NEVER complain about your cross being too heavy

FOR as the life-death-and RESURRECTION of Jesus taught us=that the cross is
THE ONLY WAY to SALVATION

And as Jesus said:

       "IF any man will come after me-let him deny himself-and take up his cross-and FOLLOW ME"

There once was a man who didn't like the hand he had been dealt in life-he thought God  gave him a
CROSS that was too heavy

SO God took him down the road-with crosses of every shape and size-and God says to the man
"PICK UP any cross that you want=and leave yours here"

THE MAN-knowing what he had-and it was manageable=decided to KEEP his very own cross

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to CARRY our cross
for the LOVE of OUR LORD and a great day-to HELP OTHERS carry their cross

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING"

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

WHEN we see children

Acting foolishly

Have you ever said

Or felt like saying

        “WHAT are you doing”

Or maybe you have

WANTED to say to God

        “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

When he answers our prayers

IN a totally foreign way

To what we asked for

Or what we HOPED for

I AM SURE Job wanted  to say that

BUT what he said was

“WHO can say to God

‘WHAT are you doing’”                                                            Job 9:12

I have learned

(IN the long run)

That God’s PLAN

Is much more fruitful

Than my own plan

TRUST in God’s will

He KNOWS more about you

Than you know

About yourself

He knows

What is BEST for you

And he is not

Going to give you more

That you can handle

HIS PLAN for you

IS BEST

“IN GOD-I trust

I will not be afraid of

What can mortal man

Do to me?”                                                                      Psalm 56:4

When we LIFT

OUR eyes to God

And cry out:

“What are you doing to me?”

We are saying to God

“I know better

You must be

Doing something wrong”

TRUST in GOD’S PLAN

For your life

He does know better

“TRUST in the Lord

With ALL your heart

And lean not

On your own understanding”                                            Proverbs 3:5

Our God

Is the CREATOR

Of the universe

He is our SOURCE

Of CONSTANT help

And healing

We must learn

NOT to point our fingers

At God

And learn to HOLD

The hand of our God

The ONE who is always there

To HELP

And see us through

DIFFICULT times

So don’t say to God

“What are you doing?”

For our God

WILL say to you

Will say to us

“FOR I know the plans

I have for you

Declares the Lord

PLANS to prosper you

And NOT harm you

Plans to give you HOPE

And a FUTURE”                                                     Jeremiah 29:11

TRUST in God’s will

He knows

WHAT HE IS DOING

Robert P. Wallman

11-18-14

Ps        INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Steve Givens

"

JOURNAL/PERSISTENCE-PERSEVERANCE

JOURNAL/PERSISTENCE-PERSEVERANCE




“Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to PRAY ALWAYS without becoming weary.....'because the widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a JUST DECISION for her lest she finally come out and strike me'” Luke 18:1, 5




BY keeping on PRAYING-that does NOT necessarily mean that the ANSWER to your prayers are going to be YES-but what it does mean-by KEEPING on turning to GOD in prayer-your worry will be TRANSFORMED into FAITH-meaning that whatever the outcome of your prayer- you can count on GOD to lead the way


It does NOT mean that God will necessarily give you what you want-but it does mean-that he will GIVE you what you NEED


Jesus tells us we are to PRAY ALWAYS-and entrust our needs and concerns into God's HANDS-and by doing this-WE will never LOSE HEART and we will FIND FAITH




it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to PRAY to God without ceasing-YOUR HOPE is in GOD-NOT in the things or the people of this world










PERSISTENCE-PERSEVERANCE




THERE is a beautiful lesson
On the VALUE of PERSISTENCE
In approaching God
In PRAYER


PERSISTENCE is defined as-
“The act or a fact of persistence
The quality or state of being persistent
ESPECIALLY PERSEVERANCE”


In the 15^th chapter
Of Saint Matthew's gospel
A Canaanite woman approaches Jesus
(she is NOT JEWISH)


“LORD-son of David
have mercy on me


My daughter is suffering terrible
From demon possession”


Jesus does not utter a word


His disciples approach him and say,


“SEND her away
For she keeps crying out
After us”


Jesus replies,
“I was sent
ONLY to the lost sheep
Of Israel” (the Jewish)


Then the woman
Comes and kneels by Jesus
And says,
“Lord-help me”


Jesus says,
“It is not right
To take
The children's bread
And toss it
To their dogs”


“YES Lord,” the woman says
“BUT even the dogs
Eat the crumbs
That fall from their master's table”


TALK ABOUT FAITH
Talk about persistence and perseverance


Jesus is so moved-he answers,
“Woman you have great faith
Your request is granted”


And that moment
Her daughter was healed
(Matthew 15:21-28)


WE can all think
Of many reasons
WHY our prayers
Will not be answered
By God


We are sinners
We have not loved
As Jesus has asked us
We feel like outsiders


All of this
Is true enough


BUT do we have
The faith
The persistence
The perseverance
Of the Canaanite woman


Persist
PERSEVERE in prayer
Have faith in God
Have faith in Jesus


The Canaanite woman
Was not
One of the chosen people


Perseverance
Simply means
STANDING FIRM in faith


Be persistent
Be persevering
In your prayers to the Lord


He will not say NO


“BECAUSE you know that
The testing of your faith
Develops perseverance


PERSEVERANCE
Must finish its work
So that you may be mature
And complete
Not lacking anything


IF any of you
Lacks wisdom
He should ask God
Who gives generously to all
Without finding fault
And it will be given to him” James 1:3-6


I heard a story
About a Catholic priest
Who was visiting a dying man


The dying man said,
“I don't know
IF the Lord
WILL take me in”


The priest said,
“Just ask”


And that IS the two things
That we all need
WHEN we come to the Lord
In prayer


FAITH AND PERSISTENCE (perseverance)


Robert P. Wallman
August 19^th, 2014




Ps Inspired by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti




11-15-14

JOURNAL/FINDING MEANING IN LIFE

JOURNAL/FINDING MEANING IN LIFE




“WHOEVER seek to preserve his life will LOSE IT-but whoever loses it will SAVE it” Luke 17:33


HOW do we lose our life for Jesus in today's world? And how do we find it.---ALTHOUGH-there are STILL martyrs in today's world-Jesus is not talking about that-HE IS talking about BEING THERE for our neighbor and BEING KIND-HE IS talking about being there for our family-friends-and NEIGHBORS in NEED


WE CAN give someone a ride to the Doctor's or hospital-WE CAN visit a sick friend-WE CAN LISTEN to someone WHEN they need someone to listen-THERE are countless opportunities to HELP
another


DEAR LORD-please HELP US to learn what it means to lose our life for your sake and FIND OURSELVES in your LOVE-it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in your never ending LOVE for us








WITNESS




9-14-13




FINDING MEANING IN LIFE


Where do you find meaning
In your life
Is it family
Is it friends
Is it some worthwhile cause
Greater than you


All worthy
All worthwhile
All very important


But I suggest to you
That you can never
Really truly find yourself
And the meaning of life
Until you find God


“For whoever finds me finds life
And receives favor from the Lord
But whoever fails to find me
Harms himself
All who hate me love death” Proverbs 8:35-36


Leo Tolstoy was a great great man
Rich in wealth and fame
With a beautiful wife
But as time went on
He suffered serious bouts of depression
And even contemplated suicide


But he eventually
Found peace by reading the Bible
Particularly Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount
He dedicated the rest of his days
To building the Kingdom of God
On earth


“Whoever finds his life
Will lose it
And whoever loses his life
For my sake
Will find it” Matthew 10:39


Saint Augustine
Was a womanizer
And living a lost life
He even had
A mistress and an illegitimate son
His Mother---Saint Monica
Continued to pray for him
And his conversion


Augustine
Felt a deep yearning
For something more in his life
One day he just flipped open the Bible
And it opened to:


“Let us conduct ourselves properly
And in the day
Not in orgies and drunkenness
Not in promiscuity and licentiousness
Not in rivalry and jealousy
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ
And make no provision
For the desires of the flesh” Romans 13:13-14


Leo Tolstoy found God
Saint Augustine found God
How about you
How about me


“You have made us for yourselves,
Oh Lord,
And our hearts are restless
Until they rest in you” Saint Augustine


In 1977
I had one life and death operation
Two more were to come that same year


For most of that year
I was flat on my back in my room
Unable to get out of my bed
It was then that I began
A deep deep search to find God


Jesus taught us how to pray
Many many years ago,
“Go in your room alone
Close the door
And pray to your Father in secret
And your Father
Who sees in secret
Will repay you” Matthew 6:6


Life is a journey
Not a destination
And along the way
I found God


Family has stepped up
For me
Friends have stepped forward
For me
Churches have stepped forward
For me


Where do you find your meaning in life
Family, friends, a cause greater than yourself


“Seek first the KINGDOM OF GOD
And all these things
Will be given to you” Luke 12:31


WE ARE ALL
CHILDREN OF GOD


Robert P. Wallman
4-22-11




*Inspired by The Word Among Us”---March 9^th to April 23^rd issue




Ps WITNESS 9-14-13


MISC. WITNESS 4-7-14--------11-14-14

JOURNAL/THE LATCH IS ON THE INSIDE

JOURNAL/THE LATCH IS ON THE INSIDE


“”For behold-the KINGDOM of God is WITHIN YOU” Luke 17:21


Are you like me? Have you looked for God in this place or that? Have you run from church to church looking for God?


Jesus says “NO”-LOOK WITHIN yourself-look within your heart-DEVELOP a personal relationship with Jesus-it is THERE that you WILL FIND God


WE SEE the KINGDOM within-WHEN we respond to someone with KINDNESS and GENTLENESS
-we see the kingdom WITHIN when we move to TREAT others with COMPASSION and CHARITY and NOT JUDGMENT-LOOK WITHIN-the KINGDOM of God is AS CLOSE as our own hearts


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's LOVE for us and a great day to FIND GOD living WITHIN our own hearts








THE LATCH IS ON THE INSIDE




In the 22^nd chapter
Of Saint Matthew’s Gospel
Jesus again---tells us a story
He tells us
That the Kingdom of God
Is like a wedding banquet


How many of you
Like going to the weddings
Of your relatives or friends


Getting all dressed up in your Sunday best
Having a fancy dinner
Listening to music
Just having an evening of fun and relaxation


