Be Courageous Be Bold Hebrews 4:16

Worship in total adoration, abandoned of self I stand,
Boldly before the Lord,
Awaiting His command…
I worship and adore you, Jesus, King of Glory…
You are the Rock of Ages, Lily of the Valley
Beautiful Rose of Sharon
Prince of Peace; Lord of ALL
You took the nails and thorns and stripes.
You hung upon the tree…
No greater love or blood was ever shed for me.
I worship in the Holy Place; no flesh can ever see.
You’re light shines bright upon each face.
As I worship you, your glory taste.
Ten thousand angels sing at your throne.
Holy, Holy, Holy
This is home…
Standing here my spirit soars
To a place far beyond earth’s sandy shores
Engulfed in His presence, Oh glorious one…
My soul doth sing, let your Kingdom come.
Let your will be done…
Jesus, God’s son…
Shalom, Adonai…Elohim!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill 6/17/2015

See More

God’s Garden

This morning as I lay half asleep, I listened intently as the Holy Spirit began to impress on me the Garden of Eden. God’s garden…

God planted a garden and I thought hum, that’s interesting Lord, It must have been a large place because there were rivers and lots of plants, trees, vegetation and tons of animals.

I also had the thought that the animals must have been able to talk. I know, right? The thoughts we have sometimes…funny but really anything’s possible. It does say the serpent spoke to Eve.

I thought about how God said, “Let us make man in our image.” And so he took dirt and created the man. Then to give him life he breathed into his nostrils and the man became alive…he had a living soul. The soul would live forever.

God had created a gardener for His garden…his name was Adam…

He must have been alone for a long, long time…because he had to name all the plants and the different birds and fish, the stars and the sun and moon, and then name all the animals that dwelt in the garden.

And then finally when Adam had completed his task he sat down and he was lonely.
So God said, “The man is alone and there is none like him to have as a helpmate, so God caused a deep sleep to come over Adam…and instead of taking more dirt to make the helpmate he took a rib from the man and created a woman. He named her Eve.

I thought about why God would make woman this way from man’s rib and not from the dirt…then I thought well it must have been his plan because from man and woman would come children…

He said the man and the woman would become one…to be fruitful and multiply they would bring forth offspring…That was God’s plan…

The man did not decide how things were to be done…God did.

You see it’s when we as humans try to take things into our own hands and minds and say we know better than God, that everything gets out of sorts…we fall.

Wars come and disasters and famine and plagues…chaos and destruction.

Life began in the garden…God’s garden…

Death also began in the garden…

Why because of disobedience…

“You may eat of any tree in the garden, all except one. Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” God said.

Because he knew if they did, they would die. Oh not right away but it would separate them from God’s love and care. They would die because they were no longer in the presence of a sinless God. He who generates life…the serpent knew this too.

Adam and Eve never knew what death was…they’d never seen anything die. All they knew was that God had said do not eat it, because if you do, you will die. This was God’s garden he had his reasons for them not to eat of it. One command was all they had to keep and they couldn’t do it, they disobeyed…

Why, because they were temped and instead of obeying they disobeyed what God had said.

The serpent, the sly, hissing, tempter, whispered to Eve…”Go ahead Eve, eat it, it’s OK, and surely you won’t die.”

And so, she took the fruit and ate it and her eyes were opened then she gave it to Adam and he also ate.

Fear entered their hearts, they knew they were naked they were afraid and they hid themselves from God.

You know the rest of the story, if not read Genesis; it’s the first book in the Old Testament…

The thing is this…you can believe the story for the truth that it is, or you can chalk it up to some fantasy…but just as the serpent beguiled Eve and deceived her he’s still doing that today…

“Surely you won’t die,” hisses the serpent, as he sits sneering in his glib little way, slithering and waiting for you to disobey.

Then when death comes it’s too late, the consequences for sin is death.
Your only redemption is through the blood of Jesus, he is the only one who can save you from sin and death.

Think about it!!!

Will you choose life?

Or will you choose death?

There was another garden; the garden where Jesus the son of God prayed. He prayed until his sweat was as great drops of blood pouring from his body. The body he created to live in God’s garden forever…but the man and God were separated by sin, high treason against God.  Man and woman were no longer innocent, no longer without fear or doubts, now they knew what being tormented was all about. The serpent had seemingly won…

Man and woman had fallen and were cast out of the garden.

But on another night many, many years later in another garden the Garden of Gethsemane, God’s plan to rescue His children, would be fulfilled…that night Jesus would make all things right again…He surrendered to His Father’s will…the serpent had not won…

There is a new garden now. God’s garden, where He’s gathering His precious trees, rivers, flowers, herbs, weeds, animals, birds, sea creatures, mountains and plains, it’s a garden where his children can thrive and live and never have to be threatened of being thrown out of ever again. The garden of life where Jesus is the Tree of Life…you can only get to this garden one way; and that is through Jesus, God’s son. Now you have full access to the Tree of Life. Where once, if you ate of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you would surly die….Now all who eat of the Tree of Life, will live and never die…

It’s your choice, God never goes against His word…He gave us all a free will…Jesus could have said, “No way, Abba, I can’t do this…” instead he said, “Never-the-less, not my will, but thine be done!” Praise God!

What will you do?  Will you continue to live your own way, rejecting the Tree of Life. Living life in toil and despair? Or, will you surrender your will to His will and live having hope in the midst of despair and love in the midst of hate? Life or death it’s your choice. Will you dare to accept the call!

~~Marla Shaw O’Neill 6/29/15©

Genesis 3New Living Translation (NLT) The Man and Woman Sin

Matthew 26:36-46New Living Translation (NLT) Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Weekends I spend with my mom and my husband at my mom’s home. She’s struggling with the horrid disease, cancer.

Doctor’s say she has days now.

She’s still alert and gets up each morning makes her bed, gets dressed and makes herself a cup of coffee. Mom is very independent and talks as if she will live on and on. She has strong faith in God and he does sustain her.

For three years my sister and I, as well as, other family members have taken turns being with her. We help her with her medicine and see to it that she’s not alone.

As I watch her grow weaker and time passes the emotions range from anger, to downright hysteria when I’m by myself, and no one else can see the tears…at other times I just break down and cry and don’t care who sees…it’s the most difficult time I’ve ever faced…

Sixty-one years I’ve enjoyed my mom and now that time is coming to a close.

Yes God is faithful and he keeps us through the process. No he never said life would be easy but he did say he’d go through it with us, and so we wait.

Psalm 91:14-16New King James Version (NKJV)

Take the Voyage with Me.

I love it…and can’t wait for the journey to begin.

“Speak to Your Mountain!”

When faced with a mountain!

Sometimes you have to climb the mountain!

Sometimes you can go around the mountain!

Sometimes you can blow-up the mountain!

But Jesus said, Speak to the mountain!

We all have mountain experiences throughout our lives…some mountains are steep and extremely rocky. Mountains are full of wild-life with terror all around. There are beautiful waterfalls and forests. Mountains can be fierce with cliffs and peaks, and wind that block our way and keep us from fulfilling what we are called to do. Hindered with difficulties that leave us paralyzed and confused.

Storms rage upon the cliffs. Ice, snow, wind and rain beat upon the rocks. We are not prepared and we crumble in fear and doubt. We cry out in desperation, “Lord save me!” And just when you think you will be swept away…calmness settles within your soul and you remember His words!

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say, unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23 King James Version (KJV)

If you know the Savior, you know exactly what I’m talking about! You won’t question, you won’t be afraid or doubt! You will simply believe and receive what Jesus said!

Say to your mountain today, “Be removed and be cast into the sea.” Don’t doubt in your heart but believe what Jesus has said and it will come to pass! Believe Jesus!!!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill 2/28/14