Category Archives: full armor

A SAFE PLACE!

A SAFE PLACE 3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved”…In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah….God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Psalm 62:1-2, 7-8, 11

 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7

 

“Everyday is not the same!” These were the words from a faithful friend to me to encourage me at a time when I found myself drowning in raging waters, attempting to maneuver my way through the valley overshadowed by Dred and Death! In retrospect, I’m almost tempted to say, “Sir, is dat ever an understatement!”

Who knu?  I never would’ve dare to imagine that one day, I’d be the one offering these same words to fellow sojourners along my path as a breath of refreshing wind to wayfaring souls hoping to console their storm-wearied hearts to keep moving, keep trusting, keep believing because NOW IS NOT FOREVER and GOD IS TOO FAITHFUL FOR YOU TO GIVE UP NOW! GOD IS Awemaazin, huh?

My sincere prayer is that the treasured words of today’s text,  inspired by Holy Spirit, serve as a compass leading you to The True Source of Comfort and Peace as they remind us of The Eternal Truth and Faithfulness of every Word that proceeds out of God’s Mouth! 

The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. Psalm 119:160

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11

Beloved, only God knows what challenges you are facing at this writing, yet I hear the Saints of ol’ saanging I Go To The Rock!’ It was those soul-stirring songs that taught us that when the cares of this ol’ world overwhelm us, there is an escape, a safe house that we can run into and be saved from the threatening terror! Hence, we can run to the Mountain That is Higher than you and I!

My precious one, can we pray?

“Heavenly Father, here we are again bowing at The Throne of Your Mercy! We’re so grateful for the honor and privilege to come boldly, knowing that You hear and answer every petition, supplication and inquiry we place before You.

We’re praying for the strength of The people of God, that we might be encouraged to stand strong, continue lifting up The Blood Stained Banner of our Lord and Savior. Trusting confidently that He Who Rules and Reigns above The Heavens, is in ABSOLUTE CONTROL of the affairs of all mankind! We’re praying for the leaders of our country, fully persuaded that their hearts remain in God’s Hand, confident that The Omniscient Father never sleeps nor slumbers, is never taken by surprise, neither does He ever need to repent! EVERYTHING HE HAS PROMISED, HE WILL PERFORM!

We’re praying for our children, every parent who has been charged to instruct and rear them up in the fear and admonition of THE LORD will submit to the leading of Holy Spirit, walk upright before them that they may see our faith and commitment to THE GOD OF ALL HOPE!

We’re praying for those who are yet in darkness, being deceived by Satan into rejecting The Saving Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ will be snatched from the snares of sinfulness and repent before GOD, seeking forgiveness and salvation. We’re believing that the hearts of the backsliders will be pricked by The Spirit of The Living God so that they will make a decision to return to Jesus TODAY!

We’re praying for the comfort of those who are dealing with grief, depression, loneliness, fear, addictions, confusion, overwhelmed by financial commitments, sickness and diseases. We’re believing that the angels of the Lord are being sent to their sides to minister help, health and hope at this very moment.

We’re rejoicing in reality that the companionship of The Lord of All Comfort, Joy and Peace is never too far away and that HE can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

We’re eternally grateful, Father, that regardless of what each day brings, YOU OH GOD REMAIN THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER FAITHFUL to protect and provide everthing we ever need.

ABBA FATHER, we’re thanking You now for Your Compassionate Loving Kindness, Tender Mercies and Unconditional Love that never leaves us nor forsakes those who place their personal trust in JESUS ALONE! THE SOLID ROCK!

We’re asking these things, recognizing that it’s because of The Majestic Name of Jesus that we yet rest assured in Hope, earnestly anticipating that it shall be so. In Jesus Name. AMEN 3X

LORD, AS YOU STAND BY ME, I’M IN MY SAFE PLACE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

prayn-and-fasting-pic

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Good Morning Precious Saints of The Most High God, GOTTA MOMENT? Awesome!

Once again, we invite you to join us today in our Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting. As we seek the Face of our Savior, let’s unite our faith together, confident that The Scepter is pointed in our direction, welcoming us into The Throne Room of Majesty and Grace! LET’S PRAY…

Spirit of The Living God, fall fresh on me! Spirit of The Living God, fall fresh on me! Make me, mold me, fill me…use….me! Spirit of The Living God, fall fresh on me. Oooohhh, Oooohhh, Oooohhh, Oooohhhh! Ooooh Ooooohhh; Oooohhh! Gloraaaa, Glooorrraaaa! Glooorrraaa! Glorrraaaa! Glooorrraaa! JESUS! JJEEESUS…JEESUSSS! JESUS! JJJEESSSUS! JESUS…We need You Lord! We need You Lord! We need You Lord! We need You Lord! We…need You Lord! WE NEED YOU LORD! Have Your Way! Have Your Waaayyy! Have Your way! Have Your Waaayyy; Have Your Way! Thank You Lord! Thaaannnk You Lord! Thank You Looorrrd…Thank You Lord! Thank You Loooorrrddd; Thank You Lord!

Abba Father, we come before You today, In the Magnificent, All Powerful Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus, rejoicing, our spirits are praising and thanking You for blessing us to see a brand new day. We thank You, Father for another opportunity to embrace and enjoy the abundance of Your Mercy, Your Grace, Your Power and Your Peace!

Father, we come now thanking You for the blessed honor and privilege that You have given us when You determined to choose us to be Your very own children! Now we can confess with delight and joy that You Alone are The God of our Salvation, our Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision. We’re eternally grateful that because You know our frame, Your faithfulness and compassion yet allows You to look beyond our human frailties, faults, failures and iniquities to see and minister to all of our need!

We praise You Heavenly Father for renewing our strength, enlightening our understanding and enabling us to speak with a holy boldness stemming from a heart open to, depending and relying only on You!.

Because no man can come to the Father except You draw them,  it is with eternal gratitude, Father, that we ask, as Your eyes continue to search the hearts of mankind, that you draw and save the lost! As we pray for those who are unsaved, believing that it is because of Your Goodness that leads any of us to repent, please put a spirit of Godly-repentance to say “YES” in their heart and in their mind that they will come humbled by Your Grace today and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior!

Lord, we ask that You  restore a ‘COMMITED YES’ in the hearts and minds of every backslider and allow today to be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church. Direct their footsteps, place them and settle them into Your ordained church home, Father, that they might be nurtured by The Truth of Your Word and filled with Holy Spirit that empowers them with the willingness to obey Your Will that they might walk blameless before You!

Father, we pray believing that you will touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake. Lord, 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!

Lord, You already know, looking down from above, that today we live in a world where the very elect are being constantly bombarded by intimidation and threatening persecution from a God-hating, God-denying, rebellious society of people! We also acknowledge that the Earth which You have created is wrestling to escape the corruption of a sinful nature therefore, we humbly lift up before Your Throne, every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that You will release Divine power, Supernatural strength, consolation, health, provision, prosperity and protection.

We ask also Daddy, that You will preserve us in the midst of every test and challenge that You have Sovereignly ordained us to go thru! Keep us constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE; comforted and fully-confident that You will bring us out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised us in Your Word!

Lord we pray, that in this season of transition in the political arena of our nation, that You help us to remember that You Are Lord. You are our Everlasting King who rules and reigns over all the affairs of mankind! Pour out an abundance of Peace that surpasses our natural understanding, assuring us that You are well able to keep us, provide for us and protect us from all hurt, harm and danger! Clothe us in the Complete Armor of God that we might be able to stand our ground in the midst of contrary winds and waves!

Abba Father, we lift up our spiritual leaders, asking a special blessing upon each and every one of them who are yet standing on the wall proclaiming Your Word under the conviction and anointing of Holy Spirit! We pray that you will Grace them to be the examples in their homes, churches and communities that will cause everyone who comes into contact with them to fall in love, trust wholly in and to live their lives fully committed to serving You, Our Heavenly Father.

We ask Heavenly Father, that you will stir up the hearts and minds of those who are professing Your Name with an urgency that inspires an even greater  desire to increase their personal, intimate relationship with their Creator God through fellowship of Holy Spirit that they might prove what is the good, perfect and acceptable will of The Lord Jesus!

Lord of Glory, we declare and decree that every demonic-induced spirit of temptation, torment, confusion, doubt, unbelief, rejection, condemnation, addiction, anxiety, perversion, hopelessness, helplessness, deception,depression, despair and fear is defeated by Your Yoke Destroying Anointing and the Spirit of Love, Power and Soberness be released now, in Jesus Name!

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

Father, we thank You, honor and praise You now, knowing THAT IT IS DONE! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Let the Faith-filled Believers seal this prayer with AMEN 3X and It Is So!
NOW RUN TELL SOMEBODY… JESUS STILL LOVES U!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

OCCUPY!

OCCUPY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  Jude 1:3

This probably won’t come as a newsflash, except to those who might’ve just landed on planet earth about an hour ago, OK? But here goes, we’re living in times that could potentially affect, even the very elect of God, with a highly-contagious disease! Left untreated the symptoms  have quickly escalated into a spiritually infectuous organism transmitting deadly viral weariness, discouragement, grief and hopelessness of pandemic proportions!!  Seriously! It’s as if the world, as we’ve known it, is spinning out of control around us and we’re being tossed, driven and engulfed by the undercurrents of Life!

As Saints of The Most High God, we’re subconsciously aware that long ago God’s Prophets predicted perilous times would come. However, now we’re experiencing in real-time God’s Revelation actually being fulfilled right before our eyes. For many of us, even with our eyes wide open and prayerfully watching, we yet have to admit, we never could’ve imagined days like this, right?

Satan, has strategically launched a full battery of assaults against the people of God and many of us are falling by the wayside, becoming casualties of war, not knowing ‘who’ our real enemy is!  It’s imperative that we recognize that when we surrendered our lives to Jesus, immediately were enlisted into The Lord’s Army and the world became a battlefield! Therefore, we must be on constant alert that our engagement is not against flesh and blood, but this war is against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this age and spiritual wickedness in high places who can’t be overcome by mere human strength (Ref. Ephesians 6:16).

While The Bible never promised us a gala-trouble-free life in this present world, God has given us Divine Assurance that we’re never alone. Hence, in the midst of intimidating chaos, drama and intense warfare, we stand fully persuaded that God is our refuge, strength, an ever-present Help, encouraging and enabling us to yet fight on. (Ref. Psalm 46:1).

We must also understand that God, The Captain and Commander of the Universe, has not deserted us leaving us defenseless, but has set us up with spiritual weaponry fully capable of not only infiltrating but completely annihilating the Devil’s camp and pulling down every stronghold that the enemy has forged against the children of God—THE WORD OF GOD!

You must realize that the Devil’s worst nightmare is coming up against an authentic born-again, sanctified, Holy-Ghost filled, confident, completely armored bona fide Believer! In the hands of a bold, fearlessly courageous True Believer, The Sword of The Spirit guarantees triumphant victory every time! (Ref. 2 Corinthans 10:4; Hebrews 4:12)

Despite the atrociousness or enormity of our personal tests or trials, Abba Father has decreed and declared that NO WEAPON formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, your VERY lifestyle of holiness and righteousness shall condemn any demonic-induced situation or circumstance that dares to confront or attempt to hinder you! (Ref. Isaiah 54:17) Didjaheardat? That’s the gospel TRUTH!

Beloved, we’re not of those who will tuck-tail and run; but we press on celebrating the same God who delivered you out of Egyptian bondage, is well able to keep you standing strong to the end!  Trust2Know, Your Majestic Eternal King JESUS always honors and rewards faithfulness with contentment, happiness and Godly peace! 

Your orders from headquaters are as follows, “Gird up the loins of your mind, you defenders of The Cross! Fall in to proper formation; pick up your weapons and stand steadfast, immovable, and ready to contend for the faith that was entrusted to you when you first believed! LO, I COME QUICKLY! RAZE HELL!” #OCCUPY UNTIL I COME!

SELAH!

Pause, Poner, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

HELP IS ON THE WAY!

HELP IS ON THE WAY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Behold, the Lord God will help me, who is he who will condemn me? Lo, they all shall wax old and be worn out as a garment, the moth shall eat them up. Who is among you who reverently fears the lord, who obeys the voice of his servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor in his heart? Let him rely on, trust and be confident in the name of the lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God. Isaiah 50:9-10

 

I gotta confess! It’s gotten to the point, where a lot of us no longer watch the evening news broadcast. OMG!  It’s not that we’re ignorant or unconcerned, but  because there’s so much wrong going on in the world we live in!  Some of us have come to the realization that rather than walking around in a constant state of fear, anxiety and depression, we’d prefer to take the unabating deluge of daily news in small doses! Truthfully, yall know, terror and trauma sells, right? And quite honestly, since the dubiousness of #45’s  texts and fake news, most of what we get is a little too copious for the intellectual palate to absorb! #ijs So generally, the most you can get out of a 30 minute time-frame is a 15 second spot of so called ‘good news’! 

However, there is Hope that’s expands far beyond this world! Every born-again, Blood-washed, Holy Ghost sanctified Believer has the assurance that regardless what they say, our Hope rests confidently upon Truth! Truth emphatically declares that the good news is that the bad news is not the final WORD FOR US! Therefore, we who are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are fully persuaded that it is still the Power of God to save, heal and deliver us out of any of life’s maladies!

While our personal relationship with The Heavenly Father does not exempt us from the impact of this desperately-wicked-fallen world, we are yet able to rejoice in faith, assured that we are not alone, not abandoned nor forsaken! How? Because our Redeemer yet reigns and has no intention of RELINQUISHING HIS POWER NOR AUTHORITY TO ANY ONE OR THING!

Armed with this mindset, we wait in quiet confidence, even if we’re clueless as to why, what, when or where…we know WHO is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we could ask or think! (Ref. Ephesians 3:20)

The ol’ skool church Mothers used to say, “He may not come when you want HIM, but He’ll Be There right on time”!

Beloved, when darkness, sorrow, trouble or tragedy comes rushing down upon you, remember you are a child of The King! There is a Protective Custody Order over your life that has been signed, ratified, sealed and delivered by The Blood of Jesus! Greater is He Who is in you than anything that the prince of darkness assails against you. (Ref. 1 John 4:4)

Don’t fall for the okey doke, saints! While the devil is persistent, remember ‘he ain’t running nuffin!’ No matter how dark dark gets, God knows exactly where you are! Hence, light and darkness are the same to Him. (Ref. Psalm 139:12)

As our knowledge of God increases so does HIS GRACE empowering us to trust him, even when we can’t trace him! REST ASSURED! God is near to all who confidently trust in Him and wait obediently and patiently for His appearance. Now that’s Good News, huh?

Trouble in your way today? Don’t give in to the pressures of contradictory circumstances and don’t even try to figure it out! Just hide yourself in HIS LOVE, grab hold to The Living Word, as if your very life depended upon because it surely does!!

BE STILL! TRUST 2 KNOW … HE WHO PROMISED SHALL PERFORM IT! YOUR HELP IS ON THE WAY!

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

SELAH!

Pause, Pondder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

EXPERIENTIALLY!

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

 

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

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! 

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

SELAH! 

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

TRIAL-SIZED gODZ!

TRIAL SIZED gODS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. (Exodus 20:3-5)

I recognize that the sheer suggestion of idol worship tends to rattle the righteous indignation in the spirit of a true Believer! As followers of Christ, we know how despicably foul such worship is in the nostrils of The Holy God of Heaven and Earth. And for the most part, we’d never consider breaking this Commandment. After all, we don’t bow down before carved images of God nor do we display at the entrances or scatter stone replicas of God throughout our homes or businesses, right? Yet, will closer investigation of our lives reflect closely guarded idols formed in the recesses of our imaginations?

According to the scriptures  ‘O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ (Ref. Matthew 12:24) Hence, while man will attempt to hide the true intents, insights and purpose for being, ultimately, his lifestyle will reflect the secret things of his heart and clearly define where their loyalty lies!

Do we worship our personal ‘trial-sized’ images of God?

I see further explanation is in order! We have a tendency to make up our own images to represent who God is to us. The problem is we will never be able to fit “The All Encompassing Is-ness of GOD” into the small-minded-frail-framed-carnal-comprehension of our temporal-flesh. In other words, it’s absolutely impossible for us to fathom “Unlimited Presence, Power and Potential” within the limitations of our humanity!

While The Living God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient, HE can only be known through Revelation!

GOD reveals His character, His purpose and His plan for each of as we traverse through our individual life experiences. It’s the knowledge gained through following The Good Shepherd’s lead, cautiously climbing cloud-covered mountaintops and timidly trembling through the death-valleys of our everyday lives that we learn the rewards of faithful trust, patient obedience and the security of resting in The Eternal Hope! 

Today’s takeaway?

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his… 2 Timothy 2:19

Therefore, Beloved, as you continue to set the Lord  before you, you shall walk in HIS Everlasting JOY! 

AMERICA, WHO IS YOUR GOD?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

GIANTS DO FALL!

GIANTS DO FALL2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Then said David to the Philistine, you come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelIn; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defiled.

This day The Lord will deliver you into my hand; and I will smite you, and cut off your head; and I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hand. When the Philistine came forward to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to me the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:45-48

 

Life is challenging! No matter how we try to avoid drama, we might as well accept that there’s always going to be something or someone who’s sole mission in life is to challenge your peace, your postion or your purpose on any given day!

There was nothing unusual about this day for David,  an ordinary shepherd boy,  going about his daily chores and obeying his Father instructions  to deliver lunch to his older brothers who were part of Israel’s Army; that is until suddenly, he found himself smack-dab-in-the-middle of an unsually challenging situation!

As David approached the camp, he couldn’t help but notice this 10 ft. Philistine giant, Goliath, yelling out threats to the experienced warriors of God’s Chosen.  Israel’s army was reknown for their courageous military tactics; yet in this instance, most likely because of the monstrosity of this opponent, not to mention the threatening words bellowing from his lips, the Israelite soldiers immobilized with terror and paralyzed by fear, were hiding amongst the rocks. Okay now, don’t act like you would’ve responded any differently!

What was going on? Well apparently, these mighty-men-of valor who were normally confident, relying on their own strength and the effficiency of their arsenal to defeat their adversaries, but when faced with the size of Goliath, had reckoned that the risk and danger of this task insurmountable!

However, David’s perspective was quite different! David was no stranger to seemingly futile confrontations in his past, nevertheless, had victoriously overcome them all. Therefore, armed with his determination that if GOD did it before, HE’D SURELY DO IT AGAIN,  David chose to stick with the tried and proven!

Instead of running away from the potential imminent destruction, David’s memories of God’s Faithfulness enabled him to forge ahead, trusing soley in His God, thorougly convinced that the greater the challenge, the greater the reward! Life had trained David that if GOD be for you, it doesn’t matter who tries to come against you! Faith in God assures you that no matter what it looks like, GOD will turn it around in your favor guaranteeing that you’re always more than a conqueror! (Ref. Romans 8:28, 37)

Unless you were born late last night or just landed on earth early this morning, like David, I kinda believe you’ve racked of a collection of personal testimonies of God’s Miraculous Saving Grace, huh?  Nevertheless, for whatever reason, whenever we’re confronted by a new challenge, rather than relying on your God to work it out, more often than not, you develop a severe case of spiritual amnesia and look for the nearest exit, huh?

But, Beloved, God left us a record of David’s response to model a different spirit! Time and time again, instead of running away from the giants, David stood firmly rooted and convicted that his adversaries were not just challenging him, but they were challengilng David’s GOD!

Saints, you will never overcome anything that you’re not willing to confront! You’ve got to know that we have a common antagonist, Satan, who is intent on challenging you each and every day. Some situations will be easy to handle, however others will be more than you can bear on your own. But keep in mind, God never intended you to! That’s the reason He promised you that He’ll never leave you, nor forsake you. (Ref. Hebrews 13:5) So, no matter how big your problem appears to be, don’t be scarrred! YOUR GOD IS GREATER! (Ref. 1 John 4:4)

As a born-again-blood-washed-Holy Spirit-filled-baptized believer, don’t let the devil find you naked! Every day, strap yourself in the whole Armour of God and go get your victory! (Ref. Ephesians 6:11) God’s gotcha covered!

REMEMBER, GIANTS DO FALL!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

ITZ ALL ABOUT THE CROWN

itz-all-about-the-crown-2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelations 2:10-11

 

PARDON ME, again! I know this isn’t religiously correct, how—evrrrr sometimes, it’s just hard!

Here you are, as the ol’ saints used to say, ‘living all u know how 2 live for JESUS’, with everything in you clinging to The Testimony of God’s Faithful Witness, who is TRUTH, YET …EVERYWHERE U TURN, U GOT TROUBLE BREAKING OUT!!! #WHADA…???

Seriously, none of us normal human beings enjoy suffering, right?
Nevertheless, life has taught you (and even the Word admonishes us) that those who Name the Name of Jesus must expect trouble. Afterall, even “Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered”! (Ref. Hebrew 5:8)

“Yeah, but but butt”…I feelya, okay? Yet, according to The Scriptures, God has Sovereignly linked suffering and glory into the lives of those who have confessed their trust in His Plan for our lives. Remember the words of The Apostle Paul? “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Roman 8:36

I know, sometimes that doesn’t help MUCH! BUT! We have this confident assurance that before God permits sporadic seasons of tribulations He sets an expiration date before the test begin! Aren’t U Soooo glad, trouble don’t last always!

Beloved, there’s always a greater purpose behind our pain! And no, it ain’t always God punishing you for your disobedience! For His own reasons, God has elected to allow test, trials and trouble along the landscape of our journey to draw us closer to Him, to purify, purge and position us to partake of His Divine Nature—HOLINESS!

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

This life has a way of putting you through the ringer, huh? But God has decreed, that nothing you will ever experiene can separate you from His Love! “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Rest Assured, GOD KNOWS!

Today, receive His Words to The church at Smyrna, as your very own! Don’t allow fear of this temporary situation to deter you from your eternal goal! The King of Glory has declared and decreed that I AM ALPHA and OMEGA! I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU. LO I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAY!  FOR WHO CAN STAY MY HAND! (Ref. Rev. 22:13; Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:2o; Isa. 43:13) Didjaheardat? #WOW!!!

Precious ones,  endure persecution with fidelity, confident that “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND YOUR REWARDER! DON’T QUIT! YOUR CROWN AWAITS YOU!”

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I LIVED!

I LIVED 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. The LORD hath chastened me sore : but he hath not given me over unto death. Psalm 118:17-18

Everything living changes! #Didjaheardat?

From the moment of beginning, life evolves, progressively spiraling from eternity past through present towards eternity future. The Eternal Life-Giver sets into motion HIS own pre-determined course, every thing according to the counsel of His Will and Good Pleasure. (Ref. Ecclesiastes 3:1)

So why are we so taken aback by the sudden shifts?

Perhaps it has a lot to do with the often brutal abrupt interruptions to the comfort and security of familiarity. Be it pleasant or unpleasant, there’s something about humanity’s expectation of normal that enables us to resign to a certain sense of contentment. Some might call it the spirit of survival or resilience.

Pass the mic and every one of us could undoubtedly recite times of suffering some kinda personal tragedy, un-relentless abuse, myriad temptations, bona fide threats through which we’ve already come. But almost as fluently, we can enumerate with timeless ecstacy those experiences where closed gates were opened before us, night weeping gave way to the morning joy, mourning bowed to dancing and desperation succumbed to determination. And yet life goes on!

As children of faith we must recognize that wherever we are, we’re never alone! God has planted us there not to die, but to grow through our wildernesses. As we learn to trust and confidently submit to His Will, GOD gives us Grace to come out better and not bitter, stronger and wiser and with a new life-giving, soul-stirring, encouraging, strengthening, empowering—“COME SEE WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!” testimony!

Nevertheless, we, God’s Chosen, continue in hope for that time when happiness is unchanging, fear and doubt is terminated, and the foreboding darkness is consumed by the all encompassing Eternal Light of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

“This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:23-24

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO AIN’T AFRAID TO ADMIT, “THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES, I ALMOST…BUT! I LIVED!”??? #bothhandsup, huh?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee