Today’s cuppa is a soothing, calming peppermint herbal tea. On this chilly, rainy morning, I am sipping slowly, pondering salvation.

My dear friend and Firefall board member Clarice Kling once shared this about her father-in-law, “he never ‘got over’ his salvation. He loved to share about it and he always cried.” What a remembrance and testimony.

I am pondering salvation for two reasons during these days. Jim and I received a report from Pastor David in Myanmar that eight people recently decided to follow Jesus Christ as their Savior. Last week, he spent three evenings with those who recently read the evangelistic Bibles and wanted to know more. David taught them from creation to salvation. Six of the group chose to be baptized last Sunday.

These new followers of Jesus will face ridicule, persecution, rejection and possible physical harm from their Buddhist families. Please pray for their strength and growth as disciples. Please pray for Pastor David and House of Glory as they give an answer to the hope that is within them in a nation where so few have heard the name of Jesus.

There’s another reason I am fixated on salvation this week. My five-year-old granddaughter pulled me aside in her bedroom and confided, “Mimi, I have asked Jesus into my heart. Now I am a Christian!” Her desire to share this great news with me brought a combo of celebration and tears that I will not soon forget. Her parents led her in this milestone moment of prayer.

As my granddaughter professed her new identity, my perception of her shifted, as well. She will always be my grandchild, but now she is also my sister in Christ, part of my “forever family” on a journey that will not end at death. As I pray for new believers in Myanmar, I pray for her, too, to grow strong in God’s Word, in worship and loving fellowship.

Behold, God is my salvation,

I will trust and not be afraid;

For YAH, the Lord, is my strength and song;

He also has become my salvation.

Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. -Isaiah 12:2-3

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said,

‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.’ -Matthew 18:2-3

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. -John 17:3

May we all ponder our salvation and be strengthened in our identity as beloved children of our loving Father and partakers of eternal life because of Jesus Christ’s death on our behalf. May we, too, never ‘get over’ our salvation!

With a grateful heart,

Nancy