Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

Painting by Hyatt Moore

This is a message I shared today on Zoom with some of the ladies from my Church.

Before we start *here’s a little bit of trivia:

In Bible times the Rabbis would stand in the Temple to read from the scrolls. The scrolls were very expensive to make. It took long hours to make them, because they were hand written on parchment or materials made from animal skins and most of them were quite ornate. So not all Synagogues could afford more than the Torah (the first five books) and out of respect for the makers of the scrolls they would stand to read from them so they didn’t get damaged.
After reading they would sit down. This showed that they would not be quoting from the old prophets, and then the people would know the teaching would be coming from their own interpretation. The rabbis would discuss the scripture and be open for questions. So, this became their custom.

Message Translation: Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes

1 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down

2 and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5 “You’re blessed when, you’re, content with just who you are – no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘carefull,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

11 “Not only that – count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

12 You can be glad when that happens – give a cheer, even! – for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

In the Strong’s Concordance #3107, the word for Blessed, makarios (mak-ar-ee-oss) is an adjective suggesting “happy” supremely blessed, a condition in which congratulations are in order. It is a grace word that expresses the special joys and satisfaction granted the person who experiences salvation. (I like that, it’s a grace word.)

Knowing, that today, I was going to be giving a message, I asked the Lord to show me what he wanted me to speak about and, The Beatitudes popped into my mind.

I was reminded of how my mom had spoken on the Beatitudes when she was a little girl. She was number six out of seven children. Her dad died when she was 9 months old, leaving her mom to raise her children alone.

I want to share with you this story my grandmother used to tell me. She was very poor and times were hard in those days. It was around 1939. Granny’s, son, Dan, came down with the croup and couldn’t even drink a sip of water without struggling. She didn’t have money for a doctor so she used home remedies but it wasn’t working and he was getting worse. Granny’s neighbor told her about a holy man who was in town that would pray for people and they would be healed. So, granny sent for the man to come and pray for Dan, her son, he was just a boy at the time.

This “HOLY” man came to granny’s house and he said to her, “Maim, it’s just like praying through a brick-wall.” She turned to heaven and said, “Lord, tear that brick wall-down.” There was no air-conditioning in those days, they didn’t even have screens on the windows but she kept them propped up. The man knelt down by the bed and began to pray. He prayed for over an hour and when he got up, he was drenched in sweat… Dan said, “Mama, I want a drink of water.” He recovered and lived to be an old man and he never suffered with the croup again.

When my mom was about 11 years old, she joined the Salvation army, her and her older brother RL. They were asked to speak at one of the meetings. They weren’t told it was a contest. Mom spoke on the Beatitudes and won first place. She had lots of trials in her life but later in her life she became an ordained minister and pastored a church for two years. Even in the seventies, women Pastors weren’t accepted. But that didn’t stop mom, she would say, “the Holy Spirit does the preaching.” She went on to become an Evangelist. She obeyed God and she gave away what God gave her, and she never lacked. She was 83 when she was called home.

As I was wondering about what to talk about, the Holy Spirit reminded me about the Beatitudes, by reminding me, that mom had spoken on the Beatitudes as a little girl. I looked up the scriptures and read in Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I repeated the words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” what does that mean LORD? What does it mean to be poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven?

I had this picture in my mind of Jesus sitting down on the side of the mountain and began to teach his disciples and the people. These people, were the poor, and lowly. They came to hear this Rabbi, teacher, teach. He was like them but different. He didn’t wear fancy robes, he didn’t ask them for money or goods, he was kind, and he, walked among them. He even touched them when he prayed for them. He fed them and asked for nothing in return. Here the King of heaven was sitting in their midst and taught them freely. He didn’t come to take anything from them, he came to give himself away…you can only keep what you give away!

I knew there was more to be uncovered and so last week I prayed and said, “Holy Spirit will you show me what Jesus meant when he said Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven?” I began to ask, seek, and search for the meaning. I mean I’ve read this passage many times but this time I knew there was a deeper meaning.

I took notes from my Spirit Filled Bible and from the website: “Hebrew for Christians.”

• Jesus sat down on the side of the mountain and began to teach the attitudes we are to have as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

• “Don’t read them as statements, read them as exclamations:

“O the blessedness of the poor in spirit!”
The poor in spirit are those who recognize their spiritual poverty and casting aside all self-dependence, seek God’s grace.

• Each initial phrase therefore does not function as a conditional statement but rather expresses a present reality:

“O the joy of the poor in spirit, of the mourners, of the gentle, of those who sincerely care for what is right, of those who are merciful, of those pure in heart, of those who make peace, of those who are persecuted.”

You see it’s suggesting that the Beatitudes are presented in a progressive order, with each preceding one preparing for what immediately follows. The poor in spirit become mourners over their sinful condition.

• Humbled, we then deeply care for righteousness and find it in the sacrifice of Jesus who shows us mercy.

• As we become merciful, we learn to see beyond appearances to behold inner beauty in everyone.

• Hatred and strife, grieve our hearts, so we become peacemakers.

• Ultimately, however, our passion makes us misunderstood and mistreated, and therefore we become subject to persecution…

• It’s quite different from the world’s values.

What is highly esteemed among the world is of little value to God, and, what is of value to God, is often scoffed at by the world.

The Apostle Paul says it so beautifully in scripture “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Cor. 1:25)

And so, we find that Humility is the keynote of the Beatitudes, just as pride is the keynote of fallen human nature.

We see Jesus sitting down, as he begins to teach. The Kingdom of heaven is a redeemed community of the righteous who practice sacrificial love for the welfare and honor of others.

Jesus is the true King and Source of this Kingdom. And as he goes on to expound in the Sermon on the Mount, the heart, of the law, is love, and love, is the law of the Gospel.

It’s The Blessing of Brokenness…

“O the blessedness of the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:3
• The term translated “the poor in spirit” is derived from a word that means “to crouch as a helpless beggar.”

• This word provides an image of someone in abject poverty, totally dependent on others for help.

The “poor in spirit” (Isa. 61:1) are those who are painfully aware of their exile and need for help from God.

The Jewish people had been praying and waiting for years for Messiah to come. They hoped beyond hope that this man, Jesus, was He, who they longed for. They were oppressed, enslaved, they had no country of their own, they were persecuted, taxed beyond limits, looked down on by the Romans, imprisoned and killed. They didn’t need a King; they needed a Savior.

When we are emptied of ourselves, we are free from pride and enabled to seek the truth in humility.

Only when we come to the end of ourselves, when we realize our powerlessness and radical insufficiency, can we come to know Jesus as moshia, our Savior. This is an on-going dependency: we walk “with a limp” so to speak, as did Israel. Our strength comes from the Lord.

Paul said, “for when I am weak, then I am strong: You are made rich indeed when you encounter your spiritual bankruptcy, brokenness, and must entirely depend on your daily miracle.

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18)

To live the kingdom life, it first starts with “Brokenness”

• A feeling that you’re not whole, that you’re a mess, and that your need for God’s healing is constant and relentless.

There is such a difference between proud humanism and a broken and contrite spirit. Humility is a state of “blessed neediness,” of being “poor in spirit,” a desperate ache for God’s power of healing.

Our LORD Jesus testified: “The Son of Man came to seek and save the Lost (Lk. 19:10) and he found in the midst of the leper colonies of the hurting, (those suffering with Covid 19), the forgotten, (the homeless street people), the rejected, (prostitutes, addicts, widows, orphans, etc.) As the Man of Sorrows, he understands the language of our pain. (Isa. 53:3)

And let me just add, that, you can be wealthy and still be poor in spirit. It may be a little more difficult to put pride aside because you’re self-sufficient, but it’s about our heart…not our pocketbook.

The opposite of poverty of spirit is human pride that leads to misery.

• Those who mourn are not necessarily those people in bereavement, but those who experience the sorrow of repentance.
• Meek, does not connote weakness, but rather, controlled strength. The word carries the ideas of humility and self-discipline.
• God is the supreme Peacemaker, and His sons/daughters follow His example.
• The cause of persecution, is loyalty to righteousness, which Jesus makes specific in verse 11.
• Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. V. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

In closing let me say this:

God calls us to love him by accepting His Son. He’s given us gifts and talents to serve him by serving others. Not for selfish gain but to glorify the Father.

He showed me long ago that my calling is to write and to pray…I have a passion for both, and over a four-year period I’ve written over 4,000 blog posts, inspirational poems and sermonettes that the Holy Spirit would put on my heart each day. Not to be seen or praised by anyone, but to tell people, whoever would listen, that Jesus loves them.

Last Wednesday my son Jonathan and I had a discussion. I told him how our ladies Bible study had mentioned the 12-step program. Jonathan has been in sobriety for fifteen years. And so, I told Jonny about it…he said, “Yep, you can only keep, what you give away. That is something they teach in Alcohols Anonymous (AA.)”

You can only keep, what you give away. So, what I give away is words…written words and as I give them away more come…As a speaker, I’m quite shy and unsure of myself, but when I write, I can be as bold and creative as the Holy Spirit tells me to be. I give away what he gives me. To encourage others and to declare who Jesus is and that he loves us so much!

I have become, over the years, “poor in spirit” but I am rich in faith, and I know that by the grace of God the Kingdom of Heaven is mine.

So, what does it mean to be poor in spirit and to live as a citizen of heaven? It means when you mourn you will be comforted, when you are meek, you will inherit the earth, and when you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you will be satisfied, when you are merciful you will receive mercy. When your heart is pure you will see God. Being a Peacemaker, you are the children of God and when you are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: yours is the Kingdom of Heaven. It means to repent and to take on the attitude and the identity of Christ. And when we exalt him in humility, he will lift us up!!

With today’s technology we can hear any sermon on television, through our computer, listen to a podcast and with just one click of the button we can read any translation of the Bible and zoom with people from around the world…but the one thing that Jesus wants more, than any of that, is for us to be poor in spirit, to find a quiet place and sit at his feet and have a conversation with him. Then in all our mourning, or meekness, or hungering and thirsting after righteousness we will receive the very Kingdom of Heaven, we will sit with the Savior in heavenly places. That’s what he longs for more than anything else. He wants us to have a relationship with Him.

I have two questions:
1. In regards to this passage, how do you view your heart? Are, you, poor in spirit, repentant, meek, merciful a peacemaker, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, etc.? Or do you see yourself, fearful, anxious, full of worry and doubt? How do you obtain the Beatitudes?

(Jesus is our example…We sit at the feet of Jesus in a quiet place and let him feed us. Then you will receive God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.)

2. Do you know your calling, and if so, can you share it with us?

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 24, 2020

Zoom Meeting for Monday April 27, 2020 Virtual Small Group – Women’s Prayer and Encouragement Hour

Picture taken by: Bob O’Neill, (toy soldier mine)

Putting on the mind of Christ, as my Helmet of Salvation, I take every thought captive…

Wearing His Breastplate of Righteousness, it guards my heart as it’s purified by Him…

I stand active…

His Shield of Faith protects me from all the fiery darts of the enemy, he will not defeat me…

In fighting stance, I lift the Sword of the Spirit, and speak His word; My ears are opened and I hear it…

Wearing the Belt of Truth, I will not believe the devil’s lies…for he is merely a buzzing fly

And with my Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, I’ll cast him far away…

And with each living breath I take,

I’ll open my mouth and Pray…

“Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread…
And forgive us our debts as we forgive are debtors
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and Glory, forever Amen!” (Matthew 6:9-13)

Now fully clothed in the Armor of God; I’ll live my life this way.

For all the rulers in high places; the darkened hosts of hell, will not prevail, against the name of Jesus, for his children, will wear His Armor well!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 22, 2020

Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version (NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Art by Benlin Alexander

Psalm 41:3 (TPT)

When they are sick, God will restore them, lying upon their bed of suffering. He will raise them up again and restore them back to health.

Jesus, you are my best friend, my brother, my King, my healer, my salvation and so much more… In You, I hope! In You, I live! In You, I dwell!

Jesus, I am washed in your blood, you have called me redeemed, because of who you are!!

I am coming before your throne today into the holy of holies where only you dwell…no evil, no demon, no adversary, no accuser can come into this place…only the pure in heart can enter! Those who you have called your own…and I am your own…I am clean and free of sin because of you Jesus, and I am asking you by the mercies of my Father God that you hear my cry…and the cry of your kids calling out to you for help and deliverance today!

I am standing, right now in your presence and I am interceding for all hospitals and homes across this nation of the United States of America…I am not talking about division…I am not talking about politics or race or creed…I am talking about Your Children…I am talking about the human-race…and I am beseeching you on behalf of all people…that this demon Covid19- (aka coronavirus) be bound, gagged, cast out and destroyed in your Name Jesus!

I’m asking for each person that has, or has had, or is going to have, which I say right now, will not have this virus, in Jesus name, that you stop it in it’s tracks NOW! For there is no power in this earth or out of this earth; physically or in the spiritual realm; that can come against the Power of the Almighty God…just as David, as a young man with only a sling and a few stones came against Goliath…in The Name of The Lord…and defeated him by your mighty hand, with one stone to the head, then cut he off the enemy’s head…I am asking that you will hear this prayer from a meek, little, aging, women but who has the Power of the Holy Spirit to come against this demon CV and command that it be killed with one prayer and cut off it’s ugly head so that our Nation will be saved…that no more people will die…no more will we have to be isolated for fear of death…no more bullying, no more lies, no more threats, no more… and that You OH GOD will RISE UP AND DEFEAT THIS FOE AND SET YOUR PEOPLE FREE!!!!

Let God arise and His enemies be scattered…

I ask for mercy…I ask for peace, I ask for healing and deliverance…let all the people’s of the Earth see and know that only You God could do this and that the enemy has to run with it’s tail between it’s legs because you will not tolerate his bullying any longer…that the time is not yet…that you will spare this generation and the generations to come so that souls will be spared from destruction and Hell…

Hear my cry O God, just at you heard the prophets of old…heal our land…just a little longer God…let the earth remain…and truly turn to you and that things will not return as usual but that our whole Nation will return to you and walk and live in your ways of righteousness!! Drive them back Jesus…drive back the demons…and let us live free and in your salvation! Amen!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 17, 2020

April 26, is my mom’s birthday, she would have been 88, but God took her home five years ago. Mom was not perfect, although she was a perfectionist. She was an extremely clean person and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Mom loved her family, and her Jesus! She never met a stranger and if you were in her presence for more than a minute, she would know everything about you before the conversation was over. And would pray for you no matter where she was.

You see mom was called by God when she was just a little girl to point others to Jesus. In fact, a pastor prayed over her when she about six years old and said, “Lord make her your prophetess.” She went home and told her mama that he said, “Make her his property.” Which I guess is just as good! LOL!

Of course, life had its difficult times and down right ugly times and mom certainly survived those times. She came, so close, to death, many times throughout her life, but God always brought her through. Mom lived by faith and was faithful to God and her family.

She had a wonderful sense of humor, was an excellent swimmer, cook, seamstress and artist.

She read her bible every day, quoted scripture chapter and verse and prayed like there was no tomorrow!

From coffee girl, to payroll supervisor, to Pastor of the Holy Church of God in Tampa, Florida, to Evangelist all over the U.S., to Angel of Heaven…

It wasn’t until after she left this world for heaven that I began to understand many of the things she told me, was right, and I could see how she lived her life was the way I wanted to live mine. Isn’t that usually the way of things? I do understand so much better now, that she did love me, she did accept me, and I am proud and so glad to have had her as my mother!!!

If you have a mother who loves you but think she doesn’t…I’ll tell you, she does! Being a mom is difficult. There is no instruction book that can tell you how to be a mother…Oh there are books, but you don’t learn how to be a mother from a book… being a mother seems almost impossible at times…you get weary and tired but you keep going. You get lonely when the kids are all grown and living their own lives, but that’s how it’s supposed to be…so don’t hold it against your mom if you don’t see eye to eye on things…one day she’ll be gone and you’ll wish you had her back, if for nothing else than just someone to disagree with you!!!

Trust me, I know it’s difficult. I know you want to run away at times. I know you want to scream I’M AN ADULT! Her words echo back to you, “Then act like one!” LOL!

In her eyes you will always be your mommy’s, little boy/girl. And think about this…your kids will feel the exact same way about you!! So, show a little grace to your mom and you’ll get the same!

Sometimes you just have to love your moms from a distance and that’s OK too! But love them! Because without them you wouldn’t be here!

Good, bad, or indifferent…our mothers are who carried us for nine months, bore us with great pain and watched us grow with all of our trials and tribulations, and hoped beyond hope that we would survive!! She’s cried over you, prayed over you until her tongue hung out…she’s worried and sacrificed time, energy, money, and loved you with all her strength. Even when you didn’t love her back…she would give her life for you! A mother’s love is the closest love to God’s that you will ever know! Even when it doesn’t feel like it! At least that’s how it is for me! I love my kids all of them and I am so very proud that my mom left a legacy, passed on to the next generations. I love you Mom, one day I will see you again! Until that time…I want my kids to know that I love them with all my heart, now and forever!

Thanks, Mom, for being my Mother!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill – April 15, 2020

Ephesians 6:1-3 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Children, if you want to be wise, listen to your parents and do what they tell you, and the Lord^[a] will help you.

² For the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother,” was the first of the Ten Commandments with a promise attached: ³ “You will prosper^[b] and live a long, full life if you honor your parents.”

Footnotes:

• Ephesians 6:1 Or “through our Lord.”

• Ephesians 6:3 Or “it will go beautifully for you.”

John 19:26-27 The Passion Translation (TPT)

²⁶ So when Jesus looked down and saw the disciple he loved standing with her, he said, “Mother,^[a] look—John^[b] will be a son to you.” ²⁷ Then he said, “John, look—she will be a mother to you!” From that day on, John accepted Mary into his home as one of his own family.^[c]

Footnotes:

• John 19:26 Or “woman.”

• John 19:26 Although unnamed, this was most certainly John the apostle. John, the apostle of love, was the only one of the Twelve who stood near the cross and witnessed the crucifixion. Love doesn’t quit, run away, or hide from pain. It endures all things, overcomes all things, and empowers us in all things. John didn’t run from the suffering of the Savior. We must be those who will stand next to Jesus even if the entire world is against us.

• John 19:27 Mary would be nearly fifty years old and a widow. What tenderness we see with Jesus toward his mother! Moments before his death, Jesus thought about Mary and her long journey back to Nazareth and that no one would be there to provide for her. Jesus deeply honored his mother.

He took the cup, blessed it, and said, drink for this is my blood that will be poured out for you…

Hours later he was found in the garden, betrayed by a friend, who gave him a kiss…

They beat him and humiliated him and spat upon him and mocked him, then they nailed him to a tree, yes, he, endured all this

Why?

He knew the joy that awaited him would be worth, every nail, every stripe, every ridicule, and every thorn and piercing of his side…

Joy, unspeakable, joy!

His joy would be our strength and power, and Spirit filled with tongues of fire, He would bring salvation to every generation; the joy of the Cross was never loss…it was the beginning of new life, it was worth the cost…

He endured a body of death, rejection, hate and religious curses…WHY? Because he knew Joy would come in the morning!!!

Through the darkest night, and deepest pain, Joy waits on the other side…

Don’t give up, hold on dear friends…

In the end, God wins!

Jesus is coming…look to him!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 10, 2020

Hebrews 12:2-3 The Message (MSG)

Discipline in a Long-Distance Race

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Psalm 30:5 The Message (MSG)

All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.

Psalm 30:5 The Passion Translation (TPT)

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

Footnotes:

• Psalm 30:5 The Septuagint says, “There is wrath in his anger but life in his will [promise].”

Your breath O God has awakened me, to live and move and breathe,
From the dust you’ve created, I’m alive, I’m free…
There is joy for the morning, there’s no need to grieve…
Awakened with a new song, I sing and shout with glee
Your breath oh God is living inside of me…
Sitting around your table, in holy communion I wait,
Breaking bread and taking the cup, we eat and drink as we lift up
Thanksgiving, then you breathe the Anointed breath of God…
Eyes meet, and we nod…

Your breath is breathed upon us, we are filled with the Holy Ghost
Holy Spirit, grateful; hear our jubilant decree…
It’s You O God who has set us free
It’s You O God who liberates and brings creativity
Into our very lives so that we will SHOUT, to all who will believe…
Breathe in me your life’s breath, make me move, and live, and give
Every last breath I take, may it be in Praise to Thee!!!
Through every trial and every test, God may I always give my best…
Fill my lungs to capacity, to sing and shout, and to bring about…
FREEDOM from all adversity…

No hurricane force, or tornado winds, no plague that’s ever been sent…
Can destroy the life you’ve given me, in you there is no torment
Breath of God, breathe new life in me, and I will blow upon your Shofar
Bringing forth the VICTORY!

God you’re back on your throne, we are fully awakened, a rededication of our nation, hear the voice of your prophets awaken, God-breath bring them alive…release signs and wonders and miracles let your gifts come forth, the sounds of tears rebuilding Jerusalem, sacrifice accepted, our Awesome God stands true, for nothing can come against me, or you…for God is for us…O hear the trump of God as it shakes our very core…for God’s people will forever stand loyal before the LORD…we are a great nation founded by Jesus Christ, united by Jew and Gentile we are one new man, this is our choice, blow your breath into the shofar and hear the glorious SHOUT, and be a liberated nation called by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 9, 2020

This post is dedicated to April Wall, a beautiful Christian sister/friend who asked if I would write a poem for this picture! Perfect timing for this season!

Standing looking out at Jerusalem, crucifixion passed…
An empty tomb behind me, Alive at last!
My heavenly home awaits me, the hosts of heaven waits…
I’ve conquered death, hell and the grave, now opened, are heavens gates…
But there are still some tasks, that I must tend to first
This is why I came; this is the reason for my birth…
First-fruits of the resurrection
I’m a brand-new creation…designed divinely, by my father’s hand
The family of God, standing, for my final command…
We must wait a little longer…there is much work here still to do
My Church will rise victorious to be my witnesses, Oh, so glorious
Of my Father’s love and plan…
For God’s design was man…
And all who abide in me, I raise my voice to thee and sing of grace, given to you eternally!
From the cross of Calvary…to the tomb where they buried me
To the rising in the air…child, our home will forever be…
I am, the resurrection and the life…all who believe in me will never die!
I raise my hands to thee, L’Chaim
To LIFE!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 8, 2020

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Order of Resurrection

20 But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. 21 For since [it was] by a man that death came [into the world], it is also by a Man that the resurrection of the dead has come. 22 For just as [a]in Adam all die, so also [b]in Christ all will be made alive.

Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 15:22 Because of our physical nature as descendants of Adam.
b. 1 Corinthians 15:22 Because of our spiritual nature as born-again believers in Christ.

For over a week this line has been going over and over in my mind, “If My people, who are called by My name…

And it occurred to me, that God, was talking about His People…those who are the called, those who proclaim to be God’s people…the saved ones…

Now, I know that God was talking to Solomon concerning the house he had built for God. A place for God to dwell among His people, Israel. But since Jesus came and redeemed us from sin and death…and we’ve asked him to live in our hearts and to be the Lord of our lives, we are now, the house of God…therefore, all who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, are God’s people…

He’s saying to us, “the Church,” those who profess to know him and follow him…those who are his people:

“If My People who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

If you read Chapter 6 of 2 Chronicles, Solomon had prayed to God…and in chapter 7 God answered Solomon’s prayer…. God loves his children and is a wise and compassionate Father, He knows what is best…

I know it’s a lot to read but this was put on my heart this morning and I feel compelled to write it and share it with you. Pray, seek God’s face, turn from evil, (whatever God say’s is evil) then he will hear us and forgive our sin and heal our land.) This is not about condemnation. This is about obedience to our heavenly Father! This is about deep, soul searching, repentance, a turning to God not excuses or guilt…The only way for deliverance is to truly seek God with all of our heart, mind, body and soul. When God sees, we are serious, then, he will hear us when we pray! Amen!

I’m no Bible scholar but I am filled with the Holy Spirit and this is what he has spoken to my heart…God, help us as we humble ourselves and turn to you and seek you with all our might! Amen!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 6, 2020

2 Chronicles 6 English Standard Version (ESV)
Solomon Blesses the People
6 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 2 But I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.” 3 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. 4 And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, 5 ‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my people Israel; 6 but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’ 7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 9 Nevertheless, it is not you who shall build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ 10 Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the people of Israel.”

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits[a] long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court, and he stood on it. Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven, 14 and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 15 who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 16 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’ 17 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David.

18 “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! 19 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you, 20 that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 21 And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

22 “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, 23 then hear from heaven and act and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

24 “If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their fathers.

26 “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict[b] them, 27 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way[c] in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

28 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is,

29 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house, 30 then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind, 31 that they may fear you and walk in your ways all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.

32 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, 33 hear from heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.

34 “If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.
36 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near, 37 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 38 if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 39 then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you. 40 Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.

41 “And now arise, O LORD God, and go to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation,
and let your saints rejoice in your goodness.
42 O LORD God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one!
Remember your steadfast love for David your servant.”

2 Chronicles 7 English Standard Version (ESV)
Fire from Heaven
7 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The Dedication of the Temple 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD. 5 King Solomon offered as a sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 The priests stood at their posts; the Levites also, with the instruments for music to the LORD that King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD—for his steadfast love endures forever—whenever David offered praises by their ministry;[a] opposite them the priests sounded trumpets, and all Israel stood.

7 And Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered the burnt offering and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar Solomon had made could not hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat.
8 At that time Solomon held the feast for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt. 9 And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity[b] that the LORD had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people.

If My People Pray
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king’s house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the LORD and in his own house he successfully accomplished. 12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. 17 And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules, 18 then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.’

19 “But if you[c] turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will pluck you[d] up from my land that I have given you, and this house that I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 21 And at this house, which was exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’ 22 Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore, he has brought all this disaster on them.’”

Wednesday, April 2, 2020

We are entering a season of Passover where life is renewed. We are reminded of the resurrection power of Jesus, where he came up-out-of-that-grave and is the very first fruit of the resurrection. Praise God!

Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand when he was taken from them in the garden. They didn’t understand when he told them that he was going away. They didn’t understand what Jesus was telling them…until…they saw him alive, and saw the nail prints and saw Thomas touch his pierced side. They didn’t fully understand what he meant when he told them to go and wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high, that he was going to send another comforter. They were hidden away in an upper room, praying.

The 120, waited and prayed not knowing what was coming…then like a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire lit on them and they began speaking in unknown tongues. The Holy Spirit filled them with power…

Power to preach the good news in the streets. Power to lay hands on the sick and watched them recover. Power to cast out demons in the name of Jesus. Power to be beaten and imprisoned and many were killed for their faith in the living God! Nothing stopped them for they over came the enemy by the blood of the lamb and the words of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death~~

In Exodus 12:13, God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you!”

Today we are hidden away in our homes waiting, and Jesus, our Passover Lamb, gave his blood and his blood covers us, those who are his, and when the death angel comes, he will not touch us because God sees the blood! I proclaim in the physical as well as the spiritual we will live. Amen.

The enemy tried to put a spirit of fear on me last night, he keeps trying, but praise God, greater is he who is in me, than he, who is in the world. God’s perfect love casts out fear!

He tried to tell me you’re too old your time has passed, but God reminded me, that he, God renews my youth like the eagle! Moses was 80 when God called him to go and set His people free. Joshua was 85 when he prayed, “God give me this mountain!”

There’s Noah and Elijah and Elisha and Samuel. There’s Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and Paul and right now there is Marla, Amye, Robin, Barbara, Sheila, Kathy, Dee, Sharon, Scott, Chad, Josh, Bob, Jr., Doug just to name a few, you know who you are… all of us who are the called according to God’s purpose those who love God and will not give in nor give up…because Jesus is with us and has given us his Power through the Holy Spirit and the Name of Jesus. Amen! We have put on our Armor of God, we are intercessors with Christ, warriors of prayer, crying out for mercy and grace for our families, the body of Christ, our city, state, nation and world…God hears our cry!!

God is saying, “WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL PASS OVER YOU!

No CV-19 can touch my anointed for I am God, the creator of all things…trust in me, says the Lord! Stand and see my salvation! Be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Be at peace and keep your hearts and minds on me…trust me then you will have peace!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 3, 2020

Ephesians 6:11-20 New International Version (NIV)

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Revelation 12:11 Good News Translation (GNT)
They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die.

Joshua 14:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Now therefore give me this mountain,

Matthew 10:16 Good News Translation (GNT)
“Listen! I am sending you out just like sheep to a pack of wolves. You must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves.