Alabaster Box

This is the story of an African American woman whose education and training take her from Union, a small town in South Carolina, to (and through) twelve years at Harvard University as a director of graduate programs and as an alumna. Along the way, she marries an African medical doctor, travels to sixty-one countries, and spends a full year working with her former husbands Yoruba family as they manage their law firm, philanthropic foundation, publishing company, etc., in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And theres so much more. Go with her to the faraway country of Djibouti in East Africa as she trains twenty-one older youths (fourteen males and seven females) in self-help techniques. Dr. Helaine Daniels has enjoyed a marvelous life. Check her out.

Every church ministry is driven by something. In this lively and refreshing book, Pedro Patrick unfurls the profound beauty of unction and shows that the Bible brightens everything. Anointing is the driving force behind all successful ministries. The pages of this book discuss this subject and boldly explain why the Christian world is not enjoying the anointing. Break the Alabaster Box stresses the missing nectar of life--the Holy Spirit--in our personal lives. The author teaches of unction with all force and clarity. Pedro Patrick offers to the hearts of readers an explanation of what unction is all about. The unction that he receives provides the framework for the action of this book. He points out that anointing is a part of our Christian spiritual character; without it, no one can be equipped to take action against demons in the same way that Jesus himself did. Deliverance from evil spirits is the one evidence that shows the world that the kingdom of God has come, and anointing seals that evidence.

The Alabaster Box is not a devotional book containing a series of entries designed to inspire the Christian reader with an uplift ing story or thought for the day. It is, as the subtitle suggests, a years worth of worship activities; the implementation of which will require some intensive mental exercise. It is not the book for those wanting a feel-good read. Nor is it for those unwilling or not yet ready to accept a challenge to their typical weekly worship experience. The Alabaster Box is a guidebook for the followers of Christ who long to take their worship of Him to a deeper place than they have ever gone. The objective is that at the end of the years adventures, the reader emerges forever changed. The aroma of the perfume could not be recaptured and returned to the alabaster box broken by the devotee of Jesus day once it had been released. In the same way, no disciple who worships Him today in an extraordinary manner should ever be content to offer anything less thereafter. Nor should he or she be able to view certain aspects of the Christian experience in a simplistic manner after having viewed them through the broken pieces of the alabaster box. All of the followers of Christ need help with their worship and daily walk with Him. Marla Cross provided a tool with this worship guide for each week of the year to assist us with this challenge. She is a creative person and writer who is using these God-given gifts for His glory. Dr. Paul Dixon Chancellor, Cedarville University

GLAM

As you read through these pages, and hear my heart, dont be surprised if you see yourself Tisha Leija Alabaster Box is a collection of poetry inspired by the events of life. The things that are written in these pages, I believe everybody experiences in one way or another. The situations may not be exactly the samebut no matter who we are, where we live, or what we dowe feel the same things. We have been happy, we have been sad. We have laughed and cried. We have fallen in loveand sometimes out of it. We have made mistakes, we have accomplished goals. We have been blessed to experience life In the Bible, Mary anointed Jesus with the contents of her alabaster box. It was the very best that she had to offer. Out of love, honor, respect, and complete gratitude she poured it on Jesus. Similar to Mary, I take that which is special to me, and for the same reasonsI give it to God to be used in whatever way He sees fit.

Who are you? Where did you come from? How did you get to where you are today? What's your story? Everybody has a story, whether one is a policeman, a CEO, a bagger in a grocery store, or a murderer, he/she has a story. However, the stories of the back stabbings, the cheating, the sacrifices, the cruelties, the lies, the hard work and the good deeds that result in the person one becomes are more than likely never revealed to his/her closest ally. The patients in Cassom's Asylum for the Criminally Insane have stories too. They are criminals. They are insane. What's their story?

My Alabaster Box . . . Poetry, Prose, and Prayer is the compilation of life experiences written in verse and expounded upon through scripture, enlightened by Holy Spirit wisdom, and sealed with heartfelt prayers. Filtering life through the Christian worldview is demonstrated in the pages of My Alabaster Box. Both new believers, mature followers of Christ, and pre-Christians will find words of encouragement and direction. The author takes identifiable daily struggles and crafts a verse that expresses the emotion of the struggle, the joy of the understanding, or the pain of the loss in rhythm and rhyme that resonates with the soul. A gift from the Lord, the ability to connect heartfelt realities with pen and ink brings awareness to the reader that there is a higher power guiding our lives and that loves us all unconditionally. My Alabaster Box . . . was named from the account of the woman in the Bible who anointed the feet of Jesus with her own precious perfume. Before the sweet aroma was released throughout the house, however, she had to break the alabaster box that contained her life's savings. She held nothing back, even though the breaking of the bottle of oil made her vulnerable to people's reproach. Her response has taught us that in the presence of divinity passion preempts propriety. It is in the same vein of the broken vial that the author offers her own life experiences in verse as an oil of anointing poured out. May the worshipful words, not withheld, bring a wellspring of well-being to all who would venture within. Amen.