Category Archives: Love of God

WEIGHT ON THE LORD!

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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

 

While glancing back at the TV screen on my way into the kitchen one morning, I couldn’t help but hear this early morning’s breaking news report 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!  Filtering my hearing to the commentator, he continuied on saying that Isis had proudly stepped up, acclaiming responsibility for this heinous act in retaliation for a previous attack against their forces!

After reminding myself again, why I’m not an avid news watcher, I came up stairs to ask 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!

Suddenly, the Holy Spirit cut into our conversation; “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 nu? The 21st century generation would be eye witnesses to the actualization of the antiquated prophetic utterances of God’s servants.

I found myself 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!”

The Holy Spirit 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

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? WOW! WEIGHT ON THE LORD!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

HE LOVES ME!

HE LOVES ME

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

 

Back in the olden days, there was a street game (Yes, we actually played outside) and while the name of the game escapes me, I do remember the rules. We’d find a fresh yellow flower, which was no small feat in the hood, and then we’d proceed to slowly pull each individual golden petal apart from the stem while chanting the words,“He loves me…He loves me not…He loves me…He loves me not…HE LOVES ME!”
 
That’s exactly how some of us authenticate our relationship with Jesus! When our circumstances are all good (just as we like them), “He loves me”. Howevrrrr, when situations suddenly shift beyond our comfort level and/or ability to control, “He loves me not!”
 
Where did this come from? Let’s consider our first parents, Adam and Eve. When they obeyed the Voice of God, they enjoyed paradise—living life to the fullest. Everything they desired was theirs for the picking without their even asking. However the moment they began to doubt God’s faithfulness and willfully defied God’s instructions, they were thrust into an environment that God never intended for them to experience. The confident intimacy of God’s Presence was ruptured and for the first time, they found themselves radically disconnected, attempting to hide themselves from the Eternal Source of Life and Love! The enchantment they once knew was displaced by dread, fear, guilt, shame, doubt and insecurity! 
 
But The Eternal God of Love, refused to let go! The Omniscient Creator came looking for Adam.  
 
Where are you? Today? Are you discouraged and feeling detached from The True Source of Power, Hope, Joy and Peace? Are the cares of this world or un-confessed sin tempting you to hide from your Only Savior, Jesus? 
 
Come out from there! Lift your heart towards The King of Glory and be ye reconciled! (Ref. 2 Corinthians 5:20)
 
Don’tchakno?  When our Heavenly Father sees us, He’s looking at us through Lovingly Blood-Stained Eyes!  
 
Trust for sure, Beloved…Yes, HE LOVES ME, AND YOU! 
 
SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee

PECULIAR?

AIN'T DAT PECULIAR 3

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 1 Peter 2:9

 

If you’re a card-holding member of the baby-boomers community, you probably remember R&B recording Artist, Marvin Gayes’ 1965 hit song, “Ain’t That Peculiar!”. This song went on to become one of his best known signature solo-hits.

Now, of course we all realize that the object of the writer’s (Smokey Robinson) affection is a two-timing-unfaithful-serial-cheating-significant-other-who-would-never-return-his-misguided- affections, but if we read the last verse, perhaps we might express this same peculiar sentiment when we consider Our Savior’s heart towards His Beloved Creation –Man-kind. “I know love can last through years…But how can love last through tears?”

While the world looks at Christians as being peculiar, stupid, unintelligent, weak-minded, poverty-stricken individuals, who are desperately looking to escape reality with fantasy, GOD’s interpretation of peculiar differs drastically. According to the bible, peculiar not only means strange, but also connotes the exclusively chosen, uniquely selected, belonging to and set-apart for HIS Divine Purpose. Only God has the uncanny ability to hand-pick the foolish for Christ to confound the world’s wise and astute, bringing Praise and Glory to God!

WHO NU? Believers are God’s Very Own Special People! #didjaheardat? WOW! Seriously!

One of the most strangely awemazing things about God’s People is the reality that God ordained, before the foundation of the world, that He would have HIMSELF a people, who would be different from the world around them. Different because they’d be born-again, by The Spirit of God, adopted and transformed by the Indwelling Holy Spirit! Hence, you can’t even take credit for your own ELECT- Royal-Position!

It’s ALL GOD!!! GOD even gave us The Faith to trust in Him and it’s only by GOD’s GRACE that we are empowered to live holy, separated and sanctified thru HIS SPIRIT!

You already know that none  (not one) of us could ever live righteously enough to deserve this GRACE! BUT! While we were yet weak, powerless and enslaved to sin, at the appointed time, a LOVING FATHER sent and sacrificed HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JESUS, not to save us IN our sin, but to save us FROM our sin, reconciling us back into HIS KINGDOM FAMILY! (Ref. Romans 5:8) OH YEAH! THRU THE  SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONING DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, WE HAVE BECOME GOD’S PERSONAL INHERITANCE! #CANUBELIEVEIT?

WHOOAAAA!  I GUESS GOD’S LOVE DOES LAST THROUGH TEARS! NOW DATZ PECULIAR, HUH?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Good Morning Fam! GOTTA MOMENT? #ooohhhGLORRAAAA!

 

Precious Saints of The Most High God, we’re so excited that you’ve joined us today in the final Thursdays’ Corporate Fasting and Prayer for 2016!

As we entreat our Lord, we’re praying for the Saints everywhere! We understand that the enemy has launched a decree to destroy the Hope and Joy of God’s elect, particularly for the next generation! But GOD says that the violent shall pursue, recover and conquer everything that God has given us. In times like this we must remember that GOD has not left us defenseless! While The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but Mighty thru God for the pulling down strongholds! AS WE’RE PRAYING, WE’RE BELIEVING & DECREEING…

OOOOHH Sweet Wonder! Ooooh Sweet Wonder! Jesus! The Son of God! Ooooh Sweet Wonder! Ooooh Sweet Wonder! JESUS, THE SON OF GOD! FATHER, I stretch my hand to THEE! No other help I know! If THY withdraw THYSELF from me…where shall I go…
Abba Father, as we come before You today, In the Magnificent, All Powerful Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus, we’re determined to rejoice, praise and thank You for blessing us to see this day of 2016! Looking back, we know that it was no goodness of our own but solely Your Benevolence that has allowed us to yet be here to enjoy the abundance of Your Mercy, Your Grace, Your Power and Your Peace! Hence, our testimony is, that while 2016 has lead all of us through many dangers, toils and snares, You have kept us, covered in Your Faithful Love! Leaning and depending on The Sovereignty of Your Omnipresence, Omniscience and Omnipotence, we’ve been able to overcome every obstacle and are yet standing!

Father, as bow, in Holy reverence before you today, we shall never fail to bless You for that Awemazing day that You touched us, opening our hearts, enabling us to recognize and receive the saving Grace in the Life, Death, Burial and Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus! We are fully persuaded that while there was absolutely nothing in us lovable nor worthy of this honor and privilege, because it pleased You, You choose us to be Your very own children!

Lord Jesus, we declare and decree that You Alone deserve all of The Glory, Honor & Praiz! For by Your Own Hand, You wrought Salvation, Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision. We’re eternally grateful that, knowing our frame,Your Faithful Compassion continuously allows You to look beyond our human frailties, faults, iniquities and failures, seeing and yet ministering to every one of our need all day every day! Hallelujah!!!!

Abba Father, as we submit our hearts to Your watchful Eye, we offer up thanksgiving laced with precious praises to You today, for we revere and extol You as The Only Wise Savior and Lord of Life! While our future remains a mystery, we have courageous confidence that by Your Grace, You have equipped us with everything that we need to carry us through the days ahead, one day at a time.
Lord Jesus, You already know everything that’s happening in each of our lives, our families, our communities, our nation, therefore, we’re so grateful that You are yet in absolute control of all things! Father while we slept safely in our homes last night, somewhere in this world there were shootings, robberies, accidents and all manner of maladies, therefore we thank You, for keeping us alive! We’re fully persuaded that even amidst these days of impending chaos, anxiety, fear, confusion, deception and destruction, the safest place in this whole world is still in YOUR PERFECT WILL!

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, 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!

Precious Lord, we ‘re believing that while we’re experiencing an unexpected shaking of this nation and the entire world, that appears that everything is falling apart, we have Your assurance that everything is falling right in place! You are setting up a massive exodus and deliverance!

Abba Father, because no man can come to the You except you draw them, we’re believing that a Spirit of Godly-repentance is swelling up all over this world resulting in the saving of multitudes of lost souls! Those who have walked away from You are being re-claimed today and will come running back into Your outstretched arms and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior! We’re trusting Holy Spirit is imparting a ‘COMMITED YES’ in their hearts and in their minds, blessing, directing and settling them into a local church home today, where they will be encouraged, nurtured, taught and their lives transformed by The Glory of The Lord! We’re believing that all of our unsaved loved ones and friends will be saved in the year 2017 and join our Eternal Family!

Lord, we pray for all who’re going thru a season of grief due to 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 demonic suicidal thoughts, 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 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. Heavenly Father, we’re trusting You to strengthen and presevere us thru every test that You’ve 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 overshadowed with death, we pray that You anoint us, for such a time as this, with supernatural confidence, courageous empowerment and an overwhelming consciousness of Your Abiding Presence and the immutability of Your Word!

Heavenly Father, according to Your Will, we pray obediently, for the leaders of our nation, government, corporate, judicial, education, financial institutions and our churches! We’re believing 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,  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 we pray that every demonic-induced spirit of fear, failure, hopelessness and disappointment be defeated by Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and a Sound-mind be released now, in Jesus Name! We’re trusting that each morning of this new year Your children will awaken with assured grace to accomplish every assignment and earnest hope-filled tomorrows!

Father we now wait in confidence and quietness, trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are suddenly trembling and departing in shame and 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 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 bow 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!

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 LOVES and CARES FOR THEM 2!  HAVE A HOLY, HAPPY, PROSPEROUS & PRODUCTIVE 2017!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

prayn-and-fasting-pic

SELAH Daily Devotions!

GOOD MORNING Saints of The Most High! GOTTA MOMENT! AWEMAAZIN!

We’re so glad that you’ve joined us, once again, in our Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We’re living in perilous times that vex even the souls of God’s Elect, nevertheless The Holy Bible promises that the effectual fervent prayers, of those who trust in The Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, shall make tremendous power available to prevail in the day of adversity! 

Just another day, that The Lord has kept me! Just another day, that The Lord has kept me! He has kept me from all evil, with my mind stayed on JESUS! Just another day….that….The Lord….Has kept me!  He’s a WONDER, in my soul, He’s a WONDER, in my soul, He’s a WONDER, IN MY SOUL, BLESS HIS NAME! HE’S A WONDER, IN MY SOUL…HE’S A WONDER, IN MY SOUL, HE’S A WONDER, IN MY SOUL…BLESSSSSS, BLESSSSS, BLESS HIS NAME! Let’s pray…
Almighty GOD, as we bow our heads and our hearts to thank You for this day we honor our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for the privilege that’s so graciously afforded us to enter into Your Throne Room finding Mercy and Grace to help in the time of need! Confident that You welcome us, we rejoice earnestly expecting that You are indeed listening to our prayers!
Heavenly Father, we thank You for our being able to see, and to hear, and to speak, and to feel, and to taste of Your goodness today and every day!

We’re blessed because You, being Holy and Righteous, continue to be such a loving, forgiving GOD, and such an understanding and caring Father. You have done so much for us, inspite of us… and You keep on blessing us. Lord forgive us this day for everything we have done, or said or thought that was not pleasing to You. Abba Father, we are sincerely sorry and humbly repent, asking for Your forgiveness trusting in Your Promise that You are Faithful and Just to give us, cleanse us in The Precious Blood of Jesus and restore our rightstanding as Your own children!

Sweet Jesus, we thank You for being The God of our Creation, Salvation,  Redemption, Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision. We’re eternally grateful that because, knowing our fickled frame, Your Faithful Compassion allows You to look beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities to see and minister to all of our need!

We pray, from a heart open to, depending and relying only on You, that Your outstretched Hand will touch us, renewing our strength, understanding and power to do those things that please You!

We pray that as Your eyes continuously search the hearts of mankind that You save the unsaved, put a sincere YES in their heart and in their mind that they will come to you today and receive You as their Lord and Savior! Lord Jesus, reclaim every back-slider, that has for whatever reason walked away from You. Stir up a Spirit of Righteousness in their hearts that provokes them to declare a committed YES! Order their steps to a local church home; place and settle them where they can be nurtured and encouraged to live out the rest of their lives exemplifying Your Grace and Glory in the midst of the depraved darkness of this world! In Jesus Name, Amen 3x!

Father, by faith, we commit our children, our children’s children into Your providential care! Lord, we realize that You have a plan and purpose for their lives too and we have the blessed assurance that their steps are yet being ordered by Your eyes!

Heavenly Father, stir up the hearts and minds of those who are professing Your Name that they will have a desire for an even greater personal, intimate relationship with Creator God through fellowship of Holy Spirit that they might prove what is the perfect and acceptable will of The Lord Jesus!

Father, we’re asking You to touch our brother, touch our sister whose bodies 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 infallable WORD has decreed that the stripes that Jesus bore on His back has already redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on Your Eternal Authority as Creator and Ruler of the Ages, that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name!

Lord, please remember those who are being overlooked, held down and even abused by racial prejudice in this world. We’re believing You to intervene on our 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 that unjustly confine us to biased judicial systems and give us the victory!

We ask that you continue to open the eyes of understanding so that Your people are not easily deceived by those who would desire to entrap your children in bondage once again to anything that You have delivered us from.

Knowing that You Sovereignly Rule and Reign over the affairs of mankind and absolutely nothings happens in this earth that takes You by surprise,  give us Your Peace that passes all understanding. While we may not know what tomorrow will bring, we take comfort, trusting in Your Word that You will never leave us nor forsake us! We praise and thank You for our President Obama and his family! We’re trusting that You will continue to cover him as You strengthen his personal relationship with You! Order his steps,  protect his family so that no weapon that is formed against them shall prosper and that his place of prominence in Your eternal destiny is secure.

Father, we lift up every government official, education, financial, judicial, health care and spiritual leader, asking a special miracle for each and every one of them who are yet standing on the wall proclaiming Your Word under the conviction and anointing of Holy Spirit. Father, we’re trusting and believing You to 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 live their lives serving You!

Lord, we pray for every believer who is yet stretching their hands out to you,  clinging on to Your Hand, by faith today, that You will release Divine power, Supernatural strength and health, provision, prosperity and protection. We pray also Father, that You will preserve them thru the challenges ahead, and bring us out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised as our inheritance according to Your Word.

Abba Father, as we pray, we declare and decree that every demonic-induced spirit of fear, failure, rejection, hopelessness and disappointment is defeated by Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Soundness of 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 as they lay down, they shall rest peacefully every nite, confident of earnest hope-filled tomorrows!

Father, we rejoice now in confidence and quietness, trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shameful defeat, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayers as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Father, because we know that You are still The MIRACLE MAKER, we thank, honor and praise You NOW, BELIEVING that every spoken and unspoken request and supplication that has been offered up before You today… IS DONE! IN THE EXALTED NAME OF JESUS THE CHRIST! AMEN 3X!

Now, every soul that is standing in agreement, SEAL THIS PRAYER BY ENCOURAGING ONE SOMEBODY, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT JESUS DOES CARE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

MY CUP

my-cup

SELAH Daily Devotions!

But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. Matthew 20:22-23

WOW! I’ll never forget that look that came across her face when I innocently reiterated that jealousy, envy, coveting and competitiveness had no place amongst the Saints of God! Was I really that naive or was I simply rightly dividing The Word of Truth? Either way, I must admit that there’s a whole lotta this stuff going on in the Body of Christ. And apparently, it started long before we came in, huh?

According to our scripture text, even those who literally walked with Jesus from the beginning of His Earthly ministry until His Ascension didn’t understand the real mission of The Kingdom of God in the earth. Mrs. Zebedee, the mother of James and John, went to Jesus, supposedly to worship Him, but was actually trying to get a hook-up for her boys. Seems like the more things change, the more they stay the same, huh? Hence, believe it or not, there are still folk today who play the same kinda religious games. Perpetrating, as if they’re following Jesus, but knowing their true motives,  Jesus also knows them that are His! Sunday after Sunday, folk will pack out churches everywhere; unfortunately, not out of a genuine personal love for Him or pure adoration for Who He Is, nor in sincere appreciation for all that He’s done, but rather for what they can get out of it! As if God is a Sugar Daddy! #Don’tshoutmedown! #ijs

Jesus warning the Mother, ‘be careful what you wish for, you just might get it! And chances are it won’t look like anything you thought it would.’ As a parent, naturally, we want our children to be successful, however, our personal desires must never take precedence over praying for God’s specific Will for their lives!

Turning to The Sons of Thunder, Jesus asked, ‘Can you drink the cup I’m going to drink?’ Both responded in ignorant arrogance, (having no idea what the true cost of The Anointing entailed) “We can!”  Finally, Jesus told them in so many words, ‘Ok, be it done unto you as you have said!’ And as history records, indeed they would! James would be imprisoned and eventually executed and John would be exiled for spreading The Gospel of The Kingdom!

Looking from the sidelines, perhaps bedazzled by the illusion of glitz and glamor, one might misinterpret the Glory of Transformation! (Ref. 1 Peter 1:16-18)  The lust for power, fame and wealth has lured many a soul to judge, criticize, complain and even compare themselves to someone that God’s using to carry out His Plan! However, wisdom suggests that until you’ve actually walked in their shoes, you don’t know the contents of the cup and the weight of the cross they’ve borne to prepare them for the Crown! Remember, to whom much is given, much is required!

Consequently,  21st Century Millenniums, who ascribe to the dictates of a ‘instant-gratification-go-getter-Burger King’ contemporary society, are ill-prepared for the challenges incurred while waiting on The Lord to promote them! In fact,  there are many who seek positions without persecution! Could this be the reason for so much back-biting, brown-nosing, coveting and competitions in churches, huh? You do know that  a slick suit, dob hat, pointed-toe leather shoes and an alligator briefcase does not denote a personal relationship with God anymore than carrying a BIG Bible, drapping your body in a prayer shawl, and wearing Red-Bottom  7 inch Stilettos equate one’s anointing?  That’s not what The Bible means by, ‘count up the cost’!  #4REAL!

Looking into The Cup, tasting the bitterness, seeing the pressure of Gethesemane, nevertheless, Jesus humbled Himself to the tyranny of human hatred, the bruising inflicted by the cat-of-nine tails, the shameful slander and mockery of His accusers, enduring the painful piercing of crucifixion, the unspeakable agony of being separated from His Father’s Presence, went through Hell for The Glory of redeeming you and I back  into rightstanding  with The God of Compassionate Grace and Mercy!  (Ref. Matthew 26:39) #Didjaheardat?

Beloved, Jesus’s Life was an illustrated sermon to teach us that real ministry means submitting to the process, making a courageous commitment to stand up for Jesus  in the face of testing and trials and power and authority based on serving rather than being served! Right? Question is, are you really willing to drink from His cup to follow Him?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

LOST & FOUND

lost-and-found

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. Luke 15:20-24
The Gospels record 35 times that Jesus uses parables as a teaching aid. Literally, a parable is a story “cast alongside” a truth in order to illustrate that truth. In today’s vernacular a parable is as an inspired comparisons, or simply put an earthly story with a heavenly meaning!

Unlike like so many 21st Century preachers,  Jesus wasn’t just trying to spice up the message to keep the crowds entertained. His parables had a two-fold purpose. First, to reveal the truth to those who wanted to know it and to conceal the truth from those who were indifferent! You see, Jesus already knew that everybody who followed Him didn’t do so for the same reason. People are still people, huh?

You do know that everybody who comes into the church building doesn’t come looking to know Jesus, right? Some come just for a ‘kidz-size happy meal and a prize’! While others, like the Pharisee and the scribes, only come to pick up a few stones to throw at Jesus. Notice how they accused Jesus, “Look at Him, This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Spiritually blinded by their preconceived biases, Jesus already knew that they would dismiss His parables as irrelevant nonsense.  Yet, there were also a few sincere seekers of Truth who would eventually receive insight and reap the benefit and comfort of His Words!

Anything that you respect and honor you will pursue! Perhaps, that’s why the Pharisees could not understand why Jesus cared about ‘tax collectors and sinners’. Yall know how you go off when you can’t find your keys or the remote control. You put out an all-points-bulletin and nobody in the house can get any relief until it’s found! When you really desire something with all of your heart, mind, spirit and soul, whatever it takes to get it, is worth it all!

The text says that The Shepherd is so excited that He’s found the sheep that He throws a party to celebrate the safe return and everyone around Him is rejoicing with Him! (Ref. Luke 15:6-7)  Imagine that! I know we don’t get excited when folk get saved anymore, huh? But that’s exactly what happened back-n-da-day!

The next story is about a woman who loses a coin and refusing to give up, she searches until nightfall. Desperately she’s turning every piece of furniture upside-down, looking between the cushions on the sofa, behind the refrigerator, until she found it. You can imagine the joy and the relief she experience when she found it! (Ref. Luke 15:8-9)

This chapter ends with a the more familiar parable of the Prodigal Son! Sometimes we can get so caught up in the drama of the son’s partaayin so hard until he ended up in the pigs pen, that we miss the intensity of The Father’s Love and Compassion for his lost child. This is a picture of The Heavenly Father’s response to those who have yet to accept the glorious gift of Salvation purchased by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ! This is why God pursues sinners and why everyone of us should rejoice when a repented sinner returns to the sheepfold.

Recovering a lost sinner requires effort and patience! However, often times we develop an acute case of selective spiritual amnesia and forget what it took for us to get our testimony, huh? Do you know that most sinners have no idea that God is looking for them and even fewer believe that He loves them?  When you look at what Jesus gave up to save us, how should those of us, who call ourselves His disciples, be any less engaged in searching for the poor souls who have yet to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord! #ijs! No, it’s not always easy but  gratefully JESUS believed the reward  well worth the effort!

Shamefully, too many Believers still think that soul winning is the Pastors and Evangelist job! But that’s not what The Bible says! ‘And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation’ 2 Cor. 5:18

Jus wondering, what are you doing to bring the lost to Jesus? Are you content to enjoy the privileges of being saved? Is your heart burdened for those who are still lost? Are you willing to get up off the padded pew of do nothing and go into the field and hunt for those who are still outside of the house? (Ref. Matthew 9:37) If Jesus still associates with sinners, why don’t you? WOW! LOST & FOUND!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

I WON’T TURN BACK!

I WON'T TURN BACK

 

Selah Daily Devotions!

 

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back, I gave my back to the smitters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spiting. For the Lord God will help me, therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED. He is near that justifieth me; who will content with me? Behold the Lord will help me, who is he that shall condemn me? Isaiah 50:5-9

 

The Psalmist said, ‘Before I was afflicted, I went astray’. Well, King David, you’re not the only one! Can I get a witness? Before our ears were opened, before our personal encounter with The Divine Kind, before we met Jesus, all of us rebelled against God’s Righteous standards! Amen 3x!

But! Just like The Prophet Isaiah, when we finally heard that ‘un-mistakable’ Voice of Our Lord speaking to our heart, we turned our face to God and our back to Satan! We made the conscious, irrevocable determination to commit ourselves to The Redeemer, begin a new life, walk a new path, and emphatically denounced our former Task Master, declaring—I’m through with you!

However, I must confess! Much to my surprise, not everyone celebrated! In fact, some of the same folk that we used to kick it with backndaday ‘don’t treat me like they used to, since I laid my burden down’! Many of your peeps, who used to ‘have your back’ become back-stabbers or now avoid you like a bubonic plague. Don’t think it strange if some even set traps to get you to fall, just to let you know that you ain’t no better then they are!  #ijs For real!

But guess what? No one who walks away from the world ever comes up short. Nothing that you give up to follow Jesus is ever in vain. So don’t worry about your haters. Remember, you now have a Friend who sticks closer than any brother; and He has promised to never leave you or give up on you. (Ref. Proverbs 18:24; Hebrews 13:5)

Don’t try to defend yourself, just let your life speak for you! Trust me, some of those folk who walked away, they’re still watchin’. And guess who they’ll come to when they hit that pothole? EXACTLY! The ‘new and improved you’!

For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Hebrews 4:2

Precious one, God’s got your back! Just keep walking, unashamedly, looking unto Jesus! Trusting in His Promises, with all of your heart knowing that God’s got a plan for your life and I hearrrd  (in my best preacha voice) that what’s coming is better than what’s been! (Ref. Jeremiah 29:11) #Didjaheardat? #WOW!

So the next time that lying devil tries to make you doubt God’s faithfulness and derail your destiny—tell him—”Obviously, you’ve mistaken me for someone else! I ain’t Lot’s wife! I WON’T TURN BACK!” #BOOMMMM

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

PRAYN AND FASTING PIC

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

GOTTA MOMENT! AWEMAAZIN! Once again, Family, we invite you to link up with us in our weekly day of Corporate Prayer and Fasting until 6 p.m. With everything that’s going on in our nation and the world today, it behooves each one of us to stay closer than ever before to the Altar!! Amen?

AS WE’RE PRAYING, BELIEVING & DECREEING… LET IT BREATHE ON ME…LET IT BREATHE ON ME, LET THE BREATH OF THE LORD, NOW BREATHE ON ME…LET IT BREATHE ON ME…LET IT BREATHE ON ME…LET…THE…BREATH…OF THE LORD…NOW…BREATHE…ON…MEEEE…

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 a brand new day.We thank You, Father for one more opportunity to seek Your Face, that we may embrace and enjoy the abundance of Your Mercy, Your Grace, Your Power and Your Peace!

Daddy, we thank You for being The ONLY GOD of Salvation, Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision! We’re thankful that because, knowing our frame, Your faithfulness and compassion yet allows You to look beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities to see and minister to all of our need! Therefore receive our praise to You today, coming from hearts humbly opened to, depending and relying solely upon You for renewed strength, wisdom, understanding and power!

Because no man can come to the Father except You draw them, we intercede on behalf of our families, friends and every unsaved soul, trusting You to quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their hearts and minds that they will come to you today saying “YES” to your Gift of Grace and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior!

Heavenly Father, as Your eyes continue to search the hearts of every man, reclaim every back-slider, put a “COMMITED YES” in their heart and mind, direct their footsteps, placing and settling them into a church home today where they may be nurtured, encouraged and strengthen in YOUR WORD, WILL AND WAY!

Father, we’re believing that as we pray, You’re touching our brothers, our sisters whose body has been afflicted by all manner of sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, and rebuking and casting every trace of it out at the root, for Your Name Sake! For Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us from every malady and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name!

Lord, we’re so grateful knowing that in times like these, we are able to yet find rest, hope, courage and PEACE knowing that while we’re yet IN this world, we’re citizens of AN ETERNAL KINGDOM, not made by man’s hand! We bless YOU, our King, WHO RULES & REIGNS OVER THE AFFAIRS of all ages!

Lord, we standing in proxy for every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that You shall release Divine power, Supernatural strength and health, provision, prosperity and protection. Father, we’re trusting that You shall preserve them thru every tests that they go thru, keeping them constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that You will bring them out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised them in Your Word. Amen 3x

Father, we thanking You for an outpouring of Divine Favor upon each and every one of your children who are seeking employment, promotion, prompt approval for student/car/home loans and asking You to assure them that YOU are YET Jehovah Jareh, who shall supply all of their need according to Your Riches in Glory!

Father we declare and decree that every demonic-induced spirit of addiction and fear is defeated NOW because of Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Sound-mindness and Purpose is being released into the lives of Your people, in Jesus Name! AMEN 3X!

Father. we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope-filled anticipation, trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity assigned to distract us are trembling , 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!

Abba Father, in faith, we’re blessingYour Holy Name, right NOW, believing that it is done! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen and It Is So!

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, RAZE UR PRAIZ & GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS LOVES THEM JUST AS MUCH AS HE LOVES EVERYBODY!

 

 

 

 

 

JESUS LIVES!

JESUS LIVES

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit,” (John 19:28-30)

 

From early morning broadcasts GM America, until Late Nite News we’re constantly inundated with media blitz to keep us abreast of local and world-wide current events as they unfold throughout the course of the day! Unfortunately, barring a brief human interest segment, generally most of what is considered news-worthy reporting generally involves someone’s personal tragedy, layered by an unusually catastrophic event, sandwiched between a hefty dosage of robberies, murders, kidnappings, and embezzlement scams etc. Apparently, tragedy boosts ratings. I reckon that’s why the majority of so-called news is all bad!

I was impressed by the Spirit of God to get this urgent message out immediately to every believing soul struggling with a situation that seems impossible! There is Good News! And while it may not survive the final cut of an editing room floor, let me assure you it’s indeed something to phone, text, Instagram, IM, snap chat, fb, linkedin, tweet or by any means necessary to get The Word out!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The devil ain’t running nothing!

Over 2000 years ago, The Son of God, Jesus Christ, dealt Satan the ultimate death crushing blow, as He hung crucified on an Old Rugged Cross atop a hill called Calvary!

History records Jesus dying words,‘IT IS FINISHED’! Following The Holy Lamb of God’s unjustifiably humiliating ghastly agonizing execution where He surrendered to Death, Jesus yet Lives! Having miraculously risen from the Grave, Jesus told His disciples, “All Power in heaven and in the Earth has been given to me! (Matthew 28:18) “I have overcome the world, and in me, you are over comers!” ( John 16:33) And because of this one man’s atoning death, LIFE has come to anyone who dares to trust in Jesus Redemptive Power!(Ref. Romans 5:19)

Upon our Lord’s Resurrection, any victory that Satan once held over death and the grave was snatch un-mercifully away from him, eternally triumphantly trampling over all powers, principalities, and all wickedness in High Places. And the records decree how God has placed all things under his dominion and if ye be Christ’s then all things are under your feet also! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
 
Seriously! The Immutable Word of God still stands firm! We are more than conquers through Christ, and the devil is still a desperate defeated liar!

SO WHATEVER STATICS THE INTIMIDATOR IS USING TO THREATEN YOUR PEACE AND DESTROY YOUR JOY  AND DIMINISH YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD, DON’T EVEN SWEAT IT! JESUS ALREADY HANDLED IT AND SATAN TOO! WE ALREADY HAVE THE VICTORY BECAUSE JESUS LIVES!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!”

Ann Caffee