Tag Archives: overwhelmed

COURAGE!!!

courage

SELAH Daily Devotions!

So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

I believe that most of us remember The Wizard of Oz, right? If not, perhaps you’re familiar with Michael Jackson’s rendition of the 1939 Classic, The Oz! Aahhhh!, the gathering of the ‘least of the likelies’, comrades in arms unified by one common denominator! They each had a need that could only be fulfilled by the same source! Dorothy and Toto wanted to get back home to Kansas; The Tin Man wanted a heart; The Scarecrow wanted a brain and The Lion wanted some courage! Now, forgive me if I’m infringing upon the sanctity of the religiously sanctimonious. But! Guess that’s how I’m wired, huh? When I look at The Body of Christ, I see certain similarities between us and them!

C’mon now! You gotta admit, looking around the sanctuary on any given Sunday Morning, that it’s uncomfortably obvious that God’s perception of Footmen in The Army of the Lord destined to dominate the systems of this world, contrasts profusely from those that human wisdom and intellect would nominate! Hence, I stand eternally grateful, with both hands raised high in the air, that God saw fit to choose such a wreak like I to be a part of His Family! So I’m totally convinced that God indeed does have a sense of humor!

Nevertheless, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:”! 1 Corinthians 1:26

The Sovereign Creator and Lord of Life individually hand-picked us out from amongst an unusual conglomerate of ethnic, intellectual, social, financial and spiritual backgrounds. I would imagine, that since He ia Alpha and Omega, being fully aware of not just the common need (A SAVIOR) but also the gi-normous potential of resounding Glory that would resonate throughout the universes as we’re being made holy (HOLY SPIRIT) was too much to resist, therefore motivated Him to draw some of us, huh?

I mean who would’ve thought YOU would be saved, sanctified and serving The Lord with all of your heart, mind, body, soul and spirit…everyday? #4REAL! #ijs

Howeverrrr, contrary to the world’s notion, saints ain’t no chumps! It takes tremendous strength, fortitude and determination to walk worthy of this calling! Those who’ve walked with God for any length of time, know that even after we’ve confessed our faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, you can’t expect that deceitful devil to wave a white flag, pat you on the back and throw you a retirement party! In fact, for lack of a better word, he is committed to tearing down The Kingdom of God, one soul at a time.

Nevertheless, every Blood-washed, born-again child of The Most High God must be armed with the same mindset that Jesus had! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:16) Just as sure as there is an enemy determined to destroy you, you have The True and Living God, Who has sworn by Godself, to always cause you to be victorious!(Ref. 2 Corinthians 2:14)

Oh, and don’t forget as you wield The Sword of The Spirit, (THE WORD) it comes alive, releasing supernatural power to rebuke threats and pull down the strongholds of your enemies, unmercifully! If he is bold enough to raise his ugly head above your feet, because you are IN Christ, you have been authorized and empowered to step on his throat and cut off his head!

Lastly, always be aware of the enemies attempt to strip away your confidence and trust in God by manipulating the circumstances thru FEAR (FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL)! Anything that the devil says is a lie! (Ref. John 8:44) Satan ain’t GOD and he certainly ain’t running nothing! The only reason he even showed up is because God allowed him to tempt you to test your faith! (Ref. Job 1:8) WOW! #Didjaheardat?

Precious ones, don’t abandon your confidence in The Faithfulness of Your Heavenly Father! Trust to know, God’s Love will never abandon those who will persevere, enduring the stress and hardships of being aliens of this fallen world! (Ref. Hebrew 13:5) What’s coming is so much greater than what’s been! (Ref. Romans 8:18)

Be encouraged Believer! It’s through much tribulation that we enter into The Kingdom of God!’ (Ref. Acts 14:22) Remember, Beloved, we’re not home! Yet clothed in Hope of The Celestial City awaiting, we forge courageously Heavenward to be united Eternally with our King!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

JESUS CARES!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who knows my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. Psalm 142:3-4,7

 

LIFE happens!  Whether we embrace it or ignore it, time is spiraling into eternity at the speed of life. Most of us do our best to respond to the inevitable uncertainties maintaining an assemblance of confidence and control! Amen? Howevvrrrr, there are those uninvited episodes when the roof just comes crashing down and the very foundation of your being quakes uncontrollably leaving you traumatized by tragedy and utterly destroying every ounce of normalcy!

The subscript of today’s scriptures says this text was penned by David finding himself victimized by Saul’s inner insecurities and covetousness, hiding in a cave, imprisoned by the hopelessness of circumstances beyond his control! I know it’s socially inappropriate for us to discuss such matters publicly, BUT! Since it’s jus us, have you ever been ensnared by a state of desperation, despair and hopelessness, and try as you might, couldn’t muster up enough strength to pull yourself up out of a pit full of depression?

I realize that this might be a stretch,  BUT! Have you ever been surrounded by a crowd of people, simultaneously isolated and paralyzed by inner fears, feeling as if no one really cared about you? Of course, we realize who the originator of these irrational thoughts and conflicting emotions is, that ly’n devil, right? ‘Cuse me, may I submit this thought for your consideration, right here? I believe that the same God who Divinely orchestrates our mountaintop experiences also schedules sporadic excursions through death-valleys! Yet, you must understand that everybody is not assigned to your hardships and struggles! Hence, you have to be careful who is privy to your vulnerabilities!  Uuuh, remember, Job’s frienemies?

It’s during these times that we need a freedom that’s only accessible through a personal intimate relationship with The Overseer of your soul! Isn’t it just good to know that when the Bible invites us to take it to the Lawd in prayer, that it includes the bad, ugly and indifferent as well as the good and wonderful! Why waste time acting as if You need Jesus to meet you in the penthouse, when you’re stuck in the cellar?#ijs, God already knows everything about everything! He’s jus waiting for you to speak up!

It just delights our Heavenly Father’s heart, knowing that we trust Him to BE GOD in, through and over our lives!  Didjaheardat? DATZ JUS HOW MUCH HE REALLY LOVES AND CARES ! #AWEMAAZIN, huh? I KNOW HE CARES 4 U & ME! GIVE YOUR ALL 2 JESUS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Good Morning Precious Saints of The Most High God, GOTTA MOMENT? Awesome!

Once again, we invite you to join us today in our Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting. As we seek the Face of our Savior, let’s unite our faith together, confident that The Scepter is pointed in our direction, welcoming us into The Throne Room of Majesty and Grace! LET’S PRAY…

Spirit of The Living God, fall fresh on me! Spirit of The Living God, fall fresh on me! Make me, mold me, fill me…use….me! Spirit of The Living God, fall fresh on me. Oooohhh, Oooohhh, Oooohhh, Oooohhhh! Ooooh Ooooohhh; Oooohhh! Gloraaaa, Glooorrraaaa! Glooorrraaa! Glorrraaaa! Glooorrraaa! JESUS! JJEEESUS…JEESUSSS! JESUS! JJJEESSSUS! JESUS…We need You Lord! We need You Lord! We need You Lord! We need You Lord! We…need You Lord! WE NEED YOU LORD! Have Your Way! Have Your Waaayyy! Have Your way! Have Your Waaayyy; Have Your Way! Thank You Lord! Thaaannnk You Lord! Thank You Looorrrd…Thank You Lord! Thank You Loooorrrddd; Thank You Lord!

Abba Father, we come before You today, In the Magnificent, All Powerful Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus, rejoicing, our spirits are praising and thanking You for blessing us to see a brand new day. We thank You, Father for another opportunity to embrace and enjoy the abundance of Your Mercy, Your Grace, Your Power and Your Peace!

Father, we come now thanking You for the blessed honor and privilege that You have given us when You determined to choose us to be Your very own children! Now we can confess with delight and joy that You Alone are The God of our Salvation, our Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision. We’re eternally grateful that because You know our frame, Your faithfulness and compassion yet allows You to look beyond our human frailties, faults, failures and iniquities to see and minister to all of our need!

We praise You Heavenly Father for renewing our strength, enlightening our understanding and enabling us to speak with a holy boldness stemming from a heart open to, depending and relying only on You!.

Because no man can come to the Father except You draw them,  it is with eternal gratitude, Father, that we ask, as Your eyes continue to search the hearts of mankind, that you draw and save the lost! As we pray for those who are unsaved, believing that it is because of Your Goodness that leads any of us to repent, please put a spirit of Godly-repentance to say “YES” in their heart and in their mind that they will come humbled by Your Grace today and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior!

Lord, we ask that You  restore a ‘COMMITED YES’ in the hearts and minds of every backslider and allow today to be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church. Direct their footsteps, place them and settle them into Your ordained church home, Father, that they might be nurtured by The Truth of Your Word and filled with Holy Spirit that empowers them with the willingness to obey Your Will that they might walk blameless before You!

Father, we pray believing that you will touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer 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!

Lord, You already know, looking down from above, that today we live in a world where the very elect are being constantly bombarded by intimidation and threatening persecution from a God-hating, God-denying, rebellious society of people! We also acknowledge that the Earth which You have created is wrestling to escape the corruption of a sinful nature therefore, we humbly lift up before Your Throne, every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that You will release Divine power, Supernatural strength, consolation, health, provision, prosperity and protection.

We ask also Daddy, that You will preserve us in the midst of every test and challenge that You have Sovereignly ordained us to go thru! Keep us constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE; comforted and fully-confident that You will bring us out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised us in Your Word!

Lord we pray, that in this season of transition in the political arena of our nation, that You help us to remember that You Are Lord. You are our Everlasting King who rules and reigns over all the affairs of mankind! Pour out an abundance of Peace that surpasses our natural understanding, assuring us that You are well able to keep us, provide for us and protect us from all hurt, harm and danger! Clothe us in the Complete Armor of God that we might be able to stand our ground in the midst of contrary winds and waves!

Abba Father, we lift up our spiritual leaders, asking a special blessing upon each and every one of them who are yet standing on the wall proclaiming Your Word under the conviction and anointing of Holy Spirit! We pray that you will Grace them to be the examples in their homes, churches and communities that will cause everyone who comes into contact with them to fall in love, trust wholly in and to live their lives fully committed to serving You, Our Heavenly Father.

We ask Heavenly Father, that you will stir up the hearts and minds of those who are professing Your Name with an urgency that inspires an even greater  desire to increase their personal, intimate relationship with their Creator God through fellowship of Holy Spirit that they might prove what is the good, perfect and acceptable will of The Lord Jesus!

Lord of Glory, we declare and decree that every demonic-induced spirit of temptation, torment, confusion, doubt, unbelief, rejection, condemnation, addiction, anxiety, perversion, hopelessness, helplessness, deception,depression, despair and fear is defeated by Your Yoke Destroying Anointing and the Spirit of Love, Power and Soberness be released now, in Jesus Name!

Father, we now wait in confidence and quietness, trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shame and defeat, running away from Your people, because You always hear the voice of our weeping, our supplications and receive 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, knowing THAT IT IS DONE! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Let the Faith-filled Believers seal this prayer with AMEN 3X and It Is So!
NOW RUN TELL SOMEBODY… JESUS STILL LOVES U!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

I CAN’T, BUT GOD CAN!

acafy2014's avatarSELAH Daily Devotions

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb; He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:19-22

As a remnant of the 20th Century Church, I’ve lived long enough to have a clearer understanding, why The God of The Bible adamantly commanded His Chosen Ones to resist amalgamating with those outside of covenant relationship with Him. (Ref. 2 Corinthians 6:17) And some of us thought that God just wanted to keep us from having any fun! Considering the way this world is headed, now we see the consequences of not…

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DELAYED BUT NOT DENIED!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Israel, for for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek…to profane my holy name. Amos 2:6-7

 

Imagine that? Living your life as if there’s no consequences or no accountability! Well, guess what? There’s a whole lot of grown folk still playing Hide and Seek! I suppose, they’ve convinced themselves that if I can’t see Him, He can’t see me! Evidently, they forgot to check The Book! ‘Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.’ Ps. 139:12 Didjaheardat? WOW! Day and Night are the same to Him!

Amazingly, despite the highly-skilled hackers and all those international satellite peepers who have managed to evade the secrecy of the most sophisticated technologically advanced security systems of this New Millennium Age, the devil still manages to bamboozle some folk into arrogantly thinking that they have somehow successfully covered up their mess., huh? Seriously! Even more mind-blowing is the foolishness of the folk who consistently reject the reality of The True and Living God Who has 20/20 vision! #ijs

Yep! THERE IS A GOD who sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; keeping its inhabitants under constant surveillance!! (Ref. Isaiah 40:22) And while this TRUTH brings tremendous comfort to the hearts and minds of true believers, at the same time it strikes fear in the hearts of the heathen. U think somebody would tell them that there’s no where to run and no where to hide from His Presence! God always knows exactly where you are at any time? I get it, chances are they wouldn’t believe it, huh?

Well, The Book is filled with examples of what happens when The Sovereign God of The Universe decides, enuff is enuff! Take a look at today’s scripture, Amos 2:6-7! God gave His humble servant, Amos, a vision of Israel’s future which, to the keen of eye, should potentially impact the lives of today’s contemporary readers. God charged this lowly  herdsman with the assignment to announce to God’s people that He was going to avenge their enemies. I would imagine this news was received with great relief and joy. However, their celebration was suddenly replaced with shame, fear and remorse. We must never fail to acknowledge The Holiness of The Righteous God demands Justice as well as Mercy!

Those who tend to forget that Power belongs to God will inevitably miss-use their designated authority  to satisfy their greed, fostering a sense of self-sufficiency that leads to a life-time of pursuing their own personal undersanding of spiritual integrity, morality and luxurious comfort at the expense and neglect of the poor and the needy! Apparently, this doesn’t set to well with our Heavenly Father! God does not take the abuse of His FAITHFUL people lightly!

Granted, at times it may seem as if God has forgotten us! BUT! Beloved, IT AIN’T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE! History proves that God will never be without a witness OF HIS FAITHFULNESS in the earth! 

“Remove the turban, and take off the crown; Nothing shall reman the same. Exalt the humble, and humble the exalted. Overthrown, overthrone! It shall be no longer, Until He comes whose right it is, And I will give it to Him.”  Ezekiel 21:25b-27

Beloved, Trust2kno, there is yet a Remnant of God, who refuse to be distracted by circumstantial evidence! Look around you, we’re everywhere! We’re those whose lights are yet shining in the midst of  the gross darkness of this world,  holding fast to The Name of Jesus! We’re the ones who might bend, but don’t break because we’re rooted and grounded, standing firmly in faith, wholly believing in the Only Inspired-Infallible-Eternal Word of God!

We’re the ones who, even in the midst of these challenging times,  don’t quit  because we live, move,  empowered and fully persuaded by the Indwelling Presence of Holy Spirit that IT AIN’T OVER UNTIL WE WIN! REST ASSURED, GOD WILL VINDICATE HIS OWN! DELAYED BUT NEVER DENIED! #GETIT

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

GOOD MORNING FAM! GOTTA MOMENT! AWEEMAAZZZIN!

We’re delighted to have you join us in our Day of Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We’re know that prayer still works, Amen? As we call on our God, we know that He will give His ear to us and answer each and every request, showing the wonder of His great Love and saving by His Right Hand all who take refuge in HIM…shall we enter in?

BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP HIM! WORSHIP HIM, O WORSHIP HIM…BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP HIM; …CONSUMING FIRE; SWEET PERFUME…YOUR AWESOME PRESENCE FILLS THIS ROOM! THIS IS HOLY GROUND…ENTER IN…

Father in Heaven, here we are before you again. We come today with outstretched arms, open hands and yielded hearts, so grateful for this day. We know that it’s because of Your Grace and Mercy you have allowed us to enjoy one more day of life, health and strength. We’re thankful for another opportunity to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto you. We’re trusting You to provide everything that we need today to sustain us thru whatever challenges that unfold during the course of this day, knowing that You Alone are our God, Guard and Guide.

We ask Holy Spirit, to intercede on our behalf, our family, our friends, even our enemies. Lord, we stand humbly before Your Sovereignty, asking you to forgive us for everything that we, your children, have spoken, done and thought that was not pleasing in Your sight.

We thank You now because You have assured us that if we would confess our sins, You, Heavenly, Father being Faithful and Just will forgive us, and wash us in The Precious Blood of Jesus, cleansing us from all unrighteousness, and restoring the breach that our disobedience has caused between our poor souls and our Lord and Savior, Jesus!

Father, with eternal gratitude we bless You for extending Your Sceptor towards us, allowing us to boldly enter into Your Throne Room, confident that you will entreat us graciously as we pour out the burdens that seem to overwhelm our hearts and releasing everything that concerns us. Lord Jesus, we know that You are Omniscient, Omnipresent, You see and You already know everything about everyone of us, yet you have invited us to come to you, and find Grace and Mercy to comfort, strengthen and encourage us to hold on to every Word that You have spoken over our lives, before we were born.

Abba, we know that You have instructed us, to look not at the temporary things, but to the eternal, yet You know the frailness of our flesh, and how easily we’re provoked and tempted to become overwhelmed by the cares of this world, that our hearts are burdened with the pressures of this life, that some of us are wearied with fear, doubt, unbelief, sickness and disease, financial debt, broken relationships, unprovoked threats, depression, addictions, insecurities, and our days are spent beneath clouds of evil foreboding,; while our nites are plagued with restlessness, despondency and hopelessness

Lord, we pray that you will save, heal and deliver us speedily by Your Mighty Hand! Give us to know that because we belong to You, we are never too far that You can’t see us or can’t reach us! We’re so grateful that You are forever shielding us from anything that the devil would rail against us. Help us to understand that Your Name, Jesus is a Strong Tower, and the righteous who run into it and are saved.

Dear Lord, as we open up our minds and our hearts, please fill us with Your Assurance, and confidence that at The Name of Jesus, every knee must bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord! Grace your children with hope-filled trust that You, Father have committed Your Word towards us that no weapon that’s formed us shall ever prosper and except You allow it, no trouble, test or trial can come near us.

Father, we thank you, for fully persuading us of Your Providential Presence and Power to turn everything around to work in our favor and to bring about exuberant testimonies and praizes of Your Eternal Magnificence, Honor and Glory!

Abba Father, we thank you now for listening to the hearts of everyone reading and praying with us. We thank you for hearing the hearts of those who have never trusted and accepted Your Son Jesus as Savior and Lord! We are thankful that Holy Spirit is quickening that stony heart now and they are coming to You, humbled and obediently, now, receving your Mercy and Grace to Save.

As we pray, we’re trusting that You are leading and guiding them to the local church, planting them inYour Vineyard, where they shall be taught and transformed by Your Word of Life to take their position in The Kingdom of Heaven.

Lord, we are so thankful that You have declared that You are married to the backsliders! We ask You to drawn anyone who has been decieved by Satan and walked away from Your Face, prick their hearts with Godly-Repentance and a sincere longing to seek the comfort of Your Presence and rush to the safety of Your Loving Arms and the assembly of like-minded souls, committing the rest of their lives to being faithful servants of Your Kingdom!

Father, we pray for the elderly, the widows, the downcast who have born the heat of the day, and those who have pushed and prayed us through, Lord give them sweet peace.

Lord, we pray for the leaders of governments world-wide, because their hearts are in Your Hands, visit them in the night season and command them to do Your Will.

Abba, we lift up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher and Teacher. Undergird them with Your Anointing to carry out their assignment, under the direction and strength 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 the ministry You have ordained.

Lord, there are so many other things, that we have yet to mention, but we’re trusting that as You search the portals of our hearts, we’re believing you to fix it, Jesus as only You can! As we offer up this prayer, we wait in earnest expection, praising and thanking You in advance, knowing that not only are You able, but  You are also willing to do anything that we ask, in accorance to Your Word, in Jesus Name! Amen 3x

All those who stand in Agreement with this Prayer, shout HALLELEUJAH!

 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

SILENT PRAIZ!

SILENT PRAIZ 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.” Psalm 65:1-2

 

Being Pentecostal, born and bred, means that I am accustomed, and I might add, a willing participant, to exuberant praise and worship. So can you imagine my surprise, to discover that God-Honored Adoration is not necessarily limited to loud singing, hand-clappin’, foot-stomppin, shoutin’ and dancing to drum thumping, key-board tickling, guitar pick’n tunes escalating His Glory!

Who nu? There is a high praise in God, where the weary souls, thirsty and hungry for an escape from the chaos and confusion of this world’s clamor, finding rest, peace, security, strength and hope, fall prostrate into HIS PRESENCE!

There’s a secret place, a Cleft hued out in The Impregnable Rock of Salvation, where mere words are no longer necessary, and sighs are welcomed, giving way to hope-filled silence, birthing unspoken-bellows of acceptable obedient prayers and God-Centered Praise and Worship!

There is an epiphany where we all must ascribe to reach in God, where we practice appreciation and respect for HIM by disciplining ourselves, focusing our minds and making a conscious decision that regardless of my circumstances, I’m going to Bless God—not just for all of His Goodness to me—BUT for WHO HE IS!

In this lofty estate, time spent waiting on The Lord is no longer full of anxious frustration, but quiet peaceful resting in child-like confident anticipation, trusting that you’re being kept safely, far from your conspirators’ reach, hidden in The Glory of His WONDEROUS PRESENCE.

As God’s Chosen, you’re surrounded by a Fortress, the Builder and Maker is The Creator of The Universe, where we can breathe easily, waiting patiently, for as long as HE says,  fully assured that everything we will ever need and hope for comes from HIM—JESUS!

#DIDJAHEARDAT? The Holy Spirit is calling! Be still, in that Peace-Filled-Knowing that all of your Help and Hope of Glory abides in The All-Powerful God,  EL SHADDAI…your GOD! SILENT PRAISE! #WOW #AWEMAAZIN, huh?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

YOUR ANSWER IS AT THE DOOR!

UR ANSWER IS AT THE DOOR

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she wa so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” Acts 12:13-14

 

According to Acts Chapter 12, the 1st Century Church was experiencing phenomenal growth as the Gospel spread. Not surprisingly, everybody was not excited about what God was doing! The people were leaving the synagogue in droves to follow the Message of this relatively new (and suspect prophet) Jesus Christ. The religious leaders were quite upset because their social and economic status was diminishing as the offerings were declining with so many of their big time supporters leaving the Temple. In order to gain political clout, recognition and favor within the Jewish community, King Herod Agrippa launched an all hands on deck campaign to quench the fire of this Gospel preaching by killing as many leaders of this so call “Christ Ones’ Movement”. Now, it’s Peter who was locked up awaiting execution. BUT GOD BLOCKED IT!

God sent an angel into the Maximum-Security Detention Center, where Peer was chained hand and feet in stocks under the watch of 16 armed guards assigned to secure one unarmed Preacha! WOW! I must point out that (unlike a lot of us) Peter was not up pacing the floor crying, ‘Why me, Lord’ or accusing God for letting this happen to him, but according to the text, Peter was sleeping so hard that the angel had to hit him forcefully just to wake him up! The Bible says, immediately the chains fell off of him. Everything happened so fast, Peter thought he was having a dream or a vision!

Once he came to himself and realized that he was free, Peter decided to catch up with his boys (who were most likely at John Mark’s Mother’s house) and let the know what The Lord had done. Unbeknownst to Peter, while he was locked up in prison, they were having a shut-in (all night prayer meeting)! While they were ernestly seeking God’s help on behalf of their brother, Peter knocked on the door! Rhoda, the servant girl, went to the door, seeing Peter, got so excited that she ran to tell the others and she forgot to open the door to let Peter in. When they finally opened the door and saw Peter standing there, the scripture say they were utterly astonished. Didjaheardat? They were praying to God, but not really expecting their prayers to be answered. #OUCH! Sounds like some of us, huh?

How many times have you, with your sanctimonious self, taken the time to pray for something not really expecting God to answer your prayer? Or worse yet, failed to recognize the answer when it came knocking at your door? Yall know, we have a tendency to allow what we’ve experiences in the past to get in our present circumstances and rob us of now faith!

God is Sovereign! Hence, His Ways are not our ways! We must remember that when we pray, we’re not praying to a mere mortal or some distant-disinterested,-sub-dietyBUT THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD WHO CAN DO ANY AND EVERYTHING! In fact, it grieves the Holy Spirit when He sends answers to our prayers and they’re returned to Him stamped ‘unclaimed’! When we pray we must know not only does God care about everything you care about, but He is willing and able to give you those things that you desire of Him, that’s according to His Word!

Precious Ones, don’t miss your breakthrough because it doesn’t look like what you were expecting. Don’t give up! Keep on praying; keep on knocking! Keep on believing! God’s listening and any moment now expect to be blessed! TRUST2KNOW; YOUR ANSWER WILL SOON BE AT THE DOOR!  SSHHHH! What’s dat?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

RUN TO THE ROCK!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou has been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever, I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Psalm 61:1-4
I know we’ve heard it in the church so often that it almost seems common, but don’t fool yourself, it’s still  true!  “These are the times that will try men’s souls”. I’d venture to say,  in light of the upsurge in horrific atrocities perpetrated against humanity along with the cataclysm of floods, earthquakes, and social/political upheaveals confronting the nation, this TRUTH is even more substantiated in this 21st Centry, huh?  Sadly, our society has become somewhat desensitized to the reports of violence that’s dispensed daily via media, we’ve closed our eyes and ears in an attempt to conjure  up a simblance of normality!   Seriously, yall know backndaday, we never imagined that we’d see days like this. Can the churrch say,  AMEN?

But God knew! Remember, absolutely nothing  happens that takes our Lord by surprise! In the midst of the gross darkness, turmoil, threats and stress, God offers us His Word to assure, comfort and console us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Ref. Hebrews 13:5) While sometimes it may seem as if Satan has the upper hand, it ain’t what it looks like. God is still God! His Kingdom is everlasting and SHALL never be overtaken!  Remember what happened when the devil led a third of the angelic host to revoke against The Lordship of Heaven? Yeah, Lucifer does too! Hence, he’s still trying to recuperate from that foolish mistake!

With that being said, driven by his intense hatred for God,  he persists in going after the closest thing to God’s Heart, humanity, with a vengence! However, God promised His Beloved, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Saints, the way to escape out of the enemy’s snare is by entering in to His Presence!  HOW? Ephesians 5:19 invites us to “speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”.

During times of overwhelming fear, danger, distress and persecution, The Psalmist encouraged himself and reinforced his trust in The Faithfulness of His Shepherd penning psalms, hymns and prayers such as Psalm 61:1-4.

Precious ones, we also can enter into God’s Rest by singing songs of hope delighting the spirits, minds and hearts of the wearied!  Try this one, it always helps me…

Where do I go, when the storms of life are raging,
who do I talk to when there’s no one there to listen,
who do I lean on when there’s no foundation stable…I go to the Rock, I know He’s able, I go to the Rock.

I go to the Rock of my salvation, I go to the Stone that builders rejected, I run to the Mountain and the Mountain stands by me.

When the earth all around me is sinking sand, on Christ the Solid Rock I stand. When I need Shelter, when I need a Friend, I go to the Rock.

You see, it still works! When you don’t know what to do, it’s time to go to The ROCK. His Name is Jesus! Let Him hide you in His secret place!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

B HAPPY…IN JESUS!!!

B HAPPY IN JESUS 2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

 

Many of us who have heard the 1988’s hit song, ‘Don’t Worry; Be Happy!’, written by Bobby McFerrin, remember that while it topped the charts in America’s Pop Music Culture, the song also came under the scrutiny of critics who felt that the lyrics were promoting a philosophy of denial to escape our unpleasant reality.

As Christians, we should be accustomed to the backlash often associated with our belief in the reality of The Invisible God!  Yet, when confronted by opposing views, we must remind ourselves that The Supreme One is always in control of every aspect of our being, and has promised to supply everything that we need to live abundantly in this present world! (2nd Peter 1:3)

Don’t get it twisted. We, the Body of Christ, are not denying the reality that we’re living in turbulent times. All over this world, people  are being inundated by the cataclysmic convulsions of the systems of this world causing epic fear, frustration and panic. We are certainly not suggesting that we’re to stick our heads in the sand and act as if we can mystically dismiss  what’s right before our eyes! Not at all, we’re still on earth, not Heaven!

However, what I am purporting is that because we know Truth, we confidently expect that someway–somehow you’re going to persevere  thru the tumultuous state of human affairs and  when you come out, you’re not gonna look like what you’ve been through! Remember, Goshen? (Ref. Exodus 9:26)

Today’s scripture reference reminds us how The Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent Master of our destiny takes care of the wildflowers who never spend a dime or a moment of time worrying and working, shopping and primping, and yet they’re fashionably arrayed such that would put the Parisian Designers to shame!

Unlike those who don’t know God as The Source of their life, health and strength, our personal faith history allows us to maintain a stance of  unwavering confidence!  As joint-heirs to The Kingdom of Heaven,  we don’t have to be so preoccupied and traumatized by what we’re going to eat or drink, how we’re going to keep a roof over our heads, how we’re going to pay our bills, that we lose focus on that we do know!  

Walking with our Shepherd, we’ve learned that reliance on His Faithfulness allows us to press courageously through any adversity, resting assured that the same God who delivered us in the past is the same God now—and is yet well able to carry us through this into our future victory again, and again!

Beloved, if God takes care of the birds of the air and flowers of the field, how much more will He provide for those created in His Own Image, huh? While sometimes  it seems as if the world is falling apart, remember, absolutely nothing happens except God allows! Fear not, little children! You’re never outside of God’s sight nor His reach. Our lives are hidden in Jesus and we’re sheltered under the Shadow of His Almighty Wings!  (Ref. Hebrews 13:5)

GOD’S GOTCHA! #didjaheardat?

SO? RELAX, DON’T WORRY ABOUT A THANG! BE HAPPY…IN JESUS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee