To Bring You Back (Rhythms of Redemption Romances #1)

by Emily Conrad

God doesn’t want us to spend years buried under guilt. Jesus came to set us free from condemnation.”

We’ve got to do each other the favor of speaking up when no one else will.”

“This is how you’ve been coping all these years, isn’t it? Penance and blame. Vilifying me and denying your own dreams to feel good about yourself.”

“She’s always in trouble but never ready to change.”

abusive father and the agent who took advantage of her when she first came to LA,

looking for attention in all the wrong ways.

“She is seeking,” John agreed dryly, “but not God.”

“I’m trying to be for her what you were to me, a friend who’s not easily scared off and is there to point the way when she’s ready to listen.” “This isn’t the same.”

He wouldn’t bow to shame. Wouldn’t let the past define him. For him and Adeline to have any hope of a future together, she had to live in forgiveness too.

In Christ, we’re not defined by our sin. We’re defined by grace, and we can’t waste years on regret or in fear of what people might think

The truth is that God is better than all our sin. Even if it doesn’t make us look good, owning up to our mistakes showcases how great the grace of God is.

the lack of inspiration was God’s way of telling me to make things right.”

I could publish them without your blessing.” “So why don’t you?” “Because you’ve always been more important than music.”

God forgives. Restores us when we come to Him, no matter our sin.”

he was a grace abuser, and she thought closing herself off to love made her holier.

You’re afraid of the scandal, afraid grace won’t catch your free fall. You’d rather make redemption about works and how people perceive you because you have some control there, but whatever scaffolding you’re rigging to get yourself to God won’t reach. Only the cross of Jesus will do that.”

Forgiveness doesn’t cancel consequences, but the opposite is also true. Consequences don’t mean we’re not forgiven. When we’re covered in grace, we don’t have to walk around in shame anymore.”

“We all fall short, though, so it’s impossible to judge someone by their actions alone. Only God knows a person’s heart, and that’s what’s important to Him.”

“Distance yourself from her.” John crossed to the door, a line on his forehead indicating worry. “Otherwise, she’ll take from you, but not the help you’re offering.”

She might need him, and she might even be ready to admit she also needed Jesus if he stuck this out.

proved herself a true friend in this conversation. She hadn’t judged. She’d encouraged.

Adeline could be friends with Gannon again.

She was broken. Gannon wasn’t letting the past define him. The idea of that freedom was intoxicating, especially now that she’d seen him here, seen that he wasn’t denying the cost of his sin, wasn’t immune to regret.

though she was broken, she was worth protecting and making whole again.

It takes a certain type to date a pastor, someone with thick skin and the kind of relationship with God that lends peace and discretion in the midst of varying opinions.”

“Why would He want to hear from me? Because I know it’s not so much about one sin or another, but what if my heart isn’t in the right place? Can we ever be repentant enough or loyal enough to God?”

“I don’t think our hearts can be right on their own, but we can follow David’s example and ask God to create clean hearts in us. He can do for us what we can’t do for ourselves.”

“Remembering how God restored David was the only way I could live with myself after Fitz died.”

Gannon really thought God would hold her each night as she fell asleep? And that God would always greet her with a smile? That He’d sing for her, and He’d protect her heart? That He would love her like no one else ever could?

All I’ve ever done is alienate people. Fitz, you, God. And apparently all any of you want is for me to be loved and in love.”

you’re afraid because real life isn’t neat and tidy. That’s why you haven’t been living it—because you tried once and it went badly and now you think every imperfection will turn into the same

“I can afford impractical.”

“The question is whether you can forgive imperfect—in me and in yourself.”

A romance meant risking that he’d hurt her again, and worse.

I’m praying about what to do, but do you think God will answer clearly enough for me to recognize Him?” “I do, but you’ll have to be willing to hear, even if the answer isn’t what you want.”

“Every time you try to save Harper, you’re telling Adeline another woman has a hold on you. You’re going to have to choose whose hero you want to be. Let the others fend for themselves.”

“Fitz didn’t deserve to be fired,” John said, “but Matt’s only hope of changing is in experiencing consequences for his addiction. And Harper needs to be let go more than anyone.” “And if something happens?” “This is a stunt to get your attention. Intervening will reinforce that she gets her way by being reckless.

“Playing again feels like freedom. Or like music will be freedom once I get back what I lost. I’ve been stuffing down a lot—emotions, my story, my personality—for years now.”

“Returning to bass makes me feel like I’m on the verge of being able to express all that again.”

He and Adeline were friends. Period. So this decision didn’t depend on what Adeline needed or wanted. It was about him. About whether he could trust God with Harper or felt he had to do all the work himself. About acknowledging that enabling Matt and Harper with his energy and friendship would never make up for the wrong he’d done Fitz. He’d tried to take on the role of hero to earn his redemption instead of accepting it as a gift. In the

Following Him does involve changing—constantly, for all of us—but He doesn’t leave us to figure that out without His help.

“There is help and there is hope, but you have to decide to take it.”

He had to trust that God would heal her. In His own time, in His own way.

“Fame doesn’t make a person more valuable, and it doesn’t make people happy. If anything, the money and power result in a lot of temptation. You need to be grounded in God before you go chasing anything else.

She’d been living a quiet life, but not a life where she let God fulfill her. She wasn’t grounded. Gannon was, but that wouldn’t be enough for both of them. They’d never be happy together if she expected Gannon to do for her the things only God could.

she needed space from Gannon if she was going to get right with God.

“He is better than I know. He does forgive perfectly, and He has a plan for me. I want to take the time to understand what that means.”

“I want to stop assuming following Him means taking on work I don’t love and volunteering every chance I get. I want to stop punishing myself by not playing bass and by keeping everyone at bay. But changing all that is turning my world on its head.”

I need to learn to rely on Him before exploring other relationships. Being grounded in God first is the only way I’ll make a good life partner for anyone.

“You’re choosing well this time. I wish you all the best, Adeline.”