Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

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

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.