Sharing My Faith Sunday

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When I was first grappling with the idea that I might be gay, I worried so much. Would my friends still love me?Would my family accept me? What in the world would I tell my son? The one thing I never questioned was my faith.

I am a beloved child of God. I am exactly as God created me. He loves me and wants for me to be happy.My God is a compassionate, loving, and grace-granting God. Gay, straight, queer, black, white, brown, short, tall, fat, thin. All are good and beautiful in God's eyes. Our names are written on his heart.  He knew my soul before I was in my mother's womb. He loves me, scars and all.

Regardless of anything else.Exactly who you are is exactly how God loves you. And YOU are a beloved child of God.

Resources on Queerness and Christianity:

Websites:

The Gay Christian Network

Whosoever Magazine

Believe Outloud

Crumbs from the Communion Table

Gay Christian 101

Gay Christian? Yes.

 Institute for Welcoming Resources

Soulfource

Friends and Family Plan (Great resource in planning conversations about sexuality and Christianity)

Reading Material

What The Bible Really Says About Homosexuality by Daniel A. Helminiak

Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community by Andrew Marin and Brian McLaren

Gay Christian 101: Spiritual Self-Defense for Gay Christians by Rick Brentlinger

Stranger at the Gate: To be Gay and Christian in America by Mel White

Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill and Kathryn Greene-McCreight

Torn: Rescuing The Gospel from the Gays-vs-Christians Debate by Justin Lee

Bulletproof Faith: A Spiritual Survival Guide for Gay and Lesbian Christians by Candace Chellew-Hodge

Denomination Specific Organizations:

Evangelicals Concerned

Affirmation Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Affirmation United Methodist LGBTQ People & Our Allies

Dignity USA Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Catholics

Integrity USA (Episcopalian)

Reconciling Works, Lutherans for Full Participation

Metropolitan Community Churches

More Light Presbyterians

Rainbow Baptists

Quaker For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns

United Church of Christ LGBT and Same Gender Loving Ministries

Unitarian Universalist Association



Also linked up with:

Sharing My Faith Sunday

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A number of new readers have been around lately. Hello, new readers.  And a number of them are from the blogosphere. While reading through blogs, it seems that Christian women are truly drawn to blogging. Or maybe it is just the circles that I follow. Very, very rarely however do I find women like myself. A gay Christian. Really. We do exist. And we are real Christians.

I do not want to argue theology or biblical history or scripture translation with anyone. Instead, I want to open up a dialogue about how we as Christians can accept and encourage one another, just as members of different denominations are learning to unite in their similarities, instead of being drawn apart by their differences.

So, today, I want to share some of my favorite bible verses. These verses sustain me, encourage me, give me hope. And I hope they can do the same for you.

Grace

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus- Romans 3:20-24 

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.-1 Peter 4:8 

Beloved Child of God

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalm 139:14

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. -Jeremiah 1:5

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.- Romans 8:28

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -John 1:12

Above all Love

"Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. - 1 John 4:7-8

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.- John 13:34-35