(continued from 3 July 2013)
When the tornado missed Betty Jo's house, God was convicting her about her priorities. And the conviction did make a difference in her life. From that point on, her unneeded shopping and collecting stopped. But she still had all this stuff.
The Lord was not giving up on Betty Jo. He was pursuing her heart, fully desiring to give her back the wholeness that she was lacking. God was telling her that He could bring her life under control. She would, though, have to let go.
It was now almost two years since the tornado had struck Joplin, but she was now ready for help. Responding to God's caring hand on her heart corresponded to a time that students from the University at Buffalo arrived in Joplin. Betty Jo called the organization Mission Joplin which was coordinating with Samaritan's Purse and asked if they would be willing to take her stuff.
Accompanied by leaders from Mission Joplin, I accompanied eight students to Betty Jo's house, not really knowing what to expect. She admitted to us that she was a hoarder, but we really did not know what we would see or what she would allow us to do.
I don't know if you can ever be prepared for what we were about to see. You just need to adapt. As we came into the driveway, we saw the yard had various items scattered about, but the house looked fine enough on the outside. To the right of the house was a six-bay metal garage. As Betty Jo opened the first bay of the garage, it caught my breath. This huge building was full of stuff. All I could say was, "Oh no!"
But here is the thing. She was ready to let go.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6.19-21, NIV
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