Category Archives: comforter

LIVING WATERS

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LIVING WATERS 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

He that believe on ME, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2

Because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen…” Isaiah 43:20b

 

In the natural, most expectant mothers anticipating blessed arrival of her new baby with unrestrained excitement, shops until she drops! At the same time, the realization that before she actually holds her beautiful bouncing bundle of joy in her arms, she must first endure the grueling discomfort and pain of labor and delivery, can’t help but cause a certain degree of apprehension.

Every woman who has had a baby knows that as the labor progresses, the pain intensifies. Although we’re unable to accurately determine what the baby goes through, we can safely assume, by reason of anatomy, making its way through some extremely tight places causes a certain amount of discomfort for the child as well. For nine months, the womb has been his home and now, he’s reluctantly forced to transition into the next level of life.

Hence, spiritually, our rebirthing process also requires intense laboring for deliverance. Every blood washed, born-again, child of the Living God has been impregnated with purpose and potential. However, making our transition from one realm of spiritual reality into another, (from grace 2 grace) ultimately involves some degree of violent struggle. The ol’ church used to say, no pain – no gain!

Consequently, as we matriculate from one level of spiritual maturity to the next, we’re forced to navigate through some tight circumstances. Sometimes, just as in the natural birthing process, in order to hasten the birth and avoid the complications and dangers associated with a dry birth, the doctor may deliberately puncture the embryonic sack. This process is called “breaking the water”.

Likewise, to ensure that a believer transitions spiritually into our highest potential, the spiritual mid-wife, The Holy Spirit, fills His chosen with soul refreshing, sweet living waters drawn from the Wells of Salvation! This water is called Joy.  (Ref. Isaiah 12:3) This joy is not a state of mind neither is it a fleeting emotion; but to a believer facing the challenges and afflictions incurred through famine and drought of  the desert storms of life, JOY becomes a Weapon of Mass Destruction!

Saints, whatever you’re going through, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!  While weeping may endure for a night, God has promised, Joy is coming in the morning!  (Ref. Psalm 30:5) God has chosen you as HIS very Own BELOVED!  Keep in mind that in God’s Kingdom, purpose always trumps pain! TRUST2KNO, that pain you’re now experiencing  is only a sign that Holy Spirit has just induced your labor and your water is about to break! 

Don’t sweat the process, God is positioning you into the next stage of Abundant Everlasting Life! #SERIOUSLY !!!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

ALWAYS

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ALWAYS

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake. Deut. 31:6 NIV

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isa. 26:3 KJV

I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 

 
One morning I received an email that took me back to an all too familiar place! As I read  on, I immediately realized that the lost sheep could very well had been me. Feel free to eavesdrop on the conversation,…
 
 “In the early 1980s I counseled a Christian young woman who was languishing in deep spiritual, mental and emotional torment. She wrote:
 
“Dear God, Where are you? How can you watch and not help me? I hurt so bad, and you don’t even care. If you cared you’d make it stop or let me die. I love you, but you seem so far away. I can’t hear you or feel you or see you, but I’m supposed to believe you’re here. Lord, I feel them and hear them. They are here. I know you’re real, God, but they are more real to me right now. Please make someone believe me, Lord. Why won’t you make it stop? Please, lord, please! If you love me you’ll let me die…A lost sheep”
 
I deal with many Christians who are filled with such confusion that their daily walk with Christ is unfulfilling and unproductive. When they try to pray, they begin thinking about a million things they should be doing. When they sit down to read the bible, they can’t concentrate. Whenever they have an opportunity to serve the Lord in some way, it comes up short by discouraging thoughts of self-doubt.
 
Having found freedom and deliverance, “the lost sheep” penned a response to her own prayer based on her new understanding of God’s provision in Christ.
 
“My dear lost sheep, You ask me where I am. My child, I am with you and I always will be. You are weak, but in me you are strong. I am so close that I feel everything you feel. Be crucified with me and I will live in you, and you shall live with me. I will direct you in paths of righteousness. My child, I love you and I will never forsake you, for you are truly mine…Love, God”
 
#CANWETALK?  Fortunately, the covers have been lifted and the stigma that once keep many suffering in silence and isolated by guilt and shame are not able to seek medical help  that was once shunned by the world, even by the church! Beloved, the struggle is real, BUT GOD’S LOVE IS GREATER!   By The Grace of God, while I too have experienced the freedom of  being delivered from the tormenting trauma and enslavement due to  clinical depression; however I will never everrrr forget to remember How Great A Salvation that The Lord wrought in my life!  I thank God for the medication that kept me long enough for God to get a hold of my mind, Divinely interrupting the forces of darkness, rebuking the lies and shining the Light of The Gospel of Jesus Christ into my spirit thereby transforming my being from death to LIFE!
 
It’s incumbent upon us to remember, this is not heaven, the devil is still a liar and God’s Word is Truth!  #IJS! If the saints are feeling the heat of the devil’s wicked devises, can you imagine what he’s putting the unsaved through? #EXACTLY!!!

Saints, ask God to open the eyes of your heart that you may see who’s hurting around you. If the whole world’s coming out the closet, we certainly can’t afford to be closet Christians! 

We have an awesome responsibility and an obligation to be the Love, Compassion and Hope of Christ to a lost generation! HENCE, You ought to tell one somebody that there is a Hope that’s out of this world…I mean, really?
 
C’mon nah! JUS TELL ‘EM…His Name is JESUS and He’s ALWAYS JUS A PRAYER AWAY!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

WATER WALKIN’ FAITH!

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WATER-WALKING FAITH 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,  they will not sweep over you.  Isaiah 43:2a NIV

When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. Isaiah 43:2a THE MESSAGE

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 KJV
Honestly, when you think about it, it really doesn’t require a whole lot of faith to believe that GOD CAN! SERIOUSLY! Just open your eyes, or better yet, shut them and continue to breath!  See, THAT’S GOD! However, believing that GOD WILL takes Biblical faith to an entirely different level that too many rarely attain!  I’m not talking Bible-quoting, but water-walking empowering faith that moves you to get out of the boat, with nothing to stand on but The Word of God! (Ref. Matthew 14:28)

Quite frankly, it’s the after we make the decision that causes us the most conflict!

Remember, before we got a personal revelation of Jesus Christ and committed to ‘live holy as unto The Lord’, rarely did we question or rebuke the enemy’s temptations to sin. Yet now that we’re saved, the enemy targets us relentlessly pressuring us to surrender our faith in The Invisible God and put more confidence in The Liar! And that’s when the real tests come! Hence, it’s when you’re challenged to stop thinking about it and put your feet where you mouth is! That’s the scuuarry part, huh? C’mon nah! AM I RIGHT ABOUT IT?

The Scriptures record numerous accounts where God’s people found themselves in dire straits and having no other recourse, but to cry out to The Lord, their God, trusting wholeheartedly that not only does God hear—but GOD Answers!

King David, reminiscing back to a time when, narrowly escaping with his life, penned these words, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19. David’s testimony still replenishes our hope today that even when it looks like there’s no way out, if you call on The Name of The Lord, GOD will show up and make a way out of no way!

In 2 Timothy 3:12, The Apostle Paul, echoing David’s sentiments, encourages his young protégée, Timothy, “Expect afflictions and persecution”. Yet, in the Eternal Purpose of God, compared to the Glorious future that God has stored up for us, it’s only a momentary light affliction! (Ref. Romans 8:18, Jeremiah 29:11)

Our text today, we hear The Prophet Isaiah speaking to The Israelites, whose hearts were steeped in fear and remorse for their sinful ways that had landed them exiled in a strange land, encourages and comforts them to remember The Merciful Compassionate God who had chosen them as His Inheritance, above all other people was Faithful to a fault!

Granted, when the winds of adversity come barreling over you and the waves of fear, doubt and uncertainity are dragging you down into unchartered depths of woe-filled darkness, dumps of dispondency plugging you into utter hopelessness,  if you’re not careful to keep your heart and mind intentionaly focused on The Word of Your All-Caring, Covenant-Keeping, Storm Master and Creator God, when the blistering life’s storms flare up, you will surely drip away!  Particularly when it’s your own stiff-necked rebelliousness that has caused God’s judgement! #ijs!!! 
Can somebody say, ‘BUT GOD’!

Thanks be to God, we don’t serve an unjust King! Our Loving Savior will never sit idly aloof from His Beloved, leaving us to fend for ourselves! Not on your life!  He promised, I WILL NEVER, EVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU (Heb. 13:5)   When it looks like all reason to hope is exhaused, IT AIN’T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE! Even when we can’t trace Him, The Lion of Judah is moving compassionately towards every moan and groan of our being, intervening on our behalf, turning everything around to work in our favor for His GREATEST GLORY! (Ref. Hebrew 4:15)

Precious One, nothing happens that ever takes God by surprise! And since HE’S GOD, He answers before you even ask!  No matter what you may be experiencing, God knew exactly where you’d be, even before He allowed you to enter into this season. Stay patiently-confident!  ONLY GOD says when enough is enough; and who or what can stop HIM?

TRUST2KNO! NOT ONLY IS GOD ABLE…HE WILL! SOOOO WHATCHA WAITING ON? GO ‘HEAD, STEP OUT THE BOAT, U WATER-WALKER U!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

STORMS

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STORMS

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Psalm 27:4-5

 

Aaawwwww…Fantasy! Believe it or not, that’s where many escape to when the painful realities of life become much more than a person can bear!  Perhaps, this might explain why that 1965 Classic American Sitcom “I Dream of Genie” (staring Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman) drew such a faithful following!

Week after week families gathered around their b/w TV’s anxiously gasping for any momentary retreat from the real-time burdens facing our nation. I mean who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to have anything their heart desired suddenly appear simply by swiping a lamp, right?  Yep, those were the good ol’ days, huh?  I suppose that’s what He mean’t by “LET’S MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, too? #WOW!

History records President Lyndon B. Johnson struggling to lead the nation through a multiplicity of vexing controversial challenges and at the same time maintain some semblance of the homeland security that many cleaved to so dearly.

Remember, The First Combat Boots landing in Viet Nam and the Dominican Republic, the arrest of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King along with 2,600 others in Selma Alabama for demonstrating against voter-registration rules. Malcom X was shot to death in a Harlem rally, while the newly recognized Afro-Americans were rioting in Watts others were rudely awakened to the undeniable existence of racism in The Land of the Free? Yep! Yep! #thoseweredadays!

The point is,When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2

Truthfully, as long as we live and breathe on this earth, there will be storms of adversity. In today’s scripture text, the Psalmist offers a brilliant ray of confident hope, strength and encouragement to those who yet contend for the faith found only in an intimate personal relationship with The God of all flesh.

Having been victimized by jealously, hatred and malicious rejection from those closes to him on numerous occasions, David sticks out in history as a true, honest, God-revealing companion to the desperate and down casts. A recap of God’s servant’s life depicts one who repeatedly finds himself besieged by fear, doubt, betrayal, death and isolation from human kindness. Yet in the midst of chaos, terror and tragedy, The Shepherd boy/King, David discovers the Source of true solace under the watchful care of His Sovereign Lord!

 

Beloved, we’re living in a day in time where it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of hussle and bustle, striving for the world’s standards of successful accomplishments and accommodations! However,  in spite of those poignant pathetic prophetic voices declaring peace and prosperity, sometimes we are left trembling and shaken by the inscrutable ungodliness of the systems of this world! 

Nevertheless, the Prophet Isaiah reaffirms The Eternal Promise of The Covenant-Keeping Creator and Sustainer of All Life  offers comfort to souls weired by the tremors of unexpected intrusive earth-quaking episodes that befall the saints as well as the sinners! Come what may, TRUST2KNO, WE ARE NEVER ALONE! GOD IS ALWAYS AS CLOSE AS A WHISPERED PRAYER from a BELIEVER’S TRUSTING HEART!  #Didjaheardat?

The real evidence of a believers faith is not cuttin’ a step, how high we jump or how fast we’re ruuning around the churrch, but how faithfully we stand in the midst of the storms!

Beloved, as we keep our eyes pointed Heavenward,  The God of All Comfort has declared that we too will be blessed, revitalized and restored by that Peace that passes all understanding, swept over by the unspeakable Joy and resting assured in the Presence of the One Savior and Lord that David delighted in, Jesus Christ! THE PERFECT ANSWER TO EVERY STORM!

SELAH!
 
PAUSE, PONDER, PRAY & PRAIZ!
 
Ann Caffee

I REST MY CASE!

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I REST MY CASE

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Heb. 4:11)

 

There is a certain ‘place’ that every human, believer or unbeliever, inevitably seeks  to inhabit. However, you can’t locate it on Map Quest, Google or GPS. Given all of the sophisticated technological advancements of this 2lst Century, amazingly, it can’t be seen by telescope,  detected by satellite nor heard by electronic ultra sonic sound systems. You can’t travel there walking, running, swimming, driving or riding in a bus, train, plane,  cruise liner, submarine, rocket or battle ship!

Nevertheless, many a lifetime is spent meandering through days and nights pursuing it! Unfortunately, few ever get there. Some get closer than others only to be left drenched in disappointment!! For reasons unbeknownst to them, before they’re able to get a firm grasp, some way and some how, ‘it’ escapes to just beyond reach! Many have sought for it at the pinnacle of corporate, academia or entertainment world. Ultimately ascertaining  that despite the success, accolades, notoriety, wealth and privileges of the elite, there yet remains this insatiable unfulfilled inner-quest seated in the pit of their soul!

Where is this place that continues to evade so many a desperately wandering soul?

In case you haven’t figured it out, it’s called ‘REST’! And the reason so many fail to reach it, is because it is not a place but a person; and His Name is JESUS!

According to these Scriptures: “And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?” (Heb. 3:18)

“Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief” (Heb. 4:6)

Apparently, that which is impossible to man is always possible to God! (Ref. Matthew 19:26)

Didjaheardat? Astonisingly, the very moment anyone places their ABSOLUTE trust in The Saving Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ, they have finally arrived, safe , sound and secure, at their Destination—REST!

What an awesome privilege our Heavenly Father has endowed those who desire and depend solely upon His assistance, (above all else)  presenting their case before  The Majestic Throne of Him Who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond anything they dare ask or imagine,  confidently releasing their cares, anxiety, fears, doubts and unbelief in The Hands of Unrelenting Loving-Kindness and Unlimited Grace!

Beloved,  He Who has sworn by GODSELF is FAITHFUL AND TRUE! (Rev. 19:11) Hence, when you place your personal trust in HIS WORD,  you cannot be defeated and you will never be denied!  For greater is HE that is in YOU than he that’s in this world! (Ref. 1 John 4:4)

Didjaheardat?

So do what you can! Pray about anything; trust God for everything and LEAVE THE REST TO JESUS! #GOTIT?? Aaawwwwmmmaaaazzzzzin!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

INCREDIBLE

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INCREDIBLE

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

“There are so many wonderful things, about Jesus; there’s so many wonderful things about Him! His name is wonderful, He’s a wonderful counselor! There’s so many wonderful things about Him.  He is the Mighty God, Everlasting Father.
He Is the Prince Of Peace , So many wonderful things about Him. Wonderful yes you are  Wonderful! Marevouls! Glorious! Excellent! Yes You Are! ” (jus sang’n Bishop Trotter’s song, yall)!

Funny how over time words can be used so casually to describe so many different things, yet there are  times when those same words ascribed to certain people, places, class or circumstances take on a uniquely exclusive persona, huh?  For example, “I jus love  me some fudge!”  “I love my family more than anything else in this world!” Or “That  was a great movie ”  or  “Let’s make America GREAT, again!” #ijs!!!

However, when we attribute these same adjectives to intimate the supremacy of The True and Living God,  suddenly we’ve catapulted into a realm of  unimaginable-reality that excels  far beyond the syntax of the natural man’s vision, hearing, touch, smell or taste,  that’s defies possibility without the guidance and instruction of The Spirit of Holiness!  Jus ask Bishop Larry Trotter! 

No wonder the Bible says, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)  OMG! Sounds like if the whole of what God has already revealed about Godself, The Bible would be too large to haul, much less carry, huh? At least, that’s how I’d paraphrase it, yall! Most of us are having a difficult enough time of digesting the part of the roll that’s been set before us! #AMIRIGHTABOUTIT!

One thing for sure, it’s indeed a WONDER! Anytime you bring GOD into the thought, conversation or circumstances, it automatically trips the wire and sets off the alarm signifying, “YOU HAVE NOW ENTERED INTO THE REALM OF IT’S SUPERNATURAL!”

As  previously mentioned, many of the same words that were once exclusively used to define the Inimitable Character of The Most High God, have been re-designated to insinuate something unusually pleasing or significantly unique. “The steak was amazing!” “Her performance was outstanding!”; “Did we ever have a wonderful time!” Et cetera…Et cetera…Et cetera! 

Nonetheless,  it behooves us to not get it twisted! ONLY GOD IS GOD!

The Bible illustrates this  TRUTH profoundly over and over and over!  Remember, God allowed Isaiah to get a glimpse of the cherubim and seraphim circling the Throne symphonically calling out to one another ‘HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Is The Lord!’ (Ref. Isaiah 6:3)  Again, God’s Glorious Power over all of Creation  is clearly demonstrated as The Red Sea opened, becoming a Highway of Liberation for His Chosen Ones after 400 years of Egyptian bondage!  And Good God Almighty, there’s no denying God’s Amazing Grace and the Awesome Love manifested as HE single-handedly  ripped mankind from the clutches of Sin and Satan, sealing the deal once and for all, reconciling us back unto GODSELF (Ref. 2 Corinthians 5:19) WOW!

Can you even begin to imagine what Hell said, suddenly astonished, realizing that Jesus had been Victoriously resurrected from Death, Triumphantly proclaiming All Power and Authority in Heaven, Earth and beneath the Earth has been delegated to Him? (Ref. Matthew 28:18)

TRUST2KNO, some of the demons are still shaking, trembling confused saying, ‘“Aaaawww Hell NO! But, but, but…datz impossible, right?”

NAY! THAT’S GOD! INCREDIBLE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

SHOW-OFF!

