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Building One Another


E. Stanley Ott

THE MESS Vol 12 No 21

July 30, 2013

Dear Friend,

On July 26th The Washington Post carried a fascinating article about baseball star Darryl Strawberry. He tells of his descent into drug and alcohol addiction and the change in his life after turning to Jesus. Darryl concludes by saying, “Here I am, a baseball superstar, falling into the pits, having everybody write you off and then having God say, ‘I’m going to use your mess for a message.’ How beautiful is that?”  

Our Lord will use your mess for a message too! We do live messy lives. One of the great realities of our walk with Jesus is that he walks with us in our mess and through our mess!  Jesus will actually work through the mess in your life in ways that reveal God’s love, presence, and power.

“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7*

I spoke with a woman today who is having difficulty landing a job. She told me her friends don’t understand how she maintains a hopeful spirit through disappointment after disappointment. It was obvious to me. She absolutely trusts in the Lord who loves her to see her through what she is going through.

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

With joy - E. Stanley Ott
Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott
*Scripture from the NRSV