Grace for All

Like many of you, I've taken on the challenge of reading the Bible in a year. Reading through the Bible is very rewarding. In all honesty, though, some books are more challenging than others. For me, Isaiah is the most challenging book in the Bible.

Isaiah is a long book, but it is theologically rich. It was written by the prophet Isaiah, who lived and prophesied at the end of Israel's Kingdom Period. Isaiah wrote it about 100 years before the nation's exile to Babylon in 538 BCE.

Chapter 41 of the Book of Isaiah discusses God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and promise of redemption for the people of Israel. Today's verse, verse 1 of chapter 41, begins with Isaiah calling all the nations to gather in silence before God. He challenges them to make a case for themselves and their idols. In the rest of the chapter, God asserts His control over them, their history, and those who make it. He restates the strength of His relationship with the nation of Israel and promises them restoration. Finally, He shows the futility of worshiping gods shaped by men and promises them a deliverer.

This chapter is a message from God to His people in Israel. It is a message of hope and confidence: Their situation was not beyond His control, and He had a plan for their restoration.

Our world today seems to be in dire straits. You don't have to look hard to find suffering, and you don't have to try to find things that don't make sense. It is easy just to give up hope.

Here's the best news you will hear all day: God is the same today as He was in the time of Isaiah's writing. He still desires a relationship  with his people, but today we are His people too. His promises now include us and are as valid today as they were then.

God is in control. He cares for me and He cares for you. He wants a relationship with us, and He provides a way for us to have one through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The opportunity is right in front of you. Take it, follow Him, and live, starting right now and lasting for eternity.

Father, thank you for giving us a redeemer and allowing us to have a relationship with you. Make us aware that anything we turn to instead of you is false and does not bring lasting hope or peace. May we always find hope and peace in you and always seek to share that hope and peace with those you love. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Cliff McCartney.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/. 

Last year, I wrote about this verse as I cleared out my office, retiring after four decades of teaching. Physical exhaustion from moving books and furniture gave me a tangible understanding of what it means to have our strength renewed, like replacing depleted batteries with fresh ones.

Today, I grasp an even deeper meaning of this promise. As I provide round-the-clock care for my severely disabled daughter during a nursing shortage, exhaustion has taken on a new dimension. Last week alone, I spent 84 hours in her room during the night shift, on top of my regular daily responsibilities. This tiredness doesn’t go away with a good night's sleep or a weekend of rest.

In these moments, I've discovered that God's promise in Isaiah isn't just about physical renewal – it's about supernatural sustenance. When Isaiah writes about soaring like eagles, he doesn’t mean we'll never feel physically tired. Instead, he's promising that God provides strength beyond our natural capabilities for spiritual exhaustion when we place our hope in Him.

Young people may grow weary, as the earlier verses acknowledge, but those who hope in the Lord find a different kind of strength. It's not always dramatic or visible like an eagle soaring overhead. Sometimes it's simply the quiet ability to put one foot in front of another, to remain standing when everything within us wants to collapse.

What amazes me is how God's strength often manifests not in changing our circumstances, but in sustaining us through them. When I feel I cannot possibly manage another sleepless night or face another challenge, His strength becomes most evident in my weakness.

This promise isn't about mustering up more human effort. It's about surrendering our exhaustion to God and allowing His strength to work through our limitations. Whether you're caring for a loved one, facing chronic illness, or battling emotional fatigue, God's promise remains: When we place our hope in Him, He provides the strength we need for each moment—not from our reserves, but from His infinite supply.

Father, thank you for the strength that you give us to face our challenges. We all have challenges in this life, and they all can exhaust us. May we recognize our own limitations, and draw on your resources to sustain us and bring us joy. In the name of Christ, Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Donn King.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

This verse is part of a Psalm that is a direct conversation with God. It moves from the emotions of dismay, despair and wailing to dancing, joy and praise. The Psalmist moves from the realm of death to renewed life and hope in the Lord.

We all have moments in our lives that cause us dismay and despair. These moments stop us in our tracks and can change the course of our lives. They test our resilience and faith.

Bishop Michael Curry, who is the first African American Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, described such an event in his memoir, Love is the Way.

In 1986, Curry was serving as Rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Baltimore. He found himself in a once prosperous church, the church where Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall had been baptized. But the neighborhood had changed, As Curry said, “In West Baltimore, high society had long ago ceded the area to the merely ‘high.’” Crack cocaine had taken over the streets. Curry encouraged the church to reach out into the community and reclaim the lives of children and the poor. He believed “the church is the only society that exists primarily for those who are not its members.” He and other ministers went out into the streets and preached. St. James established programs for children and youth. The church was making a difference.

But one night lightning from a thunderstorm struck the church tower and the entire roof caught fire. Curry feared that “Another good, lasting part of the neighborhood seemed to be disappearing before our eyes.” The fire chief told Curry the only way to save the building was to break the largest stained-glass window to allow oxygen in. Curry gave permission and the firemen saved the building but lost the window and the roof. It felt like God was giving up on this neighborhood. It felt like a time of weeping and loss.

A reporter at the scene asked Curry if the church would rebuild in the suburbs. But Curry looked around and saw a young neighborhood boy who was in St. James’ confirmation class. And he said aloud, “We are not leaving. We will rebuild right here.” 

And over the next two years the congregation did just that, meeting in a plain parish hall in folding chairs. It was a time of joy and renewal. Bishop Curry said, it “might have been the best years we had at St. James.” 

What seemed like a disaster actually brought renewal. By the time Bishop Curry moved on, the congregation had grown from 250 to 400. 

Let us pray: Dear God, help us see the hope in times of loss. Help us experience renewal when all we can see is destruction in our lives. We know that you are with us and will show us how to reclaim and renew our lives for your purposes. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

This devotional was written by Laura Derr and read by Ryan Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

“My father prunes so that you bear more fruit.” 

Powerful!

The book of Matthew closes with the Great Commission, 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 that I have commanded you.

How can we go out and bear more fruit?  That fruit which you and I produce powers the Great Commission.

As a Sunday School teacher for many years,  I wanted to ensure that my son was there. I did not want this to be my experience of being dropped off by a father that was likely hungover, at a big church outside of my neighborhood.  I was scared, but I found my way through hallways that seemed huge to me and made it to my class. The lessons learned there have stuck with me throughout my life.

That experience has set me on a path to a life that I truly hope is a part of the vine that bears fruit.

Jesus, we know you are the true vine and that you nurture us.  Give us the strength and confidence to go out into this challenging world and do your will, bearing good fruit. Amen.

This devotion was written and recorded by Sam Barto.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Thank you for joining us for today's Grace for All podcast.

On Saturdays, we pause for a few moments to look back on our week and to review the scriptures that we have used in our podcast.

We encourage you, after listening to this episode, to go back and listen to the episodes you missed, or to review the ones that were particularly meaningful for you. We trust that the thoughts that we have shared with you this week have provided a full portion of the joy, peace, and love of Jesus Christ.

Now, let's hear this week's scriptures.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

For centuries, in churches and homes around the globe, followers of Christ have prayed The Lord’s Prayer, in keeping with Jesus’ sermon on the mount and the early church tradition.  I wonder how many times these words have been raised to God—spoken individually or corporately, aloud, or in silent meditation—"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  Countless pleas have been lifted for the reign of Christ, for heaven to be known on earth.  The sheer magnitude both overwhelms and saddens me.  I cannot fathom it.  The knowledge that this prayer has been lifted perhaps more than any other is disheartening when I consider how history seems to repeat itself and how unlike heaven earth is.

When I look at the news and see stories of war, devastation, continued and escalating gun violence, and even the gospel message being perverted and used to justify the inhumane treatment of others, it sure doesn’t seem like this prayer is being answered.

Maybe the problem is that we’re doing too much talking and not enough listening.  Because if we’re paying attention, Jesus tells us the way to usher in the kingdom. 

In Matthew 20, when the mother of James and John asks Jesus if her sons can sit at his right and left when he comes into his kingdom, his response to them is this, “You don’t know what you are asking.  Can you drink from my cup?”   Later, when the other disciples learn about this request and become indignant, Jesus admonishes them and clarifies his response to the question of greatness.  He says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus, in teaching about the kingdom, contradicts everything the world teaches about greatness.  In Jesus’ kingdom, greatness comes through surrender and humility.  Until we, as his followers, truly understand, embrace, and live out this teaching, we will not see God’s kingdom, God’s will, done on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord, we confess to you that we want to see your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, but we don’t want to do the hard work of surrender that is necessary for transformation.  Only by your grace can we be changed, sanctified, and made instruments of your holy work.  Move within us to change our hearts, that we may become less and You become more.  Make us servants in the way of our brother, Jesus, in whose name we pray.  Amen.

Today’s devotional was written and read by Greta Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

A poet I once knew wrote these words:

excerpt from "A Resolution For the Year Ahead" by R.R. Childress

The author here reminds me of these things....

We do not belong to ourselves but to our Creator. We are transient, just passing through. Our job is to make our journey an honorable one by taking care of our mind, body and spirit. As we strive to take care of our physical bodies and nourish our spirits, let us live and love well on our journey.

Jesus teaches us that He came so that we may have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Jesus also says, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

With Jesus, the abundant life gives us purpose, peace, joy and strength for the spirit, body and soul.

Heavenly Father, thank you for  the gift of life and for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Guide us each day that we might serve you well and show your light to those we meet. Amen.

This devotional was written by A.C. Griffith and read by Ryan Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

From the very beginning, work has been part of God’s good design. In the garden, Adam’s hands touched the soil, tending and nurturing life. Work wasn’t meant to grind us down but to lift us up—a calling to partner with the Creator in caring for the world.

In the early 20th century, George Washington Carver exemplified this truth. A scientist and educator, he saw work not as drudgery but as discovery. Carver believed God had placed answers to human needs in the natural world, and through tireless research, he unlocked the potential of peanuts and sweet potatoes, transforming agriculture and livelihoods. For Carver, work was a joy, a way to do good, and a gift that pointed back to the Giver.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that work and its fruits—whether a meal shared with loved ones or the satisfaction of a task completed—are divine gifts. The joy of meaningful labor is not a reward we earn but an offering from God, inviting us to live fully in each moment. Even in the toil and repetition, there is purpose: a way to do good and to find contentment, not apart from God, but as a reflection of His provision.

Today, whatever your work may be—planting seeds, leading meetings, or making a home—let it echo with gratitude. Look for the moments where joy and meaning intersect with effort. In those places, you’ll find the fingerprints of God, reminding you that every task, no matter how small, carries the potential for worship.

Giver of all good things, thank You for the gift of work and the satisfaction it brings. Help us to see Your hand in the rhythm of our days and to find joy and meaning in the work we do. May all we do honor You. Amen. 

Written by Chuck Warnock and read by Jim Stovall.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the lessons that we could learn from these verses. I think I hear something different than I have ever heard. Before, these verses sang of trust and security. Lately, what I am hearing is like a buzzing little gnat asking me how I would know whether my house is on solid rock or sinking sand? It has made me stop and consider, of all things, sand.

According to Ambrose Bierce’s sarcastic definition, Education is “that which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding.” Personally, I’ve never been convinced that this definition is sarcastic or a joke.

Proverbs 27:3 says,

There are dozens of verses in the bible that create metaphors about sand. Most of them use sand to represent abundance - of sons, wealth, soldiers. Some offer an abundance of good and some do not. But the message in these verses from Matthew and Proverbs seems a little different. They focus our attention on our behavior and the choices we make as we build our home in this world.

Sand is primarily composed of silicon dioxide (which contains silicon and oxygen), the two most common elements of the Earth's crust overall. Sand covers much of the Earth. Sand can be found on beautiful beaches, tropical islands, and in deserts. Sand can be sinking quicksand, or it can be sandstone, quartz, glass, concrete, fiberglass, and microchips.

Sand is common yet miraculous. It is gritty, dirty, and dangerous. It is sparkling, transformative, and life-saving.

I think the buzzing in my ear is the idea that the cultures and religions of the world are like the sands of the Earth. They are what we make of them. As numerous as the grains of sand of the Earth, we are surrounded by numerous cultures and religions both common and pervasive as well as rare and remote.

We can’t change their properties, but we can learn how to work with them. For what are rocks but sand transformed into quartz, sandstone, and manmade rock (concrete)?

When we build the house of our beliefs, when we build the heart of who we are, do we build a fortress of cold hard stone that keeps others out, or do we build a platform from which we can see clearly all that God has made?

When we build our houses, do we carve paths that connect or barricades that exile?

What may seem like a wise choice of strength could be an illusion that slips through our fingers like grains of sand.

My prayer for today is that we stand firm on the rock that is the teaching of Jesus. May we be shaped into sparkling, transformative, and life-giving builders who understand that some strengths are weaknesses and some weaknesses are strengths. May God allow us to learn the difference, Amen.

This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Greta Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Who do you give the power to determine how you feel about yourself? Wow. When he asked, I immediately thought of a couple of people whose opinion of me mattered more than those of others. I was aware of a person who, with a word of praise, could put me on top of the world. But that same person could also, with a word of criticism, crush me. So there are two takeaways for me. from my teacher's insightful question. The first is that some people, not many, usually a very few, can bless you. But those same folks can, to use biblical language, curse you. The second takeaway is that I and we give that power to that person or persons. And that means that as we are now adults, we can decide to not give them that authority any longer. So give the power to those who bless and withdraw the power from those who curse.

Across my lifetime, I have seen many people, and you have too, who have never felt blessed. And it shows. Their resentment, anger, criticism of others, and generally negative way of looking at life betrays the absence of the blessing.

Now let's look at the baptism of Jesus. this was the occasion of God's blessing of him for his ministry I love the words God speaks to him you are my dearly loved son and you bring me great joy, the wonderful spiritual guide Henry Nouwen says. You, I, we, are beloved sons and daughters of God. Let that soak into you. You, I, we, are the beloved daughters and sons of God. Can you hear those words spoken to you and for you?

Dear God, it humbles me to know that I bring you joy. Let me know it and trust it. And let me be a person who blesses others because you have blessed me. Amen.

This devotional 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: [email protected].

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.