Category Archives: Faith that Please God

KNOWING GOD KNOWS

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KNOWING GOD KNOWS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this, I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth. (1 Kings 17:24)
We’ve all heard it, probably said it ourselves! ‘We found Jesus’, as if He was lost, huh? It’s God who initiates the search and orchestrates the circumstances for the encounter. Truthfully, no man can know GOD except GOD reveals GODSELF.

I know we don’t often hear it preached these days; howeverrr, The Holy Scriptures still reveal to man The Wisdom of God! According to Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

God has so wondrously fashioned man so that the ultimate fulfillment of life can only be consummated through his pursuit of intimacy with his Creator! Unfortunately only a few are driven to forsake the lure of this world’s glitz and glamour to tread the least traveled remote pathways. But every once in a while, a isolated sojourner will catch a glimpse of The Hope that placing ones personal trust in Jesus makes available to any man!

But what is the fear of God? It’s the awe-inspiring adoring response to His Divine Character, HOLY (absolute sinlessness) and the reality of His Omnipotent Omniscient Omnipresence!

Only a fool denies the existence of GOD.(Ref. Psalm 14:1) Still too many, by failing to acknowledge Him, refusing to bow to His Majesty in their faithful obedient service, are determined to attain righteousness through their own understanding of good and acceptable behavior. And we all know how that turns out, k?

Today’s text illustrates God’s unmerited compassion to a widow in the midst of a distressing situation who dared to dismiss the visible, grab hold to the invisible (unseen to the natural eye) and take God at His Word!

Her initial response to the Prophet Elijah’s request and her acknowledgement of His God shows a measure of faith. When she did what the Man of God had required, she demonstrated that her faith had rose to another level. However, when she personally experienced the miraculous power of God by the resurrection of her son from the claws of death, her faith took an obvious quantum leap. It’s one thing to hear others testify of God’s Supernatural Power; but when you experience His Glory for yourself, you enter an exclusively different dimension of faith!

As believers in Christ, our earnest heart cry ought to be that everyone come to know who Jesus really is. But the reality is, that it’s incumbent upon each individual to pursue their own intimate personal relationship with the Creator. This relationship is only accessible through knowing The God Who Knows us!

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12

While the gods of this world work relentlessly to distract us away from seeking a personal revelation of Our Loving Father,  we must always remember, that our enemies can do absolutely nothing, except God allows! Hence, as The Good Shepherd safely guides us through the fires, floods and the storms of this life, these experiences allow us to gain a fresh insight into the length, dept and width of His Loving Kindness and the Sufficiency of His Grace to any who demonstrates personal trust in Him through a lifestyle of faithful obedience!

It’s perfectly acceptable to seek wisdom; but understand this, Godly Wisdom is ONLY cultivated through KNOWING GOD KNOWS! #PEACETHRUINTIMACY

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

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UNDER THE INFLUENCE 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to god must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’ Hebrews 11:6

 

The other day I heard someone say something that I thought was quite profound, at least thought provoking. It was said that “we are swirling towards eternity at the speed of life!” History is being written every day. Memories are being made, every day. Lessons are being taught and learned, every day. Attitudes are being formed and developed, every day.

As I began to think about this, several questions flooded my mind. First, does God’s Presence influence your life? How has the Presence of God influenced your life? What impact has God’s Presence made in your circle of influence?

We love to sing the song, “Jesus you are the center of my joy, all that’s good and perfect comes from you; you’re the Heart of my contentment, Hope for all I do….” But when the music stops, how’s your walk?

The Bible does not merely ask us to have faith to believe that God does exist. But we must also believe that God is who He says He is, that God is with us and that God is for us. (Ref. Hebrew 11:6) Accordingly, if we desire to please The Lord we must walk out our lives under the influence of His Presence that we may exemplify our beliefs throughout the course of daily living.

Does your character reflect the Presence of God in your life? Does the influence of God’s Presence affect the choices that you make? Does your life style reflect the influence of God’s Presence?

We are living epistles (letters) and folk are reading our mail, every day! How is the Presence of God in you influencing your readers? Just a thought! #ijs (Ref. 2 Corinthians 3:1-3)

The Bible says, we are the salt of the earth. I believe that means that we ought to make someone who doesn’t know God, thirsty for a drink of The Living Waters. (Ref. Matthew 5:13-14)

As Christians, our greatest desire should be to allow the influence of God’s Presence to be reflected on those around us so much so that it provokes them to envy  and thirst for The God that we worship and  ultimately seek to claim Him as their personal Savior and Lord! 

Looking back, perhaps there where many times when we almost, and unfortunately, even more times where we flat-out missed opportunities to Glorify God! Nevertheless, as this year slips into eternity past, instead of lingering in the land of pouting and doubting remember that BUT…by God’s Grace, we all have another opportunity to begin, again! 

KEEP IT MOVING! LIVE EACH DAY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE! 

May you embrace a productive and prosperous New Year!

SELAH! 

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

KINGDOM Matters!

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KINGDOM MATTERS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

 
Is it just me, or have you noticed the newest 21st Century jargon? The sheer variety of objectivity seem to suggests that there has been an awakening in the consciousness of The Millenniums that has shifted away from ‘It’s all about me’ to ‘a genuine concern for the well-being of other than self’!  Or NOT! Okay yall, I’m might as well let the cat outta the bag. I’m referring to the popular trending idiom ‘MATTERS’.

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

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

Of course, we are not implying that as Christians we’re not supposed to have interests outside of the church. But! Does anyone care about what Matters to God? Well? Looking at the more contemporary-all-embracing, newly-enlightened, come-as-u-r-stay-as-u-r doctrines of the 21st Century church, apparently, ain’t nobody got time for dat?  It’s common place, now that church-folk tend to gravitate (assembling together) to like-minded sophisticated folk who prefer creature comforts above christian character! And if the ol’ skool preacha insists on sticking to those irrevelant antiquated suggestions of The Holy Bible and preachilng against SIN, well we can just Google the net and fine another church that’s more condusive to our religious persuasions!

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

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

I still remember when those who have a personal trust in Christ, peering through  the clarity of the Scriptures, wore our earthly life as a loose-fitting overcoat, easily discarded and replaced by the robes of righteousness, laced with Love, Loyalty, Grace and Mercy as garments of praiz! WOW! #GOALS #KINGDOM MATTERS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

YES LORD!

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YES LORD!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Hebrews 4:2

 

WOW! Just thinking about backndaday, when the Saints gathered on Sunday afternoon for Holy Convocation! Talkin’ about The Grand Ole Church of God In Christ. I’m here to tell ya, did we ever have some sho nuff churrch huh?  I remember how I felt when the Elder would approach the pulpit and begin bellowing out our International COGIC Anthem, “YES LORD!”  Still not sure whether it was meant to call the church to order, calm the shoutin saints down, to take up the offering or what. But what I do know is that just hearing those words that were first uttered from the mouth of our Founder, Charles H. Mason, always took our worship into another dimension of God’s Presence!

Unfortunately, you don’t hear that song sang much anymore. At least not in the same manner, huh? Don’t shout me down now! #ijs

The Holy Spirit just said, ‘that’s because My people aren’t saying ‘YES’ to Me that much anymore!’ OMG! Honestly, that really doesn’t suprise me! There’s so much noisey chatter going around the Christian Community these day, folk aren’t sure what’s of God and what’s not! One side of the church is saying, “It’s a new day and we’re no longer under The Law, we’re under Grace”! The other side is saying, “If you don’t have a new house, drive a certain car, live in a certain zip code, the favor of God is not on your life because you don’t have enuff faith!” And hardly anybody is preaching what God expects of those who claim His Son as Lord and Savior! (Ref. Micah 6:8)
We’re living in a day-n-time when every man wants to do what seems right in their own eyes. If we don’t like what that preacher’s preaching, we can keep driving until we find one that affirms and validates what we want to do, right? To make the transition easier, we can even search the internet until we find one that suits our lifestyle and e-church!

Problem is, while times have changed, The Word of God HASN’T! IT IS ETERNAL!! While the world is busy legislating and flaunting their rebellious unrighteousness, it’s  virtually impossible for mere man to dismiss the boundaries and rules for living that God has established! Jesus is Lord! Saints, there’s another side of God’s Holiness that the world (and some of the church) has completely rejected! ‘The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath” (Nahum 1:2)

Hence,  it may seem as if God has turned His face away from this world and is allowing everything to fall apart, however God wants us to know that everything is falling right in place! Remember, Goshen? “They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” Exodus 10:23

What does God want us to do? It’s simple, walk with HIM! Trust HIM, agree with HIM! Regardless of how the circumstantial evidence appears to contradict The Promises, have faith in The Immutable Word of God! (Ref. Proverbs 3:5-6)

Set your face toward Jesus and just keep saying ‘YES LORD’! #didjaheardat?
SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

LET GOD BE GOD!

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LET GOD BE GOD

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:19

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen 1 Peter 5:10-11
‘He’s got the whole world, in His Hands! He’s got the whole wide world, in His Hands! He’s got the whole world, in His Hands! He got the whole world in His Hands!’

WOW! I’m good with that; for about the first 22 seconds of consciousness! Then I realize that I’m awake! Opening my eyes, immediately hell’s hounds pounce onto my thoughts filling them with the residue of yesterday’s drama, failures, guilt, shame; which gives way to loneliness, dispair, taunting fears and ravaging accusations! Puff! There goes my  joy, hope and confidence.  Oh, don’t get your knickers twisted! I’m talking about me, yall!!!

Oh Yeah! It’s easy to quote the scriptures and sing the songs when life is beautiful, all is well, the air is filled with the sweetness of His Wonder Working Power. The problem is, life is not always bliss because we’re still living in a fallen world! I don’t care how long you’ve been walking in da way, trusting God in times of tests and tragedy is trying, huh?

One of the most difficult things I’ve ever been asked to do, is absolutely nothing! It’s kinda like asking your child to sit for five minutes without saying a single word? Obviously, stillness is not one of our more dominating genetic traits.

Particularly, when it comes to waiting on God’s answer in what we perceive as  ‘time-sensitive’ issues. Unfortunately, the art of stillness doesn’t always get better with age. Quiet as it’s kept, even the more seasoned of saints find ourselves boppin up and down in a faith dance every now and then. Oh, we start off fired-up, after all ‘We know God is able to do all things’. That is, until He doesn’t do what we’re expecting—when we expect it!

What happens after you’ve been faithful to follow (as best as you can) all that God has required of us, and yet find yourself backed up against a stonewall, surrounded by situations that are hell bent on taking you out? What can you do when the realities of your circumstances collide with His Promises and the suffering and the pain are screaming ‘this will never end’? Apparently, the only thing God expects any of us to do is trust Him to be God!

Seriously? Absolutely! The same God who created the entire world, faithfully ordered, maintained and sustained everything since it’s beginning, is He not also capable of taking care of anything that’s happening in your life? Duuhhhh! The last time you breathed, ought to tell you God’s Still Reigns, huh?

However, He’s such a gentle Savior! He never forces Himself into situations uninvited. However, the moment we let IT go, releasing and casting the care of the circumstances into His Almighty Hands, entrusting Him to make everything work together for our greatest good and His Highest Glory, His Incomprehensible Peace comes in; flooding our hearts, overwhelming the burdens of fear, doubt, anxiety and hopelessness!

As we acknowledge The Inseparable richness of His Lovingkindness and Compassion towards us, suddenly, His Amazing Grace begins to restore quiet rest and ernest expectations to our po-wearied soul!

BE still, and know that I AM GOD; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

I know, feels strange, huh? I’m not saying it’s easy, but I’m a living witness,  IT IS POSSIBLE! Hey, don’t knock it until you try it!

Take a couple of days off, from running your world, k? Pray and wait for God’s answer! HENCE, LET GOD BE GOD 2 & 4 U!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

DEEP WELLS

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DEEP WELLS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” John 4:13-14

“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” John 4:23-24

 

As you study the WORD OF GOD, throughout Jesus’ public ministry, you’ll discover that most of his criticism came not from the heathens, but from religious folk! Can I tell ya something, Jesus hates religion!

Now that might shock some of you, because all your life, you’ve been lead to believe that that’s what church is all about. But Jesus never came to start a new religion! in fact there’s too much of that going on now and it makes God puke! Didjaknowdat?

According to the scriptures, religious folk claim to be close to God, but their rebellious lifestyle of disobedience proves otherwise. They’re simply going thru the motions and their religion boils down to just a shallow  practice of routine rituals. God looks into their hearts and seeing that there’s is nothing real about their worship because there is no real love for Him nor sincere thankfulness to HIM for all of Lovingkindness towards them! Because there’s nothing personal about their relationship, they’re simply empty pots making a whole lot of noise—but ain’t saying nothing to touch His Heart!

The Prophet Isaiah says, ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men –who turn my words upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Can the pot say of the potter, HE KNOWS NOTHING!” (Isaiah 29:13-14)

In other words, God’s not impressed with our performance, for God is SPIRIT! So those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth! Hence, God longs to have intimate fellowship/communtion with our spirits. He wants us to meet Him Spirit-to-spirit. That’s what the scriptures means when it says, deep unto deep. He wants us to approach Him humbly, transparently, honestly, witholding nothing. Recognizing Who He is and realizing who we are in His Presence!

Saints, what separates christianity not  just apart, but above every other religion, is when we invite Christ into our hearts, immediately we shift from one Kingdom to another Kingdom! That’s what salvation thru Jesus Christ is all about! Yes, The Heavenly Father welcomes all to come as you are, but once you come into The Body of Christ, you don’t just stay where you are! It’s a rite of passage, to taking a quantrum leap from religious rituals to personal relationship! Once you taste of The Goodness of Jesus, you can’t resist the Holy Spirit’s promptings and urgency to change. YOUR WELL GETS DEEPER! #4REAL!

Could this be why carnal folk don’t understand why you go to church on a Tuesday nite, pay the whole 10% of tithes, and give an offering every time you come to church?  #interesting, huh?  However, you can’t get mad at them, because spiritual things cannot be carnally discerned. Some folk are just content to be CME …CHRISTMAS, MOTHER’S DAY AND EASTER WORSHIPERS! They’re just speaking out of their shallow well! #ijs

Nonetheless, some of us can testify, “Since I met Jesus, my well is continuously getting deeper. I no longer need my environment to consent that I need to praise God. I don’t have to have my circumstances to be perfect to determine whether or not GOD IS WORTHY 2 B PRAISED! BUT I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES, GOOD, BAD AND INDIFFERENT…MOUNTAIN TOP OR VALLEY…I WILL LIFT UP MY VOICE AND MAGNIFY HIS NAME…FOR IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE LORD ON MY SIDE, I WOULD NOT EVEN BE HERE TODAY!”

C’mon now! HOW DEEP IS UR WELL? WOW!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

TRUTH OF CONSEQUENCES!

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TRUTH OF CONSEQUENCES

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 7:29

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 2 Timothy 3:5-6

 

One day in the winter of his life, King Solomon, God’s proclaimed wisest man in the world, sat pondering events, adventures and experiences of former seasons, and penned the words left in Ecclesiastes 7:29. Theologians have various perspectives on how and even if somethings happened that caused a quantrum shift in this young man’s overview of life. Since, I am unqualified to object or sustain either I defer the question to the more capable intellectual biblical scholars!

However allow me, with the aid of Holy Spirit, to share a few insights that I gleaned as I visited these texts. Hopefully, someone might find them useful for practical daily application. I am firmly convinced that every one of us born into the earth has at some point, looked up inquiring, ‘Why me, what’s going on and when is it gonna change for my good?’ But it’s alright, ain’t nobody here but you and me, ok?

It’s a whole lot easier to hide somethings in the closets of our minds, rather than openly subjecting them to the speculations of folk we need to impress and even more so advantagious to cover them up from self, huh? But somebody a whole lot smarter than I said, ‘You can’t conquer what you’ll not willing to confront’! Don’t you just hate those addages? LOL!

Recently, I was confronted by an opportunity to delve heart-first into a long-standing personal dilemma, ‘how is it that we, humans—save and unsaved—are able to justify our actions even while acknowledging that they’re wrong!’ I use that word wrong, because they say in this New Millennium Age, it’s more palatable than SIN!

Most of us have, at varying degrees, mentally assented to the reality of GOD! While there may be a multiplicity of individual opinions of Who,Where and What role does He play in our lives, I don’t think I’m way out on a limb with this assumption. The unregenerated soul cannot be expected to receive the things of God because they don’t know HIM. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:14) Problem is those of us who name the Name of Jesus Christ, are obviously able to conjure up in our minds an IMAGE of our own God. Beloved, trust2kno! I know better than anyone, I am far from a finished work! Hence, I say this not out of a superficious self-righteous spirit, but as a statement of observation over the past years of pastoring God’s sheep!

We all know that The Word of God is alive and speaks to us taking into full account our personal circumstances and situations! Nevertheless, there are inherent truths that flow through generations, that are immuable! Whether we understand, believe, agree or disagree! Truth is ABSOLUTE because God is Truth and God is Sovereign!

Can you imagine the angelic conversations, looking down from Heaven’s view, witnessing humanity’s arrogance, self-will, pride, power coveting, resistance to the authority as we perpetually deny the Soveignty of God? Probably not, huh? Perhaps even more perplexing to the heavenly host, is our prevailing response to the consequences of our disobedience. We got some nerve, blaming God when we reap the wages of doing what seems right in our own eyes. As if the clay can demand the potter to relent from His Purpose for His creation. (Ref. Jeremiah 18-19)

I guess, we never looked at it like that, huh? After all, God knows out hearts, right? It’s more self comforting to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our good intentions! After all, what would become of us if we looked in the mirror of God’s Word and saw ourselves as God sees. Why we might have to plead guilty to the myriad of alleged charges railed against us of repeated abuse of God’s Love, breaking His Commandments, gross dis-honor and negligence, denying His Right to rule over His creations, refusal to submit to His authority and Power as Eternal Soveign Lord God!

Well, when you put it like dat! Kinda makes you wonder, what’s your response to the ultimate question ‘WHO DO U SAY I AM’?

I’m not Holy Ghost, Jr. so I can’t tell you what King Solomen’s final conclusion meant or didn’t. I can only speak for myself. But! Think about it! At the end of the day, we’re all slaves; yet GOD honors us as Sons! #AWEMAAZZIN!

IT BEHOOVES ANY /ALL OF US TO REMEMBER THAT BABYLON WILL BE JUDGED IN ONE DAY! WOW! TRUTH OF CONSEQUENCES!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I DON’T MIND WAITING

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I DON'T MIND WAITING!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

SHALLOW CHRISTIANITY

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SHALLOW CHRISTIANITY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for HIM when HE appears, ready to receive Him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when He arrives. Once you’re convinced that he is right and righteous, you’ll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God’s true children. 1 JOHN 2:28-29 THE MESSAGE

 
It might surprise you! One of the greatest deterrents to advancing The Kingdom of God in the earth is not ‘da devil’ BUT ‘Shallow Christians’! What is that, you ask. Well they’re not that hard to recognize. In fact, they’re probably your pew partners. Whhhaaaa? #ikr! While they confess their faith in The Lord Jesus, their walk does not line up with their talk, and as a result, most likely they’re confusing many who’ve yet to invite Christ into their lives as Savior and Lord!

OOOHHH Yessss I did go there! I know how churrch-folk are adamant about not judging, right? But, for your own safety, the Bible says a tree is known by the fruit it bears! More importantly, God knows those who are His! (Ref. 2 Timothy 2:19)

The preaching and teaching of this Gospel of Christ is still the best way to get souls saved, but sometimes His PR staff could use a refreshers course on what it means to live deeply in Christ!

Rest assured, God is not mocked! (Ref. Galatians 6:7) While we might impress some people with our 11:00 A.M. Sunday morning tongue-talking, pew hopping, propha-lyin, shout’n and danc’n, GOD KNOWS the difference between those who are faking it ’till they make it and those who freely rejoice in the mercy, compassionate, longsuffering, unconditional Love of The Heavenly Father, yet acknowledge that sometimes they miss the mark and have yet to reach perfection!

Shallow christians hide behind shameless excuses to continue to satisfy their ungodly cravings, but a true child of God will be quick to repent. GOD KNOWS those who are genuinely striving everyday to mortify the wickness of their flesh and live a life that pleases HIM even at their own hurt! After all, we are living epistles! It’s our holy lifestyle  that will advertise and promote the True Answer to mankinds’ most dire and desperate need–THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, JESUS CHRIST!

I am by no means suggesting that this is easy nor is it a one and done thang! But God already took care of that too. He sent your Guardian, Holy Spirit, to live inside of you to teach and empower you to say no to sin and yes to righteousness!

Sometimes, it looks like Satan is gaining the upper hand, huh?  Beloved, don’t fall for the devil’s tricks and please don’t blame God! Trust 2 know, God ain’t scarred! Remember what happened when Jesus went to Hell, snatched the keys from his puny hands and got up proclaiming, ALL POWER IS IN MY HANDS?

God is raising up an army of disciples that no man can number; building a new nation of trusting believers who will obey His Voice; hewing out a courageous People who’re not ashamed to live righteously in the midst of darkness as a monument to HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, POWER AND MAJESTY!

Examine yourself? REPRSENT JESUS? LIVE DEEPLY?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

EXPERIENTIALLY!

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EXPERIENTIALLY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this, I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.” (1 Kings 17:24)

 

We’ve all heard it, probably said it ourselves! ‘We found Jesus’, as if He was lost, huh? Truthfully, no man can know GOD except GOD reveals GODSELF. It’s God who initiates the search and orchestrates the circumstances for the encounter.

God has so wondrously fashioned man so that the ultimate fulfillment of life can only be consummated through his pursuit of intimacy with his Creator! Yet few are driven to forsake the lure of this world’s glitz and glamour to tread the least traveled remote pathways. But every once in a while, a isolated sojourner will catch a glimpse of The Hope that placing ones personal trust in Jesus makes available to any man!

Today’s text is another example of God’s compelling compassion to make Himself known! God sent The Prophet Elijah to an uncircumcised widow in the midst of a distressing situation! Nevertheless, this pagan woman dared to dismiss the visible and grab hold to the invisible (unseen to the natural eye)! Trusting that the Prophet’s instructions were actually The Words of God, her obedience proved a measure of her faith!

However, her faith took a quantum leap, when she experienced the miraculous power of God (the resurrection of her son from the claws of death)! It’s one thing to hear others testify of God’s Supernatural Power; but when you witness His Glory personally, you enter into an exclusively different dimension of faith!

As believers in Christ, our earnest heart cry ought to be that everyone come to know who Jesus really is! But the reality is, that it’s incumbent upon each individual to pursue their own intimate personal relationship with the Creator. This relationship is only accessible through seeking to know The God Who knows you.

The gods of this world work relentlessly distracting us with troubles, in an attempt to discourage us from seeking after the heart of our Loving Father. Overwhelmed with fear and doubt, some stray further and further away from The True Source of comfort and peace! Yet, The Good Shepherd sovereignly uses these challenges to guide us safely through the fires, floods and the storms of this life to a face-to-face encounter with The Redeemer of our Soul!

In the midst of test, trials and tragedy, as you behold His Glory, you will gain unphantomable insight into the length, dept and width of His Loving Kindness and the Sufficiency of His Grace erupting into unspeakable joy and unparalled satisfaction!

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 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 1:2-5

In the midst of a dark fallen world, there’s no need for you to shrink back in fear! God has equipped our hearts with the  Victorious Hope of Eternity! No matter what the challenge, we march on, confident that we are not alone! Faith in The Greater One, empowers believers to become agents of His Glory, touching and transforming as many lives as possible, while passing through to our Heavenly Home!  EXPERIENTIALLY!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder & Praiz!

Ann Caffee