Eternal Love

There's faith and love, but first of all there's hope,
I hope in You, O Lord, in my despair,
without much hope, I cannot even cope,
and faith and love end up in disrepair.

It's faith alone that's needed to be saved,
before we do much else we first believe,
with more than hope and love our road is paved,
those who sustain their faith, God will receive.

Yet of these three, the greatest one is love,
wrote good St. Paul, and God is love, wrote John,
love conquers all, and love's what life's made of,
faith and hope pass, eternal love goes on.

O God, I'll put my faith and hope in You,
but best I'll love and have the other two.

              -- by Pete Voelz       6/09

Calm Faith

I can't see God, and yet I do believe;
I do believe, help, God, my unbelief;*
Your gifts, O Lord, do all my doubts relieve,
Your gift of faith gives me the best relief.

Faith calms our doubt and serves some certainty,
though certainty that is not absolute;
faith is sureness of things we cannot see,
of mysteries that drive us to be mute.

Twixt proof and God there always is a gap,
or we'd be God if we knew all there is;
our earthly minds must have a handicap,
until He shows us everything that's His.

For my strong faith, You'll give me my reward,
so always I'll believe, my faithful Lord.

* St. Augustine

                            -- by Pete Voelz       9/07

If God Were Here

O God, if You were here, would I love You?
Would I be glad, or would I be afraid?
Would I want all to see I loved You too?
Would I ask You to stay and hope You stayed?

 Would I show You my love or be ashamed?
Would I care if they saw we hugged and kissed?
Would I love You as much as I have claimed,
like when we meet each day in Eucharist?

Would I give You my best authentic smile,
hold You close and not want to let You go?
Would I want You to linger for a while,
and not care if the whole wide world would know?

No empty questions these, as we say, “Hi!”
For this is how I’ll meet You when I die.

                         -- by Pete Voelz       7/3/12

Small Prayer

My prayer will not do much for it is small,
yet it is better than no prayer at all.
I care a lot for who I'm thinking of,
so I pray my small prayer with lots of love.
"Small things, great love," Blest Mother Theresa said,
so I kneel down to pray beside my bed,
I trust God's watching while I sleep all night,
that to my small weak prayer He'll add great might,
and so I hope that with the morning dew,
God's mighty love has made my prayer come true.
All right, He won't give me all I request,
because He knows my needs--for me what's best.
So to His expert will I will defer,
because with prayer I'm still an amateur.

                             -- by Pete Voelz       5/10

Not Good Enough for God

God wants to come to me like saints of old,
He wants my will, He wants my heart to try,
He wants me fierce for Him, so brave and bold
to bear my cross and willing, yes, to die.

And yet I feel not good enough for God,
He’s perfect--God! While I am such a sinner,
my sins offend Him, so it seems quite odd
He should love me and see me such a winner.

He made me knowing I’d turn out to be
a sinful person and unfaithful too,
yet loyal and loving He is still to me,
and merciful, forgiving through and through.

So more about Your love, Lord, let me learn,
so I can loyally love You in return.

                    -- by Pete Voelz       7/17/12

World Anew

With every soul, God makes the world anew,
the cosmos changes when a baby cries.
Who knows the impact once we are in view,
does not the bell toll all when just one dies?
I am unique, there's no one else like me,
God made me special for His awesome aim,
no one will know until eternity,
when He’ll call out my individual name.
Who can predict my journey's arc on earth,
although it lasts, the Book says, but a blink,
or measure what the grace I spread is worth,
or for my sins what dregs the world must drink?
Exactly what I’m for I do not fear,
just so the world is better I am here.

                        -- by Pete Voelz      12/10

Trouble Grace

Like Socrates, I search for truth, it’s true,
“My heart is restless ‘til it rests in You.”*
But restless searching does not cause my fear,
I cry for I now need Your help down here.

“Out of the depths I cry, Lord, hear my plea,”**
lend Your ear to my prayer, please answer me,
for if You mark my sins, then who can stand?”
I’m willing to leave myself in Your hand.

I need Your aid, O Lord, because I sin,
but also for the trouble that I’m in,
help me to follow and to love Your law,
for You are God, Whom I do hold in awe.

For You have mercy and do me forgive,
I’m open to Your grace as I do live.

* St. Augustine
** De Profundis, psalm of David

              -- by Pete Voelz       7/12/12