Tag Archives: forgive

TRUE CIRCUMCISION

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TRUE CIRCUMCISION

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus, And have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3

 

According to the Old Testament, God commanded every male child to be circumcised on the 8th day of their birth. (Ref. Genesis 17:7-14) As you (women) can only  imagine, this procedure was extremely bloody. God wanted his people to stand out from the rest of the nations.  Hence, circumcision became the outward sign symbolizing that you were a member of a Peculiar, Elite, a Royal Family!

Today, God’s chosen people still undergo a procedure. However, ours is spiritual and involves a circumcision of our hearts! The procedure can only be performed under the direction of the skillful hand of the Holy Ghost. Because of the fragility and exceptionality of this procedure, it requires the use of particular surgical instruments. Every incision must be meticulously and tediously made with a two edged sword—The Word of God—that’s capable of dividing, piercing asunder both the soul and the spirit! (Ref. Hebrews 4:12)

And guess what else? The best part about this whole thing is that you don’t have to be pre-approved by Kaiser, Aetna, Blue Cross or Blue Shield… it’s already paid for! But keep in mind, this surgical procedure is solely elective. This means that the patient must willingly submit to the knife because The Holy Ghost will never impose or force Himself upon anyone!

Once the patient embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ, by humbly allowing the Word of God to penetrate and cut away their old stony heart, confessing that he’s a sinner, alienated from God’s family and in need of a Savior, he receives a brand new heart—The Heart of Jesus!

When the procedure is completed, successfully, the patient becomes a new species—a born-again Believer—A Christian!  (Ref. 2 Corinthians 5:17)

This new Christian is now free to worship and serve God faithfully by presenting his body as a living sacrifice. Wow! Could that be why they praise Him like they do? The truth of the matter is, God is a heart-fixer and a mind-regulator! If you will allow HIM to exchange your heart for HIS, it’ll change your mind! When you change your mind, everything else in your life’s gotta change! #SERIOUSLY

Have you scheduled your appointment with the Master Surgeon yet?

Don’t delay! They tell me procrastination kills, Eternally! TRUE CIRCUMCISION!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee

UNSHAKABLE LOVE!

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UNSHAKEABLE LUV

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

EVER since man left the Garden of Eden, God has been trying to show us how much He loves, misses and how badly He wants us to come Home to Him!

He spoke to a man Abram, through His Prophets, through visitations, dreams, signs, parables and innumerable unexplainable events. Finally, He spoke to us in the Person of His Only Son, Jesus! (Ref. Hebrews 1:1-3) Jesus, if you will, is GOD’s Illustrated Sermon, preached by The Father of All Creation, because LOVE refused to let go!

Now, understandably, given the limitation of our perverted perception of love, this Love makes absolutely no sense!

It’s almost unbelievable! But GOD’s ways are higher than ours and HIS thoughts are greater than ours. Therefore, humanity struggles to comprehend the infinite capacity of our Creator’s faithful, committed and unshakable love for us! Agape, GOD LOVE, can only be revealed through the Power of The Holy Ghost! (Ref. Romans 5:5)

At best, here’s a working definition of‘ ‘agape love’; “it’s The Love that’s just enough to meet you where you are, but is too full with compassion to leave you there and is only satisfied by lifting you up to where He is!’

It’s The Love that says, I don’t care what you do, what you don’t do, MY Love will never stop loving you! Just trust MY Love! Now that’s The Gospel of Jesus Christ!

You see, I’ve learned that threatening folk with hell to make them love Jesus is not enough to make them repent before GOD! I mean, you can’t win souls to Christ if you only tell them how bad they are and never tell them how Good Jesus is! It’s the goodness of God that leads people to repentance! (Ref. Romans 2:4) Now Ain’t that good news? Saints, datz The Gospel!

When people understand that ‘No-thing’ shall separate you/me from the LOVE of GOD IN CHRIST JESUS–It’s life-changing! (Ref. Romans 8:38-39)

Now, 4 the LUV OF GOD, why don’t cha’ run and tell that! God Love is For Ever Faithful! Datz UNSHAKEABLE LOVE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

TRUTH OR DARE?

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truth-or-dare2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.  Jeremiah 31:3

 

As a child, I imagined God as this Supernatural Giant Bully, somewhere far off, standing above the circle of the Earth; eyes roaming throughout the north, south, east and west; scoping the territory for the worst of the unrighteous, anxiously anticipating His next victim of massive destruction.

No wonder, looking back my childhood was basically engulfed by constant fear, trauma and terror. Knowing that you’re cursed from birth, yet not knowing when your sins would have piled up reaching that mystical number thereby provoking the anger of God’s Wrath, until His sledge-hammer clutching Hand would pierce the sky, pouncing upon your head and smashing your body into bits and pieces, which would immediately be gathered up by demons and transported to The Devil’s Hell for all of Eternity!

Well! Not being raised in a church-going christian household, meant that most of my GOD knowledge came from an ungodly environment. So, because most of us just naturally assumed we were that pre-destined part of the ‘have-nots’, we attempted to comfort one another with sayings like “at least I won’t be there by myself; all of my friends are gonna be right down there with me; and we’re gonna parta forever!’ Okay, I hear yall sanctified folk gasping, but what else could you expect?

Can you imagine my surprise and the sheer delight of my fallen soul when my heart was exposed to The Life-Giving-Light-Gospel of Jesus Christ? Seriously! Who knew that such a Holy God, did in fact love sinners like me, so much that He actually gave up His Only Begotten Son, Who willingly sacrificed His Life, allowing sinners to be reconciled back to His Heavenly Father. Sounds incredibly unbelievable, huh? BUT IT’S THE TRUTH! (Ref. John 3:16)

Absolutely Amazingly! Despite man’s continuous proclivity to rebellion against GOD, the door yet remains open to anyone who will accept GOD’S Gracious offer of Salvation! HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! (Ref. Romans 10:13)

His eyes continuously patrolling the earth, looking for a single soul, who’s trying to live a pure life pleasing to HIM, that HE might forgive that person! (Ref. Jeremiah 5:1-2) Can you imagine the grief? GOD being WISDOM, knowing that many have come swearing with their lips their dedication to GOD yet the wickedness of their lying hearts giving them away! Remember, “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” Proverbs 20:27

However, at the end of the day, I guess the question is not whether GOD is WHO HE SAYS HE IS, but rather the real question is, will you choose Truth and live or dare to resist THE LOVE OF GOD, defy THE POWER OF ALMIGHTY GOD and perish in your sin, huh?

Hope 2 C U at the Great Coronation! NOW DATZ GONNA BE A PARTA! TRUTH OR DARE?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

HOPE ETERNAL!

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HOPE ETERNAL

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Why art thou cast down oh my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 43:5

 

Ever noticed how some folk tend to diminish HOPE to some trivial and passive behavior? I’m sure you’ve heard it, or perhaps you’ve been guilty of it, once or twice. ‘I can only hope so’, ‘U don’t wanna  get your hopes up’, ‘ I jus don’t wana  hope for something and be disappointed’.

Okay? Now where do you suppose that kind of talk comes from? You’re absolutely correct! Straight from the lying lips of our arch enemy, Satan, whose SOP is yet based onthe philosophy that ‘what they don’t know can hurt them and help me’.

There is a vast difference between the world’s hope and a believer’s hope! The world can’t help but ‘keepa wishin’ and hop’n’! After all they don’t know The True and Living God! BUT! Biblical Hope is powerful!

Hope is an earnest expectation spiritually-inspired anticipation that whatever God has promised shall come to pass!

Hope is critical to the believer’s faith in Christ Jesus. Hope is the launching pad to our salvation, giving substance to the believer’s faith!

Hope is rooted in absolute confident trust that assures the believer of future fulfillment of a promise given by The Eternal One who abides free from outside influence!

Hope is evidence of being fully persuaded beyond all doubt, utterly convicted of a present unseen reality!

Hope is the ultimate expression of true worship of the Almighty God that unashamedly declares, everything God ever promised already is!

HOPE IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE ALL THAT GOD IS AND ALL THAT HE HAS PROMISED!

HOPE IS GOD’S REVELATION ILLUMINATED IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST!

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

During this Christmas season, as we celebrate the Birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ we also acknowledge that as a true believer we embrace each day with renewed resolve that no matter what it looks like, ‘I SHALL HOPE TO THE END!’ To the end of what you say? Until you see the complete manifestation of precisely what God has said!!

HOPE IS ALIVE, ETERNALLY SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER! HOPE IS JESUS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

JESUS JOY!

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Jumping woman at sunset

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  John 15:11

 

If the only evidence that the prosecution had to convict us of being Christian was our countenance or our dispositions, our case would be thrown out and we’d get off scott-free! A lot of folk are claiming salvation, naming the Name of Jesus and on their way to heaven anyhow, but most of them don’t seem to be enjoying the trip. If so, they forget to send an IM from their heart to their face!

If anybody should have joy, it’s the saints of the Most High God. But if the Saints are walking around with our heads hung down, broke, busted and disgusted with everything and everybody, then how can we persuade a lost world that life goes better with Christ? Don’t shout me down , now!

Perhaps, some of us have become wearied on the journey of life because we’ve mistakenly equated joy with happiness. While happiness is an emotional response based merely on enjoyable circumstances, joy is a constant internal state embedded in the Love of God, producing serenity and tranquility totally independent of external conditions.

Jesus looking from eternity past and seeing the many souls that would be saved, overwhelmed with joy made a conscious commitment to endure the pain, despise the shame, become obedient, even to death on the Cross of Calvary that His joy, might be poured out upon His people. (Ref. Hebrew 12:20) Guess what, that makes YOU the joy of Jesus!

There’s more to Joy than goose-bumps. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is our strength”.

Jesus Joy is a weapon of mass destruction in the believer’s arsenal. Hence, Jesus Joy is empowerment to overcome any challenge with courage and confidence!

Just knowing that every promise in The Bible is ours to claim with the assurance that Jesus will never ever leave nor forsake us should make every Born-again, Blood-washed child of God’s heart swell up to the overflow with pure Jesus Joy until we can’t help but HOLLA and THROW UP BOTH OF MY HANDS!

Didjaheardat? JESUS OVER YOU! WOW,  NOW DATZ POWERFUL!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

WAYFARING WIT

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WAYFARING WIT2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

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

 

WOW! We’ve come a long way, Baby!

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

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

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

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

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

Wisdom is calling!

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

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

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

Didjaheardat? Missed it, huh? WAYFARING WIT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

DON’T SWALLOW THE BAIT

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DON'T SWALLOW THE BAIT

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.
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.” Psalm 27:4-6 KJV

 

One thing for sure, nobody who knows me would ever accuse me of being remotely ‘out-door-sy”, huh? Yessssirreeeyyy! I’m totally domesticated!

So when it comes to taking part in those adventures that so many of yall find such immense pleasure in, such as camping, hiking, fishing, skiing, anything I say about them are solely vicarious! However, I am married to an avid fisherman who would rather be on a boat in the middle of a lake for hours at a time than just about any other place; save Heaven!

I understand that in order to catch a fish you must have certain equipment. A fishing line, a hook and a bait! I have experienced opening up my freezer door and being greeted by neatly packaged baggies filled with all kinds of strange looking objects to which I’ve been inclined to immediately dump in the garbage; that is until he informs me of their intrinsic value.

Unfortunately, too many of you are just as ignorant of Satan’s wicked devices as I am when it comes to fishing!

While we  may acknowledge this Truth, mentally assenting to its veracity, that as Born-Again, Blood-Washed, Children of The King, Satan no longer has authority to lord over our lives far too often,  yet the revelation fails to transcend into our ‘real life’, huh? Apparently there’s a innately human flaw of fickleness that tends to overcome even the most sainted believer the moment The Designated Accuser fires his darts, interrupting your blissful state of abiding in God’s Presence! Hence, you develop an acute case of selective amnesia; forgetting the Fundamental of Christianity 101!

When you placed your personal trust in The Lord Jesus, accepting Him as your Redeemer, you were immediately rescued from The Kingdom of Darkness and transferred into The Kingdom of God’s Son! (Ref. Colossians 1:12-14) Didjaheardat?

Ooooh Glorrraaaa! That means that the devil has no right or power to control any area of your life! He’s a defeated foe! Now, of course being the Master of Deceit, he’s unable to resist his diabolical urges to persistently threaten any unsuspecting Child of God who will swallow the bait, hook line and sink to a level far beneath his God-Ordained position of Righteousness in Christ Jesus!

But you don’t have to! Today’s scripture text tells you where you are, from God’s Perspective! Hidden in God’s Pavillion, seated safe and secure in The Rock of Ages, far beyond the reach of all of your enemies!

So, before you start acting like Satan is a true prophet, re-evaluate the Reality of your situation!

Pause, take a deep breath, ponder and relish His Presence! Got it?

AAAAAWWWWWW!!!! NOT TODAY DEVIL! AND FROM WHERE I’M SITTING…IT AIN’T LOOKING DAT GOOD FOR YOU TOMORROW EITHER! BBBBAAAAMMMMM!!! DON’T SWALLOW THE BAIT!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

VERY SUPERSTITIOUS

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VERY SUPERSTITIOUS

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“The Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s GOD; “Go ahead! Put your burnt offering with all of your other sacrifical offerings and make a good meal for yourselves. I sure don’t want them! When I delivered your ancestors out of Egypt, I never said anyting to them about wanting burnt offerings and sacrifices as such.
BUT I did say this, commanded this: “OBEY ME. DO WHAT I SAY AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD AND YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE. LIVE THE WAY I TELL YOU. DO WHAT I COMMAND SO THAT YOUR LIVES WILL GO WELL.”
“’BUT do you think they listened? Not a word of it. They did just what they wanted to do, indulged any and every evil whim and got worse day by day.
From the time your ancestors left the land of Egypt until now, I’ve supplied a steady stream of my servants the prophets, but do you think the people listened? Not once! Stubborn as mules and worse than their ancestors!’
“TELL THEM ALL THIS, BUT DON’T EXPECT THEM TO LISTEN! Call out to them, BUT DON’T EXPECT AN ANSWER! Tell them, ‘YOU ARE THE NATION THAT WOULDN’T OBEY GOD, THAT REFUSED ALL DISPLINE. TRUTH HAS DISAPPEARED. THERE’S NOT A TRACE OF IT LEFT IN YOUR MOUTHS! Jeremiah 7:21-28 THE MESSAGE
We’ve heard the news, and we’re as limp as wet dishrags. We’re paralyzed with fear. Terror has a death grip on our throats.
Don’t dare go outdoors! Don’t leave the house! ….Death is on the prowl. Danger everywhere!
“Dear Daughter Zion: Dress in black. Blacken your face with ashes. Weep most bitterly, as for an only child. The countdown has begun…six, five, four, three…
THE TERROR IS ON US!” Jeremiah 8: 24-25-26 THE MESSAGE

…BUT SOME SAY, ‘THIS DOESN’T CONCERN US…WE’RE AMERICA, huh? #UUUUMMMMM…VERY SUPERSTITIOUS!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day?”

Ann Caffee