Tag Archives: Joy

THE VIEW

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Jesus Christ Crucifixion on Good Friday Silhouette

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. John 3:14

Suspended between the heavens and the earth, stood an old rugged cross poised as an emblem of suffering and shame! While an arduous structure in its own rite, it was not the most prominent piece in this view of the Jerusalem countryside. Neither was it the soldiers, the sky nor the rock-laden landscape that captured the attention of the passers-by. But nailed to the center of the Altar was The Sacrificial Lamb of God—Jesus—The Son of Man!

Looking up from the earth, some saw The Messiah, sent from God to a people lost and perishing in their sin; helplessly and hopelessly destined for death. While others saw traitor, a wine-bibblier, Law-Breaking Blasphemer! And yet, some saw the only One capable of acquiring our Salvation—our Kinsman Redeemer! And the only Hope for rescue was to, by faith, look upon HIM (as God had so ordained), acknowledging your own guilt for trespassing against God’s righteous commands, with a sincere-repenting-desire to be delivered from the curse and penalty imposed by The Creator for our rebellious acts. (Ref. Romans 6:23)

Looking down from The Throne of Majestic Glory, Grace and Mercy, gazing upon the beaten-torn-bloody body of the Righteous Savior, was The Father of All Comfort, cringing yet accepting the Self-Sacrificial Atoning Death of His First-Begotten, as propitiation for our unrighteousness and as a sign of our faith that only God can forgive, heal and restore sin-ridden humanity back into right-standing with The Eternal Judge.

As the brazen serpent Moses hung in the wilderness as an innocent representative of the the same self-tempting deceiving-culprit who showed up in The Garden of Eden (Ref. Genesis 3) so was Jesus, The Sinless, hung shamefully cursed; bearing the penalty of sin for all generations of human-kind upon His own body, once and for all; that we might live free eternally in The House of our King! (Ref. Numbers 21:9)

Many of us yet marvel at such Amazing Grace displayed towards us, while others say relying on a dead Jew, crucified over two thousand years ago to determine your eternal destination, is sheer foolishness!

WHAT’S YOUR VIEW? #juswondering

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

DISCOVERING GRACE!

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DISCOVERING GRACE 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Ephesians 4:4-8

 

O MAN! Did we ever get that twisted. GRACE that is! Guilty! I remember it, just like Mama and probably her Mama and undoubtedly my own kids to theirs, asking, “DidjasayyourGrace?” God knows, we didn’t know! But now, knowing the true meaning and eternal value of GRACE, (God’s unmerited, unearned favor towards us) makes it even more OUTRAGEOUS, huh?

Today’s scripture text reveals that when Jesus conquered death, He ascended into Heaven, He sent back to us the Precious Gift of Holy Spirit to embody the Body of Christ (The Church), with everything we’d ever need to fulfill, not only our individual God-ordained purpose, but GOD’s Eternal Purpose in the earth—To colonize a God-Centered society giving Light and Light to a dark sin-filled world! Didjaknodat?

HOWEVRRRRR, even today, some believers act as if Grace is simply a free pass to continue in sin. Don’t shout me down now!!!

In essence, not only does such erroneous thinking normally lead to a life filled with continuous rebellion, it completely misrepresents and dishonors Christ Jesus’ Sacrifice on The Altar at Calvary. Grace is more aptly recognized as God’s Divine Enabling Power Gifts, which He has Sovereignly equipped those who have placed their personal faith in the finished WORK OF CHRIST, measuring out to each believer, according to their specific pre-ordained assignments in The Kingdom of God!

While there are a variety of spiritual giftings, every gift is vital to the health of The Body! Hence, jealousy, envy, covetous and certainly competitiveness between our brothers and sister’s gifts is uncharacteristically absurd for a Christian, considering the Source is the same for each gift, The Holy Spirit! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 12) After all, these gifts are not given for us to boast in ourselves, but to boost up and to glorify The Kingdom of Heaven in the earth! Of course, we must never negate the reality that the ground is completely level at the foot of The Cross! Hence, not one of us deserved  to be included in this AMAZING GIFT OF GRACE in the first place! #SERIOUSLY!!!

That’s why the scriptures warn us that The BookKeeper is keeping track of every deed that is done in our bodies and one day, we will all be judged for how we used our gifts to promote the advancement of The Kingdom of God to a lost and dying world! (Ref. 2 Corinthians 5:10)

Sounds to me like it’s a total abuse of time to engage in such  foolishness as bickering and complaining about what somebody else has or doesn’t and even more ridiculous, a wishin’ and hopin’ you had!  May I submit for your consideration? PERHAPS, your MOST valuable commodity aka, TIME,  might be more wisely appropriated diligently seeking to discover your own ultimate “WHY and WHAACHACOME HERE FOR!”  UR RIGHT! IT AIN’T NONE OF MY BUSINESS!!! #IJS!!!

IN OTHER WORDS, DISCOVER YOUR GRACE AND WORK IT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

LEAVE THE REST 2 JESUS!

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LEAVE THE REST2 JESUS 4

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Heb. 4:11)

 

There is a certain ‘place’ that every human, believer or unbeliever, inevitably seeks  to inhabit. However, you can’t locate in on Map Quest, Google or GPS. Amazingly, given all of the sophisticated technological advancement of our 2lst Century, it can’t be seen by telescope, satellite or heard by electronic ultra sonic sound systems. You can’t travel there walking, driving or riding in a bus, train, plane, rocket, cruise liner, submarine or battle ship!

Nevertheless, many a lifetime is spent meandering through days and nights pursuing it! Unfortunately, few ever get there. Some get closer than others, yet they’re left disappointed. For reasons unbeknownst to them, before they’re able to get a firm grasp, some way and some how, ‘it’ escapes to just beyond reach. Many have sought for it at the pinnacle of corporate, academia or entertainment world. Only to ascertain that despite the success, accolades, notoriety, wealth and privileges of the elite, there yet remains this insatiable unfulfilled inner-quest!

Where is this place that continues to evade so many a desperately wandering soul?

In case you haven’t figured it out, it’s called ‘REST’! And the reason so many fail to reach it, is because it is not a place but a person; and His Name is JESUS!

According to these Scriptures: “And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?” (Heb. 3:18)

“Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief” (Heb. 4:6)

Apparently, that which is impossible to man is always possible to God! (Ref. Matthew 19:26)

Didjaheardat? Amazingly, the very moment anyone places their ABSOLUTE trust in The Saving Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ, they have finally arrived, safe and sound, at their Destination—REST!

So do what you can. Pray about anything; trust God for everything and LEAVE THE REST TO JESUS! #GOTIT?? Aaawwwwmmmaaaazzzzzin!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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PRAYN AND FASTING PIC

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Good morning Family and Friends, GOTTA MOMENT?

Once again, we, the New Nations Worship Ministries family invite you to join us in our Day of Corporate Prayer and Fasting between 6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.! In times like these, it’s imperative that we all stay close to the Altar…and linger in the midst of the Incense…WE DECLARE AND DECREE!!!!

JESUS, I’LL NEVER 4 GET WHAT U’VE DONE 4 ME! JESUS, I’LL NEVER 4 GET HOW U SET, ME FREE, JESUS I’LL NEVER 4GET HOW U BROUGHT ME OUT, JESUS, WE’LL NEVER 4 GET NOOOOO NEVER…WE LOVE U LORD, AND WE LIFT OUR VOICE, TO WORSHIP U, OH MY SOUL, REJOICE, TAKE JOY MY KING, IN WHAT U HEAR, AND LET IT B A SWEET, SWEET SOUND IN UR EAR….

Father, as we come today, we lift up The Precious Name of Jesus and give great praise to You, we are immediately mindful to thank You for blessing us to see this brand new day.  Not that we deserve or have in anyway merited such favor, but because it has pleased You to grant us another opportunity to enjoy the abundance of Your Mercy, Your Grace, Power and Peace with overwhelming gratitude we Thankya!

Heavenly Father,  we can never take it lightly, that You, The Creator and Mastor of The Universes, have bestowed upon us such honor and privilege in choosing us to be Your very own children to enter into Your Presence, without fear and trembling, knowing that You delight in fellowship with Your Beloved children!

Lord Jesus, we continuously give thanks to You for being not just The God of All Creation, but The God of our Salvation, our Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision. We’re constantly amamzed at Your Lovingkindness towards us, knowing our frame, yet Your benevolence, faithfulness and compassion allow You to look beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities to see and minister to all of our need!

As we humble ourselves under Your Mighty Hand, Father, we pray for renewed strength, understanding, comfort and power from hearts open to, depending and relying only on You.

We pray that as Your eyes continue to search the hearts of mankind that you save every lost and dying soul that has not yet surrendered their lives to you and received Your Son as their personal Savior and Lord. We ask that you put a REAL YES, into their hearts and minds that this will be the day that they decided to turn their backs on Satan and run under The Blood of Jesus! And Lord, as they come, we know that you will place them into a local church home where they might learn the ways of Your Kingdom!

Abba Father, as we pray, we ask that You reclaim every back-slider; put a final YES in their heart and mind. Assure them of Your Promise that You are waiting with open Heart and Arms, because You never consented to a divorce, but are Married to the backslider! Let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church and that You  will guide, place and settle them into a church home today!

Father, we’re praying, we ask that You  touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by all manner of sickness and disease, high blood-low blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, epiplepsy, strokes, arthiritis, lung disease! We pray to The Prince of Peace that You will rebuke mental disorders causing depression, uncommon anxiety attacks, fears and fobias among Your Chosen Ones.

Lord, as we pray. we know that it mattera nor to You what the diagnosis is, but we ask especially that You  cancel, rebuke and cast out every spirit of cancer and  for Your Name Sake! Lord, for you have DECREED IN YOUR WORD, that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name!

Lord, we pray for every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that as You are looking down upon us, that You will release Your Divine Power, Supernatural Strength and Health, Provision, Prosperity, Peace and Protection.

Heavenly Father, we pray that You preserve them thru every test that they must go thru and bring them out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the rewardsYou have promised us in Your Word. Father I ask that you comfort all those who are grieving the lost of a loved one this day! Give them Your assurance that joy shall come again!

Lord, we also ask that your Love surround, comfort and shield every member of our Armed Forces and give them the assurance that we appreciate the personal sacrifices that they make each and everyday that we may enjoy peace in our homes, on our roadways, in our airways!

We pray for President Obama and the 1st Family, every member of Congress and Senate, asking for Divine intervention and inspiration to reign in the very midst of every decision, in Jesus Name!

Father we ask that You send down a Special Anointing that will rest upon every True Man/Woman of God who will stand before your people this week, and that a life-giving, life-altering Word would prick and arrest the hearts of everyone in attendance!

Father we wait in confidence, quietness, and earnest expectation trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are suddenly departing in shame, turning their backs from Your people, 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!

Father, we thank You, honor and praise You now, for we believe that it is done! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen and It Is So!

FILL ME UP LORD!

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FILL ME UP LORD3

SELAH DAILY Devotions!

 

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:5

 

In Ancient Near East, according to The Bedouin Law of Hospitality, it was the custom and duty to be hospitable to foreigners, strangers and travelers. The host was required by custom to provide food, water and shelter to the wayfaring traveler. In doing so the host was accepting the responsibility of protecting the traveler as long as he remains in his territory.

According to the historical Eastern culture tradition, when a host wanted to let his guest know that he was truly welcomed and that in his house there was plenty to accommodate the comfort and happiness to his guest, he’d ask the guest to lift up his cup and the host would pure the wine into it, and keep on pouring wine until it overflowed and spilled out onto the carpeted banquet floor. The guest would then know that he was doubly and abundantly welcomed!

As part of this hospitality, guests would also be anointed with oil, so that their robes emanated a delightful fragrance, indicating that the host would anoint his honored guest, not sparingly but to the extent that their heads would glisten in the candle-lights! Failure to do this was recognized as a deliberate rebuff and insult! WOW!

Now I get that this might be difficult for most of us westerners to comprehend, given the fact that for the most part, hospitality has become a lost art. However, thankfully, with God, it’s a tradition that never goes out of style. God’s Benevolence is exuberantly extravagant! He lavishes His gifts upon all who will embrace His gracious loving-kindness with up-stretched hands and open hearts, anxiously awaiting His unending ever-flowing river of compassionate providential care!

In the Scriptures, oil is a figure of God The Holy Spirit. While it’s the mission of our common arch-enemy, Satan to suppress the Children of God, enslaving you in small places, confined to poverty, lack and diminished hope, joy and peace, The Holy Spirit intercedes on your behalf, ushering you into large lands flooded with showers of blessings! (Ref. John 10:10)

Needless to say, faith in Christ does not exempt believers from trying times of tearful sorrow, wearied by disappointment, the dishonor and rejection of shameful lies! Nevertheless, we’re yet able to rejoice as The Spirit of God infuses our soul with joy and gladness, grace upon grace, love without measure and peace beyond understanding!

Beloved, God is not content with your being satisfied with just enough! He’s The King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Therefore as His Heritage, He’s chosen to give us more than we could ask or think! (Ref. Ephesians 3:20) Amazing, huh?

Our Great Shepherd invites you to be seated at the table He has prepared today, making a public announcement to your enemies—‘don’t even try it,’ lifting His cup over your head, signifying that as His guest, you’re not just getting leftovers, but you’ve got the keys to the whole house to enjoy the finest of provisions! 

Hence, God delights in running your cup over so that you can’t contain the blessings, and will be able to share with others so that His Grace is reaching more and more people, multiplying thanksgiving to overflow to the Glory of God. (Ref. 2 Corinthians 4:15)

Didjaheardat? Well, whatcha say?

“HERE’S MY CUP LORD, I LIFT IT UP, COME AND QUENCH THE THIRSTING OF MY SOUL!” …DRINK UP!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 Ann Caffee

LIVE FREE!

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LIVE FREE 3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That’s why God sent Jesus!

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

OMG, SMH…AGAIN! Didjaheardat?

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

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

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

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

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

MAKING THE CUT!

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MAKING THE CUT 3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE BIGGEST LOSER!

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the-biggest-loser3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord; he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them from the wicked and save them, because they trust in him.” Psalm 37:39-40

 

You know how Ol Slu Foot (dat devil) is constantly bombarding your mind with negative thoughts designed specifically to sabotage your peace? Yeah, but do we really know why?

Most of what he does is just him acting out his frustration. You see, knowing what’s in store for him compared to what we have awaiting us, and having absolutely no power to stop what God has planned for our future frustrates hell out of him!

Oh don’t get it twisted; Satan is not GOD! He has no creative power! Therefore, whatever he’s doing is restricted to what he’s allowed to do by the Authority of GOD ALMIGHTY! The Bible says that he comes as a Destroyer! Unfortunately, down thru time, he’s become quite proficient in his endeavors by using the only resource available to him to accomplish his three-fold mission. (Ref. John 10:10) What’s his resource, you ask? Memories!

Ever notice how the devil keeps bringing up your past mistakes and past failures? He specializes in accusing you of what you did or should’ve done and didn’t! Well, this morning I was reminded of a message I heard years ago. The Man of Gawd told the saints, that “When the devil starts messing with your mind about your past, just remind him of his future!“ WOW! Deep huh?

Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! As a born-again, Blood washed, Holy Ghost-filled, Child of The Most High God, we have been appointed, anointed and authorized to call those things that be not as though they are. (Romans 4:17) The problem is, most of the time we fail to exercise our power and continue to call those things that are as though they’ll always be. #4REAL!!!

Beloved, you don’t have to be intimidated by the devil. Jesus is the perfect example of walking in the overcoming life! Remember how Jesus dealt with Satan in the wilderness? (Ref. Matthew 4:1-11) And guess what, you can do the same thing that Jesus did!

Don’t be skuarred–take a stand! When believers say what God says by faith, it blows the devil’s scheme right out the water. When the devil starts dredging up your past, you better recognize that it’s time to go ol’ skool R&B on that bugga and, “Say it Loud…I’m Saved and I’m Proud!

Saints, you have to let the devil know that we know, What we know and in Whom we believe! Our God has an amazingly glorious future planned for our lives and it’s ALL good and not evil! (Ref. Jermiah 29:11)

The next time the devil tries to destroy your peace, put him in his rightful place, under your feet. Let him know in no uncertain terms, ‘Hey devil, all that stuff you keep bringing up, it’s ALL covered—under The Blood! Oh, and by the way devil, I peeped the end of the story and it ain’t looking all that good for you.

In the end, I win and you’re still a loser! It looks like you got Hell to pay!”  LOSER!!!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee