Thursday, July 17, 2014

My Garage Sale Prayer List

 Garage Sales!  They can be fun as we hunt for some treasure.... maybe a book we wanted to read or a pair of jeans... maybe a pair of earrings or a toy for our child.... a bike or tent or ?  The possibilities are quite endless. I have shopped at garage sales for years.... and God has really provided.
I found that I would go, hoping to find this or that... maybe a pair of sandals, a sleeping bag, or something.  I started to ask God to let me find one of the treasures I was seeking..... If I did, I would thank Him...

It started happening.... not all of the time, but often enough to get my attention. I already was used to praying about other needs... when we needed a different vehicle... I would pray specifically about what we were looking for... the same with house hunting. Then it hit me, why not have a Garage Sale Prayer List?
 I found some of my old  prayer lists... This one shows that I wrote down most of the items all on one day as I thought about it.... it also shows that most of the items are checked off... there are a few notes about what I found.
 This list is undated... oh, how I hate undated items!! It is fun to look back and so frustrating not to know WHEN it was. *sigh*  I am pretty good w/ adding dates to everything now. :)

This list wasn't marked off and no notes, but I can think back to some of the items that were provided for us. Number 5 says piano... and at one garage sale where they were tired of  having the garage sale and didn't want to take it back in.... they GAVE it to us! There was no bench, but still, it was a piano... and we are still using that same piano today. :)
 Some items ... like the Vita-Mix mixer, seemed ridiculous.... after all they sell for about $500! Still I prayed about that one.... it didn't come... for a long time. Eventually, I found one w/ a price tag of 250. I went to ask the person if that was $250.00. She laughed and said, "Honey, it's only $2.50!" WOW! I had prayed, but my faith was a bit weak because I was shocked by this. :)  We used that Vita Mix for a few years... almost every day... until a bearing went out.... after a while a friend and my guys worked to replace the bearing and we used it longer.  Eventually God provided a different Vita mix mixer for $45.00.  I don't know what I would do without my mixer now.... we use it for smoothies most days....and love it.

Some items on my list never came.... and later I realized we didn't need them after all. The Whisper Mill on my list never has happened.... and I am okay with that... we are doing fine without it.... although it would be fun to find it sometime. :)

God has provided SO many things for our family through garage sales, thrift stores and more.
 This list shows dressers, purse, piano bench, snow shovel, rake, etc. I wish I had kept up with filling in my little chart.... because God DID provide all of those.... but I don't remember when or details about it.

Do I look at God as my genie to give me what I want? NO! He is my Heavenly Father and He loves me and has promised to provide for us. I do not make my list TELLING Him what He should provide. I am asking... and when He says "no", I thank Him... when He provides it, I thank Him. He IS providing our needs, whether God meets my list or not. He IS good.... and His goodness doesn't depend on Him meeting my list or requests. He doesn't change..... but it is so much fun to specifically request something ... and see how God answers.

Years ago, our old house had hardwood floors in the upstairs-we loved them, but they were so cold in the winter and the boys slept up there. Money was terribly tight, so I told my husband that I was going to pray for God to provide some carpet for their room - a low nap one that would be great for little boys to play with their cars and trucks on. He laughed a bit and said to go ahead.... to tease him, I said I would ask God for it to be a bluish gray color. He laughed again.  I continued and said I would pray for carpet pad also. He laughed loudly and said, "Oh right..... do you know how much that will cost??" Like I said money was really tight. I laughed with him and said, "I am going to pray that I can find it for $5.00." Well, he really laughed then and told me, "Don't hold your breath." I started to pray and I looked at every garage sale I went to... but didn't find it, so I started asking at garage sales  if they had carpet for sale. Finally at one sale, the man said he had just carpeted the basement and they had a big piece left over.... when he showed it to me, I was tickled to see that it was a flat nap and it was bluish gray. Wow.  Then he told me to wait a minute as he had some leftover carpet pad also that I could have with it. By this time, I was nervous because this was NEW carpet and pad and I knew I couldn't afford it. I asked how much he wanted for it. He said, "Oh, how 'bout 5 bucks?"  I almost started crying... and I told him this was a BIG answer to prayer. By the way, it fit almost perfectly into the boys' room - which was oddly shaped with a dormer window. My husband was very shocked.... and he stopped laughing at my garage sale prayer list.  :)  

So, am I trying to say you will always get what you want? No. How nice to ask for what we need... or even hope for... and see God's answers. I think sometimes we are so quick to shop and feel like I found this or that... and leave God out of it. He is the One providing for us.

I have learned to wait for what I am asking for.... and not rush right out to buy it new.... to WAIT for God to provide it.... It is amazing what He provides and how He stretches our budget. I have also learned that if He doesn't provide it.... we really don't need it... and we do without it or pray about buying it new.

Garage sales really are a blessing... but we don't want to just be greedy or covetous either - or materialistic - and that is easy to do when we can afford more at garage sales... maybe we don't really need some things that we want.

Sometimes my kids will look around a room and ask what came from a garage sale in the room. We laughed one day when we couldn't find anything in the living room that didn't come from a garage sale.... until one of the kids reminded us of one item that we had bought new. I know people who feel cheated when they have to buy from garage sales.... and your kids will be dissatisfied and feel cheated also if you keep that attitude. We aren't cheated out of "new" things... we are so blessed and so thankful. Also, we can afford much better quality items from a garage sale that we could afford new. I want to be thankful... and to teach my children to be thankful. Over the years, God has provided these things as an example:  Jeans - the sizes my kids needed, sleeping bags before we went camping, new reams of paper for school, various cabinets for herbs, essential oils, fabrics and more, computers, sofa, lots of books and school books, school manipulatives, jewelry, bookcases, cds, clothes, blankets, china, purses and bags, wireless mouse, stainless steel pans, essential oil, candles, phones, furniture and so much more.

My lists are not always written down.... now they are usually just in my head... but I still pray for what we need.... or want(within reason!). In all of this, God is the one to be glorified as He is the provider.




51 comments:

  1. I love the idea of your Garage Sale Prayer list.. We havae been studying in John 15..."When you Abide in me and I in you"...ask what you will and shall be given to you.. God cares about every detail of our lives.. Wonderful.. Blessings!

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    1. You're right..... He does care about the details in our lives.... we are so blessed. :) Thank you for stopping by and for sharing your comment. :)

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  2. I have a similar story. I had wanted to host a Japanese bible study at my home, but my small, old rice cooker had recently died. I prayed that I would be able to buy a larger rice cooker, to feed more people. And I prayed that I might be able to buy a Japanese rice cooker, because they are such good quaility. I knew I couldn't afford it, but I went ahead and asked God. A few months later I walked down the street just a couple of blocks to a garage sale. Can you believe this? There was a brand new Japanese rice cooker, still in the box, never been opened and I got it for $6! A Japanese lady at the bible study later told me she had the same one and she had paid $250 for it! What an answer to prayer!

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    1. I LOVE this! What a blessing.... and that $250 rice cooker for $6.00 is worth much more than the huge savings you had on it... it also represents God's care for you in answering your prayer in such a fun way. :) I am so glad you visited and that you shared that. :)

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  3. I love it when God provides, whether through a garage sale or through others. Over half the items in our house were given to us, couches, desks, tables, etc. It seemed that every time we had a need, someone would be getting rid of their old one. God cares and provides. Not always in the way we think He will, but He always provides. Thanks for sharing this story, what an inspiration and reminder to ask without expectation. And thanks for linking up at Fulfilled Fridays.

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    1. He really does provide... in all sorts of ways... and it is so fun to see how He does it.... sometimes even beyond what we were asking for. Thank you for visiting and for your comment. :)

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  4. I love this....God has provided me with so many things I need from garage sales. He knows my every need I guess. But..I need to pray about the things I want a bit more I guess!

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    1. It really is fun to see just how many things He does provide and I find when I am specifically asking, then I notice when it comes.... and I can remember to thank Him for answered prayer. :) Thank you for visiting and commenting.

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  5. Great post!

    God has provided us with clothes, surgers (for our computer), toys, laptops...
    He is good to provide needs & wants.

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    1. He sure is..... I am so thankful and am glad you are too. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  6. What a great post!! I never thought to pray for what I want to find at garage sales! Our season for them is only for part of the year so I try to go as many as I can and I'm gonna start praying! Pinning this to my Favorite Blog Posts board!

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    1. It really is good to ask God for what we need.... Thank you for pinning this..... :)

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    2. It really is good to ask God for what we need..... I shop the season also and save it for when we need it.... works great. Thanks for visiting and for pinning this. :)

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  7. This is an awesome God honoring post! I love it! We buy almost exclusively at garage sales and thrift stores, except for food and such of course.

    I would love to feature a link on my blog to this post. Please e-mail me to discuss it if you're interested.

    lane dot family at yahoo dot com

    My blog is harvestlanecottage.com .

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    1. Thank you... such a nice comment.... I would love to have a link on your blog. :)

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  8. Loved your blog post. The same thing happened to me for years when my son was growing up; we always ended up finding the things we needed, at a reasonable price. And a customer at a yard sale gave me a push mower when mine was in the shop. As a single mom, it was a true blessing!

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    1. That is wonderful.... there are so many ways that God blesses us... it is good to look for them and remember to thank Him. Thank you for visiting and for sharing His blessings to you. :)

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  9. I read this before, but it is worth reading again.
    I would love to begin going to yard sales.
    I'll have to see what hubby says.
    I think praying about it is a great idea!!

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    1. It is great.... so glad to have you here again. :) Sometimes God answers through garage sales, sometimes thrift stores, sometimes through friends and more. :)

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  10. Thanks for sharing with us at the Teach Me Tuesday Linky Party:)

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  11. I love garage sales! So fun to see what treasures you can find! I really like your idea of keeping a prayer list. It's a great reminder of how God answers our prayers. I also read your Amish Store post. We have family who live in Pa. so we have seen the horses and buggies. I love the simplicity of it. I am visiting from What'd You Do This Weekend.

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    1. Garage sales really are a blessing... and it is so easy to forget how God has provided in the past... keeping records helps to trust Him for the future also. :) I also enjoy the horses and buggies... and the simple life portrayed. I enjoy seeing the clothes out on the line and the kids playing or working. :)

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  12. A beautiful post! I love the carpet story - and how you thought to start asking. Sometimes we need to ask.

    I love garage sales too and it also seems like God has answered my prayers but letting us find what we needed. It happened just this past week with tomato cages....I didn't even think to ask this time they were just there for me. A blessing indeed!

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    1. Thank you... what a joy to see He has seen our need even before we asked... and already has the answer in the works. :) Those garage sales really are a blessing. Thank you for visiting.

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  13. I absolutely love this post. So refreshing!!

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  14. What a beautiful reminder that God cares about everything in our lives and making a prayer list for the things we need is such a wonderful idea. So glad you shared this with Roses of Inspiration.

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    1. He really does care and provides all that we need.... and sometimes, like He says, we have not because we ask not... seems simple and yet we forget. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  15. I am a huge garage saler too and I just love your attitude and faith in how you go to them! I agree that you can ask the Lord for ANYTHING and He will decide if you need it, or he can bless you with something you want. Great post!!

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    1. Thank you.... God has taught me much through the years.... and some of those lessons have been from garage sales. :) I have seen Him do amazing work in this area. What a blessing.

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  16. Wow! I can't believe the blessings you have received through garage sales! I'm truly amazed at your lists and think it's a great way to stay focused on what's truly needed - and to show gratitude when it is provided! Thank you so much for this humbling reminder of His love and provision for us!

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    1. What an uplifting comment! Thank you... God is the Great Provider and it is so easy to forget His provisions... these lists sure help with that. :) Thank you for visiting.

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  17. What a great post! I love your carpet story!

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    1. Thank you.... I love that also... and it comes to mind various times as a reminder that God cares about the little things in our lives. :)

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  18. It can be so easy to forget how blessed we are or how far we've come. What a blessing to have kept your lists so you can go back and remind youself of all those great things!

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    1. That is so true... and they are a blessing to go back to... I really need to start an actual list on paper again and keep my lists again... so encouraging. :)

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  19. I love this idea and reminds me that God is at work in ALL aspects of our lives, even those little needs we have. (I need to start praying for a Vita-Mix!) Thanks for linking up at the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home!

    Jennifer

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    1. A Vitamix is a wonderful tool, but expensive... I hope God provides one for you. :)

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  20. What an amazing example of God's provision in what we sometimes view as the "little things" Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Yes, they really are little things... and yet, they are fun also.... and I sure enjoy this fun way to enjoy "new" jewelry for me... without feeling guilty. :)

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  21. Thanks for attending the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty, I shared your post.

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    1. It was delightful... thank you for hosting and sharing. :)

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  22. Hi Gentle Joy,
    We used to have garage sales in our community but people were afraid of getting robbed, so we stopped.
    Thanks for bringing your post to last week's Pit Stop.
    Janice, Pit Stop Crew.

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    1. That's too bad about the fear of being robbed... sad, but I understand it. I don't have a sale alone... and we are pretty careful... always at least 2 people out there, a phone handy, etc. We have had some items stolen over the years... mostly little things, but thankfully, no one has been hurt and we have learned to watch even better. Thank you for visiting. :)

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  23. We have great yard sales here and I need to have one soon! Thanks for the tips! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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    1. That is one thing about garage sales... they are great to go to... and going to them means we need to have one! :) But it is such a blessing to find good stuff for inexpensive prices-sure helps the budget... I hope your sale goes wonderfully well

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  24. Your Prayer List for yard sales brought tears to my eyes. I recently started a yard sale list of items that I wanted for craft projects and NEVER thought to call it a prayer list. How stupid was that? God answers my prayers sometimes before I even realize the need (our Sunday school is tiny and we do a service project for our local animal shelter. I got FREE carpet pieces last year to make scratching strips for the cats). I am trying to find antique/vintage items to stock my booths at 2 different antique/flea market places. Being retired I need to stretch my crafting/antiquing/collecting budget, and I enjoy finding treasures that I can upcycle into something beautiful/useful. I find awesome stuff, craft supplies (my church Ladies Aid group tends to laugh at me when I make Christmas items for the bazaar this time of year!), books, baskets and new items for my "Be good to yourself" baksets that I make for raffles and the church bazaar. Several weeks ago, I found gloves, scarves, and hats at @ 2 local Goodwills for 75 and 90% off. Our church fills backpacks for our local school with school supplies, simple foods to prepares, socks, underwear, pants (for those accidents at school!), and cold weather clothes. This fall, these kids will have plenty of ways to stay warm. I couldn't afford $8 for 1 hat; doing stuff like this is one of my ways of giving back! Fills my need to bargain shop at the same time. I usually don't even need to look at my simple bracelet that has "Thankful" in beads to remember to say a prayer of thanx! Enjoyed your site very much.

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    1. Wow, what a great comment! God does provide in so many ways... even when we don't recognize He did. You have been getting some great deals... and it is so nice that you are working to help others. I have appreciated God's providing for our family in so many ways... and being thankful is a discipline I try to practice... Thank you for visiting. So glad you stopped by. :)

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