Technology of Prayer

Prayer works not just because of God’s great power,
but too because He gave us prayer-power true,
no cow can pray, we think, nor stone or flower,
but our soul’s shot with prayer-power through and through.

There’s something in us--spirit, freedom, hope,
that turns on our technology of prayer.
Who knows how texts can fly, their art, their scope,
except the brilliant techie gods who care?

God put in us the power to make prayer work,
to zip our wish beyond the stars in space,
somewhere in us the mechanisms lurk
to trade our prayer at any time for grace.

It’s not, O God, that You’re so far to reach,
with You inside my soul, where is the breach?

                      -- by Pete Voelz       6/29/13

Pure Gratitude

I seek no solace from my suffering,
I do not move to You from sadder mood,
nor from desire or need for anything,
but pose a prayer, Lord, from pure gratitude.

I so appreciate the time you took,
unworthy of a single simple glance,
I never leave Your lingering loving look,
I’m just so grateful You give me the chance.

I thank You for all You’ve done for my sake,
I’m nothing, You bring everything to me,
we two extremes, You give and I just take,
what better kind of lover could You be?

Of course, You know there’s lots of things I need,
for now let me pure gratitude concede.

                                -- by Pete Voelz      6/29/13

God's Interest

Why should I take an interest, Lord, in You?
I know if I take heed You'll reel me in
closer and closer to a rendezvous,
where You'll sway me to soon address my sin.

I am an independent man, so why
should I take interest in One I can't see?
Whatever I may need I can supply,
and I don't feel You taking care of me.

I'm not so sure sometimes that You're around,
for I don't see the outcome of my prayer,
I don't want rules to which I must be bound,
aren't we too busy, both of us, to care?

You promise me eternal life, it's true,
why, God, should I be interested in You?

                                  -- by Pete Voelz

Humble Love

God’s good grace comes at church, we need to go,
He is all good, all perfect, nothing bad,
He made us ‘cuz He loves us, this we know,
He is the best thing that we’ve ever had.

We only skimp on God because we’re proud,
somehow we end up thinking we’re so great,
but everything we have He has endowed,
through all the world His wonders resonate.

He opened up His heart so we could hurt
Him when He risked and humbly set us free,
so made of dust, we could treat Him like dirt,
damn it, O God, where’s our humility?

O mighty Lord, from Your great throne above,
You proved it takes humility to love.

                        -- by Pete Voelz     6/27/13

Physical God

O God, You don't get physical with me,
Your arms do not enfold me here and now;
I cannot hear your voice, I cannot see
Your face though I still sense You anyhow.

I know we are incarnate like Your Son,
You made our body good, our soul divine;
body and soul, You fused us into one,
Your spark of life and image both are mine.

Your gifts are physical, this earth, my food,
You speak to me through Scripture or a friend,
so I respond with prayer and gratitude,
a physical and spiritual blend.

O Spirit God, Who relates physically,
 I put faith in the ways You get to me.

                        -- by Pete Voelz       1/06

Our Own Big Bang

When life begins we have our own Big Bang,
our form may have evolved but not our life,
we come from God, not some orangoutang,
we're born in love not from impersonal strife.

Our parents mate but God imparts our soul,
conception gives us our own DNA,
already we're all there to make us whole,
our life explodes, then only adds the clay.

Each one of us is our own universe,
wondrously knit inside our mother's womb,*
to every part, our spirit we disperse,
then we are born, our galaxy abloom.

God strikes my match and sets the fire of me,
burning with love for all eternity.

* Psalm 139:13

                            -- by Pete Voelz       7/05

How Does God?

How does God make the blood flow in my veins?
He starts my life, how does He make love start?
Our science can’t explain what God ordains,
for whence comes the compassion in my heart?

Why do birds fly when cows are tied to earth?
One plods the ground, the other scours the sky,
I know it’s more than accident of birth
why angels soar to heaven, but I can’t fly.

Yet God has gifted me a soul that soars,
careens through time or swiftly ‘round the globe,
and better--praises God, loves and adores,
accepts joy from the Lord, or tears like Job.

The world’s delights, O Lord, cannot compare
to Your kind answer to my fervent prayer.

                         -- by Pete Voelz       6/13/13

Real Steel

Our Father’s stronger than the “man of steel,”
our brother Christ has truly conquered death,
our Holy Spirit gifts us His grace for real,
then gives us heaven with our last earthly breath.

Why do we worship superheroes fake,
with all their noise and special effects bombastic?
We’re greater than some false computer-take,
the strength of one small prayer is more fantastic.

A single miracle proves this today,
Kateri Tekakwitha showed power that’s true,
she took a boy’s flesh-eating death away,*
God’s visible evidence for me and you.

When I need spiritual power, let me call
You, Lord, the greatest superman of all.**

* St. Kateri, our first native American saint,
earned her canonization by curing an Indian
boy, Jake Finkbonner, in one day of a deadly
flesh-eating bacteria a few years ago.

** My son, Andy, when he was about 8, 
said, “God is the biggest superhero of all.”

-- by Pete Voelz       6/22/13

Sneaky God

How sneaky God sneaks 'round America,
Himself He keeps inserting in our nation,
inspiring Godly notions so bourgeois,
like Jefferson's words in our Declaration:
"endowed by our Creator" isn't funny,
and pledging "under God" our children must,
just as they have imposed on all our money
our leaders' empty phrase "In God we trust."
God sneaks His blessing at the end of speeches:
"God bless America" our Presidents prate,
in schools, in public, count the many breaches
through walls to separate our church and state.
It's like God might think He's in charge, O really!
How we Americans praise God so freely!

                              -- by Pete Voelz     4/05

Sin and Grace

Great grace grows from the sacrifice of sin,
like sullen earth gives up a graceful flower;
from giving up instead of giving in,
we gain God’s great and glorious graceful power.

 When we old Satan’s lies and sins resist,
and all his devilish deeds are sacrificed,
we gain great grace, just as the Eucharist
gives us grace when we eat the body of Christ.

As Christ in Eucharist cannot abide
to come into a seriously sinful soul,
so we must die to sin as He once died,
and keep eternal innocence our goal.

Your spiritual world, Lord, has a fateful race,
we choose to lose in sin or win with grace.

                       -- by Pete Voelz       6/14/13

Our Share

The saints, O God, desired a share of You,
somehow they knew they had a special share
that from Your lottery of love they drew,
that everyone You've made possesses there.

Just as rain falls on the unjust and just,
so You reserve for us a special place,
yet by our faith and freedom we all must
decide to claim our own share with Your grace.

What do the saints know that they grasp theirs tight?
What do we lack that we're so shy and blind?
Are we not also open to the light?
Can we not be like them, loving and kind?

O God, I pray You help me soon to claim
the special share You've destined for my name.

                                -- by Pete Voelz       5/08

Coming Up for Air

Sometimes, O God, I hide my eyes from You,
I pray but then I’m left so disappointed;
I wonder if Your promises are true,
or maybe I’m not one of Your annointed?

I’m supposed to trust in You, where is my trust?
Out of the very depths of me I cry;
behind Your coach, left lying in the dust,
I’m tired, I don’t even want to try.

I ask You, God, how can You be to blame?
And yet I don’t feel I have let You down;
Your lack of help is getting pretty lame,
where is Your rescuing hand before I drown?

Don’t hide, Lord, can’t You tell I’m in despair?
Where are You when I need to get some air?

                   -- by Pete Voelz       6/18/13

Prayer Quest

O God, what is a prayer for someone who
is a good friend who somehow needs a prayer,
for those I loved or enemies I slew,
are prayers just thoughts I toss off in the air?

What makes one thought a prayer, and others not?
Is it a better prayer if spoken words?
Is it more powerful if I care a lot?
Do prayers to heaven fly like silent birds?

Does it help if I hitch Your name to theirs?
Is prayer opaque like Your idea of grace?
Are single prayers as good as prayers in pairs?
I’d really like to see the arc they trace.

My questions show how much a mystery
is simple prayer that You await from me.

-- by Pete Voelz       6/13/13

The Difference

I kick myself for all my sins and flaws,
for all the hurts done by my words and hands,
God knows how I have broken all His laws,
more than I know, He knows and understands.

Flawed though I am, how critical I've been,
ignoring my own faults so cowardly;
while merciless I am to other men,
His mercy still is infinite for me.

I know I should forgive, though I do not,
my neighbor for his flaws and how he lives,
for seven deadly sins I should be shot,
but for my small repentence, God forgives.

For all Your care, Lord, offered tenderly
despite my crimes, I know You still love me.

Lavish Grace

God lavishes his grace on those who find it,
who sorrow for their sins and so repent,
who offer up their grief and do not mind it,
accepting sun and rain that’s heaven-sent.

Amazing grace, God’s power He gives to us,
His friendship, favor we find at our feet,
He sends and we accept it without fuss,
like Mary’s full--our soul-life is complete.

From sacraments and sacramentals too,
God’s lavished, loving grace we can enlist
to fight off Satan’s graceless, sinful crew,
with grace found mostly in Christ’s Eucharist.

Let me, Lord, look for, find and then embrace
your great and glorious everlasting grace.

                       -- by Pete Voelz       6/15/13

Kiss-Prayer

I love God so to Him I'll throw a kiss,
to sail around my sinful soul's eclipse,
since souls can't normal kiss, I'll just do this,
and send a prayer I let escape my lips.

That every prayer's a kiss I never knew,
nor each good deed I do is like a hug,
as God sends all Creation His sweet dew,
to give damp kisses to each flower and bug.

God kissed my thirsty soul and made me live,
and He still sends me kisses every day,
the least that I can do is try to give
some kiss-prayers in return along the way.

O God, so we eternity may share,
please don't dismiss my little kiss and prayer.

                                   -- by Pete Voez       2/07

God's Plans

God has a plan for me, as I have plans,
part of His plan for me is using me:
“I’m just a little pencil in His hands,”
Blest Mother Theresa said, and I agree.

The awful storms we do not understand,
evil itself we cannot figure out.
The storms inside my stormy heart--He’s planned?
No, He allows--God knows what He’s about.

I have my life, why does God interfere?
If He has plans for me, well, so do I,
He made me free with gifts to plan life here,
at least a while until I have to die.

I should know, Lord, with all I want to do,
Your final plans for me are up to You.

-- by Pete Voelz       6/12/13

So Smart

Is Scripture wrong because we're now so smart?
Does God's Word lighten up for modern man?
Are we allowed to be more proud at heart?
Should we dumb down God's Word just 'cuz we can?

God had His Son reveal more when He came,
He sent His Spirit to inspire the Church,
comparing us to them is pretty lame,
to set ourselves on Revelation's perch.

We know-it-alls believe we are so cool,
we don't need ancient wisdom when we're mod,
forgetting what Christ said, "Only the fool
says proudly in his heart there is no God."

O most smart God Who made the universe,
don't let us be so vain and make it worse.

                          -- by Pete Voelz        7/05

Known Love

God’s love is known to me, and yet unknown,
for who can fathom infinite love divine?
Yet it He offers me as if alone
I can lay claim to it and make it mine.

Faith tells me His love’s there for me to share,
with eyes of faith I see and take it free,
it’s not enough to know it’s waiting there,
You want it, Lord, to boomerang from me.

Your love is there to share, not just to know,
to help spread it to all the human race,
to see, to know, to feel, to share, to show,
and so reveal the beauty of Your face.

Lord, I don’t need to know all of Your love
to see it’s what I’m just a token of.

                      -- by Pete Voelz       6/4/13

Why Do I Love?

I asked, “Why do I love?” And You told me,
“I put a piece of Me into your heart,
Love is the greatest gift I give for free,
of Me I do indeed give you a part.”

“For I am Love, and I give love to you,
you are the greatest creature I have made,
for Love I made you in My image true,
and for your love, the highest price I paid.”

“And for My Love, I want your love to care,
to take in faith the Love and grace I give,
to show My Love by all the love you share,
for this I promise You’ll forever live.”

I’m glad I asked, I couldn’t ask for more,
all this I never will be sorry for.

                     -- by Pete Voelz       6/10/13

For All My Prayers

What do I have to show for all my prayers?
God answers them in such a zigzag way,
invisible they climb His angel stairs,
to quietly disappear without delay.

How sensitive and big must be His ear,
just like a giant searchlight's silent sweep,
the tiniest sigh and syllable to hear,
the faintest pulse and promises to keep.

The less I can decode of His replies,
the more my own forboding I must rout,
to with Him let my life of faith arise
and feel His Providence dispell my doubt.

Lord, any way You answer anywhere,
I hope You show me something for my prayer.

                        -- by Pete Voelz               11/06

I'm Only One

What good am I if I am only one?
I’m powerless to reach the multitudes,
it’s influence I want, not wealth or fun,
I want to change the people’s attitudes.

But, Lord, it’s not for me, it’s all for You,
Yours is the message I must propagate,
Your words, Your Gospel, and Your love are true,
Your voice I want to, Lord, help resonate.

I will choose love to be my microphone,
St. Theresa said that love was her vocation,
if I share love, I’ll never be alone,
her roses she has showered on every nation.*

If I just bring one soul to You, O Lord,
You’ll shower on me Your infinite reward.

* Just before she died, St. Theresa, the Little Flower,
said she would send a shower of roses from heaven.

                                    -- by Pete Voelz       6/8/13

Spirit Friend

O Holy Spirit, I count You as a Friend,
and yet I ask when do You come to me?
Is it in prayer to You at each day’s end,
a spiritual being that I hope to see?

With eyes of faith I feel Your presence near,
with ears of faith I see You prompt me true,
with hands of faith Your words I hope to hear,
with all of me I sense the all of You.

Just as each word does represent a thought,
so real are You to me--as real as death,
Your words tell me to do the thing I ought,
Your love for me’s as close as my last breath.

You gave me life, You guide the life I weave,
I live Your life so long as I believe.

-- by Pete Voelz       6/6/13

God Up, Me Down

O God, You’re way up there and I’m down here,
and yet each day I take Your flesh and blood,
it blows my mind that You can come so near
to me, no better than the dust and mud.

And yet, O miserable me, I am so proud,
You gave the gifts that I take credit for,
I should pray soft instead of bragging loud,
unsatisfied, I keep demanding more.

If I’d just recognize Your right and rule,
and let Your love and greatness permeate
my soul instead of acting out the fool,
I too could soar and sing at heaven’s gate.

God of the universe so far away,
let me come close inside Your heart and stay.

                    -- by Pete Voelz     5/18/13
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

The Truth

“O what a tangled web,” mom said, “we weave,”
while warning me about the lies of youth,
 “when first,” she said, “we practice to deceive,”
in teaching me to always tell the truth.

His hero George, who could not tell a lie,*
showed Abe that he could be an honest man,
to always tell the truth he thought he’d try,
and “Honest Abe” resulted from his plan.

The Communists are just a bunch of lies,**
Pope John Paul said--”The truth shall set you free,”
it would for them, for quoting Christ was wise.
Would always speaking true work too for me?

Along with love, since God is truth is true,
let me, Lord, tell the truth for love of You.

* Lincoln was so impressed by the cherry tree story
of young George that he decided to do the same.

** JP2 went to Poland and told them how to defeat
the “system of lies” of communism--always tell the truth.

                                     -- by Pete Voelz       6/5/13

Alone

It matters not the crowd, I am alone,
yet when, Lord, I’m alone, I am with You,
despite the help, I’m always on my own,
yet without You I never am, it’s true.

I can’t escape You, cannot run and hide,
though naked born, with nothing, You were there,
though with my family, still alone inside,
alone, yet never, Lord, without Your care.

I feel alone, and yet You hover near
through all of those who love and care for me,
when I reach out to them, then You are here,
inside and out, my eyes of faith can see.

Never alone in this brief time and place,
let me share, Lord, with them Your love and grace.

-- by Pete Voelz        6/4/13

My Limit

There is a limit to my creatureness,
I can't imagine just how great God is,
so much of what I touch I make a mess,
the order in this world's entirely His.

To God Who formed me how can I compare?
I merely use the mind He made for me.
I marvel at the world He built with care,
and most at my intended destiny.

Not to see God, my eyes I have to hide,
not to love God, I have to close my heart,
not to believe is just my stubborn pride,
of His design, how glad I am a part.

O God, You add my spirit to make me whole,
so with Your greatness grace my humble soul.

                        -- by Pete Voelz            2/07

God Close

O God, I need to feel Your hand in mine,
Your presence, so I do not feel alone,
A helpless human for someone divine,
a personal friend who I can call my own.

I need to know some answers to my prayer,
a spiritual someone listening to me;
I need to sense somebody really there,
an invisible force allowing me to see.

I need some reinforcement for my deeds,
support for the religious risks I take,
some comfort in my growing physical needs,
a steady hand when mine begin to shake.

O God, I pray You heal my ailing soul,
as I stretch out my fingers to my goal.

                        -- by Pete Voelz       2/04

Mystery Change

You cannot change, yet You change all the time,
Lord, You create change, so You must change too,
can’t do sublime unless You are sublime,
with constant change, You, Lord, make all things new.

All perfect God, You are immutable,
yet You create the change in us, we know,
each seven years, You change each molecule,
You’re change itself, as You make all things show.

Your beauty is not static or a bore,
Your sunsets’ changing glow hold us in awe,
our science sees unchanging nature’s core,
Your stream of miracles breaks nature’s law.

Let me adapt, Lord, to Your changing ways,
so that our changeless love forever stays.

                     -- by Pete Voelz       6/1/13