Recently I was given a gift copy of Good Housekeeping. Yesterday, I picked up my mail and there was a ‘free’ introductory copy of another magazine that is popular giving news about popular people around the world. I picked both magazines to ‘cruise’ through them quickly. I don’t spend much time reading secular magazines. I love to read God’s Word and other books full of God’s wisdom.
On the front cover of both magazines was a picture of a news personality who recently went through cancer and survived. I like to read these successful stories. In the middle of the story, the woman was giving thanks for her girlfriend who stayed by her side. She ‘came out’ about this relationship recently. She stated in the article that before her mother passed away, her mother told her that she loved her and that God loved her and God’s love is not based on what we do or do not do. Because of what her mother said she could now ‘make peace’ with her girlfriend relationship – she is 53 and her girlfriend is 39.
These magazines could be innocently laying on your coffee table now. Your daughter or son could be reading this woman’s story of being able to accept her lesbian lifestyle. This type of story could make them feel that if God loves us no matter what we do then it is OK to follow your selfish desires sexually or with any other sin.
The truth of God is that He does love us unconditionally. But God does not condone sinful lifestyles of any type. His Word shares in Galatians the 5th chapter that people who are involved in all the sins listed plus others would not be a part of the kingdom of God. God proved His love for us by dying on the cross in the flesh of Jesus Christ and paying the high price for our sins. We cannot be partakers of His Divine nature and remain in sinful lifestyles.
In the second magazine, I read this same story with more pictures of the news personality with her girlfriend. I kept turning the pages and glancing at the pictures and writings and it was all about actors who were the favorite couples of Hollywood. They were living together in fornication vacationing and traveling together promoting their latest movies. The world is desensitized to sin.
Then to my surprise, I turned the page and there were six pages of naked women staring me in the face. The first thing that popped out of my mouth is, “This is soft porn!” I started shredding this garbage.
Since I’m continually counseling people with sexual addictions, I’m extremely sensitive to the power of this type of nakedness. Many men/women have told me that their addiction started in childhood with one exposure! These two magazines started out family friendly, but they are not family friendly any longer. All of the advertisements are based on partial nakedness or the latest skimpy fashion or heavy makeup that is supposed to make the gals beautiful and draw the guys to them.
In counseling, people will share with me the type of movies they are watching: violent action movies filled with vulgarity, romantic movies and they pass quickly by the sexual scenes, etc. I ask the question, “If Jesus was sitting by you in the flesh would you watch this type of movie?” The quick response is, “No!” The truth is that since God is omnipresent, He is with you and watching you as you watch the evil/wicked things that you are putting before your eyes!
Psalm 101: 2& 3 – “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when will thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” What we allow continually to enter our eye gate will settle in our heart and mind. Watching a video, DVD or movie is real to the subconscious. If you take in evil continually, evil will control your thoughts that create your feelings and lead to your actions. The devil is a sly cunning fox. He has come to kill, steal and destroy and he will use anything to do so.
This whole subject is very important to me because of the daily issues I counsel by phone & Skype across the nation. Parents today must be extremely diligent about the exposure they allow their children through DVD’s, the Internet access, magazines, friends, etc. Giving cell phones to young children and teens is very dangerous because of the Internet access, the texting, bullying, the sexting – naked pictures that are shared, pornography availability and predators on the Internet. Do not allow children on computers in their bedrooms – bring them out in the family area and monitor their use.
It is heartbreaking to witness the spiritual, emotional and relational pain resulting from the devil’s schemes to destroy lives young and old. God’s truth is the answer and my heartbeat is teaching God’s truth to prevent the pain.
Ephesians 6:11 The Voice (VOICE) 11 Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes.
Ephesians 6:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
As you read my articles posted on my website: www.carolclemans.org including this one, I feel like I’m a ‘lone voice crying in the wilderness’ saying, “Prepare your home and children for the ways of the Lord!” Please put spiritual boundaries around your family and home. Be protective to what you allow your children to participate in within the home and outside the home. Pray for God’s insight and wisdom. The children’s song says, “Be careful little eyes what you see – be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little mouth what you say, be careful little feet where you go – for the Father up above is looking down in love – so be careful little (eyes, ears, mouth, feet) what you see, hear, say and do.”
I teach for churches/conferences and counsel by phone nationwide. Love sharing God’s healing truth for spiritual, relational and emotional growth and healing. On my website: www.carolclemans.org read my bio, 65+ articles, teaching CD’s, DVD’s and book: God’s Design for Marriage. Ph: (636) 448-0121 to schedule teaching or counseling. Email: carol@carolclemans.org.