(our theme for November)

Anna is a symbol of celebrating the moment. She had spent most of her life at the temple, more than 70 years. She sees the young family, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus and the word of God came to her, “Here is the one, the long awaited Messiah!” She rushed to them giving thanks that she had lived long enough to experience this moment. She then tells others about what God had told her concerning this child. Her words would have had great weight. Anna was called a prophet, one who spoke for God. One of just a few women in the Bible who were called this. I am sure that all who hear her marveled at her words.

Anna was praising God for this moment. There was no regret that she wouldn’t live long enough to see how this baby boy would grow and live out his mission from God. She was happy to experience what she was seeing.

Too often we don’t stop to celebrate those God moments when they come to us. They seem so inconsequential or incomplete. We want more and are less than content with what we have.

I think of the child I witnessed in an ice cream parlor. His parents told him and his sister they could pick a flavor of ice cream for their cone. The sister chose her flavor and was happily eating it while the young boy was standing there undecided. His father asked what was the problem. He said, “If I pick one flavor I will miss out on the rest.” Instead of focusing on what he could have, he looked at all he would lose.

I think that we are sometimes like that boy. We are so focused on what we don’t have that we don’t give thanks for what we have. Anna reminds us that God is at work in our lives in small and sometimes significant ways right now. When this is our focus it is easy to give thanks. Each day brings with it many blessings.

One of the things I do each night before I go to sleep is to list as many blessings as I can think about that happened that day. As each comes to mind I give thanks to God. I don’t focus on the other more challenging things that might be happening in my life or worry about what might come. I pause and like Anna, see how God is at work here and now. I don’t worry about the future, at least in these moments, because I realize how lucky I am to have experienced all I have today.

Thank you God for all the blessings you allow us to experience each day. Help us to celebrate them without regret. AMEN.

This 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 theme for November)

As I write this, the devastation from hurricanes Helene and Milton is still being assessed, but the destruction is already overwhelming. Many have been lost. Many have been displaced. For those of us who live in the mountains, it is especially hard to believe that a hurricane could cause so much ruin in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Now that the reality is setting in, it’s hard to believe that joy and gladness, thanksgiving and singing could ever be found in those mountains again.

This passage from Isaiah reminds me that God is present in devastation and ruin, and that where there is destruction, God’s people can always count on God’s comfort and compassion. The prophet tells us that we can be sure of it. The Lord will “surely comfort Zion,” he writes, and” will look with compassion on all her ruins.” Even in the face of utter destruction, there is hope for restoration of the land, and for joy, gladness and thanksgiving to be found among the people once again.

No one can predict the future. Storms will come, and sometimes they will rage. They may wreak havoc beyond our wildest imagination. We cannot be confident that life will be safe or that we will be protected from the storms, but we can be confident in the character of a loving God who surely remains present, provides comfort, looks with compassion, redeems the lost and restores the broken.

Gardens spring up, even in wastelands. For that, we give thanks.

God of the deserts and wastelands, God of the ruins, we give thanks for your unfailing presence and unwavering compassion. We ask that you comfort the grieving and restore the land, that songs of joy and thanksgiving might be heard once again. With hope we pray, amen.

This 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/.

(our theme for November)

This is a powerful verse that is a call for gratitude and praise for the everlasting and unchanging love bestowed upon us by the Lord. It’s a reminder to all of us to acknowledge and appreciate all the many blessings that He has given us because he loves us.

There have been many times in my life when I felt unlovable. One of the earliest instances I can remember is when I was punished as a child for some form of misbehavior that I don’t even remember. I do remember my dad saying that they were only punishing me because they loved me. At that point I thought to myself “ Well, I could do without this kind of love! I don’t feel loved right now!” Later in adolescence, I felt unloved when it seemed all of my friends were “going steady” except me. And even later after I lost my husband, I felt that no one would ever love me again like he did. It took time and quite a bit of reflection to realize that I AM loveable and the Lord does love me, even with my imperfection. And because of His love, he has given us so much to be thankful for. I try not to take this for granted.

When I see the sunrise on a beautiful fall day, I thank the Lord. When I gaze into my grandchildren’s faces, I thank the Lord. When I arrive safely at home from a trip, I thank the Lord. I experience so many blessings everyday that often go unnoticed but in reflection I can say ‘ Thank you Lord! I knew that was you! Thank you for loving me.”

Heavenly Father, You have shown us Your love in so many ways. Help us to avoid the distractions of the day and give You thanks for all the goodness You have bestowed upon us. Thank you for Your love! Amen.

This devotion was written by Virginia Hardwick 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/.