God's love for us is revealed in the story of the two sons, the younger, irresponsible son and the older responsible son. Let's not focus on the sons, but on the father.  Read Luke 15 . Especially verses 17 - 24    “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!   I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned  against heaven and against you.   I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’   So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe  and put it o...

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...