Category Archives: Confidence

THE CROSS AND THE CROWN

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THE CROSS AND THE CROWN

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 NIV

 

Ever looked at anyone and admired their zeal, confidence, positive attitude and their success? Who hasn’t, right? Ever looked at somene and (secretly of course), coveted, envied, wondered why did they get all the breaks and not me? No? Right! #Juswondering

Well, for those of us who’re yet awaiting our hallos and wings, it’s not that uncommon to envy those who appear to have so easily overcome adversity, conquered conflict and triumphed to the pennacles of prosperity! That is, until we discover the real story behind their glory! As the Scripture reveals, the mind of a man plans his way, but The Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) Unless you were born late last night or arrived on the planet earth early this morning, you already know that the journey of life is filled with just as many moments of misery as merriment. It matters not whether you were born sucking on the proverbial silverspoon, sprawled out on the back pew or crouched behind the dumpster, trouble, test, trials, tragedy and tyranny will be a non-discrimnatory uninvited interruption. (Ref. Job 14:1)

Every man must bear his own cross! But thanks be to God! The Omniscient Creator of The Universe has strategically ordained every single step and stop to assure that His Purpose for each one of our lives be fulfilled! The goal of our Lord for His Beloved is that we be transformed into His Image, demonstrating His character and reflecting His Glory into a dark, lost, dying, hellbound world. Sometimes, this process demands enduring physical, emotional and spiritual discomfort as we learn to walk by faith and not by sight, trusting wholly in The Faithful Lovingkindness of Our Invisible Savior!

However, The Master Architect works it all together for our greatest good and His Highest Glory! (Romans 8:28) Our Heavenly Father Sovereignly designs the exact dimensions of length, width and depth of the cross you’ll need to carry you safely across the tumultuous rivers, through dry valleys enabling you to meticulously ascend to predestined mountaintops enroute to your Eternal Destiny.

Kinda makes you go, uuuummm? Huh? Exactly! Can you really afford to judge another man’s crown?

Now imagine The Cross that Jesus carried, not for Himself,  not for us; not for them…BUT 4 ME!  YOU SEE, UNTIL WE MAKE IT PERSONAL, IT NOT REAL! Don’t know about you, but it makes me wanna holla and throw up both my hands, HALLELUJAH! THANKYA JESUS!

YOUR CROSS! YOUR CROWN!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

JESUS LIVES!

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JESUS LIVES

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit,” (John 19:28-30)

 

From early morning broadcasts GM America, until Late Nite News we’re constantly inundated with media blitz to keep us abreast of local and world-wide current events as they unfold throughout the course of the day! Unfortunately, barring a brief human interest segment, generally most of what is considered news-worthy reporting generally involves someone’s personal tragedy, layered by an unusually catastrophic event, sandwiched between a hefty dosage of robberies, murders, kidnappings, and embezzlement scams etc. Apparently, tragedy boosts ratings. I reckon that’s why the majority of so-called news is all bad!

I was impressed by the Spirit of God to get this urgent message out immediately to every believing soul struggling with a situation that seems impossible! There is Good News! And while it may not survive the final cut of an editing room floor, let me assure you it’s indeed something to phone, text, Instagram, IM, snap chat, fb, linkedin, tweet or by any means necessary to get The Word out!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The devil ain’t running nothing!

Over 2000 years ago, The Son of God, Jesus Christ, dealt Satan the ultimate death crushing blow, as He hung crucified on an Old Rugged Cross atop a hill called Calvary!

History records Jesus dying words,‘IT IS FINISHED’! Following The Holy Lamb of God’s unjustifiably humiliating ghastly agonizing execution where He surrendered to Death, Jesus yet Lives! Having miraculously risen from the Grave, Jesus told His disciples, “All Power in heaven and in the Earth has been given to me! (Matthew 28:18) “I have overcome the world, and in me, you are over comers!” ( John 16:33) And because of this one man’s atoning death, LIFE has come to anyone who dares to trust in Jesus Redemptive Power!(Ref. Romans 5:19)

Upon our Lord’s Resurrection, any victory that Satan once held over death and the grave was snatch un-mercifully away from him, eternally triumphantly trampling over all powers, principalities, and all wickedness in High Places. And the records decree how God has placed all things under his dominion and if ye be Christ’s then all things are under your feet also! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
 
Seriously! The Immutable Word of God still stands firm! We are more than conquers through Christ, and the devil is still a desperate defeated liar!

SO WHATEVER STATICS THE INTIMIDATOR IS USING TO THREATEN YOUR PEACE AND DESTROY YOUR JOY  AND DIMINISH YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD, DON’T EVEN SWEAT IT! JESUS ALREADY HANDLED IT AND SATAN TOO! WE ALREADY HAVE THE VICTORY BECAUSE JESUS LIVES!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!”

Ann Caffee

 

RUN TO THE ROCK!

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

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

 

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

I DON’T MIND WAITING

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I DON'T MIND WAITING!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3
If there’s anything that I find more detestable than eating okra, it’s gotta be waiting! Oh, don’t look at me with that tone of voice. I see your hand up too! Out of all of the spiritual gifts we crave, patience is probably at least next to the bottom of the list! The Ol’ Churrch Mothers used to say, ‘Baby, don’t ever ask God for patience, cause you’re inviting trouble to your door’!

But I’ve lived long enough to conclude, invited or not, Trouble’s bound to show up sooner or later. So it behooves us to not just expect it but to prepare for the unexpected. One of the first things on the ‘to do list’ of every soul who pledges allegiance to The Cross should be learning how to wait! While there’s little to none chance of escaping waiting, I’ve found it to be extremely efficacious to establish a few things at the onset!

Primarily, Who you’re waiting on has a direct affect on how you wait. Next, consider the probability of facilitation of your expectation. Lastly, what time constraints are you prepared to impose on the process? #WOW, huh?

Waiting on God is always our best bet! (Ref. Philippians 3:1-4) As you’ve probably realized by now, the odds of success when putting all of your confidence in any flesh, especially your own, is kinda like winning Power Ball Mega Millions the first time you purchased a lottery ticket. Exactly! Not that their intentions weren’t honorable; BUT! Sometimes, God will ordain those certain ONLY GOD types of situations to tutor us in ‘The Validity of Maintaining Confidence in His Trustworthiness’! God knows that as long as we can handle life on our own (or with the aid of that other person), chances are we’ll never come to Him! When we seek God first (not as a last resort), our faith is rewarded exceedingly beyond our expectations (Ref. Matthew 6:31-33)

GOD CANNOT LIE! (Ref Numbers 23:19) Once we’ve established the reliability of God’s Word, based conclusively upon a settled-realism that everything God ever promised already is, that all of the promises of God are Yea and Amen (Ref. 2 Corinthians 1:20) and that God has obligated Himself to bring every Word He’s ever spoken it to pass, we rest!  Hence,  personal trust blossomes through patient waiting, in quiet confident hope, knowing that our Harvest Time is coming! (Ref. Hebrews 6:18)

So the next time the devil asks, “Whatcha waiting on?”, don’t bother to respond! Just stretch out the cords, buckle down the hatches and get ready for the overflow!

When you’re expecting God, anytime He shows up is your season for Grace and Favor!  #ijs, DON’T MIND THE WAITING!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

BURN BABY, BURN!

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BURN BABY, BURN!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the Knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain To life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue by which Have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be Partakers of the divine nature, having escaped The corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:1-4

 

Didjakno?  Today’s scripture text is penned by The Apostle Simon Peter! You know Peter, right? He’s the same cussin’ Peter who rejected Jesus three times, cut off the soldier’s ear, stepped out of the boat on the stormy sea and walked on the water to Jesus. Well,  now Peter is a self-proclaimed bond-servant, Divinely ordained and authorized to speak on behalf of Jesus Christ! Now this really excites me! Why? Because it assures me of the unfathomable Mercies of our Loving Savior and that nothing in your past has the power to keep you from fulfilling your Destiny! Now to me that’s a good place to praise God, huh?  Hold my mule…Halleleujahhhh!

We, having no right to such loving kindness, yet have been graciously endowed with His Divine Power and given everything that we need to escape the corruption of this world and to live a holy and godly life, not in heaven, but in this present world! Didjaheardat? Unbelievable, I know; but it’s True!

God has equipped true Believers with indwelling Power of The Holy Spirit, transforming us into His Chariots of Fire in this earth!

We  love to sing Donnie McKlurkin’s song, “We fall down, but we get up, we fall down, but we get up…because a saint is just a sinner who fell down, and got up”! Don’t get me wrong, I like that song too. However, we can get a little twisted in our mindset, because of the craftiness of the devil, and without knowing it, we can actually be masking a spirit of rebellion behind the cloak of faith!

“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound…GOD FORBID!” Romans 6:1-2

As disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, every one of us has been commissioned by God to reflect His Glory to this lost, dark and dying world. Yet, if we keep falling to the same old temptations over and over, flippantly counting on the favor of God to show up in our pit to rescue you out of the same old mess, how’s God’s Glory being manifested? #ijs

According to The Holy Ghost, True Glory is manifested when a believer demonstrates righteousness thru faithful obedience. When you make a genuine commitment to deny the ungodly appetites of your flesh, rather than to bring reproach to the Name of His Lord and Savior, not only are you relying upon God’s Power to deliver you, you’re also proving your love and gratitude for all that Jesus did to redeem you back to your Heavenly Father.

Our journey to Heaven is plagued with unexpected, trouble, chaos and tragedy, however knowing that The Promise Keeper is able to open up pathways that you know not of, make ways out of no way, open doors that have been shut and carries us triumphantly  thru every valley to the mountaintops, we’re fortified with Hope! As we experience His miraculous deliverances, it develops our confidence so much so that when our faith is challenged by difficulties, we don’t give up, we look up!

A true carrier of God’s Glory plants his faith in the Word of God’s Grace! Having done all to stand, stands therefore, steadfast, unmovable, always abounding, continuously expanding, exceeding all natural expectations, daring to taunt and frustrate the evil plans of the wicked, with holy boldness, testifying ‘Satan, I might have to Bend, but I refuse to Bow”!

