"More Than A Feeling"

 Reflections4Life™ February 28, 2021

“More Than a Feeling”

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…” Hebrews 10:35-36

Scripture Contemplation: Joshua 1; 2 Kings 18; Job 4:6; Ephesians 3; Hebrews 10; James 5…

©Ruefox.

There are times when we get caught up in our feelings. We sometimes do things that we later regret because we reacted based upon our feelings at the time. Have you ever done that? React, based upon your feelings? Out of emotions? Only to wholeheartedly regret the actions afterward? We've all been there a time or two. Or maybe a few! We must learn that we are more than our feelings. When we walk in confidence, we’re learning to respond instead of reacting.

I  decree today’s Reflections brings comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration. Be certain to spend quality, intimate time with the Father this week. Let Him pour into you; filling your spirit and soul with all that He is. So that you may grow in boldness and confidence and not be swept away or swayed by wavering emotions.

Here's the thing, Beloved: Our feelings are at times like a pendulum; swinging high one moment then low the next. They change like the wind depending upon what is happening in our lives at the moment. Our emotions can be calm and peaceful as a steady stream. Or, as dangerous and ravishing as a Tsunami.

God does not desire that for us. Living by our emotions is not living at all. The Father wants us to walk with confidence. Confidence in Him and confidence in ourselves. When we walk in confidence, believing in the Word of God and promises for our lives, there is very little that can disturb our emotions. Should our emotions become disturbed or our feelings hurt; we learn to respond instead of reacting; having fewer regrets had we allow our emotions to overrule our hearts and dictate our actions.

Many times when we react to our feelings, it is out of fear. I don’t think many realize how fear plays a role in whether or not they are reacting or responding. Fear is often the absence of confidence. Our confidence in a situation, a person, or even God, can be shaken because of something that may have occurred. And when fear is present, it messes with our emotions often causing us to react, instead of being still, praying, and responding after we have given thought and consideration to the situation.

Beloved, remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear. But one of love, power, and a sound mind. We do not have to be overwhelmed by emotions. We do not have to allow our feelings to dictate our behavior. Instead, we can be bold and confident, and walk assuredly in all that God has spoken. Instead of allowing our emotions to rule; we yield to Holy Spirit and follow His lead in any and all situations, with the confidence that God has already worked it all out.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Be confident in God. Be confident in yourself. Do not be carried away in your feelings only to regret rash decisions. Pray, think, and then respond. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"We've Already Won!"

 Refelctions4LifeTM February 21, 2021

“We’ve Already Won!”

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Corinthians 15:57

Scripture Contemplation: Luke 10; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 John 1; Revelation 15…

Family

Most of us don't even know that the battle we are in, we've already won. We have been declared the winner way before the battle has even begun. Yet, many will be defeated because they were led to believe they could never win. So, instead of fighting and believing in themselves, they gave up before they even began to fight. Their thoughts defeated them.

I declare today’s Reflections bring comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration. Let your heart and mind be on Christ. Allow His words and thoughts to fill you and renew your mind daily, so you do not forget the promises and the victory that was already attained for you.

Beloved, let me let you in on something in case you did not know, or perhaps have forgotten: GOD HAS ALREADY DECLARED YOU THE WINNER! THE WAR WAS WON AND YOUR VICTORY SECURED WHEN CHRIST GAVE HIS LIFE ON THE CROSS; DEFEATING HELL AND DEATH.

It may certainly seem like we are on the losing team when we are faced with so many trials and heartaches.  It is easy to forget that we have won when the battles we are in feel like an all-out war. But that's how the enemy rolls. His very first strategic attack is to get in your mind. To make suggestions. To whisper in your ear until it seems like your own thoughts. To plant seeds of doubt's and water them by attacking you, and often using those closest to you as weapons to weaken your resolve and have you question where is God and if there is a God!

Another thing the enemy will try and use is to make you feel alone and isolated. He will try his best to convince that no one understands you, loves you, or cares about you. He will point out every bad thing about your family. Magnifying a lone incident until your entire family nonpersona non Grata. It's all lies.

As I was collecting photos this week for a slideshow for my Uncle's celebration of life services, I realized just how much my family enjoyed time together. In these crazy quarantine times and my personal trials and tests taking place, it was easy to forget how many times my family got together! I looked at all the pictures and was overwhelmed with so much joy and floods of memory. We truly were a family that gathered together every chance we could get. If that Sun was shining, we were gathering. If it rained or snowed, we were meeting at someone's house. 

The memories came flooding back thick and heavy, causing me to ache for what was, But also giving me hope for what's going to be. You see, we are all in a war right now; battling Covid, family issues, political issues, policy issues, human rights issues. But it all boils down to the same thing: We've Already Won! Satan can't keep us down. He can't stop a family that prays together from winning. Because we win! We will see healing. We will get together again! We will enjoy one another while thanking God for His Supernatural. However, we cannot allow the enemy to deceive us; making us give up and walk away when the restoration is here, and we've already been declared the winners.

I've said it before and I will say it again: Satan is the master illusionist. He is great at smoke and mirrors. But his greatest trick still doesn't trump God's greatest gift: His Son, Jesus, who gave His life so that we may live.

The enemy knows he has no power. The only power he has is the power we give him when we give up, doubt God, stop praying and turn away from God. The Father has not only secured our victory, but He has also given us authority and power over the enemy.

We've already won Beloved. You have already been declared victorious. But you have to believe it and walk in it. Do not be like Eve and enter into a conversation with the enemy. He will manipulate you every time. Instead, speak the word and declare it like Jesus did.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Say what God has already said and believe it. You are the winner! And you are strong enough to go through any battle that comes your way! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Intentional Faith & Blessings"

 Reflections4Life™ February 14, 2021

“Intentional Faith & Blessings”

“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:1-4

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 15; Psalm 37; Romans 12; 13; Galatians 5; 1 John 3; 4; 5…

Happy Love Day! May the Intentional Love of God fill every corner of your heart, so that you know and never forget, that there is not one day that you are alone, as long as you remember that GOD indeed loves you—heart, mind, and soul.

I decree today’s Reflections will bring comfort and peace to your heart, mind, and soul. May it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration. Let your heart be filled with hope and joy this week. Hold on to the promises of God. Ponder them in your heart. Let them anchor you as you go through the storms of life.

Things occur that we cannot understand the reasons. Why do certain things happen? Why people do what they do? Why do some things seem more difficult at times, and easier at others? Or, why does it seem like the people who live wickedly, seem undeserving, always get while those who give and love so unconditionally get the short end of the stick?

It can feel that way in the world we live in. Especially if we are comparing ourselves to others. Beloved, what if I told you that God had intentional blessings for your life? That it is not based on how good you are, how much you pray; that all you had to do was believe and receive? Would that be too easy for you to accept? For most, it would.

Listen; God is causing things to take place in our lives that we have no idea about. He is intentional—deliberately causing things to work out in our favor. We just have to hold on and keep believing. Though the wait may seem long, though it may seem we are being passed by or forgotten—put your trust in the Heavenly Father where you cannot trace Him.

In this world, it rains on the just and the unjust alike. It may seem as though the wicked are prevailing. Like they are winning at every turn. But understand this: it is temporal. For us, it is eternal. What God had for us doesn't just apply to the right now and here but for all eternity; intentional blessings that will carry over for generations to come.

Instead of wondering why everyone else seems to be prospering and the wicked are happy, concentrate on your intimate relationship with the Father. Learn of Him, then follow His instructions. While you are waiting for the manifestations of the promises and blessings, be deliberate in your service. Be intentional in your day to day walk. Never cease to believe that you are next in line for your visions to come to pass. For, His promises to you to be fulfilled.

Have intentional faith. Be intentional in what you are believing and praying for. Pray about it. Write it down. Declare and decree it. Get that crazy, no-holds-bar kind of faith. The faith that is so crazy to fathom anything else but what you have decreed happening, to happen. Show God how serious and purposeful you are in your faith.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Know this: All things are working out for your good when you continue to trust in the Lord and all that He has spoken to your heart and soul. Walk according to His will for you. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"With All Your Heart"

 Reflections4LifeTM February 7, 2021

“With All Your Heart”

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 15; Deuteronomy 4; 6; Psalm 86; Luke 10:27…

Mr. Leonard M. Bishop

Anything worth having in life is worth the effort in attaining it. Anything worth achieving requires that we are willing to give our all to whatever it may be. Be it a career, a relationship, a family, a business, etcetera. Whatever we desire to succeed in, it must be met with the investment of all our hearts.

Today's Reflections4life is written to my family. We have suffered tremendously over the past five years. Our hearts have taken some huge hits and losses, and I know it feels like we are losing. I want each of you to know just how much I love you and pray for you dearly. I know it is easier said than done. The transitioning of our Beloved Brother, Uncle, Father, Cousin Leonard Bishop (Bish) has hit a bit differently. I can only say it's because we are used to him being the one that consoles us, and somehow making us smile through our heartache. I can only take comfort in the fact that I know he is no longer in pain, is at rest, and is rejoicing, holding the hugest concert Heaven has seen in a long time and reunited with his beloved, Aunt Nette. We are going to get through this, family. Though we cannot see it right now, and it seems impossible—we are strong. We are resilient. And we have God on our side. 

If I have not spoken to you in a while; if I have not reached out to you—please know, it is not because I have not wanted to. I just have not been able to. Not the way I want. Some of you may not understand what God has been doing in my life. And the truth is, I have not either, but when He lets me know and gives me a full understanding, I will be sure to share it all with you. In the meantime, please know that I love you. That I have been praying for ALL of you Every. Single. Day. There is not a day that goes by you are not loved or prayed for. So, hang in there. We have this as long as we stick together. Let us learn from our Beloved Uncle Lenny; let us love with all of our heart. Because we know, that is exactly how he loved. He loved with his whole being, and that is why this hurts so much more. Let us follow in his footsteps. Let us keep loving and forgiving each other and showing up for one another. It is the only way we will get through this, and continue to honor Uncle Lenny and all of our loved ones that have transitioned in these past five years.

I pray today’s Reflections brings comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration. Make a conscious effort to invest in yourself this week by spending more intimate time with the Father. Come to Him with all your heart and He will open up the windows of heaven as you have never seen before.

When we enter into a new relationship, most desire to give their all because they desire that intimate connection and the promise of a lasting and loving relationship. As time goes on, and the relationship matures, it is expected that one is giving all of their heart. That, they are all in; invested in the relationship and its success.

Then there are others who do not give all in a relationship. They give a bare minimum of themselves and then wonder why the relationship failed. They hold back and do not take the risk of getting hurt if it doesn’t work out the way they desired. So, instead of becoming vulnerable and giving in to getting to know that person, and having that person know them; the relationship cannot grow and soon dies out like all the others before it.

Anything in our lives worth having requires that we give our all. We must be totally invested to see any growth and reward. No matter what it is in life; we will not see success or manifest the best if we are not 100% invested in what we are doing.

We cannot excel in our careers if we are not willing to invest our time and give our all. With the exception of extreme cases of nepotism—when is the last time you witnessed someone being promoted to a highly esteemed position without being totally dedicated to that company? Proving that they give their all in the job that they are doing? The promotion comes when you have diligently and consistently worked for it.

Some may argue that that is not necessarily true. That, there have been many instances where one has given their all only to be disappointed, crushed, and devastated in the end; left feeling wounded and dejected. And not so willing to give their all the next time around.

This is true for many. But that is life. That is the world we live in. However, we cannot allow these circumstances and situations to cause us to stop being who we are and true to what we know is right. We must stand firm in who we are and not conform to the way of the world when we are hurt and disappointed. We must take the high road, and trust God to bring us through. Trust the promise keeper to keep His promises to us. Because the truth of the matter is, as believers, we are held to a different standard than the world. We have an example in Christ Jesus that we can look to. For He was rejected and betrayed when all He did was give His all. With all of His heart he served, He healed, He witnessed. And when He was betrayed? He still loved and gave His life with all of His heart.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. We may not be Jesus, but He lives in our hearts. The same character that resides in Him resides in us. No matter what we face in this life; always give all of you. Do all things with all of your heart. Because at the end of the day, it is not to impress flesh and blood, but to honor the God we serve who gave His everything to save our souls. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.