Take Off your Goggles!

Just came back from a short stay on the shores of the picturesque Red Sea. The beauty of sea life and the amazing colored corals and fish put at shame any "Haute couture" designer. To entertain their guests, our hotel installed an inflatable Slide (زحليقة) there in the depth of the sea, at a 10 mins swim. Farida had one goal: Spending most of her time around that Slide, and obviously in that depth I had to be there with her. Finishing lunch she pulled me to go back to the slide as promised. On our way swimming, I put my goggles (نظارة مياة) to enjoy the beauty of the under water sights on the way..There I found the most stunning fish, shining its colours all over, it trapped me with its beauty and I decided to follow its path..Farida realized that we were deviating and drifting away from our path. She pulled me back and pointed at the slide in a way to tell me "Lets get back on track"! She was right...couple of minutes later I found an amazing coral formation...I stopped and went around it fully hypnotized...totally forgetting the Slide! Only then She lost her patience and found a solution to this distracted father, she asked me firmly to "Take off my GOGGLES" as she knew without them, this underwater world wont trap me again, and I wouldnt be losing sight of our goal, nor wasting time heading towards our destination, the slide! 

SIMPLE, EASY and IT WORKED!

Oh how many times we need to take off our Distracting Goggles of life...How many times we decided to fight temptation in our lives yet we put the goggles on just to act upon them...We make way for the weakness to conquer and for the sin to grow just by preparing the environment for it and putting the goggles on...and later wonder why did we deviate and wander away off The Road...Away of LIFE in its FULLEST FORM..Far from HIM!

May we Pray with David out loud: Lord, 

“Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life and health in Your ways.” Psalm 119:37
“حَوِّلْ عَينَيَّ عن النَّظَرِ إلَى الباطِلِ. في طريقِكَ أحيِني.” المَزاميرُ 119:37

Whenever you are weak, TAKE OFF YOUR GOGGLES..They will just Distract you Further!!

Keep Shining my friends!

A Lucky Fish

Summer Time creates discoveries and memories to last specially when spent on the sea side. Couple of days ago, Farida and I went snorkeling in the middle of the sea, suddenly she started diving in and out of the water rapidly, every time her face comes up with a bigger smile!
- Farida, What is happening to you? Stop and catch your breath...
- Wait...(splash in and out again).
-Farida, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- Pa, i just realized how lucky the fish are, they live in a very silent peaceful "home"...When I go down, all I hear is silence...when up again, all the noise on the beach hits my ears! Down There is like a Mute Button...no wonder the fish swim so relaxed smile emoticon

What a finding! Farida simply realized the power of her surrounding...with her head in the water, she found silence! Can we as well be careful where we keep our head hanging, which "home" (world) we decide to live in? Do we have the freedom to choose our soul's environment?

David, with the dangers surrounding him and the sin once committed hunting his mind, knew that his peace will only come by choosing the dwelling place (home) of his soul:
“Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place." Psalm 23:6 AMP
“إنَّما خَيرٌ ورَحمَةٌ يتبَعانِني كُلَّ أيّامِ حَياتي، وأسكُنُ في بَيتِ الرَّبِّ إلَى مَدَى الأيّامِ.” المَزاميرُ 23:6 

Which world do you choose for your soul? Do you keep your head hanging in the middle of a noisy harsh distracting and disturbing world non stop without enjoying the peace, goodness, mercy and unfailing love granted to you in the dwelling house of God's presence in your life? who and what are you submerging yourself into? Do you willing choose noise and then complain?

Stop, catch your breath and swim like the lucky fish in the sea of His love smile emoticon

Keep shining my friends!

Super Sensitivity Detector!! .... !الحاسة "السوبر"

Leila and Farida have developed by time this super natural power I call "SSD-Super Sensitivity Detector"! 

But what is this SSD?! Easy...it is the power to recognize my arrival without even speaking one word. They now detect my way of knocking the door, my footsteps in the hallway, or the tone I speak even if I change my voice over the phone! Just hearing the sound of my keys laying them on the entrance side table is enough for them to know I am home and a trigger to get ready for The Running Hug to Dad! This detector gets stronger when they already are waiting for my arrival, wanting me to be around! Amazing how a Loving Relationship, seeking eyes and a waiting heart can Build your "SSD" stronger everyday smile emoticon

I was equally amazed by the SSD in John. Out of all disciples, it did not take him much time to detect and scream out loud " IT IS THE LORD!"

"He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:6-7 NIV)
فقالَ لهُمْ: «ألقوا الشَّبَكَةَ إلَى جانِبِ السَّفينَةِ الأيمَنِ فتجِدوا». فألقَوْا، ولَمْ يَعودوا يَقدِرونَ أنْ يَجذِبوها مِنْ كثرَةِ السَّمَكِ. فقالَ ذلكَ التِّلميذُ الّذي كانَ يَسوعُ يُحِبُّهُ لبُطرُسَ: «هو الرَّبُّ!». (21 يوحَنا:6-7 AVDDV)

John experiencing the love of Christ (being entitled-the disciple whom Jesus Loved) was able to see the Hands of God in this action, it was a strong reminder of a Life Turning point miracle for many of the disciples, in the same incident, in that same boat of Peter, when Jesus asked them to throw the net on the other side of the boat and only then caught immensely beyond expectations amount of fish! His waiting heart for Jesus after resurrection was proclaiming God's Entrance to the scene!

Lord, I pray today for the SSD in me! I pray alertness to my heart and mind, to see you in my everyday, detect your hands, point at your footprints, and proclaim out loud in the same manner John did "IT IS THE LORD"!

Talk to Him Daily, Develop your SSD...His Works ARE All Over Your Life!

Keep Shining my friends!

!الحاسة "السوبر"

إتكونت عند ليلة وفريدة حاسة فوق العادي، حاسة سوپر !!
حاسة بسميها Super Sensitivity Detector!
ببساطة .. حاسة التعرف على وصولي من الشغل من غير ما أقول ولا كلمة!
بيتعرفوا على خبطتي على الباب، خطواتي في الممر جوا البيت، نبرة صوتي حتى لو غيرتها!
صوت سلسلة المفاتيح وانا بسندها على الطرابيزة الصغيرة في المدخل كافي إنهم يعرفوا اني في البيت وكأنها صفارة عشان يسيبوا اللي في ايديهم وييجوا جري يحضنوني!

غريب اوي ومبهر حقيقي أزاي علاقة كلها حب تقدر "تقوي" حواسك بالشكل ده...
العينين اللي بتدور والقلب المنتظر جداً، بيخلقوا حاسة قوية...
وبسبب كل الحب ده بتتقوى كل يوم بشكل عجيب!

بنفس الإحساس أنا كنت مبهور بالحاسة القوية دي عند يوحنا...
الوحيد من بين التلاميذ اللي الموضوع مأخدش منه أي وقت علشان يتعرف على يسوع ويصرخ "هو الرب"!!

فقالَ لهُمْ: «ألقوا الشَّبَكَةَ إلَى جانِبِ السَّفينَةِ الأيمَنِ فتجِدوا». فألقَوْا، ولَمْ يَعودوا يَقدِرونَ أنْ يَجذِبوها مِنْ كثرَةِ السَّمَكِ. فقالَ ذلكَ التِّلميذُ الّذي كانَ يَسوعُ يُحِبُّهُ لبُطرُسَ: «هو الرَّبُّ!». (21 يوحَنا:6-7 AVDDV)

يوحنا لأنه إختبر محبة المسيح، (وكان لقبه التلميذ الذي كان يسوع يحبه) قدر يشوف إيدين الله في المعجزة، وفكرته بنقطة تحول معجزية في حياة كتير من التلاميذء...
نفس الموقف ونفس المركب لمّا طلب يسوع من بطرس ان يلقي بالشباك على الجانب الآخر من المركب، وساعتها السمك ملأ الشبكة كمية فوق التخيل والتوقع!

أصلي اليوم .. من أجل هذه "الحاسة" الكاشفة!
أصلي لكي يتنبه قلبي وعقلي، لكي أراك في يومي وفي كل أيامي، أستشعر عمل يديك، أشير الى خطواتك، وأعلن بأعلى صوتي...تماماً كما فعل يوحنا..."إنه الرب"!

تحدث اليه.. كل يوم.. طور تلك الحاسة الكاشفة..
فأعماله تملأ كل حياتك!

خلينا منورين

The Daily School Sandwich

I am sure that school days left endless memories in the mind and heart of each one of us, it even left a special taste in your mouth...and probably that s the taste of your daily mom-prepared Sandwich (I specially recall the famous جبنة بيضة بالخيار), she knew you need to be well nurtured for your tough school day...and she made sure you don't come back with it, an uneaten sandwich means you munched on Junk food (شيبسي و شمعدان و جيلي كولا)! Looking back I just realize the amount of love this simple daily sandwich meant...A Motherly Care incomparable!

Couple of thousands year back, Jesus spent on a mountain next to Galilee sea for three days, receiving multitudes of people just to bless and heal, where blind could see, crippled walk and mute speak. On the third day, 

"Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, I have pity and sympathy and am deeply moved for the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days and they have nothing [at all left] to eat; and I am not willing to send them away hungry, lest they faint or become exhausted on the way." (Matthew 15:32 AMP)
وأمّا يَسوعُ فدَعا تلاميذَهُ وقالَ: «إنّي أُشفِقُ علَى الجَمعِ، لأنَّ الآنَ لهُمْ ثَلاثَةَ أيّامٍ يَمكُثونَ مَعي وليس لهُمْ ما يأكُلونَ. ولَستُ أُريدُ أنْ أصرِفَهُمْ صائمينَ لئَلّا يُخَوِّروا في الطريقِ». (15 مَتَّى:32 )

Can you imagine the glory of being there witnessing endless miracles, seeing the Lord in action...For sure Food would be the least on my mind! But Jesus felt their unspoken need and fed 4000 with just seven loaves of bread. HE did not want them to FAINT ON THE WAY BACK!!!

WOW!

Spiritually, Jesus knows the way back n the world will be even tougher and He wants you ready and fully equipped not to faint, but to be always sustained with power, authority and faith to walk the path of life...telling all around you the good news you have seen happening, not on three days of miracles the crowd witnessed, but a lifetime walk next to you!

Don't Munch on Junk "Food", You'll need Your "Godly-Made Daily Sandwich" to get you through the school of life!

Keep Shining my Friends!

!ساندويتش جبنة بيضا بالخيار
انا متأكد ان ايام المدرسة سايبه ذكريات كتير في قلوبنا وعقولنا، يمكن كمان في بوءنا :)
 وغالباً الطعم ده هيكون طعم الساندويتشات اللي كانت امهاتنا بيعملوها كل يوم ( خصوصاً ساندويتش جبنه بالخيار) دايماً الامهات عارفة قد ايه محتاجين نتغذي علشان نستحمل اليوم الطويل في المدرسة، كان أهم حاجة تأكد عليها اننا مانرجعش بالسندويتش معانا لأن ده معناه اننا أكلنا " أي عك" شيبسي ، شمعدان ، چيلي كولا

وكل ما افتكر الايام دي أعرف قد ايه الشاندويتش ده معناه حب وعناية مخصوصة، مفيش زي اهتمام امهاتنا
 كمان من الفين سنة يسوع قضى ثلاث ايام ، على جبل جنب مدينة الجليل، بيشفي ويبارك الجموع، كان العميان بيشوفوا...العرج بيمشوا والخرس بيقدروا يتكلموا
لكن... وبعد ٣٣ ايام يسوع جمع تلاميذه وقال انه بيشفق على الجموع ،ولازم يأكلهم وإلا يرهقوا ويقعوا في الطريق لبيوتهم

وأمّا يَسوعُ فدَعا تلاميذَهُ وقالَ: «إنّي أُشفِقُ علَى الجَمعِ، لأنَّ الآنَ لهُمْ ثَلاثَةَ أيّامٍ يَمكُثونَ مَعي وليس لهُمْ ما يأكُلونَ. ولَستُ أُريدُ أنْ أصرِفَهُمْ صائمينَ لئَلّا يُخَوِّروا في الطريقِ». (15 مَتَّى:32 )

هل ممكن تتخيل المجد العظيم انك تكون واقف وشايف الرب يسوع بنفسه بيعمل معجزات لا تنتهي ،أكيد آخر حاجة ممكن تفكر فيها هي .. الأكل
لكن يسوع فكر في احتياجاتهم من غير ما يقولوها، وأطعم ٤٠٠٠٠ نفس بسبع ارغفة! مكنش عاوزهم يقعوا في الطريق من كتر التعب
!! يااااااه

لكن على المستوى الروحي
 يسوع عارف انك بعد ما تتقابل معاه وتعاين مجده ، رجوعك للعالم تاني هيكون مهمة صعبة وشاقة، وعلشان كدة عاوزك تكون جاهز ومستعد ومتقعش من التعب، عاوز تكون قوي وعندك سلطان وإيمان تكمل بيهم طريق الحياة!
 تقدر ساعتها تعلن لكل الناس الخبر الرائع اللي اختبرته وتشهد ان معجزاته مش لثلاث ايام لكن لعمر كامل يكون فيه يسوع رفيق حياتك!
أنصحك متعتمدش على junk food

انت محتاج ساندويتشات إلهية، غذاء حقيقي يقويك كل أيام " مدرسة الحياة"
 خلينا منورين