Grace for All

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/.

Jesus also says in

There it is plain as day! Entry into Heaven is through Jesus.  Know in your heart, mind and soul that Jesus is who He said he was, the Messiah, the Son of God sent as God’s messenger to teach us, to show us the way.

This world is filled with so many distractions that divert our attention from Him to the temptations of this world. We all know those earthly temptations all too well. Turn on the TV and be bombarded with buy, buy, buy or preen, preen, preen. The internet? Watchout! The dangers are many.

It takes discipline, focus, worship and Christian fellowship to keep our eyes on Jesus and not what the earth has to offer that leads to the wide path of destruction.

Jesus also tells Pilate in John 18: 36 “My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.  But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

Our walk in this world, on that hard road that leads to life should be as Johnny Cash sings about it:

God in Heaven, this world is filled with distractions, temptations and snares which can trap us while diverting our attention from you and your commandments.  Give us the strength and fortitude to walk the hard road and enter the narrow gate to You and life!” 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/.

You are listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.

This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us.

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

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

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

In this short New Testament book, the author is likely addressing a number of churches in the first century that were struggling with false teachers. There were those who were challenging the inspiration of Scripture and the reliability of prophecy. They were also challenging the truth of Jesus’ second coming and wondering if it even matters how we live in the present if judgement is not forthcoming. The author reminds these early Christians of Peter’s teaching and defends the Christian message.

If these early Christians were struggling with conflicting teachings, then, imagine how they would react if plunked down in the middle of our 21st century world. They would likely have difficulty identifying followers of Christ, much less evidence of His teachings in their actions. With buildings dedicated to different denominations and non-denominations every where and stories of church leaders accused of abuse and wrongdoing in the daily news, not to mention all the news of human beings’ hatred and wrongdoing toward others, they might even think Christianity as they had learned about had died out years ago.

In other words, it is clear that this is not the new earth where righteousness dwells.

Does it matter how we live? Well, yes! In Matthew 22:37–40, we are commanded to  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

We are to strive for righteousness in the here and now. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we can begin to live as God intended us to live. Jesus teaches that righteousness is living in a way that is just, honest, and faithful to God. It is a state of moral and spiritual uprightness that involves living in obedience to God's commands. The way of the world is the opposite of righteous living, and it is mighty hard to separate ourselves from all that we are told represents worldly success – power, wealth, personal gain – all opposites of Jesus’ example of how to live.

It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we can remain focused on the commandment to love God and others. Jesus’ ministry on earth shows us what to do; His Holy Spirit enables us to emulate Him.

 “We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth.” Yes, we are, but we can endeavor to live today in a way that shows others that Jesus’ teaching will always be true, and God will always be with us.

Let us pray: Heavenly father, we thank you for your Holy Word and for the inspired teachers who help us understand it so it may guide our lives in worship and service to you. May we remain vigilant and reject false teachings when we encounter them. Give us strength and wisdom as we endeavor to live righteous lives so that we may honor You. 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: [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/.

Memory is a tricky thing. Several people can experience the same event and have quite different, even conflicting, memories of it. I see this when discussing past events with family members; we all remember different details.  For example, we recently discussed family Christmas memories with our daughters and granddaughters. They remember from a child’s perspective while we remember from a parent’s perspective. One might think we were not all at the same event!

In this verse, however, the prophet is telling us that former things will not be remembered – at all! Our human experiences will not matter in God’s perfect kingdom. All our sorrow, pain, and suffering, as well as our happy times, will be irrelevant in God’s new creation.

I try to imagine a perfect new heavens and earth. A world without pain and suffering seems like a great idea; man’s abuse of one another and the natural world will end. Harmony and agape love will replace conflict and selfishness. However each of us imagines the new heaven and earth, it certainly seems far better than the world in which we now live.

Where does that leave us in the present, as we live in an imperfect world in which we do experience injustice, cruelty, hatred, pain, and sorrow? It is not perfect yet. In a Bible study group in which I participate we recently discussed the concept of the Kingdom of God and what we can do to bring about the Kingdom on earth. There is the world as it is now, and there is the world as it should be. We can look around us, recognize opportunities to serve others, and do our part to make the world better, if not perfect. Food ministries, homeless ministries, healthcare ministries – all these efforts on our part show others that we as followers of Christ endeavor to be His hands and feet in our imperfect world, and that, most of all, we love and serve others in His name.

Let us pray. Father, your promise of a new heavens and earth gives us hope for the future, but we recognize that you do not want us to sit and wait idly for that to happen. Give us vision to see what we can do right now right here to exemplify your love by serving and loving others.

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: [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 Jesus’ response when questioned by Pilate. We know how the rest of the story goes. We also know that Simon Peter did strike the high priest’s slave and was corrected by Jesus. 

I understand Simon Peter’s reaction. We often want to take matters into our own hands. After all, we know what needs to be done, and no one can do it but us … or no one can do it correctly but us. But, oh, how wrong we are. 

Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. As we say in the prayer Jesus taught us, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” For God’s will to be done, we have to seek it, but that’s often not our first response. We tend to react with worldly responses because we are, well, human. Once we have made a complete mess of things, we then cry out to God for assistance. 

Are we focused on God’s kingdom as we go throughout our day? I know that I often lose that focus. It helps me to remember that there is no one I will encounter whom God does not love. 

My maternal grandmother used to tell everyone she loved them. I used to think that she couldn’t possibly love everyone to whom she said that. Maybe she liked them or thought they were nice, but loved them? Surely not. 

I have since decided there was much wisdom in her approach. If we want God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, then we want God’s love on earth. To do that, we need to see someone God loves in everyone we encounter, and our interactions need to reflect that understanding. 

Let’s love people. Make it weird. Let’s bring part of God’s kingdom to earth.  

God, help us work to bring Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, by responding to those we encounter, knowing they are beloved by You. Guide our interactions with others and keep our focus as we share Your love in the world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

This devotional was written by Kathryn King 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/.

Our family’s future was drastically changed on Thanksgiving Day, 1951 in Union Grove, Wisconsin. My dad, at age 27, a hired farmhand, headed out to the barn to finish shredding a load of field cornstalks that morning. His father, my Grampa Earl went out to assist. Gramma Evelyn helped Mom with the Thanksgiving feast preparation in the farmhouse kitchen. I remember the aroma of that big turkey turning golden in our oven. Potatoes were being peeled, homemade yeast rolls were being baked, deviled eggs were being concocted. As a youngster two months away from age 5, I was not much help but could help set the table for the feast. 

But all the flurry in the kitchen stopped when shouts came out from the barn. My dad was being helped across the barnyard to his car. His right arm was wrapped in an olive green wool Army blanket. Mom rushed out as Pop yelled at her to wrap his arm in a tourniquet. My little sister (2) and I stood wide-eyed at the window as Gramma hovered by us cautioning us to stay put and she would wait with us. Why was his arm wrapped up in that blanket? These were the days before 911 and cell phones. Our Grampa drove the half hour drive to the hospital while Mom adjusted the tourniquet. Gramma finished the meal preparation and did her best to keep us two little girls calm. 

We found out later that our dad had been wearing brand new leather gloves that morning and was horrified that one dropped in the moving machinery of the corn shredder. He reached out to extricate it but it was too late. The corn shredder mangled his right arm to just below the elbow.  I do not recall how long he was in this hospital, but his dream to be a farmer was lost with that arm. 

I don’t really remember getting presents and celebrating Christmas in 1951 but I know it was a day of gratitude. The best present was to have the presence of our daddy home from the hospital. And getting happy news when they shared that a new baby was due to arrive in June. 

We moved back to the small Illinois town Stockton where my folks grew up and he was fitted with a prosthetic arm. Being a curious 5 year old, I asked where his missing arm was. He responded that he buried it in the farm garden to enrich the soil. We farm girls became “townies.”  

A new chapter in our lives began in 1952. Dad learned to write with his left hand and commenced to a new life making accommodations to his tools to work better for lefties. He learned to drive a car, catch fish and hunt for deer using his prosthetic arm. 

Dad started a job at a local auto parts factory, being paid $.60 an hour. He recalls being paid $1.10 an hour after three months. He eventually became the night shift foreman before ending his work there in 1968. It was not his dream job but he and Mom were diligent about saving so by 1968 they could realize their dream of owning a fishing resort on a beautiful lake in northern Minnesota. 

Our family learned that sometimes broken dreams lead to dreams coming true. Indeed, the Lord moves in mysterious ways. 

Lord, when I come up against something discouraging, give me the strength to keep on moving forward. It can be so hard to keep pushing on and to stay encouraged. 

Help me to become stronger and stronger as you lead me through the challenges of life. 

And remind me I am not alone. 

In Your name,

Amen

Today’s devotional was written and read by Judy Clay Wilson.

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

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

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

My fourth-grade teacher, the beloved Mrs. O’Rear, always said – “Keep your eyes on your own paper.”  I think that is one lesson Jesus is emphasizing in our scripture today.  Jesus also told his disciples and us not to judge others – warning that the measure we use to judge others is the same size measure that will be used on us – be it a teaspoon or a gallon!

It can be tempting to compare ourselves to others; creating a checklist of all the work we’ve done for God – all the hours we’ve put in with God – being reverent, worshipping, volunteering, reading the Bible and praying.  With my checklist I can compare my righteousness to that big sinner, that lost sheep, that late comer who doesn’t even have a week of work for God.  Surely, I’ll have many more stars in my crown, a whiter robe, and bigger wings than that one!  I’ve been here working hard for a long, long time.  Don’t I deserve more?

Jesus says in Luke 15:7 – There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons with no repentance.

 I think Jesus and Mrs. O’Rear are telling us the same thing… Celebrate with heaven every time a lost sheep is found and earns their reward.”  Welcome them home!  And keep your eyes on your own paper!

Dear Lord, Help me to love more generously, to forgive as much as I wish to be forgiven, and to celebrate with Heaven over every new worker, no matter what time they show up to work!  In Jesus’ name - Amen

Today’s devotional was written and read by Bernice Howard.

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

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

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

I don’t know about you, but threading a needle for me has become an act of hope and prayer as I have gotten older. Some days I think I would be as likely to get a camel through the eye of a needle as a thread. But I exaggerate. All I really need is a bright light and glasses to correct my vision. I do wonder if the analogy offered in this parable is hyperbole though. I’m not one to read the Bible literally, but in a more direct reading, it does appear to say that it is impossible for a person with a lot of money to go to heaven. I am not certain that Jesus means to say it is impossible for an entire portion of humanity to be in heaven.

I suspect that I am not the only person that has found one of the most valued qualities of parables to be that over the decades we hear people interpret them and question their meaning over and over in different ways. Sometimes we are led to a completely new understanding by those among us that see with the most clarity.

So it is in this spirit that I look at this parable. Let us shine a bright light on it and sharpen our vision. What if the challenge is not in the camel and the needle but in what we think of being rich? What if the lesson is in what we consider wealth and what we seek rather than about coins and whether we have a lot?

Wealth of the financial kind has always seemed arbitrary and relative to me. Who has money and who does not rarely appears to be based on any one specific skill or trait. I have known people who have had what I would consider vast sums who were constantly voicing poverty and people who had less than I who seemed more satisfied and wealthy than most.

What if the reason it is hard to get through the eye of the needle is because we seek things that aren’t the path to heaven? What if the reason we don’t see the eye of the needle clearly is because we aren’t looking in the right direction?

What if the lesson is that we can’t be rich because everything we have is a gift, and we don’t really own anything at all? What if wealth has nothing to do with amount but how we view ownership and what we choose to do with what we have been given?

If one’s goal is earthly wealth, and one thinks they gain it by one’s own skill and hard work then life may or may not be filled with earthly delights and pleasures. These are not the lessons that Jesus came to teach us. His vision is focused elsewhere.

Be careful what you seek. What kind of satisfied do you want to be? Who are you trying to please? Be careful what you spend your time searching for because most likely it is exactly what you will find. 

God, please help me not to aim for my own goals but for yours. Allow me the insight to understand how to see clearly what has value. Give me the strength to share what you have given me in the ways that you value and no other. Allow me to understand what poverty and wealth really are, Amen. 

Today's devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Joey Smith.

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

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

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

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/.