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FATE OR FAITH

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FATE OR FAITH3

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?  1 Samuel 17:28-29

The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want! Psalm 23:1

 
Life is challenging! WOW! Is that ever grossly understated?

If you can’t say Amen then like the ol’ saints used to say, ‘Jus keep getting up in the morning and going to bed in the evenings!’ Surely surely, sooner or later you’ll get the depth of the revelation, huh? Regardless of how your attempt to walk circumspectly, there is always going to be something or someone who’s sole purpose in existing is to challenge your peace, patience, prosperity, position or your purpose. #ijs

Here’s the clincher! Sometimes your worst adversity comes from your own house! I mean, one might expect opposition competing for a job, after all the unemployment rate being as high as it is. And of course, given the diminishing numbers of viable bachelors/bachelorettes these day you kinda know how steep the competition is for someone looking for the whole package (head, body and heart). But when you gotta overcome rejection and disrespect from those who are closest to you, even your own brothers and sistas, well that’s a beast of an entirely different species!

Most of the time when 1 Samuel 17 is preached or taught Goliath stands out as David’s most prominent archenemy! Yet, upon closer observation of the context, David faced serious opposition even before he dealt with the 10 ft. Philistine. Remember what happened that day God sent Samuel to anoint the next King of Israel? (Ref. 1 Samuel 16) Well, it was only after much resistance from his own Father, Jessie, that David was even considered an option. Isn’t it something when your own kinfolk can only see you the way you used to be or never acknowledge that where you are now is not necessarily your final destination?

Even more grueling, is rising above those who’re secretly intimidated by your desire to excel to dimensions beyond where they’ve chosen to settle in the comfort of complacency, paralyzed by their fears rather than risk failure. 

But the young shepherd boy had somehow learned that when you can’t find support or encouragement from without, you don’t give up! Flip the script by looking to the only One Who’s qualified to determine your true worth or define your destiny is The Creator and Giver of Life, The Lord Almighty! Down thru the years, David had learned how to draw strength and to encourage himself by trusting in the Unfailing Love he found in The Presence of His Shepherd, Yahweh, translated, I AM THE ONE, or I AM WHAT I AM!

While most of us can look back at those ‘almostsesses’  and rekindle those undeniable ‘look what the Lord has done moments’, sometimes it takes us a while to realize the folly of depending on self …and others, to get out of our mess, huh? Fortunately, when we do finally come to the end of ourselves, we must recognize that when God decides to bless you, it doesn’t matter who tries to curse you! In fact, I’d dare say that it behooves any who attempt to mistreat or abuse a Child of God, to be careful. God loves His children and doesn’t cotton much to those who seek their destruction. Oh Gggglorrra!

In the midst of foreboding clouds of impending threats, persecutions, peer pressure, hopelessness and despair, we jus gotta believe that nothing just happens! Inspite of all the circumstantial evidence, GOD IS IN TOTAL CONTROL of our steps and our stops! Needless to say, He rarely fills us in on the details, nevertheless He assures us that in Him, we are more than conquerors! (Ref. Romans 8:37) Hence, the precious personal revelations awaiting you as you place your faith in His Irrefutable Word, is well worth enduring the weight of confronting every challenge!

Beloved, God’s got a plan for your life and IT’S ALL GOOD AND YES, IT ALL TRUE! You jus gotta fight the good fight of faith to win! God appoints Divine Coincidences! NOW…IS THAT NOT A CAUSE? FATE OR FAITH?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray and Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

GOOD MORNING FAM! GOTTA MOMENT? WOW!
Once again, we’re delighted that you’ve joined us in Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We count it an honor and a privilege that the Creator of Heavens and Earth has stretched out His Scepter, inclining His Ear and welcoming us to enter into His Gates with thanksgiving and His Courts with praise! We run boldly and joyfully to The Rock that covers even the most timid of souls, casting our cares at His Feet! Shall we pray…
I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses, And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has everrrrrr known!

There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord; There are sweet expressions on each face, And I know they feel the presence of the Lord…

Good Morning Abba Father! Good Morning Jesus! Good morning Holy Spirit! We’ve come to say thank You for one more day! We’re grateful for such Faithful Loving-kindness that You’ve extended to us allowing us rest under the surveillance of Your watchful Eyes. As the gross darkness hovered around us, You shielded us from death and destruction and at the designated moment You awakened us to a brand new day, flooded with rays of Glorious Mercy and lavished with Your Amazing Unmerited Grace to overcome any challenges that we might incur during the journey of today!

