This is Egypt no matter what the say

This clip shows the Egyptian flag between a church and a mosque in Alexandria. The significance of this is that this is the church that was bombed on New Years Eve just few weeks ago with 24 people dead. Reports now that the forces behind this attack is the previous minster of interior, Mr Habib El Adlee, who is now under police custody.

It has only been just under 4 weeks since this whole revolution started and we are trusting in God and standing firm as Egyptians regardless of religion, class or political views.
Long Live Egypt.

Another trick to ruin the revolution

News just in with the death of a Coptic priest in the city of Assuit-Upper Egypt. He was found dead in his flat. As you can see in this clip, Christians were out in the street chanting "we will defend the cross". This is the oldest trick in the book, to create friction between Christians and Muslims to keep them busy. Of course some might say it could be Islamic movement behind this event, however, the Muslim brotherhood is working really hard at the moment to change people image about them to gain more support in the next election and I do not think killing a priest will do them any favours. During the last 4 weeks, not one church was attacked and people finally started to see that the old regime wanted to rule over a divided country. It became clear that the previous minster of interior - Habib El Adelee - was behind the recent bombing in a church in Alexandria on New Years Eve and he is currently waiting trial. Few days later there was another killing against Christians by one of police officer who killed 6 Christians on a train. There are now so many stories to show that the government was supporting, protecting and inciting religious division to keep people away from other important issues like asking about corruption or demanding more rights. However, just looking at general comments tonight on Facebook, I can see that the majority of people can see through these tactics. I can only pray that God protect Egypt and its people from all the attacks.

God Bless Egypt

A Thousand Questions...simply amazing!

Trick or treat, victory or defeat?

As Halloween approached, for the first time ever, my daughter had lots of questions about the subject. In the past we always did not like any of the Halloween stuff, we knew that we celebrated light and salvation in Jesus and that death and darkness were not on the menu at all in the shape of Halloween. But this year, the conversation started with all questions about the history behind Halloween as we researched it before and knew all about its background in the past. My daughter question was “why do not we do something fun and still celebrate light and salvation, celebrated the old way it used to be”. In fact it used to be All Hallows Eve which was tied directly to All Saints Day celebrated on November 1 of each year to commemorate the old saints who have past on. These “saints” were heroes and martyrs for the Christian Faith. This was a tricky discussion for me. As a child growing up in Egypt, we never heard about Halloween, and so as a mother I was happy to follow the church line not to celebrate Halloween. However, I was faced with the dilemma this year with my child clearly understands what she wanted to do and not wanting to be following the crowd blindly and equally wanting to have fun while sticking to our values.

Looking at Christmas, there is so much focus on the tree, the gifts and Santa, does that mean that we will ban Christmas? No, but we will keep the message alive and keep the focus back on what really matter, the birth of the king who saved us.

So when it came to Halloween, I agreed to a small party for few friends, with no death, skeletons or any scary things. We did crafts and played games and visited few houses of people we knew –rather than some glorified begging for sweets- and the kids had fun. I painted their faces and had mine done as well and was praying all thorough the night for God’s protection to be on all of them.

I remember that similar discussion surrounded the harry potter books and whether as christian we should read them or not with the links to witchcrafts and magic and so on. I really believe that if you have your “holy spirits eyes on” you can see God in everything. Before my daughter went to bed tonight, she said that she had a great day, we prayed and thanked God that Jesus is the light of the world and that he conquered everything that is dark and evil. I trust that if i make a big deal out of little things without full explanations and complete convections especially when my daughter is approaching her teens very quickly, it is more likely that she will grow resenting her faith. After all as Cliff always says, “why do we let the devil have all the fun”?

"I am still not sure about God"

This is what my daughter announced as she was settling into bed! At that point we just finished praying and thanking God for the day. She said: "I am still waiting for some scientific evidence to make sure that God created the world". I was surprised by the word "still", as she is only 9 years old and has not been looking for evidence for the existence of God that long! I listened to her as she put all her ideas across and I was really fascinated that no matter how old we are, we are looking for assurance that what we believe deep down is the right thing. She said that the "big bang" doesn't really make sense and that to have come from monkeys was really silly. But she wants to see a sign..a big gesture..then she said.."I have only one thing that I know is true, the bible and it was written by so many different people that it could not have been all made up". I was glad and reassured at this point :) We had some discussion and I love the fact that we can share all the questions, ideas and even the doubts. God is like that with us, he loves us so much and he does not mind when we come to him as his kids and ask all kinds of questions, HE loves us to chat with him more than anything else. As for the time being, I am asking for wisdom, a lot of it and quick!!

Joy (The Vally of Vision-Arthur Bennitt)

O Christ,
All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight.
Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice.
For my joy thou hast sent the Comforter,
Multiplied by promises,
Shown me my future happiness,
Given me a living foundation.
Thou are preparing joy for me and me for joy;
I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy;
Give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of.

Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy at my work, business, duties.
If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning.
Let me rest in the thought of thy love,
Pardon for sin, my title to heaven, my future unspotted state.
I am an unworthy recipient of thy grace.
I often disesteem thy blood and slight thy love,
But can in repentance draw water from the wells of thy joyous forgiveness.

Let my heart leap toward the eternal Sabbath, where the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification is finished and perfected for ever.
Where thou wilt rejoice over me with joy.
There is no joy like the joy of heaven, for in that state are no sad divisions, unchristian quarrels, contentions, evil designs, weariness, hunger, cold, sadness, sin, suffering, persecutions, toils of duty.

O healthful place where none are sick!
O happy land where all are kings!
O holy assembly where all are priests!
How free a state where none are servants except to thee!
Bring me speedily to the land of joy

Don't get busy with the Bees.....Go after the HONEY

There are a list of "Bees" that keep people away from God:

Books (work, study worries)

Bills (money)

Blocks/birds (relationships)

Body (image,health)

Bereavement (bad experiences)

But here is my list of HONEY that we need to focus on

HONEY

Hold on to the faith

Only Jesus can save

No condemnation now on those in Christ

Encourage yourself and each other

Your life is safe in His hands

So I say, do not just stay busy with the BEEs, go after the Honey!