Under the canopy He stands and waits
The Lord, great and mighty…
Anticipating her arrival…
Five maidens come singing and dancing,
Preparing the way, as the crowd watches in awe.
Beloved
“Lily Rose, let’s take a walk and talk.”
The shepherd gently calls.
Aged and slow unafraid and brave…
Lily Rose, obeys…
With labored strides, not giving in to the weakness
Or her body’s demand.
She breathes a prayer, and holds tightly to the shepherd’s loving, caring, hand.
The sun is bright on shaded road; with you Lord, I know I can,
Walk and talk with my beloved, you are the True and Faithful one…
A tiny breeze begins to blow, the trees sway and leaves flutter to the ground,
Without a sound…
Angels walk in silence and listen as the good shepherd speaks.
“Lily Rose, hear the birds gently singing? See the flowers that bloom
Each and every morning and every afternoon…
Remember, life’s a journey and as you walk with me,
I’ll show you how to live and grow, among the briars and thistles,
Lily Rose.”
Lord, I know, my time is coming to a close, but I’ll not give in to the storms that blow…
I realize, you are in the wind, that brings and takes away.
You are in the rain, that washes all the pain away…
You are in the stars and the flowers and all eternity…
Good Shepherd, I’ll always walk and talk with thee!
“Lily Rose, stay close precious one, you are a blessing to me.”
The clouds open with the song of a Holy-Angel-Choir
A canopy of trees graces each side of Glory Road,
While a million tiny birds, sing a tender melody…
“Come, Lily Rose, walk with me!”
~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 19, 2025
Song of Solomon 2:16 King James Version – My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
I Have Called You To Live
Life does not stop because we get old
We get old because we stop living life…
The body grows old, but our spirit remains
Crying out to be set free what freedom we gain
When we realize, we never die…
Don’t give in to the thoughts of the end
Listen to the Spirit of God…
Get up, keep dreaming, keep living…
Let your heart soar and sing…
[Blessed assurance Jesus is mine,
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine…
Ere of salvation,
Purchase of God, Born of His Spirit
Washed in His blood!
This, is, my story…
This is my song…
Praising my savior all the day long!!] (Fanny Crosby)
~Marla Shaw O’Neill
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1 Peter 1:3:
This verse speaks of a “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” which is a key element of the assurance that “Blessed Assurance” celebrates.
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1 John 4:18:
This verse states that “perfect love casts out fear,” a concept that aligns with the confidence and peace expressed in the hymn.
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Hebrews 10:22:
This verse encourages believers to “draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith,” which echoes the hymn’s theme of assurance.
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1 John 4:7-19:
This passage speaks of God’s love, which is the foundation of the assurance that “Blessed Assurance” proclaims.
Frances Jane van Alstyne (née Crosby; March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915), more commonly known as Fanny J. Crosby, was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. She was a prolific hymnist, writing more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs,[a] with more than 100 million copies printed.[1] She is also known for her teaching and her rescue mission work. By the end of the 19th century, she was a household name.[2]
Crosby was known as the “Queen of Gospel Song Writers”[3] and as the “Mother of modern congregational singing in America”,[4] with most American hymnals containing her work.[5] Her gospel songs were “paradigmatic of all revival music”,[6] and Ira Sankey attributed the success of the Moody and Sankey evangelical campaigns largely to Crosby’s hymns.[7] Some of Crosby’s best-known songs include “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour“, “Blessed Assurance“, “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home”, “Praise Him, Praise Him”, “Rescue the Perishing”, and “To God Be the Glory“. Some publishers were hesitant to have so many hymns by one person in their hymnals, so Crosby used nearly 200 different pseudonyms during her career.[8][b]
This Girl Loves Jesus
“Hey sweet thing, what’s your name?
I’ve been watching you. You wanna play a game?
I’ve got something you ain’t never seen, come a little closer
I’ll show you what I mean!”
Mister, I don’t know you; you’re barking up the wrong tree.
My heart’s already been taken, it’s just him and me.
But I’ll tell you this, sounds like you need him too.
Because, this girl, loves Jesus, no one else will do…
Would you die for me? Would you part the Red Sea?
Would you walk on water in the middle of a storm and welcome me,
With Open arms?
Would you heal the pain and misery, pick me up and set me free
Of all the heartache that was inside of me.
You see, this girl loves Jesus, no one else will do…
And if you ask him, he’ll love you too.
Eyes full of tears, surprised at this news…
“You’re a rare girl for sure…what do I have to do
To meet this Jesus, who, did all those things,
I’ve never met anyone like, you.”
Mister, if you’re true…all you have to do is ask him, to
Come into your heart, he’ll make you brand new!
Because, this girl loves Jesus, and I believe, he’s calling you!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 13, 2025
1 John 4:7 King James Version – Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
A Trip to Neverland
I hold your tiny hand in mine and walk to neverland
Just you and me, we giggle as we go…
Look mommy, a butterfly, and oh, see the birds that fly
And take a seat in that tree?
Now I sit in solitude and think about those times
Many moons ago…
Treasures of memories gone by so fast,
I wish time could have been, slow.
But you don’t know what you don’t know.
I hold your grown-up hand now, and see the man
That you’ve become…and I understand…
Honey, see that butterfly, see the birds that fly
And take a seat in the tree? Can we go to Neverland?
Now, what I see is a reflection of me in you…
Time does not go slow. I watch you take a tiny hand
And walk to Neverland.
~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 10, 2025
Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version – To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
First Dance
With anticipation and great risk of being rejected
The young man asks the young girl,
“May I have this dance?”
She looks up shy, at his glance, “Yes.”
Then takes the hand offered.
Placing their hands in the proper places
Smiles upon their uncertain faces
They begin to twirl and sway…
Caught up in the music as it plays…
Transformed into one, they glide across the crystal floor
A masterpiece of grace and form
Oo’s and Ah’s as the spectator’s watch
With unbelievable timing in each move, they make
First dance, a romance meant to be
The young man and she, are lost in the music with ecstasy
For you see, this music is the dance of life.
The young man found his wife!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 10, 2025
Proverbs 31:10-31 King James Version Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The Song of Miriam
As a young girl, I watched over my baby brother, Moses.
In a basket on the river Nile.
At middle age, I watched him flee the wrath of the King.
As an elderly woman, I greeted him as he returned home…
And now I’m with him facing the Red Sea.
The Red Sea before us, soldier’s behind, obeying God we run
No one lags behind…
Our God is taking us all the way to the finish line…
Horses and chariots, strong military men, pursue us in our plight
Behold! The sea crashes down on them,
They come to a watery end…
YHWH, delivered us this day.
Tambourines in hand, young and old, Miriam cries out…
Sing O daughters of men! Sing and do not keep silent
For our victory is won!
Praise and sing the God-praise song.
Joy fills the camp with a victory shout…
No more slaves, we’re delivered, set free…
For God in his sovereignty,
Has given us new life today!
We sing; we dance, our souls rejoice
Our God has triumphed gloriously,
Upon the other, side of the sea.
~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 2, 2025
Exodus 15:20-21 King James Version 20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Falsely Accused
No words of protest do I make
Even though I’m accused of wrong
I stand in judgement of evil men
Lies, of hate, their song…
For living my life for Jesus’ sake
They aim, my life, to take
I’ll sing and rejoice forevermore
In the presence of the King of kings
And Lord of lord’s
For I am not alone…
Those who were before me
Greet, me, on heaven’s golden streets.
~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 30, 2025
Matthew 5:11-12 King James Version Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake
Traveling down the Via Dolorosa Road
Tired, rejected, I’m fettered beneath a heavy load
Sneers on faces, rocks are thrown
I fall upon the ground, with broken bones
Living what’s right in God’s eyes alone…
The Kingdom of Heaven is near…
I see Jesus, “Child welcome home!”
Arms opened wide, we embrace
Persecuted for righteousness’s sake,
My spirit soars…
I’m held forever in God’s amazing grace!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 30, 2025
Matthew 5:10 King James Version Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Peacemakers
As a child of God, I reflect him
His perfect peace is seen
What I see him do, I do
Returning good for evil, love for hate
His character is true…
All His, children, are peaceful and kind
Be a peacemaker and you will find…
His peace reflected for all to see, that peace, is divine!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 24, 2025
Matthew 5:9 King James Version Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.