Tag Archives: Authority

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

GM FAM! GOTTA MOMENT? AWEMAZING!

Once again, we are exceedingly grateful that you’re joining us in our weekly Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We appreciate every opportunity and privilege extended to us that we might entreat The Presence of our Great High Priest, pouring out our hearts desires, petitions and supplications with Thanksgiving. Humbled by such graciousness, we bow before Him, embracing Him in earnest expectation, confident that He Rules Forever by His Power is able to save and deliver us from any of life’s maladies we grab hold to The Horns of The Altar now to worship Him…

 

I really love The LORD! I really love The Lord! U don’t know what He’s done 4 ME…HE GAVE ME THE VICTORY! I love Him! I love Him…I REALLY LOVE MY LORD! My Precious Bros. & Sistas, AS WE’RE PRAYING, WE’RE BELIEVING AND DECREEING…

Abba Father, we yield before You once again, In the Magnificent, All Powerful Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus, rejoicing, praising and thanking You for one more opportunity to embrace and enjoy the abundance of Your Mercy, Your Grace, Your Power, Peace and Hope!

Heavenly Father, it is with unspeakable joy that we thank You for being The One True God of our Salvation, Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision. With heartfelt humility and sincere gratitude, we acknowledge that Grace, Compassion and Faithfulness that allows You, knowing our frame, YET continuing to look beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities and faithfully minister to all of our need even blessing us with the desires of our hearts, as You see fit, according to Your Riches in Glory! From a heart open, depending and relying only on You, we offer up precious praise! We bless You Holy Spirit for the generous outpouring of strength, wisdom, understanding and power as we reverently exalt Your Name, declaring You as our personal Savior and Lord and endeavoring to apply Your Righteous Statues to our everyday lives, seeking to please You that we may enjoy the abundant life that You predestined for us in this world and in the world to come! 

Precious Jesus, YOU ARE THE SOVEREIGN LORD, therefore are always in absolute control of all things. In light of the continuous influx of unsolicited atrocities, senseless shootings and bombings taking place all around us, the profound wickedness, arrogance, deception, selfishness and greed, collusion, conspiracy, that emboldens all types of illegal transactions and perverted injustices and racism to be perpetrated upon Your people from those who seek to abuse and misuse the power that You have given them, we lift of all those whose hearts are faint, spirits wearied and grieving hopelessly we’re praying that You bring comfort and strength, heal brokenness and restore joy! Lord, we know that regardless of our circumstances, we are yet able to rely on Your faithfulness to keep us hidden under The BLOOD of JESUS! Just as You provided Light and Provision for Your people in Goshen, You cover us under The shadow of Your Wings, safe and secure! We praise You, Heavenly Father, that even in these days of imminent terror, tragedy, chaos and destruction, we know that the safest place in this whole world is in YOUR PERFECT WILL!

Abba Father, kneeling our hearts before You, we ask You to forgive us for every sin that we have committed, willfully and unwillfully, spoken or thought that was not pleasing in Your sight and that caused grief to Holy Spirit! We believe, according to Your Promise, that as we confess our transgressions and repent from the sincerity of our hearts, that You are Faithful and Just to forgive us, remove our sins from us, casting them into the Sea of Your Selective Forgetfulness, cleanse us from all unrighteousness through The Word and the Blood of Your Son Jesus and restoring us to The Righteousness of The Royal Sheepfold! For this cause, we gladly present our spirit, soul and body as a living holy sacrifice to be used for Your Greatest Glory!

Sweet Jesus, because no man can come to the Father except You draw them, we interceded on behalf of every lost soul today, asking You to quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their heart and in their mind that they will come confessing with their mouths “a SINCERE YES” to Your unmerited Gift of Grace and receive You now as their personal Savior and LORD pf their life! We’re believing that because it’s never Your Will that anyone should perish but that all humanity be saved, You are directing their footsteps, placing and settling them into a local church home where they will be welcome, loved, nurtured and encouraged to live holy, acceptable and committed lives of faithful obedience to Your Word!

Lord, we ask You reclaim every soul that has turned their back and walked away from Your Perfect Love and Will! Put a fresh “COMMITTED YES” in their heart and mind and let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to The Body of Christ, submitting the rest of their lives to the so und teachings of Your Word, learn to love and live their lives denying the lust of their flesh, walking daily to please and Glorify You to this lost, dark and dying world! 

Abba Father, because so many of our family and friends are being afflicted by all manner of sicknesses and diseaseas, we pray that You will touch our brother, touch our sister, bind, rebuke casting out every dis-ease at the root, for Your Name Sake!

Heavenly Father, You are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Even as You walked in this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able to do the same right now! Lord Jesus, 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!

Lord, we lift up every believer who’s faith is being sifted by the cares of this world, yet they’re struggling to hold on to Your Word, hoping and trusting that this is the day that You release Divine Power, Supernatural Hope, Strength, Health, Provision, Prosperity and Protection.

Holy Father, we’re fully persuaded that You are our Shield and Buckler therefore we commit our lives to You, trusting You to preserve everyone of us thru the tests that You’ve ordained us to go thru, keeping our minds in PERFECT PEACE, constantly stayed on YOUR PRESENCE! We rebuke doubt and unbelief and standing still, fully-confident that our trouble has an expiration date but Your Power does not! Hence, at Your appointed time, You will bring us out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with every reward as You have promised in Your Word.

Precious Lord, we pray for every one being torment by Spirits of fear, rejection, disappointment, discouragement, depression, defeat, divorce, loss of employment, bankruptcy, those who are being victimized by institutionalized racism, and unjust illegal incarcerations! We plead the Blood of Jesus over every demonic thought, spirits of anxiety, oppression and confusion. We know that You are not the author of these satanic thoughts and feelings, but You have given us who have put our personal faith through Your Son Jesus, Your Righteousness, You have given us a Spirit of Love, Peace, Joy and a Sound Mind! 

Abba Father, as we lift up our children, our grand and great-grand children, by faith, we abort and overrule every curse that’s been ordered against their lives and we cancel every evil destructive scheme and detour that Satan desires to inflict upon them! As we commit them into Your Providential care, we realize that You have a plan and purpose for their lives too and we have the blessed assurance that their steps and stops are being Divinely orchestrated by Your eyes! Therefore we speak The Peace of God over their spirits, minds and bodies releasing a spirit of Love, Holiness and Excellence to fulfill their God ordained destiny!

Sweet Jesus, we lift up every spiritual leader, believing for immediate manifestation of that special miracle for them who are yet standing on the wall proclaiming Your Word under the conviction and anointing of Holy Spirit. Jesus, we’re trusting and believing You to Grace and encourage them to be the examples of Your Righteousness in their homes, churches and community that will cause everyone who comes into contact with them to fall in love with You, trust wholly in and commit to live the rest of their lives serving You!

Knowing that You Sovereignly Rule and Reign over the affairs of mankind, we’re praying and thanking You for the government/legislative/corporate leaders of our nation! Heavenly Father, we’re praying that You will visit them in the night seasons with dreams and visions, warning them that He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. He who digs a hole and scoops it out will fall into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself and his violent schemes will come down on his own head.

Abba, we ask that You encourage and comfort the souls of Your elect whose spirits are vexed and overwhelmed with fear, doubt and worry because of the things that are going on in our personal lives and in this ungodly world systems! Lord, send Your assurance that we are never forsaken, alone, and never without Your Very Present Help!

Heavenly Father, we’re trusting You to release a downpour of Divine Favor upon Your children who are challenged by seemingly time-sensitive situations, broken marital relationships, wayward children, loneliness, financial pressures, furloughs, employment and promotion issues, approvals of student/car/home loans! Over rule the predictions and send signs and wonders to assure them that YOU Jehovah Jareh, who shall supply all of their need according to Your Riches in Glory!

Father, we know that there’s so much more that perhaps we should ask, but we’re trusting Holy Spirit to intercept our moans and groans and stir up the hearts and minds of those who are professing Your Name to pray without ceasing! We ask that You release into our hearts, an ever-burning desire for an even greater personal intimacy with Creator God through fellowship of Holy Spirit that we might prove what is the perfect and acceptable will of The Lord Jesus!


Lord Jesus, Your children, the apple of Your Eye, await Your Salvation, in patient confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling, suddenly departing in shameful defeat, recognizing that 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 and through patient confidence we shall inherit the Promises of GOD!

Abba Father, because You have chosen us and brought us near to dwell safety and secure in Your House, we align our spirits, soul and body with Your Eternal Word! 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, believing that IT IS DONE, In The Exalted Name of Jesus we offer up this prayer, Sealed in The Holy Ghost with a HOLY Alleleujah! Amen 3X!

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS LOVES AND CARES ABOUT EVERYBODY! #FRONTLINEMINISTRY!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

IT’S THE GOD IN ME!

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ITZ 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 samePromise. 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! C’mon nah, don’t shout me down!

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! IT’S ALL GOD IN US!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

SHALLOW SAINTS?

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SHALLOW SAINTS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for HIM when HE appears, ready to receive Him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when He arrives. Once you’re convinced that he is right and righteous, you’ll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God’s true children. 1 JOHN 2:28-29 THE MESSAGE

 
It jus might surprise you! One of the greatest deterrents to advancing The Kingdom of God in the earth is not ‘da devil’ BUT ‘Shallow Christians’! What is that, you ask. Well they’re not that hard to recognize. In fact, they’re probably your pew partners. Whhhaaaa? #ikr! While they confess their faith in The Lord Jesus, their walk does not line up with their talk, and as a result, most likely they’re confusing many who’ve yet to invite Christ into their lives as their personal Savior and Lord!

OOOHHH Yessss I did go there! I know how churrch-folk are adamant about not judging, right? But, for your own safety,  check da BOOK!  #Seriously! The Bible says a tree is known by the fruit it bears! More importantly, GOD knows those who are His! (Ref. 2 Timothy 2:19)

Without a doubt, the preaching and teaching of this Gospel of Christ is still the best way to get souls saved, but sometimes His PR staff could use a refreshers course on what it means to live deeply in Christ!

Rest assured, God is not mocked! (Ref. Galatians 6:7) While we might impress some people with our 11:00 A.M. Sunday morning tongue-talking, pew hopping, propha-lyin, shout’n and danc’n, GOD KNOWS the difference between those who are faking it ’till they make it and those who freely rejoice in the mercy, compassionate, longsuffering, unconditional Love of The Heavenly Father, yet acknowledge that sometimes they miss the mark and have yet to reach perfection!

While shallow christians hide behind shameless excuses to continue to satisfy their ungodly cravings, when a true child of God is convicted by Holy Spirit, they will be quick to repent of willful or unwillful sin!  GOD KNOWS those who are genuinely striving everyday to mortify the deeds of their wicked flesh and live a life that pleases HIM… even to their own hurt! After all, we are living epistles! It’s our holy lifestyle  that will advertise and promote the True Answer to mankinds’ most dire and desperate need–THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, JESUS CHRIST!

I am by no means suggesting that this is easy nor is it a one and done thang! But God already took care of that too. He sent your Guardian, Holy Spirit, to live inside of you to teach and empower you to say NO to sin and YES to righteousness!

Sometimes, it looks like Satan is gaining the upper hand, huh?  Beloved, don’t fall for the devil’s tricks and please don’t blame God! TRUST2KNO, God ain’t scarred! Remember what happened when Jesus went to Hell, snatched the keys from his puny hands and got up proclaiming, ALL POWER IS IN MY HANDS? (Ref. Revelations 1:17-18)

God is raising up an army of disciples that no man can number; building a new nation of trusting believers who will obey His Voice; hewing out a community of courageous Believers who’re not ashamed to live righteously in the midst of darkness as a monument to HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, POWER AND MAJESTY!

Examine yourself? REPRSENT JESUS? LIVE DEEPLY? SHALLOW SAINT? #WOW!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

WHEN I Can’t, GOD CAN!

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WHEN I CAN'T, GOD CAN 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb; He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Romans 4:19-22

 

As a remnant of the 20th Century Church, at the ripe ol’ age of 60 sumptin’  I’ve lived long and experienced and seen enough to have a much clearer understanding of why The God of The Bible adamantly commanded His Chosen Ones to resist amalgamating with those outside of covenant relationship with Him. (Ref. 2 Corinthians 6:17) And some of us thought that God just wanted to keep us from having any fun, huh?  Considering the way this world is headed, now we see the consequences of not distinguishing ourselves from unbelievers. Apparently, Father still knows best, huh? #SERIOUSLY

Unfortunately, many who profess Christ, remain double-minded and straddling the fence! I can only assume their current stance is peculiarly depending on the group they happen to be in the midst of. Of course, God never intended for us to strut around robed in a spirit of self-righteous-arrogance, with our noses in the air, as if we are somehow better than anybody else! Howeverrrr, spiritually speaking, as recipients of God’s Amazing Grace, it does make us better-off! Oh no she didn’t!!! OOOHHH YES, I DID!

What’s the matter Zion? Are we allowing the hourly massive influx of social-media reports of wide-spread chaos leave us so traumatized by predictions of doom and gloom that they have muted our praise and drained us of  ANY Hope? If we’re walking around with our heads hung down and hearts inundated with fear and anxiety; worried about how we gonna make it, then what separates us from the Gentiles? Don’t shout me down, nah?  #IJS…

Abraham,  God’s Proclaimed ‘Father of faith’, found himself in a seemingly hopeless situation. Not surprisingly, Abraham tried to fix the problem by himself. He ended up with an Ishmael (the child of the flesh) when God intended to give him Isaac (the child of Promise)!  Finally, after the drama and chaos had escalated to the point that Sarah gave him an ultimatum (it’s either her or me) suddenly, Father Abraham had an epiphany, ultimately resigning to the one viable conclusion, “the only hope that I have of this thing ever working is Divine Intervention.” In other words, “Lord, without YOUR GRACE, I can’t do this!”

OMG! Can we ever identify with Abraham! How many times have we been in a situation and we tried and tried, we cried and cried, murmured and complained, spent all we had and still came up short? It was not until we, like Abraham, made a conscious decision to stop depending on our inability, started relying on God’s Ability and turned it over to Jesus, that our hope was revived!

As the text says, when all human reasoning for hope was exhausted, Abraham hoped on and God brought life into his dead situation. (Ref. Romans 4:17-18) Hence, when we come to the end of ourselves, God steps in and does what seemed impossible!

Stop listening to that devil telling you, “it’s too late, you might as well accept the situation for what it is –eminent defeat!” He’s still is and willl always be a LIAR and THE FATHER OF LIES! My precious saints, don’t allow your present (temporary) circumstances cause you to doubt the Faithful Power of God’s Eternal Word. Why settle for seconds?  #ijs If you are Abraham’s seed, you are the heirs of righteousness! #didjaheardat? WOW!

Lift up your heads, O Ye Gates! You have been  ordained, anointed and authorized as agents of change! SO, gird up the loins of your mind AND walk this thang out, confident, courageous and fully persuaded that SINCE YOU ARE IN CHRIST, THE CHRIST IN YOU automatically gives you a Supernatural advantage over natural consequences! (Ref. Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 2:14)

TRUST2KNO, EVERYTHING GOD STARTS, HE COMPLETES! (Philippians 1:6) AND WHATEVER GOD PROMISES, HE IS WELL ABLE  AND WILLING 2 PERFORM! 

PRECIOUS ONE,  JUS LET IT GO, REMEMBER…EVEN IF I CAN’T, GOD CAN!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE

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PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:8-11

 

It’s often being said that these are the times that try men’s souls. And given the traumatic state of events that are happening in the world today, undoubtedly we must agree. But as Saints of the Most High God, we have this Blessed Assurance whispering to our souls  “Peace Be Still” for ‘come what may’ our times are yet in the Mighty Hands of our Lord and Savior!

God, our Heritage, has secured Divine Peace and Joy unspeakable for whosoever that will keep their minds focused on Him by continuously abiding in His Presence. (Ref. 1 Peter 1:8)

The Bible commands us to “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”, (Philippians 2:5) Hence, through the assistance of  Holy Spirit we have the power to stop yielding your mind to anxiety, fear, doubt, unbelief and worry.  When we allow these Satanically-induced responses access to our spirit, we give the adversary too much undeserved glory! Instead of meditating on the problems and cares of this world, we must strive to do like The Psalmist David,  by reminding ourselves that whatever circumstances we find ourselves; we are never outside the reach of The True and the Living God!

Be vigilant and watchful! Don’t sanction the enemy’s unlawful entrance to plant intimidating images in your mind!  Our thoughts, if left unrestrained, will become our words, and our words become our reality! The Bible admonishes us to quickly discipline, to bring under subjection, our thoughts and every spoken word, to the obedience of the Spirit of Christ. (Ref. 2 Corinthians 10:5)

What does God say about this situation? The Father of Grace and Peace has told us to not allow your hearts to be troubled. (Ref. John 14:1) He has your back! He is your Shield and your Buckler. (Ref. Psalm 18:2) There is safety in His Arms. He has both the authority and power to keep you. In the Presence of our Faithful Savior we find Eternal Pleasures. In His Presence, is Rest and Hope. Under the Shadow of His Wings is protection. (Ref. Psalm 16:11)

It’s not enough to just memorize the scriptures, but we must put His Word into practice by acknowledging His Presence. As we delight in His Presence and keep His Word in the forefront of our thoughts, we will not be so easily moved by our circumstances.

As we abide in the stillness of confident trust in The Omnipresent Creator and Omnipotent Sustainer of the universe, we’re covered by Glorious Presence of our Lord!

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. Isaiah 32:17 (ESV)

Now unto Him that is able to keep me from falling and to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise god my savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen  And so it shall be established. (Jude 1:24-25)

BELOVED, Jesus is calling you to put your faith to work! JUS 2 B CLOSE 2 HIM; IS MY DESIRE, right? ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND HIS COURTS WITH PRAIZ! GO ‘HEAD…PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE! 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Cafee

 

WHO KNEW?

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WHO NU

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6

 

Shhh!!! Quiet as it’s kept, sometimes even seasoned-saints are overwhelmed by a daily dose of mass media infiltration of ‘you- just-gotta know current events’! Oh, don’t shout me down yet!

You know what I mean!  What about that hefty serving of derogatory remarks from the ‘people in-the-know’, mixed with a side order of another senseless school slaying and alleged child pornography arrests, sandwiched between two slabs of multiple assault, batteries and robberies along with a ear-full of not-so-subtle-any-more racial slurs directed at high ranking politicians coupled with the collapse of another financial institution due to the greedy boardroom antics, the increase of bankruptcies, foreclosures and the unstable employment stats, and for dessert we get a heaping dollop of flamboyant ungodliness in some pulpit way across the country. It’s bound to jangle the lifestyle of the comfortably complacent and vex the very soul of the righteous, huh?

And we haven’t even gotten to those ‘real-time-scandalous-drama-pop-ups’ that keep recurring in your own personal day-to-day life! 

May I offer this Word of consolation? Absolutely nothing ever catches God by surprise!

Really! According to Scripture, God knew that men would audaciously rebel and reject Godly Wisdom and Truth, and go about doing that which ‘seemed right’ in their own eyes. (Ref. Judges 17:6) Nevertheless, He didn’t change a thing! Why? Because He controls everything in Creation! Before laying the foundation of this world, God deliberately put in place everything we could possibly ever need to overcome anything we’d ever face!

As we go about the daily business of life, rubbing up against the ungodly on our jobs, riding the subway, in the malls, the grocery store, at the bank and even in our homes—rest assured, no matter what it looks like—GOD KNOWS!

That’s why He sent Jesus to preserve the faithful and vindicate the righteous! 

Can I tell you something else? God never intended you to set this whole world right! Neither does He want you to run thru life scarred and terrorized by the lord of Destruction.  Well, what am I supposed to do? The answer is found in The Book! 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Yes, somethings happen in life that are beyond your control. However, you have the power to choose your response! Make a decision to rest in God’s Love, trust in His Faithfulness and depend upon God’s Power!

Beloved, today, may your faith be affirmed, your strength renewed and your peace restored through The Knowledge, Absolute Authority and All Sufficient Grace of your OMNISCIENT FATHER GOD!

WHO KNEW? GOD KNEW!

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

 

WHAT DID HE DO?

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WHAT DID HE DO

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south,” Psalm 107:1-3

 

Do you know how many times we, who claim The Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, are admonished by the Sacred Scriptures to exalt Him in exuberant praise and heart-felt adorning worship? Suffice it to say numerous times in each of Its 66 Books, huh? And for the most part, we’re all faithfully obedient to comply, particularly when we’re all assembled together in the Sanctuary, with the choir singing, the high-sounding instruments blasting in our ears, ushering us into The Presence!

Yet, inspite of His Absolute Worthiness, there are still times when even the most seasoned-elect, find it difficult to mutter even a whisper of ‘Glorrraaa’ out of a heart overwhelmed by the cares of this world, through the muted lips frozen by the temptation of mumuring complaints!

Let it be known, that mine is the first hand lifted in affirmation, Amen!

It matters not how long you’ve been walking with the Lord, life has a way of placing you smack dab in the middle of crisis and suddenly you find yourself coming down with an acute case of spiritual amnesia! It’s during these moments that we need to attack the demonic spirits with a direct hit drawn from the arsenal of weaponry that God has given to every believer. A personal testimony! (Ref. 2 Corinthians 10:4 and Revelations 12:11)

Backndaday, The Ol’ Mothers used to open up Tuesday Nite Bible Study with a Testimony Service. One of my favorite songs they saang was, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus and alllll He’s done for me, myyyyyyyy soul cries out Hallaleujah, I thank God for saving me!” Remember? And when you took the time to reflect back over your life and began to count how many times God stepped in, right in the nick of time, and delivered you from all manner of maladies, you can’t help but the give Him praiz!

Come to think of it, the Bible is filled with countless mind-refreshing BUT by The Grace of God testimonies of triumphant conquerers who acknowledge that they never would’ve made it over into the Land of Promises if the Lord had not been with them all the way!

There’s another ol’ song, that comes to mind; ‘Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what The Lord has done”! WOW! Didjaheardat?

Truthfully, one of those most difficult times for a believer to praise GOD is in the meantime! I’m talking about while you’re waiting for God to move on your behalf and every demon assigned to your region is blasting threatening what-if’s soundtracs in your mind! That’s when you need to deliberately take authority over your thoughts. Instead of focusing on what it is you need Him to do, make a faith-conscious-decison to set your affections on those things JESUS HAS ALREADY DONE!

Okay? There you were wandering around in the desert, lost in the wilderness of sin, stumbling through life, homeless, hopless, confused yet desperate for change, starving for love, parched for peace and joy and you cried out for help, knowing perfectly well there was nobody to hear, much less care! BUT GOD heard you and sent Jesus to lead you out of that barreness, placing your feet on a Straight Path to The Good Life, filling your belly with The Living Bread and Living Water of Holy Spirit to the point of unimaginable satisfaction and sustaining strength!

And you gotta remember, it wasn’t that long ago that you were locked in a self-induced cell of darkness, imprisoned by an evil consciousness of guilt and shame, condemned and sentenced to a lifetime of isolation and hard labor, eternally separated from God! But you cried out to God and He came for you, breaking through the prison bars as if they were match sticks, opened up the Gates that had you trapped and led you out into the Light of Freedom!

What about that storm? Despite of how hard you tried to navigate your way, there you were lost on the Sea of Life, desperately struggling to keep your head above water, being tossed by contrary winds, finding yourself swept away by towering turbulent waves, until the bottom dropped out and finally, not knowing what else to do, you called out to God who faithfully showed up just in the nick of time, commanded the wind and the waves to quietly surrender to Peace and so graciously drew you out and carried you safely to His Harbor!

NOW! Beloved, rest assured, confidently trusting that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. IF HE DID IT BEFORE…HE’LL DO IT AGAILN! SO, THINKABOUT IT…WHAT DID HE DO! O Give Thanks unto The Lord, my Beloved! 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee