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

Henri Nouwen, considered one of the great spiritual writers of our day, taught at Harvard, Yale, and Notre Dame. In his book Life of the Beloved, he wrote these words: “We are the Beloved. We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children, and friends loved or wounded us. That’s the truth of our lives. That’s the truth I want you to claim for yourself. That’s the truth spoken by the voice that says, ‘You are my Beloved.’

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

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

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

This devotional was written and read by Bernice Howard.

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

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

Darkest valleys, evil, and enemies. Green pastures, quiet waters, and right paths. No matter where I go, how far I stray, I dwell in the house of the Lord. Does anything else need to be said?

I think it does, simply because we forget. In our hardest times, we can feel alone so easily. Some days I go to a friend to tell her how I am feeling, what is bothering me, to lament. And before I begin, the person I have gone to begins a plea about how she is feeling, what is bothering her, and she laments. I hope that I listen and truly hear, but sometimes I leave feeling very alone. I forget that God is with me in those moments allowing me to be there for my friend.

Sometimes I have been very sick in bed. Sometimes it has been at home feeling very alone even though family is in the house with me. Sometimes it has been in the hospital waking from surgery or visiting someone who is very ill. And I feel loneliness surround me even though there are hundreds of others there. I forget.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. I will dwell in the house of the Lord day and night, on good days and bad, while needing comfort and while comforting others. You are in my heart always whether I stop to remember it or not.

Lord, please always help me to remember and feel your presence not just with me but within me. Please help me share your presence with others when I visit them. Amen.

This devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Greta Smith.

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

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

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/.

I was fortunate to spend the last nine years of my career in education as a Literacy Specialist in the district office of Williamson County Schools in Franklin, TN. We also lived in Franklin, not far from an entrance onto I-65. I was often asked to attend meetings, trainings, and conferences in either Nashville or Murfreesboro, both a 30-40 drive via I-65 under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, the circumstances were rarely normal. The problem was not getting onto the Interstate – the problem was making progress once on the Interstate. Many mornings, although I left well before 7:00 a.m. to make an 8:00 a.m. meeting, I found myself at a complete stop while emergency vehicles raced by, going either north or south, and I, along with hundreds of other busy commuters and travelers, sat stewing in my vehicle, worrying about being late for this or that very important (at least in my mind) appointment.

One day I was apologizing to the person leading the meeting (when I finally got there, about 20 minutes late) and explaining the circumstances. She could see I was frustrated and still aggravated about my tardy arrival. Instead of commiserating with me and sharing her traffic horror stories, she surprised me by saying, “What I do when I’m held up in traffic like that is pray for those involved in the accident and the first responders caring for them.” Pray? I was frustrated, worried about missing the meeting, and anxious for traffic to start moving! I was not in the mood to pray!

However, the more I thought about it, I realized that my anger, anxiety, and frustration were doing nothing to help the situation. I realized that however my day had been altered, it was nothing compared to the serious injuries, or worse, of the victims, and that the first responders were endangering themselves trying to help those who had been in the accident. I felt ashamed of myself for making a horrible situation for others all about me and my misplaced values. Yes, my work was important, but nothing is more important than a human being’s life.

From that day forward, I have practiced what she taught me. When I find myself caught in a traffic delay, I pray for those involved in the accident, for God’s comfort and reassurance for them and their loved ones, and for the first responders, that they will be able to use their knowledge and training to help those victims and remain safe themselves. I thank God that there are those willing to help in tragic and difficult circumstances. Yes, I may still be late for my intended destination, but I am calm instead of anxious and focused on others instead of myself. And I thank God for my safe arrival, too.

As this verse teaches us, in every situation, present your requests to God.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the reminder that our human feelings and failings can best be managed by talking with you about them. Help us stay focused on others rather than ourselves and let us do whatever we can to serve those individuals who are in distress. Thank you for the angels among us who risk their own lives every day to save the lives of others. Amen.

This devotional was written by Pat Scruggs 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:

This Psalm contains a list of things we may be asking God to do for us. It also contains a list of things the Psalmist promises God in return. The first list enumerates the things we want God to do for us. (Bring me word of your unfailing love, show me the way I should go, rescue me from my enemies, teach me to do your will, and lead me on level ground.) The second list is what we promise God in return for doing these things for us. (I will put my trust in you, I will lift up my soul and I will hide myself in you.)

Our list of promises is not easy to complete. Doing the things on our list requires time in prayer and thoughtful attention; time centering ourselves in God, instead of centering on the things of the world. But, Oh, the things of the world draw us! And we watch and listen to the world all the time!

Is it just me, or is the overwhelming majority of the news of the world bad, sad, or negative lately? Everywhere I turn, there seems to be more negative news. And unfortunately, there are so many sources that our eyes and ears are bombarded with sights and sounds almost 24x7! We seem to fill our time with social media from so many sources, consuming sights and sounds endlessly!

We spend countless hours each week watching “graven images” talking and telling us things from their viewpoints. We feel overwhelmed! And no wonder, it’s too much to take in and our brains are struggling with information overload! We might feel helpless, as we hear the constant barrage of bad, sad news, since there is little we can do about so much of it. But we soak it in any way! We don’t want to be uninformed, do we?

I figured we need some statistics about all this information, so I consulted the Barna Group and found that the average American adult spends over seven hours a day looking at some type of screen! And the statistics say that the average Christian spends roughly 30 minutes a day reading the Bible.

While a significant portion of Christians express a desire to read the Bible more, only a small percentage (11%) of US Adults say they read the Bible daily!

In his Encyclical Letter from 2015, the beloved Pope Francis wrote, “When the media and the digital world become omnipresent, their influence can stop people from learning how to live wisely, to think deeply, and to love generously.” Wise words.

And unfortunately, my friends, ten years later, for many people that is already happening. We may need to go on a screen diet, an electronic diet, a diet made up of more Bible, more time listening to God’s word - God’s good news and more time in prayer. We may need to give up time spent on the junk food of every available entertainment source and turn to more food for the soul.

We may need to identify some of the enemies and idols, that are thieves of our time and our peace of mind! We may need to leave off the unhealthy “sweets” that we are wolfing down in those hours of screen time! We absolutely need to turn to God’s word, to find the Good News we need so desperately. We absolutely need to find a way to do the three things we promise God in today’s Psalm:

• to lift up our souls
• to hide ourselves in God
• to walk on that level ground

So, let’s use today’s scripture (slightly...

When I was a child in Sunday School, I received a mechanical pencil as a prize for memorizing a lot of verses of Scripture. I treasured that pencil and carried it for years. In my mind’s eye, I can still see the print on its barrel, quoting Philippians 4:13 in the King James Version: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The Common English Bible translation sounds a little darker: “I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength.”

But I love the implications of the broader passage—not just enduring difficulty, but “content with whatever I have.” Forty years or so after Paul wrote to the Philippians, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus observed that it is not what happens to us but what we think about what happens to us that determines our experience. Paul learned contentment by keeping his attention on Jesus.

I confess that I don’t always choose to think about things in a way that brings contentment, but Paul shows me the way, and when I remember his words to the Philippians in good times or challenging times, I find contentment too.

Father, thank you for the strength and the joy that comes through Jesus. When we face celebrations and when we face challenges, may we remember to give thanks for that gift and experience the same contentment in all our circumstances. In Jesus’ name, 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: 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/.

In my household, it is no secret that I envy my husband. Specifically, I envy his easygoing nature, his ability to accept things that are outside of his control. Over the years I have tried to learn from him, and I like to think that he has helped me stretch and grow in this area. But it hasn’t been easy. Because I am stubborn. I like to know things. I crave certainty. By nature, I tend to be high strung and tightly wound, and I do not easily accept the unexpected. Instead, my tendency is to analyze it to death to try to figure out how it could have been prevented.

This passage from Isaiah is my husband’s favorite scripture because it serves as a profound reminder of the vastness of God's wisdom and the depth of God’s plans. In this life, we are often bewildered by the unexpected. We struggle repeatedly to make sense of adversity, pain and suffering. However, this passage eloquently reassures us, in the face of all that the world suffers, God knows something we don’t. God sees things we can’t. God’s perspective is inconceivably distinct from ours. God’s ways and thoughts are beyond our comprehension. And though we cannot comprehend God’s ways and thoughts, we can trust in God’s goodness.

Acceptance of things we do not understand and cannot control is not a sign of defeat, but a testament to our faith in God's divine purpose. When bad things happen, we are called to trust that God’s ways, mysterious and unfathomable, are higher and greater than ours, and that ultimately, God’s love will prevail.

God of mercy and comfort, when we are dismayed and discouraged by the suffering of the world or by our own heartache, help us remember that your ways and thoughts are higher than the heavens. Teach us that it is not our place to understand, but to trust in your endless grace and abundant love. In your holy name we pray, amen.

This devotional was written and read by Greta Smith.

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

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

I have a terrible sense of direction. Spatial orientation is not my strong suit. I easily lose my way, forget where I parked, and get turned around in unfamiliar places, or sometimes, even in familiar ones. In fact, my running joke about our home church is that when I enter a stairwell on one level, I never know where I’ll come out on the other. For me, it is like entering a mystery transfer portal and always being a little surprised at where I end up, even after 20 years.

Before the days of GPS and Google Maps, when I would “lean on my own understanding” and try to find my way in unfamiliar places, I often got into trouble. It was so tempting to trust that little voice in my head telling me, “That way!” And sure enough, the more certain I was that I knew where I was going, the more likely I was to get lost, and be late. By trying to take shortcuts, I usually ended up backtracking and taking more time to get to the destination. Even so, sometimes, if I paid attention, I would find an unexpected blessing in the detour—for example, the opportunity to see something I would not have otherwise seen, or to experience the kindness of a stranger, or to learn a little more about the territory where I live. And sometimes where I ended up seemed to be a better or more providential destination than the one I had planned, a “divine appointment.”

Perhaps that is one reason that these verses from Proverbs are my favorite scripture passage. I never seem to know where I’m going, but God does. Even when I feel lost, if I fix my eyes on Jesus, and acknowledge him in all that I do, I know that he will direct my paths. He is much better at it than I’ll ever be.

I may not be great at finding my way, but I have learned how to trust God with all my heart, and especially to trust that no matter where I go, God will keep me on the right path.

Lord, when I am tempted to lean on my own understanding, remind me to trust in you. May I acknowledge you in all my ways, that you might direct my paths. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Greta Smith.

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

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