Grace for All

Psalm 96:1 Sing to the Lord a new song!     Sing to the Lord, all the earth! My dad was almost certainly tone deaf. I mean, literally. He could not carry a tune at all, and I really don’t think he realized it. In other words, he could not hear the variations in pitch that other people could hear. I am guessing at that, because I could never ask him directly. Sitting next to him in church at an early age, I noticed that what came out of his mouth had absolutely no resemblance to what came from everyone else. I developed some musical ability early, and could “hear” natural major, minor, minor seventh, etc., chords and relationships, so Dad’s atonality grated on me. But one day in the car as I rode in the back seat on the way home from church, I said something to Dad about how he couldn’t carry a tune. He said, “What?” and looked puzzled. Mom shot me that look that could scorch paint off the side of a barn, and I quickly shut up and never mentioned it again. In retrospect, I see the kindness of my mother at that moment. I knew Dad couldn’t carry a tune. She knew it. Everyone for six pews around us knew it. But I don’t think Dad knew it. All he knew was how much he enjoyed music. He would listen to old 45s and 78s on the home stereo for hours—Patsy Cline, Dean Martin, Conway Twitty. I don’t know what his experience was like, but I know he loved music. And he loved singing in church. The Psalmist said, “Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord! Bless his name! Share the news of his saving work every single day! Declare God’s glory among the nations; declare his wondrous works among all people because the Lord is great and so worthy of praise.” He didn’t say to sing so that others would admire you. Dad wasn’t singing for me or for the surrounding people. With all his gusto, he sang to the Lord. Had I managed to, in my arrogance, communicate to Dad how he sounded to others, he may have lapsed into silence. It would have robbed him of something precious. It would have robbed the people around him as well. They may not have enjoyed his dissonance, but I know how much people looked up to him. I am certain that his joyful noise uplifted hearts—his own, and those around us. My prayer today: Dear Lord, thank you for the wisdom you shared through my mother to keep my mouth shut and my dad’s voice open. Grant to us unselfconscious, joyful participation together in singing to you! Amen. This devotional was written and recorded 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/. 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.

Acts 1:8 (NIV) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  In the opening of the book of Acts, the apostles are waiting in Jerusalem as they have been instructed, gathered in one place. Suddenly, like a mighty wind the whole house is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and the believers begin to testify. The sound is so powerful that it attracts the attention of a host of people who have come to Jerusalem, and they form a crowd around the apostles. Remarkably, though these people speak different languages, each hears the message in their native tongue. They had come to Jerusalem from different places. Still, they were united in that moment because they all heard the same message.  That is what stands out here. That when the Holy Spirit is given, the people are moved to proclaim the gospel. And when the gospel is proclaimed, it doesn’t matter that we come from different places or speak different languages. It is, as Luke observes, bewildering, and amazing and astonishing and yet somehow true, that the good news of God’s redeeming love and grace transcends our differences, crosses barriers, unites us as one in the Holy Spirit, and breathes life into the universal church.  When the gospel is proclaimed, the kingdom of God expands. That is the story of the book of Acts, it is ultimately the story of the proclamation of the gospel resulting in the expansion of God’s kingdom, to include more people and more peoples, and more and more. When God says, “go,” it is to expand God’s kingdom, to enlarge God’s family. Where do we have an opportunity to grow the family of God? Who else needs to be included? Prayer: Holy Spirit, move us to bear witness to the Good News of your redeeming love and grace, so that all might come to know the heart of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.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.

Luke 6:27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.  In reading this verse alone, without the context of the surrounding verses, I am at first reminded of the time, later in Luke (Chapter 10), where Jesus is questioned by a lawyer about the greatest of all commandments. Jesus asks the lawyer what he thinks. Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Correct, says Jesus. But then the lawyer asks, “But who is my neighbor?” That question provides Jesus with the opportunity to relate possibly his most beautiful parable, the Good Samaritan. In this passage, no one asks, “Who is my enemy?” We don’t have to ask. Many times in our lives, enemies surround us. We have no trouble identifying them. And therein lies the problem. We can, indeed, identify our enemies. Jesus calls us not only to action but to “listen” and think deeply about what he is saying. If we do that, we may discover a hidden but essential truth. The person we love, because we love that person, can no longer be our enemy. We cannot identify that person as an enemy. Yes, there may be those who “hate us.” But we are not responsible for the feelings of another person. We are responsible for our own feelings and actions. If we follow this divine command, we will have no enemies. Prayer Loving God, show us how to follow your example, to love those who might hate us, to show love to those we might consider enemies.  Let us be transformed in Christ, that we might become friends to all the world.  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/. 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.

Ephesians 5:4 (NIV) Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. As a young boy growing up, I was influenced by those with whom I was around. This included mostly family, church and school. I never heard any bad talk or cursing in my family or certainly in church. As I grew into my teen years, I like others looked up to older boys as to how to act, talk bigger than we were. However, I do recall my dad on occasion saying, “well the hay o.” When I was in the third grade, I said the same thing on one occasion. My teacher, Miss Flossie Winborne, took me out into the hall and told we should not say such things. I think it was at Boy Scout camp of all places that I heard older boys in my tent after taps say words I had never heard before. However, I had been taught that we did not use such words at home, church or anywhere else where we might be heard by a disapproving adult. When I entered Virginia Tech and later the army, it was an entirely different story. Obscenities were very common, and it almost seemed that the guy who could tell the dirty joke that brought on the most laughs was looked up to. I recall that on television when someone said an inappropriate word, it was bleeped out. It happens now on occasion, but not as often as it should. I personally do not watch or give any credence to programs that use profanity as part of their script. Social media is certainly full of it. We should always remember that little pitchers have big ears. I recall hearing of a mother who occasionally used a four- letter word around her three- year-old. It wasn’t long before the three-year-old was using that same word. We should all try to speak as Jesus did with words of thanks, affirmation, and praise. I must admit that I strive very hard to not say a bad word when I hit my finger with a hammer. It is hard to be thankful in that situation. Let us pray. Dear God, help us to only use words that would please you. Words of thanks, praise and affirmation. Words that we might hear Jesus say. Help us realize that our words can have a significant impact on others. Make us more aware of the words we speak. Amen. This devotion was written by Emmit Rawls 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/.  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.

Exodus 1: 9-11 (KJV) And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel [are] more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and [so] get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Ramses.  We know, from the last chapters of the book of Genesis, which immediately precede this passage, that Joseph had saved the Egyptian nation from starvation. He was honored among the people and revered by the pharaohs. The family of Joseph had come to Egypt. They had settled in, and as far as we know, from this account, they were industrious and unoffending. After a couple of generations, however, Joseph and what he had done for the nation had been forgotten. The children of Jacob had become numerous among the Egyptians. But they were different. They had different habits and rituals. They worshiped a different God. What might’ve happened had the leaders of the Egyptian nation looked upon these people and said, “Let’s make these folks are friends.“? Unfortunately for everyone, they took a very different path. They let their suspicions, their ignorance, and their fears overcome their better natures. These people were different. If war comes, they will betray us. Let us oppressed them now while we have the chance. And so they did. Can we draw any conclusions from that ancient story about our world today? Do we allow the fact that some people are different to dominate our thinking, to arouse our suspicions, to lead us into believing they need to be oppressed or put down? This passage calls us to examine our own attitudes and actions toward people who are not like us. Despite our enlightenment from the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, too often we react like the Egyptians of old. Today we should call upon God to help us formulate attitudes of love, caring, and compassion that will replace our attitudes of suspicion and fear. The Egyptian leaders, in trying to protect their nation, gave in to their hate and fear. In doing so, they ultimately brought plagues, tragedies, and destruction to their land. What if they had chosen love instead of hate? 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.

Colossians 3:16 "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."  Our Bible verse for today is Col. 3:16 - New International Version says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” I am not a very good singer.  I have a loud voice, but sometimes I tease that I think God forgot to tune it.  And while I may frequently sing off key, I can definitely make a joyful noise to the Lord, with gratitude in my heart.   I am happy that singing on key is not our assignment from Colossians Chapter 3.  Let’s consider a few more verses from this Chapter for a broader look at our important assignment. Colossians 3:12-16¹² “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  ¹³Bear with one another and forgive one whatever grievance you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Now we have clarification of our assignment!  We need to dress ourselves properly, with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience - then “put on LOVE,” like a cloak which will bind all these together.  With such beautiful garments binding us, we can joyfully sing praises to God – no matter the key in which we sing! The Word of Christ is His Message, His Teaching, His Advice.  And he gives lots of advice during His time on Earth.  He gives advice to friends and enemies, to those who love Him and those who hate Him.  But all this advice can be summed up in his answer to the question – “Lord, what is the greatest commandment?”  To which he replied (and I paraphrase) – “LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS.” So, clothed in LOVE, with gratitude in our hearts, let’s sing His praises… Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  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/. 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.

Mark 14:22-23 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.  I am an engineer by training and experience. I like to think I have an appreciation for things that are well engineered and designed. I think the human body fits into that category, and there is one part of our bodies that I feel are particularly well done – the hands.  Our hands are marvelous things: we use them to grip and lift things that are heavy, unwieldy, or large (or all three), but we also use them to hold a newborn infant. Some of us can cut down a tree, work on a car, or even twist the lid off a mayonnaise jar, but we can still put a piece of thread through the eye of a needle.  Maybe your hands are soft, maybe they are rough. Maybe you work with your hands and you have the calluses to show it. Maybe they are bronzed or burned by the sun because you spend a lot of time outdoors. Maybe you worked in your garden last night and you still have dirt under your fingernails. You probably have some nicks and dings and scars, and if you’re like me, your hands are a little wrinkled, and they just might hurt a bit in the mornings.  I would love to have seen Jesus’ hands. He was raised as a carpenter, so you know that His hands were probably rough. He spent a lot of time outdoors, so they may have been sunburned. Being a carpenter, he probably had his share of nicks and dings. Scars? Yeah, he had a few – I know of two – right in the center of His palms.  His hands were the hands of God. The hands that created the earth and created humanity are the same hands that healed the sick and raised the dead. The hand that flung the stars and planets into space are the same hands that held children and old people. On the night before He died, Jesus shared a meal with His disciples. Today's scripture passage describes it. He used his hands to break the bread and share it. He used his hands to pick up the cup and share the contents, Before that he used his hands to wash the feet of his disciples. Less than a day later, his hands, the hands of the son of God were nailed to a cross where he died the most agonizing and humiliating death possible. He did that because he loves me and he loves you. Now, because he loves us, he welcomes us to take his hands and enter into life with him, starting now and for eternity. Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of relationship with you. Thank you for reaching down to us and living with us. Thank you for not only telling us how to live, but showing us. Thank you for the gift of life, now and forever. Amen.  This devotion 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/.  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.

Hebrews 11:6   And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  Another verse instantly came  to mind from the Book of Jeremiah, a prophet during the years of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon’s temple. Chapter 29 verses 11 through 13 were part of a letter Jeremiah wrote to the people in exile. It reads: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” How do we seek God with all our hearts? These people in exile must have struggled to believe that God exists just as we do today in difficult circumstances. It is easy to be paralyzed, afraid to act, when we don’t know the right way forward.  This is a time when our community of Christian believers can help, we can solicit advice and counsel from those who may have experience in what we are facing. We often hear the adage “Wait on God” and it’s tempting to just do nothing.  When we have a discussion with a friend we usually don’t wait weeks to figure out what it meant. Do we put God on hold because we are too afraid to step forward?  The times I’ve made a choice to move forward even while I’m unsure, it has quickly become apparent if I’m moving  the wrong way! Even a bad outcome can be a good example. Are we seeking God in all the ways we can? He may be speaking through those around us, through events, and through study.  Will you pray with me? Loving God, help us to have ears to hear you in all the ways You speak to us, minds to discern, and hearts to put your words into practice. Amen.  This devotion was written by Leslie and 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/. 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.

John 20:18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘”I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her. We don’t know much about Mary Magdalene, but we do know she was loyal to Jesus and his family. She loved Jesus very much, and she was a woman. Jesus had 12 disciples that were men, but the first person he showed himself to after his resurrection was Mary. At the time, women had certain roles they fit in society, and were not seen as extremely political or as religious leaders in this part of the world. So Jesus going to her first was incredible. Many children and people feel undeserving of the Lord’s love. I myself wondered for a little while whether God cared about me. I’m just a small girl, what could I do for the God whose son could make the dead alive? And perform miracles! Who am I to God? I am everything! And you are everything! It doesn’t matter if you’re homeless or rich, your gender doesn’t matter, your age, race, or who you chose to love doesn’t matter. God will give you the chance to make a difference, just like Mary! Let us pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for our opportunities to serve you. We thank you for the wonderful world you’ve given us, and we pray you will continue to love us as we are, whoever we are, wherever we are, and whoever we want to be. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.  Today’s devotional was written and read by Clara Simpson. 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.

John 21:15-17 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. At one point during his ministry on earth, Jesus called Peter “a rock“ and said that Peter would be the foundation of his church. Not long after that, Peter was put to the test, and he failed spectacularly. When Jesus was arrested and tried, Peter denied Jesus three times. What happened to that man who was supposed to be the Rock, who was supposed to be the foundation of the new religion and new life that Christ wanted to introduce? In this passage, we see Christ, going to some length to redeem Peter. Yes, Peter denied Christ. It was no accident. He had done it three times. So here, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?“ Of course he does, Peter says why do you keep asking? This scene tells us something about our own lives and our relationship to Christ. We failed spectacularly, not just once but many times. We do the wrong thing. We say the wrong thing. We let our cowardice overcomer courage. And yet, for every time we fail, Christ offers us a way back. Do you love me? That’s the question he continues to ask. Of course, we do. Then feed my sheep, he says. Do not just confess yourself, but put your confession into action. Feed my sheep. 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.

John 4:16“And we know and rely on the LOVE God has for us.  God is LOVE.  Whoever lives in LOVE lives in God, and God in him.” God loves you!  Let that soak in. The God of all creation loves you! His unfailing love is a free gift; and He gives it to all his children. And what are we to do with all that LOVE?!Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”We need to soak in this great LOVE, to believe it, to relish it, to let it fill us. We need to absorb it until we feel so full, that we must give it away! Can you imagine being so aware and full of the feeling of LOVE that you are brimming over! Doesn’t that sound great!? So, why are we not feeling full of God’s LOVE continually and constantly giving it away? Maybe life gets in the way, smothering our awareness of God’s LOVE. Maybe we spend so much time tuned into noise of the world through our many devices, that we don’t have much time for the things of The Spirit. Maybe worry, bitterness, anger, sadness, anxiety, loneliness, and pain take up too much room for LOVE to fit in. Perhaps you have heard the story of the old Cherokee teaching his grandson about life.  “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.  “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.  One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.  The same fight is going on inside you – inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” Every time the battery on our phone gets low, we feed it. We plug it in to charge it up. And just like that battery, we need to be fed with a daily charge from God. We need time sitting quietly with no noise or distractions, just plugged into God, to get ourselves recharged with his GREAT LOVE! The stronger our charge, the more LOVE we have to share!Prayer: Lord, help us to keep a full charge!  Pull us to your LOVE that we may be brimming over and sharing your LOVE with everyone we encounter!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/.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.

Psalm 69:30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.I cannot remember a time when music was not part of my life. Growing up in a small, country Methodist Church, I learned hymns from the old Cokesbury hymnal at a very young age. I started taking piano lessons at age 10 and by age 12 I was playing those hymns for Wednesday night services. And now, as an adult, the words of those hymns come to mind frequently in different situations I am facing. Throughout my life, music has carried me through many difficult times. When my father died unexpectedly, I, along with my whole family was devastated. My siblings asked me to choose the music for his funeral. Remembering the hymns he had loved and deciding which ones to include in the service was comforting to me. A long-time close friend sang “How Great Thou Art,” his favorite. As he sang, I thought about my father’s faith and how he lived a life that exemplified it. When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art! He was a humble man who loved God and others; his whole life was one of praise and thanksgiving. Several years later, I was facing another difficult time. My mother’s health was in decline, and she was in denial. My siblings and I were constantly on alert for the next phone call telling us she had fallen or developed bronchitis or pneumonia because she preferred not to seek medical attention.  It was a very stressful time, to say the least. My respite was Wednesday night choir practice. For those two hours, I was able to lose myself in the lyrics and melodies and leave refreshed and renewed in faith, ready to deal with whatever the next day would bring. During our closing prayer time, I always lifted my mother to God, giving thanks for the years of love and care she had given our family, and asking for guidance in providing for her needs. Those years never got easier, but music and giving thanks to God enabled me to persevere and remain positive.  Through good times and bad, praising God through music and glorifying him with thanksgiving provides a path that gives life meaning. He knows we aren’t all great singers or musicians, but He deserves our praise and thanks however we can express it. “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art!” Let us pray. God, thank you for the gift of music and its transformative power in our lives. All good and great things come from you, and we praise you. Amen. This devotional was written by Pat Scruggs 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: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.

Matthew 17:5 “While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” Blaise Pascal lived in the 1600’s and wrote, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”  These words are so appropriate for today!  Except, we do sit still in rooms, not in quiet, but with a device speaking to us.  We are constantly bombarded with noise, news, and sound.  God is not very likely to yell at us from a cloud, as he did Peter! He is more likely to come as he did to Elijah on that mountain, not in a windstorm, earthquake, or fire, but in a “still, small voice.”  Without sitting in the quiet, how can we hear God’s still, small voice?  How can we “listen to Him”? Jesus modeled this way of listening for us.  He withdrew alone from the crowds and noise, to pray.  He listened and heard when God spoke in that still, small whisper.  We must emulate Jesus!  We need to withdraw, to be alone, to pray silently and to listen for that “still small whisper.” We need this daily.  But we won’t make it happen without disciplining ourselves as Jesus did.  Make a vow to withdraw, unplug, turn off electronics and find time to tune in to God.  Just listen!  He might be whispering right now… 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] 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.

Galatians 5:22 “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Many people use the refrigerator door for more than keeping cold stuff in. They put messages there. And lists. And reminders. And pictures! And, sometimes, inspirational words. On our refrigerator door there are pictures of our grandkids. And a small cross. For a few years now we have had a list. Not a grocery or to-do list, but a list of words. These words—there are 30 of them—came from a sermon given by our pastor at the time. She told us of research that revealed that some words are slowly disappearing from usage. They have been in decline for the past 50 years. All of these words had been common in the first half of the 20th Century and well into the second half, but they are now in significant decline in regular conversations and discourse. They all, these 30 words, are virtues or values. Here are some of them: patience, kindness, sincerity, generosity, humility, faith, love, perseverance, courtesy, modesty, gratitude. The concern, of course, is not primarily with the lessening of the use of the words themselves, but with the corresponding lessening of the presence of the virtues. The less we champion these qualities the less they are part of the world we live in. Did you notice that this list corresponds closely with the list Paul gives us in Galatians of the qualities of one who has God’s Spirit within him or her. We who belong to Jesus Christ are to demonstrate these virtues, making our lives and our world better. Let’s reclaim these words by living them. And in the process, make our society a kinder, gentler place. Prayer: Dear God, Post on the door of our hearts your to-do list for us. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Herb Sadler. Episode notesGrace 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/.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.

Joshua 1:1–2, 5–6 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of nun, Moses, his minister, Moses, my servant is dead; now, therefore, arise, go over this, Jordan, you and all this people, into the land, which I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong, and of good courage; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong, and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law, which Moses, my servant, commanded you; turn not from it to the right, or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. In this passage, we see the transfer of leadership of the children of Israel from Moses to Joshua. It is a political transfer, but God infuses it with his presence and makes it holy. God makes some incredible promises to Joshua. No one, he tells Joshua, will be able to stand before him throughout his life. He promises Joshua success. Joshua, of course, has his role to play. He has his decisions to make. He is not some wind-up toy that God simply sets in motion. He is a human being with free will to make his own choices, but God cautioned him to follow in the ways of Moses, and to turn neither to the left or to the right. Joshua will be successful only as long as he acts in concert with God. This is a powerful passage, one that demonstrates God’s direct intervention into the life of a person. Joshua is to “go and do,” as we all are, but we are always to go with the Lord. What do we see and hear when we imagine the conversation between God and Joshua? Does God treat us any differently from Joshua? God makes promises to us. What are we to do to fulfill our part of those promises? Joshua, as we know from later parts of the story, had many successes in leading his people into the land of Canaan. What successes does God have in store for us? Let us pray together: Dear God, give us the strength to fulfill your promises. Give us the wisdom to turn, neither to the right, nor to the left, but to follow in your Paz, and to act with your guidance. Amen. 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/.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.

John 20:21(NIV) Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”What words do you associate with the word, “go”? Go home? Go away? Go ahead? Go back? Do you envision a crowd shouting “Go!” at a sporting event, cheering on your favorite team? Do you think of places you want to visit, of going on a trip, or a vacation?  Chances are that these associations to the word “go” are much more likely to come to mind than the concept of being sent. But when God instructs God’s people to go, it is almost always a “sending to,” and not a “sending to” a place as much as a “sending to” a person or a people.  This is the message of Christ to his disciples when he appears to them after the resurrection. Remember, he says, that God sent me to you. And now I am sending you so that the grace of God will be multiplied. And he breathed on them, saying Receive the Holy Spirit. By the power of the Holy Spirit, then, we are moved. We are sent. As God sent Jesus into a world in need, and as Jesus throughout his earthly ministry personally touched people in need, God sends us as the Body of Christ to serve one another in love, to reach into the loneliest and lowliest places, to continue to minister to a world in need.  In this season of life, where and to whom are you being sent? Prayer: Lord Jesus, love of God in the flesh, you were sent to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Now send us to those who need an extra measure of your grace this day. Amen.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.

James 5:16 (KJV)vConfess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Several decades ago, a song appeared on some of the country music charts that was titled, “Who Will Pray for Me When Mama’s Gone?” In the song, the narrator regrets the life that he has lived and confesses that he does not feel worthy enough to get down on his knees to speak to God. No one, we believe, is so far away from God that he or she cannot call upon God and be redeemed. But we can certainly understand that lost feeling. In this instance, the narrator’s hope is that someone else — in this case his mother — can pray effectively for him. But what if his mother is no longer with us? The song’s narrator fears that no one will take him up in their prayers. In the passage of scripture that we just read, the writer of the epistle makes the point that prayer should be more than just individuals in communication with God. Prayer should be a communal effort. For that to happen, those who enter into prayer should, if possible, do so as members of a community of faith. We should pray for one another. We should share each other‘s joys, concerns, and sorrows. Again and again, while he was on earth, Jesus prayed for other people. His example is one that we are admonished to follow. I confess that I do not know how prayer works. What I do know is when I pray for others, the burdens that I carry seem to be lighter and more bearable. This passage of scripture and the old country song raise the questions: who is praying for us, and who are we praying for? Prayer: Dear Lord, we come to you today with thankful hearts that just as we pray for others, there are people in our lives who are praying for us. May our prayers join with those of our family and friends to keep us close to your kingdom. Amen. This devotional was written and recorded 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/. 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.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with 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. Most of us pray for peace at some point in our lives. The prayer for “peace on earth“ is one that we echo from what the angels sang at the birth of Christ. We wish the tribes and nations, including our own, would be more peaceful. We wish that armies would stop fighting each other. In our political and social lives, most of us crave peace. We wish to see an end to the bickering, the backbiting, the fighting, and the constant divisions with which the news media bombard to us every day. In our personal lives, we wish that family members, again, including ourselves, could just learn to get along. Family gatherings of any type should be a time of peace. All too often they are a time of conflict. Jesus, in this verse, has promised his peace, and we want to cash in on that promise. We are likely to skip over the part where he says “my peace“ is what he is giving us. We tend not to think very deeply about the words “I do not give to you as the world gives.“So what is it that Jesus is offering us? It certainly is not the peace of our definition, the “peace on earth“ that we so desperately seek at all levels. The peace of Jesus is something different, something else, something very special. It is the peace of the Kingdom of Heaven, which Christ came to declare in his ministry on earth. It is the peace of knowing that whatever wars and conflicts are occurring around us, we can have the peace of Jesus with us to calm the storms, not on the outside of our lives, but those storms that are in our hearts.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/.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.

Luke 10:36-37 (NIV) Jesus said, “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Have you ever crossed the street to avoid someone? Or ducked into another aisle in the grocery store, hoping they didn’t see you? Maybe it was someone you knew but felt you didn’t have the time or energy to face. Or maybe it was someone you didn’t know, but you made a judgement based on their behavior or appearance. Regardless, something about that person made you uncomfortable, so you looked away, or moved in another direction.  What about the opposite? Has anyone ever crossed the street or looked the other way to avoid you? We tend to avoid engaging with people who might pull us out of our comfort zone.  In the parable, Jesus tells to demonstrate what he means when he says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He chooses to identify the protagonist as a person who was used to being avoided. As a Samaritan living on the fringes, he had likely watched people cross the street to avoid him on many occasions. And now, here was his chance to do the same. After all, even the religious leaders crossed over and walked on by. This robbed, beaten and injured man was not their problem. It was a reasonable thing to do. Who would have blamed the Samaritan if he had crossed the street and kept on walking too? What would it take to stop and offer help to someone knowing that if another the situation were reversed, they would have crossed the street to avoid you? This is the grace Jesus offers each of us, and it is the grace he calls us to offer our neighbors. It is what he means when he says, “Go and do likewise.”Prayer: Brother Jesus, teach us how to be good neighbors, that the deep woundedness of this world might be healed. In Your Holy name we pray. Amen.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.

Pray Always I don’t know the full history of the Jesus prayer, but recently I keep tripping over it. The first reference I read was years ago. A Russian peasant seeking wisdom and peace is told to pray “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” He travels for years seeking understanding, only to discover that reciting the prayer unceasingly was his source of peace.  Recently, I stumbled over it again, and the writer questioned, “how does one pray without ceasing when we are constantly interrupted by everyday life?” Mystics have written about it.  More recently, I read a week of Father Richard Rohr’s meditations on it. How does one pray without ceasing? As I sit writing this, the sun is rising over my backyard. The beans in my garden are climbing poles as the sunlight glistens on the dew that covers all. Perhaps the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ that we pray for is like the dew that covers everything I see. Sometimes I think to myself I would like to work in the yard now, but I will get soaked. I tell myself I should wait. I see it as a problem. I hesitate as if it is something bad. Perhaps the dew is a beautiful blessing that I should let soak me through and through because the love and mercy of Christ is shining through it and everything I touch. What if the dew is a blessing and not a curse? What if my perception that something seems difficult, or unpleasant, or inconvenient is the curse, because it keeps me from seeing the light of Christ’s mercy on me? What if by hesitating I am failing to share mercy and light with all that I encounter? Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Give me the strength to recognize the blessings and your love that is in everything I see, and touch, and am. May your light shine on me, through me, from me. Lord, give me the strength to pray unceasingly and never hesitate. Lord Jesus Christ HAVE MERCY ON ME! This devotional was written by Jill Pope 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] 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.

Genesis 12:1 (NIV)The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”Ain’t it the truth?God says, “Go to the place I will show you.” How many times in life have I started out thinking I had a clear sense of direction only to find the place I arrived was not at all the place I had envisioned.  Can you relate? Often the journey has been long and hard, filled with unexpected twists and obstacles. Often I have found myself asking whether I could possibly be on the right path, and I have been tempted to give up or turn back.  But more times than not, the place God showed me, while different than I imagined, filled me with awe and gratitude. Mostly, I have been surprised by how the real beauty and blessing was in the journey itself. Such is life in faith. Usually, when God calls us, the only things that are certain are the things we leave behind. The destination is a mystery, revealed only when we have arrived, and we can finally say, “Oh, now I see. This is where You were leading me all along.”  It strikes me that God’s promise to Abram was not in the land so much as in the showing. “I will show you,” God says. “I will.” It is God’s faithfulness to Abram and not Abram’s faithfulness to God that results in fulfillment of the promise.  God’s faithfulness still results in fulfillment of God’s promises. Even now God is calling us with these same words, “Go. To the place I will show you.” Prayer: Faithful God, increase our faith in you, that we would not hesitate to go, knowing you will show is the way. Amen. 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.

Our scripture today is the 23rd Psalm.The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. When my grandson was born, in one of the many conversations I had with my son (his father), we talked about where the baby would sleep and what kind of a setup the parents had for him in their house. The parents wanted the baby to sleep in a separate room, but they were putting a video camera there so they could keep watch over him. My son mentioned that the child would inevitably grow up in a “surveillance society.” I think about that occasionally when I hear Biblical phrases such as the one in this famous Psalm about the Lord being a shepherd who watches over his sleep.If we are trying to live within the Kingdom of God, we too are living in a “surveillance society” – one that is watched over by God, who doesn’t need a video camera. He is always there with us. No matter where I am, God is there. It is one of his consistent promises throughout all of scripture. Just as the parents provide and care for a new infant, the Lord is indeed our all-seeing shepherd, and we shall not want for whatever we truly need.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.

Ephesians 5: 19-20 Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of my favorite pieces of music is “A Simple Song” from Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass.” In 2019, I served as a flute accompanist for a soloist performing this piece during a church service. While reading today’s verse, this piece of music spoke to me loud and clear. One of the biggest ways in which I could feel this piece speaking to me was by listening to the flute throughout. In listening to the track, the flautist takes on the role of being a bit of a backup to the vocalist, whose part is quite loud and powerful. For a while, the flautist starts by playing the notes of a B flat scale in descending order, going from a high E flat to a middle G. You notice the same simple and subtle, yet beautiful line repeated a couple of times in the background and note the change in scale from B flat to A flat, before it begins to take shape as a fuller melody and aligns with the vocalist’s singing. As the lyrics of this song state “God loves a simple song”, so despite the melody from the flute being simpler compared to the lines of the lyricist, if music is being played from the heart to give thanks to our Lord, it is sure to be pleasing! I can say for certain that both myself and Joseph, who was the vocalist I accompanied back in 2019, were singing and playing from the heart to give thanks to our lord. So as this piece shows, it does not matter if a melody is more subtle and simplistic as opposed to a more bold and powerful lyrical line, even a so-called “simple song” is sufficient to give thanks to God. Prayer: God, help us to remember in this season of Thanksgiving to always sing your praises, whether through simple songs or bolder melodies. May we always remember that there is no superior form of music more pleasing, so long as we give thanks to you in all forms. 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] 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.

Mark 12:28-34 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” When we recite the Apostles' Creed, we usually say the lines “born of the Virgin Mary“ and “suffered under Pontius pilot“ with nothing in between. In doing that we skip over the time that Jesus spent on earth and his ministry to those who are fortunate enough to hear him in person. During his time on earth, Jesus declared the establishment of the Kingdom of God. He repeated this phrase again and again, and he often began parables with "The Kingdom of God is like . . ." What Jesus was saying was that there was a new way of thinking about God and a new hope for all of humankind. The Kingdom of God was at hand, and Jesus was inviting us to be a part of it.   His words to the scribe in this story are important. The scribe shows a depth of understanding of what Jesus was saying that was unusual for his day. It was obvious from the scribe's words that he had discovered something new and unique about Jesus. Jesus compliments him by saying that he is "not far" from the kingdom.  The question for us, then, is how far are we from the central message of Jesus's ministry? 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.

Join Greta Smith and Jim Stovall as they discuss how Grace for All: The Devotional Podcast came to be.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.

2 Corinthians 9:11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  In the month of November and this season of Thanksgiving, there is another holiday we ought to remember and be thankful for: Veteran’s Day. The brave men and women who have so fearlessly and selflessly served our country, not knowing if they may return. It takes an immense act of courage and generosity to be willing to leave the lives they knew behind to serve their countries and defend their futures, however these men and women stepped up to the call, which could be seen as both a call from their leaders and from God as a testament of their characters. In turn, these men and women have been enriched with God’s divine protection to see this test through and be able to come out on the other side. While their lives have surely not been the same, nonetheless, they have been enriched, as their courage in the face of adversity continues to be honored in different ways, even today. Their generosity and willingness to protect others has sown seeds for future generations and instilled in countless families a newfound thankfulness to God for the many veterans who answered this call, exhibited grace under pressure, and came out on the other side. Prayer: God, help us to step up to the call of enriching others’ lives through generosity and instilling a new thanksgiving in you in others. Thank you for our veterans and for your fierce protection over them. May we never forget their courage, generosity and sacrifices. 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/. 

1 Corinthians 14:15"So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding."   By anyone's definition, Horatio Spafford was a successful man. A loving husband and father of four, he was an attorney and successful real estate investor in in Chicago, Illinois in the second half of the 19th century. He was also no stranger to disaster and personal loss. He lost most of his real estate fortune in the Chicago fire of 1871. Two years later, the family was scheduled to take a vacation in London, England where his good friend Dwight L. Moody would be preaching. Spafford was delayed due to business issues, but sent his wife and four daughters ahead. He was to meet them in London when he was finished with his business.  On the voyage, the ship carrying his family collided with an iron sailing vessel. The ship sunk in 12 minutes, and 226 people lost their lives, including Spafford's four daughters. His wife Anna survived, and when she reached Cardiff, Wales after being rescued, sent Spafford a telegram in which she simply stated, "Saved alone." Spafford immediately left for England. The captain of his ship was aware of the tragedy, and when the ship passed the point of the disaster, he summoned Spafford to the bridge to see the site. As Spafford contemplated the fate of his family, his heart, though broken, was filled with comfort and hope. It is believed that Spafford, when he returned to his cabin, put that comfort and hope into words:  When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll— Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well with my soul.  Even after facing heartbreaking tragedy, Horatio Spafford's faith never wavered. He may not have understood the whys of the tragedies he faced, but he understood the God he served, and that understanding allowed his spirit to sing of the peace he and his wife experienced.  We might not understand all that happens to us or those we love, We can, however, understand that God made a way for us to be His children, and as His children we have access to the peace and comfort only God can provide. The words Horatio Spafford wrote in 1873 are as true today as they were then:  My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!My sin, not in part but the wholeIs nailed to the cross, and I bear it no morePraise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul! Prayer: Father, thank you for making a way. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins. Thank you for the peace and understanding that comes from that gift, and for the blessing that comes from singing to you with our spirit. Amen. This devotion was written and recorded 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/. 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.

Ephesians 5:18-20 (Common English Translation) …be filled with the Spirit in the following ways: speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts; always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….”  Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One, Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ his son. And now let the weak say “I am strong,” Let the poor say, “I am rich,” Because of what the Lord has done for us. Give Thanks, Give Thanks.  These are the simple lyrics to a worship song that, once you have heard it, will resonate in your heart forever. Give Thanks was written by a man named Henry Smith in 1978. It was written at a time when Henry Smith didn’t seem to have much to give thanks for. He was suffering from a degenerative eye disease that would eventually leave him legally blind, and he was having trouble finding work after graduating from King’s College in Bristol, TN.  While worshipping in his church in Williamsburg, Va Henry heard a sermon that gave him the inspiration to create a song of praise. The pastor read a scripture from 2 Corinthians 6, 9-10: “We were seen as punished but not killed, as going through pain but always happy, as poor but making many rich, and as having nothing but owning everything.” Henry composed the song Give Thanks for his guitar, and he and his future wife Cindy sang it on several occasions. It was heard by a visiting military couple who carried the song with them to Germany. The song took on a life of its own and was actually published with the composer listed as “anonymous.” Years later in 1986 Smith heard a recording of the song by Integrity Music and contacted the publisher. He finally received recognition as its composer.  Henry Smith wrote over 300 songs, but Give Thanks is the only one that was ever published. It has been sung in numerous languages, sung at the Billy Graham’s Crusade in England, and published in numerous hymnals. Henry Smith’s grateful heart will endure for many generations to come.  Let us pray: Dear Lord, give us a grateful heart in all circumstances so that we can say we are strong even when we feel weak and rich even when our circumstances seem poor. Help us give thanks in all circumstances for your abiding love. Amen. This devotional was written by Laura Derr 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/. 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.

James 2:15-17 (NIV)Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.Devotional by Greta Smith           As I was growing up, my mother used to repeat to me a saying passed down from her grandmother to her mother and then to her. It goes like this: “Pretty is as pretty does.” As conflicted as the cultural messages about beauty and esteem were for an adolescent girl trying to find her way, I understood the truth of those words, because I had experienced it. I knew that a person could be physically beautiful but act in a way that was ugly and unkind toward someone else, and it was like they morphed before my very eyes. In a similar way, we might paraphrase the verses we just heard from the book of James: “Faith is as faith does.” James is telling us that a living, breathing faith moves with purpose. Faith that is living is active and shows itself in good deeds. And if we are not moved to reach out and act when we encounter the needs of others, our faith may as well be dead. Just like my perception of a person’s physical attractiveness can be changed when I see them act in a way that is ugly, it is sobering to think how often peoples’ perception of the church is negative because they see a group of people proclaiming faith but don’t see that faith lived out in action.  Friends, “Faith is as faith does.” How will we “do faith” in our encounters today?PrayerLord, forgive us when we fail to show our faith in action. Open our eyes to the needs of those around us, and move us to live our faith not only in words but in deeds. Amen.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.

Romans 8: 37-39 “No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Apostle Paul wrote this wonderful news to believers in Rome and everywhere.  Paul wanted all believers to be totally assured of how much God loves us. Henri Nouwen, considered one of the great spiritual writers of our day, taught at Harvard, Yale, and Notre Dame.  In his book Life of the Beloved, he wrote these words: “We are the Beloved.  We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children, and friends loved or wounded us.  That’s the truth of our lives.  That’s the truth I want you to claim for yourself.  That’s the truth spoken by the voice that says, ‘You are my Beloved.’ Listening to that voice with great inner attentiveness, I hear at my center words that say: ‘I have called you by name, from the very beginning.  You are mine and I am yours.  You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests.  I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb.  I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace.  I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child.  I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step.  Wherever you go, I go with you and wherever you rest, I keep watch.  I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst.  I will not hide my face from you.  You know me as your own as I know you as my own.  You belong to me.  I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover, and your spouse…yes, even your child…wherever you are I will be.  Nothing will ever separate us.  We are one.’ We only have to seek Him to find Him.  His LOVE is waiting to give us Peace.  All we have to do is believe and reach for Him. Let’s pray together:  God of LOVE – I believe.  I am reaching.  Let me feel your great LOVE today and every day!  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/.

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.     He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,     he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths   for his name’s sake. Even though I walk    through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,    for you are with me; your rod and your staff,    they comfort me. You prepare a table before me    in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;    my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me    all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord    forever. Darkest valleys, evil, and enemies. Green pastures, quiet waters, and right paths. No matter where I go, how far I stray, I dwell in the house of the Lord. Does anything else need to be said? I think it does, simply because we forget. In our hardest times, we can feel alone so easily. Some days I go to a friend to tell her how I am feeling, what is bothering me, to lament. And before I begin, the person I have gone to begins a plea about how she is feeling, what is bothering her, and she laments. I hope that I listen and truly hear, but sometimes I leave feeling very alone. I forget that God is with me in those moments allowing me to be there for my friend. Sometimes I have been very sick in bed. Sometimes it has been at home feeling very alone even though family is in the house with me. Sometimes it has been in the hospital waking from surgery or visiting someone who is very ill. And I feel loneliness surround me even though there are hundreds of others there. I forget. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. I will dwell in the house of the Lord day and night, on good days and bad, while needing comfort and while comforting others. You are in my heart always whether I stop to remember it or not. Prayer Lord, please always help me to remember and feel your presence not just with me but within me. Please help me share your presence with others when I visit them. Amen. This devotional was written by Jill Pope 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/.

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/.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. I was fortunate to spend the last nine years of my career in education as a Literacy Specialist in the district office of Williamson County Schools in Franklin, TN. We also lived in Franklin, not far from an entrance onto I-65. I was often asked to attend meetings, trainings, and conferences in either Nashville or Murfreesboro, both a 30-40 drive via I-65 under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, the circumstances were rarely normal. The problem was not getting onto the Interstate – the problem was making progress once on the Interstate. Many mornings, although I left well before 7:00 a.m. to make an 8:00 a.m. meeting, I found myself at a complete stop while emergency vehicles raced by, going either north or south, and I, along with hundreds of other busy commuters and travelers, sat stewing in my vehicle, worrying about being late for this or that very important (at least in my mind) appointment. One day I was apologizing to the person leading the meeting (when I finally got there, about 20 minutes late) and explaining the circumstances. She could see I was frustrated and still aggravated about my tardy arrival. Instead of commiserating with me and sharing her traffic horror stories, she surprised me by saying, “What I do when I’m held up in traffic like that is pray for those involved in the accident and the first responders caring for them.” Pray? I was frustrated, worried about missing the meeting, and anxious for traffic to start moving! I was not in the mood to pray! However, the more I thought about it, I realized that my anger, anxiety, and frustration were doing nothing to help the situation. I realized that however my day had been altered, it was nothing compared to the serious injuries, or worse, of the victims, and that the first responders were endangering themselves trying to help those who had been in the accident. I felt ashamed of myself for making a horrible situation for others all about me and my misplaced values. Yes, my work was important, but nothing is more important than a human being’s life. From that day forward, I have practiced what she taught me. When I find myself caught in a traffic delay, I pray for those involved in the accident, for God’s comfort and reassurance for them and their loved ones, and for the first responders, that they will be able to use their knowledge and training to help those victims and remain safe themselves. I thank God that there are those willing to help in tragic and difficult circumstances. Yes, I may still be late for my intended destination, but I am calm instead of anxious and focused on others instead of myself. And I thank God for my safe arrival, too. As this verse teaches us, in every situation, present your requests to God. Our prayer today: Heavenly Father, Thank you for the reminder that our human feelings and failings can best be managed by talking with you about them. Help us stay focused on others rather than ourselves and let us do whatever we can to serve those individuals who are in distress. Thank you for the angels among us who risk their own lives every day to save the lives of others. Amen. This devotional was written by Pat Scruggs 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/.

Psalm 143:8-10 (NIV)  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.  Rescue me from my enemies, 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.  This Psalm contains a list of things we may be asking God to do for us. It also contains a list of things the Psalmist promises God in return. The first list enumerates the things we want God to do for us. (Bring me word of your unfailing love, show me the way I should go, rescue me from my enemies, teach me to do your will, and lead me on level ground.) The second list is what we promise God in return for doing these things for us.  (I will put my trust in you, I will lift up my soul and I will hide myself in you.) Our list of promises is not easy to complete.  Doing the things on our list requires time in prayer and thoughtful attention; time centering ourselves in God, instead of centering on the things of the world.  But, Oh, the things of the world draw us!  And we watch and listen to the world all the time! Is it just me, or is the overwhelming majority of the news of the world bad, sad, or negative lately?  Everywhere I turn, there seems to be more negative news.  And unfortunately, there are so many sources that our eyes and ears are bombarded with sights and sounds almost 24x7!  We seem to fill our time with social media from so many sources, consuming sights and sounds endlessly! We spend countless hours each week watching “graven images” talking and telling us things from their viewpoints.  We feel overwhelmed!  And no wonder, it’s too much to take in and our brains are struggling with information overload!  We might feel helpless, as we hear the constant barrage of bad, sad news, since there is little we can do about so much of it.  But we soak it in any way!  We don’t want to be uninformed, do we? I figured we need some statistics about all this information, so I consulted the Barna Group and found that the average American adult spends over seven hours a day looking at some type of screen!  And the statistics say that the average Christian spends roughly 30 minutes a day reading the Bible. While a significant portion of Christians express a desire to read the Bible more, only a small percentage (11%) of US Adults say they read the Bible daily! In his Encyclical Letter from 2015, the beloved Pope Francis wrote, “When the media and the digital world become omnipresent, their influence can stop people from learning how to live wisely, to think deeply, and to love generously.”  Wise words. And unfortunately, my friends, ten years later, for many people that is already happening. We may need to go on a screen diet, an electronic diet, a diet made up of more Bible, more time listening to God’s word - God’s good news and more time in prayer.  We may need to give up time spent on the junk food of every available entertainment source and turn to more food for the soul. We may need to identify some of the enemies and idols, that are thieves of our time and our peace of mind!  We may need to leave off the unhealthy “sweets” that we are wolfing down in those hours of screen time!  We absolutely need to turn to God’s word, to find the Good News we need so desperately.  We absolutely need to find a way to do the three things we promise God in today’s Psalm: to lift up our souls to hide ourselves in God to walk on that level ground Prayer: So, let’s use today’s scripture (slightly edited) as a prayer toward that end…Will you pray with me? Dear Loving God, 8. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,     for I will put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go,     for to you I will lift up my soul. 9. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,     for I will hide myself in you. (And…) 10. Teach me to do your will,     for you are my God; may your good Spirit     lead me on level ground. And Lord, show me what I need to give up and what I need to add to my information diet.  Rescue me from the idols of “junk food media” and deliver me from bad habits that steal time from You.  Reel me in Lord and help me to follow Your Good Spirit on that level ground. 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

Philippians 4:11-13 (NRSVUE) Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. When I was a child in Sunday School, I received a mechanical pencil as a prize for memorizing a lot of verses of Scripture. I treasured that pencil and carried it for years. In my mind’s eye, I can still see the print on its barrel, quoting Philippians 4:13 in the King James Version: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The Common English Bible translation sounds a little darker: “I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength.” But I love the implications of the broader passage—not just enduring difficulty, but “content with whatever I have.” Forty years or so after Paul wrote to the Philippians, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus observed that it is not what happens to us but what we think about what happens to us that determines our experience. Paul learned contentment by keeping his attention on Jesus. I confess that I don’t always choose to think about things in a way that brings contentment, but Paul shows me the way, and when I remember his words to the Philippians in good times or challenging times, I find contentment too. Would you pray with me? Father, thank you for the strength and the joy that comes through Jesus. When we face celebrations and when we face challenges, may we remember to give thanks for that gift and experience the same contentment in all our circumstances. 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/. 

Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,     neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,     so are my ways higher than your ways     and my thoughts than your thoughts. In my household, it is no secret that I envy my husband. Specifically, I envy his easygoing nature, his ability to accept things that are outside of his control.  Over the years I have tried to learn from him, and I like to think that he has helped me stretch and grow in this area.  But it hasn’t been easy.  Because I am stubborn. I like to know things. I crave certainty.  By nature, I tend to be high strung and tightly wound, and I do not easily accept the unexpected.  Instead, my tendency is to analyze it to death to try to figure out how it could have been prevented. This passage from Isaiah is my husband’s favorite scripture because it serves as a profound reminder of the vastness of God's wisdom and the depth of God’s plans. In this life, we are often bewildered by the unexpected.  We struggle repeatedly to make sense of adversity, pain and suffering. However, this passage eloquently reassures us, in the face of all that the world suffers, God knows something we don’t.  God sees things we can’t.  God’s perspective is inconceivably distinct from ours.  God’s ways and thoughts are beyond our comprehension.  And though we cannot comprehend God’s ways and thoughts, we can trust in God’s goodness. Acceptance of things we do not understand and cannot control is not a sign of defeat, but a testament to our faith in God's divine purpose. When bad things happen, we are called to trust that God’s ways, mysterious and unfathomable, are higher and greater than ours, and that ultimately, God’s love will prevail.  Would you join me in prayer? God of mercy and comfort, when we are dismayed and discouraged by the suffering of the world or by our own heartache, help us remember that your ways and thoughts are higher than the heavens. Teach us that it is not our place to understand, but to trust in your endless grace and abundant love.  In your holy name we pray, amen. This devotional 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/.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart     and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,     and he will direct your paths.  I have a terrible sense of direction.  Spatial orientation is not my strong suit.  I easily lose my way, forget where I parked, and get turned around in unfamiliar places, or sometimes, even in familiar ones.  In fact, my running joke about our home church is that when I enter a stairwell on one level, I never know where I’ll come out on the other.  For me, it is like entering a mystery transfer portal and always being a little surprised at where I end up, even after 20 years. Before the days of GPS and Google Maps, when I would “lean on my own understanding” and try to find my way in unfamiliar places, I often got into trouble.  It was so tempting to trust that little voice in my head telling me, “That way!”  And sure enough, the more certain I was that I knew where I was going, the more likely I was to get lost, and be late.  By trying to take shortcuts, I usually ended up backtracking and taking more time to get to the destination. Even so, sometimes, if I paid attention, I would find an unexpected blessing in the detour—for example, the opportunity to see something I would not have otherwise seen, or to experience the kindness of a stranger, or to learn a little more about the territory where I live.  And sometimes where I ended up seemed to be a better or more providential destination than the one I had planned, a “divine appointment.” Perhaps that is one reason that these verses from Proverbs are my favorite scripture passage.  I never seem to know where I’m going, but God does.  Even when I feel lost, if I fix my eyes on Jesus, and acknowledge him in all that I do, I know that he will direct my paths.  He is much better at it than I’ll ever be.   I may not be great at finding my way, but I have learned how to trust God with all my heart, and especially to trust that no matter where I go, God will keep me on the right path. Let us pray:  Lord, when I am tempted to lean on my own understanding, remind me to trust in you.  May I acknowledge you in all my ways, that you might direct my paths. In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen. This devotional 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/.

I John 4:7-8 (NLT) Dear friends, let us continue to love one another for love comes from God.  Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God for…God is Love. For years every Valentine’s Day my hometown newspaper would print Valentines sent in by its subscribers.  Some examples: To Clarice, I love you more than the first day of deer season!  To Linda, I don’t need a lottery too, I’ve been a millionaire since I met you.  To Dad, adopting me has made you the best valentine ever.  I love you so much.  Here’s my very favorite: To Theodore, you asked me 30 years ago to be your blushing bride.  You promised furs and diamond rings, and a limo in which to ride.  I made the payments on the ring, the fur is on the cat, the bank has repossessed the car, but I love you still you rat! That same newspaper ran an article describing the romance between Angeline Kirkland and David Fuqua.  They were engaged to be married 62 years earlier but David got cold feet and backed out of the engagement.  Now they find themselves living in the same retirement home in Brewton, Alabama.  David, 89, is once again pursuing Angeline, 78.  He said, “I thought I had Angeline’s heart pretty well won, but if it ain’t, I’ll go to work at it.  I dearly loved that heart but I jumped the track and let it get away from me.” Love has nothing to do with age, or size, or color, or income, or appearance.  It is the strongest force on earth.  The Bible tells us that there are three qualities that last forever: faith, hope and love but the greatest, the Bible says, is love. The writer of I John takes this even further.  He makes perhaps the boldest statement in all scripture – he defines God.  Nowhere else does the Bible attempt to define God, but I John 4:8 does.  It says, “God is love.” There are two truths about love that are rock solid based on this passage.  The first is that you are loved.  Whether you have realized it or not, claimed it or not, lived in light of it or not, God loves you and there is nothing you can do to make God love you less.  The second truth is that you are to be a loving person. As the Great Commandment says, love God and your neighbor as yourself. Child of God, today be the loving person you were destined to be. Prayer Dear God, wipe away all bitterness in my heart.  Free me to accept your love and to give love – both back to you and forward to others. In the name of Jesus, Amen. The devotion was written and recorded by Herb Sadler. 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/.

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/. Originally published June 17, 2024

John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. Today in the final piece of this little series, let’s consider who is doing the pruning. In the first two parts, I have considered first my own knowledge and second my actions in pruning myself and my world. Now I must consider the relationship between myself and God. May God’s will be done not mine! Some seem to garden to impose order and control over the chaos of nature. Every plant is symmetrical, and every line is straight. This is not my garden. I prefer to let the plants grow where they may. I might shape or set an outside boundary, but some look at my garden and find it a mess.  If you garden like I do, you hate to dig up bulbs or iris that have become overgrown and throw them away as waste. I try to find a new spot to plant them or give them away. I know that the plants will be healthier and more productive once I thin and prune. I know that once a plant has spread and spread that it leaves no room for others, yet I hesitate. Do I hesitate and resist because I don’t want to harm the plant? Do I not want to limit its beauty? Or, do I hesitate because I feel like I am losing something I possess? Do I feel like I am losing value, something I control? In other words, am I being a willful child in the face of God’s will? As John 15 continues, Jesus states that God will throw all that is not productive on the fire. I know that at my worst moments, I would like to decide what gets thrown in the fire. I would like to decide who is not productive. I would like to think that I am righteous and do not need pruned while others do. Ironically, one of the things God had to prune from me was my desire to judge whether others are productive. It is hard work letting go and accepting rebirth. Christ had to die in order to be resurrected to forgive our sins. We should welcome the opportunity to be reshaped, renewed, and pruned by the will of God. We should be willing to change and move closer to God. We should be flexible and guided by the Holy Spirit. But are we? Let God prune away all that is not productive and throw it on the fire. The hard work is to not control but to allow God to shape us. Let new growth of habits that benefit us and those around us form as a new season begins. Let our new vines be trained in new habits that “remain in the vine” nourished by God. Knowing what to ignore, when to be silent, when not to act, is as important, perhaps more important, than knowing when to acknowledge, speak, or act. A silent look into the eyes of another at just the right moment can mean more than any words or actions taken. A small act at just the right time does not need attention or words to make it the perfect action. The seed that it plants will lead to abundant fruits in the future. So let us pray today with thanksgiving. May we study and learn the ways of a productive life in Christ. May this be followed by a season of labor where we act with discernment led by the Holy Spirit. But perhaps most important of all may the Lord, prune away what we do not need. May we allow God’s will to shape and prune us into the hands and feet that work in the world that God has given us to love. Today’s devotional was written by Jill Pope 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 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.Yesterday, we considered learning how and when to prune. Today, let us reflect on putting this knowledge into practice. If learning through scripture, sermons, silent reflection and prayer gives us insight and sharpens our tools, then to bear fruit, we must put this knowledge into practice. Practicing the art of pruning is as important as fertilizing a plant to create an abundant harvest. Words of prayer without action are not prayer at all. As hard as learning and study are, there is real work to be done in the garden. I may plan for a garden, but if I do not go out and plant the seeds, weed the bed, and water then the harvest will not come.  A person who thinks about faith and scripture but takes no action will bear no fruit. A life lived in faith requires real work in the real world. To bear fruit takes hard labor, sweat, care, attention, and faith. But it also takes many things we don’t control. Rain and sunshine in the right proportion at the right time. We don’t get to choose when a chore needs to be done. Each season we work, we improve our ability to work in relationship with the seasons if we are aware and thoughtful. We have to be attentive, willing, and thoughtful in how we work. We have to put our study, prayer, and knowledge into practice. We must listen to the Spirit to bear fruit. I must confess that the longer the season goes on and the hotter the weather, the less I am willing to work, weed, and water. By the end of the season many would be appalled by the condition of my garden. Like the vines that wither in the heat of late summer, I need to prune away the past and look forward to the next season God presents to me. In order to bear fruit in the future, I must accept and let go of what is no longer needed. I need to prune away what is no longer productive. Equally difficult, everytime I start a new season I look at the work before me and I waver. I wonder if it is too much work:  Do I have the time? Is it worth it? I think about my lack of expertise. I think I should do things differently, but how? Part of learning to prune is having the discipline to keep up the work in more difficult circumstances. When we work in our gardens, we must look to the lessons that the Lord has shared with us and apply them in the heat and drought, in exhaustion, in the end of a season. In fact, we may learn that to be productive in the future, the care in pruning away the old is one of the most important tasks we undertake. Please pray with me today. Lord, please help me to prune away the spent vines that no longer produce. Give me the insight to know what to let go as well as the strength to do the work. When I doubt and when I think it is too much or too hard, please show me that each small step leads to a beauty in this world that only you can share with us all. Amen. This devotional was written by Jill Pope 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 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. There is a lot of emphasis put on being productive in our culture. I guess staying busy and accomplishing things makes us feel needed or even important. But all things must be balanced whether we acknowledge it or not. If production is all we focus on then we are missing something—even devaluing it. And this leaves us out of balance. Many would say that the opposite of being productive is relaxing, and in some circumstances maybe it is. But for today, let us consider the opposite of producing to be pruning. Each year brings new growth, but that growth will be enhanced by pruning. Learning how and when to prune is an art. Personally, I have always found pruning to be intimidating. My ignorance makes me reluctant to trim anything. I do not want to make a mistake. Much like my fear of saying the wrong thing in one of these devotions, I fear that I will cut the wrong branch, at the wrong time, in the wrong place. Knowing whether to prune before new growth begins or right after a bloom is important to the long-term health and production of the plant. If we prune at the wrong time, we can cut off next year’s blooms. If we don’t deadhead faded blooms, we get fewer new blooms. We will lose the beauty. We will lose the harvest. But even more importantly, we will lose the seeds of the next generation. Rampant growth on some plants leads to destruction when the limbs become so heavy the tree splits in half. In other plants, production dwindles as lack of care chokes the plant. Deciding what to keep and what to remove takes insight. Some plants break from old wood, others do not. Knowing what is going to bud and where takes study and understanding. I confess that I am guided by my intuition almost always. That is a nice way of saying I fly by the seat of my pants more often than I would like to admit. There is a not-so-fine line between going with the flow and being a completely unprepared fool. In following the Way of Christ, I like to think that I am guided by the Holy Spirit in the moment. But if I have not put the time in quietly listening, learning, studying, and being guided by the Word, then I am kidding myself that in a noisy, busy situation I will hear the Spirit in my heart guiding me. What a fool I would be! But learning when and how to prune is the first step in becoming a disciple of Christ. Let us pray. Lord, show us the ways of your seasons. When we work in your garden, allow us to learn the ways of Christ. Teach us when to prune and when to nurture. Give us insight to know how to become productive for years to come. Help us to grow in abundance and yet know when to prune away what is no longer needed. Amen. This devotional was written by Jill Pope 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] 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 3:31-35 (NIV)Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”All of us are part of a family, the people with whom we grew up. We don’t choose them, and they certainly don’t choose us. If we are fortunate, our families work as they should with members supporting and loving one another. Some are less fortunate with families torn by strife and dysfunction. No matter how we feel about them, however, those people are our family. As the saying goes, we can’t deny them. Some have read this passage in Mark as Jesus rejecting his physical family and preferring those who are seated around him. But I don’t think that’s what’s going on here at all. Jesus can’t deny his earthly family, just as we can’t deny ours. What he is doing instead is identifying those who are around him and those who “do God’s will” as part of his family. Can you imagine the connection you would have if you could say Jesus was your nephew, your cousin, or your brother? What if you could think of Jesus as a family member, a person who would be loyal, a person on whom you could always depend, no matter what. And beyond Jesus himself, we become part of a spiritual family that loves and supports us and to whom we can give love and support. Our family becomes anyone who does God’s will. Jesus in these verses is offering us a powerful and inclusive invitation. Our Father, help us to recognize the opportunity to be part of your family, and help us every day to be always worthy of membership in that family. Amen.This devotion 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 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. At first glance, this verse may inspire a reaction of scepticism. “Hope does not disappoint us?!?” How many times have we hoped for something that simply didn’t come into being? In my house when there is potential for something good to come our way, my wife has said to me on more than one occasion, “I’m not getting my hopes up. If it ends up happening, I’ll just be pleasantly surprised. I’d rather that than be disappointed.”  But I don’t think that’s exactly to what this verse refers. In the verses leading up to this one, we read, “we boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” before we read that hope does not disappoint.  So, are we to understand, then, that we cannot have hope without first enduring suffering? That doesn’t seem right. In Romans 8, we read “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.” And later on, that we “who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved.” And finally, it says “the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” In other words, this is not the hope we might feel for something that we think might happen, which may or may not actually materialize. This is a different hope. The hope for God to hear us, the hope for eternal peace with our Maker, the hope for “adoption and redemption.” That hope is one about which we can have greater certainty. And it isn’t saying that in order to be with God, we must first face affliction. No, it is saying that when we face affliction, we must remember that the surety of God can still give us hope. Our hope is grounded in knowing that, whatever suffering we may experience, we have the goodness of God’s redemption to hope for. Thanks be to God.Let us pray. God, when we face affliction in this world, remind us that we have the surety to hope for your adoption and redemption. Remind us that it is never futile to hope in you, for you will not disappoint 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/.Originally aired 2024-09-02

Thank you for joining us for today's Grace for All podcast. On Saturdays, we pause for a few moments to look back on our week and to review the scriptures that we have used in our podcast. We encourage you, after listening to this episode, to go back and listen to the episodes you missed, or to review the ones that were particularly meaningful for you. We trust that the thoughts that we have shared with you this week have provided a full portion of the joy, peace, and love of Jesus Christ. Now, let's hear this week's scriptures. 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 10:25-29 (NIV) 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”Who is my neighbor? This is as difficult a question today as it was in Jesus’ time on earth. It is a question that begs for limits. Is it my next-door neighbor? Is it my brother-in-law? Is it the  homeless person I drive by at highway entrances? I have a story. Back in the 1980s we lived in Cedar Rapids, Indiana and were members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. St. Paul’s is a historic church. Its building was designed by Louis Sullivan, a brilliant architect and mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright. St Paul’s was for many years the flagship Methodist church in the state of Iowa. But that is not the story. At St. Paul’s, I was a member of a church committee dedicated to outreach. The neighborhood around the church was changing and many of our members had moved to the suburbs. We decided we needed to establish an event titled “Who is My Neighbor?” We wanted to identify and celebrate people in our city who had been good neighbors to others. We found that our first good neighbor was a member of our church. In 1961, Dr. Percy Harris was a renowned physician in Cedar Rapids and the only Black member of St. Paul’s UMC. He and his family wanted to build a home on a lot in a residential community owned by the church. The problem was that Dr. Harris was a Black man. Even though he was Linn County Medical Examiner and County Clinic Director at St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital, his desire to build a home in a white neighborhood was controversial. The church members had to vote on whether to approve the sale. The vote was 460 yes and 291 no, and some members left the church afterwards. But the property was sold to Dr. Harris and his wife Lileah, and he built a home for his family and lived there for many years. In 1981, the first “Who is My Neighbor” award was presented to Dr. Percy Harris, and the award was named “The Percy and Lileah Harris Award ” in honor of their leadership and lifelong roles in bringing the community together. 44 years later, the “Who is My neighbor” Award continues to be presented at St. Paul’s. When Jesus was asked “Who is my neighbor?” he told the story of the good Samaritan, a stranger on the margins of society who stopped to help another stranger in need. This year’s award was presented to Mike and Toni Loyal, a same sex couple who serve as  leaders in arts and education in the Cedar Rapids community. The plaque they received states, “In recognition of your commitment to live in harmony with others and promote equality and social justice in the community.” St. Paul’s UMC has raised up many in the community who reach out to expand the meaning of neighbor and to heal divisions and bring people together. Please pray with me: Dear Lord, be with us as we seek to be neighbors to those whom we are tempted to pass by, or overlook in our everyday lives. Give us the courage and strength to stop and connect with new and unexpected neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. Today’s podcast was written by Laura Derr 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/.

Luke 2:22 and Luke 25-32 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Simeon was an old man by the time that magic day described in this passage had arrived. He was devout and righteous, and many years before, he had been informed that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. It was a promise from God, but it did not happen immediately. Simeon had to wait. When we look back to the Old Testament, the first thing we are told about Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was that she had been unable to have children. Her condition had placed a heavy burden on her marriage and on her personally. But then, God promised that she and Abraham would be the ancestors to a great nation and that she would indeed bear a child. We know from reading through Genesis that God’s promise to Sarah was kept. But it did not happen immediately. Like Simeon, she had to wait. What has God promised you? What are you waiting for? All of us have longings, things we wish we had, things in our lives we wish were different. God encourages us to present these things to Him, to “ask and ye shall receive.” We should be bold in our asking. But we should also be patient. Because our requests are not fulfilled immediately is no reason to abandon them or to abandon God. The examples of Sarah and Simeon tell us that waiting is sometimes part of God’s plan. So ask yourself today, “What am I waiting for?” Prayer: Our Father, help us to be bold in our faith and our requests to you, but give us the patience and the courage to wait. Remind us that we should live in your time, not ours. Amen. This devotion was written 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/.

Matthew 6:22-24 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! I must have read these verses before. In fact, I must have read them a dozen times or more. I do not recall it. I do not recall having heard a sermon based on these verses. But this time when I read them, they spoke to me. Isn’t that the way it is with our favorite verses? They speak to us with a deeper meaning when we both hear and understand them in our heart, in our mind, and in our world. Sometimes I have thought that people are like mirrors, and that I receive back what I give. If I am angry, I get an angry reaction. If I am calm, I get a calm or calmer reaction.   Maybe people are more like lamps than mirrors. In either case, I have the ability to shape what is about to happen.  How my eye sees what is before me, whether in light or shadow, affects how I then choose to behave. So what creates a healthy eye? An eye filled with the light of the Holy Spirit is a Christlike eye that sees what is not visible. It casts light that makes the unseen seen. True vision begins with the heart, is led by the heart, and loves the beloved. There are many dark and trying circumstances in life. Every day has its challenges. The eye that focuses light and love on these challenges brings hope. It is not about fixing problems. It is about shining a light over what we see and sharing love with those around us.  I learned a long time ago that I don’t fix other people’s problems. That frustrates me and the people around me. I shine a light that makes their path easier. In my best moments, I illuminate dark corners that bring understanding to myself because I am spirit led. How dark my world is when I allow myself to think I know what others need or focus only on my own wants. It is God’s light that shows the way for us and for others, not mine. Let us pray. God, give us healthy eyes that cast your light into your world that illuminates your love. May our eyes shine your light and not reflect the world in a mirror image. Allow us to make a righteous path more visible for those we are among. Help us understand that we are followers of your light not the light itself. When we love, it is you that we share, and may we remember this today and always, Amen. Today’s devotional was written by Jill Pope 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/.

Hebrews 4:14-15 (CEB) Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin. God has always known us. After all, he made us, crafted us from dust, breathed life into us, set the world in motion and called it good. As our Creator, God has always understood us better than we understand ourselves. But there’s a difference between knowing something from the outside and experiencing it from the inside. God knew what it was like to be human. But in Jesus, God became human. Because we couldn’t make our way to God, God came to us. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this: “We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son.” And then comes the heart of it: “We don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses, but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin.” Jesus didn’t skip over the hard parts. He didn’t float above the pain, immune to hunger or exhaustion or betrayal or grief. He lived it. He felt it. That matters. Because sometimes what we need most is not a lecture on the meaning of suffering, but a companion who won’t leave us in the middle of it. That’s why Jesus means so much more than words can express. He is not just the Son of God. He is the Son of Man. He walked dusty roads, got blisters, cried at funerals, and was abandoned by friends. When he faced temptation, it wasn’t some cosmic formality. It was real. When he suffered, he didn’t get a divine exemption. He felt every lash, every nail, every heartbreak. The book of Job may be the oldest book in the Bible in terms of when it was written, and it wrestles with one of the oldest human questions: why do good people suffer? Job never got an answer. Maybe that’s because some things are too deep for explanation. But what Job didn’t get, what no one got until Jesus, is presence. God didn’t just speak out of the whirlwind. He came wrapped in skin and bone and walked among us. Jesus is the final Word, not explaining suffering but entering it with us. That’s why we can “hold on to the confession” as the Hebrew writer urges us. We don’t hold on to doctrine alone. We hold on to a person who knows what it’s like to be us. So when you’re hurting, when the questions come with no answers, remember this: You are not alone. You have a high priest who gets it, not just because he’s God, but because he’s been here. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for stepping into our world and sharing in our pain. When life overwhelms us and answers fall short, help us remember that you are with us, understanding not just as God, but as one who has walked in our shoes. Strengthen our grip on hope through your presence. Amen. Today’s 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/.