Tag Archives: desperate

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?

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WHO LET THE DOGS OUT

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

There are many wayward people, smooth talkers, and deceivers—especially the converts from Judaism. They must be silenced because they are disrupting entire families with their corrupt teachings, all for their dishonest greed. A certain one of them, one of their own prophets, said, “Those Cretans are nothing but liars, worthless beasts, and lazy gluttons.” He certainly knew what he was talking about! For this reason, correct them thoroughly so that their lives will line up with the truths of our faith. instruct them not to pay any attention to Jewish myths or follow the teachings of those who reject the truth,  It’s true that all is pure to those who have pure hearts, but to the corrupt unbelievers nothing is pure. Their minds and consciences are defiled.  They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are disgusting, disobedient, and disqualified from doing anything good. Titus 1:10-16 TPT

 

 

Mama told me there’d be days like this! BUT, C’mon nah! Who ever thought that progress would be interpreted as truth being despised and irrelevant, deceitfulness, pride, arrogance and greed is extolled while integrity is detested, trust is impaired according to the circumstances of any given moment and hope is deferred as justice bows to social elitism, racial prejudice and party preference! AND ALL THIS IS MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN? #Don’tshoutmedown, nah? A matter of perspective, huh?

TRUTHBTOLD, The Holy Scriptures are being unfolded, live and in living color, right before the eyes of the discerning who yet ascribe to the concept of Biblical Absolutes! Shocking, right? The lawlessness, chaos, confusion, uncertainties, frustration caused by the desolation of moral codes is the inevitable response when the righteous commands are resisted by the rebelliousness of a culture determined to evict the Sovereignty of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY favoring to do what’s right in their own eyes!

BUT can somebody say, “THANKSB2GOD!” Knowing everything that could, should and would transpire before the foundation of the world, GOD, has made provision through HIS ETERNAL WORD to fulfill HIS DIVINE Plan and Purpose for His most precious of creation’s restoration and reconciliation! Rest assured Beloved, nothing has, can or ever will happen in the earth (and your life) that takes God by surprise! When it seems as if everything is fallen to the dogs and hell is winning, remember, KING JESUS IS STILL ON THE THRONE, REIGNING & RULING OVER THE AFFAIRS OF MANKIND!

And while the rage of the dogs’ barking seems to be drowning out The Voice of Holy Spirit, don’t get it twisted! God’s got them on a lease! Beloved, although we’re living in a season of spiritual darkness, we don’t faint in fear but we boldly walk by faith in the Light of HIS ETERNAL WORD! In the midst of spiritual famine, we remain undaunted, steadfast, courageous, focusing and trusting JESUS, The Author and Finisher of our our Faith.

Your Heavenly Father promised, “ I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU! (Ref. Heb. 13:5) At God’s appointed time The Glory of God SHALL ARISE,  bringing about a Divine Reversal! The first shall be last and the last shall be first! (Mark 10:31)

Blessed is the one who has made the Lord, his trust! Psalm 40:4

GOD MAKES EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL, IN HIS OWN TIME! STAND STILL & SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD! TRUST2KNO, Destiny’s calling 2 shut the dogs mouths!

NOW, #TRUMPDAT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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PRAYN AND FASTING PIC

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

 

GOOD MORNING FAMILY! GOTTA MOMENT? Awesome! Once again, we are excited that You’ve joined us today, in our weekly day of Corporate Prayer and Fasting! SHALL WE PRAY?

 

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus And to take Him at His Word! Just to rest upon His promise. And to know thus saith the Lord! Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him
How I proved Him o’er and o’er. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more; Oh, for GRACE 2 Trust U more…We love U Lord, and we lift our voice; to worship U O my soul, rejoice! Take joy my KING, in what U hear, and let it be a sweet, sweet, sound in UR ears…let it be a sweet, sweet sound in URRR Ears…


Heavenly Father, we come one more time, to thank You for allowing us to see this new day! We have so much to thank You for, and we refuse to take anything for granted; therefore, we praise You for our being able to breathe, see, to hear, walk, talk and even think to pray! We’re blessed because You are a forgiving and an understanding God. Not because I am in anyway deserving of such favor, nevertheless You have already done so much for me, yet You keep right on blessing me over and over again! Abba Father, forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to Your Heart. I ask now for Your forgiveness, in The Precious Name of Jesus!

 

As the day ahead unfolds, help us to maintain a righteous attitude coupled with loads of gratitude! Keep us in the cleft of The Rock, safe from all hurt, harm and danger. Let us make the best of each moment that You gift to us! Lord Jesus, clear our minds so that we can hear from You and cleanse our hearts that we may deny ourselves, trust and obey Your Will.

 

Help me Lord to not whine and whimper over things I have no control but help us to remember that because You are always in total control nothing happens to us that is random, but the steps and stops of the righteous are ordered and managed by Your Sovereignty! Open the eyes of our understanding that we may be able to see, discern and acknowledge the evilness of sin through the Redeeming Blood of Your Son Jesus! And when we do sin, quicken our spirits to repent immediately, confessing with our mouth our wrongdoing, and receive the Gracious forgiveness of our Covenant-Keeping Father and God of our Salvation!

 

And when the pressures, wickedness and chaos of this immoral world closes in on us, remind us to follow Jesus’ example — to slip away and find a quiet place to pray; confident that prayer is our best response when pushed beyond the limitations of self! We thank You that when we can’t pray, You are yet listening to our hearts and are able to interpret every moan, groan and sigh of our inner-man! Father, we thank You that despite of our fractures and dysfunctions , You are yet able to use us to do Your will ensuring The You Alone get The Glory!

 

Abba Father, continue to bless us that we may be a blessing to others. Keep us strong that we may help the weak.. Keep us uplifted that we may have words of encouragement for others. We pray for those who are lost and can’t find their way. We pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. We pray for those who don’t know You intimately. We pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others. We pray for those who don’t believe that You sent Jesus, not to condemn us, but to convict us and to free us from the power, pain and penalty of Sin.

 

Looking back over our lives, we can’t help but cry out, Thankya for that Blessed Day when You opened our hearts and enabled us to believe and receive the revelation of the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ! Knowing that You are no respecter of persons, and that Your Grace is available to any who will ask, we intercede on behalf of everyone whose eyes have been blinded by the gods of this world, pierce through the darkness of their fallow hearts; awaken them with The Light of Your Glory and enable them to cry out, “What must I do to be saved?” Quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their hearts and mouths with “a sincere Yes” enabling them to receive Your Gift of Grace, confessing You as their personal Lord and Savior! We’re trusting You to direct their footsteps, place and settle them into a local church home today where they are welcomed, loved, nurtured and encouraged to live the remainder of their lives holy, acceptable, committed and faithfully obedience to Your Word!

 

Father, we know that faith in God not only changes people it changes us! And only You, O God have the Power to change circumstances! We’re praying for peace, unity, love and joy in our homes, communities, churches and nation. We believing that Your Divine Favor is being poured out upon everyone who has a desire and determination to please You and their faith is rising to a new level of faithfulness and obedience! We’re believing You to command a double-portion-supernatural-release of abundance in every area of their lives so that all their needs are met according to Your Richest in Glory! In Jesus Name, It IS SO!

 

Father, by faith, we now lift up our children, our grands and great grand-children, committing them into Your care! We realize that You love them and have pre-ordained their individual purpose and plan for being. We have the blessed assurance that their steps are being ordered by Your eyes, directing, guiding and instructing their footsteps into a face-to-face encounter with You where they will surrender their lives over to You and will be able to share their own testimony of what Faith in God can and will do!

 

Abba, 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 speak LIFE, STRENGTH, ENCOURAGEMENT, CONFIDENCE, ASSURANCE, RESTORATION OF HOPE, TRUST into all those who are yet believing for immediate manifestation of that special miracle and the fulfillment of every vision that You’ve placed into their hearts! Reward those who are yet standing on the wall proclaiming Your Word with POWER, under the conviction and anointing of Holy Spirit. Grace them to be the TRUE WITNESSES and 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 and glorifying You!

 

Trusting that You Sovereignly Rule and Reign over the affairs of mankind, we lift up the leaders of our nation, federal/local government, corporate, judicial, educational, health care providers and every arena of our society! Because their hearts are in Your Hands, we’re asking You to touch their minds and infiltrate their hearts a Godly Fear; let their hearts be continuously opened to hear and obey Your Will! Speak to them in dreams and visions alerting let them that You Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens are keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly! Lord Jesus, we’re standing on Your Word as decreed that The governments of this world shall rest upon Your shoulders and that You are The Eternal King of kings and Lord of lords!

 

Indue the hearts of Your people with a peace that surpasses all understanding and a confident expectation that our times are in Your Hands and regardless of the deceitfulness of this world, You have promised to protect, provide and preserve the righteous who trust and obey Your Word! We pray for restoration in broken marital and family relationship! We ask that You continue opening the eyes of our understanding so that Your people are not easily deceived by those who would desire to entrap Your elect in bondage to anything which You have delivered us from! In Jesus Name, Amen 3x!

 

Father, we believe that as we’re praying, You are touching our brother, our sister whose body has been afflicted by all manner of sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, liver disease, mental and emotional issues! We intercede on behalf of all those undergoing surgical procedures, those in recovery rooms. We’re praying for those who’re on life-support systems, not knowing that they’re even in this world! We’re declaring and decreeing that as we’re praying You’re walking through every ward, touching, healing, delivering, miraculously rebuking fatigue, mistakes, mishaps, misdiagnosis and premature death for Your Name Sake!

 

Declaring and decreeing You are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever, we plead the Blood of Jesus! 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! As Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us, we stand on Your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up!

 

Holy Spirit, help us to remain faithful and keep a Kingdom mindset, relying on You to go before us and make our way prosperous. We believe You are dispensing overwhelming Favor, Prosperity, Peace and when these blessings are manifested, help us to walk in a spirit of humility giving Your Name all the Glory, Honor and Praiz!


We bind every wicked scheme that the enemy desires to assail against us and declare that we are well able to take possession of every promises that You’ve made to us! We pray for total deliverance from every cord that would bind Your people and come against our God -ordained Destiny! We rebuke the enemies of our minds, thanking You that nothing can stop the blessings or us from performing the greater works You have assigned to the covenant saints! We thankya for the courage and patience to stand, steadfast, consistent, always abounding in the work of our LORD!


We pray for consoling strength for all who have lost loved ones, we rebuke the demons of the minds, and emotions, disappointments, we believe that You are restoring power, love and sound minds, hope and the JOY of Your Salvation. Help us to understand that because we are royal priests, a holy nation unto You, failure is not final and our victorious testimonies shall provoke envy of other nations who have not submitted to The True God but who yet serve false gods!

Father as we wait in confidence and quietness, we rejoice in hope, trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shameful defeat, terrified because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Abba Father, we boldly stand in agreement with You Who hears and answers our prayers, and forgives our transgressions! Holy Father, our souls are strengthened as we shout with joy unto The One to Whom all men will come!

 

Father, bowing in reverent obedience, before The Hope of all the Earth, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that it is done! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X and It Is So!

 

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

 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

 

 

STORMS

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STORMS

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Psalm 27:4-5

 

Aaawwwww…Fantasy! Believe it or not, that’s where many escape to when the painful realities of life become much more than a person can bear!  Perhaps, this might explain why that 1965 Classic American Sitcom “I Dream of Genie” (staring Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman) drew such a faithful following!

Week after week families gathered around their b/w TV’s anxiously gasping for any momentary retreat from the real-time burdens facing our nation. I mean who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to have anything their heart desired suddenly appear simply by swiping a lamp, right?  Yep, those were the good ol’ days, huh?  I suppose that’s what He mean’t by “LET’S MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, too? #WOW!

History records President Lyndon B. Johnson struggling to lead the nation through a multiplicity of vexing controversial challenges and at the same time maintain some semblance of the homeland security that many cleaved to so dearly.

Remember, The First Combat Boots landing in Viet Nam and the Dominican Republic, the arrest of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King along with 2,600 others in Selma Alabama for demonstrating against voter-registration rules. Malcom X was shot to death in a Harlem rally, while the newly recognized Afro-Americans were rioting in Watts others were rudely awakened to the undeniable existence of racism in The Land of the Free? Yep! Yep! #thoseweredadays!

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

Truthfully, as long as we live and breathe on this earth, there will be storms of adversity. In today’s scripture text, the Psalmist offers a brilliant ray of confident hope, strength and encouragement to those who yet contend for the faith found only in an intimate personal relationship with The God of all flesh.

Having been victimized by jealously, hatred and malicious rejection from those closes to him on numerous occasions, David sticks out in history as a true, honest, God-revealing companion to the desperate and down casts. A recap of God’s servant’s life depicts one who repeatedly finds himself besieged by fear, doubt, betrayal, death and isolation from human kindness. Yet in the midst of chaos, terror and tragedy, The Shepherd boy/King, David discovers the Source of true solace under the watchful care of His Sovereign Lord!

 

Beloved, we’re living in a day in time where it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of hussle and bustle, striving for the world’s standards of successful accomplishments and accommodations! However,  in spite of those poignant pathetic prophetic voices declaring peace and prosperity, sometimes we are left trembling and shaken by the inscrutable ungodliness of the systems of this world! 

Nevertheless, the Prophet Isaiah reaffirms The Eternal Promise of The Covenant-Keeping Creator and Sustainer of All Life  offers comfort to souls weired by the tremors of unexpected intrusive earth-quaking episodes that befall the saints as well as the sinners! Come what may, TRUST2KNO, WE ARE NEVER ALONE! GOD IS ALWAYS AS CLOSE AS A WHISPERED PRAYER from a BELIEVER’S TRUSTING HEART!  #Didjaheardat?

The real evidence of a believers faith is not cuttin’ a step, how high we jump or how fast we’re ruuning around the churrch, but how faithfully we stand in the midst of the storms!

Beloved, as we keep our eyes pointed Heavenward,  The God of All Comfort has declared that we too will be blessed, revitalized and restored by that Peace that passes all understanding, swept over by the unspeakable Joy and resting assured in the Presence of the One Savior and Lord that David delighted in, Jesus Christ! THE PERFECT ANSWER TO EVERY STORM!

SELAH!
 
PAUSE, PONDER, PRAY & PRAIZ!
 
Ann Caffee

PROMISE KEEPER!

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PROMISE KEEPER

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

So He said, “I will certainly be with you….” Exodus 3:12a
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:11-12

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

 

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we vow to live our lives according to the testimony God reveals in The Holy Bible. As our knowledge of God’s Word increases, we discover how God has ordained certain rights, privileges and promises to us and for us. Yet, even as confessing Believers, sometimes we fall short when it comes to experiencing the fulfillment of God’s exceedingly great and precious promises. Don’t shout me down now, yall!

Consequently, our churches are filled with frustrated, anxious, angry and unsatisfied folk who’re secretly disappointed with God. AMEN Anyhow! For the record, let’s concede this, GOD IS NOT THE PROBLEM! Therefore, His Faithfulness is not on trial! God’s Word is Eternally Immutable, Faithful and True.

So what’s up? We go to church and hear the gospel—well most of the time—anyway, preached with power and conviction. We enjoy the sermon, buy the CD’s and the DVD’s. We’ll leave the sanctuary talking about “Man, we had CHUURCH today”. But, the question is, where’s the evidence that what we’ve heard has profited our lives? For real, where’s the change in our personal situations?

It may behoove us to interrogate the Word more closely. The Scripture declares, ‘Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing By The Word’, right?  Obviously, the breakdown does not exist in the effectiveness of THE WORD! Hence, that leaves the higher probability that our inability to see the manifestation of the PROMISE lies in our personal cognition to believe and accept the Integrity of GOD’S WORD!

Moses was called by GOD to do a task that was so completely outside of his comfort zone causing him to offer up a plethora of excuses why successfully completing the assignment was impossible! GOD told Moses that He’d heard the desperate cry of the children of Israel, I’ve see how the Egyptians have oppressed; now I am sending you to Pharaoh that you may bring MY people out of Egypt! I will certainly be with you…When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve GOD on this mountain.” (Ref. Exodus 3:9-10; 12)

Now, stop looking at me with that tone of voice! U know there’s been plenty of times God presented a situation in your face, that even with the aid of 66 Books of Holy Writ, you were so overwhelmed with the challenge that you immediately started questioning God’s reasoning not to mention His decision that you were remotely qualified and equipped to go thru what you would have to go thru, not to mention come out! #ijs

However, GOD never asks us to do anything that He’s not willing to get personally involved! When GOD promised Moses, ‘I WILL CERTAINLY BE WITH YOU’ that was the game changer! The value of a promise solely depends upon the Authority, Ability and the Involvement of the One who’s making the promise! SINCE GOD ALONE IS THE SELF-PROCLAIMED I AM WHO I AM…THE ALPHA & THE OMEGA, WHO SPOKE TO NOTHING AND CREATED EVERYTHING…we might jus wanna put our trust and confidence in whatever HE SAYS, HE CAN AND WILL DO!

After all, WHO CAN STAY HIS HAND! Remember Pharaoh and his horses all drowned in the Red Sea! (Ref. Exodus 14:21-23)

Beloved, it matters not how high the mountain you must overcome, how wide valley you must go thru, nor how deep the river you must cross over, hold on the The Master’s Hand, lean not to your own understanding, but trust in His Promises with all of your heart, committing your whole being to His Keeping Power and you shall see The Saving Grace of our God! TRUST2KNO! Every Promise that God’s left on record is still as good as it was the day He Spoke it into Being! Hence, don’t wait ’til the battle is over, SHOUT NOW!

#BELIEVE 2 C THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING! HE IS THE PROMISE KEEPER!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

WALK BY FAITH!

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WALK BY FAITH 2

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Jesus replied,“The time is coming, ma’am, when we will no longer be concerned about whether to worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. For it’s not where we worship that counts, but how we worship—is our worship spiritual and real? Do we have the Holy Spirit’s help? For God is Spirit, and we must have his help to worship as we should. The Father wants this kind of worship from us. But you Samaritans know so little about him, worshiping blindly, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes to the world through the Jews.” John 4:21-24 TLB

 

Unless you were born late last night or just landed on planet earth early this morning, you gotta recognize that this whole world has gone crazy! I don’t care who you are, where you live, how many tongues you speak in, you’ve gotta admit the stuff is going down around us today that Mama and Daddy ‘nem never could’ve imagined. We’re living in desperate times, huh?

You don’t have to be a bible scholar or seminary theologian, or even have the Holy Ghost to be able to discern the signs of the times. We are living in the last of the last days. And Jesus is soon to come. Amen 3x? #DON’T SHOUT ME DOWN!

Let me assure you, it matters not whether you’re young or old, everybody needs to know Jesus for themselves. It’s getting darker and darker out here, and there’s no guarantee that you got all that time you think you have to get yourself together. But while you have today, we need to stop blaming or comparing ourselves with everybody else and figure out how to work out our own soul salvation! None of us should allow what nobody else is doing to distract us and make us miss Jesus, huh? #4REAL

It doesn’t matter who’s in the White House, Senate, Congress, Court House, Jail House, Out House or who falls off the financial cliff, YOU need to be very sure that this world is not your Source of provision, comfort, joy and certainly not your peace! Them ol’ skool Mothers sanng, “My Hope is built on nothing less, but Jesus Blood and His Righteousness, I dare not trust the sweet frame, but wholly lean on JESUS NAME”!

Beloved, time is spirialing into eternity at the speed of LIFE! Hence, recess is over and time’s out for fakin’ it till you make it! We no longer have the luxury of procrastinating! You’ve gotta get off the proverbial fence and make a decision. Either you’re going to walk by faith or allow the cares of this lost and dying world to slamm, trample and sift your joy, strength and hope for better days to come! If the only hope you have is in this world, you’re destined to live a most miserable life!

Saints, God has a better plan for His children. “I come that you might have life and that more abundantly” (Ref. John 10:10) Yet, contrary to New Age Gospel-Lite doctine, God’s Promises are conditional! As the CEO of your destiny, The Word of God must take priority over everything! Therefore, it’s not enough to hear the Word, you must believe it to the point that you live it; i.e by walking it out in your everyday life!

Stop allowing your intellect to compromise your faith in what God can do. This ain’t the first time, the odds have been stacked against you. Remember, what you see is only temporary, but the Word of God stands forever, eternally established and secure!

Precious one, TRUST2KNO God is looking for those who will worship HIM out of a spirit of faithful obedience. Don’t allow corruption and collusions of the ungodly demoralizing systems of this world to distract you from  your God-ordained plan and purpose for you life! #DIDJAHEARDAT?

Stay focused, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your life; encouraging yourself, giving praise and Glorraaa toThe True and Living God Who is Faithful and Powerful enough to keep every promise that He’s ever made. Don’t stop til u getit, GETIT! #WALK IT OUT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

REMEMBER GOD?

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REMEMBER GOD 4

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. Psalm 77:6-10

 

That’s Life! The ol’ skool church used to tell us, “Everyday ain’t the same, baby!” I guess that was their way of warning us to expect some days when your heart is overflowing with the Joy of the Lord and your mind is so consumed with the Peace of God that you can hardly restrain yourself from bum-rushing unsuspecting strangers who happen across your path, giving them a big hug and spewing out your testimony of how good life is and how Great your God is!

BUT! Then, there will be other days, when all hell is breaking out around you, the thief has broken into your world, robbing you of your joy, destroying your peace and killing every ounce of hope that the future will be any better than now! And to add insult to injury, the devil will send his lying prophet to your heart inquiring, “Where is your God now?” “Has God had enough of your mess?” Sound uncomfortably familiar, huh? Yep, been there and got a few T-shirts!

Life can be a complexing compilation of complaints and comfort! And guess what, believers are not exempt from either. For example, just look at King David, the God-Proclaimed ‘man after God’s own heart’. While David enjoyed an especially unique relationship with The God of Creation, he was also no stranger to abuse, resentment, rejection, bitterness, jealousy and anger steming from family, friends and enemies!

Time and time again, David sought refuge in the cavernous hillsides, surrounded by blood-thirsty enemies who relentlessly pursued him, barely escaping with his life through valleys overshadowed by death.

Inevitably, there would be days when the chaos of his life would come crashing down upon his wearied soul already overburdened by waves upon waves of unending oppression from every side, leaving him entrapped by desperation, depression and desolation. Nevertheless, David unable to find solace in the midst of his tears, humbly directed his soul to retreat to the One True Source of All Comfort!

Remembering days long past, the hours upon hours spent communing with The Lord, reminded David that no matter where he was, he was never away from The Presence of His Faithful Shepherd. Recounting the wondrous personal experiences with The Almighty God, leading and guiding him to green pastures, watching over him while he rested beside oasis of cool water, protecting him from ravenous beasts, singing songs as they fellowship throughout the nights, encouraged David’s heart, reassuring him of God’s Promise to love and keep him all the days of his life!

Isn’t it amazing how sometimes, just the thought of God can catapult the most grievous soul into The Throne Room of Grace and Mercy, igniting volcanic eruptions of pure worship and praise? Just a moment of intentional seeking and faith-filled prayer can immediately release a believer from the damnable clutches of fear and dread, thrusting you into the sanctity of confident trust inspiring earnest joy-filled expectation of HIS EMINENCE!

A lifetime of experiencing The Amazing Grace and Unrelenting Love and Faithfulness of his God kindled David’s heart to pen this personal testimony that  continues to console the wounded,  inspire contentment, bring solace to fractured hearts and nourishment to lean souls even to this day! 

“I was young and now I’m old, but I have never seen the righteous left all alone, have never seen their children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25

Given the unstabilzed state of this 21st Century society, it’s no wonder that so many are facing seemingly impossible challenges, be it physical, finanancial, emotional or spiritual! Nevertheless, it’s just good to know that regardless of the circumstances, your life is hidden in The God of Life—The Impregnable Rock of Ages—JESUS!

WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, REMEMBER GOD!  #GETIT?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

LIFE GOES BETTER WITH CHRIST!

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LIFE GOES BETTER WITH CHRIST

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? Psalm 56:12-13

 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11

 

The Bible is so real that it’s difficult to understand how too many yet consider it irrelevant to today’s contemporary society. Amassed within 66 Books, 929 chapters in the Old Testament and 260 chapters in the New Testament, GOD has captured every aspect of the human experience from eternity past, eternity present and eternity future!

Unlike many of my readers, I wasn’t born on the left-hand-back-pew of the church! In fact, I wasn’t even raised in a so-called Christian environment. Hence, I’ve lived on both sides of the Cross; therefore I’ve experienced both ends of the sin spectrum. I said all that to say,  unequivocably,  I truely believe  in the miraculous, uncomparable , incomprehensible depth and breath of God’s Grace and Mercy to transform the life of the  most ungodly into the sanctified! 

Sometimes, life comes at us fast and hits you hard! Nevertheless, how we respond to the unexpected, is ultimately a matter of perspective! King Solomon, dubbed as the wisest man in the known world, having been set-up from birth to inherit God’s riches blessings, decided to turn away from following in the footsteps of  his Father David, preferring to fulfill his fleshy lusts, eventually found himself plunging headlong into the endless pit of  darkness, desperation and dispair!

While Salvation does not guarantee automatic exemption from experiening test, trials or tragedy, as followers of Christ, we have this assurance, absolutely nothing happens that ever takes GOD by surprise!

He knows our endings from the beginning! Not one smile is ever unnoticed nor is one tear ever undocumented. (Ref. Psalm 56:8) Nothing that you’ve been thru; nothing you might be going through now escapes His Watch!  God doesn’t promise that every day will be a stroll in the park on a sunny day dancing through flowery beds of ease, but it behooves us to be content, confident that “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Ref. Hebrews 13:5)

As you voyage through The Scriptures, you’ll discover that God’s servants were tempted, tested and tried by the same tactics and schemes that we are; all launched by our common diabolical enemy, Satan. Nevertheless, they persevered and prevailed with the help of self-same Good Shepherd that’s available to you and me.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

GOD has promised to supply everything we will ever need to overcome and conquer every and any thing that attempts to resist or prevent the absolute fulfillment of every vow that He’s spoken over our lives. Don’t allow fear to limit your expectations of what GOD has prepared for you!

Don’t let your past cause you to doubt or settle for less than He’s promised! Take care that your steps don’t become slack lingering too long in what’s behind. Keep moving forward; remembering what God has for you is always in front of you!

While Life continues to be a journey into unchartered territories, keep walking; fully persuaded that you are never alone.  Yes! There will be some valleys to tread, some mountains to climb, some twists and turns to meander and some dead-ends to re-calculate from. Nevertheless, I encourage you to keep your hand in HIS HAND, confidently trusting in The Master of all Life; knowing that what’s ahead of you is always greater than anywhere you’ve been! IN THE END YOU WIN!

BELOVED, JUST KEEP WALKING, LOVING, LEARNING, LEANING AND LIVING! …LIFE GOES BETTER WITH CHRIST!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

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

THE PERFECT STORM

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THE PERFECT STORM 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” Psalm 27:4-5

 

Aaawwwww…Fantasy! Believe it or not, that’s where many escape to when the painful realities of life become much more than a person can bear. Perhaps, this might explain why that 1965 Classic American Sitcom “I Dream of Genie” (staring Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman) drew such a faithful following!

Week after week families gathered around their b/w TV’s anxiously gasping for any momentary retreat from the real-time burdens facing our nation. I mean who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to have anything their heart desired suddenly appear simply by swiping a lamp, right?  Yep, those were the good ol’ days, huh?

History records President Lyndon B. Johnson struggling to lead the nation through a multiplicity of vexing controversial challenges and at the same time maintain some semblance of the homeland security that many cleaved to so dearly.

Remember, The First Combat Boots landing in Viet Nam and the Dominican Republic, the arrest of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King along with 2,600 others in Selma Alabama for demonstrating against voter-registration rules. Malcom X was shot to death in a Harlem rally, while the newly recognized Afro-Americans were rioting in Watts and others were rudely awakened to the undeniable existence of racism in The Land of the Free? Yep! Yep! #thoseweredadays!

The point is, despite the torrid winds of time, we survived!

Truthfully, as long as we live and breathe on this earth, there will be storms of adversity. In today’s scripture text, the Psalmist offers a brilliant ray of confident hope, strength and encouragement to those who yet contend for the faith found only in an intimate personal relationship with The God of all flesh.

Having been victimized by jealously, hatred and malicious rejection from those closes to him on numerous occasions, David sticks out in history as a true, honest, God-revealing companion to the desperate and down casts. A recap of God’s servant’s life depicts one who repeatedly finds himself besieged by fear, doubt, betrayal, death and isolation from human kindness. Yet in the midst of chaos, terror and tragedy, The Shepherd boy/King, David discovers the Source of true solace under the watchful care of His Sovereign Lord!

Beloved, we’re living in a day in time where it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of hussle and bustle, striving for the world’s standards of successful accomplishments and accommodations! However,  in spite of those poignant pathetic prophetic voices declaring peace and prosperity, sometimes we are left trembling and shaken by the inscrutable ungodliness of the systems of this world!

Nevertheless, if we keep our eyes pointed Heavenward, we too can be blessed, revitalized and restored by that Peace that passes all understanding, swept over by the unspeakable joy and resting assured in the Presence of the One Savior and Lord that David delighted in, Jesus Christ!  THE PERFECT ANSWER TO THE PERFECT STORM!

SELAH!
 
PAUSE, PONDER, PRAY & PRAIZ!
 
Ann Caffee