I will pop in to say Hi via pm every so often, plus I might have some funnies on you tube to share. 😀

Leece I did not know that part of your story and that is very very sad 😥 . I knew you had a precious Lil Boy tho.

Yes, I do believe that a good church or good members can be of tantamount effect on our decisions and crucial in a time of need. My brother believes in that manner as well. Thats why I hope the flame will continue to burn and grow here on F2B to help everyone for where they are at and the message continues and spreads like wildfire that we are loved and accepted by God, he never promised that life would be easy but he promised he would help us when it is not and that can be and usually is through others.

Hi mags, how are things with your health? I’ve just been re-reading through your story posts again, as I had some spare time tonight 😉 I know that with my own battle with a disability, things can get you a bit down at times.

Are you coming to Mardi Gras? I’ll be marching for the first time this year – yayyyyyyyyy 😆 😆 😆 I know it will be an emotional experience, so I’m just hoping I don’t get too teary-eyed 😳

Take care and God bless

Sml update:

I stepped down as moderator a wee while ago due to personal things going on, Mum going downhill and Dad needing triple bypass plus me still heading toward minor surgeries and all the specialists you see leading up to that 😡 🙁 but all good 😉

I didnt think I would be on F2B as much as I am but help was needed so Ive stepped back in temporarily and also it has been a great place to time out too 8) and be encouraged 😀

My family has been really great with my partner, my sister in particular (big turnaround) and now she is also another daughter to mum and dad yayyy! 😀 Im so grateful to finding that a site like F2B existed, otherwise id still be battling with an orientation ive been blessed to actually have 😀 and im living the life Im so very happy in with a wonderful woman. 😉 Thankyou Anthony and Phill and the team xxoo and Praise God 😀

mags,

Just read through your thread, and gained some encouragement from your words. I notice that you use the word ‘peace’ a lot- I told you that I could sense that peace flowing from you!

I was struck by this:

I was born again at christian city church brookvale april 1992 and had an amazing touch of God that day. I was water baptised a month later and baptised in the holy ghost the same day and spoke in tongues too. It was mind blowingly beautiful. I was told how evil being a lesbian was and that if I go back I will go to hell.

How do churches that place an emphasis on a born again experience, and life in the Spirit (whether evidenced through fruit, gifts or tongues), say that in one breath, but deny these evidences if you happen to be gay? What are we doing? faking it?

I alienated myself from much in the church because I couldn’t balance these two ideas. But I now realise that God loves me just as I am.

Ian

IanJ

I alienated myself from much in the church because I couldn’t balance these two ideas. But I now realise that God loves me just as I am.

That is such a wonderful place to be in Ian, he so does 😀

and its sad that our obvious encounters/gifts arent recognised but the tide IS turning and Gods hand is evident 😀

I understand that place of alienation, I did it with people and never really had a close friend for yrs, although one girl at church who knew everything about me didnt care, we werent buddy buddies but when I needed it she always just held me so I could cry, I didnt even have to ask, it was always as if she just knew, I remember sitting on the floor at church and she came up behind me out of the blue and just held me for about 15mins or more whilst I sobbed, she was pivotal in my seeing God as loving and soooooo interested in meeting me intimately in my pain, through her I just sensed his love and acceptance and could recognise it thru others from then on too, it gave me confidence to minister in that way too when I felt moved to.

I will say this about you, when I saw you sitting on the couch at the Acon building that Fri night, I saw such an immovable strength in you, like you were standing on a ground that could not be budged, your foundations are anchored and deep and I got a sense of a quiet but strong assurance from you, a catchy confidence, a pillar in Christ that can be trusted.

(I just felt to share that much with you and hope it encourages you, sorry if its a bit full on)