GEMINI: THE DESPERATELY WICKED AND DECEITFUL HEART CHAPTER 2

gemini: the desperately wicked and deceitful heart

“….from WITHIN, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful DESIRES (choices, passions, appetites), envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from WITHIN; they are what defile you…” (Mark 7:20-23 NLT).

“…from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts… wickedness…All these evil things come from within, and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV). The heart “…is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).

 *

Gemini finally called Simon and agreed to meet him, in a couple of days, in a public place, down in Lexington Park. She hadn’t changed her mind and there was no longer any baby to discuss. What did he want? He said he just wanted to talk, but she didn’t trust Simon.

Gemini’s day was full. She had five clients and as excited as she was about her own transformation, she was not excited about those who still needed serious transformation.

Most people were not coming to counseling to transform, but they were coming for permission or to find a way to normalize their reasons for staying the same. In the past she’d given them what they wanted.

She was using non-Christian methods to counsel Christians, because she was under the impression that their methods were better than spiritual truths. Though psychology can offer valuable insights into humanity, it is totally remiss of the spiritual truths that can truly HEAL, DELIVER, and make one WHOLE again.

Now that her OWN heart was being healed, delivered and transformed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, she could see how “desperately wicked” she’d been. Psychology NEVER did that for her.

She could also see it in others too. The greatest TRICK the enemy had upon the church, today, is the fact that they, like the world, LOOKED on the appearance. Psychology was LIMITED to the flesh or its human effort and how it SEES, OBSERVES, UNDERSTANDS, and HELPS ITSELF.

All the devil had to do is make one of “his demon disciples” LOOK and ACT like a Christian. Other Christians see, observe, understand, and model themselves after the "demon disciples". Thus, the devil, through appearance alone, can control the church while deceiving them at the same time!

If “one” sinner could destroy much good, imagine what “one” demon disciple could do. Gemini thought she was BEING the idea Christian leader and wasn’t hurting anyone, but she DID and she WAS! She’d actually demonstrated how to be a Christian through the flesh or her human effort, without spiritual fruit or the indwelling spiritual power.

A few Sundays ago she’d spoken at a LARGE woman’s conference in Tennessee and several people gave their lives to Christ. In her 20+ years in ministry, she had NEVER, personally, been used, by God, in such a way and she knew why.

She was considered a Christian performer, who entertained, but had NO real supernatural power! People gathered together in a building called church, but that doesn’t mean they are having a “real” church experience.

Whoever was looking at her as a Christian leader thought she was the real thing and some of them didn’t know any different. She had contributed and influenced the new performance based, but spiritual powerless, breed of new “Christians.”

What had deceived her? It was her heart. The bible says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. OMG! Gemini heart was NOW laden with guilt!

In 20+ years of ministry, Gemini put her total confidence, for being a “Christian” leader, into her own hands. She had helped people, influenced them, but it was ALL limited to the flesh. Spiritually, she was useless and worthless, and had not LEAD, at least not on purpose, people to the ONE and ONLY true healer!

When she’d gotten really sick, the doctors did all they could humanly do, to treat her and she wondered who would do the rest. God did. She watched an incision heal for weeks.

She watched the red and inflamed wound close up, a scab covered it for weeks, eventually the scab fell off and a small thin scar was left it is place. The doctors had treated her, but God had healed her.

No human being had healed her incision. People say time heals all wounds, but during "that" time what is healing the wound? God heals. 

She KNEW, through experience, he was the real healer. Yet, when she gave her “testimony” she boasted about what “she” did to get better, which she said healed her. She was ALWAYS stealing God’s glory.

Gemini had trusted in and depended upon her OWN righteousness and strength. She became a so-called Christian success story without Christ. Imagine that! She had flourished in “the church” without truly putting her HOPE in God.

At the same time, her heart was corrupt and in a fallen state. It was causing her to deceive herself and everyone else. While she did evil privately, she appeared to being doing righteous publically. And people called her a “good person.” Were they, without knowing it, calling evil good?

Gemini was a FRAUD and her heart was the major culprit. In her private hour of temptation, her heart would willingly run after whatever it lusted for and she indulged in its desperate wickedness.

Her heart was contrite now and it saddened her in so many ways. She was being directed to live a holy life and it was changing her behavior. She actually had no taste or desire for adultery any more.

Though God had forgiven her and she had truly decided to allow the Holy Spirit to transform her life, there was still Simon to deal with.

Gemini wanted to forget about Simon and had suggested they go on their separate ways. She also wanted to forget about the past, move forward with Brad and act like nothing ever happened. However, she didn’t feel right about it and she had to face them both, with the truth, no matter what the cost!

Gemini and Brad had a decent life together, she thought, but it had actually gotten better since her conversion. She and Brad had grown closer spiritually as well as intimately and she learned things were not as great, between them, as she thought it was. Her relationship with her children was changing too. She learned the many ways she’d hurt or disappointed them and God was healing the bond between them again. Susan Taylor even told her she was different and she could see the spiritual fruit now.

