Think of a time when someone did something for you that was totally unexpected. It’s a wonderful feeling to get help when you really need it or to have someone do a huge favor for you.

Give-and-take is more than just a metaphor in all of our readings this week. If you start with our psalm, you see God on the giving side of the equation. In just a handful of verses, God gives away justice, food, freedom, sight, hope, love and protection! It’s like standing under a waterfall of gifts. Enjoy the shower of benefits!

“The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all”

Few banks offer them anymore, but Christmas club accounts were once popular ways to save for holiday spending. You put away a small amount every week for a year, earned a tiny bit of interest, and couldn’t access the money until November.

We ask forgiveness from our God who saves us.

Poor widows play leading roles in the vivid stories told in 2 Kings and the gospel, but the star of the show is faith.

There is no higher calling, no loftier dream, and no greater goal than to live, breathe, and be poured out for Jesus Christ.