Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

There was darkness upon the face of the deep…then the Spirit of God moved…

The Spirit of God moves, and darkness must bow

He speaks, and the elements obey him…

He walks, and the path is illuminated, for He is omnipresent, all-present.

His essence is light…

He fills the earth with light and it is good…

Have you not understood?

How can you believe if you’re in darkness? How can you see if you’re blind?

God moves and His light penetrates the darkest of nights…

God-Light brings life, hope, and joy into the chaos of our darkest despair…

God-Light overcomes sickness and depression…

God-Light overcomes wars and hate

God-Light builds, it doesn’t kill, steal or destroy…

Turn the light on, and let God move…

“Let there be light!”

~Marla Shaw O’Neill, January 25, 2021

Genesis 1:1-4 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

² And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

³ And God said, “Let there be light: and there was light.”

⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Artist unknown

My soul adores you

My eyes are full of your glory

My ears hear your still, small, voice, “Walk this way…”

My heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord, the God of my salvation…

My tongue speaks your word and I am healed…

My tears fall, like salt upon a wound.

They are precious jewels preserved within your bottle.

They are poured out in your presence as a sweet savor and you wipe them with your love…

My body is where your Spirit dwells; all that is within me magnifies your Name…

I am not alone…

I am whole…

I am immovable and steadfast…knowing you hold me in your hand…I will not be moved…

My feet walk in your foot-prints, I am guided and protected

The fowler cannot overtake me…snares cannot hold me…ten-thousand-enemy-beings cannot devour me…for I am yours…

Humble and contrite of spirit…this, you love…

My arms extend into the heavens, and storms cease because you hold me up…

I bow my head in your presence and you lift my face to yours…radiant with your light.

You are God…your unmerited favor rests upon me because of your Son and His shed blood…

It washes me and I am clean…

Thank you! Thank you!

My heart-song is, Great is the Lord, for His mercy endures forever!

Let All that is within me, bless your Holy Name! Amen!

When I lie down you cover me with your feathers and I am safe in your shelter…

No evil can come near me, for I am in the shelter of the Almighty!

My hiding place, the secret place, the place where we abide always!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 14, 2021

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.

~Psalm 119:114 NKJ Version

Lord, you said, you are doing a “new thing!”

You weren’t kidding. We thought the “new thing” would be something totally different!

That somehow it would look like you were turning everything around and making it brand new. No masks! No pandemic! No COVID-19! No death! No fear! That life would be “normal” again.

But that’s not what you meant at all!!

You’re doing something new, is way beyond our comprehension. Though the enemy brings chaos and sickness, robs us of our joy and peace, you want us to walk by faith in you. Because faith moves mountains. Faith restores hope and joy and peace that only comes from having faith in YOU!

You will use all these things to turn us around…so that we will return to you and seek you and humble ourselves before you, that lives, will become “new” and follow you!

The “new thing” really isn’t new to you. It is however new to us! We’ve never walked these roads before. We’ve never experienced this kind of world before. Our ancestors, maybe, but not this generation. So, the “new thing” you’re doing is new to us!

Let us put away our plans, our desires, our goals and surrender our hearts, minds, body and soul to your plans. Your goals, and do, what your word says…not my will but thine be done, on earth as it is in heaven!

Heaven is not lacking. Heaven is not in turmoil. Heaven is not sick or confused. Let Earth, here, be as it is in Heaven. Amen!

You said the kingdom of heaven is within us…now, at this very moment in history in our lives and the lives of our children…. LORD, do not take your mercy from us…but let us be as a whirlwind and spin in your hands to return to you, and change the world forever for your glory.

Even if the ground shakes beneath us, even if the earth crumbles and quakes, if time should be no more and our lives end on this earth…let it be said that your children did not give up, did not give in, that we looked up and see your salvation. You are God! You are sovereign! Nothing comes unless you approve it! I am interceding with you Jesus, to Abba God to bring us to that “new thing” you are talking about, victoriously, and let all people see you have not abandoned your children in America! That you have more for you than against you in this great land. Protect us from the enemy! Turn the tide and let us abide in you and your promises…. With man it is impossible, but with God All things are possible.

Let it be said, that America’s children of God do trust in you, our God! You will not let us fall!!! Amen!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 12, 2021

Isaiah 43:19

New International Version

¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

I looked up the passage for better understanding in Matthew Henry Commentary~ regarding this scripture!

8. He promises to do yet greater things for them than he had done in the days of old; so that they should not have reason to ask, in a way of complaint, as Gideon did, Where are all the wonders that our fathers told us of? for they should see them repeated, nay, they should see them outdone (Isa. 43:18): “Remember not the former things, from them to take occasion, as some do, to undervalue the present things, as if the former days were better than these; no, you may, if you will, comparatively forget them, and yet know enough by the events of your own day to convince you that the Lord is God alone; for, behold, the Lord will do a new thing, no way inferior, both for the wonder and the worth of the mercy, to the things of old.” The best exposition of this is, Jer. 16:14, 15; 23:7, 8. It shall no more be said, The Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; that is an old thing, the remembrance of which will be in a manner lost in the new thing, in the new proof that the Lord liveth, for he brought up the children of Israel out of the land of the north. Though former mercies must not be forgotten, fresh mercies must in a special manner be improved. Now it springs forth, as it were a surprise upon you; you are like those that dream. Shall you now know it? And will you not own God’s hand in it?

9. He promises not only to deliver them out of Babylon, but to conduct them safely and comfortably to their own land (Isa. 43:19, 20): I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert; for, it seems, the way from Babylon to Canaan, as well as from Egypt, lay through a desert land, which, while the returning captives passed through, God would provide for them, that their camp should be both well victualled and under a good conduct. The same power that made a way in the sea(Isa. 43:16) can make a way in the wilderness, and will force its passage through the greatest difficulties. And he that made dry land in the waters can produce waters in the driest land, in such abundance as not only to give drink to his people, his chosen, but to the beasts of the field, also the dragons and the ostriches, who are therefore said to honor God for it; it is such a sensible refreshment, and yields them so much satisfaction, that, if they were capable of doing it, they would praise God for it, and shame man, who is made capable of praising his benefactor and does not. Now, 1. This looks back to what God did for Israel when he led them through the wilderness from Egypt to Canaan, and fetched water out of a rock to follow them; what God did for them formerly he would do again, for he is still the same. And, though we do not find that the miracle was repeated in their return out of Babylon, yet the mercy was, in the common course of Providence, for which it became them to be no less thankful to God. 2. It looks forward, not only to all the instances of God’s care of the Jewish church in the latter ages of it, between their return from Babylon and the coming of Christ, but to the grace of the gospel, especially as it is manifested to the Gentile world, by which a way is opened in the wilderness and rivers in the desert; the world, which lay like a desert, in ignorance and unfruitfulness, was blessed with divine direction and divine comforts, and, in order to both, with a plentiful effusion of the Spirit. The sinners of the Gentiles, who had been as the beasts of the field, running wild, fierce as the dragons, stupid as the owls or ostriches, shall be brought to honor God for the extent of his grace to his chosen among them.

10. He traces up all these promised blessings to their great original, the purposes and designs of his own glory (Isa. 43:21): This people have I formed for myself, and therefore I do all this for them, that they may show forth my praise. Note, 1. The church is of God’s forming, and so are all the living members of it. The new heaven, the new earth, the new man, are the work of God’s hand, and are no more, no better, than he makes them; they are fashioned according to his will. 2. He forms it for himself. He that is the first cause is the highest end both of the first and of the new creation. The Lord has made all things for himself, his Israel especially, to be to him for a people, and for a name, and for a praise; and no otherwise can they be for him, or serviceable to him, then as his grace is glorified in them, Jer. 13:11; Eph. 1:6, 12, 14. 3. It is therefore our duty to show forth his praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to his service. As he formed us, so he feeds us, and keeps us, and leads us, and all for himself; for every instance therefore of his goodness we must praise him, else we answer not the end of the beings and blessings we have.

 

Artist unknown

Seeking God this afternoon he gave me a message for His children. I believe it is to be shared. Please, I don’t want any negative feedback I just ask that you read it more than once and take it to the Lord. Let him speak to your heart and if it applies to any area of your life, let Him reveal it to you and make things right with Him.

If it doesn’t apply to you, then please pray for others who may need the message. Thank you!

Is anything to hard for me? saith God~

No! No! Nothing is too hard! I formed the world. I shaped it with my hands! I called forth the stars and the galaxies~

I created the heavens with these words, “Let there be~”

I spoke life and I formed the cells, the organs, the muscles and ligaments of the body. I made veins and arteries and caused the blood to flow~

I created the heart and the brain and all that makes up the human body. Then I breathed my breath, my holy breath, and gave the body a living soul!

Why do you lament? Why do you cry in anxiety and fear? Why do you wallow in self-pity and doubt my word?

I formed every living molecule, everything that lives, I created.

Where were you when time began? You’ve only been here for a short time on this earth. You are like the grass; here today and gone tomorrow. Yes, you will leave this earth behind and you will be in the grave!

What can you, do?

Can you raise the sun or put it down again?

Can you stop time or start it?

Can you create a living being or grow anything without my seed?

So why?

Why do you destroy and make wars amongst yourselves?

Why do you hate and prejudice yourself against each other?

I have loved you and love you.

You shake your fist at me and blame me for your sicknesses and wars and lies and hurts!

You accuse those I send and think you know best!

I never, ever wanted pain and suffering for you!

I sent my own Son to give you, new-life, still you reject him and kill him over and over again by your unbelief and hate for one another~

I’m not speaking to the unbeliever right now. I’m talking to you, my children!

Rebellious, self-righteous, prideful, stiff-necked children!

Stop it!

Stop it! says the Lord!

Or I will come and take my mercy from you! You’ve never seen the wrath I will pour out on you like I will bring.

I’m ashamed of you! I love you but I’m ashamed because you fight your own brothers and sisters, who I made in my image. You say you’re doing my will but you are far from me.

You’re playing right into the enemy’s hands. He’s deceived you! He’s blinded you by All media avenues and you have not discerned it by my Spirit.

You look with your eyes~

You give yourself over to the spirit of iniquity for hours. You practice idolatry perversions and call it OK! It is not OK!

Your children are watching. The world is watching and laughing at you!

“Look!” they say. “They call themselves Christ followers but Christ wouldn’t act that way.”

Even the unsaved know better!

You justify your behavior by saying, “I am right and they are wrong!”

You’re both wrong!!!

There is only one right! But you’ve forgotten who I AM!

I have shown mercy and grace because of my remnant… the true ones who worship me in Spirit and in Truth!

The ones who are praying for you even now for your repentance. You know, who you are! And if you don’t know, if there is any doubt in your heart, now is the time to get up off your hindquarters, get on your face before me and seek me!!

Stop doing what you’re doing and come back to me.

Walk in My righteousness~ in my love~ and in my truth!

Not what you think, or, someone else thinks!

Your mind and your mouth are what have gotten you into trouble~

The enemy has whispered lies to you and you listen because you are not walking in faith. Your eyes and your ears of flesh will misguide you if you do not keep them on me.

You walk in your own authority and not in the authority my Son has given you.

If you ever want to have peace again, if you ever want to see your families restored and have my favor again. If you want America restored and respected and live with hope and a future…

It’s time to come to me in humility and with a contrite heart. I resist the proud, but I give grace to the humble.

Hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying~

Stop what you are doing and return to me. Says God!

Marla Shaw O’Neill January 7, 2021

Hebrews 12:6-11 The Message

^4-11 In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So, don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,
but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.

God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

Holy Spirit, as I live this day, do not take me far away, but give me the strength to live and thrive

As I cling to Jesus’ glorious side.

Let me live in your grace and abundant love, and hear your whispers from my Father above

That all I do, and all I say, will be to honor you.

Today for me is a brand-new day, a day that you have made, for nothing’s changed except a number, where a zero became a one!

One with the Father, One with the Son, One with Holy Spirit, we become One.

Though sickness may come and knock at the door…

Though wars, upon wars, may rock homeland and distant shores…

Child of God remember, the battle is the Lords!

To take up our cross and follow you! To fight the good fight this is what we will do!

To live and love in surrender to you…

Holy Spirit, lead us to the Holy of Holies, hide us in your sanctuary, give us Godly wisdom to face each new day, hear our cries when we bow to pray…

Make us faithful soldiers in this holy war…

Where Christ is seen and peace is restored…

To love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us for righteousness sake,

May we turn the other cheek; keep us humble and meek…

For strength is not in iron nor steel…and love is not in how we feel…

When weak we are strong in you, love conquers sin, it’s in trusting in the living God

Whereby we, win!

So, let me start this brand-new year upon my knees with flowing tears…

To live and love and laugh and give, all my life and all my fears to the one who died for me…

Faith is not seeing…faith is knowing…there’s only One, who can set me free…

One with the Father, One with the Son, One with the Holy Spirit…is how life is Won!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 1, 2021

Luke 6:27-36

New International Version

Love for Enemies

²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.

³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 

Little one you’ve come so far…

Heavenly Papa watching from a distant star

Prophesied by the ancients, foretold that you would come

And in my arms my little one…

Wrapped in swaddling clothes and for some…

Bore witness of your birth.

We’ve heard this story told, and retold, but do we really understand?

That Silent Night, and Emanuel, are songs we sing, that is all about, how God became a man!

To redeem the world that was lost to sin…

To spread good-news and to welcome in…

The kingdom of God to live within…

All those who welcome Him…

Do we really understand?

In this season of our lives, when this year comes to an end…

Will we recognize on that first New-Year’s day?

Time has not stopped it is slipping away…

One thing remains and is yet to be seen…

I’m talking about supernatural things…

Faith is in the now, not then, it’s in the who not how…

Today is the day to welcome Christ in, to kneel before him and humbly bow…

In the presence of the King!

That baby boy, no longer lies in a manger…

God is no longer a foreign stranger…

He lives and breathes in heaven’s shores

Waiting for you to accept Him as Lord…

Rejoice and know that the story you’ve been told

Waits for you to open and behold…

New Life, restored and humanity made whole…

He’s alive! He’s alive!

Children of the human race; man, woman, boy and girl…

Welcome to a brand-new world!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 22, 2020

John 1:29-51

English Standard Version

Behold, the Lamb of God

²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³² And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son^[a] of God.”

 

In ancient scrolls the wise men read of a king to be born in Bethlehem. Searching the skies, the wise men beheld a luminous, burst of light…

Following the star, it brought them to the king’s palace on a dark and unsuspecting night…

Their mission, was to find the promised Messiah, so that they could bring him gifts and worship him.

For months they traveled as they followed the bright star, and finally arrived

To find the young child of divine royalty, happy, and alive!

The holy star led them to the place where they would bring…

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh; prophetic things…

In ancient times, gold was used to build the dwelling place for God. And as the sacrifice was laid before the Lord, frankincense, permeated the atmosphere, a sweet savor to the divine! Myrrh; bitter herbs, used in preparation for His suffering, yes, these were given as signs.

Signs that the new born King had arrived!

The ruthless, paranoid, tyrant King Herod, sought to kill the babe.

So, the wise men would not return to the Palace, nor tell anyone where the baby stayed.

Herod’s wicked, black, heart was furious to hear the wise men would not return,

He would send a horrible lesson for Bethlehem to learn.

He sent soldiers to murder all the baby boy’s two years and younger.

A raging, bitter cry rang out that night…as a voice is heard in Ramah, weeping. Rachel weeping for her children refusing to be comforted because they are no more. (Matt. 2:16-18)

As the star was sited, on the fated night. Angel’s watched in bright star-light while wise men, found, Christ the Lord!

Holy writings of old foretold, a ruler of Israel, would be born.

An unusual bright star, signs in the skies; guiding wise men who would behold him with their own eyes…

Just as a star from long ago, reminds us of the story told, we see in the heaven’s and now we behold…a sign of magnificence, what does it hold?

Sons and daughters of the earth, who knows what this night will bring, will we see the Son of God return as King? Will we bring gifts of praise and worship, will we sing, Hallelujah? Only those who are wise knows, what the star bestows!!!

There’s a star in the east on Christmas morn…Rise up! Shepherd’s and follow!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 11, 2020

Matthew 2:10-12 New Century Version

¹⁰ When the wise men saw the star, they were filled with joy. ¹¹ They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their gifts and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² But God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their own country by a different way.

 

(Matthew 2:16-18) Jeremiah 31:15 Good News Translation

The Lord’s Mercy on Israel

¹⁵The Lord says, “A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of bitter weeping. Rachel is crying for her children; they are gone, and she refuses to be comforted.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

1. In the place of this mourning. The noise of it was heard from Bethlehem to Ramah; for Herod’s cruelty extended itself to all the coasts of Bethlehem, even into the lot of Benjamin, among the children of Rachel. Some think the country about Bethlehem was called Rachel, because there she died, and was buried. Rachel’s sepulcher was hard by Bethlehem, Gen. 35:16, 19; 1 Sam. 10:2. Rachel had her heart much set upon children: the son she died in travail of she called Benoni—the son of her sorrow. These mothers were like Rachel, lived near Rachel’s grave, and many of them descended from Rachel; and therefore, their lamentations are elegantly represented by Rachel’s weeping.

2. In the degree of this mourning. It was lamentation and mourning, and great mourning; all little enough to express the sense they had of this aggravated calamity. There was a great cry in Egypt when the first-born was slain, and so there was here when the youngest was slain; for whom we naturally have a particular tenderness. Here was a representation of this world we live in. We hear in it lamentation, and weeping, and mourning, and see the tears of the oppressed, some upon one account, and some upon another. Our ways lie through a vale of tears. This sorrow was so great, that they would not be comforted. They hardened themselves in it, and took a pleasure in their grief. Blessed be God, there is no occasion of grief in this world, no, not that which is supplied by sin itself, that will justify us in refusing to be comforted! They would not be comforted, because they are not, that is, they are notin the land of the living, are notas they were, in their mothers’ embraces. If, indeed, they were not, there might be some excuse for sorrowing as though we had no hope; but we know they are not lost, but gone before; if we forget that they are, we lose the best ground of our comfort, 1 Thess. 4:13. Some make this grief of the Bethlehemites to be a judgment upon them for their contempt of Christ. They that would not rejoice for the birth of the Son of God, are justly made to weep for the death of their own sons; for they only wondered at the tidings the shepherds brought them, but did not welcome them.

The quoting of this prophecy might serve to obviate an objection which some would make against Christ, upon this sad providence. “Can the Messiah, who is to be the Consolation of Israel, be introduced with all this lamentation?” Yes, for so it was foretold, and the scripture must be accomplished. And besides, if we look further into this prophecy, we shall find that the bitter weeping in Ramah was but a prologue to the greatest joy, for it follows, Thy work shall be rewarded, and there is hope in thy end. The worse things are, the sooner they will mend. Unto them a child was born, sufficient to repair their losses.

With holes in his shoes, and rips in his coat, he longs for someplace warm.

Staggering into a cold, dark alley, he finds shelter from the snow-storm.

He climbs into a dumpster, covers himself with debris, and settles in for a long, lonely night.

Memories of a life, long gone, he closes his eyes and sleeps.

“Mama! Papa! Joey, Mary, Tom? It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen you.

Where’d you come from? How long can you stay?”

“Jack, we’ve been waiting for you. You see, we aren’t going away. You’re finally home. You’re safe, here today!”

“It’s so warm here and peaceful. There’s no snow or wind. No loneliness; no hunger. Why I feel 20 years younger. Can it be true? Am I really here with you?”

“Yes Jack! We’re all together again.”

“Am, I, dead?”

“Oh no Jack. You’re more alive than you’ve ever been.”

“On earth, they’re celebrating the birth, of the Lord Jesus Christ. You accepted him when you were ten. You fell into hard times. Life is that way. But today. You are home!”

The gift of life, is given freely, and we must all find our way. Guided by the angels, His children pray. They pray for us to understand that life is never fair. But when we give our lives to Jesus there’s a different path we bear. Leaving the past behind us, we must trust, God! For everyone who’s born again has a narrow road to trod.

Each life we touch, each smile given, with a heart full of love, is one small way to tell others, it comes from God above.

You may be hurting this season and with very good reason…life is hard, but God is good!

And when we close our eyes in sleep, with tears on our pillow as we often weep…

Joy, will come, in the morning.

There we’ll meet…

Jesus…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 11, 2020

Psalm 30:5

The Passion Translation I’ve learned that his anger lasts for a moment, but his loving favor lasts a lifetime! We may weep through the night, but at daybreak it will turn into shouts of ecstatic joy.

In days of hot or cold; or starlit, or cloudy night,

Creatures roam the shepherd’s-field in hopes for some delight.

Wolves and bear and lions oh my…

Waiting in silence so they could try

To kill the lamb before it cries.

One little lamb is all it will take

To exploit it, and kill it. There to make souls forsake, the little lamb.

Lurking in the darkness, evil creeps waiting for their prey…

The innocent lamb to be swept away, from the shepherd’s-field.

But what a fright when they realize, the Shepherd is watching,

Now they must yield!

A whirl-wind, rose, on the shepherd’s-field that night

The stars rolled back, as a host from heaven filled the sky

Never had this occurred before. Let me tell you why…

The shepherd is prepared for any foe. Now confounded he bows low…

No sling, nor rod, nor staff, nor will, could stop the sight

Of this magnificent, unknown light…

The shepherd’s in the field shook with a mighty fright

How could they protect their sheep? This is a holy plight…

Robed beings in glowing-white, broke out in song and sang

“Glory to God in the Highest! Peace and goodwill to all men!”

Do not be afraid lowly shepherd’s for on this night in the city of David

A babe has been born…

You will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger, there his mama and papa abide also…

He is Christ, the Lord!

So, on the shepherd’s-field that night…lowly shepherds took their flight

And came to a place where the animals, gaze, upon the Son of God!

If you happen to wander onto the shepherd’s-field…

Remember this year and do not be afraid; do not fear

For Christ, the King, is here!

It’s in the shepherd’s-field where the angels came to give the good news and there proclaim…

The lamb will not be killed this night…

The lamb will live for a designated site…

The wolf will hunt him and try to take to his life…

But rejoice, for no one can pluck him from his father’s loving hand…

The lamb willingly lay down his life for all man kind

To take it up again…

That’s not the end…

The shepherd’s-field will again be bright…

Where all who believe on this holy night

Will sing, Rejoice, rejoice Emanuel…God is with us!

The shepherd’s-field, is where lowly shepherds keep watch, until…

The Good, Shepherd, appears…

And the sheep are gathered safely to Heaven’s Shepherd’s-field!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 3, 2020

Luke 2:14 New King James Version

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Luke 2:11 New King James Version 

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Bread is broken and the wine is sipped…

Each heart questioning as the towel is gripped.

Standing, facing each one of those I’ve come to know

Those I’ve watched, learn and grow…

My disciples…

I bow to wash their feet.

Kneeling before Peter, he says, No!

Peter, if you do not let me wash your feet,

You will have no life with me.

“Then Jesus, not just my feet, wash my hands and head as well!”

You are already clean; I only need to wash your dirty feet!

Then you will receive the inheritance with me.

You see,

Jesus didn’t come to be served but to serve…

Giving to the poor, he waits at the door

To be welcomed in, he’s a gentleman…

Would you be willing to let Jesus wash your feet?

Would you wash your neighbor’s feet?

Christian brother, Christian sister…

Would you give up your favored seat, to a stranger from the street?

Would you smile beneath the mask that keeps others at arm’s length?

Would you give a few dollars to someone you meet?

The homeless man/woman needing food to eat?

Would you gossip about the unsavory ones the outcasts in society…?

Tell me, is this your reality?

Now some may say, “How dare you judge me.”

But truly, would you wash another’s feet?

Would you wash Jesus’s feet?

God is always teaching us and showing us how we are to treat…

All people, that we meet.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

Humility is the beginning of surrender.

The one who washes feet and the one who receives the feet washing, both benefit from the experience.

Both become humbled in the process…let go of pride for this is why~

There’s a blessing to receive when we wash our another’s feet!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 30, 2020

John 13:1-17 The Passion Translation

Jesus Washes Feet

13 Jesus knew that the night before Passover would be his last night on earth before leaving this world to return to the Father’s side. All throughout his time with his disciples, Jesus had demonstrated a deep and tender love for them. And now he longed to show them the full measure of his love.^[a] 2 Before their evening meal had begun, the accuser^[b] had already planted betrayal^[c] into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

³ Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him. ⁴ So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel.

⁶ But when Jesus got to Simon Peter, he objected and said, “I can’t let you wash my dirty feet—you’re my Lord!”

⁷ Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.”^[d]

⁸ Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!”

“But Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with me.”

⁹ So Peter said, “Lord, in that case, don’t just wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “You are already clean. You’ve been washed completely and you just need your feet to be cleansed—but that can’t be said of all of you.” For Jesus knew which one was about to betray him, ¹¹ and that’s why he told them that not all of them were clean.

¹² After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table.^[e] “Do you understand what I just did?” Jesus said. ¹³ “You’ve called me your teacher and lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am. ^14–15 So if I’m your teacher and lord and have just washed your dirty feet, then you should follow the example that I’ve set for you and wash one another’s dirty feet. Now do for each other what I have just done for you. ¹⁶ I speak to you timeless truth: a servant is not superior to his master, and an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!”

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Footnotes

1. John 13:1 Or “he loved them to the very end.”

2. John 13:2 Or “devil.”

3. John 13:2 Or “that he should betray Jesus.” The Aramaic is “Satan arose in the heart of Judas to betray Jesus.”

4. John 13:7 By removing their sandals and washing their feet, Jesus was showing them that he was granting them a new inheritance—his own. The sandal is often used in covenants of inheritance in Hebrew culture. Every defilement would be removed so that they could “place the sole of their feet” upon the new covenant inheritance. See Josh. 1:3; Ruth 4:1-12. God likewise told Moses to remove his sandals (Ex. 3:5), for he was about to receive a new inheritance—the holiness of God and the authority that came with it.

5. John 13:12 There has never been a nobleman, a teacher, or a king that loves and serves his servants like Jesus.