Performing Archives - Finding Your Path To Freedom

REFLECTING GOD’S IMAGE

Published on July 29, 2025

My desire to learn more ways to reflect God’s image was fulfilled in an unexpected way.

It all began when I listened to a TBN broadcast that focused on Tauren Wells. At the time, I didn’t know he was a famous contemporary Christian singer, but I soon realized his interview was perfectly timed by God.

After discovering all that Tauren had achieved by the young age of 36, his story became even more powerful to me.

Platinum-selling recording artist
Song writer with 10 Grammy awards
Multi-million-dollar career

Tauren began his interview by saying that his popularity pulled him into focusing on his outward behavior. He laughed as he confessed that he was intent on saying all the right things, doing all the right things, posting all the right pictures, and choosing all the right scriptures. He was very careful to guard his world-wide image, because that was his life.

Then a serious expression spread across his handsome face. He said, “I got to the place where I realized:

Jesus did not die for my image.
He didn’t die for the version of me
that everyone is happy to celebrate.
He died for who I really am:
the broken places,
the dysfunctional places,
the places where I worry about trying
to live up to people’s expectations.”

Tauren continued, “Jesus met all of the expectations of others. We will never truly measure up. That’s why Jesus stepped in to be our replacement.”

Near the end, he happily shared with the audience, “Now I’m learning there’s so much freedom in just being honest and transparent. Jesus accepts me when I’m at my very best, but He also welcomes me and loves me when I’m at my very worst. That is the beautiful gift of God’s grace. Now everything I do has power and purpose because I’m focused on Jesus.”

I love Tauren Wells’ concluding statement:

“It’s not about my life.
It’s about His life.
His image planted in me
that He wants the world to see.”

When you allow God to reflect His image in you, people will notice your shining eyes, joy-filled smile, caring words, and your gift of listening. Others will observe your willingness to help others, even when it may not be convenient. Your friends will be especially grateful for the God-given wisdom they receive from you.

Have you experienced the pleasure of someone saying they see God in you? Tell us your story at the bottom of the page!

*TBN interview with Tauren Wells, February 27, 2023

*Image by Alain Audet from Pixabay

The Imperfect Pot

Published on September 23, 2024

Here's an alt tag for the image: Brown clay pot on gravel.

This endearing story that I saved many years ago popped up in one of my folders this week. Perhaps someone will discover something very important today.

A water bearer in India had two large pots; each hung on an end of a pole that he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it. The perfect pot always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house. The cracked pot always arrived only half full.

Each day for two years, the water bearer delivered only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, fulfilling to perfection the role for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and felt miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been created to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said sadly.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot. With compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house today, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path. This cheered the pot some, but at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load. So again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bear said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without your being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Actually, all of us are "cracked pots" with unique flaws. Our response to that fact is crucial to what we will become. If we realize our potential, in spite of our imperfections, we naturally reach forward. If we focus on our imperfections, we tend to compare ourselves with others, leading to the false belief that we have nothing to offer. This mindset deceives us into feeling unimportant or insignificant.

By simply acknowledging our imperfections and moving forward, we will discover that we, like the imperfect pot, can be the cause of beauty. Just as the water bearer saw the unique contribution the imperfect pot could make in pleasing the king, so God sees our full potential and will help us bring pleasure to Him and become a source of beauty to others here on earth.

[Source unknown]

Dancing to the Music

Published on September 5, 2020

As a ballroom dancer, I was intrigued by this challenge.

Life does play whatever music it wants. Some tunes may prompt us to drop what we’re doing, cast our cares aside, and move with abandonment. Melodious sounds might cause us to slow down and dream of what could be, while we sway from side to side. Music in a minor key might remind us of discord and strife. However, hearing that kind of music can motivate us to spring into action and bring about needed change.

No matter what music you hear, you have an opportunity to choose your dance and let our own unique personality flow out. That smile bubbling up from within you may be the light someone needs. Staccato movements that show a dramatic side of you might inspire others to try something new. When you dance with peaceful and gliding steps, without allowing the world to pull you into its battles, others may seek peaceful solutions for their difficult relationships or circumstances.

We have a personal choice: behave the way the world dictates, or live the way God intends. Along the way, we will meet cooperative, accommodating, inviting, warm, and friendly people. But what about difficult people? How should we respond to them? My answer came through a story I heard recently.

A man walked down the street with his friend. The friend paused at a newsstand and greeted the seller with a smile and a friendly, “Good morning.” Instead of reciprocating, the disgruntled person scowled at him, grabbed his money, and slapped the morning paper into his hand.

As they walked away, the man asked his friend if that person always treated him so roughly. The friend affirmed it was a daily occurrence. The next question was, “Are you always courteous and friendly to him like you were just now?”

“Yes, I am.”

Puzzled, the man asked, “Why are you so nice when he is so rude?”

The friend responded, “Because I don’t want him to decide how I’m going to act.”

Learning about this man’s daily choice in an unpleasant setting, changed my perspective. I am more determined to respond to people in a consistent way that honors God, no matter what they may say or do that challenges my way of life.

We can’t avoid hearing the music of the world, but we can choose how we dance to it. Can you think of a situation when you stayed strong and chose your own way to dance to life’s music?