Sunday, December 31, 2023

THE LAST APOSTLE

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 31st, 2012

 

 

THE LAST APOSTLE

 

 

You

You

You are the last Apostle

You you

You are

The last man standing

 

What are you going to do

Maybe it’s just for pretend

Maybe it’s all

Just in your head

 

But what

What if it is true

That you are

The last man standing

That the fate

Of the world

Depends on you

 

Are you

Going to live a life

Based totally on love

Are you

Going to live a life

Based totally on forgiveness

Are you

Going to live a life

Based totally on kindness

 

What if it is true

What if it is

Not just for pretend

What if it is

Not just in your head

That you are

The last man standing

And it all

Depends on you

 

What if you

Really are the world’s

Last true Apostle

And it all

Just depends on you

 

You

Just what are

You going to do

 

Robert P. Wallman

2-4-11

 

Ps        APOSTLE is the term given to the followers of Christ

            Who founded the early church; particularly the 12 disciples and Paul

 

This poem is for myself and ALL the Lord’s true followers in today’s world

 

I prayed my entire life, that if I lived 2000 years ago

I would not have run away when all the other Apostles did

I will NEVER know the answer to that-but I am still HERE today

TRYING to live a life BASED on God’s love and Christ’s teachings

 

NEVER GIVE UP!=KEEP YOUR DREAMS ALIVE=IN 2024

 

                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

NEVER GIVE UP!=Keep Your Dreams ALIVE

(A lesson LEARNED from Jesus=HAPPY 2024!)

 

What were your DREAMS=as a

Young man or woman?=What are

Your dreams today?=Are they the same?

 

Career=Family=wealth=prestige=I FIND

My dreams in God=and Jesus=I find a lesson

WELL LEARNED=in the life-death-and RESURRECTION

Of Jesus Christ

 

Jesus wanted a NEW CHURCH=I wonder=IF he ever felt

He was losing everything=IN THE END=but in the end

He came through=HE BUILT a new Church

NEVER GIVE UP!=A Lesson Learned

 

“And I tell you=That you are Peter=and

On this rock=I will BUILD MY CHURCH=and

The gates of Hades=will not overcome it”                                                                              Matthew 16:18

 

“Keep watch over yourselves=and

All the flock=of which=The Holy Spirit

Has made you overseers=Be shepherds

Of the CHURCH of God=which he bought

With his own blood”                                                                                                             Acts 20:28

 

Jesus gave EVERY OUNCE=of himself

FOR HIS DREAM=and they came true=

NEVER GIVE UP!=on your dream=Take A LESSON

From our Lord and Savior=Jesus Christ=IN 2024

 

MY DREAM=is a lot like Jesus’=I want him

TO BE RECOGNIZED=as the ONE true God of LOVE=

Of PERFECT LOVE=by the entire world

 

I want this whole world=to RECOGNIZE his Church

And his EXAMPLE of God=in our lifetimes=with

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER GOD!

 

A lesson LEARENED from Jesus=NEVER GIVE UP!

On your dream=I never will=as long as I LIVE

Until my dying breath=I will never give up

ON MY DREAM =of love and Jesus

For this entire world

 

KEEP living the dream of LOVE=and

Recognize=WHAT LOVE IS

 

“LOVE is patient=Love is kind=it does not envy

It does not boast=it is not proud

 

It does not dishonor others=it is NOT self-seeking

It is not easily angered=it keeps

NO RECORD of wrongs

 

LOVE does not=delight in evil=but

Rejoices with the truth=It always protects

Always hopes=always perseveres

LOVE NEVER FAILS”                                                                                            1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

So WHATEVER your dream is=I beg you

To BRING your dream=along with mine

In 2024=Keep Trying

 

Keep LOVING your God of love=Jesus

And=the Holy Father God=with your WHOLE HEART

Whole soul=whole mind=and strength=and keep

LOVING and praying

 

For your neighbor=and REMEMBER your neighbor

Is EVERY other person=in this world=just as Jesus

Taught us=with THE EXAMPLE=of his LOVE

 

“I have set you=AN EXAMPLE=that

You should do=as I have done for you”                                                                            John 13:15

 

And so my dear=BROTHERS and SISTERS

Keep YOUR DREAM ALIVE=in 2024=and may that

INCLUDE=the LOVE of God and neighbor=and

NEVER EVER GIVE UP!

 

Happy New year=Happy 2024=and may

ALL your DREAMS COME TRUE!

 

In Jesus’ name=and in the name=of our FOREVER LOVING=forever living=Holy Father God!

 

Robert P. Wallman

12-29-2023

 

 

 

 

Saturday, December 30, 2023

THE MRACLE CONTINUES=HOPE AND GRATITUDE

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 30th, 2012

 

 

The Miracle Continues-HOPE AND GRATITUDE

 

 

In my 22nd miracle

I told the story

Of how God saved my life

When I was given zero per cent chance to live

And I told the story

Of the promise I made to God,

“To live for my family, my friends,

And ALL people everywhere,”

If God continued to sustain me with life

 

I consider my promise to God

My personal promise-my personal covenant

With God

I can honestly tell you

That not a day has gone by

Without me thinking of that promise

At least once

 

I can tell you

God has answered my promise with affirmation

Because here I sit some 33 plus years later

And while my life

Has not been the greatest

Of lives by human standards

Or even the life I would have chosen for myself

I have done my very best

To keep up my end of the promise

 

Because of the extended blessing of life

That God has given to me

I got to spend many happy occasions

With my family-both immediate and extended

I got to sit with my mother-holding my father’s hand as he died

Earlier this year-I got to take care of my mom

And sit with my sister-holding her hand as she died

I still have the pleasure of talking to each of my sisters

Every day

My sister, Mary, has four beautiful daughters

And I have received the gift of spending much time

With them and seeing them grow

 

For my part-I have tried to extend my witnessing of God

To as many people as possible

I have been baptized four times-in various churches-and four

Different denominations-ALL CHRISTIAN- over the years

I have shared my story both verbally-and through my poetry

To as many people as possible

 

I have ALWAYS wanted my own family and children

But it never did really happen for me

But about four years ago I met a woman to share my life with

As a friend-I call her “Maggie”

She told me that she always wanted to meet someone

That could teach her about God

And there is nothing I like more than talking about God

So we attend church together on Sunday-and several times a week

We study the Bible together

She has been baptized in the church we both currently attend

 

And so some 33 plus years later-I am still alive

And I believe that there is a universal message

That I am meant to share through my life

 

HOPE

 

It used to be

That we had to die for our Christianity

Today-we must LIVE for it

The ultimate message of our life is one of hope

If we unite our lives with Jesus

And share our successes and sufferings

 

Our responsibilities as Christians

Is to live lives based on mercy-justice-forgiveness

Self-sacrifice and self-denial

The Christian message is one of HOPE- not just for one of us

But for ALL of us

 

GRATITUDE

 

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is the story

Where Jesus heals ten lepers

But only one comes back to say thank you

Jesus says,

“Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?

Was no one found to return and give praise to God

Except this foreigner?”        Luke 17:17

 

And I say, “Thank you Lord”

I thank you for the Divine insight to make my promise

To you all those years ago

I thank you for the graciousness in your answer to my promise

I thank you FOR THIS GIFT OF LIFE

I thank you for the gift of time with my father, and my mother,

My sisters, my nieces, my entire family-both immediate and extended

My friends, and my churches

 

And finally-Dear Lord

We ask you to help us, HELP ME, to always come back

And say thank you

And help us, help me

To let you shine so thoroughly through us and in us

That people no longer see us

BUT ONLY YOU

 

Robert P. Wallman

10-30-10

 

 

MAKING US ONE=THE OLD AND THE NEW

 

MAKING US ONE=

(THE OLD=AND THE NEW)

 

We LOST=a lot of people=in 2023

INCLUDING FAMILY=friends=and some

Verry special people=who WERE CLOSE TO US

 

But we also=have the COMING

Of many=to the HUMAN RACE=MANY NEWBORN BABIES

Saying goodbye to the LOST=and HELLO

To the newborn babies=of this year=we ARE ONE
WITH THE LORD!

(The old and the new)

 

Today in the readings form Luke=we LEARN

About an old woman=the prophetess Anna

And her MEETING of the new=THE BABY LORD JESUS

 

“There was also a prophet=ANNA

The daughter of Penuel=of the tribe of Asher

She was very OLD

 

She had lived==with her husband seven years

After her marriage=and then was a widow=UNTIL

She was 84=She NEVER left the temple=but worshiped

Night and day=Praying and fasting=Coming up to them

At that very moment=she gave=THANKS TO GOD

 

And spoke about the CHILD TO ALL=who were looking

To the REDEMPTION of Israel”                                                                                         Luke 2:35-38

 

Jesus was=MAKING US ONE=even as a baby

MAKING US ONE= the baby Jesus= and the prophetess Anna

THE OLD AND THE NEW

MAKING us one=IN the Lord!

 

In this moment=in the temple=we see

THE WHOLE TRUTH=the BEAUTY

Of the old and new together=MAKING US WHOLE!

Making us ONE=in the Lord

 

ALL religions=all nationalities=all that ever will come

WILL BE=ONE=in the Lord=and with

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER GOD!

 

“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

 

“What has been=will be again

What has been done=will be done again=

There is=NOTHING NEW=under the sun”                                                                         Ecclesiastes 1:9

 

But in this one case=I disagree

With the writer=PROBABLY SOLOMON

 

EVERTHING will be NEW=because

The OLD passes on=YOUNG ONES COME

For we are ALL ONE=In our Heavenly Father God

And his SON=Jesus Christ

 

They make us ONE=they

MAKE US WHOLE=in the Lord

The YOUNG AND THE OLD

 

“And this gospel=of the kingdom

Will be preached=IN THE WHOLE WORLD

As a testimony=to all nations=and then

The end will come”                                                                                                               Matthew 24:14

 

Our old PROPHETESS Anna=recognizes

Some thing new=in the COMING=of this little baby

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ=she sees the truth

In=this BRAND NEW CHILD

 

SHE KNOWS=he will be=KING od Israel=she knows

The new=WILL MAKE US ONE=In the Lord=and in

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER GOD!

 

Dear Lord=we pray too=for the OLD

Who are moving out=as we pray for the NEW=we

Welcome them ALL=INTO OUR HEARTS

 

In Jesus’ name=and in the name=Of our Heavenly Father God

Who takes the OLD=and makes all things=NEW AGAIN!

 

Robert P. Wallman

12-28-2023

 

 

Ps       INSPIRED=by an article=IN LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE=by Ame Welborn

 

Friday, December 29, 2023

THROUGH IT ALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 29th, 2012

 

 

THROUGH IT ALL

 

 

Through it all

There was love

There was always love

 

Through every untenable situation

There was love

There was always love

 

Through every nasty word

About me or my family

There was love

There was always love

 

Through every unkind thought, rumor, or gossip

There was love

There was always love

 

There was always love

 

Robert P. Wallman

8-30-06

 

Ps        “The Lord appeared to us in the past saying,

      

            “I have loved you with an EVERLASTING LOVE

             I have drawn you with loving kindness

             I will build you up again

             And you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel

             Again you will take up your tambourines

             And go out to dance with the joyful”                                              Jeremiah 31:3-4

 

            “Do not LOVE the world or anything in the world

              If anyone LOVES the world

              The LOVE of the Father is not in him”                                           1 John 2:15

     

 

A WORTHWHILE WAIT!

 

A WORTHWHILE WAIT

 

Are you WAITING PATIENTLY=to

Meet the Lord?=Are you waiting patiently

For your prayers=TO BE ANSWERED=sometimes

It is=A WORTHWHILE WAIT

 

Let me tell you=about a MAN named Simeon

He was PROMISED to meet=the LORD OF ISRAEL=and

It never happened=UNTIL

He was an elderly man

 

KEEP waiting for the Lord=it is

A WORTHWHILE WAIT

 

“Now there was a man=in Jerusalem

Whose name was SIMEON=this man was

RIGHTEOUS AND DEVOUT

 

AWAITING=the consolation of Israel=and

The Holy spirit=was upon him”                                                                                            Luke 2:25

 

Simeon WAITED=for his promise=to come TRUE

What are you waiting for?=MAYBE it will come true

For you too

 

We wait=for many things=in this life

A health healing=a job offer=a promotion

A PROMISE=to come true

Sometimes=your dreams=DO COME TRUE!

 

“Now Lord=You have kept

YOUR PROMISE=and you may let

Your servant go in peace

 

With my own eyes=I

Have seen your salvation=which

You have prepared=in the presence

Of all peoples

 

A LIGHT=to reveal=Your will

To the Gentiles=and bring glory=to your people”                                                                       Luke 2:25-32

 

WE WAIT=patiently in the Lord=for

God’s timing=IS=not the same as ours

 

It calls for TRUST=In the lord=for

If we wait in FAITH=our waiting

Will be worthwhile=A WORTHWHILE WAIT!

 

We have to wait=in hopeful expectation

These PROMISES=of the Lord=will come true

In our life=just as it did=FOR SIMEON

 

“WAIT for the Lord=be strong=and take heart

In the Lord=and WAIT=for the Lord”                                                                          Psalm 27:14

 

“For the Lord=is a God=of justice

Blessed are all=WHO WAIT FOR HIM”                                                                             Isaiah 30:18

 

“……..WHILE WE WAIT=for the blessed hope-------

The appearing of=our great God=and Savior=Jesus Christ…….”                              Titus 2:13

 

Simeon waited A LIFETIME=to meet

The Lord=He showed up=in the Temple

Day after day=WAITING FOR THE LORD

With an open heart=he listened for=THE PRESENCE

Of our God

 

Then one day=IT HAPPENED=he met

The Lord=he met the Holy One

Face to face

KEEP WAITING=FOR THE LORD=for your answers

It may turn our to be=A WORTHWHILE WAIT!

Just like it was=For Simeon

 

“These have come=so that

The proven genuineness=of your faith--------

Of greater WORTH than gold=which perishes

 

Even though refined by fire=may result in

Praise=glory=and honor=when Jesus Christ is revealed”                                                         1 peter 1:7

 

Keep waiting for the Lord=you

JUST NEVER KNOW=when he might show up

It could be=A WORTHWHILE WAIT!=just as it was

FOR SIMEON

 

In Jesus’ name=and in the name=of our EVER ANSWERING=Holy Father God!

 

Robert P. Wallman

12-27-2023

 

 

Ps       INSPIRED=by an article=IN LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE=by Sr. Chris Koellhoffer=I.H.M.

 

 

 

 

Thursday, December 28, 2023

ONLY GOD KNOWS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 28th, 2012

 

 

ONLY GOD KNOWS

 

 

I built my life

On life

I built my life

On trust

I built my life

On honesty

 

Will it stand

The test of time

Only God knows

 

I built my life

On kindness

I built my life

On forgiveness

I built my life

On trying to help others

 

Will it stand

The test of time

Only God knows

 

Only God knows

If I am right

Only God knows

If I am wrong

Only God knows

If am singing

A true true song

 

Only God knows

 

Robert P. Wallman

5-19-06

 

Ps       “I KNOW that my Redeemer lives-and in the end

            He will stand upon the earth”                                                     Job 19:25

 

           “Do not boast about tomorrow-for you do NOT KNOW

             What a day may bring forth”                                                     Psalm 27:1

 

           “I am the good shepherd-I KNOW my sheep-and my sheep

            KNOW me –just as the Father KNOWS me-and I KNOW

            The Father-and I lay down my life for my sheep”                            John 10:14-15

 

Today is the feast day of the HOLY INNOCENTS where King

Herod massacred all the little boys of Bethlehem

 

Please keep ALL children in your prayers today-for what is happening

In today’s world-PARTICULARLY- those massacred in Newtown, Connecticut   

KEEP LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT=IN 2024

 

KEEP LOOKING=FOR THE LIGHT

(HAPPY 2024!)

 

It is almost TIME=for 2024

WE all have had some issues=in 2023

BUT whatever happened

 

KEEP LOOKING=FOR THE LIGHT=that wonderful

JOYFUL LIGHT=of God=the Holy Father=and Jesus

 

“LIGHT DAWNS=for the just=and gladness for

The upright of heart”                                                                                                                 Psalm 97:11

 

The nights are long=and these days

Are the DAYS OF SHORTNESS=but whatever

We should=TAKE A LOOK BACK

At the last 12 months=of 2023=and

KEEP LOOKING=FOR THE LIGHT!

 

What were your BLESSINGS=in 2023?

What trials or sufferings did you

HAVE TO FACE?=whatever is WEIGHING you down=

LIFE is always MIXED

 

But we have to=keep LOOKING=for the BLESSINGS

Among the trials and setbacks=KEEP on looking

For=that POSITIVE LIGHT OF GOD

 

“For you have=delivered me

From death=and my feet=from stumbling

That I may walk=before God

IN THE LIGHT=OF LIFE”                                                                                                      Psalm 56:13

 

“The people=walking in darkness=

Have seen=A GREAT LIGHT=on those living

IN the land of deep darkness=A LIGHT HAS DAWNED”                                                      Isaiah 9:2

 

“In the same way=LET YOUR LIGHT

Shine before others=that they may

See your good deeds=and glorify your  Father

In heaven”                                                                                                                      Matthew 5:16

 

We ALL=had our struggles=in 2023

Our health struggles=our financial struggles=and

Our relationship struggles

 

But=WHEN we walk=with the LIGHT OF GOD

And Jesus=we walk with HOPE=we live positivity

KEEP LOOKING=FOR THE LIGHT!

That wonderful=joyful LIGHT=of our God

 

Some people=LET themselves be defined

By the darkness=but when we are with God=and Jesus

We are=DEFINED BY THE LIGHT=for we

KEEP LOOKING=FOR THE LIGHT

 

“When Jesus spoke again=to the people

He said=’I am=THE LIGHT=of the world=whoever

Follows me=will never walk in darkness=but have

THE LIGHT OF LIFE’”                                                                                                          John 8:12

 

“But you are a chosen people=a royal priesthood

A royal nation=God’s special possession

 

That you may declare=the praises=of him

Who called you out of darkness=

INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT”                                                                                        1 Peter 2:9

 

And so=Whatever YOUR TROUBLES

Were in 2023=don’t take them forward

INTO the new year=LEAVE them behind

With the old year

 

KEEP TRUSTING=in the Lord=with

An open=LOVING heart and KEEP LOOKING

FOR THE LIGHT=of God=in 2024

 

In Jesus’ name=and in the name=of our ever loving=ever living Holy Father God

WHO are=the LIGHTS=of this world

 

Robert P. Wallman

12-26-2023

 

 

Ps        INSPIRED=by an article=IN LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE=by Gail Goleas

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

THIS ONE IS FOR THE ROAD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 27th, 2012

 

 

THIS ONE IS FOR THE ROAD

 

 

This one is for the road

For none of us know

How far

Or in what direction

The road goes

 

This one is for the road

The road we’ve taken

And the roads we’ve let go

 

This one is for the road

The roads

We will take

And the roads

We will let go

 

This one is for the road

Hoping I’ve met God and you

Along the way

 

This one is for the road

Hoping we touched each other

With a little love and kindness

Along the way

 

This one is for the road

 

Robert P. Wallman

6-16-06

 

Ps        May God DIRECT your path and my path in 2013; to the ROAD that leads us to

            Him and to love and happiness

 

“Enter through the narrow gate-for wide is the gate and broad is the ROAD

That leads to destruction and many enter through it-but small is the gate

And narrow the ROAD that leads to life-and only a few find it”                 

        Matthew 7:13-14

 

“DIRECT me in the path of your commands-for there I find delight”          Psalm 119:35

 

“By day the Lord DIRECTS his love-at night his song with me

A prayer to the GOD OF MY LIFE”                                                            Psalm 42:8

 

 

 

JOHN=THE BELOVED DISCIPLE

 

 

 

JOHN---THE BELOVED DISCIPLE     ( from thunder to love )

 

 

After Jesus

Called Peter and Andrew

He continued

To walk beside the Sea of Galilee 

 

He saw another set of brothers

James and John---the sons of Zebedee

They were with their Father

When Jesus called them

And they immediately left their boat

And their Father

And followed Jesus

 

John is one of the 3 Apostles

Considered to be the closest to Jesus

He is the author

Of the 4th Gospel

Three letters

And though disputed

The final book of Revelation

 

John was present---along with Peter and James

At the Transfiguration

And again---in the Agony of the Garden

 

We must remember

That John---along with the other Apostles

Had that same selfish sinful spirit

That we ALL have

 

John and his brother James

Once went to Jesus and asked,

“Teacher, we want you to do for us

Whatever we ask”                                                              Mark 10:35

 

“What do you want me to do for you,”

Jesus asks                                                                           Mark 10:36

 

They said,

“Let one of us

Sit at your right hand

And the other at your left

In your glory”                                                                    Mark 10:37

 

I can just picture Jesus

Rolling his eyes---looking up at the sky

And saying---“Father

This is what you give me to work with”

 

I know

That is what I would have done

 

They just didn’t get it

Until after the Resurrection

As we often

Still don’t get it today

 

But John did eventually---GET IT

As I am sure you and I will get it---someday

 

As Jesus hung there dying on the cross

He looked down

To see his precious Mother---standing beside John

 

“Dear woman,” he said, “here is your son”

And to John he said,

“Here is your Mother”                                                          John 19:26 & 27

 

From that point on

John took care of Jesus’ Mother, Mary

As if she was his very own

 

HOW GREAT IS THAT

 

In his Gospel

John teaches us

That Jesus IS the Son of God

 

He teaches us

That we are not only to love God

But to love one another as our neighbor

 

And in the letters of John

He teaches us

That God is LIFE

That God is LIGHT

And that God is LOVE

 

He teaches us

That true love

Will manifest itself in actions---NOT just words

 

He teaches us

That PERFECT LOVE drives out fear

And that the love that God has for us

Is CERTAIN and UNCONDITIONAL

 

And in Revelation

On the island of Patmos

John teaches us

About the ULTIMATE TRIUMPH

Of GOOD over evil

 

John once said,

“It is the Word of the Lord

And if you KEEP it

You do enough”

 

So we know

That if we TOTALLY love God

And if we TOTALLY love one another

 

We are like John---the Beloved Disciple

And we too---are Disciples

 

THE DISCIPLES WHOM JESUS LOVES

 

Robert P. Wallman

12-18=11

 

Ps        John’s feast day is today---December 27th

           And there are many many other great Saints named John---including

           ---but NOT limited to       

 

                                                    John the Baptist

                                                    John of God---patron of hospitals and the sick

                                                    John of the Cross---poet and mystic---Doctor of the

                                                           Church---and co-founder of the Discalced Carmelite

                                                           Order

 

rpw

 

12-27-14and 12-27-19 and 12-27-20

GOD'S SPIRIT=LIVES IN YOU

 

GOD’S SPIRIT=LIVES IN YOU

 

Yesterday=was a JOYOUS CELEBRATION=but

The readings today=ARE IN DARK CONTRAST

 

We read about a man=who had

THE LORD’S SPIRIT=in him=who had

Jesus’ SPIRIT in him=and

 

The Spirit of God=which is LOVE=which

SHOULD BE=in every one of us=as we

HONOR Saint Stephen=who CARRIED

God’s spirit in him=to the very end

To his death

 

“But Stephen=FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT=

Looked up intently to heaven=and saw=the GLORY

Of God and Jesus=standing at the right hand

Of God……..”                                                                                                                           Acts 7:55

 

“Now Stephen=a man=FULL of God’s

Grace and power=performed=GREAT WONDERS

And signs=among the people”                                                                                               Acts 6:8

 

Stephen is=STONED TO DEATH

For his TESTIMONY=about Jesus=the likelihood

Of that happening=TO US=is extremely remote=

Nevertheless =we should be

LIVING WITH=GOD’S SPIRIT IN US!

 

We should be=LIVING with the TESTIMONY

For our Holy Father God=and our Jesus=ALL

The days of our life

GOD’S SPIRIT=LIVES IN US

 

“THE SPIRIT OF GOD=has made me=the BREATH

Of the Almighty=GIVES ME LIFE!”                                                                                                    Job 33:4

 

“For this s what=the high and exalted ONE SAYS=

He who lives forever=his name is holy=

 

‘I live in a high=and holy place=but also

With the one=who is contrite

And=LOWLY IN SPIRIT

 

To receive=THE SPIRIT=of the lowly

And to revive the heart=of the contrite’”                                                                                    Isaiah 57:15

 

But there is SOMETHING good and new=

To us=in

THE STONING OF STEPHEN

 

As Stephen is stoned=a young man

Is standing and watching  it all=and it is

THE GREAT WITNESS and writer Paul=who

Is CHANGED by our own LORD Jesus Christ=He condoned

STEPHEN’S DEATH= but became the most PROLIFIC

CHRISTIAN WITNESS =of all time

 

GOD’S SPIRIT=lived in Stephen and Paul

Just as SURELY=as it lives in us

In today’s world

WITNESS=and testify for our Lord Jesus Christ

 

GOD’S SPIRIT=LIVES IN YOU=when you

Live with=THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT=that

Is LIVING INSIDE OF YOU

 

“But the=FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT=is love=

Joy=peace=forbearance=kindness=goodness=faithfulness=

Gentleness= and self-control”                                                                                                            Galatians 5:22

 

“Do not=get drunk on wine=which

Leads to debauchery=Instead

BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT”                                                                                                     Ephesians 5:18

 

Dear Lord=we PRAY to you today

That we may be FILLED=with the HOLY SPIRIT

Of God

 

And we pray=that we TESTIFY and witness

For God and Jesus=ALL the days of our lives

 

Just like Jesus Christ=just like

Stephen and Paul=and ALL the apostles and saints

Who have=GIVEN their lives=for the cause

 

Dear friends=dear brothers and sisters=

GOD’SPIRIT OF LOVE=LIVES

INSIDE OF YOU!

 

In Jesus’ name=and in the name=of our forever LOVING and living=Holy Father God!

 

Robert P. Wallman

12-23-2023

 

 

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

 

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

STEPHEN=THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEPHEN—THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR

 

 

Do you know

Who the first

Christian martyr was

 

His name was Stephen

 

In those days

Some of the Jewish women

Were being overlooked

In the distribution of the food

 

The apostles gathered

And chose seven men

To oversee the food distribution

 

One of those men

Was Stephen

 

Stephen was a man

Full of God’s grace and spirit

And performed many miraculous signs

 

Some opposition

Arose to Stephen

But since

They couldn’t fairly battle Stephen

Because of his wisdom and spirit

They persuaded some men to lie

And say—Stephen was blaspheming

About God and Moses

 

Stephen then testified

To the whole Sanhedrin

About the Lord’s covenant through people

Like Abraham and Moses

 

Stephen said to the Sanhedrin,

 

“You always resist the Holy Spirit”

And about Christ,

 

“Was there ever a prophet

Your fathers did not persecute

They even killed those

Who predicted the coming

Of the Righteous One

 

And now you have

Betrayed and murdered him

-You have received the law

That was put into effect through angels

But have NOT obeyed it”                                        Acts 7:52 & 53

 

The religious community

Became furious at him

And gnashed their teeth at him

 

But Stephen remained full of the Holy Spirit

And said,

 

“Look I see heaven open

And the Son of Man

Standing at the right hand of God”                               Acts 7:56

 

At this

They began yelling at him-rushed him

And began stoning him

 

Stephen prayed,

 

“Lord Jesus-receive my spirit

Lord-do NOT hold this sin

Against them”                                                              Acts 7:59-60

 

At this-he died

 

Dear Lord-we pray

That when people lie about us

And betray us

During the ordinary course of our lives

 

That we have

The FAITH of Saint Stephen

And clutch even tighter to you

And have the courage

To live that faith

Just as your humble servant-Saint Stephen

 

In Jesus ‘name-we pray

 

Robert P. Wallman

5-16-12

 

 

MISC.    WITNESS        6-19-14

GREATNESS

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 26th, 2012

 

 

GREATNESS

 

 

In the XXIII chapter

Of Saint Matthew’s Gospel

Jesus tells us

How to be great

 

He tells us

The greatest among you

Will be the servant

Of everyone else

He tells us

He who humbles himself for others

Will be in fact great

 

Are you serious Lord

 

Couldn’t we just aspire

To be rich and famous

Like everyone else

 

Jesus goes on

To tell us

That the greatest single quality

That a human being can have

Is sincerity

 

Think about it

Can you build a relationship

On insincere love

Or build a life

By going out every day

With insincere faith and hope

What are you

Trying to accomplish

 

The challenge

In this world

Is to be real

The challenge

Is to be sincere

In our faith, hope, and love

In God

And in all others

 

So dear Lord

We pray to you

For honesty, humility, and sincerity

And that we take no offense

When others are thought of

In higher esteem than us

 

And finally

Dear Lord

We pray that you

Meek and humble of heart

Will make our heart

Like your heart

 

Robert P. Wallman

2-21-11

 

·                 Inspired by the teaching of Father Leo Clifford

·                 Who passed away earlier in 2012

 

 

Ps      “The GREATEST among you will be your servant

           For whoever exalts himself will be humbled

           And whoever humbles himself will be exalted”                                Matthew  23:11

 

          “Love must be SINCERE-hate what is evil-cling to what is GOOD”   Romans 12:9

 

Today is also the feast day of SAINT STEPHEN-the first Christian martyr

He was stoned to death for his faith

THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 25th, 2012

 

 

THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT

 

 

The greatest compliment

That we can

Give another human being

Is to tell them

That they are

An imitator of Christ

That they live with

Christ’s spirit in them

 

So how can we be

How will we be

Imitations of Christ

In today’s world

 

Be perfect

In love

For every human being

 

Be an imitator

Of Christ

 

Be perfect

In forgiveness

For every human being

 

Be an imitator

Of Christ

 

Be like Saint Francis of Assisi

Clothe the naked

Feed the poor

House the homeless

Even if

You can do it

For just one

 

Be an imitator of Christ

Be an imitator of Saint Francis

Be perfect in love

For the lost

And the forlorn

 

Be perfect

In kindness

For every human being

 

Be an imitator

Of Christ

And though

 

We may not be perfect

 But as long as

We try to do what we can

 

Maybe someday

Maybe someway

Someone will say to you

 

“You are an imitation of Christ

Christ’s spirit lives in you”

 

Robert P. Wallman

2-28-11

 

Ps        On today-Christ’s birthday-please let us all try to bring Christ’s

            Spirit alive again in today’s world

 

“Be PERFECT-therefore-as your heavenly Father is PERFECT”        Matthew 5:48

 

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you-for my power-

Is made PERFECT in you”

 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses

So that Christ’s power will rest on me”                                         2 Corinthians 12:9

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!