Grace for All

James 2:15-17 (NIV)Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.Devotional by Greta Smith           As I was growing up, my mother used to repeat to me a saying passed down from her grandmother to her mother and then to her. It goes like this: “Pretty is as pretty does.” As conflicted as the cultural messages about beauty and esteem were for an adolescent girl trying to find her way, I understood the truth of those words, because I had experienced it. I knew that a person could be physically beautiful but act in a way that was ugly and unkind toward someone else, and it was like they morphed before my very eyes. In a similar way, we might paraphrase the verses we just heard from the book of James: “Faith is as faith does.” James is telling us that a living, breathing faith moves with purpose. Faith that is living is active and shows itself in good deeds. And if we are not moved to reach out and act when we encounter the needs of others, our faith may as well be dead. Just like my perception of a person’s physical attractiveness can be changed when I see them act in a way that is ugly, it is sobering to think how often peoples’ perception of the church is negative because they see a group of people proclaiming faith but don’t see that faith lived out in action.  Friends, “Faith is as faith does.” How will we “do faith” in our encounters today?PrayerLord, forgive us when we fail to show our faith in action. Open our eyes to the needs of those around us, and move us to live our faith not only in words but in deeds. Amen.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.Mentioned in this episode:This month on Grace for All, we are replaying some of our most listened to episodes. If you are enjoying these devotions and would like to have them in written form, our first six months of content is now available in print. You can find it by searching Grace for All, a book of daily devotions, by Jim Stovall on Amazon. As always, thank you for joining us, and we pray that you will be blessed.

Romans 8: 37-39 “No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Apostle Paul wrote this wonderful news to believers in Rome and everywhere.  Paul wanted all believers to be totally assured of how much God loves us. Henri Nouwen, considered one of the great spiritual writers of our day, taught at Harvard, Yale, and Notre Dame.  In his book Life of the Beloved, he wrote these words: “We are the Beloved.  We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children, and friends loved or wounded us.  That’s the truth of our lives.  That’s the truth I want you to claim for yourself.  That’s the truth spoken by the voice that says, ‘You are my Beloved.’ Listening to that voice with great inner attentiveness, I hear at my center words that say: ‘I have called you by name, from the very beginning.  You are mine and I am yours.  You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests.  I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb.  I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace.  I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child.  I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step.  Wherever you go, I go with you and wherever you rest, I keep watch.  I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst.  I will not hide my face from you.  You know me as your own as I know you as my own.  You belong to me.  I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover, and your spouse…yes, even your child…wherever you are I will be.  Nothing will ever separate us.  We are one.’ We only have to seek Him to find Him.  His LOVE is waiting to give us Peace.  All we have to do is believe and reach for Him. Let’s pray together:  God of LOVE – I believe.  I am reaching.  Let me feel your great LOVE today and every day!  Amen! This devotional was written and read by Bernice Howard. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.     He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,     he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths   for his name’s sake. Even though I walk    through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,    for you are with me; your rod and your staff,    they comfort me. You prepare a table before me    in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;    my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me    all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord    forever. Darkest valleys, evil, and enemies. Green pastures, quiet waters, and right paths. No matter where I go, how far I stray, I dwell in the house of the Lord. Does anything else need to be said? I think it does, simply because we forget. In our hardest times, we can feel alone so easily. Some days I go to a friend to tell her how I am feeling, what is bothering me, to lament. And before I begin, the person I have gone to begins a plea about how she is feeling, what is bothering her, and she laments. I hope that I listen and truly hear, but sometimes I leave feeling very alone. I forget that God is with me in those moments allowing me to be there for my friend. Sometimes I have been very sick in bed. Sometimes it has been at home feeling very alone even though family is in the house with me. Sometimes it has been in the hospital waking from surgery or visiting someone who is very ill. And I feel loneliness surround me even though there are hundreds of others there. I forget. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. I will dwell in the house of the Lord day and night, on good days and bad, while needing comfort and while comforting others. You are in my heart always whether I stop to remember it or not. Prayer Lord, please always help me to remember and feel your presence not just with me but within me. Please help me share your presence with others when I visit them. Amen. This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Greta Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

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

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. I was fortunate to spend the last nine years of my career in education as a Literacy Specialist in the district office of Williamson County Schools in Franklin, TN. We also lived in Franklin, not far from an entrance onto I-65. I was often asked to attend meetings, trainings, and conferences in either Nashville or Murfreesboro, both a 30-40 drive via I-65 under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, the circumstances were rarely normal. The problem was not getting onto the Interstate – the problem was making progress once on the Interstate. Many mornings, although I left well before 7:00 a.m. to make an 8:00 a.m. meeting, I found myself at a complete stop while emergency vehicles raced by, going either north or south, and I, along with hundreds of other busy commuters and travelers, sat stewing in my vehicle, worrying about being late for this or that very important (at least in my mind) appointment. One day I was apologizing to the person leading the meeting (when I finally got there, about 20 minutes late) and explaining the circumstances. She could see I was frustrated and still aggravated about my tardy arrival. Instead of commiserating with me and sharing her traffic horror stories, she surprised me by saying, “What I do when I’m held up in traffic like that is pray for those involved in the accident and the first responders caring for them.” Pray? I was frustrated, worried about missing the meeting, and anxious for traffic to start moving! I was not in the mood to pray! However, the more I thought about it, I realized that my anger, anxiety, and frustration were doing nothing to help the situation. I realized that however my day had been altered, it was nothing compared to the serious injuries, or worse, of the victims, and that the first responders were endangering themselves trying to help those who had been in the accident. I felt ashamed of myself for making a horrible situation for others all about me and my misplaced values. Yes, my work was important, but nothing is more important than a human being’s life. From that day forward, I have practiced what she taught me. When I find myself caught in a traffic delay, I pray for those involved in the accident, for God’s comfort and reassurance for them and their loved ones, and for the first responders, that they will be able to use their knowledge and training to help those victims and remain safe themselves. I thank God that there are those willing to help in tragic and difficult circumstances. Yes, I may still be late for my intended destination, but I am calm instead of anxious and focused on others instead of myself. And I thank God for my safe arrival, too. As this verse teaches us, in every situation, present your requests to God. Our prayer today: Heavenly Father, Thank you for the reminder that our human feelings and failings can best be managed by talking with you about them. Help us stay focused on others rather than ourselves and let us do whatever we can to serve those individuals who are in distress. Thank you for the angels among us who risk their own lives every day to save the lives of others. Amen. This devotional was written by Pat Scruggs and read by Sally Stovall. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

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

Philippians 4:11-13 (NRSVUE) Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. When I was a child in Sunday School, I received a mechanical pencil as a prize for memorizing a lot of verses of Scripture. I treasured that pencil and carried it for years. In my mind’s eye, I can still see the print on its barrel, quoting Philippians 4:13 in the King James Version: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The Common English Bible translation sounds a little darker: “I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength.” But I love the implications of the broader passage—not just enduring difficulty, but “content with whatever I have.” Forty years or so after Paul wrote to the Philippians, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus observed that it is not what happens to us but what we think about what happens to us that determines our experience. Paul learned contentment by keeping his attention on Jesus. I confess that I don’t always choose to think about things in a way that brings contentment, but Paul shows me the way, and when I remember his words to the Philippians in good times or challenging times, I find contentment too. Would you pray with me? Father, thank you for the strength and the joy that comes through Jesus. When we face celebrations and when we face challenges, may we remember to give thanks for that gift and experience the same contentment in all our circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen. This devotional was written and read by Donn King. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,     neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,     so are my ways higher than your ways     and my thoughts than your thoughts. In my household, it is no secret that I envy my husband. Specifically, I envy his easygoing nature, his ability to accept things that are outside of his control.  Over the years I have tried to learn from him, and I like to think that he has helped me stretch and grow in this area.  But it hasn’t been easy.  Because I am stubborn. I like to know things. I crave certainty.  By nature, I tend to be high strung and tightly wound, and I do not easily accept the unexpected.  Instead, my tendency is to analyze it to death to try to figure out how it could have been prevented. This passage from Isaiah is my husband’s favorite scripture because it serves as a profound reminder of the vastness of God's wisdom and the depth of God’s plans. In this life, we are often bewildered by the unexpected.  We struggle repeatedly to make sense of adversity, pain and suffering. However, this passage eloquently reassures us, in the face of all that the world suffers, God knows something we don’t.  God sees things we can’t.  God’s perspective is inconceivably distinct from ours.  God’s ways and thoughts are beyond our comprehension.  And though we cannot comprehend God’s ways and thoughts, we can trust in God’s goodness. Acceptance of things we do not understand and cannot control is not a sign of defeat, but a testament to our faith in God's divine purpose. When bad things happen, we are called to trust that God’s ways, mysterious and unfathomable, are higher and greater than ours, and that ultimately, God’s love will prevail.  Would you join me in prayer? God of mercy and comfort, when we are dismayed and discouraged by the suffering of the world or by our own heartache, help us remember that your ways and thoughts are higher than the heavens. Teach us that it is not our place to understand, but to trust in your endless grace and abundant love.  In your holy name we pray, amen. This devotional was written and read by Greta Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart     and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,     and he will direct your paths.  I have a terrible sense of direction.  Spatial orientation is not my strong suit.  I easily lose my way, forget where I parked, and get turned around in unfamiliar places, or sometimes, even in familiar ones.  In fact, my running joke about our home church is that when I enter a stairwell on one level, I never know where I’ll come out on the other.  For me, it is like entering a mystery transfer portal and always being a little surprised at where I end up, even after 20 years. Before the days of GPS and Google Maps, when I would “lean on my own understanding” and try to find my way in unfamiliar places, I often got into trouble.  It was so tempting to trust that little voice in my head telling me, “That way!”  And sure enough, the more certain I was that I knew where I was going, the more likely I was to get lost, and be late.  By trying to take shortcuts, I usually ended up backtracking and taking more time to get to the destination. Even so, sometimes, if I paid attention, I would find an unexpected blessing in the detour—for example, the opportunity to see something I would not have otherwise seen, or to experience the kindness of a stranger, or to learn a little more about the territory where I live.  And sometimes where I ended up seemed to be a better or more providential destination than the one I had planned, a “divine appointment.” Perhaps that is one reason that these verses from Proverbs are my favorite scripture passage.  I never seem to know where I’m going, but God does.  Even when I feel lost, if I fix my eyes on Jesus, and acknowledge him in all that I do, I know that he will direct my paths.  He is much better at it than I’ll ever be.   I may not be great at finding my way, but I have learned how to trust God with all my heart, and especially to trust that no matter where I go, God will keep me on the right path. Let us pray:  Lord, when I am tempted to lean on my own understanding, remind me to trust in you.  May I acknowledge you in all my ways, that you might direct my paths. In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen. This devotional was written and read by Greta Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

I John 4:7-8 (NLT) Dear friends, let us continue to love one another for love comes from God.  Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God for…God is Love. For years every Valentine’s Day my hometown newspaper would print Valentines sent in by its subscribers.  Some examples: To Clarice, I love you more than the first day of deer season!  To Linda, I don’t need a lottery too, I’ve been a millionaire since I met you.  To Dad, adopting me has made you the best valentine ever.  I love you so much.  Here’s my very favorite: To Theodore, you asked me 30 years ago to be your blushing bride.  You promised furs and diamond rings, and a limo in which to ride.  I made the payments on the ring, the fur is on the cat, the bank has repossessed the car, but I love you still you rat! That same newspaper ran an article describing the romance between Angeline Kirkland and David Fuqua.  They were engaged to be married 62 years earlier but David got cold feet and backed out of the engagement.  Now they find themselves living in the same retirement home in Brewton, Alabama.  David, 89, is once again pursuing Angeline, 78.  He said, “I thought I had Angeline’s heart pretty well won, but if it ain’t, I’ll go to work at it.  I dearly loved that heart but I jumped the track and let it get away from me.” Love has nothing to do with age, or size, or color, or income, or appearance.  It is the strongest force on earth.  The Bible tells us that there are three qualities that last forever: faith, hope and love but the greatest, the Bible says, is love. The writer of I John takes this even further.  He makes perhaps the boldest statement in all scripture – he defines God.  Nowhere else does the Bible attempt to define God, but I John 4:8 does.  It says, “God is love.” There are two truths about love that are rock solid based on this passage.  The first is that you are loved.  Whether you have realized it or not, claimed it or not, lived in light of it or not, God loves you and there is nothing you can do to make God love you less.  The second truth is that you are to be a loving person. As the Great Commandment says, love God and your neighbor as yourself. Child of God, today be the loving person you were destined to be. Prayer Dear God, wipe away all bitterness in my heart.  Free me to accept your love and to give love – both back to you and forward to others. In the name of Jesus, Amen. The devotion was written and recorded by Herb Sadler. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

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

Matthew 6:34, NIV Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.  I tend to worry a lot.  I tend to worry about things that haven’t even happened.  I worry about how I am going to play in my next baseball game, for example, or about what people will think of me, even people I haven’t met yet!   We don’t need to worry about that stuff, because tomorrow is not promised.  All we can count on is today. That makes me think of another verse, Galatians 6:9:  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Basically, this means that we have to be patient and not worry about what is happening in the future. Instead, we must rely on God, and keep doing the right thing in the present.  If the thing we want doesn’t happen, it’s either not the right thing or not the right time.  The Lord will create a path for each of us, and sometimes failing is part of the plan that will make you who you are supposed to be.   Sometimes things don’t work out the way you wanted them to.  When that happens, it’s hard to understand, and easy to worry.  Two years ago, I didn’t make my middle school baseball team, and then I got cut from the team I was on.   Even though that was really hard at the time, now I can look back and see how it helped me become the player I am today—a better player.  It taught me to keep working and not give up.  It taught me to have faith in God, who helped me through.   And faith is better than worry any day.   Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to not worry about tomorrow, and instead live in the present, and trust in You.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen. This devotional was written and read by Ryan Smith.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. Originally published June 17, 2024

John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. Today in the final piece of this little series, let’s consider who is doing the pruning. In the first two parts, I have considered first my own knowledge and second my actions in pruning myself and my world. Now I must consider the relationship between myself and God. May God’s will be done not mine! Some seem to garden to impose order and control over the chaos of nature. Every plant is symmetrical, and every line is straight. This is not my garden. I prefer to let the plants grow where they may. I might shape or set an outside boundary, but some look at my garden and find it a mess.  If you garden like I do, you hate to dig up bulbs or iris that have become overgrown and throw them away as waste. I try to find a new spot to plant them or give them away. I know that the plants will be healthier and more productive once I thin and prune. I know that once a plant has spread and spread that it leaves no room for others, yet I hesitate. Do I hesitate and resist because I don’t want to harm the plant? Do I not want to limit its beauty? Or, do I hesitate because I feel like I am losing something I possess? Do I feel like I am losing value, something I control? In other words, am I being a willful child in the face of God’s will? As John 15 continues, Jesus states that God will throw all that is not productive on the fire. I know that at my worst moments, I would like to decide what gets thrown in the fire. I would like to decide who is not productive. I would like to think that I am righteous and do not need pruned while others do. Ironically, one of the things God had to prune from me was my desire to judge whether others are productive. It is hard work letting go and accepting rebirth. Christ had to die in order to be resurrected to forgive our sins. We should welcome the opportunity to be reshaped, renewed, and pruned by the will of God. We should be willing to change and move closer to God. We should be flexible and guided by the Holy Spirit. But are we? Let God prune away all that is not productive and throw it on the fire. The hard work is to not control but to allow God to shape us. Let new growth of habits that benefit us and those around us form as a new season begins. Let our new vines be trained in new habits that “remain in the vine” nourished by God. Knowing what to ignore, when to be silent, when not to act, is as important, perhaps more important, than knowing when to acknowledge, speak, or act. A silent look into the eyes of another at just the right moment can mean more than any words or actions taken. A small act at just the right time does not need attention or words to make it the perfect action. The seed that it plants will lead to abundant fruits in the future. So let us pray today with thanksgiving. May we study and learn the ways of a productive life in Christ. May this be followed by a season of labor where we act with discernment led by the Holy Spirit. But perhaps most important of all may the Lord, prune away what we do not need. May we allow God’s will to shape and prune us into the hands and feet that work in the world that God has given us to love. Today’s devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Joey Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.Yesterday, we considered learning how and when to prune. Today, let us reflect on putting this knowledge into practice. If learning through scripture, sermons, silent reflection and prayer gives us insight and sharpens our tools, then to bear fruit, we must put this knowledge into practice. Practicing the art of pruning is as important as fertilizing a plant to create an abundant harvest. Words of prayer without action are not prayer at all. As hard as learning and study are, there is real work to be done in the garden. I may plan for a garden, but if I do not go out and plant the seeds, weed the bed, and water then the harvest will not come.  A person who thinks about faith and scripture but takes no action will bear no fruit. A life lived in faith requires real work in the real world. To bear fruit takes hard labor, sweat, care, attention, and faith. But it also takes many things we don’t control. Rain and sunshine in the right proportion at the right time. We don’t get to choose when a chore needs to be done. Each season we work, we improve our ability to work in relationship with the seasons if we are aware and thoughtful. We have to be attentive, willing, and thoughtful in how we work. We have to put our study, prayer, and knowledge into practice. We must listen to the Spirit to bear fruit. I must confess that the longer the season goes on and the hotter the weather, the less I am willing to work, weed, and water. By the end of the season many would be appalled by the condition of my garden. Like the vines that wither in the heat of late summer, I need to prune away the past and look forward to the next season God presents to me. In order to bear fruit in the future, I must accept and let go of what is no longer needed. I need to prune away what is no longer productive. Equally difficult, everytime I start a new season I look at the work before me and I waver. I wonder if it is too much work:  Do I have the time? Is it worth it? I think about my lack of expertise. I think I should do things differently, but how? Part of learning to prune is having the discipline to keep up the work in more difficult circumstances. When we work in our gardens, we must look to the lessons that the Lord has shared with us and apply them in the heat and drought, in exhaustion, in the end of a season. In fact, we may learn that to be productive in the future, the care in pruning away the old is one of the most important tasks we undertake. Please pray with me today. Lord, please help me to prune away the spent vines that no longer produce. Give me the insight to know what to let go as well as the strength to do the work. When I doubt and when I think it is too much or too hard, please show me that each small step leads to a beauty in this world that only you can share with us all. Amen. This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Joey Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. There is a lot of emphasis put on being productive in our culture. I guess staying busy and accomplishing things makes us feel needed or even important. But all things must be balanced whether we acknowledge it or not. If production is all we focus on then we are missing something—even devaluing it. And this leaves us out of balance. Many would say that the opposite of being productive is relaxing, and in some circumstances maybe it is. But for today, let us consider the opposite of producing to be pruning. Each year brings new growth, but that growth will be enhanced by pruning. Learning how and when to prune is an art. Personally, I have always found pruning to be intimidating. My ignorance makes me reluctant to trim anything. I do not want to make a mistake. Much like my fear of saying the wrong thing in one of these devotions, I fear that I will cut the wrong branch, at the wrong time, in the wrong place. Knowing whether to prune before new growth begins or right after a bloom is important to the long-term health and production of the plant. If we prune at the wrong time, we can cut off next year’s blooms. If we don’t deadhead faded blooms, we get fewer new blooms. We will lose the beauty. We will lose the harvest. But even more importantly, we will lose the seeds of the next generation. Rampant growth on some plants leads to destruction when the limbs become so heavy the tree splits in half. In other plants, production dwindles as lack of care chokes the plant. Deciding what to keep and what to remove takes insight. Some plants break from old wood, others do not. Knowing what is going to bud and where takes study and understanding. I confess that I am guided by my intuition almost always. That is a nice way of saying I fly by the seat of my pants more often than I would like to admit. There is a not-so-fine line between going with the flow and being a completely unprepared fool. In following the Way of Christ, I like to think that I am guided by the Holy Spirit in the moment. But if I have not put the time in quietly listening, learning, studying, and being guided by the Word, then I am kidding myself that in a noisy, busy situation I will hear the Spirit in my heart guiding me. What a fool I would be! But learning when and how to prune is the first step in becoming a disciple of Christ. Let us pray. Lord, show us the ways of your seasons. When we work in your garden, allow us to learn the ways of Christ. Teach us when to prune and when to nurture. Give us insight to know how to become productive for years to come. Help us to grow in abundance and yet know when to prune away what is no longer needed. Amen. This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Joey Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected] United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Mark 3:31-35 (NIV)Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”All of us are part of a family, the people with whom we grew up. We don’t choose them, and they certainly don’t choose us. If we are fortunate, our families work as they should with members supporting and loving one another. Some are less fortunate with families torn by strife and dysfunction. No matter how we feel about them, however, those people are our family. As the saying goes, we can’t deny them. Some have read this passage in Mark as Jesus rejecting his physical family and preferring those who are seated around him. But I don’t think that’s what’s going on here at all. Jesus can’t deny his earthly family, just as we can’t deny ours. What he is doing instead is identifying those who are around him and those who “do God’s will” as part of his family. Can you imagine the connection you would have if you could say Jesus was your nephew, your cousin, or your brother? What if you could think of Jesus as a family member, a person who would be loyal, a person on whom you could always depend, no matter what. And beyond Jesus himself, we become part of a spiritual family that loves and supports us and to whom we can give love and support. Our family becomes anyone who does God’s will. Jesus in these verses is offering us a powerful and inclusive invitation. Our Father, help us to recognize the opportunity to be part of your family, and help us every day to be always worthy of membership in that family. Amen.This devotion was written and read by Jim Stovall. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Romans 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. At first glance, this verse may inspire a reaction of scepticism. “Hope does not disappoint us?!?” How many times have we hoped for something that simply didn’t come into being? In my house when there is potential for something good to come our way, my wife has said to me on more than one occasion, “I’m not getting my hopes up. If it ends up happening, I’ll just be pleasantly surprised. I’d rather that than be disappointed.”  But I don’t think that’s exactly to what this verse refers. In the verses leading up to this one, we read, “we boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” before we read that hope does not disappoint.  So, are we to understand, then, that we cannot have hope without first enduring suffering? That doesn’t seem right. In Romans 8, we read “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.” And later on, that we “who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved.” And finally, it says “the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” In other words, this is not the hope we might feel for something that we think might happen, which may or may not actually materialize. This is a different hope. The hope for God to hear us, the hope for eternal peace with our Maker, the hope for “adoption and redemption.” That hope is one about which we can have greater certainty. And it isn’t saying that in order to be with God, we must first face affliction. No, it is saying that when we face affliction, we must remember that the surety of God can still give us hope. Our hope is grounded in knowing that, whatever suffering we may experience, we have the goodness of God’s redemption to hope for. Thanks be to God.Let us pray. God, when we face affliction in this world, remind us that we have the surety to hope for your adoption and redemption. Remind us that it is never futile to hope in you, for you will not disappoint us. Amen. This devotion was written and read by Dwight Dockery. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.Originally aired 2024-09-02

Thank you for joining us for today's Grace for All podcast. On Saturdays, we pause for a few moments to look back on our week and to review the scriptures that we have used in our podcast. We encourage you, after listening to this episode, to go back and listen to the episodes you missed, or to review the ones that were particularly meaningful for you. We trust that the thoughts that we have shared with you this week have provided a full portion of the joy, peace, and love of Jesus Christ. Now, let's hear this week's scriptures. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Luke 10:25-29 (NIV) 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”Who is my neighbor? This is as difficult a question today as it was in Jesus’ time on earth. It is a question that begs for limits. Is it my next-door neighbor? Is it my brother-in-law? Is it the  homeless person I drive by at highway entrances? I have a story. Back in the 1980s we lived in Cedar Rapids, Indiana and were members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. St. Paul’s is a historic church. Its building was designed by Louis Sullivan, a brilliant architect and mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright. St Paul’s was for many years the flagship Methodist church in the state of Iowa. But that is not the story. At St. Paul’s, I was a member of a church committee dedicated to outreach. The neighborhood around the church was changing and many of our members had moved to the suburbs. We decided we needed to establish an event titled “Who is My Neighbor?” We wanted to identify and celebrate people in our city who had been good neighbors to others. We found that our first good neighbor was a member of our church. In 1961, Dr. Percy Harris was a renowned physician in Cedar Rapids and the only Black member of St. Paul’s UMC. He and his family wanted to build a home on a lot in a residential community owned by the church. The problem was that Dr. Harris was a Black man. Even though he was Linn County Medical Examiner and County Clinic Director at St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital, his desire to build a home in a white neighborhood was controversial. The church members had to vote on whether to approve the sale. The vote was 460 yes and 291 no, and some members left the church afterwards. But the property was sold to Dr. Harris and his wife Lileah, and he built a home for his family and lived there for many years. In 1981, the first “Who is My Neighbor” award was presented to Dr. Percy Harris, and the award was named “The Percy and Lileah Harris Award ” in honor of their leadership and lifelong roles in bringing the community together. 44 years later, the “Who is My neighbor” Award continues to be presented at St. Paul’s. When Jesus was asked “Who is my neighbor?” he told the story of the good Samaritan, a stranger on the margins of society who stopped to help another stranger in need. This year’s award was presented to Mike and Toni Loyal, a same sex couple who serve as  leaders in arts and education in the Cedar Rapids community. The plaque they received states, “In recognition of your commitment to live in harmony with others and promote equality and social justice in the community.” St. Paul’s UMC has raised up many in the community who reach out to expand the meaning of neighbor and to heal divisions and bring people together. Please pray with me: Dear Lord, be with us as we seek to be neighbors to those whom we are tempted to pass by, or overlook in our everyday lives. Give us the courage and strength to stop and connect with new and unexpected neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. Today’s podcast was written by Laura Derr and read by Greta Smith.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Luke 2:22 and Luke 25-32 22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Simeon was an old man by the time that magic day described in this passage had arrived. He was devout and righteous, and many years before, he had been informed that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. It was a promise from God, but it did not happen immediately. Simeon had to wait. When we look back to the Old Testament, the first thing we are told about Sarah, the wife of Abraham, was that she had been unable to have children. Her condition had placed a heavy burden on her marriage and on her personally. But then, God promised that she and Abraham would be the ancestors to a great nation and that she would indeed bear a child. We know from reading through Genesis that God’s promise to Sarah was kept. But it did not happen immediately. Like Simeon, she had to wait. What has God promised you? What are you waiting for? All of us have longings, things we wish we had, things in our lives we wish were different. God encourages us to present these things to Him, to “ask and ye shall receive.” We should be bold in our asking. But we should also be patient. Because our requests are not fulfilled immediately is no reason to abandon them or to abandon God. The examples of Sarah and Simeon tell us that waiting is sometimes part of God’s plan. So ask yourself today, “What am I waiting for?” Prayer: Our Father, help us to be bold in our faith and our requests to you, but give us the patience and the courage to wait. Remind us that we should live in your time, not ours. Amen. This devotion was written by Jim Stovall.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Matthew 6:22-24 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! I must have read these verses before. In fact, I must have read them a dozen times or more. I do not recall it. I do not recall having heard a sermon based on these verses. But this time when I read them, they spoke to me. Isn’t that the way it is with our favorite verses? They speak to us with a deeper meaning when we both hear and understand them in our heart, in our mind, and in our world. Sometimes I have thought that people are like mirrors, and that I receive back what I give. If I am angry, I get an angry reaction. If I am calm, I get a calm or calmer reaction.   Maybe people are more like lamps than mirrors. In either case, I have the ability to shape what is about to happen.  How my eye sees what is before me, whether in light or shadow, affects how I then choose to behave. So what creates a healthy eye? An eye filled with the light of the Holy Spirit is a Christlike eye that sees what is not visible. It casts light that makes the unseen seen. True vision begins with the heart, is led by the heart, and loves the beloved. There are many dark and trying circumstances in life. Every day has its challenges. The eye that focuses light and love on these challenges brings hope. It is not about fixing problems. It is about shining a light over what we see and sharing love with those around us.  I learned a long time ago that I don’t fix other people’s problems. That frustrates me and the people around me. I shine a light that makes their path easier. In my best moments, I illuminate dark corners that bring understanding to myself because I am spirit led. How dark my world is when I allow myself to think I know what others need or focus only on my own wants. It is God’s light that shows the way for us and for others, not mine. Let us pray. God, give us healthy eyes that cast your light into your world that illuminates your love. May our eyes shine your light and not reflect the world in a mirror image. Allow us to make a righteous path more visible for those we are among. Help us understand that we are followers of your light not the light itself. When we love, it is you that we share, and may we remember this today and always, Amen. Today’s devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Greta Smith.Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Hebrews 4:14-15 (CEB) Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin. God has always known us. After all, he made us, crafted us from dust, breathed life into us, set the world in motion and called it good. As our Creator, God has always understood us better than we understand ourselves. But there’s a difference between knowing something from the outside and experiencing it from the inside. God knew what it was like to be human. But in Jesus, God became human. Because we couldn’t make our way to God, God came to us. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this: “We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son.” And then comes the heart of it: “We don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses, but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin.” Jesus didn’t skip over the hard parts. He didn’t float above the pain, immune to hunger or exhaustion or betrayal or grief. He lived it. He felt it. That matters. Because sometimes what we need most is not a lecture on the meaning of suffering, but a companion who won’t leave us in the middle of it. That’s why Jesus means so much more than words can express. He is not just the Son of God. He is the Son of Man. He walked dusty roads, got blisters, cried at funerals, and was abandoned by friends. When he faced temptation, it wasn’t some cosmic formality. It was real. When he suffered, he didn’t get a divine exemption. He felt every lash, every nail, every heartbreak. The book of Job may be the oldest book in the Bible in terms of when it was written, and it wrestles with one of the oldest human questions: why do good people suffer? Job never got an answer. Maybe that’s because some things are too deep for explanation. But what Job didn’t get, what no one got until Jesus, is presence. God didn’t just speak out of the whirlwind. He came wrapped in skin and bone and walked among us. Jesus is the final Word, not explaining suffering but entering it with us. That’s why we can “hold on to the confession” as the Hebrew writer urges us. We don’t hold on to doctrine alone. We hold on to a person who knows what it’s like to be us. So when you’re hurting, when the questions come with no answers, remember this: You are not alone. You have a high priest who gets it, not just because he’s God, but because he’s been here. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for stepping into our world and sharing in our pain. When life overwhelms us and answers fall short, help us remember that you are with us, understanding not just as God, but as one who has walked in our shoes. Strengthen our grip on hope through your presence. Amen. Today’s devotional was written and read by Donn King. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected]. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.