💘Elizaveta Jean💘

Firstly, I think this is obviously a topic that does have to be spoken of. 

HOWEVER

I think that as Christians we often come across as legalistic because we’re always like, “don’t do this.” 

I think a question that the church should begin to ask is, “how can we better honour those who are doing things right?”

I think homosexuality has become such a messed up topic in society because the church has treated this issue so poorly. We have totally owned the judgemental stereotype that is upon Christians.

Ultimately, I believe people are born gay - with a tendency to be attracted to the same sex. I don’t think it’s my place to hate someone or condemn them because of their sinful nature.

For me, I have a natural tendency/addiction to rely on alcohol when I’m down or even when I’m not! BUT because I believe following God and His commands is much more important than pleasing my own desires, I choose not to partake in alcohol consumption. 

So, coming back to homosexuality, I think it’s fair to want to be with the same sex. However, if God is worth taking precedence and all authority in your life, you should be willing to give up ANYTHING for the sake of serving Jesus. Even if that means your sexuality. (Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn’t know how to be human either—women didn’t know how to be women, men didn’t know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men—all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it—emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches. Romans 1:26-27)

God has given us freewill and choice to either honour Him or dishonour Him. This comes down to a choice to act on temptation or to flee from it. 

I believe God has called us to live and walk in holiness - forsaking all else. Whether it be sexuality, alcoholism, drug abuse, poor language, hatred towards others, and the list goes on and on.

We are called, as Christians, to not walk in willful sin. Because of this, I do agree with you - gay marriage is wrong. BUT, so is your poor attitude towards your roommate or the way you spoke about your boss yesterday.

I’m always disappointed by the number of young adults or teens who message for advice because they are extremely terrified and stressed when they express to their parents they live with they are in need of confession and their parents always ask them “WHAT WHY!??? WHAT DID YOU DO!??”

I normally don’t give parenting advice, but it’s frankly not of your business what your child feels he needs to confess. You should be thankful your child is repentant and desires confession, which is certainly much more than most of us adults feel! What courage and humility it takes to approach confession! You should be elated your child has a conscience and desires to be forgiven for their sins! What a joy for you!

The fact that children consider receiving in a state of mortal sin because they are terrified of being drilled by parents is just disappointing!

“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

But you are not allowed to give up. After you’ve been shaken down and beaten, grab your sword and keep fighting that good fight. Don’t let the darkness win.

Jesus has overcome the world. He is the light that will guide us home. All we have to do is follow.

it’s the feast of this lovely saint, and i can’t think of a quote that resonates more soundly in my life at the moment. god is doing good things, and i am exactly where i am supposed to be. 

after two exams and a paper due on wednesday (on top of an already crazy week), i spent some time in adoration and reread my journal entries from last year – my first year at aquinas, when things were really falling into place. 

in the midst of praising god in these old journal entries for the good i was discovering, i expressed worry that nothing would be able to be better than the year i had experienced. a year ago i didn’t think that i would be able to find anything better than where i was. and while where i was was so so so so good, this year is all of that and better. 

i could go on and on about the reasons why my heart is so full and why i am exactly where i am meant to be, but i think all of my reasons come down to a common denominator. that denominator, the reason why everything is so fan-flipping-tastic right now, is because all that i am surrounded with is predicated upon love. 

as catholics, love is more than a feeling. to love someone is to will the good of the other for his or her own sake. and this willing is not passive – it is not simply wishing someone well or hoping that things turn out well for them, no. to love someone is to see the good in that person and to do all that you can to bring out the goodness that god has created in him.

the people in my life see my goodness, and they don’t just passively hope that i am able to do something with my goodness. they will it. they challenge me to act better, do try harder, to become the best version of myself. they show me that there is SO MUCH GOOD IN ME THAT I NEVER REALIZED EXISTED. they will me to be smart and patient and thoughtful and passionate. 

in the past, if i ran into a situation that was a challenge, i would just brush it off and say “oh, i’m just not smart enough to handle this” or “if i had more patience i could take more classes” or “maybe if i was more thoughtful i could contribute to this discussion.” thanks be to GOD that the people in my life don’t let me settle. where i fail to see the incredible person that god made me to be, they are my eyes, and give me light and draw what is best out of myself. 

I’m always disappointed by the number of young adults or teens who message for advice because they are extremely terrified and stressed when they express to their parents they live with they are in need of confession and their parents always ask them “WHAT WHY!??? WHAT DID YOU DO!??”

I normally don’t give parenting advice, but it’s frankly not of your business what your child feels he needs to confess. You should be thankful your child is repentant and desires confession, which is certainly much more than most of us adults feel! What courage and humility it takes to approach confession! You should be elated your child has a conscience and desires to be forgiven for their sins! What a joy for you!

The fact that children consider receiving in a state of mortal sin because they are terrified of being drilled by parents is just disappointing!