Long Decision

If Judas had decided otherwise,
what would have happened to the Father's plan?
How different he'd appear before our eyes,
God's mercy can extend to any man.

And Peter, with a "saint" before his name,
wept bitterly when he denied his Lord,
how many things would now not be the same,
if he'd not sought God's mercy as reward?

Each one made a decision how to sin,
reverberating down through history,
each recognized the state that he was in,
and chose his fate for all eternity.

Let me trust You, Lord, when I must decide
to turn away or in Your love reside.

by Pete Voelz

God's Desire

Why did You make me so desirable
that You would love me to Your dying breath?
That You desire me’s such a miracle,
to love me infinitely beyond my death.

Made in Your image, I can thus love You,
but You want me to want to love You free,
my freedom means I can reject You too,
but if I don’t love You, oh woe is me.

We only love if love is freely given,
when I love You, Lord, You desire me more,
Your love’s proved by your suffering and Your heaven,
and mine by growing more love than before.

O Lord, I know I am Your heart’s desire,
inspire my heart’s desire with love on fire.

                      by Pete Voelz      1/30/14

Helpless God

You don’t need me, and yet You ask my aid,
You make Yourself so vulnerable down here,
how helpless You were in Your manger laid,
I want to say, “Don’t worry, I am near.”

You make Yourself dependent here on me,
while I am most dependent here on You,
yet neither of us needs to helpless be,
when we share so much power between us two.

You wish that we a team can be, O Lord,
You I defend and love with all my might,
You make me here Your voice, Your hands, Your sword,
and yet You never let me from your sight.

I trust our team of two will get somewhere,
if here we’re first together, Lord, in prayer.

                            by Pete Voelz      1/29/14

Blotted Out

Our sins someday will all be blotted out,
each sacrilege, each blasphemy be gone,
each mystery too, each question, every doubt,
all drawn and quartered, shot and hung at dawn.

God sinless was from all eternity,
and presently by sin He's tainted not,
so will He and His friends forever be,
all flaws and faults forgiven and forgot.

It is for us to start the process here,
now to repent before it is too late,
to throw ourselves on God's own mercy dear,
and then in faith accept from Him our fate.

O God, blot out my sins before I go,
that I may come to You as pure as snow.

                            -- by Pete Voelz       6/08

The first saint to say God’s mercy is His #1 trait
was the great theologian St. Thomas Aquinas,
whose feast day is today, Jan. 28. Another was
St. Faustina, a 20th-century saint who said
that Jesus told her this in a vision.

Smother God

God smothers me--with air in every breath,
He doesn’t give me any choice at all,
if I choose not to breathe, He gives me death,
He won’t let me be free to make the call.

God mothers me, He suffocates with care,
records my thoughts, marks down my every sin,
He won’t let me alone, He’s everywhere,
then nannies me what trouble I am in.

God Fathers me, with life and love and law,
He made me human when He made me free,
free to sin, yet forgiven every flaw,
free to love, so forever free to be.

Feel free to smother me, and suffocate,
and, Father, mother me to heaven’s gate.

                     by Pete Voelz      1/27/14

God's Secret Is

God's secret lies within the Incarnation,
God's secret loves as much it lies and lives,
God's secret is His utmost inspiration,
God's secret gift is One Who gives and gives.

God's secret lives because He lived and died,
He always was and then became a fact,
from timeless God, because one time we lied,
lept secret life to live for all we lacked.

God's secret loves and speaks His open Word,
His and His secret's love lives in His spirit,
His secret came for His love to be heard,
so He created us so we can hear it.

God's secret is and lives and loves so we
can be and live and love eternally.

                       -- by Pete Voelz       11/04

Homeward Bound

O Christ, I call on You to bring me home,
I need a shepherd then when I stand on
the threshold of death's door, no more to roam
life's pathways when all other friends have gone.

Oh, what a child I'll be with hand outstretched,
unable to perceive the great unknown,
the way through a glass darkly dimly sketched,
my naked soul stripped barely to the bone.

Alone, I need some comfort in my stress,
to glimpse the shape of promises foretold,
I ask that my bowed bare head You might bless,
the child still here inside the form grown old.

O Jesus, when there is no one around,
I count on You as I am homeward bound.

                         -- by Pete Voelz        10/08

Interface

This face You made so many years ago,
each day looks forward toward the world You made;
what is the interface only You know,
in this great sea of grass, who is this blade?

You made this face to look this way with care,
my face somehow is more Your face than mine;
atop this head You've counted every hair,
behind this face You stamped Your face divine.

Beyond, You've made a space for me to work,
and led me to what You want me to do;
my task and place You weave let me not shirk,
but give it back as offering to You.

You've done this all, O God, for me with grace,
so will I try ‘til we meet face to face.

                             -- by Pete Voelz        12/06

Team God

I've always prayed to play on God's own team,
and from the start He saved a spot for me;
to some His team may seem to be a dream,
but it's for keeps, it's for eternity.

Though serious, God calls us out to play,
though lots of fun, it is a fateful game,
though God can't lose, He still insists we pray,
though on His team, I might lose all the same.

We play the world, the devil and the flesh,
sometimes I'm left field for the other side,
my passions and the score don't always mesh,
and I may have to take time out to hide.

O God, for Your exciting game and team,
may all my strain and struggle be extreme.

                               -- by Pete Voelz       10/06

The Sacred Parts of Mystery

Each mystery of God has sacred parts
that tantalize in covering up the whole,
while hiding holy puzzles from our hearts,
yet showing spiritual secrets to our soul.

It is the nature of a mystery
to be part visible and invisible too,
the eyes of faith reveal much we can see,
where eyes of skeptics do not have a clue.

If we examine mysteries too close
with scientific eyes, they may close up,
but if by faith and prayer we diagnose,
some bloom and blossom like a buttercup.

We know God less straining like Hercules
than listening to His whisper in a breeze.

                       -- by Pete Voelz        5/05

Pray to Heaven

Can someone get to heaven on a prayer?
Can I save them, I mean, by prayer alone?
What is the minimum to pay the fare?
Should they not get there mostly on their own?

So many go to hell, Our Lady said,*
because they have for them no one who prays,
implying prayer would be enough, instead
of saving them in all the usual ways.

Who knows what God’s sweet mercy has in store
for all the millions here who do not pray,
can’t God’s great might help those that we pray for,
and with our prayers just wipe their sins away?

St. Monica prayed for her son for years,
so Ambrose said God won’t deny such tears.

* Our Lady of Fatima told the three children so many souls
end up in hell because there is no one to pray for them.

                                by Pete Voelz      1/21/14

Forget Sins

I worry, Lord, about my sinfulness,
but I am not concerned about my sins,
I send to God my sins when I confess,
I win His grace, my soul’s return He wins.

I thank You, Christ, for Your great Sacraments,
as we face life--and death too--every day,
for my confession makes a lot of sense,
it frees me, takes my guilt and stress away.

But my repentence has to be sincere,
for You know when I’m sorry for a sin,
my firm resolve to change, Lord, should be clear,
I cannot plan to sin that way again.

Thanks, Lord, that You’ve forgiven all my sin,
I can receive the Eucharist again.

                        by Pete Voelz      1/20/14
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

Lord in the Field

How do we take the Lord into the field?
We take Him easy when we stay at home;
against the storms how can my soul be steeled,
when all along the lonely road I roam?

Since there's distraction everywhere I look,
inside concealed, I'll bear a life of prayer,
without my books, I'll bring and teach His book,
and hope to find somewhere a church to share.

Despite the sights, I'll live a life upright,
my witness will display the Lord with me,
He'll give me light and courage in the night,
acceptance for my loss or victory.

Lend me Your courage, Lord, Your Word revealed,
to take the field with grace and not to yield.

                              -- by Pete Voelz       4/09

God of Brambles

O God, I know that only You can pierce
the bramble bushes standing in our way,
while my attempts are limp, Your love is fierce
in cutting through the brush so I can pray.

Before I can be sorry for my sin,
I must own it and wade the swamp of shame,
the world’s woods of distractions hem me in,
the demons, Lord, deflect my sword and aim.

Thickets of doubt rise up I cannot breach,
resentments to Your statutes hamper me,
and even clearing some, I cannot reach
beyond the wide divide too far to see.

Then as I falter, Lord, Your stream of grace
cuts through it all and brings us face-to-face.

                        by Pete Voelz      1/15/14

God Mover

God does not move, and yet He chases me,
because I am the one who runs away,
God’s like the faithful sun, the endless sea,
they always move, and yet they always stay.

I try to move, I am the faithless one,
I want to sin, from God sin takes me far,
God will not budge, for He made me His son,
swift to forgive He moves, unlike the star.

But God’s a Spirit, He moves and yet remains,
for He has properties we do not know,
my spirit too can flee my body’s chains,
I’m made to move like God, where God can go.

Love moves You and makes You unmovable,
Lord, let my love move like Your miracle.

               by Pete Voelz     1/17/14

Adopt and Adapt

God is in charge, yet He adapts to me,
but creature should adapt to the Creator,
yet in His foolishness, God makes us free,
though wiser than us, He is no dictator.

We’re made His sons by water and the Spirit,
adopted yet unruly rebel sinners,
His heirs, we’re given heaven to inherit,
for He can turn us losers into winners.

Should not adopted be adapted to
a Father Who has power to make the rules?
Not if we’re free, though He can still pursue
to cool the foolishness of us poor fools.

Your love, O Lord, lets You adapt to me,
love only will make me adapt to Thee.

                        by Pete Voelz      1/16/14

The Mechanic

With His own hands, God fixes broken me,
He tows to His religious service garage,
where He gives a celestial tune-up free,
but when I'm real sick, He comes to my lodge.

He doesn't mind some oil on His hands,
He pulls out prayerful tools for my repair,
He puts me on a diet of commands
for driving right, as He observes with care.

When I of course have accidents again,
I’m at His sacramental body shop;
to keep me from another traffic sin,
He sends me to a clerical-collar cop.

So thanks, Lord, for Your spiritual service Church,
when my poor mobile soul begins to lurch.

                          -- by Pete Voelz         7/05

The Thousand God

O God, You touch my soul a thousand ways,
You never leave me be without a thought,
Your thousand tydings leave me in a daze,
no matter where I turn, it seems I’m caught.

I try to plumb Your depth, there is no end,
I search my soul, there find no end of You,
You’re everywhere and all the time my Friend,
I can’t escape You if I wanted to.

You tie me to You with a thousand ropes,
like Gulliver, like Ahab on his whale,
You rouse in me a thousand deams and hopes,
by faith in heaven I’ll live to tell the tale.

O Lord, I’ll thank You in a thousand years,
when gone are all my thousand fears and tears.

                        by Pete Voelz     1/14/14

Who You Are

O Lord, my God, Who do I think You are?
Though You are God, still can I call You friend?
That You're quick to forgive may seem bizarre,
or that You're slow to anger to the end.

For You indulge me, Lord, just like a child,
Yet You said like a child I should be,
No matter how I sin, You don't get riled,
I seize Your mercy offered me for free.

I take advantage of Your goodness, Lord,
You spoil me and too I spoil You,
because we are each others' best reward,
two lovers living up to what is true.

You know me, Lord, and then You love me so,
Who do I think You are? I think I know.

                                -- by Pete Voelz       4/10

Letting Go

O Christ, let me back off, You do Your part,
I really do sometimes come on too strong,
for only You can see inside the heart,
You know for sure for them what’s right or wrong.

Our kids are our responsibility,
they’re supposed to do what we say and obey,
we teach them--be good, face reality,
but all the time, they grow and go away.

So we must learn--”Let go, let God” I know,
into a world so much of what I fear,
into Your hands we have to let them go,
we love them, but we cannot keep them near.

I trust when my time comes when I go too,
I’ve let them go so they can come to You.

by Pete Voelz      1/12/14

Heart of Gold

We know some people have a heart of gold,
we always find attractive such a heart,
a guileless innocence we there behold,
a gentle love for us sets them apart.

No one it seems can fit the bill like Christ,
regardless how He looked, He’s beautiful,
no greater love than one self-sacrificed,
for others He made many a miracle.

The heart of Jesus showed in all His care,
His pity for the sick, the blind, the sinners,
His teachings--loving, humble, decent, fair,
His sufferings great, His death that made us winners.

But most--to be like us, from heaven above
He came, and proved a heart of golden love.

              by Pete Voelz      1/6/14

Instinctive Prayer

When trouble comes, we call on God in prayer,
instinctively we know we have His ear,
instinctively we know that He is there,
that He can read our mind right now, right here.

Our part’s the prayer, we know He’ll do His part,
we’re motivated by our desperation,
the way to pray He’s written on our heart,
He answers, we respond with our elation.

How gracious is our God, how meek, how kind,
for all His might, with us He is in love,
both us and how to pray He has divined,
He rules inside of us, not just above.

When I need help, I pray quick as can be,
why can’t I always pray instinctively?

               by Pete Voelz      1/10/14

Fear Grips

Fear grips my heart, and I can only pray
to You, O God, Who stands beyond all fear,
I want that they--and You--just go away,
then I’ll see maybe, once the fog is clear.

Why me, O God, why do You pick on me?
Why push me so to follow where You lead?
Out of the depths I cry, “Just let me be,”
more noise and fog’s the last thing that I need.

Why must I see You lying by the road,
my Good Samaritan You make me face,
You warn me not to kick against the goad,
You promise me You’ll give sufficient grace.

Grace is not cheap, O Lord, come to my aid,
You whisper soft, “My son, be not afraid.”

by  Pete Voelz      1/9/14

Only Prayer

The only thing I know to do is pray,
sometimes confused and floundering about;
I cannot think of any other way
when I must try to figure it all out.

I need some inspiration with my case,
I have a choice--to hope or to despair,
I know of no aid greater than God's grace,
the only way to get it is by prayer.

I feel my desperation knock me low,
I'm driven to reach for humility,
I know of no more gracious way to go
than call on God to give His help to me.

O God, You are the life, the truth, the way,
lead me, I pray, to the best way to pray.

                          -- by Pete Voelz      11/07

Like to Love

There are ideas of God I kind of like,
like He dares me and then accepts my dare,
like swift as lightning He can gently strike,
He listens to and answers me my prayer.

I like how God assists, dunks, and rebounds,
He builds a team that fights and scores and wins,
how well He texts His cell and Skypes and sounds,
I like the way He wipes away my sins.

God nets a million likes, but spams for love,
we’re free to follow His commands and law,
He shepherds us and brings His lambs above,
where we, though unafraid, will stand in awe.

O God, You do the best of all we do,
and liking it, I grow in loving You.

         by Pete Voelz      1/2/14

The Poorest

Blest Theresa won the Nobel Prize for Peace
because she helped “the poorest of the poor,”
then from her soapbox she said war would cease
if we brought peace to the abortion war.

This thought most leaders did not want to hear,
they saw her save the poor before their eyes,
if she’d just saved kids’ unborn lives, it’s clear
she never would have won the Nobel Prize.

Without faith to see Christ in Eucharist,
the unseen unborn child we can ignore,
but Mother, with her faith, could not resist
the smallest of the poorest of the poor.

Like unseen love and God, she spoke out for
the poorest of the poorest of the poor.

                     by Pete Voelz      1/6/14

Four Kings

Three kings they came wise in the ways of stars,
to trek so far they had to be so sure,
their gifts, in caravans of camel jars,
of precious gold and frankincense and myrrh.

They studied all the prophets’ ancient texts
to journey far to greet a baby King,
unknowing their epiphany’s vast effects--
that like the angels we’d still with them sing.

The Word already sent to nations far,
that brought wise kings to this King’s stable then,
commands us now to follow His bright star,
and bring His Good News gifts to good will men.

O Melchior, Balthasar, and Caspar--three
great kings, please bring your greatest King to me.

by Pete Voelz     1/5/14
Sunday Feast of the Epiphany

New Pope, New Church?

Again we see a struggle for her soul,
the Spirit stirs it up and damps it down,
our job’s to keep the struggle in control,
for semper reformanda’s back in town.

“In medio stat virtus,” wrote the Roman.
“All things in moderation,” said the Greek.
“My side is wholly righteous,” shouts the showman.
“Our side is solely holy,” squeaks the chic.

The Spirit sometimes speaks with storm and thunder,
yet God’s voice mainly stays a whispering breeze,
Christ promised His Church wouldn’t fall asunder,
rose garden no, but some kick-boxing please.

We’ll stay together--that’s the way we pray
to You, O Lord, Who stands above the fray.

                 by Pete Voelz      1/3/14

Love and Free

I’m free to choose the good but not the bad,
yet without bad to choose, there is no choice,
that sometimes I choose bad just makes me sad,
to turn from God and hear the other voice.

When I heed God, it is His love I choose,
bad consequences come when I love not,
since God is love, it’s love that I refuse,
with worldly love alone I don’t have squat.

Centered on me, my freedom is not free,
when selfish, I forget I am at war--
to be for God or for the god of me,
love’s seeing God in others, like the poor.

To worship me, what trouble I am in,
God, help me love You first, and not to sin.

                       by Pete Voelz     1/3/14

If God Is Love

If God is love, then what is love, I wonder,
it must mean to create one who is new,
then save the one You love from going under,
if he in being free puts faith in You.

God's loving means creating us as living,
and knowing that we're conscious that we know;
His loving means He'll never stop His giving,
so long as we don't choose to be His foe.

God loves and wants His love to last forever,
desiring that His love we will not spurn;
our love affair He leaves us free to sever,
as we are free to love Him in return.

O Lord, Whose love is full of mystery,
I do love You a lot for loving me.

                           -- by Pete Voelz      11/07

At Mary's Knee

I met my mother on my mother’s knee,
there’s where I learned of love and how to pray,
she taught me what a mother’s supposed to be,
and all she gave sustains me to this day.

My mother took me from her knee to kneel,
before the cross she taught me of another,
whose Son gave her to love us just as real,
who, like our loving Father, is our Mother.

As He made her our Mother from the cross,
He asks us all His Mother to revere,
so not to honor her would be our loss,
He often sends her to us to appear.

O Mary, at your knee, my Mother true,
may I, your child, be faithful loving you.

by Pete Voelz      1/1/14
Feast of the Solemnity of Mary
     Mother of God