Grace for All

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.