Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

Remember Your Creator: Lessons From a Wise King and an Abandoned Building

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Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them.”

Dear Kids,

The older you get the more you understand the brevity of life. Each person is here only for a short time and no one truly knows what tomorrow will bring. The blessings we have today could evaporate into thin air tomorrow. So it behooves the wise man or woman to learn from the past and to plan for the future, but to live wisely in the moment. So while you are young, remember your Creator and serve Him well.

A Strange and Unsettling Experience

I had a strange and unsettling experience this past week. My colleagues and I spent many hours at an empty school building in our county. A beautiful new complex now houses the many teachers, administration, and students who used to occupy the halls and rooms of this now abandoned building. So we were cataloging and taking pictures of excess equipment and supplies to sell at auction.

Remember Your CreatorAs we traipsed from room to room I couldn’t rid myself of a certain sadness stemming from the deafening silence and the leftover remnants of bustling days gone by. Teachers’ nameplates still identified each classroom. Forlorn plants sat on dusty desks, and dog-eared posters with encouraging slogans hung dejectedly on the walls. The whole atmosphere reminded me of a ghost town from an old TV western.

But the thing that hit the hardest was outside the school cafeteria. After eating lunch I stepped into the hall and noticed the area where morning announcements used to be posted. Out of curiosity I took a closer look at the page curling on the board. It was dated Thursday, March 12, 2020 – the day before everyone set their normal lives and routines aside to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. At the end of the announcements was this postscript, “Have a good three day weekend!”

No One Knows What Tomorrow Holds

No one knew that day they would not be coming back to this school in the same way they had done in the months and years before. Teachers taught and students learned online for the rest of the year. When everyone finally returned to a somewhat normal setting, it wasn’t to this old building. All the needed items were hurriedly moved to the new complex, but the morning announcement from March 12 remained on the board outside the cafeteria as a reminder of how quickly life can change.

A very wise man, King Solomon, understood the brevity of life. He spent his days seeking pleasure and fulfillment in all the wrong things. But as an older man, when life had worn heavy on him, he advised others to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. He learned from his past that all he had sought after was vanity that evaporated like a mist. He had wasted a good portion of his life and now time was short. He entreated his listeners to seek the only Person worth living for. The Creator and God of the universe is the One Who never changes. When life takes a hairpin turn He alone remains constant.

Remember Your Creator

So take a lesson from a wise, old king and an abandoned school building; learn from the past and plan for the future, but live in the moment. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, because tomorrow comes quickly, and only He knows what it will bring.

Love,

Mama

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The Power of Heart and Mind Management

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1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

“The main work of a Christian lies in the right management of his heart and mind.” ~Matthew Henry

Dear Kids,

I have discovered that in most areas of life a big part of success depends on good management. Gifted people regularly share worthy contributions to society. While the result of their labors may seem effortless to the unperceptive bystander, it is almost always the crucial behind-the-scenes administration that produces the seamless and gratifying result.

There have been times when people have shared with me their awe at how the auction process works. The general public shows up the day of the event. They observe the auctioneer chanting the bid and the clerk typing the buyer information into the computer. They bid, they pay the cashier for their purchases, and then they go home. It could be natural to think of this process as an easy way to liquidate an entire household of merchandise in one day. But that is hardly the case. The smoothness of the process is the culmination of many days of preparation.

The Christian’s Main Work is Heart and Mind Management

The Christian life is no different. Matthew Henry, a seventeenth and eighteenth century minister and author stated, “The main work of a Christian lies in the right management of his heart and mind.” What a true statement! Our enemy, the devil, capitalizes on our mental and emotional frailties. He knows if he can get us to think the wrong thoughts our attitudes and actions will follow suit. He particularly uses this strategy when we are going through difficult circumstances.

This is why Peter tells us we must prepare our minds for action. By managing our thought life we will be equipped for the onslaught of lies Satan will throw at us on a regular basis. Knowing God’s word well, believing God’s promises, and putting the truth into action will cause our lives to bring glory to the Father despite the troubles and trials this life will inevitably bring.

This does not mean we will never have uncomfortable or raw emotions. When an experience is hard we may very well feel angry, afraid, or discouraged. A plethora of feelings will likely bombard our minds. But it is what we do behind the scenes with these feelings that makes the difference.

Keep Control of What is Happening in Your Heart

Keep sober-minded or in control of what is happening in your heart. Admit the truth of how you feel instead of suppressing it. Express your thoughts to God in prayer. Allow Him to challenge any natural responses that would be harmful or incorrect. As you allow Him into the deepest part of your soul He will effect the changes needed to help, heal, and restore your broken parts. His perfect grace brings hope through the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we grow in grace, the watching world will look at us, God’s children, in a similar way auction goers observe the auction process. They will see and be blessed by the visible outcome God has produced in our lives. To them it may seem unbelievable. But the truth is that powerful behind-the-scenes heart and mind management makes all the difference. As we prepare our minds for action, keep sober-minded in spirit, and fix our hope on Christ, our responses to difficult circumstances are sure to bring glory to God.

Love,

Mama

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The Master Potter’s Prerogative

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Jeremiah 18:2-4 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel as it pleased the potter to make.” 

Dear Kids: 

The Master Potter's Prerogative

It was the master potter’s prerogative to keep this lopsided vase. It sold at auction for a handsome sum.

Sometimes I wish inanimate objects could talk. If they could I am sure I would hear amazing stories from the past that would explain a lot of things. But sadly we are often only left with speculation. The explanations of why things are the way they are remain a mystery locked up tight in the forgotten history of those who have gone before. One of these conundrums is the decision of a master potter.

A Lopsided Pottery Jar

At a recent auction some puzzling questions came to mind. A number of antique pottery jars were displayed in rows on a table. But upon closer look I noticed that one jar was different than the rest. This particular vessel had a lopsided top.

Our auction manager told me that a craftsman would place rods on the newly processed jars in order to stack them until they cooled down and fully hardened. It seemed that in the process this particular jar had become misshapen. Usually these “mistakes” would be discarded, but for some reason the potter decided to keep this one. Now, many years later, the misshapen jar was sitting on a table amongst many other antiques waiting to be sold at auction.

The Potter’s Prerogative

Why did the artisan choose to keep this particular jar? I have no idea. The jar can’t tell me, but it was the master potter’s prerogative to make that decision.

The Lord sent the prophet Jeremiah to the home of a local potter. There, Jeremiah observed the craftsman spinning clay on his wheel. This potter, realizing his project was marred, chose not to keep it. Instead, he started over making the clay into a different vessel that would please him.

God used this creative trade to demonstrate a particular truth He wanted Jeremiah to pass on to the people of Israel. The Lord, as the Master Potter, could do what He wanted with the nations. At one moment He may plan to uproot, pull down, or destroy a particular nation. Yet if that nation would turn from evil, He as the Master Potter had the prerogative to relent concerning the impending calamity. Likewise He could choose to tear down a kingdom He previously planned on blessing if they did evil in His sight.

Jeremiah conveyed this example and message to the men of Judah as a warning. God was fashioning a calamity to be brought against the inhabitants of Jerusalem because of their sin. But if they would turn back from their evil and reform their ways He would change the outcome.

Sadly, the hearers ignored God’s words spoken through the prophet. Instead they said, “It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.” With these words they sealed their fate.

We Are The Master Potter’s Handiwork

We also, are the Master Potter’s handiwork. While sin has spoiled the perfection in which humankind was originally made, God continues to speak the message of redemption. We have the choice to obey and follow Him. If we do, despite our flaws, He has promised to restore us and give us great worth in Christ.

By grace He will take an unworthy vessel and give it honor. Like the misshapen pottery jug, the Lord will gladly display us on the front table with all of His prized handiwork. Why? I really don’t know other than He loves us, it brings Him glory . . . and it is the Master Potter’s prerogative.

Love,

Mama

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How to Freak Out Your Enemy, the Devil!

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Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

Dear Kids:

I had a freak-out moment the other day. I meandered into the event center to check out the merchandise for our upcoming auction and the first thing I saw was a huge rattlesnake. Granted it was stuffed and in a glass case, but the beady eyes, thick body, and raised tail still gave me the creeps. It is no wonder that one of the names the Bible gives to our enemy, Satan, is “the serpent of old.” This dangerous and slithering reptile is not something I want to meet alone in a dark alley – or an event center for that matter.

No other enemy compares with the Serpent

Nobody wants to have enemies. Most of us work very hard to please others and keep everyone on our good side. Yet no matter how hard we try, there will always be a few who don’t appreciate us or who even try to harm us. Still no other adversary we encounter will ever compare with this greatest enemy known to mankind. His methods are insidious. His determination is endless. His purpose is evil. And his sting is deadly. He and his angels have one goal: to deceive the world.

From the very beginning of creation this serpent determined to separate humans from God. He tempted Eve to doubt and disobey her Creator. It’s all been downhill from there.

One of the enemy’s best tactics can virtually shut down even the most seasoned of believers when they are not careful and on the alert. He is known for going before God and accusing us of our sin. Neil T. Anderson, in his book The Bondage Breaker, shares his discovery of the crooked understanding of many Christians, including leaders, who struggle because of the enemy’s accusations. They have been deceived into believing they are not important, qualified, or any good. These venomous thoughts and feelings paralyze many children of God and halt their witness and productivity.

The Antidote to one of the Enemies Best Tactics

What is the antidote for this kind of thinking? It is to believe the truth God has spoken in His Word. Christ overcame our sin by His own blood. In doing so He threw down our accuser with power and authority. Now there is no more condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ, (Romans 8:1).

When our enemy, that crafty serpent, shakes his rattle and bares his fangs we don’t need to quiver in fear because God has washed away our sin. In Christ we are important, qualified, and righteous. Our lives have meaning and purpose, and our testimony is powerful.

When we understand and believe this truth we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. And then it’s Satan, the serpent of old, who has a freak out moment!

Love,
Mama

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Powerful Prescriptions from a Heavenly Physician

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Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Dear Kids:

Flu and cold season is upon us! It is not only the weak, but even the most hearty that can be forced to bed with coughing, sniffling, aches, and fever. This undesirable glitch in our plans is such an inconvenience for busy people like us! Thankfully there are excellent doctors and numerous modern medicines to ease the discomforts of our maladies and promote healing. This was not always the case.

Remedies from an old time drug store

Looking back in time often stimulates thankfulness. Recently we had an auction that featured relics from an old drugstore. As is my usual practice before an auction, I meandered through the Event Center to peruse the tables of neatly presented items. I imagined the sick from a time gone by seeking relief and healing from potions and syrups mixed in mortars and poured into beautifully colored bottles that lined the shelves of an old time pharmacy. These mysterious concoctions likely provided some relief, yet there was so much more they could not do.

Through the ages people have suffered in numerous ways. Our bodies are weak and over time we will each succumb to some sort of disease or malfunction. But even those who are healthy in body have other types of ailments. These are not ailments that old or new tonics can cure. They are of much greater concern because they can damage our minds and affect our thinking and our outlook on life. These emotional and psychological wounds shape how we look at God, others, and ourselves. Broken hearts of this type often lead to confused thinking, and there is no beautiful glass bottle filled with old time or modern medicine that can heal these.

Remedies for broken hearts

But there is a prescription that will do just the trick. The Greatest Physician ever known prescribes it. He, the Lord our God, understands the workings of every heart and the devastations that sin can cause. He provides the power to be healed if we are willing to let Him transform and renew our minds.

Are you dealing with a heart of pride? Take a dose of Humility. Are you down with a heart of jealousy? Slather it with a heavy coating of Love. Burdened with a heart of lies? Try two tablespoons of Truth. Are you aching with a heart of disbelief? Try a healthy cup of Faith. A heart of mourning? Spread the Oil of Gladness on it. And do you struggle with a heart of fainting? God prescribes a regular diet of Praise!

If you are sick with the common cold or the flu, then a trip to the doctor and a modern remedy will likely do the trick. But if you are dealing with a broken heart that has infected your mind, then the Great Physician is the One to prescribe the medication you need. It’s not a sweet syrup found in a beautiful glass bottle or capsules filled with curative powder. It is an old-fashioned health-giving balm activated by a transformed mind. Try God’s healing prescription today! It can make all the difference in the world.

Love,

Mama

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An Auction Discovery – Bad News Or Good News?

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Numbers 32:23 “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord, and you may be sure your sins will find you out.”

There are always two perspectives to consider and two sides to every coin, so listen carefully because I have some bad news and some good news.

The bad news is that more often than not our indiscretions are remembered longer than we expect. Yesterday we held an auction containing some interesting primitive antique items. After the sale was over I walked around the Event Center to lock all the doors. While making my rounds a small brown card lying on a chair caught my eye. I stooped to pick it up. It was a reprimand written to a local dairy farmer for failing to comply with dairy regulations. The card was a notice to the farmer that his license for selling milk was being revoked. The year was 1939.

I can only imagine the embarrassment and hardship this brief notice must have created in the life of this farm family. But life goes on, and over time the violation and all it entailed were probably forgotten . . . until last Wednesday! Yesterday the infraction resurfaced, though I am sure the offending farmer never dreamed this small card advertising his oversight would show up again so many years later.

We may be intrigued by this piece of local trivia, but how many of us would like our decisions and actions of today brought to light many years later? Young people often post immature and inappropriate rants and photos on social media, never realizing that those foolish comments may come back to haunt them later. Potential employers and prospective marriage partners (or parents of prospective marriage partners) may judge you based on these indiscreet posts. These things never go away and you can be sure that even those written thoughts you think you’ve hidden will eventually be found out.

But there is some good news. When a person chooses to make wise decisions and do things in an appropriate manner, these will also trickle down to posterity. A stellar example today may become the turning point in the life of someone from a future generation. An act of kindness will make an impression on someone who will be encouraged to follow you example. A wise decision may help establish your future success. People are watching your every move.

So think long and hard before making decisions or acting unwisely: how you handle yourself today may somehow show up at auction eight decades later. And whether that’s bad news or good news depends on you!

Love,

Mama

How Valuable is Your Stuff?

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Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will he not also with Him freely give us all things?”

A good portion of my job deals with people’s stuff! I don’t mean that I am dealing with people who have specific issues in life, but with people who own a lot of stuff. In other words – chattel, material goods, personal property – STUFF!

Regularly our company will receive a call from a person who has to liquidate some or all of his or her belongings. Sometimes this person has moved and needs to downsize. Other times there has been a death in the family and the unneeded or unwanted possessions must be disposed of in a timely matter. Business liquidations, divorces . . . you name it. Our crew responds to these calls by going to the home, boxing up the items, moving them to our Event Center, and on a specific day selling the items at auction. In just a few hours all the stuff is gone!

One by one the items are sold and the purchase price is determined by the amount that the bidders are willing to pay. Some items bring a decent amount of money while others, such as box lots of household goods, bring a small sum. Often it is easy to predict how much a certain piece will sell for – but every once in a while something crazy happens, and an ordinary item will sky rocket in price. Two or more bidders will volley back and forth until it sells for much more than expected.

Why does this happen? Occasionally it is because there is some sentimental meaning to the purchase. Family members or friends will join the bidding war hopefully to acquire the piece that reminds them of a loved one or special experience. The memory or feeling of the bidders and the price they are willing to pay determines the worth and value of the item.

There is a spiritual bidding war going on in the world today. Satan, our enemy, desires to acquire the soul of each human. This liar tries to keep our price down by constantly reminding us of our unworthiness: “You are failures and worth less than a box lot of stuff,” he whispers in our ears. But the truth of the matter is that all humanity was made in the image of God and this makes us valuable to Him.

Falling into sin tarnished us, but God loved us so much that He was willing to pay the highest price to buy us back. He did not spare His own Son, but sent Him to earth to die in our place and to purchase us back with His blood. What we look like, what we’ve done, or what we’ve accomplished is of no consequence. To God we are not just stuff to be discarded, but people of inestimable value.

How valuable is your stuff? While our company can’t guarantee what your items will sell for, I can tell you this: you, God’s creation made in His image, are very valuable and of great worth! God made the highest bid when He sent His only Son to purchase you with His blood. And nobody can top that bid!

Love,
Mama

 

Three Generations of Sheridan Auctioneers

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John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

Three generations of Sheridan auctioneers is no small feat. When Grandma Sheridan enrolled Grandpa in auction school forty years ago he may not have realized that one of his sons and grandsons would follow in his steps. But none of these accomplishments happened automatically. They were the result of decisions, planning, and hard work.

Over four decades ago, after much dreaming, Grandma Sheridan enrolled Grandpa in the Knotts School of Auctioneering. For many weeks Grandpa traveled to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he spent hours each Thursday evening taking classes and learning this trade. Over the following months he trained under the best in the business and spent hours perfecting his chant as well as becoming a successful businessman (actually, Grandma helped with the business part!).

In 1995 Dad decided to join the Sheridan auction business, but he did not automatically become an auctioneer just because his father was one. Dad travelled to Missouri Auction School where he spent the required hours taking classes to become certified. After a yearlong apprenticeship, Dad also became a full-fledged auctioneer, and has spent the past two decades years using this gift to help people with their personal property and real estate needs.

This summer Nathan also made the decision to begin his auctioneer journey, but neither was he able to have an easy entrance into the field. Having a grandfather and father in the business did not preclude his need to go to school and get certified. He made the decision, paid the fee, and in June of this year he also attended the Missouri Auction School with an apprenticeship under Dad.

Three generations of Sheridans, but each one had to make the decision and put in the time to become an auctioneer. No one was able to slide in under the table because of past family connections or experience.

This is the way it is with the family of God. A person doesn’t become a Christian just because their father or grandfather made that commitment. They do not gain entrance into heaven because of someone else’s decisions. Each person must recognize their sinful nature and come to God on their own. When a person understands their personal need for a Savior and calls on God for forgiveness, He promises to answer and make them His child. At that moment they are born of the Spirit and have entered the Kingdom of God.

Auctioneer parents don’t automatically produce auctioneer children. It takes a decision and a lot of work. In the same way Christian parents don’t automatically produce Christian children. Each generation needs to come to God on his or her own in order to enter His Kingdom.

While I don’t expect you all will become auctioneers, I trust that each and every one of you will become part of God’s family. But it doesn’t happen automatically. That decision is up to you!

Love,

Mama

Whatever Happened To The Good Old Days?

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2 Timothy 3:1-2 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy. . . ”

Whatever happened to the good old days?

Regularly I am reminded of times past as I prepare for upcoming antique auctions. This week one of our featured items is a checklist reminder. This old time memorandum is painted on a wooden board and uses pins to mark the pantry items which were running low. While taking photographs for our website I came across this gem and was surprised to see how few items were represented on the list – twenty-seven to be exact. Times sure have changed!

Life was simpler way back when and people were satisfied with much less than we are today. Grocery stores are now supersized and things once considered conveniences are now necessities. This trouble follows us into almost every area of life. We never seem to have enough, and more is always better. Satisfaction and thankfulness are things of the past.

These human characteristics are disturbing but they shouldn’t be surprising. Hundreds of years ago the Bible predicted that this would happen, and as time goes on things will get worse and worse. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy and the list goes on. We can already see that these things are true all around us, and our media, our commercials, and our lifestyles encourage it.

As God’s children we should search our hearts to see if any of these destructive behavior patterns have slipped in. Our lives should be completely opposite from the world’s ways and emulate the life of Jesus. We should love others more than we love ourselves. We should love God more than money. We should be humble, kind, obedient, thankful and holy. These are what make us stand out from the world and brightly shine our gospel light.

Whatever happened to the good old days? The days of short, uncomplicated grocery lists are gone forever. There are so many things to choose from – more than we could ever need. But don’t be surprised when you still regularly meet people who are not grateful. A lack of thankfulness, along with many other ungodly attitudes, is only going to get worse as time goes on. Just make sure, as God’s child, these characteristics are not representative of you.

Love,

Mama

Help Wanted – All May Apply

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James 2:1 “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”

img_4173_3110x2074We live in a prejudiced world. Though our country has worked hard to eliminate discrimination in its outward manifestations, no one can erase the sinful tendencies of the human heart. Watching our words carefully is not enough. There must be a heart change. God is not a respecter of persons and those who belong to Him should not be either.

Working in the auction business I often come across some interesting memorabilia. Monday our team spent the day recording and photographing items for an upcoming online auction. There were numerous old advertising signs. One that intrigued me reminded me of the discrimination that was prominent at one time in our country. The sign read, “Help Wanted – No Irish Need Apply.” That was a shocker for a family with the name of Sheridan. Who would have been so prejudiced to hang a metal sign like that outside their door?

We may think that we have come so far, but the human heart is still desperately wicked. We may pride ourselves on acceptance, but deep down we all carry thoughts and attitudes about others that are not pleasing to God.

James told his readers to watch out for discrimination. He warned that if two men came into their church assembly, one with a gold ring and fine clothes and the other poor and disheveled, not to pay attention to the one and ignore the other. They were not to be judges of outward appearance only as this would prove their evil motives. God looks at the heart and has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God, which He promised to those who love Him.

There are many ways to disguise discrimination in the church. We must search our hearts to see if we have greater respect for those who are in executive positions over those who have blue-collar jobs. Do we encourage full-time church workers or foreign missionaries more than those who are living a committed Christian life before unbelievers in a hostile secular work environment? Are we drawn towards those who have advanced degrees or a large paycheck? These are forms of discrimination that our Father dislikes.

God is not a respecter of persons. He searches hearts to see who is completely committed to Him. His thoughts towards all His children are more than the sand on the seashore. And He died for each and every sinner regardless of race, skin color, financial security, church position, clothing type, or higher education.

God has put out the call for service to everyone who believes in His name. All in the body of Christ are loved! All are needed! All are wanted! And you can be assured that all God’s children are welcome to apply!

Love,
Mama