JOURNAL/PAIN AND GAIN

JOURNAL/PAIN AND GAIN




“Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly-THEN Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him-'GOD FORBID-Lord!-NO such thing shall ever happen to you'-
HE TURNED and said to Peter-'GET BEHIND ME-Satan!-You are an obstacle to me'” Matthew 16:21-23


PAIN for ourselves is one thing-BUT when it's pain to someone we LOVE-it is even worse-WE can do nothing-but try and BE SUPPORT to loved ones-this was the case with me and my dad and mom as each one of them were failing and dying


THIS should have been the case with Peter and the other APOSTLES as Jesus was getting ready to face his PASSION


DEAR LORD-we may not like the path that our family/and our friends may be on-BUT ALWAYS help us to be A SENSE OF SUPPORT when the people we love FACE HARDSHIP AND PAIN


DEAR LORD-no matter what we or LOVED ONES are facing-it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in your your CONSTANT LOVE for us








WITNESS




8-7-13




PAIN AND GAIN




How many of you
Are currently experiencing pain


How many of you
Have ever been in pain


I would say virtually
Everyone would answer yes
At least to the second question


There are three types of pain
Physical pain
Spiritual pain
And emotional pain


Pain is defined as a state of or lack
Of physical-emotional or mental well-being
It can be mild-severe-or any stage in between


I have to tell you
I am in physical pain
Almost every minute of my life
(as I am sure others of you are)


I have been in emotional pain
When relationships didn’t work out
And in spiritual pain
When I could not see
Where my life was going
Or why
God wouldn’t let my plans
For my life
Work out the way
That I wanted them too


And I have questioned God
As I am sure
Many of you have


AS JOB DID


“His wife said to him,
‘Are you sill holding on to your integrity
Curse God and die’


Job replied,
‘You are talking like a foolish woman
Shall we accept good from God
And not trouble’


In all this
Job did not sin in what he said” Job 2:9-10


Job held on
He was VINDICATED


PAIN AND GAIN


I held on


By holding on
I found God
I found you


“When your words came-I ate them
They were joy and my heart’s delight
For I held your name
O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY” Jeremiah 15:16


Though the world
May turn its back on us
GOD NEVER WILL
God is patient and loving


We may feel pain
But gain towards GOD
And towards others
Is our FINAL DESTINATION


GAIN


God works for our good


“And we know
That in all things
God WORKS FOR THE GOOD
OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM
Who have been called
According to his purpose” Romans 8:28


THE POWER OF GOD’S LOVE


I cannot change my own life
PAIN
But hopefully something I say or do
Can be a SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
To someone else
GAIN


“WE rejoice in our suffering
Because we know that suffering
Produces perseverance
Perseverance-character
And character-HOPE


And HOPE doe not disappoint us
Because God has poured his love
Into our hearts
By the Holy Spirit
Whom he has given us” Romans 5:3-5


Therefore-pain + gain=HOPE
HOPE FOR ALL OF US


Robert P. Wallman
5-4-13




Ps WITNESS 8-7-13




8-31-14

JOURNAL/PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD

JOURNAL/PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD




“OUR SOUL WAITS for the Lord-who is OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD” Psalm 33:20




IN Saint Patrick's times-often what was used for physical protection was a breastplate-in today's times it is the bullet-proof vest


BUT-in whatever times we LIVE IN-our BEST PROTECTION remains the WORD OF GOD-that is a
divine shield-DIVINE PROTECTION


Saint Patrick BELIEVED the PRESENCE of Jesus to be our safeguarding SHIELD-in fact he wrote a PRAYER:


“CHRIST before me-behind me-above me-below me-around me-and WITHIN ME”


WELL whatever prayer we say-OUR BEST PROTECTION is GOD and Jesus and the WORD OF GOD


DEAR LORD-it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in your LOVE for us and a great day for your PROTECTION OF US




















PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD




It is
A TOUGH WORLD
That we live in


A world full of danger


It seems
Like someone or something
Is constantly shooting daggers at us


In the old days
The knight
Would put on
The metal or steel armor
To PROTECT HIM


And in today's world
I believe the policemen
STILL put on bullet-proof vests


But for us Christians
To protect us from evil
In this cruel cruel world
We are called to put on
A DIFFERENT KIND of armor


THE ARMOR OF GOD


“Put on
The full armor of God
So that
You can take your stand
Against the devil's schemes” Ephesians 6:10


There you have it
The armor that we need
IS ARMOR
That can stand up
NOT only against flesh and blood evil
But the dark forces of evil
In our world-Satan


“For our struggle
Is not against
Flesh and blood


But against the rulers
Against the authorities
Against the powers
Of this dark world-Satan
And against the spiritual forces
Of evil
In the heavenly realms


Therefore
PUT ON the full armor of God
So that
When the day of evil comes
You may be able
To STAND your ground” Ephesians 6:12-13


You say fine
But WHAT is it
That can
Withstand ALL of these things


The armor IS LOVE
My friend
THE LOVE OF GOD
And THE LOVE OF NEIGHBOR


For as 1 Corinthians 13:8 tells us
LOVE NEVER FAILS


And James 1:17 says:
EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT
Is from ABOVE


And that is what Jesus' life was
IT WAS PERFECT
As He DEFEATED every injustice imaginable
INCLUDING humiliation and death


So our job
Is to UNITE our life
With Jesus=as much as possible
And HOLD ON
For the ride of our life


JESUS left behind HIS OWN spirit for us
And in Galatians 5:22
Paul tells us
WHAT the fruit
Of the spirit is:


“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


I suggest to you
That LIVING with these qualities is


PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD


And if you WEAR these
You have NO NEED
Of steel armor
Or bullet-proof vests


If you put these on
You are putting on
THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD


And if you do this
Evil will not defeat you
And if it does
You will be vindicated


AS SURELY AS JESUS HIMSELF WAS


Robert P. Wallman
January 17^th, 2014




Ps misc. WITNESS 3-2-14




8-30-14

JOURNAL/DON'T FORGET TO REST

JOURNAL/DON'T FORGET TO REST




“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 gentle and humble in heart-and your will FIND REST for your souls-For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30


DEAR LORD-this weekend we celebrate the holiday for those of us who WORK-whether we work or do not-PLEASE HELP US to take some time out for REST and also spend some time with you-for we LIVE in the GREATEST and MOST FREE country in the world


FOR that alone Lord-we give you thanks


LORD-we know you rested on the 7^th day-we will take some time to REST this weekend and SPEND some time ALONE with you


WE LOVE YOU- and it is A GREAT DAY to be a live-A GREAT WEEKEND to be ALIVE in your PRECIOUS 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

JOURNAL/THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST

JOURNAL/THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST




“Paul-called to be an APOSTLE of Christ Jesus by the will of God.....” 1 Corinthians 1:1


WE are called to RESPOND to God's message in this world


The APOSTLES-the Saints-the models-the intercessors-are SIMPLY those who got it RIGHT in this world-THEY lived by the SPIRIT and not by the fleshly things of this world


Dear LORD-WE PRAY that we get it right too and make a GENUINE COMMITMENT to you in today's world


IT IS a great day to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us in today's world






















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 dive 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

JOURNAL/A MOTHER AND HER LOST CHILD

JOURNAL/A MOTHER AND HER LOST CHILD




“BLESSED are you who fear the Lord-who WALK in his ways” Psalm 128:1




WE are not all mothers/BUT we ALL are parents or children of our parents-and ALL genuine parents and children-WHO TRULY LOVE-want to see our parents or children FIND JOY and HAPPINESS in their lives


TODAY we CELEBRATE the MOTHER of all Christian mothers who lived to see her son come back to GOD- and truly find happiness in HIS LIFE-largely due to the LOVE of his mother


MAY ALL FAMILIES truly find authentic-lasting JOY in their lives-and LORD-I PRAY that I-that WE
can truly be a HELP in BRINGING families back together


IT IS a great day to be ALIVE in God's never ending LOVE for us and a great to to HONOR our HEAVENLY FATHER and our earthly parents as well as Saint Monica and Saint Augustine-the model for ALL CHRISTIAN FAMILIES














WITNESS




6-7-13




A MOTHER AND HER LOST CHILD






Do you know the story
Of Monica---and her lost child---Augustine
A Mother
With a lost grown-up child


Any mother---or any parent
For that matter
Knows the pain
Of having a child
Who has made some wrong decisions
And are on the road to destruction


They are unable to help themselves
And you their Mother ---their parent
Are unable to help them either


This is the story of two such people---Monica and Augustine


Monica was married to a pagan man
Or a nominal Christian at best
Her mother-in-law lived with them
And created further difficulties for her


Monica was the mother
Of 3 children
But it was her son, Augustine
Who brought her dismay
And ultimately great glory


Augustine was
Brought up a Christian by his mother
But was never baptized


Augustine completely turned away from God
And renounced the Christian faith


He became a notorious womanizer
And partier
He lived with a mistress
For 15 years
And even had a son


Monica was angry at him at first
Refused to even let him in to her house
But after awhile
Turned to God
With patience and prayer
For his conversion


She decided
To never ever give up on her child


I plead with you
As a mother
As a parent
To never ever give up
On your child


No matter
How much pain and suffering
They may be causing you


Augustine eventually
Returned to God
Became baptized
And went on to become
A Saint, and one of the great writers and thinkers
Of his time
And a Doctor of the church


ALL because
He had a mother---he had a parent
That refused
To give up on him


Saint Monica is seen
As the mother of ALL CHRISTIAN mothers


At her last illness, and death, she said,


“Nothing in this world
Now gives me pleasure
I so not know what there is left
For me to do
Or why I am still here
All my HOPES
In this world are now fulfilled”


Monica died a fulfilled mother---a fulfilled parent


I plead with you
To never ever give up on your child


To help them
With your patience and your prayers


AND TURN THEM OVER TO GOD


Robert P. Wallman
8-11-11


AUGUST 27^th is the feast day of Saint Monica
August 28^th-the feast day of Saint Augustine




Ps WITNESS 6-7-13


8-27-14

JOURNAL/IT IS WHAT IS INSIDE THAT COUNTS

JOURNAL/IT'S WTAT'S INSIDE THAT COUNTS




“You CLEANSE the outside of cup and dish-but INSIDE they are full of plunder and self-indulgence”
Matthew 23:25


By and large-in THIS WORLD-it is the wealthy- the beautiful-and privileged that REAP THE REWARDS in this life-that will probably NEVER CHANGE


BUT Jesus taught us to focus on the INTERIOR of ourselves and PURSUE the DIVINE and the ETERNAL


IF we do this-WE WILL find treasure BEYOND MEASURE-for it really is WHAT is inside that counts


IT is a great day to be ALIVE in GOD'S never-ending-everlasting love for us and a great day to COME to the LORD with gratitude and LOVE
















IT IS WHAT IS INSIDE THAT COUNTS




One of our GREAT department stores
JC PENNEY’S to be exact
Used to have a slogan


“IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE THAT COUNTS”
And isn’t that SO TRUE


Because
For ALL we are on the outside
Whatever we look like
Positive or negative


Whatever we possess
Of material value
Will pass-will one day
Mean nothing


It is
REALLY who and what
We are on the inside
That gives us OUR VALUE
Our true intrinsic value


All things must pass


“Heaven and earth will pass away
But MY WORDS
WILL NEVER PASS AWAY” Matthew 24:35


IT IS
WHAT IS INSIDE THAT COUNTS


Robert P. Wallman
4-12-13


PS MISC WITNESS 6-9-14

8-26-14

JOURNAL/MISSING THE POINT

JOURNAL-MISSING THE POINT




“WE ALWAYS pray for you that OUR GOD may make you WORTHY of his calling”........2 Thessalonians 1:11


'THERE is a famous saying-'God doesn't call the equipped-HE EQUIPS the CALLED'”


GOD gives us GIFTS every day to ALLOW US to respond to the PURPOSE for which we are called-
and to USE those GIFTS to love and serve him


Dear Lord-we PRAY that we use our gifts today-anything less is MISSING THE POINT of our lives


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's LOVE for us-and a great day to USE our gifts for GOD'S
PURPOSE in our lives








MISSING THE POINT ( of life )




Are you like me
Do you find
That many of us
Are missing the point
Of God’s central theme
Of who he is
And what he is
Trying to teach us


And what he is
Trying to teach us
Is that he loves us
With an ever-lasting---never-ending
Kind of love


And that
He has mercy and compassion for us
Even in our deepest---darkest moments


GOD LOVES YOU


Love is patient
Love is kind


God loves you


The Lord appeared in the past saying,
“I have loved you
With an everlasting love
I have drawn you
With loving kindness” Jeremiah 31:3


Love does not boast
Love is not proud
Love is not rude
Love is not self-seeking


If we are living out our lives
On these qualities
Putting ourselves first
We are MISSING THE POINT
Of life


“A new command I give you:
Love one another
As I have loved you
So you must love one another


By this all men will know
That you are my disciples
If you love one another” John 13:34 & 35


Love is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrong


Love does not delight in evil
But rejoices in the truth


And the truth
Shall set you free
And the truth is that
GOD LOVES YOU


It always protects
Always trusts
Always hopes
Always perseveres


If we live out our life
By loving him
If we live out our life
By loving others


We know that we won’t be
MISSING THE POINT
Of life


Because as 1 Corinthians 13 tells us


LOVE NEVER FAILS


Robert P. Wallman
11-11-11


ps misc. WITNESS 1-16-14

8-25-14

JOURNAL/SELFLESSNESS-OR SELFISHNESS

JOURNAL/SELFISHNESS OR SELFLESSNESS




“I will thrust you from your office and PULL you down from your station” Isaiah 22:19


Isaiah warns Israel and its people about the dangers of LIVING LIVES based on egotism and immorality


They were living like they had NO NEED of DIVINE ASSISTANCE or a NEED for God in their
lives


WE-as a NATION AND CULTURE-need to hear this warning as well


We need to think BEYOND OURSELVES


DEAR LORD-it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in your LOVE for us and a GREAT DAY to ACKNOWLEDGE your presence and GUIDANCE in our lives








WITNESS




9-24-13




SELFISHNESS OR SELFLESSNESS




Are you like me
Have you noticed
What a selfish---me first world
That we live in


And seemingly---at least to me anyway
Getting more so every day


When were the last times
That you heard the words
“Please” and “Thank you”


I hear them
But NOT very often


“Turn my heart
Toward your statutes
And not toward selfish gain” Psalm119:36


It seems like
That we live in a world
That tells us
Beauty/looks is what it is all about


BUT GOD TELLS US
That beauty is
A matter of the heart


Like the advertising slogan says
It really is
“What is inside that counts”


The world tells us
---preaches to us
That wealth, money, materialism
Will make us happy
And to get it
Whatever way we can
Just get it


“An unfriendly man
Pursues selfish ends
He defies all sound judgment” Proverbs 18:1


Have you ever smiled
And said hello to a stranger
And they look at you
Like you just assaulted them


Or you do something kind
For someone
And they look at you
And wonder what your motivation is


When did our world
Become so cynical
What has happened to us


“Do nothing out of selfish ambition
Or vain conceit
But in humility
Consider others better than yourselves” Philippians 2:3


And then
We have the people
Who live out of selflessness
Who give up their lives for others
To try to make the world
A better place for all


People like
Abraham, Moses, Jesus
And in more recent time
Men like Martin Luther King,
And John and Robert Kennedy


And just simple ordinary folks
Like you and me
Trying to live their lives
Trying to get along
But taking the time
To stop and be kind to others


We just need to remember,


“Each of you should look
NOT only to your own self interest
But also to the interests of others” Philippians 2:4


When we
As a nation/as a world
Begin to live
With a little less selfishness
And a little more selflessness
This world will begin to become


A BETTER PLACE


Robert P. Wallman
11-19-11




Ps SELFISHNESS OR SELFLESSNESS 9-24-13




Misc. WITNESS 4-5-14
8-24-14

JOURNAL/A SERVANT'S HEART

JOURNAL/A SERVANT'S HEART




“Jesus said, “THE GREATEST among you must be your SERVANT-WHOEVER exalts himself
WILL be humbled-but whoever humbles himself-will be exalted” Matthew 23:11-12


HOW MANY of us want to be great in this world-I would venture to guess ALL of us-but how many
of us want to WALK THE WALK that Jesus walked-and be a SERVANT to ALL-and be humiliated in front of the whole world


Dear Lord-WE PRAY for the heart of a servant-and though we may NOT have to physically wash our friends' feet as Jesus did before his crucifixion-we PRAY that we RECOGNIZE the needs of others and
we have the COURAGE to RESPOND with the heart of a SERVANT


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a GREAT day to RESPOND with a SERVANT'S HEART
















WITNESS




4-8-13




A SERVANT’S HEART




We are called
To be servant’s of God


We are called
To be
Servants of the world


Does that
Sound strange to you
It does to me


Yet when the brothers-James and John
Jesus’ apostles
Asked to sit at his right and left hands
When he comes into glory
This was Jesus’ response:


“You know
That those who are regarded
As rulers of the Gentiles
Lord it over them
And their high officials
Exercise authority over them


Not so with you
Instead whoever wants to
Become great among you
Must be your servant


And whoever
Wants to be first
Must be slave to all


For even the Son of Man
Did not come to be served
But to serve


And to give his life
As a ransom for many” Mark 10:42-45


Are you serious Lord
Our culture
Basically tells us
That if we are NOT number 1
That we are nothing


Yet you are telling us
That to be like you
That we are to be beneath all


WHAT A DIFFICULT LESSON
WHAT A DIFFICULT TEACHING


Yet we KNOW HE is right


For he did not
Just talk the talk
He walked the walk


And died-mocked-and humiliated
But ROSE again
Because of his FAITH in his Father


I ALWAYS wanted
To be number 1
I wanted to be the one
To SAVE the world


Yet because of
My health and financial situations
It is others
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Who have STEPPED up
TO HELP ME


Yet I continue
To TRY to have a LOVING HEART
And TRY to be a UNIFYING FORCE
In today’s world


And I can honestly say
I DON’T CARE if I am in last place
And you shouldn’t be either


LOOK around
You are in GOOD company


“Your attitude
Should be the same as that
Of Christ Jesus


Who being-in very nature God
Did NOT consider equality with God
Something to be grasped


But made himself nothing
Taking the very nature
Of a servant
Being made in human likeness


And being found
In appearance as a man
He humbled himself
And became obedient to death
Even death on a cross


Therefore God exalted him
To the highest place
And gave him the name
That is ABOVE every name


That at the name of JESUS
Every knee should bow
In heaven and on earth
And under the earth


And every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord
To the GLORY of God the Father”
Philippians 2:5-11


Dear Lord-we pray
HELP us to
Live a life courteous and pleasing
To you
And to all


And that
We have a heart
FULL OF HUMILITY and servant hood
JUST LIKE YOUR SON


IN JESUS’ NAME……..




Robert P. Wallman
3-23-13




Ps We may not be able to save others
We may not even be able to save ourselves
We have one master-GOD
Let us GO OUT into the world as his SERVANTS


Inspired by an article in Living Faith magazine by Heather King




WITNESS 4-8-13




MISC. WITNESS 4-10-14
8-23-14

CARLEY APPLEBY SAINT REPORT ON SAINT ROSE OF LIMA

Carley Appleby
Saint Report


I chose Saint Rose of Lima as my Confirmation Saint. She was born in Peru, South America and also died there. Her death was in 1617 when she was only thirty-one. Saint Rose is the Patroness of South America. She was also the first saint of the Americas.
Rose was always a good person. She was very obedient to her parents and always did tasks with a smiling face. She was always trying to please others. Rose was a beautiful girl. Her mother wanted her to wear pretty clothes but she said that only beauty of the soul is worthwhile. When a man wanted to marry her; to give her a large home with servants, she refused because she only wanted to love and serve God. Rose was always good to her parents. When they lost all of their money she went out to work every day to help them. She also went to the homes of the poor and brought them food.
She was definitely seen as a saint in her own time. She was always helping others and never doing anything wrong. Rose cared about everyone; good or bad. Often times the Lord appeared to her to tell her how pleased He was with her and her kind deeds.
I chose Saint Rose of Lima because I’ve always wanted to be like her. I used to look through the book of saints when I was a little girl and she always stood out. I liked the name, but it was more about her actions as to why I chose her. Rose was actually going to be my middle name, but my parents changed it to Elizabeth. Also my grandmothers saint name was Rose. I’d give anything to be like my grandmother; she was much like Saint Rose. Always caring and passionate for everything.
I learned that not only was Saint Rose of Lima kind to people, but she was kind to animals too. I learned that I am more like Rose than I thought. I am extremely passionate for animals. I’ve always dreamed of being a veterinarian in the future. I also would give anything and everything to please my family and friends. Those three things are what I always put first. I am ready to make this change in my life and be inspired by Saint Rose!

