Jesus really does recycle! He takes our trash and turns it in to something useful.recycle- verb: to reclaim (packaging or products with a limited useful life) for further use. Have you ever had some junk in your past that you just weren't too proud of? Well, guess what? We all do. And here's the good news: Jesus takes our trash and reclaims it for further use! That's right! Once you have allowed Him to heal you from your garbage, He will turn it around for something useful. And some of you out there think, "God could never use me. If only you knew the stuff I used to do or if only you knew my past". Guess what? God already knows! And He's got His recycling truck parked in front of your house just waiting for you to load it up.  

Let’s ponder some of the examples of people in the bible who God changed from less-than-stellar circumstances to being refined through God’s grace.  How about David? He started out with a promising future with a heart for God and being selected as king of Israel. But then he gets distracted by a beautiful woman and ends up murdering her husband to cover the affair. With that kind of a record, do we think God can still work through such a mess? The answer is a resounding, YES! In fact, Jesus is even born through the lineage of that relationship. God seems to delight in taking the foolish things of the world to bring Himself glory. How about our some of our favorite women of disreputable reputations?

Rahab, once known as a prostitute, saved her whole family from destruction through faith and by protecting Israelite spies. She is also listed in the genealogy of Christ!  What about the “sinful woman” forever immortalized as an example of lavish love and redemption as she poured fragrance and tears of gratitude to wash Jesus’ feet? So today, go ahead: give your trash to God and stand back in amazement at what He can do with it! You never know how the stuff in your past can be reclaimed for the glory of the Lord! (But you have to give it to Him first and trust Him!)  

"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.”  Romans 8:28

Submitted by Celeste Barnard