(our theme for November)

I am an engineer by training and experience. I like to think I have an appreciation for things that are well engineered and designed. I think the human body fits into that category, and there is one part of our bodies that I feel are particularly well done – the hands.

Our hands are marvelous things: we use them to grip and lift things that are heavy, unwieldy, or large (or all three), but we also use them to hold a newborn infant. Some of us can cut down a tree, work on a car, or even twist the lid off a mayonnaise jar, but we can still put a piece of thread through the eye of a needle.

Maybe your hands are soft, maybe they are rough. Maybe you work with your hands and you have the calluses to show it. Maybe they are bronzed or burned by the sun because you spend a lot of time outdoors. Maybe you worked in your garden last night and you still have dirt under your fingernails. You probably have some nicks and dings and scars, and if you’re like me, your hands are a little wrinkled, and they just might hurt a bit in the mornings.

I would love to have seen Jesus’ hands. He was raised as a carpenter, so you know that His hands were probably rough. He spent a lot of time outdoors, so they may have been sunburned. Being a carpenter, he probably had his share of nicks and dings. Scars? Yeah, he had a few – I know of two – right in the center of His palms.

His hands were the hands of God. The hands that created the earth and created humanity are the same hands that healed the sick and raised the dead. The hand that flung the stars and planets into space are the same hands that held children and old people.

On the night before He died, Jesus shared a meal with His disciples. Today's scripture passage describes it. He used his hands to break the bread and share it. He used his hands to pick up the cup and share the contents, Before that he used his hands to wash the feet of his disciples. Less than a day later, his hands, the hands of the son of God were nailed to a cross where he died the most agonizing and humiliating death possible.

He did that because he loves me and he loves you. Now, because he loves us, he welcomes us to take his hands and enter into life with him, starting now and for eternity.

Father, thank you for the gift of relationship with you. Thank you for reaching down to us and living with us. Thank you for not only telling us how to live, but showing us. Thank you for the gift of life, now and forever. Amen.

This devotion was written and read 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: 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 theme for November)

As a young boy growing up, I was influenced by those with whom I was around. This included mostly family, church and school. I never heard any bad talk or cursing in my family or certainly in church. As I grew into my teen years, I like others looked up to older boys as to how to act, talk bigger than we were.

However, I do recall my dad on occasion saying, “well the hay o.” When I was in the third grade, I said the same thing on one occasion. My teacher, Miss Flossie Winborne, took me out into the hall and told we should not say such things. I think it was at Boy Scout camp of all places that I heard older boys in my tent after taps say words I had never heard before. However, I had been taught that we did not use such words at home, church or anywhere else where we might be heard by a disapproving adult.

When I entered Virginia Tech and later the army, it was an entirely different story. Obscenities were very common, and it almost seemed that the guy who could tell the dirty joke that brought on the most laughs was looked up to. I recall that on television when someone said an inappropriate word, it was bleeped out. It happens now on occasion, but not as often as it should.

I personally do not watch or give any credence to programs that use profanity as part of their script. Social media is certainly full of it. We should always remember that little pitchers have big ears. I recall hearing of a mother who occasionally used a four- letter word around her three- year-old. It wasn’t long before the three-year-old was using that same word. We should all try to speak as Jesus did with words of thanks, affirmation, and praise.

I must admit that I strive very hard to not say a bad word when I hit my finger with a hammer. It is hard to be thankful in that situation.

Dear God, help us to only use words that would please you. Words of thanks, praise and affirmation. Words that we might hear Jesus say. Help us realize that our words can have a significant impact on others. Make us more aware of the words we speak. Amen.

This devotion was written by Emmit Rawls 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: 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 theme for November)

In the area where we live, it is commonplace for clubs, organizations, and schools to require their members to conduct some number of hours in community service. I have often wondered if the individuals are just completing their assignments or if the organization is aggregating the sum of all the hours for their resume. Is it possible that the real intent is to develop a compassion for people in need and to gently push (yes, through a requirement) but still to gently guide people to give of themselves in the service of someone else?

Chapter Three of Colossians calls each of us to conviction for our earthly nature and all the bad things that come with it, let’s just call it sin. Setting aside our sin, we are reminded that as God’s chosen people, we are both holy and loved. We are called to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. With these attributes in place, our community service takes on a whole new perspective as we find joy, not because we are serving someone less fortunate, but because we are serving another person loved by God.

Both of my daughters were required to perform a number of community service hours while in high school and the school gave them a list of approved activities. About this same time, they heard of a need for tutors at an inner city after-school program when the program director spoke at our church. Even though the tutor program was not on the approved list, they both asked if they could participate. For the next two plus years, they would spend time each week working with, playing with, and getting to know the kids in the program. The community service changed from being a task that filled a requirement (yes, they did eventually get it approved) into a time of joy because they looked forward to using their gifts and talents to help other, younger kids to be successful. I have no doubt that their gift of word and deed will be long remembered by those children.

So whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Father God, please help me to set aside my sinful nature and put on compassion, kindness, humility, making way for gentleness and patience as I have the opportunity to serve others. In that service, let me do it in the name of Jesus and to be thankful for your love to both me and those I am blessed to serve. Amen.

Presented 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: 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 theme for November)

I cannot remember a time when music was not part of my life. Growing up in a small, country Methodist Church, I learned hymns from the old Cokesbury hymnal at a very young age. I started taking piano lessons at age 10 and by age 12 I was playing those hymns for Wednesday night services. And now, as an adult, the words of those hymns come to mind frequently in different situations I am facing.

Throughout my life, music has carried me through many difficult times. When my father died unexpectedly, I, along with my whole family was devastated. My siblings asked me to choose the music for his funeral. Remembering the hymns he had loved and deciding which ones to include in the service was comforting to me. A long-time close friend sang “How Great Thou Art,” his favorite. As he sang, I thought about my father’s faith and how he lived a life that exemplified it.

He was a humble man who loved God and others; his whole life was one of praise and thanksgiving.

Several years later, I was facing another difficult time. My mother’s health was in decline, and she was in denial. My siblings and I were constantly on alert for the next phone call telling us she had fallen or developed bronchitis or pneumonia because she preferred not to seek medical attention.

It was a very stressful time, to say the least. My respite was Wednesday night choir practice. For those two hours, I was able to lose myself in the lyrics and melodies and leave refreshed and renewed in faith, ready to deal with whatever the next day would bring. During our closing prayer time, I always lifted my mother to God, giving thanks for the years of love and care she had given our family, and asking for guidance in providing for her needs. Those years never got easier, but music and giving thanks to God enabled me to persevere and remain positive.

Through good times and bad, praising God through music and glorifying him with thanksgiving provides a path that gives life meaning. He knows we aren’t all great singers or musicians, but He deserves our praise and thanks however we can express it.

God, thank you for the gift of music and its transformative power in our lives. All good and great things come from you, and we praise you. Amen.

This devotional was written by Pat Scruggs and read by Joey 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

(our theme for November)

I don’t know anyone who loves money for the sake of its pretty green or gold color. Nor do I think I know anyone who has a counting house like that old King Midas, who would sit on the piles of gold, stroking it and feeling the coins run through his fingers. No, the modern day glutton for gold usually wants it in the format of objects – things owned and collected. The modern Midas wants more and more stuff, bigger and better things. But the old Midas and new have much in common. Their #1 commonality is Greed! With a capital G! And greed makes Midas stingy! Midas doesn’t share much. Midas is fearful of losing money, because if the money goes, so does the status, the prestige, the image, the respect from those who count only one’s wealth as their value. But the greedy Midas has already lost the most important thing in life – closeness to God!

As it says in Matthew 6:24 – “You cannot be a slave to two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Midas doesn’t share, except when credit and honor are offered as an award for it. Midas is so busy collecting money and things that LOVE falls by the wayside.

And it’s not just the rich Midas who fails the call. The struggling middle-class person, who is working hard to climb up the ladder of success can miss the mark too. That mark is generosity – doing for others, helping your neighbor, extending a hand to someone, giving of your time by visiting that widow next door, sharing what you have with someone who has need, volunteering your time generously, expecting nothing in return.

Last Thursday, I saw a young homeless man offering great generosity. We offer Welcome Table – free meals to anyone who is hungry for food or fellowship each week on Thursday evenings at our church. The young man came into the dining hall with the rest of the guests, as he usually does, but he asked for an apron and wanted to wait tables, serving food to the guests. He has done this several times lately. I gave him an apron and he worked hard for the next hour, graciously serving food and making people feel welcome.

As our guests were leaving the young man asked if any food was left and if so, would it be okay if he ate. He said he was very hungry, having only eaten four times that week! In tears we hurried to bring him two large servings of food. When he devoured that, we brought more.

Of course, he thanked us – but it was we who gave thanks for having seen such unselfish love and generosity! All who saw this example of generosity and unselfish service left there deeply blessed.

This young man was offered money by a couple of our other volunteers, but he vigorously declined those offers, telling us he has all he needs. He only wanted food. His example reinforced for us, how simple acts of kindness prove generosity of spirit and show that Jesus is among the generous. For all who witnessed his actions that evening there was deep blessing!

I think our young, hungry guest was Jesus that night! He sure embodied LOVE! And he reminds us all that generosity of spirit brings us close to God!

Dear Lord, fill us with the desire to help, the desire to share, the desire to serve, as Jesus did. Help us to represent your hands and feet to the world and to leave greed lying in the dust! In Jesus’ name, Amen!...

(our theme for November)

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/.

(our theme for November)

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: 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 theme for November)

Our scripture focus today is Matthew 14:19, part of a very familiar story for many.

Each time I hear this story, I am reminded of a very special moment when this story came to life right in front of me. While serving on the ministry staff at First Church, I was blessed to be a part of an annual youth retreat, Resurrection. Sharing in this event with our youth was such a moving experience. Of course, the planning, long hours, patience and stamina required were not always easy. The joy of watching our youth engaged with their faith, growing and seeking a deeper relationship with Christ was priceless.

On one very holy weekend in 1992, the main speaker was the Rev. James King from the Nashville area. He is now a retired Bishop. His personality was a great match for all of us. Smart, funny, inspiring and he brought our faith alive in those sessions. There were about 5000 youth and leaders in attendance. First Church had nearly 90 attending. It was an amazing experience.

Sunday mornings at Resurrection included one final session centering around worship and communion. Sometimes the final session had less in attendance as churches from other states or inclement weather made returning home more difficult. This year, the conference center was full for the final session. The altar was filled with communion elements, the bread and wine arranged filling every open space on the altar. Even that sight was moving. I am sure it was no easy task to prepare to serve 5000 participants at multiple stations around the room, all beginning at the altar. Great efforts had been made to assure for ample stations and no confusion during this part of the service.

As the elements were blessed and the bread and juice were delivered to their stations, no one gave a thought to the possibility that there might not be enough. Minds and hearts were focused on receiving communion and sharing this time together. However, quickly it became evident that there was not enough bread to serve everyone. You could feel the energy in the room as contributors – disciples- came forward. Bread was offered in the form of pringles, goldfish, saltines and a few loaves of bread (one of the leaders had run to the store next door when he realized there might be an issue). Though, truth be told, these gifts were meager by themselves, they had been offered for the good of all and they were truly multiplied. When communion was complete and the elements were returned to the altar, the table was overflowing with bread. The congregation, disciples and followers had stepped up and shared what they had. Just as Christ called the disciples to serve the multitude, this gathering of believers was also called to feed the “crowd of youth” with what appeared to be “not enough”. By sharing what they had, Resurrection 92 was fed and nurtured.

There were many misty eyes and feelings of awe on that morning. It’s one spiritual experience I will never forget and I have often shared with others. My heart was so full.

However, that is not the end of the story for me. At that time, I was attending classes in preparation to be consecrated as a Diaconal minister. These classes were held at Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville. I left Gatlinburg that Sunday destined for Nashville and two weeks of intense classwork and...