Value in the Eye of the Beholder - Part 2

In Value in the Eye of the Beholder, - Part 1, I talked about how auctions show that most things are valuable to someone somewhere.    From a spiritual perspective, all people have value.  God believes that.  Jesus sacrificed himself and died for us while we were yet sinners and doing whatever seemed right to us.   

You make not look right to your own self.   You may feel like you do not have worth because of the circumstances you were born in or the choices you have made.  …But God has the power to redeem and restore.    Do you remember I said in my previous post that even broken things are sold on eBay? There is a buyer who knows what to do with the broken parts.  God is that buyer who paid a price for us. Read 1 Corinthians 6:20.

We belong to God and He knows how to work with our raw material.  Others may be unwilling to deal with your raw material.    They may look at you and see nothing, but God sees you.  You are the apple of His eye.  He beholds value and beauty when He looks at you.  Surrender to Him and be prepared to be made whole.  He is willing to work on your behalf like no one else.

Value in the Eye of the Beholder - Part 1

Everyday things or situations usually help me relate to God.   Somehow auctions gave me another perspective on what is truly valuable.

Have you ever watched Antique Roadshow or Auction Hunters?  Or even checked completed auctions on eBay?  You will see most things have value to someone somewhere.  I find auctions fascinating.  It confirms for me that someone’s junk is another one’s treasure.  On the TV show Auction Hunters, two men buy the contents of abandoned storage units.  Their goal is to find “treasure” to make a profit.  For example, an old cigar box appraised for at least $100.  What?!   I do not understand the value of certain things, but I can appreciate those who do.

In the book More 100 Best Things I've Sold on eBay - Money Making Madness - My Story Continues by Lynn Dralle, The Queen of Auctions, you will find many items that this author sold for unbelievable amounts.  She bought a carved bird in a thrift store for $2.00 and sold it for $2,051.  A coffee pot, creamer and sugar set sold for $597.51 and she only paid $8.75 for it at a thrift store.   If I was in the same thrift store and saw that bird or coffee pot, I would have overlooked them because I did not understand that somewhere in the world these things are valuable (and because neither item matches my home decor).

Even broken things are sold on eBay.  It is alright because the seller did not hide the fact that it is broken.  The seller hopes someone with the knowledge can fix it or use the parts for something else and bid on their auction.

I have a different perspective now when I go to a thrift store or yard sale.  Sometimes I have an eye out for what could be valuable to someone else.  For sentimental or practical reasons, someone is willing to buy what we consider to be junk.

In Part 2, I will explain how this everyday occurrence of auctions gave me a spiritual insight into what is valuable.

If you are interested in the book I mentioned today then send an e-mail to melissasbooknook@gmail.com so I can send it to you for free.  The book it is not necessarily a "how-to book" on how to sell on eBay.  Her stories about her grandmother, how she acquired these items and her excitement about what she does is inspiring. I only have 1 copy of this book so be the first one to send me an  e-mail and it is yours.

Sacred Marriage on Half.com

I am reading Sacred Marriage and will publish a new post about chapter 1 in a few days. I found the book at http://www.half.com/ for a great price. Click the link below.

Half.com: Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy by Gary Thomas (2002, Paperback, Reprint): What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy(9780310242826): Gary Thomas: Books

Rhyming Values

I went to the library this afternoon to pick up books that I had on hold.  Of course, I found more books than those to take home with me.  I am glad that I did because I found the most beautiful, touching books about the person you will marry and money management for children.

The books are  The Person I Marry: Things I'll Think about Long Before Saying "I Do" (Bright Future Books) and The Jingle in My Pocket: Sound Money Principals Kids Can Bank on (Bright Future Books)by Gary Bower and oil paintings by Jan Bower.   I could not keep myself from smiling as I rode home in the car reading these books.  Each page has a wonderful painting and a rhyme about values that I want my children to learn and cherish.   My husband is driving and all he can hear from me is “This is so sweet” and “I have to this book in my library”.     This behavior confirms for him that I am Matilda from the 1996 movie titled Matilda.  The girl loved to read and my husband calls me Matilda from time to time when I am engrossed in a book or being overly excited about a book I am reading.  Let’s get back to the reason for my blog today.  These wonderful, exciting, beautifully illustrated books…

The Person I Will Marry helps children think about qualities they should look for in a future spouse.   I will tell my kids to use this checklist of traits to pick their friends as well.    The books sends the message that your future spouse should be gentle, kind, fun, courageous, optimistic, generous, patient, honest, believes in God and looks to Him for guidance.    

The Jingle in my Pocket lets kids know that good, old-fashioned work is necessary if you want to have the jingle in your pocket.    All the money is mine or is it?  The book reminds children and ME that God gave me the ability to work and earn money so I should give some money to Him.  Kids are offered ideas on how to earn money with old-fashioned stuff like wash your parent’s car or walk your neighbor’s dog.   Kids are taught to save and stay out of debt.

Does this sound like too much for young children to learn?  I do not think so.  The author uses rhymes and paintings throughout the book to teach and leaves the rest to the parents to continue the lesson.

We should take these books to the street and teach it to grown folks who did not get the lesson while growing up or forgot that there is a better way.  There is a better way that many have not adhered to for their relationships and money.   Let’s give our children wisdom so they can avoid the mistakes we made so they can truly have a better life rich with values and integrity.

Get Ready To Leap

When I was a kid, I imagined myself as a superhero.  Storm from the X-Men and Wonder Woman are a few of my favorite superheroes.  The best part about a superhero is that they seemed to be able to do the impossible.   At times, the hero seems defeated and without hope, but out of no where they do a marvelous feat and the world is saved...again. :)

Every time I read Psalm 18:29, I feel stronger. I feel like I can do the impossible with God's help.  Have you read it?  You should.  It says "For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall".

The wall in your life could be something out of your control like an illness.  The wall could have been built from your own bad habits or decisions.  Whether the wall is external or internal, God stands ready to help.  He is more than the wall.  He is more than the opposition you face from other people.  He is more than the doubts and fears in your mind.   He can do the impossible.

I encountered a wall when the idea to write a blog came to me.   I was told by someone a few years ago that I should blog because I had something to say.  Procrastination and my own doubts kept me from moving forward.   Do I really have anything to say that will help somebody?  I realized that God can use me for this purpose.   As I allow His words to take root and grow, I am changed.   I become smaller and He becomes bigger.  I am stronger because of Him.

My inner superhero is taking shape and so is yours.  Pick your theme music and let it play, put your hands on your hips, let your cape fly in the wind and get ready to leap...

Happily Ever After?

I finally found my book,  Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.  I started it awhile ago and then misplaced it.  I do not like it when I lose a book.  Anyway, I bought it because the question underneath grabbed my attention.  It asks "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?"

The author plans to challenge me to use joy and struggles in marriage to draw closer to God and develop my Christian character.  That sounds like work.  I do not remember all this from the fairy tales that I watched when I was a girl.  The girl met the prince of her dreams, they married and lived happily ever after.  The fairy tale never mentions the rest of the story.

When I was single I was looking for someone to make me happy without thinking about what my responsibility is to my future spouse.   I am learning marriage is a ministry in itself where sacrifices, compromise, love and kindness must exist.  I am not perfect, but fortunately I have a wonderful, understanding husband who puts up with me.  I will check in with you later about this subject as I read Sacred Marriage.