Safety First?!

Leila doesn’t like winters, not because of cold but for separating her from a dear friend. Couple of years ago, on a cold snowy day in Amsterdam, putting Leila in her car seat was an obvious challenge given the size of her winter clothing specially that big stuffed jacket that took big space of her tight car seat. Set and off we go. On the way, she told me:
Pa, I don't like winter.
Me: I know, it is cold and grey but it has its beauty with all this snow and this…
Leila (interrupting me): No it is not about the weather, it is because that all these clothes and that jacket are not allowing me to have Loulou (her teddy bear) squeezed next to me in my car seat!
Me (few seconds of thinking): Leila, your warmth and security come first...You have to choose...Loulou doesn't have a place now.

She used to ride the car and squeeze in her friend Loulou next to her in that tight car seat but now, she can´t. This big jacket stands in the way, she couldn’t have both with her. Caring less about the cold, willingly wanting to let go of her warming jacket and seat belt, she only focused on her friend losing its place next her.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)
«اُدخُلوا مِنَ البابِ الضَّيِّقِ، لأنَّهُ واسِعٌ البابُ ورَحبٌ الطَّريقُ الّذي يؤَدّي إلَى الهَلاكِ، وكثيرونَ هُمُ الّذينَ يَدخُلونَ مِنهُ! ما أضيَقَ البابَ وأكرَبَ الطريقَ الّذي يؤَدّي إلَى الحياةِ، وقَليلونَ هُمُ الّذينَ يَجِدونَهُ! (7 مَتَّى:13-14)

I admit, in many times we only like to read the comforting messages, but Jesus’s wake up call here is set clearly to our face. The context of these verses in Matthew 5,6 and 7 sets its very clear in which Jesus shared His Heavenly teachings (sermon on the mount) about our walk in life: Love your enemies, Do to others what you want them to do to you, forgive, watch your thoughts, bless your haters, and shine your light. Our baggages of selfishness, condemnation, revenge, envy and lots more will probably stand on our way getting through this tight door..it won’t fit…exactly as the teddy bear didn’t fit into that car seat!

Lord, I pray for your Holy Spirit to come and lift off these BAGGAGES from me..the road is harsh yet I know that I can lean on you…Not by my strength but through the Power of Your Spirit living in us. Here I come, knock the door and ask for you to Fill my soul. Amen!

I wonder how many times in life (and till when) we choose the teddy bear over that car seat? Safety first. Right?

Keep shining my friends!

MY Restaurant..

I love going out to restaurants and cafes, yet there is always a place (or two) I consider MY own, MY repertoire, MY Place. What makes it special is not just good cuisine but it is the whole experience of making me enjoying couple of hours in a welcoming ambiance and surely a service worth coming back for making me feel at my own the place. The Best trick that ALWAYS brings a big smile on my face is being greeted and welcomed in person by name (yes remembering it). Only then, I do feel that I am really special not just a client like all the rest coming in. Wait, it doesn’t stop there, What puts the icing on the cake is when this same waiter comes and asks you if my coffee is without whipped cream and skimmed milk like I always ask for! WOW…Not just my name, but my specific tailor made order is known to him. Only then, belonging to this place takes a whole new level for me…next to the big proud confident smile looking at the people sitting on my table hinting “look at me…Yes I am special” smile emoticon

You probably know where I am heading to…

“Don’t be afraid. I saved you. I named you. You are mine. (Isaiah 43:1 ERV)
«لا تخَفْ لأنّي فدَيتُكَ. دَعَوْتُكَ باسمِكَ. أنتَ لي. (43 إشَعياءَ:1 )
"Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:8 ERV)
فلا تتَشَبَّهوا بهِمْ. لأنَّ أباكُمْ يَعلَمُ ما تحتاجونَ إليهِ قَبلَ أنْ تسألوهُ. (6 مَتَّى:8 )

Can you imagine that our Heavenly Father knows not only your name, wants and needs in person, He Knows the deepest desires, fears, unspoken prayers and all the tears shed in private. What a Grace we have in Him, what a privilege to have such a love. Yet lots of us prefer seeking unknown restaurants where you know you will just be another forgotten client, where no one cares your name and your needs are kept to yourself…no Tailor making here!

Come on…The Kitchen is open 24/7…All you have to do is step in! You are welcome anytime!

Compassionately Cold

Compassionately Cold:
The 2nd week of January experienced a Strike of cold weather onto Egypt. Cairo was colder than London across some days! "Cold" was the most common word in all conversations, tweets and posts. Yes, we were at home under layers of covers, drinking our hot drinks, yet feeling our guts trembling with these low temperatures. I have noticed that suddenly everyone became very compassionate towards the poor lacking decent clothing, the homeless suffering the cold bites sleeping on the freezing pavements, the mothers who had to keep their babies warm. Thinking and praying for them, collecting blankets, offering shelter, and much more was done as their suffering suddenly became so relevant, vivid and real to us as we all lived and EXPERIENCED a small glimpse of their harsh Cold Pain.

Celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ opened my eyes to a new blessing, a new reality. In the light of this cold I read Hebrews 4:15 with new eyes:

For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. (Hebrews 4:15 AMP)
لأنْ ليس لنا رَئيسُ كهَنَةٍ غَيرُ قادِرٍ أنْ يَرثيَ لضَعَفاتِنا، بل مُجَرَّبٌ في كُلِّ شَيءٍ مِثلُنا، بلا خَطيَّةٍ. (4 العِبرانيّينَ:15)

Yes, Our God knows it all..He knows your pains..if you feel betrayed, He lived it, if you suffer injustice, He went through it, humiliation...hatred...pain...prosecution...He has been through it all. You are no longer alone, His Compassionate heart feels all of you exactly as you felt the suffering cold of the poor. If we, with hearts of stone, were moved by this cold...what about our Father's heart, source of all true love, coming in flesh to live it all with you and Me!

Whatever it is you are going through, bring it to Him in prayer...He is no stranger to your pain!