I know I do


So Jesus sends his servants out
To invite everyone to the wedding
But they all decided to do other things


They even kill the servants
And the king becomes enraged


The Kingdom of God
Is like that


There is an open invitation to us all


So the King sends out his servants again
And they bring in everyone they could find


Both good and bad off the streets


“But when you give a banquet
Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind
And you will be blessed
Although they cannot repay you
You will be repaid
At the Resurrection
Of the righteous” Luke 14 13 & 14


So always remember
We are invited in to God’s Kingdom
We are ALL chosen by God
Whether or not we accept this invitation
Or not
Is up to us


THE LATCH IS ON THE INSIDE


Robert P. Wallman
5-11-11




ps misc. WITNESS 3-3-14


11-13-14

JOURNAL/LOVE-THE ONLY DREAM WORTH LIVING

JOURNAL-LOVE-THE ONLY DREAM WORTH LIVING




“The Lord is my SHEPHERD; I shall not want
IN VERDANT PASTURES-he gives me repose
Beside RESTFUL WATERS he leads me
He REFRESHES my SOUL” Psalm 23:1-3


I have ALWAYS LOVED the 23^rd psalm-WHERE do you FIND the VERDANT PASTURES in your life-or the RESTFUL WATERS


FOR me-it is in my home-in my bedroom at rest-or WHEN I FIND the time to write new poetry-while looking at the lake outside of my apartment-or WHEN at the OCEAN-wherever it is for you-I am sure that it is a place that BRINGS you peace-and I AM SURE that it is a place that reminds you of HOW MUCH LOVE God has for you-as it does me


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to RECOGNIZE the green pastures and fresh waters-and SPEND TIME with God there today












LOVE-A DREAM WORTH LIVING




“IF I have ALL FAITH
So as to move mountains
But I do not have love
I AM NOTHING” 1 Corinthians 13:2


WHEN I was younger
In my late teens
In my early 20's
I had a PLAN A


And Plan A
Was to meet someone
Settle down
Have a family and a career
And LIVE HAPPILY ever after


And I am SURE
There are those of you
That had that same dream
As I


It's funny
HOW things work out


MY WHOLE LIFE
Changed on my 22^nd birthday
With an operation


AND GOD
Brought me back to him


And maybe GOD
HAS BROUGHT YOU
Back to him
In some other way


I HOPE SO


For there are many of us
Out there
Who have lost track
Of themselves
And their dreams
Of CHANGING the world


By living the wrong dream
And they can't
FIND THEIR WAY
Back to God


Love is
THE ONLY DREAM
Worth living


“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


As we
Go about our journey
In life
We forget
That love


THE GIVING AND RECEIVING
Of love
IS the only dream
Worth living


NO OTHER
Kind of investment
Of our time and treasure
WILL BRING us peace


The funny thing
About love
Is that
The more we give
THE MORE we have to give


GOD-YOU ARE LOVE
YOU ARE my very life
You are the ONLY DREAM
Worth Living


Robert P. Wallman
9-17-14


Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Steve Givens



11-12-14

JOURNAL/TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LIVES

JOURNAL/TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LIVES




“WHEN you have done ALL you have been commanded say-'WE are unprofitable servants; we have done what we are OBLIGED to do'” Luke 17:10




TODAY-I want to salute ALL those VETERANS who are RESPONSIBLE for the physical freedom we have in our life-they STOOD and fought for us-and many gave up their own lives for us-THANK YOU


AND I want to say THANK YOU to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the spiritual and emotional FREEDOM that I am able to LIVE WITH


And as an apostle of Christ in the 21^st century-we too have been called to SERVE OUR LORD-by LOVING and FORGIVING others and by living with KINDNESS and compassion toward others


As disciples-we are to LIVE in TRUE HUMILITY-and do our duty-SAY YES TO GOD-Say yes to Jesus-love and forgive-SIMPLY do your CHRISTIAN DUTY


it is a great day to BE ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to be AWAKE to our calling-do our duty-and say YES to God










TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LIVES










You wouldn’t know it
By watching the 5 o’clock news
But we are all
Going to be held responsible
HELD accountable for our own lives


But today---in our culture
All you hear is---
“He did this to me---
Or it wasn’t my fault---she did it”


We ALL have had the experience
Of doing wrong in our life
And tried to EXPLAIN it away
With an excuse
Or by dragging someone else in to it
To share the blame


WE NEED to be a little more like David, who said,
“I am the one
Who sinned and done wrong
These are but sheep
What have they done?” 2 Samuel 24:17


When was the last time
In our culture---you heard someone stand up and say---
“Yes I did it---it was my fault---
I take responsibility for my actions”


It has been so long
I can’t even remember when


Instead---all we hear about
Is lawyers getting their clients off on technicalities
And frivolous lawsuit after lawsuit


It takes honesty and humility
To stand up, and say,
“It is I who have done wrong,”
As David did


And finally, Dear Lord,
We must remember
That we are NOT only responsible
For what we do
But also
For what we don’t do


If we have the capacity
To help someone
And we don’t---well
Look at what John wrote,


“This is how we know
What love is
Jesus Christ laid down his life
For us


And we ought to
Lay down our lives
For our brothers


If anyone
Has material possessions
And sees his brother in need
But has no pity on him
How can the love of God
Be in him


Dear children
Let us not love with words---or tongue
But with actions and in truth” 1 John 3:16-18


Dear friends
Only one had a blameless life
And it wasn’t you or me


And so dear Lord---we pray
That when called upon
We have the courage to stand up and say,


“I did it---or I didn’t do it”


Robert P. Wallman
2-2-12




11-11-14

WHO DO YOU TRUST?

WHO DO YOU TRUST?




Who do you TRUST


LOOK at any coin
or US currency
And somewhere on it
it says:


“IN GOD WE TRUST”


I suggest to you
That that is the reason
We have so much TROUBLE
In our country
So much trouble
In our world


We really don't trust God
Anymore
We want to put
ALL of our trust
In ourselves


Well I got some news
For you
No one-no human being
Can do it alone
NOT without HELP from God
Not without help
From others


Psalm 56 says:


“NOW that I know
That God is with me
In God I TRUST” Psalm 56:10, 12


WE can make it
OUR country can make it
OUR WORLD can make it


But NOT before
We LEARN
To rely on God


Psalm 56 says
GOD is on our side


THE GOD OF LOVE
Calls you and me
LOVES you and me
And finds us
Unique and delightful


Just imagine
WHAT would really happen
How we would
LIVE OUR LOVES
IF we really believed this


And psalm 37 says:


“TRUST in the Lord
And do good
Dwell in the land
And enjoy safe pasture


DELIGHT yourself
In the Lord


And he will give you
THE DESIRES of your heart” Psalm 37:3-4


TRUST in God
He LOVES YOU
He wants
What is BEST for you


He is a GOD
That is more than
Merely with us


He is a God
THAT is on our side


And in Proverbs 3
It says:


“TRUST in the Lord
With ALL your heart
Lean not
On your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5


The writers of the psalms
And proverbs
DON'T say


“In my own goodness
And intelligence I TRUST”


OR


“In good health-and material possessions
I trust”


They say
“IN GOD WE TRUST”


Put a penny
Or a $ bill
In your pocket
And any time
YOUR FAITH is weakening
PULL it out and read
“IN GOD WE TRUST”


Dear Lord
We PRAY that we always remember


YOU are on my side
It is you that I trust


And we pray for the GRACE
To live by:


“IN GOD WE TRUST”


Robert p. Wallman
10-10-14


Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITHMAGAZINE by Sister Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.

JOURNAL/UNCONDITIONAL AND UNENDING

JOURNAL/UNCONDITIONAL AND UNENDING




“DO you NOT KNOW that you are the temple of GOD-and that the spirit of GOD DWELL SIN YOU”
1 Corinthians 3:16




WE SHINE when we LIVE in the SPIRIT of God-and Saint Paul tells us in Galatians what that SPIRIT is: “the fruit of the SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”


WHEN we are LIVING in the spirit of God-there is NOTHING in this world that can take us down-the LIFE of Jesus Christ PROVED that-sometimes it is hard to see GOD'S own spirit living in us-but when we see it in others-we RECOGNIZE it-you POSSESS that same SPIRIT too-OFFER UP your life to God and REMEMBER to BE KIND-BE KIND-BE KIND


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE and a GREAT DAY for living in the HOLY SPIRIT
of God


















UNCONDITIONAL AND UNENDING




Unconditional and unending
That is what GOD'S LOVE is
For you


Do you believe that


The same-as a father
Or mother's love
For their VERY OWN CHILDREN


“WHICH one of you
Would hand his son a stone
When he asks
For a loaf of bread” Matthew 7:9


That is
Who and what God is to us
OUR PARENT


He gives us time
He gives us energy
And is utterly SELFLESS
In making himself available
To us


He loves us immeasurably
He cares for us immeasurably
And his love
Is UNCONDITIONAL and UNENDING
The SAME as a parent
For their very own children


Love unconditional
Love unending
Love untraditional
Love FOREVER from our God


His love is UNFAILING


“The Lord
Loves righteousness and justice
The earth is full
Of his unfailing love” Psalm 33:5


“What a man desires
Is UNFAILING LOVE” Proverbs 19:22
(BETTER to be poor than a liar)


And that is what we get
From God our Father
We-us
His adoptive sons-and daughters
And the brother
Of OUR LORD and Savior
Jesus Christ


“And because
You are sons
God has sent his spirit
Into your hearts


CRYING ABBA FATHER


Where you are no more
A servant
But a son ( and daughter )
And if a son
Then an heir
Of God through Christ” Galatians 4:6-7


An heir-like Christ
To UNCONDITIONAL-UNENDING-
EVERLASTING-and ETERNAL LOVE


What can be more comforting
Than that


Robert P. Wallman
3-15-14




11-9-14

JOURNAL/THE BIGGEST TRAGEDY

JOURNAL/THE BIGGEST TRAGEDY




“I have the STRENGTH for everything through him who EMPOWERS me-STILL-it was KIND of you to SHARE in my distress” Philippians 4:13-14


WE are LIVING in TOUGH times-SO MANY of you have asked for PRAYERS for one reason or another-and BE ASSURED I am keeping you ALL in prayer daily


As a missionary-Paul's biggest strength-was his SELF-SUFFICIENCY-but even he realized we are ALL dependent on GOD for one thing or another-”NO LONGER I-but Christ who lives in me” Galatians 2:20


The Philippians pleased Paul greatly-NOT only for the monetary gift that he thanked them for above-but even more so the SPIRITUAL MATURITY and GROWTH that the giving of the GIFT indicated-SO as we CONTINUE on our JOURNEY TOGETHER through life-our biggest NEED continues to be the AWARENESS OF GOD in each of our lives-and the need to LOVE ONE ANOTHER and to treat each other with COMPASSION-because this SHOWS we too are LIVING OUR FAITH-as the PHILIPPIANS were


DEAR Lord-we thank you for the GIFT OF LIFE that you bestow on us-and for the GIFT of the gospel of LOVE that you plant FIRMLY in our hearts














THE BIGGEST TRAGEDY




We all face tragedies in life


Loss of love ones
Our own health problems and mortality
Financial pressures
And relationship problems


But I think
The biggest tragedy in life
Is to live our entire life
Without developing a personal relationship
With our God---with our Creator


So many of us
Live our entire lives
Without getting to know God


What could be sadder than that


In other words
We become exiled from God
By our own choosing


But for those of us
Who take the time
To get to know God
Who share the best part
Of ourselves with our Creator


The worst part of ourselves
With our creator


ALL of ourselves with our God
The rewards are NEVER ENDING


Our heart will be
Forever restless
Until we rest in you Oh Lord


“I know
That my Redeemer lives
And that in the end
He will stand upon the earth” Job 19:25


For if we
Do not share our lives
With our God
When we do face the tragedies
Of this world
Death-illness-financial ruin
Who will we run to


Will we run away
From God
When things get tough
Or will we
Run towards God


Like Peter said to Christ,
“Where would we run to
You possess the words of eternal life” John 6:68-69


So when you
Face the tragedies
Of your life
Turn towards God
Not away from him


Don’t compound the tragedy


Turn towards God
Become even closer


KNOW him
LOVE him
SERVE him
And let him serve you


For God says,
“I will strengthen you
And help you
I will uphold you
With my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10


Don’t turn away
TURN TOWARDS


Don’t commit the biggest tragedy
Commit the BIGGEST ACT OF FAITH
Turn towards God


And your tragedies
Will turn into blessings


“BLESSINGS crown
The head of the righteous” Proverbs 10:6


“I will BLESS them
And the places surrounding my hill
I will send down showers in season
There will be SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS” Ezekiel 34:26


So when you face the tragedies of your life
Turn towards God with faith
And your biggest tragedies
Will turn into BLESSINGS


Robert P. Wallman
8-30-12




ps misc. WITNESS 2-24-14




11-8-14

JOURNAL/SHAME

JOURNAL/SHAME




“Their end is destruction-their God IS their stomach-their glory is their SHAME-THEIR MINDS are occupied with earthly things” Philippians 3:19


EACH TIME-before I eat-I TRY to thank God for the FOOD and ALL the other BLESSINGS that I RECEIVE from GOD and from others-IN FACT-I AM of the opinion that you cannot say thank you ENOUGH


MANY try to LIVE by the things of this world-IN the long run-earthly existence cannot satisfy you-sooner or later we face a CRISIS-it is PRECISELY at that time that you NEED GOD and Jesus-”YOU WILL NEVER KNOW that God is all that you NEED-until God is all that you got”-That is what happened to me-and that is WHERE I FOUND MY FAITH


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to KNOW that we NEVER NEED to feel shame again-Jesus took our shame away














SHAME




Have you ever
Done anything
That you are ashamed of


I have
I used to have
A couple of bad habits
That I repeated
Over and over again


But as I have
Gotten older
And MATURED
I have moved away
From those bad habits


I have gotten
SO CLOSE to God
That I never
Want to offend him again


I want God to say-He's,
“A man after my own heart”
As he said of David 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22


Or Job
To whom the Lord said:


“Hast thou considered
My servant Job
That there
Is none like him
In the earth


A perfect and upright man
One that feareth God
And escheweth evil?” Job 1:8


In fact
I want to be so good
And so upright
That my God
IS so proud of me
And my behavior


That he considers
Me (and you)
Like his own Son-Jesus


I never want
My God
To have to feel
Ashamed of me again


Shame is defined as:


“A painful emotion
Caused by a
STRONG sense of guilt-embarrassment-
Unworthiness-or disgrace”


SHAME-not me-not you
We are
BUILDING our lives
On the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God


Shame-NEVER again
We are CHILDREN of the Lord
We are BROTHERS AND SISTERS of Christ


“The SPIRIT itself
BEARS WITNESS
With our spirit


That we are
The children of God” Romans 8:16


We ARE
The brothers and sisters
Of Christ


“Those who look on him
Are RADIANT


Their faces
ARE never covered with shame” Psalm 34:5


And that's
What we are
CHILDREN OF GOD


Living life
The right way


LIVING LIFE GOD'S WAY


Living in the righteousness
And glory of God


“Let us FIX
Our eyes on Jesus
The author
And perfecter of our faith


Who for the JOY
Set before him
ENDURED the cross
Scorning its shame


And sat down
At the right hand
Of the throne of God


CONSIDER him
Who endured such opposition
From sinful men
So that you
Will NOT grow weary
And lose heart” Hebrews 12:2-3


Lose heart-NOT US
SHAMED-NOT US
He took our shame away


We are living
On the GLORY
AND IN THE GLORY OF GOD


Robert P. Wallman
July 28^th, 2014




Ps 11-7-14

TIME=HONOR IT

TIME-HONOR IT




We live in an INFINITE world
Of TIME


We don't know
WHEN it began


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


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


OUR LIVES
will one day end


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


LOVE OFTEN-forgive much
MAKE this world a better place


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


IF you ever
have the time
Read ALL of psalm 90


It is a MESSAGE
About the beautiful fragility
Of human life


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


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


SO TREASURE it-HONOR IT
Make the most of it


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


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


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


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


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


And from those
Who pursue me” Psalm 31:15


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


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


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


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


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


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


Robert P. Wallman
October 14^th, 2014




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

JOURNAL/RETURNING HOME

JOURNAL/RETURNING HOME




“What woman having ten coins and losing ONE would not light a lamp and sweep the house-searching carefully UNTIL SHE FINDS IT?” Luke 15:8


The 15th chapter of Saint Luke's GOSPEL is one of my favorite books-it is about one lost coin-one lost sheep-and ONE LONG LOST SON returning home after throwing away his life on wine-women-and song-it is about the lengths that GOD will go to FIND YOU when you are lost on this journey we call life


Jesus tells us and TEACHES US that it is the sinner-the lost-who NEED his HELP-NOT the righteous-and as CHRISTIANS-it is up to us to go out and help the lost too-LORD-let us follow your example and HELP those that are lost on the highway of LIFE


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in God's LOVE for us-and a great day-to HELP those who have LOST GOD in their life-to FIND HIM AGAIN


WITNES




8-14-13




RETURNING HOME




Picture This:


You are a parent-a man or woman
Of between 50 and 60
Your grown-up child comes to you
And says:


“Give me my share
Of the inheritance
And I will go away
And never bother you again”


You RESENT it
But you do it


And your child goes away
Spends ALL of his or her money
On gambling, drinking, and member
Of the opposite sex


The years come
And the years go
And finally your child
Comes home
And says


“I am sorry
I am no longer worthy
To be called your child”


He or she
Comes to BEG for anything
You would/or could give him


But before your child
Makes it to the door
You run to him or her
HUG them
And throw
A party for them


This is
EXACTLY the story
Of the Prodigal Son
In chapter 15 Of Saint Luke’s Gospel


Jesus tells this story
In response to the complaints
Of the Pharisees and teachers of the law
Who are complaining
About Jesus eating with sinners


“This man welcomes sinners
And eats with them” Luke 15:2


It’s terribly easy
To resent the rule breakers of society
And say
“They shouldn’t get away with it”


But if you’ve been away from God
And the church
For a long time


I invite you
To read chapter 15
Of Saint Luke’s Gospel
About one lost sheep
About one lost coin
And about one lost son
Returning home to his father


That’s the way
It is with OUR God
You always get ANOTHER CHANCE


OUR LIVES
Are all about


RETURNING HOME


Robert P. Wallman
3-14-13




Ps WITNESS 8-14-13




MISC WITNESS 5-13-14 and 11-6-14

JOURNAL/BITE YOUR TONGUE AND COUNT TO TEN

JOURNAL/BITE YOUR TONGUE AND COUNT TO TEN




“Do everything WITHOUT grumbling or questioning........” Philippians 2:14




Have you EVER told your child to do something-THEY do it-but they grumble and complain the WHOLE TIME-something tells me that that is the way we are with GOD sometimes-WE are OBEDIENT-but NOT very happy about it


WE are LIKE a little child


Ans then there are those times in life that we LOSE our temper with others-NOT very loving to our neighbor is it-BREAKING the whole foundation of the second commandment-maybe NOT like the PRODIGAL SON in Luke's 15^th chapter-but more like the older brother than we care to admit-SOME-HOW I think in our Lord's mind just as guilty as the PRODIGAL


MAYBE we all need to MATURE and grow up a little bit


IT is a GREAT DAY to BE ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to HOLD our tongue and just be OBEDIENT to GOD'S WORD


















BITE YOUR TONGUE
AND COUNT TO TEN




Have you ever
Lost your temper


Have you
Ever seen red
And said something hurtful-
Very nasty to someone


Or worse yet
Did something physical
To someone
In a weak moment


I have lost my temper
A few times in my life-
NEVER-in a physical confrontation
BUT a few times
I have said something hurtful
To someone


And though I felt
Justified at the time
Later on-
I was sorry
I had lost control


THANK GOD-our God
Is NOT like that
With us


“You-Oh Lord
Are merciful and gracious
SLOW to anger
Abiding in KINDNESS
And fidelity” Psalm 86:15


It has been
A long time
Since I really
LOST IT on someone


I TRY to
BITE my tongue
and count to ten


I really try to
ABOUND in kindness
To others now
No matter
HOW I am received by them


That is what the Lord does
And I am SURE
That is how
He wants us to
Act toward others


Our anger
Should always be tempered
WITH MERCY


“The Lord is
COMPASSIONATE and gracious
Slow to anger
Abounding IN LOVE” Psalm 103:8


And that is the way
We are SUPPOSED to be


Anger produces
A sudden rush of adrenaline
That flows
Into our system
Urging us to
REACT immediately


We must be as SLOW
In response
As our Lord is
And we must
TEMPER it with LOVE


So since
God is slow to anger
With us


And abounds
In mercy and kindness
Towards each of us


We should be
Willing to EXTEND
That same MERCIFUL quality
Toward others


So Dear Lord
WE PRAY
As we face irritations
In our day


HELP us not
To say all
That comes to mind


Help us
TO BITE our tongue
And COUNT TO TEN
Before we react


And TEACH us
To react
With patience and mercy and love
TODAY


Help us to be
“SLOW to anger
And ABOUNDING in mercy and love”


Robert P. Wallman
July 29^th, 2014


Ps INSPIRED by an article in Living Faith Magazine by Father James McKarns

JOURNAL/NOT EQUAL-EQUAL

JOURNAL/NOT EQUAL-EQUAL




“HAVE among yourselves the SAME ATTITUDE that is also yours in Christ Jesus-WHO-though he was in the FORM OF GOD-did NOT regard EQUALITY with God something to be grasped-rather-he EMPTIED himself........” Philippians 2:5-7


Jesus-TOTALLY EMPTIED himself of all things-physically-spiritually-and emotionally-we too are CALLED UPON to empty ourselves for the sake of God and others-at least CONTINUE to GIVE all the love that we have INSIDE of ourselves


GOD'S LOVE-Jesus' love-OUR LOVE-is SELF-sustaining-it is what keeps us going-WE SHOULD give all we have for God and others


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a great day to empty ourselves of self-will-ACCEPT the path that GOD puts before us-and GIVE ALL we have-in LOVE-for GOD AND OTHERS




















NOT EQUAL/EQUAL




THE OPENING
Of The United States Constitution begins:


“WE HOLD these truths
To be self-evident


That ALL MEN are created EQUAL


That they are endowed
BY THE CREATOR
With certain unalienable rights
That among these are


LIFE-liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness”


While this is true
On paper
It is rarely true
In actuality


BECAUSE who we are born to
When and where we are born
Our color-our physical make-up
Our health-our looks-our religion
Our personality-
ALL PLAYS a role
In the opportunities
We receive in life


So-IN REALITY-we are
NOT EQUAL with each other
Though we should be-in theory


And certainly
We are NOT EQUAL with God-
Although there are a few people
I have met in this life
Who would beg to differ with me


IN FACT-even Jesus
Did not consider himself
An equal with God


“Christ Jesus
Though he was
In the form of God


Did not regard
Equality with God
Something to be grasped” Philippians 2:6


In fact
He considered himself
A slave
OR SERVANT to all


And asked
That we follow him


“NOT SO with you
Instead whoever wants
To become great among you
Must be your servant


And whoever wants
To be first
Must be your slave-


Just as the Son of Man
Did not come
To be served
But to GIVE HIS LIFE
As a ransom
For many” Matthew 20:26-28


“Then-Jesus-said to his disciples
'IF anyone
Would come after me
He must deny himself
And take up his cross
And FOLLOW ME” Matthew 16:24


Dear Lord
HEP US
To know
WE AREN'T on equal footing
With you-or even others


And if we want
To be your apostles and disciples
In today's world


Help us
To NOT put demands
On your answers
To our prayers


And help us
To NOT play God
In the way we judge others
Or even judge others at all


For your sake-Dear Lord
We swallow our pride
And we put away our egos


For we REMEMBER
Dear Lord
We are not your equal
And that you KNOW BEST


And my place
Our place
IS IN YOUR HANDS


Robert P. Wallman
9-14-14


Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Melanie Rigney




11-4-14

JOURNAL/HOSPITALITY

JOURNAL/HOSPITALITY




“Rather-WHEN you hold a banquet-INVITE the poor-the crippled-the lame-the blind;BLESSED indeed will you be BECAUSE of their INABILITY to repay you-for you will BE REPAID at the RESURRECTION of the RIGHTEOUS” Luke 14:13-14


SAY that AGAIN Lord-DO YOU really EXPECT US to give without the possibility of being REPAID?
YES-that is exactly what our Lord means-SO MUCH SO that Jesus echoes this command in Matthew also


“FOR-IF you LOVE those who love you-what recompense will you have?” Matthew 5:46-WE ARE to GIVE without the expectation of being REPAID-WE are to GIVE to those in NEED-NOT just to those who can do something for us materially-or-who can FURTHER us along in our career


GOD and Jesus KNOW our intentions and our motives and they are to be PURE


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to do something for someone
in NEED who is in NO POSITION to repay the favor


SAY that AGAIN Jesus












WITNESS




7-11-13




HOSPITALITY




Hospitality is defined
As a cordial and generous reception of
Or disposition towards guests


“Then Jesus
Said to his host:
“When you give a luncheon or dinner
Do not invite your friends
Your brothers or relatives
Or your rich neighbors


If you do
They may invite you back
And so you will be repaid


But when you give a banquet
Invite the poor
The crippled
The lame
The blind
And you will be blessed


Although
They cannot repay you
You will be repaid
At the Resurrection of the righteous” Luke 14:12-14


That’s our God
That’s our Jesus


God lives in
Each and every one of us
God has made a HOME
Living in the weak
Living in the strong


Living in the healthy
And the sick


Living in the attractive
Living in the disfigured
And living in the rich
And living in the poor


God took on
The face of man
In the person of Jesus Christ
Who in fact-was poor
Who in fact
Died a criminal’s death


Why would he do this?


He wanted us to know
That he felt
What each and every human being
Feels at some point


Coldness-indifference-ingratitude
Luke warmness and REJECTION


And he REMAINS
Accepting toward us all


God wants us
To love as he loved
To shun no human being
For the more
WE give of ourselves
The more we find love
In one another


“SHARE with God’s people
Who are in need
Practice HOSPITALITY” Romans 12:13


God’s life
Is alive
In each and everyone of us


And by opening ourselves up
WHO KNOWS
Who we might meet
Along the way


“Do not neglect hospitality
For through it
Some have entertained angels
Without knowing it” Hebrews 13:2


HOSPITALITY is
An ongoing discovery


Robert P. Wallman
2-25-13


Ps Inspired by an article
In Living Faith magazine
By Father James Stephen Behrens, O.C.S.O.




WITNESS 7-11-13




11-3-14

JOURNAL/DARK MOMENTS

JOURNAL/DARK MOMENTS




“Even though-I WALK in the dark valley-I FEAR no evil-for you are ON MY SIDE” Psalm 23:4


THE CHURCH instituted an ENTIRE DAY for ALL OF US to pray for those who have already have
PASSED INTO eternity-TODAY-we TRUST that our parents-grandparents-other family and friends are
SAFE in the ARMS of our LOVING GOD


WE thank GOD for their GOODNESS-their struggles-and their EXAMPLE of staying TRUE to GOD and their family during their MOST DIFFICULT TIMES-and on the day of our own death we will SURELY be REUNITED with them


Dear ETERNAL GOD-we ENTRUST our deceased LOVED ONES to your care


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S NEVER ENDING LOVE for us-and a GREAT DAY to KNOW that our deceased loved ones are with GOD for TIME AND ETERNITY












WITNESS




5-28-13




DARK MOMENTS




We all
Have dark moments in life


With our health
With our finances
With our relationships


Trust God
Trust your faith


Put on the armor of God
Put on the armor of light


You receive a bad health diagnosis
Questionable as to what can be done


Put on the armor of God
Put on the armor of light
God told us
“You will never walk alone”


Trust God
Trust your faith


Jesus said,
“I am the Light of the World
Whoever follows me
Will never walk in darkness
But will have the light of life” John 8:12


Put on the armor of God
Put on the armor of life


You lose your job
You lose
How you are going to provide for your family


“Finally be strong in the Lord
And in his mighty power
Put on the full armor of God
So that you can take your stand
Against the devil’s schemes” Ephesians 6:10 & 11


Darkness is going to come
In this life
Of that we can be sure
In who or what will you believe
Who or what will see you through


“You will never walk alone”


You have a broken marriage
Or a broken relationship with your child
Maybe even
You have no friends
Who or what
Are you going to believe


Trust in God
Trust in faith


“Take my yoke upon you
And learn from me
For I am gentle
And humble of heart
And you will find rest
For your souls
For my yoke is easy
And my burden is light” Matthew 11:29


At some point in your life
Dark moments are going to come
In who or what
Are you going to trust


We are
Only guaranteed 2 moments
In life


This moment
And the moment
God calls us home


In who or what
Are you going to trust


“AND GOD SAID
LET THERE BE LIGHT”


Robert P. Wallman
7-22-11




Ps WITNESS 5-28-13


“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you-‘GOD IS LIGHT
In him there is NO DARKNESS at all”
1 John 1:5




11-2-14

JOURNAL/REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE/HAPPY ALL SAINTS DAY!

JOURNAL/REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE




“SEE what LOVE the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called CHILDREN OF GOD-yet so
are we” 1 John 3:1


TODAY-we REMEMBER the holy men and women the church HONORS as saints-and we remember the ORDINARY men and women-who the church does not recognize-but have TOUCHED OUR LIVES in a saintly way-ALL of us believers are CHILDREN OF God


TODAY we ask the SAINTS OF GOD to PRAY for us-and for our intentions that are CLOSE to our heart-and we ask the SAINTS OF GOD to pray for us to HELP US walk a saintly path-and to GUIDE us in the path of DISCIPLESHIP of Christ


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a great day to be a CHILD OF GOD and TRY to live in a SAINTLY WAY










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




11-1-14-




IN the Catholic Church-TODAY is the feast of ALL SAINTS DAY-Many of the most popular are (and many of MY FAVORITES too), are Saint Francis, Saint Anthony, and Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, and of course, many others


BUT TODAY-we HONOR all the saints-and those saints that will forever REMAIN nameless-but have made a DIFFERENCE in the lives of others


HAPPY ALL SAINTS DAY to those of you who have made a DIFFERENCE in my life-you KNOW who you are-and what you have done to HELP ME in my life


I SALUTE YOU-and remember who you are


You are: A CHILD OF GOD