For the Love of Us All: January 2020

Friday, January 31, 2020

GOD IS READY FOR US

GOD IS READY FOR US

Did you ever
Stop and think=
That WHEN you wake up
Each morning

God is READY for you
To WALK hand-in-hand
With you=and arm
In arm?

To be with you
To see that
You have a very
BEAUTIFUL DAY

“........a willing spirit
SUSTAIN in me” Psalm 51:14

We need to walk
IN STEP with Christ-
Throughout each day

We need to feel
LIKE A CHILD=
Holding the hand
Of a LOVING PARENT

WALKING hand in hand-in-hand
With him
Arm and arm

GOD IS READY FOR US

Jesus is READY
For us=we aren't sure
WHERE we are going

But we TRUST GOD=
We trust Jesus=
We trust WHERE
They are taking us
On our journey

God is READY FOR US-
As we walk together
Throughout the day

“Blessed are those
Who have learned
To acclaim you

Who WALK
In the light
Of your presence LORD” Psalm 89:15

“Come descendants of Jacob=
LET US WALK
In the light
Of the Lord” Isaiah 2:5

“He has shown you-
O mortal
What is good

And what does
The Lord
Require of you?

To act justly
And to love mercy=
And to WALK HUMBLY
With your God” Micah 6:8

No matter how badly
We behave=
Or how many TEMPTATIONS
That we face

Our God NEVER abandons us=
He is READY-
And waiting for us

To walk
Hand-in-hand-
Arm-in-arm=together
Throughout the day

When our spirit
Is ALIGNED with God's=
Our walk with God
COMES EASY

Our spirit sustains us=
And GOD IS READY
To take us-
Where he will

“But if we WALK
In the light
As he is

In the light
We have fellowship
With one another

And the blood of Jesus=
HIS SON-
Purifies us from all sin” 1 John 1:7

Our God is
ALWAYS READY FOR US

The question is=is
Are we ready and WILLING

To walk hand in hand=
Arm and arm with JESUS=
Every day=of our lives?

WALKING with God=every day of MY LIFE
IN JESUS' NAME

Robert P. Wallman
1-31-20

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

Thursday, January 30, 2020

SAINT JOHN BOSCO=A SAINT FOR THE CHILDREN

Saint John Bosco---a Saint for the children

Today when
The sexual abuse of young children
Is so prevalent
It is heartening
To look at the past
To the lives
Of some of the Saints

John---actually called Don Bosco
Was born in 1815
His father died
When he was 2 years old

His mother brought him up
In extreme poverty
He was so poor
That when he entered the seminary
In 1831
His clothes and shoes
Had to be donated

He was ordained in 1841
And soon thereafter
He began his life’s work
Which was the education
Of young apostolate boys---and young men
Particularly in working class families

He also worked in the slums---in prisons
And was appointed a chaplain
At a refuge for young girls

After leaving as chaplain for the girls
He lived in poverty with his mother
And 40 destitute young boys

Don Bosco had a charismatic personality
Had great oratory skills
Was an eloquent preacher
And popular writer

“Don” was also a visionary
A wonder worker
And had an extraordinary gift
For handling difficult children

Usually without punishing them
But with gentleness and a firm hand

A typical day for Don
Was to take the boys to Mass
Followed by a picnic in the country---games---
And a catechism class

Don Bosco
Founded the Salesian order
And also The Daughters of our Lady Help of Christians for girls

It is important to remember
That at a time
When the Catholic church is taking so much criticism
About the handling of the abuse scandal
And rightfully so

Important to remember
All the good the Catholic Church has done
In the building up of faith
For BOTH adults and children
Through men like Saint John Bosco
Down through the years

John “Don” Bosco
A Saint for us all
But particularly

A SAINT AND MAN FOR THE CHILDREN

Robert P. Wallman
2-5-12

Ps Don Bosco’s feast day is January 31^st

misc. WITNESS 1-31-14 and 21-31-19=and 1-30-31-2020

THE MERCY OF GOD!

THE MERCY OF GOD!

What a terrible wretched
Deed=we read about today

David SINS with and is
INFATUATED with Bathsheba=
But he has to get
The soldier Uriah=Bathsheba's husband
OUT OF THE WAY

So he sends him
To the front line=
So he will die

“Place Uriah up FRONT-
Where the fighting
Is fierce

Then pull back
And leave him
To be STRUCK DOWN DEAD” 2 Samuel 11:15

The Lord's anointed=DAVID-
The King of Israel-
Has an
INNOCENT man killed

So he can have
HIS WIFE to himself

We struggle what
To say sometimes

Especially when SIN and weakness=
Characterize what is
GOING ON

The old way
Focused on THE TRUTH

But the truth is
No matter
What our sins are

We are all=
At the MERCY OF GOD

“And the Lord said=
'I will cause
All my goodness
To pass in front of you

And I will proclaim
My name=the Lord
In your presence

I will have MERCY
On whom
I have MERCY

And I will
Have compassion
On whom I have compassion'” Exodus 33:19

Surely=David was a man
After GOD'S OWN HEART

For he let him LIVE=
Despite this trespass=
But it is son=SOLOMON
Who gets to
BUILD THE TEMPLE

“But now your kingdom
Will not endure

The Lord has sought out
A man AFTER
HIS OWN HEART=
And appointed him

Ruler of the people
Because you have not
Kept the Lord's commands” 1 Samuel 13:14

The Lord was MERCIFUL
To David
Despite his flaws

And he is MERCIFUL TO US
Sometimes=all we can do
Is GET DOWN on our knees
And throw ourselves
At the MERCY OF GOD

“For the Lord
Your God
Is a MERCIFUL GOD

He will not abandon-
Or destroy you=
Or forsake the covenant
With your ancestors

Which is confirmed
To them by oath” Deuteronomy 4:31

Sometimes all we CAN DO=
Is throw ourselves
ON the mercy of God=
LIKE DAVID

Thank God=our God
IS A MERCIFUL GOD!

In Jesus' name=and in the name=of our FOREVER MERCIFUL GOD

Robert P. Wallman
1-30-20

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

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

AWARE AND GRATEFUL=AT ALL TIMES

AWARE AND GRATEFUL=AT ALL TIMES

Every single MOMENT I
Have had since my MIRACLE OF LIFE=
On my 22^nd birthday

I have been GRATEFUL=
And AWARE for
Every breath of LIFE

Grateful for EVERY BLESSING
I have had in this life=
Grateful for
EVERY SINGLE THING

“The one who has-
MORE will be given

From the one
Who has not=
Even what he has
WILL BE TAKEN AWAY” Mark 4:25

I have FOUND
Just the opposite
To be TRUE

I have had
NOTHING in this life=
No material blessings

But=God keeps giving me
MORE & MORE
From my FAMILY

And from my BROTHERS
And sisters in CHRIST
Just like you

Feeling so VERY BLESSED=
Feeling so AWARE and grateful
For EACH breath of life

GIVING THANKS at all times-
For the BLESSINGS OF LIFE

“Enter the gates
With THANKSGIVING=
And his courts
With PRAISE

Give THANKS to him
And PRAISE his name” Psalm 100:4

“But THANKS be
To God

He gives us
The victory
Through our Lord Christ Jesus” 1 Corinthians 15:57

“GIVE THANKS
In all circumstances

For this is
God's will for you-
In Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

At first glance=
This seems to be
A very HARSH teaching
By the Lord

CRUEL=like an inverse
ROBIN HOOD RULE

But I think the
ESSENCE of the teaching
Is ONE OF GRATITUDE

It is saying to the
ONE who has MUCH GRATITUDE=
More will be given

And to the one
Who has NO GRATITUDE=
More will be
TAKEN AWAY

FEELING AWARE=
FEELING BLESSED=
FEELING THANKFUL
To God=for it ALL

“BLESSED are all
Who take refuge in him” Psalm 2:12

When we are GRATEFUL
For what we have=
It YIELDS to even
MORE FAITH IN GOD

When we praise God=we stay OPEN
To the miracles
And ABUNDANCE-
He has for us

Yes=I am AWARE
And GRATEFUL to God
For all

The blessings of my life=
FOR EVEN LIFE ITSELF

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

Robert P. Wallman
1-29-10

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

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

NONE OF US=ARE TO JUDGE

NONE OF US=ARE TO JUDGE

Today we talk about
The PARABLE of the
Sower=and what KIND
Of soil we are

The important thing
To REMEMBER is that=
NONE OF US are
To JUDGE someone else

“Jesus said to them=
'Do you NOT UNDERSTAND
This parable?

Then how will
You UNDERSTAND
Any of the parables?

The sower
SOWS THE WORD'” Mark 4:13-14

What KIND OF SOIL
Are you? Hopefully you
Are LISTENING
To the WORD of God

Hopefully you are
HEARING the word of God
And UNDERSTANDING IT

“Still other seed-
Fell on GOOD SOIL

It came up=grew=and
PRODUCED a crop-
Some multiplying

Thirty=some sixty=
Some a hundred times” Mark 4:8

Hopefully that is
What we are=
But NONE of us
Are to JUDGE someone else

None of us are to judge
If we are good=
Or if the WORD
Of God takes ROOT
In us=or someone else

We can only tell
By the FRUIT
OF OUR LIVES

If we are producing FRUIT=
If we produce FOLLOWERS
For the WORD of God

“That person
Is like a tree

Planted by streams
Of water

Which yields its FRUIT
In season--------

And whose leaf
Does not wither--------
Whatever they do-prospers” Psalm 1:3

“But the FRUIT
Of the Spirit
Is love-joy-peace-
Forbearance-kindness-goodness-
Faithfulness-gentleness-
And self control” Galatians 5:22

That's the thing about
SHARING the GOOD NEWS=

None of us know
Who truly possesses
The WORD OF GOD

It can only to told
By the NUMBER
Of TRUE followers
We bring to Jesus
With our LIVES

What appears to us
To be rocky=may
BE GOOD
And vice versa

None of us are
TO JUDGE=
ONLY GOD can judge
Who is speaking=the
TRUE WORD OF GOD

“Do NOT JUDGE=or you too
Will be JUDGED” Matthew 7:1

The CONDITION of the SOIL-
Isn't for us to judge

Our job is to SOW=
IN GOD'S NAME=
And let the Lord-
Help it take ROOT

In the names of Jesus=and our ever TRUTHFUL-LOVING FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
1-28-20

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

Monday, January 27, 2020

AN OPEN DOOR FOR ALL

AN OPEN DOOR FOR ALL

Today we FIND OUT=that we ALL
Are invited to be
Part of Jesus' FAMILY

We too are INVITED to be
His BROTHERS and SISTERS=it is
AN OPEN DOOR FOR ALL

“For whoever does
The WILL OF GOD

Is my brother and sister
And mother” Mark 3:35

It is AN OPEN DOOR=
For all=
All we have to do
Is SAY YES
And DO the will of God

Jesus didn't limit
His family membership

It wasn't just for JEWS=
But also for Gentiles=NOT just
For men=but for women

For all people of ALL RELIGIONS=
All we have to do
Is say yes to love=
SAY YES to the LOVE of God

His family=
WAS AN OPEN DOOR FOR ALL

“I desire
To do your WILL
My God

Your law
Is within my heart” Psalm 40:8

“Anyone 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

“For I have not hesitated
To proclaim to you
The whole WILL OF GOD” Acts 20:27

Yes=we are Christ's brothers
And sisters=
All we have to do

Is be OPEN
To do the
Will of God

It is an OPEN DOOR
For us all=
To be a part
Of JESUS' FAMILY

God's family is open
To women=to people of color=
To slave and slave owners=
To the rich and the poor=
And to BOTH
SINNERS and saints

We are PART of his family=
We are Jesus' own
Brothers and sisters=
And you are MINE TOO

“But if a widow
Has children=
And grandchildren

These should learn first of all
To put their
Religion into practice

By caring for
THEIR OWN FAMILY
And so

Repaying their parents
And grandparents

For this is
PLEASING to God” 1 Timothy 5:4

And Jesus wants us
To be part of
HIS OWN FAMILY=
His brothers and sisters

All we have to do
Is say YES
To the WILL OF GOD

It is an OPEN DOOR
FOR US ALL

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

Robert P. Wallman
1-27-20

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

Sunday, January 26, 2020

BE A SPOKES PERSON FOR GOD

BE A SPOKES PERSON FOR GOD

The PSALMIST TODAY
Talks about God's presence
Being with DAVID FOREVER

WHY not think of God=
Being with you/us in
This way too?

Why not be a
SPOKES PERSON for God
With your life?
Why not talk about
HOW MUCH God loves you=
And US?

“........with my holy oil
I have anointed him

That my hand
May be
ALWAYS WITH HIM

And that my arm
May make him strong” Psalm 89:21-22

A hand and an arm
UPHOLDS=REACHES OUT=
Embraces=and binds up
To heal

REACH OUT for others
Reach out to others=
Tell them-
How much GOD LOVES THEM

Be a spokes PERSON
For God=SPEAK UP
For God in this
Often silent world

Reach out FOR OTHERS-
Reach out for God

We live in a
Sadly DIVIDED WORLD-
That is often violent

We need to be anointed=
We need to be ENCOURAGED=
And we need to ENCOURAGE
And LIFT UP OTHERS

We need to SPEAK UP
For God in this world

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

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

“LIFT UP your hands
In the sanctuary
And praise the Lord” Psalm 134:2

“Let us LIFT UP
Our hearts
And our hands
To God in heaven........” Lamentations 8:41

Let us never forget
We are made in
The IMAGE OF GOD

Let us never forget
We are to be a
SPOKES PERSON FOR GOD

That we are to be
HIS MODERN DAY DISCIPLES
And apostles in this world

We are to ENCOURAGE=
We are to REACH OUT
For others

“And so we will be
With the Lord FOREVER=

Therefore=ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
With these words” 1 Thessalonians 4:19

And so as GOD
REACHES OUT to support you
With everlasting arms

CONTINUE to support=REACH OUT
And encourage others

As you SPEAK Up for God
With loving KINDNESS
In this world

In Jesus' name

Robert P. Wallman
1-26-20

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

SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS

SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS

BOTH were
Disciples of Paul
And both were bishops

Timothy was born in Lystra
The son of a Gentile father
And a Jewish mother

He studied Scriptures
As a young man
And was circumcised by Paul
To make him acceptable
To the Jewish Christians (Acts 16:3 )

From then on
He became the companion of
And sometimes
The representative of Paul
For example-to the Thessalonians-Corinthians
And Ephesians

The tradition
According to Eusebius
Claimed him
As the first bishop
Of Ephesus

Paul’s letters to Timothy
Directs him to correct innovators
And teachers of false doctrine
And to appoint bishops and deacons

The acts of Timothy
Relate his martyrdom
And that he was killed
By stones and clubs
At a pagan festival

In addition
To being a disciple of Paul
Timothy was his companion
And his secretary

Titus was a Gentile by birth
And therefore was no circumcision
When he became a Christian

He took part
In the council of Jerusalem
Was sent to Corinth
On a difficult mission
And was left by Paul
In Crete
To organize the church

He is believed
To have died
In Crete
Where he is venerated
As their first bishop

He and Titus
Share the same feast day
Of January 26^th

Robert P. Wallman
2-19-13

Ps 1-26-20

Saturday, January 25, 2020

IN SMALL-BUT SIGNIFICANT WAYS

IN SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT WAYS

Today we read about
Jesus CALLING
His first apostles=
Peter and Andrew-
And James and John

“Jesus said to them=
'Come after me=and I will=
Make you FISHERS of men'” Matthew 4:19

Jesus calls us every day too=
IN SMALL BUT
SIGNIFICANT WAYS

He WHISPERS things for us
To do today=
He says

HELP that person out=
Give HER a call=
Pay more attention
TO THAT FAMILY

And he tells us to go
To Mass/or church service=
And to listen to him=
To READ the bible=and pray
To him and the FATHER

THINK ABOUT what happened
Some 2,000 years ago=
He says to Peter and Andrew-
To=”COME AFTER ME”

And the two brothers
WALK away from
Their fishing nets-
And do FOLLOW HIM

And James and John leave
Their boat too=and their father
To follow Jesus

We too follow Jesus
EVERY DAY of our lives=
But in SMALLER=but
IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS
With our lives=
We are his MODERN day apostles

We may NOT be the apostles=
Walking the valleys=
And sailing the seas-
Like the original apostles

But we are NO LESS IMPORTANT
To him=we matter=just as much

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

You give
A TENTH of your spices=
Mint-dill-and cumin

But you neglected
The MORE IMPORTANT matters
Of the law=
Justice-mercy-and faithfulness” Matthew 23:23

In every instance
We have to let
SOMETHING GO

In order to ACCEPT
Jesus' invitation=
And follow him MORE CLOSELY

We may have to ADJUST
Our personal schedule=give up
Some free time=some control-
Or self interests

But in every instance=
It is WORTH it to
GET CLOSER to Jesus=
It is worth it to
Follow Jesus IN SMALL
But very SIGNIFICANT WAYS

“I will bring him near-
And he will come
CLOSE TO ME--------

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

Dear Jesus=when you SHOW UP
In our lives today=
Help us to LET GO
Of whatever we must

And FOLLOW you in our=
SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT WAYS=
And be YOUR modern day disciples

In the names of Jesus=and our FOREVER LEADING FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
1-25-20

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

FOREVER TOGETHER

WITNESS

4-29-13

FOREVER TOGETHER---STEPHEN AND PAUL

There are 2 men
In my mind from the Bible
That will be forever
Linked together

Stephen---the first Christian martyr
Who gave up his life for Christ
And Saul---later Paul
Who stood by and approved
Maybe, in fact, even ordered Stephen’s death

Forever together
You and me
Forever linked with God
Forever in God’s word
And in God’s heart
That’s the way it has to be

When they began stoning Stephen
As Saul stood by and watched
Stephen prayed,
“Lord Jesus receive my spirit
Lord do not hold this sin
Against them”

And, of course, God heard Stephen’s prayer
As he hears yours and mine

Out of death---grew life
The death of Stephen---turned in to
The life of Paul
And the beginnings of Christianity

Picture this
You are a great hater of God
And the new Christian movement

You have persecuted many Christians
And it is widely known

As you near
The end of your journey
A light flashes around you---a light from Heaven
You get knocked to the ground
And you hear a voice say,

“Saul Saul why do you persecute me
Go in to the city
And you will be told what to do”

You slowly get up off the ground
You cannot see a thing
Your traveling companions
Don’t know what has happened

The lord sends Ananias
To place hands on you

Scales from Saul’s eyes fall off
Saul can see again
See better than ever
Saul becomes baptized
Filled with the Holy Spirit
And has great vision for God’s new Kingdom

Forever together---Stephen and Paul
Out of death grows life
Life and the vision for a brand new world

How about you and me
Can our life be converted
Can our life be changed
To a life devoted to God
To a life of loving others

Forever together---Stephen and Paul
Forever together---you and me
Forever together---God and us
Tell me Lord---can it be

“For whoever wants to save his life
Will lose it
But whoever loses his life for me
Will find it” Matthew 16:25

Forever together Lord
You---Stephen---and Paul
Forever together Lord
You and us

Forever together Lord
For out of death comes life

Forever together Lord
You and me

Robert P. Wallman
5-11-11

Ps WITNESS 4-29-13

“But the Lord said to Ananias-“GO! This man is my CHOSEN instrument
To carry my name before the GENTILES and their kings-and before the people of Israel-
I will show him how much he MUST SUFFER for my name”
Acts 9:15-16

misc. WITNESS 1-25-14
& 12—26&27-15 and 1-25-20

Friday, January 24, 2020

A CHANGE OF HEART

A CHANGE OF HEART

Today we learn-
That it is IMPORTANT
That we are NOT CHAINED
To our past

That we can change
That we can have
A CHANGE OF HEART

Today we celebrate
The CONVERSION of Saint Paul=
From Saul

“Is not this the man who.......
Came here expressly
To take them
Back in CHAINS........?” Acts 9:21

WHAT is in your past
That is HOLDING YOU BACK?

Let it go=
Move forward
Do NOT BE
Chained to your PAST

Have a CHANGE OF HEART

“If your really
CHANGE your ways
And your actions
And deal with
Each other justly........” Jeremiah 7:5

“Truly I tell you
Unless you CHANGE
And become like little children

You will never
Enter the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 18:3

Paul's life TOUCHES our
Lives as BELIEVERS
If he could change
From his past

Whatever is in our past-
We can leave it there=
WE CAN CHANGE TOO

A CHANGE OF HEART

Jesus revealed himself to Paul
On his way to Damascus

“Now get up
And stand
On your feet

I have appeared to you
To appoint you
As a servant
And as a WITNESS

Of what you have seen
And will see of me” Acts 26:16

Paul was changed
By this REVELATION
Of Jesus

And emerged
With the OVERPOWERING REALIZATION
That Jesus of Nazareth
Was alive

And that everything MEANINGFUL
In heaven and earth=
Was summed up IN JESUS

In the same way=
Jesus speaks to us EVERY DAY=
He changes our hearts
Though it may be GRADUAL

“Teach me your way Lord
That I may
Rely on your faithfulness

Give me
AN UNDIVIDED HEART
That I may
Fear your name” Psalm 86:11

Spiritual awakenings and conversions=
COME UNANNOUNCED-
That are usually gradual

How will the
LOVE OF GOD
CHANGE YOUR HEART TODAY?

