Category Archives: guidance

HOW BAD DO U WANT HIM?

HOW BAD DO U WANT HIM

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Philippians 3:10

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

 

One of the most intriguing topical discussions amongst expectant mothers and women who have become mothers (besides swapping labor stories) is the abnormally-intensified cravings that we experience during pregnancy awaiting the birth of their beautiful bouncing bundle of joy!

While, much to my amazement, my eldest is presently encroaching 50 years of age, yet, I can still summon up that daily occurrence of overwhelming ferociousness, provoking me to walk my big-belly-self five city blocks up to MLK Avenue to get my hands around a 6 in., lettuce and tomatoes, fried onions, mayo, ketchup and mustard, salt and pepper, heavily-loaded with pickles steak and cheese sandwich. This became such a ritual that the moment I wobbled through the threshold of the deli, the cashier would holla to the cook “Steak and Cheese Special for the big lady”. And off I’d be to our little one-bedroom apartment on Oakwood Street, five blocks back, just as happy as if I’d discovered a treasure chest filled with diamonds, rubies and gold.

Somehow, the journey back never seemed as difficult or as long, perhaps because I’d be that much closer to relishing the second I’d take my first bite of my bounty! Oh my, what we won’t do for love, huh?

Well guess what? That’s exactly how believers ought to be in our quest for Jesus Christ!

We see this truth evidenced in the life of The Apostle Paul. We can almost feel the earnest urgency with which The Apostle sought after his intentional personal, intimate- knowing and understanding of “The True One” Who had apprehended him on the Damascus Road. (Ref. Acts 9) It was as if Paul was driven by an uncommonly unique passionate desire that set him on a course that remains unchartered territory to even the most astutely-religious 21st Century church-goers today.

Yet, there is that remnant of us whose yearning for more JESUS consumes most of our waking moments and often invading our nights with dreams and images of His Awesomeness. Imagine my surprise at the realization that not everyone in the church shares this delight-filled insatiable lusting for The Living Water and The Bread of Life! #4REAL!

This might very well explain why some who profess Christ, are content with following Him a far off while others are compelled to dig-out the secret treasures hidden in The Word of God, diligently, intentionally searching the Scriptures daily that they might know HIM in ways that may never be actualized by the second-handed-casually-acquainted follower—experientially! (Ref. Acts 17:11)

The Word of God is Alive and gives LIFE to any who have a desire for The God Who Speaks revealing GOD-SELF through His Auto-Biography, inscribed through Genesis into Revelation, that all who seek Him with all of their hearts, minds, spirit, soul and body may know HIM (TRUTH) intimately. Sadly, not everyone who calls Him Savior seek Him as Lord, huh? #ijs Yall!

Therefore, much to their own sorrow, they miss out on the true wealth and reward of a personal, dynamic, GOD-involved relationship that awaits us who lend our hearts and attention to discovering The Father in the face of His First-Begotten Son, Jesus! (Ref. Colossians 1:15-16)

My precious one, seeking God, although often challenging, should never become be a chore! However, may I submit for your momentary consideration, that our response to His drawing is vindictive of the level of love, faith and commitment towards Him!

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34:8)

HENCE, WHATEVER POSITION GOD OCCUPIES IN YOUR HEART DETERMINES HIS PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE! #IJS HOW BAD DO U WANT HIM?  

 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD

THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, ‘No one sees me’; Your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; And you have said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one else besides me.’ Isaiah 47:10

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved; it is the power of God…for after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God; it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 20

 

Granted, in this new Millennium Church Age,  some challenge the relevancy and even the validity of ‘The preaching of the Cross’!  After all, we have so much going on, so much information available to us right at the tips of our fingers! And of course there’s always so much to accomplish and so little time, huh? 

Well, guess what? Contrary to Millennial pop culture, God knew before we knew how long and how far mankind would go to avoid accountability!

According to 2 Timothy 4:3, ‘For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts.’

In other words, the focus would no longer be how to live a holy and sanctified life, in this present world, but folk would religiously come to church to scratch an itch, you know, to satisfy their hunger for more and some more of the WORLD’S creature comforts.  Of course they’d use a more palatable vernacular, such as, “Give me a ‘word’ that will tell me how I can supersize my life!” Or perhaps, “I’ll give you a part of my ‘free day’ if you can make it worth my while; you know, cheer me up, make me feel good (bring on the hype)! “A’int nobody got time for foolishness!” And we’d certainly be remiss to ignore this one—“You can’t judge me, God knows My Heart!” 

TRUST2KNO, you’re absolutely right! But the fact that that alone doesn’t terrify you is in itself “self-incrimidating’! Think about it, GOD is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent! Thus, He’s everywhere at the same time, knows everything about everything and is able to do anything at anytime! Hence, wherever you go, whatever you think and whatever you do, never takes GOD BY SURPRISE! #WOW! #ijs! 
I know we shouldn’t be shocked—but C’mon! This prevailing attitude of  ‘entitlement’  amongst the household of faith? Yeah, I mean, we’re not talking about ‘worldly sinners’ we’re talking–Church Folks! Don’t shout me down, nah!

But to those of us who yet believe in the Testimony of Jesus Christ and the Gospel message of that ol’ rugged cross, the preaching of the cross is not foolishness, but it is the Power of God to save the sinner man who will dare to believe that The Word of God is True!

Frankly, it’s easy to understand exactly why the Deceitful Destroyer works so diligently to keep humanity blinded from The Truth.  If we were in his position, we wouldn’t want this Good News on blast in mainstream media, either!  Obviously!!  The Bible says, if they only knew ‘They never would’ve crucified Christ’ in the first place. (1 Corinthians 2:8) Well guess what, devil, You’re over 2000 years too late!
 
To the weary wanderer, The Cross is the Place of Refuge! To the lost, The Cross is the Center of the Universe, where Eternity collided with Time and Mercy and Grace unashamedly kissed each other! To the unlovable faint of heart, The Cross is The Power and Love of God openly revealed and freely offered in exchange for our rebellion against God! To the spiritually bankrupt, The Cross the Place of Welcomed Surrender– where, you give Him your all, He Gives You His All!

To those who’re trapped in darkness, The Cross is where the Light of GOD’S Amazing Grace is still shining—beckoning us before the day of gross darkness overtakes you—COME!

DIDJAHEARDAT? THE WISDOM OF GOD HELPS US 2 SAFELY NAVIGATE  LIFE, AVOIDING SATANIC SNARES AND TRAPS DESIGNED TO DEPOSE OUR ETERNAL DESTINY! BUT, THANK GOD 4 THE  FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING! So who’s the real fool?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann CaffeeI

 

GOD IS HOLY, BUT MINISTRY IS MESSY

GOD IS HOLY BUT MINISTRY IS MESSY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool—HE IS HOLY.

Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called upon His name; They called upon the LORD, and He answered them.

He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar; They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.

You answered them, O LORD our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives , on their deeds. Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at his Holy hill, For the LORD our GOD IS HOLY. Psalm 99:5-9

 

Considering all that God has done through the Life, Death, Burial and Resurrection of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, it’s just our reasonable service to esteem His Righteousness and exalt His Name as Awesome and Worthy of reverent adoring praise and worship! After all, except Jesus humbling Himself, leaving The Holiness, Glory and Majesty He’d known throughout Eternity Past, coming down to dwell among wormy humanity, we’d never know the Love, Justice, Equity and Righteousness of The Invisible Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient Living God and Creator!

And to think, He was so committed to fulfilling His Father’s plan and purpose for His most precious of all creation, He submitted Himself so graciously,  ignoring our rejection and despising the shame and bore the burden of our sin that we might become sons of God! #AWEMAAZING #GRACE

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:11-12

Likewise, we who have accepted the Benefits of so great a Salvation, have been charged with the responsibility to carry out our Redeemer’s assignment that His Joy may be filled to the overflow! Unfortunately, as God’s Intercessors Moses, Aaron and Samuel discovered, the pathway of Righteousness is often plagued with test, trials, trauma and travesty! In other words, it’s not always easy to help those you’re assigned to minister to! Ministry is Messy!

Nevertheless, it behooves us to remember Whose we are and Who we’ve been called to serve!  In other words, since we represent Christ, we must take on the same character. It ain’t about making a name for ourselves but it’s about lifting up The Name of Jesus! This tremendous task requires compassionate gentleness, meekness, discipline, loads of tolerance and a whole lotta intentional knowing that Sinners sin and hurting people, hurt people!

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me!” John 15:19-21

Didjaheardat?

Beloved, if it had not been for the LORD, reaching way down and snatching you and I out of our miry clay, where would we be?  I don’t know about you, but my heart yet flutters  shamefully at such thoughts! BUT GOD, huh? Yes Lawd!

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness, shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthews 5:20

Never 4get, we are all called to be intercessors, if for no other reason but eternal gratitude! Hence, don’t be so easily offended but gird up the loins of your mind, strap yourself in the whole armour of God and report for duty!

TRUST2KNOW, without the test, there’d be no testimonies and without treking though the swamp of human misery, there’d be no ministry! #ijs…MINISTRY IS MESSY! #CARRYON!!!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

PROMISE KEEPER!

PROMISE KEEPER

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

So He said, “I will certainly be with you….” Exodus 3:12a
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:11-12

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

 

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we vow to live our lives according to the testimony God reveals in The Holy Bible. As our knowledge of God’s Word increases, we discover how God has ordained certain rights, privileges and promises to us and for us. Yet, even as confessing Believers, sometimes we fall short when it comes to experiencing the fulfillment of God’s exceedingly great and precious promises. Don’t shout me down now, yall!

Consequently, our churches are filled with frustrated, anxious, angry and unsatisfied folk who’re secretly disappointed with God. AMEN Anyhow! For the record, let’s concede this, GOD IS NOT THE PROBLEM! Therefore, His Faithfulness is not on trial! God’s Word is Eternally Immutable, Faithful and True.

So what’s up? We go to church and hear the gospel—well most of the time—anyway, preached with power and conviction. We enjoy the sermon, buy the CD’s and the DVD’s. We’ll leave the sanctuary talking about “Man, we had CHUURCH today”. But, the question is, where’s the evidence that what we’ve heard has profited our lives? For real, where’s the change in our personal situations?

It may behoove us to interrogate the Word more closely. The Scripture declares, ‘Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing By The Word’, right?  Obviously, the breakdown does not exist in the effectiveness of THE WORD! Hence, that leaves the higher probability that our inability to see the manifestation of the PROMISE lies in our personal cognition to believe and accept the Integrity of GOD’S WORD!

Moses was called by GOD to do a task that was so completely outside of his comfort zone causing him to offer up a plethora of excuses why successfully completing the assignment was impossible! GOD told Moses that He’d heard the desperate cry of the children of Israel, I’ve see how the Egyptians have oppressed; now I am sending you to Pharaoh that you may bring MY people out of Egypt! I will certainly be with you…When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve GOD on this mountain.” (Ref. Exodus 3:9-10; 12)

Now, stop looking at me with that tone of voice! U know there’s been plenty of times God presented a situation in your face, that even with the aid of 66 Books of Holy Writ, you were so overwhelmed with the challenge that you immediately started questioning God’s reasoning not to mention His decision that you were remotely qualified and equipped to go thru what you would have to go thru, not to mention come out! #ijs

However, GOD never asks us to do anything that He’s not willing to get personally involved! When GOD promised Moses, ‘I WILL CERTAINLY BE WITH YOU’ that was the game changer! The value of a promise solely depends upon the Authority, Ability and the Involvement of the One who’s making the promise! SINCE GOD ALONE IS THE SELF-PROCLAIMED I AM WHO I AM…THE ALPHA & THE OMEGA, WHO SPOKE TO NOTHING AND CREATED EVERYTHING…we might jus wanna put our trust and confidence in whatever HE SAYS, HE CAN AND WILL DO!

After all, WHO CAN STAY HIS HAND! Remember Pharaoh and his horses all drowned in the Red Sea! (Ref. Exodus 14:21-23)

Beloved, it matters not how high the mountain you must overcome, how wide valley you must go thru, nor how deep the river you must cross over, hold on the The Master’s Hand, lean not to your own understanding, but trust in His Promises with all of your heart, committing your whole being to His Keeping Power and you shall see The Saving Grace of our God! TRUST2KNO! Every Promise that God’s left on record is still as good as it was the day He Spoke it into Being! Hence, don’t wait ’til the battle is over, SHOUT NOW!

#BELIEVE 2 C THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING! HE IS THE PROMISE KEEPER!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

THE GOD WHO NEVER FAILS!

 

THE GOD WHO NEVER FAILS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. Joshua 21:44-45

 

Anybody remember, ‘integrity’? Barely, huh?

Apparently, it’s relevancy has been cast aside as an ol’ antiquated byword resurrected only as necessary to mete out convenient manipulation! Just look at what’s happening in this world! Emanating from The Oval Office down, people are being embolden by a demonic-induced spirit of deception to qualify and quantify truth to suit their own evil intent! Henceforth, we’re living amidst a broken, untrustworthy system of disillusionment Those who we ought to be able to believe and trust have proven to be profound liars, totally devious and temperamental! Unfortunately, without the assistance of Truth Personified, there’s little hope for distinguishing reality from fake news!

According to our text, the promise God made to Abraham while he was in Ur, was fulfilled generations later when God intervened on their behalf, driving out all the inhabitants of the land and allowing Israel to go in and conquer the land under Joshua’s leadership! Not only did God give Abraham’s ancestors all the land He’d promised but He also gave them rest all around! #Didjaheardat!

God’s miraculous deliverance proved there’s yet One, you can count on to be Faithful, Dependable and Unfailing! Family and friends may try to be there for you, but as history has revealed, sometimes they’ll let you down. But TRUST2KNO, no matter what you may be going thru, with GOD a delay is not a denial! GOD WILL NEVER LET U DOWN! GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU! (Ref. Hebrew 13:5)

TRUTHBETOLD!  Even in those dark seasons when it seems as if GOD’S response was a direct contradiction to what you were believing for, yet while we’re indulging in our ‘internal WHY’, we must realize that GOD is not a man that He should lie and seeing beyond our circumstances, GOD always operates in HIS SOVEREIGN PURPOSE & HIS WILL!

I recognize that Millennials may not be able to personally attest to all the Great and Mighty works that The Lord has done for His Chosen African-Americans, but if I could pass the proverbial ‘mic’, undoubtedly, there would be cloud of witnesses extolling testimonies of God’s Divine Interruptions, preventing imminent disasters and devastation from dangers seen and unseen, giving way to ineluctable eruptions of glorious praiz and adoration, culminating in “If it had not been for the LORD on my side, I never would’ve made it!” Yeah Baby, The Lord has brought us a Mighty, Mighty long way! And Thanks Be 2 God’s Grace and Mercy, God’s not ‘nary thru blessing all who will genuinely repent and seek His face in Truth!

Beloved, there’s no denying it, the struggle is real! However, GOD IS GREATER! It’s through the tests, trials and disappointments of life that God cultivates our faith, trust and confidence in HIM! As we travel the often tumultuous terrains,  tightly clasping The Hand of The Eternal Promise Keeper, it’s in our suffering, we learn that IF GOD SAID IT, HE’S ABLE AND WILLING TO BRING IT TO PAST! JUS HOLD ON! 4 OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL & NEVER FAILS! 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

 

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

Good morning Precious Saints of The Most High God! GOTTA MOMENT? GREAT!

Once again we’re delighted that you’ve joined us today in our Weekly Day of Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We’re are eternally grateful that You have afforded one more opportunity to enter Your gates with Thanksgiving and into Your courts with praise. We acknowledge the honor and privilege to draw nigh to You in earnest expectation, with outstretched arms, open hearts, and mouths filled with worship and praise! We now bow in Your Presence…

Awesome ruler, gentle Redeemer! God with us, the Living Truth; And what a friend we have in you!You are the Living Word! Jesus, Jesus! That’s what we call you! Manger born, but on a tree, You died to save humanity; You are the Living Word!

There is none like You. No one else can touch my heart like You do! I could search For all eternity long; And find There is none like You.There is none like You; No one else can touch my heart like You do! I could search For all eternity long; and I find, and I find… there is none … there is none…there is none…like You! NO NOT ONE! NO NOT ONE…LIKE…YOU…We’re pray now, believing and trusting…

Abba Father, once again we come before You lifting up The Magnificent, All Powerful Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus! All day long we shall continue rejoicing, praising and thanking You for blessing us to see THIS brand new day.  For we acknowledge that it was not because of any goodness of our own that we live, move and have our being! There’s no denying that it was You Alone, who chose to reach way down to pick up a nobody and make us somebody in Christ Jesus! Sweet Heavenly Father, it is with unspeakable joy that we embrace the abundance of Your Mercy, Grace, Power and Peace! You Alone are The True and Living God of Salvation, Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision! For You have kept our feet from slipping and preserved our lives from destruction!

PaPa God, we are always amazed that even knowing our frame, Your Faithful Compassionate Lovingkindness continuously allows You to see beyond our human frailties, flaws, faults and iniquities and yet minister to all of our need, even blessing us with the desires of our hearts, as You see fit! We are eternally grateful to You for the faith and power to believe the impossible!

Precious Jesus, we’re eternally grateful that You are The Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent, SOVEREIGN LORD! We’re fully persuaded that You Who Sit Enthroned Upon the circle of the earth, already know what’s going on in our world today and therefore, You are always in absolute control of all things! While we endeavor to entrust our lives to Your Saving Grace, in Light of the constant influx of this world’s system of profound  wickedness , arrogance and unjust transactions that are being perpetrated upon Your people from ‘the powers that be’, the atrocious shootings and bombings taking place all around us  it’s difficult to avoid experiencing sadden hearts and wearied spirits!

We look to You to  keep our hearts and minds in Perfect Peace! Help us to remember Your Promises as we walk through the valleys overshadowed with death, that we are never forsaken or alone! Just as You provided Light and Provision for Your people in Goshen, You will cover us under The shadow of Your Wings, safe and secure!You are a fence around us and keeping us hidden under The BLOOD of JESUS!

Because of Your Sustaining Grace, You always hear our cry and pity our groans, searching our hearts You send strength and courage from Zion! Precious Lord, we ask You to help us to know that YOU KNOW every heart grieved by the things that are happening in this sin-soiled society, and comfort Your people now! You’ve heard our enemies boastings as they run rampant throughout the land, that You don’t care for us, You’ve forsaken those who placed our personal faith in Your Love, even those who accuse You of not being strong enough to protect us from the strategic plots of the kingdom of darkness! Arise O King and let Your enemies be scattered! In Jesus Name!

Holy Father, according to Your Promises, in these last of the last days filled with imminent terror, tragedy, chaos and destruction, the safest place in this whole world is in YOUR PERFECT WILL! Therefore, we trust that those who seek to diligently apply Your statues to our lives shall enjoy the abundant lives that You have predestined for us now and forever!According to Your Word, You have not appointed those who trust in You to wrath but those who dishonor Your Righteousness are already condemned by their unrighteousness!

Abba Father, kneeling our hearts before You, we ask You to forgive us for every sin that we have committed, willfully and unwillfully, spoken or thought that was not pleasing in Your sight and that caused grief to Holy Spirit! We believe, according to Your Promise, that as we confess our transgressions and repent from the sincerity of our hearts, that You are Faithful and Just to forgive us, remove our sins from us, casting them into the Sea of Your Selective Forgetfulness, cleanse us from all unrighteousness through The Word and the Blood of Your Son Jesus and restoring us to The Righteousness of The Royal Sheepfold! For this cause, we gladly present our spirit, soul and body as a living holy sacrifice to be used for Your Greatest Glory!

Sweet Jesus, because no man can come to the Father except You draw them, we interceded on behalf of every lost soul, asking You to quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their heart and in their mind that they will come to You today, confessing with their mouths“a SINCERE YES” to Your undeserved Gift of Grace and receive You now as their personal Savior and LORD! We’re believing that because it’s never Your Will that anyone should perish but that all humanity be saved, You are directing their footsteps, placing and settling them into a local church home  where they will be nurtured and encouraged to live holy, acceptable and committed lives of faithful obedience to Your Word!

Lord, we pray that You reclaim every soul that has turned their back and walked away from Your Perfect Love and Will! Put a fresh “COMMITTED YES” in their heart and mind and let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to The Body of Christ. submitting the rest of their lives to the sound teachings of Your Word, learn to love and live their lives denying the lust of their flesh, walking daily to please and Glorify You to this lost, dark and dying world!

Father, touch the families and friends who lost children and love-ones because of  those who’ve opened their hearts to Satan’s voice and obeyed the demonic orders to harm and destruction of another human with no regard for the value of life. Holy Spirit, before they surrender to Satan’s diabolical deeds, arrest them and allow them to reflect upon the uncertain and brevity of this life that causes them to seek The Eternal Life that can only be found in a life wholly committed and anchored in The Saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Almighty God, we ask that You bless and heal the families and communities as attempt to go on. Enwrap the grieving hearts of Your precious people who are yet striving to overcome the tragedy by embracing Your Comforting Presence! Sweet Holy Spirit, as they attempt to go on serving Your with meaningful lives in their communities and the world, empower their hearts and minds with Divinely inspired Supernatural Grace, Wisdom and Strength! Gracious Lord, confirm and confict what we know, THAT YOU ARE YET ABLE TO TURN TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH, MISERY INTO MISSION AND MESS INTO MINISTRY, FOR YOUR NAMESAKE!

Abba Father, while we’re praying, we declare and decree that You are going from house to house, filling the atmospher with love, joy, peace, forgiveness, mercy and restoration of family issues and reconciling marital relationships! We Rebuke and Repeal anger, hatred, bitterness, resentment, pride, low self esteem and unforgiveness!

Precious Lord, as we lift up our children and our children’s children, help us to remember that such were some of us! By faith, we decree and declare that every scheme that Satan desires to inflict upon them, IS HEREBY CANCELLED IMMEDIATELY! We commit them into Your providential care! Realizing that You have a plan and purpose for their lives. we have the blessed assurance that YOU HAVE A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR EACH ONE OF THEM, EVERY STEP AND STOP IS BEING ORDERED UNDER THE WATCHFUL CARE OF YOUR EYES!

Daddy, we lift up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher. Teacher, Missionary, auxiliary leader, usher, musician, choir member and director and church member! Undergird them with Your Anointing and conviction to carry out their assignment, under the direction of Holy Spirit. Cover them as they go in and out amongst Your people with honor, wisdom and favor!All who would seek to discredit, hinder and even destroy their faith, faithfulness and the ministry You have ordained from their mother’s womb, shall be rebuked and restrained by The Power of Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name!

Heavenly Father, as You have instructed, we pray for the goverment leaders of the world, and our nation, national, state and local goverments, corporate, judicial, education, financial institutions, health care providers, military service men and women police officers, firemen and civil service workers! We’re believing that as we pray You will touch their minds and hearts, speak to them in dreams and visions letting them know thatYou Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens are keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly! We believe that because their hearts are in Your Hands, they are being continuously opened to hear and obey Your Will! Lord Jesus, we’re standing on Your Word as decreed that The government of this world shall rest upon Your shoulders and that You are The Eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Heavenly Father, may Your Healing Virtue touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by all manner of sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, high/low blood pressure, heart disease, kidney, lung failure, satanically induced depression/oppression/addictions and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake! Lord, Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name, It Is So!

Holy Father God, we pray that every demonic-induced spirit of fear, failure, hopelessness and disappointment be annihilated by Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Power, Love and a Sound-mind be released now, in Jesus Name! God like our God. We may not always understand what You are doing because Your ways continue to baffle our finite minds and sometimes we will misunderstand Your ways, when it’s all said and done, we refuse to believe any of Satan’s well-crafted lies! Because God loves us, we know that trouble don’t last always! We’re trusting and decreeing that each morning Your children will awaken, armed with Grace to stand and accomplish every assignment and earnest hope-filled tomorrows!

Father, we wait in confidence and quietness, trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are suddenly trembling, retreating in shameful defeat, acknowledging that the JIG IS UP because You have heard the voice of our weepings, supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

We declare and decree that our God is worthy of all worship and that we shall continue to lean on His everlasting arms blessed, safe, secure and assured of His Love and Care in this life and in the next, in the Name of Jesus!

Heavenly Father, we seal this prayer with gratitude, honor and praise. Believing that every prayer request that is aligned with YOUR PERFECT WILL IS ALREADY DONE! In The Exalted Name of Jesus we shout Halleleujahhhh!!!! Amen 3x!

 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

 

CONSIDER THE COST…

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. Psalm 116:12-13

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2

 

I’m not trying to start nuffin, BUT! Have you noticed that ‘hoof-n-mouth disease’ has reached pandemic proportions amongst so many church-folkes? #ijs

Perhaps that’s why other folk seem to so easily tell you what you should do in any given situation, ‘Because if it were me, I’d _____!” Someone once said, unless you walk in another man’s shoes, you’ll never appreciate the depth and weight of each footprint. Okay, I just made that one up, k? However, the point is, unless you personally experience each moment in every episode of that person’s journey, (which is virtually impossible) not from the perspective of a spectator, but as the starring participant, you can sympathize but not really empathize with them!

Even more perplexing is how long we struggle with submission to the commandments of The Only Savior as Lord of our lives! Could it be that we can never fully understand the passion of Jesus that caused Him, after being shamelessly mocked, brutally beaten, scorned and scourged all night then jokedly crowned with thorns, to make His way up Golgotha’s Hill, carrying that Ol’ Rugged Cross where His hands and feet were nailed, crucified for what you and I would do? Didjaheardat? #braintilt!

Awemazingly, the scriptures reveal that it was the Heavenly Father’s pleasure to see Jesus endure every second of this crushing death. (Ref. Isaiah 53:10)

Ever since the Garden of Eden, there are somethings that God never intended us to know. Why? Because He loves us too much to jus sit back and allow the fatality of sin to run it’s course, separating us from Him eternally? But, but? I know, that makes no sense at all!

We forget that His Thoughts are infinitely higher than ours and His Ways are incalculably above and beyond humanity’s limited capacity of understanding. (Ref. Isaiah 55:9) Astonishingly, Jesus agreed to this before the foundation of the world, and while we were yet sinners! (Ref.Romans 5:8) The Life dying in order for the dead to live? WOW! That’s Grace, huh?

According to Romans 12:1-2, all that God expects for so great a Salvation is for us to live out everyday, blessed, trusting in Him, as beaming reflections of His Love and Glory to a lost and dying world! Unfortunately, yet still many reckon that more than they are willing to give! (Ref. Luke 18:18-24)

However, there’s a remnant of believers who’ve sold out for the sake of The Cross and are gratefully committed to sacrifice their all to see more souls come into The Glorious Kingdom of God!

What shall U render? Well…HOW MUCH DO U OWE? #countupthecost

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

LIVING IN TODAY!

 

LIVING N 2DAY

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrew 11:1 KJV

God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. Lamentations 3:23-24 THE MESSAGE

 
Several years ago, I heard a teaching by Kenneth Copeland, reminiscing about his early experiences in the family church. Bro. Copeland said that just about every Sunday morning, it was pretty much guaranteed that you’d hear the Preacher say ‘You gotta have faith!’’ or ‘You need to increase your faith!’, or ‘If it’s not of faith then, it’s sin! ‘ Bro. Copeland remembered how frustrating it was because the Preacher never told them how a poor soul might procure this precious gift of faith!

Well, guess what? Not much has changed, huh? Even now, given the popularity of  21st Century prosperity doctrinal teachings, I’d venture to say that a whole lotta churchgoers are still confused about how they can exercise true biblical faith in their lives. Contrary to New Millennium mysticism , faith is not a new theological doctrine reserved for the elite seminary scholars. God has given every one of us ‘a measure of faith’ and it’s a free gift, yall! No one can work hard enough or be good enough to earn or deserve it! But The Heavenly Father so graciously pours it into us when we open our hearts to HIM!

Simply put, Faith is a patient confident trust in the integrity and power of our Loving and Caring Heavenly Father to do for us everything He’s promised in His WORD!

Faith is the currency of exchange in The Kingdom of God! Duuhhh! God doesn’t need our money! Everything, including all the silver and gold already belongs to Him! However, we need faith to lay hold to anything that pertains to life and godliness that we need from Him! In fact, you can’t even approach God unless you truely believe not only that He does exist but you must be fully persuaded that GOD  is able to do what you need Him to do for you. Sounds like it’s virtually impossible to please God without it, huh? (Ref. Hebrew 11:6)

Hebrews Chapter 11, dubbed The Hall of Faith, highlights several examples of ordinary men and women, empowered by faith, who were able to achieved extraordinary things thru God! Unfortunately, we have this innate proclivity to relegate GOD’S FAITHFULNESS to an historical phenomenon, which suggests that HE’S CHANGED and what HE DID BACK IN THE BIBLE DAYS WAS FOR THEM AND WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN! (Ref. Hebrews 13:8)  HOWEVER, that’s not what THE BIBLE says! Check it out, the text says ‘NOW faith’ not THEN faith’!!!

Beloved, take a moment to glance back over your own life. After all that God has done for us, even B.C. (Befoe Christ) it’s seems foolish not to trust Him…NOW! Like the ol’ skool Preacha said, “Am I right about it?” 

Did you have any idea how much it actually blesses our Heavenly Father’s Heart knowing that His precious sons and daughters genuinely trust in Him to do life every day? Seriously!

Faith in God says, Father I believe that You love me unconditionally and will always have my best interest at heart. Even if  all the circumstantial evidence doesn’t look like it, I have this Eternal Hope that Your Loyal Love towards me will never forsake me nor abandom me! Therefore, by faith, my heart is thoroughly convinced, COME WHAT MAY, MY GOD IS WORKING EVERYTHING TOGETHER FOR MY HIGHEST GOOD AND HIS GREATEST GLORRAAA! (Ref. Romans 8:28)

NOW talk back to that lyn’n devil! ‘SATAN, IT AIN’T GONNA WORK TODAY & TOMMOROW AIN’T LOOKING THAT GOOD 4 U, EITHER!  IF YOU KNOW WHATZ GOOD 4 U, U’LL BACUPOFF ME!

 #Didjaheardat? TRUST2KNO, IF HE EVRRR DID IT B4, HE WILL DO IT NOW! —WOW! THAT’S FAITH 4 LIVING N TODAY, huh? #IJS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

prayn-and-fasting-pic

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

GM FAM! GOTTA MOMENT? AWEMAZZING!

We’re excited that you’ve joined us, once again for our Weekly Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We’re quickly approaching the end of 2017 and the beginning of a brand new day! If you’re like me, you can truly say, “If it had not been for the Lord on my side, where would I be?” Nevertheless we share the self same victorious testimony, “I am not ashamed of The Gospel of Jesus Christ! Oh, how our Lord has so faithfully blessed and preserved our coming in and our going out!” Amen 3x! Shall we boldly enter in The Majestic Throne Room of our Father, with eternal gratitude we bow before The God of All Creation, giving honor and glory to The King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true! And with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary, Lord for YOU! Ooooh how I love JESUS! Ooooh how I love JESUS! OOOOH HOW I LOVE JESUS! BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED ME! So, here we are to worship, here we are to bow down! Here we are to say that You’re My God! You’re altogether Worthy, Altogether Lovely, Altogether WONDERFUL 2 ME! And when the battle is o’vr I shall wear a crown, I shall wear a crown, I shall wear a crown! When the battle is o’vr I shall wear a crown! I shall wear a golden crown!!!

Father of All Glory, here we are again! As we beseech Your Presence, acknowledging that there is none like You in Heaven above nor the earth below! For You Alone are GOD, THE HOLY ONE, THE GREAT I AM! It is with joy-filled praise that we lift our hearts and our hands heavenward, emptied of anything that would warrant Your Amazing Grace, but solely we cling to The Name that is above every other Name, trusting wholly that as we claim The Name of Jesus, we have direct access to all of the Favor that Heaven possesses!

Looking back, we know that it was no goodness of our own but  wholly Your Unfailing Love that allows us to be here to see one more brand new day! Therefore, we come thanking You Father for the honor and privilege bestowed upon all who will earnestly seek Your Face! For You are the Source of our Life, Strength, Love, Peace, and The Joy of our Hope, Wisdom and Understanding! In You we live, move and have our very being!

As we delight ourselves in glorifying Your Name, You continue to give us the desires of our hearts! As we look not at the things which are seen, but focus our faith on The benevolent Lovingkindness of The Eternal Father, Abba, we rest in The Peace that passes all understanding, confident that You are Sovereignly Ruling and Reigning over the affairs of humanity! We’re thankful that You have a Plan, Purpose and Destiny for each one that You’ve called before the foundation of this world! We’re thankful that You’re not a man that can lie, neither shall You ever need to repent! You have sworn by Your God-Self, that whosoever shall call upon Your Name, shall be saved! If You said it, it shall come to pass!

Abba Father, we come continuously blessing You for the day that You opened our hearts, enabling us to recognize and receive the saving Grace in the Life, Death, Burial and Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus! We acknowledge that because it pleased You, You Sovereignly choose us to be Your very own children, even though there was absolutely nothing in us lovable nor worthy of this honor and privilege! Lord Jesus, we are eternally grateful that we’re here now only because You so purposed in Your Heart and by Your Own Hand!

Sweet Jesus, we’re thankful that You, knowing our frame and because of the Unsearchable Richness of Your Faithfulness and Compassion, You look beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities to see and minister to every one of our need! Therefore, we shall never fail to acknowledge that You are The True and Living God of our Salvation, our Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision!  Heaven Father, we have so much to thank You for and absolutely nothing to complain about, so we refuse to take anything for granted! We praise You for allowing us to even think to pray this morning! We pray, Abba Father, forgive me this day for every and anything I’ve done, said or thought that was not pleasing to Your Heart! By faith, we believe and receive Your forgiveness, in The Precious Name of Jesus! 

 
Jesus, we bless You for being willing to sacrifice Your Life that we might receive Eternal Life! We thank You for The Atoning Precious Blood that You so freely offered in our stead, that our sins would be washed away, allowing us to become Sons of The Most High God, vessels empowered by Holy Spirit, to be a Light, reflecting The Love of God amidst the backdrop of darkness of a sin-filled, sin-lusting, sin-lead people, driving them to envy the unsearchable joy and peace that we have discovered thru developing a personal relationship with You!

Your Word has told us that while we’re in this world, we shall suffer test, trials and tribulations, yet because we are sojourners here, we are fully persuaded that as citizens of another Kingdom, we have an Eternal Hope, that’s beyond this world and as we walk thru the valleys, overshadowed with death, we shall fear no evil for You Shall Deliver Us from them All!  As we embrace this day ahead, Heavenly Father, wrap our minds with a new attitude and loads of gratitude!  Keep Your children safe from all hurt, harm and danger! Let us make the best of each moment that You have gifted to us! Lord Jesus, clear our minds so that we can hear from You and cleanse our hearts that we may deny ourselves, trust and obey Your Will!

Abba Father, because no man can come close to You, except You draw them, we pray that Your Blood-Stained Eyes will continue to search the hearts of mankind and blessing all those who crying out to You now! We’re interdeding on behalf of every unsaved soul, asking that You quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their hearts and minds that they will come to you today with a “sincere YES” to Your Grace Gift and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior!

Eternal Father, we ask You to fill the hearts and minds of every backslider with a fresh “Committed YES’ and let this day be the day that they come running back to You and to Your local church! We’re believing that many of our unsaved loved ones and friends will be saved before the end of 2017 and become part of our Eternal Family! In Jesus Name Amen 3x!

Father, touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, high/low blood pressure, heart disease, kidney, lung failure, satanically induced depression/oppression/addictions and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake! Lord, we’re holding on to the Infallible WORD which decreed that the stripes that Jesus bore on His back has already redeemed and healed us! Therefore, under the Eternal Authority of our Divine Creator and Ruler of the Ages, we also declare that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name!

Lord, as we intercede on behalf of our brother and sisters, we pray that you will remember those who are being overlooked, held down and even abused by undeniable racial prejudice in this country. We’re believing You to intervene on their behalf, releasing miraculous Favor and Prosperity, unexpected promotions, opening up opportunities for entrepreneurship, increased education grants, lower interest mortgage rates, debt cancellations, book contracts and overturning legal decisions to give us the victory!

Lord, we’re praying for every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that from the portals of The Throne Room,You are releasing a double portion of Your overflowing Divine power, Supernatural Strength, Health, Provision, Prosperity and Protection. Father, we thanking You for an outpouring of Your Divine Favor upon each and every one of your children who are seeking employment, promotion, prompt approval for student/car/home loans!
Precious Lord, we’re believing You to preserve Your elect in the midst of these trying times! Father, as we’re looking towards the hills from whence cometh all our help, crying out, send now help from Zion, we ask that You comfort the hearts of Your children with restful-assuring peace, that confirms that regardless of who sits in The Oval Office, congress or supreme court, YOU ARE ETERNALLY SEATED UPON THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH AND ABSOLUTE POWER BELONGS TO YOU and YOU are Jehovah Jareh, who shall supply all of their need according to Your Riches in Glory!

In faithful obedience, we lift up the political, social, judicial, business, civil/public service, military servant/leaders, trusting You to visit them in the nite seasons with visions and dreams as You touch and direct the hearts of each one of them!

Abba, we lift up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher and Teacher. Undergird them with Your Anointing to carry out their assignment, under the direction of Holy Spirit. Cover them as they go in and out amongst Your people and those who would seek to discredit, hinder and even destroy their faith, faithfulness and the ministryYou have ordained. Grace them to be the holy humble examples in their homes, marketplace, communities and churches that will cause those who are in their sphere of influence to love, trust and live everyday of life serving and glorifying You, Our Heavenly Father!

Holy Spirit, as we pray, we’re asking You to touch the Mothers and Fathers of Zion, who have labored in the Vineyard interceding on our behalf. Many of which are yet believing for things that have yet to manifest! Comfort their hearts that our prayers have no expiration date and reward their faithfulness with sweet peace!

Lord, there are so many other things, that we have yet to mention, but we’re trusting, believing you to fix it, Jesus, as only You can! Lord, we know that You are not just able, but willing to do anything that we ask, in accordance to Your Word, in Jesus Name!

We’re believing that every demonic-induced spirit of fear, failure, rejection, hopelessness and disappointment be defeated by Your Anointing and that  The Spirit Love, Joy, Peace, Power and a Sound Mind is being released now, in Jesus Name! We’re trusting that each morning Your children will awaken empowered with assuring grace to accomplish every assignment and sleep peacefully every nite, confident of earnest hope-filled tomorrows!

Heavenly Father, continue to bless us that we may be a blessing to others. Keep us strong that we may help the weak.. Keep us uplifted, encourage our souls that we may share words of encouragement to those who need comfort and assurance that You are with them also!

As we offer up this prayer, Father we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shame, turning their backs from Your people, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Father, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that IT IS DONE according To Your Perfect Will and Purpose for our lives! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT GOD’S MERCY IS EVERLASTING AND HIS TRUTH ENDURES FOREVER!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray and Praiz!
 

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

UNDER THE INFLUENCE 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

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

As I began to think about this, several questions flooded my mind. First, does God’s Presence influence your life? If so, then howWhat impact has God’s Presence in you made in your circle of influence?

We love to sing the song, “Jesus You’re the center of my joy, all that’s good and perfect comes from You; You’re the Heart of my contentment, Hope for all I do….” But when the music stops and your feet hit the ground, how’s your walk? In other words, does your video authenticate your audio? #ijs!!!

The Bible does not merely ask us to have faith to believe that God does exist. Lucifer and his hord of demons believe that God exists, however they don’t follow Him! As bona fide, Blood-washed, Born-Again Children of The Most High God, our lifestyle should attest to fact that not only do we believe that He exits, but we  also believe that God is who He says He is, that God is with us, that God is for us and that God will perform every promise that He’s sworn by GOD-self towards us! (Ref. Hebrew 11:6)  Hence, if we desire to please The Lord we must walk out our lives under the influence of His Presence, adhering to HIS instructions and exemplifying our beliefs throughout the course of daily living! #Didjaheardat? #SERIOUSLY!!!

Does your character reflect the Presence of God in your life? Does the influence of God’s Presence affect the choices that you make? Does your life style reflect the influence of God’s Presence? Whose chances of ending up in Heaven have increased because of the impact that you’ve made upon their life? Whose chances of ending up in Hell increased because you are in their life? Now, since our response and our responsibility carry eternal consequences, may I suggest that you carefully and conscientiously ponder the depth of your soul before answering the aforementioned questions? 

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

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

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

Looking back, perhaps there where many times when we almost, and unfortunately, even more times where we flat-out missed opportunities to Glorify God! Thanks Be To God!  IT MATTERS NOT WHERE WE START, BUT HOW WE END!  The ground around The Cross of Calvary is level to all!  With each new day, GOD SO GRACIOUSLY GIVES US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN, AGAIN! #WOW! 

As this year slips into eternity past, instead of lingering in the land of pouting and doubting remember that BUT…by God’s Grace!  KEEP IT MOVIN’! SPEND TODAY WISELY! LIVE EACH DAY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE! 

BELOVED, MAY YOU EMBRACE A PRODUCTIVE AND PROSPEROUS NEW DAY!

SELAH! 

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee