Shake On It!

Mar28

If you have read my posts in the last couple of years, you know that I have been privileged to report several wonderful, incredible miracles. God has allowed me to be a part of them to not only build my faith, but to be a part of building yours as well. Are we not strengthened and encouraged when we read and hear of the Lord’s miraculous manifestations amongst the Body of Christ? I know I am, for it underscores what I know and believe!

Though I have been privy to many miracles and healings, even recently, the miracle received in my own eyes, yet there are just as many, and more, that seemingly can’t receive. This has bothered me, for they too are faithful ones that believe, and yet something is missing. The key that unlocks the door to what they desire so much.

So, a few months back I asked the Lord to show me, Why? Why Lord, do some get healed and others don’t? Why are some seemingly not able to receive? What are we missing?– for it surely isn’t because of you! I have seen time and again the blame laid to God when their hope didn’t manifest. Frankly, it’s time to stop blaming God and look within. Too often we try to stuff Him into the box that fits our understanding instead of asking for our understanding to be enlightened to His Truth.

You see, God doesn’t arbitrarily pick and choose whom He wants to heal and those He doesn’t. He doesn’t decide if you’ve prayed hard enough, or said the perfect words. You don’t need to find that person that has that extra anointing or says just the right prayer. They may help you, to stir up your faith, but He is your Healer. He simply asks you to believe His Word, because it’s already been done. If you believe it, your faith will manifest.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6

I have found, that many think they believe but they put limits on their belief. Some won’t believe it is done until they see it manifested in their body. They are sensory driven and this is not faith; it is actually a form of doubt. I will believe it when I see it. Some believe for a time, but they have an expiration date attached to their belief. I will believe for this long, but if 6 months goes by and I haven’t seen it yet, then I guess He doesn’t want to heal me. There are those who say they believe, but their words talk their problem rather than speak their faith. Still others, receive their healing manifested, but when the enemy challenges, which often happens, they immediately say, “Oh, I thought I was healed but I guess not”; when what they needed to do was refuse it to ever have entrance to their body again. Maintain your healing!

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Some say they are sick because God is trying to teach them a lesson. No, no, a thousand times no! He is GOOD. He is our Healer! Would you choose to make your children sick, in order to teach them a lesson?

If you don’t understand, do what I did–ask Him!

Last week I was walking down the hall at work, not thinking of anything in particular, when the Lord spoke to me, not audibly, but in my spirit. “Receiving healing is like entering into partnership.” Hmm. I had never thought of it like that. I was working and needed to focus on my demanding job, so that is all He said and I didn’t spend any time that day thinking on it.

The next morning when I woke up, immediately I had a vision of Jesus with His hand extended, as if waiting for a handshake. The vision remained, as Wisdom reminded me that God cannot lie and that Jesus backs His Word, in fact, He is the Word–He cannot deny Himself.

“The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful–for he cannot deny himself.” II Timothy 2:11-13

“God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the amen through him, to the glory of God.” II Corinthians 1:19-20

We seem to have lost the art of the handshake. When I was growing up, men would come to an agreement, or a business deal and a hand would be extended. When that hand was offered, it meant ‘I will do what I have said’–you can take it to the bank! A man’s handshake was his bond. It was understood that it wouldn’t be broken and the person that likewise shook with them knew it. Trust that didn’t fail. I don’t see that, much anymore. Why? Have written contracts replaced honor? We no longer can trust? I have been burned many times by men who didn’t stand by their word and I have therefore lost trust, respect. Have we carried this ‘don’t believe it until we see it’ into our faith?

Jesus extends His hand to you.

If there is any lack of Truth, the lack is not on God’s part. In other words, if your life is not lining up with the Truth of the Word, it’s not God that has failed. He will never fail you, or fail to perform His Word–come up higher!

Have we reduced what Jesus did for us at the Cross to a mere tradition?

He suffered a horrific death that we might have abundant, everlasting life. During this Easter season, it is well and good that we honor Him and remember what He went through to accomplish this; but are we truly living the abundant life or just reading about it?

Many choose the tradition of fasting during Lent. Praise God that you want to honor Him, but does it change you or are you simply saying thank you? I’m not asking you to stop if it is important to you, but asking you to consider . . .

Wouldn’t it be a greater honor to Jesus if we received the fullness of the Cross?

If we were to live healed, in peace, rest, freedom from fear, fully protected, well provided for, and abundantly giving? Daily experiencing an intimate friendship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and partaking of every promise Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection has procured for you?  It’s been over 2,000 years since His agonizing death and resurrection, and yet we’re still struggling with the same questions.

Wouldn’t total, unshakable belief say, thank you, more than fasting or words could ever express?

He bids you to find each promise and shake His hand!

It’s there, extended to you, do you see it?

Shaking His hand, means you agree that His Word is True and you receive it, without question. You shake His hand and it’s a done deal! Never to doubt again. With every lie the enemy produces against you, you remind him, and yourself, that you shook on it and it’s already settled. This, my friend, is entering into His rest. For He has already healed you, it was done at the Cross. He’s already provided all you will ever need to live this life abundantly, it was done at the Cross. You don’t need to cry and beg, it is already done. He rested, because His work was completed. . . and it is for you! All you need do is believe and shake on it–Shake His hand!

It is finished!

“Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. If you turn back your foot from the sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 58:6-14

Yes

Feb10

Last Sunday I received a 911 call from my pastor’s wife. She related that our pastor was sick and could I do the message for the day? “I know it’s late, but maybe you could just bring forth a few scriptures or something?”

Similar to a deer caught in headlights, my mind was blank as I thought about how to respond; of course my first response was classic . . .”What about (…)?” “Did you ask them?” “Maybe they have something to share.”

Please allow me to set the stage . . .

I always set my alarm for 1/2 hour earlier, time to spend with the Lord, knowing full well that I will likely wake up earlier than that; but this is my first-step time, in case I am really tired and don’t wake up. So, as usual, I had been up earlier and had re-set my alarm for the last possible moment I could sleep before getting up to shower for church. I was in a deep sleep when the phone rang. Thinking it was my alarm, I shut it off, and then it sunk in that the sound I heard was not my alarm but a phone call. Still kindof out of it, I looked to see who had called and called her back. This was a mere 5 minutes before my alarm was set to ring!!

So, now you can see that I was desperately working on how to respond, even while working on fully awakening. As this was happening I was looking and listening within and realized that something had to be decided because, as we talked, time was slipping away. I responded, “Let me go and I will ask Him, and let you know.”

Quickly praying, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” I opened my Bible, looked down, and read a scripture that I knew immediately He wanted to use and literally ‘flipped’ to two more as He continued to lead the way. It was enough to take the leap of faith. I said yes to God, sending her a thumbs up text and ran for the shower.

The Lord is so faithful!

So, in the shower He began downloading an entire message to me and even added to it on the drive there. By the time we reached the church, I was ‘filled’ and ready; more excited than I have ever been to give a message. Why? Because it didn’t have any of ‘me’ in it, for I had only had ten minutes to look at scripture! I have always wanted to give a message entirely without notes, but have never had the courage to do it. This ‘necessity’ forced the hand, but then it wasn’t force was it? . . .

No, I simply said, YES.

The Lord is patient and kind, and will give you time to grow, but He waits and looks for you to become a “doer of the Word”. He stretches us, with our permission, and delights when we step out in faith. Many fear taking that step, but it’s not like you lose your footing, He under-girds your step and then increases it with another step . . . and always another, as long as you continue to say, YES!

So, what was that first scripture?

I’m glad you asked. . . because it’s a wonderful prayer that Paul prayed, for YOU!

“So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on earth. And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.

Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.

Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences–the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding–this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!

Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.

Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ–and all that will yet be manifest through all time and eternity. Amen! Ephesians 3:14-21 TPT

I hope you soaked every word of that into your heart as you read it. How wonderful and powerful that prayer is and the last verse proves that he prayed that for you! The Lord wants to answer that prayer in you.

It’s His work, all He needs from you is your agreement. . .

Simply say, YES!

A few lines from my last post, “My Loving Presence,” really stuck with me. I have thought of those words often and realize how vitally important that nugget is . . .

“Understand, all things are ‘temporary’ that are earthly. All things Heavenly are Eternal. . . This is key! Put your efforts into embracing the Eternal realm and all other things will fall away–into the shadows–as My Glory lifts you higher–high above. All that remains is peace.”

Of course, this marries well with–

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:31-34 JKJV

That last scripture wasn’t a part of that teaching, but it goes well with what the Lord spoke to me about on the way to church that day. The fog was pea-soup thick that morning but all around the car, as if we were in a bubble, was crystal clear. He spoke to me of focusing on what is right in front of you. He wants you to get a vision of the bigger picture, but the step you are to take, the next step He places before you, will be crystal clear!

So, obviously God can use anyone to speak for Him if they are willing, He proved that by using me. But my ‘yes’ began when I invited Jesus to become Lord of my life. My ‘yes’ continued as I read His Word, built my faith by stepping out in it, asking Him to prove His Word to me. Don’t be shocked by that. He delights to show Himself strong and True to anyone that sincerely wants to know Him.

My ‘yes’ came from building a foundation of intimacy with Him, that has developed extreme trust!

Still unsure?

Then your first step of faith is to simply say, YES!

Be willing, be hungry, be faithful, and He will lead the way!

Thank you, readers, for all your prayers as I wait patiently for my miracle to complete. I am seeing better every day! It was exciting to find, when giving this message Sunday, that I could see the tiny little address numbers in the “Passion” Bible that I couldn’t see just two weeks prior. Wow! That was a great discovery! My vision is amazing, aside from distant blurriness, but even with that I can recognize people from the opposite end of a long hallway. Before the blindness my eyes were off the charts, worse than 20/400 but correctable; but now I have never gone back to corrective lenses and, by God’s Grace, never will! Several times I have caught myself thinking, “Oh, I forgot to take out my contacts.” when seeing so clearly, getting into bed. Then I stop, remember, and chuckle with joy! I have already gotten my miracle, it just needs a lil tweaking. . . He will do it!

–All Glory be to God!

Thank you Jesus! ♥

My Loving Presence

Feb2

My loving Presence surrounds you with a love that will sustain you.

Never forget that!

It is in, My Presence, that you never fail to obtain strength and peace from Me.

During times of unrest–run to the Rock!

I AM within.

Look within your heart, to find gladness and joy.

Look within, to rest from your troubles. . .

Find Me there!

I will untangle the snare–

Understand, all things are ‘temporary’ that are earthly.

All things Heavenly are Eternal. . . This is key!

Put your efforts into embracing the Eternal realm and all other things will fall away–into the shadows– as My Glory lifts you higher–high above.

All that remains is peace.

*At this point the Presence of the Lord so enveloped me that I fell into a very deep rest-sleep, but only for about 10 minutes; and as I awakened, incredibly refreshed, He continued. . .

See how easy that was?

I will bring the rest and refreshing in small increments throughout the day. . . Just pause,

and focus on–ME!

“I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life, In Your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:7-11

 

 

A Miracle in Progress

Jan10

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15 TPT

We surely don’t know what tomorrow will bring . . .

On December 14th, 2023, I played Scrabble© with my mom. It was just an ordinary day or so I thought. However, I went to bed that night feeling totally fine, but woke up blind. It was such a shock! I could see absolutely nothing out of my right eye and only a little bit of light and shadow with my left; but the Lord is so good, and this didn’t surprise Him at all. He knows everything that’s going to happen to you ‘tomorrow’.

A couple of weeks before that it had been strong on my heart to enter into the rest of God, resting in His completed work. In advance provision, He had prepared my heart–for my heart to trust.

When a crisis happens, the first words out of our mouths are critical. . .

as is every single word you say thereafter about the subject.

You can’t say you have faith one moment, but speak unbelief the next. In other words, if your words are not lining up with the faith you say you have, then you are not truly in faith. You might think you are, but you can’t be expecting one result if you are speaking another.

The Lord knew this blindness was coming and His preparation to fill my heart with trust gave me the gift of faith and no fear. Right in that critical moment, I couldn’t see with my eyes but my mouth could speak;  I spoke out loud, “This blindness will not remain, my eyes will see!”

“For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.” Luke 6:45b TPT

Immediately after speaking that, I got an inkling of vision in my left eye. It took many attempts but I managed to maneuver through my phone to call my prayer partner. It was like punching around in a closet. I was grateful to have her in speed dial, because I could recognize the color that went with her name. As we prayed, more vision came in that left eye, enabling me to call my eye doctor. They got me in right away.

I had had a laser on my right eye, to lower the pressure of glaucoma, just 4 days before. One would think this was all stemming from this but I only had it in one eye and both eyes were affected. They tested my eyes and I couldn’t even see the great big E with my right eye, it just wasn’t even there. My left eye could see black, but it was a blur, so I consider it a miracle that I was able to call those two numbers. I had prayed a couple weeks prior to this and asked the Lord to get me off glaucoma drops. My prayer all along has been for my healing of glaucoma to fully manifest. This has been a progressive journey. I have regained peripheral vision (twice) that my doc said was impossible. I told her that nothing is impossible with God and the tests have proven it. Now, she immediately took me off one of the glaucoma drops, that was the strongest, the one she figured was the culprit, and put me on steroid drops and ointment. Thus began a whirlwind of doctor appointments every 4-5 days and a cornea specialist was brought into the mix. He took me off the other glaucoma drop in the right eye as well and prescribed a milder steroid and a different ointment.

In the midst of this drama . . .

