Grace for All

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

Luke 2: 36 -38 There was also a prophet, Anna…She was of a great age… She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna is a symbol of celebrating the moment. She had spent most of her life at the temple, more than 70 years. She sees the young family, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus and the word of God came to her, “Here is the one, the long awaited Messiah!” She rushed to them giving thanks that she had lived long enough to experience this moment.  She then tells others about what God had told her concerning this child.  Her words would have had great weight. Anna was called a prophet, one who spoke for God. One of just a few women in the Bible who were called this. I am sure that all who hear her marveled at her words. 

Anna was praising God for this moment. There was no regret that she wouldn’t live long enough to see how this baby boy would grow and live out his mission from God. She was happy to experience what she was seeing.

Too often we don’t stop to celebrate those God moments when they come to us.  They seem so inconsequential or incomplete.  We want more and are less than content with what we have.  

I think of the child I witnessed in an ice cream parlor.  His parents told him and his sister they could pick a flavor of ice cream for their cone. The sister chose her flavor and was happily eating it while the young boy was standing there undecided.  His father asked what was the problem.  He said, “If I pick one flavor I will miss out on the rest.”  Instead of focusing on what he could have, he looked at all he would lose.  

I think that we are sometimes like that boy.  We are so focused on what we don’t have that we don’t give thanks for what we have. Anna reminds us that God is at work in our lives in small and sometimes significant ways right now.  When this is our focus it is easy to give thanks. Each day brings with it many blessings. 

One of the things I do each night before I go to sleep is to list as many blessings as I can think about that happened that day.  As each comes to mind I give thanks to God.  I don’t focus on the other more challenging things that might be happening in my life or worry about what might come.  I pause and like Anna, see how God is at work here and now.    I don’t worry about the future, at least in these moments, because I realize how lucky I am to have experienced all I have today.

Let us pray. 

Thank you God for all the blessings you allow us to experience each day.  Help us to celebrate them without regret.  AMEN.

This devotional was written by Bill Green 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/. 

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

 Isaiah 51:3 (NIV)The Lord will surely comfort Zion    and will look with compassion on all her ruins;he will make her deserts like Eden,    her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

 

As I write this, the devastation from hurricanes Helene and Milton is still being assessed, but the destruction is already overwhelming.  Many have been lost.  Many have been displaced.  For those of us who live in the mountains, it is especially hard to believe that a hurricane could cause so much ruin in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina.  Now that the reality is setting in, it’s hard to believe that joy and gladness, thanksgiving and singing could ever be found in those mountains again.

This passage from Isaiah reminds me that God is present in devastation and ruin, and that where there is destruction, God’s people can always count on God’s comfort and compassion.  The prophet tells us that we can be sure of it.  The Lord will “surely comfort Zion,” he writes, and” will look with compassion on all her ruins.”  Even in the face of utter destruction, there is hope for restoration of the land, and for joy, gladness and thanksgiving to be found among the people once again. 

No one can predict the future.  Storms will come, and sometimes they will rage.  They may wreak havoc beyond our wildest imagination.   We cannot be confident that life will be safe or that we will be protected from the storms, but we can be confident in the character of a loving God who surely remains present, provides comfort, looks with compassion, redeems the lost and restores the broken. 

Gardens spring up, even in wastelands. For that, we give thanks.

 

Let us pray:

God of the deserts and wastelands, God of the ruins, we give thanks for your unfailing presence and unwavering compassion.  We ask that you comfort the grieving and restore the land, that songs of joy and thanksgiving might be heard once again.  With hope we pray, amen.

This devotional was written and read by Greta Smith.

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

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

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

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

Psalm 107:8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

This is a powerful verse that is a call for gratitude and praise for the everlasting and unchanging love bestowed upon us by the Lord. It’s a reminder to all of us to acknowledge and appreciate all the many blessings that He has given us because he loves us.

There have been many times in my life when I felt unlovable. One of the earliest instances I can remember is when I was punished as a child for some form of misbehavior that I don’t even remember. I do remember my dad saying that they were only punishing me because they loved me. At that point I thought to myself “ Well, I could do without this kind of love! I don’t feel loved right now!” Later in adolescence, I felt unloved when it seemed all of my friends were “going steady” except me. And even later after I lost my husband, I felt that no one would ever love me again like he did. It took time and quite a bit of reflection to realize that I AM loveable and the Lord does love me, even with my imperfection. And because of His love, he has given us so much to be thankful for. I try not to take this for granted.

When I see the sunrise on a beautiful fall day, I thank the Lord. When I gaze into my grandchildren’s faces, I thank the Lord. When I arrive safely at home from a trip, I thank the Lord. I experience so many blessings everyday that often go unnoticed but in reflection I can say ‘ Thank you Lord! I knew that was you! Thank you for loving me.”

Our prayer today:

Heavenly Father, You have shown us Your love in so many ways. Help us to avoid the distractions of the day and give You thanks for all the goodness You have bestowed upon us. Thank you for Your love! Amen.

This devotion was written by Virginia Hardwick 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/. 

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

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/. 

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

Mark 14:22-23 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.

 

I am an engineer by training and experience. I like to think I have an appreciation for things that are well engineered and designed. I think the human body fits into that category, and there is one part of our bodies that I feel are particularly well done – the hands.  

Our hands are marvelous things: we use them to grip and lift things that are heavy, unwieldy, or large (or all three), but we also use them to hold a newborn infant. Some of us can cut down a tree, work on a car, or even twist the lid off a mayonnaise jar, but we can still put a piece of thread through the eye of a needle.  

Maybe your hands are soft, maybe they are rough. Maybe you work with your hands and you have the calluses to show it. Maybe they are bronzed or burned by the sun because you spend a lot of time outdoors. Maybe you worked in your garden last night and you still have dirt under your fingernails. You probably have some nicks and dings and scars, and if you’re like me, your hands are a little wrinkled, and they just might hurt a bit in the mornings.  

I would love to have seen Jesus’ hands. He was raised as a carpenter, so you know that His hands were probably rough. He spent a lot of time outdoors, so they may have been sunburned. Being a carpenter, he probably had his share of nicks and dings. Scars? Yeah, he had a few – I know of two – right in the center of His palms.  

His hands were the hands of God. The hands that created the earth and created humanity are the same hands that healed the sick and raised the dead. The hand that flung the stars and planets into space are the same hands that held children and old people.

On the night before He died, Jesus shared a meal with His disciples. Today's scripture passage describes it. He used his hands to break the bread and share it. He used his hands to pick up the cup and share the contents, Before that he used his hands to wash the feet of his disciples. Less than a day later, his hands, the hands of the son of God were nailed to a cross where he died the most agonizing and humiliating death possible.

He did that because he loves me and he loves you. Now, because he loves us, he welcomes us to take his hands and enter into life with him, starting now and for eternity.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for the gift of relationship with you. Thank you for reaching down to us and living with us. Thank you for not only telling us how to live, but showing us. Thank you for the gift of life, now and forever. Amen.

 

This devotion 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/. 

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

Ephesians 5:4 (NIV) Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

As a young boy growing up, I was influenced by those with whom I was around. This included mostly family, church and school. I never heard any bad talk or cursing in my family or certainly in church. As I grew into my teen years, I like others looked up to older boys as to how to act, talk bigger than we were.

However, I do recall my dad on occasion saying, “well the hay o.” When I was in the third grade, I said the same thing on one occasion. My teacher, Miss Flossie Winborne, took me out into the hall and told we should not say such things. I think it was at Boy Scout camp of all places that I heard older boys in my tent after taps say words I had never heard before. However, I had been taught that we did not use such words at home, church or anywhere else where we might be heard by a disapproving adult.

When I entered Virginia Tech and later the army, it was an entirely different story. Obscenities were very common, and it almost seemed that the guy who could tell the dirty joke that brought on the most laughs was looked up to. I recall that on television when someone said an inappropriate word, it was bleeped out. It happens now on occasion, but not as often as it should.

I personally do not watch or give any credence to programs that use profanity as part of their script. Social media is certainly full of it. We should always remember that little pitchers have big ears. I recall hearing of a mother who occasionally used a four- letter word around her three- year-old. It wasn’t long before the three-year-old was using that same word. We should all try to speak as Jesus did with words of thanks, affirmation, and praise.

I must admit that I strive very hard to not say a bad word when I hit my finger with a hammer. It is hard to be thankful in that situation.

Let us pray.

Dear God, help us to only use words that would please you. Words of thanks, praise and affirmation. Words that we might hear Jesus say. Help us realize that our words can have a significant impact on others. Make us more aware of the words we speak. Amen.

This devotion was written by Emmit Rawls 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/. 

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

Colossians 3:17 (NIV) And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

In the area where we live, it is commonplace for clubs, organizations, and schools to require their members to conduct some number of hours in community service.  I have often wondered if the individuals are just completing their assignments or if the organization is aggregating the sum of all the hours for their resume.  Is it possible that the real intent is to develop a compassion for people in need and to gently push (yes, through a requirement) but still to gently guide people to give of themselves in the service of someone else? 

Chapter Three of Colossians calls each of us to conviction for our earthly nature and all the bad things that come with it, let’s just call it sin.  Setting aside our sin, we are reminded that as God’s chosen people, we are both holy and loved.  We are called to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  With these attributes in place, our community service takes on a whole new perspective as we find joy, not because we are serving someone less fortunate, but because we are serving another person loved by God.

Both of my daughters were required to perform a number of community service hours while in high school and the school gave them a list of approved activities.  About this same time, they heard of a need for tutors at an inner city after-school program when the program director spoke at our church.  Even though the tutor program was not on the approved list, they both asked if they could participate.  For the next two plus years, they would spend time each week working with, playing with, and getting to know the kids in the program.  The community service changed from being a task that filled a requirement (yes, they did eventually get it approved) into a time of joy because they looked forward to using their gifts and talents to help other, younger kids to be successful.  I have no doubt that their gift of word and deed will be long remembered by those children.

So whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Will you join me in this prayer?

Father God, please help me to set aside my sinful nature and put on compassion, kindness, humility, making way for gentleness and patience as I have the opportunity to serve others.  In that service, let me do it in the name of Jesus and to be thankful for your love to both me and those I am blessed to serve.  Amen.

 

Presented 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: [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/.  

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

Psalm 69:30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

I cannot remember a time when music was not part of my life. Growing up in a small, country Methodist Church, I learned hymns from the old Cokesbury hymnal at a very young age. I started taking piano lessons at age 10 and by age 12 I was playing those hymns for Wednesday night services. And now, as an adult, the words of those hymns come to mind frequently in different situations I am facing.

Throughout my life, music has carried me through many difficult times. When my father died unexpectedly, I, along with my whole family was devastated. My siblings asked me to choose the music for his funeral. Remembering the hymns he had loved and deciding which ones to include in the service was comforting to me. A long-time close friend sang “How Great Thou Art,” his favorite. As he sang, I thought about my father’s faith and how he lived a life that exemplified it.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

He was a humble man who loved God and others; his whole life was one of praise and thanksgiving.

Several years later, I was facing another difficult time. My mother’s health was in decline, and she was in denial. My siblings and I were constantly on alert for the next phone call telling us she had fallen or developed bronchitis or pneumonia because she preferred not to seek medical attention. 

It was a very stressful time, to say the least. My respite was Wednesday night choir practice. For those two hours, I was able to lose myself in the lyrics and melodies and leave refreshed and renewed in faith, ready to deal with whatever the next day would bring. During our closing prayer time, I always lifted my mother to God, giving thanks for the years of love and care she had given our family, and asking for guidance in providing for her needs. Those years never got easier, but music and giving thanks to God enabled me to persevere and remain positive. 

Through good times and bad, praising God through music and glorifying him with thanksgiving provides a path that gives life meaning. He knows we aren’t all great singers or musicians, but He deserves our praise and thanks however we can express it.

“Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art!”

Let us pray.

God, thank you for the gift of music and its transformative power in our lives. All good and great things come from you, and we praise you. Amen.

This devotional was written by Pat Scruggs 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/. 

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

Our scripture for today is Hebrews 13:5 – NIV “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

I don’t know anyone who loves money for the sake of its pretty green or gold color.  Nor do I think I know anyone who has a counting house like that old King Midas, who would sit on the piles of gold, stroking it and feeling the coins run through his fingers.  No, the modern day glutton for gold usually wants it in the format of objects – things owned and collected.  The modern Midas wants more and more stuff, bigger and better things.  But the old Midas and new have much in common.  Their #1 commonality is Greed!  With a capital G!  And greed makes Midas stingy!  Midas doesn’t share much.  Midas is fearful of losing money, because if the money goes, so does the status, the prestige, the image, the respect from those who count only one’s wealth as their value.  But the greedy Midas has already lost the most important thing in life – closeness to God!

As it says in Matthew 6:24 – “You cannot be a slave to two masters!  You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.”

Midas doesn’t share, except when credit and honor are offered as an award for it.  Midas is so busy collecting money and things that LOVE falls by the wayside.

And it’s not just the rich Midas who fails the call.  The struggling middle-class person, who is working hard to climb up the ladder of success can miss the mark too.  That mark is generosity – doing for others, helping your neighbor, extending a hand to someone, giving of your time by visiting that widow next door, sharing what you have with someone who has need, volunteering your time generously, expecting nothing in return.

Last Thursday, I saw a young homeless man offering great generosity.  We offer Welcome Table – free meals to anyone who is hungry for food or fellowship each week on Thursday evenings at our church.  The young man came into the dining hall with the rest of the guests, as he usually does, but he asked for an apron and wanted to wait tables, serving food to the guests.  He has done this several times lately.  I gave him an apron and he worked hard for the next hour, graciously serving food and making people feel welcome.

As our guests were leaving the young man asked if any food was left and if so, would it be okay if he ate.  He said he was very hungry, having only eaten four times that week!  In tears we hurried to bring him two large servings of food.  When he devoured that, we brought more.

Of course, he thanked us – but it was we who gave thanks for having seen such unselfish love and generosity!  All who saw this example of generosity and unselfish service left there deeply blessed. 

This young man was offered money by a couple of our other volunteers, but he vigorously declined those offers, telling us he has all he needs.  He only wanted food.  His example reinforced for us, how simple acts of kindness prove generosity of spirit and show that Jesus is among the generous.  For all who witnessed his actions that evening there was deep blessing!

I think our young, hungry guest was Jesus that night!  He sure embodied LOVE!  And he reminds us all that generosity of spirit brings us close to God! 

Let’s pray now…

Dear Lord, fill us with the desire to help, the desire to share, the desire to serve, as Jesus did.  Help us to represent your hands and feet to the world and to leave greed lying in the dust!  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

 

This devotional was written and ready 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/.  

With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

Philippians 4:11-13 (NRSVUE) 11 Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

When I was a child in Sunday School, I received a mechanical pencil as a prize for memorizing a lot of verses of Scripture. I treasured that pencil and carried it for years. In my mind’s eye, I can still see the print on its barrel, quoting Philippians 4:13 in the King James Version: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The Common English Bible translation sounds a little darker: “I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength.”

But I love the implications of the broader passage—not just enduring difficulty, but “content with whatever I have.” Forty years or so after Paul wrote to the Philippians, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus observed that it is not what happens to us but what we think about what happens to us that determines our experience. Paul learned contentment by keeping his attention on Jesus.

I confess that I don’t always choose to think about things in a way that brings contentment, but Paul shows me the way, and when I remember his words to the Philippians in good times or challenging times, I find contentment too.

Would you pray with me?

Father, thank you for the strength and the joy that comes through Jesus. When we face celebrations and when we face challenges, may we remember to give thanks for that gift and experience the same contentment in all our circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Donn King.

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

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

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