When God Calls Your Name

 

⁹ So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:9 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

When God Calls Your Name…

Searching for something
But what I just can’t tell
It’s just beyond my grasp
It’s just beyond that hill…

Tossing and turning through the night…
Who’s there…?
I wake in fright…
Someone is calling my name I hear…

Who’s there…?
I whisper again...
Straining to see, in the darkness I stare…

Heart pounding…
All senses on alert…

Silence...

Darkness; yet I see a tiny spark of light
Ears tuned, listening with intent, but hearing only...

Silence…

Then, within a millisecond…
A voice loud and clear
Shatters the void,
I am waiting to hear…

“Where are you, why do you run from me…?
I’m been calling you for many years…
Come, and see
The joys I have waiting for thee…
No need of money or script or purse…
What I have for thee is free…
Bought and paid for
Upon an old rugged tree…
Come home now…
Your struggle is through...
It’s time to rest…
I’ve been waiting here for you.”

My search is finished…
I’ve finally found
What I was searching for…
Not success…or fame…or material things…

But perfect peace in Jesus name!

By: Marla Shaw O’Neill October 28, 2015©

Remember Lot's Wife - Don't Look Back

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 19:26

 Remember Lot’s Wife Don't Look Back

Was she a righteous woman...
Who stood in the shadow of her man...
Is there but ten who will follow
The God of Abraham....

Green pastures rich and flourishing
Peace and rest is found...
But in the sinful city her heart was hardened and bound...

Angels came to deliver them...
But she; apprehensive to leave,
For this was her life
This is all that she believed...

Come away from here make haste;
This place is destined for fire...
Take your family; flee…

Death is emanate; have no desire
To stay within this place
Judgment has come
There will be no saving grace...

Taking flight they hurry
Running through the night...
But the woman full of regret
Leaving all behind, memories of her past
Turns not heeding will this be her last…

Shutting out God’s word His messengers she spurned
Wanting her country, wanting only to return…
“Do not look back.” This was God’s command…

Just one look, that's all it took...
Her breath and life in that moment, forsook
As she turns to take one final look...

A Pillar of salt now stands…

Stone cold, lifeless...
Death from disobedience…
Oh, please, learn this lesson from the Holy Book...

Remember Lot’s wife, you women of worth…
Looking back only turns to regret and hurt…
Put away your idols, your past is gone…never look back…
Keep forging on...

Live in the now...
Heart rich and free…
For God has given His love to thee!
When he says go…don’t look back, just flee!

By: Marla Shaw O’Neill October 26, 2015©
Genesis 19:15-26; Luke 17:29-33

The Secret Place

 

The Secret Place

Come away with me to the secret place

The place of refreshing and peace

Come to me with arms held high

With heart humbled and free

Come to where there’s no despair,

No envy, no hatred, no fear

A place where only you and I

Relax, and take time to share

Sharing heartaches through years of shame
No judgment, no bitterness no blame
I’ll instruct you with wisdom and secrets so rare
Your heart will sing and dance again

I’ll carry your burdens for my burden is light
Hold onto your faith like an eagle take flight
Soaring over the mountain peaks
Don’t look to the left or to the right
Just keep me, in your sight

Cast all your care at my feet today
Lay your head upon my breast
Come to me with all your heart
Be childlike there and rest
I’ll keep you in my arms forever
And love you tenderly

 

Walk in my presence and you will find
My Grace is sufficient for thee
No fear or doubt to keep you bound
It’s faith that pleases me

Turn your eyes upward now and see my loving face
My feathers will cover and hide you, in our secluded place
No rejection will you see in me
No utterances of displeasure
As long as you walk in my presence my child
Goodness and Mercy will follow, you’ll see

Stay close beside me in the secret place
As you linger there and feel my embrace
See the scars of long ago upon my hands and feet
A crown of thorns, and bleeding side my blood and water fell
While hanging on a cruel tree upon Golgotha’s hill
Tis finished I cried, and tis finished still

Receive the joy and strength you need so others watching may know
That there’s life and peace, they too can have waiting there for them also;
And in this secret place they’ll find, angels watching silently
Standing in awe at the sight they see, the wonder, the mystery
All who dwell in the secret place will abide under the shadow of the Almighty!

Psalm 91

¹ Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him. (NLT)

By: Marla O’Neill ©8/21/1988, revised 4/24/13

 

Silence... Revelations 8:1

 
Silence...

Time…
Stood…
Still…
On a
Tiny…
Ugly hill…

Earth…
Grew…
Dark…
He died!

Heaven…
Rejoiced!

Paradise…
Emptied…
Of…
Those…
In wait!

Breath…
Of…
Life!

Victory!

Death…
Took flight!

Risen…
Alive…
God…
Survived!

Salvation…
Blood…
Bought…

Jesus…
Waits…

Time...
Stands...
Still!

He
Comes!

Lamps...
Full...

Time...
To...
Go...

Silence...

Rejoice...
Evermore!

The Lamb Breaks the Seventh Seal
8 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll,[a] there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1New Living Translation (NLT)

(a. or book)

By: Marla Shaw O’Neill
October 16, 2015©