Reflecting the Image (by Carla Sunberg)

Recently I was in Kolkata, India. A group of us went to  visit the grave of Ralph Blackman, a Nazarene  missionary who died of small pox, nearly 100 years ago. His grandson, Franklin Cook would go on to lead the Eurasia Region years later.  I believe this missionary knew that nothing could separate him from the  love of Christ.  Scripture: Rom. 8:31     What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. a   35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we

Had a layover in Manchester and HAD to spend the day with these two!  Scripture: Rom. 8:28   We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.  30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. Observation: Paul begins this phrase so emphatically — “We know!” This is a man who has been through struggle after struggle, and yet, he has the confidence to believe that there is a divine purpose for everything and everyone whom he has encountered in life. And that’s the point isn’t it — it’s a divine purpose. The ways of God are much higher than the ways of humankind, and this is an invitation to reflect upon the ways of God. This life that we live in the flesh is but a flicker in