"Unmerited Favor & Blessings"

 Reflections4Life™ July 24, 2022

“Unmerited Favor and Blessings”

“For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth], we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].” John 1:16 (AMP)

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 15; Deuteronomy 28; Psalm 5; 30; John 13:17; 20:29; Romans 4…

Reflections4Life Volume IV

I declare that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Let the word of God penetrate your heart and soul this week. Let the truth of His goodness and the revelation of His grace fill your heart with hope and a burning desire to be in the presence of God, soaking up His wisdom and glory ordained for your life. Do not waste one more moment away from the loving arms of God. He has exactly what you need.

I do not even think that the word excited is big enough to explain the joy that is burning in my heart and my soul at this moment. It is like swallowing the sun and its light is shining through every pore of my being while burning away everything that ever hurt, healing every wound, and nourishing me for the continued race and journey ahead of me!

You may ask why I am so excited? If you but knew all the reasons I could give you. It would take my lifetime--and then some!--to explain and share absolutely everything that God has done and is doing for me. However, this week, I am excited to be celebrating FIFTEEN YEARS of Reflections4life™ Ministries and Blog!

As I was writing the next volume of the Reflections4Life™ Book and Journal series, I was just overwhelmed that, July 27th  to be exact, will mark our fifteenth year of sharing God's Word, His message, and hopefully bringing encouragement and hope to those who need it. My joy is overrunning. I began the Reflections4Life™ Blog as God whispered to my heart to start sharing my experiences, life lessons, and testimonies. I continue to learn some very strong and powerful life lessons. One, in particular, is that people need encouragement. They need to know that there is indeed a God; a true and living God who loves them and cares for them and that those of us who forgot because of life’s hardships, did not abandon us or forget about us. That what we are facing at this moment will strengthen us, and will, if we allow it to, draw us closer to God. Or, it will take us away from Him if the enemy gets his way.

Every post written has come from my own life and spiritual lessons. It has come from lessons that I have learned and am learning in my personal walk with God. These past fifteen years of my life have not been easy at all. Especially these past six years. Though I have not shared everything that has happened to me—yet (there are a time and place for all things), the lessons, knowledge, and wisdom gained have been phenomenal, and there was no way I couldn’t share them with you—my Reflections4Life™ community and family. Because, if you did not know, that is how I see you—as a family. A family comprised of many nations, ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds, coming together to share the love and grace of God. I honor you all today and thank you for your fellowship and friendship. Thank you for your prayers and support, and for the wonderful dialogue. Even when we disagree or see something different, we still can communicate and respect and love one another, because that is what families should do.

For the past fifteen years, God has granted me to not miss too many Sunday posts, with the exception of when I lost internet connection, and recently this year, when God told me to take a break and that I did not have to be perfect ( a whole other testimony for another time!) and that, sharing Reflections4Life™ Blog was not a ritual but part of the ministry and sometimes, as a minister, we need a break and that even includes a Sunday every now and then.  In the past five years, however, the Lord has increased my ministerial writings to include five days of inspirational posts and seven days of publically posted prayers. Wherever God leads, I am determined to obey and follow.

Here is what I have learned and come to understand from fifteen years of Reflections4Life™ Ministries: God’s blessings and unmerited favor (grace) show up in our lives in many different and unexpected ways. It is not about how good we are, how perfect we try to be, or how many times we may have failed, messed up, screwed up, and totally blew things. No. It is about God’s love for us and His compassion and mercy towards us. His blessings and unmerited favor have nothing to do with how good we can be or how much we pray. It is about His love and purpose for our lives; about His Son, Jesus Christ, dying on the Cross for our sins, redeeming us, and covering us. So that when God looks at us, He does not see the wrong or bad, or even our faults. He sees His grace, His love, and His mercy. He sees us complete as He ordained us to be. He sees us as we should be and that is how He communicates with us.

God does not wait for us to get it right before He calls us or chooses us. No. If we could get it right and be all that we could and should be, there would have been no reason for Christ to go on the Cross in the first place. No. God calls us just as we are. He has chosen us, even while we are still in sin and have no clue who or what Holy Spirit is. God calls to us in our lowest places. He has a plan for our lives—a plan to prosper and give us hope, and peace.

While we are yet struggling, trying to find our way, wondering if there is a God, He has already placed a purpose inside of us that is waiting to be birthed, unearthed, to be uncovered, and revealed. Waiting for us to believe and see ourselves as He does. Not someone who is incomplete, broken, and used but someone who is loved, cherished, whole, and complete because of His love. We will never be good enough on our own but with God we are unstoppable and that is why the enemy tries so hard to take us out. That is why he is the enemy of our minds always whispering and using people to bring hurt and shame and lying to us that God cannot use us or that God has abandoned us.

I have learned over the years, in my walk with our Father that terrible things happen to good people. God gave everyone on this earth the same gift of choice and sometimes other people’s choices have negative effects on our lives. However, it does not stop God from calling, delivering, and healing us. Some of us are a casualty of a war we did not start but we can claim the victory and the spoils of the war by running into the waiting arms of God. We do not have to be perfect. We do not have to come from the richest family. We do not have to have the best schooling, clothes, or home or appearance. All we have to have is a willing heart. A heart that wants to be used by God and is ready to be filled with His love.

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. Thank you for fifteen years of fellowship. I am profoundly grateful to you. May the coming years bring us closer together, expanding our family and connecting us on greater and deeper levels. I love you and I pray for you always. Before I forget; Volume IV of the Reflections4Life™ Book Series will be available in three weeks (Thursday, August 11th, 2022) Faith...Written on the Wall In hardcover and a companion Journal!! So, get ready! It is all about faith!! Remember: You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Free"

 Reflecions4Life™ July 3, 2022

“Free”

“It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].” Galatians 5:1 

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 118:27; Isaiah 61:1; Zephaniah 3:20; Acts 7; 2 Corinthians 3:17

I declare that this week’s Reflections are a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. The Father has freed us from many things by His giving of His only begotten Son, Jesus. There are benefits of the Kingdom of God that we have yet to tap into because we have not realized just how truly free we are. Make time this week for you and God. Get to know His heart, His voice, and His face. The Lord will show you just how free you truly are.

There is a certain kind of freedom that comes when you are in a relationship with God that cannot be compared to anything else on this earth. It certainly is something that is better experienced than explained. I will venture to say that when you are finally ready to walk in the will of God for your life, you will not be disappointed. Not in the heavenly Father. When you learn to trust God with everything, you will find that committing to Him becomes easier. And when you are committed to your relationship with the Father, you will understand true freedom and just how free you truly are.

Please do not get it wrong; there are tests, trials, attacks from the enemy, and all manner of things that come our way when we are walking with the Lord. We become walking targets because of our relationship and faith, and the enemy wants nothing more than to pluck us off; to steal, kill, and destroy us and our faith and belief in God. Yet, when we are in a relationship with God, the battle is not ours but His. When we learn to trust God, we come to understand that the enemy has waged a war against God and will try to use us as pawns and weapons in his fight. But he has forgotten—he has already lost the war the moment Jesus died on the Cross, reclaimed the keys of life and death, gave them and the Holy Spirit to us, then ascended into heaven, freeing us from a life of sin and death with the ability to repent and the freedom to choose our path in life.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom].

Beloved, there is nothing better than having true freedom, and that freedom comes from being in a committed relationship with the Highest and having Holy Spirit reside in us. Because wherever the Holy Spirit is, there is freedom. When we yield to Holy Spirit within, we will find that choosing to do what is best and right for our walk is not hard. In each circumstance or situation that arises, we have an advocate with the Father and the Holy Spirit within, guiding us, and fighting for us. We just have to recognize our freedom and walk in it with confidence and assuredness.

The truth is many ascribe to God the same characteristics as a man. We expect God to fail us, or not do what we need and when. We think God has forgotten or abandoned us and that, He has not heard or listened to our prayers. While we walk in this frame of mind, the enemy wreaks havoc and we block ourselves from hearing, seeing, and recognizing God or knowing the Holy Spirit. God is not man; neither are His ways like men.

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

As a young girl, I remember going to a church that was extremely strict. As I look back, there was no true worship, either. It made God seem so unloving, harsh, and unforgiving. There were so many things that you could not do that it made it seem as though a life with Christ was anything but freedom but instead more bondage; like a prison sentence to life that was dull and gray with no vibrancy, no color or warmth.

I felt stifled in that environment. In my heart, I knew that it was not right. That was not the God I came to know and love as a little girl. That did not sound like the God that reached out to me as a child through the moon and stars and intrigued me to get to know Him. The "god" being presented in that church was not the same God I knew that had covered me and soothed me. I understood that as we got older we would learn and understand more, or at least we were supposed to. However, what I was being taught was binding not freeing. So many rules that it literally hurt my head and my heart. My spirit would not conform. Holy Spirit residing in me would not leave or be squelched. I knew in my heart there was more to God because I had already tasted of His goodness and was touched by His spirit of freedom, and there was no going back.

Beloved, far too many have been led to believe and see God for who He is not. In doing so, they have associated God with nothing but restrictions, rules, bondage, and no freedom. You cannot trust someone you are afraid of. And you cannot commit to someone you cannot trust. There is order and decency in the Lord. There are things that God does abhor that are sins. However, there are so many more yes' with God than there are no’s. So much more happiness and uplifting words of encouragement and teachings of love, light, and healing than there are of damnation and shame. Yet, most will not know this if they do not have a personal relationship with God.

True freedom comes with an intimate relationship with God, where you learn for yourself, through your own personal walk with God, who He is, and who you truly are in Him. Where you learn to trust Him with your entire being. God wants us free. Because a free heart and mind can receive all that He has ordained and can serve and be an instrument of change on this earth, helping to free others from their own bondages and false impressions of who God really is. You happily commit to a relationship with the Father.  Light cannot do its job if it is hidden or dimmed because it has been restricted to shine. That is like telling the Sun it shines too brightly so we are going to wrap a shade around it. No.

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. There is freedom in God, in a relationship with the King. A kind of freedom you have never tasted or dreamed of, but always hoped for, and the only way to truly receive and understand it is to be in an intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father. Get a firsthand account. You will not be disappointed. Not with the God, I serve. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.           

"Honoring Fatherhood"

 Reflections4Life™ June 19, 2022

“Honoring Fatherhood”

"Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:13 NASB

Scripture Contemplations: Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16-17; Malachi 1:5-7; Matthew 15:3-7; Ephesians 6:1-3…

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers, father-figures, and fathers-to-be. I pray that you will look to God for all instructions, allowing Him to lead you; even in the most difficult of times. Our heavenly Father will never leave you but will lift you up and be your strength.

I declare that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. In honoring your father, know that you are honoring God. No matter what path your earthly father may have walked, when you acknowledge him as your father, God will move upon your behalf.

I love my father and honored him no matter what he did or didn't do. Yes. I was a Daddy's girl. Many say it is difficult to look past or forgive their father's transgressions. However, I have come to understand, that unless we can forgive our fathers—no matter if he is present or not—we do ourselves a disservice when it comes to our own life's journey and choices made in relationships. It does not mean we condone heinous actions, such as abuse. To honor him means that we acknowledge them in that, they are part of the reason we exist. Not everyone will have a relationship with their father, for various reasons. And that is okay.

Not everyone makes a great parent. Some do not possess the skills or desire it takes to do what is necessary as a parent. Yet, this does not cancel out the fact that God says to show them respect, if not for the mere fact that because of them we are here in the land of the living. Let us face it: without his contribution, we would not be here. So for that reason alone, if you cannot find any other reason, he acknowledges them.

Did you know that the commandment: Honor thy father and mother, is the first commandment with a promise?

Ephesians 6:2-3 "Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth."

So that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth…That is the promise. Here is the deal: God wants us to show honor and respect to our parents regardless of what they may have done or not have done. The Father’s number one concern is our hearts, and that we are not blocked from receiving his blessings for our lives.

Do you think God doesn’t know about the atrocities that some parents make? You don't think He sees the abandonment. The failures? The broken promises? The abuse and rejection? Yes. He sees all of that. Yet, the Father understands that if we walk around with unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred, and disrespect towards our parents—the very ones who gave us life—then we are blocking what He has ordained for our lives. We trap ourselves, and may very well become the very person we have dishonored all this time; repeating their behaviors and patterns in our relationships with our own children.

Regard them, consider them, and respect them. Do not let your heart be burdened down with dishonor that you miss what God has for you in your life.

I honor my father. He was far from perfect. He did things that were not acceptable. However, I loved him, honored him, and considered his life, as well. If it had not been for him, I would not be here. If it had not been for him, I would not be an author. He was the first person who told me I could. When he passed, I was only sixteen. I thank God for the Uncles I have who stood in the gap and nourished my broken heart. They are fathers, as well, who have made mistakes and are not perfect. But I honor them, just as their children do.

Honoring your father is not for his benefit; it is for yours. God knows exactly how to reach a parent who is not behaving accordingly. To honor them, despite, is a testament to your heart, and where God wants to take you. When it comes down to it; to honor, respect, and regard or consider them, has to do what you desire to accomplish in life.

Many fathers are not being honored or respected for who they are. They have worked hard to provide, for and to be the best father they could be, even when they had no example themselves of a good father. They make mistakes along the way but they are not giving up. They are striving to do what is right, so their children will benefit and receive what they never received as a child.

Whether you are considered the greatest of fathers, or the worst of fathers, I acknowledge you today. I give God praise for you. For those who are not doing so well as a father, I consider you and all you may have gone through, and pray that the Lord will get a hold of you and direct your path; bring healing to your wounds, and forgiveness to your life so that you may truly begin to experience the joy and abundance of fatherhood. To every father that is doing all they can as a father; I honor you and pray that your heart is continually filled with joy, that your example of fatherhood and leadership will be passed on to your children, and that your children will honor you all the days of your life. To those fathers who just do not care or have it in them to parent, I honor God for using you as a conduit to bring forth a life that will do extraordinary things in this world despite who and what you are.

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. It may be difficult for some but honor your father. Whether he is the greatest or not, give honor to him as the person God chose to bring you into this world. God is looking at your heart, and it will determine how your days are upon this earth. Make peace so that your manifestations of blessings are not held up. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!                                                                                                             

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Winning in Unfamiliar Territory"

 Reflections4Life™ June 12, 2022

“Winning in Unfamiliar Territory”

“We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.” Ephesians 6:12-13

Scripture Contemplation: Exodus 13; Ephesians 6; Isaiah 40; 2 Corinthians 10; 1 Timothy 1; 1 Peter 5; Zechariah 4:6; Romans 12:2; 1 Samuel 17:47

©Ruthe McDonald

I declare that this week’s Reflections will be a source of continued encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. There is an ongoing war; a spiritual war that we are in every day. Our best defense is an intimate and disciplined relationship with our Heavenly Father. This assures that we will not only be properly dressed in the armor of God but also know how to do battle with an enemy older than the sands of time.

Beloveds, there is indeed such a thing as spiritual warfare; a battle fought in the spiritual realm that affects every aspect of our lives, including our physical lives. Satan has long declared war against our heavenly Father. This war has never been about us directly. The enemy wants to hurt God and destroy His greatest creation—mankind. He wants to destroy our belief in God, in righteousness, in holiness, in faith, and our belief in love. The enemy believes that if he can destroy us and take as many as he can to the lake of fire, he will have destroyed God’s plan.

The enemy forgets that he has already lost. That, not only has God won, but we have won also because, Christ not only went to the Cross and died for our sins, He rose again. And before He rose, he won against death and hell, taking back the keys to life and has made them available to us; giving us the victory.

The greater problem is, that many of us forget these facts also, especially when we face trials and tribulations in our lives. We forget who we are, whose we are, and the weapons that we have at our disposal. We also forget that sometimes in battle, God will take us through unfamiliar territory and grant us the victory because we obeyed and believed Him. 

The enemy counts on us forgetting and being sidetracked so that he can get in and distort what we believe, making us forget the goodness and promises of God. This, my beloveds, is the reason that we need to make sure we have an intimate relationship with our Father each day. That, we are seeking God’s face, reading our word, following His directions, and having a stealthy prayer life.

The enemy is crafty in his moves and watches like a wild animal stalking its prey, waiting to pounce. Strategic in his machinations, he strikes to kill and destroy, to maim, and alienate, to drive insane and separate. The enemy wants in our minds, wreaking havoc until all we hear and believe are the lies he constantly whispers and his smoke and mirrors. If he can make us doubt at any time the promises and love of God, he has an opening. And you can rest assured, he will barrage his way through to take over your mind until he has left nothing of your life but shambles, confusion, hate, bitterness, and no belief in the word or promises of God. Or, even belief in yourself, destroying love in your life. Trust, he twists every word around. He will have you question the validity of the word and everything you have ever believed or have been taught, learned, and experienced firsthand.

The good news is we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus. He has already given His life and assured our victory. He has done the hard part—dying for our sins and retrieving the keys of life. He has made available to us not only the keys of life but also the keys of the Kingdom. What we have to do is be vigilant in our relationship with God. Seek His face and His will daily, following His instructions, walking in faith, and reminding ourselves when the very harsh and difficult times arise in our lives [and they will] that God has already declared us victorious.

We must know in our hearts that sometimes, in order to win, God will take us on a journey that will lead us through unfamiliar territories. On these unfamiliar roads, our victories will come. The Father will teach and prepare us for the battles that lie ahead. He will strengthen us and build our courage and conviction. But the most wonderful thing about these journies that many of us cannot see and will not understand until the battle is over, is the fact that all along, God will hide us in plain sight. He will protect us, while also preparing us for the right time. When we're ready, we will shoot forth like an arrow, hitting its intended mark; claiming the victory, winning in unfamiliar territory.

Beloved, get in your word every day. Fill your heart and mind—saturate it—with the will of God. See what God sees. Hear what He is saying. If we know the heart and mind of God, then we will know how to stand against the enemy and how to use our armor. We do not learn these things by skimming the word of God and occasionally praying or only praying when something goes wrong. No. We must saturate our hearts and minds in the things of God; renewing our minds daily, pulling down strongholds. We cannot fight the enemy on physical terms or by wit. We must armor ourselves in truth and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, following ALL of His instructions, lest we succumb to the lies and evil plots of the enemy. Remember who you are and what has been given to the body of Christ. We cannot fight a spiritual fight without spiritual armor. That would be like going to a gunfight with a knife. And, we cannot always stay in the same place and expect to win when God said to move and go another way.

Exodus 13:18 So God chose a different, longer path that led the community of His people through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites marched out of the land of Egypt like an army ready for battle. 

Zechariah 4:6 “…‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ saith the Lord of hosts.”

1 Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

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. Spiritual warfare has been launched against the children of God. Designed to destroy and separate us from the love and promises of God. At some point in our walk with God, He will take us on a journey in unfamiliar territory. Be obedient and follow His lead. He is ensuring our victory on this earth so that we not only win against the enemy but will also receive God's best for our lives. He will cause us to win in unfamiliar territories where the enemy didn't even see us coming! Put on your armor of God; spend time in His presence, filled with Him and the knowledge and wisdom needed to navigate through a war that has already been won and a battle that is not ours, but the Lord’s. Trust; He got us. We have already won…a long time ago. You are blessed. Now…go and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Walk Away"

 Reflections4Life™ June 5, 2022

“Walk Away”

“If any place won’t welcome you or listen to your message, leave and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them.” Mark 6:11

Scripture Contemplation: Matthew 10; Acts 17; 2 Timothy 2…

©Ruthe McDonald.

I declare that this week’s Reflections is a continued source of encouragement for your hearts, minds, and souls. Set aside some quality God time this week so that He may fill up the reserves of your heart and spirit with His love, patience, kindness, joy, and peace. Allow Holy Spirit to lead you to where you need to be. Do not allow anyone’s rejection of who you are to keep you from remembering who God has already declared you to be.

I know. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is walk away when all you want to do is prove your point or want your message or what you are saying to be heard and understood. However, Beloveds, as you will come to know if you do not already, not everyone is going to be receptive to your ideas, your opinions, your knowledge, your message, or wisdom. You will be in some places and in others, where what you have to say will not be received. Not everyone will want to hear what God or you have to say or welcome you.

There is so much in all of us—a word, a message, a truth—that God wants us to share. God will indeed send us to places already knowing that what we have to say and to offer will not be received. Yet, our going is not about whether what we have to say is accepted or listened to, but about our obedience to God in going forth anyway.

We are encouraged, however, to not become discouraged by the lack of reception that we may receive. God admonishes us to leave and shake the dust from our feet. Meaning, do not linger in that place—physically, or mentally. There are so many people waiting for what you have to say. There are people waiting on the message that is burning in your heart and your soul. We cannot be caught up in our feelings every time someone does not want to listen to us or receive the message we are sharing. Even though one place was not receptive, or even the last five places!—does not mean the next place will be the same.

Know this, as well: Your message may have appeared to not have been received or listened to; you just never know if there was indeed one person, one soul that heard and received, or that the seeds you planted actually landed on good soil. So do not hang on being accepted or not. Just do whatever God has called you to do and move on. When it is time to go forth again, be certain to have also walked away mentally from the last place that did not receive you. You never want to bring doubt and uncertainty with you, but instead, confidence and boldness, knowing that God has ordained you for this hour and time.

Learning to walk away is pivotal in our lives, Beloveds. It is not always about staying, fighting, and not giving up. Sometimes it is about saving your sanity, your own faith, and being able to hear God before emotions and hurt feelings block and stop you from being and doing all that God has ordained. There are times when walking away is the best thing you could have done.

Many of us feel as though if we walk away, that we have given up, we are not exercising faith. No. We are actually using wisdom and following the instructions of God. The flesh will always want to save face and not be embarrassed or considered a failure. Yet, the real winners are those that see the situation for what it is and walk away in maturity, understanding that they have done all they could and should do and do not have to prove anything to anyone.

When God tells you to walk away; to no longer try to convince or to share your message, He already knows you have done all that you could and should have done. Do not stay in a place where you are not received, welcomed, celebrated, or listened to. If what you have to offer is not received, move on. Because it will be a shame for you to stay and try to convince someone and you end up being the person that is changed.

Oh yes! I have seen it countless times. Even with myself. You want the person(s) to receive what God has for them. You hate to see them walking in circles, or into brick walls, or generally just messing up their lives, and you desperately want them to see the truth and accept the truth. You desire for them to truly believe because you know how much their lives will be changed. However, in the process of trying to convince them, you become the one who has changed.

God does not want that. He wants us to retain our integrity and our belief. That is why it is so important to maintain a prayer-filled life; always seeking God’s direction; following his instructions, and checking our own hearts and motives. Why would you stay in a place that made it clear that your message was not being seen or heard? Let that pride go! When God says walk away, shake the dust from your feet, then do it! We are no one’s savior. Jesus is the only one who gets that spot! You know what? He can have it! LOL. We cannot save a single soul but we can be the instrument that God uses to get them to see and into position to receive what God has for them. But we must not linger in a place so long that we forsake all the rest that are waiting on us. And trust me, Beloveds; there are many others that are anxiously awaiting what we have to say and share with them today.

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. Walking away is not an indication of failure or giving up. It is learning not to linger in a place, space, or time that may hinder or eventually rob you of your own message and blessings. Let God lead you. When it’s time to shake the dust off your feet, do just that! Allow God to lead you where you need to be next because there are countless others who are waiting to hear and receive what you have to release. Trust God and keep it moving. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives"

 Reflections4Life™ May 29, 2022

"Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives"

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, and develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) 

Scripture Contemplation: Daniel 10; Romans 12; James 4…

©Ruthe McDonald.

God is doing extraordinary things through the lives of ordinary people. It is not extraordinary people doing ordinary things making a difference. Ordinary people—who follow God's lead and determine in our hearts to walk in obedience, are doing fantastic, marvelous, and extraordinary things. Extraordinary to others but the same old thing for us because we are doing what we love for Who we love.

I declare that this week's Reflections is a continued source of encouragement for your hearts, minds, and souls. God desires to give us understanding and insight into the parts of our hearts and souls where we may have felt stagnated. Lay it on the altar, giving it all to God for direction. Trust God to lead you into the places He has ordained for your life.

It is amazing when I see and hear the extraordinary accomplishments that everyday, ordinary people are doing. It encourages and inspires me to continue to go forward in the plans of God, allowing Him to lead me on the paths that He has ordained for my life. What I have learned on my life's journey, is that our ordinary, everyday self can and will do amazing things on this earth when we take a moment to first think about the needs of someone else.

The average person may often look at their life and feel what they do and contribute is not much. That, the extra sandwich they made and shared; the bag of clothes and shoes, the nearly used purses filled with toiletries, that bottle of water, that cover, that blanket, that cupcake or cookie sale--were all just very small things that really do not make much of a difference. They were just doing their part, but not really making much of a huge difference. That "average" person would be wrong. With a selfless heart, that ordinary person just did an extraordinary thing. Sometimes they may never know how great an impact they truly had, but the blessings of God will visit them in return.

That extra sandwich? It fed someone that had not eaten in days and gave them hope that someone does care. That bag of clothes and shoes? It helped someone who needed new clothing for a job interview that would change their lives and their family's lives. Some child was able to feel comfortable going to school with clean and new clothes. Three more outfits than what they had which were none. The purses filled with toiletries went to women and teen girls that are homeless and have no extra money for the basic necessities that we take for granted. The generosity touched their hearts and encouraged them to keep pushing forward. They feel clean and human again. They were so inspired they turn around and give from what they had and now are inspired to give back and work with the people they used to be. That bottle of water? It was not only used for thirst but to wash. It gave life. That blanket? Kept people warm and shielded from the cold and the other elements of the weather. That bake sale? Helped pay for several family meals for three months. Enough time for that mother, father, and guardian to gain employment, and does not worry about putting food on the table and feeding their children until they could provide; especially after being turned away from a food bank because they just ran out of food.

It is the ordinary people that are rising up in light of the tragedies that have befallen many that will make the difference in moving forward. Ordinary people who desire to help others are the ones that end up doing extraordinary things that change the world for the better. Out of tragedies, ordinary people do extraordinary things that change the course of people's lives for good.

I would be remiss not to mention the ordinary men and women that did the extraordinary every day when they made the decision to serve this country. We honor each serviceperson for the sacrifice they have made to ensure the safety and liberty of their country. Blessings to the families of those extraordinary men and women. We are forever indebted to their sacrifice and we remember and celebrate them this Memorial Day and every day that follows.

Ordinary people do what they would normally do but have extraordinary impacts. Ordinary people do extraordinary things because they dare to follow their hearts and take a chance on humanity and find themselves creating organizations, inventing products, saving lives, organizing grass-root organizations, raising funds, giving freely of themselves, and changing lives for the better forever. Giving their lives.

Beloved, God uses ordinary people. You do not have to come from a rich family to be wealthy. You can be wealthy in heart, mind, and spirit, wealthy in character, in love, and a desire to serve and make a difference. God is using ordinary people with a heart that is malleable to His touch; with a teachable spirit, to do extraordinary things every single day. He just looks for a willing heart to follow His lead.

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. You do not need any special skills to be used by God, to be His instrument, His hands, feet, and voice on the earth. He just needs a willing heart ready and willing to serve and share the love. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Get Back Up!"

 Reflections4Life™ May 15, 2022

“Get Back Up”

“Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Scripture Contemplation: 1 Samuel 17:20; Psalm 121:8; 140:4; Isaiah 43; 61; Hebrews 4; 13…

©Ruthe McDonald.

I declare that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Give the Father your time. In Him, you will find your strength, courage, and power to keep pushing forward and walking into the life He has ordained for you. Failures may come but in God, they all become life lessons and the reason you do not stay down but get back up.

We cannot stay down, Beloved. God has too much for our lives and those He has assigned to us. Yes. We are on assignment on this earth. We are not here by accident. We are here on purpose with a purpose. We must remember whose we are and who has us covered no matter what we face on this earth.

Yes, it would appear so easy to stay down and wallow in mistakes, failures, oppression, and depression, and have them easily fall into the category of self-pity. However, God has invested too much in us to allow the enemy to come and continue to steal from us our peace, joy, strength, and sound mind.

Get. Back. Up. It does not matter what you failed at or who left you. That failure is another lesson to be learned and a testimony earned. That person who left? Their loss! God saved you further heartache down the line. Rise up and remember who you belong to and what He has promised you.

The word of God admonishes us not to grow weary in well-doing. It may feel easier said than done but the truth of the matter is that with God, it becomes easier to bear. Our burden becomes light and yoke becomes easier all because Christ has taken upon Himself to bear the infirmities, the weaknesses, the doubts, fears, the uncertainties, the heartaches, the angst, anger, and vitriol, and all else upon Himself.

Now is not the time to give up, Beloveds. It is, however, time to cast it all on the Lord. Leave everything at the feet of Jesus; begin to worship, and praise God for the manifestations of His promises. Now! Now is the season, the moment, the time that you have diligently prayed about. The very season and reason why you so diligently sought after Him. He has already filled your cup; now begins the overflow. The overflow of anointing. The same anointing that destroys the yoke of the enemy. The overflow of answered prayers; knowing that God has not only heard but has answered and is bringing to pass every prophetic word being birthed this hour. You just have to believe and take your position to receive.

A Prayer for This Week

Lord God, thank You for another day, another gift of life. An abundant life filled with the manifestations of blessings and answered prayers. Thank You, Father, for eyes and ears being opened and a heart conditioned and mind regulated to receive the overflow of the blessings ordained for my life. Thank You, for being my God, my Father, my Help in the time of trouble and in need; my Deliverer, my Answer. Thank You, for being my everything and conditioning my heart to know who You are and whose I am.

 Thank You, Lord, for not allowing me to give up or to throw in the towel as I am in the season of NOW. The season of manifestations and miracles. Thank You, Lord, for signs and wonders following me and for Your word being in my heart and on my lips. Thank You, Lord, that as it is and has always been in Heaven, so it is now on the earth concerning me and mine and every soul you have commissioned to come into my sphere of influence. Thank You, Lord, that I can, because of You, walk, in confidence and boldness because I am Yours and You have conditioned my heart.

Father, I am expecting great and mighty things in this new week. Doors are open, roadblocks have been destroyed, fear has been obliterated, and naysayers have been quieted. Thank You, that I do not walk alone but have You and a cloud of witnesses cheering me on and encouraging me in every area to follow Your lead and make things happen. You have withheld no good or great thing from me. Instead, You have ushered me into my wealthy places.

Thank You, for enlarging my territory and sphere of influence. Thank You for the gift of giving and that of discernment and humbleness. I stand on Your word and in Your presence and truth; walking in confidence, boldness, joy, and happiness, with peace all around me, in me, and working for me. I am covered in righteousness and everything I speak in accordance with Your will comes to pass swiftly, with no more delays. Thank You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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. Do not give up! Just when you think God has abandoned you. Just when you are about to give up and throw in the towel; that is the moment you are closer than ever to the manifestations of the promises and blessings of God. Get back up, shake the dust off, and go forward with boldness, knowing, believing, and trusting the word of God in your life. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"The Beauty of My Heart"

 Reflections4Life™ May 08, 2022

“The Beauty of My Heart”

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God-you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” Psalm 139:13-14 MSG

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 139; Proverbs 31; Ruth 1; Job 24; 1-12; Isaiah 49:15-18; John 19…

Happy Mother’s Day! 

I declare that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Honor those who gave you life and those who mothered you but may not have birthed you. Let them know each day how much you love them. Remember the lessons of those who have transitioned. For they are life and will guide you to the manifest blessings that God has ordained for your life.

No matter what kind of relationship you may have with your mother, honor her for the simple fact that you have a life. I understand that there are many who are estranged from their mothers. You have your reasons. Yet, even in that, God admonishes us to honor our parents. To honor our mothers for the simple fact that they gave us birth and that is the vessel that God chose to bring us into this world.

No mother is perfect. Some go far and above as mothers, sharing their love and concern with countless others who may not have had such a great relationship with their own or even know their mother. Then you have mothers who are at the other end of the spectrum. Such is life; it is good and bad in all things. Yet, I am convinced that for those who have found themselves in the latter experience, I believe that God has raised up women to come into their lives and mother those who need mothering. He has raised up a select group of women to carry out the love of God through mothering not only their children but other children and adults who need to know sincerely what a mother’s love is and what it feels like.

I take this opportunity to share with you about my mother. My heart. The beauty of my heart. I am because she was. She transitioned seven years ago, yet it feels like yesterday. I still hear her voice, feel her embrace, and at times smell her scent and feel her presence. She is never far from me. As close as we were before she transitioned, there was a time when we were not close at all. I gather many mothers and daughters go through this speed bump as daughters are growing up and thinking they know everything. Yet that was not the reason for our distance. 

My mother confided in me that she thought she had to be extra strict with me to ensure that I did not follow her example. She wanted me to do more than she did. To accomplish all of my dreams. To go to college and do the things that were in my heart. So, she became very strict and rigid in her discipline—in her fear—to keep me walking that “straight” line. The result, however, was that I did not want to be around my mother. I loved her but hated her behavior towards me, which only made us bump heads. There were things I wanted to share with her. Things I needed to share, that she should have known but was too fearful and angry at her to open up and develop a close relationship that we shared when I was a very little girl.

Fortunately, God stepped in, and when I graduated college, my mother and I became best friends. We were able to communicate as women who had grown and who had things in common that went beyond our love for God. The trials and tests we endured made us stronger, and that is why I can say, my mother will always be the beauty of my heart. She is that beauty that resides in my heart constantly. Through her, I learned how to be a mother, a friend, an aunt, and a humanitarian. I learned how to pray, how to intercede, and how to be that Proverbs 31 woman. I am blessed. Because even though she is now resting in the Lord, she has left me a treasure; an inheritance that makes my brothers and me wealthy beyond natural means. She left us with the truth of what it means to be a true child of God.

Strength

This is my Mom. She taught me just about everything I know about being a strong woman. About, coming back stronger after being down for so long. About overcoming obstacles and triumphantly destroying the plans of the enemy. She taught me about prayer and how to pray. She taught me how to forgive and to love unconditionally.

This is my Mama. My friend. My heart. My teacher. The woman who showed me that nothing is impossible for God. That you can indeed overcome when everyone else has counted you out. She taught me how to stand in my convictions and not back down. To hold onto what I believed and to go after God tenaciously, and that it is okay to remind God of His promises, and to definitely ask the question why. 

This is my Mother. Who loved me better than anyone, Who prayed for me when I couldn't pray for myself. Who listened to me and did not interrupt. Who knew what I was feeling just by the look on my face or the aurora of my spirit. I didn't have to say a word. She just knew. Who listened patiently and didn't ask a question; even though I called her at four in the morning but didn't speak until 4:25. She just listened, while I was silent or cried. Then afterward, she lifted me up in prayer, not commenting n anything I just shared. Because she understood, I just needed my mother's ear.

This is my Mommy. Who left this earth seven years ago. Leaving me to wonder what I was going to do without my partner in crime. Without my intercessor, my prayer warrior, my encourager, my teacher, my mother, my friend. What was I to do? It hurt so damn bad. And it still does.

This is my Teacher. Who taught me strength just by being who she was. Her life was a testament to her strength and irreproachable character. She was far from perfect, and she owned it. Never did she hide the truth about who she was and what she did, to the point it felt that I knew too much! But she was honest and wanted you to know, that whatever you faced, you could get through it also.

I hope there is someone in your life that you can always turn to and have a source of strength to glean from. I hope that you cherish every lesson, admonishment, and correction that they have to give. Because it is all a part of teaching you to stand and be strong; becoming the person God has already said you are.

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. Honor your mother whether or not she was good, bad, there, or not. She was the instrument that God used to get you here, on this earth, and receiving of all that He has for you. Do not let a day go past that you do not tell the ones you love that you love them. If you see someone who needs some mothering, then mother them. DNA has nothing on motherhood. It is about the heart and the power and beauty that reside within a woman’s heart and the power that lies in motherhood. Happy Mother’s Day! Rejoice in your assignment. It is a gift from God. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved. 

"It's Not Always What It Looks Like!"

 Reflections4Life™ May 1, 2022

“It’s Not Always What it Looks Like!"

“But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NET)

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 64; 1 Corinthians 2; Matthew 25; Daniel 2; 1 Corinthians 13; 14

     I declare that this week’s Reflections4life will continue to be a source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Seek God early every day, with a heart of expectancy for all He desires to pour into you. Allow God to lead in your life. The Lord wants to fill us with not only, what we need and have asked of Him but also things we have not even thought to ask.

     There is so much more to life than we could ever comprehend when living it in Christ. There are many more colors than what is seen in a rainbow. Life is a kaleidoscope of events, circumstances, and situations, culminating in a life’s journey. The Father loves us without pause and desires our journeys to be filled with His love, healing, understanding, life-long lessons, reconciliation, redemption, and self-love. God desires for us to walk in abundant life lacking nothing but to be overflowing with His promises that we share with others. Prayerfully, those who receive will also believe in the love and power of God Almighty.

     Each of our lives is different. We may share similarities and experiences; have been through the same kinds of trauma and heartaches. However, who we are as individuals, makes our experiences unique, and different from anyone else in this world. Yet, we can still empathize with one another. Showing sympathy for losses, hurts, and heartaches. As well as, understanding and kindness when the right words escape us, but we want to show our support and love. We can also show our happiness for their celebratory milestones and achievements. 

     We never really know what a person may be going through unless they share it with us. A person can walk around, interacting with a smile on their face, a lilt in their voice, and never reveal the agonizing pain they may currently be in. They may dress in fine clothing, look put together every time you see them, showing up at church, work, and family or friend functions, but we would never know they have lost their job, their home, and are fighting thoughts of suicide, depression, rejection; all while smiling in our face. They present a picture as though all is well. The truth is, it is God’s grace holding them together.

     It is not always what it looks like. What we are seeing with our natural eyes does not always give us the whole picture and sometimes, not even half of the picture. This is the reason we need to nurture our relationship with God so that we gain knowledge of what is going on around us. God will give us understanding so we may make wise and correct decisions that are right for all involved. We must learn to look through our spiritual lens; through the eyes of God when interacting with one another. To, have our spiritual ears and eyes open, receiving our instructions from God and how to care, love, and hear one another.

     Even when it comes to our personal lives and relationship with God. Many have been believing in the word and the promises of God. Circumstances and situations arise, and we are shaken. Oftentimes, we do not admit to the doubts and fears that arise after we have been waiting a while for the manifestations of God’s promises in our lives. There are times when the wait seems so long that we may feel God has forgotten about us or abandoned us and the promises we have been waiting on to manifest. However, that could not be further from the truth of what God has planned for our lives. Our story is just beginning.

     

    Often, it is never what it looks like with God. What we are seeing in the natural is far from the gifts that lie ahead of us, waiting for us to claim them. Yet, have we to imagine the blessings for our lives. The magnitude of their greatness. We can believe when seeking God, having learned something magnificent about our Lord, there are yet mysteries that God desires to reveal. Too, those with a heart after His goodness and righteousness will see and understand this.

     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. Take your time in the presence of God this week, listening to His voice and instructions. Allow Holy Spirit to lead you into all truths. Not everything is as it seems. Do not allow what appears to be to fool you. To fool you into giving up, or making decisions that God has not sanctioned. Trust God. Believe His word and promises, and He will soon reveal all that you need to know and understand, about others and yourself, in due season. Let God lead. You are Blessed. Now go...and be a Blessing!

©2022. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.