Sunday, September 27, 2020

"Grab On and Hold Tight!"

 Reflections4LifeTM September 27, 2020

“Grab On and Hold Tight”
“Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45
Scripture Contemplation: Deuteronomy 28; Numbers 11; John 16:23; Galatians 3:16-21; 2 Peter 1:4…


We are often told to let go and let God when it comes to things of our faith, and situations that we have no control over. To let go and let God do what only He can do.  We are not often told, however, to grab on and hold tight to the promises and the visions that God has given us. This, too, is a part of having faith.
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.  Beloveds, whatever dreams and visions you have; whatever God has spoken to you, grab on and hold tight! Do not let go of the visions, plans or promises. Trust God to bring them all to fruition.
We must be tenacious in our faith. We must be tenacious when it comes to the promises of God and the dreams and visions we are diligently working towards.  Some of us give up too soon. We are often so close to the manifestations of the promises and the dreams and visions, but allow fear and weariness to persuade us to walk away. Don't do it. Do not let go after all of this time. Grab on and hold tight.
Yes. Life's journey will throw us some serious curve balls. We will have some setbacks and delays while we work and wait for the visions and promises to be fulfilled. But that is life. It is not always easy, but well worth living.
I promise you Beloved, on the other side of the waiting, working, trials, and tribulations is a sweetness of life waiting just for you. There may be other tests. Other waiting times for new visions and dreams. But the reward for being tenacious and diligent far exceeds your expectations.
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.  Grab on and hold tight to the Father; to His promises; to your visions. Be like Joshua and Caleb who believed what God had spoken and wouldn't allow the obstacles and giants before them to defeat their belief in the promises of God. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.
©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, September 20, 2020

"Day Break"

 Reflections4Lifetm September 20, 2020

“Day Break”
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:52
Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 32; Lamentations 3; Zephaniah 3; 2 Peter 1; Revelation 22…
©Phil Koch

There are times when our nights seem so long. As though they are going to last forever and morning will never come. Especially during this pandemic that has come and irrevocably changed our lives. It's in these times when we experience much pain, aches, uncertainty, and feel trapped in the darkness of a situation, that we must hold onto the promises of God and our faith.
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 hold on to the Heavenly Father, and trust Him to lead you through the darkness. Let Him hold you, as you expectantly wait for His promised morning to you.
We patiently wait for daybreak. For, the sun to shine through and expose all that has been going on in the darkness. Or simply to bring an end to the night; to the darkness in our lives.
Sometimes it is hard to believe that morning will ever come. That there will ever be a time when you can be free from all the heartache and pain in your life. Yet in Psalms it tells us that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Many of us have been waiting for our morning to finally get here. We have been weeping for many a night; just about on the verge of giving up. But we can't. We must hold on!
Don't do it Beloved! Don't give up! Daybreak is almost here. Your morning is about to come. It may not come in the manner you thought, but it is coming. And when it comes with its marvelous light, you will understand why your night—your weeping lasted so long. You will understand and know when you see the plans that God has had for you all along. Yes. Even in and through this pandemic we are facing. God always has a plan. And all we have to do is ask Him what it is, and He will show us.
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. Hold on. Do not grow weary. You are closer to your day break than you believe. Trust God. Your morning is about to break forth, shattering every ounce of darkness. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.
©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, September 13, 2020

"Confidence"

 Reflections4LifeTM September 13, 2020

“Confidence”
“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” Hebrews 10:35
Scripture Contemplation: Job 4:6; 31; Psalm 10; Ephesians 6; Hebrews 4; 13…

For all the bravado that many of us portray, we still lack one thing that keeps us from fulfilling our many hopes and dreams. We talk the game well. Say all the right words. We even manage to encourage others. Yet, we fall short most times of our own goals and finish lines because we lack confidence.
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. Trust God with all of your heart. Become bold in Christ and stand in confidence with the assurance that all that God has declared and decreed for your life shall come to pass.
It is not just confidence in ourselves—confidence that we can accomplish our goals. It is the lack of confidence that we have in God and His word. The disconnect that occurs within us when we do not believe and cannot see for ourselves the very promises of God.
Most certainly it appears to others that we have everything together. That, we are bold and confident in our lives. Even when we fall short from the mark or the finish line, we quickly assess the situation and say that God just has bigger plans.
What a bunch of malarkey that is ninety percent of the time! Sure, God has plans. However, part of His plans is that we succeed in our goals. That we cross that finish line. That we would finish what we started. It isn't God, but our own lack of confidence and insecurities and lack of trust in the word of God, and who we are in Him, that keeps us from succeeding.
Too many of us have missed opportunities because we lack the confidence to follow through. We lack the trust in God's word and in our ability to handle what comes next. Sometimes we lack the confidence to be successful.
Some of us have suffered for so long and have had more tragedies than triumphs that we don't know how to handle success. We are afraid of the unknown of success and having to maintain it. We lack the confidence in ourselves to continue to grow and flourish and have continued success. Hence, we sabotage our own efforts.  We began to question ourselves and the blessings. We start to doubt God and ourselves, making room for fear and unbelief which ultimately cripples us—stopping us from moving forward or climbing higher.
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.  Don't be scared, beloved. Don't be scared of failing or making a mistake. Be confident in who you are. Have confidence that God will keep His word. Be confident in your successes. That they will not only last but continue to grow into the vision that God has shown you. Your past does not dictate if you're worthy or deserving of great success. No. You are deserving by the share fact that you belong to a great God that would have nothing less but the best for you. Be confident always. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!
©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.


Saturday, September 05, 2020

"Beyond Measure"

 Reflections4LifeTM September 6, 2020

“Beyond Measure”                       
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38
Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 49:25-26; Deuteronomy 7:12; 28; Psalm 128; Proverbs 28:20

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 know and see the blessings that God has decreed over your life. Lean on God for all understanding and direction. Count your blessings, they are many; especially the ones you cannot see!
If there is one thing that I understand today, it is that I am blessed beyond measure. I cannot begin to count my blessings because they are far too numerous. I am fortunate that they outweigh the bad by a very great number.
Yes, there are days when I do not "feel" blessed. Days when I do not think God hears me. However, I know that is just the circumstances and situations I may currently be facing, talking. My feelings and emotions, but never my heart.
Today is a very blessed day.  As well as, one of the hardest for me. Today's my Birthday. I am so blessed and grateful. At the same time, I am missing my Mom's presence. I miss her 4:33 am (the time I was born! My Mom was serious about this! Lol) birthday call and her birthday song to me. I miss hearing her voice, her touch, her kiss and her embrace. But I feel her love all the way from heaven. And it gives my heart joy to know she is still with me.
I don’t ask for much, if anything, for my birthday. I never did. On my birthday, I’d always asked my mother what she wanted. I desired to give. To give someone else joy and pleasure on my birthday. That was the gift I wanted. To see someone else happy on my birthday. So, with that in mind, I pray that you will receive today what your heart desires. I pray that your prayers would be answered according to the Father’s will for your life. May you walk in the blessings God has ordained for your life.
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 recognize my blessings today. More than any other. Because I know that my blessings are beyond measure. My beautiful mother taught me that! And as I celebrate life today, I pray for you. That you would be blessed and know your worth, and that everything that God has ordained for you, you will receive. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!
©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.