My Personal God

O God, You are so personal with me,
You've always borne me in Your heart and mind,
You want me with You for eternity,
no greater love than Yours I'll ever find.

You're my Creator and dear Father true,
and Jesus, Lord of everything I say,
Your Spirit completes a Trinity of You,
three Persons Who inspire me each day.

I know, Lord, You watch over me with care,
beyond our space and time You're at my side,
You pay attention to my smallest prayer,
for me You suffered, for my sins You died.

O personal God of endless love, I pray,
together You and I will always stay.

                         by Pete Voelz

God's New Year

Since nothing’s new to God, does it get old?
No, perfect, infinite God is ever new,
how He imagines--striking, daring, bold,
He could create a universe or two.

We can’t imagine anything like He does,
all our imaginings are based on His,
who could beget a Son love-crossed like Jesus,
Who’s always been, will always be, and is?

So what will be God’s New Year’s resolutions,
what pour forth from His creativity?
For the world’s woes will He inspire solutions,
or what’re His mighty plans for meekest me?

Let me, O Lord, discern a bit with You,
so all this year I help Your dreams come true.

by Pete Voelz      12/30/13

God's Holy Family

We celebrate our Holy Family Day
between the feasts of Christmas and New Years,
when Jesus, Son of David, comes our way,
and Mary’s Motherhood the world reveres.

Why is this family specially called holy?
Its father, Joseph, stayed faithfully chaste,
the mother picked by God as she was lowly,
the Son--a God by Whom our world was graced.

This Holy Family shows us Holy Marriage,
a mom-dad model made female and male,
our sacred Matrimony some disparage,
a God-blest institution that could fail.

It takes God, mom and dad to make a child,
or God’s whole Holy Family is defiled.

by Pete Voelz    12/29/13
the Feast of the Holy Family

Prayer Remembers

With each Our Father, I remember You,
with each Hail Mary, more I know Your Son,
each prayer’s inspired by Your Spirit too,
so I’ll remember ‘til my life is done.

If I forget You, God, You won’t forget,
that’s one condition of Your love for me,
I fall into my terrible sins, and yet
You keep on loving unconditionally.

And if a desperate mother has forgot
the living, loving baby in her womb,
just like me, Lord, that child You have not,
as in Your heart for each one there is room.

Since You remember me, God, through and through,
I’ll always with my prayers remember You.

                          --  by Pete Voelz       7/17/13

 

Led to Love

If I am led to love by gratitude,
then does not my compassion do the same?
And then more my compunction should intrude,
to know it is my sins that are to blame.

I found surcease of sorrow in my prayer,
in seeking mercy and forgiveness too,
yet prayer can also make me more aware
of how my sins have caused to suffer--You.

No longer only my imagination
suffices for what I already know--
my sins hurt every sensitive sensation
that cause Your wounds and all Your blood to flow.

If pity, thanks, and grief don’t lead to love,
I’ve no life here below nor there above.

                          by Pete Voelz      12/27/13
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

The Christmas Rage

If I don’t think of God, He thinks of me,
what time I don’t give Him, to me He gives,
I dream, He makes me face reality,
though I don’t live for Him, for me He lives.

God’s gifts come from His heart, but where are mine?
He gives so much, He only wants my heart,
my heart is of the world, not the divine,
He draws me closer, while I draw apart.

Then Christmas comes, I notice God a bit,
among the noise and presents, He’s the center,
“the reason for the season” is a hit,
and He bids me to ask Him now to enter.

He enters, turns the page, I, a new leaf,
Christ is the Christmas rage, however brief.

                           by Pete Voelz     12/26/13

Christmas Soul

Who is the dazzling diamond Christmas star,
born of the oldest Magi story told,
the greatest King Who comes most from afar,
best of the myrrh and frankincense and gold?

Before Whose name does every head bow down,
before Whose face do all knees humbly bend,
Whose head will hold the holiest halo crown,
Who’s everyone’s most loving personal friend?

Whose name does every voice proclaim is Lord,
Who shared Creation as the Word and Son,
Who’ll judge us with His terrible swift sword,
Who is God-Hero saving everyone?

You’ve written, Lord, my name upon Your scroll,
right under Yours, O Christmas of my soul.

                           by Pete Voelz      12/25/13

Eve to Dawn

Eve sinned and darkness ruled ‘til Mary’s dawn,
conceived without sin, Mary brought the morn,
the snake at bay, the reign of sin was gone,
her “yes” conceived a King, a new day born.

Eve full of pride sinned first and gave us night,
then full of grace with her humility,
young Mary’s word produced the Word of light,
a Savior Who redeemed our destiny.

Eve’s evening “yes” caused many souls to wait,
her Adam brought us death and human strife,
while Mary’s set the calendar’s new date,
her Advent wait led to eternal life.

As New Eve hopes her God-Son’s born to stay,
Emmanuel greets Her dawn on Christmas Day.

                   by Pete Voelz      12/24/13

A Child of God

I am a child of God more than I know,
since He's Our Father, He's my Father too,
when He created me eons ago,
my soul and body He most carefully drew.

Out of His love He then adopted me,
to name me clearly as His son and heir,
to share His love for an eternity,
stamped by His image I would always wear.

He's lavished gifts on me just like a son,
my name, my feelings, yes, my very breath,
then guaranteed that my salvation's won
by sending His own Son unto His death.

You made me free to choose to be Your child,
O God, I pray You keep us reconciled.

by Pete Voelz

Spirit Promptings

Where would I be without You prompting me,
without Your voice that keeps my conscience clear,
O Holy Spirit of the Trinity,
Whose time and place are always now and here?

You prompt me so I choose to make a choice,
I choose to listen to what I receive,
to hear the silent prompting of Your voice,
and answer by mere faith that I believe.

I grateful choose to so be open to
Your gentle prompting to accept Your grace,
gracefully You prompt me to choose to do
the prompted choice of faith that I embrace.

O God, let me be prompt to make as mine
the promptings I choose by Your voice divine.

                                -- by Pete Voelz      5/07

Prayer Fear

My son, to seek My aid be not afraid,
the coward wants no help, but not the brave,
it takes more courage, son, to ask for aid,
than give up on the soul you still can save.

Don’t take the slings and arrows of your sin,
or wring your hands--”to be or not to be,”
take arms, oppose them, for you still can win,
so seek My aid, be not afraid of Me.

“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams,”
free prayer will cost you nothing but your pride,
seek Me in prayer to help your hopes and schemes,
keep not your spirit bottled up inside.

Ask and you shall receive, I promise you,
God cannot lie, My promises come true.

                          by Pete Voelz      12/21/13

Saint Secrets

Do saints know something that we do not know?
To us the saints all seem a little strange,
they take real serious where we’re supposed to go,
St. Francis proved great willingness to change.

Saints put God first, they show great faith in Christ,
His prayers they pray, His sufferings they do,
like Him, they let themselves be sacrificed,
like Paul, they get a miracle or two.

The saints are famed for how they love and give,
for their heroic virtues in their deeds,
they show they’ve given up sin by how they live,
like Mother Theresa met the poorests’ needs.

Some saints are like John Paul--gifted and great,
O Lord, they seem so hard to emulate.

                         by Pete Voelz      12/19/13

Close By God

No matter how much God so far may be,
minding the universe, fixing a star,
He always takes time out to nurture me,
to show to me how close by God we are.

God serves me like a servant, like a slave,
just making me, He made a big investment,
in love so much, He wants my soul to save,
He constantly tests me for an assessment.

God fights for me, He knows we are at war,
religion, faith, His Spirit, His Church He’s given,
the things my culture tells me are a bore
are crucial weapons helping me to heaven.

O Lord, Your closeness often seems mysterious,
should I, like You, not take it somewhat serious?

                            by Pete Voelz      12/19/13

Excited God

God knows all, but He did it anyway,
He knew our race would hurt Him by our sin,
He rested happy on that seventh day,
excited, He foresaw our love flow in.

Excited by the angels He had made,
by His creative love that He was showing,
the love He proved by coming to our aid,
His Son’s love shown by all His blood outflowing.

Excited by our true love most of all,
the love we give to God because we’re free,
though devastated by our Eden Fall,
it’s all made good to God by love from me.

O Lord, in freely choosing to love You,
by love I want to be excited too.

               by Pete Voelz      12/18/13

Believe to Love

When does believe turn into know, then love?
I first believe and know all that I sense,
but don’t yet love what I have knowledge of,
nor how to know and then have love commence.

We do not just believe what’s visible,
we can sense God like we sense love inside,
from their effects, we know things spiritual,
and eyes of faith can see the things that hide.

But when does love from faith and knowledge grow?
I come to love those who show love for me,
though admiration, gratitude come slow,
I still sense love’s mysterious quality.

Since You are love, O Lord, You teach us how
to love each other--and You--here and now.

