THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST

THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST


Do you like to finish
LAST at anything?


It used to be-when I
Was a younger man-I had
A COMPETITIVE STREAK-I couldn't
Bear to not win-let alone
FINISH LAST


I grew out of that
And LEARNED to live IN God-
To live in compassion-of others
HOPEFULLY a little more like Christ


But Jesus PROVED that there
IS HOPE for all of us=
In the 10^th chapter of Saint Mark's gospel
He says something-that is as usual=ASTOUNDING


“But MANY that are first
Will be last-


And the last-
Will be FIRST” Mark 10:31


In that same chapter
Is a story of a RICH
Young man-who wants to KNOW
What he has to do
To INHERIT the KINGDOM OF GOD


Jesus tells him-that he MUST
KEEP the commandments
And the rich young man says
That he does that


And then Jesus tells him
To GO & SELL everything
That he owns and give the money
To the poor


WHO could do such a thing?
And of course this young man
Couldn't


THE LAST shall be first


The crippled-the lame-the sick-
And those who AREN'T CHOSEN
In this world


The kid picked last
The kid that is BANISHED to play in right field


The LAST shall be FIRST


ANOTHER example of the last
And the first-is the story
Of the rich man and Lazarus-
The BEGGAR


Lazarus is a POOR man
Who BEGS
Outside the gate every day
For a SCRAP of food


The rich man-NEVER-
SHOWED Lazarus any mercy


Shortly thereafter=they BOTH DIE
And Lazarus goes to HEAVEN


And the rich man-
Does NOT make it
And now he is begging
And he is TOLD NO


“Father Abraham-have pity on me
And SEND Lazarus to dip
The tip of his finger in water
And COOL my tongue
Because I am agony
In this fire” Luke 16:24


So what about us?
WHAT about us=who do their BEST
But come up SHORT?


Peter asks Jesus the question
For us


“Peter spoke up-'WE have
Left EVERYTHING to follow you'” Mark 10:28


“Truly I tell you,' Jesus replied, 'NO
ONE who has left home or brothers
Or sisters-or mother or father or children
Or fields for me-and the GOSPEL


Will fail to RECEIVE 100 times
As much-
….....
And in the age to come-ETERNAL LIFE


BUT many who are first
Will be last-and the last-FIRST'” Mark 10:29-31


Dear Lord=HELP ME to let others
GO AHEAD of me-
And be CONTENT to be LAST & LEAST today


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
2-27-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Julia Walsh, F.S.P.A.

IT IS THE REAL THING

IT IS THE REAL THING


There USED to be
A slogan for Coca Cola-called


IT'S THE REAL THING


But I think that also
APPLIES to SIN in today's world
Sin of transgressions and omissions
Toward others
In today's world


Sin is REAL-
It's the REAL thing-and it is
INTENT from one person
To HARM another
In one way or another


I WISH we lived
In a PERFECT WORLD of love
But we don't


“THEN I acknowledged-
My sin to you


My guilt I covered NOT” Psalm 32:5


That IS the great thing about
Our sin-WE can BE FORGIVEN
By the wronged party-and BY GOD
If we just acknowledge our guilt


Sin-like coca cola
IS the real thing


Sin is SO REAL
That Jesus had to go
To the CROSS-for us


And sin is NOT just mistakes
Or poor judgment


It is an actual wrongdoing-
Done with intent-by one person
Against another


“Then I acknowledged
MY sin to you


And did NOT cover up
My iniquity


I said-'I will CONFESS
My transgressions to the Lord'
And you FORGAVE
the guilt of my sin” Psalm 32:5


I want to ACKNOWLEDGE
ALL the wrong I have done
In my life


Intentional-and unintentional


And I want to ASK
For your forgiveness
And the FORGIVENESS of God


I am also FORGIVING
ALL who have harmed me
INTENTIONALLY-or other wise


“And forgive us OUR TRESPASSES
As we forgive those
Who have TRESPASSED against us”


FORGIVE 70 x 7
Forgive infinitely


“Then Peter came to Jesus
And asked-
'Lord-how many times
SHOULD I forgive my brother
Or sister
Who sins AGAINST ME?
Up to seven times'


Jesus answered:
'I tell you-NOT seven times
But seventy-seven times'” Matthew 16:21-23


SIN is so REAL that
SEVEN of the 150 or so psalms
ARE PENITENTIAL PSALMS


And psalm 32 is titled-
“REMISSION OF SIN”


My friends-SIN is real
IT IS THE REAL THING


And the BEST we can do
Is to FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER


And CONTINUE to TRY to LOVE
ONE ANOTHER PERFECTLY-in this
IMPERFECT WORLD


Robert P. Wallman
February 26^th, 2017





Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Father James McKarns

WORRYING MAKES YOU MISERABLE

WORRYING MAKES YOU MISERABLE


HEALTH can be a MAJOR worry
And it has been for me
OVER the years


You can worry about
What your Primary CARE Physician says
Or what your gastro specialist says


Or your blood pressure
Or what exercises you
ARE going to do
Today and tomorrow


But the TRUTH IS:
You have LITTLE control over it
Other than eating right-
Exercising-and taking your medications


I found out the hard way
ALL you can do is
TRUST GOD and let it go


He has a PLAN for you-
For everyone of us-
And it is GOOD-
If you work with him


“CAN any of you
Add a single moment
To your life-span?” Matthew 6:27


Hardly-
Worrying is more likely
To TAKE TIME from your life-span
And just leave you FEELING MISERABLE


And it doesn't give
You ANY more control over
Any such matters


Worrying-or obsessive thinking
Causes TROUBLE
For all of us


It is a REFLEX-or-
Learned behavior-and even IF something
Bad does happen-worrying
CONTROLS NOTHING
And leaves us feeling miserable


“........
Do NOT worry about
What to say
Or how to say it


At that time
You will be given
What to say


For it will not be you-
Speaking-but the SPIRIT
Of your Father-
Speaking through you” Matthew 10:19-20


Worrying DOES make us miserable
And it does us NO GOOD
It diminishes our enjoyment
Of simple things in life like:
Sparrows-flowers-crystal blue ocean water-
And nature


BUT when we ALLOW GOD'S SPIRIT
To speak through us in:
“Joy-gentleness-goodness-kindness-love-
Faithfulness-patience-peace- and Self-control”


We find ENJOYMENT-in-
The SIMPLE things of life


We learn to TRUST GOD
And let worry go


“Some trust in chariots
And some trust in horses


But WE TRUST
In the name of
The LORD OUR GOD” Psalm 20:7


“TRUST in the Lord
With all your HEART
And lean not
On your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5


YES!-do the BEST
That you can do-and-
LET GO of all worry


It makes you miserable-and
Adds nothing to your life


Jesus INVITES you
LET GO & LET GOD


Let us
GIVE IT A TRY TODAY


Robert P. Wallman
2-25-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mark Neilsen

HUMILITY LEADS TO WISDOM AND HOLINESS

HUMILITY LEADS TO WISDOM
AND HOLINESS




Have you ever knelt
Down on your knees
And pleaded to God
For something-in prayer


I get down on my knees
Several times each day


Sometimes to say thank you
And PRAISE GOD


Sometimes to PRAY
For another human being


And sometimes to PLEAD
With God
For something-I think I need


“I pleaded-and the spirit of wisdom
CAME TO ME” Wisdom 7:7


Pleading-kind of means-SURRENDERING-
And we are told
In today's world
That we are


To be in CONTROL
And that we are NOT to
Surrender to anything


I beg to differ


It is ONLY when
I got down on my knees
And SURRENDERED myself and my life
To God


That my life
BEGAN to make any sense to me


It was ONLY
At the end of myself
And the beginning of God


That life began
To make any sense to me


“The fear of the Lord
Is the beginning of WISDOM


ALL who follow
His precepts
Have good understanding


To him
Belongs eternal praise” Psalm 111:10


“When pride comes
Then comes disgrace


But with humility
COMES WISDOM” Proverbs 11:2


I mean
Which of us
Doesn't like to be in charge


Which of us
Doesn't like to be in control
Of our own lives


It takes a lot of FAITH
It takes a lot of TRUST
And it takes a lot of HUMILITY
To turn our lives
OVER to God


“Do nothing
Out of selfish ambition
Or vain conceit


Rather-IN HUMILITY-
Value others ABOVE yourselves


NOT looking
To your own interests


But each of you
To the interests of others” Philippians 2:2-4


We have to move
BEYOND-our own selfish interests
And we have to
Let go of our own ego


By losing ourselves
We find guidance
Through HOLY WISDOM and the Holy Spirit
Which leads to HOLINESS


“Make every effort
To live in peace with everyone
And try to be HOLY


Without holiness
NO ONE will see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14


How about that
So some questions remain:


Are you ready
To PLEAD for humility and HOLY WISDOM?


Are we ready
To give up CONTROL
Of our life


And hand ourselves over to God
And his HOLY WISDOM and HOLY SPIRIT?


In order
To TRULY FIND OURSELVES


For in reality
This is the only way
It can be truly done


Robert P. Wallman
October 10^th, 2015




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

YOUR WORDS HAVE POWER: ENCOURAGE OR DISCOURAGE

YOUR WORDS HAVE POWER:
ENCOURAGE OR DISCOURAGE


Do you KNOW
That your words
Have much power?


Do you know
That your words
Have the POWER
To encourage or discourage someone?


MUCH good or much harm
Can come from your mouth


“A KIND mouth multiplies friends
….....
And gracious lips PROMPT
Friendly greetings” Sirach 6:5


I will NEVER forget
The people that ENCOURAGED me
In my life


The people that said things like:
“You are STRONGER than you know
-You CAN do it”


And by the same token
The people that TRIED to
DEMORALIZE me and rip me apart
Saying things like:
“You will NEVER accomplish this”


Your words have POWER=and fortunately
For me=
I had family and friends
That ALWAYS encouraged-
Always built me up


And for that-I have overcome
MANY setbacks in life


“GRACIOUS words are a honeycomb
SWEET to the soul
And HEALING to the bones” Proverbs 16:24


“TRULY I tell you
This generation
Will certainly not pass away


Until ALL these things
Have happened


Heaven and earth
WILL pass away
But my WORDS
Will never pass away” Matthew 24:34-35


ISN'T that the truth?
GOD'S WORDS always stay
With us=but those are
Words of ENCOURAGEMENT


But so do the words
Of our family-friends-
And our enemies


They can build us up or tear
Us down-and STAY with us
A LONG long time
WORDS ARE POWER


And either way
They can MOTIVATE us


“This is
WHAT we speak


NOT in words
Taught us by human wisdom
But in words
Taught by the SPIRIT


EXPLAINING spiritual realities
By Spirit-taught words” 1 Corinthians 2:13


Yes-when we are CHRISTIANS
When we are from God


We speak in words that
EXPRESS: “faithfulness-gentleness-goodness-
Joy-kindness-love-peace-patience-and self-control”


WHEN we speak in words-
That express these-
How can we not ENCOURAGE
ONE ANOTHER


BUT some speak in words
That convey gossip-name-calling-
Sarcasm-backbiting-etc.,


Sirach says:
“A FAITHFUL FRIEND
Is a strong shelter” Sirach 6:14


Your WORDS HAVE POWER-
BUILD each other up


I try to GIVE LOVE-give encouragement-
To family-friends-even strangers


IF you do-people will REMEMBER YOU-
In the LORD'S GOOD NAME


Robert P. Wallman
2-23-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD: RELYING ON HIM

CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD:
RELYING ON HIM


Are you in CONVERSATION
With the Lord?
I would like to think
That I am


I OPEN my heart and my mind and soul
To God-and talk back and forth
ALL DAY


“Let your conversation-
BE always FULL OF GRACE-


So that you may know-HOW-
To answer everyone” Colossians 4:6


Do you?
Are you in conversation
With the Lord?


“BLESSED the man who........
DELIGHTS in the law
Of the Lord........” Psalm 1:1-2


I am in conversation
Wit God all day long
I would LIKE to think
Of my life
As ONE big long PRAYER


I RELY on God for everything
How about you?
Are you
In conversation with God?
Do you rely on him?
Do you LISTEN to him
For guidance?


In today's readings-we are
CHALLENGED by the WORD OF GOD


“Rely not on your wealth
….....
Rely NOT on your strength” Sirach 5:1-2


“My God on whom
I CAN rely


God will go before me
And will let me gloat
Over those who slander me” Psalm 59:10


OUR GOD is in control
There is NO such thing
As a self-made man or woman


We are all DEPENDENT on God-
On fate-and on ONE ANOTHER
In this world


For health=for work and finance=
For relationships=
OUR FATE is in
The HANDS on the Lord-in the
Hands of TIME


“Clearly no one
Who relies on the law
Is justified by God


Because-'the righteous
WILL LIVE BY FAITH'” Galatians 3:11


“And so we know
And RELY
ON the LOVE God has
For us” 1 John 4:16


It is the LOVE OF GOD
Who SUSTAINS us-he is-his love is-
The ONLY thing that NEVER FAILS us
In this world


CONVERSATIONS with the Lord
Believe in him-trust in him
Rely on his words


The Scriptures urge us-
Jesus urges us-to TALK
With God


The Book of Sirach says:
“DELAY not your conversation
To the Lord” Sirach 5:8


YES-our conversation
With the Lord
MUST be ongoing


It must be there
EVERY day


And God's MERCY & LOVE
Are there every minute
Of the day-for us


It is the ONLY TRUTH-God's words-
That always works


Listen to God in CONVERSATIONS-
RELY on him and you
Will be SUSTAINED FOREVER


In Jesus' name,


Robert P. Wallman
2-22-17




INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Fr. Martin Pable, O.F.M. Cap.

OUR LEGACY IS OUR FAITH AND OUR CHARACTER

OUR LEGACY IS OUR FAITH
AND OUR CHARACTER


When people die-we OFTEN
Honor them-for their great success
In life


MAYBE a great person
Who died after
A BRILLIANT business career-
Or a life of philanthropy
Or community service


But GOD LOOKS at our
Human achievements or failures
He looks at HOW we lived
And how we LOVED BEYOND
Our accomplishments and failures


To God-our LEGACY is our faith
And our CHARACTER and how we
Came through ALL THE ADVERSITY-
Life throws at us


“For in fire-gold and silvers
Are tested


And WORTHY people
In the crucible of humiliation” Sirach 2:5


We will NOT always win
At life-and if truth-
Be known-


That IS when we will
FIND OUT-
Who and what we truly are


THESE moments of humility
These moments when we REALIZE
That we will NOT always overcome
ALL of our adversity


ARE MOMENTS
When we ALLOW God to
Work in us and CARRY US
Through the tough times of life


Our LEGACY in life
IS our faith and character
That God DEVELOPS in us
In times of adversity


“A friend LOVES
At all times


And a brother
Is BORN for a
TIME OF ADVERSITY” Proverbs 17:17


FIGHT ON my brothers and sisters
Let God help you
Develop your CHARACTER-
BE ENCOURAGED


Develop your character
In faith in God


“Although the Lord
Gives you the bread
Of adversity


And the water
Of affliction


Your TEACHER will be
Hidden no more
With your own eyes
You will see them” Isaiah 30:20


“A wife
Of NOBLE CHARACTER
Is her husband's crown


But a disgraceful wife
Is like decay
In his bones” Proverbs 12:4


It is these tough MOMENTS
Of life
That GOD USES our faith
To BUILD OUR CHARACTER


And God LOOKS on us and says:
“YES-this flawed one-
IS ONE OF MINE”


And since what
We BUILT in life
Is built on FAITH IN GOD
And our HUMBLE CHARACTER


IT will LAST FOREVER & EVER


In Jesus' name,


Robert P. Wallman
2-18-17




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

FACING THE UNKNOWN IN OUR LIFE

FACING THE UNKNOWN
IN LIFE


We all face challenges
We ALL face uncertainty-
And DOUBT in life


In the 9^th chapter
Of Saint Mark's gospel-
Today-we read about a
Young boy who has been POSSESSED
By an impure spirit
SINCE childhood


The disciples had already
TRIED and failed
At healing the boy


The boys father says,
“But if you can do anything-
TAKE pity on us-and HELP US”


Jesus responds,
“IF you can?-EVERYTHING
Is possible for one
WHO BELIEVES”


And immediately the boy's father said,
“I do BELIEVE-HELP my unbelief” Mark 16:22-24


And ISN'T THAT how we feel-
WHEN we PRAY to God
For something HARD


“I DO believe-help my UNBELIEF”


It takes some LIVING
Some MATURING in God to get to this point
Some HARD-WON HUMILITY
To get to such
An HONEST place in life


FAITH is not certainty
It is BELIEVING when
EVERYTHING in life says
It can't happen


We KNOW it can=if we
Juts believe in God
Believe in GOOD


“Command those
Who are rich
In the present world


NOT to be arrogant
Nor 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


It TAKES years of maturity
Sometimes even decades
BEFORE we can see
The GOOD that can come
From difficulty or painful experience


UNTIL that day comes
It is HELPFUL to have people
In our lives


Who ALLOW us to mature
Who allow us to EXPRESS-
BOTH our hope and our doubt


FACING THE UNKNOWN in our life


BELIEVE in God-believe in Jesus
Allow yourself to MATURE
And you will see HOW
Your suffering has HELPED you-
And can help others OVER TIME


“We do-however-
SPEAK a message of wisdom
Among the mature


But NOT the wisdom
Of this age


Or the rulers
Of this age
Who are coming to NOTHING” 1 Corinthians 2:6


“Let PERSEVERANCE
FINISH its work in you


So that you may be MATURE
And COMPLETE
Not lacking anything” James 1:4


SOMETIMES we make it THROUGH
The hard times in life
By just FACING THE UNKNOWN


And that provides a GOODNESS in us


Lord-thank you for ALLOWING US
To MATURE
By FACING THE UNKNOWN


LORD-I DO BELIEVE!


Robert P. Wallman
2-17-17





Ps INPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Terri Mifek

HELP ME TO BE MORE LIKE YOU!

HELP ME TO BE MORE LIKE YOU!


In our relationships in this world
We are CALLED
To me MORE like God
More like Jesus


God tells the ISRAELITES:
“Be holy-
For I- the Lord your God
Am HOLY” Leviticus 19:2


And what does holiness
CONSIST of=ONLY LOVE


ALL of the readings today
Speak to us of
God's love and COMPASSION
For us


His love is INFINITE


“Merciful and GRACIOUS
Is the Lord-


Slow to anger
ABOUNDING in kindness” Psalm 103:8


HELP ME to be
More like you
Dear Lord Jesus


Help me to be
MERCIFUL and gracious
SLOW to anger-
And abounding in kindness
And love


“Yet he was merciful
He forgave their iniquities
And did NOT destroy them


Time after time
He restrained his anger
And did not stir up
His full wrath” Psalm 78:38


Lord-HELP US to be
More like you
Help us to restrain our anger
To our brothers and sisters
In Christ


Help us-to be MORE FORGIVING


“The Lord our God
Is merciful and forgiving


Even though
We have REBELLED against him” Daniel 9:9


LAST YEAR-dear Lord
Was your year of MERCY
For ALL


Help us to CARRY-
That mercy forward-year-
AFTER YEAR-to others


“BE MERCIFUL-just as-
Your Father-is merciful” Luke 6:36


WHEN we are called
To be like God-
To act like God-
There is a CATCH


We are CALLED
to have so much
LOVE in our hearts for others


That there is NO ROOM
For hatred-
No room for pettiness
And revenge


Our NATURAL tendency
IS to retaliate when
Someone strikes us first


But as CHRISTIANS
We are to be KIND
At all times


“It is a sin
To despise one's neighbor


But BLESSED is the one
Who is KIND
To the NEEDY” Proverbs 14:21


Jesus-ON THE CROSS-
You PORED out your love
And forgiveness for all


HELP US
To LIVE more like you


Robert P. Wallman
2-17-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D,

A VALENTINE OF LOVE & STEADFASTNESS

A VALENTINE OF LOVE & STEADFASTNESS


MOST things in life
Are tangible-even
Where LOVE is concerned
In this world


Love is EASY to understand
Even on VALENTINE'S DAY


We SHOW our love with
A DOZEN ROSES-candy and dinner
A store-bought card-or some other
Type of gift


We RECOGNIZE those things
As symbols-SYMBOLS OF LOVE
And we are all FILLED with feelings
Of tenderness and gratitude
For the GIVER


But WHERE God is concerned-
Where Jesus is concerned


We have to OPEN UP our hearts-
Open up our minds-open up-
For IN FAITH


For GOD'S LOVE-isn't always
Quite so obvious


“WHEN I broke the 7 loaves
For the 4,000
How many full baskets


Of fragments
Did you pick up?


