PREPARED OR UNPREPARED?

PREPARED OR UNPREPARED?


The Lord is COMING again
To JUDGE us all


Will you BE
ONE of the PREPARED
Or one of the unprepared?


“Therefore=stay AWAKE=
For you know NEITHER
The day or the hour” Matthew 25:13


TODAY=we have the story
Of the TEN VIRGINS=
Five=who are prepared=
And five=of who are UNPREPARED


Five brought oil for
Their lamps=to MEET
The bridegroom
And five were unprepared=
WITHOUT the oil for their lamps


They were GONE looking
For oil=when the bridegroom came
And MISSED their chance


How about you?
Will you be PREPARED=
When the LORD comes back?


Or will you be out
LOOKING for something? Will
He find you UNPREPARED
When he comes?


“You PREPARE a table
Before me
In the PRESENCE
Of my enemies


You anoint my head
With OIL
My cup overflows” Psalm 23:5


“However=as it is written=


'What no eye has seen
What no ear has heard


And what no human mind
Has conceived--------


The things God has PREPARED
For those who LOVE HIM--------'” 1 Corinthians 2:9


“For we are=GOD'S handiwork
CREATED in Christ Jesus
To do good works


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


These words=”STAY AWAKE”
STICK with me=AM I ready
For the LORD?


Am I LIVING in love=kindness=
And forgiveness? Am I living the BEATITUDES?
Are you? Are you STAYING AWAKE?


“As for me=I will
Be vindicated=and will
See your face


When I AWAKE
I will be satisfied
With seeing your likeness” Psalm 17:15


“So then=
Let us NOT BE
Like others
Who are asleep


But let us BE AWAKE
And sober” 1 Thessalonians 5:6


YES!=let us stay AWAKE
Let us be PREPARED
For the COMING of the Lord


Let us be READY
To MEET the bridegroom
When he comes


Let us have our OIL=
And ALL of our GIFTS
Like the five virgins


Let us be PREPARED
For the COMING OF THE LORD!


In the names of Jesus and his ALMIGHTY=all LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-31-18




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

ARE YOU READY FOR THE LORD?

ARE YOU READY FOR THE LORD?


ONE of these days
The LORD is coming back


Are you READY for him?


Chances are=he will
COME to an unknown person/or people
And at an UNKNOWN TIME
And unknown situation
Just like the FIRST TIME


“STAY AWAKE!=for you do NOT KNOW
On which day
Your Lord will come” Matthew 24:42


Stay awake=are you READY
For the LORD?
Are you ready
For his SECOND COMING?


“Now=brothers and sisters=
ABOUT times and dates
We do not need
To WRITE to you


For you know very well
That the DAY
Of the Lord
Will come=like a thief
In the night” 1 Thessalonians 5:2


“But the DAY of the Lord
Will come like a thief” 2 Peter 3:10


WHO is ready for
A thief?=NONE of us
And no one
Will be ready
For the SECOND COMING
Of the Lord


All human beings
Must LEARN to be attentive=
We human beings=are LAX
In paying close attention
We are=EASILY DISTRACTED


The life of a CHRISTIAN
Invites us to see
Our surroundings=to SEE
Our neighbors=deeply and clearly
With LOVE


We MISSED the coming
Of the LORD ONCE=
Will we MISS him again?
Are your ready for the second
COMING of the LORD?


NONE of us know
When the Lord
IS coming back


The JEWISH people missed
Him the first time


It is entirely POSSIBLE
That the Christian people
Will miss him TOO


For=IF you look around
Our country=LOOK around our world
It does not look a TIME
When anyone is READY


“Sow righteousness for yourselves
REAP the fruit
Of UNFAILING LOVE


And break up
Your unplowed ground
For it is TIME
To seek the LORD
Until he comes


And SHOWERS his righteousness
On you” Hosea 10:12


Dear Lord=we PRAY=that
You help us BE READY
For your SECOND COMING


And LIVE with love=
Forgiveness=and FAITHFULNESS
Until that TIME


In Jesus' name=UNTIL the SECOND COMING of the LORD


Robert P. Wallman
8-30-18




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

PRESSING ON WITH THE TRUTH

PRESSING ON WITH THE TRUTH


There are many
SMALL and FEARFUL people
In this world


They feel UNCOMFORTABLE
When we speak
The GOOD NEWS
Of the gospel


When we PRESS ON
With the LORD'S TRUTH
Of love-forgiveness-and KINDNESS


Or when we have a NEED
To CONFRONT them


“The king was deeply distressed
By his stepdaughter's REQUEST


But because of his OATHS
And the guests
He did not wish
To BREAK his word to her” Mark 6:26


Today we read
Of the PASSION
Of John the BAPTIST
And his CHALLENGE
Of the king's marriage


PRESSING ON with the TRUTH=
SHARING THE GOSPEL!


“But they found out
About it=and fled to
The Lycaonian cities of
Lystra and Derbe


And to the surrounding country
Where they
Continued to PREACH the GOSPEL” Acts 14:6-7


“He gave me
The priestly duty
Of proclaiming
The GOSPEL of God


So that the Gentiles
Might become an offering
ACCEPTABLE by God=
Sanctified by the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:16


John was charismatic
And UNCONCERNED about what others
Thought of him


He was UNAFRAID
To speak the TRUTH
In any situation


King Herod made a promise
To his stepdaughter=and for that
John was beheaded and killed


PRESSING ON with the TRUTH
No matter
What the consequences


“When hard PRESSED
I cried to the Lord


He brought me into
A spacious place” Psalm 18:5


“I PRESS ON
Toward the goal
To win the prize


For which GOD
Has called me
Heavenward in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14


So we PRESS ON
With the TRUTH=we PRESS
ON=sharing the GOSPEL


Despite the PRESENCE
Of many
SMALL and fearful people
In this world


We PRESS ON=BLESSED
By the opportunity to be
FOOLS FOR Jesus


Dear Lord=help us to=
Like John=and your SON=JESUS=
Speak the truth
With COMPASSION and confidence
In today's world


In Jesus' name=the name of his COUSIN=John=and that
Of the ALMIGHTY FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-29-18




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

NEGLECTING THE PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND MERCY FOR OTHERS

NEGLECTING THE PRINCIPLES
OF MERCY AND JUSTICE FOR OTHERS


WE all have lives
To lead=
Nothing wrong about that


But sometimes we get
So CAUGHT UP in
Our own lives=we fail
To NOTICE


When someone else
Is dealt a RAW HAND=
When LIFE turns its back
On them


Forgetting compassion=
NEGLECTING the principles
Of MERCY AND JUSTICE
For others


It's NOT that we mean to=
Sometimes we ARE so
Caught up in our own lives
We JUST don't notice=when OTHERS
Are dealt that raw hand


“Blind guides=
Who strain out the gnat
And SWALLOW the camel” Matthew 23:24


Have you ever
Accidentally swallowed a gnat?


IF you have=then you
Know how TINY that they are
Compared to a camel


Jesus USES this image
To point out
How easily


We can get caught up
In MINOR MATTERS=especially
If OUR OWN LIVES


And have NEGLECTED to
FEEL MERCY and JUSTICE=for others
Who are really IN NEED


I know we are all GUILTY
Of that at certain times


Feel the MERCY
Feel the JUSTICE
FEEL the compassion
For others


“Have MERCY on me
My GOD
Have MERCY on me


For in you
I take refuge
I WILL take refuge


In the shadow
Of your wings
UNTIL the disaster has passed” Psalm 57:1


“Woe to you
Teachers of the law
And Pharisees---you HYPOCRITES!


You give a tenth
Of your spices=mint=dill
And cumin


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


Dear Lord=we LIVE in a
Very fast paced WORLD


Please help us to NEVER
Get so caught up in
Our own lives


That we NEGLECT to reach out
With MERCY AND JUSTICE
To others IN NEED


IN the names of Jesus and OUR
ALL LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-28-18




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

DON'T UNDER ESTIMATE THE POWER OF GOD=Saint Monica

DON'T UNDER ESTIMATE THE
POWER OF GOD=Saint Monica


Have you EVER
Under estimated
The POWER of God


ONLY to have him
Come THROUGH=and change
A situation in YOUR LIFE?


I have=over and OVER AGAIN


“We always PRAY for you=
That our God make you WORTHY
Of his calling........” 2 Thessalonians 1:11


Saint Monica was a 4th-century Saint=
But she is NEEDED in
This world=as much today
AS EVER


For the CHILDREN


Her son=was LIVING
A wayward life=and he was
NOT a BLEIEVER in God


Saint Monica spent years
On her knees=PRAYING=
For the conversion
Of her son


At the END of her life=
Her son=Augustine=was NOT
Only converted


But became a bishop
And a DOCTOR of the church


FOR THE CHILDREM=don't under estimate
The power of God


THE SAVING POWER OF GOD


“You SAVE the humble
But bring low those


Whose eyes
Are haughty” Psalm 18:27


“She will give birth
To a son
And you are to give him
The name Jesus


Because he will
SAVE his people
From their sins” Matthew 1:21


“Therefore=he is able
To SAVE=completely
Those who come to GOD
Through him


Because he always loves
To INTERCEDE for them” Hebrews7:25


STILL TODAY=many mothers
And fathers=still WEEP
For the LIVES of their children


They have been LOST TO
Drugs=alcohol=pornography=and
LORD only knows=what else


And many of
These same children
Have TURNED away from
Their FAITH


What else CAN
A PARENT DO?


Pray to Saint MONICA=
Be a GOOD example=
And don't under estimate
The POWER OF GOD


“For I am
NOT ashamed of the GOSPEL


Because it is the POWER OF GOD
That brings salvation
To everyone who BELIEVES


First to the Jew
Then to the Gentile” Romans 1:16


NEVER UNDER ESTIMATE the POWER
Of the LORD=working through
The tears and PRAYERS
Of a child's parents


ASK SAINT MONICA


In the name of Jesus=and the POWER of
THE ALMIGHTY FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-27-18




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

CHOOSING TO SERVE GOD FIRST

CHOOSING TO SERVE GOD FIRST


We all have a MANTRA=
A CODE if you will=or
A MISSION STATEMENT=
For our lives


Mine has always been
To PUT GOD and FAMILY FIRST


“As for me and MY HOUSELOLD=
We will SERVE THE LORD” Joshua 24:15


Joshua was a GREAT warrior=
But he KNEW more than that


He knew to PUT GOD FIRST=
For himself and for
His FAMILY


When he FACED a challenge=
Or a decision in LIFE=
He ALWAYS put God first


WE should do so well=
As WHEN we have a decision=
Or face a challenge=
To always
PUT GOD and FAMILY FIRST


There are many WAYS
To make decisions and
There are many ways
To CHOOSE our
NEXT STEPS in life


But the ONLY way
To CHOOSE the will of God
Is to SERVE God first


And put GOD above everything else


“But seek FIRST
His kingdom and his righteousness


And ALL these things
Will be GIVEN to you
As well” Matthew 6:33


“But many who are FIRST
Will be last
And the last=FIRST” Mark 10:31


“We LOVE because
He FIRST loved us” 1 John 4:19


CHOOSE to SERVE God first=
Because God & FAMILY
Are NUMBER ONE=in our lives


We will FIND=that
Everything else=will FALL
Into its proper place


IF we choose to
SERVE God first=and we
PUT our home and family
UNDER GOD'S SERVICE


God will NEVER let us down=
Even in the midst
Of loss=and serious challenges


“Therefore=I GLORY
In Christ Jesus
In my SERVICE to God” Romans 15:17


“You know that
The household of Stephanas
Were the FIRST converts


In Achaia
And they have
Devoted themselves to SERVICE
Of the Lord's PEOPLE” 1 Corinthians 16:15


Dear Lord=TODAY=like Joshua=
MY FAMILY and I
CHOOSE to SERVE YOU FIRST


And let everything else
Ride on you


WE CHOSE to SERVE you Lord=
FIRST and ALWAYS


In the names of Jesus=and the LIGHT
Of the DIVINE FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-26-18




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

A MOTHER AND HER LOST CHILD=Saints Monica and Augustine

WITNESS




6-7-13




A MOTHER AND HER LOST CHILD






Do you know the story
Of Monica---and her lost child---Augustine
A Mother
With a lost grown-up child


Any mother---or any parent
For that matter
Knows the pain
Of having a child
Who has made some wrong decisions
And are on the road to destruction


They are unable to help themselves
And you their Mother ---their parent
Are unable to help them either


This is the story of two such people---Monica and Augustine


Monica was married to a pagan man
Or a nominal Christian at best
Her mother-in-law lived with them
And created further difficulties for her


Monica was the mother
Of 3 children
But it was her son, Augustine
Who brought her dismay
And ultimately great glory


Augustine was
Brought up a Christian by his mother
But was never baptized


Augustine completely turned away from God
And renounced the Christian faith


He became a notorious womanizer
And partier
He lived with a mistress
For 15 years
And even had a son


Monica was angry at him at first
Refused to even let him in to her house
But after awhile
Turned to God
With patience and prayer
For his conversion


She decided
To never ever give up on her child


I plead with you
As a mother
As a parent
To never ever give up
On your child


No matter
How much pain and suffering
They may be causing you


Augustine eventually
Returned to God
Became baptized
And went on to become
A Saint, and one of the great writers and thinkers
Of his time
And a Doctor of the church


ALL because
He had a mother---he had a parent
That refused
To give up on him


Saint Monica is seen
As the mother of ALL CHRISTIAN mothers


At her last illness, and death, she said,


“Nothing in this world
Now gives me pleasure
I so not know what there is left
For me to do
Or why I am still here
All my HOPES
In this world are now fulfilled”


Monica died a fulfilled mother---a fulfilled parent


I plead with you
To never ever give up on your child


To help them
With your patience and your prayers


AND TURN THEM OVER TO GOD


Robert P. Wallman
8-11-11


AUGUST 27^th is the feast day of Saint Monica
August 28^th-the feast day of Saint Augustine




Ps WITNESS 6-7-13


8-27-14

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH


I write a LOT
Of things=I SAY
A lot of things


I TRY very hard
To DO what I write
But I do FAIL from
TIME TO TIME


PRACTICE what you PREACH


“The scribes and the Pharisees
Have taken their seat
On the chair of MOSES


Therefore=
Do and observe all things
Whatsoever they tell you


But do NOT FOLOW
Their example


For they preach
But they do NOT PRACTICE” Matthew 23:2-3


This passage
Really HITS HOME
Because we all
FAIL from time to time


I want to BE perfect
I want to follow
CHRIST'S EXAMPLE


We NEED to practice
What we PREACH
We need to FOLLOW
Jesus' EXAMPLE


“He said to them
'GO into all the world
And PREACH the gospel
To all CREATION'” Mark 16:15


“For I am NOT ashamed
Of the GOSPEL


Because it is the POWER of God
That brings salvation
To everyone who believes


First to the JEW
Then to the GENTILE” Romans 1:16


“For what we PREACH
Is not ourselves
But Jesus Christ
As LORD


And ourselves
As your servants
For Jesus' sake” 2 Corinthians 4:5


I try VERY HARD
To LIVE what I write
I hope I get
It right=ALMOST all of
The time


For I DO NOT want
To be a hypocrite=I
Do not want to SAY
One thing=and live another


I want to LIVE
By the EXAMPLE of Jesus Christ


“I have set you
AN EXAMPLE
That you should do


As I have done
For you” John 13:15


“FOLLOW my EXAMPLE=as I
Follow the EXAMPLE of Christ” 1 Corinthians 11:1


Dear LORD=Jesus had it RIGHT=
Saint Paul had it right


HELP US to follow their example
And PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH


DOING what CHRIST TAUGHT US
Is the BEST course of action=
Help us ALWAYS=to=
PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH


In Jesus' name and the name of the ALMIGHTY LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-25-18




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

CALLING OUT TO THE LORD

CALLING OUT TO THE LORD


On any given day
You can HEAR a lot
Of people


CALLING on the Lord
On radio=television=you tube and MANY
OTHER internet services


We find them calling
On the LORD
For all sorts of REASONS


They call on the Lord to
PROVIDE them with something=
That they were CHOSEN by God=
On WHY we should VOTE
For a particular candidate


CALLING OUT=? In truth
To the Lord


“The Lord is NEAR
To all who call
Upon him


To all who CALL upon him
IN TRUTH” Psalm 145:18


IS the Lord
Calling all of us?


Yes= to COME TO
His KINGDOM=but NOT
In any other ways


Since many of our claims
Are CONTRADICTORY


So HOW do we FIND OUT
Who is the LORD
Really calling?
WHO is really
On the LORD'S
SPIRITUAL PATH?


Look for TRUTH!
Truth is OBJECTIVE=
It chooses NO SIDES


CALLING out to the LORD
IN TRUTH


“The king said to him
'How many times
MUST I make you swear
To tell me
Nothing but the TRUTH


In the name
Of the LORD?'” 1 Kings 22:16


“The one
Whose walk is blameless
Who does


What is righteous
Who speaks the TRUTH
From their HEART” Psalm 15:2


“.........Teaching you
To be honest
And SPEAK the TRUTH


So that you bring back
TRUTHFUL reports


To those that you SERVE?” Proverbs 22:21


On thing that I ALWAYS
Look for=
In those=CALLING out to
The Lord


Is it OBJECTIVE?=
Or do they seek CREDIT
For themselves=and do they
Seek APPLAUSE


The TRULY holy people
Always GIVE MUCH MORE
Than they take


And they are CONTENT
In receiving
ONLY what they NEED


Dear Lord=may we always
CALL OUT to you in TRUTH
And in HUMILITY


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
8-24-18




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

THE REAL LORD CLEANSES US

THE REAL LORD CLEANSES US


I think we ALL=as
We MOVE through our day
Have a tendency
To put some things FIRST
Above God


Which one of us
Wouldn't want to BE
CLEANSED from our IDOLS?


I know I would=and
I HOPE certainly=right now
God is at WORK
To DO just that


And MAYBE in you too


“........and from all your idols
I WILL CLEANSE YOU” Ezekiel 36:25


WHEN I EXAMINE the meaning
Of an idol=I certainly
REALIZE that we all have SOME


An idol is ANYTHING
That we PUT ABOVE GOD
That we put in FIRST place
In our life


Examine your LIFE=
Who or what is IN first place
In your life?


The REAL LORD cleanses us


“TEST me Lord=
And try me
EXAMINE my heart
And my mind” Psalm 26:2


“Let us
EXAMINE our ways
And test them


And let us
RETURN to the LORD” Lamentations 3:40


“EXANINE YOURSELF
To see whether
You are in the FAITH
Test yourselves


Do you not realize
That Christ Jesus is
IN YOU--------


Unless of course
You fail the test” 2 Corinthians 13:5


Let us take the PRAYER
From Ezekiel above=about
CLEANING us
And let us PRAY=


“CLEANSE ME from
All my idols=please”
And REPEAT it several times
EACH day


Dear Lord we PRAY=
The REAL LORD=
Please CLEANSE us
From our idols


“The one
Who has CLEAN hands
And a PURE HEART


Who does not trust
In an idol
Or SWEAR by a false god” Psalm 24:4


“How much more then
Will the blood of CHRIST


Who through the ETERNAL SPIRIT
Offered himself=unblemished
To God


CLEANSE our consciences
From acts that lead to death
So that we may SERVE
THE LIVING GOD!” Hebrews 9:14


Dear Lord=help us CLEANSE ourselves
So that we can CLEAR our conscience
And ALWAYS LIVE
By putting God and Jesus FIRST
And avoiding false idols


In Jesus' name and the name of OUR KIND and LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-23-18




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

SAINT ROSE OF LIMA

SAINT ROSE OF LIMA
(1586-1617)


Saint Rose=was a virgin=
And was BORN in Lima, Peru
Of a SPANISH FAMILY


The family was of MODERATE wealth=
But became IMPOVERISHED
Through unsuccessful
SPECULATION in the mines


She CHOSE NOT to marry=
Despite parental persuasion


She took a VOWEL
Of virginity and JOINED
The third order
Of Saint Dominic


She Chose as her MODEL
Saint Catherine of Siena
And underwent
EXTREME forms of Penance


She had a GREAT LOVE
For God which RADIATED=to ALL
Those who came in
Contact with her


She lived as a RECLUSE
In a hut in the garden
And experienced
BOTH trials and consolations
Of an EXTRAORDINARY kind


After a LONG illness
Which had both psychological
And physical elements=she died
At the age of 31


Her life is BEST UNDERSTOOD
As she recognized
And did reparation
For the widespread sin
And corruption=in CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY


She was canonized in 1671=and she
OFTEN said the following PRAYER=
“Lord=INCREASE my sufferings=and with them
Increase YOUR LOVE in my heart”


She is patron SAINT of South America
And the Philippine Islands=and was the
FIRST SAINT of the AMERICAS


Her feast day is TODAY=August 23^rd


Robert P. Wallman
8-23-18

THE REAL QUEEN

THE REAL QUEEN


Recently=this world=LOST
A great singer in
Aretha Franklin=the QUEEN
Of SOUL


And we want to SAY
A PRAYER for her=that she
Is WELCOMED into the LORD'S
KINGDOM===the KING OF LOVE


Today we CELEBRATE=the feast=
Of the QUEENSHIP of Mary=and
THE REAL QUEEN OF US ALL


“The LORD is my SHEPHERD
I shall not want


Even though
I WALK
In the dark valley


I fear no evil
For you are AT MY SIDE


With your rod and staff
That give me COURAGE
…............


And I shall dwell
In the HOUSE of the LORD
For years to come” Psalm 23:1,4,6


Mary=as the MOTHER of Jesus
Certainly DESERVES the title
Of QUEEN


Yet we KNOW=as a human
Being=how Mary SUFFERED=especially
At the foot of the CROSS
As Jesus was DYING


It HELPS me to
IMAGINE Mary=PRAYING today's Psalm
And ALL the challenges
She had to OVERCOME
In her life


It helps me to KNOW
How the Father
GUIDED HER
Through the dark valleys


And how she gathered COURAGE
With GOD at her side


MARY=THE REAL QUEEN


“When the queen of Sheba
Heard of Solomon's FAME


She came to Jerusalem
To test him
With hard questions” 2 Chronicles 9:1


“The QUEEN of the South
Will rise
At the judgment
With this generation
And condemn it


For she CAME
From the ends of the earth
To listen
To Solomon's wisdom


And now something GREATER
Than Solomon is here” Matthew 12:42


Yes=the LORD Jesus=
And the ONLY REAL QUEEN
The Queen MOTHER Mary


Dear loving Queen Mary=
Thank you for making
Yourself AVAILABLE to us


And always BEING OUR FRIEND
And AT OUR side


“A FRIEND loves at ALL times
And a brother is BORN
For a time of adversity” Proverbs 17:17


Dear Queen Mary=help us stick CLOSE
To you=and your SON


For you BEFRIEND us and help
Us into the HOUSE
Of the LORD


You are=THE REAL QUEEN


In Jesus' name and in the name the ALMIGHTY FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-22-18




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

LOVING GOD ABOVE ALL

LOVING GOD ABOVE ALL


On ANY given day
At any given time
We have so MANY gods
With us


FALSE gods


Gods of gold=gods of
Others' opinions=gods of safety=
Of food=technology=family=and
EVEN pleasure gods


And SOMETIMES=some of us=
Even think of OURSELVES
As gods


“You are a man
And NOT a god=
However=you may
Think yourself LIKE a god............” Ezekiel 28:2


Like Adam and Eve
Some of us think
We KNOW BETTER
Than God


We WANT to be our
OWN gods=SUBSTITUTING
Ourselves for him


So many FALSE gods=let us
ALWAYS put our LORD & GOD
ABOVE ALL ELSE


“At that TIME
If anyone says to you


'Look=here is the MESSIAH!'-or-
'There he is'
Do NOT believe it


For FALSE messiahs and
FALSE prophets will appear
And perform great signs
And wonders=to DECEIVE


If possible=even the elect
SEE=I have told you
AHEAD of time” Matthew 24:23-25


“More than that
We are then
Found to be
FALSE witnesses about God


That he RAISED Christ
From the dead


But he did NOT
Raise him
If in fact
The dead are NOT RAISED” 1 Corinthians 15:15


Loving God=the REAL GOD=
ABOVE ALL


Sometimes we seek to
DO God's will
For our own ends
NOT FOR GOD'S


THIS is the most
DIFFICULT TEMPTATION=for it
IS the subtlest


Replacing God
With ourselves
IS the ultimate sin
And the ULTIMATE loneliness


Let us TRULY LOVE GOD=and
All others ABOVE ourselves=for this is
The MOST IMPORTANT commandment


“Jesus replied=
'LOVE the Lord your God
With ALL your heart


And with
All your soul
And with ALL your mind


This is the FIRST and
GREATEST COMMANDMENT” Matthew 22:37-38


My DEAR LORD=help us to
LET you love us=and TEACH US
TO LOVE YOU=ABOVE ALL


In Jesus' name and in the name of
The ALMIGHTY LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-21-18




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

SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX

SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX


Saint Bernard was a man
Of CHARM=with learning=
And eloquence


He was the abbot of Clairvaux =
A doctor of the CHURCH=and a
LEADING church man
Of the 12^th century=and ONE
Of the principal promoters of MONASTI CISM


Bernard's arrival =
TRIGGERED an unprecedented release
Of monastic energy


In three years=he
Was SENT OUT
At the head of a COLONY
Of thirteen
They settled in Clairvaux
And created the diocese
Of Langres


He was a leader=
A WRITER=preacher=and
BECAME a SAINT


He PERSONALLY founded 68 monasteries
In Europe
And STILL had 700 monks
Left over=to CALL his own


CLAIRVAUX became the SPIRITUAL CENTER
Of Europe=
And when he died at age 63
There were 339 houses
In the CISTERCIAN COMPLEX


For years on end=he was
ACTIVE in public affairs=and
This lead to a GENUINE CRY
Of his SOUL=for
He was TORN AWAY from his cloister


He WON a GOOD PART of EUROPE
For Pope INNOCENTII=and preached
The SECOND CRUSADE


Which would wind up being
HIS BIGGEST FAILURE


Saint Bernard was CANONIZED
Twenty-two years after his death
And three of his brothers
As well as a sister
EARNED the title=”BLESSED”


His most FAMOUS written
Document was his TREATISE
On the LOVE OF GOD


And he FOCUSED on the
HUMAN NATURE of Christ=and
His LOVE for the BLESSED MOTHER=Mary


He was canonized in 1174=and became a DOCTOR
Of the CHURCH in 1830


And today=August 20th=
Is his FEAST DAY


Robert P. Wallman
8-20-2018

WHAT IS GETTING IN OUR WAY?

WHAT IS GETTING IN OUR WAY?


Do you EVER ask yourself=
WHAT is getting in the way
Of living your FAITH=
More completely=
And more GENEROUSLY?


I DO=Today we have a
MAN=in the gospel=asking
Jesus=EXACTLY THAT


And he didn't like the answer=
MAYBE I=maybe me=
Wouldn't like it either


“........Go sell=what you have=
And GIVE to the POOR........” Matthew 19:20


The young man is very SINCERE
And realizes his FAITH
Entails obligations


The young man KEEPS the
Commandments=he is decent=
And he ASKS Jesus=


“TEACHER=what good thing
MUST I do
To INHERIT eternal life?” Matthew 19:16


“Jesus answered=
'If you want
To be PERFECT


Go=sell your possessions
And GIVE to the poor


And you will
Have TREASURE IN HEAVEN


Then COME=FOLLOW ME” Matthew 19:21


WHO could do such a thing?
NOT ME=probably not you=
And definitely NOT the young man
For he was VERY WEALTHY


“When the young man
Heard this=
He went away SAD
For he had great WEALTH” Matthew 19:22


What is it
That is GETTING IN YOUR WAY?=
From INHERITING eternal life?


It is NOT always riches
Like clothes=A FINE car=
Or large bank accounts


Sometimes=it's QUALITIES like
Self-centeredness=fear=or
Self-righteousness


But Jesus tells us it
Is STILL POSSIBLE to be SAVED
If we STAY CLOSE to God


“Jesus looked at them and said=
'With man this is IMPOSSIBLE=
But with GOD-ALL THINGS
Are POSSIBLE'” Matthew 19:26


So I ask you=I ASK MYSELF again=
What is GETTING IN OUR WAY?


Leave it all behind=and
STAY CLOSE to God


With God=all things
ARE POSSIBLE


“If you can?,' said Jesus
'Everything is POSSIBLE
For the ONE=who believes'” Mark 9:23


“Jesus looked at them
And said='with MAN this
IS IMPOSSIBLE=but with God


All things ARE POSSIBLE'” Mark 10:27


Dear Lord=our APPROACHABLE Jesus=
Help us to TURN
To you=and OVERCOME
What is IN OUR WAY


In your name Jesus=and the name
Of your ALL-LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-20-18




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

ENDURANCE=THE LONG HAUL

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 HAPPINES 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. WITNESSS 4-29-14




12-26-14 & 2-26-15 & 5-25-15
and 8-20-18

THE COURAGE TO ASK FOR WISDOM

THE COURAGE TO ASK
FOR WISDOM


SOLOMON was a GREAT KING=
He was the=SON OF DAVID=
“A man after GOD'S OWN HEART”= Acts 13:22


And when God told Solomon
He could have ANYHTING
That he wanted


He had the
COURAGE TO ASK FOR WISDOM


“That night God appeared
To Solomon and said=
To him=
'ASK for whatever you
WANT ME to give you'” 2 Chronicles 1:7


“Solomon answered God=
'Give me WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE
That I may
LEAD this people


For who
Is able
To govern this
GREAT PEOPLE OF YOURS?'” 2 Chronicles 1:10


Dear LORD=Solomon was a
GREAT KING=with much wisdom=
He wrote the PROVERBS
And many other WISE sayings


Help us to TURN to you
Like Solomon=when we NEED
WISDOM in LIFE


After all
What is MORE important
Than “wisdom and knowledge?”


“WISDOM has sent out
Her maidens=she
CALLS from the heights
Over the city


'Let whoever is SIMPLE
Turn in here
To the ONE


Who lacks understanding
She says=
'Come-eat of my food.........'” Proverbs 9:3-5


“The fear of the Lord
Is the BEGINNING
OF WISDOM


And who follows
His precepts
Have good UNDERSTANDING


To him=belongs=
Eternal praise” Psalm 111:10


Dear Lord=give us the COURAGE
To ASK FOR WISDOM
Like our great KING Solomon


There is a great EXAMPLE
Of Solomon's WISDOM
In 1 KINGS


Two prostitutes=each
Had a baby=but ONE
Of the baby's died


ONE'S bay was alive=
And one's was dead=
But whose was whose


Solomon said to CUT
The baby in half


“The woman whose son
Was ALIVE was deeply MOVED
OUT OF LOVE
For her son
And said to the King=
'Please my Lord=give her
The LIVING BABY!=DON'T KILL HIM'” 1 KINGS 3:26


So Solomon GAVE her the
BABY saying=
“GIVE the LIVING
Baby to the first woman=
Do NOT kill him=
SHE IS HIS MOTHER” 1 Kings 3:27


Dear GOD OF WISDOM=please
Give us WISDOM like King Solomon


As we OPEN ourselves
To your TRUTH


In the names of Jesus=and HIS FATHER=
THE LIVING GOD OF WISDOM


Robert P. Wallman
8-18-18




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

WHEN GUILT IS POSITIVE

WHEN GUILT IS POSITIVE


ALMOST always GUILT is unhealthy
And PRODUCES an adverse effect
On our SPIRITUAL GROWTH


It CRUSHES us with a
Totally FALSE BELIEF of
Our unworthiness and SHAME


However=sometimes guilt can
Become BENEFICIAL by moving us=
Towards a NECESARRY CONTRITION


“My sacrifice=O GOD=
Is a CONTRITE SPIRIT” Psalm 51:19


Guilt can be HEALTHY=
IF when we make a mistake=
We ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY
For our actions


And sometimes this PROMPTS US
To make an apology=
Make amends=and DEVELOP HUMILITY


Guild can be POSITIVE
If we accept
RESPONSIBILITY for our actions
And we set off
In ANOTHER DIRECTION


Let us be CONTRITE
Let us ACCEPT responsibility
When we have done wrong


“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


Dear FRIENDS=
Guilt can be HEALTHY
And be a POSITIVE LESSON
In our lives


If we are of CONTRITE SPIRIT
For our misdeeds


It can LEAD us
To a NEW DIRECTION


“My sacrifice=O GOD
Is a broken spirit


A broken and CONTRITE HEART
You=GOD=will NOT despise” Psalm 51:17


“For this is
What the high and exalted
ONE says--------


He who lives FOREVER
Whose name is holy=


'I live in a high
And holy place
But also with the one
Who is CONTRITE
And lowly in spirit


To REVIVE the SPIRIT
Of the lowly
And to REVIVE the heart
Of the CONTRITE'” Isaiah 57:15


Dear friends=CONTRARY to
What many BELIEVE
Guilt is NOT ALWAYS
A negative response
To wayward behavior


Guilt can BE POSITIVE
If we USE it
That way


With a CONTRITE HEART
And APPLY it to lessons LEARNED


In the NAMES of Jesus and HIS almighty LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-17-18




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

SPIRITUALLY DEHYDRATED?

SPIRITUAL DEHYDRATION?


We all get PHYSICALLY
Dehydrated at times
And we need WATER


Hopefully nothing more serious
But we CAN get
SPIRITUALLY DEHYDRATED too=ignoring GOD


Avoiding God=NOT making time
For God in our lives


“With joy-you will
DRAW WATER
At the FOUNTAIN of salvation........” Isaiah 12:3


Dear Lord=HELP US not to
BECOME spiritually dehydrated=help us
Not to stray from GOD


It is EASY to lose our temper=
To FAIL to pray=
To take our BLESSINGS
For granted


To fail to notice
Or to HELP
Those in need


Spiritually dehydrated
LOOKING for
The WATER of God
Looking for
The WATER OF LIFE


“IF your enemy is hungry
Give him FOOD to eat


If he is thirsty
Give him WATER to drink” Proverbs 25:21


“Jesus answered her=
'If you knew
The gift of God


And WHO it is
That asks you
For a drink


You would NEVER have asked him
And he would never have
GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER” John 4:10


“LET anyone
Who is thirsty
COME to me
And drink


Whoever BELIEVES in me
As SCRIPTURE has said


RIVERS of LIVING WATER
Will FLOW from within them” John 7:38


SPIRITUALLY dehydrated?=not anymore
Not if we find
THE LIVING WATER


The Scriptures of God
The WORDS of Jesus
GIVE US LIFE


“After he was
RAISED from the dead


His disciples RECALLED
What he had said


Then they believed
The scripture


And the words
That Jesus had SPOKEN” John 2:22


“All Scripture is
GOD-BREATHED=and is USEFUL
For teaching=


Rebuking=correcting=and training
In RIGHTEOUSNESS” 2 Timothy 3:16


Dear Lord=help us to NOT
DRIFT away from you=help us
To not get lost on
THE HIGHWAY of life


Help us to FIND the
SCRIPTURES=which are
LIFE-GIVING WATER to our souls


And keep us SPIRITUALLY HYDRATED
In the NAME of Jesus our LORD=and his Father=THE GOD OF LIFE


Robert P. Wallman
8-16-18




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

FINDING A HOME

FINDING A HOME


For some of us
Like me=our HOME
Is the
GREATEST PLACE on earth


It is a great place
Of LOVE and HOSPITALITY
It is WHERE we learn manners
And how we should TREAT OTHERS


For others of us
Our homes
CAN BE a living hell


“Dig a hole
In the wall
And pass through it........


SHOULDER the burden
And set out in the darkness” Ezekiel 12:5-6


ONLY God knows what
GOES ON behind closed doors


Our loving homes
Or shelters
Are LIVING NIGHTMARES
For others


A place where people
Are AFRAID to go


FINDING A HOME
Finding a SAFE home
With an OPEN door


“Impress them on your children
Talk about them
When you sit at HOME


And when you
Walk along the road


When you lie down
And when you get up” Deuteronomy 6:7


“The Lord's curse
Is on the house
Of the wicked


But he BLESSES
The HOME of the righteous” Proverbs 3:33


“........to be self-controlled
And pure
To be busy at HOME


To be KIND
And to be subject
To their husbands


So that NO ONE
Will malign
The WORD OF GOD” Titus 2:5


Dear Lord=we ALL
WANT to live in a
SAFE AND LOVING HOME
But many of us
Do NOT have this


There are those
Who DREAD going HOME


They are living
In HOUSEHOLDS
Of uncertainty


Walking on eggshells=in FEAR
Of a FAMILY MEMBER


Theses are our neighbors
Even our FRIENDS


Dear Lord=HELP us all
To LIVE in LOVING
And SAFE HOMES


And help those
Who NEED to start over


“We know
That anyone BORN of God
Does not continue to sin


The ONE
Who was born of God
KEEPS them SAFE


And the evil one
Cannot harm them” 1 John 5:18


Dear LORD=we PRAY
For all those
SEEKING a safe=loving HOME


And that they FIND ONE


In the names of Jesus and HIS ALL-LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-15-18




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Gail Goleas

CHOOSING JOY AND GRATITUDE

CHOOSING JOY AND GRATITUDE


Today=we read about
GOD CHOOSING Mary
To be the MOTHER
Of his only son


Mary expresses GRATITUDE
In her response
“........my spirit REJOICES
In God my savior


For he has looked upon
His handmaid's lowliness” Luke 1:47-48


But Mary's JOY AND GRATITUDE
Didn't end
With her earthly life


They continued to GROW
And expand in her
NEW LIFE=which will
NEVER come to an end


Her new life=THE ASSUMPTION
Is what we
CELEBRATE today


Today's celebration REMINDS US
That we too
Have been CHOSEN
For a special PURPSE=like Mary


Let us choose to RESPOND
With JOY and GRATITUDE=
Just like Mary did


“God has ascended
Amid shouts of JOY


The Lord amid
The sounding of trumpets” Psalm 47:5


“Her neighbors and relatives
HEARD that the Lord


Had shown her great mercy
And they SHARED
HER JOY” Luke 1:58


“That JOY is mine
And it is now=COMPLETE


He must become greater
I must become less” John 3:29-30


CHOOSING JOY AND GRATITUDE


JOY and gratitude are
The fruits
Of a life=WELL-LIVED


And the joy that BEGINS
Here for us=will CONTINUE
To EXPAND in us
Throughout eternity


Let us always REMEMBER
That just as
The Father chose MARY


He chooses us too=
May we respond in GRATITUDE
Just as Mary did


And always be
THANKFUL=that we
Have been CHOSEN


“Let the peace of Christ
RULE in your hearts


Since as members
Of one body
You were called to peace=
And be THANKFUL” Colossians 3:15


“Therefore=since we are receiving
A kingdom
That cannot be shaken


Let us BE THANKFUL
And so worship God=
Acceptably=with reverence and awe
For our God is
A consuming fire” Hebrews 12:28


Dear Lord=like MARY=
HELP us to always live
With JOY AND GRATITUDE=
In this life and THE NEXT


Robert P. Wallman
8-14-18




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








Today is the CATHOLIC FEAST DAY of the ASSUMPTION of Mary into HEAVEN

BEING HUMBLE LIKE CHILDREN

BEING HUMBLE LIKE CHILDREN


Today=in Matthew 18=Jesus
Asks us to be HUMBLE
Like=LITTLE CHILDREN


He doesn't say anything
About being good=but
Asks us to be CHILDLIKE


“Whoever becomes HUMBLE
Like this child


Is the GREATEST
In the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 18:4


Do you notice=he does
NOT say anything
About being good?


No he tells us=
To be “HUMBLE”=like a child


MOST children are not
Always good=but WHEN they
Are UNKIND or unjust


They are so HUMBLE
Especially when
They ASK to be forgiven


They instinctively TRUST
In the POWER OF LOVE


“Take my yoke
Upon you=and learn from me


For I am gentle
And HUMBLE in heart
And you will
FIND REST for your souls” Matthew 11:29


“For all those
Who exalt themselves
Will be HUMBLED


And those
Who HUMBLE themselves
Will be exalted” Luke 18:14


BE HUMBLE=LIKE CHILDREN


The majority of us
BELIEVE in eternal life=and
In the kingdom of HEAVEN


And when we TRUST FULLY
In GOD'S LOVE
For each person


We can be sure
That even our lack of HUMILTY
Will be Forgiven


We should try
To LIVE in humility
We should try
To be honest and sincere and
HUMBLE and CHILDLIKE


“The wolf will LIVE
With the lam
The leopard
Will lie down
With the goat


The calf and the lion
And the yearling together


And a LITTLE CHILD
WILL LEAD THEM” Isaiah 11:6


“At that time
The disciples came to Jesus
And ASKED=
'Who then
IS the greatest
In the kingdom of heaven?' Matthew 18:1


“He called a LITTLE
CHILD to him and PLACED
The CHILD among them” Matthew 18:2


The INVITATION to HEAVEN
Asks us to LOVE=forgive
And BE HUMBLE
LIKE A CHILD


Let us BEGIN today
WITH BEING HUMBLE


In Jesus' name and IN the name of the DIVINE FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-13-18




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

OUR LORD IS ALWAYS WITH US

OUR LORD IS ALWAYS WITH US


BAD NEWS always
Comes with a shortage
Of WORDS


After all=what can
The MESSENGER add
To an UNEXPECTED delivery?


Today Jesus
Gives his disciples
The bad news


“The SON of MAN is going
To be DELIVERED
INTO the hands of men


They will KILL him
And on the THIRD day
He will be RAISED to life” Matthew 17:22-23


Jesus has TRIED
To ALERT his followers
Of his impending death
On a number of occasions


But it always has
Been BEYOND their comprehension


This time=however=
It REGISTERS=
“And they were
OVERWHELMED with grief” Matthew 17:23


Jesus sees them
And tenderly proceeds
To ACCOMPANY them
On their way


Just as he ACCOMPANIES=and
WALKS with us
When we are on
The RECEIVING END
Of the bad news


Our Lord is
ALWAYS WITH US
He always accompanies us
On our way


“All these BLESSINGS
Will come on you


And ACCOMPANY you
If you obey the LORD
Your God........” Deuteronomy 28:2


“And these signs
Will ACCOMPANY those
Who believe


In my name
They will drive out demons
They will speak
In new tongues” Mark 16:17


So when that BAD news comes=
Whether it be in a letter=
A text=a phone call=or
An announcement


OUR Lord is ALWAYS
WITH US


He is with us
When someone dies=
In that bad health diagnosis
Or when we get REJECTED


Our Lord
Always WALKS WITH US


“When you WALK
Your steps will
NOT be hampered


When you run
You will not stumble” Proverbs 4:12


“When Jesus spoke again
To the people=he said=
'I am
The light of the world


Whoever follows me
Will never=WALK in darkness
But will have
The light of life'” John 8:12


So when we get
STUNNED in life
With bad news


Jesus tenderly ACCOMPANIES us
On our way


OUR LORD
IS ALWAYS WITH US


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
8-12-18




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

PUTTING OUR FAITH IN HIM

PUTTING OUR FAITH IN HIM


Jesus SPEAKS to us in
DEEP spiritual mysteries=nevertheless=
I put ALL of my FAITH in him=
I have never found ANYONE
Or anything that makes more
SENSE than him about LIFE


PUTTING OUR FAITH IN HIM


“Amen-amen-I say to you
Whoever BELIEVES
Has ETERNAL LIFE........” John 6:47


We may NOT UNDERSTAND
All of his TEACHINGS=
But we believe them and TRY
To LIVE up to them
Because it is=THE LORD SPEAKING


We TRUST in the
TRUTHS of life=and Jesus
Is the MAIN=the ONE
The ONLY TRUTH
That makes sense to me


PUTTING OUR FAITH IN HIM
The ONE=and only truth


“For the law
Was given through Moses


Grace and TRUTH
Came through Jesus Christ” John 1:17


“I am the WAY
And the TRUTH
And the LIFE


No one
Comes to the FATHER
Except through me” John 14:6


“I speak the TRUTH
In Christ--------
I am NOT lying


My conscience CONFIRMS it
Through the HOLY SPIRIT--------


I have great sorrow
And unceasing anguish
In my heart” Romans 9:1-2


PUTTING our FAITH in him=
FINDING eternal life=by
LIVING in the LORD


We RELY on informed
And trusted sources in life


But JESUS is the most KNOWLEDGEABLE
The most honest
The most loving
And BEST SOURCE
For all spiritual reality


Because of Jesus we BELIEVE
In the heavenly kingdom
Because of Jesus=
We believe in spiritual life


We believe in LIVING FOREVER
We believe in ETERNAL LIFE


“Your word=Lord
Is ETERNAL


It stands firm
In the heavens” Psalm 119:89


“But now that you
Have been set free
From sin


And have become
Slaves of God


The benefit you reap
LEADS to holiness
And the result is
ETERNAL LIFE” Romans 6:22


I look FORWARD to spending
My life and ETERNITY with God
The Father=Jesus=my family and friends=
And ALL righteous people


I HOPE and PRAY that through Jesus
I make it=BY


PUTTING MY FAITH IN HIM
In Jesus' name=and in the name of HIS all LOVING FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
8-11-18




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

WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD


Today is the FEAST DAY
Of Saint Clare=whose name
Means=”BRIGHT-CLEAR-LIGHT”=and


In addition to being a SAINT=
My Godchild Stephanie=who was BORN
On August 11th=chose the name of
Clare as her CONFIRMATION NAME


So=SAINT Clare=will always be EXTRA SPECIAL
To me=as IS my niece=and godchild=STEPHANIE


“And keep watch
To SEE
What he will SAY to me.........” Habakkuk 2:1


And let us always KEEP LOOKING
To see the LIGHT=for Jesus
Told us=
“WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD”


“You are the
LIGHT of the world


A town on a hill
CANNOT be hidden
Neither do people


Light a lamp
And put it
Under a bowl


INSTEAD they put it
On its stand
And it gives LIGHT
To everyone
In the house


In the SAME way
Let your LIGHT
SHINE before others


That they may see
Your good deeds
And GLORIFY your Father
In heaven” Matthew 5:14-16


YES=like Jesus said=
WE are the LIGHT
Of the world
And we should
SHINE=SHINE=SHINE


The question is:
HOW much LIGHT are we
GOING to throw out?


There are SOME days that I
Feel so GREAT=I feel like
The SUN=or a flashing
NEON LIGHT=shining the GOSPEL
For all to see


We are THE LIGHT
Of the world


Then there are OTHER days
That I feel=ONLY like a
FLASHLIGHT=shining in the CORNERS
Of the room=in the house
FOR MY FAMILY


Or a street light shining on
The street=for the
NEIGHBORS to see


The point is: we are the LIGHT
Of the world=and WHATEVER light
We have that particular day
We are to SHINE FOR OTHERS


“In him was LIFE
And that life
Was the LIGHT
Of ALL mankind


The LIGHT
SHINES in the darkness
And the darkness
Has NOT overcome it” John 1:4-5


Well whatever LIGHT that we are
We CAN SHINE for others
Even it it is just putting
A little light=in a
HOPELESS SITUATION


Saint Clare=our
“BRIGHT CLEAR LIGHT”


Help us REALIZE
We are
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD


In Jesus' name=and in the name of the DIVINE FATHER=
THE TRUE LIGHTS=OF THE UNIVERSE


Robert P. Wallman
8-10-18




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Bridget Haase, O.S.U.

SAINT CLARE

WITNESS




8-11-13




THE PATRON SAINT OF TELEVISION-SAINT CLARE




She was born in Assisi, Italy
But nothing is known
Of her early life


At 18
She was so moved
By the teachings of Saint Francis
She became
One of his followers


She renounced
All of her possessions
And took the habit of a nun


She then
Joined the religious life
And Francis offered her
And her companions
A small house
Next to the church at San Damiano


She became the abbess
Of a community of women
Who lived
According to the rule
And spirit of Saint Francis


This group included Clare, Clare’s mother
Two of her sisters
And some wealthy members from Florence, Italy


Their way of life
Was one of extreme poverty
And austerity
They lived entirely by alms
And renounced all rents


Like the Franciscans
The “Poor Clares”
Spread to other parts of Europe
Especially Spain


Clare lived in Assisi
Her entire life
And was considered
One of the great contemplatives
Of her generation


She adopted Francis’ ideals
Including his love of nature
Which continued
Long after Francis’ death


For the last 27 years of her life
She had various illnesses
And was sometimes bedridden
But she never lost her devotion
To the other nuns
Or to the town of Assisi


She was canonized
Two years after her death
And the Poor Clares
Continue to today
As a contemplative order
Still distinguished by the ideals
In which it was founded


Today-August 11^th-is her feast day
And she is considered to be
THE PATRON SAINT OF TELEVISION


Robert P. Wallman
August 9^th, 2012


Ps Today-is my niece Stephanie’s 19th birthday
She took the name of Clare as her confirmation name WITNESS 8-11-14
8-10-18

THE WHOLE WORLD

THE WHOLE WORLD


I WONDER if Jesus
Always knew
His MISSION was
THE WHOLE WORLD


BASED on the reading
In Matthew today
Maybe not


Nevertheless he answered
The CALL for the NEED
In this world


“Oh woman=GREAT is your faith!
Let it be done for you
As you WISH” Matthew 15:28


A Canaanite woman=in utter DESPERATION
Makes a scene
And CRIES OUT to Jesus
On behalf=of her daughter


Jesus first IGNORES her
And then he PUBLICLY rebukes her


“I was sent ONLY
To the LOST SHEEP
Of ISRAEL” Matthew 15:24


If it had REMAINED that way=
TODAY=we would be sheep
WITHOUT A SHEPHERD


But the woman PERSISTED
In her request
And in doing so
She seems to INVITE Jesus


To reconsider and ENLARGE
His mission
Regarding who is INCLUDED
In the reign of God


THANK GOD for this woman
And her daughter=
Thank God for US=
Thank God=FOR THE WHOLE WORLD


That Jesus ANSWERS those of us
In need=


For each and EVERY ONE of us
Jesus has ENLARGED his mission
To INCLUDE all of us


“For God so loved
The WORLD
That he gave


His one and ONLY SON
That WHOEVER believes in him


Shall NOT PERISH
But have eternal LIFE” John 3:16


Jesus came for us
For the NEEDS
Of the WHOLE WORLD


“........that God was RECONCILING
The WORLD to himself=in CHRIST


NOT COUNTING people's sins
Against them........” 2 Corinthians 5:19


“And his commands
Are not burdensome


For everyone BORN of God
Overcomes the WORLD


This is the VICTORY
That has overcome the WORLD=
Even our FAITH” 1 John 5:4


Jesus was a DEEP THINKER


And after LISTENING to
This woman and her dire need=
NOT to mention us=and ALL
Of our dire needs


He decides to EMBRACE
The world and GIVE his
HEART=not to mention
HIS BODY=for the EVOLVING KINGDOM
And the ENTIRE WORLD


In the names of Jesus=and his EVER-LOVING FATHER=
Who are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD


Robert P. Wallman
8-9-18




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

GOD'S LOVE DOES NOT FADE AWAY

GOD'S LOVE DOES NOT FADE AWAY




Everything in life
FADES AWAY-or perishes


ALL that is-EXCEPT
God's love
GOD'S LOVE
Sustains me
Through every situation


“The Lord sustains
The humble
But casts the wicked
To the ground” Psalm 147:4


Even trees
Planted near a flowing river
Change their colors these days


Autumn reminds us
That leaves do fade


But God's love
NEVER FADES AWAY
He evens sustains
The fatherless
And the widow


“The Lord
Watches over the alien
And sustains
The fatherless and the widow
But he frustrates
The ways of the wicked” Deuteronomy 10:18


GOD'S LOVE
Does not fade away


Those that live
Off of God's word
Will never perish


“My sheep
Listen to my voice
I know them
And they know me


I give them eternal life
And they shall NEVER perish


No one can snatch them
Out of my Father's hand” John 10:27-28


We may die
But we will find
ETERNAL LIFE
By LIVING off the WORD OF GOD


God's LOVE
Never fades away


And while
We may not find
earthly glory
We will find heavenly glory


And we will find
GOD LIVING INSIDE OF US
And that gives us peace


And the Lord our God
OUR SHEPHERD
Will lead us home
To that glory


“And when
The chief SHEPHERD appears
You will receive
THE CROWN OF GLORY
That will NEVER FADE AWAY” 1 Peter 5:4


And that crown of glory
IS GOD'S LOVE
LIVING inside of you


God's love
Inside of you
THAT CANNOT AND WILL NOT
EVER FADE AWAY


Robert P. Wallman
2-9-14




7-12-15 & 8-9-18

SAINT DOMINIC

SAINT DOMINIC




Saint Dominic
Is the founder
Of the DOMINICANS


Their official title
Is ORDER OF PREACHERS
And states accurately
What Dominic
Had in mind


A WORLD-WIDE order
Dedicated to promoting
On a community basis
The things
That would make GOOD preachers:
Holiness-deep study-and SOUND DOCTRINE
And familiarity with the SPIRIT


Dominic was born in 1170
And was the youngest
Of four children
And he was an innovator


He was born
In Spain
And took after his mother
THE BLESSED Joan of Aza


He was EDUCATED
By his uncle
And his first seven years
As a priest-were uneventful


Dominic led
A life of prayer-penance-and study
Until 1205
When he and his BISHOP offered themselves
To Pope Innocent III
For mission work in Russia


But the Pope sent them instead
To convert the Albigenses
In southern France


He was 35
And would have
Only 16 years of life left


He was a man
Of vision
Of energy
And GREAT personal charm


He felt
That those who preceded him
Were ineffective-because their life style
Was too high and too soft


HIS PREACHERS
Would live on alms
Carry books-but NO MONEY
And offer the Albigenses
An ideal


The first Dominicans were women
Consisting of Albigensian converts
And in 1215
After ten years of preaching
Dominic organized his preachers
Under the rule of Saint Augustine


Five year later
He held the first general charter
And drew up the constitution


A year later-in 1221
Dominic died


Saint Dominic’s feast day
Is August 8^th
And the motto of the Dominicans is:


“To contemplate
And to SHARE with others
The FRUITS of contemplation”


Robert P. Wallman
8-13-13
Ps WITNESS 8-8-14

MY ROOTS ARE IN GOD AND FAMILY

MY ROOTS
ARE IN GOD AND FAMILY




WHERE are your roots
What gives you LIFE?
What SUSTAINS YOU
In life


The ANSWER
To all those questions-
FOR ME
Are in God and family


GOD GAVE me life
Once-at birth
And numerous times thereafter-
In countless medical emergencies
On my birthdays


“NOW CHOOSE LIFE
So that you
And your children
May live


And that you
May love
The Lord your God


Listen to his voice
And hold fast to him


For the Lord
IS YOUR LIFE


And he will give you
Many years


In the land
He swore to give
To your fathers
Abraham-Isaac-and Jacob” Deuteronomy 30:19-20


CHOOSE GOD
CHOOSE FAMILY


Outside of God
it is MY FAMILY
Who has SUSTAINED me


My parents and sisters
For accepting me
FOR WHO I AM


My nieces
And my extended family
(and all of my friends)


“Consequently
You are no longer
Foreigners and aliens


But fellow citizens
And GOD'S PEOPLE
And members of GOD'S HOUSEHOLD” Ephesians 2:19


You are MEMBERS
Of the household
Of God's own family


GOD is your adopted father
Jesus is your adopted brother


And the ROOT of God
LIVES INSIDE of you
Inside of all of us


IF you haven't been active
In being a part of GOD'S FAMILY
It is time to start


Between BELONGING to God
And the family
I was born into
I FEEL
Like God gave me
EVERYTHING that I need


MY ROOTS
Are in God and family


“I Jesus
Have sent mine angel
Unto these things
In the churches


I AM THE ROOT
And the offspring of David
And the beginning and morning star” REVELATIONS 22:16


BECAUSE I belong to God
Because I belong to Jesus
Because of the love
OF MY FAMILY


I continue to GROW in love


Because my ROOTS
ARE IN GOD AND FAMILY


Robert P. Wallman
11-21-14


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




3-17-15 and 8-8-18

REACHING OUT=FOR THE GRACE

REACHING OUT=
FOR THE GRACE


There are a number
Of accounts in the GOSPELS
Where people REACH OUT
For healing=just by
TOUCHING=Jesus' garments


What FAITH!=REACHING out for
The GRACE OF JESUS


“People brought to him
All those=who were sick


And BEGGED him
That they might touch
ONLY the tassel
On his cloak


And as many-as touched it=
WERE HEALED” Matthew 14:35-36


The healing touch of Jesus=
REACHING OUT for the GRACE!


In Luke 8=there was a woman
Who reached out
For Jesus' cloak
In a crowd


He didn't see her
But he felt the power
LEAVE his body


And he called out=
“WHO TOUCHED ME?” Luke 8:45


She must have been AFRAID
But she was brave
And came forward


HOW ABOUT US? Do we have
The COURAGE to come forward?
Are we BRAVE enough to
ASK for his healing?


To ask for a TOUCH
Of his GRACE?


“Out of his FULLNESS
We have
All received GRACE
In place of GRACE
Already given


For the law
Was given through Moses


GRACE and TRUTH=
Came through Jesus Christ” John 1:16-17


“Now Stephen=a man
Full of God's GRACE and power


Performed great wonders and signs
AMONG the people” Acts 6:8


“The GRACE
Of the Lord Jesus
BE with you=
My LOVE=to all of you
In CHRIST JESUS. Amen.” 1 Corinthians 16-23-24


In ALMOST every case
Jesus said their FAITH
Had healed them


In our deepest afflictions
We must REMAIN
OPEN to the possibility
Of GRACE in this world


It IS in our afflictions
That we REACH OUT
To Jesus for HEALING


That we reach out
For the GRACE of Jesus


“So they set out
And went from village
To village


PROCLAIMING the good news
And HEALING people everywhere” Luke 9:6


Maybe that is all we
Have to do=REACH OUT in HUMILITY


For the GRACE of God, Jesus,
And the apostles=
For the TRUE HEALING=in this world


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
8-6-18




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