This is a Good Thing!!!

Good morning and happy Sunday, I pray that you had a peace filled sleep and that you are up and ready to salute our Father in Heaven on this sabbath day! In prayer this morning as I was sitting in deep meditation I felt so much love and peace in my heart. I felt that God was giving me a "hug" he was wrapping his arms around me and letting me know to keep on plugging along, that the pain I am suffering each day will be made better soon. I am going to have to have both of my hips replaced, I had both of my knees replaced just over 5 years ago and...my hips... I will be like the bionic woman soon! I have been hurting more than usual as of late, I know that the weather has much to do with this but I also know that the hips are gone. Please pray for me! I said my usual morning prayers and was just closing them when the Holy Ghost impressed upon me that all things good or bad are blessings, that even though we cannot see past the end of our noses often times, there are blessings in all things. I ask you to think on this today, think of a time when you just could not see past "the problem" at that moment...only to realize if it had not happened the way it had, " good" would not have taken its place.. I came across a very ingenious story that I would like to share with you...

THIS IS A GOOD THING

An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.

Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"

To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.

As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.

"You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off."

And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened.

"And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"

"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"

"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28)

Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the promise of God is clear. If we love Him and live our lives according to His precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned by God for His glory and our benefit.

Hold on, God is faithful! May God bless you this week as you seek His will in every situation.

Addendum — Genius 50:20 "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."