Feel for God

O God, You are so very far away,
in thought and prayer, how do we come to grips?
I can but glimpse Your features while I pray,
I barely touch You with my fingertips.

I meet You but You're such a mystery,
I know You but I do not understand,
Though far, I find You are still close to me,
when I'm in need, I sense You take my hand.

In dark of night You're closest to me, yet
I'm filled with light when You give me Your grace,
You want to visit closer if I let
You in my heart to feel Your warm embrace.

I love You best when we have more than kissed,
as I receive You, Lord, in Eucharist.

                             -- by Pete Voelz       2/09
pmvoelz.blogspot.com

Choice of Love

I love because God shared His love with me,
I live because with me His life He shares,
without His love and life I would not be,
reason enough for me to say my prayers.

Since God is love, all true love comes from Him,
though we can feel love Satan twists his way,
our chances with his kind of love are slim,
we can’t let love be ruled by sinful sway.

I think I am an individual soul,
and since I’m free, my destiny is mine,
and yet God’s Providence is in control,
my destiny is tied to the divine.

You and the devil offer me a choice,
and I am free, Lord, to tune out Your voice.

                   -- by Pete Voelz       5/6/13
pmvoelz.blogspot.com

God's Sea

I stick my toe into God's sea a bit,
I hesitate, for is it really there?
I look and cannot see the end of it,
then feel immersed, I'm in it everywhere.

I must be pushed again to try my toe,
distractions pull me far from every side,
yet sure I am there's nowhere else to go,
I know this flood leaves me no place to hide.

I dip a toe because I fear the sea,
I don't want to leave so much fun behind,
yet His sweet grace does His great work in me,
and I'm compelled to follow One so kind.

I really don't know, God, what else to do,
but to dive in and swim away with You.

                    -- by Pete Voelz           1/07
pmvoelz.blogspot.com

Love's Infinite Plus

God’s love is infinite, yet there is more,
God’s not the only lover that can be,
infinity is not what love is for:
to nurture love in all whose love is free.

God works so hard to grow His love in us,
He can’t attract our love if it’s not there,
He knows that our eternal happiness
depends on our love showing that we care.

Love is not love unless it cares for others,
love is our deeds or love does not exist,
love shared with care makes all sisters and brothers,
as Christ shares all His love in Eucharist.

As Eucharist multiplies an infinite Christ,
so infinite love grows when it’s sacrificed.

                         -- by Pete Voelz       5/4/13
pmvoelz.blogspot.com

No End to Grace

O God, what are the limits of Your grace?
Is not Your grace for me unlimited?
Does not the Hound of Heaven always chase
my soul for which Your Sacred Heart has bled?

And yet Your masterplan has made me free
to turn my back on You and to resist
Your grace, Your law, Your own divine decree
of love from Him I slap though blest and kissed.

Yet I detect grace comes in many ways--
in strength, in mercy, inspiration true,
it zaps, explodes, it whispers, zigzags, stays,
chastizes me and gently draws to You.

From ambush, God, despite my stubborn pride,
Your grace, amazing, worms its way inside.

                                -- by Pete Voelz       1/08

God First

“I am the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”
The last words of the great St. Thomas More
tell us our cultural values are reversed,
and show us what we should be standing for.

Augustine’s “City of God” spells out the choice,
his worldy city displays old Satan‘s sway,
we serve God’s laws and listen to His voice,
or give in to that liar’s worldly way.

The Church stands as a countercultural force,
as Jesus says, it speaks for Him on earth,
of all good things we have, God is the source,
His Church defines what everything is worth

My candid conscience cannot run and hide
from what You and Your Church, O Lord, decide.

                           -- by Pete Voelz       5/2/13
pmvoelz.blogspot.com

Who I Am

The only thing I know is who I am,
loved in God's mind before all time began,
destined forever to adore the Lamb
to mesh my precious freedom with God's plan.

I cannot help but feel so very small
for one who has so great a destiny,
and yet I seem to hear so clear a call,
else why would God be bothered making me?

All through His book He talks to me with care,
His passion aimed to save my wretched soul,
His lovely world made just for me to share,
His Church He formed to help me reach my goal.

O God, through all of this You've kindly smiled
on who I truly am, Your lucky child.

                             -- by Pete Voelz      10/07