Welcome to "Straight From the Heart!"

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Straight From the Heart
www.storiesfrommyheart.com

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Thanks!
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Straight From the Heart
www.storiesfrommyheart.com

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Thanks!
Michael
thunder27@aol.com

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AS THE HART PANTETH

By: David King


After running hard all night, the brilliance of the midnight moon seemed to mock the small animal. Stopping for a brief respite, the young deer stuck his shiny black nose into the cool night air sucking long and hard. The air was thin and clear and it took several large gulps to fill his gasping lungs. His thick loins seemed to shiver in shock from the unexpected rest and his small brown body was wet and shiny from the sweat of the run.

Bowing his head in despair, he heard the not so far away howls of the hounds that were chasing him with no mercy. He had never been told of the terror that a run for his life would entail; now he was a living testimony of that horror. Lifting his tail in the darkness, he looked quickly around the glen for the best way of escape. With a shimmer and a prance, he sped off toward a dark hole in the trees. It was the best he could hope for at the time.

Running through the brush as only an animal that was trying to preserve his life could do, he hardly made a motion among the trees and brambles that so eagerly seemed to frustrate his progress. The harried animal's ears were pointed straight upward in hopes that he would hear his
adversary long before he himself was discovered. This race would not be as difficult as it was had he been in his own territory, but he was far away from his home. The chase had long ago driven him from his own familiar grounds and the strangeness of the place only added to his sinking feeling of despair and panic; knowing that unless something happened soon, he would be caught and finished without mercy.

Suddenly, the air about him changed and he felt great joy in the fragrance - it was water! Cool, refreshing, clean water, straight from the bowels of the earth. His body was reminding him quite callously that it had been quite some time since he had been refreshed, and this water would give him the strength that he so desperately needed.

Consciously slowing to a steady, quiet pace, his front hoofs made barely a noise in the crystal clear bed of the murmuring brook. After listening for a brief moment for his adversary, he quickly dipped his head into this strength-renewing reservoir, drinking long and hard.

Had the brook been able to talk, it would have spoken to the young deer of its own age and experience; of the others before him that had come and gone; those that had regained their strength and finished the race, of the ones who ran past and ignored the calm, quiet strength and refused to slow themselves and share in its strength. If this water would have had the opportunity, it would have been pleased to instruct the animal on where to go from here, for it had seen some escape and others caught. The only thing, however, that the silent brook could do for the desperate creature was to give what it had to offer, and that was of itself. The Hart was not disappointed in what it received, for he had been longing for that drink for several hours. Standing there panting, he bent down one last time and licked, not drinking, only saying "thank you for being here."

It was as if the brook gave him courage, for he stood tall when the sound of the hounds told him they had picked up the scent again. Instead of his spirit sinking in despair, he was ready for the race. He briefly looked around to see the best way to go and saw a small path between some rocks
that seemed to be a difficult solution; yet, if he could manage it, his adversary surely would not be able to follow!

Carefully wading through the water so the hounds would lose the scent, he waded down stream to the jagged, rocky ravine that no longer looked dangerous, but now appeared hopeful. As the Hart stepped out of the water, he seemed to hear the brook shout encouragement to him through cleverly concealed crashing and tumbling of its own substance against the sharp rocks.

Using every ounce of his strength and courage, the Hart fought his way through the rocks and tried desperately not to slip, for one slip would mean his life. Knowing that he could not rush, he commanded a surge of will power and forced his panicked body to move slowly and carefully. The bellowing of the hounds was getting louder as they drew closer, and it was difficult to maintain his composure. He could hear them splashing around in the brook below him desperately trying to pick up his scent. The birds all silenced their singing, the creepy things stopped still, the denned creatures hovered in the opening of their hiding places and hesitated; the world had seemingly stopped to watch this drama unfolding. This was an age-old natural predicament; it was either life or death, strength or weakness, good or evil. This chase was either going to be concluded with the beauty of life, or it end forever, one
force evidently stronger than the other.

Finally, he came to the end of the rocks and the narrow way, and theHart stood in the opening and breathed a deep gulp of the night air, signifying both his relief and his great satisfaction. As he picked up his hoof to go on, the night air burst into the brilliance of the morning light - the sun had decided to rise. Had the Hart's eyes been behind his head, he would have seen the hounds turning back to their master in confusion,they had been fooled! As if to deny the few hours of forced exercise, the Hart sprinted eagerly toward the sunlight in the East, and for home. He had recognized his territory in the new daylight, and that hope gave him the strength he needed. He was going home!

"As the Hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God."
Psalms 42.1

Authors Note: The Hart is both you and I; the race is this life we live; the hounds are our enemy, chasing us with unrelenting fury. The brook is the ever present Spirit of the love and power of God, always there and always giving strength when we need it. The rising of the Sun in the East is the faithfulness of the Word of God that tells every soul that races for their lives; "Weeping may endure the Night, but Joy cometh in the Morning" and home is being with Jesus, of course, which will truly be Home.

David King
kingdavidw@juno.com

Send David an email and let him know what you thought of his story!
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A little bit about David:

I am a 35 year old preacher with a family of three children and a wife named Karen. I was called into the ministry when I was 17 years old and after 15 years of training and schooling, I am now full-time on the road as a traveling evangelist. My family and I live in a 33 ft RV and travel
from state to state preaching, holding revivals, camp-meetings, youth camps, etc.

I have a 13 year old son named Jonathan, a 9 year old girl named Stephanie and a 6 year old son named Nathan. My wife Karen and I met while she was in Bible College in Jackson, Miss. and I was in the Air Force stationed in Little Rock, AR. We long-distance dated for about six months and then married. We have been best of friends and best of mates
for the past 15 years.

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If you enjoyed yesterday's story, "Josephine," by Andi K. Puntoriero, and would like to read more of her writing, check out the following website:
His Ears
http://www.themestream.com/gspd_browse/browse/view_article.gsp?c_id=65101
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More comments from the Straight From the Heart Guest Book!


Hi Michael and Kristi,
I am 17 years old and receive your stories often on the "4Christ" list. I love to write and people tell me I'm good at it, but what I really want to do is teach children. I wanted to tell you both that I am continually inspired by your writing and the testimonies of your faith. AND I think it's wonderful that you have such a respect for teenagers and are willing to give them a chance to prove themselves to be good people. Thank you for the inspiration you are, as authors and as Christians, and thank you for telling the world that teenagers are not ALL gangsters!!! =)
God bless,
Rachel =)


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Greetings & A Great New Day To You , Michael & Your Lovely Wife. I can't think of anything that has inspired me as much as Straight From the Heart. All of The Stories Are so Lovely. Hey all Have A Special Meaning to me. Such a great Lift to Start each & every new day. I can't thank you enough for bringing this site to everyone who receives it in their mail every day. Keep up the awesome & Gratifying work.
Lyla Owens
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Well! You finally did it - and with such style! Hooray! Hooray! Glad to see you with a web presence Michael. The Net is no longer lacking a bright new star......
Terri McPherson

(Note from Michael: Check out Terri's website:
WiseHearts! Weaving Small Wisdoms Through The Fabric Of Life - http://www.mnsi.net/~tmcphers/index.htm
You'll love it!)

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Thanks for all the work you do, Michael! This is a really good page, and the list is even better! I have been getting your stories for about two years now, and have enjoyed every one.

Emily Foster
USA

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The stories are most inspirational and touching. Some are outright comedy like the little chap who acted like spiderman? (Batman)
The stories have been very useful to me in reaching out to souls through preaching and teaching. I can't thank enough my friend for introducing me to you. You have been a blessing. To share prayer needs with people has been most fufilling to me. May God expand your ministry.

Julius Mwangi
Kenya, Africa

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Thought For The Day:

"It is right to be contented with what we have, never with what we are."
(Sir James Mackintosh)

Verse for the Day:

"I have learned to get along happily whether I have much or little."
Philipians 4:11

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"It's hard to like the piano if you are forced to take lessons."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"A family is a unit composed not only of children, but of men, women, an occasional animal and the common cold."
(Ogden Nash)

Coach's Thought For The Day

"Be sincere. Be simple in words, manners, and gestures. Amuse as well as instruct. If you can make a man laugh, you can make him think and make him like and believe you."
(Alfred Smith)

Deep Thought For The Day:

Big Bang Theory.....God spoke and "Bang!" It happened...


Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)

"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so touched---they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!"

Kelli (RKaGe@aol.com) College Station, TX

Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html


Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html


Writer's guidelines for Straight From the Heart can be found here:

Writer's Guidelines
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/writer_s_guidelines/

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