Church Order

Friday, October 18, 2013

Church Order

Dear Friends,
A reading from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians (5:12-28):

          
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who are laboring among you and who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you, and to show esteem for them with special love on account of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good both for each other and for all. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.
May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it. Brothers, pray for us too.
Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

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          Many people phone me these days for prayers. So many are sick and I pray for them over the phone. I am always ready to pray with anyone. I know that the Lord can cure any person no matter how far away he or she is. I bless you all.

          Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Have respect for every person, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living in every country of the world. I ask you to help the people who live in your community. Pray for those who are idle or who cannot find a job that they soon find one. Help those who are sad by showing them that you love them. Support those who are weak. You should be ready to give them a hand for what they want. Always be patient with all the people you meet. Always seek what is good and never what is evil. I call you to pray for all the people who suffer that their suffering may go away. Do not despise the prophets, but listen to their prophetic utterances. If you ask Me, I will give you the peace you need and help you to be holy. I love you all and I want you all with Me.”

          Father Melvin

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Vigilance

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Vigilance

Dear Friends,
A reading from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians (5:1-11):

          
Concerning times and seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. Those who sleep go to sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation. For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

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          We had another beautiful day yesterday but it became cloudy last evening and we will have some rain today. However, I thank the Lord for the beautiful days that He has given us.

          Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
          “Be vigilant, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who await My coming at the end of the world. You do not know when it will be so you have to be ready at all time. I will come as a thief in the night. So be ready to receive Me when I come. If you stay united to Me then you will have no reason to be alarmed. You will be on My right and I will take you with Me to heaven. I call you to put on the breastplate, which is faith and love. Make sure you have the helmet on for this is hope for salvation. I call you all to encourage each other and to pray regularly so that you will be ready when I come. Too many people today live in darkness and follow the wrong way, and if they continue this way they will not be saved. Do not follow them but live in My light and you will be in heaven one day. I bless you all.”

          Father Melvin

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General Exhortations

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

General Exhortations

Dear Friends,
A reading from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians (4:1-12):

          
Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God – and as you are conducting yourselves – you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality, that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God; not to take advantage of or exploit a brother in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed. For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness. Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
On the subject of mutual charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers, to progress even more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you, that you may conduct yourselves properly toward outsiders and not depend on anyone.

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          I will be home for the whole month of October and I am enjoying the fall weather and the beautiful sun almost every day. The farmers are hard at work picking potatoes. They will soon be finished.

          Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
          “Conduct yourselves to please your heavenly Father, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters, who desire to follow the Ten Commandments that the Father gave you. You are all called to holiness of life by avoiding all sin, especially that of immorality. You men stop chasing after women to do what is forbidden by God, and you women be modest and do not allow the men to have anything to do with you. Do not attract the immoral men. The Father calls all of you to holiness and I am there to help you to grow in holiness every day. I want to live in your hearts and bring you the strength you need to stop all sinful actions and to love everyone as I love you. It is ok for you to marry and to live as husband and wife. I will bless your marriage and I will live with you in your home. I love you all.”

          Father Melvin

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