"Whom Do You Love? Are You for Sure?"

September 25, 2016

REFLECTIONS4LIFE™

“Whom Do You Love? Are You For Sure?”

“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others. Isn’t always “me first”. Doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything.
Trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 MSG

Scripture Contemplation: Luke 15; John 15; 1 Corinthians 13…

Whom do you love? Are you for sure? Do you love them in a way that lifts them up, or that tears them down? How do you know it is love that you are feeling? Maybe it is not love but infatuation. We use that word love an awful lot. Have you really stopped to think about its meaning? What love really means? What love really is? Who Love is?

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; bringing peace and revelation to your heart, mind, and soul. God is love. He is the ultimate definition of love. Spend some intimate and quality time this week in the Father’s presence, soaking up all the goodness and love that can only be found in a relationship with Him. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

When you tell someone you love him or her, what are you really saying? What do you mean? Is it unconditional or conditional love? Sometimes we get it twisted.

To love someone unconditionally, you do not count their faults, flaws, and mistakes, then turn around and use it against them. It means that you know they are flawed and not perfect, yet you love them in spite of and decide that you want to share a life with them, accepting them just as they are and willing to grow with them and see where the journey of life takes the both of you.

Conditional love puts limits and conditions on our love. It says that if you do x, y, and z, then I will withhold a, b, and c, along with my love. You use love as a punishment; withholding affection until you are satisfied with the other person's actions. Conditional love says that there are certain conditions that must be met before you will give or show love to the other person.

Often times we believe our love is unconditional until a situation takes place or a person disappoints us and we are exiting the relationship, rushing into new ones, only to find ourselves repeating past behaviors.

Unconditional love is risky, requiring vulnerability. Many of us would rather hold on to the old wounds, allowing them to dictate our behavior and measure of love in all of our relationships.

Too many people say, "I love you" and do not know what they are talking about. They get unconditional and conditional twisted…leaving people hurt, angry, wounded, and jacked up for the next relationship, and finding it hard to love themselves.

Know and understand this: If you are not ready to be vulnerable, to give your all, to take risks, to accept people for who they are and where they are at in life at this time, then do not commit and do not say you love them. Moreover, whatever you do, do not marry them. Unconditional love requires a lot, especially vulnerability and acceptance. Think on it.

Who could be more vulnerable than God could? Here we are, His beloved creation, made in His image, and we ignore God. We reject Him. Our actions are sometimes anything but love. Yet, God has not given up on us. Our Heavenly Father, Knower of all things, especially our hearts and what we are going think before the thoughts come, knew that sending His only begotten Son would save many, but many would still reject it—reject Him.

God is love, Beloved. He is the embodiment of love. What love is, what it looks like, feels like, sounds like, tastes like…all God. We can exchange the name of God in our conversations like this: I God you. I will God you forever.

Beloved, when you tell someone you love them, think about what you mean, and what you would want it to mean when someone says they love you. If you are not, ready to love unconditionally; to accept someone for who they are right now, then do not make that commitment until you are certain, and are ready, until you can allow yourself to be vulnerable. Because loving someone is not always easy. It takes some sacrifice and compromise at times, and a certain strength and fortitude to forge ahead in love at times. Just remember: with God in you and all around you, you cannot lose with love, only gain.

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. Allow the true, sincere, unconditional love of God to not only penetrate your heart and mind but also allow it to lead you throughout each day; guiding and strengthening you in the ways of His kind of love, a love that this world so desperately needs more of. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2016. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

Reflections4Life: "No Regrets Allowed"

Reflections4Life January 19^th, 2014

“No Regrets Allowed”

“You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.” Psalm 119:4-6 (MESSAGE)

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 119:1-8; Proverbs 5:7-4; Isaiah 49; 2 Corinthians 7...

There are signs for many things telling us what is not allowed. No Pets Allowed. No Smoking Allowed. No Drinking Allowed. No Food Allowed. And I could go on. There should be one that we all apply to our lives: No Regrets Allowed. We should make our lives a regret-free zone, and learn to live each day with the purpose and intent that God designed us to live.

I declare and decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. May your life be filled with purposeful living; with the intent on living each day as the gift that it is. Relishing in the joy and love that is our Heavenly Father.

That old Frank Sinatra song is ringing in my head right now: My Way...and the part where he says he had a few regrets, but too few to mention. How many of us can say that we have lived our lives with very few regrets? Better yet; how many of us can say we did it God's way, and because we did, our lives have very few regrets to speak of?

This past week, I learned some very hurtful news. A dear friend of mine is in the throws of transitioning. Her mother wrote a note on her FB wall and encouraged all of her friends to pray for her daughter, as she only has a few days left. She asked that each of her friends would pray that the angels would carry her with peace and grace.

I cried for what seemed like hours. I cannot believe she is going. I cannot believe that I won't be able to just reach out and say hello, or receive one of her notes and flowers, with the words saying: Just thought I'd tell you that I love you!

Even through her most painful battles, she spent time letting the people she loved know how much she loved and appreciated them. She lived each day with a passion and purpose. The outpouring of love that she is receiving is just a reflection of the beautiful soul that she is. If she had any regrets, she did not mention them. If she was not satisfied with her life, you would never know. She lived her life in such a way that was filled with gratitude and love, that there was no room for regrets.

How many of us can say that we are living our lives to the very best that God has intended? How many of us have learned to appreciate each day, and live it with such purpose, that one would be hard-pressed to say you had any regrets?

We never really know when our moment of transition is going to come. When it does, I want to have no regrets. I want my life to be a regret-free zone. And I want to surround myself with like-minded people. People who are living their life on purpose with purpose. People who are sold out to doing it God's way, and can see every aspect of their life as a gift; regardless of the obstacles and tests that come their way.

I find that we spend much time picking apart our lives; deciding what's wrong with it, and the things we want to change about it. But how many times have we counted what is right about it? How many times have we thanked God for the blessings in our lives? How many of us have taken the time to count all the good that God has blessed us with? How many have taken the time to say thank you for being alive? For having a roof over your head? Clothes on your back? Or, are you too overwhelmed with what you don't like, that you cannot see God's beauty that stares at you each and every day?

Will you join me today in making your life a regret-free zone? Will you commit to making sure there are no regrets allowed in your life or around you? I found the best way to ensure this:

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”

I will cherish every moment I had with my dear friend. I will remember the joy and laughter that she brought into my life. I will celebrate the woman that she is, and the angel that God blessed her to be to so many. I will see a beautiful bouquet of flowers and think of her, and say: “Cool Beans!” I will remind myself each day to say, Thank You. And to let someone else know how much they are loved and appreciated.

Life is too short and too precious to have nothing but regrets. Life is what you make it. And when you determine to live it with a heart of gratitude, you will find that there are very few regrets that will come to mind.

I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in every area of your lives. God has designed you with purpose. Live your life in such a manner that you ask God, what's next? Instead of: What did I miss? Let the joy of the Lord fill your hearts and minds. Allow Him to lead you into that ordained path, that will leave your life with no time for regrets. Get busy living, and doing things God's way. You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing!

©2014. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.