IT MATTERS!

IT MATTERS


We ALL want to be SUCCESSFUL-
With our lives=we want to be PRESIDENT-
Actors and actresses=sports heroes=but most
of us DON'T end up in=
Those kinds of professions


Despite that=God GIVES us work
That we all can be
SUCCESSFUL at


WORK that matters


We are CALLED-
TO do the work of a DISCIPLE


“I GLORIFIED you on earth
By ACCOMPLISHING the work


That you GAVE me to do” John 17:4


And the WORK that we
ARE given to do-
Is the work of DISCIPLESHIP


This is a BIG JOB=
And it really MATTERS-
This JOB of discipleship


“Then Jesus came to them
And said-
'ALL authority in HEAVEN
And on earth=
Has been given to me


Therefore GO and make disciples
Of all NATIONS..........” Matthew 28:19


YES!=this is the work
That we ALL have been given
To do


And this is IMPORTANT work=
To BRING the love of GOD
To others


WHEREVER we are CALLED in life
No matter-our position


It is WORK that we can all do=
And IT MATTERS


“A NEW COMMAND-I give you-
LOVE one another-


As I have LOVED YOU-
So you=MUST-
LOVE one another


By this-EVERYONE-
Will know
That you are my disciples=
IF you love one another” John 13:34-35


BEIN a DISCIPLE of CHRIST MATTERS=
And it is a job that
Anyone can do=JUST LOVE=
LOVE GOD=love yourself=and LOVE others


And you have PROVEN yourself-
But it is DEFINITELY a job-
That is NOT EASY


“..........
So for a WHOLE year
Barnabas and Saul-
MET with the church


And TAUGHT great numbers of people
The disciples were FIRST
Called CHRISTIANS at Antioch” Acts 11:25-26


And so the DISCIPLES were INCREASING
Because of teaching and-
BECAUSE OF LOVE


And that is OUR JOB!=to live-
LOVE-and preach the GOOD NEWS
Of the Lord=ALL OVER the world


UNTIL the world COMES-
To God and Jesus=
“MAKE DISCIPLES of all NATIONS”


IT MATTERS!
(This is a BIG JOB)


It means ALWAYS being
AVAILABLE to others


It means doing JOBS=just
Because they need to be done


It may NOT MEAN being a ROCK star=
Or an athlete-or an actress=it is
NOT GLOROUS=but it MATTERS


Dear Lord=HELP US=To give GLORY
To you today=by loving you=by
LOVING myself and others=and by
BEING YOUR DISCIPLE


IT MATTERS=it really does


In the names of God our FATHER and Jesus Christ
OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
5-31-17




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

WORKS OF MERCY

WORKS OF MERCY


We all KNOW=that we are
SAVED by FAITH=and by
The MERCY of God


BUT we all know=if we
Have this faith=we WILL supplement
Our faith with WORKS


“For we maintain
That a person
Is JUSTIED by FAITH


Apart=from
The works of the law” Romans 3:28


“As the body-
Without the spirit
IS dead=


So faith-without deeds-is dead” James 2:26


So you ARE SAVED by faith alone=
YOUR FAITH in God and Christ-
But ALL good righteous people


SUPPLEMENT their faith by DOING-
GOOD WORKS for others


ACTS of mercy=or CORPORAL works
Of MERCY-to be precise-
Are FUNDAMENTAL PARTS of our faith


We are called
To FEED the hungry


GIVE DRINK to the thirsty
VISIT the sick-
Shelter the homeless


Give ALMS to the poor=
VISIT PRISONERS-
And bury the dead


“God gives a HOME
To the forsaken


He leads forth PRISONERS
To prosperity” Psalm 68:7


“BLESSED are the MERCIFUL
For they will be SHOWN mercy” Matthew 5:7


WE are called to LOVE GOD=and=
We are called to LIVE by FAITH=
And we are called-
To live by SHOWING=works of MERCY=
To our neighbors


For me=the ONE
That gets far too little attention
Is VISITING the prisoners


PRISON is a terribly dehumanizing place=
And many people=particularly PRISON MINISTERS
BRING the love and HOPE of Christ-
To them


It is A WORK OF MERCY=
That can CHANGE a person's life


“SET me FREE from my prison
That I may PRAISE-
Your name


Then the RIGHTEOUS
Will gather about me
Because of your GOODNESS
To me” Psalm 142:7


“I needed cloths-
And you clothed me


I was sick-
And you LOOKED AFTER me


I was in PRISON-
And you CAME to VISIT ME” Matthew 25:36


LAST YEAR=POPE Francis=
Declared the year=as a
DIVINE YEAR OF MERCY


But let us REMEMBER=
EVERY year-
IS a year of MERCY


And as CHRISTIANS-it is-
NOT ONLY about our faith=
But what we DO


LIVE in FAITH and with MERCY-
AND actions towards ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN


In the name of Jesus we live by FAITH=and the WORKS
OF MERCY He taught to us


FOREVER and EVER-amen


Robert P. Wallman
5-30-17




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

JOURNAL 6-1-15=REMAIN CALM IN THE STORMS OF LIFE

JOURNAL=6-1-15=REMAIN CALM IN THE STORMS OF LIFE




“He shall NEVER be moved; the JUST MAN shall be in EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE”
Psalm 112:6


CAN YOU REMAIN at peace and calm within-no matter what is going on in the world-MANY of us become shaken or disturbed even WHEN small things go wrong-they put us off track and shake us up-put us out of our routine


THE ONLY WAY to be UNMOVABLE-the ONLY way to stay at PEACE-is by CONNECTING ourselves with the ONE who is truly at peace-OUR GOD-and our Lord and SAVIOR Jesus Christ


INSIDE each of us is a CENTER-WHERE OUR SPIRIT resides-this is WHERE our PRAYER LIFE originates-and our SAFE PLACE when the WORLD gets too crazy for us-FINDING this place HELPS US to remain calm IN THE STORMS OF LIFE


I often think of the ocean-or laying out in the sun-next to the ocean-OR better yet-being alone in my room-PRAYING to God-saying my prayers-or READING MY BIBLE


FINDING GOD in the deep recess of my soul-HELPS ME to find my calm-to RECLAIM my peace and steadiness


it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a great day for FINDING OUR PEACE-Despite the storms of life




REMAINING CALM-IN THE STORMS OF LIFE




One of the biggest things
We NEED to do in life
Is to try and REMAIN CALM
When the difficulties of life
Are threatening our lives
Our relationships
And our livelihoods


Easier said
Than done


“He makes the storm calm
So that the waves are still” Psalm 107:29


STAY CALM


“And behold
There arose a great tempest
In the sea
In as much as the ship
Was covered with waves
But he (Jesus) was asleep” Matthew 8:24


And they woke Jesus
And he said,


“Why are you fearful
You of little faith
Then he arose
And rebuked the winds
And the sea
And there was
A GREAT CALM” Matthew 8:26


Do you ever feel
That way
When you get
That bad health diagnosis
When your finances are falling apart
When your relationship
Or your relationships
Are breaking up


STAY CALM
The Lord our God
Has it under control


Our Lord
Can control the spiritual
And emotional storms of our life
Just as
He can control the physical-like the sea


STAY CALM


Not so easy
Is it
When we confront
Irritating people and irritating situations


It is a CHALLENGE
To keep our thoughts calm


“Search me-oh God
And know my heart
Test me and know
My anxious thoughts” Psalm 139:23


STAY CALM
And STAY CONNECTED
To the Lord
And you will
Come out victorious
With our Lord-LEADING the way


“STAY CALM
The Lord KNOWS the thoughts of man” Psalm 94:11


STAY CALM-in the storms of life
And REST on the POWER OF GOD


Robert P. Wallman
2-26-13
6-1-15
5-29-17

THEY HAD=AND WE HAVE=EACH OTHER

THEY HAD=AND=
WE HAVE EACH OTHER


The sequence of the events=
For the apostles=
MUST have been mind-boggling


The crucifixion=death and
RESURRECTION of Jesus=must have
Beyond imagination-
For Mary Magdalene-
And the other apostles


THEN he walked the mountains-
The terrain and the hills with them
For 40 days


What I FIND HEARTENING
Is that-
THEY HAD EACH OTHER


TOGETHER=in the upper room
-As we have each other=
OUR family and our friends


In the hallways and rooms
Of our lives


“Then they RETURNED
To Jerusalem


From the mount
Called Olivet.........


When they
Entered the city
THEY went to the UPPER ROOM
Where they were staying
…......


ALL these devoted themselves
With one accord
To PRAYER.........” Acts 12:14


THEY HAD=and=
WE HAVE EACH OTHER


TOGETHER=unified and LOVING=
Having each other
IS what makes life work
In this world


“How GOOD and pleasant
It is


When God's people
LIVE TOGETHER in unity” Psalm 133:1


“I-in them-
And you in me-


So that they may be
BROUGHT to complete unity


THEN the world know
That you sent me
And have loved them


EVEN as you have loved me” John 17:23


“.........UNTIL we all
Reach UNITY in the faith
And in the knowledge
Of the SON OF GOD


And become mature
ATTAINING to the whole measure
Of the FULLNESS of Christ” Ephesians 4:13


To be TOGETHER=ALL OF US=
Under the LOVE of God=
And ONE FAITH


They had each other=
WE have EACH OTHER TOO


They were=the apostles were
PRAYING together=
In the vast unknown
Of their lives
After Jesus died


WE have each other
As we MOVE FORWARD
With out lives


The vast UNKNOWN
Of our lives


The apostles were
SHOCKED some 2000 years ago
As they went through
The UNKNOWN


We-ALL-go through
Major transitions and reversals
In out lives


WHEN we go though transitions
LORD=Help us=to know=
You are always with us
In our INNER ROOM


“BUT when you PRAY
Go into your room


CLOSE the door
And pray to your Father
Who is unseen


Then your Father
Who SEES what is done
In SECRET-will reward you” Matthew 6:6


Dear Lord=THEY HAD EACH OTHER=
And you=all those years ago


As we do today=


WE HAVE EACH OTHER=
And YOU


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
5-28-17


Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Patricia Livingston

THEY HAD=AND=
WE HAVE EACH OTHER


The sequence of the events=
For the apostles=
MUST have been mind-boggling


The crucifixion=death and
RESURRECTION of Jesus=must have
Beyond imagination-
For Mary Magdalene-
And the other apostles


THEN he walked the mountains-
The terrain and the hills with them
For 40 days


What I FIND HEARTENING
Is that-
THEY HAD EACH OTHER


TOGETHER=in the upper room
-As we have each other=
OUR family and our friends


In the hallways and rooms
Of our lives


“Then they RETURNED
To Jerusalem


From the mount
Called Olivet.........


When they
Entered the city
THEY went to the UPPER ROOM
Where they were staying
…......


ALL these devoted themselves
With one accord
To PRAYER.........” Acts 12:14


THEY HAD=and=
WE HAVE EACH OTHER


TOGETHER=unified and LOVING=
Having each other
IS what makes life work
In this world


“How GOOD and pleasant
It is


When God's people
LIVE TOGETHER in unity” Psalm 133:1


“I-in them-
And you in me-


So that they may be
BROUGHT to complete unity


THEN the world know
That you sent me
And have loved them


EVEN as you have loved me” John 17:23


“.........UNTIL we all
Reach UNITY in the faith
And in the knowledge
Of the SON OF GOD


And become mature
ATTAINING to the whole measure
Of the FULLNESS of Christ” Ephesians 4:13


To be TOGETHER=ALL OF US=
Under the LOVE of God=
And ONE FAITH


They had each other=
WE have EACH OTHER TOO


They were=the apostles were
PRAYING together=
In the vast unknown
Of their lives
After Jesus died


WE have each other
As we MOVE FORWARD
With out lives


The vast UNKNOWN
Of our lives


The apostles were
SHOCKED some 2000 years ago
As they went through
The UNKNOWN


We-ALL-go through
Major transitions and reversals
In out lives


WHEN we go though transitions
LORD=Help us=to know=
You are always with us
In our INNER ROOM


“BUT when you PRAY
Go into your room


CLOSE the door
And pray to your Father
Who is unseen


Then your Father
Who SEES what is done
In SECRET-will reward you” Matthew 6:6


Dear Lord=THEY HAD EACH OTHER=
And you=all those years ago


As we do today=


WE HAVE EACH OTHER=
And YOU


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
5-28-17


Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Patricia Livingston

JOURNAL 2-26-15=ENDURANCE

JOURNAL=2-26-15=ENDURANCE




“YOUR RIGHT HAND SAVES ME” Psalm 138:7




HAS ANYONE ever HELPED you during your life time-spiritually-emotionally-in TOUGH FINANCIAL TIMES-HAS GOD?


GOD has HELPED ME infinitely in just staying ALIVE-HELPED ME to get up every day just to get through the day-and KEEP a SMILE on my face-and LIVE with FAITH-HOPE-and LOVE


And has helped me through ALL of you just to KEEP a roof over my head-food on the table-and STAY AFLOAT FINANCIALLY-I AM GRATEFUL for these BLESSINGS and for all of these expressions of LOVE AND GRACE


ALL of this is a REMINDER that GOD'S BLESSINGS far exceed our own personal efforts-GOD”S right hand gives me/GIVES US STRENGTH-WE can be certain that GOD ALWAYS hears our PRAYERS and will NEVER abandon us in times of trouble-financial-spiritual-or emotional


GOD'S FAITHFUL LOVES ENDURES FOREVER-and this IS one of GOD'S greatest gifts to us-
IT is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a great day to KNOW that GOD'S love for us-DOES endure forever






WITNESS




3-07-13




ENDURANCE---THE LONG HAUL




Where are you
In your personal relationship with God
Are your enduring
The trials of your life


Are you loving God
Despite the troubles in your life
Are you letting him
Love you


“For everything
That was written in the past
So that through ENDURANCE
And the encouragement of the scriptures
We might have HOPE” Romans 15:4


We are going to have problems
In this life
Of that we can be sure
So we may as well
Stick to God
So he can be there for us
And we can be there
For one another


