{"podcast":{"title":"Grace for All","slug":"grace-for-all-6595211","podcast_index_feed_id":6595211,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/graceforall/","website_url":"https://1stchurch.org","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/2428ce1f-9c22-4f5a-acd7-88e0a40ad9bf/Grace-for-All-3000.jpg","author":"Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN","episode_count":300,"summary":"\"Grace for All\" is a daily devotional podcast from the laity of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Each episode presents scripture and a brief reflection, written and recorded by members of our church. These short episodes are meant to inspire you and support your journey of understanding and faith. We believe the central message of Jesus is one of grace. Grace for all human beings. Grace for All is a podcast ministry of First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN","last_synced_at":"2026-09-25T18:18:52.938444+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-for-all-6595211"},"episode":{"title":"Thin Places","slug":"thin-places","published_at":"2026-09-09T07:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-for-all-6595211/thin-places","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-for-all-6595211","url":"https://graceforall.captivate.fm/episode/thin-places","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/b8a0edda-52b0-4bf7-b49b-1dac7107581d.mp3","summary":"Genesis 28:12 And he dreamed: a stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. Some years ago, Catherine Nance described in a sermon the concept of thin spaces. According to Google, Thin spaces (often called thin places) are unique locations or moments where the boundary between the physical world and the spiritual realm feels exceptionally close. I instantly knew that what Catherine was describing was more than just conjecture but was, in fact, real. Scripture is full of instances where people experience the very real presence of God. For Jacob, it was a vision of angels ascending and descending on a stairway to heaven. For Moses, it was the burning bush. For Peter, James, and John it was the mount of transfiguration where the countenance of Jesus was transformed and they fell on their faces in awe of the moment. And for Saul, it was a blinding light that knocked him off his horse. Moments when the spiritual is so close to the physical that it is exceptionally real enough to reach out and touch. While not nearly so dramatic as these encounters, thin spaces have been for me something that I have experienced from time to time but could not adequately describe before. Most often, it comes in the form of music that is so overwhelming that I can no longer sing but simply mouth the words. “Hear him ye deaf, his praise ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ. Ye blind behold your Savior come and leap ye lame for joy.” Charles Wesley obviously knew the overwhelming joy of being in the presence of Jesus. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long Th…","meta_description":"Genesis 28:12 And he dreamed: a stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. Some years ag…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":400,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/grace-for-all-6595211/episodes/thin-places/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-for-all-6595211/thin-places.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}