Smells Like Spring

Who gets moved by scents and aroma? I do big time. I admit I am a person that gets affected by the smell of the environment around me...as I always tell Aline God took a bit of my hearing powers and added them to my nose-not sure she really likes that option :) Let me invite you to close your eyes and just think of the scents and smells that tickle this deep part in your soul...you will probably get a smile on your face while doing that..you know why? Because while you are remembering the smell, you memory is recalling the mood, the surrounding, memories and links that you keep deep in your hearts. 

Let me share some of mine:

Smell of a Starbucks coffee shop...doesn't remind me of coffee only..but reminds me of the kitchen morning (bonjour papi) hugs I get from my kids while preparing my coffee!

Smell of roasted lamb just brings me back home at my mother's kitchen, holding her in my arm while celebrating Christmas meal with the family waiting in the dining room for lunch to be served!

Smell of burning wood reminds me of the fun we had around camp fires we did during scout days or the laid back nights in basata!

This lemony Smell of Off Spray (mosquito repellent) brings back to the late night gatherings of my summer vacations next to the beach!

Smell of underground garage, Smell of McNuggets, new tennis balls, sweet batata..

And for sure some perfumes instantly brings some people so vividly to your mind!

All these smells are just bringing me back to something or someone..that's why now we see all these marketed candles named "summertime break" or "day in the forest" and so on. 

Couldn't help but think in the precision of what is written in the 2nd letter to Corinthians

ولكن شُكرًا للهِ الّذي يَقودُنا في مَوْكِبِ نُصرَتِهِ في المَسيحِ كُلَّ حينٍ، ويُظهِرُ بنا رائحَةَ مَعرِفَتِهِ في كُلِّ مَكانٍ. لأنَّنا رائحَةُ المَسيحِ الذَّكيَّةُ للهِ، في الّذينَ يَخلُصونَ وفي الّذينَ يَهلِكونَ. لهؤُلاءِ رائحَةُ موتٍ لموتٍ، ولأولئكَ رائحَةُ حياةٍ لحياةٍ. (كورِنثوس الثّانيةُ 2:14-16 AVDDV)

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:14, 15 NLT)

Yes, you and I are invited to be The Smell of Christ Everywhere.. You are called to be the candle that brings your friends back to the source..back to Christ. I have met persons that did spread this fragrance..you could just sense it even from a far. The Holy spirit in them is burning the essence of Love and guess what, like I mentioned Off Spray (or citronella candle or tree) smelling nice for some yet repellent to the evil "mosquito" powers trying to have a bite of your life! 

Dear Lord, I pray today that we bring back the Glory to you..and that we spread to our world this sweet smell of faith, hope and love through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name. Amen!

This Is Captain Eduardo..Welcome!

"Hello, This is Captain Eduardo van Vugt welcoming you onboard of flight number..going to...(You know the rest!)". In the past few years, I have been on many planes and funny enough, seen the same attitude all over. Here comes the moment when the cabin crew starts explaining the Flight Safety Instructions...just as it starts, have a look around, you will probably find at least one of the following: A mother screaming at her kids-who are already fighting with each other- to put on their seat belt, another posting his last selfie before the plane takes off, next to him one reading every article of the planes magazine, and in that Business class one checking his Blackberry for the mail he's waiting for..and yes, the one behind snoring already. ALL that while the poor crew is doing their best to explain sincerely what to do when the ride gets tough.

I just wonder if these people's careless attitude would change if they know that the ride WILL get tough..will they be READY for it? DO they know what it takes to be saved..really? I guess they just feel that "it happens to others not us..Let's feel safe and comfy..It is not now not today!"

We do have the same attitude when it comes to our little ride on earth called life..Lots of people just live feeling that it is not today..it wont happen to me..I do not need to think about what's next. Jesus knew that this would be the attitude and He opened our eyes through His parabole (story) about Heaven..about the King who invited the people to the banquet of his son's wedding saying:

قولوا للمَدعوّينَ:.. كلُّ شَيءٍ مُعَدٌّ. تعالَوْا إلَى العُرسِ! ولكنهُمْ تهاوَنوا ومَضَوْا، واحِدٌ إلَى حَقلِهِ، وآخَرُ إلَى تِجارَتِهِ، (مَتَّى 22:4, 5 AVDDV)

Tell them...all things are ready: come to the marriage feast. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; (Matthew 22:4, 5 ASV)

Yes, He knew that we will be careless to His calling feeling comfy that it is not now or today...though we're never sure if the next breath is on its way!

 Dear God, I pray today for all the ones, including myself, living careless to the call..thinking that "the instructions" are not for me, just accepting that it will be alright..Show me the Way..Show me the Light..I wanna know You more...to know where this exit sign leads to. I thank You for Calling me by name..Here I am. Amen!

Upper Egypt

I have always been wondering during school days why is it called "Upper" Egypt...even though it is Down there, south...not Up! I thought is it خطأ شائع (common mistake)...so decided to check our own arabic language..and surprised to find it called الصعيد (Al sa3eid) which, after searching, realized it is derived from the verb صعد which means to escalate..to Go up! I am sure some of you-curious ones-had the same question. With all this realization, I then found out that this is what it takes for our dear "Nile" river to flow "down" to Cairo and towards the mediterranean..Flowing from a higher land to a lower platform. When I put all the pieces of the puzzle together..only then, I understood the "Upper" part of this name.

Ok..some of you wonder where I am heading to. The following verse was the reason:

...On that day Jesus stood up and said loudly, “Whoever is thirsty may come to me and drink. If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from their heart. That is what the Scriptures say.” Jesus was talking about the Spirit.(John 7:37-39 ERV)
...وقَفَ يَسوعُ ونادَى قائلًا: «إنْ عَطِشَ أحَدٌ فليُقبِلْ إلَيَّ ويَشرَبْ. مَنْ آمَنَ بي، كما قالَ الكِتابُ، تجري مِنْ بَطنِهِ أنهارُ ماءٍ حَيٍّ». قالَ هذا عن الرّوحِ الّذي كانَ المؤمِنونَ بهِ مُزمِعينَ أنْ يَقبَلوهُ (يوحَنا 7:37-39 AVDDV)

What a strong expression our Lord Is using here..Rivers of Living Water flowing from YOUR hearts. The image of the serenity, yet the unstoppable power of the Nile flashed in my mind..the realization that it flows from a higher "Upper" ground helped me understand what prayer does to our hearts! In Prayer, our soul is lifted up to the skies..our hearts elevate to meet God on the mountains..we are brought to Higher grounds looking down to all earthly matters, problems and worries..flooding all our surrounding with the fruits that the flowing river of the Spirit brings: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22, 23 ERV).

Go "Down" on your knees..to be Lifted to "Upper" grounds my friends!

Each Day Counts

"It is already end of Feb, and we didn't get to know our targets yet! The year is flying by...!" We all feel the "need of time" when it comes to target achievements! In the corporate world, I know quite well the frustration generated when "targets setting" is taking time and getting quite late. You do feel that everyday passing in the year is a lesser chance/opportunity for you to deliver on the agreed targets expected from you and the team. "If I only had just couple of weeks more..." A statement you don't wanna see yourself saying in December..late action on your goals leaves you with fewer months to perform and excel..and you don't want to end short of achievement because you only didn't have time or just wasted what you had! It is true, I also feel the time pressure when we do get close to a due date...i guess you can even link it to your days of studies..when the exam was knocking on the door, the most valuable thing becomes TIME that you might have wasted in the early few months of the year.

No wonder the writer of Ecclesiastes (سفر الجامعة)-an amazing book in the bible- draws our attention to not waste the days of youth..the early days of your life..the first few months of the year...the time when DO have time and life in front of you. We have seen lately lives "cut short"..young women and men departing before we thought they would...this puts even more time pressure! The verse goes like this:

Remember your Creator while you are young, before the bad times come—before the years come when you say, “I have wasted my life.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1 ERV)
فاذكُرْ خالِقَكَ في أيّامِ شَبابِكَ، قَبلَ أنْ تأتيَ أيّامُ الشَّرِّ أو تجيءَ السِّنونَ إذ تقولُ: «ليس لي فيها سُرورٌ». (الجامِعَةِ 12:1 AVDDV)

One thing for sure I don't like hearing myself saying.."if I only knew earlier..if i only acted when i had time..wish I could turn back time!"

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the days you have blessed me with and I pray that the remaining ones are lived for you, for the goals you have set in front of our eyes..for the days, hours and minutes that pass by..passing by acting for the Glory and a Better life You have promised. I know it is NEVER too late with You..Give me the strength to start NOW. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Make each day worth it, my friends!