Category Archives: God is Eternal

SINGLE VISION

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SINGLE VISION

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
(Matthew 6:22-23)

 

Have you seen that optical illusion photo of Jesus where you’re instructed to stare at the four dots continuously for about a minute, then look away to the light and watch the darkness evaporate revealing The Face of Jesus?

DID YOU SEE HIM YET… still too dark, huh?

Belief it or not, that’s a challenge for most believers? I mean, seriously! How can we be expected to focus on The Light of the World, when we are constantly encompassed and distracted by such gross darkness? As with most of the things Our Heavenly Father expects of us, it’s not always easy, yet if we make a conscious effort to disciple ourselves, it is possible!

We must stick  to the Living Word of Truth; not just on crisis days, but every day; as if our very lives depended upon it. And it does! Beloved, remember we’re strangers sojourning through this life on our way to a Glorious Family Reunion. (Ref. John 17:16) Jesus prayed to The Father that He would keep us in this world until He’s sent again to fully restore us to The Kingdom. Knowing fully well that we’d be hated by His enemies, just like He was while he walked this earth; Jesus asked The Father to put HIS Light in us to ensure that His followers would never be without His Presence. (Ref. John 17:15; Matthew 5:14)

The Apostle John wrote, “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. “ (1 John 1:7)

Remember, thou weary one, you are God’s Chosen! Despite the random patches of darkness, we are never abandoned. Jesus guaranteed that there will always be just enough light to guide us through these momentary afflictions! (Ref. Hebrew 13:5)

DON’T TRIP! STAY FOCUSED ON THE SON LIGHT! THAT’S RIGHT…SINGLE-VISION!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

ABBA’S HOUSE

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ABBA'S HOUSE 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 3:11

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

 

Have you ever heard a freshly born-again believer lamenting “if I’d only known how great Salvation was, I would’ve given my life to Christ a long time ago”? While this sentiment may shriek volumes of the tremendous gratitude with which every one of us who share this awesome privilege of becoming a part of The Kingdom of God, it might be more aptly acknowledged that as difficult or challenging our life B.C. (before Christ), there’s absolutely nothing within the scope of the un-regenerated man’s spirit that inspires him to seek God on his own! In fact quite the opposite is true. Since the down fall of our original parents, in the Garden of Eden, we’ve been known to invent unparalleled manner of deviant ways of escapism to avoid submitting to God’s Plan for our lives.

Nevertheless, according to The Holy Bible, God’s Love would not be denied! Before the foundation of the world, the entire plan of Salvation was initiated in the Mind of God and through the ministry of Holy Spirit that prompts us to draw nigh to the Heart of a Loving Creator and the Atoning Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Thanks be to GOD,  GOD’s Grace is made available to all who will welcome Him into their hearts and lives.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8

The Heavenly Father’s determination to build Himself a Sacred House, a Holy Temple, where He would dwell forever!  Sparing no expense, from the very foundation to the Chief Corner Stone, GOD continues day by day, lying new bricks! The Heavenly Father, takes particular care in adding luxuriously custom-built gold, silver and wood furnishings accentuated by exquisitely handcrafted sapphire, purple and scarlet colored silks and linen cloth tapestries, most befitting of The King of Kings and Lord of Glory, one soul at a time. Hence, while Salvation is free, it certainly wasn’t cheap!

To the absolute amazement of the world’s most renown high-class well-paid fashion experts, most of the pieces in God’s House were presumed castaways, throw-backs, out-dated, worthless and totally unsuitable for such Majestic Display! But The Master Architect/ Designer’s keenness, seeing the potential hidden treasures in the dirt covered cavernous lives of those created in His Image, digs down into the desolate places of our sin-clad spirits, picks us up out of the muck and the mire of our dark desperate pits, power washes us with the Flood of His Cleansing Blood redeems, refinishes, restoring us back into our rightful relationship as sons and daughters of The Most High God of All Creation where we now sit in Heavenly Places as Joint Heirs with The First-Born of Creation. (Ref. Ephesians 2:6)

Who knew? Certainly not the devil, or else he never would’ve crucified The Lord in the first place. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:8)

BUT GOD DID! CHRIST IN YOU…THE HOPE OF GLORY! WELCOME HOME TO ABBA’S HOUSE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES!

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WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

What is ‘The Gospel’?

Today, we hear so much stuff preached under the auspices of ‘The Gospel’ that it’s no wonder that a lot of folk are confused. In its purest essence, The Gospel is ‘The Good News’! I’ll go all out there and say that it’s ‘the bestest ever’ news that anyone can get in this life time!

Discovering that one day, before you or I were born, a man named Jesus, paid the penalty for a crime for all of man-kind, is life altering. Even more astounding, is the fact that He, Who was completely innocent of all charges, took the blame for us who were absolutely guilty!

Although, there were no cameras in the court room that day, but it’s been clearly documented (The Bible) that when the charges against HIM were read, Jesus never uttered a single word in His own defense but stood silently before His accusers, ready and willing to take the judgment and the punishment upon Himself rather than allow us to be condemned!

When the verdict came in and the gavel was slammed down, instead of you and I who should’ve been judged and sentenced to prison for life for our guilt and shame, Jesus was convicted and condemned to death on Calvary’s Cross!

That day, as recorded in history, because of Jesus, the prison doors that would’ve held all of mankind captive were broken wide open, releasing us from eternal damnation and freeing us to live forever in The Kingdom of God!

Oh Happy Day! Knowing that God loves us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His First-Born Son Jesus, to become sin that we might become righteous is almost unbelievable! But ! If we will believe it anyhow, we shall escape the penalty due for our own sin and be adopted into the Family of God!

Finding out that this deal is still on the table; available to anyone, talk about Good News! No matter who, what, or where you’ve been; be it prostitute, murderer, drug dealer, thief or even a churchgoer who never actually asked and received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you’re still eligible! That’s Awesome!

Today is A New Day! By confessing that we’re sinners and trusting in The Life of Jesus Christ, we can begin, again! That’s the Good News!

When Satan tries to remind you of what you used to be, just inform him “Look stupid, obviously, you’ve got the wrong man!” Then, direct him to The Book! “If any man be in Christ Jesus, He is a NEW creation, old things are passed away; behold hold all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The door is open! What are you waiting for? What a difference a day makes!

SELAH!

“PAUSE, PONDER & PRAIZ!”

Ann Caffee

 

WALKING WITH JESUS

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walking-with-jesus-2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

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

Sometimes, life comes at us fast and hits you hard! However, as followers of Christ, we have this assurance! Absolutely nothing happens that ever takes GOD by surprise!

He knows our endings from the beginning! Not one smile is ever unnoticed nor is one tear ever undocumented. (Ref. Psalm 56:8) Nothing that you’ve been thru; nothing you might be going through now escapes His Watch! Yet, God doesn’t promise that every day will be a stroll in the park on a sunny day dancing through flowery beds of ease.

As you voyage through The Scriptures, you will discover that God’s servants were tempted, tested and tried by the same tactics and schemes that we are ; all launched by our common enemy, Satan. Nevertheless, they persevered and prevailed with the help of The Good Shepherd Who’s yet available to you and me.

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

GOD has promised to supply everything we will ever need to overcome and conquer every and any thing that attempts to resist or prevent the absolute fulfillment of every vow that He’s spoken over our lives. Don’t allow fear to limit your expectations of what GOD has prepared for you.

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

While Life continues to be a journey into unchartered territories, keep walking; fully persuaded that you are never alone. (Ref. Hebrew 13:5) Yes! There will be some valleys to tread, some mountains to climb, some twists and turns to meander and some dead-ends to re-calculate from. Nevertheless, I encourage you to keep your hand in HIS HAND, confidently trusting in The Master of all Life; knowing that what’s ahead of you is always greater than anywhere you’ve been! IN THE END YOU WIN!

JUST KEEP WALKING, LOVING, LEARNING, LEANING AND LIVING! …LIFE GOES BETTER WITH CHRIST!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I STILL BELIEVE

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I STILL BELIEVE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“And he believed in the lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness”. (Genesis 15:6)

Noticed how the gods of this world constantly bombard our minds with unhealthy doses of supposedly new truths explicitly designed to attack the validity of our hope and core of our Christian beliefs? Don’t be alarmed. The Scriptures said that there’d be days like this!

Ever heard a New Millennium televangelists shun the old hymns of yesterday saying that they’re scripturally inaccurate, inappropriate and therefore no longer relevant to the New Testament Church?

Well! I beg to differ! In case you haven’t realized yet, I am unapologetically ol skool, and I say it’s time to pull some of those old songs out from the bottom of that old piano bench and put them on blast. Particularly, that one that says, ‘I know the Bible is right, somebody’s wrong’!

What these 21st Century Johnny-come-lately’s, fail to take into account is that them old saints were not performing for BET or Stellar Awards! They didn’t come to church to be entertained nor to excite your flesh. But they sang songs birthed out in the heat of personal experiences, tempered in The Word of God and seasoned by The Holy Spirit! When they sang, their songs struck your heart strings, re-affirmed their faith and ushered in The Very Presence and Power of the True and the Living God.

Today, if you need a song to lift you, strengthen and encourage you along the way, might I suggest “Lord, I believe, Lord, I believe…ALL things are possible if you only believe!” And if that doesn’t ignite your flame, try following it with one of my Pastor’s favorite, “You Can’t Make Me Doubt Him”!

When the world says, “I’ll believe it when I see it” the saints believe to see!

Facts change but Truth is forever! Remember what they said about the planet Pluto? Yeah, right! Like Mother Carter used to say, “Everything is going down–but the Word of God!”

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Jesus Never Fails!

The question yet remains; “Whose report, will you believe?”

As for me, I don’t care what the infamous “they” say, I shall believe The Report of The Lord!

In the face of any and every thing that appears to contradict your faith, yet stand—firmly convicted, to emphatically confess ‘come what may, I STILL BELIEVE GOD!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

 

SILENT PRAIZ

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SILENT PRAIZ 3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.” Psalm 65:1-2

 

Being Pentecostal, born and bred, means that I am accustomed, and I might add, a willing participant, to exuberant praise and worship. So can you imagine my surprise, to discover that God-Honored Adoration is not necessarily limited to loud singing, hand-clappin’, foot-stomppin, shoutin’ and dancing to drum thumping, key-board tickling, guitar pick’n tunes escalating His Glory!

Who nu? There is a high praise in God, where the weary souls, thirsty and hungry for an escape from the chaos of this world’s clamor, finding rest, security, strength and hope, fall prostrate into HIS PRESENCE!

There’s a secret place in The Impregnable Rock of Salvation, where mere words are no longer necessary, and sighs are welcomed, giving way to hope-filled silence, birthing unspoken-bellows of acceptable obedient prayers and God-Centered Praise and Worship!

There is an epiphany where we all must ascribe to reach in God, where we practice appreciation and respect for HIM by disciplining ourselves, focusing our minds and making a conscious decision that I’m going to Bless God—not just for all of His Goodness to me—BUT for WHO HE IS!

In this lofty estate, time spent waiting on The Lord is no longer full of anxious frustration, but quiet peaceful resting in child-like confident anticipation, trusting that you’re being kept safely, far from your conspirators’ reach, hidden in The Glory of His WONDEROUS PRESENCE.

As God’s Chosen, you’re surrounded by a Fortress, the Builder and Maker is The Creator of The Universe, where we can breathe easily, waiting patiently, for as long as HE says,  fully assured that everything we will ever need and hope for comes from HIM—JESUS!

The Holy Spirit is calling! Be still, in that Peace-Filled-Knowing that all of your Help and Glory is in The All-Powerful God, your GOD! SILENT PRAISE!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

NOW IS NOT ALWAYS!

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NOW IS NOT ALWAYS 2

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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 40:31

 

It’s been acclaimed by some Biblical scholars, that we, the New Millennium 21st Century Church Age, are the generation destined to witness the fulfillment of End-Time Biblical Prophecy!

While I’m certainly not an expert of Eschatology, yet it’s no wide-stretch of the imagination, to speculate that we are INDEED living in times that try and even vex the very souls of the righteous.

Glancing through 2 Timothy 3:1-7’s description of the perilous times in the earth, it sounds distinctly-uncomfortably-familiar to us who are expectantly awaiting The Second Coming of our Lord, huh?

Much to Satan’s delight, Spirits of Terror, Fear, Apathy and Discouragement have crept into the minds and hearts of the people of God to such a degree that even ‘Seasoned-Saints’ are becoming weary in their well doing.

May I submit these words of  comfort and encouragement as a reminder to your soul today? “DON’T GET IT TWISTED! THE DEVIL AIN’T RUNNING NOTHING!!!

While it may appear as if this world’s falling apart, from God’s Perspective, EVERYTHING IS FALLING RIGHT IN PLACE!

As my GrandMa Annie used to say, “this world is not our home and I didn’t come here to stay!” We merely sojourning thru this land; ever mindful that GOD has reserved a special place which far exceeds anything we could dare imagine or hope for.  That’s HEAVEN, YALL! #didjaheardat?

Much to the devil’s dismay, therefore, be it RESOLVED Our Eternal God is yet seated on HIS Throne.  HE has not nor will He ever relinquish one iota of HIS GLORY to anyone or anything! 
 
Be it further RESOLVED, that absolutely Nothing that you’ve been thru, Nothing you’re going thru NOW should make you want to tuck tail and turn back to that life that you’ve been delivered from. 

Don’t limit your expectations of Our Omnipotent God to your previous experiences! What God has for you is always in front of you!  Trust God!  Everything that  God has planned for your future won’t even fit in your past!  (Ref. Jeremiah 29:11-13) OOOOHHHH GGLLOORRRAAAA!!!
 
OH YEAH, B 4 U EVEN THINK ABOUT GIVING UP…PLEASE CHECK THE BACK OF THE BOOK–YOU WIN!   REMEMBER, NOW IS NOT ALWAYS—GREATER IS COMING! 

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

WAYFARING WIT

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WAYFARING WIT2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

How much better to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! Proverbs 16:16

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Proverbs 8:10-11

 

WOW! We’ve come a long way, Baby!

As far as the ingathering of information and the major technological accomplishments attained by this 21st Century New Millennium Age is concerned, undoubtedly, we’ve taken quantum leaps exceedingly well beyond the realm of possibility to even the most esteemed intellectuals and astute scientific calculus of days gone by.

In other words, (sigh)! It’s safe to say that knowledge abounds!

Unfortunately, the scarcity of wit, wisdom and truth is decisively profound! Generally the appeal for this degree of understanding is left to those few famished, disillusioned, disinfranchised, exhausted, wayfaring scavengers who wander off rush-hour-grid-locked-getting-byways and highways to worldly success and traditional religious rituals. For reasons, yet unknown, somehow some of us are being distinctly drawn to the under-passes, service roads, and trenches; seeking the hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places of The Kingdom of His Presence! (Ref. Isaiah 45:3)

Who knew that we’d be called to the Kingdom for such a time as this? Who knew that before we lived one day that our Master already had a plan, purpose,  and a hope-filled destination for our lives?

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2

Wisdom is calling!

“But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; And you have been weary of Me. O Israel” Isaiah 43:22

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1Timothy 6:6-8

“Congratulations! You finally got what you wanted, BUT… lost what you had”!

Didjaheardat? Missed it, huh? WAYFARING WIT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

EMPTY POTS

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EMPTY POT 2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Isaiah 44:20

I can only imagine what’s going on in the mind and heart of Elohim gazing down the the portals of time from Eternity, seeing the massive gathering of Sunday Morning worshipers.

Look at us, over there we’re suited down in our St. Johns and over here in our Sean Johns. Got our weaves looking fresh jus like dat and our hair perfectly trimmed tight. Etienne Aigner shoes and our New York Yankees designer hats neatly tucked under the pews, just in case the person next to us gets a bit too unruly.

Once the policeman re-directed the traffic to turn left (because the parking lot was already filled to its capacity) finally, we’re glad to be seated in our favorite row. The stage is set! The sound-man gives the nod, the lighting is in sync with the Minister of Music and the Choreographer has gotten the attention of the Liturgical Dancers, we’re ready! Let’s Get It Done…BAMM!

Not so fast! I see ‘yall’, BUT where’s ‘The Glory’? Where are the God-Seekers? Who’s actually among us here to Honor HIM?

“What’s up with you asking us these kinds of questions? How could you miss HIM? Didn’t you see all those fine automobiles parked outside of this grandiose sanctuary? I bet if you tallied up the cost that was spent at the hair salons this week, you’d probably could buy a small nation. And you know the price for an authentic custom-tailored suit these days ain’t cheap, given inflation. Not to mention the small fortune the church puts out to fuel up our Pastor’s jet. You got some nerve asking about GOD! Obviously GOD has been good to us!”

Okay! Granted, you got a whole lot of stuff going on. You can afford to sit back on your laurels proudly contented and cozy, belly full and satisfied, enjoying the fruit of your successful accomplishments, and resting in the warm of your own fire. Man! that’s the life that God promised us or is it?

When was the last time you actually talked to The God you claim to belong to and serve? Did you even thank HIM for waking you up this morning, giving you the strength to get up (under your own volition) and the mind to brush your teeth with a toothbrush and not a hair brush? Have you really forgotten that there was a time when going to church on a Sunday morning never crossed you mind and the only cross you carried was dangling from your rear view mirror as a token protector for you and your property? Remember when the only word you read with any consistency was your horoscope?

Yeah, Buddy! What a life!

And you call those folk—who just can’t wait to get to Church, not just on Sunday mornings, but Bible Study, prayer meetings, whatever and whenever the doors of the church are open, they gotta be in The House, in fellowship with like-minded spirits after being amidst a bunch of God-Haters all week/day long, we who are desperate for the times of refreshment found only in the Presence of The Lord—out of touch with reality! REALLY?

Come, let’s reason this thing out together.

IS GOD BLESSED BY YOUR WORSHIP OR IS IT A STINCH IN HIS NOSTRILS?

EMPTY POTS, huh?

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

 

LET GOD RUB OFF ON U!

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LET GOD RUB OFF ON U3

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

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

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

Evrrrr noticed, that if you spend a lot of time around someone you admire, who happens to have a strangely-peculiar personality, the strangely-peculiar affect they tend to have on you? Startlingly, without my consciousness (until my kids so happily pointed out) my conversation conspicuously became sporadically seasoned with some of the same words, same dialect and same mannerisms as my friend. Obviously, a little bit of “Anna” had rubbed off on me!

It works the exact same way when it comes to strengthening your personal relationship with God!

As believers, the Father’s Plan is to mold us into the image of Jesus. The moment you are born again, Holy Spirit begins the process of Supernatural Empowered Transformation of our spirit until it looks just like Him. Spiritually, you were instantly changed on the inside; however the progression of outward change depends largely upon us.

The amount of time spent pursuing things of the Spirit correlates directly to our spiritual growth and development. If most of your time is spent satisfying the lustful desires of your flesh, inevitably your spiritual growth will be stunted! #ijs However, as you begin to separate yourself apart from the worldly things of life and dedicate more time to studying The Word of God, mounting habitual alone-time with Him, The Holy Spirit will ecstatically teach, guide and share Christ-Likeness with you. He’s gonna rub off on you until His ways become your ways!

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

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

Ohh, by the way, guess who introduced me to Jesus Christ? Yep, Anna! THANKYA JESUS!

I “D-DOUBLE-DARE” YA! LET GOD RUB OFF ON YOU!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee