2 February 2018

A SIMPLE TESTIMONY

By John Ollis

I wrote in FB yesterday, I WOKE THIS A.M., I HAVE PEACE, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. Often I read on FB a statement like, “I woke this morning, and I thank God for another day. Usually like myself it is an older person who has had a lengthy full life and know that naturally and physically  speaking their future is limited. When you are young, you never think about growing old, nor have any idea of what the aging process entails. I thank God for a full and blessed life, and that in my old age he has not thrown me aside but given me a new ministry that physically I can handle. I am reminded this morning of God’s glorious promise in:
Lam. 3:22-23 Through the Lord’s mercy we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are NEW EVERY MORNING; Great is Your faithfulness. NKJV
God’s loyal love couldn’t run out, His merciful love couldn’t dry up. They are created new every morning. How great is Your faithfulness. MESS.
You know I follow King David each morning and enter the Gates with Thanksgiving and the Courts with Praise, and press into the Holy of Holies and see the Cherubim reaching out to each other and virtually kissing. God’s judgement and mercy coming together.
This is where Jeremiah commences, we deserved nothing but the lowest hell, BUT JESUS CAME hallelujah, and took upon Himself the Father’s wrath on our behalf (and we are not consumed). Then because  God is unchanging He consistently shows His love and grace towards us. I like the Message translation that says God creates afresh EVERY MORNING His love and mercy towards us. Doesn’t that make you want to humbly bow down and thank God for this. Then the glorious statement GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, even we have not been faithful He ever remains faithful.
I cannot help but think about the Psalmist’s words this morning, that is the outworking of God’s compassion and mercy and faithfulness to us. verse 15 is so apt for us oldies.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree (the sweetest fruit of all), He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon (roots as deep as the tree is in the air) Those who are planted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age (hallelujah) they shall be fresh and flourishing, (fat and flourishing) Psalm 92:12-14 NKJV
So it is wonderful to be alive and well on planet earth today, knowing that the peace of God fills and floods my heart, and I can sing and shout from the rooftops

IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

I trust this is your testimony today, and you will walk (perhaps dance in your heart) into the House of God this weekend rejoicing in the Faithfulness of our God