Wow, you really don't know how much stuff you have until you need to move it. The house is on the market, and will make someone a great home, we have loved it here. I have continued to work and get more stuff finished.
Justin (my friend and business partner) and I went through our tools and have tons for sale. My whole shed 12x16 is full of tools. Over half of which we are selling. This has been cool to have money coming in, but also caused me to pause and reflect on the materialistic way we live in the US.
I don't need half the stuff we have, and as we continue to think of the possibility of living in a small apartment instead of a large house, we have been blessed to be able to see how we can be trapped in consumerism even when we tend to think of ourselves as not being involved in it. I have like a dozen saws and drills that I have not used in years, why do I have them?
So, where do we go from here? Well, it has been great to give stuff away, and we have more to give, but are really down to the sales part now. When the house sells, we will gather the most important things and start there, then weed through everything else to see what will fit in the moving truck when it comes time.
Justin is moving into a 35' camper being hauled by his family van. He will be going across the country working with churches and spreading the Gospel in street preaching, one to one ministry, kids clubs, and equipping the churches to do the same. He had to pare down his possessions even more, with 5 kids and a wife all living in the camper. This experience, getting ready to travel and move, has definitely been eye opening for him too.
It is great to know that when God puts on one's heart a desire to go and serve Him no matter where that road leads, that there are still people that will follow His leading. Justin has helped me in our decision to follow God's leading and we have learned together as friends the experience of trusting the Lord with everything. The Lord is in control and works all things together for good for those who love Him.
We certainly do love the Lord and desire to serve Him with all we are and all we do. That is the focal point of this life, and beyond. Let's remember each day to trust God and lean not on our own understanding, in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight.