I went for a scheduled dental appointment. I would have liked to have canceled but it is so hard to get in. Praise God for my friend that waited patiently for me. I have been believing for my tooth to heal for 2 1/2 years. They wanted to do a root canal and crown. The x-ray showed the root had shrunk up and was blunt. It hurt terribly but I refused. I stood in faith for the root to re-grow and be rooted as normal. The first year I couldn’t eat on that side at all. Even soft foods made the tooth throb. Second year, occasional soft foods, but it still pained so I stayed away from it. They tried to do another x-ray midway but their machine malfunctioned and they had to skip it. The last 6 months I have been able to eat on that side, even really hard stuff with no pain at all. They took another x-ray on this visit and it showed the root, re-grown, seated, and totally normal. The dentist made no comment, but started to poke, prod and tap hard on that tooth and the two on either side. She kept saying, “Does that hurt?” “Does that hurt?” No, no, NO. There were also three teeth they wanted to fill above the teeth, where gums had receded. I said no and have believed for the gums to come back down. Now she only finds one that “troubles” her. “The other two I’m not concerned with.” she said. “I still want to fill the third one.” No, no, NO!

My eyes improved with every visit, but it was one visit in particular that there could be no explanation but a miracle from God. In 4 days time my right eye went from seeing 20/90 to 20/40 and my left eye went from seeing 20/80 to 20/12.5. I had never heard of 20/12.5 but this is what they termed seeing two lines better than 20/15, whereas 20/20 is perfect vision! In that same 4-day period, my pressure went from 22 and 26 to 12 and 15. The miracle of that is that my left eye had a detached retina years ago. It not only detached, but the surgeon said my retina had shattered and it was a very difficult surgery. He was ecstatic that I came to see 20/25 after it healed, which I praise God for, and the expertise of that surgeon, but it didn’t stop there. That eye also underwent laser to bring the pressure down and when that didn’t work, a Trabeculectomy; surgery to create a mesh-like pathway for the eye to drain fluid. A pressure reading in that eye of 12 was only seen briefly after that surgery and then it started to climb once again. Even with those strong drops and two different kinds, continuously, she couldn’t get it below 22 anymore. Now, with the strongest drop taken away, the pressure is 12.

Praise Jesus!

So this incredible vision in my left eye enabled me to return to work. I knew it was going to be hard, but I wasn’t prepaing for just how hard. Both days were super busy, and though I could see really well up close, anything beyond a few feet was a blur. I could know people, from memory and of their shape but their faces were a blur. I didn’t realize how much I read lips when it’s too noisy to hear. Keeping up with the stamina required of the job and the constant struggle to see, absolutely exhausted me; and by the end of the second day I was fighting tears.

The 3rd day was a milder day and though it was still hard to see, I was enjoying the calm and my wonderful co-working family. I love my job!

But, this is the exciting part. . .

At 8:20pm, suddenly, I could see a co-workers face from about 8 feet away!!! It was still a lil blurry, but I could make out his features and see expressions. Wow! I was like a kid again, looking around, everywhere, to see what I could see. Later I realized that 8:20pm is 2020 military time, which is what we go by at work and 20/20 is perfect vision!

I take that as a confirmation, because ‘perfect’ hasn’t manifested yet, but it’s coming!

Exuberant with my newly-minted sight, my son took me grocery shopping. I have not yet attempted to drive; my work takes me into the dark, and the lights when driving at night are quite the distraction. There was a snow storm predicted, so every store was packed out. The noise, people, shapes, colors and florescent lights was just too much for my brain to cope with. I went home traumatized, exhausted, slept fitfully, and I woke up with a splitting headache. I have come to realize that with every new level of vision, my brain has to re-calibrate and learn how to see with that particular vision, because the two eyes are not in sync with each other. I would have thought this would be easy, because I have done mono-vision for years but it seems to be different with an eye that is trying to heal.

So, here we are. It was a very long story to tell you that I have learned to rest in Him. I fully expect my total healing to come. My right eye has already had a miracle as well, for before the blindness, my eyes were off the charts; worse than 20/400 I was told, but correctable. Now, after my suddenly, at 2020 the other night, I expect I am seeing 20/25 in that eye without correction! Glory to God!!

Which reminds me . . .

You didn’t know this, but remember Nicholas? He is the prisoner I wrote about in another post, “Genuine Fruit”. Nicholas is part of “Project Turn” a partnership with Duke University Grad School, Divinity Program. He was one of 6,000 inmates chosen to be in this program. They chose ten inmates to take classes side-by-side with ten Duke Grad students. He came up with the idea of an education class needed in the prison and was given the go-ahead to help develop it. They have asked to use my books for the class, as mandatory reading. Glory to God! Well, that class started that night that I had the sudden vision. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had asked those men to pray for me that night. He knows of the issue I’m having. Wouldn’t that just be incredibly wonderful for them to see a miracle happen as a direct answer to their prayers! Will you join them and believe for a miracle? I want to see perfectly and no more glaucoma–at all!

Thank you for your prayers!

A special thank you to my dad, my son, and my friend Jamie for their incredible patience in hauling me around to appointments, waiting through them, and running me around for prescriptions. Thank you so very much!

No one is an island. We need each other!

God Bless You Reader,

Lori J. O’Neil

Following the Nudge

Nov22

I have come to learn that a nudge from the Lord is one of the most exciting things we can receive from Him and I can’t hardly wait for the next one. . .

Something’s changed . . . A ‘suddenly’ that happened when I labored to break out of the ‘ME’ realm and look about. What a trap it is to try to repair our own baggage, instead of handing it over to Him.

Am I there yet?

Oh, heck no.

At one point, He deemed me healthy enough to call me higher. Willing to comply, it didn’t occur to me that ‘higher’ means I get to see the raw truth of just how desperately I needed to change my ways! In other words, higher took me lower than I’ve ever been to see, so very clearly, it can’t be anything but Him!

What a hard year it’s been and what a mess! Sometimes it feels like drowning but out of the ashes comes God! I know it’s usually quoted ‘gold’, but GOD is what happens when we come to our end–He is there!

“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Psalms 139:8-10 KJV

Handing the reins to Him,  determining not to thrash anymore, no more trying to figure it out, I waited. . .

Suddenly, a nudge, a still small Voice, a simple direction–“Go talk to her”.

If I hadn’t obeyed, the conversation wouldn’t have happened, and I wouldn’t have learned that she harbored a hidden pain. “This is God”, she said. “My dad is in prison.” Armored with the knowledge that God had sent her help, and the full set of books to read His healing messages, hope dawned.

Another prisoner sent a letter. His intent, he said at the end of the three page letter, was to ask for books. “I don’t know why I told you all that.” he writes. I do, Jesus wants him free! For 21 years he’s believed a lie, the judge planted in his heart, that he sent his girlfriend to hell. Every single day he has been tormented by this. I wrote him back, writing God’s healing Word, and speaking of His Love toward him. My letter was three pages too! God had a lot to say to this poor brokenhearted man.

Recently, a young woman harboring a deep wound from her past, far too big to bear, stated she couldn’t look people in the eyes. The Lord nudged me to say something to her that put His finger on that pain. Immediately, the Holy Spirit came upon me with sudden crying and I could feel the Father weeping over her. He spoke words to her that comforted; assuring love, safety, and hope. Words, she said, that she has never heard from those that should have protected her, but didn’t.

In all of these incidents, I was merely the conduit for the Holy Spirit to pass through; ministering His love, healing and freedom to those He loves that were hiding secret pain. Their ‘suddenly’ has come and I’m confident that as their freedom, begun by God, continues, He will see it through to completion. The stronghold is broken. Healing will come!

Readers, I  know now more than ever that the enemy keeps us toiling over our own problems, seemingly mountains,  to keep us from carrying out the work of the Lord. He came to set the captives free. They’re not all in prisons you know! They’re all around you, and it may even be you; but as you set about to be obedient to God, allowing His words to flow through you to others, you will be freed yourself and you won’t even have realized it. Your ‘suddenly’ will come as well. Why?

Because, you’ve been about your Father’s business!

Just say yes to the nudge. . . He will do all the rest.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has anointed me to be hope for the poor, freedom for the brokenhearted, and new eyes for the blind, and to preach to prisoners, “You are set free!’ I have come to share the message of Jubilee, for the time of God’s great acceptance has begun.” Luke 4:18-19 TPT

Why Wait?

Nov3

I became a man and left, a King!

True satisfaction it will bring if you realize that you are a king as well. Truly know in your heart that you are My offspring–begotten at the cross.

The birth of life, at the moment of death, fulfills the promise of old . . .

“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters.” II Corinthians 6:18

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my law within their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

Why do you wait for another Savior, when I already AM?

I AM!

Why do you look for another to fulfill the promises of old?

I came, and you did not receive Me.

I’ll come again!

Will you find Me already in your heart?

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another; the Lord heeded and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and thought on his name. They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.” Malachi 3:16-18

The nails that pierced My hands will pierce your heart, should you not forgive.

Turn, to be forgiven.

See Me!

“Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him. That there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him. And His own righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay. So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the Lord.

“As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them; My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.” Isaiah 59:15b-21 NKJV

“We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf. Turn back to God and be reconciled to him. For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we who did not know righteousness might become the righteousness of God through our union with him.” 2Corinthians 5:20-21 TPT

Genuine Fruit

Jun27

This week I opened my post office box to find fruit! It contained more letters, written from prisoners, that have read my books. It never gets old to hear from those that have been so touched by the Lord in these books that they feel the need to reach out and tell me about it.

One in particular really stood out . . .

Nicholas writes to ask if I will pray with him and his family, and he tells me his story. Everyone has a story to tell, but the truth of the matter shines through. Another inmate’s letter clearly indicates he’s looking for an outside connection, he tosses in a few spiritual phrases to show me he’s on track but there is plenty of evidence in his letter to the contrary. Nicholas, however, lays no blame but to himself. He takes full responsibility for his choices and actions and is repentant. One can be remorseful, but only that he got caught. This man began reading the Bible while in solitary, broke down at Psalm 51, repented and gave his life over to God. Nicholas continued reading the Bible, over and over and over. He came out of isolation so full of the Word that he began a daily Bible study– preaching on Sundays, 19 men got saved!

The fruit of his genuine repentance is that it didn’t stop there . . .

Nicholas remains engaged in prison ministry; preaching every Friday night, leading services in the chapel, as well as preaching and ushering in Sunday services. He has taken 29 correspondence courses and helps inmates study for their GED. He enrolled in, and has now completed, one semester with Duke University Divinity program, called Project Turn. It is part of Duke’s grad program. Ten inmates are selected to take classes side by side with Duke University grad students; and if that weren’t enough, Nicholas, was recently selected to the board of directors for the Genesis Project; an inmate-led program, teaching inmates to become the sons, fathers and husbands God meant them to be.

Like I said, genuine fruit!

After reading Nicholas’ story, I contacted the ministry that distributes my books to prisons, jails and rehabs all across the country, hoping they could send him the rest of the book series; only to find she was about to contact me. Joyce, of Prison Book Project, tells me they have distributed all the books I have given them. I lost track of the exact count but well over 6,000 books! She said they don’t have a single book left. Is there anyone out there with the means and a willing heart to help? I have poured everything I could get my hands on, into providing books these last four years and now I must deal with some long overdue house repairs! To date I have not taken so much as a dime from any of my books, but have turned every cent of sales into more books to place in the hands of inmates and the homeless. I so appreciate everyone who has helped so far, are there more that would like to be a part of this important mission?

There are many men, like Nicholas, the Lord would like to reach!

Give the Gift of Compassion

All, “His Voice in My Heart” books, along with “Comfort in the Challenge” are being sent, free of charge, to prisons, jails and rehab centers all over the country; and are offered freely to the homeless. If you would like to be involved, your donations are very much appreciated and are tax deductible.


You may donate by visiting:

https://www.nationofwomen.com

Click on ‘Contributions’ and scroll down to the thumbnail pic of the prison bars image above, type ‘for prison books’ in the comment section. Checks may also be made out to Nation of Women Ministries, and sent to: 619 Roberts Cut Off Rd., River Oaks, TX 76114.

Please write ‘For Prison Books’ on the check. Paying by check saves 3% of the order going to credit card fees. Thank you so much!

Your generous donation will be used for printing and sending vital books to a lost, broken, and hurting world–those hidden from society, but not hidden from God!

Comfort in the Challenge is a special book, given to Canaanland. Other than what is sent free to prisons, general sales of this book is given to Canaanland Ministries of Autagaville, Alabama. For over 40 years this wonderful ministry has taken in men, struggling with addiction, some facing jail. They house them, teach them, and pour love on them for an entire year free of charge. Their success rate in transforming these men’s lives is so tremendous that judges in that area often give the option, jail or Canaanland!

You may donate to them at the following website:

https://www.canaanland.com

“Comfort in the Challenge” was written and published in November of 2019. It was written and dedicated to caregivers, before we knew of Covid 19.

My publisher had rejected the original title, stating that the Lord had spoken this to her, “Comfort in the Challenge.”

He had prophetically provided, in advance, for what He knew we were about to face.

Glory to God!

A special thank you to my publisher, Cindy Neathery, and to Prison Book Project, for making all of this possible!

Did you know that an individual can no longer send books into prisons? Books were being sent in laced with drugs, resulting in many deaths. Now, inmates can only receive books direct from a publisher, book-placing ministry, such as Prison Book Project or direct purchase through companies, such as Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Unfortunately, this is now the world we live in; therefore, I am all the more so very thankful for Prison Book Project’s wonderful ministry!

Please consider a generous donation to their ministry to help with the costs of shipping these books by visiting:

Home

Thank you so very much for considering partnering with this vital ministry! The good fruit is revealing itself, and I so appreciate your help, financially and in prayers.

Please place Nicholas and his family in your prayers as well. He has 21 more years, but as his transformation continues, it is my hope and prayer that he be reunited with his family much sooner. He has four children.

To God be all Glory!

“God, give me mercy from your fountain of forgiveness! I know your abundant love is enough to wash away my guilt. Because your compassion is so great, take away this shameful guilt of sin. Forgive the full extent of my rebellious ways, and erase this deep stain on my conscience. for I’m so ashamed. I feel such pain and anguish within me. I can’t get away from the sting of my sin against you, Lord! Everything I did, I did right in front of you, for you saw it all. Against you, and you above all, have I sinned. Everything you say to me is infallibly true and your judgement conquers me.” Psalms 51:1-4 TPT

“Identify with those who are in prison as though you were there suffering with them, and those who are mistreated as if you could feel their pain.” Hebrews 13:3 TPT

Love and Blessings to you, Lori J. O’Neil

Worth the Wait

Jun14

Have you been standing in faith for healing?

Does it seem like you’ve been waiting and waiting, and it’s beginning to feel like it’s never going to come?

Don’t stop believing . . . God has not turned His back on you!

Please read the following testimony and be encouraged . . .

This past week, one of my co-workers, Julia, came to me and excitedly announced that God had healed her! “Lori, God healed me!” “It’s all gone!” Julia didn’t hesitate to give permission for me to share her story. She wants to shout it to the world! That’s how it feels when you’ve been really sick for a long time and then, suddenly, given a brand new life–SUDDENLY HEALTHY!

Julia, I’m so happy for you beautiful lady–Praise Jesus!

Here is your story . . .

We conferred and agreed that it was just about a year ago when the Lord spoke to me that He was going to heal Julia. I had been concerned for her, because she was battling disease in her liver and pancreas and she was so  miserable. Her stomach and liver had so swollen, making this naturally-slim woman appear to look pregnant and it tore at my heart. I know how miserable that distention feels, didn’t know the torment of the rest of the situation, but could imagine . . . and so I prayed.

We were both working when the Lord announced to me that He was going to heal her, and I was so excited to carry the message. I can still picture her face when I told her. She was using a Pyxis machine, that we use throughout our day. Turning slightly to acknowledge what I said, but working very fast, I could see that her face had involuntarily changed to a plastic expression. You know the one. When someone is trying hard to show you they’re ok with what you just said, but already mentally calculating the exit to get away. Yeah that one . . . Now I was the one to freeze. Having noted the body language, it chickened me to go any further, even though the anointing was so strong–the moment to pray was right then. The moment passed and the anointing dissipated as well, my heart grieved. I had hoped to catch the moment again and looked for it, but it appeared that she was avoiding me and the look on her face when I did see her was a closed door.

I always look within to get Holy Spirit guidance before acting, but sometimes it takes me too long to do this and the moment passes. Don’t make a fool of yourself, but be ready to seize the moment before it passes by. I am trying to learn to live in that fine-line moment between presumptuous and too late!

So, in sadness, I went to the Lord and repented for not handling the situation better, asking Him to heal her in spite of my shortcomings and show her how wonderful He is. I gave it to Him, completely, expecting Him to heal her in spite of my blundering ways–because He said He would.

Now, a year later, the ‘suddenly’ has come!

A week or two before Julia’s announcement to me, the Lord spoke to me again. I was working, and Julia had just walked by. “She’s healed, you know.” and that’s all He said. This time I kept my mouth shut. It didn’t even occur to me to tell her what He had said. It’s almost like He spoke it so I would remember, but He wanted her to find out from her doctor.

With elation I rejoice with Julia! Her former sickness, even more complicated than I had realized, included Crohn’s Disease,  a diseased liver and inflamed pancreas. Imagine the pain!

Julia’s totally flat stomach and slim figure show proof that her body is normal, but it was her doctor that medically confirmed it. At a recent colonoscopy and physical, even before the doctor came to her with the news, she overheard her telling someone else, “There is no disease!” When speaking directly to Julia, she said, “Everything is in complete remission!” It’s a doctors’ term for things they can’t understand or explain . . . My Jesus calls her, HEALED!

Glory to God!!!

Thank you, Jesus! ♥

The Gift of Waiting

Apr6

Before Jesus was crucified, He informed His disciples that they would see Him again–He would rise from the dead. That must have been hard for them to believe, and yet, He was with them! They witnessed miracle after miracle. They KNEW Him!

They had no choice–they waited.

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead procured abundant life for all that would believe; it is so much more than Salvation! I cannot sum up in a sentence or paragraph all that was bought for us through the horrific sacrifice on the cross, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, King Jesus. In fact, the majority of believers live a lifetime and still do not fully realize the unsurpassed fullness of Jesus Christ in their lives. Maybe that is because we first need to fully grasp the ability to wait!

Abraham waited nearly a lifetime for Issac; Moses waited in the desert 40 years; Noah waited for the flood as he built the ark and then waited in the Ark for the flood to subside, enabling him to return to the earth; Joseph waited in prison; Jesus waited 40 days and nights in the desert and waited 3 days in Hell; and the list goes on and on!

I doubt that there are many of us that like to wait.

Are you waiting for Eternity? You need to realize that Eternity has already begun. Jesus did all that He needed to do, to provide the abundant life intended for you. Now, it’s up to you to procure it!

Waiting is active.

It’s not sitting around waiting for Heaven . . . Yes, if you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, Heaven, will be your home; but Jesus offers you Heaven on earth. If you’re not learning about, pursuing, and receiving all the promises found in the Bible, then you are missing out . . . You’re wasting your wait, and you’re wasting your life!

For those that don’t believe in Jesus, don’t repent of their sins, receive His forgiveness and the promise of Eternal life–so sorry for you! Your Eternal Hell has already begun, for you are missing out on a life filled with Promises and the Gift of Love and Forgiveness. You don’t know what it’s like to have fellowship with Jesus and know of His Grace and Mercy. You’ve never felt His Love surround you; basked in His Presence; walked in Divine Favor and the BLESSING! You don’t have security and safety, and the assurance that you will never truly fail, for He’s got your back. You don’t know His perfect Peace!

Well, the Good News is, if you’re reading this, it’s not too late!

Before you reach for another Jelly Bean–WAIT!

Think about your soul. Think about this Eternity that you are living and ask yourself if it is enough. For Christian and non-Christian alike–there is more!

He made a way for EVERYONE, while He waited; but He wasn’t just waiting–He conquered; and in three days He resurrected from the dead–that Hell and the grave have no power over you–ever again!

So, it seems waiting is quite important, don’t you think?

May Jesus BLESS your Resurrection Sunday. May you actively wait on Him–

May you fully offer your life to Him–He’s waiting for you ♥

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16-18

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5b

His Purifying Fire

Mar15

Last Friday, March 10, 2023, I attended a time of worship at my church. There was to be no agenda, just worship to the Lord. A young woman played keyboard the entire time. She has a beautiful voice that tends to bring you right into the Presence of God.

She and her husband were soon expecting their first baby.

I sat soaking in the Presence, so much in the depths of it that I wasn’t readily aware when the music ended. I think it was the Secret Place.

Prayer was asked by the parents of this young couple, for the birth of the baby to go well. As they were praying, suddenly I felt a ball of fire in my body, in the area that would be the birth canal. It grew large, about the size of a cantaloupe, or a baby’s head?

The fire grew so big and so hot that it hurt.

When I was visiting Israel, in 2018, there was an occasion that I was eating a dinner salad of lettuce and vegetables; when suddenly, a fireball shot down my throat. I inspected the salad and even looked over the salad on the buffet line, but there wasn’t anything hot or spicy in it. This ball of fire went down my throat with such a force, hot like fire, that I choked. Friends at the table were startled and asked if I was alright. I was fine, told them what happened, and wondered about it but nothing more came of it—that is, in Israel. Since that time, I have had a few instances where this fireball just sort of presents itself within me. I know this sounds strange, and often the things of God make us wonder, but I just try to understand enough to flow with what He is doing.

So, in this incidence I spoke it out and told them what I had just experienced. Declaring that this baby would be born, of not just of water and blood but of fire, which is the Holy Spirit. That there would be something powerful about this birth.

At the time, I didn’t have a clear understanding of what it all meant, but later asked the Lord, “Lord what was that all about?

“He replied, “I purified the birth canal.”

Apparently, He opened it as well, because I got a text the next morning telling me that she went into labor that night and birthed the baby at 2:32AM. After a mere 2 1/2 hours of labor. The midwife had only been there for 15 minutes before this new daddy received his son into the world. I have never heard of anyone birthing a first baby in such a short amount of time. The new mother hadn’t said anything at the time I spoke out about the fire ball; but later told those close to her that, at the exact time of that incident, she had a single strong contraction. I expect it was confirmation to her, and preparation had begun–the birth canal was purified.

Glory to God!

Welcome to your new life, Gideon Michael!

Should the Lord tarry long enough, I believe you are to be a powerful man of God. Even as a child, I sense there is something special happening and look forward to seeing what He accomplishes through your life!

May God Bless you and be with you all the days of your life. May you clearly hear His Voice, walk in His Wisdom and His Ways to accomplish all the Lord has on His Heart for you. May you finish your race to spend Eternity with Him. Amen.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 KJV