The "Wanting" to Change

"Coaching" is the big thing now in the world of human development. Who ever is in the business world knows what "coaching" means. Most of the time, it is a one to one tailor made form of training made for executives, that unlike traditional therapy, which often focuses on the past, on who you got to where you are now, coaching focus on the present and future, on where you want to go (in life or business) and the most effective way to get there.

I am reading these days a book by one of the top business coaches in our days "Marshall Goldsmith" with an interesting title and topic "What Got You Here Wont Get You There". He was talking about his role as a coach and his ability to make success with his clients who with, a big ego, tend to resist a needed change. He wrote a statement that caught my attention "I have now made peace with the fact that I can not 'make' people change. I can only help them get better at what they 'choose' to change". This "wanting to change" is the key. Boom! This is so simple..yet powerfully true!

Same in the spiritual world, our Loving god has created us with the free will to "choose and want". I guess that the most amazing changes happened to the ones wanting to go the extra mile..wanting to reject their reality and embrace a new world...the ones that made God's might meet their heart's desire. Their boldness and courage melt my heart. Every time I read the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar at the wall of Jericho, I see this boldness that I pray having one day. Those 6 lines in Mark 10:46-52 are worth reading..every letter of it. The scene is great to imagine and allow me to quote these three verses:

فلَمّا سمِعَ أنَّهُ يَسوعُ النّاصِريُّ، ابتَدأَ يَصرُخُ ويقولُ: «يا يَسوعُ ابنَ داوُدَ، ارحَمني!» فانتَهَرَهُ كثيرونَ ليَسكُتَ، فصَرَخَ أكثَرَ كثيرًا: «يا ابنَ داوُدَ، ارحَمني!». فوَقَفَ يَسوعُ وأمَرَ أنْ يُنادَى. فنادَوْا الأعمَى قائلينَ لهُ: «ثِقْ! قُمْ! هوذا يُناديكَ». (مَرقُسَ.  10:47-49)

He heard that Jesus from Nazareth was walking by. So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, please help me!” Many people criticized the blind man and told him to be quiet. But he shouted more and more, “Son of David, please help me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”” (Mark 10:47-49 ERV)

The blind Bartimaeus's deep manifested desire caught the attention of Jesus and literally stopped Him! This is a person that took 4 crucial decisions: He knew he was blind...He didnt accept his situation...wanted deep down to change..and finally he knew in Whose hands to put his faith! I am sure if Marshall Goldsmith had Bartimaeus as an executive under coaching..He would have written about his success story of change!

God, i pray to have this faith..I pray to have the listening soul for the "coaching" of your Holy Spirit. Amen

May the blind open the eyes of our heart, Lord!

So tell me, how did you do it?

"Wow..is this...no way! How did he change like that? بيلعب ايه رياضة عشان يتغير كدة؟ olli ya captain..eih elli khalak keda..T25 p90x instanity..gym we khalas..oh, that Trainer..i know him..ok i ll talk to him!..thanks for telling me ya man!"
"Just a minute...are you telling me that this lady there lost all that weight and became what we see now...esta7ala..i really need to know the secret!!! Hi ezayek..sou2al..meen doctor el Regime beta3ek..momken nemreto..Wow thanks..i ll call tomorrow to book an appointment!"

Nothing speaks louder than results! We all look around us and keep asking for referrals when we see outstanding results. We as human beings love the comfort of asking and getting to know the experience others went through and proved successful (and we invented this..3ala ra2y el masal es2al megarrab wala tes2alsh tabib!).. Ask anyone using Booking dot com check on a certain hotel reviews and experiences of travelers who have been there before booking that hotel..or anyone reading reviews of a movie before watching it! And lately the revival of health awareness made all men seek the most effective sports and women seek the breakthrough in nutrition. In a way, these people are walking examples of successful change. Thank God for our social interests of sharing the "recipe of our success". personally, i do promote whatever brought the positive result i experience..if Running changed my fitness, i would simply tell you to put on your shoes, open the door and Run if you want to be fit..because i know what it did to me!

Do you know that this curiosity and need for referral was there as well 2000 years ago! Saint Peter told the believers that accepting the Lord in these days will bring them change..will bring them hope..and peace despite all the persecution and fight they will go through..despite their hard times..he told them that this world's fear wont reach them..wont impact them..and asked them TO ANSWER ALL who ask about the change they went through..about refer them to the ONE who made them the new Hopeful persons they are..

بل قَدِّسوا الرَّبَّ الإلهَ في قُلوبكُمْ، مُستَعِدّينَ دائمًا لمُجاوَبَةِ كُلِّ مَنْ يَسألُكُمْ عن سبَبِ الرَّجاءِ الّذي فيكُم، بوَداعَةٍ وخَوْفٍ، (بُطرُسَ الأولَى 3:15 AVDDV)

But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. (1 Peter 3:15 ERV)

In this unstable world, specially in our beloved county these days, will people come ask you how are you keeping your peace? Will you be ready to share this great love you receive from above and tell them why you have no fear when even you walk in the valley of the shadow of death?

Will your faith be a referral to Him? I am sure you can..just ask and you will be given!

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.