Navigation or Negotiation

I was watching American Pickers the other day.  They were invited into the inner sanctum of a man who had spent his lifetime collecting vintage tin toys.  Rare and valuable wind-up toys were in custom built, well-lit, display cases.  They were marked with the price he purchased them for, the date of purchase and the catalog number he’d assigned them.

The toys were loved and protected.

They asked if the owner would be willing to part with a couple of them.  He said he’d let them know when they found what they wanted.  Mike, the show’s star, chose two or three that interested him.

Then he made a very interesting comment.  He said that you needed to learn when something is for sale and when it is not.  If it is not for sale, there is no negotiating.  There is only admiration and learning about it.  If it is for sale, then you start low and see how high you must go to own it. 

The purpose of the purchase was important too.  Was it for resale at his shop or was it for his personal treasure collection?  That also determined the purchase price to be negotiated.

Mike said that whether the collection was for sale or not, you were to respect the owner and the work he’d done and his appreciation of the value of he knew these items to be worth.

This owner said that two of the items were not for sale.  He would not part with them.  One of the items he was willing to negotiate over because he owned two of them. 

Mike and his brother Robbie left with wide grins on their faces.  Mike paid a higher price than he would have liked to purchase the toy he had but was thrilled with all he’d learned from the interaction.  Not many people had entered this collector’s fortress and viewed his private collection. 

And because of their respect, they would be invited back.

In this the love of God was manifested toward us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world,
that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:9

Dear Loved One, I encourage you to pause before you pray.  Ask Holy Spirit for wisdom.  Seek from Him if this is a situation where Navigation or Negotiation is required from heaven. 

Yesterday, my husband walked his son in a wheelchair down the aisle to marry his long-time girlfriend.  The bone cancer has taken over his body and things that could put off for another day, cannot be delayed any longer. Tomorrow is no longer guaranteed. 

We have asked heaven for healing. It hasn’t come. We now pray for strength to endure and the grace to navigate these pain-filled days.

We ask, Father, that You give us this hour the words that speak LIFE into death!

And we know that all things work together for good
to those who love God;
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

I had a friend who lost a child to cancer, make this statement:

Does it take more faith to get a healing

than it does to lose a child and still believe?

Navigation or Negotiation.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and without reproach,
and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

What is required in your situation today?  Ask the Holy Spirit.  He will give you wisdom on how to pray.