Take Off the Mask

 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

 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

God is in Control…

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.
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.  Psalm 121:1-8 New International Version (NIV)

Are you a Wind Talker?

 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.

The Masterpiece

 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.”

Could You

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!

ACTS 2: 1-41 (NIV)

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.

What Do You Call Him…What does He Call You

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)

 

His Name Is…

 I’m writing to my brothers and sisters in Christ…
If you’re breathing you’re having some form of a battle…from loneliness, sickness, disease, depression, fighting in a war….we are at war!!!!
You are not alone!!!
I think about the children who are hungry and afraid struggling on the streets or in an abandoned shack somewhere! I think about the elderly stuck away in a nursing home alone, afraid, their families no longer come to see about them! I think about those in a far off third world country with no medicine or even clean water to drink!!! I think about the single parents struggling to keep food on their tables and a roof over their family’s heads. I think about the business person who is so stressed out wondering how to make all the plates they’re spinning keep from crashing and crumbling around them. There is no hope in self…there is only hope in one!
His name is Jesus; Yeshua, (Son of God, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, Great I AM, The Beautiful Rose of Sharon, Lion of Judah, Lamb that was slain, Bright and Morning Star, Adonai, Elohim, YHWH, Jehovah, Abba, Beginning, Bread of Life, Ancient of Days, Christ, Branch, Bridegroom, Breath of Life, Carpenter, Shepherd, Comforter, Consolation of Israel, Corner Stone, Creator, Day Spring, Deliverer, Door, Dwelling Place, End, Faithful and True, Friend, Gentle Whisper, Gift of God, Governor, Guide, High Priest, Hiding Place, Hope, Husband, JAH, Jealous, Judge, Just One, King, Life, Messiah, Nazarene, Teacher, Refuge, ROCK, Ruler of Israel, Savior, Seed, Servant, Shield, Song, Spirit, Wall of Fire, Way, Wisdom, Witness, Wonderful, Word, YAH!!!)
I could stop writing right here…there is such a message in just the names of God…Oh but will we listen…will we see and hear? Read them OUT LOUD!!! You will be blessed. Then pray for others, pray for your loved ones, your friends and your neighbors the nations and our world!
We have so very much to be thankful for I say we, but it is personal, I have so much to be thankful for.
I have food to eat, a comfortable place to live and sleep. I have a husband who I adore and who adores me. We will have tests and trials in our lives but we are not alone!
Soldiers have to keep marching, keep serving, keep fighting and they never leave their fellow soldiers alone wounded on the battlefield! Yes we are in a war the war for our souls. The war for our families, and friends, and neighbors!
Don’t give up…
Don’t be discouraged! Remember this one thing….God loves you, he loves you so much!!! You may say how can God love me and yet all these horrible things happen? We have an enemy, dear friend and he holds no punches, he is a weapon of mass destruction, but, his days are numbered. Read the end of the book WE WIN!!!!!
Keep your eyes focused on our HOPE and when you find yourself weakening just say his Names out loud! He is closer than a heartbeat!!!!
God bless and keep you always!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son,
That whosoever believes in him, would not perish, but have ever-lasting life!!!” John 3:16
~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 28, 2013

When the Spirit Says Go…

 

My husband Bobby and I traveled from South Florida to Marianna, Florida this past weekend. We spent the night in Tallahassee to see family, then left early Friday morning to go to Marianna because Bob had a job to do there.
The drive was pleasant and we made good time. The further we went, the southern hospitality was apparent, life seemed to slow down a bit, and the accents became more distinct. I was born in Alabama but raised in Florida, I know southern. But I noticed something else, there seemed to be an underlying tension in the air. We stopped at a fast food place to use the restroom and as I walked in, I saw two policemen talking to an employee at the counter. I kept on walking and I heard a man talking to two other people. He said, “If that had been me, they would have arrested me on the spot and carried me off to jail.” I went on to the restroom and thought, “Huh, I wonder what happened here?” I came out of the restroom and a woman customer, was talking to the two policemen and she was saying, “You know, you just can’t make God mad. If you make God mad he just won’t take it.”
I walked out the door and got back in our car and told Bob what I heard and saw. Like I said, I could feel something strange in the air.
We got to our destination Bob went in to work and I stayed in the car reading a book called, The Hidden Power of the Holy Spirit. At lunch-time we went to the local Burger King and we ordered our food. Again, I sensed that tension. Bob and I sat down and began to eat. Low and behold, the woman who had been at the McDonald’s earlier that day came into the Burger King. She got in line and then said, “Burger King…why isn’t there a Burger Queen?” She said it sincerely and waited for an answer. A couple of men heard what she said and answered her but they were a little sarcastic. They laughed. One man got his order and walked out the door. The other one laughed and said, “Well at least I was nicer than he was.
Bob and I were sitting up front in a corner and could see and hear everything that was going on…there was a big man who came in and sat at a table in the center of the room. The lady doing all the talking went to sit in a section behind us by a window. She said to a young man sitting across the aisle, “I haven’t had any sleep for seven days. We drove all night and we got kicked out of our apartment.” I could sense something was weird so I said to Bob, “We need to go.” Bob said, “Yeah.” So we left.
I don’t know what happened with that lady or what else was said, all I know is that when the Spirit says leave, you need to listen. I got in the car and I prayed over those people and the place.
When we pray and are in tune with the Holy Spirit he will let us know when to stay and when to go.
We went back for Bob to finish his job and when he was finished we left to go back to Tallahassee. We had a wonderful time with family and the weekend was fun.
We left spent a few hours and enjoyed our time, with our Tampa family, and made it home safe and sound.
I’m writing this to say this, “Pray, stay connected to the Lord and listen when you sense something isn’t quite right. When the Holy Spirit says to leave…then leave.
We are all here for a reason. If for no other reason than to be at a certain time, at a certain place, to deflect evil, then so be it, and when it’s time go…Go!
~Marla Shaw O’Neill August 28, 2017
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14 New International Version (NIV)