Turning our troubles
Into blessings
Turning our problems into HOPE


“May the God
Who gives ENDURANCE and encouragement
Give you a spirit of unity
Among yourselves
As you follow Christ Jesus


So that with one heart and mouth
You may glorify the God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 15;5 & 6


Be in it
With God
Be in it
For the long haul


ENDURE means
To carry us through
Despite our hardships


God is BUILDING
Something in you
A LIFE THAT WILL LAST
Long after you have left
This world


For you are ROCK
You have built your life
On the WORD OF GOD
NOT the word
Of man


You-me-us-
We are in it
For the long haul


NOT transitory rewards


Dear Lord
We pray for a life
BUILT on your word
A life that will last


For we KNOW
That righteousness and love ENDURES forever


“He has scattered abroad
His gifts to the poor
His righteousness ENDURES forever
His horn will be lifted high in honor” Isaiah 112:9


“Give thanks to the Lord
For he is GOOD
His life ENDURES FOREVER” Psalm 136:1


So we know
That if we build our lives
On the WORD OF GOD


Our lives and love
Will ENDURE for the LONG HAUL
Our lives will LAST FOREVER


Robert P. Wallman
8-30-12


Ps WITNESS 3-07-13


“Since you have kept my command to ENDURE PATIENTLY
I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the
Whole world to TEST those who live on the earth” Revelations 3:10




MAY YOU find ETERNAL HAPPINESS by living your LIFE in LOVE
LOVE of GOD and LOVE of others


And KNOW that if you do this-you will live in ETERNAL UNION with
God Our Father and HIS SON-Jesus Christ OUR LORD


MISC. WITNESS 4-29-14





12-26-14 & 2-26-15 and 5-27-17

KEEP ON LIVING=ENDURE=THROUGH THE DIFFICULTIES

KEEP ON LIVING=ENDURE=
THROUGH THE DIFFICULTIES


We all have DIFFICULT TIMES
In life=to say the least


UNFORTUNATELY=all our problems
CANNOT be fixed=
A chronic or terminal illness=
THOSE incarcerated in prison=
A troubled marriage=the MOTHER
Who has LOST a child=and
MANY OTHERS


But we can GO ON
We can ENDURE the difficulties
We can KEEP ON LIVING


And keep on LIVING IN JOY=
Because GOD'S JOY-is not like ours


“........You will weep and mourn
WHILE the world rejoices-
You will grieve


But your grief-WILL BECOME JOY” John 16:20


KEEP on living
Keep on ENDURING-
Through the difficulties of life


You can still FIND JOY-
If you are living
In a CLOSE relationship
With God and Jesus


FORTUNATELY=for us-OUR JOY
Comes from God=our JOY comes from Jesus
And it is an internal process


NOTING exterior to us=can bring
Us down=we are in JOY=because
Of our relationship with God and Jesus


“The precepts of the Lord
Are right-
GIVING JOY to the heart


The commands of the Lord
Are radiant-
GIVING light to the eyes” Psalm 19:8


“BE WISE-my son-
And bring JOY to the heart


Then I can ANSWER anyone-
Who treats me with contempt” Proverbs 17:11


“Others=like seed sown=
On rocky places=


HEAR the word
And RECEIVE it with JOY” Mark 4:16


YES FRIENDS=if we=
ARE living on the WORD of God
And in PROPER relationship
With God and Jesus


We can ENDURE the difficulties
The arrows=that life slings at us


We can ENDURE the difficulties
And STILL live on the WORD-
Because of our relationship
With God and Jesus


This is NOT so-or true
For all of us


PARTICULARLY those trying to FIND JOY-
Or happiness in the things of this world:
Sex-money-drugs-alcohol-or pornography


KEEP ON LIVING=ENDURE the difficulties=
BUILD a personal relationship with God and Jesus=
On the WORD OF GOD


ENDURE


“MAY his name ENDURE FOREVER
May it continue
As long as the sun


Then all nations
Will be BLESSED
Through him


And they
Will CALL him BLESSED” Psalm 72:17


“REMEMBER-
Those earlier days
After you have
RECEIVED the light


When you ENDURED-in-
A great conflict FULL of suffering” Hebrews 10:32


Dear Friends=KEEP ON LIVING=
KEEP ON ENDURING
Despite the difficulties that you face


KNOW that this is
The path that the SAVIOR WALKED


The way to FIND=
COMPLETE peace and JOY=
And victory in this world


In the name of God the FATHER=
And his SON=Jesus=OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
5-26-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Elizabeth Duffy

IN HIS IMAGE=AND=IN HIS LIKENESS (GOD'S POWER)

IN HIS IMAGE=AND=
IN HIS LIKENESS (GOD'S POWER)


We are ALL made
IN the image =and the likeness
Of God


And SINCE we are made
In HIS IMAGE=and
In his likeness


We all have
The CAPACITY to contribute
To GOD'S KINGDOM


“You will receive POWER
When the HOLY SPIRIT
Comes upon you........” Acts 1:8


GOD'S kingdom is FULL of paradoxes-
And is full of BEAUTY
And since=we are MADE
IN his image
And in his likeness


We have the GOD-GIVEN POWER
To serve=to do GOOD=
For others-
And to LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS


But first we must
ADMIT to ourselves
That all of our POWER


ALL of our CAPACITY to serve others
COMES from God


We MUST admit to ourselves
That we are powerless
And BECAUSE we are MADE
In his image and likeness


OUR POWER-depends
On the GRACE of God


“Then God said:
'Let us make MANKIND
In our image
In our likeness


So that they may RULE
OVER the fish and the sea
And the birds in the SKY
….......'” Genesis 1:26


“So GOD CREATED mankind
In his OWN IMAGE-


In the image of God
He created them


Male and female-he CREATED THEM” Genesis 1:27


All of our power=COMES
From God


Because we are MADE
In his image=and=
In his likeness


GOD is with us=and-
ALWAYS working through us


And because we are
In HIS image and likeness
We must=GET TO WORK


So that ALL PEOPLE
May KNOW GOD'S LOVE


So that EVERYONE in this world
MAY get to know=
The BEAUTY of GOD'S power
And LOVE=in their lives


“ONE thing-
I ask from the Lord
This ONLY-do I seek


That I may DWELL
In the house-of the Lord
All the DAYS
Of my life


To gaze on
The BEAUTY of the Lord


And to seek him
In his temple” Psalm 27:4


“YOUR beauty
Should NOT come
From outward adorning-


Such as elaborate hairstyles
And the wearing
Of gold jewelry-or fine clothing


RATHER it should be that
Of your INNER SELF


The UNFADING BEAUTY-
Of a GENTLE AND QUIET spirit
Which is=OF GREAT WORTH
In GOD'S SIGHT” 1 Peter 3:3-4


My friends=you were MADE
In the IMAGE AND LIKENESS
Of God


You were MADE out of
The LOVE OF GOD-
And because of HIS POWER


You will LIVE FOREVER AND EVER=
In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
5-25-17




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

HE IS=ALWAYS NEAR TO US

HE IS=
ALWAYS NEAR TO US


Have you ever BECOME LOST-
Disoriented=in a dark room?


Stumbling-Bumbling-waking up-
IN the middle of the night=TRYING to find your way
Trying-to find=the light switch


UNFORTUNATELY=that is the way
MANY of us=live our lives=
LOST on this path=in this-
OUR journey through life


“........so that people-
Might seek God-even perhaps-
GROPE for him and find him-


Though indeed-he is-
NOT FAR from any one of us” Acts 17:27


We LIVE in a violent world-
A world that is STRESSFUL
And confusing


A world in which-
Many of us-FEEL all stressed out


But that is
NOT the way that it is-for
MANY of us Catholics=
MANY OF US CHRISTIANS


For those of us
With a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with God
God is=Jesus is=
ALWAYS=NEAR TO US


WALKING right beside us
On our JOURNEY through life
Just waiting=to be CALLED UPON


Yes=HE IS ALWAYS=
Right near to us


“The Lord is CLOSE
To the brokenhearted


And SAVES those
Who are CRUSHED in spirit” Psalm 34:18


“ONE who has
Unreliable friends-
Soon comes to ruin


But there is a FRIEND
Who sticks closer
Than a brother” Proverbs 18:24


And that friend=is GOD
That friend is Jesus
ALWAYS=walking right beside us


With those who have that PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
With God and Jesus


God-JESUS-
Are ALWAYS near to us


“Their leader-
Will be ONE of their own


Their ruler=will ARISE
From among them


I will-BRING them near
And he will come-
CLOSE to me


For WHO is he
Who will devote himself
To be CLOSE TO ME?” Jeremiah 30:21


NONE OTHER than our dear God-
OUR dear Lord Jesus Christ -
They are ALWAYS near to us
ALONG the pathways of life


They are DEVOTED to see
We do NOT
Become LOST in the dark


God/Jesus=THEY= are always
NEAR to us


Let us REMEMBER TODAY
That we are not
Like some others
In today's world


For we have ALREADY-
FOUND OURSELVES in God


“For this son of mine
Was dead-
And IS ALIVE AGAIN


He was lost=
And is found


So they BEGAN TO CELEBRATE” Luke 15:24


YES God and Jesus CELEBRATE
With us=ALL the days
Of our lives


And as Saint Paul REMINDS
Us today=
God and Jesus are with us-
EVEN IN=our darkest days


NO NEED to grope for him=OUR GOD


HE(God and Jesus)=
Are ALWAYS NEAR
In ALL of our days


IN THE LORD'S NAME,


Robert P. Wallman
5-23-17


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

TRUSTING THE MENTORS OF YOUR LIFE

TRUSTING THE MENTORS OF YOUR LIFE


God was the MENTOR-
Of his SON=Jesus=and Jesus
TRUSTED his Father implicitly


What a WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP=
When we TRUST
OUR mentors like that


TRUSTING so much=that you
Would GIVE your life
For someone=AS JESUS DID


BECAUSE his Father=asked him
To give his life for us=
As he in fact=DID


“But I tell you the TRUTH
It is BETTER for you=
That I go” John 16:7


I UNDERSTAND these words=there
Is ALWAYS a time=when it is TIME
For the mentor=to move on


NOT necessarily always a physical departure=
But TIME when the student=is READY
To move on with their life's work


The MENTOR has prepared the student
As much as humanly possible


THIS was true=
Of Jesus and the apostles=and it is TRUE=
Of a parent and a child=a teacher and a student=
And a disciple=from his TEACHER


There COMES a time=
WHEN a mentor has PREPARED
The student=as much as possible


There comes a time=when
We MUST TAKE what
We have learned=and FLY


TRUSTING YOUR MENTOR=you will KNOW
When you are as PREPARED
As you can be


“They will
Have NO FEAR of bad news


Their hearts are steadfast=
TRUSTING in the Lord” Psalm 112:7


“STOP TRUSTING
In mere humans


Who have a breath
In their nostrils
WHY-hold them in esteem?” Isaiah 2:22


“But look-
You are trusting-
In DECPTIVE WORDS=
That are worthless” Jeremiah 7:8


That is something
We DON'T have to worry
About with our mentors=”WORTHLESS WORDS”


THEY are ALWAYS giving us=
Positive=CONSTRUCTIVE=ENCOURAGING WORDS=
Words to PREPARE us to move on


GOD did it for his SON=Jesus=
Jesus did it for his apostles=
And FOR US


And WE do it for those
Who are FOLLOWING us
In this life


Even IF/when it is time
To move on=there is a SUSTAINING BOND
Between a guide and his disciple=
And it LASTS FOREVER


I FEEL it with God
I feel it with Jesus
I feel it with MY OWN PARENTS


THERE it is=a CYCLE of life
And this BOND is forever and ever


It can't be seen=but it is=
ALWAYS THERE


If OUR MENTOR=has prepared
Us well=we are READY
To FLY when called upon


Like the APOSTLES were=
After Jesus' death


LIKE we are in life=we FLY
THROUGH the Holy SPIRIT of God


“GUIDE ME in your truth-
And teach me-
For you are GOD-MY SAVIOR


And my HOPE is in you
ALL DAY LONG” Psalm 25:5


“But when he=
The SPIRIT OF TRUTH comes
He will GUIDE YOU
Into ALL the truth


He will-
NOT speak of his own
He will speak
ONLY what he hears


And he will tell you
WHAT IS YET TO COME” John 16:13


So my friends=REMAIN=
TRUSTING of your mentors


God=our LOVING FATHER=
Jesus=the LOVING SON=
And the MENTORS of your life


They will NEVER lie to you=
Or deceive you
Or let you down


REMAIN TRUSTING=
IN the mentors of your LIFE


I have=they have NEVER let me down
In Jesus' name=forever and ever=amen


Robert P. Wallman
5-22-17





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

BELIEVE IN THE PROMISES OF GOD

BELIEVE IN THE PROMISES OF GOD


Did you KNOW
That GOD KEEPS his promises/


God have NEVER-
God has never made a PROMISE
That he did not keep?


I AM pretty GOOD at keeping
MY promises too


But I don't know
IF I can say
I am perfect=EVEN THOUGH
I always try to do
My very best=and
TRY to never lie


“I will NOT leave
you orphans


I will COME TO YOU” John 14:18


I don't think
The disciples knew


What Jesus meant-by
THIS promise today


I DOUBT (don't know)
That we do either


WHEN Jesus died on
The cross-in crucified agony-
They KNEW
They were all alone


MAYBE-just maybe
They thought they were orphans


They were NOT ORPHANS
Neither are we
BELIEVE=in the PROMISES
Of God


God looks after us
JESUS LOOKS after us


“RELIGION=that God out Father
ACCEPTS as pure and faultless
Is this:


To LOOK AFTER widows
And orphans
In their distress


And to keep ONESELF
From being polluted
BY THE WORLD” James 1:27


PURE religion=true religion=
A PROMISE of LOVE=kept by GOD


A long time ago=I MADE
A deathbed promise=
“To LIVE FOR my family=my friends=
And ALL people everywhere”


I have DONE MY BEST
To keep it=and some 40 years later
WE/God and I are STILL WORKING
On this promise=STILL doing
OUR BEST to keep it


Like the disciples and apostles
We TOO=sometimes=


FEEL orphaned in this world


We WONDER how God
Has left us=on our own


But he is WITH US each day
He WALKS with us/He TALKS with us
THROUGH his gift to us
Of the HOLY SPIRIT


He told us: “I will NOT
LEAVE you orphans”


BELIEVE IN
THE PROMISES OF GOD
He KEEPS his promises


“My eyes stay OPEN
Through the watches
Of the night


That I my MEDITATE
On your PROMISES” Psalm119:148


“For no matter
How MANY PROMISES
God has made


They are “YES”
In Christ


And so through him
The “AMEN” is spoken to us
By the GLORY OF GOD” 2 Corinthians 1:20


So this EASTER SEASON
This sixth Sunday of Easter


BELIEVE in the PROMISES OF GOD
=THE PROMISES OF CHRIST


“I will NOT LEAVE you orphans”


He hasn't=in two weeks=PENTECOST=
HIS SPIRIT WILL BE HERE


Robert P. Wallman
5-21-17




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

THE CHURCH KNOWS

THE CHURCH KNOWS

 

There are MANY people

In this world

Who do NOT believe

In God

 

Who do not believe

In the CHURCH

 

I am NOT one of them

On either account

 

I BELIEVE IN GOD

I know he is=THE REASON=

For my existence

 

And I believe in THE CHURCH=and

THE POPE=after all=it was

ESTABLISHED by Christ

 

“……..I have told you

EVERYTHING I have heard

From my Father”                                                                                                                                John 15:15

 

And MOST of all=I believe

In a person’s relationship=

WITH God and Jesus=and

EACH ONE OF US

 

GOD=Love=Jesus=

EACH one of us

We should never let

A human weakness of people=

KEEP us from a personal relationship

With God and Jesus

 

WHAT you were CALLED

To life for

 

There was a phrase

In today’s reading

That really struck me

 

“It is the decision

Of the HOLY SPIRIT

And of us……..”                                                                                                                             15:28

 

The CHURCH is not

Just a decree of men

But also-

The decree of GOD

 

The Church is-

MADE UP of human beings

So at its worst

 

We will see=

The WEAKNESS of human beings

 

But at its BEST=

We will see the ALL KNOWING=

All-touching LOVE=and SPIRIT OF GOD

 

The Church knows

The Church KNOWS=or at least

SHOULD KNOW=its very weaknesses

And its strength

 

It is man-made=but it is=

GOD MADE TOO

 

And even IF you have DIFFERENCES

With the Church=OVER something real=

Do NOT let that separate you

From God

 

“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

 

“KEEP watch over yourselves

And ALL the flock

Of which the HOLY SPIRIT

Has made you overseers

 

BE SHEPHERDS of the

CHURCH OF GOD

 

Which he bought

With HIS own blood”                                                                                                                         Acts 20:28

 

CAN we honestly say=the CHURCH=

Has a SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP with God?

Unequivocally YES

 

THE CHURCH KNOWS

 

Jesus said

The HOLY SPIRIT would guide

The Church and he was right

 

Jesus ENTRUSTED the kingdom

To Peter=and I am awed=

That the CHURCH gets

So much right=

DESPITE our human weaknesses

 

GOD KNOWS=the CHURCH knows

That there is A SPECIAL RELAUIONSHIP

Between God and Jesus

And each ONE OF US

 

Dear Lord=thank you=FOR CHRIST’S CHURCH=

BUILT initially on Peter=and INCLUDING

ALL of us in love

 

In JESUS’ NAME=may we all BECOME ONE AGAIN

 

Robert P. Wallman

5-14-17

 

 

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

 

 

 

THE JOY THAT GOD & JESUS ALWAYS GIVE TO US

THE JOY=THAT GOD=AND JESUS=

ALWAYS GIVE TO US

 

I have-

Some really GOOD NEWS for you

 

God and Jesus=GIVES US=this gift=

This gift of JOY=

And it is always

AVAILABLE to us

 

IF we just say “YES”

To them=this gift CAN

Change and PERMEATE our lives

 

“If you

KEEP my commandments

You will REMAIN

In my love

……..

 

I have TOLD you this

So that MY JOY

Might be IN you

And your joy

Might be COMPLETE”                                                                                                                            John 15:10-11

 

What a WONDERFUL GIFT

That God and Jesus

Give to us

 

And like ALL REAL and true gifts-

Nothing is asked for in return

 

Except our “YES”-

Our yes to the commandments

 

But the TRUTH IS:

Those of us who have already said yes=

To the commandments=

In our minds and in our heart

 

ARE already living in=the=

COMPLETE JOY of God and Jesus

 

Yes this JOY=that=

God and JESUS ALWAYS give to us

 

“The precepts

Of the Lord are right

GIVING JOY=

To the heart

 

The commands of the Lord

Are RADIANT-

Giving light-

To the eyes”                                                                                                                             Psalm 19:8

 

“HE will be

A JOY=and delight to you=

 

And MANY will rejoice

Because of his birth

……..                                           ”                                                                                                                     Luke 1:14

 

“For the KINGDOM of God

Is NOT a matter=

Of eating and drinking

 

BUT of righteousness-peace-and

JOY in the HOLY SPIRIT

 

Because ANYONE=who SERVES Christ

In this way

 

Is PLEASING to God

And RECEIVES human approval”                                                                                                         Romans 14:17

 

When I TURNED

My life=OVER to God=

When I began=LIVING

By the ten commandments of God

 

And the two of Jesus=

My life became TOTALLY TRANSFORMED

 

My life and love=has PERMEATED=

Into me=creating COMPLETE JOY=

Within me

 

I didn’t do it=GOD DID IT=

Jesus did it=

The HOLY SPIRIT of God did it

 

We just need

To have the FAITH

To say “YES”

 

The wish=Jesus’ deep wish for us

Is COMPLETE JOY

Just say “YES”

To the ten commandments

 

Just have the FAITH=to say “YES”

And live life

ACCORDING to the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD

 

And there is GOOD NEWS-

Here too

 

The LOVING PRESENCE of Jesus

Is ALREADY in our hearts

To say yes

 

Which ENABLES us to live life

IN COMPLETE JOY=

 

THE JOY THAT GOD AND JESUS GIVE US

 

In the NAME of the Father=

And his LOVING SON=Jesus

 

Forever and ever=amen

 

Robert P. Wallman

5-18-17

 

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

 

 

 

STAYING CONNECTED=

TO THE SOURCE OF LIFE

 

ALL LIFE comes from

The SOURCE of life=GOD=

The FATHER of Jesus

 

NO WONDER Jesus never died=

Or at least died=RESURRECTED=

And conquered death=

IF we are tied too=if we

Are CONNECTED to the SOURCE

 

Even if we do die=

We WILL live forever and ever

With the FATHER OF LIFE

 

THE SOURCE=the ONE who controls all

So STAY CONNECTED

 

“If you REMAIN in me and my words-

Remain in you

 

ASK for whatever you want

And it will

Be DONE for you”                                                                                                                                         John 15:7

 

Jesus WANTS to get our attention

He wants us to KNOW that

EVERYTHING we ask for-

Can indeed=be ours

 

He tells us=IF-

We stay connected to the SOURCE

If we stay on the VINE

 

Everything we do in life

Can be FRUITFUL & FLOURISH

 

NOT for our own sake

But for the sake of ALL

 

STAY CONNECTED to the SOURCE=

The FATHER=The GOD OF LIFE

 

“SON-though he was-

He learned obedience

From what he suffered

 

And ONCE made perfect

He became the-

SOURCE of ETERNAL SALVATION

 

For all-who obey him

And was DESIGNATED by God

 

To BE high priest

In the order of Melchizedek”                                                                                                            Hebrews 5:8-10

 

And he CONQUERED death

And LIVES forever and ever

 

Because he was CONNECTED to-

THE SOURCE of all life-HIS FATHER

 

And his WORDS live FOREVER

And ever too

 

“TRULY I tell you

This generation

 

Will certainly not pass away

UNTIL all those things-

Have happened

 

Heaven and earth will pass away

BUT MY WORDS-

Will never pass away”                                                                                                                   Matthew 24:34-35

 

And as long as his words

REMAIN IN US

 

As LONG as we

REMAIN on the branch

 

We will LIVE forever and ever too=

Maybe not in this world

But clearly in the next

WITH God OUR Father

And Jesus his SON

 

Like HE told us=ASK=and

It will be done for you

Because God has a great=

LOVE & MERCY=for all of us

 

We ask=we RECEIVE

 

CONNECTING with the Father=

Like Jesus-

CONNECTING with the SOURCE of LIFE

 

God’s WISDOM within us=tells us

What to ask for=

What is necessary

 

“Oh=the depth of the riches-

Of the WISDOM

And knowledge of God

 

How unsearchable his judgments

And his paths beyond

Tracing out

 

WHO has known

The mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?”                                                                                               Romans 11:33-34

 

Dear LORD=dear FATHER

You are THE SOURCE

Of all life

 

Help us=to

STAY CONNECTED with you

 

Help us to FOCUS

More on your WISDOM

 

HELP US to live=like your WORDS

FOREVER and ever

And in all eternity

 

TRYING to STAY CONNECTED to your vine=

Oh Lord=and in the name of Jesus=

And in his FATHER=GOD

 

Robert P. Wallman

5-17-17

 

 

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