Hope
Dandelion tall and free
Tell me what you see…
I see a star and you’ll travel far
Over oceans and mountains and seas…
How can you know if this be true?
I’m lame, I’m just a lad…
Oh there’s more to you, just wait and you will see…
Pick me up and gently blow and watch as I go before thee
Taking the dandelion within his grasp…
I’ll do just as you’ve asked…
Tiny seeds fill the air the dandelion is set free!
Years pass, the young man’s task, is ship’s captain, just as he’d heard…
Watching from the bow of his ship, a little boy is heard…
Dandelion, tall and free, tell me what you see…
~Marla Shaw O’Neill December 29, 2017
Luke 12:27-40 New International Version (NIV)
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I Love You More
Thank you with all my heart. I dreamed of someone loving me the way you do. You’re always patient, always kind, never demanding. You are ever ready to help me in the smallest or greatest of ways…
You don’t complain. You are my miracle sent from God above. You are my husband; my blessing, my love.
I never want to take you for granted although sometimes I may. But you just keep right on loving me in your special, enduring way.
Good morning beautiful, every day I hear you say.
God knew what he was doing when he let the two of us meet. Your loving heart, your big brown eyes are tender, reassuring and sweet.
It’s difficult, I know sometimes, but you’re always kind…calling me just to let me know that I am on your mind.
For you, I am thankful and I bless God all the time…for giving me a treasured gift…and that I am yours and you are mine.
I love you more than the open sky…I love you more than the mountains wide…I love you more than all the stars and universe and oceans combined…I love you more than the years of earth…and baby for what it’s worth…I’ll love you until I die…into heaven’s by and by…I love you!
~M.S. O’Neill December 29, 2017
Colossians 3:18-20 The Message (MSG) Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.
Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don’t take advantage of them.
The Birthing
What a struggle that was, it took every ounce of strength I had, and as I gasp for air, all I see is shadow and then everything becomes clear…light shines from everywhere.
What are these smells? Fresh rain, lilacs in a field, smells like mama…
I look around and suddenly I’m floating higher and higher and then I stop suspended in mid-air…I look at my hands and my feet, strange my body is different. Laughter gushes forth from my deepest being and I can’t believe what I am seeing…
Wide open fields of grass and flowers I can’t describe…and to my right is a river and giggles and joy springs up from the babbling brook and I’m amazed…
A lion and a lamb nozzle each other and look up and watch me. One second I’m in the air and the next second I’m at their side…and to my greatest surprise, they speak…how is this possible? Where am I?
The lion, in his deep baritone voice says… “All will be revealed in a little while. Right now just enjoy what you see, what you feel…go exploring.”
The lamb smiles at me and the peace I see in his eyes are tranquil and at ease.
But…
No buts, you are home…this is home!
I’m not afraid. I’m not worried. I feel content and happy like I’ve never been before. Home, I’ve missed home.
I must be in…
Heaven!
~M.S. O’Neill December 29, 2017
1 Corinthians 2:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
The Vintage Talk
Hit a few pot holes today…
Sat down, I was too tired to play…
This road is long and rocky not made of clay…
I love rocking chairs…
I can rock for hours and stare…
Thinking on things long past, that won’t get me anywhere
But gives me somethin’ to do…
How ‘bout you?
You been walking long on this difficult road?
Well looks like we got somethin’ to talk about, lighten the load…
What’s that you say…we got all day…yep…we do.
I used to do anything I wanted and never get tired…
But it’s kinda funny how miles slip away from ya…you know what I mean? Like living on a tight wire…if you aren’t careful you fall off, and land like a deflated tire…
I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be, living hard and running free…
Now, we got all the time in the world…
Children living their own lives…doing the same things we did, not asking why…
Life is full and excit’n, gotta live while ya can…dying will come soon enough…
They don’t have time to think about such stuff…
Life slows down, body gets weak, time for living isn’t for the meek…
Now I’m not trying to sound weary and bleak…
I’m just a resting here in this here seat…
Reflect’n on days gone by…
Be gone soon enough…
And that’s OK…life was full and sometimes sweet, I traveled it my way…
The thing I really want to say,
Is,
Make your life count while you’re living here…
Love and dance and sing and cheer…
When youth is gone and you’re rocking in your rocking chair…
Remember me with thoughts and hold me dear…
I’ll be singing in the atmosphere…in heaven’s home way up there…
Living, really living.
The door swings open and newborns arrive …grow up and have babes of their own…
The gray hairs sit and rock, as life on earth draws nigh, soon they’ll say goodbye…
What’s waiting on the other side, yet to be seen…?
Here’d tell of golden streets and gates of pearl…choirs of angels singing…
I’ll lay me down in blessed sleep I hear the bells a ringing…
Life goes on and it will tell what others will be bringing…
Left behind their legacy, hoping loved ones left will see…
Life don’t mean nothin’ if Jesus doesn’t live inside of thee
You’ll have good days and bad days and things you won’t understand
It won’t do no good to ask why?
You’ll wring your hands and scream and cry and sometimes want to die…
But if you will open the Holy Book and read the words that are written
Wisdom will be your dearest friend and will give you all your seek’n…
Life isn’t for wimps…you’ve been given a task…
Look to the Lord is all I ask…
I’ll see ya on the other side!
~M.S. O’Neill December 28, 2017
James 1:5-7 New International Version (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
The Witness
I saw the man do wondrous things
Many I cannot explain…
But as I live and breathe, I tell you His story still remains…
This is no tall tale, its true every word, listen and I’ll tell you everything I saw and heard…
To the wise, you will recognize, this man I have seen with my own eyes
I walked with him and ate with him, I lived with him, and I’m here to testify…
I’m a witness; I’ll tell you the truth of who this man truly is…
I saw him feed five thousand, I heard him preach to multitudes…
He spit in some clay and made some mud, then stuck it in a blind man’s eyes
Onlookers gasped shaking their heads and changed their attitudes
He went to the synagogue every Sabbath
His father’s house was a house of prayer
And when he put a lashing on the money changers there
I witnessed his disapproval of how they didn’t care…
Most tender, was the way he honored little children, how gentle and kind he was to them
Telling them they are the future and letting them hug him…
He never met a stranger, and the only ones he disliked, where those who pretended to love him, but their hearts were full of lies…
The woman at the well, she found out who he was…and running to her village saying, come and see the man…he is the true Messiah and on his word we can stand…
I saw a Commander; a solider under his command, needed a healing touch. Just say the word Master, it won’t take much…And in that same hour, faith had made him whole.
Oh it was such…
Delightful, and puzzling, but I knew there was something more…this man had to be…He had to be the Lord!
And watching as they tried him, and nailed him to a tree…I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt this man from Galilee…
He is the one, God’s only Son, came to set men free!!
I am a witness, who lived to tell this story unto thee!
Two thousand years from when I lived, you’ll see him in a book…
Don’t waste your time wondering, open and take a look…
And when the Holy Spirit Woo’s your questioning heart…
Believe me friend I witnessed him…open your heart and let him in…
And you too, will be a witness…that God’s love never ends!
~M.S. O’Neill December 28, 2017
You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. Acts 22:15 New International Version (NIV)
The Blood Transfusion
Blood loss and lying still
Transfusion is what I hear…
White light and tunnel near…
I must be dead, oh no, I fear…
Someone praying in my ear
I try to answer but they cannot hear…
And then I see the cross appear…
Blood pouring everywhere…
What does this mean?
My mind shouts and screams…
You need the blood to live…
I was a good person, I never hurt anyone…
I even went to Church a few times…
Doesn’t that count, I had no crimes?
So what’s this about the blood?
The voice talking within this realm
Asking me if I had been washed by Him…
Did I know Jesus, and how he shed his blood for me?
Just so I would live eternally…
A tiny sting is what I feel
Warmth running through my veins, surreal…
And just before I awake…
Someone says, Make no mistake
The blood you’re given is a temporary fix…
My blood came from a crucifix…
I look at His eyes and realize
This man is Jesus, and He never lies…
We’re not ready for you yet!
Wide eyed, I sigh, this much I know, and so,
I answer; Yes Sir, just let it flow…
I’ve been washed by the blood of the Lamb…
The transfusion I was given came straight from heaven…
Saved my life, now I am forgiven…
Waking up I see the face, of a precious saint through amazing grace…
Stayed by my side and prayed.
No more confusion…
I was given His transfusion…
The day I almost died.
If you are living but you’re not alive…
Here’s what you must do if you want to survive…to live on the other side…
Ask Jesus for a blood transfusion…
~M.S. O’Neill December 27, 2017
Ephesians 1:7-10 The Message (MSG) Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
Ephesians 1:7 New International Version (NIV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
The Prayer Warriors
I was reading something a few days ago that made me sit up and really pay attention. It was a story about some soldiers who had fought a long and hard battle and when the war was over they were given a celebration. When they walked onto the platform, they were given a standing ovation…and immediately I thought about the warriors of prayer.
When we pray, fervently pray, those who are intercessors. Those who go into the battle to fight an unseen demonic enemy, those fully dressed in the battle armor, we go in, to fight, knowing God goes before us.
We fight for souls that are lost, and sick, and unaware of the invisible foe.
We fight with powerful words that God has given us to penetrate the enemy’s camp and destroy their strategies. We bombard heaven and implore God, to advance his Holy angels with us so that as we take on the legion of the worst of the worst we have nothing to fear. We pray in the spirit and with understanding…we glorify God and praise the Son…The Holy Ghost gives us the intercessory words to pray, He knows just how to fight.
Our weapons are not carnal they are supernatural weapons; we use them to fight in the unseen world of darkness, bringing souls into the light!!
We face the enemy head on. We do not retreat. We do not take orders from anyone but our Commander, The Lord Jesus Christ…
And when He says, to keep praying without ceasing, our war cries bring down strong holds, set lives free from bondage of sin and death. The prayers of the faithful servants of God accomplish much!! No fear of hurt, pain, suffering, loss, nothing holds us back in our advancement into the enemies camp…we are warriors, more than conquerors…our hearts are set on fire, to wipe out disease, putrid gas of destruction, commanding demons to flee and retreat at the name of Jesus Christ…
These are not microwave prayers…these are not fifteen minute prayers… these are prayers of mass destruction aimed directly at the enemy of the cross no matter how long it takes….speaking the words of God! Broken hearts mended, obliterating addictions; saving souls from hells-hounds and giving hope to the hopeless…unseen hands lifted upward, voices raised in holy words, truth, life and miracles uttered straight to the courts of God…mercy flows to unworthy mortals…God’s grace and love he extends to us…because someone prayed.
Blood, sweat and tears pour from the warriors of prayer…no thought, of care, or for their comfort…one mission, to pray fervent, righteous, faithful words, that God hears and responds to…Faith that moves mountains…love that conquerors hate…the sword of the spirit cutting through darkness, steel, bone and marrow…these are the intercessor’s, whose only purpose is to pray to the Commander and see His hand move on their behalf. To bring honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ!
And when these unwearied prayer warriors step out of this life and into the portals of God’s Holy City…Tens of thousands of angels and the saints who have come before, welcome these precious souls into the Kingdom of God. A standing ovation with roars of joy, their banners held high…and songs of jubilation, receive the warriors home.
A wall of names stands tall in the court of heaven…names engraved on stones of jasper trimmed in gold, for those who prayed and battles were won…prayers answered and victories done…because of the prayers of warriors who prayed and believed and took on the work God called them to do. Forever praying, believing, and knowing that God answers prayer. steadfast, immovable, washed in the blood of the Lamb…always ready, will not waver in the faith…will not run away but to the fight…these are the intercessors not even death will stop them…because they know how important it is to pray.
Be an intercessor…fight, the Good fight, of faith…
You may never know whose life you just saved because you prayed, God heard, and He, answered!
