Intimacy

"Diane is my intime".."NO..she is MY intime"..."NO, MINE!".."MINE!" And here we go..another long argument of whose intime Diane is! Leila and Farida are growing fast and naturally the "Intime" concept enters our world!

Seeing that debate, I took them aside for a father-daughters talk and started sharing with them the magnificent concept of "Intimacy".
"You know girls..An "intime" friend is not a day and night relationship, it is found through heart warming close walk of life built through cosy talks and one to one moments. My intimacy was built with my "intimes" during the one to one trip to basata and the morning prayers on that small hill, my one to one trips to sokhna and long sleeples nights of chatting in the balcony eating the left overs of the afternoon's mashway we grilled together..my ups and downs emotions at the beginning of adulthood at university shared with a friend on the ahwa in kasr el 3eini or just long walks in these silent (back then) downtown streets at 2am...even the chats in the car after an early morning run or an intense session at the gym..or sharing a snack in the kitchen makes it all. These are the moments that built that relationship..that made us "Intimes". Those intime are there for you whenever you want them..they will change their schedule for you and make sure your comfort and peace is back...the ones loving what You love and hating what you hate; the ones that know your deepest desires and struggles! When it comes to the joy of intimacy, it surely takes two to be Intime...you shall do the same to them. You can go out to big parties, birthdays, camps, and make 100s of new friends, but the intime ones are those you invest intimate one to one times, those who will share with you the hot cup of chocolate under a blanket in a cold night sleep over."

I just realized that Our fellowship with God is not far from what we experience with our intime friends, in fact, it follows the same dynamics..this heart warming relationship will never be built solely through crowded encouters but rather through close intimate one to one moments drawing yourself close to His arms and pouring it all at His feets..opening the door when you hear Him knocking and calling Him inside for this hot cup of tea and a needed healing chat!

Didnt He say..

أنا أُحِبُّ الّذينَ يُحِبّونَني، والّذينَ يُبَكِّرونَ إلَيَّ يَجِدونَني. (أمثالٌ 8:17)

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17 AMP)
And He wants to speak to us like close friends:

ويُكلِّمُ الرَّبُّ موسَى وجهًا لوَجهٍ، كما يُكلِّمُ الرَّجُلُ صاحِبَهُ. (الخُروجُ 33:11

In this way the Lord spoke to Moses face to face like a man speaks with his friend. (Exodus 33:11 ERV)

Just close your eyes now and recall the joy and comfort these moments with your intime brought to your heart..and imagine this "face to face talk" with the one who loves you to death. He seeks His intimate time with you. Are you ready to cultivate this great intimacy..or you are just satisfied being occasional friends!

What a friend we have in Him!

Promise Keeper

"But you PROMISED!" followed by a heart felt dropping tears of disappointment!

I am sure that every mother and every father, every friend, every manager, every person hates the feeling this statement creates in him. Yes, I can say out loud that my toughest moments in parenting arewhen I am confronted with an undelivered promise to Leila or Farida. Even my simple promises of playing with them a game of "Uno" or dancing together on the LOUD tunes of "Gangam Style" mean A LOT to them...because they come from their Mr. know-it-all, No-wrong doing, tall muscled fighter DADDY! Yes, it is that simple, they trust blindly that I will keep my promise..! Failing their trust..brings ME instantly a moment of silence coming along with a heavy swallow of that bitter taste in my mouth..a moment of weakness i would say! We have all done it to our kids, friends, colleagues, family..you name it! And we still keep breaking promises every day!

That brought me to realize that I failed my promises not only to people..but I failed them even to GOD! How many times I said I will "Stand my Ground", start the change and i dont, how many times i cry and scream that this moment is a turning point, but I fail again! How many mornings. I promised to wake up earlier and sit with Him but I "Snoozed" too long!

Thank you Lord for not treating us the same when we fail You..thank you that Your love to us is not based on our love to You..thank you for Your words that stated clearly

ليس اللهُ إنسانًا فيَكذِبَ، ولا ابنَ إنسانٍ فيَندَمَ. هل يقولُ ولا يَفعَلُ؟ أو يتَكلَّمُ ولا يَفي؟ (العَدَد 23:19 AVDDV)

"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19 ESV)

And thank you for comforting me when you said:

لا أنقُضُ عَهدي، ولا أُغَيِّرُ ما خرجَ مِنْ شَفَتَيَّ. (المَزاميرُ 89:34 AVDDV)

I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips. (Psalm 89:34 ESV)

I pray for my faith to keep hanging to your promises.. And I Thank you for being THE PROMISE KEEPER! Amen.

Recruiting Talents

Recruiting services, interviews, head hunting, Linked-in, panels, tests, CVs..Those who have been applying for a job know quite well what I am talking about. But this time, I speak to the ones (the managers out there) who want to fill a vacancy (تعيين) in their teams and just can NOT find the good caliber, the good quality potential employees that you would be proud joining your team.
Every time I think about it, The whole concept of Head Hunting or recruitring services still amazes me..we pay professional companies (which i do respect a lot) to find out for us someone good enough to take the job. In markets like Egypt or even here in Spain (with an unemployment of 26%), you would expect loads of high potential workers are there knocking on the door to fill that vacant job, but no it is not the case, seems you can not find easily the serious high quality dedicated ones to help you drive the company further..you need to depend on such HR companies to find for you the right ones....because basically the market is FULL of workers but VERY FEW are equipped, dedicated and willing to walk the extra mile with you!

Don't worry,nothing new..Here is the comforting news..Even Jesus 2000 years ago said exactly the same (after a long day of "work" among the most needing)..

حينَئذٍ قالَ لتلاميذِهِ: «الحَصادُ كثيرٌ ولكن الفَعَلَةَ قَليلونَ. (مَتَّى 9:37 AVDDV)

Jesus said to his followers, “There is such a big harvest of people to bring in. But there are only a few workers to help harvest them. (Matthew 9:37 ERV)

It just made me wonder with the billions out there, How can this statement be still relevant..and yes, the above recruitment story confirmed it to me. Then got that moment of shock, realizing that I might be on that "poor quality" worker among the mass, or am I up to the Challenge taking a role and making a difference on the the field? I know that God created EACH one of us with great potential, yet we need to apply for the job and show our seriousness! Did you lately check your worth in the market..let me tell you..you are priceless, just head to the fields and Start!

Dear God, I thank you for opening our eyes that there is a big harvest..i thank you for choosing each of us with a call and purpose in life..amazing after such a day full of your works, you said this statement showing us we have to continue what you have started. I pray that our hearts and eyes are open to the work we have a head of us..and i wait for the day we celebrate achieving your work..all together! In Jesus name, Amen.

Note: just read the full chapter Matthew 9, i was Amazed by the amount of work needed out there!

Stand your Ground!

"Stand your ground-اثبت مكانك" ...a statement (and a song) that keeps going in mind everytime I negotiate and discuss with...my 6 years old twins!
Leila (or Farida): Can i play with the ball here..please!
Me: No, no ball inside the house!
She: Pleazzzzeeee!
Me: No is No..خلاص
She: Mwah (بوسة و حضون عميق)
Me: Ok..just 2 minutes
She: Heeeeiihh..merci Pa.."another mwah (بوسة تانية في السريع)"
..(5 minutes later)...
TRAKHHH..اتكسرت الفازة..and even صمغ امير cant fix the vase anymore!
Me: see..That s why I said you should not do this in this the house! Next time just obey!
She (with tears in the eyes): ..But at the end you said OK just for 2 minutes!
Me:.....(silence)

If you are parenting (or managing), you know this moment when you give a direction/order and they start pushing against it and win..you just lose your ground, and as a parent, your words lose their strength and impact..so dont expect them to listen to your directions easily.

This reminds of the times i lost my ground to fighting wrong doings..i say no..but then open the door of negotiation with sin! I lost almost every battle when i decided to keep the door slighly open..because part of me was accepting who I am negotiating with and wanting what i m refusing. Feels so bitter, makes you feel like a loser..and that is exactly the intention of falling, is to get you broken and useless. I read lately the stories of two great names in the bible (Daniel and Joseph) who stood their ground and said no..i encourage you to read them..i selected two verses, that I keep in front of me in times of trial:

أمّا دانيآلُ فجَعَلَ في قَلبِهِ أنَّهُ لا يتنَجَّسُ بأطايِبِ المَلِكِ (دانيآل 1:8 AVDDV)
فأمسَكَتهُ بثَوْبِهِ قائلَةً: «اضطَجِعْ مَعي!». فترَكَ ثَوْبَهُ في يَدِها وهَرَبَ وخرجَ إلَى خارِجٍ. (التَّكوينُ 39:12 AVDDV)

Daniel Just deciding in his heart (not his mind..that tends to negotiate), refusing the great food of the king (and its political implications).. Joseph fleeing a beautiful queen (imagine nefertiti like) wanting him...(or any type of temptation that you know is not correct)...is SO powerful..and yes they got into problems later..but these problems were the turning point to a great life of faith..they got blessed beyond imagination!..just thinking what if they accepted..and negotiated?!

Dear God...i come to you today with all the shameful falls i went through, asking you to pick me up..get into your loving Hug and knowing that I am not alone..I thank you that Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your power is made perfect in my weakness.(2 Corinthians 12:9) ..I thank you for the Holy spirit lifting me up through trials..my strength is in You..I need your Peace! Amen

Do not negotiate..Stand your grounds my friends!

 !!إثبت مكانك
كلمات أغنية تظل تتردد في عقلي كل مرة أدخل في مفاوضات هامة مع .. بناتي التوأم ( عمرهما ٩ سنوات)
ليلة ( أو فريده ) : بابا ، ممكن ألعب بالكرة هنا .. Pleaaase !
!أنا : لأ .. مفيش كرة في البيت
ليلة : pleaaazzzzze !
أنا : لأ يعني لأ .. خلاص
ليلة : موووواه " بوسة و حضن عميق "
أنا : خلاص دقيقتين و بس
ليلة : هييييييه ، Merci Pa ، مواه ( بوسة تانية في السريع)
!بعد خمس دقايق ، دششششش ، الڤازة إتكسرت
حتى صمغ أمير مش هينفع يصلح الڤازة تاني
أنا : شوفتي ! علشان كده أنا قلت مينفعش كرة في البيت ! المرة الجاية إبقي إسمعي الكلام
!!ليلة و عينيها مدمعة : لكن في الآخر إنت وافقت و قلت لي إلعبي دقيقتين
أنا : ..... ( صمت )

لو إنت أب ( أم ) أو مدير تنظم سير العمل ، تعرف جيداً تلك اللحظات حين توجه أو تعطي أمر ثم يبدأ نقاش وجدال و مفاوضات بغرض تعديل رأيك ، يدفعونك لتغير موقفك ، و يكسبون
أنت عندها تفقد " أرضك " ، و كأب .. كلامك سيفقد قوته و سيضعف تأثيره .. فلا تتوقع أن ينفذوا كلامك فيما بعد بسهولة
!وهذا يذكرني بالأوقات التي فقدتُ فيها " أرضاً " في معارك ضد الخطية ، أبدأُ بكلمة " لا " .. ثم أفتح باباً للنقاش
أخسر كل المعارك عندما أترك الأبواب " مواربة " ، لأن جزء مني يرحب بما أتفاوض حوله ، و جزء مني يرغب بشدة ما أحاول أن أرفضه
إحساس مرير ، شعورك بالفشل ! و هذا هو الغرض من السقوط ، أن تنكسر فتصبح عديم القيمة

قرأت مؤخراً عن رجلين عظيمين في الكتاب المقدس
عن دانيال و عن يوسف . اللذين ثبتا مكانهما و قالا " لا " أشجعك أن تقرأ عنهما ، إخترت آيتين لأجعلهما أمامي في كل مرة أمر بتجربة من هذا النوع ..

أمّا دانيآلُ فجَعَلَ في قَلبِهِ أنَّهُ لا يتنَجَّسُ بأطايِبِ المَلِكِ (دانيآل 1:8 )
فأمسَكَتهُ بثَوْبِهِ قائلَةً: «اضطَجِعْ مَعي!». فترَكَ ثَوْبَهُ في يَدِها وهَرَبَ وخرجَ إلَى خارِجٍ. (التَّكوينُ 39:12 )

دانيال .. قرر في قلبه ( وليس عقله الذي ربما يفتح باباً للنقاش ) أن يرفض " أطايب الملك " طعامه الشهي
و يوسف يهرب من ملكة جميلة ( تخيل نفرتيتي مثلاً ) ترغب فيه أو لك أن تتخيل أي تجربة أو إغراء تعرف في داخلك أنه خاطئ
إحساس عنيف ، نزاع صعب ، و نعم بالطبع واجه كلاهما ( دانيال و يوسف ) مشاكل كثيرة نتيجة قراراتهما الصارمة ، و لكن هذه المشاكل لم تكن سوى نقطة تحول عظيمة في حياة و إيمان كل منهما ..ملأت البركة حياتهما بما يفوق التخيل و التصورات
و تخيل معي .. ماذا لو قبل أي منهما النقاش و ترك باب المفاوضات موارباً 

..إلهي الحبيب
!آتي نحوك الآن ، بكل سقطاتي المخجلة ، أتضرع إليك أن تقيمني ، تنتشلني ، أرتمي في أحضان حبك ، و أعلم أني لست وحدي
!أشكرك لأن نعمتك تكفيني ، و أن قوتك تكمل في ضعفي
!أشكرك لأجل الروح القدس الذي يقيمني وقت التجربة و الإختبارات ، قوتي فيك ، لأني بشدة أحتاج سلامك
.آمين

!صديقي .. لا تتفاوض .. إثبت مكانك 

!خلينا منورين ️