Inspirational Videos

5/8/22, Mother's Day from the perspective of 2 moms/daughters.

Check out this 13-year-old perform a wonderful hip-hop and ballet dance routine that went viral online.

The teenage dancer in the video is Annika Verplancke, and she is performing in the Youth America Grand Prix European semi-final in Paris, France. The dance is called ‘Versus' and was choreographed by Magali Berael and Fundi Omari to the song ‘Heart Cry.’

In the video, Annika is mixing her ballet and hip-hop training and showcasing them both off in this unique dance. For her costume, half of it is black and half of it is pink with her wearing just one pointe shoe. And all the turns and jumps that she does around the stage are so impressive!

“Stellar choreography, I mean wow. And it must have been so difficult to get used to dancing with just one pointe shoe on,” comments one person on YouTube after watching the video.

“This is honestly one of the best dances I have ever seen. I can't stop watching it! It's so amazing how smooth everything works together,” writes another person online.

Annika is very talented and it is clear to see how dedicated she is to her craft. She has worked hard to improve her dance skills, learn this choreography, and make it look so effortless as she dances across the stage. And it is a beautiful thing to watch her dance!

She also has so much joy when she dances, and it is wonderful to see how much she enjoys it! This unique dance of hers that mixes two totally different dance styles is sure to make you smile, just like Annika is smiling while she is on stage.

Psalm 30:11-12
11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

Feel inspired as Southern Raised Bluegrass performs the iconic country tune, ‘When You Say Nothing At All.’ 

This classic song was originally written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz. It became a number one hit for artist Keith Whitley in 1988 and, almost ten years later, Alison Krauss performed her own cover of the song with the group Union Station. 

Over the years, ‘When You Say Nothing At All’ has cemented itself as one of the greatest country love songs of all time.

“It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word, you can light up the dark
Try as I may, I can never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing”

Today, we’re hearing a very special rendition of this ballad. 

Siblings Lindsay, Emily and Matt plus their friend Alex, make up the Southern Raised Bluegrass band. The group was raised in the Ozark Mountains and they have blended their traditional music upbringing with multiple genres and their deep-rooted faith. For years, they’ve entertained us with popular covers of songs such as ‘What A Day That Will Be’ and ‘Shenandoah.’

The group describes themselves as creating a ‘Southern Raised trademark sound where classical meets bluegrass and city streets meets country roads. SR has morphed a progressive sound that spans Christian Country/ Bluegrass, Celtic and Classical.’

Just listen as they come together to belt out the words of ‘When You Say Nothing At All.’ 

“The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall
You say it best, when you say nothing at all”

1 Corinthians 13:13 “But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

An act must be good to cause Howie Mandel to break protocol, but he and his fellow judges did break the rules when they gave Toronto’s most impressive dance crew a “group” Golden Buzzer! 

Canada’s Got Talent is back this year after a ten-year hiatus. Airing on Canada’s Citytv, the new judges include: rapper and record executive Kardinal Offishall, former professional wrestler Trish Stratus, former talk show host Lilly Singh, and Howie, who is also Canadian though Americans have long known him for his comedy. 

The host is country singer Lindsay Ell. Each of these five gets to use the power of the Golden Buzzer, basically allowing an act to go directly to the live shows without their fate being placed in the outcome of a vote. But, in this video, we see CGT’s judges go renegade on the rules and send The Renegades straight to the semi-finals using a 6th Golden Buzzer!

As the video begins, The Renegades storm through the studio doors and Lindsay speaks with a few of the 21-person dance crew about their unique group. Founded in 2017,  The Renegades aspire to compete on “the international competition stage.” Dancers use words like “trust” and “accepted” and “grateful.” They describe an environment of love that extends beyond the joy of dance—they describe a family! 

Lindsay sends them off to take the CGT stage! Dressed in navy jumpsuits, white tennis shoes, and neon green and gray suspender-type harnesses, they are ready to go! The group appears to be more female than male, but they are a wonderfully ethnically diverse set of dancers. 

The Renegades catch the judges’ attention with their first flashy and flawless move! They are perfectly in sync. Their moves are quick, precise, and immediately impressive! Within mere moments, they are adding gymnastics and stunts, footwork, facial expressions, and flips! The only unfortunate part of the routine is that with so much going on, something super cool will be inevitably missed by those watching!

The Renegades definitely bring the “wow factor.” The audience goes wild for them. One of the members said, during the introduction, that inclusion on the team is more about passion, a good vibe, and good energy than it is dance skills. That’s their general mantra. However, it doesn’t look like any skill is lacking in the group at all!

Howie calls Lindsay down to the judges’ table, and they speak privately first. Howie and Lilly together explain to the group that they’ve exhausted their supply of Golden Buzzers. However, with encouragement from the audience and a bit more discussion, Lilly says that she believes “Torontonians like to break rules.” The five agree to go for it, hitting the Golden Buzzer in unison and sending The Renegades to the semi-finals! The team goes crazy, and the judges now storm the stage! 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” Ephesians 2:8

We adore him for his hit songs, “Fancy Like,” and “Nineties Country.” But there is more to the story behind big hit songs and fun dance moves. Walker Hayes was an atheist alcoholic before an unlikely friendship changed his life. 

Before Walker Hayes ever made it big, a man named Craig made a difference in his life and his family. Walker had hit rock bottom after a broken record deal. In order to support his family, he started work at Costco and smelled like an alcoholic wherever he went. 

But it was at this moment when a man named Craig entered his life. Craig met Walker at church after his wife dragged him one morning. God knew that Walker needed someone to be his confidant and to encourage him to find his way back to God. 

One of the biggest moments in his recovery was when Craig showed up at a baseball game and gave Walker a van big enough to fit his entire family of eight in. Walker was utterly shocked someone would give him a vehicle and it was defining moments like this that began to change Walker to be a better man for his wife and children. 

Eventually Walker wrote a song as a way to properly thank Craig and he included it on his album in Boom, and titled the song, “Craig.” This incredible song shows how one person loving another can be God’s hands and feet right here on this earth. It reminds us to not grow weary in doing good because we don’t know how impactful our love towards others can be. 

Today, Walker is a saved man who honors God and loves his family immensely, all because one ordinary man loved him in ordinary, practical, everyday ways. Now, if you ask me, that’s Fancy-like!

Can we all take one second and praise God for the selfless acts of kindness from the man who led Walker back to the lord? 

John 15:12-13 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

In this powerful video, strangers and friends in a community show up to reveal just how loved one special little boy is despite being burned with a tennis ball caught on fire. 

A bully sends a six-year-old to the hospital, but kind strangers show up in the best way through a parade of cars outside his window. He could be seen covered in bandages and waving excitedly through the window! He says he loved the parade. 

Dominick Krankall received an incredible outpouring of love from his community as hundreds of cars cruised through the hospital parking lot to show just how much everyone cares. But what made this moment extra special were the men in uniform who showed up with their police cars and fire trucks because Dominick wants to be a police officer one day. 

He wants to stop the bad guys like the boy who set his face on fire with a gasoline-covered tennis ball. Dominick has been bullied mercilessly for the last year by the same boy who set his face on fire. But he isn’t going to let this senseless act of cruelty get him down. Instead, he will fight the good fight and show up for other people, just like those who are showing up for him as he recovers even though the bully and the bully’s parents claim innocence. 

In fact, when the community heard Dominick had been bullied by the same child for the last year, a Go Fund Me page was set up in order to help his parents move him to a nicer neighborhood with over $350,000 raised. What an incredible act of kindness in big and small ways. 

We pray Dominick makes a full recovery, and we pray his story will be a shining light to all parents to teach their kids it is never okay to bully. We also pray this story brightens your day. What an amazing outpouring of love and incredible kindness. 

Galatians 6:9-10 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

It’s a beautiful thing when children begin to see their place in the world and find ways to make a difference. Five dancers stand against bullying with an emotional performance on BGT. 

These five dancers happen to be boys who want to tell the world that dance is not just a girl’s sport. These boys, Adam, Toby-Jay, Ollie, Joey, and Beau are ages ten through twelve. One boy, Toby-Jay told the judges, “No matter what people say, just carry on what you’re doing because it’s what you love.”

They danced to the song, “You Will Be Found” from the musical, “Dear Evan Hansen.” Their performance was a powerful story about a boy feeling alone, rejected, and bullied. It was an incredible moment when they ended their performance and acted by giving the boy who was “left out” a letter jacket to help him feel included. 

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room and their dance was met with a standing ovation. The judges praised the group and told them they should be “enormously proud” of themselves for winning over all four judges! 

And now, their video is going viral with over 17,000 views. One viewer commented, “These kids are so talented and they have the right to do this without being intimidated by cowardly bullies. Well done to them all.”

Another viewer added, “I'm just amazed that these little boys could understand and perform such a meaningful performance. You know, they accept their friend, who might be different from others, and gave him the coat at the end, like the metaphor and all. And they understand how judgemental society can be to "boys who dance". Let the kids be, let them do what they love, and stop being so judgemental and shoving your opinions down other's throat.”

These sweet boys go to show us that we are all loved, valued, and included in God’s kingdom. What a beautiful representation of Jesus in this stunning performance! We need more kids with hearts like theirs in this world.

Mothers Day testimonials from members of the congregation.

Based on Daniel 7:9 we get an illustration, among several, of how the Lord identifies with us in our sufferings

Bible study – Christian lifestyle - ekklesia

tilak

"Is your burden weighing heavy? Is it all too much to carry? Well, let me tell you about my Jesus.” 

These are the words from a song that is strengthening thousands around the world. And now we get to find out the story behind the song as singer Anne Wilson leans on God after a car accident kills her older brother.

Anne was awakened one tragic night when six officers came to her family’s home to inform them her brother Jacob had died tragically in a car accident. Anne remembers God telling her at that moment he would give her everything she needed to get to the other side. In the heartbreaking days that followed, Anne turned to the piano and began to worship. 

Anne said, “When I felt the weight of the grief and the suffering and the depression so heavily, my medicine and my escape was to worship Jesus. And in exchange, when I would worship Him, He would give me His peace, His joy, and rest.”

While she was at the piano one day, her mother heard her singing a worship song and realized Anne’s gift. Her mother then asked her to play that same worship song at her brother’s funeral. She had never performed before, and she was nervous and filled with grief. 

But she recalls that moment vividly because she clearly heard the Lord tell her, “He said, ‘Anne, this is what I’m calling you to do. I’m calling you to praise and worship my name,’” she said.

Though she is still healing from her brother being taken so soon, she shares how easy it feels to turn away from Jesus instead of to him in the midst of suffering. Even though it’s really hard to trust the Lord, she knows the enemy of our faith will try to get us stuck in the pit of self-pity but there is something so powerful about turning to the Lord in the midst of pain. 

She reminds us all that are called to worship the Lord. She says it was the only thing that got her through her loss. How powerful is that? God took her pain and gave her comfort. God took her sorrow and brought her joy. God took her loss and created beauty from the ashes. 

She reminds us, “There is something really profound about really taking a step back in the middle of suffering and laying it at the feet of Jesus and then worshiping him in response to it.”

What an incredible reminder of how Jesus works all things together for our good. It’s also a reminder he is with us no matter what darkness or tragedy we face. He will always make a way. 

Psalms 30:11 “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness.”

What do you do when you love your sibling so much, but he can’t communicate with you? Well, you find a way. 

Aleisha George found a big way too! As a singer, she knows how powerful music can be. She decided to dedicate her performance to her brother. In this heartwarming moment, a judge sings an emotional duet with contestant Aleisha George for her brother with Down Syndrome. 

Now here’s what you need to know. It’s a big risk to sing one of the judge’s songs. But Aleisha chose ‘Standing With You,’ for her brother Anthony.

Instead of telling you you'll be alright
I'm just gon' be that someone by your side
Yeah let me be that distant satellite

The song ‘Standing With You’ was released on Guy Sebastian's ninth album. He wrote this emotional ballad to explain what it means to support someone going through difficult circumstances and struggles. He wrote it after going through a season of supporting a close family member who had been struggling with mental health and was brave enough to share the journey with Guy. He then wrote the song as a way to share what it means to support, love, and encourage anyone facing battles. The song was perfect for Aleisha because she loves her brother Anthony so much, and she knows how incredibly difficult it is for him to share what he’s going through because he is nonverbal. 

So when Aleisha explained this song was for her brother, it touched Guy’s heart so much, that he opted not to be a judge during the performance but to get up on stage and sing with Aleisha. It was an incredibly touching moment and a true gift for her brother. He could be seen off stage, jumping for joy for his sister during her inspiring and emotional performance! Who knew the power of a song could mean so much to these siblings? 

Guy gave Aleisha and her brother Anthony a beautiful moment they will forever treasure. 

Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

This is an absolutely stunning performance. 5 gymnasts perform a mesmerizing routine while balancing balls.

In this amazing rhythmic gymnastics performance, Spain shows up big time. Five young ladies in pink stand in place, getting ready to put on an incredible show. As they move, they are perfectly synchronized, and girls spin around, and all 5 catch their balancing balls. 

Even down to their tosses, the girls are in perfect sync. They toss their balls in the air and catch them with their legs. They throw the balls and leap through the air to catch them. Then, each girl passes the balls, and they do front handsprings, twirls, and beautiful dance moves.

As they kick up their legs perfectly parallel to the ground, the crowd cheers. The girls dance and impressively never drop their balls. It is a stellar performance, and they have worked so hard together to master this moment. 

Each one is very flexible and graceful. They even pick up one girl as she kicks a ball to another. The team moves with such precision and poise. When you think you cannot see anything more amazing, then the girls pull out a new trick that wows you. 

All of the team does front walkovers and stuns the audience. The ladies powerfully complete their routine. It is truly incredible. 

Watching this routine absolutely stuns us. To see such a hard-working team come out and thrive is very exciting. We see such unity and beauty within their performance. This reminds us that with our hard work and obedience, we can find great joy in being in unity with others. 

Our unity helps support a greater purpose, just like each of these individuals came together for a bigger cause. It was in their individual efforts to work with one another that they accomplished great things. 

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ..” Romans 15:5-6

There is nothing quite like a family reunion, toss in a military family, and it makes for an emotional moment. In this video, a toddler is full of joy and tears when military dad comes home.

This precious little girl is in this video and her mother tells her to look. She says, “Can you look right there.” The mother slowly backs away from the girl videoing. 

The girl looks curious as to what is going on. Her face is amazed as she squeals, saying, “Daddy!” She cannot help but run to her military father, who has come back full-speed ahead into his loving arms. 

The girl giggles with joy that her dad has returned to her again. She smiles, laughs, and says, “Daddy,” her day has been made. He kisses her on the cheek. 

She cuddles his face and is overcome with joy. He says, “Did daddy surprise you?” She says excitedly, “Yeah!” He says, “Are you so surprised?” His daughter responds, “yeah.” 

This surprise is the sweetest moment between a father and his daughter. The little girl had no idea that her dad was coming back for her, but He came to her. 

This reminds us that although Jesus ascended into Heaven after He died and rose, He is coming back for us one day. Our heavenly Father is going to come and get us. 

We will be reunited with Him forever and it will be sweeter than this little girl’s moment with her earthly dad. May this clip remind us how dearly loved we are today.

“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him..” Matthew 24:44

There are so many memorable moments in life and weddings are definitely one of them. In this video, a bride surprises everyone and sings, 'I Choose You' walking down the aisle.

This video starts showing images of flowers, candles, and church aisles as the wedding of a couple is getting ready to take place. Everything is so beautifully done. 

As “Canon in D” plays we watch the processional as family and friends come down the aisle in anticipation of the bride. We see precious flower girls and ring bearers walk. Finally, a little boy brings a sign that reads, “Here Comes the Bride” as the music fades. 

When the door opens and the bride appears, she stops and sings "I Choose You" {The Wedding Song}  by Ryann Darling. She looks straight at her groom and sings to him from her heart in front of everyone. 

It is a unique experience to watch. As she begins to walk on the second verse the audience stands. She sings with passion and is a beautiful bride. It is almost as if she is singing her vows to her husband. Friends and family are excitedly taking videos of her performance. 

Then, she meets her father and grabs him by the arm. He takes her to her groom. Then they walk to the altar. 

This clip reminds us of the true love that two people can have in this life. Human love is only an imperfect model of Christ’s perfect love for us. He is relentless and constantly pursuing our hearts. We can be reminded today and every day that Jesus truly does love us.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18

women encouragement

No favoritism

This is an incredible video to encourage us to love others. In this clip, a deaf delivery driver has an emotional reaction to a homeowner’s thank you note. 

At the start of the video, a man is delivering a package just like he does every day. However, he notices a special something on a pink table for him. He puts the box down and takes the picture so it is shown delivered. 

Then, he walks over to the table and begins to read the card and open the gift. The driver looks around for the security camera and looks towards it. He motions in sign language, “I love you, thank you, love.” The homeowner says, “his response has changed my life forever.”

Kindness goes a long way in this world. There is so much sin and difficulty, that we have a unique opportunity as believers to share the love of Christ with others. This man could have been easily overlooked in his everyday job, however, the homeowner took the time to thank him and care for him well. 

When we can get outside of our own selfishness and look toward loving others, it makes all the difference. We can take any situation and step in while sharing the love of Jesus. Who is someone that you can show love to today? 

This clip inspires us to see others who come into our paths and recognize their hard work. When we show appreciation, this can segue into gospel conversations. Our words and actions matter and we can ask the Holy Spirit to lead us today and every day in His love. 

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

These amazing grandmas each have incredible stories. In this video, there are 8 grandmas who prove age is just a number.

The first highlighted grandmother is a woman from Ohio who was kidnapped from her home and told to drive her car with the kidnapper in the passenger seat. She remembered that she had a perfume bottle in her car door. 

This brave woman used the perfume as a weapon and sprayed the guy in the eyes and pushed him out of her car onto the road and drove off. 

In another clip, we see a 100-year-old dancing at her birthday party. A grandma in the next moment shares about helping the police catch a scam artist. She continued talking to the guy over the phone and convinced him that she had money in her house. 

The woman gave him an envelope with paper towels inside and the cops jumped out and wrestled him to the ground. One grandma is an influencer on Instagram with 3.5 million followers. There is another who is jumping out of an airplane for her 90th birthday. 

One woman was so happy to be handcuffed by police so she could cross off her bucket list to get arrested. Lastly, there is a woman who got to ride in a police car and had a fake warrant written about her.

These women prove that age is relative when it comes to fun. God gives us life to be celebrated and lived for Him. He can use us at any age. We can rejoice in the Lord and all that He has to offer us in every season of life. 

How can we be challenged to live life to the fullest from these women? 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4