GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS

Here is a wonderful christmas message from David & Adele Ellis:

Christmas is a time for thanksgiving. Now let me tell you a story.

As the pair of us now have more than 144 years’ experience of the Lord’s goodness, we decided we would do something unusual. We have much to be thankful for; and we are deeply grateful for our children and grandchildren. We wanted to have a special family thanksgiving to express our gratitude to God for his mercies and also to give testimony to his faithfulness throughout our lives.

Captain Scott’s famous ship, the Discovery, in which he set out to reach the South Pole, is moored here in Dundee. We learned that it is possible to hire the ship for an evening, have a guided tour, and end up with a meal in the wardroom. It seemed to us an ideal venue in which to have our thanksgiving meal - but expensive!

When we heard what it would cost, we thought long and hard. But we had really wanted this to be a special thanksgiving for the family. A testimony to God’s faithfulness that our grandchildren would never forget. (Check out Deuteronomy 14:24-26)So we decided; announced to the family that we were going to have a special thanksgiving meal; booked the ship and paid the deposit! So then can you imagine how we felt when the midday post that very day brought a totally unexpected cheque?It came from a Chinese couple in Australia whom we had known in Indonesia, back in the 70’s. It was for a sum which almost completely covered the bill. It was as if the Lord was saying to us: ‘You want to testify to my faithfulness - here, I’ll help you to do just that in a way all of you will never forget!’ As John said, ‘Isn’t that just like God!’

The ship’s timbers must have shivered as together we sang the old ‘CIM Anthem,’ and the pair of us wondered if it had ever been sung before with such joy by such a grateful family in such an exotic place:

How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful unchangeable friend,
Whose love is as great as his power
And knows neither measure nor end.

‘Tis Jesus the first and the last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home.
We’ll praise him for all that is past,
And trust him for all that’s to come.

Christmas is a time for thanksgiving. We join with Mary and say: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.’

With our love and Christmas wishes as together we give thanks for his unspeakable gift.
David and Adèle