Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

Today’s cuppa is my usual, a strong English Breakfast tea with a tad of sugar and a splash of milk.

Starting with the Advent season, I pull out one of my Christmas mugs. These weeks before Christmas fill me with greater joy as each year passes. In today’s photo I include a candle, symbolizing the Light that has come into the world through Jesus Christ. In addition you will notice the wax-encased amaryllis, an Advent gift to myself. I look forward to watching it unfold in beauty through the weeks ahead. 

Advent is all about making time and space for wonder, pondering, watching, waiting and the mystery of the Incarnation to impact our hearts year by year. 

May I encourage you to consecrate time (even 10 minutes) and space each day of this season to slow down and turn your eyes upon Father, Son and Holy Spirit in trust and expectation. You might want to read a treasured Christmas passage again and again over several days, noticing a phrase or picture or concept that leads you on a deeper and richer journey into God’s heart for the world and for you. 

Cheers and much love,

Nancy

Integrating the New with the Old

Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” Matthew 13:52

Today’s cuppa is a tasty Ethiopian coffee I rediscovered while on our recent visit to Hot Springs, Arkansas, our home for nearly 40 years before moving to Raleigh, NC in late 2019.

Red Light was my spot for great coffee and tea as well as a pleasant chat with the owners as I placed my order. The vibe is low-key and welcoming. The coffee is as delicious as ever. It is truly a joy to return and settle into the comfort of a familiar and cozy space, akin to snuggling your feet into beloved and well-worn house shoes at the end of a long day. 

Spending nine days in a place that used to be home brought feelings of nostalgia, gratitude and appreciation for the setting and the people who were part of my story for so long. We got to see many friends from years past and hear news about others. Reconnecting with friends face-to-face stirred memories of joys, sorrows and community which have formed me to be the person I am today. 

There was something different about leaving Hot Springs this year. After nearly five years in North Carolina, there was more sweet than bitter in the exit this time. I attribute this to the general passing of time plus a hopeful expectation about the doors the Lord is continuing to open for Jim and me to make new friendships in the church family where we live. 

Realistically speaking, I will not have decades to give to these new relationships, but I can walk into my future with a decision to be present, curious and willing to listen to the journeys of others. I am encouraged to move into my new community group and Bible study group with a confidence that each day is a gift and each encounter is an opportunity to see with the perspective of heaven. 

As I ponder the treasures of the past, I look forward to new treasures that await on this leg of the journey. My Guide is dependable and trustworthy. In fact, He is faithful and true.  

“O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot. 

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.” Ps. 16:5

“You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Ps. 16:11

Surveying Your Inheritance

“O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot, The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.” -Psalm 16:2

Today’s cuppa is a large tumbler of iced tea garnished with both lime and fresh mint leaves. The current heat wave calls out for this cooling and restorative drink. In fact, this is my third glass of the day. 

My mother died at 57 years of age and Daddy followed soon after at 60. For my two sisters and me (I am in the middle), it was a rough few years. I am grateful that my mother lived long enough to hold Grace (our youngest daughter) as a tiny baby before she died in hospice care in Louisville, KY. Grace was the fifth granddaughter my parents had and the last one born. My sisters and I sold their farm and divided up their things without so much as one cross word among us. In my almost 69 years, I realize this is not the norm.

I am grateful for the blessing of a material inheritance I received, but much more thankful for the legacy of hard work, being a person of your word, Christian faith, love and laughter I was nurtured by on our Kentucky farm. My sisters and I knew we were fully loved by my parents and that we would have what we needed when the time came. We were not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but we never felt we lacked for anything. We were taught to study hard, work hard and good things would follow. They did. 

Our grandparents lived in the same little town. I have treasured memories of Sunday lunches at Mom and Pa’s, my mother’s parents. My daddy’s mother was a widow of many decades. She lived with her sister who never married. Their home was at the bottom of my elementary school which was perched on a hill. We girls spent many afternoons there between 3:00 and 4:30 p.m., when my mother got off work as a public health nurse. We ate ice cream at Me-Maw’s house or picked at leftover fried chicken on a saucer near the back of the stove if we were lucky. Me-Maw played a peg board game called HighQ with me, called out my spelling words or would let me watch Art Linkletter’s “Kids Say The Darndest Things” on TV. Her Bible was always nearby, along with a prayer guide for the latest Billy Graham outreach. She wore hats and gloves to church, and it was a special treat to sit with her in her pew on Sunday morning. She would open her coin purse and give me a few coins to put in the offering plate, my first experience in giving. 

I am grateful for my small-town Kentucky life and those who invested in me with their time, encouragement and prayer. I remember my elementary school years in GAs (Girl’s Auxiliary) where I was captivated by a lady missionary named Lottie Moon who served the Lord in China. About the same time, my Great Aunt Ermine, the town librarian, invited me into the stacks with her and handed me a book she thought I might enjoy reading. It was Pearl Buck’s “The Good Earth.” This was another gift to awaken me to an awareness of an amazing world beyond Kentucky, full of people very different than me, but created and loved by God.  

Psalm 139 celebrates each of us as “fearfully and wonderfully made” (v. 14). No one has your DNA, your fingerprints or your uniqueness. Verse 16 celebrates the mystery of our creation and design, accompanied by a divine plan and purpose for our existence, each and every day. My response to this grand psalm is wonder and worship, especially when I take time to “connect the dots” on some of my own journey and the activity of God in it, day by day, season by season.

Enough of my memory lane moments for now. I leave you today with an encouragement to fix your own cool drink and ponder your inheritance, boundary lines and how the Lord formed your life for His purposes. 

Cheers,

Nancy

Ask for the Ancient Paths

Update to this post (8/14/22): Thank you for your faithful prayers on my behalf. I have known the presence and comfort of the Lord. My lumpectomy went well, and my prognosis is exceedingly good. I will receive low-dose radiation for five days only (August 15-19) to reduce the chance of recurrence even more. I am grateful for Jesus, for the wonderful medical community around me, and my loving and devoted family.

Today’s cuppa is a strong one called Yunnan Noir. It comes from a part of China where tea is believed to have originated. The taste is full, with peppery notes and a hint of caramel. What is your cuppa today?

My intention with this writing was to share about my recent health journey in greater detail and ask you to pray before my upcoming lumpectomy on June 17. A small cancer was found during a yearly mammogram a few weeks ago. We will know more about the path forward after surgery. Thank you for prayers for my healing and full restoration.

Yesterday I had the joy of hosting my seven-year-old granddaughter, Eve. We baked cookies, watched a movie and played tic-tac-toe over and over. She brought the sewing kit Jim and I gave her on her last birthday and we had our first sewing class. It was a peaceful and intimate time, deeply satisfying to me as I realized I was forming a memory in Eve’s life of holding a needle, attempting straight stitches and learning that a stitch you don’t like can easily be removed and done again. As I praised her progress, our hearts were joined in a stronger connection across the generations, linking us to my grandmothers who taught me the basics of sewing. I thank God for my 67 years and for the privilege of this day.

Today I am grieving for the families in Uvalde, Texas whose children were murdered in their school classroom. Life will never be the same for these parents, siblings and extended families. My heart is reflecting on two passages of scripture as I wrestle with this and other tragedies gripping my own nation.

This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 6:16

If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

As followers of Jesus Christ, may we take time to ponder these verses and respond as the Holy Spirit gives us intercessory prayers and direction for action. The healing of our nation depends upon it.

A Christmas Cuppa with Nancy

Today’s cuppa is an oldie but goodie called Constant Comment. When I began my love of hot tea some 50 years ago, this was something special indeed. The flavors of orange and clove are particularly tasty in the chill of winter. As for the name of this tea, I fear it might be seen by my husband as descriptive of me, always ready with words, words and more words!

In the stillness of early morning or late night, I enjoy lighting a candle and turning my thoughts to the Incarnation, a fancy word for Jesus leaving the glories of heaven to clothe Himself with flesh and come as a helpless baby to live among us for 33 years. As I hold my fifth grandchild, now three months old, I am once again amazed at the humility of our God coming as He did.

In this Advent season, I am pondering Jesus coming to the unlikely. I am drawn to four people or groups in particular:

1. The Shepherds – Luke 2:8-20

An angel announces the birth of Jesus while they are simply doing their job, watching over their sheep at night. Shepherding was considered a humble and smelly occupation, not one high in society’s ranking. Yet, the glory of God shone on them, along with an angelic pronouncement and a heavenly host announcing the gift of salvation, Jesus Christ. The shepherds received the message and moved quickly to visit the baby and worship Him, sharing the news as they went.

2. The Woman at the Well – John 4:1-30

The encounter of Jesus and this woman of questionable repute from a tribe despised by the Jews is amazing. Each time I read it, I am impacted by the deep love of Jesus for her, for me, for us all. He chats with her about thirst, worship, her past and reveals Himself as the Messiah. She leaves her waterpot and goes into the city to tell others about Jesus.

3. Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10

In this short account (no pun intended), we see Jesus calling out this despised turncoat tax collector in the eyes of the Jews. Jesus not only sees him up in the tree, but invites Himself to the house of Zacchaeus for a fellowship meal. The result of this encounter is a changed man, including the fruit of repentance, resulting in fourfold restoration for the community to witness.

4. Mary Magdalene – John 20:1-18

In this passage, we see the resurrected (but not yet glorified) Jesus encountering a longtime supporter and friend who had seven demons cast out of her. He calls her by name and she realizes the man speaking to her is Jesus, her Lord. He appoints her to be the first to go and tell that He has risen from the dead.

My Christmas prayer for all of us “unlikelies” who have been called by Jesus is simple: May we take some time to remember His coming to us and may we share His love and good news with a world waiting to hear Him and see Him.

Joy to the World,

Nancy

Celebrating Salvation

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

Thoughts from Bethlehem for This December

On this frosty morning, I am veering from the usual tea option and celebrating the first week of Advent with Trader Joe’s delicious spiced apple cider.

While sipping this delicious mixture garnished with a cinnamon stick, my mind returns to a special time in Bethlehem:

In January of this year, Jim and I had the honor of leading a group of pilgrims to visit Israel. One chilly morning our guide Mickey led us to Bethlehem. After a short walk, we followed him down some steps and into a grotto, or cave. Being claustrophobic on occasion, I was unsure about entering this space. To my surprise, I found it to be broad and comfortable, warm and cozy. The entrance could be closed off at night as the shepherds would lay brush there to secure the sheep inside who were birthing their lambs. There was space to make a fire and plenty of room for our group to sit and sing "Away in a Manger" as we took time to reflect and worship.

Photo by Pawan Sharma via Unsplash

I learned that the shepherds mentioned in Luke 2:1-20 were Levitical shepherds, appointed to tend and protect the flocks destined for sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem, just 5 miles away. As we sang our simple carol in this humble and safe place, the vastness of God's plan of redemption expanded my heart. I tasted afresh the wonder of Perfect Love breaking into earth from heaven to address the sin, fear and estrangement of mankind. In Bethlehem, the Lamb of God was announced to those responsible for temporary atonement. The message of the angel signaled the upcoming end of animal sacrifice since Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and Savior, had come.

This birth announcement of all birth announcements came with an angelic visitation, the shining Glory of God and a heavenly host praising God and His provision of the Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God. Verse 10 of Luke 2 tells us more about the birth announcement:

• Do not fear - God is giving us good news!

• This news is the most joyous ever!

• This news is for ALL people!

I began 2020 pondering the beauty of this birth announcement and I am choosing to return to it at the close of 2020, clinging to what is true and eternal and finding my purpose within this marvelous proclamation. May we return to our lives as the shepherds did, glorifying and praising God for His love and His perfect provision in Jesus Christ. There is a world waiting to hear this good and joyous news.

Firefall International Israel/Jordan Tour 2022

In case you have an interest, Firefall International will be returning to Israel in late January of 2022. For this tour, we will spend the last three days in Jordan, touring Petra and Mt. Nebo.

For more information, check out our Special Events page. We would love for you to join us!

Musings on Marriage

Today’s cuppa is a fragrant and delicious Earl Grey from Dilmah on this sunny, early fall day. 

This morning, I am thanking God for my husband, Jim, our marriage and our family. The move from Hot Springs to Raleigh almost eleven months ago has brought into focus the treasure of our adult daughters and their families. While I deeply miss friendships and aspects of my decades of life in Arkansas, the strength and shelter of a loving marriage has surely fortified my heart in this year. 

Jim and I are perhaps the most polar opposite of people. He has files, I have “piles.” He is an internal processor. I have been accused of being “an opinion waiting to land.” We have had our rough patches over this journey of 41 years, learning to communicate, forgive and to complete rather than compete. We are not yet perfect in our union, but thank God we are moving towards each other rather than apart, by God’s grace. We are finding joy in the small things like walking the dogs together and a challenging game of spades. 

About 15 years ago, we met and fell in love with Minh and his wife, Blessing, while serving in Vietnam. We saw in them a purity of purpose in serving Jesus and a deep love for one another. As we got to know them over the years, we shared openly about our ministry and marriage, including both victories and failures. We enjoyed working together to offer conferences and training in their nation. We also spent time over meals and coffee, building friendship and trust, listening to their dreams and rough patches in their relationship. This brings to mind the verse “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” I Thessalonians 2:8

Minh, Blessing and their children

We learned from Minh and Blessing that values of balance in family life and ministry are rare in their nation. Many wives feel alone and children suffer as their fathers place church duties ahead of them. Minh and Blessing committed to do the hard work of listening, talking and working through issues together. Now, they are leading marriage seminars in their nation, embodying the testimony of a flourishing marriage and bringing challenge to church leaders. Their tears and transparency are opening hearts to the Holy Spirit, resulting in conviction, repentance and healing between husbands and wives and children. 

What a privilege that somehow, some way, keys about marriage were “caught” more than taught in our chats with Minh and Blessing and that lives are being impacted through this delightful couple. 

Growth plan for today:

1. Lord, how could I strengthen my mate and my marriage today?

2. Lord, how could I strengthen another marriage today by my prayers or action?

Remembering Terri & Taking Tea Together

“The road to a friend’s house is never long.” -Danish proverb

Today I pause to sip my cuppa (peach-infused tea from Israel) and reflect on tea times spent with my dear friend Terri Clark, who took up residence in heaven a few days ago. I honor her with a cup on the table beside me. I shall miss her greatly. We shared our faith plus love of family, good food, travel and all things tea. 

Terri and I celebrating our 65th birthdays last November

Though the drive to each other’s home was over 20 minutes, that time was gladly spent in expectation of a delicious cuppa and an hour of conversation where you were welcomed, accepted and heard. Sometimes we would text one another to decide what tea we would be enjoying. As we settled in, the chatter swirled around events of the day, news about our children or our mission work, hers in Africa, mine in SE Asia. These topics usually filled the time needed to sip the first cup. By the time the second cup was poured, the conversation would open on a deeper level. We came to inhabit a sacred space during those times where our longings, dreams, struggles and reflections could emerge, feeling safe from editing, judging or “fixing.” The gift of being heard and valued is a treasure. 

We had liberty to laugh, cry or simply have an off day. Both of us being “external processors,” we would often leave the hour with wisdom for the very thing we shared about. Such is the magic and miracle of a pot of tea with a friend, at least that was my experience with Terri, for 20-odd years.

It was a big transition for us when I moved to North Carolina last November. Terri spearheaded a surprise going-away tea party for me, hosted with three other good friends and many invited girlfriends. It was elegant and heartwarming. After I moved, we would set up phone dates, cuppa in hand, often launching the conversation with what we had chosen to brew, describing the weather and where we were seated for our tea time. Little did we know Terri would soon be making the greatest journey of all. 

We partnered in mission travel to many nations. I will share about some of those journeys in the days to come. For today, it is enough to sip my tea and thank God for the gift of Terri and the friendship we shared. I miss you, my beloved tea buddy. I will see you later. 

“Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.” -Proverbs 27:9

The Israel Tour Through a Mother's Eyes

My cuppa on this rainy February morning is a fruit and herbal infusion which I purchased while in Israel last month. The flavors are passion fruit and mango, with no caffeine. It is delicious, warming and will not give me jitters. The brand is Wissotzky and can be purchased online.

Reflecting on the Firefall International Best of Israel Tour is joyful for me because in every aspect of the trip I saw the blessing of God. Yes, there were months of hard work sharing the vision, inviting people and answering myriad questions. There were sad days when unforeseen events led to cancellations. Through all of this, we watched the Lord gather the group, supply for them and bless us abundantly on the actual tour. 

We had amazing answers to prayer on our first day regarding lost luggage and a phone. While none of my children were free to go with us, I was deeply touched by the two mother/daughter combos on the tour. Seeing them make the most of 11 days of constant companionship, touring, learning and worshipping thrilled my heart. The sacredness of family was before me constantly and beautifully. Because our group had good numbers, we were able to invite our spiritual “sons,” Pastor David of Myanmar and Minh of Vietnam, to go with us. This was an opportunity of a lifetime for them and a great enhancement for their teaching and preaching ministries, not to mention their inner lives and insights into the Bible (read through their reflections below). Seeing them experience the land where Jesus walked and taught is a memory I will treasure forever. They will multiply the blessings they received through their sharing with hundreds if not thousands in the future.

On a personal note as a pilgrim myself, I was impacted by standing in the areas where Jesus likely taught the crowds from a hillside and fed the multitudes. Our guide helped us to “think like Jews” and understand that when Jesus did these two things, He was pointing to His divinity and His Father as His acts reminded them of the law being given from Mount Sinai and also the manna miraculously supplied which sustained them in the wilderness. So much to contemplate, so many more reasons to bow in worship and wonder before my Lord. Thank you again to those who joined us and those who remembered us in prayer. 

A few days after our return, I asked Minh and Pastor David to share their insights from the trip. May their reports encourage your heart as they did mine: 

From Minh 

A visit to the Holy Land would be a life dream for every believer. Personally, I was moved by standing at the places where Jesus, the Son of most high God, lived and served. More than that, how God protected his chosen people in the midst of their enemies in the desert. 

It is even more important for us teachers of the Word. Recently, I was recently appointed to teach a Bible course called “The Life of Jesus.” We have hundreds of students from North to the South among churches in Vietnam. In the teaching, His life was divided into five different stages:

1. Childhood

2. Preparation for ministry

3. In the ministry

4. Suffering period

5. After resurrection

Each stage related to places where Jesus was. It is so helpful for me to know geographically where He has been and to see what it looks like. All the pictures and videos I took during the visit will help my students so much. In addition, the knowledge from the guide will help me put historical information together logically.

Thank you so much for supporting my trip! May God bless you.  

From David

I just would like to share the blessings that I received from our wonderful trip to the Holy Land Tour.

This trip is the most splendid tour in my life. As for me, it was beyond my imagination and a dream come true. Thanks a lot to Firefall for supporting me to join in this trip as I myself could never implement such an awesome trip.

I was really touched when I walked on the land where our Lord was walking 2,000 years ago! That made my faith in Him stronger and stronger as I learned the Bible is not just a myth or story but actual and authentic.

Worshipping and praising the resurrected Jesus in the Garden Tomb left me speechless as tears of joy came from our eyes. It was the greatest hope that I have in my life seeing the empty tomb of our Lord! This makes it even more effective when I share the gospel to many Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims in my nation. Now, I can share about His resurrection in power by telling them that I myself was there.

I was challenged and empowered also when I stood on the Mt. of Olives where Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples. I felt as Jesus is talking to me directly there to implement His final Word among my own people. That encouraged me to implement that Great Commission in my nation.

Seeing and stepping on things and places that we have heard and preached before was a great blessing and an awesome feeling for me. When I shared the word of God on the first Sunday after we just arrived back from Israel, it changed the essence of my message as I myself explained the congregation much more deeply and meaningfully.

I read the synoptic gospels during our trip, and it was the most meaningful and the sweetest time in my life, even though I have read them over 100 times. The Holy Spirit gave me many more insights from the stories of Jesus to impact my flock for these coming days.