An Influx of Depletion

The purpose of the Excess Depletion Project is to create the much needed space in our hearts, minds, lives, and home to have a better capacity to be led by God's will; to be what he's called us to be and to do what he's called us to do.
Truth be told, we have been born into a country that affords us greater opportunity and material blessings than many of his other children he loves equally in other parts of this world. This presents a huge responsibility to use the things we have in a way that honors God,... to give to those who have real need,...and to be free from the American Dream that hold us in bondage to the "patterns of this world".
Living our lives with an open palm rather than a clenched fist is one thing we battle every moment of everyday in the cultures we have grown up in. Cultures that tell us constantly that we are entitled to more and that "the more" will fill us up and make us whole. So we grab and grab and grab for the newest, shiniest and most comfortable life possible. But once we have all of this the challenge is that our hands are so tied up, clinging to what we have stored up for ourselves, that our hearts are not free to give or to serve in the ways we are called to. Not to mention we become more frustrated and less content as we accumulate more and try to maintain our shiny lifestyle.

 

One verse sums it up well:

"Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 4:6

So you can think of the empty closet pictured here as our attempt to have one hand that remains open to serve. That empty closet really does bring some peace & tranquility to the home!
Sometimes we have had to dig deep into our excess to provide room in our lives to give or to serve....
.... And if there were any question in our minds we stand convicted when we read 1 John 3:17
 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"
We have been getting a little behind on the EDP due to our general busyness and 10 day trip to Uganda.
We have tried to limit the time spent dealing with these items and posting them since to spend too much time and energy violates part of our purpose in all of this. The 2 posts below are the result of our influx as we strive to leave 1 hand open, in God's grace and strength.
I hope you're not too overwhelmed by the Influx of Excess Depletion.. If you can't see the following posts click the "Home" Tab above...
Enjoy- Jason and Carrie K