Tuesday, November 17, 2009

WHAT CAN BE SHAKEN

Since starting this blog I have endeavored to be real. To present my life, myself, my joys, my shortcomings just as they are.

Hebrews 12:27 "And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."

I truly love God's Word and I know without a shadow of a doubt that it speaks to us exactly where we are. The above verse had always spoken to me, and especially the last few months, as we've seen so many things in our political and national realm being turned upside down and shaken.

But this verse took on very personal and special meaning to me last Saturday.


Allow me to lay the background: Our Church, as I have shared with you, is in a 4 month period of raising money to pay off the loan on our ROC building with a matching $1 for $1 from a family in our Body up to $100,000. One of the fund raisers was an auction and we were asked to donate items to the auction.

At first Mickey & I could not think of anything we had of real value to put into the auction and then we decided to auction my piano. Now I have to tell you about my piano and how much it meant to me. I bought my Black Ebony Wurlitzer piano brand new in 1956 - I don't remember the $ amount I paid for it, but I do remember, quite well, I was making $1 an hour working as a typist for an Accountant. That was $173.22 a month salary and my payment on my new, beloved piano was $25 a month!!! Or another way to put it, 14.32% of my gross pay.

Please remember this was even 2 years prior to my marriage to Mickey in 1958. We have moved this piano 14 times (from NM to CO to OK to NM to OK) during these 51 years of our marriage. Not had it moved, my dear precious husband has moved that heavy piano all those times until this last and 15th move from our home to the church.


My piano pulled away from the wall and ready for the Church to come and pick it up.

Mickey & I take excellent care of anything and everything we own. It is one of the many frugal ways I was taught and trained by my parents. We were told by 2 men from our church who know piano's and their values well that with the age and condition of my piano it was probably worth $1500. Now we knew that at a Church auction, in our small town, that it probably would only bring about $500 but with the matching $'s that would be $1000 toward our Church debt that Mickey & I were happy to be able to made. At one point, prior to donating the piano I told Mickey, "I don't know about giving my piano. I'm having second thoughts." He said, "It's too late, I've already added it to the donation list." So that was that. Anything we give to the Lord should be a sacrifice.


The day of the auction and the crowd gathering.

My piano at the auction with other items.

Last Saturday, November 14th, was the auction.

My piano sold for $100!!!!!! I was near tears. Then I saw the man who had bid on it and he was from our church and I felt better about it. Then I found out he was bidding for someone else who wasn't even at the auction!!!

Back to Hebrews 12:27 "The removing of those things which can be shaken." I was shaken. Mickey & I were BOTH shaken and hurt to the core. We both hardly slept Saturday night and I kept breaking out in tears every time I thought about it. I also began thinking "Well, if I'd have known that was all it was going to bring I would have not put it in the auction" or "I would have rather just given it to.............". Even in Church several people came up to us telling us how sorry and upset they were when they heard, or saw, what had happened. Again, both Mickey & I were in tears.....in church!!!!!!

From the moment the piano was pronounced "Sold for $100" the Hebrews 12;27 verse came into my mind and heart and I began asking the Lord, "Why am I so shaken by this? I know Mickey's & my heart in donating it and that is what matters." etc.

The FLESH dies hard and "I" want so badly, and so much, to be in CONTROL. To have things turn our like "I" think they SHOULD!!!!! I began to realize that this was the issue......not what the piano had sold for, or who it went to......I wanted it to be like "I" thought it should be.


My constant prayer is that God will continue to do His work in me and you know HE GIVES US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEART.......even when it hurts HE is faithful to continue to transform us into HIS plans and purposes if we will but desire He does and be willing to let him.

Thank you Lord that you love me enough to continue to mold, and sometimes to use the chisel!!, to conform me into the plans and purposes YOU have for my life and not my own ideas, thoughts, and "shoulds" and "oughts".


The reason I KNOW that the work that The Lord wanted to accomplish in this event has been done in me is : I have been able to tell my story of this episode without one tear as I was typing it. It is with joy in my heart that I know God is still very much at work in my life and not willing to let anything stand that needs to be shaken.

Thank you LORD!!

I have just recently finished reading Matthew Hagee's first book, "Shaken But Not Shattered". Yes, I am happy to say, even though I was Shaken I am not Shattered!!!



post signature

16 comments:

Shirley said...

Oh, Susan - I just love your heart. You never seem to miss an opportunity to grow and learn from our Lord. I have to admit that I would have been very sad, also, but I love your attitude and ultimate outcome.

Kathy said...

Susan, that is an amazing story. Not only a shaking time but a refining moment. "Lord, you are more precious than silver, Lord you are more costly than gold. Lord you are more beautiful than diamonds, and nothing I desire compares to you." What a time in your life, and what a lesson to have learned, be learning, and continue to learn. Susan, may the Lord direct the course of your thoughts and touch your hearts as is needed. Aren't we all to be learning this as well? We fall at His feet in times such as this to call out for mercy to walk the path laid out before us.

Mary Lee said...

Thank you for sharing your ordeal. God does work in mysterious ways.

Mari said...

I have a piano which I would have a really hard time giving away, so I can understand your feelings. I'm so proud of your for giving so sacrificially and I know that God will use that money as only He can. He is able to make that $100 stretch to be worth $1500!

Anonymous said...

Dear Susan, as you read your story to us tonight, I was so very close to tears myself. The thought that kept going through my mind was the way a Jewish family had to bring their precious lamb to the high priest on the Day of Atonement, to be sacrificed. I kept envisioning your piano as your precious lamb. That was a gift of your heart, your sacrifice. I know from your previous blogs how proud you were of your piano. You are many things and I don't see "materialistic" anywhere on that list. No matter how much or little your gift to your church brought at auction, God knows your heart and your reward in Heaven will be a great one!!! God bless you, dear friend!!

Maalie said...

Sorry to hear of your plight. I wonder if it would have been possible to have put a "reserve" on it, at, say $500? Then if it did not make the reserve price you maybe could have auctioned it in a commercial auction until you received a satisfactory price.

I realise this is too late now, but it might be worth considering in a future case.

This seems to be just another case of organised religion scooping up money from the gullible.

Debra said...

Surely the Lord had a reason and purpose concerning the events of this piano! Shaken but not shattered...I like that!

Anonymous said...

You know Susan, this is a situation where once again we cannot see the future. Yes, it hurts you now, but what is someday someone learns to play the piano on your piano and goes on to play for the Lord ministering for the Lord and touching lives for his Kingdom. These are the things we cannot see. We only see today. You see the hurt of the value in your life, but God sees the future and His plan for your treasure. You have just laid up a treasure in heaven by the sacrifice of this earthly treasure. Now the Lord is able to bring about his plan for the future of this piano. He know all along what price would come from the action. He knows what purpose he has for your piano and it's good...it's all good! Hold on to that thought and give thanks for what it to come!

Sandra said...

Susan, Thank you so much for sharing your heart last night. What a beautiful analogy Debbie used comparing it to the family lamb being brought before the High Priest.
And what a wonderful God we serve to have given you a prayer shawl three days before hand which represented His Covering for you because He knew what was coming on the Sabbath.

Carole Burant said...

You know how I go to the weekly auction here in my area...well, so many times I've seen someone's cherished items go for practically nothing. It truly is heartbreaking and even though quite often the person who owned the item is dead, I still think it's very sad that some of their items they so treasured goes for $1!!! That's the chance you take with an auction I guess, if you don't have the right people wanting a certain thing, it doesn't bring in much otherwise. My heart goes out to you. xoxo

Sohailah said...

Thank you for sharing so honestly. As happy and proud I am of/for you for beig able to release and let God be who He is, it still brought tears to my eyes. Love you.

Maxine said...

Oh, wow, Susan. I don't know what to say. I know I would have been crying also, but I am sure God has a purpose in this and, of course, some of that purpose is whatever work He is doing in your heart. This is one of those events of life that we may never be able to fully comprehend on this side of heaven.

I absolutely LOVE your spirit of giving. You will never lose. Selfless giving has no regrets. We leave whatever the results are to God, don't we?

That was some story! I was on the edge of my seat!!

Dawn said...

What a wonderful story!

I just finished the second trip and met the 3 other women - what fun! I finally had time to do a post today.

Fitter After 50 said...

I would have to agree with Maalie here. Granted the buyer is happy but I still believe the Lord will honor what you have given.

Fitter After 50 said...

I need to elaborate on my comment. I agreed with Maalie about the reserve. It was a fundraiser for the building so you wanted to contribute as much as you could with your piano. You'd never get as much as it is worth sentimentally but at least putting a minimum of $500 would ensure that it went for a respectful amount.

Joy said...

Susan, I know it was hard letting go of this piano. It had been with you for so long. We'll just pray that it will be used to train up future musicians that will bring glory to God. We can't put a price tag on that. I pray it is used and appreciated. You gave what you had to honor the Lord and further His work here on earth.

Joy