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SHOW OFF

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“I called upon the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a large place.” Psalm 118:5

Those who know me, already know how much I love to decorate, redecorate… and decorate again!  Yep! My name is Ann Caffee and I’m an HGTV/DIY addict!  LOL! Several years ago, there was a reformation in the Home Décor arena. Remember that old piece of furniture secretly sequestered in the backroom, garage or attic? Yeah, like your Mother-in-law’s first nightstand! Well it was no longer considered an eyesore, but it resurfaced as ‘shabby chic’!  WHO KNU, huh?

Of course furniture manufacturers picked up on it and immediately began to build new pieces that resembled those old used and somewhat abused pieces. What was once disgustingly dubbed ‘old-timey’ was now the new ‘distressed’! I can only imagine the timidity of the challenge to abandon traditional artistic craftsmanship to achieve this look.

OMG! The brutal assault and the punishment inflicted upon each piece—painstakingly beaten, burned, chipped and hammered with metal chains, and torched…but once the process was completed the item was pompously positioned on the showroom floor.

Now doesn’t that sound slightly too uncomfortably familiar to the what believers go through at the Hand of The Master. Oh, we know, no one actually told us that once we turned the reins of our lives over to Jesus, it would be smooth sailing on The Ol’ Ship of Zion; but for real—we had no clue that life would take on this new persona. After all, we came to Christ to get out of hell, right?

While we’re encouraged to gravitate to the Covenant Promises of God, nevertheless, we’re totally oblivious to the progressive transformation from receiving Christ as Savior to submission to His Lordship! As disciples, we’re taught to pray and believe God to enlarge our territory, increase our anointing and give us wisdom to impact our families, church and communities and TRUST2KNO…God answers our prayers! Unfortunately, we tend to grossly misinterpret the process thru manifestation! It’s the refiner’s fire that produces the purest gold! 

Don’t get it twisted! Trusting God to take care of you in the midst of overwhelming stressful circumstances is quite a challenge; but that’s exactly what we must do!

The first step to this amazing transition is acknowledging that God is not trying to harm you. God loves you, and is committed to seeing you reach your highest potential!

Once this Truth  is firmly affixed in the seat of your soul, the devil knows he’s in big trouble!  That’s why he works double-time and a half to fill your heart with guilt, shame, condemnation to the point where you actually doubt that God knew exactly what He  was getting when HE CHOSE YOU!

HOWEVRRRR, being armed with a personal reality and intimacy of God’s Loyal Love enables you to walk in a state of inward rest, frees you to experience the strength and encoragement to live the-above-circumstances-abundant-life that Jesus’ sacrifice procured for you. (Ref. John 10:10)

Remember, no matter how out of control life  you think your life is,  there is NEVER a moment when  your Sovereign God is not in ABSOLUTE control of it ALL!

DISTRESSED? DIG-IN AND ENDURE! YOU’RE BEING PROCESSED FOR  SHOW ROOM PRESENTATION!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

DON’T LOOK BACK!

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DON'T LOOK BACK2

 

Selah Daily Devotions!

 

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back, I gave my back to the smitters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spiting. For the Lord God will help me, therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED. He is near that justifieth me; who will content with me? Behold the Lord will help me, who is he that shall condemn me? Isaiah 50:5-9

 

The Psalmist said, ‘Before I was afflicted, I went astray’. Well, King David, you’re not the only one! Can I get a witness? Before our ears were opened,  you know, before our personal encounter with The Divine Kind, before we met Jesus, all of us rebelled against God’s Righteous standards! Amen 3x!

But! Just like The Prophet Isaiah, when we finally heard that ‘un-mistakable’ Voice of Our Lord speaking to our heart, we turned our face to God and our back to Satan! We made the conscious, irrevocable determination to commit ourselves to our Redeemer, begin a new life, walk a new path, and emphatically denounced our former Task Master, declaring—‘I’m so through with you!’

However, I must confess! Much to my surprise, not everyone celebrated! In fact, some of the same folk that we used to kick it with backndaday ‘don’t treat me like they used to, since I laid my burden down’! Many of your peeps, who used to ‘have your back’ become back-stabbers or now avoid you like a bubonic plague. Don’t think it strange if some even set traps to get you to fall, just to let you know that you ain’t no better then they are! #ijs For real!

I know we’ve heard the seasoned saints testify, “I’m so glad God delivered me from a miserable life of sin!” But honestly, all of our past life wasn’t miserable! In fact, some of it was down right pleasurable! Y’all, don’t play me nah!

The problem is, the partaa didn’t last! That’s when we realized that we needed some ONE Greater than ‘self’ to pick up the pieces and put our lives together!

But guess what? No one who walks away from the world ever comes up short. Nothing that you give up to follow Jesus is ever in vain. So don’t worry about your haters. Remember, you now have a Friend who sticks closer than any brother; and He has promised to never leave you or give up on you. (Ref. Proverbs 18:24; Hebrews 13:5)

Don’t try to defend yourself, just let your life speak for you! Trust me, some of those folk who walked away, they’re still watchin’. And guess who they’ll come to when they hit that pothole? EXACTLY! The ‘new and improved you’!

For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Hebrews 4:2

Now, before we go any further, it’s important that you understand, that not one of us can claim that we’re in any way, shape or form deserving of such great a SALVATION! It’s totally a Gift of God and not due to anything we ever coulda, shoulda, woulda earned! That’s what’s so awemaazing about GRACE, huh? (Ref. Ephesians 2:8) Hence, clearly Salvation doesn’t make you better than anyone else, however it does make us better off than those who’ve yet to come into a  personal Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ!

It’s also imperative to note that while Salvation does not exempt us from experiencing many of the same maladies as the ungenerated souls, it does guarantee us that life goes better with Christ, a Surety of a Peace that surpasses all understanding and a Hope that’s beyond this world! #ETERNALLY!!!

Precious one, TRUST2KNOW, God’s got your back! Just keep walking, unashamedly, looking unto Jesus! Trusting in His Promises, with all of your heart, knowing that God’s got a Plan and a Purpose for your life and I hearrrd (in my best preacha voice) that what’s coming is better than what’s been! (Ref. Jeremiah 29:11) #Didjaheardat? #WOW!

So the next time that ol’ lying devil tries to make you doubt God’s Faithfulness and derail your Divine Destiny—tell him—”Obviously, you’ve mistaken me for someone else! I ain’t Lot’s wife! I WON’T TURN BACK!” #BOOMMMM #Didjaheardat? 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

SEASONED VS. SELECTIVE SAINTS

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SEASONED VS. SELECTIVE SAINTS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13

 

WOW! With all that’s going on in this world TODAY, aren’t you glad that you’re saved, sanctified, living all you can to serve and please da Lord? I feel ya!

BUT! Before we go slappin’ 5 with our neighbors or yourself on the back, perhaps we need to take a closer look at today’s scripture. SOMETIMES…WE—GOD’S-CHOSEN-THE SAINTS—have a way of judging others by their actions BUT judging ourselves by our good intentions, huh?

Whachatalkinbout? It’s easy to make yourself come out smelling like a rose, as long as we’re comparing ourselves to one another! However,  according to The Bible, God never intended to make our own warped flesh the plumb-line for gauging His Righteousness!

Remember the story of the Pharisee who went up to the Temple to pray, stood off by himself, looked across the room and seeing the tax collector, praying “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.” (Ref. Luke 18:9-14)

Evrrr noticed how God’s elect often develop a severe case of selective amnesia once they’ve been saved for any length of time? Perhaps that’s why The Apostle Paul left a not-so-friendly reminder to snatch our minds out of the clouds as needed! “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

Hence, DON’T GET IT TWISTED! No matter how many right things you manage to do on a daily basis, at the end of your bestest day—every single one of us must acknowledge “That if it had not been for JESUS…I coulda, woulda and shoulda _________” And y’all can fill in the blank! (Ref. Romans 3:23)
HONEST2GOD, there ain’t none good but GOD! That’s why He sent The Perfect role model for us to keep before us. JESUS…Righteousness Personified! (Ref. John 3:16-17)

TRUTHBETOLD, except for the Mercy of God’s Grace, NONE OF US WOULD qualify for Heaven! We’d all be consumed by our own sin!  But God, knowing what He was getting before we were even born, DECIDED TO PUT GODSELF in the midst of our fragile-clay vessels, therefore there’s yet HOPE of Glorraaaa! (Ref. Colossians 1:27)

So the next time, you’re tempted to bask in the glorraa of your own self-righteousness, CHECK YOURSEL! Remember that flicked human proclivity? Beloved, you betta recognize that God really does read hearts! (Ref. 1 Samuel 16:7)

“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20

WOW!  Jesus raised the bar, huh? Question is, of all the folk in your sphere, who’s going to heaven because of your influence, or who’s going to hell? Don’t shout me down nah! #ijs!

Sooooo, the next time you’re tempted to send ANYONE’S po’ soul straight to HELL, because they don’t measure up to your self-discriminating standards, MIGHT I SUGGEST THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR OWN SALT IS SEASONED WELL WITH LOTS OF LOVE and LACED WITH LOADS OF MERCY AND GRACE! #IJS #SEASONED VS. SELECTIVE

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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prayn-and-fasting-pic

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Good morning Family! GOTTA MOMENT? Ooh GGGGllllorrrraaaaa!

Welcome to a new day! Today, we’re excited that you have joined us in our Thursdays’ Day of Corporate Fasting & Prayer! Once again, we appreciate the opportunity and privilege to entreat The Presence of our Great High Priest, pouring out our hearts desires, petitions and supplications with Thanksgiving. We know that He delights in our embracing Him in earnest expectation, confident that He Rules Forever by His Power is able to save and deliver us from any of life’s maladies!Shall we pray?

Welcome Holy Spirit! We are in Your Presence! Fill us with Your Power, take complete control! You are Living Water, Never ending Fountain, Comforter and Counselor! Take complete control….Welcome Holy Spirit…O, Sweet Wonder! Oh Sweet Wonder! Jesus, The Son of God! Ooohh Sweet Wonder! Oh! Sweet Wonder! Jesus! The Son of God! Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that you’re my God,You’re altogether lovely, Altogether worthy, Altogether wonderful to me! LET’S PRAY…

 

Our Father and God of Heaven and Earth, we come before You humbled by Your Loving-Kindness, Grace and Mercy! We’re eternally grateful for one more opportunity to behold The Glory of Your Presence! We know that it’s Your Sovereign Will and Strength that has allowed us to live, move and breath, being clothed in our right mind today! We thank You for revealing to us such wondrous treasures that were hidden from our understanding, when we walked surrounded by darkness, as dead men in the earth without a God on our side!

Abba Father, it’s only because of Your Wisdom, we know to cherish this day and not take it for granted as if we have a right to be alive! We come humbled by Your Mercy before You, with open hears, uplifted hands and lips filled with joy and delight to praiz and Your Holy Name! We thank You for giving us The Name that’s above every other name! You have decreed that at The Name of Jesus ,our Lord and Savior, every knee must bow and every tongue shall confess that He Alone is Lord of Lords and King o Kings! We praiz You, Jesus for You have redeemed our lives from destruction and engrafted us into The Royal Kingdom of God! Because of Your Sacrificial Atoning Blood, we are now called Children f The Most High 4ever! Oh, how awesome are Your deeds! For You have preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping!

Daddy, we thank You for Your continued benevolence and favor towards us! We are eternally grateful that because You are The God of our Salvation, Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision, no good thing will You withhold from us as we continuously walk upright before You! And because You formed us in our Mother’s wombs, You know our frame, nevertheless Your faithfulness and compassion continuously allows You to look beyond our human frailties,fickleness, faults and iniquities to see and minister to fulfill everything that we will ever need pertaining to life and godliness! We rejoice in Your Promise that You will watch over, protect and guide tenderly us as the apple of Your Eye!

We know You to be A Merciful and Forgiving Father! We know that You are the God of many chances because You keep right on blessing us over and over again! Abba Father, we know that it would be foolish for us to continue in sin, frustrating Your Grace, therefore we bow reverently before You now asking You to forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to Your Heart. Assured that as we confess our sin, You are Faithful and Just to forgive, pardon and restore us back into rightful fellowship with You, we ask now for Your forgiveness, in The Precious Name of Jesus!
Sweet Jesus, teach us to see sin through Your eyes and to acknowledge it as evil wickedness and rebellion against the Creator and Lover of our souls, The Giver and Sustainer of All Life! And when we sin, quicken our spirit to repent immediately, and to confess with our mouth our wrongdoing, that we might receive the Gracious forgiveness of our Heavenly Father! For this cause, we gladly present our spirit, soul and body as a living holy sacrifice to be used for Your Greatest Glory!
Precious Lord, because no man can come to the Father except You draw them, we intercede on behalf of every unsaved soul, praying that You will quicken The Spirit of Godly-repentance in their heart and in their mind that they will will hear Your Voice, come confessing a “Sincere YES” to your Amazing Gift of Grace and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior TODAY! We’re believing that You will Divinely orchestrate their footsteps settleling them into a local church home where they will be embraced with joy-filled loving fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus!

Lord, we ask You to put a fresh “committed YES” in the heart and mind of every backslider who has walked away from following Your Teachings! Let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church where they will sincerely submit their lives to the sound teachings of Your Word, learn to love and live their lives walking out Your plan and purpose, becoming a Light reflecting Your Glory,Will and Ways to a dark, lost and dying world and provoking some sinner man, sinner woman, boy and girl to cry out “What must I do to be saved!”

 

Father, we pray that You will touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by  all manner of sickness and disease, including but not limited to the spirit of cancer, kidney/live disease, heart/lung , disease, arthritis, bone and muscle disease, autism and dementia! We pray that You are already rebuking and casting out every symptom and trace of it out at the root, for Your Name Sake!

 

We lift up all who are on dialysis, chemotherapy, awaiting transplants and other surgery, those in nursing and rehabilitation homes! Heavenly Father, YOU are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Therefore, even as You walked this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able and Willing to do the same right now! Your Eternal Living Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name! Amen 3x!

Sweet Holy Spirit, we’re standing in agreement with every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that You are releaseing Divine Power, Supernatural Strength, Health, Wholeness, Provision, Prosperity, Protection and Peace that passes all Understanding. As we’re trusting in You, we thank You for preserving each and everyone of us thru the tests that You have allowed us to go thru, keeping us constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that at the appointed time,You, WILL bring them out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward with a soul-stirring testimony of what Faith In God can do!

 

Father, we lift up our children, our grand-children and our great-grands, nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters, brothers, spouses, in-laws and friends, by faith, we abort and overrule every curse that’s been ordered against their lives and canceling every scheme that Satan desires to inflict upon them! As we commit them into Your Providential care, realizing that You have a plan and purpose for their lives too. we have the blessed assurance that their steps and stops are being ordered by Your eyes! Therefore we speak The Peace of God over their spirits, souls, minds and bodies releasing a Spirit of Love, Holiness and Excellence to fulfill their God ordained destiny!

Holy Father, we’re lifingt up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher. Teacher, Missionary, auxiliary leader, usher, musician, choir member and director and church member! Undergird them with Your Anointing and conviction to carry out their assignment, under the direction of Holy Spirit. Cover them as they go in and out amongst Your people with honor, wisdom and favor!All who would seek to discredit, hinder and even destroy their faith, faithfulness and the ministry You have ordained from their mother’s womb, shall be rebuked and restrained by The Power of Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name! IT IS SO!

Sweet Lord, as You have instructed, we pray for every leader of our nation, federal and local government, legislative, corporate, judicial, education, public service, healthcare and financial institutions! We’re asking that You touch the minds and hearts of those that You’ve ordained for leadership for such a time as this! Lord speak to them in dreams and visions, reminding them that POWER BELONGS TO YOU Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens! Convict them that Your eyes are going to and fro throughout the whole earth, keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly!

El Shadai, we believe that You are warning them that He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. He who digs a hole and scoops it out will fall into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself and his violent schemes will come down on his own head.We believe that because their hearts are in Your Hands, they are being continuously opened to hear and obey Your Will! Lord Jesus, we’re standing on Your Word as decreed that The government of this world shall rest upon Your shoulders and that You are The Eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Abba, we ask that You encourage and comfort the souls of Your Elect who are overwhelmed with fear, doubt and worry because of the things that are going on in our personal lives and in this ungodly world systems! We pray that You send a double-portion-downpour of Your Divine Favor upon each who needs encouragement and empowe them to stand steadfast, immovable in the midst of these wicked and evil days! Let us know that we are never alone  and that Your Grace is Sufficient to overcome every weapon that is formed against us!! We decree that every demonic-induced spirit of addiction and fear is defeated NOW because of Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Sound-mindness and Purpose is being released into the lives of Your people now, in Jesus Name!

 

Heavenly Father, because You have promised to perfect our cares and concerns, O GOD, we bring so many other situations before Your Majestic Throne. Those who are broken hearted, feeble in body and spirit, the one at a crossroad of life, the ones addicted to harmful substances, our armed forces, policemen, fire and rescue personnel, nurses, doctors, pastors and leaders, missionaries far and near; our leaders of the world. We’re trusting You to send peace where there is confusion, send love where there is hate, send unity where there is division. Bless the fatherless and motherless. Keep us ALL in your care. These favors we ask in Jesus Mighty Name!!

 

Father, we acknowledge that there are so many other things we should pray about, however believing that Holy Spirit is already interceding on our behalf, interpreting our sighs, moans and the groanings of our hearts, we wait in confidence and quietness, anticipating the exceeding Greatness of Your Power, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shameful defeat, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Abba Father, in closing, we stand in humbled boldness, agreeing with You Who hears and answers our prayers, and forgives our transgressions! Holy Father, because You have chosen us to lice eternally with You Who Reigns 4Ever, our souls are strengthened as we shout with joy! We bow in obedient reverence before The Hope of all the earth, believing that as Your face shines upon us that, You are making Your ways and salvation known among all nations for You Guide and Rule justly!

Father, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that it is done according to Your Eternal Will! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X and It Is So! Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS LIVES AND LOVES EVERYBODY!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!