Category Archives: Confidence

HOW BAD DO U WANT HIM?

HOW BAD DO U WANT HIM

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

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

 

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 beautiful bouncing bundle of joy!

While, much to my amazement, my eldest is presently encroaching 50 years of age, yet, I can still summon up that daily occurrence of overwhelming ferociousness, 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, ketchup 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 one-bedroom apartment on Oakwood Street, five blocks back, just as happy as if I’d discovered a treasure chest filled with diamonds, rubies 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 intentional 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! #4REAL!

This might 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, may I submit for your momentary consideration, that our response to His drawing 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! #IJS HOW BAD DO U WANT HIM?  

 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

GOD MATTERS?

GOD MATTERS

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2
Is it just me, or have you noticed the newest 21st Century jargon? The sheer variety of objectivity seem to suggests that there has been an awakening in the consciousness of The Millennials that has shifted away from ‘It’s all about me’ to ‘a genuine concern for the well-being of other than self’! Or NOT! Okay yall, I might as well let the cat outta the bag. I’m referring to the popular trending idiom ‘MATTERS’.

Apparently, everything and the kitchen sink, has taken on a persona of distinctive significance. And there’s a T-shirt somewhere out there to prove it! Hey, I’m not judging, simply highlighting the obvious, k? If you ask anybody what are some of the things that they’re most interested in, it’s guaranteed that their responses would be endless. However, may I suggest that given the innate nature of humans to be drawn to individual preferences, in order to secure its fundamental security and uniformity, certain things are essential to the future of any society!

Obviously, there will be those who’d swear that being ‘pet parents’ is no different from parenting ‘live human children’ or wearing pants 25 inches below your waist-line to a job interview is as acceptable as nudity in a court room. As long as you’re comfortable with yourself, huh? Now that The Supreme Court has determined that regardless of sexual orientation, Love Matters! The capitalist affirm that it’s the bottom line that counts, not human rights! Hence Money Matters! Since, The NRA ascribes to ‘the right to bear arms’, above the ‘right to live in a safe neighborhoods’ thus—everybody’s packin! Billions of funds are being funneled to Animal Rights activists discretly away from those insidious issues of education, homelessness and hunger! Seriously!

Of course, we are not implying that as Christians we’re not supposed to have interests outside of the church. But! Does anyone care about what Matters to God? Well?

Looking at the more contemporary-all-embracing, newly-enlightened, come-as-u-r-stay-as-u-r doctrines of the 21st Century church, apparently, ain’t nobody got time for dat? It’s common place, now that church-folk tend to gravitate (assembling together) to like-minded sophisticated folk who prefer creature comforts above christian character! And if the ol’ skool preacha insists on sticking to those irrevelant antiquated suggestions of The Holy Bible and preachilng against SIN, well we can just Google the net and find another church that’s more condusive to our religious persuasions!

#DON’TSHOUTMEDOWNNAH!

Far be it for me to infer that Father GOD knows what’s best for His Children! However, isn’t that the reason that He drew us out of the world? God wants us to be happy and holy! That’s why He sent The Holy Spirit to live in us, leading and guiding us through the maze of a hellish world, instilling godly morals to assure that we get safely home to Heaven’s Glory! “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Heb. 12:14

It’s perfectly understandable that an unregenerated person has no hope beyond this life, hence their universe is focused on accumulating a wealth of materialistic trinkets! However, where did so many carnal-minded christians come from?

I still remember when those who have a personal trust in Christ, peering through the clarity of the Scriptures, wore our earthly life as a loose-fitting overcoat, easily discarded and replaced by the robes of righteousness, laced with Love, Loyalty, Grace and Mercy as garments of praiz while eagerly awaiting The Trump of GOD to sound beckoning the Faithful TO COME UP HITHER! WOW! #GOALS #RAPTUREREADY #GODMATTERS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD

THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, ‘No one sees me’; Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; And you have said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ Isaiah 47:10

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved; it is the power of God…for after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God; it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 20

 

Granted, in this new Millennium Church Age,  some challenge the relevancy and even the validity of ‘The preaching of the Cross’!  After all, we have so much going on, so much information available to us right at the tips of our fingers! And of course there’s always so much to accomplish and so little time, huh? 

Well, guess what? Contrary to Millennial pop culture, God knew before we knew how long and how far mankind would go to avoid accountability!

According to 2 Timothy 4:3, ‘For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts.’

In other words, the focus would no longer be how to live a holy and sanctified life, in this present world, but folk would religiously come to church to scratch an itch, you know, to satisfy their hunger for more and some more of the WORLD’S creature comforts.  Of course they’d use a more palatable vernacular, such as, “Give me a ‘word’ that will tell me how I can supersize my life!” Or perhaps, “I’ll give you a part of my ‘free day’ if you can make it worth my while; you know, cheer me up, make me feel good (bring on the hype)! “A’int nobody got time for foolishness!” And we’d certainly be remiss to ignore this one—“You can’t judge me, God knows My Heart!” 

TRUST2KNO, you’re absolutely right! But the fact that that alone doesn’t terrify you is in itself “self-incrimidating’! Think about it, GOD is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent! Thus, He’s everywhere at the same time, knows everything about everything and is able to do anything at anytime! Hence, wherever you go, whatever you think and whatever you do, never takes GOD BY SURPRISE! #WOW! #ijs! 
I know we shouldn’t be shocked—but C’mon! This prevailing attitude of  ‘entitlement’  amongst the household of faith? Yeah, I mean, we’re not talking about ‘worldly sinners’ we’re talking–Church Folks! Don’t shout me down, nah!

But to those of us who yet believe in the Testimony of Jesus Christ and the Gospel message of that ol’ rugged cross, the preaching of the cross is not foolishness, but it is the Power of God to save the sinner man who will dare to believe that The Word of God is True!

Frankly, it’s easy to understand exactly why the Deceitful Destroyer works so diligently to keep humanity blinded from The Truth.  If we were in his position, we wouldn’t want this Good News on blast in mainstream media, either!  Obviously!!  The Bible says, if they only knew ‘They never would’ve crucified Christ’ in the first place. (1 Corinthians 2:8) Well guess what, devil, You’re over 2000 years too late!
 
To the weary wanderer, The Cross is the Place of Refuge! To the lost, The Cross is the Center of the Universe, where Eternity collided with Time and Mercy and Grace unashamedly kissed each other! To the unlovable faint of heart, The Cross is The Power and Love of God openly revealed and freely offered in exchange for our rebellion against God! To the spiritually bankrupt, The Cross the Place of Welcomed Surrender– where, you give Him your all, He Gives You His All!

To those who’re trapped in darkness, The Cross is where the Light of GOD’S Amazing Grace is still shining—beckoning us before the day of gross darkness overtakes you—COME!

DIDJAHEARDAT? THE WISDOM OF GOD HELPS US 2 SAFELY NAVIGATE  LIFE, AVOIDING SATANIC SNARES AND TRAPS DESIGNED TO DEPOSE OUR ETERNAL DESTINY! BUT, THANK GOD 4 THE  FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING! So who’s the real fool?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann CaffeeI

 

PROMISE KEEPER!

PROMISE KEEPER

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

So He said, “I will certainly be with you….” Exodus 3:12a
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:11-12

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

 

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

Consequently, our churches are filled with frustrated, anxious, angry and unsatisfied folk who’re secretly disappointed with God. AMEN Anyhow! For the record, let’s concede this, GOD IS NOT THE PROBLEM! Therefore, His Faithfulness is not on trial! God’s Word is Eternally Immutable, Faithful and True.

So what’s up? We go to church and hear the gospel—well most of the time—anyway, preached with power and conviction. We enjoy the sermon, buy the CD’s and the DVD’s. We’ll leave the sanctuary talking about “Man, we had CHUURCH today”. But, the question is, where’s the evidence that what we’ve heard has profited our lives? For real, where’s the change in our personal situations?

It may behoove us to interrogate the Word more closely. The Scripture declares, ‘Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing By The Word’, right?  Obviously, the breakdown does not exist in the effectiveness of THE WORD! Hence, that leaves the higher probability that our inability to see the manifestation of the PROMISE lies in our personal cognition to believe and accept the Integrity of GOD’S WORD!

Moses was called by GOD to do a task that was so completely outside of his comfort zone causing him to offer up a plethora of excuses why successfully completing the assignment was impossible! GOD told Moses that He’d heard the desperate cry of the children of Israel, I’ve see how the Egyptians have oppressed; now I am sending you to Pharaoh that you may bring MY people out of Egypt! I will certainly be with you…When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve GOD on this mountain.” (Ref. Exodus 3:9-10; 12)

Now, stop looking at me with that tone of voice! U know there’s been plenty of times God presented a situation in your face, that even with the aid of 66 Books of Holy Writ, you were so overwhelmed with the challenge that you immediately started questioning God’s reasoning not to mention His decision that you were remotely qualified and equipped to go thru what you would have to go thru, not to mention come out! #ijs

However, GOD never asks us to do anything that He’s not willing to get personally involved! When GOD promised Moses, ‘I WILL CERTAINLY BE WITH YOU’ that was the game changer! The value of a promise solely depends upon the Authority, Ability and the Involvement of the One who’s making the promise! SINCE GOD ALONE IS THE SELF-PROCLAIMED I AM WHO I AM…THE ALPHA & THE OMEGA, WHO SPOKE TO NOTHING AND CREATED EVERYTHING…we might jus wanna put our trust and confidence in whatever HE SAYS, HE CAN AND WILL DO!

After all, WHO CAN STAY HIS HAND! Remember Pharaoh and his horses all drowned in the Red Sea! (Ref. Exodus 14:21-23)

Beloved, it matters not how high the mountain you must overcome, how wide valley you must go thru, nor how deep the river you must cross over, hold on the The Master’s Hand, lean not to your own understanding, but trust in His Promises with all of your heart, committing your whole being to His Keeping Power and you shall see The Saving Grace of our God! TRUST2KNO! Every Promise that God’s left on record is still as good as it was the day He Spoke it into Being! Hence, don’t wait ’til the battle is over, SHOUT NOW!

#BELIEVE 2 C THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING! HE IS THE PROMISE KEEPER!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

THE GOD WHO NEVER FAILS!

 

THE GOD WHO NEVER FAILS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. Joshua 21:44-45

 

Anybody remember, ‘integrity’? Barely, huh?

Apparently, it’s relevancy has been cast aside as an ol’ antiquated byword resurrected only as necessary to mete out convenient manipulation! Just look at what’s happening in this world! Emanating from The Oval Office down, people are being embolden by a demonic-induced spirit of deception to qualify and quantify truth to suit their own evil intent! Henceforth, we’re living amidst a broken, untrustworthy system of disillusionment Those who we ought to be able to believe and trust have proven to be profound liars, totally devious and temperamental! Unfortunately, without the assistance of Truth Personified, there’s little hope for distinguishing reality from fake news!

According to our text, the promise God made to Abraham while he was in Ur, was fulfilled generations later when God intervened on their behalf, driving out all the inhabitants of the land and allowing Israel to go in and conquer the land under Joshua’s leadership! Not only did God give Abraham’s ancestors all the land He’d promised but He also gave them rest all around! #Didjaheardat!

God’s miraculous deliverance proved there’s yet One, you can count on to be Faithful, Dependable and Unfailing! Family and friends may try to be there for you, but as history has revealed, sometimes they’ll let you down. But TRUST2KNO, no matter what you may be going thru, with GOD a delay is not a denial! GOD WILL NEVER LET U DOWN! GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU! (Ref. Hebrew 13:5)

TRUTHBETOLD!  Even in those dark seasons when it seems as if GOD’S response was a direct contradiction to what you were believing for, yet while we’re indulging in our ‘internal WHY’, we must realize that GOD is not a man that He should lie and seeing beyond our circumstances, GOD always operates in HIS SOVEREIGN PURPOSE & HIS WILL!

I recognize that Millennials may not be able to personally attest to all the Great and Mighty works that The Lord has done for His Chosen African-Americans, but if I could pass the proverbial ‘mic’, undoubtedly, there would be cloud of witnesses extolling testimonies of God’s Divine Interruptions, preventing imminent disasters and devastation from dangers seen and unseen, giving way to ineluctable eruptions of glorious praiz and adoration, culminating in “If it had not been for the LORD on my side, I never would’ve made it!” Yeah Baby, The Lord has brought us a Mighty, Mighty long way! And Thanks Be 2 God’s Grace and Mercy, God’s not ‘nary thru blessing all who will genuinely repent and seek His face in Truth!

Beloved, there’s no denying it, the struggle is real! However, GOD IS GREATER! It’s through the tests, trials and disappointments of life that God cultivates our faith, trust and confidence in HIM! As we travel the often tumultuous terrains,  tightly clasping The Hand of The Eternal Promise Keeper, it’s in our suffering, we learn that IF GOD SAID IT, HE’S ABLE AND WILLING TO BRING IT TO PAST! JUS HOLD ON! 4 OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL & NEVER FAILS! 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

prayn-and-fasting-pic

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Good Morning my Precious Blessed and Favored Ones! GOTTA MOMENT? AWESOME!!!

Didjakno, that the only reason you are able to read this post is because Our Heavenly Father has blessed you to be alive one more day? Yep! And for that, please join me in exalting The Glorious Name of Jesus! As is our custom on Thursdays, once again we, encourage you to join us in our weekly day of Corporate Prayer and Fasting! There are many sickly, weak, afflicted, ill-treated or faint of heart among us, therefore as James 5:13 instructs, let us utilize the honor and privilege afforded us by our Heaven Father!

 

WELCOME, INTO THIS PLACE! WELCOME INTO THIS BROKEN VESSEL! YOU DESIRE TO ABIDE IN THE PRAISES OF YOUR PEOPLE, SO WE LIFT OUR HANDS, AND WE LIFT OUT HEARTS AND WE OFFER UP THIS PRAISE UNTO YOUR NAME! WELCOME HOLY SPIRIT! WE ARE IN YOUR PRESENCE! FILL US WITH YOUR POWER…LIVE INSIDE OF ME! YOU’RE MY LIVING WATER, NEVERENDING FOUNTAIN! COMFORTER AND COUNSELOR, TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL…we bow down in HIS Presence…let’s pray…

 

Abba Father, it is with great joy that we entreat Thy Seat of Mercy today! Trusting confidently that You have afforded us this awesome privilege not because we deserve it, but based solely upon Your Loving-Kindness that continues to draw us into Your All Emcompassing Presence, we now come!

Sweet Jesus, we Thankya for Your commitment, to so  please The Heart of Your Father, that You willingly sacrificed Your Life in our stead, that we might become Sons of The True and Living God! And for this cause, we bow in humble gratitude, fully aware that  we come before You, empty and void of anything that would warrant such awesome graciousness, NEVERTHELESS because of Your Righteousness we are now beneficiaries of All that You are in the Eyes of the Creator of All Living things! OOOHHH GGLORRAAAA!
Father, we know that You already know everything about every single one of us, because You are Omniscient and Omnipresent, but since You walked among us, allowing Yourself to be tempted at all points as we are, You learned what we experience in these earthly tabernacles and because of Your personal experience, You now can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities! Therefore You are absolutely qualified and equipped to be our Great High Priest, able to intercede on our behalf, continuously searching and conveying the thoughts, intents, emotions and physical weaknesses that we’re often unable to articulate to The Father of All Grace and Comfort! We thankya Lord Jesus, for being our Very Present Help in troubling times!

Precious Lord, while we try to please You by trusting in Your Word with all of our hearts and minds, You know that sometimes, there’s a real struggle when we attempt to over-ride the noise of the pestilence, the chaos of uncertainty and the pain of condemnation, guilt, and shame that seems to lure us into the valleys shadowed with danger, fear, anger, bitterness, anxiety, hopelessness and self-doubt! That’s why we appreciate Your invitation and boldly run to You, daily, that we might find refuge, peace, strength and restoration that You have prepared for any who would come to You in hope-filled assurance that You will never deny Your Word!

Heavenly Father, we’re forever blessing You for continuing to pour out love, strength, wisdom, understanding and power as we open our hearts to You, depending and relying only on You. And as we lift our hands and our hearts yielded before You, remembering the glorious day when You quickened our hearts, lifting the veil allowing us to see Your Glory in the Face of our Precious Son, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we gratefully ask that You do the same for those who are yet lost, blinded by the darkness of this world. Lord, we’re believing You to ignite a spirit of Godly-repentance in the hearts and minds of the unsaved, that they may confess “sincere YES”, provoking a desire to surrender their lives to You today and receive You as their personal Savior and Lord!

Lord, as we bow before You, we’re lifting up every backslider, believing You to put a“committed YES” in their heart and mind that this will be the day that they come back to You and come back to the local church that You’ve assigned them to, where they will be greeted with lovingkindness, nurtured in the Will and Ways of Your Word, dedicating the rest of their lives to glorifying You in these last and evil days to a lost and dying world!

Abba Father, as we pray, we ask that You touch our brother, touch our sister who is afflicted by any sickness and disease, including the spirit of cancer, kidney failure, heart and lung disease, diabetes, high/low blood pressure, those in need of transplants, those suffering from knee, back, hip and shoulder pain, we pray that You will rebuke and cast out every symptom and trace of it from the root, for Your Name Sake!

As we align our faith to agree with Your Immutable Word, we decree and declare that by Your stripes we have been redeemed and healed! We stand on Your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up! And as You are strengthening these, we ask that you also envigorate, encourage and replenish the spirits, minds and bodies of those who are charged to care for their loved ones In Jesus Name!

Father, as we lift up our children, our childrens’ children and by faith, we cancel every scheme that Satan desires to inflict upon them, we commit them into Your Providential care! We acknowledge that from their Mothers’ wombs, You have a plan and purpose for each one of their lives! Hence, we have the blessed assurance that their steps and stops are being Divinely ordered by Your eyes, therefore, NO WEAPON THAT’S FORMED AGAINST THEM SHALL PROSPER AND EVERY TONGUE THAT ARISES AGAINST THEM SHALL BE CONDEMNED, IN JESUS NAME! We now rejoice in Thy Salvation!

Abba, we lift up every Bishop, Apostle, Pastor, Overseer, Evangelist, Preacher, Teacher, Deacon, auxiliary leader and member! We ask that You encourage their souls with an immediate manifestation of that special miracle that they’ve been waiting, yet standing on the wall proclaiming Your Word under the Power, Conviction and Anointing of Holy Spirit.

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 and those who would seek to discredit, hinder and even destroy their faith, faithfulness and ministry,You have ordained. Grace Your menservants and maidens to be authentic examples of holiness, in their homes, churches and community that will cause everyone who comes into contact with them to fall deeply in love, trust wholly in and live their lives faithfully serving You! In Jesus Name, AMEN 3X!

Father, we know that You keep Covenant with those who keep covenant with you; therefore in the midst of looming darkness and despair, we pray that You stir up the hearts and minds of those who are professing Your Name, empowering them with a fresh desire for an even greater personal, intimate relationship with Creator God through fellowship of Holy Spirit that they might prove what is the perfect and acceptable will of The Lord Jesus!

Because You YET Sovereignly Rule and Reign over the affairs of mankind, we’re praying, as You have instructed us, for the leaders of our nation and the world, every government, corporate, judicial, education, financial, health care institutions, public service and military individuals!

We’re trusting that You are touching their minds and hearts, speaking to them in dreams and visions and letting them know that Power Belongs to God! Remind them that You Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens are keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly! We believe that because their hearts are in Your Hands, their ears and hearts 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!

Lord, we ask that You remember every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, trusting that You will anoint them with a double portion of Your Divine Power, Supernatural Strength, Consolation, Health and Wholeness, Favor, Provision, Prosperity, Protection and Peace. We pray for those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, broken relationships, marriage difficulties, wayward children, joblessness, irate supervisors, jealousy, bullying, dysfunctional family issues! We ask, Father, that You preserve us thru the tests that You have allowed us to go thru and keep them hidden in the secret place YOUR PRESENCE, resting confident that at the appointed time You shall bring them out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised them in Your Word! For we’re fully persuaded that YOU, JEHOVAH HAS THE FINAL SAY!

Heavenly Father, while we know that there are many other things that we might bring before You, however because You are The Good Shepherd, we believe that every demonic-induced spirit of anxiety, temptation, addiction, rejection, self-hate, suicide, fear and failure, guilt and shame is already defeated by Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Sound-mindness is being released now, in Jesus Name!

Father, as we now rejoice in confident quietness, trusting that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shame, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayers as sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Abba Father, we stand in agreement with THE SOVEREIGN ONE, Who hears ours prayers and forgives our transgressions! Holy Father, because You have chosen us to live in eternally in Your House, we shout with exceeding Joy unto The Hope of all the earth, believing that as Your face shines upon us, You are making Your Ways and Salvation known among all nations for You Guide and Rule justly!

 

Father, we thank You NOW, believing that it is done according to Your Perfect Will, we seal this prayer with a Holy Hallelujah, 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 SAVES!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

 

LOST TREASURES!

LOST TREASURES

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

 

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Romans 8:36-38

 

Didjahear the story about the two sistas who were at their Father’s repast? Finally, as they hovered together on Big-Mama’s favorite antique white loveseat, still covered in the plastic, they felt comfortable enough to say out loud what errrbody had been thinking secretly. without the appearance of disrespect or ingratitude! The Elder Sista leaning over to the younger Sista whispered, “WONDER HOW MUCH DID HE LEAVE?”

Mother Watermelon, who was about to offer them a piece of sweet potato pie, smiled and said, ‘ALL OF IT, HE LEFT ALL OF IT!”

While some would prefer to dismiss the inevitable potency of its reality, there’s absolutely no escaping it. The most precious commodity in the earth is not silver, gold, oil or even real estateBUT TIME!

This contemporized Millennium Sociology teaches “Time is Money”; but I beg to differ!

Time is much more valuable than mere mammon! Granted, you’d probably never notice the slightest hint of this, given the media’s promotion of the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous. Nevertheless, I think it not robbery to propose that if you’d ask any one of this world’s wealthiest man or woman, in retrospect, glancing back over their life’s achievements, “How much would you be willing to barter for one solitary moment of unrefined, unrequited love; one night of tranquil serene rest unhindered by foreboding betrayal; one day of normality without drug induced sense of well-being? Might I venture to declaim, the response would be an overwhelming ardent acclamation of—’ALL…I’D GIVE UP ALL!’?

Hence, that’s the crucible of every one of our lives! What makes life meaningful, and more importantly. what in this life that’s truly worth dying for? “If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal Matthew 6:19-20

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT

Don’t waste ur entire life on the pleasures of  this world, or upon satisfying your fleshy lusts! When you make this life ALL ABOUT U, U BASICALLY NEUTRALIZE GOD! Remember, only what U do 4 Christ shall last! Afterall, CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YA! #ijs!!!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT? FAITH-Based INITIATIVE!!!

WHAT FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

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

 

Honestly, still not sure when it happened! Anyhow, us ‘baby-boomers’, have witnessed some major transformations to the systemic culture of this nation and the world at large!  We’ve seen the  so-called ‘powers that be’ set into motion a myriad of legal and judicial orders, reforms and deregulations calling for separation of church and state, which under the radar, were unquestionably directed to push the very Presence of God out of the focus of our daily lives.

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

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

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

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

#IJS! If the world got sense enough to know that God is the ONLY ONE who can fix the wiles of this world, what’s up with the real faith-based people—THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD? Decades have passed, and what’s changed? TRUTHBTOLD, this world has pludged deeper into the depths of apostacy than we ever could’ve imagined!  Looking through the lense of the natural eye, which is generally aimed at getting a few more dollars in my pocket, unfortunately many (saved and unsaved) are rallying around the insane partisan ideology of  “LET’S MAKE AMERICA GREAT…AGAIN!

What are we waiting for? When will we start taking some faith-based initiative and start walking in the power and authority that we shout about in the sanctuary?

According to today’s scripture text, 1 Sam 17:45-51, we see one individual, David, who was bold enough to actually put his faith to work to impact the environment and to make a difference in the lives of the people. May I submit for your consideration, that the underlying strength of Satan’s kingdom is the persistently passive complacent ‘Saint.’ His whole kingdom is utterly reliant upon what I call the ‘spirit of toleration’ that has many believers shut-up and locked down by a ‘victim mentality’. DON’T SHOUT ME DOWN, NAH? #ijs

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

Unfortunately, many of God’s elect have become lethargic, disgruntled and are merely biding their time, waiting for Jesus to show up and rapture them off to Heaven? Can you imagine what could happen if instead of blaming God for what’s going on in the earth somebody would actually believe that God is Sovereign and satan ain’t running nothing?  Quess ain’t nobody got time for dat, huh?

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

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

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

Precious Warrior, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but a holy bodacious faith!

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

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

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

WALK BY FAITH!

WALK BY FAITH 2

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Jesus replied,“The time is coming, ma’am, when we will no longer be concerned about whether to worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. For it’s not where we worship that counts, but how we worship—is our worship spiritual and real? Do we have the Holy Spirit’s help? For God is Spirit, and we must have his help to worship as we should. The Father wants this kind of worship from us. But you Samaritans know so little about him, worshiping blindly, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes to the world through the Jews.” John 4:21-24 TLB

 

Unless you were born late last night or just landed on planet earth early this morning, you gotta recognize that this whole world has gone crazy! I don’t care who you are, where you live, how many tongues you speak in, you’ve gotta admit the stuff is going down around us today that Mama and Daddy ‘nem never could’ve imagined. We’re living in desperate times, huh?

You don’t have to be a bible scholar or seminary theologian, or even have the Holy Ghost to be able to discern the signs of the times. We are living in the last of the last days. And Jesus is soon to come. Amen 3x? #DON’T SHOUT ME DOWN!

Let me assure you, it matters not whether you’re young or old, everybody needs to know Jesus for themselves. It’s getting darker and darker out here, and there’s no guarantee that you got all that time you think you have to get yourself together. But while you have today, we need to stop blaming or comparing ourselves with everybody else and figure out how to work out our own soul salvation! None of us should allow what nobody else is doing to distract us and make us miss Jesus, huh? #4REAL

It doesn’t matter who’s in the White House, Senate, Congress, Court House, Jail House, Out House or who falls off the financial cliff, YOU need to be very sure that this world is not your Source of provision, comfort, joy and certainly not your peace! Them ol’ skool Mothers sanng, “My Hope is built on nothing less, but Jesus Blood and His Righteousness, I dare not trust the sweet frame, but wholly lean on JESUS NAME”!

Beloved, time is spirialing into eternity at the speed of LIFE! Hence, recess is over and time’s out for fakin’ it till you make it! We no longer have the luxury of procrastinating! You’ve gotta get off the proverbial fence and make a decision. Either you’re going to walk by faith or allow the cares of this lost and dying world to slamm, trample and sift your joy, strength and hope for better days to come! If the only hope you have is in this world, you’re destined to live a most miserable life!

Saints, God has a better plan for His children. “I come that you might have life and that more abundantly” (Ref. John 10:10) Yet, contrary to New Age Gospel-Lite doctine, God’s Promises are conditional! As the CEO of your destiny, The Word of God must take priority over everything! Therefore, it’s not enough to hear the Word, you must believe it to the point that you live it; i.e by walking it out in your everyday life!

Stop allowing your intellect to compromise your faith in what God can do. This ain’t the first time, the odds have been stacked against you. Remember, what you see is only temporary, but the Word of God stands forever, eternally established and secure!

Precious one, TRUST2KNO God is looking for those who will worship HIM out of a spirit of faithful obedience. Don’t allow corruption and collusions of the ungodly demoralizing systems of this world to distract you from  your God-ordained plan and purpose for you life! #DIDJAHEARDAT?

Stay focused, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your life; encouraging yourself, giving praise and Glorraaa toThe True and Living God Who is Faithful and Powerful enough to keep every promise that He’s ever made. Don’t stop til u getit, GETIT! #WALK IT OUT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

U HARVEST WHAT U PLANT!

U HARVEST WHAT U PLANT 2. 2018

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations! 3Then say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “The city sheds blood in her own midst, that her time may come; and she makes idols within herself to defile herself. 4You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. 5Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and Ezekiel 22:1-5

In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me,” says the Lord God. full of tumult. Ezekiel 22:23

Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. 16You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’” Ezekiel 22:12, 14-16

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:7-10

 

While, a lot of us readily agree that the most prominent characteristic of The Creator of Life is Love! However, there is that other part of GOD that we prefer to deny or attempt to IGNORE as being an EQUALLY intricate component of God’s Holiness…Justice! According to Ezekiel 22, God sends His servant, Ezekiel, to admonish the people of Jerusalem that their cantankerous sinfulness and unrelenting rejection of His Holy standard of Righteousness has provoked God to the end of Mercy! While this would break God’s heart to do so, they were about to personally experience the boiling point of frustrating The Grace of God and triggering the out pour of His anger…Wrath!

