Category Archives: God Expects

THE HERITAGE OF THE FOOLISH !

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MORNING GLORAAA

 

ETERNAL TRUTHS!

 

Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools. Proverbs 3:34-35

The heart of a fool is shapened by his continuous rejection of Godly Wisdom and Understanding and is committed to the ridicule of righteousness! God treats that man with contempt therefore bequeaths him the legacy of shame!

BUT GOD shall establish the humble, who refrain from wickedness, esteeming the soundness of Godly Wisdom with Understanding, with enduring riches of glory, honor, safety, discretion, inner peace and Eternal Life!

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Prov. 13:15

MAN’S DECISIONS DETERMINE WHETHER HE RECEIVES HIS JUST PENALTY OR INHERITS GOD’S GRACE AND FAVOR! #ijs…LIVE WISELY, LIVE WELL!

THE HERITAGE OF A FOOL!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

ETERNAL TRUTHS! #CARE2SHARE #WOW

THE PATH 2 GLORRAAA!

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THE PATH 2 GLORY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 
James 4:7

 
Yep! Ain’t no getting around it, because it’s still The Eternal Word of God, huh? I’m talking about that pesty-provoking-pressure-on-our-pleasure, five letter word “pride”! As the ol’ skool preacher would say, ‘I jus lost ¾ of my church’! LOL!

Those of us who’ve been saved more than 25 years undoubtedly have seen subtle (and not so subtle) transitions taking place in the Christian Community!  I’m referring to the greater emphasis being levied on the side of accumulating creature comforts rather than developing Christian character.  #Don’tshoutmedownnah!

While, there’s no denying that our Heavenly Father delights in the prosperity of His children, He distinctly distinguishes His Prosperity Plan from the system of this world, by including ‘even as your soul prospers, huh? (Ref. 3 John 1:2)

Of course, we know that God’s Ways are not ours and we’re eternally grateful that His thoughts are not like our, huh? Yet, many a wandering wayfaring person has been drawn down to the altar, enticed by the lure of a prolific prophetic preacher, promising peace and prosperity. Although this message has elements of doctrinal truth, upon closer examination,  oftimes it can dilute the integrity of basic biblical foundation! Hence, leaving some believers with lop-side expectations and ill-prepared to walk out their journey of faith.

The New Millennium Church has adapted to The Burger King mentality that says, ‘If I can’t have it my way, then I’ll hit the highway’! While that attitude may work at a fast-food chain, it won’t get you off the run-way in the Kingdom of God. The last time I caught a breath, Jesus was still LORD! Therefore, He has the right to expect loyalty, faithfulness, commitment and obedience from those He created!

God knows that it’s difficult for flesh to be humble! That’s why HE put these flesh-killing scriptures in The Book! Yall know, flesh wants to set up its own kingdoms and not submit to anything or anyone. Flesh wants to dominate; to be in charge; have its own way; be right; be the best and not ever admit that ‘I’m wrong, not perfect, it’s my fault; I need help, forgiveness…or I don’t know what to do!

Flesh wants folk to come to us; look up to us; be admired and yes even envied! Flesh wants to be first in line following the Apostle, Bishop and the Pastors. Flesh wants to sit on the front row so it can be noticed—to go higher, IN THE LORD, of course!

We like to quote the scripture, ‘resist the devil and he’ll flee from you’, right? However, more often than not, we leave out the first part, ‘submit yourself to GOD...and then you’ll have the power to resist the devil’! OMG, does it really say dat? Indeed! In the Kingdom, the way up is down!

God says, ‘humble yourself’—BUT–IF YOU CAN’T, HE WILL HELP YOU! Chances are He’ll raise up a devil, a situation, a problem, a need, a national threat, a global economic collapse! Sometimes, He’ll allow trouble to come knocking at your front door, your church, job, wallet to get your attention long enough for you to humble yourself and have to pray! God knows that as long as we’re living high-on-the-hog, we’re prone to spiritual amnesia and assume that He’s okay playing second fiddle! NOT!

The Kingdom of Heaven has it’s own stimulus plan and it ain’t about to change! The strength and power of God’s Covenant relationship with His people is based on both  parties involved doing what they’ve sworn to do. The position of GOD is permanently filling space and time! Remember, HE IS GOD & U R NOT!

It’s a highway to Heaven, however you’ve got to be willing to take the low road 2 get there! As we yield our ENTIRE lives to GOD’ S WILL, WE SHALL REAP THE KING’S ETERNAL REWARDS! #FAITHFUL OBEDIENT GRATITUDE  #DIDJAHEARDAT? YEP! THAT’S THE PATH TO GLORAAAA!

