For the Love of Us All: April 2019

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

GOD'S HANDS AND FEET

GOD'S HANDS AND FEET

God has had a
LOVE AFFAIR with the POOR=
Since the beginning
Of TIME

So much so=that he
Sent his SON=Jesus=
Here as a very poor man

To HELP the poor
And disenfranchised=
Jesus is
No longer here

We are to be
HIS=God's hands and feet
In this modern day world

“When the POOR ONE
Called out=the Lord heard

And from all his distress
He SAVED HIM” Psalm 34:7

There is a lot
Of TRAGEDY in this world

And hardly a day
Goes by
Without news of some
Terrible related weather events

And news reports seem
To COVER the pleas=for PRAYER
And help

ESPECIALLY from the sick=
THE POOR=and the elderly

Is it any WONDER-
Jesus REACHED OUT
To the poor=the sick=
And the elderly=in his time?

GOD HEARS the cries of the POOR=
How can we BE
GOD'S HANDS and FEET
In today's world?

With money=with physical help=
Maybe even trying to HELP one
Poor person=
Who is desperately in NEED

How about us?
Are we listening to
The CRIES
Of the poor?

“My whole being
Will exclaim=
'Who is like-
You Lord?

You rescue the POOR
From those too strong
For them

The POOR and needy
From those who rob them'” Psalm 35:10

“Whoever is kind
To the POOR
Lends to the Lord

And he will reward them
For what they have done” Proverbs 19:17

“In Joppa=there was a disciple
Named Tabitha
(In Greek her name is DORCAS))=

She was always doing good
And helping the POOR” Acts 9:36

And that is what
We are to be=in
THIS modern day 21^st century

Be GOOD to those less fortunate
Than ourselves=HELP those
Who have LESS THAN US

Be JESUS' hands and feet
In today's world

“I will praise you
As long as I live

And in your name
I will lift up
MY HANDS” Psalm 63:4

“Give careful thought
To the paths
For your FEET

And be steadfast
In all your ways” Proverbs 4:26

AM I? Are we
LISTENING to the cries
Of the POOR?

Can I be more
Helpful?

Don't forget=we are GOD'S=
We are Jesus'
HANDS AND FEET in this world!

In the name of Jesus=and GOD the Father=who LISTENS to the cries of the POOR

Robert P. Wallman
4-30-19

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

A MAN CALLED LUKE

A MAN CALLED LUKE

He is
The only Gentile writer
Among the 72 books of the Bible

He was
A Greek physician by trade
A disciple of Saint Paul
And his books include
The Gospel of Saint Luke
And the Acts of the Apostles

The Gospel of Saint Luke was once called
“The loveliest book in the world”
Or/and “The most beautiful book ever written”

Luke’s Gospel is considered the Gospel of women
Because of Jesus’ passion to the women of Jerusalem
Because of its emphasis
On Mary---the birth of Jesus---
Her visit to her cousin Elizabeth
Mary’s prayer of glorification to the Lord
And her acceptance of God’s mission
From the angel without hesitation

“I am the Lord’s servant,”
Said Mary to the angel
“Let it be done to me according to your word”

Luke knew
That then, as now,
We don’t understand this notion
Of God’s unconditional love
For us
We just don’t understand
The heart of God

So Luke
Gives us an historical account of Jesus’ life
He teaches us
About Jesus’ humanity
He teaches us about Jesus’ public ministry
Through his perfect compassion and forgiveness
Through stories like
The Good Samaritan, The Lost ( “Prodigal ) Son
And the rich man and Lazarus

Jesus understands our weakness
So says Luke
Jesus understands our temptations and our trials
So says Luke
He came to save both Jew and Gentile
So says our Saint Luke

He came for both the outcasts and the accepted
He came
To save both the poor and the rich
He came for
Both men and women
He came for
The free and the oppressed
He came for
Each and every one of us

So says
A man called Luke
In “THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK EVER WRITTEN”

Go ahead and read
The book written by a physician and a gentile
A book written by

A MAN CALLED LUKE

Robert P. Wallman
4-30-11

10-18-14
10-19-15
10-18-16
10-17 & 18-18 and 4-30-2019

Monday, April 29, 2019

WITH LOVE AND GENEROSITY

WITH LOVE AND GENEROSITY

How do you want
To live? What ATTITUDE
Do you want to CONVEY?

I HOPE to live with love
And GENEROSITY of heart

Looking back=
At the EARLY Christian community=
I am BOTH inspired
And discouraged

“There was NO NEEDY PERSON
Among them.......” Acts 4:31

The early Christian people
TRIED to meet all the BASIC NEEDS
Of everyone=what a world
This world would BE
IF we just
Tried to do this today

If we all could
With love and
A generosity of HEART=
Try and HELP OTHERS

INSPIRED by the early CHRISTIANS=
But not so much
By the people of today

WHY do so few=have
So much=and so many
HAVE SO LITTLE?

GIVING with love
And GENEROSITY of HEART

We have DRIFTED tremendously-
From the hearts=of
The early Christians=
From the COMPASSION
Of the early Christians=
For EACH OTHER

“God will come
To those
Who are GENEROUS
And lend freely

Who conduct their affairs
With justice” Psalm 112:5

“The GENEROUS
Will themselves be BLESSED

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

“You will be enriched
In every way
So that you

Can be GENEROUS
On every occasion

And through us
Your GENEROSITY
Will result
In THANKSGIVING to God” 2 Corinthians 9:11

WHAT A WORLD
It would be

If we lived
In a world
WHERE every person
Was cared for

No matter
What their state of life
Might be

No matter
What our differences are

Living with LOVE=and compassion=
Living with generosity=
MEETING the needs
Of others

The EARLY CHRISTIANS got it=
Why don't we?

“The Lord will
Guide you always

He will SATISFY
Your NEEDS
In a sun-scorched land........” Isaiah 58:11

“And my GOD
Will meet all
Your NEEDS

According to the riches
Of his glory
In Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19

I WISH that the modern day
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY-
Didn't just pay lip service
To the words of CHRIST

I wish that we ALL
LIVED as lovingly and with as
MUCH GENEROSITY as the early
FOLLOWERS OF Jesus

Amen=LET IT BE!

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of our ALL LOVING=all generous=GIVING FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
4-29-19

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

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA

Catherine lived
From 1337 to 1380

She was
The youngest of 20 children
And from an early age
Was devoted to a life
Of penance and prayer-despite parental opposition

She refused
To consider marriage
And became a Dominican tertiary

She began to mix with other people
And began to nurse the sick-in hospitals
Along with her disciples
Which included both men and women

She taught many to reform
Through a TOTAL love of God

She never learned to write
But wrote 383 letters
Expressing her philosophy
Through dictation

Her holiness
Was centered on Christ’s crucifixion
And she saw this
As the SUPREME love of God-for man

She received much criticism
Especially during the last 5 years
Of her life
When she became involved
In the politics
Of both state and church

She suffered a stroke
On April 21^st 1380
And died 8 days later

Her life story
Was written by Raymond Caputa
Her friend-and later
Master General of the Dominican order

This led
To her canonization in 1461
With the quality of her writings
And her membership
In the Dominican order
Bringing her much support

She became a figure
Of international importance and influence
Became Siena ‘s principal Saint ( along with Bernard of Siena )
And was believed to be responsible
For bringing the papacy
Back to Rome

Her common emblem
Is the lily
And she was declared
A Doctor of the church-in 1970

Her feast day is April the 29^th

Robert P. Wallman
5-3-12

Ps 4-29-2019

Sunday, April 28, 2019

HELP

WITNESS

4-27-13

HELP

My mom always said,
“Your help
Is at the end
Of your right hand”

I have found
That to be true

But I also
Have found unexpected help
In family and friends
That I never expected

And MOST of all
I found HELP from God

So if I
Could find unexpected help
So can you

“God is our refuge and strength
An ever present HELP in trouble” Psalm 46:1

Don’t ever lose your faith
In God and in others

So while
It is true
“That our help
Is at the end of our right hand”

It is also true
That our HELP comes from God
And in the form of each other

“TWO are better than one
Because they have a good return
For their work

If one falls down
His friend can help him up

Also-if two lie down together
They will keep warm
But how can one
Keep warm alone

Though one may be overpowered
Two can defend themselves
A cord of three strands
Is not easily broken” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Our HELP and our HOPE
Is in God
And how willing
We are to help one another

Robert P. Wallman
9-26-12

Ps Thank you to God
To my family and to my friends
For all the HELP
In sustaining me
On this journey through this life

WITNESS 4-27-13

“So do not fear-for I am with you-do NOT be dismayed-for I am your God
I will strengthen you and HELP you-I will HELP you with my righteous right hand”
Psalm 41:10

5-31-14
12-5-14 and 4-28-2019

Saturday, April 27, 2019

IT IS OUR STORY TOO

IT IS OUR STORY TOO

It is HUMAN NATURE to
Want to SEE FIRST=
Before we believe

It is the age old story
Of FAITH versus DOUBT=and it is also
The story of SCIENCE versus faith=
REAL LIFE MIRACLES

Today we read about Thomas=
Who wanted PROOF before
He believed=and it is
OUR STORY TOO

For we all want PROOF
OF GOD

“Have you come to BELIEVE
Because you have
SEEN ME?

Blessed are those who have
NOT SEEN and have believed” John 20:29

We ALL know Thomas' story=
He was not with
The others=
When Jesus appeared
AFTER the Resurrection

And he promptly declares
HIS UNBELIEF=he wants proof
IT IS OUR STORY TOO=
We all want to see
We ALL want proof of GOD

“For he has
Set a day
When he will judge
The world

When justice
By the man he appointed

He has GIVEN PROOF
Of this=to everyone
By raising him
From the dead” Acts 17:31

“Therefore=show these men
The PROOF of your love

And the reason
For our pride in you

So that the churches
Can see it” 2 Corinthians 8:24

Thomas was UNWILLING
To take the word
Of the other disciples-
But was OVERWHELMED a
Week later=when
Jesus RETURNED

And invited him
To touch his wounds

SEEING IS BELIEVING

“Jesus said to her=
'I am
The resurrection and the LIFE
The one
Who BELIEVES in me

Will live
Even though they die
And whoever lives
BY BELIEVING in me
will never die

Do you believe this?'” John 11:25-26

I do BELIEVE this=LORD=
And I am SURE
That that is why I am
ALIVE TODAY=after so many
Close calls with death

I do believe Lord
I do believe in you! It is
CALLED FAITH=who needs proof?

“I would like to learn
Just one thing from you

Do you receive the SPIRIT
By the works of the law
Or be receiving
What you heard?” Galatians 3:2

Yes the STORY of Thomas
Is also
THE STORY OF US

We just need to
Have FAITH in the UNSEEN LORD

We NEED to have the faith-
Courage-and patience to
ACCEPT the Lord's timing
And PLANS for us

A HAPPY ENDING is coming=
And it is BELIEVABLE

In Jesus' name and in the name of our ALL LIVING=and ALL LOVING FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
4-27-19

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

JOURNAL=MY ROOTS ARE GOD AND FAMILY

JOURNAL=3-17-15=MY ROOTS ARE GOD AND FAMILY

“Do you want to be well?” John 5:6

Of course-WE all want to be WELL-don't we-well physically-well emotionally-well SPIRITUALLY-well financially-WELL-in every area of our life

BUT-some people suggest that the ROOT of our gifts is ALSO the root of our sins-I THINK-it is UP to us to MAXIMIZE the gifts that GOD gave us-while at the same time DIMINISHING our negative faults-NOT an easy thing to do-BECAUSE the root-the same QUALITY where our gifts come from-is also the same quality where our sins come from-but it CAN be done-IF we maximize our CONNECTION with the SPIRIT OF GOD

SAY YES to God-and let your GIFTS outshine your sin-and the GIFT that ALWAYS keeps SHINING-IS the LOVE of GOD and the love of others

it is a GREAT day to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us-and a great day to let OUR GIFTS SHINE

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 4-27-2019

Friday, April 26, 2019

ORDINARY=US TOO

ORDINARY=US TOO
(And that is GOOD)

The religious leaders
Of Jesus' time=
Recognized Peter-John-
And the other apostles=
To be ORDINARY MEN

I WONDER if they
Would say the SAME about us today=
If so=it would be
REALLY GOOD FOR US

They were seen as GOOD=as
Real=as normal=and we
Should HOPE to be too

For God WORKS
Through the ordinary people=
Like the disciples=to
Accomplish EXTRAORDINARY DEEDS

God can accomplish things through us
Too=because we are good=
We are ORDINARY
We are normal

“........perceiving them
To be uneducated-
Ordinary men

The leaders-elders-and scribes
Were amazed

And they RECOGNIZED them
As the COMPANIONS of Jesus” Acts 4:13

The leaders also recognized
Peter-John-and the other
Apostles as COMPANIONS OF JESUS

HOW ABOUT US! Does the
WAY we live our lives=
REVEAL US= to be
Companions of Jesus too?

