1 (Break Your) Alabaster Box

"You have something I want," says the Lord. "I am Jesus, your King!"
"It's more precious than God to you, now. Let go that sensual thing!"

Break your alabaster box! Make a sacrifice of something dear!
Take your offering to the Father's throne;
Pour it out - pour it out, for the love of Jesus Christ!

"Your appetites and your personal rights … don't draw you closer to Me;
"Just let Me come into your deep hideaway - and see how close we can be!"

"Romance with Me will be far sweeter than life. Hold nothing back from My touch!
"Lay down your idols at the foot of My throne. Because I love you so much!"

"Complete surrender is all I require. Your flesh is counted but loss;
"Abundant life can only come out of death. Follow Me and take up your Cross!

"When Mary's perfume ran down over My head, she held up her open hand;
"You can not ever, ever give more than I! Test Me and see if you can!

2 (We Were) Sometimes Darkness (Eph. 5:8)

Darkness was over the face of the deep, blacker than death in the night;
The Spirit of God brooded over the seas; God's first Words, "Let there be light!"
Come, come, into the Light! Let Him pervade you and brighten your sight!
For we were sometimes darkness, but now we are light in the Lord.

Sin rested heavy on humankind's breast, bound by the terror of death;
Then, Jesus the Savior came into the world - Who destroys Satan's life with His breath!
Walk, walk, walk in the Light - see it light up your path as you run to the fight!
For we were sometimes darkness, but now we are light in the Lord.

Men have loved darkness instead of the light, fearing their deeds would be known;
The Light of the Father has flooded the world; in the face of Christ Jesus, it's shown!
Come, open your heart to the Light! Let Jesus illumine whatever He might!
For we were sometimes darkness, but now we are light in the Lord!

3 All About Jesus

When dawn awakes each sleeping longitude; and sparks fly, and eagles cry;
As cells by trillions rhythmically divide; as seas roll, and lovers stroll;
Jesus, it's all about You. Jesus, it's all about You.

If objects act as particles or waves; when hearts break, and hands begin to shake;
When mothers dream, and children misbehave; and orbs spin, and plagues win;
Jesus…, it's all about You. Jesus…, it's all about You.

When sorrow turns contentment wrongside-out; when girls dance, but boys they'd rather shout;
When voices rise, in anguish or in praise; when fortunes crash, and colors clash;
Jesus…, it's all about You. Jesus…, it's all about You.

If nations go to war, or just decay; When minds inquire, and stars expire;
As words by trillions foolishly pour out; when space bends, and life ends;
Jesus…, it's all about You. Jesus…, it's all about You.

Jesus…, there is nothing … that is not … all about You

For the love of the world, from His glory … triune light,
Pleasing Father, stepping down to His own; holy bravery, sacred service of Son …
Will of Father, Lord of All; whole submission "Yes" of Christ;
God Almighty, stooping low to clean; God of Glory, touching sores to heal …
And His Name is exalted above every name, and it echoes with magnificent power!
And the One who said "Yes" is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

Washing feet, touching eyes; scold my demons, still my storms;
Doing nothing of self - only Father's will; precious ransom, spotless Man and God!
And the Blood of the Son stains the wood of His Cross, and His Flesh becomes our critical food;
And the sacrificed Lamb is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

Precious Gospel, unique Truth for all creatures that take breath -
Saving power of God to whomsoever believes; washing water for souls: gist of history.
And one Name is exalted above every name, and it thunders with munificent grace;
And the name of Our Lord is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

5 With What to Compare Thee?

Oh, Lord, with what to compare Thee? With no being, no power - none else;
So immense that you fill up the Universe - small enough to inhabit my cells.
And a bit of Yourself You've injected in me; and I thank you, I thank you, I thank you,
Of justice and art and rationality - and I love You, I love You, I love You!

No one has seen You and lived, oh Lord, in that unapproachable light;
You uphold all things by the Word of Your pow'r, still You whisper my name in the night!
And the spark of Your life You've ignited in me, and I thank you, I thank you, I thank you:
Compassion, and humor and sanity - and I love You, I love You, I love You!

Fashioned I am by the hand of God - not evolved from the apes or the slime;
My body and soul, mere reflections of You - essences captured in time;
And Your Spirit, oh God, has been breathed in my soul, and I thank you, I thank you, I thank you!
And Your grace, oh, God, is making me whole, and I love You, I love You, I love You!

6 We Have Tasted the Gift

What shall we say of the Lord, of Him Who made heaven and earth?
How to give thanks to the Father, who gives us new birth?

There is none good but the Lord. All things work for good in His will.
The stream of His goodness runs deep, though the surface be still.
His creation is good and His purposes pure;
As we strive for the good, we shall render His calling more sure!
We have savored the heavenly gift … been bathed in the heavenly light;
We have shared in the Spirit and tasted the goodness of Christ.

Holiness befits Your house - the splendor of Your majesty;
For endless days, the creatures cry, "Holy … Holy! Holy!"
And You swear by Your name … ("Jesus!")
Through Your people to highly exalt what the nations profane!
When the desert shall turn to a pool, and the reeds and the roses grow there;
Then a road for the righteous will rise, called the Way of Holiness!

Behold what manner of love, that with joy for sinners would die;
That freely would give them the riches they never could buy!
More than mountains are high, or than canyons are broad …
There's no way to describe or compare the fierce love of our God!
Whom the Lord loves, He both chastens and seats on a heavenly throne;
His love never ends; He'll eternally dance with His own!

What shall we say of the Lord … of Him Who created us all?
How can we thank Him, Who blesses the great and the small …?

7 Once to Die

Suddenly, my friend and neighbor died, quite unexpectedly.
I'd never shared the Gospel with her, though I'd tried; it was just so awkward for me.
Now I guess she'll never know the Father's love - only separation from the Maker of her soul.

A hundred conversations with her in the yard never mentioned her eternal fate.
Witnessing for Jesus Christ was just so hard … and now I guess it's too late.
Is she lost forever 'cause I didn't share? And even if she is, Lord, I don't really care.

I don't mean I'm not sad to think of You rejecting my old friend;
But how can I say I care now, if I didn't care enough back then?
And what about next time, Jesus? Will I love God and my neighbor as myself,
Or will I put my ego first and toss Your Word back on the shelf?

There are no do-overs in life and death; it's appointed only once to die.
Her judgment followed swiftly after that last breath, when You looked her in the eye.
Set my heart on fire, Lord, to seek the lost …
And tell the Gospel Truth, no matter what the cost to me.

Make the Great Commission my great desire: To gather in the ones who are Thine,
That they may perpetually shine; we will perpetually shine.

8 Into the Pain

Tribulation is here, confusion and fear; but Jesus, You're near.
There's a catch in my breath, anticipation of death - Lord, get me out of here!
But You steer straight into the pain, and we're there together, again;
Yeah, we've been there before; I see the scratch marks on the door; but it's not in vain…
I seem to know You the best in my deepest distress; that's why I thank You for infirmity!

I'm so behind in my race; I can't keep up the pace, but there's still love in Your face.
It's my failures that sting - each embarrassing thing; Lord, You could give me the grace!
But you leave me down where I'm weak - so it's only You that I'll seek;
It feels a little like Hell to know my weakness so well; I can hardly speak.
I'm so often so wrong, so weak, but You're strong; Hallelujah, Your glory is working in me!

Now I'm back on my knees; this time it's disease, but my Healer sees.
My fever won't break; medications don't take; Jesus, heal me, please!
But You tell me I have to wait, and that Your grace is sufficiently great;
I know You love me; okay, I can trust day-by-day, in a hopeful state.
Over the roaring, I can hear Your comfort words in my ear;
In the midst of such a storm, they ring amazingly clear!

I feel cold to the bone, completely alone; but You're my Cornerstone.
Those I love don't like me - and I kind of agree; I need to feel I'm Your own!
But it's all meant to help me to see that it's not about me;
If I laugh or I cry, if I live or I die, I belong to Thee!
Lord, we go through so much; but it's worth it to feel Your touch;
And when it's over, we collapse in Your arms!

9 Home

Jesus has gone to prepare us a place where the Lamb is the light, and the air is His grace.
Where angels and men are all purely His own; and we are finally home, home;
Finally, peacefully, heavenly home.
Home, home, home … finally, peacefully, heavenly home!

Fashion a universe; teach us of You. We were created Your pleasure to do.
Working and worshipping, eternally, with Jesus our King and our Husband to be;
Jesus our King and our Husband to be.
Home, home, home … finally, peacefully, heavenly home!

Fevers and fears and temptations are gone; we've Jesus to lavish our worship upon.
Sorrow's been captured like tears in a jar, and we have new names that tell just who we are,
And purpose eternal, beyond the last star.
Home, home, home … finally, peacefully, heavenly home!

God's chosen family, through the New Birth, find themselves pilgrims and strangers on Earth;
Lives like a vapor, bodies like seed; bound for this lifetime, but soon to be freed,
And Jesus, our Savior, is All that they need!
Home, home, home … finally, peacefully, heavenly home!