Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

There is a flower that grows in the plains of Shar’on in Israel.

Some call it the Rose of Sharon. Some say it is a tulip or lily of the field.

Whatever it is, we know this, that where it grows there are thorns…

Protected from the elements, more beautiful than the robes of kings…

Saturated in waters that flow straight from Emanuel’s veins…

Soil so fertile, the flowers sing, as it is nourished by holy angel’s wings…

Gently it blows and refreshes the air…

Bowing, it kisses the ground that’s found there…

Bees tastes its nectar; butterflies futter within the airstreams…

Love is its gift, here’s what it means…

The beautiful Rose of Sharon appears,

When hearts on fire bring Spirit tears

To wash away every doubt and fear…

As the Rose is crushed to bring us here…

Giving new life in this atmosphere…

Who is this Rose of Sharon?

Jesus, the King of Heaven…

The flower is not as plentiful as it used to be…

Never-the-less it still stands in glorious beauty,

For all eternity…

For Jesus, is, the Rose of Sharon

All who believe in Him will never die.

The Holy Breath beckons you even now,

Come, hear his hearts cry…

Precious daughter, precious son

Today your life has finally begun!

In the fields of Sharon, the flower still grows…

Let me show you it’s beauty and become one of those…

Who chooses Jesus and will always follow… 

~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 9, 2023

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.  As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. Song of Solomon 2:1-2 King James Version

Painting by: Michael Dudash

When the storms in life begin to blow, will you trust me?

When the earth shakes, and the ground breaks will you trust me?

When darkness comes and you can’t see the light, will you trust me?

Will you trust me when, and if, and whatever comes your way, or will you cower and run to hide away…?

Child, that’s when you need to trust me.

I will not leave you; I will not forsake you,

Remember all the times I was right there with you; my love carried you through…

Trust me, even now, as doubt, fear and anxiety try to rob you of your peace…

Remember, what I said, while on the raging sea…

“Peace! Be still! Then watch the storms in life cease…”

There will be valleys of despair

Uncontrollable grief

Trials and tribulations

Troubles increase

Exhaustion and temptations, anger and regret

Fear and endless tears, don’t give up, it’s not over yet…

In the valley, you’ll find your peace

In the grief, joy will overflow

In trials and tribulations, endurance will grow

Troubles come and troubles go, cling to me and see

Exhaustion and temptations, bring refreshing as you cling to me

Anger and regret, will disappear with one drop of my grace

Fear and endless tears, won’t be seen upon your face

Because child, your foundation wasn’t built on sinking sand

Your heart was steadfast as you made a bold, brave, stand

To live and breathe and move, in faith and hope and love…

Knowing Jesus would save you, as He listened from above…

That if he did, or, did not deliver you, your heart was stayed on Him…

Holy Spirit gently whispered…

I Am, is with you!

I Am, will set you free!

There’s nothing broken or shaken…

When you put your trust in me!

Trust me, because I’ve been there!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 18, 2023

Romans 8:38-39 New King James Version For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Mark 4:38-40 New King James Version But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

 

Mama, why does life have to be so hard?

Why do people have to be so cruel?

Why is that when it rains it pours?

There’s trouble and hardship.

Heartaches and bad brakes…

Why Mama? Why’s life so hard?

Sweet child of mine I’ve been right where you are.

I’ve watched many a sunrise and sunset,

I’ve had my share of break ups and break downs.

I’ve gone all the way around,

Mountains and valleys, rivers and long dark paths

Why’s life got to be so hard? I too would ask…

One thing I’ve learned though.

This too shall pass…

When the darkness falls, and it looks like you can’t get up.

When you are drinking from an empty cup

When all you can do is cry, when will it end? How long will it last?

Remember, child,

This too shall pass…

Faith is not on the other side.

Now Faith is, whether we live or die.

Don’t live in the past…

You can’t go back…

Don’t live in the future…

It never arrives…

Live in the right now, take all your fears and let Jesus cast…

All your woes into the sea of forgetfulness…

Because darlin’

This too shall pass!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 16, 2023

My mama lived eighty-three years in this world. I’d be going through something, and I’d tell her about it and she’d always say, “This too shall pass.” I’d get so aggravated when she’d say that, but I’ve come to understand exactly what she meant. Now I treasure her words and one of these days I know I’ll be seeing her again…some things in fact many things we just don’t have any control over. But in my lifetime, I see clearly that the many things I was fearful and concerned about did in fact pass.

She’d also say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” Life is too short to wallow in self-pity or try to fix everyone else. Jesus said, cast all your care upon him, because he cares for you! That’s where we will find our greatest peace…when life gets hard, and you feel like giving up…Go to Jesus first and these things shall pass! Maybe not always in the way we think but when he does it, it is so much better. Life is hard, but God is good!

Let me tell you just how awesome our God is…

For the last few months, I’ve gone through a severe virus, had a jaw tooth pulled because of pain from a chipped tooth, and because of not being able to eat right, I lost a lot of my strength and I’m struggling to get it back. Today I had to have a squamous cancer removed, it’s close to my collar bone that was fun, not! The really cool thing about that experience though is this, the young lady that was assisting said, “We like to listen to music during the procedure, what music would you like to hear?” I told her, “Contemporary Christian.” In my heart I was like thank you Jesus. I was a bit apprehensive about the surgery.

As the doctor began to cut, this precious song began to play, “Hold onto me,” by Lauren Daigle. How perfect was that? The doctor whistled the tune as he worked and I sang along with the song in my head. They stitched me up and I was good to go. Also, the young girl, Kayla was from south Florida. I asked where she went to church and she said, “Christ Fellowship.” I told her we had attended Journey Church. We both acknowledged we were aware of both of those churches. I told her, Journey Church had their first Freedom Conference at Christ Fellowship in Jupiter. Out of all the dermatologist places in Tallahassee, we could have gone to, God had already prepared this place for me, he knew I was a little afraid, but that I was trusting him to see me through and boy did he ever. Let me back up a minute to tell you the beginning of the story.

One night back in April, I had tossed and turned most of the night, then, for a few hours I slept. Waking just before daylight I began to hear the gentle whispers of my heavenly father. He told me, what a blessing I was to him. That thrilled me more than anything. To hear I was a blessing to him well, that was humbling in itself. The King of the Universe, the one who created all things, the one who spoke the earth into being, spreading the stars across galaxies and formed man out of clay that He had made, said, I was a blessing to him! WOW!! I cried.

He gave me a game plan on how to get my strength back and said some things that if I’d listen would restore me physically, mentally and spiritually and keep me well on my journey. One of the things he said was to start singing again and to learn a Lauren Daigle song. Coincident? I think not! He told me to exercise, eat better and stay off Facebook. Not because Facebook is bad or anything but because for me it was addicting, and I would spend hours there and neglecting other things that were important to my well-being. In fact, last Sunday my pastor from Freedom Church was talking about how the Israelites kept disobeying God but if they’d obey and do all that God told them to do, they would be blessed and find favor with the Lord for generations to come. But of course, they didn’t listen. As I sat there in church, my mind went back to all that God had told me to do by His Holy Spirit, and I had to repent for not doing what God had told me to do. I thought, I only did it a little bit, surly that can’t hurt. But a little leaven, spoils the whole lump. I said, “OK, God, I’m sorry, I will obey you.” And I have listened ever sense. You see if we want the favor and blessing of God, we have to do what he’s telling us to do. It’s not to hurt us but to help us. Like a loving parent, He knows what’s best and if we listen, we will prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers. (III John 1:2)

Through all of this, I chose to trust God and obey him. I want to keep being a blessing to Him. God always confirms his word to us. He is always faithful and honest. If we will do what he says to do, we will have his favor and that is something I don’t ever want to take for granted. Be a blessing, bless God and He will bless you and your family for generations to come!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 11, 2023

Exodus 23:11 New International Version but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

Luke 11:28 But he replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

John 13:17 If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

In the Garden of Eden where God was betrayed all because his children disobeyed…

God created them and loved them and set them as caregivers over His Garden

Walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day

Watched his creation live, love and play

His heart was that of a kind, loving, father in every way…

He said, And it was good

Then sin arrived and His children died…

Put out of the Garden…God cried…

Pain and sorrow beyond belief

Lucifer, a cruel thief

Thousands of years later, God became a man, to set right what the enemy had stolen from Him…

And so, Jesus, God’s son came and once again

He suffered in the garden…

But this time, life would begin!

Kneeling in the garden, three times he prayed

Surrendering all, Jesus, obeyed!

Jesus died,

God cried…

No longer bound to sin and death, God arose with a brand-new breath

No longer defeated; No more death…

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 4, 2023

Genesis 2:8-24 (NIV)

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

¹⁰ He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so, I hid.”

¹¹ And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

¹² The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

¹³ Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

¹⁴ So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
¹⁵ And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring^[i] and hers;
he will crush^[j] your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

¹⁶ To the woman he said,

“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”

¹⁷ To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
¹⁸ It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
¹⁹ By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

²⁰ Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.

²¹ The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. ²² And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” ²³ So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. ²⁴ After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

 

Did you think of me this morning? Was I the first thing on your mind?

And rising from your bed was there an expectancy we would meet?

So, you lifted your hands in thanksgiving, then got up on your feet.

Stepping into my presence for fresh manna as you seek, to begin a brand-new day!

Did you bow your head and pray?

Did you think of me in the afternoon while wondering if soon, you’d hear me gently whisper?

Child, welcome to the throne-room!

 And as day gave way to the setting of the sun,

Did you look for me in the stillness after your day was done?

Then lying down to rest did you hear me whisper, good night?

Tomorrow is another day; everything will be alright!

I Love You, Jesus

 You are a blessing to the Father and to the son and to the Holy Spirit. He loves you totally, completely and tenderly. He’s your best friend! He never sleeps, never slumbers, He watches over you with deep compassion and tender mercies every day…it only takes a moment to tell Him and show Him, He’s important to you too!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 5, 2023

The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

A Little Child Shall Lead Them
Dedicated to little Abran

I wasn’t long in this ole world, but I knew that it was home.
I know mommy, and my family will be so sad when I’m gone…
But I want you all to know something, I was chosen for a different plan, than living here below
I know you’ll cry and wish that I could stay, it’s okay, it just worked out this way, so happily I will go…
Oh, I’ll miss each and every one of you and the life I could have had.
But I’ve seen heaven and you know what, the place don’t look so bad…
I want to let know, I won’t be lonely in heaven,
Because Jesus and the Angels, are waiting for me there.
Heaven is a happy place with others I know care…
We’ll sing and dance and laugh and play I won’t suffer anymore.
After all, I’ll be home with the Lord!
You have to be strong and brave; don’t be bitter or blame.
God knows what’s best.
Coming to Earth is just a test…
And even if you live 100 years on this side of heaven, I’m here to tell you there will always be tears…
So, when you’re able to remember me without the pain and fear.
I’m only a heartbeat away, I’ll always be near…
Make sure you come to see me when you’ve finished your life here.
And be kind to everyone, we are all in the human race…
Remember to say your prayers and be thankful for each day.
Let those around you, see Jesus in your face.
One day, you too, will also leave this place.
I’m not afraid, I know where I am going, no more sickness, no more death, and when I take my last breath… I’ll be living there, in Heaven!
The only thing I will regret is if I don’t see you there!
Nine years, is just a spec, compared to eternity…
When you get to heaven come look for me…
I’ll be the one hosting the party!
In the meantime, understand you have work to do.
Live your life for Jesus and then I’ll be seeing you!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 1, 2023

Isaiah 11:6 New King James Version

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.

We scattered, were frightened and guilt ridden.

Jesus is dead!

Then Mary said, “He’s not! Jesus is not dead; I’ve seen him at the tomb!

He told me to tell you to meet him in the upper room.”

Jesus appears we know it’s him. Scars in his hands and feet. He tells us what we must do…

“Go to Jerusalem and wait there until I send the Holy Spirit to you…

Then go into all the world and preach the good news. You will receive holy power and fire that will shake the world and make it new!”

Lord, take us back to Pentecost where nothing less will do, then to have your Spirit shake us up and make us witnesses for you!

Arising from, the death, of religious, self-righteousness. Turning from immorality that sets captives free. Eyes fully centered on a living, creating God, full of hope and love and peace, Oh God, cause our hearts to be…

Set ablaze within us Lord, your Holy Ghost and Fire, with a cry to obey you Lord, make this our hearts desire!

Take us to the empty tomb where faith becomes brand new…Lord, take us back to Pentecost where we preach and testify of You!

Pour out your Spirit God in this very hour. There’s nothing that we can do but ask, it’s only by your Holy Power!

That we can be newborn and live according to your plan…God, it’s you who created man!

So many are dying and without hope they’re burdened down and lost.

Repentance is our only option you already paid the cost…

Our lives are but a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow, God let us be your servants and show your love, Lord take the sorrow.

Take us back to Pentecost where nothing else matters but to speak your truth to multitudes and watch as hearts burn with Holy fire!

At Pentecost a Mighty Wind blew upon those souls, as tongues of fire lit them up, and gave them strength to be bold!

Not even death can stop this now as Holy Grit takes hold…we’re products of that glorious day when God sent all our fears away, to be filled with the Holy Ghost and Fire, child, only obey!

Standing in the here and now, come boldly to His Throne, wait in prayer with supplication, God wants to meet you there.

God isn’t looking for rituals or man-made traditions, he’s not looking for the rich and famous or self-seeking politicians…

God is looking for humble, sold-out hearts that will seek him and not back down. Won’t crumble in the heat of battle but stand against the opposition! God’s Kingdom is our mission!

So go back to Pentecost and wait…

There’s a mighty rushing wind beginning to blow…

Amen!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 18, 2023

Luke 24:48-50 King James Version And ye are witnesses of these things.

⁴⁹ And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Acts 2:1-3 King James Version And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

 

From Bethlehem to Jerusalem, the house of bread to the city of peace, it was anything but bread and peace. What would happen next would change everything…

Born into a lowly place, he was desert traveler, teacher, son, friend and to this end we see him in the garden~

Three hours Jesus prayed in agony, on his face and on bended knee, he cried as great drops of blood poured out for all generations to come…

“FATHER! WILL YOU NOT TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME? FATHER! WILL YOU NOT TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME? Father, will you not take this cup from me? He surrendered to God’s will. Peace came, as everything became still.

Betrayed by a kiss, Oh do not miss, what was taking place for you and for me…

Tried, arrested, scourged and then nailed to a tree for all to see…

In the ninth hour of the day after torture, exposure, dehydration, suffocating, bleeding, rejection, abandoned, mocked, enduring the elements, naked, afraid, dying, Jesus cried out with a loud voice…

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34 New King James Version

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? Psalm 22:1 New King James Version

And about the ninth hour, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach cried out with a kol gadol, saying Eli, Eli, lemah sabachthani! (that is, My G-d, my G-d, why hast thou forsaken me? TEHILLIM 22:2[1]). Mattityahu 27:46 Orthodox Jewish Bible

 It doesn’t end here. You know the rest of the story. I just wanted to high light this part of the story to show you something about Jesus. Yes, he was God but he was also man. He felt everything humans feel…

He felt the pain and anguish of betrayal. He felt the rejection of loved ones, religious leaders, his peers. He was in deep despair, just read the garden scene alone. The death process started way before the cross… He knows sorrow and suffering. He knows loss and defeat. His disciples/friends couldn’t even pray one hour with him. He knows sickness and unimaginable pain. On the cross he took all of mankind’s worst fears, nightmares the mental and emotional torment, addictions, everything, on himself…you might ask, why would anyone do that?

Why? One reason, it was because of Love…

Not the kind of that love we know.

It’s God’s love! A love that will lay down his life so that we, lowly forms, created by God, loves us so much He would go through all of that to die for us! We’re the reason he did this in the first place. Adam and Eve died in the garden. Not instantly but death entered the garden that day and God was the only one who could put it right.

Oh, please someone get this…God didn’t get pleasure out of watching his only son go through this, but He knew there was no other way and now being on the other side of the cross, death and the grave. He gives us a free gift and he brings redemption through his son…Jesus was placed in a tomb in a garden…now life was restored in the garden…He Rose from the dead!

All God asks is for us to accept His son as the son of God and believe! Open your heart. Let the Holy Spirit led you to the garden today…and pray, no longer in agony, accept the full gift of His salvation and peace into your heart today, In Jesus Name…the bread of life and peace!

All the way from Bethlehem to Jerusalem receive His bread of life and peace! Shalom! Shalom!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 7, 2023

TEN YEARS ago today, March 13, 2013, Bob and I were married. We weren’t spring chickens anymore and there were a whole lot of years behind us with a whole lot of water under the bridge. I believe, with all that is within me, that it was no accident we reconnected at our 40^th class reunion. Life had not been kind. We were two broken people but together with God’s help, we were made whole! Words that have helped us through these ten years were spoken by the person who married us at the courthouse in Lake Worth. Mom O’Neill and Mike O’Neill, Bob’s mom and brother were there with us.

Taking our wedding vows, these little words made a huge impact that would carry us through the years. “Tiny little adjustments.” We’ve had only a few bumps in the road and nothing too serious. When we’d have a disagreement, we’d remember those words, “Tiny little adjustments.” We’d hug, kiss and make up. We try to remember to never go to bed angry. I won’t lie there have been a couple of times we did, but the next morning we both said we were sorry, and all was forgiven.

There are times we get a little irritated with each other then one of us starts laughing and then the other and we hug each other, and Bob will pray, “Lord forgive us for being biscuits.” Bob’s daughter Dana came up with that. Being a biscuit means, instead of calling someone a bad name she calls them a “biscuit.” It’s just flour, lard, and milk. Not much to it. So, when one of us is being, silly or ridiculous we say, “You’re a biscuit!” It’s a much nicer way of saying, you’re being a jerk…etc.

Every time Bob prays over our food he’ll say, “Jesus, thank you for my Marla and thank you for the food.” I mean, how sweet is that? He’ll say, “I love you more than the moon.” I’ll counter with, “I love you more than all the stars and the planets.” He says, “You win.” Not that it’s a competition but it’s just a little fun game we play while loving each other.

My mom would say, “Life never runs smooth.” And that is certainly true. So, we have to find ways to make it less difficult. When you’re young you make a multitude of mistakes but it’s OK that’s how you learn. If there is something, I could leave you with that will maybe help a little along the way it’s, “Be kind. Be grateful. Be forgiving. Love unconditionally. And remember, tiny little adjustments.”

Also, the number 13 means, “God’s Love!”

Bob, I love you thirteen!

I love you more than…

~Marla O’Neill March 13, 2023

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2-7

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”… So, the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. – Genesis 2:18, 21-24