Answered Prayer
We pray and pray, and pray some more…
Hoping for an answer from the Lord…
We pray in faith, with fervor we implore
And just when we think he won’t open the door…
God sends the answer as we implore…
And when we ask in Jesus’ name…
We’ve pleaded, believed and loudly proclaimed…
God sends the answer and we are relieved…
Bowing our heads and folding our hands, standing in line, or lying in bed
Crying and laughing about everything we’ve said…God heard us praying, for family, friends, and our daily bread…
But for some reason He waits; his answer seems delayed
All he asks is for us to obey…
Trust him in all things, have faith when we pray…
He loves to answer in His own time, so, that, we’ll give him the glory and let Him shine…
Pray without ceasing for His will to be done…
You’re on this journey, it’s a marathon…
Rest when you can, for this race will be won…
Following Jesus, God’s perfect son…
And when you think you’ve prayed all you can pray
You start to give up and begin to sway…
Then out of nowhere you hear him say
Thank you, child, you trusted and obeyed.
You, see, God is pleased when we believe…
Take him at his word and we’ll receive
All that we seek, and ask, and need…
Our prayers are answered like watered seeds…
Tried and tested we will be…
God answers prayers,
Yes, you will see, they are like a fruitful, fragrant, rooted tree…
~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 23, 2019
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Celebration
My Mother
Multitudes gather in the banquet hall, waiting with jubilation, standing tall
A woman of valor, has been called; they’re gathered for her celebration.
Table is set, King met, now her story to unfold…
A baby girl was born in a lowly little town called Thomasville
Life would be a struggle, but today she’ll wear a crown…
Born into God’s family her destiny would be…living a life in honor of the King…
Oh, she fought many battles, traveled far and wide, but her Jesus, she would never hide…
Telling of his mighty love, wherever she would go…
Souls were delivered from sins dark wake…Holy Spirit led her in each step she’d take…
Eighty-three years make no mistake, she’s a woman of God, she lived for His sake…
Rejection, beaten, left alone at times…the enemy is never kind…
But Jesus called her and said, “She is mine…”
Today is a celebration, these past four years she’s lived on heaven’s shores…
My choice today, is to celebrate her life, I can still her say, “I love you more!”
So, when you live your daily lives, remember to celebrate, when a child of God dies…
Because there will be a celebration on the other side…
Angles singing, brothers and sisters dancing, arms for you will be open wide…
Yes, tears will be shed, but child of God, you won’t be dead…
You’ll be invited to your own celebration!
I choose to celebrate her life not her death.
~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 16, 2019
Dedicated to our Mama; a Granny; One who loved of the Lord Jesus Christ: Pearl Jeannette Gandy (White for 42 years) her name was Holman when she died. Date of Birth April 26, 1932 Home Coming Date: July 16, 2015
Mom’s favorite book was the King James Bible she read it often every day.
Matthew 25:22-23 King James Version (KJV)
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The Man from Galilee
Artist David Goatley
So, here’s the thing, and the thing is…
I met a man a long, long, time ago…
And ever since then I have never been the same…
He came from a place called Galilee…
In the middle of the night He walked upon the sea…
Stories told throughout history…
About this man, from Galilee…
We celebrate His birth, and talk of His great worth…
We even go to Church…to hear about the man from Galilee
Songs are sung about His amazing grace…and how He was nailed upon an old rugged tree…
Raised from the dead to set men free, this man from Galilee…
We’ve all heard the old, old, story…learned Bible verses about blessings and curses…
Some have even seen miracles, like the days when He walked the streets of Galilee…
Some mock, some still don’t believe in the man from Galilee…
How He raised the dead, cast out demons and even fed…multitudes with just a few fish and some bread
But brother, sister, scoffer, non-believer…Listen to what Jesus said,
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. John 3:16-17 (GNT)
This man, from Galilee, came down from heaven to die willingly, for you and me…
Can you not see?
He was human but also God…
Miles of dusty streets He trod…
Gathered at the synagogue
Was baptized, by His cousin John…
Rabbi to twelve lowly fishermen…
He Gave hope to the widows and orphans
He Rescued the demoniac by sending legions into a herd of pigs
Healed lame, broken, blind and destitute people, just ordinary people, like you and like me…
This man from Galilee…
His name is Jesus, the unique Son of God!
He, is, the man, from Galilee…
The carnal mind cannot comprehend this mystery…
To know Him, here is the key…
Open your heart and let Him in…
Then your journey will begin…
New light will fill your eyes and you will see
Then you will know this man from Galilee…
He no longer walks the dusty streets or the seashores of Galilee
His Spirit lives within us, when we open our hearts and let Him in
We’ll be with Him forever in the heavenly’s…
Understand this, He is coming again!!
He won’t be a lowly shepherd then…
He’ll be a warrior with sword in hand…
This victorious man, who was from Galilee!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 15, 2019
John 3:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
God Loves (Agape) You
In case you have been wondering…praying…crying out for an answer…I want to share my heart with you and hope you understand, God loves (Agape) you so much!
I have to say that the message I heard today, at Journey Church, given by Pastor Scott, touched places in my heart that only the Holy Spirit knew…. In the intimate times in prayer I’ve had this past week, non-stop tears as I sought God for answers in humility and total surrender, wondering but believing…and today He revealed my deepest longing. He showed me in one line in the sermon how very much He loves me and covers me with His amazing grace. His love so divine, so utterly complete that nothing I could ever do would make Him stop loving me. My hearts desire is to walk in total obedience but I fall short so many times.
I’ve been forgiven and I know I’m forgiven for all my sins, but sometimes we carry the residual effects of wounds hidden so deep within that it takes the Holy Spirit to show us what’s still there. It’s only when we sincerely and totally ask Him to show us what is hidden that He can reveal it to us, because our hearts are ready to see.
Peter thought he would never betray Jesus. He thought he’d die for him but his true heart was revealed when he denied Jesus three times, Jesus knew his heart. You’ve heard the story.
Today when our pastor relayed the story again…the part where Jesus was on the beach and Peter swam from the boat to the shore to him.…Remember Jesus was around a fire, just like the fire when Peter denied Jesus…and he said, Peter, do you Love (Agape) me? And Peter said, yes, Lord, I love, (Philia-friendship love) you. Jesus said, “feed my lambs.” You know the rest of the story…when he said, feed my lambs…and pastor Scott, elaborated on what was transpiring in that conversation…He was telling Peter, I know what you did, I heard what you said…but Peter, I Agape Love you…that is love that forgives sins, wipes the slate clean, it is a love that says, I love you so much I died for you and Peter, no matter what you’ve done, I forgive you and I have called you to feed my sheep…I want you to fulfill the calling on your life…I Agape love you Peter…. I trust you with what is mine…
It went so deep within me that all I could do was sit there and cry, it was overwhelming…knowing that I do have a purpose…I have felt so empty, I’ve felt so alone, and forgotten, like my life was over and there was nothing more for me to do but wait to be taken home. But today, when I heard, “feed my lambs, feed my sheep, I knew, Jesus Agape loves me, and He wants me to fulfill, continue the calling He has on my life. That He’s not done with me and that my life is not over…and He will never be done with me.
Jesus, Agape-loves us so much that He died for us, and is alive in us, and He wants us to keep on living and touching others’ lives for His glory…I may never see the results of what I do or the ones I’m used to touch in this lifetime, the ones I pray for, the words I write or the impact they have on people’s hearts but that’s ok because they aren’t my words anyway, but if I never write the words He gives me, if I never make the effort or step out in faith to accomplish His purpose for my life…then the souls that are assigned to me will never hear the message that God wants them to hear through me.
The enemy will always accuse, will always bring division and confusion, he’ll always lie to us and make us think we aren’t good enough, our time is over, we’re too old or too young or too sick or too whatever to make any difference for God…don’t listen to him…listen to the Holy Spirit who says, “Where are your accusers? Neither do I condemn you, Go and sin no more!”
The Holy Spirit will say, “You are more than a conqueror, through Christ Jesus.” He will say, “I Agape-love you, feed my lambs, feed my sheep, feed my sheep…I trust you with those who are mine.” He’ll say, “Be bold and courageous.” He’ll say, “You are the righteousness of God.” He’ll say, “Freely you have received, freely give.” “My grace is sufficient for you.” “Walk by faith and not by sight!”
“I have called you and chosen you, I will not change my mind. I am yours and you are mine! I didn’t come all this way, to leave you, when I said it is finished, I meant it. Don’t second guess what I’ve shown you in the secret place, live it out in the light. It’s not your works or your desires that saves souls, but I have called you and chosen you for specific tasks’; I’ve equipped you with all you need. I put my Holy Spirit within you to teach you and encourage you so that you can encourage others. It is by my blood and by my grace that you are saved by faith. You are my own dear treasure and I will not let you fall, I will reach down and pull you out of all the mess, all the heartache, all the dung, if you will only, come follow me.”
I Agape Love you
~Jesus
~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 14, 2019
Wikipedia:
Philia – Greek for brotherly love, between family and friends
Agape – Greek means “love: esp. charity; the love of God for man and of man for a good God.”
The Speed of God…
Ever wonder why Jesus only lived about 33 years on the earth as a human being…?
I’ve thought about it many times…
God spoke and the world manifested into substance…no longer void and without form
God said, let there be light…and there was light…
God said, let the waters come and be separate from the land and it was so…
Why is it so difficult for mankind to believe? I think about that too…
I’ve heard about the speed of light…and breaking the sound barrier…but today I read about the speed of God…can you imagine the speed, of, God…?
Not even a blink is that fast or a heartbeat…no technology…no craft by land, sea or air is that fast…
And yet God, slows down, to show us His great love…
If you’re blessed enough to know Him and His love…you will get this…
The speed of God…is so fast he stands still…and waits for us to catch up…
WOW…imagine that…
God loves us so much!!!
When you’re a mommy or a daddy and you let your child chase you…you could easily run far away from them…but you stop so they can catch you…because they are your children and you love them…that’s exactly what God does…he stops for us so we can catch Him…
Run…chase after Him with all your heart, body, mind and soul…the speed of God is so fast…He stands still so you can catch Him…
~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 11, 2019
Psalm 63:8 The Passion Translation (TPT) With passion I pursue and cling to you. Because I feel your grip on my life, I keep my soul close to your heart.
I Corinthians 9:24-27 The Passion Translation (TPT) Paul’s Disciplined Lifestyle
Isn’t it obvious that all runners on the racetrack[a] keep on running to win, but only one receives the victor’s prize? Yet each one of you must run the race to be victorious. A true athlete will be disciplined in every respect, practicing constant self-control in order to win a laurel wreath that quickly withers. But we run our race to win a victor’s crown that will last forever. For that reason, I don’t run just for exercise[b] or box like one throwing aimless punches, but I train like a champion athlete. I subdue my body[c] and get it under my control, so that after preaching the good news to others I myself won’t be disqualified.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Or “the runners in a stadium.” This refers to the Pan-Hellenic stadium near Corinth where the Isthmian games were held.
b. 1 Corinthians 9:26 Or “I don’t run aimlessly.” That is, Paul ran with his eyes on the goal of ending well.
c. 1 Corinthians 9:27 Or “I beat my body black and blue.” This is an obvious metaphor of placing the desires of one’s body as second place to the desires of the Holy Spirit. See Rom. 8:13.
Warriors of Prayer
Art of KLeyn Prophetic Art
Prayers unseen and unheard, by the masses
Words spoken from faithful hearts that passes
From earthy realms and penetrates the very heart of God…
Prayer warriors no one notices, fighting demons in secluded places
Standing in the gap, while tears trace tracks upon their faces…
Boldly declaring Victory over souls, governments, and nations
Prayers for children to grow and become men and women of the living God
Upon their knees they trod…then stand in the face of the enemy fully covered in blood
The blood of Jesus that washes sins away
The blood, that bought and paid for redemption, because he lay
On a cross to show us the way, the truth and the life…
These are prayers of warriors who say…
Oh God, we rise to pray another day, hear our cry, hear our plea, answer our prayers for salvation today…heal the broken, the battered, the lame, the weak, deliver us from evil is what we pray…
Send reinforcements, angel armies, to fight in this spiritual battle, against the principalities of darkness in high places and set your children free…
We are the prayer warriors chosen by thee…
Not to be seen, but praying while others are sleeping…we pray while others are living…we are the unseen warriors down in the trenches, believing, interceding, on their behalf
Prayer warriors, binding and casting out demons…declaring freedom, for lost and dying souls…
We are bold and courageous in the face of those who dare mock our Holy God!
Stealth fighters…not for glory of self, but for the Glory of our True, Righteous, Omnipotent, Omnificent, Omnipresent God and Savior Jesus Christ and King!
Holy Spirit anointed…our mission is prayer…communion with the heavenly host filled with the Holy Ghost and fire…which is needed to fight this spiritual war…
We are at war, but the battle is the Lord’s…
Calling all prayer warrior’s do not become weary…stand in faith knowing God hears and answers
Our prayers!
The last will be first and the first last…
Prayer Warrior’s to your stations…
God bless you!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 11, 2019
Matthew 20:16 The Passion Translation (TPT)
“Now you can understand what I meant when I said that the first will end up last and the last will end up being first. Everyone is invited, but few are the chosen.”[a]
Footnotes:
-
Matthew 20:16 As translated from the Hebrew Matthew, Aramaic, and a few later Greek manuscripts. This logion is not included in the majority of the Greek manuscripts but is found in Matt. 22:14.
What’s it Like in Heaven
Mommy, what’s it like in heaven?
Do the birds sing, stars shine, are oceans far and wide?
Do children play outside?
Does it rain? Is there pain? Can you tell me, will you explain?
What’s it like in heaven?
Honey, I can’t tell you what heaven is like
But God’s word says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love him…
It must be a beautiful place though
I’ve heard there are streets of gold
There’s a gate made of pearl
Honey, it’s a whole new world…
The sun’s always shining
Rivers of life flow and there’s plenty of dining
Winged creatures, and angels sing
Crowns and gifts, our heavenly Father brings
With all the love our hearts could ever imagine…
Peace and joy beyond compare
Oh baby, it will be glorious there…
It’s bedtime now, so, let’s say our prayers…
OK mommy…
‘Jesus bless all the little children who will go to heaven tonight
Hold all the ones who are young, and old, let them know it will be alright
That heaven is a happy place, there’s no need to be afraid…
I imagine rainbow’s in a clear blue sky and no one ever dies
Unicorn’s dance on heaven’s hills
There will be lots and lots of happy thrills…for heaven is a treasured place…
Papa God, I’ll even sing Amazing grace…’
Just one look on Jesus’ face
I’ll be secure within, his loving embrace
Lord, help the human race…Amen.
This is the plan, my little one…
Heaven for you has just begun…
So, hold on with all of your, might…
Keep your eyes on me sweet child,
Walk with me in every mile…
Sing songs of joy, and let me live within your heart,
Dance and play, and then one day…
You’ll know what heaven is like…
I’ve prepared a home, where you’re never alone…
Oh, and about my throne…
Come boldly there to ask, seek, knock, for you belong
My light transcends all of heaven…
There’s a river of peace that overflows
Joy, unspeakable joy, everyone knows…
For heaven is, a happy place…
Let it fill your heart today…
And share it wherever you go…
Love, Papa God.
~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 8, 2019
1 Corinthians 2:9-11 New King James Version (NKJV)
But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
