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 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 the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

As 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 shepherds instead of the important people of those days? Wouldn’t the word get out faster if they gave this momentous news to the bigwigs?” It wasn’t till much later that I realized that God blessed these humble shepherds with this message to show His inclusivity, that He often chooses the humble to accomplish His purposes.

“Fear Not.”

The angel’s first command is meant to calm the shepherds’ fear in the face of this supernatural appearance. I can imagine how scared I would be to encounter a heavenly being! But also, it serves as a message of reassurance for those who might be afraid of the news. The next notable thing to me in this passage is that the angel says the joyful news will be for all the people, not just for the Jewish people. God continues His message of inclusivity. And it reminds me of how often Jesus himself said these words to his followers.

Finally, the core of the message includes Savior (He rescues people from their sin), Christ ( or Messiah, the long-awaited King from the line of David), and Lord ( He has the ultimate authority and rules over all). These three titles that the angel gives to describe Jesus pretty much sum up this amazing pronouncement. What Joy those shepherds must have experienced to hear this news!

It’s always great to hear the news about a new baby, but how astounding it would have been to be the first to hear the news about THIS special baby!

Dear Lord, may we always feel the amazing joy when we hear the story of Your birth. And may we be always thankful that You came to us as our Savior. Amen.

This devotional was written by Virginia Hardwick and read by Susan Daves.

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 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 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.”

I am not good at waiting. I’ve improved as I’ve gotten older, but I’m still pretty impatient. Waiting has always seemed passive to me, and I want to be doing something … anything … other than waiting.

While studying this scripture, I learned that the Hebrew verb translated as “wait” in this passage is qavah (kah-vah). It’s related to qav (kahv), which means cord or rope. One source I consulted suggested imagining a rope being pulled tight and stretched out. Qavah is the feeling of anticipation at the release of tension.

Qavah is sometimes translated as “hope.” We don’t wait for the best solution or for our circumstances to change. We are to wait for the Lord. The tension of our current circumstances can only be relieved by the Lord.

Being bad at waiting, I can certainly relate to that tension. But I can also recognize that, even in that tension … or maybe especially in that tension … I am waiting on the Lord. Like the Israelites, I remember how the Lord has been with me in the past and how He can be trusted with my future. My hope is in the Lord while I wait and in every circumstance.

During this Advent, let’s remember to wait on the Lord who came to us as a lowly infant.

Lord, help us to enjoy this season of hope and of waiting. May we remember your faithfulness and continue to wait for you to renew our strength. We ask this in the name of your son, Jesus, who entered our world so many years ago. Amen.

This devotional was written by Kathryn King 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: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

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/.

During the Advent season of 2020, we were desperate to bring our family together. Our holiday tradition for years had been to gather in a cabin in the Smokies for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Our kids and grandkids came from Ohio and Iowa, making long drives for a few days of love and fellowship. But this was a different year, the year of Covid, when hundreds of thousands around the world had already died from this terrible virus. We held our breath, hoping everyone could travel.

On Wednesday, Dec. 23, our daughter Sarah called in tears, saying her husband, Brent, had tested positive for COVID. He had cold symptoms the week before, and out of an abundance of caution, they decided he should take the test. Brent was isolating in the basement, but Sarah feared the whole family could come down with COVID in the next few days. The trip to the cabin for Christmas was off.

Soon after, our son David called and told us that our grandson Jacob had been exposed to COVID and they were waiting for test results. The trip home for Christmas was in doubt. Tom and I were crushed. We had pinned so much hope on this reunion after a year of anxiety and doubt. But the Bible verse says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God.” Our prayers went up, and we determined we would go to the cabin alone and find a way to celebrate via Zoom with our kids.

On Thursday, Dec. 24, daughter Sarah called back, ecstatic! She and the grandkids had all tested negative for Covid, and Brent’s quarantine would be over by Saturday. They were coming to Tennessee! Later that day, David called, and his voice was full of sadness. Jacob had tested positive for COVID-19. They could not travel home for Christmas.

We were caught between joy and sorrow again. We felt guilty for even urging the kids to make the long trip in the midst of a pandemic. We had been motivated by longing, pure longing, so hungry for the love and stimulation of being together with three generations of family.

On Christmas Day, a heavy snow fell and blanketed the world in peace. While waiting for Sarah and her family to arrive, we helped shovel the snow off the driveway to our cabins so that other families could gather as well. It was a happy task.

That Christmas in 2020 is one we will never forget. We opened packages together with our Ohio family and celebrated with our Iowa family on Zoom. And somewhere in the middle, we found peace, the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. And the strength to face the next day.

Dear Lord, you always remind us not to be anxious, but we forget. You always promise us the peace which passes all understanding, but we forget. You brought us, Jesus, in a world filled with anxiety and danger, and we need to remember. Thank you for the peace you bring to our hearts in the Advent season. And all year long. Amen.

This devotion was written by Laura Derr and read by Judy Wilson.

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...

We know this scripture because the priests quote it when asked by King Herod where the Christ Child was to be born. This occurs after the Wise Men come to Jerusalem seeking the new King. We hear it almost every year during the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany, but do you know its Old Testament context?

When Micah first spoke it, the people who heard it were a defeated people, now living in exile in Babylon. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, its walls broken down, and their king removed. It was a dark time, and these words were words of hope. Micah wanted them to know that God had not forgotten them. A future ruler would come and save them. They would not be in exile forever. God was with them and better days were coming. What a message of hope for those people when all seemed lost.

Our situation is not much different from Micah’s first listeners. In times of great stress, we look for a glimmer of hope beyond the present ordeal. We want to hear that God understands, is with us, and tomorrow holds the possibility of being a better day.

This word of hope from God comes to us in so many ways during this Advent Season. We hear it in the message that a child named Jesus was born to fulfill this prophecy, and God is always with us. We see it in many small acts of kindness that seem to multiply at this time of year.

And if you are listening to this podcast on the day it was first posted, know that tonight our church is a beacon of hope for some. For many years, the Christian Living Class and the Open Arms Class have hosted a dinner for inmates housed at our local detention center and their families. Those inmates who meet the requirements come to the church and get to have a meal with their loved ones. We provide gifts for them to give to their children. There are hugs and pictures and great joy. For those inmates and their families, it is a glimpse of what the future can look like. It is a time of joy and, yes, hope.

Advent is a reminder that God cares about where we are in our life journey. We or someone we know might be experiencing the first holiday season without a loved one. Perhaps you can be a glimmer of hope for them by reaching out and letting them know they are not alone. Or in these times of economic hardship for many, you might be able to, out of your blessings, give to a program that provides food or shelter for others. Again, a word of hope. And if this is a season of struggles and darkness for you, know there is hope that tomorrow can be better because God is with us.

Life can be difficult. It was at the time Micah shared these words. It was challenging for the people of Judah when Jesus was born. It can be for us or those we know today. Micah reminds us that God is faithful, loves us, and is at work to make our tomorrows brighter.

Loving God, we give thanks for your never-ending love and presence in our lives. When we are in difficult and challenging times, help us to remember to look to you for light, guidance, and hope. You are always pointing us to a better tomorrow. And remind us as well to be, when we can, your message of hope to others when they need it most. AMEN.

This devotion was written by Bill Green 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

Our theme for the Grace for All Advent devotions is Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love. For me, the most elusive of these is peace. Human beings are human beings; even the most Christlike among us experience jealousy, envy, greed, anger, even rage, based on the actions of others and the events taking place around us. Life is not always fair, and we naturally allow unfairness or mistreatment to steal our peace, among family members, friends, neighbors, and most especially within us.

I am at a place in life where peace is what I crave most. I have always disliked conflict. I am by nature a peacemaker, not a fighter. Still the many things over which I have no control upset me. How can I achieve peace within when there is so much wrong in our world?

I think I know the answer, but it still is not easy to do.

First, I have to acknowledge that God is in control, and I am not. That is super hard for a first born daughter! I ran the show for my younger sister and two younger brothers when assigned their care if our parents were away briefly or busy doing something they didn’t want interrupted. And I relished the role of being the boss! I knew best for all of us, at least in my mind.

As an adult, that simply is not true. There are so many times, I have no idea of the best decision to make or path to take. When that happens I rely on the counsel of friends and family, and most of all, God’s direction sought through prayer and meditation. Often the path that opens to me seems contrary to what I want, but God is always there and always faithful.

Second, I know that I have a responsibility to participate in society and speak up against injustice and cruelty, but I cannot change the thoughts and actions of others alone. I have to be patient and allow God to act, but I can continue to help others and “do good” in accordance with our church’s missions. I can also pray, always pray.

Finally, I can continue to strive to strengthen my personal relationship with Jesus, studying, praying, meditating, both alone and in groups. A stronger faith enables me to keep things in perspective, let go of the things I should not spend time and energy on, and rely on God to direct my path.

All of these actions require giving up control. I am not in charge, nor am I meant to be. I am meant to worship and serve God in the ways He wants. Perhaps when I achieve this level of selflessness, the ways of the world will no longer steal my peace. I pray it may be so.

Dear God, You know the level of turmoil your children are experiencing in the world today. I know this is not how you intend for us to live. Please guide us as we seek peace in our homes, in our families, in our communities, and in our world. Only through You can we quiet the noise and ignore the distractions that separate us from You. May we find the peace of God in this Advent season and always. Amen.

This devotion was written and read by Pat Scruggs.

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...

Luke 1:46-47 (NIV)

Over two thousand years ago, the young virgin, Mary, was visited by the Angel Gabriel, who was sent specifically to her in Nazareth. She was greatly troubled – perhaps even terrified – at the sight of such an unexpected visitor! He greeted her with words that confused and troubled her. But he calmly spoke and said, “Do not be afraid.” Then he gave her the astonishing news that she would be pregnant and birth a Son, whom she would name Jesus! He said, “This child will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High! And His Kingdom will never end!”

Astonished, she questioned the angel as to how such a thing could be possible, as she was a virgin. He explained how the Holy Spirit, the Power of the Most High would overshadow her, so the Holy One born of her would be the Son of God. The young Mary must have been overwhelmed by the surreal visitor and his unexpected words; but she believed the message and said to the Angel, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be as you have said.” The Angel left her.

A short time after this astonishing event, Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who had been barren all her life. The Angel Gabriel had also told Mary that her once barren cousin would also conceive and bear a son. Thus, the visit.

When Mary arrived at Elizabeth’s door and knocked. When Elizabeth opened the door she felt the baby in her womb leap, as if in recognition! Elizabeth exclaimed in a loud voice – “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” At this greeting, Mary replied: “My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”

As we think about this story of how the mother of Jesus and the mother of John the Baptist were used by God for great things, let us ponder our place in the world and seek God’s will in our own lives. Let us ask ourselves, “What does God require of me? What does God want to birth in my life? What miracles of faith does God wish me to accomplish? As a Christian, a Christ Follower, what is my assignment in God’s plan for the world? Am I listening to the messengers God sends to my door, to my ears, to my eyes? Am I hearing the call to do good, to provide for the needy, to help out the homeless, to be more generous in my giving – especially in this time of great need for those around me? Am I, like Mary, saying YES and proclaiming “My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” Will I do the great things God has asked me to do today?

During this Christmas Season, as we celebrate the birthday of Mary’s child – The Son of God – our Savior, Jesus Christ, let’s remember to be more aware of messages that suddenly come to us. We just may be entertaining angels unaware!

Dear God, Thank you for giving us your Son, Jesus! Thank you for giving us the opportunities to grow in his loving likeness and to hear the cry of the hungry, the lonely, the hopeless, and the helpless. Help us to give generously during this season and not be selfish in our spending. Help us to think of the hungry, the lonely, the needy and to celebrate Christmas with them, by opening our hearts and our pockets! Make us proud to say like Mary – My soul praises the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!” In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

This devotion 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,...

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: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

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/.