For full disclosure, I want to say up front that this was inspired by a talk that is part of series of talks for the Walk to Emmaus.  The talk is always given by clergy and is titled Obstacles to Grace.  This is not that talk, but it is somewhat inspired by it.  I thought I’d share a bit about the obstacles to grace that we sometimes put between us and God and between us and others. First I want to say that God’s grace is free.   It is endless.  It is for everyone.   It is amazing to me that we are even extended God’s grace, because we certainly don’t deserve it! It is amazing to me that He provides us with anything at all, especially His Grace. What is grace?  Unmerited favor…. It is a gift freely given - the recipient having done nothing to deserve it, and no expectation of paying it back or requirement for paying it forward.  Several years ago, we did a lock in for the youth where Pastor Gil Hubbard was tasked w...

Joshua begins where Deuteronomy ends, at the death of Moses.  The Book of Joshua begins with "After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua...." I want my life to end that way, with the words "the servant of the Lord" associated with my name.  I know I will never do anything great like Moses.  I am not looking for that kind of recognition (or calling!!!!).  I just would like to be known as someone who is a servant of the Lord.  I don't know how to accomplish that. I would like to be greeted in Heaven with "Ah, Sherri's here.  She is a good and faithful servant of our Lord." I know one way to do this is to obey God's beaconings.  When He asks, I reply, "when and what?"  When He says, "go", I go.  When He demands, I respond.  Unfortunately, I don't always or even frequently respond that way. I don't take the opportunity to look for what He might what me to do.  I don't look for oppo...

NIV version Exodus 5:2 says: Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go." This statement is part of a discussion between Pharaoh of Egypt and Moses when Moses was trying to talk Pharaoh into letting the Israelites leave Egypt.  We can almost read the sarcasm and arrogance in the Pharaoh's voice. Pharaoh simply could not believe that Moses would think that Pharaoh, a god in the eyes of his empire, would/could listen to the God of Moses and the Israelites.  After all, why should he listen to this God who was so insignificant that Pharaoh didn't even know who He was? Oftentimes we choose to ask the same arrogant question.  Who is the Lord and why should I obey Him? The simplest answer is that the Lord, our God, is the creator/sustainer/master of absolutely everything and we should obey because He is master.  We should obey because He can, because He is, because He asks us to, because He...