Elaine L. O'Neill

Passion, Promise, Partnering with God

Blessing Your Family

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The word blessing is mentioned 287 times in the Bible. There are several sevenfold blessings that we find in scripture to use as our example. The number seven is the number of perfection in the Bible.

God blessed Abraham when He called him to leave his country to fulfill God’s plan for his life. Abraham knew he had God’s blessing even when he could not see the results. The Lord blessed Abraham in a seven-step prayer.

Abraham’s sevenfold blessing: Genesis 12:2-3

  1.             I will make of you a great nation
  2.             I will bless you
  3.             I will make your name great
  4.             You shall be a blessing
  5.             I will bless them that bless you
  6.             I will curse them that curse you
  7.             In you shall all the families of the earth be blessed

In Psalms 91, the Lord blesses His people who love and obey Him. He floods our simple lives with promises to get us through all the struggles in this life. Again He showers us with a sevenfold blessing of hope.

The Lord blesses those who put their trust in Him: Psalm 91:14 – 16

  1.             I will deliver him
  2.             I will set him securely on high
  3.             I will answer him when he calls on me
  4.             I will be with him in trouble
  5.             I will rescue him
  6.             I will satisfy him with long life
  7.             I will show him my salvation

In 1 Peter we read that Jesus blesses believers with the assurance of salvation and eternal life.

New Testament blessings: 1 Peter 1:1 – 12

  1.             Salvation
  2.             New birth
  3.             Living hope
  4.             Inheritance
  5.             God’s protection and Security
  6.             Suffering for Christ’s sake
  7.             Grace

We are to bless our spouses, our children and our relatives even when circumstances don’t seem to go our way. We need to pray blessing over our families because God really wants to bless them His way.

Many days we don’t feel God’s blessings because of circumstances. God’s Word promises He has blessed us in more ways than we can imagine. So many things go the wrong way that we end up counting our troubles instead of blessings.

Eventually we can trust Jesus to turn every problem into a blessing. Ask Him to bless your life with his blessings and promises.

Promise: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Partnering with God: Dear Lord, Your Word is filled with thousands of promises that You give me to bless my life. Help me to hold on to those promises and believe them with my whole heart. I know You desire to bless me. Thank You for all Your blessings and promises for my life.

 

Desperate for Change

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Change my Child

“I can’t do it!” I cried these words over and over. “God, I can’t parent this child!” I am desperate for help and for change. The same problems, habits and behaviors repeat themselves like a bass drum keeping beat. Temper-tantrums, anger spells, broken toys and furniture, food deliberately thrown on the floor, and refusal to do homework are just a few areas of chaos flooding my home. What can a parent do when everything goes wrong?

The Lord allowed me to be in a place where He can remold me as a potter fashions a clay vessel. He requires me to change before my children change. He has a better plan than I do and He definitely sees the whole picture. Jesus wants my children to change also, but I realize He wants to do spiritual surgery on me first.

My need to trust Jesus fully in my messes is my first priority. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Trusting Him when things are not going well is the most important challenge for me. It requires me to give up worrying. It grows me in the area of patience. It makes me depend upon Jesus for His wisdom.

As I “trust in the Lord with all my heart,” I become dependent on His grace and mercy. I learn to praise Him in the midst of my trial. I believe that His plan is better than mine and I begin to look to Him for answers and direction. God changed me one step at a time. As I made mistakes, He redirected my heart and actions to make better choices. When I made myself available to change, He orchestrated my life His way. Yes, God changed my children as well.

 Promise: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Partnering with God: Dear Lord, I desperately want You to change my child. I realize that somehow You desire to change me first. Help me to listen to You through the Word of God and to apply Your words to the areas you want me to change. Give me direction and guidance in obeying Your voice. Make me a new person in the inside of my heart.

 

 

Mentoring

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I am so grateful for two teachers who came along side me and mentored me.

One mentor was a well-seasoned Bible teacher in my church who enlisted me to help in Junior Church with the children in grades one through three. She also gave me the invaluable experience of teaching the young students Bible lessons while incorporating games and creative activities to make the learning fun. I never dreamed that her mentoring would effectively prepare me for Sunday school teaching as soon as I entered college.

My second mentor and teacher was my band director who taught me how to become a music teacher. He gave me opportunities to learn to play all of the band instruments, he taught me the art of organizing a music library, and showed me the important routine steps in running a well-organized band program. By the time I finished college, I felt well prepared to step into the role of a career band director. His expertise equipped and challenged me for the task ahead.

I felt connected, fulfilled, and prepared to do the jobs placed before me.

Young adults and teens often do not relate to seasoned jobs because adults do not give them the chance to learn, grow, and mature in areas of service and work.

School 2 MentoringI recently made a commitment to meet with a young girl to encourage and inspire her weekly in preparing for her future. I am trusting that as I mentor her she will follow the path to lead her into a place of service and work.

How to choose someone to mentor:

  1. Establish a friendship with several young people.
  2. Choose a person of the same sex.
  3. Look for someone who is eager to learn and seems teachable.
  4. Be willing to explore different areas of interest and opportunity.
  5. Look for ways to connect the young person to others serving in the church or workplace.
  6. Encourage the person spiritually, academically, emotionally, and socially.
  7. Provide opportunities for work and service.
  8. Monitor the young person and give constructive feedback.
  9. Pray for wisdom and direction that will mold the person’s future.

Promise: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV)

Partnering with God: Dear God, help me always to follow the example of Christ. As I serve you, give me wisdom in choosing a young person to mentor and to take on my journey of service. Help me Lord, to have a part in challenging teens and young adults in getting involved in the body of Christ.

Personal Revival

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Most of us are self-sufficient and think that we are ok. It is a tactic of the enemy to fill us with pride and deceive us to think that we don’t need revival. It is quite easy to judge others for their faults without honestly looking at our own hearts for areas that need change.

I often view repentance as something another person should do. Because of pride, I have a hard time admitting my faults and shortcomings. I frequently see the splinter in someone else’s life and lightly ignore the boulder of sin that holds me back.

This year, I turned my life over to the Lord in a new way. As I made the decision to turn away from my sins, some of my trials seemed harder. I pleaded with God to change me and to take away the sins and weights that hold me back. I first have to do my part.

River Lighthouse

  • Revival means getting to know the Savior and author of my faith through God’s Word, prayer, and obedience. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
  •  Revival means I have to repent and totally turn from my evil, ungodly ways. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8) I made a list of sins and areas that must change: worry, fear, judging, procrastination, clutter, etc.
  • Revival means I need a stronger commitment to humble myself and pray. My old bad habits need to go so that my prayer time can be filled with new, stronger spiritual disciplines. I must remove distractions, use a written prayer list so I don’t forget requests, write scripture promises near requests, change my schedule, and put God first.
  • Revival means I need to trust God with my whole heart and know that His way is best. I must believe that God has control of all the problems and challenges and stand convinced that He would work out all things according to His plan for my good.

God decides when and how revival takes place. Each area of revival requires discipline and a steadfast spirit in me. I am changing a little at a time. I am waiting on God to revive me, in His way and in His time.

Promise: If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Partnering with God: Lord, help me to humble myself before you and trust you with all my heart for you to bring revival in my life. I repent of my known sins and ask you to make me aware of other sins that are keeping me from a right relationship with you. Change me. Hear my desperate prayers for revival. Remake my life and revive me so I can serve you better.

The Call to Missions

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john 9-4

 

God called me to be a missionary. He called me to serve Him and to minister to needs in my hometown, job, church, and family. I never received a lightning bolt revelation to do missions but as I accepted Jesus as my Savior and followed Him in obedience, He daily led me to do His work.

The Lord planted me in the exact place where I could do His mission, following His plan, to meet the needs that He placed in my way.

God calls His followers to intentional missions. The definition for intentional is “done on purpose and deliberate.” When I get up in the morning I purposely and deliberately plan to follow Jesus in whatever His mission is for that day.

I have heard it said that we are the hands and feet of Jesus. That concept helps me to understand that God purposely and deliberately puts people and situations in my path for His purpose and plan. Many times those people and situations present problems, or challenges that He wants to work out for His eternal good.

I believe that all believers are called to do mission work. Every need is an opportunity to serve and obey. Look for needs, read God’s word for wisdom, pray for grace, and follow his prompting and plan.

  1. Meet physical needs:

 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,a you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:35-40 NKJV)

  1. Share the gospel:

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15 NIV)

  1. Encourage believers to grow spiritually:

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19 NIV)

Has God called you to missions? Yes! True believer are challenged and encouraged to follow Him and to do His work. “As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me.” (John 9:4 NIV)

Promise: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 NIV)

Partnering with God: Lord Jesus, You showed me how to minister and do your mission. Give me wisdom as I follow your great example to meet needs of people and situations that you put in my path. I am so glad that you will strengthen and equip me for every job. Help me to trust you to do the best work in and through me.

Let me know your thoughts!
Partnering with God,
Elaine

 

Passion for God’s Hour

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oneHourAs I read the resurrection story, my heart often focuses on one incident that occurs before the crucifixion when Jesus and the disciples were in the garden of Gethsemane. He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”  (Matthew 26:38)   Jesus asked His best friends and coworkers to hang out, to connect, to pray and to be alert by watching with Him in His darkest hour.

God wants my attention, my devotion and my heart everyday; yet it is a constant struggle to wholeheartedly give Him my time. [Read more…]

Passion for Prayer

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I learned as a child that it was important to pray and talk to God. I followed the pattern of asking God to bless my meals, then praying for my family and a few needs before bedtime. Sunday School teachers and church leaders encouraged prayer and weekly added to my list of requests. As I grew older I memorized Bible verses that taught me the basics of talking to God.

It was not this nurture and teaching that really taught me how to pray. It was the hard knocks of life that put me in a position of being desperate before my Lord, Savior and Creator that brought growth and strength into that wonderful plan of communication with God. [Read more…]