Canada is a nice place to live. Unfortunately, like all western democracies, we as a nation have consistently been turning away from the God who has been so gracious to us. We have enshrined evil in our laws and have celebrated its presence in our culture. We pride ourselves on being among the world's most tolerant people, but we are growing in our intolerance for all things related to Jesus. So, while my prayer on this day is still that God might bless Canada, I realistically recognize that if He were to judge us according to our works, wrath would be the consequence. So, for this Canada day, my prayer will be for mercy and grace. My prayer will be the very prayer that is enshrined in our national anthem.
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer, Hold our Dominion in thy loving care; Help us to find, O God, in thee A lasting, rich reward, As waiting for the better Day, We ever stand on guard. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
I can be a real klutz. I have very few manual skills and I never grew out of the "tripping over my own feet" stage of life. I have fumbled and dropped more than my fair share of balls. In other words, "oops" has been a regular part of my vocabulary. It is not only in the physical world that I have fumbled things. I have messed up relationships. I have prejudged people before ever getting to know them. I have used and abused those who love me most in this world. I have failed and sinned my way into more than one tight corner and created untold disasters. Oops is not even sufficient for the ways that I have blown it. Perhaps that is why something Paul, our worship leader last Sunday, said resonated so deeply with me this week. He said "Oops is never said in heaven." Our God never is clumsy. He never makes mistakes. His plans never go belly-up. He never fails. He never ever has to say oops - and that comforts me.
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