                         by Pete Voelz      10/22/13

Best Loved

Though You are love and may be everywhere,
You and Your love aren’t everywhere the same,
of Your love, Lord, You give the greatest share
to us, for we most set Your love aflame.

Your’s love’s so great, it stirs the stars to fire,
expands the universe at lightning speed,
yet aims at humans, who stir Your desire,
for we alone fill Your love’s greatest need.

The universe and stars will pass away,
while we’ll love You for all eternity,
and though Your laws they faithfully obey,
You most love us who love You ‘cause we’re free.

And like us, You love families, friends, the rest,
but love us best when we love You the best.

                          by Pete Voelz      12/9/13

Hail Mary Joy

O Mother Mary mine, you never tire
to hear the words the angel said to you,
“Hail, full of grace”--the state of your desire,
“the Lord is with thee”--Oh, how true, how true!

“Blest art thou of all women”--so you heard,
in visiting your cousin on that hill,
her words, John’s joyful leap, both proved the Word
dwelt in you by your word--Oh, what a thrill!

You listen to with joy our Marian prayer,
then “Holy Mary, Mother of God”--yet,
by our words, we excite your love and care,
“pray for us sinners”--you will not forget!

O Mary, may these words bring joy to me,
so I, just like “the Lord,” will “be with thee.”

                       by Pete Voelz      12/15/13

God's Trap

Now when it comes to prayer, you should beware
that God can use it as a kind of trap,
for soon you find you can pray anywhere,
which leads to God as if a kind of map.

You start to pray and then you start to care,
prayer draws us out to see the needs of others,
then too it turns on you for God’s right there,
so if we pray enough, our sins He smothers.

Join God in prayer, and soon our lives we share,
He takes our blinders off, with faith we see,
our secrets slide away, our souls we bare,
His answers make a miracle of me.

I’ve warned you, so start praying if you dare,
God sneaks and grabs and traps you with a prayer.

                               by Pete Voelz      12/14/13

Miracle Prayers

The answers to our prayers are miracles,
albiet little miracles at best,
a subtle normalcy that God annuls
or small creative change at His request.

For most of them God doesn't override
the intricate design of nature's law,
as mastermind and providential guide,
He speaks and all of nature bides in awe.

Why does my prayer thus make God so respond,
my great God Father putting in the fix,
could He but really be of me so fond,
engaging in celestial politics?

However done, of them I am aware,
and grateful for the miracle of prayer.

                          -- by Pete Voelz     1/05

Bring Love

Before the act of give comes that of bring,
you can’t get water from a well that’s dry,
we first must have before we bring a thing,
and we should see the taker eye-to-eye.

What do I have, O God, that You might wish?
I only have what You have given me,
no stone I’ll give if You ask for a fish,
just love can I because You made me free.

But with that love, my faithfulness to You,
no love without obeying Your commands,
or I’m a liar and my love’s untrue,
love too is proven by my charitable hands.

O Lord, You bring Your everything to me,
I bring love true that’s everything to You.

                -- by Pete Voelz      12/12/13

Guadalupe Day

St. Juan Diego heard no voice of God,
he saw no burning bush, he wasn’t Moses,
but heard and saw God’s Mother, and what’s odd,
she filled his tilma with a bush of roses.

Yet more than flowers he’d to the bishop carry,
who with his aides saw stamped upon that robe
an Aztec image of the Virgin Mary,
from then a work of art seen ‘round the globe.

She there appeared in fifteen thirty one,
ten years since Spain had conquered Mexico,
led then eight million Indians to her Son,
and millions more to her great shrine would go.

Americas’ sweet Patroness, we say,
and honor her on Guadalupe Day.

by Pete Voelz      12/12/13
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Nelson Lives

They say he died, I don’t believe it’s so,
when millions, no, when billions, even more
hear of him now on worldwide radio,
his life much more alive than heretofore.

He taught the races how to get along,
and then achieved real reconciliation,
flawed like us all, he wrestled right and wrong,
hostility he cooled to build a nation.

Like King and Abe, our conscience was his field,
he urged an end to hate and violence,
to us with his own body he appealed
by prison civil disobedience.

His ways of peace have made our hearts his shrine
he lives as I take them to heart as mine.

                        by Pete Voelz      12/10/13

God Touch

I think, O Lord, of everyone You touch,
You helped create us and You help us still,
in life You touched the poor and sick so much,
to death You loved us then and always will.

There was no sickness that You couldn’t cure,
You touched all by Your presence and Your hand,
Your touch was always sinless, powerful, pure,
our minds You touch with words we understand.

But best with grace You touch our tainited soul,
our will You touched so we can love You free,
You let us sin and still stay in control,
yet touch us with Your mercy mystery.

It’s time I need to touch the needy too,
for touching them, I know I’m touching You.

                          by Pete Voelz      12/7/13

Conceived Without Sin

Before she said her “Yes,” God knew she would,
so He had her Immaculately Conceived.
Why choose her? She was humble and so good,
courageous, strong in faith, for she believed.

Immaculate in her conception, she
was free from stain of our Original Sin,
for in her graceful womb there soon would be
conceived God’s Son, to live nine months therein.

Our souls conceived with all our DNA,
we too are fully human all that time,
to kill us then would be the same today
as Cain’s original and primeval crime.

Conceived without sin, Mary, pray for me,
and pray for all who have recourse to thee.

by Pete Voelz        12/8/13
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Pray Hiding

Sometimes, O God, I’d rather hide than pray,
the world is fun, You show up with a cross,
like Jonah then, I want to run away,
You come at Christmas, I like Santa Claus.

I know You are the sun, the world is dross,
I, Phantom-like, prefer the dark to day,
which one of us should rule, I’m at a loss,
so Hamlet-like, to say or not to say.

You are the King, the world I ought to toss,
life marches on, and I should not delay,
of course I do not fight You, You’re the boss.
instead of hide, I by Your side should stay,

Like Job, Lord, I must say--You more, me less,
You give, You take, You and Your name I bless.

                         by Pete Voelz      12/5/13

The Joy of God

What blocks the joy that I should have for God?
For joy that God's so good we should not wait,
our happiness therefrom should need no prod,
there's nothing should delay a joy so great.

Joy is a thrill that has a depth of peace,
it's not just feeling transitory fun,
joy is long term, its fun should never cease,
it comes from God, when all is said and done.

It's true we live within a vale of tears,
but joy is anchored in eternal things,
our God makes sure He cuts through doubts and fears,
though we are caged, our joyful heart-bird sings.

O God, I know Your face, I hear Your voice,
I really have no choice but to rejoice.

                             -- by Pete Voelz          9/07

Faith Sense

I hear a voice I cannot hear,
I see a face I cannot see,
with eye of faith and open ear
I know someone has come to me.

I feel a hand I cannot feel,
a part of me and yet apart,
I feel a touch that is so real,
so deep inside my heart of heart.

I sense my problems almost cease,
a mark on me without a trace,
so lifted up my soul in peace,
I feel the fullness of His grace.

For one with so much misery,
I'm happy, Lord, You visit me.

        -- by Pete Voelz      10/07

Less Holy

What should I do when I don’t feel so holy,
like when I’m into me more than with God,
and see I’m making progress all too slowly,
as I suspect my holy’s a facade?

Or when I find I’m not much into caring,
and concentrate on comfort most for me,
concerned with hoarding cash instead of sharing,
focused on now and not eternity?

My ardor cooled, I sense the embers dying,
the love I felt so warm now has a chill,
and lazy-like, I am not even trying,
I need some grace to waken up my will.

O Lord, help me at least to pray this through,
and tend to less of me and more of You.

                      -- by Pete Voelz      7/10/13

Trading Love

I have to say that writing poems to You
has made me love--and made me love You--more,
perhaps ‘cause You I’m more attentive to,
and so we tell each other what’s the score.

Though there are seldom words I can express
the way I feel, yet still the words are true,
and never do I feel You fail to bless
this little repartee between us two.

For if the words in me burn like a fire,
I feel from You Your love like fire too,
they must come out; though they’re what You inspire,
they still can tell only a bit of You.

I do not write to look for some reward,
just trading love with You’s enough, O Lord.

                          by Pete Voelz      12/3/13

Planet God

You made the planets, put us here to live,
but we prefer a planet of our own,
we turn from You, and all the gifts You give,
to gods of self and silicon and stone.

The god of science really’s just our pride,
for hours we worship fun technology,
in vanity we push You, God, aside,
yet Planet God is true reality.

With cool inventions, we adore our smarts,
we make machines and media our toys,
neglect the spiritual with our worldly hearts,
deny Your planet of celestial joys.

Lord, keep Your planet clear before our eyes,
so as we run, we keep them on the prize.

                       by Pete Voelz      12/2/13

Angel Prayer

To be an angel I need only pray,
for angels best can talk to God in prayer;
with angel speed I wing my words away,
they waft their path to God from anywhere.

If infinite God can fill an infinite space,
He doesn't need a transponder to wear;
a prayer can hone in on His holy grace,
my angel thoughts can quickly find Him there.

A prayer is born from my angelic side
and flies to One Who's listening with care;
my guardian angel hangs on for the ride,
when we arrive we make an awesome pair.

The problem is for me that when I pray,
my angel spirit always wants to stay.

                       -- by Pete Voelz          9/05

Easy to Love

Lord, loving You, You make it easy to,
You’re not just anywhere, You’re everywhere,
I find it easy to keep loving You
because You’re not just there, You’re always there.

It’s easy to love One Who’s made of love,
for You are love itself, You make love flower,
the mightiest One Who rules all from above
with loving mercy shown with loving power.

To use Your power to love is such a joy,
when like Your love, this power we embrace,
though You may have the power to destroy,
You choose to give to us Your loving grace.

So let us always love You, Lord, with ease,
for You’re indeed an easy God to please.

                   by Pete Voelz      11/30/13

Pulse of Love

I feel my heart beat with a pulse of love,
but I don’t, Lord, just love You with my heart,
each breath I take, each thought I’m thinking of,
I love You, and with every other part.

I love with every part because You’re there,
Your loving presence, oh, so wonderful,
in me can’t both our loves be everywhere,
could it be normal what’s a miracle?

For You here it’s the way You have commanded,
with all my heart and mind and strength and soul,
yet somehow I desire my love expanded
beyond the common human loving role.

Let me pulse love before, beside, behind,
more than I can, Lord,--eager, fierce and kind.

                        by Pete Voelz      11/29/13

Say to Hear

What can I say, Lord, that You want to hear--
to say: "I want more You and less of me,"
to say: "Thy will be done" without much fear,
to say: "You first!" with real humility?

You'll hear me say and pray the prayer You said,
and that my life and death I offer You,
and bleed for You the way for me You bled,
and offer You all I think, say and do.

I'll say thanks to my Audience of One,
I'll say I'm truly sorry when I sin,
and prove the faith I say by deeds I've done,
and have the hope that heaven will help me win.

I know what more You want to hear me say:
"O Lord, I love You here and now today."

                     -- by Pete Voelz          9/10

The Space Between

I see how far I am from God,
too far for me to see;
I sense the silent sounds of space,
too vast for sound to be,
and only faith can fill the gap
between Great God and me.

I feel the barreness of life
and so I wonder why;
I look inside my lonely self
and there is only I,
and only hope to rescue me
against the empty sky.

I know God gives a million gifts
to show that He is near;
He will provide me plenty there
as He provides me here,
for only love can bring me joy
and wipe away my fear.

I do believe the infinite God
is greater than the sea;
we two can pierce the world's facade
to join so spiritually,
for only grace can fill the space
between my God and me.

-- by Pete Voelz  

Shot Through God

My body, Lord, is so shot through with You,
Your Providence controls each molecule,
with You my breath, blood, heartbeat are shot through,
who can deny Your power? Only the fool.

Shot through with You’s my life from start to end,
from eons You have forged my destiny,
You test me true, but always as a friend,
You hope I give the life You gave to me.

My soul, my self You have shot through the same,
I sense Your presence in my very core,
You ask in faith I see and serve Your name,
and take Your side to fight the devil’s war.

I pray You be shot through with me in turn,
that, God, Your face I may with grace discern.

                        by Pete Voelz      11/26/13

Love Thanks

How do I thank You this Thanksgiving Day?
All You’ve done, Lord, I don’t know where to start,
since You know all, it’s not just words I say,
I thank You from the bottom of my heart.

Yet gratitude is not just how I feel,
my attitude will prove itself in prayer,
with body language, fold my hands and kneel,
for public thanks, my church will see me there.

Sincerest thanks are best shown by my love,
I love You most obeying Your commands,
but added to my love for You above,
I feed the hungry with my thankful hands.

And Lord, while filling up their empty bowls,
I’ll live Your love to fill their hungry souls.

           by Pete Voelz      11/24/13

God Near and Warm

God gave me life, does that sound far away?
God gave me power to love, does that sound cold?
God made me free, then asked me to obey,
God's near and warm, mysterious to behold.

O God, You have such power over me,
how can't I tremble when I'm facing You?
And yet You treat me gentle as can be,
how can I run from One Who is so true?

God holds me in the soft palm of His hand,
when times are good or tough, He's always there.
God gives so much, what's there to understand?
My life is filled up with His constant care.

O God, with all Your love, what can I say?
Except to pray that near and warm You’ll stay.

                       -- by Pete Voelz          12/07

Shadows in the Mist

A circle may connect but not complete,
few times do we bring closure to a story,
our friends, our family even, we just meet
briefly, part way in life, then on to glory.

Who really knows us, Lord, but only You,
with others we’re mere shadows in the mist,
if we make no attempt to know You too,
who’s left in life that cannot be dismissed?

We seek to find one love that will survive,
O lucky us, they’re with us for a while,
but comes the time when they’re no more alive,
we’re left with but the memory of their smile.

So many, Lord, alone and lost, abound
with no one left, unless Your love’s around.

                    by Pete Voelz       11/19/13
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

Not Much

O God, I want to crawl into a hole,
I feel like I’m beset on every side,
my body aches, so also aches my soul,
I look around to find a place to hide.

I need, O God, someone to rescue me,
strength to go on, and courage more than pity,
repentance too, if saved I am to be,
what good’s a guard, if good is not the city?

You’re busy with the big, Lord, I’m so small,
You hire the stars, can You save me some change?
I’ll disappear, You won’t see me at all,
Oh no, I know I’m never out of range.

O God, my strength, I do not ask for much,
a bit of grace, a glance, a gentle touch.

                  by Pete Voelz      11/19/13

Face Love

I sense God’s face is right before me now,
a look of love that I will never leave,
in mystery drawn it draws me on somehow,
in wondrous ways I now cannot conceive.

His eyes of love on me keep on their gaze,
my zigzag path He easy finds to follow,
His penetrating glance lasts all my days,
for, oh! He holds me hard in His hand’s hollow.

My deer-in-headlights soul stands still to stare
at sorrow mine and mercy His combined,
between us a telepathy of prayer,
with unmixed messages of love divined.

By now, O Lord of love, I know my place--
to ever face and love Your loving face.

                    by Pete Voelz      11/21/13

TLC Mercy

My sin is like a grain of sand next to
the mountain of God’s mercy rising there,*
His greatest quality, mercy, a clue**
to just how vast’s His tender loving care.

Why would God make me if He did not love
His creature like Creation He called “good”?
He made the sea, why not a mountain of
His mercy He wants clearly understood.***

If God’s good is so visible on earth,
then greater still--invisible to me--
is all His good in me--of such great worth
that I will last for all eternity.

Someday will pass away, Lord, time and space,
but I’ll still live Your TLC of grace.

* St. John Vianney
** Jesus to St. Sr. Faustina
*** “Let the greatest sinners place their trust
in My mercy.”--Jesus to St. Sr. Faustina

                   by Pete Voelz      11/10/13

Flawed Love?

Would God be easier to love if flawed?
We're used to loving us despite our flaws,
do we love God more since we're overawed,
and is our faithfulness to Him the cause?

If all were perfect like You, Lord, would I
love them more for their perfect love for me,
or do I love them more for all they try
to love me more despite the flaws they see?

Do we love You because we're in Your debt,
for You have given us a hundredfold
what any of them give to us, and yet
we love You for You're God, we do as told.

We love flawed people just because we do,
Lord, were You flawed, would we at all love You?

                           -- by Pete Voelz       2/11

Second Nature God

Since You're first nature to me, God, I trust
You won't mind being second nature too,
for if You can make great me out of dust,
then I can take for granted all You do.

O God, if You are just assumed to be,
that doesn't mean I don't believe or care,
for if I know You automatically,
then I don't have to worry You are there.

And God, if You're the firm foundation of
all that I know and all that I believe,
then from all that, more sure will flow my love,
and the great tapestry of faith I weave.

O God, if You allow me to assume,
then truly all I do for You will bloom.

                        -- by Pete Voelz     10/07

Loveful Pain

I saw a carpenter’s child with three spikes,
at play in his cross shadow on the floor,
unknowing of the pain as each spike strikes,
unknowing how the cross would bring on more.

How much, I wonder, did this child know
of all His suffering we have knowledge of?
Would He have loved His Father full of woe?
Did He already think of us with love?

We don’t know now what pain we must endure,
we know life brings its pain, endure we must,
to each God gives a cross we can be sure,
unknowing what, we pray, “In God we trust.”

Lord, let not my own suffering be in vain,
but, like You, offer all as loveful pain.

                     by Pete Voelz     10/19/13

My Miracle

Wouldn’t I like to work a miracle,
to lay my hands on someone and they’re cured,
but wait, there is a miracle spiritual--
we pray and save a sinner, we’re assured.

Pick up a pin with love, St. Theresa said,
and save a sinner with your little deed,
and Mary came to Fatima and pled
for us to pray for sinners most in need.

We like the physical ones--they can be seen,
the spiritual miracles are like a wraith,
a change in one’s behavior we can glean,
for changes in a soul--our eyes of faith.

The lifetime physical ones are nice to see,
the spiritual ones last an eternity.

                by Pete Voelz      11/16/13

I Want, I Pray

I want, I want, I want a lot of things,
God wants one thing--my soul with Him to be,
we wrestle with these deadly reckonings,
He lets me choose because He made me free.

What a responsibility this is,
therein the balance hang my fun, my soul,
my destiny, my life, my love--and His,
since He is God, should I hand Him control?

O God, You know my wants, my heart, my fear,
You know I know the answer lies in prayer,
with me You struggle willingly down here,
can I accept Your tender loving care?

It’s what You want, not what I want, You say,
to want Your will, I pray, I pray, I pray.

                        by Pete Voelz      11/12/13

O Little Soul

O Little Soul, I am the Master of
the universe and all within your sight,
and yet I am with fallen you in love,
when first of you I thought at first of light.

O Little Soul, why do I love you so,
why do I fight the devil for your heart,
and care so much that you to heaven go,
and never want the two of us apart?

What I wish most from you is your love true,
there’s no true love unless it’s given free,
just as I freely give My love to you,
please give so free your faith and love to Me.

The way I know you love Me all you can:
how do you treat Me in your fellowman?

                       by Pete Voelz      11/12/13

More Joy

Do I not want to love than be loved more?
In helping others, don’t I take more pleasure?
I’m loved by loving--it’s not either-or,
I want to give more than to horde my treasure.

Choose now to love, we don’t have long to live,
we only take our good work and our sin,
far better here than getting is to give,
at heaven, will they let empty souls come in?

Have you not yet discovered there’s more joy,
not in a feast where you can feed your face,
but lifting hunger from some little boy,
for you a cost and yet a gift of grace.

O Lord, let me love others with a smile,
so I can make Your love for me worthwhile.

                     by Pete Voelz      11/13/13

Why Should I Love?

Why should I love this Man Who died for me,
Whose life and death prove that He loves me fierce,
Who for my sins was hung upon a tree,
Whose love I let my heart and conscience pierce?

Why should I love this Father up above,
Who gave me life and holds me in His hand,
a God of love Who gives me all His love,
Who made me free to love by His command?

O Holy Spirit, why should I love You,
Who gives me gifts of courage, power and grace,
Who helps me be a person free and true,
a God Who is a person with a face?

Why should I love You Three--unless I own
a selfish sinful soul and heart of stone?

                     by Pete Voelz      11/12/13

God Warning

As I am God, I deal out life and death,
in My Old Book, I God Almighty saith,*
You I conceive, I quench your life and breath,
to see all this, I offer eyes of faith.

When your sins go too far offending Me,
I loose destruction, death and desolation,
and wielding wrong their powers, the powers-that-be
unleash My powers on your entire nation.

If you do not repent, I will not bless
your land, nor will I my swift sword restrain,
as in My Old Book I have said, “unless
the city’s good, the watchman guards in vain.”**

My institutions, Church, and human life
you must defend, or else we end in strife.

* Deut. 32:39
** Psalm 127:1 -- JFK’s favorite O.T. quote

               by Pete Voelz      11/11/13

Looking Back

A million years from now when life is done
as we look back on our short time on earth
and our eternity has just begun,
what will we see that made it be it's worth?

How can so few years here so set our fate--
this brief blink of an eye decisive--when
we'll end up and forever see inflate
our fast lifetime that’s soon eternal then?

What did Christ do in His mere thirty-three,
one half the life that I already live?
What all in love has God so given me
that I should in return be meant to give?

This riddle--that for little I have given,
do I deserve eternity in heaven?

                               by Pete Voelz

Faith Answers

We are not meant to know all answers here,
there is no faith without some mystery,
we who would like to see our future clear
can’t even clarify our history.

The more that science shows and figures out,
the more we see the beauty, true and good,
but progress sets our moral life to doubt,
and we end up not living as we should.

We put our faith in fun, the free, the new,
for answers there, we don’t know where to start,
without school, cross and law, answers are few,
we need to note what’s written on our heart.

Your answers, Lord, I know enough for now,
give me more faith You have them all somehow.

                                by Pete Voelz      11/9/13

Church Faith

Where’s there to place my faith if not the Church?
The Church takes seriously its role to play,
as Socrates once said, “For truth we search,”
the Church tries to define God’s truth each day.

For faith and truth, we’ve come to look to science,
but only truths of nature is its goal,
for spiritual truth we give the Church reliance ,
I do not go to science for my soul.

Yet science and the Church do not conflict,
God made them both to work within their place,
to put faith in myself would contradict,
the Church so better knows the world of grace.

O God, it’s truth and grace that I desire--
and love--that here You have Your Church inspire.

                                  by Pete Voelz      11/8/13

Faith Score

God asks me things to do, but not to know,
to teach, then send my students off somewhere,
to raise my children, then to let them go,
by faith, I leave them all to God’s good care.

By faith, the Bible I know I can trust,
to put it into practice gives me pause,
to worship God in church for me’s a must,
by faith, I follow all their rules and laws.

With faith and reason’s help, I am not blind,
but do my prayers save sinners for Your glory?
And will my plenary indulgence bind
You, Lord, to free a soul from purgatory?*

With prayers and good intentions, I need more--
great faith in You, then let You keep the score.

                           by Pete Voelz      11/7/13

(After I wrote this poem early this morning,
I found out one of my best friends just died,
so I went to church and got him a plenary
indulgence--GMC, God-Made Coincidence.)

My Lord, My Ring

I own a ring more powerful than the ring.
I serve a Lord much greater than their lord.
My real adventure and my faithful King
are worth the swinging of my own swift sword.

The ring's power was invisibility,
my ring is my own powerful personal soul;
all my invisible spirituality--
my hope, my faith, my love, my blessed goal.

No fantasy tale, my epic war is true;
no Star Wars Force, no Hogwarts magic wand,
no classic myth, my stuff of life is new,
my character real, as are the friends I bond.

No star, I am the hero of my quest,
the happy ending--when I've passed the test.

                          -- by Pete Voelz       2003      

Suffer God

God knows what suffering is, He’s seen it all,
and Christ experienced the worst upon the cross,
the pain that we inherited from the Fall
Christ turns into a win and not a loss.

The cross, a sign of victory over sin,
symbol of pain we fallen can’t escape,
shows when we suffer, then we really win,
forgiveness earn and keep our souls in shape.

In pain God’s with us in a special way,
if we unite our suffering to His,
we’ll also share His glory there someday,
when He ends all the pain and sin there is.

Lord, I am free to bear my misery,
if I but take this grace You give to me.

                       by Pete Voelz      11/5/13

Ambush God

You wake me, God, and ambush me at night,
alone, afraid, defenseless in the dark,
reminding me my sins aligned in light,
with my regrets exposed to hit their mark.

Left desolate and almost in despair,
desiring to repent, filled with remorse
and sorrow that I'm ready to declare,
because there is no other real recourse.

Then You assault me in another way,
invading me with weapons of a friend,
to flood me with forgiveness while I pray,
and drench me in Your mercy without end.

O God, if this is how You wage a war,
then by Your grace, I beg for more and more.

                                         by Pete Voelz

God Urgent

God’s there available to each, to all,
with an immediacy we can’t conceive,
always prepared to save us when we fall,
and constantly encourage us to believe.

To God the earth is like a grain of sand,
He sees the long view to eternity,
He holds me and the world snug in His hand,
to share His grand perspective I am free.

Great as God’s power, His love is greater still,
but all His love for us comes at a cost,
we can’t have sinful fun and do His will,
we risk to have it both ways and we’re lost.

I stop to smell too many roses here,
You, Urgent Lord, urge me to get in gear.

                       by Pete Voelz      11/3/13

Soldier Soul

Whence come my thoughts, for most come not from me,
God’s Providence rules, so are most thoughts His will?
Some, God allows, come from my enemy,
then I, free, dwell on some for good or ill.

This fallen world, the devil’s playground real,
provides distractions for my poor weak mind,
I oft don’t choose the good, but how I feel,
and sometimes with the good and bad entwined.

There is this urgent battle for my soul,
if I take it too serious, life’s no fun,
but being free, I’m generally in control,
for good or ill, I finally say who won.

To win this war of thoughts, I must choose You,
my soldier soul needs grace to, Lord, choose true.

                         by Pete Voelz      11/2/13

God Loyal

If faith saves me, it’s God’s faith more than mine--
His faithfulness, His loyalty to me,
my faith in Him is human, His divine,
like love, He shows me infinite loyalty.

God’s loyal to me through our thick and thin,
when I’m disloyal, He stays with me true,
though I completely turn my back and sin,
His loyalty is unconditional too.

God’s loyalty to me makes one demand,
that for my sin, I show my true contrition,
based on my faith and love at His command,
and choose it freely of my own volition.

Yet not just mine, I feel Your faithful chase,
Lord, fill me up with Your free loyal grace.

                          by Pete Voelz      11/1/13

Mist and Mystery

God’s there just like a mount beyond the mist,
a mountain larger than just mystery,
too big to hide too much in Eucharist,
beyond, within where eyes of faith can see.

For faith can pierce the mist around a mountain,
as we can see through mists to waterfalls,
as wine can’t hide His blood from loving fountain,
nor bread, the God of love Who so enthralls.

What we can’t see He has Himself revealed,
the mysteries loom beyond our time and place,
of Christ’s great love not much remains concealed,
when we see Him, we see the Father’s face.

I thank You, Lord, for clearing up for me
Your love so much from mist and mystery.

                             by Pete Voelz      10/31/13

Christ's Touch

With Christ my every deed is turned to fire,
without Him, all my fiery acts are cold;
with Christ my words can silently inspire,
without Him, they sound petty as a scold.

Christ puts His spiritual weight behind my deeds,
His power is in my work, though it's unseen;
His strength does not force me, but mostly leads,
my sting He softens and makes more serene.

There is a price He asks for all His aid,
to cool myself and fire my faith in Him,
to grow some courage and be not afraid,
to try to conquer evey scornful whim.

Much of Christ's help is hid in mystery,
what's there it takes the eyes of faith to see.

                          -- by Pete Voelz          9/05

Strong Arm God

O God, I ask that You would strong arm me,
I pray You put Your weight upon my soul,
for Your strong gentle hand I do ask free,
to steel and strengthen my weak self-control.

Do not test me, O God, much on my way,
lead me not into old temptation's grip,
let me not sin to our mutual dismay,
hold me fast, be true anchor of my ship.

I do not ask You lighten up my load,
but that You make me strong to run the race,
O Lord, let me not kick against the goad,
just let me feel the power of Your grace.

To help me bear this world, God, keep me strong,
with Your strong arm, so mighty, large and long.

                                                    by Pete Voelz

Soul Sediments

I take my leave from life empty of all
material possessions, people too;
it seems that I have nothing left to haul
to heaven for my final rendezvous.

Only the sediments of my soul remain,
invisible in my spiritual residue;
my daily prayers I felt were so mundane--
a million gems now sparkle like the dew.

The liturgies, boring as seminars,
kind deeds, old virtues polished up as new,
dull rosaries--all shine like the megastars,
and, oh!, my sins are registered there too.

How glad I am to bring along the droll
and dull debris, the sediments of my soul.

                      -- by Pete Voelz          7/05
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

God's Motive

I wonder what God's motive really is,
He doesn't need me any shape or form,
all things within the universe are His,
He always wins because He sets the norm.

The one thing that He needs must come from me,
for I possess the one thing that he wants,
love's only meaningful if it is free,
He made me free to hold back my response.

God has a lot of love He wants to share,
it's natural for love to be that way,
so He in turn asks us to love and care,
and we refuse to love to our dismay.

I do believe all this love stuff is true,
O God, in faith I choose to love You too.

                             -- by Pete Voelz       2/07

Love Most Exciting

The most exciting part of love is love,
I see, O God of love, You are so great
for making me down here from far above,
with thanks and love I do reciprocate.

But it’s Your love I feel most grateful for,
to make me’s good, to love me now is best,
that I excite Your love, make Your heart soar,
excites me that You love me as Your guest.

Yet even more exciting I can see
my love sent back to You excites You too,
You yearn to feel the love that comes from me,
so You’re excited most when I love You.

The thought excites me, God so great and real,
how so excited my love makes You feel.

                          by Pete Voelz      10/24/13

A Word of Prayer

A Word of Prayer      10/24/13

One word of prayer is worth a thousand ships,
for prayer invokes the infinite power of God,
with this some find it hard to come to grips,
while pray-ers don't find it the least bit odd.

One word of prayer is worth ten thousand planes,
for prayer works truly in the spiritual realm,
'round this some find it hard to wrap their brains,
but physical things the Spirit can overwhelm.

One word of prayer is worth a million guns,
some just refuse to try to understand,
a spiritual thing weighs more than many tons,
creation and the Spirit go hand in hand.

Unlike our things, the Spirit rules everywhere,
that's why there's power inside a word of prayer.

                                  -- by Pete Voelz          10/06
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

God Said to Me

God said to me--I did not hear His voice:
“Love all of them as I have loved you too.”
I heard Him say, “I’m giving you a choice,”
with ears of faith: “Choose Me as I chose you.”

When I saw God--I didn’t see His face,
the Gospel paints a picture I can see--
He shows His life, His words, His cross of grace,
He looks at me and says, “Come follow Me.”

God came to me--I met Him in my soul--
He touched my hand--I’m talking spiritual--
we both reach out, and I embrace Him whole,
mine is His Eucharistic miracle.

I hear, I see, I hold You, Christ, complete,
when in my conscience--and Your heart--we meet.

                             by Pete Voelz      10/25/13

Trading Faith

I want to trade God's faithfulness with mine,
I know God's faith in me is always there;
just as the branch is faithful to the vine,
I'd like to match my caring to His care.

Of course, my faith will never equal His,
His faith is infinite while mine is small
compared to how much faith in me there is,
I feel I don't have any faith at all.

God's faith stands fast while mine just comes and goes,
His faith flows free, mine is conservative;
my sordid sins break faith with Him, God knows,
but His great love lets faithful Him forgive.

O God, I pray You hearken to my aid
to make my faith for Yours a fairer trade.

                                      by Pete Voelz

Love Deal

O God, we two, we have this special deal,
that You put up with me, and I love You,
we play a kind of game--a game that’s real,
like, what You say, I pay attention to.

Love means I put You first by Your commands,
of all my whims and wants I keep control,
down here I be Your voice, Your feet and hands,
You be the grace and guardian of my soul.

The suffering You offer me, I take,
the pain, good works I offer You, You treasure,
together our eternal home we make,
Your mighty contribution I can’t measure.

We two deal out our mutual destiny,
so big to You, so everything to me.

                    by Pete Voelz      10/22/13

Mean to Pray

God, when I pray, You know I really mean it,
You know before what I am going to say,
You read my heart before I can convene it,
You see inside I mean the things I pray.

Your knowing of my prayer sustains my hope,
You know that I will pray and where and when,
You know Your answer that will help me cope,
as well You know the sins and souls of men.

You would not let me waste my time in prayer,
unless You knew what will be my reward,
my prayer is my assurance of Your care,
my smallest prayer is infinite to You, Lord.

I trust my prayers, Lord, help me get to heaven,
for any flaw in prayer is soon forgiven.

                                 by Pete Voelz

Bucket word

What do I want to do before I die?
A bucket list for this world’s just a waste,
it doesn’t matter one bit what I buy,
I hope to keep my soul from being dis-graced.

I want to do some things I know will last,
but everything down here will pass away.
What of my life remains once I have passed?
You said, O Lord, Your word alone will stay.

It’s urgent I do what You’ve told me to,
to show You and the world I love You best,
love neighbor next in what I say and do,
just follow these and fill in all the rest.

It’s not like it’s a message I’ve not heard,
not, Lord, “Show me the money,” just Your Word.

                     by Pete Voelz      10/20/13

Daring to God

O God, do You know that I really dare
to plainly come to You and not forsake
Your flood of favor, love and gentle care,
with little bother for the risk I take?

There is presumption in my turn to You,
there is obedience too though I am free,
I do it 'cuz I know You want me to,
together we control my destiny.

It takes some courage to admit I must
stand humble as I let You break my pride,
to show the sinful soul You raised from dust,
to raise anew, all caution tossed aside.

I play Your game, for You, Lord, are my ace,
Your yoke is tame, Your burden full of grace.

                          -- by Pete Voelz         4/09

Fragile Freedom

I choose to go to church because I wish,
my radical autonomy secure,
I could as well go to the lake to fish,
or go online to some website impure.

God made us free with every little thing,
with choices lasting to eternity,
of my own thoughts and aims I am the king,
I can disdain most rulings over me.

I choose to make God master and my Lord,
His gift of freedom I return to Him,
His slave a while, His heaven my reward,
though He too fills my cup here to the brim.

O God, help me to choose You every day,
in case my fragile freedom starts to stray.

                              by Pete Voelz

Love Weakness

You know my weakness, Lord, I want to love,
and then, of course, at times to be loved too,
not too much though--just be thought better of,
but most of all to know I’m loved by You.

Do I know love, if felt love’s never known?
Sometimes I must feel love so that I know
how those I love feel when my love is shown,
and, Lord, how You feel loved when love I show.

Love shows best when I speak love with my deeds,
I may feel and speak love, but what I do
speaks louder so my loved one sees and reads:
“It’s less about me being loved than you.”

I better love as my deeds better speak,
by loving strong, my weakness is not weak.

                            by Pete Voelz      10/16/13
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

God Wing

I never thought of God as being wide,
spread out across the sky like some great wing,
to cover all outside and all inside,
an atmosphere that touches everything.

Yet God’s wing stretches way beyond the sky,
the planets, stars and galaxies above,
creating and sustaining low and high,
designing with intelligence and love.

Then going wider, deeper than we see,
to penetrate our souls with powerful grace,
the spiritual world His main reality,
reflecting back His own celestial face.

How wide and wonderful this wing of His,
spread over all that will be, was, and is.

            by Pete Voelz      10/16/13
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

Look Beyond

You always tell me, Lord, to look beyond,
beyond just practicing my faith for now,
that in my heart I should try to be fond
of You Who bless as I obey and bow.

To look beyond a person’s outer skin,
and see inside the Christ I claim to love,
beneath the bread and wine to see within
the Eucharistic Lord Who reigns above.

To look beyond this temporal life so dear,
strip worldliness away in order to
detect the spiritual world beyond my fear,
to the eternal life I’ll spend with You.

You point beyond my body so I see
my soul, Your face, my true identity.

              by Pete Voelz     10/10/13

Love Worth

I have my doubts, but You know what I’m worth,
Your love for me is infinite, they say,
You love me, Lord, more than the stars and earth,
except for me, they all will pass away.

I know Your love for me is infinite,
for God is love, so You love infinitely,
the earth is good, You called it good, and yet
not it, but me You give infinity.

What’s there about me makes You love me so?
In me You see Your image and Your face,
but more, I’m free to love You back or no,
and for my love You love me by Your grace.

Because You make me free to love You too,
I’m worth Your heaven for loving You when I do.

                            by Pete Voelz      10/14/13

We Co-Creators

With medicine, Lord, You co-create my health,
just as we co-create our children too,
we co-create our products, crops and wealth,
my whole life, God, I co-create with You.

My mind and will with prayer we both control,
with exercise and diet this body mine,
together too we co-create my soul,
already I partake in Your divine.

This world I help make with my fellowman,
we here below, with, Lord, You from above,
You help us fallen souls do all we can,
we do best co-creating with Your love.

You, Lord, must love a lot to like to be
my Co-Creator for eternity.

by Pete Voelz      10/13/13

Whence Kindness

If I am kind, where comes my kindness from?
It does not come from me though steeped in it;
yet I did not invent it, I'm too dumb,
and I and kindness do not always fit.

Much of it's from the way that I was bred,
but when did all my teachers find it too?
More than from me, to it I feel I'm led
when I do find it in myself anew.

Part me, part breeding or infused each time,
my kindness finally comes from the same place;
my natural kindness God sets out to prime
by virtue that His Spirit prompts with grace.

Because my God is tender, caring, kind,
I turn to Him, and there my kindness find.

                                  by Pete Voelz

God Undry

I’m dry, but You, O God, are never dry,
how can a God be dry Who made the sea?
Though dry, there’s still a tear within my eye,
I’m lonely, hurt, so sad and bored--so me.

If You’re all full of love, where is it now?
Not logic love, I want a love I feel,
can’t You a little love like that allow?
Would not such love, indeed, have wide appeal?

Lord, You are love, I know Your love is there,
to make it mine, what would You have me do?
You made me for Your love, I know You care,
You haven’t moved, I must come back to You.

Come now, O Lord, and please show me the way,
You have already, here I am to pray.

                             by Pete Voelz      10/11/13

The Lord Alone

The Lord alone knows when and how I'll die,
He planned my birth from all eternity,
why not so carefully when it's goodbye?
I do believe He knows what's best for me.

God wanted me to be where I was born,
He willed my first and last and every breath,
He makes me sleep, He wakes me every morn,
He takes me to my rendezvous with death.

My birth, my death, my life are in His hands,
so I’ll remain on His side come what may,
I freely choose to follow all His plans,
though I'm afraid, I'll let Him have His way.

Almighty ruler, I let You control
the goal, why not the journey of my soul?

                         by Pete Voelz

Onion God

God’s like an onion with its layers of skin,
to get to know Him, you must do some peeling,
each bit of knowledge comes in strips so thin,
yet full of precious grace and powerful feeling.

Sometimes the Godly knowledge makes you cry,
like vapors of an onion bring a tear,
but tears of joy are mellow to the eye,
and waves of grace don’t sting, so have no fear.

A little God-learn goes a long, long way,
so He won’t let us strip aside too much,
unlike the onion peel, His favors stay,
to flavor us and everything we touch.

Beneath Your onion skin, what do You hide?
Lord, let me peel with faith to see inside.

                   by Pete Voelz      10/9/13

Eyes See

You see me, God, and You can see right through me,
not just my deeds, You see inside my soul,
my mind, my heart down deep You see into me,
each part of me You see, and see me whole.

You give me eyes of faith to see You too,
to see through nearby clouds, through stars so far,
the outward signs of Eucharist, right through,
to see Your Spirit, Lord, wherever You are.

Why did You give my faith these powerful eyes?
As I can’t hide, You too won’t hide from me,
to show my soul, although my body dies,
will see You, God, for all eternity.

No more with eyes of faith, I’ll see You clear,
but first I must believe in You down here.

              by Pete Voelz      10/8/13

Rosary in the Rain

In honor of Our Lady of the Rosary on her feast day today.

I love to say the Rosary when it's raining,
each drop a Rosary bead of blessed prayer,
the patter of the water's soft refraining
join patterns of my Aves in the air.

The droplets pelt the thirsty plants like leaven,
to nourish arid gardens in the sun;
my prayerlets climb the sunbeams up to heaven
that flourish when the ardent rains are done.

The harvest will be fuller in the morning,
the rainfall fortifying all our food;
as heaven harvests sinners without warning,
my Hail Marys will bring beatitude.

If God gave us His rainfall for our growing
to nourish the material life we feel,
how much more He'll flood graces overflowing
on those who thirst for spiritual rain so real.

So listening to the raindrops as they're falling,
I let the beads slip silent as my prayer,
secure in quiet faith that keeps me calling
His rain of grace to shower everywhere.

                        by Pete Voelz

God's Goose

Your cross, O God, is like a golden goose,
a goose I bear that lays a golden egg,
it’s heavy and I’d like to set it loose,
but with no gold, I then would have to beg.

Your cross of grace is often so demanding,
do this, do that, but don’t do that at all,
I need You, Lord, Your guidance and commanding,
You carry me and catch me when I fall.

O God, I know You’ll never let me go,
I am Your cross, I’m heavy for You too,
You took my eggs of sinning blow by blow,
can’t I accept some painful eggs from You?

Let me not throw away, Lord, or misplace
this goose that lays Your golden eggs of grace.

                             by Pete Voelz      10/6/13

Sore Prayer

Sometimes I pray for things I do not want
because I know they are the best for me,
like chicken salad in a restaurant,
when I'd prefer to have the fricassee.

God knows what's best, sometimes I know His mind,
I pray, against my will, His will be done,
He makes His will well known, gentle and kind,
I pray to please an Audience of One.

I ask He pull desire from my sore heart,
sore from what I should not enjoy or feel,
that it be gone, that it should not restart,
so later greater hurt’s less hard to heal.

O Lord, I pray you make the soreness leave,
so I this loss no longer sorely grieve.

                           -- by Pete Voelz       5/10

Ambiguity God

God is not black and white ‘til heaven and hell,
down here He’s full of ambiguity,
He wants our heart, not one that will rebel,
but how we give our heart is hard to see.

We’re always sinners here, and He knows this,
that’s why He gives us slack in shades of gray,
our normal deeds and love are hit or miss,
but our pass-fail exam’s due Judgment Day.

As we grow up, more black and white sink in,
so many ways both large and small we choose,
our souls tend to a state of grace or sin,
along the way, our trend is win or lose.

Finally the ambiguity is gone,
Your either-or eternity, O God, goes on and on and on and on.

                       by Pete Voelz      10/4/13

The Bend of Love

Christ died for us, not for the universe,
and Einstein proved that space and time can bend,
the Sabbath’s made for man, not the reverse,
it’s all for us, for we live without end.

God bends to me in His humility,
He bends way down, Who reigns far up above,
then He requires humility from me,
humility’s the product of true love.

Proud people do not bend, they break and fall,
Pope Francis bends to wash and kiss the feet
of little ones--the poor, the sinners, all,
so I must bend to everyone I meet.

It’s all for us, yet when all’s said and done,
all’s offered, God, to You by Christ Your Son.

                   by Pete Voelz      10/3/13
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

Before My Yes

God was with her before He came to her,
she “full of grace” before she said her “Yes,”
God gives His grace like it’s a kind of lure,
to bless me some, before He more will bless.

Before I say my “Yes,” He gives grace first,
my fallen nature needs His grace to start
my prayer of “Yes” that has to be rehearsed
before He sends the grace that floods my heart.

Before His gift of faith I could accept,
He had to give me power to be free,
though with God’s grace and freedom I’m all prepped,
response is my responsibility.

Lord, if I want Your “Yes” forevermore,
to speak my “Yes” I must pray “Yes” before.

                               by Pete Voelz      10/2/13

Flying Without Wings

I cannot see you, Angel, but I know that you are there.
You watch me in the dark of night and in the sunlight's glare.
You look at me from pictures, and in books I've met you too.
So even if I tried I couldn't get away from you.

I've heard a lot about you from the people that I trust.
I can't help but put faith in you, and so I know I must.
The Bible tells us there are lots of angels just like you.
And Jesus vows you guard me, so I know it must be true.

He says you stand in heaven before His Father's face
and pray for little ones like me to share in all His grace.
God's love entrusts me here to you, and so I have to care
enough to show my gratitude by greeting you in prayer.

So I pray to you, dear Angel, when I see the morning light,
that you guide and guard me all day long and when I sleep at night.
I'd recognize your face if I could see it, so it seems,
for once on Guardian Angels Eve I met you in my dreams.

So when I try to sense you here but cannot find a trace,
I'll just set my sights on heaven where I'll see you face to face.
The best of friends we will become while the angel choir sings,
and forever we together will go flying without wings.

by Pete Voelz

Little St. Theresa

How come someone so little gets so big?
She died at twenty-four--to start our search--
“the greatest saint of modern times--bigwig!
--this “Little Flower” named Doctor of the Church.*

She earns that title from her “Little Way,”
an unknown nun who said, “Love’s my vocation,”
that we can offer up our little day,
and sinners save no matter what our station.

From heaven she promised us a shower of roses,
her little miracles done for her friends,
her “Little Way of Love” that she proposes
made her my favorite saint for all she sends.

“Jesus,” she prayed, “make me Your little toy”
to play with or to test, let’s not be terse--
for here to celebrate her feast with joy,
I write this sonnet with an extra verse.

So as her little molehills turn to mounts,
she tells us how: “It’s love alone that counts.”

                         by Pete Voelz     9/30/13

* Only three other women have been named
Doctor of the Church--St. Catherine of Siena,
St. Theresa of Avila, and St. Hildegard of Bingen.

God Debt

How much, O God, is my existence worth?
I am a man who likes to pay his debts.
How much my soul, my body, and my birth?
I pride myself I pay off all my bets.

How much is heaven, where I hope to go?
I am an honest man, don’t cheat or steal.
For life and love and health, what do I owe?
I ought to pay You back, I truly feel.

You offer faith, okay, I do believe,
You want my help in saving souls, I will,
grief for my sins, I’m sorry, yes, I grieve,
to pay back all, what more must I fulfill?

No need to pay? You’ve done it all for free?
I love You, thank You, God--that much from me.

                      by Pete Voelz     9/29/13

God Fathoms

If God can hear a prayer within my heart,
then every thought He knows and won’t forget,
He too must fathom true my every part,
and have the power to pay my every debt.

If Christ can say, “You’re cured, get up and walk,”
then He can free me from my every sin,
my wimpy faith must be more than just talk,
and so for Him I’ll seek some soul to win.

If God can take my sorry self in stride,
exert so much His miracles for me,
how dumb I try to run away and hide,
when from my doubts and fears He sets me free.

O God, it’s clear You know me through and through,
isn’t it time a bit more I know You?

                       by Pete Voelz      9/27/13

Forced Faith

O Father, did You numb His wounds a bit?
Christ on His cross is proof He is divine,
for no mere human could have suffered it,
nor grace me heaven on such a graceless sign.

For only God would let His only Son
endure the cross, the scourging, thorny crown,
Whose thirst for many souls would be undone,
then have her hold Him dead when taken down.

Who else but God could conquer death and rise,
Who else give me the freedom to deny
a God Who lives for me and for me dies,
and all in love and pain before my eye?

Christ, I’ve no choice but to believe in You,
Your life, Your death, Your love all force me to.

                            by Pete Voelz      9/27/13

God Author

You can’t get water out of a dry well,
the universe from just ex nihilo,
the simple story “Farmer in the Dell”
was written by an author--this we know.

The childish jingle is not meaningless,
the universe too has intelligence,
a grand display by God to teach and bless
us humans in our vast pride and pretense.

God made the universe for us to see
how great and true is His Almighty power,
how good a God He is and friend can be,
this author of the beauty of a flower.

Whence, Lord, this goodness, truth and beauty of
my world and me--must be Your infinite love.

                               by Pete Voelz      9/26/13

No Worry

St. Padre Pio says I should not worry,
but still I wonder, worry--I am weak,
he says have patience when I’m in a hurry,
it’s often hard to turn the other cheek.

If I want something done, I have to do it,
it’s true You, God, depend on me down here,
then something goes wrong, so I say, “I blew it,”
stay calm, Your saints still tell me, do not fear.

“Don’t worry” means to put my trust in You.
“Let go, let God” You’ve seen it all before,
and if I pray, You’ll help me see it through:
“You close a window, open up a door.”

Lord, strip away my shivers, scares, and screams,
and let me worry only in my dreams.

                            by Pete Voelz      9/25/13

Know God

I feel incompetent, O God, to know You,
how can a human know infinity?
I try to learn but haven’t much to show You,
yet You suppose somehow You can show me.

You’ve dealt me some capacity to know,
for faith to live You have enough revealed,
You match my mind to knowledge that You sow,
then watch to see what I will freely yield.

It’s not for me to doubt how You have made me,
You teach enough for hope to have a chance,
You send Your Spirit, Scripture, saints to aid me,
my love Your sacraments and grace enhance.

That You won’t do Your part I should not fear,
it’s up to me to know You more down here.

                           by Pete Voelz      9/24/13

Beat God

God loves me so, He does not skip a beat,
He gives me all, and covers all His bases,
He goes great lengths, He gives Himself to eat,
He pains me too, to put me through my paces.

I challenge Him sometimes, He always beats me,
to win with God, I humbly must give in,
at times I don’t enjoy the way He treats me,
so He steps up, forgiving me my sin.

Then on His beat, for me God took a beating,
it had to be, He gives to me a choice,
so few my beats for Him, with life so fleeting,
so little time to love, then to rejoice.

O Lord, let me not skip a beat for You,
Who are to me so faithful and

                       by Pete Voelz      9/23/13

Spirit Adventure

God’s such a great adventure here for me,
He grabs me by the heart, I’d better run,
my soul excites me more than what I see,
more than the world’s, the Spirit’s trip is fun.

Far greater worlds than this the Spirit shows,
the mysteries of the ages are revealed,
omniscient God, thus everything He knows,
from this Creator, nothing is concealed.

The world of love the God of love can’t hide,
His supernatural nature’s on display,
His Gospel life and miracles--what a ride!
He reaches down and teaches me to pray.

The God of all Creation cannot bore,
with yet in store adventures evermore.

                       by Pete Voelz      9/10/13

Prayer Need

Don’t wait for need, for prayer it’s always there,
it’s there, we just don’t see it with our eyes,
in need or not, we need a life of prayer,
then need does not come catch us by surprise.

When least I need You, Lord, I need You most,
it’s when I do not need You that I do,
like when I coast, or of myself I boast,
blind independence must depend on You.

If I’m blind to my need, You are not blind,
Your greater knowledge knows no mystery,
it’s I who need Your mysteries divined,
my greatest need’s when You depend on me.

O God, if I am ever to succeed,
i need to see my need for prayer indeed.

                 by Pete Voelz     9/20/13

God's War-Game

I play with God, but do I play for keeps?
God does. Guess what? So does the devil too.
I play and rest and sleep, God never sleeps,
God plays a game--He means to see it through.

God’s in the game, but not just for the fun,
I play for fun, or just to play around,
God fights a war, until the game is won,
than this, no bigger war-game can be found.

God plays to win, not just to make a point,
He knows He’s fighting for my very soul,
I lose a game, my nose gets otta joint,
I don’t sense how His game takes such a toll.

God plays for keeps, just like He’s in a war,
I maybe should see what this game is for.

                        by Pete Voelz      9/20/13

Untired God

If You tire of my prayers, don’t blame me, Lord,
You are the One Who says to persevere,
I can’t imagine why You’re not sooo bored--
my praying all the same old prayers down here.

They say St. Mary loves to hear Hail Mary’s,
to listen to the words the angel said,
to feel again the thrill that never varies,
and hear His name Who’d be our Sacred Bread.

You’re never bored, You’re interested in me,
You know it’s urgent, there’s so much at stake,
You desperate want me for eternity,
You love my prayers for my sake, for God’s sake.

Since I know of my words You’ll never tire,
I pray, Lord, each one prayed meets Your desire.

                             by Pete Voelz      9/19/13

Small to Greater

I am so small, on that I will not dwell,
much more important is “how great Thou art,”
what I do poorly, You make turn out well,
God of great might, of mercy, soul, and heart.

You made the universe with just a glance,
with all my strength, I can’t create a thing,
yet with my freedom, You give me the chance
to break Your great heart or make angels sing.

You place my soul and others’ in my care,
great power and great responsibility,
how much I need to come to You in prayer,
my power’s no good if You’re not helping me.

I must be wise, if I’m no longer small,
to choose your love so great and have it all.

                        by Pete Voelz      9/18/13

Lord Limp

If You’re so great, O Lord, why do You limp?
Pains me to see so strong a King so weak,
or hear some mock to call a God a gimp,
without Your stride, Your mission here seems bleak.

Why is Your Kingdom’s message muted, skimpy?
Where’s Your loud voice, Your mighty hands and feet?
Why do You let some say Your style’s so wimpy?
Can’t one stand up for You and take the heat?

Don’t look at me, I’m just a little shrimp,
I know down here I’m supposed to be Your voice,
You prove Your power with my hands weak and limp,
You promise strength if I just make the choice.

For You I’ll write, Lord, more limp poetry,
if You give lots more strength and grace to me.

                           by Pete Voelz       9/17/13

God Worthy

Am I worthwhile because I’m so worthwhile,
because my contributions are so vital,
my gifts so great--my looks, my smarts, my style,
or for my name and fame--my wealth or title?

No, God, You gave me being, value, worth,
a life in danger, strangers fight to save,
the self You loved so long before my birth,
my worthiness derives from all You gave.

You made my soul with human dignity
You hope I use to show my worth is true,
You prove my worth with heaven as destiny,
that I earn by obedience to You.

O Lord, let me be worthy of Your style,
so worth Your while, I know I am worthwhile.

                by Pete Voelz      9/16/13

Mother of All Sorrows

O Mary, you presented Christ in sorrow,
your heart pierced by a sword, you faced the morrow.

When you, your baby and St. Joseph flew
to Egypt, chased by death, with sorrow two.

A third when He was in the temple, lost,
where you found Him, raised someday to be crossed.

A fourth stabbed you when He and you would meet,
carrying His cross as you grieved at His feet.

The fifth tore through your heart before the cross,
where, tempted, you might think that all was loss.

Your sixth, the Pieta, held in your arms
your own Son dead, now safe from all the harms.

The last sword pierced your heart when at the tomb,
you buried Him you carried in your womb.

by Pete Voelz       9/15/13
on this feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

God's Restless Heart

You’d think a restful God would not be restless,
a mighty God would have no need to wrestle,
a good, all-knowing God for sure’d be stressless,
but then God has to mould each earthen vessel.

If God knows all, why try so hard to save us?
If saved or lost, why does He keep on trying?
Is He shocked by the freedom that He gave us?
Must His great love make Him attend our crying?

Why bother with the ones He knows He’s losing?
Does God respond with selectivity?
Does He think He can still affect our choosing?
Love, freedom, God--oh, so much mystery!

Lord, if Your restless heart holds me like glue,
then let my restless heart be stuck on You.

                            by Pete Voelz      9/14/13

Pro-Active Love

If no one else loves You, O God, I do,
there’s something about You I find so attractive,
of course, I know that billions love You too,
in them, in me Your love is so pro-active.

Would some lame God create me with such care?
A love-lite God would not make me at all,
a lukewarm God would not respond to prayer,
would not reach down and lift me when I fall.

Your active love’s, Lord, like a blazing fire,
You sow my soul and hope my soul You’ll reap,
You free me first, then pull, push and inspire,
I pass the pain, You give me heaven to keep.

Pro-active God, I know You want from me,
like Yours, some loving pro-activity.

                     by Pete Voelz      9/13/13

Grade-A Grace

Is this, O God, another arid day,
when praying every normal prayer I choke,
finding it dry to listen to what You say,
with all my good intentions just a joke?

Where are Your inspirations and Your hope,
where is Your spring for tear ducts running dry,
where is Your Holy Spirit to help me cope,
Your strength and sustenance before I die?

I know Your line--a dry day is a test,
to us a mess is Your wise foolishness,
in arid times You love our prayers the best,
the prayers we cough up then You specially bless.

Let me not, Lord, scorn Your aridity,
passing this test earns grade-A grace for me.

                   by Pete Voelz      9/12/13

Crucifix

Each time I sign the cross, I think of You,
You on Your cross and Your Blest Trinity,
Your image on that cross a powerful clue
of all Your love, and how You died for me.

A crossroads--just a symbol I project,
You on Your cross leaves no doubt what I see,
Your face compels my dull mind to reflect,
You there before my eyes Who died for me.

Your crucifix is more than just a shape,
You on Your cross make clear the mystery,
I’m forced to face what I cannot escape--
how You hung there and gave Your life for me.

Your death, Your gift, Yourself--we face-to-face,
Christ, like the cross, my sinful soul You grace.

                           by Pete Voelz      9/11/13

Sense the Unseens

So why should I desert my senses clear,
and fly to try to see the all unseen?
Yet sure I know there’s more than now and here
of things unseen and seen and in between.

I trust who knows the unseens of my cell,
some unseens influence me from history,
I see who lives inside my memory well,
why not the saints who send unseens to me?

And then there’s You Who brings my soul alive,
Your Church makes sense of everything in range,
these needs that help me spiritually survive,
the unseen of my heart’s to me least strange.

I’d rather desert the seen out there so true
than ever give up, Lord, my seeing You.

                 by Pete Voelz      9/10/13

No Small God

To God Who makes a thing, there is no small,
God even loves someone before they’re made,
His ever watchful eye can see it all,
for eyes of faith, He says, “Be not afraid.”

The blind say they must see, then they’ll believe,
small things unseen, to them do not exist,
before a soul is born, they can’t conceive,
no wonder they scorn God in Eucharist.

Blind too they are to big things spiritual,
murder’s okay if who they kill’s unseen,
they’ll even scorn a proven miracle,
most simply will not listen to what you mean.

Blind to small things, they still say, “I can see,”
yet then disdain God’s great big mystery.

                 -- by Pete Voelz       8/2/13

Turn Not

Turn, Father, not Your face from me, I pray,
remember me when mercy is Your claim,
before Your gentle visage let me stay,
help me do justice to Your holy name.

From my petition, Christ, turn not Your eyes,
do not avert Your gaze from humble pleas,
and in Your ear hear clear my heartfelt cries
I send in sorrow on my humble knees.

Turn not from me, O Spirit, Your tender heart,
beneath Your wing make everything forgiven,
help me sincerely my contrition start,
and let my sins deter me not from heaven.

O Trinity, turn not from me, Your child,
that with You Three I may be reconciled.

             by Pete Voelz      9/8/13

Happy Birthday, Mary!

I light a candle as a birthday gift,
September 8th, the day that you were born,
I add a simple prayer sent far and swift,
a dewdrop as you bloom this early morn.

Nine months ago we saw you as conceived,
December 8th’s Immaculate Conception,
a doctrine we’d for centuries believed,
our tainted nature’s boastful sole exception.*

That date’s a Holy Day of Obligation,
your birthday’s mere celebratory feast,
you show our view, by this clear designation,
of life’s conception over birth increased.

Should not our joy at Christmastime bow to
the day Christ was conceived and born in you?

* Refering to a line in Wordsworth’s The Virgin:
“Our tainted nature’s solitary boast.”

                        by Pete Voelz      9/7/13

Trust Love

Trust is a form of love, and love is trust.
(Does not each virtue show some form of love?)
To form relationships trust is a must.
(Relationships require some kind of love.)

Trustworthy’s Him Who made the universe.
(Is not Creation some great form of love?)
Trust One Who brings the better from the worse.
(How much God’s goodness goes along with love.)

Should I not trust the trust that made me free?
(Is freedom not a form of trusting love?)
God trusts I’ll free give back His love for me.
(Such trust of freedom is the heart of love.)

You trust me, Lord, that I will trust You too,
I cannot  trust myself not trusting You.

                        by Pete Voelz      9/6/13