The basement in our new home flooded this week.
We had terrible storms on Saturday. Our power was out for a little over 18 hours…and it created a problem.
Our basement has a pump that automatically kicks on when water levels rise in the ground. It keeps our home nice and dry…when the electricity is working.
You guessed it. The power was off and the rainwater slowly seeped into our basement overnight.
We lost everything down there. Furniture, appliances, carpet and drywall were all casualties. To make matters worse- we were using the basement as temporary storage as we set up our new home. We had family photos, files and other precious items stored on the floor.
Now they are all wet.
It was sobering to see what damage the water can do. Photos and letters from loved ones are gone. Notes and art projects from the kids were ruined.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. I John 2: 15-17
This was a great reminder for me. I have taken too much pride in “stuff.”
As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Material goods bring us comfort, but they don’t last.
The important things are unseen. It’s all about investment. Investment in our walk with Jesus. Investment in our family, friends and neighbors.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39
It’s pretty simple: Love Jesus and love your neighbors.
Everything else will just get wet.
Pray for me as I try to focus less on “stuff”. And let me know how to pray for you.
God bless.
Friday Word(s) 
You are serving the Lord in a tremendous way by what you have shared. The loss of those personal momentos struck a chord with me, and that you pointed the way to the Scriptural answer for these hurts and worries has helped your sister in Christ and honored our King. Thank you, and I am praying for you and your family.
Thank you! Such a good reminder as I try to stuff my life in a 65 liter pack. I’m so sorry, I know this is hard! I’ve lost many cherished memories in flood and fire. It’s hard, but so good when it comes to our refinement with Papa!
Keith, water can be a real mess and I experienced some of the same thing in my basement in Owensboro. Praying for you and your family in being able to recover some of your more prized possessions (pictures, letters, etc.). Just glad that your family is ok.
Jerry Johnson
Man, I hate to hear that. What a great attitude and Godly outlook. God is always in control. Thank you for your leadership, great example and encouragement.
Sincerely,
John Luthi
A great lesson, dear Keith, on holding everything in open palms!
Sent from my iPad
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Keith–what a powerful word!! Thank you for sharing! All of our things are boxed up and ready to move back to TN. As I look at it all piled up, I hear Jesus’s admonition not to “store up treasures on earth.” As much as I’d like to say we strive to live for eternal things, we’ve accumulated a lot of earthly possessions along the way. This post was a great reminder of all the ways God’s word reminds us to loosen our grip on our things and focus on what will last forever. Thank you for this reminder!!
Oh this breaks my heart for you to lose that stuff but you are so right. Hoping the clean up process goes quickly!