If so=WHY?

“But it is you-
A man like myself
MY COMPANION-
My close friend” Psalm 55:13

“You have loved righteousness
And hated wickedness

Therefore God=your God
Has set you
Above your COMPANIONS

By anointing you
With the oil of joy” Hebrews 1:9

Do we reveal ourselves
To be COMPANIONS
Of Jesus?

Do we pray everyday?
Do we read OUR BIBLE?

Do we attend MASS or
Church services every week?
Do we VOLUNTEER
When we can?

We have to make CHOICES=
Consistent with the GOSPEL
Every day

It is these choices
That REVEAL US to be
Companions of God and JESUS

Just like the apostles
Of yesteryear

We need to be consistent=
We need to be people
Of kindness=of HOPE=and
Of joy

Pray the gospel
LIVE the gospel
Teach the gospel
BE COMPANIONS of Jesus=and
Of God the FATHER

“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 GENTILES” Romans 1:16

“Whatever happens=
Conduct yourselves=in a manner
Worthy of the
GOSPEL of Christ” Philippians 1:27

YES=we are ORDINARY=
We are normal

HOW are we going to
Show ourselves to BE
The COMPANIONS of Christ
In today's world?

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of our ALL LOVING=NORMAL FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
4-26-19

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

DEATH AND LIFE

WITNESS

6-3-13

DEATH AND LIFE

On that dark gray/ black afternoon
A man hung dying on the cross
Many thought abandoned by God

At that last moment
Even Christ thought he was abandoned
“My God, My God
Why did you abandon me”

But we know
That he was not abandoned
We know
That Christ
Did arise to live again
To live in eternal glory
With his Father

How often
Do we feel abandoned in life

Abandoned by our family and friends
Abandoned by our church
Maybe we even feel
Abandoned by God

We know through faith
That like Christ
That that
Is not the end of the story

We are
Never abandoned by God
We are his children
And he is madly in love with us

We know
Because Moses tells us so,
“For the Lord your God
Is a merciful God
He will not abandon or destroy you
Or forget the covenant
With your forefathers
Which he confirmed to them by oath” Deuteronomy 4:31

And we know
Because our God
Is a God
Who keeps his promises

“For physical training
Is of some value
But godliness has value
For all things
Holding promise
For both the present life
And the life to come” 1 Timothy 4:8

I suggest to you
That if there is any abandoning
Going on here
It is by us
By our society
By our world

Building a world on materialism
Building a world on sex and violence
Building a world on “scientific” miracles
And leaving God
Totally out of the mix

“The spirit clearly says
That in later times
Some will
Abandon the faith
And follow deceiving spirits
And things taught by demons” 1 Timothy 4

I have NO IDEA
When the end is coming
And neither does anyone else

Christ himself said,
“No one knows
About that day or hour
Not even the angels in heaven
Not the Son
But only the Father” Matthew 24:36

Abandoned by God---hardly
Us abandoning God---my friend---I think
It has already happened

Dear Lord---I pray---we pray
Our house is in ruins
Please come and repair it for us
For we do not know the way

But then---you already told us
“I am the way, the truth, and the life”

Help us to recommit to life Lord
Doing it---YOUR WAY

Robert P. Wallman
8-16-11

Ps WITNESS 6-3-13

“I tell you the truth-whoever hears the word and believes him-
Who has sent me has ETERNAL LIFE-and will not be condemned-
He has crossed over from DEATH TO LIFE”
John 24:35

“For whoever finds me FINDS LIFE-and receives favor from the Lord”
Proverbs 8:35

2-16-15 and 4-26-2019

Thursday, April 25, 2019

IT WAS THE LORD!

IT WAS THE LORD!

Today=we read about Jesus=
REACHING out to Peter
And the other disciples-
After the RESURRECTION

At first=they don't recognize
Him=but then they do=because
It is too GOOD
To BE TRUE

The catch is OVERWHELMING

“And none of the disciples
DARED to ask him,”
'Who are you?'

Because they realized
It was the LORD” John 21:12

And isn't it=
That that is the WAY it is FOR US

WHEN in the course
Of our ordinary=HUMDRUM day
Jesus REACHES out to us

When something good happens
And CHANGES our day
From something ordinary
To something EXTRAORDINARY

“God did EXTRAORDINARY MIRACLES
Through Paul

So that even handkerchiefs
And aprons
That had touched him
Were taken to the sick

And their illnesses
Were cured
And the evil spirits
Left them” Acts 19:11

YES= it is the LORD
WHEN someone or something
Reaches out to us

And changes our ordinary
Into something EXTRA SPECIAL=
It IS THE LORD=
Who does it=

Who changes EVERYTHING
Just like he did
FOR PETER

We need to be attentive
We need to be ALERT
When something EXTRA special
Happens=when something SIGNIFICANT
Happens=IT IS THE LORD

It is the Lord=
REACHING out to us

Listen to the Lord=
He is someone EXTRA-SPECIAL
In our lives

“LISTEN to my words=Lord=
Consider my lament” Psalm 5:1

“WE are from God
And whoever knows God
LISTENS to us

But whoever
Is NOT from God
Does not listen to us

This is how
We RECOGNIZE
The SPIRIT of truth

And the spirit of falsehood” 1 John 4:6

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

Peter recognizes Jesus
As the SON OF GOD

And again after the RESURRECTION
When he appears
To the apostles

And we RECOGNIZE Jesus
When he appears to us
Every day=
During the course of OUR PRAYERS

And at that MOMENT
When we really need him

“When Christ=
Who is your life=APPEARS=

Then you will APPEAR
With him in glory” Colossians 3:4

Jesus appeared to Peter
To ENCOURAGE and to INSPIRE HIM

And WHEN=we are encouraged
And inspired=every day

IT IS THE LORD

And it will be the LORD=
Now=tomorrow=
And for ALL OF ETERNITY

In Jesus' name=and in the name of God=our HOLY EVER LASTING FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
4-25-19

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

SAINT MARK

SAINT MARK

Saint Mark was an evangelist
But not
One of the original apostles

He was the young man
Who followed Christ
After his arrest
And later escaped capture

“A young man wearing nothing
But a linen garment
Was following Jesus

When they seized him
He fled naked
Leaving his garment behind” Mark 14:51-52

Dear Lord-we pray
That as we follow you
Through our lives
When times become tough
That we do not flee from you
As the other apostles
And Mark did

