School performance..and a Father

Fist of all, I would like to wish all my friends and dear ones "Ramadan Kareem"! May it bring the warmth and love we always share together during its days and long nights!

This year Ramadan coincides with the last days of school for many of our children. The excitement it brings to my kids is not caused by the vacation to start soon, but rather by the end of "year closing event" they will perform in front of all the parents, showcasing what they learned and put their efforts in perfecting. Leila and Farida kept rehearsing their songs and plays, thinking about the surprising effect they will leave on us.
Here comes the BIG day of the show, they went to school and with a big kiss on my face they told me "See you today Papi, don't be late." I went as promised since I missed it last year, and sat among all the parents that came to watch their kids glowing and growing as a year passed by by. All the kids looked amazing, with the biggest proud smiles on their faces, looking with confidence into the eyes of their parents with a posture of "Look at me...I am a super star". They got their confidence by the applause and kisses sent in the air from their moms and dads. ALL so cheerful except one, who had her eyes wet, her head turning around, every second and another, standing on the tips of her toes, searching desperately for her parents...who didn't show up, despite the promise to be there. I was really sad, you could see her confidence shaken, her hopes crashed and her interest lost. She knew that no one is there to cheer for her. At the end show, her mother came in running, and as soon as the girl's eyes fell on her, she broke into unstoppable tears...in fact both of them.
So small of an incident, so Big of emotions!

In that moment, I thanked God for always having His eyes over me. How comfortable and peace inducing is the confidence we have in His presence throughout our days. I know that all my works are in front of His eyes, to rejoice and to save. I know that nothing can separate me of His love..no distance, darkness, sleep, traffic, work nothing...He is watching all over me. I Love this verse in Psalm 34:

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry (Psalm 34:15 NIV)
عَينا الرَّبِّ نَحوَ الصِّدّيقينَ، وأُذُناهُ إلَى صُراخِهِمْ. (المَزاميرُ ١٥:٣٤)

I pray today that our walk in life would bring Him joy and pride as my kids did brought to my heart that day. Yet I know, that no matter what mistake I do on stage, He will be there helping, correcting and cheering me up as He promised saying "and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. (Matthew 28:20 AMP)". AMEN!

Keep your peace my friends...He is ALWAYS there!

!إرفعوا الستار

آخر ايام العام الدراسي
 الاثارة التي تملأ عيون الاطفال بإقتراب الاجازه ، ويفوقها اثارة و حماس ( حفلة نهاية السنة الدراسية ) .. الاستعدادات للعرض الكبير الذي سيقدمونه امام الاباء و الامهات و الذي يجمعون فيه كل ما تعلموه طوال العام ويستجمعون كل قدراتهم الصغيرة علي الإبهار
 ظلت بناتي يتدربن بكل حماس علي الاغنيات و يراجعن الادوار ..في انتظار اللحظة التي فيها ستلتقي أعيننا وهم علي المسرح و نحن ننظر ونستمع بإنبهار شديد ، و نفكر كيف يكبر الاطفال بسرعه 
ثم جاء اليوم الكبير و قبلتني ابنتي بسرعه قبل المدرسه وقالت " هشوفك النهارده .. متتأخرش "
 وعدتها وذهبت تماماً كما وعدتها ( فمازال ضميري يؤنبني لاني لم احضر حفل العام الماضي ) وجلست بين الاباء والامهات في انتظار أطفالنا في أبهي لحظاتهم.
صعد الاطفال علي المسرح بعيون تلمع بالسعاده والفخر..عيون تنطق بكلمه واحده " انا نجمة
يستجمعون ثقتهم بنظرات في اعين اباءهم ويتلقون السند والشجاعه وقبلات في الهواء هنا وهناك
 كلهم سعداء إلا واحدة .. ظلت تبحث بعينها الصغيره الدامعة... تلتفت كل دقيقه .. تقف علي اطراف اصابعها بحثاً عن ابيها او امها .. احزنني ان اري ثقتها تهتز .. و املها يتحطم .. وببساطة فقدت حماسها للحفل ، فلم يكن هناك من يسعد طفولتها
 في نهايه الحفل دخلت ام الطفله تجري و جرت الطفله نحوها في بكاء و حسرة... و بكت الام ايضاً.. موقف بسيط جداً .. و مؤثر جداً
و لكني في هذه اللحظة شكرت الله الذي لم يرفع عينه عني ابدا
وكم هو احساس مريح و يبعث علي السلام.

!تلك الثقه بوجوده... بحضوره... بملازمته لنا كل ايام حياتنا

!وأعلم ان كل أعمالي امام عينيه ، فأفرح قلبه .. وفي وقت الحاجة... يحميني
 و انا أدرك انه لا شئ ...لا شئ ...يمكن ان يفصلني عن محبته...لا يعوقه شئ عن ملاحظتي و الاعتناء بي .. المسافات لا تعوقه .. و لا ظلمه !تحجبه و لا زحام يضلله .. الهي لا ينعس و لا ينام

يقول عنه داود النبي في المزمور
عَينا الرَّبِّ نَحوَ الصِّدّيقينَ، وأُذُناهُ إلَى صُراخِهِمْ. (المَزاميرُ ١٥:٣٤)

..أصلي ان تكون حياتي ( و حياتكم ) لمسرة قلب الله و سبب فخره .. تماماً كما يجلب أولادي السعادة الي قلبي كل يوم 
نعم أدرك انه اياً كانت اخطائي علي مسرح الحياة .. سيكون الهي هناك .. مسانداً .. مقوماً .. مفرحاً 
كوعده الامين ... وَهَا أَنَا مَعَكُمْ كُلَّ ٱلْأَيَّامِ إِلَى ٱنْقِضَاءِ ٱلدَّهْرِ». آمِينَ

!اصدقائي ..احتفظوا بالسلام .. فالله دائماً هنا
! خلينا منورين

Wattsapp Group Protocols

I love Wattsapp groups! I believe this application has touched the lives of many, reunited departed friends, created efficiency in communication and a platform of sharing ideas and thoughts. Above all, despite watching from afar (another country) I see that it has impacted drastically our social habits..and pre-outings agreements :-)
I specially love this moment when someone just starts a chain of "happy birthday" messages. Once this message pops on my screen, I prepare my phone battery to receive the full day flooding chain of messages on that same wattsapp group congratulating that same person. It became part of the unwritten protocol of wattsapp! You CAN NOT NEGLECT and you Shall NOT forget reacting along with the group...I tell you, it will be questioned, wandered and analyzed. In that moment, There is an urge inside you pushing to type a may-be redundant by now "happy Birthday ya ... (And some smileys, hearties, huggies, w taratir)". You feel it's too much but you still do it...because you belong to that group, you cant just keep watching, you act and add your value in that virtual world. I am sure by now you have a smile on your face recalling one these moments!

Do you know that you and I belong to another bigger group..a wireless one too..a group connected all over the globe by faith, by one heart, under One God. St. Paul the apostle wrote a lot about the group we belong too and clearly reminded us of the following urge:

"Do not NEGLECT to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16)

ولكن لا تنسوا فِعلَ الخَيرِ والتَّوْزيعَ، لأنَّهُ بذَبائحَ مِثلِ هذِهِ يُسَرُّ اللهُ. (العِبرانيّينَ ١٣:١٦)

Yes, it is this same urge or call of "Do not neglect". We are simply called to react to it and bring it alive..we need to be worthy of that group. It is strange that we can feel the pressure of a wattsapp protocol, yet we can easily Forget or neglect our real life protocol. You and I are called for higher purposes. Do not neglect the urge to do good, to share His love and bring it to a world that, day after day, hungers more for God's presence...through YOU! Do not accept being passive in the REAL world we live in, start by your home, family, work, friends....show them "the sacrifices that are  pleasing to God".

Do not neglect to do good TODAY my friend!

The World Cup at Sight!

The World cup fever just reminds me of all the great sports events we enjoy throughout the year. Most of the final games, the trophy or cup is displayed at the entrance of the field...What a sight for the teams entering the arena, seeing this precious prize standing in front of their eyes (I mostly get in mind the Champions League Cup with its big Ears) calling them to give their utmost for that goal..to live the moment they fought for so far...to go the extra mile before lifting this cup in the air and writing history in glory. What a magical motivation and focus power, seeing their goal (cup), can bring. I specially like it when the coaches say: "We take every game as a new challenge, as a new chance to write the future, we do not get distracted by the past, as we look towards what awaits us...towards the cup we want to hold dearly. It is better to look ahead and prepare than look back and regret!" That's a spirit of seeing your Goal and marching on!

Believe me, our spiritual life is not different than those players on the field. Our souls need to see the prize, we need to know what are we marching towards and why we take that journey (a Tough Journey) of faith in our 21st Century. St. Paul wrote it perfectly in his letter to the Philippians:

"..but now I think that all things are worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Christ, I lost all these things, and now I know that they are all worthless trash. All I want now is Christ. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death. (Philippians 3:8, 10 ERV)

بل إنّي أحسِبُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ أيضًا خَسارَةً مِنْ أجلِ فضلِ مَعرِفَةِ المَسيحِ يَسوعَ رَبّي، الّذي مِنْ أجلِهِ خَسِرتُ كُلَّ الأشياءِ، وأنا أحسِبُها نُفايَةً لكَيْ أربَحَ المَسيحَ، لأعرِفَهُ، وقوَّةَ قيامَتِهِ، وشَرِكَةَ آلامِهِ، مُتَشَبِّهًا بموتِهِ، (فيلِبّي ٨،١٠:٣)

Did you ever deeply think what is the prize you are going after? Did you realize what is your faith useful for? Did you seek, focus, train, and dedicate your time to win the prize CLEARLY defined by the apostle Paul..The prize of Knowing Him PERSONALLY the way he was seeking in saying "Christ MY Lord"..Making it a PERSONAL relationship goal. I believe the prize of knowing Him is extending beyond a personal glory, it is a prize that will reflect on you, shine through you and extend its power to the world around you. As the family and friends of any sports champion live as well his prize-winning pride, fame and glory, so will the ones around you.

I urge you today in your personal time of prayer (if you didn't block it in your busy agenda, plz do it now) to reflect on the goal of you faith..to check if you can say with Paul "All I want now is Christ. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death."

GO onto the Field, the World is watching, the World is Needing Goal-Seeking Players like you!

Caught Red Handed

I love it when I catch my little girls "red handed" متلبسين as it gives me the chance to share with them another learning or lesson that, I hope, would last them for life.
I specially remember when I first caught them trying to read in bed after already being put to sleep. I came in, to suddenly hear this chaotic silent noise, the bed cover still moving, a pretention of a sleep..and a torch light forgotten On :-) Despite "fearing" punishment, they obviously could not deny their action. I then went on talking them through the importance of a good sleep on healthy growth, eye fatigue of reading in dark and some more of that "Daddy bla bla bla".

Next day, happened the unexpected! After hearing some noise from their room, I went in to find them simply keeping a small light on, sitting and reading as if Last night's lesson was just out of the window. They looked at me with an innocent smile seeing the anger on my face, and purely explained "dont worry Papi, Mami said we can spend some time reading today as tomorrow is holiday! Bonne nuit Papi!" then went back to their fairy tales. In total silence, I left the room wishing them a good read and sweet dreams! Boom..it was me who got a lesson that night, their contrasting "BOLD" action of reading in bed and not fearing it only came through the "POWER and AUTHORITY" given to them by Aline!

This brings me back to more than 2000 years ago, to a group of Jesus followers that went from hiding behind closed doors out of FEAR (John 20:19), to BOLDLY speaking out loud to the multitudes about our Lord Jesus Christ. On His first public sermon Peter did not hide or deny but Spoke in all "Power and Authority". On that day about 3000 people were added to the group of believers. (Acts 2:41). The contrasting "BOLD" actions are telling us the message...They Received as well received "The POWER and Authority"..a totally different one  as Jesus Promised:

But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. (Acts 1:8 AMP)

لكنكُمْ ستَنالونَ قوَّةً مَتَى حَلَّ الرّوحُ القُدُسُ علَيكُمْ، وتَكونونَ لي شُهودًا في أورُشَليمَ وفي كُلِّ اليَهوديَّةِ والسّامِرَةِ وإلَى أقصَى الأرضِ». (أعمالُ الرُّسُلِ  ٨:١)

That power of the Holy Spirit in those few men changed the face of the earth for ever. Do you know that you have the same power in you? Do you use it for its purpose? On that special day of Pentecost (العنصرة), I urge you to Pray for that same unchangeable Holy Spirit in you, seeking "The power and authority" to be the witness of faith, hope and love you were ASKED to be.

Be Bold my Friends...you have THE Power!

!القوة بين إيديك

عادة حين أفاجئ بناتي ، في تلك اللحظة التي يرتكبون فيها غلطة من غلطاتهم الطفولية، أستغل الفرصه لأقدم درساً أبوياً جديداً يتعلمون منه وربما ينفعهم يوماً في الحياة!
وأتذكر جيداً مرة فاجأتهم يقرؤون حينما نتوقع ان يكونوا نياماً!
 لاحظتهم يتدارون بسرعه تحت الأغطيه و أحد الكشافات مضاءاً ( نسيت ابنتي مع استعجالها ان تطفئه ) و اختها تتظاهر بالنوم العميق... وطبعاً لم يستطيعوا ان ينكروا فعلتهم
 و انطلق سيل النصائح الابويه عن فوائد النوم مبكراً ، و خطوره القراءة في إضاءة خافته علي العين .. الي آخره :)
 وفي اليوم التالي .. سمعت اصواتهم مره اخري .. و بينما توقعت ان افاجئهم و يتكرر مشهد الامس .. حدث عكس ما توقعت .. وجدتهم و بمنتهي الثقه يقرؤون في غرفة مُضاءة و لم أري أي علامة من علامات الخوف علي الرغم من علامات الغضب الظاهرة بوضوح علي وجهي
 لاحظت ابنتي فأوضحت ببراءة .."لا تقلق .. ماما وافقت ان نقرأ لفتةه اطول ، فغداً أجازة" و تمنت لي ليله سعيده و عادت الي كتابها
تركتها وقد تعلمت انا درساً جديداً
جرأة اليوم في مقابل خوف الامس
!من اين لهم بكل هذه الثقه
 انها " القوه و السلطان "الممنوحتان لهن من أمهم 

أعادني المشهد الي ذلك اليوم .. حين تحول التلاميذ و الرسل من الخوف و الاختباء خلف الابواب المغلقة الي الجرأه و الاعلان امام جموع الناس عن المسيح 

لكنكُمْ ستَنالونَ قوَّةً مَتَى حَلَّ الرّوحُ القُدُسُ علَيكُمْ، وتَكونونَ لي شُهودًا في أورُشَليمَ وفي كُلِّ اليَهوديَّةِ والسّامِرَةِ وإلَى أقصَى الأرضِ». (أعمالُ الرُّسُلِ ٨:١)

وفي أولي عظاته امام جماهير من الشعوب المختلفة .. يقف بطرس بقوة و سلطان
يعظ بلا خوف
مضيفاً الي المؤمنين ثلاثه الاف نفس
لقد تحصن بقوة و سلطان من الروح في ذلك اليوم
!قوه الروح القدس العاملة في اولئك الرجال، الخائفون بالأمس، غيرت وجه الارض
وهل نعرف ان نفس تلك الروح تسكن فينا؟
و هل نستخدمها من أجل ذات الغرض ؟

أصلي وأدعوكم لتصلوا من اجل ذات الروح الذي يملأنا... و يسكن فينا
ومن اجل ذات القوة و نفس السلطان الذي يمنحه الروح القدس فنحيا شهودا علي الايمان
!أليست هذه دعوتنا
!لنكن إذاً بقوة بطرس و جرأته .. فروح واحد يجمعنا .. يقوينا .. و بسلطان يؤيد شهادتنا

 خلينا منورين

I Have The Power and Authority, Dad!

I love it when I catch my little girls "red handed" متلبسين as it gives me the chance to share with them another learning or lesson that, I hope, would last them for life.
I specially remember when I first caught them trying to read in bed after already being put to sleep. I came in, to suddenly hear this chaotic silent noise, the bed cover still moving, a pretention of a sleep..and a torch light forgotten On :-) Despite "fearing" punishment, they obviously could not deny their action. I then went on talking them through the importance of a good sleep on healthy growth, eye fatigue of reading in dark and some more of that "Daddy bla bla bla".

Next day, happened the unexpected! After hearing some noise from their room, I went in to find them simply keeping a small light on, sitting and reading as if Last night's lesson was just out of the window. They looked at me with an innocent smile seeing the anger on my face, and purely explained "don't worry Papi, Mami said we can spend some time reading today as tomorrow is holiday! Bonne nuit Papi!" 
then went back to their fairy tales. In total silence, I left the room wishing them a good read and sweet dreams! Boom..it was me who got a lesson that night, their contrasting "BOLD" action of reading in bed and not fearing it only came through the "POWER and AUTHORITY" given to them by Aline!

This brings me back to more than 2000 years ago, to a group of Jesus followers that went from hiding behind closed doors out of FEAR (John 20:19), to BOLDLY speaking out loud to the multitudes about our Lord Jesus Christ. On His first public sermon Peter did not hide or deny but Spoke in all "Power and Authority". On that day about 3000 people were added to the group of believers. (Acts 2:41). The contrasting "BOLD" actions are telling us the message...They Received as well received "The POWER and Authority"a totally different one as Jesus Promised:

But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be 
My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth. (Acts 1:8 AMP)
لكنكُمْ ستَنالونَ قوَّةً مَتَى حَلَّ الرّوحُ القُدُسُ علَيكُمْ، وتَكونونَ لي شُهودًا في أورُشَليمَ وفي كُلِّ اليَهوديَّةِ والسّامِرَةِ وإلَى أقصَى الأرضِ». (أعمالُ الرُّسُلِ ٨:١)

That power of the Holy Spirit in those few men changed the face of the earth for ever. Do you know that you have the same power in you? Do you use it for its purpose? On that special day of Pentecost (العنصرة), I urge you to Pray for that same unchangeable Holy Spirit in you, seeking "The power and authority" to be the witness of faith, hope and love you were ASKED to be.

Be Bold my Friends...you have THE Power!

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

I injured my knee couple of month ago, and yes it had(s) its impact on me. Last February, I went out for my regular run, and just 10 minutes later, i felt a strange pinch inside my knee..i kept going thinking it would click back normally, but no it didn't. In short, after some checkups/MRIs, found out I developed what's called the "illioTibial Band Syndrome". With such an inflammation in my knee tissues, I had to quit running for a while to allow its good healing. Guess what, this was just the igniting flame to start the engine of "Laziness" and "Self Pity"! Yes I admit, My "Lazy Me" was just making sure that I keep focusing on my injury, envying runners i saw on the streets, and most of all, blinding me of all other activities I still could do without relying on the knee (I could hear the laughs and whispers of that Lazy Me!). Something inside me, mentally, got turned off and this "letting go" mode took over all the Health awareness rituals I have built throughout the past year. I allowed it to grow more and more, till I decided to step up again, dust off and hit it back to the gym (without knee exercises). WOW...How did I allow my self in that downward spiral..Felt so good, so energizing..and determined to bring back what I lost.

I have lived exactly the same on my Spiritual level (I guess I am not alone). I remember times when I felt my soul souring up to the skies, and my faith unshaken..then comes Sin conquering me in moments of weakness, afflicting that same "Knee Injury" on a spiritual level. Yes, the same "Letting Go" mode finds its way back creating "self pity" times. At such times, I do feel weak, desperate and surely living a lie (literally listening to the laughs of THE Enemy growing deep in me). The Prophet Micah ميخا wrote with the Spirit a verse I keep dear to myself and in front of my eyes:

Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. (Michah 7:8 NASB)

لا تشمَتي بي يا عَدوَّتي، إذا سقَطتُ أقومُ. إذا جَلَستُ في الظُّلمَةِ فالرَّبُّ نورٌ لي. (ميخا  ٨:٧

I just love the determination and persistence in that verse, Though I fall I WILL Rise..for the power of the resurrection is in us, lives in you and me, the Holy Spirit is our comforter and counselor to know that Falling is just temporary while our victory is everlasting. If I Stumble, I WILL RISE!

Dear God, I pray today that I along all the ones reading these words, can say out loud 'I will dust off and Rise again in the Light of your love..for I know Lord that You again have compassion on us; tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. (Michah 7:19 NASB).

Dust off, and Rise Now..in His Light once again!