In His Presence
Listening to the Spirit’s call, Come, let’s talk awhile
I close my eyes and looking up, I pause, and then I smile…
Speaking to my precious LORD, I open my heart and soul
And there in an instant I stand in spirit bold…
No greater privilege than this, I’m honored and blessed, to open my mouth and humbly confess
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…you are my blessedness…
No longer mindful of time around me, for I’ve entered the heavenly place
No longer sensing my body or mind…I’m captivated by his holy embrace…
Only aware of his presence, his fragrance fills the space…
Above me, below me, his all-consuming immovable amazing grace…
It fills my heart like nothing else…and I’m free to believe and pray
God help me, to give all of me, and hold nothing back until I see
Your wonders and your glory…
I hear silence and the stillness brings a song the angel’s sing…
Holy, holy, holy…you must be holy…to see the Almighty, King…
Extending his scepter, he welcomes me…there in his presence I am simply me…
No words needed, we are comfortable and carefree…
Jesus my dearest friend, and me…
I utter words only heaven knows, proclaiming life and victory on earth’s land, sky and seas…slaying demons and principalities…while in the presence of Royalty…
Touching the heart of God, he listens and responds in gracious enormity, God answers things I cannot see…supernaturally…
Faith has pleased him as love pours from his holy throne…
On earth, as it is in heaven, restoration comes home…
Finding grace while seeking His face…is all sufficient for me.
The prayer ended, but only temporarily.
Waiting expectantly…to come to thee…
~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 8, 2020
Song of Songs 4:6 New International Version (NIV)
Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense.
January 4, 2020 – Do you Know Who God is?
We don’t serve a weak, wimpy, worn out God…Oh no, we serve the Living, All powerful, in- control, Son, of the Almighty God. He is not a God of impossibility he is a God of Possibility and he has called us to be like him…made in his image with a purpose and a calling… “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)
He is the God in Samson’s hands who had power to defeat a mighty foe… he is the God who spoke to the stormy seas and they became still and calm …He is the God who led 300 men to victory over coming thousands of the enemy…He is the God that was in David’s hand when he hurled a small stone that struct the giant’s head and killed him…he is no different then, than now…he is still the God who moves mountains and saves lives and calms the storms…He is the maker of the Universe, the one who flings stars into space and they sing of his glory, he is the one who said, let there be light, and light appeared. He is the earth shaper, man maker, all-consuming fire and he does not back down, or bow down, to anything or anyone… and the list goes on and on…this is the God I serve…you can’t out-give him, out-run him, out-live him…He is the ancient of age, ever merciful and loving…you can’t buy him, manipulate him or kill him…it doesn’t matter who you are…HE IS GOD! But he loves you so much he is calling you to come deeper with Him…so…
Get up, mighty warriors, stand up and shout the battle cry…run towards the enemy and fight… do not run from him, face him head on by worshipping the Great I Am and you will see, the demons run from you…because the Lord God Almighty is with you and in you. Yes, He, will deliver you from the darkness…he will set you free from drugs, and all manner of abuse, and torment, if you’ll only say Yes, to the Son of the living God…your battle is already won!
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:8-10 NKJV
Stop confessing defeat. Stop wishing for a magic remedy…stop the vain imaginations…and know truth…(Where does our help come from? It comes from the Lord…the maker of heaven and earth… Psalm 121:1)
Instead say, “I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus who strengthens me…I can do all things through Him…in the name of Jesus…I am the head and not the tail…I am a child of the most High God and nothing can separate me from the love of Christ…”
I don’t serve a demigod…I don’t serve a god made of stone or wood…my God is not a god of religion he’s not some computer program or some hi-tech man-made facsimile robotic being …the God I serve is ALIVE he doesn’t slumber nor does he sleep…He is all knowing, all giving, all loving and all that I need. Amen and Amen!!
He breathed life into dirt and created man, took the man’s rib and made a woman…and gave them a living soul…He gave water out of the rock…He stopped the mouths of lions, turned water into wine… he fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish…he healed the blind, deaf and lepers, he brought the dead back to life. Walked on water, forgave sins, cast out demons and even rose from the dead… I know that was then, right? But what about now? He has healed me many times, delivered me from a life of bitterness and pain. When I was running in fear and destitute, when death tried to take me, It was the living God who delivered me. He’s blessed me with long life, he’s fed me, taken me out of debt and confusion and abuse…he’s given me children and grandchildren, my quiver is overflowing, and he blessed me with a husband that loves me unconditionally…my God is a God I can trust and live with forever and ever, and if he did it for me, he will do it for you…ask him…then live for him…not part time, not with a watered down religion, not in wishful thinking or mind control…but full of grace and faith and love by the power of the Holy Spirit…I can’t help but live for him and praise him…
Rise up weak one, rise up and be strong for the Lord God of Host is with you…Jesus is interceding for you; you have the Spirit of the Most-High living inside of you…he is ever present, and all knowing. It is He who has called you…but when you doubt and are fearful you make him powerless to move in your life…you render him helpless when you speak words of defeat and loss…Child of God, Speak Life…Speak Hope…Speak Victory…in the name of Jesus, and you will see the salvation of the Lord!! God is not weak, God is not absent, God is not confused or in doubt, God does not lie, God is High and Lifted up. God is life and light and right now is the time to realize who God is and that He is for you not against you. How do you find out who God is…by spending time with him in his word and talking to him, by fellowship with the family of God…by prayer and fasting, by trusting him even when everything around you is falling apart, don’t be afraid, look up and see Him…if you will let him, he’ll show you mysteries and things you never dreamed possible…humble yourself before him and let him be God in your life…step down off the throne and let Him take the seat…walk in faith and trust God…there is only one way to God and that is through his Son Jesus/Yeshua. Come on, angles are fighting for you a great cloud of witnesses are cheering for you…Jesus is saying, “Come…I Am the way, I Am the truth, I Am the life…I will never leave you or forsake you! I will be with you always!”
Be strong and courageous. Have faith, and shout…for God is, ALIVE!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 4, 2020
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV If my people who are called by name will humble themselves…and pray…and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…Then, will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Matthew 11:29-30 King James Version (KJV) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
John 14:12 The Passion Translation (TPT) “I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!
Matthew 3:11 The Passion Translation (TPT) Those who repent I baptize with water, but there is coming a Man after me who is more powerful than I am. In fact, I’m not even worthy enough to pick up his sandals. He will submerge you into union with the Spirit of Holiness and with a raging fire![a]
Footnotes:
-
Matthew 3:11 The text is somewhat ambiguous as to what fire is spoken of. Some see it as the fire of judgment, yet Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit, who baptized his church in fire at Pentecost. This last clause is a hendiadys and could be translated “He will baptize you in the raging fire of the Holy Spirit!”
It’s Time
It is wonderful to celebrate and have fun but this morning as I was going about my tasks I sensed in my spirit, that the Holy Spirit was saying… “Get back to the task at hand. Don’t be distracted. Distractions are a tactic of the enemy to keep you earthbound and while you are distracted he is focused on your destruction, and he sits back and laughs as he and his evil demons attack families, communities, cities, countries, and nations…pulling out all the stops and warring in the heavenly realms that bombs natural realms as he takes control of lives and governments that otherwise would not be taken if we had not left our posts…Good Soldier be alert…leave, is over…take up your weaponry and fight…
Using prayer as your number one weapon…interceding on behalf of mankind…
Pick up your sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and use it so that it severs both bone and marrow the things that allow the enemy access to the soul…do not fear and do not back down…press forward and fight in the Spirit to discern and destroy the chains of wickedness the enemy has devised. Only by my Spirit can you fight…only by my word can you achieve what I have called you to do.
Call unto me and I will answer…keep yourself clean and aware…lay down everything that would take you away from my presence. I am your helmet of salvation, I am your girdle of truth, I am your breast plate of righteousness and when you know this you will walk in my shoes of good news with peace and victory…”
This is a new year but the enemy remains the same…it is a new day but don’t be fooled…he does not play…he means to kill you, destroy you and steal everything from you…
But Jesus the Savior, the Redeemer, the Victorious One has come to help us in our fight…the battle is his but we must be aware and do not give up…do not give in…we win if we don’t get weary and give up…
TODAY is the Day of salvation…open your eyes and ears and hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying…
Set your face as stone…and look to the Lord the author and finisher of our faith…For it is He who is, and was, and is to come!
Amen!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 4, 2020 ~ By My Spirit, says the Lord
Zechariah 4:1-14 The Message (MSG)
The Messenger-Angel again called me to attention. It was like being wakened out of deep sleep.
He said, “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top. Seven lamps, each with seven spouts, are set on the bowl. And there are two olive trees, one on either side of the bowl.”
Then I asked the Messenger-Angel, “What does this mean, sir?”
The Messenger-Angel said, “Can’t you tell?”
“No, sir,” I said.
Then he said, “This is GOD’s Message to Zerubbabel: ‘You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. ‘So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you’re nothing but a molehill. He’ll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!’”
After that, the Word of GOD came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!”
Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, “The seven lamps are the eyes of GOD probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.”
And the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand?” I asked. “What’s the meaning of them? And while you’re at it, the two branches of the olive trees that feed oil to the lamps—what do they mean?”
He said, “You haven’t figured that out?”
I said, “No, sir.”
He said, “These are the two who stand beside the Master of the whole earth and supply golden lamp oil worldwide.”
The House of Prayer
Artist: Meg Cheug
Passing by a tiny house, evening-stars came out to shine, my heart was touched by what I heard as I listened to these compelling words…
Such conviction hit my soul
They were calm and reassuring, yet courageous and bold
I stopped and I listened to this heart whose words were powerful and carefree…
If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was praying for me…
“Holy God and Holy Ghost show me Jesus, in him there is no fear
He lives and moves and intercedes and wipes away all tears…
Let me live in such a way that others want to know
Who and why I love and preach and where I need to go,
To hear about the one who came, lived and died and rose; the one I’ve come to realize O how he loves me so…
Make me a house of prayer, Lord, let your presence dwell in me
To seek you with all my heart, so that you will always be…
All I ever want and all I’ll ever need…
Teach me to love as you love, to be gracious and kind, open my understanding, open my heart and mind
To see and live in such a way that will draw others to the divine…
May my motivation be, to see others come to thee…to let go of all the thrills and frills this ole world tries to fill yet leaves us, lost and empty…
I pray for guidance and peace, for all humanity…that only comes from knowing you, Lord Jesus, I pray for all to be set free…
Draw, by your Holy Spirit, each person you’ve designed, to come into your kingdom, open the eyes that are blind…
Open the deaf ears, so they can hear, your Spirit compelling them to come,
And drink of the living waters, Holy Father don’t let them succumb
To the enemy of their souls…burn up all the dross, with your Holy Ghost and fire…this is my prayer O God give us a supernatural desire…
A house of prayer I want to be, Lord here my cry and answer me…
Give them a heart of flesh, take the stone and roll it away…
By your holy power, open their hearts today
Send your light and flood their tomb
So that darkness cannot stay…
Make me a house of prayer, O God…where your presence securely dwells
Where goodness and mercy and love and grace spring up from your living well…
To taste and see that you are good in this house of prayer we’ll be fed…
From your heavenly table, Lord, give us our daily bread…
Come, all ye who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest…leave all your burdens at the door come now and be blessed… come to this house of prayer I implore you, knock upon the door, for the one who lives within this house, is waiting patiently for you there.
Lord, make this house, a house of prayer!”
~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 1, 2020
Isaiah 56:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Even those I will bring to My holy mountain
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;
For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
Matthew 21:13 New International Version (NIV) “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Reflecting on 2019
Artist: Rik Berry
This year is coming to a close and as it does, I’m reminded of many things that happened this year.
I don’t remember exactly the order in which things happened but I do remember the emotion and events.
Our beautiful Isabella Pearl was born she was prayed for, for two years before her arrival and what a blessing she is to her parents and her brother Carlos and sister Olivia, and to her grandparents. Thank you, Jesus, for sending her to us.
Abram and Mary moved into their new home with three beautiful babies.
Mark and Angelica and Esperanza came through some rough waters but overcame them all. Thank you, Jesus.
Jonathan became a husband with a beautiful bride Qing we welcome her to our family with open arms of love and happiness.
Rob Brazell came through a crisis and made it through, thank God you made it!
For me, at one point I didn’t think I’d see the end of the year. A heart issue gave me great concern and my heart even stopped on the table as they were doing a heart Cath…but Jesus was faithful…and hear I am to tell you the story. Weeks leading up to that point I fought tremendous fear and anxiety, I couldn’t walk from my couch to my kitchen about ten feet without my heart beating out of my chest and shortness of breath. Sleep would not come and the tormenter was having a hay day with my mind, body and spirit…until one night it seemed I could not take another minute and I cried out to God…The Holy Spirit spoke so gently to me, “Have you considered Jesus?” I saw in my minds eye, Jesus walking on the water and I cried, “Lord help me!” Peace settled over me and I slept.
I went to the doctor; I had the heart Cath and spent two days in the hospital that was an ordeal in itself. Many people were praying for me, perhaps you were one of those who prayed and God answered…I recovered, praise God.
Jesus never said that we wouldn’t go through trials, or heartache, on the contrary he said we would, but he also said, he would be with us THROUGH every trial…and he’s proven to be faithful every single time.
Life is hard and messy to say the least and it is never fair…but we aren’t put here on this earth to sit around and eat, bon bons and drink coca colas and get fat and sassy, oh no. Because there will always be problems…we are put here to come to the knowledge of who Jesus is and accept him as our Lord and savior so that we can help others find him too.
Are you facing something in your life so big that you can’t do anything about? Is your world spinning out of control and fear has you by the throat and is squeezing the life out of you? Christian or not …is there some news you received and everything seems hopeless and your scared to death? Let me ask you this, “Have you considered Jesus?”
Stop panicking, stop wringing your hands, stop worrying and fretting, and look up! Jesus is here…he’s holding out his hand to you waiting for you to ask him to help you.
Cry out to Him and I promise you, he will in an instant tell you He’s with you and will make a way…don’t doubt, don’t fear, have faith in Him and just like he said to Peter, he will say to you, “Come!”
Some have lost loved ones in 2019, some have faced divorce and financial ruin, some have even taken their own lives…it breaks the heart of God to see his children suffer…
I can’t promise what he will do, but I can promise, that he has promised he will be with you every step of the way through every crisis, heartache, sickness, trial…and when you realize that your “Big Brother” is with you, he will not let you fall… you will have a peace and a joy and a confidence that the enemy of your soul can not take away…let him have all of you, rest in his embrace and as the year is closing…let go of the fear and hurt of 2019, and have faith and a hope that in 2020, you will see clearly just who Jesus is and that he is with you and will be with you in your darkest hour. He gives life and light and grace to everyone who will believe and hold onto him.
God bless you today, and in the coming days, as we face whatever the new year brings…let it be that we considered Jesus for there is no one better to depend on than the loving, caring, Son of the Most-High-God. After all, Jesus is, the Savior…and when you feel as if you can’t take another step, cry out to him and he will carry you.
~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 27, 2019
1 Peter 5:7 Good News Translation (GNT)
Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.
John 14:1-3 The Passion Translation (TPT) Jesus Comforts His Disciples
“Don’t worry or surrender to your fear.[a] For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also.[b] 2 My Father’s house has many dwelling places.[c] If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go[d] to prepare a place for you to rest. 3 And when everything is ready, I will come back and take[e] you to myself so that you will be where I am.
Footnotes:
a. John 14:1 Or “Don’t let your hearts be distressed.” The Aramaic is translated “Let not your heart flutter.”
b. John 14:1 Or “Believe in God and believe in me.”
c. John 14:2 Or “There are many resting places on the way to my Father’s house.” Or “There are many homes in my Father’s household.” The Father’s house is also mentioned by Jesus in John 2:16, where it is his temple on earth, his dwelling place. This is not just heaven, but the dwelling place of God among men. There is ample room for people from every nation and ethnicity, room to spare, for the church, the body of Christ, is now the house of God. See 1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6; 1 Peter 2:5. Every believer is now one of the many dwelling places that make up God’s house (temple). See also v. 23.
d. John 14:2 Jesus’ “going” was to go through death and resurrection in order to make us ready to be his dwelling place. He had to “go,” not to heaven, but to the cross and pass through resurrection.
e. John 14:3 The Greek verb used here, paralambano, is the word used for a bridegroom coming to take his bride. He “takes” us as his bride through his death and resurrection. His “coming back” can also refer to his “coming” to live within believers.
On the Mantle
It was there sitting on the mantel, painted in muted hues of browns, the tattered linen of a poor family huddled together for all to admire. A representation of the Christ child and family that we bring out each year to gaze upon and reminisce about Christmas’s of yesteryears and worry about Christmas, present.
Is it just a symbol, has it become a relic of all the different decorations we bring out and store away when the celebration is over? Will Christmas stay?
These are things I think about in the early morning hours…the time when no one is rushing about…the house is quiet and I’m awake.
I hear the soft whisper of the Holy Spirit…say, “Now that you can hear me come away with me and pray…”
Do you seek out and listen to his still small voice in the horrific, mind boggling, frenzy of the season? Is life so busy that you can’t seem to catch a moments breath to stop and be still and talk to the ones in your life who really matter?
Are you frantically searching for those perfect gifts so that everyone will be thrilled to open on Christmas morning…? Has the season become a hurricane of do this, get that, did you remember to do…do I have enough time to buy and bake and wrap…blah, blah, blah…has all the joy of what’s important become a debt-infecting, rat-race…? When the storm settles and it’s all over will you be crying because you now have a mountain of debt to pay back…?
Where is Christmas?
The Christmas I grew up knowing no longer exists…like the painted figures on the mantel, it’s only a representation of what once was. It’s the new and improved Christmas. There are apps and high-tech fiber trees, store bought candy and toys, toys, toys for all good little girls and boys.
My how the world progresses…and yet…
There is still hunger in the world. There is still poverty and war and incurable disease. I suppose for a little while the “magic” of Christmas makes us forget…but the day after Christmas reality sets in, then, what?
Oh, yes…the New Year, St. Valentine, St. Patrick, Easter and the treadmill continues rolling around and around we go…it has no end…
So, in that case…stop for a moment…listen to the Holy Spirit in the stillness of the morning and listen to him say… “Now that you can hear me, come away with me and pray.”
Remember and think about this when you look at the figures on the mantel…
Luke 2:10-11 King James Version (KJV) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 23, 2019
The Old Dead Tree
The tree was bare, and lifeless, the dead limbs just about to fall
Standing all alone in a place deserted it was not wanted at all…
Me in my bare feet, missing my two front teeth…I stared in wonder,
When all of a sudden, I heard someone call…
“Joe, come home now…it’s time to come in…”
Then right before my eyes, the sun shining bright, there stood, two men…
Their eyes were bluer than the sky, and their clothes were brighter than the sunshine…
They smiled and said, “Don’t be afraid? We’re here to give life to that old dead tree.”
I turned to look and what did I see? The tree was alive, the limbs were full of dark-green leaves, the trunk of the tree was full and strong and before long, birds had made a home…
I couldn’t believe it, so I sang this little song…
A miracle happened today, to me,
I saw two men give life to a tree…
Angels, they were, and they spoke right to me…
Giving life to an old dead tree…
Then I asked them this question as calm as could be…
“Angels, why’d you bring life to that old tree?”
“Son,” they said, “listen to this story…open your eyes so you will see,
That old tree was almost dead, we were walking by and shook our heads
Reminded of a time, long, ago…when a man we knew was hung on a tree…
He came from a place called Galilee…
He, gives, life, for he is the tree…
So, we gave life to this old dead tree…
Just so you would see, and live your life under the shade of the Living Tree…
When you grow up and remember us here…you’ll tell this story for others to hear
A testimony of how Jesus is the living tree…”
Waving good-bye, to these two strangers I met, I ran to tell grandma, at the table she’d set…
With eyes wide open she put me on her knee, and said, “Joe, I’d like to see that new living tree!”
~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 18, 2019
Revelation 22:2 King James Version (KJV) 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Proverbs 3:13-18 New International Version (NIV)
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
Freedom
Who the son sets free, is free indeed!
Today, the word, Freedom, has been impressed upon my mind.
This past weekend I attended a conference called, Freedom.
I’m not going to go into all the details about the conference but I will say it was phenomenal. Jam packed with God’s Spirit, prayer and worship. Making declarations to declare we are no longer bound and sealing it by the power of the Holy Spirit, Praise God.
Freedom is a choice but without the power to overcome our captor, we are left in chains, unable to free ourselves, we live bound in a tomb of despair. Brother, sister, there is so much more!
Our forefathers knew what freedom was not…because they lived as indentured servants. Slaves knew what freedom wasn’t…because freedom was never to be theirs unless…their master decided to free them.
As I watch the world around me become more and more steeped in bondage and chained with shackles of mistrust and fear, rejection, abuse, lies and hate. I realize that you can live in a country that proclaims freedom but slowly and discreetly it can be taken away. Like the story of the frogs put in a pot of water and the heat is being turned up slowly, they don’t realize they are being boiled alive. Freedom is and has never been free…it comes with great cost. Who paid for our freedom?
Protesters, protest. There have been many grueling hours of planning and strategies of war, to fight for freedom and the cost is high. For freedom to remain it takes blood and great sacrifice and even death to maintain what’s been paid for. The cost of freedom is priceless. Are we truly free? Are we really walking in Freedom? Do we even know what Freedom means? Has Freedom lost its meaning? Do we take our Freedom for granted? The Freedom I’m talking about goes beyond the physical, mental and emotional. Our Freedom in this life can be taken from us in an instant, so, it isn’t really ours. It will be a constant fight with determination of body, mind and spirit to keep our freedom. Not only in the place we call home. But in our communities, the market place, work place, in our cities, towns, and country…Evil does not fight fair…
Today I’m talking about our spiritual freedom. That freedom was paid for long ago by a man who was born a slave. He had no rights, no wealth. He had no place to call his own and yet, he had everything. He is, Freedom!
The only true freedom is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. “They” can take our land, our bank accounts, our homes, cars, and even our lives…but when we are set free by the Lord Jesus, we are totally and completely free! Free to love and live and laugh and pray and sing and preach and be children of the living God…even if they take our lives…they cannot take the freedom we have in Him…our prayer has to be like the one Jesus prayed on the cross…”Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing!” Forgive…another thought I had this morning. People often say, “I can forgive, but I can never forget.” God forgets. We’ve sinned against him, done terrible things and yet when we come to him and confess our sin, he cast it as far as the east is from the west and remembers it no more.
Repentance brings freedom…and freedom brings liberty…not to return to our old sinful ways…but to live in the freedom of His love and with the peace that passes all understanding…
Freedom is not a bird…it’s not a place, or, a feeling, although when we are free, we feel exuberant and jubilant, free as a bird in flight…free to see with new sight…
It doesn’t matter if we are in a prison cell, ruled by a dictator, persecuted, tortured, have broken relationships, or a dead-end job…it doesn’t matter if we are held by a chair that imprisons us, a disability, or captured by a terrible disease, or living on the street. When our freedom is evident and complete, no tyrant, no abuse, no lie, no rejection or pride, no sickness, no fear, or status; nothing can take our freedom from us…because we are free indeed, paid for by the blood of Jesus, his blood that ran red and poured from his mangled body to buy us our freedom. God’s word, in the flesh, was sacrificed for us so that we could be free. All we have to do is surrender, let go of pride and have faith to receive His gift of Freedom. This freedom comes from the Freedom-Giver, Freedom-Fighter, the Freedom-Sustainer, THE FREEDOM VICTOR! Release the past, take hold of the present, believe for a grace filled future and embrace God’s love.
You may say that isn’t logical, it’s not reality…but oh, my friend when you’ve been forgiven and the burdens you’ve carried around for so long are lifted, along with the prison bars removed, and you’re pardoned from sin and death…then you truly know Real Freedom. The sun shines brighter, you sing louder, your feet begin to dance and you jump for joy…when you’ve been oppressed, depressed, confused, sick, and tired, cried and begged, but it was hopeless…and you gave up. All you could see was doom and gloom with no way out…but, suddenly, someone offered you freedom…dear one, you do not hesitate; you grab hold of it with all you’ve got and you scream, “YES! I’M FREE.…” There is nothing in the world that can keep you from shouting, “FREEDOM!”
The Freedom I’m talking about is not a word, it’s not a feeling, it’s not a program, it’s not here today and gone tomorrow…this Freedom is forever…no government can take it from you…no army can conquer you, no tyrant torture it out of you, because freedom-bearer, it is your choice, hold onto your blood-bought-freedom and never let go!!!!
“Who the son, sets free, is free indeed!”
This is your time…live in FREEDOM!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 12, 2019
John 8:34-36 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin. Now a slave does not remain in a household permanently (forever); the son [of the house] does remain forever. So, if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.
Witnesses of New Life
Artist unknown
Shh. Listen…
It was a still moonlit night
Stars sparkling in the grand expanse, Wisemen see the light…
Traveling to find the promised God-man…
There in the stillness I looked and saw
What seemed to be human but he wasn’t at all…
His voice was like thunder, clothes so bright, I had to shield my eyes…
Light encompassed the darkness; I’d never seen such a sight…
Do not be afraid, lowly shepherds for I’ve come to bring you good news…
Heaven’s king has come to earth, to bring,
Great joy and peace to mankind this night…
You’ll find him wrapped in strips of cloth, a sign given By God’s own design, lying in an animals trough… Messiah, the promised lamb of God…
Catching my breath, I listened to what this jubilant being had to say. Then I watched as he went away, taking flight…into the sky, on this starry night.
Rushing to Bethlehem with fellow shepherd’s we saw everything the being had described…
Excited beyond words we were lowly shepherds tending our herd…
With full delight, we ran to tell all our fellow towns people what we’d seen, then we went back to celebrate the new birth…
Truly this is a Holy Night, filled with peace and joy not fright…
The Holy-babe-of-heaven was born on this hallowed glorious night.
Within this tiny barn, we witness, the promise of God’s new life!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 4, 2019
Isaiah 9:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Luke 2:10-11 The Passion Translation (TPT)
10 But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! 11 For today in Bethlehem[a] a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah.[b] 12 You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!”[c]
Footnotes:
-
Luke 2:11 The Greek text says, “the city of David.”
- Luke 2:11 Translated literally from the Aramaic text. This is one of the most amazing statements found in the Gospels declaring the deity of Jesus Christ.
- Luke 2:11 A baby lying in a feeding trough where animals were kept nearby, wrapped in strips of cloths, became a sign of the Man-Savior’s life on earth. He entered the world as a lowly baby, and though he is the mighty God, he lived his life on earth in gentleness before all. The shepherds that night were possibly near Bethlehem at Migdal Eder, “the [watch] tower of the flock.” This would fulfill both the prophecies of Mic. 5:2 and Mic. 4:8, which say, “to you it [he] will come, your dominion [kingdom] from old will arrive.” It was at the lower floor of the watchtower (Migdal Eder) that the birthing of the Passover lambs would take place. Selected ewes that were about to give birth would be brought there. After the birth of the lambs, the priestly shepherds would wrap the lambs in cloth and lay them in a manger lined with soft hay to prevent them from hurting themselves, for Passover lambs must be unblemished with no bruise or broken bone. The miracle sign for these priestly shepherds would be a baby boy lying where the Passover lamb should be—in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth. It was at the cradle of Jesus Christ that the kingdom from ancient times arrived on earth.