Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

Hebrews 5:7-9 New International Version (NIV) During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Many times in life we will suffer…

We will suffer great loss, and we feel lost…

But God promises to be with us in every trial, every heartbreak, He will not leave us or forsake us in the storm alone.

If you don’t know Him, then you won’t realize that it’s not God’s fault…

God is a God of love and truth…

Jesus walked the road of suffering, the Via Dolorosa…called the way of suffering…

He knows what it is to suffer…that’s why He came…

That’s why when we suffer He carries us…and comforts us…

He told us we would have trouble in this world…but to be of good cheer because He overcame the world…and through him we can overcome too…

If you are suffering, receive His grace; let Him carry you to the place of His peace…

Rest in His loving arms…because there is no where I’d rather be than in the arms of Jesus.

Simply be still and rest!

You will get through whatever pain you’re facing…you will come through this…One moment at a time…

I know because He’s carried me many times down that road…and every time I have come through stronger, I’ve received more grace and love than I ever imagined, to share with someone else in their suffering, His infinite love and grace. Don’t give up…when you are in the ocean and the waves want to overtake you…lay back and float on the water…don’t fight against the waves…ride the waves…all the way to the shore…

I recently watched a show where this tiny baby a preemie, died…an angel was standing by waiting for his suffering to end…someone standing by could see the angel and asked, if he was there to help the baby and the angel said, “Yes, I’ve come to carry him home.” The person asked why the baby was born that way. The angel said he was never intended to survive. His only purpose was to be born then die.

The angel took the little soul in his hands and took him to heaven.

We don’t have the answers…we never will…we are not God. We don’t see the ripple effect that each life plays in the life of others throughout eternity…we are not meant too. But believe me have an impact either for good or for evil.

We each have a purpose and we each have a choice in how we live our lives and…at the end of our days those choices will determine where we go and how we live in eternity…

I believe that suffering is the way we learn obedience that’s what the Bible says about Jesus…He learned obedience through the things he suffered. Suffering is a part of life.

If the Via Dolorosa is the way to Calvary…than Lord I pray this for every person who will ever live that they will walk that road of suffering, but not alone…

For at the end of the road we will meet Jesus.

He is there waiting to walk us all the way home.

Hear my song O God…

I love you, I love you Lord…

My song of praise, I sing to thee

There is no other who I love more than You O God…

I may sing my song off-key…

The words may not come to me…

But my song is true and pure and I sing it with all my heart…

O most Holy God…you are higher than the heavens…

You are light and life and love…

Hear my song O God…

Sung from a heart that longs to stay with you forever…

You are my song O God…

I trust You with my life and the life of my children…

I will walk with you O God No matter what may come…

I sing and keep on singing…

You have given me your song, it’s a new song I sing to thee…

A song of peace and joy in every trial, yes, I will sing…

For you are everything, O God, my father, my life, my song!!

Through death, or life, or sickness, or peril, I will sing my song to thee…

Forever…

It’s a song of trust, a song of love, a song of healing, a song of victory, a song of life that reaches all the way to heaven…

You O God are my song…

I will sing, I will sing to thee…

Hear it loud and clear…Sha la, Sha la, My Sweet Sha la,

Over oceans deep, or valley’s low, I will sing…On top of the mountains and over streams, in happy times and times of despair, I will sing my song to thee…it is a song of faith and hope…I put in you, O Favored One…my love, my strength, my joy, my song…I sing to thee!!

I wait and listen, then, I hear you sing back to me.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved’s is mine…

I rejoice over you with singing…

Sing with me little sparrow…sing with all your heart

Your song brings great joy to me…

It brings deliverance and sets the spirit free…

I will sing forever to thee!

 

–Marla Shaw O’Neill March 16, 2017

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great  delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17 New International Version (NIV)

When the darkness overtakes you and you can’t see anyway out…no peace, only darkness…

Remember Jesus is the light and will lead you through the darkness…

Sometimes life gives us challenges that put us between a rock and a hard place…

Sometimes there is no “right answer” no matter what you decided it will not be a good turnout.

