Category Archives: New Life

R…U…N???

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R..U..N2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22

 

Didjaheardat? WHO KNU? Most of us (Christians) already knew that the Jews held a uniquely privileged position in The Kingdom of God, having been Sovereignly called out by GOD Who introduced Himself, calling them His Chosen and giving them The Laws of Commandments through His servant Moses. Yet the truth of the matter is, they were still denied direct access into The Presence of God! Why? Because they had the same problem that every other human being born into the earth had. Sin-lusting Flesh! Don’t look at me with that tone of voice?

While they were given Stone Tablets outlining God’s Righteous Expectations of His people, to which they’d ignorantly profoundly arrogantly sworn to obey, in and of themselves, they were powerless to fulfill. The problem was, if you broke even one of The Law’s Commandments, you were guilty of breaking them all. Therefore, The Law blocked them, just as it does us 21st Century Believers. So God, in His Infinite Mercy, instituted a substitute ritual (animal blood sacrifice) to temporarily cover them from the penalty of their sinful ways yet affirming His Righteous Judgment! However, the blood of bulls, rams, goats and pigeons could never remove the power which sin held over our lives!

But GOD had a Plan and a Secret Weapon established before the foundation of this world! JESUS! The Holy Lamb of GOD! The only MAN capable of systematically rejecting the Master of Seduction and ruler of this world, Satan, despising the lure of sin’s temptations and steadfastly submitting to The Will of His Father (Ref. John 14:30) thereby abolishing the enmity of the Law in His Own Flesh! (Ref. Ephesians 2:13) GGLORRRAAAAA 2 GOD!

Not only was this GOOD NEWS for us Gentiles, who were outsiders of The Covenant Relationship that the Jews boasted of, but they too (who confess faith in The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ) have now been granted total access through The Atoning Blood of Jesus Christ, to boldly enter The Holy of Holies, The Very Presence of God! Not just once a year and not just the High Priest, but any one of us at anytime we need, can confidently embrace His Throne of Grace and Mercy! (Ref. Hebrews 10:4)

THANKS BE TO THE HOLY LAMB OF GOD! We, who were once afar off, are now part of God’s Inner-Circle! BUT DON’T GET IT TWISTED! IT’S NOT based on our righteousness, but by GOD’S STANDARD OF PERFECTION, JESUS!  NOW THAT’S GRACE, huh? R…U…N?

SELAH!

PAUSE, PONDER, PRAY & PRAIZ!

Ann Caffee

 

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

GOOD MORNING SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH! GOTTA MOMENT? AWESOME!

I am excited that you’ve decided to join us once again in our weekly Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We are eternally grateful that God has extended His Scepter towards whosoever will entreat His Presence with our praise, petitions and supplications find Grace & Mercy, Wisdom and Understanding to withstand these last and evil days! SHALL WE GO IN…

Welcome Holy Spirit! We are IN YOUR PRESENCE! Fill us with Your POWER, LIVE INSIDE OF ME! YOU’RE MY LIVING WATER! NEVER-ENDING FOUNTAIN; COMFORTER & COUNSELOR; TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL…HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! SING WITH ME HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD; FOR ALL 2 C HOW GREAT, HOW GREAT…IS OUR GOD!

Our Father and Our God, we come before You, once again, giving Glory and Honor to You! For You Alone are Worthy of all praise! There is none like You, neither will there ever be! For You Alone are Holy and Righteous! We bless You for revealing GODSELF to all who will call upon Your Name. We bless You for that day You opened the eyes of our understanding that we might behold The Light of Your Glory in the Face of Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus enabling us to accept His Life, Death, Burial & Resurrection as Substitutionary Atonement for our sin! We’re eternally grateful to Jesus’ Loving Obedience that caused Him to endure the suffering, despising the shame of Calvary’s Cross that we might be delivered, redeemed, vindicated, adopted to inherit the rich benefits of The Kingdom of God! For this cause we bow our hearts and our heads, in humble reverence crying out, Hallelujah to The Lamb of God!

We bless You Holy Father, for by Your Own Hand You have bought us unto GODSELF! For it is IN YOU that we live, move and have our very being! You are the Source and Sustainer Who Satisfies all life! We know that no man is justified by his own works but by faith IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST alone are we saved! We bless You Holy Spirit for abiding in us, leading, guiding, enabling all who have placed our personal trust in Jesus to live our lives everyday, yielding to The Spirit of Truth, which is able to transform us from Grace to Grace, perfecting us that we might exemplify Your Divine Nature to this lost and dying world!

Sweet Jesus, You are The WORD PERSONIFIED! We bless You for teaching us how to walk upright, enduring the mockery of those who despise and reject Truth! Your unconditional Love, Kindness and forgiveness towards us, while we were yet sinners, provokes us to love and forgive others who offend us, knowing not what they do. We bless You for Your Patience and Compassion that yet allows You to look at us through Blood-Stained Eyes, remembering our human frailty—EVEN SINCE WE’VE BELIEVED—and so graciously offering us mercy instead of justice, washing us in The Precious Blood of Jesus, cleansing us from all unrighteousness and restoring our peaceful fellowship with You, as we quickly repent by confessing our sin against You!

For this cause, we gladly present our spirit, soul and body as a living holy sacrifice to be used for Your Greatest Glory!

Precious Lord, because no man can come to the Father except you draw them, we intercede on behalf of every unsaved soul, please quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their heart and in their mind that they will come to you today confessing a“sincere Yes” to your Amazing Gift of Grace and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior! We’re believing that You will Divinely orchestrate their footsteps settleling them into a local church home today.

Lord, we ask You to put a new “committed YES” in the heart and mind of every backslider! Let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church where they will submit their lives to the sound teachings of Your Word, and learn to love Your Word and live their lives walking in holiness in order to please You First!

Father, we pray that You will touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, kidney disease, heart/lung disease, dementia, sickle-cell, MS, Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake. Heavenly Father, You have decreed that You are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Therefore, even as You walked this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able to do the same right now! 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! Amen 3x!

Dear Lord, we’re believing for every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that You will release Divine power, Supernatural Strength and Health, Wholeness, Provision, Prosperity and Protection! We’re trusting that You will preserve each and everyone of us thru the tests that we must go thru and keep us constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that at the appointed time,You, will bring us out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised in Your Holy Word!

Heavenly Father, we pray according to Your Will, for the leaders of our nation, corporate, judicial, education, financial institutions and our churches! We’re asking that You touch the minds and hearts, that You speak to them in the nighttime with dreams and visions! Let them know that You Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens is OMNSCIENT and keep records of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly!

Abba, we ask that You encourage and comfort the souls of Your Elect who are overwhelmed with fear, doubt and worry because of the things that are going on in our personal lives and in this ungodly world systems! Send Assurance that we are never alone, and never without Your Very Present Help!

Father, we’re thanking You for an outpouring of Your Divine Favor upon each and every one of your children who are seeking employment, promotion, approval for student/car/home loans! We acknowledge YOU as Jehovah Jareh, Who shall supply all of our need according to Your Riches in Glory!
Father we 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 in the lives of Your people now, in Jesus Name!

Heavenly Father, as we close our prayer, we bring so many before Your throne O God. Those who are broken hearten, trapped by sorrow and grief, feeble in body and spirit, the one at a crossroad of life, the ones addicted to harmful substances, our armed forces, policemen, fire and rescue personnel, nurses, doctors, pastors and leaders, missionaries far and near; our leaders of the world. We’re trusting You to send peace where there is confusion, send love where there is hate, send unity where there is division. Bless the fatherless and motherless. Keep us ALL in your care. These favors we ask in Jesus mighty name!!For we believe that YOU WILL KEEP ALL WHO WANT TO BE KEPT!

