The Bride-Groom Speaks
One glance of your eyes and you capture my heart…
Like a shooting star across the sky
Brilliant, streaming light goes by…
Prisms in color and fire, ignite
Your smile bringing my soul to life
Like lilies in the field, bare, spinning in the wind
Yellow, orange and white…
Stemmed in green, tall and serene
My love you’ve stolen everything…
Never to recover, your love to discover
As we two become one…
My precious dove
My own true love…
Forever…
Still, and filled, with awe, and contentment
Sealed in covenant…
By blood, we live…
~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 5, 2018
Song of Solomon 4:9 Expanded Bible (EXB) My sister [ an ancient term of endearment], my bride, you have thrilled my heart [drive me crazy]; you have thrilled my heart [drive me crazy] with a [ one] glance of your eyes, with one sparkle [ jewel] from your necklace.
The Little Kid
This is dedicated to all the children that are hurting at this time of year even to the little kid within each adult!
Dear God,
I know you have lots of things to do
You must be very busy this time of year
I heard, though, that you are never too busy
To hear each-and-every prayer
Even though I’m way down here
And you are way up there…
God, I need to ask you a favor
You see, mommy and daddy used to be
Kind and loving and happy
They used to pray and laugh and sing
But lately…they only bring…
Tears and hard words they sling…
Not knowing I hear them late at night
God, I don’t think everything is alright…
I’m only a little kid…was it something I did
To make them so unhappy instead
Of holding hands and bowing heads
A thankful heart at breakfast said…
Give us this day our daily bread…
What happened God
To many tears I shed
When no one sees me, and I lie frightened in my bed…
God, can you send help in my time of need
Giving love, planting seeds…
Of forgiveness, instead of greed
Some write letters to Santa, for toys and games
But if it’s all the same
I’m writing to you God
Heal mommy and daddy’s heart
Give them a do-over; with a brand new start…
Make them stop yelling,
So there’s no more hurt and no more blame…
This is all I ask God…in Jesus name…
Love,
The Little Kid
~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 3, 2018
Shepherd Audience
With a force more powerful than the human imagination can comprehend
Angels descend, in heaven’s starlit night
With a glorious majestic melody, the angels begin to sing
Glory to God in the Highest…
Peace, Goodwill, to all men we bring…
Joy and Hope our song will ring…
On this holy silent night
Shepherds watch in astonished fright…
An audience for the angel’s penetrating,
New beginning, holy choir, in sight
Let all the earth rejoice…
Be not afraid, they hear one say…
For Christ is born this very day…
Go see the babe in yonder manger lay…
The King of heaven here to stay
Bringing life, truth, and to show the way
Rejoice, lowly shepherd’s, for
Messiah has chosen you…
In open field, you’re witnesses
Where God’s love is sleeping, still
Beneath the stars in a humble barn
You’ll find him wrapped on yonder hill…
The savior of the world is here…
Angel voices, rise, in waves, of harmony
Ten thousand vibrations move the earth
With a song of glorious delight
Singing to the lowly shepherd’s on this Holy Night!
Royal star shining bright
Where baby Jesus sleeps, held tight…
Within his mother’s arms, this night!
Rock-a-bye my baby boy
Mary sings a lullaby
Son of mine and God’s delight
In this solitude and holy night
Shepherds bring a tiny lamb
King of heaven the great I Am
Resting in my arms so tight…
Rock-a-bye, my baby boy
Heaven has sent its greatest joy…
On this holy night!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 28, 2018
Luke 2:14 King James Version (KJV) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
The Struggle
Muted by the stings of life
The soul is torn by hurt and strife
Countless days and countless nights
Anger, mocking him, while he fights…
Perpetual feelings of taking flight
Courage to stay, takes all his might…
Year after year his burden grew
Smiles on the outside, when no one knew…
What his battered soul was going through…
Would this ever change?
Could he hope to live again?
Who would come and rescue him?
Hanging from this brittle limb?
Head bowed in discouragement
Loss, despair and bereavement
Nothing left or so it seemed
He heard the words,
“You’ve been redeemed…”
Light shown from everywhere
God has answered his unceasing prayer…
Heart pounding, head swimming,
Sweaty palms raised in the air…
Laughter, singing, joy is bringing
New life to the heart of him…
Renewed by faith…and full of grace…
Standing in this broken place…
Life begins again…
Unseen hands and unseen words
Brought by the wind of a gentle bird
Life still hard but anger dissolved
Jesus takes over, the burden’s resolved…
All for the glory of God!
With each new step, in each new day
Struggle builds strength, along the way…
And on this journey he hears God say…
“You’ve been redeemed…”
~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 27, 2018
Ephesians 4:31-32 New Living Translation (NLT) Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Galatians 1:4 New International Version (NIV) who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Isaiah 44:22 New International Version (NIV) I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 New King James Version (NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
God’s Truth Defeats the Devil’s Lie
Yesterday, Pastor Jr. gave us an encouraging and thought-provoking message. In his message he asked us to write on a piece of paper, a lie that the enemy tells us about ourselves…I thought about it and I wrote one down…but my mind kept searching for something else, and the thought came to me… “You’re getting older, and time is running out. There isn’t much time left for you to accomplish what God has for you to do. Time is running out!”
When I thought the words, “Time is running out…” The Holy Spirit spoke right back to me and said, “I am time…time, does not, run out, it is eternal…”
WOW!!
I may not be here physically in this life one day, but I will continue forever….Time doesn’t stop because we die. When we are children of the living God, if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Only begotten Son of God…we live on…this life gives us, at the most maybe 100 years…but compared to eternity…we have more life ahead of us than behind us…what we do here on this earth with the time we are allotted determines our eternity and how we will live forever…
We are living in eternity right now…life doesn’t end, it continues…
The lie the enemy has spread since the beginning, is that time is running out… (It is running out for him, but not for those who are the children of God)
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life, though you die, you will live, if you believe in me, you will never die…”(para)
Live one day at a time. Be kind to people and to animals. Pray every day. Let go of things you can do nothing about. Never stop changing for the better. Be a great example of His love and peace. Laugh and lend a helping hand. When sickness, trouble and trials come…take them to the Lord and let Him sort them all out. We are weak, but He is strong…Yes, Jesus loves me…Yes, Jesus loves me…Yes, Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so! There is much wisdom in that little song…find a scripture that speaks to you and memorize it…post it where you can see it often and say it out loud…because Faith comes by hearing the word of God…Let truth, conqueror the lie…and remember…time is not running out…because God is time…He is forever…and so are you!
Our bodies grow weak and feeble but when we exercise our spirit by being plugged into the Holy Spirit, we are more than conquerors… we are mighty warriors…living, thinking, breathing, expressing, overcoming, strong children of the living God…we are His and we can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives us strength…AMEN!!
Don’t be afraid…Don’t give up…for when you are weak…that’s when He is the strongest in you…we can’t do anything in our own strength…but With God All Things Are Possible!!! Only Believe!
John 11:17-44 New King James Version (NKJV) I Am the Resurrection and the Life
So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Jesus and Death, the Last Enemy
And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
Lazarus Raised from the Dead
Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave-clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Happy Thanksgiving To Everyone All Over the World
My Blog Was Temporally Down but is up again in time to say…
I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving. My prayer for you is that you will be healthy and strong full of grace and hope and love and joy on this day we celebrate as a day of Thanksgiving but that it stays with you throughout all the days of your life!!
Love and blessings from our house to yours in Jesus Name Amen,
Bob and Marla O’Neill 2018
From the Other Side
I’m posting this piece written by my friend April Wall. April knows first hand what it’s like to be in a relationship with someone who suffers from addiction. She has survived years of hurt and pain through the process. In talking with her I understand her heart. She said, “If this encourages just one person, it is worth it.” I thank God for his mercy and his grace to help us understand that only his love can sustain us through this life. As his children, we lean on him for wisdom and hope. Our prayer is for deliverance for all those we love who are suffering, that somehow, someway, they will find his peace and healing.
Photo by April Wall
Trying to understand an alcoholic is like trying to
Solve a 1000 piece puzzle.
After you finish; you find that you still have missing pieces.
You’re frustrated that you wasted so much time and energy.
Do you quit?
Or, do you continue the insanity of trying to find the missing pieces,
But it’s to no avail.
We realize it’s a disease that they can’t control.
They didn’t cause it, and there is no cure.
It’s then we can begin to understand and let go of trying to fix them.
The best remedy is to love them and know they are “children of God”
Different and special…
It’s not easy living with them~
But it’s not easy living without them either.
We are all human and complex when it comes to our
Feelings and emotions…
We must accept them for who they are
Both the good, and the bad, and not judge them
Because they don’t fit a mold we enjoy~
Living one day at a time
Forgetting our yesterday’s, for they are gone
Don’t look for tomorrows, for we were never promised
But live only in this “moment” we call the present.
It’s a gift from our Heavenly Father who created us
To love each other
The way He loves us…
If we can let God into our lives
And let go of our expectation
We might just find
Serenity…
It starts with us.
We are our brother’s keeper
Each one of us is here for a reason
Our life is never going to be smooth sailing
We were told that too.
So be kind to all because you never know
The pain someone is suffering…
A kind word or a warm smile
May be just enough…
To get them through the day.
~April Wall-2018
Be Filled
Why do you suppose we don’t see more manifestations of healing today?
One reason is because we’ve stopped tarrying and asking for the in filling of the Holy Spirit.
We treat Him as an unwelcome guest.
Saying He is something of the past instead of One of the persons of God
One of the last things Jesus said to the disciples was to go to Jerusalem and tarry (wait) there until you are empowered with the Holy Ghost…He is the promise, the one Jesus told them about. He is the other comforter and would be IN them to teach them and guide them into all truth.
John 14:15-17 Amplified Bible (AMP) “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.
If healing comes through the Holy Spirit but we don’t believe in Him or we leave Him outside then what do we expect?
He is not only the Healer…He brings with Him gifts or attributes that shows who He is…but if we mock Him and leave Him covered up, hidden, and we are afraid to receive Him there will be no salvation of souls…no healing or deliverance no guidance or comfort, no faith…Jesus said, I’m going away but I will not leave you as orphans John 14:18
Gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
-
Wisdom – He knows God because He is God.
- Knowledge – He created the world and all things in it.
- Faith – Pleases God
- Gifts of healing – He said healing is the children’s bread.
- Working of miracles – It is His good pleasure to give good things to His children.
- Prophecy – He is the one who tells us what the future will bring.
- Discerning of spirits – He is the one who tells us who and what is of God and who and what is not of God.
- Diverse kinds of tongues (various languages not by natural acquirement but by the Spirit)
- Interpretation of tongues – He reveals what He is saying so that we understand and will be built up in Him…His grace and His mercy will flow.
- Unselfish Love – for Love is the greatest of all…His love will never fail.
When you read the Book of Acts and it describes the entrance or the appearance of The Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost…He didn’t come in, tiptoeing…He came in with the SOUND OF A MIGHTY RUSHING WIND…LIKE A HURRICANE OR TORNADO… …and the manifestation of TONGUES OF FIRE…UPON EACH OF THE 120 men and women who were in the room…and they ALL SPOKE IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES…glorifying and magnifying GOD! It was so loud that the people in the city who had come from all over the known world for the festival, heard the noise and came to see what it was all about. (Acts 2:4) AND IT SAYS THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE KNOWN WORLD AND THEY HEARD WORDS IN EACH OF THEIR OWN LANGUAGE, PRAISES TO GOD!
SOME MOCKED AND LAUGHED IT OFF, SAYING THEY ARE DRUNK…
But Peter full of the power and faith of the Holy Spirit stood bold and raised his voice and said, these men are not drunk as you suppose, it’s only 9:00 in the morning…No this is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel: In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Read Acts 2:17-21
So I have a question: Is God, the same yesterday, today, and forever…does he change? NO! What He did then, He still does today. If we will let Him. Let go of fear and doubt and believe in Him! Jesus is the giver of the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit comes to reveal Jesus to us with truth! (Hebrews 13:8)
There is a liar and an enemy of God who sits in our midst and says…that is not of God…it was only for the early Church. You have no power now. And he mocks the things of God and the Children of God to keep us sick, afraid, discouraged, depressed, bound by sin and hopelessness all the while sitting back and laughing…Stop listening to Satan…resist him in the name of Jesus and BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND FIRE!!!! Then in the middle of chaos, disease, storm, trial, persecution, death, you stand strong and true and you will see salvation and healing and prophesying, and you will Live victorious lives because with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE!!
GOD IS NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE…NEITHER THE SON OF MAN THAT HE SHOULD REPENT…HAS HE NOT SAID AND SHALL HE NOT DO IT!!!
Numbers 23:19-21 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.
Oh brothers and sisters…we must TARRY, wait upon the Lord…ask Him for a fresh anointing and be FULL OF HIS SPIRIT…He said in John 7:38 King James Version (KJV) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
You want healing? You want deliverance and your family praising and serving God…THEN ASK JESUS TO FILL YOU WITH THIS HOLY SPRIRIT…
I’m not talking about having a form of Godliness…I’m not talking about sensationalism…I’m not talking about putting on a show…I’m not talking about tongue talkers for the sake of talking with no understanding…I’m talking about letting the Holy Spirit move and breath and have total control in our lives for the Glory of God!
I’m talking about what Peter said…Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38
Come on…get serious with God…and He will get serious with you!!!
Don’t hide from Jesus…Be bold and courageous and let your light shine…be Full of the Holy Ghost and Power in Jesus name…not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord!!! Ask, and you shall receive…
~Marla Shaw O’Neill November 20, 2018
Acts 2 New International Version (NIV)
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
“‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Revelation 1:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV) Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Who Do You Say That I Am
