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THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Good morning Precious Saints of The Most High God! GOTTA MOMENT? AWESOME!

We’re delighted that you have joined in today as in our weekly Day of Corporate Fasting and Prayer. As we go before The Lord, please pray for the Saints everywhere! We understand that the enemy has launched a decree to destroy the Hope and Joy of God’s elect, particularly the next generation! But God says that the violent shall pursue, recover and conquer everything that God has given us. AS WE’RE PRAYING WE ARE BELIEVING & DECREEING…Our children are our gifts from God! The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but Mighty through God for the pulling down strongholds…

 

JUS ANOTHER DAY, THAT THE LORD HAS KEPT ME! JUS ANOTHER DAY THAT THE LORD, HAS KEPT ME! HE HAS KEPT ME FROM ALL EVIL; WITH MY MIND STAYED ON JESUSSSS! JUST ANOTHER DAY THAT THE LORD HAS KEPT ME! I’M SO GLAD THAT THE LORD HAS KEPT ME! I’M SOOO GLAAADDD THAT THE LORD HAS KEPT ME! HE HAS KEPT MMEEE, FROM ALLLL EEEVVVIIILLLLL, WITH MY MIND STAAAYYYEEDDDD ON JESUSSSSS! JUST ANOTHER DAAAAYYYYY THAT THE LORD, HAASSSS KEPT ME! OOOOHH, OOOOOHHHH, OOOOOHHHH, OOOOOOHHHH, OOOOOOHHHH, OOOOO, OOOO! MY SOUL SAYS YEESSSSS! MY SOUL SAYS YESSSSSS! MY SOUL SAYS YESSSSSSSSS! YEEESSSSSSS! YYYEEESSSS! YYYYESSSSSS  LORD…

 
Our Father and our God, as we come before You today, in the Magnificent, All Powerful Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus, we’re yet determined to rejoice, praise and thank You for blessing us to see this day ! Looking back, we know that it was no goodness of our own but solely Your Faithful Love that has allowed us to be here to see one more brand new day! Because of Your Benevolence, we thank You, Holy Father for the opportunity of today and to enjoy the abundance of Your Mercy, Your Grace, Your Power and Your Peace!

Father, with eternal gratitude we bless You for allowing us to enter into Your Throne Room, with hope-filled expectation, trusting You will entreat us graciously as we pour out the burdens that seem to overwhelm our hearts, releasing everything that concerns us to you!

Father, we come today blessing You for the day that You opened our hearts enabling us to recognize and receive the saving Grace in the Life, Death, Burial and Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus! We acknowledge that while there was absolutely nothing in us lovable nor worthy of this honor and privilege, BUT because it pleased You,You choose us to be Your very own children!

Abba Father, we are eternally grateful that You purposed in Your Heart and by Your Own Hand, to be The God of our Salvation, our Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision. We’re thankful that You, intimately aware of our frame, yet Faithfully, Compassionately and Graciousiously continuously looks beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities to see and minister to every one of our need!

Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that You knowing the very thoughts and intends of our hearts, see that our hearts are open to, depending and relying only on You! We’re believing for renewed strength, understanding and power that comes from trusting in Your Lovingkindness and Tender Mercy! Lord Jesus, because we know that You are Omniscient, Omnipresent, You already know everything about everyone of us, nevertheless You welcome us to come to You, to find Grace and Mercy, to comfort, strengthen and encourage us to hold on to every Word that You have spoken over our lives, before we were born.

Daddy, standing humbly before Your Sovereignty, before we go any further, we ask You to forgive us for everything that we, your children, have spoken, done and even thought that was not pleasing in Your sight. We thank You now because You have assured us that if we would confess our sins, You, being Faithful and Just, will forgive us, and wash us in The Precious Blood of Jesus, cleansing us from all unrighteousness, and restoring the breach that our disobedience has caused between our poor souls and our Lord and Savior, Jesus! Now, we ask Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf, our family, our friends, even our enemies, as we know that Your love is the same for each and everyone of us!

 

Abba, we know that You have instructed us, to look not at the temporary things, but to the eternal, yet because of the frailness of our flesh, we’re easily provoked and tempted to become overwhelmed by the cares of this world, allowing our hearts to be burdened with the pressures of this life! Lord You know that too many of us are wearied with fear, doubt, unbelief, sickness and disease, financial debt, broken relationships, unprovoked threats, depression, addictions, insecurities. Lord you know that sometimes we lose our focus on You causing our days to be spent beneath clouds of evil foreboding, while our nites are plagued with restlessness, despondency and hopelessness! Lord, keep us in Your Will, as only You can!

 

Lord, we thank You for being a Listening God! Because The Bible teaches us that Blood yet speaks, hence we are fully persuaded that Your ears are not deaf to the cries of our fathers, Grandfathers, husbands, brothers, sons, nephews and cousins all over this world, even these UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Therefore, as Your ears are tuned into the blood of those who have been struck down in our streets and is still crying out from the cracks in the ground, we’re believing You are The God of  Perfect Justice and Vindication!

 

Sweet Jesus, because no man can come to the Father except you draw them, we ask that as Your eyes continue to search the hearts of mankind, that you draw and save the lost, reclaim every back-slider and direct their footsteps to their local church home today. We’re believing that all of our unsaved loved ones and friends will be saved and join our Eternal Family!

Father, touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, high/low blood pressure, heart disease, kidney, lung failure, satanically induced depression/oppression/addictions and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake. Lord, Your Word declares that by Your stripes we have already been redeemed, healed and we’re yet standing on Your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name!

Lord, as we pray for every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, we’re trusting that You are releasing a double portion of Divine power, Supernatural strength and health, provision, prosperity and protection. Preserve them thru  every test, keep them constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that You will bring them out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised them in Your Word.

Father we lift up our political, social, judicial, business, religious leaders, asking a special blessing upon each one! Grace them to be the  true godly examples in their homes, communities, marketplace and churches that will cause those who are in their sphere of influence to come to know, love, trust and to live their lives serving You, Our Heavenly Father.

Father we declare and decree that every demonic-induced spirit of fear, failure, hopelessness and disappointment be defeated by Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Sound-mindness be released now, in Jesus Name! We’re agreeing that each morning Your children will awaken with Assured Grace to accomplish every assignment and earnest hope-filled tomorrows!

Give us the confidence to know that because we belong to You, we’re never too far that You can’t see us, reach us, and shield us from anything that the devil would rail against us! Help us to understand that Your Name, Jesus is a Strong Tower, and those that You have declared the righteous run into it and are saved! 

Lord, there are so many other things, that we have yet to mention, but we’re trusting, believing You to fix it, Jesus, as only You can! Lord, we know that You are not just able, but willing to do anything that we ask, in accordance to Your Word, in Jesus Name! We thank you Father that as we walk through this day, depending on You for abundant life, divine health and Joy, and strengthen for whatever lies ahead  we shall forever give You all the Praise!

Father we wait in confidence and quietness, trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shame and defeat, running away from Your people, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Father, we thank You, honor and praise You now, for we believe that it is done!  In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X and It Is So!

 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THE NIGHT SHIFT!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4

 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.  Genesis 28:15 ESV

 

Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for a long time or just recently made your decision to follow Christ, none of us are excluded from faith’s stresses, test and trials! If you don’t have a clue about what I’m talking about, may I draw from dem ol’ skool Mothers’ terminology, “Baby, jus keep getting up in the mornin’ and going to bed at night, sooner or later you will encounter a season in your life when you’ll feel as though God has left you in the valley of the shadows of death to fend for yourself!”

I understand that this kinda theology may seem a bit strange, (not to mention unbiblical, after all we live in the Dispensation of Grace) to some Millenniums who’ve been spoon fed Gospel-Lite-Prosperity pablum prepared by the more sophisticated-socially-acceptable-all-ingratiating-all-inclusive preachers! But check The Book, it’s still in there! “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” 1 Peter 4:12

Yet! When you’re forced to trample through the turbulence terrains of this life, know, that your Heavenly Father is not a dead-beat absentee Father. God has left His Eternal Word as a Light to the 21st Century Saints! Hence, The Word of God is still well able to comfort, strengthen and encourage those who seek Him!

Precious ones, perhaps, at this reading, you find yourself smack-dab-in-the-middle of a loooonnnnggg night of overwhelming fear and anxiety,  yet Truth remains! Even when you’re unable  to trace God’s Face or feel His Hand, trust His Heart!

Sometimes, we’re so focused on the trauma of the moment that we forget that we have a real enemy who delights in secretly launching attacks against God’s elect, under the cloak of darkness with his diabolical wiles, strategically aimed to diminish your confidence and trust in God!  Nevertheless,  don’t fall for the okey-doke…Satan ain’t running nothing! Your God is Sovereignly watching over you 24/7! He never naps! Day and night are the same to Him! Every step you take is Divinely-ordered by The Lord! He’s already gone before you preparing designated rest areas along the road to revive and re-energize our spirit and soul! #Didjaheardat? IT’S TRUE!

Beloved, when it seems as if everything is falling apart, Holy Spirit says, ‘It’s falling right in place’! Abba Father is weaving each piece of your life together for your greatest good and His Highest Glory! And at the appointed time, He will flip it over to display His Magnificent Masterpiece! (Ref. Romans 8:28)

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2

Like Jacob, as we continue our pilgrimage through the gross darkness of this fallen world en route to the celestial city, we may all proclaim of our Savior “The God that led me all my life long” works THE NIGHT SHIFT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

HONEST 2 GOD

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10

O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure. Psalm 7:9

Sorry Father Adam, but once again this is on you! Because of our original progenitor’s high treason against the Righteous instructions given by The Creator of Life, we are all born naughty by nature! Thus, every human born into the earth since our fore-parents’ willful rebellion is corrupted by an innate disorder called iniquity! Now, don’t look at me with that self-righteous attitude! (Ref. Ps. 51:5) But, it goes deeper! Like Adam, the Glory of innocence that once covered us had now been disrupted by sin, exposing us to evil, guilt, shame and fear!

The precious intimacy with God that man once enjoyed in Paradise was violently yanked from him plunging all of creation into gross darkness and utter chaos!

Hence, there’s an inbred-inclination to cover ourselves with fig leaves attempting to hide from the Only True Source of Hope for deliverance and restoration!  The moment we allow our desire to satisfy the wickedness of self’s lust to take precedence over our desire to please God, the hedge comes down and all hell breaks out! And as they say, the rest is history, huh?

That’s why God hates sin! Don’t get it twisted like Eve and fall for the deception of the Tempter! Not because He’s trying to control us! Not because He’s arrogantly trying to keep us down! Not because He wants to keep us from enjoying ourselves! Not even because He’s Sovereign Lord! And He is! But God hates sin because it robs us of the freedom, peace and pure delight to openly commune with The Lover of our souls!

You do realize that God knew exactly where and what Adam had done when His Voice came walking through the Garden asking, “Adam, where are you?” God IS The All-Consuming Presence over space and time! There’s NO spot where GOD IS NOT! Someone once said, IF GOD MOVED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, HE’D BUMP STRAIGHT INTO GODSELF!

But do we also hear the pain of God’s Heart, knowing that He would have to evict His Family out of their home to keep them  away from certain eternal death and destruction...until JESUS came to our rescue? Do we realize that there’s no such thing as a little sin? SALVATION IS FREE BUT IT WASN’T CHEAP! #WOW! HONESTLY!

Yet, like David, sin perverts our mind and we foolishly assume that if we don’t tell God, He won’t figure it out!

Do you realize that confession benefits us more than it does God? “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Psalm 119:67 You do know that we don’t pray to inform God, but we pray to invite Him to step into our misery and fix our mess!

When we confess our faults (sin) to God, He’s able to heal our broken and contrite spirit, revive the brittleness of our bones and clear our hearts, minds and souls of the debris that’s left behind by sin’s breach! It was a good thing that God revealed that He knew David’s sin, sending His servant Nathan allowed David to repent honestly before God, liberating him from the burden, torment, tragedy, grief and condemnation that resulted from harboring secret sin in his heart and hindering him from enjoying the fellowship of God’s Presence!

If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 #Didjaheardat?

Jus wondering? When was the last time you had some REAL face2face time with God? THAT LONG, HUH? Well, last time I checked, JESUS WAS STILL SEATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FATHER, WAITING AND WILLING TO INTERCEDE ON YOUR BEHALF! SOOO, WHACHA WAITING 4? HONEST2GOD!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

SLAVE 2 HOPE!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Romans 4:18, 21

 

Do you remember, as a child, ever being warned by your parents (supposing to avoid the pain of disappointment),“Don’t get your hopes up”? For many of us, the devil was laying a foundation for years of pessimism, doubt, unbelief, hopelessness, low self-esteem, depression and despair! WOW! Who Knu?

Ever wonder why God told us not to walk by our feelings? Well, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably accumulated enough regrets, resulting from poor choices you’ve made listening to your fickle-feelings, to realize how irrational flesh can be, huh?

Let’s set the record straight! Sometimes, it’s difficult to ascribe a tag to feelings; feelings jus are! Directed by proper motivation, feelings are good! That’s why we need the Spirit of Discernment! Remember, when out of no where, you felt that bleep that kept on bleeping up  out of your spirit and something told you…‘don’t go that way, stop right now and turn around or call so-and-so, pray for him now?

Unfortunately, more often than not, we’re tempted to dismiss things if it doesn’t fit within the realm of our logic. Kinda like Abram’s first response to the burning bush! Yet, something pricked his curiosity to closely investigate and ultimately leading him into a personal encounter with The Supernatural Almighty God!

Abram over-ruling emotions and human reasoning, choosing to consider not what he could see (circumstantial evidence) but rather believed and reached for what was not seen! That was faith, yall!

Now, the world looks at this and calls it foolishness, weakness and denial! However, the scriptures reveal that Abram was clearly aware that except by Divine Intervention, it was impossible for a 100 year old man and a 90 year old woman to conceive and birth a child! Because God does nothing in the earth until He gets a man to come into agreement with Him, have you ever wondered what if Abram and Sarai had continued to jus laugh off the promised as an impossible pipe-dream, if perhaps…???

No doubt over the next 25 loonnng years, Abram faced many demonic challenges tempting him to give up his hope of  living to see the manifestation of such a miraculous feat. Yet, against all hope, Abraham hope on! Oooh Glorraa2GAWD! God testified that because Abram believed that His God had the power to shift nature and call those things that be not as though they were, Abraham received the Promise and thus became the Father of our faith!

Howeverrr, how often have we insisted upon ignoring that still small voice of conscience to satisfy feelings of our own lusting, self-centered emotions driven by fear of ‘What if and What’s in it for me’? Even if it means forfeiting our Hope and God’s Peace?  OMG! The next time, perhaps we need to re-think before we act on them, huh? #ijs

Beloved, HONESTLY! This walk of faith that GOD EXPECTS is NOT REALLY all that unreasonable when your HOPE is firmly rooted and ground in Jesus Alone, consistently trusting, wholly relying upon HIS Supernatural Grace to strengthened us to walk out our faith, looking unto JESUS, obeying HIS teachings and patiently awaiting HIM to fulfill every Promise that HE has ever spoken over our lives! #Didjaheardat? SLAVE2HOPE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

COURAGE!!!

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courage

SELAH Daily Devotions!

So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

I believe that most of us remember The Wizard of Oz, right? If not, perhaps you’re familiar with Michael Jackson’s rendition of the 1939 Classic, The Oz! Aahhhh!, the gathering of the ‘least of the likelies’, comrades in arms unified by one common denominator! They each had a need that could only be fulfilled by the same source! Dorothy and Toto wanted to get back home to Kansas; The Tin Man wanted a heart; The Scarecrow wanted a brain and The Lion wanted some courage! Now, forgive me if I’m infringing upon the sanctity of the religiously sanctimonious. But! Guess that’s how I’m wired, huh? When I look at The Body of Christ, I see certain similarities between us and them!

C’mon now! You gotta admit, looking around the sanctuary on any given Sunday Morning, that it’s uncomfortably obvious that God’s perception of Footmen in The Army of the Lord destined to dominate the systems of this world, contrasts profusely from those that human wisdom and intellect would nominate! Hence, I stand eternally grateful, with both hands raised high in the air, that God saw fit to choose such a wreak like I to be a part of His Family! So I’m totally convinced that God indeed does have a sense of humor!

Nevertheless, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:”! 1 Corinthians 1:26

The Sovereign Creator and Lord of Life individually hand-picked us out from amongst an unusual conglomerate of ethnic, intellectual, social, financial and spiritual backgrounds. I would imagine, that since He ia Alpha and Omega, being fully aware of not just the common need (A SAVIOR) but also the gi-normous potential of resounding Glory that would resonate throughout the universes as we’re being made holy (HOLY SPIRIT) was too much to resist, therefore motivated Him to draw some of us, huh?

I mean who would’ve thought YOU would be saved, sanctified and serving The Lord with all of your heart, mind, body, soul and spirit…everyday? #4REAL! #ijs

Howeverrrr, contrary to the world’s notion, saints ain’t no chumps! It takes tremendous strength, fortitude and determination to walk worthy of this calling! Those who’ve walked with God for any length of time, know that even after we’ve confessed our faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, you can’t expect that deceitful devil to wave a white flag, pat you on the back and throw you a retirement party! In fact, for lack of a better word, he is committed to tearing down The Kingdom of God, one soul at a time.

Nevertheless, every Blood-washed, born-again child of The Most High God must be armed with the same mindset that Jesus had! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:16) Just as sure as there is an enemy determined to destroy you, you have The True and Living God, Who has sworn by Godself, to always cause you to be victorious!(Ref. 2 Corinthians 2:14)

Oh, and don’t forget as you wield The Sword of The Spirit, (THE WORD) it comes alive, releasing supernatural power to rebuke threats and pull down the strongholds of your enemies, unmercifully! If he is bold enough to raise his ugly head above your feet, because you are IN Christ, you have been authorized and empowered to step on his throat and cut off his head!

Lastly, always be aware of the enemies attempt to strip away your confidence and trust in God by manipulating the circumstances thru FEAR (FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL)! Anything that the devil says is a lie! (Ref. John 8:44) Satan ain’t GOD and he certainly ain’t running nothing! The only reason he even showed up is because God allowed him to tempt you to test your faith! (Ref. Job 1:8) WOW! #Didjaheardat?

Precious ones, don’t abandon your confidence in The Faithfulness of Your Heavenly Father! Trust to know, God’s Love will never abandon those who will persevere, enduring the stress and hardships of being aliens of this fallen world! (Ref. Hebrew 13:5) What’s coming is so much greater than what’s been! (Ref. Romans 8:18)

Be encouraged Believer! It’s through much tribulation that we enter into The Kingdom of God!’ (Ref. Acts 14:22) Remember, Beloved, we’re not home! Yet clothed in Hope of The Celestial City awaiting, we forge courageously Heavenward to be united Eternally with our King!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

JESUS CARES!

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jesus-cares

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who knows my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. Psalm 142:3-4,7

 

LIFE happens!  Whether we embrace it or ignore it, time is spiraling into eternity at the speed of life. Most of us do our best to respond to the inevitable uncertainties maintaining an assemblance of confidence and control! Amen? Howevvrrrr, there are those uninvited episodes when the roof just comes crashing down and the very foundation of your being quakes uncontrollably leaving you traumatized by tragedy and utterly destroying every ounce of normalcy!

The subscript of today’s scriptures says this text was penned by David finding himself victimized by Saul’s inner insecurities and covetousness, hiding in a cave, imprisoned by the hopelessness of circumstances beyond his control! I know it’s socially inappropriate for us to discuss such matters publicly, BUT! Since it’s jus us, have you ever been ensnared by a state of desperation, despair and hopelessness, and try as you might, couldn’t muster up enough strength to pull yourself up out of a pit full of depression?

I realize that this might be a stretch,  BUT! Have you ever been surrounded by a crowd of people, simultaneously isolated and paralyzed by inner fears, feeling as if no one really cared about you? Of course, we realize who the originator of these irrational thoughts and conflicting emotions is, that ly’n devil, right? ‘Cuse me, may I submit this thought for your consideration, right here? I believe that the same God who Divinely orchestrates our mountaintop experiences also schedules sporadic excursions through death-valleys! Yet, you must understand that everybody is not assigned to your hardships and struggles! Hence, you have to be careful who is privy to your vulnerabilities!  Uuuh, remember, Job’s frienemies?

It’s during these times that we need a freedom that’s only accessible through a personal intimate relationship with The Overseer of your soul! Isn’t it just good to know that when the Bible invites us to take it to the Lawd in prayer, that it includes the bad, ugly and indifferent as well as the good and wonderful! Why waste time acting as if You need Jesus to meet you in the penthouse, when you’re stuck in the cellar?#ijs, God already knows everything about everything! He’s jus waiting for you to speak up!

It just delights our Heavenly Father’s heart, knowing that we trust Him to BE GOD in, through and over our lives!  Didjaheardat? DATZ JUS HOW MUCH HE REALLY LOVES AND CARES ! #AWEMAAZIN, huh? I KNOW HE CARES 4 U & ME! GIVE YOUR ALL 2 JESUS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

ARISE & SHINE!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1-2

 

Face it, every day ain’t the same! Some of us can’t even remember the last time we popped out of bed, headed for the gates, fortified with the zeal to take over anything or anyone who dared to challenge our God-ordained authority in the earth!

I know we saanng that song last Sunday morning, some of us even cut a step, “I been running for Jesus along Time, and I’m not tired Yet!” But, once we left the Euphoric atmosphere of the sanctuary and went back to da real-world, chances are that behind the plastic smiles and the colloquial ‘Blessed and Highly Favored’ many of us were bowed down, burdened and overwhelmed by unimaginable weights of everyday existence! Hush!  Yall know we can’t admit it to them religious folk, huh?  After all, how we feel has absolutely nothing to do with our relationship with God! We’re supposed to walk by faith, not by our feeling, right?

I know a man who walked this earth over 2,000 years ago; Who was despised. rejected, tortured,spat on and left to die hanging between Heaven and Hell! Awemaazingly, most of His persecution came from the very ones He came to save, heal and deliver!  WOW! YET! He was willing to deny His feelings and endure it all to finish His assignment given by His Heavenly Father! WOW! And we think we have it rough, huh?

Nobody told us that this journey would be easy! In fact, the exact opposite is True. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

Nevertheless, this same JESUS, illustrated to us, who dare to name the Name of Christ, how to take the hits and keep it moving! The scriptures reveal how our Savior was able to commit to God’s Process, even submitting to The Cross, death, hell and the grave! “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 #Didjaheardat?

Jesus did not focus on the moment, but He concentrated on THE BIG PICTURE! Hence, in The Kingdom of God, purpose trumps pain! Before the foundation of the world, Jesus was perfectly committed to His Father’s Redemption Plan! It was the Joy of ensuring the restoration of God’s elect back to The Kingdom that motivated Jesus! Thankfully, He did not consider the price too extravagant, but a small thing to fulfill the Father’s Love.

Please understand, it’s not our intent to minimize the severity nor enormity of the issues challenging the faith, hope and peace of 21st Century Saints. However, those of us who have walked with Jesus over these past three decades, know that there’s one thing that has not changed! That’s The Word of God! God has called us to be The Light of this World! We, who put our personal trust in Jesus , our Eternal King, are reflectors of God’s Loving-kindness and Faithfulness! C’mon now, we’ve ALL got some personal history to verify that trouble don’t last always! Joy is comin’ in the morning!

Seems like we got this thing kinda backwards, huh?  We say, the world’s in darkness, yet they’re laughing, partying, turnin it up! While, God’s people are walking around with our heads hung down and our backs humped over? Something is sho nuff wrong with that picture! We’re heirs, joint-heir of The Kingdom of God! This is our heritage—righteousness, peace and joy in The Holy Ghost!

Perhaps today, you find yourself in the midst of a long dark night, remember although you don’t see the sun, it’s still there! Beloved, if you’re experiencing a power shortage and need to be re-connected to The True Power Source, The Son, U NEED 2 KNOW…He’s STILL THERE! Bow your heart, lift your hands, reach up and receive The Glory! Afterall, He’s already paid the Bill! ARISE & SHINE 4 HIS MERCY ENDURES 4EVER!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

IS GOD FAIR???

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is-god-fair

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: Romans 1:21-26a

 

Okay! Don’t be looking at me with that tone of voice! Even if we were too sccaarred to speak it out loud, chances are, we’ve all thought about it at some point in our lives, huh?

Particularly, when circumstances didn’t flow in the natural order of progression according to our personal logic! That’s when we tend to get all philosophical and put God on the witness stand! “Why would a Loving God send people to Hell? Why do innocent babies die? Why do bad things happen to good people?” Unfortunately, as Bro. Job can attest to, except thru Holy Spirits’ impartation of revelation, we’re fundamentally incapable of assessing the Ways and Means of our Sovereign Lord’s Infinite Wisdom and Knowledge. (Ref. Job 42:3-5) Am I right about it?

Amazingly, The Sustainer of everything, knowing the hopelessness of relying on the innate frailty of our flawed, fickled, self-centered frame, so graciously restrains Godself with compassionate patience, suffering with us through The Divine Maturation Process, until we arrive at the unity of faith implied by trusting in The Son of God! (Ref. Ephesians 4:13)

Howeverrrrr, Truth be told, this type of interrogation is generally  a direct result of a deliberate, self-induced distortion, rebellion and ultimate rejection of God’s Perfect Morality in order to justify our unmoral proclivity to satisfy the our own fleshy lust for wickedness and evil-doing! WELL? #Didjaheardat? Like the ol’ skool preacha said, “I jus lost 1/2 my church!”

According to Scriptures, Creation declares the reality of God. Barring some rare genetic malfunction, every human being born into the earth has an inner GPS (God’s Protection System) directly plugged into The Creator of The Universe, commonly called a conscience. This inner sensory perception allows us to discern good from evil. Therefore, there’s no excuse for anyone to claim that they don’t know whether God exists or if He does exists, what He requires of their lives. Now, given that we are not robots, we all have the freedom and ability to suppress God’s moral standards in favor of our own or the world’s! And…such were all of us! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 6:11) Yet, the consequences of our erroneous decisions are completely out of our hands! And we all know how well that plays out, huh?

Beloved, there’s no denying how much God loves us! I mean, He was willing to sacrifice His Righteous Son to save us who so deserved the punishment for our unrighteousness! NEVERTHELESS HE CANNOT DENY HIS LOVE!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Yet to deny the other part of his Holy Nature, is down-right foolish! Hence, stop trying to PLAY God! HE IS NOT THE ONE! Trust 2 know…the last thing you ever wanna DO is make God angry! Seriously! It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! (Hebrew 10:31)

Beloved, God’s mercy awaits us every morning as He awakens us to embrace one more day! Unfortunately, we have no clue how long before Grace is frustrated. While it is yet today, Precious Ones, exercise your choice, accept Jesus as Savior and Lord! When it comes to your eternal destination…FAIRNESS IS OVER-RATED…CHOOSE LIFE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I CAN’T, BUT GOD CAN!

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acafy2014's avatarSELAH Daily Devotions

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb; He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:19-22

As a remnant of the 20th Century Church, I’ve lived long enough to have a clearer understanding, why The God of The Bible adamantly commanded His Chosen Ones to resist amalgamating with those outside of covenant relationship with Him. (Ref. 2 Corinthians 6:17) And some of us thought that God just wanted to keep us from having any fun! Considering the way this world is headed, now we see the consequences of not…

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DON’T GET SIDETRACKED!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.”…”Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:” Deuteronomy 29:9, 18-19 NIV

“All the nations will ask, “Why did God do this to this country? What on earth could have made Him this angry?”

Your children will answer, “Because they abandoned the Covenant of the God of their ancestors that He made with them after He got them out of Egypt; they went off and worshiped other gods, submitted to gods they’d never heard of before, gods they had no business dealing with. So God’s anger erupted against that land and all the curses written in this book came down on it. God, furiously angry, pulled them, roots and all, out of their land and dumped them in another country; as you can see.”

God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It’s up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation.” Deuteronomy 29:24-29 The Message

OMG!  NOT AGAIN…What is it with us? While our spirit knows fully well that Your Ways are always the best for us, yet this ol’ fickle flesh is so easily tempted to …as if we could ever possibly improve on Perfection!

When are we gonna recognize that our Heavenly Father IS OMNISCIENT… dat means HE knows the end from the beginning? Even more important, you need to remember that HE IS GOD AND UR NOT! K?  Therefore, absolutely  NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE CAN EVER TAKE HIM BY SURPRISE! #DIDJAHEARDAT?

So you still think you got a better plan, huh?  

Okay! BUT…while you’re doing YOU…Don’t let your guard down, lest there be hell to pay!

LORD, HELP US! Lord deliver us from us!  Father, when our circumstances contradict Your Promises, teach us to trust the Power of Your Word and how to activate it in our lives as we await Your Perfect Timing!  Lord Jesus, help us to stay focused on Your Word that we may see Your goodness in the land of the living! 

IF GOD SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT…BELIEVE IT OR NOT! DON‘T GET SIDETRACKED!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee