Tag Archives: deligence

FOOLISHNESS, huh?

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FOOLISHNESS, HUH

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved; it is the power of God…for after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God; it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1Corinthians 1:17-18, 20

 

Granted, in this New Millennium Church Age, there are those who challenge the relevancy and even the validity of ‘The preaching of the Cross’!  After all, we have so much going on, so much information available to us, so much to accomplish and so little time, right?

Well, guess what? Contrary to contemporary pop culture,God knew before we knew how long and how far mankind would go to avoid accountability!

According to 2 Timothy 4:3, ‘For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts.”

In other words, the focus would no longer be how to live a holy and sanctified life, in this present world, but folk would religiously come to church to scratch an itch, you know, to satisfy their hunger for more and some more of the WORLD’S creature comforts.  Of course they’d use a more palatable vernacular, such as, “Give me a ‘word’ that will tell me how I can supersize my life!” Or perhaps, “I’ll give you a part of my ‘free day’ if you can make it worth my while; you know, cheer me up, make me feel good (bring on the hype)! “A’int nobody got time for foolishness!” And we’d certainly be remiss to ignore this one—“You can’t judge me, God knows My Heart!” 

Like the ol’ skool Preacha said, “Guess I done lost half my Churrrch, nah; huh?”
 
I know we shouldn’t be shocked—but C’mon! This attitude prevailing amongst the household of faith? Yeah, I mean, we’re not talking about ‘dem worldly sinners’ we’re talking–’Church Folks’! Do you think that’s what the Scripture refers to as “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” ?(Ref. 2 Timoth 3:5   #DON’TSHOUTMEDOWNNAH

But to those of us who yet truly believe in the Testimony of Jesus Christ and the Gospel message of that ol’ rugged cross, the preaching of the cross is NOT foolishness, but it is the POWER OF GOD to save the sinner man who will dare to believe that The Word of God is True.

QUITE frankly, it’s  not really that hard to understand exactly why the Deceitful Destroyer works so diligently to keep humanity from The Truth.  If we were in his position, we wouldn’t want this Good News on blast in mainstream social medias, either!  #ijs!! Obviously!!  The Bible says, if they only knew ‘They never would’ve crucified Christ’ in the first place. (1 Corinthians 2:8) Well guess what, devil… ‘You’re over 2000 years too late’!

Given the rapid decline of basic core values and the swelling demoralization of  21st Century society’s ‘new norms’ that’s taken place over the past fifty or so years, those of us who’ve been walking with the Lord for a while now, have come to the realization that the ONLY HOPE for sustaining any semblance of sanity (much less peace) admidst the certainty of massive uncertainties is a irrevokable determination that ‘COME WHAT MAY’, I WILL’  “Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart, and lean not to my own understanding but in all your ways, acknowledge HIM, and HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATH!”  (Ref. Proverbs 3:5-6) #CANIGETAWITNESS??

TRUST2KNO, it’s not my intent to denigrate your personal right to choose the way you life your life, BUT rather to point out, it’s getting darker and darker out here and unfortunately it ain’t gonna get no better until HE CRACKS THE SKY! So it behooves each and everyone of us to think long and hard before we pass up this amazing offer!
 
To the weary wanderer, The Cross is the Place of Refuge! To the lost, The Cross is the Center of the Universe, where Eternity collided with Time and Mercy and Grace unashamedly kissed each other! To the unlovable  and faint of heart, The Cross is The Power and Love of God openly revealed and freely offered in exchange for our rebellion against the Righteousness of a HOLY God! To the spiritually bankrupt, The Cross  is the Place of Welcomed Surrender– where, you give Him your all, He Gives You His ALL!

To those who’re trapped in darkness, The Cross is where the Light of GOD’S Amazing Grace is still shining—beckoning us  “before the day of gross darkness overtakes you—COME!”

OH YEAH!  There’s always gonna be those who reject God’s gift of GRACE presented through THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING, HOWEVRRRR, THERE WILL BE A HIGH COST 4 LOW LIVING! So who’s the real fool?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

HE TURNED IT!

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HE TURNED IT 2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he hath done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it. Jeremiah 30:23-24

 

LOOK OUT…then LOOK UP! There’s enuff circumstantial evidence out here today to verify that these are indeed the times prophesided in The Bible as Jacob’s deep trouble and distress! Glancing around, seeing  unrelenting tragedy, caducous corruption, deciduous deception and inconceivable injustice, one might erroneously conclude that the fires of darkness have prevailed, releasing double turmoil and chaos on the land, from which there is no recovery!

Obviously, the people of God have not been excluded from the suffering, pain and disparity. In the midst of the overwhelming darkness, some will succumb to fear and doubt, giving into the seducing spirits of the Tempter, turning their faces away from The Hope of Glory and drift over to the enemy’s fire, as if Satan has the power to save them!

However, don’t be befuddled by the jeers of the false prophets, GOD ALWAYS HAS A NUMBER WHO REFUSE TO BOW! Hence, there yet remains that Faithful Remnant who have determined, “COME WHAT MAY…I WILL trust in the One that the world has rejected, my proven Chief Corner Stone, with all of my heart, mind, soul and spirit!”

Jesus, The True and Faithful Witness, has given His chosen, everything that we shall ever need to endure these hardships as good soldiers! Hence, as we stand solidly on The Rock of our Salvation, taking God at His Word, in due season, we shall see the reward of the wicked and the servants of God exalted!

Always remember! Those who have deligetly embraced a personal faith relationship with The Redeemer and Restorer of our souls, have an Incorruptible Hope that excels far beyond this world! (Ref. 1 Peter 1:23)

The Righteous Judge has decreed, “I AM keeping watch over MY Word to perform it. Don’t be afraid! I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS! I see everything that you’re going through and I WILL enter into your darkness AND TURN IT AROUND to save and deliver you! AGAIN!

Don’t worry about those fair weather folk who mock and dismiss your faith as ‘hopeless fanatic ignorance’! But cling to ME, for you are MY very own people and I WILL BE YOUR VERY OWN GOD!”

My fellow sojourners, BE STEADFAST, UNMOVABLE ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF OUR LORD! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 15:8)

WHEN THE DUST SETTLES, YOUR ENEMIES WILL BE LEFT GROVELING IN THE DIRT, HEADS SPINNING , MOUTHS GAPPING IN ABSOLUTE WONDER, “didjaseedat?”

CHECK THE BACK OF THE BOOK! JUSTICE PREVAILS! WE WIN AND ZION SHALL STAND FOREVER! GOD TURN’T IT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

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 mere 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, RIGHT? And for the most part, we’d never consider breaking  such Holy 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 most sacred 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?

Don’t look at me with that tone of voice! 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, Perfection and Potential” within the limitations of our humanity!

While The Living God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient, HE can only be known through Divinely-Impartated-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

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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prayn-and-fasting-pic

 

GOOD MORNING FAM! GOTTA MOMENT? OOOHHH GLORRRAAA!

 

Once again, we’re so happy that you’ve joined us in our weekly Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We count it an awesome honor and privilege that The Creator of Heaven and Earth would allow mere humanity to communicate our desires, inquiries and supplications, fully expecting that He’s listening compassionately and intentionally to perfect our concerns, console our fears and dispel our doubts according to The Transforming Power of His Presence that is at work within us! Let’s do this…

I’m only human! I’m just a woman; Lord help me believe in all I can be and all that I am! Show me the stairway, that I have to climb! And Lord for my sake, teach to take one day at a time!. One day at a time, Sweet Jesus! That’s all I’m asking of You! Lord, give me the strength to do everything that I have to do! Yesterday’s gone, Sweet Jesus and tomorrow ma never be mine! Lord for my sake, help me to live one day at a time! Shall we pray?

 

Abba Father, we’re so grateful that You have given us one more day to enjoy Your Life-giving, Life-sustaining Mercy and Grace! We bless You for allowing us to boldly enter into Your Throne Room, confident that You will entreat us graciously as we pour out the burdens that seem to overwhelm our hearts, releasing everything that concerns us. Lord Jesus, we know that You are Omnipresent and Omniscient, see and already know everything about everyone of us, yet You have invited us to come to You for comfort, strength and encourage us to hold on to every Word that You have spoken over our lives, even before we were born!

From hearts open, depending and relying only on You, we offer up sweet precious praise to You today, thanking You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to sacrifice His Life, opening our spiritual eyes to see Your Glory in His Face, causing us to seek and receive Him as our personal Savior and Lord, giving us the opportunity to live for, through and with You in this present world and the world to come! We thankya for Your Compassionate Faithful Love that extends to us such undeserved Favor to live, move and have our being! We bless You for one more opportunity to embrace richness of Your Loving, Kindness and enjoy the unsearchable depth of Your Peace as we boldly enter into Your Throne Room, confident that You will entreat us graciously as we pour out the burdens that seem to overwhelm our hearts, releasing everything that concerns us.

Lord Jesus, we know that You are Omnipresent and Omniscient, see and already know everything about everyone of us, yet You have invited us to come to You, for comfort and strength as You encourage us to hold on to every Word that You have spoken over our lives, even before we were born! From heart open, depending and relying only on You, we offer up sweet precious praise to You today, for renewed strength,understanding and power as we reverence You as our personal Savior and Lord.

 

Heavenly Father, with unspeakable joy, we Thank You for being our Salvation, Shield, Strength, Deliverance, Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding! With heartfelt humility and sincere gratitude, we acknowledge The Favor, Compassion and Faithfulness that continuously flows into our lives from You, knowing our frame, yet looks beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities to satisfy all of our need!

Abba Father, we bow reverently before You, humbly assured that if we would but confess our sins, You, Heavenly Father, being Faithful and Just will forgive us, and wash us in The Precious Blood of Jesus, cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and restore every breach that our rebellious disobedience has caused between our poor souls and our Savior, Lord Jesus, we now ask You to forgive us for everything that we have spoken, done and thought that was not pleasing in Your sight!

Daddy, because You are no respecter of person and no man can come to the Father except You draw them, we pray that You draw and save the lost! Quicken The Spirit of Godly-repentance in their hearts and minds that they will come surrendering to You today, confessing a “SINCERE YES LORD” to Your Grace Gift, believing and receiving You as their personal Savior and Lord and asking You to baptize and fill them with Holy Spirit, empowering them to live the rest of their lives exemplifying Your Wondrous Works to a lost, dark unregenerated world!

Father, we pray on behalf of anyone who has turned their back on You, walking in their own will, today we ask that You plant a “COMMITTED YES LORD” into their hearts and minds, free them to repent of their sin and come running back to You! We declare and decree that today every back-slider’s footsteps are being directed By Your Mercy and that You are planting and settling them into the church home that You’ve prepared and designated for their individual deliverance, growth and development!

 

Heavenly Father, because You desire that Your children prosper and be in good health, even as our soul prospers, we ask that You touch our brother, touch our sister whose bodies have been afflicted by all manner of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual sickness and diseases! We plead The Blood of Jesus against the spirit of cancer, kidney failure, heart conditions, high/low blood pressures, depression, dementia, autism, any demonic-induced temptations, perversions, ungodly soul ties, doubts, addictions, learning disabilities, low self esteem, anxiety, fears and failures. We intercede on behalf of all those undergoing chemo, radiation, dialysis treatments, surgical procedures, those in recovery rooms, those who’re on life-support systems, not knowing that they’re even in this world, declaring and decreeing that even as we’re praying, You’re walking through every ward, touching,miraculously healing and delivering, rebuking fatigue, mistakes, mishaps, misdiagnosis and premature death. We pray for consoling strength for all who are grieving the lost of loved ones and strengthening caregivers!

 

By the Power and Authority invested in us, we rebuke every Satanic oppressing spirit and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake, Amen 3x! Lord, according to Your Word, You were wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities and by Your stripes we have been redeemed and healed! Therefore, we’re yet standing firmly on Your promise that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name!

 

Precious Jesus, we lift up every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, we ask that You restore confident hope that even if those who have been elected to lead this nation seem to have forgotten that their power has been designated from The Supreme Source of ALL Power, You are yet Jehovah Jareh Who supplies all of their need according to Your Riches in Glory!

 

As instructed, we pray for our enemies, those who despitefully use us and bless those who are bitter and speak evil of us, that our faithfulness may be a sign that we belong to You!! As Children of The Light, we pronounce blessings, joy, peace, favor upon all who trust You, as You prepare a table before our enemies and empower us to rebuke venomous, hateful, words of racism; because all flesh is of one BLOOD! We speak LIFE, believing that You will cover our babies in daycare, our children in schools, our families, on their jobs and as they go and come in!

Lord Jesus, we pray for those who’s faith is fainting, strength wavering, struggling while waiting for Your Hand to intervene on our behalf, send confirmation that Your Promises are Yeah and Amen! Thank You for assuring them that the pain that we’re experiencing is in fact transitioning us into new levels of Your anointing, opportunities, relationships and restoring that which is broken. Help us to move by faith, remembering not the former things but confidently reaching forward fully persuaded and anticipating that everything You’ve promised already is as we Thank You for the great things You have prepared for Your people!

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, canceling every scheme 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, souls, minds and bodies, releasing a spirit of Love, Holiness and Excellence to fulfill their God ordained destiny!

Abba Father, we lift up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher, Teacher Missionary, Deacon, musician choir director/member, praise team, liturgical dancer, usher and church member!Undergird them with Your Anointing and conviction 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 ministry,You have ordained. We pray for the church to be The Church that You’ve called to be influencers in the midst of the lost and ungodly world.

Precious Lord, we praise You as The Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper and our Light in The Darkness! We delight in Your Divine Power, Supernatural Strength, Health, Provision, Prosperity and Protection, confident that You will preserve us thru every tests that You allow, keeping us constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE, resting assured that You’ve already designated the time of deliverance and will bring us out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised in Your Word because we have trusted in You!

Sweet Holy Spirit, open up our minds and our hearts, grace Your children with hope-filled trust that You, Father have committed Your Word towards us that no weapon that’s formed us shall ever prosper and no trouble, test or trial can come near us except You allow it! Help us to remember that we belong to You, are never too far that You can’t see us or can’t reach us and You’re forever shielding us from anything that Satan forms against us. Help us to understand that Your Name, Jesus is a Strong Tower, and the righteous who run into it and are saved!

Heavenly Father, You Alone have the Power to turn everything around to work in our favor and bring about exuberant testimonies and praises of Your Eternal Magnificence, Honor and Glory! Therefore, we decree that every Satanic-induced spirit of fear and death is defeated NOW because of Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power, Sound-mindness and Purpose is being released into the lives of Your people now, in Jesus Name!

Father, we rest in confident-quietness, rejoice in hope, trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shame and defeat knowing that You have heard the voice of our weeping hearts, our supplications and have received every word of our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Heavenly Father, we thank You now, believing that because Your ears are attentive to our prayers, according to Your Perfect Will and timing IT IS DONE! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen and It Is So!

Now, we encourage every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL ONE SOMEBODY THAT JESUS LOVES AND CAN SAVE ANYBODY!#FRONTLINEMINISTRY #CARE2SHARE

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

A SOUL’S DELIGHT!

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A SOUL'S DELIGHT

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doeth he meditate day and night! Psalm 1:1-2 KJV

How well God must like you – you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.2 Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.  Psalm 1:1-2 THE MESSAGE

 

When the Holy Ghost pricked my heart with this text, immediately my mind went to the scripture about the sisters, Mary and Martha!  Y’all remember, Martha was complaining to Jesus ‘Lord, it ain’t right that Mary should be sitting in here with all yall, while I’m in the kitchen working trying to get this food ready’. However, I don’t think she expected Jesus to respond like He did, huh? Jesus didn’t rebuke Mary, but he told Martha that Mary had chosen, ‘the best part’. (Ref. Luke 10:42) Surprisingly, Martha’s got a whole lot of sisters and brothers out here, even among the Household of Faith! #ijs

I gotta confess, I was totally shocked when I realized that not everyone whose name is written in The Lambs’ Book of Life, finds the WORD OF GOD delightful. I’m not trying to be sanctimonious or self-righteous, I’m just giving my experience, k?

The truth of the matter is, Satan wants to keep all of us, saved and unsaved alike, from the WORD OF GOD—By Any Means Necessary! He works deligently to distract us from spending time, reading, studying, and particularly, meditating and praying the Word.

Case in point, how many times have you made a decision (especially at the beginning of a New Year), that ‘This year, I’m gonna get in my Bible and see what God has promised me! I want to know what God wants to say to me. I want to know WHO GOD IS AND WHO I AM in him’. And what happens? Suddenly—out of nowhere, here comes something or someone that needs your immediate attention. Seriously, fires just seem to pop up everywhere you look, right?

Beloved, don’t take the bait! Somebody said, the best defense is a good offense! Hence, it’s important for us to hide God’s Word in our hearts, so that when challenges, tests, trials and tragedies interrupt our lives, instead of caving in to the pressure of temporary circumstances, out of our hearts will flow the Eternal Well-spring of Life, a confident re-assuring hope that our ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13) 

When we make time to fill our spirit, with the Immutable Word of God, we might bend, but we won’t brake!

We must remember that while the issues of life are often a surprise to us—nothing that has, is going on now, or will ever happen in our life, will ever make God say “OOPS! WHERE DAT COME FROM – HOW DID THAT GET PASS ME”! #Didjaheardat? C’mon nah!

As believers, we must be fully persuaded that The God we serve is SOVEREIGN! HE IS ULTIMATELY ABSOLUTELY COMPLETELY IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. And when you know that you know this, YOU KNOW that SATAN AIN’T RUNNING NOTHING! In fact, before he can get to you—HE’S GOTTA GO THRU JESUS! HALLELUJAHHHH! Somebody hold my mule!!!

The scripture says, that ‘Greater is He who is in us, than who is in the world’.  (Ref. 1 John 4:4) and even when our own heart condemn us, “He’s greater than our hearts”. (1 John 3:20)  WOW! 

Beloved, if you are truly a Born-Again, Blood-Washed Believer, your spirit man is always on, we just need to stay tuned, and open to hear what the Spirit is speaking to our spirit. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

Truthfully, many of God’s people are so busy, (just like Martha) caught up in the grind of daily life, trying to get their children to sports activities, a promotion, a new degree, upgrade their house, car, purse or spouse that there’s rarely time left to fellowship with Jesus around His Word!

Precious one, when we take time, pausing to delight ourselves in His Presence, meditating in His Word, GOD Will direct our steps, instruct our hearts and lead us in the right pathways! TRUST2KNO, God delights in our deligent seeking and rewards us with Grace to walk secure in His Peace, regardless of what’s going on around, and even on the inside of us.

I know it ain’t my business, but I’m jus say’n, WHAT DELIGHTS U? SERIOUSLY?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

DON’T DIE B4 U LIVE!

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DON'T DIE B4 U LIVE.jpg

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

The thief cometh not but to steal, to kill and to destroy; I AM come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:  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 1:26-27

 

One of the most tragic phenomenon befalling humanity is leaving here without ever knowing and becoming the fearfully, wonder-filled, exceptionally-crafted Masterpiece our Creator intended before you were formed in your Mother’s womb. (Ref. Jeremiah 1:5)

Could that be why some say that the richest piece of real estate in any city is the cemetery? Don’t get melancholic on me! In fact my objective is quite the opposite; to spawn enticing hope-filled adventurous tomorrows!

We live in a society where conformity is the paramount attribute of success. If you want to be in you’ve got to fit the mold, otherwise you’re considered not one of us but part of the others. Unfortunately that leaves a whole lot of us outside of the clique, huh?

But here’s where I stand on such matters; who gave you the authority to authenticate what God has made in the first place? Only the creator of a thing has the right to determine its true value and potential! Hence, too many of us walk around, ignorant of self-identity, self-rejecting, convicted and/or condemned to a lifetime of regret-filled apologizing to others for who I AM!

That is until we come into the personal saving knowledge of Christ Jesus and get a revelation of who and Whose you are! This personal encounter with The Source and Sustainer of The Universe opens up gargantuan possibilities,  unimaginable potential and inconceivable prospectives that eyes have not seen neither have ears heard of!  

Why waste another moment of the precious time alloted to you being a copy of anybody or everybody else when God has distinguished you from every other individual born in the earth. Check your fingerprints?

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

Locked up in you is the answer to someone’s question. You are designed to be the miracle that person’s waiting on! You are the gift of hope to some despondent soul! You are the treasure that one somebody’s been seeking for and was about to give up on, disgusted by a history of repetitious seconds and hand-me-downs! #Didjaheardat? 

Oh what liberating Truth erupts from our souls realizing that despite of what some folk may think or even said about you, in Christ, you have been empowered to stand-sure-footed in His Grace and profoundly proclaim, “I shall not allow anybody to deny me the right to be, become, have and do everything God ordained me 2 BE!  Because I belong to The King of Kings and The Lord of Lords,  I  can do all things through Christ Who Strengthens me! Therefore I CHOOSE LIFE!”

Beloved, TRUST2KNO, Absolutely Nobody, BUT GOD can make you who you are!  DON’T DIE B4 U LIVE! #GO4IT!

SELAH

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

IS GOD FAIR???

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SELAH Daily Devotions

is-god-fair

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: Romans 1:21-26a

Okay! Don’t be looking at me with that tone of voice!Even if we were too sccaarred to speak it out loud, chances are, we’ve all thought about…

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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

 

 

THE LONGING!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Philippians 3:10

 

One of the most intriguing topical discussions amongst expectant mothers and women who have become mothers (besides swapping labor stories) is the abnormally-intensified cravings that we experience during pregnancy awaiting the birth of their bundle of joy!

While, at this writing, my eldest is 47 years old, yet, I can still summon up that daily occurrence of overwhelming intensity, provoking me to walk my big-belly-self five city blocks up to MLK Avenue to get my hands around a 6 in., lettuce and tomatoes, fried onions, mayo and mustard, salt and pepper, heavily-loaded with pickles steak and cheese sandwich. This became such a ritual that the moment I wobbled through the threshold of the deli, the cashier would holla to the cook “Steak and Cheese Special for the big lady”. And off I’d be to our little apartment on Oakwood Street, five blocks back, just as happy as if I’d discovered a treasure chest filled with diamonds and gold. Somehow, the journey back never seemed as difficult or as long, perhaps because I’d be that much closer to relishing the second I’d take my first bite of my bounty! Oh my, what we won’t do for love, huh?

Well guess what? That’s exactly how believers ought to be in our quest for Jesus Christ! We see this truth evidenced in the life of The Apostle Paul. We can almost feel the earnest urgency with which The Apostle sought after his personal, intimate- knowing and understanding of “The True One” Who had apprehended him on the Damascus Road. (Ref. Acts 9) It was as if Paul was driven by an uncommonly unique passionate desire that set him on a course that remains unchartered territory to even the most astutely-religious 21st Century church-goers today.

Yet, there is that remnant of us whose yearning for more JESUS consumes most of our waking moments and often invading our nights with dreams and images of His Awesomeness. Imagine my surprise at the realization that not everyone in the church shares this delight-filled insatiable lusting for The Living Water and The Bread of Life!

This could very well explain why some who profess Christ, are content with following Him a far off while others are compelled to dig-out the secret treasures hidden in The Word of God, diligently, intentionally searching the Scriptures daily that they might know HIM in ways that may never be actualized by the second-handed-casually-acquainted follower—experientially! (Ref. Acts 17:11)

The Word of God is Alive and gives life to any who have a desire for The God Who Speaks revealing GOD-SELF through His Auto-Biography, inscribed through Genesis into Revelation, that all who seek Him with all of their hearts, minds, spirit, soul and body may know HIM (TRUTH) intimately. Sadly, not everyone who calls Him Savior seek Him as Lord, huh? #ijs Yall!

Therefore, much to their own sorrow, they miss out on the true wealth and reward of a personal, dynamic, GOD-involved relationship that awaits us who lend our hearts and attention to discovering The Father in the face of His First-Begotten Son, Jesus! (Ref. Colossians 1:15-16)

My precious one, seeking God, although often challenging, should never become be a chore! However, it is vindictive of the level of love, faith and commitment towards Him!

 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34:8)

HENCE, WHATEVER POSITION GOD OCCUPIES IN YOUR HEART DETERMINES HIS PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE! HOW BAD DO YOU WANT HIM? LONGING?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee