Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

I’m sharing my heart with you today…

Yesterday was day one, of our church community participating in a 21-Day-Daniel Prayer and Fasting. Over 1000 people signed up to pray and fast. How amazing is that!

Because of health challenges instead of fasting food I am fasting social media. I absolutely love the interaction I have with people all over the world and to interact with friends and family I wouldn’t see otherwise. Many people contact me for prayer and I am honored to pray for them and to hear how God has moved in their lives. Prayer is my passion along with writing and I thank God he put that desire within me.

There comes a time as a child of God, that he calls us to a deeper calling…deep calls to deep…and when we are obedient to his call…God meets us right where we are…and honors us by showing us his heart and his desires…

It takes prayer, and fasting. A time that we willingly, make a sacrifice, showing God just how serious we are to follow him…He said, “This kind, come not out but by prayer and fasting….What kind?

This kind: deliverance from powerful demons; deliverance from addictions and habits that will kill our body, soul and spirit. Prayer and fasting will increase our faith to cast this kind of demon out…

Prayer and fasting brings us closer to God face to face, it reveals to us our sin and weakness and it purges us from this kind of deep hidden sin so that we flow with the Spirit of God. Not focusing on the food or the sacrifice we give up…but all our being is focused on the Spirit of God and what He wants…

Prayer and fasting humbles us before the Lord…our heart and mind and soul becomes awakened by the Holy Spirit and we see into the heart of God…

Yes we still have to function in the world…go to work, take care of our family, do the mundane day to day things…but when we set aside special time to seek God and let go of all the distractions…we are illuminated with grace and mercy…

It’s not about feelings or diets or pride…you may not encounter a great vision or visitation of miraculous encounters…but you will encounter the Spirit of the Living God by faith…faith is a knowing and a certainty it is the revelation of Jesus Christ and who He is and that he has called us into his glorious light.

Yesterday I read some scripture, and did some reading from an inspirational book keeping my heart and mind on the Lord. I prayed and listened for the voice of the Holy Spirit. I went about my tasks…then late last night I watched a TV program on Pure Flix. (And by the way, I don’t consider that social media, if it is then I repent.) The movie was called the Prayer Box. In the first few minutes of the movie I burst into tears because conviction hit me full force as I saw this young man, (he was thirteen) knell at his church altar. Everyone prayed a few minutes then one by one they went back to their seat so the minister could continue the service…the boy stayed at the altar praying…the minister wanted to go on with the service so he knelt by the boy and said, son why don’t you write your prayer request down and put it in the prayer box. So he did. After the service the boy left but he forgot his jacket so he went around the side of the building and as he looked he saw the minister cleaning up, he took the prayer box and emptied it into the trash…the boy waited until he was gone he went over and took the request out of the trash there were about four requests…there are four parts to the movie, you’ll have to watch the rest of the story to see what happened…God really spoke through this to me.

How many times do we tell people, “I’ll pray for you, or I’ll be praying for you?” But do we pray? Are we praying for them? This is the part that hit me hard…even though I am a prayer warrior and have a passion for praying and I pray for many people…there have been times when I said, I’ll pray and walk away and I forget…I try very hard to do what I say because I don’t want to dishonor the Lord… I don’t want to bring condemnation. The Holy Spirit doesn’t do that. He brings conviction. Conviction brings repentance and God gives the victory!

I guess what the Holy Spirit is saying is, “Are you doing, what you say, you’re going to do?”

Let our yes, be yes, and our no, be no! We are human and we do forget but let us become more aware of what we say and do it. Let us be people of integrity, honor and truth so that we are doing right before God and man. Let the purpose and calling of God be carried out so that he can trust us with his plan.

Lord, help us take action and do what we say we’ll do. Not so that we gain praise for ourselves, but that always, what we do will be to glorify you. Amen.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 15, 2019

Matthew 5:37 The Message (MSG) Empty Promises

“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

Matthew 17:20-22 Amplified Bible (AMP) He answered, “Because of your little faith [your lack of trust and confidence in the power of God]; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have [living] faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and [if it is God’s will] it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.[But this kind of demon does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]”

 

As I prayed this morning I received this from the Holy Spirit. I hope as your read this that you will be encouraged and that as you seek the Lord that he will confirm in your heart that he is speaking. I pray that your spirit bears witness to the Holy Spirit and that Jesus is lifted up…Amen.

~I am and forever will be. I have called but many will not respond to my call because their hearts and minds are far from me. But you responded and I have called you to me, to be a blessing to me and to others.

I am calling out~

I am compelling all who will listen, will see a great harvest. A harvest that is greater than any since the beginning of time…

A harvest of souls that will be planters of seeds…people of great faith and warriors of praise, teachers, evangelist, prophets, people of grace, courageous and fierce in the face of great opposition…they will not conform to this world but will be transformed into my image, and they will help transform souls for my Kingdom. Their character will be my character…they will walk in righteousness and peace and hope… 

Many will say no and walk away because the world is to powerful a force for them to let it go. But those who say YES will become sons and daughters of God. 

Persecutions are coming, there have always been persecutions but it will become more blatant…Do Not be afraid for I am with you. 

The time of ease has passed…

The time of complacency is over…

For those who are for me will receive insight and strength, wisdom and grace on a fresh new level…

Open your heart to receive my plans, my ideas, my ways, to walk in purity and truth! 

Don’t be deceived by the smooth talkers those who say I am here to help you, those who promise you everything will be Okay…

DO NOT trust in the arms of flesh…for the enemy promises great wealth and prosperity in the earthly realm…but he is lying it is a trap…the powers of darkness are at work… 

The pride of life, the lust of the eyes, and the lust of the flesh, has been his tools from the beginning of time… a third of the angels fell because of his lies…

Eve fell because she believed his lies and death entered the soul of mankind and every living thing…

All throughout history men and women have fallen because they listened and believed his lies…

But I have put my Spirit of Truth within you to know and to follow my voice~

You are mine because you hear and follow my voice…

Stay in an attitude of faith and pray, so that you will not fall from my grace…

Wait for my confirmation…seek me with your whole heart…wait on me, do not run ahead of my Spirit…this is wisdom…

Know my word…study it…speak it…for it is life know it and you will not be deceived. 

You will know who are mine by my love, pour it out to one another…

My love is the greatest gift of all!

People brag about their spiritual gifts they only want to use them for their praise… their hearts are full of arrogance and pride…this will not bring my righteousness… 

More than any other gift seek the gift of my Love, my love gives; it does not take…

Receive my love today…I impart it to you even now…

For I Am Love

Do not follow the stranger

Do not follow the tale bearer

Do not follow the mocker who claims he has all the answers…he will lead you to destruction and death

Follow the Holy Spirit; he doesn’t talk about himself…He talks about my Son, the one you know as Jesus/Yeshua…

He is the one who gave his life for you and it is my Son who brings you before me…He intercedes for you…He has all the authority; pray in His name…

Keep your eyes and your heart and your mind on Him

Follow Jesus not man! 

~January 9, 2019 – mso

  Painted originally by: Carl Gutherz

Will you drink this cup of suffering?

Poured out for you to sup…

Where your life is given completely

It’s the price you must offer up…

The blood of my son is the sacrifice

Not to bargain or entice…

But an act of true surrender

What will your answer be…?

Then finally, after much grief and agony

Pleading for, reprieve…

Jesus prays,

If it be your will take this cup from me

It’s more than I can bear…

Abba, suffering brings obedience

I will surrender my will to thee…

For you, have chosen this cup for me…

God answers,

Son, it is I, who cannot bear giving this cup to thee

But if you do not drink from it; mankind will not go free…

I chose this cup, because I knew, you would do this for humanity…

For all the ones, who drink from this cup, will live eternally…

Abba is looking straight into your heart today…

He is pleading with you…

Will you, drink the cup of suffering?

Will you obey, or, walk away?

~Marla Shaw O’Neill January 8, 2019

Luke 22:42 New International Version “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Hebrews 5:7-8 New International Version (NIV) During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered

 Too much mind Lord

Cluttered with thoughts and plans

Not designed by your hand…

Too many miles, Lord, how can I ask for more…?

Stranded in a broken deserted land…

People complaining never content…

Like jackals fighting over their prey

Struggling for all they can get; very little pay…

You asked once….

“Will I find faith on earth, when I return one day?”

The days are darkened;

And like zombies all obey, the socialized media, with the games we play

Keeping us mesmerized, mind controlled, staring with each and every scroll,

Down and down we go…to the virtual world below…

We use Jesus for a magic ride…

Religion turns the ocean’s tide…

Into something unknown so we justify…

Self is more important, we believe the lie…

Holy God and Holy Son shatter this abominable disguise

Help us to lift our eyes…

To you the only truth there is…

Help us once again…be purified…

To die to self and live in you

Let this be our mantra true…

God forgive us…we mustn’t rule…

We sit upon your rightful throne while taking your holy name in vain

Return us to your blessed home…

So we can rest in you again…

Let us enter into the holy place

Where we see Jesus’ redeeming face

God set our hearts ablaze…

So there’s no more disgrace…

Let us enter into your blessed rest…

Shake our hearts until we fall on you

Waken us out of this hypnotic test

Snap your fingers and we will not protest…

God let us enter into your holiness

And there we’ll find our rest…

Amen.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill

Hebrews 4:10-11 The Message (MSG) And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.

I’ve learned that time goes by really fast…

It doesn’t seem like it when you’re young but trust me it does…

I’ve learned that people you love and care about don’t always live out their days with you; some die young and leave you to walk on without them…

I’ve learned that forgiveness really is for yourself and that doing it sooner than later makes you feel so much better…

I’ve learned that people can be cruel and unjust and down-right mean…but they can also change for the better…I’ve learned not to judge because I’m a people too…

I’ve learned that having your cake and eating it too, is not fun…it’s so much better to share…

I’ve learned that the sun will come up in the morning, that birds sing in the rain and that God answers prayer…

I’ve learned not to take people for granted…

I’ve learned to be grateful in everything…to take the good with the bad and that there is a reason for whatever happens in your life…

I’ve learned that divorce will not kill you but it hurts a long-long time…and no one wins…

I’ve learned that God’s greatest blessings are children. To carry them next to your heart for nine months, birth them, hold them and raise them…that nothing compares to that kind of love. Until you have grandchildren. (And except for God’s love there is no greater love.)

I’ve learned that seasons come and seasons go, and that life is a cycle we can only take one day at a time and that we should never, ever give up…

I’ve learned to trust God and to obey him…and that wisdom comes from Him…and if we want wisdom, all we have to do is ask him and he’ll give it…

I’ve learned that love is the most important character you can give and when you give love, it comes back to you multiplied…

I’ve learned that there can be a happily-ever-after…

I’ve also learned in my Sixty-five years that the body gives out…you walk slower…you think slower…and that what you thought was important is not…

I’ve learned to count my blessings and not my disappointments

I’ve learned that letting go of hurts is better than hanging onto them…

I’ve learned that each day is a miracle from God

That each breath I take, each thought I think, each bird I hear or flower I see, is, to be cherished.

I’ve learned that each life I come in contact with is a potential brother or sister and that they are worth more than money, or things…that life is priceless…

And when I’m alone because my family is not close in location…and I cry my tears of wishing they were near…I’ve learned that God is near…and they have their lives to live so that they can learn what they need to learn…and I pray that God will bless them with many years to come…

I’ve learned that what we do, speaks louder than what we say…so we must choose carefully…

Sixty-five years is not really that long on this earth…but I am thankful for every year I’ve lived…we are not promised a tomorrow…but we hope in the Lord…

I’ve learned that no matter what comes or goes in my life…that I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and I pray with all my heart that when I leave this world…people will know I lived what I believe…

God bless you friends…

God bless you family…

Life is continuous lessons…It is a powerful teacher!

Love,

Marla Shaw O’Neill January 2, 2019

I will be 65 years old tomorrow. January 3, 2019. Thank you God for all the lessons learned. Amen

Romans 8:28 New King James Version (NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

Precious Papa, yours is a heart of love and life~

You come along side your children and you lead and guide us into paths of life, truth and righteousness~

Your love is everlasting~

Praying this morning I heard…

“Choose life! Choose life! Choose life!

Return to your first love!

Turn away from the whispers of that old serpent who hisses lies and deception~

Turn away from your doubts and fears~

Turn away from the glamour of this life it only leads to a bottomless pit~

Turn away from the spectacular…don’t go down easy street, where you are promised vanishing dreams and empty pots of gold~

You chase the wind~

The wind never stops blowing, never reaches its destination…it goes where it pleases and leaves disappointment and disaster in its wake…

There is a way that seems, right, but it only leads to despair. It is an illusion to keep you in its grip until all that remains is nothing…

Stop running~

What you long for is right in front of you, but you are blind and can’t see, deaf and can’t hear, mute and can’t speak, you are under the old serpents spell…

Snap out of it! Wake up!

I’ve been with you. I’ve been calling you all your life!

But you’ve rejected me, spat on me, laughed and mocked me and then you crucified me and kept me buried in a tomb~

I am not in the tomb!

I am not in the wind!

I am not in the fame and wealth of this world~

I am, that small still voice beckoning you to open your heart and let me come in~

I am offering you a gift…

Not wrapped up in pretty boxes and tied up with colorful bows…

I am not bright shining lights flickering on roof tops or trees adorned with garland and stars…

I am not in a manger or hanging on a cross~

All those things are pleasant, but that’s not what life is all about!

I AM Alive!

Right now, this instant, I am wooing you; prodigal son, prodigal daughter, come home!

I am the lover of your soul…

Sustainer of your life…

I am your first love!

The one you’ve searched for but couldn’t find because you thought I was someone, or something else~

I am the one who has protected you, surrounded you with holy guards, so that death could not take you before your time~

I am the one who cried over you

Prayed for you and died for you!

I am Yeshua…Savior…Redeemer…Messiah…and your friend!

I am the one who pursues you to the end of your days~

Wanting you to know, that, life, begins with Me!

Return beloved…

Return to your true love!”

Yeshua~

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 20, 2018

Revelation 2:4-5 The Message (MSG)

“But you walked away from your first love—why? What’s going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you’ve fallen? A Lucifer fall!

“Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I’m well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle.

 The season has come and we’re told to rejoice…

I’ve come to realize this is a day to day choice…

Times long gone with many I hold dear to my heart

Memories like shifting shadows mingle in the dark…

Once the child, with hopeful yearnings of dreams and things…

Eyes bright and expectant awaiting Christmas morn…

Now the child has long since grown with gray hair adorning

Traces of years upon the face…leaving memories, just a trace

Of days evaporated into time and space…now taking my rightful place

Step by step; making haste…

Trying so hard not to waste

The time we have together…

Life is a circle…

It never ends…when one leaves, another begins…

Look in the mirror my friend…

Life is passing by like a steady wind

New faces come into play…

Old faces gone away…

But Love never ends…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 17, 2018

Psalm 103:15-18 New International Version (NIV)

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Let me just say that this prayer is said so that souls will turn their hearts to Jesus. I’m talking about emotional and spiritual walls. Walls that separate us from God! Walls that keep us from helping each other and being brothers and sisters in Christ…this is not to stir up strife but to free us from the enemy’s clutches…Love conquers evil…please do not read anything into this but what God’s heart is about!! It’s about repentance and holiness before the living God! In Jesus name amen!

Jesus,

Tear down the walls of compromise and complacency…

Tear down the walls of prejudice and gossip and hate…

Tear down the walls of lies and deception and seduction…

Jesus, help us to turn our hearts, our ears, our eyes, our hands and feet towards you so that you are all we see and will follow.

You are our hiding place, our high tower; you are our hope and redemption

You are our strength and our peace and life you are truth…

Oh Lord, I cry before you today. Without you I am an empty shell

I am incomplete and lost…

Help us Lord! Have mercy. Turn our hearts to your heart…

Lord, I’m tired…but you said do not grow weary in doing good…

For we will bring forth a great harvest if we don’t give up

People are running and seeking pleasure and things that won’t last…

Tear down the walls of religion, and politics…

Tear down the walls of selfish ambition and self-gratification…

Tear down the walls of greed and pride…

Humble us Oh God and bring us back to the cross

To see you, and, to know you, in the beauty of holiness and all that you have given

Humanity is blessed because of your great love and sacrifice…

God tear down the walls of racism and indifference

Tear down the walls of materialism and turn our hearts to what is most important to you

This world is not our home…but you’ve said to occupy until you come…

Help us to remember why we are here…

Help us remember the call and who it is for…

Help us remember if we find our life we lose it, but, if we lose our life for your sake we find it…

Help us remember, this is a walk of faith and that your grace is sufficient for us day by day…

Jesus, you, be lifted up…so that all will be drawn unto you!

Amen…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 18, 2018

Joshua 6:15-21 NIV

On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.” When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.

 Darkness, despair, lost and afraid…

Wondering, is there something more?

Could I possibly be saved…?

Where can I go? Who can I turn too?

I’m so frightened; I don’t know what to do…

Living in my car…tortured day and night…

Demons pursuing me this can’t be right…

Driving, I see a sign…that reads Journey Church

Drawn by some unforeseen force, I end my search…

Sitting listening to the message it’s exactly what I need

Crying out, I hear the man say, Don’t walk away…

I know you may think this is just a cliché…

But I’m telling you, you can have a new life, if you will accept Jesus today…

Standing up front is our prayer team; they are there for you, if you want to pray…

With every ounce of courage I have, I take the long walk forward; with heart pounding…and whispers in my ear, don’t go… I press forward…

I tell them my story…

Not knowing if they can help me or not, especially because it’s so gory…

Getting reinforcements, they bring me to the cross of Calvary…

Do you want Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? The one man asks…

Without hesitation I say, yes.

Repeating the words, I ask Jesus into my heart…

I’m forever changed… I have a new life, a new start…

I’m clean, my sins erased…the demons flee…

Now God is living inside of me…

If I had not come today

If I had turned and walked away

If I had let fear and doubt overtake me

I would not be free…

But because you were there today

Because you helped me pray

I’m a new person in every way

Thank you, that you obeyed God, today!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 10, 2018

This is a true story. Sunday, Bob and I had the wonderful honor, along with our Pastor Shane, to lead a young man to the Lord Jesus Christ. I was feeling extremely sick that morning and wasn’t sure if I would make it to the 12:30 service. But I pressed in and with prayer and perseverance we made it to the prayer room where we pray before the service begins. The team prayed for souls to be saved and for God to move on the hearts of hurting people. The week before there were 101 souls that gave their hearts to Jesus…I don’t know how many made that choice this past Sunday yet, but I do know this one young man did…I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced leading someone to Jesus or not but I can tell you, there is nothing like it…knowing that there are demons fighting to keep them…but also knowing that God, by the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus with prayer warriors praying…souls are given the courage and strength to make the decision to accept Jesus into their hearts, and will know that they are forever changed, is worth every effort to be in the service of the Lord.

That does not mean life will not be difficult…but it does mean that instead of fighting the battle alone without hope…you have the hosts of heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ to fight the battle with you….He puts his Holy Spirit within you so that you are more than a conqueror…and you have the family of God standing alongside of you to cheer you on…and to hold you up and to help you all the way through this life. With God’s word…the Holy Spirit and with fellowship and prayer…we will overcome! Don’t give up…don’t grow weary…the harvest is ready and you are needed to glean in the fields…Amen!