Alabaster Box

This song was written by Dr. Janice Lyn Sjostrand, copyright  in 1997.  The story told behind the inspiration for this song was one night while Sis Sjostrand was in a church service at the UPC church in Southern California the preacher was preaching a sermon about the woman who came to Jesus and anointed his feet with oil.  Sis Sjostrand was to sing during the altar service afterwards and when she began playing and singing the words to this song just flowed out of her.

On October 19, 1999 CeCe Winans released her new album Alabaster Box, which featured this amazing song.  It won the 2001 Dove Awards.

Sis Janice and her husband Rev. G. Keith Sjostrand have been married for thirty-seven years.  They currently pastor Christian Apostolic Church in Newark, Ohio.  She is an alumnus of the University of Arkansas.  She has taught as a Spanish and English high school teacher and is a licensed administrator with the State of Ohio. 

She is a very talented musician as well as a singer.  I have found that she has opened for artist, Ray Charles.  Not only has she performed for the Arkansas Legislature, but also the National Prayer Breakfast, and two presidential inaugural prayer services.  She has worked in the ministry and counseling with her husband for over 30 years in individual counseling and family life seminars. 

She also speaks at Women's Conference's nationally and internationally.  This is how I am familiar with Sis Sjostrand.  I first heard her at the AR UPC Ladies Camp Meeting at Redfield, Ar in 2000.  The theme was Hope for 2000.  For most of us ladies it is one of the highlights of the year.  Every April for just a few days we get to lay down all of our everyday jobs and come together to be uplifted and to uplift one another.  There are no words to describe what it is like being in a place filled with thousands of other ladies who know and love God in the same way as you do.  The praise that is lifted up throughout these services are power-packed and anointed.   We arrive with great expectations that are never let down.  Sisters in Christ like Sis Sjostrand may never hear every story from every lady that have encouraged to keep traveling this long and narrow path, but just maybe this will be something we could do while we are all setting around the marriage supper of the Lamb on that Glorious Day!!!  In the meantime ladies, Sis Sjostrand please know that you are a precious jewel in the Kingdom of God, thank you for your many years of service. 

This song has a special place in my heart as I can certainly related to the woman in this story.  Outcast to all except for the Master himself who knew her heart.  I remember the very first time I heard this song it was back in 2002. We had Ladies Conference in Hot Springs, AR that year.  It is a conference I will never forget.  Sis McGruder was one of the guest speakers, while she was either ministering or singing a lady in the audience died.  Seriously, she had no life in her.  We all began to pray and some of the ladies there were nurses.  As the power of God came into that place life came back into this woman.  It was during this conference that I first saw the drama to the Alabaster Box song.  A woman dressed in a robe and head dress made her way to the platform.  The power of God covered that whole banquet room and there was not one dry eye in the whole place. 

Lyrics:

The room grew still as she made her way to Jesus
She stumbles through the tears that made her blind
She felt such pain
Some spoke in anger
Heard folks whisper, "There's no place here for her kind"
Still on she came through the shame that flushed her face
Until at last she knelt before his feet
And though she spoke no words, everything she said was heard
As she poured her love for the master from her box of alabaster

And I've come to pour my praise on Him like oil
From Mary's alabaster box
Don't be angry if I was 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

I can't forget the way life used to be
I was a prisoner to the sins that had me bound
I spent all my day pouring life without measure
Into a little treasure box I thought I found
Until the day when Jesus came to me
And filled 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

Dr Janice Sjostrand singing 'Alabaster Box' at a conference in 2019.  

It was uploaded by Todd Brown on YouTube

Thanks to a viewer who informed this video now existed.

 

                                        

Ar District 2002 Mother's Memorial Print

In 2013 a singer named Lillie McCloud walked out on stage of the X-Factor show. She was asked by one of the judges what she was going to be singing, she surprisingly replied the Alabaster Box.  At this point not many people in the audience knew this gospel song made popular by CeCe Winans in 1999 on her album Alabaster Box.  However, just in a few moment after Lillie McClouds performance not only the audience would be in tears, but also two judges.  Then hours after her performance was posted to the internet millions of people became familiar with the words to this beautiful song.  A new generation who otherwise may never would have heard it.  Even Simon admits he had never heard this song before.

 

 Other Songs:

Heal Me

 Where Jesus Passes By

I'll Do Anything

I Just Came to See Jesus

Sources:

http://issuu.com/pentecostalherald/docs/juneherald2014

http://www.pointsofrefuge.org 

Apostolic Forum 222.apostolicfriendsforum.com



If You Had Known Me (Before I Knew Him)

This song was written by Sis. Joan Clark Ewing in 1978.  She is a God gifted songwriter who many times took sermons preached by her husband Rev. Murrell Ewing and turned them into songs.  This song was in fact first recorded the same year on her husbands,  A Portrait of Love Album.  She penned the words to this song, but Rev Murrell Ewing made it his own with his baritone voice.

Joan Clark met Murrell Lavonne Ewing who was a much sought after minister and very gifted musician and singer.  He was born January 9, 1941 to the parents of Tom Ed and Marie Ewing.  At that time his family lived in Jonesville, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana in a community known as Boggy Bayou.  Tom Ed Ewing worked there with the State Highway Department until trusting in the Lord and accepting a full time Pastor's position at a church in Lake Charles, Louisiana known at that time as the English Bayou Pentecostal Church when Rev. Murrell Ewing was just nine years old.  As a talented musician he played in the Lake Charles Symphony while in high school.  He became a full time evangelist after graduating high school at the age of 17 in 1958.



Rev. Murrell Ewing married Joan Clark on November 24, 1959.  Within the next year this new couple accepted an assistant pastors position in Jackson, Mississippi to Rev. Earl Gamblin.  Where they remained until 1965 when they left Alexandria to return to the evangelistic field.  In 1966, Rev. Murrell Ewing's father had suffered a stroke so the two of them remained in Lake Charles, Louisiana to assist his father and the congregation of Eastwood Pentecostal Church.  He became the senior pastor at his father's passing in 1981 from heart failure. 

The church grew and flourished under the leadership of Rev. Murrell Ewing who completed a building project his dad started.  He was also highly involved in the work of the Louisiana District of the United Pentecostal Church where he held several positions throughout the years and was a member on their board.  Nationally he served on the music committee and participated in the development of the Sing Unto the Lord Hymnal.  Rev. Murrell and Joan Ewing served many years as consultants and participants in national programming for both home foreign missions.

The anointing this couple had in their life had to be God ordained.  With Joan by his side he recorded many singing projects and their talents together blessed people throughout the world. They were married for over 50 years and had two children.  Rev. Murrell L Ewing left this world on December 31, 2010.  Sis Ewing is still speaking at conferences in Louisiana.  One can only hope that she is still composing songs. 

I love many of their songs, but this song has touched my life the most.  Most often people are pre-judged before you actually have a chance to hear their life stories.  I did not really know what love felt like before I knew the Lord.  It seemed like one bad thing happened after another, and have found myself thrown away like in this first verse.  I didn't have anything to offer Him except all of me and I am so glad I did.  The person I am today is only by His mercy and grace and that is something I don't take for granted. Thank you both for letting God use your lives to touch so many. 

Lyrics

Just an old rejected relic on the auction block
They decided to throw me away
The auctioneer asked, "Who'll take her?"
The room was quiet and still,
And Jesus stepped forward, and He said, "I will". 

If you had known me before I knew Him,
You would understand why I love Him.
If you had known me before I knew Him,
You would understand my love.

I had not much to offer, just heartache and pain,
and a life that was filled with despair.
For my rags, He gave me riches,
For my fears, He traded peace.
For my whole life, He gave me a blessed release.



 

The Rex Nelon Singers, One Step Closer 8-Track

 

 

 What a Tribute to Sis Joan Ewing made personally by her husband in this video featuring Sis Ewing reciting, Now I Know

 

 

 

 

Other Songs Written by Sis Ewing:

 

What's that I Hear written , published 1978

 

 

Your Gonna Make It was written in 1985 and published March 12, 1986

 

 

 

Beyond the Sounds of Battle written 1985 and published March 12, 1986.

 

 

 

Where Did the Wind Go written 1993 and published June 10, 1993

 

 

and so many more!

 

 

Sources:

 

Find A Grave:

Fhttp://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=ewing&GSfn=murrell&GSmn=l&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=2010&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=63626059&df=all&ind A Grave

 

Pentecostal Herald January 2014, This is my Story

http://issuu.com/pentecostalherald/docs/january_herald_2014_web

 

Copyright Encyclopedia

http://www.copyrightencyclopedia.com/if-you-had-known-me-and-4-other-titles-expressions-heaven/

 

My Hope Radio.com

http://www.myhoperadio.com/about/artist-archives/136-murrell-ewing

 

Song Search

http://us.search.ccli.com/songs/269307/if-you-had-known-me

 

All Music

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joan-ewing-mn0001317580/credits

 

 

 



I See A Crimson Stream of Blood

This song was written by African-American pastor and songwriter, Bishop G. T. Haywood in the 1920's.  He composed many gospel songs like "Jesus, the Son of God," "Do All in Jesus Name," which are known for their Oneness Pentecostal themes.  This song as well as many others were published by Christ Temple in an hymnal book called The Bridegroom Songs.

Garfield Thomas Haywood was born on July 15, 1880 in Greencastle, Indiana to Bennett and Pennyann Haywood.  His family moved to a neighborhood in Indianapolis known as Haughville when Haywood was just three years old.  He attended School 52 as a child and went to Shortridge High School.  After high school he was employed by a couple of news papers, the Indianapolis Freeman and Indianapolis Recorder as a cartoonist.  He married Ida Howard on February 11, 1902.    They had one daughter named Fannie. 


He got involved with the ministry and founded Christ Temple Church in 1908.  At this time he was affiliated with the General Assemblies of God.  Haywood became affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) in 1911.  By 1913 the Christ Temple Church had grew between 400 to 500 bi-racial members.  In 1915 Haywood received a copy of Frank Ewart's paper Meat in Due Season which revealed the biblical accounts of the Apostles baptizing people in Jesus' Name instead of the traditional Trinitarian's doctrine of baptizing in the  titles following Matthew 28:19.  Haywood responded to this by inviting the evangelist Glenn A. Cook to preach at his church, Christ Temple.  A baptism revival was soon the result of this meeting where Haywood and his congregation converted to Oneness Pentecostalism and were all baptized in Jesus' Name.  This facilitating the spread of Oneness Pentecostalism all throughout Indiana.

When the third general council of the Assemblies of God convened that October 1915 the debate was on the merits of the new Jesus' Name doctrine vs. the traditional Trinitarian doctrine.  E. N. Bell and Haywood spoke on behalf of the Jesus' Name doctrine while others spoke against it.  It ended in a draw and was agreed to readdress the topic later at the fourth general council the following year.  The following year the general council rejected the Jesus' Name doctrine causing over one fourth of the ministers to leave the Assemblies of God, Haywood included. 

Several of the former ministers that left in 1916 formed the General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies which merged with the PAW's at the start of WWI in order for its ministers to obtain noncombatant statues.  Haywood was appointed as it's general chairman.

In 1920, Bishop Haywood stayed in his office for about a week.  His wife would bring him food to eat and leave at the door.  When she came back later it would be sitting right where she had left it. It is said that next Sunday morning Bishop Haywood walked to pulpit, lifting up his voice without musical accompaniment and began to sing this song for the first time.  

Having outgrown their old church, Haywood found a new location at Fall Creek and Paris Avenue in December of 1923 to rebuild.  At this time this new location was the city dump.  Haywood designed and engineered the construction.  He taught the importance of evangelizing to the world.  Through his profession as a printer he used his own print shop to publish tracts, booklets, outlines, and charts as additional means of spreading the Gospel which became in demand throughout the U.S. and internationally.  In 1924 Haywood was appointed Bishop of the newly reorganized PAWh.  He served as Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World from 1925 to 1931.  Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Assembly was and remained the only genuinely interracial church in the city. 
Bishop Garfield Thomas Haywood left this world on April 12, 1931.  He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery. 

 

Bishop Garfield T. Haywood baptizing Elder Timothy Urshan in Jesus Name Jordan River









Lyric's

On Cal'vry's hill of sorrow
Where sin's demands were paid,
And rays of hope for tomorrow
Across our path were laid

I see a crimson stream of blood,
It flows from Calvary.
It's waves which reach the throne of God,
Are sweeping over me.

Today no condemnation
Abides to turn away
My soul from His salvation,
He's in my heart to stay.

When gloom and sadness whisper,
"You've sinned no use to pray,"
I look away to Jesus,
And he tells me to say:

And when we reach the portal
Where life forever reigns,
The ransomed host' grand final
Will be this glad refrain.  

Psalms & Hymns of Devotion & Inspiration Nila & Hugh Rose With Harvestime Singers & Musicians.  Hugh Rose was the Associate Pastor of Calvary Tabernacle.  Nathaniel A. Urshan was the Pastor at the time.  1949-1979

U

Tribute to Bishop Garfield T. Haywood

The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Mass Choir, 2012

Other Songs:

Thank God for the Blood 

P.A.W. Album '60's Recording, Thank God for the Blood

Newer Style

TETREC Reunion, Ill November 5, 2011

Jesus, the Son of God

WV & East Tennessee District Choir (P.A.W.

The Water Way (original)

The Water Way Lyrics

Verse 1

Long ago the maids drew water

In the evening time they say

One day Isaac sent his servant

to stop Rebecca on her way

My master sent me here to tell thee

see these jewels rich and rare

Would'st thou not his lovely bride be

in that country over there

Chorus

It shall be light in the evening time

The path to glor you will surely find

Through the water way it is the light today

Buried in His precious name

Young and old repent of all your sins

And the Holy Ghost will enter in

The evening time has come

Tis a fact that God and Christ are ONE

Verse 2

Have you look’d and often wondered

Why the power is slack today

And got on in the man-made way

O’saints who never have been buried 

In the blessed name of Jesus

Let truth now sanctify you

It’s the way Apostles trod

And many many more!! 

Sources:

http://www.hymnary.org/text/on calvarys hill of sorrow 

https://oldlandmark.wordpress.com/category/people/oneness-pentecostals/garfield-thomas-haywood/ 

http://www.calvaryapostolicgallia.com/page/new bishop g t haywood#!prettyPhoto 

http://www.apostolicarchives.com/articles/article/8801925/173304.htm