Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

 

Standing at a crossroad

On the road to nowhere

Alone and tired

Caffeine wired…

How’d I get here?

Which road should I take?

Doesn’t really matter either ones a mistake…

Turn around; go back the way you came…

No one cares which way you go,

There’s no one to argue with, and no one to blame…

Take the sure road you know where it goes…

Why’d you leave anyway, do you even know?

Sometimes you just want to go…

To nowhere…

Dead end streets…

Stopping to weep…

Stories deep…

Chimney sweeps…

Needing sleep…

I’ll just keep…

Driving, get out of my way

Beep, beep, beep

Where’s my map?

Taking a power nap…

This too shall pass…

Headed back…

To nowhere fast…

Fill the tank with gas…

Circles, traveling in circles…

Arrived in nowhere at last…

Sometimes you need to ask…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 15, 2017

 

The dead man listened, but how can a dead man hear? But there he is walking and talking, but he is in darkness, and blind until a tiny light is revealed and he begins to see…

Dead ears come alive to words he hears spoken

I breathe and sleep and function fully, yet, I am in darkness

I do not realize it as being dark; I do not know I’m dead

Suddenly

My eyes are open and I see a brilliant light

Heart pounding

Someone speaking, “Do you want to accept…?”

My nerves are tingling

My senses heightened… “What is this?”

I hear the words spoken, “Dead in trespasses and sin…”

Time stands still…and again I hear, “Do you accept Jesus the son of God into your heart?”

A tug of war rages within my mind

Death and life are fighting

Darkness tries to snuff out the light…but the light is too strong…

I try to speak, my mouth is dry, then I cry… “Yes! Yes I do!”

A gust of wind blows into my dead heart, and instantly God breathes new life into me, and I become a living soul…

New Birth~

First heartbeat, felt…pulse begins to beat…

I burst forth in exuberant joy…all the darkness vanishes and light comes pouring in from all directions…

I am no longer dead…I, am, alive!

God has redeemed me. Bought me back from the stone cold fingers of death. Bought me back with the blood of His son Jesus…more precious than gold or silver, that blood…

His blood poured out on Calvary now flows within me and I am no longer a…

Dead man…

I am ALIVE!

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 New Living Translation (NLT)

And when my body is laid to rest, I will not be in a cold dark grave, Oh No!

I will enter into heavens portals alive, vibrant, singing the song of the redeemed, alive forevermore!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 15, 2017

   

In the Animal Kingdom there are many species…and sometimes I wonder about their personalities and behaviors and I relate them to humans…

There’s the sneaky squirrel, alert and cautious as he looks about coming down from the telephone wire onto the oak tree, runs along the branch and out onto a pole, where the bird feeder is stationed with seeds to feed the birds….He doesn’t care about the birds, what he wants is the food…and he will do all his amazing tricks to get to that food…after all, He is of the Animal Kingdom, Sir Squirrel, of Dudley!

Then there’s the sly fox. He waits until all the humans are out of sight and makes his way into the farm-yard and into the chicken coop…there he steals a chicken no one will miss this one, no one will even know the fox was there. Every fox for himself… “I am The Fox, mysterious and sly, no one can catch me.” Or so he believes…until there is a “fox hunt.”

Well I can’t forget the peacock, he’s majestic and serene. Prancing around in all his glory as he spreads his tail-feathers wide and says, “Look at me, I am something grand to behold…I’m beautiful, am I not?” Pride and arrogance he wears in a pompous display of color. King of the yard he struts.

Of course there are the peasants of the kingdom…the ducks and geese and chickens…the work horse and the oxen and the mules…

Oh we can’t ignore the mule. They are stubborn and rebellious… “You will not make me move one inch if I choose not too!” says the obstinate mule. “I do all the work around here and who says thank you, no one. So I will pout and sit until I feel like moving. Heehaw…heehaw!”

You could be a finicky cat, barking dog, pig, monkey or water buffalo…sheep, lion, dolphin, wolf…

Thousands of animals in the kingdom…

But my favorite in this kingdom is the eagle…He is the hunter…a loner… King of the skies…

He soars above the storm; he takes one mate for life. He goes through a deep depression and lives on the floor of the valley, for a season or so I’ve been told this may or not be true. (I heard this story many years ago.) His fellow eagles, which have also gone through this process, fly over the valley and drop food for him to eat. When the time comes, he has to decide if he wants to live or die. He will have to climb out of the valley, it’s difficult because his claws have grown and curled up making it hard for him to walk, little lone to climb. If he decides he wants to live he must drag himself up the mountain to a rock and beat his beak onto the rock, and scrape his claws, so he can survive. He lets out a cry so powerful he can be heard for miles. Then he dives off the mountain and flies straight up into the sky until he sees the stars…and shouts, “ CAW…CAW…Just he and God alone…Thank you God for giving me wings…thank you God for taking me through this trial and thank you God, for I know, I am not alone…I fly with you in the heavens, and I rest with you in my nest, you supply for my house-hold, my young ones, and my mate…Thank you God you made me this way…I am free…I am alive…I will soar! I have seen you with my eye and I have heard you speak my name…I am yours and you, God, are mine!

Yes the Animal Kingdom is prolific and magnificent…but more than all the Animals that God designed…It was man who he made in His image. When the light of Jesus comes into a man/woman’s heart…there is absolutely nothing more beautiful to God’s eyes. He loves you, and me, without measure…

Which animal personality do you see in you?

God sees you just the way you are…but loves you too much to leave you in darkness…that is why he sent the light…His son, Jesus! It’s time to climb out of the valley of despair and soar…let your cry be heard in the heavens…THANK YOU GOD FOR GIVING ME WINGS…

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 15, 2017

 Psalms 103:2-5 – Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (NKJV)

Isaiah 40:31 – But those who wait on the Lord  Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (NKJV)

 

Tip-toeing into the room, I watch as the tiny chest rises and falls

In perfect rhythm, a breath; signs that life is sweet…

This one is mine…

Eyes closed in sleep…

Face pure and innocent, no cares, no worries, a part of me lying there

A sign that life is complete…

What will you do my little one? What journeys will you seek?

I bend and tenderly kiss the cheek…

Of this child wandering in dreamland who does he/she meet?

My love goes beyond the stars, affection limitless, tremendous, endless…

On loan for a millisecond, then gone, time does not stand still…

Sleep, little one, sleep…

Just as we love our children and want the best for them, our loving heavenly father feels the same way about us.

Sometimes when we do not hear him speaking, or we don’t feel him near. It’s not that he has left us; for he said, he never would…he is just tip-toeing into our room and watching us sleep. Tears of joy filling his eyes, his heart so full of love for us, that he is speechless.

Rest, little one, rest! ~Papa

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 14, 2017

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31

I am my beloved’s, And my beloved is mine. He feeds his flock among the lilies. Song of Solomon 6:3 New King James Version (NKJV)

“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.” Isaiah 59:21

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Psalm 112:1-2

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 2 Corinthians 13

• I’d like to recommend a book to you, it’s called, The Singing God by, Sam Storms. This book is amazing. Sam will open your eyes to the wonderment of God’s love and how he sings over his children. It has blessed me beyond words. You will love it!

 My maiden name is Shaw  which comes from: The English surname was also established in Ireland in the 17th century. Scottish and Irish: adopted as an English form of any of various Gaelic surnames derived from the personal name Sitheach ‘wolf’. Americanized form of some like-sounding Ashkenazic Jewish surname. (Ancestry.com)

I was born in Northern Alabama in Etowah County, in the city of Gadsden, 1954. My Dad was born in Cherokee county. I’m told that my Grandpa, “Paw Shaw” as he was known, could throw a rock and kill a rabbit. I was also told that he was a great baseball player and they wanted him to play professional baseball but he wouldn’t leave Alabama. He lived to be, I believe, 97 years old, I know he was in his nineties when he died. My grandma Shaw was in her nineties, as well, when she died. They were married for 75 years. I can hardly imagine that…SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS MARRIED. Some people don’t even live to be that old and yet they stayed married, that is something to ponder. Of course in those days that’s what you did, you stayed married for life.

My dad is 89 years old. I just talked to him he sounded good but he’s not as strong as he used to be…age has a way of doing that…we laughed and discussed a few things…Life sure is strange…but it goes on…

I didn’t grow up knowing my dad on a day to day basis, but I love him, and every time I call him and we hang up the phone I say, “I love you dad.” He says, “I love you too dar’lyn…I always have and always will, I love you dearly…”

No matter how old we get…there is nothing like talking to your mom or your dad…time slips away when we aren’t looking.

If your parents are living…call them…tell them you love them…even if they don’t say it back…some just don’t know how!

Love as if there is no end…

Forgive like there is no tomorrow…

And live as long and courageous as you can!

It’ll be gone too soon…so make the moments count!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 13, 2017

I want a heart like His…

I want a heart like this, full of…

Love and compassion for the lost

To give at all cost…

My life totally spent, poured out, completely used up

At the end of my days…

Giving God praise,

Let me…

Touch the leper, so he will know that God loves him so…

Cast out demons so they will flee, setting the captives free…

Let the world hear my shout…Father I forgive them!

I want a heart like Him…

I don’t need to walk on water…

But I do need faith…

Or turn water into wine…

But I do need the Holy Spirit within

I don’t need shiny things

What I crave, is a heart that brings

Honor, glory, praise,

Worship, life, grace

Redemption, salvation, wholeness,

Freedom, peace

Joy, gentleness,

Friend of God,

Love…

Don’t let me miss

Having a heart like Jesus!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 13, 2017

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

God is singing a love song, just for you today

His words are true and heartfelt; Listen, to what he has to say…

My love for you is so intent I cannot be still…

My heart is full of love for you, no doubt, for I always will,

Think of you each morning as you stretch and move to rise

No one fills my heart like you, when I look into your eyes

My song of love is flowing to you, my love, my bride…

In a voice, loud and boisterous, in reckless abandonment…each word is heard….

Like a giddy child, completely wild, all for the love of you…

Heaven’s windows opened wide so you will hear his love is true…

Child of mine, love divine, I sing my song for you…

I love you so completely, loved deeply, for you are mine, you are the one, I pursue~

Waiting patiently I sing, my love song throughout time, for this one moment…

When you realize you are mine…

Dry your tears put away your fears…Child I long to see you smile…

Come sit with me and I’ll tell you more, come talk with me awhile…

Then when you see my heart is yours…and I’ve loved you even when

You thought that no one cared; it was I who drew you near…

I love you precious one, you are worthy of my love,

For it is I, who has loved you first, and it is I, who will love you, last…

Open your heart and open your ears as I sing my love song to you…

Loved without condition, love pure and free…

I have given everything that I am,

To show my love for thee!

La lala… Lala… Lala la…O hear the melody…

I, love, you,

~God

 ~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 13, 2017

 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 New Living Translation

I’d like to ask you a question…as humbly as I possibly can. Some will have no problem with this question; some probably haven’t even thought about it. Some may not practice this because they may think; they don’t need to, because they get all they need from Church. Some may think, they don’t understand it anyway, so, why should they read it? And some of you may think, you don’t have time…it’s out of date…it’s King James no one talks like that anymore….But…

How are you going to know what God says, if you don’t read His Words?

My husband Bob, has been getting up every morning at breakfast, he opens his Bible starting with Genesis and has been reading for about four months now. He’s now in 2 Samuel. He tells me what he’s read and is finding so many things he never knew before.

This thrills me to no end…because he’s not only reading God’s word; God is changing him, transforming him, and giving him wisdom and understanding.

No one told Bob to start reading the Bible every morning at breakfast. He just started doing it.

We have been given the Holy Bible, inspired by God, and when we pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open our understanding he is more than willing to do that. Don’t you think it would be ridiculous to have wisdom sitting at our fingertips, but never pick it up to read it. There are answers to every situation known to man in this book.

You want a lifetime instruction book? It’s been around for hundreds of years. What a gold mine.

In our country you can buy one from a store for a dollar. Or order one that’s leather bound with a commentary. People do still like the ones made of paper.

Now days you get them on digital and audio….you don’t have to carry the “big book” around, there’s an App for your phone. Letters too small, just widen it on the screen and it is enlarged…talking about at your fingertips…

The point is…OPEN IT UP and READ IT!!! Let the Holy Spirit open mysteries and secrets and life plans and dreams and how to raise your children and how to become the best person you’d ever want to be…read the true account about the Life of Jesus and see how the Old Testament and the New Testament are really all one book connected through time…

There’s healing, marriage restoring, relationship miracles and so much more…

Read it with an open heart, pray and let God speak to you. Find a translation that you can understand and use Matthew Henry’s ‘free’ commentary he’ll explain to you what each verse is talking about.

If you saw someone starving literally to death, and needed food and water, wouldn’t you give them what they needed or see that they got help? If that person was you…wouldn’t you want food and water? It’s not just spiritual it is also for the body and the mind and the soul. Find out for yourself what it says about all that. Don’t take someone else’s word for it…You, read it, so you won’t be deceived. And when someone tries to tell you the Bible says this, or that, you will know for yourself what it says.

The Bible is…sweeter than honey, a well, that never runs dry and, it is the words of God to live by! His words are written in a book just for you.

I’ve taken the liberty to give you one of the Epistles, a letter of James below…

Lord Jesus, I ask that whoever reads your words today that you will give them new insight to who you are, and that it will inspire them to keep reading your word. They are Words of life and peace and hope. Holy Spirit, bring healing into the hearts of God’s children. Amen.

~MSO, June 12, 2017

James 1 New International Version (NIV)

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 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. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Listening and Doing

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

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Crowds pressed in on every side…

Healing and ministry there collide…

More and more the people cried…

So many needs can’t be denied…

Time for a rest, to recharge refresh…

Into the quiet solitude of the wilderness…

Into the wilderness he went to pray.

To be still and seek and knock and ask…

Grace for the journey and peace that lasts.

He went into the wilderness, to pray.

Luke 5:16

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 11, 2017

There’s a song for us to be singing…

While living on this earth…

It’s the song of Heaven’s Kingdom

The angels hasten to hear…

Coming from earthen vessels

The hearts of the redeemed…

Stand and shout it out…

And do not fear

Be bold, be courageous and SING…

This song has no ending

Open your heart,

You, the Redeemed…

Sin has no hold on me

The blood of Jesus poured out; hear and see…

The grave cannot hold me and death has no sting

The same Spirit who lives in him, in us is quickening…

We have God’s favor and by faith we walk in Him…

Children of Heaven’s Kingdom

Sing it out for all of them…

To know as it is in heaven, so it is within the earth….

For Heaven’s, King, has given us a brand new-birth…

Sing, Redeemed, Sing!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 10, 2017

Psalm 71:23-24 The Message (MSG)

You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I’m telling the world your wonders; I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray. God, don’t walk off and leave me until I get out the news Of your strong right arm to this world, news of your power to the world yet to come, Your famous and righteous ways, O God. God, you’ve done it all! Who is quite like you? You, who made me stare trouble in the face, Turn me around; Now let me look life in the face. I’ve been to the bottom; Bring me up, streaming with honors; turn to me, be tender to me, And I’ll take up the lute and thank you to the tune of your faithfulness, God. I’ll make music for you on a harp, Holy One of Israel. When I open up in song to you, I let out lungsful of praise, my rescued life a song. All day long I’m chanting about you and your righteous ways, While those who tried to do me in slink off looking ashamed.