Greta Smith - Podcast Details

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Grace for AllDoing Faith (Encore)James 2:15-17 (NIV)Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.Devotional by Greta Smith As I was growing up, my mother used to repeat to me a saying passed down from her grandmother to her mother and then to her. It goes like this: “Pretty is as pretty does.” As conflicted a...2025-07-0104 min

Grace for AllDarkest ValleysPsalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the hous...2025-06-2904 min

Grace for AllAs the Heavens Are Higher Than the EarthIsaiah 55: 8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. In my household, it is no secret that I envy my husband. Specifically, I envy his easygoing nature, his ability to accept things that are outside of his control. Over the years I have tried to learn from him, and I like to think that he has helped me stretch and grow in this area. But it...2025-06-2404 min

Grace for AllDirectionProverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. I have a terrible sense of direction. Spatial orientation is not my strong suit. I easily lose my way, forget where I parked, and get turned around in unfamiliar places, or sometimes, even in familiar ones. In fact, my running joke about our home church is that when I enter a stairwell on one level, I never know where I’ll come out on the other. For me, it...2025-06-2305 min

Grace for AllWorrying About TomorrowMatthew 6:34, NIV Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. I tend to worry a lot. I tend to worry about things that haven’t even happened. I worry about how I am going to play in my next baseball game, for example, or about what people will think of me, even people I haven’t met yet! We don’t need to worry about that stuff, because tomorrow is not promised. All we can count on is today. That makes me t...2025-06-2003 min

Grace for AllPruning (part 3) It is God’s GardenJohn 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. Today in the final piece of this little series, let’s consider who is doing the pruning. In the first two parts, I have considered first my own knowledge and second my actions in pruning myself and my world. Now I must consider the relationship between myself and God. May God’s will be done not mine! Some seem to garden to impose order...2025-06-1905 min

Grace for AllPruning (part 2) Practicing the ArtJohn 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.Yesterday, we considered learning how and when to prune. Today, let us reflect on putting this knowledge into practice. If learning through scripture, sermons, silent reflection and prayer gives us insight and sharpens our tools, then to bear fruit, we must put this knowledge into practice. Practicing the art of pruning is as important as fertilizing a plant to create an abundant harvest. W...2025-06-1805 min

Grace for AllPruning (part 1) Knowing HowJohn 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. There is a lot of emphasis put on being productive in our culture. I guess staying busy and accomplishing things makes us feel needed or even important. But all things must be balanced whether we acknowledge it or not. If production is all we focus on then we are missing something—even devaluing it. And this leaves us out of balance. Many would say that the opp...2025-06-1704 min

Grace for AllWho is My Neighbor?Luke 10:25-29 (NIV) 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”Who is my neig...2025-06-1306 min

Grace for AllThe EyeMatthew 6:22-24 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! I must have read these verses before. In fact, I must have read them a dozen times or more. I do not recall it. I do not recall having heard a sermon based on these verses. But this time when I read them...2025-06-1105 min

Grace for AllThe glorious freedom of God’s childrenRomans 8:18-25 I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters. Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice—it was the choice of the one who subjected it—but in the hope that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until...2025-05-1506 min

Grace for AllStarting OverEzekiel 36:33-36 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and ha...2025-03-3105 min

Grace for AllBecause He LivesHebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. "Because He Lives" was one of Mom's favorite hymns. The sheet music for this and other traditional hymns always sat open on her piano. "Blessed Assurance", "Amazing Grace", and "How Great Thou Art" were much loved too. Many afternoons she would play through her favorites, meditating, offering silent prayers and worshiping. This daily ritual was a renewal of spirit and gave her a deep sense of comfort. Hebrews 7:25 highlights the powerful and et...2025-03-2803 min

Grace for AllA Tiny ResurrectionProverbs 15:30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Want to experience a tiny resurrection today? Smile at a stranger. In fact, smile at strangers all day long. Heaven knows the world needs it. Heaven knows you need it. Considered by many to be the greatest saint of modern times, St. Therese of Lisieux is beloved for her simplicity of faith, her spirituality of “The Little Way.” St. Therese, a Carmelite nun, died of tuberculosis at the age of 24 in 1897, but her “little way of l...2025-03-2704 min $Don\'t Stop Us Now AI Edition$ Don't Stop Us Now AI EditionGet AI Working For You – Meg SmithOur guest this week, for our 200th episode, is a digital strategist, author, and purpose-driven entrepreneur. After spending a decade at Google, Meg Smith co-founded Cloverbase, a training company focused on AI literacy and tech enablement based in New Zealand.Meg's journey with AI began, like many of ours, with a genuine fear about what these powerful tools might mean for her career. While on maternity leave in November 2022, she had her first encounter with ChatGPT, which sparked concerns about whether she would be relevant in the workplace anymore. Fast forward to today...2025-03-2638 min

Grace for AllThe Freedom of Acceptance2 Corinthians 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. I confess that I have trouble following rules. I always have. It’s not that I go around breaking rules or the law all the time but that I find it hard to make them central to my life. Rules and laws made by humans are what they are- human made. They are flawed. They always will be. The new covenant is about acce...2025-03-2604 min

Grace for AllSowing SeedMatthew 13:31-32 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”So many sermons and commentaries focus on how small and insignificant a mustard seed appears, but there is something else to be noticed. More attention should be given to the act of planting it in the fiel...2025-03-2005 min

Grace for AllTrustworthy and TrueRevelation 21:3-5 (NRSV) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”...2025-03-1805 min

Grace for AllHope and RenewalIsaiah 61:4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore formerly deserted places; they will renew ruined cities, places deserted in generations past. This verse speaks to me in so many ways. Of course, the prophecy was fulfilled many times throughout biblical history for God’s people. But I think about times in our own recent history as Americans and in my own personal life that we pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps and rebuilt, with God’s help. The Civil War laid waste to so much of our country. Particularly in the south where so m...2025-03-1603 min

Grace for AllTorchbearersLamentations 3:23 They (compassions) are renewed every morning. Great is your faithfulness.Last night, I came home from work exhausted. Monday was a “long week,” and Tuesday was even longer. I was out of energy. I cried my laments as I ate a late dinner and had no time to relax. I got to Friday and celebrated the end of another week. As a culture, we are in love with a sense of accomplishment. We relish marking things off our to-do list. We idolize our own laments. We bask in our productivity and lett...2025-03-1105 min

Grace for AllScattered BlessingsMark 4:27-28This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. In these verses from the gospel of Mark, Jesus is comparing the kingdom of God to seed a man scatters on the ground. The seed produces a harvest, but the man has nothing to do with t...2025-03-0904 min

Grace for AllRenewed LifePsalm 30:5 (NIV)For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.This verse is part of a Psalm that is a direct conversation with God. It moves from the emotions of dismay, despair and wailing to dancing, joy and praise. The Psalmist moves from the realm of death to renewed life and hope in the Lord. We all have moments in our lives that cause us dismay and despair. These moments stop us in our tracks and ca...2025-03-0304 min

Grace for AllThy Kingdom ComeMatthew 6:9-10, Jesus instructs us: Pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it’s done in heaven. For centuries, in churches and homes around the globe, followers of Christ have prayed The Lord’s Prayer, in keeping with Jesus’ sermon on the mount and the early church tradition. I wonder how many times these words have been raised to God—spoken individually or corporately, aloud, or in silent meditation—"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on...2025-02-2805 min

Grace for AllWho Lives There1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. A poet I once knew wrote these words: I dedicate this year to you Lord, With a promise to improve in Spirit, Mind and Body This run down property that bears my name This year I will try to keep the house where I reside As you would have it kept Structure firm Chambers clean ...2025-02-2703 min

Grace for AllTransforming SandMatthew 7:24-26 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the lessons that we could learn from these verses. I...2025-02-2506 min

Grace for AllNot of This WorldJohn 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom was from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” This verse is part of Jesus’ response when questioned by Pilate. We know how the rest of the story goes. We also know that Simon Peter did strike the high priest’s slave and was corrected by Jesus. I understand Simon Peter’s reaction. We often want to take matters into our ow...2025-02-1904 min

Grace for AllWhat Seek Ye?Matthew 19:23-24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. I don’t know about you, but threading a needle for me has become an act of hope and prayer as I have gotten older. Some days I think I would be as likely to get a camel thro...2025-02-1604 min

Grace for AllLike a Little ChildMatthew 18: 1-5 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. As I write this, a good three weeks into January...2025-02-1405 min

Grace for AllNot Being Stingy Matthew 20:14-16 (Message Translation) I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?’“ Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.” The scripture for today is the last part of Jesus’s parable of the owner of the vineyard and the hired workers. The owner, in need of hired labor, goes out several times to recruit people. The last group h...2025-02-0504 min

Grace for AllPeace on Earth 2024Phillippians 4:6 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. In 1863, when Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned “Christmas Bells,” his personal and communal world were wrought with grief. Henry’s second wife of 18 years had died two years earlier in a house fire, a freak accident started with a candle. America was at war, and none remained untouched by the pervasive loss of life, and the decimation of land. Henry’s own son had returned home, mortally wounded in battle. This was after he had enlisted in the Union...2024-12-2905 min

Grace for AllAn Abundant LoveAdvent 1 Corinthians 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I was on a weekend getaway driving through a trendy downtown area filled with coffee shops, restaurants, and breweries when I looked at a business and saw it was called Agape (uh-gāp). My first reading was the adjective with a long A (uh-gāp), and I thought what a weird name for a business. Then I read the second line of the sign and realized it was a health clinic-Oh!- agape (a-gáp-ē...2024-12-2305 min

Grace for AllThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.Advent (our theme for December) John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A few years ago, I learned the story of St. Lucy, a girl who was martyred in the 4th century. Lucy, or “the light,” was offered in marriage to a nobleman at the age of 13, but she refused, having consecrated herself to Christ with the intention of giving away her dowry to the poor. Her sentence for disobedience was to work in a brothel, but reportedly, when her captors came for her, she could not be c...2024-12-0604 min

Grace for AllGood and Perfect GiftsThankful Heart (our theme for November) James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. I often think about nature when I think of God’s good and perfect gifts. Perhaps that’s why I studied biology in college. My college advisor was a botanist who encouraged me to take field botany. It was quite an eye-opening experience. Even the smallest plants and flowers reveal great complexity when looking through a magnifying loop...2024-11-2704 min

Grace for AllCelebrating the NowWith a Thankful Heart (our theme for November) Luke 2: 36 -38 There was also a prophet, Anna…She was of a great age… She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 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 Josep...2024-11-2604 min

Grace for AllWastelands like a GardenWith a Thankful Heart (our theme for November) Isaiah 51:3 (NIV)The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins;he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. 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...2024-11-2504 min

Grace for AllUnfailing LoveWith a Thankful Heart (our theme for November) Psalm 107:8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. 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...2024-11-2403 min

Grace for AllHow Great Thou ArtWith a Thankful Heart (our theme for November) Psalm 69:30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.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 dif...2024-11-1904 min

Grace for AllResponsibilityWith a Thankful Heart (our theme for November) Ezekiel 3:17-19 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and the...2024-11-1403 min

Grace for AllThe Straight and NarrowWith a Thankful Heart (our theme for November) Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. We often hear about staying on the “straight and narrow road” that leads to eternal life. In C.S. Lewis’ book “The Last Battle” (the last book in the Chronicles of Narnia series), if my memory is correct, th...2024-11-0503 min

Grace for AllGive Thanks with a Grateful HeartWith a Thankful Heart (our theme for November) Ephesians 5:18-20 (Common English Translation) …be filled with the Spirit in the following ways: speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts; always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….” Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One, Give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ his son. And now let the weak say “I am strong,” Let the poor say, “I...2024-11-0304 min

Grace for AllThe Sun Will ShineWith a Thankful Heart (our theme for November) Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. I don’t mean to, but I take things for granted. I say thank you often, but there are many times that I just expect things to be there for me. I do not thank God for all that is given. I take it as a given that the sun will shine, that I will have people to help me, that not only will I have a next meal but that it...2024-11-0103 min