 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

SHALLOW SAINTS?

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SHALLOW SAINTS

 

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 jus 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 their personal 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,  check da BOOK!  #Seriously! 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)

Without a doubt, 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!

While shallow christians hide behind shameless excuses to continue to satisfy their ungodly cravings, when a true child of God is convicted by Holy Spirit, they will be quick to repent of willful or unwillful sin!  GOD KNOWS those who are genuinely striving everyday to mortify the deeds of their wicked flesh and live a life that pleases HIM… even to 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! TRUST2KNO, 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? (Ref. Revelations 1:17-18)

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 community of courageous Believers 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? SHALLOW SAINT? #WOW!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

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

 

 

TIME OUT!

TIME OUT!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36-37

 

“Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can stand, Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.” (saanngn yall)
 
Remember that one? Probably not! It’s  the first verse to one of my favorite Gospel hymns (by Jennie Bain Wilson)! This song probes the core of every mortal’s soul provoking either aggravating or consoling intentional thought concerning its eternal destination!

While some would prefer to dismiss the  inevitable potency of its reality, there’s absolutely no escaping it. The most precious commodity in the earth is not silver, gold, oil or even real estate—BUT TIME!

While this New Millennium Theology teaches “time is money”; but I beg to differ!

Time is much more valuable than mere mammon. Granted you’d probably never notice the slightest hint of this, given the social media’s promotion of the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous. Nevertheless, I think it not robbery to propose that if you’d ask any one of this world’s wealthiest man or woman,  retrospectfully glancing back over their life’s times achievements, how much they’d be willing to barter for one solitary moment of unrefined, unrequited love; one night of tranquil serene rest unhindered by foreboding betrayal; one day of normality without drug induced sense of well-being, many would ardently confess—“ALL…I’D GIVE UP ALL!”

Hence, that’s the crucible of every one of our lives! What makes life meaningful and more importantly what in this life that’s truly worth dying for?  “If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19.

But! Thanks Be To God WHO IS A MASTER ECONOMIST! He dispenses time and talents based on projected recompense. (Ref. Matthew 25:14-30)  Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4, NKJV).  GOD FORBID!


Beloved, we have been given the gift of time called ‘TODAY’ to fulfill God’s Purpose for our lives, one day and one step at a time!

Someone once said (and I am not quoting) “The only thing that’s certain is uncertainty. Life is change and change is growth and growth is evolving into the ‘being’ that God has created in us”. 

Sounds like a wise person would count up the cost and build your life on things eternal, huh? #ijs

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
 
BELOVED, TIME WAITS 4 NO MAN; DON’T WASTE IT—LIVE LIFE TO LAST ETERNALLY! REMEMBER, AT THE END OF THE DAY IT’S ALL ABOUT TIME!
 
SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee

 

THRIVE!

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THRIVE 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 KJV

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 KJV

A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10 The Message

 

 SMH!!!!  Coming into another dimension of Revelation of the ‘almost too good to be true’ Gospel of Jesus Christ, my only appropriate response is shaking my head in wonder-filled absolute amazement!  I’m not a novice to this thing we call ‘Salvation’, by no means. I’ve been saved for more than thirty years! Yet, I’m almost embarrassed to admit it; nevertheless, for most of my walk with Christ, I’ve struggled secretly imprisoned by guilt and shame for sins I have committed. And I’m not just talking about those B.C. (before Christ). I’m talking about the since I’ve been saved stuff too! 

Just in case someone else out there knows what I’m talking about, I feel an urging in my spirit, compelling me to put myself out on blast just to let you know that there’s Hope for you also, and it’s “IN” Christ Jesus!

Now, don’t get it twisted!  I’m not trying to push the blame off on somebody else. I’m just acknowledging that for whatever reason I adapted a sense of ‘performance-based-legalism’ that followed me right into Christianity! Do good, get good—do bad, get bad!  This kind of thinking just about seals the deal—you’re doomed for failure and defeat, desolation and destruction because there’s no wiggle-room for our innately flawed human characteristics. You lie because you are a liar, you steal because you are a thief; you sin because you were born a sinner!

The Devil’s had a very long time to master deception and manipulation. Frankly,  he’s become quite proficient in using us against us! He cloaks his best handiwork in fostering our ‘self-righteousness, self-degradation and ultimate self-rejection’! Yall know how he just loves to throw a rock and hide his hand. Unfortunately there’s little need to change his tactics, after all, it still works!

TRUTHBTOLD, on our ‘bestest’ days, we still aren’t good enough to somehow deserve God’s Grace! BUT! That’s what’s so Great about Salvation! Even if we could, by accident, done some ‘right’ act it never would’ve equaled out all of the ‘wrong’ acts we’ve committed.

That’s why God sent Jesus!

God knew the first plan was not and never could work—because ‘they just don’t have it in them’! In Hebrews 10:18 Jesus said it something like this…”this new covenant will not be written on tablets of stone, but ‘I’m writing it in their hearts and in their minds’! Father, prepare me A Body… I, The Righteous One, will come to live in them and will empower them to become righteous and do right things the right way!

OMG, SMH…AGAIN! Didjaheardat?

It ain’t about ‘you’ it’s all about ‘JESUS’!!!

Beloved, it’s time to shut the devil down! How? By taking God at HIS WORD! Hence, God paid an hefty price to deliver our souls from the debt of sin! Don’t belittle the Sacrafice on the altar of false humility, self-pity, self-exclusion, as if it’s an act of penance!  Now, I mean no disrespect, we’re always to be grateful for every blessing God has bestowed upon us, howevvrrr, it’s not enuff to be content with ‘survival’ when God intended for us to live this life to the fullest, exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond any and everything we could every deserve! Hence, GOD wants us to THRIVE! That’s what causes those who’ve yet to receive HIM as Savior and Lord to take a closer look at The Christ In U and begin to envy the Glory of your Heavenly Father resting upon your life! #ijs!

Hence, why keep trying to earn something that God’s already given you for free? Just accept Jesus’ unmerited Love and Loyalty by living  your life to the fullest every day in HIM!

That’s what it means to be ‘BORN AGAIN’ …saved and set free! THAT’S THE REAL BLESSING…I’M NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO FULFILL OTHER’S LIMITATIONS OF WHO I AM, WHAT I’M WORTH AND WHAT I CAN ACHIEVE! YEP, I CAN LIVE FREE! NO MORE CHAINS HOLDING ME!

When we place our personal confident trust not in ‘self’ –not in what we can’t do to earn such Amazing Grace—BUT IN WHAT JESUS CHRIST HAS ALREADY DONE, WE’RE FREE—TO BE, DO, HAVE and ENJOY EVERYTHING HE PURPOSED 4 US B4 THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD! IN OTHER WORDS–THRIVE!  YES…THRIVE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

SHOUT-OUT!

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SHOUT-OUT!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to Me.” Acts 18:9-10
Several years ago, The Grand Ole’ Church of God in Christ, came out with a slogan, guess what? Exactly! ‘I won’t be silent anymore!’  I wonder why I haven’t heard that one in a while! Especially in light of all the other voices that are bellowing out all kinds of crazy comments! #wink #wink!  Yall don’t mind granting a senior sista a few moments of folly, do you? AWESOME!

Have you noticed that every one and their cuzzins have come out of the colloquial closets, declaring and decreeing their rights. WOW! But where are the Saints? What’s the matter Zion? Perhaps, it’s got more to do with frustration and disenfranchisement than fear, huh? Them ol’ skool churrch Mothers were right! We’re living in times that will definitely try men’s souls. Seems as if everybody’s got rights…BUT THE CHURCH!

I ain’t scurred! Why are we the brunt of  such vicious accusations and slander, if we dare to uphold the moral standards clearly defined in The Word of God?  What happened to our freedom of speech rights? Why are we subjected to blatant mockery and defamation of character when we defend our Declaration of Dependance on The True and Living Creator of The Universe? #ijs The way things are going in America, we don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to freely speak-up for Jesus and not be martyred!

Last time I checked, The Holy Bible still says that there’d come a time when the people of God would be forced to make an individual conscientious decision, for Jesus I live, for Jesus I die! Well? Churrch, do we really believe The Word of God or are we pretending to fit in to get in?  Have we forgotten that the Ol’ Ship of Zion is not a cruiseliner but a battleship?  

It’s time to show this dark and dying world whatcha working with! Ain’t no where to run and no where to hide. The stage is set and the rubber is treading  the road. Timeout for playing church and teetering on the edge of the fence! You know what I mean;  “How close can you get to the world and still make it to Heaven?”  Baby, Either you’re all in THIS….OR UR OUTSIDE OF THE ARK! 

I still believe that the safest place in the whole wide world, IS IN THE WILL OF GOD!

Now, that’s just my two cents…do U, Boo!  BUT AS THE OL’ CHURRCH PREACHA USED TO SAY…AS 4 ME AND MY HOUSE….WE SHALL SERVE THE LORD!

TRUST2KNO! #SILENCEAIN’TBLISS! #datzmystoryugottaluvmehuh!  #NLOL #SPEAK-UP #SHOUT-OUT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

WHO’S ON 1st?

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WHO'S ON 1ST

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you…” James 4:8a kjv
 

Ever heard the term ‘1st chair’?  Well, according to the Law, the Legal definition of First Chair is the lead attorney in a case.  However, The Farlex Trivia Dictionary defines First Chair as “The premier musician playing a particular instrument in an orchestra—seated closest to the audience, taking the lead for that instrument’s movements, and playing any solos. “ My point being, ‘WHO’S IN CHARGE OF RUNNING YOUR LIFE’?

Really? 

Then why are you still complaining? Apparently, there appears to be a direct correlation between the amount of time one spends in HIS Presence and the amount of time spent worrying, murmuring and complaining, questioning and judging God’s decisions regarding our lives. OMG! WHO KNU?

Seriously, the The Holy Scriptures is filled with testimonials that further substantiate this observation!  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”. Matthew 6:33 and…“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7 

Let’s be for real! Too many of us are still trying to fix stuff that God never intended for us to. That’s why He invites us to come to Him with those things that are concerning us. Uuuh, isn’t that what prayer is all about?  #ijs It makes no sense to ask God to meet you on the rooftop when you’re stuck in the basement, right? Unless your pride is bent on self-reliance, which is  basically no help at all!  #Don’t shout me down nah!

Still need help? “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, GOD doesn’t ask any of us to walk this journey of LIFE independent of His Awemmaazzing Grace! That’s why The WORD says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”  Matthew 11:28-29

TRUST2KNO, whatever you’re struggling with today, God calls light-duty?

And guess what? GOD DON’T NEED NO CO-PILOT! WOW! #didjaheardat? Strap yourself in The Love of GOD and He’ll take You THERE–WHEREVER HE WANTS U 2 B!

Looks to me LIKE DATZ A RAP, huh?  Jus another perspective 4 U 2 PONDER! NOW, WHO’S ON 1st?

SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee 

LET’S GO DEEPER!

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LETZ GO DEEPER

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 everlasting 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

 

A closer investigation into GOD’S ETERNAL WORD will reveal that throughout Jesus’ public ministry,  most of his criticism came not from the heathens, but from religious folk!  I’m not being sacrilegious BUT…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! #ijs!

According to the scriptures, religious folk claim to be close to God, but their lifestyle of habitual rebellious disobedience proves otherwise. They’re simply going thru the motions and their religion boils down to simply checking off the boxes in an effort to comply with shallow practices of routine rituals. Howeverrr, MAN LOOKS ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT GOD READS HEARTS! #SERIOUSLY!!!

Just imagine The Omniscient, Creator God, looking deep into their hearts, seeing that there’s is nothing real about their worship, no real love for Him and no sincere thankfulness to HIM for all of  HIS Lovingkindness towards them!

Hence, TRUST2KNO…No matter how high they jump or how loud they shout, GOD’S NOT IMPRESSED! In the Sovereignty of God’s Mind, HE KNOWS that there’s absolutely 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 affected by our performance, remember God is SPIRIT! So those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth!

Beloved, God longs to have an intimate fellowship/communion that goes beyond our flesh and makes its home within our spirits! He wants us to meet Him Spirit-to-spirit. That’s what the scriptures means when it says, Deep calls unto deep! Jesus died for us in order that we could draw nigh to Him humbly, transparently, honestly, withholding nothing but recognizing WHO HE IS and accepting who WE ARE IN HIS PRESENCE! Y’all jus missed a shoutin’ moment!

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! We transition from DEATH N2 ETERNAL LIFE! That’s what Salvation thru Jesus Christ is all about! YES LAWD! NOW AIN’T DAT GOOD NEWS?

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, kindred to taking a quantum 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.! BCUZ YOUR WELL GETS DEEPER! #4REAL!

Could this be why carnal folk don’t understand why you go to church on a Tuesday nite, tithe the whole 10% , and give a LOVE offering every time you come to church? #interesting, huh? However, you can’t get mad at them, because spiritual things cannot be carnally discerned. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:14) They’re just speaking out of the shallowness of their well! Believe it or not…some folk are just content to be CME …CHRISTMAS, MOTHER’S DAY AND EASTER WORSHIPERS! Don’t shout me down nah!

Nonetheless, there yet remains a remnant of witnesses in the Earth who unashamedly dare 2 testify,

“ I can’t take no credit for none of it …BUT HE CHOSE ME anyhow and 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 MY GOD IS WORTHY 2 B PRAISED! BUT WHEN I FOUND  A LOVE THAT’S STRONGER AND FLOWS DEEPER THAN DEATH…

I MADE UP IN MY OWN MIND…COME WHAT MAY… I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES! GOOD, BAD, UGLY AND INDIFFERENT…MOUNTAIN TOP OR VALLEY LOW…I WILL LIFT UP MY VOICE AND MAGNIFY HIS NAME…FOR IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE LORD ON MY SIDE, I COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA BEEN YET AMONG THE WALKING DEAD, WITHOUT A GOD ON MY SIDE! SHUCKS, CHANCES ARE I’D PROBABLY NOT EVEN BE HERE TODAY!” BUT GOD, huh? #BOUT2LOSE1/2MYCHURCH

C’mon nah! HOW DEEP IS UR WELL? WOW! #LET’S GO DEEPER…

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

 

THE HEART OF THE FATHER!

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THE HEART OF THE FATHER

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

 
Uuuh forgive my intrusion into your alabaster box, howeverrrrr! Do you sometimes cry out, as I have, “God, don’t You see my tears? Can’t You see my broken heart? God, never mind me, but how can You bear to see the agony of my loved one? God, I know that You care. I just don’t understand why You don’t intervene in this situation right now. Why don’t You do something? And, God, why did you do that?”

Then,  in the midst of my lamenting heart,  I seem to hear His still, small voice whispering, “Ann, trust Me. I know what’s best.”

…And I’m left to wonder, “Hold up, Ms. Smarty pants, why  would  you ever think that you know better than God what’s best for yourself  or your loved one, huh?”

Perhaps, that kind of thinking is the product of humanity’s naivety to presume that once we finally surrender our hearts to The Saving Grace of Jesus Christ, from that point on life consists of floating down rose, hydrangea, tulip and lilly clad pathways of ease, on our way to the Pearly Gates of New Jerusalem!  Unfortunately, there’s nothing in The Holy Writ that remotely resembles such a scenario. In fact, there’s more evidence to support that following in the Footsteps of Jesus is more likely to parallel swallowing big gulps from the cup of imminent suffering and sacrifice! #SERIOUSLY!!!

Remember, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.”  Job 14:1

Don’t get it twisted!  I am not being sacrilegious nor am I craaazzzy enough to dare imply that our Heavenly Father is a Dead-Beat Dad or some kinda Narcissistic Sadist! Quite the contrary!  I am fully persuaded that before the Beginning began, The Creator of Life, in the Sovereignty of His Own Will, determined that purpose trumps pain! Hence, God has Divinely orchestrated the terrains of our journey to include sporadic detours through wilderness pit stops as well as ecstatically triumphant mountain top encounters to perfect in us the same Godly Character and Radiant Glory of our Kinsmen Redeemer!

Remember, “His Ways are not our ways and His Thoughts supersede our severely limited intellectual capacity to comprehend the length, width and depth and wonder of His Omnipotent Omniscience! (Ref. Isaiah 55:8-9)

Nevertheless, by Faith, we know that all things work together for our highest good and His Greatest Glory! (Ref. Romans 8:28) Consequently,  as  Blood-washed, Born-again children of The Most High God, no matter what it looks like, in the end VICTORY BELONGS 2 JESUS! Thus, WE SHALL OVERCOME!  #DIDJAHEARDAT? #WOW!!!

 Beloved, thru test, trial, toil and tragedy, wisdom has revealed through experience that the quicker that you and I acquiesce to the promptings of The God In Me//You, the sooner our po-wearied-soul is encompassed about with the Comforting Presence, Joy and Peace of The Only Wise Savior and Lord of our Life! 

Holy Father, time and time again, You’ve  proven to be The Loving and Compassionate Shepherd who leads and guides my steps and stops according to what’s  best for me! Therefore, I humbly bow, submitting myself under Your Mighty Hands,  declaring and decreeing “Lord whatever You’re doing… don’t do it without me!  Abba, when my circumstances appear to contradict Your Promise and I am tempted  to doubt Your Faithfulness, please forgive me, help my unbelief and give me a double portion of Your Supernatural Grace 2 Trust  the Benevolence of Ur Heart  even more than what my natural eyes can see! In Jesus Name, AMEN 3X!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee