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SUPER VISION!

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SUPER VISION

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.

So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey–the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Exodus 3:7-8

 

Has God’s Promises ever seemed too good to be true? C’mon nah, I’m talking to some REAL-FOLK! Seriously! The reason being, our interaction with the physical world is naturally limited to the realm of our five senses! What we see, touch, feel, taste and smell is how we perceive the reality of the world around us! Unfortunately, there’s always much more going on than the natural man can conceive! For example, you can feel the breeze but what does the wind look like? Technicians can take a picture of a brain, but who can know the mind, BUT GOD! The stethoscope can hear the heartbeat, but can’t determine when you’re broken, hard-or faint-hearted! #ijs!!

Have you ever felt discarded or deserted, even by GOD? Well, let me assure you, you’re not alone! According to the historical events relayed in our scripture text, The Hebrews, God’s Chosen, who finding themselves smack-dab-n-da-middle of circumstantial evidence that most likely caused them to experience these very same emotions! For 450 years they lived enslaved to their Egyptian captors who took great pleasure in inflicting intolerable pain and suffering, intentionally rationing food and water only when they deemed necessary to keep them totally dependent upon their Hard Task Master’s will! Can you imagine the shame and hopelessness they, God’s Elect, having to endure the consequences of their rebellion and ensuing result of God’s Justice, with no end in sight? Howevrrr, even when they couldn’t detect His Presence, GOD’s LOVE abides Faithful!

 

Having lured His Servant, Moses to the backside of Mt. Horeb and startling him with a strange phenomenon, the Bush that refused to be consumed, God commissioned him to go tell “MY” people that ENUFF IS ENUFF!  (That’s contemporized AEC Version) “I’ve seen their oppression, I’ve heard their cry,  bottled every tear,  heard every prayer and NOW I AM COME to shut Pharaoh down and DELIVER you out of the hand of your enemy!” Not knowing whether or not his Israelite brothers would even listen to him, being a escaped felon hiding out in a foreign land, but Moses heeded God’s Word and shared it with his fellow-captives. Much to Moses’ amazement, the people grabbed hold to The Promise with all of their hearts and began shouting and dancing in the streets, celebrating the GOOD NEWS, believing that THE WORDS THAT MOSES SPAKE CAME STRAIGHT FROM GOD’S MOUTH!

Eventually, the message got to Pharaoh’s Palace, nevertheless, he took it as a grain of salt. After all, this was not the first time that these ignorant slaves had started these silly rumors in an effort to keep HOPE ALIVE! Pharaoh was convinced that it’s JUS FAKE NEWS! But for those who had endured 450 years of GOD’s SILENCE IN THE MIDST OF GROSS DARKNESS, IT WAS LIFE AND LIGHT!

 

The Bible says, “My Sheep know MY VOICE AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME”! (Ref. John 10:27) “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) When you begin to look beyond what your natural eyes can see and your vision is filtered through the lens of FAITH, YOU COME2KNO THAT IT AIN’T ALWAYS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE! While the world’s systems operates on the principle “I’ll BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT”, GOD’s Kingdom operates by a higher standard, “I WILL BELIEVE TO SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING!” (Ref. Psalm 27:13)

When you place your personal trust in The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and The God of Jacob, faith opens you up to experience SUPER VISION, exposing things that are not seen as though they already exist! God’s Word is filled with exceeding great and Precious Promises that are greater than anything that the oppressor threatens! Oh, remember what happened to that arrogant obstinate Pharaoh and His Army? Right, THEY ALL DROWNED IN THE RED SEA! (Ref. Exodus 14:28-29) #ijs!!

 

BELOVED, WHEN WE TRUST GOD WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, MIND, SOUL AND SPIRIT, we discover POWER that’s out of this world that erupts A HOPE-FILLED PRAISE, an ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE THAT ‘I AM, WILL CERTAINLY BE WITH U’, and A CONFIDENT HOLY BOLDNESS THAT PUTS THE DEVIL ON NOTICE OF HIS IMMINENT DEMISE!

TRUST2KNO, NOT MATTER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, IF GOD SAID IT, IT’S GOTTA HAPPEN! Didjaseedat? YEAH, SUPER VISION!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann E. Caffee

UNFAILING HOPE!

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UNFAILING HOPE. 2jpg

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Psalm 33:21-22 KJV
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:21-22 NIV

 

OK! Let me set up this preemptive disclaimer, “The views expressed in this article are not necessarily applicable to the well-seasoned-sanctified-saints, and do not intentionally fringe upon the rights of the eonian optimist; unless otherwise indicated!” Howevverrrr, any early morning glance at the latest ‘TRENDING NOW’ pop-ups on our laptop News Feed might easily cause those of us who are desperately struggling to hold onto some semblance of hope for better days ahead, in this present world to take an immediate nose-dive into obscurity! #ijs!!!

I mean,…5 Killed in Md Shooting a ‘Target Attack’ Suspect Charge!, Maryland Shooting Victims, Red Hen Cyber Attack, Kelly Leaving WH Soon? D.B. Cooper Investigations, Trump Wants Out of WTO? AT&T Pays $5.25M Over Emergency Calls Outages, Sheeran sued for $100M, NFL QB Suspended, 5 Kicked Off Delta Flight, Sci-fi Legend Dies, Iraq Executes 13 Death Row Jihadists To Avenge Killings, Recessions Fears Flare As Markets Behave In A Way Not Seen Since Financial Crisis, Massive Asteroids Speeding Past Earth is Visible to Naked Eye…C’mon nah! And it’s not even 8:30 a.m.!!!

Granted, I’ll admit, any momentary glimpses of personal optimism is the consequence of an immense intensive intrinsic concerted effort!  God’s still working on that, so don’t judge me! Nonetheless, unless you were born late last night or landed on Planet Earth early this morning, it’s obvious that ‘there’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on, huh? To those of us who’ve experienced the eye-opening-awakening of our spiritual understanding, realize that we’re definitely living in the Prophetic Times foretold, not just by the Ancient patriots of faith, but even Jesus Himself! (Ref. Matthew 24:6) BUT, WHO KNU?

Epidemic civic unrest, chaotic rioting, slayings, wars and rumors of wars, unraveling of corrupt political slanderers of ice and fire, global warming, earthquakes and floodings, threats of government shutdowns, human trafficking, corporate bankruptcy, lay-offs, hackers, airport, mall, restaurant, nite club, offices, schools and church shootings, drug overdoses, suicides coupled with sporatic plane, train and car crashes have become the new normalcy for the 21st Century society! It’s no wonder that so many of us are stressed out, right?

Yet! Believers, have an advantage that the world knows not of! We know that now is not always! OUR  Heavenly King, has assured us that “The sufferings of this present time, are not worth even sweating over; compared to the glorious future that awaits us at His Appearance! (Ref. Roman 8:18) While there’s no denying the difficulties and frustrations in enduring the wickedness of man, nevertheless, we have a Hope that reaches beyond this world! I’m reminded of my Ol’ “Skool Mother, Annie Carter’s favorite saying, “Everythings going down BUT THE WORD OF GOD!” Mama knew that The Word of God stands firm forever! (Ref. Psalm 33:10-11)

YES! Sometimes, GOD ALLOWS the horsemen to trample over our heads! Nonetheless, when faced with ‘real-time woes’, we don’t run away! We anchor our trust in GOD’s Unfailing Love; fully persuaded that it’s just a temporary set-up for our enemies’ imminent destruction and our inevitable Triumph! (Ref. 2 Corinthians 2:14) When you’re at your weakest, look to The Rock from which you were hued! (Ref. Isaiah 51:1) TRUST2KNO! His Faithfulness to save, rescue and cover us is always stronger than our momentary doubts and fears!

WOW! When it looks as if everything’s falling apart, GOD says EVERYTHING IS FALLING RIGHT IN PLACE! NOW…lift up your heads and let your hearts rejoice in boasting, resting patiently, securely trusting The THE ETERNAL HOPE OFJESUS’ UNFAILING LOVE! #4OURGODREIGNS4EVER!!

 

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? Ooh GGGGllllorrrraaaaa!

Welcome to a new day! Today, we’re excited that you have joined us in our Thursdays’ Day of Corporate Fasting & Prayer! Once again, we appreciate the opportunity and privilege to entreat The Presence of our Great High Priest, pouring out our hearts desires, petitions and supplications with Thanksgiving. We know that He delights in our embracing Him in earnest expectation, confident that He Rules Forever by His Power is able to save and deliver us from any of life’s maladies!Shall we pray?

Welcome Holy Spirit! We are in Your Presence! Fill us with Your Power, take complete control! You are Living Water, Never ending Fountain, Comforter and Counselor! Take complete control….Welcome Holy Spirit…O, Sweet Wonder! Oh Sweet Wonder! Jesus, The Son of God! Ooohh Sweet Wonder! Oh! Sweet Wonder! Jesus! The Son of God! Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that you’re my God,You’re altogether lovely, Altogether worthy, Altogether wonderful to me! LET’S PRAY…

 

Our Father and God of Heaven and Earth, we come before You humbled by Your Loving-Kindness, Grace and Mercy! We’re eternally grateful for one more opportunity to behold The Glory of Your Presence! We know that it’s Your Sovereign Will and Strength that has allowed us to live, move and breath, being clothed in our right mind today! We thank You for revealing to us such wondrous treasures that were hidden from our understanding, when we walked surrounded by darkness, as dead men in the earth without a God on our side!

Abba Father, it’s only because of Your Wisdom, we know to cherish this day and not take it for granted as if we have a right to be alive! We come humbled by Your Mercy before You, with open hears, uplifted hands and lips filled with joy and delight to praiz and Your Holy Name! We thank You for giving us The Name that’s above every other name! You have decreed that at The Name of Jesus ,our Lord and Savior, every knee must bow and every tongue shall confess that He Alone is Lord of Lords and King o Kings! We praiz You, Jesus for You have redeemed our lives from destruction and engrafted us into The Royal Kingdom of God! Because of Your Sacrificial Atoning Blood, we are now called Children f The Most High 4ever! Oh, how awesome are Your deeds! For You have preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping!

Daddy, we thank You for Your continued benevolence and favor towards us! We are eternally grateful that because You are The God of our Salvation, Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision, no good thing will You withhold from us as we continuously walk upright before You! And because You formed us in our Mother’s wombs, You know our frame, nevertheless Your faithfulness and compassion continuously allows You to look beyond our human frailties,fickleness, faults and iniquities to see and minister to fulfill everything that we will ever need pertaining to life and godliness! We rejoice in Your Promise that You will watch over, protect and guide tenderly us as the apple of Your Eye!

We know You to be A Merciful and Forgiving Father! We know that You are the God of many chances because You keep right on blessing us over and over again! Abba Father, we know that it would be foolish for us to continue in sin, frustrating Your Grace, therefore we bow reverently before You now asking You to forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to Your Heart. Assured that as we confess our sin, You are Faithful and Just to forgive, pardon and restore us back into rightful fellowship with You, we ask now for Your forgiveness, in The Precious Name of Jesus!
Sweet Jesus, teach us to see sin through Your eyes and to acknowledge it as evil wickedness and rebellion against the Creator and Lover of our souls, The Giver and Sustainer of All Life! And when we sin, quicken our spirit to repent immediately, and to confess with our mouth our wrongdoing, that we might receive the Gracious forgiveness of our Heavenly Father! For this cause, we gladly present our spirit, soul and body as a living holy sacrifice to be used for Your Greatest Glory!
Precious Lord, because no man can come to the Father except You draw them, we intercede on behalf of every unsaved soul, praying that You will quicken The Spirit of Godly-repentance in their heart and in their mind that they will will hear Your Voice, come confessing a “Sincere YES” to your Amazing Gift of Grace and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior TODAY! We’re believing that You will Divinely orchestrate their footsteps settleling them into a local church home where they will be embraced with joy-filled loving fellowship with their brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus!

Lord, we ask You to put a fresh “committed YES” in the heart and mind of every backslider who has walked away from following Your Teachings! Let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church where they will sincerely submit their lives to the sound teachings of Your Word, learn to love and live their lives walking out Your plan and purpose, becoming a Light reflecting Your Glory,Will and Ways to a dark, lost and dying world and provoking some sinner man, sinner woman, boy and girl to cry out “What must I do to be saved!”

 

Father, we pray that You will touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by  all manner of sickness and disease, including but not limited to the spirit of cancer, kidney/live disease, heart/lung , disease, arthritis, bone and muscle disease, autism and dementia! We pray that You are already rebuking and casting out every symptom and trace of it out at the root, for Your Name Sake!

 

We lift up all who are on dialysis, chemotherapy, awaiting transplants and other surgery, those in nursing and rehabilitation homes! Heavenly Father, YOU are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Therefore, even as You walked this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able and Willing to do the same right now! Your Eternal Living 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!

Sweet Holy Spirit, we’re standing in agreement with every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that You are releaseing Divine Power, Supernatural Strength, Health, Wholeness, Provision, Prosperity, Protection and Peace that passes all Understanding. As we’re trusting in You, we thank You for preserving each and everyone of us thru the tests that You have allowed us to go thru, keeping us constantly aware of YOUR PRESENCE and fully-confident that at the appointed time,You, WILL bring them out wholly restored, renewed, refreshed and with the reward with a soul-stirring testimony of what Faith In God can do!

 

Father, we lift up our children, our grand-children and our great-grands, nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters, brothers, spouses, in-laws and friends, by faith, we abort and overrule every curse that’s been ordered against their lives and canceling every scheme that Satan desires to inflict upon them! As we commit them into Your Providential care, realizing that You have a plan and purpose for their lives too. we have the blessed assurance that their steps and stops are being ordered by Your eyes! Therefore we speak The Peace of God over their spirits, souls, minds and bodies releasing a Spirit of Love, Holiness and Excellence to fulfill their God ordained destiny!

Holy Father, we’re lifingt up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher. Teacher, Missionary, auxiliary leader, usher, musician, choir member and director and church member! Undergird them with Your Anointing and conviction to carry out their assignment, under the direction of Holy Spirit. 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 ministry You have ordained from their mother’s womb, shall be rebuked and restrained by The Power of Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name! IT IS SO!

Sweet Lord, as You have instructed, we pray for every leader of our nation, federal and local government, legislative, corporate, judicial, education, public service, healthcare and financial institutions! We’re asking that You touch the minds and hearts of those that You’ve ordained for leadership for such a time as this! Lord speak to them in dreams and visions, reminding them that POWER BELONGS TO YOU Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens! Convict them that Your eyes are going to and fro throughout the whole earth, keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly!

El Shadai, we believe that You are warning them 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.We believe that because their hearts are in Your Hands, they are being continuously opened to hear and obey Your Will! Lord Jesus, we’re standing on Your Word as decreed that The government of this world shall rest upon Your shoulders and that You are The Eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Abba, we ask that You encourage and comfort the souls of Your Elect who are overwhelmed with fear, doubt and worry because of the things that are going on in our personal lives and in this ungodly world systems! We pray that You send a double-portion-downpour of Your Divine Favor upon each who needs encouragement and empowe them to stand steadfast, immovable in the midst of these wicked and evil days! Let us know that we are never alone  and that Your Grace is Sufficient to overcome every weapon that is formed against us!! We decree 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!

 

Heavenly Father, because You have promised to perfect our cares and concerns, O GOD, we bring so many other situations before Your Majestic Throne. Those who are broken hearted, feeble in body and spirit, the one at a crossroad of life, the ones addicted to harmful substances, our armed forces, policemen, fire and rescue personnel, nurses, doctors, pastors and leaders, missionaries far and near; our leaders of the world. We’re trusting You to send peace where there is confusion, send love where there is hate, send unity where there is division. Bless the fatherless and motherless. Keep us ALL in your care. These favors we ask in Jesus Mighty Name!!

 

Father, we acknowledge that there are so many other things we should pray about, however believing that Holy Spirit is already interceding on our behalf, interpreting our sighs, moans and the groanings of our hearts, we wait in confidence and quietness, anticipating the exceeding Greatness of Your Power, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shameful 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!

Abba Father, in closing, we stand in humbled boldness, agreeing with You Who hears and answers our prayers, and forgives our transgressions! Holy Father, because You have chosen us to lice eternally with You Who Reigns 4Ever, our souls are strengthened as we shout with joy! We bow 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 thank You NOW, for WE believe that it is done according to Your Eternal Will! 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 LIVES AND LOVES EVERYBODY!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

 

 

THE HEART OF THE FATHER!

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THE HEART OF THE FATHER

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

 
Uuuh forgive my intrusion into your alabaster box, howeverrrrr! Do you sometimes cry out, as I have, “God, don’t You see my tears? Can’t You see my broken heart? God, never mind me, but how can You bear to see the agony of my loved one? God, I know that You care. I just don’t understand why You don’t intervene in this situation right now. Why don’t You do something? And, God, why did you do that?”

Then,  in the midst of my lamenting heart,  I seem to hear His still, small voice whispering, “Ann, trust Me. I know what’s best.”

…And I’m left to wonder, “Hold up, Ms. Smarty pants, why  would  you ever think that you know better than God what’s best for yourself  or your loved one, huh?”

Perhaps, that kind of thinking is the product of humanity’s naivety to presume that once we finally surrender our hearts to The Saving Grace of Jesus Christ, from that point on life consists of floating down rose, hydrangea, tulip and lilly clad pathways of ease, on our way to the Pearly Gates of New Jerusalem!  Unfortunately, there’s nothing in The Holy Writ that remotely resembles such a scenario. In fact, there’s more evidence to support that following in the Footsteps of Jesus is more likely to parallel swallowing big gulps from the cup of imminent suffering and sacrifice! #SERIOUSLY!!!

Remember, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.”  Job 14:1

Don’t get it twisted!  I am not being sacrilegious nor am I craaazzzy enough to dare imply that our Heavenly Father is a Dead-Beat Dad or some kinda Narcissistic Sadist! Quite the contrary!  I am fully persuaded that before the Beginning began, The Creator of Life, in the Sovereignty of His Own Will, determined that purpose trumps pain! Hence, God has Divinely orchestrated the terrains of our journey to include sporadic detours through wilderness pit stops as well as ecstatically triumphant mountain top encounters to perfect in us the same Godly Character and Radiant Glory of our Kinsmen Redeemer!

Remember, “His Ways are not our ways and His Thoughts supersede our severely limited intellectual capacity to comprehend the length, width and depth and wonder of His Omnipotent Omniscience! (Ref. Isaiah 55:8-9)

Nevertheless, by Faith, we know that all things work together for our highest good and His Greatest Glory! (Ref. Romans 8:28) Consequently,  as  Blood-washed, Born-again children of The Most High God, no matter what it looks like, in the end VICTORY BELONGS 2 JESUS! Thus, WE SHALL OVERCOME!  #DIDJAHEARDAT? #WOW!!!

 Beloved, thru test, trial, toil and tragedy, wisdom has revealed through experience that the quicker that you and I acquiesce to the promptings of The God In Me//You, the sooner our po-wearied-soul is encompassed about with the Comforting Presence, Joy and Peace of The Only Wise Savior and Lord of our Life! 

Holy Father, time and time again, You’ve  proven to be The Loving and Compassionate Shepherd who leads and guides my steps and stops according to what’s  best for me! Therefore, I humbly bow, submitting myself under Your Mighty Hands,  declaring and decreeing “Lord whatever You’re doing… don’t do it without me!  Abba, when my circumstances appear to contradict Your Promise and I am tempted  to doubt Your Faithfulness, please forgive me, help my unbelief and give me a double portion of Your Supernatural Grace 2 Trust  the Benevolence of Ur Heart  even more than what my natural eyes can see! In Jesus Name, AMEN 3X!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

REFUGE

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REFUGE

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7

 

One of those most prominent desires of humanity is a sense of security. Thanks to our progenitors, Adam and Eve, the moment that we submitted to the diabolic deception of The Tempter, Satan, we got what we wanted but lost what we had! Scriptures reveal the absolute perfection that they enjoyed walking in The Will of Creator God! Any and everything their pure hearts desired was readily available to them just for the asking. Yet, the one thing God required of them was the same thing that the devil used to lure them away from what God commanded, faithful obedience!

Since mankind’s expulsion from The Paradise of The Garden Eden, we’ve been trying to find our own piece of peace in the midst of this sin-fated world we’ve been forced to inhabit. Adding insult to injury, from the moment Abel’s blood hit the earth, all of Cain’s descendants, were destined to sojourn throughout the earth, cursed and marked for The Righteous Vengeance of The Lord! This spirit of rebellion soon gave way to anger, spiraling into murder nailing the coffin shut for any hope of returning to the blissful state of innocence and intimacy that once endowed God’s Most Precious Creation!
Despite the culmination of 21st Century’s technological achievements and the once unimaginable creative creature comforts and conveniences, a quick glance at any day’s breaking news headlines, confirm that man’s aspiration for attaining such lofty state of uninterrupted serenity, equanimity and freedom from disturbances continues to evade us!

BUT! Thanks Be To GOD! Jehovah’s Loyal Love (refusing to be denied) ordained before the foundation of the world, a Perfect Rest for anyone who cries out to Him earnestly, in sincere contrition for Salvation IN THE PERSON OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! (Ref. 1 Peter 1:20)

Sometimes, looking back from this side of Calvary’s Cross, it’s more convenient to blame the horrid conditions of our world on the careless apathy of our first parents. And, depending on the weight of the trial or struggle, we just might point our fist toward God. After all, HE’S GOD and HE could’ve stopped sin in it’s track, right? Yet, Wisdom and Grace soon deter us from persisting in such foolishness!

The truth of the matter is that the seed of sin has regenerated, thus degenerating our morality, perverting our sense of right and wrong to the extent that we can no longer trust in the arms of flesh, particularly our own hearts!

BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD!

In the midst of these perilous times, we need to know that God has prepared (by HIS Own Hand), a safe haven for those of us, who will place our personal trust, confidence and absolute reliance in the immutability of God’s Righteous Character: Holy, Just, Truth, Honor and Omnipotent Power!

When life is raging beyond what you can weather and the billows of trouble threaten to devour you, remember there is a prepared place of Refuge! In God, believers, escaping from the cares of this world, dwell under the Wings of Adonai and find rest and safety from hurt and harm in this life and the life to come!

“The name of the Lords a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

Beloved, the moment you make a conscious irretrievable decision to not lean to your own interpretations, but determine to acknowledge, from the seat of your soul, that regardless of all of the circumstantial evidence, God’s Unfailing Love shall never forsake you, you will begin to experience unspeakable Joy and overwhelming Peace that jus don’t make no sense! Didjaheardat? Awemaazing, huh?

YEP! TRUST2KNO, WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE ARE AUDACIOUSLY RAGING AND THE  FRENZIED SURGE OF UNCERTANTY ARE THREATENING TO MAKE YOU LOSE YOUR FOOTING, THERE IS A DEATH-DEFYING ROCK OF REFUGE FOR THOSE WHO DARE TO COMMIT THEIR BEING TO THE FAITHFULNESS OF THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER…HIS NAME IS JESUS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

JESUS CARES!

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jesus-cares

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who knows my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.

Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. Psalm 142:3-4,7

 

LIFE happens!  Whether we embrace it or ignore it, time is spiraling into eternity at the speed of life. Most of us do our best to respond to the inevitable uncertainties maintaining an assemblance of confidence and control! Amen? Howevvrrrr, there are those uninvited episodes when the roof just comes crashing down and the very foundation of your being quakes uncontrollably leaving you traumatized by tragedy and utterly destroying every ounce of normalcy!

The subscript of today’s scriptures says this text was penned by David finding himself victimized by Saul’s inner insecurities and covetousness, hiding in a cave, imprisoned by the hopelessness of circumstances beyond his control! I know it’s socially inappropriate for us to discuss such matters publicly, BUT! Since it’s jus us, have you ever been ensnared by a state of desperation, despair and hopelessness, and try as you might, couldn’t muster up enough strength to pull yourself up out of a pit full of depression?

I realize that this might be a stretch,  BUT! Have you ever been surrounded by a crowd of people, simultaneously isolated and paralyzed by inner fears, feeling as if no one really cared about you? Of course, we realize who the originator of these irrational thoughts and conflicting emotions is, that ly’n devil, right? ‘Cuse me, may I submit this thought for your consideration, right here? I believe that the same God who Divinely orchestrates our mountaintop experiences also schedules sporadic excursions through death-valleys! Yet, you must understand that everybody is not assigned to your hardships and struggles! Hence, you have to be careful who is privy to your vulnerabilities!  Uuuh, remember, Job’s frienemies?

It’s during these times that we need a freedom that’s only accessible through a personal intimate relationship with The Overseer of your soul! Isn’t it just good to know that when the Bible invites us to take it to the Lawd in prayer, that it includes the bad, ugly and indifferent as well as the good and wonderful! Why waste time acting as if You need Jesus to meet you in the penthouse, when you’re stuck in the cellar?#ijs, God already knows everything about everything! He’s jus waiting for you to speak up!

It just delights our Heavenly Father’s heart, knowing that we trust Him to BE GOD in, through and over our lives!  Didjaheardat? DATZ JUS HOW MUCH HE REALLY LOVES AND CARES ! #AWEMAAZIN, huh? I KNOW HE CARES 4 U & ME! GIVE YOUR ALL 2 JESUS!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

I CAN’T, BUT GOD CAN!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb; He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:19-22

As a remnant of the 20th Century Church, I’ve lived long enough to have a clearer understanding, why The God of The Bible adamantly commanded His Chosen Ones to resist amalgamating with those outside of covenant relationship with Him. (Ref. 2 Corinthians 6:17) And some of us thought that God just wanted to keep us from having any fun! Considering the way this world is headed, now we see the consequences of not distinguishing ourselves from unbelievers. Apparently, Father still knows best, huh?

Unfortunately, many who profess Christ, remain double-minded, straddling the fence! I can only assume their stance is depending on the group they happen to be in the midst of. Of course,  God never intended  for us to strut around robed in a spirit of self-righteous-arrogance, with our noses in the air, as if we are better than anybody else! Howeverrrr, spiritually speaking, as recipients of God’s Amazing Grace, it does make us better-off!  Oh no she didn’t!!! OOOHHH YES, I DID!

What’s the matter Zion?  Are we allowing the daily influx of mass media’s reportings  of  wide-spread chaos to leave us so traumatized by predictions of doom and gloom that they have muted our praise and drained us of Hope? If we’re walking around with our heads hung down and hearts inundated with fear and anxiety; worried about how we gonna make it, then what separates us from the Gentiles? #IJS…

Abraham,The Father of our faith, found himself in a seemingly hopeless situation. Not surprisingly, Abraham tried to fix the problem by himself. He got Ishmael (the child of the flesh) when God intended to give him Isaac (the child of Promise).When the drama and chaos had escalated to the point that Sarah gave him an ultimatum (it’s either her or me) suddenly, Abraham had an epiphany “the only hope that I have of this thing ever working is Divine Intervention.” In other words, “ Lord, I can’t do this, without Your Grace!”

OMG! Can we ever identify with Abraham! How many times have we been in a situation and we tried and tried, we cried and cried, murmured and complained, spent all we had and still came up short? It was not until we, like Abraham, made a conscious decision to stop depending on our inability, started relying on God’s Ability and turned it over to Jesus, that our hope was revived! As the text says, when all human reasoning for hope was exhausted, Abraham hoped on and God brought life into his dead situation. (Romans 4:17-18) Hence, when we come to the end of ourselves, God steps in and does what seemed impossible!

Stop listening to that devil telling you, “it’s too late, you might as well accept the situation for what it is –eminent defeat!” He’s still a liar! My precious saints, don’t allow your present (temporary) circumstances cause you to doubt the Faithful Power of God’s Eternal Word. Why settle for seconds? If you are Abraham’s seed, you are the heirs of righteousness! #didjaheardat? WOW! 

So… lift up your heads, O Ye Gates! You have been anointed as agents of change! Gird up the loins of your mind AND be confident and fully persuaded that  SINCE YOU ARE IN CHRIST, THE CHRIST IN YOU automatically gives you a Supernatural advantage over natural consequences! (Ref. Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 2:14)

Beloved,TRUST 2 KNOW THAT WHATEVER GOD PROMISES, HE IS WELL ABLE TO PERFORM! ALWAYS REMEMBER…EVEN IF I CAN’T, GOD CAN!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

WAYFARING WIT

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WAYFARING WIT2

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

How much better to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! Proverbs 16:16

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Proverbs 8:10-11

 

WOW! We’ve come a long way, Baby!

As far as the ingathering of information and the major technological accomplishments attained by this 21st Century New Millennium Age is concerned, undoubtedly, we’ve taken quantum leaps exceedingly well beyond the realm of possibility to even the most esteemed intellectuals and astute scientific calculus of days gone by.

In other words, (sigh)! It’s safe to say that knowledge abounds!

Unfortunately, the scarcity of wit, wisdom and truth is decisively profound! Generally the appeal for this degree of understanding is left to those few famished, disillusioned, disinfranchised, exhausted, wayfaring scavengers who wander off rush-hour-grid-locked-getting-byways and highways to worldly success and traditional religious rituals. For reasons, yet unknown, somehow some of us are being distinctly drawn to the under-passes, service roads, and trenches; seeking the hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places of The Kingdom of His Presence! (Ref. Isaiah 45:3)

Who knew that we’d be called to the Kingdom for such a time as this? Who knew that before we lived one day that our Master already had a plan, purpose,  and a hope-filled destination for our lives?

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2

Wisdom is calling!

“But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; And you have been weary of Me. O Israel” Isaiah 43:22

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1Timothy 6:6-8

“Congratulations! You finally got what you wanted, BUT… lost what you had”!

Didjaheardat? Missed it, huh? WAYFARING WIT!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

DON’T LOOK BACK!

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DON'T LOOK BACK

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

How oft did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel Psalm 78:40-41

Ever notice how memories have a way of distorting reality.  Somehow, once we’re no longer ‘there’  WE  have this proclivity  to delete all of the bad and ugly stuff that happened to us?

Have you ever wondered why in the midst of our tests and trials, how easily our minds revert back to an earlier time and subconsciously embellishes those former times as ‘the good ol days’?

Today’s scripture text, ‘them’ Israelites illustrate this innately human response to selectively reminisce over the episodes of history, particularly whenever we’re faced with the fear of the unknown.  Hence, the grass always looks greener and better on the other side, right?

It was only about a month after God had miraculously delivered over a million former slaves out from the cruelty of Egyptian bondage, when they began to feel differently about their utterly hopelessly distressful past circumstances.  The moment they were faced with a challenge, they began to murmur against Moses and Aaron and to make matters even worse, they accused God of bringing them out of Egypt only to die in the wilderness!  

‘We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.’ (Numbers 11:5-6)

…Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Exodus 16:1-3) 

Somehow, they dismissed the reality, like we often do, that God had just lead His Chosen People to freedom, faithfully, supernaturally supplying everything they needed, yet they failed to appropriately appraise God’s Eternal Presence and Divine Favor based on unfamiliar temporary circumstances.

Saints, the truth is, nothing that you’ve been thru; nothing you’re going thru NOW should make you want to turn back. Remember what happened to Lots’ wife? (Ref. Luke 17:32)

Don’t make the same mistake that our forefathers made. Don’t limit your expectations of God to your former experiences! We forget that God has a panoramic view of our lives! What God has for you is always in front of you!!  Don’t worry about what you can’t see, remember GOD’s guiding us by His Eyes! So keep moving forward!  If He ever did it before, trust Him to do it again!

Our God “is well able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or thing, according to the power that works in us”. (Ephesians 3:20). 

Beloved, trust 2 Know…your future won’t  even fit in your past!  What God has prepared for you is always greater than anything you’ve been thru! 

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

Check the end of the Book–YOU WIN! DON’T LOOK BACK! 

SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee

 

FOREVER FAITHFUL!

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SELAH Daily Devotions!

Many are the affictions of the righteous; but the lord deliverth him out of them all. Psalm 34:19

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ….And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 15:3-5,7

The Bible doesn’t lie to us; neither does it sugarcoat the human experience! The Scriptures reveal 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!

The Bible never tells us that after we make the decision to live holy as unto The Lord that we can just relax on a flowery bed of ease. Quite the opposite! Your very life becomes a reproof to those who do not live a Godly lifestyle because it testifies against the Godlessness in others.

The Apostle Paul admonishes his young protégée, Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,’ (2 Timothy 3:12). In essence, The Apostle warns the new Pastor, anyone who signs up to become a true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ should expect to be opposed by the Kingdom of Darkness!

Afflictions, denotes suffering, pain and trouble that lasts for a loonnng time. Yes, for some of us it’s been a very long night. Nevertheless, God has prescribed the perfect remedy for all of life’s maladies. “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17) Wow! Didjaheardat?

His ears are always attentive our cry! That means, He HEARS OUR PRAYERS! So even when we can’t see His Hand, we can trust His Listening Heart.

Hence, firstly, God assures us that there’s a purpose in our pain and secondly, God does not abandon us to meander through our struggles helplessly hopeless, but He walks with us, providing Sustaining Grace to comfort us through the valley of the shadows of gloom and doom and guiding us safely to the other side.

Beloved, no matter what your struggle is now, whether physical, mental, financial or spiritual affliction, rest assured, God knows exactly where you are and is always just one prayer away!

Remember, He’s The One Who says when enough is enough! And well before He allowed you to enter into this season of testing and trial He pre-determined the exact moment of your deliverance.

Don’t allow your circumstances to rob you of the inner knowing that God is your Loving Compassionate Father and He can never forget nor will He ever forsake you!

“I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.Your walls are always in my presence.” Isaiah 49:16

So even if our strength wavers, we can still stand confidently fortified in this Truth; trouble always has an expiration date, but our prayers don’t!  

Trust His Presence to remain with you all the way thru! (Ref. 2 Timothy 2:13)

TRUST 2 KNOW, GOD IS FOREVER FAITHFUL!!

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee