Category Archives: Growing in Grace

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

A SOUL’S DELIGHT!

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A SOUL'S DELIGHT

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doeth he meditate day and night! Psalm 1:1-2 KJV

How well God must like you – you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.2 Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.  Psalm 1:1-2 THE MESSAGE

 

When the Holy Ghost pricked my heart with this text, immediately my mind went to the scripture about the sisters, Mary and Martha!  Y’all remember, Martha was complaining to Jesus ‘Lord, it ain’t right that Mary should be sitting in here with all yall, while I’m in the kitchen working trying to get this food ready’. However, I don’t think she expected Jesus to respond like He did, huh? Jesus didn’t rebuke Mary, but he told Martha that Mary had chosen, ‘the best part’. (Ref. Luke 10:42) Surprisingly, Martha’s got a whole lot of sisters and brothers out here, even among the Household of Faith! #ijs

I gotta confess, I was totally shocked when I realized that not everyone whose name is written in The Lambs’ Book of Life, finds the WORD OF GOD delightful. I’m not trying to be sanctimonious or self-righteous, I’m just giving my experience, k?

The truth of the matter is, Satan wants to keep all of us, saved and unsaved alike, from the WORD OF GOD—By Any Means Necessary! He works deligently to distract us from spending time, reading, studying, and particularly, meditating and praying the Word.

Case in point, how many times have you made a decision (especially at the beginning of a New Year), that ‘This year, I’m gonna get in my Bible and see what God has promised me! I want to know what God wants to say to me. I want to know WHO GOD IS AND WHO I AM in him’. And what happens? Suddenly—out of nowhere, here comes something or someone that needs your immediate attention. Seriously, fires just seem to pop up everywhere you look, right?

Beloved, don’t take the bait! Somebody said, the best defense is a good offense! Hence, it’s important for us to hide God’s Word in our hearts, so that when challenges, tests, trials and tragedies interrupt our lives, instead of caving in to the pressure of temporary circumstances, out of our hearts will flow the Eternal Well-spring of Life, a confident re-assuring hope that our ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13) 

When we make time to fill our spirit, with the Immutable Word of God, we might bend, but we won’t brake!

We must remember that while the issues of life are often a surprise to us—nothing that has, is going on now, or will ever happen in our life, will ever make God say “OOPS! WHERE DAT COME FROM – HOW DID THAT GET PASS ME”! #Didjaheardat? C’mon nah!

As believers, we must be fully persuaded that The God we serve is SOVEREIGN! HE IS ULTIMATELY ABSOLUTELY COMPLETELY IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. And when you know that you know this, YOU KNOW that SATAN AIN’T RUNNING NOTHING! In fact, before he can get to you—HE’S GOTTA GO THRU JESUS! HALLELUJAHHHH! Somebody hold my mule!!!

The scripture says, that ‘Greater is He who is in us, than who is in the world’.  (Ref. 1 John 4:4) and even when our own heart condemn us, “He’s greater than our hearts”. (1 John 3:20)  WOW! 

Beloved, if you are truly a Born-Again, Blood-Washed Believer, your spirit man is always on, we just need to stay tuned, and open to hear what the Spirit is speaking to our spirit. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

Truthfully, many of God’s people are so busy, (just like Martha) caught up in the grind of daily life, trying to get their children to sports activities, a promotion, a new degree, upgrade their house, car, purse or spouse that there’s rarely time left to fellowship with Jesus around His Word!

Precious one, when we take time, pausing to delight ourselves in His Presence, meditating in His Word, GOD Will direct our steps, instruct our hearts and lead us in the right pathways! TRUST2KNO, God delights in our deligent seeking and rewards us with Grace to walk secure in His Peace, regardless of what’s going on around, and even on the inside of us.

I know it ain’t my business, but I’m jus say’n, WHAT DELIGHTS U? SERIOUSLY?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

LIVING WATERS

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LIVING WATERS 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

He that believe on ME, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2

Because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen…” Isaiah 43:20b

 

In the natural, most expectant mothers anticipating blessed arrival of her new baby with unrestrained excitement, shops until she drops! At the same time, the realization that before she actually holds her beautiful bouncing bundle of joy in her arms, she must first endure the grueling discomfort and pain of labor and delivery, can’t help but cause a certain degree of apprehension.

Every woman who has had a baby knows that as the labor progresses, the pain intensifies. Although we’re unable to accurately determine what the baby goes through, we can safely assume, by reason of anatomy, making its way through some extremely tight places causes a certain amount of discomfort for the child as well. For nine months, the womb has been his home and now, he’s reluctantly forced to transition into the next level of life.

Hence, spiritually, our rebirthing process also requires intense laboring for deliverance. Every blood washed, born-again, child of the Living God has been impregnated with purpose and potential. However, making our transition from one realm of spiritual reality into another, (from grace 2 grace) ultimately involves some degree of violent struggle. The ol’ church used to say, no pain – no gain!

Consequently, as we matriculate from one level of spiritual maturity to the next, we’re forced to navigate through some tight circumstances. Sometimes, just as in the natural birthing process, in order to hasten the birth and avoid the complications and dangers associated with a dry birth, the doctor may deliberately puncture the embryonic sack. This process is called “breaking the water”.

Likewise, to ensure that a believer transitions spiritually into our highest potential, the spiritual mid-wife, The Holy Spirit, fills His chosen with soul refreshing, sweet living waters drawn from the Wells of Salvation! This water is called Joy.  (Ref. Isaiah 12:3) This joy is not a state of mind neither is it a fleeting emotion; but to a believer facing the challenges and afflictions incurred through famine and drought of  the desert storms of life, JOY becomes a Weapon of Mass Destruction!

Saints, whatever you’re going through, YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!  While weeping may endure for a night, God has promised, Joy is coming in the morning!  (Ref. Psalm 30:5) God has chosen you as HIS very Own BELOVED!  Keep in mind that in God’s Kingdom, purpose always trumps pain! TRUST2KNO, that pain you’re now experiencing  is only a sign that Holy Spirit has just induced your labor and your water is about to break! 

Don’t sweat the process, God is positioning you into the next stage of Abundant Everlasting Life! #SERIOUSLY !!!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

U CAN ALWAYS LEAN ON ME!

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U CAN ALWAYS LEAN ON ME

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me…He brought me out into a spacious place, he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:16-17, 19

 
Let’s be honest, k? Looking at the state of this New millennium society,  many of God’s elect find ourselves confronted by circumstances that challenge the very foundation of our trust! We’re seeing things that were once believed unimaginable realized right before our very eyes! Our hearts are overwhelmed by the swiftness of the degradation of the core of humanity’s morality! While wisdom is largely rejected and Shame is nearly extinct, Arrogance and Deceit have become the new order of the day! Thereby  emboldening mankind to do whatever seems right in his own mind!  While we dare not confess, either publically or privately, truthfully, many seasoned-saints are secretly fainting, wearied in well-doing and longing for the Promised Rapture!

Rarely do you find the sacred sounds flowing from the sanctuaries on Sunday mornings, noon day prayer meetings and Friday nites where the people of God once gathered to call on The Name that’s above every name before erupting into exuberant praises and worship-filled celebrations of real deliverances wrought by The Faithful Hand of The Lord!  Apparently, the induction of the more sophisticated-politically-correct-con temporal-relevant- reformations of Millenniums have subrocated many of the ol’ skool teachings, songs and hymns to backroom storage in dusty piano benches in order to make the message more palatable to the masses! #ijs #Don’tshoutmedownnah!

Unfortunately, there are some troubles, tests and trials that you can’t STOMP yourself out of or BOUNCE your way thru! Time is hurling into Eternity at the speed of life and 45 seconds of the nitely news affirms that we’re living in the last of the last days! As the institutions of men are being shaken by sporadic turbulent waves of the wisdom of this age, it’s incumbent upon each of us to be very sure that our souls are firmly anchored in The Solid Rock!

As the ol’ Mothers used to sanng, ‘In times like this, U Need a Savior, in times like this, U need an Anchor! Thanks Be 2 God, there’s yet a remnant of believers who are crying out, “Lead Me to The Rock that’s higher than I’! As satanic fiery darts continue to spread globally, consuming dreams, diminishing aspirations and devastating families, we must earnestly bend our knees and bow our hearts Heaven-ward, seeking refuge in the secret  pavilion of The Most High God!

For in the time of trouble, we hide behind The Shield of our very Present Help who faithfully rescues those who delight in His Truth!  Driven by The Eternal Hope, our souls rest assured in quietness, peace and joy, awaiting the The Horn of our Salvation, courageously-confident that God’s Power is Incomparable, His Love is Inseparable and His Provision and Protection are Infinite!

Sshhhhh! Didjaheardat? SOMEONE’S CALLING YOUR NAME!

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Beloved, whenever life’s maladies leave you too weak to stand on your own, chances are you’re right where God wants you! Positioned for breakthrough! Remember, God never intended you to do life independent of GODSELF, that’s why He sent Holy Spirit!  “TRUST2KNO…U CAN  ALWAYS LEAN ON ME!”

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

HIGHER PRAIZ!

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HIGHER PRAIZ 2

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

We have thought, “O God, on Your lovingkindness, in the midst of Your temple.According to Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice. Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments. Psalm 48:9-11

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. Psalm 134:2

 

Being Pentecostal, born and bred, means that I am accustomed, and I might add, an extremely 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!

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

There’s a secret place, a Cleft hued out 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 regardless of my circumstances, 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, whose 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!

#DIDJAHEARDAT? The Holy Spirit is calling! Be still, in that ‘Peace-Filled-Knowing’ that all of your Help and Hope of Glory abides in The All-Powerful God,  EL SHADDAI…your FATHER AND your GOD!  NOW THAT’S A HIGHER PRAISE! #WOW #AWEMAAZIN, huh?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

MORE JESUS!

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MORE JESUS!

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. days (before Christ, y’all), 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 consciously realizing when nor how, (until my kids so happily pointed out to me) 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!

Didjaknow? It works the exact same way when it comes to strengthening your personal relationship with God! #4REAL!

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,  when you sincerely ask God to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart, you were instantly changed on the inside; howevvvrrrrr, the progression of outward change depends largely upon us! #Didjaheardat?

Evidently, there’s a significant correlaation between the amount of time spent pursuing the things of the Spirit and the rate of our personal spiritual growth and development. If most of our time is spent satisfying the lustful desires of our  sin-loving flesh, inevitably our spiritual growth will be stunted!  Don’t shout me down nah! #ijs!

However, as you begin to separate yourself apart  from the worldly (carnal and ungodly) things of life (#sanctify) and deligently dedicate more time to studying The Word of God and mounting habitual alone-time with Him (consecrate), The Holy Spirit will ecstatically teach, guide and share Christ-Likeness with you.  Hence, 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!!!

Truthfully, until you have a real-life personal encounter of The Divine-Kind, you are clueless of Who and Whose You REALLY ARE? Not to mention the worth and purpose that’s yet to be revealed in and through The GOD IN YOU!

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!  My friend has since gone HOME to be with The Lord, BUT THANKYA JESUS 4 unexpected Angels, huh?

I “D-DOUBLE-DARE” YA! LET MORE OF JESUS RUB OFF ON YOU!

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

A WORD 2 THE WISE: STAY FOCUSED & FAITHFUL!

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A WORD 2 THE WISE. STAY FOCUSED AND FAITHFUL

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts; I am The First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. And who can proclaim as I do? …
Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are MY witnesses. Is there a GOD besides Me?” Isaiah 44:6, 8

 

We’re living in a day in time where Satan is going throughout the land rampantly, seeking to sift the faith and courage of the people of God by inflicting them with a spirit of intimidation and deception! As the waves of chaos and darkness continue to sweep over our heads, even those who proclaim the Name of Christ find themselves reeling and gasping for hope as this world is being turned upside down! What was once sacredly beheld as right is now being promoted as wrong! But, knowing the frailty of our flesh, the Eternal Words our Heavenly King speaks to us from Eternity Past, assuring us that everything that’s happening in this 21st Century has been appointed, declared and proclaimed from The Ancient of Days!

While we may be surprised by many of the things that are going down in our midst, TRUST2KNO, nothing ever happens that can make God say “Ooops, where did that come from?” #NEVER #EVER!

Therefore, while it appears as if our world is falling apart, we must not allow our trust to waiver nor our focus to be tossed to and fro by the turbulent winds erupting from the last-ditch end-time disastrous efforts of the adversary to confuse and dispel our confidence! Hence, since we’ve been forewarned, our faith must yet remain steadfastly affixed in the Sovereign Love, Power and Faithfulness of HE Who has chosen us to be His eye witnesses to His Magnificent Glory, The Rock of Ages!

Yes, Satan does have a PLOT, BUT GOD’S PURPOSE SHALL 4EVER PREVAIL!

“I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happenstance to them all.” Eccl. 9:11

Didjaheardat?

Beloved, Don’t Be Foolish! It behooves each and every one of us to make a personal decision and irrevocable commitment, ‘COME WHAT MAY…But as for ME and my house, we’re gonna stick with The One Who called us from our Mother’s Womb AND Who brought US this far to Carry US ALL THE WAY N2 OUR ETERNAL DESTINY!

A WORD 2 THE WISE: STAY FOCUSED & STAY FAITHFUL!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I REST MY CASE!

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I REST MY CASE

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Heb. 4:11)

 

There is a certain ‘place’ that every human, believer or unbeliever, inevitably seeks  to inhabit. However, you can’t locate it on Map Quest, Google or GPS. Given all of the sophisticated technological advancements of this 2lst Century, amazingly, it can’t be seen by telescope,  detected by satellite nor heard by electronic ultra sonic sound systems. You can’t travel there walking, running, swimming, driving or riding in a bus, train, plane,  cruise liner, submarine, rocket or battle ship!

Nevertheless, many a lifetime is spent meandering through days and nights pursuing it! Unfortunately, few ever get there. Some get closer than others only to be left drenched in disappointment!! For reasons unbeknownst to them, before they’re able to get a firm grasp, some way and some how, ‘it’ escapes to just beyond reach! Many have sought for it at the pinnacle of corporate, academia or entertainment world. Ultimately ascertaining  that despite the success, accolades, notoriety, wealth and privileges of the elite, there yet remains this insatiable unfulfilled inner-quest seated in the pit of their soul!

Where is this place that continues to evade so many a desperately wandering soul?

In case you haven’t figured it out, it’s called ‘REST’! And the reason so many fail to reach it, is because it is not a place but a person; and His Name is JESUS!

According to these Scriptures: “And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?” (Heb. 3:18)

“Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief” (Heb. 4:6)

Apparently, that which is impossible to man is always possible to God! (Ref. Matthew 19:26)

Didjaheardat? Astonisingly, the very moment anyone places their ABSOLUTE trust in The Saving Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ, they have finally arrived, safe , sound and secure, at their Destination—REST!

What an awesome privilege our Heavenly Father has endowed those who desire and depend solely upon His assistance, (above all else)  presenting their case before  The Majestic Throne of Him Who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond anything they dare ask or imagine,  confidently releasing their cares, anxiety, fears, doubts and unbelief in The Hands of Unrelenting Loving-Kindness and Unlimited Grace!

Beloved,  He Who has sworn by GODSELF is FAITHFUL AND TRUE! (Rev. 19:11) Hence, when you place your personal trust in HIS WORD,  you cannot be defeated and you will never be denied!  For greater is HE that is in YOU than he that’s in this world! (Ref. 1 John 4:4)

Didjaheardat?

So do what you can! Pray about anything; trust God for everything and LEAVE THE REST TO JESUS! #GOTIT?? Aaawwwwmmmaaaazzzzzin!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee