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/.

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/.