JOURNAL=HAPPY NEW YEAR=2015

JOURNAL=HAPPY NEW YEAR-2015




“From his fullness-we have ALL RECEIVED-GRACE-in place of grace........” John 1:16




TODAY is the last day of the year-MANY of us will go to a party-and CELEBRATE with family and
friends to bring in the NEW YEAR-some of us will go to church-still others of us will SLEEP in the new year-whatever we are doing-WE will say goodbye to 2014 and HELLO to the new year


BUT BEFORE-this year ends let us PAUSE-and thank GOD for the BLESSINGS we received this year-ANOTHER year of life-our family and friends-OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH-and any problems and difficulties we worked-our way through this year


And let us thank GOD for the grace we received in 2014-and the GRACE to live in 2015 well-BEING mindful that GOD GIVES us all the GRACE we need to face each new day in the coming year


DEAR LORD—we thank you for the PAST BLESSINGS and grace-and for ALL the graces we will
RECEIVE in the coming years of our lives


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a GREAT DAY and year to receive ALL
the graces GOD wishes to bestow on us


HAPPY NEW YEAR my friends-GOD LOVES YOU-and so do I


Robert P. Wallman

12-31-14

JOURNAL-THE LAST WORD-EVEN IN DEATH

JOURNAL/THE LAST WORD-EVEN IN DEATH




“THE WORLD and its enticement are PASSING AWAY-but WHOEVER does the will of GOD REMAINS FOREVER” 1 John 2:17




THIS YEAR is coming to and end-WE HEARD many stories-about ALL kinds of events-and stories about all kinds of famous people-but doesn't it seem that we heard it all BEFORE


HOWEVER-the WILL OF GOD always remains fresh and new-GOD is still calling us to FILL the PURPOSE of our lives-and calling us to NEW ADVENTURES in 2015-WE NEED NOT have any regrets-for there is always NEW LIFE in the Lord-FOLLOW GOD'S WILL for your life and your FUTURE will be FOREVER BRIGHT


it is a GREAT DAT to be ALIVE in GOD'S LIFE for us-and a great day and year to BEGIN to FULFILL GOD'S WILL for our lives




















THE LAST WORD-EVEN IN DEATH




Have you ever been
In a discussion
Or an argument-IF you prefer
With someone
TRYING to get the LAST WORD


You might as well
Take your head
And bang it against the wall
It will have
THE SAME EFFECT
On that person


But one thing
We KNOW for sure
IS THAT GOD
ALWAYS has the last word
Because his WORDS are true


EVEN in life and death matters


In his 7^th chapter
Saint Luke tells us the story
Of the WIDOW NAIN


Jesus-his disciples-and a LARGE CROWD
Were in a town called NAIN


As Jesus approached the town gate
A dead person
Was being carried out


THE ONLY SON
Of his mother
And she was a widow
And a large crowd
From the town Was with her


“WHEN the Lord
Saw her
HIS HEART went out to her
And he said,
'DON'T CRY' Luke 7:13


Then he went up
And touched the coffin
And said,
“YOUNG MAN-I say to you GET UP” Luke 7:14
And , of course, HE DID


DEATH was NOT
The last word
And it IS NOT
THE LAST WORD
In this world
Or the next


“THIS is what the Lord says
Israel's King and Redeemer
The, Lord Almighty,

'I am the first
And I am the LAST
Apart from me
THERE IS NO GOD'” Isaiah 44:6


“DO NOT be afraid
I am the First and the Last


I am
THE LIVING ONE
I was dead
And behold
I AM ALIVE
For ever and ever
And I HOLD the keys
Of death and Hades” Revelations 1:17-18


And WE ALL KNOW
The story of Christ
Bringing back Lazarus
(the loving brother)
Of Martha and Mary
From death


And CHRIST'S own victory
OVER death


He is-GOD IS
THE LAST WORD


Jesus said to Martha,


“I AM the RESURRECTION
And the LIFE
He who believes in me
WILL LIVE
Even though he died


And whoever LIVES
And BELIEVES in me
WILL NEVER DIE
Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26


Dear Lord
37 years ago
AFTER I was given the LAST RIGHTS
I LIVED


And like
THE WIDOW NAIN and her son
LIKE Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
AND LIKE YOU


I HUMBLY SAY
“I BELIEVE”


YOU LORD
have the LAST WORD
( even in death )




Robert P. Wallman
9-24-13




Ps I THANK YOU LORD for ALL the additional years
I have had to spend with family-friends-churches-etc.




DEAR GOD-I BELIEVE




9-16-14

12-30-14

JOURNAL-"I AM THE WAY-THE TRUTH-AND THE LIFE"

JOURNAL/”I AM THE WAY-THE TRUTH-AND THE LIFE”




THE CHRISTMAS STORY is a wonderful story-a YOUNG COUPLE who fall in LOVE-get married-and have a baby =THE BABY JESUS-but it wouldn't have happened-it couldn't have happened without the DIVINE INTERVENTION of GOD-of ANGELS-and without two people of TREMENDOUS FAITH


AND this little baby grew up into an adult-and LIVED in a very CHALLENGING WAY-and dares us to GIVE WITNESS-and LIVE the same way-IN KINDNESS-IN FORGIVENESS-and in LOVE-OUR very lives are to GIVE WITNESS that we are LIVING the way that Jesus LIVED


THE Christmas story gives way to the EASTER STORY that this little baby was in fact THE SON OF GOD-and PROVES he is “THE WA-THE TRUTH-AND THE LIFE”


It is a great day to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a great day to PRAY to ask GOD for the grace to attempt to LIVE as Jesus LIVED


“I AM THE WAY-THE TRUTH-AND THE LIFE”



I know this scripture
Inside and out
It LIVES
In my heart
And I do my best
To try and live it



I memorize
VERY little scripture
But one line
I have memorized is:



“I am the way
and the truth
And the life



No one comes
To the Father
Except through me



If you really know me
You would know
My Father as well



From now on
You do know him
And have SEEN HIM” John 14:6



THERE IT IS
PLAIN as the day



Jesus and the Father are one
IF you are one with Jesus
You are ONE with the FATHER



And exactly
WHAT IS the way
TO GOD the Father
And his Son



“IF you are
PLEASED with me



TEACH me your ways
So that
I may know you



And continue
To find favor
With you” Exodus 33:13



“In ALL your ways
ACKNOWLEDGE HIM
And he will make
Your paths straight” Proverbs 3:6



GOD'S WAYS
are love
God's ways
Are kindness
God's way
Is to TURN the other cheek



“He who speaks
On his own
Does so
To gain honor
For himself



But HE who works
For the HONOR
Of the one who sent him



Is a man
Of truth



There is nothing
False about him” John 7:18



GOD=PERFECT TRUTH
GOD=PERFECT HONESTY



Jesus= the PERFECT EXAMPLE
of TRUTH on the law



But of course
NONE of us
Will be perfect



But that does not mean
We shouldn't try



That we shouldn't be
AS CLOSE to God
As we are capable of being



And Jesus was
LIFE CONCEIVED
By the spirit



GOD'S OWN SON
And the SPIRIT of God
WALKING upon this earth



And leaving GOD'S OWN SPIRIT
HIS OWN SPRIT
Behind with us
On earth



“I have come
That they may have LIFE
And have it
TO THE FULL” John 10:10



SINCE I have committed John 14:6
To MEMORY
(“I AM THE WAY-THE TRUTHAND THE LIFE-
No one comes to the Father except through me”)



EVERY time I look at the clock
And it reads 46 minutes after the hour
I think of this



And it makes me FEEL
Like Saint Paul



“I have been
CRUCIFIED with Christ



And I no longer live
But Christ LIVES in me” Galatians 2:20



May you FIND
The PEACE of God



And the LOVE of our Lord
EVERY DAY of your life



Robert P. Wallman
July 10^th, 2014






12-29-14

THE HOLY FAMILY

TODAY is the feast day of the HOLY FAMILY-Jesus-MARY-and Joseph


EVERY DAY I pray for the REIGNING of GOD and FAMILY-over health-money-sex-and death
in TODAY'S WORLD

MAY YOU experience PEACE in your families in 2015

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a GREAT DAY to CELEBRATE
our FAMILIES

NEW AND IMPROVED IN 2015

NEW AND IMPROVED IN 2015




Are you
GOING to be
A new and improved person
In 2015


Are you
Going to be
A BETTER version of you


MAYBE you are
Going to be
Like one of these products


“new and improved TIDE”
“new and improved MR. CLEAN”
“A new and improved BOB WALLMAN”


Or maybe you
Are going to be
A WHOLE new version of yourself
LIKE a car model=TOYOTA, Chevrolet, Ford, etc., etc., etc.,


“Therefore
IF any man
Be in Christ


He is a NEW CREATION
Old things are passed away


Behold
ALL things
BECOME NEW” 2 Corinthians 5:17


TIE your life
A little tighter
To the LIFE OF CHRIST


He can make
ALL the difference
In your life
All the difference
In your world


He has done it
For me
And he can do it
For you too


HAPPINESS
has nothing to do
With the circumstances
Of your life


BUT ONLY
The condition of your heart


All things
Become new again
In the Lord


NEW AND IMPROVED
In 2015


“It is
Of the Lord's mercies
That we are not consumed
Because his compassion
FAILS NOT


They are NEW
Every morning
GREAT is thy faithfulness” Lamentations 3:23


At least
Be a better model
Than your 2014 version


DIG a little deeper


Be a little kinder
Be a little more forgiving
LOVE a little more
GIVE a little more
Of yourself


My Uncle John Murphy
Was a fine human being
KIND-COMPASSIONATE-and LOVING


Yet every December
WHEN I asked him
If he had
Any New Year's Resolutions
He would always say:


“I am going to try
And be a better person”


“But when
He saw the multitudes


He was moved
With COMPASSION
For them


Because they fainted
And were scattered abroad


As sheep
HAVING NO SHEPHERD” Matthew 9:36


So let us ALL
Be “FILLED WITH COMPASSION”
In 2015-JUST LIKE JESUS


And like my Uncle John
“A BETTER PERSON”


Let us all be
“NEW AND IMPROVED”
In 2015


And we will find
A KINDER-GENTLER WORLD


A “new and improved”
you/me/us
In 2015


And a “NEW AND IMPROVED” WORLD
IN 2015


Wishing you New Year's BLESSINGS
HAPPY NEW YEAR!


I LOVE YOU ALL!




Robert P. Wallman
12-24-14

JOURNAL=JOHN-THE BELOVED DISCIPLE

JOURNAL=JOHN---THE BELOVED DISCIPLE




“WHAT we have seen and heard WE PROCLAIM now to you.......” 1 John 1:3




THE BELOVED disciple and apostle John was a WITNESS to the life of Jesus-HOW John LOVED
Jesus!-SO CLOSE was John with Jesus that he RECEIVED the PRIVILEGE of CARING for Jesus' mother after Jesus' death


JUST IMAGINE-what can happen in our lives IF WE TOO become INTIMATE with Jesus-TAKE Jesus into your heart today and let him BECOME your INTIMATE FRIEND


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in Jesus' LOVE for us and a great day to be a BELOVED DISCIPLE
of GOD and Jesus








JOHN---THE BELOVED DISCIPLE ( from thunder to love )




After Jesus
Called Peter and Andrew
He continued
To walk beside the Sea of Galilee


He saw another set of brothers
James and John---the sons of Zebedee
They were with their Father
When Jesus called them
And they immediately left their boat
And their Father
And followed Jesus


John is one of the 3 Apostles
Considered to be the closest to Jesus
He is the author
Of the 4^th Gospel
Three letters
And though disputed
The final book of Revelation


John was present---along with Peter and James
At the Transfiguration
And again---in the Agony of the Garden


We must remember
That John---along with the other Apostles
Had that same selfish sinful spirit
That we ALL have


John and his brother James
Once went to Jesus and asked,
“Teacher, we want you to do for us
Whatever we ask” Mark 10:35


“What do you want me to do for you,”
Jesus asks Mark 10:36


They said,
“Let one of us
Sit at your right hand
And the other at your left
In your glory” Mark 10:37


I can just picture Jesus
Rolling his eyes---looking up at the sky
And saying---“Father
This is what you give me to work with”


I know
That is what I would have done


They just didn’t get it
Until after the Resurrection
As we often
Still don’t get it today


But John did eventually---GET IT
As I am sure you and I will get it---someday


As Jesus hung there dying on the cross
He looked down
To see his precious Mother---standing beside John


“Dear woman,” he said, “here is your son”
And to John he said,
“Here is your Mother” John 19:26 & 27


From that point on
John took care of Jesus’ Mother, Mary
As if she was his very own


HOW GREAT IS THAT


In his Gospel
John teaches us
That Jesus IS the Son of God


He teaches us
That we are not only to love God
But to love one another as our neighbor


And in the letters of John
He teaches us
That God is LIFE
That God is LIGHT
And that God is LOVE


He teaches us
That true love
Will manifest itself in actions---NOT just words


He teaches us
That PERFECT LOVE drives out fear
And that the love that God has for us
Is CERTAIN and UNCONDITIONAL


And in Revelation
On the island of Patmos
John teaches us
About the ULTIMATE TRIUMPH
Of GOOD over evil


John once said,
“It is the Word of the Lord
And if you KEEP it
You do enough”


So we know
That if we TOTALLY love God
And if we TOTALLY love one another


We are like John---the Beloved Disciple
And we too---are Disciples


THE DISCIPLES WHOM JESUS LOVES


Robert P. Wallman
12-18=11


Ps John’s feast day is today---December 27^th
And there are many many other great Saints named John---including
---but NOT limited to


John the Baptist
John of God---patron of hospitals and the sick
John of the Cross---poet and mystic---Doctor of the
Church---and co-founder of the Discalced Carmelite
Order


rpw



12-27-14

JOURNAL=ENDURANCE-THE LONG HAUL

JOURNAL=ENDURANCE-THE LONG HAUL




“YOU will be hated by ALL-because of my name-but whoever ENDURES to the end WILL BE SAVED” Matthew 10:22




THE STORY starts with a beautiful brand-new baby-BABIES are sweet and they hurt NO ONE


BUT this baby has a tough life-HE FULFILLS prophecies-HE teaches us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES-and to PUT GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE


He is CHALLENGES by the authorities and the people of HIS DAY-and continues to be CHALLENGED by many people today


TAKE A DEEP BREATH and follow him-HE who ENDURES to the end-FOLLOWING GOD-following Jesus WILL have ETERNAL LIFE


Dear Lord-DEAR JESUS-HELP us REMEMBER that you are ALL I NEED-it is a GREAT DAY to be
ALIVE in your UNWAVERING LOVE for us














WITNESS




3-07-13




ENDURANCE---THE LONG HAUL




Where are you
In your personal relationship with God
Are your enduring
The trials of your life


Are you loving God
Despite the troubles in your life
Are you letting him
Love you


“For everything
That was written in the past
So that through ENDURANCE
And the encouragement of the scriptures
We might have HOPE” Romans 15:4


We are going to have problems
In this life
Of that we can be sure
So we may as well
Stick to God
So he can be there for us
And we can be there
For one another


Turning our troubles
Into blessings
Turning our problems into HOPE


“May the God
Who gives ENDURANCE and encouragement
Give you a spirit of unity
Among yourselves
As you follow Christ Jesus


So that with one heart and mouth
You may glorify the God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 15;5 & 6


Be in it
With God
Be in it
For the long haul


ENDURE means
To carry us through
Despite our hardships


God is BUILDING
Something in you
A LIFE THAT WILL LAST
Long after you have left
This world


For you are ROCK
You have built your life
On the WORD OF GOD
NOT the word
Of man


You-me-us-
We are in it
For the long haul


NOT transitory rewards


Dear Lord
We pray for a life
BUILT on your word
A life that will last


For we KNOW
That righteousness and love ENDURES forever


“He has scattered abroad
His gifts to the poor
His righteousness ENDURES forever
His horn will be lifted high in honor” Isaiah 112:9


“Give thanks to the Lord
For he is GOOD
His life ENDURES FOREVER” Psalm 136:1


So we know
That if we build our lives
On the WORD OF GOD


Our lives and love
Will ENDURE for the LONG HAUL
Our lives will LAST FOREVER


Robert P. Wallman
8-30-12


Ps WITNESS 3-07-13


“Since you have kept my command to ENDURE PATIENTLY
I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the
Whole world to TEST those who live on the earth” Revelations 3:10




MAY YOU find ETERNAL HAPPINES by living your LIFE in LOVE
LOVE of GOD and LOVE of others


And KNOW that if you do this-you will live in ETERNAL UNION with
God Our Father and HIS SON-Jesus Christ OUR LORD


MISC. WITNESSS 4-29-14





12-26-14              

CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE WALLMANS

DECEMBER 24, 2012




CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE WALLMANS




From the time we lived at Massachusetts Avenue (1-31-63 to 11-30-98)
We always had the greatest Christmas Eves
Thanks to my mother and father


As a young boy-my two sisters and I-would be surprised
When the elves came
The elves would always bring us pajamas and slippers


My dad would sometimes be cussing
I didn’t know what it was about at the time-but as I got older
I came to understand that he was usually trying to put something
Together ( ie. a bike for my sisters or me )


Often times-we would go to midnight Mass
Except my father-who would sneak off to bed
Even when we had a houseful


And that is what I remember most, the “HOUSEFULS”
We always had an Open House on Christmas Eve


My friends-my sisters’ friends-and even some of my father’s and mother’s friends
Would show up-down through the years
Sometimes-some of our relatives would be there too
If they were just looking to have some fun


It would usually start with Rick and Patty coming after 6:00or 7:00 pm Mass
And as they got older-they would show up with their children-Samantha and Tim
They even came one year less than a week after Timmy was born


Also showing up were Rich and Betty Ann (when they were still married)
And their beautiful daughter Bridget
And Ed and Debbie and their daughter-Samantha
Ray and Arlene and their family
And many other family and friends


Most of it-was just clean fun
But we did have our own version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
And “Pup” singing C is for the Christ child
I will always remember Pup
He died in 1979 in a motorcycle accident
He always carried a “magnum” gun with him everywhere he went
When he came into our house on Christmas Eve
He would take them out and give them to me at the door


And after my cousin, Donny, got divorced
We had our own version of “Same Time-Nest Year”
With him and Rooster


What wonderful memories I have of “CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE WALLMANS”


And when we moved in 1998-my mother wrote the following poem




As we turn out the lights and
Lock the door of this old house
Not a creature is stirring
Not even the proverbial mouse.


Hush! Quiet and silence. Can you believe!!!
Any day of the year, but Christmas Eve!!!


Now we REALLY KNOW it’s time to go
But before we do, we want you to know


Through the love and the joy, the laughter & tears
That you have imparted, you have enriched
Our lives all these past 36 years.


If these walls could talk, what tales they would tell
No need, however, we remember them well.


For caring and sharing and just being there
Our love, thanks and warmest wishes for a
Happy New Year.


The Wallman
Christmas 1998


Robert P. Wallman
7-09-07


Ps “For God so loved the world that he gave his ONE AND ONLY SON
That whoever believes in him shall NOT PERISH but have eternal life”

John 3:16

CHRIST OUR KING-PUT THE CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS

CHRIST OUR KING
(PUT THE CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS)




As we approach
Another Christmas season
Let us ALWAYS REMEMBER
To put Christ
THE CHRIST in our Christmas


For me
The word Christ
Means the epitome of GIVING
For he gave his life
For ALL of us


Whether we BELIEVE
In him or not
Whether we choose
To GIVE any part
Of our lives
Back to him


For whether
You BELIEVE in God
Or not


Whether you believe
In Christ-or not


THEY came-they gave-and give
Their lives-their love
For us
Each and every day


With each gift
That you wrap
With each decoration
That you hang
With each gift
That you give


THINK of Christ
For he GAVE first
He teaches us
THE TRUE MEANING of Christmas


Let us take Christmas
Back to its TRUE MEANING


A GIFT OF LOVE


Let us
Make it LESS of a business


Let us put Christ
THE CHRIST
Back into Christmas


“SAY among the nations
THE LORD IS KING” Psalm 96:10


Christ the KING
CHRIST OUR KING


Put the Christ
Back into CHRISTMAS
The Lord
THE GIVER OF ALL


The title of Jesus
As our King
Is most fitting


For it designates
THE ONE
Who is in charge


It designates
The ONE
Who CARES for his people
With trust and responsibility


THE ONE
WHO LOVES US ALL


Whether Christian-Jew-Muslim
Or any other
As long as we do NOT
Kill or hate in the name of God


The one
Whose name is TRUE LOVE
The one
WHO NEVER HATES


For that alone
We should PUT THE CHRIST
Back into Christmas


In the United States
WE HAVE NO KING


We have a President


For me
MY LORD and SAVIOR is-Jesus Christ
IS KING


And we can point
To the line
In the song-”AMERICA”
Where we find the words
“GREAT GOD OUR KING”


That gives us ALL
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE


And this Christmas
PUT THE CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS


Where a baby was born
In a stable
2000 years ago


MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I love you all


GREAT GOD OUR KING




Robert P. Wallman
11-25-14





Ps INSPIRED by a story in LIVING FAITH magazine by Father James McKARNS

JOURNAL/NEVER ABANDONED

JOURNAL-NEVER ABANDONED




“I have been with you WHEREVER you went........” 2 Samuel-7-9


SINCE BIRTH-there has NEVER been a time that God was not present in your life-sometimes though we FEEL like we are all alone in this world-but the TRUTH is that can never happen-That is the beauty
of JESUS' COMING to live in us-he will never leave us for anything-HE LEAVES the HOLY SPIRIT-the SPIRIT OF LOVE to dwell INSIDE of us


THIS YEAR-and every year-as we approach the birth of of Jesus-the SCRIPTURES remind us that we are never alone and NEVER ABANDONED-so SLOW yourself down-pay ATTENTION to God-and come to KNOW Jesus-our ETERNAL COMPANION and comforter-who is with us-EVERY STEP-along life's journey


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's LOVE for us-and a great day to KNOW that we are never abandoned-and that we are NEVER ALONE








NEVER ABANDONED


Do you ever feel
That you
Have SO disappointed God
That he has given up
On you


WHY
Maybe because
That you feel
That you have not lived up
To the teachings of Jesus


Or you commit
The same stupid sin
Over and over again


I have
GOOD NEWS FOR YOU
It CAN'T happen
IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN


Because God
Is madly in love
WITH YOU


“For the Lord
Will NOT cast off
His people
NOR ABANDON-his inheritance” Psalm 94:14


SELF-DOUBT
Is a terrible thing
It can cause you
To give up
On yourself


It is a terrible feeling
And something I did have
MANY many years ago


But the truth is
GOD NEVER
Gave up on me


He found me
And if you are BROKEN
He can and will FIND YOU


The truth is
God's love for you
Is independent
Of your performance
As a BELIEVER


He-GOD
BELIEVES in you


“For the Lord
Your God
Is a MERCIFUL God


He will not abandon
Or destroy you


Or forget the covenant
Of your forefathers


Which he CONFIRMED to them
By oath” Deuteronomy 4:31




Self-doubt-lack of faith
Is a terrible thing


WHEN things
Are at their worst
It is natural
To feel abandoned


EVEN JESUS-the MOST FAITHFUL person whoever lived
Ans GOD'S SON
Just before he died said,


“MY God-my God
WHY did you abandon me?” Matthew 27:46


But God-HIS FATHER-resurrected him
And BUILT him back up To where
He has billions of believers
In today's world


And OUR Lord and OUR GOD
WILL NEVER abandon you


He is an ENCOURAGER
He is the GOD OF LIFE
And wants to RESURRECT your life
To TRIUMPH over all


“But you-DEAR FRIENDS
Build yourselves up
In YOUR most holy faith
And PRAY in the HOLY SPIRIT” Jude :20


Dear Lord-we pray
And we KNOW


That you will NOT cast off
Any of your people


Please give us
The faith of a MUSTARD SEED
And the confidence
Of your ENDURING LOVE


TO KNOW
That you would
NEVER ABANDON US
For any reason whatsoever


Robert P, Wallman
July 17^th, 2014


Ps Inspired by an article in Living Faith Magazine Mary Marrocco





12-21-14

JOURNAL/RESPONDING TO SOMEONE IN NEED

JOURNAL/RESPONDING TO SOMEONE IN NEED




“HOW can this be-since I have NO RELATIONS with a man?” Luke 1:34




Mary was an UNMARRIED woman-yet God asks her to CARRY his child-she said “YES”-NOT KNOWING the whys or the hows-and Joseph said yes to-TO BE HER MAN-both knowing the scorn they could be facing


“YOU will conceive-you will BEAR, you will name him Jesus”-Mary doesn't get impatient with God-or Joseph with Mary-TWO YES' changed human history-WHAT WILL your yes be to God today


TWO YES' changes human history-your YES may not change the world-but your yes MAY CHANGE
a life for someone-for the BETTER


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's love for us-and a GREAT DAY to say “YES” to God-maybe YOUR YES may be the MIRACLE in someone's life today










RESPONDING TO SOMEONE IN NEED




As Christians
In the 21^st century


ONE of the things
We are called upon
To do
Is that when
We see a need
We are to FILL IT


BE FILLED with compassion


That is exactly
What our master
And teacher did
In the 7^th chapter
Of Saint Luke's gospel


ALL PRAYERS
Do NOT come with words


“WHEN the Lord
Saw her


He was moved
With pity for her
And said to her


'DO NOT WEEP'” Luke 7:13


Jesus saw a NEED
And filled it
Because he was filled
With compassion


Nain was
An insignificant town
A few miles south
Of Nazareth


But it became IMMORTALIZED
Because of the MIRACLE
That Jesus worked there


A widow's son died
And she is now vulnerable
Because she has
No family member
To look out for her


“The Lord
Is CLOSE to the brokenhearted
And SAVES those
Who are CRUSHED in spirit” Psalm 34:18


And that is what we too
HIS disciples and apostles
Of this modern day world
ARE called onto do


BE CLOSE
To those in need
RESPOND
To those in need
COMFORT those in need


“May your UNFAILING LOVE
Be my comfort” Psalm 119:76


The story
Of the widow Nain
SHOWS that God
Shows that Jesus


PERCEIVES our DEEPEST longings
Knows our deepest pain


So whether it be
Someone who has lost
SOMEONE/or something
Dear to them


Someone sick
In the hospital
Or in pain


STEP UP
And perceive a need
RESPOND to someone
In need today


SOMETIMES-in prayer
WHEN we step forward
On our own


NO WORDS are necessary


Robert P. Wallman
9-16-14


Ps INSPIRED by an article in Living Faith Magazine by Sister Melanie Svoboda, S.N.D.




10-19-14

12-20-14

JOURNAL/LEAN ON ME

JOURNAL/LEAN ON ME




“ON YOU-I DEPEND from birth; from my mother's womb you ARE my strength” Psalm 71:6


I ALWAYS had the greatest relationship with my mom-even as a child;she was ALWAYS THERE for me-I can ONLY IMAGINE Jesus' relationship with HIS own mother-even STRONGER than my own


And as STRONG as our DEPENDENCE IS on our mother and father-it is even STRONGER ON GOD
-HAS your CREATOR truly been YOUR LIFE GIVING SOURCE since your mother's womb-HE HAS for me-DO YOU LEAN ON GOD for ALL of your strength-I can HONESTLY say I have and I do-THE LORD GOD is my strength


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE-and a great day to lean on GOD-FOR ALL of our STRENGTH














LEAN ON ME




Did you ever hear
The “LEAN ON ME” song
By Bill Withers


It has great great lyrics
And I often imagine
It is God saying or singing
These words to us


“Sometimes in our lives
We ALL have pain
We ALL have sorrow
But IF we are wise
We know
That there is
ALWAYS TOMORROW”


That is God
Talking to you and to me


“MY strength and my courage
IS the Lord........” Isaiah 12:2


That is God
Telling us
To LEAN on him


We need God's DIVINE STRENGTH
That is what ALLOWS us
To face
The most challenging of situations


WE NEED God


For if
We try to do it alone
We just limp along
Without the inner strength
That comes from God


“It is the Lord
Who arms me with strength
And MAKES MY WAY perfect” 2 Samuel 22:33


We need to lean
On the one
Who PROMISES
To be there for us


And-IN FACT
ALWAYS is there for us


DIVINE STRENGTH
In the most challenging
Of situations
Is what we NEED
To get us through


“LEAN ON ME
When you're not strong
And I'll be your FRIEND


For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need someone
TO LEAN ON”


We all need God
AND EACH OTHER
To make it through


“TRUST in the Lord
With all your heart
And lean not
On your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5


So when you are down
And in trouble
And need the strength
To carry on


The Lord says:


LEAN ON ME


Robert P. Wallman
May 31^st, 2014
PS INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH magazine by Sister Joyce Rupp, O.S.M

12-19-14.

JOURNAL=FOR OR AGAINST

JOURNAL=FOR OR AGAINST




“'BEHOLD-the virgin shall be with child and bear a son-and they shall name him EMMANUEL'-which means 'GOD IS WITH US'” Matthew 1:23


CAN you IMAGINE?-a young teenage woman with baby-and NO HUSBAND-SCANDALOUS in those times-yet JOSEPH believed the angel in his DREAM-and CHOSE the path of TRUSTING GOD-
EMBRACED Mary as his wife-DESPITE his doubts


AND in today's times-GOD is still with us-JESUS is still with us-despite who or what is AGAINST US
-CHOOSE the path of GOD like Joseph this CHRISTMAS SEASON-and you will FIND EMMANUEL again in your hearts THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON


And the YOU TOO-like Joseph can BEAR the face of GOD-”GOD IS WITH US”-this Christmas season










FOR OR AGAINST




IF God is for us
What does it matter
Who or what is against us
For all the powers
In this universe
Cannot standup
To the POWER of GOD'S LOVE


“And we know
That all things
WORK TOGETHER for God
To them that love God
To them
Who are called
According to HIS PURPOSE” Romans 8:28


So when the world
CONSPIRES to knock us down
To HIT us
With everything it's got


IT IS GOD
Who will stand up
For us


WHAT else do we need?


“IF GOD is for us
WHO can be against us?” Romans 8:31


“IT is God that JUSTIFIES US” Romans 8:33


World
Hit us with your best shot
You are not
Going to take us down


“For ALL THINGS
Work together for those
WHO LOVE HIM”


Our justification
Comes from God
NOT from this world


GOD SAYS
He will love us
No matter what


“For I am persuaded
That neither death-nor life
Nor angels-nor principalities
Nor powers-Nor things present
Nor things to come


Nor height-nor depth
Nor any other creature
Shall be able
To separate us
From the Love of God
Which is
In Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38-39


Got that
We are a SUCCESS
BY THE POWER of God's love
For our HOPE
IS IN GOD
Not in the things
Of this world


We are
Justified by God
And our hope
Lies in God alone
WHERE our justification comes from


JUSTIFICATION means
To be FREED from guilt or blame
BY FAITH




God is for us
He lived for us
He died for us


“For we maintain
That a man
Is justified by faith
Apart from observing the law


“IS God the God
of the Jews only
Is he not the God
Of the GENTILES too
Yes-of Gentiles too” Romans 3:8-28-29


God is FOR US
And our hope
Comes from God alone


And even though
We sometimes
Get confused along the way
GOD picks us back up
And puts us
On the ROAD TO HOPE
The road of faith
The road of love


“For we are SAVED
BY HOPE
But hope that is seen
Is not hope


Who hopes
For what he already has


But if we hope
For what we do not
Yet have
WE WAIT for it patiently” Romans 8:24-25


GOD IS FOR US
And for now
That is
ALL we need to KNOW


Robert P. Wallman
11-5-13


ps a discussion of ROMANS 8




MISC. WITNESS 6-13-14


12-18-14

JOURNAL-TIME=HONOR IT

JOURNAL-”TIME=HONOR IT”




The scepter shall NEVER depart from Judah........” Genesis 49:10




DO you ever get IMPATIENT with God-wondering WHY there are so many injustices in this world and in our very own lives-that GOD does not correct-so MANY people in our lives that we WISH God would bring to him-so many faults in our very own selves that we TRY to correct-and are unable to do so-and WE PRAY and we wonder WHY God doesn't correct them for us


Yet WE MUST REMEMBER that God's TIME is NOT our own time-or his standards are NOT OUR standards-so ABOVE OURS-so we wait for God-WE WAIT ON GOD-for all things are possible to God


BT FAITH-we entrust everyone around us to God-and our very own selves-BECAUSE his timing and his comprehension are so above our very own


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S own LOVE for us-and a GREAT DAY to be PATIENT for the results that God wants and in the time that God wants in our LIFE
















TIME-HONOR IT




We live in an INFINITE world
Of TIME


We don't know
WHEN it began


And we don't know
IF and when it will end
UNLESS GOD
Decides to end it


But we also know
The amount of time
We have in this world
IS FINITE


OUR LIVES
will one day end


TIME=HONOR IT
LIVE your life with love
Live your life in honesty
And with INTEGRITY


LOVE OFTEN-forgive much
MAKE this world a better place


“For a thousand years
In your sight
Are as yesterday........” Psalm 90:4


IF you ever
have the time
Read ALL of psalm 90


It is a MESSAGE
About the beautiful fragility
Of human life


For God
TIME IS INFINITE
But for us
Whose time is limited
We are always
LOSING it-wasting it-and then wishing
We could make it LAST FOREVER


ONE THING is certain
At some point
In our life
We will run out of time


SO TREASURE it-HONOR IT
Make the most of it


Time is limited
Time is precious
Make the most of it
Honor your person


LOVE everyone
LOVE everything
Even if you don't like
Someone or something


“The Lord is a refuge
For the oppressed
A STRONGHOLD
In times of trouble” Psalm 9:9


He has certainly
Been that for me
WITHOUT GOD
I wouldn't
Even be here


“MY TIMES
Are in your hands
Deliver me
From my enemies


And from those
Who pursue me” Psalm 31:15


TIME-TREASURE IT-HONOR IT
It does not
Last forever
It can be gone
In the wink
Of an eye


However old you are
Make the most of your time
Starting tomorrow


“The LENGTH
Of our days
Is seventy years-
Or eighty
IF we are strong” Psalm 90:10


Dear lord-WE PRAY
Let us never forget
That we
Are the WORK of your hands


HELP US to HONOR our time
the passing of hours
And days
As we MOVE
Into your world
OF ETERNITY


WE HONOR you Lord
And we honor the TIME
That you have given us


Robert P. Wallman
October 14^th, 2014




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sister Macrina Weiderkehr-O.S.B.




SENT OU and on sites 11-6-14


12-17-14

FREELY GIVEN

FREELY GIVEN




I think
Sometimes we forget


That we cannot
EARN God's FORGIVENESS
It is FREELY GIVEN


“If you
Oh Lord
Kept a record of sins
Oh Lord
Who could stand


But with you
There is forgiveness
Therefore you are feared” Psalm 130:3-4


We still
Get it wrong
At times
Don't we friends


We think
We must somehow
EARN GOD'S FORGIVENESS


WE think
We must earn God's LOVE too


BUT his forgiveness
And his love
ARE FREELY GIVEN


“But now
That you have been
Set free of sin


You have become
Slaves of RIGHTEOUSNESS” Romans 6:18


God's forgiveness
IS FREELY GIVEN


There is a great story
In Luke chapter 7
That illustrates this


ONE of the Pharisees
Has invited Jesus
To have dinner with him
In his home


A “sinful” woman
From the town
Learns of this
And shows up at the dinner


“She stood behind him
At his feet weeping
And she began to wet
His feet
With her tears


Then she wiped them
With her hair
Kissed them
And poured perfume on them” Luke 7:38


The pharisee said to himself:


“IF this man
Were a prophet
He would know
Who is touching him
And that the woman
Was a sinner” Luke 7:39


And Jesus-
As if reading the pharisees' mind
Tells a parable about DEBT
To Simon


And asks Simon
Which one of them
Will LOVE their master more


Simon says:


“I suppose
The one
Who had the bigger debt canceled” Luke 7:43


Then Jesus
Turned to the woman
And said,


“DO you see
This woman


I came
Into your home


You did not
GIVE me any water
For my feet
But she wet
My feet
With her tears
And wiped them
With her hair


You did not
Give me a kiss


But this woman
From the time I entered
Has not stopped
Kissing my feet


You did not put oil
On my head
But she has
Poured perfume on my feet


Therefore I tell you
HER many sins
Have been forgiven-
For she has LOVED MUCH


But he who has been
Forgiven little
LOVES LITTLE” Luke 7:44-47


THE POINT IS:


ALL of our sins
Are FORGIVEN FREELY
By God


We are to do likewise
To our brothers and sisters


LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
Are the ESSENCE of
Jesus' teachings and his actions


WE are to do the SAME
For one another
Because LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
are to be


FREELY GIVEN


Robert P. Wallman
9-30-14

JOURNAL/THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST

JOURNAL/THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST




“The least in the kingdom of heaven is GREATER than he” Matthew 11:11




A lot of people want to be FAMOUS in today's world-EVERYONE wants there 15 minutes of FAME-EVERYONE wants to be on television-but public exposure is fleeting and often misses the mark


BUT Jesus tells us “THE LEAST in the kingdom of heaven” are greater than the prophets of old-In the end-everything FADES but THE KINGDOM OF GOD


TODAY we pray-that we RECOGNIZE on how importance DEPENDS on the GRACE OF GOD present in us-IF this is true-our GREATNESS never fades


it is A GREAT DAY to BE ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a GREAT DAY to BELONG to the KINGDOM OF GOD


















THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST




The other night
I watched the FINAL game
Of MARCH MADNESS-
NCAA college basketball


My team-Connecticut
WON the final game
And I was surprised
By the first thing
That the coach-Kevin Ollie-said


“THE LAST
SHALL BE FIRST”


I don't think
It was meant
As a BIBLICAL reference
But ALL followers of Jesus KNOW
That that is something
That He said


“But many who are first
Will be last
And many who are last
WILL BE FIRST” Matthew 19:30


Kevin Ollie
Was talking about
HIS TEAM Who was
NOT even eligible to participate
The previous year
Because of NCAA probation


And Jesus
Was talking about
The FORGOTTEN members
Of this world
THE OVERLOOKED


The HURTING members
Of our society
Those:


“POOR IN SPIRIT”
As he mentions in Matthew 5:3


He called them “BLESSED”
And says,
“THEIRS is the KINGDOM of HEAVEN” Matthew 5:3-10


SO if you feel overlooked
FORGOTTEN-in this world
TAKE HEART


You are on GOD'S MIND
And FIRST in his heart


“BLESSED are you
Who are POOR
For YOURS is
The kingdom of God


Blessed are you who HUNGER now
For you will be satisfied
Blessed are you who weep now
For you will laugh


BLESSED are you when men hate you
WHEN they exclude you
And insult you
And REJECT your name as evil
BECAUSE of the SON of Man


REJOICE in that day
And LEAP for joy
Because GREAT is your reward in heaven” Luke 6:20-23


Maybe you are in LAST PLACE
In this world


But FIRST where it really matters
In God's and Jesus' mind and heart


So don't give up
GOD REMEMBERS YOU
Keep the faith
Keep working
For the kingdom


Your words and actions
WILL have impact
If you stay IN GOD'S WORD


And some day
You will say
Like Kevin Ollie
The Connecticut basketball coach


“THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST”


For in GOD'S KINGDOM
We know
THAT IS THE TRUTH


Robert P. Wallman
4-11-14




Ps 8-28-14



12-11-14

JOURNAL/DON'T FORGET TO REST

JOURNAL/DON'T FORGET TO REST


“COME to me-ALL you who labor and are burdened-and I will give you REST” Matthew 11:28






LIVING in this life is tough work-and sometimes WORK in this world makes our lives very difficult-


OUR labors and burdens-whether physical-intellectual-or spiritual can take their tolls on other areas of our lives-God doesn't take away the burden of work


GOD doesn't promise “EASY” work-but he does PROMISE REST to those who UNITE the rest of
their lives with him-GOD does promise REST for those who stay in PRAYER


DEAR LORD master worker and CREATOR of the UNIVERSE-PLEASE USE US-PLESE help us to TOUCH ALL and help them find REST for their souls


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE and to REST in GOD'S LOVE for us


















WITNESS




5-9-13




DON’T FORGET TO REST




We work hard
We play hard
Sometimes it seems
We don’t have a minute
For ourselves


Sometimes-we need to
Take a step back-AND REST
Just let our bodies recharge
And our minds and our hearts
And our souls


For EVEN God did


“So God BLESSED the seventh day
And made it holy
Because on it
He rested from ALL the work
He had done in CREATION” Genesis 2:3


DON’T FORGET TO REST
Rest is a BLESSING
It allows our body-mind-and soul
A chance to recharge


Sometimes we can urge ourselves
To do one more thing
COMPLETE one more task
And it leads to another
And before you know it
WE ARE DRAINED


Take the time to rest
Whether it be
The Sabbath day
Like the Lord suggested
Or even just a minute here-a day there
Or a day or two there


“Remember the Sabbath day
By KEEPING it holy
Six days you shall labor
And do ALL your work
But the seventh day
IS a Sabbath day to the Lord your God” Exodus 20:8-10
(*It doesn’t have to be a Saturday or a Sunday)


Or even just some hours
To put your MIND at REST
And meditate on the
AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE
In your life


It does not matter
As long as
We do it-in some fashion


Dear Lord-we pray
That we NEVER FORGET you
And that we take a day
Or a few hours each day
To step back
And think about what’s important
In life


GOD-and FAMILY-and FAITH


For REST is a BLESSING
To help us
KEEP our priorities in order


We pray
That we work
AS you worked
And that we-like you


DON’T FORGET TO REST


Robert P. Wallman
4-5-13


Ps WITNESS 5-9-13




“Come to me-all you who are weary-and burdened-and I will give you REST
Take my yoke upon you-and learn from me-for I am meek and humble in heart
And you will find REST for your souls-
For my yoke is easy and my burden is LIGHT”
Matthew 11:28-30




8-29-14

12-10-14

JOURNAL/THE PARADOX

JOURNAL/THE PARADOX




“GO UP onto a high mountain, Zion
Herald of glad tidings
CRY OUT at the top of your voice
Jerusalem-herald of GOOD NEWS” Isaiah 40:9


The fact is
WE are ALL sinners
And the fact is
WE ALL look to God
For GUIDANCE


We look up
We reach
We LIFT our eyes


We yearn
WE KEEP LOOKING for God
The God who created us
WHO WAITS for us in LOVE


PARADOXICALLY
We know he waits in
The heights for us
BECAUSE he in fact
DESCENDED to our level
TO TAKE AWAY our sins


AND PARADOXICALLY
THE MORE we give to God
And to others
THE MORE we receive back
IN RETURN


It is a great day
TO GIVE ourselves away to God
And to others


AND WAIT PATIENTLY
for the GOD
WHOSE NAME IS LOVE










THE PARADOX




The paradox of GIVING
Is that
WHEN we give to someone else
WE ACTUALLY RECEIVE


For it is NOT what happens
To them
When we give to someone
It is
WHAT HAPPENS TO US


WE BEGIN t transform ourselves
INTO LOVE


“GIVE and gifts will be given to you” Luke 6:38


In the sermon
ON the PLAIN in Luke
Jesus instructs us
On the fine art
Of giving and receiving


The emphasis is on the giving
But like a sports team
With marginal or average talent
The SUM
Can lead to a GREAT TEAM


But what makes
Our GIVING so great
Is that there is NO EMPHASIS
Or expectation
Of receiving anything in return


What a paradox
Give and you WILL RECEIVE


By keeping
OUR MOTIVES PURE
And living out of GENEROSITY
We receive in return


Live out of true generosity
And you will RECEIVE
A thousand times more in return


“The Lord
Has heard my supplication
The Lord
Has heard my prayer” Psalm 6:9


That is
What happened to me
I started out
TRYING to give spiritually
To others


And person after person
Has stepped forward generously
To hep me
To sustain me


To keep me going
In my work


To be a GOOD GIVER
You have to be
A RECEIVER IN GRACE also


It is GREAT to give
To others
But others
Want to give back too


Just say yes
And ACCEPT the gift
Wholeheartedly in GRATITUDE


“GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER” 2 Corinthians 9:7


But keep in mind
GOD LOVES a cheerful RECEIVER too


BOTH giving and receiving
Require OPEN HEARTS
That allow LOVE to flow
In both directions


And we know that
“LOVE NEVER FAILS” 1 Corinthians 13:8


So when
We give generously
And receive from others generously
And get the rhythm


THE PARADOX IS
Our family-our friends-our churches
OUR GROUP
ADDS up to more
THAN the sum of ALL of the parts


And we become A GREAT TEAM


Robert P. Wallman
9-13-14


Ps THANKING ALL of the family-friends-and churches-for the GIVING of your TIME-your
ASSETS-and your PRAYERS AND ENCOURAGEMENT to me




INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Jennifer Christ





12-9-14

JOURNAL/I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

JOURNAL/I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION




Human Beings do NOT get to pick their parents-but GOD was able to pick the MOTHER of Jesus-and he CHOSE the BEST of the best-Mary


WHILE I did not get to choose my parents-I too have ALWAYS FELT that I had the best of the best-for we were a FAMILY BUILT ON LOVE-and we KNOW that LOVE is the ONLY thing that does not die in this world


And that LOVE of the HOLY FAMILY has not died to this day-Doesn't it make you WISH that more families-IN TODAY'S WORLD were BUILT on that FAMILY LOVE-the love of Mary and Joseph and their SON Jesus


Mary is OUR heavenly mother-and she CONTINUES to embrace this world with maternal warmth and love-MARY shows us what true holiness is


SO TODAY-on the feast of THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION-let us make the effort to show sanctity in our own lives-and tell others about MARY'S MATERNAL WARMTH AND LOVE


















I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION




Do you believe
In the virgin birth
Of Jesus Christ


If you don't
And any of you are a Christian
You should


For it is
The FOUNDATION
Of ALL of CHRISTIAN BELIEF


Jesus was born
While Mary
Was still PURE
Still a virgin


The birth
Was first predicted
In the old testament
In Isaiah


“Again the Lord
Spoke to Ahaz,
'Ask the Lord your God
For a sign


Whether in the deepest depths
Or in the highest heights'


But Ahaz said,
'I will not ask
I will not put
The Lord to the test'


Then Isaiah said,
'Hear now
You house of David


Is it not enough
To try the patience of men
Will you try
The patience of God also


Therefore the Lord himself
Will give you a sign


The VIRGIN
Will be with child
And will give birth
To a SON
And will call him IMMANUEL” Isaiah 7:10-14


A virgin
Will be with a child


Do you believe
IN THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION?


The foundation of God
God was with us
And GOD IS WITH US
And GOD will be FOREVER with us
As he left the Holy Spirit behind
TO LIVE in our hearts


FAST FORWARD to
Over 700 years after Isaiah
And we find THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Described in Matthew and Luke


We find Gabriel
Saying to Mary,


“Do not be afraid-Mary
You have found favor
With God


You will be
With child
And give birth to a son
And you are
To give him
The name Jesus


He will be great
And he will be called
The Son of the MOST HIGH
The Lord God
Will give him the throne
Of his father David


And he will
Reign over the house of Jacob forever
His kingdom
WILL NEVER END” Luke 1:29-34
also recorded in Matthew 1:18-25


I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION


Fast forward
To a little peasant girl-14 years-old
By the name of Bernadette Soubirous
On February 11^th, 1858


The FIRST of 18 visitations


In that vision
Bernadette reported seeing,


“A MOST beautiful woman
Younger and not taller than herself
Dressed in white
A long rosary
Hung from her arm”


And on the third visit
Bernadette was told,


“I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION”


Do you believe?


I HOPE SO
Being it is the foundation
Of Christian thought
and human history


“I AM
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION”


Robert P. Wallman
2-14-14


12-8-14

MY ROOTS ARE IN GOD AND FAMILY

MY ROOTS
ARE IN GOD AND FAMILY




WHERE are your roots
What gives you LIFE?
What SUSTAINS YOU
In life


The ANSWER
To all those questions-
FOR ME
Are in God and family


GOD GAVE me life
Once-at birth
And numerous times thereafter-
In countless medical emergencies
On my birthdays


“NOW CHOOSE LIFE
So that you
And your children
May live


And that you
May love
The Lord your God


Listen to his voice
And hold fast to him


For the Lord
IS YOUR LIFE


And he will give you
Many years


In the land
He swore to give
To your fathers
Abraham-Isaac-and Jacob” Deuteronomy 30:19-20


CHOOSE GOD
CHOOSE FAMILY


Outside of God
it is MY FAMILY
Who has SUSTAINED me


My parents and sisters
For accepting me
FOR WHO I AM


My nieces
And my extended family
(and all of my friends)


“Consequently
You are no longer
Foreigners and aliens


But fellow citizens
And GOD'S PEOPLE
And members of GOD'S HOUSEHOLD” Ephesians 2:19


You are MEMBERS
Of the household
Of God's own family


GOD is your adopted father
Jesus is your adopted brother


And the ROOT of God
LIVES INSIDE of you
Inside of all of us


IF you haven't been active
In being a part of GOD'S FAMILY
It is time to start


Between BELONGING to God
And the family
I was born into
I FEEL
Like God gave me
EVERYTHING that I need


MY ROOTS
Are in God and family


“I Jesus
Have sent mine angel
Unto these things
In the churches


I AM THE ROOT
And the offspring of David
And the beginning and morning star” REVELATIONS 22:16


BECAUSE I belong to God
Because I belong to Jesus
Because of the love
OF MY FAMILY


I continue to GROW in love


Because my ROOTS
ARE IN GOD AND FAMILY


Robert P. Wallman
11-21-14



Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sister Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M.

JOURNAL/PREPARING THE WAY

JOURNAL/PREPARING THE WAY




“John was clothed in camel's hair-with a leather belt around his waist-HE FED on locusts and wild honey-AND this is what he proclaimed-'ONE MIGHTIER than I is coming after me'” Mark 1:6-7




WE ALL have eccentric members in our family-I wonder IF John was that member of Jesus' family-NEVERTHELESS-John was Jesus' cousin and Jesus loved him-for John had a mission-and that was to PREPARE the world for the coming of Jesus-THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD


JOHN KNEW ENOUGH to say-”I MUST decrease and he must INCREASE”


THIS ADVENT-as we PREPARE ROOM in our hearts for the COMING of Jesus-let us echo JOHN:
and let Jesus INCREASE in our hearts


as we BEGIN TO ACCEPT all members of OUR FAMILY and ALL PEOPLE in this world:
“LOVE ONE ANOTHER as I have LOVED you”














PREPARING THE WAY




The word ADVENT
Means “coming”


It is a time
Of expectant waiting and celebration
For the coming of Jesus
At Christmas


2,000 years ago
The preparation for the coming of Jesus
Was done by his family member
His cousin-John the Baptist


John baptized Jesus
In the Jordan river
They both saw:


“A spirit descending on him
Like a dove”-and heard a voice
Coming from heaven saying:


“You are my son
Whom I love
With you I am well pleased” Mark 1:10-11


Now over 2,000 years later
As Jesus is coming again
It is up to
Each and everyone of us
To prepare room in our hearts
For him


Prepare room in our hearts
For his love
Prepare room in our hearts
For his forgiveness of us
And prepare room in our hearts
For his kindness to touch us


And at this special time of year
Take those same qualities
LOVE-FORGIVENESS-and KINDNESS
And pass them on to others


“PREPARE to meet your God-Oh Israel” Amos 4:12


Prepare in us
A CLEAN heart oh God
And put a NEW AND RIGHT spirit within us


Prepare a heart in us
A heart FULL OF LOVE
As we await our Lord and Savior


“No eye has seen
Nor ear has heard
No mind has conceived
What God has PREPARED
For those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9


Prepare in us
A heart FULL OF FORGIVENESS
As we await your forgiveness for us
As YOU enter into this world
AGAIN THIS YEAR


“You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
My cup overflows


SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE
Will FOLLOW me
ALL the days of my life
And I will dwell
In the HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER” Psalm 23:5-6


Dear Lord
Please be with us
As we humbly await your coming
Again this year


We prepare our hearts for you
WITH LOVE
We prepare our hearts for you
WITH FORGIVENESS
We prepare our hearts for your birth
WITH EAGER ANTICIPATION


In JESUS’ name-we pray-amen


Robert P. Wallman
11-19-12




12-7-14

THE REAL SANTA CLAUS

SAINT NICHOLAS-A SAINT FOR ALL SEASONS




The historical facts
And the legends of Saint Nicholas
Are-in fact-intertwined


What we know for sure
Is that
He was Bishop of Myra
And may or may not
Have been instrumental
In the council of Nicea in 325


He became widely known
In the East-and that was increased
By an account of a fictitious biographer


And his legend
Began to spread to the West
In the 10^th century


Many have claimed him
As their patron Saint
Including children-sailors-unmarried girls-
Merchants-pawnbrokers-and perfumiers


It is believed
He saved three girls from prostitution
By throwing 3 bags of money
Through their windows
To provide dowries
So they could get married


It is believed
That this is the basis
Of three gold bars
As the pawnbrokers sign


It is believed
He raised three boys
After they were murdered by a butcher
And that he saved three men
Unjustly condemned to death
As well as
Three sailors lost at sea
Off the coast of Turkey


Many churches
Are named after him
And he is believed to be
The most painted Saint
Other than the Blessed Mother


The most popular result
Of his cult
Is the belief that Saint Nicholas
Is responsible for the origins of Santa Claus


This is based on
Nicholas’ love of children
And his giving them gifts


Nicholas remains
A very popular name
As well as its many variations including:
Colin-Nicola-Nicolette-and many others


So this December 6h
On his feast day
Let us all remember
That giving is NOT just for Christmas


But ALL YEAR round
And Nicholas is not just a Christmas Saint
BUT A SAINT FOR ALL SEASONS


Robert P. Wallman
12-6-6




ps While Saint Nicholas-may have the BEGINNING of Santa Claus-
We ALL KNOW that God's LOVE and Christ's love is the GIFT
That KEEPS on GIVING and is the gift that NEVER ENDS


12-7-14

JOURNAL/BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER

JOURNAL/BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER




CAN YOU GIVE without counting the COST? And can you continue to do it to someone-FOR SOMEONE when you are being challenged EVERY step of the way?


CAN YOU ALWAYS have a welcoming SMILE-always be COURTEOUS-send AFFIRMING e-mail messages-and CONTINUE to lend a helping hand to anyone in need?


CAN YOU always have an UNDERSTANDING presence and listening ear for everyone?


ALL OF these are little acts of kindness-and most of all can you do ALL of these things WITHOUT patting yourself on the back-just do them because as a CHRISTIAN-that is what you are called upon to do-just because YOU BELIEVE IN GOD and believe in the PERSON of Jesus Christ


KEEP DOING for others-and don't count the cost-DON'T EXPECT GRATITUDE-That is the REAL QUESTION all CHRISTIANS must ask themselves: CAN I truly give without keeping score-without counting the cost


IT IS a great day to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to GIVE OURSELVES AWAY










BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER




In chapter 22
Of Saint Matthew's GOSPEL
Jesus gives us
The two greatest commandments


Of course
The first commandment is:


“LOVE the Lord your God
With all your heart
With all your soul
And with ALL your mind” Matthew 22:37


“And the second
Is like Unto it
Thou shalt love thy neighbor
As thyself” Matthew 22:39


And INCLUDED
In LOVING our neighbor
Is BEING KIND to that person


“For you have said
My KINDNESS
Is established forever” Psalm 89:3


In other words
Be kind to everyone
AT ALL TIMES


VERY difficult to do
But something
We can all aspire to do


And while
We should be kind
To everyone


We should be especially kind
To the NEEDY


“He who despises his neighbors
SINS
BUT BLESSED
Is he
Who is kind to the NEEDY” Proverbs 14:21


“He who OPPRESSES the poor
Shows contempt
For their maker


But whoever
IS KIND to the needy
HONORS GOD” Proverbs 14:31


And it doesn't often
Take a lot of effort
To be KIND to someone


A warm smile
A handshake
A HUG


Maybe a birthday
Or a get-well card


Just some little action
That says:


“I KNOW
What you are going through
And I know
What you have been through”


Just some little action
That lets a person
Know that
You CARE about hem


And in James 1
James tells us
WHAT PURE RELIGION IS


“RELIGION that God Our Father
Accepts as PURE AND FAULTLESS
Is this:


TO LOOK AFTER orphans and widows
In their distress


And to keep oneself
From being polluted
By the world” James 1:27


So LOVE ONE ANOTHER
and always remember
To keep being KIND


Robert P. Wallman
5-15-14




Ps Inspired by an article in LIVING FAITH magazine by Father James McKarns


MISC.WITNESS 5-23-14


12-6-14

JOURNAL/HELP

JOURNAL/HELP




“And as Jesus passed on from there-two blind men FOLLOWED him crying out-'SON OF DAVID-have pity on us'” Matthew 9:27




WE ALL need HELP-help from God-HELP from family-and help from each other


DO YOU like me-think of others-and TRY to lift them up for WHATEVER NEEDS that they have-ONLY to learn later on that that was what they NEEDED at that particular time-MANY TIMES people have told me that a particular poem was what they needed to read at that particular time-I FEEL blessed that I was able to be of help-and THANKFUL TO GOD for placing those words on my heart


WE DON'T KNOW what NEEDS a particular person in NEED does have-but we do know that we ALL have needs-and we all need HELP in continuing on this journey WE CALL LIFE


SOMETIMES-I just want to say to God: “HAVE MERCY on me dear Lord” or “CAN YOU-WILL you help me?”


There may NEVER be an instant cure-or an immediate solution to our problems-but somehow-WE HOPE that the Lord(and others) will hear our pleas and come to our aide


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a GREAT DAY to TRY and HELP OTHERS








WITNESS




4-27-13




HELP




My mom always said,
“Your help
Is at the end
Of your right hand”


I have found
That to be true


But I also
Have found unexpected help
In family and friends
That I never expected


And MOST of all
I found HELP from God


So if I
Could find unexpected help
So can you


“God is our refuge and strength
An ever present HELP in trouble” Psalm 46:1


Don’t ever lose your faith
In God and in others


So while
It is true
“That our help
Is at the end of our right hand”


It is also true
That our HELP comes from God
And in the form of each other


“TWO are better than one
Because they have a good return
For their work


If one falls down
His friend can help him up


Also-if two lie down together
They will keep warm
But how can one
Keep warm alone


Though one may be overpowered
Two can defend themselves
A cord of three strands
Is not easily broken” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12


Our HELP and our HOPE
Is in God
And how willing
We are to help one another


Robert P. Wallman
9-26-12


Ps Thank you to God
To my family and to my friends
For all the HELP
In sustaining me
On this journey through this life




WITNESS 4-27-13




“So do not fear-for I am with you-do NOT be dismayed-for I am your God
I will strengthen you and HELP you-I will HELP you with my righteous right hand”
Psalm 41:10




5-31-14
12-5-14

JOURNAL/WAITING ON THE LORD........WAITING ON YOU

JOURNAL/WAITING ON THE LORD




“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and ACTS on them will be like a WISE MAN who built his house on ROCK” Matthew 7:25




DO YOU KNOW Patience really is a VIRTUE/it really is a BLESSING to bite your tongue and be PATIENT just a little bit longer-and if your really BUILD your life on the TEACHINGS of Jesus-you are PATIENT and you have built your life on ROCK


GOOD INTENTIONS are one thing-but we really NEED to BRING them ALIVE in our attitudes and deeds/it is EASY to have nice thoughts-but not so easy to BE PATIENT during tough times and TURN our nice thoughts into the ACTIONS of our lives


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and GREAT day to be PATIENT-until GOD is ready for us to actually turn our nice thoughts into the ACTIONS OF OUR LIVES


that was Jesus' PHILOSOPHY-and that IS to be OUR PHILOSOPHY too








WITNESS




8-6-13




PATIENCE---WAITING ON THE LORD
---WAITING ON YOU








You say
You are waiting on the Lord
To change your life


I have some news for you
He is
Waiting on you


Our Lord---Our God
Is there---always has been---always will be
His nature is UNCHANGING
His nature is LOVE
And he is
MADLY in love with you


My mother
Always taught me
That our help
Is at the end of our right arm/hand


I think
The same is true spiritually


Our God is there
We just have to make
The decision
To accept him in our hearts


And our God is a patient God
He will wait
A lifetime for you


“The Lord, the Lord
The compassionate and gracious God
Slow to anger
Abounding in love and faithfulness
Maintaining love to thousands
And forgiveness wickedness, rebelliousness, sin” Exodus 34:6


You say
You are waiting on the Lord
To change your life
I tell you
He is waiting on you


The good news is
If we are honestly trying
To get it right
If we are really really trying


Our God is a patient God
He will wait
A lifetime for you ( and me )


Patience is one of God’s gifts
A gift of the Holy Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit
Is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE,
Kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
Gentleness, and self-control


Against these things
There is no law” Galatians 5:22& 23


The Lord our God
Is a patient God
He will wait a lifetime
For you---for me


You say
You are waiting on the Lord
I tell you
He is waiting on you
Waiting on me
To get it right


But the GOOD NEWS
Is our God
Is a PATIENT God
A God
MADLY in love with you
And with me


And he will
Help us along our life’s journey
To eventually get it right
To COMPLETE us in God
And our Lord


“I thank my God---every time I remember you
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always with joy
Because of our partnership
In the Gospel from the first day
Until now
Being confident of this
That he who began
A good work in you
Will carry it on to completion
Until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:3-6


The Lord our God
Is a Patient God
Slow to anger
Quick to forgive


Our God
IS JUST WAITING ON YOU
---AND ON ME


Robert P. Wallman
8-22-11




Ps WITNESS 8-6-13
8-11-14
12-4-14

JOURNAL/GOODNESS

JOURNAL/GOODNESS




“ONLY GOODNESS and kindness will follow me ALL the days of my life” Psalm 23:6




WE ALL want to date-be married to-or have a SIGNIFICANT OTHER with GREAT LOOKS and a person who has a SMILE like a model


BUT there are MORE IMPORTANT powerful forces at work around us:KINDNESS-goodness-generosity-integrity-and HUMILITY just to mention a few


OUR NEW Pope Francis is an example of this-BELIEVERS and nonbelievers are attracted to HIS
innate GOODNESS


Dear Lord-we PRAY to you-the SOURCE of ALL GOODNESS to RECOGNIZE what is truly important in this world-and to STAND UP for truth and justice for those who need it and attempt to BRING GOODNESS into the world










WITNESS




4-03-13




GOODNESS










I have heard the saying
Many times in life that
“It does not matter
If we believe in God
As long as we are good people”


They hope
That by being good
To please God---IF there is one
And if there is no God
They hope for the approval of men


I salute these people
For the good that they do
But in the heart of a Christian
There is a different process


The true Christian knows
That any good that he or she does
Comes from the Christ-like life
That lives inside of him or her


The true Christian
Does NOT think
That God will love us
If we are good


He or she knows better


The true Christian knows
That God already loves us
And that God will make us good
Because he does love us


Like Saint Paul said,
“No longer I
But Christ who lives in me”


That is where
Our goodness comes from---FROM CHRIST


And we know as Christians
That we are NOT perfect
That sometimes we will do wrong
Even if it is NOT our intention
By the mere fact that we ARE human


But we will repent
After each stumble
And go on
Trying to do good again
Because of the Christ-like life
That lives inside each and every one of us


And we know
That goodness does live within us
Because when Christ ascended
Into heaven
He left his very own spirit behind


“But the fruit of the spirit is love,
Joy, peace, patience, kindness, GOODNESS,
Faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control


Against such things
There is no law” Galatians 5:22-23


And so
We keep trying to do good
Even when we fall short


We pick ourselves up
We dust ourselves off
And we try to do good ALL OVER AGAIN


We let God himself RESURRECT us
As he-God himself-resurrected Christ
And when we come to the end of our journey
We long to hear the words


“Well done GOOD and faithful servant”


Robert P. Wallman
3-8-12


******** Inspired by the teachings of CS LEWIS
And LIVING FAITH 3-8-12




Ps WITNESS 4-3-13




“He (Job replied), You are talking like a foolish woman
Shall we accept GOOD from God-and not trouble” Job 2:10


“Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD
BLESSED is the man who takes refuge in him” Psalm 34:8


“Therefore, as we have opportunity-let us do GOOD
To ALL people-especially to those who belong to the
Family of believers” Galatians 6:10




MISC. WITNESS 7-2-14



12-3-14