So my dear friend, JenIG posted the most wonderful testimony to how God uses everyone for His glory.  I just had to post it here so that others might be as blessed by it as I was.

I know there have been many times, since becoming a christian, that I've tried to forget and bury my past.  In fact, my husband and I have prayed for the Lord to allow certain memories to fade, if not even become non-existent.  Some of those requests, He's granted, however, others (painful as they may be) still remain as scars.

At times, I've been frustrated by them, knowing that the Lord has forgiven me for everything... so, why must I remember these horrible things of the past?!  I've recently been reminded that it's not about ME... it's about HIM.  As much as I might want to forget the past and just move on... the fact is, the Lord has a plan for me and if I let Him, He will use my past to glorify Him.

My husband, when faced with a life-altering decision a year ago, struggled with the Lord's Will for him.  He first played the part of Jonah, running away from the call the Lord was placing on his heart.  Secondly, he played the part of Jacob, and wrestled with God for quite awhile.  Then he played the part of Moses, trying to "convince" God that he just wasn't the right man for the job.  Lastly (thankfully), he played the part of Jesus, submitting to the Lord... and whatever that meant... no matter how painful it might be.

It's only human to not want to "look bad" to others.  But the truth is, the Lord may use those bad things to help another person realize He forgives ALL.  One who has a little dirt on their hands will appreciate water and soap to wash them clean.  But one who is covered in manuer will have a completely different appreciation for the same water and soap... and he will probably go and tell the others he sees that are manuer-covered, how wonderful it is to be cleaned with water and soap...

The Lord gives us the choice to either say YES or NO to Him and His Will.  But when we say "yes"... I mean, when we say yes and really mean it, what we're doing is allowing Him to use us in whatever way He sees fit.  That may mean our past will come out... or we may be disliked... or we may get hurt... or we may not live to the "standard" we've grown accustomed to...

Whenever I begin to struggle with my past and want to cover it up... I'm reminded of five women in the Bible that the Lord used.  Tamar, a widowed Cannanite...  Rahab, a prostitute... Bathsheba, an adultress... Ruth, a widowed Moabitess... and Mary, a young woman who "claimed" to have never had sex with her fiancee (yet was still pregnant).  ALL of these woman experienced people talking about them...  EACH of them knew what it was like to feel shame...  But they were also the women the Lord choose to bring forth the Promised Redeemer.  They were the women spoken of in the Bible who were in the lineage of Christ.  He looked past what there were, and saw what they would become.  Their lives were exposed... but they were not forgotten and their story breathes more than just love... it speaks of grace.

SHARE and Tell:

• Write a testimony to God's grace on your blog (and include in your post the direct link to your blog).  It may be something recently, or how you came to Christ.  It may be hard to share, and very humbling... but remember, it may bless another person's life who is struggling right now, or is trying to hide their own past.  (There is no time limit on this, so if you don't have time now, then please post it whenever you can and tell us.)

May God be glorified as we share how He's worked wonders in our lives.  Bless you for sharing.

In Him,
Amy