Daily Scripture: Romans 8:24 It was in this hope that we were saved. But if we see what we hope for, it isn’t hope — after all, who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we continue hoping for something we don’t see, then we still wait eagerly for it, with perseverance.
26 Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don’t know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words; 27 and the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God’s people accord with God’s will. 28 Furthermore, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose;
Reflection Questions:We may not know what to make of all the things we go through in life—but God does. Paul wrote that God can use every experience we have for a divine purpose. Paul himself 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 today’s reading, he did NOT say everything that happened to him was good. He did make it plain, however, 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? An investor in the Marigold Hotel told Mrs. Donnelly, “There’s nothing I respect more than someone planting trees under whose shade they may never sit.” In what ways can you use your experiences and resources, not only to help people right now, but for years to come? How does knowing that God can extend your impact far beyond your life span nurture hope in your heart?
Lord Jesus, on good days it’s easy for me to trust that you are with me. But when the bad days come (and they always do, sooner or later), I ask you to keep me aware that you can use even those days for your purposes, if I just keep putting myself in your hands. Amen.
Family Activity:
No matter how young or old we are, each of us can celebrate God’s goodness in our lives! Encourage each family member to begin each day saying to God: “Yes!” and “Thank you!” Let your family know that by saying “Yes” to God, we are saying “Yes” to the gift of a new day, the opportunity to serve others, the privilege to grow in faith, and a willingness to let the Holy Spirit shape our hearts and minds. When we say, “Thank you!” we are giving praise and glory to God and celebrating all of God’s many blessings! Begin each precious day as a family with “Yes!” and “Thank you!” and celebrate each day as a gift from God.
Insights from Liz Gyori
Liz Gyori serves as the Group Life Training Program Director at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
This is the first stanza in Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope.” I love the description of hope as a living thing that sings without ceasing, although the imagery also seems delicate and fragile to me.
A radically different image of hope was embodied by a man named Louis Zamperini, whose remarkable story was told in the novel, and then the movie, Unbroken. His hope was a thing with jet engines, not mere feathers, super-powered and seemingly indestructible. Let me remind you about Louis (excerpted from louiszamperini.net):
A child of immigrants, Zamperini was often in trouble with the authorities in his youth. With the encouragement of his older brother, he became a world class runner, setting a world high school record in the mile. He competed in the Olympic Games in Berlin as a teenager and was America’s top finisher in the event. He joined the U.S. Air Corps as a bombardier in the South Pacific during World War II.
On a routine reconnaissance run, Louis’ aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean. He and another crew member survived in a life raft for 47 days, drifting 2000 miles, into Japanese-controlled waters. His rescuers were also his torturers, as the Japanese put Louis into a series of prison camps. One particular guard wanted to make an example of the eternally optimistic (read: hopeful) Olympic runner, and for two years this guard tried to break Louis’ spirit with verbal and physical cruelty.
If you’ve read the book or seen the movie, you realize how understated that last sentence is.
During Louis’ time adrift at sea and in the prison camps, he continued to hope for a rescue and a return to freedom. He endured trials that were so brutal as to be almost unbelievable. He hoped for what he couldn’t see, for what must have seemed impossible to most, and he did so with awe-inspiring patience.
Watch this clip about the film Unbroken to hear Louis tell the story in his own words. Note how he echoes Paul in Romans 8:28 around the 1:20 mark.
I like feathers, but I pray for more of a jetpack kind of hope, the kind exemplified by Louis Zamperini.
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
This is the first stanza in Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope.” I love the description of hope as a living thing that sings without ceasing, although the imagery also seems delicate and fragile to me.
A radically different image of hope was embodied by a man named Louis Zamperini, whose remarkable story was told in the novel, and then the movie, Unbroken. His hope was a thing with jet engines, not mere feathers, super-powered and seemingly indestructible. Let me remind you about Louis (excerpted from louiszamperini.net):
A child of immigrants, Zamperini was often in trouble with the authorities in his youth. With the encouragement of his older brother, he became a world class runner, setting a world high school record in the mile. He competed in the Olympic Games in Berlin as a teenager and was America’s top finisher in the event. He joined the U.S. Air Corps as a bombardier in the South Pacific during World War II.
On a routine reconnaissance run, Louis’ aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean. He and another crew member survived in a life raft for 47 days, drifting 2000 miles, into Japanese-controlled waters. His rescuers were also his torturers, as the Japanese put Louis into a series of prison camps. One particular guard wanted to make an example of the eternally optimistic (read: hopeful) Olympic runner, and for two years this guard tried to break Louis’ spirit with verbal and physical cruelty.
If you’ve read the book or seen the movie, you realize how understated that last sentence is.
During Louis’ time adrift at sea and in the prison camps, he continued to hope for a rescue and a return to freedom. He endured trials that were so brutal as to be almost unbelievable. He hoped for what he couldn’t see, for what must have seemed impossible to most, and he did so with awe-inspiring patience.
Watch this clip about the film Unbroken to hear Louis tell the story in his own words. Note how he echoes Paul in Romans 8:28 around the 1:20 mark.
I like feathers, but I pray for more of a jetpack kind of hope, the kind exemplified by Louis Zamperini.
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
____________________________
“Hope” is the thing with feathers - (314) BY EMILY DICKINSON
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
____________________________
____________________________
“Hope” is the thing with feathers - (314) BY EMILY DICKINSON
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
____________________________
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