Pain only seems like the problem. Since pain is a part of life, we’ve got to shift our focus from the pain to deeper issues.
But pain has the deceptive​ ability to keep our attention. We spend our time, efforts, and money trying to alleviate the pain. That attention needs to be focused on the problem at hand.
Pain can also keep us from our mission. The one who’s focused on just removing pain never gets a chance to focus on their mission. When that happens, pain wins.
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At the restaurant you tip the waiter a fair/expected amount for their services. But when a waiter with a great attitude goes beyond the normal expectations, we think twice. We may have been a bit grumpy about what is fair, but the waiter’s attitude impacts us and we go beyond what is fair.
Then the tip is not only for the services rendered. It’s for the attitude.
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    God created all things and set everything in place before creating humans. All creation exists for our benefit. That is God’s provision for mankind.
    Soon after creating man and woman, God gave them dominion over everything. They were to use their authority to bring all creation under their control and use it for their benefit and sustenance. That is God’s provision for humans.

And God said, “behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food” (Gen 1:29).

    The dominion is not simply for the sake of domination but for the purpose of provision. Dominion for the sake of domination becomes the cause for arrogance and abuse.
    Dominion is to be used in the sense and for the purpose for which God intended. When we take our rightful place in creation and perform our duties as expected, it results in blessings and provision for everyone.
Your Turn
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Please share briefly in the comments section on the website barnabas.in
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Along with building trust, consistency also builds expectations. If you don’t live up to those expectations, you’ll lose not only the consistency, but you’ll lose trust as well.
Trust has a lot of benefits. It gives you freedom to cast vision and stay focused on that vision. People will join with you as you pursue your vision. Now, the best part is when they make it their vision. But it all begins with trust.
At all costs, stay consistent and keep the trust.
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But you can’t bypass the feel good factor. This time I bought the toothpaste with the tingling sensation. Thought it would be a good feeling for the morning.

Of course I brush to get my teeth and mouth clean. But certainly the feel good factor feels good. 

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    That sounds like a defeatist attitude. The assumption is that people won’t change, so why bother? Surely we believe people can change by the power of the Holy Spirit. But they must be willing.
    And some are not willing to be changed. They are set in their sinful ways. There is something within them that rebels against everything godly. They desire their own identity and way of thinking completely apart from God.

“Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy” (Rev 22:11).

    I found it interesting that several verses before, the people of God are said to have the name of Jesus written on their foreheads (Rev 21:4). In the Old Testament, the Israelites were instructed to have the laws of God on their foreheads (“between your eyes”) as a sign that they belong to God (Deut 6:8). Satan also will demand that people should have the “mark of the Beast” on their foreheads (Rev 13:15-17).
    Their forehead represents their mind, which reflects the state of their hearts. We are talking about hearts that are completely focused away from God. From the depths of their hearts, they are focused on doing evil. There’s no turning back.
    The righteous are focused on God and the things that please him. Their hearts are focused toward whatever is pure and holy.
    Changing the inner leaning of their hearts is a task that only God can do. He can do it if the people are willing to change.
 
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website barnabas.in
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* For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.

While Jesus was on this earth, he was so welcoming and accepting. He expelled demons, healed the sick, the lame, the blind, the paralytic, and every kind of disease and deformity that people brought to him.
He also fed the hungry, comforted the lonely, befriended the outcasts, and reached out to all types of people rejected by society. The openness and acceptance that he showed was unprecedented.
But when it comes to entry into heaven, we see lots of restrictions.

“But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev 21:21).

God gives to all people life, breath, and all that’s required to sustain life. This is his responsibility as the creator. When Jesus came to the earth, he gave gifts of healing, miracles, and mercy to everyone who approached him. That was his prerogative.
Along with all that, as creator, he has full authority to restrict entry into heaven. That is his right. Since God is holy, nothing unholy can dwell with him.
But we on our own, cannot attain holiness. That is why God has made a way through his Son Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, and only through faith in Jesus can we enter heaven and dwell with God for eternity. That’s how God has restricted entry.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website barnabas.in
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• If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with others who may benefit from reading this.

• For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.