Love's Embrace

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 8
Dear Friend, The Apostle John describes a deeply emotional and endearing conversation just after the disciples Peter and John have discovered the empty tomb of Jesus while Mary Magdalene stood outside weeping. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).  See John 20:15-16* John does not describe what happens next but we have a hint in the next words of Jesus, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.” John 20:17 Certainly Mary flew to Jesus with a hug of wonderful joy and surely Jesus hugged her back. When you find yourself face to face with Jesus what will be your immediate response? I rather think none of us knows exactly how we would react although we may imagine ourselves falling at his feet in worship or in an act of contrition. I would hope my first reaction and yours would be the same as Mary’s, the reaction of suddenly seeing one you have loved and deeply wish to see. Know the embrace of the one who loves you more than life itself and by faith hug him back!
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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Speak Up

Vol. 11, No. 7
Dear Friend, If you want to draw someone from among your family members or among your friends into the Christian faith, what is the most appealing thing you could say? A clue is this chain of events described by the Apostle John: “The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.” John 1:35-37* “One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed).” John 1:40-41 The most appealing draw of the Christian faith centered in the person of Jesus is, wait for it, Jesus! Knowing and being known, loving and being loved by Jesus is the deepest of all human experiences. Consider your own knowledge of Jesus, your own embrace of and experience of Jesus. Your relationship with Jesus probably began when someone spoke up to you about him. When you speak up and name Jesus to those who know and love you then you offer them a believable word, the word they may trust and that opens the door for their own loving and following of Jesus. Let Jesus speak through you of himself to the family and friends in your life that they may know him too! “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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Building One Another

Vol. 11, No. 6    Dear Friend, We live in an age of criticism and complaint, yet encouraging people is so incredibly easy to do. Are you as quick to offer words that build up as quickly as words that tear down? So are you an encourager?  One who builds up others?  Do the people in your life see you that way? The motivation for this weekly letter for some twenty years is this word of the Apostle Paul to the Christians in the town of Thessalonica: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11* Whenever you see a “therefore” in Scripture you should ask, “What is it there for?” In this case the preceding words have everything to do with why we are asked to build up one another. “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” I Thessalonians 5:9-10 Whether we are awake or asleep, whether alive or dead on this Earth, we are alive to our Lord that we may live with him and for him.  So encouraging one another makes huge sense. Be known as a people builder!  Whether by voice, email, Facebook, and/or texting, offer the words that encourage the hearts of those who are connected to you in some way, “Hang in there, you’ll make it, you are doing a great job, I am praying for you, I am with you.” May you be aware of our loving Lord building you as you build others! With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NIV

Love One Another

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 5
Dear Friend, Is not the essence of Valentine’s Day to affirm your love to the people in your life? When it came to the love of the Thessalonian Christians, the apostle Paul wrote, “Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.” I Thess. 4:9*  Indeed we have been.  Take a moment and read all the ways: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  John 13:34 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  John 13:35 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another... Romans 13:8 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.  1 Peter 1:22 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love one another… 1 Peter 3:8 This is the message you heard from the beginning:  We should love one another.  1 John 3:11 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.  1 John 3:23 Friends, let us love one another… 1 John 4:7 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  1 John 4:11 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another...  1 John 4:12 It’s difficult to miss the point!  May what Paul asks of the Thessalonians be true of us, “And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.” I Thessalonians 4:10
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NIV
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Our Lives

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 3
Dear Friend, One of the loveliest comments in the writings of the Apostle Paul is his word to the Christians in the town of Thessalonica:                                          “So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.”  I Thessalonians 2:8 You immediately see these people were people to Paul and not merely objects, students, customers, patients, or parishioners to whom he had something to offer but with whom he had no relationship. Indeed he had a very deep and personal friendship with them and makes it clear they were so dear that he and his team not only shared the good news about Jesus but entered into the complexities that come of shared personal lives. It’s a joy and a calling for each of us to teach and share the truth and wonders of God’s Word to people. Never forget, however, that they are people who long to be known personally.  Enter into their complex lives as you come alongside and share your own personal life with them. One joyful way to read what the apostle wrote is to re-read it and ask yourself if Jesus would say the same words, “So deeply do I care for you that I am determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also my own self, because you have become very dear to me.” You see immediately that is exactly what Jesus would say, exactly what he did do, and precisely what you and I are invited to do as well.
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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Turn Serve Wait

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 2
Dear Friend, Occasionally while reading Scripture for the shear pleasure of opening ourselves to a word from the Lord who loves us we come across a wonderful pithy summary of the life of faith. I Thessalonians 1:9-10 is just such a succinct word: “For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.”I Thessalonians 1:9-10* The apostle Paul was explaining how the people of Macedonia summarized the response of the people of the town of Thessalonica to the good news about the person of Jesus. They turned – from idols.           They served – a living and true God (that is to say the            real God).                     They waited – for Jesus (the Jesus whom the real                     God raised from the dead).   What a wonderful summary of the entire Christian life. In your life – make the “turn” from that which is less than the God who loves you – choose to “serve” the God who loves you – and between now and the time you are face to face with Jesus – “wait” for him in trust in him. May the one who rescues us from the wrath to come encourage your heart this day.
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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Wonder-Full

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 29
Dear Friend, When is the last time something so moved you that you simply felt “wonder?” A month ago I looked into the eyes of my then six-week old granddaughter.  It was wonderful. She is wonderful.  I was simply full of wonder! After the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds who went to Bethlehem to see Joseph, Mary and the baby, “they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:17-19 The people were amazed and Mary treasured and pondered the shepherd’s words.  All of them were wonder-full. I urge you this Christmas week to take a time-out from your busy life.  Simply reflect on the story of the birth of Jesus and allow yourself to get in touch with the wonder of the moment. May you be wonder-full of this Lord who loves you!
Merry Christmas - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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Open Heart Open Door

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 28
Dear Friend, December is often a time of more social gatherings in the life of the church and in our worlds of work, local neighborhoods, friends, and families. Our normal tendency is to gravitate to those we know and to include those with whom we are familiar. Indeed much of the joy of the season is gathering with those we know and love. At the same time, this is an ideal time to open our circles a little. Thus we enjoy the dear one and include the new one.  The open heart leads to the open door. As a matter of fact, this is often the practical key to including people who are newer to us because that very newness may make us a little uncomfortable in reaching out to them. Invite those we don’t know so well to join us with those we do know well. Remember the two friends on the road to Emmaus? “But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them.” Luke 24:29* They had no idea it was Jesus, the sovereign Lord of the universe.  Secure in their relationship, the two friends who knew each other well invited the one they didn’t know so well. It only changed their lives.
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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Occupy the Neighborhood

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 27
Dear Friend, The Occupy movement has captured the attention of many cities around the world with its focus on economic injustice and its method of literally occupying a place in order to make a point. The verb “to occupy” means to engage the attention and energies, to take up a place or reside as an owner or a tenant (Merriam-Webster). Our Lord has always occupied our world having taken up residence among us with an eye to engaging our attention and energies for our restoration, redemption and renewal.                                          “I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: ‘Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He’ll wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 21:3a (The Message) Our Lord occupies our neighborhoods and offers to those who live there the love, compassion, and justice of our Lord. We as God’s people are called to do the very same thing. We may simply withdraw into our homes with no significant interaction with the immediate people who live and work around us in our neighborhoods or we may “see ourselves as sent to occupy the neighborhood,” and be our Lord’s agents of grace to those around us. “As the Father has sent me, I send you.”  - Jesus (John 20:20b NRSV) With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott
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Who Is Jesus?

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 26
Dear Friend, “Hesaid to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.’” Matthew 16:15-17* I have long loved the view of Jesus expressed by Napoleon Bonaparte to General Bertrand who followed him into banishment on the island of St. Helena. “I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man.         Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires, and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of infinity . . . Everything in Christ astonishes me. His spirit overawes me, and his will confounds me. Between him and whoever else in the world, there is no possible term of comparison. He is truly a being by himself. His ideas and sentiments, the truth which he announces, his manner of convincing, are not explained either by human organization or by the nature of things . . . The nearer I approach, the more carefully I examine, everything is above me— everything remains grand, of a grandeur which overpowers. His religion is a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is not that of man . . . One can absolutely find nowhere, but in him alone, the imitation or the example of his life . . . I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history, nor humanity, nor the ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”** Who do you say that Jesus is? It is the most profound question you can be asked and your answer is of the highest significance. “Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV **Vernon C. Grounds The Reason for Our Hope (1945) Chapter Five
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Following

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 24
Dear Friend,  Yesterday I realized I was following a car whose license plate said, "His W1ll." I thought, "That's nice" and drove along until it hit me that at this moment in my life I was actually following His Will! As we flowed along a pleasant suburban street it was fun to think about that. Until the driver chose to drive below the speed limit for awhile and I wanted to go faster than His Will.  I chewed over the times I have wanted to do just that! The pivotal moment came when the driver signaled a right turn at a stop light.  Was I going to drive straight on to my destination (home) or follow His Will? I followed His Will. Another driver inserted himself between me and His Will.  I thought about other times I have permitted that to happen. As I finally drove home along a route that was unfamiliar to me it was good to realize that the Lord who loves us more than we love our next breath has a will for our lives that is good and wonderful even in the moments that are the most challenging for us. May you find joy as you follow and trust in the will of our good Lord! “We know that all things work together for good*for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28*
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NIV
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The Trust Test

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 23
Dear Friend,  When you face a challenging situation for which no resolution is apparent, what goes through your mind and emotion?  Do you “get on the balcony” and think through new alternatives and try to solve it yourself (or yourselves)?  Do you wrestle with feelings of hopelessness? A large crowd gathered around Jesus who asked Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” John 6:5b* The apostle John makes this interesting observation about Jesus, “He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.” John 6:6 For Jesus the resolution of the situation was never in doubt.  He wasn’t anxious, nervous, uptight, confused, or upset.  In fact, John reports that Jesus used the situation as an opportunity to test Philip. Philip has no clue what to do!  “Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’” John 6:7  Neither did Andrew, “But what are they (five barley loaves and two fish) among so many people?” John 6:8b  And neither looked to Jesus! Sometimes you and I have no clue what to do either! At this point in the story, Jesus takes over, has the people sit down, breaks the fish and the loaves into enough to feed everyone. In whatever situation you face, be alert to the equivalent of the five loaves and two fish our Lord has given you and trust him. Facing a huge enemy army, Jehoshaphat prayed, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12b.  He passed the trust test!
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NIV
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Dwell in the Land

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 22
Dear Friend,  Riding to an airport with a friend and co-worker I asked what she would be doing the coming weekend.  She replied, “I am going to dwell in the land,” just as the Psalm says, “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” Psalm 37:3* I love the thought.  Dwell in the land! With all the stuff coming at each one of us it is so easy to find one’s mind and one’s anxieties consumed with coping and not with appreciating simply living in the land our Lord has given us. Dwell in the land.           Enjoy your home.                     Love those who live with you                      and who spend time with you.                               Appreciate your community - its beauty, its people.                                         Take pleasure in your work.                                                 Find joy in the current season of the year. Dwell in the Lord.            Go to Jesus who said, “Come to me all you that are weary.”                        Entrust yourself to him who said, “Let not your hearts                        be troubled.”                                  Take joy in this Lord who said, “that my joy may                                   be in you.”                                              Receive the love of Jesus who said, “My                                               peace I give to you.” Dwell in the land, dwell in the Lord and be glad. “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” Psalm 37:3
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NIV
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The Voice

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 21
Dear Friend, Every voice is unique. You are the only person in all of time and eternity who sounds just like you. When I remember the voice of my parents and grandparents and many others I have known and loved, I can hear them speak in my head and every one of their voices is distinct and precious. When you close your eyes for the last time, when you breathe your last breath it would be a grace that the last words you hear are the words of one who loves you. My question is what sound do you want to hear next? What do you look forward to? What do you want to happen at the moment of physical death? Jesus speaks directly to this unique moment:     “Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here,     when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and     those who hear will live.” John 5:25*     “Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when     all who are in their graves will hear his voice.” John 5:28 The refrain of Chris Tomlin’s song, “I Will Rise” begins with these words, “And I will rise when He calls my name.” I know what I look forward to and that is hearing the voice of Jesus call my name. That moment you hear his voice is the happiest moment of your life! My prayer is that you will hear his voice even now – through his Word (the Bible) and as the Spirit of God speaks to your heart.  “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NRSV
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Mood

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 20
Dear Friend, Do you ever find yourself sitting around feeling tired and someone walks up to you or phones you and you are just not in the mood to attend to them?  Jesus seemed to have had that experience. John reports that Jesus and his disciples traveled into the region known as Samaria.  “Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’” John 4:6-7 Certain things leap out.  Jesus was tired.  It was noon.  It had to be hot.  He was hungry.  I know I would have been in no mood to engage a person in a serious conversation. A stranger walks up.  Now it’s no surprise Jesus asks her for a drink.  The fact that he would ask her, a Samaritan woman, for help was a surprise to her and she asks him why he did it. I can imagine just saying, “It’s hot and I am thirsty,” hoping for some water and then some leave-me-alone peace. Jesus takes another path.  Mood or no mood to talk he engages the Samaritan woman in a fascinating conversation that gently and wonderfully leads her to faith and the woman’s whole life is transformed. Ministry is not a matter of mood but of opportunity and trust in the presence of the Lord who loves working through us in the lives of the people he positions near us. So whatever your mood may be this moment and every moment, ask yourself, who is near you or in your life and how will you allow the Spirit of God to touch those who are around you with hope and life?
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NRSV
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Look-a-Him

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 19
Dear Friend, My grandfather used to refer to some people as a “look-a-me.”  A “look-a-me” is a person whose bearing, speech, and attitudes all say, “Look at the wonderfulness of me.” Many years ago, Eddie Cantor sang the song, “I Love Me:”         I love me, I love me, I'm wild about myself         I love me, I love me, my picture's on my shelf. That’s a look-a-me! Contrast the idea of the look-a-me with words of John the Baptist when he was speaking about Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30*  John was a look-a-him! He knew life isn’t only about you or partially about you and me and partially about Jesus. It’s all about Jesus! The life of Jesus grows in you as you increasingly yield your life to this Lord who loves you.  The visibility of Jesus in you increases.  Your reflection of the grace and spirit of Jesus increases. He must increase, you must decrease. As your life moves from look-a-me to look-a-him your life will flourish in ways you never imagine. The remarkable thing about this is that as you decrease you don’t lose anything.  You increase in your knowing, experiencing, and loving of the Lord who profoundly loves you!
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NRSV
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Mentor

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 16
Dear Friend, Yesterday I had the joy of meeting Anne Ortlund.   Her books and those of her husband, Ray, have had a mentoring role in my life, helping me grow in an understanding of the Christian life. Usually a mentor is a person with whom you have a personal relationship, a person of experience and wisdom who helps you grow in some way. I can think of many mentors in my life who have helped me grow in faith, in family life, in work, and in life and leisure in general.  How about you? Scripture is full of wonderful mentoring relationships, the influence of life on life, such as Jethro to Moses, Elijah to Elisha, Barnabas to the Apostle Paul, Jesus to the Twelve and Pricilla and Aquila to Apollos. Just think of the people who have been especially significant in helping you grow in your faith in Jesus Christ and in your service to him. The names and faces of many mentors in my life jump to my mind immediately! Bob and Margaret Pickett, Bob and Liz Chalmers, Bill and Joyce Fall, Jim and Charlotte Walker, Jim and Vivian Tozer, Dick Halverson, Elton Trueblood, Alex Williams, Harry Fifield, Gordon Prescott, Chuck Miller, Cullen Story,  Ina Ziegler, Bill Bright, Charlie Shedd and the list goes on. I am very aware of the many contributions they have made to my life and that I would not be who I am without them; and neither would you be who you are without the mentors our Lord has positioned in your life. Be grateful for them and show them the great honor by passing onto others what the Spirit has passed to you through them. “One generation will commend your works to another.” Psalm 145:4*
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NIV.
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Nevertheless

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 15
Dear Friend, If you have ever been in a low place you know the person who said the following words to God was at one time the lowest of the low, upset in spirit, and unresponsive to the Lord who loved him. “When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward you.” Psalm 73:21-22* While this expresses a very down experience, it is the next word I love: nevertheless! "Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor.” Psalm 73:23-24 No matter what is happening at the present moment, how down, how uncertain, how threatened you may feel or anxious you may be, nevertheless the Lord who loves you is right with you, loving you, guiding you, and leading you. In fact in the midst of all that concerns the psalmist, he sums his hope with these words: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26 Remember – nevertheless!
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NRSV.

A Very Good Word

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 14
Dear Friend, At times life can be remarkably demanding and confusing. When Jesus saw a crowd he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless – just as so many of us feel this day about whatever situation we may find ourselves in. Consider this benediction from the Book of Hebrews.  It’s a very good word! Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us* that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.  Hebrews 13:20-21* There is so much that is hopeful and comforting in this word.  In the midst of the turmoil of life we see our God:                           Is a God of peace.                          Brought Jesus back from the dead.                                           Will make us complete in everything good! For us this means we may do that which is pleasing in God’s sight knowing that through our trust in Jesus he will bring us back from the dead.  Indeed a very good word! So in the midst of whatever is happening in your life this day, allow this benediction to refresh your spirit and rekindle your hope as this day you serve the Lord who loves
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NRSV
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Fire!

Building One Another - Vol. 10, No. 13
Dear Friend, During the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the Bishop of London quoted Catherine of Siena as saying, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” It is a wonderful word for not only the royal couple, but for every one of us. God has made you as the unique and one and only you. At the same time our Lord never intended you to function solely in your own power. Setting the world on fire will only happen as we rely on the God who made us and who loves us to provide the flame! As John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16* So we know God intends you and me to be God’s vessels, open to and filled with God’s Spirit. Sometimes the vessels of our lives get pretty messed up. We are fragile and easily damaged. Yet in the midst of the reality of our frailty is this huge word, “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 A clay and fragile jar you may be, but you are the Lord’s jar, made to be God’s vessel. As the great words of the song “Spirit of the Living God,” say, “Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.”
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott  *Scripture from the NRSV.
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