Soul Scars

We human beings like to communicate, chat and tell stories. Nothing beats a nice story-telling "dating back to childhood days" among some friends, and preferably if it has some humor in it. I found that we use, even scars, yes Scars and wounds, to tell stories. Funny enough, I can put "scars" stories into categories. There are these "Pride Scars" that hold behind them an heroic act, where you probably got it jumping off the roof to save your little brother who was about to put his hand in a 2 meters tall hungry dog. There are the "Comedy Scars" leaving their mark on you after "smartly" walking into a glass window thinking it was just not there. And then...there are the "Painful Scars", the ones you wish they didn't leave that mark to remind you of an incident painful to your heart, or shameful to share. These are the ones you neglect, try to hide and never give an answer back when asked about them...the one reminding of a loss, a fight, a hatred, or an haunting past.

But most of all there are the "Soul Scars" and these are unseen to the eyes of your surrounding, yet they haunt you down and THEY are the one that keep telling you their stories over and over again. You know, these inner scars don't have a surgical solution but have a God who He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, curing their pains and their sorrows. (Psalm 147:3), a God who says, “I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and sorry for their sins. I will give new life to those who are humble in spirit. I will give new life to those who are sorry for their sins. (Isaiah 57:15)

Jesus encounter with the Leper in Matthew 8 is an undeniable incidence of hope in His Healing Touch..a touch reaching out the soul before the body..the soul that comes kneeling and asking His will...receiving a touch full of might..the only real touch that could contact such an infested body:

Then a man sick with leprosy came to him. The man bowed down before Jesus and said, 

“Lord, you have the power to heal me if you want.” Jesus touched the man. He said, “I want to heal you. Be healed!” Immediately the man was healed from his leprosy. (Matthew 8:2-3 ERV)

وإذا أبرَصُ قد جاءَ وسَجَدَ لهُ قائلًا: «يا سيِّدُ، إنْ أرَدتَ تقدِرْ أنْ تُطَهِّرَني». فمَدَّ يَسوعُ يَدَهُ ولَمَسَهُ قائلًا: «أُريدُ، فاطهُرْ!». ولِلوقتِ طَهُرَ بَرَصُهُ. (8 مَتَّى:2-3 )

Here I Kneel...for YOU to Heal!

A WOW Effect!

Who on earth can just not love this moment of Gift Giving (specially to the kids). The reactions, that glittering happiness in the eyes, this big smile and the hug afterwards are unmatchable joy inducers of life. However, Leila and Farida's happiness manifestations are dis proportionally stronger when the gift comes at unexpected time or even more...in an unexpected way, and bigger than their wish..asking that same wondering question every time "WOW..How and when did you do that?". They showed me that a surprise WOW effect always lasts longer than the Gift-Giving act itself, it brings a story-to-tell and a memory-to-cherish, and That's why the smallest unexpected acts are just invaluable (even for us adults).

How many times our Loving Heavenly father surprised you a with such a WOW effect? It is amazing the number of times He answers prayers beyond our expectations, in size or in timing. I love these verses showing how God works in ways that seem mysterious, ways that we only understand when we start drawing the dots and seeing the plan that have been slowly brewing to deliver this WOW surprise:

- For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 AMP)

«لأنَّ أفكاري لَيسَتْ أفكارَكُمْ، ولا طُرُقُكُمْ طُرُقي، يقولُ الرَّبُّ. لأنَّهُ كما عَلَتِ السماواتُ عن الأرضِ، هكذا عَلَتْ طُرُقي عن طُرُقِكُمْ وأفكاري عن أفكارِكُمْ. (55 إشَعياءَ:8-9
- Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” (John 13:7 NIV)
أجابَ يَسوعُ وقالَ لهُ: «لَستَ تعلَمُ أنتَ الآنَ ما أنا أصنَعُ، ولكنكَ ستَفهَمُ فيما بَعدُ». (13 يوحَنا:7 )
- Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33, 36 NIV)
يا لَعُمقِ غِنَى اللهِ وحِكمَتِهِ وعِلمِهِ! ما أبعَدَ أحكامَهُ عن الفَحصِ وطُرُقَهُ عن الِاستِقصاءِ لأنَّ مِنهُ وبهِ ولهُ كُلَّ الأشياءِ. لهُ المَجدُ إلَى الأبدِ. آمينَ. (11 روميَةَ:33, 36 )

Dear Loving Father, Keeping a steadfast faith in your ways, believing that your Goodness stands ALL the way, makes us look forward unveiling your unexpected ways, your surprising gifts and Your abundant blessings into our lives. I pray that our hearts and minds read beyond the WOW moment and see, in hindsight, your Hand throughout that time weaving a tapestry of unexpected blessings into our own daily lives. Amen!

Keep the faith, Embrace the WOW moments, God has plenty of them for you and me!

PLEASE share with us a "WOW moment" in which God surprised you! I d love to read it 

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

Of Dinner and Scents!

Inviting friends over for dinner is quite a pleasure yet a challenging task sometimes, specially if they don't share your culture! Being abroad for the past years, we did invite some dutch, french, Italian, and Spanish over to experience the wonders of our Lebano-Egyptian cuisine (which they all love by the way). On our first dinner, we prepared, among other dishes, our famous Fattah. Obviously the Fattah is what I call a dish with "Charisma"...you can not skip knowing it is around...its imposing fragrance covers the place. Here come the invitees, we open the doors, with a big smile..Suddenly a series of sneezing broke into the welcoming moments! It seems one of the invitees was allergic to Garlic smell! That's what I call a culture shock followed with lots of "tissues" and "bless yous". Since then, scented candles made their way in our home as the final touch before welcoming our invitees!

Talking about dinners! Last Palm Sunday, I went back in the bible to see what happened on the night before. Jesus was invited for dinner at His friend Lazarus, a big feast, a dinner with similar fragrances of Fattah i can imagine. A Lately resurrected man (Lazarus) was surely attracting people to come over, celebrating Jesus and this miracle. What did Martha and Mary do to prepare the house for the arrival of THE King..i could see a big setting with amazing smell of cooking and spices known to our middle eastern cuisine...lots of invitees and noise.

And here comes what caught my breath in reading in the midst of this feast:

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nardine, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. (John 12:3 NLT)

فأخَذَتْ مَريَمُ مَنًا مِنْ طيبِ نارِدينٍ خالِصٍ كثيرِ الثَّمَنِ، ودَهَنَتْ قَدَمَيْ يَسوعَ، ومَسَحَتْ قَدَمَيهِ بشَعرِها، فامتَلأَ البَيتُ مِنْ رائحَةِ الطّيبِ. (يوحَنا 12:3

It is not only the pure act of love, humility, repentance that Mary did, but the last part of this verse was totally new to me "The house was filled with the fragrance"! (Amazing how we read the passages so many times, and we still keep discovering). No matter what was cooked, or what ever smell the people had around in this house, only one act of true humble love covered it all. Despite all the cooking, and preparations, nothing was mentioned about the house except this fragrance taking over the whole place. And yes, this is exactly what touched the heart of Jesus. None of the human efforts and preparation, none of the cooking could hold the fragrance to fill the house. This act covered it all!

So welcoming Jesus in our House, in our own Jerusalem saying Hosanna like in Palm Sunday, requires one act above all, an act David knew quite well after He committed his sin. He wrote it through the Spirit in the most famous psalm 51:
The sacrifice that God wants is a humble spirit. God, you will not turn away someone who comes with a humble heart and is willing to obey you. (Psalms 51:17)

ذَبائحُ اللهِ هي روحٌ مُنكَسِرَةٌ. القَلبُ المُنكَسِرُ والمُنسَحِقُ يا اللهُ لا تحتَقِرُهُ. (المَزاميرُ. 51:17

Before the cooking of good deeds, The fragrance of a humble heart at His Feet is what your house needs...it will fill your house and heart and as i told you before, this fragrance will also be enjoyed by many around you, and might stick on them as well!

Have a blessed Holy week my friends!

مع قرب العيد ونهاية فترة الصيام، بيوت كتير بتتحضر تستقبل كل أفراد العيلة على وليمة العيد...وليمة الكل مستنيها! العيد بالنسبة لي يعني بيت أهلي وطبيخ أمي. الأكل في يوم زي دة ريحته بتكون واصلة لباب العمارة...وأحلى نفس الواحد بيستنشقه في اليوم هو النفس الكبير مع دخلة المطبخ اللي بيكون عامل زي خلية نحل...الكل بيشتغل ويساعد عشان الوليمة العائلية دي...وبالأخص لو الموضوع فيه "فتة"...دة طبق ذو كاريزما خاصة، استحالة ما تاخدش بالك انه موجود معاك في البيت

اللَمّة الحلوة دي فكرتني بوليمة تانية...وليمة كانت في نفس اليلة دي، ليلة أحد السعف (الشعانين). يسوع كان مدعو مع صديقه لعازر (اللي أقامه من الأموات). أنا متخيل أن العشاء دة كان مالي البيت بريحة الأكل اللي طبخته مرثا...ممكن تكون ريحة شبه اللي كانت مالية بيت أمي. أنا كمان متخيل أن البيت كان مليان مدعوين و ناس فضوليين جايين يشوفوا لعازر اللي قام من الاموات. ناس، زحمة، أكل، احتفال بيسوع و لعازر...
كل دة رائع بس اللي ادهشني هو دقة تعبيرالكتاب في الحدث دة:
 “فأخَذَتْ مَريَمُ مَنًا مِنْ طيبِ نارِدينٍ خالِصٍ كثيرِ الثَّمَنِ، ودَهَنَتْ قَدَمَيْ يَسوعَ، ومَسَحَتْ قَدَمَيهِ بشَعرِها، فامتَلأَ البَيتُ مِنْ رائحَةِ الطّيبِ.”
‮‮يوحَنا‬ ‭12:3‬  ‭
 الانكسار، التواضع والمحبة الخالصة اللي قدمتهم مريم يفوق كل توقعات في جلسة زي دي...لكن اللي شد انتباهي أكتر هو آخر جملة في الآية: "امتلأ البيت من رائحة الطيب". كام مرة قريت القطعة دي وعديت على الجملة دي مرور الكرام.
 تقدمة واحدة حقيقية من قلب خاشع محب غَطِت على كل الاكل والروايح اللي كانت مالية البيت. برغم التعب المبذول في التحضير للعشاء دة، الكتاب ماذكرش أي تأثير أو مظاهر له...
 لكن عطر الناردين من مريم...كان هو المستحق يذكر أينما يكرز بهذا الانجيل.

واحنا داخلين على أسبوع الآلام...بأصلي اننا نتمثل بمريم ونيجي نقدم نفسنا-قبل عبادتنا-عند رجليه بكل انكسار...نرحب بيه في قلوبنا بتواضع عشان دخوله أورشليم وسط السعف يكون دخول ملك الملوك على قلبي وقلبك!

داوود كان عارف قلب الآب لما كتب بالروح:
“ذَبائحُ اللهِ هي روحٌ مُنكَسِرَةٌ. القَلبُ المُنكَسِرُ والمُنسَحِقُ يا اللهُ لا تحتَقِرُهُ.”
‮‮المَزاميرُ‬ ‭51:17‬  ‭

!خلونا السنة دي نقدم قلب منكسر تائب مش مجرد ترديد شفاه ومراسم سنوية
 أسبوع مبارك للجميع...أوصّنا، مبارك الآتي بإسم الرب.

!خلينا منورين

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!

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!

Snowing...in Cairo!

Dreaming of White Christmas in Cairo..became now a reality! El donia bard and i am sure 3am khalil battal yes2i el ward...at least fel gaw dah!

Well..Just browsing the social networks these days, despite all the cold weather photos, my heart got warm seeing how compassionate we are as a society! We have a duty call towards the needy when times get tough..we feel the urge of service and acting to change. We don't wait for orders, but do it! I was so proud seeing many of my friends taking the streets covering, warming one person at a time, giving away blankets, old jackets or just simple hot cups of tea! Thank you Bosh Gobran, Kegham, hoda abdelwarith, and many more. Keep your love shining!

But What will happen when winter is gone? Will we just forget the ones we served..may be! Let me share with you a thought...that even in the hottest August days, some of your friends, family, or colleagues will be still living a Cold winter deep inside..a winter caused by past pain or disrespect, a shivering cold heart of missing parent or partner that left us to a better place, a harsh snow storm of a failing relationship, or a gloomy fog of doubt, betrayal, despair and sense of loneliness. They might sweat, sun tan, and smile from outside, but they are freezing inside waiting for your warm blanket of love to surround them, your heavy jacket of faith to strengthen them or just a cup of hope to melt this snow inside. This is when LOVE comes in! Open your eyes to the ones around you..you don't need to hit the streets to find them..they ARE there next to you..in your home, in your office, college or even outings..they need YOU! A cold lonely heart needs that amazing love that Apostle Paul wrote about in 1 corinthians13 through the Holy Spirit:

وإنْ أطعَمتُ كُلَّ أموالي، وإنْ سلَّمتُ جَسَدي حتَّى أحتَرِقَ، ولكن ليس لي مَحَبَّةٌ، فلا أنتَفِعُ شَيئًا. المَحَبَّةُ تتأنَّى وترفُقُ. المَحَبَّةُ لا تحسِدُ. المَحَبَّةُ لا تتفاخَرُ، ولا تنتَفِخُ، ولا تُقَبِّحُ، ولا تطلُبُ ما لنَفسِها، ولا تحتَدُّ، ولا تظُنُّ السّؤَ، ولا تفرَحُ بالإثمِ بل تفرَحُ بالحَقِّ، وتحتَمِلُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ، وتُصَدِّقُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ، وترجو كُلَّ شَيءٍ، وتصبِرُ علَى كُلِّ شَيءٍ. المَحَبَّةُ لا تسقُطُ أبدًا. (كورِنثوس الأولَى 13:3-8 AVDDV)A Love that Never Fails! Our only way to get that SUSTAINABLE love is to go to THE source of love, to THE ONE who tells us to love even our enemy..we need to be connected to the eternal flow that will run through us..so before going out and serving, we need to stay close to Him, to be One with his Spirit..to have His spirit "But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? (1 Corinthians 6:17, 19)

Lord, fill our hearts with Your Spirit of love, to reach the ones in need so we can make their days be "merry and bright" and may we turn all their "Darkness to White"! Amen.

A Travelling Father

Some of my weeks are full of constant travelling...where each of your breakfast, lunch and dinner of that same day are in 3 different cities. Amazing how travel opens our eyes and hearts to new experiences, but funny enough, this time my experience was here..at home..in between the travels!

Coming back home after 3 days away, I was welcomed with big running hugs and kisses from my girls, whom I missed a lot.. I wanted to enjoy the few hours I have back home with them before hitting the road and continue my travelling. After a quick family lunch, I started getting ready for leaving to my next destination..and then suddenly I saw Farida running to our room..not knowing why, I followed her to check, may be she prepared me a drawing to take as a reminder on my next trip..but It was far from that! There she was lying on our bed, her head down between 2 pillows and..crying..crying her heart out..I went and took her in my arms and told her that I am sorry but i have to travel, just for few days..and started explaining why i cant cancel my trip..but she stopped me with her eyes full of tears and told me "papi, i am not asking you to stay as i know you have to go, i am just crying because we spent so little time together now..it went fast and I miss you and wanted a little bit more time with you..." I was Silenced and her tears made their way to my eyes!

Isn't it strange that whenever we think of our life with God, we always see the relation reversed, we talk about how loving He is as a Father, how He seeks us daily and keeps looking and caring for His children..but rarely we look to that relation like Farida just made me see it..a relation where as sons and daughters do miss their Father. I always read this verse in psalm and it made me wonder if I will ever get that feeling too

كما يَشتاقُ الإيَّلُ إلَى جَداوِلِ المياهِ، هكذا تشتاقُ نَفسي إلَيكَ يا اللهُ. عَطِشَتْ نَفسي إلَى اللهِ، إلَى الإلهِ الحَيِّ. (المَزاميرُ 42:1, 2 AVDDV)

AS THE deer pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God. My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1, 2 AMP)

At that moment, hearing her comment, i know that there is a great relation i am still looking forward to, a relationship where my heart will seek the living water..and feel thirsty being away..and I know that His waters will quench my thirst for any other. I wait for the day I cry for not coming and sitting there with Him every morning...tell Him like she told me "I want a little bit more time with you...!"

Imagine if Farida didn't miss me that much..I would surely doubt if I mean a lot to her as a father. Right?

Get thirsty my friends!

A Running Hug!

AIRPORTS...one of the most "true emotions filled" places on earth (next to hospitals!). In my past 5 years, I have gone in and out of many airports..and twice, we as a family have left a whole life, a whole country, behind us to start a new one in a new world. My eyes saw 2 extreme ends in the same airport...Arrival and Departure halls! same airport, yet with totally different sensations.

Departure halls are more of a drama movie, where true tears are hard to hide. When leaving back a life behind us, I was always able to hold myself in one piece until that moment at the departure hall..where every true sensation blows its way on my face or the faces of my loved ones! So genuine!

The Arrival hall at the other extreme, like a happy tune..a musical movie..a "Sound of Music/Mamma mia/or any movie of فرقة رضا". Joy is filling the air, family friends waiting with big smiles, banners, flowers, balloons, waving from afar (من ورا الازاز) and in Egypt, you ll find easily 20 loved ones coming to pick you up fighting whom takes your luggage and drives u home.

These Arrival halls are know for phenomenon I call "The Running Hug"..it is the act of running towards the person arriving, colliding, jumping into his arms with a deep unifying hug..to the extent that your kisses are reaching deep his neck. Always getting this same hug from my father in Cairo's Arrival Hall made me understand what Jesus told about the Prodigal son الابن الضال coming back to His Father, after willingly leaving Him:

فقامَ وجاءَ إلَى أبيهِ. وإذ كانَ لَمْ يَزَلْ بَعيدًا رآهُ أبوهُ، فتحَنَّنَ ورَكَضَ ووقَعَ علَى عُنُقِهِ وقَبَّلهُ. (لوقا 15:20

"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20 KJV)

Experiencing these emotional hugs explained why Jesus said that the father ran & fell on "His son's neck"...an expression I never understood until I experienced it myself!

Thank you God for your great love..for you always waiting, looking even from afar to see us coming back..and Running..yes..i cant even imagine it, you running towards us... Not to blame or ask us why but to give us this hug, kiss on our neck and much more blessings! Amen.

Next time at the airport, when your loved ones give you a "Running Hug", Remember Him, waiting your return, doing just the same to YOU!

حضن المطار

المطارات هي من أكثر الأماكن المتكدسة " بالمشاعر الحقيقية " على وجه الارض ،( الى جانب المستشفيات بالطبع )
في الخمس سنوات الماضية دخلت من و إلى العديد من المطارات ، و ثلاث مرات .. أنا و أسرتي تركنا حياتنا كلها خلفنا من بيت لبيت و من بلد لبلد ، لنبدأ حياة جديدة كل مرة في بلد مختلف بعالم مختلف
رأت عيناي أقصي النهايتين لنفس المطار ، في صالة الرحيل و صالة الاستقبال ! نفس المطار ولكن بمشاعر و أحاسيس مختلفة تماماً 

صالة الرحيل .. هي تقترب كثيراً من الفيلم الدرامي ، يصعب إخفاء الدموع الحقيقية . و حين تركت خلفي حياة كاملة ، كنت دائماً أستطيع التحكم في نفسي حتى أصل الى تلك اللحظة ، في صالة الرحيل .. عندها تتفجر المشاعر و تشق لنفسها طريقاً الى وجهي أو وجوه أحبائي
مشاعر صافية صادقة 

أما صالة الوصول في أقصى الطرف الآخر ، كالنغم السعيد ، كالأفلام الموسيقية .. Sound of music , Mamma Mia أو أحد أفلام فرقة رضا :) الفرح يتطاير في الهواء ، الأهل و الأصحاب في المطار لإستقبالنا بإبتسامات من القلب و باقات الورد و البالونات ، يلوحون من خلف الزجاج وفي مصر عشرون من الاحباب يتجادلون حول من سيأخذ حقائبنا ومن سيوصلنا للبيت
في صالات الوصول ظاهرة أسميها" The Running Hug " .. إنها .. أن تجري نحو الشخص الذي وصل للتو و تصطدم به و تلقي بنفسك بين ذراعيه في حضن واحد عميق
و تقع قبلاتك على عنقه
وفي كل مرة أتلقى هذا الحضن العميق من أبي عندما أخطو في صالة الوصول بمطار القاهرة ، أتفهم جيداً ما قاله يسوع عن الإبن الضال عائداً إلى أبوه ، بعد أن غادره و تركه في إصرار 

" فقامَ وجاءَ إلَى أبيهِ. وإذ كانَ لَمْ يَزَلْ بَعيدًا رآهُ أبوهُ، فتحَنَّنَ ورَكَضَ ووقَعَ علَى عُنُقِهِ وقَبَّلهُ. (لوقا 15:20 )"
هذه الأحضان المؤثرة ( التي إختبرتها بنفسي ) فسرت لي تماماً ما قصده يسوع ، أن الآب ركض ، و إنه وقع على عنقه " على عنق إبنه " وقبَّله. 

إنه تعبير لم أكن لأفهمه حتى إختبرته بنفسي 

أشكرك يا إلهي من أجل حبك العظيم .. لأنك دائماً تنتظر ، تنظر بعيداً ومن بعيد ، لترانا حين نعود .. و تركض .. نعم .. و إن كان يصعب أن نتخيل هذا .. ولكنك حقاً تركض نحونا
لا لتلقي علينا اللوم ، أو تسألنا عن السبب ، و لكن لكي تمنحنا هذا الحضن ، و قبلة على العنق ، و بركات أخرى كثيرة ! آمين
و في المرة القادمة ، في المطار ، عندما يستقبلك أحباءك بهذا الحضن The Running Hug
تذكره ، منتظراً عودتك ، ليمنحك نفس الحضن العميق 

!خلينا منورين

Celebrity Sightings

Are you that type of person that jumps to take a photo with the celebrity dining next to you in a rstaurant or may be spread all over your wattsapp groups and FB status "Omar el Sherif (or Angeline Jolie) fel restaurant waraya..will die to go and talk to him" and probably the rest of the evening will be about him and how he eats, what beer he drinks, vegetarian walla men mo7eby el fillet..and surely about the ones around him on the table..guessing who they are.Then we continue talking about all the celebrities sighting (meeting) we had in our past life and who we still wish to meet.

Funny enough (and seriously enough too), we should also realize that each of us is a celebrity on his own, living under the spot light and the eyes of his own surrondings. You are very important as you are an Ambassador to who you follow, a disciple (تلميذ) to Jesus, We have the chance to give people a "True disciple sighting" by watching our life.
Jesus said clearly:

   15:8 بهذا يتمَجَّدُ أبي: أنْ تأتوا بثَمَرٍ كثيرٍ فتكونونَ تلاميذي. (يوحَنا 

When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. (John 15:8 AMP)

And said as well:

فليُضِئْ نورُكُمْ هكذا قُدّامَ الناسِ، لكَيْ يَرَوْا أعمالكُمُ الحَسَنَةَ، ويُمَجِّدوا أباكُمُ الّذي في السماواتِ. (مَتَّى 5:16 AVDDV) إذًا نَسعَى كسُفَراءَ عن المَسيحِ (كورِنثوس الثّانيةُ 5:20

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 AMP) and So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. (2 Corinthians 5:20 AMP)

And i am quoting here few lines from a devotional I read lately "God has chosen to make His love, mercy, grace, justice, righteousness, holiness, and every other aspect of His stunning character visible through you and me! God’s glory is His “wow factor,” because when it is experienced and visibly seen, it’s an awesome reality!"

So when was the last time you stunned your world by loving someone who is unlovable? By forgiving a deep offense? By choosing integrity over compromise? By serving others instead of serving yourself? By reaching out to the poor and oppressed? By extending grace to an needing soul?

Be a Celebrity my Friend! And Act it too!

A child's art...in an office!

I remember well one day going in the office of one of the directors of our company..he had a wall deocrated with a painting..not really artistic i would say, but it had the center piece of His wall...it was too loud in colors, uneven lines, zigzags, too much contrast..with lots of dark tones and cheerful colors..mel akher keda (7aga 3ak shwaya)! But knowing the dutch and their love of paintings, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh..i was sure it was something worth the value to be in this Big Director's office! Frankly, couldnt hold myself and asked him, what's that special painting? He looked with bright eyes and said it is the most expensive piece he has in his collection, he couldnt even tell me its price..i asked about the painter. He told me "it was made for me by my 5 years old son...just before passing away"!

With a shock silencing me, i just then realized that the value of the painting is not in not in its beauty, but rather in the one who made it...it is the painter that gave it the value it has...it is the love behind it that makes it priceless...no matter what critics say, no matter what people think...its value for this father is priceless.

Dear Heavenly Father, i thank you that my value is not in who I am or what I do..no matter what i do, how i fall, how i win, or lose...my value is in my creator...I thank you i am priceless in your eyes, i am priceless because YOU MADE ME and GIVE ME VALUE! Keep me walking in your love, in Jesus name! Amen!

Through Their Eyes...

Sabah el kheir ya gama3a..salute to the ones who could watch the tennis final last night and made it to the morning moment fresh start..to his or her morning minutes of silence and prayer! by the way, Isn't amazing that God created the day and the night, so we can start fresh Everyday..start a new beginning, a new hope, a new You..giving us this chance everyday!

Sometimes i do an exercise to get a new perspective of parenthood, i put myself in the shoes of my kids, looking from their eyes, thinking through their smaller view! one day doin this exercise, i got hit with this simple incident..on that day, seeing through their eyes i looked at us as parents and realized that the kids must be saying now out loud in their mind "you are cruel parents...you do not love us..why do you do this to us..dont you see the pain we are going through!? Dad, it is painful, cant you stop it please?" You know what, i even saw these expressions in their eyes filled with tears, in their screams filled with pain..we were so much in pain, our hearts aching as well seeing them going through this..but they HAVE to live this experience..they will pass through..they have to take their vaccines (el tat3eem)!!!

Can you imagine how hard for the kids to understand what they went through if they didnt come and ask us why? If they didnt have the full blinded trust in their Father, in their Mother..the trust that all they are going through is for their good? That in the middle of this fear and pain, we were there watching with love..telling them to trust us giving them a healthy future life...

Do we trust our Father that much, do we trust the one that said:

"Don’t be afraid. I saved you. I named you. You are mine. When you have troubles, I am with you. When you cross rivers, you will not be hurt. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not hurt you. That’s because I, the Lord, am your God. (Ashe3ya Isaiah 43:1-3 ERV)" and said “Can a woman forget her baby? Can she forget the child who came from her body? Even if she can forget her children, I cannot forget you. I drew a picture of you on my hand. You are always before my eyes. (Ashe3ya Isaiah 49:15, 16 ERV)". 

Just come and speak with Him like a father and He ll surely let you know His love.

Where is My Hug?

You men (and women) travelling for business will know what I am talking about! You know this moment at the end of your trip when you are at the airport's free shop searching for a gift for your little ones that are waiting for you back home..the little ones that you miss so much. At that moment, at the airport, i only dream about this simple loving act..THE RUN in my arms and THE HUG welcoming me back home..And me giving the girls their little gift! You all surely love this moment...we akid the hug and kiss of the wife too :)

However, one of these times, things did not go as i always loved it to be...i came back after 3 days away, opened the door, shouted HELLO and went on my knees waiting for that run and amazing hug...but i waited for longer than usual, i felt something was wrong..ran to their room, to find them playing normally (Thank God)..but they gave a normal 'hi'..one i sometimes get during the week back from work ..but not after travelling for 3 days! And then the LESSON HIT ME I knew what happened, i told aline to manage their expectations as i ran late and couldn't get them anything..i just felt that the RUN and the HUG were for the love of what I got, not for the love of who I am! What a painful moment for a loving Father!

I might be dramatizing it a bit...i know my kids love me so much..i love the moments when they just come to caress and kiss me and sit on my lap and they know that i adore them, i would do all the good for them ALWAYS, i would die for them. BUT this story above doesnt ring a bell...doesnt it remind you of a relationship you know...i had the same relation with my heavenly Father..till that moment when showed me the (No Hug) lesson.

Friends, praying has always been linked in my mind with demands, needs, and wants...till i realized that praying is much bigger..it s creating a relationship..a bond..knowing Him more..he is a living God with a living Holy spirit inside me! And i knew if i want to know Him, i d better sit with Him and read what He has to say.. only then prayer moments got a much much richer taste! Try it..let me know if i can help with some start ups!

"Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need." (Matthew Matta 6:32, 33 ERV) "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew Matta 6:8 ERV)

Where Everybody Knows Your Name...

How many of us feel just so proud, so special, so happy, and so comfortable....when you walk in a restaurant, cafe or even "el ba2al" and the owner there calls you by your name, knows you and shakes your hand! Yes, zat simple move wins the heart and loyalty of people at least me..and thats the basic foundation of retail marketing, knowing your customers cause they love being known..reminds me of the intro song of the famous sitcom "Cheers" with its known refrain (Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name). All this made think of The One that Knows me BEST (better than Aline or me even)...the one written about in Isaiah 43 (Ashe3ya) 

"Jacob, the Lord created you. Israel, he made you, and now he says, “Don’t be afraid. I saved you. "I named you". You are mine. When you have troubles, I am with you. When you cross rivers, you will not be hurt. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not hurt you. (Isaiah 43:1, 2)".. The same God in Psalm 139: "Lord, you have tested me, so you know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts from far away. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. Lord, you know what I want to say, even before the words leave my mouth. You are all around me—in front of me and behind me. I feel your hand on my shoulder. (Psalms 139:1-5 ERV)" 

WOW...isnt it He the best marketer...just all i pray for is to get close to Him every day..every morning to know Him more and more..cause i am sure He will make feel more proud, happy and special than the Ba2al at the corner  enjoy this song!

 

A Father's love

Couple of years ago, i went through an experience that turned my perception of what God is or i would say what we are to God. We took Farida to the doctor and for our surprise, he asked us to have her heart scanned! Yes, an almost 4 years old getting her heart scanned, cant tell you how this caught of off guard..and that moment, we looked up to Him with a question mark..But we took her to the hospital, and there she slept on that bed with lots of wires connected to her chest, but guess what her smile was not leaving her face as were next to her, she knew we were doing something good...but this sight of her on the bed WITH WIRES NEVER departed my mind as I felt so painful, so worried, so anxious, so LOVING! That was the moment that God put us through...it was for us to see..as i then realized, if me earthly father feel that pain..what about Him, our heavenly Father, how much love can He have for us? All this worry at that moment, turned to praise to thank him for being our Father..at that moment, i decided to keep believing that He is always righteous..yes it is a decision! And reading this in Isaiah 49:15-16 made it clear

 "[And the Lord answered] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me. (Isaiah 49:15, 16 AMP)" 

Watch this song..what a love! God bless your day!


http://youtu.be/sdA3Equ1I3s

My First Status

Those who leave #everything in #God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything....#Quote I Liked! 

Reminds me of :

Proverbs 16:3 (Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.)