Holy and Anointed One

I have been having a hard time again today. I want to be at home with my family, but I know that the Lord has me here for a reason. I found it hard today to have my mind completely where I was and not to wander off to other things. I noticed that I was very distant from everyone and I'm sure they could tell as well that something wasn't the same, I that was mentally removed from where I was. Then I met with Hannah, one of the other gap year students who is from Cardiff. We were planning the worship we are leading on Thursday and speaking with her really encouraged me. She is full of the Lord and it is evident. She really just opened up her heart to me and was talking about bringing an offering before the Lord. It really spoke to me and made me begin to think, "What am I holding on to that the Lord is asking me to give to Him and allow Him control over"? "What do I need to bring to the Lord and offer to Him as an offering?" We were reading through Mark 14:3-9 "While 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. Buy 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." This woman had nothing but this perfume and she gave it all to the Lord. Who of us, including me, would break our finest perfume to pour over someone? How many of us would give one of our most prized possessions up? If we really look at this though this woman was giving all she had to the Lord without asking or expecting anything in return. She was willing to lay it all out so that she might honor the Lord, she might bless him in some way. She didn't care what the others were saying or that they mocked her, she humbly did what she could for Jesus. Jesus blessed her for what she had done, say that this story would be told forever. I would just challenge you today to bring what you have before the Lord and truly give it to Him. Don't try to hold on to anything or try to keep some control over a small portion, but give it ALL to the Lord and allow Him to do His will in your life, without trying to be in control. Trust in the Lord and allow Him to show His power and grace in your life, so that you might reflect the beauty of Christ to others.