When we recite the Apostles' Creed, we usually say the lines “born of the Virgin Mary“ and “suffered under Pontius pilot“ with nothing in between. In doing that we skip over the time that Jesus spent on earth and his ministry to those who are fortunate enough to hear him in person.

During his time on earth, Jesus declared the establishment of the Kingdom of God. He repeated this phrase again and again, and he often began parables with "The Kingdom of God is like . . ."

What Jesus was saying was that there was a new way of thinking about God and a new hope for all of humankind. The Kingdom of God was at hand, and Jesus was inviting us to be a part of it.

His words to the scribe in this story are important. The scribe shows a depth of understanding of what Jesus was saying that was unusual for his day. It was obvious from the scribe's words that he had discovered something new and unique about Jesus. Jesus compliments him by saying that he is "not far" from the kingdom.

The question for us, then, is how far are we from the central message of Jesus's ministry?

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/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you for joining us for Grace for All. This month, we are repeating some of our most loved episodes. We hope they will inspire and encourage you on your faith journey. Welcome.

Join Greta Smith and Jim Stovall as they discuss how Grace for All: The Devotional Podcast came to be.

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/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank you for joining us for Grace for All. This month, we are repeating some of our most loved episodes. We hope they will inspire and encourage you on your faith journey. Welcome.

In the month of November and this season of Thanksgiving, there is another holiday we ought to remember and be thankful for: Veteran’s Day. The brave men and women who have so fearlessly and selflessly served our country, not knowing if they may return.

It takes an immense act of courage and generosity to be willing to leave the lives they knew behind to serve their countries and defend their futures, however these men and women stepped up to the call, which could be seen as both a call from their leaders and from God as a testament of their characters. In turn, these men and women have been enriched with God’s divine protection to see this test through and be able to come out on the other side. While their lives have surely not been the same, nonetheless, they have been enriched, as their courage in the face of adversity continues to be honored in different ways, even today. Their generosity and willingness to protect others has sown seeds for future generations and instilled in countless families a newfound thankfulness to God for the many veterans who answered this call, exhibited grace under pressure, and came out on the other side.

God, help us to step up to the call of enriching others’ lives through generosity and instilling a new thanksgiving in you in others. Thank you for our veterans and for your fierce protection over them. May we never forget their courage, generosity and sacrifices. Amen.

This devotion was written and recorded by Grace Jonas.

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/.

By anyone's definition, Horatio Spafford was a successful man. A loving husband and father of four, he was an attorney and successful real estate investor in in Chicago, Illinois in the second half of the 19th century.

He was also no stranger to disaster and personal loss. He lost most of his real estate fortune in the Chicago fire of 1871. Two years later, the family was scheduled to take a vacation in London, England where his good friend Dwight L. Moody would be preaching. Spafford was delayed due to business issues, but sent his wife and four daughters ahead. He was to meet them in London when he was finished with his business.

On the voyage, the ship carrying his family collided with an iron sailing vessel. The ship sunk in 12 minutes, and 226 people lost their lives, including Spafford's four daughters. His wife Anna survived, and when she reached Cardiff, Wales after being rescued, sent Spafford a telegram in which she simply stated, "Saved alone."

Spafford immediately left for England. The captain of his ship was aware of the tragedy, and when the ship passed the point of the disaster, he summoned Spafford to the bridge to see the site. As Spafford contemplated the fate of his family, his heart, though broken, was filled with comfort and hope. It is believed that Spafford, when he returned to his cabin, put that comfort and hope into words:

Even after facing heartbreaking tragedy, Horatio Spafford's faith never wavered. He may not have understood the whys of the tragedies he faced, but he understood the God he served, and that understanding allowed his spirit to sing of the peace he and his wife experienced.

We might not understand all that happens to us or those we love, We can, however, understand that God made a way for us to be His children, and as His children we have access to the peace and comfort only God can provide.

The words Horatio Spafford wrote in 1873 are as true today as they were then:

Father, thank you for making a way. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins. Thank you for the peace and understanding that comes from that gift, and for the blessing that comes from singing to you with our spirit. Amen.

This devotion 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

These are the simple lyrics to a worship song that, once you have heard it, will resonate in your heart forever. Give Thanks was written by a man named Henry Smith in 1978. It was written at a time when Henry Smith didn’t seem to have much to give thanks for. He was suffering from a degenerative eye disease that would eventually leave him legally blind, and he was having trouble finding work after graduating from King’s College in Bristol, TN.

While worshipping in his church in Williamsburg, Va Henry heard a sermon that gave him the inspiration to create a song of praise. The pastor read a scripture from 2 Corinthians 6, 9-10: “We were seen as punished but not killed, as going through pain but always happy, as poor but making many rich, and as having nothing but owning everything.” Henry composed the song Give Thanks for his guitar, and he and his future wife Cindy sang it on several occasions. It was heard by a visiting military couple who carried the song with them to Germany. The song took on a life of its own and was actually published with the composer listed as “anonymous.” Years later in 1986 Smith heard a recording of the song by Integrity Music and contacted the publisher. He finally received recognition as its composer.

Henry Smith wrote over 300 songs, but Give Thanks is the only one that was ever published. It has been sung in numerous languages, sung at the Billy Graham’s Crusade in England, and published in numerous hymnals. Henry Smith’s grateful heart will endure for many generations to come.

Let us pray: Dear Lord, give us a grateful heart in all circumstances so that we can say we are strong even when we feel weak and rich even when our circumstances seem poor. Help us give thanks in all circumstances for your abiding love. Amen.

This devotional was written by Laura Derr 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/.

Mentioned in this episode:

This month on Grace for All, we are replaying some of our most listened to episodes. If you are enjoying these devotions and would like to have them in written form, our first...

Devotional by Greta Smith

As I was growing up, my mother used to repeat to me a saying passed down from her grandmother to her mother and then to her. It goes like this: “Pretty is as pretty does.” As conflicted as the cultural messages about beauty and esteem were for an adolescent girl trying to find her way, I understood the truth of those words, because I had experienced it. I knew that a person could be physically beautiful but act in a way that was ugly and unkind toward someone else, and it was like they morphed before my very eyes.

In a similar way, we might paraphrase the verses we just heard from the book of James: “Faith is as faith does.” James is telling us that a living, breathing faith moves with purpose. Faith that is living is active and shows itself in good deeds. And if we are not moved to reach out and act when we encounter the needs of others, our faith may as well be dead.

Just like my perception of a person’s physical attractiveness can be changed when I see them act in a way that is ugly, it is sobering to think how often peoples’ perception of the church is negative because they see a group of people proclaiming faith but don’t see that faith lived out in action.

Friends, “Faith is as faith does.” How will we “do faith” in our encounters today?

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/.

Mentioned in this episode:

This month on Grace for All, we are replaying some of our most listened to episodes. If you are enjoying these devotions and would like to have them in written form, our first six months of content is now available in print. You can find it by searching Grace for All, a book of daily devotions, by Jim Stovall on Amazon. As always, thank you for joining us, and we pray that you will be blessed.

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/.