Change of Seasons

Change of seasons has its rituals here in Europe. Welcoming winter requires some life adjustments to the city and its inhabitants, not only referring to some Christmas decoration on the streets, earlier hour for turning on the light posts and Anti Slippery snow ready tires, but also about the preparations put in place to receive such a harsh season. what was truly catching my attention is how they dealt with greenery and trees, the beautiful sight of "dead" colorful tree leaves displaying a splendid array of red to orange colors will soon all fall to leave naked thick "scary" branches. They know end of Autumn comes with heavy winds to bring down the leaves, but also shake off the dead branches. For that, they go around trimming and cutting off loose branches to avoid that this beautiful autonomy looking tree doesn't turn into a life threatening block falling on the heads of pedestrians or crushing down cars. Cutting away and Trimming the tree to Make it safe and ready for the trials of Blowing winds and loads of Snow!

You know that you and I are branches hanging to the Tree of Life, Branches extending from our Lord. I love tis passage in John 15, where Jesus talks to us about the power of abiding in Him, Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine/tree, neither can we bear fruit unless we abide in Him. But the second verse of this passage might be shocking to some:

"Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit." (John 15:2 AMP)
«أنا الكَرمَةُ الحَقيقيَّةُ وأبي الكَرّامُ. كُلُّ غُصنٍ فيَّ لا يأتي بثَمَرٍ يَنزِعُهُ، وكُلُّ ما يأتي بثَمَرٍ يُنَقّيهِ ليأتيَ بثَمَرٍ أكثَرَ. (15 يوحَنا:1-2 )

Yes, We will be cleansed and trimmed to bear more fruits, we will go through tough cutting to be ready for the winds to come and for the snow to carry. God, Through His loving Hands, knows how our dead branches can crush the ones around us, how falling leaves can leave a mess and slippery grounds on our path of life. It is tough yet His caring hands and Holy Spirit will allow and take us through to bring us to make you and I bear richer, and more excellent fruits. 

Heavenly Father, Here I am..Make me ready for the change of seasons...ready to stand firm and strong abiding in You when the wind blows and winter tests..for in Spring by your glory I shall flourish your Love to the world and bring shade to the ones in need.

Let the trimming begin my friends!

Salty SALARY!

IT IS today...First day of the month..yes...time to check the bank account...THE SALARY is here! I know many of us wait for that day to come impatiently, for the salary means paying debts, buying stuff, medication, rent, etc. Salary is a sweet word to our ears, it has been linked to your value and worth for your company and the market place!

Made me wonder where this word comes from? I found out that salary comes from "SALARIUM" which derives from SALT. yes, salt ملح! During Roman empire, salt was "the salary" paid to soldiers, salt in the times of Jesus was not sold in Carrefour or عم مصطفى البقال, salt was scarce, was a necessity of life. It was used for seasoning (to give a nice flavor), preserving material (keep from turning bad..there was no deep freezer we talaga om babein), and sometimes to disinfect wounds..do you know that major reason for conquering lands was to secure salt back to "headoffice".. romans had soldiers guarding (Via Salaria)..the salt road leading back to Rome!

No wonder when i read Jesus words now i get a total different perspective of what we He what He tells us we are or ought to be! He said:

«أنتُمْ مِلحُ الأرضِ، ولكن إنْ فسدَ المِلحُ فبماذا يُمَلَّحُ؟ لا يَصلُحُ بَعدُ لشَيءٍ، إلّا لأنْ يُطرَحَ خارِجًا ويُداسَ مِنَ الناسِ. (مَتَّى 5:13

Am i expected to be that valuable..i am created to be a necessity of life to the community..are you a necessity? Do you make a difference in your surrounding like salt does, or you are tasteless, with a lost identity..like salt that does not salt!

Dear God, i pray today seeking your guidance, on how to pour my pinch of salt today..make my heart open for knowing where to act..makes my eyes see where salt is needed..difference is needed..and make it, In your name. Amen!

Throw in your "Pinch of Salt" my friends!