I learned that rejection is not always bad. (Remember, the Apostle John received the Revelation while exiled.)

Matthew 25:14-30

I tend to notice scenes where there is a dead tree in the midst of other blooming trees. Often, I wonder how many people feel like a dead tree in the midst of living trees because they are not fulfilling their calling, especially during times of rejection because of their calling, gender, calling paired with gender!, race, age, or any other reason. 

My job is to know God's way for me to bloom...in spite of. Hence, the reason I also notice blooming flowers, usually in the yards of dilapidated, empty houses or buildings.  In spite of the horrible conditions of the building or other plants on t​he property, a flower blooms...anyway.  

The most profound Word I've been given lately came to me in 2014, after years of trying to "fit" in a situation that I was "supposed" to fit in that reflected back to me "rejection, rejection, rejection", which reminds me of a picture that fits this situation.  I will include the link. During his sermon, a guest minister at a church I was visiting, looked directly at me and explained that the reason I was rejected was so that I wouldn't get "stuck" running around behind "him" (mate, pastor, etc.) bowing and scraping and tending to his needs for his ministry.  In being rejected, I was left open and alone, which gave God the space to speak to me about what He wanted me to do HIM....which included the radio ministry, writing and tending to those to which He gave me a specific call to.  Had I been "accepted" by the "other(s)", I would be furiously asking and performing his needs for his specific call and would have been neglecting mine... like SO MANY women do, whether out of the lack of knowledge that they need to tend to their own calling also, or their fear that they are supposed to reject their calling for the sake of "his" calling in the patriarchal world of religion/Christianity or because they use the task of helping him with his call in order to avoid their own call (Matt 25:25). (Now, take note, that this rejection didn't stop me from helping others in the church, family or elsewhere, but the rejection gave me the opportunity to do that which I was called to, as well.  Think of John on the Isles of Patmos, as well.  His rejection was God's opportunity to speak things to him that informs and prepares every human for the endtimes.)  

I've always known that each person has their own calling and it is not to be put down for the sake of anyone else. Being rejected/left out/not included allowed me the time to bloom in my own God-given assignments.  I've known frustrated people of both genders - dead and dying "trees" - who didn't step out on what God called them to do because they were held hostage under someone else' vision, not realizing that working on your own vision does not hamper, but may actually bolster the leader's/mate's/parent's vision. I witnessed women losing their husbands to death, then didn't know what to do with themselves....because they had ignored their own call/gift/talent for that mate and used it only for him, neglecting that GOD is the caller/gift-giver/talent-giver and is the ONE to which we should answer no matter who else comes in our life...because we had God first and no one replaces Him.  No one!  Jeremiah 29:11-14a KJV "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:...".  Jeremiah 29:11-14a EXB (Expanded Bible) ​"I say this because I know ·what [ the plans] I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have ·good plans for you [ plans for your peace/security], not plans ·to hurt you [not  for your harm]. I will give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call ·My name [ Me]. You will come to Me and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for Me. And when you search for Me with all your heart, you will find Me! 14 I will let you find Me,” says the Lord..."  
Now, GO! Matthew 28:18-20.

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