Something to Talk About...

Give them Something to Talk About...

As a parent, making my kids happy is priceless. We plan a lot of outings, activities, trips to hear their loud laughs and rejoice through their glittering joyful eyes. Their purity speaks out loud when something really touches them...I can see the proof when they pick up the phone and tell their grandma the fun they had in details and excitement. Suddenly, you ll realize, as a father and mother, that you gave your loved ones SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT... not just some hours or days, but a moment, a memory and a story to last as long as they live...a story that makes your heart dance with pride and love!

Reading Mark 5, a young man with a ruined life, living in tombs, deserted by his family and friends, feared by his town, had a transformational encounter with Jesus. This young man, once fully entrenched in evil, was finally delivered and freed. A Miracle, a moment and a great story to tell was created in this man's life, who wanted to stay along with Jesus, but our Lord had a different mission for him:

"And when He had stepped into the boat, the man who had been controlled by the unclean spirits kept begging Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus refused to permit him, but said to him, Go home to your own [family and relatives and friends] and bring back word to them of how much the Lord has done for you, and [how He has] had sympathy for you and mercy on you. And he departed and began to publicly proclaim in Decapolis [the region of the ten cities] how much Jesus had done for him, and all the people were astonished and marveled." (Mark 5:18-20 AMP)
ولَمّا دَخَلَ السَّفينَةَ طَلَبَ إليهِ الّذي كانَ مَجنونًا أنْ يكونَ معهُ، فلَمْ يَدَعهُ يَسوعُ، بل قالَ لهُ: «اذهَبْ إلَى بَيتِكَ وإلَى أهلِكَ، وأخبِرهُمْ كمْ صَنَعَ الرَّبُّ بكَ ورَحِمَكَ». فمَضَى وابتَدأَ يُنادي في العَشرِ المُدُنِ كمْ صَنَعَ بهِ يَسوعُ. فتعَجَّبَ الجميعُ. (5 مَرقُسَ:18-20 )

Yes, Our Father longs to see our joy in telling HIS stories in our lives. He is giving you and each one of us SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.. He has filled your days with blessings, encounters and experiences worth telling to your family, friends, and relatives. Your stories will melt His heart same as the stories of Leila and Farida melt mine. Imagine if your kids never talked about the love you gave them and the joy you add to their days! I will surely be grieved with sadness.

He gave you SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT... Don't keep it for yourself...Tell us your story...He asks you for it!

Keep Shining my friends!

Follow Me...

Technology changed the way we prepare our outings! Remember the good old days when we used to split roles agreeing who calls who and how to reach everyone . I remember we used to have list of friends and this was specially needed for big outings or birthdays. More specifically, I recall the concept of Group representative. To reach a certain circle of friends, I always looked for the pivotal one person among them to make sure he reaches them all and inform them on my behalf. “Hello Karim, please inform the rest of your group that we’ll meet in front of cinema Normandy at 8:00…mmm…yup…correct…all the names you mentioned are expected!”

"As he walked along, he saw Levi (Matthew) son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having DINNER at Levi’s HOUSE, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him." (Mark 2:14-15 NIV)
وفيما هو مُجتازٌ رأى لاويَ بنَ حَلفَى جالِسًا عِندَ مَكانِ الجِبايَةِ، فقالَ لهُ: «اتبَعني». فقامَ وتَبِعَهُ. وفيما هو مُتَّكِئٌ في بَيتِهِ كانَ كثيرونَ مِنَ العَشّارينَ والخُطاةِ يتَّكِئونَ مع يَسوعَ وتلاميذِهِ، لأنَّهُمْ كانوا كثيرينَ وتَبِعوهُ. (2 مَرقُسَ:14-15)

In Mark 2:14 I was amazed reading how Matthew (Levi) was found and called by Christ to follow Him, starting a whole new life of inspiring and shining His Lord’s Love to his friends and community. It didn’t take long for him to influence and reach (being the pivotal “Karim” I mentioned above), in fact right after his call, Matthew invited Jesus at his place for a DINNER along with his community and Circle of friends tax collectors and sinners whom Jesus came to reach out for and call to His Love (Mark 2:17). Matthew right away introduced them to the Messiah he will follow, he wanted to share with the them the love, peace, hope, righteousness, and forgiveness he found in His Lord.

Today, I pray that each one of us answer the call…look beyond himself seeking to reach out and spread Your Love and peace to the world truly bleeding and in need… I pray that we realise the role we have in our small family, group of friends, community, country and the world. Like Matthew inviting his friends for a meal with you.. a life changing meal for many, I pray that we have the pride, grace and power through your Spirit to realize that WE are CALLED and CHOSEN where we are for a reason…we are called to FOLLOW..and CHANGE the world!

Are you a follower? Then You are called to make a Difference.
Keep shining my friends!

Safety First?!

Leila doesn’t like winters, not because of cold but for separating her from a dear friend. Couple of years ago, on a cold snowy day in Amsterdam, putting Leila in her car seat was an obvious challenge given the size of her winter clothing specially that big stuffed jacket that took big space of her tight car seat. Set and off we go. On the way, she told me:
Pa, I don't like winter.
Me: I know, it is cold and grey but it has its beauty with all this snow and this…
Leila (interrupting me): No it is not about the weather, it is because that all these clothes and that jacket are not allowing me to have Loulou (her teddy bear) squeezed next to me in my car seat!
Me (few seconds of thinking): Leila, your warmth and security come first...You have to choose...Loulou doesn't have a place now.

She used to ride the car and squeeze in her friend Loulou next to her in that tight car seat but now, she can´t. This big jacket stands in the way, she couldn’t have both with her. Caring less about the cold, willingly wanting to let go of her warming jacket and seat belt, she only focused on her friend losing its place next her.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)
«اُدخُلوا مِنَ البابِ الضَّيِّقِ، لأنَّهُ واسِعٌ البابُ ورَحبٌ الطَّريقُ الّذي يؤَدّي إلَى الهَلاكِ، وكثيرونَ هُمُ الّذينَ يَدخُلونَ مِنهُ! ما أضيَقَ البابَ وأكرَبَ الطريقَ الّذي يؤَدّي إلَى الحياةِ، وقَليلونَ هُمُ الّذينَ يَجِدونَهُ! (7 مَتَّى:13-14)

I admit, in many times we only like to read the comforting messages, but Jesus’s wake up call here is set clearly to our face. The context of these verses in Matthew 5,6 and 7 sets its very clear in which Jesus shared His Heavenly teachings (sermon on the mount) about our walk in life: Love your enemies, Do to others what you want them to do to you, forgive, watch your thoughts, bless your haters, and shine your light. Our baggages of selfishness, condemnation, revenge, envy and lots more will probably stand on our way getting through this tight door..it won’t fit…exactly as the teddy bear didn’t fit into that car seat!

Lord, I pray for your Holy Spirit to come and lift off these BAGGAGES from me..the road is harsh yet I know that I can lean on you…Not by my strength but through the Power of Your Spirit living in us. Here I come, knock the door and ask for you to Fill my soul. Amen!

I wonder how many times in life (and till when) we choose the teddy bear over that car seat? Safety first. Right?

Keep shining my friends!

MY Restaurant..

I love going out to restaurants and cafes, yet there is always a place (or two) I consider MY own, MY repertoire, MY Place. What makes it special is not just good cuisine but it is the whole experience of making me enjoying couple of hours in a welcoming ambiance and surely a service worth coming back for making me feel at my own the place. The Best trick that ALWAYS brings a big smile on my face is being greeted and welcomed in person by name (yes remembering it). Only then, I do feel that I am really special not just a client like all the rest coming in. Wait, it doesn’t stop there, What puts the icing on the cake is when this same waiter comes and asks you if my coffee is without whipped cream and skimmed milk like I always ask for! WOW…Not just my name, but my specific tailor made order is known to him. Only then, belonging to this place takes a whole new level for me…next to the big proud confident smile looking at the people sitting on my table hinting “look at me…Yes I am special” smile emoticon

You probably know where I am heading to…

“Don’t be afraid. I saved you. I named you. You are mine. (Isaiah 43:1 ERV)
«لا تخَفْ لأنّي فدَيتُكَ. دَعَوْتُكَ باسمِكَ. أنتَ لي. (43 إشَعياءَ:1 )
"Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:8 ERV)
فلا تتَشَبَّهوا بهِمْ. لأنَّ أباكُمْ يَعلَمُ ما تحتاجونَ إليهِ قَبلَ أنْ تسألوهُ. (6 مَتَّى:8 )

Can you imagine that our Heavenly Father knows not only your name, wants and needs in person, He Knows the deepest desires, fears, unspoken prayers and all the tears shed in private. What a Grace we have in Him, what a privilege to have such a love. Yet lots of us prefer seeking unknown restaurants where you know you will just be another forgotten client, where no one cares your name and your needs are kept to yourself…no Tailor making here!

Come on…The Kitchen is open 24/7…All you have to do is step in! You are welcome anytime!