One-thumb up!

I heard the story about a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he had grown up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that 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 wherein he should have known not to hunt. Cannibals captured him and took them to their village.They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came close to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way

Though this story may be funny, its message is amazing. Is everything that bothers you bad? Have you ever stepped out of your natural perspective on good and bad and consider the fact that what may be an adversity for you is serving as a blessing?

I have witnessed people that have broken there foot and in their "adversity" they have seen that they can no longer go to the places they normally would. This is NOT to say that God punishes people and breaks legs, but instead He allows things to happen to help us. A friend of mine who often spent weekends at clubs and parties doing reckless things and being ruthless, was unfortunately jumped in one of those parties and ended up with a broken foot. What happened? He could no longer attend the parties and had more time to reflect on his decisions. My friend, and brother in Christ is now a christian and has had the opportunity to share his testimony in various churches. This is a perfect example about how adversity isn't ALWAYS adversity.

Your attitude is still able to change despite the uncontrollable situations that you will find yourself in. The friend told the king "this is good" despite the situation, little did the king know that THIS very situation would one day save his life. Some people love to be in the GOOD situations and WHINE about the bad situations. In the words of a very known pastor "bloom where you are planted".

Acknowledge that your situations are but a stepping stone in what will one day be your testimony. Through your experiences many people will come to know Jesus:

"Dude, i was in that same situation and look what God did"<--- this will be you IF you can overcome the challenge of Glorifying God in the midst of adversity. Have you had any problems lately? Feel like your in a terrible situation? Don't know what to do? Answer: Glorify God! In the few you were faithful in the great i will place you, said the Lord. God can possibly be saving your life. He can possible be strengthening your testimony. He could possible be saving you. Keep pressing on, you don't ever know when your missing thumb will be a vital blessing. Verses to read
Deuteronomy 31:8, Exodus 33:14, Psalm 16:8, Psalm 27: 1, 3, Proverbs 29:25, Proverbs 18:10, Jeremiah 16:19