Always look on the bright side of life...

Arlin shared this story last year on his blog: www.arlinsorensen.com and it really makes me think, each time I read it: am I the nobleman, or the slave?  And which one do you want to be?

A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances would always say “my king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect. He makes no mistakes!”

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty from losing a finger.

Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman asked "Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger."

The slave replied: "My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows why these things happened. What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!"

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.

Later, the King left for another hunt, this time alone. He was captured by savages who engaged in human sacrifices.

On the altar and ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages discovered that their victim did not have one of his fingers. According to them, only a whole person with all his/her parts intact could be offered to the gods.

The King without a finger was deemed an abominable sacrifice for their gods. So they released the King. Upon his return to the palace, the King authorized the release of his slave. He received the slave affectionately.

"God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?"

The slave answered, "my King, if I had gone with you on this hunt, I would have been sacrificed instead because I have no missing finger. Remember everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong. He made you keep me in jail so I would not be with you on the hunt."

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.

Every morning, offer your day to God, don't be in a rush.

Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong!

Let freedom ring

Land where my father's died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountain-side...

Today, we celebrate the birth of our nation, the declaration of certain inalienable rights, that all mankind deserves life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Lest we forget that there is a cost to this choice, let's remember the men & women who choose to protect that freedom.  Stop, take a moment, look around and see, really SEE the amazing gift you have been given; that for some is but a dream.  That is what they are protecting.  That is what is worth protecting; every day, by every one.  What do you do to ensure that isn't taken away from you?  What would you do to make sure it was not taken away from someone else?  Maybe even someone you don't even know.

The following was shared awhile back on his daily email list (from another reader) , and it really touched my soul and made me think, how much do I take for granted every day?  You can read more of Arlin here, www.arlinsorensen.com

How  much do we notice as we go through a day?????  

Lisa Beamer on Good Morning America - If you remember she's the wife of Todd Beamer who said 'Let's Roll!' and helped take down the plane  over Pennsylvania that was heading for Washington, DC back on 9/11.  

She  said it's the little things that she misses most about Todd, such as hearing the garage door open as he came home, and her children  running to meet him.  

Lisa recalled this story:  "I had  a very special teacher in high school many years   ago whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack.   About a week after his  death, she shared some of her   insight with a classroom  of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came  streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was  nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her  desk and sat down there.  

With a gentle look  of reflection on her face, she paused and said, 'Class is over,  I would like to share with all of   you, a thought that is  unrelated to class, but which I feel   is very important. Each of  us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate  and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this  fantastic experience will end.   It can be taken away at  any moment.  

Perhaps this is  God’s way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day. Her eyes, beginning to water, she  went on, 'So I would like you all to make me a promise. From  now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice.  

It doesn't have to  be something you see, it could be a scent, perhaps of freshly  baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it  could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light  catches one autumn leaf as it   falls gently to the  ground. Please look for these things, and cherish them. For,  although it may sound trite to some, these things are the  "stuff" of life. The  little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted.  

The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our   books and filed out of the  room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on  my way home from school than I had that whole semester.  Every once in a while, I think   of that teacher and  remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we  all overlook.  

Take notice of  something special you see on your lunch   hour today. Go barefoot.  Or walk on the beach at sunset.   Stop off on the way home  tonight to get a double dip ice   cream cone. For as we get  older, it is not the things we did that we often regret,  but the things we didn't do.