Showing posts with label Weakness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weakness. Show all posts

Saturday, February 28, 2015

A Shameless CV

Writing your CV forces you to go through the trail of your professional life putting the details for the employer to read. Of course, you try to make it as attractive as possible, yet you know that there are some experiences/jobs you wouldn’t like being asked about. They are your weak points lacking the success you wanted them to have. You try to avoid expanding much on it, so couple of lines are enough for you. I believe our life´s CV as well has its weak moments to hide, its not-ready-to-talk-about incidents, its failures and SHAMES not worthy telling others about. We do our best keeping our self image in the eyes of others intact as perfect as our CV.

Now let´s meet this disabled man at the pool of bethesda (John 5:1-15), crippled for the past 38 years, lying in his bed waiting to be helped by someone. He obviously lost all hope and got so used to his weakness to the point that when Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed and walk again, he did not say the obvious “YES” but started telling Jesus why it has been impossible for him to get healed, giving him the EXCUSES that kept him this way (John 5:7). 
هذا رآهُ يَسوعُ مُضطَجِعًا، وعَلِمَ أنَّ لهُ زَمانًا كثيرًا، فقالَ لهُ: «أتُريدُ أنْ تبرأ؟». أجابَهُ المَريضُ: «يا سيِّدُ، ليس لي إنسانٌ يُلقيني في البِركَةِ مَتَى تحَرَّكَ الماءُ. بل بَينَما أنا آتٍ، يَنزِلُ قُدّامي آخَرُ». (‭5‬ ‮يوحَنا‬:‭6-7‬ )

I surely see myself in him, losing hope in overcoming a weakness, or a failure. Jesus didn’t discuss his excuses, He healed him and gave a him a strange specific order:
Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk! (‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ AMP)
قالَ لهُ يَسوعُ: «قُمِ. احمِلْ سريرَكَ وامشِ». (‭5‬ ‮يوحَنا‬:‭8‬ )

Instead of leaving his sign of weakness behind and walk around (after 38 years lying in a bed), he was asked to go with his bed in hand. Jesus did´t not throw his bed away…it was a meant to be Order. What used to be a failure, a cripple and a sign of shame was turned into a sign of victory, healing and powerful demonstration of God´s miraculous power in transforming lives and enabling powers...WOW! His moment of weakness on his CV became the most important part to talk about…only because he PERSONALLY met the one who turned it from shame to glory.

Lord, here I am putting in Your hands all my weaknesses and failures, I pray that through Your loving heart and healing Spirit they turn into tools for your glory, and events to Shine Your Name further. I believe that I am not created to stay crippled, but my crippling will turn to victory when I come and accept you changing the life I am used to for years, even if 38 years or more. Open my heart to BELIEVE in Change, stop my excuses, rewrite my soul´s CV shameless. In Jesus Name, AMEN!

Your soul CV´s weaknesses are your moments of VICTORY…only when you stop excuses and PUT them in His HANDS!
Keep shining my friends!

لسي-ڤي
نضطر عند كتابه السيرة الذاتيه CV الي استرجاع تاريخنا المهني ، وتدوين كل تفاصيله
 ونبذل جهداً كبيراً لتظهر بالمظهر اللائق الذي نتمناه، وبقدر ما توجد وظائف نفخر بها و نود ان نظهرها .. فإن هناك ما نخجل من ان نُسأل عنه و نود لو نتجنبه ..و بقدر الامكان ان نخفيه
تلك الفترات التي تخلو من النجاح .. و نقاط الضعف التي لا نبغي ذكرها  
وفي حياتنا نفس اللحظات .. لحظات السقوط و الخجل .. و العار
و اذ نسعي ان تظهر صورتنا كاملة بلا اخطاء في عيون الاخرين .. تظل سقطاتنا عائقاً دون ذلك 

و عندها تذكرت تلك الكلمات التي قالها يسوع المسيح للرجل المطروح بمرض لمده ثمان و ثلاثون عاماً 
 هذا رآهُ يَسوعُ مُضطَجِعًا، وعَلِمَ أنَّ لهُ زَمانًا كثيرًا، فقالَ لهُ: «أتُريدُ أنْ تبرأ؟». أجابَهُ المَريضُ: «يا سيِّدُ، ليس لي إنسانٌ يُلقيني في البِركَةِ مَتَى تحَرَّكَ الماءُ. بل بَينَما أنا آتٍ، يَنزِلُ قُدّامي آخَرُ
 "قالَ لهُ يَسوعُ: «قُمِ. احمِلْ سريرَكَ وامشِ"
انني اري نفسي مكانه .. بعد يأس من التغلب علي الضعف و السقطات ، .. و تقديم الاعذار و الاسباب .. و التي لم يسمعها يسوع او يهتم بها
و انما قدم شفاء كاملاً بلا مقابل .. " قم " انما " احمل سريرك و امشي
و بدلاً من ان تترك علامة مرضك و ضعفك .. احملها معك و امشي بها
لان تلك اللحظات في حياتك .. التي تسميها ضعفاً وهزيمة... هي في الحقيقة لحظات انتصارك العظمي
فقط عندما تتوقف عن تقديم الاعذار
و تضعها بين يدي الله
 وها انا يا سيدي .. لم اخلق لأعيش مشلولاً مقيداً في ضعفي .. و انما اضع بين يديك ضعفاتي وسقطاتي .. متشفعاً بقلبك المحب و روحك الشافيه ان تحولها .. من سقطات الي ادوات .. لمجدك
 سيدي .. اعِد صياغه .. سيرتي .. وحياتي 
!خلينا منورين




Thursday, November 6, 2014

Red Riding Hood

Red Riding Hood (Chaperon Rouge) next to the fact that it is quite a "scary" tale, it gave me a chance to learn another lesson from Farida. Watching the story, specifically when little red riding hood arrived at her grandma who just got devoured by the wolf, Farida jumped out of her seat yelling at the little girl "Take care...you do not need to ask about her ears or nose, stop talking with her...just listen to her voice...It is NOT your grandma sleeping there, surely not her sweet voice...It is clearly a villain one, it's the WOLF...Run Now..RUN!" She looked at me with that worried gaze in her eyes and told me "you know pa, when I go to answer the door I ask who is there, if it is you or mami, I recognize right away your voice and open...but if it is another voice...I literally run to whoever is in the house and ask them to come and check. It gets me scared sometimes!"...and THAT was Enough for me to get my lesson of the day!


Reading through John 10 in the famous sermon of Jesus about the Good Shepherd, the following verse kept me hanging there in awe:

When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call. (John 10:4-5 AMP)
ومَتَى أخرَجَ خِرافَهُ الخاصَّةَ يَذهَبُ أمامَها، والخِرافُ تتبَعُهُ، لأنَّها تعرِفُ صوتَهُ. وأمّا الغَريبُ فلا تتبَعُهُ بل تهرُبُ مِنهُ، لأنَّها لا تعرِفُ صوتَ الغُرَباءِ». (10 يوحَنا:4-5 )

I always knew about the sheep who recognize the voice of the care taker, food provider and shelter provider, their shepherd...but caught by surprise seeing that they not only refuse to follow a strange voice, yet Run Away...run back to the one they know PERSONALLY. How many times have we heard and followed strange voices, sometimes we listen and start negotiating, while we know safety lies in fleeing..specially when this strange voice knows your weaknesses. Our Shepherd knows us by Name, and we are invited to sit at His feet and feel His presence, cherish His guidance and receive His abundant blessings for the Shepherd said "My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give my sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of my hand. My Father is the one who gave them to me, and he is greater than all. No one can steal my sheep out of his hand. (John 10:27-29 ERV)" AMEN!


Do not fall in the trap of the wolf, Red Riding Hood listened to the strange voice!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Music To My Ears!

Exercise + Music = The perfect boost one needs to run the extra mile..to lift the extra weight or to push forward till the end of this fitness class. Yes, I have always been amazed by the power music has on the mood of people and the energy and enthusiasm they show. Out of experience, when I go out for a run without my "Dance pumping" music in my ears..i feel half the energy i usually have...I specially love it when after reaching your deepest drained and tired moments, comes in your "Energy Booster song" to pump you up. Nike have noticed it and created this option of "energy song" in the Running application. Whether into sports or not, but I am sure you have your own music booster. I had once a talk with a pro player about this, and he told me that the impact of cheering is a magic no one can describe...it just keeps him pumped-up going no matter how hard the situation seemed!

I just realized that my walk through life needs that lifting up-beats..needs that cheering so I can face the tough times I go through...and I found it in His Words. Yes, listening and reading His Words every morning and keep them lingering in my heart and my thoughts is the Pumping energy I need. Last week, I woke up with a verse surrounding my thoughts...and didn't know that this day i would be going through a tough moment at work..when it jumped in again, just at that moment, to chase away the worries and fears this moment could have installed in me! It was a revelation..I just felt Him speaking these words in my ears at the right moment! What a pumping up feeling!

«إنَّ هذِهِ الوَصيَّةَ الّتي أوصيكَ بها اليومَ لَيسَتْ عَسِرَةً علَيكَ ولا بَعيدَةً مِنكَ. بل الكلِمَةُ قريبَةٌ مِنكَ جِدًّا، في فمِكَ وفي قَلبِكَ لتَعمَلَ بها. (التَّثنيَة 30:11, 14 AVDDV)
For this commandment which I command you this day is not too difficult for you, nor is it far off. But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11, 14 AMP)

Dear Friend, out of experience, I have felt the fueling power of His Words in my days, I hear His voice when I am weak..I feel His cheers when I am fighting trials. Keep His words in your mouth, minds and hearts, close to you. As People "automatically feel the beat" of the music they listen to and instinctively adjust their walking pace and heart rate to the tempo of the music, Choose to feel His beat and adjust your steps to His Love! 

Keep the music in your heart my friend!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Promise Keeper

"But you PROMISED!" followed by a heart felt dropping tears of disappointment!

I am sure that every mother and every father, every friend, every manager, every person hates the feeling this statement creates in him. Yes, I can say out loud that my toughest moments in parenting arewhen I am confronted with an undelivered promise to Leila or Farida. Even my simple promises of playing with them a game of "Uno" or dancing together on the LOUD tunes of "Gangam Style" mean A LOT to them...because they come from their Mr. know-it-all, No-wrong doing, tall muscled fighter DADDY! Yes, it is that simple, they trust blindly that I will keep my promise..! Failing their trust..brings ME instantly a moment of silence coming along with a heavy swallow of that bitter taste in my mouth..a moment of weakness i would say! We have all done it to our kids, friends, colleagues, family..you name it! And we still keep breaking promises every day!

That brought me to realize that I failed my promises not only to people..but I failed them even to GOD! How many times I said I will "Stand my Ground", start the change and i dont, how many times i cry and scream that this moment is a turning point, but I fail again! How many mornings. I promised to wake up earlier and sit with Him but I "Snoozed" too long!


Thank you Lord for not treating us the same when we fail You..thank you that Your love to us is not based on our love to You..thank you for Your words that stated clearly

ليس اللهُ إنسانًا فيَكذِبَ، ولا ابنَ إنسانٍ فيَندَمَ. هل يقولُ ولا يَفعَلُ؟ أو يتَكلَّمُ ولا يَفي؟ (العَدَد 23:19 AVDDV)
"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19 ESV)
And thank you for comforting me when you said:
لا أنقُضُ عَهدي، ولا أُغَيِّرُ ما خرجَ مِنْ شَفَتَيَّ. (المَزاميرُ 89:34 AVDDV)
I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips. (Psalm 89:34 ESV)

I pray for my faith to keep hanging to your promises.. And I 
Thank you for being THE PROMISE KEEPER! Amen.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Stand your Ground!

"Stand your ground-اثبت مكانك" ...a statement (and a song) that keeps going in mind everytime I negotiate and discuss with...my 6 years old twins!
Leila (or Farida): Can i play with the ball here..please!
Me: No, no ball inside the house!
She: Pleazzzzeeee!
Me: No is No..خلاص
She: Mwah (بوسة و حضون عميق)
Me: Ok..just 2 minutes
She: Heeeeiihh..merci Pa.."another mwah (بوسة تانية في السريع)"
..(5 minutes later)...
TRAKHHH..اتكسرت الفازة..and even صمغ امير cant fix the vase anymore!
Me: see..That s why I said you should not do this in this the house! Next time just obey!
She (with tears in the eyes): ..But at the end you said OK just for 2 minutes!
Me:.....(silence)

If you are parenting (or managing), you know this moment when you give a direction/order and they start pushing against it and win..you just lose your ground, and as a parent, your words lose their strength and impact..so dont expect them to listen to your directions easily.


This reminds of the times i lost my ground to fighting wrong doings..i say no..but then open the door of negotiation with sin! I lost almost every battle when i decided to keep the door slighly open..because part of me was accepting who I am negotiating with and wanting what i m refusing. Feels so bitter, makes you feel like a loser..and that is exactly the intention of falling, is to get you broken and useless. I read lately the stories of two great names in the bible (Daniel and Joseph) who stood their ground and said no..i encourage you to read them..i selected two verses, that I keep in front of me in times of trial:


أمّا دانيآلُ فجَعَلَ في قَلبِهِ أنَّهُ لا يتنَجَّسُ بأطايِبِ المَلِكِ (دانيآل 1:8 AVDDV)
فأمسَكَتهُ بثَوْبِهِ قائلَةً: «اضطَجِعْ مَعي!». فترَكَ ثَوْبَهُ في يَدِها وهَرَبَ وخرجَ إلَى خارِجٍ. (التَّكوينُ 39:12 AVDDV)


Daniel Just deciding in his heart (not his mind..that tends to negotiate), refusing the great food of the king (and its political implications).. Joseph fleeing a beautiful queen (imagine nefertiti like) wanting him...(or any type of temptation that you know is not correct)...is SO powerful..and yes they got into problems later..but these problems were the turning point to a great life of faith..they got blessed beyond imagination!..just thinking what if they accepted..and negotiated?!

Dear God...i come to you today with all the shameful falls i went through, asking you to pick me up..get into your loving Hug and knowing that I am not alone..I thank you that Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your power is made perfect in my weakness.(2 Corinthians 12:9) ..I thank you for the Holy spirit lifting me up through trials..my strength is in You..I need your Peace! Amen

Do not negotiate..Stand your grounds my friends!



 !!إثبت مكانك
كلمات أغنية تظل تتردد في عقلي كل مرة أدخل في مفاوضات هامة مع .. بناتي التوأم ( عمرهما ٩ سنوات)
ليلة ( أو فريده ) : بابا ، ممكن ألعب بالكرة هنا .. Pleaaase !
!أنا : لأ .. مفيش كرة في البيت
ليلة : pleaaazzzzze !
أنا : لأ يعني لأ .. خلاص
ليلة : موووواه " بوسة و حضن عميق "
أنا : خلاص دقيقتين و بس
ليلة : هييييييه ، Merci Pa ، مواه ( بوسة تانية في السريع)
!بعد خمس دقايق ، دششششش ، الڤازة إتكسرت
حتى صمغ أمير مش هينفع يصلح الڤازة تاني
أنا : شوفتي ! علشان كده أنا قلت مينفعش كرة في البيت ! المرة الجاية إبقي إسمعي الكلام
!!ليلة و عينيها مدمعة : لكن في الآخر إنت وافقت و قلت لي إلعبي دقيقتين
أنا : ..... ( صمت )

لو إنت أب ( أم ) أو مدير تنظم سير العمل ، تعرف جيداً تلك اللحظات حين توجه أو تعطي أمر ثم يبدأ نقاش وجدال و مفاوضات بغرض تعديل رأيك ، يدفعونك لتغير موقفك ، و يكسبون
أنت عندها تفقد " أرضك " ، و كأب .. كلامك سيفقد قوته و سيضعف تأثيره .. فلا تتوقع أن ينفذوا كلامك فيما بعد بسهولة
!وهذا يذكرني بالأوقات التي فقدتُ فيها " أرضاً " في معارك ضد الخطية ، أبدأُ بكلمة " لا " .. ثم أفتح باباً للنقاش
أخسر كل المعارك عندما أترك الأبواب " مواربة " ، لأن جزء مني يرحب بما أتفاوض حوله ، و جزء مني يرغب بشدة ما أحاول أن أرفضه
إحساس مرير ، شعورك بالفشل ! و هذا هو الغرض من السقوط ، أن تنكسر فتصبح عديم القيمة
قرأت مؤخراً عن رجلين عظيمين في الكتاب المقدس
عن دانيال و عن يوسف . اللذين ثبتا مكانهما و قالا " لا " أشجعك أن تقرأ عنهما ، إخترت آيتين لأجعلهما أمامي في كل مرة أمر بتجربة من هذا النوع ..
أمّا دانيآلُ فجَعَلَ في قَلبِهِ أنَّهُ لا يتنَجَّسُ بأطايِبِ المَلِكِ (دانيآل 1:8 )
فأمسَكَتهُ بثَوْبِهِ قائلَةً: «اضطَجِعْ مَعي!». فترَكَ ثَوْبَهُ في يَدِها وهَرَبَ وخرجَ إلَى خارِجٍ. (التَّكوينُ 39:12 )

دانيال .. قرر في قلبه ( وليس عقله الذي ربما يفتح باباً للنقاش ) أن يرفض " أطايب الملك " طعامه الشهي
و يوسف يهرب من ملكة جميلة ( تخيل نفرتيتي مثلاً ) ترغب فيه أو لك أن تتخيل أي تجربة أو إغراء تعرف في داخلك أنه خاطئ
إحساس عنيف ، نزاع صعب ، و نعم بالطبع واجه كلاهما ( دانيال و يوسف ) مشاكل كثيرة نتيجة قراراتهما الصارمة ، و لكن هذه المشاكل لم تكن سوى نقطة تحول عظيمة في حياة و إيمان كل منهما ..ملأت البركة حياتهما بما يفوق التخيل و التصورات
و تخيل معي .. ماذا لو قبل أي منهما النقاش و ترك باب المفاوضات موارباً 

..إلهي الحبيب
!آتي نحوك الآن ، بكل سقطاتي المخجلة ، أتضرع إليك أن تقيمني ، تنتشلني ، أرتمي في أحضان حبك ، و أعلم أني لست وحدي
!أشكرك لأن نعمتك تكفيني ، و أن قوتك تكمل في ضعفي
!أشكرك لأجل الروح القدس الذي يقيمني وقت التجربة و الإختبارات ، قوتي فيك ، لأني بشدة أحتاج سلامك
.آمين
!صديقي .. لا تتفاوض .. إثبت مكانك 
!خلينا منورين