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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

 

SILENT PRAIZ

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SILENT PRAIZ 3

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 of this world’s clamor, finding rest, security, strength and hope, fall prostrate into HIS PRESENCE!

There’s a secret place 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 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!

The Holy Spirit is calling! Be still, in that Peace-Filled-Knowing that all of your Help and Glory is in The All-Powerful God, your GOD! SILENT PRAISE!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

INVITATION ONLY

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INVITATION ONLY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For the commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into the heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it?’ But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. Deuteronomy 30:11-14

 

Who in this world would wanna make God’s Grace soooo complicated and difficult to acceptt? Dat lying devil, of course!  The last thing Satan wants a lost sinner to recognize is that God is the ONE who initiated Salvation IN THE 1ST PLACE and makes it available to all who will repent and return to The Maker of Heaven and Earth!  Appealing to the SIN that so easily besets us, ‘PRIDE’, Satan  manipulates our thoughts, enticing the lusts of our flesh to do those things which are unseemly, then slams the door condeming us to fear, doubt and utimate, logical, justifiable terminal  self-rejecting eternal damnation!

Uuuuummmm? So what exactly was Moses saying?  

Moses, God’s appointed Covenant Mediator, was telling God’s Chosen nation that God, knowing the inadeqacy of human’s frame, has always planned to restore His  wayward children back into right-relationship to Godself, independent of our  puny efforts to warrant such Wonderous Gift of Love!  

“And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendents, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.”…For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book. “(Detuteronomy 30:6, 9b-10)

This is the core of  every true Gospel preaching! It’s encouraging diligent seeker to say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”! Hence, embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what He did in raising Jesus from the dead.  That’s it!  #didjaheardat?   

You’re not “doing” anything!  By simply calling out to God from a grateful and sincere heart, you’re trusting Him to do it for you. With your whole being you embrace God’s Mercy, setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between Him and me!” That’s  the essence of SALVATION, yall!  

The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us and IN US!

Scripture reassures us, “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.” It’s exactly the same no matter what  your religious affiliation may be! When any soul is depending solely upon The Cross of Jesus,  we receive all the benefits of the same God for all of us! God is no respecter of person! He demonstrates the same incredible generosity to everyone who crys out for help. “Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.”Romans 10:13 THE MESSAGE  

AWEMAZING, huh?

GOD doesn’t bumrush HIS WAY in and crash your party, but Graciously awaits HIS Personal Invitation from YOUR heart to HIS heart!

Is GOD welcome in your house?  Is GOD welcome in your LIFE? Have you invited THE SAVIOR into your heart?

Your  SALVATION is as close to YOU as your TRUSTING heart’s cry! 

Shhhhh!  didjaheardat knocking?  REALLY? #whatRUwaiting4?
 
REMEMBER, SALVATION COMES BY  INVITATION ONLY!  #HALLELUJAHHHH!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

HE’S ALREADY THERE

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HE'S ALREADY THERE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Psalm 139:7-12

At any time, completely unbeknown to us, we could find ourselves pinned to the pendulum of time, swaying violently from side to side, moment by moment, being extended to the furthers spectrum of either end, coming desperately close to the edge of sanity!

While our faith is demanding absolute confident trust (despite the mounting circumstantial evidence) that our Heavenly Father is in complete control, our inner-most consciousness is being tormented by the constant influx of those taunting threatening “what if’s”.

Unfortunately, most of the time our hearts tends to lean toward the most pessimistic catastrophic conclusion. To further compound an already desperately fragmented state of mind, there’s that unmentionable guilt and shame for even doubting God’s accessibility, ability, availability and even His willingness to intervene on our behalf!

I know! We’ve all been there. That’s the other part of our grandiose soul-stirring testimony that we are usually reluctant to share.

Yet, The Psalmist so adeptly and melodiously blends together the dangling, mangling emotions that one endures finding themselves in such a unpredictable predicament; giving us a model by which to navigate our way through the turbulence safely to the after side of life’s contrary oceans.

Not surprisingly, having walked with God for a while now, the Answer is always the same for any hopelessly-helpless,critically-chaotic circumstance.

In the midst of overwhelming uncertainties, set your eyes on The One Constant Creator and Sustainer of the seen and unseen. Jesus Christ; The Bright and Morning Star!

ITZ DA TRUTH!  Anywhere and everywhere you are, God is already there!

The ol’ folk used to sanng, “He’s too high, you can’t go over; too low, you can’t go under; too wide, you can’t go around”! Hence, there’s not a spot in the known universe where God is not!

So you see, whether you’re coming, or going, or smack dab in the middle of an unsettle ling situation, there is unspeakable joy and enormous comfort and strength in acknowledging THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT’S  Reassuring Presence!

The Psalmist further validating the foundation of every Christian’s faith, recognizes that even the most seasoned saints encounter season of glaring darkness; yet God is not intimidated nor His Will hampered! He works The Night Shift! Because darkness and light are the same to God, He is always able to see us; even when we can’t trace His Hand, we can yet trust His Heart! (Ref. Psalm 139:12)

God is too Great to figure out; too Wonderful to predict; too Marvelous to ignore and too Amazing to deny!

So you must simply, trust and thank Him for guiding you safely pass our past, sustaining you in your present, and carrying you securely into your future!

DON’T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, GOD IS ALREADY THERE!

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

REST-DIRECTION!

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REST-DIRECTION 3

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 25:1)

 

Sometimes, we find ourselves oscillating by the turbulent waves of adversity, drowning in the depths of desperation and despair. While we all know that trouble doesn’t discriminate, harassing the just as much as the unjust, somehow knowing doesn’t make suffering any less traumatic, especially to those of us who intentionally strive to live circumspect fully according to teaching of The Bible.

Perhaps this explains why many believers prefer to deny rather than acknowledge that occasionally they experience a wrath of depression that causes you to shrink back into self-imposed exile, shrouded by terror, isolation and false humility! But today, allow the WORD OF GOD to emancipate you from the burden of secretcy and shame!

Remember David?  Well, on several occasions, we find The Psalmist , crying out of the hub of his soul to his True Source of Salvation, The Living God?

As we follow The King in The Scriptures,  we see David relentlessly bellowing out his distress before his Friend, The Lord Adonai, uninhibited by reputation, shame nor guilt, but fully persuaded that this was indeed what pleases God the most, trusting honesty.

David’s intimacy with his God, was the foundation of his every prayer!

Beloved, during seasons of overwhelming circumstances, instead of running away from God, The Psalmist recognized the value and privilege afforded to him  and entreated God’s Compassionate Heart with the same hope-filled tenacity that he embraced during moments of ease.

We do well to understand that earnest sincere-honest-heart prayer stirs-up the atmosphere of Heaven releasing favor, and guaranteeing Divine Intervention.

Don’t insult God’s Omniscience with phony, fake emotional repetitions, as if He doesn’t already know your heart. Just follow the ‘man after God’s own heart’  and expose the nakedness of your heart, own your emotions and confess “But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?”  Psalm 88:13

GO ‘HEAD; GOD CAN TAKE IT!

Don’t just wallow in the muck and mire of fear, dread and desolation. Take full-advantage of the situation by reconnecting to The Shepherd! Recommit your life afresh to new purpose, focus and strength. Reaffirm the Foundation of God’s Inseparable Love, entrusting your heart to The Faithful Eternal Lord of Glory!

Truthfully, God orchestrates these momentary afflictions to set you up for Triumphant Victory. WHAA? #didjaheardat?

AAAAWWW! Rest-DIRECTION!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

REST ASSURED!

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REST ASSURED

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever, amen.” 1 Peter 5:8-11

As a Blood-Washed Born-Again Believers, you have been given many awesome promises regarding your Eternal Destination. Nevertheless, while we’re yet living in this dispensation called time, we must understand that  our lives will be filled with transitional challenges.

We have an adversary, the devil, who is consumed with a passionate desire to steal, kill and to destroy God’s most glorious creation, mankind. (Ref. John 10:10)

Throughtout the ages, the enemy still uses basically the same stragegy. Unfortunately, its still proven to be quite effective. I’m talking about deception and hopeless isolation! Satan wants you to think that throughout the history of humanity, ‘you’re the only one who’s going through this! Trust a Mother—you are not the only one going through!

The Bible admonishes us to not assume that your ‘this’ is a strange phenomen! (Ref.1 Peter 4:12-19) Truthfully, every one born into the planet earth has the same enemy, therefore at some point in our lives faces the same tests, trials, challenges, struggles, temptations and afflictions.

Today’s text reveals the strategic details of Satan’s mission to terrorize, deplete and conquer God’s chosen! Satan fills up his time walking about, going to and fro, diligently in hot pursuit, seeking somebody to devour! He’s even bold enough to tell God to his face that that’s what he’s doing! (Ref. Job 1:6-12) The devil sets up stumbling blocks in your pathway,  intentionally designed to discourage and discredit you and deminish your faithfulness to God.

Don’t get it twisted! While he’s intent on destroying anyone who’s placed their personal faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, the real objective and root of his motivation is an overwhelming urge to challenge the Power and Authority of The One True King of Glory!

Acknowledging and implementing this Truth gives you a tremendous advantage over your arch enemy! Once you understand that regardless of what circumstances are threatening you, the reality is that it’s really not our battle. Therefore, the only thing that your Heavenly Father expects you to do is to be steadfast, immovable, patiently trusting and relying solely in The Testimony of Jesus!  On Calvary’s Cross,  Jesus overcame, putting  to naught every evil scheme and wicked divice that Satan can ever rail against us!

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37

 

Never forget that the only reason that the devil is able to come after you, is because God has given him His permission. And the only reason God has allowed it, is because He’s already fixed the outcome! WOW! Didjaheardat? Seriously, yall! 

As the songwriter penned, ‘I DON’T CARE WHAT’S GOING ON, YOU’RE NOT IN THIS THING ALONE; GOD WON’T LET IT LAST TOO LONG; YOU CAN MAKE IT’! REST ASSURED! #urcovered

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

 

BUT, GOD!

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BUT GOD!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.  And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:22-25

 

Oh, I know you’re saved, sanctified, filled with the Precious Gift of Holy Ghost and do speak in tongues as The Spirit gives utterance! BUT! Since you’ve been saved, have you ever felt like saying to God, “Lord, I know You say it’s an honor to be recommended by God to the devil, BUT…here lately, it seems that I’m the only one you’ve been pointing out. If You don’t mind, next time, could you please recommend somebody else!”

Have you ever considered telling God, “Jesus, the next time you decide to pull down the hedge around me and giving Satan a shot at me, I’d appreciate at least a heads-up!” No? Jus wondering!

Unless you just landed on Planet Earth early this morning or were born late last night, you already know that storms are a natural occurrence on the sea of life, whether you’re saved or unsaved! In fact The Holy Bible tells us “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Job 14:1 Hence, as long as there is breath in your body, you will experience some measure of adversity and affliction, temptation and trial, distress and disappointment and choas and calamity.

Today’s text shares a story of an average day in the lives of Jesus’ disciples and their response to an unexpected storm that popped-up out of no where. Sounds a bit too uncomfortably familiar, huh?

As the text opens, Jesus having finished teaching classes, traveling from town to town and village to village, decided to take some ‘down-time’ and go across the lake to the other side to escape the crowds that normally followed him. He told His disciples, “Let’s go to the other side” and went to catch a nap. The disciples also seemed to be enjoying the calm atmosphere as the boat sailed on the smooth waters. Until, suddenly a terrible windy storm arose causing turbulent waves to come pouring into their small vessel, threatening to capside at any minute, killing everyone on the boat. Someone thought to wake up Jesus and cried out, “Master, Master, can’t you see we’re about to drown?” As if The Omniscient One had vacated the premises!

The Scripture goes on to say that Jesus, standing up, spoke to the wind and the waves, “Silence, Peace Be Still!” to which they had no other recourse BUT to obey The Master Creator! Turning to His disciples, Jesus sorrowfully inquired, “Why can’t you trust me?”

My Precious Sistas and Brothers, perhaps Jesus is posing that same question to you today. I know it’s been rough out there. I know you have a mindset to follow Jesus all the way, to love Him with all of your heart, soul and body, yet still storms keep hitting your life on the left and the right. But Beloved, Jesus won’t jump ship like some other people might. Jesus has promised to stay with you all the way across the Lake of Life. No matter where you are today, Jesus is always with you.

There are some lessons that prove vital to your personal maturity and intimacy through understanding the attributes of the God Whom you serve you, that can only be learned in the midst of the storms!

Could this be why the astonished disciples inquired, “What kind of Man is this?”

So the next time that Ol’ Deceiving Tyrant comes slithering around, threatening to destroy your hope, joy and peace, jap-slap ’em with this, “I hear ya knocking…BUT! GOD!”

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

 

INVITATION TO LIFE

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INVITATION 2 LIFE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me, hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” Isaiah 55:1-4

Congratulations, you made it! Despite the much anticipated threat of total collapse of “Y2K”, not only have you crossed over into the 21st Century, a brand New Millennium, we’ve made it well into 2015!

For us, Baby Boomers, amazingly, we’ve become the “Jetson’s”! While those old b/w sci-fi movies depicted a slightly different reality of this Age, we’re still part of a New Era. Some might even venture to say we have finally arrived, or have we?

Many have emulated into the melting pot of the Great American Dream. More Yuppies and Buppies flood the airways and highways than ever before. Yes, we heard the blast of the information age with our computer technology. Just about every home in the country enjoys satellite, cable, digital TV, dishwashers, microwave ovens, desktops, laptops, Ipads,  (in just about every room). Not to mention how passionately we cling so to our Iphones to assure accessibility and flood the planet with selfies. After all, gotta stay connected at all times, right? On just about every corner, you’ll find a Drive-Thru offering you anything/everything from dinner to a wedding ceremony! Who knew? Yeah, you made it all right, or have you?

The Brothers got Black Power and the Sistas got ‘Loosed’ and the world is yet going on! However in the midst of all this ‘going on’, sometimes… we find our lives cluttered, messed up, and downright jacked up! In the quest for contentment, somehow… you’ve ended up desolate and stressed out! Instead of living the blissful life you dreamed of, many of us are struggling to survive this IMITATION OF LIFE! What’s missing?

Keep on living and you’ll inescapably ascertain that the latest will inevitably be replaced by the next!

Life is more than mere existence or striving to accumulate a bunch of stuff that will never quench the insatiable thirst or fill that deep-centered inexpressibly annoying sense of null and void.

Thanks be to God! There is Hope! Amidst the drama, trauma, tragedies and chaos, there is a Voice calling out to anyone who has an ear to hear. Shhhhh! Didjaheardat? IT’S JESUS!

Through Jesus Christ, God is extending a personal invitation to a life so extravagantly blessed that it’s far beyond this world! If you have Jesus, you have eternal life! (Ref. John 10:10; Hebrew 3:15)

WOW! There it is again!

TODAY, WHEN YOU HEAR MY VOICE, INCLINE YOUR HEART TO MY INVITATION TO REAL LIFE!
SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED life!”

Ann Caffee

DISCOVERING GRACE!

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DISCOVERING GRACE 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IN OTHER WORDS, DISCOVER YOUR GRACE AND WORK IT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee