He will finish what He started

Today, I came across this video that lifted my spirit while I was demoralized as a result of the spiritual attacks I’ve had to deal with lately.

It’s a video from Rabbi Kirt Schneider’s YouTube channel, a channel that I invite you to subscribe to if you are interesting in exploring Messianic Judaism. He also has a website where you can find out more about his ministry and how you can support it.

Rabbi Schneider – He (God) will finish what He started

The video expands on the apostle Paul’s statement from Philippians 1:3-6 —

3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

The Bible – Phillipians 1:3-6

Let me know if you’ve found encouragement in this message. Feel free to share in the comments section below your views about Rabbi Schneider’s teachings, but please make sure you do so in a respectful manner.

A Great Christian YouTube Channel: Christopher West

I’m continuing the series of mini-articles in which I showcase interesting Christian YouTube channels that I stumble across and that have a positive impact upon me, with Christopher West’s channel.

An author, speaker and founder of the TOB Institute (The Theology Of The Body Institute), Christopher West Th.D., has been creating videos on YouTube for several years. Alongside his wife, Wendy West, he has an online podcast in which he has tackled a wide variety of Catholic Christian topics, but his focus is on aspects related to the theology of the body.

Check out a few of his videos and let me know in the comments if you found yourself impressed with the approach in which topics such as the Christian perspective on sexuality are discussed. I know I was.

Christopher West – What to do with your «sexual needs» as a Christian
Christopher West – Be real with God! How to pray authentically

The origin of the word “AMEN” in Christianity

In the following video, Fr. Angelo Maggos from the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church offers us a detailed presentation of the origin and significance of the word “AMEN” in Christianity. If you were interested in finding out what “Amen” means and why Christians use this word at the end of the prayers, I invite you to watch it.

What is the Origin of “Amen”? | Orthodoxy Fact vs Fiction

Also, subscribing to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s YouTube channel would be a lovely way of supporting their work.

Singles Day (11 11), 2020

There’s an unofficial Chinese holiday celebrated every year on the 11th of November (also known as 11 11 or Double 11) called Singles’ Day. It was started by online retailer Alibaba and you can read more about its history by clicking the links in this article. You can also learn about what it means for Chinese commerce here: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54876524. Its purpose is to celebrate the unattached, which makes it an antithesis to the romantically-involved on Valentine’s Day.

However, seeing how the holiday is not popular anywhere outside of China, I’m not going to talk about it, but rather I want to include a few videos about what it means to be single for a Christian. This is a selection of videos from Evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Enjoy!

Ben Stuart – Love the Single Chapter of Your Life
Steven Furtick – Singleness, sex and self-control
Kim Zember and Jackie Angel – The Right Way to Be Single
Fr. Mike Schmitz – Learning to be Alone
Fr. Josiah Trenham – Orthodox Dating 101

The Jesus Prayer according to Christian Orthodox Elders

The Jesus Prayer is one of the most important prayers in Orthodoxy, and its repetition throughout the day is recommended by many of the Orthodox Fathers.

Below is a compilation of videos presenting the opinions of several Christian Orthodox Elders about the Jesus Prayer.

Elder Arsenie Papacioc on whether everyone should say the Jesus Prayer
Elder Ephraim of Katounakia on how to say the Jesus Prayer
The Jesus Prayer explained by Fr. Aimilianos of Simonopetra
Fr. Spyridon’s reflections on the Jesus Prayer
The Jesus Prayer said by Orthodox Saints and Elders

In the comments section, I invite you to share your thoughts on The Jesus Prayer, and tell us in what ways you have incorporated it your prayer life.

The Lord’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Orthodox Palm Sunday), 2020

Palm Sunday, also called the Triumphal Entry, is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated on the Sunday before Pascha. This year it falls on April 12. Palm Sunday is the day when the Orthodox Church celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in the days before the Jewish Passover. A mere few days before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ was received by adoring throngs at his entry into Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey.

Orthodox Palm Sunday, 2020

The believers meet him, and spread out before him his clothes and olive branches. When He and His disciples approached the city Jerusalem, He ordered them to go to the near-by village, and bring him the donkey and his little who were tied-up in the beginning of the village. If they were asked, they should say that the Lord needs it. When the people knew that the donkey was for Jesus, they did not prevent his disciples. They gave Him the donkey, and He solemnly entered Jerusalem. The news of the resurrection of Lazarus already got ahead and thousands of people went to Bethany to meet him.

You can find the event told in the four Gospels:

I invite you to read more about it on these websites:
https://www.orthodoxphotos.com/readings/LG/jerusalem.shtml
https://www.oca.org/fs/sermons/the-lords-entry-into-jerusalem
https://www.goarch.org/-/stewardship-the-entry-of-christ-into-jerusalem
https://pravoslavie.ru/69881.html

The Litany Of Trust by Sister Faustina Maria Pia

I would like to share with you a lovely Catholic deliverance prayer that I have come across recently – The Litany Of Trust. It was written by Sister Faustina Maria Pia from The Sisters Of Life. Also, check out the video where you can see Sister Faustina Maria Pia herself read the prayer and talk about it.

From the belief that I have to earn Your love … Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that I am unlovable … Deliver me, Jesus.
From the false security that I have what it takes … Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute … Deliver me, Jesus.
From all suspicion of Your words and promises … Deliver me, Jesus.
From the rebellion against childlike dependency on You … Deliver me, Jesus.
From refusals and reluctances in accepting Your will … Deliver me, Jesus.
From anxiety about the future … Deliver me, Jesus.
From resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past … Deliver me, Jesus.
From restless self-seeking in the present moment … Deliver me, Jesus.
From disbelief in Your love and presence … Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being asked to give more than I have … Deliver me, Jesus.
From the belief that my life has no meaning or worth … Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of what love demands … Deliver me, Jesus.
From discouragement … Deliver me, Jesus.

That You are continually holding me sustaining me, loving me … Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your love goes deeper than my sins and failings, and transforms me …Jesus, I trust in You.
That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You … Jesus, I trust in You.
That you are with me in my suffering … Jesus, I trust in You.
That my suffering, united to Your own, will bear fruit in this life and the next …Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will not leave me orphan, that You are present in Your Church
…Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your plan is better than anything else … Jesus, I trust in You.
That You always hear me, and in Your goodness always respond to me …Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others …Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked …Jesus, I trust in You.
That my life is a gift … Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will teach me to trust You … Jesus, I trust in You.
That You are my Lord and my God … Jesus, I trust in You.
That I am Your beloved one … Jesus, I trust in You.

Litany Of Trust by Sister Faustina Maria Pia from The Sisters Of Life

Thinking differently – Ps. Bob Hamp

Bob Hamp is one of the people whose teachings have had a remarkable impact upon my Christian views in the past few months. His lectures, his online videos (“Freedom Class”) and his YouTube channel have been real blessings in my life.

It is an honor to give him a shout out in this blog post. I invite you all to go subscribe to his YouTube channel, check out his website, watch his videos and experience the wonderful transformation you will see in your life.

Bob Hamp – The Keys To Freedom

A great Christian YouTube channel: Gamerfaith

When I wrote the previous article in which I gave a shout out to a Christian YouTuber, I intended it to be a one-time thing. I had come across many hardworking video content creators who put out Christian content on YouTube, so making shout out articles for each of them seemed like something I didn’t particularly feel like doing.

However, I’ve partially changed my mind. I currently intend to turn this thing into a series. I will include these shout outs in a category of their own. Every now and then I will write an article about a YouTube channel that has particularly impacted me in a positive manner in my walk with God.

In the current article I will present to you Gamerfaith. In hopes of helping him reach out more people through his videos, I just wanted to ask you to check out his channel, subscribe and watch some of his content.

He tackles various sensitive topics, such as overcoming pornography addiction, anxiety, insecurity that stems from bullying etc., and addresses the issues by bringing examples from his life and by trying to offer solutions that have worked for him. He strikes me as a very cool and helpful guy.

He also has social media accounts linked on his YouTube page and in the video descriptions, in case you want to support him through Patreon or message him and ask him for advice.

Who did Jesus pray to, if He was God?

Here’s a very interesting video I’ve stumbled across. In fact, the entire channel, UltimateMordecai, contains a lot of insightful Christian videos and I recommend subscribing to it; but this video, in particular, address the question: “who did Jesus pray to if He was God?”, and answers it from the perspective of an ex-Jehovah’s Witness.

The answer might surprise you. Watch the video and share your thoughts in the comments section. Also, please show UltimateMordecai some support by liking and sharing his content.