Jehosheba – A Heroic Example

Jehosheba – A Heroic Example

Jehosheba is a hero of the Bible who saves a toddler from the evil schemes of a power-hungry authority.  Consider how Moses was saved under Pharaoh’s reign, or Jesus during the time of King Herod.  Even with this heroic act, we know little about Jehosheba.  She was the daughter of King Jehoram and married the priest Jehoiada.  These are two historical figures most people know little about.  Her husband led a rebellion to instill the rightful heir of David to the throne in Jerusalem.  Her father was so evil the Bible says that when he died it was to no one’s regret (2 Chron. 21:20).

Dealing with Disappointment

Dealing with Disappointment

Has there ever been anything in your life that you really wanted and did not get?  How did you respond?  Have you ever played or watched a sport in which you really wanted your team to win but they didn’t?  How did you respond?  Have you ever worked hard and wanted to earn a promotion or a good grade but did not receive what you thought you deserved?  How did you respond?  In any of these situations, or others when you did not get what you wanted, did you sulk or become angry or refuse to eat?

ANTICIPATION - Christmas is about ANTICIPATION

ANTICIPATION - Christmas is about ANTICIPATION

When we were children, we spent hours poring over the Sears Wish Book, folding over the corners of the pages where pictures of our treasures were displayed in full technicolor. We wrote letters to Santa with a fervor we rarely invested in homework essays, explaining how good we’d been and making promises for even better behavior next year if we’d only receive our heart’s desires.

Generations

Generations

The gospel of John primarily focuses on a generation that did not firsthand experience the life of Christ on earth. John, writing near 100 A.D., was the sole surviving apostle. An entire generation of firsthand witnesses to the resurrected Christ was dying off; the possibility of “dropping the baton” was very real.

A Discerning Heart

In the accounts of1 Kings 3 & 2 Chronicles 1, we see Solomon following the LORD and God coming to him in a dream to ask him whatever he wants.

In the start of his reign here, Solomon presents himself with humility before God in his answer.

1 Kings 3:7-9 says

7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

He could have so easily asked for more, yet what he wanted was to be able to do the job that God had appointed to him well.  I really appreciate this and want it to be an example to me to want to do my job(s) well.  I am thankful that for the most part, I enjoy my job, which makes it easier to work hard at it.  But I know that is not always the case.  For those jobs that I am maybe not fully equipped for, or maybe especially in the ones I think I am, I want to be reminded to ask God for wisdom in how I work or lead so that I can do it well.

As we continue reading, we see the wisdom of Solomon here, and we see how he became a great king, but seeing this positive start here also saddens me when we read how he fell and how he turned away from the God who gave him this great wisdom, wealth, and honor.

©Stephanie Fletcher, 2025

Bigger Table

Bigger Table

Even on the eve of His death, Jesus was fully confident of the joyous future celebration of the kingdom of God. His death would provide kingdom entrance for us, and  would in no way be a hindrance to the One who overcame death with life everlasting, and who would triumphantly sit at the right hand of the Father.

Take Heed! Be on the Alert!

Take Heed! Be on the Alert!

The first home security system was invented in 1966 and patented in 1969 by Marie Van Brittan Brown.  Marie’s husband often traveled for work, and she didn’t feel secure answering the door in his absence. The system she created consisted of two peepholes, a TV monitor, a two-way microphone and a sliding camera.  Marie could see who was at her door and interact with them from inside the safety of her home.

Watch Out!

Watch Out!

Jesus’ warning is that these “false Christs” will lead many astray. In the absence of the true Messiah, there will always be a danger of some individual or group making bold claims that can lead people astray by shifting focus and allegiance away from the Gospel and Jesus.

So Be Strong

So Be Strong

“So be strong, act like a man” – what does that look like?  I think this statement connects with the next one.  To be strong and act like a man is to observe what the Lord your God requires which is to walk in obedience to him and keep his decrees.  Doing those things takes strength because it opposes the way of the world.

Flesh & Blood

Flesh & Blood

In the lead-up to Jesus’ arrest and trial, we see the hustle and bustle of everyone getting ready for the Passover. Passover was the remembrance and celebration of the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt and takes its moniker from their firstborn being spared during God’s final plague that killed the firstborn of Egypt.

This is Eternal Life

This is Eternal Life

John 10:29 quotes Jesus saying, “I and the Father are one”, and I see John 17 as giving that some context. God and Jesus are not one person, they are not one entity, they are not members of a godhead. They are one in purpose. They are united through the will of God and Jesus’ obedience to that will. There is clear subservience to God in Jesus’ words here, but God has also elevated and glorified him. They have a special relationship as we see through Jesus’ prayer life and language.

Vigilant, Alert, Expectant

Vigilant, Alert, Expectant

Some are dismissive of the return of Christ in light of the considerable passage of time since these words were spoken. The seeming delay is the very issue that Jesus addressed. Let us not be lulled into believing that delay is denial; that He will not return. “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect” Luke 12:40.

Out of Reach?

Out of Reach?

Many people have concluded that God’s demands are beyond our reach. No matter how hard we try to please Him, we ultimately always fail. From the perspective of human effort, that is correct: we cannot on our own please Him. But, the point of these verses is that the potential to do so through faith is indeed possible. Notice how Paul framed these verses: