Life is good! I shared in passing on Sunday about two brothers who came up with a simple idea and coined the phrase “Life is Good!” with a big smiley character named Jake. Here’s The Life is good® story.

Bert and John Jacobs, the founders, designed their first tee shirt in 1989. They knew nothing about the business. For five years, the brothers traveled the East Coast, selling door-to-door in college dormitories. They collected some good stories, but were not very prosperous. They lived on peanut butter and jelly, slept in their van, and showered when they could. By August of 1994, with a combined sum of $78 in the bank, Bert and John considered getting a real job.

And then they created Jake, and he showed them the way. Ten years later, Jake and the Life is Good® brand are spreading optimism nationwide. This year the dream continues...Do what you like. Like what you do®.

Attitude is everything! How’s your attitude today? The good news is we do get to choose! I’d like to share with you a story that has humor and a great message too!

Every cloud has a silver lining ... And Joseph said, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me: but God meant it unto good.” (Gen. 50:20)
The 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!

God is faithful and Life is good! I am encouraged. How about you? I hope you have a great day –today –trusting Jesus to bless you and use you for His great purposes! Life is good!

In His Love,
Mark

PS – I’m challenging us to grow in godly wisdom in October by reading 1 chapter of Proverbs every day. Thirty-one chapters in 31 days!

PSS – This Sunday is World Communion Sunday! Come as we celebrate the sacrament with Christians literally around the world!