HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!=both healthy and HAPPY

A FINAL THOUGHT and REPRINT from last year =HOW did you do in 2016? DID you thank God for your BLESSINGS for this past year? How did you face your challenges? MAY you RECEIVE MORE BLESSINGS than challenges in 2017-and may you BE a better person this year than ever before=DEAR God=the GOD OF LOVE=may you be with us all this year HAPPY NEW YEAR my Family and FRIENDS-I LOVE YOU ALL! JOURNAL=HAPPY NEW YEAR-2015 “From his fullness-we have ALL RECEIVED-GRACE-in place of grace........” John 1:16 TODAY is the last day of the year-MANY of us will go to a party-and CELEBRATE with family and friends to bring in the NEW YEAR-some of us will go to church-still others of us will SLEEP in the new year-whatever we are doing-WE will say goodbye to 2014 and HELLO to the new year BUT BEFORE-this year ends let us PAUSE-and thank GOD for the BLESSINGS we received this year-ANOTHER year of life-our family and friends-OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH-and any problems and difficulties we worked-our way through this year And let us thank GOD for the grace we received in 2014-and the GRACE to live in 2015 well-BEING mindful that GOD GIVES us all the GRACE we need to face each new day in the coming year DEAR LORD—we thank you for the PAST BLESSINGS and grace-and for ALL the graces we will RECEIVE in the coming years of our lives it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a GREAT DAY and year to receive ALL the graces GOD wishes to bestow on us HAPPY NEW YEAR my friends-GOD LOVES YOU-and so do I Robert P. Wallman 12-31-14

LESS THAN PERFECT?

LESS THAN PERFECT? Jesus was PART Of the PERFECT human family Along with Mary and Joseph But I am SURE It didn't always feel perfect They felt ALL the SAME Trials and tribulations That all FAMILIES do But ALWAYS=what made them perfect Was there LOVE for each other And love for all of MANKIND “........the ANGEL Of the Lord-APPEARED to Joseph ….....and said: 'RISE-take the child and his mother FLEE to Egypt And stay there UNTIL I tell you” Matthew 2:13 WHEN we think of FAMILY we think of security-and COMFORT- And love NOT a crisis=like this=fleeing to Egypt But all families-ENCOUNTER- The trials and tribulations of life But what makes a FAMILY thrive Is love-LOVE- In all circumstances LESS than perfect-was The HOLY FAMILY-by life's standards But PERFECT in love When I think of my own family My parents (even my grandparents), my sisters, and EVEN my extended family There has ALWAYS been LOVE Even in the most difficult Of circumstances Love NEVER FAILS Love RISES to the occasion And it never failed The HOLY FAMILY (Not even in death) “MAY your unfailing love Come to me Your salvation According to your promise” Psalm 119:41 “LOVE does not delight- In evil-but REJOICES With the truth It ALWAYS protects It always trusts Always HOPES Always perseveres LOVE NEVER FAILS” 1 Corinthians 13:6-8 LESS THAN PERFECT-in the world But PERFECT in love The way God WANTS us to be That IS what the Holy Family was- That's what my family is- That is what ALL GOOD Thriving families are BASED ON LOVE Mary-Joseph-Jesus- Are RUNNING for their lives To Egypt-no less A foreign country With unfamiliar customs-and- A different religion WHAT did they encounter? What do the families of today encounter? Death? Loss of jobs? Broken relationships? Health difficulties? LOVE SURVIVES-even thrives- OUR FAMILES too FACE all kinds of setbacks We face death in our families- We FACE financial setbacks We face illness and all kinds of issues Maybe addictions-depression And who KNOWS what else Our FAMILIES are LESS than perfect- Because people-are less than perfect Jesus knew chaos and uncertainty FACES families-because His family EXPERIENCED It all His family SURVIVED Because THEIR LOVE was perfect And you know what OUR FAMILY will survive too (And so will yours) Because WE have patterned OUR LOVE-after the love OF THE HOLY FAMILY THE FAMILY OF LOVE Robert P. Wallman 12-29-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D. TODAY-DECEMBER 30th, 2016-is the feast of THE HOLY FAMILY

HOLDING ON TO THE LIGHT!

HOLDING ON TO THE LIGHT! This is the TIME Of year-that the darkness IS passing away That the LIGHT of God And the light of Jesus Christ- IS moving through-in the person- In the BIRTH of Jesus Let us LATCH on- As the light moves through And let us HOLD ON ALL YEAR THROUGH HOLING ON TO THE LIGHT! “........the darkness is passing away And the TRUE LIGHT Is already SHINING” 1 John 2:8 Today we go to the temple With Mary and Joseph To PRESENT the newborn Jesus Whose birth we just CELEBRATED There we meet 2 senior citizens The older woman-Anna-and the Older man just waiting To RECEIVE the light-Simeon WE too-like Simeon and Anna Should be WAITING on this light And we should let THIS LIGHT The light of Jesus The LIGHT OF LOVE Shine in our hearts- Forevermore “May God be gracious-in us And BLESS us And make his face SHINE on us--------” Psalm 67:1 “Arise-SHINE- For your light has come And the GLORY of the Lord RISES upon you” Isaiah 60:1 “For God-who said- 'LET LIGHT Shine out of darkness' Made his light SHINE in our hearts To GIVE us-the light of knowledge Of God's glory DISPLAYED in the face Of Christ” 2 Corinthians 4:6 HOLDING ON to the light GOD'S light-Jesus' light- In our hearts Simeon HELD the baby And felt the darkness Of the world-FADING The TRUE LIGHT of God SHINING in his arms And we hold on To the baby Jesus- The true LIGHT of the world- IN OUR HEARTS Simeon KNOWS- The darkness is fading away And we KNOW The LIGHT of the world Is LIVING in our hearts And we are HOLDING ON For ALL we are worth As we BEGIN the NEW YEAR Holding on to the light Holding on for NEW BEGINNINGS As we move Into 2017 “The fear of the Lord Is the BEGINNING of wisdom ALL who follow his precepts Have good understanding To him BELONGS eternal praises” Psalm 111:10 So let us LOVE GOD And LOVE our brothers & sisters As we move into The BEGINNING OF 2017 ALL the while HOLDING on To the light of God and Christ IN OUR HEARTS It is a NEW YEAR-but let us HOLD ON to the SPIRIT OF LIGHT Just as Simeon and Anna did Robert P. Wallman 12-29-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mary Marrocco

CHOOSE THE LIGHT

CHOOSE THE LIGHT WE LIVE In a dark dark world We don't have To look very far In this world To see that Even the day after Christmas Even the day after Christ's light Has shown so much brightness But it was that way At Christ's time too As today's feast Of the HOLY INNOCENTS shows That time WHEN Herod Ordered the slaughter Of innocent children To keep at bay The threat of ONE Greater than himself “This is the message That we have heard From Jesus Christ And PROCLAIM to you GOD IS LIGHT And in him There is no darkness At all” 1 John 1:5 Adam and Eve Brought the darkness of sin To the world But Christ BROUGHT THE LIGHT The fruits of the SPIRIT Over the choices of darkness CHOOSE THE LIGHT of God Choose the LIGHT of Christ Over the sin Of this world “You are The LIGHT of the world A town built on a hill Cannot be hidden” Matthew 5:14 “WHEN Jesus spoke again To the people- He 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 There are MANY ways To take or diminish The life of another BESIDES physical killing-rape- Abuse-child molestation-etc., Gossip-slander-KEEPING QUIET When others are doing this WE are all guilty of something- OR not helping someone in life At times in life When we could make a difference EVEN if it is Just depriving others Of their good name and reputation We NEED TO REMEMBER That the light That is God SHINES IN ALL PEOPLE And that all people are WORTHY of dignity GOD'S LIGHT-God's perfect love Casts out fear And this light of God GUIDES US to act appropriately “How PRICELESS Is your unfailing love O GOD! People take refuge In the shadow of your wings” Psalm 36:7 “GIVE THANKS To the Lord For he is GOOD HIS LOVE endures forever” Psalm 18:1 Choose God's love CHOOSE THE LIGHT OF GOD Lest we stumble over one another In the dark CHOOSE THE LIGHT- Of God Over the darkness In this world Robert P. Wallman 12-27-15 INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Father James Stephen Behrens, O.C.S.O.

MY FAITH MAKES ME HAPPY

MY FAITH MAKES ME HAPPY IF I were To ask you WHAT makes you happiest In life- What would you say? For me-it IS the 3 F'S- FAITH-FAMILY-and FRIENDS- And they ARE all intertwined My FAITH MAKES me happy Very very happy “........for our FELLOWSHIP Is with the Father- And with the Son-Jesus Christ” 1 John 1:3 In fact-the HAPPIEST part Of my day IS when I am saying my MORNING PRAYERS- My ROSARY-and reading my bible Followed CLOSELY by a daily phone call From my sister Terri-and many other CALLS To and from my sister Mary-and other family And friends THROUGHOUT the week MY FAITH Is a SIGN of GOD'S LOVE For me And his adoption of me As a CHILD OF GOD And that makes me very VERY HAPPY I feel like I am A PART of A huge family- As BELIEVERS in God And I wish EVERYONE had that FAITH I wish everyone in this world Felt a PART of that family And felt that LOVE FOR GOD And love for EACH OTHER Maybe we wouldn't have The kind of world That we currently live in IF everyone felt Truly related to EVERYONE ELSE In this world-with ONE LOVING FAITH- Maybe-we would have A MORE loving world My faith MAKES ME HAPPY It truly does “........ Have FAITH In the Lord your God And you will be UPHELD Have faith in his prophets And you will be SUCCESSFUL” 2 Chronicles 20:20 “THEN he touched their eyes And said: 'According to your FAITH Let it be DONE to you' And their sight was RESTORED Jesus warned them sternly- 'See that NO ONE Knows about this' But they went out And SPREAD the news About him ALL over the region” Matthew 9:29-31 My FRIENDS-we are ALL Part of the FAMILY OF GOD- The family of Christ We are ALL part of The SAME family=the HUMAN FAMILY And children of God We are part Of a fellowship of people WHO ARE LOVED Brothers & sisters in God Brothers & sisters in Christ CHILDREN of a LOVING GOD “BLESSED are the peacemakers For they will be called Children of God” Matthew 5:9 My dear friends- MY FAITH indeed-DOES MAKE ME HAPPY It leads me to LIVE Out of love- Out of forgiveness- And out of kindness If you are a BELIEVER And living this way YOU ARE Part of my FAMILY And I am SURE- YOUR FAITH MAKES you happy too Robert P. Wallman 12-26-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Elizabeth Duffy

RECEIVE OUR SPIRIT-O LORD-IN LIFE-AND IN DEATH

RECEIVE OUR SPIRIT-O LORD-IN LIFE- AND IN DEATH Today we CELEBRATE The life and death of Saint Stephen- The first CHRISTIAN martyr After Christ As Stephen Was being stoned to death He CRIED OUT, “Lord Jesus-receive my spirit” Acts 7:59 In today's world-we HAVE To offer our SPIRIT to God All through life too As Christians We PRAY for a beautiful death The way Stephen died-being brutally killed Doesn't fit our description Of a beautiful death But-in fact-was- Because HIS FAITH Remained strong And sometimes Having STRONG FAITH in life Makes the DIFFERENCE Between living and dying As I found out WHEN I prayed for life IF it be God's will RECEIVE our spirit-in life- Dear Lord And receive our spirit In death “Into your hands- I commit my spirit DELIVER ME Lord My faithful God” Psalm 31:5 “I will give them An UNDIVIDED HEART And put a new spirit In them I will remove from Their heart of stone And give them A heart of flesh” Ezekiel 11:19 “Watch and PRAY So that you Will NOT fall into temptation The spirit is willing But the FLESH is weak” Matthew 26:41 WE would all-like to imagine Passing away WHEN we are quite elderly Surrounded by Our LOVING FAMILY MEMBERS My mom was like that She was only 75-but she died At HOME-with the IRISH MUSIC playing TWO of her children present PRAYING FOR HER- She was beautiful IN LIFE- And beautiful in death She even PICKED her own readings And music for her funeral But we are NOT All that fortunate Our SAVIOR Jesus and Saint Stephen Were murdered And people EVERY day Of all ages Die of heart attacks-cancer- Automobile accidents, etc., etc., etc., Dear Lord-we PRAY That you RECEIVE our spirits In life-daily And at the hour of our death WHENEVER that may be And that you be-AS PLEASED- With our SPIRIT- As you were with Saint Stephen's In Jesus' name, Robert P. Wallman 12-25-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Terence Hegarty

LOVE COMBINED-LOVE INCARNATE

LOVE COMBINED-LOVE INCARNATE For the first time In many years-we have HANUKKAH And Christmas combined The Jewish nation and the Christian GENTILE NATION together LOVE COMBINED-life as it should be “His DOMINION is vast And forever PEACEFUL........” Isaiah 9:6 So on this Christmas DAY Let us take a moment To REMEMBER the ONE Who has dominion over ALL The ONE who rules our hearts With unconditional love The one who TRIUMPHS over all The one who trumps all Love combined-LOVE INCARNATE- HAPPY HANUKKAH!-MERRY CHRISTMAS! Divine Peace is accessible peace Forever more I PRAY for peace in this world EVERY day-and I TRY to live my life In FAITH-by promoting peace To ALL people To all denominations Forever peace-forever more That is GOD'S WAY “The Lord Gives STRENGTH to his people The Lord BLESSED his people With peace” Psalm 29:11 “For us a CHILD is born To us a son is given And the government Will be on his shoulders And he will be CALLED Wonderful Counselor-MIGHTY GOD- Everlasting Father-PRINCE OF PEACE” Isaiah 9:6 2,000 years ago A SAVIOR was born To this world But the world REJECTED him And the world Seems to STILL reject his teachings Today-on LOVE-on forgiveness-and on kindness But I URGE YOU-on this day Of all days- “LET there be PEACE On earth And let it begin With me” So this year No matter HOW MUCH divisiveness Exists within your family No matter how extensive The violence IS-in this world Let us OPEN UP And RECEIVE the unconditional love of God The UNCONDITIONAL love of Christ For it is unlimited- It knows NO BOUNDS Love unlimited Love combined- LOVE INCARNATE-love that knows no bounds LOVE UNFAILING “Turn Lord-and DELIVER me Save me Because of your unfailing love” Psalm 6:4 LET US commemorate this day This day of Christ's LOVE This day of Christ's coming This day of HAPPY HANUKKAHS Into a day of LOVE for ALL God came to DWELL in us In the ONE of Jesus Christ God's love UNLIMITED God's love COMBINED & INCARNATE LOVE UNFAILING! HOW can we resist Such a marvelous present? Let us BEGIN To get it right MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY HANUKKAH! GOD'S LOVE IS INCLUSIVE I LOVE YOU ALL! Robert P. Wallman 12-24-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE WALLMANS

DECEMBER 24, 2012 CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE WALLMANS From the time we lived at Massachusetts Avenue (1-31-63 to 11-30-98) We always had the greatest Christmas Eves Thanks to my mother and father As a young boy-my two sisters and I-would be surprised When the elves came The elves would always bring us pajamas and slippers My dad would sometimes be cussing I didn’t know what it was about at the time-but as I got older I came to understand that he was usually trying to put something Together ( ie. a bike for my sisters or me ) Often times-we would go to midnight Mass Except my father-who would sneak off to bed Even when we had a houseful And that is what I remember most, the “HOUSEFULS” We always had an Open House on Christmas Eve My friends-my sisters’ friends-and even some of my father’s and mother’s friends Would show up-down through the years Sometimes-some of our relatives would be there too If they were just looking to have some fun It would usually start with Rick and Patty coming after 6:00or 7:00 pm Mass And as they got older-they would show up with their children-Samantha and Tim They even came one year less than a week after Timmy was born Also showing up were Rich and Betty Ann (when they were still married) And their beautiful daughter Bridget And Ed and Debbie and their daughter-Samantha Ray and Arlene and their family And many other family and friends Most of it-was just clean fun But we did have our own version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” And “Pup” singing C is for the Christ child I will always remember Pup He died in 1979 in a motorcycle accident He always carried a “magnum” gun with him everywhere he went When he came into our house on Christmas Eve He would take them out and give them to me at the door And after my cousin, Donny, got divorced We had our own version of “Same Time-Nest Year” With him and Rooster What wonderful memories I have of “CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE WALLMANS” And when we moved in 1998-my mother wrote the following poem As we turn out the lights and Lock the door of this old house Not a creature is stirring Not even the proverbial mouse. Hush! Quiet and silence. Can you believe!!! Any day of the year, but Christmas Eve!!! Now we REALLY KNOW it’s time to go But before we do, we want you to know Through the love and the joy, the laughter & tears That you have imparted, you have enriched Our lives all these past 36 years. If these walls could talk, what tales they would tell No need, however, we remember them well. For caring and sharing and just being there Our love, thanks and warmest wishes for a Happy New Year. The Wallman Christmas 1998 Robert P. Wallman 7-09-07 Ps “For God so loved the world that he gave his ONE AND ONLY SON That whoever believes in him shall NOT PERISH but have eternal life” John 3:16 12-25-15

GOD IS WITH US

GOD IS WITH US Of course-at this TIME of year- As we approach OUR SAVIOR'S BIRTH- We know-that GOD is with us But the TRUTH is the PRESENCE Of God-is ALWAYS with us In good times-in bad times- And in ALL TIMES in between “I have been with you WHEREVER you want........” 2 Samuel 7:9 God NEVER stops accompanying us- ESPECIALLY in the bad times- The MOST painful times-when we Can't even see him He is CARRYING us On his back God carries us- Even-in the bleakest of times ESPECIALLY- In the bleakest of times “You yourselves Have SEEN what I did To Egypt And how I carried you ON EAGLES WINGS And brought you to myself” Exodus 19:4 “........ There you saw How the Lord your God CARRIED YOU As a father CARRIES his son ALL the way you went Until you reached this place” Deuteronomy 1:31 “For prophecy NEVER had its origin In the human will But prophets-though human- SPOKE from God As they were carried ALONG BY the HOLY SPIRIT” 2 Peter 1:21 That IS the truth of the matter We will NEVER see God Face-to-face EXCEPT those who encountered-and- LIVED and saw Jesus During his time But the PRESENCE OF God Is here LIVING in us-in the form of- In the ESSENCE of HIS SPIRIT And though we could not see him We could FEEL HIM Especially during those experiences Of INTENSE emotional pain And the seeming absence of God God never Stopped accompanying you/me God is ALWAYS with us “Do not cast me From your presence Or take your Holy Spirit From me” Psalm 51:11 “However-as it is written: 'What no eye has seen What no ear has heard And what no human mind Has conceived' The things God has PREPARED For those who LOVE HIM These are the things God has REVEALED to us By his SPIRIT” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 THIS CHRISTMAS EVE As we CELEBRATE The COMING of our Lord Let us be REMINDED That Jesus was ONCE here IN THE FLESH Spreading the WORD OF GOD He is STILL with us In Spirit Emmanuel=GOD IS WITH US= ALWAYS & FOREVER Robert P. Wallman 12-23-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M.

SIGNS THAT POINT THE WAY HOME

SIGNS THAT POINT THE WAY HOME The CHRISTIAN life can Be difficult-PUZZLING to say The least HOW are we supposed to Keep LIVING a life of love- A life of forgiveness- A life of KINDNESS When some people Keep treating us with meanness- With indifference-without sensitivity- And NOT CARING one bit Whether it offends us or not? Our leader Jesus-did it-and as His followers We are SUPPOSED to do it too “Your ways-O Lord Make known to me: TEACH ME your paths” Psalm 25:4 Fortunately for us-we have SIGNS That point the way-and EXAMPLES We have the CHURCH every Sunday- At least-every day-IF we so choose Plus we have the LIVES Of the saints And holy Scripture SIGNS that point The way to God Signs that point the WAY To living a CHRISTIAN LIFE “In ALL your ways Submit to him And he will make Your paths straight” Proverbs 3:6 David said: “You have made KNOWN to me The PATHS of life You will fill me With JOY in your presence” Acts 2:28 ONE thing for sure WHEN we are FOLLOWING The paths and signs of God We are NEVER alone But there are QUESTIONS That come up as we TRAVEL through this world How do we know WHICH way to turn? How do we KNOW Which decision-way- Is the right way? Which way do we go WHEN we come To the FORK in the road? We are never alone IF we follow the signs POSTED by God Got to MASS or church service EVERY DAY READ the Scriptures daily FOLLOW Christ's example And the LIVES of the saints He-they-FACED every problem- Every temptation that we do FOLLOW the signs Follow the road That LEAD you/me/us back to God “THEREFORE the Lord himself WILL give you a sign The virgin will conceive And give BIRTH to a son And will call him IMMANUEL” Isaiah 7:14 “THIS will be a SIGN To you: You will find a BABY Wrapped in clothes-lying in a manger” Luke 2:12 Dear Lord-this world IS a confusing place We PRAY- That you HELP US SEE the signs-that lead us To LIVE a truly CHRISTIAN LIFE And BRING US HOME to you Robert P. Wallman 12-22-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Steve Givens

THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS WE LIVE In a dark dark world There is no doubt About that A world with terrorism and ISIS A world with murder-rape- and child abuse And a world WHERE less and less people Live a life With MORAL INTEGRITY I define moral integrity As doing the RIGHT and BEST thing Just because It is the right And BEST thing to do- PURE That's what Mary and Elizabeth did That's what GOD does And that is what Jesus did “MOST BLESSED Are you among women- And blessed is The fruit of your womb” Luke 1:42 And Jesus was THE FRUIT of Mary's womb Jesus is THE LIGHT in the darkness O come-O come-EMMANUEL! And in just a few days Jesus will be here Let us all ALL his disciples and apostles STAND UP And live with moral integrity Just as Jesus Would have us do “May INTEGRITY and uprightness Protect me Because my HOPE-LORD- Is in you” Psalm 25:21 “RIGHTEOUSNESS Guards the person of integrity But wickedness Overthrows the sinner” Proverbs 13:6 Today marks winter solstice The shortest day Of the year A day- WITH the most darkness Yet I think of the statues Of Mary I think Of the statues of Jesus OUR LIGHTS In the world of darkness And the real life Mary And the REAL LIFE Jesus As well as THE HOLY SPIRIT of God “THE LORD Is my LIGHT And my salvation Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the STRONGHOLD Of my life- Of whom Shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 “LIGHT-in a messenger's eyes Brings JOY to the heart And good news GIVES health to the bones” Proverbs 15:30 And the fruit Of Mary's womb- The messenger and EMMANUEL Will be here In just a few days To bring us the GOOD NEWS To teach us MORAL INTEGRITY “The LIGHT SHINES in the darkness And the darkness Will NOT overcome it” 1 John 1:5 On this-winter solstice day There is NO NEED For gloom In the darkness Of the night OUR SAVIOR was born O come-O come-EMMANUEL- THE LIGHT IN OUR DARKNESS Robert P. Wallman 12-20-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Gail Goleas 12-22-16

THE HUMAN ELEMENT=GIVE HELP There is a HUMAN ELEMENT In EVERY one of our lives In this world-and to that degree We all NEED HELP at one time Or another And as CHRISTIANS-particularly at This TIME of year-we should ALL- GIVE HELP to those in need This is a HUMAN element In this world-giving and receiving HELP Very humbly-be KIND! In today's readings-we find Mary- Pregnant herself-traveling to help Her cousin Elizabeth- Who is also pregnant “Mary set out in those days And TRAVELED to the hill country In haste........” Luke 1:39 Elizabeth in the “hill country” And we FIND Mary leaving “In haste” To give HELP to her cousin Surely-it must have been A difficult JOURNEY Mary responded to The human element- In her COUSIN Elizabeth Elizabeth was much OLDER And pregnant=and immediately=Mary RECOGNIZED that she needed her And she stayed 3 FULL months WHILE being pregnant herself The human element=GIVING and RECEIVING HELP=when needed=when called for Mary did it==Jesus-of course-always did it too We should all RESPOND with help To others=WHEN We recognize the need “In my distress I called to the Lord I CRIED to my God For help From his temple-he heard My voice My cry-came before him Into his ears” Psalm 18:6 “So do not fear For I am WITH YOU For I am your God I will strengthen you And HELP YOU With my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10 “Jesus replied, 'And you EXPERTS in the law Woe to you Because you LOAD people Down with burdens They can hardly carry And you yourselves Will NOT lift one finger To help'” Luke 11:46 But Mary HELPED her cousin Elizabeth She had that HUMAN ELEMENT That we should all have She was the MOTHER Of all mothers- The COUSIN of all cousins And the neighbor For all NEIGHBORS She had-that human element “WHAT is mankind That you are mindful Of them HUMAN BEINGS that you CARE for them?” Psalm 8:4 We do not need To go far To FIND PEOPLE looking for And NEEDING help Dear Lord-help us-LIKE Mary- To possess that human element TO GIVE HELP-when capable- And to be GRACIOUS & KIND when we RECEIVE that help MAY we “GO IN HASTE” To those in need-and GIVE HELP In the NAME of Jesus-Mary-and Joseph Robert P. Wallman 12-20-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti

BE BRAVE-NOT AFRAID

BE BRAVE-NOT AFRAID Many people-RESPOND with fear When they encounter something Of God-that is REAL In today's world I am AMAZED by the Humility and KINDNESS that the angel-Gabriel Showed to Mary-when he appeared To her “'Do NOT be afraid-Mary- For you have found FAVOR With God,” said the angel-Gabriel Luke 1:30 I often WONDER Why people respond with fear When they encounter God WHY would we react that way When we know God LOVES US Infinitely and UNCONDITIONALLY? I wonder too about Mary- The young teenager and the BRAVENESS She responded with She must have been terrified MAYBE she even thought She was seeing things I too have felt That I have been TOUCHED by God CALLED by God for a SPECIAL PURPOSE A little bit overwhelming-perhaps But the BEST that we can do- Is respond like Mary-and be BRAVE- And ACCEPT the CALLING by God And to the Lord BE BRAVE-not afraid LIVE with a strong and a COURAGEOUS HEART “The Lord gave this command To Joshua-son of Nun: 'Be strong and courageous For you will bring The Israelites into the land I PROMISED them by oath And I myself Will be WITH YOU'” Deuteronomy 31:23 “BE on your guard Stand FIRM in the faith Be courageous-be strong Do EVERYTHING in love” 1 Corinthians 16:13 And that is EXACTLY what The young teenager Mary was: STRONG and COURAGEOUS-and of course- She did EVERYTHING in LOVE In face she RAISED the perfect man- And SON of God-her son=Jesus She responded to the ANGEL Gabriel “MAY it be done to me” Luke 1:38 THEN the angel left her Mary was TOUCHED BY GOD Yet she was brave and courageous- Never afraid-like so many of us Are today As I mentioned-I too FEEL Like I was called by God For a specific REASON Maybe someday You will FEEL that way too In fact-I KNOW We have ALL been CALLED by God In one way or another At this particular time In history-in this world “And you also ARE among the Gentiles Who are called To BELONG to Jesus Christ” Romans 1:6 “And those he PRESDESTINED He also called Those he called HE also justified Those he justified- He GLORIFIED” Romans 8:30 Mary was CALLED-by God Through the ANGEL-GABRIEL As a teenager-she must have Been terrified Yet she RESPONDED when called upon By the Lord What ADMIRATION I have For this young girl- Who GREW into the Mother of God May we ALL be BLESSED- And respond in such a BRAVE MANNER When and IF We are called by God In Jesus' name Robert P. Wallman 12-19-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Aileen O'Donoghue

THERE IS ENOUGH!

THERE IS ENOUGH! We live in a society We LIVE in a world With an emphasis On MORE! MORE! MORE! And we have a tendency To WANT to acquire more Than we need-and- HOARD it for ourselves Scarcity is a FEAR That there isn't enough That we aren't enough MAYBE even- That God doesn't love us enough We think that RESOURCES are limited That love-time-success-prosperity- Health-energy-opportunity-and justice ARE all limited And while that may be true To a degree KEEP in mind That we WORSHIP a God Who is not limited In any way-a God Who has the ability to BE just and abundant And in fact-IS SO “JUSTICE shall flower In his days And profound peace Till the moon be no more” Psalm 72:7 THERE IS ENOUGH! Our God is NOT limited And he WILL PROVIDE What we need-when- We NEED IT He is a JUST and abundant God “Command those who are rich In this present world NOT to be arrogant Not to put their HOPE In wealth Which is so uncertain But to put their hope In God Who richly PROVIDES us With everything For our enjoyment” 1 Timothy 6:17 “IF anyone speaks They should do so As ONE who speaks the very words Of God If anyone serves They should do so With the strength God provides So that in ALL things God may be praised Through Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 4:11 We worship a God Who PROVIDES-we worship A just and abundant God There is ENOUGH-with our God Who ALWAYS provides God's resources and power Are UNLIMITED WHEN we tap-in Into God as our SOURCE We TRANSITION from a Mind-set of scarcity To an ATTITUDE Of abundance “I will BLESS her With abundant provisions Her poor I will satisfy With food” Psalm 132:15 “Then this city Will bring me RENOWN- Joy-praise-honor- BEFORE all nations on earth That HEAR of all the good things I do for it And they will be in awe And will tremble At the abundant prosperity And PEACE I provide- For it” Jeremiah 3:9 For with our God-the GOD OF LOVE There is-NOT only enough- But more For our God-OUR Jesus-IS THE LORD OF MIRACLES! The God of: MORE THAN ENOUGH Robert P. Wallman 12-18-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Kristin Armstrong

Charity

CHARITY CHARITY is defined as the generous actions Or donations to aid the poor, the ill, or the helpless And it usually something given to A person in need It is simply A generous work or kindness And it is In its simplest form THE LOVING of your neighbor AS yourself And it is The second commandment; “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF” “Do NOT seek revenge Or bear a grudge AGAINST one of your people But LOVE your neighbor As yourself I am the Lord” Leviticus 19:18 Be charitable To your neighbor “Jesus replied, 'LOVE the Lord Your God With all your heart And with all your soul And with all your mind' This is the first And GREATEST commandment And the second Is like it 'LOVE your neighbor As yourself' ALL the law And the prophets Hang on These two commandments'” Matthew 12:37-40 BE KIND To your neighbor Do unto them As you would Have them do unto you BE CHARITABLE In fact Saint Vincent DePaul says that being kind IS the surest way To becoming a Saint And he SHOULD KNOW As he is-A SAINT And is one Of the kindest individuals Who ever lived “And ABOVE all things Have fervent charity Among yourselves For CHARITY shall COVER The multitude of sins” 1 Peter 4:8 Be kind-BE CHARITABLE HELP someone in NEED And in Luke 10 We see one of the greatest stories of charity In the bible A man is beaten and robbed and left for dead Along the side of the road A priest and Levite pass by And do nothing But along comes a Samaritan: “He went to him And bandages his wounds Pouring on oil and wine Then he put the man On his own donkey Took him to an inn And took care of him The next day He took out Two silver coins And gave them To the innkeeper 'LOOK after him,' he said 'And when I return I will reimburse you For any extra expense You may have'” Luke 10:34-35 A charitable and kind act To be sure No less authority Than Jesus, says, “GO AND DO LIKEWISE” Luke 10:37 I beg to differ With the man who said, “Charity begins at home” CHARITY BEGINS in our heart Do all The good you can For all the people That you can For we shall pass This way-just once BE CHARITABLE! Robert P. Wallman 2-13-14 & 12-18-16 Ps In Christian thought-CHARITY is considered To be the highest form of love Signifying the RECIPROCAL love Between God and man Manifest in UNSELFISH LOVE Of one's fellow man

BURNING WITH LOVE!

BURNING WITH LOVE! Can you REMEMBER anyone In your life-past or present- Who were BURNING AND SHINING lamps- With the LOVE of God- And love of Christ in them? I would bet that their FAITH That their commitment to God And their LOVE-were great testimony To God-in and of themselves I would bet That the way That they LIVED Were of great inspiration It is NOT enough For us to admire them- For we ALL should be living Our lives like that “John was a burning and SHINING LAMP And for awhile You were content To REJOICE in the light” John 5:35 Let us all TRY to live like John And the other SAINTS Let us all Try to be SHINING EXAMPLES Of inspiration-for everyone Let us ALL Be burning EXAMPLES OF LOVE Just like John-the Baptist And just like the other Saints “You-Lord KEEP my lamp burning MY GOD turns my darkness Into LIGHT” Psalm 18:28 Yes-for true Christians- The CALL of the Lord Is to BECOME So CONSUMED with LOVE That our life shines And points others in the DIRECTION Of Christ We are to be BURNING WITH LOVE for everyone “The path of the righteous Is LIKE the morning SUN Shining ever brighter Till the full light Of day” Proverbs 4:18 “WE also have The prophetic message As something completely RELIABLE And you will DO well To pay attention to it As to a light SHINING in a dark place Until the day dawns And the morning star RISES in your HEARTS” 1 Peter 1:19 The great psychotherapist Victor Frankl Said about his World War II experiences: “What is to give light MUST endure burning” To FOLLOW Christ Means to BURN With a TOTAL LOVE For both our God and our NEIGHBOR I PRAY That when my life Is OVER That my light-continues BURNING WITH LOVE For God and Christ and humanity And I pray That YOURS does too Dear Lord-please LIGHT THE CANDLES! I will BURN for you In love ALL the days of my life Robert P. Wallman 12-16-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mark Neilsen

DIVINE FIDELITY AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

DIVINE FIDELITY AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Our God-LOVES each one of us- Separately and individually=YET= He loves each one of us With divine fidelity and UNCONDITIONAL love too Like he loves No one else What if you HEARD our Appalachian mountains wanted To trade places With the Rocky mountains? A bit amusing perhaps But that is more likely To happen- Than God ever giving up On you and me GOD LOVES US-forever and ever “Though the mountains Leave their place …..... My love--------shall NEVER leave you” Isaiah 54:10 This pledge by God That he LOVES US forever and ever Is NO laughing matter We need to look No further than Jesus Living-dying-and RESURRECTING for us To know that God has a DIVINE fidelity And and unconditional love For each and every one of us God EMBRACES each of us DAILY With a steadfast forgiveness and MERCY He loves us so much- He will NEVER let us go “But I TRUST In your unfailing love My heart rejoices In your salvation” Psalm 13:5 “Let them give thanks To the Lord For his UNFAILING LOVE And his wonderful deeds For mankind” Psalm 107:8 “........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 13:6-8 YES-divine fidelity-and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE-that is HOW God feels about us And that is how we SHOULD feel About our brothers and sisters In Christ Let us LOVE each other With THIS steadfast love- The way that God LOVES US “CREATE in me-a pure heart O God And renew a STEADFAST spirit Within me” Psalm 51:10 “And the God Of all GRACE Who called you In his eternal glory In Christ AFTER you have suffered A little while-will himself RESTORE you and make you strong Firm and STEADFAST” 1 Peter 5:10 EVEN if the mountains-MIRACULOUSLY- Do change places It would be NOTHING As COMPARED to God's love For you-for me-for ALL of us HIS STEADFAST-DIVINE-and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE Robert P. Wallman 12-15-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Bridge Haase, O.S.U.

JOURNAL/BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER

JOURNAL/BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER CAN YOU GIVE without counting the COST? And can you continue to do it to someone-FOR SOMEONE when you are being challenged EVERY step of the way? CAN YOU ALWAYS have a welcoming SMILE-always be COURTEOUS-send AFFIRMING e-mail messages-and CONTINUE to lend a helping hand to anyone in need? CAN YOU always have an UNDERSTANDING presence and listening ear for everyone? ALL OF these are little acts of kindness-and most of all can you do ALL of these things WITHOUT patting yourself on the back-just do them because as a CHRISTIAN-that is what you are called upon to do-just because YOU BELIEVE IN GOD and believe in the PERSON of Jesus Christ KEEP DOING for others-and don't count the cost-DON'T EXPECT GRATITUDE-That is the REAL QUESTION all CHRISTIANS must ask themselves: CAN I truly give without keeping score-without counting the cost IT IS a great day to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to GIVE OURSELVES AWAY BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER In chapter 22 Of Saint Matthew's GOSPEL Jesus gives us The two greatest commandments Of course The first commandment is: “LOVE the Lord your God With all your heart With all your soul And with ALL your mind” Matthew 22:37 “And the second Is like Unto it Thou shalt love thy neighbor As thyself” Matthew 22:39 And INCLUDED In LOVING our neighbor Is BEING KIND to that person “For you have said My KINDNESS Is established forever” Psalm 89:3 In other words Be kind to everyone AT ALL TIMES VERY difficult to do But something We can all aspire to do And while We should be kind To everyone We should be especially kind To the NEEDY “He who despises his neighbors SINS BUT BLESSED Is he Who is kind to the NEEDY” Proverbs 14:21 “He who OPPRESSES the poor Shows contempt For their maker But whoever IS KIND to the needy HONORS GOD” Proverbs 14:31 And it doesn't often Take a lot of effort To be KIND to someone A warm smile A handshake A HUG Maybe a birthday Or a get-well card Just some little action That says: “I KNOW What you are going through And I know What you have been through” Just some little action That lets a person Know that You CARE about hem And in James 1 James tells us WHAT PURE RELIGION IS “RELIGION that God Our Father Accepts as PURE AND FAULTLESS Is this: TO LOOK AFTER orphans and widows In their distress And to keep oneself From being polluted By the world” James 1:27 So LOVE ONE ANOTHER and always remember To keep being KIND Robert P. Wallman 5-15-14 Ps Inspired by an article in LIVING FAITH magazine by Father James McKarns MISC.WITNESS 5-23-14 12-6-14 & 12-15-16

DISCOVERING THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD

DISCOVERING THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD The disciple John TELLS his disciples To move on to Jesus John did not ask his disciples To stay with him- To listen to him preach But to MOVE ON And FOCUS their attention On Jesus “John the Baptist Has sent us to ask you, 'Are you the ONE Who is to come Or should we look for another?'” Luke 7:20 John SENDS them to “the one” And they DISCOVER the GOOD NEWS All by themselves Just as we too NEED to discover Jesus Just as we too-need- To FIND the good news of God The good news of Jesus In today's world Particularly this Christmas season DISCOVERING The good news of God The GOOD NEWS of Jesus In today's world “Jesus went throughout Galilee TEACHING in their synagogues PROCLAIMING the good news Of the kingdom And HEALING every disease And sickness-among the people” Matthew 4:23 “SO he(Jesus) replied To the messengers, ''GO BACK and report to John What you have seen and heard The blind RECEIVE sight The lame walk Those who have leprosy Are cleansed The deaf hear The dead are RAISED And the GOOD NEWS Is proclaimed to the poor BLESSED is anyone- ho does not stumble On account of me'” Luke 7:22-23 Yes-MIRACLE after miracle-occurred CULMINATING in the miracle Of Jesus himself=and the RESURRECTION The good news of God The GOOD NEWS of Jesus The good news of love and life DISCOVER IT! I was given a miracle myself -WHEN I was 22-and I was given ANOTHER CHANCE at life I have Discovered the good news of God Discovered the good news of life- And I will TESTIFY and give CREDIT To God-for-ALL the days of my life Today we also CELEBRATE The good news of another John Saint John of the CROSS He died in 1591 And was a great POET and theologian John's relationship took him Through the “DARK NIGHT” of the soul And into a DEEPER RELATIONSHIP With the Lord Jesus Nevertheless-Jesus is ALIVE In us-in you and me As we NAVIGATE through this Christmas season The GOOD NEWS was That Jesus was ALIVE And PRESENT in this world Some 2,000 year ago And the good news IS that Jesus is alive In us-this CHRISTMAS SEASON SMILE!-and DISCOVER IT! Let your JOY of God And life=SPREAD to others And let Christmas HAPPINESS-peace And the good news-LIVE IN YOU Mighty soon-OTHERS-will be DISCOVERING the GOOD NEWS Of God and Jesus too Robert P. Wallman 12-13-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Deborah Meister

FINDING GRACE AND LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

FINDING GRACE AND LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS Let's face it-we LIVE in A dark world EVEN with ADVENT approaching Even with the LIGHT of Jesus Right around the corner The darkness is still there The violence-the deceit-the fraud- ALL the evil in this world And NONE of us are perfect- So we need to FORGIVE ourselves- When evil-when bad things- Are NOT our intention Jesus is our SAVIOR-he is The PERFECTION-that we are Trying to achieve “You need not be ashamed Of all your deeds........” Zephaniah 3:11 OUR lives are messy-sometimes- We GIVE IN to temptation- Way more than we ought to But we LOOK for peace We strive for peace We FIND that peace In the COMING Of an infant child “TURN from evil-and do good SEEK PEACE and pursue it” Psalm 34:14 “A HEART at peace Gives life to the body” Proverbs 14:30 “........ To SHINE on those Living in darkness And in the shadow of death To guide our feet Into the PATH OF PEACE” Luke 1:79 Dear Lord-HELP us find grace Help us find light In the darkness Find it in the COMING Of the little infant Jesus boy “YOU are the MOST excellent Of men And your lips Have been anointed With grace Since God Has BLESSED you FOREVER” Psalm 45:2 “Simeon took him in his arms And PRAISED God-saying: …..... A light for REVELATION To the Gentiles And the GLORY Of your people Israel” Luke 2:28, 32 We LIVE in a cruel-dark- Violent world HELP us to find light In the darkness Help us To find Jesus=to find HOPE-and Life and love This advent season Jesus is the GRACE Jesus is the LIGHT In the darkness We may not Want to admit it Even to ourselves But we are DEPENDENT=on God- And God's MERCY In this dark world We ARE to be-and can be TRANSFORMED by the light of Christ Particularly-in this Christmas season We can find OUR TRUE WORTH In God and Jesus Dear Lord=Dear Jesus You are MY LIGHT in the darkness And my REASON for living With GRACE and light In this dark world Robert P. Wallman 12-12-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Julia Walsh, F.S.P.A.

YOU REALLY CAN GO HOME AGAIN

YOU REALLY CAN-GO HOME AGAIN “YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN,” was a novel Written by Thomas Wolfe- And published posthumously in 1940 It-the novel-tells the story- Of a fledgling author's success The man writes a book With frequent references to his hometown The book IS a national success But it makes the residents- Of the town-very UNHAPPY- with the depiction of their town And they respond By SENDING-menacing letters And death threats And of course-OUR JESUS-our Savior- And the LIGHT of the world Found out-FIRST HAND-it to be true He TRIED to return home too- And FOUND a prophet was without honor In his own country “Coming to his hometown He began teaching The people in their synagogue And they were amazed 'WHERE did this man Get this wisdom And THESE miraculous powers,' They asked 'Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary? And aren't his brothers: James-Joseph-Simon-and Judas? Aren't ALL his sisters with us? WHERE did this man Get ALL these things?' And they took OFFENSE at him” Matthew 13:54-57 Jesus could NOT perform any miracles-there- Because they did not believe in him Well I recently RETURNED From an 18 day trip up NORTH- To Maryland-Virginia-and to my hometown Of Pittsburgh, Pa. My sister Mary-and her FAMILY-treated me ROYALLY at her home-and I could not Be more proud of my four nieces They are ALL BEAUTIFUL Inside and out And talk about a THANKSGIVING DINNER And having something to be thankful about “LET the peace of Christ Rule in your hearts Since-as members- Of one body You WERE called to peace And be THANKFUL” Colossians 3:15 “DEVOTE yourselves to PRAYER Being watchful and thankful” Colossians 4:2 “Therefore Since we are RECEIVING A kingdom-that cannot be shaken Let us be THANKFUL And so worship God-acceptably- With reverence and awe-for our 'God IS a consuming fire'” Hebrews 12:28-29 I VISITED with uncles and aunts-cousins- CHILDREN of cousins-and friend after friend And those I couldn't see in person- I spoke with via phone And there was a card game ATTENDED by 8 childhood friends- a friendly game of poker I had a night of FELLOWSHIP With my friends-hot sausage sandwiches- And even a couple of ROLLING ROCKS (For the record-I lost .60 cents) You can't BUILD a life- The life that I have-and I AM TRULY BLESSED-humbled-and grateful- To everyone-most of all-God And I got to attend MASS-numerous times- And even a ROSARY=THANK YOU Diane So if you have any DOUBT About God's GREAT LOVE & MERCY For you READ chapter 15 of Saint Luke's GOSPEL About one lost sheep-one lost coin- And one LOST lonely son Whose FATHER is just waiting for his return I found literally Because of FAMILY AND FRIENDS You really can-GO HOME AGAIN But the SAME can be said about God And his LOVE FOR YOU I love God-I love my FAMILY- I LOVE my friends And while I am extremely HAPPY With my old life I love my NEW life Down in Florida too ONE THING is for sure You really CAN go home again Robert P. Wallman 12-11-16 Ps SPECIAL THANKS to my sister Terri=who MAKES this all possible LOVE YOU ALL!

LIVING WITH GRATITUDE-SERVING WITH GLADNESS........

LIVING WITH GRATITUDE SERVING WITH GLADNESS ……..and BEING THANKFUL I am sitting here in Maryland With FAIMILY all around me My sister Mary-her and her girls-Uncle Rege And many others What a BLESSING it is To be around family On this day-For families And REMEMBERING my mom and day- My sister Terri who IS across the country In Chicago And THINKING of all of you My family and friends-ALL over the country And all across the world I am so THANKFUL For this life And to LIVE IN GRATITUDE To the Lord And to SERVE the Lord-and you With GLADNESS In whatever ways that I can “SERVING THE LORD with GLADNESS” Psalm 100:2 I am so HAPPY To be ALIVE In this world That still has so much GOODNESS In it And so many good kind people In it Despite the evil in it I will happily SERVE the Lord With GLADNESS And be grateful For this WONDERFUL LIFE “May those Who delight in my VINDICATION Shout for joy and gladness: ‘The Lord be exalted Who delights in The well-being of his servant’” Psalm 35:27 YES!-I am living in delight For the Lord In GRATITUDE- For all the BLESSINGS He lays upon me/us “LET the message of Christ Dwell among you richly As you teach And admonish one another With all wisdom Through all psalms-hymns-and songs From the Spirit SINGING to God With GRATITUDE in our hearts” Colossians 3:16 I am just SO THANKFUL For EVERYTHING in my life To be BORN in this country- To the CHRISTIAN FAITH To have the FAMILY and FRIENDS That I have I am just AMAZINGLY BLESSED And so are ALL OF YOU LIVING IN GRATITUDE SERVING WITH GLADNESS And being oh so THANKFUL “DEVOTE yourselves to PRAYER Being watchful and THANKFUL” Colossians 4:2 “Therefore-since we are RECEIVING A kingdom that CANNOT be shaken Let us BE THANKFUL And worship God Acceptably-with reverence and awe For our God-is a CONSUMING FIRE!” YES I will live with gratitude SERVE the Lord with gladness And be thankful ALL the days of my life HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I LOVE YOU ALL! Robert P. Wallman 11-23-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B.

GOD PROVIDES US THE COMFORT THAT WE NEED

GOD PROVIDES US THE COMFORT THAT WE NEED We live in Very scary times TIMES of natural disaster War between and within countries And violence All over Our own country And the differences and personal battles Between people It is enough to Make one tremble It is enough To make one WONDER Are the last days Upon us? “While some people Were speaking about How the temple Was adorned with costly stones And votive offerings Jesus said, 'ALL that you see here--------- The days will come When there Will NOT be left A stone upon Another stone That will not be Thrown away'” Luke 21:5-6 Jesus PREDICTS The destruction of the temple It is poetry For the end of age It almost seems That the world IS unraveling around us But GOD PROVIDES-Jesus provides- The COMFORT that we need To get through To the next day “May your unfailing love Be my COMFORT According to your promise To your servant” Psalm 119:76 “COMFORT-comfort my people Says your God” Isaiah 40:1 “PRAISE be to the God And Father Of our Lord Jesus Christ The Father of compassion And the God of all comfort Who COMFORTS us In all our troubles So that we can comfort those In any trouble With the comfort WE ourselves receive From God” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 YES-people Have been predicting end times FOREVER But the TRUTH is None of us know Not even Jesus ONLY THE FATHER God PROVIDES US The comfort that we need To get through To the next day But we must PREPARE For our own end times For none of us know WHEN our own end is coming We LIVE with HOPE Because of the COMFORTER The Holy SPIRIT We live in HOPE To serve and comfort Those who are suffering YES-even in these scary times- End times-or not GOD PROVIDES US with the COMFORT THAT WE NEED Robert P. Wallman 11-21-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Jessica Mesman Griffith

WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE? LOVE is a Funny thing It is The MOST valuable commodity On this earth In this world Yet you can't touch it Feel it Nor is it Anything at all Neither can you hear it Or see it Saint Augustine once asked, “What does LOVE look like?” Then he said, “Love has HANDS to HELP others Love has eyes To see misery and want It has ears To hear the signs And sorrows of others That's what love looks like” Saint Augustine If someone asked me To show them What love looked like I would simply Show them A picture of Jesus He used ALL OF HIMSELF To help others And that is What we are to do too BE Jesus' eyes-ears-hands- And feet-in today's world “BEWARE that your hearts Do not become drowsy From carousing and drunkenness And the anxieties Of daily life........” Luke 21:34 We are to be Of HELP to others In today's world In whatever way We can Although I have done it I'm not much use In a soup kitchen anymore Or any type of volunteer position That requires me To be on my feet For long stretches Yet- We are to be of help In whatever way we can HELP to those hurting Physically-mentally-spiritually And financially WHENEVER we can “GOD is our refuge And strength An ever present HELP In trouble” Psalm 46:1 And in the 9th chapter Of Saint Mark We read about a boy Possessed by an IMPURE SPIRIT His father brings him to Jesus FOR HELP “IF you can,' said Jesus 'EVERYTHING is possible For one who believes'” Mark 9:23 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, “I do believe- HELP me overcome my unbelief” Mark 9:24 The boy was healed So though We don't know what love Looks like We know it-when we see it- Or when we feel it And Saint Paul Gives us A wonderful description of love “Love is patient-love is kind It does not envy-it does not boast It does not dishonor others It is not self-serving It is not easily angered It keeps NO RECORD of wrongs It 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 So today CALL someone that you love WRITE someone a card Or bake a casserole-or Maybe a pie- Or invite someone in For coffee We may not know What it looks But we know What it is LOVE SOMEONE TODAY Happy first Sunday Of Advent I LOVE YOU! Robert P. Wallman 11-28-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Bernadette Snyder 11-21-16

GIVING THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS= I will be TRAVELING for the next three weeks I will WRITE as circumstances PERMIT ENCLOSED is ONE OF MY FAVORITE POEMS OF ALL TIME LOVE YOU ALL! Happy THANKSGIVING! GIVING THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES As I sit here Reflecting on my life Preparing to fly to Maryland To spend Thanksgiving With my 2 sisters, my 4 nieces And other family members Some memories flash through my mind To times gone by Lying there Packed in an ice bed For 2 weeks---with a temperature of 108 I thank God for life Bleeding internally My blood count down to 3 I thank God for life The Good Father asking me If I wanted to say an act of contrition Or say something in my words Saying: “I don't think God Wants me to die But if he does He must have a reason And to please bless My father, my mother, my 2 sisters My family and my friends Because it would be harder on them Than it would be on me I would be gone But if God Wanted me to live I would live For my family, my friends, And for all people everywhere” And waking up a week or two later alive I thank God for life “May you never take One single breath for granted God forbid Love ever leave you empty handed” ( Lee Ann Womack—-”I HOPE YOU DANCE” ) THANKING GOD FOR LIFE All the support I received from my parents Never questioning---ALWAYS LOVING I thank God for family 2 sisters---4 nieces That give me emotional and financial support ALWAYS being there for me I thank God for family An extended family Beyond compare I thank God for family Old friends That are still there for me today I thank God for friends New friends That I have made from Miami To Palm Beach Gardens and beyond I thank God for friends People that I have met From all over the world I thank God for you Priests, clergymen and women That I have met I thank God for God I thank God for you By human standards My life is a total failure No health---no money or material possessions No family ( wife or children ) But along the way I found GOD And I found YOU “I have learned The secret of being content In any and every situation Whether well fed or hungry Whether living in plenty Or in want” 1 Philippians 4:12 “Be joyful always; pray continually; Give thanks in ALL circumstances For this is God's will for you In Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE---I LOVE YOU! Robert P. Wallman 11-14-11 REPRINTED 11-18-16

IN THE ARMS OF LOVE

IN THE ARMS OF LOVE Jesus died for us With his arms OUTSTRETCHED Nailed to the cross He was BRINGING The WHOLE world to him You-me-ALL of us- Even in a-sometimes-seemingly God forsaken world His death Was bringing us LIFE Was bringing us To and in the ARMS OF LOVE “As Jesus drew NEAR Jerusalem He saw the city And wept over it........” Luke 19:41 He KNEW What was to come His own death But he was NOT Weeping for himself He was WEEPING For the cold hard-headed nature OF his people And of the Romans And in the year 70AD the Romans Would destroy Jerusalem And he wept then Just as he wept=I AM SURE In the aftermath of 911 When the WORLD TRADE CENTER Was under attack And I WONDER if he is STILL weeping today As a seemingly fractured America With 50% of the people Each voting for a different President One thing that we STILL know Is that whatever-America Is-it is safe in The ARMS OF LOVE And whatever comes God is RIGHT HERE with us Praying-helping-sustaining- And loving us He LOVES this whole big world With his arms outstretched “SING to the Lord A new song For he has DONE marvelous things His right hand And his holy arm Have worked salvation For him” Psalm 98:1 We are SAFE In the arms of LOVE “With my great power And my outstretched arm I MADE the earth And its people And the animals That are on it And I give it To anyone I please” Jeremiah 27:5 YES-that's right The whole world BELONGS TO GOD So whatever is wrong in the world Whatever is wrong In our country And in our SMALL LIVES We are STILL Safe-in the ARMS of love The name Jerusalem-means PEACE So God is right here With us In whatever ways Our peace is shattered He TOOK on the cross For us And we are NOT in this battle-these battles ALONE We are HELD UP In the arms of love In whatever way(s) Our world is torn apart God weeps with us In our suffering- MY brothers and sisters No matter what Is wrong in the world We are SAFE IN the ARMS OF LOVE And God and Jesus WILL BRING LIFE Out of our circumstances In Jesus' name-WE PRAY Robert P. Wallman 11-16-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Patricia Livingston

THE INFLAMING OF OUR HEARTS!

THE INFLAMING OF OUR HEARTS Do you LOVE God? I mean-ALL the way- Are you TOTALLY IN for God? God and Jesus want us To be totally committed to them- ALL IN-so to speak God and Jesus HATE lukewarmness “I know your works- I know that you are NEITHER cold-nor hot …..... So because you are lukewarm NEITHER hot nor cold I will spit you out Of my mouth” Revelation 3:15-16 BE committed to God Be PASSIONATE about your love FOR HIM INFLAME our hearts-dear Lord For you and you alone “Commit your way To the Lord TRUST in him And he will do this: He will make your Righteous reward SHINE like the dawn Your vindication Like the noonday sun” Psalm 37:5-6 “Commit to the Lord WHATEVER you do And he will establish Your plans” Psalm 16:3 HELP US to be passionate About our LOVE for you-O Lord Help us to have The INFLAMING of our hearts It is easy to think That when we fall short As a FOLLOWER of Christ That we are not that bad That we aren't really All that evil We don't kill- We don't lie- We don't steal or cheat But God wants MORE from us He wants us to be PASSIONATE about our love For him He wants us to be ALL IN He wants us to be totally Committed to God and Jesus He WANTS US to feel The INFLAMING of our hearts For him Just the SAME way Jesus inflamed his heart For us Be passionate in your LOVE For God and Christ DON'T BE lukewarm BETTER to be INFLAMED For your love for God and Jesus Than to be inflamed By worldly passions GOD'S GRACE “Teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness And worldly passions And to LIVE self-controlled- Upright and godly lives In this present age WHILE we wait For the BLESSED HOPE- The appearing of the glory Of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ........” Titus 2:12-13 Dear Lord-we PRAY for The INFLAMING OF OUR HEARTS for you And we pray for the PASSION To bring LIGHT to this world Of despair and darkness We are ALL IN for God And all in for Jesus Robert P. Wallman 11-15-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Karla Manternach

CRYING OUT FOR THE LORD!

CRYING OUT FOR THE LORD! Do the CIRCUMSTANCES Of your life Cause you to CRY OUT For the Lord? Maybe a chronic illness- Or daily pain Or financial limitations-the loss Of a job- Or broken relationship(s) LET us take a look back To chapter 18 of Saint Luke's Gospel “A blind man shouted, 'Jesus-Son of David have pity on me!'” Luke 18:38 There it is-a blind man Sitting at the side Of the road-begging He hears a commotion And asks what is happening The people do NOT tell him Instead they scold him And tell him to shut up But he IGNORES them And continues to cry out And KEEPS shouting things like: “Hey I am over here- I need your help” CRYING out to the Lord! Don't you just FEEL for him Don't you just feel How life is PASSING him by He is one DETERMINED MAN-and He is PERSEVERING in prayer Sometimes-we ALL just need to Cry out-HOLLER out for the Lord: “I need you-I want you- I LOVE you Lord” Persevere! “Watch your life And your doctrine closely Persevere in them Because if you do You will SAVE both yourself And your hearers” 1 Timothy 4:16 “You NEED to persevere So that when you Have done The WILL of God You will receive What he has PROMISED-for 'In just a little while He who is coming Will come And will NOT delay'” Hebrews 10:36-37 And you KNOW what happened To this poor blind man Finally-Jesus hears-pays attention- And HEALS the blindness In this poor unfortunate man And Jesus will HEAR our pleas too He will eventually RESPOND WITH MERCY For us and in us So keep on CRYING OUT TO THE LORD Keep on PERSEVERING The Lord will eventually HEAR your prayers “This is the CONFIDENCE We have in approaching God: That if we ask anything According to his will HE HEARS US” 1 John 5:14 My dear friends= The Lord heard my prayers And gave me ANOTHER chance at life He heard the poor blind beggar And he will hear you too So KEEP CRYING OUT to the Lord! Give him control You can TRUST the HOLY ONE With your life HE HEARS YOU! In Jesus' name, Robert P. Wallman 11-14-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

SOMETIMES=SILENCE IS GOLDEN

SOMETIMES=SILENCE IS GOLDEN I have a PASSION for words I have a passion for GOD And I will USE the words God LAYS on my heart To try and SPREAD the LOVE And community of God But sometimes-words are Not enough We need to add actions-and- Sometimes words and actions Are not enough We NEED to just listen People in PAIN-ALL people Need to FEEL that they matter They need to know That they have a place with their families- With their friends- In the community That they have a place In the country And that they have a place In the world “........I myself Shall GIVE you wisdom In speaking........” Luke 21:15 Sometimes we need to listen WHEN people are in PAIN Before we speak or act WE need to be a family- A friend-a community-a country- And a world That LISTENS-that really hears BEFORE we speak or act Sometimes-SILENCE IS GOLDEN “Now we know that Whatever the law says It says to those Who are under the law So that EVERY mouth May be silenced And the whole world ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD” Romans 3:19 Yes-everyone of us IS accountable to someone And everyone of us Is accountable for our OWN words and actions TO GOD So LIVE righteous-live honestly Live out of LOVE to God And love to all others (the first two commandments) “WHEN he opened the 7th seal There was SILENCE in heaven For about ½ an hour And I saw the seven ANGELS Who stand BEFORE God And seven trumpets Were given to them” Revelation 8:1-2 I don't know about you BUT if God and Jesus come back Before I leave this world I WILL STAND AND APPLAUD Because I know JUSTICE Will be coming to and for Each and everyone of us SILENCE IS GOLDEN In this waiting time-I PRAY For DIVINE GUIDANCE I pray for the right words For what do you tell someone Who is in PAIN Who is questioning The UNFAIRNESS of life Or waiting for a MIRACLE Sometimes silence is GOLDEN Sometimes PRAYER is ALL we have I won't TRY and fix Anyone or anything That I can't But I WILL CONTINUE to pray For my family-my friends- My community-my nation- And my world I will be a COMPASSIONATE LISTENER And an ENCOURAGER with words When I can And I will CALL ON God and Jesus' PRESENCE-CARING- And LOVE-for everything else Sometimes- SILENCE IS JUST GOLDEN CALLING on God and Jesus-and LOVE- The HEALERS of our universe Robert P. Wallman 11-13-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

PRAYING FOR PEACE FOR ALL

PRAYING FOR PEACE FOR ALL There used to be a RALLY CRY That said: GIVE PEACE A CHANCE- Following our recent PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION That has left our country fractured And our world- That IS even more fractured I echo that sentiment yet again GIVE PEACE a chance “BLESSED are they Who OBSERVE his decrees Who SEEK him With all their heart” Psalm 119:2 Yesterday was the ANNIVERSARY Of our VETERANS=originally called ARMISTICE DAY=the day that marked The end of world war I (the war to END all wars=”at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th........ month”) I am SURE they were thinking Even back then Give PEACE a chance But of course-World War II came= FOLLOWED by the Korean war And the Vietnam war-and TROUBLE All over the world So I SALUTE all of our veterans That have given so much for my/our Safety and our freedoms YES-I really WISH the world And our country Could give peace a chance That we could LIVE as one nation Under ONE GOD Regardless of our religious faith For the TRUTH IS=all 3 Monotheistic religions Can be TRACED back to Abraham We ALL BELONG to one God The God of LOVE and PEACE PRAYING for peace for all GIVE PEACE a chance “The Lord gives strength To his people The Lord BLESSES his people With peace” Psalm 29:11 “Deceit is in the heart Of those who plot evil But those who PROMOTE peace Have JOY” Proverbs 12:20 And then-of course-there was Jesus- THE KING of peace-who lived- And died for it He said: “SALT is good-but if it Loses its saltiness How can you make it Salty again? Have salt among yourselves And BE AT PEACE With each other” Mark 9:50 Ironically enough-today we also HONOR the first Saint-who Was a conscientious objector Saint Martin of TOURS Saint Martin was a ROMAN soldier Who became a conscientious objector Because he felt soldiering Was incompatible with his Christian faith So let me CONCLUDE On this day that we HONOR all our VETERANS To plead With OUR newly elected leaders To: Give PEACE a chance And the same message GOES to my fellow citizens GIVE peace a chance And SUPPORT our Newly elected leaders PRAYING FOR PEACE FOR ALL And LETTING it begin with me Robert P. Wallman 11-11-16 Ps INSPIRED by articles in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Paul Pennick and Gail Goleas

OPEN AND ACCEPTING

OPEN AND ACCEPTING As CHRISTIANS-we are called upon To be OPEN & ACCEPTING to Our friends=NOT judgmental If your family and friends Want to a choose a DIFFERENT WAY In life- That is UP to them If their way PROVES to be In error-OUR HEART and our arms NEED to remain open and accepting To them and for them “I am sending him-that is- MY OWN HEART-back to you” Philemon 12 OPEN and ACCEPTING is a beautiful image Of what it means For us to be a friend To another (if not a parent-for that matter) MY parents taught me love-and- WERE open and accepting towards me- And threw in A TOUCH of discipline- When needed BUT mostly they taught me love- TRUSTED me to know right and wrong And rarely-if ever-judged me They not only were my parents But they were my BEST FRIENDS They were OPEN & ACCEPTING Of me As we should be to our Family and friends “........and the Lord ACCEPTED Job's prayer” Job 42:9 “The Lord Has heard my CRY For MERCY The Lord ACCEPTS my prayer” Psalm 6:9 “Very truly I tell you Whoever accepts anyone I send ACCEPTS ME And whoever accepts me Accepts the ONE who sent me” John 13:20 YES-thanking God and Jesus For being open and accepting of me And BEING OPEN and HONEST and loving Towards my own family and friends WHEREVER their life takes them As Christians=we are CALLED To be open-honest-and ACCEPTING This year IS the year of MERCY As called on by the POPE And being open and accepting Towards others IS the HEART OF MERCY “REMEMBER Lord- Your great mercy and love For they are from of old” Psalm 25:6 “He has shown you-O mortal- What is good And what does the Lord REQUIRE of you? To act justly And to LOVE MERCY And to walk humbly With your God” Micah 6:8 In today's reading Paul writes Philemon On behalf of Onesimus He urges him to ACCEPT His former slave as a friend “MORE than a slave- A brother........ As a man and in the Lord” Philemon 16 Dear GRACIOUS God-gracious Lord WE thank you for being OPEN & ACCEPTING toward us And calling us “FRIEND” HELP US to extend These same MERCIES toward others In God and Jesus' name Robert P. Wallman 11-10-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Judy Schueneman

WHEN WE KNOW=GOD LIVES IN US=WE LIVE DIFFERENTLY

WHEN WE KNOW=GOD LIVES IN US= WE LIVE DIFFERENTLY LEADING UP to election day There was ONLY one caption That captured my feelings “NO matter Who is president JESUS IS KING” God is KING-Jesus is king And until we get to that point WHERE we live this way We are going to FAIL As a world And as a country “Do you not know That you ARE the temple of God And that the Spirit of God Dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 YES-the Spirit of God LIVES in Donald Trump The SPIRIT of God Lives in Hillary Clinton YES! The Spirit of God Lives IN each and EVERY ONE of us And the way that we live our lives NEEDS to reflect that We need to live our life By LIVING the first two commandments That Jesus gave us “The most important one,” Answered Jesus, “”Is this: Hear-O Israel, The Lord our God The Lord is one LOVE the Lord Your God-with ALL your heart- And with all your soul- And with all your mind And with all your strength The second is this: LOVE your neighbor as yourself There is NO commandment Greater than these” Mark 12:29-31 WHEN we live this way When we KNOW God lives In each and every one of us We live differently We GIVE people at least- A FAIR CHANCE And the SPIRIT of God Lives in EVERY one of our parishes Every one of our churches And every one of our temples And mosques “THE LORD GOD IS ONE GOD” And we need to BUILD an inclusive world That INCLUDES ALL We MUST include all We must live differently with love And in love WHEN we know God LIVES In us=we live DIFFERENTLY Our task is to RECOGNIZE Jesus- Recognize God=in each and every of us Including ourselves So that we can bring- More fully- The SPIRIT of God into the world “TEACH me To do your will For you are my God May your good Spirit LEAD me on level ground” Psalm143:10 “NO-this is what was spoken By the prophet Joel: 'In the last days-God says- 'I will POUR out my SPIRIT On all people Your sons and daughters Will prophesy Your young men WILL see visions Your old men Will dream dreams'” Acts 2:16-17 My DEAR FRIENDS When we KNOW God lives In EVERY one of us WE LIVE DIFFERENTLY We live in love= That is INCLUSIVE TO US ALL Robert P. Wallman 11-9-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Aileen O'Donoghue

NOTHING BUT LOVE!

“Nothing but Love” Nothing but love Is in my heart When your heart is empty And your heart is a vacuum That leaves God room To fill it with something new God will fill it with love God will fill it with love God knows nothing but love Nothing but love Is in my heart Nothing but lot love Gives my heart a start When I was down Feeling confused And was feeling used God filled me up with love And now Nothing but love Is in my heart Nothing but love Gives my heart a start Nothing but love Is in my heart 4/16/06 Robert P. Wallman Ps YESTERDAY was the election=IT IS a chance for a NEW START for ALL OF US LET US PUT THE PAST behind us-and start over with NOTHING BUT LOVE LOVE YOU ALL regardless of WHERE you stood on the election-where you stand TODAY- LET US ALL WORK TOGETHER!=LOVE YOU ALL! FOR THE COMMON GOOD RPW 11-9-16

ELECTION DAY

‘Election Day” There has to be a winner And there has to be a loser It’s up to you to go out and choose her There’s so much at stake It’s up to the people to make their choice For their hopes and dreams lie in the balance So people stand up and come out Speak your voice To the winner we congratulate And we pledge our support to spur you on To the man that can lead us to the promised land Who can demonstrate the leadership that we surely need To be the best that we can be And who can handle the responsibility And to the loser we say Thank you for your effort You gave it all you had You stood up for your convictions And that’s all we can ask Sp people stand up and rejoice For the opportunity to live in a democracy And to stand up and speak your voice And we thank you God for that is all that we can ask 11/4/1980 Robert P. Wallman Ps “I pledge ALLEGIANCE To the flag And to the United States of America ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY And justice for ALL” I LOVE THIS COUNTRY Go out and VOTE for the people who BEST represent this-in YOUR mind

JUST DO IT!=No Boasting

JUST DO IT!=No Boasting SOMETIMES-life calls on us To do very difficult things- HANDLE almost impossible situations When that happens-or when he CALLS on you to handle difficult times JUST do it-and NO boasting ACT like you have been there before To PUT it another way=in The 17th chapter of Saint Luke's gospel Jesus tells us to do as commanded “Jesus said, 'When you have done ALL you have been commanded, say' 'We are UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS We have done WHAT we were obliged to do'” Luke 17:10 Oh boy!-Talk about humility We ARE to do what God Tells us to do-and NO boasting Just do what is right Act out of TRUE HUMILITY WE are just humble SERVANTS of God Just as Jesus-OUR LEADER-was “You SAVE the humble But bring low those Whose lives are haughty” Psalm18:27 “He mocks proud mockers But shows FAVOR To the HUMBLE and oppressed” Proverbs 3:34 “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” Matthew 11:29 “For those who exalt themselves Will be HUMBLED And those who humble themselves Will be exalted” Matthew 23:12 Jesus did it all-GAVE ALL- EVERY thing in every area Of his life Jesus IS my HEROE He did everything The LEAST that I could do Is to TRY- And give all that I have Jesus just did it He didn't expect anything in return And he DIDN'T GET anything in return He gave all So GIVE all you can For God and for others And NO BOASTING-just do it We are UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS Of God Sometimes God asks us To do difficult things- And when we do it WE like to TELL EVERYONE How great we are But that is NOT what true servants of God do The SERVANTS of God- His true followers JUST DO IT Because it is the right thing To do Dear Lord-we PRAY: “LET your face SHINE on your servant SAVE ME In your unfailing love” Psalm 3:16 Dear Lord-we are- YOUR UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS We stand ready and WILLING To do your will We will JUST DO IT=with NO NO BOASTING Just like your SON=JESUS Robert P. Wallman 11-7-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mitch Finley

FAITH: A MIRACLE IN ITS OWN SELF

FAITH: A MIRACLE IN ITS OWN SELF ONE of the greatest qualities That we can have-in addition- To hope and love=IS FAITH FAITH in itself-is a miracle Because when we POSSESS it= It can make the difference In any situation=even Between life and death I BELIEVE it was the difference Between my own living and dying= MY OWN MIRACLE OF LIFE- When I was 22 Even if I-even if you- ONLY possess it-in the form Of a tiny little mustard seed “The Lord replied, 'If you have faith The size of a mustard seed You would say To this mulberry tree 'BE uprooted And planted in the sea' And it would obey you'” Luke 17:6 YES FAITH-the size Of a mustard seed Makes ALL the difference In this world I KNOW it has In my life It ALLOWS you to withstand Any temptation-to KEEP on going- IF not completely Overcoming it “He told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven Is like a mustard seed Which a man took And PLANTED in the 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 THINK of your faith like that Just a TINY SEED- A tiny mustard seed And your FAITH grows And you BECOME Who and WHAT You were MEANT TO BE GOD showed himself to me On my death bed WHEN I was 22 He REVEALED himself to me And he revealed me and MYSELF to me MY PURPOSE in life My purpose-to LOVE GOD With my WHOLE heart and soul And to LOVE EVERY other human being As much as myself My faith has GROWN Over the years Just like the mustard seed And yours will too I see MIRACLES every day And it all BEGAN with my own miracle DELIVERED by God Because I had a TOUCH OF FAITH “YOU are the God Who performs miracles You display your power Among the peoples” Psalm 77:14 EVERY TIME Jesus performed a miracle It was because of the person's great faith “Jesus turned and saw her- 'Take heart daughter,' he said 'Your faith has HEALED YOU' And the woman was healed At that moment” Matthew 9:22 Take a look inside Of yourself I AM SURE you have A mustard seed of FAITH This is a MIRACLE OF GOD'S In its own self And just the BEGINNING Of what God has IN STORE for you Robert P. Wallman 11-6-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Terence Hegarty

MY TRUSTED FAMILY-FRIENDS-AND MY COMPANION GOD

MY TRUSTED FAMILY-FRIENDS AND MY COMPANION GOD I have HEARD it said that IF you have had Five really GOOD FRIENDS In your lifetime You are really BLESSED I have had at least that many PROBABLY more They KNOW/knew my blessings/ And my FLAWS And liked me anyway They have been BOTH men and women I have had the GREATEST FAMILY And friends-that any person Could ever have had IF you receive my e-mails- You are TRUSTED by me And I HOPE I am trusted by you “Hearken to my PRAYER From lips without deceit” Psalm 17:1 I FEEL like I can RELAX- BREATHE-and be comfortable Around you You are MY TRUSTED FAMILY And friends And I LOVE YOU infinitely Without conditions You have qualities That are TRUSTED by me “Vindicate me-LORD For I have led A blameless life I have TRUSTED In the Lord And have not faltered” Psalm 26:1 “I TRUSTED in the Lord When I said, 'I am greatly afflicted'” Psalm 116:10 Yes God has RALLIED me And LIFTED ME But so has my FAMILY- And friends I thank you ALL For loving me For trusting me For fighting for me You have REVEALED The FACE of God to me You have shown me him In a TANGIBLE WAY God is ALIVE in you and in me BUT there are people In this world that we meet With whom we feel GUARDED With whom we feel LIKE we are BEING JUDGED But that is NOT the case With you my family-my friends- And my constant COMPANION- The Lord himself I have FELT so much SUPPORT From you over the years And as I have mentioned God has SUPPORTED ME He has brought me back From the brink of death “They confronted me In the day of my disaster But the Lord WAS MY SUPPORT” Psalm 18:18 “CONSIDER this: you do not Support the root But the ROOT supports you” Romans 11:18 YES!-God has been MY MAIN SUPPORT-followed By my family and friends EVERY DAY I thank God For my life=HE IS My most trusted companion I took a LEAP OF FAITH On God HE HAS and you ALL have COME through for me I thank you all very much- I LOVE YOU! Robert P. Wallman 11-5-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Terri Mifek

THE SMALL ORDINARY THINGS OF LIFE!

THE SMALL ORDINARY THINGS OF LIFE Do you WANT GOD To use you For something BIG in life? If you do-be FAITHFUL In the little ordinary things Of life-and be consistent SAY “please”-say “thank you”- TELL people that you LOVE THEM Every chance that you get SEND people birthday cards-LET people Know that you CARE about them And FORGIVE them when They have wronged you Do you think CHRIST Could have SAVED the world- The greatest thing ever done- IF he wasn't faithful In the small things of life? “The person who is TRUSTWORTHY In very small matters Is also trustworthy in great ones” Luke 16:10 The SMALL ordinary things in life DO COUNT- And you will NEVER be trusted With anything larger If you do not PROVE Yourself-trustworthy In the small ordinary things of life Jesus' words-Jesus' parables- Jesus' teachings ENCOURAGE US He did it ALL in life He lived-he died-he was rejected- He was abandoned And he did it ALL with a GRACE That no one else ever did And he did it through every breath Of his life- UNTIL his dying breath NO WONDER his FATHER Trusted him to SAVE the world LIVE your life with love DO the small ordinary things well And God our Father will use Your TRUSTWORTHINESS for something GREATER too “Your kingdom Is an everlasting kingdom And your dominion ENDURES Through the generations The Lord is trustworthy In all his PROMISES And FAITHFUL In ALL he does” Psalm 145:13 “Like a snow-cooled drink At harvest time IS a TRUSTWORTHY messenger To the ONE who sends him He REFRESHES the spirit Of the MASTER” Proverbs 25:13 Don't you think Jesus did that For his Father? How FAITHFUL was Noah-Abraham- Moses-Peter and Paul-and ALL the apostles And saints WHO has made a difference in your life? Who do you LOOK UP TO? You don't have to CHANGE the world Like Jesus did Change the world of someone else- IF you make a difference In just ONE LIFE-your life Has been a SUCCESS The SMALL ordinary things of life DO MATTER TELL someone you love them TODAY SEND someone a card-today They say INTEGRITY IS How we act-what we do- When no one is looking “NOW this is our boast: Our CONSCIENCE TESTIFIES That we have conducted ourselves In this world And especially in our relationship With you-WITH INTEGRITY And godly sincerity” 2 Corinthians 1:13 BE a person of INTEGRITY- And LIVE your life accordingly The small ordinary things In life-DO MATTER Live well=you NEVER know when our GOD Might call on you for something LARGER LOVE YOU ALL-MY DEAR DEAR FRIENDS! Robert P. Wallman 11-4-16 Ps INSPIRED bean article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Bridget Haase, O.S.U.

EVERY INCH OF YOUR BODY AND SOUL

EVERY INCH OF YOUR BODY AND SOUL Do you KNOW that our Lord- That our Jesus-LOVES- Every inch of you EVERY inch of your body Every inch of your mind And every inch Of your soul (mine too) What's more-is my body is my weakness Even BEYOND my illness-for I have The cravings of food Nevertheless God LOVES me- Even in my weakness And you in your weakness or weaknesses He LIFTS us up- Our bodies-our minds-our sins of the soul Can take us down But with Christ-with God We are lifted BACK UP We rise again=as SURELY As Christ himself did “He will CHANGE our lowly body To CONFORM with his GLORIFIED body …......” Philippians 3:21 YES!-we will rise again In body and in soul MAYBE not in this life But IF not SURELY in the next life The eternal life With Christ our Lord EVERY inch of yours-and mine BODY & SOUL “But for you- Who REVERE my name The SUN of righteousness Will RISE With HEALING in its ways And you will go out And frolic Like well-fed calves” Malachi 4:2 MUSIC to my body's ears But more important is OUR SOUL We crave-I CRAVE The WORD OF GOD It makes my life-make SENSE The WORD of God Is the eternal-it is HOW we treat ONE ANOTHER in life It makes all the difference “Jesus answered, 'It is written Man does not live By bread alone But on EVERY WORD That comes from The MOUTH of God'” Matthew 4:4 Yes-God loves our bodies And takes CARE of us During this life But our souls (if not our bodies) Will REST eternally With God and Jesus LIFE FOREVER-for you and me And I think our BODIES Will rise too Saint Paul-tells us NOT to make our bodies Into gods Nor to occupy them solely With earthly things No-our bodies- Are to be RAISED UP- Just as Jesus' body was raised YES-let us take JOY In ALL of our gifts from God Physical and spiritual “For the wages of sin Is death But the GIFT of God Is ETERNAL LIFE In Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23 YES-God LOVES EVERY inch of us BOTH body and soul And FOLLOWING HIM Leads us closer To the RISEN Christ And his GLORIFIED BODY Looking forward to spending eternity With Jesus and you BODY AND SOUL! Robert P. Wallman 11-3-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mary Marrocco

THE RESTORATION OF GOD=SEEKING AND FINDING

THE RESTORATION OF GOD= SEEKING AND FINDING We all LOSE a portion of ourselves As we travel through life Something physically-something emotionally- Something spiritually GOD HELPS us find that portion Of ourselves That we lose SEEK & you shall find=Luke 15 IS ONE of my most favorite parables Of the bible “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 YES-I understand-when I lose something I go a little nuts too UNTIL I can find it Searching here=searching there= I think I have A touch of OCD (okay-maybe more than a little) GOD LOVES us all infinitely- And he loves us when we are With him But when he loses one or a few Of us He SEARCHES for the LOST SOUL Until he can BRING them on home To him Our God LOOKS for us- Searches for us-until he finds us Until he can RESTORE US to grace “Restore us-O God- MAKE your face shine on us That WE may be saved” Psalm 80:3 “Restore us to yourself Lord That we may return RENEW our days As of old” Lamentations 5:21 “And the God of all GRACE Who called you To his eternal glory In Christ AFTER you have suffered A little while Will HIMSELF restore you And make you strong-firm- And steadfast To him be the POWER Forever and ever-Amen” 1 Peter 5:10 Oh how GOOD-to seek and to find To be RESTORED to God again To find the innocence And the grace that we lost GRACE IS PRECIOUS Grace can only be SUPPLIED By God Sometimes we go along in life And we get so caught up In our every day affairs That we DON'T even know We NO LONGER have the presence Of God That we are no longer LIVING in his grace “The WORD became flesh And made his DWELLING among us We have seen His glory The glory Of the One and only Son Who came from the Father FULL of grace and truth” John 1:14 “With GREAT POWER The apostles continued to TESTIFY To the RESURRECTION To the Lord Jesus And GOD'S GRACE Was so powerfully AT WORK In them all That there were NO needy persons among them” Acts 4:33 YES!-there is nothing like SEEKING AND FINDING GOD Finding the grace and JOY of Christ After we have been lost To the world and to flesh There is no joy in this world Like that ANGELS rejoice within me -This child of God Has RECLAIMED the MERCY OF THE LORD In Jesus' name, Robert P. Wallman 11-2-16 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Elizabeth Duffy

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED/THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED/THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM TODAY we celebrate the feast Of ALL SOULS DAY All of those faithfully departed So I particularly CELEBRATE the LIVES of my mom and dad- My grandparents-my extended family As well as my friends who are gone And I CELEBRATE the families Of my friends- Of who have passed on “After this I had A VISION Of a great multitude Which no one could count From every nation-race- People-and tongue” Revelation 7:9 TODAY I celebrate all souls Who have passed on- From every nation-from every culture WHO KNOWS who was great In the eyes of the Lord Along those lines WHEN I was a younger man And my mom was still alive I would jokingly SAY to her This person or that person Is going to heaven Or this or that person Will never make heaven And she would always ANSWER In the same way, “YOU might be surprised,” With a little wry smile out of The corner of her mouth That is TRUE mom You were always SO SMART- Things in GOD'S WORLD Are so much different Than the things in our world YOUR God/my God Sees the heart He sees the motives And the reasons WHY We do the things We do-or don't do “They seemed-in the view Of the foolish To be dead........ But they are IN PEACE” Wisdom 3:2, 3 I might be SURPRISED In who makes heaven I might be surprised In who God Considers to be a Saint I have done EXTENSIVE reading On the LIVES of the Saints And the one thing that doesn't surprise me Is their SAINTS- In their GREAT LOVE of God And their great love of others So TODAY on all souls day I want to take A few moments To RECOGNIZE the great faith and love Of my mom and dad OUR/my parents are gone As many others are But OUR FAITH tells us Things aren't always What they seem They are gone/our loved ones They have died and it seems They are gone forever But I KNOW they aren't For the readings tell us so “In the hand of God- ….....they are in peace- And shall ABIDE with him IN LOVE” Wisdom 3:1,3,9 I am SURE my mom and dad ARE in heaven That is one thing I will NEVER be surprised about For God tells us-Jesus tells us EVERYONE who BELIEVES in him Will have “ETERNAL LIFE” SOME things ARE what they seem And sometimes We are NOT SURPRISED In Jesus' name Robert P. Wallman 11-01-16