Mark was later
The companion
Of both Paul and Peter

Paul and Barnabas-Mark’s cousin
Took Mark on Paul’s first missionary journey
But Mark turned back
For Jerusalem

Paul became angry
And his quarrel with Barnabas
Led to Barnabas and Mark
Preaching together in Cypress

“Some time later
Paul said to Barnabas,
‘Let us go back
And visit the brothers
Where we preached the Word of the Lord
And see how they are doing’

Barnabas wanted to take John
Also called John Mark with them
But Paul did not think
It wise to take him
Because he had deserted them
In Pamphylia
And not continued with them
In the work” Acts 15:36:38

They had a sharp disagreement
And Barnabas and Mark
Preached in Cyprus

Paul took Silas
And headed out to strengthen the churches
In Syria and Cilicia

Later
Mark was with Paul
When Paul was in prison

“My fellow prisoner Aristarchus
Sends you his greetings
As does Mark-the cousin of Barnabas
(“You have received instructions about him
If he comes to you-welcome him”) Colossians 4:10

And Peter referred to Mark,
“As his son”

“She who is in Babylon
Chosen together with you
Sends you her greetings
As does my son Mark”

We must remember
That Mark was a good deal younger
Than Peter and Paul
And that Peter
Is probably the SOURCE
Of most of Mark’s Gospel

It is believed
Mark suffered martyrdom
Possibly in Alexandria
Of which he was the first bishop

The symbol of Mark
As an evangelist
Is the lion
And his feast day
Is April 25^th

Robert P. Wallman
5-4-13

Ps MISC. WITNESS 4-25-14 and 4-25-2019

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

PRAYING FOR THAT SPECIAL GRACE

PRAYING FOR THAT SPECIAL GRACE

Some people seem to
Be ABLE
To read the SCRIPTURES

And the bible=and get
SO MUCH INSPIRATION

While others of us=
Read the bible and
It means NOTHING to us

Similarly=some people
Seem to be ON FIRE with the GOOD NEWS
And others of us
Seem to be UNINTERESTED

PRAYING for that
SPECIAL GRACE

“Then he OPENED their minds-
To UNDERSTAND the SCRIPTURES” Luke 24:45

To understand the SCRIPTURES=
To EXPLAIN the Scriptures
Takes a SPECIAL GRACE

PRAYING for that
Special grace
From the Lord

In today's gospel=it HELPS us
To UNDERSTAND
Why some of us
GET IT

Jesus=”OPENED their minds to
Understand the Scriptures”

ONLY God can PROVIDE
The special grace
Needed to understand
The Scriptures

Only GOD can provide
Us=with the GRACE
Of the HOLY SPIRIT
That is needed

“You are
The most excellent
Of men

And your lips
Have been anointed
With GRACE

Since God has
BLESSED you forever” Psalm 45:2

“ONE who loves
A pure heart
And who

Speaks with GRACE
Will have the king
For a friend” Proverbs 22:11

“So too
At the present time

There is a remnant
Chosen by GRACE” Romans 11:5

We CANNOT FORCE this grace
Upon ourselves or others
We can only PREPARE
Our hearts
To RECEIVE IT

Dear Lord we ask you to
GIVE us the grace
To receive your words
And that you=”PREPARE our
Hearts for your words”

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

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

“PREPARE the way
For the Lord

Make straight paths
For him” Matthew 3:3

Dear Lord=
Help us to=
PREPARE our hearts
For the SCRIPTURES
Like never before

So that you DEAR LORD
Will give us the
UNDERSTANDING to interpret them
And to EXPLAIN THEM

PRAYING FOR THAY SPECIAL GRACE!

In Jesus' name=and in the name of the FATHER=and in the name of OUR ALL KNOWING
HOLY SPIRIT!

Robert P. Wallman
4-24-19

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

PERSISTENCE

WITNESS

4-26-13

PERSISTENCE

We are
Never going to be perfect
As our Lord and Savior
Was perfect

We are human
We have limitations
We have weaknesses

That doesn’t mean
We should give up
And keep striving
To get better

It just means
That we must recognize
That we are NOT God

Accept it

Keep learning more about ourselves
And keep ourselves moving
In that positive direction
To becomes as close to God---and Christ
As we can---for us

PERSISTENCE

Do you know what persistence means

Persistence means to---
Refuse to give up
It means to persevere

It means
That when we slip up
From time to time
And we will

It means for us
To continue to stand firm in our faith---to persevere

It means for us
To continue to believe
In God’s plan and love for us

It means that we should NOT LISTEN
To those internal and external voices
That are telling us
That we don’t measure up
And that we never will

WE MUST KNOW
That when we begin to doubt ourselves
That GOD STILL BELIEVES in us

“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 hand

My Father
Who has given them to me
Is GREATER THAN ALL
NO ONE can snatch them
Out of my Father’s hand
I and the Father are ONE” John 10:27-30

So we must persist
In our faith
We must persevere
In our faith

It is
Our persistence and perseverance
That touches God---NOT OUR PERFECTION
As he knows---he ALONE is perfect

“I thank my God
Every time I remember you
In all my prayers
For all of you

I always pray with joy
Because of our partnership
In the Gospel

From the first day until now
Being confident of this
That he who began
A good work in you
Will carry it on to completion
Until the day of Christ Jesus” 1 Philippians 3-6

PERSIST AND PERSEVERE in faith
God loves you

Robert P. Wallman
1-17-12

Ps WITNESS 4-26-13 and 4-24-2019

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

GIVING WHAT WE HAVE

GIVING WHAT WE HAVE

I wish I had
A lot of MATERIAL wealth=
But NOT for
The obvious reasons

Just so that I could HELP
EVERYONE=in this world
Who reaches out to me
For HELP

Just so that I could
MAKE a difference for all
Those=who really NEED

“........what I do have
I give to you” Acts 3:6

I give everyone WHAT I CAN=
I hope I make a
Positive difference
In your world

Even if it is just PASSING
A FEW WORDS
Of positive encouragement
Yo you

There are many many NEEDS
In this world=many just among
MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

OFTEN our purses=or our wallets
Are empty=and we feel
As though
We have NOTHING LEFT to give

GIVE what you can=to WHOEVER
You can=whenever you can

“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

“A person finds joy
In GIVING
An apt reply--------

And how good is
A TIMELY WORD” Proverbs 15:23

I hope my words
TOUCH YOU=I hope my words
Inspire you=to keep
On going

To build
A timely/GODLY LIFE

GIVING WHAT YOU CAN

“God=who knows the heart
Showed that he
Accepted them

By GIVING the Holy Spirit
To them-
Just as he did
To us” Acts 15:8

Jesus gave us his ENTIRE LIFE
Then-when he
Had nothing
Left to give

He left the HOLY SPIRIT
Behind for us
To GUIDE us for
All of time

GIVING WHAT YOU CAN

Maybe the RESURRECTION
Of our Lord=reminds us always
To GIVE what we have
No matter how small

And to always RECEIVE
What we can=from others
In the SPIRIT that it is offered

Sometimes we feel EMPTY ourselves
Then something
SURGES within us

And we raise
A glimmer of HOPE
And compassion
For others-
In whatever way that we can

GIVING WHAT WE CAN

“He GUIDES the humble
In what is right
And teaches them his way” Psalm 25:9

Dear Lord=please lead us
To always GIVE what we can
To others

And if our pockets are EMPTY=
Please GUIDE US by giving us
Just the right WORDS=at just the right time
TO INSPIRE OTHERS

In Jesus' name=and in the name of our ALWAYS GIVING=LOVING FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
4-23-19

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

LIVING YOUR LIFE FOR GOD AND JESUS

LIVING YOUR LIFE-
FOR GOD AND JESUS

As we go through another Holy Week

It is important for us
To REFLECT on how Jesus
Gave every ounce of his life
For his Father-and for us

And it is important
That we ask ourselves

Are WE willing
To LIVE our lives
For God and Jesus?

Are we willing to GIVE God and Jesus
Life for life=breath for breath=
EVERY ounce of ourselves=
For them?

“Jesus answered,
'WILL you lay down your life
For me?'” John 13:38

And he went on
To tell Peter
That he would DENY him(Jesus)=3x
Before the rooster crowed

And it happened

But before
We come down too hard
On Peter

Let us RECALL
All the times in our own life
WHERE we chose sin and temptation
OVER God and Jesus

And if we say-we haven't
We are-in fact liars=for we are
ALL human beings-prone to weakness

“Who is the liar?

It is whoever denies
That Jesus is the Christ

Such a person
Is the ANTICHRIST
DENYING the Father
And the Son

NO ONE who denies the SON
Has the Father

WHOEVER acknowledges the Son
Has the Father also” John2:22-23

Dear FRIENDS-

We live at a time
WHEN the Antichrist-
Not only lives-but thrives
Where Satan rules the world

An it is time
We TURN this world around
And GIVE it back to God
And my LORD and SAVIOR-Jesus Christ

I made a PROMISE to God
On my deathbed at age 22

“To LIVE for my family-friends-
And for ALL people everywhere”

I have done my best
To KEEP that promise
I will CONTINUE
For as long as I LIVE-
Until the day that I die-
Or the day that I become
Physically unable to do so-

Which ever comes first

“I have been
Crucified with Christ

And I no longer live
But Christ LIVES in me

The life I now live
In the body
I live by FAITH
In the SON of God

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

“You ought to live holy
And godly lives

As you look forward
To the day of God
And speed its coming” 2 Peter 3:11

There are TWO ways
To live and die for Jesus

As a dying martyr
Or as a LIVING martyr
Giving your TESTIMONY for God
And Jesus-
WHEREVER you happen to be

Won't you JOIN ME
In living for God and Jesus?

But before
You make up your mind
Jesus has some questions
For you:

“Will you
Lay down your life for me?”

“Will you live your life for me?”

“Will you do what you do
For me every day?”

Will you do it ALL for me?”

WILL YOU?”

I HOPE you join me-
In answering “YES”-
To LIVE FOR God and Jesus

HAPPY EASTER ALL!
I love you

But more importantly-GOD AND JESUS-
LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU

Robert P. Wallman
3-21-16

Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mitch Finley

4-23-2019

Monday, April 22, 2019

CALLED BY NAME TOO

CALLED BY NAME TOO

After the RESURRECTION=
When Jesus first appeared
To Mary Magdalene

She does NOT remember him=
Maybe she is too focused
On the empty tomb

But she does RECOGNIZE HIM
When he CALLS HER by NAME

“Thinking he was the gardener=
She said=
'Sir-if you have
Carried him away

Tell me where you
Have put him
And I will get him”

“Jesus said to her-'Mary'” John 20:15-16

And at once=she recognizes him=
And cried out=”Rabboni”
(which means TEACHER)

At the same time
HOW OFTEN as we
Go through the motions
Of life

NOT really recognizing
What we are doing

Then Jesus CALLS us out
By NAME and it
Takes on
A whole new SIGNIFICANCE

Our lives really
Take on MEANING=
That is the WAY that it is
When Jesus=
Calls us by name=for
JUST LIKE Mary

We are
CALLED BY NAME TOO

“Those who know
Your NAME
Trust in you

For you Lord
Have never forsaken
Those who seek you” Psalm 9:10

“Then you will win favor
And a GOOD NAME

In the sight
Of God and man” Proverbs 3:4

“Salvation is found
In no one else

For there is
NO OTHER NAME
Under heaven given
To mankind

By which
We must be saved” Acts 4:12

Just IMAGINE how SURPRISED-
How taken back
Mary is

When he appears
To her first-
After the RESURRECTION

And even remembers
HER NAME

I am taken back
And SURPRISED when God
Remembers my name

REMEMBERS ME in the
ORDINARY course of
My life-
Throughout the day

I am in total AWE=that God=
That Jesus=remembers me
During my day=
HOW ABOUT YOU?

“You answer us
With AWESOME and righteous deeds=
God our Savior

The hope
Of all the ends
Of the earth
And of the farthest seas” Psalm 65:5

“He provided
REDEMPTION for his people

He ordained
His covenant forever---------
Holy and AWESOME
Is his NAME” Psalm 111:9

And holy and AWESOME is
Our NAME=and Mary of MAGDALENE'S
Name

As he SPEAKS our name=now=
And UNTIL the end of time

In Jesus' name=and in the name of our LORD=our HOLY FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
4-22-19

BURNING WITH LOVE

BURNING WITH LOVE

ONE of the great stories
Of Jesus-
After the RESURRECTION

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

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

“Then they said-
To each other-

'WERE not our hearts BURNING
Within us-

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

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

It is easy to become
Confused and disoriented

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FORTUNATELY for us
We still have the ability
To RECOGNIZE CHRIST

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

Like the disheartened FOLLOWERS
On the road to Emmaus

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

“May he give you
The DESIRE of your heart

And make ALL your plans SUCCEED” Psalm 20:4

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

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

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

As we REVEL in
The GRACIOUSNESS of God”

Robert P. Wallman
4-18-17

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

4-22-2019

Sunday, April 21, 2019

WE ARE WITNESSES!

WE ARE WITNESSES

Mary Magdalene and the women
Were witnesses to
Jesus' RESURRECTION

The twelve apostles
Were WITNESSES ALSO

But we must REMEMBER
That we are witnesses
In TODAY'S WORLD too=
We are called to
Make Jesus COME ALIVE

In this modern world
We live in-
We are the
WITNESSES OF TODAY

“Jesus poured forth
The PROMISE
Of the HOLY SPIRIT........

As you both see and hear” Acts 2:33

And we SEE and hear
The words of God=
The words of Jesus
For he is STILL
Alive today

And he is ALIVE
In our hearts and minds
And our spirits

We are to make him
COME ALIVE
In today's world

WE are his WITNESSES TODAY

“An honest WITNESS
Tells the truth

But a false witness
Tells lies” Proverbs 12:17

And the TRUTH is=
Jesus is JUST AS ALIVE today
As he ever was

His love-kindness-
Forgiveness-and MERCY
Are ALIVE in this world

“But if they will
Not listen

Take one or two
Others along
So that every matter

May be established
To the testimony
Of two or three WITNESSES” Matthew 18:16

“He himself
Was NOT the light

He came only
As a WITNESS
To the light” John 1:8

And we COME like
John the Baptist=
Like the women=like
The apostles

To GIVE TESTIMONY
To the LIGHT
Who was Jesus

The light
Who RESURRECTED from the dead
And defeated death

We TESTIFY because
We are witnesses=and we
Do it with our PRAYERS=
And through the SPIRIT OF GOD
Whom Jesus brought

We are witnesses=
MODERN DAY WITNESSES

We testify with our hearts=
With our minds=
And with the Spirit of GOD

“Therefore go and make
DISCIPLES of all nations

Baptizing them
In the name of
The Father-
And of the SON-
And of the HOLY SPIRIT

And teaching them to obey
Everything I commanded
To you

And SURELY I am with you
Always
To the very end
Of the age” Matthew 28:19-20

YES we are the disciples=
The MODERN DAY WITNESSES of Jesus
To the very END OF TIME

In Jesus' name and in the name of the HOLY FATHER and SPIRIT

Robert P. Wallman
4-21-19

GOD IS UNSEEN=GOD IS UNHEARD=OUR GOD IS A MYSTERY

GOD IS UNSEEN-
GOD IS UNHEARD-
OUR GOD IS A MYSTERY

I have never seen God
I have never even heard God
And I am SURE-
Neither have you

For our God is a MYSTERY

“Jesus said:........'The Father
Who sent me
Has TESTIFIED on my behalf

But you have
Never heard his voice
Nor seen his form........” John 5:37

The Gospel of John
Is so different
Than the other 3 gospels

It has
Its own UNIQUE perspective

Today-it tells us
That Jesus was sent
By his Father

And that the “you”
REFERS to us
His 21^st century apostles
As well as the people
Of his time

We don't have Jesus
Any more figured out
Than the people of his day did

He is still
A MYSTERY TO US

“No-we declare GOD'S WISDOM
A MYSTERY that has been hidden

And that God destined
For our glory-
Before time began” 1 Corinthians 2:7

“But in the days
WHEN the 7^th angel
Is about to sound
His trumpet-

The MYSTERY OF GOD
Will be accomplished

Just as he announced
To his servants the prophets” Revelations 10:7

Our God is unseen
Our God is unheard
Except for his TEACHINGS

His teachings on LOVE
His teachings on forgiveness-
And his teachings on kindness
As well as the healings and miracles
He performed

Our God
Is a good God

A God of PERFECT LOVE
As manifested in the life-death-
And RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ

He is a humble God
A God of perfect humility

MAYBE we should try
To CULTIVATE his humility
Into our own lives

“When pride comes-
Then comes disgrace

But with humility
Comes wisdom” Proverbs 11:2

“Wisdom's instruction-
Is to fear the Lord

And HUMILITY
Comes before honor” Proverbs 15:33

“I served the Lord
With great humility and tears
….....” (Saint Paul) Acts 20:19

Isn't that something
We should ALL ASPIRE to do?

So
Our God is unseen-
Our God is unheard-
And our God is a mystery

Dear Lord-PLEASE HELP US
To ALWAYS KNOW
That we haven't got it
All figured out

And to live our lives
In LOVE-FORGIVENESS-and KINDNESS

Without always
Needing to understand

For you dear Lord
Are a perfect mystery-
AND PERFECT LOVE

Robert P. Wallman
3-10-16

Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mitch Finley

4-21-2019

Saturday, April 20, 2019

GOD OF THE LIVING

GOD OF THE LIVING

Our God=our Jesus=
Is the God of
The LIVING

No body in the tomb=
Incomprehensible=even when
The ANGEL explains to us
Jesus has been raised

WHEN the women=went to
The apostles=about Jesus
NOT being there=about him
Being raised

They responded=”NONSENSE”
The GOD OF THE LIVING

“........they did not
FIND the body of the
Lord Jesus........two men
In dazzling garments
Appeared to them........

They said to them=
'WHY do you seek
The LIVING ONE
Among the dead?'” Luke 24:3, 4, 5

We feel the
SHOCKING WONDER=
Jesus defeated death

His own death and
Death for us ALL

ALLELEUIA=he is
The God of the LIVING

“Then the Lord God
Formed a man
From the
Dust of the ground

And breathed
Into the nostrils
The breath of life

And the man
Became a LIVING BEING” Genesis 2:7

“I am
The God of Abraham-
The God of Isaac-
And the God of Jacob

He is not
The God of the dead
But of the LIVING” Matthew 22:32

“And if the SPIRIT of him
Who raised
Jesus from the dead

Is LIVING in you
He-who raised Christ
From the dead

Will also give LIFE
To your mortal bodies
Because=

Of the SPIRIT
Who lives in you” Romans 8:11

On this beautiful
EASTER Sunday morning

Let us remember
That because
Jesus=RESURRECTED from the dead

Because-
HE CONQUERED DEATH
There is HOPE
For you and for me

The wonder of it all
THE GOD OF THE LIVING

“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

“Unless you people
See signs and WONDERS,”
Jesus told them,
'You will never believe'” John 4:48

We believe dear LORD=
We believe in the RESURRECTION
Of your life

And on this BEAUTIFUL
EASTER MORNING=I say thank you
For allowing me
To come into

Your hearts and minds every day
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE!

I love you all!

We worship the GOD of the LIVING
And because of that
We will ALL LIVE
FOREVER MORE

In Jesus' name and in the name of the HOLY LIVING-LOVING FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
4-20-19

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

NO ONE KNOWS=TRUST IN THE HIDDEN POWER OF GOD

NO ONE KNOWS=TRUST IN
THE HIDDEN POWER OF GOD

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

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

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

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

WE are all faced
With an important decision
In life

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

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

NEITHER should you

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

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

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

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

NO ONE knew
Who Christ was
But we KNOW NOW

And we TRUST IN
The POWER of God

“I myself have SELECTED
Your fellow LEVITES

From among the ISRAELITES
As a GIFT to you

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

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

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

BRING OTHERS to the Lord
Through your life

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No one knew
Who Jesus was=TODAY
WE ALL KNOW

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

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

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!=I LOVE YOU

Robert P. Wallman
4-15-17

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

4-20-2019

Friday, April 19, 2019

ON THE BRINK!

ON THE BRINK!

This holy Saturday-
We are WAITING=
Waiting for the LORD

We have=
A DAY of waiting

YES!=later the stone will
Be ROLLED AWAY=
But this morning-
For now we WAIT

“They found the stone-
ROLLED away from the tomb........” Luke 24:2

We are contemplating Jesus=
For now he is GONE=
What was this bittersweet
MYSTERY all about?

Could we be ON THE BRINK of
Something UNIMAGINABLE?

The MEANING of our FRIENDSHIP
With Jesus is now gone=what did
It all MEAN?

WE WAIT!

“WAIT for the Lord=
Be strong and take heart
And WAIT for the Lord” Psalm 27:14

“Yet the Lord-
Longs to be gracious
To you

Therefore he will rise up
To show you compassion

For the Lord
Is a God of justice
Blessed are all

WHO WAIT FOR HIM!” Isaiah 30:18

Yes today
IS a day=for waiting

NOT much is happening
And we are NUMB
With grief
For the LOSS
Of our BELOVED Jesus

SLOWLY=we begin to think
Maybe there is STILL something
To happen

Maybe there is
Some REDEMPTIVE VALUE
In all of this

Could we be
ON THE BRINK?

On the brink=of JOY?

We wait for the removal
Of the stone=
The stone that BLOCKS
The LIGHT OF LIFE

We are not waiting
In vain
We wait with JOYFUL HOPE=
For we are
ON THE BRINK
Of something unimaginable

“Do not leave Jerusalem-
But WAIT for the gift
My FATHER PROMISED

Which you have heard me
SPEAK about” Acts 1:4

“Not only so-
But we ourselves-
Who HAVE the first fruits
Of the SPIRIT

Grown inwardly
As we WAIT eagerly
For our adoption
To sonship

The redemption of our bodies” Romans 8:23

Our waiting has
Some VALUE=for we have
Tomorrow=something is coming

We wait=we smell the
CRISP cold air=
We see the stone
We FEEL the rough edges

YES!=we are ON THE BRINK
Of pure uncensored joy

In Jesus' name=and in the name of our HOLY LIVING=LOVING ALMIGHTY FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
4-19-19

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

THE ASTONISHING MERCY OF GOD

THE ASTONISHING MERCY OF GOD!

Of all the SUPER POWERS
What do you think
Would be the worst one?

Don't you think it would
Have to be TELEPATHY?

The ABILITY to read what
Is in a person's heart
As if it is/or was
STAMPED on our forehead

IMAGINE seeing everyone's
Petty self-righteous feelings
NOT to mention our lusts and what
We feel we are ENTITLED TO

That is what God has=
He can read the SECRETS
Of our hearts-and our motivations

Yet he LOVES US anyway
Yet he deals with us
With ASTONISHING MERCY
And does not judge us

“Therefore-
Do not make any judgment
BEFORE the appointed time

Until the Lord comes
For he will BRING to light
What is hidden in darkness

And WILL manifest the motives
Of our hearts
And then everyone
Will receive PRAISE FROM God” 1 Corinthians 4:5

Wouldn't it be better
If we treated each other
WITH MERCY?

The way GOD TREATS US
And not hold each other up
In judgment
The way we do

We don't even know
What is on another person's hearts

What if others could see
Our mixed motivations-our impatience-
Our selfishness?

Nevertheless-
Let us treat others with MERCY
The WAY God TREATS US

Particularly in this
The year of MERCY OF GOD

THE ASTONISHING MERCY OF GOD

Wouldn't it be great IF we could
Actually treat each other this way?

“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

“We do not make requests
Of you
Because you are righteous

BUT because of your GREAT MERCY” Daniel 9:18

“BLESSED are the MERCIFUL
For they will be shown MERCY” Matthew 5:7

Yes telepathy=God has X-RAY VISION
Of our hearts-
He knows exactly
What is in them

It is ASTONISHING-sometimes-
The cruel-and sad things
That comes out
Of a person's heart

But what is also astonishing-IS:

THE ASTONISHING MERCY OF GOD-
That God has for us

Let us-in THIS YEAR OF MERCY-
Have that SAME loving mercy for each other

And leave all judgments-
To be MADE by our LOVING GOD

Robert P. Wallman
9-1-16

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

4-19-2019

Thursday, April 18, 2019

LIVING LIKE JESUS

LIVING LIKE JESUS

A few years ago=there
WAS a movement called
WWJD=or WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

There were bracelets and t-shirts=
And a great MOVEMENT

NONE of us can actually live like
Jesus=or even COMPARE ourselves
To him

But we can TRY to LIVE
Like Jesus=by LIVING out
Of love=out of kindness= and
Out of forgiveness

“For we do NOT
Have a high priest
Who is unable

To sympathize
With our weaknesses

But ONE who has similarly
BEEN TESTED-
In every way-
Yet without sin” Hebrews 4:15

After all=HOW can we compare
Ourselves=to the one
Who was BOTH fully human
And fully DIVINE

At the same time=it is
NOT FAIR to compare ourselves
To anyone else either

Maybe the BEST we can be=
The BEST WAY we
Can LIVE like Jesus

Is SIMPLY being the best
We can be=
Being a BETTER VERSION of
Ourselves than yesterday=
Than last month=
And last year

“For who in the skies above
Can COMPARE
With the LORD?

Who is like
The Lord
Among the heavenly being?” Psalm 89:6

“With whom-then-
Will you COMPARE GOD?

To what image
Will you liken him?” Isaiah 40:18

“Again he asked=
'What shall I COMPARE
The kingdom of God to?........'” Luke 13:20

While it is TRUE
We CANNOT compare ourselves
To Jesus

It is also true
That each day
Should BRING US

A little closer
To the IMAGE of Jesus

Jesus has given us
A HIGHER STANDARD
To shoot for

But we don't
Have to do it ourselves=
Jesus invites us
To WALK WITH him

To EMBRACE our weaknesses
And TEST our faith
Just as he did

We are NEVER ALONE=
God and Jesus=are ALWAYS
With us

“TEST me Lord-
And try me
Examine my heart
And my mind” Psalm 26:2

“Do not conform
To the pattern
Of this world

But be transformed
By the renewal
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

We are to TRY to LIVE
LIKE JESUS=and God the Father
Never leaves us alone=
As we face life's
Toughest challenges and choices

Dear Lord=dear JESUS=help us=
HELP ME=to be
LIVING more like you=and lose
My own selfish needs and wants

In Jesus' name and in the name=of the HOLY ALMIGHTY FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
4-18-19

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

JOURNAL=GOD'S PERFECT WORD=COVENANTS AND PROMISES

JOURNAL 2-22-15=GOD'S PERFECT WORD=COVENANTS AND PROMISES

“I set my bow in the clouds to SERVE as a SIGN........” Genesis 9:13

HAVE you ever seen a RAINBOW-what a beautiful and WONDEROUS sight-and for me personally-when I see one-I ALWAYS FEEL the presence of God

AFTER the great flood-God put a RAINBOW in the sky as a REMINDER that there would be NO MORE world destroying floods-GOD IS PATIENT with us-and He wants us to get it right-but he is NOT going to wait forever

The PLAN OF SALVATION has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus so that “HE might lead you/me to God” (1 Peter 3:18)-I KEEP wondering WHEN more of us in this world are going to get it right-by the looks of the 5 o'clock news-it doesn't look like that it is any time soon

MORE OF US in this world have to BEGIN to win the battle of GOD AND FAMILY and goodness and UNSELFISHNESS over sin and selfishness and greed in this world

WHEN was the last time you saw a RAINBOW? DID You feel the awesome PRESENCE OF GOD-I HOPE so-and more than that I HOPE you are winning your own battle of GOOD over evil by choosing GOD AND FAMILY VALUES in today's world

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day for CHOOSING GOD and making him number 1 in your life-ALONG with your family

GOD’S PERFECT WORD---COVENANTS AND PROMISES

Has anyone
Ever made you a promise
And not kept their word

Has God

The answers are
Yes and no
At least by the experience
Of my own life

I have been
Let down over and over again
By human beings
But not by God

God always
Keeps his words

A covenant is defined
As an agreement between two parties
A solemn promise or vow
Especially between God and people

God always keeps his covenant
God always keeps his word

God said to Noah
“Never again
Will the waters become a flood
To destroy all the earth
Whenever the RAINBOW appears
In the clouds
I will see it
And remember the everlasting covenant
Between GOD and ALL living creatures
Of every kind”

Man makes promises
Do they keep them
Sometimes yes and sometimes no
Not so with God
God ALWAYS keeps his word

God said to Abraham,
“As for me
This is my covenant with you:
You will be
The Father of many nations
No longer will you be called Abram
Your name will be Abraham
I have made you
The Father of many nations”

Christian, Muslim, and Jew
God always keeps his Word

God said to the Jewish people through Moses,
“You are standing here
In order to enter in to a covenant
With the Lord your God

A covenant the Lord
Is making with you
This day and sealing with an oath

To confirm you this day as his people
That he may be your God
As he promised you
And as he swore to your Fathers,
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”

Do people keep their promises
Sometimes yes---sometimes no

God always keeps his promises
With God---it is always so

God told Nathan
To go and tell David,
“Your house and your kingdom
Will endure forever before me
Your thrown will be established forever”

God always keeps his word

With people
Promises made---sometimes
Are promises broken

With God---that is never so
God always keeps his word

“This is the covenant
I will make with them
I will
Put my law in their hearts
And I will write them
On their minds”

Through Christ’s perfect sacrifice
And the SPIRIT who testifies

GOD’S WORD IS PERFECT
HE ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD

Robert P. Wallman
4-15-11

ps misc. WITNESS 2-6-14
2-22-15 and 4-18-2019

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

REMEMBERING THE BREAD OF HOPE AND PROMISE

REMEMBERING THE BREAD OF HOPE AND PROMISE

What would you SAY if
You KNEW it was going
To be-
The LAST WORDS=you say
On this earth?

I already faced that
PROBLEM=and this IS
What I said=

“I don't think God wants
Me to die=but if
He does=there MUST
Be a reason

And if he GRANTS
Me life=I would LIVE
For my family=friends=
And ALL people everywhere”

That is OVER 42 years
Ago now=and I am STILL HERE

In constant pain=but LIVING
And offering my life up
FOR OTHERS

What would you say?
What would you do?

But Jesus
GIVES us the
MODEL RESPONSE

On the very night
Of his betrayal-agony-and
Being TREATED as a
Common criminal

“This is MY BODY
That is for you

Do this
In REMEMBRANCE of me” 1 Corinthians 11:24

Remembering the bread
Of HOPE AND PROMISE

Remembering the BREAD OF LIFE

Jesus leaves us
A LEGACY=a summary
Of everything-

His life
Has been all about

He looks around at
The fearful=CONFUSED FACES
Sitting at the table
With him

He IMPRINTS that image
On his HEART
And says=
“This is my BODY
That is for you”

Remembering Jesus always
But particularly=
These NEXT few days

Remembering the bread
Of HOPE AND PROMISE

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

Put your HOPE
In God-
For I will yet
Praise him

My SAVIOR=and my God” Psalm 42:5

“There is surely
A FUTURE HOPE for you
And your HOPE
Will NOT be cut off” Proverbs 23:18

“All who have
This HOPE in him
Purify themselves

Just as he is pure” 1 John 3:3

Eat this bread
Of HOPE AND PROMISE=
Take the BODY of Christ
As often
As you can

And LIVE your lives
As a MEMORIAL
To God the FATHER=
And to his SON=Jesus

REMEMBER Christ's last
Words always=and remember
HIS and the Father's
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for you too

For what it is worth=
I LOVE YOU ALL TOO

In Jesus' name and in the name=of the FATHER=REMEMBER always their LAST WORDS

Robert P. Wallman
4-17-19

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