(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/.