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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Cup and Saucer (08/28/14)
"That will be twenty-five dollars and ninety-nine cents, please," said the cashier sweetly. She had sensed that the purchase just made was significant to her customer. Perhaps the clerk was particularly intuitive or it might have just been that she saw that single tear slowly falling down the customer's cheek. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Oh, I am fine, thanks- just very happy, " said Mattie. "I have always wanted to complete the set of china that I received when I got married ten years ago. I actually accomplished that today!" She had received most of the pieces of her "registry" back then, but for some reason she had only received seven cups and saucers instead of the requested eight. Time and busyness, not to mention a tight budget, kept Mattie from completing the set. To top it off, the "pattern" had gone out of production. Now she had to rely on resale stores for the items that she had failed to purchase back when her set was more available. Mattie was happy and filled with excitement because now the set was complete. To celebrate this occasion she made plans to invite some friends to her home for coffee and dessert.

There was another reason why Mattie was feeling joyful. Recently some much needed changes had taken place in her life- changes even more significant than buying a new cup and saucer set. In the past week or so she had renewed her love for the Lord, recommitted her life to Christ and now had a burning desire to go deeper in her devotion to God. She was hopeful that her bent toward hospitality would somehow reflect the changed heart.

Mattie had often entertained guests in her home and viewed herself as a popular hostess. But a week prior to finding the long searched-for china, Mattie heard a life-changing sermon at her church from the Gospel of Matthew. It was a passage in which Jesus was reprimanding the popular religious leaders of his day- calling them "hypocrites". He taught an object lesson using a cup and bowl which were nice to look at, especially from the outside-but the inside, when examined carefully, was quite the opposite. The religious leaders, likewise, were pretty impressive on the outside, and made sure that everyone noticed their "perfection". But to their surprise, Jesus had seen through that smoke screen and right into their hearts. On the inside they were full of greed, self-indulgence and pride: clean on the outside but filthy on the inside. Jesus' helpful warning to those leaders was this: "First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." Matthew 23:26 NIV

Those words from Jesus made Mattie squirm! As she sat in the sanctuary that day she examined her heart as best she could and realized how much her life mirrored that of the hypocrites. In the past, she had proudly opened her home and heart to others but her intentions were often self-seeking and served as a means to gather juicy bits of gossip to use in future conversations. She frequently put on a good front to those that she had invited into her home but up until the time that the doorbell rang, she was mumbling and complaining about all of the "hard work". She thought that no one knew her motives or thoughts. Critical thoughts harbored in the heart are easily hidden from everyone: everyone, that is, but Jesus. Mattie knew that God had seen clear down to the depths of her soul, too. Humbled to the core, she confessed to the Lord, asking Him to clean her inside and out. Mattie wanted to serve God with a pure heart and asked for opportunities to extend genuine love others in the future.

In the days that followed that transformation, Mattie made her way the resale store where her surprise purchase was made. And now with a prayer in her heart and a genuine desire to serve her guests, she arranged the cups and saucers on a beautifully decorated table awaiting the first guests ' arrival.
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This article has been read 381 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
09/04/14
Great writing style in this uplifting and inspirational entry. Wonderful message too.

God bless~
Noel Mitaxa 
09/05/14
Good introductory dialogue that ushers us into your MC's story. Perhaps her inner reflection could include questions or dialogue with her friends - to make the report of the sermon a little more engaging for us as well as for her. But that's a minor point on a totally credible story.
Phyllis Inniss 
09/08/14
I like Mattie's change of heart. You have managed to make a convincing story into a message that one can learn from, just as Mattie was changed by the message of her pastor. Very good writing.
Larry Whittington
09/10/14
I really liked the personal joy and tear because of her rededication of herself to God.

Very well written with urgency and full of emotion and great application. She was not just going through the motions of being a Christian but put her heart into her actions.

Good thought was put into this writing.
Rachel Barrett
09/11/14
Ooh boy...that was a strong and timely message wrapped up in an engaging story! Very nice!