Turn a Mess into a
Message
The Brunel Refreshment Week by Jenny Edwards M.B.E.
I often spend some time just browsing through my old
Bibles and reading the notes or interesting snippets I have
within them. Not only do they serve a reminder of the
situation I was in at the time of writing them, but they jog
into action even more thoughts for the present.
Today I found a message that says ‘only God can turn a
mess into a message and a test into a testimony’. How true
that is! Have you ever experienced a situation where you
think to yourself “wow what a mess I am in!”, then later
finding you can use that particular situation to help
someone else or discover a new truth about God. Almost
every time this happens something positive comes out of
the mess.
Recently, the day before the activity holiday at Treloar
College, my wheelchair batteries died! Not a good situation
to be in before an active and busy week. The company I
deal with for my chair were very good and arranged for me
to borrow some batteries from another chair, but I had to
go to their workshop to collect them, and I had to take my
manual chair to transfer to while the batteries were being
moved. I got to the workshop having had help getting my
manual chair into my car, my batteries were changed very
quickly, and the mechanic helped me to load the manual
chair back into the car! I then drove straight to the holiday.
I was late arriving (everyone else got there before me) but
my car was emptied for me and my manual chair was taken
inside. I hoped I wouldn’t need to use it during the week.
However, on the first day a gentleman had a fall and from
that moment on he used my manual chair for the whole
week! God knew we were going to need the chair, and
Jen in her repaired chair at Treloar
used my failing batteries and the ‘mess’ I was obviously in to
bring about a testimony to His goodness and amazing grace.
God will sort out your mess to become a message, and the
test you are going through to become a testimony – what an
amazing God we have.
Speaking Out
In recent weeks TTR staff and volunteers have been invited
to represent the charity and speak to a wide range of
groups – varying from students at a Christian Union
conference, to senior pastors from a London-wide church
network. We’ve also been on the Premier radio breakfast
show to talk about church inclusion, and to a Gospel
Concert to talk about Wheels for the World.
Through each of these God-given opportunities we were
able to share the message of God’s love for disabled
www.throughtheroof.org
people. Would your church or group welcome a visit from
one of the team? Please do get in touch. Alternatively, could
you take a step of faith and seek the opportunity to
approach a local group and present your personal
experience of disability and/or Through the Roof? We can
support you by providing leaflets, donation forms and a
powerpoint presentation or DVD – whatever you need.