Religion & SpiritualityChristianitySociety & CultureHealth & FitnessMental Health

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

Play

Open in

76 episodes
daily
Avg 5 min
English

Episodes 76

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

S26 · E1050
October 2 · 5 min
The Endless Supply
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. If you walked down Main Street in East Nashville back in the 1960s, you couldn’t miss the towering brick factories of the General Shoe Company—later known as Genesco. The multi-story red brick buildings framed the street, humming with the rhythmic clatter of assembly lines and the scent of tanned leather and machine oil. From the street, those industrial brick walls looked permanent, solid, and secure. At the helm of that empire was W. Maxey Jarman. Under his leadership, Genesco grew into a retail colossus, becoming the first apparel company to top one billion dollars in annual sales. Jarman was also a devoted believer who quietly poured millions of his personal earnings into Christian missions and charitable work. Years later, corporate overexpansion, heavy debt, and boardroom strife unraveled his holdings. Genesco’s stock crashed, and Jarman’s fortune largely vanished. Sometime afterward, a close friend asked Maxey Jarman if he regretted giving away so much money, knowing how much he had lost in the end. Jarman paused and replied quietly: “I never lost a dime of what I gave away; I only lost what I kept.” Jarman’s statement echoes Paul’s words to the Corinthians some 2,000 years before. Paul reminds us that God provides two distinct things: bread for food and seed to the sower. Bread is meant to sustain our daily lives; seed is entrusted to us to be scattered. Our natural instinct is to hoard our seed, believing that holding tight protects our future. But anything kept in human hands—whether grain or stock portfolios—remains vulnerable to economic disasters. The only resources we are sure never to lose are those released into the soil of other people's lives. When you sow in faith, you don’t lose what leaves your hands. You simply place it into God’s economy, where He promises not only to replace what you’ve given away, but to enlarge a lasting harvest of righteousness. Look at what rests in your hands today. Some of it is bread to enjoy with gratitude. But some of it is seed waiting to be released. Trust God’s promise, scatter it freely, and be sure that whatever is given away for the kingdom is safe forever. Please pray with me. Father, we thank you for providing the bread that sustains us each day. Help us to remember that you also supply the seed for us to scatter liberally so that others also may be sustained. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Chuck Warnock. 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/.
S26 · E1049
October 1 · 5 min
New Possibilities Await
Psalm 30:5 Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. This verse is a powerful reminder that when we are facing loss, pain and grief it will not go on forever. Our hope and faith is that there is always a new day beyond any nights of weeping. While it might not always bring with it joy and rejoicing it is a new day. New possibilities await. I am reminded of the story behind the writing of the anthem that turned into the beloved hymn, “Hymn of Promise.” Natalie Sleeth was a gifted composer of choral anthems. After a dear friend died she was reading from T.S. Eliot when she came to the line, “in our end is our beginning.” Those words, which begin the third verse of the hymn, summed up for Sleeth all the feelings of loss she was feeling at her friend’s death but also the hope she felt because of her faith. She soon wrote the words and music, first as an anthem, but soon turning it into a hymn. Its words carry the promise of spring and the hope of Easter in its beautiful metaphors. Shortly after its composition, Natalie’s husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The Rev. Ronald Sleeth, a seminary professor, requested that "Hymn of Promise" be sung at his funeral service. From that time it has often been used at memorial services to acknowledge our tears of loss while celebrating that God is still at work in our lives and creating new possibilities. I have observed many times unexpected, joy filled moments, after times of loss. I am sure you have too. Examples I can think of are of people finding new life giving relationships after loved ones have died. New jobs that were more enjoyable and meaningful than the one that ended. People striving to find new purpose after an awful life moment, becoming advocates for change so others will not have to experience what they went through. I am sure you can think of others. This verse from the Psalms acknowledges the hard truth that with living comes times of tears. When those sad moments occur we need to acknowledge the feelings we are experiencing. They will likely stay with us for awhile. These are what another calls the dark nights of the soul. But we are not going through this alone. God is with us in these tear filled times. But in those tears remember God is at work creating something new. As the hymn reminds us, “From the past will come the future, what it holds a mystery, ..something only God can see.” So when there are times of tears, have hope. Find comfort it knowing that this hard time will eventually pass. God is at work at something new for you. What it is may surprise you and it might even replace the sorrow with joy. The future is a mystery to us but we can trust in God’s love that it will be just what we need. Let us pray. Loving God. We know the hard tear filled times will come again in our lives just as they have in the past. We find comfort in knowing you are with us and that this time will not last forever. Even more we celebrate how you are at work at creating new joy filled moments for us in the days to come. AMEN. This podcast 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/.
S25 · E1048
September 30 · 5 min
I Will Remember No More
Hebrews 10: 11-18 (NIV) Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. This remarkable New Testament passage recalls vividly the covenant that God made with Noah and his family, the survivors of the great Flood. God declares that never again will he destroy the Earth. As the Earth renews itself after the Flood, this will be God’s act of Creation, a process that he promises to perform again and again with his people, ultimately the children of Israel. But this is not the end of the story. Far from it. This passage from Hebrews reminds us of that Christ’s life, death, and resurrection have changed the fundamentals of the story. God’s love for humanity has always existed, but humans have always felt they had to strive for it. They had to do good works to be worthy. They had to, in the writer’s words, offer sacrifices. Because Jesus lived, died, and rose again, our sacrifices are no longer necessary. Our good works are no longer sufficient. Yes, we should indeed continue to make sacrifices and to do good works. We do these, not to achieve God’s love but in response to the understanding that we are God’s beloved. “There sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” As humans, we are unable to fathom the depths and the power of this love, but our understanding can begin on that promise. Let us pray: Dear Lord, help us to respond to your love and grace but showing that love and grace to others in our every thought, word, and action. Amen.zzz 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/.
S25 · E1047
September 29 · 5 min
Peace Beyond Understanding (encore)
Philippians 4:7 (ESV) "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I've read these words hundreds of times, but when you remember that Paul wrote them from a Roman prison cell, they have a bit more significance. Think about Paul's situation for a minute. He's chained to Roman guards, he’s dependent on friends for food, and he’s facing possible execution. The Philippian church, which was struggling itself, somehow managed to scrape together some money to send help through their friend Epaphroditus. Paul had every reason to be anxious, every reason to worry about tomorrow. Yet from that cold, uncertain place, he writes about peace. And not just any peace, but a peace that "surpasses all understanding." It is not what we usually think of as peace. It's not the relief you feel when the test results come back clear or when the bills are finally paid. It's not even the quiet you experience during a good vacation. This peace "surpasses understanding" because it doesn't make sense. When everything in your life is giving you reasons to worry, when your brain is making lists of all the things that could go wrong, this peace shows up anyway. Paul knew this firsthand because this peace is actually a gift—one of the fruits of the Spirit that God grows in us. It's something the Holy Spirit cultivates in our lives, often in the most unlikely circumstances. Paul says this peace will "guard" your heart and mind, like a security system for your soul. In our everyday lives, we're constantly under attack by worry that knocks on the door of our lives, demanding to be let in. God's peace doesn't necessarily make these problems disappear, but it stands guard at the entrance to our hearts. It protects what really matters: our ability to love well and our capacity to stay grounded in who God says we are. Here's what strikes me about this peace: it's deeply personal but not private. Paul talks about it guarding "your" heart, but it happens "in Christ Jesus." You can't think your way into this peace or meditate it into existence. It flows from a relationship with God and with others who follow Jesus Christ. Maybe you're in your own kind of prison right now. Maybe you're trapped by circumstances you can't control, confined by depression, or locked in a situation that feels hopeless. Paul's words from his cell remind us that God's peace isn't an escape plan. It doesn't promise to spring us from every difficult situation. Instead, it changes how we experience the difficulty. It guards our hearts from bitterness and our minds from despair. I think about Paul, sitting in that prison, writing about peace that makes no earthly sense. He discovered something profound: even in the worst circumstances, we're still loved, still held, still part of something bigger than our current struggle. That's the kind of peace that can only come from God. Prayer: Father, grant us the peace that passes understanding, especially when our circumstances would suggest anxiety is more appropriate. Guard our hearts and minds today, and remind us that our security rests not in perfect circumstances, but in your perfect love. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: 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/.
S25 · E1046
September 28 · 4 min
Called out of Darkness
1 Peter 2:9 KJV "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." When I was in elementary school, it was a common practice to “choose” sides before playing softball, football, kickball, or whatever sport we were playing that day. Remember how that went? Everyone knew who the first player chosen would be – the star athlete, the one who could be depended upon to play well and help their team win. Everyone also knew who would be chosen last – the uncoordinated kid, the one most likely to strike out or drop the pass. There were definitely winners and losers. In this verse, however, God calls an entire holy nation, all of whom are individuals that stand out, not for their athletic skill but because of their choice to follow Jesus into his “marvelous light.” We are united not because of what we can do but because of what we believe. On God’s team, we bring our individual gifts to enable us to work together to build His kingdom on earth. We do this in praise of Him, and there are only winners on this team. The final part of the verse seems particularly relevant to our modern world. There is a great deal of darkness – wars, disease, poverty. . . man’s inhumanity to man shows itself in many different horrifying ways. Sometimes that darkness seems overwhelming; it is easy to feel we will never see full light. However, we are “called out of darkness into His marvelous light.” God’s word and our faith assure us that “His marvelous light” is there to guide us through whatever dark circumstances we are experiencing. The light is for all who believe. There are no losers in God’s Kingdom. Prayer: God, thank you for choosing us to be your people and for your promise of marvelous light. May we continue living in that light by not only growing and living out our own faith but also by sharing the Good News with others. We are your peculiar people, and we praise You! Amen. This devotion was written by Pat Scruggs and read by Grace Jonas. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: 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/.
S25 · E1045
September 27 · 5 min
With Every Breath and Every Step
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; Fear is an emotional state that can lead to panic. It is a natural reaction to things that threaten us, things we cannot understand, things that can harm. Our world is filled with things that potentially could threaten us. Our world is filled with things we do not understand at first glance. Our world is filled with things that might or might not cause us harm. But, the world is also filled with things that nurture and feed us. The world is filled with things we come to know and love. The world is filled with things that help us. “Do Not Fear” is not shared as a polite request, nor does God try to explain to us why fear doesn’t lead to positive and loving actions. God commands us, “Do not fear.” God’s reason is simple. He tells us, “I am with you.” The Lord also tells us, “do not be dismayed.” The word dismay means to be stripped of our strength. Do not allow the world and the unknown to strip away the strength that is with us if we allow it. Do not let the absence of understanding lead us to weak actions and words. God knows that humans’ first response is often negative- filled with fear, filled with resistance, filled with helplessness. So what is his advice? As any parent might do, God encourages. When something happens, when something appears, when we face an unknown, stop and gather the strength of God that is all around you. Stop, look, and listen. God will show you, lead you, and strengthen you. The way forward may be challenging, but each step can be filled with the love and support of our Father. If we stop for a moment, breathe in, and exhale a prayer, then may we be filled with the love, strength, and grace of our Lord that will allow us to respond in love and not in fear of the unknown path before us. If we open our eyes, heart, and mind to what God shares with us, then we will get to know and understand what lies before us. We can use that understanding to react with grace and love instead of fear and hate. Today, let us pray together a prayer we can repeat in each moment where we feel fear and dismay. Father, in moments where we feel weak, help us to still our heart and breathe in. In that breath, fill us with Your spirit, and may we exhale a prayer that You will guide us and strengthen us. In all moments, help us see Your love all around us so that we do not fear what we do not understand. Amen. This devotion was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan Daves. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: 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/.
S25 · E1044
September 26 · 4 min
Scripture Saturday (September 26, 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/.
S25 · E1043
September 25 · 5 min
Jesus, My Brother (encore)
Romans 8:17 "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Nothing encourages me more than to think that I have been adopted into the family of God. And nothing challenges me more than to think that I have been adopted into the family of God. We who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit are the children of God. No longer slaves, we have been adopted. By grace, we call God, “Daddy,” and Jesus, “Brother.” This means that we are co-heirs with Christ and God says to us, “Everything I have is yours.” But it also means that just as Christ suffered with us, we must suffer with Christ. Living in this world is hard. Life is messy. Relationships are messy. We seek certainty and direction. We want to find something we can count on. We want things to be clear—right or wrong, good or bad. But if we are paying attention, we know that few things are certain, and few things are “all” or “nothing.” Being part of a family requires wrestling through the uncertainty, complications, and messiness of life together. Families suffer together, and families celebrate together. And this is what it’s like to be part of God’s family, too. It means that we are accepted, and loved, and that we will always have a place to belong, but it doesn’t mean that life will be easy, or that we’ll always get along. This scripture passage suggests to me that entering into all of the complicated mess of this world is the pathway to joy and peace. Jesus did not avoid life’s messiness or its complications or conflict. Jesus entered into suffering—not only the suffering of the cross, but the suffering of the world. And therein lies Christ’s glory. As this scripture says, we also share in Christ’s sufferings SO THAT we may also share in his glory. As the family of God, we share in one another’s, too. Let us pray: God, thank you for adopting me into your family. Let me not forget your love for all of my brothers and sisters. Use me this day to be an encouragement to someone else, and allow me to be challenged to love more fully, even when it’s difficult. May I truly share in Christ’s sufferings that I may also share in his glory. Amen. This devotion was written and read by Greta Smith. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: 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/.
S25 · E1042
September 24 · 4 min
Made in His Image (encore)
Genesis 5: 1-2 (NIV) This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created. Genealogies are found throughout the Bible, and I have found them to be both informative and interesting reading. In a sense they provide a legitimacy to the stories of God’s chosen people because we see the growth of the family tree from Adam all the way to Jesus. Along the way, the authors would occasionally interrupt the list of names to provide small details about particular individuals not unlike details you might have heard about one of your distant relatives. I am fortunate to have a family genealogy that was traced back to the year 1280. The large parchment sheet does not just list names but also has small notes about people with titles like Earl of Worchester or Secretary to King Henry VII. One person had a note that they had the family Bible. I think it fitting that the early chapters of Genesis put a priority on genealogy with an emphasis as we see in today’s scripture that God created both man and woman in God’s image. I have two photos that I really enjoy, one is me with three of my father’s brothers…I look just like them. The second photo is me with two of my mother’s brothers…I look just like them. Clearly, I was created in the image of my parents. When I read God created man in His image, it gives me a comfort to know that this was one of the first acts of love by God and sets the stage for God desiring a relationship with us, His children. This is seen in the portion of scripture that reads, “He created them male and female and blessed them.” Regardless of our current family dynamics, we should draw comfort knowing that our family tree traces all the way back to Adam and Eve, created by God, in the image of God, and blessed by God. You have a part in that as well. Will you join with me in prayer? Father, God, thank you for creating each of us in your image. Strengthen and nurture us as a loving Father who desires nothing more than a relationship. Open our eyes that your desire for relationship also extends to all those around us. It is in your name, God, that we pray. Amen. This devotion was written and read by Owen Ragland. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: 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/.
S25 · E1041
September 23 · 5 min
Giving Thanks (encore)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CEB) Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. During our church's Vacation Bible School, I had the pleasure of being in the kitchen. As the children came through the line, I watched as parents worked with their children on having good manners. Some, when asking for their selection, had to be reminded to say “please.” At times, the parent holds the plate as they say several times, “Now what do you say?” until the child finally says, “please.” Other times, the “please” is almost automatic, and often I heard a “good job” from the parent. The cutest exchange I saw was when the child did not want either selection we offered. The parent said, “You have to choose one.” After much resistance, the choice was made. The parent said, “Now what do you say?” The child replied, “Why do I have to say thank you for something I don’t want?” Mom politely said, “Because you are lucky enough to have something to eat, you are lucky that there are people here to cook this food, and besides, it is the right thing to do.” With a sullen, stormy look, the server got a “thank you,” to which she replied, with just a trace of a smile, “You're welcome.” This entire exchange made me think of the words from Thessalonians where we are encouraged to give thanks in all situations. I picture myself being at times like that pouting child saying or thinking, “Why do I have to give thanks for this?” We can easily list the things in life that do not spark any feelings of gratitude. Among them are illness, loss, anxiety, and fear. No, we may not give thanks for the specific negative things that are impacting our lives, but like the child in that situation, God wants us to pull back from the immediate moment and look at life in a broader context. When we do we see that we are lucky to have a loving God who is with us in this dark time and that there are loving friends and family supporting us. I now have a new image to hold when I come to those times where I want to sulk instead of give thanks. I am going to picture God as that loving parent standing beside me, reminding me of all the things that are going well in my life, even in the midst of the storm, encouraging me to say thank you. And if I resist, God will help me see the big picture but most of all remind me, “Besides it its the right, the gracious, and loving thing to do.” Just like the child who beamed when praised for using their good manners, I want to bask in God’s loving smile when I am at my best and doing and saying what God is trying to teach me to do. I want to hear, “Good job!” Life can be challenging, and it my be hard to find gratitude in the moment, but remembering that God is beside me, encouraging me to see the good in life will help those words of thanks to come a little quicker. Don’t we all want to live knowing our heavenly parent is pleased because we are doing what we have been taught to do? Let us pray: Loving God, we remember that you are always beside us, encouraging us and wanting us to be our best. This loving presence is enough for us to say thank you this day and every day, no matter what might be happening in life. AMEN. This devotion was written by Bill Green and read by Amy Large. 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/.
S25 · E1040
September 22 · 6 min
When Hope Outlasts the Wound
Jeremiah 14:19–22 (NIV) Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror. We acknowledge our wickedness, LORD, and the guilt of our ancestors; we have indeed sinned against you. For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us and do not break it. Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this. These verses sound like today’s headlines. Drought has hollowed out the land. Everything is disrupted. The prophet cries out with a question that every generation eventually asks: God, have you rejected us? Why won't you show yourself? Jeremiah doesn't soften the complaint: we hoped for peace and no peace came, we hoped for healing and found only terror. Chapter 14 is unsettling because a few verses earlier we read that other prophets are going around promising the opposite — no sword, no famine, only lasting peace (v. 13). It sounds comforting. It is also false. Jeremiah's honesty doesn't ask anyone to pretend that everything is okay. The failure he sees is the temptation to trade honest lament for comfortable lies. That's a spiritual failure before it's ever a political one, and it shows up in every age, including ours. Yet Jeremiah doesn't stop with just the complaint. He confesses the guilt plainly — ours and our ancestors' both — and then does something remarkable: he turns from the ache to the throne. Not because the drought has broken. Not because the terror has passed. But because he still knows who holds the rain. Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? No — it is you, LORD our God. The circumstances haven't changed by the end of the passage. What's changed is where Jeremiah has planted his hope. There's an old hymn that says it almost the same way: though the wrong seem oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. That's not a denial that the wrong is strong. Plainly, it is, in Jeremiah's day and in ours. Jeremiah refuses to let the wrong have the final word. Jeremiah's hope isn't naive optimism dressed up in religious language. It's hope that has already looked straight at the drought, the failure, the false prophets, and the sin — and chosen to trust anyway. That's the kind of hope worth carrying into whatever afflicts us now — not a hope that ignores the wound, but one that has counted the cost of it and still says, our hope is in you. Prayer: Lord, we don't always know why the healing is slow in coming. Give us the honesty to name what's broken, and the faith to trust you as the one who mends it — not because the trouble has ended, but because you have not. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Jim Stovall. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: 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/.
S25 · E1039
September 21 · 5 min
The Coffee Mug
Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. One of the last Christmas presents I received from my Mammaw before she died was a coffee mug. I should back up a bit to say that even as a teenager and young adult — at whatever point in my life I started realizing a bit about how far money goes — I marveled at Mammaw’s gift giving. A lady with nine living children, many of whom have spouses, more than a dozen grandchildren, many of whom also have spouses, and even great-grandchildren never skipped anyone over for Christmas, despite subsisting on a paltry Social Security check. I can remember Christmases in which I received socks that had clearly been part of a larger package that she divided to give to multiple people. It was quite common that she would recycle the cardboard boxes that her cereal came in so she would have boxes for all the gifts. To this day, I am astounded at her ability to express her love through giving on the most limited of budgets. So, it makes sense at my surprise one year receiving a lovely coffee mug with some sort of flavored coffee. On the mug is inscribed the statement, a paraphrase of today’s verse: “God’s promises are new every morning.” For a few years, I used that mug every Sunday morning as I got ready for church, and I thought of Mammaw every time I did. As I said, it turned out to be one of the last gifts I received from her. You can imagine my heartbreak, then, when the mug tipped over and the handle broke. We glued it, and it still worked, but it tipped again, breaking in new spots. Eventually, I decided it wasn’t a good idea to continue drinking from it, as it’s just too fragile. So now, it just rests on the counter, braced by a wall behind it. I simply couldn’t bear to part from it, as it is such an important keepsake of mine. It makes me think of a woman who loved richly despite her poverty. It reminds me of whence I come. It reminds me of being loved. It also reminds me of exactly what it says: every morning is a new day. Every day is a new opportunity. Each sunrise presents us with a new slate of blessings from God. Moreover, the mug reminds me of what it is: broken, but still doing good. When I look at that mug, I know that even though I have scars, even though I feel broken at times, God can still work through me. Even though Mammaw had little to give, God worked through her to make her family feel loved. Regardless of our flaws or imperfections, regardless of the brokenness and scars we bear, God both loves us and uses us to love others. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. God’s mercies never come to an end. Great, indeed is God’s faithfulness. Let us pray. God, we thank you for your love and we thank you for putting people in our lives who demonstrate that love to us. We know that, regardless of our circumstances, you can use us to help others. Keep us open to your call on our lives so that others will think of us and know you. 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/.
S25 · E1038
September 20 · 4 min
God Doesn’t Waste the Pit
Romans 8:28 (CEB) We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 may be one of the most comforting verses in the Bible. It may also be one of the most misused. I grew up hearing, “All things work together for good.” When something terrible happens, someone may even say, “Everything happens for a reason.” But that can make it sound as though suffering somehow produces good all by itself, or worse, that God caused the terrible thing because God had something good in mind. But it’s Bible, right? Notice how the Common English Bible puts it: “God works all things together for good.” The emphasis is not on the terrible thing, but on what God does with it. We see that throughout Scripture. Joseph’s brothers threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery. God didn’t have to cause the pit to use it. The pit was still evil, and the betrayal was still wrong. But none of what happened to Joseph could keep God from working. There’s an old saying: “God doesn’t waste pain.” I like that. It doesn’t pretend pain is good. Some things that happen to us are simply terrible, and calling them good because something good came from them doesn’t make them less terrible. But Romans 8:28 offers us something better than an explanation for our suffering. It offers us a promise about God. Whatever has happened, God is still at work. God can bring compassion out of grief, wisdom out of failure, courage out of fear, and new life out of places that looked completely dead. We don’t have to call the pit good. But we can trust that God is not finished working in it. Let’s pray. Lord, when I face things I cannot understand, help me resist easy answers. Remind me that even in the worst places, you are still at work. Take even my pain and use it for good, and help me trust you when I cannot yet see what you are doing. 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/.
S25 · E1037
September 19 · 3 min
Scripture Saturday (September 19, 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/.
S25 · E1036
September 18 · 4 min
Whatever Became of Wisdom?
Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. When Solomon became king, he had one big request for God: give me the wisdom to govern well. God said, “Yes,” and gave it to him generously. Here's the thing we often overlook. The Hebrew word for "wisdom" is bigger than the kind you need to run a kingdom. It covers a craftsman's skill, an artist's eye, and something closer to home — the everyday competence of living life well. Scripture even pictures Wisdom as a friend – a woman standing at her door, inviting people to the hospitality of her table. Solomon asked for administrative wisdom, and he got it in full. His judgments were sharp, and his governance was shrewd. But he never asked for the wisdom of living well, and you can see the problem it left by the end of his life: hundreds of wives and concubines, a treasury piled high, and stables full of horses collected just to have them. Scripture tells us plainly where he failed: So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not completely follow the Lord, as his father David had done. – 1 Kings 11:6 Solomon's administrative wisdom was legendary. His faithfulness to God was not. And that gap, more than any missing skill, is what left him short. I think most of us know something like this. We carry real wisdom characteristics — good judgment, discernment, a knack for our work, an eye for people. They're genuine gifts. But none of them were meant to run on their own. Without a faithful relationship with the God who is the source of all Wisdom, those gifts will only take us so far. They'll carry us for a while, and then, like Solomon's, they'll run out. Wisdom, in its fullness, was never meant to be a set of traits we collect. It's a life built on faithfulness to the God who gives it. Let us pray. "Father, grant us Your Wisdom in all of its fullness, and remind us that Your gift of Wisdom is built upon our faithful relationship with You. Amen." This devotional was written and read by Chuck Warnock. 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/.
S25 · E1035
September 17 · 4 min
The Light of the World (encore)
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life”. It is summertime and there is plenty of light! I enjoy my wildflower gardens that thrive in that light. I find they are a place where I can pause, reflect and enjoy God’s creation right in front of me. It has been cited that a walk in the garden can bring down your blood pressure. I know that I certainly feel better after a few moments there! The Pharisees were in the crowd as Jesus taught and it is very likely that they were having a spike in their blood pressure! It was their business to know the Scriptures and it is very likely that Psalms 27:1 may have flashed through their minds: “The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” Or maybe the Pharisees were thinking “The unfolding of your words gives light” Psalm 119:130. Either way they surely looked around them and saw the definite influence that Jesus was having on the crowd and certainly felt the threat to their vaunted standing in society. Our challenge comes in Matthew 5:16. “ln the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Are you teaching Sunday School? Excellent! Are you helping to feed the hungry or shelter the homeless? Terrific! Looking out for your fellow brother, sister, stranger to lend a helping hand or share a gesture of kindness? Well done! As in “Well done good and faithful servant! Welcome!” Yes! To hear those words in the Kingdom of Heaven! Light references truth and eternal life. In John 12:45 Jesus cried out, “And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” The chapter ends with verse fifty: “And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.” How much clearer can the message be? Jesus’ light is radiating before us! Let us pray. Send us Jesus out into the crowd of daily life that our actions, our words, and our behaviors would glorify your name and spread your light in this contentious world. Amen This devotion was written and recorded by Sam Barto. Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: 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/.
S25 · E1034
September 16 · 5 min
Hurry, noise, and crowds (encore)
Luke 5:16 Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Barbara and I were returning from a family reunion in Alabama not long ago and making our way up the interstate highway. We encountered several impatient drivers who zoomed in and out of traffic, seeking to get to their destination quickly. They put the rest of us at risk. I’m sure that was not their intention, but the result was to make us uncomfortable and vulnerable, and create a climate that raised anxiety for everyone. I thought of the counsel of Richard Foster, who in his classic guide, The Celebration of Discipline, wrote, “Our adversary majors in three things: hurry, noise, and crowds .” Think about this wisdom: the three things that stand between us and spiritual peace are hurry, noise, and crowds. There are times when we cannot avoid hurry. And times when we can not avoid noise. Nor crowds. But none of these things contribute to our peace. In fact, they are the most significant factors standing in the way of our peace. Barbara and I had this conversation with our son and daughter-in-law. She said, “This is easy for you because you are retired. It’s difficult for us because we have to go to work every day and can’t control our situation.” She was right. But the truth remains that hurry prevents peace, noise inhibits peace, and crowds restrict peace. Jesus understood that life requires a rhythm—engagement and retreat, helping and restoring. And the very thing that enables us to help adequately is the time of quiet and prayer that replenishes our spiritual resources. Our Lord withdrew for prayer and renewal. And so must we. Keep this truth near you. Our spiritual adversary majors in hurry, noise, and crowds. We must major in rest, quiet, and solitude. This is what replenishes our spirits. Prayer: Dear God, slow me down, quiet me down, and enable me to be alone with you so that I may be the one you intended for me to be. Amen. This devotion was written and read 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: 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/.
S25 · E1033
September 15 · 6 min
Do Not Be Dismayed
Isaiah 41:10 “So, do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This verse is a powerful reminder that God, the Helper of Israel, and of all human kind, does not want us to live in fear. There are also a dozen times in the New Testament where Jesus encourages people not to be afraid. We should take something repeated by God that many times, as absolute truth! Yet we worry and are fearful of many things in this day and age! Chapman University, a top private University in California, in 2025 compiled their poll entitled – What Americans Fear Most. The result of that poll shows that many of us experience common fears. The Top 10 are felt by more than 50% of Americans. The following are the Top 10… Corrupt government officials People I love becoming seriously ill Economic/financial collapse Cyber terrorism People I love dying US becoming involved in another World War Pollution of drinking water Russia using Nuclear Weapons Pollution of oceans, rivers, and lakes Government tracking of personal data For the 10th consecutive year, fear of “Corrupt government officials” has topped the list, with 69% of Americans making this their #1 fear in 2025. Now, I would add AI and all sorts of unknown emerging technologies to this list of things we can’t control or sometimes can’t even understand. The world can feel too big. Who is in control, we might ask, when the news of the day bowls us over in anxiety and fear! But, my friends, GOD is in control. Yet we might ask – then where is He?! Let’s consider what Jesus said about that when he walked on the earth as a man 2000 years ago… In Matthew 28:18-20 we find these words, Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. He is with us, but we may not be holding onto his promises. It’s so easy to get caught up in the news of the day, so we need to make time to read our Bibles, to pray in quiet space with Jesus, and to center ourselves on God’s LOVE and promises. He is with us, but we have to accept His presence, His promises and His peace. Let’s do that right now. Please pray with me… Dear loving, faithful God, please help me to remain centered in your promises. Help me to trust you and to focus on your strength, and your love, and not my own fear and helplessness. Help me to rest in your peace. In Jesus' name we pray…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/.
S25 · E1032
September 14 · 5 min
Twelve Baskets of Hope
Romans 15:13 (NRSV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Paul’s letter to the Roman church, he spends the first eleven chapters building one long argument: Jew and Gentile stand on identical ground before God. No distinction, he says in chapter 3 — all have sinned, all are justified freely by grace. In chapter 11, Gentile believers are branches grafted into an old olive tree, sharing its root with Israel rather than replacing it. A few years before this letter, the emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome — Jewish Christians included. The church kept meeting without them, shaped by Gentile believers who'd never kept kosher and saw no reason to start. When the ban lifted, Jewish believers came home to a congregation with its own habits already set. Paul calls one side "weak in faith" and the other "strong," and neither gets a compliment. The weak still ate only vegetables, still marked certain days as holy. The strong ate anything, treated every day alike, and chapter 14 opens by telling them not to look down on the ones they disagree with. Two groups at the same table, two consciences, each sure the other had it wrong. Paul doesn't referee that argument. He keeps pointing both sides back to Christ, who died for the believer sitting across the table. Early in chapter 15, he quotes four Old Testament passages picturing Gentiles praising God alongside Israel, one voice. That's what he's been building toward since chapter 1. Our verse for today, verse 13 of chapter 15, serves as the letter’s benediction, right before Paul shifts into travel plans and personal greetings. Everything he's argued for fourteen chapters lands here, in a prayer. The word translated "abound" in verse 13 is perisseuō (per-is-SYOO-oh), and it means to overflow or exceed a standard measure. It describes having more than enough, a surplus, or a superabundance in quantity and quality. By my count, Paul used the word over 20 times in his other letters, but the most notable use in the Bible is in John's Gospel, after Jesus feeds five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. "Gather up the fragments left over," Jesus tells the disciples (John 6:12). The same word, perisseuō, describes what remained: Twelve full baskets (v. 13). Not a crowd barely fed. A crowd fed until they were full, with room to spare. Paul’s prayer is not that the argument would end. He prays, "May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace, so that you perisseuō in hope.” More hope than it takes. More than you asked for. More than you can imagine. The whole letter's theology rests on one request: that what fills this newly rejoined, still-adjusting family would be more than the moment required. Not enough to get by. Left over. Twelve baskets of it. Prayer Father, you are the God of hope. Fill us with joy and peace in the middle of what isn't resolved, and let your Spirit make that hope abound — more than the moment requires. Amen. This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: 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/.
S25 · E1031
September 13 · 4 min
Looking toward the hills
Psalm 121: 1-2 (New International Version) I lift up my eyes to the hills— Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, The Maker of heaven and earth. What happens when a person looks up to the hills and puts her faith in the Lord? The answer is illustrated in the life of Emma Gatewood, more famously known as Grandma Gatewood of Gallipolis, Ohio, who was the first woman to walk the Appalachian Trail in its entirety in 1955 at the age of 67. In the years following, she walked the trail two more times. Emma Gatewood’s life up to her walk was filled with adversity. Born into a family of fifteen children, she suffered an alcoholic and abusive father. She was only able to attend school through the eighth grade. At the age of 19, she married Perry Gatewood, a well-educated man who nevertheless turned into a violent alcoholic husband. She raised 11 children, worked in the fields and suffered physical abuse. Finally in 1939 she left Perry and filed for divorce, at a time when divorce was unheard of. Her case was so compelling she received alimony and custody of the three children still at home. Self-educated and a voracious reader, Emma Gatewood ran across an article on the Appalachian Trail in an old National Geographic Magazine. In 1955 she told her children she was “going for a walk.” 146 days later, she had traveled from Georgia to Maine and ended at the peak of Mount Baxter, where she signed the register and said, “I did it; I said I would do it and I’ve done it.” Because she was a unique traveler, local newspapers along the way carried stories about her. But that was not the end. She became a noted speaker and increased the popularity of hiking and building trails. In spite of the problems she encountered on the first trek. Grandma Gatewood set out a second time and discovered that her experiences had inspired others to hike and improve the trail. She hiked the Oregon Trail at the age of 76, and in 1967, she hiked the Appalachian Trail a third time. By the end of her life, she had walked over 14,000 miles and inspired many along the way. Emma Gatewood looked up to the hills and found her help in God’s natural world. She became a role model to both women and men for turning adversity into adventure. Hers is an unusual story but not unique. As with Emma, we can trust in God and in the beauty of the hills around us to summon deep resources inside our souls. Let us pray: Dear Lord, help us to remember that you are always around us, in the hills, in the valleys, and on the plains of our lives. We know that our help comes from you, the Maker of heaven and earth. Amen. This devotion was written by Laura Derr and read by Amy Large. 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/.

Showing 21–40 of 76 episodes