Where is God in Troubling Times?

Where is God in Troubling Times?

My Friends,

To those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, to those who are seeking and to those who do not yet know that they are seeking.

We live in very troubling times. There are so many people around the world who are in great distress. Christians and non-Christians alike are murdered, imprisoned, tortured, beaten, run from their homes and homelands. Terrified people are seeking asylum as well as those who commit acts of terror feigning distress and seeking asylum. World governments go to war while drumming up patriotic support from their people while never seeming to actually accomplish much in the way of ending anything except for the killing of the world’s youth.

Many brave men and women have given their life for the cause of freedom and yet those who have survived seem to be left without care. Yes the governments promote through much public relations how the veterans are being cared for and yet those seeking asylum are given homes for free, college educations and financing while the veterans are sleeping in the streets and in shelters.

Children are born with lifelong and often times life shortening illnesses. The parents of these children bear much grief for their children as well as much love. Elderly people are not cared for as they should be often times and become neglected and lonely. Many children are orphans through death of parents, or the State removing them from their homes or are run a ways seeking a life different from their home life that they now have for various reasons.

The church is so divided and at odds with one another that a clear message of Jesus the Christ as Lord and Savior is lost. Holy Scripture is so maligned by not only secular scholars but those who claim to be Christian as well that the actual message of Scripture is lost in the minutiae of details, squabbling, and just plain disbelief along with the fact that many translations come out only to serve some groups personal agenda.

The question is often asked; where is God? Why does He allow all of this? So many just want God to step in and fix all of the problems and so He is blamed for them because He does not do this. Everyone wants things their way because their way is correct, they want free will but get angry because God does not interfere with the free will of others and just fix things. Far too many do not want to understand that we are born into a corrupt world. We add to the corruption every day. No one can answer the questions as to why one is born ill and another is not, why is one murdered and another is not. These questions cannot be answered by us. Why does the storm destroy this home and family and leave another untouched? We cannot answers these questions except only to say that we are all here together and these things have occurred since the beginning of the time.

What is the answer? What are we to do? Should we try to alter the will of God to suit our own? This will not work. We pray and pray and prayer goes unanswered and so we say that prayer doesn’t work, so many have left the faith because of this when we do not get our own way. Friends, God’s way is far above ours and we cannot know the why of anything. There are enough people out there who will tell you that it is because of this sin or that sin. It is only supposition and opinion on their part.

We do not need to complicate faith or add unnecessary guilt on one another. While it is true we sin, each and everyone one of us and we bring many things upon us due to poor judgment but one cannot tell another that this calamity or that calamity is due to some personal sin on the person’s part. What we need to do is not very complicated;

What did Jesus command? If you love Me do as I command. What are these commands? Confess; how many do this on a daily basis honestly and leaving out nothing? Repent; how many continue to do the very same thing time after time and sometimes just minutes after confessing it? Be baptized; most people reading this have most likely already been baptized but do not live up to their baptism.

Love God first; how many do this? How many chase after material things before chasing after wisdom? Love your neighbor as yourself; how many wish evil or wrong doing on someone because of some anger or jealousy? Pray for one another; is this only once a week in church or is it every day every time we see that someone needs prayer or every day for everyone? The feeding and care of orphans and widows; is this done only during the Christmas season or is it a way of life? Find some time to be alone with God, meditate on Him and His word even if only for a few minutes. So these are the things;

·         Love God first, speak to Him daily all day, take the time also to meditate and listen.

·         Love your neighbor as yourself all day every day, pray for your neighbor daily.

·         Confess and repent daily and as often during the day as needed.

·         Help those who need help as much as is in you or that you can every day.

·         Worship God through Jesus the Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

·         Never cease to seek wisdom.

·         Persevere through the hard times by staying close to Jesus.

·         Love, never stop loving, this is the way of the Lord.

My friends, no matter what is going on in our lives, these are the things that we should do every day to the best of our ability.

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

Remember that the Eucharist or Communion is the center of worship. The Body and Blood in its Spiritual reality of being the Real Presence is our own Spiritual nourishment. Do not neglect this. 

To answer the question; where is God in troubling Times? He is here, He is always here, we need only to seek Him with a pure heart.

May the Peace of our Lord Jesus the Christ fill you to over flowing.

Many Blessings!

In Christ,

+William

Web Page;

http://www.monkmichael.com

Live Radio call in show;

Coffee with Monk Michael

For Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! on Kindle; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZCIF4M

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! paperback; http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Rev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet

Many Blessings!

In Christ,

+William

Praise the Lord!

PRAISE the Lord, O my soul, in my life I will praise the Lord: I will sing to my God as long as I shall be. Put not your trust in princes: 3 in the children of men, in whom there is no salvation. 4 His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return into his earth: in that day all their thoughts shall perish. 5 Blessed is he who has the God of Jacob for his helper, whose hope is in the Lord his God: 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them. 7 Who keeps truth for ever: who executes judgment for them that suffer wrong: who gives food to the hungry. The Lord looses them that are fettered: 8 the Lord enlightens the blind. The Lord lifts up them that are cast down: the Lord loves the just. 9 The Lord keeps the strangers, he will support the fatherless and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy. 10 The Lord shall reign for ever: thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation.

Web Page;

http://www.monkmichael.com

Live Radio call in show;

Coffee with Monk Michael

For Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! on Kindle; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZCIF4M

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! paperback; http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Rev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet

Many Blessings!

 In Christ,

+William

The Father calls us

My Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, the Savior of all mankind for those who choose to answer the call. We know that it is the Father who calls us and it is us that must answer the call. Have mercy on us Lord, have mercy on us. It is troubling and difficult times for mankind today but this is not new is it? Temptation has existed from the beginning of man. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, often times we surrender to temptation. We find ourselves asking God the same questions over and over. When Lord, when will Jesus return? It has been two thousand years since Jesus walked with us; the world continues its spiral downhill. The decline of mankind is out of control. Where is Jesus?

We are told in the Gospels to go heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, and preach the gospel. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. We wonder at these words because the church no longer does these things. Sure we pray for miracles and at times these miracles happen but where are those who believe and that are walking this path on a daily basis? We see those who say; send me your money and you will be healed. Send me your money and you will reap a financial reward. Send me your money and I will pray for you. Where are those who truly answer the call and heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, and preach the gospel? Man follows science today which cannot prove it’s theories of the beginning and yet presents its own proofs of man’s history. They hold what they call physical evidence of their version in their hands and therefore call it proof that they are correct and that there is no creator, no super being that designed the universe and yet science itself has given us many good things as well yet sadly many do not acknowledge that their skill has come from their Creator.

Many Christians question their own faith in the wake of scientific evidence and there is a  lack of the true faith that does not produce the works that we are told we would produce. Birth defects, major loss of employment, wars and massacres, slaughter of Christians. Pastors, priests, and bishops accused of scandalous behavior, money laundering in the church, child molestation, rape, send more money. The church is accused of being nothing more than a power scheme, a struggle to control the people and a way to achieve riches through nothing more than a smooth tongue that beguiles the gullible and the superstitious. My friends what are we to make of these accusations and especially when in many cases the accusations are shown to be the truth? What are we to do?

My friends look around you, the world itself is a miracle, the entire universe is a miracle, and we live in creation which is truly a miracle. All of us have either seen miracles happen in our daily lives or have heard of miracles from others within their lives or the lives of others. Jesus said that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church but the church is not an institution, it is not a corporate entity, it is not a building. The church is the body of Christ, the church is the Bride and He is the Bridegroom. If an institution falls the church is still alive as long as there are faithful Christians alive. We are a called people; perseverance is not in the group; perseverance must dwell in each and every one of us singly. If we as one in Christ have faith and perseverance alone, then collectively we have an even greater faith and perseverance. 

We each must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, confessing to one another and to God, forgiving one another and praying for one another. Each one holds up the other, when one is weak there is another who is strong. Do not succumb to the world; faith and wisdom grow through turmoil and not through complacency. The Kingdom of God is within you and me. What we face today is prophesied and is not new. Love one another as the Father who gave His Only Begotten Son loves us. Love one another as our Lord Jesus the Christ loved us and went willingly to the cross so should we love one another. This does not require a degree in theology. It requires a walk in the spirit. A walk with Jesus the Christ forsaking all else and regardless of our circumstances continue the walk. There is no other way.

Many Blessings to all.

In Christ,

+William

Monk Michael

Web Page;

http://www.monkmichael.com

Live Radio call in show;

Coffee with Monk Michael

For Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! on Kindle; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZCIF4M

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! paperback; http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Rev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet

Bless ye the Lord

Bless ye the Lord

Daniel 3:

51 Then these three as with one mouth praised, and glorified, and blessed God in the furnace, saying: 52 Blessed are You, O Lord the God of our fathers: and worthy to be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed is the holy name of Your glory: and worthy to be praised, and exalted above all in all ages. 53 Blessed are You in the holy temple of Your glory: and exceedingly to be praised, and exceeding glorious for ever. 54 Blessed are You on the throne of Your kingdom, and exceedingly to be praised, and exalted above all for ever. 55 Blessed are You, that beholds the depths, and sits upon the cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 56 Blessed are You in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise, and glorious for ever. 57 All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

58 O you angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 59 O ye heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 60 O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. 61 O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 62 O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 63 O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

64 O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 65 O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 66 O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 67 O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 68 O ye dews and hoar frosts, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 69 O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

70 O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 71 O ye nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 72 O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 73 O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 74 O let the earth bless the Lord: let it praise and exalt him above all for ever. 75 O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 76 O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

77 O ye fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 78 O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 79 O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 80 O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 81 O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 82 O ye sons of men, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

83 O let Israel bless the Lord: let them praise and exalt him above all for ever. 84 O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 85 O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 86 O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 87 O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 88 O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. For he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us out of the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the burning flame, and saved us out of the midst of the fire. 89 O give thanks to the Lord, because he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever and ever. 90 O all ye religious, bless the Lord the God of gods: praise him and give him thanks, because his mercy endureth for ever and ever.

Web Page;

http://www.monkmichael.com

Live Radio call in show;

Coffee with Monk Michael

For Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! on Kindle; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZCIF4M

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! paperback; http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Rev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet

What is the future of the church?

My friends, you are my friends because of your love for Jesus the Christ. But I have this to say from our Lord and Savior; the body of Christians throughout the world that calls itself by His Holy Name is drunk with pride and religious practice. Each one calling itself by some different name and teaching different doctrines to the detriment of the Holy Name. Our Lord is mocked by the world not only because it will mock but because of the very church itself that is so divided the truth cannot be known by anyone who hears the many teachings and the attacks from one to the other.

The observance of strict religious practice simply for the sake of religion is not salvation. If there is no love, if the worship and observance is not from the heart out of love it is useless and our cries will not be heard. As well it is the same if one simply says that one is 'spiritual' and does not worship then one is also only fooling one's self. If one is truly spiritual in Jesus the Christ then one will worship and worship with love and gladness. As the world continues to decline the large institutional churches will decline along with it. This is from the Lord. Corruption will abound.

We must repent, confess, baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We must remember the Body and Blood, we must live everyday loving others and caring for their soul. That last great Apostle St. John said in the last days of his homilies kept it simple, he said; brothers and sisters remember to love one another. When asked why that is all he would any longer say in his speaking he stated this; because if you have perfect love there is nothing else.

Places of worship will become small and exclusive to those who truly love. Hymns will be sung, prayers and petitions will be sung and the plate and the cup will be blessed and will be partaken of. Loving and caring for one another will be of utmost importance.

I ask you this; what else is there besides these things? Live in Christ Jesus, there is nothing else. There is no other way.

Peace and many blessings.

In Christ,
+William
Monk Michael.

Web Page;

http://www.monkmichael.com

Live Radio call in show;

Coffee with Monk Michael

For Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! on Kindle; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZCIF4M

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! paperback; http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Rev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet

Model Prayer from the Book of Daniel

Friends, please allow me to present to you a prayer by Daniel to Almighty God for all of the people of his nation and not simply for himself. Perhaps this prayer model may serve as a template for us in our prayer to Almighty God for our nations and for all of those who belong to Jesus the Christ. Confession, prayer for forgiveness for our people and mercy from Almighty God.

Daniel 9

4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and I made my confession, and said: I beseech You, O Lord God, great and terrible, who keeps the covenant, and mercy to them that love You, and keep Your commandments. 5 We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly, and have revolted: and we have gone aside from Your commandments, and Your judgments. 6 We have not hearkened to Your servants the prophets, that have spoken in Your name to our kings, to our princes, to our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 

7 To You, O Lord, justice: but to us confusion of face, as at this day to the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, to them that are near, and to them that are far off in all the countries where You have driven them, for their iniquities by which they have sinned against You. 8 O Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our princes, and to our fathers that have sinned. 9 But to You, the Lord our God, mercy and forgiveness, for we have departed from You: 10 And we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his law, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 And all Israel have transgressed Your law, and have turned away from hearing Your voice, and the malediction, and the curse, which is written in the book of Moses the servant of God, is fallen upon us, because we have sinned against him. 12 And he has confirmed his words which he spoke against us, and against our princes that judged us, that he would bring in upon us a great evil, such as never was under all the heaven, according to that which has been done in Jerusalem. 

13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: and we entreated not Your face, O Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and think on Your truth. 14 And the Lord has watched upon the evil, and has brought it upon us: the Lord our God is just in all his works which he has done: for we have not hearkened to his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, who have brought forth Your people out of the land of Egypt with a strong hand, and have made You a name as at this day: we have sinned, we have committed iniquity, 16 O Lord, against all Your justice: let Your wrath and Your indignation be turned away, I beseech You, from Your city Jerusalem, and from Your holy mountain. For by reason of our sins, and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem, and Your people are a reproach to all that are round about us. 

17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the supplication of Your servant, and his prayers: and show Your face upon Your sanctuary which is desolate, for Your own sake. 18 Incline, O my God, Your ear, and hear: open Your eyes, and see our desolation, and the city upon which Your name is called: for it is not for our justifications that we present our prayers before Your face, but for the multitude of Your tender mercies. 19 O Lord, hear: O Lord, be appeased: hearken and do: delay not for Your own sake, O my God: because Your name is invocated upon Your city, and upon Your people.

In Christ,

+William

Monk Michael

Web Page;

http://www.monkmichael.com

Live Radio call in show;

Coffee with Monk Michael

For Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! on Kindle; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZCIF4M

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! paperback; http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Rev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet

The Fiery Furnace

This prayer is found in the Book of Daniel chapter 3 when the three youths were thrown into the furnace of fire. Oddly it seems that this prayer cannot be found in a translation of scripture that is by Protestant churches. It can only be found in the LXX or Septuagint scriptures and not in the Hebrew.

This prayer is actually a form of liturgy in a sense; it contains confession of sin, God’s righteous judgement, praise to Almighty God, begging for mercy and victory over the enemies.  This prayer is as much true today as it was then.

Prayer of Azarias in the midst of the fiery furnace.

23 But these three men, that is, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, fell down bound in the midst of the furnace of burning fire.

 24 And they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord. 25 Then Azarias standing up prayed in this manner, and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire, he said: 26 Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and thy name is worthy of praise, and glorious for ever: 27 For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy works are true, and thy ways right, and all thy judgments true. 28 For thou hast executed true judgments in all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem the holy city of our fathers: for according to truth and judgment, thou hast brought all these things upon us for our sins.

29 For we have sinned, and committed iniquity, departing from thee: and we have trespassed in all things: 30 And we have not hearkened to thy commandments, nor have we observed nor done as thou hadst commanded us, that it might go well with us. 31 Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment: 32 And thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies that are unjust, and most wicked, and prevaricators, and to a king unjust, and most wicked beyond all that are upon the earth. 33 And now we cannot open our mouths: we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee.

34 Deliver us not up for ever, we beseech thee, for thy name's sake, and abolish not thy covenant. 35 And take not away thy mercy from us for the sake of Abraham thy beloved, and Isaac thy servant, and Israel thy holy one: 36 To whom thou hast spoken, promising that thou wouldst multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the sea shore. 37 For we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are brought low in all the earth this day for our sins. 38 Neither is there at this time prince, or leader, or prophet, or holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of firstfruits before thee, 39 That we may find thy mercy: nevertheless in a contrite heart and humble spirit let us be accepted. 40 As in holocausts of rams, and bullocks, and as in thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day, that it may please thee: for there is no confusion to them that trust in thee.

41 And now we follow thee with all our heart, and we fear thee, and seek thy face. 42 Put us not to confusion, but deal with us according to thy meekness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies. 43 And deliver us according to thy wonderful works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: 44 And let all them be confounded that shew evils to thy servants, let them be confounded in all thy might, and let their strength be broken. 45 And let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, and glorious over all the world. 46 Now the king's servants that had cast them in, ceased not to heat the furnace with brimstone, and tow, and pitch, and dry sticks,

47 And the flame mounted up above the furnace nine and forty cubits: 48 And it broke forth, and burnt such of the Chaldeans as it found near the furnace. 49 But the angel of the Lord went down with Azarias and his companions into the furnace: and he drove the flame of the fire out of the furnace, 50 And made the midst of the furnace like the blowing of a wind bringing dew, and the fire touched them not at all, nor troubled them, nor did them any harm. 

Web Page;

http://www.monkmichael.com

Live Radio call in show;

Coffee with Monk Michael

For Monk Michael's videos; http://www.youtube.com/user/HieroMonkMichael

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! on Kindle; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZCIF4M

Monk Michael's 'Spiritual Christianity for Today! paperback; http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Rev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARev.%20Fr.%20Michael%20Valentine%20Sweet