JOURNAL/MEASURING SUCCESS

JOURNAL-MEASURING SUCCESS




“BUT let him who boasts-BOAST in the Lord-for it is NOT the one who commends himself who is
APPROVED-but the one the LORD COMMENDS” 2 Corinthians 10


In two Corinthians 10-it tells us Paul's strength is the weapons of God-and the weapons of GOD come from living with LOVE- with forgiveness and KINDNESS and that IS OUR STRENGTH too


We cannot measure these attributes-but how well we LIVE WITH THEM-is what determines IF we are living a successful life-HOW WELL we are living our lives is DETERMINED by God


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE with us and a great day-like Paul did-to LIVE with the WEAPONS OF GOD




















WITNESS




3-28-13




MEASURING SUCCESS




How do you measure success
In your life
In today’s world


The secular world tells us
That more is better
Bigger is best
And if you are NOT no. 1
It is insignificant


It measures our value
By how much money
Or material wealth that we have
Or what
Our boyfriend or girlfriend looks like


And it is WRONG


The standards of God
Are different than this world


God tells us
That we
A single individual in this world MATTER


Regardless of our wealth
Or what we look like


ALL we have to do
Is look at the parables
In the 15^th chapter of Saint Luke’s Gospel
To know HOW GOD FEELS about us


He tells us
ABOUT ONE lost sheep
ABOUT ONE LOST COIN
AND ABOUT ONE LOST SON
Trying to reconnect with his loving father


God doesn’t say-“Count my sheep”
He says-“FEED them”


So we know
That whoever we are
Whatever state that we are in
That we matter to God
AND GOD LOVES US


Jesus spent countless time-hours
Meeting with people one-on-one
Healing them-eating with them
Spending time with them
And then going off ALONE to pray


ONE MATTERS-to God
ONE MATTERS-to Christ


ONE MATTERS-YOU MATTER


Mother Theresa said,
“One does NOT call us to be successful
But to be FAITHFUL”


And even
When we fail
In our life long battle to be faithful
As Saint Peter did


Jesus reaches out to us
In love and forgiveness


So we KNOW
That our success
DEPENDS on our relationship with God


YOU MATTER TO GOD


Robert P. Wallman
5-25-12


Ps Inspired by an article in Living Faith magazine
5-25-12-Sister Melanie Svoboda, S.N.D.


WITNESS 3-28-13




5-30-14
8-22-14

JOURNAL/HUMILITY

JOURNAL/HUMILITY


“The servants went out into the streets and GATHERED ALL they found-bad and good alike
and the hall was FILLED with GUESTS” Matthew 22;10


In the 22^nd chapter of Saint Matthew's gospel-Jesus tells another one of his FAMOUS parables-----
In this one-the KING puts on a WEDDING feast-but a funny thing happens-NO ONE ATTENDS-so the king sends out his servants to FILL the banquet hall with WHOEVER would come


This parable was a warning to the JEWISH CHRISTIANS not to feel superior to others-as it is a warning to us today NOT to feel superior to any other human being


CHRISTIAN FAITH requires that we RESIST pride and cultivate HUMILITY


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's LOVE for us and a great day to be HUMBLE in the KINGDOM OF GOD


















WITNESS




7-20-13




HUMILITY




Do you ever
Stop and think
That the one thing
Our Lord wanted us to learn from him
Was and is to act with humility


Humility
Is the quality
Of being modest and respectful
It is seen as being humble
Or grounded


But how do most of us
Live our lives today


We seek flattery
We seek
The applause of the crowd
And we seek riches


Nothing humble or grounded
In that


“He has showed you-o man
What is good


And what does the Lord
Require of you


To act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly
With your God” Micah 6:8


That is
Exactly what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did


And HOW was he repaid


With a broken body
With a broken heart
And with ALL of his disciples and friends deserting him


But he could do it
For he was GOD
And for that
He is exalted today


But what about us
Poor humans
Will we even make the effort
To walk humbly


Saint Paul
Encourages us to do so


“Live in harmony
With one another


Do not be proud
But be willing to associate
With people of low position


Do NOT be conceited” Romans 12:16


That is exactly
Who Christ was
That is exactly
What he did
And he took much criticism
For WHO he chose
To be his twelve apostles


SO KNOW
That whatever your state in life
WHOEVER you are
That GOD CHOOSES you


Our God
Is not too good for you
The question is
DO YOU THINK
You are too good for God


Know that
God loves each of us
With a special individual kind of love


A little bit hard to believe
A little bit overwhelming
THAT GOD CHOOSES YOU AND ME


And the more humble you are
The more humility
That you have
The MORE SPECIAL you are too God


“Blessed are the poor in spirit
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:3


“DO NOTHING
Out of selfish ambition
Or vain conceit


But in HUMILITY
Consider others
Better than yourselves” Philippians 2:3


NOT an easy thing to do
To consider others
Better than ourselves


Yet that is what Christ did
That is why
He is exalted today


Dear Lord
We pray
Meek and humble of heart
Make our heart LIKE YOURS


Robert P. Wallman
9-26-12




Ps WITNESS 7-20-13




MISC. WITNESS 4-17-14
8-21-14

JOURNAL/SUFFERING-AN ORDINARY PART OF LIFE

JOURNAL/SUFFERING-an ORDINARY PART OF LIFE




“The Lord is my SHEPHERD........
Even though I walk through the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side........” Psalm 23:1, 4


EVEN when seen though the eyes of FAITH-suffering is NOT EASY


Yet we KNOW that God walks BESIDE US-because Jesus faced ALL the suffering in his own life


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and though we suffer- it is a GREAT DAY
to KNOW that God is WALKING BESIDE US-maybe even LEADING the way for us to make it through to the other side-FAITH AND DIVINE PROVIDENCE will lead us home
























SUFFERING-
AN ORDINARY PART OF LIFE


Are you suffering
In your life
Right now


Are you BLAMING God
Or are you UNITING
Your sufferings
With God's and Christ's


In a broad sense
suffering is defined as pain
And it can be mental-
Physical-or spiritual-OR
sometimes all three
At the same time


And it comes in varying degrees
From mild to intolerable


So I ask you again
ARE you suffering


I would say yes
Because we ALL are-in some way


For suffering
Is an ORDINARY part of life


And it is found
Even in the lives
Of us
Who follow Jesus
Maybe particularly so


“For this
You have been called
Because Christ
Also suffered for you


Leaving you an example
That you should follow
In his footsteps” 1 Peter 2:21


It is not
A punishment or a penalty
But an ordinary part
Of earthly existence


The good suffer
The bad suffer
And those in between suffer


IF you haven't suffered
At some point
In your life


You are not human


And most times
When suffering comes
We must simply
endure it


There is no way
To hurry it along
We simply must
LIVE through it


We must ENDURE the cross
-LIKE Christ did
And patiently
Work our way through it


GOD KNOWS our suffering
Before we even know


“I am in pain and distress
May your salvation-Oh God-
PROTECT me” Psalm 69:29


And God is PRESENT with us
Even when we are suffering


“MY flesh and my heart
May fail


But GOD is the strength
Of my heart
And MY PROTECTION FOREVER” Psalm 73:26


The more we endure the cross
The more Christ-like we become


And if Christ
Could RESURRECT
over death
over life
We can ENDURE suffering
By UNITING our lives
With Christ's


“Therefore
We do not lose heart
Though outward
We are wasting away
Yet inwardly
We are BEING RENEWED
DAY-BY-DAY


For our light
And momentary troubles
Are achieving for us
An ETERNAL glory
That far outweighs
Them all


So we fix our eyes
NOT on what is seen
But on
WHAT IS UNSEEN


For what is seen
Is TEMPORARY
But what is UNSEEN
IS ETERNAL” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18


SUFFERING is
An ORDINARY part of life
But by UNITING our sufferings
With Christ's


WE WILL RISE AGAIN


Robert P. Wallman
5-15-14


INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH magazine by Father James McKarns





Ps 8-20-14

WHO ARE THOSE GUYS

WITNESS




4-4-13




WHO ARE THOSE GUYS




In 1969
There was a popular movie called,
“Butch Cassidy
And The Sundance Kid”


It is about
2 cowboys
Who rob banks for a living


Well after one particular robbery
They are unable to shake the posse
And they keep repeating,
“Who are those guys?”


2000 years ago
There were many preachers
Preaching the Word of God
Much like today


But there was this one man---Jesus Christ
Who was preaching the Word of God
That was grounded in God’s Truth


It was stirring up the people


The religious leaders
and government officials of the day
Decided to make an example
Out of him


He was mocked, ridiculed, humiliated
And died a criminal’s death
In front of everyone


A funny thing happened
His words DID NOT DIE


There was Peter---the ROCK
To take his place
Who preached in Rome


There was Paul
A timeless missionary
And powerful thinker
Spreading the Word of God
All over creation


Who are those guys


There were Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Writing the 4 Gospels


There were many others
Like Andrew, Philip, Thaddeus, Barnabas
And many others
Spreading the Word of God


Who are those guys


And as those men died
Many more men and women stepped forward
To replace them
And preach the true WORD of GOD


Who are those guys


So here we are some 2000 years later
Many people preaching the Word of God
The Word of Christ
Some true/some not


We pray
That the true Word of Christ
Lives in our hearts
And springs forth from our mouths


So much so
That people will say about us
Just as they did about the original Apostles


WHO ARE THOSE GUYS


Robert P. Wallman
7-23-11




Ps WITNESS 4-4-13




“The unfolding of your WORDS gives light
It gives UNDERSTANDING to the simple”
Psalm 119:130


“Heaven and earth will pass away
But my WORDS will NEVER pass away”
Matthew 24:35


“IF you REMAIN in me and my WORDS remain in you
Ask whatever you wish-and it will be given to you”
John 15:7




8-19-14

JOURNAL/THE PURPOSE OF LIFE

JOURNAL/THE PURPOSE OF LIFE




“And yet you are a man-and NOT a god........” Ezekiel 28:2


AS HARD as it is for some of us to ACCEPT-we are NOT gods and we are NOT IN CONTROL-not even of our own lives


Our society has GROWN RICH in the things of this world-it has MULTIPLIED conveniences and science has learned MUCH about the universe-which is all good


Yet we struggle and HUNGER with the DEEPER questions of our lives:


WHY am I here
WHAT is my purpose in and FOR my life


These questions make us struggle and feel small-but when we feel small-we can grapple with and ACCEPT the INFINITE POWER of GOD'S LOVE for us


it is A GREAT DAY to ACCEPT GOD'S INFINITE LOVE for us and a great day to realize
GOD DOES have a PLAN for our lives and it is ALL GOOD
















WITNESS




1-6-13




THE PURPOSE OF LIFE










Have you ever thought
About what your purpose
In life is


I have
Over---and over---and over again


From my grade school days
From my Catholic upbringing
I know my purpose in life,


“Is to know, to love,
And to serve God”


But how do we do that?


To KNOW God
Not just know about him
But have a personal relationship with him


Where his being
Penetrates every single fiber
Of my---of our souls


To know him
Like we can know no one else
And to LET him know us


“You have made us
For yourself oh Lord
And our souls will not rest
Until they rest in you”


And to love God


Jesus himself told us,


“Love the Lord your God
With all your heart
And with all your soul
And all you mind


This the first
And greatest commandment


And the second is like it
Love you neighbor as yourself


All the law and the prophets
Hang on these 2 commandments” Matthew 22:37 through 40


We should do this
If for no other reason
Than Jesus did it


Look at his relationship
With his Father---God
He was totally obedient to him
Even to the point of death


And look at
How he treated others
The compassion, the healing, the LOVE


Those words that he uttered
Were NOT just words
They flowed
Through EVERY FIBER of his being


“What you do
To the least of my brothers
That you do unto me”


After James and John
Asked to sit
At his right and left in heaven
He called ALL the disciples together and said


“You know that those
Who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles
Lord it over them
And their high officials
Exercise authority over them


No so with you
Instead whoever wants to be great
Among you
Must be your servant
And whoever wants to be first
Must be slave to all


For even the Son of Man
Did not come to be served
But to serve


And to give his life
As a ransom for many” Mark 10:42-45


In this selfish---me first culture
That we live in
It is NOT so easy
To live a life of service


To live a life
Where your stature---is
Well let’s just say
You are thought of
As beneath---as below others


It wasn’t any easier 2,000 years ago
When Jesus lived


“I have set an example
That you should do
As I have done for you
I tell you the truth
No servant is greater than his master
Nor a messenger
Greater than the one who sent him


Now that you know these things
You will be BLESSED
If you do them” John 13:15-17


The purpose of life
Is to know, love, and to SERVE GOD


Can I do it---Can you do it


The real question is:
WILL WE EVEN TRY?


Robert P. Wallman
9-20-11


Ps WITNESS 1-6-13




Misc. WITNESS 4-2-14
August 19^th 2014

JOURNAL/GIVE TO GOD

JOURNAL/GIVING TO GOD (and OTHERS)




“Jesus said.....'IF you wish to be perfect-go-SELL what you have and give to the poor-and you will
have TREASURE IN HEAVEN


Then come-FOLLOW ME'---WHEN the young man heard this statement-he went away SAD-for he had many possessions” Matthew 19:21-22


WHAT a difficult teaching-I would say-FEW IF ANY of us-could do this-but MAYBE the ultimate meaning of Jesus' teaching is that OUR WHOLE LIFE belongs to God-and that we are to GIVE OUR HEARTS completely back to God and others-so that there will be NO REAL ROOM in our heart for possessions


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a GREAT DAY to give WHATEVER WE CAN back to GOD AND OTHERS


LOVE YOUALL!










GIVING TO GOD


Time---money---prayer
Give to God
And give to others
Whatever and whenever you can
For if it is
Given with the proper spirit
God can make it grow---100 fold


“For if the willingness is there
The gift is acceptable
According to what one has
Not according to what he does not”


Some of us
Have no money
Some of us
Have only time and prayer
And some of us
Have only prayer


But it does not matter
For if the willingness
Is there
It is a gift
Acceptable to God our loving Father


In Luke 21
Luke tells the story
Of Jesus seeing all the rich
Putting their gifts
In to the Temple treasury


He then saw a poor widow
Putting in 2 copper coins


He said,
“I tell you truth
This poor widow
Has put in more than
All the others


All these people
Gave their gifts
Out of their wealth
But she out of her poverty
Put in all she had
To live on”


Time---money---prayer
Give to God
And give to others
All of
What you can
And God our loving Father
Will reward you
According to God’s master plan


“I the Lord search the heart
And examine the mind
To reward a man
According to his conduct
According to what his deeds deserve” Jeremiah 17:10


Time---money---prayer
Give it to God
And give it to others
ALL of what you can


Robert P. Wallman
4-8-11




Ps MISC. WITNESS 8-18-14

JOURNAL/REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE

JOURNAL/REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE




“LET IT BE DONE according to your WISH” Matthew 15:28




A dying man once asked: “I don't know IF the Lord will take me in”


HOW would you RESPOND to this man---maybe the PROPER RESPONSE is
“JUST ASK HIM”


In today's GOSPEL-the daughter of a Canaanite woman was HEALED because she was PERSISTENT
in her FAITH


JESUS' RESPONSE: “BE IT DONE according to THY WORD”


REMEMBER who you are---YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD-and it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in his constant LOVE for us










REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE




We live
In a cold cruel world
A world that often
Does not notice us
A world
That treats us with indifference


And when this world
Does notice us
Often
It is only to criticize us
Or reject us


Take heart
You are a Child of God
And so as a father or mother
Loves their own child
Our God, and our Father
Loves you the same way


“How great is the love
The Father has lavished on us
That we should be called
Children of God
And that is what we are” 1 John 3:1


Take heart---and always remember
Who you are
You are a Child of God


“The reason the world
Does not know us
Is that it did not know him” 1 John 3:1


The world teaches us
To build our lives on money and material things
This world teaches us
To build our lives on our lust and sexuality
This world teaches us
To build our lives
On the promises of science


If we do these things
We don’t have to worry
About the devil
We don’t have to worry
About the antichrist
Because if we do these things
He is already here


Our Lord knows that we are sinners
But he taught us
That we have the potential for greatness


He taught us
To believe in God
And to believe in him
Because he knew
That earth is not our final destination
That we are destined
To spend eternity with him


Remember who you are
You are/we are
Children of God


Just look at who he befriended
An adulterous woman
Who was about to be stoned
The prodigal son
Who turned his back on his father
Peter---who denied him 3 times


Remember who you are
You are a Child of God


We assume
The adulterous woman quit sinning
We know
The prodigal son
Returned home to his father
And we KNOW---Peter turned out to be the ROCK


“Upon you
I will build my church”


So if there was hope for them
There is HOPE for us


“We know that anyone
Born of God
Does not continue to sin
The one who was born of God
Keeps him safe
And the evil one cannot harm him
We know that we are children of God” 1 John 5:18


REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE


Robert P. Wallman
5-5-11

JOURNAL/FROM EARTHLY VESSELS TO HEAVENLY BODIES

JOURNAL/FROM EARTHLY VESSELS TO HEAVENLY BODIES




“MAKE for yourselves a NEW HEART and a new SPIRIT” Ezekiel 18:31


OUR GOD AND FATHER offers the deep and wise advice to look WITHIN OUR HEARTS-to NOT be afraid to ACKNOWLEDGE what we find there


THIS is what happened to me-by LOOKING deep within my own heart and soul-and ACKNOWLEDGING my deepest darkest sin-yet CHOOSING GOD anyway-I became TRANSFORMED-transformed from the inside out


WHO could choose anything but GOD AND LOVE because he CHOOSES us first-and by choosing GOD over our sin we become heavenly bodies-an HONESTY BORN OF GOD'S LOVE for us


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE IN GOD'S NEVER ENDING LOVE FOR US




















WITNESS




9-7-13




FROM EARTHLY VESSELS TO HEAVENLY BODIES




We are earthly vessels
But we are designed
To CARRY something


And what we are DESIGNED to carry
IS THE WORD OF GOD


A vessel is designed as a container
(ie. a bottle-a bowl-a cup-etc.)
For holding something


And in that something-that person-that body
IS INFUSED with a quality like faith, hope,
Love, grace, etc.


“And in him you too
ARE being built to become
A dwelling place
IN WHICH GOD LIVES BY HIS SPIRIT” Ephesians 2:22


I don’t know about you
But my body
SOMETIMES feels
More like a shack
Than a vessel
And I wonder why
GOD-GOD’S SPRIT
Would want to hang out with me
Let alone-LIVE INSIDE OF ME


Nevertheless he does


“LET all the earth
Fear the Lord
Let all the people
Of the world
REVERE HIM” Psalm 33:8


Let the SPIRIT OF GOD
LIVE
NOT in this broken down body
But in GOD’S HEAVENLY VESSEL


For the spirit of God-IS LIFE


Fortunately for us
Our God IS USED to humble places
So these broken down bodies of ours
HE CAN TRANSFORM


HE is used to stables
HE is used to crosses
SO these broken down bodies of ours
ARE NOTHING NEW


And we are children
OF GOD
And he WILL NEVER EVER
FORGET US


“For in him
We live and move
And have our heavenly being
AS some of our own poets have said
‘WE ARE HIS OFFSPRING’” Acts 17:28


Dear Lord-we pray
AS YOUR CHILDREN
To transform us
From earthly vessels
To heavenly bodies
To carry THE WORD OF GOD


“And we eagerly await
A Savior
From there- The Lord Jesus Christ


Who by the power
That enables him


To bring everything
UNDER his control


WILL TRANSFORM
OUR lowly bodies
So that
They will be like
HIS GLORIOUS BODY” Philippians 3:21


Dear Lord
We pray that you
Take our earthly vessels
And make them into HEAVENLY BODIES


TO CARRY THE WORD OF GOD


Robert P. Wallman
7-30-13




Ps WITNESS 9-7-13


Inspired by an article in LIVING FAITH magazine
By Sister Kathryn James Hermes, F.S.P.

JOURNAL/THE GATES OF HELL

JOURNAL/THE GATES OF HELL




“MY soul proclaims the GREATNESS of the Lord; MY SPIRIT REJOICES in GOD my SAVIOR”
Luke 1:46-47


Do you BELIEVE that there is a HEAVEN-DO YOU believe that there is a hell?
MY ANSWER to both questions are a RESOUNDING YES


BUT in a addition to that I BELIVE that OUR JOB is to bring some of that HEAVEN to earth
to bring LOVE AND LIFE to each and every one of us


The doctrine of MARY'S ASSUMPTION whets our appetite for the HIGHER WORLD and MOTIVATES us to bring SOME of that HEAVEN to earth


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




















THE GATES OF HELL










You have heard the expression
“A living hell”


I have---and at times
During this life
I have felt
Like nothing could be worse


But is hell a real place
The hereafter


Between health problems-financial problems
And relationship problems
Sometimes I feel like
Nothing could ever be worse
Than this place


DO YOU EVER FEEL THAT WAY?


How do you think Job felt


Do you think that he felt
That wicked people
Sometimes go unpunished


Do you think
He ever felt like
No place could ever be worse than this place


JOB WAS ALIVE


What if our job is
To bring a little bit of HEAVEN to earth


Murder, rape, sexual child abuse
Fraud---bilking our seniors out of their last pennies


If there is a place worse than this
I KNOW this
I don’t want to be there


This place can be bad enough


In Matthew 13---Jesus tells us this story,


“The kingdom of heaven
Is like a mustard seed
Which a man took and planted
In his field


Though it is the smallest
Of all your seeds
Yet when it grows
It is the largest of garden plants
And becomes a tree
So that the birds of the air
Come and birch in its branches” Matthew 13:31 & 32


I am NOT trying to say
That there is no hell
I KNOW BETTER than that


I’m just saying
What if it is our job
To plant a seed
While we are here on this earth
And let it grow
In to a little bit of heaven


Our world is under attack
Our country is under attack
Out families and children are under attack
And God, Christ, and our churches
Are under attack
From evil forces


Let us all PLANT some seeds
And watch them grow


“And I tell you
That you are Peter
And on this rock
I will build my church
And the gates of hell
Will not overcome it” Matthew 16:18


Robert P. Wallman
1-23-12




Ps MISC. WITNESS 8-15-14

THE ASSUMPTION

THE ASSUMPTION




The Assumption
Of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Is the principal feast
of churches
Dedicated to Mary
Without any further title


GOD NEEEDED MARY
To fulfill his plan for salvation
And Mary
IS the flesh and blood of Jesus
THE HOLY ONE
That the Lord
Would not allow to see corruption


The ASSUMTION
Refers to Mary’s
BEING ASSUMED both body and soul
To heavenly glory-


SHE DID NOT DIE


On November 1^st, 1950
Pope Pius XIIth
Solemnly proclaimed it
As a DIVINELY REVEALED truth


“That the IMMACULATE MOTHER OF GOD
The ever-virgin Mary
On the completion of her earthly life
Was assumed
Body and soul into heaven”


By the Vth century
August 15^th was kept at Jerusalem
As the commemoration
Of the Assumption
Of the BLESSED Virgin Mary


In determining
That the Assumption of Mary
Become DOGMA in faith
And with pressure
From every diocese in the world


Pope Pius XIIth
Asked two questions:

1. Do you judge
   

That the bodily assumption
Of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Can be proposed and defined
AS A DOGMA OF FAITH?

2. Do you
   

And your clergy and people
Desire it


The answer to both questions
Were a resounding yes


And then
We have the Coronation
Of Mary in Revelation 12:1


“A GREAT and wondrous sign
APPEARED in heaven:


A woman clothed with the sun
With the moon
Under her feet
And a crown of twelve stars
On her head”


Mary is so closely
Associated with the mysteries
Of Jesus’ life
From birth
To the first miracle-
The wedding feast at Cana
And being present
At the crucifixion


That it is not surprising
That the Holy Spirit
Has led the Church
TO BELIEF
In Mary’s share
In his glorification


She was SO CLOSE
To Jesus on earth
That she must be with him
BOTH BODYAND SOUL
IN HEAVEN


HENCE THE ASSUMPTION


Robert P. Wallman
8-13-13



PS 8-15-15

JOURNAL/PAY IT FORWARD

"You wicked servant!-I FORGAVE you your entire debt because you BEGGED me to---SHOULD you not have had pity on your fellow servant-as I had pity on you?"    Matthew 18:32-33

THE GOLDEN RULE states that we should TREAT OTHERS as we ourselves would like to be treated-
This rule EXTENDS to forgiveness too-ESPECIALLY forgiveness-WE are obliged to pay that GIFT forward to others

In the GOSPEL of Matthew-just before the quote above-Jesus EXPLAINS to Peter that we must forgive
"NOT 7x but 70 times 7x"-in other words-we must FORGIVE as OFTEN as we need to

it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a GREAT DAY to FORGIVE someone else for something that they NEED to be forgiven for-just as GOD AND JESUS forgave us OUR TOTAL DEBT


















PAY IT FORWARD




ONE of my most favorite movies
Is a movie called
PAY IT FORWARD


It is a 2000 movie
BASED on the novel
Of the same name


It boasts a stellar cast INCUDING:
Helen Hunt-Kevin Spacey-Haley Joe Osment
and many other names you would recognize
Including Angie Dickinson


But it is the THEME of the movie
That hit me
RIGHT in the heart


Osment is a seventh grade student
In Las Vegas, Nevada
And his social studies teacher (Spacey)
GIVES the class an assignment
To devise and put into action


“A plan
That would change the world
For the better”


What a novel thought
DO SOMETHING KIND or good
For someone
Rather than
Rape, steal, defraud, etc., etc., etc., someone


“God saw
ALL that he made
and it was very good” Genesis 1:31


MY GOD
What has happened to
This world
BETWEEN then and now-
Some 2,000 years later


“TASTE AND SEE
That the Lord is GOOD
BLESSED is the man
Who takes refuge in him” Psalm 34:8


In the movie,
“PAY IT FORWARD,”
The teacher asks the students
(including Osment)
To do three favors
For others
Rather than paying the favor back


But the favor
Must be a “MAJOR FAVOR”
That the receiver
Can't complete themselves


And isn't that the way
Our own lives are
Without GOD'S FAVOR in it


We were CREATED
In GOD'S own image
And if God can bestow
Life, love, forgiveness, and kindness
On us


Isn't that
The LEAST that we can do
For someone else


“Then God said:
'Let us make man
In our image- in our likeness'” Genesis 1:26


“For you created
My inmost being
You knit me together
In my mother's womb


I PRAISE YOU
For I am wonderfully made
Your WORKS are wonderful
I know that full well” Psalm 139:13-14


Whatever goodness lies in you
Pass it on
PAY IT FORWARD


Use it
To help someone else


In the movie
Osment (Trevor)
DOES FAVORS for three people
Asking each of them
To pass it on


Initially-with mixed results
-And ultimately
Costing Trevor his very own life


But our lives
BY NATURE
Have a cost-death


The BEST that we can HOPE for
IS to have a LASTING EFFECT
By taking all the BLESSINGS
That we have
And passing them on


PAY IT FORWARD


Robert P. Wallman
10-25-13




ps misc. WITNESS 2-6-14


ON SITES 8-14-14

JOURNAL/LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY

“NOW this is our BOAST---Our conscience TESTIFIES that we have CONDUCTED OURSELVES in the world-and especially in our relations with you---in the holiness and SINCERITY that are from God
---WE have done so NOT according to worldly wisdom-but according to GOD'S GRACE”
2 Corinthians 1:12


We either LIVE by worldly standards-OUR materialism-our sexual lust-our own needs-or by GODLY standards such as PEACE-LOVE -forgiveness-and KINDNESS




it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and LIVE by the spirit of GOD LIVING within us

LIVING IN PERFECT HARMONY


As Christians
One of the things
We are called on to do
Is to live IN PERFECT HARMONY
With one another


In HARMONY with God
And in harmony with one another


We do this
By making allowances
For others’ weaknesses
And by NOT making judgments
On one another


And we do it
Because CHRIST did it first
And he is OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE


“LIVE in HARMONY
With one another
Do not be proud
But be willing to associate
With people of low position
DO NOT BE CONCEITED” Romans 12:16


This is what Christ did


LOVE GOD
LOVE OTHERS
BE AT PEACE with the world


“FINALLY-ALL OF YOU
LIVE IN HARMONY
With one another


Be sympathetic-LOVE AS BROTHERS
BE COMPASSIONATE AND HUMBLE” 1 Peter 3:8


Do this
And you will be ONE


ONE WITH GOD
AND ONE WITH THE WORLD


Robert P. Wallman
5-23-13

Jane Frances de Chantal

WITNESS




8-12-13




JANE FRANCES de CHANTAL




Jane was a widow
And foundress
Of the Visitation Order


She married
At the age of 20
And three children died in infancy
But four survived


Jane was
A faithful wife
Devoted mother
And efficient housekeeper


After nine years of marriage
Her husband was killed
In a shooting accident


She took a vow of chastity
And in 1604
She met Francis de Sales
Who became her spiritual director
Until 1622—the year of his death


She benefited
From his wise guidance
As he stressed
Her duties as daughter
As mother
And as a member of society


Later she became a nun
And with Francis-founded an order
Whose purpose
Was to enable women of delicate health
To live a religious life
Outside of a cloister


Francis inaugurated
This order of nuns in 1610
With Jane as superior
Of about a dozen other nuns


They eventually had to agree
To the nuns being enclosed
Which Francis thought taught
The importance of humility and meekness
Which was embraced
By the prudence and dedication of Jane


Vincent de Paul described Jane
“As one of the holiest of souls
That I have ever met”


All this time
Jane had been concerned
With problems within her own family


In later years
She made systematic visits
To all the houses in her order


She died at the age of 69
And her feast day is December 12^th


Robert P. Wallman
8-27-12


Ps I had an Aunt on my mom’s side of the family who was
A cloistered Visitation nun. As children, our family would
Go and visit her-we would look at her through a screen-except
One day a year the public could visit them openly-which we did.


Aunt Mary died when I was a young adult. I attended her funeral
With my family. She was buried in a simple plain pine box.
God bless you Aunt Mary.


With Love,


Bob---9-6-12




WITNESS 8-12-13
8-12-14

JOURNAL/FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD

"UNLESS you turn and BECOME like children........"       Matthew 18:3

Jesus is TRYING to TEACH us to EMBRACE LIFE with the wonder of a child-to TREAT EACH MOMENT as a GIFT and have INNOCENCE in our heart for LIFE AND OTHERS

it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S PURE LIFE for us and a GREAT DAY to embrace life
WITH CHILDLIKE INNOCENCE

“For the Love of a Child”

Dedicated to my Mother and all the Mothers of the World

For the love of a child

I will never quit trying

For the love of a child

I will never quit trying

Even if I am dying

For the love of a child

God can do all things

For the love of a child

He can even give us wings

So if there is a child

A child out there

Who is hurting and confused

Don’t give up

God can do all things

For the love of a child

And God will do all things

For the love of a child

For the love of a child

God will give us hope

He won’t let us down (or you)

Just give him some time

For the love of a child

I will never give up

Even if I am dying

God can do

God will do all things

For the love of a child

4/13/06         Robert  P.  Wallman

PS        MISC.       WITNESS        8-12-14

JOURNAL/WAITING ON THE LORD

"WHEN they came to CAPERNAUM, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, 'DOES not your teacher pay the temple tax?'  'YES'-Peter says"    Matthew 17-24-25

BUT the truth is-as usual-Peter is quick to speak without KNOWING the consequences of his actions

AND as usual-Jesus is QUICK to bail Peter out-as he often BAILS us out-by PROVIDING a very special fish-ONE-with a coin in its mouth

Dear Lord-we PRAY that we are SLOW to speak and SLOW to anger today-and we pray that you HELP US see WHERE you are leading us today

it is INDEED a great day to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us today
Dear Lord-PLEASE bring us PATIENCE today












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

SAINT CLARE-THE PATRON SAINT OF TELEVISION

WITNESS




8-11-13




THE PATRON SAINT OF TELEVISION-SAINT CLARE




She was born in Assisi, Italy
But nothing is known
Of her early life


At 18
She was so moved
By the teachings of Saint Francis
She became
One of his followers


She renounced
All of her possessions
And took the habit of a nun


She then
Joined the religious life
And Francis offered her
And her companions
A small house
Next to the church at San Damiano


She became the abbess
Of a community of women
Who lived
According to the rule
And spirit of Saint Francis


This group included Clare, Clare’s mother
Two of her sisters
And some wealthy members from Florence, Italy


Their way of life
Was one of extreme poverty
And austerity
They lived entirely by alms
And renounced all rents


Like the Franciscans
The “Poor Clares”
Spread to other parts of Europe
Especially Spain


Clare lived in Assisi
Her entire life
And was considered
One of the great contemplatives
Of her generation


She adopted Francis’ ideals
Including his love of nature
Which continued
Long after Francis’ death


For the last 27 years of her life
She had various illnesses
And was sometimes bedridden
But she never lost her devotion
To the other nuns
Or to the town of Assisi


She was canonized
Two years after her death
And the Poor Clares
Continue to today
As a contemplative order
Still distinguished by the ideals
In which it was founded


Today-August 11^th-is her feast day
And she is considered to be
THE PATRON SAINT OF TELEVISION


Robert P. Wallman
August 9^th, 2012


Ps Today-is my niece Stephanie’s 19th birthday
She took the name of Clare as her confirmation name




WITNESS 8-11-14

FALLING BACK ON OUR FAITH

FALLING BACK ON OUR FAITH


There are many examples
In NATURE
Where firm foundations
PROVIDE the keys
And support to life


One such example
Is the TREE


The tree grows
Its roots
FAR into the ground
In order
To find support
And stabilization


And that is
WHAT GOD
Does for us


The DEEPER our faith
The stronger we are
And the more
WE CAN WITHSTAND


“If you do not
STAND FIRM in your faith
You will not stand
At all” Isaiah 7:9


Just as the wind
ALLOWS the tree
To stand firm
In the strong winds


OUR FAITH allows us
To stand firm
In the problems
And tragedies of life


But we must be careful
NOT to try and stand
And fall back
On ourselves


We must stand
On the STENGTH and firmness of GOD


STAND FIRM
Stand with faith
On the strength of God


We NEED a strong
LIVING FAITH in God
In order
To SUSTAIN ourselves
In the winds of life


When our hearts
Are BROKEN by loss
In the tragedies of life
Whether they be health-money-or relationship oriented


“He lifted me out
Of the slimy pit
Out of mud and mire


He set my feet
On a rock
And gave me
A FIRM PLACE
To stand” Psalm 40:2


STAND FIRM
On God
When the problems come


Stand firm
On your faith in him


“And the Lord said,
'LISTEN to what
The UNJUST judge says


And will not God
BRING about JUSTICE
For his chosen ones
Who cry out to him
Day and night


Will he
Keep putting them off


I tell you
He will see
That they get justice
And quickly


However
When the SON OF MAN comes
Will he find such faith
On earth'” Matthew 18:6-8
(The story of the PERSISTENT WIDOW)


I say YES
Won't you join me?


He will FIND that faith
In us
THE FAITH
That builds its life
On rock


ON GOD'S LOVE-KINDNESS-AND MERCY


NOT on the material things
Of this world
Or fame and fortune


FAITH-that when
The strong winds come
We will stand
FIRM ON OUR FAITH in God


Not on the faith
Of man


For like that tree
OUR ROOTS ARE DEEP


And BUILT on our faith
AND THE STRENGTH OF GOD


Robert P. Wallman
July 17^th, 2014


Ps INSPIRED by an article in Living Faith Magazine by Father James Stephen Behrens, O.C.S.O.