Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

 

There is a love you cannot buy, sell or trade

It’s a love only God has made…

He took it from his own flesh, a rib

Then placed it beside him to give…

Nurture and wisdom so that all could live…

Seed planted within…

Begin…

He called her woman for out of him, she came

Then he gave her another name…

Mother…

You may call her, mama, mommy, ma, maw…

To be loved by all

Her children…

Some, don’t, fulfill the call…

For those who do, there is no other,

Who will love you more…than your own dear Mother

Nine months carried within her womb

The rest of her life she bears silently from her hearts room…

Love that will care for you through sickness and health…

Poverty or wealth…

Life or death

She’ll give her last breath…

For you…

You see her name is more than a title

It is her mission, to love her children

Unconditionally, unendingly, permanently, freely, completely…

Individually, collectively, bravely…

Her only reward, your soul transformed…to be who God’s called you to be…

There is no other in this world who’ll give their heart, totally to you

Than your Mother

She cries silently when you hurt…

Like a lioness she’ll fight for you and conquer any foe…

Who tries to harm you, and you may never know

She prays unceasingly for your life to be

Happy, safe and fulfilled…

Yes your mother loves you more…than even her own life…

But she gives you wings to fly…

And when she’s gone and you’re left alone…

Remember she’s only a heartbeat away

Listen to her song…

You’ll see me in the faces of our own sweet babies,

You’ll hear me in the chimes that ring…

That fragrance that smells so sweet, is me, on the wind and the street

Don’t weep little one, for one day too…

Home is where I’ll be seeing you…

Love your sisters and love your brothers…

This is my last request,

Love always,

Mother

 ~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 10, 2018

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:25-27)

Genesis 2:21-23 New International Version (NIV) 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.

~~~

According to A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament by G. Abbott-Smith, using the word woman to refer to a female was “a term of respect and endearment.” Bullinger’s Companion Bible notation for verse 26 refers the reader to John 2:4 where Jesus also uses the term “woman.” In the notes pertaining to this verse, “woman” is “a respectful form of address.”

Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible for this verse makes an interesting comment as to WHY Jesus might have used the term “woman.” It states he did so to possibly spare his mother’s feelings, as the very mention of her name (given her firstborn son was being brutally killed though he was innocent) would have wrung more sorrow out of her heart.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible adds another interesting facet as to why this designation might have been used.

“Christ calls her not mother, but woman; not out of disrespect to her, or as ashamed of her; but partly that he might not raise, or add strength to her passions, by a tenderness of speaking; and partly to conceal her from the mob, and lest she should be exposed to their rude insults” Bible Study.org

 

 

Quiet my soul…

Embraced and hugged, as I behold

Him who stood up from his throne…

To welcome me to my final home…

Entering a garden, flowers all in bloom

And light that does not make me squint is everywhere…

His fragrance fills the room…

Bringing joy and peace with a soft, tender, happy, familiar tune…

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves

We shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves…

Faces I knew from long ago, one by one, step up to greet me…

It feels as if I’ve never been anywhere but right here with thee…

How can this be…?

The river runs free…

Mountains and hills are filled with lions and lambs, daffodils and butterflies, dragon flies and bees, buzz all around in fields and trees…

There’s laughter and giggles from little ones and animals talk and walk about, then they stop and look at me…

Lying in ultraviolet colors of grass, I walk on water that looks like glass

They speak, “So glad to meet you…we’re family you know…?”

I wonder at the sight of them, but love just grows and grows,

We know…

We’re all here because of Him…

It’s nothing like I ever dreamed of…the place is full of God’s unending, forgiving, love…

Birds sing holy songs, stories of amazing grace are sung…the air is clean…beautiful and serene…

Quiet my soul; I’m in the presence of the living King…

But it’s nothing new to me…because while I walked the streets below…Jesus was with me wherever I’d go…and now…I truly know…

Home, I’m finally home.

I rest my head, but I’m not tired, upon a living tree

Grateful for the liberty, of how God’s love rescued me…

To live and know without a doubt, I have new life for all eternity…

Alive in the presence of my Father, Son and Holy Spirit…

Open your heart, open your ears and do not fear…

Quiet my soul; there are no more tears…

The crowd is gathered all around, hear the roar and hear the cheer…

A celebration is in the air…

Welcome home my child, and well done…

A kiss is bestowed upon my cheek, someone bends to wash my feet…

A robe is placed upon my shoulders…His signet ring I wear…

A crown is placed upon my head…

I am alive, I am not dead…

We drink the wine and eat the bread…

No more need to remember…for we live in the moment

Forever…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 8, 2018

Matthew 25:21 King James Version (KJV) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 

 

Faith-Full Tree

My early morning musings today were really remarkable; they always are when I have an encounter with the Holy Spirit.

There is a tree in my backyard that had me thinking…it is beautiful. The trunk of the tree has vines that twist and turn and it is broad and thick. You can also see the roots growing along the ground. It reminds me of a Banyan tree. But I found out that it is called a Schefflera actinophylla. Common name: Schefflera, Umbrella Tree, Octopus Tree, Amate, Queensland Umbrella Tree. Synonym: Family: Araliaceae

It gives shade to our patio and is very green and healthy. It can grow to over 40 feet tall.

So, this morning I was thinking about it…

I heard the Holy Spirit say in my heart, the word Faith…

Then he said, “Faith is a fruit of the Spirit…You take Faith with you when you go to heaven…in fact you take all of the fruit of the Spirit with you because they make up the character of God.”

Isn’t that wonderful?

Thinking about the tree again, I thought…Jesus, is the Tree of Life. He is also the Living Water…

We are the branches of the tree, when we are His…we drink of the living water our branches grow strong, and our leaves turn dark green and living and vibrant, and we produce fruit…

When we sin, the flow of the living water gets stopped up. If we don’t make amends right away, we become brittle and our leaves begin to fade and drop off, eventually we will wither and die without the life source.

But when we stay connected to the Tree of Life and we allow His water to flow through us…the fruit of His likeness will manifest in us…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…

We will love, we will have joy and peace, we will be patient and kind and good; we will be full of faith, and we will be faithful…gentle, and we have self-control. Not only will we produce this fruit, but we will bestow it on others, even when they do not treat us the same way. It is God’s character, His heart, His Spirit living in us so that we pour it out on others…

The only way to have this fruit, and have it remain, is to stay connected to the Tree of Life…Jesus Christ…

There is also the pruning process…no one wants to be pruned…it hurts and sometimes we are cut back severally…the more that we are pruned, the fuller and brighter and bigger our fruit will become…you may be in the pruning stage right now…don’t be weary…don’t give up…stay connected…be obedient…the fruit that is coming is going to burst out in fullness and there will be such abundance of fruit that your barns will not be able to hold it all…it will overflow…

God bless you today and encourage you, stay in the Tree of Life…blessings are all around us!!

Remember, stay faith full.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 7, 2018

God is good

 

I awoke at around 5:30 this morning from a dream. There was a young woman she looked to be about 30 years old, she was singing. I was in front of the Church and we were singing. Her brother and dad were on the other side of the platform also singing…

It was a song I had never heard before it was a little chorus.… “If you’d like to have this Bible, come and stay, come and stay, come and stay…” Then she walked over to where her brother and dad was singing and sang with them… “If you would like to have this Bible, come and stay, come and stay, come and stay.”

I got up and wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget it. I had a piece of toast, to bring my blood sugar up. I kept singing the song in my head…then I thought…”If you want to have this healing, come and stay, come and stay, come and stay…” “If you want to have Joy, come and stay, come and stay, come and stay…” and so on…

We get busy in our earthly lives thinking about all the things that need to be done. All the things we’d like to accomplish and our minds are consumed with tasks that seem insurmountable and we wonder, will they ever be completed…? Maybe because of moving into our new home and wanting everything to be unpacked and set up and trying to find a place for everything is the reason I had this dream. I enjoy doing this sort of thing, but, it can be overwhelming at times…I know, it will get done in time…and my mind is trying to tell me to relax…do it little by little, I know…I know… but the most important thing is to keep my heart on the Lord, and take the time to just sit with Him and not rush, in, and out…Holy Spirit is saying, “Come and stay, come and stay, come and stay.”

I felt a tugging in my heart that would not let me play…

It started when I awoke, just at break of day…

Boxes are waiting for you to unpack

They’re in the garage there’s many a stack…

One by one I open the task…

Where will you go? Bewildered I ask…

But there in the midst of all this disarray…

I stop and listen as I hear Him say…

Come and stay, come and stay, come and stay…

Oh Papa, it seems so long, I know…

Since I’ve taken the time, on you to bestow

Thanksgiving and praise, from here below…

Forgive me Jesus, right now I’ll go…

Sit in your presence and willingly sow…

Blessing and honor and praise to my King

Glory and worship; songs I will sing…

Staying with you is everything…

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to him belong,

They are weak but He is strong…Yes Jesus loves me…Yes Jesus loves me…Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so…

If you’d like to have this Bible…come and stay, come and stay, come and stay…

Jesus is calling for us today…

Come and stay!

 

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 4, 2018

 

Revelation 22:17 King James Version (KJV) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Humble of heart

Fierce in spirit

Bold and courageous

Filled with Holy Spirit

We are mountain movers

Forging through the battle fields

Faith is our unyielding shield…

A driving force in the heavenly realms

Keep us at the ready, with anchor in place, while standing at the helm…

Steady and strong we fight along…on oceans and lands

Wherever Spirit commands…

We are river walkers, and Holy Ghost talkers

Immovable, unshakable, untouched by evils demands…

God is our focus and the souls of man,

We rescue from death, for the kingdom we stand

In jungles, or swamps, holding onto His hand…

We march, we fight, we pray; we sweat,

We cry, and sometimes, die…

But, we do not grow weary

We leave no one behind

We are of a supernatural kind…

Body, soul and mind

Stay true to the call, and to the One,

Who gives eternal life…

Jesus Christ…

Be wise as a serpent; harmless as a dove

Stand brothers, Stand sisters…

We fight, we love, we give, we serve…

We are not of this world, we come from above…

When faced with trials and tests that will come…

Do not give up; do not succumb…think it not strange

For Jesus said, you’ll be persecuted for His sake

But make no mistake…we are His soldiers, disciplined and true

For God’s in this battle and He’s fighting for you…

These things will come…

But remember this…

The battle is fierce, but we’ve already won…

By the blood of Jesus God’s only begotten son!

We are mountain movers

River walkers

Holy Ghost talkers…

Winners…

Children of the Living God!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 3, 2018

2 Chronicles 20:15 New King James Version (NKJV)  And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

 The Actual Card we used to pray.

Praying the Prayer of Jabez

Years ago there was a little book going around written by Bruce Wilkinson, called, the Prayer of Jabez. It had quite an impact on the world. I don’t know about all of that, all I know is that in 2014, Bob and I would sit at breakfast, pray over our food and then we’d read the prayer of Jabez out loud. We did this every morning for about six months.

Our motives were not so we would receive material blessings; our motive was that God would bless us so we could bless others and reach more people for His glory.

We began to attend Journey Church and met new people. We joined a J-group (small group) where we met wonderful Christian brothers and sisters (Shawn and Kathy Stafford were our first mentors and then Jim and Cherie Rozendal; amazing men and women who we treasure greatly) Pastor Matt Tumas introduced us to Doug Diamond and we became a part of the Prayer Team and began praying before each service for both campuses. We are part of a team of men and women; I have to also mention Robin St. Pierre, I don’t know what I would have done without her mentorship… we pray for our pastors, the congregation, souls, marriages, finances, children, ministries, volunteers and so on…. The church went from two services to three, and we were given the opportunity to be leaders of the prayer team for the third service. We went through Growth Track, (Learned more about the mission and vision of the Church and to grow closer to the Lord). We attended men’s and women’s Bible study. Became small group leaders…and volunteered in the ministry. We’ve seen many souls saved and lives transformed over the last four years. I believe it’s because we prayed the prayer of Jabez…Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him what he requested. I Chronicles 4:10

God answered our prayer.

Doug Diamond our brother in the Lord, man of prayer and vision for the Lord, asked Bob to pray about going with him and two other men (Jason Maikkula and Cliff Williamson) to Haiti, a couple of months ago. I immediately said, “Oh yes you should go.” It has always been a passion of mine to be a missionary…but God had me on a different path. My mission field was in prayer and intercession. So we prayed about it together and Bob said he felt he should go. From that trip 23 elders were saved and three children. When God is involved, his anointing flows and souls are born into His kingdom to bring honor and glory to His name…Praise Jesus.

We realized this morning that God has indeed blessed us and enlarged our coasts, God’s hand is with us, he has kept evil from us and we have brought blessings to others and not hurt. God has granted our request and has brought glory to His name…Praise God.

You see when God calls you, and you answer, he puts His desires within you…because it is Him, living in your heart. Holy Spirit speaks to your inner man and His plan is brought about by obedience, He will confirm it to you by two or more witnesses…you, just need to be willing. Jesus will take you places you never thought possible, He will broaden your vision, extend your boarders, give you joy and peace in every situation…He’ll bring people into your life that will bless you and that will stretch you so that God gets all the glory.

He said when you seek for Him with all your heart, you will find Him. It’s not that he is hiding…it’s that your awareness of Him will be enlightened and you will want to seek Him, He lets you find Him. The life He gives is more adventurous, more fulfilling, than anything else you could possibly do.

God bless you on your life’s journey…Pray, means to ask… Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him what he request. I Chronicles 4:10

Pray the prayer of Jabez today…but only if you want, what God, wants, and He will grant your request…Amen!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill May 1, 2018

1 Chronicles 4:10 New King James Version (NKJV) And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

Old things, don’t mean thrown out things

Old things are best when used…

Old things, are not worn out things…

They’ve been to the mountains

And the valley of despair

Survived desert places

But God was there…

They’ve been forged in fire…

And tossed on stormy seas…

Weary and tired…wondering what would be…

They always cried out…God help me…

Over rough roads and valley’s these old things have trod…

The Ancient of age, no birth had He, for He, was God…

Until He sent Jesus, then alive, made He…

Old things remain and old things will stand

When created by God’s all seeing hand…

With resilience and fortitude they walk this land…

Maybe not so fast, anymore, but their hearts withstand

Trials and tests on roads that they’ve walked,

Sometimes persecuted and sometimes mocked…

With wisdom and memories of what has been…

Old things are new things that begin again…

The cycle of life is like a wedding ring…

There is no beginning, and, no ending…

A covenant; it’s God’s continuous plan…

You see, God made old things and he called them man…

Within each soul that enters earth’s domain…

God says, it is good and it shall remain…

Sending His son, whose blood was shed

Makes us alive, when once we were dead…

The blood is the life source; making us thrive…

The perfect sacrifice that makes us alive…

God sees the blood, he knows who are His…

Old things are not forsaken; each child He will kiss…

Sending His love with His promise…

Time is relative only on earth…

The soul of man with this new birth…

Makes old things, become new things…

And with this brings…

Eternal living with a new song to sing…

Thank you Jesus for giving me wings…

The body grows weary and returns to dust…

But old things made by God’s hands will never rust…

For the blood of Jesus is what we must trust…

For old things; are only new things; waiting to be seen…

Behold, God makes everything, brand new again…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 30, 2018

Revelation 1:8 King James Version (KJV) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

We went from a 900 sq. ft. home to about a 1400 sq. ft. home. Now to some that would seem like a shack, but to us it is a mansion. Although to some people, in the world, 900 sq. ft. would be a mansion. It’s all relative.

We had been praying for a home of our own for a number of years. The place we lived in was indeed a blessing at the time. But as time went on, it became apparent that we needed more room at least to us it was apparent. Lol!

God says to delight ourselves in him and he will give us the desires of our heart. (Psalm 37:4) I know, I know it’s all about our hearts…and God doesn’t just do something without having a good reason. But still…his word, says, if he considers the little sparrow that falls to the ground how much more will he do for his children who trust him. (²⁹ What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. ³⁰ And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:29-30)

At the beginning of 2018; I asked the Lord what His word would be for us this year. I received the word, JOY!

WOW! Really God? You’re giving me the word JOY! That is incredible. In 2017; he gave me the word, “write” and I wrote an average of one post per day for a total of 365 blog posts. That’s a whole lot of writing…

So what about JOY? What is it you want me to do with JOY? Then he reminded me that Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit. OK. Then what?

Well, we were given the go ahead to pursue buying a home and everything fell into place. The money became available which was a miracle in itself. (That is a story for another time. But it is amazing.) Thank you, Jesus. When God gives, the go ahead…it is absolutely astounding…

We got with our Realtor, Kathy Stafford, who is also our very good friend and sister in the Lord. She took us to see a number of places. Let me back up a minute. In October of 2017, one of our friends was selling her home and we loved it. We told her we really loved it and if it worked out we would love to buy it. But if she had a buyer before we could, that was fine too. We wanted whatever God wanted. She did too. Around the time we were given the go ahead, she had a buyer for her home. Praise the Lord, that was OK. God was blessing her too.

Kathy, took us to see some places but they just weren’t what we were looking for. Then she said I have this one I think you might like. (She had no idea) Low-and-behold it was right around the corner from the one we had wanted and it was the same floor plan. But it was out of our price range and we were told the sellers would not take anything less than what they had listed it for. Bob gave the offer anyway and Kathy presented it to the sellers, who lived in another state. But they said, “No.” So we figured that was it, and we’d just have to find something else. But my heart kept going back to that one. I told Bob I really, really liked that one. It had the garage he wanted and the screened in patio I had hoped for and an extra bathroom. The bathroom was very important to me for some obvious reasons…lol!

In the meantime a nor’easter came to the sellers part of the country, worst they’d had in years.

Well…I’m not real proud of this but Bob and I had a little discussion in the night. This was quite stressful to say the least and our attitudes got a little out of control…ok we were being Biscuits…(a biscuit is something Bob’s daughter made up when she was younger so she didn’t say a bad word. It’s a lot of dough, lard, and water and not much else.) Anyway the next morning Bob went to work and I had a heart-to-heart talk with the Lord. I repented and said, “Lord I am sorry, I don’t want to be like this. I want to honor you through all of this. I want, what you want Lord, just give us the one you want us to have.” I called Bob and told him I was sorry. He said the same.

It was about 30 minutes after I prayed and asked God to forgive me and sorry to Bob. Kathy sent an email and said, “They will take the offer.”

You see God uses everything to help us keep our hearts right before Him. It was more than we could have imagined. The blessing of God is always more than we could hope or imagine…when we obey Him and keep our hearts clean before Him, He comes through every single time…We have a loving, caring, saving, helping, awesome Papa God!!

It’s not our timing it is His… and He will test our hearts to make sure we are clean before Him and without ulterior motives…For God gets all the Glory!!!

Pastor Shane from Journey Church, came to bless our home. People came to help us move and paint. People have given us gifts and time and so much love…our CUP IS OVERFLOWING with the grace and love of God…you cannot out give God!!!

Times spent in prayer and seeking for others…seeking God’s face and honoring Him with our lives and our time and our money… not because we wanted a house…but because we wanted more of Jesus…He is the reason for our living and because of obedience to Him…He has given us favor and showered us with His blessing…it is there for you too…but you must have a pure heart and seek Him first…and love others…and all these things will be added unto you…

I see our home as an oasis and a blessing to be shared, as God sees fit…

Don’t let anything or anyone deter you from obedience to the Lord…He’s worth far more than lands, or homes or any material goods…but when your heart is right he will not withhold any good thing from you. (Psalm 84:10)

All Praise and Honor and Glory to the Giver of Life, to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!

Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

James 4:7-8 King James Version (KJV)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Malachi 3:10-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Psalm 84:10-12 The Message (MSG)

     

God’s Joy, fruit of His Spirit

The Holy Spirit

His Joy is full and lacks nothing

His Joy is Strength that comes directly from His being

His Joy is light;

His Joy leaves you speechless…

You will be utterly surrounded with immeasurable delight

His Joy engulfs you it is exhilarating…

His Joy is solid and cannot be destroyed

His Joy is found in His presence

His Joy is immovable and steadfast

His Joy is supernatural

His Joy is more than laughter; it is more than a feeling

His Joy remains

His Joy is peace in turmoil

His Joy is comfort

His Joy is healing and wholeness

His Joy is Life…

When you receive the gift of Joy…it’s like soaring through time and space…

It is far above the earth, past the stars, past galaxies, traveling at a speed not ever calculated; you are hurled into the heavenly places where He dwells…

You can only get there by faith, through the Spirit instantly…there is no special equipment needed

No spaceship or transport…you can be there in a heartbeat…

Let go of your carnal thoughts, let go of intellect and pride…

Receive His Joy…

Let go of all your past, all your regrets, all your sickness and worries…

Let go of anxiety and fear…let go of doubt and condemnation…

Let go of the future and dwell in His Joy right now…with no preconceived ideas…

Allow the Oil of His Joy to pour over your being inside and out, breathe it in, and breathe it out…

In His presence is fullness of Joy…the Holy Spirit knows the way…

Take this very moment, close your eyes, open your heart and be filled with the Joy of the Lord…

Psalm 16:11 English Standard Version (ESV) You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

John 15:9-11 New King James Version (NKJV) “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill April 24, 2018