Tag Archives: trouble

THE NIGHT SHIFT!

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the-night-shift

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4

 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.  Genesis 28:15 ESV

 

Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for a long time or just recently made your decision to follow Christ, none of us are excluded from faith’s stresses, test and trials! If you don’t have a clue about what I’m talking about, may I draw from dem ol’ skool Mothers’ terminology, “Baby, jus keep getting up in the mornin’ and going to bed at night, sooner or later you will encounter a season in your life when you’ll feel as though God has left you in the valley of the shadows of death to fend for yourself!”

I understand that this kinda theology may seem a bit strange, (not to mention unbiblical, after all we live in the Dispensation of Grace) to some Millenniums who’ve been spoon fed Gospel-Lite-Prosperity pablum prepared by the more sophisticated-socially-acceptable-all-ingratiating-all-inclusive preachers! But check The Book, it’s still in there! “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” 1 Peter 4:12

Yet! When you’re forced to trample through the turbulence terrains of this life, know, that your Heavenly Father is not a dead-beat absentee Father. God has left His Eternal Word as a Light to the 21st Century Saints! Hence, The Word of God is still well able to comfort, strengthen and encourage those who seek Him!

Precious ones, perhaps, at this reading, you find yourself smack-dab-in-the-middle of a loooonnnnggg night of overwhelming fear and anxiety,  yet Truth remains! Even when you’re unable  to trace God’s Face or feel His Hand, trust His Heart!

Sometimes, we’re so focused on the trauma of the moment that we forget that we have a real enemy who delights in secretly launching attacks against God’s elect, under the cloak of darkness with his diabolical wiles, strategically aimed to diminish your confidence and trust in God!  Nevertheless,  don’t fall for the okey-doke…Satan ain’t running nothing! Your God is Sovereignly watching over you 24/7! He never naps! Day and night are the same to Him! Every step you take is Divinely-ordered by The Lord! He’s already gone before you preparing designated rest areas along the road to revive and re-energize our spirit and soul! #Didjaheardat? IT’S TRUE!

Beloved, when it seems as if everything is falling apart, Holy Spirit says, ‘It’s falling right in place’! Abba Father is weaving each piece of your life together for your greatest good and His Highest Glory! And at the appointed time, He will flip it over to display His Magnificent Masterpiece! (Ref. Romans 8:28)

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2

Like Jacob, as we continue our pilgrimage through the gross darkness of this fallen world en route to the celestial city, we may all proclaim of our Savior “The God that led me all my life long” works THE NIGHT SHIFT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

HOPE UNDER SEIGE!

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hope-under-seige

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beloved, trust 2 know that when it looks like your world is falling apart, look again! Don’t allow fear to drain your faith! From Heaven’s perspective, everything is falling right in place!  Remember, Jesus has already gone into Tomorrow to prepare a table before you, right in the presence of your enemies! (Ref. Psalm 23:5) #Didjaheardat?

IT AIN’T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, K? YOU GOTTA HOPE BEYOND THIS WORLD!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THURSDAYS’ PRAYERS!

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prayn-and-fasting-pic

 

SELAH Daily Devotions! 

GOOD MORNING FAMILY! GOTTA MOMENT? AWESOME! Once again, we’re inviting you to join us today, in our weekly Thursday’s Corporate Prayer and Fasting!

WE TURN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AWAY FROM ALL THE NOISE, ALONE WITH YOU, WE WAIT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE…NOTHING ELSE MATTERS…TO WORSHIP YOU, I LIVE…TO WORSHIP I LIVE, I LIVE TO WORSHIP YOU..JESUS…OOOHHH…OOOHHH…With up stretched arms, empty hands and open hearts, SHALL WE PRAY?

Abba Father we come today, in Jesus Name, thanking You for blessing us to see one more new day! We thank You for another opportunity to enjoy the abundance of Mercy, Grace, Power and Peace! We bless You for the honor and privilege that you have bestowed upon us by calling us to be Your very own children! As we acknowledge You as The God of our Salvation, Lord of Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision, we thank You for so graciously blessing us with renewed strength, understanding and power to accomplish every good work that You have fore-ordained!

Lord Jesus, we’re eternally grateful that YOU ARE THE SOVEREIGN LORD of ALL, therefore YET in absolute control of all things. In light of the reports of atrocious shootings that are taking place all around us and in the midst of sadden hearts and wearied spirits we shall not forget to express our gratitude because You have yet kept us hidden under The BLOOD! We praise You, Heavenly Father, that even in days of impending chaos and destruction, we know that the safest place in this whole world is in YOUR PERFECT WILL! 

Abba Father, as we kneel our hearts before You, we ask that You forgive us for every sin that we have willfully and unwillfully done, spoke or thought that was not pleasing in Your sight, and grieving to Holy Spirit. We believe, according to Your Promise that as we confess and repent from a heart of sincereity,that You are Faithful and Just to forgive us, remove our sins from us, casting them into the Sea of Your Selective Forgetfulness, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness through The Word and the Blood! We’re thankful that because You know our frame, Your Faithful Compassion continuously allows You to look beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities to see and minister to all of our real need!

Lord, we pray for every one who is going thru a season of sorrow and grief at the lost of a loved one, those who have been victimized by rejection, disappointment, failure, divorce, lost of employment, bankrupty and foreclosures! We plead the Blood of Jesus over every demonic thought, spirits of anxiety, oppression, depression and confusion, because 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!

As we lift up every believer who is yet holding on to your Hand by faith today, we’re asking that You release a double anointing of Your Divine Peace, Power, Supernatural strength, provision, prosperity and protection. We pray also, Father, that You preserve them thru every test that You have allowed us to go thru, confidently assuring us that You will bring us out fully restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised in your Word. We priase You now as You encourage us and empower us with an overwhelming consciousness of Your Abiding Presence!

Precious Jesus, because no man can come to the Father except You draw them, we interced on behalf of every single soul that’s closest to death, hell and destruction! Please quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their heart and in their mind that they will come to you today crying out“Yes” to your Grace Gift and receive You as their personal Savior And Lord! We’re believing that as we’re praying, You are already directing their footsteps, placing and settling them into a local church home today, in Jesus Name!

Father, we ask because of Your Compassion, that You reclaim all those who have walked away from You and implant a ‘Commited YES’ in the hearts and minds! Let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church where they will faithfully submit their lives to the sound teachings of Your Word, and learn to love and live the rest of their lives walking to please You First!

Father, we pray that You touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by all manner of sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake. Heavenly Father, You are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Even as you walked in this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able and Willing to do the same right now! Lord Jesus, Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name! Amen 3x!

Heavenly Father, we pray, according to Your Will, for the leaders of our nation, corporate, judicial, education, financial institutions and our churches! We’re believing that You will touch the minds and hearts, and speak to them in dreams and visions, letting them know that You Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens is keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly!

Abba Father, we ask that You encourage and comfort the souls of your Elect who are overwhelmed with fear, doubt and worry about the things that are going on in our personal lives because of this ungodly world’s systems! Send us miraculous assurances that we are never alone, and never without Your Very Present Help!

Lord Jesus, we’re thanking You for an outpouring of Your Divine Favor upon each and every one of your children who are seeking employment, promotion, prompt approval for student/car/home loans and assure them that YOU are Jehovah Jareh, who shall supply all of their need according to Your Riches in Glory!

Father as we believe, declare and decree, that every demonic-induced spirit of perversion, yoke of addiction is broken, every spirit of doubt, unbelief and fear is defeated NOW because of Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Sound-mindness and Purpose is being released in the lives of Your people immediately, in Jesus Name!

Abba Father, we stand in agreement with You Who hears ours prayers and forgives our transgressions! Holy Father, because You have personally chosen us and brought us near to live in Your House, we shout with joy unto The One to Whom all men will come! We yield all that we have, all that we have and all that we hope to be, in obedient reverence before The Hope of all the earth, believing that as Your face shines upon us that, You are making Your ways and salvation known among all nations for You Guide and Rule justly!

Father we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling, suddenly departing in shame and disgust, is now retreating in defeat 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!

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

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS STILL CARES!

SELAH!

GOD REMEMBERS!

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GOD REMEMBERS2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, for YAH, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation. Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:2-3

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Isa. 49:16

 

In light of the prevailing gross darkness, devastation and desolation taking place in our world today, I was incited to review the words of God’s Prophet, Isaiah, speaking to the remnant of God’s Chosen nation.

God’s people were facing eminent danger of massive destruction, yet we hear Isaiah offering a word of warning and hope that we’d do well to glean from today. The Prophet encourages them that no matter what’s happening around you, don’t be afraid, but keep trusting and praising our God! Isaiah, knowing God inhabits the praises of His people, speaks to souls wearied by the consequences of unwise choices and reminds them that their only hope of deliverance was to remain steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of their Lord! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 15:58)

God is Holy, Righteous and Just! While He must punish the unjust, His Anger does not last forever! Unlike many of our earthly fathers, YAH is our Covenant-keeping God and remains a Faithful Father, Saving Strength, Shield, Provider and Redeemer to all who call upon Him! From His own Mouth, Abba Father promises to wipe away the tears from their faces and keep you in perfect peace because we trust in Him! (Ref. Isaiah 25:8, 26:3-4)

Beloved, when life is out of your control, rest assured, Jesus is always in control! The Eternal Word testifies that you are the apple of His eye and He has tatooed your name in the palm of His Hands forever. (Ref. Psalm 17:8; Isa. 49:16)

In the midst of these unsettling times,  there’s no denying the myriad of distractions that are attempting to cause even the most seasoned of saints to question whether or not The Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of All Life is really concerned about what’s going on down here amongst the gross darkness of a lost, unfaithful and rebellious world,  nevertheless, I adjourn you to keep your eyes on Jesus, The Joy of your Salvation and your feet steadfast on THE WORD! Be confident of this very thing, He that has begun a GOOD WORK IS FAITHFUL TO COMPLETE IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST! (Ref. Philippians 1:6)

Precious ones, when you can’t see no way, why not confuse hell and praiz JESUS anyhow! Don’tchaknow? At the mere mentioning of THE NAME OF JESUS demons tremble and the angelic host is put on alert!

Ooooh Yeah!  TRUST2KNO, The Great and Holy One of Israel is closer than ever before! Hence, don’t ever forget that YOUR GOD REMEMBERS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

LEAN ON ME!

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LEAN ON ME 2!

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me…He brought me out into a spacious place, he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:16-17, 19
Looking around, God’s elect find ourselves confronting by circumstances that challenge the very foundation of our trust! We’re seeing things that were once unimaginable realized right before our very eyes! Our hearts are overwhelmed by the swiftness of the degradation of the core of humanity’s morality! While wisdom is largely rejected and Shame is nearly extinct, Arrogance has become the new order of the day! Thereby allowing men to do what is right in his own mind! Truthfully, many seasoned-saints are secretly fainting, wearied in well-doing and longing for the Promised Rapture!

Rarely do you find the sacred sounds flowing from the sanctuaries on Sunday mornings, noon day prayer meetings and Friday nites where the people of God once gathered to call on The Name that’s above every name before erupting in exuberant praises celebrating real deliverances wrought by The Faithful Hand of The Lord! The induction of the more sophisticated-politically-correct-con temporal-relevant- reformations of Millenniums have subrocated many of the ol’ skool teachings, songs and hymns to backroom storage in dusty piano benches in order to make the message more palatable to the masses! #ijs

Unfortunately, there are some troubles, tests and trials that you can’t STOMP yourself out of or BOUNCE your way thru! Time is hurling into Eternity at the speed of life and 45 seconds of the nitely news affirms that we’re living in the last of the last days! As the institutions of men are being shaken by sporadic turbulent waves of the wisdom of this age, it’s incumbent upon each of us to be very sure that we’re anchored in The Solid Rock!

As the ol’ Mothers used to sanng, ‘In times like this, U Need a Savior, in times like this, U need an Anchor! Thanks Be 2 God, there’s yet a remnant of believers who are crying out, “Lead Me to The Rock that’s higher than I’! As satanic fiery darts continue to spread globally, consuming dreams, diminishing aspirations and devastating families, we must earnestly bend our knees and bow our hearts Heaven-ward, seeking refuge in the secret place of The Most High God!

For in the time of trouble, we hide behind The Shield of our very Present Help who faithfully rescues those who delight in His Truth!  Driven by The Eternal Hope, our souls rest assured in quietness, peace and joy, awaiting the The Horn of our Salvation, courageously-confident that God’s Power is Incomparable, His Love is Inseparable and His Provision and Protection are Infinite!

Beloved, whenever life’s maladies leave you too weak to stand on your own, chances are you’re right where God wants you. Positioned for breakthrough! Remember, God never intended you to do life independent of Him, that’s why He sent Holy Spirit! Sshhhhh! Didjaheardat? #LEANONME!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

YOUR ANSWER IS AT THE DOOR!

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UR ANSWER IS AT THE DOOR

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she wa so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” Acts 12:13-14

 

According to Acts Chapter 12, the 1st Century Church was experiencing phenomenal growth as the Gospel spread. Not surprisingly, everybody was not excited about what God was doing! The people were leaving the synagogue in droves to follow the Message of this relatively new (and suspect prophet) Jesus Christ. The religious leaders were quite upset because their social and economic status was diminishing as the offerings were declining with so many of their big time supporters leaving the Temple. In order to gain political clout, recognition and favor within the Jewish community, King Herod Agrippa launched an all hands on deck campaign to quench the fire of this Gospel preaching by killing as many leaders of this so call “Christ Ones’ Movement”. Now, it’s Peter who was locked up awaiting execution. BUT GOD BLOCKED IT!

God sent an angel into the Maximum-Security Detention Center, where Peer was chained hand and feet in stocks under the watch of 16 armed guards assigned to secure one unarmed Preacha! WOW! I must point out that (unlike a lot of us) Peter was not up pacing the floor crying, ‘Why me, Lord’ or accusing God for letting this happen to him, but according to the text, Peter was sleeping so hard that the angel had to hit him forcefully just to wake him up! The Bible says, immediately the chains fell off of him. Everything happened so fast, Peter thought he was having a dream or a vision!

Once he came to himself and realized that he was free, Peter decided to catch up with his boys (who were most likely at John Mark’s Mother’s house) and let the know what The Lord had done. Unbeknownst to Peter, while he was locked up in prison, they were having a shut-in (all night prayer meeting)! While they were ernestly seeking God’s help on behalf of their brother, Peter knocked on the door! Rhoda, the servant girl, went to the door, seeing Peter, got so excited that she ran to tell the others and she forgot to open the door to let Peter in. When they finally opened the door and saw Peter standing there, the scripture say they were utterly astonished. Didjaheardat? They were praying to God, but not really expecting their prayers to be answered. #OUCH! Sounds like some of us, huh?

How many times have you, with your sanctimonious self, taken the time to pray for something not really expecting God to answer your prayer? Or worse yet, failed to recognize the answer when it came knocking at your door? Yall know, we have a tendency to allow what we’ve experiences in the past to get in our present circumstances and rob us of now faith!

God is Sovereign! Hence, His Ways are not our ways! We must remember that when we pray, we’re not praying to a mere mortal or some distant-disinterested,-sub-diety—BUT THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD WHO CAN DO ANY AND EVERYTHING! In fact, it grieves the Holy Spirit when He sends answers to our prayers and they’re returned to Him stamped ‘unclaimed’! When we pray we must know not only does God care about everything you care about, but He is willing and able to give you those things that you desire of Him, that’s according to His Word!

Precious Ones, don’t miss your breakthrough because it doesn’t look like what you were expecting. Don’t give up! Keep on praying; keep on knocking! Keep on believing! God’s listening and any moment now expect to be blessed! TRUST2KNOW; YOUR ANSWER WILL SOON BE AT THE DOOR!  SSHHHH! What’s dat?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

PURPOSE TRUMPS PAIN

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PURPOSE TRUMPS PAIN

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25

 
“Don’t put a question mark where God has put a period.” Sounds good, huh? Plastered on a billboard, right? Unfortunately, it’s potetency seeps out in everyday real life! Because that’s exactly what many of us do when things don’t workout like we think they should. We marry our soul mate and three years later, we’re widowed. We train up our children to love and follow Jesus, and they’re addicted to cocaine. We finally get that promotion and are able to buy our dream house and the doctor reports confirm that your wife has Stage 4 breast cancer!

Sometimes life doesn’t make sense! Perhaps, that’s why God told us not to lean to our own understanding, knowing His ways are beyond our human comprehension, huh? But He does tell us that before we breathed our first day, He’s designed each day to work together for our greatest good and His Higher Glory. I surely recognize that to the carnal mind, in the midst of tests, trials and tragedy, this offers little help (and even less hope). But there is some Good News for those who’ve become wearied in well-doing! The True and Living God Who takes pleasure in our prosperity is in complete control of our end from the beginning! (Ref. Romans 8:28)

Contrary to this new 21st Century Gospel-Lite philosophical preaching that asserts that if you choose to follow Jesus, (as if you ever would) the rest of your journey will be a flowery bed of ease,  God recycles those who have put their faith and trust in Him alone into agents of transformation for the upbuilding of His Kingdom in the Earth! While The Father of Comfort is determined that you reach the fullness of your Destiny, He’s Sovereignly ordained that you face resistance, struggles and adversity in this life, in order to produce and prove your Godly character.

It’s easy for us to get stuck in the muck and mire of our pain and waste it! #Datsoundsabitharsh, huh? Honestly, while life is filled with unexpected uninvited disruptions, nothing happens coincidentally! God doesn’t waste pain! It’s in the midst of these sporadic interuptions that we discover what God has put on the inside of you, not to deminish you, but to prepare you for the next level of your mission. Hence, we must decide whether or not we’re going to remain pitififul or allow this to make us powerful!

I tend to think about it like this, everytime I use my painful experiences to help somebody who’s facing a challenge that I’ve already come thru, I just imagine the demons trembling in terror. Remember the scripture that says, if they only knew what was going to happen when they crucified our Lord and Savior, they never would’ve done it! (Ref. 1 Corinthians 2:8) Ha! Ha! So, I gotta admit that turning the tables on the devil is absolutely delightful. In fact, I tell him, “Satan, you’re gonna regret every moment of this more than I ever will!”

Beloved, by using the lessons we gain to help somebody else, we’re heaping coals of fire on the devil’s head! If you will allow the pain to transform your mind, you gain a greater understanding of God’s miraculous Power and sustaining Grace! Besides that, your faith will boister a personal confidence that affirms ‘IF GOD DID IT BEFORE, HE’LL DO IT AGAIN! As I allow these experiences to make me better rather than bitter, I can be content regardless of my circircumstances!’ (Ref. Philippians 4:11)

Somebody said, NO PAIN NO GAIN! However, unless you change your perspective, this offers little to motivate you in the furnace of affliction! In order for us to grow through these seasons of difficulties we must be fully persuaded that because of God’s unconditional Love and immutable Faithfulness, the only reason God has allowed this, is because He knows He can trusts me with this trouble! WOW! PURPOSE TRUMPS PAIN!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

THE CROSS AND THE CROWN

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THE CROSS AND THE CROWN

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 NIV

 

Ever looked at anyone and admired their zeal, confidence, positive attitude and their success? Who hasn’t, right? Ever looked at somene and (secretly of course), coveted, envied, wondered why did they get all the breaks and not me? No? Right! #Juswondering

Well, for those of us who’re yet awaiting our hallos and wings, it’s not that uncommon to envy those who appear to have so easily overcome adversity, conquered conflict and triumphed to the pennacles of prosperity! That is, until we discover the real story behind their glory! As the Scripture reveals, the mind of a man plans his way, but The Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) Unless you were born late last night or arrived on the planet earth early this morning, you already know that the journey of life is filled with just as many moments of misery as merriment. It matters not whether you were born sucking on the proverbial silverspoon, sprawled out on the back pew or crouched behind the dumpster, trouble, test, trials, tragedy and tyranny will be a non-discrimnatory uninvited interruption. (Ref. Job 14:1)

Every man must bear his own cross! But thanks be to God! The Omniscient Creator of The Universe has strategically ordained every single step and stop to assure that His Purpose for each one of our lives be fulfilled! The goal of our Lord for His Beloved is that we be transformed into His Image, demonstrating His character and reflecting His Glory into a dark, lost, dying, hellbound world. Sometimes, this process demands enduring physical, emotional and spiritual discomfort as we learn to walk by faith and not by sight, trusting wholly in The Faithful Lovingkindness of Our Invisible Savior!

However, The Master Architect works it all together for our greatest good and His Highest Glory! (Romans 8:28) Our Heavenly Father Sovereignly designs the exact dimensions of length, width and depth of the cross you’ll need to carry you safely across the tumultuous rivers, through dry valleys enabling you to meticulously ascend to predestined mountaintops enroute to your Eternal Destiny.

Kinda makes you go, uuuummm? Huh? Exactly! Can you really afford to judge another man’s crown?

Now imagine The Cross that Jesus carried, not for Himself,  not for us; not for them…BUT 4 ME!  YOU SEE, UNTIL WE MAKE IT PERSONAL, IT NOT REAL! Don’t know about you, but it makes me wanna holla and throw up both my hands, HALLELUJAH! THANKYA JESUS!

YOUR CROSS! YOUR CROWN!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I DON’T MIND WAITING

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I DON'T MIND WAITING!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3
If there’s anything that I find more detestable than eating okra, it’s gotta be waiting! Oh, don’t look at me with that tone of voice. I see your hand up too! Out of all of the spiritual gifts we crave, patience is probably at least next to the bottom of the list! The Ol’ Churrch Mothers used to say, ‘Baby, don’t ever ask God for patience, cause you’re inviting trouble to your door’!

But I’ve lived long enough to conclude, invited or not, Trouble’s bound to show up sooner or later. So it behooves us to not just expect it but to prepare for the unexpected. One of the first things on the ‘to do list’ of every soul who pledges allegiance to The Cross should be learning how to wait! While there’s little to none chance of escaping waiting, I’ve found it to be extremely efficacious to establish a few things at the onset!

Primarily, Who you’re waiting on has a direct affect on how you wait. Next, consider the probability of facilitation of your expectation. Lastly, what time constraints are you prepared to impose on the process? #WOW, huh?

Waiting on God is always our best bet! (Ref. Philippians 3:1-4) As you’ve probably realized by now, the odds of success when putting all of your confidence in any flesh, especially your own, is kinda like winning Power Ball Mega Millions the first time you purchased a lottery ticket. Exactly! Not that their intentions weren’t honorable; BUT! Sometimes, God will ordain those certain ONLY GOD types of situations to tutor us in ‘The Validity of Maintaining Confidence in His Trustworthiness’! God knows that as long as we can handle life on our own (or with the aid of that other person), chances are we’ll never come to Him! When we seek God first (not as a last resort), our faith is rewarded exceedingly beyond our expectations (Ref. Matthew 6:31-33)

GOD CANNOT LIE! (Ref Numbers 23:19) Once we’ve established the reliability of God’s Word, based conclusively upon a settled-realism that everything God ever promised already is, that all of the promises of God are Yea and Amen (Ref. 2 Corinthians 1:20) and that God has obligated Himself to bring every Word He’s ever spoken it to pass, we rest!  Hence,  personal trust blossomes through patient waiting, in quiet confident hope, knowing that our Harvest Time is coming! (Ref. Hebrews 6:18)

So the next time the devil asks, “Whatcha waiting on?”, don’t bother to respond! Just stretch out the cords, buckle down the hatches and get ready for the overflow!

When you’re expecting God, anytime He shows up is your season for Grace and Favor!  #ijs, DON’T MIND THE WAITING!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

POWER BELONGS 2 GOD!

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POWER BELONGS 2 GOD

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

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 62:7-8,11
 

Over the past 50 years, we’ve seen a whole lot of changes. Our society has evolved from being agriculturally dominated, thru industrially dominated, into an age where information technology dominates. Some of you remember what it was like growing up in the country. You worked hard and you played hard; but through it all you were able to maintain a healthy balance between the physical labor of working the fields and the ease of drinking a cold glass of lemonade sitting on the porch come Sunday afternoon.
 
Then, the war came, and many of our brothers went off to war leaving the familiarity of the farms for foreign soil, forcing those left behind into factories working the machinery building weapons, mass production of crops, meat, clothing, etc. The dirt roads and shotgun houses were replaced by concrete paved streets and skyscrapers. The Industrial Age had taken over and the ease of those Sunday mornings vacated and swapped with washing the car, 2 hours at the gym, 3-mile runs, kids soccer games, karate tournaments, or at the very least, I gotta get my stuff ready to go back to work next week!
 
As wars and rumors of wars escalate, so has tension, stress and the push for greater technological advancements. The factories have basically come to a hault as the focus shifted away from meeting the needs of common folk  onto which nation will gather the most information proving who’s the best of the best; who’s going to be the first country to put a man on the moon, mars of take over a yet undiscovered universe; who’s gonna build the biggest bomb, and who’s gonna conquer outer space once we blow up this planet. YEAH BABY, WE’VE COME A LONG WAY, huh?
 
Who nu? Here we are in the 21st Century, and for many we got what we wanted, but at what cost? The laughter of our children in the yard jumping double-dutch, playing football, the swish of the ball dropping through a wooden loop, the clicking sounds of cardboard or plastic between the spikes of bikes, roller skates racing down the streets have been silenced by the noise of doors being slammed by rebellious children barricading themselves in their rooms; whispering, texting and yes, even sexing on $500 cell phones/ipads or the clicking of remote controls to $700  video games played on 75-inch flat screen TV’s! Owww Wheeeeee, don’t shout me down now!
 
While we, the parents have bought into the propaganda being dupped with the misguided philosopy, “I’m gonna make sure that my baby has it better than I did”, we’ve created a generation of young people who seem to get everything in life they want, yet have nothing to live for. Meanwhile, many of them are engaging in disruptive habits that scream, “LIFE’S A BEACH! I hate myself, and I hate you too. So why not make a pact to commit suicide, or I’m bored so let’s go shoot up a bunch of folk we don’t even know.”
 
Honestly! If you’re not prayerful, it’s easy to allow all the hell of this world to consume your whole life.  Yall don’t believe it, huh?  Well, it’s gotten to the point now that even the most seasoned saints may ponder the Satanically-induced thought of cutting your own wrist, just to escape the peril of these wicked times. 

BUT GOD! Knowing everything that humanity would experience, left it on record to console those who would become weary in well-doing, ‘while we’re in this world—we are not of this world!’ Although, we are not exempt from test, trials and persecution, we are never alone! (Ref. Hebrews 13:5)
 
Precious Saints, when it looks like there’s no point to living for God (aka) living holy and you’ve come to the end of your rope, that’s your clue—not to give up but to take a stand—tie a knot in the rope and hang on! Cling to the Hope of your calling, Jesus Christ—The Living Word of Life! (Ref. Ephesians 1:18)
 
Remember He Who has called you is Faithful and True (Ref. 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Revelations 19:11) and He Yet Reigns! POWER BELONGS 2 GOD!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee