2023 The Greatest Decision Ever Made
Today is December 30, 2022, we will not pass this way again. Just a day away New Year’s Eve. It was a few days ago we celebrated with family and friends the birth of the Savior, which by the way should be celebrated every moment of every day when he lives in your heart, most of us know that.
As I reflect on what may come, I look back over memories of past years. I can see many changes and yet many things are the same. What will 2023, bring? I have no idea, but my hope is in the only one who does know.
Jesus said,
“So, my counsel is: Don’t worry about things—food, drink, and clothes. For you already have life and a body—and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat—they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food—for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothes? Look at the field lilies! They don’t worry about theirs. Yet King Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as beautifully as they. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O men of little faith?
“So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.
“So, don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.” Matthew 6:25-34 Living Bible
If you don’t know the Savior, Jesus (Yeshua, his Hebrew name.) Let me say, the greatest thing you could ever do to start the New Year of 2023, is to ASK Jesus to come into your heart, believe that he is the son of God and proclaim him as the Lord and Savior of your Life!! It is by grace through faith that you become a child of the Living God! (Ephesians 2:8)
It’s not a religious act, or man-made concept. When you humble yourself before Him, not man, there will be an actual regeneration of your heart and the Holy Spirit will come into your being and you will be made brand new! It’s not a feeling although some feel all kinds of emotions. Kind of like when a newborn baby is born there is so much joy and peace and happiness! The sin life is gone and like the metamorphosis of the butterfly your changed!
You’re still you but different! The angels in heaven rejoice they celebrate like crazy a holy party takes place because one has been newborn! A new creation! And you’re the reason they are celebrating!
Find a Church that preaches the Word of God and become a student of the Word!
2023, can be the greatest days of your life! Listen! Do you feel that tug, it’s the Holy Spirit saying, “Come on I want you to meet Jesus!”
I hope and pray that all who read this message will come to know Jesus in a greater and deeper way than ever before. I pray that the Holy Spirit will draw all of us into a relationship so intimate and life changing that we will face this coming year with Courage, Strength and a Determination that will Rock the world around us! I pray that we will stand out, speak up, and live out the life Jesus has called us to! I pray that we will not run away from the enemy! That the Word of God will be preached more, there will be multitudes of salvations. I pray that Christians will love more, so much more, that it will transform our Nation! I pray that we will draw so close to God, we will hear his heartbeat, that we will resist the devil(s) that they will flee in every direction and that our Nation will truly be One Nation Under God!! I pray that “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17
Trials and tests will come, but I pray that just as the early Church overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto death, that we will once again be the Church Jesus has called us to be. The ‘called out ones.’ People are the Church, not a building or organization. It’s you and me, living and serving The King of kings and Lord of lords, in humility but that doesn’t mean weakness… For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Let God arise and His enemies be scattered! Praise God!!
Be alert and ready! God is on the move!! In the coming years when we look back on 2023, we will see just How Big! How Deep! How Wide! And how truly amazing our God is and was and is to come!! Amen
~Marla O’Neill December 30, 2022
Make Way for The New
As I look back over the last few days, I’m overwhelmed with a gazillion emotions. Memories of Christmas’s past and present bring tears of sadness and tears of joy. Moving forward I think about what the New Year will bring. Oh, I know we’re supposed to live in the here and now and that’s true. But God put the ability within us to also look to the future. Lord willing, we will see it come. God does say he has plans to give us hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Corinthians 5:17
If only it was that simple, right? If we abide in the Spirit of the Lord, it is, that simple. We as humans complicate it.
Over the last year many changes have taken place for Bob and me. I’m sure for you as well. Bob and I made a big move from South Florida to North Florida. I mean that is a huge endeavor. Selling a home and buying another one, right in the middle of price wars, homes going only to the highest bidder…it was surreal but with the help of the Lord it all came about. Anyway, I don’t want to drag this out. So, onward to the point.
Like I said emotions have been skyrocketing. I’ve tried to write but nothing would come. I was struggling and would cry out, “What’s wrong with me God?” I’ve felt unconnected and kind of lost. Maybe that was still from the stress of the move.
My calling is to write and to pray I mean that’s what I do and who I am. God called me to it; I didn’t call myself. But something was off, and I couldn’t shake it.
This morning I heard my father’s still small voice. Finally. I hear him say, “Divine Pivot!” I’ve only heard that one other time when my friend Amye Still, said it. I leaned in to hear what he was saying to me. On Christmas day my family and I gathered around the food and my son Abram said, “Mom, I want you to pray over the food.” I was a little surprised. I thought either he or my son, Mark or Bob would pray. I looked at Bob and said, “Do you want to pray?” But Abram spoke up and said, “No, I want you to pray, Mom! It’s already decided.” I felt a little nervous and unsure, I wasn’t myself. But I opened my mouth, and I knew I was in the presence of the Lord. I prayed a simple prayer and felt as if it was not very significant, but I could feel the Holy Spirit. I finished praying. It was short and to the point. But something happened. This morning when the Holy Spirit said, “Divine Pivot!” I had a flash back of that prayer and I said, “Lord, I feel like that prayer didn’t really get past the ceiling.” But he spoke to me and said, “You and your family and friends were there together. From your very first words you entered my presence and there was a holy pause, all of heaven was listening, there was a moment in history that was forever changed, all because you prayed. I heard you! I saw you! Time stopped for that brief moment. It was a Divine Pivot even though you didn’t realize it. Once you said, amen. The pause was released, and everything went back to your normal.”
God reminded me this morning that when we pray, we enter another realm, His Holy Realm. It’s not just some religious practice of bowing the head and saying words. It is a Divine moment where we as humans encounter the supernatural realm of the living God. The God of all creation. The one who created all things, we are granted permission into the Holy of holies and He hears us because of the one who was born, His son, Jesus the anointed one! Through Jesus, God hears and answers our prayers.
I could have said all kinds of scriptures and words of how Jesus was born etc. to sound pretty and “spiritual, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I spoke what was in my heart. All God wants, is our heart!
I haven’t asked Abram why he was so adamant that I pray. But I believe God put it in his heart because God knew I needed it. We are all on a journey. We may not realize it or understand it. But God calls us and when we answer that call, we are forever changed. The adventure is more than we could ever think or imagine.
As you enter a new year, it’s a new season nothing happens any differently between December 31st, and January 1st except the date will change and time will continue. But it gives us hope to think that there is a holy pause, and maybe, just maybe something new can change and we will be better, stronger, healthier, kinder, braver and more loving to our neighbors and to each other.
“Divine Pivot!” Make it count!
God bless you and may your New Year be one of blessing and divine pivots! Amen.
~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 28, 2022
Jesus is, the More
More than enough
More than conquerors
More than the loneliness
More than the financial burdens
More than the illness
More than the career
More than the bills
More than the circumstances
More than your age
More than the heartache
More than the pain
More than the disappointment
More than the loss
More than your marriage
More than your singleness
More than fame or riches of the world
More than your pride
More than your desires
Jesus, is, More…
Whatever your struggle, Jesus is more than enough
He’s more than your unbelief
He’s more than life, more than faith, more than hope, more than love, more than patience, more than meekness, gentleness, self-control,
He’s more than a brother
He’s more than the air we breathe
More than anything you can think, or imagine
The more you want, will only come when you realize,
Jesus is the more you need!
Then surrender your heart and life to him, ask, seek and knock
He will come in and be the more in every part of your being…
The more he has will be the more you long for!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 29, 2022
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37 New International Version
Come Forth
Covenant renewal right now, today!
A resurrection…
As a flower blooms and dies, a new flower arrives~
Lazarus died…
Jesus cried…
“Lazarus, come forth…”
He’s calling you, to come forth~
Age, race, it doesn’t matter, He’s, calling you, to come forth~
Come alive~
Dead bones, come alive!
Dead talents, come alive!
Dead dreams, come alive!
Jesus is calling you, “Come forth!”
You may feel as if you’re all dried up, weak, unfulfilled, parched, no water to fill your cup, where is the bubbling brook?
Get up! Get up! Get up!
The living water is calling, it’s flowing even now~
Pick yourself up and run don’t walk, life is what it’s all about!
Come drink of the living waters it’s nourishment to your soul, throw off the old dead clothes and put on the Holy Robe…
Sing your new song, dance around God’s throne, renew your vows of Covenant song…It’s the blood of Jesus, poured out for you, take His hand and sing along!
Let His Joy bring new strength
Come to the living waters and drink
Rise up out of your slumber…
Oh, grave where is your victory? Oh, death where is your sting?
A refreshing, happy stance, embraced in love with just one glance…
Come forth little flower and bloom once again…
Life isn’t over, it’s a new beginning!
Don’t you know you will never die…
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26 New King James Version
~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 8, 2022
Unseen Things
A tiny seed beneath the earth grows deep as silently it sleeps.
Sunshine and rain bring nourishment to the living, sleeping seed.
Changes take place, no eye has seen as it stretches and moves in mystery~
Roots grow deeper as the little sleeper, awakens to form a tree!
The sky beckons as the branches reach-out and the wooded tree stands tall, a thousand leaves wave in the breeze as Summer turns to Fall.
There in its shade as time passes by, secrets kept in forest pride, bowing to its maker the ancient, tree, dies.
Winter passes and Springtime awakes as another tree is found.
Life goes on in the cycle, a tiny seed does sleep~
Awakens in time for a serenade under the eastern sky.
Lifting its head in the bright sunlight a baby tree now thrives.
~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 6, 2022
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1 King James Version
I Will
Last night was a turning point for me. I tossed and turned and prayed it seemed no relief would come. Then I prayed, “Lord, I will trust you before, during and after this test!” And just like that God answered, sweet sleep came, and I woke up so much better this morning! God wants us to trust him, NO MATTER WHAT! He’s the one in control! Amen…I pray God’s healing touch over all of you today, in Jesus name, amen! He gave me this to write!
I Will
Into the night of crashing waves, a crescendo of sound rises and falls as electricity lights up the sight.
Tossed on a sea of terror, without help or safety, “Save me from this fright!”
The mind searches for relief,
A hero I can believe in who will rescue and deliver me.
Hours of torment in agony spent, then one prayer, in desperation, is cast into the sea and reaches the heavenlies…
“Abba, I will trust you in this harrowing test, if you save me or I perish~
I take my resolve, as I press on to find in you my perfect rest, the Savior of my soul~
Peace, sweet peace has come!
God, you have won, anguish and terror is overcome, I lay me down in blessedness…
No harm can reach me now!
Not stormy sea, nor fear of death, can touch me in your embrace~
For God has answered, I am set free in your unfailing grace.
One tiny grain of faith, surrendered to your will, help me Jesus to remember
Just, be, still!!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 31, 2022
Mark 4:39
New King James Version
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace,[a] be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Footnotes
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Mark 4:39 Lit. Be quiet
It’s OK, I’m Right Here
One of my closest and dearest friends sent me a video of her two grandbabies, little girls. One is four and the other will be one in November. The oldest one is holding her baby sister while she drinks her bottle. She sings, “Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky, twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are.” The baby starts to sit up, but the older sister says, “Shh. Lay back down. It’s ok, I’m right here!” How precious is that?
I had been talking to Bob about the end times and things that are going on in the world. Then my friend Charisse called, and we had a conversation almost always about the Lord, this conversation was no different. I told her about a young missionary who spoke at Church yesterday. He and his family are going to be missionaries to France. He gave some statistics which show, that one, in one hundred actually live the Christian life. Then he showed a graph of the US and said, about twenty-six, in one hundred, practice their faith in Jesus and live a Christian life. I was so sad when I saw that. “Twenty-Six out of One Hundred?” That was shocking! I was like, Dear Jesus only 26 people out of 100, it should be more like 99 out of 100!
How far we have fallen and don’t seem to be getting up!! If twenty-six out of one hundred were actually doing what Jesus has called us to do…then that number should be growing exponentially! No wonder the country is in the mess it’s in!!!
Who will go? Who will preach the good news? Who will live the life so that others will come to repentance and live a life pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ??
Lord, help me! Help us! Open blinded eyes to see, open deaf ears to hear your Spirit and your truth. Send conviction and repentance. We cry out for Revival but what we need is a blood transfusion, the blood of Jesus was not shed in vain!! Help us to bow before you and ask to be forgiven for believing lies. We are lulled to sleep by the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and the lust of the flesh!! Help us to be soul winners not soul whiners!
HELP US GOD TO WAKE UP!
We the American people are deceived and being deceived by the enemy not seen in the physical. Open our spiritual eyes to see through the façade…wake us up out of this hypnotic and delusional, self-seeking, not wanting to offend, sleepwalk!
Shake us awake Oh God…let your Holy Spirit and Fire, set ablaze the hearts of men, women, boys and girls to come alive and shout from the streets, to raise up dead churches, lifeless ministers who preach sweet nothings to the ear, but are full of dead men’s bones, those who will tell of a Hell fire and brimstone that is real where the worm never dies, so that souls will once again seek you in righteousness and holiness and speak to hurting, lost, souls. Let us become bold and courageous that we will not be afraid of what man can do to us but what God can do. Not in condemnation…but in Spirit and in Truth! Be warned the Bible is not a fairy tale. It is the very breath of God given by inspired men, spoken in mystery but tell what is to come on the earth! People WAKE UP! WAKE UP!
People think everything is just fine, as long as it doesn’t affect them there’s no need to worry or be concerned… that’s exactly what the devil wants us to believe!!! Shake yourself and return to your First Love! Fast and Pray! Be Alert! No longer bury your head in the sand. We escape to social media for a make-believe life. We may go to church and even stand and worship but when it’s over we go back to our unfulfilled, hurting, stressed out lives but don’t let anyone see the truth! It’s called living in denial.
If you’re one of the 26 in 100 who is living out your faith, God bless you and keep you and give you peace to witness for Jesus and be soul winners for Him. To the other 74 people, listen, I know you think Christians are hypocrites. They say one thing but live another. Is it better to live an ungodly life, and then die and go to a burning hell, all because you were deceived into judging someone you thought was fake. Will you let the lies of the enemy deceive you which will cause you to end up with him for all eternity? A place more horrible than your worst nightmare~ scarier than a Steven King book! Where the worm never dies, and your thirst is never quenched! Where the burning of your soul never stops burning and no help will ever come!
Forget about what someone else is doing, Jesus wants Your heart! You come follow him. He loves you. He died for You!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17 King James Version
And when you are converted, strengthen others. Go into all the world, the world around you and live the God life Jesus wants you to live. Be a soul winner! Be sold out, blood bought, no holds barred because children of God and those reading…Jesus will return! Maybe not today or tomorrow but it will happen. Live truth! Walk by faith and in Spirit and truth! Jesus is calling You; will you follow?
Then, Jesus will say, It’s OK, I’m right here!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 10, 2022
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20 King James Version
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:18-32 King James Version
Three little words…
Three little words, when heard
Make your heart skip a beat
Turn bitter into sweet.
Three little words can make you feel happy and complete.
Three little words, when spoken, is all it takes
To set your feet to dancing, change your life and makes, life, worth living…
Three little words, written in a song, a letter or a book…
Changes the foulest expression into a compassionate look…
Three little words, from that special someone, whom you’ve waited to hear say.
They, will stop tears in their tracks, keep hurts at bay, turn emotional tides and send the pain away…
Three little words, do you know what they are?
Expressed in love letters, when parting, or arriving, offered between friends and spouses, in the most unlikely places but mostly in houses. In fields, or on land, in the sky or at sea, three little words will definitely affect you and me.
Three little words when spoken from the heart, will send you to the moon and back, while watching a falling star…cause chills to run up and down your spine…kiss the little boo boos of a child when they whine…
What are these three little words?
Spoken from the heart, all you have to do; simply say these three little words, “I love you!”
~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 2, 2022
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12 New King James Version
The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3 New King James Version
The Battle is the Lord’s
Dedicated to my beautiful friend of more than forty years, Faye Palmer per our conversation today! You are a fireball for Jesus!!
