Tag Archives: provision

HE LUVS ME!

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HE LOVES ME

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.”
(Genesis 3:8)

Back in the olden days, there was a street game (yes we actually played outside) and while the name of the game escapes me, I do remember the rules. We’d find a fresh yellow flower, which was no small feat in the hood, and then we’d proceed to slowly pull each individual golden petal apart from the stem while chanting the words,“He loves me…He loves me not…He loves me…He loves me not…HE LOVES ME!
 
That’s exactly how some of us authenticate our relationship with Jesus! When our circumstances are all good (just as we like them}, “He loves me”. When situations abruptly shift beyond our comfort level and/or ability to control, “He loves me not”!
 
Let’s consider our first parents, Adam and Eve. When they obeyed the voice of God, they enjoyed paradise—living life to the fullest. Everything they desired was theirs for the picking without their even asking. However, the moment they began to doubt God’s faithfulness and willfully defied God’s instructions they were thrust into an environment that God never intended for them to experience. The confident intimacy of God’s Presence was ruptured! For the first time, they found themselves radically disconnected, desperately attempting to hide themselves from the Eternal Source of Life and Love! The enchantment they once knew was displaced by dread, fear, guilt, shame, doubt and insecurity! 
 
But The Eternal God of Love, refused to let go! The Omniscient Creator came looking for Adam.  
 
Where are you Today? Are you discouraged and feeling detached from The True Source of Power, Peace and Hope? Are the cares of this world or the heavy burden of un-confessed sin tempting you to hide from your Only Savior, Jesus? 
 
Come out from there! Lift your heart towards The King and be ye reconciled! (Ref. 2 Corinthians 5:20)
 
When God sees us, He’s looking through Lovingly Blood-Stained Eyes!  Trust for sure, Beloved…Yes, HE LOVES ME, AND YOU! 
 
SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee

ABBA’S HOUSE

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ABBA'S HOUSE 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 3:11

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

 

Have you ever heard a freshly born-again believer lamenting “if I’d only known how great Salvation was, I would’ve given my life to Christ a long time ago”? While this sentiment may shriek volumes of the tremendous gratitude with which every one of us who share this awesome privilege of becoming a part of The Kingdom of God, it might be more aptly acknowledged that as difficult or challenging our life B.C. (before Christ), there’s absolutely nothing within the scope of the un-regenerated man’s spirit that inspires him to seek God on his own! In fact quite the opposite is true. Since the down fall of our original parents, in the Garden of Eden, we’ve been known to invent unparalleled manner of deviant ways of escapism to avoid submitting to God’s Plan for our lives.

Nevertheless, according to The Holy Bible, God’s Love would not be denied! Before the foundation of the world, the entire plan of Salvation was initiated in the Mind of God and through the ministry of Holy Spirit that prompts us to draw nigh to the Heart of a Loving Creator and the Atoning Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Thanks be to GOD,  GOD’s Grace is made available to all who will welcome Him into their hearts and lives.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8

The Heavenly Father’s determination to build Himself a Sacred House, a Holy Temple, where He would dwell forever!  Sparing no expense, from the very foundation to the Chief Corner Stone, GOD continues day by day, lying new bricks! The Heavenly Father, takes particular care in adding luxuriously custom-built gold, silver and wood furnishings accentuated by exquisitely handcrafted sapphire, purple and scarlet colored silks and linen cloth tapestries, most befitting of The King of Kings and Lord of Glory, one soul at a time. Hence, while Salvation is free, it certainly wasn’t cheap!

To the absolute amazement of the world’s most renown high-class well-paid fashion experts, most of the pieces in God’s House were presumed castaways, throw-backs, out-dated, worthless and totally unsuitable for such Majestic Display! But The Master Architect/ Designer’s keenness, seeing the potential hidden treasures in the dirt covered cavernous lives of those created in His Image, digs down into the desolate places of our sin-clad spirits, picks us up out of the muck and the mire of our dark desperate pits, power washes us with the Flood of His Cleansing Blood redeems, refinishes, restoring us back into our rightful relationship as sons and daughters of The Most High God of All Creation where we now sit in Heavenly Places as Joint Heirs with The First-Born of Creation. (Ref. Ephesians 2:6)

Who knew? Certainly not the devil, or else he never would’ve crucified The Lord in the first place. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:8)

BUT GOD DID! CHRIST IN YOU…THE HOPE OF GLORY! WELCOME HOME TO ABBA’S HOUSE!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

DENY THE POWER?

