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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Guard Your Heart (06/08/12)
Weary Christian sat alone in the place where he met the Master Physician every morning. In his left hand he held his battered heart--bruised by many years of disappointments and failures, unmet expectations, broken dreams, his own rebellion, careless words, and enemy attacks. Examining the new wounds that poured fresh crimson blood, along with older scars that were blackened and calloused over, he spoke to the heart. “I don’t know how you’re going to keep on beating inside me. And, I don’t know how I’m supposed to live out there,” he motioned with a thrust of his chin toward the world that waited. “How am I supposed to be who the Master wants me to be with a heart like you? You have failed me once again,” he muttered, knowing that his heart wouldn’t answer back and that he wouldn’t trust the answers if it did.
He closed his eyes and began to speak to the Master. He opened the book, allowing the Master’s Voice to speak freely, and he began to read, but the words kept running in and out of his mind and wouldn’t stay put. Tangled in his thoughts was the bleeding mess hiding in his hand. Finally, he decided there was no use concealing what his heart had become. The All-knowing Master knew.
“I’m so sorry, Lord,” the tears began. “I’m so sorry, and I’m so tired. I’ve tried to be like you. I am trying to live like you and love like you and give my heart to the world like you. I am trying so hard, but sometimes it just doesn’t matter . . . In fact, Master, I keep waiting, waiting, waiting and trying my best to do everything you tell me to do. Because you promise that you will heal me and cure my broken heart. But look, Master, look at my heart! Look at what has become of it!” In one quick motion, Christian exposed the bleeding mass to the Master Physician. “Look at what I have done to it and what the world has done to it. Every time I think it’s beginning to get stronger, someone else or some new disappointment comes along and gnaws another hole in it. I can’t fix it. What am I doing wrong, Master? How come you aren’t healing my broken heart? What am I doing wrong?”
In a whisper, the soothing and precious comfort of the Master’s Voice came to him. "Open the book again. Open it and see." Christian obeyed, and the book became a mirror. In the reflection, he saw his bloody heart and his bloody hands--the truth. His heart was sick and treacherous, and it was, indeed, failing, but he saw something else, too. Glowing within his chest, beating surely was a different kind of heart. “Where did that come from?” he questioned the Master.
"That is Jesus’ heart. He gave it to you on the day He named you. It’s been there all along, but you have been trying to live relying on your old heart. It cannot keep going, so you are trying to heal it or looking for other people to heal it and sometimes even asking me to heal it but never giving it to me long enough to allow healing."
Christian moved in closer, examining Jesus’ heart. “But wait, Lord. Jesus’ heart has scars, too. His heart knows pain and disappointment . . .”
"Keep looking. Yes, living in your world damaged his heart, too, but do you see the seal around it? Do you see all my promises encircling it? Those are your promises, too. The world cannot destroy His heart like it can yours, and one day His heart will be totally restored."
“Oh, Master! Take my heart. Take it and finish the job the world started! Destroy it. I don’t want it anymore. I would rather have Jesus’ heart!”
"Christian, that is not my plan. I don’t want to destroy your heart. I want to make it look like Jesus’. Your job is to hide yours behind Jesus’--to live out there in this world empowered by its beating. Stop giving your heart to the world; they will only damage it more, and it will betray us both. Instead, offer the world Jesus’ heart. That’s what his heart was made for. Give me your heart. Bring it to me, and we’ll work on it together in the quiet, in this place."
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This article has been read 1336 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Susan Allen
06/15/12
This is a wonderful piece of work. It touched my heart deeply. Jesus went through so much and He cares about our broken hearts. You did a beautiful, moving story.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
06/19/12
Wow! I don't think there is a better word than Wow! What wisdom you have in this story. I was captured by every single word. This is an outstanding story. There may have been errors but I wouldn't have noticed them because I was so engrossed by your story. Shorter paragraphs and spaces in between would have made it a tad easier to read but even that didn't affect me. You have written an amazing piece here and I have no doubt God has wonderful plans for you and this story. It will go around the world and touch people in so many ways. What a brilliant way to start my day. Thank you!
C D Swanson 
06/20/12
Outstanding! Powerful! Amazing! Phenomenal! Ingenious! Brilliant! Touching!

What an explosive and prolific piece you have written. It touched me, gave me goosebumps, and made me cry! This will stay with me long after I finish reading it.

I will print this out and share it with others. Thank you!

I couldn't help but use all of those exclamations...this entry deserved that and more. Fabulous!

God bless you~
Frankie Kemp 
06/21/12
Thank you all for your gracious words concerning what the Lord gave me to write. In so many ways, He really and truly is my muse. In that wonderful, faithful way He has of keeping His word, He works ALL things together for my good and His glory (as He does with all of those who are His).

Tears are coming to my eyes as I type this even now . . . if all of you only knew. If you only knew just how far He has brought me and just how high He has lifted my lonely heart from great depths! And what He does with our feeble words! Your words . . . and your acceptance of mine . . . Grace. That's what it is, a picture of His Grace.
Anne Warden 
06/21/12
Frankie, your story is such a wonderful lesson in commitment and faith.

The part I will always remember is "Stop giving your heart to the world." We do that so often.

I am printing your story and keeping it to share in Bible study. Thank you for your heart-wrenching, insightful writing.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
06/22/12
Congratulations for your ribbon and for ranking 15th overall! (Check out the message boards sometime after Thursday evening to see the top rankings in each level and the top 20 overall)
CrisC Ramirez
06/22/12
I just love this! And congratulations! Absolutely a new perspective and wonderful analogies! Thank you for sharing your gift.

God Bless!
Laura Manley
06/24/12
I have had to dry my tears in order to write this review. What a powerful entry! I realized through your entry that I have been holding onto some of the ways of my old heart and not allowing the new one, which I have had for years, to be my only heart. It is amazing what your entry has brought to my mind. How insightful! You are an excellent writer and I'm sure you'll be moving up the ranks very quickly. It is obvious who you are writing for, and isn't that really what it's all about? The only thing I would say as far as the structure of your entry; it needs spaces between paragraphs and the paragraphs need to be shorter. Other than that, this is absolutely wonderful! I see why you got the award you did! Congratulations!!!