They answered him, 'seven'
And he said to them
'Do you still not understand?'” Mark 8:20-21


Our God-our Jesus-makes something
Out of nothing-
He makes MIRACLES
He gives us LOVE


And love-REAL LOVE -
Is anything but tangible


It is SURE-it is CONSTANT-
It is quiet-it is STEADFAST


GOD'S LOVE=a valentines
Of love and steadfastness
It is always there
And it is anything but tangible


You just CAN'T touch it-
You can't feel it-but TRUST ME-
You feel it CONFIDENTLY
In your heart


YOU KNOW-it is always there


“LOVE is patient-love is kind-
It does NOT envy-
It does not boast
It is not proud


It does not
Dishonor others
It is not self-seeking


It is not easily angered
It keeps NO RECORD of wrongs


Love does NOT delight
In evil
But rejoices-with the truth


IT always PROTECTS
Always trusts
Always hopes
Always perseveres


LOVE NEVER FAILS” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8


That SENSE of confidence
And trust we get from God


Is absolutely the BEST VALENTINE
We can ever RECEIVE (and give)


I FEEL it from God
DO YOU?


I hope you do
And I hope you FEEL
My everlasting LOVE & KINDNESS too


I LOVE YOU ALL!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
(with the steadfastness of God)


Robert P. Wallman
2-12-17




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

ABSOLUTELY SURE-ABSOLUTELY SAFE

ABSOLUTELY SURE-ABSOLUTELY SAFE


I don't know about you
But I want to be-
ABSOLUTELY SURE-about
Everything I am doing in life
And absolutely safe too


That is TRUE of my FAITH
In God too
I'm always ASKING God for signs
IF I am moving in
The right direction
Or not-


Or for a SPECIFIC SIGN
As to which way
Or choice I am
To make


HOW about you?
Are you like that?


If you are-it may come
As NO SURPRISE to you-that
The people of yesteryear
WERE that way too


And it absolutely EXASPERATED Jesus


“He sighed from the depth
Of his spirit-
And said,


'WHY does this generation
Seek a sign?'” Mark 8:12


And I am SURE
I have absolutely
Exhausted and exasperated Jesus
With MY DESIRE for a sign


On my choices-
For my own path in life


And I BELELIEVE it is a sign
Of a week faith
That I want Jesus to CLOSE
ALL the doors but one


And then CLEARLY SHINE his light
On each step I should take


I want confirmation
After confirmation-
I want to be-
ABSOLUTELY SURE-ABSOLUTELY SAFE


“The Lord
SWORE an oath
To David


A SURE oath
He will not revoke


ONE of your descendants
I will place
On your throne” Psalm 132:11


“BE SURE-
You know the condition
Of your flocks


Give careful attention
To your herds” Proverbs 27:23


“For of this
You can be SURE:


NO immoral-impure-or greedy person-
Such a person
Is an IDOLATER-


Has any inheritance
In the kingdom of Christ
And of God” Ephesians 5:5


I'm the type of person
That wants to BE ABSOLUTELY SURE
Of everything


BEFORE I take
The next step


You might say
I hate uncertainty
I DISLIKE the unknown


But GOD sure fixed me


Jesus GAVE me a life
Of FAITH-a life WHERE
I HAVE to keep stepping out in FAITH


Because of my health situation-
EVERYTHING IS dependent on him


But the TRUTH IS=
That is TRUE of all of us


SOMETIMES-we just CAN'T BE
Absolutely sure-absolutely safe


We MUST take a STEP
Out into the unknown
And take a RISK


TRUSTING that Jesus
Will MEET US-
Along the way
And move us in the right direction


He has-Jesus-has-
NEVER FAILED ME YET


The truth is
We don't need signs


We just NEED
To KEEP TRUSTING the source
Of our LOVE-
God and Jesus


Robert P. Wallman
2-13-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Kristin Armstrong

TRANSFORMED INTO CHRIST

TRANSFORMED INTO CHRIST


Jesus Christ GAVE himself up-
For ALL of us


NOT just Catholics-not just Christians-
But for people of EVERY denomination=
Every race-every kind of human being
In this world


WHY?
Simple-because he LOVES YOU!


It is our job
To ACCEPT others and LOVE OTHERS=
Every kind of human being that there is


WE are called to RECONCILE
With others=just the way Jesus did=
With every kind of human being
That exists in this world


“Therefore-if you BRING your gift
To the altar


And there RECALL
That your brother
Has anything against you-


LEAVE your gift at the altar-
Go first-and be reconciled
….....


And then come
And offer your gift” Matthew 5:23-24


The question is:
WHAT are the gifts
We bring to the altar-
To be RECONCILED?


And are you AWARE that
You are bringing ANY gifts
At all?


Of course you are-
WE ALL ARE


We are bringing the CONSECRATED Christ
LIVING in our hearts


And we are bringing ALL the emotions
We FEEL in our heart-
About the RISEN Christ Jesus-and
About our brothers and sisters in Christ


Our JOY-our gratitude-
Our sorrow-and especially our WILLINGNESS
To be transformed into
THE RISEN CHRIST


To be sorry for our sins
To be RECONCILED with our brothers
And sisters in Christ-as well as Jesus
HIS own self


RECONCILED & TRANSFORMED into Christ


“As you are going
With your adversary
To the magistrate


TRY HARD-
To be reconciled
On the way


Or your adversary
MAY take you off
To the judge


And the judge
TURN you over to the officer
And the officer
Throw you into prison” Luke 12:58


BE RECONCILED
With your brother and sisters
LET your Father God-begin-
To TRANSFORM you into his
SON-Jesus Christ


“And we ALL
Who with unveiled faces


CONTEMPLATE the Lord's glory
ARE being transformed
INTO HIS IMAGE


Withe ever-increasing glory
Which comes from the Lord
Who is the SPIRIT” 2 Corinthians 3:17


STRIVE to find & LIVE
With the kind of AWARENESS
That TRANSFORMS you
Into a Christ-like-presence


Then RECONCILE yourself
With your brothers and sisters


And try to live like Christ
BE TRANSFORMED!


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
2-11-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B.

JOURNAL=OUR LADY OF LORDES=I WILL NEVER FORGET

JOURNAL=2-11-15=OUR LADY OF LOURDES




“BLESS THE LORD-Oh my SOUL!” Psalm 104:1


LOURDES, France has become FAMOUS as a SHRINE for healing-WHERE physical disease have been CURED in a miraculous way-THE CHURCH recognizes 66 MIRACULOUS CURES there


it is also the day-I WALKED out of Saint John's hospital-after experiencing a 108 degrees fever-peritonitis-gangrene-and gram-negative septicemia-and LIVED to tell about it


LOURDES, France-where many have found PEACE in coming to UNDERSTAND GOD'S WILL for them-but of course-we don't have to go all the way to FRANCE-to EXPERIENCE Mother Mary's LOVE for us-all we NEED to do is to ASK for her help in PRAYER


And Mary will RUSH to OUR SIDE-and take her petitions to her SON-Jesus for us-FEBRUARY 11th-the feast day for of OUR LADY OF LOURDES-and a day for FINDING PEACE in GOD-and maybe even experiencing a TRUE MIRACLE of God


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a great day for coming to the LORD and HIS MOTHER in faith and hope-and to KNOW the HEALING POWER OF God














OUR LADY OF LOURDES-I WILL NEVER FORGET




Our Lady of Lourdes
Is a title for the Blessed Virgin Mary
Used by Roman Catholics
In honor of apparitions of Mary
And for many miracles
That are said to have occurred there
At Lourdes, France


On the evening
Of January 18^th, 1977
I developed a tremendous pain/ pressure
In my groin area
And I was admitted to the hospital
The next day


I WILL NEVER FORGET


I was rushed
To emergency surgery
The next day
With a perforated bowel


I WILL NEVER FORGET


The first apparition
Of Our Lady of Lourdes
Was made February 11^th, 1858
By Bernadette Soubirous
A 14-year-old peasant girl
Who admitted to her mother
That a “lady”
Spoke to her
In the cave of Massabielle
About a mile from her home


The apparition of the “lady”
Were reported
On seventeen further occasions
That year


After the surgery
I laid there
For two weeks
With tubes coming
Out of every orifice in my body
In a state between life and death


I WILL NEVER FORGET


The apparition
Asked Bernadette to dig in the ground
And drink
From the spring she found there
And she did


From that day onward
That spring
Has produced 27,000 gallons of water per week


My health
Took a turn for the worse
Dr. Christian was called in
To work on me
And Father Newell was called in
To administer the Sacrament for the Sick


My temperature
Reached as high as 108 degrees
And my blood count went down to three
And I had many blood transfusions


It looked like death was imminent


I WILL NEVER FORGET


Many miracles have occurred
At Our Lady of Lourdes
Some proven authentic miracles
And many not reported at all


The day
I walked out of the hospital
Was February 11^th, 1977
The day of the first reported vision
At Lourdes, France in 1858


I will testify FOR GOD
And give thanks TO GOD
For every day
Of the REST of my life


I WILL NEVER FORGET


Robert P. Wallman
February 7, 2013




ps misc. WITNESS 2-11-14

2-11-15 & 2-11-16

THE POWER OF JESUS' COMPASSIONATE LOVE

THE POWER OF JESUS' COMPASSIONATE LOVE


OUR God-our Jesus
Are COMPASSIONATE
They are ALWAYS ready to HEAR
WHENEVER we open our hearts
To SPEAK to them


Jesus was so COMPASSIONATE
When he walked the earth
That he was always ready to HEAL
Those in need


The sick-the deaf-the blind-


“They were exceedingly ASTONISHED
And thy said,
'He has done
ALL things well


He makes the deaf hear
And the mute speak'” Mark 7:37


It ISN'T any different
For us today-
Jesus reaches out to us
In COMPASSION
When we speak to him in PRAYER


“As a father
Has compassion on his children


So the Lord HAS compassion
On those who fear him” Psalm 103:13


And those who LOVE him-sometimes
It is NOT BEST for us
In the long run
For the Lord to answer-
AFFIRMATIVELY-and it is sometimes best
For us to WAIT awhile


ONLY the Lord KNOWS why-but he
STILL has love and compassion for us-
For our problems and our suffering


“In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you
For a moment


But with EVERLASTING KINDNESS
I will have COMPASSION on you
Says the the Lord your REDEEMER” Isaiah 54:8


“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


So that we CAN comfort those
In any trouble


With the COMFORT
We ourselves receive
From GOD” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4


ONE such way-that the Lord
Comforts me


Is that when I have
NO IDEA what I am going
To write


He LAYS WORDS in my heart-
And in my mind
To SHARE with all of you


And as the SAME WAY
The Lord comforts us
WE are to TRY and help
Comfort and SHARE COMPASSION
With others who are suffering


“Even though
I walk though the darkest valley
I will fear no evil
For you are WITH ME


Your rod and staff
COMFORT ME” Psalm 23:4


And we comfort each other
ALONG life's journey


WHEN I run into problems
I ask God-there is NO OTHER WAY
For me to go


And HE always takes over
And tells me what to say-
What to do


MY PRAYERS are always-
ANSWERED in some way
Because of the amazing power
Of God in our lives


I HOPE that yours are too


Dear Lord-MAY we always recognize
THE POWER OF JESUS' COMPASSION
IN OUR LIVES


HUMBLY-in you Lord


Robert P. Wallman
2-9-17





Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Fr. Kenneth Grabner, C.S.C.

BRINGING GOOD & LOVE INTO THE WORLD

BRINGING GOOD AND LOVE
INTO THE WORLD


Good is good-and it
Should NEVER be wasted
And when it is UNITED
With the LOVE of God and Christ


EVERY kind word-every good action-
Every compassionate thought BRINGS LOVE
Into the world


And CHANGES the world
For the better-
ESPECIALLY if it is united
With the LOVE of God and Christ


“For you
Shall eat the fruit
Of your handiwork


BLESSED shall you be
And FAVORED” Psalm 128:2


OUR JOB
Is to bring MORE
Good and love into the world


Even though we may not see
Concrete results-
For our efforts


You will bring FRUIT-
Good fruit into the world
And we will be KNOWN
For our fruit


LOOK at Jesus-look at ALL
The great people and saints
That followed him


NOT to mention cities-culture-
Music and art,etc.,


What about our fruit?
WHERE does our fruit live?
Where does our fruit grow?


“That person
IS like a tree planted
By streams of water


Which yields its fruit
In season-
And whose leaf


Does not wither-
Whatever they do PROSPERS” Psalm 1:3


“A shoot-will come up
From the stump of Jesse


From its roots
A BRANCH will bear fruit” Isaiah 11:1


And isn't that
The way that it IS
If we are rooted
IN LOVE


What else can we bring
But GOODNESS AND LOVE?


“You did not choose me
BUT I chose you-and-
Appointed you


So that you might go
And BEAR FRUIT-
Fruit that will LAST


And so
That whatever you ASK
In my name
The Father will give you


This is my command:
LOVE EACH OTHER” John 15:16-17


We will FACE tough challenges
In this world
It is then


That we MUST PERSEVERE
And WALK in the Lord's WAYS


Then-that we must walk-
The walk-that the LORD WALKED


For then we will
TRULY BEAR FRUIT


And BRING GOODNESS AND LOVE
Into the world


In Jesus name,


Robert P. Wallman
2-8-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Jennifer Christ

GOD BREATHS LIFE INTO US

GOD BREATHS LIFE INTO US


God breathed life into me
The first time
Om January 19^th, 1955-


UNFORTUNATELY-I didn't
Always get it right


And FORTUNATELY for me
He BREATHED LIFE into me
For the second time in a life
And death situation
That began in January of 1977


And still exists today
As a chronic condition


God GAVE me eternal life-
Through his Jesus-and he
GAVE it to you too


“........The Lord
FORMED man out of the clay
Of the ground


And blew into his nostrils
THE BREATH OF LIFE
And so man became
A living being” Genesis 2:7


It is-of course-God-
And his Son-Jesus
Who CONTROL life and death
In this world
And the next


But there ARE times
One man can HELP another man
Physically-spiritually-and emotionally


HELP each other
With the breath of life
UNDER God's control


ONE WAY we can help another
IS with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
Or even by donating
A body part


Emotionally=by keeping on ENCOURAGING
And spiritually by PRAYING for one another


MIRACLES come in ALL shapes and sizes
But it is God and Jesus
Who ULTIMATELY control
All of them


It is God and Jesus
Who BREATHE LIFE into us


Life in this world and ETERNAL LIFE


“For with you
It is the FOUNTAIN of life
In your light-WE SEE the light” Psalm 36:9


“The fear of the Lord
Is a fountain of life


TURNING a person
From the snares of death” Proverbs 14:27


“As for you
See that what you have heard
From the beginning
REMAINS in you


If it does
You will also remain
In the SON-
And in the Father


And this is what
He PROMISED US-ETERNAL LIFE” 1 John 2:24-25


Our CHRISTIAN FAITH
Calls us to embrace
The TRUTH that there is NO DEATH


I TOTALLY believe that-DO YOU?


Our physical death
Is merely just a PASSAGE
From this earthly life


To the heavenly life
With God and Jesus


WHEN we breathe our last breath
In this life


God will draw NEAR
And breathe life into for us
For yet a SECOND TIME


God BREATHES LIFE into us
Yet again


And we will RISE AGAIN
To life


In Jesus' name,


Robert P. Wallman
2-7-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Fr. James Behrens, O.C.S.O.

FEELING LOVED & FULL OF GRACE

FEELING LOVED & FULL OF GRACE


Today is/was the 62nd anniversary
Of my BAPTISM as an infant
At Saint Andrew's Catholic Church
On the north side of Pittsburgh


I AM so thankful to
Be BORN-in this country-
To this family


To these parents-I am just
SO THANKFUL!


And I FEEL loved and
FULL of grace by the God of love
And my Lord and Savior Jesus


I think of Jesus-the FATHER-
And ALL the ANGELS in heaven
And I long to be with them


Yet I know
It is not my time


“WHEN I behold your heavens
The work of your fingers-


The moon and the stars
WHICH you set in place-
WHAT IS MAN?........” Psalm 8:4-5


Yes-who am I? WHO are we?


To be LIVING
In this beautiful UNIVERSE of God


Nothing confirms
Our human limitations any more
Than when we
LOOK to the stars-
And look to the heavens


It CONFIRMS our smallness-
How little we are


“The heavens declare
The GLORY of God


The skies proclaim
The work of his hands” Psalm 19:1


“Lift up your eyes
And look to the heavens


Who CREATED all these?


He who brings out
The starry host
One-by-one


And calls forth
EACH of them by name


Because of his great power
And mighty strength
NOT one of them is missing” Isaiah 40:26


Feeling SMALL in this
Great big-vast large world of God


Yet feeling LOVED-and FULL
Of the GRACE OF GOD


Who are we asks the psalmist?


I just can't help
But feel
He felt LOVED and
The grace of God too


Yet who indeed are we?


“It was not by the sword
That they won the land


NOR did their arm bring
The victory


It was YOUR right hand-
Your arm
And the LIGHT of your face


FOR YOU LOVED THEM” Psalm 44:3


Yes Lord-on this ANNIVERSARY-
Of my baptism-
I feel small


Yet IMPORTANT
In the KINGDOM of God
As we ALL are


FEELING LOVED-and FULL OF GOD'S GRACE
In the Lord's kingdom


To TAKE FORTH with me
The WISDOM of GOD'S WORDS


In Jesus' name,


Robert P. Wallman
February 6^th, 2017





Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINR by Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M.

JOURNAL=SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

JOURNAL=2-20-15=SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME




“THIS-rather-is the fasting that I wish........SHARING your bread with the hungry........” Isaiah 58:6-7


Isaiah ENCOURAGES us to look within ourselves and ask: WHAT do I have to offer God and others this Lent? What SHARING will grow my OWN SPIRIT as well as ENCOURAGE my neighbor?


GOD has a dream and a PLAN for our LIVES-and in the long run-it is ALL GOOD-but sometimes it involves fighting through the difficult circumstances of our own life-bad choices that we have made-and sometimes just misfortune


BUT THE GOOD NEWS is-that GOD never gives up on us-ENCOURAGES US-PROTECTS US-and walks every step of our lives with us-HE LOVES US and has a FULL DREAM for our lives


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE for us and a great day to move towards GOD'S BLESSING for us and ACCEPT THE GRACE that he bestows on us














WITNESS




9-8-13




SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME




“SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME”
Is one of my favorite movies


It is a 1987 film
Where a cop
Acting as a bodyguard
For a murder witness
Falls in love
With the woman
He is protecting


To make matters worse
The cop has a wife and a child


Wouldn’t that be great
If we had someone watching over us
Someone protecting us
Every minute of every day


But we do
OUR GOD AND OUR FATHER


So as we journey through life
When we run into trouble
Our God and Father protects us


“You are my hiding place
You will protect me from trouble
And surround me
With songs of deliverance” Psalm 32:7


Isn’t that GREAT
We travel through life daily
And we have someone watching over us
Someone ready
To DELIVER US from our troubles


All we have to do is ask
And turn out hearts back to him


“Hear the word of the Lord
Oh nations
Proclaim it in distant coast lands


He who scattered Israel
Will gather them
And WATCH OVER his flock
Like a shepherd” Jeremiah 31:10


“For the Lord WATCHES OVER
The way of the righteous
But the wicked will perish” Psalm 1:6


So we know
THE LORD WATCHES OVER US


And we know
That he not only watches over us
But he will come get us
When we become lost
On the highway of life


And he will DELIVER us


“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep
And loses one of them
Does he not leave the ninety-nine
In the open country
And go after the lost sheep
Until he finds it” Luke 15:4


And then he DELIVERS US safely home


“The righteous cry out
And the Lord hears them
He DELIVERS them
From all their troubles” Psalm 34:17


In the movie-the cop ( Tom Berenger )
Protects the beautiful woman ( Mimi Rogers )
And SAVES the day
When his own wife ( Lorraine Bracca )
And child are captured and held hostage


In the movie
Of our OWN life
Our own God
WATCHES over us, PROTECTS us
And in time of trouble
Saves us and DELIVERS us home


Our God-WHO IS LOVE
“Always protects-always trusts
-Always hopes-Always perseveres” 1 Corinthians 13:7-8


OUR GOD NEVER FAILS


Robert P. Wallman
7-25-12




Ps WITNESS 9-8-13




MISC. WITNESS 6-6-14
2-20-15

SELFLESSNESS & GIVING

SELFLESSNESS & GIVING


Did you know
That there is a SECRET
to human life?


That nothing TRANSFORMS us
Like selflessness and GIVING


Giving is LIVING
And living is GIVING
That is the KEY to life


Giving yourself away=time-treasure-
And talent
NO ONE ever did it like Jesus
No one else ever gave
Themselves 100% away


“SHARE your bread
With the hungry
….....
Then your light shall
BREAK FORTH like the dawn
….....” Isaiah 58:7-8


This is a TOUGH passage
For many of us


Because it can make us
FEEL guilty-if-
We are not sharing
With the hungry and the homeless


But the TRUTH is-all-
ANY of us can do-
Is DO-what we can


But the truth is also
WHEN we begin to GIVE & SHARE
What we have with others


To LOVE OTHERS=
We feel BETTER about ourselves


GIVE what you can=TIME-treasure-
Talent=any or all of these
In SOME measure suffices


“The GENEROUS will themselves
Be blessed


For they SHARE their food
With the poor” Proverbs 22:9


“His master replied,
'Well done--
Good and faithful servant!


You have been faithful
With a few things-


I will put you in charge
Of many thing


Come and share
Your Master's happiness'” Matthew 25:23


LIVE out of selflessness
And GIVING-for God loves-
GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER


“EACH of you should give
WHAT you have decided
In your HEART to give


NOT reluctantly or under compulsion
For God
LOVES a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7


When we live this way
GIVING & SHARING what we can


Because we LOVE
To give ourselves away


The LIGHT in us
Breaks forth-
Like the sun glowing


And we MOVE CLOSER
To the Jesus
Who dwells in us


When you REACH OUT
To others-continually giving
WHAT you have to give


EVEN if all it is-
IS an encouraging word


Our giving TURNS our loneliness
Inside out
For GIVING is a CURE
For isolation


And SERVICE
Is a cure
For despair


ALWAYS do what you can
SHARING & GIVING
For living is giving -and
Giving is living


And SELFLESSNESS & GIVING makes
A WORLD FULL OF FRIENDS


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
2-4-17





Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mary Marrocco

TRANSFORM US=FROM THE ORDINARY TO THE EXTRAORDINARY

TRANSFORM US-FROM THE ORDINARY-
INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY


The STORIES of the gospel
Show us HOW
The ordinary people


Are ATTRACTED to Jesus
And his disciples


THRONGS of people followed Jesus
Relentlessly-wherever he went


That still HAPPENS to us today-
For it is Jesus
That makes us-


That TAKES us
That TRANSFORMS US
From ordinary people
To EXTRAORDINARY people


Just the PRESENCE of Jesus-alone


“People saw them leaving
And MANY came to know
About it


They hastened there on foot
From all the towns




And arrived at the place
BEFORE THEM” Mark 6:33


YES-the PRESENCE of Jesus-
At MASS on Sunday
At Christian service on Sunday


TRASFORMS us into
Extraordinary people


He IS there in the ushers
He is there in the collectors
He is THERE in each and EVERY ONE
Of us-attending service


HIS PRESENCE transforms us ALL
Into extraordinary people
In this world


The presence of Jesus
The presence of God
When we BELIEVE-creates-
Transforms us into-
EXTRAordinary people


EVEN creates MIRACLES OF HEALING
-makes us into what we
Have toe CAPACITY to be


Just think of WHAT this world
WOULD BE-if we had more
BELIEVERS in it-maybe even more miracles


“Do NOT stop him,' Jesus said,
'For no one
Who DOES a miracle


In my name
Can in
The next moment
Say anything bad about us” Mark 9:39


“Fellow Israelites-listen to this:
Jesus of Nazareth
Was a man ACCREDITED by God


To you by MIRACLES-
Wonders and signs-


Which God did among you
Through him
As you KNOW yourselves” Acts 2:22


YES-this man did the ordinary
And the EXTRAORDINARY too


He PERFORMED a miracle in me
And has GIVEN ME-
FORTY more years of additional life


He has also TRANSFORMED me
From a man
TRYING to live by this world's standards


To LIVING by God's standards-
Of peace-LOVE-forgiveness-and kindness
As well as the BEATITUDES


“And we eagerly AWAIT
A SAVIOR from there (heaven)-
The Lord-Jesus-Christ


Who by the POWERS
That enables him to BRING
Everything under his control


Will TRANSFORM our lowly bodies
So that they will be
Like his glorious body” Philippians 3:20-21


Yes dear LORD-TRANSFORM US ALL


Into praying together-working together-
And HELPING each other


So that not only us
But this WHOLE WORLD


WILL BECOME EXTRAORDINARY


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
2-3-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Deborah Meister

AT THE GATES=BEING MORE HOSPITABLE

AT THE GATES=BEING MORE HOSPITABLE


We LIVE in desperate times-
Refugees are CROWDING the borders
Of the European Union-
And of the United States


PEOPLE are standing in line
To get in


The thought of HOSPITALITY
Has been consumed by
The thought of fear


And perhaps-RIGHTLY SO


We simply CANNOT welcome everyone
But these people are GOD'S CHILDREN too


“Do not neglect hospitality
For THROUGH it-some-
Have entertained ANGELS” Hebrews 13:2


You would LET an angel in-
WOULDN'T YOU-
I'm SURE God would


I am sure GOD HAS


People are clamoring
At the gates of heaven too
What if God said:


“WE are all filled up-
NO vacancies here”


God is the KEEPER
Of the gates of heaven-
And thankfully so


I wouldn't want to be
Let in-or NOT let in
BASED on a bureaucratic decision


“LIFT up your heads
You gates


BE lifted up
You ancient doors


That the KING of glory
MAY come in” Psalm 24:7


“ENTER his gates
With thanksgiving


And his courts
With praise


GIVE thanks to him
And PRAISE his name” Psalm 100:4


“OPEN for me
The gates of the RIGHTEOUS


I will enter
And GIVE THANKS
To the Lord” Psalm 118:19


OPEN the gates
Of heaven-to the righteous
BE MORE HOSPITABLE
To all


In most cases
It is the decision
Of the COURT


Whether gates are open
Or not


But there are SOME things
PRIVATE citizens can do-
Namely-
MAKE a financial donation or
Contribution-to organizations
That care for refugees


And be MORE HOSPITABLE
To those who DO
Cross our paths


HOSPITALITY to family-friends-
And even strangers
GREET OTHERS with a warm “hello”


Thankfully-the gates are STILL OPEN
In HEAVEN-as far as I know
If NOT in all the countries


BE more HOSPITABLE to others


“Rather-
He must be hospitable


ONE who loves
What is good
Who is self-controlled


Upright-holy-and disciplined” 1 Titus 8


Dear Lord-OPEN the gates
To those in NEED
And open our eyes to those
Who NEED MORE HOSPITALITY


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
2-2-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Aileen O'Donoghue




IF you are PRAYING men and women-I URGE YOU to PRAY for our country and our world
Like never before

LOVE-COMMITMENT-COMPASSION=COME TOGETHER

LOVE-COMMITMENT-AND COMPASSION
COME TOGETHER
( and sometimes PAIN)


TODAY we celebrate
The PRESENTATION of the
Baby Jesus to Simeon
And the prophet Anna


The Holy Spirit had revealed
To Simeon
That he would not die
BEFORE seeing the Messiah


“Simeon took him
In his arms-and PRAISED God-
Saying,
'Sovereign Lord-as you have promised
You may now DISMISS your servant
In peace-


For my eyes have seen
Your salvation
….....” Luke 2:28:30


Simeon goes onto tell Mary
About Jesus' love and compassion-
The rising and falling of Israel


And that a sword will
PIERCE her side too


It MAKES me think
Of my own Baptism
When I was a baby


On February 6^th, Of 1955
My own father and mother's
First wedding anniversary


And it makes me GIVE
Further thanks to my own FAMILY
For all the memories-with my parents-
My sisters-and my EXTENDED family
And friends


Thank You Lord for all the
Memories Lord-and
Thank you for all the
LOVE & COMPASSION your Son-brought


NOT to mention the PAIN
Of Jesus-the BLESSED MOTHER-
And the whole family


God's love-Jesus' love-
BRINGS love-commitment-and compassion
NOT to mention
ALL the pain
That comes with it


Today's liturgy-REMINDS US
That love REQUIRES commitment
The action that comes through
With the feeling


“Commit your WAY
To the Lord


Trust in him
And he will do this” Psalm 37:3


YES-he will love you
Through the pain
He is COMMITTED to-to us
To the world


“Commit to the Lord
WHATEVER you do


And he will ESTABLISH
Your plans” Proverbs 16:3


Yes-God is COMMITTED-Christ
IS committed to LOVE-
This world-FOREVER and ever


And the pain that COMES with it


“So then-
Those who suffer
ACCORDING to God's will


Should commit themselves
To their FAITHFUL CREATOR


And continue
To DO GOOD” 1 Peter 4:19


MARY heard Simeon's prediction
Of pain


Yet she did not
Withdraw her love
She and Jesus


STAYED committed to the MISSION
Of LOVE & COMPASSION


And carried it through
AS the HOLY FAMILY


MY FAMILY and friends did too
I hope and PRAY
Your family did as well


THAT IS what a HOLY FAMILY does
STAYS COMMITTED to LOVE & COMPASSION


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
2-1-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

CHRISTIAN UNITY=ONE

CHRISTIAN UNITY


Christian Unity week BEGAN Saturday, January 18^th, 2014 and runs through today
January 25^th.


LET US make THIS the year of Christian Unity. I encourage ALL OF YOU to go to your
pastors, priest, ministers, and those IN CHARGE of your particular church to ASK them
to REACH across the theological differences to make this ONE CHURCH again.


BASED ON what I consider to be JESUS' MOST CENTRAL TEACHINGS:

1. LOVE GOD with your whole heart-mind-soul-and strength
   
2. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself
   
3. FORGIVE 70 X 7
   
4. MATTHEW 5:5-7 ( The SERMON on the Mount and the Beatitudes )
   

“AND I tell you that you are Peter and on this ROCK I will BUILD MY CHURCH,
And the gates of Hades will NOT overcome it.” Matthew 16:18


LET US work through our divisions and BUILD ONE CHURCH based on love-forgivness-and kindness.


Robert P. Wallman
January 24^th, 2014

WITNESS




3-30-13




ONE---just thinking




Jesus asked us
To be as one
HOW did we get it so wrong


“My prayer is not for them alone
I pray also for those
Who will believe in me
Through their message
That ALL of them
May be one, Father,
Just as you are in me
And I am in you


May they also be in us
So that the world may believe
That you have sent me


I have given them the glory
That you gave me
That they may be one
As we are one” John 17:20-22


Today there are 33,820 Christian denominations ( the World Christian
Not to mention Encyclopedia year 2,000 )
The Jewish religion, the Muslims,
The Buddhists and many 0thers


“That they may be one”


ONE---I wonder
What Jesus would say today


We have the Catholic Religion
Which I have been apart of
Since almost my first day
On this earth---and still proudly so


We have the Protestant Religion
We have Willow Creek
We have the Baptists
All of which I have been a part of
And proud o be a part of


I have Jewish family
I have Jewish friends


Can’t say that I have any Muslim friends
That I am personally aware of
But I don’t think
Any religion
Is inherently good or bad
It is always the radical element
Of any group
That gets us into trouble


“That they may be one”


I am certainly NO Theologian
But I have a general understanding
Of how the church
Has broken apart over the years


“I in them and you in me
May they be brought to complete unity
To let the world
Know that you sent me
And have loved them
Even as you have loved me” John 17:23


“That they may be one
As we are one”


When I talk to people
I always ask them about God
And their church


I have met
So many beautiful people
People from ALL countries
From ALL nationalities
From ALL societies
ALL socio-economic make ups
And religions


Where is the bridge
Linking us ALL together
I dear say
It is our humanity


The desire to be accepted and valued
As a human being---for who we are
Being told that we matter
That we are somebody in this world


Could it really be that simple?


“That they may be one”


We have Moses and the Ten Commandments
We have Jesus’ teaching on love,
The 2 Greatest Commandments, forgiveness
And the SERMON on the MOUNT


We have the teachings of Confucius, Buddha,
Of Mohammed, Gandhi,
And many other great men and women
In and of this world


And finally
We have the Golden Rule
“So in everything, do to others
What you would have them do to you
For this sums up
The Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12


“THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE”


We can do it---it is up to us
I urge to be a bridge
And a connector
In today’s world


Robert P. Wallman
6-21-11




Ps WITNESS 3-30-13




“Hear-oh Israel-the Lord our GOD is ONE LORD”
Deuteronomy 6:4


“There is neither Jew nor Greek-there is neither bond
Nor free-there is neither male nor female-for you are
ALL ONE in Christ Jesus”
Galatians 3:28




misc. WITNESS 1-25-14