A Thread of Encouragement (inspired by LaBèlla's request)

[dzheremi]

As has been said, it would be good to see some encouragement around here instead of doom and gloom. Okay, then! Let's do it, my friends! After all, our God was and is victorious over death, so what on earth can squash our joy in that fact?

It''s perhaps a strange place to find it (not really if you're Coptic, but I grant that not everyone is), but I would like to submit to begin this positive thread the following speech on the joy of the martyrs and what we can expect in heaven, delivered by HG Bishop Moussa of the Coptic Orthodox Church at the funeral for the martyrs of the terrorist bombing of the Church of the Saints in the holy city of Alexandria, Egypt in 2011 (starting at about 3:30 in the video, but I include the entire thing for the beautiful prayers of Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty before the speech of HG):

Whether you are Orthodox or not, I trust that everyone can understand and be comforted by the fact that those who have died in their Christian faith are a source of hope for Christians, not a reason to shrink away in either fear or despair, even as we grieve quite naturally. We do not grieve as those who have no hope. "For there is no death for Your servants, but a departure." ( -- a part of the prayers from the Coptic Orthodox funeral rite)

What can be more encouraging than to know that those who go before us go into the eternal love and presence of God and all of the saints they join who have pleased God since the beginning? This is our future, brothers and sisters, if we endure to the end. Eternal life with God. It is the heavenly reality. It is what God has given us through His Only-Begotten Son, may He be praised and worshiped forever together with His good Father and the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. +

Please do add your own encouraging passages, thoughts, videos, or whatever you have that strengthens the fellow Christian, as we are meant to do. Thank you.

 

[bèlla]

No Weapon Formed Against You Will Prosper

I found this image years ago and it has remained in my collection since that time. The calm position she holds within the midst of attack reminds me of Psalm 91.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

 

[Not David]

As has been said, it would be good to see some encouragement around here instead of doom and gloom. Okay, then! Let's do it, my friends! After all, our God was and is victorious over death, so what on earth can squash our joy in that fact?

It''s perhaps a strange place to find it (not really if you're Coptic, but I grant that not everyone is), but I would like to submit to begin this positive thread the following speech on the joy of the martyrs and what we can expect in heaven, delivered by HG Bishop Moussa of the Coptic Orthodox Church at the funeral for the martyrs of the terrorist bombing of the Church of the Saints in the holy city of Alexandria, Egypt in 2011 (starting at about 3:30 in the video, but I include the entire thing for the beautiful prayers of Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty before the speech of HG):

Whether you are Orthodox or not, I trust that everyone can understand and be comforted by the fact that those who have died in their Christian faith are a source of hope for Christians, not a reason to shrink away in either fear or despair, even as we grieve quite naturally. We do not grieve as those who have no hope. "For there is no death for Your servants, but a departure." ( -- a part of the prayers from the Coptic Orthodox funeral rite)

What can be more encouraging than to know that those who go before us go into the eternal love and presence of God and all of the saints they join who have pleased God since the beginning? This is our future, brothers and sisters, if we endure to the end. Eternal life with God. It is the heavenly reality. It is what God has given us through His Only-Begotten Son, may He be praised and worshiped forever together with His good Father and the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. +

Please do add your own encouraging passages, thoughts, videos, or whatever you have that strengthens the fellow Christian, as we are meant to do. Thank you.

That was beautiful and inspiring! Thanks, Dzheremi!

 

[dzheremi]

To try to keep this thread alive and near the top of the heap (I thought people would like encouragement more than they do, I guess), here is a subtitled sermon by HH Pope Shenouda III of thrice-blessed memory called "May the Lord be your aim", about keeping the Lord Jesus Christ front and center in our lives despite all the distractions and temptations of the world. I hope that you all will find it edifying.

 

[brinny]

A verse that not only is encouraging to me, but is downright delightful and joyful is this one:

"the joy of the LORD is your strength." ~Nehemiah 8:10

(Thank you for this thread)

 

[dzheremi]

That is a wonderful verse, yes! Thank you, Brinny.

 

[brinny]

That is a wonderful verse, yes! Thank you, Brinny.

It is written that our God rejoices over us with singing. His joy overflows into singing over us. Hahaaaa He is a DELIGHTFUL God, isn't He?

 

[dzheremi]

And even more than that, yes! The full verse I believe you are referring to (Zephaniah 3:17, is it?) says that He is in our midst, which He is, and that He will save us, which He has!

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.

+++

It is such a beautiful verse!

 

[anna ~ grace]

Pope Shenouda III is awesome. Thank you, thank you, for sharing him with us, Dzher!

 

[dzheremi]

You are very welcome, my friend! I am very glad that someone here can get encouragement from his words.

 

[anna ~ grace]

Hope it's ok to post this! There are a few, tiny recordings of Padre Pio on-line.

 

[dzheremi]

Very interesting. I don't remember him very well from when I was Catholic (i.e., I didn't have any kind of special devotion to him, and didn't learn about him very much), but he was one of the Catholic saints who experienced stigmata, right? It is interesting to hear his voice, and I think that's a good message about loving God. Thanks for sharing.

 

[anna ~ grace]

Very interesting. I don't remember him very well from when I was Catholic (i.e., I didn't have any kind of special devotion to him, and didn't learn about him very much), but he was one of the Catholic saints who experienced stigmata, right? It is interesting to hear his voice, and I think that's a good message about loving God. Thanks for sharing.

He did have the stigmata. And had little to no patience for modern stuff. He would send women away from the confessional if their skirts were short, or their necklines immodest. "Get dressed". Thank you for letting me share!