Tag Archive | new beginning

Never Forgotten

Rick O’Neil – 1951-2015

His Happy Place!

Troop 30 ♥

Today marks the 10th anniversary of my husband going to his forever home. It’s never been easy, but today, being a milestone marker, is such a mixed bag of emotions. I really would have thought I would be further along with this. It seems I just can’t find a day that’s not laced with him somehow. I don’t live in sorrow, but the memories are always so entwined in my life. Yet, at the same time, it seems like ‘that life’ was really someone else’s that I just observed, because it seems so very far away. It’s strange I know– a wrestle in my heart.

So, today, I was walking my dog, Houston, on the trail and the Lord spoke something beautiful to me. I wish I could have written it down so I would have the words; but it was more like I understood, and He then wrote it on my heart.

He said that this marks a new beginning. I know that sounds cliche’ but then He said, and it begins “Right Now!” and just as He said that, a fresh breeze suddenly whooshed around me. It was refreshing! Cooling and swift, yet gentle . . .

It carried hope.

He related building my life to that of a puzzle. This too, would seem cliche’, but yet, I have never heard it explained this way . . .

Again, I can’t remember the words so I will just try to describe it because this is for anyone, this is for you!

The life you are building is your creation, because you choose the pieces to fit. He doesn’t control our lives, but He leads us to situations and people to our path–the pieces in our life to choose from. Some we will try to include and they lock in for life. Others, no matter how hard you try, it just won’t work–won’t fit. We work and fuss, often focused on the one piece at hand, not taking the time to look up–see the broader picture. Does it please you? Is that how you wanted your life to look? When you’re not looking at the bigger picture, you may leave pieces in place that you never wanted to be. Your life builds around them and now there’s no changing what was. You can only continue to build-learn from it, change and build beyond. We must become aware in the moment and not try to force a piece that just doesn’t fit.

In the meantime, while you’re fussing over that one piece, life is passing you by!

So, actually He didn’t say any of that last paragraph except for that first sentence, so that just came out in the moment, just for fun.

What He did relate to me was this . . .

Most people begin a puzzle by finding all the outside edges. They piece them together to build the frame, the outer parameter, and then work to fill in the center. He reminded me of a puzzle I had when I was a kid. It was called “The Shape.” It had a free-form outer edge that was interesting. It was different and fun to put together.

That type of puzzle building, the first and most common, is easier. You have a clear framework to build on, but it’s rigid and locked-in. There is no room for free expression and your life is contained, limited and restricted.

Rather . . .

Each piece must come from your heart!

You build out of your heart and add to it from what you see in your heart. In this way it flows in whatever way your heart, your spirit, is leading you. Ever-evolving and ever-changing, creating beauty in your life from the rock solid foundation of your heart–the Spirit of God, within your own spirit.

Beautiful!

I think there would be less heartache and pain if we built our lives this way. Instead, we set our boundaries, fill in the blanks, and spend most of our lives trying to fix what never fit to begin with. Futile work!

So this is a rather odd and puzzling post, pardon the pun, but I couldn’t resist–born out of a heart that seems at polar opposites at times. Wrestling with a section of my puzzling life that I can no longer change and yet, even though it’s way deep inside the picture now, it still commands my attention . . .

A puzzle only God can fix!

Rest in peace my love. You will never be forgotten and I know that I will see you again one day. I just ask that, for now, you would allow me to Rest, in Peace!

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!”

Psalm 34:1-8

The Heart of the Rose

May30

A Rose With a Purpose–Packed and Ready to Go!

It was special from the start . . . Special, in that it was a gift of love from my church family on Mother’s Day . . . Special, because it not only survived the steam from my coffee cup but miraculously began to grow without any root or soil . . . Special, because after its story, the Lord revealed more . . . This special rose has more to tell you . . .

Miracles Always Have Purpose!

My table seems quite empty now without the rose, but I can drink a cup of coffee again without being cautious where to set it. I miss my rose, but it wasn’t mine to keep. I have learned that when I receive something, be it money, food, gift etc, to look inside and inquire of the Lord–is it for me or did He have someone else in mind to be blessed, and I the carrier? Especially with money. Is it for me or is it a seed? –That said, it didn’t occur to me that I would be giving away a Mother’s Day gift, because, why would one do that?

Why?

Because, the Lord has need of it!

After my previous post, “A Gift of New Life,” someone made the comment to me stating–“That post touched me more than any of all of your posts.” What exactly was it about that one? He couldn’t really say, but the Lord had used that post to place His finger directly on the pain of his soul. It was just time–time to deal with the wounds of life that had been stuffed but never healed. It was time for God to answer my prayers; I had been praying for him for a very long time.

My time came when my husband died. Suddenly, years of stuffed pain erupted in me like a volcano. It was the proverbial ‘last straw’ and I didn’t know how to cope with it. My friend Paula, now gone home to be with the Lord, took the time, patience, and love required to unravel my mess–helping me to live again! I thank God for her, I am so grateful–everyone needs a special friend like Paula!

Be encouraged, the Lord hears you!

This man stated that he had been planning to call me for about a month. “I want what you’ve got!” he emphatically stated. What? “That baptism of the Holy Spirit–I want that!”

That is one of the greatest gifts one could ever desire!

“For John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:5

If you’re having trouble connecting with God. If your walk with Him seems inactive and dull. It’s likely that this is what you are missing. Don’t let people tell you that it’s not of God. Open your Bible and read it for yourself.

So, it was the next morning when I looked at the rose and realized, this is why it was growing but not putting out roots. This rose represented the man’s new beginning. During our conversation, so much pain of his past poured forth–revealing his need for the Lord to heal and deliver. Pain from his past, the trauma of Vietnam, loss, and the alcohol he used to anesthetize it all had gripped his life–caging his heart and soul. He had tried everything to break free, but there are some things we just can’t do on our own.

A few days before I was given the rose, a video about rooting a rose from a cutting had come into my YouTube feed. It was interesting, so I sent it to my text for–someday. Now I realized, God, had sent it, and ‘someday’ was here!

The left picture, presented above, is the rose 18 days after I received it. Who knows how long it had been cut before that. After it was given to me, it was three or four hours out of water; not even a wet paper towel on the end. So, I prayed when I packed it up, that it would survive the journey; but it was so straight and strong it didn’t even ruffle a petal. I took it to the man and said, “This represents your new beginning. You are going to plant this and it will be a marker of your new life. It didn’t put down roots because you are the one that’s going to be putting down new roots!” We talked a bit, read through scriptures, and then it was time to pray. He had told me the night before that he had asked and asked but nothing ever seemed to happen. Well, God made sure he knew something happened, because he radically received his baptism!

He first commented that he could smell the rose. “No, that rose doesn’t have a scent,” I told him. “I’m smelling roses!” he reaffirmed. It was Jesus. His Presence sometimes has a scent. When I worked at a factory years ago, I was in a corner all by myself and got so caught up in my thoughts of Him I began to worship in my heart; and suddenly was enveloped with the smell of roses. Factories don’t smell like roses, and there was no one else near me. Other times I have smelled lily of the valley and once, honey and roses. He then commented that it was getting stronger, but I couldn’t smell anything–this was just for him!

I put my hands on his head to pray and it became hot and sweat broke out on his head when I asked the Lord to baptize him in the Holy Spirit. I commanded a spirit of addiction off of him, and then the Holy Spirit filled him and he began to shake. He sat shaking for some time, “Stay with it,” I instructed him. The Lord was doing a work in him. During this time, I had prayed that the Lord heal him from the top of his head to the souls of his feet; and the very first thing he did when he got up was to go smell the rose. “It doesn’t smell like anything.” he said to me. “Yep, told you, it has no scent–that was Jesus!” Much later we went to a restaurant for dinner–our plan was to go to lunch but this had become a much bigger event than either of us had expected. At dinner, before he even sat down, he said, “Do you smell that?” Yeah, sure, the food smells were really strong, garlic and sort of a pungent BBQ. He got that misty look on his face as it dawned on him, the Lord had healed him–he has not been able to smell anything for years! –and that is his beginning . . .

Glory to God!

“‘For John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'”

“‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.'” Acts 1:8

“And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 22-4

“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.'” Acts 2:38-39

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said. ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Acts 11:15-16

“And he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said, ‘No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ And Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Acts 19:2-6

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matthew 3:11 KJV

“‘ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!'” Luke 11:10-13

“‘–If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'” John 8:31-32

A Beacon of Light in the Darkness

Nov12

“Light rises in the darkness for the upright; the Lord is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.

For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered for ever.

He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

His heart is steady, he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire on his adversaries.

He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn is exalted in honor.

The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked man comes to nought.” Psalm 112:4-10

America Has Spoken

Nov6

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” I Peter 2:13-17

Please join me in honoring a valiant warrior. . .

He has been besieged with unprecedented hardship, ridicule, disdain and abuse, yet he has risen again and again and again . . .

I think he learned it from our KING–Jesus!

“For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” I Peter 2:20-21

He is a fighter for the true spirit of democracy and the freedom this country was founded on. President Elect Trump has stood blow after blow for the people of this wonderful country, USA, and I am so very proud to call him my president!

Thank you, Lord, for this victory!

Thank you, for giving President Donald J Trump the strength to withstand!

Thank you, for surrounding him with a strong supportive family and a tremendous team to take this country to a level above the drudgery we have been forced to endure.

Thank you, for Vice President Elect, JD Vance, truly the most impressive candidate I have ever witnessed for the vice presidency.

Thank you, for Elon Musk, Tulsi Gabbard, JFK and many, many more. Their brilliance and stance for justice will serve to deliver this country from the bondage of governmental corruption. Glory to God!

Congratulations, President Trump ♥

Congratulations, Vice President Vance ♥

The people of the United States of America owe you a great deal of gratitude!

On behalf of every decent, honest, hardworking, God-fearing citizen of the USA–

Thank you!

Welcome 2020!

Jan1

Hello Everyone, Happy New Year!

EXCITING TIMES–We are no longer teenagers–

It’s TIME for the world to grow up!

2020 is going to be a GREAT YEAR ♥

A New Year is the Perfect Time to Begin a New Book!

Now Available, My First Book–

‘Comfort In The Challenge’

“You don’t have to look far to find someone coping with a challenge. It may be a friend, co-worker, parent or child. Maybe you need only to look within. The list of trials in life is endless–the challenge within. But God knows the need, and He knows the heart of the one you love–He knows YOU!

‘Comfort in the Challenge’ is filled with messages spoken from the heart of God. Inside you will find that God loves you and He cares about you, personally, and what you care about matters to Him. He wants to take that care, in exchange, with His thoughts of Love, Hope, Healing, and Direction. He speaks to the need, He speaks to You, to bring you–‘Comfort In The Challenge.'”

© 2019 Lori J. O’Neil

Click to Order: https://www.nationofwomenpublishing.com

All royalties for the life of this book will go directly to the ministry, Canaanland, of Autaugaville, Alabama. Canaanland, takes in men that have lost control of their lives to addiction and crime. Their tremendous (40 year) success rate has often prompted the judges of the surrounding area to offer, Canaanland, as an alternative to jail time. But, Canaanland, is not a bail from jail; it is a golden opportunity for those who truly want a new life! I have met some of these men and they are so full of joy that they absolutely shine–truly transformed by the love of God!

Canaanland charges nothing for a year stay; including room and board for their families as well, if necessary. I find the true dedication of Canaanland, in surrounding these men with love, and the life-changing power of the Word of God, to be unsurpassed. All is made possible through the dedication and hard work of these men, and generous donations of partner support.

It is their vision to have a ‘Canaanland’ in every state and my vision, for this book, to help them realize this goal. Will you join me in helping these men and their families receive a new life? Will you consider purchasing ‘Comfort in the Challenge’ for your friends, loved ones and yourself–for Canaanland? The books are beautiful and I am over-the-top excited for you to receive yours!

Click this link to Order Today: https://www.nationofwomenpublishing.com

Thank you, and God’s Blessing upon you always!

Lori J. O’Neil

Canaanland Ministries Link: https://www.canaanland.com

Info Contact: wordscroll@gmail.com