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by Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN
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- Today4 min
Creation Sings with Us (encore)
Hello, and welcome to Grace for All, a daily devotional podcast produced by members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. I’m Grace Jonas, the reader and writer of today’s devotional, which I’ve entitled “Let Heaven and Nature Sing”. Thank you so much for joining me today!Psalm 96:11-12Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.When I was younger, I remember a song from either Vacation Bible School or a Children’s Play containing the lyrics “I’m not gonna let the rocks cry out for me” and “I’m not gonna let the hills bow down for me” in reference to praising God. I remember as a child, these lyrics seemed silly to me, which, even as an adult, they still seem a bit silly. But, not for the reasons you may think.After all, the lyrics to the well-loved hymn “Joy to the World” contain the lyrics “let every heart prepare Him room, and Heaven and nature sing.” And refers to fields, floods, rocks, hills and plains repeating the sounding joy.When I was young, I could not put a finger on why I thought the lyrics to that children’s song sounded silly to me, but now analyzing the lyrics to this hymn and this verse hand in hand, I know why that is: there are several hymns and church songs referring to creation singing of God’s love, but specifically in this context when we refer to creation, we refer to beings such as rocks, oceans, and other landmarks. In my mind, I feel this goes to show that while, yes, we shouldn’t let the rocks cry out for us or the hills bow down for us, we should fill the Earth with songs of worship and let all features of God’s wondrous Earth be alive with praise in harmony with our own.Will you join me in prayer?Dear God, while we may believe the only things that can sing your praises are the beings with voices, help us be reminded that there is a beautiful Earth surrounding us that you painstakingly created that we should rejoice and be worship in harmony with. May we always love and appreciate the Earth you have created and fill it with the songs of your praise. In your name, amen.This devotional was written and read 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/.
- Yesterday5 min
No Guile
John 1:45-51Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, Joseph's son, from Nazareth." Nathanael responded, "Can anything from Nazareth be good?" Philip said, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, "Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit." Nathanael asked him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are God's Son. You are the king of Israel." Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these! I assure you that you will see heaven open and God's angels going up to heaven and down to earth on the Human One."When Philip told Nathanael that they had found the Messiah, Nathanael answered with a line that still makes people smile: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"I don't think Nathanael meant it as cruelty, though maybe a bit of snobbery. Nazareth was simply a tiny, unimpressive place close to his own hometown of Cana. It would be a little like someone here in Blount County saying, "Could anyone important really come out of Rockford?" Not hatred. Just skepticism. Familiarity.And Nathanael did not hide his skepticism.When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said, "Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit." No guile. No manipulation. No fake spirituality. Nathanael said exactly what he thought, even when he doubted.Ironically, the passage seems to point us back to Jacob in Genesis 28. Jacob, whose name became Israel, was famous for deception and manipulation. Yet Jesus describes Nathanael as a true Israelite without deceit. In other words, Nathanael stood in sharp contrast to Jacob's old reputation.And here is what I love most about Nathanael: when evidence suggested he was wrong, he changed his mind.He did not cling stubbornly to his first impression. He did not double down on skepticism just to protect his pride. When Jesus revealed that He had seen Nathanael under the fig tree, Nathanael responded immediately with faith.That kind of honesty takes humility.Some people refuse to question. Others refuse to believe. Nathanael did neither. He spoke honestly about his doubts, but he also remained open to truth.That may be part of what Jesus meant by "no guile." A heart honest enough to question, and humble enough to change.PrayerFather, you know we can be both blind and stubborn. When we have doubts, encourage us to face them honestly. When we see the truth, support us in living it, even though it demands we change. Keep us in integrity. In Jesus'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/.
- 2 days ago5 min
The Tax Collector
Matthew 9:9"As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him."We learn later that this tax collector, was none other than the great disciple, Matthew, who wrote that book of the Bible. But the first thing we need to know as we seek a lesson in today's scripture is how unloved, maybe even hated the tax collectors were in the times when Jesus walked the earth as a man, a teacher, a Jewish rabbi.Tax collectors worked for the occupying Roman Empire and were mistrusted and even hated by the Israelites. Many, if not most, tax collectors, were dishonest to boot – collecting far more than was required. Their greed often lined not only the coffers of the State, but the pockets of the tax collector. Yet, here was Jesus, walking by, calling one of them to follow him!Matthew tells us in verses 10-12 that this Tax Collector, Matthew did follow Jesus and took him to dinner with a bunch of other hated Tax Collectors at Matt's house. Some Pharisees who were the keepers of the Jewish laws, saw Jesus eating there and asked His disciples why Jesus was eating and associating with Tax Collectors and sinners! In verse 12, Jesus himself explained that "It's not the healthy, the holy, who need a doctor, but the sick." He told the Pharisees in verse 13 to "go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice, for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."Now let's consider what lesson Jesus means for us in this story…All around us are opportunities to "eat with", talk to and to help out, the despised, mistrusted, and otherwise rejected people around us. We must invite and welcome all the despised, lowly outcasts, to meet Jesus, through us! We are his hands and feet today, his smile, his tears, his forgiving words. We are his representatives!We must invite and welcome the stranger, forgive the ones we despise, love our enemies! Jesus died loving and forgiving. Perhaps we won't need to go that far…but, we can go a long way in his footsteps by loving our enemy, just as he commanded.Welcome Pharisee, outsider, despised one. We LOVE Jesus here and we LOVE you too – in Jesus name!PrayerDear God, please help us to live in the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, loving all our enemies as Jesus did. Show us how to forgive those who despise and reject us, those who lie to us, those who take actions we know are bad for the world. Show us how to be your hands and feet and to spread your LOVE, not more hate and ill feelings. Keep us under the shadow of your wings and warm our hearts with your LOVE for all mankind. In Jesus' name we pray. 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/.
- 3 days ago7 min
Scripture Saturday (May 16, 2026)
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/.
- 4 days ago4 min
Tower of Babel
Genesis 11:1-7Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth." But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."Romans 1:20-22Ever since the creation of the world God's eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been seen and understood through the things God has made. So they are without excuse, for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became foolsSeeking God through our strength and intellect seems to have been the human way since God created the universe and creatures in it. In the biblical story of the tower of Babel, God cast us down speaking all the different tongues of the world in order to confuse us. For millennia, humans have been divided by language, culture, and geography. Meanwhile, we have been busy creating tools to improve our existence. In the current age, humans have created technologies that have connected us, shared information, and made vast distances a matter of hours of travel. I once heard a prophet of technology state, with a straight face, that in the age of computers and internet access for every student, Susie could study algebra at 2:00 a.m. if she chooses. As a former educator, I can assure you that if Susie is online at 2:00 a.m., the chances that she is studying algebra are really quite small.In an age of technology, we have created an illusion and myth that every person has a voice and information is accessible to all. We seem to think that this will fix what ails the human condition. Translation of unknown language can now be rendered in an instant; therefore, we can communicate freely. Yet we live in a world of misunderstanding. War, crime, hatred, and poverty have not disappeared despite our technology.When God looked upon the effort of the people of Babel and said, "they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them," the condemnation was about hubris and choices, not the tower and the tools. It appears that humans have learned nothing. Thousands of years have passed, and we continue to think that our intelligence and our collective knowledge will save us from the human condition.Humans are capable of amazing things, especially when we work together to meet a goal. We can accomplish goals that are both amazingly kind and generous, but our goals are just as often amazingly stupid, harmful, and even evil. Human tools allow us to work. The tools we create are neither good nor evil. The work is either guided by the Holy Spirit or it is not. Those who shout about their wisdom the loudest are likely to be those who work with a "senseless and darkened heart."PrayerLord, allow us to always focus on your creation not our own. Let us not follow the myths we tell ourselves about our own technology and tools but focus on what you allow us to do in Your name. May every tool we pick up be put to good use to do the work you ask of us to help our neighbors and bring your kingdom close, Amen.This devotional was written by Jill Pope 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/.
- 5 days ago4 min
Who is Really Blind?
John 9:25 (CEB)The man answered, "I don't know whether he's a sinner. Here's what I do know: I was blind and now I see."John 9:25 contains one of the simplest and bravest testimonies in Scripture. The man who had been born blind stood before religious authorities who wanted him to deny what had happened to him. They had already decided what was acceptable to believe. They already had the "correct" answer.But the man refused to pretend."I don't know what to tell you about all your arguments," he essentially says. "What I do know is this: I was blind, and now I see."That answer cost him something. Before this moment, his parents had already shown fear. They answered cautiously because they worried about what the authorities might do to them. They feared exclusion. They feared consequences. Honestly, most of us understand that fear. Sometimes keeping quiet feels safer than speaking honestly about what we have experienced.But this man chose truth over conformity.Notice something important: the blind man did not heal himself. Jesus opened his eyes. Grace did the work. But the man still had to decide whether he would embrace what Jesus had done and stand by it when pressure came.That still happens today.Sometimes opening your eyes changes relationships. Sometimes it disrupts old assumptions. Sometimes people become uncomfortable when your lived experience no longer fits their expectations or categories. Faith in Jesus does not always make life easier socially. Sometimes it makes a person inconvenient.But there is quiet courage in simply telling the truth."I don't know everything. I can't answer every argument. But I know what Christ has done in me."And sometimes that testimony speaks more powerfully than winning the debate ever could.PrayerFather, sometimes it's hard to simply tell the truth. We ask not only that you would help us to see past our own preconceptions to perceive the truth, but to give us the strength to proclaim it and live it. In the name of Christ we pray, 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/.
- 6 days ago6 min
In the Know
1 Peter 2:4-5Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.1 Peter 2:9-10But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.Some years ago I was invited to attend an awards banquet by a friend who was being honored for his research at the university. I learned that he was internationally known for his work in the field of cattle nutrition. While I enjoyed the evening when it came to the speeches I was clueless. They were talking about his work using terms and concepts that I did not understand. The powerpoint they showed meant nothing to me. I enjoyed the pictures but the content, not so much. However, those in the know were thoroughly captivated by what they saw.I thought about that experience when I read this passage from I Peter. We who are followers of Christ, what Peter calls God's people, know and are moved by the story of Jesus life, death and resurrection. For other's the message can be a stumbling block.When I hear the story of Jesus I find in it the narrative of the way God has mercy on us, loves us and forgives us. It motivates me to strive harder to live as a person of the light. It is hard for me to understand how others can hear the same story and find it dull or pointless.We who hear the story in faith praise God for God's wonderful deeds. Those who do not hear the story in faith laugh and stumble.The writer of I Peter reminds us that the difference between Christians and non-Christians is not that we see different things but that we see the same things differently. Just like me at that awards banquet. I saw the same things as others did. What was meaningful for them had little meaning for me. They were in the know.This means that we have to realize that we can't expect those who are not actively involved in the life of faith to understand where we are coming from. The things that move us and shape our lives do not necessarily have any meaning or even a frame of reference for them. So talking to them about our faith might not be very effective.What does work is to meet them where they are. To invite them into a relationship with Christians and let God do the rest.So invite them to help with service projects being done by the church. Support them when they are struggling, and answer their questions when they have them. Love them with a Christ like love so they can experience, just a little what it means to be "God's people."These things will help them to open their hearts to the good news. And when they do then the stone which they earlier rejected can become for them the chief corner stone of their life of faith.PrayerLoving God, we give thanks for all the ways you have blessed us. Help us to share that love and grace in meaningful ways with others. Help us to love those who do not love you as we do. We pray that they can also become your people and be filled with your mercy. AMENThis devotional was written and read by Bill GreenGrace 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/.
- 1 weeks ago5 min
Lord, You Have My Attention
John 21:17The third time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."This wonderful encounter occurs at the end of John chapter 21 with the resurrected Christ speaking directly to his disciple Simon Peter. Three times, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" Three times, Peter responds with "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." The same question three times and the same answer three times.You can feel the emotion in Peter's response; he sounds frustrated, but I also sense an almost desperate conviction of "you know I love you…why won't you believe me?" After each exchange Jesus tells Peter, "Feed my sheep." Although this can sound very directive, when I read the scripture, it feels like Jesus says it softly, but in a manner that emanates the deep love Jesus has for Peter. Jesus had Peter's attention. Jesus wanted Peter to embrace the role of being the Shepherd, the one who would accept leadership for sharing the Good News. To "feed" the people.A number of years ago, I went to my church on a Sunday morning, it is a Methodist church, and the pastor preached on this same scripture where Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" and then said three times, "Feed my sheep." After church, while my wife fixed lunch, I turned on the television to a local Baptist church (they had a pastor I really admired), and he was preaching on the same scripture. An interesting coincidence. That evening, I attended a Presbyterian church service with a bunch of college kids I was working with, and the pastor preached the same scripture, the same three questions, with the same three responses.I no longer thought it was just a coincidence. I know I can be dense sometimes, but after hearing this passage preached three times by three different pastors on the same day…I said, OK Lord, you know I love you…you have my attention. In the ensuing years, I embraced a more active role in the ministries placed before me. If Jesus can use an ordinary fisherman in ministry, He can also use you and me to feed the sheep, to love our neighbors, to share the good news.PrayerLord, you know we love you; you have our attention. Let us see that a coincidence might really be an opportunity to share some good news, to feed your sheep. Amen.Today's devotion 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/.
About Grace for All
"Grace for All" is a daily devotional podcast from the laity of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Each episode presents scripture and a brief reflection, written and recorded by members of our church. These short episodes are meant to inspire you and support your journey of understanding and faith. We believe the central message of Jesus is one of grace. Grace for all human beings.Grace for All is a podcast ministry of First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN
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