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

THE SAINTS=AND DAYS OF MEMORIES PAST

THE SAINTS=AND DAYS OF MY MEMORIES PAST Today on the eve of The feast of ALL SAINTS DAY I am thinking back To MEMORIES gone by The day I made my vowel to God “To LIVE for my family-my friends-and ALL PEOPLE everywhere” It hasn't been easy to STAY ALIVE All these years But with the leadership of God- And the HELP of my family-and friends I have managed And the medical community Has played a LARGE PART But mostly today=I am thinking of my FAMILY My friends=and my churches=the SAINTS of my life= Who have let me lean on them and get by “He said to the host, …..... 'Rather-when you HOLD a banquet INVITE the poor- The crippled-the lame-the blind BLESSED indeed you will be Because of their inability To repay you For you will be REPAID At the RESURRECTION Of the righteous” Luke 14:12-14 MANY of the people That have HELPED ME To keep my commitment to God Are no longer with us But to me Their MEMORIES are FRESH In my heart=and they are SAINTS to me ALWAYS supported me=always being kind To me=NEVER questioning me My mom and dad=my aunts and uncles= My extended family=they supported me And HELPED CARRY me along the way And for those of you STILL with me and helping me= I am not in a position to REPAY you-anyway= Just by MY LOVE & PRAYERS But together=my family and friends We can MAKE it= We can continue to BUILD MEMORIES As you CONTINUE to be The SAINTS of my life My sisters-my extended family= In my aunts and uncles and cousins= And ALL my dear friends In Pittsburgh-in SOUTH FLORIDA- And ALL around the country and world You TOUCH my life and in turn I HOPE that I touch others lives I will NEVER be able to REPAY YOU Just in my love-and my prayers and my GRATITUDE So I HOPE that that is enough You are ALL MY SAINTS- And together-we JOURNEY ON- For those we have lost ALONG THE WAY “ALL the people of the land Will bury them And the day I display my GLORY Will be a memorable day For them DECLARES the Sovereign Lord” Ezekiel 39:13 And that's what we have The TIME we have spent together THESE MEMORABLE DAYS Of the journey MEMORABLE DAYS OF LOVE With family-with friends-with churches The memorable days of love-the partying- The picnics-the SAINTS-you and I The MEMORIES of who Has touched OUR LIVES “But Timothy- Has just NOW come to us From you And has brought GOOD NEWS About your faith and love He has told us That you ALWAYS Have PLEASANT MEMORIES of us And that you long to see us As we LONG to see you” 1 Thessalonians 3:6 YES-we have our HAPPY MEMORIES- And we have our SHARE Of sad times too But our LIVES are HAPPY- NO MATTER the circumstances For we have WALKED this life TOGETHER YES-you are my saints—and I will NEVER FORGET the days of memories past As we CONTINUE- To BUILD new ones together Robert P. Wallman October 31st, 2016