NOW, YOU’RE JUS WHAT THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR! GO AHEAD…LIGHT UP THE WORLD PROCLAIMING, ‘TO GOD BE THE GLORY! KEEP THE FIYA BURNING!

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

LET’S STAY TOGETHER

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LET'S STAY 2GETHER

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Psalm 42:4
 
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1

 

Perplexing, huh? Given all the chaos, turmoil, and just plain drama that people are going thru today, why aren’t all of our churches packed out, every service? When so many people’s minds are filled with fear, anxiety, doubt and uncertainty, why do so many stay away from the sanctuary of God’s House? Nonetheless, I’ve discovered that oftentimes when our hearts become overwhelmed by the woes of life, the absolutely last thing some of us want to do is actually the very first thing we ought to do–fellowship with our brothers and sistas in Christ! Am I right about it?

 
The Psalmist, understood how to survive his soul’s dis-eases—the times when the cares of his world left his spirit cast down, unsettled, and wearied to the point that he didn’t know what to do. David always found his answers and comfort in God’s Presence and among kindred believers!
 
The Word of God let’s us know that there is nothing, no temptation, no trial, no test that we will ever go through that somebody else has not already experienced and triumphantly overcome. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 10:13)  Yet, Satan, the Master of Deceit, wants us to think that we’re the only one who’s gone thru this. The devil feeds off of our fears and doubts to cause us to believe that our circumstances are so unique that nobody else can really understand what we’re going through.  Unfortunately,  for the carnally-minded saints, one of his most effective strategic deployment is isolation! 
 
BUT GOD, knowing how vulnerable we can be, always provides a way of escape. Jesus says,‘Come unto me and you shall find rest for your souls’. (Ref.Matthew 11:28) The Word of God further encourages and admonishes us to not neglect the refuge that awaits us in the sanctuary of His Church. (Ref. Hebrews 10:25) God promises an outpouring of a corporate anointing (God’s Grace) upon His people when they come together in fellowship, praise and worship. A Holy Synergy is released into the atmosphere as the people of God unite in prayer,  igniting the Divine Intervention of God’s Favor and turning our bad situations around to work for our higher good and His Greater Glory! Uuum, could that be why he works overtime to keep us from Church?
 
Well guess what, enough is enough! The next time that chump tries that, ignore him!  Getta stepp’n and say to yourself…“I was glad when they said unto me, let’s go to Chuurrch!!!”
 
Be encouraged, saints! There is strength in numbers and power in unity! Let’s Stay Together!

 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

 

 

PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE

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PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:8-11

 

It’s often being said that these are the times that try men’s souls. And given the traumatic state of events that are happening in the world today, undoubtedly we must agree. But as Saints of the Most High God, we have this Blessed Assurance whispering to our souls  “Peace Be Still” for ‘come what may’ our times are yet in the Mighty Hands of our Lord and Savior!

God, our Heritage, has secured Divine Peace and Joy unspeakable for whosoever that will keep their minds focused on Him by continuously abiding in His Presence. (Ref. 1 Peter 1:8)

The Bible commands us to “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”, (Philippians 2:5) Hence, through the assistance of  Holy Spirit we have the power to stop yielding your mind to anxiety, fear, doubt, unbelief and worry.  When we allow these Satanically-induced responses access to our spirit, we give the adversary too much undeserved glory! Instead of meditating on the problems and cares of this world, we must strive to do like The Psalmist David,  by reminding ourselves that whatever circumstances we find ourselves; we are never outside the reach of The True and the Living God!

Be vigilant and watchful! Don’t sanction the enemy’s unlawful entrance to plant intimidating images in your mind!  Our thoughts, if left unrestrained, will become our words, and our words become our reality! The Bible admonishes us to quickly discipline, to bring under subjection, our thoughts and every spoken word, to the obedience of the Spirit of Christ. (Ref. 2 Corinthians 10:5)

What does God say about this situation? The Father of Grace and Peace has told us to not allow your hearts to be troubled. (Ref. John 14:1) He has your back! He is your Shield and your Buckler. (Ref. Psalm 18:2) There is safety in His Arms. He has both the authority and power to keep you. In the Presence of our Faithful Savior we find Eternal Pleasures. In His Presence, is Rest and Hope. Under the Shadow of His Wings is protection. (Ref. Psalm 16:11)

It’s not enough to just memorize the scriptures, but we must put His Word into practice by acknowledging His Presence. As we delight in His Presence and keep His Word in the forefront of our thoughts, we will not be so easily moved by our circumstances.

As we abide in the stillness of confident trust in The Omnipresent Creator and Omnipotent Sustainer of the universe, we’re covered by Glorious Presence of our Lord!

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. Isaiah 32:17 (ESV)

Now unto Him that is able to keep me from falling and to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise god my savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen  And so it shall be established. (Jude 1:24-25)

BELOVED, Jesus is calling you to put your faith to work! JUS 2 B CLOSE 2 HIM; IS MY DESIRE, right? ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND HIS COURTS WITH PRAIZ! GO ‘HEAD…PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE! 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Cafee