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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

 

GOD LASTS!

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GOD LASTS!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

 

The Apostle Paul describes life as a race. However, sometimes we tend to forget that real life is not a sprint, but a marathon! Unlike a physical marathon,  rarely are we privy to advanced knowledge of our designated course. God doesn’t let us in on the specifics that we’ll encounter along the way that could potentially hinder, detour, derail our progress and ultimately keep us from finishing our course.

Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for a long time or just recently made your decision to follow Jesus, none of us are exempted from faith stresses, test and trials! Hence, The Prophet alerts us, professing faith-walking Christians, to expect trying times.

Our Omniscient Fathers knows that even the young and physically strong, struggling with doubt, unbelief and fear, will become weak and faint. God also recognizes those seasoned in the Savior’s ways experience times where we’ve reached the end of our rope, become weary in well doing, stumble and even fall out of the race momentarily.

Isaiah prescribes the antidote for those seasons when you’re forced to trample through turbulent terrains and valleys surrounded by the shadows of death seemingly alone to fend for yourself, don’t stop—keep it moving; press on, trusting that every minute of every day, you’re never outside of God’s view or His Presence and Power!

The Prophet’s words  yet ring out to 21st Century Saints of The Most High God, assuring us that Jehovah, our Provider, has already gone before us, preparing designated rest areas along the road to renew and energize our spirit and soul!

Beloved, your God is not a dead-beat absentee Father! God never intended us to be struggling to handle things on our own, burdened and burnt out by the cares of this world. Every morning He invites us to come, as a little child running boldly to your Daddy, entrusting all your cares to Him, fully persuaded, absolutely confident that ABBA FATHER CAN DO ANYTHING BUT FAIL !

Now Beloved, rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him; don’t fret yourself! (Ref. Psalm 37:7) Everything’s coming together in your life, JUST LIKE GOD PLANNED! 

REMEMBER, GOD IS NOT A MAN! GOD DOESN’T COME AND GO! GOD’S LOVE REMAINS LOYAL! HENCE, GOD LASTS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

RIDE IT OUT!

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RIDE IT OUT

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore… But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. Acts 27:40, 43-44

 

Life happens! As that commercial says, Life has a way of coming at you hard! #understatement!

The Ol’ Skool Mothers of Zion used to sang, ‘Nobody told me, that the road would be easy, but I don’t believe, He brought me this far to leave me”!  To which we often reply, ‘yeah,… BUT!’ 

Sometimes, after we’ve charted our course, designated our timeframe for accomplishing the task or reaching our goal, inevitably some things will pop-up unexpectedly!  And it’s during these times that we are tempted to believe that God has either lied to us, forgotten us or He is punishing us. However, we who have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, having trusted in  and relying soley upon His Testimony, have an assurance that neither scenario is possible! #Seriously!
 
Since, God can not lie, (Ref. Numbers 23:19) it’s more likely that God has a better plan! (Ref. Proverbs 16:9; Jeremiah 29:11)

Nothing in the life of a believer can separate us from The Father’s Love. (Ref. Romans 8:38-39)  However, The Shepherd will, at times, allow trouble to test our hearts and our commitment to remain faithful. Nonetheless,  we have this confidence, GOD is never too far off, but is ALWAYS close by! 

Although, GOD is quite capable of stilling the tempest before it gets anywhere near us, sometimes He chooses not to. In other words, GOD doesn’t always dismiss or divert the storms around us! BUT! He has a way of showing up, stepping right in the middle of the boisterous winds and mountainous waves, to comfort, while fortifying us to live through life’s treacherous tides.

Hence, Beloved, don’t be alarmed by the darkness, it just GOD’S way of covering you so your enemies can’t find you!
 
When life seems as if it’s falling apart, take courage! In the Kingdom, nothing just happens! The Master is yet in control of everything. TRUST2KNOW, God will see to it that you make it to Heaven’s Shore, safe and right on time! 

GRAB HOLD TO A PLANK, (CALVARY’S CROSS) RISE ABOVE THE THE WINDS, CATCH THE NEXT WAVE AND RIDE IT OUT!
 
SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee 

 

MY SOLID ROCK!

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my-solid-rock-2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved”…In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah….God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Psalm 62:1-2, 7-8, 11

 

“Everyday is not the same!” These were the words from a faithful friend to me to encourage me at a time when I found myself drowning in raging waters, attempting to maneuver my way through the valley overshadowed by Dred and Death! In retrospect, I’m almost tempted to say, “Sir, is dat ever an understatement!”

However, I’ve found myself speaking these same words to fellow sojourners I’ve encountered along the path. Only now, I offer them as a breath of refreshing wind to wayfaring souls, to console their storm-wearied hearts to keep moving, keep trusting, keep believing because NOW IS NOT FOREVER and GOD IS TOO FAITHFUL FOR YOU TO GIVE UP NOW!

My prayer is that the words penned by The Psalmist in today’s scripture text serve as a compass leading you to The True Source of Comfort and Peace and remind us of God’s Promise!

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

Beloved, only God knows what challenges you are facing at this writing, yet I hear the psalmist’s saying, when the cares of this ol’ world overwhelm us, there is an escape, a safe house that we can run into and be saved from the terrorist’s threats. Hence, we can run to the Mountain That is Higher than you and I!

My precious one, can we pray?

“Heavenly Father, here we are again bowing at The Throne of Your Mercy! We’re so grateful for the honor and privilege to come boldly, knowing that You hear and answer every petition we place before you.

We’re praying for the strength of The people of God, that we might be encouraged to stand strong, continue lifting up The Blood Stained Banner of our Lord and Savior. Trusting confidently that He  Who Rules and Reigns above The Heavens, is in ABSOLUTE CONTROL of the affairs of all mankind! We’re praying for the leaders of our country, fully persuaded that their hearts remain in God’s Hand, confident that The Omniscient Father never sleeps nor slumbers, is never taken by surprise, neither does He ever need to repent! EVERYTHING HE HAS PROMISED, HE WILL PERFORM!

We’re praying for our children, every parent who has been charged to instruct and rear them up in the fear and admonition of THE LORD will submit to the leading of Holy Spirit, walk upright before them that they may see our faith and commitment to THE GOD OF ALL HOPE!

We’re praying for those who are yet in darkness, being deceived by Satan into rejecting The Saving Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ will be snatched from the snares of sinfulness and repent before GOD, seeking forgiveness and salvation. We’re believing that the hearts of the backsliders will be pricked by The Spirit of The Living God so that they will make a decision to return to Jesus TODAY!

We’re praying for the comfort of those who are dealing with grief, depression, loneliness, fear, addictions, confusion, overwhelmed by financial commitments, sickness and diseases. We’re believing that the angels of the Lord are being sent to their sides to minister help, health and hope at this very moment.

We’re rejoicing in reality that the companionship of The Lord of All Comfort, Joy and Peace is never too far away  and that HE can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

We’re eternally grateful, Father, that regardless of what each day brings, YOU OH GOD REMAIN THE SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER FAITHFUL to protect and provide everthing we ever need.

ABBA FATHER, we’re thanking You now for Your Compassionate Loving Kindness, Tender Mercies and Unconditional Love that never leaves us nor forsakes those who place their personal trust in JESUS ALONE! THE SOLID ROCK!

We’re asking these things, recognizing that it’s because of The Majestic Name of Jesus that we rest assured in Hope  earnestly anticipating that it shall be so. In Jesus Name. AMEN 3X

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 Ann Caffee