Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

Artist Unknown

God, how can I bear this heartache it rips at my broken soul
Turns my nights to bitter tears and leaves an endless hole…
Days have no meaning, for my heart is shattered beyond repair
Grief; my constant companion, leaves me desolate and bear.
If it had not been for your great love, I would surly despair, for I cannot see…
How, God, how can I bear this loss, like the albatross, it haunts me…
Lifting my head, I see a beam of light, shining through the air…
A warmth fills my being and I sense a presence and stare…
I breathe in and listen as Holy Spirit shares…

Let me tell you a story, child, come walk with me awhile,
You see each person that I call, won’t always respond to my voice
I’ve given each and every one, free will, to make their own choice
Trials come to make you strong, to seek, and to search out, what is right and what is wrong
Life isn’t easy, it was not meant to be…but in every trial, I am with thee
You know this to be true, for it is I who,
Counted the cost, and carried the cross so that you would not have to.
I’ve already made the way of escape if you’ll put your trust in me
The pain that you’re feeling in time will ease…
And in its place, you’ll remember the sweet memories…
I’ve called you to prepare those, who do not yet understand,
Grieve for a time…it’s ok to cry…I too wept for mankind…
This trial is not forever, it’s just a stepping stone, to guide you, and lead you home…
You can only see thus far, on this earth from which you trod…
There is so much more awaiting, you, when you enter the gate to God!
For every trial and every test, is working out in you what’s best
When you lay your head upon my chest…there you’ll find your escape and rest
As you enter into this blessed place
That’s been wrought through my amazing grace…
This test is not more than you can bear
For every hurt and every pain, in this life you’ll gain
Strength for the journey
Your trials are never ever in vain…
When you overcome in Jesus’ name…
You’ll soon realize, your spirit never dies
I Am the burden bearer, let me dry your eyes…
Child, it will only be for a little while…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 1, 2019

1 Corinthians 10:13 The Passion Translation (TPT)
The Way of Escape
13 We all experience[a] times of testing,[b] which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face[c] so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape[d] that will bring you out of it victoriously.[e]
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Or “which has fastened onto you.”
b. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Or “temptation.”
c. 1 Corinthians 10:13 That is, God’s faithfulness and grace will limit the severity of every test and prevent you from being tested beyond your ability to cope. Unlimited grace is available for every believer who faces hardship, temptations, and seasons of difficulty.
d. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Or “an exodus.” Trust in God’s faithfulness is the way of escape that empowers us to overcome every difficulty we may experience. We are not told that every difficulty will be removed from our lives, but that God’s grace provides an exit path.
e. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Or “God bears up under you to take you out of danger” (Gr. hupophero) or “God provides a way of escape so that you may be empowered to endure it.” God’s faithfulness gives us both a way of escape and the power to endure.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC.
Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com

I can’t read the name of the artist.

Sleeping quietly in the sheep pen, with others at my side

I hear him calling, intently…

Jonny, Susie, Mary; Bella, Bubba and Clyde

It’s time to rise and shine…

He knows our names, for he named us,

There is even little Gus…

But when he calls my, name, my heart begins to pant

I lift my head and follow, there is no one to say I can’t

I know him by the sound of his voice

My shepherd, my comfort, my guide…

Living in assurance with him is where I’ll abide

He knows my name and calls me,

No strangers voice will do

Come morning, noon, and evening too

It’s feeding time, so we graze, upon the due

Storms may rise and enemies try

To destroy us on every turn

But when He calls my name

I surrender all and follow, his voice is always the same

I never have to wonder, be frightened or afraid

The voice of the Shepherd alerts me to be brave

He knows my name for he named me

Seritzah, come with me now

Immediately I follow,

And that’s how, I will forever remain…

Treasured of the LORD MOST HIGH

And there, forever, abide!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 30, 2019 

The name Seritzah is a name the Holy Spirit gave me years ago, it means treasure! You won’t find it on Google because it was given by the Holy Spirit it is my heavenly name.

Thank you Martha Jane Orlando for inspiring me to write this poem. You can find her on:

https://marthaorlando.blogspot.com/2019/10/known-by-name.html

John 10 The Message (MSG) He Calls His Sheep by Name

10 ^1-5 “Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.”

Drawing by Marla Shaw O’Neill

For three days this tiny, three letter word has been jumping out at me. From a necklace that someone made that says, ‘yes,’ to a ‘Yes’ in each line of a sinner’s prayer, to words I read in a text or a book…what are you trying to show me LORD?

Yes, Jesus, I will be your bride
Take all of me and leave my pride
Out side the gate, that’s opened wide…
Yes, yes, yes…I will abide!
Yes, to the call that you’ve asked of me…
Yes, to the life where you I see…
Yes, to all you want me to be…
Yes, yes, yes, Jesus…I say yes to thee!
Yes, to trials and tests that will come…
Yes, to the joy and peace as I run…
Yes, to the race that has begun…
Yes, Yes, Yes, Jesus, I know you are God’s son…
Yes, to heartache, to live surrendered and free…
Yes, Jesus take all of me…
Without your Holy Spirit I cannot see…
So Yes, Jesus, open my heart to your life-giving tree…
Alive in your garden I shall run free…
Free from death and free from loss
All because of you, dying on a cross…
You said Yes…and I agree…
Yes Jesus, Yes, your bride I’ll be!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 23, 2019

Revelation 22:17 The Passion Translation (TPT) “Come,”[a] says the Holy Spirit and the Bride in divine duet. Let everyone who hears this duet join them in saying, “Come.” Let everyone gripped with spiritual thirst say, “Come.” And let everyone who craves the gift of living water[b] come and drink it freely. “It is my gift to you! Come.”
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 22:17 Or “be continuously coming”; also in each instance of the word come in this verse and v. 20.

Over the many years I’ve spent in the LORD’s presence
I’ve come to know his very essence…
Like a summer’s rain, a cool breeze comes,
Filling the atmosphere with a sweet-smelling fragrance,
He smells like the rain…
A smile bursts from the inside out; spilling over my whole being…
Even without seeing, I know him, I love him and he loves me…
I know his laugh, and his walk, I know his voice as we talk…
I know he carry’s all my woes and protects me wherever I go…
I know him…because…I live with him…
He’s good and kind and loving all the time…
And when I get out of line…
He is not harsh, he is not mean, he gently speaks and is seen…
In his word, I’ve heard, and sometimes reluctantly I obey…
When I sense I’ve grieved the Holy One, I fall upon my knees and pray…
“I’m sorry, Lord, wash me and cleanse me today.
His eyes are fierce but loving.
His heartbeat I hear, because, he draws me near and there I long to stay.
His songs thrill my soul as he restores me.
I never walk alone. I hear him whisper as he prays…
You are mine always.
The rain is beginning to fall…

Psalm 72:6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill

Dedicated to: Martha Jane Orlando https://www.facebook.com/groups/Godscalltoaction/permalink/2474903092603936/

 

Painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau completed in 1889

She walked among a rocky path, wandering and alone

No place among the community to call home…

Tattered clothes and worn out shoes

Abandoned and abused…

This girl of twenty-two

Then she heard the good news…

A woman, called, the Good Shepherdess

Came to her and dressed her wounds…

Taking her into her flock of more than the girl could count…

99 she mused…

She was called to be a Good Shepherdess, by the Good Shepherd, who showed her the truth…

For she too, had once been lost and abused…

The Good Shepherdess lead her to a place of peace and rest…

Where she was fed and her soul restored…now fully blessed…

Once shadows of death hovered over her head…now no evil can come nigh her bed…

A rod and staff they comfort, giving strength wherever she is led…

The Good Shepherdess said, “I am only a person just like you, but I learned a lesson and this is true, only the Good Shepherd can truly save you. For he saved me and he gave me a new name, to follow…Him!”

And he said, “Goodness and Mercy will be your guide will you always stay close to His pierced, loving, side, to live in His presence and there abide? Will you follow the Good Shepherd and listen to his voice, be wise, child, will you make the right choice?”

Yes, Good Shepherdess, always and forever!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill Oct. 16, 2019

Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want…

Last night I had a dream that Bob and I were hiking and we came upon a man digging in the dirt he was trying to kill a rattle snake. He said, “Stand back.” So, I backed away. He flung a piece of the snake and it hit my ankle and I was poisoned. The man came over to me and made a cut on my leg and pulled something out of my leg. It was about 5’ long, 3” in diameter, yellow in color with these suction thingies on it but it was headless. I’m reminded that David cut off the head of the giant…he taunted the children of Israel, mocked them and was going to kill them…but God is greater. After the man (who I believe represented Jesus) pulled it out of my leg, I was fine, all the poison was gone.

I became aware for about six months that I was complaining and had become critical and I didn’t want to be that way. Now I’m sure I was that way all my life but the Holy Spirit brought it to my attention because I had been asking him to reveal to me my heart so that nothing would be between us.

So, I started praying that God would help me to be delivered from evil. Then about three weeks ago, our Pastor started a series called, Creating Worlds. I realized I’m not the only one that does this, and that it is an epidemic in our society. His messages have been amazing and very helpful. The Holy Spirit always knows what is needed to help us so that we won’t be overtaken by the enemy.

The snake is one of God’s creatures but it has always represented evil. We can be poisoned by many things. What we put in our minds, hear with our ears, see with our eyes, gets into our hearts and before long we are poisoned and we poison others. If we aren’t careful, we can even cause death to ourselves and to others just by using words.

I know the Holy Spirit is speaking and answering my prayer because it is confirmed by the messages being taught at Journey Church, and then today, I received a letter from my Aunt Rose who walks close to the Lord. We haven’t spoken in a while so she had no idea what I had been going through. The letter, she sent was one my mom had written to her, many years ago.
I praise God that mom’s ministry through the Holy Spirit is still alive. Even this day I cried out to God, to help me, that was before I read the letter. I had no idea what the content was. God is so good!

My mom, had a dream she said, “I saw chickens and children running down the road in front of my house and I looked to see what they were running from. There was a large snake running after them but the snake was walking on his tail. He had poison spewing from his mouth. I felt fear grip me and I prayed, “Don’t let him see me.” I turned to go into my house but the door was locked. I turned back toward him and he bit my arm. I said, “You may bite me but Jesus is my Lord and you can’t kill me.” I felt the pain in my left arm. When I awoke, I prayed and asked the Lord the meaning of the dream and he gave me the scripture Isaiah 47:13 Asp- Serpent.”

Mom had been doing some research on what the Bible says about divination, magicians, necromancy, soothsayers, sorcery, witchcraft, lying wonders. She looked up all the scriptures she could find because the Church was being manipulated and deceived. Mom wanted truth and preached God’s word but many of the pastors she spoke to at the time did not agree with what she found. It’s a long story. The thing is, is that we have to have Holy discernment especially in our day and time. God is coming for a Church without spot or wrinkle and we have to prepared and know what God’s word says. (This was in 1978)

We can’t expect to win the battle with the enemy, if we have a watered-down version of the word of God, it will cause the body of Christ to be weak. Demons are real and they do not play, they are out to kill people, destroy lives and steal our inheritance if they can, and they don’t care who it is. Children of God, you better not be playing Church…you better know who it is you serve, don’t cover up sin and think you’re OK…God knows and the devil knows…Only the blood of Jesus can save you. His word will sanctify you…but if you don’t read it then do what it says…it’s not going to help you one bit.

God is speaking…I love something my mom said in her letter…she said, “There are a lot of books that inform…BUT ONLY THE BIBLE CAN TRANSFORM!!!

There is nothing wrong with reading good books, but the only one that will help you in life is God’s Book.

We are to be doers of the word and not hears only. The Holy Spirit is giving us a message and I have to obey by telling you what’s on my heart. This is my purpose and my calling!
I love you all but most of all, God loves you, please him…

This may not be a popular topic but it is a needful one…pray and seek God, the Holy Spirit will show you what to do!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 9, 2019

Some of the scripture’s mom gave:

Divination: Gen. 41:15; Num. 22:7; Deu. 18:14; 1 Sam. 6:2; Jer. 27:9; Eze. 13:23; Eze. 21:21; Zec. 10:2; Acts 16:16

Magicians: Gen. 41:24, Ex 7:11, 8:19; Ex. 9:11; Dan. 2:2 and 4:7

Necromancy: Deu. 18:11; 1 Sam. 28:11; Is 8:19

Soothsayers: Is. 2:6; Dan. 2:27, 5:7; Mi. 5:12 Acts 16:16

Sorcery: Deu 18:10; 2 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 21:6; Is. 47:9; Mal 3:5; Acts 8:11, 13:6; Rev. 18:23, 21:8

Witchcraft: Ex. 22:18, Lev. 19:31, 20;6; 1 Sam. 15:23; 1Sam. 28:7; 2 Kings 9:22, 23:24; I Chr. 10:13; Is. 8:19, 19:3, 29:4; Mi. 5:12; Gal. 5:20

Lying Wonders: Ex. 8:7; Matt. 7:22, 24:24; 2 Th. 2:9; Rev. 13:13, 16:14, 19:20

How many times have you gone to the well of life so to speak, and all you got was muddy water, hateful stares and a sore back from carrying the water pitcher? (Your cares, burdens, regrets, sin, it all gets very heavy.)

You get up day after day, week after week, then months turn into years and all you get is the same old thing. You’re on your fifth relationship and that one isn’t working either…the women in the community won’t have anything to do with you. They whisper when you walk up and they call you a half-breed. You’re a Samaritan, the lowliest of the low. What beauty you had, has faded and that was more of a curse than anything else; you’re simply worn out by life from making wrong choices.

So, after all the other women have left, you go to the well…you just don’t want to hear their gossip and see their accusing eyes. You’re over it!

Its noon time, it’s hot but that’s nothing new you’re used to that. You notice a Jew sitting by the well. What now, you wonder. Jews don’t usually come through Samaria. You try to ignore him. But he speaks to you.

“Give me a drink of water.”

Sometimes when we least expect it…we have an encounter with someone who is the least likely to speak to us and it surprises us.

Today this is what happens to the Samaritan woman. She’s going to have a well drawing experience, which will change her life forever!!

You know the story, if not you can read it in John chapter 4:1-42 in the Bible.

If Jesus asked you for a drink of water, what would you do? What would you think?

He was a Jew; she was a Samaritan…

The Samaritans worshiped Yahweh, but on a different mountain. They were mixed breeds. The Jews looked down on them and despised them, but not Jesus. He was constantly turning the customs of the day upside down.

Jesus was no ordinary Jew, oh no; he was the son of God! She had no clue.

That day the water she drew was not from Jacob’s well…cloudy, unfulfilling water…No she received pure, clean, fresh, everlasting water from the Well of Jesus… she would never thirst again…and not only did she receive this water…she left her water jar and she ran to her village and told everyone what Jesus had said to her. “Come see this man that told me all about my life…” because of her testimony they believe on Jesus too!

This story has been told for over two thousand years…

It doesn’t matter your race, or gender Jesus is sitting at the local Well waiting for you to arrive. He wants to give you living water!

What will you do?

Will you believe me, a woman, who is telling you about the Messiah? Or will you come and hear him for yourself?

Jesus is the Messiah! The Savior!

Are you thirsty? Are you broken and weary? Are you tired of the struggle, the lies, and the empty life that never satisfies? Are you tired of the treadmill that never ends? Spinning around and around but never getting anywhere?

Come to the well…it’s a spring of living water always bubbling, always fresh, and it’s free…

Jesus said, I will give you living water and you will never thirst again.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill ~ 2018

You can read the story in John 4:1-42 

This is dedicated to my beautiful baby sister, Barbara Shaw Ramirez for her Sixty-fourth birthday. I love you dearly!

Sister’s

Twenty-one months, then there appears, a little girl beside you…

A living, breathing, baby doll, my sister, now there’s two…

God knew, we shouldn’t walk this life alone…

Growing and laughing and tousling at times

Competition and trying, but of the same kind…

Are you twins? People ask.

No, we’re just sisters, on a similar path…

Throughout the years there has been many tears, but also joy that overcomes

Heartache and trials, as we’ve walked the miles…

Together even though we’re apart…

Sister’s forever, woven together, by a bond that will not be severed, we carry each other in our hearts…

Now growing older with babes and grand babes of our own

No matter how far or wide or deep or dark or light, sisters forever we’ll be known…

God bless my baby sister all of her life, one day we’ll be returning home!

Until then keep her safe and strong!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 9, 2019

Proverbs 31:25 New Living Translation (NLT) She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

A very dear friend of many, is fighting for her life and as I read and re-read the prayers being said over her to be healed, I realize that some of the people in that group I’ve known for a very long time…

There is no doubt in my mind, that looking back it was ordained by God that we would all meet. Life happened; and circumstances changed over the years but still there is the connection…the God-connection. It hit me that I’ve known some of these people for over thirty years…and I began to cry…because we are here now at this specific time in life praying for this beautiful, precious woman of God who prayed for us many times…she is and was a mentor and a precious friend. She is now in need of our, prayers. I know God hears and I know he answers and I believe we are all connected and were ordained to be part of each other’s lives, then for now. There is no coincidence in the life of a child of God.

We may not see eye to eye on things…and we may not have even been in contact with each other over the years, but then this happened to someone we all know and love and suddenly we are all together again…one focus, one mind, one heart, crying out to the Great Physician to hear our fervent prayer, to heal one of his own.

No, God didn’t make her sick, but he will use every thing that happens in our lives to bring Him glory and to bring us into His presence…seeking Him for life and peace and hope and health and restoration so that many will be helped.

God is love! God is peace! God is hope! God is strength and joy and it is His Spirit that woos us unto himself.

Friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them…Michael W. Smith’s song…is so true…

So, think about this, the person you meet today may be the very person who, years from now, will be standing in the gap for you…interceding on your behalf for healing, restoration, or some need that is catastrophic to you…we never know what God has in store for us…but we can know that He is faithful and will always be with us, no matter what.

So, love people…show mercy and kindness, even to those who are not so kind back. They can change…especially if we are praying for them.

Thirty years from now seems like a long time…but if you are blessed enough to live long enough and you are still here thirty years from now, the people you’ve met along the way will still be important to you. There’s history and a connection that ties us together and the thing is, after this life we’ll be spending it with all the ones we’ve met on our journey who’ve gone ahead of us into that heavenly world.

This life is not a dead end…Life is not over when our body dies…our spirit is alive because of Jesus!

There is a place more real, more beautiful than anything on earth! We are here for a purpose and when we are made new through the blood of Jesus, and His Spirit, comes to live within us…we have no need to fear because where he is, is LIFE! He, His Spirit, gives us Power, His Spirit gives us Love and His Spirit gives us a Sound Mind, the mind of Christ! We have no need to fear. The enemy cannot pierce us through with his sword of fear or death, why, because, he’s been defeated!!

When someone’s body dies, yes, we are heart broken because we won’t see them anymore. We’ll miss them terribly…but we have a hope and a future that where they are, we will go, after we finish our assignment here. Like Paul said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!”

So, don’t grieve as those who have no hope…Our hope is in The Lord Jesus Christ! Here and now as it will be, then!

Pray; talk and then listen to God…Read God’s Word; let him speak to you…and Love unashamedly, the way He loves, unconditionally.

Blink…and thirty years have passed…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill October 7, 2019

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 New International Version (NIV)

 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

I read it like this…God has not given us a spirit of fear…God has given us His Spirit of Power, His Spirit of Love and His Spirit of a Sound Mind the Mind of Christ!