"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.

"Love Yourself"

Reflections4Life™ February 10, 2019

“Love Yourself”

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14 

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 139; Matthew 22; Ephesians 5; 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Corinthians 12; 1 John 4:16

©Ruthe McDonald.

I cannot begin to express how important it is to love yourself. When you love yourself, the chances of you allowing anyone to treat you less than you deserve are slim to none. How can we say we love God, who resides in us, and not love ourselves, when God Himself, has chosen us? What’s not to love? We have to begin to see ourselves through the eyes of God and stop loving ourselves based on what we see in the mirror and hear from others. Loving yourself is a heart and soul matter, and if you allow God in, His love changes everything.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Let this week fill your hearts with the words and love of our heavenly Father. Allow His love to blanket you and soothe all the rough and hurting places; bringing you comfort and a new perspective. Allow the Father to show you truly how to love yourself; to love yourself without pompousness or the exclusion of others but bringing a healthy dose of self-love and confidence.

Admittedly, there are those who have loved themselves and still found themselves in relationships that nearly destroyed them. Why? Because, although they loved themselves, they allowed their love for that person to supersede the love and concern they had for themselves. It is a beautiful thing to love with all your heart and soul, to give your all to another, not holding back. However, it is even better when you love yourself so much, that you don't forget to take care of your needs and recognize when you are being treated less than you deserve.

Love can be blind. Blind to the faults of others. And blind and deaf to our mind screaming for us to wake up and pay attention to those signals that are warning us about the danger. It may sound selfish and contrary to what you may have heard and been taught in the past; but after God, you must always put yourself first. You must take care of self, first. Love yourself the best first. At the end of the day, if you are not all right, no one else will be. And if you don't put yourself first, nine times out of ten, you will find yourself at the end of a relationship, used, abused, broken, burned out, not knowing who you are and how you got there.

I speak to you Beloved, from my truth. I speak from experience, not merely observations. If I can save you at least one-tenth of the heartache I have endured and experienced, then what I endured was not in vain but for a greater purpose. Love yourself, Beloved.

You know what else I have learned? 1. You may not see everyone’s intentions in the beginning—God may have designed it that way—but when it is time for the truth to be revealed, you can count on God making that known. That usually occurs when God is ushering you to a new level in your life’s journey. 2. Healthy self-love is one of the most beautiful and attractive things to witness in a person. Not arrogance or pompousness, but self-assuredness, a confidence that you can handle whatever comes at you, especially with God on your side, and the ability to recognize when others no longer love you, or only desire to use you, and those that just don’t deserve a relationship with you. And when people’s intentions and hearts have changed.

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. My self-love is not predicated on someone else's opinions or thoughts of me. Their opinion no longer takes up space; a space that is reserved for the encouraging and purposeful words of my Creator and the voice of self that has been developed and strengthened over the years of intimacy with God. You are blessed. Now go … and be a blessing!

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"True to Self"

Reflections4Life™ November 25, 2018

“True to Self”

“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” Psalm 51:6

Scripture Contemplations: Psalm 51; John 8

©Ruthe Mcdonald.

There is something very powerful, life-affirming, and in all honesty, invigorating about knowing and believing the truth about yourself. To understand yourself with such conviction, that you walk each day you are blessed to see with conviction, certainty, and all complete faith in what God has ordained for your life. You are not afraid to take chances but at the same time are willing to move forward and push through even if fear is present. When you know and understand the truth about yourself, not only can you be true to self, but also that means you have gained a knowledge and wisdom of who God is. It is then that we can be about God’s business without any trepidation but with complete faith, boldness, and assurance about the word of God and who we are.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Spend this week, Beloveds, yielding to God. Expose your heart; confess your hurts, sins, anger, disappointments, and fears to Almighty God. He is not only listening but is waiting to reveal to you, the warrior that resides within you.

There are many circumstances that I have faced in my life—I am facing some right now—where I have questioned who I am and whether or not I was being true to myself. I will be candid totally authentic and transparent with you. Sometimes I wonder. I wonder if I am getting this whole life thing right.

Am I doing what I should be doing? Am I getting this Christian-living thing correct? Or am I totally screwing all of this up? Am I making a mess of my life? Or am I really where I need to be and right where God has ordained for me at this time in my life? And if I am—right where I should be?—then why do I feel like such a failure at times or like I am truly missing the mark?

All of these questions and more run through my mind at one time or another, and sometimes they swirl around in my mind for a while; crippling me from doing anything else. Here is another thing about me: I am an introvert—an extreme introvert. When I am alone I do not get lonely. Reading a book is stimulating if at times, more exhilarating than being around a crowd of friends and family. I do not necessarily know what new movies are out or what the latest song on the charts is. If I am not reading, I am writing, doing research, editing, or working on other projects, pursuing my passions, even though I am currently in a place and space that is limiting what I can do and where I can go, and the truth of the matter is, it hurts so much that my flesh wants to cuss. However, at the same time, I know God loves me and that all of this is temporary and that my body will align with Christ in me and my healing will manifest, and I will be free to be to go and do everything without restrictions. Yes. I said that all in one breathe because I am being true to self. I am facing my truth and baring my soul because I want you to know, that no matter what you face in life that it is imperative that you stay true to self.  

Beloveds, when you are true to self, you can hear God speak to your soul. You will find the strength to go through the tests and trials; the afflictions, and adversities that arise without buckling under the weight of it all. Because you know in the core of your soul, that Jesus has you covered, and that joy does indeed come in the morning. All things are working out for your good according to God’s will for your life. At the end of the day, we walk by faith and not by sight, not by how we feel or of our own strength. It is all about God and the words that He has and continually speaks over us.

Here is what I have come to know for certain, and has become my very foundation; in order for me to know who I am, I must get to know who God is. I have to understand the heart of my Creator and how He does things. It all starts with listening. Listening to Holy Spirit and allowing Him to not only fill you but to teach you and guide you, and help you navigate through the very storms of this life, and come through it all as pure gold.

We must be honest with ourselves. Look ourselves in the mirror, no matter hard it is, and tell ourselves the truth. Be courageous enough to hear the Father tell us what we need and follow the instructions He gives. We must become malleable to the touch of God’s hands and so sensitive to His touch that we yield with ease and move with a quickness when He says move, and prayer becomes like breathing for us—a natural state of being. This can only happen if we yield our true self to God, without fear of exposing ourselves or being hidden from 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. We have thirty-six more days to the New Year. Do not wait to make a change in the New Year—no one is promised tomorrow. Instead, yield to God today and His ways and start being true to yourself. It takes twenty-days to break a habit and start to create new ones. You have plenty enough time to begin now and show God how serious you are. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Love & Sacrifice"

Reflections4Life ™ November 11, 2018

“Love & Sacrifice”

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Scripture Contemplation: Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:10

In the climate of our world today, the spirit of love seems to be lacking. Oh! But it is there. Only, it has been obscured by the continuous acts of selfishness and hate that have been fueling so many hearts and minds. It is my belief that hate and selfishness are being exposed by God’s design so that those who know and understand the depths of God’s love and sacrifice can show up and start showing love where it is needed the most. Sometimes it will be a sacrifice for us—a sacrifice of time, comfort, convenience. There are opportunities all around us to share, to show, to be the love of God. We just need to open our eyes and the eyes of our heart.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Do not meet hate with hate. Do not allow your heart to grow hard because of the evil that is being exposed. Instead, pray. Go before the Lord, seeking His presence and His will. Ask Him for a plan of action; and what you can do, in the face of adversity and affliction. We cannot combat hate with hate, and selfishness with selfishness. We must come with a spirit of unconditional love and sacrifice. Because sometimes, it is a sacrifice to give that much of ourselves without knowing what the outcome will be. Just know that whatever you pour out; whatever you give, God will most certainly give back to you in abundance and unexpected ways.

I am deviating from my usual Reflections4Life format today. Following the instructions of my heavenly Father, I want to celebrate this Veterans Day. My family has always had someone in the Military, as well as the new generation following in the footsteps. It is not an easy thing, nor is it an easy choice. We honor them for their service, as we honor all service men and women. We thank them for their sacrifice, for their willingness to do what so many could never. I want to share with you a story I wrote, celebrating our Veterans. May you see not only the humor, the story, the dialogue, but also the message within. Thank you to every Veteran, for your service; for your love and sacrifices. God Bless!

Love & Sacrifice

For Our Soldiers: Then and Now

The flag danced in the brisk breeze to the accompaniment of hardware tattooing against the metal pole. I still get the same feeling every time I come. The only difference is; I am a grown man, not five years old asking my mother when my father was coming home. She had no answer for me; just the sad dullness in her eyes, before tears began to fall. She would look at me, squeezing my hand and whisper, "Johnny, Daddy's with God now. He's a soldier in Heaven." I'd look into her eyes, knowing in my heart that she wished God would send Daddy back to us, too.

Every year I come here. I used to think it was to remember my father and all the heroes that fought for our freedom. Now, I feel it is more a sense of duty and of pride. I watch families come and go; standing by the memorial bearing their loved one's name. Some cry; some say prayers. Me? I just watch and wonder what might have been.

It is always cold whenever I do come. The weatherman is always wrong. "We are expecting warm weather today. Around 78 to 82 degrees. Perfect Memorial Day weather. Not a cloud in the sky..."Although the sun is shining brightly, the wind is blowing, and you can feel the chill in the air. I can feel it in my bones...the wind. It is as if someone opened the door on a cold winter's night. After you just got out of the bed from beneath your warm blanket, trying to make it to the bathroom very quick before the cold air realizes that you are no longer bundled up. Just before you make it back to your bed, the cold air grips you, and says, "I gotcha!"  It takes you about twenty minutes to get warm again, and another twenty to fall back into a comfortable sleep and before you realize it, your mom is waking you up, telling you it is time for school. Yeah, it is cold today. I will feel the same way when I return on Veteran’s Day.

"Are you ready, John?" That's my fiancée, Charlotte. Seven years and going strong.

"Not yet, Baby." I wanted to squeeze her hand. She is the best thing that has happened in my life.

"Alright. Don't forget; we have Danielle's barbecue to go to?"

Ugh! Danielle! I love my fiancée, but her sister Danielle is a pill!

"Oh, C'mon, John. Danni is not that bad. Well...maybe a little," Charlotte laughs, after seeing my expression.

"You know your sister makes a pit-bull look like a kitten!"

"John! She's not that bad!"

I just look at Charlotte with a, "C'mon now...let's be real look" on my face.

She laughs.

"Okay, you're right! But still...she means well—most of the time. She just has a hard way of showing it."

"Any harder, she'd be stone!"

"John!" Charlotte slaps my shoulder.

I have to laugh. "I'm sorry. I'll be nice. But I swear...if she starts in on me, I'm not responsible for what I might do," I warn her.

"Alright. Alright." She gives me a small kiss. I can feel the electricity run through my body. "I'll be over by the benches," she smiles before kissing me again, then walks away.

"I won't be much longer," I say after her.

Charlotte. There are three things I would die for: my mother, my country, and Charlotte. Unfortunately, the second one was put to the test.

The hardware from the flag hitting the metal pole takes my attention. The clicking surfaces memories that I wish to stay buried, but arise without notice or fair warning. It just got colder, and I can feel a chill deep within my bones—not from the wind. More people have arrived. They stand by the names of their loved ones and take pictures. I remember my mother doing that once. She doesn't come anymore. She says that she no longer needs to come. She has her pictures, her memories, and own memorial at home. Coming here reminds her too much of what she lost and the fact that she had to share my father. Once I was able to come on my own, she stopped sharing and held her own private memorial.

It almost killed her when I joined the service. She blamed herself. My mother felt that if she hadn't brought me so many times to this memorial, then perhaps I wouldn't have had such a need to follow in my father's footsteps. I told her she was wrong. Yet, a part of it was true. I wanted a part of my father. And, the only way I knew how to get it, was to walk in the same path he walked on; to know what it felt like to fight for your country and, to even perhaps die. It wasn't to hurt my mother, but to honor the man I never really knew, but idolized every waking moment.

"But what if you die, Johnny?" My mother cried.

"That's a part of war, Mom."

"I don't want to share you with this country! I already shared your father! I don't want to share my son, too!" She cried for weeks.

Only a week to go. Not a scratch. Not even a hangnail. Home was in the horizon. It was a daily inspection. Done thousands of times. Only this time would be different. I lost four men that day. Four months later, I'm home. Never the same. Blessed to be alive, but sorry at the same time.

"You ready, Sweetheart?" Charlotte doesn't mind. She loves me no matter what.

"Yeah. I guess so."

"I'll pull the car around," she smiles at me, just like she used to before I left. There's no difference in her eyes.

"Hello, son. Thanks for serving our country," an older man in uniform salutes me.

"Thank you, Sir!" I nod my head. I would salute, but I 'd given two arms and a leg for my country.

©2011. ©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

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 the coldness, the selfish and hateful acts of this world to keep you from loving unconditionally. Where hate and vitriol are exposed, come forward with love, care, and concern. Do not allow the darkness to distinguish the light that is inside of you, that light and love that God has set on a hill for all to see and shine the right way home. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Straight From The Heart"

Reflections4Life™ July 22, 2018

“Straight From the Heart”

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 6; Psalm 4; 10:17; 34; Lamentations; Hosea 10; John 7

©Ruthe McDonald

I

N this world, we are unfortunately surrounded with all manner of evil. The closer it gets for the return of Christ, the colder and more evil the world waxes. It fights against all that is holy; scoffs at what is righteous, and detests what is godly. Fortunately, God is with His children. He is amidst His creation and He is consistently knocking on the doors of our hearts, waiting for an invitation to come in and to take care of every situation; delivering us from the mess we have created, as well as the mess of those who say they love us. Make no mistake. God knows our hearts and in order for us to receive, we must ask, and we must ask straight from our hearts.

I decree that this week’s Reflections are a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. However, there may be many things happening in your life, and you may not know which way to turn or if the pain of your heart will ever dissipate; come to God with all of it. There is nothing we face that God cannot handle. He is the solution to our problems, the answers to the questions, the healing for the hurts that burden our souls. Trust the Father today, and come straight from the heart. God can handle it. No matter what it is.

Unburden Your Heart to the Lord

Joshua 23:14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.

If there is one thing that I am certain of, is that God hears our prayers before we utter one word. He knows our hearts. If no one else knows who we are, how bad we hurt, the Father certainly does. He knows all about the heartaches, the pains, the disappointments, and even the confusion.

The Father desires for us to unburden our hearts to Him; to let go of everything that we have been holding onto and more than likely hiding from others. There are many who are walking around with heartache and hurt that has been like a heavy boulder upon their chests and shoulders. They have carried it for so long, that it cripples their lives and emotions.

Mentally, we are distracted, spiritually wounded, and physically pained. It is too much. Every aspect of our lives is affected. Far too many have been praying for death, losing all hope and faith. How can we possibly receive what God has for us if we are preoccupied with the things of our heart, and a mind that hurts, causing doubt about the power of God, and who we are in Him?

Whatever God has spoken, He will make certain it happens. In the meantime, we must unburden our hearts to the Lord, and receive what He has for us. Is it easy? Nope. Especially with the enemy after us. We must remind ourselves that all that He has spoken will happen.

A Changed Heart and Renewed Mind

Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Ephesians 4:23-24 …be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Allow God to renew and protect your heart, Beloveds. Let His Spirit renew your mind. Do not allow the trials of this earth; this world, consume you to the point that you walk away from the very promises of God. The very thing you have been praying and waiting for. Keep your heart open to God, and put on your armor, daily. However, the battle belongs to God, it is a fierce one, and we must be prepared.

Beloved, I can only come from my heart and be candid with you. I know the hurt, the pain, and the heartaches. I understand the hopelessness and helplessness that can overwhelm you until it feels as though it is choking you; slowly wrapping its fingers around your heart; trying to crush it, along with every dream, and all hope you have ever had for your life. The enemy tries to crush your faith and love of God, along with all God has blessed you with and promised you. He will try everything to strip you bare and make you walk away before its manifestations. Especially when you are right at the door, that God is opening.

I know! I am there right now! I have to be honest with you, so you understand that you are not alone. My heart feels like it is in a billion little pieces; as if it will never come together again. My mind drifts on a daily basis, wondering if there was something, anything I could have done differently. Is there something wrong with who I am? What about the seeds I have sown? Did I not sow in love? Have I asked amiss? Was my heart not in the right place? All of these questions and so many more go through my heart and mind on a daily basis through this difficult time in my life, as the storm rages.

But for God! God has made a promise to me. I do not know Him to be a liar. Sometimes the enemy is coming after you hot and heavy from all sides, launching an attack that seems impossible to overcome or get through. He comes after you relentlessly, not letting up, as he whispers lies into your ears every chance he gets. He parades in front of you your worse fears, brings to mind your worst pains and every mistake. He is like an army all by himself, that has scaled a full-on attack and seems to have more firepower and ammunition, and inside information on your weaknesses and Achilles heel. He throws your past against you and everyone and thing that has hurt you. He reminds you of everyone who has abandoned, rejected, and hurt your heart, and then seeks to amplify those feelings until you can hardly think, less much speak the word and promises of God in your life.

No matter what you are facing, you can make it through if you do not give up and you trust God to see you through. Do not allow your heart to be hardened and your mind closed to the truth of God; even if you do not understand it or can see God moving. Know that He is, and understanding will come if you faint not.

It is the Love

Song of Solomon 8:6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.

It is the love, Beloveds. It the unconditional, powerful, transforming, healing, life-changing love of God that makes all of the difference. We just have to believe and have faith.

There is nothing more powerful, whole, more healing than the love of God. God is love, and His love for you is stronger than anyone and anything—including your parents, spouse, sibling, best friend. At the end of the day, and every battle—it was and will always be the love of God that destroys the enemy while simultaneously renewing and uncovering what He has already placed in your heart. He will bring to pass every promise He has given you; every vision He has shown you; every promise He has made. You must stand your ground against the devil; standing in the uncompromising unconditional love of the Father.

My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Beloved, nothing comes close to the healing and transforming love that God hoards for His creation. When we dare to believe God and stand on His word, coming straight from our heart; we gain a strength we never realized we have. We fill our minds and hearts with the word and promises of God, reminding ourselves that with God on our side, how can we not win the race that God has secured with the precious gift of Jesus Christ. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Satan's Lies, God's Truth"

Reflections4Life™ July 8, 2018

“Satan’s Lies, God’s Truth”

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

Scripture Contemplations: 1 Chronicles 21; Job 1; 1 Peter 5; Isaiah 48; Romans 3; 9; 15…

©Ruthe McDonald.

There

 is so many duplicitous actions taking place in our world today, making it hard-pressed to trust anything that anyone says. When surrounded by a spirit of lies and deception, it makes it difficult to see, hear, and receive the truth. We raise a guard around our hearts and a filter over our ears to protect ourselves from deception and hurt. While at the same time running the risk of losing the blessings that God has placed in our lives, and ordained for us to have, because we have been manipulated by Satan’s lies, forgetting God’s truth that He spoke to us at the beginning of our journey, because nothing looks or appears, as it should. Yet, God admonishes each day to pull down the strongholds and to speak what He has spoken to our hearts and stand on His truth. Because just as those in the past—this is only a test—and if we faint not, not only will we reap the rewards of victory, all truth will be revealed as all lies are exposed.

I decree that this week’s Reflections are a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. All that God has ordained for your life is coming to pass if you do not give up before seeing the victory. Though what you are facing today and have been facing for a while is taxing and having a profound effect upon your heart mind and soul, I implore you to continue to trust God and hold on to His promises. Meditate on the word and promises of God. Take some extra time this week and not only visualize what God has spoken to your heart, but also write down the plans that you desire God to bring to pass. See and speak on your future—where victory has manifested—and leave the present to God.

Satan’s Lies

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

We may not understand it or even believe it, but God really is in control and Satan can do nothing without God’s permission. If God is giving Satan permission to mess with you, then you can believe that what God has for you is far greater than you could ever imagine. Whatever God is, allowing the enemy to do and bring into your life is designed to make you stronger, to open your eyes and heart, and prepare for the greatness that lies ahead of you.

There is no truth in Satan. He seeks to devour us. He comes to kill, steal, and destroy. To kill hopes dreams, faith, and lives. To steal our destinies, the promises of God in our lives, to steal our mind, our mental health. To rob us of relationships, marriages, and friendships. To destroy our joy and happiness.

The enemy does not care what he has to do to accomplish his goal, or who he will use. He will use those closest to you—husbands, wives, children, friends, family, etcetera. It does not concern him, as long as his intentions are fulfilled, and you have relinquished, or given up on the blessings and promises of God.

Make no mistake: the enemy is a master liar and manipulator and knows how to make something appear real just so he can destroy you; king all of your faith and the love that you have in your heart.

This is why the Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood and admonishes us to place on the armor of God each and every day. We have to remember who we are and whose we are, as well as what God says concerning our walk and blessings in Him. Also the fact that the enemy has no power except for the power we give him; especially by what we are thinking and allowing our minds to dwell on, on a consistent basis without pulling down the strongholds and pleading the blood of Jesus over our mind and heart.

Satan is a liar. Even when it sounds plausible and like the truth, he twists things to fit his agenda—to kill steal and destroy God’s creation. This is personal for him and it should be personal for us, too.

God’s Truth

Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

We may not understand the ways and thoughts of God but we can be assured that His word is the truth and what He has ordained for our lives will certainly come to pass if we continue to trust Him, believe Him, and walk obediently.

Beloveds; God cannot lie. His truth stands out from all darkness. Whatever He has ordained for our lives, whatever He has shown us and spoken to our hearts—we can believe that. He has a proven track record. However, many of us may have our doubts and we cannot understand how or why God would allow certain things to happen in our lives. Even when we cannot fathom why God would continue to allow lies to prevail when He knows and understands our hearts and what we hold dear—God will always speak the truth and make it known in His timing.

We all should be familiar with the story of Job. If not, please take some time and study it, and if possible read some commentaries on this pivotal chapter on withstanding the wickedness and taunts of the enemy. God had a plan for Job. To bless him twice as much. But there was some growth and strength that Job needed in his life. Some pride and pomposity that needed to be removed. God used the enemy, who came accusing God and his creation. God gave Satan permission to do what he will but he could not take Job’s life. Though Job went through a myriad of emotions, one thing remained true: Job’s worship and belief that God would see him through ushered him into a season of double blessings. Right into the place, that God had for Job all along.

Finally

This, Beloved, is what God desires for us, to manifest His best in our lives. Listen; God cannot and will not lie to us. No matter what something looks like, or how many times someone says, something to infer that God does not care about us. God is not a liar. We may not have an understanding to all the whys but we still have the word and promises of God before us, and all we have to do is stand our ground against the enemy and his lies and believe the truth that God has spoken to our heart and soul.

My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Whatever you do, Beloved, I implore you to not give up or to give in and fall for Satan’s lies. Trust God. Trust God’s truth. Allow Him to manifest in your life, the promises you have been waiting for. You are so close. Closer than you think. How do I know? Because the closer you get to the promises and manifestations of God’s promises and blessings, the harder the enemy comes against you. The more elaborate and convincing Satan’s lies become. Just remember these two things: 1. God cannot lie. 2. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"In The Arms of God"

Reflections4Life™ June 10, 2018

“In the Arms of God”

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” Psalm 91:1

Scripture Contemplation: Joshua 2; Psalm 5; Psalm 31; Psalm 91; Philippians 3; 2 Timothy 4; 1 Peter 5…

I

n our lifetime, we fall for many things: people, words, promises, lies. We fall, as well, into diverse situations, sometimes not aware of how we got there. Yet, in other instances, having consciously made a decision but are too ashamed to confess it, causing many to needlessly stay in a situation while their hearts and souls harden and they become desensitized to the word, voice, and a touch of God. Instead of running to God—straight into the arms of God—we have a tendency to run away and try to hide from God.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Allow the Heavenly Father to pour into you. Let God grant you what you have been searching for all along but did not know how to find. Refuse the urge to turn away but instead fall into the arms of God. I guarantee, there is safety in His arms.

A Place of Power

Isaiah 52:10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

There is nothing on earth that can outdo the protective arms of God. The arms of God are a place of power and deliverance. It is a place of total assurance. There is no condemnation. There is no pain. There is no looking over your shoulder. There are no lies. Though there is a truth that may sting and hurt a bit; there is no harm.

In the arms of God, there is healing and unconditional love. Many of us are blind and have no understanding of this power because we have listened too long to the lies and whispers of the enemy. For so long, many have searched to fill a void, an emptiness in their hearts, with temporal things. At first, they feel satiated and complete. Then after a while, feelings of emptiness and longing stir once again. They’re soon looking to someone or something else to fill that emptiness, only to repeat a painful cycle.

While seeking and searching high and low to fill a void, to appease that ache, God is there. He is there waiting to receive us into the shelter of His arms. He calls to us. He reaches for us. However, all too often, we reject God. We reject His hands and His love. But the enemy will have us to believe that God has rejected us.

Know this in your heart and soul: Just because you may not have received an answer to your prayer in the way in which you were expecting, does not mean that God has rejected you. Just because you have prayed for something and it did not come to pass does not mean that God has rejected you. Just because you received a no, for now, does not mean that God has rejected you. God has not rejected or abandoned you. A no right now does not mean it will always be a no. It can simply mean, not yet.

God’s Greater Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Numbers 23:19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Beloveds, allow this to ruminate in your heart and mind: Sometimes God has something far greater than you could ever imagine for yourself. He does things in His way and His time but it is always for our good. God cannot lie. He will keep His promise to you, and give all that we expected and more.

Many of us have placed our trust and belief in others and things, only to be sorely disappointed repeatedly. It has, for many, led to a jaded mind and heart, unable to believe anyone. As a result, some have placed God on that same level as man.

Rest assure; whatever God has spoken and promised to you, it will happen in the due season. We have to be certain we are ready, living our lives accordingly. Otherwise, we can find ourselves out of position to receive the manifestations of the blessings.

Beloveds, we have listened to the wrong people and the whispers of Satan for far too long. We have put our trust and faith into people and things that have no idea who we are and what God has ordained for us. We have fallen for the lies of the enemy, believing what he has spoken concerning God and us. To the point, that some have become so despondent, they have taken their own lives.

It is time to change the station and hear what God is saying, to listen, and believe His words of truth and deliverance. Fall into the shelter and love of God's arms. Let Him love us, restore, and strengthen us. What do we have to lose?—Nothing but past hurt and shame but so much greatness to gain.

My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Fall into the arms of God where there is always room for you. Fall into the shelter and safety of the arms that have been open for you since you entered this realm of time. Receive freely what Jesus has already paid for in full. Receive the comfort and peace that can only come from a Father who loves you, accepts you, and sees you just as you truly are. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"All Things New"

Reflections4Life™ April 29, 2018

“All Things New”

“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

Scripture Contemplation: Leviticus 26:9-11; Isaiah 43:19; 48; 66:22-24; Acts 14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12...

©Ruthe McDonald

T

here is nothing God desires more than for us to be with Him in paradise; to spend our eternity in His presence. To experience on this earth all that He has ordained. Yet, even God knew that things could not remain the same in our lives if we expect to receive all that He has promised. There is no room for new things in a room overcrowded with old things. Eventually, anything new added would only get lost amongst the clutter. God wants us to know that He is making all things new today. He is restoring us physically, mentally, spiritually. However, some things may be painful at times, and difficult to let go of and move on from. He is clearing away the things that have hindered and blocked us from His move and anointing in our lives. Make no mistake: God’s timing is perfect and He is making all things new.

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Determine in your heart and mind to let go of what things appear to be. Meditate on the word and promises of God. Contemplate on the scriptures given today, and allow them to feed your soul and strengthen you, as God begins to make all things new concerning you. Be a willing participant in your transformation by believing God, by exercising faith. After all, all it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed to make a significant change.

More Than Our Eyes Can See

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Our heavenly Father wants more for us than we could ever imagine. Sometimes we are trapped by our current circumstance, unable to see past our trials and heartache. We forget the promises and word of God because of how things appear. It is even harder to see the light and the bright side of things when your life has been a series of what feels like bad events. Yet, even in all of that, God wants us to believe that His plan is to prosper us—spiritually and physically; to give us a future and a hope.

Do you think that God did not know what lies ahead of you? He did. What many of us, however, do not know and what some of us have forgotten, is that our lives are more than what we can see. There is always a beginning, a middle, and an ending of a story. From the moment God created us, He designed us to withstand the goodness and the darkness of life. He has placed in us the ability to rise above and to push through adversity and affliction. However, we must see through His eyes, believe in our hearts, have faith in what God has spoken, even when it does not appear that way.

Clearing Away Baggage

Matthew 9:17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

Beloved, trust when I tell you, that God has great things for your life. He has promises that you have yet to discover, and you never will if you continue to hold onto old things, old ways, and what others may have done to you. It’s called baggage. Or as my Gram would say, a house of clutter.

We pray and ask God for a new life. We ask the Father to bless us, to change us, to increase our territory, but we have not done the work of cleaning out and taking care of what we already have. We have not done proper preparation that would enable us to be ready for the abundance or magnitude of the greatness of God manifesting in our lives.

Do you ever wonder why some people—like the lottery winners—can be broke in just a few years’ time? They were not prepared—mentally or emotionally. Some were overwhelmed, not financially educated, had the wrong people around them, and some were stuck in old ways and patterns of doing things.

Would you purchase brand new furniture for your home, having not gotten rid of the old furniture first? Imagine what that would look like. If you were beginning a new relationship with someone, knowing and believing in your heart you were going to marry; would you treat them as they deserved or would you hold them to a standard based upon a past relationship? Would you withhold trust and treat them based on the hurt that still resides in you from the past? What if that were done to you?

Some of us are holding onto old ways of thinking, doing, and behaving. We are holding onto old hurts, ideals, and even old love and memories that we have no room for anything new. We ask God to bless us but have yet severed ties from the past, or attempted to clean out our houses to make room for the abundance that God has for us.

All Things New

Leviticus 26:9-11(MSG) I’ll give you my full attention: I’ll make sure you prosper, make sure you grow in numbers, and keep my covenant with you in good working order. You’ll still be eating from last year’s harvest when you have to clean out the barns to make room for the new crops. I’ll set up my residence in your neighborhood; I won’t avoid or shun you.

We do not always know the middle of our life’s story. We do not know where our journey will lead us. However, when we have trust and faith in God, we can hold onto and believe in what He has spoken concerning the finish line, concerning the best years of life. With God, it is a guaranteed promise and not just wishful thinking.

My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. God cannot lie. He is making all things new. Having washed away the dredges of our past, all we have to do is believe and accept this awesome gift of the Heavenly Father; walking in His love and His promises. Let go of the past and its baggage. Have a new mind and new outlook; learning and receiving all that God has ordained for our lives. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.