Why "Alabaster Heart?"

Welcome,

In the "Our Story" section, I shared how Alabaster Heart started a challenging season in my life and how Kintsugi art relates to it. You can read more about the beginning of this ministry here. Now, I would like to take a moment and share the meaning behind the ministries name, "Alabaster Heart."

God started impressing different thoughts and ideas throughout my healing journey on my heart. Then, as time passed, a vision began developing of ways to help others, encourage others to grow deeper in their walks with Jesus, and use my God-given gifts to produce resources and products that would uplift and point others to Christ.

One afternoon as I was reading the Bible, seeking God for a name for the ministry, I found myself in Luke 7:36-50. As I read this passage, I felt the Spirit drawing me to the unnamed woman, and I soon realized that she is someone we all can identify with in so many ways. It is a story of brokenness, faith, deliverance, restoration, forgiveness, love, and healing. These verses in Luke are a beautiful illustration of a (sinful) woman's faith and heart of worship!

Once this woman heard where Jesus was, was nothing that was going to keep her from getting to him. She was full of courage and faith, pushing beyond any fears she may have had, desperately wanting to be with Jesus, and having no care about what those around her thought. She entered the Pharisees' home uninvited and humbly went to Jesus' feet. In verses 37-38, it says,

"A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them."

With the breaking of her alabaster jar, she came face to face with her hurt and brokenness and surrendered them to Jesus at His feet. She offered everything she had with a heart of worship—a simple act of devotion. This woman honored Jesus by breaking her alabaster jar, her most valuable possession. It was the best she had to offer, and she willingly poured it out as an act of worship.

One of the essential things to know about an alabaster jar is that it cannot be used without breaking the neck of the bottle to open it. This was so that it was sealed tight to keep the perfume fresh and pure. Once broken, it would immediately release the fragrance into the air and allow the woman to use the scent. The aroma would need to be used at once because there was no way to close it and keep it from going bad.

I believe these verses in Luke bring hope to humanity, teach us the heart of worship, and show us that the beauty in our brokenness is Jesus at its center. This woman is filled with humility, gratitude, and unrestrained love. She sacrificed and poured her costly oil out of her broken alabaster jar as a great act of love and worship. She offers her everything, pours out all she has and worships Jesus.

Yet, Jesus did not condemn her nor hold her circumstance against her as society would have. Instead, Jesus responded to this woman and covered her with love, grace, mercy, and compassion. He honors her, values her, sees her heart, and does NOT dismiss her.

He met her where she was at.

She believed in His power.

He healed her and

He restored her.

He pours into her His gift of forgiveness and love saying first, "Your sins are forgiven," and then, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

This story shows us that it isn't about our surroundings or trying to impress others but where our hearts and focus are. Are we willing to be broken, pouring out to God all that we can give Him, surrendering it, and trusting that He knows what is on the other side? As we pour our broken hearts out at the feet of Jesus and allow Him into our brokenness, He will pour back into our hearts filling us with His Holy Spirit, the Living Water, bringing new fresh wind and making us whole again.

Life can break us and leave us feeling damaged, but when we invite Jesus in, He does not toss us aside, nor does He see us as damaged goods and abandon us. True healing within our brokenness comes through Jesus. He truly is the Healer of our souls. He is the ONLY One who can set us free from what is gripping us and holding us back. Our hardships may not entirely disappear when we turn to Jesus, and our healing may or may not come in a physical form here on Earth. It is not promised.

But what Jesus does do for us, as we seek and lean into Him, is bring healing to our hearts and minds restoring us into something more precious and beautiful. Like the art of Kintsugi, God repairs the brokenness in our lives, and the transformation and healing can lead to something more beautiful than it ever was before. You may feel broken, sweet friend, but I encourage you to press into Jesus. In His timing, He can make you whole again!

Let's pour out our love on Him like beautiful fragrant perfume as we see in Luke, with sincere and pure devotion- a heart of worship.

Let's give Him our all, laying our brokenness at His feet. Just as this woman pursued Jesus with unbridled faith and no care for others, I encourage you not to let anyone look down on you for your devotion to Jesus. Don't hold back your worship for the King of kings. As we go on this journey together and continue to draw closer to Jesus, let's offer to pour out our love on Him like the beautiful fragrant perfume, pour out of our "alabaster jar," with gratefulness and pure devotion-a heart of worship. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, we cannot help but offer our songs of praise and sacrifices to the One who is worthy of it all. He is more beautiful than any jar, more precious than our most valuable "perfume," or any offering we could ever give.

I encourage you, don't hold back your worship and devotion for Jesus, friend, no matter what others think. I encourage you to run to Jesus with unbridled faith and lay your brokenness at His feet. As you do, He will pick your pieces up and mend your "cracks." He is waiting with His arms wide open, full of grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, deliverance, restoration, and healing.

Let's give Him our highest and best – our all, for He alone is worthy of it all!

There is so much I could share on this, but for times sake, I will save for another time.

May you encouraged knowing that you are not alone, thanks for being here!

In His love,

Jennifer Smith

You can learn more about our tagline, "beauty in the brokenness," here.

You can learn more about Alabaster Heart Ministries here.