Someone is going to suffer maybe even die but you must make a difficult choice…

At that time all you can do is trust…

And, if you don’t know who to trust…the pain will be unbearable, and the cost too great to bear.

But I am telling you now, there is someone you can trust…there is someone who has suffered more than anything we can imagine or have ever gone through…

There is someone who says…My grace is enough for everything you face in life.

There is someone who says…I will carry you, when you can’t walk or even speak because the pain you are in crushes you and paralyzes you and you are left numb and empty with a big hole in your heart, mind and soul.

He says to throw all your cares on Him because He cares for you. And do not let your heart be troubled. Take my yoke, my bonds, upon you, for my bonds are carefree, easy and light…you don’t have to carry the burden; He will carry them for you. He already took them long ago. You just have to give them to Him.

His name is Jesus…He is the Son of God…He died for you and He rose from the dead and He lives and prays for you every moment of every day.

Lay your weary head upon His chest…let Him caress you and hold you in your deepest pain…He will, if you let Him…

If you have children, you know when they are sad and when they fall down and scrape their knees and they come running to you for comfort? You pick them up and hold them in your lap and tell them everything will be alright…and they are soothed and become quiet and rested. Your loving heavenly father does the same for you. There is solace in His words of grace and mercy. Like an ointment it heals the wounds of life.

Run to papa, let Him hold you and kiss you and tell you everything will, be, alright.

In time the pain will lessen the wounds will heal, there will always be scars but those will remind you that pain is real but there is someone who understands and will love you no matter what…No, Matter, What!

You are loved.

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39 King James Version

–Marla Shaw O’Neill March 16, 2017

When you don’t know where to turn…

Be still.

When you don’t know who to talk too…

Be still.

When your life is turned upside down,

And it hurts to even breathe

Just be still…

For there’s only one who can comfort you

When you don’t know what to do…

Just be still…and know…that God is carrying you…

Be still…

Life has many hills to climb and valleys in the lowlands lie…

Beneath the dirt of disbelief…when all you have is shame and grief

But I am here to tell you child that God is in control

And He weeps with you too…..

Be still…

For in the stillness you will hear the Holy One whisper in your ear,

I am near…

If you are anxious and afraid with fear,

You cannot understand nor hear…

His loving words of comfort that will come to set you free…

He says, be still and you will know…I am holding thee,

Until the very end, so child, be still! 

–Marla Shaw O’Neill March 16, 2017 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10New International Version (NIV)

Shouts pierce the night air…

Man down! Man down!

Rushing about as bullets penetrate everywhere…

The enemy surrounds us

No way to escape, No way out…

One lies bleeding, one pinned beneath debris

One with weapon empty…

That one is me…

Adrenaline surges the mind, the body alert and quick

Heart pounding, the sweat on my neck is thick…

Who will save us? Who will rescue us from defeat?

Sounds of feet running, men crouching in the street…

A final prayer is heard, softly whispered under someone’s breath

Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…

Knowing that our time has come, soon we will be changed…

Then shouts of voices thundering, and my ears cannot believe…

Rescued and delivered, saved we’ve been reprieved…

Man down for a moment all seemed lost

Resolved to die in battle that is our solemn cost

Standing true and standing fast…no matter what, God, will last

We will not give up the fight, never will we retreat,

We know why we are fighting, it’s for God, and family…

Man up, we will be faithful, it is our destiny.

The enemy attacks, he is cunning and deceitful

Mighty soldiers, ready your stations take aim…

Prayer is your weapon…Victory remains

The Battle belongs to The Lord God Almighty…

He’s at the lead press on to see…

Don’t give in to fear and do not be afraid…

Be courageous and be brave…

Through the blood and through the war,

Hear the battle cry and roar…

“The Lord fights for us…

Praise Him forever more!!

We are Victorious…We are the Lords!!!”

–Marla Shaw O’Neill March 15, 2017

 

When a speaker is talking to an audience he pauses and waits…until the audience leans in and is straining to hear what he will say next…

Silence, then revelation…

For some time now, early in the morning before I am fully awake I hear the Holy Spirit whisper to me…something he wants me to write…but for the last few days he’s been silent…I strain to hear but there is only quite. “Where are you God? Have I done something to offend you? Have I taken for granted that you would speak to me every morning? What’s going on, Papa God?”

And I wait for an answer…

He’s spoken to me through a book or something someone has said throughout my day…but, the still small voice I’ve been used to hearing is silent…

I search my heart and mind…I get into His presence and pray…still silence…

So I trust Him…and I wait…I lean in and strain to hear his voice…not being anxious to hear…but just loving Him anyway…For He is God…If he chooses to be silent then I will understand…I will wait patiently and lovingly on Him.

I ordered a book the other day and when it came it wasn’t the book I had ordered. It was the same author but the book was different. It’s a tiny book and for a few days I let it sit…I’d pick it up to read but I’d get distracted and put it down again. This morning I began to read it…and it said, “I believe God has lovingly directed you to this little book.” I believe it too.

Jesus has little secrets he wants to share with His family, you, his faithful disciples who have followed him here to this specific time and place the place of awakening, the place of the garden where he can speak openly and tenderly what He longs for most…He loves for our hearts to grow and flourish so that we will in turn reach out to other seeking souls and reveal what He is saying.

Lean in close and listen…He is about to speak! Silence then revelation.

He is the author of a great book…in this book is His very own words…open the book and let Him reveal His most precious secrets to you…His very heart to you…lean in close… listen to what he wants to reveal to you.

He is, speaking…

–Marla Shaw O’Neill March 9, 2017

John 15: 1-17The Message (MSG)

The Vine and the Branches

“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

“But remember the root command: Love one another.

 

Little angel growing, wrapped in God’s great love,

You’re tiny with a soul, brand new…

A hidden treasure undetected by those who carry you…

You’ve never seen a flower grow or a rainbow big and wide.

You’ve never tasted food that’s grown in a garden or walked by a seaside

Deep inside your mother’s womb is all you’ve ever known

The love and protection provided by God alone…

Sometimes not so perfect are the ones who come to live

In an imperfect world…God will give…

The child of blessing, for those special ones to mold…

Not always seen in our eyes, is the child, broken, we behold…

Love beyond measure is in the heart of these special ones…

Teaching us to love, more than we ever thought we could…

This precious gift that’s given is a gift of unexpected love…

This baby no one wants to have but he’s come willingly from above…

To test the hearts of his parents, will you love me even though…

I may not be like all the rest but I need you so…

I don’t want to be a burden…but if you don’t take care of me…

No one else wants the burden, oh please can’t you see?

I may be imperfect, defected most would say…

But my soul is bathed in God’s great love; he created me this way…

I may not live for very long, but I’ve come just the same…

Will you love me even though I’m maimed, please believe me, there’s no one to blame…

It’s just the way it is…I’ve chosen you to be…

My mommy and my daddy…will you take care of me?

Even if just for a moment let me feel your love complete…

And when my eyes are closed, and my soul takes its flight, I will have known your love, and that life was sweet.

–Marla Shaw O’Neill March 8, 2017

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13New Living Translation (NLT)

Two men sitting in the rain one is a sinner and one is a saint…

Two women working side by side, one lives for Jesus while the other wants to hide…

Two stubborn mules, they won’t move nor budge, the farmer is the owner, but God is the judge.

We all fall down sometimes…we all make mistakes…the thing is, we need to give each other a humble-break…

You never know, when the table turns, and you’ll be on the other side and have

To make…

Decisions hard and difficult, choose love, not hate…

Choose forgiveness not revenge…

Choose life not death…

Choose peace not war…

So, when you’re standing in the rain, whether sinner or saint, you both get wet, so bring an umbrella and share it together.

–Marla Shaw O’Neill March 8, 2017

The Message Bible says…

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Matthew 5:44-48 The Message (MSG)

You may ask me, “How I know what I know.”

How do you know what to do…?

When life smashes your deepest, most precious, dreams?

When all you want to do is dig a whole, crawl inside, and scream?

How do you know what will be?

When the thing you wanted most is lost, shattered and no one, or nothing…

Can console you, in your lost dreams?

You stand in a desolate, deserted place…numb defeated, knocked off your feet…

How do you know? How will you ever feel the same, when all around you, everything is totally and completely insane…?

I can’t tell you that life won’t hurt. I can’t tell you the why of things. I can’t give you all the answers you seek…but this one thing I know….

God, is, love! He does not change!

We must not grow bitter or let anger seize our hearts or rearrange, what we do not understand.

How can you say, God is love? When the most horrible thing in the world strikes at your heart and leaves you crumpled and wasted inside…?

I can’t tell you that…but I can tell you I’ve been there. I’ve been to hell and back again…I’ve felt the despair of hopelessness, cried endless tears like grains of sand…covering my pillow, there was no end…I’ve seen death and disease…take lives I’ve loved…the only help came from God above…

God reached out and took my hand and led me to a peaceful land…a peace that no one understands, unless you’ve been there…

Cry, my darling, cry. For tears are bottled in God’s special place, where love and truth gives amazing grace…to fill the heart that’s broken to be mended when we look full in God’s gracious face…

Grace is the only thing that saved me, when no answers of why, came…

Grace, unmerited favor, God gives to his children in this place….

Grace is the balm that soothes the heart, broken, and crushed…

When life is full of horror and we can’t even speak…

God’s strength becomes our back-bone when we are lost and weak…

Let His Holy Spirit carry you at this time…

All I know is that God is in control and by faith he will make us strong and whole…

The choices we make will either carry us to victory or carry us to defeat…

All I know is… God is the giver of life…Trust that He knows best, this life is sometimes bitter and sometimes it is sweet…

God is the answer, even when we face defeat…

And if his answer is to carry us home…accept it with grace for you are not alone!

Marla Shaw O’Neill – March 7, 2017

 

 

 Standing in my garden I come to realize

That part of the process is how big, how wide

How deep, what size…

How do I decide, on the things I want to grow…?

So I take out my shovel and I lean upon my hoe…

Scratching my head, I rub my nose…

Digging in the dirt, that’s all I know.

Sun’s hot today…trees stir in the breeze…

The dirt is warm and rich;

“Ah-chew”…I sneeze…

Turning the ground, earthworms move about…

Oh, this earth is fertile; my flowers will all burst out…

Pink fragrant Roses, periwinkles, and tulips too

Daisies and Sunflowers, and Morning Glories, blue…

Love, Hope and Joy I’ve planted them for you…

In the garden of a fertile heart, the flowers will come to bloom…

I’m glad I took the time to plant my garden with you…

“How does your garden grow?”

If you plant peace, than peace will grow in abundance…

And when you plant love…oh what fragrance…

Water them with wisdom, fertilize with grace, prune them vigorously and

You’ll never see disgrace…

Blooms of happiness will explode all over the place…

Your garden is your children and your children a treasured race…

Never let the world be the soil your children embrace…

They’ll know you, because of the time; you spend in the garden with them…

And when someone asks you, “How does your garden grow?”

You can tell them, it took patience, and long suffering, and diligence and perseverance, faith and time, and lots and lots of love…spent on bended knees and bent back, but in the space of time it’s all worth it just to hear…

Daddy, Mama, I love you for being here.

Thanks Papa God for my beautiful garden!

Marla Shaw O’Neill March 6, 2017

Psalm 127:3-5 The Message (MSG)