Alabaster Jars

Poured Out For Him

Sundays Around The Table Series

I am sharing a little about what the Lord taught me this week and a special family recipe from my mother-in-love, Grandmother’s Rice Pudding. Be sure to read all the way through because you don’t want to miss the funny story related to this recipe!

As I was getting ready the other morning, I was listening to some of my favorite worship songs. One of the songs that came on was a long-time favorite of mine that I had not heard in a while, Alabaster Box by CeCe Winans. If you have not heard the song, you really should download it from iTunes right now!

The Gift

The Alabaster Box is about Mary’s lavish gift of perfume that she poured out in worship, adoration, and thankfulness for her Savior, Jesus. The jar was probably valued at about a year’s worth of wages. There is so much symbolism in this simple act of worship. Brokenness, redemption, worship, salvation, healing, love, sacrifice, selfless service. Through this beautiful story we can learn how to give our best and be poured out for Him as we serve our families and use our homes for His glory.

The Blessing

Those who witnessed this selfless act did not understand the waste of such a precious jar of perfume. Their vision was limited. But Jesus….Jesus saw into Mary’s heart. He saw the measure of her love for Him. And that is all that mattered. 

She wasn’t doing it for anyone’s approval or applause. She had experienced the blessing of the love and grace of Jesus and her response was to give the best she had to Him.

Alabaster Boxes

What are some alabaster boxes in your life? You know, things that hold significance in your life. Things that are special to you. Our families, children, homes are just a few of the things that can be in our alabaster boxes. Alabaster boxes can be filled with things we treasure and value. These things can be good things, even gifts from God. But, they cannot be replacements for Him. These gifts are intended to be avenues and opportunities to pour out our praise on Him.

We can hold tight to our families, our time, our resources, selfishly keeping them only for ourselves or in fear of losing them. Or, we can pour them out in lavish worship to Him. 

How can we pour out our praise for Him through our families and our homes?

• Spending time with Him in His word– We can’t pour anything out if we are empty!
• Taking care of our families with joy. Washing dishes, cooking dinner, changing diapers, loving our husband/wife can be an act of praise 
• Sharing our home with others– being a good neighbor, taking a meal to a sick friend, setting aside time to spend time with others.
• Being quick to forgive- don’t let the sun go down on your anger. 
• Can you add to this list? I bet you can think of ways that your “alabaster box” can be emptied for Him.

Sundays Around The Table Recipe

Today’s recipe comes with a funny story. When I was first married, I was so excited about cooking. I was definitely an amateur cook, but I really wanted to impress my husband with some great cooking and possibly even some of his mother’s recipes. I found a recipe, loaded up and headed off to the grocery store to purchase the ingredients. As I went down the list of ingredients, I came to one that I was not familiar with. I searched that store high and low not wanting to ask where to find it. I just had a feeling that I should know where it was. When all hope was lost, I FINALLY mustered up enough courage to ask a young(younger than my 21 year old self) stocker where I would find OLEO. I just knew he was going to say, ” I am not sure. I will have to look up this rare ingredient and see if we carry it.” Oh no…. He looked at me in hysterical disbelief and said,”It’s in dairy. It’s BUTTER.” Needless to say, I found a new grocery store!

So I share this delicious recipe from my mother-in-love that my children have grown up loving. It will bring back all of the wonderful, nostalgic memories as the vanilla and cinnamon fill your kitchen. And then you will laugh as you add that OLEO to your pudding!