There is a scene in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” that I really love. Scrooge awakens on Christmas Day after having spent the night with those three spirits, and he flings open his window to let in a ray of brilliant sunlight. Before that he traveled through an awful lot of darkness – the guilt of his past, the isolation of his present, and the fear of his future. He realizes that it is Christmas morning, and he’s been given another chance. The darkness hasn’t consumed him; there is still time, and there is still hope.

In Isaiah’s writing, about 700 years before Jesus, he spoke to the people of Israel during a period of their greatest threat from the Assyrian Empire. The people were filled with fear, hopelessness, and questioning whether God had left them. They were walking in darkness - not just the absence of natural light, but the absence of hope, clarity, and peace, because they felt so lost and alone.

In the middle of all that, Isaiah made a promise: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” He didn’t say “they will see,” he said “they have seen.” He speaks of this coming light with such confidence that it seems to have already occurred. But Isaiah knew that that is the nature of God’s promises. They are so confident, so dependable, we can speak of them as if they’ve already taken place.

Seven hundred years later, in the same general area that Isaiah prophesied about, a baby is born in Bethlehem. Matthew’s Gospel references this exact verse in describing Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. The light Isaiah spoke of wasn’t simply a desire for better conditions or for political freedom. The light was a person - Jesus.

John Wesley understood this is how God works - He calls it “prevenient grace”, which means the light that precedes us, preparing our hearts, working in our lives long before we’re aware of it. Long before we realize our need for light, God is shining light into our darkness. The Advent message is that while we were still walking in darkness, God brought the light.

Each Sunday in Advent, we light candles in our sanctuaries, and we watch the darkness slowly give way to light. This is a wonderful representation of what God did in human history and what He continues to do in each of our lives. We don’t produce the light, nor do we earn it. The light comes to us. It shines on us.

Are you walking through darkness this Advent season? Maybe it is the grief of losing someone dear, worry about the future, loneliness, or just the fatigue of living in a world that can feel cold and unforgiving at times. Isaiah’s promise is for you. The light has come. Not at some point in the future, not eventually… the light has already shone.

Christmas isn’t about us finding a way to leave the darkness behind. It’s about God coming into our darkness and bringing light with Him. Emmanuel, God is with us, including in the darkest of places.

Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world who came into our darkness. Shine in our hearts today and help us trust that no darkness is too deep for your light to reach. Amen.

This devotional 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:

Our scripture for today is John 3:16, reading from the New International Version.

The King James version might be more familiar to some.

This was probably the very first Bible verse I learned to memorize, which was in vacation Bible school. Did I understand what it said or meant? Probably not, but I could recite it to the pleasure of my mother and teacher.

We do not have a son, only daughters. Regardless, I cannot imagine offering one as a sacrifice as Abraham was asked to do. Furthermore, from what we know, he was not hesitant in taking Isaac up the mountain to be sacrificed. i would imagine that Sarah Isaac’s mother had something to say about the situation. However, in Old Testament times, women had less say-so about such matters.

During Jesus' earthly life, he seemed to be on a mission to carry out God’s will. Towards the end of his life, it almost seemed like a self-sacrifice or giving of himself for the atonement or substitution of his life for our sins.

The verse says that whoever believes will not perish but have everlasting life. As a child, this was very difficult to comprehend. What does everlasting or eternal life look like? As adults, we know that eventually our earthly bodies will wear out, we will die and be buried or cremated, and ashes will be spread or deposited in the ground or an urn. However, for believers, our souls will reside in heaven. We don’t know what that existence looks like. I have read of several individuals who have had near-death experiences and said that it was a wonderful experience.

Dear God, help us to understand what it means to believe in you. Help us to be a witness to others that they might also become believers in you and have the faith and hope for eternal life. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Emmit Rawls.

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/.

It started with four simple words: “Momma, I need help.”

Two weeks before that call, my husband Mark and I had driven to St. Louis to see our God-given grandchild and meet up with Robert, our son. He is forty-five, and he was planning a big move to Texas. As any parent would, we asked if he needed help. And as any grown man would, he said, “No, I can do this by myself.” We smiled and drove back to Tennessee, proud of his independence but with a mother’s quiet knowing in the back of my heart.

Then the phone rang. “I rented a U-Haul,” he said, “but I can’t tow the car. Could you drive it to Texas?” And just like that, our plans changed. That’s what love does — it shows up when the call comes, no matter the distance.

So I packed a bag, climbed into a little rental car, and began an 18-hour, 1200-mile journey. First stop, St. Peter's, to exchange the sporty little rental car for Robert’s well-worn SUV. Then off to Texas.

The road was long and sometimes frustrating — missed exits, heavy traffic, forgotten gas caps, lost credit cards, and a flight home that seemed like it might never leave the ground. But woven through every mile was God’s presence: in the small mercies, the safe arrivals, the unexpected help, and the quiet moments of grace.

And when I finally arrived at that Texas apartment complex, tired and sore but deeply grateful, I was reminded of the father in Jesus’ parable — the one who ran to meet his son while he was still a long way off. That father didn’t ask questions. He simply loved.

That’s what this journey taught me. Love isn’t measured by convenience or distance. It’s measured by willingness — the willingness to show up when someone calls, to go the extra mile, and to trust God with every step along the way.

I was reminded of the scriptures:

• Psalm 46:1 - “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
• Psalm 121:8 - “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

Father,

Thank you for the gift of love — the kind that shows up, reaches out, and never gives up. Help me to love as You do, with patience and grace, even when the road is long, or the journey is hard. Teach me to listen for the cries of those who need me and to respond with courage and compassion. And Lord, remind me that no act of love is ever wasted when it’s done in Your name. Amen.

This devotion was written by Marcia Prill 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/.

God is with us. What an awesome truth!

When we are facing hard decisions, God is with us. When we are waiting with dread for a diagnosis, God is with us. When a friend has let us down, God is with us. When it seems like the world is falling down around us, God is with us.

When we experience small victories, God is with us. When a child is born, God is with us. When we see a glorious sunset, God is with us. When we gather for worship, God is with us.

But also…

When we are ungracious to a server, God is with us. When we are consumed with envy, God is with us. When we speak ill of a neighbor, God is with us. When we fail to keep a promise, God is with us.

It’s comforting to know of God’s presence when we are in despair or trouble and need God; or when we celebrate the great moments. But let’s not forget that God is also with us when we are at our worst. The times when we would just as soon that God look the other way or turn a deaf ear.

If we stop and acknowledge God’s presence with us ALL the time, what a difference it could make in how we respond in EVERY situation. Good or bad.

God is with us. Let us never forget.

This devotional was written by Charlie Barton 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/.

John places these words in the hours before Jesus’ arrest, which shapes them more than we often realize. This isn’t a quiet devotional moment. It’s a farewell. Jesus speaks peace into a room thick with confusion, sorrow, and fear. He knows what the disciples do not—that they are minutes away from chaos. The peace he offers is not the kind the world promises, built on the absence of trouble or the illusion of control. It’s the kind you carry even as the storm breaks around you.

I need to place this in context. Caregivers know this tension well. I have cared for our severely disabled daughter for 22 years, but I am not alone in this. In the United States, with a population of 400 million people, there are around 50 million unpaid caregivers, usually caring for a family member. Just about everyone will wind up caring for someone at some point.

In that setting, you know you can do everything right and still watch the night unravel. Stability today offers no guarantee for tomorrow. When Jesus says, “My peace,” he isn’t offering distraction or escape. He is offering himself. His peace wasn’t shaken by betrayal, arrest, or the cross. It doesn’t require good news or predictable days. It settles deeper than circumstances, meeting us in the place where fear tends to bloom.

This is where his words matter for caregivers and all of us facing challenging times. Peace, as Christ defines it, isn’t the promise that everything will work out the way you long for. It’s the presence of One who never leaves you to face any of it alone. His peace steadies you when medical updates shift, when exhaustion reaches its limit, when you find yourself bracing for what might come next. Our circumstances may not calm down, but his peace can calm us within them.

Father, I need the peace your Son promised, the kind that holds when life does not. Teach me to rest in Christ’s presence even when trouble surrounds me. Let his steadiness become my own, and help me face each day without fear. 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/.

Let’s look at the verses that surround today’s introduction as Jesus speaks to his disciples. John 15, lines nine through ten state:

Followed by verse twelve:

Jesus speaks of his joy, meaning his great happiness, delight, or pleasure, that this euphoria would be shared with his disciples. In the collective three lines preceding and following, “love” is used seven times! Love! The message from Jesus is clear! Love! He commands in line twelve “to love”!

Love, not hate! Not the hate that is spewed from any of today’s digital media. Love! Don’t give in to the primordial emotions of hate and fear! Don’t be played by the talking heads!

Love! Jesus commands us to love!

Think of it. Jesus is issuing his own commandment: “Love one another”!

Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees as to which was the greatest commandment, and part of his answer in Matthew 22:39 was:

The recurring message from Jesus is to love!

Our neighbor is across the street, across the county, across the state, across the country, and across the world. It is imperative upon us to help. Help in any way that you can. This is Jesus speaking to us, not any talking head in the media or elected office. Jesus.

Jesus, as God’s messenger, God’s son, is always very specific in what he is saying. He uses the word “command” since he was there from the beginning. He was there when Moses took the tablets down from Mt. Sinai, and he was famously there when he told the Pharisees in John 8:58, “Before Abraham was, I am”!

The message from Jesus is clear. Love. Live your life as though your afterlife depends on love, because it does!

God above, love is not necessarily an easy thing to do. Give us the strength, power, and determination to love those around us, and around the world, as Jesus would have us do. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Sam Barto.



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/.

As a child, I got to watch the Peanuts Christmas special on TV, and I loved it! Especially the part when Linus comes to the stage in the spotlight and recites this verse, among others. I remember thinking to myself, “ Why did the angels decide to tell the shepherds instead of the important people of those days? Wouldn’t the word get out faster if they gave this momentous news to the bigwigs?” It wasn’t till much later that I realized that God blessed these humble shepherds with this message to show His inclusivity, that He often chooses the humble to accomplish His purposes.

“Fear Not.”

The angel’s first command is meant to calm the shepherds’ fear in the face of this supernatural appearance. I can imagine how scared I would be to encounter a heavenly being! But also, it serves as a message of reassurance for those who might be afraid of the news. The next notable thing to me in this passage is that the angel says the joyful news will be for all the people, not just for the Jewish people. God continues His message of inclusivity. And it reminds me of how often Jesus himself said these words to his followers.

Finally, the core of the message includes Savior (He rescues people from their sin), Christ ( or Messiah, the long-awaited King from the line of David), and Lord ( He has the ultimate authority and rules over all). These three titles that the angel gives to describe Jesus pretty much sum up this amazing pronouncement. What Joy those shepherds must have experienced to hear this news!

It’s always great to hear the news about a new baby, but how astounding it would have been to be the first to hear the news about THIS special baby!

Dear Lord, may we always feel the amazing joy when we hear the story of Your birth. And may we be always thankful that You came to us as our Savior. Amen.

This devotional was written by Virginia Hardwick 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/.