Grace for All

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

John 2:16-17 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Recently my wife and I lost our oldest son to cancer. As part of my grieving, the thought occurred to me about how I imagine God must have felt at Jesus’s death.

At our son’s celebration of life service and the reception that followed, we learned many things that we hadn’t known about how his life had impacted others. Our prayer is that the impact he made in some lives will lead to a positive impact on still others.

Our experience, of course, doesn’t begin to compare to God’s grief. God – because of his love  – had sent Jesus into the world to save it, not condemn it. Jesus’ presence in the world was a gift. The world, except for a few, rejected the gift. How God must have grieved over the world’s rejection of His gift and the killing of Jesus. He must have known the likely outcome from the beginning but still held out hope for a different outcome.

Not all was wasted, however, because a few accepted His gift. They shared it with others who continued to share it. Their numbers continued to increase, and it changed the world they lived in. As we live our lives each moment of every day, let’s remember God’s gift and share it so that the world around us will be more pleasing to God. Then God’s precious gift will not have been wasted on us. 

Prayer:

Dear God help us as we live our lives this day that the gift of Jesus is not wasted on us. Help us change the world around us by sharing this gift that you have given to each and every one of us. Amen.

This devotional was written by Alvin Jenkins 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/.  

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.

Most of Revelation is less than revelatory to me. This verse is an exception.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Haven’t we all hoped for that kind of comfort? While we may receive comfort from family and friends, can you imagine being comforted by the Creator of the universe? Wouldn’t that be the ultimate comfort? 

“Death will be no more.” Of all the hurt we experience on earth, being separated from our loved ones by death has to be one of the most painful. Yet this verse tells us it will be no more, nor will there be mourning or crying or pain. Sounds like heaven, doesn’t it? 

That is exactly heaven. What better hope can we have than the hope promised in this verse? 

I have always had a hard time with the concept of hell. I just can’t make that mesh with my understanding of a loving God. 

I do, however, think hell occurs from time to time on earth. Situations that involve cruelty are certainly hellish, and for those victimized by them, simply hell. 

But even in these hellish situations, we have hope. We have the promise that one day there will be no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, and no more pain. What a gift of hope that promise provides, especially when we are at our most vulnerable. 

Fortunately, I have seen heaven on earth, too. When I see church members provide meals through our Welcome Table on Thursday evening, I glimpse heaven. When a Sunday school class rallies around a member who has experienced death or illness, I see heaven. Whenever we serve others in Jesus’ name, we are not only acting out of that ultimate hope, we are providing that hope to others.

Let us pray. 

God, thank you for the hope you provide in assuring us that You will wipe every tear and that death mourning, crying, and pain will be no more. As we move through painful life experiences and separation from loved ones by death, remind us of the ultimate hope in our future. 

Please work through us to bring this hope to the least and the lost as we attempt to do Your will on earth. Amen. 

 

This devotional was written by Kathryn King 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: [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/. 

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Are there any scriptural passages that provide you comfort and hope? 

Psalms certainly provide that for many people. Throughout my life, I’ve known lots of folks for whom Psalm 23 gives them hope.

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He restores my soul. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”

How could one not be comforted by this Psalm? Another that provides people hope is Psalm 121.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills — from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night.”

Again, what beautiful language and imagery, especially for those of us in East Tennessee, to remind us of the comfort and guidance that God give us. 

My favorite passage was featured earlier this month on this podcast. If you missed Bernice Howard’s devotion on it, I encourage you to look it up.

This passage is found in the 8th chapter of Romans, verses 38 and 39:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Friends, if you’re like me, there are days when I feel like I am letting everyone down, or I’m just not being the best version of myself. For me, though, it is this inseparableness from the love of God that brings me hope — the understanding that, even when I mess up, even when I do things that are completely unlovable, God still loves me. Even when things are overwhelming or messy or chaotic, or when it seems like evil is winning in this world, this pure, uncontaminated goodness is available to me and to all of us. And I can hope again.

Let us pray.

God, we give you thanks for the matchless love you show us that exceeds what we deserve. On those days when we need hope, when we need a hiding place or a shield to guard us from the chaos and consternation, help us to remember the passages in scripture that renew us, that sustain us, and that give us hope. 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: [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/. 

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Hope, No Matter What  (our theme for September)

2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 16 (CEB) But we have this treasure in clay pots so that the awesome power belongs to God and doesn’t come from us. We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out…. So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day.

Some scholars think the book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible in terms of when it was written. If so, one of the oldest errors humans make is to assume that a prosperous and easy life comes to those who serve God faithfully, and so problems indicate a lack of faithfulness. Instead, Paul differentiates our outer circumstances from our inward response.

Paul and his companions have plenty of trouble. They’re even confused, harassed, and knocked down. Through the power of God, though, they aren’t crushed, depressed, abandoned, or knocked out. They do more than simply hold on. They are renewed.

“Renew” comes from anakainoō, which means a complete change for the better, a makeover of the mind and soul, not just a rerun or a reset, but moving from one stage to a higher stage. The verb tense means it’s not a onetime happening, but an ongoing process.

Life will batter us, but the power that belongs to God sustains us through it all.

Let’s pray:

Father, help us plug into the awesome power that is yours so that we have the strength only you can give us. Give us that experience of your ongoing renewal. Thank you, Father. In the name of Jesus, 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/.  

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

Isaiah 43: 18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Stop thinking about the past.  

That’s the assignment.

Are you stuck in a narrative that tells you the best is behind you?  That things will never be as good as they used to be?  That it’s all downhill from here?  When you look at the world around you, does it seem  that we have passed some point of no return and we’re all staring at a dark abyss?  Do you find yourself wishing we could turn back the clock? Start over again?

Well, stop it.  Longing for the past and believing that things will never be as good as they once were is the opposite of hope, and there’s a name for that.  It’s despair.  And people of faith may feel desperate sometimes, but we do not live in despair.

When things change–when we change–sadness is normal.  Grief is normal.  But when we long for the past and feed that longing, or when we cling tightly to the past, or,  in the words of Isaiah, when we dwell on it (or in it), we cannot embrace the future with hope.  We are unable to perceive the new thing that God is doing, and God is always doing a new thing.  

God is not finished.  God has not already done God’s best work.  All of God’s work is God’s BEST work, because God does nothing less.  That’s who God is–the One who is always about the business of making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.  

So take heart, fellow traveler, and chin up.  Forget the former things and do not dwell on the past. God is doing a new thing.  And even now it springs forth.  Do you not see it?  

Let us pray:

Creator God, we thank you that even and especially when the landscape ahead looks barren and bleak, you are there, making a way where there seems to be no way.  When we long for the past, open our eyes to see with hope the future you prepare for your beloved creation.  In Christ’s 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/. 

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

James 1: 2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

One of the phrases that has slipped into our language in the last few years is “We got this.” It’s an expression of confidence, one that says, “Don’t worry. We can complete this task. We can meet this challenge.”

There have been many times in my life that I did not feel so confident. I’m pretty sure that’s been the case for you, too. While we were students, we lacked the confidence to learn a math concept, or memorize and recite a poem, or try out for an athletic team. Fearing failure, we shrank from the challenge.

That attitude probably continued into adulthood where the challenges of being an adult dwarfed those we faced as students. Starting a new job, having a newborn baby in the house, or any number of other situations told us, loudly and clearly, “You don’t have this.”

The writer of the epistle of James provides a valuable reminder for those times when we face life’s challenges. Rather than shrinking with a lack of confidence, the writer says we should consider such challenges “pure joy.” Why? Well, had the writer been using 21st century language, he might well have said, “You and God got this! You and God can handle whatever the challenge is.”

What does it feel like to be a partner with God in the challenges you face? With God by your side, can you do the things that need to be done? Can you say, “We got this!”

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help us to remember that you are our partner not just in the times when we feel good but also in the times where we are challenged. Help us to take joy in the fact that you are always with us. Amen.

This devotion was written and read by Jim Stovall.

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

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

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

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, 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: [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/. 

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

Proverbs 23:18 “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”

 

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of Lin Manuel Miranda’s hit musical Hamilton. As a lover of both history and musicals, what’s not to love? But my love for it stretches far beyond combining two of my passions in life. I find myself so drawn to it due to how it handles the clashing personalities of the characters and their attitudes towards the future.

Our main protagonists in the musical are the well-known political rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. These characters serve as polar opposites to each other on multiple fronts, most notably among them, how they perceive the notion of what is to come.

Hamilton is portrayed as an impatient yet boisterous go-getter and is said to “write like he’s running out of time” and like he needs it to survive. He is such a go-getter and works himself to the point he blatantly refuses when his wife, Eliza, encourages him to take a break. A common theme associated with the character of Alexander Hamilton is the fact that he is consumed by concern about the legacy he will leave behind. He is a believer in doing everything he can to achieve his future hope as soon as humanly possible.

Then on the other hand, we have Aaron Burr. During his song entitled “Wait for It”, we see that Burr is a far more patient and reserved man than his adversary. He feels that his future is not set and stone, and reiterates that if there is a reason he’s still alive, then he is willing to wait for it instead of working at breakneck speed to see that reason to fruition like Hamilton. Additionally, he ponders what it is like in his adversary’s shoes, commenting that his pace is relentless, he does not waste time, and has something to prove but nothing to lose. However, Burr stays true to being willing to wait for good to come his way instead of rushing to achieve it like he is running out of time.

I know I am certainly guilty of having Alexander’s impatient nature when waiting for good things to come from work I’ve done; I believe this is simply human nature. Waiting is often a hard task. However, I’ve also been able to look at this through the perspective of Burr and being more willing to wait and go with the flow. But whether we find ourselves looking at what’s to come as a Hamilton or a Burr, regardless we are on God’s timing. God is actively guiding us towards our future hope he has planned and will not abandon us as we make our way towards it. This future hope is promised, but we just have to be willing to be patient and wait for it or to work towards it.

 

Prayer:

God, forgive us for being impatient while we wait for what’s to come and help us to remember that we live on your time and so long as we are patient, you will help us to see the fruits of our labor. So long as our hope is placed in you, may we always remember that our future hope will be bright and will not be forsaken by you. In your name, amen.

This devotion was written and recorded 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: [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/. 

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

Romans 8:37-39 “No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Apostle Paul wrote this wonderful news to believers in Rome and everywhere.  Paul wanted all believers to be totally assured of how much God loves us.

Henri Nouwen, considered one of the great spiritual writers of our day, taught at Harvard, Yale, and Notre Dame.  In his book Life of the Beloved, he wrote these words:

“We are the Beloved.  We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children, and friends loved or wounded us.  That’s the truth of our lives.  That’s the truth I want you to claim for yourself.  That’s the truth spoken by the voice that says, ‘You are my Beloved.’"
"Listening to that voice with great inner attentiveness, I hear at my center words that say: ‘I have called you by name, from the very beginning.  You are mine and I am yours.  You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests.  I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb.  I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace.  I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child.  I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step.  Wherever you go, I go with you and wherever you rest, I keep watch.  I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst.  I will not hide my face from you.  You know me as your own as I know you as my own.  You belong to me.  I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover, and your spouse…yes, even your child…wherever you are I will be.  Nothing will ever separate us.  We are one.’"

We only have to seek Him to find Him.  His LOVE is waiting to give us Peace.  All we have to do is believe and reach for Him.

Let’s pray together: 

God of LOVE – I believe.  I am reaching.  Let me feel your great LOVE today and every day!  Amen!

This 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/. 

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

Proverbs 17: 22 (NLT) “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

Some people are inspiring to be around. We feel good in their presence. They improve the quality of our lives and make us want to be a better person.

Hilliard Hester is one of those people for me. Hilliard lives in the same apartment building that I do and sometimes we have breakfast together. I go to the dining room around 7am directly from my apartment but he comes from the gym where he has been working out for 45 minutes or so. Hilliard is 93 years old.

The thing about him that inspires me most is not that he works out regularly at his age, though that’s certainly impressive , but it’s that he has what the writer of Proverbs calls “a cheerful heart.” He always has a smile, often tells a joke (they are corny but always clean), and he lifts the mood for everyone around him. His good humor is not the cynical kind that is so common today, but clearly comes from embracing God’s goodness in a way that makes his life, and through him, my life, positive.

The Bible speaks often of joy. It is a major theme in the Psalms. When an angel come to some night workers to announce the birth of the savior of the world the angel says his news will bring great joy to all people. Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians.

So why are we so gloomy? Because we get our news from the world and not from the angels. A broken spirit saps our strength. But a cheerful heart is good medicine. Thank you, Hilliard, for constantly reminding me live a life of joy.

Prayer:

Dear God, I know I can trust you: today, tomorrow, forever. Because I can trust you, release in me a cheerful heart. Amen.

Today's 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/.