Gemini had already talked to Brad. She wanted to tell him everything, but he didn’t want to know any details. He did ask: “...Are you still doing this wrong, Gem...”

 “..No...”

“...then I don’t want to know. I love you. I forgive you. Let’s put in under the blood and move on...”

“...there are some things I still need to straighten out, Brad...”

“...and once your straighten them out?...”

“...I can freely move on...”

“...then do what you have to do or talk to whomever you’ve got to talk to and I don’t want to ever hear about..”

“...Brad don’t you want to know, what it is...”

“...No, Gem, I don’t. I’ve known something wasn’t right for the last ten years, but I also know you’ve changed lately. I have been expecting this conversation. Sometimes the devil is in the details and he uses the details to tear people’s lives apart...”

 “...if you knew something was wrong why didn’t you ever say anything...”

“...I did. How many times, over the last ten years, did I ask you was there anything wrong, but you always said no. I prayed about it and hoped, when you were ready, you would come to me to work it out...”

“...But Brad I haven’t really told you anything...”

“...you’ve told me enough, Gem and I trust that you are now ready to truly be MY wife...”

Brad was so gracious and merciful to her and she, in no way, deserved his kindness or his unconditional love. Again, God’s people were always loving. I don’t think I would have done for Brad what he’d done for me.

Gemini had learned two important differences between so-called Christians and "real" Christians: real Christians were loving and real Christian had the indwelling Holy Spirit. New, innocent  or young converts trust in the integrity and guidance of “Christian” leadership. It is the phony, so-called Christian who hurts the new or young converts and they are the ones who DESTROY the witness and credibility of the true Christian faith.

Gemini paid attention to all the Christians scandals, whether they were true or not. There was Billy James Hargis, Jim and Tammy Bakker,  Andy Bloomdale, Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton, Eddie L. Long, and so on. What if she was next?

Almost everybody knew someone who didn’t go to church because of the hypocrites, or because someone, in the church, had “hurt” them, or because of its many scandals.

For years and years Gemini had gotten away with her adulterous ways and she thought she was being slick keeping it on the down-low.

She wasn’t being slick or getting away with anything. God was showing her GRACE and giving her an opportunity, through time, to get it straight with him. But her time had ran out and she felt like the old saying: a day late and a dollar short.

A Simon may be her "...day late and dollar short..."

A couple of days later Gemini drove to Lexington Park. She felt anxious, her stomach was churning, and she kept passing gas. Simon was fine and sexy. He was the perfect temptation for her adulterous ways and she wondered would she pass the test when she saw him again. All she wanted to do is talk, break up, and walk away. She didn’t want to return to her old ways.

She turned into the Longhorn Restaurant parking lot. She watched Simon swag his way inside. All the old temptations were bombarding her and speaking to her mind, but she prayed: “...please God, help me be strong...”

Gemini dressed very conservative, but casual. She didn’t want to give the wrong message. She was here on a mission. When Simon saw her he smiled his radiant smile, grabbed her as soon as she reached the table, and kissed her on the lips. Her knees buckled, but she managed to push him away and sit down.

They talked lightly for a few minutes, ordered their meals, and told a few jokes. Then Simon  asked her bluntly: “...Who the hell are you? And you better not lie to me....”

“...what difference does it make now, Simon. I think it’s time we go our separate ways. You asked me to say it to your face. That’s why I’m here...”

“...You lied to me Gemini Alexander Patterson and I think the least you can do is tell me the truth...”

“...like I said, what difference does it make if it’s over between us...”

“...it’s not over for me. I want to keep seeing you.  I don’t care if you’re married. I’m in love with you Gemmy. I am pissed that you lied, but I still love you...” Gemini signed silently. This was going to be harder than she thought. She’d never had this problem before and love was NEVER on the menu for her. Simon continued: “...you know I don’t like Christians because they’re nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. I told you how they dogged me and my mother out unlovingly and unjustly. They kicked us out of the church because she worked at a strip club as a waitress NOT a stripper. Plus, she knew a lot of them went to the club regularly too and she could bust they asses. They knew she wasn’t stripping. I don’t like them suckers! I hate them. I’ll never forgive them for what they did with they two-faced, judgmental asses. My mother drank herself to death and I blame them for it!...”

Gemini raised her hand to stop his rampage. Simon always got heated about what his childhood church did to his mother. She’d heard it before. She also heard the words “two-faced.” “....I know Simon and I’m sorry you experienced that, but what does that have to do with us calling it quits...”

He looked her dead in the eyes, “...I am NOT going to let “the church” hurt me again, Gemmy. I mean that...”

“...Are you threatening me, Simon. I am NOT the church that hurt you!...”

“...Yes you are and I am NOT threatening you, but I will promise you this. You are NOT going to HURT me. If you do I am going to SHARE that pain with you, so you’ll know what if FEELS like. So what’s it going to be Gemini?...”

She looked at him speechless and wondered what he meant by what he’d said. She wasn’t going to let him bully her. She promised Brad and she was going to keep her promises from now on. “...I’m sorry, Simon. I don’t want to hurt you. What I did was really, really wrong and I should not have involved you in my lies and deceit. Please forgive me...” Simon was silentfor a long five minutes, but smiled. He WAS a beautiful man. He lifted his hands in defeat.

“...Okay Gemmy, I will choose to forgive you. It won’t be easy, but I will do it for you, ONLY because I sincerely love you. I won’t say anything to Brad or your church.  But I need one more favor?...” Gemini frowned.

“...What it is, Simon...”

“...Remember  that Lladro porcelain piece you wanted?...” Gemini nodded. “... I bought it for you. Can I at least give you that as something to remember me by....” She hesitated, but nodded her consent. “...same time and the last time, next week then...”

“...Okay, I’ll see you next week...”

Gemini waved at Simon as she headed back home to the Gambrills suburb in Baltimore. She started thinking, immediately, that maybe she should cancel next week and make a clean cut of it. But she was so grateful that he’d agreed to break if off without any fan fair, the least she could do is accept his gift.

When Gemini walked back into her office, she had three clients scheduled and one of them was there waiting for her 20 minutes early for her appointment. She asked her if she wanted to start early and together they went into session.

The truth was still the truth: Without God, a person is NOT basically GOOD, but basically a SINFUL NATURE. Simon Toliver was NOT a Christian and his heart was STILL “...deceitful and desperately wicked...”

GEMINI: THE DEEDS OF HER FLESH CHAPTER 1

           

gemini

The deeds of her flesh

““…What shall it profit a man (woman), if he (she) shall gain the whole world (fool people with outward, religious phoniness), and lose his (her) own soul?” (Mark 8:36 KJV). “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV).

“... Now the DEEDS OF THE FLESH ARE EVIDENT, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these...” (Galatians 5:19-21 NASB).

“...I FOREWARN YOU, just as I have forewarned you, that those who PRACTICE such things WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God...” (Galatians 5:19-21 NASB).

*

Gemini had been a two-faced Christian or phony for years. Susan Taylor, whether she knew it or not, made her realize what a counterfeit she really was, especially as a so-called Christian leader.

Her doctor’s brother, Simon, had been blowing her other cell phone up. She had a cell phone that was part of a family package through Verizon and she had a TracFone phone.

Gemini was an exceptionally beautiful woman and she had no problem attracting her lovers. Over the years, she also had no problem walking away from her affairs either. Simon was different and he fell hard for her. He wanted something more.

She lived in the Baltimore suburbs of Maryland and Simon lived in Lexington Park, Maryland. She never told any details about her personal life. She and Brad had a family doctor, but her secret doctor was in Lexington Park too, Dr. David Toliver.

Dr. Toliver had her fake name and P. O. box address, but if he gave it to Simon, they would both know she had not been honest with them. All she had to do is throw the TracFone away and move on with her life, but she knew Dr. Toliver probably told Simon she was at his clinic and he was looking for her.

His cell phone messages were NOW angry and threatening. Even though she’d told him it was over he wanted her to tell him face to face and not over a text, but she was afraid to see him.

Simon had a little buck wild, gangster, bad boy about him and he thought she was single. If he found out she wasn’t he was the type who would act a fool about it.

Simon was NOT raised in the church and had a LOW opinion of the Christian too. He thought Christian made-up their knowledge of God, because he couldn't be known. Based on his perspective, he would hate her for her hypocrisy.

She’d changed and unfortunately, Simon was caught up in her new transformation. She’d used him to satisfy her fleshly appetite.

Gemini was intentionally having affairs and had drifted away from the biblical principles she grown up with. Susan Taylor made her realize she needed to repent and let the Holy Spirit work on her heart.

She thought she could EARN her way into the kingdom by going, faithfully, to church every Sunday. She thought going to church, made her righteous, but didn’t think having ongoing adulterous affairs would made her unrighteous.

She thought her church attendance made up for and covered over her adulterous activities. For years Gemini had attended church, sung in the choir, praised and worshipped God, and taught bible classes, while having one affair after another.

She said she loved her husband, but she cheated on him over and over again. She wasn’t showing love for him, for God, for her family, or anyone, but herself.

She had FOOLED everybody, but God. She went to church and DID all the religious things, but her heart was FAR from God. Susan Taylor talked about the time she was sick and missed many Sundays away from church, yet she sustained her intimate relationship with God.

Most of her life, as a so-called Christian, Gemini had placed more importance on maintaining an image than actually having a relationship with God. She was with the group “once saved always saved,” and she also believed she couldn’t lose her salvation.

She still believed that she couldn’t “lose” her salvation, but she could certainly choose to walk away from it. When you choose to walk away from your faith, like she did. Gemini realized she hadn’t “lost” it, but she had willfully turned her back on it, divorced it, and left it behind.

She was DOING all the religious things Christians DO, but she had NO conviction about her multiply adulterous affairs. She didn’t even have any remorse about it. Her sinful heart had hardened her conscious and it made her slip deeper and deeper into her adulterous ways.

In church, Gemini claimed to have fellowship with God, but she didn’t, because she continued to walk in the darkness of her sinful and adulterous ways.

Then there was the problem with Brad. How could she claim to be a righteous woman and yet betray him the way she had. She claimed she loved Brad, but did she? I have betrayed him over and over again; how is that love? Real Christians LOVED one another and whether she wanted to admit it or not; she had NOT demonstrated “real” love for Brad.

Christians are NOT perfect and make many mistakes, but they don’t make a practice or lifestyle of them, like she had. She continually had adulterous affairs and became comfortable with the practice. She told herself it wasn’t hurting anyone and she was being discreet.

Gemini  couldn’t deny she was living the opposite of what was in God’s Word. Adultery WAS a “deed” of the flesh and it was obvious or evident that Gemini had continued to PRACTICE committing adultery over and over and over again.

I kept my adultery from Brad, so he wouldn’t be hurt, but I didn’t mind God “knowing” and “seeing” was I was doing.

Gemini had departed from her faith, because when the Holy Spirit lived in you; Susan Taylor said you wouldn’t make a practice of sinning and she had. I disobeyed God, in his face and while he watched.

Her husband told their children, one day, that people who obeyed God have the indwelling Holy Spirit within them and that’s how they know he’s in them. He also said that people who continually practice doing what is sinful,  is of the devil. “....righteous deeds and unrighteous deeds are the way you can tell the children of God from the children of the devil...read 1 John 3:7-10...”

Gemini also thought about her prayer life. She only prayed publicly or with someone else, but NOT much privately. She didn’t hunger or thirst for God like Brad or Susan Taylor did. She wasn’t as interested in saving souls as she was about impressing people with “her” biblical knowledge or self-righteousness.

Gemini was usually more interested in glorying herself whether than God. Most of her life she cared about making herself look godly and had no problem stealing the spotlight from God.

Gemini was so good at being a so-called Christian she was prideful and arrogant about it. Her Christian leadership was about her and her religious accomplishments over the years. She had willfully stolen God’s spotlight, taken credit for his works, stripped his glory from him by clothing herself with it, and bragged about her “own” supernatural prowess, which was really entertainment and trickery.

She was literally hijacking the Christian faith without having a relationship with the Living God. As far as she’d climbed in the religious ranks; she, herself, was a lost soul.

She told others how blessed she was as she paraded all her material wealth and accumulations in front of them, but she was the poorest of all. She had the love of a truly Godly man and family, yet her heart was with her adulteries and she’d treasured each one.

Gemini was examining herself now and she felt convicted about her life. She had been the epitome of Susan Taylor’s two-faced Christian. Her heart was broken and she was contrite over the things she’d done. I am ashamed of how I treated God and what I did without regard for his holy ways.

Not only was she having affairs with other men, but she would drink, smoke pot, dress sleazy, party, and get involved with unorthodox sexual encounters. She was good at it for a long time, but now it made her sick to think about what she’d done and how low she’d gone to do it!

Gemini had done MOST of those things with Simon. Simon had no scruples and no restraints! She usually didn’t allow herself to get emotionally involved, but Simon got to her and she truly enjoyed him. However, when she got pregnant, she decided to cut things off with him and heartlessly walked away. But on one of his last messages she said “...you better call me back, Gemmy. I know about Brad Patterson and your children and you know I’m crazy as hell...”

Gemini had no idea what she was going to do about Simon. She felt like she was losing control of her life. She was losing clients too. Since she’d decided to truly accept Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to empower her to get her life right, her counseling perspectives and methods changed too!

Gemini had a more secular and scientific approach to the emotional condition of Christians in her church. She hadn’t considered their faith much at all as a coping method to their life’s problems. She was WRONG.

Gemini had discounted biblical principles, in her counseling sessions. Biblical principles are what contained the answers for God’s people and how they can overcome their issues.

Psychology doesn’t help clients discover absolute truth, but it was designed to help them use their OWN human reasonings, observations, and understandings. Psychological theories change all the time. The bible has been around for years and its unchanging truths have never failed

Gemini’s sinful lifestyle had affected everything she did in the Christian community. She had even done a disservice to her clients by using strictly psychology and NOT biblical truths.

She’d only used psychological terms that dealt with a person’s human nature and their own human effort to overcome their problems.

She’d been totally remiss about providing them with a deeper understanding of their indwelling spiritual nature could empower them to do. She’d never told one client how God had supplied them with, his indwelling strength and wisdom, to help them process them and overcome their issues and concerns.

God was their healer, emotionally, mentally, financially, and spiritually, but Gemini had not rallied for God’s role as their OWN personal, indwelling and WONDERFUL counselor.

Gemini, however, had changed. Her sinful and adulterous lifestyle had a domino effect into many areas of her life and she’d been blind to it.

She needed to be counseled, herself, with the scriptures and the help of the Holy Spirit. She was seeing the results and she felt whole for the first time in her life. She felt more authentic in her role as wife, mother, Christian leader. Her clients needed God too and she hadn’t given him to them properly

She was genuinely experiencing how the indwelling and powerful Holy Spirit was enabling her to change. She felt convicted about Brad and Simon, every day now and she still didn’t know what or how to make these situations right. She needed to come clean with Brad and Simon too.

In the meantime, Gemini’s counseling service became an evangelizing tool for other  two-faced Christians. She was trying to help them, like Susan Taylor, had helped her by showing them their deeper need for salvation and biblical healing.

Gemini understood that she couldn’t impose or force her, newly established, values or beliefs onto a two-faced “Christian.” She could, however, open the door to scripture in order to lead them to God’s truth and hope they will find God for themselves.

During their sessions, Susan Taylor, shared many scriptures with her. She thought: “... who was counseling who...” One of Susan’s scripture talked about sexual immorality. Gemini had often talked about sexual immorality with clients, their struggles with it, their proclivities for it, the problem with lust, and the appetite of the sinful nature.

She would usually tell them to pray about it and “flee” from it, but she offered no practical solution to HOW to abstain from sexual immorality. She didn’t know herself.

What she’d done for her clients was to help them understand what sexual immorality was, allowed them to express their feelings about it, and become aware of their deepest needs. She INFORMED them, she gave them psychological ENLIGHTENMENT, and she EDUCATED them about sexual immorality, but it didn’t HEAL the problem.

Gemini was good at what she did and she thought she’d helped a lot of people over the course of her career, but she hadn’t truly HEALED them. Neither did she usher them to the one who COULD.

She could present ALL the psychological theories and methods to Christians she could think of, but for God’s people, there is ONLY “one” healer.

Susan Taylor’s witness helped Gemini to understand she WAS NOT “in” Christ like she thought she was. And her spiritual influence, in the counseling sessions with Christians, was meaningless! She felt she had served no spiritual purpose until she truly accepted Christ as her Savior.

She didn’t even know enough about God and his power to personally help herself. All that she knew and understood about sexual immorality hadn’t and didn’t change her, heal her, or stop her.

Her deepest problem was the condition of her  OWN “lost” soul. It took the indwelling and powerful Holy Spirit to truly transform and HEAL her of sexual immorality.

Gemini had a purpose for counseling now and that was to help other so-called Christians like herself, but it was proving to be a lot harder than she thought. Some lifestyles of sin had become STRONGHOLDS for people and they were practically resistant to change.

 Two-faced Christians had TAKEN OVER the church nationally and internationally!

A DEEPER walk with God was NO LONGER popular in the NEW Christian community!

The DEEDS OF THE FLESH will KILL the covenant relationship with God, STEAL you away from him, and DESTROY YOU and THEN, the “deeds of the flesh” will attempt to USE you, directly or inadvertently, to DO the same to others!

What have I done?

CAN REJECTION HAVE A PURPOSE?

                            

  DOES YOUR “REJECTION” HAVE A PURPOSE!

Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you, from another person, who purposely shuts you out.

Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you, from another person, who refuses to treat you in acceptable or honorable ways.

Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you, from another person, who declines to recognize, respect, or value your usefulness or existence in their life in anyway.

Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you, from another person, who refuses to give you the love, attention, or affirmation you may desire and deserve.

Rejection is an ACTION that is experienced and comes from another person in your family, through a trusted friend, from a romantic partner or one’s spouse, or as a result of a situation or circumstance,

Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you that CAUSES emotional pain. The emotional pain from rejection is equal to the emotional pain from a physical injury and will affect the same area of the brain.

Thus, Rejection HURTS, literally!

Rejection HURTS, especially when it is directed toward you by someone you love, someone you want a lasting relationship with, someone who is supposed to love you too, and it is unwarranted. You are trying to bring the person close to your heart and they are trying to BREAK-UP with you by going in the opposite direction for NO apparent reason.

Rejection is unwarranted, especially when it is undeserved, unnecessary, unjustifiable, uncalled for, unprovoked, needless, for NO reason, or extra.

FOR EXAMPLE: Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you, from another person, when you are trying to give them a GIFT of love, in one expression or another, and they CHOOSE to refuse it,  criticize it, negate it, push it away, turn their backs on it, devalue it, treat it unworthily, or walk away from it altogether.

When rejection, an ACTION, is directed toward you, from another person, in the above mentioned ways, it can often make your feel SHAMED, SAD, HURT, GRIEF STRICKEN, BAD, UNWORTHY, DEVALUED, AND DISRESPECTED, especially when it is UNWARRANTED.

Even when rejected is UNWARRANTED, but it is DIRECTED toward you, it will IMPACT your emotions. The MAIN reason rejection IMPACTS your emotion, so powerfully, is because you MAY desire to be CLOSE to the person rejecting you or simply want their acceptance.

MOST people have a “FEAR” of rejection. The FEAR comes from NOT wanting to experience the EMOTIONAL PAIN of rejection, which comes along with loneliness, depression, abandonment, feeling forsaken or forgotten, or  self-criticism of one’s OWN unworthiness.

Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you, from another PERSON, and it is USED to kill, steal, and destroy YOUR value and YOUR worth, especially “IF” you internalize it and begin to DEFINE yourself by HOW you are being REJECTED by “this” person, persons, situation, circumstance, or experience.

When you BEGIN to DEFINE yourself by HOW you are being REJECTED by another person, persons, situation, circumstance, or experience USUALLY it becomes an internal conversation, with yourself, that involves self-criticism and AGREES with your REJECTORS actions toward you. YOU are DEFINING yourself by HOW your REJECTORS have treated you. Your IDENTITY comes from human REJECTORS or from OUTSIDE of yourself or God. “THEY” said, by their rejective ACTIONS toward you, “...you are not worthy...” and you have agreed by saying to yourself “...I am not worthy...”

From that POINT on you WILL AGREE with your human REJECTORS and LIFE will continually place you in situations, with REJECTORS, that  will repeatedly AFFIRM you are NOT valuable or worthy of love or acceptance.

This REPEATED criticism of your personhood that devalues you and treats you unworthily BECOMES a PAINFUL existence, especially every time you come in contact with a human REJECTOR either directly or inadvertently.

Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you, from another person, and everyone experiences it in their lifetime sooner or later. However, rejection was meant to be a temporary experience and NOT a lifetime experience. Rejection HURTS, but it can HEAL with time. However, if rejection begins to DEFINE you, it becomes emotionally and mentally long-lasting and CRIPPLES you.

Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you, from another person, but if it DEFINES you; it most likely, has CRIPPLED you too. Being CRIPPLED by rejection shows up in one or more ways: it will impede your ability to succeed in many parts of your life; you will experience depression often, emotional pain will be constant in one way or another, anxiety and stress will eventually contribute or activate health issues, you may allow yourself to be taken for granted because you devalue yourself, you may allow yourself to be treated like a doormat because you “think” you are unworthy of love and respect, or you may be more accepting and tolerant of emotional abuse in intimate relationships (includes children siblings, close family & friends).

Rejection HURTS on many, many levels and has a powerful IMPACT on your life and overall well-being.

Rejection is an ACTION directed toward you, from another person, and it is NOT healthy when it is INTERNALIZED and allowed to DEFINE who you are!

YOU ARE “NOT” defined by “HOW” a person TREATS you or RESPONDS to you! REJECTION “IS” painful, especially when it comes from someone YOU love, or a TRUSTED friend or family member.

REJECTION can be ONE MAJOR experience or a daily experience, but it STILL does NOT “DEFINE” you!

Humans are humans and they CHANGE all the time. They have been given a human will in order to MAKE CHOICES and sometimes their CHOICES don’t include YOU. “THAT” is PAINFUL, but that is ALL it is; a PAINFUL reality and experience.

You are ALLOWED to “FEEL” the experience, but that’s as far as that rejection goes. FEELINGS are just FEELINGS; they are NOT truth!

Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, and it HURTS, but you CHOOSE “NOT” to internalize it by allowing it to DEFINE YOU!

Rejection HURTS, but it has NO POWER to change WHO you are!

Rejection has NO POWER to change WHO you are. Thus, it is the PLACE of TRUTH where HEALING and REDEMPTION can begin.

Let’s look at this through a SPIRITUAL TRUTH.  God NEVER lets ANYTHING change WHO HE IS!! “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “… “I AM WHO I AM …” (Exodus 3:14-15 NASB).  “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). For instance, God, the Holy Spirit, remains a FAITHFUL being, because that’s “WHO” he is whether he is REJECTED or not. “… he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).

NOTHING, outside of himself, CHANGES or DEFINES “WHO” God is and his people are to be LIKE him. “…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). “...be… imitators of [Jesus]…” (Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 5:1 ASV). ^“...[Jesus]...is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).

This is a POWERFUL truth.

When you are a NEW CREATION in Christ Jesus, NO REJECTION can DEFINE or CHANGE “who” YOU ARE. “Therefore if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new...” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).

God helps his people to WITHSTAND the ACTIONS of rejection experienced through their interactions with others. .“…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). “God … worketh in [his people], both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in… [them], he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…God ...does the work IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his (people)… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).

Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, but God can turn it around FOR GOOD!“...ALL THINGS work (PROCESS) together for good to them (his people) that love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…” (ROMANS 8:28 KJV).

Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, and it may not FEEL good, but it is “...working together for good...” by teaching YOU to “...LET GO...” of people who are NOT GOOD for you!

That PERSON who is REJECTING you is inadvertently “...working together for YOUR GOOD...” along with God, who is in control of the whole situation, to redirect your steps toward something else HE has for you. “...The steps of a good man(woman) are ordered by the Lord...” (Psalms 37:23 KJV). “…I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV). “...“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for those who love Him…” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV). “...ALL THINGS (even rejection) work together for good to them (his people) that love God…” (ROMANS 8:28 KJV).

Rejection is AN ACTION, directed toward you, from another person, and in the midst of it, while you still “feeling” the pain from yesterday, or still experiencing it on a daily basis, it DOESN’T “feel” good and you can’t IMAGINE good coming from it!

 God KNOWS and he CARES. He is WORKING on it and TAKING CARE of “all” that CONCERNS you in regard to that situation! “...Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).   “….all things [will] work together for good to them that love God…” (Romans 8:28 KJV). “…Behold, I am with … [you] and will keep … [you] …I will not leave [you] ..." (Genesis 28:15 ASV). “...He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV). “…God is LOVE…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “… “I AM WHO I AM …” (Exodus 3:14-15 NASB).  “…I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “…The LORD “WILL” accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns [you]…” (John 14:31 NASB). “…God is the one who provides ....”(2 Corinthians 9:10-13 KJV).  “…God will generously PROVIDE all you need…” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT).

“...Be still, and know that I am God ... The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress...” (Psalms 46 NLT). “…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). . “…If God is for us, who is against us? ... …” (Romans 8:31-39 NASB). “...No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper...” (Isaiah 54:17 KJV). “…The LORD will accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns [you]…” (John 14:31 NASB). “… THE LORD … is Your rock and Your fortress, your deliverer…” (Psalms 18:3 NASB).

Rejection is AN ACTION, directed toward you, from another person, and whether it is something that HAS ALREADY happened to you or is currently HAPPENING to you;  GOD SAW IT or SEES IT!

This is what his WORD says: “….Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, YE HAVE DONE IT TO ME.” (Matthew 25:40 KJV).

“...Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God, for it is written: "Vengeance (making things JUST) belongeth unto to me; I will recompense (repay)," saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19 ASV).

God miraculously protects ALL of his children, even you, letting no one “…do them wrong...” and says “….touch not mine anointed (his righteous children who are set apart for his service) and do…[them] no harm.” (Psalm 105:14-15 KJV).

Here is an example of God taking your hurtful experiences and absorbing them for you: Paul was killing and persecuting God’s disciples and Jesus took it personally, as if Paul was actually doing it to him. “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man...” (Acts 9:1-7 KJV).

“…. inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, YE HAVE DONE IT TO ME.” (Matthew 25:40 KJV).

“…If God is for us, who is against us? ... …” (Romans 8:31-39 NASB). “...No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper...” (Isaiah 54:17 KJV). “…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT).   “…The LORD will accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns [you]…” (John 14:31 NASB). “… THE LORD … is Your rock and Your fortress, your deliverer…” (Psalms 18:3 NASB).

Rejection is AN ACTION, directed toward you, from another person - who could be a husband, daughter, son, mother, father, sibling, cousin, another family member, or friend - and they are devaluing you, disrespecting you, dishonoring you, pushing you away, mistreating you, criticizing you, or speaking harshly to you for NO REASON.

REMEMBER, in God’s eyes, they are NOT only rejecting you, but they are rejecting him too, because his INDWELLING Holy Spirit, is within you! “….Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, YE HAVE DONE IT TO ME.” (Matthew 25:40 KJV). “...Vengeance (making things JUST) belongeth unto to me; I will recompense (repay)," saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19 ASV).

“…No weapon that is formed against [YOU]… shall prosper…” (Isaiah 54:17 KJV). “…WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED…" (ROMANS 10:11 NASB). “…TRUST in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “…The LORD will accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns [you]…” (John 14:31 NASB).

Rejection is AN ACTION, directed toward you, from another person, but you have a SECRET just like Apostle Paul. Apostle Paul said: “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (of the love and acceptance of MY REJECTOR)…” Philippians 4:11-12 NIV).

Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, but it is “...working together for good...” by teaching YOU to “...LET GO...” of people who are NOT GOOD for you!

The HARDEST part of “...LETTING GO...” of your REJECTORS is your personally love and concern for them. You “think” they won’t MAKE it without you so you TAKE the abuse, but, ask yourself, can you take care of them BETTER than God can? He promises he will take care of WHAT and WHO concerns you. “…The LORD “WILL” accomplish (take care of)…that which concerns [you]…” (John 14:31 NASB). “…God is the one who provides ....”(2 Corinthians 9:10-13 KJV).  “…God will generously PROVIDE all you need…” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT).

“...LETTING GO...” of your REJECTORS may be the ONLY way to RECEIVE them back whole and healthy. Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, and if God has allowed it and the relationship is NOT WORKING why NOT give it to God?

This toxic relationship is or was HARD for you and it proved to be IMPOSSIBLE for you bring together, but nothing is IMPOSSIBLE for him to FIX and nothing is TOO HARD. “…the things which are impossible with men are possible with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV). “….I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: IS THERE ANY THING TOO HARD FOR ME?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or THINK, according to the power that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).

Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, and it is NOT a reflection upon “YOUR” worth or value, but it means the REJECTOR has FAILED to SEE the LOVE and CARE you are OFFERING.  God gives you an opportunity to CHOOSE to let them go, on your own and trust him with the results.

Their rejection of you is just as personal for him as it is for you and HE has the GREATER POWER to do something about it! “….Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, YE HAVE DONE IT TO ME.” (Matthew 25:40 KJV). “... "Vengeance (making things JUST) belongeth unto to me; I will recompense (repay)," saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19 ASV). “…the things which are impossible with men are possible with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV).

It HURTS to LET GO and LET GOD and you will FEEL HELPLESS, but you are limited to HUMAN efforts and you CAN’T compete with another person’s human will. God doesn’t even TRY to compete with the human will. He openly tells you his OWN people DO what they WANT TO DO and will NOT listen to him! “…my people would not listen to me. ...” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “…They kept doing whatever they wanted...” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “…They kept ...following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts...” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “…They went backward instead of forward...” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “... "Vengeance belongeth unto to me; I will recompense," saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19 ASV). “…whatsoever a man (woman) soweth, that shall he (she) also reap….” (Galatians 6:7 KJV). “….For he (she) that soweth to his (her) flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption…” (Galatians 6:8 KJV).  “But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).

Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, and it FORCES you to “...LET GO...” You don’t have to “...LET GO...” of your love and care for them, but you DO have to “...LET GO...” of your role as their SAVIOR!

God PUTS you and the REJECTOR into a BATTLE, that ONLY HE can WIN. The BATTLE may terrify you, but you MUST choose to do what King Jehoshaphat did.   “…After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared WAR on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.). Jehoshaphat was TERRIFIED by this news...” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).  

King Jehoshaphat didn’t ACT upon his FEAR about this pending BATTLE, but he ACTED upon his faith. King Jehoshaphat trusted and depended upon God, “terrified.” Thus, in spite of his “feelings” he called upon God, the Holy Spirit, for advice and help. “... He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. …We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ …O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” …” (2 Chronicles 20: 1-30 NLT).

King Jehoshaphat went to God, INSIDE HIS BATTLE, “terrified.”  God didn’t condemn him, but God helped him. “…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT).  “…As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph…” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

“… The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT).

God responded to King Jehoshaphat, lovingly, by sending him a divine message through a man named Jahaziel.“…He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. …you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you … Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

Jahaziel’s inspired Word from God guided, strengthened, and empowered King Jehoshaphat to follow God’s instructions and it bought the King overwhelming victory in HIS BATTLE. “…Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in (trust in, depend upon) the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.” After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, and sometimes the BATTLE between you and them can be TERRIFYING!  “…Jehoshaphat “was” TERRIFIED by this news...” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

However, King Jehoshaphat STILL turned to God. In spite of his feelings, the king trusted in God.  He did NOT trust in his “FEELINGS” of terror and he was able to hear God’s Word and go out to BATTLE, against his enemies, singing and praising GOD. “…At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped...On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today. …the Lord had given them victory over their enemies...” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

God didn’t LEAVE King Jehoshaphat in the BATTLE alone. He doesn’t leave you alone with your REJECTORS either. He WANTS to HELP you!  “… The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT).  Like  “…He said (to the king) … Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

In addition, “…He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. …you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory...” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

It is NOT a LACK of FAITH to FEEL your human experience of rejection in your private and personal BATTLES with people you love. God expects it, but he wants to be the one who SUPPLIES what you need INSIDE the BATTLE. “…God is the one who provides [for you]…” (2 Corinthians 9:10-13 KJV). “… God will supply all [your need]…” (Philippians 4:19 NASB). “… [God] … will keep in perfect peace all who trust in … [him and] … all whose thoughts are fixed on … [him!]” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). “….The Lord is [“your”] shepherd ….” (PSALM 23:1-3 NLT). “… THE LORD … is Your rock and Your fortress, your deliverer, Your GOD, Your rock, in whom [you] … take refuge; Your shield …" (Psalms 18:3 NASB). “…I the LORD am thy Saviour …[even in “your” storm]...” (Isaiah 60:16 KJV).

Remember through it all: “…there is none like unto thee (God, the Holy Spirit)…” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV). “...he (God, the Holy Spirit)...hath done marvellous things…” ( Psalms 98:1 KJV). “… Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done …” (Psalms 40:5 KJV).

The BATTLE between YOU and each and every REJECTOR is God’s BATTLE too and it is not IMPOSSIBLE, for him, to WIN those battles! “…the things which are impossible with men are possible with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV).

Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, and sometimes it is TIME for YOU to REST. You’ve DONE what God ask you to DO. Let him DO the rest. In the MEANTIME, he wants to RESTORE YOUR SOUL. Part of RESTORING your SOUL is restoring your WORTH and VALUE!! Let his LOVE heal you!!  “…He restoreth my SOUL…” (Psalm 23 KJV). “…The law of the LORD (the WORD of God) is perfect, restoring the SOUL…” (Psalm 19 NASB).  

“….Jesus Christ (the WORD of GOD) maketh thee WHOLE (AGAIN)…” (Acts 9:34 KJV). “... and man (woman) became a living soul …” (Genesis 2:7 KJV). “….He (the WORD OF GOD) restoreth my soul….” (PSALM 23:1-3 NLT). “…I (God, the holy spirit) will restore…” (Jeremiah 30:17 KJV). “…[The]...restorer of thy life…” (Ruth 4:15 KJV).

Rejection is AN ACTION directed toward you, from another person, but it can NEVER change WHO you are or your value and worth to God, the Holy Spirit!!

LET GO OF  YOUR REJECTORS, BE AT PEACE, TRUST GOD, AND LET THE HOLY SPIRIT DEAL WITH THEM!

WOOHOO!!