Tag Archives: thankful

LIVING YESTERDAY

Living Yesterday 2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

THIS IS THE DAY WHICH THE LORD HATH MADE, REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT! PSALM 118:24

 

The Good ol’ Days!” WOW! Remember? But what is it about memories? Either time has a peculiar way of tainting our perspective or our minds automatically default to selective-perceptions when the moment ends.

#WOW! Somehow, as we reflect upon days gone by,  there will be times when we can actually feel that gut-wrenching pain (that you were utterly convinced was terminal) and the high that would get higher and the groove gets groovyur; the music never stopped; the laughter would become heartier and the flood of tears would never subside; the mornings came too soon and the nights were eternal; puppy love would grow into a couple, a family and divorce and you’d just…and recess lasts for a lifetime…and then it didn’t! BUT SUDDENLY, IT’S TODAY and you’re still alive! #wannacheckurpulse?

The infamous THEY said that the richest piece of real estate in any town, city, state or nation is the grave yard!  #DIDJAGETIT?  Can you imagine all of those hopes, dreams, secrets, recipes, thoughts, conversations, hugs, apologies, promises, potential, possibilities and plans that remain unfulfilled beneath the soil! WOW! 

BELOVED, release the coulda’s, woulda’s, shoulda’s! Smile triumphantly over conquests and the sweetness of successes! Sigh sheepishly over the guilts and regrets—then thank GOD for all the second chances!

My Precious Ones, whatever happened, good, bad, ugly and indifferent; you survived it ALL!

“You can’t alter your past, but you can always take your past to the Altar!” (unknown)

Thank GOD for the Sufficiency of yesterday’s Grace and Hope-Filled tomorrows!

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK GOD FOR THIS BRAND-NEW BLESSING CALLED 2DAY! DON’T WASTE A SECOND OF IT! #ijs!!! LIVE LOUD TODAY AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST! 

WHO KNOWS, IT COULD VERY WELL BE, huh? 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THE PATH 2 GLORRAAA!

THE PATH 2 GLORY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 
James 4:7

 
Yep! Ain’t no getting around it, because it’s still The Eternal Word of God, huh? I’m talking about that pesty-provoking-pressure-on-our-pleasure, five letter word “pride”! As the ol’ skool preacher would say, ‘I jus lost ¾ of my church’! LOL!

Those of us who’ve been saved more than 25 years undoubtedly have seen subtle (and not so subtle) transitions taking place in the Christian Community!  I’m referring to the greater emphasis being levied on the side of accumulating creature comforts rather than developing Christian character#Don’tshoutmedownnah!

While, there’s no denying that our Heavenly Father delights in the prosperity of His children, He distinctly distinguishes His Prosperity Plan from the system of this world, by including ‘even as your soul prospers, huh? (Ref. 3 John 1:2)

Of course, we know that God’s Ways are not ours and we’re eternally grateful that His thoughts are not like our, huh? Yet, many a wandering wayfaring person has been drawn down to the altar, enticed by the lure of a prolific prophetic preacher, promising peace and prosperity. Although this message has elements of doctrinal truth, upon closer examination,  oftimes it can dilute the integrity of basic biblical foundation! Hence, leaving some believers with lop-side expectations and ill-prepared to walk out their journey of faith.

The New Millennium Church has adapted to The Burger King mentality that says, ‘If I can’t have it my way, then I’ll hit the highway’! While that attitude may work at a fast-food chain, it won’t get you off the run-way in the Kingdom of God. The last time I caught a breath, Jesus was still LORD! Therefore, He has the right to expect loyalty, faithfulness, commitment and obedience from those He created!

God knows that it’s difficult for flesh to be humble! That’s why HE put these flesh-killing scriptures in The Book! Yall know, flesh wants to set up its own kingdoms and not submit to anything or anyone. Flesh wants to dominate; to be in charge; have its own way; be right; be the best and not ever admit that ‘I’m wrong, not perfect, it’s my fault; I need help, forgiveness…or I don’t know what to do!

Flesh wants folk to come to us; look up to us; be admired and yes even envied! Flesh wants to be first in line following the Apostle, Bishop and the Pastors. Flesh wants to sit on the front row so it can be noticed—to go higher, IN THE LORD, of course!

We like to quote the scripture, ‘resist the devil and he’ll flee from you’, right? However, more often than not, we leave out the first part, ‘submit yourself to GOD...and then you’ll have the power to resist the devil’! OMG, does it really say dat? Indeed! In the Kingdom, the way up is down!

God says, ‘humble yourself’BUT–IF YOU CAN’T, HE WILL HELP YOU! Chances are He’ll raise up a devil, a situation, a problem, a need, a national threat, a global economic collapse! Sometimes, He’ll allow trouble to come knocking at your front door, your church, job, wallet to get your attention long enough for you to humble yourself and have to pray! God knows that as long as we’re living high-on-the-hogwe’re prone to spiritual amnesia and assume that He’s okay playing second fiddle! NOT!

The Kingdom of Heaven has it’s own stimulus plan and it ain’t about to change! The strength and power of God’s Covenant relationship with His people is based on both  parties involved doing what they’ve sworn to do. The position of GOD is permanently filling space and time! Remember, HE IS GOD & U R NOT!

It’s a highway to Heaven, however you’ve got to be willing to take the low road 2 get there! As we yield our ENTIRE lives to GOD’ S WILL, WE SHALL REAP THE KING’S ETERNAL REWARDS! #FAITHFUL OBEDIENT GRATITUDE  #DIDJAHEARDAT? YEP! THAT’S THE PATH TO GLORAAAA!

 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

prayn-and-fasting-pic

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

GOOD MORNING FAM! GOTTA MOMENT! AWEMAAZING!

We’re delighted that you’ve joined us once again in our Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We’re thankful to our Heavenly Father for so graciously allowing us to come before Him with our prayers, supplications, requests and inquiries and casting our cares, concerns trusting His Will to be done in our lives! As we come blessing Him for the outpouring of His Marvelous Lovingkindness, Grace and Mercy towards us,  our sincere heart cry is, “That if it had not been for The LORD on our side, our enemies would’ve swallowed us up!” For this cause, we bow before The Majestic Throne, finding Grace to help in this time of need!

Here we are to worship! Here we are to bow down! Here we are to say that You’re our God! You’re altogether Lovely, Altogether Worthy, Altogether WONDERFUL TO ME! …WE LOVE YOULORD! AND WE LIFT OUR VOICE, TO WORSHIP YOU, OH MY SOUL REJOICE! TAKE JOY, MY KING, IN WHAT YOU HEAR AND LET IT BE A SWEET, SWEET SOUND IN YOUR EAR…HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! LORD, YOU’RE WORTHY! LORD, YOU’RE WORTHY! LORD, YOU’RE WORTHY! LORD YOU’RE WORTHY….

 
Abba Father, we thankya for this day! For this is the day that You’ve made and our hearts are rejoicing in praise and adoration, eternally grateful that You’ve seen fit to bless us to be alive one more day! We know that each day that You allow us to wake up to new mercy and new grace is truly a gift from our Loving, Compassion, Covenant -keeping Heavenly Father! We bow humbly before You now, boldly proclaiming You are King of Kings and Lord of Lord! You Reign Forever and Ever more! There is none like You and there will never be any other to compare! We delight in Your Presence, for You Alone are Worthy of all praise, honor and Glory! Our lips shall forever glorify You for the marvelous things You have done in our lives! For Great is Thy Faithfulness!

We acknowledge that there’s nothing that we’ve done or ever could do to warrant all of the goodness that You continue to shower upon us! But it is our heart’s desire to present our bodies, minds, soul and spirit as living sacrifices to be holy vessels of honor, serving You through serving Your people, as the only reasonable response to such undeserved Graciousness!

We ask You to forgive us for any and everything that we’ve done, spoken or thought that was in violation of Your Holy Commandments! We’re grateful for Your Inherent Benevolent Favor, Unconditional Love, Immeasurable Patience, and awemazing Restraint that allows You to suffer with us, when Your Righteousness justifies corporal punishment, You show unrelenting Mercy to all who will sincerely repent quickly, confessing with our mouths our sin and asking You to forgive us, wash us in The Precious Blood of Jesus, cleansing us of all unrighteousness and restore us back into rightful fellowship with You!

Hear us as we plead, Father forgive us now, in Jesus Name! We thank You now, believing that Your Compassion has once again allowed You to look beyond the frailty and fickleness of our human frame and remember The Covenant You made with Your Word before The Foundation of The Earth that You would keep those who would commit their lives to Jesus, trusting in His Atoning Blood for the remission of our sin! In Jesus Name we pray! Amen 3x!
Father, we know that no man can come to You, except You initiate the call. We pray that as Your Spirit searches throughout the earth, seeking hearts that will yield to You, You will save our brother, save our sister who has  yet to experience The Wonders of Your Saving Grace! Break up the fallow ground, rebuke the demons of the minds, snatch that soul out of the clutches of the enemy, loose them from the snare of the wicked one and set them free, even as You did for us! Put a Spirit of Godly-Repentance in their hearts and minds that may cry out to You, “What must I do to be saved” and enable them to respond out of a “SINCERE YES LORD”,confessing You as their personal Savior and Lord!

Father, we’re grateful for Your Word that assures us that You are married to the backsliders, those who have foolishly allowed Satan to lure them back into bondage and subsequently relinquishing their home in heaven! We know that it’s difficult for us to believe that You truly want them back, but we pray now that You open up the eyes of their understanding that they might know that just as parable You’ve recorded in Your Word, of The Father and the Prodigal son, You are waiting with open arms to embrace, welcome them, forgive and restore them back to Your Fold! We thank You for piercing their hearts with the All Consuming Fire of Your Unconditional Love and flooding it with a genuine repentance and a “FRESH COMMITTED YES LORD”, directing them to a local church where they will be accepted, loved, nurtured in Your Word, Will and Way that they might become witnesses of Your Eternal Glory to a dark, lost and dying world, in Jesus Name we pray!

Sweet Holy Spirit, we gratefully acknowledge You as The Third Person of The GOD-HEAD, the Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent God with/IN us! Nevertheless, You know everything and everyone of us from the inside out! You know that while we seek to please You by faithfully trusting You in every situation!  Nevertheless since You are our Great High Priest,  having learned by experiencing the same short-falls of our flesh, having humbly submitting Your Glory and clothing Yourself  with the same flesh, You can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities! Lord, You know the struggle is real!

Sometimes, our hearts and minds are overwhelmed with so much doubt, anxiety and uncertaintythat we lose or focus! Lord, You know, the effect that this society, steeped in the stench of swampy lawlessness, corruption and blatant immorality has on us! We ask that You help us to endure the things that are going on around us! Lord, while You never promised us that we would have trial-free lives in this earth, help us to endure these last and evil days! Give us confident hope-filled expectation that Your eyes are on the Righteous, You are a Very Present Help in trouble and that while weeping may endure for a night, Joy shall come in the morning!

We praise You today, for renewed strength, understanding and power that comes from a heart open to, depending and relying only on You! We thank You for the courage to stand steadfast, immovable, always abiding in The Power of Your Presence, trusting that no weapon that’s formed against us shall prosper, because You created the maker and the bow! Give us confidence that even when we walk through the valley overshadowed by danger, destruction and death, You upholdeth all things by The WORD OF YOUR POWER and The Hand of Your Righteousness! For You are Sovereign Ruler and Lord of all the living and the dead! Comfort our hearts to rest assured that nothing happens except You allow it to be so and if You allow us to experience tests and trials to prove what’s in our hearts, You are yet able to take  anything that Satan means for evil and turn it around for our greatest good and Your Highest Glory!

For You have taught us to declare that our hope is not in the temporary things and circumstances nor conditions of this world, But our Hope IS ETERNAL, and remains solidly rooted and anchored in You! Encourage our souls to continue to look Heavenward to The Hills from which comes our Help knowing that ALL of our Help comes from The LORD, The Author and Finisher of our Faith! We exalt Your Name and Your Word, high above our thoughts and our ways! Oh, how awesome are Your deeds! For You have preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping!
We pray for those who are in contentious situations in the land, in our churches, our homes, communities. We bind the spirit of exclusion and release the Spirit of Oneness! We thankya for the empowering Spirit of Agreement! We pray for those who are arrogant, selfish, self-aggrandizing, reveal yourself to them. Lord, reverse the hatred and bigotry in this land and replace it with Love and Soundness of mind! We’ll give You the Honor and Praise!

Lord, we lift up those who are going thru a season of sorrow, being victimized by bullying, institutionalized racism, tormented by Spirits of fear, rejection, disappointment and failure, church hurt, heart wounds, unforgiveness, marital problems, wayward children, divorce, lost of employment, loan/mortage defaults and bankruptcy and those who are attempting to overcome the difficulties of  a totally unjustified government shutdown!  We plead the Blood of Jesus against every demonic thought, spirits of anxiety, panic attacks, oppression, depression, dementia, chaos and confusion! We know that You are not the author of these satanic thoughts and feelings, but You have given us who have put our personal trust in Your Son Jesus, Your Righteousness, a Spirit of Love, Peace, Joy and a Sound Mind!

Sweet Jesus, as we lift up our children, grand-children and great-grand children, help us to remember that such were some of us! But You patiently waited and trained us up in the way that we should go! Father, by faith, we decree and declare that every scheme that Satan desires to inflict upon them, IS HEREBY CANCELLED, and RECOILED!

As we commit them into Your providential care, we acknowledge that because Your Plan and Purpose for their lives cannot be over-ruled, we have the blessed assurance that EVERY STEP AND STOP IS BEING ORDERED UNDER THE WATCHFUL CARE OF YOUR EYES AND NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST THEM SHALL PROSPER AND EVERYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO THEIR DESTINY OF LIFE AND GODLINESS IS FULLFILLED! Therefore, WE SPEAK THE PEACE OF GOD OVER THEIR SPIRITS, MINDS AND BODIES, RELEASING A SPIRIT OF LOVE, HOLINESS AND EXCELLENCE TO FULFILL THEIR GOD-ORDAIN DESTINIES, IN JESUS NAME IT IS SO!

 

Father we lift up every spiritual leader, Apostle, Bishop, Overseer, Pastor, Elder, Preacher, Teacher, Superintendent, Evangelist, Missionary, Deacon and Deaconess who are yet standing on the wall proclaiming Your Word under the conviction and anointing of Holy Spirit! We’re asking for an immediate manifestation of that special miracle for each and every one of them! We ask that You touch the leaders, the shepherds, show them how to touch, lead and guide Your people. Give them clarity of vision!  For without vision Your people peris;h therefore, we pray for Your Vision and not ours! Help us to build up one another and not tear down. Cover them as they go in and out amongst Your people with honor, wisdom and favor! All who would seek to discredit, hinder and even destroy their faith, faithfulness and the GOD-ORDAINED ministry shall be rebuked and restrained by The Power of Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name!

We lift up every auxiliary leader, musician, choir, praise team, usher, nurse and lay member, trusting and believing that You will Grace them to be the Godly examples in their homes, churches and community that will cause everyone who comes into contact with them to fall in love with You, trust wholly in and commit to live the rest of their lives serving You!

Confident that You Sovereignly Rule and Reign over the affairs of mankind, we continue to pray for the White House, Congress, Senate and every government, legislative, corporate leader of our nation and the world! Heavenly Father, we’re asking that You visit them in the night with dreams and visions, letting them know that You, O God never sleep or slumber! Warn them that Your Eyes are going to and fro searching the hearts, minds and motives of all who have been given Power and Authority over Your people! Assure them that they shall be held accountable for every deed and decision that they make; Impress upon their spirits that, He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. He who digs a hole and scoops it out will fall into the pit he has made. The trouble he causes recoils on himself and his violent schemes will come down on his own head! In Jesus Name! Amen 3x!

Abba Father, as we near the closing of our prayer, we’re careful to mention those who are shut-in, hospitalized, incarcerated, going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments, dyalisis and those waiting for transplants! We lift them up before You! Remember those among us who are stricken with grief, mourning the loss of family and friends, all those whose lives are being tormented by fear, failure, poverty, unbelief, unforgiveness, doubt, anxiety, stress, mental disorder, hopelessness, shame and guilt, suicide, disappointment, rejection, broken marriages and relationships, ungodly soul ties, addictions and perverted sexual orientations!

We rebuke and renounce every and all manner of afflictions and by faith in THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE NAME OF JESUS, we declare and decree immediate release be manifested in the lives and bodies! As God’s anointed, we stand in agreement that everything that does not align with Your Will is bowing, bound and cast down immediately! We call everything in the atmosphere surrounding Your Chosen, into Divine Alignment now, In Jesus Name!

Father as we wait in confidence and quietness, we’re rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in fear and shame and defeat, turning their backs from Your people, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Finally, Abba Father, we stand in agreement with You who hears ours prayers and forgives our transgressions as we’re shouting with everlasting joy to The One to Whom all men will come! We believe that as Your face shines upon us, You are making Your Ways and Salvation known among all nations, for You Guide and Rule justly!

Father, believing that IT IS DONE, we thank You NOW! In The Exalted Name of Jesus WE SAY Amen 3X and It Is So!

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS LOVES, SAVES AND DELIVERS! 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

WHATZ UR THANG?

WHATZ UR THANG

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. Mark 10:21

 

This parable, commonly dubbed “The Parable of the Rich Young Ruler” is recorded in the each of the synoptic gospels. Most of the time when it’s preached, one of the first things that comes to our minds is “Oh shucks, here they go again trying to get my money”! But, hold on…there’s more meat to pick from that bone then our money!

As the scripture unfolds, Jesus is confronted by a young man running up to Him, kneeling down before Him, then asks Him a question. “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” In other words, ‘What can I do to be saved; what do I have to do to make Heaven my eternal home?” Jesus responded, ‘Why you asking me…the only one qualified to answer that question is God!’ And Jesus continues, ‘You know the commandments that Moses told you…you’re a Jew.’ And begins to quote from the 10 Commandments the 7th, 6th, 9th and the 5th Commandments.

Upon hearing this, the young man pompously proclaimes, ‘Oh that’s it, well I’ve been doing that since I was a kid, I’m straight then’. To which the Loving Shepherd responds, “One thing you lack; go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

The Bible teaches that when the rich young ruler heard these words, ‘he was grieved in his heart and went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions.’

Imagine that, ONLY One Thing! Now religious folk tend to think that Jesus was telling the rich ruler that his greed was enough to make him miss heaven. Some self-righteous others might say that his love of money outweighed his compassion for the welfare of his fellow human beings and that would disqualify him for heaven. However, might I offer, for your consideration, perhaps Jesus was trying to teach this young man (and what God is saying to us), is that the young man’s response was merely symptomatic of a greater issue—the failure to recognize the Lordship of Jesus Christ and a lack of trust in God’s ability to take care of him! WOW!

While it is true that those who have great riches, fame, influence are more likely to put their confidence in their money and in themselves than those who are impoverished and have to depend on The Hand of God for their daily bread, Jesus was not teaching, as some assume, that only those who are living in poverty, barely making it from payday to payday, can go to heaven! The Devil is a Liar!

However, could Jesus have been saying that it is virtually impossible for any man to be saved apart from God’s Mercy, Grace and Power? With men, it is impossible …but not with God! (Ref. Mark 10:27)

I believe each us can think of somebody that we know, who didn’t make it, but truthfully, it could’ve, it should’ve, it would’ve been me and you, BUT GOD! “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”1 Corinthians 6:11

None of us know what tomorrow holds for us, but as you advance to the close of our God-ordained destiny for 2018, arm yourselves with this mindset, “But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (Ref. 1 Corinthians 9:27)

Hence, it behooves each of us to ask Holy Spirit to search our hearts, daily, and then give us enuff GRACE to let go of ‘that thang’ that He reveals to us that’s occupying the Throne of our hearts, reserved for God Alone! #ijs!!! #Didjaheardat? 

Remember, it only takes ONE THANG 2 EARN ETERNAL DESTRUCTION! BUT, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT JUST ONE DROP OF THE SANCTIFYING BLOOD OF JESUS STILL WASHES US WHITE AS SNOW! WHATZ UR THANG? #COVEREDWITHMERCY&GRACE

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

IF U THINK…U CAN THANK!

IF U THINK, U CAN THANK

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“When I think of the goodness of Jesus, and all he has done for me,my soul cries out Hallelujah! I thank God for saving me!”

 

We’ve all heard that; some of us have even testified it ourselves. How many of us were clueless that this was really a verse of a song, and not a scripture? But datz okay! Regardless of it’s roots, reciting these words has pulled many drowning souls out of the depths of hopelessness and despair!

The master of deceit, Satan, flourishes in our proclivity towards selective amnesia. Whether it’s a self-induced defense mechanism or some type of ego-boosting-denial-syndrome, I don’t know. However, if we’re honest, every single one of us could testify we’ve scaled some mountains higher than we thought possible and drifted through seemingly impossible storms that “NOBODY BUT GOD kept us alive!”

Truthfully, that’s exactly what terrifies Satan the most. He knows that if we ever take the time to really think about how often The Power Twins, Mercy and Grace, showed up, just in the nick of time delivering us from danger, destruction and even death, praise and worship is imminent! And of course, that’s the absolute last thing the devil wants to endure is a bunch of happy trusting believers rejoicing and lifting up The Name of Jesus!

Well, guess what devil, you might as well pull out your earplugs, because God is raising up a nation of your worst nightmare,  reformed doubters-complainers, an honest-to-goodness -genuine BELIEVERS! Oh Yeah! We’ve come through some fires, been through some storms but we can truly say that God was with me all the way!

In fact, come to think of it,  everytime that I cried out to Him, Jesus heard me and saved me out of all my troubles! ( Psalm 34:6) And because of my personal history, I have learned how to lean and depend on Jesus! Therefore, I truly and profoundly declare and decree (with both hands raised) “I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES, HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MOUTH! (Psalm 34:1)

And guess what else, if you think I’m gonna keep this to myself, you must be an ol’ fool! I’m about to tell everybody, ‘come and see what the Lord has done for me!” THINK ABOUT IT…U GOTTA THANK HIM, huh?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

DENY THE POWER?

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 inevitablemind-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

GRATEFUL

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

NEVER SHOULD’VE MADE IT!

NEVER SHOULD'VE MADE IT

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Isaiah 5:14

 

Wow, didjaheardat? I know, in today’s New Mellennium, sophisticated, intellectually astute, high-tech, contemporized, all embracing, all inclusive society, conversing about such things is deemed highly inappropriate; HOWEVERRR, at the end of the day…we all gotta go somewhere, huh?

Hell is growing everyday; filling herself with self-righteous pompous souls!

And the devil is laughing; because every single soul that arrives…Gets there by default!

That’s right, not one single one of them EVER SHOULD’VE MADE IT! 

The devil is claiming unsuspecting souls everyday all day! He’s taunting them with condeming accusations of unworthiness, knowing fully well that Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection has rescued us from the curse of the law (ONCE AND 4 ALL) transferred HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS  to OUR account, THEREFORE REDEEMING US BACK TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!  (Ref. Romans 8:1) And the only thing GOD requires of us is to believe it and accept it by FAITH!

Can you imagine the shock of many who had pre-determined, “One day I’m gonna get myself together and I’m gonna start going to church, but I’m not gonna be like those hypocrits, I’m gonna be real with this thing”, yet that one day never came! #ijs

None of us is saved by our own self effort! None of us are saved because we deserve it! For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Glory To God! And guess what, if you’re still breathing, that means the deal is still on the table!

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house,we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

I know, right? …NEVER should’ve made it!!! But by The GRACE OF GOD! Hallelujah!!!!! #SERIOUSLY

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

EMPTY POTS

EMPTY POT 2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Isaiah 44:20

I can only imagine what’s going on in the mind and heart of Elohim gazing down the the portals of time from Eternity, seeing the massive gathering of Sunday Morning worshipers.

Look at us, over there we’re suited down in our St. Johns and over here in our Sean Johns. Got our weaves looking fresh jus like dat and our hair perfectly trimmed tight. Etienne Aigner shoes and our New York Yankees designer hats neatly tucked under the pews, just in case the person next to us gets a bit too unruly.

Once the policeman re-directed the traffic to turn left (because the parking lot was already filled to its capacity) finally, we’re glad to be seated in our favorite row. The stage is set! The sound-man gives the nod, the lighting is in sync with the Minister of Music and the Choreographer has gotten the attention of the Liturgical Dancers, we’re ready! Let’s Get It Done…BAMM!

Not so fast! I see ‘yall’, BUT where’s ‘The Glory’? Where are the God-Seekers? Who’s actually among us here to Honor HIM?

“What’s up with you asking us these kinds of questions? How could you miss HIM? Didn’t you see all those fine automobiles parked outside of this grandiose sanctuary? I bet if you tallied up the cost that was spent at the hair salons this week, you’d probably could buy a small nation. And you know the price for an authentic custom-tailored suit these days ain’t cheap, given inflation. Not to mention the small fortune the church puts out to fuel up our Pastor’s jet. You got some nerve asking about GOD! Obviously GOD has been good to us!”

Okay! Granted, you got a whole lot of stuff going on. You can afford to sit back on your laurels proudly contented and cozy, belly full and satisfied, enjoying the fruit of your successful accomplishments, and resting in the warm of your own fire. Man! that’s the life that God promised us or is it?

When was the last time you actually talked to The God you claim to belong to and serve? Did you even thank HIM for waking you up this morning, giving you the strength to get up (under your own volition) and the mind to brush your teeth with a toothbrush and not a hair brush? Have you really forgotten that there was a time when going to church on a Sunday morning never crossed you mind and the only cross you carried was dangling from your rear view mirror as a token protector for you and your property? Remember when the only word you read with any consistency was your horoscope?

Yeah, Buddy! What a life!

And you call those folk—who just can’t wait to get to Church, not just on Sunday mornings, but Bible Study, prayer meetings, whatever and whenever the doors of the church are open, they gotta be in The House, in fellowship with like-minded spirits after being amidst a bunch of God-Haters all week/day long, we who are desperate for the times of refreshment found only in the Presence of The Lord—out of touch with reality! REALLY?

Come, let’s reason this thing out together.

IS GOD BLESSED BY YOUR WORSHIP OR IS IT A STINCH IN HIS NOSTRILS?

EMPTY POTS, huh?

SELAH!

“Have a WONDER-FILLED day!”

Ann Caffee

 

FEELIN SOME KINDA WAY…

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