I started this book with excitement. As someone who runs the book club at her church as well as bible studies, I enjoy reading, and I get to read a lot of quality Christian books. But one thing I do not get to do is focus on myself and my ‘singleness’. Our church is mainly composed of families, so in planning events singles are rarely taken into consideration. So I sat down with eagerness to focus on me a little bit. Then it hit me, the emotion. I was taken aback when I saw my feelings in print. So yes, I struggled a bit, but the message in our chapter this week is just amazing ladies. Have you been thinking about your alabaster box?
Did you all know the meaning of the alabaster box? I had heard of it of course, but I did not know how significant it was, and how relatable it was to me as a single woman. Throughout the whole chapter I just kept wondering, “Could I, would I have done what Ruth did?” Recklessly abandoned. Am I? Are you?
We face a lot of challenges as a single woman in our society. The pressure to be pretty, to be thin, to be sexual and through all this we are trying to draw closer to Jesus. As you were reading did you think of each little section as I did? Like a little checklist to take my “reckless abandonment” temperature? I like to think that I am close to Jesus. I have used this time of my life to work on my spiritual growth. I lead Women’s Ministry at my church, I am a Youth Leader, I am the administrator for our youth group as well as our Worship Team, and I sing on the worship team. I run bible studies and retreats, I talk to trusted Christians to help me in my walk, I thought I was doing just fine. Sure, I’m close to Jesus! Then the “checklist”:
~ Am I willing to let friends go if they are standing in the way of my growth?
~ Am I willing to switch churches or jobs if that is what God wants me to do?
~ Am I spending enough time WITH Jesus instead of just trying to serve Him?
~ Am I willing to let go of society’s norms and take the chance of being singled out for being “different”?
I may be clutching my alabaster box a little more tightly than I thought I was. Letting a few drops out here and there, maybe even a little stream if I am feeling really good (or really bad) that day. But have I smashed my alabaster box at Jesus’ feet? I can’t say I have. I still struggle with the “missing puzzle piece” as Jackie and Debby call it. Knowing that the only way I will be complete is through Jesus. When I am lonely I wonder how that can be enough. Even as I just typed that out and read it as it went across my computer screen, I realize how dishonoring that is. How can Jesus be enough? Really Michelle? Did you just say that “out loud” for everyone to see? So yes, through the study of this book, I will be working on fully and completely smashing that alabaster box at the feet of Jesus as I ask His forgiveness. Are you with me?
Let’s Pray
Father God, we ask today for Your forgiveness. We are sorry for not being fully and recklessly abandoned to You. Please help draw us closer to You. We love You Lord and we want to trust in the truth that You are all we need. We will never be complete without You. No matter who comes into our lives, they will not be able to fill the void that only You can fill. Renew our minds and hearts as we seek to live fully in Your love. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.
Your Assignment
Please leave a comment below sharing whether or not you have broken your Alabaster Box at the feet of Jesus. Are you afraid to break your box? Why? How can we pray for you as you start this journey?
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority (Col 2:9 – 10)
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Blessings,
Michelle Graziano
About Michelle Graziano
Great post Michelle.
Thank you Jackie!
Beautiful post today, Michelle!
Thanks Christi 🙂
This was great, Michelle! Thank you for your honesty 🙂
Thank you Anna!
This is going to be a great study. Having been involved in Celebrate Recovery and leading Women's groups for the past 2 years, I know I smashed my alabaster box as I came face down at Jesus' feet. But I sometimes pick up those smashed shards thhat I think maybe I can take care of. Like I know more than Him, right? I am always willing to lay it back down, but want to continue to grow so I don't reach down to pick any up. I want others to see so much of Him in my life, I lose myself – total selflessness and abandon.
Laurie, I LOVE this!!!! Thank you for sharing!
What a wonderful way to say it Laurie…and don't we usually get "cut" when we try to pick those sharp shards back up? I continually wonder why it is so hard to just let go!
Laurie, I too am involved in Celebrate Recovery – love my CR family and love to reach out to others in CR. Many in recovery have smashed their alabaster box coming down at Jesus' feet and are growing for sure! It's always hard and I don't think there isn't a single one of us that may want to on some days pull our shards up……but praise God that we have the strength and the courage to leave them behind. Thankful for your post – the awesome reminder.
Michelle, this brought me to tears. Is it possible to break your alabaster box but then try to pick up the pieces and put it back together? If so, I think that is what I have done, or do. I do not want to do that. I want to trust God completely, I want to be outside of my comfort zone and in HIS. I want to leave my box at his feet and get to a point of no return—to that box.
That is a great point Diane. I feel like I hold my box so tightly because I feel I have shattered it at the wrong feet in the past, and went through such pain to put it back together, that I don't want to do that again. I am working on that trust too. Hang in there! We can do this through Him and with each other. xo
Diane – we all are HUMAN – we are made of flesh…part of being made of flesh means we are NOT PERFECT. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is always a work in progress – we must just continue to pray and work at having that incredible unending faith we dream of. So it's okay that you may have picked up a few pieces and sometimes may try to reclaim your box – you KNOW who your Father is. You know who your Savior is – just keep praying for deliverance from that alabaster box and what it stands for – fight the fight. It truly is a never-ending fight – we have to keep on keeping on to live the life our God expects us to live. He never said it would be easy – but He reminds us He is here. love your heart girlfriend!
I can say I have not recklessly abandoned my alabaster box at Jesus' feet. I want to and know I should, but for some reason, there is a part of me that doesn't trust Jesus. I am so tired of being alone and I fear that He will leave me being single. Yes, Jesus can be our spiritual husband, but he also said it was not good for man to be alone and therefore created a helpmeet. We as humans need someone tangible. Someone that can literally hold us, or at least I do. I often times think this is a punishment for divorcing my husband back in 93.
Oh sister, I understand that fear and pain so much. I am hoping through this book and this study that we can be set free from these thoughts and learn to put our faith in the only one that deserves it <3
Awesome blog Michele. I wish someone would have told me about when I was younger.
Thank you Merol! xo
WOW, I felt your heart my friend!!!! This was an awesome post and I'm so proud of you for stepping out and sharing your heart. It was from the heart and it was captivating!!!! Awesome, Awesome, Awesome – continue sharing your heart and how you can relate your life to the wonderful book you guys are reading and you won't go wrong with bringing others to the blog and closer to Jesus Christ. As I have always told you, you rock my friend!! I love you! Hugs!
Thank you SO much Kelley…love you too, thank you for helping to bring me to this point. Love you too xo
Great job, Michelle! Even as a married woman I continue to find little alabaster vials that I didn't even realize I had set aside. It's a continual process and I'm believing that someday I will have broken each and every one of them at His feet. But only through His help will I be able to.
Thank you Tracy. I think we can only go through this process, as long or short as it is, with His help. It helps to know that even married women struggle with these issues!
Thanks for this post Michelle! Im so glad to see that Im not the only one struggling with this.
This study is such a blessing! God bless you!
Right back atcha sister! xoxo