Father we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and 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 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 to call us ‘MINE’, we shout with exceeding Joy unto The Hope of all the earth, believing that as Your face shines upon us, 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 SAVES! HALLELUJAH!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

 

PECULIAR?

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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

YOUR WATER IS BREAKING!

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My Water Is Breaking

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Saints, whatever you’re going through now, just remember while weeping may endure for a night, God has promised us that Joy is coming in the morning.  (Ref. Psalm 30:5) Beloved, keep this in the forefront of your mind, that if you’re experiencing pain, it is only a sign that God is moving and positioning you into the next stage of abundant everlasting life.

Don’t sweat the process, Holy Spirit’s just induced your labor and your water is about to break!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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GOOD MORNING FAM! GOTTA MOMENT? AWEMAZING!

So glad that you’ve joined us for the first Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting of 2017! This is the day that The Lord has made and we shall rejoice and be glad in it! For there’s no doubt in our mind, that if it had not been for The Lord on our side, our enemies would’ve swallowed us up! Yet, in the midst of chaos, confusion and corruption that many of us experienced in 2016, we’re yet standing strong, proclaiming that our God is Greater!

As we enter into The Majestic Throne Room of our Eternal King, our hearts cry, “O Lord, now I see it’s You I need, and with Your help,  I’m denying self and putting my hand in Yours!” “I’ll just say YES! You lead the way. I am not afraid of what it means for me to say; Ummmm, this life You gave, is not, my own! I am trusting YOU LORD to hear MY YES, and lead me on!!!!!!!! YES LORD, YOU ALONE ARE WORTHY TO BE PRAIZED and HONORED!” Shall we pray…
Father in Heaven, we come today with outstretched arms, open hands and grateful hearts rejoicing in The Splendor of Your Magnificent Glory! We know that it’s only because of Your Grace and Mercy, that we’re yet here! Because of Your love for us, You have allowed us one more day to enjoy life, health and strength. We’re grateful for this opportunity to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto You. From our Mother’s womb, You’ve proven Yourself to be Faithful and True; therefore, today, we’re trusting You to provide everything that we need to sustain us thru whatever challenges that unfold during the course of this day! Abba Father, we’re confidently content knowing that You Alone are our God, Guard and Guide! 

Father, we bless You for allowing us to enter into Your Throne Room, with hope-filed expectation and as we pour out these burdens that seem to overwhelm our hearts, releasing everything that concerns us into Your Hand, You will entreat us graciously! Lord Jesus, because we know that You are Omniscient, Omnipresent, You see and You already know everything about everyone of us, yet You welcome us to come to you  to find Grace and Mercy to comfort, strengthen and encourage us to hold on to every Word that You have spoken over our lives, before we were born!

Daddy, before we go any further, standing humbly before You, we’re asking You to forgive us for everything that we, your children, have spoken, done, or failed to do and even thought that was not pleasing in Your sight. Because You have assured us that if we would confess our sins, You, being Faithful and Just, will forgive us,  wash us in The Precious Blood of Jesus, cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and restore the breach that our disobedience has caused between our poor souls and our Lord and Savior, Jesus, we thank You now! Sweet Holy Spirit, we ask You to intercede on our behalf, our family, our friends, even our enemies, as we know that Your love is the same to each and everyone of us!

Abba, we know that You have instructed us, to look not at the temporary things, but to the eternal, yet  because of the frailness of our flesh, we’re easily provoked and tempted to become overwhelmed by the cares of this world, so that our hearts are burdened with the pressures of this life! You already know that some of us are wearied with fear, doubt, unbelief, sickness and disease, financial debt, broken relationships, unprovoked threats, oppression and depression, addictions, proclivities and insecurities. Lord You also know that sometimes we lose our focus on You causing our days to be spent beneath clouds of evil foreboding, while our nites are plagued with restlessness, despondency and hopelessness! Lord, keep us in Your Perfect Peace with a mind to submit to Your Will, as only You can!

Lord, we ask that You save, heal and deliver all those who are crying out to You, seeking Your Face at this very moment, speedily! Give us to know that because we belong to You, we are never too far that You can’t see us, reach us, and shield us from anything that the devil would rail against us. Help us to understand that Your Name, Jesus is a Strong Tower, and those that You have declared the righteous run into it and are saved. Open up our minds and our hearts, filling us with Your Assurance, and Confident Hope that at The Name of Jesus, every enemy shall bow and every tongue shall confess that You are Lord!

Sweet Jesus, as we embark upon The New Year of 2017,  grace your children with hope-filled trust that You,  Heavenly Father, have committed Your Word towards us that no weapon that’s formed us shall prosper and except You allow it, no trouble, test or trial can come near us. We thank You Lord, for fully persuading us of Your Providential Presence and Power to turn everything around to work in our favor and to bring about exuberant testimonies and praizes of Your Eternal Magnificence, Honor and Glory!

Abba Father, thank You now for listening to the hearts of those who have never trusted and accepted Your Son Jesus as Savior and Lord! Thankya Holy Spirit, for only You can quicken that stony heart and provoke a Spirit of Godly Repentance that enables us to come, humbled by Your Lovingkindness, in faithful obedience to Your call! We thank You for every soul who is now receiving Your Free Gifts of Mercy and Grace to Save. We pray for every backslider who has turned away from Your Favor and find themselves outside of You Covenant, we ask now that You lead and guide them to the local church, plant them in Your Vineyard, where they shall be taught and transformed by Your Word of Life and Love to take their position in The Kingdom of Heaven!

Father, we pray for those whose lives are distraught by grief and fear, the elderly, the widows, the care-givers, the downcast, all who have born the heat of the day,  who pushed and prayed us through! Father, give them sweet peace! 

Lord, we pray for every believer who is yet clinging to Your Hand! By faith, we’re declaring and decreeing that You are releasing Divine power, Supernatural strength and health, provision, prosperity and protection. Father, we’re trusting You to preserve them thru every trial and test; keep us, Lord Jesus, constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that at the appointed time, You will always bring us out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward You have promised in Your Word!

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

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

Lord, we pray for the leaders of governments world-wide, remembering that their hearts are in Your Hands, we’re trusting You to visit them in the night season and command them to do Your Will. Abba, we lift up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher and Teacher. Undergird them with Your Anointing to carry out their assignment, under the direction of Holy Spirit. Cover them as they go in and out amongst Your people and those who would seek to discredit, hinder and even destroy their faith, faithfulness and the ministryYou have ordained.

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

As we offer us this prayer, Father we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are suddenly trembling and departing in shameful 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!

Father, we thank You NOW, for down deep in our souls, WE believe that it is done! We seal this prayer In The Exalted Name of Jesus Amen 3X! Hallelujah!

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL ONE SOMEBODY THAT THE DEVIL IS STILL A LIAR & JESUS STILL LOVES AND CARES 4 YOU 2!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

THE 1st RESPONDER!

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the-1st-responder2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

” lo am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20b

 

Certain things just kinda stick out at you! Like, where you were and what you were doing on Tuesday, September 11, 2001?

If you were anywhere in the United States, you were probably sitting somewhere stunned and paralyzed, eyes glued to a TV screen at images that are now indelibly entrenched in your psyche! Some of us initially were just trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Were our eyes betraying our thoughts or was this simply another advertising stunt vying for publicity?

But, as we listened intensively to the broadcaster’s pronouncement, our inquisitively quickly gave way to awe, fear and helplessness! Millions of us sat immobilized by not knowing where or when the next strike would hit. We watched masses of people running terrified away from buildings, aimlessly through the streets in an effort to escape the billowing clouds of gas-filled smoke and the menacing threat of flying glass and debris. The sense of security and the superfluous naivety of an Invincible America tragically came falling down right before our eyes, shattered live and in color!

Just as the rain falls on the just as well as the unjust, tragedy and trouble are neither biased nor prejudice! Except you be some sadistic masochist, most of us are intrinsically wired to avoid pain. Perhaps, that’s why some of us might’ve secretly questioned the wisdom of those ‘first responders’. Nevertheless, we honor the courageous men and women who waived the threat of death in lieu of the prospect of rescuing the survivors and ran boldly into the face of catastrophe!

Perchance, that’s what makes GOD so appealing to that desperately lonely wayfaring stranger, crying out to The Heavenly Father, “Lord, save me!”

Today’s scripture assures us that our Savior, Jesus, doesn’t sit uncaringly aloof, watching us meandering our way through life’s tumultuous terrain, endlessly giving way to hopelessness and despair. But so Gracious is our God, who Lovingly leans toward us, tenderly guarding and guiding us safely through overwhelming floodwaters of seemingly unconquerable test and trials!

May this note serve as a constant reminder, that whenever we find ourselves surrounded, constrained by dire circumstances, in the claws of the temptation to give up and tap out on life, may those of us who have made a personal decision to surrender our lives to The Lordship of Christ, find consolation, encouragement and confidence by faith, to look up–for our Redemption is Always near!

Jesus, The First Responder!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

DIVINE DESIGN

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DIVINE DESIGN

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

Remember that ol’ skool gospel song, “You can’t hurry God, you just have to wait”? Or was that the The Supreme’s “You can’t hurry Love, you just gotta wait”? Either way, most of us don’t wait on either well, huh?

The truth is, sinner or saint, waiting is a reality of life! Since birth, we instinctively incline our will to surrender to the passionate urges of self without the restraint of inconvenient annoying discipline codes of morality. Our flesh could care less! Flesh demands what it wants, when it wants, and as often as it wants. Unfortunately, for many of us that’s not usually a problem, except when your spirit man has been quickened by The Holy Spirit who takes over, regenerating our desires and orchestrating our steps to align with The Righteousness of God! That’s when the struggle begins!

The New Birth conversion,  that everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their life experiences, forces us to not only take a look at ourselves in a way we never could or would before but now we are exposed to The Eternal Supreme Source of Life and Light, The Maker of Heaven and Earth, Infinite Wisdom, Goodness, Mercy, Love and Grace!

Once our eyes and our hearts have been opened to TRUTH, and we remorsefully acknowledge our sin, guilt and shame, The Faithful Love of our newly discovered Shepherd entices us to begin the transformation process. This entails re-prioritizing our needs, desires, actions and even our thoughts! Inevitably, as we become acutely aware of the fact that naturally, this is virtually impossible, we desperately cry out, humbly appealing to God’s Grace and Mercy instead of relying on our own merits!  But by the Grace of God, The Holy Spirit empowers us to do those things that are holy, acceptable, and pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

Amazingly, as we walk in The Light of God’s Countenance, no longer depending on our own understanding, His Word reveals unimaginable blessings! Surprisingly, we find ourselves endowed with joy unspeakable, peace that passes all understanding and the manifestation of ways out of no ways. The Favor of God opens doors that were previously locked, and shuts doors that left you vulnerable to Satan’s evil deceptions and plots intended to detour, derail and ultimately destroy the Glorious destiny that God has ordained for our lives, before the foundation of this world!

Every good and perfect gift that your heart desires and more is awaiting anyone who determines to keep the main thing, the main thing! Jesus First, right? OH YEAH…DIVINE DESIGN!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THE GOD IN ME!

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THE GOD IN ME

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know Him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

 

Looking back through the lenses of 21st Century influence, we see that since the birth of The New Testament Church it has been plagued with  external and  interal controversy!  While most Biblical scholars agree that the Church was born on The Day of Pentecost, generally that’s where the consensus begins and ends.

According to The Scriptures, The Risen Savior showed Himself to His disciples, who were still reeling from the horrific events that had just taken place, and instructed them “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”. Acts 1:4-5

God knew how much the disciples had come to rely upon Jesus’s Presence during the past 3 ½ years He’d walked with them, teaching, guiding and protecting them but now at Christ’s Ascension, would fall victim to their fears, confusion and discouragement!  Although, Jesus had on numerous occasions assured them that He would not leave them without Divine Assistance, but promised to send them another Comforter in the person of Holy Spirit to empower them to complete their assignment to spread The Message of Christ throughout the whole world–this revelation seems to have escaped them in the ensuing threat of impending persecution!

What is this PROMISE?  The Holy Spirit is known as the third person of The Triune God! While The Holy Spirit functions differently from God The Father and God The Son, He is reverenced as equal in Holiness in The God-Head!

Beloved, as a believer in The Saving Grace of Lord Jesus, God has given us the very same Promise. The moment we make a sincere profession of faith, The Holy Spirit moves into our hearts and fills us with hope, conviction and confidence that we are now a part of God’s Family, a Royal-Priesthood, a Holy Nation! (Ref. 1 Peter 2:9)

However, this is only the beginning! Along with this regeneration (the new birth) comes a challenge and a charge! As a born-again-blood-washed Child of The Kingdom, we are called to be ambassadors of our King to a lost and dying world! Therefore, we also need to be filled and empowered with the enabling Grace and Authority of the indwelling Spirit of Jesus in order to do The Father’s Will and glorify Him in the earth!

Just as the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples in the Upper Room, God wants each of us to experience this same anointing! (Ref. 2:1-4) Unfortunately, NOT EVERYONE accepts this spectacular gift that God promised to as many who would receive Him! Yet, this does not preclude any one from partaking of the fullfilment of The Promise! (Ref. Mark 7:13)

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people…” Acts 2:17 

While it’s not my intention to persuade any away from their affirmation, as Martin Luther, “I cannot in good consciousience deny my own personal experience!” Therefore, I can stand firmly fixed in humily with adoration proclaiming, ‘There is absolutely no doubt in my heart nor mind, that any good that I do, any wisdom that I have, any knowledge that I’ve gained, any challenge that I’ve overcome over these past 30 years of walking in Christ, is a direct result of ‘The God in me’!

There is no way for mere man to live the HOLY abundant life as prescribed in The Word without the counsel, guidance, and help  of the indwelling navigation of Holy Spirit! And isn’t that what God expects of all of us? Revolutionary, huh?

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1:27)

WOW!  IF YOU SUPPLY THE SACRIFICE, HE SUPPLIES THE FIRE! GOD IN US!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

SURRENDER??

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SURRENDER

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 The Message

 

Back in the old’n days, one of my favorite things to do was watching the westerns on our black and white tv’s. Yeah! Those good ol’ shootem ups (as Daddy called them)! The bad guys always wore the black hats and the good guys never lost a fight. I remember, there would always be that scene when the bad guys would be hemmed in a cabin, a barn, or a dead end road, surrounded by the posse of good guys, with no way out! The sheriff would call out, ‘We’ve got you surrounded, so throw your guns out!’ ‘And come out with our hands up!’ After a moment or two, you’d see a white hankerchief being waved out of a window or door and the bad guy would holler, ‘Don’t shoot, we’re coming out’! They’d come stumbling out of their hiding place with both of their hands in the air high above their heads to surrender. Boy, those were the days, huh?

Surrender! WOW! That word is almost as bewildering as ‘commit’, right?

We stand in the sanctuary with our hands lifted in the air sanngin, “I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Jesus, I surrender, I surrender all!” However, what does it mean to surrender to Jesus? Surrender is just another way to say, submit! Ooops dat didn’t help much, huh?

Even Christians sometimes find this task elusive. Although we love the idea of receiving Christ as our Savior, we struggle to master the concept of surrendering according to The Word of God! Could it possibly be, because it grinds up against our pride and the innate insatiable need of being in control? #ijs

One day Saul, found himself in a strange place. And he did just what a lot of us do when we hear the Voice of God calling us to another level of anointing. Saul went and hid behind some stuff! But because God’s Word must come to past, Saul could not stay there. Eventually, Saul came out from his hiding place, threw up both his hands, and surrendered to the Will of God for his life! (Ref. 1 Samuel 10:22)

What stuff are you hiding behind? What’s keeping you from surrendering to Jesus? Are you hiding behind fear and anxiety of failure or succes? Is it doubt and personal insecurities? Perhaps it’s self righteousness or your own will! Could you be using your family or friends as an excuse for not embracing your destiny? Or, do you need to come out from behind your past and your sins?

Perhaps today, you’re surrounded, hemmed in, backed into a dead–end—no—win—place, let me assure you it ain’t what it looks like! God’s got you just where He wants you. Trust2know, it’s gets a whole lot easier to surrender when you know that it’s JESUS calling you to come!

When you get the revelation that God is simply asking you to trust your entire being to the Faithful Loving Care of the Unconditional Lover of your soul, you can throw down any and everything that’s hindering you from moving into your next phase of His Glory and gladly run to the shelter of His Almighty Arms! Afterall,  you said you wanna be like JESUS, huh? Your life is not your own. Remember, you were purchased by The Blood of The Precious Lamb of God!

‘My Beloved, empty out your heart; give in to Jesus and submit your all to My Will for your life. Stop resisting and yield! Give Me the right of Way in your life!’ #didjaheardat?

MAKE TODAY THE DAY THAT YOU SURRENDER YOUR ENTIRE EVERYDAY LIFE TO YOUR GOD! LET PEACE BE YOUR ANCHOR AND YOU’LL DISCOVER THAT JESUS ALONE IS THE REST FOR YOUR SOUL!

DON’T BE SCARRED! HIS GRACE IS ALWAYS SUFFICIENT TO UPHOLD AND CARRY YOU THRU, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE TO WHEREVER HE’S CALLING YOU TO! IN JESUS NAME. IT IS SO! SURRENDER!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

JESUS NAILED IT!

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JESUS NAILED IT 2

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:10-12

 
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross! Colossians 2:14
OOOOOHHHHH GGGLLLOOORRRRAAAAAAAAAA!!

 

Can you believe that? Or is that Infamous-Lying-Accuser-Arch-Enemy of your soul, Satan, still  keeping you in solitary confinement, condemned to a lifetime of guilt and shame, despite your best efforts, leaving you hopelessly spiritually bankrupt to make restitution for the SIN-debt stockpiled against you since before you were born?

Well stop it, NOW! It’s illegal incarceration!

According to the Irrefutable Kingdom Executive Order, all the evidence that the devil presented against you and I has been declared inadmissible. Consequently, all charges have been dropped! The Righteous Judge has ordered your immediate release!!
 
Can we jus keep it one-hundred? Once you accept The Gift of God’s Grace—SALVATION—available to you through the Sacrificial Blood of Jesus Christ—you exchanged your unrighteousness for His Righteousness—you’re FORGIVEN—and FREE to live The Abundant Life that God created you to live in the first place! Amazing, huh? YET! It’s all TRUTH! And we can throw The Book at ’em to prove it! (Ref. John 10:10)
 
When Jesus, offering Himself, as The Sacrificial Lamb of God, voluntarily submitted to Death—every ordinance, decree, commandment and indictment that the enemy ever has railed against you and I (sinners), has been totally obliterated, cancelled, blotted out of the way—ONCE AND FOR ALL—NAILED to HIS CROSS—!!! (Ref. Hebrew 9:28, 1 Peter 3:18) Now that’s the Gospel!
 

WOW! OH YEAH, JESUS NAILED IT!
 
SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!!
 
ANN CAFFEE