Grace for All

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

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/. 

Hope, No Matter What

(our theme for September)

 

Isaiah 61:3

and provide for those who grieve in Zion -- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness.

 

Dolly Parton once said: “the way I see it, if you want a rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”

I can remember being a young child and hoping for the weather to cooperate on days when something big was planned, whether it be a pool party or in my brother’s case, a soccer game. I’ve even held onto this hope for the weather to cooperate in my teenage and adult years, whether it be for band competitions or even my high school and college graduations.

 

On the other hand, I can also remember times where the weather did not cooperate and the disappointment of having events be rained out. While at the time, I grieved these events being postponed due to the weather, I was also able to hold onto a glimmer of hope that they would be rescheduled to a later date, or simply have it’s starting time delayed.  

 

Looking back on these instances from the perspective of my 22-year-old self, I’ve come to find that while I was sad about the rain at the time, just how much beauty there is in these instances. Most notably through being able to see the sun poke out from behind the clouds as the rain begins to slow down, which brings forth the possibility of seeing a rainbow.

 

Much like the prisoners grieving in Zion, it is easy to feel hopeless in times of grief, or as if we are trapped in inclement weather. But, as we as Christians know, a rainbow after a storm serves as a reminder of God’s promise not to forsake us and of his love for us. In other words, amidst a storm, there is beauty in seeing the sun poke out from behind the clouds and a rainbow lighting up the sky, which allows us to feel joy and hope as opposed to remaining riddled with sadness and hopelessness. If we choose to instill that there is always a glimmer of hope amidst our grief as God would never forsake us, putting up with the rain can become less difficult.

 

Prayer:

God, help us to always remember that in times of grief and inclement weather, there is always beauty and praise in your love shining through, much like a rainbow. Help us to always hold onto this hope. Amen.

This devotional 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 15: 13 (The Message) “May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace; so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope.”

Victor Frankl, the legendary Austrian psychiatrist, wrote his landmark book, Man’s Search for Meaning, based on his experiences and observations in Nazi Concentration Camps. Frankl, as he dealt with his own losses and struggles, was mystified at first that many of his fellow prisoners who were strong and vigorous wasted away quickly and died, while some of those who were frail endured and survived. As a scientist interested in the human mind and behavior, he began to ask himself: what are the qualities that enable some to prevail despite crushing hardships and treatment? He came to two great insights that would form a basis for Logotherapy, a new school of therapy he created.

One insight Frankl gained was that those who transcended their circumstances had “something significant yet to do.” In other words, they focused on a positive future where they would make a contribution. To say this in a Biblical way, they had hope, hope of making a difference.

The second powerful truth that came to Frankl was “Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” No matter how hard or unfair your life is, you have the choice of how you will respond to it. And it’s the choices, not the circumstances, that create the kind of life you live.

This is the wisdom the Apostle Paul gave to the believers at the church in Rome and to us. Let God fill you with green hope—living hope, growing hope. And this hope will fill you with joy and fill you with peace. When, like Victor Frankl, we search for what life means regardless of our conditions, here is where we find it even in the harshest and darkest and saddest of times. Hope that comes from a loving, forgiving God.

Dear God,

Fill me up with hope—living, growing hope. 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/. 

Hope, No Matter What 

(our theme for September)

Hebrews 11: I (KJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.”

Faith is difficult to define.

We say we have faith in our leaders, faith in our technology, faith in a process, but what does that mean? What does it mean to have religious faith?

The King James translation from Hebrews helps me to understand how faith works. Other translations say, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for” or” the reality of things hoped for,” but the word “substance” works best for me.

In this context, the word substance means “a tangible, solid presence.” In life we act in faith and do something of substance without being able to see the end result.

Let me share an example. In August of 2020, an intense storm called a derecho (pronounced dee-retcho) swept across the Midwest, carrying sustained straight-line winds of 80-100 mph and gusts of 140 mph. The city that caught the derecho head on was Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

For nearly an hour the storm raged across the community. When it passed, the majority of residential and commercial buildings were damaged, roads were impassable, and 95% of the city was left without power for days. But the damage that caused the most emotional anguish was the destruction of almost all mature trees in the city. Residents cried and mourned the loss of the beauty and protection of their beautiful trees. Then they picked up their chain saws and worked for months to clear the debris. 

But that was not where faith came in. The substance of the community’s faith came from a project titled “Releaf.” (R-E-L-E-A-F). Volunteers began planting new trees immediately, on boulevards, in city parks, and around homes. Now, four years later over 42,000 trees have been planted within the city limits.

That is where faith came in. Most of the residents who planted new trees will not live long enough to see a mature tree canopy in their community. But the substance of their faith made them act in a way that would bring about things hoped for, even if it was not in their lifetime. That is the essence of our religious faith. We work for God’s will in the world even though we may never see the results of our efforts. Our faith actions become the evidence of things unseen. 

Let us pray:

Dear God, remind us that when we act in faith, we can change the reality of the world we live in for the better. Keep us from despairing and let every one of our actions be substance for our faith in the future. Amen

Today’s devotional was written by Laura Derr and read by Sage 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)

Psalm 31:24   Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.

Our scripture for today has a very special meaning for me – one of those “real life experiences” that leaves an indelible mark.  Our focus for this month is hope.  As I read the scripture from my current Bible version of choice, I found it to be more clear.  In the New Living Translation this scripture reads “So, be strong and take courage, all you who put your hope In the Lord”.

When our son was in high school 30 years ago, he played football.  He loves football (still does as a coach) and had a close group of young men he spent lots of time with.  They practiced together, were in class together, were part of Young Life, most participated in church gatherings and Bible study.   No, they did not all attend the same church nor belong to the same denomination.  They did place a priority on their faith and their support of one another.

One Friday night, one of the players was injured during the game.  It was very concerning.  He came off the field in distress and never went back in during that game.  He was a key player, a leader, and “we needed him”.  As we parents and fans sat in the bleachers “hoping” he would be ok and “worrying” if this would end his season, we kept speaking of hope in such a faithless way.  You know, that “hope you feel better soon”, “hope your garden does well”, “hope you pass that test” – simple everyday, diluted and wistful hope.

Soon the game was over (I have no memory of whether our team won or lost) and it was time to meet our sons for a post-game prayer and pep talk. As we approached this close group of young men, we found them surrounding the injured player, their friend.  They were laying hands on him and praying together.  I must admit I had many emotions as I observed.  You see, as young men, they were faithful.  They were feeling real hope.  They were praying expectantly and with a strong desire for their friend to be ok, a very specific hope and prayer. They, indeed, were being strong and courageous, but most of all they put their faith in God.

The rest of the story is that their teammate was able to finish the season.  

However, what I often come back to is that they were praying expectantly.  They were not just flippantly “hoping”.  They put their hope in the Lord completely.  They believed God’s promises with courage and fueled by faith and hope.

I am reminded every time I say or write hope now, that there is more to that word than just a “wish”. It’s not just about wanting something to happen or be true, but it is more about the feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen with God’s help.  

God used those young men gathered in prayer that night.  He was glorified by their example and faith.  He used that moment so that we adults might witness His glory and be filled with a new, vibrant hope in Him.

Gracious and loving God,

May we see the true hope you have shared.  Allow us to see the purpose of our actions and be reminded that our courage is fueled by faith.  Help us to see our weak hope and find the true hope we claim… hope lived out as belief in your promises.  Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Lisa Blackwood.

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 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

At first glance, this verse may inspire a reaction of skepticism. “Hope does not disappoint us?!?” How many times have we hoped for something that simply didn’t come into being?

In my house when there is potential for something good to come our way, my wife has said to me on more than one occasion, “I’m not getting my hopes up. If it ends up happening, I’ll just be pleasantly surprised. I’d rather that than be disappointed.” 

But I don’t think that’s exactly to what this verse refers.

In the verses leading up to this one, we read, “we boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” before we read that hope does not disappoint. 

So, are we to understand, then, that we cannot have hope without first enduring suffering? That doesn’t seem right.

In Romans 8, we read “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.” And later on, that we “who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved.” And finally, it says “the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” 

In other words, this is not the hope we might feel for something that we think might happen, which may or may not actually materialize. This is a different hope. The hope for God to hear us, the hope for eternal peace with our Maker, the hope for “adoption and redemption.” That hope is one about which we can have greater certainty. And it isn’t saying that in order to be with God, we must first face affliction. No, it is saying that when we face affliction, we must remember that the surety of God can still give us hope. Our hope is grounded in knowing that, whatever suffering we may experience, we have the goodness of God’s redemption to hope for. Thanks be to God.

Let us pray.

God, when we face affliction in this world, remind us that we have the surety to hope for your adoption and redemption. Remind us that it is never futile to hope in you, for you will not disappoint us. 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/. 

Hope, No Matter What

(our theme for September)

Hebrews 6:19-20 (CEB) This hope, which is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being, enters the sanctuary behind the curtain. That’s where Jesus went in advance and entered for us, since he became a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

I’ll confess that I know very little about boats, even less about ships. But I don’t think you have to be an expert to understand some basic things about anchors. I know an anchor helps hold a boat in place. It does so because of its weight, both the anchor itself and its chain, and because it digs into the seabed.

I read about a Leopard 42 catamaran named “Valiant Lady” that safely rode out three major hurricanes anchored in about 12 feet of water just off the Intracoastal Waterway in North Palm Beach, Florida. They used a special tandem arrangement of anchors that kept their boat safe. They had a reasonable hope of safety because they had confidence in their anchors, even though they couldn’t see them. You never really see an anchor in use because it’s underwater on the seabed.

In the same way, Jesus followers can have hope for weathering the storms of life. It's not the flimsy wishful thinking we often associate with the word, but something far more substantial. "This hope," the ancient text says, "is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being."

But what makes this hope so different? According to the writer of Hebrews, it's all about location. This hope "enters the sanctuary behind the curtain" - a poetic way of saying it's anchored in a realm beyond our physical world. In nautical terms, imagine an anchor that could reach through the ocean floor to grip bedrock - that's the kind of security we're talking about.

The text goes on to introduce a fascinating historical figure: Melchizedek. This enigmatic priest-king, mentioned briefly in even earlier writings, represents a spiritual lineage predating organized religion. The author draws a direct line from Melchizedek to Jesus, presenting the latter as a "high priest" in this ancient order.

It's time to revisit this age-old concept of hope. Not as a passive waiting game, but as an active force—an anchor we can deploy in life's stormiest moments. It's an invitation to look beyond the visible, to find our footing in something deeper and more enduring than the shifting sands of circumstance.

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, this ancient idea offers a compelling proposition: that true stability comes not from what we can see or control, but from anchoring ourselves to someone beyond the turbulent surface of our immediate reality.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank you for giving us the perfect anchor for our lives. Help us to lay hold of the safety and security we have in Jesus. In His name we pray, 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/.

Made in His Image

Grace for All is 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 firstchurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace.

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/.

Made in His Image

Luke 12:35–38.

Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly, I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them, so, blessed are those servants.

Many passages of scripture urge us to do something – to make disciples, to take care of those in need, to take advantage of the opportunities, to be good citizens of the kingdom of God. This passage tells us to do something different, something we are not often asked to do and something that may even be against our natural tendencies.

We are to ready ourselves and to wait. The passage reminds us, that we are servants of God, and there are times when servants are required to do nothing more than be ready for the masters presents. They are to wait, but they are to wait expectantly.

Doing this, these verses, tell us will result in a surprising role reversal. The master will become the servant. He will serve us. What would it be like to be served by Jesus ? What honor could be greater than that?

If that happens, if we are ready and waiting, then we are truly blessed.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, give us the strength and the patience to be ready and waiting for your arrival. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Jim Stovall.

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

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

Made in His Image

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

When I came across this passage of scripture recently, I immediately thought about an unexpected moment that transpired on a Good Friday about 25 years ago. At the time, I was a Major in the Air Force stationed in California at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Vandenberg is about an hour north of Santa Barbara right on the Pacific coast. It’s a beautiful place, and our mission at Vandenberg included launching satellites and testing missiles. It was a fun place to be stationed.

One spring, I was headed out of the office a little early on a Good Friday. I needed to get to Calvary Baptist Church to sing in the praise band for that evening’s services. As I was headed out of the office, I let my deputy, Tom, know that was leaving and I would see him on Monday. As I told him I was headed to Good Friday services, he said, “Hey Major, can I ask you a question? What is this Good Friday thing all about?”

Well, as you can imagine, I was taken a little aback. At the time, Tom was as solid of a human being as you could find. From Kansas; Married with a kid on the way; he had previously served in the Marine Corps in special operations; he ran triathlons on weekends for fun; just a great guy. I was surprised, so I said, “You’ve never celebrated Good Friday or Easter?” He told me that his family had never attended church in Kansas, and no one had ever really tried to recruit him.

Now, in the Air Force, they kind of frowned on us recruiting for church, especially if you were the supervisor. So, I delicately told him the story of the Passion of the Christ…in about 15 minutes…I had to get to church.

That short exchange resulted in Tom and his wife exploring various churches and eventually becoming followers of Christ. They ultimately had three children and have raised all of them in the Christian faith.

I would like to think that our brief exchange on that Good Friday had a little bit to do with their new path. Tom and his family live in northern Virginia where he still works for the Department of Defense. I miss seeing my friend, Tom, but I am so glad he seems to be happy and healthy.

You never know when your words about our Christian faith will positively impact someone. And who knows, because of your encouragement, “the old has gone, the new is here!” I encourage you to take the time to share, especially if the door is opened by someone seeking more information about our risen Christ.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord, thank you for all you have done for us. Thank you for allowing your story to touch the hearts of new followers. Help us to help others find the new. Amen.

This devotion was written and read by John Cherry.

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/.