"Give Thanks for The Life You Have"

 Reflections4Life^TM November 22, 2020

“Give Thanks for the Life You Have”

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Scripture Contemplation: 2 Samuel 22:50; 1 Chronicles 16; Psalm 7; Isaiah 12; Hebrews 13…

If you are able to read this; alive to hear it; in the midst of someone who can share it, then thank God you are alive. We have lost so many this year. Families are separated, people are lonely, and hearts are broken. Yet, here we are—alive and able to make a difference in someone else's life if we choose to, and if we choose to see our glass as half full, and blessed to alive with an opportunity to praise God for not only this new day but also His anointing and His gift of life.

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. Wishing everyone a joyful and splendid Thanksgiving week! May you be grateful for the gift that God has given you called life. Though things may not necessarily be the way you desired right now, spend time with the Father, allowing Him to show you how to proceed.

When was the last time you gave God praise just for being alive? The fact that He woke you up another day in the land of the living? Sure, there are some that wish not to wake up because of all that they are facing. There are those that believe that life would be better off without them. That their life is not worth much. What a lie from the enemy! Maybe you are one that takes for granted that you will have a tomorrow, or that your family and friends will, as well. We spend so much time complaining, being angry, and unforgiving, that we do not see the gift that God has granted us. Life is a precious gift. And tomorrow is not promised to anyone. And how we treat this gift today very well determines our tomorrow.

Some of us have been taking for granted the time that God has granted us—even in the face of this deadly virus—and filling it with feelings of self-loathing, bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness. All of which shortens our lives and takes away from the joy of living. It also blinds us to answers that God has for us.

God does not want us living with regrets. Regrets hinder us from achieving our goals and coming into the fullness of what God has ordained for us. There are so many things that we are facing in the world today. So much has occurred that has taken our focus and hindered us from seeing the blessings of God. Our minds are saddled with the things of the world and our hearts are burden with self-abasing thoughts, and grudges against those we say we love. In order to receive what God has said is rightfully ours: peace, joy, love, happiness, abundant living in Him—we have to be in a position to recognize when we are veering off the righteous path and sliding on the slippery slope that the enemy often pushes us toward.

We are living in such a time where the world is dictating gloom and doom every day while God is speaking of life and abundance. How can there be abundance when so much is going wrong? God says that the abundance is in Him. When we place our focus on, and our trust in the Creator, rather than the creation, we will begin to see through the eyes of God what way we should walk in. How do we do this? By spending time with the Father and allowing Him to transform our thinking and behavior.

We must begin to see ourselves as worthy of God's goodness and mercy. We may have failed a million times. We may have fallen numerous times. But God tells us to get back up. Nothing is over until God says it is over. God has given to all of us a measure of faith, and He expects us to use it.

Your self-worth is not incumbent upon you being a success in this world. Your self-worth is incumbent upon you being the kind of person that God has called you to be. It is not and should never be based upon material things. Material things are temporal. They pass away. But the things that should hold the most value, are those things that make up your character. Your self-worth should be based upon your character, your ability to love and receive love, your integrity, honesty, the kindness of your heart. Your ability to forgive others. Oftentimes, if you look at a person's family you will see what is a priority. I don't want to pass down just an inheritance to my children. I want to pass down a legacy. A legacy may not come with a bunch of dollar signs. But it can come with much love and integrity and the answers to how to gain wealth. Not just in finances, but wealth in every area of 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. Life is action, it is constantly moving from one place to another. One moment to the next. Only memories stay in the past. And if we allow them to, memories will bind us and lock us to a past of hurt, anger, and unforgiveness. Whereas God says that the past is behind us and He has freed us and has given us an abundant life to take hold of. But it is dependent upon us moving toward Him, His purpose, and His will for our lives and being thankful for the life that we have. Live life to the fullest. Treasure the gift that God has blessed you with. You are blessed. And Happy Thanksgiving! Now go…and be a blessing.

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"An Overflowing Cup"

Reflections4Life™ November 24, 2019
“An Overflowing Cup”

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and loving-kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever.”Psalm 23:5,6 (ASV)

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 17; Genesis 48; Psalm 23; John 14; Galatians 5; 1 Peter 2...

How full is your cup today? Or maybe I should ask, what is in your cup? Is it filled with kindness? Love? Compassion? Or is it filled with hate? Bitterness? Regrets? Or, is your cup empty? Have you become so numb from the situations you have faced, and the trials you have contended with, that you feel empty inside; like you have nothing left to give or to feel? God desires to fill your cup to it's overflowing. He wants to anoint you daily from an overflowing cup of blessings.

I decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Let your heart be filled with joy this week, knowing that God, our Father, loves you and has made a way for you. Allow Him to anoint you today, from His overflowing cup.

We must continually fellowship with the Father to ensure that not only are our cups full but also running over. For, it is in the overflow that we find answers. It is in the overflow that we can bless others and not become depleted ourselves. It is in the overflow that we see Jesus. It is in the overflow that we are anointed for each new day the Father grants us. It is in the overflow that we see who we are, and gain the strength to tell the truth about ourselves and receive deliverance.

The overflow is the anointing of God in our lives. The anointing that transforms our lives and the lives of those we have influence over. Our cup is our heart, mind, and spirit. The cup in which God desires to pour Himself into, and become an overflow until it reaches and changes other people's lives, as well as our own.

Beloved, we are not here upon this earth just for ourselves. We are not here to partake in the cup of blessings just for self. We are here to serve one another, to love one another, to help one another, to inspire and encourage one another. We are here to be a walking example of God's love on the earth. We are less than what we think we are by the human mind's interpretation, and more of who we know not, by the mind of Christ.

1 Peter 2:9-10(MSG) But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day the difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

Why do so many of us hide our testimony, and act as though we have loved and served the Lord all of our lives? Or, have never fallen, made mistakes, have sinned? We all have fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Yet, God loves us.

We don't have to pretend with God. We don't have to pretend for others. Why should we hide what God has done for us? Our testimony can mean salvation and deliverance to someone else. It can be the difference between life and death for another soul. Tell the truth to yourself, and tell it to others. Do not stifle the anointing of God. Do not stop the flow of the blessings of God in your life and the ability to bless others, because you don't want anyone to know what God has done for you. Don't be ashamed. And do not feel condemned. There are power and deliverance in your testimony. Allow the power of your testimony flow from your cup.

The Father calls us unto Him, and desires us to know that it is not about how good we are, how straight and narrow we can walk. It's not about perfection, or how well versed we are in scripture. It's not about appearances. It's not even about what we can do, or how much we love God. It is simply about how much God loves us. How much He desires to fill us and be a constant source of love, strength, mercy, and grace in our lives.

There are many walking around with empty cups, or cups half full. There are many living a lie. We lie to ourselves, we lie to others. And we even try to lie to God. We try to justify our sinful actions. We try to cover up what we have done. We are walking around filled with guilt, shame, and sorrow when all we have to do is confess, repent, and allow God to move in our lives the way He desires.

Do you, not know that God desires to bless you forever? Do you not know that the Father desires to reside within you, and pour Himself into your very being; anointing you until it spills out of your life and into the lives of others? He wants your cup(heart) to not only be filled but overflowing(anointing of God) so that you will have a continued source that never runs out.

The anointing changes everything. The anointing breaks every yoke, lifts every burden restores broken hearts, restores the soul, brings healing and deliverance gives power to weak, understanding to the heart, vision to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, movement to the lame, hope to the hopeless, victory in the battle, stability in the mind. The anointing is the presence of God in your life each and every day; enabling you to walk the walk and not just talk it. Enabling you to live a life that is full, complete, and life changing each and every day.

How's your cup today? Is it full? Is it empty? Is it overflowing? Beloved, it is not about how good you are, or how well you act like a believer, or how many scriptures you have memorized, or how pleasant and nice you can be, or about how much you love God. It is about none of those things. It is about how much God loves you. His love for you is never-ending; even when you rejected Him. Even when you turned and walked in sin. Even while you were yet in sin. Even before you entered into this realm of time; it has always been about how much He loves you. And how much He desires to bless you.

My Beloveds, I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. Allow God to fill your cup until it's overflowing. Allow Him to pour all of Him into you, until it is an overflow, touching and changing the lives of others. Let the Father love you. You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing

©2019. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Cornucopia of Manifested Blessings"

Reflections4Life™ November 18, 2018

“Cornucopia of Manifest Blessings”

“The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine, they have abundance. But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke, they vanish away.” Psalm 37:18-20

Scripture Contemplation; Genesis 49; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; 5:13; Mark 4; 

Some of us have forgotten who we are. The trials and tribulations of this life have weakened some of us and have blinded others to the truth of who we are. We have forgotten that God is stronger than anything that comes our way. We have forgotten that the enemy is no match for God and that greater is He that is in us than he that is in this world! But of course, we have forgotten! Because we have not been spending enough time in the presence of God or speaking what He has spoken of us; declaring and decreeing to the atmosphere the truth of God’s word and we have been trying to do things in our own strength forgetting that there is nothing and no one more powerful than our God!

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Dedicate intimate and quality time with the Father this week and just thank Him for all that He has done and will do in your life. Let His word fill you, sanctify your heart, and mind until your prayers become like breathing and your belief is unshakeable and unquestionable.

There is a cornucopia of manifest blessings with your name on it! God has not forgotten us. Though we go through many trials and tribulations, God is there with is—in the midst of it all. Yes, sometimes it feels like what we are facing will never end, and we may not get through it. However, we walk by faith and not by sight or feelings. We are established by the word of the Lord and all that He has declared and decreed concerning us.

Yes, we face situations that test and try our faith but here we are, in the land of the living, covered by the Blood of the Lamb and the promises of God on our lives. We forget that we are not in this alone, though it may feel as if we are when we are in the middle of certain trials and tests. However, God is there with us, though He may be silent, as a teacher is always silent during a test. Not because they do not want us to pass but because He knows that we have the answers we need to pass the test because He was the One that put them in us, to begin with! Now, we have to learn to draw upon those life lessons throughout our life’s journey and apply the knowledge that He has afforded us—displaying wisdom, and understanding.

I do not know about you, but sometimes I do forget how strong and capable my God is and that He is indeed in charge. Sometimes I take my eyes off God and His promises and start looking at the circumstances and situations I find myself in. When that occurs, I become overwhelmed and try to “fix” and maneuver things my way, or in the flesh. I try to solve situations with a human mind and human answers when the fact is, what is needed is a spiritual answer, a divine intervention. There are certain things in this life that we cannot do on our own. Some things only God can address and solve Himself. Yet, if we are not trusting God, and have decided to leave Him out of what we attempt to do to fix things; we only make things harder and even messier or worse than it was before we attempted to fix it on our own.

Do yourself a favor and get out God’s way! Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to wait on God and let God take care of the situation because it requires us to trust God where we cannot trace Him. To exercise faith when it looks and feels like God has forgotten about us, and things appear to be worsening. Yet, that is exactly what we must do. Stand still, have faith, and follow whatever God tells us to do.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

There are blessings that are bursting to manifest in our lives if we would learn to get out of our way and the way of God. We block our own manifestations and answers to prayers by

1. Lack of faith

2. Not trusting God

3. By applying human logic

4. Forgetting who God is

5. Equating God to man

6. Trying to solve it/fix it through our own might and power

7. Not yielding to the power and ways of God

All that we will ever need is in God. All that we hope to accomplish, every dream and vision was placed in us by God—who knows what He has in store for our lives. He has ordained our every footstep. Even our slips fall, mistakes and colossal failures have been accounted for by God. AND, HE STILL calls us blessed and anointed; appointing us in due season, if we will truly trust Him and not fold in the face of adversity.

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. Thank God for His goodness, mercies, and grace. No matter what you are facing in this life, you are not alone, God is there with outstretched hands to lift you up, dust you off, and prepare you for the cornucopia of manifest blessings that He has ordained for your life before you were even birthed into this time realm. Thank God, and know that He is a very strong God who can handle anything that comes His or our way! You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2018. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.