Category Archives: disappointment

A PERFECT HEART

A PERFECT HEART2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 2 Chronicles 16:9

 

According to Data Center Solutions, the KJV Bible uses the word ‘heart’ 884 times. When the scriptures speak of the heart, it’s not referring to the 9-ounce muscle that pumps the blood throughout the human body. But rather, it’s speaking of the central control room of our emotions, ( feelings) of love, our desires and yes the seat of hatred, envy, covetnous, bitterness, resentment and fear!

We tend to so readily embrace those scriptures that bring encouragment and comfort to our hearts, right? However, when it comes to those that teach how to avoid those secret subsceptabilities that are exposed by the light of The Holy Spirit, Who intentionally searches the hearts of men, chances are we’ll speed by those, pausing momentarily to clip a few notes that ‘I jus gotta share this one with Sis. Cantelope and Bro. Watermelon, both of whom definitely will benefit from this, more than I will!”

Today’s scripture, 2 Chronicles 16:9, says that God is searching for perfect hearts. Well here’s when most of us leave the conversation, afterall, ain’t nobody perfect, right? But a closer examination of the situation discloses God’s interpretation of a perfect heart! As our Heavenly Father peered into the heart of His servant, King Asa, we notice a few things were missing. First of all God expected to see a Holy Awe, a Reverence and Appreciation for The Almighty God who had showed Himself Powerful to deliver in the time of battle against the Cushites. Hence, instead of loyalty, total commitment and a willingness to obey God, Asa’s heart was torn between a reliance on self, man, the world and God!

When Asa was confronted by the Prophet Hanani, who alerted him of the precariousness of seeking help from any source other than God, Asa’s anger flarred up and he immediately ordered Hanani thrown into prison, revealing the true condition of his heart!

How many times have you heard someone declaring, “God knows my heart!? #ikr! He certainly does!  Therefore, He’s not easily impressed by our good works. Sometimes, we need to examine our hearts to determine if our good works are the result of right motives. Could we be harboring a religious spirit of self-righteousness? One way to identify this is by asking ourselves, “Is MY right doing to glorify and honor God or MYself?” #OOPHS!

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:18

Solomon, dubbed the wisest man in the known world, shares this intellegence, that we must be mindful to monitor our hearts, putting limits on our feelings and desires, guarding against the innate proclivity to rationalize certain behaviors that will ultimately determine how we live. (Ref. Proverbs 4:23-27)

Beloved, a perfect heart does not means that you will always do the right thing. And, we all know the low probability of that, huh? However God’s looking for that ‘want to’, in other words, a GENUINE desire to grow in grace! This is only possible by a conscious deliberate effort to hide the Word of God in your hearts that you might not sin against the Faithful and True Living God! (Ref. 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 12:1-2) #DIDJAHEARDAT? #WOW!

Jesus says, ‘That’s close enough, I’ll take it from here!’ PERFECT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

FAITH TALKS!

 

FAITH TALKS 3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

 

Contrary to contemporary Millennium thinking, faith is not a new theological doctrine. Biblical faith doesn’t have to be complicated. Genuine Faith is simply a patient confident trust in the integrity and power of our Loving and Caring Heavenly Father. Didjaheardat?

Faith is the currency of exchange in the Kingdom of God! The Bible emphatically states that we can’t even approach The Creator of Heaven and earth, The True and Living God without first believing, not only that He exists, but that HE is WHO HE SAYS HE IS!  Furthermore, we can’t expect to get anything from God unless we believe that HE IS ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING HE SAYS HE WILL DO! #SERIOUSLY!

Hebrews 11:1 says, “NOW” faith, not “THEN” faith! The Eternal God reigns from Everlasting to Everlasting; and because JESUS is the same, yesterday, today and forever, we can expect Him to be the same God NOW that He’s always been! (Ref. Hebrews 13:8)

Beloved, words are powerful containers! Hence, as long as you continue to call those things that are, then you will continue to get jus whachasay! However, if you want to see  that situation change for the better, then start calling it whacha want! Jesus did! #ijs (Ref. Romans 4:17) 

Remember how them Ol’ Church Mothers used to encourage themselves while waiting on their Lord by singing faith songs like “GOD Specializes” and “I know the Lord Will Make a Way, Somehow”. Their hope, just like ours, was not in what we can see now, but what we can expect God to do. Faith says “I don’t know when and I don’t know how, but I just believe that God is already working on my situation; turning everything around to work in my favor and for His Greatest Glorrraaa!   (Ref. Romans8:28)

TRUST2KNO, Faith is not limited by our natural eyes…but says, “I don’t have to see it to believe it!  AMEN 3X…IT IS SO! FAITH TALKS!

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

FIRED UP!

FIRED UP!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7

 

There’s a lot of teaching going around regarding Generational Curses. But, thankfully, we who have been crucified with Christ have also inherited The Generational Blessing!

Today, our scripture text finds The Apostle Paul urging his young protégé, Timothy to keep that same passionate desire that was passed down to him from his Grandmother, Loise, through his Mother, Eunice, and finally imparted to him through the laying on of his own hands!

Remembering the faithfulness and fervency with which these women embraced the Message and Ministry that was entrusted to them by the Grace of God, The Apostle Paul took great joy in sharing the rich heritage of this young pastor, knowing the importance of being equipped for the task set before him! Paul’s personal experience prepared and qualified him to effectively mentor Timothy to successfully overcome every obstacle that he’d face in walking out his pastoral call.

While many covet the charm, fame and prosperity that supposedly accompanies the title and position, Paul cautions Pastor Timothy to stay acutely aware that there’s a tremendous cost for the real anointing that follows the appointment! And it ain’t cheap! “Timothy, there’s a whole lot more to pastoring than preaching, brotha!”

I believe The Apostle was saying, “You better get prepared to be picked out to picked on. Everybody who says they’re with ya, won’t be!  Son,  I hate to tell ya, but a lotta them folk who’ll claim that GAWD sent them to help ya, will leave you in a heartbeat…when GAWD changes their assignment! ! #ijs!!! But that’s okay! As long as you never forget Whose you are and Who’s in you.  Rest assured, that because The Greater One—is in you, always; everything is gonna work out for you! Above all else, my son, keep this at the forefront of your mind, whatever is going on around you or what’s coming against you, don’t let the flame of the Holy Ghost die out!”

“Don’t allow the cares and challenges of this world to consume your heart and mind. Encourage yourself! Remember, EVERY DAY is not the same! There will be those days when you feel as if you can’t make it another further. But TRUST2KNO  GOD STRENGTH WILL BE PERFECTED THROUGH YOUR WEAKNESSES!  It’s the Love and Grace of God that will empower and sustain you to carry out God’s Purpose, bringing His Glory for and through your life! Carry on, my Son!”

#DIDJAGETIT? #AWESOME! #ijs #GODZGOTCHA!!!

STIR UP THE FLAME AND STAY FIRED UP!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee