Category Archives: communion

MY DEVELOPING ROOM

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MY DEVELOPING ROOM 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“ In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” Psalm 31:1-5

 

Ever been in that cavernous place, alone entrapped in a den of hopelessness, despair and yes, even shame for allowing your circumstances to rupture the confident trust you enjoyed, just a short time ago?

Still confused how quickly things changed hurling you into this momentary pit of discontentment amassed by discouragement and terrorized by ‘what if”?

Truthfully, most of us have at some point in our lives and even more of us have had extended stays! However, by the Grace of The Almighty God, we’ve learned that the way out is looking up! Benevolence always descends!  Hence, instead of focusing on what’s going on around you re-set your attention on The One above The Heavens.

Gratefully, our Heavenly Father has gifted us with His Precious Holy Spirit! Not only is He able to investigate and translate the moaning of our sorrow-filled souls, but swiftly carries them to The Master’s listening Heart.

As we cry out to Him, much to our delight yet usually unbeknown to us, Your Presence has crept in, invaded, overshadowed and decapitated the gloominess of this prison cell pulling me up and out of the web that had so easily ensnared my soul. Where fear, doubt and confusion once raged, Your quietness whispers words of consolation, infusing and invigorating my wearied soul with such sweet unspeakable joy. Straight away, my sullen countenance is overwhelmed by the Luster from Your smile as You, in passing, suddenly wink at me!

As we still ‘self’ to listen obediently, You instruct our heart to follow the leading of Holy Spirit into a state of Blissful Peace that’s so far beyond my own understanding. (Ref. Isaiah 26:3)

Coming to myself, I am subliminally aware of my surroundings, and what I believed to be prison is just another developing room where You’re secretly hiding me; making me all that you have destined me to BE—COMES! MY DEVELOPING ROOM! #PURPOSE

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

MY SOLID ROCK!

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my-solid-rock-2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved”…In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah….God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Psalm 62:1-2, 7-8, 11

 

“Everyday is not the same!” These were the words from a faithful friend to me to encourage me at a time when I found myself drowning in raging waters, attempting to maneuver my way through the valley overshadowed by Dred and Death! In retrospect, I’m almost tempted to say, “Sir, is dat ever an understatement!”

However, I’ve found myself speaking these same words to fellow sojourners I’ve encountered along the path. Only now, I offer them as a breath of refreshing wind to wayfaring souls, to console their storm-wearied hearts to keep moving, keep trusting, keep believing because NOW IS NOT FOREVER and GOD IS TOO FAITHFUL FOR YOU TO GIVE UP NOW!

My prayer is that the words penned by The Psalmist in today’s scripture text serve as a compass leading you to The True Source of Comfort and Peace and remind us of God’s Promise!

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

Beloved, only God knows what challenges you are facing at this writing, yet I hear the psalmist’s saying, when the cares of this ol’ world overwhelm us, there is an escape, a safe house that we can run into and be saved from the terrorist’s threats. Hence, we can run to the Mountain That is Higher than you and I!

My precious one, can we pray?

“Heavenly Father, here we are again bowing at The Throne of Your Mercy! We’re so grateful for the honor and privilege to come boldly, knowing that You hear and answer every petition we place before you.

We’re praying for the strength of The people of God, that we might be encouraged to stand strong, continue lifting up The Blood Stained Banner of our Lord and Savior. Trusting confidently that He  Who Rules and Reigns above The Heavens, is in ABSOLUTE CONTROL of the affairs of all mankind! We’re praying for the leaders of our country, fully persuaded that their hearts remain in God’s Hand, confident that The Omniscient Father never sleeps nor slumbers, is never taken by surprise, neither does He ever need to repent! EVERYTHING HE HAS PROMISED, HE WILL PERFORM!

We’re praying for our children, every parent who has been charged to instruct and rear them up in the fear and admonition of THE LORD will submit to the leading of Holy Spirit, walk upright before them that they may see our faith and commitment to THE GOD OF ALL HOPE!

We’re praying for those who are yet in darkness, being deceived by Satan into rejecting The Saving Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ will be snatched from the snares of sinfulness and repent before GOD, seeking forgiveness and salvation. We’re believing that the hearts of the backsliders will be pricked by The Spirit of The Living God so that they will make a decision to return to Jesus TODAY!

We’re praying for the comfort of those who are dealing with grief, depression, loneliness, fear, addictions, confusion, overwhelmed by financial commitments, sickness and diseases. We’re believing that the angels of the Lord are being sent to their sides to minister help, health and hope at this very moment.

We’re rejoicing in reality that the companionship of The Lord of All Comfort, Joy and Peace is never too far away  and that HE can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

We’re eternally grateful, Father, that regardless of what each day brings, YOU OH GOD REMAIN THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER FAITHFUL to protect and provide everthing we ever need.

ABBA FATHER, we’re thanking You now for Your Compassionate Loving Kindness, Tender Mercies and Unconditional Love that never leaves us nor forsakes those who place their personal trust in JESUS ALONE! THE SOLID ROCK!

We’re asking these things, recognizing that it’s because of The Majestic Name of Jesus that we rest assured in Hope  earnestly anticipating that it shall be so. In Jesus Name. AMEN 3X

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 Ann Caffee

KEEP’N IT 100

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KEEP'N IT 100

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19 
 

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalm 11:3 

 

God has given to those who have placed their personal trust in The Blood of Jesus for the saving of their souls, exceedingly great and precious promises!  Those of us who never ever believed that they could be invited to partake of so GREAT A SALVATION,  have latched on to this Blessed Hope as if our very lives depended upon it–and it does!  While rejoicing is indeed in order, it’s also important that we not indulge in THE WORD like it’s a smorgasbord… ‘eat’ the text we like and discard those that we don’t!
 
According to The Holy Writ, certain Promises are specifically-reserved for those who are walking daily in Christ with GOD!  “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) 

God recognizes those who have been called to Him by their willingness to submit to His Will and whosoever chooses to obey His Word, receive The Promises!

May I submit for your consideration that everybody that’s in the church building ain’t necessarily in Christ?  #OHNOSHEDIDN’T…OHYESSHEDID!

Some people can be religious (or as the Millennials say, SPIRITUAL) but not in an intimate relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ! Many may believe that the Bible is the Word of God, yet they don’t believe that it’s talking to them! Others may believe that God has power, however don’t essentially believe that God has the Power to change their lives!

Unfortunately, all of the blame is not on the people but must be shared by those in leadership in churches that have watered-down the Living Word in order to fill the pews, appease the congregation and appear more palatable to the world!  #ijs…Seriously?

I know, with so many opinions being perpetuated into our spirits from various medias, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to sift thru the fake news in an effort to decipher Truth from the fictitious, fabricated to manipulate the unsuspecting for personal gain! Hence, it behooves the true seekers to let every man be a liar and GOD BE THE TRUTH!

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Seasons change, opinions change, customs change, methods change BUT God’s Message will never change!

The Bible, aka The Eternal Word of God, plainly declares and decrees — If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

While the New Millennium church is reaching forward and pressing on to get wherever we’re going, please don’t lose Jesus!  Remember, it doesn’t matter how high we go in this life, we’ll never get above GOD. #Didjaheardat?

For He knows them that are His!  JUS KEEP’N IT 100!  

SELAH! 
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee
 

THE LONGING!

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the-longing-2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Philippians 3:10

 

One of the most intriguing topical discussions amongst expectant mothers and women who have become mothers (besides swapping labor stories) is the abnormally-intensified cravings that we experience during pregnancy awaiting the birth of their bundle of joy!

While, at this writing, my eldest is 47 years old, yet, I can still summon up that daily occurrence of overwhelming intensity, provoking me to walk my big-belly-self five city blocks up to MLK Avenue to get my hands around a 6 in., lettuce and tomatoes, fried onions, mayo and mustard, salt and pepper, heavily-loaded with pickles steak and cheese sandwich. This became such a ritual that the moment I wobbled through the threshold of the deli, the cashier would holla to the cook “Steak and Cheese Special for the big lady”. And off I’d be to our little apartment on Oakwood Street, five blocks back, just as happy as if I’d discovered a treasure chest filled with diamonds and gold. Somehow, the journey back never seemed as difficult or as long, perhaps because I’d be that much closer to relishing the second I’d take my first bite of my bounty! Oh my, what we won’t do for love, huh?

Well guess what? That’s exactly how believers ought to be in our quest for Jesus Christ! We see this truth evidenced in the life of The Apostle Paul. We can almost feel the earnest urgency with which The Apostle sought after his personal, intimate- knowing and understanding of “The True One” Who had apprehended him on the Damascus Road. (Ref. Acts 9) It was as if Paul was driven by an uncommonly unique passionate desire that set him on a course that remains unchartered territory to even the most astutely-religious 21st Century church-goers today.

Yet, there is that remnant of us whose yearning for more JESUS consumes most of our waking moments and often invading our nights with dreams and images of His Awesomeness. Imagine my surprise at the realization that not everyone in the church shares this delight-filled insatiable lusting for The Living Water and The Bread of Life!

This could very well explain why some who profess Christ, are content with following Him a far off while others are compelled to dig-out the secret treasures hidden in The Word of God, diligently, intentionally searching the Scriptures daily that they might know HIM in ways that may never be actualized by the second-handed-casually-acquainted follower—experientially! (Ref. Acts 17:11)

The Word of God is Alive and gives life to any who have a desire for The God Who Speaks revealing GOD-SELF through His Auto-Biography, inscribed through Genesis into Revelation, that all who seek Him with all of their hearts, minds, spirit, soul and body may know HIM (TRUTH) intimately. Sadly, not everyone who calls Him Savior seek Him as Lord, huh? #ijs Yall!

Therefore, much to their own sorrow, they miss out on the true wealth and reward of a personal, dynamic, GOD-involved relationship that awaits us who lend our hearts and attention to discovering The Father in the face of His First-Begotten Son, Jesus! (Ref. Colossians 1:15-16)

My precious one, seeking God, although often challenging, should never become be a chore! However, it is vindictive of the level of love, faith and commitment towards Him!

 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34:8)

HENCE, WHATEVER POSITION GOD OCCUPIES IN YOUR HEART DETERMINES HIS PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE! HOW BAD DO YOU WANT HIM? LONGING?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

GOD LISTENS

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GOD LISTENS!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2

 

Ever found yourself at the end of your rope? That’s silly; of course you have! We’ve all been there! But did you ever think that that’s exactly where GOD wants you?

Too often we’ve been led to believe that you, the master of your own life, will never face a challenge that you can’t get past. After all you’re an intelligent individual, right? Wrong!

As you’ve probably figured out by now, there are some things, try as you may, ‘you still don’t know how to fix this mess’, huh?. But again, GOD sets it up, just like dat? He never intended us to live life independent of HIMSELF! Where do you think fellowship began? That’s exactly right; like everything else, in the mind of God!

Unfortunately, GOD knows that except we have these “impossible” situational intrusions, you know that thing that seems to just pop-up outta no where blocking our path, we wouldn’t think we needed GOD! Don’t forget GOD knows your heart! So don’t even try to wiggle your way out of this truth, okay?

Every so often, we find ourselves in circumstances where you just need one somebody to talk it over with. Even if they can’t change your situation. So you call your Mama and your Daddy, your BFF, your Dawg and errrbody else you can think of; hoping, that if somebody just listened, it will ease the pain, frustration and helplessness. Or, perhaps make you feel like at least they care. But then again, can you really trust them to not put you there on blast or even worst, alter their impression of you?

But we have this confidence, God is never shocked by anything and He knows everything! And to top that whenever we call Him, He shows up! And whenever He shows up, He’s never empty-handed. He has all the answers that you and I will ever need in this lifetime and the world to come.

Who else can you depend on like Jesus? C’mon nah, u already know what I’m talking about… that thing, that situation, that person who’s got your heart so troubled, okay? Well, stop procrastinating and start talking to JESUS! HE’S ALWAYS WAITING!

TRUST 2 KNOW, GOD IS GRACIOUS AND HE SPECIALIZES IN MAKING  WRONG THINGS RIGHT! GOD LISTENS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

CLIMB HIGHER!

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CLIMB HIGHER 3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.” Isaiah 40:22

Several years ago, I heard a story which, much like a good wine fermented by test, agitated by maturity and textured by time yet still manages to profoundly impact my responses to life’s often tempestuous cyclonic events!

Once upon a day, just moments after take-off, an emergency call was made from an obviously distressed co-pilot to the Control Tower, informing them of an unusually awkward situation that threatened the safety of the lives of the full passenger payload and crew members of this 255,000 lb. Boeing 757. The urgent message to the Air Traffic Control Center went something like this, “Uh, somebody? We have a problem up here! We’ve discovered that there are all kinds of snakes in the cockpit!”

When the person on the other end of the line, heard this message and recognizing the terror in the co-pilots voice, panicked and ran out the Tower. Immediately, a recently retired Senior Air Traffic Controller, who just happened to be there visiting his former co-workers, stepped up to the Control Panel, picking up the headset (that was so abruptly discarded to the side by the young man) speaking calmly into the mic told the Co-Pilot, “Young man, this is Officer James Marshall, to whom am I speaking?” The voice on the other end answered, somewhat frantically, “Uh, Sir, my name is DeVaughn”. “Good afternoon, DeVaughn. Now, let’s see how we can get you back on track and get these folk to their destinations.” Still trembling and somewhat confused at this ol’ man’s obvious inability to fully comprehend the gravity of the circumstances, the confused co-pilot reluctantly agreed, “Yes Sir”.

“Now”, the retired ATC continued, “The first thing I want you to do is to take the breaks off of the aircraft and begin to climb higher!” “What?”, retorted the co-pilot, “What did you say?” At this point, totally convinced and exasperated by the guy on the other end’s lack of discernment for the potential threat that the aircraft and its passengers were facing, again inquired, “Could you repeat that, sir!”

Once again, the Senior repeated, “Take the breaks off and climb higher!”

What the young man didn’t know, was that this was not the ol man’s first encounter with this kind of traumatic experiences and since he’d been this way before, he knew how to respond to an otherwise catastrophic event. Once the aircraft reaches a certain level of elevation, snakes cannot survive the air pressure and will quickly die!

Saints, today, God told me to tell you that situation confronting you now, those snakes that are taunting and threatening to delay the safe arrival at your next destination and all the evidence stacked against you to convince you to abort the mission all together, can’t survive the atmospheric conditions that you’re about to enter into!

“I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles”

Isaiah 42:5-6

Beloved, take the breaks off of God! He’s been this way before you! TRUST HIM AND CLIMB HIGHER!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

CHAINED? OR CHANGED?

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chained-or-changed-2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded, “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgment? It’s your life that must change, not your skin. And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as ‘father.’ Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire. Luke 3:7-9

 

Have you ever asked someone, “Are you saved?” to which they responded, ‘matter-of-factly’,“uuuhhh…Mama told me I been baptized!” or “I belong to First Bed-Rock of The Divine Pentecostal Kingdom Fellowship” Don’t shout me down, now yall….jus wondering?

Seems to be a lot of that going around, huh? We’re living in a world where pretty much everybody’s ‘saved’! I mean, just look at the explosion of ‘Mega Ministries’, that have popped up in this country alone, right? Kinda makes you wonder why Jesus hasn’t returned! Well, may I submit for your consideration, while church attendance is a critical component of our spiritual development, church membership doesn’t make you a Christian any more than living in a garage makes you a car!

I understand how one might be confused, given the ‘mob mentality’ of the more contemporary theological persuasions of The New Millennium Era, that more means better. This is nothing new! According to our scripture text, it’s been going on since the days of John The Baptist! One might wonder, given the number of churches and folk who pour into the buildings any Sunday morning, why we don’t see much change as individuals, in our families, communities,even as a nation?

Simply put, too many folk try to cut across the field, by-pass the cross and creep into the Kingdom through an imaginary backdoor!

That’s why some imposters casually enter the church house, ‘carrying their chains, tuck them quietly under the plush pews, sanng, shout, dance up and down the aisle, sit like a bump on a log while the sermon is presented, Hi-5 your neighbor 10x, turn around 7x, repeat the benediction, greet your neighbor, pick up your chains and get back out there and do what u gotta do’!

Beloved! Jesus came not to set up another system of legalistic religious rituals, but to restore the personal intimate relationship, severed by our First Parents, Adam and Eve’s rebellion against the righteous commands of The True and Living God! And when He ascended back to The Throne Room on High, Father God sent The Holy Spirit to live inside of anyone who makes a conscious decision to humble themselves, repent and put their personal faith in The Only Saving Grace of Jesus Christ! The indwelling Presence of The Spirit of Jesus, empowers us to live a holy, separated, consecrated life of triumphant deliverance in the midst of this dark and depraved world! Didjaheardat?

“…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose,” Philippians 2:13

Sadly, despite the finished work of the Cross, Satan has yet been able to keep too many of God’s precious ones, illegally chained to stuff that Jesus has already secured their glorious freedom from! But that’s why we’re here, right? To shine out for God by spreading the Good News,“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

CHAINED? OR CHANGED? #WOW

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

UNSHAKEABLE PEACE

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UNSHAKEABLE PEACE!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 

 

SOMETIMES! I wonder how much easier life would be, if in fact it was meant to be lived“Que sera, sera …Whatever will be, will be. The future’s not ours to see. Que sera, sera …What will be, will be“ ? However appealing this perspective might appear, at first glance, truthfully, God Who Sovereignly created us  in His Own Image,  never intended us to be merely robotic beings devoid of the ability to reason and make decisions based on our individual free will.  God deliberately fashioned and formed us to be fully capable active participants in working out His Plan for each of our individual lives.  In other words, life, according to God’s Purpose, is not a spectator’s sport!

How childish and immature it would be to think otherwise, huh? As my son once reminded me, reminiscing back to the days when the most critical decisions he had to make that day was, ‘is it gonna be Fruit Loops or Captain Crunch’? But now, finally, as all-grown-up adults,we no longer enjoy the privileges childhood innocence affords to casting off the burden of personal responsibility and accountability for our own actions unto unsuspecting parents, school teachers, coaches, counselors, professors, supervisors, pervasive racism, financially scrapped government institutions, corrupt politicians, over zealous police officers, the collapse of basic moral ethics and inevitable endangered decaying environmental resources. And we couldn’t wait for this?

God uses all of these, (and much much more) to train and transform us into the persons that He’s Divinely ordained us to be—a reflection of His Amazing Grace and Ominous Glory! The problem is, we’re hell-bent on thinking that God expects us to carry out this work, totally independent of His Sovereign Controlling Interest in the Process! And we all know how that eventually turns out, huh?

Hopefully, sooner rather than later, we having exhausted all our our own fire, are forced to acknowledge “This ain’t working, Lord. I need Your helllpppp! Lord, save me!” Thank God, Who steps right in, rolling up His spiritual sleeves, bears us up under The Power of Holy Spirit, places us back on The Potter’s Wheel, gracefully presses, pinches, prodding, pounding, purges and pushes us through the next phase in His process of Restoration.

When we pray and ask God to restore us, we must be willing to submit to the process. Here is where most of us miss it. We don’t want the pain, humility and the lack of control that’s often required in order to equip and empower us for the next level of spiritual growth and development. So often we, the unwilling participants, come kicking and screaming, murmuring and complaining, doubting and accusing God of miscalculating just how much we can bear.

Until finally, we surrender, committing our care to His Loving Hands, trusting His Purpose to be greater than our personal pain, embracing His Will rather than ours, finding more power than you ever imagined, are comforted by HIS UNSHAKEABLE PEACE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee