Stuggle (part 2)

There are many things on my mind that I struggle with, and this is just a few more that I didn't mention earlier in part 1.

I struggle to have a strong work ethic. I haven't had to work for a whole lot in my life, and I can always run back home if I need something. Now I'm in college, and forced to work hard for good grades. I am such a lazy bum sometimes, and I have to stop and pray for just an ounce of responsibility!

I struggle sooooo much with the way women are treated. I am not going to make them the only victim, because I realize how awful they treat men too, but that isn't on my heart. Women have decided they are nothing less than the rib of men. They think that to be successful means that you have to be skinny, pretty, and caked-up in makeup. You have to be blond, of course, and tan. You have to have blue eyes and wear increasingly small strips of fabric that some call "clothing." You feel like what a guy wants is a porn star, when what he needs is a woman. You are okay with being a part time lover, and accepting the full time guilt. T.V. is against you, music is against you, stars who should be empowering you are telling you to sell out! "Just give up, you know that all he knows about love is from cheap pornos. That's what you need to be like to find love." Satan is a beast, make no mistake about it, but he is not on God's level. If you've read some of my older blogs you can find out how God really feels about his beloved daughters.

I struggle with loving someone who wants to take God out of everything and just promote the gospel of money and success. NOTHING we get is what we deserve. What makes you think that God is a deistic ATM? God doesn't guarantee you money, health, a nice house, a long life, or anything of the sort. He promises that we will be like sheep among wolves! He says that the road to destruction is broad, and narrow is the path to life. He says we have to take up our crosses daily. This God means business! The gospel rides on the back of men and women who struggle and face all sorts of pain and persecution. With all that said, Jesus also promised that his yolk is light. That yolk is only light if Jesus is the one yolked with you. He doesn't promise comfort, but he did promise us his protection.

I struggle with watching Christian couples date... I would expect a much higher level of respect in Christian dating than in secular culture ("everyone else"). However, the celibacy rate in Christian youth is barely different than that of secular culture. Some readers might just scoff at that thinking, "Well not me, I'm a mega virgin!" There is more to dating than not having sex. First of all let me make some things very clear: there shouldn't be such a thing as "friends with benefits." That peeves me to no end. Just because you save your virginity for you spouse doesn't mean you can break as many hearts as you want on the way there. Why wouldn't you want to save everything you can for the one who you are ready to marry? Amy and I didn't even kiss each other until we were sure that we were in love. That was her very wise decision, and I don't regret it for a second. Why not take it slow? If that causes problems in your relationship, then it's honestly a crappy one. Just take it slow... one more thing, don't pretend that because you are in a Christian relationship that you can't mess up. We are still a fallen creation aren't we?

Lastly, I struggle with being cynical and sceptical about parts of peoples' faith. I have an annoying tendency to question peoples' motives to worship, pray, act properly, etc. Who am I to judge? Maybe they are doing it out of selfishness, but that is between them and the Judge. I propose that we all take a step back and trust what people are doing to be genuine. No one deserves to be judged for worshiping their King.

This may or may not be my last post on struggles, considering more will come, but I take courage in knowing that God has given us the strength to overcome. Please be praying for me and your brothers and sister, those saints, because God knows we need it now more than ever! I will be doing likewise. If you want to share with me in your struggles, or just want to agree/disagree, feel free. Because you know that I want to be more approachable *wink*. I hope God has found you through these letters, cause I'm not smart enough to write this.You aren't alone in your fight. My heart is with you, forgive me for not showing it at all times. You are loved- more than you know.