ENCOURAGE-DON'T LIMIT-EACH OTHER

ENCOURAGE-DON'T LIMIT- EACH OTHER “WHERE did this man Get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not The carpenter's son?” Matthew 13;54-55 Jesus was God's SON He could work miracles On anyone-anywhere-but there He was a PROPHET Without honor In his hometown of Nazareth And because the people KNEW his father and mother They imposed their limits on him They had NO FAITH in him And he could NOT perform any miracles there But our job as Christians IS to give one another HOPE To ENCOURAGE one another That is what Jesus Did for everyone And that is what we are To do for other Christians too “FINALLY-brothers-sisters-REJOICE! Strive for full restoration ENCOURAGE one another BE of one mind Live in peace And the God of love And peace Will be with you” 2 Corinthians 13:11 And ENCOURAGE That is what My mother and father did For my two sisters and myself We were TAUGHT TO BELIEVE That we could do anything We set our mind too And we do BELIEVE that Just like our parents wanted GIVE people hope BUILD them up That is our job-as CHRISTIANS Don't limit them “NOW I commit you To God And to the word Of his grace Which can BUILD YOU UP And give you an inheritance Among all those Who are sanctified” Acts 20:32 IF GOD is for us If our FAMILY is for us If our friends are for us What does it matter Who or what is against us MOST OF ALL IF we believe in God and Jesus And we believe in ourselves WE CAN get it done “Each of us Should please our neighbors For their good TO BUILD THEM UP” Romans 15:2 So BUILD each other up IN LOVE DON'T discourage or LIMIT one another WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER Finally- If God Gives us the freedom And the HOPE to succeed Who are we To limit one another Robert P. Wallman July 31st, 2015 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Aileen O'Donoghue

A HOME IN GOD

A HOME IN GOD Do you KNOW That we have A HOME in God God's home Jesus' home IS IN HEAVEN But we can bring That same LOVE That same forgiveness That same kindness To earth Jesus taught us HOW it is To be done And He is Our model and our example I have FOUND A HOME IN GOD How about you? WHERE do you find A home WHEN you don't feel Like you have a home ANYWHERE on this earth You STILL have A HOME IN GOD “BLESSED are they Who dwell in your house” Psalm 84:5 WE have to realize That the church Is NOT a building The church IS THE PEOPLE It is of NO SPECIAL denomination It is ALL PEOPLE ALL CATHOLICS ALL PROTESTANTS ALL BAPTISTS ALL EVERYTHING My mom used to TEACH ME “LOVE draws a circle And pulls people in And hate draws a circle And pushes people out And a church At its BEST IS COMPILED of all people And all denominations In my humble opinion Religion at its worst Is a battle of theologies Jesus BUILT his church ON LOVE And it is to be A HOME IN GOD A HOME FOR GOD A HOME FOR ALL PEOPLE “The Lord's curse Is on the house Of the wicked But he BLESSES The house of the RIGHTEOUS” Proverbs 3:33 I believe it is TRUE That we are ALL On a journey In life And I am PROUD To say That I have found A HOME IN GOD On my journey God has truly Been my guide But I thank Those priests and pastors= Both men and women That have HELPED Keep me POINTED in the right direction You all Know who you are “LOVE is patient Love is kind It does NOT ENVY …..... It always protects- It always trusts- It always hopes- It always PERSEVERES” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Dear Lord HELP US to trust you And pay attention To your wonders On our journey Back to you I have truly found A HOME IN GOD Robert P. Wallman 7-29-15 Ps Inspired by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sister Julia Walsh, F.S.P.A.

GOD SPEAKS TO US!

GOD SPEAKS TO US God still speaks To us-in today's world The problem isn't that He doesn't speak to us The problem is WE DON'T LISTEN “From the pillar of cloud He spoke to us” psalm 99:7 Today's passages- Refer to God speaking to Moses But God still speaks to us Through other people= Family-friends-& even strangers Maybe even through The radio-television-and newspaper That we hear-see-and read But it takes Contemplation and discernment To determine The ANSWER to our prayers And the reasons why God IS still speaking To us And we would do well To listen “And the words Of God are flawless Like silver purified In a crucible Like gold refined Seven times” Psalm 12:6 I have Never heard the voice Totally clearly Yet I often sense God Giving me guidance and CONFIRMATION In ways I need to grow And pointing me In a certain direction And it does take time And contemplation To discern GOD'S ANSWERS “I will INSTRUCT YOU And teach you In the way You should go I will counsel you With my loving eye On you” Psalm 32:8 So KEEP your eyes And ears open God is STILL SPEAKING In today's world And WHEN still in doubt I often fall back To what Jesus taught us ALL those years ago “'LOVE the Lord Your God With all your heart And with all your soul And with all your mind And all your strength' The second is this: 'LOVE your neighbor as yourself'' There is no commandment greater Than these” Mark 12:30-31 “I tell you Not seven times-but seventy-seven times” Matthew 18:22 And be KIND-be KIND-always be KIND YES GOD Is still speaking to us today And teaching us HOW to find the answers: SOMETIMES using yesterday's teachings To today's problems And sometimes teaching us To FIND the answers In today's language: Radio-television-and newspapers And the people in our lives This is HOW GOD speaks to me But God still SPEAKS to ALL of us HOW does he speak to you In today's world? Robert P. Wallman 7-29-15 Ps INSPIRED by a story in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

MEETING GOD FACE-TO-FACE

MEETING GOD FACE-TO-FACE Have you ever Met God FACE-TO-FACE Not likely The only people That I KNOW That met GOD FACE-TO-FACE Were Moses And maybe Jesus “The tent Which we called The meeting tent Moses used to pitch At some distance away Outside the camp ANYONE Who wished to consult The Lord Would go to the meeting tent Outside the camp The Lord used To speak to Moses Face to face As one man Speaks to another” Exodus 33:7, 11 God is EVERYWHERE God is present In the whole world And while We can not See God's face We can speak To him FACE-TO-FACE Anytime that we want Just by opening up Our heart-mind-and soul To God This is called PRAYER We can MEET GOD anywhere-anytime That we want Face-to-face JUST by being OPEN AND HONEST with him “An honest witness Tells the truth But a false witness Tells lies” Proverbs 12:17 “LET the light Of your face SHINE ON US” Psalm 4:6 We can PRAY Anywhere to God In our car In waiting rooms-for Doctor's In the check-out line BUT it can Be HELPFUL To designate A SPECIAL PLACE to pray THIS past weekend I was at my friend-Lin's house And it is ALWAYS EASY For me to pray there Even Moses Had his SPECIAL PLACE “But WHEN you pray Go into your room Close the door And pray to your Father Who is unseen Then your Father Who sees What is done In secret Will reward you” Matthew 6:6 PRAY anywhere and everywhere Pray without ceasing OPEN your heart And mind-and soul- To God Then you will have MET GOD FACE-TO-FACE- Just like Moses and Jesus has Robert P. Wallman July 27th, 2015 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Karla Manternach

ONE PERSON CAN STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

ONE PERSON CAN STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE “Elisha said-'GIVE IT to the people to eat'” 2 KINGS 4:42 THIS reading From the second book of Kings Describes the marvelous multiplication Of a few loaves of bread For hungry crowds And then We read about The MIRACLE OF Jesus Feeding the five thousand In John chapter 6 “ANOTHER of the disciples-Andrew- Simon Peter's brother spoke up, 'Here is a boy with Five small barley loaves And two small fish But how far will they go Among so many?'” John 6:8-9 Plenty far WHEN you are Jesus The SON OF GOD And you can CREATE a miracle But we MUST REMEMBER We need NOT be Jesus We need not be able To PERFORM large miracles To make a difference ONE CAN and does STILL make a difference In today's world We can GIVE a sick friend A ride to the Doctor's We can Do some grocery shopping For a house bound friend There is NO LIMIT For the things that we can do TO HELP OTHERS To make a difference In today's world ONE PERSON CAN And still does Make a difference In today's world For WHAT IF Our individual gestures and compassion Our personal prayers OUR LONE VOICE For HELING OTHERS Was JOINED By thousands of others In today's world For a CHRISTIAN'S MAIN JOB Is to KEEP HOPE ALIVE In others And make a difference For them “WHY my soul Are you so downcast WHY so disturbed Within me? Put your HOPE IN GOD For I will yet PRAISE HIM My Savior and MY GOD” Psalm 42:5 God makes a difference In the lives of others By the GOOD WORKS He encourages us to do “NO DOUBT There have to be DIFFERENCES among you To show Which of you Have GOD'S APPROVAL” 1 Corinthians 11:19 WE HAVE to be WE NEED to be The differences In this world The difference That BRINGS HOPE to another Our efforts OUR PRAYERS Make a differences NEVER DOUBT That your “one loaf” STILL makes a difference A BIG DIFFERENCE In today's world Robert P. Wallman 7-25-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sister Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

HOW LUCKY THEY WERE-HOW LUCKY WE ARE

HOW LUCKY THEY WERE- HOW LUCKY WE ARE The disciples of Jesus' day WERE very fortunate men I wonder IF they knew HOW LUCKY THEY WERE That they got to walk The trails and valleys With Jesus That they got to EXPERIENCE The great Jordan River And Dead Sea with him They saw him HEAL the blind CURE the sick And bring back the dead (In the case of the Widow Nain's son, Lazarus, and on several other occasions) HOW LUCKY THEY WERE “Amen-I say to you Many prophets and righteous people LONGED to see What you see But did not See it And to hear What you hear But did not Hear it” Matthew 13:17 They were LUCKY They experienced Jesus UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL I wish I had been there HOW about you? But we NEED NOT Envy them We experience The SAME privilege As the original Apostles Even though We don's see and hear Jesus In the same way The original Apostles did HOW LUCKY WE ARE! “ENTIRELY on their own They urgently pleaded with us For the PRIVILEGE of sharing In this service to the Lord's people” 2 Corinthians 8:4 But we needn't plead For the privilege To SHARE the good news EVERY CHURCH In this country Has a need For VOLUNTEERS And we experience Jesus EACH DAY WHEN we say our prayers And read the SCRIPTURES Or attend daily MASS Or church service And in a SPECIAL WAY We experience Jesus EACH time we run Into a person in NEED We have the opportunity To HELP SOMEONE “May your mercy Come quickly To meet us For we are In desperate need” Psalm 79:8 “SHARE With the Lord's people Who are IN NEED Practice hospitality” Romans 12:13 YES!-HOW LUCKY the disciples Of yesteryear were To experience Jesus And YES- HOW LUCKY WE ARE To RECEIVE the opportunities That we receive To be his disciples IN TODAY'S WORLD Robert P. Wallman 7-22-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in Living Faith Magazine by Sister Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.

IN OUR GRIEF

IN OUR GRIEF I remember WHEN my FATHER died In October of 2000 I didn't understand HOW the world Could go on How people Could continue with their lives Even though my life OUR FAMILY'S LIVES Were coming to an end As we knew them But God stood with us IN OUR GRIEF “But you God See the trouble Of the afflicted You consider their grief And take it in hand The victims commit themselves To you You are the HELPER Of the fatherless” Psalm 10:14 God STOOD WITH US In our grief And the lives of my mother, my sisters, and myself Did go on Albeit differently TODAY is the feast day Mary Magdalene Jesus' great friend and HELPER And the ONE Considered to be THE APOSTLE to the apostles I can ONLY IMAGINE How she must have felt “She stood outside the tomb weeping” John 20:11 But I am SURE GOD STOOD with her In her moments And days of grief In her grief In our grief GOD STANDS with us As we mourn “To proclaim the year Of the Lord's favor And the day of vengeance Of our God To comfort ALL who mourn And provide for these Who grieve in Zion--------” Isaiah 61:2-3 Mary Magdalene was crestfallen- Jesus was her TEACHER And she stood by him When everyone else Was gone Have you ever STOOD outside of a tomb weeping? YOUR FAITH is dashed And you wonder HOW you can go on But no matter What our SUFFERING WE BELIEVE That Christ calls LOVINGLY to us In the midst of our grief He did it For Mary Magdalene He did it FOR ME With each death COMES new birth Our tears GIVE WAY TO JOY Mary Magdalene did I did You will to WE HAVE MET THE LORD AND WE CAN GO ON Because God carries us FORWARD EVEN IN OUR GRIEF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION was just ahead And we BELIEVE! Robert P. Wallman 7-21-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sister Bridget Haase, O.S.U.

DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER

DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER Growing up WERE you close To your dad Did you TRY To obey What he told you To do Jesus was Jesus did And WHEN he was praying To him In the garden of Gethsemane With his apostles and friends All asleep He still had THE PRESENCE OF MIND And obedience to say “MY Father IF it is possible May this cup Be taken away from me Yet NOT As I will But as you will” Matthew 26:39 So ALWAYS Do the WILL Of your own father and mother- And pay attention To what and who Your earthly brothers and sisters are But also REMEMBER Who your HEAVENLY relatives are: “For WHOEVER DOES the will Of my heavenly Father IS my brother, sister, and mother” Matthew 12:50 SO-of course-I LOVE-my earthly sisters And ALL my earthly relatives BUT I also LOVE ALL of you My heavenly brothers and sisters In Christ YOU KNOW-who you are- For I make NO SECRET of it I LOVE ALL of you dearly too Jesus was ALWAYS MOTIVATED By doing his FATHER'S WILL ALL the way To the point Of his death I too Like my HERO-Jesus Always try to do The will Of my HEAVENLY FATHER What a great motivating factor “ALL a person's ways SEEM pure to them But motives Are WEIGHED by the Lord” Proverbs 16:2 DOING the WILL Of the Lord And the things of today Are very DIFFERENT Than they were 2000 years ago So things today May call for different actions But SOME THINGS are FOR SURE: WE can't go wrong By loving THE GOD OF LOVE We can't go wrong By loving others And we can't go wrong By being KIND AND FORGIVING OTHERS We know for certain That doing these things Are certainly: “DOING THE WILL OF GOD” To do The WILL OF GOD THE FATHER Is acknowledging God As our creator ACCEPTING the teachings Of Jesus And LIVING our lives According to God's teachings MAY we ALL LOVE our earthly family LOVE OUR heavenly family And do THE WILL OF GOD THEN we will know We are BUILDING BOTH GOD'S earthly And heavenly kingdoms Robert P. Wallman 7-20-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Father James McKarns

COME AWAY WITH ME

COME AWAY WITH ME Many years ago Jesus INVITED his apostles To come away with him To spend SOME TIME With him alone “He said to them: 'COME AWAY by yourselves To a deserted place And rest awhile'” Mark 6:31 Through churches-RETREAT HOUSES- And many other venues Jesus makes that SAME INVITATION Today And we SHOULD SAY YES To the invitation One way-or another WE NEED to spend time With God and Jesus Or we will Get caught get up in The hurry-scurry life style And we will LOSE our direction In life Jesus says to us -ALL of us: “COME AWAY with me SPEND some time alone with me And you will FIND YOURSELF AGAIN” I AM going away Next weekend To spend some time With a CLOSE SPIRITUAL FRIEND And also with God and Jesus And I am really LOOKING FORWARD to spend some time with her AND THEM IT is NOT IMPORTANT What we do As long as We do it together And as long as God is at the CENTER “COME AWAY with me To a deserted place,” And I have had religious EXPERIENCES And have written some of my poetry At my sister-Mary's-my Aunt Karen's And my friend Diane's “EACH ONE Will be like a shelter From the wind And a refuge From the storm Like streams of water In the desert And the shadow Of a great rock In a thirsty land” Isaiah 32:2 In this deserted place OR RETREAT HOUSE If you will One can ponder Some basic BLESSINGS Of nature and life And SOME teachings of God And Jesus “IF you hold To my teaching You really are my DISCIPLES Then you will KNOW the truth and the truth WILL SET YOU FREE” John 8:31 In this noisy-fast-paced world That we live in A deserted place For PRAYER and meditation Can be a TRUE BLESSING And it need NOT Even be totally deserted Just SURROUND YOURSELF With peaceful living people With peaceful loving people WHO LOVE both God and others As much as you do WE can find quietness In a church At a shrine Or in a park In a friend or relative's house OR even in a secluded room Within our own home Just listen to Jesus WHEN he says- “COME AWAY WITH ME” and you can FIND PEACE Once again For your mind-body-and soul And REST AND REJUVENATION Robert P. Wallman July 18th, 2015 Ps ONE THING that I have learned in life-is that-people who PRAY TOGETHER-STAY TOGETHER Inspired by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Father James McKarns

CALLED TO BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

CALLED TO BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS We are ALL slaves To something in this world The word SLAVE means: “One who is subservient or controlled By another; or one who is controlled By a SPECIFIC INFLUENCE” We can be SLAVES to anything: another person-an idea -drugs-alcohol-pornography-consumerism-slaves to Almost anything But I choose God=I choose LOVE LOVE frees us From irrational fears God and Christ Have FREED US from sin “So you are NO LONGER A slave BUT GOD'S CHILD And since you are His child God has made you An HEIR” Galatians 4:7 You are FREE Because of GOD'S LOVE And in the old testament readings We read about Pharaoh And his servants “Pharaoh and his servants exclaimed, 'WHAT have you done' 'Why We have released Israel From our service'” Exodus 14:5 And a few verses later The Israelites complain to Moses “They said to Moses 'Was it because There were no graves In Egypt That you have brought us To the desert to die What have you done To us By bringing us out Of Egypt Didn't we say To you In Egypt Leave us alone Let us SERVE the Egyptians'” Exodus 14:11-12 We have to REMEMBER That with freedom COMES RESPONSIBILITY And the responsibility Of being called To be Jesus' disciples Means We are CALLED to love LOVE GOD And love others “A new command I give you: LOVE ONE ANOTHER As I have Loved you So you MUST love one another By this everyone Will know that you Are my disciples IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER” John 13:34-35 And so DEAR LORD-WE PRAY That you HELP US to acknowledge Those areas of our life WHERE we aren't free To be Who you Lord Are calling us to be Help us to IDENTIFY Those attitudes and behaviors That enslave us And keep us From being more fully YOUR DISCIPLE By LOVING GOD And loving ONE ANOTHER Robert P. Wallman 7-19-15 Ps Inspired by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sister Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.

LIVING FOR GOD!

LIVING FOR GOD “They........had NO opportunity even to prepare food for the journey” Exodus 12:39 Think about it BY TODAY'S STANDARDS They are NOT getting off To a very good start NO TIME to prepare For that big exam tomorrow We slacked off UNTIL the night before The exam Well-it looks Like an F there OR we didn't prepare For the BIG sales meeting tomorrow morning Our boss Is not going to be Too happy with us There are COUNTLESS examples WHERE not preparing or training Leads us to horrendous results BUT in this instance God SENDS the Jewish people out With barely clothes And little preparation It is what happened to the ISRAELITES As they escaped slavery They went with NOTHING but God And NOTHING but each other Not because they were remiss Or ill-prepared Because GOD and EACH other Was ALL that they needed They were LIVING FOR GOD And LIVING for each other “DO NOT hold against us The SINS of the past generations May your MERCY come quickly To meet us For we are IN DESPERATE NEED” Psalm 79:8 WE TOO The Christian PEOPLE Of today Are LIVING FOR GOD And each other ALL PEOPLE Jews and Christians alike The Jewish EXODUS Was a physical journey As well as a spiritual journey And a communal journey Just the SAME As it is for us CHRISTIANS (physical-spiritual-and communal) LIVING FOR GOD LIVING for each other And ALL of us EXPERIENCING the NEED For God in OUR LIVES “For your Father KNOWS what you NEED Before you ask” Matthew 6:8 So GOD KNOWS We are LIVING FOR HIM God knows We are living for EACH OTHER And he knows We are all in COVENANT RELATIONSHIP With him The Jewish people=and Moses=and EXODUS And the Christian people With Jesus=THE RESURRECTION=and the New Covenant A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP Is an UNBREAKABLE relationship WITH GOD and his PEOPLE And it is the way We should ALL be LIVING LIVING FOR GOD And LIVING FOR EACH OTHER What a FANTASTIC WORLD THIS COULD BE Robert P. Wallman 7-17-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mary Marrocco

SURRENDERING ALL

SURRENDERING ALL My Lord and Savior My HERO-Jesus-SURRENDERED ALL Surrendered it all Gave all he had physically SURRENDERED all emotionally Surrendered all spiritually Surrendered so much Of himself That he got to the point That he thought his Father ABANDONED HIM “'My God-my God Why did you abandon me?' With a loud cry Jesus died The army officer Who was standing there In front of the cross Saw how Jesus has died 'This man was really The SON of God,' He said” Mark 15:33-38 WHICH brings us all To the point- To the question-which is HOW MUCH Of each of us Are we REQUIRED to surrender SURRENDERING ALL And the ANSWER is As much as we can As much as we are able To bring us as CLOSE as we can To LIVING like Christ “........you have loosed my bonds” Psalm 116:16 Which is A bit of a PARADOX We are required To at least Surrender as much Of our SELF-WILL That keeps us From being ourselves From what God DESTINED us to be And who and what WE are meant to be WHO is someone Who shows our humanity IN LOVE And brings others To our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ SURRENDERING our lives Means giving up CONTROL of our lives And allowing God To make us To CONFORM us Into what God wants us to be I don't know About you But surrendering my self-will OR CONTROL Is NOT my greatest asset We are in bondage IF we think We don't need God If we think we can CONTROL Everything in our own lives “Though we are slaves OUR God has NOT forsaken us In our bondage” Ezra 9:9 OUR own attempts To control things Makes our lives DYSFUNCTIONAL (In health-in finances-and in relationships) Paradoxically By SURRENDERING CONTROL of our lives To God WE BECOME FREE Dear Lord-WE PRAY We surrender our control Of our lives to you We SURRENDER our bondage and control Of our SELF-WILL to you BUILD in me/us As you did With your Son-Jesus An EXAMPLE for all in order TO BRING OTHERS TO YOU Robert P. Wallman 7-16-15 INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Phil Fox Rose

WITH CHILDLIKE FAITH

WITH CHILDLIKE FAITH Do you LOVE GOD Do you love Jesus With CHILDLIKE FAITH By that I mean Do you TRUST GOD and Jesus Withe the wide-eyed INNOCENCE and heart Of a child KNOWING God And having FAITH That he ALWAYS Is going to be there for you That he is always LOOKING out for you And what is In your BEST INTERESTS The disciples asked Jesus, “'WHO then Is the greatest In the kingdom of heaven?' He called a LITTLE CHILD To him And placed The child among them ….....And he said 'TRULY-I tell you UNLESS you change and become Like little children You will NEVER enter The kingdom of heaven Therefore Whoever takes the lowly position Of this child Is the GREATEST In the kingdom of heaven And whoever WELCOMES ONE Such child In my name WELCOMES ME'” Matthew 18:1-5 HUMBLING isn't it To have the faith Of a CHILD To hear that IS what Jesus wants from us WITH CHILDLIKE FAITH Don't you just LOVE CHILDREN like I do It is WHY It is so unsettling To me What is happening And what has happened To the children of this world “If any one CAUSES one of these little ones -Those who BELIEVE in me- To stumble It would be better For them To have a large millstone Hung around their necks And to be drowned In the depths Of the sea” Matthew 18:6 And to have THE FAITH of a child To get into heaven WHERE-do we get it BELIEVE-have faith (CHILDLIKE FAITH) My mom and I Used to say My dad “Had the FAITH of a child” So I come by mine- HONESTLY In a period Of time-in this world WHERE everyone wants PROOF That God exists GOD tells us To BELIEVE -and have FAITH Faith like a child And you will Make heaven “LET THE CHILDREN COME” Matthew 19:14 SEE YOU in heaven-my friends At least those of us Who have THE FAITH OF A CHILD Robert P. Wallman 7-14-15

DYING RIGHT/LIVING RIGHT

DYING RIGHT/LIVING RIGHT To die right-we have to LIVE RIGHT Death is one Of those things That we ALL Have to do But it need NOT Be worrisome IF we are living right A PROTESTANT MINISTER Once told me He was with many people As they were dying And they ALL inevitably said: “I WISH I would have LOVED My spouse more I wish I would have spent More time With my FAMILY AND FRIENDS NONE said I wish I would have made Another million dollars” So THERE it is In a nutshell It is PEOPLE That are important NOT material things BUT don't negate PRAYERS to God And the BLESSED MOTHER in prayers for a HAPPY DEATH “PRECIOUS in the sight Of the Lord Is the death Of his FAITHFUL SERVANTS” Psalm 116:15 SO LIVE RIGHT Don't put material things ABOVE family and friends And don't carry grudges SETTLE them While you are still alive WHILE you STILL CAN And you will have A HAPPY LIFE And a peaceful death And remember It is NEVER TOO LATE To throw your life On the MERCY Of the Lord AND BELIEVE After all The one dying thief On Jesus' right hand did And listen to Jesus' RESPONSE “BUT the other criminal Rebuked him-and said- 'Don't you fear God Since you are Under the same sentence WE are punished justly For we are getting What our deeds DESERVE But this man has done nothing wrong' Then he said, 'Jesus remember me WHEN you come INTO YOUR KINGDOM' Jesus answered him, 'TRULY-I tell you TODAY you will be with me IN PARADISE'” Luke 23:40-43 Dear Lord-WE PRAY We have TRIED to LIVE A JUST LIFE But we KNOW We can NEVER measure up PLEASE REMEMBER PLEASE HAVE MERCY on us And please RECEIVE US Into your kingdom IF it be-your HOLY WILL So that we can LIVE in PARADISE-FOREVER with you Robert P. Wallman 7-13-15

COULD YOU BE CONVICTED?

COULD YOU BE CONVICTED? WE live in a world WHERE people are convicted Of all kinds of things Every day Murder-rape-larceny-theft-and-on- And on-& on-and on But my question To you is: COULD YOU be convicted Of being and LIVING as a CHRISTIAN Christians are GOOD AND KIND LOVING AND FORGIVING Maybe things That many people consider even weak In today's world But true Christians Are people That make a positive difference In today's world CAN YOU be convicted Of being a Christian? Are you living As Christians NOT just talking the talk But walking THE WALK If so GOOD for you For we NEED MORE true Christians In today's world “The disciples Were first called CHRISTIANS At Antioch” Acts 11:26 Barnabas and Saul were present And met with the church there And taught great numbers of people For an entire year So WHAT does it mean To actually be a CHRISTIAN To be CONVICTED Of being one today “And whoever Does not takes up his cross And FOLLOW ME Is NOT worthy of me” Matthew 10:38 I never EVEN in my wildest dreams Would ever think That I am WORTHY of being THOUGHT as in the same breadth As my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ LIVE=kindness and forgiveness I TRY to carry the CROSS By putting GOD AND CHRIST ABOVE all others (then family and friends next) And above-all things CARRYING the cross And acknowledging Jesus Above all others Above all other things Means you can say “I AM A CHRISTAN” And you can be CONVICTED as such Carrying the cross And following Jesus As his disciple MEANS you are truly LIVING as a Christians And making a difference In today's world FOR ME IF I am ever CONVICTED as living as a CHRISTIAN There could be NO GREATER HONOR Robert P. Wallman 7-12-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in Living Faith Magazine by Mitch Finley

JOURNAL 7-12-15=GOD'S LOVE DOES NOT FADE AWAY

JOURNAL=7-12-15=GOD'S LOVE DOES NOT FADE AWAY “He instructed them To take NOTHING for the journey But a walking stick-no food-no sack- NO MONEY in their belts” Mark 6:8 And WHY do you think Jesus instructed his apostles/and disciples to take nothing for the JOURNEY but a walking stick-it is because he KNEW-that God-his heavenly Father would provide everything else IF they possessed GOD'S LOVE in SPIRIT Even in today's times-we drive ourselves crazy about this-and about that-but the TRUTH IS-GOD WILL PROVIDE everything we need-IF we just have our hearts in the right place-and possess the LOVE of God that we are supposed to-and the LOVE for our fellow man (GOD'S first two commandments)=GOD'S LOVE NEVER FADES AWAY WELL my life is LIVING PROOF that this is true-I have NO large degree of physical health/I have no big fat bank account-but I get by with the LARGE ASSISTANCE of family and friends-YOU KNOW who you are-and HOW you assist me-some materially-and some spiritually AND so I love GOD-and I love others-and somehow with the HELP of all of you-I get by THANK YOU-it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S for us-and a great day for going out and really loving others-GOD'S LOVE really does NOT FADE AWAY GOD'S LOVE DOES NOT FADE AWAY Everything in life FADES AWAY-or perishes ALL that is-EXCEPT God's love GOD'S LOVE Sustains me Through every situation “The Lord sustains The humble But casts the wicked To the ground” Psalm 147:4 Even trees Planted near a flowing river Change their colors these days Autumn reminds us That leaves do fade But God's love NEVER FADES AWAY He evens sustains The fatherless And the widow “The Lord Watches over the alien And sustains The fatherless and the widow But he frustrates The ways of the wicked” Deuteronomy 10:18 GOD'S LOVE Does not fade away Those that live Off of God's word Will never perish “My sheep Listen to my voice I know them And they know me I give them eternal life And they shall NEVER perish No one can snatch them Out of my Father's hand” John 10:27-28 We may die But we will find ETERNAL LIFE By LIVING off the WORD OF GOD God's LOVE Never fades away And while We may not find earthly glory We will find heavenly glory And we will find GOD LIVING INSIDE OF US And that gives us peace And the Lord our God OUR SHEPHERD Will lead us home To that glory “And when The chief SHEPHERD appears You will receive THE CROWN OF GLORY That will NEVER FADE AWAY” 1 Peter 5:4 And that crown of glory IS GOD'S LOVE LIVING inside of you God's love Inside of you THAT CANNOT AND WILL NOT EVER FADE AWAY Robert P. Wallman 2-9-14 7-12-15

JOURNAL=7-11-15=SEEK YE FIRST

JOURNAL=7-11-15=SEEK YE FIRST WHEN we were kids-and playing football beside my house-one of us would ALWAYS SAY: “I'm going deep-hit me there” sometimes it would work-sometimes not NOW that we are older-we are ALL on a journey-GOING DEEP with God-or at least-we should be TRYING to go there on this journey we call LIFE “GLORY in his holy name REJOICE-O hearts that seek the Lord ….....SEEK to serve him CONSTANTLY” Psalm 105:3-4 WE NEED to seek God in our own journey-and we NEED to seek God in COMMUNITY-with each other-in order to bring him TOTALLY ALIVE in today's world It is no longer a battle of theology among different religions-it is a battle between the believers and non-believers-secular world-IF you will-and IF you are a BELIEVER-I hate to tell you-we are NOT on the winning end right now BUT if you are a believer-keep searching-keep seeking we are DESTINED to win this battle-we are destined to win this war together-so CONTINUE to seek God by going DEEP with him in your faith What is CRUCIAL is that we continue to seek GOD DEEPLY-and continue to live our LIVES with the HOPE we find in him CLEARLY-we have FOUND GOD-we just NEED to go a little DEEPER with God-”I am going DEEP=are you coming with me?” it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great for seeking out the PRESENCE OF GOD in our lives WITNESS 9-15-13 SEEK YE FIRST SEEKING Are you seeking God With ALL your heart With all your soul With all your mind With all your strength IF you are I GUARANTEE You will find him “……..for the Lord SEARCHES every heart And understands every motive Behind the thoughts If you seek him HE will be FOUND by you” 1 Chronicles 28:9 I think it is KEY That GOD UNDERSTANDS every motive For if we seek him For our OWN ulterior gain It will be impossible To find him “BUT seek ye first HIS kingdom and his righteousness And all these things Will be given to you AS WELL” Matthew 6:33 This is what happened To me I have been PURELY seeking God-I think- Since I was 22 years old And I have NO IDEA HOW I have made it this far I BELIEVE God has INTERCEDED for me THROUGH OTHERS Parents-siblings-friends-and neighbors I will be 59 years old Next year And I HAVE FOUND GOD IN THE DEEPEST DARKNESS OF MY OWN SOUL And God Has FILLED that darkness WITH HIS LIGHT= THE LIGHT of HIS OWN SON And the light Of the sun “Therefore Do not worry about tomorrow For tomorrow Will take care of itself EACH DAY Has trouble enough OF ITS OWN” Matthew 6:34 Fifty-nine years old next January FOOD on the table A ROOF over my head And MORE loving family And friends Than a person Has a right to have “I seek you With ALL my heart Do not let me stray From your commands” Psalm 119:10 “For the SON OF MAN Came to seek And to SAVE what was lost” Luke 19:10 Seek ye first THE KINGDOM OF GOD And ALL things Will be PROVIDED to you But the TRUTH is At least in my case I didn’t Even have to look HE FOUND ME FIRST Robert P. Wallman 8-19-13 Ps WITNESS 9-15-13 MISC. WITNESS 7-30-14 (GOD willing-I will be 60 years old next January) 1-18-15 and 7-11-15

JOURNAL=FEAR

JOURNAL=7-10-15=FEAR “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt........” Genesis 46:3 FEAR is one of those emotions that make us do IRRATIONAL THINGS-for reasons that we don't understand-ISN'T it funny that the ONLY thing that conquers fear is PERFECT LOVE-another emotion that makes us do irrational things for reasons we don't understand “There is NO FEAR in love-but perfect loves DRIVES OUT FEAR” 1 John 4:18 FEAR is a natural human reaction that is too unknown-too overwhelming-too incredible for our limited minds to absorb-but GOD'S REACTION to our fear is always the same-”DO NOT BE AFRAID” LET us take a look at God's seemingly IMPOSSIBLE PROMISES: a virgin birth a 90-year old mother the men who Jesus picked for his apostles a crucified man claiming to be GOD-only to be RESURRECTED and testified to-by these same men-but first by a woman-who was said to be possessed by seven demons SO whatever fears you are facing today-do not be afraid for GOD and Jesus have it all under CONTROL-Jesus said: “and SURELY I AM with you UNTIL the end of time” Matthew 28:20 Mathew 28:20 And we KNOW our God-our Jesus-IS PERFECT LOVE “FEAR”   I fear God I love God I fear I will not live up To my promise to God   However I have faith Faith that God will Show me the way Even when I don’t have a clue Of what it is I’m trying to do   I fear God But I love God And I have a greater faith In God Than I do Of fear   Robert P. Wallman 9/21/09

PROCLAIMING IT-WITH OUR LIVES-AND WITH OUR ACTIONS

PROCLAIMING IT- WITH OUR LIVES- AND WITH OUT ACTIONS Are you Living your lives AS Jesus taught Are you LOVING GOD With your WHOLE heart and soul Are you loving YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself Being KIND to your neighbor And FORGIVING 70 x 7 And are you living AS IF the KINGDOM of God Is at hand “Jesus said to his disciples 'As you go-make the proclamation The kingdom of heaven IS AT HAND'” Matthew 10:7 Well maybe NOT so very much For IF we go around yelling EVERYWHERE that we go that: “The kingdom of God Is at hand” It won't be very long UNTIL the men and women In their white coats SHOW UP To take us away BUT the point is That we should PROCLAIMING That the LORD'S KINGDOM Is at hand By the way That we live our lives PROCLAIMING the Lord's KINGDOM With our actions And with our words “GIVE PRAISE to the Lord PROCLAIM his name MAKE KMOWN among the nations What he has done” Psalm 105:1 “THE SPIRIT of the Lord Is on me Because he has ANOINTED ME To PROCLAIM the GOOD NEWS To the poor He has sent me To PROCLAIM freedom For the prisoners And recovery of SIGHT For the blind To set the oppressed free To PROCLAIM the year Of the LORD'S FAVOR” Luke 4:18 GOD LOVES YOU God's sacrifices-Jesus' SACRIFICES For your sins Have sent you free The Kingdom of God Is TRULY AT HAND For the Lord LIVES in you and me WHAT DOES a life Look like WHEN the Lord's KINGDOM Is ALIVE in us It is a life That RADIATES LOVE TO ALL And it is a life That PRODUCES So much love That it truly will ATTRACT others to Christ And to the CHURCH LOVE others FORGIVE others Be KIND to others “'The time has come,' Jesus said 'The kingdom of God Has come near Repent and BELIEVE the good news'” Mark 1:15 Believe it Live it LOVE IT The kingdom of God IS as close As your own heart Dear Lord-HELP US To PROCLAIM the kingdom of heaven WITH OUR LIVES And help us- to help them To BELIEVE that the kingdom THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN Is as CLOSE as our own hearts And in the hearts of all of us OF ALL TRUE BELIEVERS Robert P. Wallman July 6th, 2015 INSPIRED by an article in Living Faith Magazine by Mitch Finley

THE KINGDOM OF GOD-IS AT HAND

THE KINGDOM OF GOD- IS AT HAND 2,000 years ago The Jewish people Were waiting For a SAVIOR But they didn't recognize him For they Were looking for ONE Who was ALL POWERFUL NOT one Who was ALL LOVE FAST FORWARD 2,000 years And the Christian NATIONS Are again Looking for one Who is ALL POWERFUL COULD it be That we again Have MISSED the BOAT Could it be That one Is coming Who is PERFECT IN LOVE “Jesus said to his disciples,” 'As you go-make this proclamation The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is at hand'” Matthew 10:7 So many FAILED TO RECOGNIZE The kingdom of heaven Right before Their very eyes Jesus commissioned the twelve To BEGIN their work NOT with the pagans NOT with the Samaritans NOT with the House of Israel And Jesus tells us What his KINGDOM is like TELL us again-Dear Lord- WON'T YOU? “He told them another parable '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 seeds Yet when it grows It is the largest Of garden plants And becomes a tree So that the birds Come and perch In its branches'” Matthew 13:31-32 And the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN Is as NEAR to us TODAY As it was to the people of yesteryear In Jesus' time: “The kingdom of heaven has COME NEAR” Matthew 10:7 And that SAME KINGDOM Is very CLOSE to to us today It is as close as SEEING CHRIST In that next homeless person We see on the street It is as close As that NEIGHBOR OR CO-WORKER Who grates on our nerves And yet we continue to SMILE at them And be KIND any way It is as close As that person Who stands in the back ground Yet WHEN all the work is done STEPS FORWARD To take all thee credit YES-the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR It is in EVERYONE of us Let us look for it WHERE and in whom we can And EXPAND IT Dear Lord-HELP US to see YOUR KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TODAY For it is NEAR As near As we WANT IT TO BE Robert P. Wallman 6-28-15 INSPIER by an article in LIVING FATHMAGAZINE by Melanie Rigney

HOLDING OUT-FOR THE BLESSINGS OF GOD

HOLDING OUT- FOR THE BLESSINGS OF GOD We take MANY GIFTS In life For granted LIFE itself-OUR family and friends- Our jobs and livelihoods- EVEN the roof over our head And the food On our table These are gifts From God These are BLESSINGS From God And we NEED to recognize them As such “BLESSINGS CROWN The head of the righteous” Proverbs 10:6 But I think The BLESSING That we need to FEEL MOST Is that We are blessed Because our lives And the lives Of our families Are BLESSED BY GOD HOLDING OUT For the BLESSINGS OF GOD In the FAMOUS 32nd chapter of Genesis We read ABOUT such a man A man HOLDING OUT For the BLESSINGS OF GOD “The man then said: 'Let me go-for it is daybreak' But Jacob said: 'I will NOT let you go UNLESS you bless me'” Genesis 32:27 And Jacob and God Wrestle ALL night long Culminating when the man asked him: “WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” “Jacob” he answered “Then the man said: Your name will no longer be Jacob- BUT ISRAEL Because you have Struggled with God And with humans And have overcome” Genesis 32:28 Our lives too Are like that WE struggle and WRESTLE with God About every decision That we make And then We ask God To BLESS US And the decisions That we have made Sometimes WHEN our lives Are going well OUR PRAYER LIFE And our FAITH Can become A little bit superficial “The Lord GIVES STRENGTH To his people The Lord BLESSES his people with PEACE” Psalm 29:11 THEN our lives Become a little more difficult again And we struggle With fear We struggle with pride And other CHALLENGES In life Then we BEGIN To wrestle with God Once again And ask For an EVEN DEEPER FAITH once again To HOLD OUT For the BLESSINGS of God Dear Lord-like Jacob We PRAY that We are able to HOLD OUT And HOLD ON For your GREAT BLESSINGS- THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF GOD Robert P. Wallman 6-28-15 INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Melanie Rigney

ULTIMATE FAITH

ULTIMATE FAITH In the 9th century Of Saint Matthew's GOSPEL We see=TRULY a story OF ULTIMATE FAITH A synagogue leader Comes to Jesus And KNEELS before him And says “My daughter Has just died But come and Put your hand on her And she will LIVE” Matthew 9:18 ULTIMATE FAITH Would you Have such faith Would I Jesus rises And follows the official And so did His disciples At first-the crowd LAUGHED At Jesus But Jesus “TOOK the girl By the hand And she got up” Matthew 9:25 And WORD SPREAD about- This miracle of Jesus too I sometimes wonder IF the reason That there are so FEW MIRACLES today Is because WE are a people Of small-small-minded faith I can tell you And WILL tell you again of my miracle WHEN I was 22-and- In the hospital In a hospitalization that began On my 22nd birthday I had had surgery I had a bleeder I had peritonitis I had gangrene And I had a temperature Of 108 degrees I had NO HOPE BUT WITH GOD There is ALWAYS HOPE WITH Jesus There is ALWAYS HOPE “WHY my soul Are you so downcast Why so disturbed Within me PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD For I will yet praise him My savior and my God” Psalm 42:5 I PRAYED to my priest: “I don't think God Wants me to die But IF I do die: PLEASE BLESS my father-my mother-my sisters-my family-my friends- And my work BUT if I live I will LIVE FOR my family-my friends- And ALL PEOPLE everywhere” Two weeks later I woke up ALIVE- And my life has gone EXACTLY as I have prayed LIVING FOR OTHERS ULTIMATE FAITH OUR GOD and OUR ULTIMATE MODEL IN FAITH-Jesus- said “LIVE” WHERE would Jesus go In today's world? WHAT would he do? WE NEED To be ready to FOLLOW HIM THERE WITH ULTIMATE FAITH Jesus The one true man- WHO IS our role model IN BOTH LOVE and in FAITH I would FOLLOW HIM ANYWHERE And would like to think That I have Robert P. Wallman 6-27-15 INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mitch Finley

YOUR GREATEST WANESS

GOD'S GIFT OF WEAKNESS Did you ever stop And think That maybe your greatest weakness Is also YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH Maybe the thing That gives you The GREATEST perspective In this life And that by LEARNING from our weakness That maybe we can HELP OTHERS -Actually TEACH OTHERS How to avoid LIFE'S greatest traps The things that Take most people down I KNOW That that was the case With Saint Paul “IF I must boast I will boast\ Of the things That SHOW my weakness” 2 Corinthians 11:30 “I will rather BOAST most gladly Of my weaknesses In order That the POWER of Christ May dwell with me” 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul expresses What his own experiences Taught him NATURAL weakness Doesn't stop God In fact The opposite is true The more imperfect That we are The GREATER the work God can do through us How about that For a paradox The greatest weakness That you have in life IS ALSO your greatest strength I want to ECHO The above thought And the words And teachings of Paul WHEN I came So close to death WHEN I was 22 And when the illness Became chronic Like Saint Paul I became TOTALLY DEPENDENT on God I could no longer Run five miles a day Or lift weights Like I once could But over time I learned TO RELY ON GOD And now—today MY STRENGTH Is totally dependent on him “In the SAME WAY- The SPIRIT HELPS US-in our weakness We do NOT KNOW What we ought to pray for But the spirit himself INTERCEDES for us Through wordless groans” Romans 8:26 I learned how PRECIOUS life is And NOT to throw it away Or let anyone-or anything Take it from you It is a GIFT FROM GOD NOT to be Taken for granted So take it From the GREAT SAINT PAUL And take it From me BOTH-humble servants-of the Lord In our weakness GOD'S LOVE can be MOST POWERFULLY SHOWN To a world That is STARVING for love Dear Lord-WE humbly pray USE our weakness To FILL the world WITH YOUR LOVE Robert P. Wallman 6-27-15 INSPIRED by an article in Living Faith Magazine by Amy Welborn

WE ARE FREE-FREE TO BELIEVE

WE ARE FREE- FREE-TO BELIEVE We were BORN to And in The GREATEST COUNTRY in the world WHERE we are FREE Free to live As we like BUT a GREAT MAN And great men and women- Paid a price-for this freedom WE SALUTE These men and women TODAY And we were born- MOST of us-as CHRISTIANS A privilege given to us Because of the life and death Of one man-Jesus Christ YES-freedom has a cost A GREAT COST “ALL the Lord wills he does In heaven and on earth In the seas And in all the deeps” Psalm 135:6 We live in a country With many PRIVILEGES We should be saying: THANK YOU LORD/THANK YOU LORD We should be saying Thank you to him And to the men and women Who PTOTRECT US Yet most of us Walk around With a WHY ME attitude An attitude of self-entitlement Like someone Has done something to us GOD HAS a plan For this country God has a plan For you and me Don't worry About what is wrong SAY THANK YOU For what is RIGHT And get IN STEP With God's plan “Do not those Who plot evil Go astray But those who PLAN What is good FIND love and faithfulness” Proverbs 14:22 Get in step With God's plan Everything is unfolding EXACTLY as it should And REMEMBER This country's freedom Yours and my personal freedom Has come at great COST “The BEGINNING of wisdom Is this: Get wisdom Though it cost you all you have GET UNDERSTANDING” Proverbs 4:7 So today As we ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE Our freedom Let us THANK GOD For the FREEDOM We have in him And the freedom Over sin WE are free To choose God (or not) We are free TO BELIEVE in him (or not) And we are free TO LIVE In the GREATEST COUNTRY This world Has ever seen (THANS to our DEDICATED men and women soldiers) We are free But let us never forget FREEDOM HAS ITS COST Robert P. Wallman 6-26-15 HAPPY 4th of July MY FRIENDS-I LOVE YOU! Ps INSPIRED by an article in Living Faith Magazine by Kristin Armstrong

GOD'S LIVING MERCY-OVERCOMES OUR DOUBT

GOD'S LIVING MERCY- OVERCOMES OUR DOUBT Do you BELIEVE In God Do you have SOME DOUBT That God exists I think That a certain amount of doubt is GOOD I think It is what MOVES US ON to even GREATER things “But Thomas said to them, 'UNLESS I see the mark Of nails In his hands And put my finger Into the nail marks And put my hand into his side I will NOT believe'” John 20:25 Talk about doubt Talk about NEEDING PROOF That God is alive That OUR Lord and SAVIOR-Jesus Is still alive “But when you ask You must believe-and NOT DOUBT Because the one Who doubts Is like a wave In the sea BLOWN and tossed By the wind” James 1:6 DOUBT can take Many forms From outright rejection To someone-and their ideas Just because You don't like them Or sometimes It is a reflexive response DEFINED by fear Because someone is different Or just looks different than us But in the ABOVE STORY Thomas' doubt is different It is MOTIVATED By the mystery of God Seeing Jesus' suffering His terrible execution-HOW can he How can my Lord STILL be alive I WANT PROOF “Jesus replied, 'TRULY-I tell you If you can have FAITH And do NOT DOUBT Not only can you Do what was done To the fig tree But also You can say to the mountain 'Go throw yourself Into the sea And it will be done” Matthew 21:21 WE KNOW you are ALIVE Dear Lord We know that your GREAT LOVE For us Has overcome All of our doubts Even death And that our doubt Can LEAD to an Even BRIGHTER outcome Because of your LIVING MERCY For us And love Dear Lord We NO LONGER DOUBT WE BELIEVE Robert P. Wallman 6-26-15 Ps TODAY is the feast day of the GREAT APOSTLE-Saint Thomas INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Amy Welborn

THE HEALING POWER OF GOD

RISING AGAIN- THE HEALING POWER OF GOD How do we KEEP getting up How do we RISE AGAIN WHEN the forces Of this world Seem to conspire against us To keep knocking us down Over and over again “WHICH is easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' Or to say, 'Rise to and walk'” Matthew 9:5 Have you ever had An addiction Or have you Ever been Paralyzed by a sin That just weighed you down That it seemed HOPELESS That you were powerless To overcome If you Are or were ever BLESSED to overcome it Like I was Through the POWER OF GOD You KNOW the power To RISE UP/walk on And continue with your life “........Those who Have done what is good WILL RISE to live And those who have down What is evil Will rise to be condemned” John 5:29 RISE UP You can LIVE-but only by THE POWER OF GOD NOT by Or on your own power THE HEALING POWER OF GOD In the NEW TESTAMENT Jesus was engaged with the Pharisees Over and over again He asks them CHALLENGING question after challenging question As he often asks us too And they stumble with the answers Because of their own self-righteousness What they FAIL to understand What we often Fail to understand too IS that the ability To forgive sins And the ability to HEAL BOTH have the same origin THE DIVINE POWER OF GOD “For since The creation of the world God's INVISIBLE qualities- His external power and DIVINE NATURE Have been clearly seen Being understood From what has been made So that people are without excuse” Romans 1:20 RISE AGAIN You can overcome ANYTHING IN LIFE Through the-DIVINE POWER- And the HEALING POWER-of God We just have To call on GOD AND JESUS- and we will-RISE AGAIN Robert P. Wallman June 25th, 2015 INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Kristin Armstrong

THE DRIVING OUT OF DEMONS

THE DRIVING OUT OF DEMONS Do you believe That demons exist In today's world Do you believe That the devil really lives OR do do you believe That the evil That we face Is just the ebb and flow Of good and bad In today's world I will tell you this: IF you Have seen and met SOME of the people That I have If you have some OF the actions or inaction That I have seen You would KNOW That the devil and demons Do in fact exist For NO such person NO SUCH ACTIONS Are that evil In and of itself “The demons pleaded with Jesus 'IF you drive us out Send us Into the herd of swine” Matthew 8:31 For in Jesus' time There definitely were demons And Satan SOME-in fact- Even accused Jesus of being The devil “' am not Possessed by a demon,' said Jesus 'But I honor my Father And you dishonor me I am not seeking GLORY For myself But there is one Who seeks it And he Is the judge Very truly I tell you Whoever OBEYS my word Will never see death'” In today's account Jesus drives out The demons Into a heard of swine And the people Become so fearful “THE WHOLE TOWN Came out to meet Jesus And when they say him They begged him to leave” Matthew 8:34 So WHAT are we to do WHEN we come across evil people- maybe even “DEMONS” in today's society I say LIVE with so much love LIVE with SO MUCH KINDNESS LIVE with so MUCH GOODNESS That people Become so fearful of you That they Run away Or that they CHANGE their ways And ask you TO STAY Dear Lord-we PRAY That you HELP us to make WISE CHOICES And to TRUST In your PROTECTION As we confront The evil and The demons In today's world “TURN from evil And do GOOD” And you will be PROTECTED by God Even in confronting the evil And the demons In today's world Robert P. Wallman 6-25-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mitch Finley