Category Archives: courageous faith

IT’S A MATTER OF THE HEART!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. Genesis 4: 6-8
From the human perspective, favor ain’t always what we expect it to be! #ijs #CANIGETAWITNESS?

 

However, as we acknowledge the Sovereignty of our Heavenly Father, Who does all things well, we can only rightly conclude that Father knows best! While, the frailness of our frame limits our capacity to see, speculate and judge one another by appearances and actions, “the spirit of man is the candle to The Lord.” (Proverbs 20:27) Hence, The Omniscient Creator knows the hearts of each and everyone of us! OMG!!!
God saw crouched within the heart of Cain a spirit of resentment and jealousy which lead to anger and ultimately sin and death! God asked Cain, “Why are you angry?”
Down thru the years, many Biblical Scholars and Theologians have offered many alternative explanations to clarify the disparity between what was an acceptable offering and why one was rejected while the other preferred. Now, I’m not necessarily suggesting that I’ve conclusively determined the answer, k? Nevertheless, may I submit for your momentary consideration that perhaps, it’s not that God despised Cain’s gift per se’, but could it possibly have been the intent that motivated his giving that caused God’s response? UUUMMMM???

God saw the worship-filled sincerity within Abel’s offering to Him! Apparently, Abel knew that everything that He had came from and belonged to God and trusting that whatever he relinquished to God, God was well able and willing to restore unto him exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond anything he’d dared ask or imagine! #Didjaseedat?

On the other hand, it appears that Cain was quite pleased with himself; having tilled the ground, planted seeds and painstakingly kept them watered until it yielded the fruit of his labor. Naturally, he would expect that God would favor his sacrifice over that which his brother had presented, right?

But before we start throwing rocks at Cain, how many times have we seen the favor of God on someone’s life and instead of rejoicing and celebrating The Goodness of God with them, we secretly accused God of being unfair, considering all that we’ve done for the sake of The Kingdom, not to mention how faithfully we’ve strived to follow His teachings, huh? SERIOUSLY? #BOOM #NUFFSAID!

Precious ones, God being a Master Economist, distributes heaven’s treasures according to our personal capacity and potential to produce and to be good stewards over all what He gives us, assuring our highest good and His Greatest Glory!

Don’t get it twisted! None of us like waiting, YET! In the Ingenious Sovereignty of His Own Will, Purpose always trumps pain and disappointments! God has Divinely orchestrated the terrains of our life journey to perfect in us the same Radiant Glory of our Kinsmen Redeemer Jesus Christ!

*For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 Nonetheless, His Ways continue to supersede our severely limited intellectual capacity to comprehend the length, width and depth and wonder of His Omnipotent Omniscient Benevolence!
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:3-4

 

Beloved, God has not forgotten you, a delay is not a denial and GRACE IS UNDESERVED FAVOR! TRUST2KNO, Saints, it’s not about what’s in your hands, but what’s in your hearts that pleases God! Secure your VICTORY with a thankful heart!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann E. Caffee

 

 

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

GOOD MORNING BELOVED OF GOD! GOTTA MOMENT? AWESOME!

 

Once again we’re delighted that you’ve joined us in our Weekly Thursdays’ Corporate Fasting and Prayers! We who have placed our confidence in The Saving Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ, are eternally grateful for each and every opportunity afforded to us to come before The Majestic Throne, finding Our Great High Priest to be A Very Present Help in the time of need! As we bow before our Maker, trusting Him to perfect every one of our concerns, we rejoice in His Wonder! Let’s enter in…

OOOH Sweet WONDER! OOOH, SWEET WONDER! JESUS, THE SON OF GOD! OOOHHH, SWEET WONDER! OOOOHHHH SSWEEETT WONDER! JESUS, THE SON OF GOD! JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME! MASTER, SAVIOR! JESUS! LET HEAVEN AND EARTH PROCLAIM! KINGS AND KINGDOMS SHALL ALL PASS AWAY, BUT THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME! GOD OF HEAVEN, FEED ME ‘TIL I WANT NO MORE! HERE’S MY CUP! I LIFT IT UP, COME MAKE ME WHOLE…
Our Father and our God, we come today, lifting up The Name of Jesus! Lord, we bless You for The  Sacrificial Blood that You so freely shedding in our stead, which now allows us to come boldly into The Holy Presence of The Creator and Sustainer of all Life!  Today, we come lifting up holy hands and hope-filled hearts, praising and rejoicing in The Wonder of Your Glory! We thank You for so graciously awakening us to one more new day that You have made! We bless Your Name for life, health and strength! We thank You for a right mind, acknowledging that if it had not been for You keeping us even while we slept and slumbered in the night, our enemies would’ve destroyed us!

We know that nothing we’ve done or could do that was deserving of such Lovingkindness, but because of You are a Merciful God, You continue to look beyond our faults and faithfully minister to each and everyone of our needs! For this cause we bow in reverence of Your Awesomeness, praying that as You search our hearts and find anything that’s not pleasing in Your sight, please forgive us and take it out, and take it out by the root! Help us Holy Spirit to shew evil and to cling to righteousness that we might cause someone to see Jesus and inquire of Thee, “What must I do to be saved! In Jesus Name, we pray! Amen 3x!

We’re blessed knowing that it’s not Your Will that any man should perish, but that we’d all come to a Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ. Because no man can come to The Father, except You draw them, we ask that You remember the lost today! Touch their stony hearts and transform it into hearts of flesh. Open the eyes of their understanding so that they will welcome a personal encounter with The Only Wise Savior who You sent to forgive and restore all those who have been ensnared by the sin nature of every unregenerated soul! Even as You did for us, snatch them out of Satan’s grip of deceit and let them see Your Glory in The Face of Jesus beckoning them to confess a “submitted SINCERE YES” to Your Will and Your Ways for humanity is Life Eternal in Your Presence!

Father, remember the backsliders who have allowed the lusts of this ungodly world to lure them back into those things which You delivered them from. Arrest them in The Holy Ghost and prick their hearts with a Spirit of Godly-Repentance that provokes their rebellious hearts to surrender confessing a “COMMITTED YES”, regretting ever having turned their backs from The Grace that they once enjoyed and come running back to The Safety of The Ark. Order their steps to the local church where they will be welcomed, loved, nurtured, encouraged and strengthen in Your Word and Ways that they might be witnesses of Light in the midst of this dark and untoward generation!

Father, we ask that You remember The Saints as we struggled to hold on to Your Promises amidst the choas, turmoil eminating from a people of unclean lips! Help us to remember that nothing happens except You allow it. Breath afresh The Wind of Your Glory into the spirits and souls of Your Elect that may have become wearied and wounded by the cares of this world. We are grateful that nothing is hidden from Your view, for You are Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent! We’re blessed that as Your Compassion draws nigh to those who are lonely, Your Strength is made perfect in our weakness, and Your Blood runs swiftly to the place where we hurt the most!

Father, help us to remember Your Covenant Keeping Power that when we grow weary in well-doing! Lift up every bowed down head today! Restore the Joy of Thy Salvation! Strengthen the feeble knees and send sweet Peace to those who are yet praying for the lost, heal and restore peace into the trouble homes, the marriages that are under fire, wayward disobedient children, those struggling with their finances, those who are being mistreated on their jobs, those who are tempted to give up and throw in the towel, those whose flesh is enduring the pressure of temptations to commit fornication and adultery, comfort those who are mourning the loss of loved ones, bless the precious babies in daycare, at babysitters, daycare providers, encourage the caregivers, those who are tormented by unprovoked threats, depression, rejections, addictions, insecurities and grief! Console the widows, those forgotten and downcast who have born the heat of the day and pushed and prayed us through! Lord, give them sweet Peace knowing that their labor is never in vain!

Lord, encourage all those who find it difficult to pray for those in authority but yet have a desire to deal righteously with the injustices of a world filled with institutionalized racial discrimination, corruption, arrogance, entitlement, nasty attitudes, greed, rage and hatred that’s intentionally inflicted upon those who are not like them and especially those of us who name the Name of Christ!

 

Abba Father, even as we’re praying, we’re believing You to intervene on our behalf, releasing miraculous Favor and Prosperity, unexpected promotions, opening up opportunities for entrepreneurship, increased education grants, lower interest mortgage rates, debt cancellations, book contracts and overturning legal decisions to give us the victory! Father, remember and keep us in Your Will that we might be examples to those who are looking for Hope in a hopeless, uncaring world!

 

Father, because You’ve sworn to be Faithful to generations of those who’ve placed our personal faith and trust in You, we’re lifting up our children, our grands and great-grand children and by faith we abort and overrule every curse that’s been ordered against their lives and cancel every scheme that Satan desires to inflict upon them! As we commit them into Your Providential care, we realize that You also have a plan and purpose for their lives! Therefore, we have the Blessed Assurance that their steps are being ordered by Your eyes and no weapon that’s formed against them shall prosper and every tongue that speaks against them is already condemned! We speak The Peace of God over their spirits, minds and bodies. releasing a spirit of Love, Holiness and Excellence to fulfill their God ordained destiny!
Abba, we lift up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher and Teacher, Missionary, Deacon, auxiliary leader/member, choir director/member, praise team and musician, usher, nurse, driver, parking attendant and custodial worker! 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!

 

Heavenly Father, according to Your WORD, we pray for the leaders of our nation, government, corporate, judicial, education, financial institutions, healthcare services and public service workers!  We’re asking that You touch their minds and hearts, speak to them in dreams and visions letting them know 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, they are being continuously opened to hear and obey Your Will! Lord Jesus, we’re standing on Your Word as decreed that The government of this world shall rest upon Your shoulders and that You are The Eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Father, we pray that You will touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by all manner of physical and mental sickness and disease! Rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake! Heavenly Father, You are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Even as You walked in this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able to do the same right now! Lord Jesus, Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on Your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name! Amen 3x!

Sweet Holy Spirit, we thank You for intervening in our lives and thru The Blood of Jesus we have become Curse-Breakers and Blessing Carriers! Therefore, by The Power invested in us, we rebuke every curse that has been assigned to our families, our relationships, our bodies, our homes, our community and our nation! Look on us now and uphold us with Your Free Spirit. Fill our hearts with Confident Hope-filled Assurance that while weeping may endure for a night, at Your Appointed Time we will be delivered and The Peace of God that passes all understanding shall be restored! We thank You Holy Spirit for directing our hearts into God’s Love and Christ’s Perseverance! In Jesus Name, Amen 3x!

Lord Jesus, as Your children await Your Salvation, in confidence and quietness,  we’re continue rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling, suddenly departing in shameful defeat, recognizing that You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Abba Father, we align our spirits, soul and body with Your Eternal Word! Because You have chosen us and brought us near to dwell safety and secure in House, we shout with joy unto The One to Whom all men will come! We bow in obedient reverence before The Hope of all the earth, believing that as Your face shines upon us that, You are making Your Ways and Salvation known among all nations as You Guide and Rule justly! Father, believing that IT IS DONE, In The Exalted Name of Jesus we offer up this prayer with a Holy Alleleujah! Amen 3X!

Beloved, every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS LIVES, LOVES AND CARES 4 U 2!
SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

 

 

LIVING WATERS

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LIVING WATERS 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

ALWAYS

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ALWAYS

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

U CAN ALWAYS LEAN ON ME!

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U CAN ALWAYS LEAN ON ME

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me…He brought me out into a spacious place, he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:16-17, 19

 
Let’s be honest, k? Looking at the state of this New millennium society,  many of God’s elect find ourselves confronted by circumstances that challenge the very foundation of our trust! We’re seeing things that were once believed unimaginable realized right before our very eyes! Our hearts are overwhelmed by the swiftness of the degradation of the core of humanity’s morality! While wisdom is largely rejected and Shame is nearly extinct, Arrogance and Deceit have become the new order of the day! Thereby  emboldening mankind to do whatever seems right in his own mind!  While we dare not confess, either publically or privately, truthfully, many seasoned-saints are secretly fainting, wearied in well-doing and longing for the Promised Rapture!

Rarely do you find the sacred sounds flowing from the sanctuaries on Sunday mornings, noon day prayer meetings and Friday nites where the people of God once gathered to call on The Name that’s above every name before erupting into exuberant praises and worship-filled celebrations of real deliverances wrought by The Faithful Hand of The Lord!  Apparently, the induction of the more sophisticated-politically-correct-con temporal-relevant- reformations of Millenniums have subrocated many of the ol’ skool teachings, songs and hymns to backroom storage in dusty piano benches in order to make the message more palatable to the masses! #ijs #Don’tshoutmedownnah!

Unfortunately, there are some troubles, tests and trials that you can’t STOMP yourself out of or BOUNCE your way thru! Time is hurling into Eternity at the speed of life and 45 seconds of the nitely news affirms that we’re living in the last of the last days! As the institutions of men are being shaken by sporadic turbulent waves of the wisdom of this age, it’s incumbent upon each of us to be very sure that our souls are firmly anchored in The Solid Rock!

As the ol’ Mothers used to sanng, ‘In times like this, U Need a Savior, in times like this, U need an Anchor! Thanks Be 2 God, there’s yet a remnant of believers who are crying out, “Lead Me to The Rock that’s higher than I’! As satanic fiery darts continue to spread globally, consuming dreams, diminishing aspirations and devastating families, we must earnestly bend our knees and bow our hearts Heaven-ward, seeking refuge in the secret  pavilion of The Most High God!

For in the time of trouble, we hide behind The Shield of our very Present Help who faithfully rescues those who delight in His Truth!  Driven by The Eternal Hope, our souls rest assured in quietness, peace and joy, awaiting the The Horn of our Salvation, courageously-confident that God’s Power is Incomparable, His Love is Inseparable and His Provision and Protection are Infinite!

Sshhhhh! Didjaheardat? SOMEONE’S CALLING YOUR NAME!

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Beloved, whenever life’s maladies leave you too weak to stand on your own, chances are you’re right where God wants you! Positioned for breakthrough! Remember, God never intended you to do life independent of GODSELF, that’s why He sent Holy Spirit!  “TRUST2KNO…U CAN  ALWAYS LEAN ON ME!”

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

THE HIGH LIFE!

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THE HIGH LIFE

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? Psalm 56:12-13

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11

A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it. Isaiah 35:8

 

The Bible is so real that it’s difficult to understand how so many folk yet consider it irrelevant to today’s contemporary society. Amassed within 66 Books, 929 chapters in the Old Testament and 260 chapters in the New Testament, GOD has captured every aspect of the human experience from eternity past, eternity present and eternity future!

Unlike many of my readers, I wasn’t born on the left-hand-back-pew of the church! In fact, I wasn’t even raised in a so-called Christian environment. Hence, I’ve lived on both sides of the Cross!  Therefore I’ve experienced both ends of the sin spectrum. I said all that to say, unequivocably, I truely believe in the miraculous, uncomparable , incomprehensible depth and breath of God’s Grace and Mercy to transform the life of the most ungodly into the sanctified!

Sometimes, life comes at us fast and hits you hard! Nevertheless, how we respond to the unexpected, is ultimately a matter of perspective! King Solomon, dubbed as the wisest man in the known world, having been set-up from birth to inherit God’s riches blessings, decided to turn away from following in the footsteps of his Father David. Like so many, who were raised up in the fear and admonition of the Lord,  preferring to fulfill his fleshy lusts,  Solomon eventually found himself plunging headlong into the endless pit of darkness, desperation and dispair!

While Salvation does not guarantee automatic exemption from experiening test, trials or tragedy, as followers of Christ, we have this assurance, absolutely nothing happens that ever takes GOD by surprise!

In fact, GOD knows our endings from the beginning! Not one smile is ever unnoticed nor is one tear ever undocumented. (Ref. Psalm 56:8) Nothing that you’ve been thru; nothing you might be going through now escapes His Watch!   However, God doesn’t promise that every day will be a stroll in the park on a sunny day dancing through flowery beds of ease, nevertheless, Beloved, it behooves us to be content and confident that “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Ref. Hebrews 13:5)

As you voyage through The Scriptures, you’ll discover that God’s servants were tempted, tested and tried by the same tactics and schemes that we are; all of which are strategically launched by our common diabolical enemy, Satan. Nevertheless, they  persevered and prevailed by the AWEMAZING GRACE  of  the self-same Good Shepherd that’s available to you and me.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

Didjaheardat?

GOD has promised to supply everything we will ever need to overcome and conquer every and any thing that attempts to resist or prevent the absolute fulfillment of every vow that He’s spoken over our lives!

Don’t allow fear to limit your expectations of what GOD has prepared for you! Don’t let your past cause you to doubt or settle for less than He’s promised! Take care that your steps don’t become slack lingering too long in what’s behind. Keep moving forward; remembering what God has for you is always in front of you!

While Life continues to be a journey into unchartered territories, keep walking; fully persuaded that you are never alone. Yes! There will be some valleys to tread, some mountains to climb, some twists and turns to meander and some dead-ends to re-calculate from. Nevertheless, I encourage you to keep your hand in HIS HAND, confidently trusting in The Master of all Life; knowing that what’s ahead of you is always greater than anywhere you’ve been! IN THE END YOU WIN!

BELOVED, JUST KEEP WALKING, LOVING, LEARNING, LEANING AND LIVING! LIFE GOES BETTER WITH CHRIST! HENCE, DON’T OPT FOR THE ROAD OF LEAST RESISTANCE,  CHOOSE THE PATH THAT LEADS TO THE HIGH LIFE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

WATER WALKIN’ FAITH!

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WATER-WALKING FAITH 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

MORE JESUS!

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MORE JESUS!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Psalm 119:130

 

Back in my B.C. days (before Christ, y’all), I met this very special lady. Subsequently, Ms. Annette and I grew as close as two peas in a pod. Whoever coined the phrase “a little bit of country and a little bit of rock n’ roll” had to have met my friend “Anna” (self-identification of her alter-ego). By day, Ms. Annette was a successful-sophisticated-know-her-stuff-RN. BUT! By nite, that Hattiesburg-Mississippi-Black Water-Country-Ebonic-Talk’n-parta’-down-like it was 1999-Anna would emerge! And guess who would try to hang-out right with her? Exactly!

Evrrrr noticed, that if you spend a lot of time around someone you admire, who happens to have a strangely-peculiar personality, the strangely-peculiar affect they tend to have on you? Startlingly, without consciously realizing when nor how, (until my kids so happily pointed out to me) my conversation conspicuously became sporadically seasoned with some of the same words, same dialect and same mannerisms as my friend! Obviously, a little bit of “Anna” had rubbed off on me!

Didjaknow? It works the exact same way when it comes to strengthening your personal relationship with God! #4REAL!

As believers, the Father’s Plan is to mold us into the image of JESUS! The moment you are born again, Holy Spirit begins the process of Supernatural Empowered Transformation of our spirit until it looks just like Him. Spiritually,  when you sincerely ask God to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart, you were instantly changed on the inside; howevvvrrrrr, the progression of outward change depends largely upon us! #Didjaheardat?

Evidently, there’s a significant correlaation between the amount of time spent pursuing the things of the Spirit and the rate of our personal spiritual growth and development. If most of our time is spent satisfying the lustful desires of our  sin-loving flesh, inevitably our spiritual growth will be stunted!  Don’t shout me down nah! #ijs!

However, as you begin to separate yourself apart  from the worldly (carnal and ungodly) things of life (#sanctify) and deligently dedicate more time to studying The Word of God and mounting habitual alone-time with Him (consecrate), The Holy Spirit will ecstatically teach, guide and share Christ-Likeness with you.  Hence, He’s gonna rub off on you until His ways become your ways!

The more readily you yield the more of you to HIM, abiding in His Presence in prayer, meditating in His Word and surrending yourself in worship, you will be absolutely amazed at the miraculous change that will take place on the inside and out! I’m telling you, personally, you’ll hardly recognize that new man in the mirror! Seriously!!!

Truthfully, until you have a real-life personal encounter of The Divine-Kind, you are clueless of Who and Whose You REALLY ARE? Not to mention the worth and purpose that’s yet to be revealed in and through The GOD IN YOU!

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1 #Didjaheardat?

Ohh, by the way, guess who introduced me to Jesus Christ? Yep, Anna!  My friend has since gone HOME to be with The Lord, BUT THANKYA JESUS 4 unexpected Angels, huh?

I “D-DOUBLE-DARE” YA! LET MORE OF JESUS RUB OFF ON YOU!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

ITZ GOT 2 HAPPEN!

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ITZ GOT 2 HAPPEN

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Luke 1:45-47

 

Have you ever wondered why it’s so much easier to clasp, with such enthusiasm, the worldly fables such as Hercules, Spider Man, The Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus and yet when everything within you wants to embrace the reality of The Unseen God, it’s such a struggle? WOW!  Don’t shout me down, now…#ijs!

I suppose it has a lot to do with the other concept that folk have a tendency to deny, huh? Yall do know that everybody doesn’t believe that there’s a real devil that’s out to kill, still and destroy God’s most precious creation, humanity! Belief it or not, it’s still True! Nevertheless, the mutual advesary of all humanity, Satan, knows that if we ever slip over into that realm of Faith and actually believe God, it releases God to do whatever He’s spoken over your life! Beloved, your potential to receive is only limited by what you’re able to believe! (Ref. Hebrew 11:6)

But Thanks Be To God! Our Heavenly Father, The Eternal Creator and Sustainer of ALL Life, has the uncanny ability to ignore what you and I think we know and do whatever HE purposes to do! Hence, therein lies the root of our challenge, looking beyond what we see and believing  and trusting whateverrrr God says, huh?

The virgin, Mary’s statement typifies our innate tendency to swallow a camel but choke on a gnat! “How can this be since I know not a man” (Luke 1:34) But! We don’t have to be so hard on ourselves! We have lots of pressure from unseen forces hard at work to persuade us to focus on the insurmountable circumstantial evidence, personal deficits, past disappointments, failures and mistakes strategically designed to keep us from believing the Promises of God shall actually come to pass!

Howeverrrr! We must never underestimate The Immutable, Infallible, Absolute Reliability of The Word of God’s Power! (Ref. Hebrews 1:3) When God speaks, HE has the power to make it good! Every Word that God utters shall never ever (cannot) fall to the ground.! It MUST accomplish what it is sent to do and it shall not return unto Him void! (Ref. Isaiah 55:11) #Didjaheardat?

If God has to interrupt nature to bring His Promise to pass, so be it! Ask Elizabeth and Zachariah! God had promised Israel that He was going to send The Messiah (that they’d prayed so deligently for) to deliver them from their oppressors and save His people from their si ! YYYYEEETTTTT, when Zachariah heard the angel’s message that his wife, who’d been called barren, would conceive and bring forth his son, because of his doubt, he scoffed at this strange promise. “Now that don’t make no sense, how can such a thing happen? Therefore, God had to shut Zachariah’s mouth to keep him from spreading unbelief! Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:31 OMG! 

Sounds uncomfortably TOO familiar, huh? Have you ever asked God for something but doubted that He’d do it?

Even if God goes silent for 400 hundred years, He doesn’t change His Mind! TRUST2KNO…God remembers what He’s already told you, so don’t you forget! 

Like Mary, just keep calling those things that be not as though they already are! And watch God manifest it!  (Ref Luke 1:36) And in the fullness of time, God broke protocol and The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! (Ref. Galatians 4:4; John 1:14)

Dontchakno? God heard your prayers! Hold on to The Promise and leave the rest to Jesus! Is there ANYTHING too hard for God? ABSOLUTELY NOT! So defy and denounce Satan’s lies!  REMEMBER, Satan’s always plotting, but GOD’S PLAN WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL!

So put your doubts to rest and trust GOD! In fact, if you really want to wreak havoc and confusion upon the kingdom of darkness don’t wait for the fat lady to start singing, OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND JUS BEGIN PRAISING JESUS…THROUGH THE TEST!  #SERIOUSLY!

C’MON NAH! OOOOHHH MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME AND LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER! IT’S ALL GOOD! #putapraizonIT! #CUZITZGOT2HAPPEN!!!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

FACTS VS. FAITH?

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FACTS VS. FAITH

SELAH Daily Devotions!

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. John 8:43-45

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb. 11:1

 

I’ve been told that in our Judicial system, oftimes a case is won or lost, based upon the credibility of the witnesses? Hence, I’d imagine that attorneys conduct pretty substantial investigations prior to putting an individual in the witness seat. Sometimes the prosecuting attorney will drop the case before it even reaches the court room, if the credibility of their star witness could potentially jeopardize their chances of a favorable verdict. At least, that’s the way that it used to be!

Unfortunately, in light of the gross corruption and the massive influx of deception trickling down from high places, most of us have become viciously suspicious of  what is often presented as truth versus reality! I mean, when our leaders stand in front of the Flag and proclaim, “Don’t believe what you see or what you hear from the major news networks, because it’s all fake news, but believe what I say!”  I, KNOW; WHO EVVRRR THOUGHT, huh?

And within the hour, The Washington Post Fact Checker, who is keeping a running list of the suspect statements since the innauguration, assert that “In the 497 days since he took the oath of office, POTUS has made 3,251 false or misleading claims (averaging about 6.5 alternative facts per day)!  #SERIOUSLY? Kinda makes it a bit hard to injest what’s REAL and what’s perverted conjecture and selfish manipulation, despite the corroborating videos! C’mon nah! #ijs! 

I wonder how these alternative facts impact The False Claim Act?  And does anybody remember when Pluto was a planet? Ooops, I digress! 

Beloved, throughtout the Scriptures we find our common adversary, Satan, adamantly accusing those of us who have trusted in the Saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, before The Father day and night. He’s been at it for so long and surprisingly has far too many knotches on his belt. His primary SOP is to first target our will, confronting our pride, attacking our hearts and our conscious by reminding us of our failures and defeats. He knows that fear and doubt left unrestrained will soon paralyze our faith,  deminish any hope of receiving God’s Grace and eventually we’ll tap out! And then you know what happens, generally we find ourselves on the defense trying to justify ourselves rather repenting, asking God’s forgiveness and being restored to right-standing with the Father of All Mercies and God of All Comfort! (Ref. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of getting played like a three-strings guitar! Especially since, our Heavenly Father has already settled my case, once and for all! “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” (Zachariah 3:2)

Didjacdat? God shut the devil down…WITH THE TESTIMONY OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS!

I don’t care how much circumstantial evidence the da devil has presented against you today, you need to carefully consider the facts. The devil is a thief, a killer and a liar! On the other hand, based upon the testimony of Jesus Christ as outlined in the opening statements above, God’s Holiness, Integrity, Faithfulness and Trustworthiness is time tested. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89)

Oh, don’t get me wrong, my decisions do not always hail me to be shiniest penny in the pocket! However, my precious ones, there are two adjudications that I can wholeheartedly guarantee which have proven to be regret-free! JESUS IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPEN TO ME and EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER NEEDED, I’VE  FOUND IN JESUS! Sounds pretty solid to me, huh?

According to the author of Hebrews, our faith is not transitory! But faith in God, while not validated by visible circumstances, is an inward conviction that fortifies our confidence to forge forward, trusting wholly that He Who Promised, is faithful to perform that which we Hope for! (Ref. Hebrews 10:23)  

Now, it’s not my business to tell you what to do,  howeverrrrr,  but simply to encourage you to make an informed decision based on the facts presented from the mouths of two or more witness, Amen?  

THE HOLY BIBLE confirms, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)  Based on the incredible  amount of authenticated historical evidence accumulated and corroborated by the testimonials of a cloud of witnesses peering over the portals of heaven,  I’m stickin WITH THE ROCK!

It’s my profound belief that my readers are intellectually competent to make informed decisions! Amen?

NOW THAT THE EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU, IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO EXERCISE YOUR POWER OF CHOICE! WHO’S REPORT R U GONNA BELIEVE?  FACTS OR FAITH! #ijs #BOOM!!!!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee