Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurredtion Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Tuesday, 15 July 2014 "God—always at work for our good"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurredtion Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Tuesday, 15 July 2014 "God—always at work for our good"
Daily Scripture: Romans 8:22-25 All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.
26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Reflection Questions:
The apostle Paul led a very tough life by human standards, during which many bad and painful things came his way (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:22-28). In our reading today, he did NOT say that everything that had happened to him was good. Rather, the point of his message was that he trusted God to be able to work out good for him even through the bad things that had happened.
Paul began this passage saying, "We were saved in hope." In what ways do you want your faith journey to "pay off" right now, and in what ways are you willing to live in hope, even if the present is different than you would want it to be? What experiences and resources help to nurture hope in your heart?
Paul gave quite a lengthy list of hardships: imprisoned, beaten, faced death, stoned, shipwrecked, dangers from rivers, robbers, my people, and Gentiles, in the city, in the desert, on the sea, and from false brothers and sisters, hunger and thirst, often without food, and in the cold without enough clothes. What's your list of tough things you've faced? Take that list to God, look for the ways it may have already produced good in your life, and ask God to keep working good for you even out of bad things.
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Hebrews said you faced everything negative, even the cross, for the joy that was laid out in front of you. Fill me with that same kind of strength-giving hope as I walk with you. Amen.
CROSSROADS-Navigating the Second Half of Your Life
Pastor Clayton Smith and Dave Wilson (left) wrote the interviews featured in this week’s Insights blog. The full stories will be published in an upcoming book: Journey to Significance, to be published by Beacon Hill in early 2015
Paul retired from an executive position where he spent most of his time 6 days a week. When he retired, his goal was to keep busy. At first, he stayed busy taking care of his yard. Paul’s yard is beautiful, but he will tell you that yard work became boring. He hung around the house so much that his wife told him that she had married him for better or worse, “but not for lunch.” She kept asking him what he was going to do now.
Paul’s wife is very active at Resurrection, and she found some areas Paul could get involved in. He started with the Resurrection Food Drive, and this one thing led to others. People saw that Paul got results, and Paul discovered he had a spiritual gift for helping. Paul has since been involved in many projects, including Bless the School and My Father’s House.
As he did when he worked for a living, he gets up early and stays up late doing what he calls “Christian Responsibility.” Every day he is excited to go, meet people, get to know them and help meet their needs. Paul has his own personal mission statement, which is short and to the point: “To help others and do it.”
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