\n
I started this book with excitement. \u00a0As 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. \u00a0But one thing I do not get to do is focus on myself and my \u2018singleness\u2019. \u00a0Our church is mainly composed of families, so in planning events singles are rarely taken into consideration. \u00a0So I sat down with eagerness to focus on me a little bit. \u00a0Then it hit me, the emotion. \u00a0I was taken aback when I saw my feelings in print. \u00a0So yes, I struggled a bit, but the message in our chapter this week is just amazing ladies. \u00a0Have you been thinking about your alabaster box?<\/p>\n
Did you all know the meaning of the alabaster box? \u00a0I 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. \u00a0Throughout the whole chapter I just kept wondering, \u201cCould I, would I have done what Ruth did?\u201d \u00a0Recklessly abandoned. \u00a0Am I? \u00a0Are you?<\/p>\n
We face a lot of challenges as a single woman in our society. \u00a0The pressure to be pretty, to be thin, to be sexual and through all this we are trying to draw closer to Jesus. \u00a0As you were reading did you think of each little section as I did? \u00a0Like a little checklist to take my \u201creckless abandonment\u201d temperature? \u00a0I like to think that I am close to Jesus. \u00a0I have used this time of my life to work on my spiritual growth. \u00a0I lead Women\u2019s 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. \u00a0I run bible studies and retreats, I talk to trusted Christians to help me in my walk, I thought I was doing just fine. \u00a0Sure, I\u2019m close to Jesus! \u00a0Then the \u201cchecklist\u201d:<\/p>\n
~ Am I willing to let friends go if they are standing in the way of my growth?
\n~ Am I willing to switch churches or jobs if that is what God wants me to do?
\n~ Am I spending enough time WITH Jesus instead of just trying to serve Him?
\n~ Am I willing to let go of society\u2019s norms and take the chance of being singled out for being \u201cdifferent\u201d?<\/p>\n
I may be clutching my alabaster box a little more tightly than I thought I was. \u00a0Letting a few drops out here and there, maybe even a little stream if I am feeling really good (or really bad) that day. \u00a0But have I smashed my alabaster box at Jesus\u2019 feet? \u00a0I can\u2019t say I have. \u00a0I still struggle with the \u201cmissing puzzle piece\u201d as Jackie and Debby call it. \u00a0Knowing that the only way I will be complete is through Jesus. \u00a0When I am lonely I wonder how that can be enough. \u00a0Even as I just typed that out and read it as it went across my computer screen, I realize how dishonoring that is. \u00a0How can Jesus be enough? \u00a0Really Michelle? \u00a0Did you just say that \u201cout loud\u201d for everyone to see? \u00a0So 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. \u00a0Are you with me?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong> Your Assignment<\/strong> For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. \u00a0He is the head over every power and authority (Col 2:9 \u2013 10)<\/p>\n ________________________<\/p>\n If you would like to take part in our Online Bible Study Facebook Discussion Group, please click on the Sign-Up Here button located at the top of our website, in the Menu Bar. \u00a0Once we receive your request, we will add you to our group! \u00a0\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Blessings,<\/strong><\/p>\n Michelle Graziano<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I started this book with excitement. \u00a0As 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. \u00a0But one thing I do not get to do is focus on myself and my \u2018singleness\u2019. \u00a0Our church is mainly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[20],"tags":[85,144,147,239,425,436,554,593,689,9297],"class_list":["post-1924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-singles","tag-alabaster-box","tag-bible","tag-bible-study","tag-colossians-29-10","tag-girlfriends-coffee-hour","tag-god","tag-jesus","tag-lady-in-waiting","tag-ministry","tag-singles","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p39pHp-v2","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1924"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8130,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1924\/revisions\/8130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nFather God, we ask today for Your forgiveness. \u00a0We are sorry for not being fully and recklessly abandoned to You. \u00a0Please help draw us closer to You. \u00a0We love You Lord and we want to trust in the truth that You are all we need. \u00a0We will never be complete without You. \u00a0No matter who comes into our lives, they will not be able to fill the void that only You can fill. \u00a0Renew our minds and hearts as we seek to live fully in Your love. \u00a0In Your Holy Name we pray. \u00a0Amen.<\/p>\n
\nPlease leave a comment below sharing whether or not you have broken your Alabaster Box at the feet of Jesus. \u00a0Are you afraid to break your box? \u00a0Why? \u00a0How can we pray for you as you start this journey?<\/p>\n