Reflections4Life: "The Lies We Tell"

Reflections4Life December 8^th, 2013

“The Lies We Tell”

“...and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 26:27

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 31; 120; Proverbs 6; 12; Isaiah 59; 1 Timothy 2...

I know for certain that God desires us to live a life of truth. To live our lives in such a manner, that it is above reproach. But how many of us live our lives in truth when it came to others, yet we have lied to ourselves? For many, we may not practice lying to others, but we have been lying to ourselves.

I declare and decree that this week's Reflection will be a continued source of encouragement for your heart, mind, and soul. Allow the light of God to shine upon those places in your heart that you have tucked away. Let the truth come forth so that you may be free, and live the life that God has ordained for you.

Psalm 51:6 “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”

It is sometimes hard to accept the truth when it comes to our own faults, and flaws, or something that may have happened to us. The truth can sometimes be quite painful, and we will do almost anything to avoid that pain. We will even lie to ourselves and convince ourselves that all is well, when in fact, we are nothing but broken pieces of clay, patched and held together by the lies we tell ourselves, and the false portrait we paint for others, suggesting that all is well in our lives. Inside we are crumbling, too afraid to allow the truth to come forth and bring healing, for fear that exposing our truth or dealing with our truth is far too much for us to bare.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

For far too long, we have been holding on to issues that have stagnated our lives. Our walk in Christ has been limited by our refusal to face the truth and be honest with ourselves and what we have gone through or are currently facing. Too many of us are hiding from the truth. We evade certain issues, we close our hearts off to those who get too close to finding out the truth. We hide from ourselves and who we really are, afraid that not only will others reject us, but we will not like what we see or find when we truly search our hearts and face our personal truths.

We lie to ourselves on a daily basis. We tell ourselves and others that everything is fine. That, all is well. That, our lives are great and that we have everything together. When the truth of the matter is: we have been lying to ourselves. Lying so long, that we don't even recognize the truth about ourselves. We have bought into our own fallacies concerning our lives and how we feel about ourselves and see ourselves.

Enough is enough! It is time to stop lying to ourselves and tell the truth! It is time to free ourselves from our past, our mistakes, our abusers, and confront that which has been holding us emotionally hostage. We cannot possibly enjoy or receive all that God has ordained for us when in our hearts we do not feel worthy or have not allowed God to heal us from that which has badly hurt us.

I do not know what your situation or circumstance might be today, but I implore you to lay everything at the altar and allow God to mend your broken pieces. There is nothing hidden from God. There is nothing that will surprise God. There is nothing that our God cannot handle. You just have to have the courage to tell your truth. Have the courage and strength to no longer lie to yourself, and give it all to God, and allow healing and deliverance to come forth.

We cannot be healed or delivered from that which we refuse to acknowledge or confront. In order to be free from that which keeps us bound and broken, we must be willing to confront that which has hurt and harmed us. We have to be willing to come barely before the Lord and release all that we have tucked away from our own minds.

At some point, we must ask ourselves what are the lies we tell ourselves giving to us? What do we get from lying to ourselves? What purpose does it serve to live a lie and not confront that which has hurt us so deeply?

For many it is fear. Fear of finally confronting and facing what has happened to you. Fear of remembering. Fear of being rejected. Fear of someone else finding out. Fear of never being able to move on or have the life that you so desperately yearn for. And it is that spirit of fear that keeps us crippled and bound to our past and any lies that have manipulated who we truly are and held us bound from receiving all that God has for our lives.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

The Father wants us free. Free from our pasts. Free from those things which have hurt us and have disturbed the course of our lives. And in order for us to be free, we must be willing, to be honest with ourselves. We must be willing to stop lying to ourselves, face the truth, and do the work that is required to receive the healing and deliverance that is necessary to live the lives that God has ordained for us.

Stop lying to yourself. Allow Holy Spirit into those secret places and to touch those wounds that you have been covering up. Let the anointing power of our Lord cleanse your soul, and bind up every hurt and wound that you have encountered in your life. Place your life in the Father's hands, and allow Him to turn your broken pieces into a beautiful masterpiece. Tell the truth and free yourself. Receive and walk fully in the blessings of God for your life.

I decree that the spirit of peace and prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives. Let the power of God cleanse you, heal you, release you, and deliver you. Do not be afraid to confront your past, and face your truth. With God, you can do all things. Know that the Father is with you always, and desires nothing but His best for you. Be free. Be healed. Be made whole. You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing!

©2013. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

Reflections4Life: Conflict Resolution

Reflections4Life September 29^th, 2013

“Conflict Resolution”

“And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry], you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offense as recalled and annulled).” Luke 17:4 AMP

Scripture Contemplation: Proverbs 17:9; 19:11;Ecclesiastes 10:4; Matthew 11; Acts 24; Ephesians 1; James 5...

There is so much anger circulating through our lives; in our families, our marriages, our jobs. Many are wound up tight and can explode at the slightest gesture. However, what I've come to understand is that underneath all of that anger, is hurt. Somewhere, at some time, someone was hurt. Perhaps deeply wounded. And that hurt causes anger. And until we can get to the root of the hurt, and learn that the answer to healing that hurt is forgiveness and love, we will remain in constant conflict.

I declare and decree that this week's Reflection will be a continued source of encouragement and enlightenment for your heart, mind, and soul. May you be free from all hurt and anger by allowing the spirit of forgiveness to find its place within your heart. And to learn to love in spite of and not just because of.

We miss out on so many joys in life, because we are allowing anger, resentment, and unforgiveness, keep us bound—bound to the past. Bound to the past and the people that have hurt us in some way or another. When we do not let go of the hurt, we are in constant conflict. Not just with that person we have an offense with, but with others, also. Hurt has many tentacles. It grows with every passing day we do not resolve it. It spreads like cancer throughout our lives and relationships; often times in places we would never think, taking on a new form, under a new name.

Hurt will mask itself as anger, resentment, bitterness, disinterest, hate, conflict of any sort. I am certain you've heard the saying: Hurt people, hurt people. Well, it is true. When people are hurt, whether it is on purpose or not, they will hurt others. It is a vicious cycle that can spiral out of control if the hurt is not addressed and dealt with.

Here's the solution to the hurt: forgiveness and unconditional love. Forgiveness will bring healing to the hurt and bring resolution to many conflicts. Yet, many do not understand that forgiveness is not for the offender, but it is for you; to free you and keep you from being bound. Forgiveness brings healing to the hurt and releases you from being bound to a person that hurt you. Unconditional love enables you to love the person, in spite of their actions. You do not have to like their ways. But you can love them; even if its from a distance.

Often, we will hold onto the hurt and anger as a badge to remember what we have been through. More often than not, however, the person who has hurt us doesn't remember, doesn't know, or doesn't even care. They often move on with their lives, as we stay stuck in a moment. A moment that can take over our lives, and leave us stagnated and filled with rage and anger and bitterness. A person who no one wants to be around. A person who is incapable of giving or receiving love.

James 5:16,17 “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” MSG

James 1:19-21 “Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.” MSG

1 Peter 4:8 “Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].” AMP

There is a reason the Word of God admonishes us to be free of anger, to let love lead us, to have a heart of forgiveness; God knows, and we must understand that forgiveness is healing. Forgiveness releases us from that spirit of hurt that can cause us to live a life that is far less than what God has ordained for us. And to love as God loves frees us from trying to make a person someone that only can make them. All we can do is love; even it's from a distance. But when we love, we are allowing Holy Spirit to live and love through us, and we are no longer bound by the actions of another; but free to move on in our lives and will that God has ordained for us.

Don't allow the actions of another to dictate the content and quality of your life. Forgive for yourself. Free yourself from the hurt and pain. Love them in spite of. Move forward and live your life the way God has ordained. You cannot live a life that is full and rewarding if you are bound by a spirit of unforgiveness and hate. Don't allow those to have hurt you—no matter who they are—to hold you hostage to a moment in time. Release it. Release the hurt, the anger, the resentment. God has so much more for you than what you feel you may have been robbed of by another. Allow God to fill your cup, and bless you the way He desires. Forgive. Love. Move on. And receive the abundance that God has ordained for your life.

I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives: spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and financially. Let the peace of God rest, rule and abide within you. Forgiveness is a gift and restorer for you. Walk in it, and in the love of God, and be free from the past that would try and hold you from a future that God has ordained just for you! You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing!

©2013. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

Reflectiosn4Life: "Words of Encouragement"

Reflections4Life August 11^th, 2013

“A Word of Encouragement”

“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6

Scripture Contemplation:Joshua 1; Romans 1;12; 15:5; 2 Corinthians 7;Ephesians 6:22; 1Thessalonians 4; 5; Hebrews 13...

Be encouraged! Be encouraged! Be encouraged! Know that the Father in Heaven has not forgotten or abandoned you. Stand firm and know within your heart, that the fulfillment of His word in your life is soon coming to pass.

I declare and decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Be encouraged today through the word of God. Stand on His word and promises. Encourage yourself in the word this week, and do not let go of what God has spoken concerning your life.

How much weight does the word of God hold in your life? How much power does it hold for you? For so many, we have forgotten the word of God. We have long forgotten the promises He has made unto us because the trials of this life have overwhelmed us. We have become discouraged with the passing of time; believing that if what God said was going to happen, it should have happened by now. And because of these thoughts, we prolong the manifestations of His word coming to pass in our lives.

The spirit of discouragement has seized many of hearts. So much so that we have lost sight of the promises of God. We have become lax in our intimate time with God. We no longer read or study the word, or go before Him in prayer. Our internal conversations have become one of doubt and negativity.

It is so very easy to lose our sight when we take our eyes off of God. We live in a world that is ruled by negativity. It thrives on destruction and bad news. Seldom do we see things of encouragement outweighing that of negative feedback. This creates a bleak picture. And should we dwell on these things, we too will soon have a negative outlook and give up on what God has promised us.

I want to encourage you today to stand strong on the promises of God. Do not give in to your feelings. Emotions are subject to change. They are like a pendulum that can swing either way depending upon the current winds. Stand firm in your faith. Do not go by what it looks like or feels like. But instead, walk and go by the word of God and what He has spoken concerning you.

Surround yourself with positive energy. Surround yourself with like-minded people. It is a fact that when we continue to associate with negative people, we tend to be influenced more by their negativity than they are by our positivity.

Speak to your heart and to the atmosphere the promises of God. Say it out loud each and every day. Write it out. Put it in places that you can see so that you will be constantly reminded of what God has said concerning you.

Beloved, the enemy, our adversary, is continually seeking to destroy us. He lies in wait waiting to pounce on us at any given sign of an opening. He presses in on all sides, whispering lies into our ears, stirring up controversy and negativity, and often coming as an angel of light to deceive us. His goal is to move us; to move us out of a position of receiving what God has ordained for us. He wants us destroyed, busted, broken, and out of focus.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour...”

1 John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”

Beloved, the enemy has already lost! And he knows this! But he will use every weapon in his arsenal to come at us and try to get us to forfeit the blessings and promises of God. His mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. To steal your dreams and visions; to kill you before you had the chance to live; to destroy your happiness and your peace of mind and your will to go forward! Don't you let him do that when God came to give you life, and life abundantly!

This life, even through its challenges and adversities, was meant to be lived with joy and love and hope! God sent Jesus for this purpose: that you would have eternal life. That, you would be redeemed by His blood. And that, on this earth, while we tarry, we would live an abundant life filled with love, joy, peace, and grace; even in the midst of the trials that come our way.

Be encouraged today. Be encouraged that troubles don't last always, and that joy comes in the morning! Be confident in the promises of God. Stay firmly planted in the word of God. Do not slack in your intimate time with the Father! It is your key to holding on and forging ahead through all the crap the enemy tries to send your way. For, those that keep their mind stayed on Christ will be kept in perfect peace. And those that stay at the feet of Jesus, know and understand that the battle is not ours, it is the Lord's!

Beloved, God got us! He has us. Yes; the devil is going to try everything he can do to discourage you and try to knock you off the path of righteousness. And if he could, he would take you out and destroy everything you ever hoped and believed for, and have you believe that he is the winner and you are the loser! But glory to God! The devil remains a liar, and we have already won! The enemy has no power except the power you give him. Stand your ground against the devil. Be encouraged in the word and promises of God. Keep your focus on God and not the circumstances, and stand firm in the word of God! He got you!

The Father is not slacking concerning His promises to you! He is answering. The manifestations are taking place. And know that God has already declared you the winner. I've read the book, and I know that we win!

I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your lives: spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and financially. Be encouraged today! Stand firm on the word of God. Do not give in to the taunts and lies of the enemy. Continually speak the word of God, and let Jesus answer the door when the enemy comes knocking! Believe the report of the Lord! You win! You are Blessed! Now go...and Be a Blessing!

©2013. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

Reflections4Life: "Is It a Godly Anger?"

Reflections Sunday, May 26^th, 2013

“Is It a Godly Anger?”

“When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.” Ephesians 4:26

Scripture Reading For This Week: Exodus 34:5-7; Deuteronomy 6:15; Job 35; Psalm 103; Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 22:4; Ephesians 4...

When one considers the circumstances occurring in this world at this time, how can one not be filled with anger? Yet, is it a constructive anger; a godly anger, or anger that leads to bad behavior, malice, and bitterness? It is very easy to cross the line and sin in our anger, when we allow our emotions to rule and do not take everything to the Father in prayer.

I declare and decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement for your heart, mind, and soul. Should you be facing a situation that has caused anger to rise up in you, I pray that you would go to the Father and allow Him to lead you, so that you may not sin in your anger. Or, allow anger to turn into bitterness and regrets. A spirit of anger can cripple you. God has far more for you to do.

How many times have you become so angry that your emotions got the better of you, acting upon that anger, only to have profound regrets later? That's usually what happens. We blow up, acting out of anger, and we end up feeling worse than we did before. Anger can cause a vicious cycle if we are not careful.

Anger breeds anger. Angry people who do not check their anger, become bitter people and spread their anger like a virus to the lives of others. The emotion of anger can be contagious. All it takes is one angry person to come into a room and change the atmosphere. If those there do not know how to process or channel anger, they will find themselves becoming angry, as well.

It is one thing to have a godly anger; to be angry at the injustices and actions of another that are causing hurt and pain to a person or people. To have a righteous anger for things that are out of the will of God, and a desire to see things as God has ordained. However, it a whole other thing to be angry and filled with rage, that you have a difficult time letting go, or releasing that anger; causing you to act out of character or to bring harm to another, whether verbally or physically. To be filled with such wrath that it sets the tone for your day, and it inhibits your life from moving forward, allowing a spirit of bitterness and contempt to settle in.

Have you ever encountered a bitter person? I have. It was the most unpleasant encounter. No doubt, that bitter person was filled with so much anger, that they couldn't let it go. It caused them to close their heart off to others; allowing the anger to settle in that they could not forgive or move forward in life. The anger had consumed them so much, that they pushed everyone that loved them away. Anger robbed them of joy, happiness, peace and even love. It left them with a spirit of bitterness, loneliness, and also a spirit of self-righteousness. It was truly a sad thing to behold. Everyone else was wrong, and they were right. And, they believed they had a right to be angry because of what was done to them.

Yes. We have a right to get angry. But we do not have the God-given right to stay angry, and to allow that anger to bring sin into our lives. We do not have the luxury of time to allow a spirit of anger to rob us of what God has ordained for our lives, or to bring that spirit of anger into the lives of others.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NASB) “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

When we read the word of God, it is quite clear the damage that comes from a spirit of anger. The Father admonishes us to steer clear of a spirit of anger; to not let it rule us or govern our lives that we miss out on the blessings of God for our lives.

Anger unchecked and allowed to fester grows into a monster that is hard to put back in its bottle. It is like trying to place an adult back into the womb—not going to happen! It can cause irreparable damage to not only self, but those in the crossfire of that anger. Before one knows it, actions have occurred for which there is no returning from.

Yes. We may get angry at a situation. We may get angry at what someone has done to us or those we love. However, we must not allow that anger to dictate who we are and what we do. We must learn to give that anger to the Lord. We must teach ourselves to respond, rather than react to the anger. We must also learn how to release anger in a healthy way.

The emotion of anger can be toxic physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can cripple us if we do not know how to deal with it, or to let it go. And rest assure, however we deal with anger, we teach our children to do the same. Constantly reacting to anger and lashing out and exploding, we pass on that same behavior to our children. And chances are they will do the same—creating a behavior that can go on for generations to come.

Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 19:11 Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.

Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate...

Do not allow a spirit of anger to rob you of the blessings of God. Do not allow anger to turn into bitterness and contempt, making your life full of regrets and loneliness. In your anger, take it to God. Allow Him to direct your paths and to your knees in prayer. Don't sin in your anger, making things worse. Give it to God and allow Him to free you, and to bring a spirit of peace and calm.

I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your life: spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and financially. God has granted you a spirit of peace to transcend all anger. Respond to the wisdom of God, rather than react to the emotion of anger. Walk in the peace and comfort of God, knowing that whatever comes your way, you can get through it with God on your side. You are Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing!

©2013. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

Has It Really Been That Long?

Wow! I really have neglected this blog, haven't I? I've been so busy writing, praying, and a whole lot of other things that I have seriously neglected this blog.

Well, I have been thinking about making some changes. My life is going in another direction than when I first began this blog. Nevertheless, I do not wish to abandoned this idea. Why? Because truly, there are many people hurting and needing a word of encouragement. So, once I figure out what to do (after much prayer), I will revamp this blog, and give links to some of my favorite sites, and perhaps share a bit more information.

Well, so much has happened in the world, hasn't it? School has began. Autumn is upon us. There's unrest in Louisiana (JENA 6), that is causing race discussions across the nation. The president of Iran spoke at a University in NY, as well as the UN. Let me just say this, I listened to his speech at the UN, and I must say, that if you don't know God, please get to know him. I say that because, as Ahmadinejad was speaking, I clearly was seeing the book of Revelations.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do not support him; however much of what he was saying was true concerning the state of things, and how the lives of people are here in America and the Middle east. If you don't know by now; God will use your enemy to speak the truth. And, if you are listening, you will begin to see the sign of the times. All I saw was the very acts of Revelations beginning to be played out for real! I heard God saying, this is the beginning of His return, and we must be ready.

All the unrest that is going on amongst our own Nation, is in direct correlation with the unrest that is found in all Nations. The unrest between America and other nations is alarmingly similar to the unrest between the races in America. First, things seem to advance well and all is okay on the home front. Then, the evil truth is revealed. God allows the truth to be made known to the world, that things are not equal all over the place. That, we still need to fight for civil rights and equality. That we still need to uphold the statues of, God. That, we still remain responsible to teach the next generation about what it means to stand on sound principles and doctrine.

There are so many places that I can take this conversation, because truly this is where I am hurting today. I am hurting in my heart for a nation that claims to promote equality and fairness. A nation that claims to protect the individuals rights, but has so far dropped the ball, and the World as a whole, is watching and judging.

It bothers me to see that, I am living in a nation where much hasn't changed as far as race relations. It bothers me to see, that I live in a nation, where the president of Iran can come and speak in a US university, and a man of color still cannot get a fair trial because of the color of his skin. Yes, judgement is upon us, and it hurts me to know that many that believe they are okay, sadly are not. It hurts me to see, that as a believer in Jesus Christ, that the body of Christ on a whole, are fighting one another, talking against one another, and tearing one another apart. We are not praying for one another, and we are not teaching what God wants us to teach. And, while all this is going on, the world (unbelievers) is watching us, shaking their heads, and running from God even faster, because of our poor behavior, and the inability to remain disciplined and steadfast in the ways of God. This truly hurts me. What kind of ambassadors for Christ have we become? God is not pleased.

Well, I have rambled on more than I wanted to, but I can do that, it's my blog! Anyway, take from this what you will. You don't have to agree with anything I have stated here. That's your right. These are my opinions. But please allow me the right, and afford me the respect to voice them [opinions], as long as I am not encroaching upon you, by bringing harm or physical danger to your person.

Be blessed today, and receive what God has for you; especially the TRUTH.

Rue