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The Earth Slowly Burns - Americas

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:5

 

Never! Is probably the initial response of most professing-salvation-sanctified-sainted-souls, even at the mere suggestion that we’d be included in ‘those’. Right? BUT!  Have we ever considered the remote possibility, if you will, the collateral damage of being so pre-occupied with ‘getting’ that we lose sight of what God has already ‘given’?

Remember that Ol’ skool churrch song, “Count your blessing! Name them one by one! Count your blessing, see what God has done!”? Think about it? The Israelites were taught to sing songs that rehearsed their history as a daily reminder of God’s loving care, strength and power as He delivered them out of Egyptian slavery, lead them through the wilderness into The Promised Land! A practice, no doubt even in this bustling 21st Century culture, one might find tremendously buffering amidst the new norm of environmental chaos, anxiety and stress.

Just imagine the possible ramifications of a daily allotment of time designated specifically to reflecting upon all the many blessings that The Lord has already so mercifully and graciously heaped upon us. WOW! What inevitable–mind-blowing heart-filled  sense of Gratitude, huh?

Could this be what The Apostle Paul was alluding to “according to the power that worketh in us”? (Ref. Ephesians 3:20)

Could a grateful heart pave the way for that “Greater than” we could ask or imagine? Could our pre-disposed poverty-mindedness and perverted sense of unworthiness, steeped in false humility be denying God the opportunity to show-off in our lives? Could we be guilty of having a form of godliness? GOD FORBID!

HOW GRATEFUL IS YOUR HEART? IS THAT HOW GREAT YOUR GOD IS? DENYING THE POWER? NEVER, huh? #juswondering…

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THE WELL

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THE WELL

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are theWays of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.” (Psalm 84:1-7)

 

James Cleveland penned the verses, “nobody told me that the road would be easy, but I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me”! But can I add my personal P.S? Nobody told me that total surrendering of my life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ would just be the beginning of the process either!

Who knew?

Okay, John 15:2-3, does suggest that God has Divinely orchestrated and ordained precisely detailed terrains of testing’s and trials in order to produce Christlike character and strength in those whom He has chosen to be in intimate, personal relationship with.

And yes! The Psalmist does note that the road leading up to The Temple at Jerusalem required the sojourner to pass through the Valley of Baca, (a valley of weeping). Wait a minute, is this some sort of a clue that likewise, the Believer’s pathway to Glory, is often snagged by unforeseen uncertainties and all manner of deliberate satanically-induced abuses to entice you to give up and turn back?

I’m told that the experienced worshipers would make preparation for the drought seasons by digging pits to store up rainwater. And sure enough, their confidence would be rewarded as God opened up the windows of heaven to fill their earthen vessels. Not only would there be sufficient refreshment to meet their needs, but there would an abundance to help out others they might meet as they traveled along the way.

Granted, The King’s Highway is not always the quickest or easiest way, but we’re never alone! The Good Shepherd is always before us opening up The Way.  Our Messiah promised; He’ll faithfully meet every one of our needs – even if it’s one at a time! We go from one level of Grace to Grace, Joy to Joy, Prayer to Prayer, Word to Word, Anointing to Anointing and Glory to Glory!

My fellow Sojourner, take courage! While weeping may endure for a night, Joy is coming in the morning. It might still be dark, but don’t stop now. Keep leaning, keep trusting, trekking on in The Lord! Troubles don’t last, but God does!

Remember, the valley is not our destination, it’s a right of passage thru? The goal is just at the end of the road! Rest assured, while it may be lonely, the road ultimately crosses path with someone who’s needs to know what you have already come through.

Go ahead; jus take another drink! TRUST2KNO, He’s a WELL OF WATER 2 UR THIRSTY SOUL! 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

GRATEFUL

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GRATEFUL

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?1 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Matthew 6:30-32 

Whoa!!! Sometimes, you just got to put the brakes on life! Particularly in this 21st Century-go-getta- high-tech-higher-achiever-pop-culture! Relaxation is quickly becoming an ‘endangered art-form’ and if we don’t make it a deliberate priority, it’ll soon become extinct or at the very least an incidental phenomenon.

It’s easy to be enticed by the lure of the lust-filled-lifestyles of the rich and famous, especially when our own reality seems to be plagued with unrealized expectations layered by futility, frustration and disappointment. Commercialization, coupled with the collapse of viable standards of moral ethics within our communities favors the ideology of a self-centered-selfish-entitlement that fuels insatiable greed over contentment and gratitude towards GOD for HIS Faithfulness in meeting our basic needs.

The scripture  text describes the inevitable down-spiraling effect that such an attitude tends to harbor in the mindsets of those who live out their lives vicariously trying to compete and compare with the infamous “Jones’”. But those who know GOD and how GOD works, also know not to be so pre-occupied with ‘getting’ that we lose sight of what GOD is ‘giving’!

STOP! Failure to recognize GOD”S GRACE is generally ensued by Ungrateful Discontentment!  No wonder you can barely tell the saints from the aints, huh? #ijs 

Don’t worry about missing out on nothing. GOD’s GOTCHA! Relax and enjoy the PRESENT! BE GRATEFUL!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

GIANTS DO FALL!

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GIANTS DO FALL2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Then said David to the Philistine, you come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelIn; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, whom you have defiled.

This day The Lord will deliver you into my hand; and I will smite you, and cut off your head; and I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hand. When the Philistine came forward to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to me the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:45-48

 

Life is challenging! No matter how we try to avoid drama, we might as well accept that there’s always going to be something or someone who’s sole mission in life is to challenge your peace, your postion or your purpose on any given day!

There was nothing unusual about this day for David,  an ordinary shepherd boy,  going about his daily chores and obeying his Father instructions  to deliver lunch to his older brothers who were part of Israel’s Army; that is until suddenly, he found himself smack-dab-in-the-middle of an unsually challenging situation!

As David approached the camp, he couldn’t help but notice this 10 ft. Philistine giant, Goliath, yelling out threats to the experienced warriors of God’s Chosen.  Israel’s army was reknown for their courageous military tactics; yet in this instance, most likely because of the monstrosity of this opponent, not to mention the threatening words bellowing from his lips, the Israelite soldiers immobilized with terror and paralyzed by fear, were hiding amongst the rocks. Okay now, don’t act like you would’ve responded any differently!

What was going on? Well apparently, these mighty-men-of valor who were normally confident, relying on their own strength and the effficiency of their arsenal to defeat their adversaries, but when faced with the size of Goliath, had reckoned that the risk and danger of this task insurmountable!

However, David’s perspective was quite different! David was no stranger to seemingly futile confrontations in his past, nevertheless, had victoriously overcome them all. Therefore, armed with his determination that if GOD did it before, HE’D SURELY DO IT AGAIN,  David chose to stick with the tried and proven!

Instead of running away from the potential imminent destruction, David’s memories of God’s Faithfulness enabled him to forge ahead, trusing soley in His God, thorougly convinced that the greater the challenge, the greater the reward! Life had trained David that if GOD be for you, it doesn’t matter who tries to come against you! Faith in God assures you that no matter what it looks like, GOD will turn it around in your favor guaranteeing that you’re always more than a conqueror! (Ref. Romans 8:28, 37)

Unless you were born late last night or just landed on earth early this morning, like David, I kinda believe you’ve racked of a collection of personal testimonies of God’s Miraculous Saving Grace, huh?  Nevertheless, for whatever reason, whenever we’re confronted by a new challenge, rather than relying on your God to work it out, more often than not, you develop a severe case of spiritual amnesia and look for the nearest exit, huh?

But, Beloved, God left us a record of David’s response to model a different spirit! Time and time again, instead of running away from the giants, David stood firmly rooted and convicted that his adversaries were not just challenging him, but they were challengilng David’s GOD!

Saints, you will never overcome anything that you’re not willing to confront! You’ve got to know that we have a common antagonist, Satan, who is intent on challenging you each and every day. Some situations will be easy to handle, however others will be more than you can bear on your own. But keep in mind, God never intended you to! That’s the reason He promised you that He’ll never leave you, nor forsake you. (Ref. Hebrews 13:5) So, no matter how big your problem appears to be, don’t be scarrred! YOUR GOD IS GREATER! (Ref. 1 John 4:4)

As a born-again-blood-washed-Holy Spirit-filled-baptized believer, don’t let the devil find you naked! Every day, strap yourself in the whole Armour of God and go get your victory! (Ref. Ephesians 6:11) God’s gotcha covered!

REMEMBER, GIANTS DO FALL!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

AN ANEMIC CHURCH???

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AN ANEMIC CHURCH 2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

Recently, I’ve come into contact with several people who undergo Dialysis treatment due to severe kidney failure. I am certainly not an expert in these matters, so humor me in my attempt to describe, in my acutely limited understanding, how dialysis works. Okay, here goes?

Apparently, the dialysis process involves draining the blood from the patient’s body thru a machine which filters out the impurities in the blood system and returns the clean blood back into the body. The number of the times the patient visits the dialysis center weekly varies according to the level of kidney dysfunction of the individual. While the benefits outweigh the risks of this procedure, there are potentially critical consequences of this process. One being anemia. One of the markers that the physician looks at to determine the stage of anemia is the ratio of white blood cells to red blood cells.

Prayerfully, none of you will ever suffer through anything like this, in the natural; yet it prompted me to look at its similarities spiritually. It’s becoming profoundly evident that The New millennium church is suffering from a severe case of spiritual anemic. Somewhere along the way, there has been a gradual drifting away and a markedly diminishing of the revelation, significance and the Power of The Blood of Jesus!

Consequently, the church is in dire need of a blood transfusion. The problem is most of the times this dis-ease goes virtually unnoticed and undiagnosed until we find ourselves sprawled out on a gurney in the ER (the Altar) depleted physically, emotionally, financially, relationally scrapped and spiritually bankrupt.

Oh yeah, some of us have become quite adept at putting on our ‘church-game-face’ and can actually manage to press on, for a good while, conquering one hurdle after another before draining all our strength. But inevitably, we get to that place where we’ve no other option but to come clean. ‘That’s it…I’m through…Kapoop…there’s absolute nothing left…I’ve tried to stop lying and cussin’, drinking and dopin’… I tried to handle this adulterous relationship…I’ve done all I can think of to keep this house/business/church afloat, keep these kids from going to jail…but now …I’m at my wits end.” And… That’s when we turn to Jesus, the True Source of All Strength and Power…The Master Physician!

You see the problem is, God never intended us to do it (LIFE) alone! That’s why He sent Jesus to restore the connection severed by Adam’s rebellion. The Blood of God’s Sacrificial Lamb flows from The Righteous to the unrighteous. As it is applied daily to our hearts, minds, our will through prayer and study of His Word, filtering into every area of our lives we are fortified and sanctified holy and acceptable to God!

The transforming Blood of Jesus purifies our sin-consciousness and empowers us to overcome all of this life’s maladies replenishing hope and healing to an anemic church and to a lost and unholy world.

THAT’S THE GOSPEL! NEED A BLOOD TRANSFUSION? #hookmeupLORD

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

WALKING WITH JESUS

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walking-with-jesus-2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?” (Psalm 56:12-13)

The Bible is so real that it’s difficult to understand how too many yet consider it irrelevant to today’s contemporary society. Amassed within 66 Books, 929 chapters in the Old Testament and 260 chapters in the New Testament, GOD has captured every aspect of the human experience from eternity past, eternity present and eternity future!

Sometimes, life comes at us fast and hits you hard! However, as followers of Christ, we have this assurance! Absolutely nothing happens that ever takes GOD by surprise!

He knows our endings from the beginning! Not one smile is ever unnoticed nor is one tear ever undocumented. (Ref. Psalm 56:8) Nothing that you’ve been thru; nothing you might be going through now escapes His Watch! Yet, God doesn’t promise that every day will be a stroll in the park on a sunny day dancing through flowery beds of ease.

As you voyage through The Scriptures, you will discover that God’s servants were tempted, tested and tried by the same tactics and schemes that we are ; all launched by our common enemy, Satan. Nevertheless, they persevered and prevailed with the help of The Good Shepherd Who’s yet available to you and me.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8

GOD has promised to supply everything we will ever need to overcome and conquer every and any thing that attempts to resist or prevent the absolute fulfillment of every vow that He’s spoken over our lives. Don’t allow fear to limit your expectations of what GOD has prepared for you.

Don’t let your past cause you to doubt or settle for less than He’s promised! Take care that your steps don’t become slack lingering too long in what’s behind. Keep moving forward; remembering what God has for you is always in front of you!

While Life continues to be a journey into unchartered territories, keep walking; fully persuaded that you are never alone. (Ref. Hebrew 13:5) Yes! There will be some valleys to tread, some mountains to climb, some twists and turns to meander and some dead-ends to re-calculate from. Nevertheless, I encourage you to keep your hand in HIS HAND, confidently trusting in The Master of all Life; knowing that what’s ahead of you is always greater than anywhere you’ve been! IN THE END YOU WIN!

JUST KEEP WALKING, LOVING, LEARNING, LEANING AND LIVING! …LIFE GOES BETTER WITH CHRIST!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I STILL BELIEVE

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I STILL BELIEVE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“And he believed in the lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness”. (Genesis 15:6)

Noticed how the gods of this world constantly bombard our minds with unhealthy doses of supposedly new truths explicitly designed to attack the validity of our hope and core of our Christian beliefs? Don’t be alarmed. The Scriptures said that there’d be days like this!

Ever heard a New Millennium televangelists shun the old hymns of yesterday saying that they’re scripturally inaccurate, inappropriate and therefore no longer relevant to the New Testament Church?

Well! I beg to differ! In case you haven’t realized yet, I am unapologetically ol skool, and I say it’s time to pull some of those old songs out from the bottom of that old piano bench and put them on blast. Particularly, that one that says, ‘I know the Bible is right, somebody’s wrong’!

What these 21st Century Johnny-come-lately’s, fail to take into account is that them old saints were not performing for BET or Stellar Awards! They didn’t come to church to be entertained nor to excite your flesh. But they sang songs birthed out in the heat of personal experiences, tempered in The Word of God and seasoned by The Holy Spirit! When they sang, their songs struck your heart strings, re-affirmed their faith and ushered in The Very Presence and Power of the True and the Living God.

Today, if you need a song to lift you, strengthen and encourage you along the way, might I suggest “Lord, I believe, Lord, I believe…ALL things are possible if you only believe!” And if that doesn’t ignite your flame, try following it with one of my Pastor’s favorite, “You Can’t Make Me Doubt Him”!

When the world says, “I’ll believe it when I see it” the saints believe to see!

Facts change but Truth is forever! Remember what they said about the planet Pluto? Yeah, right! Like Mother Carter used to say, “Everything is going down–but the Word of God!”

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Jesus Never Fails!

The question yet remains; “Whose report, will you believe?”

As for me, I don’t care what the infamous “they” say, I shall believe The Report of The Lord!

In the face of any and every thing that appears to contradict your faith, yet stand—firmly convicted, to emphatically confess ‘come what may, I STILL BELIEVE GOD!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

 

WAYFARING WIT

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WAYFARING WIT2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

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

 

WOW! We’ve come a long way, Baby!

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

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

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

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

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

Wisdom is calling!

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

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

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

Didjaheardat? Missed it, huh? WAYFARING WIT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee