A Lunar-Solar calendar is synced to the cycle of the moon within the Solar year. This is why Hanukkah always moves in relation to Christmas, as the Jewish calendar is also Lunar-Solar.
Healed How?
Naaman seems to have some pretty simple, albeit specific, expectations of how God would show up in his life. In his first statement, I wonder if Naaman feels a little ignored or slighted that Elisha did not come out himself to see him. Naaman is a man of some importance within Aram but Elisha sends his messenger to Naaman rather than coming out himself. This is a good lesson to us to not think too highly of ourselves as well (Romans 12:3).
Directing Our Steps
God Provides Miracles
Therefore, I’d love to consider this miracle of the poisonous stew for a moment and consider a couple things we can learn from it. One that may go without saying is the public service announcement to not eat unfamiliar items we scavenge from outside. There are many healthy food products in nature, but there are some that are inedible or even poisonous. Unless we are certain of their edibility, we should stay away from mushrooms, berries, seeds, and plants.
Belonging
Sales vs Truth...
Sealed In The Spirit
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).
Light Work
Hearing What We Don’t Want to Hear
It is noteworthy that King Ahab avoided the truth because he deemed it as bad. Instead, he listened to the 400 voices that told him what he wanted to hear. King Rehoboam did the same thing in First Kings chapter 12. Instead of listening to the advice of the elders, who gave advice he did not want to hear, he followed the advice of his peers. He followed what he wanted rather than what was best for him.
Date With Destiny
The facts are absolute and indisputable: everyone has a date with destiny in the hour of Christ’s return. The default, automatic choice is “a resurrection of judgment” reserved for “those who committed the evil deeds.” The pro-active choice is that of “those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life.”
Kingdom Food
There is an immediacy to this “kingdom food” in that Jesus says that “the fields … are white for harvest.” Typically there is a period of waiting between planting and harvest, but spiritually there is always a present harvest. For those who are discerning spiritually, they will recognize that they are surrounded by those who exhibit a calling to God’s salvation offer through Christ.
All In
The phrase, “I’m all in” can mean a person is exhausted. But another understanding of that expression is a person’s declaration that he/she is completely devoted, totally committed, to a cause or endeavor. “I’m all in to lose the weight.” “I’m all in to win the championship.” “I’m all in to elect this candidate.”
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
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
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
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!
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.
