One of Those Days

It was just one of those days at church today. I stayed up late and got up early to finish up materials for a new class that was scheduled for today. Nobody came. It was about sharing the Gospel. Then I taught an introductory class on the Bible...and I don't know why, but I was just beating myself up the whole time. Telling myself I was stinking and that people were bored and wanting to leave.

I had also scheduled a lunch meeting with my First Impressions Team Leaders. On the car ride over, I asked God to give me something to encourage them with, because, really really, "I got nothing."

He reminded me of the story of the Alabaster Jar.

Mark 14:3-8a

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.

"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me." The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could."

And, this doesn't apply perfectly, but I think Jesus was just telling me, "Hey. It's not wasted. This is a beautiful thing, this pouring out of yourself, that you've done to me." I needed to be reminded who I was working for. More than working, who I was worshiping. I needed to hear him say to the harsh rebuking in my own head, "she did what she could."