GOD USES EVEN ORDINARY PEOPLE

I {Mandy} found this on Facebook the other day:

Click HERE to see the poster. Please click over for just a second. Otherwise, the rest of this post will not make much sense.

And I kind of had a chuckle, but when I really looked at it, it was life changing.

You may not recognize these names if you're not familiar with the Bible. If not, just know that all the people listed here are considered men or women of "renown."

Like, if the Bible were a movie, these people would be the "Tom Cruise" and "Angelina Jolie" characters of the story.

As I read down the list, I stopped seeing their names.

And I started seeing my own.

There is not one thing on that list that I couldn't claim as mine.

Am I a drunk? Even if a drop never touched my lips, how many times have I been drunk on my own [perceived] power or importance?


Too old? Half the stuff I used to do as little as a few years ago I can't do now. That includes back bends, staying up all night and then working an entire shift without so much as blinking an eye. Now I complain of aches and pains from standing/sitting/laying/walking too long and 2 play dates in a row exhaust me.

Daydreamer? Much of my life has been spent daydreaming. Wasn't it John Lennon who said "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans"? Yep. That's me. How many opportunities slipped past me without hardly a sideways glance? How many "right now" moments went unnoticed because I was too busy looking ahead?

A Liar? Ouch. One of my most hated things is being lied to. I have past issues with this and it's triggered by certain situations. BUT...that has not made me immune to lying.

Ugly? Well, although I consider myself "average" I can attest to the many times my insides have been absolutely hideous. My thoughts can be horrifying. The judgments I can cast at the blink of an eye make me the ugliest person on earth at times.

Abused? My past holds some stories where this word would qualify. And really, unless you live in a bubble, how many of us have not been abused by someone in one way or another?

Stuttering Problem? While I may not have a speech impediment, I surely have had much difficulty getting out the right words at the right time.

Afraid? The way I live my life could be summed up in that one, six-letter word. I am so afraid and riddled with anxiety, it's ridiculous. I constantly have to remind myself that God has not given me a spirit of fear.

A Womanizer? Maybe not in this particular context, but I have had people in my life that I have used for selfish reasons. Or friends who poured into me, but I was so wrapped up in receiving their friendship that I didn't give back. And now it's too late--they've moved on.

A Prostitute? Perhaps I haven't given up my body for money, but I have certainly sold myself short for one reason or another: love, acceptance, pleasure, coercion, rebellion...

And the list goes on....

Too young? In comparison to many, yes.

Murderer? If thoughts turned into actions, how many people would I have condemned to hell for one reason or another?

Suicidal? Sometimes I pray "Come quickly, Lord Jesus" so that I don't have to spend one more minute in this depraved world.

Naked? Literally? Figuratively? Yes.

Ran from God? Oh my. Years at a time sometimes. Sometimes even now when I can tell He's asking something hard of me.

Widow? I have grieved the death of 2 marriages.

Bankrupt? I have lived both a life bankrupt of morality and one where I didn't have 2 pennies to rub together.

Denied Christ? This one...this one hurts. But yes. I have cautiously answered questions or backed down during a discussion if I knew saying what I really believe and feel would lead to controversy or relationship issues.

Fell asleep while praying? Many nights I do this.

Worried about everything? Have I mentioned that I worry a lot?

The one that really stopped me though...

"The Samaritan woman was divorced"

If you have visited here before (and as I mentioned above) you may know I have been divorced twice. I wore that as a badge of dishonor for years. I tucked it away so that no one would know and glossed over certain details of my life so that I wouldn't ruin my testimony. I figuratively hung my head in shame and carried the weight of that guilt for years.

Too short? I am an average 5'4 in stature, but mere inches in confidence at times. Sometimes I forget that I am a child of the King and should act as such.

Too Religious? Just ask some family and friends. They will be the first to tell you that I am "too religious." And they may be right. At times, my 'religion' comes before my relationship with Jesus.

An Ulcer? I don't know how I don't have one, what with all the worrying I do, but at times I can work myself up into quite a fervor with needless worry.

Dead? Sure, my heart is pumping and blood is coursing through my veins, but how many times have I felt dead inside? Like I wanted to just give up? Like I wanted a ticket off this planet and to not deal with the problems and struggles of this world any longer. Like I just couldn't do it for one more day? Too many times to count...

So the truth in this funny meme is that we are all guilty of most, if not all, of these things.

These people are like the guy next door, or the girl in the cubicle next to you...or just like us.

And the beauty of this, friends, is that God knew all about it.....centuries before even one of our days would ever come to be. And He still wants to use us.

God doesn't delight in our shortcomings. He isn't excited when we use poor judgment or make bad decisions...but He still loves us and He can still use us mightily.

You. Me. All of us.

For His glory.

So, whatever may represent you from that image...it doesn't matter. God can wipe it all clean and still use your story as a testimony for Him.

And the crazy thing about it is, our lives...our everyday lives filled with short-comings, mistakes, flaws, bad decisions and the mundane...it all matters. It can all be used for him. And to quote my friend Melissa Hucal: "It's amazing to me what an adventure even an "ordinary" life can be when you put Jesus in the middle of it all."

Romans 3:23: "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard."

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

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