The Path

 

¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 King James Version (KJV)

The Path

 The broad path, is the one I chose early in my life...

Careless times of living, not giving heed to what lay ahead,

this was the road I traveled full of misery and strife...

Anger, deceit, and treachery, companions they became

Lawless, reckless, destitute, these were my middle name…...

Then something strange happened to me, I can't begin to explain

But this much, I can tell you, I never was the same,

I changed…

A faith woman, came to town one day,

She preached a little sermon, about the straight and narrow way...

Broad is the road that leads to destruction, hear this story, she wailed…

Narrow is the road that will lead you away from Hell…

Where gnashing of teeth is heard and the worm never dies,

Listen to me, Oh sinner hear me; she cried…

Get off the road your walking, let Jesus be your guide

Follow in His footsteps they lead to eternal life!

I cried to her in anguish...

I'm a wretched, poor, lost sinner…not worthy of anything but death

She laughed and shouted, “That’s perfect, you’re the one he’s been looking for

A little lost lamb he came to save, he’s knocking at your hearts door…”

Tears that flow like a river ran down my face that day

I’ve never been the same since, now, I’m on the narrow way…

There is a way that seems right to man, but the ends thereof are death…

On the narrow path you’ll meet the one where wonders never cease…

You’ll lie down and sleep in his embrace where there’s perfect love and peace…

I’ve come to know what true life, is really all about…

on this less traveled, narrow path...

I’ll live and laugh and shout...

Broad, is the pathway, that will take you straight to Hell…

Narrow, is the pathway, walking with Jesus, he'll show you the way out!

By: Marla Shaw O’Neill 6/17/15©

Photo by: Sallie Henry

 

Jesus, path finder, way maker, truth and life giver; take us by the hand today and guide us with each step we take today. Be closer than a heartbeat that we will never, ever, stray away from you. You are the only way, home! Amen!

Adonai

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
By: Marla Shaw O’Neill 6/17/1015©

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God's Garden

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 is a garden, God’s garden and he’s gathering His precious trees, flowers, herbs, weeds, animals, and sea creatures to come to the garden of life…you can only get there one way and that is through His son.
See ya there…if you dare to accept the call!
By Marla Shaw O’Neill 6/29/15©

Time is Close

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)

¹⁴ “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”