PERFORMANCE // GRACE

Growing up, I loved to preform. I thrived on stage; my favourite thing to do was entertain audiences through singing, acting, telling stories, and enthusiastic speaking—I loved it! (And I secretly still do.)

I was reminiscing this past week about the many musical theatre competitions I PARTICIPATED in—the fluffy dresses, overdone make-up, long hours of practice, and the fun musical scores.

Then I thought of the very first time I was on stage.

My first time on stage, I hadn’t practiced. I wasn’t rehearsed or prepared. I had done nothing. I didn’t put on my make-up, I didn’t ensure my outfit was pristine. In fact, I wasn’t even able to dress myself. My first appearance on stage was ONE that I did nothing to “be ready” for.

It was the day my parents dedicated me to God as a baby in front of our church family.

Thinking about that momentous day, I realize it was a total GIFT of grace. I was carried up to the front, unable to dress myself, prepare myself, or rehearse. I had no ability to get myself ready for that moment. But my parents did for me what I couldn’t do.

Sometimes we feel as though we have to wait until we are all prepared, pristine, rehearsed and ready before we come to God.

Sometimes our friends who are not yet believers think that before they could even consider OPENING themselves up to the idea of a relationship with God, they would have to do a whole lot of cleaning up first.

But our relationship with God is not about something that we do or something we have done to make God love us or forgive us.

That’s not how it works.

Christianity is about something that was done for us, when we couldn’t do anything.

It’s something given to us daily as we CONTINUE to not measure up.

Grace.

We will never reach a place of sufficient behaviour modification to deserve it.

But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

We can’t prepare for it.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. Romans 5:6-7 NLT

God put His love on the line for us. He gave His only Son for us when we didn’t deserve anything, while we were of no use whatever to Him—because He wanted a relationship with us. Because He loved us so much.

Grace.

It’s not what you’ve done. It’s not about your performance.

It’s what Christ did for you. It’s about His performance.

–Ashley

Steady Heart

This is a post I wrote a few years ago that I came across today-- hope it may be encouraging to you today! 

...

Have you ever been at a point in your life where you don't know what is next?

You long for a handwritten note from God to fall from the sky and give you specific, impossible to-mix-up, instructions for 4-5 main areas of your life?

Well, you may not get a note that falls from the sky.  But God did provide us with His word, the example of His Son, and His Holy Spirit. We have amazing access to God, an access that we don't deserve, but so graciously get through Jesus Christ. 

I will continue to seek God my whole life long-- even if there are seasons of trying to get the wax out of my ears so that I can hear Him. 

There are always going to be things that we aren't completely sure of in life... but we must remind ourselves of that which we are sure. 

God loves us. 

God will always love us.

"I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." Romans 8:39

God wants the very best for me. 

God will always want the very best for me. 

"I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." John 10:10

God is with us. 

God will always be with us. 

"Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take." Joshua 1:9

Find comfort and assurance in the steadfastness of God's love, grace, and provision for you. He has us right in the palm of His hand-- of that I am sure.

Journeying

Here's another post from the archives that I enjoy reviewing...

We are all on some sort of pathway going somewhere. 

I happen to be on a God adventure. And so can anyone - you choose it.

I've learned that God adventures often start by setting out to do something that you cannot do based on  your own abilities. You are not enough.

God adventures also begin - a lot of times, out of a place of trust, abiding in Him, hearing His voice just when the next decision needs to be made. You don't exactly have a perfectly written out road map... He does, but we don't see that full picture. He likes us to trust. 

Through my God adventure,  I've also learned that we can't push buttons to make God's timing somehow come about more quickly. He isn't a microwave-type God where we can quickly defrost a chicken that is best to be left out to thaw over night. 

Not sure if that makes sense to anyone else, but the illustration works for me. 

Just like David, we can't jump ahead of God's timing - even when it seems like an opportunity is presenting itself for something NOW and RIGHT AWAY ... doesn't mean it is God's timing. 

In 2 Samuel, David has numerous opportunities to secure his throne by force - but he recognizes that it isn't time yet, it isn't God's timing - and so he does not try and run ahead of God and His plan. 

I admire David's utter refusal to jump ahead of God’s timing in the plan to bring him to the throne.  In a culture where blood feuds were common, where families who were at odds would wipe each other out, David refused to enter into violence against Saul or the members of his family. 

Just because we can maybe pull the strings to make something happen doesn't mean that's God's timing.

A lot of times we are pushy, and impatient. 

What we attain by force we must keep by force. 

That's a lot of work.  Maybe I'll let things unfold in God's timing instead of pushing buttons... 

Good things come to those who wait- those who wait upon the Lord.

Now, waiting doesn't mean do absolutely nothing. 

Delight in Him, everyday greet with the same objective- to fall more in love with God, to know Him more and more, and  make Him known. To love Him and love others. In doing that, everything in His timing will fall into place...

God adventures. Start one today.