Category Archives: Stay Focused

TRIAL-SIZED gODZ!

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TRIAL SIZED gODS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. (Exodus 20:3-5)

I recognize that the sheer suggestion of idol worship tends to rattle the righteous indignation in the spirit of a true Believer! As followers of Christ, we know how despicably foul such worship is in the nostrils of The Holy God of Heaven and Earth. And for the most part, we’d never consider breaking this Commandment. After all, we don’t bow down before carved images of God nor do we display at the entrances or scatter stone replicas of God throughout our homes or businesses, right? Yet, will closer investigation of our lives reflect closely guarded idols formed in the recesses of our imaginations?

According to the scriptures  ‘O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ (Ref. Matthew 12:24) Hence, while man will attempt to hide the true intents, insights and purpose for being, ultimately, his lifestyle will reflect the secret things of his heart and clearly define where their loyalty lies!

Do we worship our personal ‘trial-sized’ images of God?

I see further explanation is in order! We have a tendency to make up our own images to represent who God is to us. The problem is we will never be able to fit “The All Encompassing Is-ness of GOD” into the small-minded-frail-framed-carnal-comprehension of our temporal-flesh. In other words, it’s absolutely impossible for us to fathom “Unlimited Presence, Power and Potential” within the limitations of our humanity!

While The Living God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient, HE can only be known through Revelation!

GOD reveals His character, His purpose and His plan for each of as we traverse through our individual life experiences. It’s the knowledge gained through following The Good Shepherd’s lead, cautiously climbing cloud-covered mountaintops and timidly trembling through the death-valleys of our everyday lives that we learn the rewards of faithful trust, patient obedience and the security of resting in The Eternal Hope! 

Today’s takeaway?

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his… 2 Timothy 2:19

Therefore, Beloved, as you continue to set the Lord  before you, you shall walk in HIS Everlasting JOY! 

AMERICA, WHO IS YOUR GOD?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

EXTREME MAKEOVERS!

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EXTREME MAKEOVERS!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

Didja notice the new 21st Century rave sweeping across the nations of this world. It’s called ‘Makeovers’? We’re no longer stuck with what we got! Everywhere you look there’s someone, somewhere offering you another alternative. The media is bombarding our airways via TV, newspaper, magazines, and now social media the message, that not only do you have the right, but now you have the means to exercise your power of choice.

Technology has opened up all kinds of alternatives. Don’t like your nose? Lips too thin, chin too long? Hips to wide? No longer compatible with your mate/partner/gender–not a problem! If you’ve got the cash, they’ve got the solution! It’s no big deal. Right? They say, everybody’s doing a little nip-tuck thang.  While it’s being applauded by the ‘beautiful people’, it’s not just a ‘Hollywood thing’ anymore — even Mr., Mrs. and Ms. Average have caught on to this thing!

Can you see what’s happening in this world? The focus has become extremely top-heavy! Isn’t it time for you to make some changes in your own life? Is it time to lose some weight? I’m not just talking physically – but spiritually!

If you’re tired of the “same ol’ sameo”, same discontentment, same un-fulfillment, well then you don’t have to settle anymore!  Jus Go IT!

The Word of God offers a great solution to save you time, energy and yes, even money. The benefits are miraculous and guaranteed to last a lifetime, even throughout eternity!

The Master Architect has encapsulated on the pages of 66 Books specific directives to accomplishing extreme spiritual makeovers that don’t merely change your physical appearance but guarantee you will experience genuine enhancement of your character and your lifestyle.

Yes, it’s important to take care of our body. The Scriptures teach us that our body houses the Spirit of The Living God.(Ref. 1 Corinthians 3:16) However, physical exercise has its limitations, while a transformed mind has infinite value and potential with an unlimited guarantee benefits that are out of this world!  The Apostle Paul’s plea to the saints, admonishes us to get radical – BE YE SEPARATE—BE HOLY!

God never intended for His people to fit in with the world. We have been called out to be different, to be transformed and to transform the lives of others. Take life to the extreme and renew our minds by the Word of God.

What’s  makes this opportunity even more  awesome is that everyone is eligible. The only requirement is the willingness to open your whole heart, spirit, soul and body to the One who started that good work in you. (Ref. Philippians 1:6)

Go ahead! Make the decision to take your relationship with the Lord to the extreme.

Are you ready to become a faithful and committed Christian? Are you determined to live the life that others see more of Jesus and less of U?

Great, let’s pray and ask God for an extreme makeover!

Selah!

“Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!”

Ann Caffee

DON’T GET SIDETRACKED!

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dont-get-sidebraked3

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.”…”Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:” Deuteronomy 29:9, 18-19 NIV

“All the nations will ask, “Why did God do this to this country? What on earth could have made Him this angry?”

Your children will answer, “Because they abandoned the Covenant of the God of their ancestors that He made with them after He got them out of Egypt; they went off and worshiped other gods, submitted to gods they’d never heard of before, gods they had no business dealing with. So God’s anger erupted against that land and all the curses written in this book came down on it. God, furiously angry, pulled them, roots and all, out of their land and dumped them in another country; as you can see.”

God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It’s up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation.” Deuteronomy 29:24-29 The Message

OMG!  NOT AGAIN…What is it with us? While our spirit knows fully well that Your Ways are always the best for us, yet this ol’ fickle flesh is so easily tempted to …as if we could ever possibly improve on Perfection!

When are we gonna recognize that our Heavenly Father IS OMNISCIENT… dat means HE knows the end from the beginning? Even more important, you need to remember that HE IS GOD AND UR NOT! K?  Therefore, absolutely  NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE CAN EVER TAKE HIM BY SURPRISE! #DIDJAHEARDAT?

So you still think you got a better plan, huh?  

Okay! BUT…while you’re doing YOU…Don’t let your guard down, lest there be hell to pay!

LORD, HELP US! Lord deliver us from us!  Father, when our circumstances contradict Your Promises, teach us to trust the Power of Your Word and how to activate it in our lives as we await Your Perfect Timing!  Lord Jesus, help us to stay focused on Your Word that we may see Your goodness in the land of the living! 

IF GOD SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT…BELIEVE IT OR NOT! DON‘T GET SIDETRACKED!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I STILL BELIEVE

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I STILL BELIEVE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“And he believed in the lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness”. (Genesis 15:6)

Noticed how the gods of this world constantly bombard our minds with unhealthy doses of supposedly new truths explicitly designed to attack the validity of our hope and core of our Christian beliefs? Don’t be alarmed. The Scriptures said that there’d be days like this!

Ever heard a New Millennium televangelists shun the old hymns of yesterday saying that they’re scripturally inaccurate, inappropriate and therefore no longer relevant to the New Testament Church?

Well! I beg to differ! In case you haven’t realized yet, I am unapologetically ol skool, and I say it’s time to pull some of those old songs out from the bottom of that old piano bench and put them on blast. Particularly, that one that says, ‘I know the Bible is right, somebody’s wrong’!

What these 21st Century Johnny-come-lately’s, fail to take into account is that them old saints were not performing for BET or Stellar Awards! They didn’t come to church to be entertained nor to excite your flesh. But they sang songs birthed out in the heat of personal experiences, tempered in The Word of God and seasoned by The Holy Spirit! When they sang, their songs struck your heart strings, re-affirmed their faith and ushered in The Very Presence and Power of the True and the Living God.

Today, if you need a song to lift you, strengthen and encourage you along the way, might I suggest “Lord, I believe, Lord, I believe…ALL things are possible if you only believe!” And if that doesn’t ignite your flame, try following it with one of my Pastor’s favorite, “You Can’t Make Me Doubt Him”!

When the world says, “I’ll believe it when I see it” the saints believe to see!

Facts change but Truth is forever! Remember what they said about the planet Pluto? Yeah, right! Like Mother Carter used to say, “Everything is going down–but the Word of God!”

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Jesus Never Fails!

The question yet remains; “Whose report, will you believe?”

As for me, I don’t care what the infamous “they” say, I shall believe The Report of The Lord!

In the face of any and every thing that appears to contradict your faith, yet stand—firmly convicted, to emphatically confess ‘come what may, I STILL BELIEVE GOD!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

 

NOW IS NOT ALWAYS!

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NOW IS NOT ALWAYS 2

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

 

It’s been acclaimed by some Biblical scholars, that we, the New Millennium 21st Century Church Age, are the generation destined to witness the fulfillment of End-Time Biblical Prophecy!

While I’m certainly not an expert of Eschatology, yet it’s no wide-stretch of the imagination, to speculate that we are INDEED living in times that try and even vex the very souls of the righteous.

Glancing through 2 Timothy 3:1-7’s description of the perilous times in the earth, it sounds distinctly-uncomfortably-familiar to us who are expectantly awaiting The Second Coming of our Lord, huh?

Much to Satan’s delight, Spirits of Terror, Fear, Apathy and Discouragement have crept into the minds and hearts of the people of God to such a degree that even ‘Seasoned-Saints’ are becoming weary in their well doing.

May I submit these words of  comfort and encouragement as a reminder to your soul today? “DON’T GET IT TWISTED! THE DEVIL AIN’T RUNNING NOTHING!!!

While it may appear as if this world’s falling apart, from God’s Perspective, EVERYTHING IS FALLING RIGHT IN PLACE!

As my GrandMa Annie used to say, “this world is not our home and I didn’t come here to stay!” We merely sojourning thru this land; ever mindful that GOD has reserved a special place which far exceeds anything we could dare imagine or hope for.  That’s HEAVEN, YALL! #didjaheardat?

Much to the devil’s dismay, therefore, be it RESOLVED Our Eternal God is yet seated on HIS Throne.  HE has not nor will He ever relinquish one iota of HIS GLORY to anyone or anything! 
 
Be it further RESOLVED, that absolutely Nothing that you’ve been thru, Nothing you’re going thru NOW should make you want to tuck tail and turn back to that life that you’ve been delivered from. 

Don’t limit your expectations of Our Omnipotent God to your previous experiences! What God has for you is always in front of you!  Trust God!  Everything that  God has planned for your future won’t even fit in your past!  (Ref. Jeremiah 29:11-13) OOOOHHHH GGLLOORRRAAAA!!!
 
OH YEAH, B 4 U EVEN THINK ABOUT GIVING UP…PLEASE CHECK THE BACK OF THE BOOK–YOU WIN!   REMEMBER, NOW IS NOT ALWAYS—GREATER IS COMING! 

SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee

WAYFARING WIT

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WAYFARING WIT2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

How much better to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! Proverbs 16:16

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Proverbs 8:10-11

 

WOW! We’ve come a long way, Baby!

As far as the ingathering of information and the major technological accomplishments attained by this 21st Century New Millennium Age is concerned, undoubtedly, we’ve taken quantum leaps exceedingly well beyond the realm of possibility to even the most esteemed intellectuals and astute scientific calculus of days gone by.

In other words, (sigh)! It’s safe to say that knowledge abounds!

Unfortunately, the scarcity of wit, wisdom and truth is decisively profound! Generally the appeal for this degree of understanding is left to those few famished, disillusioned, disinfranchised, exhausted, wayfaring scavengers who wander off rush-hour-grid-locked-getting-byways and highways to worldly success and traditional religious rituals. For reasons, yet unknown, somehow some of us are being distinctly drawn to the under-passes, service roads, and trenches; seeking the hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places of The Kingdom of His Presence! (Ref. Isaiah 45:3)

Who knew that we’d be called to the Kingdom for such a time as this? Who knew that before we lived one day that our Master already had a plan, purpose,  and a hope-filled destination for our lives?

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2

Wisdom is calling!

“But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; And you have been weary of Me. O Israel” Isaiah 43:22

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1Timothy 6:6-8

“Congratulations! You finally got what you wanted, BUT… lost what you had”!

Didjaheardat? Missed it, huh? WAYFARING WIT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

EMPTY POTS

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EMPTY POT 2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Isaiah 44:20

I can only imagine what’s going on in the mind and heart of Elohim gazing down the the portals of time from Eternity, seeing the massive gathering of Sunday Morning worshipers.

Look at us, over there we’re suited down in our St. Johns and over here in our Sean Johns. Got our weaves looking fresh jus like dat and our hair perfectly trimmed tight. Etienne Aigner shoes and our New York Yankees designer hats neatly tucked under the pews, just in case the person next to us gets a bit too unruly.

Once the policeman re-directed the traffic to turn left (because the parking lot was already filled to its capacity) finally, we’re glad to be seated in our favorite row. The stage is set! The sound-man gives the nod, the lighting is in sync with the Minister of Music and the Choreographer has gotten the attention of the Liturgical Dancers, we’re ready! Let’s Get It Done…BAMM!

Not so fast! I see ‘yall’, BUT where’s ‘The Glory’? Where are the God-Seekers? Who’s actually among us here to Honor HIM?

“What’s up with you asking us these kinds of questions? How could you miss HIM? Didn’t you see all those fine automobiles parked outside of this grandiose sanctuary? I bet if you tallied up the cost that was spent at the hair salons this week, you’d probably could buy a small nation. And you know the price for an authentic custom-tailored suit these days ain’t cheap, given inflation. Not to mention the small fortune the church puts out to fuel up our Pastor’s jet. You got some nerve asking about GOD! Obviously GOD has been good to us!”

Okay! Granted, you got a whole lot of stuff going on. You can afford to sit back on your laurels proudly contented and cozy, belly full and satisfied, enjoying the fruit of your successful accomplishments, and resting in the warm of your own fire. Man! that’s the life that God promised us or is it?

When was the last time you actually talked to The God you claim to belong to and serve? Did you even thank HIM for waking you up this morning, giving you the strength to get up (under your own volition) and the mind to brush your teeth with a toothbrush and not a hair brush? Have you really forgotten that there was a time when going to church on a Sunday morning never crossed you mind and the only cross you carried was dangling from your rear view mirror as a token protector for you and your property? Remember when the only word you read with any consistency was your horoscope?

Yeah, Buddy! What a life!

And you call those folk—who just can’t wait to get to Church, not just on Sunday mornings, but Bible Study, prayer meetings, whatever and whenever the doors of the church are open, they gotta be in The House, in fellowship with like-minded spirits after being amidst a bunch of God-Haters all week/day long, we who are desperate for the times of refreshment found only in the Presence of The Lord—out of touch with reality! REALLY?

Come, let’s reason this thing out together.

IS GOD BLESSED BY YOUR WORSHIP OR IS IT A STINCH IN HIS NOSTRILS?

EMPTY POTS, huh?

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

 

STAY N IT 2 WIN IT!

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STAY IN IT 2 WIN IT!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Apparently, somewhere along the way, many of today’s contemporary Christians have picked up the erroneous impression, that The Road of Salvation is a meticulously manicured lawnscape—free of sticks and stones, crabgrass and weeds, lumps and humps and especially parasital insects.

Now! Given my extreme paranoia of bugs, I certainly don’t profess to be no expert in the science of horticulture, however I don’t think it would be going too far out on a limb to suggest that our neighbor’s lusciously green tarp (that we so yearn for) involved a certain moderate-to hard-working-up-sweat-hands-dirty-knee-dropping-diligence and discipline. Right?

So what makes us think that the most important road-trip we’ll ever take, our journey from Earth to Glory, would be a choreographed Boogaloo-Down-Broadway?

I can’t tell you how many times I find myself reminding myself that all of those ‘cheering witnesses’ we stagger at in Hebrews 11’s Hall of Faith, were just plain ordinary everyday folk, just like you and me, who faced the same struggles, tests and trails that we confront. Yet, because they kept their eyes focused on the prize, they overcame their life’s challenges, successfully!

While we understand, at least on some level, the reason that The Apostle Paul compares our walk with Jesus to a race, we have a tendency to think of it as a sprint, rather than a marathon! Okay, here’s how it is—it ain’t a one and done thing! The Master Husbandman, The Sovereign Creator, GOD, has allowed certain interruptions, along our way, that are strategically designed to develop and grow us up into perfect spiritual maturity.

The scriptures reveal that our forerunner, God’s Son, JESUS, learned obedience through his sufferings. (Ref. Hebrews 5:8)

Now, don’t get it twisted; this doesn’t mean that Jesus was ever disobedient to His Father, but rather, His suffering enabled him to intimately-identify with what we endure in our wilderness experiences!

Paul instructs us to study how Jesus did it and follow His lead. Begin with stripping down—laying aside anything that would slow us down—like un-repented sin, unrealized fears, unspoken doubts and worries  and concentrating on the Joy at the completion of the mission.

The mission for which HE was SENT, Salvation, Redemption and Restoration of God’s  most precious creation—us—empowered Our Lord to look past the pain and the shame of The Cross and not quit until He’d Won our Victory!

My brothers and sisters, seeing we have such A Great High Priest, who promised to be with us all the way, don’t give in to that lying Accuser, Satan.! 

Take a big whist of that ‘second wind’  (GRACE) and discipline your mind, body and spirit and keep it movin’. After all, we’re not just hurling aimlessly toward a phantom mirage; this is a sure thing we’re running after! 
God has planned a Great Celebration at the finish line for us! STAY IN IT TO WIN IT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

GOD’S VOICE

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gods-voice-3

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

In today’s scripture text, we hear the testimonial of The Apostle Paul in response to The Lord’s prompting to go spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. And we all know how that turned out, huh? 

GGGGLLLLORRRRRAAA 2 GOD! However, what stands out to me, is what Paul didn’t do!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

BUT, GOD!

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BUT GOD!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.  And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:22-25

 

Oh, I know you’re saved, sanctified, filled with the Precious Gift of Holy Ghost and do speak in tongues as The Spirit gives utterance! BUT! Since you’ve been saved, have you ever felt like saying to God, “Lord, I know You say it’s an honor to be recommended by God to the devil, BUT…here lately, it seems that I’m the only one you’ve been pointing out. If You don’t mind, next time, could you please recommend somebody else!”

Have you ever considered telling God, “Jesus, the next time you decide to pull down the hedge around me and giving Satan a shot at me, I’d appreciate at least a heads-up!” No? Jus wondering!

Unless you just landed on Planet Earth early this morning or were born late last night, you already know that storms are a natural occurrence on the sea of life, whether you’re saved or unsaved! In fact The Holy Bible tells us “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Job 14:1 Hence, as long as there is breath in your body, you will experience some measure of adversity and affliction, temptation and trial, distress and disappointment and choas and calamity.

Today’s text shares a story of an average day in the lives of Jesus’ disciples and their response to an unexpected storm that popped-up out of no where. Sounds a bit too uncomfortably familiar, huh?

As the text opens, Jesus having finished teaching classes, traveling from town to town and village to village, decided to take some ‘down-time’ and go across the lake to the other side to escape the crowds that normally followed him. He told His disciples, “Let’s go to the other side” and went to catch a nap. The disciples also seemed to be enjoying the calm atmosphere as the boat sailed on the smooth waters. Until, suddenly a terrible windy storm arose causing turbulent waves to come pouring into their small vessel, threatening to capside at any minute, killing everyone on the boat. Someone thought to wake up Jesus and cried out, “Master, Master, can’t you see we’re about to drown?” As if The Omniscient One had vacated the premises!

The Scripture goes on to say that Jesus, standing up, spoke to the wind and the waves, “Silence, Peace Be Still!” to which they had no other recourse BUT to obey The Master Creator! Turning to His disciples, Jesus sorrowfully inquired, “Why can’t you trust me?”

My Precious Sistas and Brothers, perhaps Jesus is posing that same question to you today. I know it’s been rough out there. I know you have a mindset to follow Jesus all the way, to love Him with all of your heart, soul and body, yet still storms keep hitting your life on the left and the right. But Beloved, Jesus won’t jump ship like some other people might. Jesus has promised to stay with you all the way across the Lake of Life. No matter where you are today, Jesus is always with you.

There are some lessons that prove vital to your personal maturity and intimacy through understanding the attributes of the God Whom you serve you, that can only be learned in the midst of the storms!

Could this be why the astonished disciples inquired, “What kind of Man is this?”

So the next time that Ol’ Deceiving Tyrant comes slithering around, threatening to destroy your hope, joy and peace, jap-slap ’em with this, “I hear ya knocking…BUT! GOD!”

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee