Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

 

There is a song known only to the Redeemed,

Even angels cannot sing…

Blood and water poured forth, from God’s son, now King…

Saved by grace through faith, when we believe and confess…

The savior’s birth and death…

Risen from the tomb…

He drives darkness from the room

Soul, set free…

Sing, Redeemed! Sing!

To the King of kings!

Blessing and Honor and Glory

To the Lord of lords!

Holy sacrifice…

Accepted and proclaimed!

Tried and true…

Veil torn in two…

Souls made new; we sing the song of the redeemed.

Child of God I am!

A soul redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!

Yeshuah, I love you!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill March 10, 2025

Jeremiah 31:3 King James Version – The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

John 15:9 King James Version – As the father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

John 15:12-13 King James Version This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

 I have been young and now am old.

I’ve beheld Messiah’s face, the sacred mold…

He stirred the dust and man became…

A living soul, forever he’ll remain…

Spirit warrior, mystery fresh

Word of God, became flesh…

Yeshua, Savior, born in lowliness…

God breathed, a holy kiss.

A road traveled in wilderness

Revealed what was, and is, and will be.

Redeemed mankind for all who see,

Will rest in blessedness,

For all eternity!

 

~Marla Shaw O’Neill March 10, 2025

 

Psalm 37:24-26 King James Version Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

 

²⁵ I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ²⁶ He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

 

Baby girl held within my arms

What joy I behold!

Giggles and wiggles and tiny hands

Grasp my face tenderly, as I stand…

Gasps so deep I cannot speak…

As ecstatic joy erupts from my soul…

Sweet kisses upon her cheek

Rolls of laughter we two, share…

Eyes beholding eyes we stare…

Behold! Breathless joy is in the air…

A grandmother, and her baby girl,

Love, second only to Jesus, in all the world!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill March 10, 2025

2 Timothy 1:4-7 KJV Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

~Lois is the only grandmother named in the Bible. She was a Christian woman who helped Timothy learn about the Bible.~

Sitting side by side

Holding hands together

With her precious little man.

Bright eyes and happy face

Heart full, while they sit and embrace…

Grandma and grandson…

Together at their own pace…

Oh, the love of little boys

It stirs within, her greatest joy

A love like no other…

Even more than being a mother…

For now, she is grand…

Her life will go on and on…

Her prayers being answered for perfect peace…

At journey’s end…

She’ll live and begin, again and again…

Grandchildren, living proof, life never ends…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill March 10, 2025

Proverbs 17:6 King James Version Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

I see you…

I may be in another place, but darlin, I see your beautiful face…

At night when you look up in the stars, you’re looking straight into heaven…

Guess what? I’m looking right back…

No, you can’t see me now…

But sweet baby girl, everything will be alright…

Lie down in quiet sleep, in the stillness of the night…

I’m right there with you, in the center of your life…

I see you laugh, and I see you cry, when you’re afraid, but understand

You are not alone…

I’m with you to the end of the line kid; I’ve been with you all along…

You’ve got a lot of living to do…

Darlin, don’t fret

And never forget…

You’re daddy’s little girl!!

And when you hold your darlin’s near, look to the stars

And do not fear…

Life holds you for all eternity

Look up daughter, you’ll see me!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill February 15, 2025

I wrote this and I dedicate it to my beautiful, adopted niece, Rachel Eileen Watson, extraordinary woman of God!

Psalm 19:1 King James Version – The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Jeremiah 31:3 King James Version – The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Photo by: Marla O’Neill

Silence speaks, as everything in nature seems to sleep

I peek through my window and see blankets of white.

All is still and quiet, no sound of any kind, my soul takes flight…

No tweeting birds, or squirrels at play

It’s surreal, a wonderland of mystery displayed…

Vibrant, crisp, cold air, lingers everywhere…

Sleep sweet earth, for a little while,

Your journey awaits through this silent trial…

Wait for Spring, to bring forth new birth…

You, are of the greatest worth, if only you are aware…

Listen to the silence, it’s a priceless treasure,

To be held for a moment, you cannot measure…

Breathe, let it hold you until you’re full…

Soon it will all go away…

Can you hear Silence say…

Dwell in the sweet secrets I have for you, today!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 24, 2025

Psalm 147:16-20 New King James Version

He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Life is an archive of souls.

Running through time, eternity holds.

A sphere not seen by physical eyes.

Child, everyone here dies…

But realize…

“I am the resurrection and the life! Anyone who believes in me will never die…”

At Lazareth’s graveside. I cried…

It’s OK to grieve the loss of loved ones, but understand…

Sorrow is for the night, but Joy will come in the morning!

Like an hourglass pouring tiny grains of sand…

Caught by the Father’s, unseen, loving hand

He takes us to the promised land.

So, weep for a while, child…

Then dry your eyes and know this

The reunion will be such bliss…

On the other side!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 2, 2025

John 11:35 New King James Version

Jesus wept.

Artwork by: Youngsung Kim

You never know what a day can bring…But you can have the One who will see you through it, no matter what!

After having a wonderful Christmas with my Tampa family, we left for home the day after Christmas.

Bob and I were both tired, but I had no idea what he was experiencing, because he didn’t say anything. We stopped at Walgreens in Crystal River, I believe that’s where we were, I needed some Aquaphor for my foot, where a cancer had been removed. I noticed he was eating something, and I asked him what it was. He said it was tums.

It took about 5 hours to get home but just before we arrived, he said, “I have to tell you something.” I said, “Ok what is it?” He said he needed to go to the hospital that he had been having indigestion for 3 days. I was like. “WHAT?” So, we came home first then headed to the ER.

It was very crowded, and people were coughing and looked miserable. Then as we sat down, we heard a woman begin to moan and cry out… “Why? Why? Oh God! Oh God!” I felt heartsick for her. She was in a room near the waiting room, I’m guessing she was with a doctor. Someone she loved must have died. I could hardly contain myself knowing the pain and hurt she was suffering. I began praying silently in the Spirit. Knowing I could possibly be facing the same situation unless God intervened. As I prayed for her, silence came. I don’t know what happened because we were called.

They did an EKG and that came back normal, but we had to wait 2 hours for the blood work to come back and then they’d do the process again. They were ruling out blood clots. Which thankfully none was found.

It wasn’t a good report at that point. We were told that the heart was in distress. So, he was admitted to the hospital, and they scheduled him for a heart cath.

The next day they did the heart Cath and found some blockage, but he didn’t need a stent/s it could be treated with medication.

Thank the Lord for family in healthcare I had an angel escort me through the hospital (Bob’s daughter) otherwise I don’t know what I would have done. The hospital is huge!!

And I had two more angels (Bob’s other daughter and friend) escort me, to and from the hospital because I don’t drive anymore. God is faithful, especially, in the trails. He always makes a way. Thank you, Papa God, you’ve been with me my whole life.

You gave me Bob when I didn’t think I’d ever find love again and I know you won’t take him from me now. I know we’re all going to leave this planet one day but not yet!!

Many have already gone…but with Jesus, we will see them again.

Thank you for your grace that passes understanding. Thank you for family and friends that go over and beyond the call of duty, to help when we need it the most. Thank you for praying family and friends that stand in the gap and make up the hedge when it’s so very difficult to even think when faced with life threating circumstances.

Lord, thank you for sparing Bob’s life and James’s life and Pastor Perry Dissmore, seems they have something in common at the end of this year’s 2024. But you’re not finished with them yet!!

Thank you for being with Bambi and Charles and helping them cope with the extremely serious situation they are facing.

There’s so many Jesus…I pray that 2025, will give us new hope, new beginnings and better health so that we can serve you and continue to be a blessing to all we love, know and greet! Amen!!

I wasn’t going to post anything about this but since it all turned out good, I wanted to give God Praise and thank family and friends!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill, December 30, 2024

Isaiah 43:19 King James Version – ¹⁹ Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

 Romans 6:3-4 New King James Version – ³ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

 

Ponytails and puppy dogs, and long summer days

Storybooks and river brooks, children, at play…

Skinned knees and climbing trees, childhood now, just memories…

But I remember mama’s kisses on my cheek

Bedtime prayers, and sibling’s there, in a place called, Rocky Creek.

A mountain of tears was wiped away, in the dark, when mama prayed

Now I lay me down to sleep, Father all my children keep, ever in your hands

Bless their lives and when they’re old, let all their memories be as precious as gold…

Mama prayed and we all said, Amen.

Walking slow, to and fro, this body can hardly go…

But I’m blessed beyond measure, for all of life’s treasure

Is seen in the little-uns faces…

Round and round the time-clock races…

A new generation to bring…

Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 22, 2024

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.