Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Saint Michael the Archangel by Stephen B. Whatley

St. Michael the Archangel
By Artist Stephen B. Whatley

St. Michael the Archangel - Painted in 2010 by Artist Stephen B Whatley - Flickr Photo Sharing!

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

The bright colors in the new painting by Stephen B. Whatley represent the mighty power of God and His authority working through Archangel Michael. The novena to St. Michael is a reminder of God's faithfulness in helping people during times of adversity.

The painting of Archangel Michael and the following information is from Stephen's website:

Saint Michael the Archangel - a new tribute painted by Stephen B Whatley on St Michael's Feast Day (September 29) and completed on the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi. (October 4).

Saint Michael is seen as the Warrior Angel, fighting off Satan in heaven and protecting God's chosen people on earth from evil and enemies. St Michael occupies a special place in the church, appointed its protector; and his Intercession is encouraged to defeat the evil in the world - and for the protection from danger for anyone in their every day life.

"...as ever I prayed deeply for the strength and insight to express the power of St Michael; and while I looked at a variety of historic interpretations, this painting had its beginnings in my memory of the flickering flame that rose above a candle embossed with the image of St Michael, the evening before as my nervous and creative energy was building in praparation and determination to create this new tribute. Brushstrokes of warm yellows were felt from my heart; from where the defiant but graceful face of St Michael the Archangel would emerge.

I truly felt guided to paint a humble cross within his hand as his 'shield' - which maybe symbolises the power of faith, however big or small."

Singular prayers can be asked of St Michael; or 9 day prayers (Novenas) as below.


Novena Prayer to St Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel, loyal champion of God and His people, I turn to you with confidence and seek your powerful intercession. For the love of God, Who made you so glorious in grace and power, and for the love of the Mother of Jesus, the Queen of the Angels, be pleased to hear my prayer. You know the value of my soul in the eyes of God. May no stain of evil ever disfigure its beauty. Help me to conquer the evil spirit who tempts me. I desire to imitate your loyalty to God and Holy Mother Church and your great love for God and people. And since you are God's messenger for the care of His people, I entrust to you this special request: (Mention your request).

Saint Michael, since you are, by the Will of the Creator, the powerful intercessor of Christians, I have great confidence in your prayers. I earnestly trust that if it is God's holy will my petition will be greated.

Pray for me, Saint Michael, and also for those I love. Protect us in all dangers of body and soul. Help us in our daily needs. Through your powerful intercession, may we live a holy life, die a happy death, and reach heaven where we may praise and love God with you forever.

Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel.
Oil on canvas, 36 x 24in/ 89 x 61cm
Copyright 2010 Stephen B. Whatley

For more about the artist, please visit the following link: Stephen B. Whatley

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Ian McCormack and The Lazarus Phenomenon



Ian McCormack and The Lazarus Phenomenon - Amazing Stories | CBN.com

The video and story is from CBN.com:

In 1982, Ian McCormack of the film The Lazarus Phenomenon was an adventurous 26-year-old. He was diving for lobster on the island of Mauritius (in the southwest Indian Ocean) one evening and was stung by five box jellyfish – one of the most venomous creatures in the world. Its poison can kill a person in four minutes. When an ambulance came, his body was completely paralyzed, and necrosis had started to set into his bone marrow.

On the way to the hospital, McCormack began to see his life flash before him. He knew he was near death. He was an atheist and didn’t know whether or not there was an afterlife. As he lay dying, he saw a vision of his mother, who was the only Christian in his family, praying for him. She encouraged McCormack to cry out to God from his heart and God would hear him and forgive him. He didn’t know what to pray, so he cried out that if God was real, God would help him pray. Instantly, God showed McCormack the Lord’s Prayer.

DEATH AND THE VERY DARK PLACE

The ambulance reached the hospital and they brought McCormack inside. The doctors tried to save his life by injecting anti-toxins and dextrose into his body, but it didn’t help. Within a few minutes, hisbody lay lifeless for about 15 minutes.

During this time, McCormack was in a very dark place, and he didn’t know where he was. As he reached out, he found he wasn’t touching anything. When he tried to touch his face, his hand would go right through it. McCormack began to sense that it wasn’t just a physical darkness, but a spiritual darkness. He had a cold eerie feeling that there was something or someone else there, and it or he was looking at McCormack.


INTO THE LIGHT

Then, a luminous beam of light radiated through the darkness and started to lift him upward. He found himself being translated up into it. McCormack then entered an opening and found himself inside a long narrow tunnel. At the far end of the tunnel he could see the source of the light. Then he watched as a wave of the light broke off the source and moved up the tunnel towards him. This light passed through McCormack, and he could feel a wave of warmth and comfort flood his soul.

Coming out of the end of this tunnel, he found himself standing in the presence of awesome light and power. He wondered if this was just an energy source in the universe or if perhaps there could be someone standing in the midst of this light. A voice immediately responded to his thought and asked him, "Ian, do you wish to return?" McCormack responded, "I don't know where I am, but if I am out of my physical body, I wish to return."

The voice then said, "If you wish to return, you must see in a new light." " Words appeared in front of him, "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5)." McCormack had never read a Bible before in his life so he didn't know these words came straight out of it.

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