensity for details. Behold, how marvelously God pieces the individual segments of our lives to fit perfectly jointed together for our highest good and His Greatest Glory! (Ref. Romans 8:28) His Handiwork, often mysteriously hidden behind the clouds, weaving the highs and the lows, the strides and the falls, the haves and the have nots, lovingly bonding the momentary to the eternal, paints a collage that captivates the attention of that passerby to stop and ponder; taking much needed periods of reflection, introspection, covetously inquires “Why not me?”
 
THANK GOD for that day when, like Mephibosheth, we finally get it! Casting off fear, we fall prostrate before our Benevolent Faithful King in humble obedience, with everlasting joy, declaring “For you O Lord are my Everlasting Hope!” (Ref. Psalm 16:5)

GOD SO LOVED ME?  I KNOW IT MAKES NO SENSE, BUT…YES HE DOES!  AND HE ALWAYS WILL!
 
SOOOO., WITH ABUNDANT JOY WE GRATEFULLY  SUCCUMB TO THE WONDER OF OUR GOD!
 
SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!”
 
Ann Caffee

STAND YOUR GROUND!

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STAND UR GROUND 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:11-13

Once again, The Apostle Paul finds himself in a life-threatening situation, being unjustly accused by his former peers the Sadducees and the Pharisees, who now hold him in great contempt. Their hatred for Paul was so intense that they persisted, relentlessly, for several years to discredit and ultimately take his life. Regardless of how many times God frustrated their schemes, they were committed to his destruction. Kind of reminds me of the Devil, huh? And frightenly similar to the way some of the nation treated our President Barak Obama!

However, Paul’s accusers failed to recognize that Paul was a man on a mission for God! Since his Damascus Road conversion, the newly ordained Apostle had become so in tuned with the purposes of God that he refused to allow external circumstances to determine internal perseverance. Paul had discovered the secret of drawing on Christ’s power for strength rather than trusting in his own ability! Paul’s revelation that Jesus Is Lord, therefore in control of everything, gave him the fortitude to persevere in the midst of persecution, confident that none of these things will move me! (Ref. Acts 20:24)

In this day of 21st Century Christianity many of God’s people have been dupped by hefty doses of the more contemporized “Gospel Lite Theology”! Hence, in their minds, once you surrender your life to Christ, everyday is gonna be a tip-toe thru the tulips awaiting the Trumpet sound when they’ll be transported to the Pearly Gates of The Celesterial City. Unfortunately, real-life does not remotely resemble Hollywood’s version. Being a Christian does not promise we won’t experience test, trials and even tragedies. However, it does mean that God will be with us thru every single  challenge that we’ll ever face!

As we walk with The Good Shepherd, maintaing a consistent gratitude for what God has already done, a  hopeful expectation for the future and relying solely upon the All Encompassing Sufficiency of God’s Grace, we’ll learn to remain steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the Faithfulness of God’s Love! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 15:58)

I don’t care what’s or who’s threatenng to destroy your peace today arm yourself with the same Spirit of Faith that motivated, not only The Apostle Paul but our Ultimate Role Model of a man on a mission, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Oh, by the way don’t worry about threatening demonic forces who try to take you out, remember who created the bow and the archer! #ijs (Ref. Isaiah 54:16-17)

BELOVED, GOD HAS PERSONALLY POSITIONED YOU TO REPRESENT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD! STAND YOUR GROUND AND SHINE ON! 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee