ask jeeves...or lindsey.

   Life lately has been super busy, but yet enjoyable.  I feel like I'm learning the lesson of how to serve and love Jesus through the busy and mundane aspects of life.  That is not the point of this blog though haha  So, this week the question was asked, do you have any regrets in life?  The conversation spurred to the topic of wanting to hide our pasts because they were shameful, and a version of us that we did not like.  I have been thinking about this for a few days now...
   Do I have any regrets in life??  I think I am finally getting to the point where I can say no and truly mean it.  This doesn't mean that I do not have painful memories, but through prayer God has started to ease the ones that seem to grip and make me feel ashamed and unworthy.  Of course, sometimes I wish I would have listened when God told me to pray for someone in person, or that I wouldn't have been rude to the lady who hated the coffee she ordered.  But it does allow me to give those worries and weaknesses to God.  He is big enough to carry all of my burdens, even better...He loves me enough to carry them.  I will never say all the right things, or be loving enough.  But isn't that the point?  I don't want the glory of doing everything "right", but I'd rather God show His glory by working my shortcomings for His perfect plan.  Nothing in life is past the redemption of God.
   The beauty of God's redemption is what makes me want to share my past.  I cannot hide the work that He has done in me.  He has chosen me as His child, and like a child I have made mistakes.  But like a Father He still looks upon me with love.  Those mistakes do not define or change His love for me.  Therefore, how can I hide the fact that I serve a God who loves me so much that He gave His son up for me, and can redeem the ways I turn from Him.  Sharing my past allows God to be glorified.  Just like reading the stories in the Bible allows us to be encouraged.  We learn about the pasts of the characters and how God used broken people to accomplish His will.  What if we knew nothing about their pasts??  There is no way on earth that I could have even dreamed of the way God would use me and is still using me.  I am learning that it is okay to look at a mess of a person and think they are beautiful--this is what God does everyday.  Even though I am a mess I am loved.  Even though I am broken I have hope.  That love and hope is Jesus.  Ask me about my past--I would be thrilled to share how it all points to the redemption and love of God.