Tag Archives: perish

WHAT! NO MERCY?

WHAA, NO MERCY

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour… Exodus 32:25-27

 

Does anybody remember the movie ‘The Ten Commandments’ staring Charleston Heston as Moses? It’s been dubbed “Hollywood’s version” of God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, through the wilderness and into the Promised Land of Canaan. From the Biblical perspective, once again we see God extending awemazingly unmerited Lovingkindness and Grace to His rebellious disobedient people.

Now! Here’s where the TRUE story becomes a bit disconcerting! The Very Same God who brought them up out from under the cruelty of their Egyptian task masters, giving them a binding Covenant from His Own Hand, laying out in explicit details how His people were to be a holy, distinct, separated people envied by all other nations because of their unique relationship with The One True God, apparently flips the script; turning on the very same people that He’d personally chosen for Himself! But as you delve a little deeper, you see that other side of God’s Righteousness that we tend to close our eyes to—Justice! The Nerve of GOD, huh?

Evidently, there’s an inherent proclivity of our provocable flesh to profoundly resist accountability! IF it seems right and feels right, then just do it! But that type of logic fails to take into account the Sovereignty of our CREATOR GOD! Therefore, HE alone has the Power and Authority to establish the ways of man’s life. (Ref. Psalm 100:3) WE got some nerve!

Unfortunately, like our progenitors, The Israelites, we too have discovered that while, God allows us freedom of choice, when it comes to consequences of our decisions, we have no say so! The otherwise Loving, Caring, Benevolent Father of All Grace and Comfort has subjected GODSELF to His Word! In essence, sooner or later, all sinfulness must be reckoned with Justly , without partiality! HENCE, there is such a thing as frustrating GRACE!

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

The lines are being drawn daily, WHO’S ON THE LORD’S SIDE?

I know it’s extremely uncomfortable to speak of such things for many and sociably inappropriate for others, huh? Nevertheless, it’s TRUTH! GOD HAS ORDERED A DAY OF RECKONING for all mankind! DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR WORK UNDONE!

Make your reservations for Eternal Life before the expiration date!

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. 17 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

Precious one, believe it or not, that Ol’ Ship of Zion is movin’ closer and closer! R U ready to board?

IF YOU ARE STILL ALIVE, THAT’S CONFIRMATION THAT THE OFFER IS STILL AVAILABLE…MERCY!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

HELP 2 HOPE!

HELP 2 HOPE!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them. I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul. Jeremiah 32:38-41

 

As a child, I vaguely remember a glimpse of pride swelling up inside whenever I heard someone say,‘this is the GREATEST nation in the world’! I suppose that’s what they mean by ‘let’s make this nation great…again, huh? But, that was before I became abruptly aware of the undeniable reality that there were two nations insidiously co-existing in one! #ijs

According to historical accounts, Courage and Confidence was once the unrefutable hallmark of our GREAT nation, huh? Yet, some would say that the infamous catastrophic events of 911 has since radically stripped away this lofty heritage and hope-filled future legacy  once ascribed to the land of power, peace and prosperity! The land of the free is now being besieged by the rampant rage of darkening clouds of an evil foreboding fear, doubt, deception, anxiety, stress, hatred, manipulation, guilt, shame, confusion and condemnation!

Well, it’s not my intent to debate the inevitable result of widespread deviation from the moral standards as defined by The Holy Bible. Howeverrrr, may I submit for your consideration, that without a holy reverential awe, a clear vision and a Divine impartation of  wisdom and understanding of WHO GOD IS & WHAT HE REQUIRES OF US, people’s strength will fail and their expectations of security  inevitably perishes! A conscientious analysis of  our country’s past proves that without the restraint of  righteous law and order, destruction prevails! Well, like the ol’ skool preacha used to say, “I jus lost half my churrch!” Seriously?

Honestly, when we don’t understand Whose we are, we’ll be inclined to doubt God’s ability and even His willingness to help us. Void of genuine hope and unable to trust God’s Unfailing Love, we instinctively depend upon the ingenuous wisdom and compassionate concern of nonpartisant national leadership, notwithstanding the innate proclivity of self to take care of our needs and satisfy the desires of our own biased hearts! And we all know how that turns out, right?

But those of us who dare to risk resentment, ridicule and rejection from those who will slander our righteousness, labeling us as unloving and intolerant, WE DEFY the prevailing opinions of the worldly in favor of the guidelines of the Ancient Landmarks, rejoice in hope, fully persuaded that if we suffer for Christ sake, we shall also reign with Him!  #CANIGETAGOODAMEN?

Through faith and hope, TRUE WORSHIPERS develop a singleness of -heart and mind, stemming from personal intimacy with The Lord Jesus Christ whereby we experience the Abiding Presence of  The True and Living God, trusting wholly in His Sustaining Grace!

Instead of conforming to the ways of the world, true believers don’t bail out! Hence, in the face of impending calamity and the uncertainty of chaotic circumstances, we stand steadfast, rooted and grounded in The Promises, Provision and Power, persevering in the midst of devastation, famine and plagues, confident that we’re covered! Remember Goshen, God’s Protected Place? (Ref. Exodus 8:22)

Beloved, trust2kno, when it looks like your world is falling apart, look again! Don’t allow fear to drain your faith while simultaneously diminishing your hope! From Heaven’s perspective, everything is falling right in place! The Eternal Omnipotent, Omnscient Creator and Sustainer of ALL life is never caught off guard by the fraudulent affairs of human-kind! A man’s heart plans his way, BUT the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)  Hence, while Satan is always plotting against the people of God, we who delight in The Saving Grace of  King Jesus, have this confidence as an anchor of our soul! The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing! (Psalm 33:10)

Precious ones,  Jesus has already gone into Tomorrow to prepare a table before you, right in the presence of your enemies! (Ref. Psalm 23:5) #Didjaheardat?

REST ASSURED, IT AIN’T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, K? YOU GOTTA HOPE BEYOND THIS WORLD! HIS NAME IS JESUS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

DON’T SWALLOW THE BAIT

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