Category Archives: Loneliness

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Good Morning Family, GOT A MOMENT? AWEMAZING!

Once again, we’re excited that you have joined us today in our Weekly Day of Corporate Prayer and Fasting. As we approach The Throne Room of our King, with up stretched arms and open hearts, we’re eternally grateful for the privilege that He has afforded every believer to enter into His Presence, casting all of our care upon Him and finding Mercy, Grace and Very Present Help in these vexing times!

WE TURN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AWAY FROM ALL THE NOISE, ALONE WITH YOU, WE WAIT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE…NOTHING ELSE MATTERS… BUT TO WORSHIP YOU, I LIVE…TO WORSHIP I LIVE, I LIVE TO WORSHIP YOU..JESUS…OOOHHH…OOOHHH…With up stretched arms, empty hands and open hearts, SHALL WE PRAY?

 

Abba Father, we come before You today, In the Magnificent, All Powerful Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus, rejoicing, praising and thanking You for blessing us to see this brand new day. Acknowledging that it was not because of any goodness of our own that we live, move and have our being, we quickly thank You, Heavenly Father, for another opportunity to embrace and enjoy the abundance of Your Mercy, Your Grace, Your Power and Your Peace!

Heavenly Father, it is with unspeakable joy that we thank You for being The God of our Salvation, Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision. With heartfelt humility and sincere gratitude, we recognize that it’s only Your Grace, Compassion and Faithfulness that allows You, knowing our frame, to continue to look beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities. forgiving us and minister to all of our need!

From our hearts open, depending and relying solely upon You, we offer up our thanksgiving laced with precious praises to You today, for we revere and extol You as The Only Wise Savor and Lord of Life!

Father, we come this morning thanking You for choosing us to be Your very own children! Because of Your Lovingkindness towards us, we can now declare and unashamedly decree that we are joint-heirs to Your Kingdom and You are Our God, our Salvation, our Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision. While our future remains a mystery, we have the confidence that by Your Grace, You have restored our strength, understanding and power, equipping us with everything that we need to carry us through one more day.

Lord Jesus, because we know that You already know everything that’s happening in each of our lives, our families, our communities, our nation, we’re so grateful that You are yet in absolute control of all things! Father while we slept safely in our homes last night, we know that there will be reports of shootings, robberies, accidents and all manner of maladies, and we will not fail to thank You, for it was only You who kept us alive! We’re so very thankful that even amidst these days of impending chaos, threats, hatred, anxiety, fear, confusion, deception and destruction, the safest place in this whole world is still in YOUR PERFECT WILL! 

Precious Lord, we ‘re believing that while we’re experiencing an unexpected shaking of this nation that You are setting up a massive exodus and deliverance! We’re trusting that a Spirit of Godly-repentance is is swelling up all over this world and that the end result will be multitudes of lost souls shall be saved and those who have walked away from You shall be re-claimed! Father, we’re trusting that Holy Spirit is imparting a ‘COMMITED YES’ into their heart and in their mind that provokes those who are outside of The Ark of Covenent Grace, will come to you today and receive You as their  personal Lord and Savior. We thank You now for blessing them, directing and settling them into a local church home today, where they will be embraced with Love, encouraged, nurtured, taught so that their lives are transformed by The Glory of The Lord!

Lord, we pray for every soul who is going thru a season of grief because of the lost of a loved one, those whose lives have been victimized and bankrupted by divorce, lost of employment, disappointment, hopelessness and despair! We plead The BLOOD OF JESUS over every demonic thought, Spirits of anxiety, oppression, depression and confusion, because we know that You are not the author of these confusing demonic thoughts and feelings, but You have given us who have put our personal trust in Your Son Jesus, Your Righteousness, Love and Joy in The Holy Ghost!

Abba Father, as we entreat Your Presence, we lift up every believer who is yet holding on to your Hand by faith today, that You will release a double anointing of Your Divine Peace, Power, Supernatural strength, provision, prosperity and protection!

Sweet Jesus, we’re believing that while we’re yet praying, You will strengthen us to persevere thru every test that You have allowed, confidently assured that You will bring us out restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward us as You have promised in your Word! Lord, as we walk through the valleys, we ask that You anoint us for such a time with supernatural confidence, courage empowering us with an overwhelming consciousness of Your Abiding Presence and the immutability of Your Word!

Almighty Father, we pray, according to Your Will, for the leaders of our nation, be that goverment, corporate, judicial, education and financial institutions! We’re believing that You will touch their minds and break up the fallow hearts, speak to them in dreams and visions, let them know that You Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens is keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly!

Father, as we lift up our spiritual leaders, we’re asking a special blessing upon each and every one of them who are yet standing on the wall proclaiming Your Word under the conviction and anointing of Holy Spirit. We pray that you will Grace them to be the examples in their homes, churches and community that will cause everyone who comes into contact with them to fall in love, trust wholly in and to live their lives serving You, Our Heavenly Father.

We pray, Heavenly Father, that You will stir up the hearts and minds of those who are professing Your Name! We believe that You  are increasing their desire to make our election sure, walking circumspectly in pursuit of an even greater personal, intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father through fellowship of Holy Spirit that we might prove what is the perfect and acceptable Will of The Lord Jesus for our lives!

Father, as we pray, touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by all manner of sickness and disease, especially the Spirit of cancer, dementia, Alzheimer, stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, arthritis, bi-polar depression and glaucoma! Lord,  rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake. Heavenly Father, You are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Even as you walked in this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able and Willing to do the same right now! Lord Jesus, Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed us from our sin, but has also 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! Amen 3x!

Lord, we declare and decree that every demonic-induced spirit of temptation, anxiety, addiction and fear be defeated by Your Burden Removing Yoke Destroying Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and a Sound-mind is being released now into the lives of all those who are calling on You, in Jesus Name!

Father we wait in confident quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling, suddenly departing in shame and disgust, is now retreating in defeat 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!

Abba Father, we stand in agreement with You, Who hears ours prayers and forgives our transgressions! Holy Father, because You have personally chosen us and brought us near to live in Your House, we shout with joy unto The One to Whom all men will come! We yield all that we have, all that we have and all that we hope to be, in obedient reverence before The Hope of all the earth, believing that as Your face shines upon us that, You are making Your ways and salvation known among all nations for You Guide and Rule justly!

Heavenly Father, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that IT IS DONE! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X and It Is So!

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS STILL CARES!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

LET’S STAY TOGETHER

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LET'S STAY 2GETHER

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Psalm 42:4
 
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1

 

Perplexing, huh? Given all the chaos, turmoil, and just plain drama that people are going thru today, why aren’t all of our churches packed out, every service? When so many people’s minds are filled with fear, anxiety, doubt and uncertainty, why do so many stay away from the sanctuary of God’s House? Nonetheless, I’ve discovered that oftentimes when our hearts become overwhelmed by the woes of life, the absolutely last thing some of us want to do is actually the very first thing we ought to do–fellowship with our brothers and sistas in Christ! Am I right about it?

 
The Psalmist, understood how to survive his soul’s dis-eases—the times when the cares of his world left his spirit cast down, unsettled, and wearied to the point that he didn’t know what to do. David always found his answers and comfort in God’s Presence and among kindred believers!
 
The Word of God let’s us know that there is nothing, no temptation, no trial, no test that we will ever go through that somebody else has not already experienced and triumphantly overcome. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 10:13)  Yet, Satan, the Master of Deceit, wants us to think that we’re the only one who’s gone thru this. The devil feeds off of our fears and doubts to cause us to believe that our circumstances are so unique that nobody else can really understand what we’re going through.  Unfortunately,  for the carnally-minded saints, one of his most effective strategic deployment is isolation! 
 
BUT GOD, knowing how vulnerable we can be, always provides a way of escape. Jesus says,‘Come unto me and you shall find rest for your souls’. (Ref.Matthew 11:28) The Word of God further encourages and admonishes us to not neglect the refuge that awaits us in the sanctuary of His Church. (Ref. Hebrews 10:25) God promises an outpouring of a corporate anointing (God’s Grace) upon His people when they come together in fellowship, praise and worship. A Holy Synergy is released into the atmosphere as the people of God unite in prayer,  igniting the Divine Intervention of God’s Favor and turning our bad situations around to work for our higher good and His Greater Glory! Uuum, could that be why he works overtime to keep us from Church?
 
Well guess what, enough is enough! The next time that chump tries that, ignore him!  Getta stepp’n and say to yourself…“I was glad when they said unto me, let’s go to Chuurrch!!!”
 
Be encouraged, saints! There is strength in numbers and power in unity! Let’s Stay Together!

 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

 

 

COME AWAY…WITH ME!

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COME AWAY WITH ME

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Song of Songs 2:10

It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. Song of Songs 3:4

 

It’s about that time again, yall! Don’t get me wrong, I so enjoy looking at the snow covered rooftops, grounds and trees …out of my living room windows! But,  I jus love the sounds of Spring bursting in the freshness of new beginnings! As a child, I could hardly wait. Not just for school to close, even though I worked hard to get good grades and deserved a break!  But, in the Newton clan,  it meant  new shorts, tank tops and Kenny Kapers, backyard cookouts with loads of family, food, fellowships and street games tournaments. As days got warmer and longer, smiles got brighter and hearts seemed lighter, as if love was in the air!

But then you grow up, huh? Life doesn’t always allow you to play as hard or often when you’ve got obligations and resposibilities to family, commitments to friends, schools, jobs, careers,  and yes church! Sometimes you’re pulled in all kinds of directions, huh?

In the mix of the longer lunch hours, and crammin more fun-n-da sun weekends, it can be difficult to carve out that one-on-one time with the True Light of The World! That still small Voice whispering, “COME” is often muted by the sermonic selections of the birds, blooming  buds and booming music, not to mention the blasts of callings to cruises, amusement park outings and island gettaways! After all, you deserve a little personal  R&R, right?

It ain’t my business, but I’m jus saying, this year, let’s not get so caught up in the heat of the dayz, that you neglect those holy moments with The Daystar, Jesus! In fact, take The Lord God with you, everywhere you go. Chances are, you gonna need Him!

Oh yeah, feel free to invite a friend… that’ll really make Jesus smile! ‘Come, ye… after me?’ Didjaheardat? SERIOUSLY? #don’tdolifewithoutHIM!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

CHALLENGED?

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Goliath meets his match

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 1 Samuel 17:28-29

The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want! Psalm 23:1

Life is challenging! That’s what I call grossly understated, huh? If you can’t say Amen, the ol’ saints used to say, ‘Jus keep getting up in the morning and going to bed in the evenings!’ There is always going to be something or someone who’s sole purpose in existing is to challenge your peace, patience, prosperity, position or your purpose. Okay?

Here’s the clincher! Sometimes your worst adversity comes from your own house! I mean, one might expect oppositon competing for a job, after all the unemployment rate being as high as it is. And of course, given the deminishing numbers of viable bachelors/bachelorettes these day you kinda know how steep the competition is for someone looking for the whole package (head, body and heart). But when you gotta overcome rejection and disrespect from those who are closest to you, even your own brothers and sistas, well that’s a whole different kinda beast!

Most of the time  when 1 Samuel 17 is preached or taught the focus is on Goliath, but upon closer observation of the context, David faced serious oppositon even before he dealt with the 10 ft. Philistine. Remember what happened that day God sent Samuel to anoint the next King of Israel? (Ref. 1 Samuel 16) Well, it was only after much resistance from his Father,  Jessie, that David was even considered an option. Isn’t it something when your own kinfolk can only see you the way you used to be or never acknowledge that where you are now is not necessarily your final destination?

Even more difficult, is rising above those who’re secretly intimidated by your desire to excel to dimensions beyond where they’ve chosen to settle in the comfort of complacency, paralyzed by their fears rather than risk failure. WOW! #OHNOSHEDIDN’T #YESSHEDID!

But the young shepherd boy had somehow learned that when you can’t find support or encouragement from without, don’t give up! Look to the only One truly qualified to determine your worth or define your destiny! The Creator and Giver of Life, The Lord Almighty! David drew strength, courage and unfailing unconditonal love abiding in the Presence of The True Shepherd, Yahweh, translated I  AM THE ONE,  or I AM WHAT I AM!

In the midst of  foreboding clouds of impending threats, persecutions, peer pressure, hopelessness and despair, David found respite rehearsing holy moments he’d spent searching the Heart of His Lord!

Like David, most of us can look back at those ‘almost’, and rekindle those ‘look what the Lord has done’ moments! But sometimes it takes us a while to regroup after we finally back  off looking for our own way out, huh? When you realize the folly of depending on self and others,  you’ll come to the realization that when God decides to bless you, it doesn’t matter who tries to curse you! Oh Gggglorrra!

Life has a way of teaching you that you can’t overcome what you’re not willing to confront! However, even more rewarding is understanding The Good News! God’s got a plan for your life and it’s all good! (Ref. Jeremiah 29:11)  You already got the victory; you jus gotta fight the good fight of faith! Didjaheardat? Trust2know! CHALLENGED?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray and Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

DISTANT LOVER

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DISTANT LOVERS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, …let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-20, 22

 

To mimic my granddaughter, ‘back in da olden days’, R&B artist, Marvin Gaye, recorded a song entitled, “Distant Lover”. OMG, did we EEVVVRRR parta on that one!

Sadly, this title typifies the relationship between many Christians and Jesus. Too often those who proclaim Jesus as their personal Savior, The Hope of Eternity yet remains a  DISTANT Lover!

When The Holy Book clearly tells us that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ–once for all! ( Hebrews 10:10)  Hence, when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, every obstacle that stood between us and His Presence is rolled away. It seems kinda foolish to settle for religion when we could have a relationship! I mean, right?

We must understand the essence of the ETERNAL TRUTH ! 

God promised and accepted Jesus’ Sacrificial death as atonement for our unrighteousness! #Didjaheardat?  In  other words, the debt we owed and could not pay, Jesus paid in full, therefore, releasing us from the curse of the law! (Galations 3:13)  Now unless you think your good deeds have somehow merited God’s forgiveness and earned you a seat at Heaven’s Banquet Table, knowing this should just bless your sin-worn soul!  #ijs WOW!  That’s Grace! 

That means, we’re now free to enter into a Divine Intimacy with the Lover of our soul—the Creator and Sustainer of Heaven and Earth without fear of rejection or retribution! Sounds pretty good to me, huh?

My Precious saints, this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

You know those times when you become overwhelmed by the cares of this world and it appears as if God is so beyond your reach, well guess what? It’s just feels like that! But the truth is, even when we can’t trace Him, God is never far from anyone who seeks Him with a sincere heart.  Our Compassionate Father knows when we can’t quite make it up to touch Him, so His Love so graciously lifts us up to Him. (Hebrews 4:15)

This is the essence and the joy of our salvation!

Today, Beloved, God is inviting you to call upon Him with confident assurance that when you cry out to Him with a humbled, repentant heart, He will hear you and He will come close to you. Remember, The Word is nigh thee, even in your mouth!  (Romans 10:8) Didjaheardat? He’s always just one prayer away.  If you need Him now; call Him now!

He doesn’t have to be a Distant Lover!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

A PERFECT HEART

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A PERFECT HEART2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 2 Chronicles 16:9

 

According to Data Center Solutions, the KJV Bible uses the word ‘heart’ 884 times. When the scriptures speak of the heart, it’s not referring to the 9-ounce muscle that pumps the blood throughout the human body. But rather, it’s speaking of the central control room of our emotions, ( feelings) of love, our desires and yes the seat of hatred, envy, covetnous, bitterness, resentment and fear!

We tend to so readily embrace those scriptures that bring encouragment and comfort to our hearts, right? However, when it comes to those that teach how to avoid those secret subsceptabilities that are exposed by the light of The Holy Spirit, Who intentionally searches the hearts of men, chances are we’ll speed by those, pausing momentarily to clip a few notes that ‘I jus gotta share this one with Sis. Cantelope and Bro. Watermelon, both of whom definitely will benefit from this, more than I will!”

Today’s scripture, 2 Chronicles 16:9, says that God is searching for perfect hearts. Well here’s when most of us leave the conversation, afterall, ain’t nobody perfect, right? But a closer examination of the situation discloses God’s interpretation of a perfect heart! As our Heavenly Father peered into the heart of His servant, King Asa, we notice a few things were missing. First of all God expected to see a Holy Awe, a Reverence and Appreciation for The Almighty God who had showed Himself Powerful to deliver in the time of battle against the Cushites. Hence, instead of loyalty, total commitment and a willingness to obey God, Asa’s heart was torn between a reliance on self, man, the world and God!

When Asa was confronted by the Prophet Hanani, who alerted him of the precariousness of seeking help from any source other than God, Asa’s anger flarred up and he immediately ordered Hanani thrown into prison, revealing the true condition of his heart!

How many times have you heard someone declaring, “God knows my heart!? #ikr! He certainly does!  Therefore, He’s not easily impressed by our good works. Sometimes, we need to examine our hearts to determine if our good works are the result of right motives. Could we be harboring a religious spirit of self-righteousness? One way to identify this is by asking ourselves, “Is MY right doing to glorify and honor God or MYself?” #OOPHS!

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:18

Solomon, dubbed the wisest man in the known world, shares this intellegence, that we must be mindful to monitor our hearts, putting limits on our feelings and desires, guarding against the innate proclivity to rationalize certain behaviors that will ultimately determine how we live. (Ref. Proverbs 4:23-27)

Beloved, a perfect heart does not means that you will always do the right thing. And, we all know the low probability of that, huh? However God’s looking for that ‘want to’, in other words, a GENUINE desire to grow in grace! This is only possible by a conscious deliberate effort to hide the Word of God in your hearts that you might not sin against the Faithful and True Living God! (Ref. 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 12:1-2) #DIDJAHEARDAT? #WOW!

Jesus says, ‘That’s close enough, I’ll take it from here!’ PERFECT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee