Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

David G. Perkins, artist

 

You may be broken, feeling like you just can’t take one more day.

Do not give up! There is Hope!

For every single problem you face and have gone through…

For every heart break, mountain of tears, trembling in the night with unimaginable fears

Don’t give up!

Hope says, you will not die…you will live…you may cry tonight, but child, in the morning there is Joy…

Dry your tears…and listen…

The liar in the shadow is only that…a shadow…it’s not real

Hope is light!

Hope is life!

Hope is there even when it seems deferred! (lost, in the distance, never seems to come)

There is always Hope…

You’ve tried everything else, has anything worked?

No!

I may sound old fashioned! Primitive! Extreme! Crazy! Old!

But I know beyond a shadow of doubt…there is only ONE, who can help, and restore Hope!

Don’t turn a deaf ear…don’t let pride or self, stand in your way of an abundant life!

Hope says, peace is now…Hope says, love is abundant and unconditional

Hope says, there is a way, a right way to live and thrive…in the truth, not lies…

Hope says, I’ll give you a brand-new heart and shower you with abundance of grace, God’s unmerited favor…

Hope, is not dead! Hope is alive! Hope seeks forgiveness and forgives…

Hope, won’t leave you stranded and naked and pleading for death…

Hope, when realized, is a tree of life!

Jesus is the Tree of Life!

I’m talking to you, yes you, the one reading this at this very moment. The one who is thinking of ending it all. Don’t do it! Don’t let your life be stolen from you. I promise you, if you’ll just ask Jesus to turn your life around and help you live for Him, everything will change. He’ll make a way where there seems to be no way. But you have to mean it from your heart and then take the steps with Him guiding you to get to the other side. Years from now you’ll look back on this moment and you will see how He gave you Hope and delivered you from hopelessness.

There will always be trials in life, but with Jesus, you have Hope that he will lead you safely home.

If you’re sick, homeless, have addictions, beaten, cast down, emotionally drained, physically exhausted, don’t wait another minute…Hope says, call on Jesus!

Find a church body that preaches the truth, the Word of God, and don’t let anything or anyone deter you from that Hope! Hope in God and he will direct your steps. He will take the old and turn it into brand new beginnings.

There’s a tree of life waiting for you! Ask, seek and knock and you will find!

H is for Him

O is for Overcomer

P is for Prayer

E is for Eternal

~MYO December 2, 2024

Proverbs 13:12 New King James Version – ¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Baby’s feet gently tucked in swaddling clothes untouched by pain.

Running feet on cobbled streets, happy, carefree, remain.

Walking roads of Galilee, peace he shares with all he meets.

Standing to speak on mountaintops, revealing mysteries, he hears and sees.

In stormy night he walks the sea, recuses one, he’ll do the same for you and me.

Sitting among the learned and the meek, one washes his servant’s feet.

In earth kings’ presence, he stands in humility, sentenced to walk the Via Dolorosa, some weep.

Laid down upon a rugged cross~ no more roads to walk, such loss.

The pounding sound of hammer and nail, tears running down his cheeks…

They impale His holy feet.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill – December 2, 2024

Matthew 11:28-30 New Living Translation

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

The Via Dolorosa is a route in Jerusalem that Christians believe Jesus took while carrying his cross on the way to his crucifixion:

Created today from my garden,

Son, takes his first breath…

Fully conscious, takes his first step…

Worship, I accept…

Hears his first word and speaks…

Brings tears to my eyes and I weep…

Plays beneath the willow tree,

Dives into the crystal sea…

Names the animals, counting them, one, two, three

What love is shared between He and me.

I watch him learn as he walks, then, runs

Without effort this man, my only son…

Skipping stones upon rivers and lakes…

I see the loneliness upon his face…

As he sleeps, I take his rib…

A woman is formed, made just for him…

Love is given and love received…

In the presence of my council, those who believed…

Made for so much more, to him I give.

Life in the garden, where they live.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 15, 2024

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Ephesians 1:18-19 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.”

Famine throughout the land, how will we survive?

Protected by, a sovereign hand, “Go to Goshen, there you’ll thrive…”

Who is this magistrate, that orchestrates this decree?

Why, it’s Jacob’s own son, given power to lead…

Sold as a slave, condemned by his captor, falsely accused

Sentenced to prison, he’s no longer abused, as a mystery unfolds…

He interprets a dream, not all, is as, it seems…

Brothers who betrayed him, are now redeemed…

Into the land of Goshen, the place of comfort and plenty,

They are spared by the hand of God…

Protected from the evil of the world, they are prosperous and secure

In the secret place, they worship and live, in the presence of their God they’ve endured.

Draw near dear friends, to Goshen and rest, for Goshen is God’s eternal best…

The City of God, where angel-armies were sent, to protect, deliver and set free…

God’s very own family. They’re restored and re-unite.

Singing songs of victory, and lullabies pierce the light…

Resting in the King’s heart, for his supreme delight.

Goshen, an oasis, abundant in love and peace…

No more tears, no more pain, wars and rumors of wars, come to an end and cease…

No fear of dying, no attacks of any kind…

With a new body, a new soul and new mind.

Lying down in green pastures, drinking the waters of life…

Into the land of Goshen, we go, and take our final flight!

Under Goshen’s stars, we dance ‘til the morning light, as we celebrate new life.

The King bends down to kiss his bride,

Exuberant Joy pierces the sky, Rejoice, he’s no longer alone…

Shalom, Shalom, we’re home!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 13, 2024

Exodus 8:22 And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land.

God,

I’ve come to realize, that this place where I abide, is Your garden~

I am simply a caregiver here.

Placed in your garden to serve you, with grace, and hope, that all you hold dear

Will grow and thrive, as your beauty appears in the garden of life!

Weeding the garden can be time consuming and back breaking~

Days are long as I struggle among thorns, plants and trees.

The sun rises and sets~

I’m down on my knees, by the sweat of my brow, I bow~

Some roots grow deep and some shallow, but the labor is all the same~

Help me tend your garden, to honor you, and disregard the pain.

Help me, as I work here to be faithful, humble, and to remain, steadfast, in the process…

That I will bring honor you; not bring disgrace, to your precious holy name.

I will water and nurture, all you’ve given me to do

To prune and fertilize and transplant.

Fruit trees, shrubbery, lovely flowers and to pray for hours, beneath the mighty oaks

Making sure, there is no disease anywhere in the garden, so that you, will be pleased.

Help me not to complain~

Godliness with contentment is great gain…

Where some may not produce much, others thrive and grow

God, help me follow, you, wherever you want me to go.

Little foxes spoil the vine, Papa, help me to be kind.

And when the snow begins to fall…

The garden grows silent, quiet and still~

I will continue to hear your loving call, and remember, I’m just a caregiver in your garden, help me tear down walls.

Time comes and time goes~

Others too are working~

Some reap and some sow~

God, you, bring the increase, to your garden here below.

And when it’s time for me to finally go~

I’ll whisper a gentle prayer; “May your garden always be tended with loving kindness, gratefulness and available for all to share!”

God’s garden is sacred, it’s holy and it’s divine…keep this in mind when you tend it and know, it’s his, not thine!

We’re all part of the garden, he longs for us to be, among the royal lineage, His Holy family!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 31, 2024

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Genesis 2:8

The Lord   God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. Genesis 2:15 New Living Translation

 

 

A bird can’t drive a car

But it can fly about the skies…

A caterpillar can’t milk a cow

But it can go into a cocoon and become

A beautiful butterfly.

A lion can’t swim in deep oceans

But it pierces the forest with its mighty roar

A whale can’t walk on dry land

But, upon oceans and seas, it soars…

A tiny baby can’t speak or walk

But lying at his mother’s breast, he listens to his mother talk.

She whispers, I love you be blessed

Love, is so powerful, it calms the seas, it gives us peace,

God’s love will never cease!

Love one another, for God is Love!

Sometimes we have expectations about how certain things should be done. Our perception is one way, but when we take a closer look, we see that it doesn’t have to be that way.

For instance, I thought in order to be a speaker you had to have everything perfect. That a great speaker is someone who knows all their lines and doesn’t read from notes. They’re animated and well put together. They look at the audience and don’t miss a word. They’re passionate and composed.

God sees each of us as we are meant to be. So, he puts us in situations to stretch and grows us, not to our specifications but to His. Not to be without flaws but real.

Everyone is different. Different heritage, linage, different DNA. Not to be a robot, but a person with our very own fingerprints, footprints; fit together for His design.

I can’t be you, and You, can’t be me. We are individuals being transformed into the image of the Living God!

Just like the body…there is one head, one heart and one brain, but all of our parts fit together in perfect unison, working together to keep us alive. All the parts are needed. We can survive without certain parts, but it makes it a little harder to function. With God’s help we can thrive and accomplish everything that we were created for.

You may sing like an angel and someone else, try as they might, sounds like a sick toad. But that doesn’t mean that the sick toad person, doesn’t have other redeeming qualities. Use the gifts God has put within you and I promise, you will fulfill the call on your life, and it will be a beautiful masterpiece. God doesn’t make mistakes…he designs you in His eyes as a perfect masterpiece…

All for God’s Glory! Amen!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 28, 2024

Ephesians 2:7-10 The Message Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

 Ephesians 2:10 New Living Translation For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Once there was a little lamb

Who lay at his mother’s feet…

He’d run and jump and frolic in, the land called Galilee…

The other lambs, knew he was different

He was pure and white; no blemishes found in Him…

He’d laugh and sing songs, oh, how he loved all of them…

Then one day the shepherd came and took the lamb away

He put him on an altar and killed the perfect lamb that day!

The little lamb was born for this, so that all the lambs could see

That the sacrifice this pure lamb gave was for you and for me.

The Perfect Lamb, now lives among, Heaven’s eternal throne…

And all the lambs who know him as their very own…

Will one day live, among the hills, in their eternal home!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 24, 2024

John 1:29 New King James Version ~~ The Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Rolling hills and pastel skies

Silent streams and dragonflies

Trees waving, ever present in the forest, stoic,

Like soldiers standing at attention~

Misty breath blows in winter’s cold.

Buried deep by winter’s snow,

Sleeps the ground there below~

Quiet now, as feeble flowers rest.

Amber fields, stripped and bare sleeping for a while~

In the valley of decision many tears flow~

As Spring gives way for flowers to grow.

Awaken to the winds that blow,

Journey, moves, like infants stretching and yawning

A new day dawning~

New life bestows~

Journey never ends~

He merely grows old and steps behind the veil!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 16, 2024

Psalm 37:25 New Life Version I have been young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the man who is right with God left alone, or his children begging for bread.

 1 Peter 1:18-21 The Message Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood; you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

1 Corinthians 13:12 The Message We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

Artist unknown

Woke up early this morning with these thoughts going through my head. I believe it is from the Lord!

When Jesus healed the lame man and said, “Rise take up your bed and walk…”

It wasn’t just for the lame man…he was showing us that we too, could rise up and walk for His glory.

When He healed the blind man, he showed that, we too, could see and believe and no longer stumble in the darkness. That our spiritual blinded eyes would also see. Truly see Him, who He was and who He is…It wasn’t just for the blind man, it would be for all, who are blind both spiritually and physically.

Healing of the deaf and dumb, the one who could not hear or speak, was to also show that we too were in need of healing so that, we too can hear his whisper and to speak His words of truth.

When the withered hand was stretched forth, Jesus showed them and us that we too, would be able to stretch forth our hands to feed those who are in need of food and water. The bread of life and the living water, Jesus offers everyone who will believe and accept Him.

As Jesus healed leprosy and cast out demons…He was showing us that though our sins are many and our thoughts are held captive by the devil that through His word and His blood we can be washed and cleansed from every unclean thing. We should be like the one leper of ten, who came back to thank him and give him praise and honor for all he has spoken and done. To Testify to all people that once we were sick and outcast, but now, we are redeemed.

When the broken woman at the well, felt alone, rejected, and forsaken, Jesus came for her and restored her name, and her soul, He let her know she was loved and accepted. It shows us that each one of us who have lost everything, that nothing is impossible if we will drink of the living water and live. We are so happy that we run to tell everyone we know, to come see the man who gives new life and restoration. His name is Jesus!

You see, Jesus, had many reasons for doing what he did, it wasn’t just a witness to the one healed and delivered but it was for all those watching and for the generations to come to see and know he’s still saving, still healing, still setting free and delivering all oppressed by the devil…these are examples of His great love…He’s still doing these things for us, even today.

He fed multitudes physical food but the most important of all was that he came to feed our spiritual man…because our spirit is going to live forever…we’ll either be with Him for all eternity or spend our eternity in darkness and torment. It is our choice, it’s our responsibility to accept or deny God! I hope you choose wisely!

When He was nailed to that tree, his hands and his feet. Pierced through by a sword. Thorns shoved into his head, mocked and ridiculed, people hocked up saliva and spit upon Him…each breath a struggle, the precious, chosen Son of God…he allowed it because he knew that some would remember all that He suffered and would come to Him and repent, turn around and follow Him…Jesus suffered all of this because He loved us…even the ones to come down through the ages…

He told John, his beloved disciple, to write letters to the Churches…to warn us and to bless us and to help us to be vigilant and ready, to keep ourselves unspotted from the world and to have faith because He Will Come Again…

Only Papa God knows the day and the hour of His return. From age to age, God has the plan and that plan, is with mercy and grace, so that all have the opportunity to accept His Son. Certain things must take place and everything that has to be fulfilled will be according to His Will and His purpose.

So, I ask you, will you let him open your blinded eyes? Will you take up your life and follow him? Will you remain faithful and steadfast? One way or another all who live will one day die. Those who are yet to come will face the same questions. The only guarantee that we have is accepting Jesus as the only begotten son of God, knowing he has forgiven us of our trespasses and sins and making him the Lord and Ruler of our lives. For All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved! Are you blind, lame, forsaken? Are you lost and afraid? Are you still looking for a Messiah to come? Have you rejected His blood and His word? As long as you have breath it is not to late to accept Him into your heart and live for him~ I urge you to make that decision today because I promise you…He is real and He loves you! He is not evil He is alive! He doesn’t beat you or condemn you. He is the lifeline reach out to him and ask him to save you!

God’s love never ever fails!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 14, 2024

John 5:8-9 New King James Version ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

Mark 8:25 New Living Translation ²⁵ Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.

Mark 7:31-35 New King James Version Jesus Heals a Deaf-Mute

³¹ Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. ³² Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. ³³ And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. ³⁴ Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

³⁵ Immediately his ears were opened, and the ^[a]impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

Matthew 12:13-15 New King James Version ¹³ Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. ¹⁴ Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Behold, My Servant

¹⁵ But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great ^[a]multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

Luke 17:11-19 New King James Version Ten Lepers Cleansed

¹¹ Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. ¹² Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. ¹³ And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

¹⁴ So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵ And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, ¹⁶ and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? ¹⁸ Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Mark 1:22-26 New Living Translation ²² The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

²³ Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil^[a] spirit cried out, ²⁴ “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

²⁵ But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. ²⁶ At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.

John 4:28-30 New King James Version ²⁸ The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, ²⁹ “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” ³⁰ Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

Morning Glory has a sister; her name is Scarlet Rose.

They grew up in a garden as the story goes…

Morning Glory, wore blue denim and Scarlet Rose, a purple robe

Each had their own special style, but when they’d smile, they glowed.

The girls were loved and cherished by the gardener of their souls…

Each had a unique story, and each was told…

They loved, to plant flowers,

Oh, what glory to behold!

Irises and daffodils, tulips and carnations, blue bells and marigolds,

Wildflowers, on the hill…

Years come and years go, but love always remains in the hearts of Morning Glory and Scarlet Rose…

Stars in the heavens, moon shinning bright, little girls giggle they grow up and take flight…

Trials and testing’s, have softened them so…

A lifetime spent, now bent and old…

Morning Glory and Scarlet Rose, rest, in the garden of their souls.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 5, 2024

In remembrance of Rosa “Maria” Gandy

Inspired by: Debba Weinfurter

Written by: Marla Shaw O’Neill