Alabaster Box

A special shout out to my sisters in the gospel at the "As Sistas in Zion" and their blog posting "A Different Kind of Saint". PLEASE take a look at the article that accompanies this beautiful song and video.

A Different Kind of Saint

There isn't one of us who truly knows the price that has been paid by another to put our precious offering of oil into the Alabaster box of our faith which we present at the feet of our Savior and Redeemer.

Yet, we judge.

We condemn as if we had the right to do so.

We act as if the stench of OUR OWN sins in the nostrils of our Savior is somehow less offensive than the sins of our brothers and sisters who struggle to get through each day just like we do...

We act as if we are better, different and more precious to God than our siblings in Christ whom we claim to love.

Our traditions and our circumstances are different. But we are no less loved by Our Savior who poured out His very blood drop by drop for our sins. ALL of them. Not just the ones we care to talk about.

ALL of them.

Our secret shame. Our hidden sins. Our pride, our unjust judgment of another, our unwillingness to truly serve and love all of His Children as He does. We forget that everyone struggles to know their place in God's Kingdom.


One of my absolute favorite songs comes from the aching heart of a regular every day common old sinner seeking to know just how to make it right and become what Christ sees when He touches our lives with his cleansing blood.

"This is the Christ" ( Lyrics written by President James E. Faust)




They heard His voice, a voice so mild;


It pierced them through and made their souls to quake;


They saw Him come, a man in white,


The Savior who had suffered for their sake.






They felt the wounds in hands and side,


And each could testify; This is the Christ;






This is the Christ, the holy Son of God,


Our Savior, Lord, Redeemer of mankind.


This is the Christ, the healer of our souls


Who ransomed us with love divine.






I read His words, the words He prayed


While bearing sorrow in Gethsemane;


I feel His love, the price He paid.


How many drops of blood were spilled for me?






With saints of old in joyful cry


I too can testify; This is the Christ;






This is the Christ, the holy Son of God,


Our Savior, Lord, Redeemer of mankind.


This is the Christ, the healer of our souls


Who ransomed us with purest love divine!


I need to get over myself and start being what I have been asked, begged and pleaded with to become - that Child who can act as His hands when the Savior sees and hears the unspoken prayers from the heart of one who comes unworthily to receive His grace, love and forgiveness.

If I expect to receive of those same blessings, I need to act like they are for everyone, not just for li'l old me. And not as if the rules are different for me than for all of my fellow sinners who share this planet.

CeCe Winan's lyrics are right on the money - none of us could withstand the scrutiny if we had our lives laid bare for the vultures and jackals to pick through. Yet seeking the Master, we truly risk what we have and know to receive what He has promised to us if we will "come unto Him".

Alabaster Box (Cece Winans)

The room grew still

As she made her way to Jesus


She stumbles through the tears that made her blind


She felt such pain


Some spoke in anger


Heard folks whisper


There's no place here for her kind


Still on she came


Through the shame that flushed her face


Until at last, she knelt before his feet


And though she spoke no words


Everything she said was heard


As she poured her love for the Master


From her box of alabaster


And I've come to pour


My praise on Him


Like oil from Mary's alabaster box


Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears


And I dry them with my hair


You weren't there the night He found me


You did not feel what I felt


When he wrapped his love all around me and


You don't know the cost of the oil


In my alabaster box


I can't forget the way life used to be


I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound


And I spent my days


Poured my life without measure


Into a little treasure box


I'd thought I'd found


Until the day when Jesus came to me


And healed my soul


With the wonder of His touch


So now I'm giving back to Him


All the praise He's worthy of


I've been forgiven


And that's why


I love Him so much