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Notes of encouragement for Nancy and tributes to Robert
My dear sister in Christ, My heart goes out to you during this time of mourning. What can I say to you that you haven't taught for so many years? Yet I so want to offer words of encouragement and hope. We grieve at the death of a loved one, yet feel joy at the same time. This is so contrary to this world's 'normal.' But our joy is in knowing that we will be reunited with our Savior and our loved ones, in Christ, forever!! I can't imagine grieving from a position as public as yours is, but know that you will be upheld in prayer from countless sisters in Christ through this time. And no doubt, brothers in Christ as well! Our Lord has ministered to so many through your dedication, deep study of and presentation of the Word of God, and sacrificial service to our precious Savior. God is with us in our grief. May His presence be closer than ever to you, ministering in immeasurable grace. 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Querida Nancy, sierva y amada de Cristo. Mi corazón se une a tu dolor y a la esperanza en Cristo, nuestro Señor y Salvador, para que Su Espíritu Santo te abrace y conforte en este tiempo. Bendiciones
Ciertamente el bien y la misericordia de nuestro Señor le seguirán todos los días de su vida, le puedo decir siento mucho su separación porque él separarce de un ser querido tan cercano duele demasiado, pero hay esperanza en nuestro glorioso Salvador, he vivido en carne propia la separación de un ser tan amado por eso puedo decirle El Señor le sostendrá, no la conozco personalmente pero escucho sus audios y son de mucha bendición para mi y para muchas mujeres, reciba un abrazo grande, le amo en Cristo.
Dearest Nancy, I’m praying for you, my dear sister. I’m grieving with you too, and yet what a comfort it is to know that our DHs are rejoicing with JESUS! My Jamie has been with JESUS since 4/2011. We were married only 16 years. As hard as it is to raise a 14 year old young man, God is always faithful, and by His grace, and His grace only, my son walks in the ways of Christ. As Isaiah reminds us, My Husband is my Maker. He takes special care of the fatherless and the widow. He understands, like no one else, our loss, and is right there to pick up our every tear, to hug us, to comfort, to guide, and in our hardest moments, to strengthen us. Yes, we cry, a lot, but then His amazing comfort comes, and He helps us to go on, joyfully serving Him and with a sure hope awaiting for the day He calls us home, or even better, He calls us to “be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air, and so we will always be with the LORD.” I began faithfully listening to ROH and ANC (Spanish) after I heard your testimony as you met Robert (and his amazing testimony too), and I saw your beautiful, God exalting wedding online. On 2020, with my mother who had recently been saved at age 81, we began studying Seeking God in Spanish, and listening to the series online too. My sister had gone to the Mujer Verdadera Conference in Monterrey, Mexico, and recommended it. What a revival it brought to us! My mother’s sister (a devoted Catholic) joined us. It took us about 18 months to finish, but it has been so encouraging (and a very needed spiritual heart surgery!). This past year two cousins have added to our mornings meetings too! They all live in Mexico (different cities) and I live in Oregon. So we connect by WhatsApp video call and listen to ANC from my computer, and we pray together. We have also been slowly but surely doing MV365 Canónico. In March 2023, my Mom, my three sisters and I attended MV Conference in Guadalajara, Mexico. At the end, when all the conference speakers were joined by their spouses to pray and worship Christ, my Mom was very moved and commented she so much desired her husband would join her too. And as she got back home, they started reading the Scripture together, and have kept doing so. God is so good! Dear Nancy, I know this new stage in your life is going to be hard, and I also know the LORD will help you reach so so many more women. You are a gift from God to so many of us. I thank the LORD that you keep your eyes on JESUS, the captain and perfecter of our faith. With immense Love in Christ, Monica Sernatinger (Vélez Fajardo)
Dear Nancy, Please accept my sincere condolences at the loss of your Robert. I hope to hear from you when the time is right. Since our Mother’s passing I have come to realize much more clearly that the reality of Heaven is just as much a matter of our basic Christian faith as our belief in the existence of God and His Son, Jesus the Christ. If we say we believe in Christ, we must believe that what He has told us is true about life after death in Heaven for all true believers. In light of Heaven's actual existence and sure rewards, we can be happy for our loved ones’ gain who died in faith, despite the sadness of our loss, and be greatly comforted by looking forward to our reunion relatively soon with all those who have fully trusted in the Lord for their salvation and have gone on before us. May God bless and comfort us as we put our full faith and trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the God of our fathers and mothers.
What a great Godly man! From riding a bicycle cross country with Wandering Wheels to publishing books that would spiritually transform millions of lives, Robert finished the race, kept the faith and is enjoying the presence of Jesus. I am grateful to have been one of his many college friends.
Our husbands now know each other in heaven. I recently found Revive Our Hearts and have been dearly blessed. As God turns your grief into joy, I will be praying for you while you continue to give beautiful words of God's love, faithfulness and encouragement. He loves you, Nancy. Let Him meet you at your pain. In His Name, Kathy
Dear Nancy- My dear husband gave me the ROH Notetaking Bible for Christmas. I now consider him a mind reader after secretly wishing for one. I didn’t open it to start the daily reading plan on January 1, even though you have been encouraging us to do so on AFR every evening. After reading the email about Robert’s passing, I immediately began to pray for you and his entire family. My heart is so burdened for the grief you must all be experiencing. What a treasure he was to you! And to all of us as we rejoice that you had such an excellent husband. My heart then said “start reading like Nancy asked you to!” So I did. I’ve opened it every day since and have pored (I always thought it was poured and had to look it up because I thought it was a typo so thanks for the new word!) over all the introduction and have gotten as far as the reading calendar. You should see my notes on just Nancy’s words. They are so rich and I can’t wait to implement all you have instructed. Today I journaled a prayer on your post from 1/10/22 that Holy Spirit would continue to comfort your heart in the days to come. I pray your words on the page back to the Father for you. Most certainly you rejoice in the fact that Robert is resting in the arms of Jesus. It’s been beautiful to hear your love story unfold. And I can’t wait for God’s love story-to us- to unfold as I read through this beautiful book. Thank you Nancy and Robert and Revive Our Hearts for being faithful servants of His. Love, Abby P.S. Robert’s “Men’s Daily Bible” is now on order for my man. Together we will pore over God’s Word as Robert and Nancy have so wonderfully demonstrated.
Nancy mi corazón y mis oraciones están contigo y con la familia de Robert con la esperanza de que Dios los llenará de fortaleza, fe y consuelo en estos momentos difíciles, sabiendo que Robert ahora descansa y se goza en los brazos de nuestro Salvador. Oro porque el inmenso amor de nuestro Señor llene cualquier vacío que ha dejado la partida de Robert. Aunque no nos conocemos, para mi eres una de mis mejores amigas y mi mayor consejera a través de cada devocional de Aviva Nuestros Corazones, donde he aprendido muchísimo y a través de los cuales el Señor ha ida cambiando mi corazón y enseñandome tanto con cada tema. He sido tan bendecida y comparto con otras mujeres los devocionales, quienes me han dicho que también están siendo grandemente bendecidas. Que Dios siga glorificandose y bendiciendo más mujeres a través de Aviva Nuestros Corazones (saludos desde Guatemala, Centro América)
Thank you for showing us what love and commitment look like. Robert through his 44 years of marriage and then through Nancy with their 10 years of marriage. Nancy's heart being open to a man after a lifetime of singleness to love and hold until death. Beautiful testament to all who witnessed it. We are with you in prayer, Nancy. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Hna Nancy, desde lo más sentido de mi corazón creo que Dios te dará el consuelo necesario para seguir adelante. Dios me permitió conocerte a través del ministerio Aviva nuestros corazones, en la iglesia estamos siguiendo el reto para leer el Nuevo testamento y los salmos en este 2026. Te amo en el amor de Cristo mi estimada hna valiente y esforzada. Un abrazo afectuoso con el deseo de que tu fe en el Señor siga así de fuerte y no decaiga a pesar de las pruebas, así como nos dices muchas veces mi hna.
Querida y amada Nancy: Uno de mis libros favoritos tuyos es "Sea agradecido. Su camino al gozo". No sé cuántas veces lo he leído, estoy segura de que más de 10 veces, y este año no será la excepción. Hoy por la mañana leía una página y quiero compartirla contigo, y recordar las palabras que tú misma escribiste, y que estoy segura de que será de ánimo y consuelo para ti en este momento de pérdida y duelo ... Cito: "La oración es vital; pero para que realmente experimentemos su paz, debemos ir a Él con gratitud. Una gratitud fervorosa, una gratitud costosa. La clase de gratitud que confía que Él está obrando para nuestro propio bien aun en medio de circunstancias desagradables ... la clase de gratitud que guarda nuestra mente y nuestro corazón atribulados con su inexplicable paz. ¿Está usted enfrentando una o varias situaciones caóticas preocupantes? ¿está su alma desanimada por la lucha, el estrés y la tensión? Hay paz -La paz de Dios- esperando por usted tras las puertas de una gratitud premeditada. Pero la única forma de encontrarla es _ir allí y comprobarlo por usted mismo_ La paz de Dios es una de las muchas bendiciones que aguardan al otro lado de la gratitud. "Oración + acción de gracias = paz" (pg. 60. ¿Por qué deberíamos ser agradecidos? 3.- La gratitud es un camino seguro hacia la paz) Hoy Robert está comprobando más que nunca, que la gratitud a última instancia, nos prepara para el cielo. Te quiero, querida Nancy, y te acompaño en tu dolor. Tú eres para mí una madre espiritual, tu dolor es mi dolor, pero tu gratitud, mi gratitud hacia Dios.
Tus mensajes me ayudan tanto cada día Nancy! Desde que supe que Robert había enfermando he pensado mucho en ti, y ahora que está con el Señor, Oro aunque no la conozco siento que si, y por eso he orado nada día pidiéndole al Espíritu Santo que te abrace y te haga sentir su profundo amor por ti, dándote su Paz, pero sobre todo que te haga sentir su compañía en esos momentos cuando extrañes a tu amando esposo. Te mando un fuerte abrazo Elena
It is sweet painful reality to know Robert has left us. But we rejoice knowing that his soul is with the Lord Jesus Christ the author and perfector of our salvation. In him we live, move and have our being. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Peace to you Dear Nancy.
Dear Nancy, I am so sorry for your loss; what has happened is heartbreaking. However, I want to honor you with these words. I have been so touched by how, from the very beginning of this process, you have encouraged others, urging us to trust in God even in our pain. This phrase has always resonated in my heart: "Heaven Reigns." I continue to pray to the Lord for you. You are a precious and true woman. Thank you for impacting my life in such a meaningful way. May God bless your life and fill your heart with peace. I love you.
My heart is broken!! I could always hear in your voice the love you had for your husband any time you spoke about him!! We love you and pray that God will bless you and give you the courage to continue with this podcast in his beloved memory!!
Nancy te amamos mucho en casa, no sabes la fortaleza que Dios da a nuestras vidas a través de ti y Robert. Pido al Eterno fortalezca tu corazón y el de la familia, oramos por ustedes un abrazo a la distancia. El cielo Gobierna. Atentamente, Marleni.
Dear Nancy: In this most difficult time of grieving, it has been such a sweet blessing to our souls to have read in your CB posts how the Lord has so gently and lovingly ministered to you and Robert through prayer, His Word, music and the encouraging words of brothers/sisters around the world. We continue to lift you up and the family with our prayers of peace and comfort in the days ahead, as the Lord turns your mourning into joy. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
Nancy...mi nombre es Claudia Alvarado, vivo en la buitrera de Palmira . Colombia Gracias al señor tu lo tienes a el como tú primer esposo, sabes quién te ha mantenido y quién te mantendrá. Gracias a Dios porque te presto un esposo por una temporada y fuiste muy feliz, tenemos que apreciar ese momento y solo darle gracias, gracias al señor. También fui viuda en mi juventud, muy duro pero Dios me ha brindado un esposo ahora en mi edad adulta....hasta que Dios defina otra cosa. Solo agradezco al cielo por tener esa compañía. Entiendo tu dolor. Acompañándote de corazón.
Dear Nancy and Family, I have prayed for you and have been so very blessed by the ministry of Revive our Hearts over the last 16 years. We met you and Robert one time, very briefly, when you came to Houston with a 105.7 KHCB event and Janet Harrison ushered my 2 daughters (who were very young then!) to say hello, greet you and Robert and have a quick pic! I attended the Heaven Rules conference in 2022 and was blessed beyond measure. I wrote "HEAVEN RULES" over my dad's cancer on the big banner on the wall there in Indianapolis, not knowing what the next few years would entail. I gave your Heaven Rules book (in Spanish and English!) to people at MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine and the countless people who helped our family as both my parents battled cancer so thank you for that resource and the truth we could share that HEAVEN RULES. I heard Dannah's interview with Robert in 2023 on his book, "The Finish Line" and immediately shared it with my dad and bought him the book! It was VERY helpful for us as we faced the finish line of my dad's life and helped us really prepare and think and pray through things we hadn't thought of. Thank you for that. I actually signed all our Caringbridge posts for my parents, "Jesus is near! Heaven Rules! We are not afraid!". Thank you so much for the ways Revive our Hearts and Robert ministered to my family during those difficult years and right up to the end as my dad hit the finish line in May of 2024. Jesus never left us in the hospital or in hospice and right up to that final breath. His peace surpassed understanding. I have prayed for you in these past weeks as one who very recently was in your exact position, waiting by the bedside, that very surreal hovering between this life and eternity and I wanted to share something I read that made me think of Robert and also my dad and your dad, too!. As the Lord would have it, I was studying Matthew along with what my kids are reading in their school. This is on Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will SEE God", a quote from a book on the Sermon on the Mount by Kent Hughes: "Yet there is a seeing that surpasses even this - and that is seeing God. Since nothing is higher than God, seeing God is logically the greatest joy once can experience. Thus, when we pass from this world and SEE the face of Christ, the joy of that first split second will transcend all the accumulated joys of this life. It will be the highest good, the summum bonum, the greatest joy, beside which the wonderful story of Mrs. Pennica's 'miracle' {of healed blindness} fades in comparison...Scripture and reason demand that we understand that it will be the greatest event of our eternal existence-the visio Dei, the vision of God. We need to believe it!"(Kent Hughes, p.56, 60) Nancy, praying that in this time of grief and sorrow and sadness at that final enemy, death, you are comforted knowing that Robert has SEEN GOD! Glory! I cannot imagine it! Oh death, where is your sting? Oh Lord, will you comfort Nancy and her family in this season of "not yet", in the pain of death and separation, will you remind them each day in your Word that you ARE the resurrection and the life, that you fill in any gap between the grief now and the day when we see you face to face as Robert, my dad, John MacArthur, Kay Arthur, Corrie TenBoom, Elisabeth Elliot and all the saints who have gone before Robert are doing right now. Our family will continue to pray for you in the days and weeks ahead. Heaven Rules. Jesus is Near. Thank you for all the ways you and Robert have specifically ministered to our little family here in Houston, TX over the years and certainly for the last few years in particular as the finish line came into view with my dad and we cheered him across in victory, thanking God for Jesus through whom we can now have faith that those who die in Christ WILL SEE GOD and rest forever in His presence. with love and prayers. Randy and Brooke Keeney, Abby, Anna, Tyler and Andrew