Grace for AllGreater WorksImitators of Christ (our theme for October) John 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. In this verse, Jesus is talking to his disciples about what will happen when he leaves them. The first part of this verse may seem fairly straightforward. The disciples have followed Jesus. They know how He speaks to people, how he treats people, and how he loves people. They have learned through h...2024-10-3005 min

Grace for AllOverflowingImitators of Christ(our theme for October)Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. One day this past scorching summer, I was filling a large watering can in order to water the potted flowers on my back porch. I had set the can in my kitchen sink, which is near the back door, positioned the faucet over the top of the...2024-10-2503 min

Grace for AllIn Step with the SpiritImitators of Christ (our theme for October) Galatians 5:25 (NIV) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. In one of my favorite family photographs, a grandfather and his grandson are walking away from the camera, in perfect step. The grandfather, in his straw hat and denim blues, and the little three-year-old boy in his t-shirt, shorts and baseball cap, are framed by a field of wildflowers as they climb a hill toward it. Even from behind, it is clear that they are related. The way...2024-10-2105 min

Grace for AllEyes to the SkyImitators of Christ (our theme for October) II Corinthians 3:18 And we all with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another for this comes from the Lord who is the spirit. Remember the scene the Lion King where Simba is telling to Monan and Pumbaa what he believes the stars are he counted his father once told him, that the stars are the great kings of the past up there watching over them. At this point i...2024-10-1404 min

Grace for AllNeither Jew nor GreekImitators of Christ (our theme for October) Galatians 3: 28-29 (NRS) There is no longer Jew nor Greek, there is no longer slave nor free, there is no longer male nor female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. These words were written by Paul to the churches in Galatia half a century after Christ’s death and resurrection. Paul was making a distinction between the Hebraic law that guided humans before Christ’s life on earth and the law of love that now must guide us all. This is t...2024-10-1303 min

Grace for AllScripture Saturday (October 12, 2024)Imitators of Christ (our theme for October) Thank you for joining us for today's Grace for All podcast. On Saturdays, we pause for a few moments to look back on our week and to review the scriptures that we have used in our podcast. We encourage you, after listening to this episode, to go back and listen to the episodes you missed, or to review the ones that were particularly meaningful for you. We trust that the thoughts that we have shared with you this week have provided a full portion of the...2024-10-1204 min

Grace for AllLet The Little Children Come to MeImitators of Christ (our theme for October) Mark 10: 13-16 People were bringing little children to HIm in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for to such as these the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them...2024-10-1105 min

Grace for AllThe Purpose of CommandmentsImitators of Christ (our theme for October) John 15:10-12, 17 (CEB) If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you…. 17 I give you these commandments so that you can love each other. Among other things I do, I have in my career help...2024-10-1004 min

Grace for AllThe Old Rugged CrossImitators of Christ(our theme for October)Matthew 16:24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." When thinking of taking up the cross, it can call to mind the lyrics to "The Old Rugged Cross": "On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. To the old rugged cross I...2024-10-0904 min

Grace for AllYou Must ForgiveImitators of Christ (our them for October)Colossians 3:13 Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. We are all children of God and citizens of the planet Earth, but we are all different from one another. Sometimes those differences cause us to pass judgment, become angry, make accusations, and even seek retribution. Surely God knew how hard it would be for his children to bear with one another and forgive. And yet w...2024-10-0804 min

Grace for AllLeading the WayImitators of Christ Romans 8:28-30 CEB We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. We know this because God knew them in advance, and he decided in advance that they would be conformed to the image of his Son. That way his Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters. Those who God decided in advance would be conformed to his Son, he also called. Those whom he called, he also made righteous. Those whom...2024-10-0704 min

Grace for AllLive as Jesus LivedImitators of ChristI John 2:6 NLTThose who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. This verse stings me almost everyday! I say I’m a Christ follower, but do I act that out by the way I live? The life of a follower of Christ is often referred to as a journey…to become more Christ like each and every day. When I was a new and young Christian I understood that certain huge sins were wrong…don’t kill, don’t steal. But what about l...2024-10-0604 min

Grace for AllScripture Saturday (October 5, 2024)Imitators of Christ(Our theme for October)Welcome to the Saturday episode of the Grace for All podcast. Thank you for joining us today. Saturday is a special time when we take a few moments to review the scriptures that we have cited in the episodes this week. If you missed any of those episodes, you might want to consider listening to them today. And even if you heard them all, there may be one that you might want to listen to again. We hope that each of these scriptures and podcasts will...2024-10-0505 min

Grace for AllThe Mind of JesusImitators of Christ(Our theme for October)Philippians 2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. What does it mean to have the same mind as Christ Jesus? We do our best to try to emulate his actions — feeding the hungry, donating to the poor, helping the oppressed. But does that really give us the same mind as Christ? This seems to be a higher call. Do the good deeds of Christ, but do them for the right reason. That’s a tall order...2024-10-0406 min

Grace for AllThe Example of ChristImitators of Christ (Our theme for October) John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Imagine with me for a few minutes. You are one of Jesus' apostles. You have been with him since he started his ministry - about three years now. The things you have seen are amazing, even miraculous. You've seen him heal people and feed people. You were there when he walked on the sea. You've laughed with him, and cried with him. 2024-10-0305 min

Grace for AllImitators of ChristImitators of Christ (Our theme for October) 1 Peter 2: 21-23 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. The writer of this New Testament epistle means for us to do good even if it means suffering. Do we really...2024-10-0204 min

Grace for AllA Life of LoveImitators of Christ(Our theme for October)Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” What does it take to be imitators of God? What is God like? God is LOVE! To imitate him, we can do our best to display the Fruit of the Spirit - outlined for us in Gal. 5:22-23 – “…LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...2024-10-0105 min

Grace for AllInsurmountable ProblemsHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Mark 16: 1-5 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they...2024-09-3004 min

Grace for AllCompletely FilledHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Today’s scripture is found in Romans 15:13, reading from the New Living Translation. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.This verse is found near the end of the book of Romans and even though it is not quite the end of the chapter, it still sounds like a doxology or an expression of pra...2024-09-2905 min

Grace for AllScripture Saturday (September 28, 2024)Saturday, September 28, 2024 Hope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Thank you for joining us for today's Grace for All podcast. On Saturdays, we pause for a few moments to look back on our week and to review the scriptures that we have used in our podcast. We encourage you, after listening to this episode, to go back and listen to the episodes you missed, or to review the ones that were particularly meaningful for you. We trust that the thoughts that we have shared with you this week have provided a...2024-09-2806 min

Grace for AllA Gift Wasted?Hope, No Matter What (our theme for September) John 2:16-17 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” Recently my wife and I lost our oldest son to cancer. As part of my grieving, the thought occurred to me about how I imagine God must have felt at Jesus’s death. At our son’s celebration of life service and the reception that f...2024-09-2704 min

Grace for AllThe Ultimate HopeHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. Most of Revelation is less than revelatory to me. This verse is an exception. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Haven’t we all hoped for that kind of comfort? While we may receive comfort from family and friends, can you imagine being comforted by the Creator of the uni...2024-09-2604 min

Grace for AllHope In Your WordHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Are there any scriptural passages that provide you comfort and hope? Psalms certainly provide that for many people. Throughout my life, I’ve known lots of folks for whom Psalm 23 gives them hope. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He restores my soul. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the da...2024-09-2505 min

Grace for AllDown, Not OutTuesday, September 24, 2024 Hope, No Matter What (our theme for September) 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 16 (CEB) But we have this treasure in clay pots so that the awesome power belongs to God and doesn’t come from us. We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out…. So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside i...2024-09-2403 min

Grace for AllA New ThingHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Isaiah 43: 18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Stop thinking about the past. That’s the assignment. Are you stuck in a narrative that tells you the best is behind you? That things will never be as good as they used to be? That it’s all downh...2024-09-2304 min

Grace for AllWe Got ThisHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) James 1: 2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. One of the phrases that has slipped into our language in the last few years is “We got this.” It’s an expression of confidence, one that says, “Don’t worry. We can complete this task. We can meet this ch...2024-09-2204 min

Grace for AllScripture Saturday (September 21, 2024)Hope, No Matter What (our theme for September)Welcome to the Saturday episode of the Grace for All podcast. Thank you for joining us today. Saturday is a special time when we take a few moments to review the scriptures that we have cited in the episodes this week.If you missed any of those episodes, you might want to consider listening to them today. And even if you heard them all, there may be one that you might want to listen to again. We hope that each of these scriptures and podcasts w...2024-09-2103 min

Grace for AllWait for ItHope, No Matter What (our theme for September)Proverbs 23:18 “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Everyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of Lin Manuel Miranda’s hit musical Hamilton. As a lover of both history and musicals, what’s not to love? But my love for it stretches far beyond combining two of my passions in life. I find myself so drawn to it due to how it handles the clashing personalities of the characters and their atti...2024-09-2004 min

Grace for AllNothing Can Separate Us from the LOVE of GodHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Romans 8:37-39 “No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Apostle Paul wrote this wonderful news to believers in Rome and everywhere. Paul wanted all believers to be totally...2024-09-1905 min

Grace for AllA Cheerful HeartHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Proverbs 17: 22 (NLT) “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Some people are inspiring to be around. We feel good in their presence. They improve the quality of our lives and make us want to be a better person. Hilliard Hester is one of those people for me. Hilliard lives in the same apartment building that I do and sometimes we have breakfast together. I go to the dining room around 7am directly from my...2024-09-1804 min

Grace for AllBetter VisionHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Psalm 27:13 I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. When I look at the world before me what do I choose to see? If I look at a tree, do I see the fallen leaves that show the passing of seasons and the loss of life? Or do I see a tree that is healthy and doing what all living things do by living and renewing for a new season? When I look a...2024-09-1704 min

Grace for AllDo We Really Mean It?Hope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Matt. 6:9-15 “This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one]’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other...2024-09-1604 min

Grace for AllLook for The LightHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. In reading this verse, I am reminded of the lyrics to a song from an episode I once watched of Only Murders in The Building entitled “Look for The Light”. Those lyrics are as follows: I will wait at the shore for you. I will weather each storm, standing by till safe you ret...2024-09-1503 min

Grace for AllScripture Saturday (September 14, 2024)Hope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Thank you for 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 firstchurch.org or wherever you get your podcasts. Now, we invite you to listen and receive Grace. Welcome and thank you f...2024-09-1406 min

Grace for AllHope Is the EnergizerHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Isaiah 40: 26-31 (NIV) Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the C...2024-09-1305 min

Grace for AllFaithfulnessHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Lamentations 3:22-24 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Lamentations is a book of the Old Testament that mourns the loss of the first temple. The majority of Lamentations is filled with - well- laments. The soulful cry of the wounded asks “God, why have you allowed this?” Everyone at some point...2024-09-1204 min

Grace for AllUnseenHope, No Matter What (our theme for September)Romans 8:25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Today marks the 23rd anniversary of one of the most shocking and devastating days in American history. On September 11, 2001 when terrorists hijacked the planes that destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center, struck the Pentagon, and might have caused who knows what additional terror and chaos were it not for the brave souls who revolted and took a fourth plane down before it could reach th...2024-09-1105 min

Grace for AllDo Not Lose HeartHope, No Matter What (our theme for September)2 Corinthians 4: 16-18So we do not lose heart. Even though our outward nature is wasting away, our inward nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.I am by nature a peacemaker. Conflict and confrontation are extremely uncomfortable for m...2024-09-1005 min

Grace for AllLove Never FailsHope, No Matter What (our theme for September) 1 Corinthians 13:7-8 ESV “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease, as for knowledge it will pass away.” These words about never-ending LOVE, that bears all things…and never ends makes me think of Mother LOVE. No matter what I thought, said, or did, my precious Mother (God rest her sweet soul) always LOVED me. And no matter what my children th...2024-09-0904 min

Grace for AllI am the good shepherdHope, No Matter What (our theme for September)John 10:11-18 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just...2024-09-0804 min

Grace for AllScripture Saturday (September 7, 2024)Hope, No Matter What (our theme for September) Thank you for joining us for today's Grace for All podcast. On Saturdays, we pause for a few moments to look back on our week and to review the scriptures that we have used in our podcast. We encourage you, after listening to this episode, to go back and listen to the episodes you missed, or to review the ones that were particularly meaningful for you. We trust that the thoughts that we have shared with you this week have provided a full p...2024-09-0703 min

Grace for AllBeauty Amidst RainHope, No Matter What(our theme for September) Isaiah 61:3and provide for those who grieve in Zion -- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness. Dolly Parton once said: “the way I see it, if you want a rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” I can remember being a young child and hoping for the weather to coo...2024-09-0603 min

The Greta Eskridge PodcastThe Connecting Power of Story with SD SmithIn this episode I talked with my friend S.D. Smith. Sam is the author of the beloved Green Ember series. He also wrote the book Jack Zulu and the Waylanders’s Key with his son, Josiah. And he most recently wrote the book Mooses with Bazookas and Other Stories Children Should Never Read. I loved this conversation with Sam. We have a lot of fun together because he is a story teller and I love stories! Here are some highlights from our talk: *The book that turned him into a reader around the a...2024-05-1449 min

The County Line#125 - Greta Kemp MartinJoin us for a candid conversation with Mississippi Attorney General candidate, Greta Kemp Martin. Greta, with her deep-rooted history in law and her passionate advocacy at Disability Rights Mississippi, touches upon her perceived palpable shift in the voting mindset, where voters are choosing the individual over party lines. In the course of our discussion, we try to unravel the complexities surrounding the Dobbs Decision and the Attorney General's office. Greta's observations suggest a questionable representation of the Department of Human Services by a private firm and an alarming absence of the Attorney General's office in the investigation...2023-10-251h 14

SFF AddictsTBRCon2023 Panel: How to Write a Kick-Ass Battle (with Evan Winter, Andrea Stewart, RJ Barker, Christian "Miles" Cameron, Anna Smith Spark & Nick Martell)Every week, we are highlighting a panel from TBRCon2023, looking back on the amazing variety of panels that we had the honor of hosting. This week, join moderator/author Evan Winter and authors Andrea Stewart, RJ Barker, Christian "Miles" Cameron, Anna Smith Spark and Nick Martell for a TBRCon2023 author panel on "How to Write a Kick-Ass Battle." SUPPORT THE SHOW: - Patreon (for exclusive bonus episodes, author readings, book giveaways and more) - Merch shop (for a selection of tees, tote bags, mugs, notebooks and more) - Subscribe...2023-04-141h 25

The Business Savvy Singer PodcastMeet Reginald Smith Jr.Learn more about Reginald Smith Jr. by visiting his website, and following him on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.Interested in growing your music career this year? Check out our coaching classes on The Private Music Studio. Visit out our blog. Follow The Business Savvy Singer private Facebook page.Follow us on social media:Instagram: @gretapopeFacebook: The Private Music StudioTwitter: @gretapope The Business Savvy Singer Podcast is sponsored by:Private Music StudioGreta Pope EntertainmentEternal Wolf Music 2023-04-0322 min

THE KOSHEpisode 81: Greta Lax - Connecting Across DifferencesGet to know Greta Lax as we discuss: Connecting Across Differences, Studying Abroad, After 9/11, Moving Back to the Region, Christine Ann Center, Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), Organizational Psychology, Appleton Juneteenth Day Celebration, Snowpocalypse 2023, Cozzy Corner, Leadership, and other interesting topics. Links: What is industrial organizational psychology? https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/industrial Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, Inc.: https://www.christineann.net/Mara's Brazilian Cuisine: https://www.marasbraziliancuisine.com/ Lawlss Coffee, Neenah: https://www.lawlsscoffeeneenah.com/ What happened to companies' commitment to DEI? https://www.fastcompany.com/90855309/what-happened-companies-commitment-deiIntercultural Develop...2023-04-032h 11

HEELING The PodcastTraditions, Embarrassing Stories, & How to Have a Magical Holiday Season w/ Greta Smith GreenfieldHappy Holidays baddies! Today I have my girl Greta Smith-Greenfield back on the podcast to chat about all the Christmasy, festive things. This time of year can be a mixed bag of emotions, but this episode really focuses on how we can bring the joy back into the holiday season, and make it work for US. There is no "right way" to do the holidays, but I just want it to be full of happiness, joy, & magical moments for you. We give you all of our tips for surviving the holidays, and share some of our favorite holiday traditions...2022-12-131h 22

HEELING The PodcastAll Things Spooky, Cozy, & Witchy w/ Greta Smith-GreenfieldIt's almost Halloween witches! Which means, I had to have the Queen of Spooky on the podcast to celebrate this magical time of year with you all....Greta Smith-Greenfield. Greta and I met in Burlesque class in SLC, and have been friends ever since. She's a French teacher with a love for all things spooky, cozy, and witchy. Not only that, but she's a party-hosting maven, an avid adventurer, and truly the glue that keeps her various friend groups united. This episode is FUN, HILARIOUS, and yes....even a bit PARANORMAL. I truly believe that enjoying our life and...2022-10-181h 34

SFF AddictsTBRCon 2022: The Past, Present & Future of Grimdark (with Peter McLean, Anna Smith Spark, Ben Galley & More)The Past, Present & Future of Grimdark is an author panel from TBRCon2022 featuring Richard Nell, Adrian Selby, Ben Galley, Anna Smith Spark & Peter McLean. Moderated by Beth Tabler. For more information on TBRCon2022, head over to FanFiAddict.com. You can also stream the convention live from Jan. 23-30 on the FanFiAddict YouTube channel, Twitter account or Facebook page. This panel was sponsored by: The Story Engine ModFarm The Broken Binding FanFiAddict About the Panelists: ...2022-01-251h 29

The Business Savvy Singer PodcastMeet Producer Kevin Smith!Learn more about Kevin Smith by visiting:http://www.musicbykevinsmith.comhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Smith_(musician)https://musicfinder.online/kevin-smith-musician-u-s/Interested in learning more and growing your brand and career? Check out The Private Music Studio . Follow us on social media:Instagram: @gretapopeFacebook: The Private Music StudioTwitter: @gretapope 2021-07-2619 min $Don\'t Stop Us Now AI Edition$ Don't Stop Us Now AI EditionAllison Kent-Smith - Not your Typical EntrepreneurOur episode this week features an American woman who abandoned the security and prestige of working with some of the world’s most sought after ad agencies to start her own businesses.Her name is Allison Kent Smith and one thing that really stands out about her is that she has consciously refused to pretend to be someone she’s not when trying to find VC investors for her startup. That startup, giide.com, is a new platform for creating rich audio learning experiences featuring a host of multimedia options such as links, article...2021-06-2233 min $Wool n\' Spinning Radio$ Wool n' Spinning RadioThe Warmest Rows with Greta Lyn (@thewarmestrows)Dear Spinning Circle,Thank you for joining me this month with Greta Lyn! She is an active member of our community and can be found in the Ravelry group and Slack as @thewarmestrows -- as in the knitting rows of our garments (genius!). Please say hi to her as you get to know her on this fibery path to wonderful handspun!If you would like to watch the interview, versus listening (or both), you can find our chat on YouTube here. Patreon Link hereThank you for watching and thank you t...2021-04-161h 14

Well + WorthySelf Love Is the Greatest Gift With Greta FitzHey My Beautiful Friend!Today I am honored to have a very special guest on the show, Greta Fitz, Founder and CEO of Ascention Beauty Co, A premier wellness fragrance brand that is on a mission to help you discover your best self through through the power of aromatherapy, affirmation, and energy to elevate your mind body and spirit.Greta Takes us through her journey of healing and becoming the person she is today by peeling back the deep layers and becoming the light she is today!She also takes us through a...2021-03-2436 min