Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

There’s a pain within my stomach that aches~

And a thirst that must be quenched~

Righteousness, calls out to me~

That only God can fix.

A longing that only he can fill.

I earnestly desire justice~

By doing God’s perfect will~

Only then, my hunger and thirst, God fills.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 24, 2025

Matthew 5:6 King James Version Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Gentle spirit within me lives

To love and hope and to forgive

Trusting in the one who knows

He guides my heart, as I follow

Rich in faith in him alone

For it is God’s strength and not my own!

Inheriting the earth, life’s gift is sown.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 24, 2025

Matthew 5:5 King James Version Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Soul cries out

I need you God

Draw me near to your loving heart…

God’s heart sees, with arms held wide

Holy Comforter fulfills your deepest need!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 24, 2025

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 KJV

Lowly shepherd’s tending sheep…

Singing praise to the creator of all things,

Humility brings,

Children into the kingdom of God!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 24, 2025

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 KVJ

Discouragement and defeat sunk in, as we watched the soldiers bury him…

The enemy had truly won this fight…

The scribes and pharisees were proud of their deed. Satan had planted his evil seeds, and now, Messiah was gone.

It was truly Finished…

What we didn’t realize though, until we saw the glow, Of Jesus standing, talking to us…could we dare believe, it was so?

How? Why? Is it really you?

Doubt, betrayed our hearts…

In the darkness, Satan howled, “I’ve WON!! I’ve killed God’s son…there will be no redemption for man….” Proud of fulfilling his task…He had no idea this was all part of God’s plan!” He screeched and cried out, “BUT I WIN! Not You!” Like a spoiled rotten child, he was torn in-two…I’m not done! Not yet!” He went back into the mist of despair and dung, again he flees from the presence, in protest.

The mystery unfolds as the story goes, after seeing Jesus they now know, that what he said has come to pass. “I will go away but I will come again!”

To the victor goes the spoil…there was no contest…

God will always WIN!

Jesus is ALIVE…

He rises from the depths of death, now life has been renewed!

From generation to generation, friends, this includes you…

Receive New Life and Live!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 19, 2025

John 11:25 King James Version ²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

 

Luke 24:36-49 King James Version ³⁶ And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

³⁷ But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

³⁸ And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

³⁹ Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

⁴⁰ And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

⁴¹ And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

⁴² And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

⁴³ And he took it, and did eat before them.

 

Luke 24:50-51 King James Version ⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

⁵¹ And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

 

We couldn’t understand why the Master prayed,

So fervently, in the garden there he stayed, well into the night.

And so, we all fell asleep~

Awakened, three times and then, soldiers came~

In shock and unbelief, we watched Judas, as he kissed, the Messiah, he’s betrayed us all~

Satan hissed; and laughed; to see this, his hand had been well played.

They took the Lord, and before we could comprehend, his words rang in our ears~

We drew back in torment and fear.

Fear, they’d arrest us too!

Oh, what fools~ but it was too late.

Days later our hearts broke as we fully understood~ Judas had been the bait.

Our Messiah had been beaten, disgraced and nailed to a pole.

All the people looked on and said,

“See, he is not the Christ as you supposed~

Your king is dead!”

Worried, afraid, confused, it was done~

They had killed God’s only begotten son.

The door flew open, and Mary rushed in~

Great Joy, was in her words

“Peter, James, John, he’s not in the tomb!”

Gasps all around, we went to see, it was true, this man from Galilee~

Had kept his word and rose again~

He Lives!

The grave is empty!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 18, 2025

John 16:4 – 21st Century King James Version – ⁴ But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Matthew 26: 36-40 KJV – Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

³⁷ And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

³⁸ Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

³⁹ And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

⁴⁰ And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

 Luke 24: 36 KJV – And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

 

A few days before I went to see the final episode of season 5 of the Chosen. This thought came to me, “Shall these bones live?” I knew it was part of a scripture, but didn’t remember where it was found in the Bible.

Then in the movie, there was a scene where Jesus was in the garden and he walked and saw all these bones piled up and a man said to him, “Shall these bones live?”

Then Tuesday night, at a bible study we attend on zoom, Todd, who teaches the study mentioned for us to read Ezekiel 36-40. I spent the next day listening to it and there in chapter 37 again, was the scripture for, “Shall these bones live?” I was beginning to get the message; God was trying to tell me something. Three times he brought these words to my attention.

What are you telling me, Father?

This morning as is His custom, Holy Spirit began to speak to me. I was very discouraged in body, mind and spirit. I will spare you all my woes…but suffice it to say, I wanted to give up. But my precious friend and comforter, Holy Spirit said this to me.

“You have a choice. You can choose to wallow in self-pity, or, you can choose to live. I gave you a new life, an abundant life and this life is not yours; it is mine. How will you spend my life? Daughter, change your perspective. You are still alive don’t waste my life. Be diligent! Be bold! Shall these bones live again? They shall. Speak to these bones, and say to them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

Thus, saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:”

So, I say to you today, stop wallowing, and complaining, DO NOT GIVE UP! LIVE! Yea I say unto you, LIVE~ If you are a child of the living God, no matter how old you are as long as there is breath in you, say to these dead bones, “COME ALIVE!” It’s not your life you’re living; it is HIS! Be about The Father’s business, there is no time to waste! Seize the moment. Keep walking. Keep getting up. Keep living. Souls are at stake! That which is dead will live again. Abraham and Sarah’s body could not bring life, but God said…you will have a son.

Lazarus died but he lived again.

Jesus was killed, and buried in a tomb, three days later He Came Alive! The first fruits of the resurrection.

Only one life will soon, be past, only what’s done for Christ will last! Oh, ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! New breath I breathe into you today. Dry bones, Live!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 17, 2025

Ezekiel 37:1-14 KJV – The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley, which was full of bones,

² And caused me to pass by them round about: and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.

³ And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.

⁴ Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

⁵ Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

⁶ And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

⁸ And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

¹¹ Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

¹² Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

¹³ And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,

¹⁴ And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.

The porch-boards creaked, under the young rocker’s feet

Happily singing her song,

Mommy and child, swept away, while the wind gently sang along.

Making memories, they were oh, so sweet.

But time flew by, and the child grew wild

No more rocking or lullabies were heard, no more tender smiles.

And there in the garden, sat the old broken rocker to rot.

Seasons come and seasons go and so,

Vines grew around the rocker’s feet, thorns and thistles intertwined and meet

Silenced the song once sung so sweet…

No longer needed; this was the ole rocker’s fate.

Closed behind the garden gate.

There comes an old man bent, bending low and suddenly,

Low and behold! He opens the garden gate.

Spotting the ole rocker, he gasps with dismay

Remembering the songs with his mother she’d say…

 

Life won’t always be this way!

Darlin boy, you’ll grow up one day…

Remember our songs as you live and pray…

Mommy loves you, sweet boy, rock and play!

 

Eyes fill with blinding tears; he rushes to the ole rocker…

Taking her to his workshop, he repairs, all the broken, tattered tares…

Removed the vines that kept her bound. Fresh paint applied, set free, supplied

With freedom for the ole rocking chair.

Made brand new under the master’s hands…he sits on the porch and sings again…

I remember mama…he holds his hands and prays.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 14, 2025

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 King James Version Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

I am the Lord’s

And He is mine…

He calls me His own.

He smiles at me and lifts my eyes,

I see the light of His face

In His presence, I find rest

He surrounds me with loving kindness

He gives me His Shalom, Shalom!

I do not fear for He is my shield

He clears a safe path in the wilderness

The beast. the dragon. and the owl. honor Him

Therefore, I walk in blessedness…

I drink from hidden streams in the desert…

He sings over me with the stars at night.

My heart is filled with gladness…

I lie down and sleep

Knowing Elohim is with me…

I am not alone…

I dwell in holiness and fullness of grace…

For I am fully known…

And fully loved by Him…

Forever and always!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 4, 2025

Isaiah 43:18-20 King James Version – Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

 

Zephaniah 3:17 King James Version – The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

She quietly sits among her sisters,

High upon a shelf.

Teapots, fine China and pottery, made by the potter’s hand.

She be the eldest, from a place called, Vintage land.

Used by the Master at his, command.

Blue, like the sky where birds soar high.

White like the clouds, shapes of all size.

They tell a story of the ancients, long days, gone by!

But listen to the teapot as she sings her lullaby.

I’ve served my master well, filled to be poured out

Flavors of the strongest kind; steeped, to be sipped, as he dines.

Time has no meaning, blessed comfort I shall give…

Throughout eternity, I will abide and live.

To do what pleases the master, in love, and gratefulness

Chosen, created, content to be used, simply for this.

Giving joy to all who use me, one tiny kiss,

Poured out and running over, into the cup of forgiveness.

When you use a teapot choose wisely and you’ll find,

That perfect taste comes only from the one who is Divine.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 3, 2025

Ephesians 2:10 King James Version – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.