An Abundance of Stuff

Well, hopefully by this time next week we will be moving, again. This change means that there will be another 'new' mema and papa's house for the grandkids to get used to. More house to clean. More lawn to have mowed. More utilities to pay. More people living in our house and hopefully more people visiting and staying the night. (I know Janette probably doesn't read blogs...but she has her very own room!)

With all the 'mores' happening I feel a need to clear out the clutter before I move. Pete and I just pulled half our clothes out to give away. We have already delivered a TV and stereo to Goodwill, not to mention a few heavy boxes of just plain 'ol stuff. We still have more stuff to get rid of.

Now, please bear in mind that we moved only 17 months ago and went from a 2900 sf home to a 2200 sf home. We donated LOTS of stuff then! So how did we get so much more stuff in less than 2 years?!?! (I think stuff expands to fill whatever empty space it has around it...;)

But, seriously, I feel we are so over blessed with stuff that we can't take in how blessed we truly are. In pulling out all the stuff, I feel I have acted like the man in the Bible that has so much that he tears down his old storage and builds new ones just to hold his "blessing"...his stuff!

So I guess my random rambling about stuff should have some point. Maybe blessing others with the stuff I don't use? Not buying stuff I truly don't need? Clean out the stuff more often? Thanking God that I have stuff to donate? Sounds good...

But one decision I am going to make is to try to get more of what is truly the best stuff. Stuff like love, peace, discernment, stronger relationships, time with God, hugs, kisses, laughter. I am going to try to have this new house filled to the brim and overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit and the stuff that cannot be lost but can be given away over and over...grace, mercy, forgiveness...stuff that doesn't take up space, but is more valuable than anything I could buy. A house filled with the glory of my Lord and praises to Him.

"And this is my prayer: that (my) love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that (I) may be able to discern what is best, and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God." - Phil. 1:9-11

Yeah, an abundance of stuff like that.