The Preacher Boy
You could hear him before you saw him. No bigger than a minute.
He shouted, he shook, with all his might. Known as Lil’ Jake Bennett.
Standing on a street corner, wearing faded, denim overalls, toes poking through worn-out shoes, Lil’ Jake preached the word of God.
“Repent!” He cried. Tattered Bible in his hand.
Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Ole man passing by said, “Young man, why you out here doing this? Why ain’t you home, playing with the other kids. This Jesus talk is for Sunday school. Don’t you know the town’s got rules. Go on home now and stop this yell’n, people don’t care what you’re a’tell’n.
“Mister, do you know Jesus? Did you know he died on an old, rugged tree, just to save you, and me?”
I can’t stop mister, because you see, Jesus, took me out of a horrible pit. Mama and Papa died. My brother and sister too…
All burned up in a fire…I was only five, but I knew…
Miss Mae came to my rescue. She said, “Jake, here’s what we gonna do…”
You’re coming home with me, but first, let’s pray.
“Jesus, keep your hand on lil Jake. Raise him up to preach your word. Lord, use him in a mighty way. To save souls, Lord, help him obey. Don’t let him ever give up preaching your word. This we ask today, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Miss Mae, tell me about Jesus.”
“Jesus loves all the little children in the world. He loves you so much he died for you on an old rugged cross. But he didn’t stay in that grave. He rose on the third day. He is the Son of God. Ask him to save you and live in your heart and make everything new. Then preach his word wherever you go. Tell everyone about his great love.”
Sir, that was two years ago… “I’m just gett’n started. I won’t ever stop preaching about Jesus’ great love.”
Ole man shook his head… “Preacher Jake, that’s quite a story seems to me you give God all the glory. Keep doing what you’re a do’n son, and Oh by the way, will you pray. I believe ever-thing you say. It’s the best message I’ve ever heard. Tell me some more about God’s word.”
Lil Jake, is now, 80 years old. Four children, fifteen grandkids, ten great grandkids and one great gran. He still stands on the street corner, preaching God’s word. “Jesus loves you! Will you love him too? Ask him into your heart. Make you new!”
~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 22, 2025
Romans 10:9-10 King James Version – 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
This story is fiction as far as Lil Jake goes but God’s word is True. If you don’t know Jesus and you want to know him. Just do what Lil Jake did. Ask him to come into your heart then live like Jesus is inside of you and do what Jesus says in his word. God bless you.
To Life
Under the canopy He stands and waits
The Lord, great and mighty…
Anticipating her arrival…
Five maidens come singing and dancing,
Preparing the way, as the crowd watches in awe.
Banners raised! Shouts of praise!
They watch, the bride approach, in all her glory and splendor…
Tiny pearls of opal, glisten, upon her gown, pure and white
Her skin perfumed in pomegranate and frankincense,
Lilies of the Valley crown her head and vail…
With humility and great joy, she approaches…
Finally, the day is here!
She stands before her beloved, two hearts, become one…
Overcome with the song of the turtle dove,
“Our wait is over!”
All that love him, witness the promise of God!
Mazel tov!
To Life!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 21, 2025
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Rev. 19:7,8).
Pomegranates represent abundance, fertility, hope, and resurrection, making them symbols of new beginnings and spiritual growth.
Frankincense oil is used in meditation, prayer, and other spiritual practices to promote calmness, clarity, and connection with the divine.
Using both pomegranates and frankincense oil in rituals or practices can symbolize the shedding of old patterns and the embracing of new beginnings.
Beloved
“Lily Rose, let’s take a walk and talk.”
The shepherd gently calls.
Aged and slow unafraid and brave…
Lily Rose, obeys…
With labored strides, not giving in to the weakness
Or her body’s demand.
She breathes a prayer, and holds tightly to the shepherd’s loving, caring, hand.
The sun is bright on shaded road; with you Lord, I know I can,
Walk and talk with my beloved, you are the True and Faithful one…
A tiny breeze begins to blow, the trees sway and leaves flutter to the ground,
Without a sound…
Angels walk in silence and listen as the good shepherd speaks.
“Lily Rose, hear the birds gently singing? See the flowers that bloom
Each and every morning and every afternoon…
Remember, life’s a journey and as you walk with me,
I’ll show you how to live and grow, among the briars and thistles,
Lily Rose.”
Lord, I know, my time is coming to a close, but I’ll not give in to the storms that blow…
I realize, you are in the wind, that brings and takes away.
You are in the rain, that washes all the pain away…
You are in the stars and the flowers and all eternity…
Good Shepherd, I’ll always walk and talk with thee!
“Lily Rose, stay close precious one, you are a blessing to me.”
The clouds open with the song of a Holy-Angel-Choir
A canopy of trees graces each side of Glory Road,
While a million tiny birds, sing a tender melody…
“Come, Lily Rose, walk with me!”
~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 19, 2025
Song of Solomon 2:16 King James Version – My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
I Have Called You To Live
Life does not stop because we get old
We get old because we stop living life…
The body grows old, but our spirit remains
Crying out to be set free what freedom we gain
When we realize, we never die…
Don’t give in to the thoughts of the end
Listen to the Spirit of God…
Get up, keep dreaming, keep living…
Let your heart soar and sing…
[Blessed assurance Jesus is mine,
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine…
Ere of salvation,
Purchase of God, Born of His Spirit
Washed in His blood!
This, is, my story…
This is my song…
Praising my savior all the day long!!] (Fanny Crosby)
~Marla Shaw O’Neill
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1 Peter 1:3:
This verse speaks of a “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” which is a key element of the assurance that “Blessed Assurance” celebrates.
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1 John 4:18:
This verse states that “perfect love casts out fear,” a concept that aligns with the confidence and peace expressed in the hymn.
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Hebrews 10:22:
This verse encourages believers to “draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith,” which echoes the hymn’s theme of assurance.
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1 John 4:7-19:
This passage speaks of God’s love, which is the foundation of the assurance that “Blessed Assurance” proclaims.
Frances Jane van Alstyne (née Crosby; March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915), more commonly known as Fanny J. Crosby, was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. She was a prolific hymnist, writing more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs,[a] with more than 100 million copies printed.[1] She is also known for her teaching and her rescue mission work. By the end of the 19th century, she was a household name.[2]
Crosby was known as the “Queen of Gospel Song Writers”[3] and as the “Mother of modern congregational singing in America”,[4] with most American hymnals containing her work.[5] Her gospel songs were “paradigmatic of all revival music”,[6] and Ira Sankey attributed the success of the Moody and Sankey evangelical campaigns largely to Crosby’s hymns.[7] Some of Crosby’s best-known songs include “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour“, “Blessed Assurance“, “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home”, “Praise Him, Praise Him”, “Rescue the Perishing”, and “To God Be the Glory“. Some publishers were hesitant to have so many hymns by one person in their hymnals, so Crosby used nearly 200 different pseudonyms during her career.[8][b]
This Girl Loves Jesus
