We also took family pictures this week to make sure that we captured your big sister, right now... and of course, my belly. I can't wait to see them and hopefully we got a few that we can use in your room of this growing belly. Next time we have a picture session, YOU will be in them - how exciting!! It is hard to believe that your due date is so rapidly approaching, and yet it truly cannot get here fast enough. I am "nesting" to some degree still... in that I am wanting to completely sell off every last piece of furniture that we have to start making our house more like a home... we have almost been here two years and it is VERY hard to tell :). Hopefully we will have some things done by the time that you get here... but regardless, it is my mission now to actually nest into this house... for as long as we are here. Just like we prayed for Eleanor, we pray that regardless of the house that you live in... you always feel safe, loved and accepted at HOME.
BR #2, we pray this week that you would truly live for the reward(s) that cannot be found here on this earth... that your heart, soul, mind and strength would be consumed with eternal perspective and genuine love for the Lord. The deal is this... there is always going to be someone "better" than you, faster than you, smarter than you, prettier / more handsome than you, wealthier than you, more popular than you, etc.... while it is impossible to ignore competition and comparisons, we do pray that your true, ultimate worth comes not from how you measure up to others, but how you are LOVED, redeemed and unconditionally accepted by Christ (Momma and Daddy, too - minus the redemption part). It truly does not matter what others will think of you.... if they poke fun, insult, compete, belittle or exclude you... especially on account of what you believe (should you chose to accept Jesus as your Savior)... when you stand firm, when you press on, when you focus on who you belong to, THAT is true worship and adoration of Him. That is where you are building for yourself accolades in eternity, a proud Father who welcomes you and rejoices over you... like we prayed last week, it is almost inevitable that your faith will ostracize you at some point... but if you remain faithful, oh the blessing and worship that brings to God... and great will be your reward in eternity.... eternity itself with the one, true God.
Matthew 5:11-12
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 25:21
"His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!"
Zephaniah 3:17
"The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Comments