journal/I AM A WALKING TALKING MIRACLE

TODAY is a MIRACLE of God-IN FACT-every day is-EVERY DAY is a day FRESHLY minted
by God with an opportunity for you to MAKE something GOOD out of it

Jesus once said:  "UNLESS you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe"

BUT BELIEVE we should-because with FAITH-we experience the MIRACLE of life-the miracle of
seeing the sun come up another day

TODAY is a MIRACLE OF GOD-don't take it for granted
IT is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for you!

LOVE YOU ALL!

“I’m living a Miracle”

I’m living a miracle

I’m breathing a miracle

I’m walking a miracle

I am a living, breathing, walking miracle

I’m living

A miracle

I’m breathing

A miracle

I’m walking

A miracle

Living a dream

Living a life

No one would have guessed

Living a life

That once was

Almost extinguished

Living a life

That is way beyond blessed

I’m living

A miracle

I’m breathing

A miracle

I’m walking

A miracle

I’m breathing every breath

Like it was my last

I’m not taking it  for granted

A life goes by fast

I’m walking through life

As slow as I can

I’m savoring every step

When once

I tried to run through life

As fast as I can

I’m living

A miracle

I’m breathing

A miracle

I’m walking

A miracle

I’m living

A miracle

I’m breathing

A miracle

I’m walking

A miracle

I’m living a miracle

I’m breathing a miracle

I’m walking a miracle

I am a living, breathing, walking miracle

And so are you

5/15/06       Robert  P.  Wallman

journal/VISION-SECOND SIGHT

In the Gospel today-Jesus physically HEALS a blind man-but the pharisees ask "WHO sinned?"
And they were especially upset that this HEALING took place on the Sabbath Day

They ask to hear the story again and again because they are SPIRITUALLY BLIND
unlike the BLIND man who was physically BLIND

Dear Lord-we PRAY that WE MIGHT SEE though FAITH the miracles that you performed
WHEN you walked this earth-and we NOT only SEE but BELIEVE

It is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's LOVE for us and HIS VISION for OUR LIVES

LOVE YOU ALL!




















VISION-SECOND SIGHT




Do you think
God has vision for your LIFE


VISION is defined as the faculty
Or state of being able to SEE:
A SUPERNATURAL apparition


Maybe call it DESTINY
Maybe call it FATE
But I BELIEVE
That God has a PLAN for all of our lives


And it is ALL GOOD
If we-just cooperate


And if we don't cooperate
GOD GIVES us another chance
Call it SECOND SIGHT-if you will


Like Saint Paul
Who when he was Saul
Didn't get it right


But in SECOND SIGHT-As Paul
He went on
To be-perhaps the GREATEST APOSTLE of Christ
That the world has ever seen


“So then-King Agrippa-I was NOT disobedient
To the VISION from heaven” Acts 26:19


LIKE Saint Paul
I did not get it right
The first time


I was CONVINCED
That God's plan
FOR MY LIFE
Was through a family
And children of my own


But NOW
I AM CONVINCED
That I-as all of you
BELONG to the FAMILY OF GOD
And we ARE to BUILD UP GOD'S KINGDOM
In this world


“BEHOLD-the Kingdom of God
IS AMONG YOU” Luke 17:21


SCIENCE has made
Wonderful strides
In the partial and nearly complete restoration
Of human beings' sight


But of course
GOD'S PLAN
Is even more complete


Of course-we have Peter and Paul
and ALL the other apostles and disciples
Who after getting it wrong
Went on
To BUILD the KINGDOM


SECOND SIGHT


And it is
NOT ONLY for our churches today
But it is ENCUMBENT
On you and me
To do
WHAT we can
In thought
In word
And in deed


To build up the kingdom


Maybe you
Are like me
And ONLY can do it
Through the written word
Due to a disability-or a time factor
Or some other limitation


REMEMBER
“The PEN
Is mightier than the sword”


Regardless
Of what it may be
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS are wanted
In the building up
Of the KINGDOM


GOD'S VISION IS PERFECT
But for us
It may need
A SECOND SIGHT


OUR VISION
Can become PERFECT
Through the HEALING SIGHT
Of our Lord


“PRECIOUS in the sight of the LORD
Is the death of his saints” Psalm 116:15


NOT only the death
Of his saints
BUT ALSO THE LIVES


Dear Lord-WE PRAY
That when
We get the original plan
Of our lives wrong


That you BESTOW on us
Like you did for Peter and Paul
SECOND SIGHT


And with another chance
WE SEE our lives
With the 20/20 VISION
That you gave us
And we USE this gift


IN THE BUILDING UP
Of the kingdom
Of God


Robert p. Wallman
11-14-13




Ps Misc WITNESS 3-30-14

journal/PERFECT

In Luke 18:11---ONE of the pharisees says:  "I thank you that I am NOT like the rest of
humanity"

DEAR LORD-please HELP US to never take this attitude-for we are ALL FLAWED in one
way or another-yet we all have some perfection in us-because we have a TRACE of you in us

HELP US to recognize that we do have flaws-and by DOING SO-RESPOND to others with
COMPASSION when they are IN NEED

it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! in your LOVE for us-FLAWS and all




















PERFECT




Are you perfect
Have you ACHIEVED perfection


I can ONLY answer this
For myself
NO and NO


But I can tell you
That by the attitude and actions
Of some people in this world
They think-they have


ANYONE
Who thinks they are
I don't know
HOW to break it to you
You are not


NOT even Jesus
Thought himself to be perfect
In fact
He even questioned
Whether he was good


A man once came up
To him and asked,


“TEACHER
What good thing must I do
To get eternal life?'


Jesus replied
“Why do you ask me
About what is good


There is ONLY ONE
Who is good (implying that ONLY THE FATHER is GOOD)
If you want
To enter life
OBEY the commandments” Matthew 19:16-17


Of course
We KNOW he was good
And the ENTIRE world
KNOWS NOW
He was PERFECT


He answered this way
Because of HIS HUMILITY
Which is something
A lot of us
NEED to learn
In this modern 21st century


Did you ever notice
That in the discussions in this world
And in the disagreements
Each side
OFTEN sees itself-and its position or opinion
As not only right but “PERFECT”


PIOUS righteousness
As if their opinion
Was OUR GOD the FATHER'S position


One thing
We all need to do
For ourselves
Is to admit to our own imperfections


For me
Probably Jesus' most difficult teaching
Is found in Matthew chapter 5


“BUT I tell you
LOVE your enemies
And PRAY for those
Who persecute you
That you may be sons
Of our Father in heaven


He causes his sun
To rise
On the evil and the good
And sends rain
On the righteous
And the unrighteous


If you LOVE THOSE
Who love you
What reward
Will you get


Are not
Even the tax collectors doing this


And if you greet
ONLY your brothers
What are you doing more
Than others


Do not
EVEN the pagans do this


BE PERFECT
Therefore
As your heavenly Father
Is PERFECT” Matthew 5:44-47


Maybe not physical perfection
Like Bo Derek in the 1979 movie,”TEN”


But maybe Jesus is asking us
To do our BEST
At trying to achieve INTERNAL PERFECTION


To the JEWISH people
GOD'S MERCY was God's PERFECTION


It makes you wonder
When Jesus-as he was
DYING on the cross
And said,


“Father FORGIVE them
For they do NOT know
What they are doing” Luke 22:34


WHY the people
STILL couldn't see it


And during HIS life
Jesus said,


“BE MERCIFUL
Just as your Father
Is merciful” Luke 6:36


He said it
He did it
HE WAS PERFECT


I am not
Are you


Robert P. Wallman
March 16^th, 2014




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH magazine by Patricia Livingston



on sites 3-29-14

journal/WHO IS YOUR FAMILY?

In Matthew chapter 12-Jesus identifies HIS mother and HIS brothers-"FOR whoever shall do the
will of my FATHER which is in heaven-the same is my brother-and sister-and mother"

THAT includes us IF we are listening to the WORD OF GOD and applying it to our lives

IT is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! in Jesus' and HIS FATHER'S LOVE for us

LOVE you all-for you are MY mother-my brothers and sisters


















WHO IS YOUR FAMILY




In the XIIth chapter
Of Saint Matthew's Gospel
While Jesus
Is speaking to the crowd
His MOTHER and his brothers
Were outside
Wishing to speak to him


Someone said to Jesus,
“Your mother and brothers
Are standing outside
Wanting to speak to you” Matthew 12:47


Jesus responds
With a rather strange remark,


“WHO is
My mother and my brothers


For whoever
Does the will of my Father
In heaven
Is my
brother, and sister, and mother” Matthew 12:48-50
(as he pointed to his disciples)


What is Jesus trying to say
Is he trying
To denigrate or deny his own family


I DON'T BELIEVE SO


I believe
That Jesus is making the point
That-in addition
To his own family
WHOEVER does the will of God
IS HIS FAMILY too


Jesus is
NOT trying to restrict
The WORD of God
But is
Trying to EXPAND it


For you see
The family has been GOD'S INSTRUMENT
All along


God first began to establish
The word of God
In the garden of Eden


He built Adam a mate-Eve


The Lord God said,
“It is not good
For the man to be alone


I will make him
A SUITABLE HELPER” Genesis 2:18


And in Psalm 127
We find that
CHILDREN are a reward
From the Lord


“Sons are
A heritage
From the Lord
Children a reward
From him” Psalm 127:3


That is NOT to say
That if you do not have children
In today's world
That you are being punished by God


It is just to say
That if you have been BLESSED by God
With a mate and children
TO TREASURE them


Because-there are
Many of us-out here
Like me
That have
Not been as fortunate


“FOR the husband
Is the head of the wife
And CHRIST is the head of the church
HIS BODY
Of which he is the SAVIOR” Ephesians 5:23


As far as who is
The HEAD of the family
In today's times
It really is academic
FOR THERE are many types
Of families in today's world


But what really is important
Is that CHRIST is the HEAD
O f the church


The FAMILY
Is to be UNIFIED
As the
Church is to be unified


Sometimes I wonder
HOW we have become SO BROKEN today
BOTH in the church
And in so many families


NEVERTHELESS-I kind of
FEEL like Christ today
In that
When I think of
WHO MY FAMILY IS


I FEEL
That my family is
DEFINITELY
ALL of my blood relatives
It is
ALL of my friends
And I think it ALSO INCLUDES
“ANYONE who hears the word of GOD
And does it”


I LOVE YOU ALL
So very very much


Robert P. Wallman 11-15-13

ps 3-28-14

journal/NOISES OFF

Dear Lord-WE PRAY that we do not the daily distractions turn us away from you-and we PRAY
That we KEEP God and FAMILY in their rightful place-NUMBER ONE in our hearts-minds-and
souls

CREATE in us a CLEAN HEART oh GOD and put anew and right spirit within us

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! in God's LOVE FOR US


















NOISES OFF




Are you like me
Do you get tired
Of the NOISES OF LIFE


Sometimes I feel IF
I ever hear
Another word
Coming out of that television set
I am going to go crazy


At that point
I put the tv on mute
Or off all together


NOISES OFF




There used to be
A song called,
“SILENCE IS GOLDEN”
And sometimes I believe that


At that time
It is just God
And me
Alone in the room
And I can HEAR GOD
Speaking to me
And giving me
Directions and answers
To my prayers


Noises off
LET GOD IN


“But when you pray
Go into your room
And pray to your Father
Who is unseen


Then your Father
Who sees what is done
In secret
Will reward you” Matthew 6:6


Sometimes
You got to
TUNE the world out
In order
TO TUNE GOD IN


NOISES OFF
Let God in


And that's
WHEN AND WHERE
I first
Began to learn
About God


After my third life and death surgery
Within a year
And still not knowing what is wrong
And the doctors
Still didn't know either


So I locked myself
INSIDE of my room
On 3400 Massachusetts Avenue
And just began to pray


OPENING my heart and mind
And soul to God
After all
That is what prayer is
Just opening up yourself
To God


And God
Began to take over my life
He just needs an inch
And like the mustard seed
GOD'S LOVE will grow and grow


He can work miracles
In you and me
THROUGH FAITH


Noises off
Let God in
SILENCE IS GOLDEN


My mom
Used to tell me,
“IF you can't say something nice
Don't say anything at all”


And I have heard it said:


“STAY quiet
And people won't know
How dumb you are”


“EVEN
A fool is thought wise
If he keeps silence
And discerning
If he holds his tongue” Proverbs 17:28


But mostly
We should keep silent
Because God knows
What is happening
Even when we don't


He KNOWS more about us
Than we
Know about ourselves


“But the Lord
Is in his HOLY TEMPLE
Let all the earth
Be silent before him” Habakkuk 2:20


NOISES OFF
Silence is golden
WHEN you let God in


Robert P. Wallman
February 10th, 2014





ps Misc. WITNESS 3-27-14

journal/GRACE-A GIFT FROM GOD

Today-DEAR LORD-Help us to be aware of the NEED for grace in our lives-and the GIFT of grace
you bestow upon us

HELP US to be aware of what I am doing and not doing-thinking and not thinking-and feeling and not feeling-ALL in your name OH LORD

For we NEED your GRACE to live fruitful lives

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in your LOVE-and in THE GIFT of GRACE you bestow on us

LOVE YOU ALL!










WITNESS




8-19-13




GRACE---A GIFT FROM GOD




Are you living
In a state of grace


If so
Say, “thank you”
Because grace is defined
As a gift
Given freely by God
To his believers


It is
The undeserved love and salvation
Given to us freely by God
It is nothing
That we can ever earn


If you are a loving parent
Think about it
There is nothing that you would not do for your child
If it is for their own good


It is the same way
With God for us
There is nothing he would not do for us
That is---if it is for our own good


Because we are his children
And he loves us INFINITELY


In the 15^th chapter
Of Saint Luke’s Gospel
Luke tells us 3 such stories about Jesus


He tells us the story
Of a shepherd with 100 sheep
One becomes lost
And the shepherd leaves the heard---the other 99
To go and find that one lost sheep


Jesus tells us,
“There will be more rejoicing
In heaven
Over one sinner that repents
Than over 99 persons
Who do not need to repent” Luke 15:7


God loves EACH and EVERY ONE of us


Then Jesus tells the story
Of a woman with10 coins
But she loses one


She does not worry
About the 9 that she has
But overturns the house---looking everywhere
Until she finds that one lost coin


Then she calls her friends and neighbors
And says,


“Rejoice with me
I have found my lost coin” Luke 15:9


It is the same way with us
Who are lost
Along life’s highway


God will look for us
Until she finds us


And he will find us---that is
Unless we don’t want to be found


Then Jesus continued with one more story
About a lost son
And his loving father


He tells the story
About his youngest son
Who has run away from home
And squandered everything
On wine and women


And to the older son---who has become jealous
Because, his father, receives the younger son openly
He says,


“You are always with me
And everything I have is yours
Because this brother of yours was dead
And is alive again
He was lost and is found” Luke 15:31 & 32


It is the same way with us
We should be happy
When one of our brothers or sisters
Comes home to God


God’s grace
A gift given freely to us by God
All we can do is be gracious
And say, “thank you”


“For it is by grace
That you have been saved
Through faith---and this not from ourselves
So that no one can boast” Romans 2:8 & 9


We say, “thank you Lord”
For this gift of your grace


THE GREATEST GIFT THAT WE WILL EVER RECEIVE


Robert P. Wallman
12-15-11




Ps WITNESS 8-19-13





misc. WITNESS 3-26-14

journal/A REMINDER OF WHO WE ARE

TODAY-as we CELEBRATE the ANNUNCIATION of the Lord-let us ALWAYS remember
who we are-CHILDREN OF GOD

And it is ALL because of our LORD and Mary's response when called by the angel:

"LET IT be done to me ACCORDING to your WORD"

As we continue on our spiritual journey-let us remember-that it is a journey and NOT a destination-
and KNOW that GOD is with us in every situation-no matter how difficult

it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! n the Lord's LOVE for us

LOVE YOU ALL!












WITNESS




2-8-13




A REMINDER OF WHO WE ARE




Sometimes
We need not be instructed
So much
As reminded
As to who we are




We need to be
CONSTANTLY reminded
That we are
CHILDREN OF GOD


“Yet to all
Who received him
To those
Who believed in his name
He gave the right
To become children of God-


Children born
Not of natural descent
-nor of human decision
Or a husband’s will
BUT BORN OF GOD” 1 Luke:12-13


We need
To hear again and again
That we are
CHILDREN OF GOD
That Christ
Gave his body-soul-and spirit
For ALL of us


In the Epistle of Saint Paul
We hear the term-
“IN CHRIST”-155 times


“So “in Christ” all will be made alive” 1 Corinthians 15:22


Christ didn’t live and die for the Jewish faith
For the Catholic faith
For the Christian faith
BUT FOR ALL


“These are a shadow
Of the things
That were to come


The reality-however
Is found IN CHRIST” Colossians 2:17


And on and on and on


Truly Children of God
IN CHRIST


Life-by definition-must be lived
And the reality is
That God is in each of us
That God’s life is in us
And that God is our FATHER


The reality is
That God is MADLY in love with you
That he is living in you
And he loves you
“Like there is no one else”


He gives us his heart
And he gives us a home
He prepares a place
For us to come and live with him
At the end of our lives


HEAVEN


A place
Where we can
Live in perfect happiness
And in eternal communion with HIM


“Their mind is on earthly things
But our citizenship is in heaven” Philippians 3:19-20


We are heirs
Truly heirs
To the Kingdom of God


There once was a nurse
Who married a common man
During the war


After the war
She found out
He was Lord of the manor
With servants
And endless wealth


And she cried
And she cried
TEARS OF JOY


“Why didn’t you tell me?” she said
“I wanted you to love me for myself,” he responded


And that
Is how we will be
When we-CHILDREN OF GOD
Enter our home with our Father


“The spirit himself
Testifies that we are God’s children” Romans 8:16


Now if we are God’s children
Then we are his heirs
Heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ
And if indeed we share in his sufferings
We will ALSO SHARE in his glory


Dear Lord-WE YOUR CHILDREN
Pray that your light
Will be seen in us


Robert P. Wallman
9-20-12


Ps *Inspired by the teaching of Father Leo Clifford


Ps WITNESS 2-8-13




MISC. WITNESS 3-25-14

CHAOS

CHAOS




Do you know
WHAT chaos is


MAYBE you are
SURROUNDED it
Or work in it
Or live in it


Chaos IS
All around us
And the devil
THRIVES on it


BUT OUR GOD
IS a God of order
And of life


And chaos is defined
As a PLACE or condition
Of great disorder and confusion


I find
That that
Is the world
WE are living in today
A world of great confusion and disorder


WHERE everyone is looking
To their OWN self-interests
To make sense out of life


And ignoring
THE GOD OF ORDER and love
Sitting-standing
RIGHT in front of us


But for some reason
We simply refuse
To RETURN to God


Chaos is simply confusion
And that is the world
WE live in right now


OUR GOD
Is a GOD of order
NOT of confusion-chaos-and-disorder


“For God
Is not a God of of disorder
But of PEACE” 1 Corinthians 14:33


“For where
You have envy and selfish ambition
There you find disorder
And EVERY evil practice” James 3:16


In this world
RIGHT NOW-confusion reigns
FOR we are ignoring God


“In thee-Oh Lord
Do I put my trust
Let me never
Be put to confusion” Psalm 71:1


THIS WORLD
will return to normal
When it RETURNS to God
And puts God and family in their RIGHTFUL PLACE
Number one in our HEARTS
Number one in our SOULS
And NUMBER ONE in our minds


“'EVEN NOW,' declares the Lord
“RETURN to me
With all your heart
With fasting, and weeping, and mourning'” Joel 2:12


A command
To return to the Lord


WHEN
Are we going
To get it right


A GOD of order
NOT of disorder
And His peace should be
Number one


“IF you return
To the Lord
Then your brothers
And your CHILDREN
Will be shown compassion


By their captors
And will come back
To this land


For the Lord
Your God
Is gracious and compassionate


He will NOT turn his face
From you
IF you return to him” 2 Chronicles 30:9


I HAVE an idea
LET'S me and you
RETURN TO GOD


And put him No. ONE
In our minds-hearts-and souls


SOMEHOW
I have a FEELING
IF we all did this
THIS WORLD-would be a lot closer
To being straightened out


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
3-11-14




Ps Misc WITNESS 3-24-14

journal/GOALS AND COMPASSION

Do YOU have a thirsting for GOD?  I do  SOMETIMES I feel as the ONLY thing that can make me
HAPPY is GOD-having him permeate from EVERY fiver of my being

BEING spiritually thirsty for God is a GRACE and it should urge us to treat others with
LOVE AND COMPASSION

LOVE YOU ALL!

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
















GOALS AND COMPASSION




We ALL need goals
In life
GOALS that reflect vision
Goals that really matter
Goals that INCLUDE GOD


Of course
We need to have
Personal goals
But we have
To include God
In our personal goals
OR what is the point


At least
That is the way
That I feel


“So we made it
OUR GOAL to please him
Whether we are at home
In the body or away from it


For we must all appear
Before the judgment seat
Of Christ
That each one may receive
What is due him
For the things
Done while in the body
Whether good or bad” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10


How are you doing
With your goals


Do you have
That significant other
Are you satisfied financially
Do you have many failings?


My goal
Is to live
IN HARMONY and love
To love GOD with my whole body, soul
Mind, and strength
And to love others as I love myself


Some goals
Can’t be measured in quantitative terms
ONLY IN LOVE


God is the ONLY ONE
That can satisfy these types of goals
And we can only reach that goal
If we come to the end of my life
And hear


“WELL DONE
Good and faithful servant


You have been faithful
With a few things
I will put you in charge
Of many things
Come and SHARE your master’s happiness” Matthew 25:23


One goal
That we should all have
Is to FEEL COMPASSION
For those
Less fortunate than ourselves


We should have a feeling
For those
Who have physical, spiritual,
Or emotional hurts


To feel compassion
For someone
And do nothing to help
Is not only UNFOUNDED Biblically
But is
NOT being much of a Christian


So I ask you
How are you doing
At achieving your goals
That you started out with


“Are you so foolish
After beginning with the spirit
Are you now trying to attain
Your goal by human effort” Galatians 3:3


In my book
If you are loving God
Loving others
And living your life
With compassion


YOU ARE A SUCCESS


Robert P. Wallman
1-17-13




ps misc. WITNESS 3-24-14

journal/WHAT KIND OF WATER

IN TODAY'S reading Jesus tells the Samarian woman about a NEW kind of water-LIVING WATER-
and it is the water that brings with it ETERNAL LIFE

WE KNOW we can find this LIVING WATER because Jesus tells us He has poured "into our hearts"
HIS DIVINE LIFE though the Holy Spirit

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us!

LOVE YOU ALL!










WITNESS




2-22-13




WHAT KIND OF WATER




Picture this:


You are a young or middle-aged woman
At the water cooler
Of your office
Getting a drink of water


A young man comes up
And approaches you


In addition
This young man
Is not the same color, race, or religion
As you


The man
Proceeds to tell you
About a different kind of water


“If you drink the water
I give you
You will
Never be thirsty again
And you will have
Eternal life”


You look at this man
Like he was crazy
And think to yourself,
“What did he just say?”


You ask
For some of this water
And the man replies,
“Go call your husband”


You reply
“I have no husband
This man says, “I know”
And proceeds to tell you
About every significant relationship
That you ever had
In your life


At this point
You take a step back
You recognize,
“This is no ordinary man”


You think to yourself
This man is a prophet
And say,
“I know the Messiah is coming”


The man says,
“I who speak to you
Am he”


This man Jesus
Tells the woman
NOT to tell anyone
What he said and did


Of course she does
What would you do


Better yet Lord
Please tell us


WHERE WE CAN FIND
THIS LIVING WATER


Robert P. Wallman
3-23-11




Ps Based on John 4---where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman
At the well


WITNESS 2-22-13




misc WITNESS 3-23-14

journal/THE RESPECTABLE SINS

One of my favorite parables of Jesus is in the 15th chapter of Saint Luke's GOSPEL-it is about the lengths
GOD WILL GO to find one lost soul-and it is told through the story of ONE lost sheep-one lost soul-
and ONE LOST SON-who has finally reached HIS BREAKING POINT

IS it the end for him-NO it is just the BEGINNING-as it often is for us-WHEN we allow GOD
to take over our lives

THANK YOU LORD-for even our failures-because they can BECOME MEETING POINTS
with you-and TRANSFORM our sin into LOVE

it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE FOR US!












WITNESS




3-06-13




THE RESPECTABLE SINS


We all know sins
Like murder, rape, child abuse
Ant violent crime---is wrong


We have a penal system
Set up for that
But beyond that---if we have a conscience
We have to reconcile our sins
With our God


But what about sins
Like coldness, indifference, ingratitude, and luke warmness
Toward others
Sins like, pride, jealousy, gossip, etc., etc., etc.


Just the sin of self-righteousness
The sin
Of thinking that we are better
Than the human being
Standing or sitting right beside us


The sins of the spirit
Are more difficult to get at
But I doubt no less of a sin
To our God


These sins are carried by all of us
In varying degrees


In the XVth chapter
Of Saint Luke’s Gospel
Jesus tells us such a story


A story about a Father and his 2 sons
1 respectable, 1 lost


The lost son takes his inheritance
Takes off for a foreign land
And spends everything he has
On wild living


Maybe by today’s standards
Wine-women-and song---maybe even drugs


A severe famine hits
And he has nothing to eat
So he decides to go home
Apologize to his Father
And beg for any job his Father
Will give him


His Father sees him coming from a long way off
And before the son can even apologize
And beg for forgiveness
His Father hugs him and kisses him
And decides to throw a party


The older son hears all the commotion
And basically throws a fit saying,
“All these years I have been slaving for you
And never disobeyed your orders
You never even gave me a young goat
So I could celebrate with my friends
But when this son of yours
Who has squandered your property
With prostitutes comes home
You kill the fatted calf for him” Luke 15:29-30


I certainly understand
How the older son feels
I am sure you can too


The Father responds,
“My son you are always with me
And everything I have is yours
But we had to celebrate and be glad
Because this brother of yours was dead
And is alive again
He was lost and is found” Luke 15:31-32


One thing the sinners of this world know
Is that they are sinners


Jesus himself
Was unduly questioned and criticized
As to why he hung around “sinners”


Dickens once wrote,
“There is so much bad
In the best of us
And so much good
In the worst of us
It ill behooves any of us
To speak badly of the rest of us”


And Jesus himself said,
“If any of you are without sin
Let him be the first to throw the stone” John 8:7


Robert P. Wallman
11-3-11


Ps WITNESS 3-06-13


“Show proper RESPECT to everyone-LOVE the brotherhood of believers –
Fear God-honor the king”
1 Peter 2:17




Misc. WITNESS 3-22-14

journal/THE STORY OF JOSEPH

The story of Joseph and his brothers is another CLASSIC story of HOW GOD uses evil
to BRING out good

IF life has you feeling down-DON'T give up-you NEVER KNOW what surprises GOD
might have in store for you

LOVE YOU ALL!

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's LOVE for us!




















SIBLING RIVALRY---The story of Joseph










Picture this:


You go to your brothers and sisters and say:


“I had a dream
And in that dream
You all bowed down to me”


Before they can respond, you say,


“I had another dream
And in that dream
The sun, the moon, and all the stars,
And all of you bowed down to me” based on Genesis 37


Most of our siblings
I am sure
Would laugh right in our face
If not
Clock us one right in the mouth


Joseph---a young man of 17
Was already hated by his brothers
Because his father, Jacob,
Had loved him so much more


Well Joseph’s brothers
Took it a step farther
They threw him in to a ditch
And left him there
Eventually selling him
To a group passing by


TALK ABOUT BROTHERLY LOVE


They told their father, Jacob,
That he was killed by a wild animal


What was
Going through the mind of the brothers
Maybe some jealousy---who couldn’t identify with that


Then the Lord said to Cain,
“Where is your brother, Abel?”
“I don’t know,” Cain replied,
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:9*


Joseph wound up in Egypt
And was sold to Potiphar---the captain of the guard---for Pharaoh


But the Lord was with Joseph
He prospered---and all went well
Until Potiphar’s wife said,
“Come the bed with me” Genesis 39:7


Joseph’s response was,
“No one is greater in this house
Than I am
My master has withheld
Nothing from me except you
Because you are his wife
How can I do
Such a wicked thing
And sin against God” Genesis 39:9


Of course---Potiphar’s wife
Tells a different story
And Joseph---falsely accused---winds up in prison


But God
Has given Joseph
The gift of interpreting dreams
And 2 years later
When Joseph correctly interprets Pharaoh’s dreams
He is put in charge of ALL of EGYPT
Except for Pharaoh himself


Pharaoh said to Joseph,
“Since God has made this known to you
There is no one
So discerning and wise as you


You shall be in charge
Of my palace
And all my people
Are to submit to your orders


Only with respect
To the throne
Will I be greater than you” Genesis 41:39-40


Who---if any of us
Hasn’t experienced some sibling rivalry
Especially when we were young---and still naïve


“How good and pleasant it is
When brothers live together in unity” Psalm 133:1


Seven years of famine
Strike all the lands
And the brothers go to Egypt
To buy grain


After initially
Playing a trick on his brothers
Joseph forgives his brothers
From his heart
And the entire family
Moves to Egypt--- and live happily *


Robert P. Wallman
2-2-12


******** let us ALL try to live with the love and forgiveness Joseph showed to his
Brothers and NOT the hatred and jealousy that Cain felt for Abel


the entire story of Joseph, his brothers, and their father, Jacob,
can be found in Genesis---chapters 37 to 50


SO VERY GRATEFUL for the love and caring shared between my sisters and myself


ps misc. WITNESS 3-21-14

IN THE MARKET PLACE

IN THE MARKET PLACE




2,000 years ago
In Jesus' time
The market place was
WHERE the action was


People gathered there
To buy their daily bread
MEET their neighbors
And LEARN
The latest news


TODAY
It isn't much different
We go to the mall
To shopping centers
To office buildings
And to
The world wide web


2,000 years ago
WHEN word got around
That a great healer
Was coming
The market place
Was buzzing with excitement and HOPE


“And wherever he went
Into villages-towns-or countrysides
They placed the sick
In the market places


They begged him
To let them touch
Even the edge
Of his cloak
And ALL who touched him
Were HEALED” Mark 6:56


WE are called
To be Christ's representatives
In the world today


And as his representative
THOUGH we can't physically heal
As Christ did


When we get
The latest news
In the neighborhood
At the mall
About who is sick
Or who has died


We can let those in need
KNOW WE CARE
By stopping to visit
Running an errand for them
Or even
Just sending a card


Letting someone you care about
Know that they
Are not alone
MIGHT be just enough
To keep them going


“Be shepherd's
Of God's flock
That is
Under your care


SERVING as overseers
NOT because you must
But because
You are WILLING
As God
Wants you to be


NOT greedy for money
But EAGER to serve
Not lording it over
Those entrusted to you
But being examples
To the flock” 2 Peter 5:2-3


And hurting people today
CONTINUE to gather in these places
Searching for something true
BEYOND noise and confusion


And there are three things
That everyone of us
Can do
For a hurting person


We can say something light
In good taste
To make them smile
Or laugh


We can LISTEN to them
Talk about their troubles


And we can let them KNOW
That we care about them
That we LOVE them now
MORE than ever


Dear Lord-WE PRAY
That those we meet today
WHO are in need


MAY EXPERIENCE
The PRESENCE OF JESUS
Through us


Robert P. Wallman
2-10-14




ps Inspired by an article in LIVINF FAITH by Steve Givens

journal/THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART

Are you in need of a HEALING?  ARE YOU OPEN to it?  Am I OPEN to it?

I NEVER received the physical I was looking for in life.  BUT I received something much better-
A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION- to WHERE I have TOTAL trust-faith-and RELIANCE
on God

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us!

LOVE YOU ALL!














WITNESS




3-14-13




THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART


You see a friend
A beautiful woman
Or a handsome man
You become a little bit jealous


I tell you
Don’t you worry
The Lord
The Lord
Looks at the heart


Someone else
Becomes rich and famous
Achieves your heart’s desire


I tell you
Don’t you worry
The Lord
Looks at the heart


A heart
Is figuratively and literally
The center of a person
That which
Gives a person their direction


Focus your heart
On loving God and loving others


The Lord
Looks at the heart


“Do not
Consider his appearance or his height
For I have rejected him
The lord does not look
At the things that man looks at
Man looks at the outward appearance
But the Lord
Looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7


No beauty---no looks
No wealth or fame
It is no problem
The Lord
The Lord


The Lord
Looks at the heart


“Create in me
A pure heart Oh God
And renew a steadfast spirit within me” Psalm 51:10


Teach me Oh Lord
What really matters
In life


Love, forgiveness, and kindness
The Lord looks at the heart


“Above all else
Guard your heart
For it is the wellspring of life” Proverbs 4:23


It really is
What is inside that counts


The Lord really does look
At the heart


So when the world
Has let you down
When the world
Has pushed you around
Has told you
That you just don’t measure up


Remember what the Lord says,
“I the Lord search the heart
And examine the mind
According to his conduct
According to what his deeds deserve” Jeremiah 17:10


No beauty---no problem
No money or fame---no problem
No notoriety or social status
No problem


“The Lord
Does not look at the things
Man looks at
The Lord
Looks at the heart”


The Lord
Looks at the heart


Robert P. Wallman
4-27-11




Ps Witness 3-14-13


“Jesus replied, ‘LOVE the Lord your God with ALL your HEART,
And with all your soul and all your mind’
This is the first and GREATEST commandment-and the second is
Like it-‘LOVE your neighbor as yourself
ALL the law and Prophets hang on these two commandments’”
Matthew 22:37-40






Misc. WITNESS 3-20-14

RIGHTEOUSNESS

RIGHTEOUSNESS








RIGHTEOUSNESS is defined
As the state of being perfect
Of being without sin


Which makes self-righteousness
The exact opposite
Of righteousness
For NONE of us are perfect


And if
We think we are
We are deluding ourselves


For righteousness
Is an attribute of God
And as far as I know
There is only one person
To have lived
WITH GOD-like qualities-Jesus Christ


“Oh righteous God
Who searches minds and hearts


Bring to an end
The violence of the wicked
And make the RIGHTEOUS secure” Psalm 7:9


Lord we defer to you
HELP us to be
As righteous
As a human being
Can be
But NEVER self-righteous


RIGHTEOUS in your word
Righteous only in
The Word of God


And we know
That we can never attain righteousness
From God by our actions
ONLY BY OUR FAITH


Abraham was JUSTIFIED
By his faith


“If in fact
Abraham was justified by his works
He had something
To boast about-but NOT before God


What does the Scripture say?


Abraham believed God
And it was credited to him
As RIGHTEOUSNESS” Romans 4:2 &3


RIGHTEOUSNESS from GOD
NOT from himself
ONLY by faith
Not by keeping laws


“So we too
Have put our faith in Christ Jesus
That we may be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
In Christ
And not by observing the law
Because by observing the law
NO ONE will be justified” Galatians 2:16


RIGHTEOUSNESS-justification
ONLY by FAITH in God
NOT by actions or keeping laws


And we KNOW
That the GOAL of Christian life
IS RIGHTEOUSNESS


“But seek first
HIS kingdom and his righteousness
And ALL these things
Will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33


So WHEN we are
In discussions or arguments
With others
DON’T be overly concerned
In proving yourself right


Even
IF the whole world says
You are wrong


If your heart
Is in the RIGHT place
God will take your side
And prove you right


“He himself
Bore our sins
In his body on the tree
So that we might die to sins
And LIVE for righteousness
By his wounds-you have been HEALED” 1 Peter 2:24


Robert P. Wallman
4-30-13






Ps misc. WITNESS 3-19-14

journal/THE FATHER OF US ALL

Today is the feast day of Saint Joseph-otherwise known as THE 'JUST" MAN

Joseph planned to do divorce Mary quietly-because he was a "RIGHTEOUS" man and did not want to expose her to shame (Matthew 1:19)

But he did not even do this-HE was obedient and faithful to God and married her

DEAR LORD-we pray for the obedience and FAITH of Saint Joseph-THE FATHER OF THE
UNIVERSAL CHURCH

it is A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE!in God's love for us

LOVE YOU ALL!








THEFATHER OF US ALL---SAINT JOSEPH


He was
The Father of all Fathers
The Father of Jesus
Our Lord


The angel of the Lord
Appeared to Joseph


“Do not be afraid
To take Mary as your wife
Because what is conceived in her
Is from the Holy Spirit”


Are you serious Lord


Could you imagine
How you would react
How I would react
How anyone would react
To this---in today’s world


Joseph was a righteous man
He did not want
To expose Mary to public disgrace
So he stood by her


Then the angel
Told Joseph
To take the child and Mary---to Egypt
And he did this too


He was
A carpenter by trade
And as his human Father---
Along with Mary
Was responsible for developing the human traits and character
Of Jesus


Our Saint Joseph
A man of righteousness
A man of honor and faith
The Patron Saint of Fathers


Our Saint Joseph
Who stood tall
In the midst
Of it all


Our Saint Joseph
The Father of the Holy Family
Our Saint Joseph
The Father of the Universal Church


Our Saint Joseph
THE FATHER OF US ALL


Robert P. Wallman
3-13-11




Ps misc. WITNESS 3-19-14

journal/BUILDING EACH OTHERS UP

Jesus KNEW that the scribes and Pharisees of HIS day knew the teachings.  And he KNOWS
We know HIS teachings today.

HIS PROBLEM with the Pharisees and scribes was that they did not LIVE what they taught.
HOW ABOUT US?   ARE we putting into practice the TEACHINGS OF JESUS into our lives?

Dear Lord-WE PRAY that we LISTEN to our own words-and LIKE you be an EXAMPLE to others
and work to BUILD OTHERS UP and encourage others in their lives

it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! in your love for us

LOVE YOU AL!








WITNESS




4-21-13




BUILDING EACH OTHER UP




Are you like me
Do you long to hear
Some encouraging words
Some appealing words
About you---about yourself


In today’s world
We are all fighting heavy spiritual battles
And losing


Losing battles of health---physical, mental, and spiritual
Losing battles of finances
And losing battles of temptation
Both sexual and otherwise


So what are we to do
We are to pick each other up
When one or another of us falls


“Therefore encourage one another
And build each other up
Just as in fact you are doing” 1 Thessalonians 5:11


2000 years ago
Those same spiritual battles
Were taking place---with the same results
Until Christ’s death and Resurrection


After Christ paid our debt in full
There was such a man
A man known for building others up
A man known for working with Paul
To build up the Kingdom of God


His name was Joseph
But the Apostles called him Barnabas
Which means---Son of Encouragement


Barnabas came close
To being an original Apostle
In fact he was responsible
For introducing Paul
To Peter
And the rest of the Apostles


In fact
Mark---the writer of the third Gospel
Was Barnabas’ cousin


So when we fall in today’s world
And at one time or another
We will
Let us be there
To pick each other back up


“But encourage one another daily
As long as it is called Today
So that none of you
May be hardened
By sin’s deceitfulness” Hebrews 3:13


So in this broken world
That we live in


Where churches are broken
Where families are broken
Where people are broken
And where---it seems---at times
Not a single soul
Seems to care


I call on you
To build others up
I call on you
To live with the spirit of Christ
I call on you
To live with the Spirit of Barnabas
I call on you
To live with a Spirit of Encouragement


And so
As this never ending
Battle of life
Seems to be pulling us down


I call on you
I call on me
To keep trying
To lift one another up


“We HEAR oh Lord
The desire of the affliction
You encourage them
And you hear them cry
Defending the fatherless
And the oppressed
In order that man
Who is of the earth
May terrify no more” Psalm10:17


Robert P. Wallman
6-10-11




Ps WITNESS 4-21-13




“Unless the Lord BUILDS the house-the BUILDERS labor in vain
Unless the Lord watches over the city-the watchmen stand guard in vain”
Psalm 127:1


“It was he who gave some to be apostles-some to be prophets-
Some to be evangelists-and some to be pastors and teachers


To prepare God’s people for works of service-so that he
The body of Christ may be BUILT up-until we ALL reach UNITY
In the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature
Attaining to the whole measure of the FULLNESS of Christ”
Ephesians 4:11-13




Ps misc. WITNESS 3-18-14


PLEASE PRAY for our brother-Nicholis-aka-the ENCORAGANAIRE-who is

In heavy spiritual warfare right now

journal/I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH

"BE MERCIFUL-just as your Father is also merciful"        Luke 6:36


IF we are to really love others-and we are-LET US PASS that same mercy and forgiveness
that we receive form God-on to to others

I FIRST became of GOD'S LOVE and MERCY for me/us-WHEN I walked away from my deathbed
when I was 22 years old

WE GIVE mercy to others NOT BECAUSE we are God-but because God pours it over us
GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY for us is abundant and overflowing

it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! in God's love and mercy for us

LOVE YOU ALL!




TOMORROW will be four years since my mom HAS passed-GRATEFUL and BLESSED
to have her for as long as I did-LOVE AND MISS you mom
















WITNESS




3-19-13




I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH




All my life
My mom and I
Had the most beautiful relationship


I would always
Spread my arms as wide as I could
And say,


“I love you this much”


And she would simply smile
And hold her thumb and forefinger
About a ¼ of an inch apart
And say,


“I love you this much”


And we would both be smiling
And I would give her a big hug


Well I am here
To tell you
As much as I
Loved my mom
That is how much GOD LOVES YOU


“The Lord appeared to us
In the past saying:


“I have loved you
With an everlasting love
I have drawn you
With loving kindness” Jeremiah 31:3


Can you imagine that
Our God-THE GOD-and creator of the universe
Loves each of us
“With an everlasting love”


I can just imagine
God looking at us-smiling at us
And saying,
“I LOVE you this much”


Well sadly
A few days
Before my mom passed
She said to me,


“Bob-I don’t want you
To say that anymore”


Of course
I didn’t say it anymore
But I FELT it


MOM-you are gone
You are NOT forgotten
And everyday of my life


In my heart-
In my mind-
In my soul-


I say about my mom,


“I love you this much”


And that is exactly
What our God does and says about us


Stretching his arms as wide
As the East is from the West
He says,


“I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH”


Robert P. Wallman
8-12-12




Ps WITNESS 3-19-13


YESTERDAY was three years since my mom has been gone


“LOVE is patient-love is kind-it does not envy-it does not boast
It is not proud-it is not rude-it is not self-seeking-it is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs-LOVE does NOT delight in evil-but
Rejoices with the truth-it always protects-always trusts-always hopes
ALWAYS perseveres-LOVE NEVER FAILS” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

journal/GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

TODAY is March the 16th and it REMINDS me of ONE of the MOST FAMOUS Scriptures
in the Bible---John-3:16  "GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD........"

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's and Jesus' love for ALL of us!

LOVE YOU ALL!




“God So Loved the World”

God so loved
The world
That he gave us
His one and only Son

How much love
Do you have
For God
For your neighbor

Can you imagine
How much love
How much love
That took

Can you imagine
Giving up your child
For someone else

How God’s heart
Must have broke
As Jesus was rejected
And hung dying on the cross
God so loved
The world
That he gave us
His only begotten Son

How much love
Do you have
Accept God—Accept Christ
Into your hearts

Robert P. Wallman
April 6th, 2010


ps        misc.        WITNESS


"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.  Fpr God did not send his Son to condemn the
world-but to SAVE the world through him."        John 3:16-17

journal-IMITATORS OF CHRIST

IF we are called to be imitators of Christ-and we are-albeit on a MUCH smaller scale-we are called

to LOVE OUR ENEMIES



I FIND this ONE of Jesus' most difficult teachings-as I am sure MOST OF US DO



"LOVE YOU ENEMIES...be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect"   Matthew 5:44, 48



TO DO THIS-we have to admit to ourselves that we are NOT PERFECT-and try to lay MERCY on others

INSTEAD of judgment-ONLY by doing this-can we EXPECT our GOD to be MERCIFUL with us



it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! in GOD'S MERCIFUL LOVE for us

LOVE YOU ALL

















WITNESS









9-28-13









THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT





The greatest compliment

That we can give another human being

Is to tell them

That they are

An imitator of Christ

Albeit on a smaller scale





So how can we be

How will we be

An imitation of Christ

In today’s world





Be perfect in love

For every other human being





Be an imitator of Christ





Be perfect in forgiveness

For every other human being





Be an imitator of Christ





Be like Saint Francis of Assisi






Clothe the naked

Feed the poor

House the homeless





Be an imitator

Of Christ





Be an imitator

Of Saint Francis

Be perfect in love

For the lost and forlorn





Be perfect in kindness

For every other human being





Be an imitator of Christ





And though

We may not be perfection

As long as

We try

To do what we can do





Maybe someday---someway

Someone will say,





“I see Christ in you

You are an imitation of Christ”





Robert P. Wallman

2-28-11









Ps WITNESS 9-28-13









3-15-14 misc. WITNESS









ONE of the GREATEST ways to IIMITATE CHRIST is to pass MERCY

on to them-FOR WE KNOW-in the way we JUDGE OTHERS-that is HOW














































































GOD HIMSELF will judge us-BE MERCIFUL

journal/WORDS

I haven't driven an automobile since 1990 because of health reasons-I don't miss the finger pointing-
the finger-the yelling-and the stories I have heard about those brandishing a gun

REMEMBER Jesus' words-"LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself"-even when-maybe even
PARTICULARLY WHEN behind the wheel of a car

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! in GOD'S LOVE for us

LOVE YOU ALL
















WITNESS




8-29-13




WORDS
(your words-my words-HIS WORDS)




Words are symbols that convey meanings
And feelings from one party to another


And these words
Can be spoken-or written


YOU have words
I have words
And he-THE LORD-has words


Hopefully
Our words are honest and sincere
But HIS WORDS-are Gospel


And the “Gospel”
Is the “GOOD NEWS”
And the good news
Is the message of Christianity


“For we are
God’s workmanship
Created in Christ Jesus
To do GOOD works
Which God prepared
In advance
For us to do” 2 Ephesians 10


The words of Saint Paul
Is the good news
Of the Lord


THE WORDS


And by
THE WORD OF GOD
We know
He made heaven and earth


And we know
He did it in six days
For he rested on the seventh


And psalm 33 says


“By the word
Of the Lord
Were the heavens made
Their starry host
By the breath of his mouth” Psalm 33:6


And Hebrews 11


“By faith
We understand
That the universe was formed
By God’s command
So that what is seen
Was NOT made out
Of what was visible” Hebrews 11:3


God or science
Your choice


MY CHOICE IS GOD
Or maybe God first
Then science


THE WORDS


And WE KNOW
That outside of fleeing
THE WORD OF GOD
Is our chief weapon
Against temptation
And our tool against Satan


The tempter
Came to Jesus and said


“If you are
The Son of God
Tell these stones to become bread”


Jesus answered,


“It is written
Man does not live
By bread alone
But on EVERY WORD
That comes from the mouth of God” Matthew 4: 3 & 4


THE WORDS


“The WORD
Became flesh
And made his dwelling among us




We have seen his glory
The GLORY of he ONE AND ONLY
Who came from the Father
FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH” John 1:14


You have words
I have words
HOPEFULLY-both sincere and true


BUT ONLY ONE-is THE WORD
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ


THE WORD MADE FLESH


Robert P. Wallman
3-5-13




Ps WITNESS 8-29-13




misc. WITNESS 3-14-14

journal/LOVING INCONCLUSIVELY

Dear Lord-HELP US to always KNOW that your love for us is UNENDING and UNCONDITIONAL

and help us NOT to try to do great things as you did-but do small things with GREAT LOVE

GOD LOVES us immeasurably day in and day out and HIS LOVE for us is ALWAYS INCLUSIVE

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in your love for us Lord!-
LOVE you all
















LOVING INCLUSIVELY




From the time
I was a young boy
My mother
ALWAYS taught me
That love was INCLUSIVE


In fact-she would say


“LOVE draws a circle
And pulls people in
And hate draws a circle
And pushes people out”


And we know
Through Jesus’ teachings
And HIS LIFE
That love and forgiveness
Were central messages
SO we know


That LOVE is to be INCLUSIVE


And in Luke 13-Jesus says:


“People will come
From the east and the west
And from the north and the south
And will RECEIVE
At the table
In the kingdom of God” Luke 13:29


What could be more inclusive
Than that?


And in the old testament
Reading of Isaiah


“And they will bring
ALL your brothers
From ALL the nations
To my holy mountain
In Jerusalem
As an offering to the Lord” Isaiah 66:20


PEOPLE from
ALL over the world
Will be INCLUDED
In God’s KINGDOM


LOVE draws a circle
And
PULLS people in


And HOW did Jesus
LIVE his life out


BY HEALING the sick
LOVING the poor
LOVING the orphan, the widow
And BEIND KIND to the children


“Religion
That God our Father accepts
Is this:


To look after orphans and widows
In their distress
And to keep oneself
From being polluted
BY THE WORLD” JOHN 1:27


“HE called a little child
And had him stand
AMONG them
And he said:


‘I tell you the truth
UNLESS you change
And become like little children
You will never enter into
The kingdom of heaven’” Matthew 18:2-3


Dear friends
We are to be as TRUSTING as little children
WHEN it comes to LOVING


LOVE indeed DRAWS A CIRCLE
And LOVE IS TO BE INCLUSIVE


Robert P. Wallman
8-26-13




ps misc. WITNESS 3-13-14

journal/GOD'S LOVE DOES NOT FADE AWAY

I think sometimes we forget that LENT-the time preceding CHRIST'S death and RESURRECTION
is NOT only a time of repentance-but it is ALSO A TIME to INCREASE our love for our brothers and
sisters

DEAR LORD-please help me to see LENT as not only a time of being sorry for my sins-but also as a
time for more love

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! in GOD'S LOVE for us


















GOD'S LOVE DOES NOT FADE AWAY




Everything in life
FADES AWAY-or perishes


ALL that is-EXCEPT
God's love
GOD'S LOVE
Sustains me
Through every situation


“The Lord sustains
The humble
But casts the wicked
To the ground” Psalm 147:4


Even trees
Planted near a flowing river
Change their colors these days


Autumn reminds us
That leaves do fade


But God's love
NEVER FADES AWAY
He evens sustains
The fatherless
And the widow


“The Lord
Watches over the alien
And sustains
The fatherless and the widow
But he frustrates
The ways of the wicked” Deuteronomy 10:18


GOD'S LOVE
Does not fade away


Those that live
Off of God's word
Will never perish


“My sheep
Listen to my voice
I know them
And they know me


I give them eternal life
And they shall NEVER perish


No one can snatch them
Out of my Father's hand” John 10:27-28


We may die
But we will find
ETERNAL LIFE
By LIVING off the WORD OF GOD


God's LOVE
Never fades away


And while
We may not find
earthly glory
We will find heavenly glory


And we will find
GOD LIVING INSIDE OF US
And that gives us peace


And the Lord our God
OUR SHEPHERD
Will lead us home
To that glory


“And when
The chief SHEPHERD appears
You will receive
THE CROWN OF GLORY
That will NEVER FADE AWAY” 1 Peter 5:4


And that crown of glory
IS GOD'S LOVE
LIVING inside of you


God's love
Inside of you
THAT CANNOT AND WILL NOT
EVER FADE AWAY


Robert P. Wallman
2-9-14

journal/THE BREAD OF LIFE

The very word "LENT" is derived from a word that translates into springtime-and springtime is a VERY

REAL REMINDER that even during the long cold dark winter-that NEW LIFE is still BEGINNING-

That the cycle of life is CONTINUALLY moving forward



AND SO TOO with the ETERNAL WORD OF GOD-by LIVING in FAITH and in the WORD

of  GOD-that brings NEW LIFE into our hearts that we can carry God's message into EVERY CORNER

of the world



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

















THE BREAD OF LIFE ( is Eternal Life )









“I am the Bread of Life

He who comes to me

Will never go hungry

And he who believes in me

Will never go thirsty”
John 6:35





If you saw a fountain

And someone told you

That if you drank


From that fountain

You would have

The gift of eternal life





I wonder

How many of us

Would rush to that fountain to drink





I know that I would





Jesus tells us,

“For my Father’s will

Is that everyone

Who looks to the Son

And believes in him

Shall have eternal life

And I will raise him up

On the last day”





How many of us

Want ETERNAL life

I would dare say

Almost all of us





How many of us

Really believe that Jesus is THE CHRIST

The ONE AND ONLY SON OF GOD





I would dare say

NOT many of us

For if we really and truly believed in him

A GOD OF LIFE,
A GOD OF LOVE,
AND A GOD OF TRUTH





Would we have a world

Filled with war, murder, rape, child-abuse,

And only the Lord knows what else





Eternal life is simply

A life everlasting with God

It is the choice of God and love

Over hatred and sin





Jesus took the bread

Gave it to his disciples and said,

“This is my body”

He then took the cup

Gave it to his disciples and said,

“This is my blood

The blood of the new and everlasting covenant

Which is poured out for many”





Eternal life means simply

A life everlasting with God





Take on

The Body of Christ

Take on

The Blood of Christ





Choose God and love

Over the sins of this world





What would we do

Where would we go

Without God and Jesus in our lives





Simon Peter knew the answer,





“Lord to whom shall we go

You have the words of eternal life

We believe and know

That you are the Holy One of God”
John 6:68





Jesus said,





“I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE”





I believe him---do you?





Robert P. Wallman

5-14-11









ps misc. WITNESS 3-11-14

journal/COME TO ME

GOD STANDS on the highest peak on the highest mountain in the world and says,  "COME
TO ME........"

IT is our choice whether we go to him or not

IT IS a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE FOR US!




WITNESS


9-01-13


“Come to Me”

Come to me
All you
Who are weary
And heavy laden
And I will
Give you rest

Come to me
All you
Without a lover
Or without a significant other
Or even any friends
And
I will give you rest

For my yoke is easy
And my burden is light

Come to me
All you
With a severe or a chronic illness
And you will find rest
For your souls
Blessed are the poor in spirit
For theirs
Is the Kingdom of God

Come to me
You without any money or any healthcare
All of you
Without a home or any food

Blessed are those who hunger
And thirst for righteousness
For their yearnings
Will be filled

Come to me
All you
Who are weary and heavy burdened
And I will give you rest

For my yoke is easy
And my burden is light

For “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except
Through me”

Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free

In Jesus’ name

Robert P. Wallman
1/28/11


ps        misc.        WITNESS        3-10-14

Ps       WITNESS        9-01-13

journal/TEMPTATION

The last words Jesus heard from HIS FATHER before going into the desert to face the devil
PRESUMABLY were:

"THIS is my BELOVED SON in WHOM I am we ll pleased"

JUST think HOW well pleased HIS FATHER was WITH HIM after RESISTING the devil for 40 days and nights-AND just think HOW WELL PLEASED OUR FATHER will be with us-IF we are able to resist temptation this Lent for THE LOVE OF GOD

IT is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us!

LOVE YOU ALL!








WITNESS




3-15-13




TEMPTATION


Have you ever
Come face to face
With the person or thing
That is the absolute worst thing
In the world for you


Where every fiber
Of your being is saying
I want this person
Or I want to
Follow my own selfish impulse
And give in to that temptation


I suggest to you
That that is where you meet God
At the deepest darkest level
Of our own souls


Temptation is something
That tests a person’s character
That either makes you
Or brakes you


Look at what happened
With Adam and Eve
We all know
What happened there


If you are being tempted
In some area
Of your life
Consider it a compliment
The devil hasn’t gotten control of you yet


So when the devil comes after you
And he will
You have but one weapon
The Word of God


Jesus said,
“It is written
Man does not live on bread alone”


Life comes from the spirit


Jesus said,
“Worship the Lord your God
And serve him only”


Choose light over darkness


Jesus answered,
“Do not
Put the Lord your God
To the test”


Choose God
Over the flesh


You are never going
To be free from temptation
Life is an ongoing journey


But if we choose
Light over darkness
If we choose
God over the devil
If we choose good over evil


We will
Not only survive
But we will thrive
On God’s Word
And in the Lord


Robert P. Wallman
3-13-11




Ps WITNESS 3-15-13


misc. WITNESS 3-9-14




TEMPTATION is defined as, “something that tests a person’s righteousness
And strength of character”


“NO TEMPTATION has seized you except what is common to man
And GOD is faithful-he will NOT let you be TEMPTED
Beyond what you can bear-but when you are TEMPTED
He will also provide a way out
So that you can stand up under it”
1 Corinthians 10:13


“When TEMPTED-no one should say-“God is tempting me”
For God cannot be TEMPTED by evil-nor does he TEMPT anyone”

James 1:13

YOU HAVE AN ABUNDANCE COMING

YOU HAVE AN ABUNDANCE COMING




Do you have
An abundance
Of GOOD things
In your life
An abundance of good people


I DO
And I really
Can't explain it
EXCEPT for
God WORKING for me
Through the good people
FAMILY, friends, neighbors, and churches
That have stepped up
For me


AND AN ABUNDANCE
Of spiritual blessings


“Watch out
Be on your guard
Against all kinds of greed


A man's life
Does not consist
In the abundance
Of his possessions” Luke12:15


And that is the way
It is with me


In fact
I have NO material possessions


When my mom
Died four years ago
I thought I was
Going to have to move
To a little efficiency apartment
And I had no idea
How I was
Going to make ends meet


But my sister-Terri-
Has stepped up for me
And relative after relative
Friend after friend
Neighbor after neighbor
Has stepped up
For me


ALL in
Their various ways


BLESSINGS IN GOD
And blessings in people


You have
AN ABUNDANCE COMING


How about you
Have you died
With the crosses
In your life
And UNITED yourself
With Christ


IF you
Have died with Christ
In this life
And have united
Your life with Christ


You WILL
As Christ did himself
RISE AGAIN


“Those who have done good
Will rise to live


And those who have
Done evil
Will rise to be condemned” John 5:29


Have you done GOOD
With your life
Have you
UNITED your suffering
With Christ


YOU WILL rise again


You have an abundance
OF BLESSINGS coming


And if you
Haven't done good
With your life
Up to this point
It is never too late
To change
And dedicate your life
TO GOD AND CHRIST


“Jesus said to her,
'I AM the resurrection
And the life


HE who believes in me
WILL LIVE
Even though he dies


And whoever lives
And BELIEVES in me
WILL never die


Do you BELIEVE this?” John 11:25-26


By BELIEVING in GOD AND CHRIST
You will RISE again
In BOTH life
And in death


“They will CELEBRATE
Your abundant goodness
And joyfully
Sing of your righteousness” Psalm 145:7


“Mercy-peace-and love be yours
in abundance” Jude 0:2


BLESSINGS
YOU-have an ABUNDANCE coming


Robert P. Wallman
2-11-14

journal

Isaiah 58:10 talks about giving bread to others-but nourishment is NOT just physical-
it is SPIRITUAL too

WE can ask ourselves who in need of encouragement
WHO needs a hug and my companionship
And WHO is just in need of PRAYER

There is a "MAGIC" in giving bread to others

IT is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE! in GOD'S LOVE for us
AND in our LOVE for each other

LOVE YOU ALL!

SAINT JOHN OF GOD

SAINT JOHN OF GOD---patron Saint of the sick-hospitals
And of book sellers and printers
1495-1550










Saint John of God
Was born in Portugal
And was founder of the Brothers Hospitallers


He joined the mercenaries
And fought for Spain
Against the French and Turks in Hungary


When he was in the army
He gave up ALL practice of religion
After the disbandment of his troop
He worked as a Shepherd


At the age of 40
He rededicated himself to God
And helping the poor


He suffered a period of “madness”
Running through the streets
Tearing out his hair
And giving away his Sacred books
From the bookstore where he sold them


His friends---most notably John of Avila
Calmed him down
And he rededicated himself
To the sick and the poor


He rented a house---
Filled it with sick poor people
And for over 10 years
Devoted himself to taking care of his patients


He had never-ending energy
But this was balanced by prayer


His final illness
Was brought on
When he saved a man from drowning
In a flood


He died at the age of 55
Before the altar at his hospital chapel


Today---he is known as the PATRON SAINT
Of the SICK---of HOSPITALS---and booksellers and printers


Today---March 8^th---is his feast day


Robert P. Wallman
3-8-12





ps misc. WITNESS 3-8-14