Grace for All

Those words, I first heard from the pulpit, exploded in my mind as his declaration brought my Christian experience full circle from Old to New Testament. Jesus is telling me that he was there too on Mt. Sinai.  Of course, He fully knows the ten commandments, and now he is adding his!  Wow!

My childhood experience in worship always included lessons from the Old and New Testaments.  Let alone one of my earliest Sunday School classes was based on the theme of love thy neighbor as thy self.  That was difficult to absorb as a child.  However, as I matured, my interpretation of that was to show kindness to my classmates, and I also found that they honored me with reflections of the same.  Also as Jesus said, “As you sow, so shall you reap.”

“What a friend we have in Jesus,” another refrain from my formative years.  “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”  To me another “wow!” moment.

Love, of course, is a recurring biblical theme, as in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world….”  How powerful is that?

Yet in this passage, Jesus alludes to what is to come at Calvary.  As mere humans, did the disciples really understand?  They experienced so much with Jesus, his miracles, his teachings, his mastery of the Old Testament.  Ultimately all the dots were connected in the upper room, and they were truly his friends.

Jesus wants us to be his friends too!

God in Heaven, may Jesus’ words motivate us to love one another as he loves us!  Let our words and our actions be our own testament as followers of Christ. Amen.

This devotion was written and read 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/.

By anyone's definition, Horatio Spafford was a successful man. A loving husband and father of four, he was an attorney and successful real estate investor in in Chicago, Illinois in the second half of the 19th century.

He was also no stranger to disaster and personal loss. He lost most of his real estate fortune in the Chicago fire of 1871. Two years later, the family was scheduled to take a vacation in London, England where his good friend Dwight L. Moody would be preaching. Spafford was delayed due to business issues, but sent his wife and four daughters ahead. He was to meet them in London when he was finished with his business.

On the voyage, the ship carrying his family collided with an iron sailing vessel. The ship sunk in 12 minutes, and 226 people lost their lives, including Spafford's four daughters. His wife Anna survived, and when she reached Cardiff, Wales after being rescued, sent Spafford a telegram in which she simply stated, "Saved alone."

Spafford immediately left for England. The captain of his ship was aware of the tragedy, and when the ship passed the point of the disaster, he summoned Spafford to the bridge to see the site. As Spafford contemplated the fate of his family, his heart, though broken, was filled with comfort and hope. It is believed that Spafford, when he returned to his cabin, put that comfort and hope into words:

Even after facing heartbreaking tragedy, Horatio Spafford's faith never wavered. He may not have understood the whys of the tragedies he faced, but he understood the God he served, and that understanding allowed his spirit to sing of the peace he and his wife experienced.

We might not understand all that happens to us or those we love, We can, however, understand that God made a way for us to be His children, and as His children we have access to the peace and comfort only God can provide.

The words Horatio Spafford wrote in 1873 are as true today as they were then:

Father, thank you for making a way. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins. Thank you for the peace and understanding that comes from that gift, and for the blessing that comes from singing to you with our spirit. Amen.

This devotion was written and recorded 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/.

As far back as my memory allows, I remember singing. I don’t necessarily remember singing well until after I joined the church choir in my teens. That’s when I discovered the absolute joy of singing and making beautiful music with others. I looked forward to each rehearsal as it was a time of singing and fellowship. Maybe it was the fellowship that really attracted me initially.

It wasn’t until even later that I discovered the joy of singing to the Lord…specifically. I can’t recall the exact moment or the exact piece of music, but I do know that one day in church, as we were singing an anthem, I suddenly got a little choked up. Was it the beauty of the music we were making? Was it the looks on the faces of the congregation? You know, that look of peace and appreciation and worship. Or was it the feeling of joy that so many people had come together in this place at this time to share their burdens and praises?

I feel this feeling more frequently as a grow older. I can tell you this, it definitely happens at some moment each Christmas season as we sing our annual Cantata to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Even though I know it’s going to happen at some point, there is absolutely nothing I can do to stem the tide. Suddenly, as the brass and strings are soaring, or as the choir crescendos in perfect harmony, there it is. I can’t help it. I get choked up. Thank goodness for the other choir members around me who perfectly fill in the gaps when my voice waivers just a bit.

Singing for the Lord weakens my voice in those brief moments, but singing for the Lord gives me my strength to journey on every day. I love to sing. I love to sing for joy to God, MY strength.

“Lord, I will forever sing to you for my strength. I know that even when my voice weakens, you will be there to lift me up and strengthen me again. Praise to you for lifting us up in strength. Amen.”

This devotion was written and recorded 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/.

In late 2019, we moved into an independent Senior Living community in Maryville. and were welcomed by the residents around us. In a casual conversation, one of them asked, “Do you like to sing?” We had once been active in a choir and so we said,”Sure!” At that time, the ‘Singers’ was a new concept with just a handful of participants. We met in the chapel in Assisted Living because there was a piano there. This allowed us to include residents who could not travel to most activities. 

Things were getting off to a great start when the pandemic hit. From March 2020 to late spring 2021, all in-person activities were canceled. When we were able to begin group activities again, everyone still had to be masked. Who would want to sing in a mask? Amazingly, on Saturday afternoons through the rest of the year, singers showed up in masks. We saw regular attendance of nearly 20. Walkers, canes, and motorized wheelchairs shared the space with those who were still mobile.

Since then, the Singers have become a staple of our weekly schedule. We have presented musical programs for our neighbors and caroled at Christmas time.

At one caroling event, I sat next to a friend in a mobilized wheelchair. The large lobby area around us was filled with memory care residents and family members. My friend leaned over to me and pointed out a resident sitting with his wife. “Do you see that gentleman over there? He was my husband’s cardiologist for a dozen years. He’s such a wonderful doctor and human being.” When we began to sing, this gentleman sang along. Most of the other memory care residents joined in as well.

The room was filled with a joyful noise. The room was filled with the presence of God’s grace. We are called to make a joyful noise in good times and in hard times. And we are blessed when we do.

Dear Lord, let us gather together to make a joyful noise in your name. Help us see you in all the stages of our lives and celebrate with singing. Amen 

This devotion was written by Laura M. Derr and read by Sally 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/.

“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, listen to 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/.

Like many of the Psalms, this passage starts out very uplifting.  It truly puts joy in my heart when I hear the words, “Sing to the Lord, all the earth.  Praise his Name, proclaim His salvation day after day.”  What if we started each day with those positive words.

Perhaps we could also memorize the next part, “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples (yes, that means me as well).  For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise!  As I read these words, I think this is the God I want a relationship with, this would be so magnificent.

And then, the last part of verse 4 seems to change the tone completely from being positive and uplifting, to something perhaps scary when it says, “He is to be feared.”  How did we suddenly go from Sing his Name to He is to be feared.  How am I to have a deep relationship with someone I fear.  

I don’t believe God wants me to be afraid of Him.  From my reading of scripture and learning about the character of God, I truly believe God desires a loving and deep relationship with Him.  I also have come to understand and to have awe, a deep respect for God’s holiness.  When I read some different translations of this passage of scripture, I found one that I liked much better as it read, “He is awesome beyond all other gods.”

God is awesome and we should sing His praises, we should proclaim His salvation every day, His marvelous deeds among all peoples, for He is worthy of praise.

Lord, I want to be so in love with you that I sing your praises every day.  I am in awe of your Holiness and your desire for a relationship with me.  You are worthy of praise.  Amen

This devotion was written and recorded 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/.

Somewhere I have a favorite old T-shirt that I can’t find at the moment. I have kept it because it has a graphic and a saying that reminds me of something important. It shows a hammer smashing a violin, and it says, “Pity party time is over. I choose joy as my response.” The violin symbolizes the trope of playing sad music when someone faces a challenge.

For good or ill, my natural tendencies bend toward the melancholy. If you ask me if the glass is half full or half empty, I will probably start expecting the well to go dry. If I were with Paul and Silas, I would probably sit there complaining about the circumstances. Sing? You must be crazy.

And in a way, they were. Imagine the setting: you are a prisoner in a cell down the block, in the deepest, darkest part of the prison. You hear voices coming out of the dark—raised in song! You protest—bad enough to be in this cell, and now somebody is keeping you from your fitful sleep. But then you listen. “He leadeth me, he leadeth me; by his own hand he leadeth me: his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.” All your protests die, as do those of the other prisoners. You listen. Even the guards have ceased their chatter.

In the Acts 16 incident, something pretty amazing happens next. I’m not suggesting that all you have to do is sing to make everything change. I’m persuaded that Paul and Silas would have kept singing and praising God if those doors had never opened. I think Paul meant it when he wrote to the Philippians, “I have learned the secret to being content in any and every circumstance…. I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength.” In fact, the jail incident actually happened right there in Philippi!

Let’s pray: Father, grant to us a spirit of contentment. Some say that birds don’t sing because they are happy, but are happy because they sing. Open our eyes to our choices and guide us to choose joy as our response because of the one who gives us strength.

This devotion 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/.

For years every Valentine’s Day my hometown newspaper would print Valentines sent in by its subscribers.  Some examples: To Clarice, I love you more than the first day of deer season!  To Linda, I don’t need a lottery too, I’ve been a millionaire since I met you.  To Dad, adopting me has made you the best valentine ever.  I love you so much.  Here’s my very favorite: To Theodore, you asked me 30 years ago to be your blushing bride.  You promised furs and diamond rings, and a limo in which to ride.  I made the payments on the ring, the fur is on the cat, the bank has repossessed the car, but I love you still you rat!

That same newspaper ran an article describing the romance between Angeline Kirkland and David Fuqua.  They were engaged to be married 62 years earlier but David got cold feet and backed out of the engagement.  Now they find themselves living in the same retirement home in Brewton, Alabama.  David, 89, is once again pursuing Angeline, 78.  He said, “I thought I had Angeline’s heart pretty well won, but if it ain’t, I’ll go to work at it.  I dearly loved that heart but I jumped the track and let it get away from me.”

Love has nothing to do with age, or size, or color, or income, or appearance.  It is the strongest force on earth.  The Bible tells us that there are three qualities that last forever: faith, hope and love but the greatest, the Bible says, is love.

The writer of I John takes this even further.  He makes perhaps the boldest statement in all scripture – he defines God.  Nowhere else does the Bible attempt to define God, but I John 4:8 does.  It says, “God is love.”

There are two truths about love that are rock solid based on this passage.  The first is that you are loved.  Whether you have realized it or not, claimed it or not, lived in light of it or not, God loves you and there is nothing you can do to make God love you less. 

The second truth is that you are to be a loving person. As the Great Commandment says, love God and your neighbor as yourself. Child of God, today be the loving person you were destined to be.

Dear God, wipe away all bitterness in my heart.  Free me to accept your love and to give love – both back to you and forward to others. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The devotion was written and recorded 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/.

Our scripture for today is Psalms 71:23.

I have a powerful memory of the first time I truly and profoundly knew the feeling of complete JOY brought on by the full acceptance of this Redemption—this amazing gift, this FREE gift from God!

Now, I was long a skeptic—doubting, wondering, and questioning what I had been taught as a child. I wanted to believe in God’s LOVE but living with the disturbing memories of abuse at the hand of my earthly father; I had great fear and doubt about the unseen heavenly father.  Words about the vengeful, murderous acts from the Old Testament seemed more like my image of a Father than the image Jesus gave us about his loving Father, his Abba. 

But I hoped his Abba was real.  So, I decided to search for Him.  I began by reading the Bible for myself – the whole Bible; every word.  I read it not once but many times.  And I prayed over what I read there.  I began to find answers.  I started to pray not only by beseeching God, but to pray by listening for God. Answers started to form.  Grace was FREE!  But I almost couldn’t believe it!

Then one day at a weekend Christian retreat, following a workshop on forgiveness and the LOVE of God, I had a very personal encounter with Jesus!

I was sitting alone on the steps in a small, quiet, empty theater - at the end of a powerful presentation on forgiveness.  I pondered the hurt inflicted upon me by my Father in my childhood, and I became completely convinced that I must let go of that resentment and the fear that had bound me so long.  I prayed.  I begged God to forgive me for my hatred and to release me from my fear.  I cried and poured out my heart to God. I asked God to help me to forgive my Daddy.

Then I sat in the near darkness of that small theater and thanked God for his LOVE, for his forgiveness, for the lessons I was learning.  The Peace I felt following that prayer seemed like a blanket, enwrapping me, swaddling me.  And slowly I realized that I was not alone in the dark.  I could feel the presence of someone sitting beside me on the steps.

I could almost feel an arm resting around my shoulders and I heard these words – “You are forgiven.  You are LOVED.  You are mine!” 

Praise God - I know Jesus was the one sitting beside me on those steps that day.  I felt his LOVE and I believed in His Faithful, Loving Father, with all my heart, soul, and mind.  I still do and always will!  He is alive.  God is LOVE!  And my lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to Him – to Him who redeemed us!

Dear God, draw us to seek you, help us to find you, and fill us with joy that makes us sing as we awaken to your redemption!  Amen!

Today’s podcast 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/.

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “What does heaven sound like?  When the writer of the Book of Revelation wanted to share his vision of heaven and the Lamb he talked about what it sounded like.  Earlier he had used word pictures but in this verse it was the noises he heard, rushing water, thunder and harps.  The first two resonate with the power of God. Standing beside a thundering waterfall or a noisy cataract you sense God’s mighty power.  Likewise when you hear the boom of thunder along with the brilliant lightening flashes God seems close and powerful. But the last sound heard from heaven was not from God but by the harpist.  

That got me to thinking.  Does my life and actions add to the music of heaven?  When others see and hear me do they hear a tiny echo of that heavenly song?  We are called to be followers of Jesus.  In the prayer Jesus gave us we say, “thy kingdom come they will be done on earth as it is in heaven” That will only happen if we are striving to live today as members of the heavenly kingdom. By living intentionally our faith, living as Kingdom people now, we will add our music to heaven.  

For me this idea is a much easier way to know how well I am doing in my walk of faith.  In music when you sing in a group you know you are singing the correct notes because you are in harmony.  Miss that note and the discordant sound is immediately heard by all.  So too in life.  When I am living in harmony with God and with others I know if for I feel a deep sense of peace?  When my words and actions are out of tune their discordant notes are seen by all and I know it because I have a restless Spirit. 

Listen to the sounds your life are making.  What does it feel like? Are you hearing and feeling beautiful harmony or discordant noise?

Today, I am going to try and live in such a way that when people see and hear me they will also hear the music of heaven.

Lord help me to live faithfully so that my life my be in harmony with you and today I might hear the music of heaven and share it with others. AMEN.

This devotion was written by Bill Green and read 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/.