Redemption.

So, I have a dog.

His name is Caspian.

[*From the book, not the movie,* my brother would say]

He's super cute, absolutely gorgeous, and a source of great amusement in our family.




Really, what's not to love?

But he's got a rebellious streak in him, and he likes to take every opportunity to escape from his fenced area.

Usually, a quick drive around our neighborhood and calling his name a few times will prove effective.

But earlier this week, he got out again - and this time, despite 3 hours of driving, calling, and searching - to parts of the neighborhood I didn't know existed - it was getting dark and we still hadn't found him.

He hadn't come back the next morning, so we made something like 50 signs and biked all over the place, putting them up, asking around if anyone had seen him.

Later that day, mom decided to go down to the pound to see if anyone had heard news of him there - and guess who had spent the night in a doggy-cell?

Usually he doesn't wander any farther than our neighborhood, but they told mom he was picked up just off of one of the busiest streets just outside our neighborhood.

To get your dog out of the pound, you have to pay money. And we had to register him, too.

And when all was said and done, we'd paid quite a large amount of that green stuff. For what? A dog who had deliberately run away, hadn't come back, and hardly even cared? And even if he had cared, he couldn't even begin to appreciate the kind of energies (monetary and time especially) that we spent to get him back.

Yet - this is the very sacrifice Jesus paid for our souls - only so, so much more.

How often have I run away from my Maker? Deliberately chose what was wrong? Sometimes I just run around the neighborhood - but other times I stray all the way to the busiest of streets.

But my Savior - oh, my precious, beautiful Savior - He loved me enough to pay the price for my disobedience; but it was so much more than just a couple hundred dollars. He gave His life. For me, who so often deliberately chooses against Him. Who can never really return His great love for me. Who can't even fathom what He went through for me.

We love Caspian - despite his flaws, his lack of dedication, his will to run away. And we had to pay a lot of money to get him back, even though he barely cared.

But that's only a *tinytinytiny* picture of God's love for us - and how....how much He gave to redeem us.

I found this song just the other day, and...oh, it's so powerful. It's just a simple piano/voice arrangement, but oh, how beautiful it is.



My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused.
I see the things You do through me as great things I have done. And now You gently break me, then lovingly You take me and hold me as my father and mold me as my maker.

Chorus:
I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abound?"
And you answer: " My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."

At times I may grow weak and feel a bit discouraged, knowing that someone, somewhere could do a better job. For who am I to serve You?I know I don't deserve You. And that's the part that burns in my heart and keeps me hanging on.

Chorus
I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abounds?"
And you answer: " My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."
You are so patient with me, Lord.

As I walk with You, I'm learning what Your grace really means. The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary. So, instead of trying to repay You, I'm learning to simply obey You
by giving up my life to you For all that You've given to me.

Chorus:
I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up, when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, how far will forgiveness abounds?"
And you answer: " My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face, You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."

My Child, I love you.

Oh, the power in those words.

Have a blessed Easter, friends!