April 18, 2012

Snail Shell

I’m a concrete thinker.  Thinking in the abstract is VERY hard for me.  I guess God knows this about me. After all, He did create me! My Lord tends to explain things to me in very tangible ways. He knows that most of the time I need a picture or something concrete to really help me “get it”.

I guess thats why I explain things to my kids in tangible, concrete ways.  This kind of thinking really comes easy to me, helping make connections for my kids in ways they can understand.

The most recent example, was when the boys found a snail out in the yard. Being from Texas, we normally don’t find alive snails due to all the heat. They are usually dried up, leaving only their shell.  But, this time, we found the snail still with its shell. The boys were ecstatic!

A few days later we found out that Clem’s grandmother had passed away. Explaining death to three young boys is a very hard thing to do, but the Lord graciously reminded me of the snail we had found a few days earlier. God gave me a word picture to explain a very hard thing to my boys.

Our earthly bodies are just a shell that we live in. Like the snail, we eventually move on and leave our shells behind. The boys came to understand that Grandma GG didn’t live here in her shell any longer. She had actually left her shell here and went to live with Jesus. We explained that we bury our “shells” on earth, but really thats all it is, just a shell. She is ALIVE with Jesus!

I am so grateful that God chooses to reveal Himself to me and my family.  It is humbling to think that God loves me SO much that He chooses to speak to me in ways that He created me to understand… in pictures!

-Jenn

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March 31, 2012

Thick Fog

The past few times we have made the long trip across country from Texas to Georgia, we have left early in the morning.  We generally leave around 4 am, in order to get a jump start on the long day of travel with sleeping boys in the back seat. We have found that this is very valuable as we can get farther without stopping in much appreciated peace and quiet!

Our most recent trip we ran into very thick fog for most of the time until daylight. It was VERY thick at times, making it hard to see but a few hundred feet in front of the car. I found myself praying, asking God to lift this fog so that we could see better. There were times when the fog came on so thick and so quickly that it was almost scary. Then there were moments when the sun began to come up, that the fog made everything look almost beautiful, like something in a dream. I actually found myself wanting the fog around as it began to disappear!

About daybreak, it hit me… God sends His presence to us much like fog. Sometimes it’s so thick that it takes our breath away, and is almost scary. Other times it is thin and wispy, just alongside us, causing everything around us to look beautiful.  Then there are times where it seems to disappear altogether causing us to long to be in His presence again.

I don’t know about you, but I would rather spend my life with the presence of God, enduring the hardships and visibility problems, than live without it. So I say… Bring on the Fog!

Posted by on March 31, 2012 in Ministry and tagged , .

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March 4, 2012

Torn Between the Old & the New

Our move to Georgia has been quite the adventure. I think I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs already and we have only been here for less than 3 weeks!  It really has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. Being torn between the old and the new is not a fun place to be.

Moving is hard. Thats just a fact. There are so many details that go into moving. There is all the physical stuff, like packing, transport and unpacking, but there are also a million little details like changing your address, getting a new drivers license, finding a bank and TONS more! Everytime we turn around, there seems to be another thing we have to do to really become Georgia residents. But, I think the most exhausting part of the whole thing is flat out missing what we left behind in Texas. The emotional part of moving has to be one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in a very long time. It’s hard to change everything all at one time. The only thing I have ever known is San Angelo, Texas with my family right there at my side. I left everything that was comfortable to me to follow after what we feel God wants our family to do.

The funny thing is, I’m beginning to realize that God doesn’t want me to be comfortable. God uses many things in our lives to stretch us. It’s kind of like when I decide to exercise. Since those times are few and far between, when I begin by stretching it isn’t too comfortable. Sometimes it down right hurts! My muscles are so tight from lack of use, that it takes a few days before they are use to stretching and working. That’s kind of how I feel right now. I know that I’m in the stretching phase. It sometimes is painful, missing what I had in Texas, but I know that the more I stretch myself, the better off I’m going to be!

On the flip side, Georgia has been very exciting! I’m meeting new people and seeing things that I’ve never seen before, like trees! Georgia’s trees are so tall and beginning to bud. It is SO beautiful here! Everyday, as we get our house more and more in order, it has begun to feel a little more like home. One of the best parts about moving here is that we are both being able to do what we love, and that is pour ourselves into the lives of children and their families through Children’s Ministry.

So as we continue to transition, I have to remind myself that God is faithful. He loves me and has a plan for my life here in Georgia. And when those lonely days come where I miss my friends and family, I have to look to the One who can heal my heart. His ways are so much better than I could ever dream. God, my Comforter, is all I need.

-Jenn

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February 10, 2012

Casual Parenting

I believe there is a growing problem that is plaguing Christian families today, not just here in America, but across the globe. I’d like to call it Casual Parenting. Casual Parenting is a low-commitment form of parenting that is paralyzing our ability as parents to effectively raise godly children within the context of the home. It’s usually accomodated by a lukewarm heart and a passive parenting lifestyle, and can often times be attributed to not spending quality time with our children.

I  have noticed this in our own style of parenting in our home. There seem to be days when we’re on top of our game as parents and everything seems to be flowing naturally when it comes to the chemistry in our home. Then there are days, when all hell breaks loose literally, and neither one of us can seem to really get a handle on why things are the way they are. Wasn’t it just yesterday that everything seemed so perfect?  Over the past few weeks our family has been in a transition of sorts. We’re fixing to move to Georgia, and we’ve been living with our own parents for what seems to be years now, but it’s just been over a month. Needless to say, we have encountered many struggles with parenting lately. We are not perfect parents by any means. We struggle sometimes to keep it together just like the family down the block.

The problem with Casual Parenting, is that most parents are not putting forth the adequate amount of time to teach their children the things of the Lord. I have been guilty of this myself, the past few years. My wife stays at home with the kids and has been viewed as their spiritual leader because she has been the one teaching them and essentially raising them, when I’ve been at work. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be the spiritual leader of my home, I just wasn’t there most of the time. Most days I’d come home too tired to put forth the effort it takes to effectively lead them.

Over the last few weeks,  I’ve been home more and have really felt the urgency to start fresh. I have begun to devote parts of my day to reading God’s Word with my kids, praying with them & talking about the things of the Lord. I’m beginning to see a change, especially in my oldest son, Aiden. I’ve taken back the spiritual reigns, so to speak, and God has provided me with more time to pour into his life. He has become so inquisitive about what it means to go to heaven, and how to get there. This is what my life’s mission, as a father, is all about. I want my kids to experience a greater Love than I can give them.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

This passage, on raising godly children, has become our family motto this year. I desire to be the spiritual leader of my home, and I realize that being the spiritual leader is a conscious daily decision to make. I’m running away from the casual parenting lifestyle that has gripped my home. My children will know that their daddy wants to lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ!

Posted by on February 10, 2012 in Our Family and tagged , , , .

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February 5, 2012

LOVE IS

I LOVE the fact that God gave my wife and I three boys! As their Dad, I often wonder if I could ever really express just how much I LOVE them. The LOVE for my sons is simply indescribable and I don’t think I could ever say, in words, just how much I really LOVE them. Often times, I find myself telling them that I LOVE them only so I can hear them say, “I LOVE you Daddy,” right back. Everyone needs to hear that they’re LOVED. It’s a built in emotional need that God has planted in every human being. My three boys will always know that their Daddy LOVES them, no matter what they do.

In fact, as their Dad, I would be more than willing to do anything in the world to demonstrate my LOVE for them. I’d attempt to climb Mt. Everest if I had too. I’d swim across the ocean and back if needed. I’d even try to dance on hot scorching coals, if I knew I could get my point across. I LOVE my boys that much!  The point I’m trying to make is this, I would do anything in the world to demonstrate just how much I LOVE my boys. Do you want to know something? I would even die for them, if I knew I could get my point across. Does that sound too extreme for some of you?

Me and my boys

The Bible states that God is the very picture of LOVE itself, that He is LOVE!  Romans 5:8 says it perfectly,

 “But God demonstrates his own LOVE for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

In His deepest expression of LOVE for mankind, He was willing to do anything in the world in order to show just how much He LOVES us. God was willing to sacrifice the life of His only son, Jesus, the son that He LOVED, so that you and I could know just how much He LOVES us. God’s son, Jesus Christ, gave His life on a cross, as an act of LOVE, in order to be the greatest expression of LOVE mankind has ever known. No expression of LOVE will ever come close to this. This act of selfless LOVE was initiated so that you and I could recieve forgiveness of our sins.  The relationship between mankind and God is now restored and the debt for all of our sins has been paid, once and for all. We can now know what LOVE is!

This is what real LOVE looks like in, John 15:13,

“Greater LOVE has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

The Greek word for LOVE in this passage is “agape,” meaning it’s unconditional and self-sacrificing.  Christ LOVE is not based on what we’ve done in our past, or what we will do in our future.  His LOVE is constant and unchanging.

I LOVE my boys! Mine and my wife’s deepest desire is that our boys will someday know what real LOVE is.  We pray daily that they will come to know Him, and that He would capture their hearts at an early age.  We want them to experience the LOVE that first LOVED us! Do you?

Posted by on February 5, 2012 in Uncategorized.

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February 1, 2012

Unique Parenting

Clemens boys“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.”  Psalm 127:3

I sometimes am overwhelmed with the true blessing it is to have 3 handsome boys. Then there are those days that I feel completely unqualified to be the mother of THREE boys!

A good friend of mine did a Bible study with me a few years back on parenthood and my God given role I am to play.  I came across the following verse:

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

I’ve always thought this verse was about training my children in the ways of the Lord: teaching them to pray, studying the Word, curb their temptations, asking for forgiveness, etc.  While I should, as their mother, pour these things into my children, this verse says something extremely profound when you look at the Hebrew. The Hebrew phrase in the way he should go means “according to the tenor of his way.”  God created each of my children in a special and unique way.  Each boy has a unique disposition, character and natural talents that God specifically put into each of them.  It is my job as their mother to study each of my children and train them according to their God-given uniqueness!

This puts quite a different twist on this verse.  It has taught me that there is no “blanket approach” to parenting.  Each of my boys was uniquely made by God and I have to train them according to their unique way.  I still am responsible to teach them right from wrong, how to get along, manners, responsibility and how to follow the Lord, but the approach looks different for each child.  This knowledge has liberated me. I no longer feel pressured to parent each child the same.  Sometimes more grace is needed for one child verses another.  Sometimes a simple rebuke will correct a behavior. Other times redirecting or role-play will be used with one child and not another. Sometimes the good ole’ rod has to be used. Each is carefully thought through with the child’s unique make-up in mind.

God’s Word has given me complete freedom to uniquely train each of my children according to their own way. For that I am extremely grateful!

-Jenn

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January 31, 2012

Intentionally Leading the Family

Being the spiritual leader of my home is not always the easiest thing to do.  In fact, it can often come with great opposition.  It’s not always easy having the weight of this responsibility riding on your shoulders.  I regularly encounter life’s ups and downs on a daily basis, as most men do.   I get beat up, stepped on, spit at,  spit out, and simply crushed (figuratively speaking of course) every minute of the day.  There are days that I could quite honestly throw in the towel.  If you’re  an honest man, than you know what I mean, and you may sometimes feel the same way.  As a husband, I wonder if there are days when I’m helping to lead my wife into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, or pushing her away.  I ask myself this question daily, “Will my kids ever get it?”  If they would just listen and obey when I ask them to do something the first time!  So much responsibility in leading my family hinges on being the spiritual leader of my home.

But it doesn’t just hinge on me or what I can do.  In fact, Jesus basically says it all hinges on Him.  He’s tells us to cast all of our cares upon Him.  Mathew 11:30, He tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  He’s says things like, His grace is sufficient.  He tells us that He first loved us.    He’s more than sufficient to handle all of my cares and concerns.  When I feel inadequate as a spiritual leader, who and where do I turn in my times of need?   When my worries over take my abilities to effectively lead my family, how do I respond?   Why is it so hard to give everything to Him daily?

Something I am learning is that I must choose to be intentional in how I lead my family. You see, the word intentional means, with purpose.  I can choose to purposely lead my wife and kids into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ on a daily basis.  This is what I was created for.  I must daily be intentional in living my life for Christ, bringing Him glory, and to pointing my wife and kids to the cross.  If I’m not doing this, then I’m failing as the spiritual leader of my home.  You see, I am accountable to a Holy God who will ask me someday, “What did you do as a husband and a father to lead your family into a deeper and more intimate relationship with me? ”  I could have several insignificant responses to give, but what really matters is how did I effectively lead them on this earth?  Was I intentional every minute of every day?  They were entrusted to me for such a short time. How did I pursue leading them to Christ?  It’s not enough to just pray for a meal every now and then.  It’s not enough to say a bedtime prayer every once and a while.  It’s not enough to only pray with your wife when she’s having a bad day or ill. Though none of this is insignificant, there’s infinitely more that Christ wants to do through the spiritual leader of the home.  I have to be intentional in how I approach everything in leading my family to Christ.

John Piper once said,

“Christ is most glorified in me, when I am most satisfied in Him.”

If I want to whole heartedly lead my family into a growing relationship with Christ, I have to seek Him all the time.  I have to remember what I was created for and what is my life’s purpose.  If I want to find fulfillment in serving in ministry, I must pour all of my efforts and passion into my number one ministry… my family.

How are you intentionally leading your family?

-Clem

Posted by on January 31, 2012 in Our Family and tagged , , .

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January 30, 2012

Faith in Action

One of my favorite stories in the bible is found in the book of Mathew 14:22-33.  This well known passage in the New Testament, illustrates to every human being, what is required of us to fully experience walking with the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  It hinges on the kind of faith that we all desire to emmulate in our lives, but many times miss the opportunity to express it.  What does faith in JESUS CHRIST look like, and how do we get to a place in our lives when we can fully surrender our everything to follow HIM?

As I reflect on this passage in Mathew, there is one thing that stands out about Peter.  He’s not an out of control, impulsive disciple that gets himself into a lot of trouble all the time.  On the contrary, Peter is relentless in his pursuit to follow CHRIST whenever, however, and at whatever the cost.  In this passage, he holds no restraint in his act of trust in the MESSIAH.  He dosen’t hold back any mixed emotions about who CHRIST claims to be.  He completely believes that JESUS is who HE said HE was, and he’s willing to stretch his understanding of who GOD is no matter what the cost.  Even if it means stepping out on the water to do so.  So Peter says, “LORD, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”  I want to be where you’re at, not over here stuck in the boat with 11 other guys screaming it’s a “ghost”.  And JESUS simply replys, “Come!” Then Peter walked on the water and came toward JESUS.  Is this the biblical picture of faith in action that CHRIST is really desiring from our hearts?  Peter desires to be hanging out by the side of JESUS so bad that he’s willing to do the unthinkable and to boldly step out into the water.  Of course we all know how the story ends.  Peter never makes more than a few feet before the reality of his circumstances around him take over.  He realizes that he didn’t make the best choice in stepping out of the boat to walk on the water….. Or did he?

No matter how the story ultimately ended that night, the fact is Peter got out of the boat.  He didn’t let the crashing waves, the darkness, or the unknowns control his desire to be right where JESUS was.  He never noticed that what he was doing was impossible.

All of us to some degree have wanted to do exactly as Peter did that faithful night.  We want to be in the center of GOD’s will for our lives.  We want to go to extreme measures to show our willingness to trust HIM.  Faith in CHRIST requires action on our behalf.  CHRIST beckons us to follow after HIM and to leave everything behind to do so.  Lets not keep looking back as if there’s something better to go back to!  Fully put your faith and trust in the hands of the one who can save you, JESUS CHRIST!!!

-Clem

Posted by on January 30, 2012 in Ministry and tagged , , , .

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January 26, 2012

Crisis of Belief

The price of following JESUS CHRIST is great.  In fact, when choosing to follow JESUS, every believer will often encounter what is known as a “crisis of belief”.  What is a “crisis of belief” you might ask?  I recently learned from Henry Blackaby, that a crisis of belief is when GOD invites you to be apart of a GOD sized assignment, that could never be accomplished on your own.  It will always require you to choose whether or not to fully trust in GOD, or stay right where you’re at.  Choosing to accept HIS invitation will often lead to expereincing HIM way beyond your wildest imagination.  Should we choose to go our own way, and believe that what HE is asking us to do is impossible, we will likely miss out on getting to know HIM better.  Ultimately the decison made will either lead us into a closer relationship with JESUS CHRIST, or further in the opposite direction.

All throughout scripture GOD used ordinary people to do some extraordinary things.  Take Moses for example, or how about Abraham?  Both of these men were faced  several times with a crisis of belief, having to choose to trust GOD fully or miss out on the opportunity to join GOD in HIS work.

It has been about a month since my wife and I experienced this in our own lives.  We were faced with accepting an offer on our house, 5 days after being put on the market.  The crisis came when we were not ready to be “homeless” so soon.  We had not accepted a formal job offer at Life Bible Church, and we had’nt even met the staff at the church.  There were so many unknowns that we really had no control over.  The only decision left to make was, do we fully trust in GOD in this, or are we going to allow the unknowns to rule our lives.  Thankfully we trusted GOD in this matter, and HE has chosen to bless us for that decision.

When GOD began to open doors for us to fully pursue ministry at Life Bible Church, we honestly never doubted HE was in it.  Choosing to follow JESUS CHRIST is always followed by a crisis of belief.  It’s making a daily decision to follow HIM whole heartedly no matter what.  How we choose to live your lives is a demonstration of what we really believe about GOD.  Jenn and I don’t want to look back on our lives and wonder if we could have been more courageous for HIM!

Posted by on January 26, 2012 in Ministry and tagged , , .

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January 19, 2012

Homeless and Waiting

We have officially been homeless for almost 3 weeks now. Luckily, we have wonderful parents who graciously give of themselves and let their grown children and 3 grandkids move back home.  That’s right, we live with our parents.  Back in December, we felt strongly that the LORD would have us put our house on the market.  We had been talking with Life Bible Church in Canton, GA about possibly coming out to lead their Children’s Ministry. We had not been there yet, but felt that we needed to begin preparing for what GOD was doing.  We hoped to have the house sold by March or April. To our surprise, GOD had other plans, and sold our house in 5 days. We closed December 30th and have been homeless ever since.

In the world’s eyes, we are completely CRAZY! But, if you have read the Bible much, most of the people in there are too!  At least we are in good company! Selling your house before you have an “official job offer” and planning to move half way across the country for a part-time ministry job is CRAZY! But… we would rather people think we are crazy and obey the LORD, than live any other way.

“What are you going to do now?” you might ask.  We are going to wait for the LORD to provide.  We are currently waiting for a rental home to open up in the Canton area so we can have a place to live.   Secondly, we are looking for some supplemental work and/or financial support to help meet our monthly budget needs. LORD willing, we will be heading to Georgia sometime in early February.

GOD has always proved Himself faithful to us.  We have seen Him provide for our daily needs many times over the last 10 years of our marriage.  We have no doubt He will provide again.

“And this same God who takes care of me, will supply all of your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Phil 4:19

We would LOVE if you would lift us up before the FATHER and intercede on our behalf. GOD truly does hear the prayers of HIS saints! Would you pray that GOD would provide a house and the finances to make ends meet? Also, if the LORD would lead you to help support us financially that would be a tremendous blessing. You may give online at the church’s website: LifeBibleChurch.com, or mail any support to:

Life Bible Church
124 P Rickman Industrial Dr Suit 110
Canton, GA 30115

Above all, our prayer is that GOD would be glorified in the whole process of this move.  We anxiously wait to see how GOD provides. Can’t wait to share it with you!

Posted by on January 19, 2012 in Ministry and tagged , , , .

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