Don't Judge Me

By Phylicia Joannis

The third book of the Logoria Series follows Jennifer Smith. She’s young, she’s pretty, she’s confident. Her mother loves her, her friends adore her and her siblings annoy her. Popular, sweet, and generally positive, Jennifer tries to live a life pleasing to God. But, when the father she's rarely seen reenters her life, Jennifer's emotions flip-flop and her attitude takes a nose dive into self-righteousness and criticism. Jennifer judges the people around her too quickly and hurts the very people God has placed in her life to help.

Jennifer learns a hard and humbling lesson when she is challenged with the weaknesses of those around her and, more importantly, her own flaws. She finds herself in unfamiliar territory when she's forced to look past the sweet young girl she sees in the mirror every day and face the blemishes of her soul. To transition into the next stage of her spiritual growth, Jennifer must see herself for what she truly is: lost without Christ. Jennifer struggles to trust Christ with her life and must learn to judge herself before judging the people around her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phylicia Joannis
• Release date: Mar 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310652561

Phylicia Joannis

Reared in the West, taught in the South, and dwelling in the North, I'm a freelance writer and author, wife, and proud pet owner. I work to support my family and my passion. This is what I was born to do. This is my write or die.

Book preview

The Logoria Series

Book 3

Don’t Judge Me

by Phylicia Joannis

Copyright 2007 Phylicia Joannis

Smashwords Edition

License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are quoted from the NKJV.

Discover More Titles from author Phylicia Joannis

Save Me

Listen to Me

Love Me

Why Did You Hurt Me?

Forgive Me

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Boys Are Jerks

Chapter 2 – Untamed Tongue

Chapter 3 – Family Matters

Chapter 4 – The Perfect Man

Chapter 5 – Reconnecting

Chapter 6 – Salvation Trail

Chapter 7 – The Best and Worst Day Ever

Chapter 8 – Expecting

Chapter 9 – The Truth Hurts

Chapter 10 – Repentance

Discussion Questions

Resources

About the Author

More Ways to Connect

Excerpt from Book 4 Love Me

CHAPTER ONE

Boys are Jerks

Martin, it’s degrading! Jennifer snipes, shifting her duffel bag to the opposite shoulder.

Martin winces at the sharpness in her voice. He finished basketball practice at the same time she finished volleyball practice, so he’d offered her a ride home. But what began as a simple, innocent conversation has quickly escalated into a war. Judging by the look on Jennifer’s face, even if he wins, he loses.

It’s not that big a deal, Martin hems.

"It is a big deal, Martin! Jennifer barks at him. If I had this conversation with any of my girl friends they would agree with me. None of us likes for a guy to ogle us like we’re a piece of meat!"

Well, I’m not a girl, Jen! Martin snaps back. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.

So, you’re saying that it’s okay for a guy to look at a girl any way he wants? Jennifer asks, eyes narrowed.

Martin hesitates and Jennifer’s lips tighten into a thin line of disapproval.

Typical guy! she groans.

Jen, that’s not what I’m saying, Martin protests. All I’m saying is that guys are going to stare at girls, and there’s no reason to get all upset about it.

Jennifer rolls her eyes. You don’t have to worry about it because you’re not a girl. I don’t expect it to affect you the same way it affects me, but you shouldn’t say that it’s okay, Martin.

I’m not saying that it’s okay, Martin defends himself.

Yes, you are! Jennifer raises her hands in frustration. "And you’re telling me I should get over it, as if there’s something wrong with me for pointing out that it’s wrong! You are such a jerk!"

Jen . . . Martin extends his hand towards her, but she turns around and storms off, continuing her rant in Spanish.

Martin sighs as he watches her walk away. I’ll never understand girls, he mutters.

†††

Max sucks in his breath as he carefully ties the lip of a tiny glass beaker to the pole. It sways slowly from left to right before finally settling into place. He sighs in relief, a little too strongly, and the beaker flips and twirls before slamming into its mate - another beaker tied beside it. The second beaker quivers and jolts to the right, a third beaker on its side. Soon the entire row of beakers, seven to be precise, breaks out into a symphony of tinny sounds.

A stifled giggle emerges from behind Max and he glances back. An audience of very small children has formed to watch him. Two boys and one girl stare patiently at him, eyes wide and ready.

Max smiles at them and they reply in kind. He swings his fingers across the beakers, which respond with a frenzy of chimes. More giggles erupt. Max grins and grabs a thermometer, places it in his mouth, and cracks his knuckles. Pulling two saliva sticks from a drawer beside him and an empty plastic container from the shelf, Max meticulously places himself on a stool, fluffing out imaginary coat tails as he shifts into a comfortable position.

He tests out the saliva stick on the beakers, sliding it across gently, then glances at the children. They each give him a thumbs-up sign, so Max returns to his unorthodox musical ensemble. A stick in each hand, Max bangs the bottom of the container with one as he slings the row of chimes with the other. A cacophony of clangs, chinks, and tings ensues, and the children fall over in stitches.

Max, encouraged by their laughter, stands with bravado and bangs the instruments louder. For his grand finale, Max places the sticks in his mouth, thermometer still in place, and plays the beaker-chimes with his mouth while performing a short rendition of the Charlie Brown dance.

The children grow hysterical; the little girl jumps up and down in excitement as the young boys fall to the ground, rolling over in tears. Max continues to dance and