Recently, a grandson was here after school for a few hours. I told him, "You are awesome!" He grinned and said, "I know! Thanks!"

That got me to thinking about God, and how He thinks of us, especially in comparison to how most of us think of ourselves, being so aware of our shortcomings, inadequacies, disabilities, and sins. God knew when and where we would be born, what type of people we would be, what our experiences in adulthood would be, and what our choices would be throughout life — both good and bad. And yet, He has chosen to love us, because He made us for His own glory, as part of His awesome plan for us. So as far as God is concerned, we are awesome!

Ephesians 1:3-6 – Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children — this was his pleasure and purpose. Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son! (GNB)

How do we respond to the truth that the Lord Jesus thinks we are awesome? Do we shrug it off? Do we deny it? What do we do with it? Do we accept it? Do we bask in that knowledge? Do we say, "I know! Thank You!" It is none of our doings, of course. He has made us, He loves us, He accepts us, He makes us children of the King. It is His doing!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus. We stand in awe of Your truths. Yet at times, we don't believe them in our hearts. We so desperately want Your assurance that we are awesome in Your sight. We pray that You would speak clearly to us and make Your love and acceptance of us real in our lives. Amen.

Luke 15:20 – So he got up and started back to his father. He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him. (GNT)

One of my daughters and her family has moved back to The Rock. Years ago, I did not know that there is a place called The Rock, let alone how big it is or where it is. Is it in Canada? The United States? Another country across the ocean?

Since this daughter married a fellow from Newfoundland, Canada, we have learned a bit about that province, which is called The Rock. The reason for the name is quite obvious: Newfoundland is mountainous and rocky. There are many people from Newfoundland who live here in Alberta. Many of them come and stay here the rest of their lives. But like my daughter's husband, many of them feel restless and move back to where their roots are. Their family is there, waiting to welcome them back to the solid rock of their homeland.

It is a long journey across a wide country from Alberta to Atlantic Canada, but my daughter's family prepared to move back to The Rock. Once they headed out, they encountered some struggles as they journeyed, but they persevered. They spent some long days to reach The Rock.

I thought about Jesus being our Rock. He died so that we can have eternal life. We can go to Him, accept the life He offers to us, and found our life on the solid Rock. There are times in our lives, though, that we stray, although our roots are still with our Rock. We feel restless, and deep in our hearts, we know that we are to head back to our Rock. Sometimes, the road back is rough and hard and long, requiring repentance, restitution, or a change of lifestyle. Like my daughter's family, we, too, need to persevere and keep heading back to the Rock.

When my family arrived on The Rock, what a relief it was for them. They had reached their destination. I can envision them relaxing and being so glad they made it safe and sound. I can imagine their family there, waiting and welcoming them when they arrived. In our verse for today from Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son, the father, representing God, welcomed the son back home. God the Father is also waiting for us to come back to Jesus, our Rock, and welcomes us when we do. Once we have come back to the Rock, we feel relieved as well. The Rock is solid. We are safe.

Let's remember our roots.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You love us so much. Thank You that You died for our sins, offering us eternal life in doing so. Thank You that You are the Rock of Ages and that we are safe with You. Amen.

Proverbs 16:25 – There is a road that seems right for a man to travel, but in the end it's the road to death. (ISV)

We live in a city. It is a small city, but a city nonetheless. Our city is growing quickly, but I do know my way around. If I need help, I can get out my map and soon find out how to get where I want or need to go. It is all good.

Quite a few years ago, one of my friends and I drove to a small town outside of our city for a women's evening event at a mutual friend's home. Even though this town is small, there are a few tricky turns and streets, due to the railroad track which runs through it. My friend knew how to get where we were going, so it was no problem getting there. I presumed that she would know how to get out of that small town as well. I presumed that I would know how to get back out onto the highway. When we arrived, it was still daylight. When we returned, it was dark. Therein lay our problem. Somehow, we got completely turned around and had no idea how to get out of the small town. We drove and drove and drove, thinking that one street after another was the correct one, only to find out it was a dead end as well. By this time, we thought it was pretty hilarious that we could be so lost in such a little town. Finally, we saw someone walking along the road, so amidst our gales of laughter, we humbled ourselves and stopped and asked directions. In no time, we were out on the highway heading home.

Humbling ourselves is painful, to say the least. But God gives grace to the humble, and He resists the proud. That is a sobering thought. In what areas of our lives are we being proud? In what areas are we being humble? What precious words in our text for today! He gives us grace to humble ourselves. Then He gives us more grace. And the peace of God fills our hearts. Oh, thank You, Lord Jesus!

Philippians 4:7 – Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus. (GWT)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are such a proud people. We think we can do life on our own; we think we know the right road, but we are so mistaken. That road leads to death. Open our eyes so that we can see where we are being proud and stubborn. Thank You for Your grace to help us humble ourselves, and for the peace that follows — peace that we don't understand and can't explain, but peace that we know is there. It is You guarding our thoughts and emotions through Jesus Christ. How thankful we are for Your peace and Your grace! Amen.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ASV)

This past winter, I went to a long-term care facility to feed an elderly lady five or six times a week. The family that usually goes to feed her twice a day went on vacation for two months. This long-term care facility is connected to the hospital, so parking is at a premium. The family gave me one of their parking passes when they left. There are specific places to park, so while they were away, I would find a place to park in one of those designated areas.

When the family got back from their vacation, they arranged for me to continue feeding their mom twice a week at noon. The problem now is that I don't have a parking pass. My options are to park in one of the designated parking zones and risk getting a ticket, or to park in public parking, which is very expensive, or to park on the street over a block away. Walking that distance is not an issue unless I am pressed for time.

One day, I did park in the specified parking area without a parking pass. When I came back to my vehicle, I had a ticket for forty dollars under my windshield wiper. It's a pretty steep ticket for parking for half an hour.

I thought about this ticket, and to make a point of the lack of parking places, I e-mailed the authorities and appealed this ticket, explaining the situation. I admitted that I had done wrong, and then asked to be pardoned from paying this ticket. They e-mailed back, saying that I was pardoned, but to consider that ticket as a warning. In other words, if I did it again, I would have to pay the price. I had done wrong. I had parked in the wrong spot. I deserved the ticket. But the debt was cancelled.

It made me think of my sinfulness. I have done wrong. I deserve to be punished. I deserve hell. But I came to Jesus Christ and told Him that I had done wrong and asked Him to pardon me. And yes, He did pardon me — instantly. My sin is gone, and He has given me eternal life.

Wouldn't it be great if once we are pardoned, we never did wrong again? That is not the case. Over and over, we do wrong. We sin either unwittingly or on purpose, by commission or omission. Time and time again, we can come to our Father, our authority, admit we have done wrong once again, and ask for pardon. He doesn't warn us, saying that if we do it again, He won't pardon us again, like the authority figure in my case with the ticket.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ASV)

Jeremiah 33:8 – And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. (KJV)

Prayer: Thank You, Father — for forgiving us, for pardoning us all our iniquities. Thank You that You welcome us back time and time again. It is a sobering thought that we err, we sin, we do wrong over and over, and yet You so willingly pardon us. Amen.

When I bought a new sewing machine, I had to learn all about it. The spools went on differently; the bobbins went in differently; it had a cool needle threader that I had to learn to use, and a different button-hole maker. This took me away beyond my comfort zone. I had to stretch. I had to learn. I had to try new things, and if it didn't work, I had to try again. The buttonholer — I couldn't figure it out on my own. The owner's manual didn't help. The pictures didn't help. I was lost. At this point, the old and familiar seemed so much better. I finally went to the store where I bought the machine, and they showed me how to use the buttonholer. I had to learn something new, even though the basics were the same.

Old and familiar seems good. Old and familiar is comfortable. Old and familiar is … well … old and familiar. We like it that way — no stretching — no discomfort — no changing.

It is hard to break out of that comfort zone. It is hard to break out of old habits. It is hard to learn something new.

As in our text for today, God is making all things new. Trusting that God will do as He says is sometimes difficult too. The last part of the verse says that these words are true and can be trusted — can be trusted — not hopefully, not maybe — but can.

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. (GWT)

Jeremiah 33:3 – Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (ESV)

God is ever present to help us — to see the old and familiar that needs to change in our lives, to see there is something new for us to learn, to trust Him to lead us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we like the old and familiar. But we also know that to grow, we can't stay there in those same spots forever. Help us, we pray. Please show us those areas that are making us stay in the old ways. You have promised that if we call to You, You will answer and You will tell us things we don't even know. Help us to listen to what You have to say. Help us to trust You. Help us to obey. How we need You today! Amen.

Wireless technology is amazing. We can go online — wireless. We can use cell phones — wireless. Our landline roam phones — wireless. Technology just keeps expanding and growing all of the time.

I saw a cartoon with two telephone poles at either end of the picture. In between the poles was a bunch of crows, all in a line, chattering away with each other. Nothing unusual about that, but there was no wire. They were just sitting in thin air — still communicating with each other. The caption read "Wireless Technology".

I thought of how we are in communication with God, our Father. There is no wire. There never has been. Our Lord is waiting for us to talk to Him, anxious to hear from us. He is also so willing to talk to us, if we slow down long enough to listen.

Psalm 46:10a – Be still, and know that I am God. (KJV)

Psalm 119:18a – Open my eyes so I can see what You show me. (MSG)

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being available to us. You wait to hear us call to You. You are so willing to talk to us. Help us to share our lives with you. Help us to listen and hear You. Amen.

I have a cat that lives in my house. Sassy is half Siamese, so she doesn't shed as much as those that don't have Siamese in them.

I have noticed that when I take her to the veterinarian, take her out of her kennel, or put her on the table for the veterinarian to examine, she sheds profusely. She climbs into my arms for the security that she so wants. Also, when she was a kitten, she was scared or injured by a dog. When there is a dog close by, she sheds even more. I see this as a fear in her — fear of the unknown, fear of different surroundings, and fear of the past. The flip side of this coin is that there is a healthy fear. In Sassy, it is the fear of dogs — she knows that she has been scared or possibly injured by them, so she is protecting herself.

I wouldn't let anything bad happen to Sassy. In any scary situation, I comfort her to the best of my ability. She needs only to trust me, which she doesn't do very well in circumstances like these.

As Christians, we can also be filled with fear — fear of the unknown, fear of different surroundings, fear of something bigger. At times, our fears are justifiable, like Sassy's; other times they are not, like Sassy's. The unknown can be very scary — the unknown about the outcome of a diagnosis of cancer; the unknown about selling a house and moving; the unknown about a different job or career; the unknown about a lawsuit, an accident, or a difficult relationship.

Who can we trust in times like these? The enemy would love for us to remain in that fear and quiver and shake, not able to function. But he is defeated. Jesus Christ is victorious. We can trust Him. Yes, our trust muscles will likely have to stretch a bit here and there, and we may hurt for a while, but God is trustworthy. We need to lean into His arms and into His Word and claim His promises as ours. He is waiting and willing to comfort us. Greatness, and power, and glory, and victory, and majesty belong to our Lord and Saviour.

1 Chronicles 29:11a – Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty. (KJV)

1 Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, so many times we are filled with fear. We don't know what to do, where to turn, or even what to think sometimes. Help us to differentiate between healthy fear, and toxic fear. The enemy is defeated and You are victorious. You have commanded us to be strong — in the power of Your might. Help us to put on Your whole armour so that we can stand against the enemy of our souls. We humble ourselves, realizing we can do nothing without You. Oh, how we need You today! Amen.