GOD’S TRUTH ABOUT REJECTION

www.ladiesministries.org (HOPE section) February 2012

GOD’S TRUTH ABOUT REJECTION

By: Carol Clemans

The grief coming from rejection is one of the most painful emotions that can be felt by the human heart. When a spouse chooses to walk away from a marriage for whatever reason, he/she is drawn away by his/her own lust. (One exception to this statement is someone who is being abused – they have every right to get out of the environment and seek a safe refuge and help for the marriage.)

I’m addressing this subject directed to the rejected spouse of a marriage that began with two people loving God first and then each other. The feeling of rejection is so overwhelming; they tend to take the blame for the broken relationship. But I must draw your attention to a scripture that God put in my heart as I was pondering this subject.

James writes about temptation in James 1:14 & 15 NLT – “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” The King James Version says we are ‘drawn away by our own lust.’ The word lust does not necessarily mean just sexual sins. As we read above in the New Living Translation, lust can be ‘our own desires’ for whatever is sinful. How does this relate to divorce? When a spouse chooses to leave a marriage, it does not happen overnight. As the scripture says, temptation comes from a personal desire. The enticement pulls on the heart of the spouse long before his/her outward actions. The desire gives birth to sin.

When the prophet confronted David about his adultery, he said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” What every rejected spouse needs to understand is this: If your spouse left you because of his/her sinful desires, they first rejected God and sinned against Him. You can receive comfort from the thought it was not you they first rejected; it was GOD! God hates divorce. It is not His plan for a marriage.

When our heart is drawn away by our own lust, we cannot blame anyone else for our actions. This does not mean one spouse was all bad and other all good. This means that the spouse who chooses to leave a marriage (other than for abuse) is allowing their personal selfish desires to control their actions. If a marriage had both spouses following the heart of God instead their selfishness, any problem can be overcome by the willingness to wholly submit to God and seek help for the health of the marriage.

The departing spouse who is following his/her desire allows the enticement to drag them away from the marriage. Rejection is emotionally painful for the remaining spouse and God feels that same rejection. Children of divorce can feel rejected too. Many times the children take the blame that belongs to their departing parent.

There is a death of the marriage when sin is allowed to grow in the spouse who is drawn away by his/her own lust. There is also a spiritual death in the heart of the one who is drawn away from God’s design for marriage. God still gives all people choice, just as He did to Adam and Eve. Ungodly choices can bring emotional pain to others.

Grief is real and it takes a great deal of time to go through the grief process. Rejected spouses must continually remind themselves that God was rejected too and knows your pain and is the healer of the brokenhearted. Refuse to remain in the rut of the rejected emotion. Your departed spouse does NOT have the power to define you. It is your own perception about yourself that defines you through God’s truth. You have a choice to say, “There must be something wrong with me. I’m a failure. I will never be happy again —-etc., etc.” Or, you can choose to say, “This rejection feeling is very painful, but I’m going to get through this. I will be an over comer. God loves me. My value and worth comes from God, not my departed spouse.”

We are ‘transformed by renewing our mind’ with God’s truth. God plus you is a majority. You can do all things through Christ. His own rejected him. His own received Him not. Even though God came from glory and robed Himself in flesh to become the supreme sacrifice for our sins, the majority of the world rejects Him still. Broad is the way that leads to destruction and many are on the broad way. Narrow is the way that leads to life and few will find it. This is God’s truth. This is God’s truth about rejection. He is the healer of your broken heart. He will never leave you or forsake you. God is your strength and you will survive and live in victory. The choice is yours.

 

Carol Clemans is a Certified Pastoral Counselor/Christian Life Coach/inspirational Bible teacher for churches/conferences. She provides nationwide counseling by phone and web cam (636) 448-0121. Her new book, GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE, is based on the Word of God describing in easy terms the secret to a marriage that enjoys love, joy and peace. Order info is at: www.carolclemans.org plus over 100 articles posted. Contact Carol to schedule seminars or counseling by phone or email: carol@carolclemans.org

FOLLOW THE HEART OF GOD

FOLLOW THE HEART OF GOD

(Our Words and Actions Reveal Our Heart)

By: Carol Clemans

The Lord wants us to live out of a pure holy heart as unto Him. This begins in the home with our spouse and family members. How we talk and treat other people reveals what is in our hearts. What we are in the home is our true self. The foundation for a healthy spiritual heart is based on the greatest commandment. In Mark 12, we read Jesus’ own words when challenged to the greatest commandment. He repeated the commandment out of Deuteronomy 6 that we are to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength. Then we are to love our neighbor (anyone in our lives) as we love ourselves.

The definition of heart from Strong’s #3820 is “intellect, awareness, mind, inner person, inner feelings, deepest thoughts, inner self.” When you study the definition of soul and mind you find ‘heart, soul & mind’ all overlap into each other. If we are to love Him with our whole being, it means all of our thoughts, words and actions. God is love. Romans 5:5 tells us that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.” If we are the temples of the Holy Ghost which is God in us the hope of glory, we must allow His character traits to invade our actions and words.

My heart is deeply disturbed by what I see in the church as I teach and counsel His Word nationwide. Many sitting on our pews are complacent about their relationship with God. They came to God in the power of a salvation experience of water and Spirit, but over a period of time they become casual about their relationship with God. We either have a Godly heart allowing His Spirit to be on the throne of our heart, or our heart follows the world and our selfishness is sitting on the throne of our hearts. This is manifest by our words and actions. Paul was very direct in his letter written to the church in Galatia. True Christianity is living by the Spirit and not by our selfish nature.

When we love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength, we will not be involved in the works of the flesh listed in Galatians the fifth chapter. There are 15 acts of sinful nature that includes sexual sins, idolatry, drunkenness, hatred, quarreling, envy, wrath and strife. Paul said if you do any of these things you shall not inherit the kingdom of God. That’s a strong truth! We cannot act sinful and expect to be glorified at His coming!

Over the past 20 years, I’ve counseled many in the church who have allowed anger, strife, bitterness, envy, sexual sins and jealousy to destroy relationships. Yet, they will come to church and put on their ‘spiritual’ face and think they are getting by with their worldly actions. We cannot serve God and our humanness at the same time.

Our sinful nature must be put to death by the power of the Holy Spirit. Love, joy and peace happens in a marriage, family and friendships when we are longsuffering, gentle, good, faithful, meek (having your strength under God’s control) and display self-control. I call this being Holy Ghost controlled. It’s living in a God-conscious state of mind at all times. It is refusing to allow our emotions to control what we do. We submit our emotions to God and allow the Fruit of the Spirit to reign in every area of our lives.

I know this is possible because my parents were saved as teenagers and allowed God to be the center of their lives when they married at 19 and 23 years of age. They enjoyed almost 62 years of marriage before death separated them. I was raised in a home with love, joy, peace and respect toward one another. God gives everyone a choice. We can choose to be Holy Ghost controlled if we submit to God instead of our selfishness.

Jesus taught with his own words in Matthew 15 that it’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you. You are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth. The words you speak from the heart—that’s what defiles you. From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying and slander. These defile you. In Matthew 12, Jesus teaches that a tree is identified by its fruit. For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. We all must give an account on judgment day for every idle word we speak. Our words will either justify us or condemn us. WOW! That’s a powerful statement.

Luke 6:45 states, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” So our mouth/words reveal what is in the heart – either good or evil. If we follow the heart of God (God is Love) then we will fulfill I Corinthians 13:4-7, NLT – “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” If we are following the heart of God, we will be holy as He is holy in our spirits and actions. We will not hurt other people with a cruel, critical tongue. We will not be selfish and allow anger and jealousy to control our attitudes. We are to reflect the glory of God in all that we do. I am determined to follow the heart of God.

www.carolclemans.org

Life Enrichment Ministries, Inc. (501c3)

carol@carolclemans.org

(636) 448-0121

GOD IS THE GIVER OF LIFE & FORGIVER!!

www.greeleygazette.com – January 6, 2012

GOD IS THE GIVER OF LIFE & FORGIVER!!

By: Carol Clemans

Since Roe vs. Wade, we’ve had over 50 million babies murdered from their mothers’ wombs. That means we’ve had over 50 million ‘mothers to be’ who have had to live with the haunting memories of the abortion. God is the giver of all life starting at the time of conception. God is also a forgiver of sin. He came to earth in a ‘robe of flesh’ and became the supreme sacrifice for our sins on the cross over 2,000 years ago.

Mothers, who have had an abortion, or maybe more than one, carry heavy guilt. They have told me so. Many feel great sadness on the anniversary day every year of their aborted baby. The most sorrowful mother is the one who aborted a baby in her young years. Now she is married and wants children but because of health problems in her reproductive system caused by the abortion, she cannot get pregnant.

This is the ‘dark side’ of abortion that no one tells the pregnant mothers who go to Planned Parenthood. I’ve never had a mother who aborted a baby say they were happy they had an abortion. It’s impossible to celebrate the murder of a baby. For mothers who have genuine regret for having an abortion need to understand that God forgives all sin.

When we come to God with genuine repentance, He is faithful and just to forgive sin. Peter tells us how to be saved in the book of Acts. It is the history of the New Testament church that started over 2,000 years ago on the Day of Pentecost. God desires a repentant heart. HE says, “Go and sin no more.”

Your enemy, Satan, wants you to believe the lie that God will not forgive. The devil wants everyone to go to hell with him. I’ve read the end of THE BOOK. God has already won total victory over death, hell and the grave. Don’t be a loser with Satan. God is love. He loves the sinner, not the sin. God came to earth to give us abundant life and a hope of eternal life with Him. God wants to heal your broken repentant heart and have a close relationship with you. He is the giver of life and the forgiver of our sins.

Carol Clemans is a Certified Pastoral Counselor/Christian Life Coach/inspirational Bible teacher for churches & conferences. She provides confidential counseling by phone & web cam nationwide – (636) 448-0121. Go to: www.carolclemans.org for bio, CD’s & book. Email: carol@carolclemans.org.

Help the ‘walking wounded’ in your church.

Spiritual Growth – written for PERSPECTIVES – March 2012

carol@carolclemans.org

Help the ‘walking wounded’ in your church.

By: Carol Clemans

In my over 50 years of being in ministry starting as a 14 year old Sunday school teacher, I have observed the ‘walking wounded’ in our churches. My father, the late theologian Raymond G. Theobald, was my pastor. Families in the church came from broken homes and relationships. After salvation, they still carry the pain of emotional dysfunction.

Today because of all types of abuse, addictions, and generational dysfunction, we have people sitting on our pews with the new birth experience and emotional pain that they keep hidden that robs their joy of the Lord. For this reason, God-based counseling based on God’s truth is what brings healing to hurting hearts.

As I provide counseling nationwide through phone & web cam, I apply the scripture in Romans 12 that says we are ‘transformed by renewing our minds.’ Sometimes, we need another view about the facts of our lives. I say, “What is God’s truth about your situation?” The pain of change is greater than the pain to remain the same. People need help in knowing how to forgive and how to set healthy emotional, spiritual and relational boundaries. They need the willingness to go through the greater pain of ‘growing up’ through God’s Word.

My new book, GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE, is full of scripture helping the hurting to know how to submit to God in their personal lives and willingness to ‘submit one to another in the fear of the Lord’ in their marriage. I share parenting issues and how to keep sexually pure, etc.

Through www.Skype.com I do co-counseling with pastors in helping their people. I know that with a willingness to submit to God, all people can see hope in God’s truth to bring healing to hurting hearts and relationships. One church is scheduling a young married’s seminar through Skype at their church. We can teach through Internet technology and take questions. This saves the church extra expense. They will bless me with a ministry offering and save the expense of my travel, housing and food. I offer this nationwide to all churches.

Carol Clemans is a Certified Pastoral Counselor/Christian Life Coach/inspirational Bible seminar speaker for churches & conferences. Go to: www.carolclemans.org for CD’s & book order, over 100 articles posted. For counseling call: (636) 448-0121. Rev. Harold & Carol Clemans’ pastor is Dieter Skowron of Johnstown, CO.

DOES ANYONE CARE?

www.greeleygazette.com – January 29, 2012

DOES ANYONE CARE?

By: Carol Clemans

Fifty million (50 million) babies have had their lives snuffed out through abortion that was made legal in America 39 years ago! Even though I know it’s true, the reality of this truth is unbelievable! We Americans have allowed over 50 million living human beings to be terminated at the whim of someone who can say, “I have a right to choose what my body will go through.” YES, you have choice and that choice is to be responsible before you choose to have sex!

This is a hot topic, but it is truth. We’ve allowed over 50 million babies to be murdered and that is more than all service men and women that have willingly given their lives in all the wars fighting for the freedoms of America! One of those freedoms is to have an abortion! This is an upside down crazy world that we are living in. (Writers are not supposed to use (!) points, but I’m not apologizing for the (!) points I’m using in this article). These murders are outrageous!!

I cannot imagine how the heart of God feels as He sees these innocent, helpless babies in the womb of their mothers killed through all different types of procedures. The partial birth abortion is torture to the baby who is pulled into the birth canal by its feet and then the back of head is cut open with scissors and the brain is suctioned out! This thought is revolting!

From the moment of conception, a baby is a human being that should have the right to life. Fetuses are not blobs of nothing. You do not have to be a scientist to know that humans produce humans, cows produce cows, dogs produce dogs, etc. I’ve never heard someone who is pro-abortion say, “I wish my mother had aborted me.”

I do not care what the circumstances are for the pregnancy. When God allows life to be conceived, that life should be protected. There are thousands of couples across America who desire to adopt newborn babies. There are resources available in communities across the nation to help unwed mothers.

We who believe in God should ban together nationwide and do whatever it takes lawfully to get Roe vs. Wade removed from one of the freedoms of our country. Abortion is not giving freedom to human life. The baby did not ask to be conceived. In most cases, it is by the choice of the persons having sex that creates pregnancy.

Because of Roe vs. Wade, America has lost respect for life of the unborn, for the child born with major physical problems, for the injured that cannot care for themselves and for the elderly who are no longer productive in life. God is the giver of life and man does not have a right to murder another living being in or out of the womb at will for convenience sake. DOES ANYONE CARE?

Carol Clemans is a Certified Pastoral Counselor/Christian Life Coach/inspirational Bible seminar speaker for churches & conferences. She provides counseling nationwide by phone/web cam (636) 448-0121 – www.carolclemans.org for CD’s & Book orders.

GOD NEEDS MEN OF INTEGRITY

www.greeleygazette.com – January 20, 2012

GOD NEEDS MEN OF INTEGRITY

By: Carol Clemans

All men, young and old, need to see the newly released DVD, “COURAGEOUS.” The subtitle of DVD is, “Honor Begins At Home.” One of the biggest problems we have in America is absentee fathers. Even if the father is in the home, the problem can be he is emotionally detached from his wife and children.

The description on cover of DVD says, “Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes and their partners are confident and focused, standing up to the worst the streets have to offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are prepared for: fatherhood. When tragedy strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, fears, faith, and fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God…and to their children?”

Integrity with God, self and others is the core value all men need. The influence of the father for good or evil is branded on each child’s heart. I counsel adults today who have deep painful emotional issues because of an absentee dad, an abusive dad or an emotionally absent dad. This creates the problem of a distorted father-God concept. If a birth father is absent, abusive or passive, it leaves the child without a firm foundation upon which to build their lives at every level. When their natural father is not there for them in a positive manner, it’s difficult for a child to trust and believe that their heavenly Father loves sight unseen.

These men are challenged with integrity on the job and within their families. Every husband and father faces these issues. It takes a strong man who has deep roots in Godly values to stand for righteousness at every level of his life. I highly recommend this DVD.

Carol Clemans is a Certified Pastoral Counselor/Christian Life Coach/Bible seminar speaker for churches/conferences. She provides counseling nationwide by phone & web cam – (636) 448-0121. Go to: www.carolclemans.org for bio, teaching CD’s & new book: GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE. Email: carol@carolclemans.org.

FULL RECOVERY FROM DIVORCE IS A PROCESS

www.ladiesministries.org – January 15, 2012

FULL RECOVERY FROM DIVORCE IS A PROCESS

By: Carol Clemans

To recover from divorce, there are emotional issues that must be faced. Many people do not take the time to recover from divorce before they start moving forward looking for another mate when the divorce papers have not even cooled down. There are spiritual and emotional aspects of your life you must process before moving on. On the spiritual realm, you need to counsel with your pastor. The thought of a remarriage needs to be considered by the truth of God’s Word regarding the circumstances of your divorce. But the emotional recovery is your responsibility to process.

You are not a failure. Your relationship failed, not you. God’s intent for marriage was for two to become one. This oneness has a much larger definition than coming together physically. If both spouses were helping each other become all he and she could be, there would not be a break down in the relationship. The relationship fails when selfishness starts taking a foothold. There needs to be an honest evaluation of the role you may have played in the breakdown of the marriage. No one is perfect. So as you set back and assess how the relationship deteriorated, be honest with yourself and look introspectively at signs you may have ignored that were a problem that you could have encouraged your spouse to work with you to improve. This is taking ownership of your actions. It’s also allowing your ex-spouse to take ownership of his/her actions from your perception. You want to learn from this life experience and not repeat it in the future.

Forgiveness is an act of obedience to God and a gift to self. Forgiving self as well as forgiving your ex-spouse is a major step in your healing process. Forgiveness is not based on whether someone repents and asks for your forgiveness for the pain they caused you. Forgiveness is a decision that you make to set yourself free from the pain of the past. God is our avenger. Turn the sin of that person over to God. Only God can forgive the sin if the offender repents and seeks forgiveness.

In the process of recovery and healing from divorce, take care of yourself. Do something enjoyable just for you. Many single parents give, give and give to their children. They may sacrifice helping aging parents, etc. If it’s as small as taking time to rest in a lounge chair and read a book or get a professional massage, etc. Trade childcare with another single parent and take a day off just for self. This is another way to care for one self and return the same gift to someone else.

Take this opportunity to move forward with you life. What goals and dreams have you put on hold in your life? Now is the time you could take a college course via the Internet working toward a degree you desire. You could write a book about your experience and what you have learned that may be a blessing to others. As you move forward, keep God the center of every aspect of your life. Please do not search for a new spouse on the Internet. I’ve seen great heartache from this source. Seek God’s wisdom, provision and guidance for your future in victory.

Carol Clemans is a Certified Pastoral Counselor/Christian Life Coach/inspirational Bible teacher for churches/conferences. She provides counseling nationwide by phone & web cam (636) 448-0121. Carol loves teaching from God’s Word to help others grow spiritually, emotionally & relationally. Go to: www.carolclemans.org for her bio, over 100 articles posted, order CD’s & new book: GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE. Email: carol@carolclemans.org. Rev. Harold & Carol Clemans attend Pastor Dieter Skowron’s church in Johnstown, CO.

DONATE TO LEM. INC. (501c3) & BLESS OTHERS

DONATE TO LEM. INC. (501c3) & BLESS OTHERS

By: Carol Clemans

Life Enrichment Ministries, Inc. (501c3) is a unique ministry that was birthed in 1992. My website, www.carolclemans.org, shares my heartbeat for ministry and bio. Through teaching, counseling and writing from the Word of God, this ministry God has given to me helps other grow and heal spiritually, emotionally and relationally.

Every ministry has a source of income. LEM, INC. income is from my teaching, counseling and selling CD’s and books. I am appealing to everyone that has been touched from God’s Word, through my heart to yours to consider a monthly $10.00 donation to LEM, INC. (501c3). Since LEM, INC. is a non-profit 501c3, donations are tax deductable. The daily donation is 33 cents a day.

In the last seven years, I’ve provided counseling nationwide by phone and web cam (636) 448-0121. This opportunity opened through my writing for the PERSPECTIVES. Some people call me and need help desperately but do not have the funds to give an offering to the ministry for counseling. I do not turn the hurting away, but I cannot give away counseling and survive financially.

Please consider my request for your support. The monthly $10.00 donation can be sent by check to: LEM, INC. (501C3), 1437 N. Denver Ave., Ste. #251, Loveland, CO. I also have a www.paypal.com account: carol@carolclemans.org. (Or could be a yearly donation of $120.00).

If you have any questions regarding my integrity, you may contact my Pastor Dieter Skowron of Johnstown, CO – www.altonline.org. I have posted over 100 articles on my website that are written from a Bible base that can be a blessing to pastors and others. This ministry is my heartbeat. I love teaching God’s truth for churches and conferences. Above all, I ask for your prayers for God’s wisdom, provision and guidance for LEM, INC. (501c3).

THE TONGUE HAS THE POWER OF LIFE OR DEATH

www.greeleygazette.com – January 10, 2011

THE TONGUE HAS THE POWER OF LIFE OR DEATH

By: Carol Clemans

In this pre-election political atmosphere, many tongues are wagging rapidly to and fro. Instead of sticking to the issues, politicians start degrading each other by their words. It’s like watching children fussing and no one taking the blame for all that has gone wrong.

The Bible talks about the tongue and the words we speak. It tells us that the tongue has the power of life or death. Abusive cutting words have the ability to be branded on a person’s heart. An adult that was verbally abused as a child can still ‘hear’ the degrading cutting words he was told. “Your stupid, your ugly, I hate you, your no good, you’ll never amount to anything!” These painful words can bring ‘death’ to the dreams and hopes of a child because they believe what they heard. The opposite is true with words of love, encouragement and acceptance. These words implant faith and confidence in the heart of a child to become all they desire to be as an adult.

What types of words are spoken in your home? Are your words loving, kind, encouraging and patient? Do your words wrap themselves around the hearts of your family with a feeling of warmth and safety? How do you deal with stress? Do you ‘blow off the handle’ when you are angry? Does the family cringe in fear when you get upset?

Many people do not want to be reminded that all of us will stand before God and give an account for every idle word that we speak. Yes, it’s true. God knows every word we say. The tongue can only be tamed if we allow God’s Spirit to have control of that one unruly member of our body.

Isaiah the prophet said, “The LORD GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary–.” (Isaiah 50:4) Our politicians need to pray for a ‘tongue of the learned.’ America needs words of wisdom, guidance, direction and hope for this great country. God, stir the hearts and tongues of our leaders to speak words of truth and life for our nation.

Carol Clemans is a Certified Pastor Counselor/Christian Life Coach/inspirational Bible teacher for conferences. She provides counseling nationwide by phone or web cam – (636) 448-0121. Go to: www.carolclemans.org for bio and products.

A Letter To Girls I Know (on Modesty) (author’s name removed at his request)

A Letter To Girls I Know (on Modesty) (author’s name removed at his request).