Category Archives: Let God Be God!

THIS WAY OUT!

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THIS WAY OUT

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1

I know we don’t like to talk about it much, huh? HOWEVRRR, sometimes, even the most seasoned of saints, find ourselves oscillating by the turbulent waves of adversity and drowning in the depths of desperation and despair. While we all know that trouble doesn’t discriminate, harassing the just as much as the unjust, somehow knowing doesn’t make suffering any less traumatic, especially to those of us who live intentionally striving to walk circumspect fully according to teaching of The Bible.

Perhaps this explains why so many believers prefer to deny rather than acknowledge that occasionally they encounter episodes of depression, shrouded by the wrath of terror, isolation and false humility that causes you to shrink back into a self-imposed exile! But today, allow the WORD OF GOD to emancipate you from the burden of secrecy and shame! Seriously, quiet as it’s kept, U R NOT ALONE!

Remember David, God’s ordained, ‘man after God’s own heart? Well, a closer investigation of many of his most infamous writings reveal several occasions when The Worshiper Psalmist is heard lamenting from the hub of his soul to his True Source of Salvation and Restoration, The Living God!

As we follow God’s Anointed King in The Scriptures, we see David relentlessly bellowing out his distress before his Friend, The LORD Adonai, uninhibited by reputation, shame nor guilt, but fully persuaded that what pleases God the most is genuine Trusting Honesty. David’s intimacy with his Faithful God, was the foundation of his every prayer!

Beloved, instead of running away from God, during those spasmodic seasons (that seem to contradict the prophetic promises to those who’ve placed their personal faith in the redemptive grace of their Heavenly Father), David learned to embrace the value and privilege afforded to him by fastening his hope to God’s Compassionate Heart with the same  ferverent tenacity that he’d so revently clenched during moments of ease!

Hence, like The Psalmist, when we truly understand that earnest-sincere-honest-heart prayer, stirs-up the atmosphere of Heaven, releases favor, guarantees Divine Intervention and opens the door to a way out of no way, prayer will become our first response rather than our last resort. Didjaheardat?

Now, don’t get it twisted by insulting GOD’S OMNISCIENCE with phony, fake emotional repetitions, as if He doesn’t already know your heart. Just follow David’s example, expose the nakedness of your heart, own your emotions and confess “But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?” Psalm 88:13

Whom have I in heaven but You? My flesh and my heart faileth; but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever! Psalm 73:25-26

Don’t waste another moment of precious time, wallowing in the quick-sand of evil foreboding, fear, threatening desolation and impending dread! Instead of murmuring and complaining, take full advantage of the situation, flip the satanic script! After all, remember The Living Word, “Greater is He Who is abiding on the inside of you than any plot that the enemy can come up with!” (Ref. 1 John 4:4)

TRUTHBTOLD, The Good Shepherd can hardly wait to reconnect with you! When you recommit your life afresh, He causes you to lie down in green pastures, leads you beside the still waters and restores your soul, your focus and strength! (Ref. Psalm 23) Beloved, when we rely upon the Foundation of God’s Inseparable Love by entrusting our whole heart to The Faithful Eternal Lord of Glory, GOD so graciously reaffirms HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES! GO ‘HEAD NAH, TERRORIZE HELL! #IJS #PRAY4REAL!!

HONESTLY, God only orchestrates those momentary afflictions to build your faith, setting you up for Triumphant Victory. WHAA? DIDJAHEARDAT? AAAAWWW! SO WALK THIS WAY OUT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

PROMISE KEEPER!

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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!

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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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE HEART OF THE FATHER!

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THE HEART OF THE FATHER

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

LIVING IN TODAY!

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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

WEIGHT ON THE LORD…STILL!

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WEIGHT ON THE LORD...STILL

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14

Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you;He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Isaiah 55:22

 

A few years back I shared a similar post. Yall remember, I testified about that morning  I’d began my morning routine of preparing my coffee, glancing casually at the TV screen and hearing the early morning’s BREAKING NEWS reporting that sometime during the nite, while most of us slept in the comfort and safety of our homes, a group of bomb-strapped terrorist had stormed into a Pakistani school house killing over 120 people, including a number of 1st to 6th grade students, teachers and anyone else who crossed their sight lines! As I began filtering my hearing to the commentator, he continuied on to say that Isis had proudly stepped up, acclaiming responsibility for this heinous act in retaliation for a previous attack against their forces!

Precious Ones, this morning with a soul ladden with gut-wrenching sorrow, can I tell ya that the more things change, the more things stay the same! While we all hope and pray that these tragic incidents are just isolated bleeps on the scape of human history, it seems as if the worst just keeps on falling to new depths of low and lawlessness! Once again while the students of  a Parkland, FL HS were busy going out their daily class room activies,  a sin drenched soul stepped out of obscurity and began to assisinate at least 17 of his  former classmates!

Perhaps, my greatest sadness is buried in the reality that while  yet revolting, tragedy seems to have losted its fervidness to either shock or surprise us! 

I remember coming back up stairs that morning and asking my husband whether or not he’d heard about it, and he had. Almost simultaneously, both of us asked “What is this world coming to”? ” It’s as if nothing is sacred, nothing is restricted by basic human morality!

Then quite suddenly, the Holy Spirit cut into our conversation with an astounding; “The End!” I repeated, as if the light had just been cut on. “The End!” The world, as we’ve known, is coming to an end, in live and living HD color! Who would’ve imagined that the enormity of the extremely wicked cruelty episodes would be repeatedly perpetrated against even the most naive amongs us?

Those of us who claim The Name of Christ truly believe that this ol’ world has already been judged and condemned, right? YET, how many of us genuinely expected that The 21st century generation would be eye witnesses to the actualization of the antiquated prophetic utterances of God’s servants., huh? #SERIOUSLY???

I can still recall praying, “Lord, as Pastors, preachers, teachers, evangelists, your servants, what are we supposed to do? How can we continue to preach trust and hope to comfort and encourage your people surrounded by the presence of lawless gross darkness? Especially when we ourselves are fainting, wearied, overwhelmed and being choked by the cords of cares and chaos!”

Then, Thanks Be To GOD, Holy Spirit so abruptly interrupted my self-induced saga; “Tell them about JESUS! After all He is The Only Hope of the World! Preach, JESUS! The Eternal Light that yet shines out of the darkness. Remind them that all these things MUST be before The Kingdom of God ushers in The New Life! Hail to the scattered sheep that NOW is the time for Salvation! Warn them that time is winding up, spiraling intently towards eternity and NOW is the time to prepare to meet their Master in peace; for He could show up at any minute!”

“Encourage your fellow-sojourners to take full advantage of these days, not trembling in fearful foreboding but celebrating God all day, every day!”

Suddenly my mind drifted back to the wisdom of those ol’ skool Churrch Mothers! ‘Babygurl, you need to wear this world like a loose-fitting overcoat, that you can drop off at a moment’s notice!’ That was their way of reminding us that we are not home yet! We’re still passing through this barren land on our way to Heaven!

Beloved, if all your hope is wrapped up in what you can collect, seeking man’s approval and striving to attain society’s standard of success, then my precious one, the best you can expect to see in this world is constant decadence of morality and amplified misery. But as The Redeemed, we have an resounding advantage over those who are yet in darkness. GOD IS STILL GOD!

Hence, God is not surprised at anything that’s happening! He Reigns Supreme Ruler over ALL His Creation, astutely aware and actively involved in the intrinsic detailed affairs of man-kind! And to top it all off, God loves us with an Everlasting Love that compassionately invites us to come boldly before His Throne daily to find Hope AND Help in HIS Mercy and Grace!

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast ,and which enters the Presence behind the veil…” Hebrews 6:19a

Life is filled with change and challenges, and most of all unexpectaton! Nevertheless, our faith must be, rooted in The Certainty of The Eternal Love of God! Therefore, Beloved, we do not give up HOPE! BUT! As believers in The Testimony of Jesus Christ, we eontend for the faith, waiting patiently in earnest expectation, resting in quiet confidence and believing to see that THE ONE WHO HAS PROMISED IS FAITHFUL TO PERFORM! Didjaheardat?

YES, THE STRUGGLE IS REAL BUT GOD IS GREATER! WEIGHT ON THE LORD…STILL!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

REMEMBER GOD?

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REMEMBER GOD 4

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. Psalm 77:6-10

 

That’s Life! The ol’ skool church used to tell us, “Everyday ain’t the same, baby!” I guess that was their way of warning us to expect some days when your heart is overflowing with the Joy of the Lord and your mind is so consumed with the Peace of God that you can hardly restrain yourself from bum-rushing unsuspecting strangers who happen across your path, giving them a big hug and spewing out your testimony of how good life is and how Great your God is!

BUT! Then, there will be other days, when all hell is breaking out around you, the thief has broken into your world, robbing you of your joy, destroying your peace and killing every ounce of hope that the future will be any better than now! And to add insult to injury, the devil will send his lying prophet to your heart inquiring, “Where is your God now?” “Has God had enough of your mess?” Sound uncomfortably familiar, huh? Yep, been there and got a few T-shirts!

Life can be a complexing compilation of complaints and comfort! And guess what, believers are not exempt from either. For example, just look at King David, the God-Proclaimed ‘man after God’s own heart’. While David enjoyed an especially unique relationship with The God of Creation, he was also no stranger to abuse, resentment, rejection, bitterness, jealousy and anger steming from family, friends and enemies!

Time and time again, David sought refuge in the cavernous hillsides, surrounded by blood-thirsty enemies who relentlessly pursued him, barely escaping with his life through valleys overshadowed by death.

Inevitably, there would be days when the chaos of his life would come crashing down upon his wearied soul already overburdened by waves upon waves of unending oppression from every side, leaving him entrapped by desperation, depression and desolation. Nevertheless, David unable to find solace in the midst of his tears, humbly directed his soul to retreat to the One True Source of All Comfort!

Remembering days long past, the hours upon hours spent communing with The Lord, reminded David that no matter where he was, he was never away from The Presence of His Faithful Shepherd. Recounting the wondrous personal experiences with The Almighty God, leading and guiding him to green pastures, watching over him while he rested beside oasis of cool water, protecting him from ravenous beasts, singing songs as they fellowship throughout the nights, encouraged David’s heart, reassuring him of God’s Promise to love and keep him all the days of his life!

Isn’t it amazing how sometimes, just the thought of God can catapult the most grievous soul into The Throne Room of Grace and Mercy, igniting volcanic eruptions of pure worship and praise? Just a moment of intentional seeking and faith-filled prayer can immediately release a believer from the damnable clutches of fear and dread, thrusting you into the sanctity of confident trust inspiring earnest joy-filled expectation of HIS EMINENCE!

A lifetime of experiencing The Amazing Grace and Unrelenting Love and Faithfulness of his God kindled David’s heart to pen this personal testimony that  continues to console the wounded,  inspire contentment, bring solace to fractured hearts and nourishment to lean souls even to this day! 

“I was young and now I’m old, but I have never seen the righteous left all alone, have never seen their children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25

Given the unstabilzed state of this 21st Century society, it’s no wonder that so many are facing seemingly impossible challenges, be it physical, finanancial, emotional or spiritual! Nevertheless, it’s just good to know that regardless of the circumstances, your life is hidden in The God of Life—The Impregnable Rock of Ages—JESUS!

WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, REMEMBER GOD!  #GETIT?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

A PERSONAL KEEPER!

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A PERSONAL KEEPER

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help…The lord is your keeper; The lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. The lord will protect you from all evil…

PSALM 121:1; 5-7

 

If there’s one word that historians will attribute to cumulate this 21st Century Age it’s mostly likely be ‘grind’! #ijs! Ever notice how the millennials are always busy trying to get somewhere to do so much? I suppose that’s what being ‘goal oriented’ means, huh? Problem is that you miss so much of life on your way to getting to what you’re getting to! Gone are the days when folk looked forward to just relaxing! Seriously!

According to the scripture text, the pilgrims of old strived to meet the same needs and desires that we have, however, unlike the ‘fast-and- furious-go-get-it-for-myself’ mentality of today’s contemporaries, they recognized the value of preparing for personal encounters with the Only One Who could assure them of attaining  ultimate eternal success! As they ascended the pathways en route to the Temple, they geared-up their hearts and minds to enter into His Presence with songs of praise and adoration! I can hear ya nah! ‘AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME 4 DAT!’ Really?

Chances are, the reason you’re still struggling to reach the epitome of ‘higher ground’ is because You still think you can do it all on your own! But God never intended man to do life independent of GODSELF! The saints of ol’ understood that without Him, I can do nothing!  Jesus is The Master Architect of man’s destiny! The heart of a man plans his way, but God establishes his steps! (Proverbs 16:9)

It’s been said that backndaday, the landscape of the hillsides were laden with numerous gods, in order not to exclude anyone from their individual right to put their trust in their personal preference, regardless of the inevitable hoping for help that would never come! Sounds uncomfortably  familiar, huh? Yet, there were a remnant of believers who lifted up their eyes, gazing towards Jerusalem, focusing all of their faith-filled prayers to The True and Living Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all Life, Jehovah! 

“He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever.” Psalm 146:6

Many choose to deny the reality that there is a real devil who’s committed (for lack of a better term) to his 3-fold mission; strategically designed to impede the progress of God’s elect with a myriad of tests and trials, threatenening to demolish all hope of ever successfully achieving your goals and fulfilling your God-ordained purpose and destiny!  Nevertheless, when the inevitable happens, they’re confronted with these questions,  “What, NOW?”, “Where do I look? Who do I turn to?”  My Beloved, may I submit for your most earnest consideration, “If it’s not JESUS then you’re on treading on some very slippery ground!”

In case there’s any doubters left among the naive or  insurrectionists, we’re living in those times that Big Mama ‘nem called ‘the last of the last days’! Check the social media newsfeed! Reads like the Bible Prophecy materializing in real-time!  Hence, it behoves us to remember that God does not have ‘grand-children’! So, Mama might have, Daddy might have, BUT GOD BLESS THE CHILD WHO HAS ITS OWN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS! #IJS

By the way, don’t be in such of a hurry? Remember, how long He waited on you? What we generally think are delays are actually God’s mercy and grace allowing us the space for our faith to mature, converting our perspective to align with heaven and preparing us to live eternally in HIS PRESENCE! #GOAL!
In the meantime, stop complaining and doubting God! TRUST2KNO, EVERYTHING that you’ve gone through was divinely orchestrated to prepare you for what you never believed possible!

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

This is the confidence of the faithful and obedient followers of Christ, wherever we are GOD IS! Standing in the shadow of the Almighty, our trust is firmly fixed in The ETERNAL GOD who is always aware of everything that concerns us, the Source of all our strength and able to keep us from all evil…FOREVER! 

Uuuuhhhh, #Didjaheardat? Awemaazing!

NOW RELAX! JESUS IS YOUR PERSONAL KEEPER!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

 

 

A BURNING BUSH!

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A BURNING BUSH 1

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

 

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire and, the bush was not consumed. Exodus 3:2

 

Moses probably began this day just as he’d began many others. The scripture says, he was doing what he’d normally do; taking care of his father-in-law, Jethro’s, sheep when his day abruptly takes a turn from the mundane to the extremely unusual. Anybody ever been there?

They say, that there’s nothing unusual about finding a bush in the desert, yet it would certainly make anyone stop to ponder, at least momentarily, huh? The scripture said as Moses looked, he noticed that the bush was burning, but it was not consumed. Not only did the fire not burn the bush up, but then the burning bush began to talk.

Wow! God really knows how to get your attention!

Sometimes we’re so pre-occupied with the demands of our 21st Century lifestyles that we miss those Divinely-orchestrated Interruptions.  Oh, l  get it, we’re so purpose driven now – that we can’t dare to spare a moment. After all, time is money, right? Amazingly, our society has become so consumed with pursuing our desires, goals, getting our degrees, larger houses, cars, and yes even our families that somehow, we never seem to include God in our time-lines. I mean, really? Ever heard that saying,‘you got what you wanted but you lost what you had’?

I believe, that sometimes God will interrupt our active lives and draw us to the backside of a mountain into a desert place, just to get your undivided attention. In other words, sometimes God starts some bush fires! #ijs!!!

Remember, that situation that seemed to jus pop off out of nowhere and now all of a sudden it’s burning out of control, threatening your peace, your joy, even disturbing your well being. And let’s not forget about that family-drama? I mean, as soon as you think you got it under control, something flares up on your job. The bushes just keep on burning. Could God possibly be trying to tell you something?

Remember how sweet life was, bacndaday? You know, when America was Great!  My…my… my, how times have changed, huh?  As the ol’ folk used to say, ‘Who knew that there’d be days like this!’ Surely, we’re living in the last of the last days, huh?  

Glancing around, it looks like this whole world has turned upside down! What used to be right, is now called wrong, what used to be in is now out and ain’t nobody got time to seek God for His opinion of nothing no more!  Nevertheless, God’s Faithful Compassion refuses to be intimidated by our negligence! #DIDJAHEARDAT?

Remember, God was there, waiting for Moses all along, but it was not until Moses turned aside, did God reveal GODself! The next time you find yourself ambushed by bush fires, instead of pitchin’ a hissy-fit, murmuring. complaining and blaming God, take a moment and seek the face of God.  Hence, He knows what’s up the road and we don’t!

TRUST2KNO, GOD’S NOT ONE TO BE IGNORED! HE’S — A CONSUMING FIRE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

Can You Hear Me Now???

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CAN U HEAR ME NOW2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Galatians 1:15-16

 

In today’s scripture text, we hear the testimonial of The Apostle Paul in response to The Lord’s prompting to go spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. And we all know how that turned out, huh? GGGGLLLLORRRRRAAA 2 GOD! However, what stands out to me, is what Paul didn’t do!

The Apostle didn’t wait to get an Executive Order from The White House nor a congregational consensus before stepping out in faith. Instead of asking anybody what they thought about it, relying solely on his personal relationship with His Savior. Feeling no need for further validation, The Apostle Paul immediately obeyed God’s instructions!

How about you? When you’ve heard from God, what’s your initial response? Before you move, do you have to survey the opinions of your family and friends? Does the fear of failure, embarrassment, humiliation or retaliation cause you to stagger at God’s Word? Are you willing to take a leap of faith and just do what you believe God is asking of you?

As believers, we’re sometimes reluctant to move out on a WORD FROM GOD. Not so much because we’re not trusting God, but more often than not, it’s because of a spirit of difiance deeply rooted in the lack of self-confidence in our own ability. Ooops…#noshedidn’t! Yall kno she did!

In an attempt to re-assure ourselves that we’re in God’s will, like Gideon, we’ll ask God for a sign and come up with some kinda obtuse fleece as further proof that it is actually God speaking. (Ref.Judges 6) Particularly, when it’s something that causes us to move beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone! And while God so graciously granted Gideon’s request, twice, as believers, we must recognize that God often tests our trust and confidence by commissioning us to do what seems impossible!

Precious ones, that’s what our life in Christ is about. God doesn’t require us to walk by signs, but by hope-filled trust that whatever He asks us to do, by His Grace, we are well able to perform.

The Bible says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” John 10:27. As we entreat His Presence daily in prayer, seeking Divine assistance, inquiring direction thru diligent study and meditation of His Word, we learn to distinguish His Voice from the chatter emanating from the world! That’s how HE teaches you what He wants of you!

That’s why it’s so important to build an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father and not just show up at The Throne Room for emergency visits! God really cares about you! He is not a dead-beat Dad nor is He willing to settle for weekend visitations! God wants to be actively involved in every aspect of your life, every day!

The closer you get to JESUS the clearer He speaks and the sweeter His Voice becomes! #Didjaheardat?

WHEN YOU KNOW HIM, YOU WILL KNOW HIS WILL! WHEN YOU KNOW HIS WILL, YOU DON’T NEED TO CONFER WITH ANYBODY…BUT U GOTTA KNOW GOD’S VOICE4urself! #canuhearMEnow!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee