A Summer Vacation Plan

Those summer days...yes, i still have the memories of the summer vacation so VIVID and so energizing, it is a stock of happiness, freedom, joy that i go back to when the times get tough back in the real world (work, responsibilities, bills, etc). Thx fadi abinader myriam hany and all sunrise group for making a nice summer 2013!
This brings me to a realization that summer holiday didnt start end of july when i had my first day off...it started looonger than that..it started in me, in my mind, my talks and my thoughts as early as February or March..i started living the beach while i was still wearing my pullover and putting the heat on in the car during these cold mornings, we got the suntan lotions, the beach toys, the afternoon flavored tea we ll drink sa3et el 3assaary. We kept talking about our destination, deciding where to go, which hotel, reading reviews, checking booking.com, expdia, lonely planet, 3am 3abdo el bawab...we seek info and feedback everywhere and with everyone...why? Because we lived the vacation in our hearts already and wanted to know more about our destination..we wanted a guarantee of perfection..we even booked some restaurants few months ahead!!! I guess we are not the only ones doing so! Reviews website didnt flourish out of nothing...

This made me wonder: am I thinking about my final destination as much as my summer 2013? Do i really go checking this big book with the reviews about what to come and what to prepare for this trip? Do i Live this destination on earth? If i care that much about 2 summer weeks, will i care the same about eternity? If i am willing to do the utmost to make my summer the best, why do i take for granted my destination? Above all, can i live Heaven NOW? If it doesnt tell me much reading and preparing my trip, then i need to check whether i do really wanna go there or not. Above all, Jesus said it plain and clear..heaven starts now in our hearts "Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to them by saying: 

The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. (Luke 17:20, 21 AMP)"

Living Kingdom of God now, brought me to this amazing praise song made by my dear blessed friends (chantal, otta, steve) thanks for the inspiration to live this realtionship! Have a great Sunday!

ربي بقربك - عمانؤيل

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)

Just Do It!

Is it really really important to sit everyday and have my time of prayer..sit with Him everyday? Tab youm wa7ed kefaya?..youmein tayeb? La2? Tab nos sa3a fel marra? Tab abl el akl ba3d el akl?! Everyone asked himself these questions one day..and I say, it depends what do you want out of this relationship. Before any of you decide to embark and commit to something, you know exactly what you are aiming for and the size of your desire defines the size of your prize and impact..just ask the ones who lost 10s of kilos in diet and what it did to their life, ask the ones who wake up everyday to go to the gym and see their shape and health trun for the better, the ones that quit smoking, ask the ones who commit to their studies ans make it through to the university..and yes, the ones that always get promted and grow in their carrers. Just ask yourself, in what were you committed and what did you get out of it. 

Your commitment is fuelled by what you will get at the end...let me ask you one thing: do you really want to see all God's promises turned to reality in your lives..do you the amazing fullfilment He promised..His promises are beyond any imagination..but for those who seek Him and really Love Him...those who come to HimI love those who love me, and those who look for me will find me. Those who find me find life, and the Lord will reward them. (Proverbs 8:17, 35 ERV)..and he is waiting with Open arms..in fact, He will Run to you just seeing there in the horizon coming to Him..yes he wil run to you as He did to "el ebn el dal" 

So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. (Luke 15:20 AMP). 

Just decide today..and Commit..and be amazed! Are you ready? Or will you just accept the minimal outcome that "yadobak" keeps you going. Decide and commit! You have done it somtime in your life before...Just Do it!

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!