"Betrayal"

 Reflections4Life^TM March 28, 2021

“Betrayal”

“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.” John 6:64

Scripture Contemplation: Proverbs 6; Matthew 20; John 6; 1 Corinthians 11…

Wishing each and everyone who celebrates a Happy Palm Sunday. As I think back on my childhood, loving memories flood my mind filling me with a warmth that wraps itself around me like a cozy blanket. Enfolded in this embrace is every family tradition. Every lesson was taught to me by my mother, my Grams, and my Nana. I think of the church services, Sunday school, and the lessons we were taught about Jesus the Christ and His sacrifice for all mankind.

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. May you understand the multitude of love that our Heavenly Father has for you. Let your walls fall, and your guards down, allowing God that sacred place on the throne of your heart.

As a child, things seemed so simple. Conversations and Sunday sermons and Sunday school lessons now make sense to me. As I mature, I come to understand the meaning of Palm Sunday and Easter. It became much more than a time for families to gather and celebrate. For people to come to church after not coming for so long. Or, the delicious feast being prepared by my Grams and Nana, as all the grandchildren tried to eat their weight in candy from their Easter baskets. Lastly, the day had nothing to do with a bunny. But everything to do with love, betrayal, sacrifice, redemption, and reconciliation.

God indeed sent His Son for us. It was an act of love. Jesus, denying His deity to be born of a woman, so that we might have eternal life—made a decision based upon love, even though He'd have to face bitter betrayal from the ones he loved, healed, restored, and raised from the dead. For all His love and loyalty, Jesus was met with betrayal. A betrayal that needed to take place so that we might live eternally.

I always think about the thoughts that ran through Jesus's mind. How hurt was the heart of our Beloved? How many times do we—to this day—hurt His heart with the sting of betrayal? We betray Him every day. We doubt Him. We forget about Him and His praise. We stand in the way of His blessings. If that wasn't enough; we deny him. We act as though we are the only ones in pain. We act entitled when what we do is betray God. We reject Him; acting at times as though we don't know Him. And STILL, He loves us. Still, He knocks on the door of our hearts. Still, He pursues His lost lambs and sheep though He already has many found.

Betrayal. The word itself brings a sharp pain to the chest. To the heart. The sting of betrayal is biting. Often it leaves venom that spreads its poison through our heart and soul until we no longer trust anyone. We think it's trust, but betrayal's poison has seeped in so deep that we are left with lingering doubts and suspicions about every relationship forward. Wondering when; fearing when will be the next betrayal.

Hallelujah for the grace, mercy, and love of God. Because of Jesus, we can overcome the sting of betrayal. We can get past it and have trust and love for others. How? Because of how Jesus answered His betrayers. He loved them; even after suffering for them. Though they rejected Him, after all, He did for them. He understood the bigger picture.

We can rejoice! We have a bigger picture, Beloveds. Bigger than the betrayal we've endured and suffered. A picture worth more than the sting, and a picture so powerful, it will heal us from the poison of betrayal. We just have to be willing to let go and yield to God with everything we have. To once again, become vulnerable. Vulnerable unto God as He leads us to our promises, and heals our wounded souls.

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.  Do not allow betrayal to rob you of a future; of the promises of the living God. Allow the Father to soothe and heal your wounds, as you first learn to trust God, and allow Him to love on you. Know this: God will never betray you. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Go On, Release It!"

 Reflections4Life^TM, March 21, 2021

“Go On, Release It!”

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Scripture Contemplation: Proverbs 3; Isaiah 12; Jeremiah 29; Philippians 1; Hebrews 10…

I decree that today’s Reflections be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration to your heart, mind, and soul, and bring comfort, and peace. In the presence of our Heavenly Father, there is peace, joy, and strength. Everything we need to see the truth, to be on the right path, to make the best and sound decisions, is in the presence of God. His will for our lives will always be for the best. We must learn to trust Him. No matter what.

Within us lies many experiences. Some things we probably don't realize exist. There are some of us that experience great joy. Awesome happiness. And, unforgettable love. There is also within us the experiences of much hurt, pain, sadness, regrets, etcetera; things many have probably blocked out because of the pain.

Oftentimes, we walk around trying to evade what is going on within ourselves because it might be too painful to deal with. Yet, the more we try to run from it, bury it, ignore it—the more we hurt. It is time for us to look within ourselves and deal with our issues and release them!

There is no more time to run and hide; life is too short. We must begin to look within and take stock of what is going on, so we may confront and deal with it once and for all.  So we may be healed. We will never be free from what hurts us if we do not face it, confront it, deal with it, and then destroy it. The more we bury it, the bigger it gets, and the more we hurt.

God does not want us filled with all of this pain and hurt. He does not want us to be constantly suffering and hiding. He wants us to be free. To enjoy the life He has destined for us. In order to do this, to live this promised life, we must begin to see within ourselves and take inventory of what's really going on.

Take a look inside, Beloved. Don't you think you're worth it?

Whatever it is today that you just cannot handle, release it! Whatever has been holding you down and giving you pain? Release it! Life is too short to continue to have so many regrets and problems that block and hinder happiness and God's best for you.

What would happen? Really? What would happen, if just for one day you gave up the battle of trying to figure out how to fix that problem or solve that question, and really gave it all to God? You'd experience the promised peace of God.

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. I encourage you to release it! Not certain? Then how about at least for today? One day. Take a breather. Go do something that will bring you some joy and pleasure. It might surprise you what will happen if you did. Go ahead, that's right. I dare you to really trust God and release it all! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"First Things First"

 Reflections4Life^TMMarch 14 , 2021

“First Things First!”

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Scripture Contemplation: Joshua 1; Psalm 1; Proverbs 3; Jude…

It's a brand new day. One filled with hope and opportunities just waiting for us to seize. As we are in Lent, and the Easter season, and for those of us who are believers, the reason for this season; let us not forget first things first: To spend some time in the presence of our Creator before we do anything else.

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. There is much more to our lives than any of us believe or have possibly seen. The only way to understand and see this truth is to spend quality time in the presence of God.

How often do we forget to stop and give God thanks for His blessings of just waking us up to a new day? When you arise in the morning, what is the first thing on your mind? What is the first thing that you do? For many of us, it is everything else but God. We can admit it: God is not the first thought, nor do we make the effort to make Him first. To spend time in His presence before we think or do anything else.

God is often last on our list if we even remember. For many, the first thing on the mind is what we have to do that day. We think of our responsibilities, what has to be done, what has to be paid.  Many times we start off saying we are going to prioritize and make certain that we spend time with God. But soon enough, we slack off and we find the time we spend with God less and less and wonder why our lives are in such chaos.

God should not be an afterthought. He should always be first. I challenge you to make God a priority in your life. Make Him first in your day, and watch how the things in your life begin to change. God wants us to know Him and to know who we are in Him, to understand the precious gift of His Son. To know Him for ourselves—intimately—and not just what we hear or have been taught to believe from what others believe or experience. Testimonies of others are great. However, first-hand knowledge is greater. To know God for ourselves is essential to our own peace of mind and walk with Him. Spend your first moments with the Creator. Allow Him to fill your soul and reveal His plan for your day, for your life. I promise you will not regret it.

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. Make God a priority in your day; in your life. Begin the day in His presence, and end it there as well. Allow God to fill your cup with Him. With the blessings that you not only desire but need in your life each and every day. Put Him first, and see how your life begins to turn around. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Ask & Believe"

 Reflections4Life^TM March 7, 2021

“Ask and Believe”

“Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  Mark 11:24

Scripture Contemplation: Matthew 7; Luke 11; Mark 11; James 1; 4; 1 John 3; 5…

I pray today’s Reflections brings comfort, and peace to your heart, mind, and soul. I decree it a continued source of encouragement and inspiration. The Heavenly Father desires to give us so much; to bring forth abundance in our lives. We must learn to seek God with all of our heart, asking Him according to His will for our lives. Whatever you ask of God, believe He will answer and that you will receive what you have asked for.

I am thoroughly convinced that we do not have what we ask for in life because, 1. We don't believe we will receive it, and 2. We don't believe we deserve what we have asked for. What a sad state of affairs.

We need to start asking for exactly what we want. Believe that we will receive it. Then, do what is necessary to get and keep what we have asked for.

When we go to God, He expects us to come before Him humbly, yes, but also with confidence. We have not because we do not ask. And, when we ask, we are not asking according to His will for us or asking with the belief that God will answer.

The same goes for what we want on this earth. People will treat you any kind of way if you allow them to. I do not only ask for consideration and respect; I command it! If I ask someone for something, it is with the belief that whatever I ask for, I will receive. If I don't, then I move on. But at least I asked. At least I had the courage to knock on the door.

Listen Beloved; whatever you desire in this life, you must be determined to go after with confidence. You can't be afraid to ask for what is that you want. Your very breakthrough or door to the next level of success could very much depend on you coming out of your comfort zone and asking for what you want. Don't short-change yourself, either. Don't be intimidated or shy, and ask for less than what you need. Be precise, exact, and believe that you will receive.

As for me, I have too much riding on what I am doing and where I am going to not ask for exactly what I need and want. Let someone who can finance any of my projects come and ask me what I want! I will not only give them an exact number, but I will lay out for them a complete business plan with a trajectory for the next five years! I don't play when it comes to my dreams and visions. There are people in this world waiting for me. My family is waiting on me! 

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. Life is too short for regrets. We have to be bold in our lives, in the pursuit of our dreams and visions. Ask for what you want and believe that you will receive it. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.