I had just signed with Word records when they approached me with a “spin off” project including all their artists on one album. A tribute to Oswald Chambers! At that point I was not even familiar with his devotional “My Utmost For His Highest”, but it would become my primary read for the next seven years.
The song “A Heart Like Mine” was presented to me pretty much finished. I was being asked to simply sing it for the project. But with all respect to the writers, the descriptions of “My heart” were not remotely accurate.
At the time Christian music was, in my opinion, not quite honest to my own feelings. I was becoming quite annoyed as I could sense the “hiding” of my own heart in hopes that I would be more acceptable especially to the Christian community.
I asked if I might rewrite the lyrics, and upon approval, I kept the song’s title and the opening words of the Chorus, “Father God above, the wonder that you love a heart like mine”. My contribution to this song would become an exercise in heart descriptions, more than I had ever given thought to. The whole song is about my heart, and it could easily become redundant using the word incessantly. “A once vacant shell now reclaimed” came to me in my own kitchen throwing out the trash! There were egg shells in the garbage. simple as that.
The process of describing visually what reminded me of my heart, became a simple matter of seeing the everyday world in which I live.
It’s my favorite line of all the song writing I have done.
The back half of that line came to me in the parking lot of the Ontario Airport, searching for where I parked my truck two weeks ago. I now could not remember. Upon finding it in the back lot I was running for it in relief, anxious to get home. “…racing to your embrace…” struck me even as I put the key in the car door, noting the way my heart “races”.
This song went on to be nominated for song of the year. To my surprise I was not alone in feelings of a twisted and broken heart.
Redemption is not appreciated until I take a good hard look at my own nature, away from all the goodness I try to “project”. Seeing the deceitfulness in my own heart in all my attempts to get what I want first and making a complete mess of life has always been what makes the Gospel of Christ such good news.
A Heart Like Mine
A Heart Like Mine
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A Heart Like Mine (Instrumental Version)
A Heart Like Mine (Instrumental)
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Lyrics
A Heart Like Mine
Of all the hearts in the world
I’ve only one to give
So insecure, a desperate pulse
Racing to Your embrace
That You could want me and seek me
Is more than words could ever say
That You would love me and see in me
A pearl of price, thrown away
Chorus
A heart like mine
How could it be worthy that You’d find
A way to redeem this hardened clay
Twisted and broken
Oh Father God above
The wonder that You’d love a heart like mine
Your holy hands hold me still
Shaping my heart anew
Once vacant shell now reclaimed
Offers its praise to You
The one who searched till You found me
A wounded lamb who’s gone astray
You stopped the world to recover me
Oh Lamb of God, the price You’ve paid
Repeat Chorus
I make my promise to
Do the one thing I can do with abandon
I can give every heartbeat to You
I love “A Heart like Mine” because it is raw and painfully honest. I can so relate to each of those words in this powerful song. God has gifted you dear one with the gift of dishing up truth without the gourmet dressings or flowery garnish. You serve up the cold hard facts of everyone’s heart with a warmth from depths God understood when you sang it for “Utmost for His Highest”. It is so poignant and a message that we all need to be reminded of. Please put this strong song on a new album if you have not already done so. If you have it on one, I am very interested in buying it as my old CD bears the scars and scratches of the years of playing. Have you ever done a duet or considered doing one with B.J. Thomas? He too bears scars of a past, but chooses to sing God’s praises. I think that you two would make beautiful Godly music together. I especially love his song “Nobody gave me a prayer”. IT is an oldie that I found when I was in my darkest battle with depression and found hope there at the cross. Check it out if you have never heard it. He has his own website like you! God bless you as you continue to minister to a hurting world with hope and joy in knowing Christ as your Savior and Lord! Love ya, Cheri
Bryan: Other than your obvious talent, I think we all still love to hear from you and enjoy your ministry because there are so many of us who struggle with feelings of inadequacy, a constant need to feel validated. We feel, if people really knew me, they wouldn’t like me. It’s a painful feeling. I have felt it and you obviously have to and the powerful message of this song (and many more of yours) gives us hope. Despite our shortcomings, God is still mindful of man; to us personally. This gives us hope. Without hope and a Savior, we have nothing.
My wife and I have been touched by your music for many years now. Like others have mentioned, our CD’s are scratched and beaten up from so many years of playing them that we have to consider getting new copies!!
God has given you a special talent and I hope you continue to make music until God tells you its time to stop. Please know you have touched many people with the God-given words in your songs and you certainly have been used for much good.
Looking over your website it was good to see that not only are you an exceptional talent but a regular guy as well. Your love of motorcycles, your family and the knowledge of your own struggles with life make you even more endearing. Keep up the great work Bryan and please know we are all here for you as much as your words and music have been here for us!!
My heart relates totally to your heart. I desperately seek the heartbeat of Jesus!
Please keep writing with His heartbeat.I am ministered to through this song and greatly encouraged! Blessings to you.
I had just signed with Word records when they approached me with a “spin off” project including all their artists on one album. A tribute to Oswald Chambers! At that point I was not even familiar with his devotional “My Utmost For His Highest”, but it would become my primary read for the next seven years.
I love “A Heart like Mine” because it is raw and painfully honest. I can so relate to each of those words in this powerful song. God has gifted you dear one with the gift of dishing up truth without the gourmet dressings or flowery garnish. You serve up the cold hard facts of everyone’s heart with a warmth from depths God understood when you sang it for “Utmost for His Highest”. It is so poignant and a message that we all need to be reminded of. Please put this strong song on a new album if you have not already done so. If you have it on one, I am very interested in buying it as my old CD bears the scars and scratches of the years of playing. Have you ever done a duet or considered doing one with B.J. Thomas? He too bears scars of a past, but chooses to sing God’s praises. I think that you two would make beautiful Godly music together. I especially love his song “Nobody gave me a prayer”. IT is an oldie that I found when I was in my darkest battle with depression and found hope there at the cross. Check it out if you have never heard it. He has his own website like you! God bless you as you continue to minister to a hurting world with hope and joy in knowing Christ as your Savior and Lord! Love ya, Cheri
Bryan: Other than your obvious talent, I think we all still love to hear from you and enjoy your ministry because there are so many of us who struggle with feelings of inadequacy, a constant need to feel validated. We feel, if people really knew me, they wouldn’t like me. It’s a painful feeling. I have felt it and you obviously have to and the powerful message of this song (and many more of yours) gives us hope. Despite our shortcomings, God is still mindful of man; to us personally. This gives us hope. Without hope and a Savior, we have nothing.
I identify with your music. Keep it coming for the name of Christ who “heals the broken hearted”.
Bryan,
My wife and I have been touched by your music for many years now. Like others have mentioned, our CD’s are scratched and beaten up from so many years of playing them that we have to consider getting new copies!!
God has given you a special talent and I hope you continue to make music until God tells you its time to stop. Please know you have touched many people with the God-given words in your songs and you certainly have been used for much good.
Looking over your website it was good to see that not only are you an exceptional talent but a regular guy as well. Your love of motorcycles, your family and the knowledge of your own struggles with life make you even more endearing. Keep up the great work Bryan and please know we are all here for you as much as your words and music have been here for us!!
My heart relates totally to your heart. I desperately seek the heartbeat of Jesus!
Please keep writing with His heartbeat.I am ministered to through this song and greatly encouraged! Blessings to you.