Holy Father, as we embrace this day, we first want to ask You to forgive us for any deed, thought or word that was spoken that was not pleasing in Your sight. As we pray, according to Your Word, that if we would confess our sins from a sincere repentant heart, You will forgive us, cleanse us by The Precious Blood of Jesus and restore us back to right-standing in The Kingdom of Your Son! By Faith,we believe and now receive the Cleansing Flood of Christ’s Atonement in Jesus Name! Amen 3x!

Father, we know that nothing will ever happen in our lives that will escape Your Dominion! However, You know that the frailness of our flawed, fickleness and finite frame often causes us to fall prey to the intimidating turbulence that is erupting around us resulting from those who deny, defy and reject Your Lordship! You also know how easily we tend to forget that You have committed Yourself to never leave nor forsake us! We beseech You now, Sweet Jesus, to open our hearts, our minds that we might understand that You are our Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God Who can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities and responds faithfully, patiently and compassionately to our every moan to calm our doubts and console our fears!

Lord Jesus,  we lift up Your children who are holding on to Your Hand today, by faith, trusting You to release a double-portion of Your Divine Peace, Power, Supernatural Strength, Health, Provision, Prosperity and Protection into their lives even as we pray! In Jesus Name, Amen 3x!
Heavenly Father, we pray that You will continue to preserve us thru the tests, trials and sometimes tragedies that we go thru! Keep us, Holy Spirit, constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that You only allow these seasons to prepare us for promotion in Your Kingdom. Assure us that this momentary light affliction will not compare to the Glory that shall be revealed in our lives as You bring us out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with every reward You have promised in Your Word!

Abba Father, we pray, because no man can come to the Father except You draw them, that as Your Eyes continue to search the hearts of mankind that You draw and save the lost, reclaim every back-slider and direct their footsteps to their local church home today that they might be nurtured, encouraged and committed to live out the rest of their lives pleasing and magnifying Your Name! We declare and decree that all of our unsaved loved ones and friends will be saved in the year 2017 and join our Eternal Royal Family!

Father, we ask You to touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, high/low blood pressure, heart disease, kidney, lung failure, satanically induced depression/oppression/addictions and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake!  Lord, Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name, It Is So!

Lord Jesus, we lift up every political, social, judicial, business, religious leaders, asking a special blessing upon each one! We pray that you will visit them in the night with dreams and visions that will break and convict their hearts so that the morning’s light will spread Your Grace upon them to be the examples in their homes, communities, church and the marketplace that will cause those who are in their sphere of influence to love, trust and live their lives fully devoted to serving and glorifying You, Our Heavenly Father!

Father God, we pray that every demonic-induced spirit of fear, failure, hopelessness and disappointment be defeated by Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Power, Love and a Sound-mind be released now, in Jesus Name! We’re trusting that each morning of this new year Your children will awaken, armed with Grace to accomplish every assignment and earnest hope-filled tomorrows!

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

Heavenly Father, we seal this prayer with gratitude, honor and praise. Believing that it is done, In The Exalted Name of Jesus we shout Halleleujahhhh!!!! Amen 3x!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

SEIZE YOUR MOMENT

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SEIZE UR MOMENT

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. Numbers 10:29-32

 

Do you know what time it is? I mean, REALLY?

Each one of us has been given a ‘pre-planned’ moment of Destiny! Everything that you’ve been through was designed by God to transition you into a specific place on God’s itinerary. At His appointed time, the spot light will be on you and that will be your moment to shine.

In today’s scripture text, Moses invites Horab, his brother-in-law, to join them on their way to The Promised Land which God had given them. This journey was nothing new to Horab, having traveled to Cannan on several occasions, he was well aquainted with the dangers of the wilderness terrain and he knew the best route to travel. Having Horab’s eyes guiding them would be extremely beneficial to them. Horab knew where the water and the fuel were; he knew where the best green pastures were. Moses also promised Horab that if he would agree to come with them, he would also be given a healthy portion of the riches that awaited them in Cannan.

Despite Moses’ persistent pleadings and the promise of great wealth, Horab turned Moses down, choosing rather to return back to his own country and to his own family. Horab was not aware that a window of opportunity was being opened unto him and because of this one decision, missed his moment! From this single incident, he drifted back into obscurity and his name was wiped out of Bible history.

Glancing back over your life, you’ve probably gained a proliferation of valuable insights that would be tremendously helpful to that certain someone who’s embarking upon their own wilderness experience. Don’t be afraid to let somebody know what you’ve been through and how you made it out. It’ll save them a whole lot of time, energy, and strength. Often times, just knowing that somone has survived the desert storms offers tremendous hope, encouragement that empowers them to just keep moving, no matter what challenges they face, trusting God will carry them safely to their land of promise. Be somebody’s eyes!

Horab, not realizing who The Hand of The Lord was on and more importantly who it’s not, probably looked at the children of God and saw a bunch of ignorant slaves who didn’t have nothing and weren’t going no where. God doesn’t see as man sees!

Life changes often!  We need wisdom to prepare to make the best of it by seeking God’s guidance as we deal with challenging times and seasons. It’s imperative that you know who you’re hooked up to! Be careful that you don’t hook-up with folk who don’t have a vision and a plan. Without a vision, the people perish. (Ref. Proverbs 29:18) Without a clear vision, you’ll keep going around in circles, getting no where fast!

As a disciple of Christ, there is a Divine order to our life! We’d do well to seek, accept and embrace it with hope, trust and confidence. When you unselfishly submit and commit to helping others to fulfill their vision, when God does it for them, because you are hooked up with them, He will do it for you too!

Beloved, God is ready to take the limits off, open doors, and raise windows for you. He’s already set-up your destination and all the help you need will be given in the fullness of time. Be mindful, the anointing to get through rests in your obedience to His instructions! #DIDJAHEARDAT?

Everything is in place, are you ready? Don’t miss your moment. Expect it! Seize it!

SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee

GOD’S VOICE

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gods-voice-3

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.  Galatians 1:15-16

In today’s scripture text, we hear the testimonial of The Apostle Paul in response to The Lord’s prompting to go spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. And we all know how that turned out, huh? 

GGGGLLLLORRRRRAAA 2 GOD! However, what stands out to me, is what Paul didn’t do!

The Apostle didn’t wait to get an Executive Order from The White House nor a congregational consensus before stepping out by faith. Instead of asking anybody what they thought about it, relying solely on his personal relationship with His Savior, feeling no need for further validation, The Apostle Paul immediately obeyed God’s instructions!

How about you? When you’ve heard from God, what’s your initial response? Before you move, do you have to survey the opinions of your family and friends? Does the fear of failure, embarrassment, humiliation or retaliation cause you to stagger at God’s Word? Are you willing to take a leap of faith and just do what you believe God is asking of you?

As believers, we’re sometimes reluctant to move out on a WORD FROM GOD. Not so much because we’re not trusting God, but more often than not, it’s because of a spirit of difiance deeply rooted in the lack of self-confidence in our own ability. Ooops…#noshedidn’t!

In an attempt to re-assure ourselves that we’re in God’s will, like Gideon, we will ask God for a sign and come up with some kinda obtuse fleece as further proof that it is actually God speaking. ( Judges 6) And while God so graciously granted Gideon’s request, twice, as believers, we must recognize that God often tests our trust and confidence by commissioning us to do what seems impossible!

That’s what our life in Christ is about. God doesn’t require us to walk by signs, but by hope-filled trust that whatever He asks us to do, by His Grace, we are well able to perform.

The Bible says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” John 10:27. As we entreat His Presence daily in prayer inquiring direction, thru diligent study  and meditation of His Word, we learn to distinguish His Voice from the chatter emanating from the world and He will teach you what He wants of you!

That’s why it’s so important to build an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father and not just show up at The Throne Room for emergency visits! God really cares about you! He is not a dead-beat Dad nor is He willing to settle for weekend visitations! God wants to be actively involved in every aspect of your life, every day!

WHEN YOU KNOW HIM, YOU WILL KNOW HIS WILL!  WHEN YOU KNOW HIS WILL, YOU DON’T NEED TO CONFER WITH ANYBODY…BUT U GOTTA KNOW GOD’S VOICE! #canuhearMEnow!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

FEELIN SOME KINDA WAY…

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FEELIN SOME KINDA WAY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

 

I know I’m too old to be using this new slang! In fact, you probably have to be over 50 to even know what ‘slang’ is, right!

But from where I’m sitting, I believe that it’s an attempt to describe those unidentifiable unrefined emotions birthed out of the womb of unsettling situations. And there’s certainly been a lot of those going around lately, huh? The jandra “You never know” pretty much typifies the attitude of this 21st Century.

Despite all the technological advancements of our New Millennium Age and our fixation with pursuing our destiny, it doesn’t seem that we’re any closer to attaining that level of peace, comfort and contentment that every soul longs for.

I truly believe that The Creator deliberately left a GOD-size hole in the center of our hearts that can never be sufficiently filled through human efforts!

Surveying the state of humanity, there’s seems to be no end to the onslaught of strategically-designed-distractions launched by the gods of this world, to draw our focus away from The Eternal Word of God, leaving a lot of God’s Elect gasping, trembling and wavering hopelessly between faith and fear! Hence, ‘feeling some kinda way’!

There’s no denying that from an earthly-perspective, this world is spinning out of control causing the bottom of life (as we’d known) to fall out!

There’s a prevalent sense of entitlement which allows every man to do what seems right in his own eyes and that once endeared standard of morality apparently has plummeting to incomparable depths of new low.

But Truth remains! “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. (2 Timothy 2:19)!

Granted, issues have a way of knocking at the door of our lives, unexpected and uninvited, leaving us off balance! But by GOD’s GRACE! We stand firm, our hearts fixed on this comforting assurance that absolutely nothing happens in your life that ever catches God by surprise! And while we may not know what challenges we’ll face during the course of any given day, God promised that He will never abandon nor leave us defenseless! (Ref. Isaiah 54:17)

It’s during these temporary moments of affliction that we, The Saints, evoke our privilege to cry out to our High Priest for Divine Help! (Hebrews 4:15)

The ol’ Mothers of Zion used to sang, “For He is a Battle Axe in the time of the struggle and a Shelter in the time of the Storm.”

THE NEXT TIME LIFE ASSAULTS YOU, LEAVING YOU ‘FEELING SOME KINDA WAY’, JUST CALL JESUS!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

 

BOTTOMS UP!

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BOTTOMS UP 4

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. 1 Kings 17:15-16

 

We are a piece of work, huh? And living proof of the Loving Compassion of our Creator! #ijs

Seriously, no other god would put up with us for as long as The Living God of the Bible. Every morning we’re awaken to a brand new day filled with hopeful promises of  fresh Mercy and Grace. Every evening we lie down confident that He who never sleeps nor slumbers will watch over us, protecting and shielding us from dangers seen and unseen, sustaining our bodies, assuring that every particle of flesh and bone is in perfect alignment with its ordained purpose and functioning at the precise rhythm of its appointed origin, without any assistance from us. (Ref. Psalm 121:4) Awemaazin!

Nevertheless, at the first hint or threat that our circumstances aren’t going the way we think they ought to go, immediately we are stricken with an acute case of fatalistic-selective amnesia, forgetting that that Self-Same-God of The Universe Who has elected to be our Father also rules and reigns over the affairs of his most precious creation, humanity!

Unfortunately, our tendency to adapt to the world’s mindset that says, ‘if I don’t, nobody else will’, often lands us smack-dab-center–staged in the valley of despair victimized by fear of lack and hopelessly doomed to looming defeat and death. The truth of the matter is, God never intended us to live independent of Him in any area of our lives!

However, it’s the all-consuming task of our adversary, Satan, to keep us so pre-occupied with our personal comfort that it takes a conscious concerted self-determined humility to commit our entire being into the Hands of our Faithful Savior, fully trusting that He’s already provided everything that will ever be needed to prosper in this life and the life to come!  (Ref. 2 Peter 1:3)  OMG! #Didjaheardat?

As our scripture text unfolds, we see The Sovereign Teacher, using a season of severe drought and famine as the Lesson Plan, to test and strengthen the faith of both His servant Elijah and the un-named widow of Zarephath. The Prophet of God had oftentimes experienced the miracle working power of God’s Grace to deliver him triumphantly over his enemies. Yet when suddenly confronted by a new threat to take him out, finds himself hiding at the Kerith Ravine on the other side of The Jordan River being waited on by God-Sent Ravens. Then God orders him to leave that place and go to another place where he’d find a woman, who God had instructed to feed him. Being the obedient servant that he was, Elijah obeyed.  Howevrrr, unbeknownst to him, this woman was dealing with her own desperately dramatic circumstances. In fact, by the time Elijah got there, she’d made a decision to prepare this last meal for herself and her son after which they’d both die and it would all be over!

God is not limited to temporary situations, neither is His power diminished by our finite ability to accurately assess what, how, where or when He dispenses out miracles. Notwithstanding, God’s miraculous intervention is sometimes limited by our personal willingness to trust Him to do whatever He promises for us! Hence, we must take care to not miss our miracle because it doesn’t look like what we expect.

For instance, imagine if Elijah had allowed the outward appearance and the initial assumption of the woman’s distressing circumstances to direct his steps? He would’ve missed another opportunity to testify to the Glory of The True Source and Sustainer of Life! And, if the widow woman had allowed her wearied fluctuating state of emotions and even the reality of physical hunger to confine her to her own plan, she and her son would’ve missed their Divine Visitation!

The scripture also makes mention that God did not instantly pour down a whole barrel of oil and a full bin of flour. And we know that HE COULD’VE! However, each day The Good Shepherd supplied them with a sufficient portion of bread and oil from the bottom of the vessels! (Ref. Matthew 6:11) Apparently, it is the delight of our Heavenly Father to joyfully greet and so graciously meet the needs of those who offer their personal trust and confidence to Him one day at a time!

REMEMBER…THEY DID EAT! FROM THE BOTTOM UP!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee