Our theme for the month of June.

My wife and I are always happy when we get to spend time with our grandson, He just turned three, and he is a joy to be around.

I remember once when we were keeping him. I was sitting in a recliner reading, my wife was across the room, and our grandson was in the floor playing with his trains. We had the window shades down, so we couldn't see outside.

All of a sudden we heard a loud boom. I figured it was thunder, but I got up and looked out the window. Sure enough, a thunderstorm was well underway. My grandson had a worried look on his face as he looked up at me. I said, "Don't worry, buddy, it's just a little thunder." He looked just a bit better as he went back to his trains, definitely keeping his eyes and ears open.

About two minutes later, we heard the thunder boom again, this time louder than before. It was the kind of thunder that you feel as much as you hear. My grandson looked at me then suddenly stood up, ran across the room, and jumped into my outstretched arms. He crawled up into my lap and dug himself close to me. I said, "It's ok. Nothing's going to get you." I picked up a book, and we read it together.

He went from fear to peace in about five seconds. He was at peace because he knew that he was safe in his Pop's arms.

I'm not afraid of thunder and lightning anymore, but the fears and worries of life sometimes overwhelm me, and I feel scared and alone.

The phrase, "Do not be afraid," or some variant of that appears multiple times in the Bible. I know that is true, but there are some times I am still afraid. Honestly, there are times when it is right to be afraid. Fear sometimes evokes a protective instinct that keeps us safe.

More times than not, however, we worry about things that are beyond our control, or like my grandson, we fear things for no good reason.

In all our fears, we should know that we are safe in our Father's arms. Holding ourselves close to God brings us a peace; the peace that the apostle Paul said "passes all understanding."

God the Father stands ready, with His arms outstretched, to draw us close - wherever we go and whenever we need it. All we have to do is run toward Him.

Father, thank you for being there, not just when are frightened or overwhelmed, but always. Thank you for your peace, and the grace that makes that peace possible. Amen.

Today’s devotional 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: 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/.

Theme for the month of June:

“Stand firm,” Moses tells the Israelites, and “Be still.”

Standing firm is not my strong suit. In the face of fear, I am more likely to be buffeted and swayed than to stand firm. When self-doubt creeps in, I can easily crumble under pressure.

Being still is not my strong suit, either. I would rather rely on a flurry of activity to fend off angst. Tick off the to-do list. Check the boxes. Move on to the next task and the next and the next.

How often do I miss the LORD’s deliverance? Try to fight my own battles and fail to see the LORD fighting for me?

The instruction Moses gives the Israelites when they are being pursued by the enemy challenges every fiber of my being. When every instinct I have is to run away, when fear, even terror, moves me to flee, what faith, resolve, and self-discipline it takes to stand firm and to be still!

It feels like giving up, like surrender and I suppose it is, but it is not surrender to the enemy.

It is surrender to the One who parts the waters and goes on before me, the One who makes a way where there seems to be no way.

The Israelites must have thought Moses was out of his mind—stand firm, be still and let the enemy overtake us? It would have been better to stay in captivity in Egypt because we’re going to die in the wilderness! But if they had not listened, they would have missed out on their freedom. THey would have missed out on witnessing the parting of the Red Sea, on witnessing the power of God.

Through Moses, God tells them not to be afraid, but instead, to be still, and let the LORD fight for them. I love the poetry of the King James translation of this verse: “The LORD shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace.”

Be not afraid.

Hold your peace.

This is the word of the LORD for the Israelites fleeing Eqypt, and for God’s people, always, in fearful and uncertain times.

Lord, in the face of fear and uncertainty, teach me to stand firm, to be still, and to hold my peace, trusting in your deliverance. Amen.

Today’s 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/.

The theme for the month of June:

Through no fault of her own Hagar had been banished from the camp of Abraham. She and her young son were perishing from thirst in the wilderness, She places her son under the shade of a bush and moves off a little ways so she does not have to watch him die. She cries out to the Lord. God hears her prayers, tells her not to fear and then to open her eyes. She sees a well of water that will revive and sustain them both.

Though life difficulties do not always end so positively, the words Hagar heard are words for us as well. When we are struggling and maybe feel that life is hopeless we are reminded to open our eyes, to see the resources that are around us. We sometimes do not want to see then for the help comes from people we do not like, or cause us to humbly admit that we can’t do it alone or to receive that help would force us to move in directions that we vowed we would never go. Stubbornness is often a key element in our refusal to see what resources God has placed before us to help us.

I recall many times when I felt overwhelmed. I gritted my teeth and kept on struggling, becoming more and more exhausted. When I was at my lowest energy I would often pause, take a deep breath and finally ask, “God, how do you want to help me?”, instead of telling God what I wanted in the way of help. Almost always, just like Hagar, I would see things I had been blind to, because of pride and stubbornness.

God never forsakes us. It might feel at times that we are alone, lost and without hope. In these moments the word of God to Hagar is ours, “Do not be afraid. Open your eyes.” When we do we are usually amazed at what God can and is doing in our lives if we will just see.

Loving God, When we feel abandoned like Hagar, strengthen us. Ease our fears and help us to open our eyes to see the help you have provided. AMEN.

Today’s devotional was written by Bill Green 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 https://1stchurch.org/.

Our podcast theme for the month of June is Be Not Afraid, which is also frequently stated as Do Not Fear.

Writers have identified these phrases occurring in scriptures 365 times and have written daily devotions such that every day of the year, a portion of scripture with these words can be used for contemplation and meditation. We are not going to attempt to cover every one of these verses but a representative sample such that we become familiar with the concept when we encounter it in our study of God’s Word.

Genesis 15:1 is the first place in scripture where the phrase is found and depending on which translation you read, it may say either “Do not be afraid” or “Do not fear.” In this particular verse, the phrase comes at the beginning of a message given within a vision. As I read through scripture, the phrase seems to mostly be an introduction from either a vision or the appearance of an angel. In either case, the phrase precedes a message.

For most of my life, I associated Do Not Be Afraid with the appearance of the angel. If I had an angel suddenly appear in front of me with or without a flaming sword, you better believe I would be afraid! In all likelihood, the phrase Do Not Be Afraid would have to be yelled because I would be running away.

The more I read scripture, the more I realize I am not being challenged to accept the messenger but instead, to not fear the message itself. It is not in God’s nature to ask us to do things that we can already do. Instead, it has been my experience that God says do not be afraid, but I am going to ask you to do something you don’t think you can do. In fact, you probably cannot do it on your own but Do Not Fear because I will be with you. With your faith in God, you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.

Lord, teach me not to fear when you ask me to do something that I don’t think I can do. Open my eyes and heart to see that you are present with me through all trials when I place my faith in you. Amen.

This devotional was written 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: 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/.

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.

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/.

Let us pray. Let us sing. The sun shines. It rains. Let us pray. Let us sing. It is a cold and windy winter day. It is a sunny spring day of daffodils. Let us pray. Let us sing. We work and come home to more work. We vacation and travel. Let us pray. Let us sing.

Each day brings us opportunity. Each day brings obligations. Let us pray. Let us sing. Each day I can sing, or I can complain. Each day I can pray, or I can curse. Every moment of every day is as good as that moment in time is ever going to be for us as we live it. So, pray for the joy within it. Pray for the love we can share. Pray for the trouble we see before us. Pray for the strength to be the love that fills that moment with the spirit.

Sing in praise for all that we are given. Sing to lift up our hearts and accept the grace that is given. Let us sing because the world shares what we need with us. There is a time to sing in lament, but then let us pray. Let us pray for strength, and wisdom, and patience, and forgiveness. Let the songs we sing remind us, and those around us, of the strength, and wisdom, and patience, and forgiveness God has shared with us.

May we listen with our whole heart to the songs of the happy. May we share our gratitude in joyful voices. May we pray in silence so that we can hear the words of Christ and know that we are beloved. Amen.

This devotion was written by Jill Pope and read by Leslie 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/.

There are many times that scripture indicates that we should sing. The Psalms are laden with indications to “sing a new song” or “make a joyful noise.” But, at least as we read it in English, we often see that as an individual mandate (whether that is what is actually meant). In this verse from Isaiah, though, we have a clear indication that we should sing together.

One of the aspects I love most about leading worship is people singing together. Whether hymns in traditional services or praise songs in contemporary settings, there is something special that happens when we are engaged in this activity together.

When we sing together, we share the experience equally. Although there may be someone like me who is helping to lead, this person is doing so as a guide, journeying with everyone else.

One of the great challenges of making music is that it’s a temporal art form. In other words, it exists only as it is being created, and then it’s gone. This differs from something like visual art or creative writing, that can be viewed for as long as one would like. This is a challenge because we cannot continue to edit it; it is what it is, and then it’s gone. But the same is true of life. We live our lives, and while we can try to do better tomorrow, each moment is gone as soon as it’s arrived. We cannot go back and redo something that happened in the past.

That’s one of the reasons I think corporate song is so special — it is a paradigm for life. Each of us is doing our part, but we are surrounded by others doing theirs, and taken together, this creates something magnificent, something none of us could achieve by ourselves. When one of us needs to take a breath, the music continues, as others continue singing. When one of us doesn’t know how this goes, others who’ve sung this song before are there to help us. Even if our individual voice is weak or maybe we don’t sing all the right notes, it’s okay — we are surrounded and carried by the help of each other.

That great community is what I believe God wants for us all.

God, we give you thanks for the community around us and of which we are a part. We know that, as independent as we sometimes are, we must rely on each other. So, when we sing together, let that be a reminder of the support that surrounds us and the greater purpose in which we are participating. Let us help others when we can and graciously follow others when we need, but may we always remember that we are on this journey together, and we offer the praise we create to you, O God. Amen.

This devotion was written by Dwight Dockery and read by Julie George.

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/.

Today was one of those days. My wife uses a power wheelchair. It “lives” in our wheelchair van, and we must protect it from freezing, so we use a small heater inside the van and run a heavy-duty extension cord through a slightly open window to power it. This morning I forgot to remove the extension cord when I tried to leave for work. As I accelerated from the parking space, the cord pulled taut and shattered the window.

Did you know that when automobile glass shatters, it produces more tiny pellets and shards than there are molecules in the known universe?

I spent the entire rest of the day picking bits of glass out of various parts of the car with needle-nose pliers and tweezers. I also missed two work meetings, and it cost me $300 to fix.

You’d better believe I was grumbling. Rather loudly.

When Paul told the Philippians to do everything without grumbling and arguing, he probably mostly had interpersonal relationships in mind. But on reflection, I think he also meant not just getting along with each other, but approaching the difficulties of life with a different attitude. If so, I have a long way to go. Paul points to Jesus in directing the Philippians. “Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus,” he says in verse 5. Jesus never drove a van, but if he had broken out a window, I don’t think he would have talked to himself the way I did to myself. (He probably wouldn’t have been so boneheaded, either, but that’s another story.)

Dear Lord, protect me from inattention. And when I fail, help me to accept my own frailties with equanimity worthy of the attitude of humility, love, and service of Jesus. Help me avoid grumbling and arguing, with others and with myself. In Christ’s 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/.