UNREE DEEMD: A NEW NAME

UNREE DEEMD: A NEW NAME

 “...But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you ...he who formed you... [God says:]... "Do not fear, for I have REDEEMED you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine...” (Isaiah 43:1 NIV).

“…. old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).

*

Sarah stood at the window watching Momma D drive away. She wasn’t worthy of her grandmother’s love and the Deemd’s were better off without her. “...There’s no way Momma D would love her, if she knew the “real” her...” Sarah had given her a good show with her display of anger, but she’d still said she loved her.

She hoped she pushed her away, so she wouldn’t come back. She didn’t need her or anybody else. Sarah knew how to live alone and abandoned. She was no longer interested in opening up or connecting to anyone.

She didn’t give Momma D a change to say anything, really. She wasn’t going to give her an opportunity to get inside or engage with her at all.

She’d been pushing people away for years and years. It was a lot easier to reject other people, before they had a chance to reject or abandon her. She was good at it.

Sarah thought it was an act of independence, which revealed her strength and her lack of dependency on other people.

Sarah had defined herself by this independence and she had lashed out at Momma D, but she saw her anger as destructive this time.

She had put, the only person who’d sincerely said they loved her in years, out of her house. It made Sarah question her independent identity.

After years of therapy, Sarah knew she’d acted immaturely and had again, stood in her own way to recovery. She resisted another opportunity to move past her pain. She just didn’t know how to do it.

“….“…I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).

She felt personal growth was a threat to her independent identity. She was also concerned about losing control.

Sarah didn’t want intimacy. She didn’t want to be close to any one, not even Momma D. She was unworthy of love. That’s the way she’d been treated, it’s the way she’d treated herself, and others. Her unworthiness had become a self-filling prophecy and she’d become comfortable with it.

She no longer took chances with relationships. Most of them had caused her nothing but unhappiness and she didn’t want them anymore. Sarah was unworthy of love and she refused to experience anymore rejection or abandonment on any level.

She was buried alive, because she didn’t have the confidence to move beyond the graveyard of her past.

Sarah was trapped inside the prison of her past. She had the keys in her hands, but thought it was too late to open the door.

Sarah understood the way to freedom intellectually, but breaking the cycle was mission impossible.

Her life and her experiences had hardened her heart, which derailed her and she simply couldn’t get back on track.

Momma D was looking for some happy reunion with a granddaughter that died years ago. The new Sarah was damaged beyond repair and she had no ability to reconnect with her or anyone.

Not only did Sarah NOT have the ability to reconnect, she didn’t want to either.

Her hard-heartedness, meanness, indifference, lack of compassion or empathy for others had become a lifestyle and she was familiar with her habits. At this point, in her life, she'd hurt too many people and treated them  horribly. She didn’t even feel any remorse.

The darkness, she'd lived with, began dominating her life when she was 9 years old. All her experiences cemented her way of thinking. Her grandmother was an interruption of years and years of a pattern of negative thinking that had become a practice.

Sarah had suffered so much and it turned her heart cold and she was stuck in a reoccurring nightmare.

When Sarah walked back into the living room she saw three photo albums sticking out of a bag next to the coffee table. Sarah sat down and opened the albums. They told the story of Sarah’s life from infancy, to toddlerhood to her first day of school.

She was happy, smiling, cuddling, carried in someone’s arms, someone played toys with her, she was with her grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. She had travelled, been to Disneyland, and played in the neighborhood park.

The themes were love and family. Sarah had relationships with other people and the photographs were the evidence of her family history.

In five years, the Deemds had taken 100s of pictures of Sarah. She was somebody to them. They had photographed every important event. They had wrote underneath each photo in order to record when she learned to potty, when she took her first step, when she got her first tooth, when she said her first word, “...Poppa...” and when she went to kindergarten.

It was so obvious Sarah was loved and she was a happy child too! Momma D took most of the photos because she was not in them as much as everyone else.

The first two albums were all of Sarah, but the third was of a little boy. He favored Sarah a little. His name was Reginald. He was an adorable little boy.

On the last page of the album there was a picture of Sarah, labelled  Sarah, the grandmother; Reginald, labelled Sarah’s grandson, and UnRee, Sarah’s daughter.

Sarah’s emotions exploded as she viewed the last photographs. Momma D showed she was actually a part of a family unit, which she couldn’t deny. Sarah was reminded that she was once happy and in spite of the distance between them she had a daughter and grandson. How had UnRee found Momma and Poppa D?

The Deemd’s had taken her pedophile daughter and bastard grandson into their lives and loved them. She had treated UnRee like trash, but the Deemd’s treated them like treasures and made them family.

There was a letter in the back of the last album. It was typed and it read. “..Dear Sarah, We are so sorry about the life we abandoned you too. We should have fought harder for you, but we didn’t have the resources the Robinsons did. We take the blame for the part of your heart we have broken. We can’t make up for the past, but we know someone who can. His name is Jesus. He is a heart fixer.

Our hearts were broken when you were taken away too. We were distraught, but Jesus fixed our hearts so we could endure the pain. Jesus did this by directing us to the GREAT LOVE of God.

Heartbreak drives you away from his LOVE, but Jesus helps direct you BACK to His LOVE. Those of us who broke you heart have NO POWER to fix it and if you are looking to us to mend your broken heart it will continue to be broken over and over again. The pain stays fresh until you choose to let Jesus direct you to God’s comforting and healing love.

God says: “...He heals the brokenhearted, And binds up their wounds...” (Psalms 147:3 NASB). “...He heals the brokenhearted, And binds up their wounds....” (Isaiah 30:25 NIV).

Jesus, the Word says: “...The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed...” (Isaiah 61:1 NLT).

God says: “...He sent out his word (Jesus) and healed them; he rescued them from the grave...” (Psalm 107:20 NIV).

UnRee added this verse: “...I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick...” (Ezekiel 34:16 KJV).

Let God heal your broken heart, Sarah and come back home. Our love is a flawed and finite human love, but we STILL love you the best we can. Love, Poppa D, Momma D, Reginald, and UnRee. Though the letter was typed, they had all signed their names.

Sarah had heard about Jesus in some of her programs, but she never listened. When something horrible happens to you it breaks your heart. You stop being vulnerable. You stop trusting, and you survive by protecting your “own” heart.

Sarah hadn’t protected her heart, she’d put cement over it. The letter said “this” Jesus directs you to God’s love. He is the heart fixer, which means you don’t even have the power to fix your own heart, but he does. She would have to trust him. She would have to relinquish the vow ... she’d made, to never let anybody hurt again...GO.

Sarah had protected her own self since she was twelve, but it hadn’t protected her heart. It had made her heart unforgiving, angry, bitter, hateful, and mistrusting. She’d protected her heart from one thing and not from others.

She’d broken her own heart in other ways. She thought it made her safe, but she had only traded one nightmare for another.

She was alone, isolated and un-relational. Who is this Jesus? Sarah started to put the letter back into the album when she saw a tiny little book title: “Who is Jesus.”

Sarah learned the reason she had a sin nature and WHY she needed Jesus.

4-25 NLT).The BOOK read:

“...God, the Holy Spirit, GAVE mankind (Adam and Eve) one HOLY instruction:  “…of every tree of the garden THOU MAYEST FREELY EAT: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou  SHALT NOT EAT of it; for in THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV).

BUT“…The woman [became] ... convinced [to eat from the tree, anyway]... She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it...” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).

“….She [CHOSE to take] ... some of the fruit and [eat] ... IT. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).

“….God saw everything he had made……and, [said] … it was VERY GOOD…” (Genesis 1:31 KJV). Adam and Eve destroyed MUCH GOOD. “…God asked the woman, “What have you done?” (Genesis 3:7-13 NLT). “… ONE sinner destroy[ed]… MUCH GOOD…” (Ecclesiastes 9:18 NASB). “…through one man SIN entered into the world, and DEATH THROUGH SIN, and so death passed to “all” men—“(Romans 5:12 KJV).  NOW “…All have sinned and fallen SHORT of the GLORY of God…” (Romans 3:23).

“….She [CHOSE to take] ... some of the fruit and [eat] ... IT. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).

“…God asked the woman, “What have you done?” (Genesis 3:7-13 NLT).

“.... At that moment their eyes were opened…” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).  At that moment, they transgressed the holy law and “…[their] ...INIQUITIES … separated … [them from] ... God (the breath of life, the Holy Spirit, GOODNESS)…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).

A willful, voluntarily decision to ignore God’s holy instruction cut them OFF from God, the Holy Spirit or SEPARATED them from the breathe of life. “…It’s YOUR SINS that … [will] ...cut you off from God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).

Adam and Eve, who were FREE from sin, at the time, also had human will and decided, on their OWN volition, to ACT against God’s WORD. “… [YOU CHOOSE]... this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).

They freely CHOSE to do the opposite of what God’s Word instructed them to do. Choices have consequences and God fully disclosed to them what those consequences will be if they CHOSE “NOT” to listen to his Word. “... THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV).

“…[They became] ... DEAD in trespasses and sin…” (Ephesians 2:1 KJV). Their souls became dead souls, trapped within the prison of the body, made from the dust of the ground, because God’s Holy Spirit is not present. Sinners are “…DEAD “IN” trespasses and sin (within the sin nature)...” (Ephesians 2:1 KJV).

Dead souls are“…separated from the LIFE of God…” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV). BECAUSE, “…It is the SPIRIT who gives LIFE…” (John 6:63 NASB). “...I want to do what is good, but I don’t …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).

Remember, “…[The redeemed]... were dead in [their] sins[too] and ... [NOW]…God made [them]... ALIVE with Christ. He forgave [them]… all [their]… sins…” (Colossians 2:13 NIV). God “….made [the redeemed]… ALIVE with Christ …when [they]… were DEAD in transgressions…” (Ephesians 2:5 NIV). Like the prodigal son, “… [they were]…. DEAD and [have been made]… ALIVE AGAIN; [the redeemed were]… lost and [have been]… found…” (Luke 15:24 NIV).

SIN, the rejecting of God’s HOLY instructions, separated mankind from God, the Holy Spirit or the breathe of life. “…[Their] ...INIQUITIES … separated … [them from] ... God…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV).

Three things happened when Adam and Eve ate the apple:  1. “… [Their] … iniquities (transgressions) …separated [them]… from God (the breath of LIFE)…” (Isaiah 59:2 KJV). 2. “…[They became] ... DEAD in trespasses and sin (souls trapped within the sinful nature)…” (Ephesians 2:1 KJV). 3. Their Spiritual death was also the removal of the SPIRIT OF GOODNESS, which was produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit and left the SOUL in slavery to body of flesh which became the sinful nature.

How do you KNOW it is the SOUL (your being or existence) that is trapped in slavery to the sinful nature? Because the bible tells us Jesus RESTORES the SOUL. God, through the GIFT of Salvation restores the DEAD soul from the bondage or slavery to SIN, “…He restoreth my SOUL…” (Psalm 23 KJV). “…The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the SOUL…” (Psalm 19 NASB). “IN” Christ your DEAD soul has been restored and made “ALIVE AGAIN.” (Luke 15:24 NIV).

HOW? “…It is the SPIRIT who gives LIFE…” (John 6:63 NASB). “……God made you ALIVE with Christ. He forgave [you]… all [your]… sins…” (Colossians 2:13 NIV). “…he that is joined unto the Lord (Jesus) is ONE spirit… [with God again]” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “…. old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “... and man ...[becomes]... a living soul (AGAIN)…” (GENESIS 2:7 KJV).

Spiritually DEAD souls are slaves to the sinful nature. “…The sin of my SOUL…” (Micah 6:7 KJV). “...I want to do what is good, but I don’t …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).

The spiritually DEAD soul is heavily affected by carnality. “….When you follow the desires (influences) of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life WILL NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. …” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).

Adam and Eve ONCE had a body, Spirit, and soul but the Spirit separated. “….let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV).  “…..God created man in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). “….God formed man of the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (HIS Spirit or spiritual LIFE); and man became a living soul (soul)…” (Genesis 2:7 KJV).

“….let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). They were originally created in God’s “image”, which is SPIRIT. “…God is not human (he is not a body, the flesh, or a soul)…” (Numbers 23:19 NIV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell in you (and dwelt in Adam and Eve)…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).

From that time, until NOW, everyone, born into the world, is born without the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…All have sinned (all are born with a sin nature only) and fallen short of the glory of God (born without the indwelling holy spirit)…” (Romans 3:23). “….I was born a sinner (I was born without the indwelling holy spirit)….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).

NOW everyone is born with ONLY a sin nature. Everyone will eventually become a SLAVE to sin, and they cannot, on their own, be restored to WHOLENESS or REUNITED with God, the Holy Spirit, without an act of God’s LOVING GRACE.

The sinful nature ONLY knows how to SIN. Sinful behaviors are the symptoms of “that” nature. “….I was born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).  “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin (nature) …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…the wages of sin (the symptoms of that nature, which are transgressions against God’s holy law) is death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “…For all have sinned (all have this nature)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV). “…all have ... come short of the glory of God (all are born WITHOUT the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV).

The body of flesh was NOT designed or created to OBEY God, therefore, the body of flesh became the sinful nature. The sin nature ONLY has a proclivity to DISOBEY God. “…The sinful nature is always hostile to God . …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “..[The sinful nature]... never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “...those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).

Ethical behavior is NOT righteous behavior. “…The flesh (ethical behavior) profiteth nothing…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…Human effort (ethical behavior) accomplishes nothing….” (John 6:63 NLT). “…If I bestow all my goods to feed the poor (ethical behavior), and if I give my body to be burned (ethical behavior), but have not love (God is LOVE and SPIRIT), IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING…” (1 Corinthians 13:2-3 ASV)."… if the salt has become tasteless … It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out…” (Matthew 5:13 NASB).

A man or woman, without God, the Holy Spirit, is a dead soul. They have NO true spiritual inclinations. They can have ethical behaviors, trained by the flesh that is hostile to God, but their natural proclivities are to sin and do what they want to do; “NOT” what God wants them to do. “…the body without (apart from) the spirit is dead…” (James 2:26 KJV). “…The sinful nature is always hostile to God . …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “..[The sinful nature]... never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “….I was born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).  “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin (a slave to the sin nature) …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…the wages of sin (the definite prognosis of having a sin nature) is death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “…For all have sinned (all have been born with a sin nature)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV)...”

Sarah became engulfed in the little book. It wasn’t just her experiences  that had made her jaded, hard-hearted, and cynical, but it was her sin nature too.

Her whole perspective on life was dysfunctional and distorted. She thought she was right and never thought about any other truth, but her own.

Sarah wasn’t the way she was because she was worthless, but because she had a sin nature and sin had hardened her heart.

While she was in the business of protecting herself and her heart she was actually cementing herself into a grave of unhappiness, a prison of darkness, and as far away from love as one could get.

She’d gone to therapy for years and knew all the psychological theories to recovery, but now another door had open. The door was an unusual one, but it was promising her a way to escape the nightmare of her life.

Sarah had fervently protected her heart, but now it was hardened by sin. It wasn’t protected, really, if it is still not healed.

After reading the words of the letter and some pages in the little book Sarah felt, for the first time in over 40+ years, HOPE.

Sarah repeated the prayer on the back of the little book title, “Who is Jesus.”

“...Dear God ,  Jesus has drawn me to you and I come to you through his direction. I confess that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me, have mercy on me, and thank you that your grace will be enough to save me. I’ve learned and I believe that you sent Jesus to die on the cross for me. He was buried and was resurrected to secure my salvation. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and I willingly invite him into my heart. Amen...”

There was no thunder or bolt of lightening but something had changed. Sarah had been sitting in her living room for hours with the photo albums, the letter, and the little book.

When Sarah was younger she watched a construction worker break a section of concrete. He had special tools (jackhammer, chisel, etc.) and he was strong. He had the body power to use those tools to break up the cement.  

When he finished breaking the cement he said he was going to throw it away in a suitable landfill where it belonged. After a while the cemented area was turned into a little garden space.

Who would have ever guessed that underneath all that cement was a flower garden? Sarah felt like that garden.

A few days later, Sarah felt compelled to do something. She dug through an old chest and found the hidden compartment. It was still there.
   
                           *

Momma D gave the letter to UnRee, it was from Sarah. “...It’s from your mother...” UnRee stared at her in shock. She hadn’t spoken to her mother in years. “...Open it, baby...”

“...I don’t want too, GG...”

“...Open it, UnRee. There is no reason to fear her anymore...”

“...GG she’s still mean. She treated you so awful...” Her grandmother hugged her.

“...Open the letter, UnRee...” She finally opened the envelope and discovered it was a copy of her birth certificate. Sarah had attached a note. “...This is a copy of your real birth certificate. I had the other one falsified. At one time, I used to call you ReeRee or Ree...The other name is a lie, but your “real” name is the truth...” The birth certificate said she was Ree Lynn Deemd or Ree Deemd.

“...I have a wonder NEW NAME! GG, Sarah sent a bible scripture too...”  It says: “...But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you ...he who formed you... [God says:]... "Do not fear, for I have REDEEMED you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine...” (Isaiah 43:1 NIV).

UnRee was lost, but now she was found. Jesus had purchased her freedom in exchanged for his life.

She was a NEW CREATION with a NEW LIFE and now a NEW NAME!!

“…. old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). REDEEMED!