Grace for All
"Grace for All" is a daily devotional podcast from the laity of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Each episode presents scripture and a brief reflection, written and recorded by members of our church. These short episodes are meant to inspire you and support your journey of understanding and faith. We believe the central message of Jesus is one of grace. Grace for all human beings. Grace for All is a podcast ministry of First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN
From Regrets to Resolutions (encore)
II Timothy 4: 6-8
As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me, but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.Bonnie Ware spent a number of years as a palliative ca...
The List Keeps Growing
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: podcasts@1stchurch.org.
First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread...
Scripture Saturday (January 17, 2026)
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.
<...Our Business is Love
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”Did you catch that!? God prepared good works for us to do, even before he created us! He designed us to complete the work he had already prepared for us!
God is love. His design for us is to do good works of love on his behalf!
He backed up the plan by sending Jesus to tell us, to remind us that our job, our greate...
Joyful, Joyful, Let Us Adore Thee
John 15:11:
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.In John 15, Jesus shares his relationship with God and teaches how to have a relationship that brings full joy through our true vine and connection with God.
God loves us—always. God loves us when we sin. God loves us when we love. But we hate when we sin. And we love when we love.
Love can fill our hearts, but somehow we seem to struggle to allow th...
Never Abandoned or Forsaken (encore)
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (CEB)
Then Moses called Joshua and, with all Israel watching, said to him: “Be strong and fearless because you are the one who will lead this people to the land the Lord swore to their ancestors to give to them; you are the one who will divide up the land for them. But the Lord is the one who is marching before you! He is the one who will be with you! He won’t let you down. He won’t abandon you. So don’t be afraid or scared!"Let’s set the sc...
Holding God’s Hand (encore)
Isaiah 41:10 (Common English Bible)
Don’t fear, because I am with you; don’t be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will surely help you; I will hold you with my righteous strong hand.I recall a story I heard a pastor tell. His granddaughter and another girl got into a lively game of comparison. One would say what they could do and then the other would come back with something even better. Finally his granddaughter said, “I can walk fifty-nine miles.” The other girl said, “You can’t!” His granddaugh...
Commandments Help Us Avoid Sin
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Paul’s message to the Romans is quite clear. It can not get any clearer than that! God gave us commandments to help us avoid sin and then live a productive life.
Thou shall have no other Gods before me. Thou shall not make any graven image. Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. Honor thy mother and fa...God is with us
Psalm 139:1-6
Lord, you have examined me. You know me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. Even from far away, you comprehend my plans. You study my traveling and resting. You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways. There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord, that you don’t already know completely. You surround me—front and back. You put your hand on me. That kind of knowledge is too much for me; it’s so high above me that I can’t reach it.God is with us. W...
Scripture Saturday (January 10, 2026)
You are listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.
This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast...
Living as a Child of the Light
Ephesians 5:8
For once you were in darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of the light.Winter, and the shortest, darkest day of the year, began about a month ago with the Winter Solstice. We will not see much longer or lighter days, however, for another several weeks. This time of year is hard for me. I do not mind the cold, but the long, dark days of January and February zap my energy and dampen my spirit. I search for things that energize me and give me purpose...
How Far to the Nothing?
Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God and the work of his hands.I remember my school days with fondness. It was a small country school, and almost everyone knew one another. It was easy to make friends, and some of them remain so to this day. The...
What's on your schedule today?
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.Have you ever gotten up in the morning and wondered, "What's going to happen today?" Of course you have. We all have. We think about the meetings on our calendar, the errands we need to run, and the people we're going to see. We wonder if the day will bring good news or bad, whether things will go smoothly or fall apart.
But here's another question. Have you...
Children of the Light
1 Thessalonians 5:5 (NLT)
For you are all children of the Light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.Reflecting on these words brings several things to mind. Notice that it says we are all children of the light. This is a reminder that we are called to shine God’s light in the world. We are His beloved children. We belong to Him. We are a product of His light. Whoa! There's real power in that statement. As His children, we should live a life, a life where we choose to h...
New Life in Christ
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (Common English translation)
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. Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that cannot be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal.When Paul wrote these words, p...
God Rebuilds Us
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.My grandfather used to say with a straight face that he owned one of Abraham Lincoln's axes. "It's had eight handles and six heads since he owned it," he'd say, "but it's still his."
I laughed at that when I was a kid, but now it sounds to me like something a bunch of philosophers might sit around a table and argue about: "If every part of a thing...
Scripture Saturday (January 3, 2026)
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.
<...Water and Spirit
John 3:3
Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”The confusion Nicodemus expresses about being born again captures the human condition well. We think we know how the world works, but the teachings of Jesus tend to show us that we don’t. Over and over in the gospel, we are shown that humans can’t see. We can’t find the eye of the needle even though the path has been straightened. We can’t understand how to share the loaves when so much need is...
The God Diet
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!Happy New Year!
The new is here!
Tradition is to make a New Year’s Resolution and to keep it! On January 1, 2008, I made a New Year's resolution to never consume alcohol again. And today, I am celebrating 18 years of keeping that resolution! I think God is celebrating with me today!
God loves to celebrate our growth and achievements with us. We are important to Him. He lo...
Broken Angels (Encore)
Luke 2:30-32
In the Temple when Simeon held the Christ Child 8 days after his birth he gave this prophecy to Mary and Joseph, “Sovereign Lord…I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
As the Christmas season neared, the gift shop in the hospital where I worked at the time displayed three lovely little porcelain angels. These were unlike most Christmas angels. Each, about 6 inches high were dressed in a bulky coat and ca...
Living the Music of Gratitude
Ephesians 5:19–20
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.At the beginning of this year, my star word was Apply. I’ll be honest—it didn’t feel inspiring at first. It sounded plain, almost unfinished. Others drew words like Joy, Peace, or Abide—gentle, lyrical words that seemed to sparkle with promise. Mine felt like a to-do list.
But over time, I began to u...
Why the shepherds?
Luke 2:8-11 (NIV)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.Why the shepherds?
It is a question that bi...
A Surprise Gift (Encore)
Luke 2:4,7:
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem...And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.Have you ever received a gift that was a complete surprise? Maybe it was something you had hoped for but never expected to receive. Maybe it was something you were expecting but it came from a different person in an...
Scripture Saturday (December 27, 2025)
You are listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.
This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us.
Grace for All is a...
That's How Much I Love You (Encore)
Isaiah 43:1-4a (The Message)
But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for yo...God With Us
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.One of the most powerful and meaningful things anyone has ever done for me was sit with me in silence through my deepest grief. Sometimes there are no words powerful enough to speak comfort to the hurting. Sometimes presence is the greatest gift.
Being with those in pain is not easy. Our natural inclination is to move away from suffering, not towards it. But that is...
Peace of Earth
Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.Recently, I again reflected on the fact that in the Gospels, Jesus’ life is bracketed by the...
The Greatest Gifts
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Our theme for the Grace for All Advent devotions is Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love. This verse in Paul’s letter to the Romans just about says it all. He concludes by reminding us that we have this hope, as well as joy and peace, because of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Have you ever known a person who sh...
Overflowing with Hope
Romans 15:13
May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.It is only a few days until Christmas, and many of us are working on last-minute preparations. Our plans for celebrating involve gifts, feasting, laughter, and joy. We will attend Christmas Eve worship services and joyous family gatherings. Christmas music will fill our ears and touch our hearts. Our church choirs will blend their voices and remind us of the Angels singing...
What Gift is This? (Encore)
Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Have you ever noticed that when plants produce, they simultaneously produce a gift that is the food of others and the birth of the next generation of their species? Like these seeds, there is an infinite abundance in God’s love and God’s gifts to us that is incomprehensible. God has given us forgiveness and love before we even knew that we needed it. It is there for us, to catch us, when we fall...
Scripture Saturday (December 20, 2025)
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.
<...The Light Has Come
Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.There is a scene in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” that I really love. Scrooge awakens on Christmas Day after having spent the night with those three spirits, and he flings open his window to let in a ray of brilliant sunlight. Before that he traveled through an awful lot of darkness – the guilt of his past, the isolation of his present, and the fear of his future...
Eternal Life
Our scripture for today is John 3:16, reading from the New International Version.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.ÂThe King James version might be more familiar to some.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.ÂThis was probably the very first Bible verse I learned to memorize, which wa...
When a Son Calls
Luke 15:20
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion.It started with four simple words: “Momma, I need help.”
Two weeks before that call, my husband Mark and I had driven to St. Louis to see our God-given grandchild and meet up with Robert, our son. He is forty-five, and he was planning a big move to Texas. As any parent would, we asked if he needed help. And as any grown man would, he said, “No, I can do this by myself.” We smile...
God is With Us
Psalm 139:1-6
Lord, you have examined me. You know me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. Even from far away, you comprehend my plans. You study my traveling and resting. You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways. There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord, that you don’t already know completely. You surround me—front and back. You put your hand on me. That kind of knowledge is too much for me; it’s so high above me that I can’t reach it.ÂGod is with us. Wh...
Peace Even When Facing the Worst
John 14:27 (CEB)Â
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.ÂJohn places these words in the hours before Jesus’ arrest, which shapes them more than we often realize. This isn’t a quiet devotional moment. It’s a farewell. Jesus speaks peace into a room thick with confusion, sorrow, and fear. He knows what the disciples do not—that they are minutes away from chaos. The peace he offers is not the kind the world promises, built on the absen...
JOY!
John 15:11
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.Let’s look at the verses that surround today’s introduction as Jesus speaks to his disciples. John 15, lines nine through ten state:
“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.”ÂFollowed by...
Scripture Saturday (December 13, 2025)
You are listening to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by the people of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.Â
This is Scripture Saturday, a time when we pause and reflect on the scriptures we have read throughout the week. If you missed any of our devotionals on these passages, you can find them on our website at 1stChurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts.Â
Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you for joining us.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast pr...
Good News!!
Luke 2:10-11
And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'ÂAs a child, I got to watch the Peanuts Christmas special on TV, and I loved it! Especially the part when Linus comes to the stage in the spotlight and recites this verse, among others. I remember thinking to myself, “ Why did the angels decide to tell the...
Hope While Waiting
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (NRSV)ÂOur scripture today is Isaiah 40:31 from the New Revised Standard Version. “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”Â
I am not good at waiting. I’ve improved as I’ve gotten older, but I’m still...
