3 Widow Teachers. Sunday Musings. Special Program Announcement 1000 downloads!

Special Announcement. As of June 7, 2025 helping.mom podcast now has 1000+ downloads from 15 countries & 138 diff cities. Thanks to each of you! Also, I have made decision to NOT put advertisements inside my podcasts. I am sick of how many adverts are now cluttering podcasts that I (used to) listen to. I wont do this to you. IF you hear adverts, they are not coming from me. Please dont view me negative b/c of them. I promise to come to you with 100% original, fresh, real content. I am NOT trying to market you, sell you. But, still you can help--like, follow, share our podcasts with your friends, and link us to your social media. This is best, now only, way I can GROW the SHOW!

3 forgotten widows in Bible teach us great truths. 

Catch: did you know Jesus almost got killed because of a little old widow woman! Luke 4:25 tells story of his first sermon in his hometown, and what quickly went wrong. It's a hilarious tale, and gives credence to his claim, "A prophet is not without honor--except in his own house, family and hometown." 

The story he told was of a Gentile widow w/ dying son in decadent land of Phoenicians. In his first public speech Jesus uses this woman as proof text that God sent a great Jewish leader Elijah outside Israel to feed and care for and save this Gentile Widow, whose name is never told us. 

She lived in famous land Phoenicia between 2 pagan awful cities—Tyre & Sidon in modern day Lebanon. We don’t like it when God blesses our enemies (see Jonah angry at repentance of Ninevah)!  Question: was her raised son Jonah? 

God provides for her, in his mercy, when she acts on her faith. And what a step she did take-giving food out of mouth of her dearest possession, her ailing son, who would die this very night. 

Widow & 2 Mites. Luke 21:2; Marrk 12:42. But what do you do when your act of faith does NOT result in God blessing you now, here? Do you still believe? Do you still act upon the faith you possess? This unnamed widow says yes. Jesus sees you, knows you. He w bless you, even if not now. You will never be a poor widow again, casting in the last two mites you own. God do not give her much oppty in this world, so that she would be boundless in next. Penury. She indicts both society & religion—neither of which sees her. Or regards as important anything she does. A nameless poor woman. Her life is metaphor for Jesus' life. 

Mite is called a lepton, is smallest coin. 1/64 of denarius. A denarius was one day of pay for average worker like a soldier. Today she had about $2 in today's terms. When you act on your faith, and give what you have, you give much. No matter how much is that much. Lesson: intention, shown by effort, done in faith. Faith acted on. Some suggest she died this night, in parallel to Jesus-he sees her quiet humble sacrifice in Temple as his own on the Mount. 

Anna, our 3rd widown, the prophetess in Temple greeting Jesus (Lk 2). Married 7 yrs (husband not named); a widow for 84yrs old (105yr old?). Point—make every occasion a great occasion, for you never know when someone may be taking your measure for a larger place. And God is always taking your measure. God will use you for His plan. Anna’s dad Phanual means “Face of God.” From tribe of Ashur known for happiness & prosperity. Asher on the Med Sea; the area of Galilee where is Nazareth, Jesus' hometown. Night & Day In Temple. Prayer & Fasting. Sharing gospel w all seekers. 

Anna 1 of 5 prophetesses mentioned in NT. Philip in Acts 21:9 had 4 daughters who did prophesy. This would make Anna one of the last prophetess in Old Testament. For 84 yrs she prepared people for coming of Messiah, which she got to hold this very day!!! She was an evangelist like John Baptist, who got to baptize Jesus as she got to circumcise, bless Him. 

Note to grandma’s: proba