Tag Archives: walk

WALK IT OUT!

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Wet shoe

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Jesus replied,“The time is coming, ma’am, when we will no longer be concerned about whether to worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. For it’s not where we worship that counts, but how we worship—is our worship spiritual and real? Do we have the Holy Spirit’s help? For God is Spirit, and we must have his help to worship as we should. The Father wants this kind of worship from us. But you Samaritans know so little about him, worshiping blindly, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes to the world through the Jews.” John 4:21-24 TLB

 

Unless you were born late last night or just landed on planet earth early this morning, you gotta recognize that this whole world has gone crazy! I don’t care who you are, where you live, how many tongues you speak in, you’ve gotta admit that stuff is going down around us today that Mama and Daddy ‘nem never could’ve imagined. We’re living in desperate times, huh?

You don’t have to be a bible scholar or seminary theologian, or even have the Holy Ghost to be able to discern the signs of the times. We are living in the last of the last days. And Jesus is soon to come. Amen 3x? #DON’T SHOUT ME DOWN!

Let me assure you, it matters not whether you’re young or old, everybody needs to know Jesus for themselves. It’s getting darker out here, and there’s no guarantee that you got all that time you think you have to get yourself together. But while you have today, we need to stop blaming or comparing ourselves with everybody else and figure out how to work out our own soul salvation! None of us should allow what nobody else is doing to distract us and make us miss Jesus, huh?

It doesn’t matter who’s in the White House, Senate, Congress, Court House, Jail House, Out House or who falls off the financial cliff, YOU need to be very sure that this world is not your Source of provision, comfort, joy and certainly not your peace! Them ol’ skool Mothers sanng, “My Hope is built on nothing less, but Jesus Blood and His Righteousness, I dare not trust the sweet frame, but wholly lean on JESUS NAME”!

Beloved, time is spirialing into eternity at the speed of LIFE! Hence, recess is over and time’s out for fakin’ it till you make it! We no longer have the luxury of procrastinating! You’ve gotta get off the proverbial fence and make a decision. Either you’re going to walk by faith or allow the cares of this lost and dying world to slamm, trample and sift your joy, strength and hope for better days to come. If the only hope you have is in this world, you’re destined to live a most miserable life! (Ref. 1 Cor. 15:19)

Saints, God has a better plan for His children. “I come that you might have life and that more abundantly” (Ref. John 10:10) Yet,  contrary to  the more palatable contemporized Gospel-Lite doctine, God’s Promises are conditional! As the CEO of your destiny, The Word of God must take priority over everything! Therefore, it’s not enough to hear the Word, you must believe it to the point that you live it; i.e by walking it out in your everyday life!  #Didjaheardat? #Seriously?

Stop allowing your intellect to compromise your faith in what God can do. This ain’t the first time, the odds have been stacked against you. Remember, what you see is only temporary, but the Word of God stands forever, eternally established and secure!

Precious One, worship God out of a spirit of faithful obedience. Encourage yourself, giving praise and Glorraaa to your God Who is Faithful and Powerful enough to keep every promise that He’s ever made.  Don’t stop til u getit, GETIT! #WALK IT OUT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

YES LORD!

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YES LORD!

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Hebrews 4:2

 

WOW! Just thinking about backndaday, when the Saints gathered on Sunday afternoon for Holy Convocation! Talkin’ about The Grand Ole Church of God In Christ. I’m here to tell ya, did we ever have some sho nuff churrch huh?  I remember how I felt when the Elder would approach the pulpit and begin bellowing out our International COGIC Anthem, “YES LORD!”  Still not sure whether it was meant to call the church to order, calm the shoutin saints down, to take up the offering or what. But what I do know is that just hearing those words that were first uttered from the mouth of our Founder, Charles H. Mason, always took our worship into another dimension of God’s Presence!

Unfortunately, you don’t hear that song sang much anymore. At least not in the same manner, huh? Don’t shout me down now! #ijs

The Holy Spirit just said, ‘that’s because My people aren’t saying ‘YES’ to Me that much anymore!’ OMG! Honestly, that really doesn’t suprise me! There’s so much noisey chatter going around the Christian Community these day, folk aren’t sure what’s of God and what’s not! One side of the church is saying, “It’s a new day and we’re no longer under The Law, we’re under Grace”! The other side is saying, “If you don’t have a new house, drive a certain car, live in a certain zip code, the favor of God is not on your life because you don’t have enuff faith!” And hardly anybody is preaching what God expects of those who claim His Son as Lord and Savior! (Ref. Micah 6:8)
We’re living in a day-n-time when every man wants to do what seems right in their own eyes. If we don’t like what that preacher’s preaching, we can keep driving until we find one that affirms and validates what we want to do, right? To make the transition easier, we can even search the internet until we find one that suits our lifestyle and e-church!

Problem is, while times have changed, The Word of God HASN’T! IT IS ETERNAL!! While the world is busy legislating and flaunting their rebellious unrighteousness, it’s  virtually impossible for mere man to dismiss the boundaries and rules for living that God has established! Jesus is Lord! Saints, there’s another side of God’s Holiness that the world (and some of the church) has completely rejected! ‘The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath” (Nahum 1:2)

Hence,  it may seem as if God has turned His face away from this world and is allowing everything to fall apart, however God wants us to know that everything is falling right in place! Remember, Goshen? “They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” Exodus 10:23

What does God want us to do? It’s simple, walk with HIM! Trust HIM, agree with HIM! Regardless of how the circumstantial evidence appears to contradict The Promises, have faith in The Immutable Word of God! (Ref. Proverbs 3:5-6)

Set your face toward Jesus and just keep saying ‘YES LORD’! #didjaheardat?
SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

WALK IT OUT!

1 Reply

 

Wet shoe

 

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Jesus replied,“The time is coming, ma’am, when we will no longer be concerned about whether to worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. For it’s not where we worship that counts, but how we worship—is our worship spiritual and real? Do we have the Holy Spirit’s help? For God is Spirit, and we must have his help to worship as we should. The Father wants this kind of worship from us. But you Samaritans know so little about him, worshiping blindly, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes to the world through the Jews.” John 4:21-24 TLB

 

Unless you were born late last night or just landed on planet earth early this morning, you gotta recognize that this whole world has gone crazy! I don’t care who you are, where you live, how many tongues you speak in, you’ve gotta admit that stuff is going down around us today that Mama and Daddy ‘nem never could’ve imagined. We’re living in desperate times, huh?

You don’t have to be a bible scholar or seminary theologian, or even have the Holy Ghost to be able to discern the signs of the times. We are living in the last of the last days. And Jesus is soon to come. Amen 3x? #DON’T SHOUT ME DOWN!

Let me assure you, it matters not whether you’re young or old, everybody needs to know Jesus for themselves. It’s getting darker out here, and there’s no guarantee that you got all that time you think you have to get yourself together. But while you have today, we need to stop blaming or comparing ourselves with everybody else and figure out how to work out our own soul salvation! None of us should allow what nobody else is doing to distract us and make us miss Jesus, huh?

It doesn’t matter who’s in the White House, Senate, Congress, Court House, Jail House, Out House or who falls off the financial cliff, YOU need to be very sure that this world is not your Source of provision, comfort, joy and certainly not your peace! Them ol’ skool Mothers sanng, “My Hope is built on nothing less, but Jesus Blood and His Righteousness, I dare not trust the sweet frame, but wholly lean on JESUS NAME”!

Beloved, time is spirialing into eternity at the speed of LIFE! Hence, recess is over and time’s out for fakin’ it till you make it! We no longer have the luxury of procrastinating! You’ve gotta get off the proverbial fence and make a decision. Either you’re going to walk by faith or allow the cares of this lost and dying world to slamm, trample and sift your joy, strength and hope for better days to come. If the only hope you have is in this world, you’re destined to live a most miserable life!

Saints, God has a better plan for His children. “I come that you might have life and that more abundantly” (Ref. John 10:10) Yet,  contrary to New Age Gospel-Lite doctine, God’s Promises are conditional! As the CEO of your destiny, The Word of God must take priority over everything! Therefore, it’s not enough to hear the Word, you must believe it to the point that you live it; i.e by walking it out in your everyday life!

Stop allowing your intellect to compromise your faith in what God can do. This ain’t the first time, the odds have been stacked against you. Remember, what you see is only temporary, but the Word of God stands forever, eternally established and secure!

Precious one, worship God out of a spirit of faithful obedience. Encourage yourself, giving praise and Glorraaa to your God Who is Faithful and Powerful enough to keep every promise that He’s ever made.  Don’t stop til u getit, GETIT! #WALK IT OUT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

WATER WALKERS

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WATER WALKERS

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrew 11:6

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24
Honestly, it really doesn’t require a whole lot of faith to believe that GOD CAN! Just open your eyes, or better yet, shut them and continue to breath! However, believing that GOD WILL takes Biblical faith to an entirely different level that too many rarely attain. I’m not talking Bible-quoting, but water-walking empowering faith that moves you to get out of the boat, with nothing to stand on but The Word of God! (Ref. Matthew 14:28)
 
Quite frankly, it’s the after we make the decision that causes us the most conflict. Remember, before we got a personal revelation of Jesus Christ and committed to live holy as unto The Lord, rarely did we question or rebuke the enemy’s temptations to sin. Yet now that we’re saved, the enemy targets us relentlessly tempting us to surrender our faith in The Invisible God and put more confidence in The Liar! And that’s when the real tests come! It’s when you’re challenged to stop thinking about it and put your feet where you mouth is! That’s the scuuarry part, huh?
 
The Scriptures record numerous accounts where God’s people found themselves in dire straits and having no other recourse, but to cry out to The Lord, their God, trusting wholeheartedly that not only does God hear—but GOD Answers!
 
King David, reminiscing back to a time, having to flee from King Saul’s armies, being surrounded by his enemies, narrowly escaping with his life, penned these words, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19. David’s testimony still replenishes our hope today that even when it looks like there’s no way out, if you call on The Name of The Lord, GOD will show up and make a way out of no way!
 
In 2 Timothy 3:12, The Apostle Paul, echoing David’s sentiment, encourages his young protégée, Timothy, “as you walk with Jesus Christ, expect afflictions and persecution”. Yet, in the Eternal Purpose of God, compared to the Glorious future that God has stored up for us, it’s only a momentary light affliction! (Ref. Romans 8:18, Jeremiah 29:11)
 
Don’t even think that our Loving Savior sits idly aloof from His Beloved, leaving us to fend for ourselves. Not on your life! But The Lion of Judah moves compassionately towards every moan and groan of our being, intervening on our behalf, turning everything around to work in our favor! (Ref. Hebrew 4:15)
 
No matter what you may be experiencing now, God knew exactly where you’d be, even before He allowed you to enter into this season. Stay confident! Remember, GOD says when enough is enough; and who or what can stop HIM?

TRUST2KNOW! NOT ONLY IS GOD ABLE…HE WILL! WHATCHA WAITING ON? STEP OUT THE BOAT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

SHALLOW CHRISTIANITY

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SHALLOW CHRISTIANITY

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we’ll be ready for HIM when HE appears, ready to receive Him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when He arrives. Once you’re convinced that he is right and righteous, you’ll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God’s true children. 1 JOHN 2:28-29 THE MESSAGE

 
It might surprise you! One of the greatest deterrents to advancing The Kingdom of God in the earth is not ‘da devil’ BUT ‘Shallow Christians’! What is that, you ask. Well they’re not that hard to recognize. In fact, they’re probably your pew partners. Whhhaaaa? #ikr! While they confess their faith in The Lord Jesus, their walk does not line up with their talk, and as a result, most likely they’re confusing many who’ve yet to invite Christ into their lives as Savior and Lord!

OOOHHH Yessss I did go there! I know how churrch-folk are adamant about not judging, right? But, for your own safety, the Bible says a tree is known by the fruit it bears! More importantly, God knows those who are His! (Ref. 2 Timothy 2:19)

The preaching and teaching of this Gospel of Christ is still the best way to get souls saved, but sometimes His PR staff could use a refreshers course on what it means to live deeply in Christ!

Rest assured, God is not mocked! (Ref. Galatians 6:7) While we might impress some people with our 11:00 A.M. Sunday morning tongue-talking, pew hopping, propha-lyin, shout’n and danc’n, GOD KNOWS the difference between those who are faking it ’till they make it and those who freely rejoice in the mercy, compassionate, longsuffering, unconditional Love of The Heavenly Father, yet acknowledge that sometimes they miss the mark and have yet to reach perfection!

Shallow christians hide behind shameless excuses to continue to satisfy their ungodly cravings, but a true child of God will be quick to repent. GOD KNOWS those who are genuinely striving everyday to mortify the wickness of their flesh and live a life that pleases HIM even at their own hurt! After all, we are living epistles! It’s our holy lifestyle  that will advertise and promote the True Answer to mankinds’ most dire and desperate need–THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, JESUS CHRIST!

I am by no means suggesting that this is easy nor is it a one and done thang! But God already took care of that too. He sent your Guardian, Holy Spirit, to live inside of you to teach and empower you to say no to sin and yes to righteousness!

Sometimes, it looks like Satan is gaining the upper hand, huh?  Beloved, don’t fall for the devil’s tricks and please don’t blame God! Trust 2 know, God ain’t scarred! Remember what happened when Jesus went to Hell, snatched the keys from his puny hands and got up proclaiming, ALL POWER IS IN MY HANDS?

God is raising up an army of disciples that no man can number; building a new nation of trusting believers who will obey His Voice; hewing out a courageous People who’re not ashamed to live righteously in the midst of darkness as a monument to HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, POWER AND MAJESTY!

Examine yourself? REPRSENT JESUS? LIVE DEEPLY?

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? GREAT! LET’S PRAY…

 

BECAUSE OF WHO U R, WE GIVE U GLORAAA…BCUZ OF WHO U R, WE GIVE U PRAIZ! BECAUSE OF WHO U R, I WILL LIFT MY VOICE AND SAY, LORD, I WORSHIP U, BCUZ OF WHO U R…HERE WE ARE TO WORSHIP, HERE WE ARE TO BOW DOWN, HERE WE ARE TO SAY THAT YOU’RE OUR KING! YOU’RE ALTOGETHER LOVELY, ALTOGETHER WORTHY, ALTOGETER WONDERFUL 2 me…

Father in Heaven, here we are before you once again. We come today with outstretched arms, open hands and grateful hearts, for this is the day that You have made! Therefore we’re rejoicing in The Splendor of Your Magnificent Glory! We know that it’s only because of Your Grace and Mercy, that we’re yet here! It’z because of Your love for us, You have allowed us one more day to enjoy life, health and strength. We’re thankful for another opportunity to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto you.

From our Mother’s womb, You’ve proven Yourself to be Faithful and True; therfore, we’re trusting You to provide everything that we need today to sustain us thru whatever challenges that unfold during the course of this day! Abba Father, we know that You Alone are our God, Guard and Guide!

Father, with eternal gratitude we bless You for allowing us to enter into Your Throne Room, with hope-filed expectation that you will entreat us graciously as we pour out the burdens that seem to overwhelm our hearts, releasing everything that concerns us to you! Lord Jesus, because we know that You are Omniscient, Omnipresent, You see and You already know everything about everyone of us, yet you have welcomed us to come to you, to find Grace and Mercy to comfort, strengthen and encourage us to hold on to every Word that You have spoken over our lives, before we were born.

Daddy, as we stand humbly before Your Sovereignty, before we go any further, we’re asking You to forgive us for everything that we, your children, have spoken, done and even thought that was not pleasing in Your sight. We thank You now because You have assured us that if we would confess our sins, You, Heavenly being Faithful and Just, will forgive us, and wash us in The Precious Blood of Jesus, cleansing us from all unrighteousness, and restoring the breach that our disobedience has caused between our poor souls and our Lord and Savior, Jesus!

Now, we ask Holy Spirit to intercede for us, on our behalf, our family, our friends, even our enemies, as we know that Your love is the same to each and everyone of us!

Abba, we know that You have instructed us, to look not at the temporary things, but to the eternal, yet You know the frailness of our flesh, and how easily we’re provoked and tempted to become overwhelmed by the cares of this world, that our hearts are burdened with the pressures of this life, that some of us are wearied with fear, doubt, unbelief, sickness and disease, financial debt, broken relationships, unprovoked threats, depression, addictions, insecurities.

Lord you know that sometimes we lose our focus on You causing our days to be spent beneath clouds of evil foreboding, while our nites are plagued with restlessness, despondency and hopelessness! Lord, keep us in Your Will, as only You can!

Lord we pray that you will save, heal and deliver speedily by Your Mighty Hand,all those who are crying out to you, seeking Your Face at the very moment! Give us to know that because we belong to You, we are never too far that You can’t see us, reach us, and shield us from anything that the devil would rail against us. Help us to understand that Your Name, Jesus is a Strong Tower, and those that You hve declared the righteous run into it and are saved.

Open up our minds and our hearts, filling us with Your Assurance, and confidence that at The Name of Jesus, every knee must bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord! Grace your children with hope-filled trust that You, Father have committed Your Word towards us that no weapon that’s formed us shall ever prosper and except You allow it, no trouble, test or trial can come near us. We thank you Lord, for fully persuading us our of Providential Presence and Power to turn everything around to work in our favor and to bring about exuberant testimonies and praizes of Your Eternal Magnificence, Honor and Glory!

Father, we thank you now for listening to the hearts of everyone reading and praying with us. We thank you for hearing the hearts of those who have never trusted and accepted Your Son Jesus as Savior and Lord! We are thankful that Holy Spirit is quickening that stony heart now and that they shall come to You humbled by Your Lovingkindness, in obedient to Your call and are now receving your Mercy and Grace to Save. We pray now that You are leading and guiding them to the local church, planting them inYour Vineyard, where they shall be taught and transformed by Your Word of Life to take their position in The Kingdom of Heaven.

Father, we pray for those who are distraught by grief and fear, the elderly, the widows, the downcast who have born the heat of the day, especially those who pushed and prayed us through! Father, give them sweet peace. Lord, we pray for the leaders of governments world-wide, their hearts are in Your Hands, visit them in the night season and command them to do Your Will.

Lord, I pray for every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that You are releasing Divine power, Supernatural strength and health, provision, prosperity and protection. Father, we’re trusting that You shall preserve them thru the tests that they must go thru and keep them constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that You will bring them out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward as You have promised them in Your Word!

Father, we 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 YET HE, Jehovah Jareh, who shall supply all of their need according to Your Riches in Glory!

Father we decree and declare that every demonic-induced spirit of addiction and fear is defeated NOW because of Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Sound-mindness and Purpose is being released into the lives of Your people now, in Jesus Name!

Abba, we lift up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher and Teacher. Undergird them with Your Anointing to carry out their assignment, under the direction of Holy Spirit. Cover them as they go in and out amongst Your people and those who would seek to discredit, hinder and even destroy their faith, faithfulness and the ministryYou have ordained.

Lord, there are so many other things, that we have yet to mention, but we’re trusting, believing you to fix it, Jesus, as only You can! Lord, we know that You are not just able, but willing to do anything that we ask, in accorance to Your Word, in Jesus Name!

As we offer us this prayer, Father we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shame, 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!

Father, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that it is done! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X

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

THAT’S LIFE!

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THAT'S LIFE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 
 

There’s one thing that each of us faces as we tread through this 21st Century, both believers or unbelievers, and that’s ‘The uncertainty”.  Yes, it’s pretty much a guarantee at some point during our day we will all face some degree of uncertainty.  Whether it’s wondering if we’ll have a job tomorrow,  will there be a massive storm or will the sun be shining, what will the traffic be like, what will I come home to, will I have the finances to take that much needed and earnestly anticipated vacation?
 
Life always entails a mist of mystery that one might reckon to a confusing road trip. Sometimes, we might know where we want to go, but we’re rarely aware of the congestion, structural delays, not to mention the inexplicable road signs that seem to hamper our getting from where we are to where we’re going.

I’m not trying to be flippant, neither attempting to diminish the level of frustration that we’re surely forced to endure, but if I might borrow from Frank Sinatra’s 1966 Hit Song, “THAT’S LIFE”!

It’s been my experience that The Divine Architect of our lives  generally doesn’t pre-announce the details of His Master Plan, nor does He tend to incorporate our suggestions (no matter how excellent we think they are), but works it all out, according to the Counsel of His own Will. (Ephesians 1:11-12) However, He does give us this confident assurance, that as we keep our focus and trust in Him, at the end of our journey we shall realize that every thing we’ve experienced has all been for our highest good and for His Greatest Glory! (Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11)

My fellow sojourner, as we make our way along life’s terrain, remember that our every step and stop has been lovingly ordered by The Good Shepherd who has committed His Presence to be with us always!!

SO, EVEN WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHY, WE DO KNOW HOW? THAT’S LIFE! 

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee

DRIFTERS?

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drifters-2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at anytime we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.” Hebrews 2:1-3

 

One morning during my devotion, the Lord began speaking to me about The Millennium Church Age. At this point in my walk with Jesus, needless to say, I’ve heard many a message preached about the Church of God down through the years! Gratefully, much has been pontification of the Glorious and Victorious Church as well as those that admonish the people of God concerning the goats and the sheep and the wheat and the tare. However, I must confess I was a bit surprised when God began to talk to me about a different threat (either unnoticed or unacknowledged) that has slipped under the radar of nodding watchmen into the Kingdom. He asked, “Have you heard the one about the ‘drifters and the disciples?”
 
After thinking for a moment, I responded “No, Lord. I don’t recall hearing that one.” Honestly, my mind went ‘back in da day’, remembering the Drifters, that group of fine black men, dressed to da T and sanng’n those ‘Good ol’ slow songs’! For the 30 and under crew, u betta ask ya Mama!
 
Abruptly bringing me back from the edge of Egypt, God began to reveal to me, “Oh yes! You’ve heard about them. They may have been called ‘Backsliders’ instead!’
 
Okay! I know about the backsliders! But, when church folk think of a backslider, what generally comes to mind are those wicked ol’ evil rebellious hypocrites, aka that heathen who has turned his back and walked away from the Lord and the Church. In other words, we’ve categorized them as somebody who didn’t really love the Lord, at least not as much as he loved the world. Right? HOWEVERRR! The Lord, allowing me to peep into His thoughts for a moment, led me to Webster’s Dictionary to look up the word ‘drift’ to discover that Webster defines it several ways, but here are a few that Holy Spirit highlighted:
 
“To be carried along by a current of air or water; to pile up or to heap, to move or appear to move aimlessly, go along without knowing or caring where one is going; the sideways movement of an aircraft or ship off it’s projected course due to cross currents.”
 
Oh my! First of all, you don’t have to leave the church at all to backslide! You can become a drifter sitting front row, center aisle, or back row, far left and yes, truthfully, center stage of the pulpiteers! Didjaheardat? That ol’ devil is as cunning and subtle in 2016 as ever, huh?
 
Satan knows he can’t just blatantly confront some of us face to face with the lies that have been proven so successful among the babes in Christ. You know; like, “I don’t need to go to church; I can read my bible at home (the bedside Baptist)”; or “who says you have to belong to a church to serve God?” What about this one, “Get with the times! Don’t be so narrow-minded; after all there are all kinds of roads that lead to the Universal god, you know The Higher Power!”
 
Therefore, he applies another method to bring down the more seasoned saints. Unfortunately, all too often they’re just as lethal and successful!  Satan hurls wicked devices (distractions) into our lives to throw us off guard! A little trouble here; a trial there; a threat here lodging a bit of anxiety there; an ominous sense of foreboding fear here; a dip of delay, denial and disappointment there; a letter here and a phone call there, a rumor here and a lie there; a modest competitive spirit there or a root of resentment and rejection here! WOW! Who nu?
 
The scariest part about drifting is that you rarely recognize that you’ve moved at all! It’s not as if you were swept away from the shore by some gi-normous wave, you didn’t even hear the thunder or see the lightening flashing. In fact you never felt the ground collapsing underfoot. One minute, there you were sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tides rolling—you thought you had it all together, handling thangs, maintaining! Until… you reached for that dose of The Holy Ghost and discovered that your cup was empty and your subscription had run out! Apparently, somewhere along the trip, we got so busy with other ‘real-life-stuff’ at the expense of your personal, intimate time with Jesus! Unbeknownst to you, you’d become weary in your well-doing and unconsciously decided that it don’t take all that!
 
Tell somebody it takes all that and more! More prayer, more fasting, more wisdom, knowledge and understanding of his word, more praising, and a whole lot more His Grace to stay anchored in The Lord!
 
With all that’s going on in the world around us, it’s incumbent upon each one of us to not make light of the Apostle Paul’s teaching! Hence, make a real earnest commitment to BE a true disciple of Jesus Christ. GET A GRIP ON THE MASTER’S HAND AND HOLD ON AS IF YOUR VERY LIFE DEPENDED UPON IT! IT DOES!
 
DRIFTER? HOPE NOT!
 
SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
 Ann Caffee

 

 

HE’S IN THERE!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)

 

Life happens, so you don’t always feel like jumping over rafters, but your salvation is not based on feelings, but faith! Thank God! When you just take a moment to think about your new relationship with Jesus, it just blows your mind!

The reality, that since we’ve accepted Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord, resurrection life has taken up permanent residence in our mortal bodies is almost unbelievable! Oh yeah, we never have to worry about having to meander through this life on our own. We’re now full of the Resurrection Life of God! WOW!

By faith we know, just like Prego, everything we need pertaining to life and godliness is in there! However, I must caution you. Be ware of those pesty lil “life suckers” that can severely restrict the outpouring of your new resurrection life. Particularly, pride, greed, selfishness and disobedience!

Even though you are born again, habitual sin can cause the resurrection life to become covert or undeveloped. But that’s why God sent Holy Spirit to live in us! God knew that left to our innately human limitations, it would be virtually impossible to live the God-Honoring life that pleases Him. Hence, the Holy Ghost empowers you from the inside out to overcome sin and walk in the newness of HIS Life!

Included in your salvation benefits package is the sin-clause! Sin no longer has dominion over you. (Romans 6:14) The more time spent building your relationship with Jesus, studying God’s Word and communing with Him in prayer, Holy Spirit strengthens you to put sin right where it belongs, trapped under your feet.

Unlike your previous Hard-Task-Master, Satan, Holy Spirit never forces His will on us, but graciously waits for us to choose to do the right thing then strengthens us to walk in the spirit instead of being controlled by the dictates of our lust-filled carnal flesh. And we all know how that turns out, huh?

Beloved, Christ never intended us to be bound by fear, guilt and shame, but free to enjoy life everyday filled to the brim, overflowing with confident trust, assurance and fellowship, empowered by His Presence, Joy and Peace! Now datz a mouthful, huh? BUT? #didjaheardat? (Ref. John 8:36)

Personally, one of the greatest benefits of this resurrected life is you no longer have to struggle trying to change yourself! The Christ-Regenerated Life in you affirms your resolve that as ‘I deny myself, spend time in The Word and prayer, I can do all things with the help of Holy Spirit!’ Awemaazing, huh? (Ref. Philippians 4:13)

Go ahead with ur righteous self! Walk in the Resurrected Life! It’s okay, HE’s in there!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

WALKING WITH JESUS

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee