Tag Archives: acceptance

LIVE FREE!

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LIVE FREE 3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

 SMH!!!! Coming into another dimension of Revelation of the ‘almost too good to be true’ Gospel of Jesus Christ, my only appropriate response is shaking my head in wonder-filled absolute amazement! I’m not a novice to this thing we call ‘Salvation’, by no means. I’ve been saved for more than thirty years! Yet, I’m almost embarrassed to admit it; nevertheless, for most of my walk with Christ, I’ve struggled secretly imprisoned by guilt and shame for sins I have committed. And I’m not just talking about those B.C. (before Christ). I’m talking about the since I’ve been saved stuff too! 

Just in case someone else out there knows what I’m talking about, I feel an urging in my spirit, compelling me to put myself out on blast just to let you know that there’s Hope for you also, and it’s “IN” Christ Jesus!

Now, don’t get it twisted!  I’m not trying to push the blame off on somebody else. I’m just acknowledging that for whatever reason I adapted a sense of ‘performance-based-legalism’ that followed me right into Christianity! Do good, get good—do bad, get bad!  This kind of thinking just about seals the deal—you’re doomed for failure and defeat, desolation and destruction because there’s no wiggle-room for our innately flawed human characteristics. You lie because you are a liar, you steal because you are a thief; you sin because you were born a sinner!

The Devil’s had a very long time to master deception and manipulation. Frankly,  he’s become quite proficient in using us against us! He cloaks his best handiwork in fostering our ‘self-righteousness, self-degradation and ultimate self-rejection’! Yall know how he just loves to throw a rock and hide his hand. Unfortunately there’s little need to change his tactics, after all, it still works!

Truth be told, on our ‘bestest’ days, we still aren’t good enough to somehow deserve God’s Grace! That’s what’s so Great about Salvation! Even if we could, by accident, done some ‘right’ act it never would’ve equaled out all of the ‘wrong’ acts we’ve committed.

That’s why God sent Jesus!

God knew the first plan was not and never could work—because ‘they just don’t have it in them’! In Hebrews 10:18 Jesus said it something like this…this new covenant will not be written on tablets of stone, but ‘I’m writing it in their hearts and in their minds’! Father, prepare me A Body… I, The Righteous One, will come to live in them and will empower them to become righteous and do right things the right way!

OMG, SMH…AGAIN! Didjaheardat?

It ain’t about ‘you’ it’s all about ‘JESUS’!!!

Hence, why keep trying to earn something that God’s already given you for free? Just accept Jesus’  unmerited Love and Loyalty by living  your life to the fullest every day in HIM!

That’s what it means to be ‘BORN AGAIN’ …saved and set free! IT’S SUCH A BLESSING…NO MORE CHAINS HOLDING ME!

When we place our personal confident trust not in ‘self’ –not in what we can’t do—but IN WHAT JESUS CHRIST HAS ALREADY DONE, WE’RE FREE—TO DO AND BE EVERYTHING HE WANTS US TO BE! —IN DEED–LIVE FREE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

MAKING THE CUT!

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MAKING THE CUT 3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:14-18

Remember, how it felt, as a child, standing amongst your peers, who were about to play a game; and one particular kid, the captain of the team, was authorized to hand-pick the members of his team? And there you are waiting, wanting, wondering and wishing “Pick me…please!”? Only to be overlooked and rejected, without a moment’s hesitation, as usual, in favor of the captain’s personal favs.

It didn’t matter how much you wanted to play or even how much better you could play, if given the opportunity, you never seemed quite enough to make the cut. But not so in The Kingdom of Faith!

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17

The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords stands as The Gateway to The Father! Having torn down the barriers between the possessors of The Law and the Lawless, Jesus, bridging the gap, as a testament of The Heavenly Father’s immense mercy and incredible love towards the most precious of His creation—mankind.

No longer are we denied the right-hand-of fellowship because of our nationality, racial ethnicity or gender; but standing at the foot of the Cross of Christ  levels the field,  for all who will submit their hearts to the True Circumcision of The Holy Spirit.

Jesus, The Mediator sent from Heaven to reconcile both Jew and Gentile back to The Kingdom of God through the tearing of His own flesh, has fulfilled the greatest desire of the Father’s Heart, creating One New Man!

And you, who were once aliens to the Promise, had no clue! The Truth was hidden, in the darkness of sinful flesh, until you opened your heart, trusting in and embracing Jesus Christ alone as your only hope for salvation, allowing The Light of Glory to reveal that before you were formed in your mother’s womb, God has already chosen you for His own! (Ref. Ephesians 1:4)
 
THANK GOD, YOU MADE THE CUT!
 
SELAH!
 
“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”
 
Ann Caffee

SEASONED SALT

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SEASONED SALT

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. “ Matthew 5:13

WOW! Aren’t you glad that you’re saved, sanctified, living all you can to serve and please da Lord?

BUT! Before we go slappin’ 5 with our neighbors (or yourself) on the back, perhaps we need to take a closer look at today’s scripture text. Sometimes, WE—THE SAINTS—have a way of judging others by their actions BUT judging ourselves by our good intentions!

Whatchatalkinbout? It’s easy to make yourself come out smelling like a rose, as long as we’re comparing ourselves to one another! However, God never intended to make our own warped flesh the plumb-line for gauging His Righteousness!

Remember the story in the Bible of the Pharisee who went up to the Temple to pray, stood off by himself, looked across the room and seeing the tax collector, prayed “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.” (Ref. Luke 18:9-14)

Have you ever noticed how God’s elect seem to develop a severe case of selective amnesia once they’ve been saved for any length of time! Perhaps that’s why The Apostle Paul left a not-so-friendly reminder to us. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

Hence, “DON’T GET IT TWISTED…no matter how many right things you manage to do on a daily basis, at the end of your bestest day—every single one of us must acknowledge “that if it had not been for JESUS…where would I be.” (Ref. Romans 3:23) Truthfully, there ain’t none good but GOD!”

That’s why He sent Jesus! The Perfect role model for us to keep before us. Righteousness Personified! (Ref. John 3:16-17)

So the next time, you’re tempted to bask in your own self-righteousness, remember our frail-flawed-fickle human tendency to judge one another by outward appearances!  Precious one, check yourself ! And please recognize that God reads hearts! (Ref. 1 Samuel 16:7)

Jesus warned,  “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20
SO…BEFORE YOU START SENDING ANY POOR SOUL STRAIGHT TO HELL, BECAUSE THEY DON’T MEASURE UP TO YOUR STANDARDS, MIGHT I SUGGEST THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR OWN SALT IS SEASONED WITH MERCY AND GRACE!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

 Ann Caffee

LET’S GET SPIRITUAL!

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LET'S GET SPIRITUAL

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

 

Didjaknow? On the inside of every human being there’s a God-sized void and you’d never imagine the lengths man has gone to create the garden variety of temple trinkets, be it crystal, metal or wood, the special chantings, and the elite secret orders, etc. in his attempt to fill in this gapping sink hole in his soul. And we’d be remiss if we neglect considering the smorgage board of religions available to suit the distinct palates of ardent seekers! I mean it’s kinda hard to find anyone these days who’s not spiritual, huh?

However, if it ain’t of The Holy Spirit, it ain’t God! Seriously!

Unfortunately, history proves that these fanatical religious pursuits ultimately entrap unsuspecting devout followers! Subsequently, leaving them fatally victimized by unrealized series of legalistic rituals, hopelessly condemned by the flesh’s inability to consistentlly conform nor perform the multitude of oppressive regulations required to appease the spiritual guides to immortal bliss.

Why? Because every human born since Adam and Eve is born naughty by nature. Therefore, before you can truly experience the only True Spiritual Connection to A Holy God, you must deal with the root of the problem that ripped us apart from the intimate relationship mankind once held before…SIN! OH NO SHE DIDN’T….OH YES I DID!

“Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thilng: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:17-20

BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! The Father of Mercy and Grace initiated His Plan (Salvation) before the foundation of the world to rescue you from your dilemma! When God personally entered into the very world that He created (and we’d messed up living according to our perverted lustful desires), He took on the likeness of human flesh, nailed our sins to the cross, died for us and was raised by The Holy Spirit, freeing us from the power and penalty of sin, once and for all! Hence, Jesus died for you so that you could live for Him! Awwwmazing, huh?

Beloved, according to Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”, hence, the moment you make a consciencious decision to die to self, turn from the evil dictates of your self-serving flesh and cry out, in absolute sincerity from a repented heart to the Father of Glory, He saves you, adopts you into His Own Royal Family, moves into your heart and begins to transform your entire life! Therefore, you are  free from the death-gripping stronghold of your former slave master, Satan. By God’s own Power, you have been translated into a life far beyond anything you ever dared imagined possible for the rest of eternity! #didjaheardat?

COME ON YALL!  LET’S GET TRULLY SPIRITUAL…RECEIVE JESUS!

SELAH!

‘Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

GODZ EXPECTATIONS!

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GOD'Z EXPECTATIONS

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?  shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Micah 6:6-8

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 2:10

 

For those of us, who truly love God with all of our hearts, spirit, soul and body, yet feel an intrinsic urging to apologize to Him each and every day because it’s a guarantee that at some point between the time you get out of bed and the time you crawl back into bed, you have inevitably fallen short of living up to God’s Righteous expectations of you, have I got some great news for you!

Given the fact that He is our Creator, God is perfectly justified in establishing specific standards of behavior for us to live by. Hence, it also stands to reason that because He has shown such unfathomable loving-kindness, tender-mercy and unmerited favor towards us, that the only reasonable response should be radical thanksgiving and faithful obedience! Yet, try as we may, left to our own efforts, we’re totally incapable of reaching this level of holy worship that God so richly deserves.

I mean, even on those day where we actually do some righteous things, they could never equal out all our unrighteous thoughts, words and deeds! So we certainly can’t gloat in our self-righteousness. However there’s yet Hope for our terminal dis-ease!

According to God’s Word, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

Truthfully, my precious ones, what God really expects from each one of us, is failure! And from sixty something years of personal experience, I can testify, with absolute confidence, that we can surely do! Royally! Can I get a Hallelujah and Amen 3x?

Dontchakno?  It’s only when we come to the end of ourselves and acknowledge our weaknesses that God is truly glorified!

For without Him, we can do absolutely nothing, however through Christ’s strength, we can do all things.(Ref. Matthew 19:26, Philippians 4:13) As long as we think we’re capable of doing anything on our own, we deceive ourselves and deny God the pleasure of delivering us from any and everything that is trying to hold us captive. That’s why The Bible encourages the weak to say I am strong. (Ref. Joel 3:10) Therefore, with holy boldness, we humbly confess that the only thing standing between our strength and weakness, righteousness and wickedness, success and failure, is Jesus!

GLORRAAAA 2 GOD! Christ IN us, The Hope of Glory, guarantees our victory every single time! (Ref. Colossians 1:27)

WHO NU ACCOMPLISHING GOD’S EXPECTATIONS WAS THAT EASY, huh?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee