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Grace for All

Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN

"Grace for All" is a daily devotional podcast from the laity of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Each episode presents scripture and a brief reflection, written and recorded by members of our church. These short episodes are meant to inspire you and support your journey of understanding and faith.

We believe the central message of Jesus is one of grace. Grace for all human beings.

Grace for All is a podcast ministry of First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN

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S24 · E1016
Today · 5 min
Scripture Saturday (August 29, 2026)
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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1015
Yesterday · 5 min
Faith and Suffering
Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon the earth. This may seem an odd verse popping up in the book of Job, which is probably best known for detailing Job’s disagreements, suffering, and, ultimately, his steadfast faith in the midst of his misfortunes. In the previous verses in Chapter 19, Job lists his woes: darkness covering his path, the loss of his honor and hope, feeling anger directed at him, estrangement from family and friends, and begging for pity, which falls on deaf ears, his pleas ignored. What a sad situation! Job has every cause to be miserable and finds no one to help him in his time of need and sorrow. I have participated in many Bible studies over the years, but never have I studied Job. Truthfully, what comes to mind upon hearing his name is the idiom “the patience of Job,” which is used to describe someone who can endure extreme suffering, hardship, or severe frustration without complaining or losing faith. If you are over the age of 12, it is likely that you have suffered some injustice or hardship in your life. Maybe even before age 12, when you perhaps could not understand what was happening. I know I have, probably in every decade of my life. When I worked in a county in Middle Tennessee, I worked under a Director of Schools who was demanding, less than communicative, and sharp-tongued when he did speak. I just felt I could never meet his standards, and it was very frustrating. Many days I left my office thinking that it would be best for me to leave that job and find other employment. I didn’t, because of the people I worked with. They all experienced the same thing, and we supported one another. Poor Job didn’t even have a friend to support him! However, Job endures his suffering with the assurance that he will meet his Redeemer. All his suffering will not have been in vain. Most scholars believe that this book was written between the fifth and seventh centuries B. C. (no Jesus born in Bethlehem yet) so he was referring to God as his redeemer, but he stood on his faith in the worst of his suffering. In an introduction to Wisdom and Hymnic Literature in the Old Testament, one of the writers lays out key concepts found in this part of the Bible: the fallen world does not operate by justice, but we can trust that God is wise and just, even when the world is not. Through that lens it is easier to understand how Job endured all his trials with faith. May you never suffer as Job suffered, but when earthly situations do cause you pain and suffering, remember that it is only temporary. Your reward lies with your faith in salvation and eternity with God. Let us pray: God, we thank you for your wisdom and your constant love. You desire what is best for us, not what we may think we want and need. Let us always give thanks for your justice, even when we may not experience it in this lifetime, Help us maintain hope and patience and to love and support those around us when they are experiencing difficulties. Amen. This devotion 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1014
Thursday · 6 min
Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:3-9 A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear. I have always thought of the “someone” in each of Jesus’ explanations of this parable (as in someone who hears the word but…) as other people. One person hears the word with this result and another hears it with a different result. But when I recently heard this passage read, I began to hear about myself in each explanation and it was eye-opening. The focus of the parable shifted from someone to sometimes. Let’s start at the end and work backwards. I like to think that my heart and mind are fertile, well-tilled soil where God’s word is sown, takes root, and thrives. I am constantly hearing new truths in old passages that I can embrace and make my own. I hear and act on God’s call to go and do. And I like to believe that such truths and actions bear good fruit for the kingdom. But then there are situations where I hear a new truth or a word from God for my life and it takes root. But the thorns of my everyday life (schedules, priorities, realities) grow up around that new plant and eventually choke it out. I miss out on the gifts for me and for others because I don’t make the effort to help that word or calling to thrive and it eventually is overcome and fades away. And then there are times when a word for my life rings true and I quickly embrace it; but, just as quickly, it becomes an inconvenient truth for me and my everyday and I never give it the chance to take root and become a reality. I know there have been opportunities to serve that I have considered and could have been fruitful but then they run up against MY will and MY vision for my life and they turn into an opportunity lost. Seeds on rocky places. And how many times has God cried out “Samuel!! Samuel!!” Or, in my case, “Charlie!! Charlie!!” And my ears have just been closed to hearing his call. I know I will always be given new chances to hear what God is speaking for my life and my calling but right now I’m just not willing to listen. These are the seeds that fall along the path and never have a chance. I have experienced each of these scenarios in my everyday spiritual walk. So it no longer is a matter of someone but for me becomes sometimes. It takes will and work and perseverance to keep ourselves always ready to receive a new word or calling from God. But when we do, the harvest can be a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was sown. Prayer: Dear Father, the parables of Jesus are not just interesting stories meant for another audience and another time. As Jesus said, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Help me to read each one and ask, “What are you trying to say to me now?” Thank you for your relentless love and patience. Help us to always be ready to say, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.” Amen. This devotion was written and read by Charlie Barton. 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1013
