Here is the story of why I named this blog "Barnabas By Design..."
One of the things I enjoy doing most is writing cards to people. I love sharing encouraging words with others with the hope it brightens their day. I also love knowing they can keep cards and hopefully look back at them from time to time and be reminded of what a special person they are. Encouraging others is something I truly enjoy, and I was pleasantly surprised to come across a person in the Bible who also shared this tendency.
His name was Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement." You can read about him in the book of Acts. He first comes on the scene in Acts 11:23, "When he (Barnabas) arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." So since Barnabas and I both share the desire to be encouraging to others, that explains the first part of the title.
The second part of the title, "by design," comes from my belief that I am created by a loving God - who knows me personally and more intimately than anyone. I believe what Psalm 139 says - that God "created my inmost being; He knit me together in my mother's womb" (verse 13). I believe He designed me uniquely and purposefully.
So, in essence I believe God designed me with the gift of encouragement, and that I can kind of be a present-day Barnabas to others while I'm here. Hence "Barnabas By Design."
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I will be posting encouraging words and stories about people in my life, and those I encounter, that have touched me or others in some way. I hope to shine the spotlight on them to display some aspect of the amazing person God created them to be.
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