Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

Here we go…

The week of July 31, 2018, I found something in my right breast it felt like a pea size lump. Bob felt it too. It was there for three days. On the day before I called my doctor I prayed and fearing the worst I said, “Lord, you know I’d really like to stay here a little longer. I’d like to see my grandkids grow up and there are things for me to write for your glory and I don’t want to leave Bob and, and, and…but…Lord, if you want me to come home I’m ready.” I heard my father’s voice, the one I’ve come to trust and know that it is his voice, because he has confirmed to me each time that he has spoken to me. His sheep know his voice and a stranger they will not follow… I heard him say, “Not yet! Praise Me!” So then I messaged my friend and sister in the Lord Kathy Langley. She came over that afternoon, we used anointing oil (representing the Holy Spirit) and we prayed. I have to tell you I was flooded by waves of HIS presence…I don’t know if you know what that feels like, or not, but some of you know about the Holy Chill bumps…well this wasn’t just a little thrill up and down the spine…it was like oil being poured over my entire body…I was saturated with the touch of my heavenly father it was like I had been dunked under a water spout…later that afternoon I called Kathy and I asked her if she had felt anything when we were praying, She said, “Yessss it was powerful.” Even as I write this I’m getting touched with His Presence. So later that day I felt for the lump and it was gone. But I kept my appointment with my doctor. The mind is difficult to control especially if we focus on the circumstances…fear tried to grab me…doubt tried to tell me lies…but I kept hearing the Lord’s voice say, Praise Me!!! So I pressed in and I praised my Hashem…

We began our 21 days of Prayer and Fasting at Journey Church…I am fasting Facebook and praying and spending time with the Lord it has been intense…and through this…I have not freaked out…there have been tiny thoughts but I take them back to the Praise Room of my heart and I hold onto what God said, “Not yet! Praise Me!”

The doctor did the examination and he didn’t feel anything. But there was a tender spot in another area. I asked him if they can move. He said yes and that is a good thing. Then I told him it felt like the size of a pea and it didn’t move and that Bob felt it too. He said those are the ones they look for like the size of a pea and it’s frozen it doesn’t move. Mine was gone!!!

My mom died three years ago with cancer of the tongue and cancer has taken members of my family as I know it has some of yours too. It is nothing to play around with. It is serious.

So the doctor said he wanted me to have an ultrasound and a mammogram and then see a surgeon because sometimes things can be over looked and he wanted to be sure that nothing was there. In the mean time I asked my son Abram and Robin St. Pierre and a few others of my sister’s in the Lord (Darlene, Karen, Diane) to Praise God with me for a good report.

Yesterday I went for the tests. About an hour ago I got the phone call the tests were all negative, No lumps!!! But the doctor still wants me to see the surgeon so he can go over the tests to confirm and reconfirm that all is well.

But I know God took it…I am giving Him all the praise and all the glory…I know it was Him who touched me and I know it was Him that spoke to me…I don’t know why he does what He does, all I know is that He is God…He is a good, good, father and He loves us more than we can imagine. One day I will go home…we will all be leaving this earth one day. But for Now as I live and breathe ….I will Praise The Lord! He is my Healer! My Redeemer! My Loving Papa God!!! Let All that Is Within Me, PRAISE THE LORD!!!

I am praying and fasting for this 21 days for you! Lift a shout of PRAISE in the earth that the demons will tremble and run at the sound of your voice as you stand in the Presence of the Living God!!! You may be facing cancer…heart disease, MS, diabetes, bankruptcy, whatever the sickness or disease or turmoil you are dealing with…You are not alone…God is with you…Jesus still heals, still delivers, still sets free…

Praise Him In All Things…

Open your mouth and Praise The LORD!!!!!!!!!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 9, 2018

Psalm 103 New International Version (NIV)

Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
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.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

 When the doldrums, ho-hums, oh-my’s and the oh-why’s come calling~

Send in the new-drums, the Ah-ha’s and the victory cry’s and lift your eyes, to the one who see’s and there abide!

When we praise God, He will raise a standard against the enemy…

When we worship Him, He turns our ship around to face True North…

The place where He dwells where nothing and no one can touch us…

Our defeat turns to repeat

Thank you Jesus for life

Thank you Jesus for help

Thank you Jesus for health

Thank you Jesus for relief

Thank you God for you,

Thank you Jesus for you and for your Holy Spirit

I’ll Praise you in the storm

I’ll praise you in the Sunshine

I’ll praise you in the what if’s

I’ll praise you in the I cans and

I’ll praise you in the I cants’

I’ll praise you when I’m happy

I’ll praise you when I’m sad

I’ll praise you, Oh God, until I become glad

Because God you are, the, I AM!

Praise Ye the Lord!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 7, 2018

Psalm 150:1-6 King James Version (KJV)

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals.

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

As I was talking to my Papa God this morning and praising Him for Who He is…

Not only is He my Heavenly Father and the creator of ALL things in heaven and earth…

Not only is He my savior, redeemer, healer, hope, peace and more…

He pointed something out to me…

He showed me that in the word Friend; is the word end…His friendship with me Will Never End…BFF’s always…

He is faithful and kind and gentle…He is Love and He is good…He is powerful and bold make no mistake…He calls gently to us to follow Him… not to hurt us but to complete us…

Praise God…not only is He King…but He is my friend…and I am His friend!

He’s not some far off relation or President I will never meet or ever be able to talk to…

He isn’t a famous person who has to run from the paparazzi and doesn’t let anyone close…Although He is famous…

He doesn’t hide from us…

He isn’t a diplomat or political figure…but he governs all the earth…His motives are pure and righteous…

He isn’t some rich and famous person who is surrounded by guards protecting him from the crowds…but He is, surrounded by angel armies whose wealth is limitless…

Jesus goes out of his way to be known to us personally…

He wants to know us…and He wants us to know Him…

He is a “fri’end” whose relationship with us will never end!

In the New Testament…there isn’t a word in the Greek for friend…however Jesus spoke Aramaic and uses the word racham, so in John 15:15 when Jesus called them friends (racham)… it is agape (love) on steroids!!!

And this is what God was saying to me this morning about friend… (Jesus) He says: “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you my dearest cherished beloved who has captured my heart.” (Chaim Bentorah)

I can say with all my heart that Jesus is MY RACHAM…DEAREST CHERISHED BELOVED WHO HAS CAPTURED MY HEART!!!

We are His racham…dearest cherished beloved who has captured His heart!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 3, 2018

John 15:15 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

ARAMAIC WORD STUDY – FRIEND – RACHAM – רחס 

To be fair the Greek uses the word phileous which means a friend; it is a lesser love than agape.  But then are we to say that agape is the word in John 3:16, but he only phileous his disciples?   Jesus spoke Aramaic and the word used in the Aramaic Bible is racham.  In its Semitic root, it means the womb or more specifically the love a mother has for a child in her womb.  A child in the mother’s womb is little more than a friend.  There is not a word in the Greek for racham; it is agape love on steroids.

Let me put it into context.  Imagine getting a notification from your local politician who instead of calling you “my friend” starts with: “My dearest cherished beloved who has captured my heart.”   We would say that is a bit pretentious.  Yet that is racham and what Jesus is saying when He says: “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you my dearest cherished beloved who has captured my heart.” (~Chaim Bentorah)

When words are spoken you can’t see them…

You can hear them

You can understand them

You can think them

You can write them

But you can’t see them when they are spoken…

In other words, letters don’t come flowing out of the mouth when we say them…

We’ve been taught letters; letters make words…words have meaning…and we understand the words when spoken in our language but, we cannot see the words…

God spoke words and they materialized into substance…

God said, “Let there be light.” And light appeared instantly… (Genesis 1:3)

The words of God could be seen…

Moon… Sun…

Sky…clouds…

Wind… Stars…

Water… Land…

Trees…birds…grass…mountains…plains…vegetation…sea-creatures…animals…

He didn’t speak man into being though. Oh no, this was going to be something special…this was going to be created in the image of God…So he took some dirt out of the earth he had made and formed a body…THEN…He blew His holy breath into the man and the man became a Living Soul…He said, Let us make man in the our image!

Who are the “Us?” Well there was God, The Word (Jesus) and The Holy Spirit! They made man in their own image…I know, it blows the mind…but back to words…

And when God had done all this he spoke the words…It, Is, Good!

All that God does is good! He is Good!

Words can heal and words can kill…

Words can give life and words can bring death…

Words are powerful…

God is the Word and the Word is God…God created words…

He taught Adam how to speak His language it is life giving…he didn’t want to destroy His creation…He joyed in Adam and the animals and the beautiful place he had made for man to enjoy and have relationship with…

It was never His plan to bring death…God is Life…but He also didn’t want to force us or make robots…He gave us a free will of our own…to choose….Hoping we would choose the truth…

How did the serpent tempt Eve in the garden? He whispered lies…he used words…deceitful words…Surely God didn’t say…

He used words to cause her to doubt what God had said…Words!!!

She chose to believe and act on the words of the serpent over, obedience to God…

Words are how we communicate with each other…

Words are powerful…

And how we use our words will determine if our lives are used for good or for evil…to encourage or to deceive…

Be slow to speak and quick to hear…

Let every word that proceeds out of your mouth be for edifying, uplifting, helpful so that others will be built up for good and not for evil…

God said, “Let there be…” and it was so.

How many times do we use our words to slander, judge, gossip, lie, murder, bear false witness? How many times do we use our words to produce anger and hate…blaspheme…how many times do we use our words to manipulate and scheme to get what it is we want yet it destroys someone else’s life, reputation, truth, degrades and humiliates?

Words are like a two-edged sword, they will cut to the bone and marrow of a body and soul when spoken out of abuse and anger…Words in the mouth of someone who hates can murder faster than an AK-15. You don’t usually see the results of the damage words cause until it’s too late.

Words can kill…or words can heal…

No, you can’t see words, but you can see the results of words…

Adam and Eve didn’t fall-down-dead when they sinned; but they died instantly non-the-less…

It is so important to be aware of how we use our words…

God said, “it is very good!” (Gen. 1:31)

Let your words be God-words!! Kind, loving, helpful, respectful, encouraging, uplifting…life giving…let them be, Good!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 2, 2018

Proverbs 25:11-13 The Passion Translation (TPT) Winsome words spoken at just the right time^[a] are as appealing as apples gilded in gold and surrounded with silver. To humbly receive wise correction adorns your life with beauty and makes you a better person. A reliable, trustworthy messenger refreshes the heart of his master, like a gentle breeze blowing at harvest time— cooling the sweat from his brow.

Footnotes: Proverbs 25:11 (a) The Aramaic reads “The one who speaks the word is an apple of gold in a setting of silver.” The Septuagint is “A wise word is like a golden apple in a pendant of rubies.”

James 1:19-22 New International Version (NIV) Listening and Doing

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Ephesians 4:29 New International Version (NIV) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Proverbs 18:21 The Message (MSG) Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.

Proverbs 25:11-13 The Message (MSG) The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, and a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!

Proverbs 15 New International Version (NIV) A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Genesis 1:10-31 New International Version (NIV) God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

You who are His…

Praise the Lord!

Walk with Him, talk with Him For He is our God!

Seek Him with all of your heart!

You will lie down in peace and rest and know He is watching over you and protecting you from the enemy!

Obey Him. Honor Him. Trust Him. Love Him with all of your heart, strength, mind, body and soul!

God’s eye is searching over all the earth looking for those whose hearts, long for Him those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth…

Rise up Oh my soul and bless the Lord…

Stand firm and do not fear…

Do not be afraid…but Praise the Lord!!!!

God is in the atmosphere of the praises of His people…

The enemy WILL RUN when we begin to praise God…because God is with us…

The Adversary has been banished from the presence of the LORD…

He can’t torment you…he can’t lie to you, he can’t take your life from you…he will RUN from you!!!!!!!!!!!!

So PRAISE THE LORD…Let praise be your voice…Let praise come from your heart and from your spirit…let praise be heard over the noise, over the lies, over the distractions of this life…Let praise spring up from your inner most being to magnify, glorify, acknowledge… the All-seeing, All-knowing, All-Possible, All-Mighty, All-Encompassing Holy, Holy, Holy Living Elohim…Powerful, Fearless, Faithful, Abundant, Glorious, Covering, Life Changing, Savior, Redeemer, Rescuer, Provider, Healer, Helper, Righteous, Gracious, Merciful, Ever-Present-Abba, Creator, First and the Last, A to Z, Perpetual, Way-making Son of God…Yeshua, Prince of Peace and Light…In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost…AMEN AND AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Open your mouth and shout with a voice of Triumph!!!!!!!!! Our God Reigns!!! His Mercy Endures Forever!!!!!

God’s Name is Holy and Greatly to be Praised!

Names/Characteristics of YHWH (Lord and Master)

Elohim (God) Gen. 1:1 (Significant it is used 2599 times in the Bible)

Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah) Gen. 2:4 (Significant it is used 6519 times in the Bible)

El Elyon (The Most High God) Gen. 14:18

Adonai (Lord, Master) Gen. 15:2

El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty) Gen. 17:1

El Olam (The Everlasting God) Gen. 21:33

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord will provide) Gen. 22:14

Jehovah Rapha (The Lord who helps you) Ex. 15:26

Jehovah Nissi (The Lord is my Banner) Ex. 17:15

El Qanna (Jealous God) Ex. 20:5 His is a Holy Jealousy

Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord who Sanctifies you) Ex. 31:13 & Lev. 20:8

Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is Peace) Judg. 6:24

Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts) 1 Sam. 1:3 (more than 285 times in the Bible)

Jehovah Raah (The Lord is my Shepherd) Ps. 23:1, Gen. 48:15, Gen. 49:24 & Ps. 80:1

Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness) Jer. 23:6 & Jer. 33:16

Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is There) Ez. 48:35

~Marla Shaw O’Neill 7/31/18-8/1-18

Papa…

Papa…

Oh Papa…Jehovah…Elohim…

El Shaddai…

I adore you. There is no one like you…

Your love surpasses the depths and heights and widths of the universes…there is no limit to your love…and your mercy… is for always and forever…

No dead ends…straight and narrow…all the way…

How can I praise you? I don’t have the words; so I will praise you with the Spirit…

I will speak heavens language the one you taught in the garden…

You will understand…

I will lift my heart’s soul to embrace you… You and I are one…

You flood my life with good things so that I am renewed and transformed into the likeness of the living one…you are each breath I take… you’re my hope…my dreams…my life… you are…you are…you are…

Holy Papa…the one who placed the stars in place….the one who named them all, one by one…. billions and trillions of stars singing your praise…the galaxies bow before you…orbits spin upon your finger… there are unknown dimensions…life flowing from every molecule…every being you created… and there is nothing that is made that was not made by your hands…

Papa…I exist because of you…and I will exist always in your presence

When my body turns back to dust…it does not end there…the instant my soul leaves this tabernacle…I am with you…I am with you even now…I know you and you know me…I have nothing to fear…I love you…I praise you and adore you…

I am in the realm of the unknown… it can’t be comprehended by human minds…that realm is more real this one…only by your precious blood I become born new…

That unknown place is where you dwell…and one day, any day we don’t know the hour, but…I will leave this shell and become instantly transformed and I will enter into life city…

City of light…city of peace…city of grace…city of living…breathing…abundant joy that never ends…continues on and on and on…

Because…

I am connected to the life source, my Heavenly Papa…

There will be music I’ve never heard and I will sing a new song, sung by The Song of Righteousness, The Song of Redeemed, The Song of Life. I will sing because, I will be home!

To Him who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb…

Be blessing and glory and honor and power forever…Amen!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 30, 2018

Revelation 5:13-14 The Message (MSG) I looked again. I heard a company of Angels around the Throne, the Animals, and the Elders—ten thousand times ten thousand their number, thousand after thousand after thousand in full song:

The slain Lamb is worthy! Take the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength! Take the honor, the glory, the blessing!

Then I heard every creature in Heaven and earth, in underworld and sea, join in, all voices in all places, singing:

To the One on the Throne! To the Lamb! The blessing, the honor, the glory, the strength, For age after age after age.

The Four Animals called out, “Oh, Yes!” The Elders fell to their knees and worshiped.

 

Hey you…yeah you…the one reading this. You thought it was by accident that you came across this blog but it’s not…someone has been praying for…someone has seen your struggle and your hidden pain…

You thought no one cared…that you are just here by chance and that there is nothing in this life for you, that you have no purpose and when you die there is nothing more.

But someone has prayed for you. Someone does care. You are not here by chance and you do have a purpose. When you die there is so much more. But before you die, God wants to give you a full life right here, right now.

I want you to know that God knows you. He knows every hair on your head and he knows every thought you think and he knows the intents of your heart. He’s seen your tears your failures and your accomplishments…no matter how small or big and he’s been with you the entire time…

You may not know Him, yet…but he definitely knows you and He is calling you right now.

Don’t get freaked out…don’t run…don’t shut me out…I want to tell you about someone who loves you unconditionally and wants to meet you. He loves you and wants to help you.

God doesn’t sit up on a cloud waving his magic wand and everything bows to his demands. He’s not evil and He will never lie, he can’t lie. Yes he is worthy to be praised because He is love. Don’t you cheer for your favorite sports team? Don’t you applaud for someone when they achieve magnificent goals? Well God is worth so much more…

God is with you. He is present. But you can’t hear him or see him or touch him…because you don’t know him…you’ve never acknowledged him, because you didn’t know he was real.

God is real, he knows you, and he wants you to know him.

God this is my friend, the one you’ve been waiting to meet. Friend let me introduce you to God.

God: Hello, it’s nice to meet you. I am God. I’ve been waiting to get together with you. I formed you in your mother’s womb and I’ve been with you all your life. I want you to meet my son, Jesus. Jesus has something he wants you to know.

Jesus: Hi. I’d like to give you a bit of my back story. My mother’s name is Mary. Joseph is my earthly dad. But God is my father. I have a book for you to read, it tells you all about me and my family. It’s a number one best seller, full of interesting people and places, and I think you will enjoy what you read. Or because of modern technology you can even listen to an audio book or watch it on a DVD. Not only that, this book is alive and when you study it amazing things begin to happen. It tells you about my father and the wonderful things he made just by speaking words. It tells about kings and armies and wars. It tells all about my relatives and how I came to be born. It also tells you what the future holds. There are lots of secrets and mysteries but Papa wants to share every detail with you.

I was born in a little town called Bethlehem. My crib was actually an animal troth. Mom and dad weren’t wealthy and they had to go to Bethlehem for a census. This all happened about 2000 years ago. All the hotels were full so there was no room for my parents to stay in when they arrived there. But a hotel owner offered them a place in his barn. Oh and something I know you will really like is that there were these angels, messengers from my homeland, heaven, that showed up in a field and told some shepherd’s that I was being born and so they came to see me in the barn. It’s all in the book I was telling you about.

But don’t be overwhelmed by the size of the book you can read it a little at a time and if you get confused about anything it says, just ask Holy Spirit to help you understand, he will be your best friend and teacher. So there’s God the father, then Me, I’m the son, and there’s the Holy Spirit, he’s the one I promised to send so that he could live inside you and help you on your journey. He’s pretty cool. He won’t bully you or embarrass you. He’s gentle and very kind. He doesn’t show off and won’t intrude on your life if you don’t ask him. So don’t be afraid when He speaks to your heart. He’s Holy and will never brag on Himself, but He will tell you all about me. We are all part of each other but we also work on an individual basis with you to help you. Oh and by the way, you will have lots of brothers and sisters and people who have already met me and have been walking with me a long time, the faithful ones, they can also explain things you don’t understand. They meet on a weekly basis and sometimes during the week just to have fellowship with me and with each other. No pressure though. You learn at your own pace. I’m not here to judge you or condemn you. I’m here to help you and I will never push you or make you do anything you don’t want to do. It is totally your choice. I just want you to know that I love you and I want to give you a full, peaceful life.

Being your friend though I have to tell you, life is not easy and it gets real messy at times there will be heartache and pain that’s just part of life. I suffered a lot while I was there. But it was for a reason and that reason was to restore fellowship between God and his children. That’s where I come in, when you accept me as your Savior, the one who saves you. ‘You may ask saves me from what?’ I will restore the break in fellowship between you and the father. I restore life and take away death. It’s all in my book. We never intended for you to die…you were created to live. But our enemy Satan, tempted Eve in the garden; and Adam and Eve fell for the temptation. They disobeyed God and death entered into them and into every living thing. A way had to be made to restore life. So, I was sent to restore life. I know it gets a little complicated but if you will trust me and accept me, pretty soon you will understand. I want to give life back to you. Your body is made out of the dust of the earth and it will return to dust. But your spirit will live forever…if you accept my redemption you will live forever, you will not die. It’s difficult to understand with the natural mind…Holy Spirit opens your spiritual eyes when you ask me to come into your heart. He comes in and the light comes on. The secret is, but it isn’t really a secret…it’s done by having faith in me. Faith is a substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. When you believe and have faith in God…everything becomes crystal clear…it’s as if you were walking around blind, in darkness and when you say yes to Holy Spirit He floods your heart and mind with my light, then grace and life are restored.

It’s simple really…but you won’t know until you say yes and really mean it with all your heart.

So you’ve met me today, you’ve heard a little bit about me the question is…

Will you accept me as your best friend? Will you become part of my family? Do you want to see the light? The decision is yours…I hope you will, because I want to be your best friend…I want to show you so many wonderful things that you will never see or know if you reject me. I want you to be part of the family. I will love you anyway…but I won’t be able to save you unless you say yes!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 30, 2018

John 10:9-11 New King James Version (NKJV) I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

Romans 10:9-10 New Living Translation (NLT) If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

John 15:15 New International Version (NIV) I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Hebrews 11:1 King James Version (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Ephesians 2:8-9 New International Version (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Life is hard

The road often steep and rocky

Up and down and all around we go…

And even though

We know…

We do not walk alone…

Often the circumstances cause us to long for home…

Heavy heart and heavy load, God I know you walk this road

With me, even when I cannot see, you are here…I will not fear

I know that this too shall pass…

I know you have a good future for me, I need only to let go of the past…

And so I lift my head and heart and open my mouth with a shout…

I WILL WALK BY FAITH, NOT SIGHT…

Though evil surrounds me with the darkest night…

Though you slay me, I WILL TRUST YOU, even if I lose sight…

I know that You will guide me…

For LORD where else shall I go?

What shall I do?

You have the words of eternal life…

I choose you!

Victory comes through obedience

Praise, makes away…

Into the Presence of the Living God

From age to age

I will be brave…even when I’m afraid…

For I do not walk alone

I’ll keep a grateful heart in thankfulness

Even when I face the abyss…

God you’ve promised this…

That as I walk in holiness with you

I will live and not die…

You are by my side…

I need only to abide…

With you!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 25, 2018

John 6:64-69 The Message (MSG) Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”

After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?”

Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.”