Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

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

It wasn’t about the manger, or the stable.

It wasn’t about the shepherd’s or angels or wisemen or the star…

It wasn’t about the temple or the loaves and fishes.

It wasn’t about the bread or the wine or the water…It was about Jesus!!

It wasn’t about the disciples or the donkey.

It wasn’t about the scoffers or the priests…

It wasn’t about the nails or the crown or the cross…

It was about Jesus!!

It wasn’t about the miracles or the healings.

It wasn’t about the parables or the mountainside…

It wasn’t about the sacrificial lambs…It was about ‘The Lamb, Jesus!’

It’s not about our trials or successes…

It’s not about, what, how or why…

When we finally get this, we will humble ourselves before the,

Who I AM that I AM, The Way the Truth and the Life!

It’s About Jesus!

God’s Son!

When we finally see, it’s not about me, myself and I…

It’s about Elohim! Emanuel! God with us…

Adonai!!!!

For Jesus, it was about obedience to the Father

From the womb, the garden, and the cross. To the tomb, and onto the throne…

Jesus is who, it has always been about!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill September 20, 2024

John 1:1-5 New American Standard Bible

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. ⁵ And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.

 (Who is the Word? It’s Jesus.)

Five foolish sisters weary from waiting, “No telling when He’ll come.

Let’s sleep awhile, our journeys just begun.

There’s plenty of time before the bridegroom comes.”

Waking early in the afternoon they yawn, “There’s no need to rush

Let’s eat, drink and be merry, since it’s only us.

Our other sisters have lots of oil, if ours runs out…

I’m sure they’ll help us; I have no doubt!”

The foolish sisters spend their days, watching TV, shopping for new clothes

“Oh, I love that, I’ll also take one of those.

Let’s go out to eat, and a movie does sound nice.”

What a terrible sacrifice…

If only they’d listened and obeyed the Lord…

But they gave up their inheritance, while in a narrow-minded trance…

Not knowing this night, would be their last chance…

Five wise sisters preparing every day,

For their bridegroom to arrive

While keeping their lamps lit and fully alive…

Praying and seeking, what the master desired of them

Lovingly bowing humbly, before Him…

They watched! They waited! They kept extra oil just in case

Because when He finally came, they’d be ready to make haste!

Shouts of rejoicing, “The Bridegroom is, here!!!

Come now sisters, let us draw near…”

But the five Foolish Sisters’ oil, had run dry… “It’s too late, we have no oil. Let us go and buy.”

But it was midnight and the market was closed. So, they began to cry…

“Please give us just a little of your oil, Wise Sisters, please help us on our way!”

“We’re sorry, Foolish Sisters, the Bridegroom is here today, and if we give you our oil, we too will have to stay…You should have been ready…You had time, but you wasted it on worldly things, this is what disobedience brings!”

The Bridegroom and his Bride enter the Grand Ballroom! All those who were ready were there too!

Pounding, outside the door, screams of, “LET US IN! LET US IN!”

The door is shut and cannot be opened…

There’s an alarm sounding…the signs are all there…WAKE UP! WAKE UP! Stop being deceived by what you see, hear and think! Listen to Holy Spirit, be filled with more of Him! Shake yourself, Turn Around and Return to your first Love!

Learn the lesson of the story…don’t be as the five foolish ones, keep your lamps full of oil and be Holy. Stay alert, be wise and ready, for the bridegroom will return for those who have their lamps full, those who are wise and are waiting and watching for Him!

Jesus said, I will come again! (John 14:3)

~Marla Shaw O’Neill September 11, 2024

Matthew 25 1-13 New King James Version The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

The Time Watchers

You can’t keep time; you can’t spend it…

You are a watcher, living in it!

Time never wounds down, it is never bound,

Is not bought or sold and never grows old.

Perpetual movement, as forward it flies

You can’t kill time. Time never dies…

And no matter how hard you try to save it

It’s an impossible task, it’s not yours no matter how much you ask,

Time is a gift, to be used while you can.

It’s a continuous motion, a silent sound, found only at your end.

An invisible tool you can’t hold in your hand

It stops for no one, not for child, woman or man.

We are watchers living in this world below…

Time, like the wind, is wherever we go.

You can’t hold it, or save it, or stop it, or make it…

Time is not a friend.

Tic toc, goes the clock, we’re running out of time…

Time goes on and you will too, if you learn the secret of time…

Watcher…

Spirit being…

You are eternal too…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill September 4, 2024

Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version

 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also, he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

 Revelation 22:13-21 King James Version

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Rocked to sleep in mommy’s arms, safe and loved and secure.

Swings and slides and see-saws, chasing butterflies under blue skies.

Reading, writing and arithmetic, now tablets, and high tech…

Growing pains doesn’t explain the things we thought about our lives.

Working, year after year, planning and dreaming dreams…

Parenthood…

Misunderstood…

Everything changes, some for bad and some for good!

Retirement comes, where has life gone? We’re left to wonder in old age…

Still young at heart, lives will part, as we sit in line for that time…

We too will depart…

Life is a continuous cycle…

So, live it while you can…

We won’t always understand…

That’s OK, we don’t have too.

Struggling to walk, to think and talk, age takes a toll…

I hear God say, my grace is sufficient for you, when you can’t walk, roll…

This gift of life that you’ve been given, is often taken for granted, but remember this…

There is contentedness…when you take One day at a time!

Child, you are mine…

Eternity will be divine!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 27, 2024

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 The Message

^7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first, I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so, the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

August 15, 2024

Last night at church Pastor Perry asked us all to come to the altar and pray and to ask God, to take us deeper with God. I believe this dream is a result of my prayer.

I had a dream that I was in an ocean of water no land in sight. The water was clear and calm and there were other people also in the water and there were lots and lots of children. There was no fear or concern. Everyone was happy and joyful floating around in the water. It seems like I was in the water at first then it was like I was floating but I wasn’t on a boat or a raft, but I was gliding through the water and watching everyone in the water with me.

I woke up with this thought. Water, clean, clear water represents the Holy Spirit! I had the understanding that God was going to use children to bring repentance and revival to many, many people. That He was saturating children with Supernatural Power of the Holy Spirit and because their hearts were pure towards Him, they would be obedient to His call. Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven! Matthew 19:14 KJV

Look at the next scripture, I didn’t know what the whole scripture said, I only remembered, and a little child shall lead them, taken from the KJV. The last part talks about a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean wide. (The Message Version)

Isaiah 11:6-9 The Message A Living Knowledge of God

The wolf will romp with the lamb, the leopard sleep with the kid. Calf and lion will eat from the same trough, and a little child will tend them. Cow and bear will graze the same pasture, their calves and cubs grow up together, and the lion eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will crawl over rattlesnake dens, the toddler sticks his hand down the hole of a serpent. Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill on my holy mountain. The whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive, a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide.

* * *

He showed me that the Children would be on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ! Preaching, and teaching and praying and spreading God’s love to everyone they come in contact with, and that many souls would come to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord!

Let me just say this, I’m nobody special, I just love Jesus and want to be led and used by Him. If this is from the Lord, Praise God, it will come to pass. If it’s not of Him then it was just me and a dream I had. God always confirms His word. But I believe it’s from God! Amen!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 15, 2024

When you’ve been knocked down, spun around, kicked and lied to, and you’re going down for the count… you’ve been beaten and left for dead~

That’s the time to dig deep, turn and meet your enemy head on…

And with every ounce of strength, you’ve got left, Stand up and Fight like never before…

Not in your might, nor in your power, but in the power of the God of heaven…filled with Holy Ghost determination, strong in the Faith by the Spirit of the Living God You, Will, Not Fail!!!

Life gets messy. It gets downright ugly and terrifying and sometimes you just want to give up!

But God says…

⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. ¹⁰ Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

¹¹ Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. ¹² So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 New Living Translation

Children of the Living Holy God, the One who created all things, the One who said, I will never leave you nor forsake you…It’s Him, He’s the one who is The Way, The Truth and The Life…

He says…

GET UP! You may be cast down, but you are not forsaken!! This life is just a vapor…it’s here today and gone tomorrow! But You, as a Child of the Living God, You Will Never Die!!!

“Make Hay While the Sun Still Shines!” A dear friend of mine from years ago said those words. Grace Nealis, she was a mentor and a friend to me and to many people. Her words Ring Loud in my ears today!!

“Make Hay While the Sun Still Shines!”

Brothers and sisters, we don’t have time to waste…

Stop looking for a savior to rescue you! There is only One Savior and He already did that if you’ll believe and accept Him. Jesus is the Savior!

This is a divine appointment right here, right now!! The words you are reading are not by accident. God wants to tell you something, keep your eyes on Him! Tune your ears to His Voice!

“Come, Follow Me! Take up your cross and crucify the flesh. Take a breath and breathe in the Holy Spirit and then exhale! You can’t see that breath, but you can see the results of it. Let My Peace, the wholeness and the complete awareness of my Presence saturate your being and know, I AM that I Am, is with you! People make promises they don’t keep. They lie, steal, cheat and deceive to get what they are hiding in their hearts so that their selfish motives they can attain. Be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Ask for Godly wisdom, I will give it to all who ask! Do not look to the past or to the future your Hope is not there, Your Hope is Now, and can only be found in Me. The author and finisher of your faith!! Whether you know it or not, You’ve in a war. A war for your souls, your life and the lives of your children and children’s children. But Do Not Fear! I Am with you. There is a time for everything under heaven…Fast and Pray, seek me with your whole heart. See with your Spiritual eyes and hear with your Spiritual ears…what you see in the natural is being manifested in the spiritual realm and the battle is raging. My people those who know me and who I know, listen to what the Spirit of the Lord is saying…it’s way past time to stay asleep…WAKE UP! You can’t win this battle in the flesh…because this enemy is not flesh but he used the flesh to obtain his results. The weapons of our warfare are these…

^3-6 The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

^7-8 You stare and stare at the obvious, but you can’t see the forest for the trees. If you’re looking for a clear example of someone on Christ’s side, why do you so quickly cut me out? Believe me, I am quite sure of my standing with Christ. You may think I overstate the authority he gave me, but I’m not backing off. Every bit of my commitment is for the purpose of building you up, after all, not tearing you down. 2 Corinthians 10:4-8 The Message”

Oh, hear The Father’s Heart today, get alone with Him and talk to Him like never before! Many will be deceived because they will not stay close to the Shepherd. But all who will heed His Word and draw near to him and resist the devil, they will find he will flee from them!

Dry your tears, shake yourself off and get in the fight, but fight with the full armor of God, the God-tools, not your own. God bless you, I am praying for you, please pray for me too!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 1, 2024

I wandered far away from the life source…

Dark days and nights I’ve lived, sin kept me from the light…

Ashamed, forgotten, invisible without sight…

Somehow, someway, someone must have prayed…

I cried alone, for years ago, I lost my way!

Broken, Oh so broken, how could I ever return…

The guilt and the shame, life never the same as everyone I knew had spurned,

This lifeless person I became.

Dirty, filthy, afraid and misunderstood…

I could never go home, to what My mother had taught me was good!

Then something incredible happened, I was lying in my own vomit

Down for the count…no way out…

An old woman found me…

“Honey, Jesus loves you will you come back to him?”

My eyes filled with tears and regret, sorry for the life I had lived…

She lifted my head and anointed me with oil, and said,

“Repeat after me…

I am a sinner saved by grace, come home my lovely one, there is no disgrace…

You are washed in the blood of the Lamb!!”

I stood up and shouted, “Yes! I am!!!”

She took me home and fed me well, clothed me in her best attire…

Out of the grime and cesspool of life, no longer wallowing in the dust and the mire…

Cleaned me up and set my feet on solid ground…

No longer a prodigal, no longer lost, I am forever found!

Serving Jesus, and finding all those, who are shattered, lost and bound!

Jesus loves me, this I know…come home dear ones leave shanty town…

And join God’s family, in the heavenly realm…

You too, can be washed in the blood of the Lamb!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 21, 2024

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

¹¹ And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. ¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. ¹⁴ And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to^[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ ²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’^[b] 22 But the father said to his servants,^[c] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. ²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:11-32 English Standard Version

He took my tears and turned them into rainbows

Red, green, yellow, blue…reminders of the heart’s deepest dreams

Tears of sorrow, tears of joy, tears for tomorrow from living streams…

Flow from eyes that have seen many things…

Felt pain and suffering…

Watched a newborn baby sleep, waking to sounds of mother’s who weep

Watering the land to save the meek…

Tears upon my cheek!

Who but God can change one thing?

If we dare to ask, in Jesus’ name…

Rainbows come, after the rain…

Smiles begin when touched by God’s loving hand.

We sing…

Let tears fall and rainbows bend

Beneath the bow, where darkness turns to light…

And colors bring new life

Tears washing what’s unseen…

Through heaven’s portals, there are no more tears,

Blessings of Joy!

Everlasting!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 18, 2024

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:4 New Living Translation

I dedicate this poem to my brother, Regan Shaw. Happy birthday! He’s there now enjoying everlasting Joy!