Get Wasted

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as 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. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Mark 14:4-9

It feels like we’ve been busy here lately. We have been doing community outreach, participating in feeding programs and ministry opportunities for orphans and vulnerable children, three times a week. We also have weekly small groups and one-on-one meetings, daily lecture and work duties, as well as making a conscious effort to overcome cultural differences, language barriers and any other surprises that come our way as we are still striving to become a family of 15 rather than roommates or classmates. This week was also my first time to spend my afternoon off (Tuesday) down the road at Iris Ministries working one-on-one with a couple of abused children, giving them positive attention and a space to feel perfectly safe and perfectly loved. (Yes, I loved every single minute of that. Hopefully I will have some good stories to share soon!)

I always seem to find ways to fill up my schedule – even when I’m in Africa! I pack my days with people and activities that I love.

In lecture this week, we talked about passion and value. Whatever we value, we will pursue. When I think about the things I fill my life with and the thoughts I pursue, they seem, for the most part, ok. I think I make my mom proud, and I have an incredible church and community supporting me from back home. Couldn’t be too bad, right? But, in thinking and praying and pressing in harder this week, I’ve been thinking about what I’m really pursuing.

The story of the alabaster jar in Mark 14 (above) is about a woman who comes to Jesus and pours what is probably her most valuable possession onto Jesus. It was worth a year’s wages! Everyone around her yelled at her and said she was wasting the treasure that could have been used for something useful… something productive… something fruitful. The poor could have had a hot meal, for Pete’s sake!

Just like Jesus did for the critics 2,000 years ago, He gave me a reality check this week.

God said, “Kacy, YOU are my most treasured possession. Better than a year’s wages, you are worth more than anyone could measure. It’s not about what you can produce or how many good things you can fit into your day… believe it or not, it’s not even about how many vulnerable children you impact.”

He wants us to waste ourselves, all the passions He’s given us and all the time that we have in our day, on Him. To pour all of us into Him.

Waste me on you, Jesus. Pour all of me – all of this treasure or alabaster jar you created in me – onto Who You Are. To honor you, to be near to you, and to prepare to raise you up.

I was challenged with the idea in class this week that the best thing you can do for the orphans is to know the orphan in you. Then you can touch them with the touch of God.

Join me in praying that we all waste ourselves on Christ. How much more good would come out of starting there as we plan missions, ministries, giving?

Please pray with me that I am here, and as you are here with me through prayer and support, as missionaries who seek to be completely wasted for Jesus first so that His touch, His grace and His healing will impact – and end – the orphan crisis in Africa.

Jesus waste all of me on you so that...

...my touch will be Your touch.

...my joy will be Your joy.

...my story will be Your story.

 

...my love will be Your love.