Ezekiel was tasked by God, The Righteous Judge, to inform God’s chosen of the list of charges indited against them. Jerusalem, once renowned as God’s Beautiful City of Peaceful Habitation, had now become infamously known as the Bloody City! Although Jerusalem’s sins were many, showing disregard for human life and leading to violence and death, their sinfulness didn’t exceed the bloodiness of the other pagan cities surrounding it! Yet, because they had the Word, prophets, and priests of God, they were justifiedly held to a much higher standard. However, like many of the 21st Century creme la crème have totally misinterpreted the purpose and intent of God’s blessings, assuming that somehow their physical attributes, heightened intellectual aptitude, financial wealth and elite social status entitles them to esteem themselves above everybody! Kinda reminds you of #45, huh? #SERIOUSLY!

God’s people erroneously believed that because God had claimed them as His own Holy Possession, they were exempt from adhering to His Commandments and excluded from Eternal judgment. They were absolutely convinced that they were IN LIKE FLYNN (or is it Flint)! In other words, we can do whatever we want, as long as we want to, and to whoever we want to… and there will be no consequences, after all God calls me, “MINE”! Besides that we got The Temple!

Over many generations, God had been graciously patient with their bullheadedness! However, after searching for someone to stand in the gap, interceding on their behalf, upholding The Righteousness of God to advert God’s judgment, yet finding not one who would commit to this lofty task, THEIR JIG WAS UP! Eventually, because of the wickedness of their own hearts, time ran out! As they continued to defile His Name with their importunate unfaithfulness, despising His Holy Things with gross idolatry, profaning The Sabbath and their blatant propensity to repulse God’s generous offer of repentance. As a result of their lack of obedience, rejecting His HOLY Code of moral ethics, lethargy for the disadvantaged and making a mockery of God before the gentile nations, FINALLY GOD said, “You Have Forgotten ME! That’s when God resolved to invoke The Sovereignty of HIS NAME!

God’s tactical reversal proved to His Beloved that there MUST be a difference between their own life or for the people they were called to serve! And while it’s extremely rare today to find ENOUGH circumstantial evidence to support it amongst the lifestyle of the saints and the sinner man, there IS A difference between the fate of the unclean and the clean!

God elected to remove the hedge of protection from around them and pour out His indignation upon them, He gathered them into a furnace of affliction! Ezekiel would warn all who rebel against God’s Will, violating the Law, would receive their just reward according to their own deeds! As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace, the fury of God’s anger would be a consuming fire, refining and purifying their hearts corrupted by the dross of fleshy carnal lust, leaving only that which will glorify God! In the midst of the fire of God’s Wrath, “Ye shall know that I the LORD HAS DONE THIS! Hence, demonstrating that if we insist on having our own way, we will be rewarded with the harvest we have planted!

Unless you were born late last night or arrived on planet Earth early this morning, you’ve probably heard some folk making excuses to deceive themselves and relieve the guilt and shame of habitual disobedience. At the same time, depending on whose presence they happen to be in at any particular time, they’ll put on a show! Don’t get it twisted, we’ve ALL BEEN THERE! And as the ol’ skool Preacha said, “You might fool some of the people, some of the time…BUT U CAN’T FOOL GOD…NONE OF THE TIME! Remember, GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED! As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest…will not cease!

Every day that you wake up in the present, is seed time and the world to come (Eternity) is where we shall reap what we sow NOW!

When one forgets God and leaves his ways, the path into every kind of abomination opens before him.” (Alexander)

‘Cuse me, jus wondering? Does this whole scenario sound disturbingly familiar to EVERYDAY 2018 NEWS, OR IS IT JUST ME? I guess it’s true, huh? The more times change, the more we remain the same! I remember Grand Ma saying, ‘U NEED TO WEAR THIS OL’ WORLD LIKE LOOSE-FITTING OVERCOAT…AFTER ALL WE DIDN’T COME HERE TO STAY” #WOW! #IJS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee