RECOGNIZING THE PRESENCE OF GOD!

RECOGNIZING THE PRESENCE OF GOD!


It is NOT always
Easy to RECOGNIZE the PRESENCE
Of God-in today's world


The disciples are WALKING
Along the road to Emmaus-
A man-joins them-and it is
Christ himself


And isn't that the way it is
With us-despite the fact that
Jesus IS always with us-despite that-
We do not always recognize him


“........Jesus himself
Drew near and WALKED with them


But their eyes
Were prevented from recognizing him” Luke 24:15-16


And isn't that the way
It is with us-perhaps we are TOO FOCUSED
On the things of this world


To RECOGNIZE God and Jesus
In our lives
He is ALIVE in our world
OPEN your eyes=open
MY eyes and we will see him


We will SEE God and Jesus
We will RECOGNIZE the PRESENCE
Of God and Jesus in our lives


Jesus ALWAYS WALKS beside us
He is always RIGHT THERE
With us-going through
WHATEVER we are going through


RECOGNIZING the presence of God
In our lives


“By their FRUIT
You will RECOGNIZE them


Do people pick grapes
From thorn bushes?
Or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:16


Yes Jesus=was walking
With his disciples=the GOOD FRUIT
Of the LORD!


Do you recognize
The GOOD Lord in the
Good things of this world?


Do you see him
In the good of your life?


The SIGNS are everywhere
He-the Lord-can be SEEN
In the FACE of a beggar
On the side of the road


He-THE LORD-LIVES in the
Victims of violence


He LIVES in the poor-
In the widows-in the orphans-
And ALL the marginalized
Of this world


He PLEADS with us
NOT to turn our hearts
He pleads with us=to
RECOGNIZE HIM-to just-
OPEN OUR EYES


RECOGNIZING God-recognizing Jesus-
In this world


The PRESENCE OF GOD IS EVERYWHERE


“Because of my INTEGRITY
You uphold me


And set me
In your PRESENCE FOREVER” Psalm 41:12


“You have MADE KNOWN to me
The PATHS of life


You will FILL ME
With JOY in your PRESENCE” Acts 2:28


Dear Lord-HELP US not to be like
Your disciples of yesteryear


But ALWAYS open our hearts-
And TURN our eyes-and RECOGNIZE
You and YOUR SON Jesus-
In today's world


In Jesus' name,


Robert P. Wallman
4-29-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Paul Pennick

KNOWING THAT HE IS ALWAYS THERE

KNOWING THAT HE IS ALWAYS THERE


We ALL go through
The DARK TIMES in life
Illness=financial difficulties=
And relationship PROBLEMS


EVEN a death
In the family


We NEED TO KNOW God is=
Jesus is=ALWAYS there
With us in life
Even in the dark times


“It had already grown dark-
And Jesus had not yet
COME to them” John 6:17


Because he was ALREADY there
And he is already HERE
With us-no matter
What we are going through


WHEN we find ourselves
In the dark times
We often FEEL
Like the DOUBTING disciples


Sitting in a boat
With the DARKNESS surrounding us


And WHERE is Jesus-nowhere
To be found


No-NOT RIGHT-we doubt-
We focus on the darkness


He is the LIGHT


We need to KNOW-he is right-
There with us-going through-
WHAT we are going through


NO-it is our perception-
Our “BLINDNESS” is keeping us
From finding him


He is OUR COMFORT and CONSOLATION-
We just need to LOOK for him=and
We will FIND him


“Yes-my SOUL-
FIND REST in God


My HOPE comes from him” Psalm 62:5


“I LOVE those
Who love me


And those who seek me
FIND ME” Proverbs 8:17


We just need to
TRUST in God-
Trust in Jesus


We need to KNOW
That he is ALWAYS right there
With us-just as he was
With the APOSTLES


“ASK=and it will
BE given to you


SEEK-and your will FIND
Knock-and-
The door will be OPENED
To you


For EVERYONE who asks-
RECEIVES-and to those
Who knock


The door will be OPENED” Matthew 7:7-8


Finding Jesus in the dark
REQUIRES FAITH


When we get to
The END of our journey
We will find


That he had been THERE
The WHOLE TIME-sitting right there-
In the CORNER of the boat


Dear Lord-dear Jesus=PLEASE give us
The FAITH-the courage-and the trust


To be
KNOWING that you are ALWAYS THERE
With us


No matter what we are facing-
And how dark the day is


YOU ARE OUR LIGHT


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
4-28-17




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

I AM LIVING A MIRACLE

“I’m living a Miracle”

I’m living a miracle

I’m breathing a miracle

I’m walking a miracle

I am a living, breathing, walking miracle

I’m living

A miracle

I’m breathing

A miracle

I’m walking

A miracle

Living a dream

Living a life

No one would have guessed

Living a life

That once was

Almost extinguished

Living a life

That is way beyond blessed

I’m living

A miracle

I’m breathing

A miracle

I’m walking

A miracle

I’m breathing every breath

Like it was my last

I’m not taking it  for granted

A life goes by fast

I’m walking through life

As slow as I can

I’m savoring every step

When once

I tried to run through life

As fast as I can

I’m living

A miracle

I’m breathing

A miracle

I’m walking

A miracle

I’m living

A miracle

I’m breathing

A miracle

I’m walking

A miracle

I’m living a miracle

I’m breathing a miracle

I’m walking a miracle

I am a living, breathing, walking miracle

And so are you

5/15/06       Robert  P.  Wallman

A LEGACY OF LOVE

A LEGACY OF LOVE


WE all want to LEAVE
Something BEHIND from our life=
Something-a legacy- anything- that
Will BENEFIT MANKIND


For most of us-it is OUR FAMILIES-
Our CHILDREN-and I am OK-
With that


Even though I have no spouse
Or children of my own


For I have had the GREATEST parents=
The greatest sisters=the greatest BFF &
FRIENDS= that a man could
Ever have=
And EXTENDED FAMILY too


Today we read about a man
That I like=Gamaliel=
A Pharisee


He makes a STRONG CASE=that
If something has an origin of man
-It will not last


But if it is FROM God
Then you do not want
To be fighting against God


He says-in other words
“WAIT & SEE”


“But a Pharisee-in the Sanhedrin
….....A teacher of the law
RESPECTED by all people


Stood up........
And said to them
'Fellow Israelites
Be CAREFUL what you
ARE about to do
To these men'” Acts 5:34-35


“BUT if it is from God
You will NOT be able
To stop these men


You will FIND YOURSELF
Fighting against God” Acts 5:39


CHRIST left a LEGACY OF LOVE
God leaves-the apostles left=a legacy
OF LOVE


I hope=in some SMALL WAY=
MY FAMILY=and I=and you as well
ARE leaving a legacy of LOVE
That will last FOREVER and ever


WHO wants to fight against God-
Against Christ-fight a battle that-
You CAN NEVER win


“This is what the Lord says-
Israel's King and REDEEMER-the Lord Almighty


I am the first and I am
THE LAST
Apart from me-there is NO GOD” Psalm 44:6


BUILD your legacy
By LOVING God-by loving your FAMILY
And others-
BELIEVE what Gamaliel says
And it WILL LAST


BUILD A LEGACY OF LOVE


“But many who are first
Will be last


And many who are last
Will be FIRST” Matthew 19:30


Our culture does NOT
Work that way-we want
Immediate results


In today's world-Gamaliel's suggestion
Would not be popular-
Who wants to WAIT AND SEE


Yet there is something “godly”
About this Gamaliel


HOW LONG did it take
For the universe to happen?
SPRING comes gradually-and
It takes nine months for a baby
To be born


It takes a LONG TIME
To BUILD a LEGACY OF LOVE


But if it is from God
it will LAST FOREVER & EVER


And it will be a FAMILY
As well as a LEGACY OF LOVE


Like Christ-like CHRIST'S FAMILY=
THE HOLY FAMILY OF LOVE


Robert P. Wallman
4-27-17




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

IN NEED OF HOPE AND HEALING

IN NEED OF HOPE AND HEALING


Lord KNOWS-God knows-our world=
Is in NEED of HOPE & HEALING


BOTH on a collective and
On an individual basis=from
Case to case


The WORLD IS=and we are individually
ALL HURTING in some way


So much so that POPE FRANCIS-
Has called the CHURCH-a-
“FIELD HOSPITAL after battle”


“........
The LIGHT came into the world-
But people PREFERRED darkness
To LIGHT........” John 3:19


WE are all FIGHTING our
Own individual BATTLES and
MOST of us are losing


This world is=INDIVIDUALLY=
We are=
In need of HOPE & HEALING


Yet this world-for some reason
Doesn't want to TURN
TO GOD


But wants to TURN to darkness
Instead of light
NO WONDER-so many of us
Are LOSING our battles


“ALL those gathered here
Will know
That it is NOT by sword
Or spear
The LORD SAVES;


For the BATTLE
Is the Lord's
And he will GIVE all of you
Into his hands” 1 Samuel 17:47


“Who is
The KING of glory?


The Lord strong and mighty
The Lord mighty in BATTLE” Psalm 24:8


“THEY are demonic spirits
That perform signs


And they go out to the kings
Of the whole world


To gather them for the BATTLE
On the great day
Of GOD ALMIGHTY” Revelation 16:14


TURN to God-if
You are in NEED of HOPE
And of HEALING


And who isn't?-in this world
That LIVES upside down


POPE FRANCIS got it right
WHEN he called the Church
“A FIELD HOSPITAL after battle”


We need to get out
Of the bars and the strip clubs
And get BACK INTO CHURCH


MAYBE then-we will FIND
The hope and the HEALING
That we are LOOKING FOR


“WHY my soul
Are you downcast?
Why so disturbed
WITHIN me?


Put your HOPE in God
For I will yet PRAISE him-
My SAVIOR-And my God” Psalm 42:5


“For the people's HEART-
Has become CALLOUSED-
They hardly hear with their ears
And they have CLOSED
Their eyes


Otherwise they might
SEE with their eyes
HEAR with their ears
Understand with their HEARTS-
And TURN-and I would HEAL THEM” Acts 28:27
(the HOLY SPIRIT through the prophet Isaiah)


MY dear friends=IF=
You are in NEED of hope
And of healing


TURN BACK to the Lord
Get back into church
And you will FIND IT in God


Dear LORD-FILL UP our hearts
With the HOPE and the HEALING-
Of the WORD OF GOD


We RENEW our PROMISE to TRY
As we CONTINUE to SEARCH for the LIGHT


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
4-26-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Karla Manternach

THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF LOVE

THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF LOVE


God speaks-Jesus speaks-the LANGUAGE
That we all STRIVE to speak and
The UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE of LOVE


“These SIGNS will accompany
Those who believe


In my name
They WILL drive out demons


They will speak NEW LANGUAGES” Mark 16:17


Yes Jesus speaks=God speaks-and
After the Resurrection-
The apostles spoke
The UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE of LOVE


And WE his apostles of today
No matter what country
We are from
No matter what language
We actually speak
We SHOULD ALL speak


The UNIVERSAL language of love


After all
WHO can't understand that?


TODAY-we hear
The end of MARK'S GOSPEL
And Jesus ENCOURAGES us
To go into the
WHOLE WORLD and
PROCLAIM the good news


“He said to them,
'Go into ALL the world
And preach the gospel
To all CREATION” Mark 16:15


And who can't UNDERSTAND
That language=the language of LOVE
The LANGUAGE OF LOVE
TRANSCENDS all barriers


“They saw what seemed
To be TONGUES OF FIRE
That separated and came to REST
On each of them


ALL of them
Were FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT
And began to speak in
Other languages-
As the SPIRIT ENABLED them” Acts 2:3-4


Speaking and UNDERSTANDING
The UNIVERSAL language of LOVE
In any and EVERY LANGUAGE


Jesus PROMISES that when we-
The BELIEVERS proclaim the gospel
With our lives
We will see AMAZING SIGNS


We will speak the new-
UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE of LOVE
Just like the apostles after Pentecost-


And people will understand us


What is this new language
We will speak?
HOW will it HELP US
Understand one another?


EVERYONE will UNDERSTAND
The unconditional LOVE OF GOD
And Jesus-and of loving ONE ANOTHER


LOVE-the language of love-
UNITES US ALL


“How good and how pleasant it is
WHEN God's people
Live together in UNITY” Psalm 133:1


“And over ALL these virtues
PUT ON LOVE


Which BINDS them all together
In PERFECT UNITY” Colossians 3:14


Jesus ALWAYS treated others
With love-forgiveness-KINDNESS-
and MERCY


That is the least
That we can do too


Dear Lord-HELP US-
To speak that SAME unconditional love-
Of God and Jesus


THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
OF LOVE


In God and Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
4-25-17




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

REBORN SPIRITUALLY

REBORN SPIRITUALLY


In today's gospel
We READ about Jesus
And his meeting with Nicodemus


The Greek word another can mean
“From above” or “born”-
So when Jesus talks about
Being REBORN again spiritually-
Nicodemus misunderstands


“Jesus replied, 'UNLESS one is born from above
He cannot see the KINGDOM of God'
Nicodemus said to him,
'HOW can a man once grown old
BE BORN AGAIN? Surely he cannot
Reenter his mother's womb
And be born again-can he?'” John 3:3-4


REBORN SPIRITUALLY-by the spirit
Is NOT actually being born again-
Physically-in the flesh


WHATEVER our past-
Whatever our sin-
We can be WASHED CLEAN
And be born again


Through conversion-RENEWAL-
And confession-
STARTING each day FRESH
All over again


REBORN spiritually


Reborn and REBUILD yourself
Under the SPIRIT OF GOD


“........
Set to work to
REBUILD the HOUSE OF GOD
In Jerusalem


And the prophets of God
Were with them
SUPPORTING them” Ezra 5:2


“For the Lord
Will rebuild Zion
And appear in his glory” Psalm 102:16


“KNOW and understand this:
From the time the
WORD goes out


To restore and REBUILD Jerusalem
-Until the ANOINTED ONE-
The ruler comes


There will be seventy 'sevens'
And sixty-two 'sevens' Daniel 9:25


BEING BORN of water
May happen once-but being BORN
“OF SPIRIT-”FROM ABOVE”
Can HAPPEN again and again


I have been RESHAPED and
RESTARTED by God-time-
And time again-
And I have MADE a lifetime commitment
To God to try and GET IT RIGHT


“God-whom I SERVE
In my spirit
In preaching the gospel
Of his Son


Is my WITNESS
How constantly I remember you
In my prayers-
At all times


And I PRAY that now
At last by GOD'S WILL
The way


May be open
For me to come to you” Romans 1:9-10


WHEN I screw up-in life-
Or have wronged someone


I stop-LET GO-and START over again


I let God HELP me
BE REBORN SPIRITUALLY-


I try-I ALWAYS TRY to be
GROUNDED IN GOD'S LOVE


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
4-23-17





Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Phil Fox Rose

SHARING HIS LOVE

SHARING HIS LOVE


The disciples of Jesus
Had been with him several years


They saw healing-they saw
Miracles-yet they were SLOW
To grasp-
What he was TRYING
To teach them


But after the RESURRECTION-
There were no words of rebuke=ONLY words
Of peace=that REVEALED his LOVE
For them


“The disciples REJOICED
When they saw the Lord


Jesus said to them again-
'PEACE BE WITH YOU'” John 20:20-21


UNCHANGING LOVE was Jesus' GIFT
To his disciples-and that IS
The same gift-he has-
For us today


His love for us-
Is ALWAYS there-regardless-
Of what state
Our lives are in


And our mission-is-
To SHARE that same love of Christ-
With others


That he SHARES with us=that SAME
UNCHANGING-everlasting-UNCONDITIONAL LOVE


“The generous WILL themselves
BE BLESSED


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


“ALL the BELIEVERS
Were ONE in heart
And mind


No one claimed
That ANY of their possessions
Was their own


But they SHARED everything
They had” Acts 4:32


“NOW if we are children-
Then we are heirs-


HEIRS of God
And co-heirs with Christ


If indeed
We SHARE in his suffering
In order that we may


Also SHARE in HIS GLORY” Romans 8:17


The place that is
WITHIN US-grows
When we share his LOVE
With others


Jesus asks us
To BE his followers


But we can ONLY be
His followers
WHEN we do
What he does


DO what Jesus does
SHARE THE LOVE-
BE his followers


“SURELY your goodness
And LOVE will FOLLOW ME
ALL the days of my life


And I will DWELL
In the house of the Lord-
FOREVER” Psalm 23:6


It is NOT EASY
To be a FOLLOWER of Christ


But Jesus' POWER-constantly-
FLOWS through us-enabling us-
To LOVE ALL as he does


That allows us to be TRANSFORMED-
Give HOPE to others
And continuously-SHARE HIS LOVE


Forever and ever-AMEN


Robert P. Wallman
4-23-17




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

BURNING WITH LOVE

BURNING WITH LOVE


ONE of the great stories
Of Jesus-
After the RESURRECTION

Is the STORY
Of his two disciples walking
When Jesus decided
To accompany them
On the way to Emmaus


Of course-they did
NOT RECOGNIZE him-until-
After he left them


“Then they said-
To each other-


'WERE not our hearts BURNING
Within us-


While he spoke to us
On the way........?'” Luke 24:32


And isn't that
The WAY it is with us
With so many VOICES around


It is easy to become
Confused and disoriented


Our culture-our world
Tells us that life
Is about glamor-about wealth-
And about POWER


But God tells us
Life is about LOVE-forgiveness-
And KINDNESS


As FOLLOWERS of Christ's
Which one do you BELIEVE?
Are our hearts not BURNING TOO?


“You Lord=KEEP my
Lamp burning=
My God=turns my darkness
Into LIGHT” Psalm 18:28


“IF your enemy is hungry
Feed him
If he is thirsty
GIVE him something to drink


In doing this
You will heap BURNING COALS
On his head” Romans 12:20


THEN we have the politicians
Who PROCLAIM to us
That they alone-have
The answers to our problems


Or a distorted preacher
Who PREACHES a gospel
That encourages division and hatred


Jesus gave us the ANSWERS
God gives us the answers
And they are in LOVE
And in UNITY


FORTUNATELY for us
We still have the ability
To RECOGNIZE CHRIST


To SEE the PURE GOODNESS
Of God and to see LOVE in KINDNESS
From one sister or brother to another


Like the disheartened FOLLOWERS
On the road to Emmaus


We recognize the SPIRIT OF CHRIST
In RANDOM acts of kindness-
In conciliatory gestures
And in gestures of GENEROSITY


“May he give you
The DESIRE of your heart


And make ALL your plans SUCCEED” Psalm 20:4


“He answered,
'LOVE the Lord your God
With all your HEART
And with all your strength
And with all your mind


And LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
As yourself'” Luke 10:27


Are our hearts not
OPENING and “BURNING”
BURNING WITH LOVE


As we REVEL in
The GRACIOUSNESS of God”


Robert P. Wallman
4-18-17





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

RECOGNIZING THE LORD?

RECOGNIZING THE LORD?


Doesn't it seem ODD
To you-that when Jesus
FIRST appeared after his RESURRECTION


That no one seemed
To recognize him
Particularly his BEST FRIEND-Mary Magdalene


LOOKING for the Lord
LONGING for the Lord
Recognizing the Lord?


“Our soul WAITS for the Lord........” Psalm 33:20


Doesn't it seem odd-how badly-
Mary was SEARCHING for Jesus-
That she didn't recognize him
WHEN he was right in front of her”


“He asked her-
'Woman-WHY are you crying?
WHO is it you are looking for?'


Thinking-he was the gardener-
She said-
'IF you have CARRIED him away
Tell me-WHERE you have put him
And I will go get him'


Jesus said to her-'Mary'
And she TURNED to him and cried out
'RABBONI” (which means 'TEACHER') John 20:16-17


And isn't that the WAY-it is
With Jesus and US


We don't RECOGNIZE GOD
We don't recognize Jesus
RIGHT in the midst of
Our problems-when he is CARRYING us-
When he is with us
ALL THE WAY


RECOGNIZING THE LORD?


“By their fruit
You will RECOGNIZE them” Matthew 7:16


“This is HOW
You can RECOGNIZE
The SPIRIT OF GOD


EVERY SPIRIT that ACKNOWLEDGES
That Jesus has come in the flesh
IS from God................” 1 John 4:2


That is EXACTLY-who Mary was
A SPIRIT who ACKNOWLEDGED God-
A spirit that acknowledged Jesus-
ALL of her life


Waiting on the Lord
RECOGNIZING THE LORD


Mary was LONGING for Jesus
And she FOUND HIM-
We too can find him=
He will CALL OUR NAME-
Just like he called Mary's


Longing for the Lord
Waiting on the Lord
RECOGNIZING THE LORD?


“My soul is CONSUMED
With longing for your laws
At all times” Psalm 119:20


“...............
He told us
About your LONGING for me
Your deep sorrow


Your ardent concern
For me
So that my JOY
Was greater than ever” 2 Corinthians 7:7


Jesus gave Mary
The GRACE to see him
After her deep longing


He WILL give us
The GRACE to see him too
When we recognize
The DEEP longing in our souls


We need to SEARCH for Jesus
With definite PURPOSE
In our daily lives


SURELY then-when he
SPEAKS our name
We will recognize him
JUST LIKE MARY DID


We will RECOGNIZE JESUS-and-
He will be in OUR LIVES
FOREVER MORE


Robert P. Wallman
4-17-17


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

HOPE AND JOY FOR EVERYONE!

HOPE AND JOY FOR EVERYONE


YESTERDAY=was Jesus' VICTORY
Yet a victory for ALL
Of CHRISTIANS TOO


HOPE & JOY FOR EVERYONE


“Then they went AWAY quickly
From the tomb


Fearful yet overjoyed........” Matthew 28:8


WHY is the tomb empty?
WHERE did Jesus' body go?
Could it be? NO-he couldn't-
Have-he couldn't be the Christ-
COULD HE?


UP from the grave he came-
-HOPE & JOY for everyone-
For all of time


What is a tomb but for
The dead to rest?
What about some of the tombs
In our own life?


OUR HEALTH-our finances-ALL
The dead relationships with NO
HOPE for them to be RESTORED


What about Christ?
Has he RESURRECTED from the tomb?
And what about us-our dead issues?


Is there HOPE?
Can we FIND everlasting joy?


“Mary Magdalene-
Went to the disciples
With the news:


'I have SEEN the Lord'


And she told them
That he had said these things
To her” John 20:18


“AGAIN-Jesus said-
'PEACE be with you-
As the FATHER sent me-
I am sending you'


And with that he BREATHED on them
And said-
'RECEIVE the HOLY SPIRIT'” John 20:21-22


YES!- I have SEEN
& felt the JOY & HOPE
Of Christ


I have seen and FELT the joy
And HOPE that Mary Magdalene felt-
-that Peter and the other
Apostles felt


Yes-I AM LIVING a life-
With a body-once bogged down
With illness


Yes I am surviving financially-and
YES-I FEEL the hope and joy
In RELATIONSHIPS once again


I feel the HOPE & JOY of the
NEWNESS OF LIFE


“He put a new song
In my mouth
A hymn of praise
To our God


MANY will see and fear the Lord
And put their TRUST in him” Psalm 40:3


“We were therefore buried
With him
Through baptism into death


In order that
Just as Christ
Was RAISED from the dead


Through the GLORY
Of the Father
We too-
May live a NEW LIFE” Romans 6:4


The HOPE that we had lost
IS RISING AGAIN-


The JOY that I had once lost
Is PRESENT and VISIBLE once again


My fear is diminishing-
My COURAGE IS INCREASING


NEW HOPE & NEW JOY FOR EVERYONE
We are ALIVE once again-


JUST LIKE CHRIST!


Robert P. Wallman
4-16-17




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

HAPPY EASTER! NO ONE KNOWS=TRUST IN THE HIDDEN POWER OF GOD

NO ONE KNOWS=TRUST IN
THE HIDDEN POWER OF GOD


NO ONE knows or KNEW
That Jesus was THE CHRIST
Until after today


NOT even his ½ brothers-
TRUST IN the hidden POWER
Of God
Trust in the MYSTERIOUS power
Of his FATHER'S LOVE


“........Your life is hidden
With Christ in God


When Christ your life APPEARS
Then you too WILL APPEAR
With him in GLORY” Colossians 3:3-4


WE are all faced
With an important decision
In life


To TRY to figure out-
What God is asking of us/of me
To DO with our/my life


I am NOT a priest-
Not a minister-but I do NOT FEEL
That my life
Is any less important to God


NEITHER should you


We all NEED to DEDICATE
Our lives to God-to Christ


And BE the best people
We CAN BE-in dedication
For our Lord-for HIS GLORY


LOOK what he did for us
He went to the grave-
MAYBE that is why so
MANY of us-seemingly have
To LIVE our life with crosses


Bur we SHARE in the dedication
Of his GLORY-of the TRIUMPH
OVER THE CROSS


NO ONE knew
Who Christ was
But we KNOW NOW


And we TRUST IN
The POWER of God


“I myself have SELECTED
Your fellow LEVITES


From among the ISRAELITES
As a GIFT to you


DEDICATED to the Lord
To do the work
At the tent of meeting” Numbers 18:6


“The Lord said to Moses,
'SPEAK to the ISRAELITES-
'If a man or woman
Wants to make a SPECIAL VOW-
A vow of DEDICATION-
To the Lord-
As a Nazirite.........'” Numbers 6:1-12


YES-dedicate your LIVES
To the Lord-
To BE the best person
That you can be


BRING OTHERS to the Lord
Through your life


TRUST in the POWER
Of the Lord=HIS GLORY is KNOWN
To all today


He is the ONE
He is THE CHRIST
We live in the HIDDEN MYSTERY-
And GLORY of our Lord


“Lord-our Lord-
How MAJESTIC is your name
In all the earth!


You have set your GLORY
In the heavens” Psalm 8:1


“WHEN he heard this-
Jesus said-
'This sickness will
NOT end in death


It is for GOD'S GLORY
So that GOD'S SON
MAY be GLORIFIED through it” John 11:4-5


Lazarus' illness
Did NOT end in death
Jesus IS the GOD of the LIVING


No one knew
Who Jesus was=TODAY
WE ALL KNOW


He is the AWESOME POWER
OF LOVE=that BEING who never dies


TRUST IN the HIDDEN POWER
Of the Lord=and you too
WILL LIVE FOREVER


HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!=I LOVE YOU


Robert P. Wallman
4-15-17








(AND HAPPY PASSOVER to my JEWISH FRIENDS)
LOVE YOU ALL!

THE LIGHT IS COMING

THE LIGHT IS COMING


HOLY SATURDAY is a day
That is NOT like any other


We are sitting in BETWEEN
The anguish of Good Friday=
The death and the darkness


And what we HOPE
Is to come


THE LIGHT OF CHRIST


“Then God said-
'Let there be LIGHT'
And there was light” Genesis 1:3


We OPEN church on Saturday night
-With the church all dark
-No sign of light


We hear 3x-
“The Light of Christ”
We respond 3x
“Thanks be to God”


And the church becomes
A BRIGHT LIGHT


For the second time
In this world
There is a GREAT LIGHT


“The people LIVING in darkness
Have seen a GREAT LIGHT


On those
Living in the land
Of the shadow of death


A light has DAWNED” Matthew 4:16


The light is COMING
The LIGHT is ALMOST HERE


“NO one
LIGHTS a lamp
And hides it
In a clay jar


Or puts it
Under a bed


Instead they put it
On a STAND
So that those who come in
CAN SEE the light” Luke 8:16


Jesus is the LIGHT
It is almost TIME
For the WHOLE WORLD to see


“The night is
NEARLY OVER


The day
Is almost here


So let us put aside
The deeds of darkness
And PUT ON
The armor of light” Romans 13:12


Holy Saturday ACKNOWLEDGES
That much of our life
Is LIVED in darkness


The darkness of UNCERTAINTY
Of estrangement=of ignorance=
And of pain


The world is FULL
Of darkness
The darkness of illness
The darkness of divorce
The darkness
Of a terrorist attack


OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH does NOT
Deny the darkness


But ASSURES US
The light is coming


It assures us
That JESUS=OUR LIGHT
Will be with us
During the dark times
Of our life


And he is
The BRIGHTNESS of our life


“The people
WALKING in darkness
Have SEEN a great light


On those
Living in the land
Of deep darkness


A LIGHT HAS DAWNED” Isaiah 9:2


THE LIGHT IS COMING!-
And the darkness-
TURNS into light-
And that LIGHT is Jesus


And the RISEN Jesus
Walks with us
PROMISING US LIFE
And everlasting JOY


Robert P. Wallman
4-14-17




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

TGIF=THE LOVE & LIGHT OF GOD TRANSCENDS EVEN DEATH

TGIF=THE LOVE OF GOD=
THE LIGHT OF GOD=
TRANSCENDS EVEN DEATH


Today is Friday=The only Friday
In the Triduum-
Between Holy Thursday-and the EASTER VIGIL


Thank God it is FRIDAY
Thank God is is PERFECT FRIDAY


When the perfect LOVE of God
The perfect love of Christ
Died for us all


“Jesus said, 'I thirst'” John 19:28


DARKNESS is upon us-
The hinge of history itself


WHERE the perfect LOVE of God
The perfect love of Christ
TRANSCENDS darkness
Transcends even death
To BECOME God's fountain of MERCY
For us all


“You Lord-
ARE my LAMP


The Lord TURNS my darkness
Into light” 2 Samuel 22:29


“It was now about noon
And DARKNESS
Came over the whole land


For the sun stopped shining
And the curtain
Of the temple
Was torn in two


Jesus called out
With a loud voice,


'Father-
Into your hands-
I commend my spirit'


When he had said this-
He BREATHED his last” Luke 23:44-46


And his SPIRIT
Transcended even death


THANK GOD-it is Friday
Thank God for perfect Friday
Thank God for PERFECT LOVE


Perfect love CAN transcend
Even darkness and death


“And the PEACE OF GOD
Which TRANSCENDS all understanding


Will GUARD your hearts
And your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:7


And the LOVE OF GOD
The LOVE of Christ-
His PERFECT LOVE-
Will bring MERCY to us ALL


Pope Francis once REMINDED us
Jesus' thirst-is GOD'S MERCY
For us all-


And it REPRESENTS a HOLY YEAR
That never ends


“They put gall in my food
And gave me VINEGAR
For my thirst” Psalm 69:21
(a foreshadowing of Jesus' crucifixion)


“BLESSED are those
Who hunger
And thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS
For they will be filled” Matthew 5:6


“........
Let the ONE
Who is thirsty COME


And let the one
Who wishes-
Take the free GIFT
Of the WATER OF LIFE” Revelation 22:17


TGIF=THANK GOD for the perfect
LOVE AND LIGHT OF GOD


Because he=HIS LIFE=transcends death
We will NEVER thirst again


THE MERCY OF GOD is upon us




Robert P. Wallman
4-13-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Miguel Dulick

HUNGERING FOR GOD

HUNGERING FOR GOD


TWO of the things
We all have in COMMON
In this world


Is that
We all HUNGER FOR GOD
And we all have a hunger
For food in our lives


Today is HOLY THURSDAY---
Jesus' LAST MEAL on this earth
And CHRISTIANS around the world
COMMEMORATE the last PASSOVER
Meal Jesus SHARED with his friends


HUNGERING FOR GOD=for his Father=
More than food=Jesus was


“If a family
Is too SMALL for a whole lamb


It shall JOIN the nearest household
In procuring one
And shall SHARE in the lamb


In proportion
To the number of persons
Who partake of it” Exodus 12:4


HUNGERING FOR GOD!


We ALL like to partake
Of a meal
With our family and friends
And Jesus was NO DIFFERENT


As he came to
HUNGER for God and through God
With his ETERNAL COVENANT


“WHILE they were eating
Jesus took bread
And WHEN-
He had given thanks


He broke it and GAVE it
To his disciples
Saying:
'TAKE and eat-
This is my body'” Matthew 26:26


“Then he took a cup
And WHEN he had given thanks
He broke it and gave it to them-
Saying:
'DRINK form it-ALL of you


THIS is my blood of the COVENANT
Which is poured out for many-
For the FORGIVENESS OF SINS'” Matthew 26:27-28


Jesus was about
READY-to go to his Father-GOD


He was HUNGERING FOR GOD


And we the disciples
Who came AFTER Jesus
HUNGER for God the Father too


And we SHARE many meals
With our family and friends


As Jesus did-
At the LAST SUPPER


HUNGERING FOR GOD


“People do not despise
A thief=if he steals


To SATISFY his hunger
When he is starving” Proverbs 6:30


“BLESSED are those who hunger
And thirst for righteousness


For they will be FILLED” Matthew 5:6


That is
What Jesus was
That is
WHO we can be


“NEVER again will they hunger
Never again
Will they thirst


The sun
Will NOT beat down on them
Nor any scorching heat” Revelation 7:16


At the HEART of JEWISH
And Christian worship-
IS the desire to SHARE a meal


A meal in which the SHARING
Creates a community


And from that very community stems
THE HUNGER FOR GOD-and-
THE HUNGER for Jesus


Which can ONLY be satisfied
BY GOD'S OWN SELF


Robert P. Wallman
4-12-17





Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Claire J. King

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED?

HOW DO YOU WANT
TO BE REMEMBERED?


How do you WANT to be
REMEMBERED-when you leave
This world?


Today-in chapter 26 of Saint Matthew's
Gospel=we have the story of 2
Of Jesus' friends


One ANOINTS him=one
BETRAYS him=the GREATEST betrayal
Of all time


“They PAID HIM thirty pieces of silver-
And from that time on


He LOOKED for an opportunity
To hand him over” Matthew 26:15-16


Life is about RELATIONSHIPS
And people=our FAMILY=our friends
And the QUALITIES we treat
Each other with


I don't know about you-
But I want to be SEEN
As a LOVING family member-
A TRUSTED FRIEND-and one
Who can be COUNTED ON
By all=who LOVED ALL


HOW do you
Want to be remembered?
What LEGACY do you
Want to LEAVE with others?


“A friend LOVES at all times
And a BROTHER
Is BORN-for a time of ADVERSITY” Proverbs 17:17


“And the scriptures were FULFILLED
That says:


'Abraham BELIEVED God
And it was credited to him
As righteousness


And he was CALLED GOD'S FRIEND'” James 2:23


YES=and in our story TODAY=
We have ONE TRUE FRIEND
Of God=of Jesus=


An UNNAMED woman
Who POURS a costly jar of aromatic oil
On Jesus' head=and who will be
REMEMBERED forever
For that act of KINDNESS


“Jesus said to them-
'WHY are you bothering
This woman?
She has done a BEAUTIFUL THING
to me


The POOR you will always have
With you
But you will NOT ALWAYS
Have me
….....


TRULY I tell you
WHEREVER this gospel is preached
Throughout the world


What she has done
Will also be TOLD
IN MEMORY of her'” Matthew 26:10-13


And then we have Judas=who BETRAYED
His master Jesus=his friend Jesus
For 30 pieces of silver


“........
But WOE to that man
Who betrays the SON OF MAN!
It would be better for him
If he had NOT BEEN BORN” Matthew 26:24


How do you want to be REMEMBERED?


We REMEMBER one today=a woman
For a TENDER act of anointing
And a GESTURE OF LOVE


And we remember Judas
For the POCKETING of cash=in betrayal
Of a TRUSTED friend


“And he took bread-
GAVE THANKS-and broke it
And gave it to them saying:


'THIS is my body
Given for you
DO THIS
In REMEMBRANCE OF ME'” Luke 22:19


Dear FRIENDS=we are ALL HUMAN=
BOTH possibilities EXIST within us


Which one will we choose?


HOW will each of us
BE REMEMBERED in our RELATIONSHIP
With the Lord?


I LOVE you ALL my friends=
Let us CHOOSE LOYALTY & LOVE
Towards God and towards each other!


Robert P. Wallman
4-11-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sister Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M.

JOURNAL=4-11-17=THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE

JOURNAL=4-11-17=THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE


“The LORD called me
From birth


From my mother's womb
He GAVE ME my name” Isaiah 49:1


For me=this JOURNEY called life
Has ALWAYS been about GOD & FAMILY


And lately I have been thinking about
ALL my family-NOT
Just my beautiful immediate family


But my grandparents=BOTH sides
My eccentric great uncles
And ALL my cousins


My WHOLE FAMILY=all my friends
And whoever I have met
ALONG the way


Have all gone into making me
Into the person
Who I have have
TURNED out to be


ALL of us
Are on a JOURNEY
And God is WAITING for us
At the trail's end
WITH OPEN ARMS


All we have to do
Is read Luke's chapter 15=
The PRODIGAL SON parable


And we KNOW God WILL
Be waiting for us
At JOURNEY'S END


God LOVES US
By whatever name
We go by
And is just WAITING
For us to come home


Robert P. Wallman
4-10-17












THIS JOURNEY WE CALL LIFE




Life is a journey
But life
Is a celebration too


A celebration
Of the life
That God gave us
For if
We walk with him
We are
NEVER ALONE


But our lives
Have an ending
And in the end
It is
About coming home


Along this journey
We call life
There will be many of setbacks
And many of bends


But he promised us
If we walk with him
He will walk with us
And that we will be
NEVER ALONE


I am here
To attest to that fact
Don’t know when
Or where it will end
Or how
He will call me home


But I am here to tell you
I have fought continuous health battles
I have fought
Constant financial problems and pressures
Have had many broken relationships
That I couldn’t mend


But I am here to tell you
I have never walked alone


I have walked with God
I have walked with family and friends


And when this journey is over
When this journey ends


I want to say
Thank you for this journey
I want to say
Thank you for this life


And know like Saint Francis
That death will be our LOVELIEST moment


Because


It is NOT the end
It is just the beginning
It is finished
But now it begins


It is just time for


COMING HOME


Robert P. Wallman
4-4-11







Ps Holy WEEK=Tuesday=4-11-17

SEEING THE WORLD WITH EYES OF FAITH

SEEING THE WORLD
WITH EYES OF FAITH


Some people say:
“SEEING IS BELIEVING”


But for US Christians
For at least MANY OF US=we
See the world
With EYES of FAITH


We see the world=NOT
Only as it is=but the world
As WHAT it can be


“I BELIEVE that I shall
See the BOUNTY of the Lord
In the land
Of the LIVING” Psalm 27:13


As CHRISTIANS
We PRAY that our hearts
And eyes are OPEN


So that we can see
The ORDINARY wonders
And ordinary MIRACLES
Of our daily lives


We see the miracles-
Even though we are ordinary men
And women


Because the apostles of Jesus
WERE ordinary men and they too
SAW Jesus' miracles


“When they saw the COURAGE
Of Peter and John


And REALIZED
That they were unschooled-
Ordinary men=they were ASTONISHED


And they took note
That these men
Had been with Jesus” Acts 4:13


YES the apostles
Were ordinary men and they
SAW the miracles of Christ
THROUGH the EYES of FAITH


Just as we=TODAY'S men and women=
And Jesus' apostles
SEE the miracles
In this sometimes LOST WORLD


Yes=we see the world
-With EYES OF FAITH-of not
Only what is=but
WHAT CAN BE


“........
As they set out
Jehoshaphat stood and said-


'LISTEN to me-
Judah and people of Jerusalem


Have FAITH in the Lord
Your God-and you will be upheld-


Have faith in the prophets
And you will be SUCCESSFUL” 2 Chronicles 20:20


“Have FAITH IN GOD,' Jesus answered-
'TRULY-I tell you-
If anyone says to this mountain'
'GO THROW yourself into the sea'
And does NOT doubt
In their heart


And BELIEVES what they say
Will happen-
It will be DONE for them'” Mark 11:22


“Jesus said to him,'
'RECEIVE your SIGHT
Your FAITH has healed you'


IMMEDIATELY he received his sight
And followed Jesus........” Luke 18:42


My friends-we NEED to see the world-
With the EYES OF FAITH
And good things will happen
For us too


I have LITERALLY found LIFE
And the GOOD THINGS in life
Because of God and Christ


So this EASTER SEASON
Let us KEEP our eyes WIDE OPEN
To God's GOODNESS


Ans SEE the WORLD
With the EYES OF FAITH


For we KNOW
The MIRACLES of CHRIST
Who knows what MIRACLES
Are yet to come


In Jesus' name=please LET IT BE


Robert P. Wallman
4-9-17




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

JOURNAL=4-9-17=ROOTED IN GOD!

4-9-17=JOURNAL=ROOTED IN GOD




“The very large crowd
SPREAD their cloaks
On the road


While others cut branches
From the trees
And strewed
Them on the road


CRYING OUT and saying:
'HOSANNA to the son of David'” Matthew 21:8-9


Today is PALM SUNDAY
The crowd is CHEERING-
WELCOMING Jesus


But by Friday-
At this time
We go from the TRIUMPHAL WELCOMING-


To the crowd cheering
“CRUCIFY HIM!”


Palm trees have great strength
Sometimes they SURVIVE-
When the great oak
And pine trees are toppled and uprooted


The palm tree
SYMBOLIZES Jesus' great strength


He was ROOTED in his
Father's LOVE-and able
To DRINK the cup


The LOVE OF GOD
The love of his Father-
ROOTED like a palm tree


BROUGHT HIM
Back to LIFE again


Dear Lord-dear Jesus-how GRATEFUL
We are that you came
To SHOW US-
How to LIVE and be
ROOTED IN GOD'S LOVE


Dear Lord-Dear Jesus=
HELP US to do the same
By living in-
And being ROOTED
In GOD THE FATHER'S LOVE


Robert P. Wallman
4-9-17




“Rooted in God”


Rooted in God
Rooted in love
Rooted in all things
From God above

Rooted in kindness
Rooted in friendship
Rooted in all things
From God above

Rooted in mercy
Rooted in forgiveness
Rooted in all things
From God above

Rooted in caring
Rooted in sharing
Rooted in all things
From God above

Rooted in love
Rooted in God
Rooted in all things
From God above


6/21/06       Robert  P.  Wallman







Ps          Palm Sunday        4-9-17

LET GOD BE YOUR SHEPHERD!

LET GOD BE YOUR SHEPHERD!


I was BORN in the city
And I don't know much
About farm animals=particularly SHEEP


But I UNDERSTAND that sheep
Are NOT particularly smart
And tend to wander off


MAYBE a lot like us-
Like sheep=we NEED our
SHEPHERD too


To live and make it SAFELY
through the day


“He GUARDS them
As a shepherd his flock” Jeremiah 31:10


LET GOD be your shepherd


We ALL like to think
We are pretty smart
But the truth is:
ALL of us NEED
All kinds of HELP


I have ALLOWED God
To TAKE OVER my life-
And lead me in my health situation-
My financial situation=and in my
Relationships and friendships


I ACCEPT HELP from my family and friends
Too-when needed-
I can HONESTLY tell you
My life is going
BETTER than ever before


HOW about you?
How is your life going?
ARE you LETTING GOD
Be your shepherd?


“The LORD is my SHEPHERD
I lack nothing” Psalm 23:1


“I AM the good shepherd
I KNOW my sheep-and my sheep
Know me-just as


The FATHER knows me-
And I know the Father-


And I lay down MY LIFE
For the sheep” John 10:14-15


How about you?
Are you TRUSTING
The SHEPHERD?
Are you letting God
LEAD YOUR LIFE?


Are you FOLLOWING the teachings
Of his SON-Jesus Christ?


“NOW may the God
Of PEACE


Who through the blood
Of the ETERNAL COVENANT
BROUGHT back from the dead


Our Lord Jesus-
THE GREAT SHEPHERD
Of the sheep


EQUIP you with everything good-
In doing his will
…......” Hebrews 13:20-21


LET GOD and the Lord be your shepherd
DON'T STRAY AWAY


If we ALLOW it-
God will BE our GOOD SHEPHERD


Watching over us
And GIVING us
EXACTLY what we need


Our Lord-our shepherd
KNOWS US better than
We know ourselves


All we have to do IS
Let God & the Lord
Be our shepherd
And FOLLOW ALONG in FAITH


And we will LIVE
Successful lives


Dear Lord-you are MY LEADER-
You are my SHEPHERD
I will FOLLOW YOU
ALL the days of my life


For it is when
We TRY and go it alone
That we get into trouble
And become LOST


O LORD-dear Lord
BE the SHEPHERD of our LIVES


Forever and ever-AMEN!


Robert P. Wallman
4-7-17





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

HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES

HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES


Has anyone ever made
You a PROMISE
And not kept it?


NOT SO with God
GOD KEEPS his promises


I made a deathbed PROMISE
To God-in 1977=”to LIVE
For my family=my friends=and
ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE”


God has KEPT me alive-
Through many many DIFFICULTIES-
and here I am some 60 years later


“........Even if you
Do NOT believe me


BELIEVE the works
So that you may REALIZE
And understand that the Father


Is in me
And I am in the Father” John 10:38


This PAST year
There were ALL kinds of promises
Made by many political candidates
In many elections


I wonder
How many of the candidates
Actually KEPT these promises


So many promises
In this world are EMPTY
And NOT always because they
Are or were INTENDED to be


ANYONE can make a promise
BASED on a desire to be
ADMIRED OR LOVED-


Anyone can say pretty
And CONVINCING WORDS
But do our actions
MATCH UP with our words


God does NOT lie
He ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES


“My comfort
In my suffering
Is this:


Your promise PRESERVES my life” Psalm 119:50


“The PROMISE is for you
And your CHILDREN


And for ALL
Who are far off-
For all whom


The LORD our God will call” Acts 2:39


Has there ever been
ANYONE like Jesus-
Whose EVERY WORD
Was lived out in life


His death became life
LIFE FOREVER MORE


He knew the SCRIPTURES
Inside and out
He was/IS the Scripture
His life=left us with the HOLY SPIRIT


But the devil KNOWS the scriptures too
As pointed out in Jesus'
40 days in the desert


“If you are
The SON OF GOD-


Tell these stones to BECOME BREAD” Matthew 4:3


And the devil TEMPTED Jesus
Two more times


“Jesus said to him,
'Away from me Satan!
For it is written


'Worship the Lord your God
And SERVE him only'” Matthew 4:10


Then the devil left
And JESUS' ANGELS came
And attended to him


JESUS KEPT his promise of life
Until death
And then ROSE again in life


Let US do the same
Let OUR PROMISES be-
Promises to God
PROMISES OF LIFE


Where our actions
ALWAYS meet our words


In the name of God
And Jesus our LORD


Robert P. Wallman
4-6-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Jesssica Mesman Griffith

ON THE RIGHT TRACK

ON THE RIGHT TRACK?


Do you want to
LIVE FOREVER?


It's SIMPLE-just be PERFECT
PERFECT IN LOVE
Perfect in forgiveness
Perfect in EVERY action
-You have ever made-from GOD'S PERSPECTIVE
In this life


How PREPOSTEROUS is that?-
Everyone dies eventually


NOT so=says Jesus=if you can
Act in-and KEEP=ALL his
Father's words


“Jesus said to the Jews-
'Amen-amen-I say to you-
WHOEVER keeps my word
Will NEVER see death'


So the Jews
Said to him
'NOW we are sure
That you are possessed'” John 8:51-52


YES!-Jesus was
On the RIGHT TRACK-
LIVING ON the word of-
And in OBEDIENCE
To his FATHER'S WORD


How about you?
How about me?
Are we LIVING on the RIGHT TRACK?


Are we living by
The WORD of God?-
And not earthly possessions and values?


“And the words
Of the Lord
Are FLAWLESS


Like silver purified
In a crucible
Like GOLD refined seven times” Psalm 12:6


“Heaven and earth
Will pass away


But my WORDS
Will NEVER pass away” Matthew 24:35


So ALL we have to do
To LIVE FOREVER
Is to KEEP the word
Of God-and the WORD
Of Jesus


We may LEAVE this world
But we will LIVE FOREVER
In God and in Christ


ARE you on
The right rack=yes or no=
Just ADHERE to the TEACHINGS
Of Christ


As CHRISTIAN-we STRIVE to keep
The LORD'S WORD-in what we do
And in what we say


And what we DON'T DO
And don't say


People may CRITICIZE us
For living in the WAY
God WANTS us to live


They might think
WE are taking this “GOD THING”
A little too far


But really WHO ARE WE
If we are NOT living on
The WORD of God
The Word of Christ


CERTAINLY NOT CHRISTIANS


“My son
If you ACCEPT my words
And store up
My commands within you
….....” Proverbs 2:1


“Simon Peter answered him-
'Lord-to whom shall we go


You have the words
Of eternal life


WE have COME TO BELIEVE
That YOU
Are the HOLY ONE of God” John 6:68-69


So keep on the RIGHT TRACK
My friend


Keep the word of God
And you will
LIVE FOREVER in him


Dear Lord-draw us EVER CLOSER
To you-not the world


We BELONG to you
In your name Jesus-AMEN


I LOVE all people of every FAITH-
Every country-and every ethnicity


Have a wonderful day-IN the name of the LORD


Robert P. Wallman
4-5-17




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

LIVING IN A BETTER WORLD

LIVING IN A BETTER WORLD


Throughout time
EVEN in the old testament
Prophets came
On behalf of God


SOME really were sent
From God-like Jeremiah-Isaiah-
Daniel-and many others


BUT many were false prophets
Saying that they were sent by God


They were actually bringing
FALSE truths and lies-
Just telling the people
What they wanted to hear


“Your prophets
Had before you
False and specious visions


They did not lay bare
Your guilt
To avert your fate


They beheld for you
In vision
False and misleading portents” Lamentations 2:14


Today it is the politicians
Telling us
What we want to hear


And we hear it
From the advertisers-
It is ENTICING


Who doesn't want to live
In a better world?
Who doesn't want to be
Richer-healthier-and more attractive?


BUT the ONLY WAY
To live in a truly better world


IS to live the message
Of God
LIVE the message of Jesus Christ


That is the REAL and TRUE way
To truly build a better world


“He rules the world
In righteousness


He judges the peoples
With equity” Psalm 9:8


“You are the LIGHT
Of the world


A town built on a hill
CANNOT be hidden” Matthew 5:14


“The God
Who MADE the world
And everything in it


Is the Lord
Of heaven and earth


And does NOT live in temples
BUILT by human hands” Acts 17:24


LIVING in a better world
Built by God and Jesus


The gospel-the MESSAGE given
To us by Jesus
PROMISES us change


But not without effort


He-the Lord-asks us to commit
Ourselves-to TRANSFORM ourselves-
To actually make ourselves into better people
BY LIVING THE GOSPEL


The Lord calls us
To the hard work of CHANGE


Dear Lord-PLEASE help us-we PRAY
To really and truly-
CHANGE the things that we can


So that we can ALL
Truly live


IN A BETTER WORLD


Robert P. Wallman
6-25-16




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Karla Manternach






4-6-17

DON'T PUT IT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW=THINK ABOUT IT TODAY

DON'T PUT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW=
THINK ABOUT IT TODAY


There used to be an old saying:
“Don't put off until tomorrow-
WHAT you can DO today”


I'll put it ANOTHER WAY
Don't PROCRASTINATE in your thinking=
THINK about what a GREAT GOD
You have=a God that LOVES YOU


And in my OWN LIFE
A FAMILY and friends who love me
As well as churches
Who SUPPORT ME


THINK about it TODAY
Think about what a GREAT LIFE
You have=don't put off these
POSITIVE THOUGHTS until tomorrow


“BLESSED be the God
Of Shadrach-Meshach-and Abednego
Who sent his ANGELS
To DELIVER the servants
That TRUSTED him” Daniel 3:95


YES-God delivered
His servants of yesterday
And he will DELIVER US-his servants
Of today- too


“For he will
DELIVER the needy
Who cry out


The afflicted
Who have no one
To HELP” Psalm 72:12


“MAY your supplication
Come before you


DELIVER me
According to your PROMISE” Psalm 119:170


Don't put it off
Until tomorrow
Think abut it today


The Lord is WORKING
On your behalf
Your HELP is coming


Coming SOONER-
Rather than later
Maybe as soon as TODAY


So MANY of us
Are first-class procrastinators
Especially where our
Own mortality is concerned


The TRUTH IS:
We are ONLY guaranteed two moments
In life-this moment-
And the moment
GOD calls us home


As CHRISTIANS-we have NO excuse
For being procrastinators-
For the gospels tell us-
We could die at ANY moment
And we NEVER KNOW
When the Lord-may come AGAIN


We are to be
READY for the Lord
As CHRISTIANS-we are to LIVE with hope


TRUST in the Lord
Be ready
For the COMING of the Lord


“TRUST in the Lord
With ALL your heart


And lean not
ON your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5


“NOW it is required
That those
Who have been GIVEN a TRUST
Must prove faithful” 1 Corinthians 4:2


Shadrach-Meschach-and Abednego
Had to THINK about it TODAY


They were thrown
Into the FIRE-literally
They were facing
CERTAIN DEATH


Like I was some 40 years ago
THINK about God TODAY
Think about your LIFE today


God DELIVERED these 3 servants=
And he delivered me=a long time ago=
And my LIFE is going well


Dear Lord-HELP US to NOT put off
The thought of you


And think about becoming a WILLING SERVANT
Of yours-TODAY-
TOMORROW-and ALL the tomorrows
Of our life


Robert P. Wallman
4-4-17


In Jesus' name




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Terence Hegarty

THE UNCEASING LOVE OF OUR GOOD SHEPHERD

THE UNCEASING LOVE OF
OUR GOOD SHEPHERD


Every day-WHEN I do my prayers-
ONE of the prayers that I read
IS the 23^rd PSALM


Few-probably NONE of us-
ESCAPE the dark valleys of life-but some
Os us ENCOUNTER these valleys
Often-every day


But we SURVIVE-God-our Lord Jesus-
And psalm 23 ARE MESSENGERS OF HOPE


“Even though-
I walk in the dark valleys-


I fear NO evil” Psalm 23:4


Our VALLEY-our evil in life-
Come in ALL kinds of ways:
Tragedy-persistent anxiety-discouragement-
Sorrow-depression-all kinds of LOSS-
And even physical disability and illness


ANYTHING-
That takes away our joy &
STIFLES our hope


But we BATTLE back
Nothing stifles us for long-
If we are in God and Jesus
And in the SPIRIT


THE UNCEASING LOVE
Of the GOOD SHEPHERD


“The Lord is MY SHEPHERD
I lack nothing” Psalm 23:1


“He TENDS his flock
Like a shepherd
He GATHERS the lambs
In his arms


And carries them
CLOSE to his heart
He gently leads them
That have young” Isaiah 40:11


“I AM the good shepherd
The good shepherd
LAYS down his life
For the sheep” John 10:11


THE UNCEASING LOVE
Of the GOOD SHEPHERD


Psalm 23 was written thousands
Of years ago-BY DAVID


It was written to ASSURE
EACH and every person
That God-the GOOD SHEPHERD-
IS with us
In the dark-valley times too


ESPECIALLY in the dark times
Especially when life-when EVIL-
And events are TRYING to BRING US DOWN


The Good SHEPHERD CARES for us
The good shepherd ALWAYS loves us
He is PRESENCE=his presence
SURROUNDS our being


“You make KNOWN to me
The path of life
You FILL me


With JOY in your presence
With eternal pleasures
At your right hand” Psalm 16:11


“You PREPARE
A table before me
In the PRESENCE
Of my enemies


You anoint my head
With oil
MY CUP OVERFLOWS” Psalm 23:5


God-THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Will give us
What we NEED
To make it
THROUGH the dark times


He will give us GOODNESS
And KINDNESS
ALL the days of our LIFE


Psalm 23-a SONG OF HOPE


THE UNCEASING LOVE-
OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
For us


Robert P. Wallman
4-3-17




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

JOURNAL=LIVING IN GOD

JOURNAL=4-13-15=LIVING IN THE SPIRIT




“And NOW-Lord-take note of their threats-and enable your SERVANTS-to speak to your WORD-with ALL BOLDNESS........” Acts 4:29




We live in a dangerous world-a world with terrorist threats that seem to be becoming MORE DANGEROUS every day-a world with crime on our streets-in every city in America-and it has never been more dangerous-sometimes-it seems we are NOT even safe living in our own homes


Yet the message of EASTER still resounds in us/and in me/choose GOD-choose life-we NEVER have to be ashamed of God or Christ


WHERE we are in life-is the SUM OF ALL the choices that we have made-and I am PROUD of the choices that I have made/and I am happy to be a GOD and CHRIST follower-doing my best to LIVE what Jesus has taught us=love-forgive-and BE KIND


LIVE in the SPIRIT of God-
Walk in the spirit of Christ


DON'T live in the gray area-but LIVE BOLDLY in the spirit of love


IT IS a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE For us










LIVING IN GOD


Do you ever feel
Like that
You have died
To this world


That you are no longer
Carrying yourself
BUT that it is God and Christ
Who are carrying you


I often have
SINCE my deathbed experience
At age 22


“I have been
CRUCIFIED with Christ


And I no longer live
But Christ LIVES in me


The life I live
In the body
I LIVE BY FAITH
In the SON OF GOD


Who loves me
And gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20


I COMPLETELY
Identify with Saint Paul


Left to my own devices
And my own strength
I don't feel like
I could take another step


IT IS GOD
It is Christ
Who are
Completely carrying me


Saint Paul
Is the EPITOME
Of what it means
To be a CHRISTIAN


He is REAL
He is HONEST
He has a firm sense
Of his own gifts


SOMETIMES he is boastful
And yet he is
Also HUMBLE
AND AWARE of his own weaknesses


“I DO NOT UNDERSTAND
What I do


For what
I want to do
I do not do


BUT what I hate
I do” Romans 7:15


MAYBE we are
A lot more like Paul
Than we care
To admit


OUR INTENTIONS
Are good
WE WANT to do good
For others
But for whatever reason
Sometimes we are UNABLE
To carry it out


But Paul CHOSE GOD
Over sin
Are we able
To do the same


For if we can do that
We are truly LIVING IN GOD
As Paul was


And in Philippians
Paul writes:


“I am caught
BETWEEN the two


I long to DEPART
This life


And be with Christ
For that
Is far better


Yet I am REMAINING
In the flesh
It is more necessary
For your BENEFIT” Philippians 1:23-24


I empathize with Paul
In this area too


I WISH
I could leave this world
And LIVE FOREVER in Christ


But God wants me
IN this world
For whatever reason
And I will
GIVE my testimony of God-
MY TESTIMONY OF GOD'S LOVE for them-
To whoever WILL LISTEN


Dear Lord
I am LIVING on
Your coattails


You are
THE LOVE of my life
And I am


LIVING IN GOD


Robert P. Wallman
10-10-14


Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Amy Welborn


1-8-15-&4-13-15 & 4-3-17

STRONGER THAN EVER

STRONGER THAN EVER


LENT is a time-
For getting STRONGER-as we WAIT
For our COMING KING


We pray more
We fast more
And we get stronger in our CHARITY
And in our CARING for others


Lent is HERE
We are STRONGER than ever
And we WAIT for our Lord


“.........
The ONE who raised Christ
From the dead
Will give LIFE
To your mortal bodies
Through the SPIRIT
Dwelling in you” Romans 8:1


Christ is coming
He will CONQUER death
And he will leave
His SPIRIT with us


And he will be
STRONGER than ever
In us


“Who is this KING
Of glory?


The Lord-strong and mighty
The Lord-mighty in battle” Psalm 24:8


“For the foolishness of God
Is wiser
Than human wisdom


And the weakness of God
Is STRONGER
Than human strength” 1 Corinthians 1:25


Of course our SPIRITUAL TOOLS
Of fasting-praying-and charity-
Are with us-
ALL year long


But during LENT
We USE them
On a daily basis


We become more FOCUSED
We become stronger


Our spirit comes
CLOSER to God
We just have to WAIT
For the COMING of Christ-
The coming of the LORD


WAITING for the Lord-
Waiting for his strength
Waiting for his SPIRIT


“CREATE in me
A PURE HEART-O GOD


And RENEW a steadfast spirit
Within me” Psalm 51:10


“At that time
You will be GIVEN what to say


For it will NOT be
You speaking


But the Spirit
Of the Father
SPEAKING though you” Matthew 10:20


Christ will LEAVE with us
The FRUITS & qualities of the SPIRIT


“But the fruit of the SPIRIT
Is love-joy-peace-forbearance-
Kindness-goodness-FAITHFULNESS-
Gentleness-and self-control” Galatians 5:22-23


We will COMBINE these
With our ACTS of prayer-
Acts of fasting-and self-denial
And our CHARITY


And we will be
STRONGER THAN EVER
In the LORD OUR GOD


Robert P. Wallman
4-1-17





Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Amy Welborn