WE ARE CALLED TO AN INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

WE ARE CALLED TO AN
INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD


Moses was CALLED into
An INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP with God


He was DIFFERENT from
The other Hebrews-they
Couldn't see through the CLOUD


After Moses SPEAKS with God-
His face SHINES-not like theirs-
And he veils himself


“As Moses entered the tent
The column of cloud
Would come down


And STAND at its entrance
Until the Lord spoke
With Moses” Exodus 33:9


And WE are called-each of us-
Different from the other CHRISTIANS=
Into an INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP
With God and Jesus


He KNOWS us=like he knows
No one else=a SPECIAL FRIEND
And disciple of Jesus
And he LOVES US=for our
OWN SELVES


“I tell you
Even though he will NOT get up
And give you the bread
Because of your friendship


YET because of your
Shameless audacity


He will SURELY get up
And GIVE you
As much as you need” Luke 11:8


“You adulterous people
Don't you know
That FRIENDSHIP
With the world


Means enmity against God?
Therefore-anyone-who chooses-
To be a friend
Of the world
BECOMES an enemy of God” James 4:4


My friends=you are CALLED
To be a CHOSEN-intimate friend
Of Jesus=a personal friend


He LOVES YOU=like a
Personal friend=like your BEST FRIEND
And that is
WHAT he wants to be TO YOU


You are CALLED
Just like Moses was called
You are called=just like the apostles=
Just like Mary Magdalene=just like
EVERYONE of his FOLLOWERS
Are called


You are CALLED to be
Jesus' BEST FRIEND
You are CALLED to
Walk EVERY STEP of your life
With God and Jesus


And to HAVE your own
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with him


“Then-I called on
The NAME of the Lord-
'Lord-SAVE ME!'” Psalm 116:4


And he did
And he WILL SAVE you too
Just be his CLOSE-personal-
Intimate friend


“The angel answered-
'The HOLY SPIRIT
Will come to you


And the POWER of the MOST HIGH
Will overshadow you


So the holy one to be born
Will be called


The SON OF GOD'” Luke 1:35


“Paul-a SERVANT of God-CALLED
to be an apostle
And SET APART
For the GOSPEL OF GOD -----
The gospel he PROMISED-
Beforehand=through the prophets
In the Holy Scriptures
According to his SON.........” Romans 1:1


My dear friends=
Like Paul-like Moses


You have been CHOSEN and set apart
And called to be an
INTIMATE FRIEND of God and Jesus


Dare to STEP CLOSER and be
His REAL FRIEND-in the name of Jesus=
OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-31-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Eve Tushnet

ENCOURAGE-DON'T LIMIT-EACH OTHER

ENCOURAGE-DON'T LIMIT-
EACH OTHER


“WHERE did this man
Get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not
The carpenter's son?” Matthew 13;54-55


Jesus was God's SON
He could work miracles
On anyone-anywhere-but there


He was a PROPHET
Without honor
In his hometown of Nazareth


And because the people
KNEW his father and mother
They imposed their limits on him


They had NO FAITH in him
And he could
NOT perform any miracles there


But our job as Christians
IS to give one another HOPE
To ENCOURAGE one another


That is what Jesus
Did for everyone


And that is what we are
To do for other Christians too


“FINALLY-brothers-sisters-REJOICE!


Strive for full restoration
ENCOURAGE one another


BE of one mind
Live in peace


And the God of love
And peace
Will be with you” 2 Corinthians 13:11


And ENCOURAGE
That is what
My mother and father did


For my two sisters and myself


We were TAUGHT TO BELIEVE
That we could do anything
We set our mind too


And we do BELIEVE that
Just like our parents wanted


GIVE people hope
BUILD them up
That is our job-as CHRISTIANS
Don't limit them


“NOW I commit you
To God


And to the word
Of his grace


Which can BUILD YOU UP
And give you an inheritance


Among all those
Who are sanctified” Acts 20:32


IF GOD is for us
If our FAMILY is for us
If our friends are for us


What does it matter
Who or what is against us


MOST OF ALL
IF we believe in God and Jesus
And we believe in ourselves


WE CAN get it done


“Each of us
Should please our neighbors
For their good
TO BUILD THEM UP” Romans 15:2


So BUILD each other up
IN LOVE


DON'T discourage or LIMIT one another
WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER


Finally-
If God
Gives us the freedom
And the HOPE to succeed
Who are we
To limit one another


Robert P. Wallman
July 31^st, 2015


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



and July 31^st, 2017

YOU GOT TO GET UP=JUST ONE MORE TIME

YOU GOT TO GET UP -
JUST ONE MORE TIME


Did you ever THINK
That SUCCESS in life- means
Getting UP-just ONE MORE TIME


Than you get knocked down?


There was a PROFESSIONAL BOXER-
Once=who got knocked down
TEN times in a fight


You know what-he got up-
AGAIN & AGAIN-
And he WON the fight
In the end


MY FRIENDS-life is going
To KICK your butt-and
You know what
You just HAVE TO
KEEP getting back up


That is SUCCESS in life=
That is what Jesus did


NOT even death could
Contain him


“GUIDE your servant-therefore-
An understanding heart
To JUDGE your people


And to DISTINGUISH
Right form wrong” 1 KINGS 3:9


You GOT to get up
Just ONE MORE TIME
Than you get knocked down
And you WILL BE
A SUCCESS in life
In whatever you do


“The warden PAID no attention
To ANYTHING under Joseph's care


Because the Lord
Was WITH Joseph
And gave him SUCCESS


In whatever he did” Genesis 39:23


“As LONG
As he SOUGHT the Lord


GOD GAVE HIM SUCCESS” 2 Chronicles 26:5


Our lives are TOUGH
And we are going to FAIL
From time to time


You need skill
You need luck
And MOST of all
YOU NEED GOD


And you need to make
The EFFORT to get UP
Just ONE MORE TIME than
You fall


“But brothers and sisters
When we were orphaned
By being SEPARATED from you
For a short time
(in person=NOT in thought)


Out if intense longing
We made EVERY EFFORT
To see you” 1 Thessalonians 2:17


FAILURE in life-demands PRAYERS
For patience and WISDOM-
WE really do need wisdom
To NAVIGATE this life
To KNOW HOW and when
To get back up-
To MAKE the effort all over again


“For WISDOM
Is more PRECIOUS than rubies


And NOTHING you desire
Can COMPARE to her” Proverbs 8:11


I ASK the dear Lord
To FORGIVE me my FLAWS-
And you and yours too


And it IS IN our flaws
That we FIND the wisdom


And in that WISDOM-
We GET UP JUST ONE MORE TIME


My FRIENDS-if we do that-
We are a SUCCESS-
JUST LIKE JESUS


Robert P. Wallman
7-29-17




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

HE WANTS OUR HEARTS TOO

HE WANTS OUR HEARTS TOO!


The STORY of Martha and Mary=
Two sisters in the bible
Has become LEGENDARY


WOMEN of the 20th-and 21^st
Centuries=are quite ACTIVE=
They WORK for a LIVING


And they(MANY)=also cook-
Clean-do laundry-take CARE of children=
And DO everything else under the sun


But in the story from
The BIBLE=Jesus basically tells Martha=
To SLOW DOWN-and come SIT at my feet
Like your sister-Mary


He=Jesus=God=WANTS
Our HEARTS too


“Martha-Martha-you ARE
Anxious and worried
About many things” Luke 10:41


I think today's STANDARDS=
Not only for women=but
For MEN just as well


FALL SHORT of Jesus' STANDARDS


He wants OUR HEARTS TOO=in fact=
I would take it further
And say


He wants MAINLY-our hearts


He wants us to REST IN HIM
He wants us to LIVE
The CONTEMPLATIVE LIVE


NOT just lives of action-
So contrary-to what the WORLD
TELLS us today
DO! DO! DO!


“And we ALL
Who with unveiled faces
CONTEMPLATE the Lord's GLORY


Are being TRANSFORMED
Into his image


With ever-increasing glory
Which comes
From the Lord
Who IS the SPIRIT” 2 Corinthians 3:18


GIVE your HEARTS to the Lord
Like Mary-once in a while
Give Martha a little break


And LIVE the contemplative life


TURN your hearts over to
The Lord=he WANTS your HEARTS TOO


“BRING an end
To the violence
Of the wicked


And make the righteous-SECURE
You-the RIGHTEOUS GOD
Who probes and MENDS HEARTS” Psalm 7:9


“The hearts of the WISE
Make their mouths prudent


And their lips
Promote instruction” Proverbs 16:23


Let us all-LIKE Mary-take
A FEW MOMENTS from our day
And SIT at the feet
Of Jesus


REST IN HIM=read a few
Pages of the Bible-DAILY


He wants to HEAL US
He wants to HELP us
He wants


To TRANSFORM US
Into the people
We CAN BE


It is TIME to CULTIVATE
Our MARY
And give Martha=and our actions=
A little break


TAKE a few items
OFF of your TO DO LIST-today-
And let GOD TRANSFORM you
Into a LITTLE MORE MARY


HE WANTS OUR HEARTS TOO!
(In the name of Jesus OUR LORD)


Robert P. Wallman
7-28-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVINF FAITH MAGAZINE by KristinArmstrong

THE LAW OF THE LORD IS LOVE

THE LAW OF THE LORD IS LOVE


The LAW of the Lord
Is LOVE


And PERFECT love
Gives RISE to a life
That NEVER DIES


“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


The perfect law
Of LOVE
The PERFECT LIFE
Of Jesus


The law of love-a life
That never dies
That LIVES in you and me
And is PERFECT-
THANK YOU Lord
For living in US


“As for God
HIS WAY is PERFECT


The Lord's WORD
Is flawless
He SHIELDS ALL


Who take refuge
In him” Psalm 18:30


“BE PERFECT-therefore-
As your heavenly FATHER
Is perfect” Matthew 5:48


And=of course=so was HIS SON=
PERFECT IN LIFE=and
PERFECT IN LOVE


“Do NOT
Conform to the PATTERN
Of this world


But be TRANSFORMED
By the renewing
Of your mind


Then you will be able to TEST
And approve
What GOD'S will is


His good-PLEASING-
And PERFECT WILL” Romans 12:2


Scripture is FULL
Of INSPIRED WORDS-
Words that enlighten us
Words that disturb us


And they CHALLENGE us to
Try and LIVE up to
The LAW of God and the LOVE
Of Christ-which was-which is=
PERFECT IN LOVE


When a writer-
REPEATS a thought-
He is-she is-
CALLING attention to meaning
And INVITING further exploration


I am INVITING YOU to
DIG DEEPER into the LIFE
And LOVE of Christ


Which was PERFECT=
In every way


Read a little DEEPER
DIG a little FURTHER
INTO the love and LIFE
Of Jesus


You will be GLAD
That you did


“You STUDY the SCRIPTURES
Diligently-because you think
That in them
You HAVE eternal life


These are the VERY Scriptures
That TESTIFY about me


Yet you refuse to
Come to me
TO HAVE LIFE” John 5:39-40


LOOK to the law
Of the Lord-
Which is LOVE=and=


You will FIND HOPE
You will find
THE ETERNAL HOPE OF GOD


In the NAME of Jesus OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-27-17




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

DISCERNING THE TRUTH OF GOD

DISCERNING THE TRUTH OF GOD


What do you think
Of PARABLES? After reading and
REREADING SCRIPTURES=I have come
To the conclusion


That they are GOD'S WAY=
That they are JESUS' way
Of conveying=
THE DIVINE TRUTH


“WHY do you SPEAK
To them in PARABLES?” Matthew 13:10


To TEACH DIVINE TRUTH
Is NOT to recite a bunch
Of facts=
Or a rational argument


Through the USE of simple stories-
The LISTENER can intuitively
DISCERN God's truth


And APPLY it to
His own circumstances


This is WHY Jesus uses
The PARABLE=so that those
Who are OPEN to it


Can discern
The TRUTH OF GOD


“I will
OPEN my mouth with a parable


I will utter HIDDEN things
Things from of old--------” Psalm 78:2


“Jesus spoke ALL these things
To the crowd in PARABLES


He did NOT say anything
To them
Without USING a parable


So was FULFILLED
What was spoken through the PROPHETS:


'I will OPEN my mouth
In PARABLES
I will utter hidden things


SINCE the creation
Of the world'” Matthew 13:34-35


“He said-----'the KNOWLEDGE
Of the secrets
Of the kingdom of God


Has been GIVEN to you
But to OTHERS-I speak
In parables-so that


'Though seeing-----
They may NOT SEE
Though hearing-----
They may NOT UNDERSTAND'” Luke 8:10


DISCERNING THE
TRUTH OF GOD


A parable is USED
So that ONLY Jesus' DIVINE FOLLOWERS---
His apostles and disciples


Can understand his MESSAGES
Can UNDERSTAND
The message of God


MANY will fail to understand
Because they are unwilling
Or UNABLE to hear


Some will have their hearts-HARDENED
And some will simply
REJECT the DIVINE TRUTH


Dear Lord=we PRAY=that those
Of us who are ready and willing
To UNDERSTAND the WORD OF GOD


Will be OPEN to it
WHEN we encounter it
And will understand its MEANING


“The DISCERNING HEART
Seeks knowledge


But the MOUTH of a fool
Feeds on folly” Proverbs 15:14


Yes the DISCERNING HEART-
FOLLOWS Jesus-his teaching-his PARABLES


ALL the days
Of his or her LIFE


IN the NAME of Jesus OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-26-17





Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITHMAGAZINE by Phil Fox Rose

BEING SELFLESS=IN PRAYER

BEING SELFLESS=IN PRAYER


PRAYER=for another=in its very MATURE
Is SELFLESS


It is the LIFTING UP of another
In thought/or ANOTHER in mind-soul-and HEART


That is an ACCOMPLISHMENT
In its own RIGHT
In this very selfish SOCIETY
That we live in


And when we THINK or pray
For another
It is of a GRUMBLING nature


“HERE in the desert
The WHOLE Israelite community
GRUMBLED against Moses and Aaron” Exodus 16:2


This READING in Exodus
SEEMS to be saying-
If you grumble loud enough


God will GIVE you
WHAT you want


But elsewhere-SCRIPTURE makes it CLEAR
That God is NOT a bank
Just to give you money-
Or whatever you want


Our God is a REAL PERSON
With whom we are to BUILD
A RELATIONSHIP
On LOVE AND TRUST


Think of others first
Try BEING
SELFLESS IN PRAYER


BE selfless-of self-control-
And of SELF-DENIAL


“As PAUL talked about
Righteousness-self-control-
And the JUDGMENT to come
Felix was afraid.....................” Acts 24:25


“Rather-he MUST be hospitable-
ONE who loves
What is GOOD


Who is SELF-CONTROLLED-
Upright-holy-and disciplined” Titus 1:8


“Lord-remember David-
And ALL his self-denial” Psalm 132:1


BE SELFLESS IN PRAYER


But does that mean
There is NO place
For GRUMBLING in prayer


NO-not exactly


There is so much WRONG
So much INJUSTICE in
Our society


People MIRED in poverty and/
Or addiction
CHILDREN being mistreated


And then we have our OWN PROBLEMS=
Chronic ill health-financial worries-
FAMILY problems=maybe we think
A little WHINING will help


But we STILL need to be
A little SELFLESS in our prayers


PRAYING for OTHERS above ourselves
Praying for our society-praying
For our WORLD


“The Lord is KNOWN
By his acts of JUSTICE


The wicked are ensnared
By the work
Of their hands” Psalm 9:16


“When JUSTICE is done
It brings JOY
To the righteous


But terror to evil doers” Proverbs 21:15


Dear Lord-the world is selfish
And OUT of control


HELP US to be more SELFLESS
In prayer-in the difficult situations
Of our life-even-
IF we GRUMBLE a little=or a lot


Help us to have MORE PATIENCE
And a DEEPER TRUST in you-O LORD


Transform our grumbling into POSITIVE
And SELFLESS DEEDS
For a much BETTER WORLD


Robert P. Wallman
7-25-17




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

A QUESTION ROOTED IN DEEP LOVE=THE LOVE OF A MOTHER

A QUESTION ROOTED IN DEEP LOVE
(THE LOVE OF A MOTHER!)


Does your mother
LOVE YOU?
Well-of course-she does


Would she do ANYTHING
for you?
Of course=my sisters and I=
Had the greatest MOTHER=
She would do
Anything for US


That is WHERE we find
Today's=GOSPEL STORY=
The mother of James and John
ASKING that they SIT
At his right hand
And at his left-
When Jesus COMES
Into his KINGDOM


“Jesus said in reply:
'You do NOT KNOW
What you are asking'” Matthew 20:22


It was a question
ROOTED in DEEP LOVE=the love
Of a mother


And CONTRARY to what you might think-
Her question was NOT
Out of selfishness or pride


It was a question
ROOTED in the LOVE of a mother
She was asking for a LOFTY PLACE
Of HONOR-for her sons-
Not for herself


James and John
Had spent MUCH TIME with Jesus
And had experienced FIRSTHAND his message
Of DIVINE LOVE


Who wouldn't want that to CONTINUE
With her children?
Who wouldn't want her sons
To EXPERIENCE that ETERNAL LIFE?


“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


“TRUST in the Lord-FOREVER
For the Lord-the LORD himself
Is the ROCK ETERNAL” Isaiah 26:4


“The life APPEARED
We have seen it
And TESTIFY to it


And we PROCLAIM to you
The ETERNAL LIFE
Which was with the Father
And has appeared to us” 1 John 1:2


A question ROOTED
In DEEP LOVE-a question
From a LOVING MOTHER


YES-she asked the question
Out of emotion-and asked it
Without SUFFICIENT discernment
And REFLECTION


Maybe she was INCONSIDERATE
Of others-and LACKED
A clear UNDERSTANDING of the
TEACHINGS of Jesus-and-
ETERNAL LIFE


The DIVINE LIFE of Jesus


“Through these
He has GIVEN US
His very great
And PRECIOUS PROMISES


So that through them
You may PARTICIPATE
In the DIVINE NATURE


Having ESCAPED
The corruption in the world
Caused by evil desires” 2 Peter 1:4


Today Lord=we CELEBRATE=
A question-a question of LOVE


A question ROOTED in
A MOTHER'S LOVE


You-LORD=and your MOTHER MARY=
UNDERSTAND that=MOST OF ALL


In your name=Jesus OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-24-17




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




Today IS the feast day of Saint James




Dear Lord=we PRAY for ALL OF US=that we have the DESIRE to be MORE HUMBLE SERVANTS

LOOKING FOR A SIGN FROM GOD

LOOKING FOR A SIGN FROM GOD


Today we READ
About the Pharisees
And their REQUEST for
A SIGN from Jesus


“Teacher-we wish to SEE
A sign from you” Matthew 12:38


I think a lot of US
Can IDENTIFY with the Pharisees
And their request from Jesus-
I KNOW that I can


THINK about it


HOW OFTEN is it that we request
For a sign that God
REALLY EXISTS-


That we are on
The right track-


That I MAKE this decision
Or that decision-
Or that I take this road
Or the other road?


How about you? Do you
DO that? Do you TELL God
Tell Jesus-that you just
NEED to see


ONE more sign-one more MIRACLE
And then I will BELIEVE


I know that I do that=
Despite READING about all the
MIRACLES of the bible-and of Jesus


Despite having SEEN all the MIRACLES
In my life-
That I have already seen


I want a sign=I WANT
To see just one MORE miracle


LOOKING for a SIGN from God
Just ONE more Lord=and-of course-
WE WILLBELIEVE


“Therefore-the LORD HIMSELF
Will give a sign


The VIRGIN will conceive
And GIVE birth
To a son
And will CALL him IMMANUEL” Isaiah 7:14


We KNOW that happened
Some 2,000 years ago=how IS that
For a sign


“TODAY-in the town of DAVID-
A SAVIOR
Has been born to you


You will FIND
A baby wrapped in clothes
And lying in a manger” Luke 2:11-12


WHAT more of a sign
Do we need? How many MIRACLES
MUST we see?


Would ONE MORE SIGN really
Help the Pharisees to believe?
Or us?


How MUCH do we need to see?
How MANY miracles?


I walked AWAY from my deathbed
In 1977-a number of times=
I walked away from a neurological
DISORDER in 1990=that was supposed
To leave me with PERMANENT brain damage


YET here I am=the RECIPIENT
Of many miracles=and the MIRACLE
OF LIFE=
And SO are you


STILL looking from
A SIGN from GOD=YOU ARE IT!
You are GOD'S MIRACLE


“I will REMEMBER
The deeds of the LORD


YES-I will remember
YOUR MIRACLES
Of long ago” Psalm 77:11


Let us take a LONG LOOK
At the “SIGN OF JONAH”
THIS is a sign
Of death and RESURRECTION


It is
The MYSTERY STORY of our lives
The dying and RISING of us
EACH AND EVERY NEW DAY


The SIGN OF LIFE=are we
OBLIVIOUS to it?


Like Jonah=like Jesus=
We will LIVE in this life
And AGAIN in the next


In the name of JESUS=OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-23-17


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

POWER TEMPERED WITH KINDNESS AND COMPASSION

POWER TEMPERED WITH KINDNESS AND COMPASSION


OUR God is a God
Which is ALL POWERFUL-
But what is MORE-
He is a KIND-compassionate-
And MERCIFUL God


O God-O LORD-
How THANKFUL we are


“But though
You are MASTER of night


You JUDGE with CLEMENCY
And with much lenience
You GOVERN US” Wisdom 12:18


The word POWER comes
With many negative connotations
ESPECIALLY in our political times


But NOT so with OUR GOD=
A KIND and COMPASSIONATE God


In today's times
MANY people loaded with power
LORD it over others


But today's readings
Celebrate POWER as a KIND thing-
ESPECIALLY
THE POWER OF GOD


POWER TEMPERED with kindness and compassion


Our God is the most
POWERFUL BEING in the universe


Yet God is lenient
Yet our God judges us
With “clemency”and
The Spirit of God
“COMES at the end
Of our weakness” Romans 8:26


He is a POWERFUL yet KIND
And COMPASSIONATE GOD


“Anxiety weighs down
The heart
But a KIND WORD
Cheers it up” Proverbs 12:25


“Love is patient-
LOVE IS KIND-
…...........” 1 Corinthians 13:4


“And the Lord's servant
Must not be quarrelsome


But must be KIND
To EVERYONE
ABLE to teach-
NOT RESENTFUL” 2 Timothy 2:24


We ALL possess
SOME kind of power
In this world


MAYBE over a spouse-
children-grandchildren-friends-
coworkers=or even strangers


HOW do we USE that power?
For good?
And do we TEMPER our power
With kindness and compassion?


Like the GOOD LORD HIMSELF


“As a father
Has compassion-
OVER his children


So the Lord
Has COMPASSION
On those who fear him” Psalm 103:13


“WHEN he saw the crowd
He had COMPASSION on them


Because they were harassed
And HELPLESS-
Like sheep-
Without a shepherd” Matthew 9:36


My FRIENDS=someday you WILL
Have POWER over someone
In this world


Wield it WISELY


MOST importantly temper it
WITH KINDNESS AND COMPASSION-
Like the GOOD LORD himself


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
7-22-17




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

GOD'S NATURE IS MERCY=FINDING HIM IN SAINT MARY MAGDALENE

GOD'S NATURE IS MERCY=
FINDING HIM IN SAINT MARY MAGDALENE


As Pope Francis has
Continually REMINDED us-
OVER the last few years=
GOD'S NATURE IS MERCY


And we see that=in his SON=Jesus
Particularly with his RELATIONSHIP
With Mary Magdalene=his BEST FRIEND=
And his most PRIZED student
And disciple


“SIR-if you CARRIED him away-
Tell me WHERE you laid him-
And I will TAKE HIM” John 20:15


We must REMEMBER-that-at this point
Jesus has crossed the threshold
Into death


But at NO POINT-did he lose-
HIS DIVINITY


And we MUST remember=that-
Saint Mary Magdalene was Jesus'
BEST FRIEND and disciple=and certainly
The REASON he APPEARED to her first


She knew=MORE than anyone=
At that time=that GOD'S NATURE
That Jesus' NATURE was
ONE of MERCY


And she PROVED that
In her LOYALTY for him


“Remember Lord-your GREAT MERCY
And LOVE


For they ARE from of old” Psalm 25:6


“GIVE ear-our God-and hear-
OPEN your eyes and see


The desolation of the city
That BEARS your name
We do NOT


MAKE request of you
Because we are righteous
But because


Of your great MERCY” Daniel 9:18


“But you have NEGLECTED
The more important matters
Of the law=justice-MERCY-
And faithfulness-


You SHOULD have practiced the latter
Without neglecting the former” Matthew 23:23


Mary Magdalene-was Jesus' BEST-and
Most important friend
She knew him-BETTER than
ANY SOUL whoever lived


And she KNEW Jesus-
COULD never NOT forgive someone
Who GENUINELY asked for forgiveness


GOD'S NATURE IS MERCY=and WE find it
In Jesus-in HIM-through
His RELATIONSHIP with Saint Mary Magdalene


The FAITH and LOVE of Mary Magdalene-COMPELS her
To keep saying “HIM”-even
After Jesus died-
EVEN though most gospel passages
REFER to the dead body as “it”


OUTSIDE of Jesus himself-Mary Magdalene-
IS probably the most AUTHENTIC-
The most REAL human being
Who ever LIVED
(with the POSSIBLE exception of his MOTHER-MARY)


“For my flesh is REAL food
And my blood
Is real drink” John 6:55


“As for you
The ANOINTING you received
From him-REMAINS in you
And you do NOT
Need anyone to teach you


But as anointing
TEACHES you about ALL things
And as that


Anointing is REAL-not counterfeit-
Just as it has taught you
REMAIN IN HIM” 1 John 2:27


Dear FRIENDS=
Pope Francis KNOWS of God and Jesus'
GREAT MERCY


His BEST FRIEND=Mary Magdalene=
KNEW of it too


LET us JOIN THEM-
And look for GOD'S GREAT MERCY TOO


In the name of Jesus CHRIST=
OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-21-17




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

THE WAY IS LOVE!

THE WAY IS LOVE!


TODAY we read about Pharaoh-
A man with a HARD-cruel heart=
But fortunately OUR GOD is a God
Of LOVE


His way is kindness-FORGIVENESS-
And LOVE


I USED to have Jewish RELATIVES
And friends=that I WAS related to=and
The first time-I SHARED
A PASSOVER meal with them


I was DEEPLY MOVED that
Thousands of years later=
The feast of PASSOVER
Was still celebrated


“The blood will mark
The HOUSES
Where you are


SEEING the blood
I will PASS over you
….......


When I strike the
LAND of Egypt
…......


This day
Shall be a MEMORIAL FEAST
….....
Which ALL your generations
SHALL CELEBRATE
….......” Exodus 12:13, 14


In the old days
In the old times=it was
A TIME for cruelty


A time of LIMITED VISION
And primitive moral development
That ONLY understood punishment
For wrong


But thousands of years later=
JESUS CAME=suffered=and SHOWED US
That the WAY of God IS LOVE


“In your UNFAILING LOVE
You will LEAD the people
You have REDEEMED


In your strength
You will GUIDE THEM
To your holy dwelling” Exodus 15:13


“But I TRUST
In your UNFAILING LOVE


My heart REJOICES
In your salvation” Psalm 13:5


The WAY is love-
GOD'S WAY=is
DEFINITELY LOVE


“LOVE is patient
Love is KIND
It does NOT envy
It does not boast


It is=NOT PROUD
It does not dishonor others


It is not self-seeking
It is NOT easily angered
It KEEPS nor record of wrongs


LOVE does
NOT DELIGHT in evil
But rejoices=with the TRUTH


It always protects
Always TRUSTS
Always HOPES
Always perseveres


LOVE NEVER FAILS” 1 Corinthians 13-4-8


Dear God-dear LORD=
We are so GRATEFUL
That your way is LOVE
And NOT cruelty


THANK YOU for SENDING
Your SON-to show us
That the WAY is LOVE-and-


HELP us FOLLOW his example
And CREATE more love in this world


The WAY LORD=YOUR WAY=
IS SURELY LIVE


In the NAME of Jesus OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-20-17




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

LEARNING AND SHARING WITH JESUS

LEARNING AND SHARING WITH JESUS


Today we read about
ONE of my most FAVORITE passages
In all the BIBLE


And one of the very FIRST
That I decided
To COMMIT to memory


“COME to me-all you who
LABOR and are BURDENED


And I will
GIVE YOU REST” Matthew 11:28


And WHO-if any of us-
Are NOT laboring and being burdened
In this crazy-mixed-up-
Daily challenging world
That we live in


Jesus does not promise us a LIFE
WITHOUT burdens-
But he is INVITING us
To bring these burdens
To him


And HE will HELP Us find some rest
In the midst of
OUR DAILY LIVES


“Truly my soul=
Finds REST in God


My salvation COMES from him” Psalm 62:1


“But he said to me-
'My GRACE is SUFFICIENT
For you


For my power
Is more perfect in weakness'


Therefore I will boast
ALL the more clearly
About my weaknesses


So that CHRIST'S POWER
May REST on me” 2 Corinthians 12:9


There ARE many yokes and burdens
In this world-and they come
IN all shapes and sizes


Sometimes we are
CONSTRAINED by financial debt
Some RELATIONSHIPS seem like
They can NEVER be straightened out


And sometimes the STRUGGLE
Is WITHIN OURSELVES
WHERE it seems PEACE OF MIND
Is almost-
IMPOSSIBLE to find


But we LEARN from Jesus
And we SHARE our burdens
With Jesus and the Father


And THEY do help us
FIND REST
They do help us
Find PEACE OF MIND


We just need
To LEARN from Jesus
We just need
To SHARE our burdens
With him


“Now if we are CHILDREN-
Then we are HEIRS-


Heirs of God
And co-heirs with Christ


If indeed
We SHARE in his sufferings
In order
That we may also
Share in his GLORY” Romans 8:17


A deeper relationship
With Jesus
Does not guarantee
A quick fix
To ALL our problems


But when we SHARE with Jesus
He walks by OUR SIDE
Sharing in and HELPING US
SHAPE our lives


And when we LEARN from Jesus
We develop a GREATER TRUST
In God-the FATHER


Dear Lord-HELP US
To live with courage
And take your YOKE
And LEARN from you


In your NAME=Jesus OUR Lord=
And the name of your GLORIOUS FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
7-19-17




Ps INSPIRED BY AN ARTICLE IN LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mark Neilsen

WE ARE NEVER ALONE

WE ARE NEVER ALONE


Has God ever SINGLED
You out for something
In this world?


Of course he has=we ALL
have WORK in this world
That NO ONE ELSE can do


And with that work
COMES God=comes Jesus=
Because they never leave us ALONE
Or abandon us
To fend for ourselves


We are NEVER ALONE=and
That was the case with MOSES


“'Who am I that
I should GO to Pharaoh
And LEAD the children


Of Israel out of Egypt?'


God answered-'I will BE
With you........'” Exodus 3:11-12


Moses questioned himself and
His ability-But God
NEVER did


For IF God gives you a JOB
To do
He GIVES you the necessary talent
To get it done


How about you?
Do you question yourself?


You shouldn't bother-for if God
Gives you a JOB to do=he gave you
The necessary TALENT
To get it done


God DOES NOT leave us alone=
He WALKS with us=he WORKS for us


“They tell of the POWER
Of your awesome works-
And I will PROCLAIM
Your great deeds” Psalm 145:6


“The Lord brought me forth
As the FIRST
Of his WORKS


Before-his deeds of old” Proverbs 8:22


“For it IS by GRACE
You have been SAVED-


Through FAITH-and this is
NOT from yourselves
It is the GIFT OF GOD-


Not by works-
So that NO ONE can boast


For we are ALL GOD'S HANDIWORK
CREATED in Christ Jesus
To do good works


Which God PREPARED in advance
For us to do” Ephesians 2:8-10


Moses was NOT ALONE
God was WITH him
WE are not alone
God and HIS SON-Jesus
Are with us


We have the GRACE and
The TALENT to get things done


There are TIMES in our lives
WHEN our plans can be SHATTERED
By any number of things:


Illness-loss of a job-
The ABRUPT END of a relationship-
A relocation


Sometimes-it is HARD-
To KNOW the way


LET US always REMEMBER
What God said to Moses=
“I WILL BE WITH YOU”


In other WORDS=we don't have
To RELY on our own abilities


For God and HIS SON=
Christ Jesus are
In THIS with us
We are ALL in this TOGETHER


For we
ARE NEVER ALONE


With the HELP of God
Moses got the job done=
So why can't we?


In the names of GOD THE FATHER and
Christ Jesus OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-18-17




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

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOD!

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOD




DID YOU ever notice
How that
WHEN you are in tune
With God
ALL THINGS
SEEM to work out


And it DOESN'T MATTER
IF you are on PLAN A, B, C,
Or even PLAN Z


Things
Just seem to work out
RIGHT-WHEN
You are marching
To GOD'S TUNE
And NOT your own


“WE KNOW
That all things work together
FOR GOOD
For those who LOVE GOD
-and who are called
ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE” Romans 8:28


MARY (OUR mother and MOTHER of God)
Was the very first EXAMPLE
And quite a SUPERB example
At that


WHEN she was
First called
To be the mother
Of Jesus
She initially responded
With GREAT fear and concern


Mary was TROUBLED
When the angel first appeared to her


“And when she saw him
She was troubled
At his saying
And cast in her mind
What manner of salutation
This should be” Luke 1:29


“Then Mary
Said unto the angel
'HOW shall this be
Since I KNOW NOT a man'” Luke 1:34


But Mary
Gradually overcame her apprehension
And STEPPED OUT IN FAITH


And the WHOLE WORLD
Because of her FAITH
Was BLESSED to see a MESSIAH
THE MESSIAH
THE SON OF GOD


THINGS “worked together FOR GOOD”
Because Mary responded POSITIVELY
With faith


WHAT ABOUT US
WHEN our plans of A, B, and C don't work out


Do we
STILL have the faith
To BELIEVE in God
That God can make things
“WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD”
In our lives


IF you are
Reading this today


It is BECAUSE
You are family or friends
And you and I
BOTH STUCK with God's plan
WHEN perhaps
OUR very own plans
Weren't working out


I WANTED
To have a career
MEET a woman
And have a family


But I got hit
With a DEVASTATING ILLNESS
And MADE A PROMISE TO GOD


“TO LIVE for my family-my friends-
And ALL PEOPLE everywhere”


I BELIEVE
Because of that promise
That you are in my life
WITH LOVE


And I do HONESTLY BELIEVE


That WHEN
We learn to TRUST GOD


And let God
LEAD THE WAY
“ALL THINGS
work TOGETHER for GOOD”


NOT ONLY in Mary and Jesus' lives
BUT IN


OUR OWN LIVES AS WELL


Robert P. Wallman
9-10-14


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

ACHIEVING HIS WILL IN US

ACHIEVING HIS WILL IN US


IMAGINE as a parent
You are raising children
That ARE turning out
NOT to be so good


Thinking your TEACHING-your
WORDS-are UTTERED in vain


That IS the way it is with God=
He wants US to GROW UP=
And BE good CHRISTIAN children=
LIVING out of love
And SERVICE to others


“My word
Shall not RETURN to me void


But shall DO my will
ACHIEVING the end
For which I sent it” Isaiah 55:11


As PARENTS=we are PROUD
When our children grow yp
WITH GOOD VALUES


That is the WAY it is with God=
He is proud=when he sees
His words COME ALIVE in us


ACHIEVING his will in us


“I DESIRE to do your WILL my God
Your law
Is WITHIN my heart” Psalm 40:8


Yes Lord
We want to LOVE YOU
We want to love others


We want to LIVE
With kindness and of course-FORGIVENESS


“For whoever-
DOES the WILL of my Father
In heaven


Is my brother-and sister-
And my mother” Matthew 12:50


Yes-YOU GUYS-are my family-
MY brothers and sisters
IN CHRIST


“Instead you ought to say:
'IF it is the LORD'S will


We will LIVE and do this
Or that” James 4:15


Yes dear Lord=like CHRIST=
May your will be ACHIEVED
In us


SOMETIMES we fail to listen
To God's word


TRY as we might-
We get it wrong


OUR goal as parents
Is to raise RESPONSIBLE-
Caring adults-and-


CAPABLE of living loving-
Faith-filled lives


I suspect GOD wants the SAME
For us-to be loving-
And RESPONSIBLE


“The Levites are
To be RESPONSIBLE


For the care
Of the tabernacle
Of the covenant law” Numbers 1:53


“Brothers and sisters-
Each person=
As RESPONSIBLE to God=


Should REMAIN
In the situation


They were in
WHEN God called them” 1 Corinthians 7:24


If we are good parents-
Our teachings=will ACHIEVE its end
In our children


And we are told VERY CLEARLY
GOD'S WORD
Will achieve


“The END for which I sent it”


Dear FRIENDS=let us let God
And CHRIST'S words
COME ALIVE in us


In the NAME of Jesus OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-17-17




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

A LITTLE BIT SHAKY IN OUR FAITH

A LITTLE BIT SHAKY
IN OUR FAITH


Are you like me? Do you wake up
SO SURE of your FAITH that
You TRUST GOD in everything
And anything?


YET there are those other days
WHERE your FAITH is a little
Bit shaky-where you WONDER
How to trust God in anything


We are WOBBLING-yet we are
Trying to CONTINUE
To follow God-to FOLLOW JESUS


“Do NOT be afraid-You are WORTH
MORE than many sparrows” Matthew 10:31


We are AFRAID of what
Might happen-we are wobbling
And yet WE FOLLOW


Unsure of ourselves-yet
CONTINUING to move forward


WHAT keeps us going? We MUST
have some deep-rooted FAITH
We BELIEVE-even though-
We are on shaky ground


OUR FAITH in God
Our BELIEF in God
Keeps us going


Albeit a LITTLE bit shaky
In our faith


“Overhearing what they said
Jesus told him-
'Don't be afraid-JUST BELIEVE'” Mark 5:36


“There was a man SENT from God
Whose name was John


He CAME as a witness
To testify
Concerning that light


So that through him
ALL might believe” John 1:6-7


“IF you declare
With your mouth
'Jesus is Lord'


And BELIEVE in your heart
That GOD RAISED him from the dead


You WILL be saved” Romans 10:9


So WHAT keeps us going-
WHEN we are a little BIT SHAKY
In our faith?


What KEEPS us going when
Our faith and OUR LEGS
Are WOBBLING?


It is just that DEEP DOWN
We KNOW we are WORTH IT
We are WORTH
The LOVE OF GOD


After all=HE MADE US


“What is more
I CONSIDER everything a loss


Because of the surpassing WORTH
Of KNOWING Christ Jesus my Lord
For whose sake


I have lost all things
…...........” Philippians 3:8


“These have come
So that the PROVEN GENUINENESS
Of your faith-


Of GREATER worth than GOLD
Which perishes
Even though REFINED by fire


May RESULT in PRAISE-glory
And HONOR when Jesus Christ
Is REVEALED” 1 Peter 7


YES-we MAY be a little shaky
In our faith


But we KEEP moving FORWARD
In the HOPE
Of spending our ETERNITY
In the PRESENCE OF GOD


For God TELLS US we are
WORTH IT-
Worth MORE than many sparrows


For GOD'S WORD
Is all around us


In the NAME of
Christ JESUS OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-16-17





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

IS THE LORD CALLING YOU?

IS THE LORD CALLING YOU?


SINCE my deathbed confession
And my deathbed PROMISE=
When I was 22=I feel like
The LORD
Has been CALLING ME


Calling me for SERVICE to OTHERS=
Hopefully to be a beacon
Of LIGHT and of FAITH
In today's world


“'Here I am,' he answered” Genesis 46:2


In today's reading-we HEAR
God CALLING Jacob-
“in a VISION by night” ( verse 2)


After Jacob ANSWERS-
“Here I am,”
The Lord ENCOURAGES him
To move forward and do not
Be afraid


Are you READY to answer
The CALL like Jacob?


Are you ready to say-
“HERE I am,” to the Lord God ALMIGHTY?


Say YES to the CALL
Of God


Say yes to the call of Jesus


“BEFORE they call
I will answer


While they are STILL SPEAKING-
I will hear” Isaiah 65:24


“For I have
Not come


To call the righteous
But SINNERS” Matthew 9:13


SINCE we are ALL SINNERS=
That excludes NONE of us=
WE are all=CALLED=
Called by the Lord


The question is=are we going to say:
“Yes-here I am Lord,” like Jacob


And so many others=like Abraham-like Moses=
Like Mother Mary=like Mary Magdalene=JESUS-HIMSELF
And ALL the apostles


Is the Lord calling you
I GUARANTEE that he is


The question is=HOW are
WE going to answer=when
He does call?


HERE I AM LORD


USUALLY we are called
When we are NOT READY-
We are CAUGHT off guard


But WHEN God calls and we
ANSWER-”here I am”-


It indicates a WILLINGNESS-like Mary-
To listen and ACCEPT
God's message-who said=


“I am the LORD'S SERVANT=
May it be DONE=
According to your WORD” Luke 1:38


How ARE we going to answer?
How are we going to RESPOND?
Like Mary?
Like a modern day APOSTLE?


Answer the call=say
“HERE I AM LORD”


EVERYONE of us-have a PURPOSE
In the Lord's world-on this earth-
IS the Lord calling you?


WHAT is your purpose?


“MANY are the plans
IN a person's heart


But it is the LORD'S
PURPOSE that prevails” Proverbs 19:21


OUR CALL often comes in dark
UNCERTAIN times=when we are
UNSURE of ourselves


When your call comes=I ENCOURAGE YOU
To say=”HERE I AM LORD”=
Like Jacob-like the apostles=and
Like Jesus himself


And move FORWARD with openness and confidence
That you can ACCOMPLISH
Your PURPOSE in life


HERE WE ARE=LORD!


Robert P. Wallman
7-15-17





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

HERE TO SERVE

HERE TO SERVE


I think=SOMETIMES as Christians=
We FORGET that Jesus
Sent us into the world
To SERVE OTHERS


NOT to be served=and
We are to serve
Without COUNTING the cost


“Without cost-you have RECEIVED
Without cost
You are to GIVE” Matthew 10:8


In other words=we are to give
ALL that we have-
Just as Jesus himself did


This is the DIRECTIONS
Jesus GAVE to us
This is the guidelines
WE ARE to live by


For we are HERE
To SERVE


“'Do NOT be afraid'-Samuel replied-
'You have DONE all this evil


Yet do not turn away
From the Lord


But SERVE the Lord
With ALL YOUR HEART
…......'” 1 Samuel 12:20


“IF we are thrown
Into the blazing furnace


The GOD WE SERVE
Is ABLE to deliver us
From it


And he WILL deliver us
From Your Majesty's hand” Daniel 3:17


“You my brothers and sisters
Were CALLED to be free


But do NOT USE
Your freedom
To indulge the flesh


Rather-SERVE one another-
HUMBLY IN LOVE” Galatians 5:13


The apostles UNDERSTOOD
That they were hand PICKED
By Jesus


And that they had been
Given precious GIFTS OF GRACE


The apostles understood that
They were to SERVE GOD
And OTHERS


They understood that
They had been given SPECIAL
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS


That had been FREELY
Bestowed on them
And that they were to GIVE
These BLESSINGS to others
Without counting the COST


HERE TO SERVE=
For free
We are to give
WITHOUT counting the cost


We live=PROBABLY=during
The most SELFISH times
In history=
Yet selfishness is an
Anti-Christian attitude


HOW did we get it so WRONG?


“TURN my heart
Toward your statutes


And NOT toward
Selfish gain” Psalm 119:36


“An unfriendly person
PURSUES selfish gain


And against ALL sound judgment
Starts quarrels” Proverbs 18:1


God has=JESUS has=given us
GOOD things in life


The good things that we have
FREELY received is not only
For ourselves=but ALL OTHERS


The EXAMPLE-the model- is Jesus
He was HERE TO SERVE


So it is for us=to be HERE=
To follow Jesus=
And SERVE all others


In the name of Jesus=OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-14-17




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Fr. James McKarns

PUT A LITTLE HUG IN YOUR LIFE

PUT A LITTLE HUG IN YOUR LIFE


I LOVE TO HUG!
Nothing says-”I LOVE YOU”-
Like a hug


And it is COMPLETELY
Asexual=you can HUG ANYONE


“But see=the EYES of the Lord
Are upon those
Who fear him........” Psalm 33:18


There is NOTHING like a hug
To CONVEY ACCEPTANCE and love=
PUT a little HUG
IN YOUR LIFE


Awhile back=some 30-40 years ago=
There was a radio disc jockey
That used to say:
“You NEED 14 HUGS a day
To survive”


And I tell EVERYONE that
I want to SURVIVE-
How about you?


GIVE SOMEONE a HUG today
14 if you dare
LOVE your relatives
And your friends


A hug is a SIGN of love
A sign of BEING HUMAN


“What is MANKIND
That you are mindful
Of them?


HUMAN BEINGS that you
CARE for them?” Psalm 8:4


“Lord-what are HUMAN BEINGS
That you CARE for them?


Mere mortals
That you think of them?” Psalm 144:3


“You SHOW
That you are a letter
From Christ


The RESULT of our ministry
Written NOT with ink
But with the SPIRIT
Of the LIVING GOD


No on tablets of stone
But on tablets
OF HUMAN HEARTS” 2 Corinthians 3:3


Show someone your HEART
Show someone your HUMANITY
Show someone LOVE


GIVE someone a hug
PUT a LITTLE HUG
In your life


Sadly-we all LOSE
That sense of wonder
That we HAD as children


What could be more CHILD-LIKE=
Innocent like=than giving someone
A HUG


Put the CHILD BACK into your life
Put the WONDER
Back in your life


Give someone a HUG TODAY


“IF a prophet
Or one who foretells
By dreams


APPEARS among you
And announces to you
A SIGN OF WONDER
….....” Deuteronomy 13:1


“Show me the WONDERS
Of your great love


You-who SAVE-
By your right hand
Those who take refuge
In you


From their foes” Psalm 17:7


Dear God-dear LORD
SLOW my pace and OPEN my eyes


And give me a HEAVENLY HUG


As I=with child-like WONDER=
PUT a little HUG
Into the LIVES of others-today


14=IF I CAN


In the NAME OF JESUS=our LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-13-17




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

FILLED WITH HIS PRESENCE

FILLED WITH HIS PRESENCE


When you wake up-in the morning
Do you CRAVE
For the PRESENCE OF GOD?


I do=I can't wait
To FEEL his presence-I can't wait
To FEEL the touch of God


“.........
On waking-
I shall be CONTENT in your PRESENCE” Psalm 17:15


Some days are SLOWER
Than others=
I wake up sluggish
And am slow to move


But I try to SPEND
Some time with God=
SAYING my prayers-my ROSARY=
And feel the PRESENCE of God


“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 FILL me with JOY
In your PRESENCE” Acts 2:28


Some other days=I wake up
And am READY to go


But I take a MOMENT
To REMEMBER that God
Was up before me


And he did MORE while I slept
Than I can get done
IN my ENTIRE lifetime


This HELPS me to SHAPE
My PRIORITIES for the day
And to make SURE
GOD is definitely
The MAIN ONE


FILLED WITH the PRESENCE
Of God


“Praise be
To HIS glorious name forever


MAY the whole earth
Be FILLED with his glory
Amen and amen” Psalm 72:19


“The earth
Is FILLED with your LOVE-Lord


Teach me your decrees” Psalm 119:64


“After they PRAYED
The place where they
Were meeting=was shaken


And they
Were all FILLED
With the Holy Spirit


And spoke
The word of GOD BOLDLY” Acts 4:31


Well-however you wake up
TAKE a moment
To realize


That the Lord
Is already PRESENT=and is there
In the MIDST of his day


He WATCHES over you all night
And is READY to
Walk with you
THROUGHOUT your day


Dear Lord-
WHEN we wake up
HELP us to know
That you are already THERE


And we will BE FILLED
WITH YOUR PRESENCE


As we GO about our day


In the NAME of Jesus OUR LORD


Robert P. Wallman
7-11-17




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

GOD IS THERE=IN THE ORDINARY PLACES OF MY LIFE

GOD IS THERE=
(IN THE ORDINARY PLACES OF LIFE)


Have you EVER gone on
A RETREAT?=ONE of my
Favorite things to do


It is USUALLY in a
Secluded place and it is EASY
To FIND God there


I can ALWAYS find God there


“Truly=the Lord
Is in this place=


Although I did not know it” Genesis 28:16


But when we COME out of
Our “RETREAT HIGH”=and go back
To our EVERYDAY life=it is
NOT always quite so easy
To REMEMBER that God is there


God is there
In the ORDINARY places
Of life


Can you find God in the course
Of a MUNDANE and ordinary
Day=WHEN


We are UP to our elbows
In dishes


In the middle of spreadsheets
On the computer


Or when our baby or CHIILDREN
Are upset?
Not quite so easy then=IS IT?


It is IMPORTANT to remember
That HE is there too=in the
ORDINARY moments of our life
GOD IS EVERYWHERE!


He is in the ordinary events
Of our life=and ordinary PEOPLE
Like you and me


You don't have to be a priest
Or a minister to have God
LIVING in you


“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


We KNOW that God is
EVERYWHWERE=he is with us=
In the kitchen-
At the office-and with us
WHEN we are with our children


He is always PRESENT with us-
If we just pay a little bit
Of attention


“Listen-my sons-to
A father's instruction


Pay ATTENTION and gain understanding” Proverbs 4:1


“Pay attention
And TURN your ear
To the saying of the wise


Apply your HEART
To what I teach” Proverbs 22:17


“We must pay
The most CAREFUL attention-
Therefore


To what we have heard
So what we
Do NOT drift away” Hebrews 2:1


We MUST pay attention to
The fact that God is there
WHEREVER I am


In church-on retreat-and in the ORDINARY
Places of my life


Dear Lord=Be with me at my “PLACE”
Wherever I am=and wherever I may GO


In the name of Jesus OUR LORD=and HIS
MOST LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
7-10-17




Ps Inspired by anarticle in LIVING FAITH MGAZINE by Steve Givens

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND OUR SALVATION

GOD IS MY REFUGE AND MY SALVATION




Did you ever look
At life styles
From the past
And wonder
HOW people survived


The old WEST
For instance
Or years and years ago
WHEN the wild animals
Roamed the earth


Life was indeed dangerous


“Keep me-O God-for in you
I take REFUGE” Psalm 16:1


But then I stop and think
That the world is NO LESS
Dangerous today


I become disheartened
About where the world
Is heading today


The lying-the deceit-
The violence of people
In today's world


The lack of integrity
The lack of honesty
In today's world
(And I could go on and on)


“TASTE and see
That the Lord
Is good


BLESSED is the one
Who takes REFUGE in him” Psalm 34:8


“EVERY WORD of God
Is flawless


He is a shield
To those
Who take refuge in him” Proverbs 30:5


God is
MY REFUGE AND MY SALVATION


WHO do you run to
In times of trouble
In this world


For me IT'S GOD
And then my FAMILY


We live
In a world
WHERE morality-charitable acts-
And faith and ethical behavior
Seem to be in SHORT SUPPLY


We live
In a world
WHERE terrorists-villainous characters-
Greed-and dishonesty
MAKE all the headlines


BUT we live
In a world
WHERE we have God


We live in a world
Where we have each other


And we live
In a world
Where we still have
THE BIBLE


And because of
ALL of this
We still have HOPE


“Heaven and earth
Will pass away


But my words
WILL NEVER PASS AWAY” Matthew 24:35


And these stories
From Scripture
LIFT ME UP
And give me HOPE


Noah found REFUGE
Because of his faith


Job PERSEVERED IN FAITH
UNTIL his health and livelihood
Were restored


Their SALVATION
Was in the Lord
The SAME
As yours and mine are


Salvation means to be SAVED
Or protected from harm
Or being saved
From a dire situation


Who-BUT GOD-can do this
For us
God and his Son Jesus Christ


“And ALL PEOPLE
Will see GOD'S SALVATION” Luke 3:6
(As written in the book of Isaiah)


Simple but TRUE


GOD IS MY REFUGE-
AND MY SALVATION


Robert P. Wallman
9-11-15




Ps INSPIRED by an article in Living Faith Magazine by Deborah Meister

REMEMBERING THE GOODNESS OF GOD

REMEMBERING THE GOODNESS OF GOD
There is NOTHING more brighter
In my day=than waking up=
And REMEMBERING the GOODNESS
Of God
REMEMBERING all the GOOD God
Has bestowed on me in
This life=including LIFE ITSELF
"PRAISE the Lord-
For the Lord is GOOD=
Sing praise to his name
Which we LOVE"                                                                                     Psalm 135:3
We praise God because
Of the DIVINE GIFTS that
SHOW itself in the many
Gifts and BLESSINGS
We receive each day
Sometimes I think
We become UNAWARE of how much
We in fact=have been BLESSED
We FORGET how much God
Really LOVES US and how he DELIGHTS
In bestowing his GOODNESS
And BLESSINGS upon us
I think maybe today
Might be a GOOD TIME
To REMEMBER the actual BLESSINGS
He has given to us
"However=the Lord your God
Would NOT listen to Balaam
And TURNED the curse
Into a BLESSING for you
Because
The LORD your God
LOVES YOU"                                                                               Deuteronomy 23:5
"The BLESSING of the Lord
Brings wealth
Without painful toil for it"                                                          Proverbs 10:22
"I will make them
And the PLACES
Surrounding my hill
A BLESSING
I will send them
SHOWERS in season
There will be showers
Of BLESSING"                                                                                        EzeKiel 34:26
And THAT is what I think of
WHEN I think of God=
The SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS
In my life
The 40 years of EXTENDED LIFE
That I never expected to have=
The BEAUTIFUL PARENTS=sisters=
EXTENDED family=and friends=God has BLESSED
Me with=and churches
He has PROVIDED for me=LIFE=
Through all of them
I think of HOW God
Has GUIDED ME in the times=
That I have FELT LOST
And I am grateful for
The BEAUTY of the earth=and even
MY eyes=that God has given me
To OBSERVE it
There are SIGNS of GOD'S GOODNESS
All around=and the list could go
On and on
"For the Lord God
Is a SUN and a shield
The Lord BESTOWS favor and honor
No good thing
Does he withhold
From those
Whose WALK is blameless"                                                                 Psalm 84:11
"WHOEVER seeks good=finds favor=
But evil comes to those
Who search for it"                                                                       Proverbs 11:27
My DEAR FRIENDS=REMEMBER=
THE GOODNESS OF GOD
In this world
WHERE do you SEE GOD
In your life?  Where did
You find good?
How does the AWARENESS of
GOD'S GOODNESS AND LOVE
Brighten your day?
My dear friends=WHEREVER you find
GOODNESS during the course of the day=
THERE IS GOD
REMEMBER IT=in the NAME of
Jesus our Lord=and his FATHER=God
Robert P. Wallman
7-7-17
Ps         INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Fr. Kenneth
              Grabner, C.S.C.

MAKE GOD A PRIORITY

MAKE GOD A PRIORITY
(CHANGE=FOR THE BETTER)
WHAT WOULD YOU DO=If Jesus=
Said to you="FOLLOW ME?"
Somehow-when READING and praying
The scriptures=it is easy for us
To IMAGINE us doing just that
In today's gospel=that is EXACTLY
What the gospel writer=Saint Matthew does
"He said to him-'FOLLOW ME'-And he got up
And followed him"                                                                                   Matthew 9:9
And yet somehow-today-
WHEN we read the gospel
When we PRAY
When we feel like
God is ASKING something of us
We DRAG our feet
We resist
And we worry about
How what God is ASKING of us
Is going to INTERFERE
With our own plans
We NEED to Make God
A PRIORITY in our lives
We need to CHANGE for
THE BETTER
We need to LOVE GOD and
Others first=and ourselves second
CAN we really do that?
YES we can really do that
We CAN make God a PRIORITY
In our lives-
Yes we really can
CHANGE for the better
"If you really change your ways
And your ACTIONS-
And deal with each other justly
If you do NOT
Oppress the foreigner-
The fatherless-or the widow
And do NOT shed innocent blood
In this place
And if you do not follow
OTHER gods
To your own harm
........"                                                                                             Jeremiah 7:5-6
YES=the EXTENSION of the
Offer of Jesus to Matthew=
APPLIES to all of us=
"COME FOLLOW ME"
We just need to say YES
To God=yes to Jesus
When we do=we can't help
But become different=we can't HELP
But serving and INFLUENCINING others
And we will CHANGE=
For the BETTER
"We too=
Will SERVE the Lord
Because he is OUR GOD"                                                                    Joshua 24:18
"You my brothers and sisters
Were called to be FREE
But do NOT use your freedom
To indulge the flesh
Rather=SERVE one another=
HUMBLY IN LOVE"                                                                                Galatians 5:13
We CAN make GOD
A PRIORITY=we can
Change FOR THE BETTER
Through each act of SELFLESS LOVE
Our hearts and minds
Become JOINED more closely
To Christ
Dear Lord=we PRAY that you=
Give us the COURAGE
To FOLLOW you more CLOSELY
And let you
CHANGE OUR LIVES
In the NAME of JESUS OUR LORD
Robert P. Wallman
7-6-17

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

FIGHTING THE EVIL IN OUR OWN LIVES

FIGHTING THE EVIL IN OUR LIVES
We ALL have to fight evil
In our lives=it would be GREAT
If were ALL of PURE HEART=
In this world
But UNFORTUNATELY=that is NOT the way
Our world=or our lives work=IS IT?
Jesus CONFRONTED the evil of
His DAY=and was PURE OF HEART=
Pure of mind=and pure of SOUL
He was=HE IS
The most PERFECT being
That ever lived
We TOO have to FIGHT
The DECEIT=the dishonesty=the
IMPURE HEARTS that Jesus faced
"When the poor one
Called out
The Lord HEARD.........."                                                                                                          Psalm 34:7
The fact that Jesus-
DROVE out evil in others-
PERFORMED exorcisms
Is well DOCUMENTED
In the gospels
EVEN those fighting with Jesus
ADMITTED he could drive out demons-
They just questioned
The SOURCE of his power=claiming
It was demonic
"PROCLAIM the power of God
Whose majesty is over Israel
Whose POWER is in the heavens"                                                                                               Psalm 68:34
"The wise PREVAIL
Through GREAT POWER
And those who have knowledge
Muster their STRENGTH"                                                                                                    Proverbs 24:5
"But you will
RECEIVE POWER
When the HOLY SPIRIT
Comes on you
And you WILL be my WITNESSES
In Jerusalem
And in all Judea
And Samaria
And to the ENDS
Of the earth"                                                                                                                          Acts 1:8
Of course=to be PROPER WITNESSES
Of God and Jesus
In this life
We must first DEFEAT
The evil=the dark forces
In our own life=
And BECOME PURE
EASIER said than done
Evil is often HIDDEN=which makes it
More DIFFICULT to get at=
But sometimes it confronts us DIRECTLY
And it is easy to
FEEL OVERWHELMED=and feel like
We are NO MATCH
For the dark forces
But when we CALL on Jesus-
Call on his HOLY NAME=and
Through his SPIRIT
We FIND the strength=the
Power to BATTLE=and even WIN
The war within ourselves
"This is what the Lord
SAYS to you-
'Do NOT be afraid
Or discouraged
Because of this vast army
Fot the BATTLE is
Not yours=BUT GOD'S'"                                                                                                       2 Chronicles 20:15
"Who is the KING OF GLORY?
The Lord strong and mighty
The Lord mighty in BATTLE"                                                                                                  Psalm 24:8
CALL on the NAME OF GOD
The force and POWER of Christ=
And you will WIN-
The battle=the FIGHT
With evil in your own life
JUST AS JESUS DID
Robert P. Wallman
7-5-17

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