Okay - - - grab a large glass of ice water, a comfortable chair and then proceed - - - this one is a little long but impossible to shorten. This is more that just some highlights - now you're going to hear (sorry Paul Harvey) the rest of the story.
It is always good to receive confirmation from God on a project you hope and believe He is leading instead of yourself manipulating to get what you want.
Terry and I agreed on the outset of this journey - - - that if God was really in it He would supply all of our financial needs for our three month interm period in Honduras without our solicitaion from others.
Our part of the bargain was to keep working and saving as we down-sized our generous American lifestyle. Down sizing included attempting to sell anything we would not want to pay storage for, if we ended up long term in Honduras.
We were a two person family with two cars and a small motorcycle. So first laid on the "fleece-altar" was our oldest vehicle - a 2000 Honda Accord. In a way, this had special connections to Terry's Father, who gifted her first Honda Accord - which helped purchase this one. Terry's Dad & Mom committed her to the Lord at a very young age as a result of Terry contacting Polio. Later they financed her schooling at a Bible College - where we met. During our 20 years of pastoring, they continued to provide financially so Terry could stay home while raising our children. So, when the Honda sold immediately we not only took that as confirmation from God - but also as an answer to the prayers of commitment from Terry's parents.
We were a two person family with two cars and a small motorcycle. So first laid on the "fleece-altar" was our oldest vehicle - a 2000 Honda Accord. In a way, this had special connections to Terry's Father, who gifted her first Honda Accord - which helped purchase this one. Terry's Dad & Mom committed her to the Lord at a very young age as a result of Terry contacting Polio. Later they financed her schooling at a Bible College - where we met. During our 20 years of pastoring, they continued to provide financially so Terry could stay home while raising our children. So, when the Honda sold immediately we not only took that as confirmation from God - but also as an answer to the prayers of commitment from Terry's parents.
But, like Gideon of old, one confirmation was not sufficient - we still desired confirmation that God indeed was directing this journey instead of Henry using his finely honed skills of manipulation - (those 20 years of ministry in the organized church).
So we planed an extra large second fleece: A garage sale. Henry hates garage sales! So this would have to be of God!!!!! Now, not just the average garage sale you see every weekend around your neighborhood. No - this has to be tougher than that. This has to be something that has no way of succeeding, unless God intervenes and directs.
This garage sale will include all of our junk around the house that we would not want to pay storage for - you know, the "stuff" in boxes up in the attic that hasn't seen the light of day for five to ten years! Not old enough to be classic - just old enough to be "old". Also, let's throw in all of our outdated CD's, Movies (mostly 'G' rated - those are really hot sellers now-a-days!), Christian books and printed music, all of our mis-matched dishes and glasswear, even the empty plastic butter tubs and cottage cheese containers. Throw in some dilapidated lawn care equipment and tools; oh, and how about all of that old stereo equipment and cassette players!!!
Let's see if God can sell this "stuff" - most of which has no dollar value remaining.
On the other end of the spectrum, let's include four overpriced purchases from our recent past: a small motorcycle; the remnants of an expensive stained glass hobby that never "took"; a battery powered lawn mower that cuts a wide swath of 6 inches; and the over priced Pop-Up Camper we have used a total of five times.
And to top it off - let's not advertise this garage sale in the newspaper or radio "swap shop" ..... instead we will hand deliver 200 flyers around our neighborhood telling about our spiritual journey and mention the garage sale.
And God, if you really are in this - we would like to see four of our neighbors, who attend the garage sale, sign up as willing partners on this journey. (I hope we have four of our neighbors just attend the garage sale! "O ye-me of little faith")
All of those unrealistic expectations led me to nickname this escapade as "The Mother Of All Garage Sales"!!!!! Not due to a mass amount of items for sale (it all fit on our driveway); but due to the mass amount of "proof" we were asking of God.
The garage sale was held on Friday and Saturday July 11 & 12 - which has still been the two hottest days of this years summer. The results - well, you're probably getting a little too far ahead of me. People began arriving at 7am and continued a steady stream all day Friday and most of Saturday. Over 80% of the ordained "junk" sold at posted prices!!!!! Even the cottage cheese and butter tub containers!!! People were even trying to buy our other "stuff" that we are not ready to label as "junk" yet.
The best part - ten neighbors (six families) signed up as partners on our journey. WOW!!!!
But, wait a minute - - - the big four items. Those specialty things that were overpriced for the general citizen who cannot recognize "unique" value. Actually, the first one (small motorcycle) sold at our asking price before the garage sale even began. A co-worker of our Tulsa son bought it - and they are letting Henry continue to ride it for the rest of the month! Are you kidding....... okay, but what about the other three major items? Sorry, they did not sell at the garage sale.
Doesn't God have a great sense of humor??!! Well, it didn't seem so funny all week - - - as I fumed over what message we were supposed to derive from this whole garage sale fiasco I created.
Today was the first day either one of us had off after the garage sale. Terry was off and called me at 10:30am informing me that her phone had been ringing all morning and she had just sold the massive 6" wide battery powered lawn mower. Well, that was a coincidence. But that was the smallest item, financially, of the three remaining.
About one hour later I received a call on my cell phone from a man wanting to know more about the "Stained Glass" supplies I had for sale. He said he would come over after work and look at them - yeah, how many times have I heard that promise?
Meanwhile, Terry calls again around 2:00pm to inform me I needed to come home early so we could run and get the title to the pop-up camper notorized because she just sold it for the full asking price!!!! Okay God - you've got my attention now!
So, I leave work a little early, pick up Terry, we run to the bank and return to remove our personal items from the camper before the family returns with a cashiers check. While we are working on the camper, a gentleman and his wife arrive in our driveway to pick up the Stained Glass supplies!!!! Cash in hand!!!! We spent about thirty minutes visiting and sharing, back and forth, our passions and hearts.
Just after they leave, the "camper" family arrives with cashiers check in hand. Who else could have orchestrated this, but God Jehovah??? We spent about an hour illustrating how to set up and pack down the camper; and when opportunities allowed, what was on our hearts and in our heads. In departure they pledge prayer support and pray God's blessing on our "journey" and take our blog site address so they can "keep up with us".
The "stained glass" couple have a trip planned to Panama and are going to look into the possibility of stopping off at Roatan on their way! They also took our blog site address and want to follow our "journey".
What can I say??? Except - "God - - - You are Awesome!!!!"
Once again, the biblical truth that God chooses to use the weakest to best demonstrate His glory is confirmed. Your prayer support made this a reality! Thank you.
