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!

Devoirs de Vacances

Do you remember these so-called Devoirs de Vacances-Literally translated "Vacations' Homework"-Here I face them again with my kids..but this time with a lesson. On the last week of school, Aline and I went to meet our daughters' teachers to get a feedback about this year's progress. The interesting thing in our meeting is that, next to the focus on the past year, the teachers spent a handful amount of time talking about summer, Yes, SUMMER! They talked so passionately about the importance of keeping the kids happy and enjoying the skills they crafted throughout the year..the reading, calculating, writing and more. Quoting one of them "Leila needs to feel connected to school even being physically not there..her connection is through keep doing what she enjoys at school..this will not only develop her..but make her ready and hungry to come back and learn more..she will start back school, fitting in, and hit the ground running as she, in summer, lived the school before it starts"!

WOW..That was an eye opener for the eternity we are getting ready for. It made me reflect on the life I am leading on earth, and whether the "Summer" I am living into shall lead smoothly and willingly "Back to School" or not. Same for Heaven, Am I living "Heaven" on "Earth" by acknowledging and cherishing the Love and Companionship of my Creator throughout all my days?! If Heaven is living eternally with Him, would I still want to be there...despite that I struggle sitting and enjoying His presence at least on a daily basis for few minutes? As for my kids, what if Reading, writing or maths don't move them at all..Would they wanna be back to school? I see their hunger to learn more makes them ready to embrace the days to come and the joy school will bring..They are living it before it starts.

I pray today that the short life you and I are living become a true opportunity to experience HIS Love, and taste every day the Kingdom of God that is WITHIN us as Jesus Said 
"For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. (‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭21‬)" 
ولَمّا سألهُ الفَرّيسيّونَ: «مَتَى يأتي ملكوتُ اللهِ؟». أجابَهُمْ وقالَ: «لا يأتي ملكوتُ اللهِ بمُراقَبَةٍ، ولا يقولونَ: هوذا ههنا،أو: هوذا هناكَ! لأنْ ها ملكوتُ اللهِ داخِلكُمْ». (‭17‬ ‮لوقا‬:‭20-21‬ AVDDV)

Let's Live Heaven on earth and That Love so big that shall grow into us and shared outwards to all the world around us. Allow me to quote these expressive words from Pope Francis talking about our readiness "We must let him prepare our hearts, our eyes, our ears for our homeland. Being prepared for heaven means starting to see it from afar," he said, and that requires prayer, courage and the humility to allow the Lord to work in one's life.

Enjoy your Summer prepared my friends!

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!

Happy Birthday to You!

When birthdays come near, we just judge automatically how long this person still has to live among us..obviously someone turning 15, we don't write on his facebook wall "Rabena ytawellena fi 3omrak..Rabena ykhalik lina"..we take for granted that he still has long life..unlike birthday wishes of someone in his late seventies!

I just cant help myself thinking of all the lives that left us to a better place earlier than we thought...lives that blessed us, and encouraged us, so many examples, Nathalie, Raja, Meral,... Sad but true, first thing I do, when i read that someone left us, specially young ones, i go and check their "facebook" page..suddenly a whole life is revealed in front of my eyes..you see posted in their "timeline" their days, their actions, trips, comments, thoughts, memories, a whole life giving a deeper meaning to separation..a different ache in the heart..a real close one!

It just made me think, of what is written in James (يعقوب)

هَلُمَّ الآنَ أيُّها القائلونَ: «نَذهَبُ اليومَ أو غَدًا إلَى هذِهِ المدينةِ أو تِلكَ، وهناكَ نَصرِفُ سنَةً واحِدَةً ونَتَّجِرُ ونَربَحُ». أنتُمُ الّذينَ لا تعرِفونَ أمرَ الغَدِ! لأنَّهُ ما هي حَياتُكُم؟ إنَّها بُخارٌ، يَظهَرُ قَليلًا ثُمَّ يَضمَحِلُّ. (يعقوبَ 4:13, 14 AVDDV)

Yes, our life will be on this "timeline" we leave behind, be it on facebook or in the hearts of people around us! What posts or uploaded memories we want to be tagged in..thank God we can edit and delete what's on our wall..but real life doesnt have that luxury!
I thank the Holy spirit that James continued it perfectly in the next verse:

فمَنْ يَعرِفُ أنْ يَعمَلَ حَسَنًا ولا يَعمَلُ، فذلكَ خَطيَّةٌ لهُ. (يعقوبَ 4:17 AVDDV)

Dear God, I thank for telling us
"Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. (Mark 13:33 AMP)"

I thank you for letting me know that every day is a precious gift, that i should embrace every minute of it. I pray to have the open eyes and heart to see what i leave behind me..and to know that you are there watching over me. In Jesus name, Amen!

Lets be ready my friends!