For the Love of Us All: October 2019

Thursday, October 31, 2019

WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE

WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE

When God is on
Our side=
There is NO OBSTACLE
That can stop us
There is NOTHING
That can get
In our way

The QUESTION you
Really have to ask yourself is=
Do you BELIEVE
That God is for you?

Believe it=
Because HE IS

“If God is
FOR US=
Who can be
Against us?” Romans 8:31

Think it=BELIEVE IT
God is ON YOUR SIDE
He wants nothing except
For you to be
Healthy and happy

WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE

Take a deep breath
And think about
How God
Has HELPED YOU
In the past

Think of yourself as a
NEW TESTAMENT DISCIPLE
Think about how Jesus
Can help you
About how he
CAN WORK in your life

“In my distress
I called to the Lord
I cried to my God
FOR HELP” Psalm 18:6

“I will strengthen you
And HELP YOU

I will uphold you
With my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10

“When he arrived
He was
A GREAT HELP

To those
Who by grace=had believed” Acts 18:27

Yes imagine that
You are
A NEW TESTAMENT DISCIPLE
And that you
Are a FOLLOWER OF JESUS

Imagine you
Are being HEALED=
Your eyes and ears
Are being opened

That Jesus=on the CROSS
Is hanging there
Just for you

With GOD ON OUR SIDE
We can overcome anything

“Immediately the
Boy's father exclaimed=
'I do believe
Help me OVERCOME
My unbelief'” Mark 9:24

“I am writing to you
Young men

Because you have
OVERCOME the evil one” 1 John 2:13

You will come up
AGAINST things and people
Who are against you
In this life

Just keep focusing
On the simple truth
That God is ALWAYS FOR YOU

That you can
Accomplish anything=WITH GOD
ON YOUR SIDE
God is for you!

NOTHING in this world
Can take GOD'S LOVE
Away from you=
Nothing can stop you
Or thwart you

Believe it=God is
ALWAYS ON YOUR SIDE

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of our ALWAYS HELPFUL FATHER God

Robert P. Wallman
10-31-19

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

JOURNAL/WHO DO YOU TRUST?

JOURNAL/ENDLESS LIFE

“Paul.....an Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the.....recognition of religious truth.....in the HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE.....” Titus 1:1

TODAY is a new day-the sun is coming up today-just like it does every day-and with it brings HOPE-the HOPE OF GOD-something we should stop and GIVE THANKS FOR

LIKE Saint Paul-WE DEDICATE our lives to LIVING in the HOPE of the Lord-and we dedicate our lives to LIVING so intensely and truthfully that we BRING OTHERS to the Lord-FOR I believe that even atheists-somewhere in their heart of hearts-HOPE for a LIFE WITHOUT END

it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to look forward to SPENDING ETERNITY with God in his UNENDING LOVE for us

WHO DO YOU TRUST?

Who do you TRUST

LOOK at any coin
or US currency
And somewhere on it
it says:

“IN GOD WE TRUST”

I suggest to you
That that is the reason
We have so much TROUBLE
In our country
So much trouble
In our world

We really don't trust God
Anymore
We want to put
ALL of our trust
In ourselves

Well I got some news
For you
No one-no human being
Can do it alone
NOT without HELP from God
Not without help
From others

Psalm 56 says:

“NOW that I know
That God is with me
In God I TRUST” Psalm 56:10, 12

WE can make it
OUR country can make it
OUR WORLD can make it

But NOT before
We LEARN
To rely on God

Psalm 56 says
GOD is on our side

THE GOD OF LOVE
Calls you and me
LOVES you and me
And finds us
Unique and delightful

Just imagine
WHAT would really happen
How we would
LIVE OUR LOVES
IF we really believed this

And psalm 37 says:

“TRUST in the Lord
And do good
Dwell in the land
And enjoy safe pasture

DELIGHT yourself
In the Lord

And he will give you
THE DESIRES of your heart” Psalm 37:3-4

TRUST in God
He LOVES YOU
He wants
What is BEST for you

He is a GOD
That is more than
Merely with us

He is a God
THAT is on our side

And in Proverbs 3
It says:

“TRUST in the Lord
With ALL your heart
Lean not
On your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5

The writers of the psalms
And proverbs
DON'T say

“In my own goodness
And intelligence I TRUST”

OR

“In good health-and material possessions
I trust”

They say
“IN GOD WE TRUST”

Put a penny
Or a $ bill
In your pocket
And any time
YOUR FAITH is weakening
PULL it out and read
“IN GOD WE TRUST”

Dear Lord
We PRAY that we always remember

YOU are on my side
It is you that I trust

And we pray for the GRACE
To live by:

“IN GOD WE TRUST”

Robert p. Wallman
10-10-14

Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITHMAGAZINE by Sister Melannie Svoboda, S.N.D.
11-11-14

I want to say thank you to our VTERANS for OUR physical freedom and thank you to MY LORD and Savior Jesus Christ for the emotional and spiritual FREEDOM that I have found

Ps 10-31-2019

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

BECOMING MORE AWARE

BECOMING MORE AWARE

Our God is an
AMAZINGLY generous God

We are all INCLUDED in
The party of LIFE=
Not a single one of us
Is excluded

Unless we choose
To exclude ourselves
By NOT accepting the INVITATION
Of God and Jesus

“And people will COME
From the east
And the west

And from the north
And the south
And will RECLINE

At table
In the Kingdom of God” Luke 13:29

GOD'S LOVING PRESENCE
Is at work
Within us
We are

Or CAN BE
Truly ONE with God
We just have

To become MORE AWARE
Of the loving presence
Of God

We just have to
Be AWARE
Of his living-loving PRESENCE
Living within us

“Because of my integrity
You uphold me

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

“How can we
Thank God enough
For you

In return
For all
The joy we have

In the PRESENCE
Of our God
Because of you?” 1 Thessalonians 3:9

The question is=
How can we become
MORE AWARE

Of this LOVING PRESENCE
Of God
That FLOWS through us
Each and every day?

We need to stop
And PRAY and ask God and Jesus
For their loving presence
To GROW in us
THROUGH PRAYER

We need to have
The DESIRE for it=
To RECEIVE the awareness
Of God
For it=to GROW IN US

“But those who hope
In the Lord
Will renew their strength

They will soar on
Wings like eagles
They will run
And NOT GROW weary

They will walk
And not be faint” Isaiah 40:31

Yes become AWARE
Of the Lord
Your God=and his LOVE
For you=
And his love in you
WILL GROW TOO

Please be patient
In PRAYER=it takes time
For GOD'S AWARENESS
To grow in you

But it DOES GROW
When we come to God
In silence=and in persistent
Hopeful prayer

Dear Lord=once we have this
AWARENESS=help us to SHARE IT
With all others

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of our EVER AWARE FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
10-30-19

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

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

LIVING HOPE=THROUGH LITTLE THINGS

LIVING HOPE=THROUGH LITTLE THINGS

There are many people
In this world
Who are MARGINALIZED
And mistreated

When we see the WOUNDS
Of others=
We can also
See their SORROW

And our earth is dying
From the IMPACT
Of our waste and
Consumption

Yet we can STILL SEE
HOPE in this world
From some little things

“For creation AWAITS
With eager expectation........” Romans 8:19

The whole earth
Seems eager and DESPERATE

We see all these REALITIES
In this world
That can DISCOURAGE US

Yet we remain
MOTIVATED BY HOPE=
Because hope BURNS in us
We continue to
Move FORWARD

And we continue to
Move CLOSER to Christ

“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

“........in order that we
Who were the first
To put

OUR HOPE in Christ
Might be for
The praise of his glory” Ephesians 1:12

Yes we can FIND HOPE
In the little
ORDINARY things in life
Just like Saint Theresa
The LITTLE FLOWER

Hope helps us NOTICE
God's power
In the tiny
And the mighty
Just like JESUS TAUGHT

The tiny mustard seed
Grows to GIVE
Shelter to birds

A small amount of yeast
Expands dough
And feeds the hungry

From the SIMPLE
Little ordinary things
In life

We become TRANSFORMED
Human beings

“........who by the power
That enables him
To bring everything
Under his control

WILL TRANSFORM
Our lowly bodies
So that-
They will be like
His glorious body” Philippians 3:21

Yes we find LIVING HOPE
In the little things
Of life

From Jesus=we LEARN
How to become
LIVING SIGNS OF HOPE

And HOW to give hope
To those IN NEED

Just by
The giving of ourselves

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of our EVER-HOPEFUL FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
10-29-19

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

Monday, October 28, 2019

LOOKING TO THE HEAVENS

LOOKING TO THE HEAVENS

There are all KINDS
Of communication
In the world=
NOT JUST WORDS

But in this age
Of social media=
WORDS are a powerful way
Of COMMUNICATION

“NOT a word
Nor a discourse
Whose voice
Is not heard

THROUGH all the earth
Their voice resounds........” Psalm 19:4-5

I like WORDS-
They come naturally
To me when
I AM WRITING

But a handshake
Is good too=
OR A HUG

Both knowing signs
Of recognition
And communication

And a knowing nod
Or a wink
Can COMMUNICATE a
DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING
That surpasses
Any words

And LOOKING TO THE HEAVENS
How great is that

It fills us
With a SENSE of
The creator's power

And gives us a WISDOM
That no other
form of communication
CAN CONVEY

LOOKING TO THE HEAVENS!

“He had a dream
In which he saw
A stairway resting
On the earth

With its top
Reaching to HEAVEN
And the angels of God

Were ascending
And descending on it” Genesis 28:12

“This is
What the Lord says=
'HEAVEN is my throne
And the earth
Is my footstool

Where is the house
You will build for me?
Where will my
Resting place be?” Isaiah 66:1

“........to be
Put into effect
When the times
Reach their fulfillment--------

To bring unity
To all things
IN HEAVEN

And on earth
Under Christ” Ephesians 1:10

Yes looking to
THE HEAVENS=conveys a POWER
Of the creator's
Like nothing else

What a FANTASTIC FORM
Of communication

LOOKING to the heavens
Is realizing the
POWER of God=the power
Of our CREATOR

“Proclaim the POWER
Of God
Whose majesty over Israel

Whose POWER
Is in the HEAVENS” Psalm 68:34

Yes all we can do
Is LOOK to the HEAVENS
With a nod and a shrug
And realize
THE POWER OF GOD

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of our EVER POWERFUL=God the FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
10-28-19

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

SAINT JUDE=PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS CASES

SAINT JUDE---PATRON SAINT OF HOPELESS CASES

Do you ever feel hopeless
I know that I do

Well I have some good news for you
In addition to Jesus

There is a Saint that we can pray to
Or at least ask to intercede for us
On our behalf

His name is Jude---Also known as Thaddeus

Jude was the ½ brother of James the lesser
Both original Apostles
And ½ brothers of Jesus

There was little devotion
To Saint Jude
Because his name was so close to that of Judas
The traitor
That devotion to him became discouraged

But devotion
Began to pick up in the 14^th century
When our Lord himself
Directed Saint Bridget of Sweden
To turn to Saint Jude in faith and confidence

Our Lord told Saint Bridget
That the name of Thaddeus means
“Amiable and loving---and---
He will show himself most willing to help”

Saint Jude’s father’s name was Cleophas
And he was murdered
Because of his outspoken devotion
To the Risen Christ

Mary Cleophas---the Mother of Saint Jude
Was present at Christ’s crucifixion
And after her death
Many miracles were attributed
To her intercession

Jude---like his brother James
Did not believe that Jesus
Was the Son of God
Until after the Resurrection

After the Resurrection
Jude---along with his companion Simon
Preached and taught in Mesopotamia
For ten years
Converting many to Christianity

His teachings
Were primarily against Gnosticism---
The teaching that the sins of the body
Does not affect the sins of the soul
And against the people of his day---
Bearing false witness---about Jesus
And our Christian walk

He taught that Christians
Need to be aware of false teachers
Infiltrating the church

Certainly---at least in my mind
As true today---as it was back then
Maybe more so---just turn on your television set

But maybe---in my mind
His most important teaching
Was that believers
Should be merciful to unbelievers

He and Simon
Made more converts in Persia
Where he was clubbed to death

We all face hopeless situations
In today’s world
Maybe more so than ever

We may lose hope
Because of our health diagnosis
The loss of a loved one
Our finances
A broken relationship within the family
Or for many other reasons

“And we rejoice
In the hope of the glory of God
Not only so
But we also rejoice in our suffering
Because we know that suffering
Produces perseverance; perseverance---character
And character---HOPE
And hope does not disappoint us
Because God has poured out his love
Into our hearts by the Holy Spirit
Whom he has given us” Romans 5:3-5

So when we are feeling hopeless
And like our Lord told Saint Bridget about Saint Jude
We can be confident that:

“HE WILL SHOW HIMSELF MOST WILLING TO HELP”

Robert P. Wallman
10-22-11

Ps Today---October 28^th---is his feast day---my sister Terri---her middle name Judith
Is after our Saint Jude---THE PATRON SAINT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE

10-28-14
10-28-15 and 10-23-18 10-28-19

Sunday, October 27, 2019

LET GOD LIFT YOU UP

LET GOD LIFT YOU UP

Sometimes=
We make mistakes in life=
Life has a way
Of HUMBLING US

We don't need to
Tell others how great
That we are

We just need to RELAX
And be PATIENT=
God-Jesus=will LIFT US
Back up

“........Everyone who EXALTS himself
Will be HUMBLED

And the one
Who humbles himself
Will be EXALTED” Luke 18:14

ACKNOWLEDGE your mistakes
When you make them=
Others will be moved
With UNDERSTANDING
And will remember
Mistakes that they made too

A LITTLE HUMILITY
Can be a good thing
For us

Don't tell others
How great that you are

IF you really are
God will=Jesus will=
LIFT YOU UP!

“I LIFT UP
My eyes
To the mountains--------

Where does my help
Come from?” Psalm 121:1

“You who bring news
To Zion-
Go up on
A high mountain

You who bring good news
To Jerusalem
LIFT UP your voice
With a shout

LIFT IT UP
Do not be afraid
Say to the towns
Of Judah
'Here is your God'” Isaiah 40:9

Yes=be HUMBLE
In the Lord=
Let the Lord Jesus
EXALT YOU=let the Lord
LIFT YOU UP!

Life has away
Of bringing us
All down

But we don't need
To say how GREAT
That we are

The Lord YOUR God
Will EXALT YOU=
Be humble=in the Lord

“Glorify the Lord
With me

Let us EXALT
His name together” Psalm 34:3

“Do NOT EXALT yourself
In the king's presence

And do not
Claim a place
Among his great men” Proverbs 25:6

Don't be a braggart
Don't be a boaster
In this life

Let God LIFT YOU UP
To your
Most RIGHTFUL PLACE=
LIVE WITH HUMILITY!

In the name of Jesus=and our FOREVER EXALTING FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
10-27-19

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

Saturday, October 26, 2019

BEING SORRY=CAN BE A GOOD THING

BEING SORRY=CAN BE A GOOD THING

I don't like
To be WRONG
I'll bet you
Don't either

But having REMORSE=
Seeking FORGIVENESS
Can be a GOOD THING

Making AMENDS to someone=
When we have HURT-
Or wronged someone=
Being really truly SORRY
For what we have done
Can be GOOD FOR US

“But I tell you-
If you do not REPENT

You will all perish
As they did” Luke 13:3

Have you ever seen
A man/woman
On the side
Of the road
HOLDING a sign
That says “REPENT?”

We probably thought
They were CRAZY
But TURNING BACK to God
For our sins

REPENTING can be a
VERY GOOD THING=
It is a NEW START-
It is like FINDING GOD
ALL OVER AGAIN

“Therefore I despise myself
And REPENT
In dust and ashes” Job 42:6

“REPENT=turn away
From all your offenses

Their sin
Will not be
Your downfall” Ezekiel 18:30

“,,,,,,,,For I take
No pleasure
In the death
Of anyone

Declares the Sovereign Lord
REPENT AND LIVE!” Ezekiel 18:32

BEING SORRY
When we have
Offended someone
Can be really GOOD
For us

It can give us
A NEW LIFE
Not only do we/can we
Make amends

But we can FIND God
ALL OVER AGAIN

“Yes my soul
FIND rest in God

My hope comes
From him” Psalm 62:5

“For those who FIND ME-
FIND LIFE

And receive
Favor from the Lord” Proverbs 8:35

“For whoever
Wants to save their life
Will lose it

But whoever
Loses their life for me
WILL FIND IT” Matthew 16:25

So don't be afraid
To SAY
That you are SORRY

Don't be afraid
TO REPENT

Don't be afraid=to START
All over again=With GOD
And with OTHERS

In Jesus' name=and in the name of our FOREVER GIVING God the FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
10-27-19

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

Friday, October 25, 2019

STRUGGLING?=MAKE WORTHY CHOICES

STRUGGLING?=MAKE WORTHY CHOICES

Are you STRUGGLING With
Something in LIFE?
Are you struggling
With TEMPTATIONS?

Don't feel so bad=
We all STRUGGLE
With something

Even the great SAINT PAUL did
“For I do NOT
Do the GOOD I want

But I do the evil
I do not want” Romans 7:19

Yes even Saint Paul
Had to make the
RIGHT CHOICES in life

There is ALWAYS
An URGE
To CHOOSE
What is not the
BEST THING for us

DEEP DOWN=we always
Want to do
The right thing=
We want to be WORTHY
Of our identity

We want to be WORTHY DISCIPLES
Of Jesus Christ

But we are TEMPTED
To DO the wrong thing
With our health=with good eating
With our finances
And even in relationships

Struggling?=
MAKE WORTHY CHOICES

“All things
Have been committed
To me
By the Father

No one knows
Who the SON is-
Except the Father

And no one knows
Who the Father is-
Except the Son

And those
To whom the Son CHOOSES
To reveal him” Luke 10:22

“Any one=who CHOOSES
To do
The will of God

Will find out
Whether my teaching

Comes from God
Or whether I speak
ON MY OWN” John 7:17

Paul chose to FOLLOW
The FATHER=enough times
That he became
A GREAT SAINT

Hopefully we will
Make WORTHY CHOICES
With our lives too

Maybe we won't
Become great SAINTS
But we can still
Make worthy choices

With our lives
And CONQUER TEMPTATION

“NO TEMPTATION
Has overtaken you
EXCEPT what is common
To mankind

And God is faithful=
He will not let you
Be TEMPTED
Beyond what you can bear

But when you are TEMPTED
He will also PROVIDE
A way out

So that you can ENDURE IT” 1 Corinthians 10:13

So if you are STRUGGLING=
If you are tempted

TURN to God the FATHER
Like the great SAINT PAUL did
And Jesus did
And make WORTHY CHOICES

In JESUS=and in the name of our FOREVER ENDURING FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
10-25-19

Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Fr. Martin Pable, O.F.M., Cap.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

ON FIRE WITH LOVE

ON FIRE WITH LOVE

Are you on FIRE
WITH LOVE
For God the Father?
And Jesus
In your LIFE?

Are you feeling the
BURNING LOVE
Of the HOLY SPIRIT?

“I have come to
Set the earth
ON FIRE

And how I wish it
Were already BLAZING!” Luke 12:49

There are TIMES in life
When we feel
Like we are ON FIRE

Like everything is GOING AWAY
We feel like
We are LOSING EVERYTHING

Our job=our health=
Our finances=and
EVERY RELATIONSHIP

We feel like everything
Is BURNING AWAY

But what if we
Thought of fire
As a PURIFICATION?

What if we are
Being REFINED with the
LOVE of God?
What if we are
Being BURNED into
PURE solid gold=
Pure SOLID LOVE?

“Create in me
A PURE HEART
O God

And renew
A steadfast spirit
Within me” Psalm 51:10

“Who can say?
'I have kept
MY HEART PURE

I am clean
And without sin?'” Psalm 20:9

“Religion that God our Father
Accepts as PURE and faultless
Is this=

To look after orphans
And widows
In their distress

And to keep oneself
From being
Polluted by the world” James 1:27

During these times
We MUST hold very still
As God-
Does PURIFY US

TRUST God=trust
And KNOW that the Father
Knows EXACTLY
What he is doing

Do NOT resist God=
Allow him to have
HIS OWN WAY with you

Let him
Make you on fire
With his LOVE=
BE STILL!

“He says=
'BE STILL and know
That I am God'

I will be exalted
Among the nations
I will be exalted
In the earth” Psalm 46:10

Be still=Let GOD
Put you on FIRE
With HIS LOVE

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

Robert P. Wallman
10-24-19

Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Kristin Armstrong

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

HAS HE STOLEN YOUR HEART?

HAS HE STOLEN YOUR HEART?

Has he=Jesus=
STOLEN your heart?
Does he TOUCH you?
Does that make you WANT
To LIVE like a SERVANT?=
Just like JESUS

Jesus=a THIEF=come on=
But he has
STOLEN MY HEART=everything
That I do
IS FOR HIM

Has he touched you
In that way?

“You also MUST
Be prepared

For at an hour
You do NOT EXPECT
The SON of Man will come” Luke 12:40

“The master of that
SERVANT=will come
On a day

When he does
NOT expect him
And at an hour
He is NOT AWARE OF

He will cut him
To pieces
And assign him a place
With the UNBELIEVERS” Luke 12:46

Jesus has come=like a
THIEF=he has
STOLEN MY HEART

Has he stolen yours?
Has he TOUCHED YOU
In that way?

Jesus tells us
He will come
Like a “THIEF”

The master better always be=
We all
BETTER BEWARE

God wants to=
Jesus wants to=
He wants to TAKE OVER
OUR LIVES with LOVE

He has TOUCHED you and me
IN LOVE

“Saul also went
To his home
In Gibeah

Accompanied by valiant men
Whose hearts
He had TOUCHED” 1 Samuel 10:26

“People brought all
Their sick to him
And begged him

To let the sick
Just TOUCH
The edge of his cloak

And all who TOUCHED IT
Were healed” Matthew 14:36

I need=we NEED to be=
To BECOME SERVANTS of the LORD=
But us modern day people
Aren't too keen on becoming “servants”

“But thanks be to GOD
That though you
Used to be
Slaves to sin

You have come to OBEY
From your HEART
The pattern of teaching

That has claimed
YOUR ALLEGIANCE” Romans 6:17

When Jesus STEALS OUR HEARTS
We become servants
And REJOICE

Because he IS OUR KING!

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

Robert P. Wallman
10-23-19

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

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

FULLY ALIVE IN CHRIST?

FULLY ALIVE IN CHRIST?

Jesus has TOUCHED MY HEART!=
My life=He has
Made me FULLY AWARE
In my LOVE for him!

Has he TOUCHED your life?
Are you FULLY ALIVE
In Christ?

“To do your will-
O my God

IS my delight
And your law
Is WITHIN MY HEART” Psalm 40:9

God WANTS us to
Love him=Jesus wants us
To LOVE HIM=
He wants us
To be FULLY AWARE
Of the sacrifice
He has made
FOR US

He wants us
To be fully aware
Of the love
He has FOR US

And he wants us
To be FULLY ALIVE=
And in love with him

“When Moses came down
From Mount Sinai
With the two tablets

Of the covenant law
In his hands

He was NOT AWARE
That his face
Was radiant

Because he had
Spoken with the Lord” Exodus 34:29

“The master of the servant
Will come
On a day

When he does
NOT expect him
And at the hour

He is NOT AWARE OF” Matthew 24:50

Are you living
Like you LOVE GOD
The Father?
Are you FULLY ALIVE=
Alive with and
IN LOVE with Christ?

God urges us
To love him=We are alive
ONLY because of Jesus

ONLY because of the
POWER of Christ's love
In our hearts

Yes-sometimes we still sin-
We choose to ACT
Out of selfishness=prejudice=
Or ambivalence

This ME-FIRST attitude
Only gives TEMPORARY satisfaction

But the psalmist
Tells us today=
We can only FIND LASTING HAPPINESS=
When our hearts are JOINED
With God's=
LIVING out of love LIKE CHRIST

“IN the same way
Count yourselves
Dead to sin

But ALIVE to God
In Christ Jesus” Romans 6:11

“For the word of God
Is ALIVE and active

Sharper than
ANY double-edged sword” Hebrews 4:12

There is something
VERY ATTRACTIVE in those
That are FULLY ALIVE
In Christ Jesus!

They find DELIGHT
In all they do

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of the FATHER=our ever LIVING-LOVING GOD!

Robert P. Wallman
10-22-19

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

Monday, October 21, 2019

FELLOWSHIP

FELLOWSHIP

ONE of the things
That God wants us to do
Is to have fellowship
With him
And with each other

FELLOWSHIP is defined
As a FRIENDLY relationship; companionship
Community of interest; friendliness, etc.,

And one of the reasons
WE WERE CREATED
Was for fellowship with God
And fellowship with one another

IN FACT one of the themes
Of the first book of the bible-Genesis
IS that God creates man
In his own image
For fellowship with him

“WE PROCLAIM to you
What we have seen and heard
So that you also may
Have fellowship with us

And our fellowship
Is with the FATHER
And with his son-Jesus Christ

We write this
To make our joy complete” 1 John 1:3

And we are
To have FRIENDLY relationships
With our brothers and sisters in Christ

“BUT if we
Walk in the light

And he is the light

We have FELLOWSHIP
With one another

And the blood of Jesus-his Son
PURIFIES us from all sin” 1 John 1:7

I moved to Miami
In 2002
And many of my LASTING friendships
Are with brothers and sisters
That I have met in church

Even SOME of/maybe MANY of
The friendships
That I have back home in Pittsburgh
GREW out of friendships
That began in the school/church
That I grew up in
Saint Francis Xavier Church
NOW RISEN LORD CHURCH

And the Holy Spirit
HELPS us to build
Our friendships
With our brothers and sisters

“MAY the GRACE
Of the Lord Jesus Christ
And the LOVE OF GOD
And the FELLOWSHIP
Of the Holy Spirit
Be with you ALL” 2 Corinthians 13:14

FELLOWSHIP is expressed
In sharing our lives-
Our triumphs and our setbacks
With one another

We see a COUPLE of examples
Of this
In the New Testament

“And they continued steadfastly
In the apostles doctrine
And FELLOWSHIP
And in breaking bread
And in prayers” Acts 2:42

“After they prayed
The place
WHERE they were meeting
Was shaken

And they were FILLED
With the Holy Spirit
And spoke the Word of God-BOLDLY” Acts 4:31

That pretty much
Sums up my life

ALMOST all of the fruit
In my life
Comes from God-and family-friends and neighbors
REVOLVING around my relationship
With God

I love you Lord
And I love you MY Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Thank you for making me/for making us
In your image and likeness

And thank you
For ALL the FELLOWSHIP
With my brothers and sisters in God
And brothers and sisters in Christ

And thank you Lord
For the GIFT of the SPIRIT
Whom without
My life and love
Would mean nothing

And THANK YOU
To ALL my brothers and sisters
I LOVE YOU

In Jesus' name-Amen

Robert P. Wallman
6-13-14

PS MISC WITNESS 6-20-14 and 10-21-2019

Sunday, October 20, 2019

NO GUARANTEES IN LIFE!

NO GUARANTEES IN LIFE!

We are all looking
For that SURE THING
In life=for that
Certain thing

But there are
NO GUARANTEES IN LIFE!

“Take care to guard
Against all GREED

For though
One may be rich
ONE'S LIFE

Does NOT consist
Of possessions” Luke 12:15

Today Jesus tells us
A parable
About a man

Who tore down
His barns
And BUILT bigger ones
To SECURE his possessions

Jesus gives us
A CLEAR TEACHING
About greed and selfishness

“Turn my heart
Toward statutes
And not toward
SELFISH GAIN” Psalm 119:36

“An unfriendly person
Pursues SELFISH ENDS

And against all
Sound judgment
Starts quarrels” Proverbs 18:1

“For where you
Have envy
And SELFISH AMBITION

There you find disorder
And every evil practice” James 3:16

The man had
Bountiful crops
And the barns
Were big enough
To STORE
ALL of his grain

He could have GIVEN
His over abundance
To others=and SHARED

But the man
THOUGHT only about himself
And his super abundance of wealth

He considered his POSSESSIONS
His SECURITY=
But it was
A FALSE SECURITY

There are NO GUARANTEES
IN THIS LIFE!

“He anointed us
Set his seal of ownership
On us

And put his SPIRIT
In our hearts
As a deposit

GUARANTEEING what
Is to come” 2 Corinthians 1:22

The big barns parable
TEACHES US
That wealth is
NOT a guarantee
For a happy life

Because the man
LOST HIS LIFE
That very night

There is ONLY one heaven
And this earth
Is not it

THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS
In life
Is NOT your material possessions

But what is
IN YOUR HEART

Your love/OUR love
For GOD AND OTHERS

There are=
NO GUARANTEES IN THIS LIFE!

In Jesus' name

Robert P. Wallman
10-20-19

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

Saturday, October 19, 2019

REMAINING WITH US

REMAINING WITH US

Have you ever gone
THROUGH some difficult times
Where/when a family member
Or friend
Has sat with you
Through those difficult times?

Our God=our Jesus
Always REMAINS with us too

“Indeed he neither slumbers
Nor sleeps
The GUARDIAN of Israel” Psalm 121:4

When we LOVE SOMEONE-
We hold the vigil=
We resist sleep=we wait
To HEAR
That everything is OK

Our God SITS UP
With us too
REMAINING with us=
Our God keeps vigil too

“But you REMAIN
The same

And your years
Will never end” Psalm 102:27

“REMAIN in me
As I also
REMAIN in you

No branch
Can bear fruit
By itself

It must REMAIN
In the vine
Neither can you bear fruit
Unless you
REMAIN IN ME” John 15:4

“They will perish
But you REMAIN

They will all wear out
Like a garment” Hebrews 1:11

When we are NEEDED
We all do
Whatever we can
For our family

Our God DOES the same-
He is always there
When he is needed

SITTING with us all night
UNTIL that car
Pulls into the driveway=
Making sure
Everyone is safe

Going with a FRIEND or
A family member
To the DOCTOR'S
When they are facing
An UNCERTAIN medical diagnosis

WAITING for a call
With someone for that
NEW JOB=or when
That new baby comes

“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

Yes=the LOVING
PRESENCE of God
Is always beside us
He=the Father and the SON
Are with us
At ALL TIMES

Our Lord GUARDS
Our comings and goings
And brings us peace

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of our ALWAYS PRESENT FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
10-19-19

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

Friday, October 18, 2019

FINDING THE WORDS!

FINDING THE WORDS!

Sometimes=bad and difficult things
HAPPEN to both us=and our
LOVED ONES in this life

Sometimes it is DIFFICULT
To FIND the right words
For the situation

But sometimes=just BEING THERE
For someone=is ENOUGH
Just our PRESENCE=a little hug-
A little prayer=for them
MAKES all the difference

Sometimes-situations
Seem like they can be
BEYOND WORDS=
Finding the words
FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS!

“For the HOLY SPIRIT
Will teach you

At that moment
What you SHOULD SAY” Luke 12:12

And sometimes we NEED
TO PRAY to the
Holy Spirit=for wisdom

And sometimes the SPIRIT
Gives us
Just the right words
At just
The RIGHT TIME

“The unfolding
Of your WORDS
Gives light

It gives understanding
To the simple” Psalm 119:130

“EVERY WORD
Of God is flawless

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

“Simon Peter answered him=
'Lord to whom
Shall we go?

You have the WORDS
Of eternal life
We have come
To BELIEVE

And to know
That you are the
HOLY ONE of God'” John 6:68

WHEN the situation
Is just TOO DIFFICULT
We TURN to the Lord-
To the HOLY SPIRIT
For wisdom
And just the right words

But sometimes=a situation
Can be just too difficult
FOR US

SOMETIMES=the Spirit
Will give us just
The right WORDS=and
Other times=just
THE RIGHT ACTION

Sometimes the HOLY SPIRIT
Can REMIND us
That the presence of God

Can be best expressed
With a SHARED HUG
Or the co-mingling of our TEARS

“For as
I have often told you before

And now tell you AGAIN
EVEN WITH TEARS

Many live as enemies
Of the cross of Christ” Philippians 3:18

Dear Lord=we come to you
TODAY=and to your SPIRIT=
As well as the FATHER

Asking for the RIGHT WORDS
For every situation

And IF we can't find the words=
MAY WE FIND
The right ACTIONS=
In our presence=our hugs=
And OUR TEARS

IN the Name of Jesus=and our ALWAYS FAITHFUL forever there FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
10-18-19

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

Thursday, October 17, 2019

WITNESSING=THEIR LIVING EXAMPLES

WITNESSING=THEIR LIVING EXAMPLES

There are all KINDS
Of WAYS to testify
For God and CHRIST
With our lives

We can preach the gospel=
We can defend=
And SPREAD the gospel
With our WORDS-
Which I TRY to do

And we can be LIVING EXAMPLES
With our lives=and
EXAMPLES of our FAITH

We can do LITTLE deeds=
Or big deeds with our actions
For God and for OTHERS

WITNESSING=OUR LIVING EXAMPLES

In living and dying=
If we must
A MARTYR

“Your friends make KNOWN
O Lord-
The glorious splendor
Of your KINGDOM” Psalm 145:12

The SAINTS gave their
WHOLE lives to God=
BOTH in life and
Sometimes in death

Some people have
DEVOTED their lives
To the POOR
And the needy

Some people TESTIFY with
Their actions=by driving
Others to medical appointments=
Yard work=or VOLUNTEERING
For the faith

Testifying=their giving=
Our living examples=
WITNESSING=for the FAITH

“An honest WITNESS
Tells the truth
But a false witness
Tells lies” Proverbs 12:17

“But if
They will not listen
Take one

Or two others
So that
'every matter

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

“But you will
Receive power
When the Holy Spirit
Comes on you

And you will
BE MY WITNESSES
In Jerusalem
And Samaria

And to the ends
Of the earth” Acts 1:8

The saints and many GOOD PEOPLE
Attract others-
Not only with their words
But with their
DAILY ACTIONS

These people are
Missionary WITNESSES
And they

Attract others
To the FAITH
By their living examples

“I am using
AN EXAMPLE
From every day life

Because of your human limitations
Just as you used
To offer yourselves as slaves
To impurity

And to ever-increasing wickedness=
So NOW offer yourselves
As slaves to righteousness
LEADING to holiness” Romans 6:19

Let us be LIVING EXAMPLES
Of God and Christ
In today's world

In both our WORDS
And actions

Lord=may others SEE YOUR LOVE
In us=as we give our lives
To others

In Jesus' name=and in the NAME of our LIVING EXAMPLE=GOD the FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
10-17-19

Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Greg Erlandson

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
10-17-2019

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

YOU CAN'T STOP LOVE=Saint Ignatius of Antioch

YOU CAN'T STOP LOVE=Saint Ignatius of ANTIOCH

You cannot stop LIFE
And LOVE in this world=
The life of Christ
PROVES THAT

MANY tried to STOP him=
But life and LOVE
Lived on

“Woe to you
Experts in the law
Because you

Have taken away
The key to knowledge

You yourselves have
NOT ENTERED=
And you have hindered
Those who were entering” Luke 11:52

What a terrible condemnation
That that is=
Trying to STOP anyone
From entering
LIFE AND LOVE

YOU CAN'T STOP LOVE!

CHRIST'S LOVE proved this=
And so did the lives
OF OUR SAINTS

Particularly the life
Of our SAINT TODAY=
Saint Ignatius of Antioch

AUTHORITIES seized Ignatius=
Who was HEAD of one of
The churches
Being BORN
In the early SECOND century

They conveyed Ignatius=
CHAINED HIM=on the long journey
From Turkey to Rome
For public execution

They didn't want him to be
LIKE CHRIST=and wanted to
STOP OTHERS
From being like CHRIST

But you CAN'T STOP love
And life in CHRIST=
It moves on

Life and LOVE live on

“For this
Is what the high
And exalted ONE says--------

He who LIVES FOREVER-
Whose name is holy” Isaiah 57:15

“........the Spirit of TRUTH--------
The world cannot
Accept him

Because it neither sees him
Nor knows him

But you know him
For he LIVES with you
And will be in you” John 14:17

Ending Christ's life=did
NOT STOP LOVE=
And it did not stop
With the end of Saint Ignatius=
Or any the other Saint's lives either

Instead it brought them
To the threshold of IMMORTALITY

And it ENCOURAGED PEOPLE
Like us
To follow the
LIVES of the saints
And Christ=IN LOVE

Ignatius lived a life
Of COURAGE AND FAITH=
We can too
Have a life that LIVES ON

“You ought to LIVE
Holy and godly LIVES
As you look forward

To the day of GOD
And speed its coming” 2 Peter 3:11-12

NOTHING can stop us from
LIVING a life of
FOLLOWING Christ and the Saints

Let us NOT get
In each others' way

In the name of Jesus=and God=the FATHER of all love

Robert P. Wallman
10-16-19

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

THE SAINT OF FAMILIES=Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

THE SAINT OF FAMILIES---SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE
( feast day OCTOBER 17^th )

She was born
In the 17^th century
The 5^th child of a notary
And she had an unhappy childhood

She became a VISITATION nun
At the age of 25
She was patient and charitable
But also clumsy and impractical

She had a series of visions of Christ
And along with some others
---Namely Saint Gertrude
Were responsible for reviving devotion
To the SACRED HEART OF JESUS
And reminding us
Of Jesus’ love for ALL men

Dear Lord
We pray that you use us
As you used Saint Margaret Mary
To revive interest in both God and family
In this indifferent Godless world
That we live in today

We pray to you Dear Lord
And the great Saint---Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
To help us revive this interest
Of GOD and FAMILY in today’s world

And we pray
That the SACRED HEART OF JESUS
And the IMMACULATE HEART of MARY
Reign again in ALL families
Both rich and poor

ALL nations, ALL religious, ALL nationalities
And ALL colors and creeds

We pray---Dear Lord
That you again teach us
The sanctity of human love
The value of human love
And the VALUE of family life

We pray
That you again teach us
To be united
In RESPECT and in LOVE
So that we may share in your life forever

We ask for ALL of these things
In the name of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
---The Saint of families
And in the name of THE HOLY FAMILY
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
And in the name of Jesus and HIS MOST SACRED HEART

Robert P. Wallman
10-19-11

Ps 10-6-18 and 10-16-2019

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

GOD'S MEASURE

GOD'S MEASURE

There are all kinds
Of ways to MEASURE things
In this world

We can measure with a yardstick-
A tape measure=bank accounts-
And ANY and all kinds
Of ways

But God doesn't use these=
He measures our HEARTS=our minds=
And looks at our souls
He looks at how much
We LOVE our neighbor-
How much we forgive-
How KIND that we are

We can't put a
MEASURING STICK to that

“There is
NO PARTIALITY with God” Romans 2:11

God looks at us ETERNALLY=
And looks at out hearts
He looks at the
KINDS of things
You really CAN'T MEASURE

God is OBJECTIVE with things
And he looks at
EACH of us individually

He looks AT OUR HEARTS

“Give and
It will be given
To you

A GOOD MEASURE
Pressed down-shaken together
And running over
Will be poured
Into your lap

For with the MEASURE
You use
It will be
MEASURED TO YOU” Luke 6:38

“........and to know
This love
That surpasses knowledge--------

That you may be filled
To the MEASURE
Of all
The fullness of God” Ephesians 3:19

God does NOT MEASURE us
Compared to our neighbors
He does not look at
How much better

Or how much worse
We did
COMPARED to them

It is MORE about how much
We LOVED AND SERVED
Our neighbors

Because of Jesus' sacrifice
We can
ENJOY ETERNITY with him

We just have to do
The WORK of God
With our lives

GOD LOOKS AT OUR HEARTS!

“May he give you
The desire
Of your HEART

And make all
Your plans succeed” Psalm 20:4

“Let love and faithfulness
Never leave you
Bind them

Around your neck
Write them
On the tablet
OF YOUR HEART” Proverbs 3:3

DEAR Lord=Help us to
MEASURE UP in the eyes
Of love and forgiveness

And by doing YOUR WORK Lord

Help us to JUDGE LESS and
LOVE MORE=for we know
Love is the
ULTIMATE MEASURING STICK

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

Robert P. Wallman
10-15-19

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

LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU=the story of Saint Theresa of Avila

LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU---
( the story of SAINT THERESA of AVILA)

So easily
We become disturbed
In today’s world

About our health
About our finances
About our relationships
And about a myriad of other things

Even as a child
Theresa of Avila
Was thought to be particularly pious
Playing with her brother---at hermitages

And once---the two of them even ran away
Hoping to die as martyrs in Monaco

Theresa’s mother died when she was 14
And her reaction was predictable
As she developed a desire for worldly treasures
Such as romance, fashion, and perfume

Her father sent her away
To be educated by Augustinian nuns
And while there---she became ill

While ill
She began so study the word of God
And became so enthralled
By the letters of Saint Jerome
She decided to become a nun

She became a Carmelite nun
But a year later---became ill again
Possibly a malignant malaria

LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU

Theresa began to practice mental prayer
But later abandoned it

But after her father’s death
Picked it up again
NEVER to give it up again

Theresa’s exuberance, prudence, and charity
Touched ALL---but later
When she began to experience visions
And other SPIRITUAL encounters
She began
To become misunderstood, ridiculed, and even persecuted

She identified herself with two great Saints
---Two great sinners-penitents
Who were TRANSFORMED BY GOD---
Saint Augustine and MARY MAGDALENE

She lived in a little nunnery
With 12 other nuns
Under conditions of poverty-hardship-and solitude

Theresa herself---took her turns at sweeping-spinning
And many other menial household tasks

Her prayers to God
Lasted a lifetime
And LIVE ON today in her writings---
THE WAY TO PERFECTION and THE INTERIOR CASTLE

Dear God
We pray that as we experience hardship in this life
And we will

That we adopt that same attitude
Of Saint Theresa
That we keep our eyes FIXED on you
And that we truly live by what Saint Theresa truly did
And in fact said:

“LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU”

Robert P. Wallman
10-15-11

Ps her feast day is October 15^th

10-15-15 and 10-12-18 10-15-2019

Monday, October 14, 2019

WHAT WE DO AND SAY

WHAT WE DO AND SAY

We have all seen
The SIGNS=
“EMPLOYEES must wash their hands
BEFORE returning to work”
In food establishments

And rightfully so=hand washing
Can PREVENT the spread of diseases

But wouldn't it be GREAT
IF there was a SIGN
Reminding us to be MINDFUL
Of what we do
And what we SAY

“Although you CLEANSE
The outside of the cup
And the dish

INSIDE you are FILLED
With plunder and evil” Luke 11:39

This is what Jesus is
CONCERNED about in today's reading
The diseases CAUSED by others

Caused by UNKIND WORDS-
Selfish acts-and DISHONEST dealings=
I have KNOWN many people
Like this
I'll bet you have too

NOT necessarily evil people=
But just those who
Aren't KIND=
Who are immoral
Who always

Think of themselves FIRST
And you last
IF at all

What we DO AND SAY
Is important=how we
Treat others IS IMPORTANT
We can WOUND with our WORDS

BE KIND=BE KIND=BE KIND
Pay attention to what you
DO AND SAY

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

“BE KIND and compassionate
To one another

Forgiving each other
Just as in CHRIST
God forgave you” Ephesians 4:32

“But when the KINDNESS
And love of God
Our SAVIOR appeared

He saved us
Not because
Of righteous things
We had done

But because
Of his mercy” Titus 3:4-5

WHO of us can't recall
Being HURT by words
Or actions
Of ANOTHER human being

That is NOT to remind you
To the washing
Of your hands

But simply
That we should
Be AWARE
Of what we SAY AND DO

That=can have
Long lasting effects and results
On each ONE of us

“I will tell
Of the KINDNESSES
Of the Lord

The deeds
For which he is
To be praised

According to all
The Lord has done for us........” Isaiah 63:7

Maybe we should
Have a SIGN
Reminding us

To say GOOD THINGS
About the others=
The other people
IN OUR WORLD

In the name of Jesus=and the name of our ALL GOOD=and all LOVING FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
10-9-19

Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAIT MAGAZINE by Judy Schueneman

Sunday, October 13, 2019

NOT ALWAYS NICE

NOT ALWAYS NICE

I like to think
Of myself=as a NICE GUY=
Almost always nice

But I can be PUSHED
To a/MY BREAKING POINT=
At that point=I am NO
LONGER NICE=we all
Have a braking point

Jesus was an EXTREMELY
NICE GUY=but he was/
He is=
A MIRACLE WORKER TOO

“The men of Nineveh
Will stand up
At the judgment

With this generation
And condemn it

For they repented
At the preaching of Jonah
And now

Something GREATER
Than Jonah IS HERE” Luke 11:32

Jesus tells the crowd
They are an “EVIL GENERATION”
He tells the crowd
That something
GREATER than Jonah
Was here

IF they recognized=who
Jesus was=A MIRACLE WORKER
They would have received
RICHES BEYOND MIRACLES

“I rejoice
In following your statutes

As one rejoices
IN GREAT RICHES” Psalm 119:14

“Then you will look
And be radiant
Your heart will throb

And swell with joy
The wealth of the seas
Will be brought to you

To you
The RICHES of the nation
Will come” Isaiah 60:5

“Although I am
Less than the least
Of all=the Lord's people

The grace
Was given me

To preach to the GENTILES
The BOUNDLESS RICHES of Christ” Ephesians 3:8

People are the SAME TODAY=
They don't really want a NICE GUY=
But they FLOCK to miracle workers
And to SIGNS

But GOD wants to GIVE US
So much more than that
He wants to give us
HIS INFINITE LOVE

If we could=if we would-
RECOGNIZE who Jesus is=
We would receive
The GREATEST of riches=
We would receive
HIS MIRACLES TOO

Jesus was NOT always nice=but he
ALWAYS gave us what he had
HIS INFINITE LOVE

“You are the God
Who PERFORMS MIRACLES

You display your power
Among the peoples” Psalm 77:14

Dear LORD=
As we walk though
This day=

May we RECOGNIZE YOU
In whoever we meet
And BE NICE

You are today=as you ALWAYS ARE
In our lives=
The greatest of MIRACLES
For us

For our lives
Are truly AN ONGOING MIRACLE

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of our MIRACLE GIVING FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
10-13-19

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

Saturday, October 12, 2019

SAYING THANK YOU!

SAYING THANK YOU!

GRATITUDE is a funny
Thing=no matter how hard
That we try=
We seem

To take our lives
FOR GRANTED=and all the
BLESSINGS that we have

“Jesus said in reply'=
'Ten were cleansed=were they NOT?
WHERE are the other nine?'” Luke 17:17

ONLY one of ten
RETURNED to Jesus
To say THANK YOU for
Their healing

I wonder
HOW MANY of us
Say thank you
To Jesus=EVERY DAY

For the BLESSINGS
In life that we have
For the roofs
Over our head
For the blessings of FOOD
And for ALL the material
Things that we have

THANK YOU LORD
For our very lives

“I will give THANKS
To the Lord
Because of his righteousness

I will
Sing the praises
Of the name
Of the Lord MOST HIGH” Psalm 7:17

“But THANKS be to God
He gives us
The victory
Through our Lord
Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 15:57

“THANKS be to God
For his INDESCRIBABLE GIFT” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Yes=thank you to the Lord
For our very NEXT HEARTBEAT
Thank you for
The indescribable GIFT OF LIFE

YES=having been so CLOSE
To death on multiple occasions
I have much GRATITUDE
For this gift of LIFE

I love that I have a
ROOF over my head
And I am most APPRECIATIVE
For this food on the table

Living life with a SENSE OF WONDER
Living life with a
Sense of gratitude

HOW often do we REFLECT
On the blessings that we have
In this life?

LOOK AROUND=how many of us
Don't even have the BASICS NEEDED
In this life

SAYING THANK YOU
Living life with gratitude

“Let the message of Christ
Dwell among you richly
As you teach

And admonish one another
With all wisdom
Through psalms=hymns
And songs
From the SPIRIT

Singing to god
With GRATITUDE
In your hearts” Colossians 3:16

Let us ALL RETURN
To the Lord
Like the ONE
And GIVE THANKS
To the Lord TODAY

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

Robert P. Wallman
10-12-18

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

Friday, October 11, 2019

HIS FIRST DISCIPLE

HIS FIRST DISCIPLE

Today I want to
HONOR Mary=Jesus' first DISCIPLE

“........Blessed are those
Who HEAR the WORD of God
And observe it” Luke 11:28

Mary was as SCRIPTURE says
The womb that CARRIED Jesus=
No other human being
Can claim that

But we can IMITATE=
The STRENGTH and HUMILITY
Of Mary=
Jesus' first disciple

“For the foolishness
Of God
Is wiser

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

“I can do all things
Through him
Who gives me STRENGTH” Philippians 4:13

Mary=Jesus' mother
LISTENED to the will
Of God=and FOLLOWED it

She HEARD the WORD of God=
And followed it=
We would be WISE to do that too

She heard the WORD of God
And followed=this makes Mary
JESUS' FIRST DISCIPLE

The FIRST DISCIPLE of Christ

FOLLOW the Lord
Just like Mary did
Follow him in ALL HUMILITY

“In your majesty
Ride forth victoriously
In the cause of truth

HUMILITY=and justice
Let your right hand
Achieve awesome deeds” Psalm 45:4

“Wisdom's instruction
Is to fear the Lord

And HUMILITY comes
Before honor” Proverbs 15:33

“Who is wise and understanding
Among you?

Let them show it
By their good life=
By deeds
Done in the HUMILITY
That comes from wisdom” James 3:13

And Mary certainly
DID all of that

Mary=among all people
Was definitely=among the first
To LOVE AND SERVE the Lord

We should strive
To do the same

WHEN we follow Jesus=let us
Always remember=we are
FOLLOWING his MOTHER Mary too

Mary=you are BLESSED among
All people=pray for us=that
We may be WORTHY to HONOR
And follow your SON too

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of Mary-the MOTHER OF GOD

Robert P. Wallman
10-09-19

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

Thursday, October 10, 2019

EACH MOVE=EACH ACTION

EACH MOVE=EACH ACTION

TODAY in the readings=
We read PSALM 9
And it applies to
Our current WORLD SITUATION

“The NATIONS have fallen
Into the pit
They have dug=
Their feet are CAUGHT
In the net
They have hidden” Psalm 9:15

There is LITTLE DOUBT
That we are in TROUBLE=
Both our nation=and the nations
ALL AROUND US

We=all of us=are in an
ETHICAL DILEMMA=not only doing
What is right==but deciding
WHAT IS RIGHT

There are great DIVISIONS among
The people=VALUES deteriorating =and
Our nation is a POLITICAL QUAGMIRE

The news brings more
HORROR stories every day=
Racism=religious intolerance=
And lying and greed
In all
WALKS OF LIFE

We need to DIG OUT
And it starts with each
AND EVERY ONE of us

Making the right decisions
Doing the RIGHT THING
In EACH MOVE=
In EACH ACTION

DOING WHAT IS RIGHT!

“He guides the humble
In what is RIGHT

And teaches them=his way” Psalm 25:9

“For receiving instruction
In prudent behavior

DOING WHAT IS RIGHT
And just and fair” Proverbs 1:3

“Learn to DO RIGHT
Seek justice-
Defend the oppressed

Take up the cause
Of the fatherless
Plead the case
Of the widow” Isaiah 1:17

YES the nations=including
Our nation=seem far
From CONTRIBUTING
To the well-being OF HUMANITY

But the nations are
MADE UP of people=
People like you and me

It is up to EACH OF US
To DO what is right

EACH MOVE=EACH ACTION
Must move us forward
To a just world

We need to make a DIFFERENCE
By the CHOICES that we make
In this world

We need to make decisions
That are CHRIST-LIKE
In this world

It is UP TO US
To DIG this world
Out of this mess

“For I know
Your eagerness to help

And I have been
Boasting about it
To the Macedonians

Telling them
That since last year
You in Achaia
Were ready to give

And your enthusiasm
Has stirred most of them
TO ACTION” 2 Corinthians 9:2

Dear Lord=HELP US to
Work on solutions
In our country and
OUR WORLD

With EACH MOVE AND ACTION
That we take

In Jesus' name

Robert P. Wallman
10-10-19

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

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

PRAYING AND WAITING FOR THE LORD

PRAYING AND WAITING FOR THE LORD

When we PRAY to
The Lord=the Lord
Doesn't always answer IMMEDIATELY

Sometimes we have to WAIT
For the Lord to ACT=and
Sometimes it REQUIRES
Some action by us too

“........ask and you
Will receive=seek and you
WILL FIND=knock and
The door will be OPENED
To you” Luke 11:9

Ask=seek=and KNOCK are three
Specific movements of prayer
And sometimes we still
Have to WAIT on the the Lord

Asking is the HEARTFELT WORDS
We utter in PRAYER
Seeking is looking to see
HOW the Lord
Is SHOWING us the answer

But PRAYER is still
WAITING on the Lord
To see how
That he ANSWERS

PRAYER REQUIRES PATIENCE

“WAIT for the Lord
Be strong
And take heart
And WAIT for the LORD” Psalm 27:44

“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

“........Live self-controlled
Upright and godly lives
In the present age

WHILE WE WAIT
For the blessed hope--------

The appearing of the glory
Of our great God
And Savior Jesus Christ” Titus 2:12-13

We PRAY to the Lord
We WAIT for the Lord
To ACT=or to
Direct our actions

Knocking on God's door
Is a definitive action=but
God wants us to
DO something too

When we pray for PEACE
On earth=
IS there someone=close to us
That we first
Need to forgive?

When we pray for a harvest=
Do we need to look
At OUR OWN spending habits too?

God promises us an answer
To every prayer=but is there
Something we need TO DO TOO?

To become transformed-
Or TRANSFORM our very own lives

God has an ANSWER to
Our prayers= but sometimes
We have to WAIT
And allow HIS PLAN
To work first

“Do not those who
Plot evil=go astray

But those who PLAN
What is GOOD
Find love and faithfulness” Proverbs 14:22

Dear Lord=WE PRAY to you today
And we WAIT your answers
And plans for us

May we BECOME all you
INTEND for us today

In Jesus' name

Robert P. Wallman
10-8-19

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