Good morning, today is Thanksgiving day and I've been meditating for many days now on a song by CeCe Winans called, Alabaster Box.

​This story about Mary's alabaster box is best expressed in the book of Luke 7:37-50. Read it here (click) 

I really enjoy music and since becoming a Believer many years ago have only focused on music that edifies Christ or speaks about the Christian Life; worship songs, excetera. But, I'm not an expert in Christian music or any music at all, however, it does something to me and I believe, lately, that it has been something that has been a communication, quite honestly, from the Lord.

What do I mean by that? I mean that my life, thankfully, has become a devotional life. I don't mean that I'm any better than anybody else or that I'm out of the ordinary or strange or special. I don't mean that at all. What I mean is, that as I conduct my devotional times each day, through reading the word of God, prayer, sometimes fasting, and devoting myself to the times of fellowship with many other fellow Believers, that my attraction to certain songs has been part of the message the Lord is communicating to me. Again, I don't say that I'm special. I just believe that, possibly, the Lord uses music and specific songs in our lives, as we devote our Lives to Christ, that aid in communicating the message that the Lord wants to give to us.

So here on Thanksgiving day 2018, for the past few weeks, the song Alabaster Box has been increasingly attractive and, quite honestly, ministering to me to a degree. I couldn't quite understand why until this morning.

Again, it's Thanksgiving and the question during Thanksgiving for many folks is, "What does Thanksgiving mean? and, "What am I thankful for?"

Alabaster box is a story of Thanksgiving. This song is sung by CeCe Winans  and was written by a woman by the name of Janice Sjostran. The lyrics below express the sincere thanks expressed to God for His grace & mercy "poured" on the Believer when they had a salvation moment thru an encounter with Jesus Christ.

This song is not about oil or tears it's about appreciation and thanks to our Father for the redeeming work in my life and yours through Christ.

I spent years of my life pouring selfish and sinful "oil" into the box that "I found". He allowed me to pour these worthless things on Him so that I could "feel what I felt when He put His loving arms around me."

"You don't know the cost of the oil." "You don't know the cost of my praise".

We don't fully comprehend the cost of His sacrifice for you and me to redeem us from a life far from Him.

This is the cost of my praise.

Thank You, Father. Thank You, Jesus.

This is why the Lord has placed this song in my soul .... because it's Thanksgiving, today and everyday.

//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 loving arms around me...

And you don't know the cost
Of the oil in my Alabaster box

"You don't know the cost of my praise.."

.... 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 thought I 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//

Hey all;
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Wally Armstrong and I were having an indepth discussion about the things that God is doing in our lives and we both realized that we needed to do two things; trust the Lord more and communicate a bit better. In that regard, here's an update on the activities of GFtH (me, basically, lol)

1. The primary focus is "growing in the knowledge of God". 2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
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2. Prayer. The Lord revealed to me about 5 or 6 months ago that all of the things that the Lord was bringing into my mind relative to projects within the platform of ministry thru the game of golf must be precipitated by prayer. Also, He revealed that those that have a similar heart for that project should be invited into that prayer subject on a regular basis. The basis for that comes from what we know about Jesus and His withdrawing in the mornings to a solitary place to pray. Each of the projects/activities identified below are precipitated by prayer.
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3. Unity. I have been blessed to have this theme in common with Josh Nelson. He and I have been regularly joining together on the phone to pray for unity of Believers and ministries in the game of golf. There are sooo many scriptures associated with unity of Believers. The one I prefer the most is John 17:20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one-- 23 I in them and you in me--
***so that they may be brought to complete unity.***
Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23
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4. Projects. The Lord has allowed GFtH to be involved in several projects ...

  a. FCA Gameday & Tales From the Tour for coaches discipleship in January of 2019. This is in process and looks very encouraging and valuable.

  b. Coordination with John Wilkinson and Athletes in Action for the establishment of a golf academy for Christ in Xenia, OH.

  c. A local (Murfreesboro, TN) "Golfing to Greatness" program through our church and, potentially, the Tennessee Golf Foundation. This program is a beginners to high school program similar to the First Tee that will teach golf, but, teach life in Christ as well.

  d. Several projects through Wally Armstrong his ministry and business. Wally already has an incredible outreach within the world of golf and has been encouraging, inventing, promoting and coordinating ministerial projects in the world of golf for nearly 50 years. I am thankful to 'be in the loop" on a few of his many projects honoring the Lord Jesus Christ.

  e. A discipleship training/coaching program for golfers. This is a new effort, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and prompted by Kingdom Builders Academy. Within two months this online discipleship program will be released and offered to all who have a passion for golf and a love for Jesus Christ as well as the desire to be a disciple maker.

  f. Golf From the Heart itself. This online effort is designed to have a tool available for those who have a passion for golf and a love for Jesus Christ or for those who are searching for Him.  You can click here for a better focus on the vision and mission for GFtH, but, this is a daily effort to draw golfers into the community of their choice through the Website's Search Engine Optimized structure and a constant Social Media outreach to draw in golfers, engage with them, advise them and, possibly, refer them to one of the many ministries using golf as a platform for giving the Gospel and discipling Believers. Our communities consist of the following;

  i Male Golfers Between 22 - 50
  ii PGA of America Professionals
  iii Golf Professional or Coach
  iv FCA Golf Camper or Alumni/Student
  v Golfer Between the Ages of 12 - 18
  vi Parent of a Golfer between the ages of 12 -18
  vii Web.com Tour
  viii Add Your Community....

Thanks for reading....
Questions?  Comments?