??‍♂️ I don’t know what this crazy talk is that I’ve seen lately from Christian’s but you don’t “demand” things from GOD. Bratty kids demand things in grocery stores. Unappreciative adults demand things from those who are good to them. God isn’t your cosmic vending machine. It is by His Grace we are even alive. It is by His Mercy we have been saved. It is His love that has given us life eternal. We need to stop acting like selfish little children, this is your FATHER in heaven who loves you. Show some respect. WE OWE GOD EVERYTHING…it’s not the other way around. ““God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬ #LoveGodLoveOthers #TheWay #Jesus #God #LoveWins #blessed #Inspiration #Motivation #Joy #Peace #revival #housechurch #reconstructingFaith #christianity #christianitytoday #reformation #orthodoxy #christianitypost #christianity101 #progressive #christianityquotes #biblicalchristianity #christianmemes #deconstruction

I believe!!! Still have the #antibodies and I had covid in March 2020. They remind me every time I give blood that I have them. So no, natural antibodies don’t leave within weeks. #themoreyouknow #lookatalltheperspectives

Beautiful mist over our mountain neighborhood. #spartatn

Bonnie loves to sit in our chairs during morning devotional time. We are so grateful to @aarftn for allowing us to adopt this sweet pup. #rescuedogsofinstagram

Many translations of the Bible don’t do a good job of translating the word kathairō in John 15:2. They often translate it to cut off or in the king James “purgeth” which all sound like discard. But the word really means to prune. You prune something to clean it up, help it come back better. I love how Eugene Peterson translates in in the Message. Meditate on God’s Word and realize that when we are following Jesus, the tough times are pruning us so we can produce good fruit in this world. When we aren’t walking with Him, the tough times are just…tough. Let Him lead, let Him prune your life, and enjoy the harvest of joy, love and peace that comes with being His. ““I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-4‬ ‭MSG‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/97/jhn.15.4.MSG #LoveGodLoveOthers #TheWay #Jesus #God #LoveWins #blessed #Inspiration #Motivation #Joy #Peace #revival #housechurch #reconstructingFaith #christianity #christianitytoday #reformation #orthodoxy #christianitypost #christianity101 #progressive #christianityquotes #biblicalchristianity #christianmemes #deconstruction

Bonnie had to sit on mom’s lap when we got home from our date. @thereal_darakoenig loves every minute of it. #puppylove #rescuedogsofinstagram

Sometimes, we Christians have a way of reducing powerful scriptures to cure catch phrases and bumper stickers. We take verses out of context and build entire sermons out of them. And then we wonder why people don’t buy into the American Christian church model. People see through the crap because God has written His Word into our hearts. In Matthew 7:6 of the Message Translation Jesus says: “Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.” ‭‭If we want to inspire people to explore the mysteries of God and the Love of Christ, we have to stop thinking of the Bible as some reference “manual” for life and see it for what it is. A collection of stories inspired by God for specific people at specific times. Stories of failure, and stories of triumph. Bad decisions like murder and adultery and disobedience as well as great stories of healing and mercy and love. And all of those stories point to one central moment in time when Jesus chose to give Himself up in order to reconcile an imperfect humanity to a perfect God. A love story from beginning to end. #besaltandlight #LoveGodLoveOthers #TheWay #Jesus #God #LoveWins #blessed #Inspiration #Motivation #Joy #Peace #revival #housechurch #reconstructingFaith #christianity #christianitytoday #reformation #orthodoxy #christianitypost #christianity101 #progressive #christianityquotes #biblicalchristianity #christianmemes #deconstruction

Teach me God… Sometimes I feel like “I already know that so I don’t need to focus on it.” But the truth is, God can always teach us something new. Today I am asking God to reveal something new to me. Show me how to see your truth in ways I never expected Father. I praise you for loving me, and teaching me, even when I don’t have a teachable spirit, you never give up on me. Give me faith when mine waivers, and give me a teachable spirit when I’m stubborn. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen. “God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response. Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway! Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way. Affirm your promises to me— promises made to all who fear you. Deflect the harsh words of my critics— but what you say is always so good. See how hungry I am for your counsel; preserve my life through your righteous ways!” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:33-40‬ ‭MSG‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/97/psa.119.33-40.MSG #reconstructingFaith #christianity #christianitytoday #reformation #orthodoxy #christianitypost #christianity101 #progressive #christianityquotes #biblicalchristianity #christianmemes #deconstruction

Bonnie loves stealing my chair…not my wife’s chair…just my chair. ? We love this beautiful girl ❤️ and all her silly little quirks. In less than a week she learned to use her doggie door, she sleeps in her crate, she has met 4 pups in the neighborhood and is the best cuddler ever. We are so #blessed to have this fur baby in our family and can’t wait for @jillian.k and @bella_hufflepuff to meet her. If you’re able to rescue a pup, please do. There are many great dogs like Bonnie that get overlooked because they’re not puppies, or because people are afraid of specific breeds. We are grateful for the folks at @aarftn where we adopted Bonnie. #rescuedogsofinstagram

If you personally feel convicted about something that is not black-and-white in the Bible, you should follow your convictions. For example if you feel like doing yoga is causing you to Cine, then you shouldn’t do yoga. If you’re doing yoga and you don’t feel convicted because you’re actually worshiping God while doing stretching exercises and you’re not praying to some weird divine something or other, then do your yoga for Jesus. One thing that is an instant turn off for people when it comes to Christians is the way that some of us push our personal convictions on people when those personal convictions are just that… Personal, not scriptural. Paul actually addresses this in the book of Romans. If something is convicting you, listen to the Holy Spirit and abstain. You may feel convicted not to drink wine because you’re an alcoholic. But Jesus turned water into wine so why would he do that if alcohol itself were sinful? The answer? The wine isn’t sinful, getting drunk and allowing the alcohol to have control over your mind body and spirit are what lead you to sin. “Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:22-23‬ ‭MSG‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/97/rom.14.22-23.MSG #reconstructingFaith #christianity #christianitytoday #reformation #orthodoxy #christianitypost #christianity101 #progressive #christianityquotes #biblicalchristianity #christianmemes #deconstruction #LoveGodLoveOthers #TheWay #Jesus #God #LoveWins #blessed #Inspiration #Motivation #Joy #Peace #revival #housechurch