We also had the opportunity to spend some good quality time with great friends over the course of the week... whether it was watching the games with the Rives, celebrating Marina's birthday with the gang or enjoying our small group - I truly felt full this week with just some of the friendships that we are able to enjoy. Such a blessing to have friends, and family where you can feel safe, yourself, known... BR #2 we pray that you and Eleanor ALWAYS feel full at home... that you feel confident that you are LOVED, accepted, safe and known by your Daddy and Momma, by your siblings. Our greatest desire would be that you wouldn't look aimlessly to find your worth, but that you would rest in knowing you are not only our child that we love with all of our heart, but your are God's child, His creation, His beloved... find your worth and confidence knowing that, sweet one.
We pray that you are Pure in Heart.... BR #2, the world is going to convince you that your success and acceptance comes from what your outside portrays: your looks, your accolades, your service, your giving, your possessions and unfortunately, even your faith... but that can be quite the problem, hindrance in our lives. We, MOMMA included!!, get so wrapped up in the appearance of our actions, our words or our motives that often they come from a nasty place in our hearts.... one that is motivated by self-preservation or people pleasing or a "pharisee-like" mindset. But you know what is both liberating and completely scary at the same time??... the Lord looks at your HEART. It doesn't matter if you can talk the talk and look like you are walking it if your heart is truly not wrapped in the truths of the gospel, motivated and moved by the Spirit and purely in pursuit of relationship with Christ.... in fact, that can be quite gross, but it is a genuine struggle that all people face (you will too). Not only is this a turn off to an unbelieving world, the Lord does not delight in it! We just pray that you would greatly desire to pursue Christ out of the purity of a response to His outpouring of love on you... that it wouldn't be to make us proud, because you feel like you have to do so, that you are living in fear if you do not or that it wouldn't be to make yourself look better. We pray that you would have a Pure Heart, washed by the Word of Christ and that would allow you to truly encounter the Lord to be changed, transformed, sanctified as you grow every day of your precious life. We are not praying you will be perfect, obviously, because you will not be perfect. We just pray that you don't pretend to be, that you flee from hypocrisy and cleave to the gospel and its transforming power that it can and will have on your heart. BR #2, we love you and thank our sweet Savior for your life... we cannot wait to meet you.
Matthew 5: 8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Matthew 23:27-28
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
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