In the name of Jesus=and the LOVING HEART of our FATHER GOD

Robert P. Wallman
1-24-20

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

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES

THE SAINT OF WRITERS---Saint Francis de Sales

He was born in 1567
In France

He was very delicate as a boy
And was educated privately
At least at first

Later---
He attended the University of Paris
And studied rhetoric, philosophy, and theology

He became a doctor of law
And opportunities
For marriage and a brilliant career abounded
But he chose
To become a Catholic priest

He became distinguished
Both for his service to the poor
And his preaching

He succeeded
In almost everything that he did
Because of his great love
His great understanding
And his persistent patience and gentleness

His most famous writings were called
THE TREATISE OF THE LOVE OF GOD
And
INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE

One of his best friends was
Jane Frances de Chantal
Who founded the Visitation order
Under his direction
And who later became a Saint herself

He was extremely influential as a writer
And in leading souls to self-sacrifice
And to the finding of God’s love

He died in 1622
Was canonized as a Saint in 1665
And declared a Doctor of the church in 1877

His name is FRANCIS de SALES

Robert P. Wallman
1-27-12

Ps Francis de Sales feast day is January 24^th---I found great inspiration---
In reading the life story of Saint Francis de Sales---and find great
inspiration in reading the lives of ALL the Saints

He is the patron Saint of writers

Thursday, January 23, 2020

THE WAY OF GOD=MERCY AND FORGIVENESS

THE WAY OF GOD=MERCY AND FORGIVENESS

Today we read about=
King Saul=who set out with 3,000 men=
In order to KILL DAVID

But David's men=CORNERED Saul=
Making it easy=
For David to kill King Saul

But David SPARED
Saul's life=
The WAY of God
Is MERCY AND FORGIVENESS

“You have treated me
GENEROUSLY=while I have
Done you harm” 1 Samuel 24:18

David's RESPONSE to Saul=
REMINDS me that
Everyone of us

Has the CAPACITY
To EXTEND mercy and forgiveness=
To those
Who attempt to hurt us

Yet how quickly
We humans=try to
INFLICT PAIN for pain=
Hurt for hurt

When the WAY OF GOD=
Is to extend MERCY
And forgiveness

“Remember Lord-
Your GREAT MERCY and love=
They are from
Of old” Psalm 25:6

“But because of his
Great love for us

GOD=who is rich
IN MERCY
Made us alive
With Christ

Even when-we were dead
In transgressions........” Ephesians 2:4

“Praise be to
The God and Father
Of our Lord Christ Jesus

IN HIS GREAT MERCY
He has given us-
New birth
Into a living hope
Through the resurrection
Of Jesus Christ=
From the dead” 1 Peter 1:3

Jesus gave his LIFE
For us=to redeem us
From all our sins

He LIVED out of mercy=
And FORGIVENESS=
The least
We can do
Is GIVE UP

Some of our petty concerns-
And live-
Out of MERCY and FORGIVENESS

“But who can
Discern their own faults?
FORGIVE my hidden faults” Psalm 19:12

“And when you
Stand praying=
If you hold anything
Against anyone

FORGIVE THEM=
So that your Father in heaven
May FORGIVE you
Your sins” Mark 11:25

So the NEXT TIME
Someone gossips about you=
Or cuts you off in line

TRY living the WAY
Of Jesus=
Try living the way
Of David

Live the WAY OF GOD=
Live the way
Of MERCY AND FORGIVENESS

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

Robert P. Wallman
1-23-20

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

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

WITHDRAWING TO REST

WITHDRAWING TO REST

We live in a very FAST
Paced world=that keeps
On moving

We BARELY have time
To think=
Let alone pray

But Jesus ALWAYS
Took time to REST
And to PRAY=
We would be wise
To EMULATE HIM

“Jesus WITHDREW
Toward the sea
With his disciples” Mark 3:7

Jesus was all GOOD=
And he offered GOODNESS
To the people

He offered healing-forgiveness
And GRACE=
Is it any wonder-
He withdrew
From the crowd
TO REST?

We NEED to rest too=
We need to
BE ALONE WITH GOD

Sometimes we need to
WITHDRAW to ourselves
And rest and PRAY

“For six days-
Work is to be done

But the seventh day
Is a day
Of SABBATH REST=
Holy to the LORD” Exodus 31:15

“Whoever dwells
In the shelter
Of the MOST HIGH
Will REST
In the shadow=
Of the ALMIGHTY” Psalm 91:1

And TECHNOLOGY is not rest=
You need to get
AWAY from the technology

You need to get AWAY
From the television and the computer

You need to SPEND
Some time=IN NATURE=
In the mountains-
Or at the beach

Get alone to yourself
WITHDRAWING to rest

How often
Do you read
In the bible

WHERE Jesus-
Goes off by himself
To pray=
We need
To do that too

“This is what
The Lord says=

'Stand at the crossroads
And look=
Ask for
The ancient paths

Ask where the good way is-
And walk in it

And you will FIND REST
For your souls'” Jeremiah 6:16

“Come to me
All you-
Who are weary
And burdened
And I will GIVE YOU REST” Matthew 11:28

So BE LIKE Jesus=
Take a little time
To yourself EACH DAY
If you can

And WITHDRAW to REST
And to pray

In the names of Jesus=and our ever RESTFUL GOD

Robert P. Wallman
1-22-20

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

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

GOD'S LAWS ARE ABOVE

GOD'S LAWS ARE ABOVE

We have written-
Human laws in this world=
But we also have
GOD'S LAWS OF LOVE

God's laws of love=
Are ABOVE=and if we are
LIVING by this law
Of love

We probably don't even need
Any written laws

“Is it lawful
To do good
On the Sabbath.......

To SAVE LIFE
Rather than destroy it?” Mark 3:4

Today's GOSPEL is a
POWERFUL TEACHING on life=
On healing=
And on the NEWBORN

Jesus intentionally BROKE
A SABBATH LAW=in order
To heal a man

Healing this man's infirmity
TRUMPED the local law

And God's laws of love
Are so far ABOVE
Of ALL the written
Human laws
That there are

God's laws are ABOVE
The local human laws=
The laws of MORALITY=
Of life=and of healing
Are so far above

They are FROM GOD
They are from heaven

“But whose delight
Is in the LAW
Of the Lord

And who meditates
On his LAW
Day and night” Psalm 1:2

“Love does no harm
To a neighbor

Therefore love
Is the fulfillment
Of the LAW” Romans 13:9-10

“For the ENTIRE LAW
Is fulfilled
In keeping this one command

LOVE your neighbor
As yourself” Galatians 5:14

I RECOGNIZE it is an
INDIVIDUAL matter and that there
Are many different perspectives
That go into a decision

But in most cases
A TRUE CHRISTIAN=
Cannot support or aid actions
That would terminate a life

Life is GOD'S WAY=
God chooses life=
God has given me
Numerous chances to STAY ALIVE=
When the medical community
Had given up on me

God's laws=God's ways
Are so ABOVE US
And our human ways

“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” Deuteronomy 3:19

Dear Lord=today we ACKNOWLEDGE
That your laws
Are ABOVE any human laws

And that LIFE AND LOVE
Are above any human laws
That would destroy it

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

Robert P. Wallman
1-21-20

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

Monday, January 20, 2020

HE CHOOSES YOU!

HE CHOOSES YOU!

Did you ever NOTICE
That God does
NOT CHOOSE the
Most likely individuals?

He chooses some
SURPRISING individuals-
To CARRY OUT his mission

And he CHOOSES
You and me too

“There is still the YOUNGEST
Who is tending the sheep” 1 Samuel 16:11

He chose Moses=who had
Trouble speaking=
He chose Abraham=who was
PAST his prime=
And he chose DAVID
The youngest son=
To slay Goliath

HE CHOOSES YOU TOO=
To carry out his MISSION
In today's world

“And whoever
Does not CARRY
Their cross

And follow me
CANNOT be my disciple” John 14:27

“CARRY each other's burdens
And in this way

You will fulfill
The law of CHRIST” Galatians 6:2

“Each one should
Test their own actions

And they
Can take pride
In themselves alone

Without comparing themselves
To someone else
For each one

Should CARRY their own load” Galatians 6:5

GOD CHOOSES you and me
Christ chooses
You and me

To BE
20^th century apostles
And DISCIPLES

He has MISSIONS
For us
That ONLY we can do

God chose Noah-
God chose Ruth=
And God CHOSE MARY=
A very young girl

Who turned out
To be
The MOTHER of God

We are all
His DISCIPLES=if we
Just say YES
To Jesus

“To the Jews
Who had
Believed in him=
Jesus said

'If you hold
To my teaching

You are
REALLY MY DISCIPLES'” John 8:31

So LISTEN for God
Listen for his calling

He may be CALLING you=
He may
BE calling me today

Say yes=
GOD CHOOSES YOU

And the STRENGTH
Of God's calling
Will ENHANCE your life
In this world

In the names of Jesus=and his FOREVER CALLING FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
1-20-20

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

Sunday, January 19, 2020

NEW CONTAINERS OF LOVE!

NEW CONTAINERS OF LOVE!

We all like wine=
Wine is PRECIOUS

Once you make wine=
You give great attention
To the CONTAINER
You are going to put
It in

“Rather NEW wine-
Is POURED into fresh wine skins” Mark 2:22

And LOVE is made NEW
In Christ Jesus

Like wine=and its containers
Jesus CARES about us=
We are the containers

He is going to put
His love into=
He wants us
To be FRESH and PURE=
We are the
CONTAINERS of his love

“Trust in him
At all times
You people

POUR out your hearts
To him
For God is our refuge” Psalm 62:8

“And afterward-
I will POUR out
My spirit
On all people” Joel 2:28

“In the last days=
God says

I will POUR OUT
My Spirit
On all people” Acts 2:17

You and I are
The CONTAINERS
Of God's PURE LOVE

We are PRECIOUS
In the SIGHT of God=
In Christ-
We are newborn

Now and every day
We are GROWING into
The RENEWED IMAGE
Of our Creator

“Do not
Lie to each other
Since you

Have taken off
Your old self
With its practices

And have put
The NEW SELF
Which is being renewed
In knowledge

In the image
Of ITS CREATOR” Colossians 3:9-10

We are NEW in God
We are
New in Christ

We are the
NEW CONTAINERS of
Christ's LOVE=
According to the new covenant

“He put a NEW SONG
In my mouth=
A hymn of praise
To our God

Many will see
And fear the Lord
And put
Their trust in him” Psalm 40:3

Dear Lord=we PRAY
That we become
Fitting NEW CONTAINERS
For your love
In this world

In the names of Jesus=and our LOVING God and Father

Robert P. Wallman
1-19-20

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

Saturday, January 18, 2020

THANKING GOD FOR TIME AND THE GIFT OF LIFE

THANKING GOD FOR TIME=
AND THE GIFT OF LIFE

Today on my birthday=
January 19^th, 2020=
I Want to THANK GOD
For my 65 years of life

And thank God for all
The EXTRA TIME with you=
My family and friends-
Since I was 22

Thank you Lord=and thank
You FAMILY and FRIENDS=
For HOW you have
Touched my life=
And made my dreams
COME TRUE

Thank you for the MEMORIES=
Thank you
For this GIFT OF LIFE

“For the wages of sin
Is death

But the GIFT of GOD
Is eternal life
In Christ Jesus
Our Lord” Romans 6:23

“Every good and perfect GIFT
Is from above

Coming down from the Father
Of the heavenly lights
Who does not change
Like shifting shadows” James 1:17

“Each of you
Should USE WHATEVER GIFT
You have received
To serve others

As faithful stewards
Of God's grace
In its various forms” 1 Peter 4:10

Thank you for
THE GIFT OF LIFE
Thank you for the memories

With my beautiful parents=
My beautiful sisters-
And with my EXTENDED FAMILY
And FRIENDS

Each of you
Has had
A SPECIAL PLACE
In my life
And IN MY HEART

We all-
have a FINITE amount of TIME
On this earth

Thank you LORD
For allowing me
To SPEND my time wisely

In CULTIVATING good relationships
With GOOD PEOPLE

“........for it is TIME
To seek the Lord

Until he comes
And showers his righteousness
On you” Hosea 10:12

“The Lord
Is a refuge
For the oppressed

A stronghold
IN TIMES of trouble” Psalm 9:9

“A FRIEND loves at all TIMES=
And a BROTHER
Is born=
For a TIME
Of ADVERSITY” Proverbs 17:17

And so I THANK YOU
Dear Lord God=
For the GIFT OF LIFE
And the GIFT OF TIME

Allowing it and me
To spend this TIME
With my WONDERFUL FAMILY
And FRIENDS

Thank you Lord
THANK YOU ALL

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Robert P. Wallman
1-18-20

Friday, January 17, 2020

WHAT WOULD YO DO FOR A FRIEND?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A FRIEND?

Today we read=in MARK=
About the HEALING of
A paralyzed man
In Capernaum

“They gathered in
Such large numbers
That there was NO ROOM left

NOT even outside the door
And he preached the word
To them” Mark 2:2

The paralyzed man
WANTED to hear Jesus
He wanted to be HEALED=
But he couldn't get to Jesus

WAIT till you HEAR
What his FRIENDS did for him

The COURAGE OF FRIENDS=
The loyalty of friends

“Some men came
BRINGING to him
A PARALYZED MAN
Carried by four of them

Since they
Could not get him
To Jesus
Because of the crowd

They made an opening
In the roof above Jesus
By DIGGING through it

And then lowered
The mat-
The man
Was laying on” Mark 2:3-4

What COURAGE those four
People had for
THEIR FRIEND=what loyalty

They must have LOVED
The paralyzed man
Very much

Would you=would I
Go to those extremes
For a friend?

What kind of FRIEND
Are you to your friends?
Would you go to the wall
For them?
HOW MUCH would you do
For them?

It takes COURAGE to be
In a lasting-
Loving relationship with SOMEONE

“Be strong and COURAGEOUS=
Do not be afraid
Or terrified
Because of them

For the Lord YOUR GOD
Goes with you

He will never leave you
Or forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be on your guard-
Stand firm
In the faith

BE COURAGEOUS=be strong=
Do everything in LOVE” 1 Corinthians 16:13

For the record=
The paralyzed man
WAS HEALED by Jesus

He got up=walked away
And his sins
Were forgiven

Because of his FRIENDS
Because of his FAITH=
BEACUSE OF JESUS

“A FRIEND loves
At all times

And a brother
Is born=
For a time of adversity” Provers 17:17

BELIEVE in your FRIENDS=
Believe in Jesus=and have FAITH

There is NO LIMIT
To what we can DO
For our FRIENDS
With love and faith

In Jesus' name

Robert P. Wallman
1-17-20

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

Thursday, January 16, 2020

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS

Jesus did all kinds
Of HEALING
In his life

Both from a DISTANCE=
And when he was
PHYSICALLY PRESENT

Similarly=when we PRAY=
There are days
When Jesus feels
DISTANT to us

And then there are those days=
When we actually feel
He is LIVING in our heart

“Moved with pity-
He stretched out
His hand-
TOUCHED HIM.......” Mark 1:41

He=Jesus=healed from a distance
When he healed the daughter
Of the Syrophoenician woman

The servant of the centurion=
And an official=whose son
Was actively dying

But today I want
To talk about
The PRESENCE OF JESUS

When he HEALED
A LEPER

He knew that the leper
Needed a TENDER GLANCE

He needed the PHYSICAL PRESENCE
Of Jesus

The leper was shunned
And BANNED from all contact
With the REST OF the world

He needed the
TOUCH of Jesus=
HE NEEDED THE TOUCH OF JESUS!

Like we all do
In our daily adventures

“Blessed are those
Who have learned
To acclaim you

Who walk
In the light
OF YOUR PRESENCE” Psalm 89:15

“For Christ did not enter
A sanctuary
Made with human hands

That was only a copy
Of the true one

He entered heaven itself=
Now to appear for us
IN GOD'S PRESENCE” Hebrews 9:24

This leper
Needed to FEEL
Some INCLUSION=
He needed to feel
A sense of COMMUNITY

He needed to feel
Christ's PRESENCE=
The way that
WE ALL DO

We all need to BE
INCLUDED in GOD'S WORLD

“Lord=the God of ISRAEL
You are righteous!

We are left this day
As a remnant=
Here we are=before you
In our guilt-

Though because of it
NOT one of us
Can stand
IN YOUR PRESENCE” Ezra 9:15

We all need
To BELONG with others=
WITH THE COMMUNITY

Today=may we all FOLLOW
The HEALING OF JESUS=
And the PRESENCE
Of Jesus=in our lives

Just like the POOR LEPER=
In the name of Jesus=and our EVER HEALING FATHER!

Robert P. Wallman
1-15-20

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

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

FOLLOWING JESUS=IN BOTH WORK AND PRAYER

FOLLOWING JESUS=IN BOTH WORK AND PRAYER

Jesus was all about
Doing the WORK
Of his Father

He also PRAYED dutifully=
Thankfully to his Father
Every day

“Rising very early
Before dawn

He left and went off
To a deserted place
WHERE HE PRAYED” Mark 1:35

PRAYER is a tricky thing=
And we need to BALANCE it
With the WORK
Of our lives

Sometimes=the darkness
Of this world
Can be so OVERWHELMING

That we feel our praying
Is useless

Sometimes it feels
Like prayer is a
WASTE of time

When there is
SO MUCH to be done
In this world

But we need to
We need to FOLLOW Jesus
In both WORK AND PRAYER

We need to work
We need to pray PASSIONATELY

“What other nation
Is so great
As to have

Their gods near them
The way the Lord
Our God
Is near to us

WHENEVER WE PRAY
To him?” Deuteronomy 4:7

“Rejoice always=PRAY CONTINUALLY
Give thanks
In all circumstances

For that is God's will
For you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

When we look at Jesus
We see the SPIRITUALITY
Of both his work
And his prayer

Jesus SERVED others tirelessly-
Let us serve others too

He TAUGHT US
How to love our neighbor
And wash each others' feet

He withdrew and PRAYED
And followed up
By DOING
His Father's will

Jesus' example
REMINDS US
That prayer STRENGTHENS us
To be of service
For others

Let us FOLLOW JESUS=
Let us BE OF SERVICE
To others too

“........to equip
His people for works
Of SERVICE

So that-
The body of CHRIST
May be built up

Until we reach all unity
In the FAITH........” Ephesians 4:12

Dear Lord=help us today
TO FOLLOW Jesus

In BOTH his work and
In his PRAYER LIFE

God bless us=and SHOW US Jesus' will
In the name of Jesus=and his ALL KNOWING FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
1-14-20

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

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

UNAFRAID TO ASK

UNAFRAID TO ASK

Do you have
Something in your mind
To ASK the Lord?
Are you AFRAID?

Don't be afraid
To LET it all out there

“I was only POURING
Out my troubles
To the Lord” 1 Samuel 1:15

Today we read about
Hannah=in the book
Of SAMUEL

It is the story
Of a FATHFUL WOMAN=
And the MERCY
Of the Lord

Hannah LONGED for a son=
In fact=she prayed passionately
For a son

So PASSIONATELY
That the priest=Eli=
Thought she was drunk

The Lord=in his GREAT MERCY
Heard and answered
Her prayer

She was=UNAFRAID TO ASK=
So don't you be afraid
To ASK the Lord

For what you NEED too=
Just maybe=he will HEAR YOU

UNAFRAID TO ASK

“That night the Lord
Appeared to him
And said

'I am the God
Of your Father Abraham
DO NOT BE AFRAID

For I am with you=
I will bless you
And will increase
The number
Of your descendants

For the sake
Of my servant=Abraham'” Genesis 26:24

“When I am AFRAID=
I put my trust in you” Psalm 56:3

Hannah gives a prayer-
A SONG of GRATITUDE
For what the Lord
Has done

We too
CAN express our gratitude
To the Lord=
When he ANSWERS
Our prayers

Let's be like Hannah=
Let us TURN to the Lord
In our need-
And in our weakness

Let us be UNAFRAID TO ASK=
And let us be unafraid
To EXPRESS our gratitude
To the LORD

“Enter the gates
With THANKSGIVING=
And his courts
With praise

Give THANKS to him
And praise his name” Psalm 100:4

Let us NOT
Be afraid to ask-
But let us ALL
Always remember

It is NOT our will
But the LORD'S WILL
That should be done

Dear Lord=we PRAY
That we bear witness
To your GENEROSITY and MERCY

In all that we do
This very day

In the name of Jesus=and his holy and ACCOMODATING FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
1-14-20

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

Monday, January 13, 2020

LOOKING FOR THE GOOD

LOOKING FOR THE GOOD

Have you ever had THINGS
Go wrong in your life?
Of course you have
Who hasn't?

I try to stay CLOSE
To God=and after bad things happen=
I always ask him
To BRING something GOOD
Out of this bad situation

And of course=God can
And DOES=He is always looking
For the POSITIVE

“O Lord=I am your SERVANT” Psalm 116:16

I ask God for a RESOLUTION
That fixes it=that involves
NO loss of life

And hopefully no loss of
Material possessions=
Or even MY PRIDE

LOOKING FOR THE GOOD=
But more than that
I ask God
To USE ME=to use
My situation
To bring about SOME GOOD

I'll bet you=you do this too
We are all
SERVANTS OF GOD

LOOKING FOR THE GOOD
IN LIFE

“Not so with you=
Instead whoever
Wants to be
Great among you

Must be your SERVANT
And whoever
Wants to be first
Must be your slave” Matthew 20:26-27

“Rather he made
Himself nothing

By taking the
Very nature
Of a SERVANT

Being made=In human likeness” Philippians 2:7

“And the LORD'S SERVANT
Must not be quarrelsome

But must be
KIND to everyone=
Able to teach-
Not resentful” 2 Timothy 2:24

Yes=mo matter
What happens in life=
We must PRAY
For the Lord
To BRING GOOD-
Out of it

We must be
LOOKING FOR THE GOOD

Whatever good that is=
Maybe greater HUMILITY-
Maybe a little CLOSER
To God and Jesus

Maybe a LESSON
That might help us
Later in life

Just keep praying
Just keep LOOKING
For the GOOD
And you will be
A TRUE SERVANT of God

“His master replied=
'Well done=GOOD
And faithful SERVANT'” Matthew 25:21

Dear Lord=we PRAY
That we stay open
To you

And that you BRING GOOD
Out of our lives=
Today=and every day

May we KEEP LOOKING
FOR THE GOOD
Even in our mistakes

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

Robert P. Wallman
1-13-20

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

Sunday, January 12, 2020

CHERISHED BY GOD

CHERISHED BY GOD

Jesus was the SON-
Of the FATHER=
And he was CHERISHED

Today we celebrate
His baptism=
Cherished by the Father
As we ALL ARE

Jesus CHERISHES us all too
“This is MY BELOVED SON
With whom
I am WELL PLEASED” Matthew 3:17

We are cherished by God=
Can you IMAGINE
How great
You would feel

If God the Father
Told you he
Was WELL PLEASED with you?

I wonder how JESUS FELT
When his Father
Told him=He was well pleased
With him

Surely something INCREDIBLE
In Jesus=STIRRED in him
And he was ASSURED
To go-
Forward with CONFIDENCE

KNOWING that he would be
Embraced in LOVE
By the Father

No matter what happened
IN THE FUTURE

And that is the WAY
It is with us=
God CHERISHES US
With love

NO MATTER
What comes in the future

“If I had
CHERISHED sin
In my heart

The Lord
Would not have listened” Psalm 66:18

“The one who
Gets wisdom=loves life

The one who CHERISHES
Understanding=will soon prosper” Proverbs 19:8

Do you believe
You are CHERISHED
By God?

I have never heard
God call me “BELOVED”
But I feel
CHERISHED by God

When I read the PSALMS-
When I pray to God=
With God's promise
Of shelter-refuge-comfort-
And compassion

I FIND God's assurance
Of mercy=kindness=
And unconditional love
REFLECTED in Jesus' life

Jesus is the HOLY ONE
Come alive=and he
CHERISHES US TOO

Let us pause and LISTEN
For God to call us
“BELOVED” today

“Let the BELOVED
Of the Lord
Rest secure in him

For he shields him
All day long

And the one the LORD LOVES
Rests between his shoulders” Deuteronomy 33:12

Rest today=feel loved=
You are
CHERISHED BY GOD=
All of us

In Jesus' name=and the name of the FATHER=who LOVES US ALL

Robert P. Wallman
1-12-20

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

CALLED TO BE SERVANTS OF GOD

CALLED TO BE
SERVANTS OF GOD
AND SERVANTS OF OTHERS

Picture this:

Jesus and his disciples
Are walking along together
As they often did

And Jesus tells them
He is going to be arrested
And put to death

“The SON of Man
Is to be handed over to men-
And they will kill him........” Mark 9:31

IMAGINE=if one of your friends
Told you this-
How you would respond-
MAYBE with care and concern
For him or her

But his friends-his disciples
Aren't ready to deal with that
Just yet

So they start arguing
About which of them
Is the greatest

And Jesus-NOT to be put off
Says:

What are you arguing about
On he road?” Mark 9:33

After Jesus hears
It is about
Who wants to be greatest-

He says-the most amazing thing-
To the 12

“ANYONE who wants
To be first
MUST be the very last
And the SERVANT of all” Mark 9:35

In this me first=
#1 at all costs=world
That we live in

WHO wants to be #1 now

Who wants to be a servant-YET-
A servant of all

“Let your face
SHINE on your servant
SAVE ME
In your unfailing love” Psalm 31:16

And HE CAN
Ask us to be a servant
Of all
Because he did that very thing
HIMSELF

“In your relationships
With one another

Have the same mindset
As Jesus
….....
Rather he made himself nothing
By taking the very nature
Of a servant” 2 Philippians 5 & 7

If he can do it
WHY can't we?

Maybe we don't
Want to be No.1
As badly as we think

What makes this teaching
SO DIFFICULT

Is it applies today
In the same way
It applied to the Apostles
Of yesteryear

Maybe we too-in today's world
Are wondering
Which one of us is greater

Maybe we CHRISTIANS
Need to talk about HUMILITY

In the same way
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS DOES

Humility doesn't mean
We are terrible people

It simply means

“I am BLESSED and gifted
In some ways
And flawed in others

I CAN accept myself
And I can ACCEPT YOU

WITHOUT feeling superior or inferior”

Or maybe
IF you are like me

And trying to be
A TRUE CHRISTIAN
In the model of Christ

You can be A SERVANT OF GOD
And a servant to ALL OTHERS

Robert P. Wallman
9-19-15

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

3-11-2019 and 1-12-13-2020

Saturday, January 11, 2020

GIVING YOURSELVES AWAY

GIVING YOURSELVES AWAY
John the Baptist=
Was Jesus' cousin=and he
SUMMED up his
Whole life
By GIVING himself AWAY
For Jesus=by preparing a way
For Jesus=THE REAL MESSIAH!
"He must INCREASE=I
Must decrease"                                                                                                                              John 3:30
And so it should be
That WAY for us too
We should DECREASE as
We get older=Jesus
Should TAKE OVER
In our life
LET Jesus increase
In your life=
As you give yourself AWAY
John gave away his SELF-INTEREST=
He was totally selfless-
He gave himself away
For the MISSION OF JESUS
He let Jesus in CHARGE
Of his life
"God blessed them
And said=
'Be fruitful
And INCREASE in number
And fill the water
In the seas
And let the birds
INCREASE on the earth'"                                                                                                               Genesis 1:22
"Do not trust in extortion
Or put vain hope
In stolen goods
Though your riches INCREASE=
Do NOT
Set your heart on them"                                                                                                            Psalm 62:10
John's life was in
NO WAY dimihished
By his stepping aside
It allowed Jesus
To FULFILL his mission
For his life
And John too
And it FREED John
To be a KEY DISCIPLE
In the life of Jesus
John TOTALLY gave himself away
And John found himself=
Maybe we should do it too
And FIND OURSELVES=
Just the way
That COUSIN John did
"The apostles
Said to the Lord=
'INCREASE our faith'"                                                                                                              Luke 17:5
"May the Lord
Make your LOVE INCREASE
And overflow
For each other
And for everyone else=
Just as
Ours does for you"                                                                                                              1 Thessalonians 3:12
GIVE YOURSELVES AWAY
And find yourselves
In LOVE with God
And in love WITH OTHERS
And in love
With THE WORLD
John FOUND his life
By giving it over
Totally to Jesus
SO CAN WE
John is a MODEL
For us all=it is POSSIBLE
In this life
To FIND a love=
By giving ourselves TOTALLY AWAY
For others
Love totally
GIVE YOURSELVES AWAY=
And do not
Count the cost
Just like Jesus
Just like John=
Just like the APOSTLES
In Jesus' name=and in the name of OUR TOTALLY LOVING FATHER
Robert P. Wallman
1-11-20

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

Friday, January 10, 2020

GOD'S GREATEST GIFT IS YOUR LIFE

Sunday=January 19th, 2020=will be my 65^th birthday=
Just taking a moment in time to THANK GOD for my life=

All these ADDITIONAL YEARS since my 22^nd birthday=and thank
EACH & EVERYONE OF YOU=
For being a PART OF MY LIFE

LOVE GOD=LOVE YOU ALL=you all DON'T KNOW
How much you have touched me=HUGS & PRAYERS for you all

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
(GOD'S GREATEST GIFT IS YOUR LIFE)

God gave you
The greatest gift
That he could
EVER give you-YOUR LIFE

GIFTS are defined
As special abilities
GIVEN TO BELIEVERS
Through the GRACE OF GOD

Your life is a gift
USE IT WISELY

And I wish you
As I am SURE
GOD WISHES YOU
A happy birthday

CREATE HAPPINESS for yourself
With your life
And use your life
To CREATE HAPPINESS for others

The gift
Of your life
IS UNIQUE
It is your life
GIVEN ONLY TO YOU

It is yours to use
In the BESTWAY

Use your life
And your gifts-WISELY

“WE have different gifts
According to the GRACE
Given us

If a man's gift
Is prophesying

Let him use it
IN PROPORTION to his FAITH

If it is serving
LETHIM SERVE

If it is encouraging
Let him encourage

If it is
CONTRIBUTING to the needs
of others

Let him give generously

If it is in leadership
Let him govern diligently

If it is
SHOWING MERCY

Let him do it CHEERFULLY” Romans 12:6-8

So God gave you
A LIFE-and gifts

Use them wisely

But always remember
THE GREATEST GIFT
God gave you
Outside of your life
IS LOVE

Use it wisely
LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY
And always forgive

For WHEN we don't forgive
WE IMPRISON OURSELVES

And always remember-your
“LOVE-MUST BE SINCERE” Romans 12:9

The Lord God
Has loved you
Through many yesterdays

HE LOVES YOU NOW

And he WILL LOVE YOU
Through ALL your tomorrows

“I have LOVED you
With an EVERLASTING LOVE

Therefore
I have DRAWN YOU
With loving KINDNESS” Jeremiah 31:3

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my friend

GOD LOVES YOU
And SO DO I

USE your gifts wisely

Robert P. Wallman
11-25-14

Thursday, January 9, 2020

GROW IN LOVE AND RESPECT

GROW IN LOVE AND RESPECT

How MANY of us wake up
EACH MORNING and say=
“Gee=I think I could
CONQUER the world today?”

NOT ME!
It is ALL I can do
When I wake up=
To TREAT everyone
With LOVE & RESPECT

How about you?
How do you FEEL
When you wake up?

Some of us even feel like=
“I don't think
I can FACE
The world today”

“Beloved=who indeed
Is the VICTOR over the world

But the ONE
Who believes that Jesus
Is the SON OF GOD?” 1 John 5:5

Wake up and be resolved
BELIEVE in Jesus
And maybe you can
CONQUER the world today

Maybe you will be
ABLE to treat everyone
With LOVE AND RESPECT

Maybe you will
Feel the VICTORY OF Jesus

Be positive=Be open-minded=
FEEL THE VICTORY!

“........so that your daily life
May win the
RESPECT of outsiders

And so that
You will not
Be dependent on anybody” 1 Thessalonians 4:12

“He must manage
His own family well
And see

That his own children
Obey him

And he must do so
In a manner worthy
OF FULL RESPECT” 1 Timothy 3:4

“SHOW PROPER RESPECT
To everyone

Love the family of believers=
Fear God-
Honor the emperor” 1 Peter 2:17

John is inviting us TODAY
To view Jesus
As TRULY the Son of God

And to draw close
To him and believe
In his TEACHINGS
Of LOVE AND RESPECT

Believe in
The victory of Jesus

“With God
We will
GAIN THE VICTORY

And we will
Trample down our enemies” Psalm 60:12

IF we can GROW
In the direction
Of getting closer
To Jesus each day

We will FIND
That INNER PEACE
That we are
All looking for

And we will WIN
The victory
Of treating ourselves
As well as ALL OTHERS

With LOVE AND RESPECT

In the name of Jesus=and our ALL RESPECTFUL FATHER

Robert P. Wallman
1-9-20

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

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

IT IS THE LONG RUN

IT IS THE LONG RUN
We all know what
The first two commandments are=
Love God=and love all others=
Loving God comes NATURALLY
To me=
But loving others=especially some
Takes SOME WORK
"........for whoever
Does NOT love a brother
Whom he has seen
Cannot LOVE GOD
Whom he has not seen"                                                                                                                    1 John 4:20
God is EASIER to love=
For he doesn't yell at us
With an annoying VOICE=
He or she
DOESN'T leave the dishes
In the sink
To really LOVE SOMEONE=
I think you have to be
ANNOYED by them too=It is
IN THE LONG RUN
That we really SEE LOVE
Love is a MARATHON=
Love takes ENDURANCE
Love takes time
It is NOT REALLY
A love at first sight
KIND OF THING
It is THE LONG RUN
"For everything
That was written
In the past
Was written
To teach us
So that through
The ENDURANCE taught
In the Scriptures
And the encouragement
They provide
WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE"                                                                                                                     Romans 15:4
"Being strengthened
With all power
According to his glorious might
So that you may have
GREAT ENDURANCE
And patience........"                                                                                                                         Colossians 1:11
LOVE can be annoying
Love can be messy=
You really NEED TO
Get to know
That other person
And LEARN
To believe and TRUST in them
And you have to FORGIVE
That other person
Over and over again
And RECOGNIZE you have
Your own ANNOYING HABITS=
And HOPE they
CONTINUE to forgive you too
Love is for the LONG-TERM=
Love really is
IN THE LONG RUN
"LOVE is patient-
Love is kind
........
It does NOT dishonor others
It is not proud
........
LOVE NEVER FAILS"                                                                                                           1 Corinthians 13:4-8
REAL LOVE fights through
Those LONG tough days
And years
Where we wound-
And get wounded=
Where we apologize-
And get APOLOGIZED too
WE STRETCH our hearts and souls
For our mates=
For our family and friends
Then to strangers
And finally to GOD=
And the ENTIRE WORLD
It is the LONG RUN=as we
Continue to struggle
And TO LOVE
In the name of Jesus' love=and life=and our ALWAYS LOVING FATHER
Robert P. Wallman
1-08-20

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