Where did that come from? Part 3

This admonition to seek Christ above all else fueled a fire that has been slowly burning within me. For the past six months I have taken several steps into purging our home and still have more to do. I don’t want it all. Not because I don’t like it anymore or want an upgrade but because I know it’s keeping me from ministering to my neighbors, to my church and my own family. You might have a mental picture of someone who is drowning in there things so let me assure you I am no pack-rat.

The contents of my home are probably average if not less than average. We don’t have a T.V. a stereo, or a three-car garage full of stuff. Our library is very small and our movie collection is nothing to brag about. So, why am I feeling overwhelmed? Because I seem to struggle with an inner battle that has one side of me saying go, minister, serve and the other side that looks at piles of clean laundry that needs to be put away and stepping over toys that keeps me so busy that I don’t have time to think of anyone else but my family. And it’s not just having the possessions but my heart longs for bigger, better, brighter. I find myself believing the lie that I will be really happy when we get_______. What am I teaching my kids? Do they see me have a life of radical flavor? No, we just do our same ol’ thing. I want them to see we are here to serve Christ by looking outside of ourselves and into the needs of those lost and dying around us.

So the message grows with intensity and Piper becomes more passionate about this call to do crazy things for Christ. He tells us to seek the Ultimate Reward and to treasure Christ vastly more than we treasure the comforts and pleasures of this world. Let go of stuff!

I catch a glance from my friend, Aubrie, who is seated in front of me and we exchange a smile that confirms she too feels the same way about stuff and the need to get rid of it (physically and mentally). We’ve had several conversations about this very thing. I feel the soda can inside of me being shaken even more. At the end of the message, we open up for discussion and again I’m shaken. There’s talk of a garage sale and ladies are sharing their hearts that they too have a desire to elevate Christ and detach themselves from the comforts and pleasures of this world. This is exciting news to me and the more people share, the more excited I become. Is it possible to break the mold and be a church that is so different people can’t help but take notice? Can we show the world we are genuine and not just “putting on church” and “doing the Christian thing?”