A story to ponder about ...(but don't even read this unless you have time to read this AND watch the two music videos at the bottom...dedicated to Silverfiddle and Ticker! FANTASTIC MUSIC!)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.
He asked his slave, "my dear, 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!
You know why this message is for you? I do not know, but God knows, because He never makes mistakes.......
The path of God and his word is perfect, without impurities. He is the way of all those who trust in Him, as He says in 2 Samuel 22: 31
Z: We never know how things will turn out when we're going through adversity but, looking back, we often find we WERE taken care of, things DID work out.......in ways we may not even be aware of. Even if we think they didn't. Cling to this when as we see our beloved country seemingly taken over by lying politicians, a failing economy, such low morality, deadly weather; It helps.
Have a beautiful Sunday. God is never wrong. Hard to remember sometimes, I know, believe me. NOW FOR MUSIC!:
The top video's posted here in admiration for the music AND our blogger buddy TICKER who's been feeling lousy lately, but is doing much better! He sent me this and I have to admit to two Z secrets before going on:
1. I don't enjoy the Celtic Groups kind of 'elevator music' (at least that's what I usually call it)
2. This LA girl LOVES GOOD FIDDLIN' ...Alison Krauss, Bluegrass, Mark O'Connor......having said all that, please watch this.... If you can watch this and not be smiling..HOW?!
OKAY, I can't mention Mark O'Connor without posting this, dedicated to my fiddlin' buddy SILVERFIDDLE...(SF, does it get better than this!?) starts out slow, but.....it gets great!
Have a great Sunday...play those videos a few times and I GUARANTEE IT!
Love, Z
21 comments:
I'm not into the country genre -- except for certain early Bluegrass and pickin' such as Flatt and Scruggs and the film Deliverance.
But there two music videos are not grating or corny.
The text of the post is great! I know that I've read that story somewhere else. Where, though?
Sometimes, for God to get us where He wants us to go, He has us sold into slavery, put in a rich household, falsely accused, thrown into jail, and then brought before Pharaoh.
All the time wondering, "What did I do wrong?"
If only I could remember this when I'm a slave or an inmate.
I loved the story! God has a purpose in all he does, and life has meaning.
Thanks for the videos and the tribute. Those guys are amazing, and the nameless studio musicians behind them are just as amazing even though they are anonymous.
Have a happy Sunday!
AOW, I'm CRAZY about great fiddlin' and here it is!
The text was emailed to me; no idea where it comes from.
Ed....good point.
SF...Life has God's purpose as a meaning, I think.
I couldn't agree with you more on the studio musicians...tho most of those playing with Vince and O'Connor are pretty well known guys!!
Happy Sunday to you, too.
EVERYBODY: Silverfiddle has a good post on the credibility of EXODUS, you might want to go by.
Blessings!
Now that is some picking and grinning. And if you ain't grinnin when you listen sumthin is wrong!
Great story as well. We too often forget that God has all things in control. He allows things to happen in our lives to draw us closer to Him which is His desire. That should be our desire as well, to be as close to Him as possible.
Z, this is a thoughtful and fun post at the same time!
Maybe the lesson we have to learn is not to take the good times for granted. To be grateful for goodness and faith, which we turn to more in hard times.
I feel what we need to do, is to pay attention to God given gifts, and be thankful for them. At least that's how I see your message this morning, and thank you for that.
As for the great music, which brought a smile to my lips, I loved it. What a delightful way to begin the day!
"Calling Dr. Pangloss...Calling Dr. Pangloss...
An outbreak of Leibnitzian theodicy in consulting room 3. Do not, repeat, do Not return to cultivating your own garden!"
Candide. ;)
Joey, we hardly knew ye!
We knew ye, well enough, Joe. Vanitas!. ...and folly. That's your motto!
Z,
I'm familiar with your love of Celtic Music groups. You on the other hand are familiar with my love for them. I don't have a Celtic bone in my body, but I love Celtic music. Go figure.
I have in my life been in many situations in which I was the beneficiary of God's plan. I could have been gone more than a few times. I came to teaching late in my life and having survived a few brushes convinces me that God wanted me here at this time and place. Have a good Sunday.
L&O..
I should have been clearer....This group is called Celtic Somethings...I forget what.
As you remember, I don't love that kind of stage show with beautiful young girls playing violins in long gowns and corny arrangements, etc....
But this kind of CELTIC MUSIC, I'm all for!
I'm glad to God for keeping you around; I KNOW what a wonderful addition you are to the lives of your students....to say nothing of to your family and friends! (like ME!) :-)
Z: Funny you should mention "girls in gowns".
While I was watching these guys do their routine, I was struck by how the composition of the all male group would have something for every female observer.
Ed, you ain't kiddin' :-)
ALL of them very good looking in one way or the other!
The older taller man on the right was the only one who couldn't dance as well as the others so I laughed that the camera zeroed in on his legs for the close-ups, did you notice that?
Whatever, I LOVED it!
No I didn't.
I was wondering where the "girls in gowns" were.
Z,
I appreciate being numbered among your legion for friends. I posted about my thoughts on being in the military. Hint: It ain't about ideology. Thanks as always for your support.
I'm glad I took the time to read the post, and to look at both videos. I enjoyed the country music one that most.
My grandfather played the fiddle in a rural Mississippi county. He was known all over those parts, and even had my mother (a teenager, then) playing piano in the band.
On Saturdays, he used to play background music at the silent movies, and my mother played the piano. He would load up his whole family, and get them in the movie for free because he was the local musician.
My mother never told me about that. My first cousin just told me last month. It's funny how she didn't talk about her younger life.
I love to hear a good fiddle. As they say in the song, "If you're going to play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band". That applies to most any place for me.
Amen!
Law & Order..what a great post you wrote and I encourage everyone to read it.
I did comment there (Probably too long) and almost added this but felt it disrespectful after that really touching post....because it was on the humorous side (I hope) SO, I'll add it here... you have a typo...you wrote "high hinded" instead of "minded". this has nothing to do with Don't Ask Don't Tell, right? (sorry, I couldn't resist :-)
Bob, what a wonderful remembrance, thanks for sharing that. imagine?!!
As for fiddle, there almost isn't anyone better than Mark O'Connor, in my opinion. The Nashville Cats are FABULOUS.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the music.
I AM Celtic and I love Celtic music. The story meant a great deal to me as I am going through some trials of my own currently.
I also love good fiddle music, but I beg to differ with you on one point: It does get better than that, to wit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKhqzPWBkRk
The fiddle doesn't come in until near the end, but when it does, it sings!
Mark, thanks, that is nice but I think Scruggs and O'Connor knock it OUT OF THE PARK.
I don't mind Celtic Music, but I don't like the music PBS shows where pretty girls are swaying around playing violins and smiling and singing....you know what I mean? Those big Celtic Spectaculars?
What's Celtic about it, anyway?
And your video's BLUE GRASS....
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