Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

 Lake Worth, FL

We never know what tomorrow holds, but as the old song goes, “I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.”

Last week everyone was staring at cell phones, glued to televisions and computers watching the news to see where Irma would go and to see how devastating she would be…hitting islands at Category Five strength leaving death and destruction as she went…I was glued to the news as well. Living in the West Palm Beach area I was especially eager to see and know what we should do. I prayed. “Lord, do we go or do we stay?” I heard a loud, “GO, GET TO HIGHER GROUND!” Well He didn’t have to tell me twice. I started gathering medicine and important papers, packing clothes and things that I held dear to my heart but only the most important things that I could pack in our car. I loaded it down. We took food and water for the trip and headed to Tallahassee. We stayed on the Turnpike until the traffic got to be to slow then we got off and found another route…normally a seven hour trip it turned into sixteen hours. We made it to Bob’s daughter’s house feeling tired but safe. Then we hear the news that Irma was going to come to Tallahassee…WHAT?

We prayed some more…but we didn’t hear God say to leave and we felt secure in our decision to stay there. It turned out just fine.

On our way home we saw trees down along the way…water covered the highway in one spot but we got through it without stalling…all fast food places were closed because there was no power. We took potty breaks at Wal-Mart and Publix grocery stores they seemed the less crowed. The gas stations that had power had long lines and frazzled nerves of people trying to get gas to get back home. Policemen were directing people as they got in the long lines for safety…But right in the middle of the highway as we were driving, a young guy in a little red car decides to come all the way from the right-hand-lane and does a U-turn in front of us as we are driving in the far left hand lane…just so he could pull in front of a person in the gas line…he not only endangered his life but ours as well, it was so close…thank God we all dodged that bullet…

We were not able to get gas until ten hours later when we made it to Lake Worth it was eight o’clock at night. We heard that Sonny’s Bar B Q was open so we went there for take-out. They said it would be ten minutes but it was over thirty minutes. We had not eaten any real food all day; my blood sugar was going low…the place was closing and this server looked at us and said, “What are they waiting for?” I had, had enough; I looked at her and said, FOOD!

Then I went out the door and left Bob to deal with it…I was carrying a large glass of iced tea, I got in the car and set it between my legs. Bob came to the car with the food and as I reached to unlock the door, somehow I squeezed the tea and it all came pouring out all over me, it was so cold in my nether parts I thought I was going to pass out…I got out of the car dripping and tossed the remainder of the tea on the ground…then I heard the Holy Spirit say, “You were wrong, your attitude is wrong and if you think this is bad, you better get yourself right or a worse think will come upon you.” I felt horrible all I kept seeing was the face of that poor server asking what we needed. It wasn’t her fault. She had been working hard all day with hungry, tired, irritable people and I had over reacted to her question…God I’m sorry, please forgive me.

We pull into our driveway where a loud generator was blaring next door but we had no power…our windows were boarded up so we called, Bob’s mom, she had electricity and said we could come there. Thank the Lord. What if she had not had AC? What if her power had been out? What if I had not repented?

We get there and I was still feeling the effects of the ice tea and I said, “We’ve been through hell…she said, “Well there are other people a lot worse off…” again I got angry …I yelled at Bob and then said, “I’m sorry…I’m tired and wet and going low…I’m just not myself…please forgive me.”

I changed my pants…we ate and everything settled down.

But I kept hearing…a worse think could come upon you…I kept praying, “Lord, help me, I’m sorry, I’m really trying…help my attitude to be better…I don’t want anything worse to happen…”

God chastens those he loves…I’m not saying God sent the storm, I’m not saying God made my tea spill or made our order take longer, I’m not saying that he caused all the devastation in the Atlantic, all I’m saying is that He will use these things to show us our heart…and if our heart is not right…then we have to change and let him transform us from the inside out. Now, I plan to get a gift card and take it to that server and hope she will accept my apology.

We can’t fix everything that has happened over the last week. We can’t bring the dead back to life. We can’t stop suffering…But we can help to rebuild those who are feeling the impact more than what we have. We can be kind and courteous we can be better than we were before. Stop complaining about politics and religion and start showing God’s love to everyone we meet.

None of us is perfect…we are all human, with human emotions and physical and spiritual needs…the only thing we can do is humble ourselves, ask for forgiveness when we mess up and be a blessing to others less fortunate than we are.

Hard times will come, storms will come, trails and hurts and pain is just a part of life…they will come…

You know some of us are sitting watching from a far, I watched Harvey hit Texas and felt awful for all those hit by that storm. It wasn’t a week later I was the one running for safety. I just want to caution you that disaster can come at any time and any place…We can’t live in fear but please be compassionate towards others…show empathy to those in harm’s way…for the grace of God it could be you.

Nerves may sizzle, some things we have control over and some we do not. But we do have control over how we respond. Decide right now to have a positive attitude no matter what comes…and everything will be so much better for you. After all you don’t want a worse thing to come on you. I know I don’t.

But don’t beat yourself up if you failed through this storm to be as kind as you’d like when confronted with the conflict. Just try to learn from it and do better next time. Because I promise you there will be a next time.

I praise God our families are all safe. That is the most important thing. Minor inconveniences, those can be fixed and replaced…Life, is so much more important. Please keep praying for the ones who were hit by death and property loss, no water and no food. Pray for those who are helping in the recovery process. God bless you!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill September 18, 2017

You say you want to know me…but are you coming to visit me every day?

Are you getting up and getting dressed, are you doing more than just saying, “Hey?”

You’ll know me when you see the smile, of a man, woman, or little child…

By giving a drink of water to someone less fortunate than you are…

You’ll know me…

You’ll know me when you encourage those closed behind prison bars…

You’ll know me when you visit the sick, and those struggling to stay alive…

You’ll know me when you see a need and help others to survive…

I’m in the wind and in the sea

I’m in the dark…

I am the light; only believe…

I’m in the baby who sleeps

I’m in the stars…

Listen to me…

I’ve come to live inside of thee…

You say you want to know me, then follow me!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill September 15, 2017

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Matthew 25:36 The Message (MSG)

 Take off the mask you hide behind

Let’s see the face if true, if kind…

The mask that says, I’m fine and well

And keeps me at arm’s length, don’t tell

The mask that only outsiders see;

Not the hurt or pain inside of thee…

Take off the mask of shame and guilt

Where hard knocks and life struggles built

Walls of mistrust doubt and fear…

Open up let me draw near…

A smiling face, but eyes untrue

Tells me that this is not the real you…

Take off the Mask and let me in…

Dare to do it…be brave and begin…

For masks only hide what’s on the outside…

A short time…

Take a chance…take off the mask…

This one thing, is all I ask.

Open your heart and trust me.

I’ve come to remove the mask

I’ll restore the broken places and loneliness;

I’ll transform the hurting faces

Where turmoil and anguish made their home

Authentic, honesty and love will be known

To those who humbly remove their masks!

~Jesus

Marla Shaw O’Neill September 18, 2017

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. Matthew 5:8 The Message (MSG)

 Five little pennies scattered on the ground

Bending over I pick them up, pennies! How profound…

What could be the meaning of this? I thought…

Minding my own business I never sought…

To find the tiny treasure…let’s count them and measure…

What could this possibly mean…?

One penny, is usually a sign from heaven, that a loved one, gone on, is saying, Hi.

Two pennies simply dropped, fallen from the sky…

Three pennies, blessed indeed. My, oh, my!

Four pennies got my attention but still I cannot buy…

Anything with just four pennies…then I see five…

Five pennies, this must be a message but what?

My mind is intrigued. Why now? Why this spot?

I wrapped the pennies and tucked them within my pocket-book…

I’ll save them for later, then take another look…

Dear Lord, what is the meaning of these pennies that I found…?

Child, they’re just a little reminder that I am around…

Trust in me! ~God.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill  September 15, 2017

When I look with my natural eyes and hear with my natural ears…

My heart falters; and all I can see and hear is fear…

My Faith must be in the One whom I can’t see or hear… and know that I have nothing to fear…

He is the one who whispers to the seas, and they lie down in quiet peace…

He is the one who stands in Majesty and angels cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy is He…”

He is the one who molds the mountains and throws lighting spears, whose voice is like the thunder…yet quietly He appears…

In the rain and in the storms…He’s in the deepest seas…

He’s in the heavens and in the depths; He’s in the heart of me…

We have nothing to be afraid of…

When we know His perfect love…

Just look unto the hills and know that’s where our help comes from…

Our help comes from God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Blessed Holy Ghost…

Listen and you’ll hear him say, “My child I love you most…”

The trials you’re facing every day aren’t here to defeat you…

They’re here so that you’ll rejoice and trust that no matter what you do…

God will be there with you, He’s promised you this…

Don’t see with your natural eyes, or hear with your natural ears, or you will surely miss…

The awesomeness of God our Father, who rides the seas and spins the sun, created the lesser light the moon, for night…He sings with the stars, and saves our souls, His ways far above ours…He plants the flowers and watches them grow…

He chases the rivers and leaps through the streams, gives young men visions and old men dreams…He plays with volcanos and hears the earth quake, his love is multiplied make no mistake…

He raises kings and kingdoms and He rides the wind, He’s in the middle of the hurricane… He’s God, He reigns….

Storms will come and storms will go…

But remember this, and know…

God is in control…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill September 5, 2017

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

 Do you hear God’s whispers on the wind…?

Do you speak the language of the angels?

These words God recognizes are His…

Have you felt His electricity soar through your being?

A shaking and a quaking found only in His touch…

Has the roll of your tongue spoken Holy ancient words…?

God’s language heard by Him that means so much…

Sounds of the Father that tells of His Holy Love…

The wonderful things of God expressed in wind talkers filled and blessed

With the language, of His Holiness

Are you a wind talker…?

Code from God above…in-filling those He’s called and those He loves…

Building up your most Holy Faith…praying in the Holy Ghost…

Seeking Him with all your heart He’s promised to give you the most…

Beautiful language where you will host…

His Holy Spirit but none will boast…

God longs to fill you with the Holy Ghost.

If you are a wind talker…you will know

He comes to reveal more of Jesus and more of Him to bestow…

Rivers of living water out of your belly will flow…

Don’t be afraid to ask for this, just let go…

Wind talkers speak in secret for this is where is found

God will answer the wind talkers at the precious, holy sounds…

Drawing closer to the Savior…is where I’m bound.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 31, 2017

John 7:38 King James Version (KJV) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

 Under the skillful eye of the Master

He sees my many flaws…

He knows that I’m a disaster but still he calls…

Unaware of whom it is that gently calls my name

I go about life as usual ignoring him just the same…

My heart is tattered with many scars but I bear my shame

There’s no one else to blame…

Years go by and I’m still searching but my heart begins to respond

I find myself in a tiny spot and once again I hear him call my name…

This time I pay attention, I look around to see

And there with eyes shining He looks lovingly on me

Who are you sir? What do you want with me?

I haven’t much to offer but I’ll share my bread with thee…

“Oh Child, I am the Master who’s waited long and patiently,

for your heart, to belong to me…

I’ve been with you through the storms of life and kept you safe in danger and animosity…

I’ve held you when you slept at night and warmed you with my daily light…

I’m the one who’s watched you cry and told you everything will be alright…

Open you heart and you will find…Home is where you’ll be…”

I fall upon my knees, and there I humbly,

Embrace the Master…

He’s changed me into His masterpiece,

where all my flaws were made into

A beautiful tapestry.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 31, 2017

 

Luke 19:1-10 New International Version (NIV)

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

How do you view your life?

Is your life exciting with new adventures coming to you each and every day? Are you so excited about your life that you can’t wait to rise in the morning to see what new things you will encounter?

Or is your life ho-hum. Same ole thing day-in and day-out? Are you just starting out, or are you merely ending up?

If you could tell me in one sentence about your life, what would you say?

When I was a little girl life was different. I’m not going to tell you all about it but after sixty-three years, I can tell you there have been major changes to my world.

Looking back, imagine how the world has changed in 80, 90, 100 years. Now think about 2000 years ago, and how it has changed.

It’s mind boggling.

From chariots with horses, to Maserati’s and F-22 Raptor’s, a really awesome plane…

From thank you, your welcome, and please, to, get out of face and ugly four letter words, to, well, you know what I’m talking about. Scroll down most threads on Facebook, watch the media, and you will see the moral decline in our society and the lack of respect towards people…it’s sad really. When faith in God is replaced with ‘self’ as god…it is the downfall of mankind.

If the Lord tarries, think what another ten, twenty, or a hundred years will look like….Now that, is mind boggling….It would be interesting to be around to see what the world will be like in a hundred years…

If you are a Child of Jesus, the King of Glory…and Jesus has returned and set up the New Jerusalem here on earth, you very well could be around then…just say’n…(I know there are many opinions regarding this.)

The thing is, what does your life look like right now?

I’ve been pondering about this lately…

Like peace…does anyone have true peace in their lives right now?

Do you have real love, real joy? Do you believe these are even possible anymore?

Is your life totally out of control? Do you think to yourself that there is no love, no peace, no joy, nothing to be happy about or look forward to…? Are you numb, comatose, and without a purpose…? Do you wear the play actor’s face…the smile that hides the hurt and pain, so that no one sees what your life is really like?

Yes even “Christians.”

You know? I’ve read history and I’ve read the Bible and it describes the early Christians as full of love, joy and peace. They helped one another, loved each other and prayed continuously…but you know what…on the outside their lives were far from peaceful…they were killed for their faith…flogged and tortured for preaching in public…but this did not stop them from living their lives in peace, it did not stop them from proclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord. They loved their enemies and prayed for them.

They sang when imprisoned…they prayed when set on fire…they said, “Father forgive them,” when they were crucified and they rejoiced in persecutions…they walked for miles on dusty roads, just to share their faith with non-believers and tell them about Jesus and Him Crucified…let me ask you this, could we as “Modern American Christians” endure such hardships if we were arrested, beaten, thrown in jail for our faith, and convicted, then sentenced to death. Would our faith stand up in that kind of persecution? Or would we deny knowing Jesus. Would we look the other way and say, “that doesn’t concern me.”

You are probably thinking that couldn’t happen in America, right? Maybe, but history tells a different story. I’m not trying to scare anyone or talk gloom and doom…but let’s just say the Bible is true and what it says, has and will come to pass…have you read the book?

For those Christians who are simply card-carrying members, but don’t live their faith…those who show up in church on holidays and special events only as a duty…those who simply know God as a fair-weather-friend…let me tell you something…God loves you, he has never given up on you and he is calling you to come deeper…He’s calling you to get serious and to search your heart and give Him one hundred percent of your heart and mind, to love him as much as he loves you, that’s a lot…Because trials will come, persecutions are already here, He wants you to be ready, so that when those trials come, when those persecutions come, you will be able to stand and say with all your heart, I am a child of Jesus Christ.

You may think, why would anyone want to do that? I’ll tell you. Because the life you have with Jesus is real. There is a peace the world does not have and cannot give. His love goes beyond anything you could think or imagine. His joy lasts it is not fleeting. And it is not only in this life but when the body dies…the soul lives on with Him in that same condition. It’s a love that doesn’t grow stale, a love that gives without restraint. His love endures all things and hopes all things and it overcomes hate and death. It is a love to die for, to live for. Because He is Love, and His love satisfies! Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26

There is no greater love than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 31, 2017

Let’s pray:

Lord Jesus save me give me your love, joy and peace. Let me walk in your grace and mercy. Let me be an example of you to everyone I meet. Let my life be lived to glorify you and if the world survives let my legacy live on to the future generations that in a hundred years from now there will be a trail of souls that said yes to you because I loved you and served you and passed you on to others that became thousands of souls, because I chose to love you now. Amen!

Read the first message preached by Peter, after the in filling of the Holy Spirit…

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

I call Him the Great I Am!

I call Him Elohim…HaShem…

The Precious Lamb…

I call Him Adonai…

Alpha, Omega

The Bright and Morning Star

Who Was, and Is, and Is, to come…

God’s Only Begotten Son…

I call him Redeemer, Hope, Love

Word and the Every-lasting King of kings

And Lord of lords…

He is the Door…

No one can shut…He’s alive forevermore….

I call Him Lion of Judah…

Song of Songs…

I call Him Abba

And the Beautiful Rose of Sharon…

Ancient of Days…

I give Him praise…

I call Him Yeshua…

Savior…

Life Giver and Way Maker…

I call Him Friend

Beginning and End…

Jesus, Advocate and Intercessor…

Holy, Majestic, Healer, Deliverer,

Messiah, Tree of Life

Light, Counselor…Prince of Peace

Provider, Guide and High Priest

First Fruits of the Resurrection

There is no other like Him…

Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess…

“JESUS CHIRST IS LORD!!!!”

He calls us…His treasure, child, wheat, beloved, blessed, a Prophet unto the nations, disciple, fishermen, prayer warriors, heirs of the kingdom, The Bride, Righteous, Mighty people of Valor, Soldier, Friend, Living Stones, Sheep, a Royal Priesthood, A Holy Nation, kings and priests…Ministers, Called out Ones…Holy and set apart…

Listen…can you hear his voice… those who he’s called know his voice…and follow Him!

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. John 15:15 New International Version (NIV)

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27New King James Version (NKJV)