It is intriguing to note that while Satan the deceiver is bound up, the people are not carried away by deception. There is no one to deceive them. But soon after he is released, he accomplishes his old task of deception. He’ll only have “a little while” (Rev 20:3), but he deceives the nations enough to gather them for battle against God’s people.
    From the beginning of time Satan has been deceiving people, and people have always been prone to deception. I suppose there is a deceiveability slant in everyone that make us prone to Satan’s deceptions.
    Life is short. We don’t have a thousand years to spare. And Satan roams the land seeking out those he can deceive. Will it be you? Will you completely forget who you are and give in to Satan’s deceptions?
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
—————
* 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.

Advertising is a form of yelling. Now through social media, this “yelling” is practically free. Paid ads also show up on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. So you don’t have much option as it shows up even if you don’t want to see it. They hope that by getting their info in your screen again and again, you’ll eventually click on their ad one day. That tactic just irritates people and gets in the way of their productivity.
But what if you were to be generous? No, don’t use generosity as a tactic to get you someplace. Rather allow generosity to be a lifestyle. Jesus said “Give and it shall be given to you, pressed down, shaken together and running over.” He also said “Freely you have received, freely give.” Learn to be a giver rather than a taker. Consistently give more than you take.
Maybe you can give your time, efforts, energy, or knowledge. There are a host of other things that you can give. Whatever it is that you give, strive to be known as a giver. That reputation will be the source of great joy in life. Ultimately, you will begin to reap the benefits. But don’t do it for the benefits. Just do it as a lifestyle of generosity. It’s much better than YELLING.
———-
NOTE: Did you like this post? Be sure to click the “Like” button and then share this post on Facebook, and tweet it on Twitter! I would love to hear from you! Let me know what you thought of this post by leaving a comment below. Be sure to Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to my blog to receive each new post by email.

This is a wedding invitation by someone very special to you. The bride is chosen. The wedding date is set. The venue is pre-determined. The invitations are sent out. The arrangements for the feast is finalized. All the miscellaneous arrangements are being worked on. Now the bride just needs to make herself ready.

What an awesome picture of the upcoming celebration. The Church is the bride. We are the bride of Christ chosen before the foundations of the earth. Betrothed to the King. Everything is set in order.

Now, the bride has the responsibility of making herself ready for the bridegroom. We, the church, have the responsibility of “adorning” ourselves with good works, or righteous deeds. We do this not to be selected as the bride of Christ, but because we are already selected as the bride. This imagery is beautifully expressed in Revelations.

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure — for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints (Rev 19:7-8).

We as the Church, the Bride of Christ have the ongoing task of making ourselves ready for the groom with righteous deeds. We do this not out of compulsion but out of love for Jesus, our Groom.

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

—————

* 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.

When expectations are high, stress levels are high. Life simply defies high expectations. Those two just don’t match. The chances for high stress go up significantly.
But if expectations are lowered, the scenario is quite different. Life becomes more peaceful. We become more relaxed. Our environment is more tolerable. Yes the same experiences will have a totally different effect on us when our expectations are altered.
This doesn’t mean that our predicament improves. Life continues to dish out its plate of troubles, and we have no option but to face them. Having a balanced perspective regarding our expectations will certainly reduce stress.
NOTE: Did you like this post? Be sure to click the “Like” button and then share this post on Facebook, and tweet it on Twitter! I would love to hear from you! Let me know what you thought of this post by leaving a comment below. Be sure to Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to my blog to receive each new post by email.

Rebellion may seem to have a hold on people’s lives. It shows up in all facets of life, but the ultimate expression of rebellion is against God. This rebellion against God began in Genesis 11, where people gathered in one place and began to build a city with a large tower that is as “high as​ the heavens.” They wanted to make a name for themselves. Their aim in doing all these things was to stay together in one place without being dispersed throughout the Earth.
But God’s plan was for them to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it…” (Gen 1:28). Their plan was entirely contrary to the plan of God for them. Their actions were clearly in rebellion to God’s purpose for their lives and for the entire world.
Such a rebellious attitude against our creator God has been with people throughout human history. Even today, this is a common mentality in people all over the world. There is no regard for God or his purposes for us.
But what about me? What about us? If we are honest, we find ourselves in a similar predicament. We love God, but our actions may not come in alignment with God’s purposes for us.
When Revelations 18 speaks of Babylon the great, it is more than that ancient nation – once great and powerful. It is the attitude of Babel that stands against the purposes of God for us.
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
—————
I am a pastor, teacher, and writer, devoted to helping people live their potential.
* 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.
 

The visits by the doctor were so brief that it must have been less than a minute. “Hey, how are you feeling? Everything looks good. Great. Get some rest, OK? See you next time.” What? That’s it? These guys get paid well just for this flash visit and a quick chit chat?
Let’s think of the alternative. The doctor walks in with a somber face and begins to explain the complications. As he lists the options for treatment and the chances of survival, your heart begins to sink.

No thanks. I think I prefer the flash visits.