Grace for All

1 John 3:18 Little children, let us love not in word or speech, but in deed and truth. In my life, I’ve had more than one experience, as I’m sure you have had, in which a person touted their piety and religious superiority, but I later found out that it was not backed up with behavior that reflected God’s love toward others. One of the most stark examples I can remember is when I was a child, and an interracial couple started attending my church. They were stared at and whispered about until they went from sitting in the main part of the congregation to moving to the back, to moving to the balcony, to not coming at all. What a sad state of affairs. Of course, that kind of thing still happens today, if not with interracial couples, possibly with people who don’t fit whatever other mold of the folks at that particular church. Certainly, this is not living the love of Christ as John calls us to do in today’s verse. But let us examine a different experience of mine. As anyone who works for a church knows, when people learn of your employment circumstances, they categorize you. They start treating you differently, and there is an instant filter they put over what they say and do in front of you. It’s a little bit frustrating sometimes, but it’s something that happens, so I expect it. On the flip side, people also often want to share with you their own experiences with their faith. One such time was with a neighbor of mine, who shared this: She said that she grew up Catholic, but not particularly religious. In young adulthood, she stopped going to church altogether. This basically continued throughout her adult life until, in retirement, she was living in a community in which a group of ladies kept collecting items for charity drives — food, clothing, cleaning supplies, whatever. They collected and delivered the recycling for the community, and they always seemed busy with something. She finally asked them, “Why are you doing all of this?” They replied that they were all service projects through their church. She was surprised by this — she thought church was something you attended Sunday morning, not something that had an effect on your daily life. She said, “Which church?” and the answer was the local United Methodist congregation. She has been part of the UMC ever since. She told me, “I figured that if it was inspiring those folks to do so much good, it must be worth my time.” What a beautiful expression of God’s love in the community. I do think God wants us to proclaim our faith in word, but I think that more than that, God wants us to proclaim our faith through the acts of loving our neighbors, caring for creation, and helping in all the ways we can help. It is through this witness that others will have the love of Christ made known to them, and it is through this witness that others will know that we are not living hypocritical lives of faith, but that we are genuinely doing our best to live the life we are called to by God. Let us pray.God, help us to never have hollow words, but remind us to fill those words with action, and inspire that action with your love so that all will see a real and true example of Christian faith in us. Amen. This devotion was written and read by Dwight Dockery. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. I’ve known some “big talkers” in my lifetime. Some of these acquaintances spoke of grandiose plans for their future, only to fizzle out when action was required. Others would spout off accomplishments, but in reality, they were riding on someone's coattails and attempting to take credit for someone else’s work. I try hard not to be too judgmental or dismissive of these folks, but I’ve been burned too many times by people with little or no follow-through.  This verse emphasizes the importance of translating feelings of love into tangible acts of kindness, service, and compassion, demonstrating a love that is authentic and not merely superficial. It suggests that simply talking about love, or expressing it verbally, is not enough. True love is demonstrated through actions that reflect the love one claims to have. This could involve offering practical assistance, providing support, or donating to a cause. Or maybe it could be about forgiving someone who has wronged you, choosing to let go of resentment and choose love over bitterness. In addition, it could involve putting the needs of others before your own and helping them in a genuine way. Just talking about it doesn’t make it happen. Our own church has taken this verse to heart. Greta Smith, Jim Stovall, and others talked about additional ways to reach out and spread the Gospel. After talking about it, they decided to do the work and started “Grace for All” podcasts with daily devotionals. Several years ago, a group of members saw the need in the community for food and fellowship. They talked about it, then took action and started Welcome Table, which has been going strong for many years. And when Jill Pope saw a need to help caregivers of dementia patients, she didn’t just talk about the need; she researched, collaborated with the pastoral staff and other church members, and took action. We now have Daybreak Dementia Respite, giving caregivers the break that they need to avoid burnout. I am so grateful for these genuine expressions of love.  My hope is that we continue to spot needs and not just talk about it, but become Christians of action. Let us pray: Dear Lord, We are so grateful that you are a God of Action, not just words. Help us to follow Your lead and continue to be a church of Love and Truth by taking the initiative to do good deeds, not just talk about it. Amen.  This devotional was written by Virginia Hardwick Kerr and read by Judy Wilson. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Romans 6: 1-4 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. In this passage, which actually starts in the previous chapter, Paul seems to be in the thicket of a heavily theological discussion. That happens to Paul occasionally. He attempts to explain some of the finer points of Christianity to new converts. Paul has such zeal for his beliefs that the words and phrases come tumbling out. Has someone actually suggested to Paul that people who believe in Christ should continue to sin – so that they can continue to receive God’s saving grace? In the previous chapter in Romans, Paul has said that where sin is great, so is grace. There have, indeed, been people who have argued that God’s salvation is so wonderful that we should obtain it continually by sinning often and then being forgiven. But Paul says forgiveness and grace are not the endpoint. They are, in fact, the beginning. The beginning of a new life. That life is in Christ. Just as Christ died and was resurrected, we too just die. We should die to sin. We can then be raised from that death into a new life. That is a life where sin and sinning have much less appeal because we have experienced something far more satisfying. Once raised, are we free from sin? Not completely. We may stumble and fall along the way. When we do, there is grace sufficient for our renewal. But our focus will be on a new life—one where Christ is the center. And that new life will change our attitude and our behavior. Let us pray. God in heaven, give us a deeper understanding of the renewal and new life that you have provided for us with the death and resurrection of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.  This devotional was written and read by Jim Stovall. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. In this parable, Jesus uses the word abide to talk about our relationship to him. Abide, in this setting, is a rich word meaning to stay in fellowship or union with Christ. The metaphor of the vine and the branch helps to drive this message home. Grapes can only grow and bear fruit if connected to the vine. What does abiding mean for us? For me, it is a reminder that I need to ask Jesus for help, not just when things are hard, but at all times. It is a way of connecting faith with action. I have been told I am too self-reliant. For this reason, I am loath to ask for help. This is true from handyman chores around the house to my faith. Too often, I find myself believing that I have all the tools I need, in faith, to accomplish much for God. When these feelings bubble up to the surface, I start feeling a little too proud of myself for something I did, in the name of Jesus, and what results have happened. Then I remember this verse and realize the fruit of the results would not have happened without Jesus’ help. Then an even more sobering thought comes to mind. Would the harvest have been better if I had asked for help from God and others? This, I remember, is what it means to abide. Sadly. The answer is almost always yes. To abide, to be in fellowship with God and others, means having an awareness that I need help and asking for it. The other day, a situation happened to drive that point home. A light switch needed to be replaced. I knew how to do it, but I didn’t have all the tools necessary for accomplishing the task safely. I knew my son had what I needed, which I asked to borrow. He said, “Don’t worry, I will be over in a few minutes and replace it.” As he was accomplishing the task, I had to admit to feeling unsettled. I didn’t like feeling like I needed help. I wanted to do it myself. But, as he finished, he turned and smiled and said, “Glad I could help.” I realized just then I had given him a gift. He felt blessed to be able to help. In asking for and receiving help, something more than a light switch was fixed. I see God relating to us in much the same way. When we let go of our need to be in control and turn and ask for help and guidance, God rejoices, for now we are abiding in God. Our faith, our work, and God’s love and direction come together, and something better happens. Others get involved, and the Kingdom of God expands in love and joy. So remember, you don’t have to go it alone in faith or in life. Ask for help, see how you are connected, abiding with others and with God, and rejoice at the fruit those connections bring. Let us pray. Loving God, we do want to abide in you, to be in a deep and fruitful relationship. Remind us that to do this, we need to humble ourselves and ask for help, and for guidance, for it is only then that you are at the center of our lives and we find the way to produce abundant fruit for you and the world. AMEN. This devotional was written by Bill Green and read by Jim Stovall. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Welcome to the Saturday episode of the Grace for All podcast. Thank you for joining us today. Saturday is a special time when we take a few moments to review the scriptures that we have cited in the episodes this week.If you missed any of those episodes, you might want to consider listening to them today. And even if you heard them all, there may be one that you might want to listen to again. We hope that each of these scriptures and podcasts will bring you a full measure of joy, peace, and love.Now, let's listen to the scriptures that have been on our hearts this week.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  We Christians are not perfect. We Christians are all sinners. But the thing that sets us apart is our Faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He came to Earth, was virgin born into a human body, and lived a sinless life. When His time on earth was done, he calmly offered Himself up to die on that cross. He rose up out of that grave three days later, and before he ascended to heaven, he visited his closest disciples and gave them courage with his parting words: Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. These words serve us, his followers, as our commission, instructing us to spread his message and His teachings throughout the world. And in his own words, the greatest commandment, the most important, is that we LOVE God, and LOVE our neighbor as we LOVE ourselves. We must demonstrate that LOVE of God and neighbor by helping our earthly neighbors – loving them. And as today’s verse reminds us, it is by Grace we have been saved. No matter how many good works we do, we cannot earn our way into God’s LOVE. God’s LOVE is already ours, and His Grace is endless. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, taught the concept of three expressions of God’s Grace. Prevenient Grace, the Grace we receive even before we know we need it. Justifying Grace, the Grace we receive at the moment we ask for forgiveness. Sanctifying Grace, the lifelong work of the Holy Spirit, shaping us into the likeness of Christ. No matter how hard we work to be good and do good things, we still can’t work our way into God’s precious Gift of salvation. The only way to that Gift is by faith in Jesus Christ. Only by faith in Jesus can we receive the free Gift of Grace – forgiveness for our wrongs, our errors, our sins! It is too beautiful to fully comprehend. God loves us – all of his human children – so much that he freely gives Grace before we even know we need it! The joy of knowing this Gift should inspire us all to freely give of ourselves to help our fellow humans in every way we can. We should help, not as works to earn God’s favor, but as gifts to thank God for his unlimited Grace and salvation! Let’s pray now. Thank you, Lord, for all your generous Grace! Help me to be as generous with my fellowman as you are with me. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN. Today’s podcast was written and read by Bernice Howard. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Hebrews 10:24 (NLT) Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Most of us go about our daily lives on autopilot. We go to work, do our best, interact with our families and co-workers, clients, guests, or customers in a polite manner. Sure, we take some time to smile, laugh, and attempt to fully enjoy the day, but realistically, it’s just a routine. Others might even comment that we are always pleasant, upbeat, calm or well prepared. We smile and offer thanks, but don’t take those words very seriously. As I read and ponder today’s scripture, I wonder if we ever consider how others really view or value our routine. In fact, how do we intentionally approach our daily actions? I know my day starts and ends differently when I spend time with God first thing. Once I have consciously chosen to ”include” Him in my day, every action, every response is more aligned with the person, the servant, the Christian God is calling me to be. The result of that awareness leads me to be a better person, to consciously do good, to be kind, to show love, and to enjoy life. It even invites me to call others to join me – to live in a way that is pleasing to God. What motivates us? What brings us to the moment when doing good is about attracting others to do the same? I believe it is about faith, about grace (we all need a healthy dose of grace), and about inspiring others to do good as well. I love watching the many videos at our fingertips these days, you know the ones where a young man helps an elderly lady with her cart; she then helps someone else across the street, who then makes sure that the dry plant is placed so that it catches the rainwater. There's more to the story, but you get the picture. Each single act inspires someone else to do good without a response, with no “payback” expected. We see it all the time when the car in front of us or someone else pays for our food or drink, and before you know it, 8 cars are in a row are still “paying it forward”. Each driver is inspired or motivated to do good and be kind! We can be inventive and creative when we choose. But where does faith come in? It’s not just about doing good. I personally believe it is most inspiring when others can see you live your life with a faithful heart. You are sincere in your relationship with God. Your life, the way you live, the way you share your faith, is through the grace of good works – sometimes very simple, sometimes more elaborate, but always done to share grace, love, and humility. So, today, when you begin your day – or maybe you begin your day again – focus on God and His grace. How might you, on this very day, motivate, inspire or spark love for someone else? How might your actions encourage and help someone else to do good, to serve, and to be an example that moves others to action? You can do it! Make it a daily part of your life. You never know when your good deed might just be the “hope” someone else is seeking or the grace they are desperate to feel. Yes, you will be blessing others. You will also be blessed by the knowledge of a greater love. Please pray with me… Merciful God, as I begin this day, open my eyes that I may see others who might see and feel your love and grace by simple good deeds. Help me to maintain my focus on serving you, being faithful as you are to me. Allow my actions to stir the hearts of others so that goodness, kindness, grace, and love continue to be shared in your Holy name. Amen. This devotion is written and read by Lisa Blackwood. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your path straight. I had a recent experience regarding trust that caused me to stop and consider the word and its deeper meaning. The veterinarian was to come and vaccinate our cat and horse early one morning. Usually, I must catch the cat and place him in the kitty box before the veterinarian comes to the house. Since we were also vaccinating the horse, I took the kitty box to the barn the night before. Prince, the cat, always, rain or shine, comes to the barn when I feed the horse just to get a few strokes of appreciation. So, I thought when he came to the barn, I would catch him and place him in the kitty box. Prince saw me take the box to the barn the night before, and probably due to some bad memory about the box, refused to come into the barn the next morning. A bit later, I did manage to catch him and put him in the box. Following the veterinarian’s visit, Prince would not come near the barn or me. I believe it was because he had lost his trust in me. It took about a week before he would allow me to touch him again. It reminded me of how I trust others. I do know that once I lose trust in someone, it takes a lot of time and dedication for that trust to be regained or earned. I will usually trust anyone unless there is a reason not to trust them. Are there times when our trust might be based on the part of town we are in or the nationality of a person, or the color of their skin? Following 9-11, I may have had some tendency to be suspicious or perhaps not trust those who might appear they be from the Middle East. The scripture says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” What does it mean to trust in the Lord? I do not know how the Lord speaks to you, but for me, it is through my intuition, a nudge, or perhaps at times a dream. Do I always pay attention, or do I lean on my own understanding? Probably not always. I have had several experiences in which I felt I needed to do something, such as making a phone call or stopping to visit someone. In too many cases, I have not followed up but leaned on my own understanding. Then that person perhaps died or moved away, and I regretted not listening to that still small voice that was encouraging me to take some action. When we pray and ask God for help or direction, we may not like to hear, see, or feel the answer. The answer always comes, though we may not recognize it or agree with it. In the long run, it usually turns out to be the best outcome. Prayer: Dear God, help us to be more trusting of others and to trust in you. Amen. This podcast was written and recorded by Emmit Rawls. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."The stated theme of our podcast organizers this month is "The 'And' of Faith: Grace and Good Works." Having been raised Lutheran, where Sola Gratia—by Grace Alone—is an oft-quoted slogan and Martin Luther was known for his dislike of the book of James, my first reaction to the theme was a little negative. I had to remind myself that Paul has taught me that when I accept the gift of God’s grace, my faith will grow, and it will naturally produce good works. In the parable of the sheep and goats that today’s verse is taken from, the emphasis is generally put on the verses where Jesus recounts being aided. “When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink,” and the lesson is that all that is listed was either shared or it was not. Today, let us focus on what the sheep and goats have in common. Both the sheep who share and the goats who do not react verbally to the Lord in the same way, “When did we see you?” Both groups appear to lack the clear vision to see Jesus in others. However, one group shares what has been freely given, and the other group sees no need. Two groups share the same blindness but do not make the same choices. Everyone must make choices. In life, choices are presented to us moment by moment, day by day, year by year, decade by decade. How often do we see Jesus in others, and how often are we blind? How often do we choose to share what is part of God’s gift to us with others, and how often do we let the opportunity to share escape us? So it seems it is inevitable that we will all fail to see and share at times, and we must remember that no human will be the King that separates the sheep from the goats. It is not my mission to label the goats. But neither is it my mission to decide who is a sheep. In other words, not only is it not our role to decide who is a goat, Jesus is telling us that we can’t tell a sheep from a goat. I did not create the water that will quench someone’s thirst. But I can carry it to someone who is thirsty or not. I have found over the years that a better question than who is a goat to ask myself is – when I interact with others, am I being a sheep or a goat? We make things harder than they are. Let’s strive to make it simple. Don’t waste your energy and effort on trying to decide who is a sheep and who is a goat. But also don’t be an angry little goat butting heads with others, assuming you are right versus someone else being wrong. Don’t carry the burden that you are a judge. Instead, focus on the fact that those who have faith are led by the Shepherd. Be a sheep and accept that whatever you are faced with that you are in union with all in the herd. Leave your anxiety with a higher power. Those who have faith know that we are one and do not own anything. We are, for a time, given the grace to exist as part of God’s kingdom on earth. When we have faith, we follow the Shepherd. Let us pray today that our Shepherd will lead us to clear and abundant waters. Lord, give me the faith to walk with your herd to water, making way for all of those we encounter to drink with us along the banks of your stream of earthly water and Living Water. May we be one with your body and spirit while here in your kingdom today, Amen. This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan Daves. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Grace is the rock upon which Christian life is built and sustained. Through faith, grace transforms us so that good works naturally follow. In James 2:17, we find that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” When grace moves us into action, we “go and do”. Good works show that our faith is genuine and transformative. Our good works are the visible evidence of an invisible faith, which is proof to the world that God’s grace lives within us! Faith is not meant to sit still. It is alive, breathing, and moving because the grace of God never leaves us where it found us. James reminds us that belief without action is lifeless. True faith compels us to “go and do.” Grace is God’s gift, freely given and unearned. But grace is never idle. When we truly receive it, it transforms our hearts, shifts our priorities, and stirs us toward acts of love, mercy, and service. It is grace that moves us to forgive when wronged, to give when it costs us something, and to speak truth even when it’s uncomfortable.The world doesn’t just need to hear what we believe—it needs to see it. Every act of kindness, every choice to love, every step toward serving another is faith made visible. It’s grace in motion. As you listen today, where is grace calling you to “go and do?” Is there someone you need to serve, forgive, or encourage? Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You have called me not only to believe but to live out my faith. Shape my heart so that my good works flow from love for You, showing the world that my faith is genuine and life-changing. May everything I do point others toward Your transforming grace. Amen. This devotional was written by Gary Hensley and read by Joey Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. My father, like many men of his generation, grew up working on his family’s farm. His father, my grandfather, had two jobs: he was a stationmaster at various train stations throughout East Tennessee, and he farmed. It wasn’t a huge farm, but he produced enough to sell or share with others. My dad recalled working alongside his father and learning how to cultivate and harvest many different plants and trees, including grape vines, from which they made jelly and juice. The grapes on these vines did not taste good at all. They weren’t cultivated to be eaten but to be used in other ways. As children, my brothers, sister, and I didn’t see much use for a grape that couldn’t be eaten, and one day, when we were visiting our grandparents, we decided the branches on the grapevine would be ideal for whatever project we were working on. Whether it was a mud fort or an imaginary sword, I don’t remember, but the four of us stripped several strong branches from the vine. Big mistake! We were soundly scolded for our actions and forbidden to touch the growing plants. Our sticks and twigs had to be those that had fallen on the ground naturally. The branches we had pulled never had a chance to mature; they couldn’t fulfill their natural purpose. They had been separated from their source of life and were therefore useless. I always remember that experience when reading this passage. We are the branches. Unless we remain connected to God through the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. We often fool ourselves and think we can manage life, but when challenges arise, and they always do, we find we are powerless. It is in difficult times that we are painfully reminded that we can do nothing on our own. There are many forces at work in the world that would separate us from the vine: greed, seeking power or fame, being swayed by false teachings, focusing on how others are different instead of acknowledging that we are all children of God. If we allow any of these things to control us, we are ripping ourselves from God. We are dead branches. We can do nothing. It is up to us to remain connected to God through worship, Bible study, prayer, and service. We can separate ourselves from the vine through willfulness and the false belief that “I can do it myself,” but no one else can do it if we find our strength in these practices. Let us pray. Dear God, we are so thankful that you hold us close, as branches on the vine, and give us the opportunity to find life and strength in You. Help us reject the forces that would separate us from You. Guide us to be fruitful in the service of your Kingdom. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Pat Scruggs. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

You are listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts. Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. My objective today is to take this simple, straightforward message and complicate it to the point that you will never forget it. Now you might be saying, “What could possibly be hard about the phrase, Let us consider how to stir up one another? '” If you ask my wife, this is very clear; to stir is a cooking term. Stirring helps dissolve particles like sugar or salt into a solvent like water. Stirring creates a homogenous mixture by evenly distributing ingredients. It is also essential to keep things from sticking or cooking unevenly. And if you take a scientific approach to your cooking, you know that stirring can increase the rate of chemical reactions by increasing the frequency of collisions between reactant molecules. At this point, I would say thank you, dear, for those four different definitions. Although she is correct, I see it differently. You see, my friend used to frequently hand me a wooden spoon and say, “Owen, you are just trying to stir up trouble.” It had nothing to do with cooking. So, what do you do for clarity when you are thinking about a scripture? For me, I look at other translations. The New International Version says we should spur one another on. Does this mean cowboy spurs? Ouch. The New Revised Standard Version says we should provoke one another. This doesn’t sound much nicer than getting spurred. The King James Version says consider one another to provoke. The Common English Bible says to consider each other carefully. The Amplified Bible moves to consider thoughtfully how we may encourage. It appears we have moved from my stirring up trouble to my wife’s blending and evenly mixing together.  Not to give up yet, it occurs to me that we could both have effective methods to bring people together if we remain focused on the true end state of working together with faith and good works. Many of the translations say love and good works; either expression is good with me. Regardless of our initial differences, if we act in love by doing good works together, we will form a bond (perhaps a chemical reaction) that transforms us into a stronger relationship with Christ and our neighbor. One final translation for you. Let us keep holding one another in our thoughts, such that an explosion of love and good works results. Will you pray with me? Father God, bring us together in relationship with you and each other such that we can demonstrate our faith by doing good works for our neighbors. May all that we do glorify our God. Amen. This devotion was written and read by Owen Ragland. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Matthew 25:40 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me! Just before saying these words, Jesus had told the parable of the sheep and the goats. In Chapter 24 and 25 of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is sitting alone with his disciples on the Mt. of Olives, telling them of the time to come – a time in the future when the Temple would be destroyed, nation would rise against nation, famines and earthquakes would be in various places, and many would turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other. He told them that because of the increase in wickedness, the LOVE of most will grow cold. He told them of the future time when the abomination that causes desolation will stand in the holy place. He goes on to say that, as in the days of Noah, before the flood, when people were living large, paying no attention to God, the end will come. In Chapter 25, he told them to keep watch, because you do not know the hour or the day. At that hour, on that day, the Son of Man will come in Glory with ALL the angels with him. He said that ALL nations, ALL people will be gathered before Him and separated on His right and left – the sheep (those who LOVE and worship him) will stand on his right and the goats (those who are cursed because they do not LOVE and worship him) will stand on His left. As he spoke to them in this final judgment, he spoke the words from today’s scripture – “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” I think we all want to be on his right that day! It can be easy to help our siblings – brothers and sisters from the family we grew up in, siblings from the same parents – even when we have resentments or anger pushing us apart. Family generally binds us. But Jesus was talking about all our human siblings! Perhaps we find it simple to think of our Christian brothers and sisters too. But Jesus was referring to ALL our human brothers and sisters, all God’s children. From that viewpoint, the least of these encompasses those in need all over the world! Just look at the news and you will find hundreds of thousands of the least of these brothers and sisters. We must consider what Jesus said in Matthew 19:21 – “If you want to be perfect, sell all you have, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then come and follow me.” I don’t know if he meant that literally, but what if he did? In America, we are a nation of plenty. We have great wealth. I’ll bet most people hearing my voice today have good houses filled with things of comfort and pantries full of food. When we turn on the news and see war-torn villages around the world, devastation in our own country from disasters and poverty, are we immediately reaching out to do for our fellow humans, our human brothers and sisters across the world? I’ll wager that not many of us would sell all we have and give to the poor to follow Jesus. And not enough of us put food in that blessing box outside our church doors, to feed our homeless brothers and sisters. Not enough of us skip the luxuries of dining out, to write a weekly check to the Community Food Connection or Welcome Table, or to give to the International Rescue Committee, to send food to our hungry brothers and sisters locally and in Gaza or Afghanistan…food for Jesus! Perhaps this modern perspective on our brothers and sisters in need will give us pause and prod us to feed the least of these - to feed Jesus more richly and more often. Please pray with me. Great loving God, remind me with every bite I take, to think of your hungry children next door, down the street, and across the world. Steer me to generously share my blessings with You and all of them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Bernice Howard. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Galatians 6:9 (NIV) Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. I’m sure we’re all familiar with the phrase “good things come to those who wait.” I feel this also goes hand in hand with the phrase “patience is a virtue.”  It can often be exhausting to feel that you are constantly doing good towards others to get nothing in return; on the contrary, there are some cases where doing charitable acts towards others paves the way for more acts to be done in the future, in other words, setting off a “domino effect” of sorts or serving as inspiration. While it can be easy to grow impatient from doing good deeds and not seeing our efforts bear fruit right away, this does not always mean that they will not bear fruit. They can often lead to a returned favor down the line, or as previously mentioned, a beginning of a series of charitable acts to be done. So, in these instances, it can be crucial to practice patience and remember that it truly is a virtue and that good things can come to those who wait, so long as we have the willingness to wait. Let’s pray: God, thank you for showing us that patience is a virtue and that while doing good can often lead us to feel weary, this is not always the case, as our efforts may soon bear fruit if we remain strong in doing good and have the willingness to wait. Help us to always remember this and have the willingness to be your faithful servants. Amen. This devotional was written and recorded by Grace Jonas. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Numbers 20:8 (NIV): Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes, and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink. Psalm 94:22 (NIV) But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. God gave special significance to the rock when he commanded Moses to strike a rock in the desert and provide water for the Israelites. In many other verses, especially in Psalms, God is addressed as a rock, a firm foundation, and a fortress for safety. According to Bible Gateway, there are 149 references to the word ‘rock’ in both the Old and New Testaments. In many of the references, the rock is a symbol of God. It represents strength, salvation, and comfort against enemies. I never thought much about the significance of rocks until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the world in its tracks and left us isolated from each other. At that time, Tom and I had just moved to Asbury Place in Maryville, a senior living community. We knew a few people here, and most avenues for connecting were cut off. On top of that, Tom was facing a difficult open-heart surgery in June of 2020. It was an isolated and anxious time. My most frequent activity was long walks around the Asbury campus. Over that period, I began to notice rocks on the edges of walkways that had been painted in bright colors. Often, they had words written on them such as ‘LOVE,’ ‘COURAGE,’ ‘WAIT,’ ‘JESUS LOVES ME,’ ‘HOLD ON,’ ‘SOON,’ ‘PEACE,’ and ‘BE STILL.’ They were painted with happy faces, flowers, animals, and colorful designs, and they were scattered around the Assisted Living facility, as well as lakeside and near the Bistro. All the rocks were smooth and rounded and felt solid in the palm of my hand. I began to search for them as I took my walks, and found comfort in these messages from the isolated people all around me. Later that year, after Tom recovered from his surgery, we managed a gathering with our children and grandchildren, and I brought a kit with smooth rocks, paints, and design suggestions. We found joy painting rocks together. I arranged them on a platter and they still adorn my living room table. They bring happy memories. I have since learned that the painted rocks were a worldwide phenomenon. During the pandemic years, trails and parks in California and Calgary were lined with hundreds of painted rocks. A “Kindness Rocks” project that started in 2015 went viral and led to rocks being left in random public places for people to carry home or to another site. The rocks were a quiet way of staying connected with our fellow human beings. In the Old Testament book of Numbers, God showed love for the Israelites by bringing living water out of a massive rock. The rocks I found during the pandemic years were smaller, but they also reflected God’s love for the human community. In a symbolic way, they brought water to our thirsty souls. Let us pray: “Dear Lord, we thank you for your refuge during hard times. We thank you for a solid rock we can hold in our hands and feel your love and protection. You are our rock and our fortress. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. This devotional was written by Laura Derr and read by Judy Wilson. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Hebrews 10:24 (NRSV) And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds. Picture something with me. Imagine you're stirring a pot of soup on the stove. You're not just mindlessly moving that spoon around - you're being intentional, making sure nothing sticks to the bottom, bringing up the flavors from the depths. That word "provoke" in our verse? In the original Greek, it's paroxysmos - it's where we get our word "paroxysm." It means to stir up, to incite, to sharpen like iron sharpening iron.  The writer of Hebrews is addressing a community that's getting tired. They're facing persecution, some have stopped gathering together, and their initial enthusiasm for following Jesus is waning. The author isn't giving them a gentle pat on the head - he's calling them to actively, intentionally stir each other up toward love and good works.  This verse sits right in the heart of one of the most encouraging passages in all of Scripture. Just before this, the writer reminds them that they have the confidence to enter God's presence through Christ. Just after, he urges them not to neglect meeting together. It's all connected - our relationship with God, our responsibility to each other, and our witness to the world.  John Wesley understood this deeply. He organized early Methodists into small groups called "classes," where they would meet weekly to ask each other the hard questions: "How is it with your soul? Where have you seen God this week? How can we help you grow?" Wesley knew that faith grows best in community, where we're lovingly challenged and supported. But here's the thing - this isn't about criticism or judgment. The goal isn't to provoke each other to guilt or shame. It's to stir up love and good deeds. We're called to see the potential in each other, to fan the flames of compassion and service that God has already placed in our hearts. Do you know anyone who needs some stirring? Maybe it's a friend who has lost their way, a family member who has forgotten their gifts, or a fellow believer who has grown complacent. How might God use you to lovingly provoke them toward the love and good works they were created for? And remember - this stirring goes both ways. While we consider how to encourage others, we need to remain open to being stirred ourselves. Sometimes God uses the most unlikely people to remind us of our calling, to challenge us when we've settled into comfortable routines, or to inspire us when our own fire is burning low. The early Methodist movement spread like wildfire because ordinary people took seriously this call to stir one another up. They didn't wait for the perfect moment or the right credentials. They simply asked each other honest questions, shared their struggles, celebrated their victories, and held each other accountable with grace and love. Remember, we're not just individuals trying to make it on our own. We're part of something bigger - a community called to lift each other up and point each other toward Christ. In a world that often feels divided and disconnected, what a powerful witness it is when people see Christians genuinely caring for each other's spiritual growth. Father, stir our hearts today and help us see those around us through your eyes. Use us to kindle love and good works in others, and keep us open to being stirred by your Spirit. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, while one who is patient calms a quarrel. When I read this verse, I immediately think about my grandmother, who was a master at using Southern phrases to get a point across. “ Stirring the pot” was one of her favorites and it took me a while as a child to figure out exactly what she meant when she said it. When you Google this phrase, it says in a social context it refers to intentionally creating or escalating conflict, drama, or tension, often to achieve a specific goal or out of malicious intent. The psychology behind it involves various motivations, including a desire for control, a need to displace anger or resentment, or manipulative tactics for self-promotion or gaining an advantage. It can also stem from boredom, insecurity, or a lack of empathy. I’ve known some pot-stirrers in my time. And I bet you have too. In fact, I may have actually “stirred the pot” on occasion myself. But I felt I was justified when I did it to bring attention to a perceived injustice. In my opinion, most folks who stir up conflict find pleasure in other people's misfortune and sadness. There’s definitely something missing in their lives, and they’re resentful and jealous of anything good happening to someone else. Others like to sit back and enjoy the chaos they’ve created. Patience really can diffuse a lot of escalating situations. In the Bible, it is presented as a virtue stemming from God’s character and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It’s not about waiting passively, but trusting in God’s timing and plan. God’s patience with us encourages us to extend Grace and be patient with others. While it can be difficult to be patient in times of trial or discord, we are reminded through Christ that patience is a virtue and a fruit of the Spirit. The next time I’m in a stressful conflict, I’m going to remember this verse and hopefully bring the dispute to a manageable discussion. This devotion was written by Virginia Hardwick Kerr and read by Sally Stovall. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts. Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Well, well……. Patience is an interesting concept. It is about how we handle adversity, delays, unpleasant circumstances, and trouble. Our first thought, at least mine, is how often I am caught in traffic and am irritated with the slow or distracted driver in front of me. That driver is keeping me from my destination for no obvious reason. In the end, I might be delayed by one or two minutes, but the frustration I feel and anger I feel are just not examples of patience at all. I am the only one affected by that childish outburst. As I was thinking about this scripture, I realized that frustration and impatience often go hand in hand and might even be confused. Frustration is more about the inability to cope with situations, much like a child learning a new skill who throws a tantrum when their early eIorts are not successful. Impatience, on the other hand, is about an unwillingness to wait for something. We often tap our foot, honk our horn, drum our fingers or pour out those great big sighs. Our scripture today tells us to be patient with each other, making allowances for each other. I must say my mother lived this to the fullest. No matter the circumstances, she always rallied with the most kind reason someone might behave in a manner that annoyed the rest of us. With these kind words, she reminded us that we should remember to love others and accept their faults, behaviors, attitudes (whatever the situation) with grace and love. After all, God still loves us even when we are not well behaved. She hoped that her example of patience would grow in us and we would learn that getting angry or upset out of a lack of patience would diminish over time. She strongly wanted our capacity to overlook and accept these situations without responding negatively, complaining, or getting riled up. She expected us to love first and to live in harmony with others. Patience is something that has grown in me over time. I have learned that some situations that challenge my patience are simply out of my control, and I must turn them over to God and quit trying to fix them on my own. I must be patient with others and myself. Recently, a situation with a family member was resolved after several years. At first, I tried my way to make things better, and then I gave it to God. Out of the blue, with patience, love and persistent prayer, the relationship was renewed. The peace that follows is abundant. I think The Message says it well, “And mark that you do this with humility and discipline – not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. So, we must learn to be and be willing to be patient, to seek harmony, and to love even when we don’t understand, even when we are delayed and our plans are turned upside down. Patience allows us to work through conflicts and misunderstandings so that we might have harmony and peace in our lives and relationships with others. May we pray together? Gracious and loving God, be with us as we grow in our ability and desire to be patient. Allow us to be quick to listen and understand, to see that just as you are patient with our shortcomings, we too should recognize the differences of our fellow travelers and truly seek to live in harmony. You call us to love others and to be patient with them. Guide us as we grow in our love and service with you. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. This devotional is written and read by Lisa Blackwood. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” I have, unfortunately, heard this verse quoted by well-meaning people as they apologize for their tears at the loss of one they loved. They will say, “I know I shouldn’t grieve, for the joy of the Lord is my strength.” When you understand the setting in which Nehemiah spoke these words, you come to understand that it is saying nothing about what we should feel at such moments in our lives. The people of Israel had returned from exile in Babylon. Ezra and Nehemiah are engaged with the people in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  Nehemiah brings the people together to hear the words of Moses. He wants them to remember all that God had done for them, why they were a special, called-apart people, and what God required from them.  As Ezrah reads and explains Moses’ words, some began to weep because they realized that they were not following God’s word. Nehemiah says, “Do not weep, this day is Holy to the Lord. Eat, send food to those who do not have any. Don’t be sad because the joy from the Lord is your strength.” They're coming to an awareness of their failings and with it the resolve to do better should be a time of joy, not sadness.  This reminds me of when our children were small. They had committed some infraction.  We would sit down and talk about what they had done, why it was wrong, and the consequences of their actions.  Usually, after some tears, but more importantly, requests for forgiveness and pledges to do better, we would hug and in that moment they felt reassured and went away, not in sorrow, but in joy.   This warm hug is what God offers to each of us.  When we confess, we are not to dwell on our mistakes with tears and grief, but instead to hear the words of forgiveness and love.  And, like my children, we are to turn to the future filled with joy. Through God’s forgiveness, we are strengthened to face the future and, like the people of Israel, we are encouraged to share this joy with others. Let us pray:  Loving God, we are so grateful that you love us, forgive us, and teach us.  Remind us when we fail that you are with us and in your presence, and we find strength and joy. AMEN. This devotional was written by Bill Green and read by Joey Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Isaiah 41: 13  For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you." Have you ever thought about how much God loves us? I do think about His love often, especially since my husband passed away and I no longer have his support and have to make all decisions myself. This verse of scripture was a comfort to me, knowing God would be walking beside me, holding my hand and leading me. God does lead us when we feel alone, when we have lost a loved one, or when we feel we cannot face another day, too weary to go on. He is always ready to take our hand and lead us. How many times have we reached out to other sources: a friend self-help book or sometimes a stranger? These are all good, but God is ready to take us by the hand and help us. Do we take Jesus‘ love and compassion for granted? When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and give our heart to him, He is ready to help us in every situation. Have you ever had someone come to you so burdened and did not know what to do? That is when we ask them if they prayed about this and asked God to help them. God loves us so much. He knows everything about us--good and bad--but He loves us anyway! He even gathers our tears and stores them in a bottle. He even prays for us. If Jesus loves us so much, should we not love Him more? As a child of our Lord we should strive to love as He does and let our actions reflect His love in our daily lives, in how we worship Him, in how we serve Him, and how we treat others. Jesus has offered us his hand. It is up to us to take it. He is a loving and amazing God. Would you pray with me? Oh Lord, thank you for always being near to me to hold my hand and lead me in the right way. Help me to love and serve you every day. Amen. Today’s devotion was written by Ralphine Hood and read by Leslie Ragland. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV) But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. The Boy Scout motto is "Be Prepared," and their slogan is "Do A Good Deed Daily." I was a Boy Scout for many years, and I tried to honor both of those, but in all honesty, I wasn't always successful. The apostle Peter was no Boy Scout. This is the guy who cut off a soldier's ear when they came to arrest Jesus, then denied knowing him three times before the rooster crowed. He’s the impulsive fisherman who sank trying to walk on water because his faith wavered. Yet here he is, decades later, seemingly adopting the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" but applying it to something far more important than camping, first aid, or merit badges. Peter wrote this letter to Christians scattered across Asia Minor who were facing persecution. These weren't people living comfortable lives where everyone respected their beliefs. They were dealing with slander and hostility because of their faith. In that context, Peter's words carry real weight. He's talking about real people facing real opposition.  The phrase "always being prepared" comes from a Greek word meaning "ready for action," much like a soldier prepared for battle. But notice what kind of battle this is. We're not preparing to attack anyone. We're preparing to give a reason for our hope. In a world full of cynicism and despair, people notice when someone has genuine hope, and they want to know where it comes from. The hope Peter talks about isn't wishful thinking or a positive attitude. This is a confident expectation that God is good, that Jesus really did rise from the dead, and that our lives have purpose beyond what we can see. It's hope that comes from the Holy Spirit working in us— another fruit of the Spirit. But here's what I love most: the way we're supposed to share this hope. Peter says to do it "with gentleness and respect." Coming from the guy who once grabbed a sword and started swinging, that's significant. We don't bludgeon people with truth or shame them into belief. We share our hope gently, with respect for their dignity as human beings made in God's image. Peter knows people are watching how we live more than listening to what we say. When our lives don't match our words, it gives ammunition to critics. But when we live with integrity, when our hope shows up in how we handle hard circumstances, it creates questions that only the gospel can answer. Maybe you're thinking, "I'm not ready to give an answer about anything." But Peter isn't asking you to become a theologian. He's asking you to be ready to share your story—what God has done in your life, why you have hope when others don't. That's something only you can tell, and it's more powerful than any argument. So be prepared. Prayer: Father, help us honor Christ in our hearts and be ready to share the hope we have in him. Give us gentleness and respect when we speak, and help our lives reflect your love. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Luke 19:1-10 (NIV) Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man named Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short, he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” We often hear that God doesn’t wait for us to come to Him but meets us where we are. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he didn’t wait for people to come to him; he met them where they were. He didn’t wait for them to come to the synagogue or temple. He met them at the lakeshore, on the road, on the mountain, in their homes, wherever they were. God continues to meet us today where we are, physically, mentally, emotionally, and in every other way. He will meet us in our chosen place of worship, but he doesn’t wait for us to come there. But there is a but! Isn’t there always! In reading a daily devotional recently, I was reminded of the rest of the story. While God meets us where we are, He doesn’t leave us there. In our scripture today, Jesus met Zacchaeus on the road. Zacchaeus changed not only the way he saw himself and the things he had done, but he also made a change in his life. Matthew left the table where he was collecting taxes. Several of the apostles left their fishing nets. He met Saul on the road to Damascus. There are many more examples both in the Bible and in the world around us. So, having met God, where is He leading each one of us today? What is He asking each of us to do today? No matter how big or small it seems, if God is asking, it is important. If we don’t respond, who will? Prayer: Dear God, help me today to take time to feel your presence and to listen to what you have to say and then to respond in the way that pleases you. This devotion was written by Alvin Jenkins and read by Cliff McCartney. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Proverbs 11:17 Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm. There is a popular quote, and I hope you’ll forgive me if the way I report it is not exactly how you have heard it. And I hope you’ll forgive me, too, if you know it to be from a particular source. You see, it’s actually attributed to many people — a quick Google search revealed attribution to everyone from Buddha to Saint Augustine to Christian author Joanna Weaver to Irish actor Malachy McCourt. In any case, the quote goes something like this: “Holding on to hatred is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” That seems to be closely akin to the message the author of Proverbs is trying to convey. When we are kind to others, we are in turn helping ourselves. And when we are hurtful toward others, we are actually hurting ourselves, or drinking the poison, as it may be. But to be clear, I really don’t think the point the author of Proverbs is making is to be kind to others in order to be kind to one’s self. Helping ourselves should be a by-product, not a goal. One of my favorite podcasts (after Grace for All, of course!) is Hidden Brain. This is an exploration of the world through the lens of the social sciences. Host Shankar Vedantam invites incredibly intelligent people to his show to discuss, well, being human in this complex world. I highly recommend that you check out this podcast. In April 2023, Shankar hosted psychologist Amit Kumar on an episode discussing why we are reluctant to be kind to one another. While the whole episode is worth your time, a few of the takeaways include that people often worry about getting the details of their particular kindness just right, but recipients seem to care much more about the effort than the act. Further, small acts of kindness that might be inconsequential to the giver can be monumental to the recipient. When we share a kind word or make a small expression of warmth, we often are actually helping others more than we realize. And this chasm between how the giver and the recipient perceive the act creates what Kumar refers to as the Prosociality Paradox. In this paradox, even though the act of kindness is good for both us and others, we are reluctant to behave in this way since givers of kindness worry about the details and minimize the effect. But it even goes further: this phenomenon also causes us to be reluctant to ask others for kindness that they could provide, even though studies show that we are more than happy to help others when we are able to do so, and we want to feel helpful. As followers of Christ who are trying to demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit, we must be ever more intentional about sharing that kindness, no matter how great or small it may be. We must not worry so much about getting every detail right, as much as getting our intentions right. In short, we must overcome any obstacles from our efforts to make the world kinder. The podcast goes on to describe the pay-it-forward effect, which documents examples of how one act of kindness spurs another. Friends, let us make this society kinder and kinder still, and may nothing, least of all ourselves, get in our way. Let us pray. Holy Spirit of God, you are the source of kindness. Let us channel that in our lives to all who need it, no matter how great or small the need. Help us to not worry so much about how to do so, but help us feel strengthened in you to not be reluctant to do so. We pray this in Christ’s name, amen.This devotion was written and read by Dwight DockeryGrace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Welcome to the Saturday episode of the Grace for All podcast. Thank you for joining us today. Saturday is a special time when we take a few moments to review the scriptures that we have cited in the episodes this week. If you missed any of those episodes, you might want to consider listening to them today. And even if you heard them all, there may be one that you might want to listen to again. We hope that each of these scriptures and podcasts will bring you a full measure of joy, peace, and love. Now, let's listen to the scriptures that have been on our hearts this week. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. Sometimes I think if I were God, I would have given up on people a long time ago.  Do you ever feel that way?  As if the rest of the world has quit trying, and you might as well, too? My walk with Jesus has led me through many seasons—seasons filled with hope and gratitude, seasons rich with promise and potential, seasons in which my spirit was so attuned to Christ I could see evidence of God’s presence everywhere I looked. There have been seasons of fear and uncertainty, seasons heavy with weariness, seasons of spiritual drought in which I could not seem to find God, no matter how hard I tried.  And then there have been times when I was tempted to give up trying altogether, because the future seemed bleak, the world seemed to be moving backward in time rather than forward, and by comparison, my own efforts seemed so small. In such seasons, I want to throw in the towel, throw up my hands, and just give up on doing my part to try to make the world a better place.  The apostle Paul’s words to his protégé, Timothy, offer a lifeline in moments like these. Paul encourages Timothy to persevere, to keep running the race of faith despite every obstacle. Paul knows the mix of triumph and tribulation, delight and despair, energy and exhaustion of following in Jesus’ footsteps.   And to steady Timothy—and us—he offers a trustworthy saying: Remember, even though you may give up, God never does.  That’s not who God is.   Or, as The Message translation puts it, “If we give up on him, he does not give up—for there’s no way he can be false to himself.” Faith is the fruit of the Spirit because God is faithful, and God cannot be otherwise. Today, Paul is reminding us that when our faith wavers, we can find hope in God’s unwavering faithfulness.  No matter what, God remains steadfast and true.  Let us pray:  Faithful God, when we lose heart, when out of sadness or frustration or weariness we feel like giving up, help us, like Timothy, remember this “trustworthy saying.” Remind us of your faithfulness across all generations.  May we draw near to you and receive the gift of faith, the fruit of your Holy Spirit. Amen. Today’s devotion was written and read by Greta Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

John 8:54-59  Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ though you do not know him. But I know him, if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. To say the least, the Pharisees had a very contentious relationship with Jesus. They lived at the pinnacle of society, and they saw Jesus as a direct threat to their status, which was highly vaunted in respect to the everyday person of that time. They connected the dots immediately to Exodus 3:14 “I am that I am” as was revealed to Moses, and thus their virulent reaction. As Christians, we know and understand that Jesus was there with the Father from the beginning. In my own Christian walk, the more I study, the more seamless is the link between the Old and New Testaments. The verses in this podcast act as Christ’s segue to his other “I am” statements to make it so clear to the masses as to who he really was. Here’s a sampling of some of those to present clear pictures to the people that they could relate to in their daily lives: John 6:35 “I am the bread of life.” We all get hungry! We all can relate to that! Jesus is our spiritual sustenance. He will nurture and sustain us, in this life and the next. John 8:12 “I am the light of the world.” We all need to find our way, day or night! It was the same back then. At that time, you had a candle or a torch. Today we have any kind of flashlight, street light, or beacon to show the way, but if we listen to Jesus, God’s only son, his messenger sent here to earth, then we can find the way. The way is not always easy. There can be gloom, fog, rain, and hidden obstacles! Jesus is there for us! We can take our prayers of worry, concern, and/or gratitude to Him. He and his love are there for us. He commands us to share that same love with our brothers and sisters here on this earth. In doing so He will know us and gather us into heaven with the greeting of “Welcome, good and faithful servant! Even when you did those kind things to the least of them, you did it upon me!” Isn’t that really what it’s all about? Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you sent your only Son to teach to love and to carry away the burden of our sin with His death on the cross. Give us the compassion to love one and other as you love us. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Sam Barto. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.  If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

1 Corinthians 13:7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things- that is a lot to  contemplate. Bearing and enduring don’t exactly have a positive tone. Hoping and believing do.  When we really stop and examine these words in the context of God’s love, the verse only has universal meaning when they are applied to all things and all times. It is all too easy to love,  believe, hope, and endure when things are pleasant and we think things are right. But do we remember that God’s love is at the center of these moments all the time? It is much harder to find  God’s love in things we endure. Sometimes we lose awareness of our hope and belief as we endure the worst or think the worst of the world and others. Perhaps the important part of this  verse is the seemingly neutral “all things.” Love is not God’s love, agape, if it only applies to things we find pleasant and right. God’s love is not partial, and it is not easy. It does not ignore the parts of life and reality that humans want to deny. It does not waver. It endures. It holds. It supports. It is. Some people find me to be cynical. I prefer to think of it as realistic. I prefer to think of it as not denying that life can be challenging. I think the difference is hope. If we seek to be Christ-like like then we must find hope in all things, the things we cannot explain, the things we cannot agree with. If we seek to be Christ-like like then we are required to endure the pain and suffering of the world even when we want to label it as wrong, or ignore it, or be angry about it. We are required  to believe and seek the hope that God’s love will show us- all of us- a path forward because our  example is a Man whose path led to a cross. When our love endures all things, then we respond in love to all things. The challenge of loving people, ideas, and situations that we think are wrong requires us to be realistic about the fact that we are not in charge and we are not all-knowing. The human capacity to understand all is only possible through the gift of the Holy  Spirit and the sacrifice of Jesus. If my belief is that God makes all things, then I must give my doubts to God in prayer and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Hope is born in these moments when we return God’s love in prayer and find the strength to accept our place in a world that we do not understand.   Prayer: Let us pray together today that we have hope and belief in our hearts as we strive to understand all. God, help us to understand that Your love is ever present for us and in us to share with the world we live in, hope in, believe in, endure in, and we pray that we act as part of one church in the body of Christ. May the fruits of the Spirit that You have shared with us enrich the lives of everyone we encounter. Amen. This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan DavesGrace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Mark 5:25-34 Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years. She had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she kept saying, “If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed.” At once the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Jesus knew at once that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” But he looked around to see who had done it. Then the woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world. In this scripture, Jesus is talking to his closest followers, teaching them the importance of staying close to Him; the importance of relying on Him for strength and direction.  But they were very confused and concerned, because he had also just told them he was leaving and going where they could not follow. How could they rely on Him if he was leaving? Not long after this conversation, Jesus was arrested, tortured, crucified, died, was buried and rose up out of that grave! Centuries later we live in a very different world, where we are constantly hearing all the bad news of millions of people all over the world.  A world where we are bombarded with troubles, both real and imagined, 24X7. It can feel overwhelming, to say the least.  We need Jesus’ promise to feel true for us today!  “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world.” How can these words feel true?  How can they help us today?  Where are you, Jesus?! I recall asking Jesus just that very question one day a few years ago, when I was going through a particularly rough spot in my life.  And he whispered His answer in my heart – “I’m right here.” Friends, he is here.  He is always with us, but are we always with Him?  It is us who turn away – not Him.  I can’t feel His presence and neither can you, if we don’t take the time to shut off the noise, put down the devices that talk to us 24x7, and find quiet time to pray and to listen for Him – time to seek Him. He is with us and promises we will find him when we seek Him.  He is actually closer than our breath.  He has overcome the world, but we haven’t allowed him to overcome our hearts.  Our hearts are too often weighed down with the myriad troubles of the world and we seem to hear them all.  But take heart friends.  Jesus has overcome the world! Psalm 143:8-10 offers a great prayer for us today and every day.  Please pray with me. Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing LOVE, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.  And rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in You.  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.  May your Good Spirit lead me on level ground. Dear God, forgive me for turning away from You, and help me to seek You always, to trust Your word, and to believe with all my heart that You have overcome the world.  You, O God, are LOVE and I need Your help to live in LOVE and peace.  Help me, I pray.  AMEN. Today’s podcast was written and read by Bernice Howard. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.  If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Colossians 3:12 (CEB)Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,  and patience.Paul begins this verse with therefore—a word that always invites us to look back. In the previous section, Paul describes the kind of life that flows from focusing on “the parts of your life that belong to the earth”: anger, greed, slander, and all the ways we scramble to establish ourselves by the world’s measures. But he also paints another picture—the life that comes from being “renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it” (v.10). That’s where it therefore leads us. Because you belong to God. Because you’ve been given a new nature. Because you are “God’s choice, holy and loved.” Therefore, dress like it.  Consciously “put on” compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I think back to a conversation with a therapist years ago. He asked me, “What do you want?” I  answered, “I’m supposed to want a good job, 2.5 kids, a nice house…” He interrupted, “No, not what are you supposed to want. What do YOU want?” I couldn’t answer. My entire orientation was shaped by what the world expected of me—what others wanted from me—not by who I  truly was. I eventually discovered that my deepest fulfillment came not from chasing ego-driven desires or living up to external expectations, but from embracing whose I am. When my identity shifted— from striving to belong, to knowing I already belong—I could finally “put on” those qualities Paul describes. Today, ask yourself: are you living by the expectations of the world, or by the reality that you are already “God’s choice, holy and loved”? Because once you know whose you are, it changes everything about how you live. Let’s pray. Dear God, thank you for reminding us that we are your choice, holy and loved. Help us stop  chasing the world’s expectations and instead rest in the truth of who we are in you. Teach us  each day to “put on” compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience—not out of duty,  but because your love is shaping us. Keep drawing us closer to your heart, so our lives reflect  yours. Amen.This devotional was written and read by Donn King.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

This is Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts. Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Mark 10:17-27 (NIV) As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life? Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” The scripture today is the story of Jesus’ encounter with a rich young ruler. It is a story familiar to many. It starts in a straight forward way but ends in a way that can leave us asking questions. As with anything that is said it is always helpful to try to understand it as those present would have heard it and then ask ourselves how we hear it. In the case of the Bible this is complicated by the need for translation since it is often hard to translate from one language to another and keep the meaning the same. It is like a lot of other sayings of Jesus that at first seem impossible. But sometimes we need to look beyond the actual words and try to discern what is actually being said. In my NIV translation a footnote for verse 24 says that some translations read in part “Children how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.” At that time, as some do today, some equated having riches as a “reward” from God for leading a good life. Lots of cities had walls around them with gates that could be closed. In addition to the main gate there was often a narrow gate beside it. When loaded camels came to the main gate, they were often required to unloaded all their baggage so it could be searched. Then they were made to walk through the narrow gate. The narrow gate was so tight and hard to navigate that they could barely make it through. They certainly could not make it carrying any baggage. I think the message to us is that to enter the kingdom of heaven is not impossible. But we must leave all our baggage (anything that we put before trusting and obeying God) behind. That is easier said than done. But as we are reminded in verse 27, all things are possible with God’s help. Prayer: Dear Lord help me this day to leave all my baggage behind and put your will first in everything that I say, think, and do. This devotion was written by Alvin Jenkins and read by Cliff McCartney. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” I have grown up hearing the phrase “forgive and forget” whenever having been in a conflict with someone who has wronged me and being faced with the issue of forgiveness. In my adult years, I’ve been of the mindset of trying to be slower to anger and more willing to forgive, though often that can be a difficult task. While the phrase “forgive and forget” is one that I’ve always felt I don’t agree with since due to my scarily good memory or my willful stubborn streak that I inherited from my father, I cannot forget so easily. Nonetheless, I am always willing to forgive and show kindness and compassion to others, but I won’t tell those who have wronged me that I won’t forget. In thinking of how it can often be difficult to forgive and show kindness and compassion to others, I am reminded of how Lin Manuel Miranda portrays the mindset of Eliza Hamilton in his hit musical Hamilton following the death of her eldest son, Philip. Undoubtedly, she’s angry at the world and her husband, who can be seen as indirectly responsible for the tragedy, but nonetheless, in the musical number “It’s Quiet Uptown”, she forgives him without saying a word and takes hold of his hand as the chorus behind the two sing the lyrics “forgiveness. Can you imagine?” Initially, I thought that perhaps she was being a bit too forgiving, but looking back on it now, holding onto anger is not a mindset Christ would want us to have. As stated in today’s verse, we should strive to be slower to anger and treat each other a bit more kindly and with more compassion and strive to forgive each other as he forgave us, though that can be a diQicult task sometimes, if there is one message I leave you with from this devotion: it is that the world can benefit from more kindness, this day and every day. Let us pray: God, please help us remember to be more forgiving to others as you have been to us, though we may not be worthy of it. May we be slower to anger and quicker to kindness as it is needed now. Amen. This devotional was written and recorded by Grace Jonas. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Paul’s letter to the Colossians continues the theme of most of his letters: Christ is Lord of all, and we are to accept and love one another in faithfulness to Him. Imagine this headline on a papyrus scroll in 60 A.D., when scholars believe this letter was written either by Paul or a close disciple of his: Number of Followers of Christ Continues to Increase in Colossae. Observers Confused About Conflict Within Group. It was true then and remains true today that different leaders have varying ideas of right and wrong practices within Christianity. In verses prior to this one, Paul (or his disciple) talks about several “wrong teachings” to which the people of Colossae have been exposed, such as adhering to food laws, practicing mysticism, and worshipping angels. Again and again, he emphasizes that Christ is the one, true head of the church. It is a struggle for new believers to remain focused on Jesus as both their savior and unifier through his teachings. In our current times, we continue to be assailed by false teaching by self-appointed givers of wisdom touting practices that do not strengthen us in our spiritual journey. In fact, it is my belief that these threats are more overt than ever, largely due to the 24-hour news cycle and the availability of the media to anyone who wants to talk, whether they have any credibility or not. Think televangelists and those who admonish us that our salvation is not assured unless we specifically do this or that. Even worse, some of these pundits set us against one another, completely ignoring the truth that we are one in Christ. Paul says Do not be misled! The peace of Christ in our hearts is a gift to us, and for that gift, we are to be thankful. The practice of gratitude is one way to maintain the peace of Christ in our hearts.  Recognizing that God is the giver of all good things and thanking him specifically for the good things in our lives recognizes God’s sovereignty and our dependence on Him.  Gratitude replaces anger, fear, jealousy, and other negative feelings and takes our focus away from ourselves. Someone recently said to me, “When I stand on the shore and view the vastness of the ocean, I realize just how small I am in the universe. And even though I  am that small, I know God loves me and walks with me. My daily worries are diminished, and I remember that all will be well.” Remember today to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart no matter your circumstances, and be thankful for God’s love and all his gifts to you.  Let us pray: Father, life can overwhelm us at times, and we forget that your love is constant,  no matter the circumstances. Help us turn away from the things that distract us from You,  and help us focus on all the good gifts You have given us. Thank you, God, for loving us and for teaching us that to love one another is the greatest way to honor You. Amen. Today’s devotional was written and read by Pat Scruggs. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. When hearing this verse, I can’t help but think about the 1960s song “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love.” If you don’t know it, I strongly encourage you to look it up, but chances are that you’ve heard it at some point. It has four verses, at least four of which I’m aware, that discuss unity in the Spirit, walking together, working together, and a celebration of the Holy Trinity. All the verses share a common refrain: And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. When I think about this hymn, my mind immediately goes to a children’s choir I led at a Presbyterian church in Columbia, South Carolina. One of the intentional efforts I make with kids is teaching them how to use a hymnal and read verses of a hymn. In case you’ve never considered it, it’s a bit of a particular skill. In order to acquaint them with this skill as well as to introduce the kids to the rich body of song we have in the church, I usually make looking up and singing hymns the first activity before we get into songs we’re learning to sing in worship.  Well, I’m not the world’s best pianist, and I didn’t have a separate pianist playing for me in this particular church. Therefore, I also had to choose wisely what I had them sing. One day, I thought I might show them this hymn. It has a fun, minor-key melody, it’s pretty repetitive so it’s easy to learn, and the range is pretty limited, so it makes for a great children’s song. Plus, it’s easy to play! The kids took to it immediately. They really, genuinely enjoyed singing it. I had planned to sing the first two verses, but when we got to the end of the second verse, a tiny voice said, “Mr. Dwight, could we please sing the other verses?” Of course so. It wouldn’t take that long, after all. Well, a couple of weeks later, we were singing through another hymn as part of our opening activities, and when we finished, moving on to the next activity, I heard a different tiny voice say, “Mr. Dwight, could we please sing number 300?” Like the Grinch, I felt my heart grow three sizes. “Sure,” I replied, “we’ll sing the first verse.” In chorus, the kids all pleaded, “All the verses!” Well, friends, who am I to stop them? As a music director, I take very seriously the words I am quite literally putting into others’ mouths. While I’m sure some folks don’t think about it much, I weigh heavily the meaning and the quality of what we are singing. So, how could I possibly stop these children of God from proclaiming the message we find in 1 John? We are one in the Spirit. We will walk and work with each other. We give thanks for the trinity, and, perhaps most importantly, others will know us as Christians not by our rightness or our piety or our buildings or our bumper stickers or even sticking to our lesson plans, but by the love we show and the love we share. I don’t remember what the rest of the lesson was supposed to be with my children’s choir that day, but I do remember us all learning about God’s love. Let us pray. God, help us to feel your love and to share it with all we meet. May we never be so preoccupied with what we need to accomplish that we miss an opportunity to proclaim and show your love. In Christ’s name, amen.  This devotion was written and read by Dwight Dockery. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hope, joy, peace: these are feelings which we all seek. Without these feelings, life can be dreary and feel meaningless. However, each of us has times in life when hope, joy, and peace are elusive. It is hard to be hopeful when the doctor shares a dire prognosis. There is certainly little joy when a loved one is terribly ill and approaching death. And peace can be hard to attain in our world ,where relationships are often filled with strife, resentment, and jealousy. Everyone wants to be right, and no one wants to admit he may be wrong.  However, I don’t think Paul, in his letter to the Romans, is talking about our feelings as much as he is talking about faith and hope in the assurance of salvation. This letter to the Romans is a continuing effort by Paul to help them resolve the conflicts between Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome. Not only were their religious histories very different, but there were also cultural practices that created conflict. He emphasizes that Jews and Gentiles alike should welcome one another and love one another, as Christ died for the salvation of all. The heart of his message is that Jesus tells us to love one another and not look down on others, no matter how different they seem. In other words, let’s focus on how we are the same, sharing faith in Jesus Christ our savior, rather than how we are different. The Holy Spirit guides us and strengthens us to enable us to love one another. Loving and accepting each other is possible through faith in God. Our hope is in Him, and we can experience peace and joy in our lives because of Him. This world and we who inhabit it are far from perfect, but we can still have joy and peace because our hope is in Him. Let us pray: Father, we are so grateful for the gift of your Son and the promise of salvation because of  His death and resurrection. Help us to remember that our worldly troubles are temporary and that we can remain steadfast in hope and experience joy and peace because of His great sacrifice. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Pat Scruggs. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected] United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Proverbs 15:18 (NRSV) Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife, but those who are slow to anger calm contention. We seem to be surrounded by anger lately—contentious politicians, screaming pundits,  angry neighbors, and impatient drivers. There are certainly reasons to be upset, but acting out in anger seldom solves anything.  As the mother of boys, I have had many opportunities to calm contention. When they were  fighting with each other, I never thought, “Well, if I get angry, too, they’ll stop.” We all know we can’t diffuse anger with more anger, but that doesn’t mean we’re not tempted.  This proverb reminds us that angry people create strife, and those to are slow to anger calm contention. I think we all recognize the truth in the proverb, but it is oh-so-easy to respond in anger.  Email and social media provide even more temptation. We can spew vile statements from behind a keyboard without seeing the consequences of our actions. If we spew that venom on  social media, we can really stir some strife. With algorithms that prioritize clicks, interactions with angry or misleading posts only ensure that even more people will see them.  In an environment primed to promote discord, how can we remain slow to anger? How can we calm contention?  My practice involves a pause. The more offended or angry I am, the longer the pause needs to be.  One exceptional leader I worked with relayed how he responded to a situation at work that made him furious. The anger was precipitated by an email, so he proceeded to type his anger-filled response. He said, “But I didn’t hit send, and that’s the important part.” He saved his response, went home for the day, and sent a much calmer and reasoned response the next morning. It was an excellent example of slowing down to calm contention.  For me, social media requires a different tactic. As a professional communicator, I loathe mis- and disinformation. I have to go beyond the pause and simply not respond. While I  really want to respond, I know that any comment or emoji just ensures that even more people see the erroneous information.  Let us endeavor to calm contention rather than stir strife. Our world certainly needs less strife.  Let us pray.  Lord, we see strife in this world, and we are often tempted to contribute to it. Help us to be slow to anger and thoughtful in our interactions so that peace may be on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. This devotional was written by Kathryn King and read by Judy Wilson. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Welcome to the Saturday episode of the Grace for All podcast. Thank you for joining us today. Saturday is a special time when we take a few moments to review the scriptures that we have cited in the episodes this week. If you missed any of those episodes, you might want to consider listening to them today. And even if you heard them all, there may be one that you might want to listen to again. We hope that each of these scriptures and podcasts will bring you a full measure of joy, peace, and love. Now, let's listen to the scriptures that have been on our hearts this week. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Matthew 25:23 His master replied ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of thy lord. Isn’t that the objective for all of us? To stand before Jesus in judgment and hear “Well done, good and faithful servant?” It is something that I strive for! We are to try our best to emulate Jesus in our temperament and use our gifts to serve Him as best we can. Are you a musician? Play on! Are you an artist? Create on! Have great people and organization skills? Get out there, roll up your sleeves, and game on! Let’s put our faith in action to achieve small things that lead to greater accomplishments. Our reward in heaven is great to “enter the joy of the Lord.” Of course, it is not easy to make our way to serve Christ. It takes effort and determination on our part to make step after step to serve Christ in our own way. That’s why we should ask God to send the Holy Spirit, to fortify us!  The fruitfulness of our labors is the assurance of our future reward to share in God’s joy by remaining faithful in our efforts to apply the God given abilities that we have been blessed with. So when the going gets tough, take that deep breath and refocus. Our time on this earth is brief; life in heaven is eternal. Jesus tells us his kingdom is not of this world. Keep your eyes on the prize! The distractions among us are many, but so are the needs of our brothers and sisters. We are being watched not only by God above, but by those around us. When you do good, it is seen by a Christian brother or sister who will be heartened and likely offer you encouragement. It is just as likely that you will be witnessed by the unchurched, who are many! Those people will surely ask you why? Why are you acting with love and kindness? And you can say, “One day, I want to hear ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’” as you encourage them to do likewise in the name of Jesus Christ. Let us pray:  God in Heaven, send your Holy Spirit to work through us to give us the strength and determination to talk the talk and walk the walk in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah! Amen. This devotion was written and recorded by Sam Barto. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.  If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].  First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

John 14:27 Peace I leave you, my Peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. PEACE! Wouldn’t it be wonderful! No more anxiety. No more fighting. No more angry words. Peace of Mind! I remember waking up every morning as a little girl, filled with excitement because a school day lay ahead. I loved school and could think of nothing else when my heart was so full of that special love. Unfortunately, nights were another story altogether. At night the nightmares and worries of what-ifs filled my head. My daddy was abusive and the worries of what his anger might bring often made sleep elusive or brought terrifying nightmares. He ran away when I was nine, but my worries and fears continued. The "what ifs" plagued me constantly—except in school. School was my safe place, my haven. I felt loved and at peace, whether at school physically or there in my imagination.  You know, prayer can be similar to imagination. If we pray for peace and imagine it, we can feel it. In prayer we can draw ever closer to Jesus and feel His Peace. Imagining how His Peace feels draws that peace closer and closer. We can feel Him with us and He brings Peace. When we feel anxious about the news or worried about the other shoe dropping, we can move into Jesus’ promised Peace. If we turn to that Peace in our minds, hand over our worries to Jesus, and hold tight to His Peace, it becomes real. When we turn over the worries to Jesus and hold Him close, the nightmare is over. Resting in His Peace may not make everything perfect in the physical world, but His Promise is true… “Peace I leave you, my Peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Get on your knees or go into your quiet place and reach for Him in prayer. Let go your worries and imagine His Peace. It is there waiting for us. We can find it. He has overcome the world. Let’s pray together: Lord you promised us in Jeremiah 29:13 that we will seek you and find you, when we seek you with all our hearts. Please help us to do just that. To find time alone with you and to seek your Peace with all our hearts. Then finding that beautiful Peace, help us then to spread it around, everywhere we go. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Today’s podcast was written and read by Bernice Howard. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Mark 6:1-6 (NKJV) Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that His hands perform such mighty works! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. One of the striking things about this passage is the phrase, “Now he could do no mighty work there.” In this famous visit to his hometown, I wonder what mighty work Jesus had in mind for his neighbors and kinfolk. Jesus was just beginning his ministry, but he had already made an impact on those who had seen him and those who had heard about him. He was drawing large crowds wherever he went, and the stories of the “mighty work” that he was doing were abundant. But when he arrived in his hometown, he was met with a skepticism that quickly hardened into unbelief. This unbelief was so strong and rigid that, in the words of the gospel writer, “He marveled” because of it. We are sure that God has the power to work in mighty and mysterious ways. In this instance, that power was checked by unbelief. Are we like these citizens of Nazareth? Do we check the power of the Holy Spirit by our inability to believe, our lack of faith? The story could have ended differently, but sadly, Jesus and his disciples left town, and Nazareth stayed much the same as it had always been. Jesus moved on, and the city missed its grand opportunity. Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to find faith rather than skepticism when there are opportunities for you to exercise your power. Show us those opportunities where our belief can work with your power to do the mighty works that you have in mind. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Jim Stovall. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.  If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  How often we have said, “I hope…” Hope in this context is akin to wishes.  It is about something that you desire but are not really sure that it will occur.  With this verse, we get another meaning for “Hope.” Hope is a way of facing the future, often in the face of uncertainty or adversity, with a positive outlook, even with expectation.  It has nothing to do with results but instead focuses on our feelings.  It should make you ask how you look at the future when things are tough? Is it with fear and anxiety, seeing all the difficulties ahead? Or, can you look forward with a sense of optimism knowing that you are not alone.  You know God is with you and no matter what, you have everything you need.  This is the Hope that God offers and that gift can and does bring us peace and even, at times, joy even in the midst of difficult times.  I was taught what this hope looked like many years ago.  I was visiting a woman who suffered from a chronic and debilitating disease.  She had had more surgeries than she could remember and was pretty much bedfast and always in pain, even with medication.  I would go to comfort her and invariably found I was uplifted.  Our conversations were filled with the joys she was experiencing that day, a card from a friend, a new bird at the feeder outside her window, an extra special dessert and so on.  One day I asked her why she never talked about her health. She said something very profound that I have carried with me.  She said, “You have a choice as to what to focus on. It does me no good to talk about my health. It is what it is and nothing is going to change it. It that were my focus my days would be long and dreary. Instead I choose to focus on all that is good that is still happening each day in my life.  It allows me to look forward in anticipation.” This is the power of hope. It is a reminder that no matter what we are experiencing we are never going through it alone. That presence of God gives us power, peace and often joy. It isn’t about getting my wishes granted but about facing each day with joy and and confident expectancy for what God will do.  Let us pray.  God of hope, sometimes we feel lost and afraid, We are not at peace. At those times let your spirit rest on us anew.  Fill us with peace.  Remind us you are with us and help us to feel joy at what you are doing and with hop look forward to what is yet to come.  AMEN.  This devotional was written by Bill Green and read by Joey Smith.  Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.  If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you.  Our email address is: [email protected].  First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world.  We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV) If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.  In this day and age, it can be all too easy for our faith in others or even in God to waver or undergo trials and through periods where it is not as steady or consistent as it may have once been. However, the love and faith of God is not dealt out solely to those whose faith may remain perfectly steadfast, as mentioned, if the people should be faithless, He will remain faithful and not give up on others since he cannot walk away from himself. In going beyond this verse, it is stated by Paul that if we are to endure through these trials of faith, that we shall obtain salvation and eternal glory through Jesus Christ. While walks of faith may often look different for each person and be faced with challenges or areas where people may consider their faith to be lacking or overall faithless, the love and faith of God is something that may never be turned away from the people so long as they wish to continue enduring for the hope of salvation and eternal glory as stated by Paul. Let us pray: God, thank you for always remaining faithful and showing to us that your love will never fail or run out for us. Help us to remember that while our journeys of faith may look different or be wrought with challenges, that you will never give up on us or lose faith in us. Amen. This devotion was written and recorded by Grace Jonas. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Philippians 4:7, ESV "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I've read these words hundreds of times, but when you remember that Paul wrote them from a Roman prison cell, they have a bit more significance.  Think about Paul's situation for a minute. He's chained to Roman guards, he’s dependent on friends for food, and he’s facing possible execution. The Philippian church, which was struggling itself, somehow managed to scrape together some money to send help through their friend Epaphroditus. Paul had every reason to be anxious, every reason to worry about tomorrow. Yet from that cold, uncertain place, he writes about peace. And not just any peace, but a peace that "surpasses all understanding." It is not what we usually think of as peace. It's not the relief you feel when the test results come back clear or when the bills are finally paid. It's not even the quiet you experience during a good vacation. This peace "surpasses understanding" because it doesn't make sense. When everything in your life is giving you reasons to worry, when your brain is making lists of all the things that could go wrong, this peace shows up anyway. Paul knew this firsthand because this peace is actually a gift—one of the fruits of the Spirit that God grows in us. It's something the Holy Spirit cultivates in our lives, often in the most unlikely circumstances. Paul says this peace will "guard" your heart and mind, like a security system for your soul. In our everyday lives, we're constantly under attack by worry that knocks on the door of our lives, demanding to be let in. God's peace doesn't necessarily make these problems disappear, but it stands guard at the entrance to our hearts. It protects what really matters: our ability to love well and our capacity to stay grounded in who God says we are. Here's what strikes me about this peace: it's deeply personal but not private. Paul talks about it guarding "your" heart, but it happens "in Christ Jesus." You can't think your way into this peace or meditate it into existence. It flows from a relationship with God and with others who follow Jesus Christ. Maybe you're in your own kind of prison right now. Maybe you're trapped by circumstances you can't control, confined by depression, or locked in a situation that feels hopeless. Paul's words from his cell remind us that God's peace isn't an escape plan. It doesn't promise to spring us from every difficult situation. Instead, it changes how we experience the difficulty. It guards our hearts from bitterness and our minds from despair. I think about Paul, sitting in that prison, writing about peace that makes no earthly sense. He discovered something profound: even in the worst circumstances, we're still loved, still held, still part of something bigger than our current struggle. That's the kind of peace that can only come from God. Prayer: Father, grant us the peace that passes understanding, especially when our circumstances would suggest anxiety is more appropriate. Guard our hearts and minds today, and remind us that our security rests not in perfect circumstances, but in your perfect love. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

You are listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts. Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Galatians 5:22-23 (CEB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,  faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. Have you ever thought about how strange it would be for someone to call the police because a  neighbor was too patient or too kind? Yes, people complain about anything, but imagine a  phone call like this: “Officer, come quick—she’s showing way too much gentleness!” Such a call wouldn’t elicit sirens. But Paul’s line, “There is no law against things like this,” almost invites that kind of absurd image. Laws are written to restrain what harms, not to regulate what heals. Think about a typical homeowners’ association. They churn out pages of rules—don’t park here,  don’t paint that, keep your grass at exactly 3 inches—all in an attempt to create  “neighborliness.” But rules can’t make people love one another. At best, they can keep things  neat; at worst, they breed resentment and loophole-seeking. I grew up in a small town that didn’t need HOAs. People looked out for each other because  that’s simply what you did. Someone’s fence fell? Neighbors just showed up with hammers.  Nobody wrote that down. It was lived. When I read these verses, I always think of Mickey Berney, a member of Lincoln Park United  Methodist Church in Knoxville for over 85 years. She wasn’t perfect—none of us are—but she  spent 100 years and 3 weeks leaning into these Spirit-born qualities, nurturing them in herself and encouraging them in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great grandchildren. She often requested sermons on those verses. Mickey didn’t try to force fruit; she cultivated it. That’s the key: the Spirit grows what rules never can. Laws can only say Don’t do this. The Spirit  whispers, become this. Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your Holy Spirit. Grow your fruit in me. Let love, joy, peace, patience,  kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control become so real in me that no law  could ever be needed. In Jesus name, Amen. This devotional was written and read by Donn King. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Revelation 14:3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders.  No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. Everyone has, from time to time, picked up an earworm.  It's one of those songs that plays over and over in your head that you just can't seem to get rid of.  In those situations, you long for a new song to replace this tune that just won't go away. A few years back, I had a series of arguments that played over and over in my head with various people, some of whom I was very close to but with whom I had significant differences of opinion on a variety of topics.  I honed these arguments to a razor's edge and waited for just one of these folks to say something and I was ready to jump in with the speech I had practiced over and over to really nail them.  These mental arguments became for me vile ear worms with no melody.  At some point I realized a couple of truths: first, because I cared about these folks, I was probably never going to jump into a debate from which we could probably never fully recover; and second, harboring these noxious arguments in my head was robbing me of my peace and making it difficult to have civil if not loving interactions with those folks who were the targets of my internal battles.  So, I decided for one Lent to give up the arguments in my head. However, it was not enough to just decide to stop the ear worm of these internal debates. That's not how ear worms work. They had to be replaced with something different, a new song if you will.  I found that it's difficult to have a raging internal battle with someone if you reflect on what, instead, brings you together.  It's also difficult to pursue these virtual arguments if you pray for the folks who were the targets of those debates. These can be the new songs that return peace to your own heart and restore a loving outlook towards those who have been the targets of your internal wrath.  The good news is that these new songs can be sung by any of us; they are not limited to the 144,000 from the book of Revelation. Any of us can learn to sing a new song of love and compassion to replace those nasty earworms that plague us.  Prayer:  Dear Father, create in me a clean heart; teach me a new song; help me to be more loving in my internal musings as well as my external words and actions. Amen This devotion was written by Charlie Barton and read by Joey Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. Mentioned in this episode:This month on Grace for All, we are replaying some of our most listened to episodes. If you are enjoying these devotions and would like to have them in written form, our first six months of content is now available in print. You can find it by searching Grace for All, a book of daily devotions, by Jim Stovall on Amazon. As always, thank you for joining us, and we pray that you will be blessed.

Matthew 6:34, NIV Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.   I tend to worry a lot.  I tend to worry about things that haven’t even happened.  I worry about how I am going to play in my next baseball game, for example, or about what people will think of me, even people I haven’t met yet!   We don’t need to worry about that stuff, because tomorrow is not promised.  All we can count on is today. That makes me think of another verse, Galatians 6:9:  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Basically, this means that we have to be patient and not worry about what is happening in the future. Instead, we must rely on God, and keep doing the right thing in the present.  If the thing we want doesn’t happen, it’s either not the right thing or not the right time.  The Lord will create a path for each of us, and sometimes failing is part of the plan that will make you who you are supposed to be.   Sometimes things don’t work out the way you wanted them to.  When that happens, it’s hard to understand, and easy to worry.  Two years ago, I didn’t make my middle school baseball team, and then I got cut from the team I was on.   Even though that was really hard at the time, now I can look back and see how it helped me become the player I am today—a better player.  It taught me to keep working and not give up.  It taught me to have faith in God, who helped me through.   And faith is better than worry any day.   Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to not worry about tomorrow, and instead live in the present, and trust in You.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen. This devotional was written and read by Ryan Smith.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. Mentioned in this episode:Thank you for joining us for Grace for All. This month, we are repeating some of our most loved episodes. We hope they will inspire and encourage you on your faith journey. Welcome.