Wednesday · 4 min
Comfort in Stillness
Psalm 94:19 (NIV) When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19 (NLT) When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Reading both translations makes this verse seem a bit clearer. In our world, anxiety is a constant voice, a big topic. At times, I find myself dealing with anxiety (traffic in downtown Atlanta comes to mind). It’s not that I don’t have faith, but some days doubt creeps in. Perhaps, the chaotic crowd of anxious thoughts swirling in my head may hinder any progress I might make. I step in, trying to take control and follow my own path, almost instinctively. The reality is that the “what ifs” are a dangerous way to live. Now, let’s be honest, some anxiety is normal. After all we are human. How do we control anxiety and doubt? Anxiety always comes with at least a tad of fear. With God’s help we can step back and recover our balance. Letting go of our worry and doubts may take practice. We have to let go of our desire to control and then relax. We must never forget God is strong, always present and ultimately in control. When I feel anxious or full of doubt, I seek God’s genuine comfort – that deep, soothing reassurance. Leaning on Him allows my heartbeat to slow, removes me from the chaos and allows my mind to quiet. I’m sure there are many paths that bring us to this place. For me, I turn to my “pocket verse” found in Psalms 46:10. “Be still and know that I am God.” It’s short and easy to remember and it is also powerful. A strong reminder that God is present. He steps in to quiet the chaos, fear and worries. No matter how chaotic our lives become; no matter how anxious we may be, God remains a secure fortress and welcoming refuge. Anxiety is set aside when we focus on Him. Once the chaos is stilled, I can focus not on the “what ifs”, but rather the renewed hope and joy of knowing I don’t need to solve all the problems. His comfort, His strength, His presence – all fill my mind and renew my hope and joy. It is comforting in stressful times or times filled with anxiety to step back and focus on God, our source of comfort and joy. Peace and comfort are found in letting go and claiming God’s presence and love. Let us pray…. God of comfort and joy, we ask that you be with us as we find ourselves filled with anxiety. We ask that you help us to step back and remember that you are in control and if we focus on you, our hearts will be quieted and our racing minds will be stilled. We thank you, Lord for your ever-present comfort. Help us to always be filled with joy and hope. It is in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. This devotion was written and read by Lisa Blackwood. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1012
Tuesday · 7 min
Many Voices, One God
Micah 5:2-5 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace. There is a question that serious readers of Scripture eventually have to face: why do two great religious traditions — Jewish and Christian — read the same ancient texts and arrive at different conclusions? Is one of them simply wrong? Or is something else going on? The prophet Micah gives us one of the most remarkable passages in all of the Old Testament. Writing some seven centuries before the birth of Jesus, he points to Bethlehem — the smallest and most overlooked of Judah’s towns — as the birthplace of a coming ruler whose origins stretch back to ancient times, perhaps to eternity itself. Ancient Jewish interpreters, including the great medieval scholar Rashi, read this as a clear messianic prophecy. The Aramaic Targum of Jonathan, written before the time of Christ, translated the passage explicitly: out of Bethlehem shall the Messiah come forth. The Jewish tradition has always known that this passage points toward something — someone — of cosmic significance. Where Jewish and Christian readings part ways is not over whether the passage is messianic, but over whether that Messiah has already come. Jewish tradition reads Micah’s words as a promise still leaning forward, still awaiting its fulfillment. Christian tradition reads them as a promise fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem, the one in whom the ancient origins of God took on human flesh. Both traditions are reading the same words with great seriousness and great reverence. They simply stand in different relationships to the promise. This ought to give us pause — not because it suggests that truth is merely relative, but because it suggests that truth is larger than any single tradition’s grasp of it. And here the story of Babel may offer us unexpected wisdom. Genesis 11:5-8 (NIV) But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. We tend to read the Tower of Babel as a story of pure judgment — God scattering a humanity that had overreached. But look more carefully at what God says: “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” The problem at Babel was not human cooperation or even human ambition. It was the dangerous uniformity of a single voice that had made itself the measure of all things, a humanity so certain of its own sufficiency that it had no need to look upward. What God introduced at Babel — the multiplicity of languages, cultures, and voices — was not simply punishment. It was a corrective, and perhaps something more than that. The diversity of human interpretation, including the diversity of faithful religious interpretation, keeps any single tradition from mistaking its own partial vision for the whole of God’s truth. When Jewish scholars and Christian scholars read Micah 5:2 side by side, each sees something real. Each is turned toward the same horizon. And the conversation between them, pursued in honesty and humility, may bring both traditions closer to the God whom the prophet was straining to describe. The ruler Micah promised comes from the smallest place. His greatness reaches to the ends of the earth. And his name, the ancient rabbis told us, was spoken before the world began. Our Father, give us the humility to know that your truth is larger than our understanding of it, and the wisdom to learn from those who read your word from a different place than we do. May all our voices, however different, be turned toward you. Amen. This devotional 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1011
Monday · 6 min
Practicing Kindness (encore)
Proverbs 11:17 Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm. There is a popular quote, and I hope you’ll forgive me if the way I report it is not exactly how you have heard it. And I hope you’ll forgive me, too, if you know it to be from a particular source. You see, it’s actually attributed to many people — a quick Google search revealed attribution to everyone from Buddha to Saint Augustine to Christian author Joanna Weaver to Irish actor Malachy McCourt. In any case, the quote goes something like this: “Holding on to hatred is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” That seems to be closely akin to the message the author of Proverbs is trying to convey. When we are kind to others, we are in turn helping ourselves. And when we are hurtful toward others, we are actually hurting ourselves, or drinking the poison, as it may be. But to be clear, I really don’t think the point the author of Proverbs is making is to be kind to others in order to be kind to one’s self. Helping ourselves should be a by-product, not a goal. One of my favorite podcasts (after Grace for All, of course!) is Hidden Brain. This is an exploration of the world through the lens of the social sciences. Host Shankar Vedantam invites incredibly intelligent people to his show to discuss, well, being human in this complex world. I highly recommend that you check out this podcast. In April 2023, Shankar hosted psychologist Amit Kumar on an episode discussing why we are reluctant to be kind to one another. While the whole episode is worth your time, a few of the takeaways include that people often worry about getting the details of their particular kindness just right, but recipients seem to care much more about the effort than the act. Further, small acts of kindness that might be inconsequential to the giver can be monumental to the recipient. When we share a kind word or make a small expression of warmth, we often are actually helping others more than we realize. And this chasm between how the giver and the recipient perceive the act creates what Kumar refers to as the Prosociality Paradox. In this paradox, even though the act of kindness is good for both us and others, we are reluctant to behave in this way since givers of kindness worry about the details and minimize the effect. But it even goes further: this phenomenon also causes us to be reluctant to ask others for kindness that they could provide, even though studies show that we are more than happy to help others when we are able to do so, and we want to feel helpful. As followers of Christ who are trying to demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit, we must be ever more intentional about sharing that kindness, no matter how great or small it may be. We must not worry so much about getting every detail right, as much as getting our intentions right. In short, we must overcome any obstacles from our efforts to make the world kinder. The podcast goes on to describe the pay-it-forward effect, which documents examples of how one act of kindness spurs another. Friends, let us make this society kinder and kinder still, and may nothing, least of all ourselves, get in our way. Let us pray. Holy Spirit of God, you are the source of kindness. Let us channel that in our lives to all who need it, no matter how great or small the need. Help us to not worry so much about how to do so, but help us feel strengthened in you to not be reluctant to do so. We pray this in Christ’s name, amen. This devotion was written and read by Dwight 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1010
Sunday · 4 min
When We Don't Understand
Job 19:25 (CEB) I know that my redeemer is alive, and afterward, he’ll rise upon the dust. Job’s friends think they have God figured out. Job has lost almost everything, and they think they know why. Surely, he must have done something terrible. God rewards good people and punishes bad people, they reason, so if Job is suffering, Job must be guilty. Job knows they’re wrong. But he doesn’t understand what God is doing either. In fact, much of the book consists of Job demanding an explanation. At least he knows he hasn't figured it all out. Then, in the middle of all that confusion, Job says something remarkable: I know that my redeemer is alive. Scholars debate exactly what Job means by “redeemer” here. But perhaps the most important thing is what Job doesn’t say. He doesn’t say, “I understand.” He says, “I know.” I once had a little Chihuahua who hated going to the veterinarian. From her perspective, I can only imagine how bewildering it seemed. The person she trusted most would carry her into a strange place and allow a woman in a white coat to poke her with needles. She couldn’t possibly understand why I allowed that. But afterward, she still wanted me. She still climbed into my lap. She still licked my hand. She didn’t understand what had happened, but she knew whom she trusted. Sometimes we want faith to give us explanations. Job reminds us that faith can survive without them. There are things about suffering, loss, and even God that lie beyond our ability to understand. The book of Job ultimately refuses to give us (or Job) a tidy explanation for all of them. But it gives us something else. We may not understand God. We may argue with God or even cry out to him in anger and confusion. And still, with Job, we can say: I know that my redeemer lives. Let's pray. Lord, when I cannot understand what is happening, help me remember who you are. Give me faith that can ask hard questions, endure uncertainty, and still reach for you. In Jesus' name, through whom we can know you, 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1009
August 22 · 3 min
Scripture Saturday (August 22, 2026)
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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1008
August 21 · 4 min
Who is the Other, the Alien, the Foreigner?
Job 19:15 (NIV) “My guests and my female servants count me a foreigner; they look on me as on a stranger.” Psalm 69:8 (NIV) “I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children.” Not too long ago I was reading a book by a Benedictine nun. As I read, she kept talking about “the other”. I pictured the other as someone terrible. It took a while, but finally I figured out that she was talking about me. The other was anyone who was not part of her Benedictine community. It made me stop and think about how it felt to be the other. After all, when I think about the other, it isn’t me; it is someone else. It is someone who is not like me. Then I thought about other times when I had felt like the other. When I was in the Boy Scouts, I worked for several years as a staff member at a summer camp. The camp was for white scouts. Toward the end of that time, after the white-only scout season was over, the camp was opened to black scouts. With a few other staff members, for two years, I stayed at the camp during that time to help black scouts do the same thing that I had been doing. I felt like the other. On another occasion, I had the opportunity to visit a service at a synagogue. Not a single person spoke to me. In fact, as I sat there, I could hear all those around me talking about the Gentiles, i.e., the other, me. I have also had the opportunity to visit several all-black churches. I was always welcomed. These experiences made me think about how I feel about and treat others. They don’t have to talk, look, and dress like me, nor do I have to be like them. After all, God invites us all to the table. Wouldn’t the world be dull if they were all like me? There should be no other. We are all one in Christ. Prayer: Dear God, help us as we go through this day and encounter others, to remember that they may see us as the other. Help us to see them and treat them not as the other, but as loved members of your family. Amen. This devotional 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1007
August 20 · 4 min
According to His Purpose
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for all those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. Everyone has times in life when it seems things are not working together for good. We live in a time when we want the “good” right now, so when things are not going well, we may question God. “Why me, Lord?” is the question many of us ask when a job is lost, a family is torn apart by divorce, a loved one or oneself faces a medical crisis, any of the times when things seem far from “good.” God may seem very far away and not very attentive to human needs at that point. However, Paul is not writing about the now or just me. When he addresses both Jews and Gentiles in the Book of Romans, he repeatedly reminds them (and us) that salvation through Christ is for ALL, no matter their previous beliefs or lack of belief. As might be expected, conflict often arose among the early house churches in Rome. Some Gentile believers had developed a sense of superiority over Jews, possibly due to the expulsion of Jews from Rome by the emperor Claudius in 49 A. C., while many Jews questioned if God had rejected them. Was God really fair and just? Paul’s letter emphasizes God’s purposes for Jews, all of humanity, and His entire creation. The ultimate purpose of the entire book of Romans is to invite us to share in, and pass on, the Good News - conquering sin and death through salvation. Paul does not mean Christians should just wait patiently for death and salvation. We are meant to live our lives according to His purpose, to act on behalf of God by loving others, following the example of Jesus by caring for “the least of these,” and by sharing the message of hope. While we all face times in this life when “all things are NOT working for immediate good,” we have the promise of the ultimate good to come: Eternal life in God’s presence. Let us pray: God, we thank you for the ultimate gift of your Son and his death and resurrection. This gift assures us of salvation and eternal life with you. Only then may we understand how things did work together for good, even when we could not see it or understand it. Through faith alone may we be saved. Amen. This devotion 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1006
August 19 · 6 min
Go With the Flow
Proverbs 3:5-7 (The Message Version) Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; God’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! When life feels easy and seems to present us with just what we need when we need it we are experiencing the energy called flow. We float along the path of least resistance. We are aware of all the blessings of life and we are joyful. We have all had these times and we wish that they might last forever. We have few concerns, our faith is solid and it feels like all creation is conspiring to help us along through life. It is as if we are floating down a lazy river on a sunny afternoon without a care in the world. In my experience, life does not alway flow. Obstacles and losses naturally cross our paths. We struggle to know what to do. At these times it feels as if we have moved out of the slow waters and entered rapids. If you go on a raft trip where there are rapids the guide will give you many directions about how to maneuver the raft through these tricky waters. They will usually end their instruction by telling you what to do if you should end up in the water. You are told to point your feet down river, and with your face up go with the flow of the current until you come to a quiet place in the river where you can then swim to the bank and wait for help. These instructions are helpful for us even if we never get near white water. When we have entered a stretch of white water in our life where we feel stuck or stymied, events and loss make us feel like every one and everything in life is against us and we know that we are no longer in the raft but have been tossed into the water it is a good idea to remember to go with the flow. The writer of Proverbs tells us how. First of all we are reminded to put our trust in God. That is easier said than done so in Proverbs we are given further advice on how to trust and go with the flow. We are told to not try and figure out everything on our own. This, for me, is probably one of the hardest things to hear. My comfort zone is to be in control, to think things through and come up with a plan. To admit I am not in control and I don’t have all the tools needed to get through this rough time is hard. It is becoming vulnerable as I place my trust in God. This word of advice is followed with: listen for guidance. It has been my experience that when I move forward assuming I know what to do things rarely turn out well. But when I stop and listen and even more importantly ask for help I am always amazed at how many more possibilities are presented for what to do. Usually some of them are much better than anything I would have come up with on my own. Learning to trust the wisdom of others is part of what it means to trust God. To be told to step back, ask for help and trust is hard but it is how we go with the flow of life. . It has been my experience that when I don’t let go and try figure it all out myself I am struggling against the current of life. We are reminded that there is a better way. If you are dumped into the rapids of life, lie back and float a while. Try to not worry about what has happened or might happen. Live in the moment. Rely on others for help and wisdom. Relinquish control and just go along with what today brings you. Do this for a while and with God help and the care of others things will get better. Trusting in God you will be carried to calm waters. Will you join with me in prayer? Creator God when we feel like we are drowning in the rapids of life remind us to relax, to put our trust in you, to go with the flow knowing you are supporting us. And when we have passed through these rough waters and have again come to a calm and pleasant place remind us to continue to thank you, trust you and listen to your guidance. AMEN. This devotion was written and read by Bill Green. 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1005
August 18 · 4 min
Questions
Luke 24:5-6 In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: When we read the gospel stories, we have both the benefit and the burden of knowing how the story of Jesus ends. “And on the third day he rose again.” We read verses like these where the women seem surprised by what they are being told, and we think, how could they not know? Jesus said over and over to whomever would listen that the temple will be destroyed and he will raise it in three days. We might conclude that they lacked faith. We might conclude that they forgot. We might think we wouldn’t make a mistake like that. Like the denials of Peter, we are sure we would never behave this way. We might be quite certain. As we read the Gospel as both the story of Jesus and the scripture inspired by God, we often perceive it as an ancient text, as history, of what happened—past tense. We have heard the beginning, middle, and end of Scripture and think we know the story. We feel we understand. But why do we feel this way when Christ has risen and is not found on paper? Like the women at the tomb, are we looking in the wrong place? No matter how many times we have read the Bible or heard the gospel stories in sermons, can we really claim to understand if we are not looking out at the world? You can’t see the horizon if you are staring down at your feet. You can’t understand something that hasn’t happened yet no matter how many times someone tells you about it. You won’t understand something you haven’t experienced. You can’t meet a need you don’t know exists. You can’t see the beloved child of God in the eyes of the other if you don’t meet them in the streets. You can’t answer a question before it is asked, no matter how hard you try. So my question to you is: are you looking down at what you already know, or are you looking to the horizon to see what you can discover? Please pray with me: Lord, direct my eyes to your beloved children living next to me. Allow me to understand the resurrection of Jesus as my call to look for him in each person I encounter. Allow me to understand your creation and how I can share it with others. Thank you for all that you have given us, and let us show our gratitude for it by blessing all we encounter with your love. Amen. This devotion was written by Jill Pope 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1003
August 17 · 5 min
Who is that in the Mirror?
Who's that in the mirror? Second Corinthians, chapter 3, verses 17 and 18 say, "The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Lord's Spirit is, there is freedom. All of us are looking with unveiled faces at the glory of the Lord as if we were looking in a mirror. We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." There's a famous painting by Norman Rockwell called Triple Self-Portrait. It shows the artist with his back turned to the viewer, looking at himself in a large mirror, and painting a shades-of-gray self-portrait. The Rockwell in the mirror wears glasses, but we cannot see his eyes; the lenses are flat white. The Rockwell he is painting wears no glasses, looking straight at the viewer with no obstruction. Obviously, when Rockwell looked in the mirror, he saw Rockwell—that is, he saw himself. But he transformed what he saw as he painted. When you or I look in a mirror, we expect to see ourselves. But when we look into the mirror that is the glory of the Lord, which seems to be a phrase that means Jesus Christ, we see not ourselves as we are, but as we can be. John Wesley talked about three kinds of grace: prevenient grace that draws us to God, justifying grace by which we are forgiven and made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, and sanctifying grace—the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that transforms us into the likeness of Christ. Paul here tells the Corinthians about that ongoing work of sanctifying grace. There's another key idea in this scripture: transformation is an ongoing project. The Common English Bible accurately translates the original verb with the phrase "we are being transformed," not "we were transformed," or "we are transformed," or "we will be transformed." It started in the past, is happening now, and continues on into the future. Hold up the mirror of Jesus Christ, and look into it to see what you are becoming as you follow the Lord's Spirit, in which there is freedom. Let's pray. Father, a lot of us don't enjoy looking in the mirror. We don't like what we see. Thank you for giving us the image into which you are transforming us. Open us to that transformation by your Spirit. Help us lay hold of the freedom you give to us. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Don King. In 1740, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, preached a sermon in Bristol, England, in which he proclaimed: "The grace or love of God, whence cometh our salvation, is free in all and free for all.“ We are humbled to proclaim that message through this Grace for All podcast. Thank you for listening to today's message of grace. 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1004
August 17 · 5 min
The Lord Has Spoken
Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death forever. The sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” Sometimes I think we make God too small. We try to fit God into the small box of our tiny human brain, our limited imagination, our earthly three-dimensional world, governed by our five senses. Due to this limited perspective, we probably don’t see things the way God does. How can we begin to imagine God swallowing up death forever; much less wiping all tears and sadness from the eye of every human who has ever lived! Every human! And more - removing the disgrace from all his people! (Sometimes we might think in the narrow vein that limits God’s people to only Christians.) But all people are God’s people. He created us all. He decides who His people are and Paul wrote in Acts 17:28 – “In Him we live and move and have our being. As some of our poets have said, ‘we are his offspring.’” Perhaps here is where we need to just trust God and understand He has the master plan. Jesus came to show us how to trust God – all the way to torture on a cross. And while dying there he was actively forgiving the sinners beside him, and those crucifying him. He showed us how to love even our worst enemies. It is our job to LOVE others and not hate; to judge not, that we not be judged. By that measure – I sincerely hope that I am praying for God’s will. His words in today’s scripture are clear – they tell us ALL humanity (all God’s children) will ultimately have the tears wiped from their faces, death will be swallowed up forever, and disgrace (the opposite of Grace) will exist no more! God is LOVE! LOVE wins! The Lord has spoken. Will you pray with me now… Dear Loving God, fill us with your LOVE and teach us how to trust you in all things. Help us to stop throwing stones at people we judge unworthy. Fill us with the desire to LOVE others and to trust your good plan. Show us the way we should go…Amen! This devotion 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1002
August 16 · 5 min
She Turned Toward Him
John 20:16 (NIV) Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher)." I’ve photographed the sunrise dozens of times from all over the world. One rule never changes: don't shoot before civil twilight — that window when the sun is still below the horizon, but there's enough light to make out shapes and colors. It's not darkness anymore, but it isn't day yet. It's a world that hasn't decided what it's going to look like yet. That’s the light Mary walks into. She should have waited, but she didn’t. Her grief wouldn’t let her, because her grief doesn't respect the calendar or the clock. She had cried through the worst of it on Friday, watching from a distance as they took him down from the cross. You'd think that she wouldn’t have any tears left. At some point, she put a lid on her grief, and by Sunday morning, she had pushed that lid shut with both hands — he's dead, I watched it, I know where they laid him. And maybe some of her grief is for her. She walked behind Jesus for three years, listening as he said the world was about to turn over — and then didn’t. It just ended, on a Friday afternoon. All those things she heard went into the ground with him. Her grief is not only for Jesus, but also for a hope she'd let herself believe. So she comes to the tomb with her mind made up. When she gets there, though, the facts in her mind don’t match the reality she sees. The stone is moved. The grave clothes are there, but the body isn't. She is stunned. The one solid thing she had left — knowing where his body was — has died like her hope did. She runs and tells Peter and John the only conclusion she can come to: someone's taken him. Not he is risen. Someone's taken him. Grave robbery, not resurrection. Then she's alone again, weeping, and there's a man standing near her. She thinks he's the gardener. It's tempting to read that as a mistake — bad light, wet eyes, an honest case of not-looking-carefully. It is not a failure of her eyes. It's that she isn't looking for a living man She puts the man she sees into the nearest category that fits — gardener, stranger, anyone but Jesus. Then the man says one word. Mary. Her name, said the one way only he says it, and the lid she's spent three days pressing shut comes flying off without her doing a thing. She recognizes Jesus, and before she can even think, she calls out to him using the word most descriptive of her relationship with him — Rabbouni. Not just “teacher,” but “my teacher,” the word you use for the one person you trust completely, spoken by someone she thought she would never hear again, the same way he had spoken to her the first time he met her. He didn't wait for her grief to clear, didn't wait for her eyes to adjust to the light, didn't require her to work out the theology of an empty tomb first. He found her exactly where she was — grieving, mistaken, looking at him and seeing a stranger — and called her by name anyway. Her eyes never did the work. Her ears did. I know something about eyes that don't do the work. I've stood behind a camera at that same gray hour and missed the shot because I was looking for the picture I'd already decided was there. The light doesn't care what you came to find. Neither, it turns out, does grace. It just says your name, and waits for you to turn around. Father, we come to you carrying made-up minds, certain we already know how the story ends. Meet us there. Speak our name before we've turned around, before we've earned the right to hear it, before we even know it's you standing near. Teach us to recognize you not because we finally looked hard enough, but because you called first. Amen. This devotional was written 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1001
August 15 · 5 min
Scripture Saturday (August 15, 2026)
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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E1000
August 14 · 6 min
What role does God want you to play?
Exodus 7: 1-5 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to say everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his country. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.” In this passage, we hear God speaking to Moses, telling him what is about to happen with the Pharaoh of Egypt who is oppressing the children of Israel. In the words of Rabbi Andrew Mandel of Manhattan’s Central Synagogue, God seems to be a Hollywood director and casting agent, and He is giving the role of God to Moses. Moses, we know from reading through Exodus, has protested to God that he does not want this role. He has a stutter, and he argues with God that this prevents him from being an effective leader. But God counters with the offer to Moses of Aaron, the brother who can, when necessary, speak on behalf of Moses. It is an offer that Moses cannot refuse. I think this ancient story asks us today, “What role is God offering to us?” Does God simply want us to go about our business, keeping ourselves to ourselves, as they say? Or does God have something in mind – today – for us to do? Our world is broken, divided, and in pain. So are the people around us. So are we on many occasions. We are prone to ask, “Where is God in all of this?” and then wait for God to show up. In this passage, God is asking Moses to play the role of God. Could he be asking us to do the same thing? Could he be asking us to say the kind word, to offer a loving smile, to give assistance to someone in need, or to present the gift of our time and attention to a person or situation that is right in front of us? It is not difficult to find those needs and people where we can be a loving and grace-filled God. We can play that role, as Moses did, if we respond to God’s casting call. What role is God casting you for today? Our prayer: Dear Lord, help us to hear your voice that calls us to be your voice, your hands, and your feet in the service of those around us. May we respond to that voice with joy and thanksgiving. 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E999
August 13 · 4 min
I Believe in the Resurrection
John 20:27 (NIV) Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Following this, Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God.” This was a high point of faith. Jesus then says Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed. Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared. They told Thomas, “We have seen the lord.” Thomas replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. When Jesus decides to go to Bethany in Judea, it was Thomas who said Let us also go that we may die with him. he was aware of the danger facing Jesus in Jerusalem. These words show his loyalty and solidarity with Jesus. Several times in the last days, Jesus tells the disciples that he is going away. It was Thomas who expressed what the other disciples were probably thinking. lord, we do not know where you are going. Jesus declared that he is the way, the truth, and the life, and only through Jesus can one go to the Father. I believe Jesus was in no way attempting to shame Thomas, but giving him what he needed for faith, as he did many times in the gospels. Over many years, I have had occasions when I felt I needed to see something to believe what someone had told me. Seeing is believing some folks say. Jesus had told the disciples that he was going away but would return. That probably was hard for them to grasp. I have at times pondered what group I would have been with during what we now call holy week. Would I have been a believer? There were followers, but were they believers before the resurrection? Where would I have been after the resurrection? Possibly trying to avoid people like Saul, who was persecuting Christians. I am just grateful that I now believe in the resurrection and am a believer in Jesus. My faith is strong, and I feel more secure than ever that Jesus is my Savior. Let us pray Dear lord, help us all to become stronger in our belief in you and to confidently look for those opportunities to share our faith in Jesus. Amen. This devotion was written and read by Emmit Rawls. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E998
August 12 · 5 min
He is risen!
Matthew 28:6-7 He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him. This is my message for you.” In this passage, an Angel of the Lord is speaking to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Three days have passed since Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, and his followers are devastated and grieving. They have gone into hiding, fearing they will be punished by the Roman leaders because of their association with Jesus. It is the two Marys, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who have the courage to visit the tomb and to whom the Angel of the Lord speaks the words: “He is not here, for he has been raised as he said he would.” It is this supernatural event, Jesus rising from the dead, which has continued to impact humankind all over the world since that day over 2,000 years ago. Three words: “He has risen.” Throughout his ministry on earth, Jesus had performed miracles and taught lessons that were awe-inspiring, raising Lazarus from the dead, revealing the beatitudes in his Sermon on the Mount, and repeating the greatest commandment – love God with all your heart and love others as you love yourself. Many people knew who he was and knew of his works, and they might have recognized him as a Holy man, but this event showed without a doubt that he was God’s son. No human being could raise a man from the dead and enable him to walk and talk and teach his final lessons to his disciples. Since that day, Christians have endeavored to share the message, teach God’s word, and fulfill the great commission – go and make disciples of all nations. Sometimes, both in history and in current events, those efforts have caused harm. When the words of the Bible are twisted, and the message is distorted by our limited human understanding, the result is suffering and death, war and oppression. That was never Jesus’ message nor his intent. As Christians, we should ask ourselves some hard questions. How has believing that Jesus is the Son of God affected my life decisions? Have I fully embraced the gifts of salvation and the Holy Spirit and allowed my life to be an example to others? Do I pray for guidance every day and seek the counsel of other mature Christians? Do I strive to live as Jesus did? You may have heard that following Jesus is a radical choice. His ways are not the ways of modern society, which tells us we have to be strong and protect our own interests, we have to accumulate wealth to be respected and admired by others, we have to sometimes look past the sick, the hungry, and the needy, in order to accomplish our personal goals. These are difficult things to think about and difficult decisions to make. We can only follow Jesus and his commandments if we truly believe the Angel’s message: “He is not here. He has risen.” That belief changes everything. Let us pray Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending us your Son, for his sacrifice on the cross, and for the gift of salvation. What a momentous event that was when the Marys realized that Jesus was not in the tomb but was risen and lived still as the Son of God. Give us the strength to boldly proclaim the message just as two ordinary women did upon leaving the tomb all those years ago. Amen. This devotion 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.
S24 · E997
August 11 · 6 min
Jesus’ Resurrection (a Mary Magdalene Story)
John 20:11-18 (RSV) “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing nearby, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rab-bo′ni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.” Imagine you are a woman in the time of Christ, around 4 BC to 34 AD. You have experienced serious mental illness in a time when this health problem is viewed as possession by demons. Your chances of recovery are zero. Then one day a traveling prophet named Jesus comes by and casts out your inner demons, whatever they are. You are overcome with gratitude and become a follower of this Jesus. Apparently, even though you are a woman, you have material wealth, and you are able to help bankroll the prophet’s ministry. For the rest of his life, you are a devoted follower and supporter. In that tragic moment when Jesus has been condemned to death by the religious leaders of the day, when Jesus is hanging on the cross, you are there, standing with Jesus’ mother and other women. All the male disciples have fled and gone into hiding. But you would not be anywhere else in Jesus’ darkest hour. On the morning after the Sabbath, in deep grief, you walk to Jesus’ tomb to prepare his body with spices, and you find the stone in front of the tomb rolled back. You run to tell the male disciples, and Peter and another disciple run to the tomb. When they find it empty, they leave. By now, you are beside yourself. Through a veil of tears, you see a person you think is a gardener and ask him where they have taken Jesus so that you can find him and prepare his body. And then Jesus speaks and says, “Mary.” Jesus speaks your name. You are filled with unspeakable joy and rhapsodic recognition, but Jesus cautions you not to touch him for he has not yet ascended to the Father. You are the first human being in the presence of the risen Lord. In that moment everything changes. In that moment, tears turn into laughter, despair turns into joy, death turns into resurrection and life. God’s love overcomes hate and embraces humble humanity. No matter how dark the world seems, God is alive. Like Mary, we can hear his voice today, if only we listen. Let us pray: We thank you, dear God, for your voice in dark times. We thank you for resurrection and the eternal power of love over hate. Amen. This devotion was written by Laura Derr and read by Judy Wilson. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 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/.

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