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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Empty and Full (06/04/09)
Simple but Powerful - A True Story

“How can I face them the way I’m feeling right now?” My head was pounding. I could feel a migraine coming on. “I’ll be there in a half an hour, and I have nothing to give.” I felt washed out, good for nothing.

“Hypocrite!” The voice taunted.

It was just one of those days. I was spent and exhausted from working since 5am and had been in a spiritual wilderness for months now. A brutal place, this wilderness. Hot, dry, lonely, and discouraging. If I don’t have water, how can I expect to give it to someone else? Who was I kidding? Who did I think I was? I shouldn’t even bother. The endless accusations were wearing me out.

Maybe I should just go home and forget it.

“God, what is going on with my life? Why can’t I seem to get out of this place? If you don’t go before me, I just can‘t go. Help! There is nothing in me. I have nothing. Can You hear me? I don’t even know if I believe this stuff anymore. How can I go if You don’t go with me? Where are You God?”

Silence.

I plead once again. Still more silence.

I pull into the parking lot. Like a robot, I mechanically get out of my truck and walk to the front door. I sign in and wait for the ok to proceed. With an empty head, empty heart, I make my way down the halls. The doors slam, locking behind me. An eerie echo follows as I move on.

“Hypocrite!” The taunt continues. “You have no business being here.”

I move forward, ignoring the voice. I am still numb but determined.

More doors slam behind me, more eerie echoes. I pass through the last door and there they are. They have been waiting for me. They wait for me every Tuesday.

We enter the multi-purpose room and begin. I sit in the center on the floor. I imagine this is how Jesus would do it. They file in and take their seats all around me. Beautiful women locked up for less than what I used to do. I am still numb. I am still empty. I still have nothing to give.

We begin. “Father. In the name of Jesus we come to you…”

Just a simple prayer, nothing elaborate, yet something is happening. I am quickened. I come alive. I have stepped out of the wilderness for such a time as this. Water bubbles up from deep within. Words pour out faster than I can think about what I am saying. I see pages of The Word in my mind. I see scriptures behind my closed eyes. The message comes. It is flowing, not from the wisdom of man, but by the power of the Spirit.

I am getting free, they are getting free. The Lord is moving in this place. I picture Moses standing at the edge of the water, the enemy coming closer. I hold my arms up as with a staff. We are crossing over, we are crossing over on dry ground. I am leading, they are following. How can this be? We are getting to the other side.

How can this be? I am nothing and have nothing to give, yet the room is filled with the miracle of freedom. The King has come and we rejoice.

We dance, we sing, we lift our voices in unison for the great victory won. The benediction is given. It is a song sung proclaiming the power of the Mighty One over our enemy.

After two hours of incredible release, I leave. I walk through the same doors, the same halls, but I am not the same person. “What happened in there?” I wonder.

I walk on, puzzled.

I feel a soft tug in my heart. I hear the gentle voice of our Great Deliverer. “When you were willing to admit that you were empty without Me, I was able to fill You with Myself. I picked you up. I parted the waters. Together, we took them to the other side. It really was that simple.”

My heart smiles. I guess it really is that simple.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Brenda Rice
06/11/09
This is so good! I was there with you and I felt the power! Great job!
Fiona Dorothy Stevenson
06/15/09
I have a lot of unanswered questions: all the who, what, why ones. The emotions, before, during and after are fully described, leaving little to the imagination. Perhaps a touch less of the beginning scene-setting, and a word or two to explain the circumstances would make the story easier to understand. Keep writing. God bless you.
Deborah Porter 
06/20/09
Hi Lynn. I just wanted to leave a quick note to let you know your entry, Simple but Powerful, actually did very well in the Empty and Full Challenge. Although you didn't receive an award, you made it into the Highest Rankings for Level 1, placing 8th in that Level.

There were a lot of entries this week, and the competition is always intense in Level 1, so you deserve a pat on the back. :-)

If you'd like to check the highest rankings for yourself, you can find them here:
http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=25956

The highest rankings are posted every Thursday evening on the Message Boards.

Hope to see you at the FaithWriters' Conference in August. It’s going to be an amazing time of inspiration, information and encouragement. (If I’ve already mentioned that to you, forgive me. We’re just so excited about letting members know about this great gathering.)
http://www.faithwriters.com/conference.php

With love, Deb (Challenge Coordinator)