Salty Zebra

  Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.   Ephesians 5:1-2  “Do as I say, not as I do!” That was a tongue-in-cheek semi-joking saying when I was a kid. Some of the adults in my life were not emulating Christ in the way they ought to, and this was their excuse. At the time, I thought it was perfectly reasonable, but in hindsight, I think they dropped the ball. We are given a great responsibility of representing Christ in this world. Are we going to do it perfectly? Of course not! Not one of us is God-made-flesh like He was. But, nonetheless, we are called to try.   Why is this so important? After all, we are saved by grace, through faith, and not by works ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ). However this is not about our salvation, but the salvation of others. For many people, we are the only Jesus they may ever see. Especially where I li...

  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  This is the end of a passage that lays out some foundations for Christian living. In it, Paul writes that we should not sin in our anger, we should not steal, our words should be beneficial, not gossipy or mean, and that great big mysterious command – do not grieve the Holy Spirit. I still don’t fully comprehend what that means, and no one I’ve read seems to have a solid handle on it either. Hey Paul, you want to give a few more details on something so seemingly important?!? Finally, just before today’s focus verse, it says that we are to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. That’s where I got stuck.   You see, I don’t struggle with a compulsion to steal, and I work really hard to make sure my words are beneficial, though I am certainly not perfect, but recently I have had a big struggle with anger. You can...

  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:24  Many years ago, my husband asked me to start cutting his hair, and we got a set of clippers. I had watched my mom buzz my brothers’ heads for NJROTC in high school so I was pretty comfortable with the concept. For a long time, he wanted it styled with short sides but more length on top. That was tricky, but now he is transitioning his hairstyle to a not-quite-but-almost-bald look. Now, I just pop the #1 guard on the clippers and do his whole head lickety split. He has baby-soft, fine hair, and when you cut it, it goes EVERYWHERE. I learned early on in this process that a haircut had to be followed by a shower. Those little hairs worked their way through the fabric of my shirt, into the waistband of my pants, into my bra! NOT COMFORTABLE!!   What does this seemingly incongruous reflection have to do with Ephesians? In today’s passage ( Ephesians 4:17-24 ), Paul is ...

  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15 I look back on my early years walking with Jesus in a bit of amazement. I remember clearly, sitting in the church library, where we met for adult Sunday School, thinking, “I could never lose this passion and fire! I will never struggle with doubt!” I chuckle and shake my head at this innocence, this immaturity. I also remember being drawn by different teachings and confused. During one season I felt distinctly that I should always wear a hat when at church, and that other women who weren’t were clearly sinning ( 1 Corinthians 11:6 ). During another season, I believed that I had to do my Bible study first thing in the morning – like it was pivotal to my salvation. I couldn’t do it once my babies woke up, so I tried getting up before them, but they kept waking up earlier and earlier. Next think you know, I’m getting up at 3am trying...

  Sometimes life isn't ideal. Let's face it, most of the time it isn't! So, we do what we need to, to make things work. In my "Making It Work" posts, I share life hacks and ideas that have helped me so that, maybe, they can help someone else too. I hope you enjoy!  I have SO MUCH DATA about my health this year!!!! It got to be so ridiculous that I couldn't begin to make heads or tails of it, let alone use it to benefit my situation. So I asked my data scientist husband to see what he could do with it, and here's what he came up with:  Pretty impressive, eh? He made lots of other visuals as well that you can look at, and even manipulate, here . Why did I ask him to do this? I thought maybe if I looked at the data in a cohesive, visualized way, I would be able to see WHAT TO DO. I've been tracking my blood sugar , my pace points (spoons), and my symptoms for almost a year now. You'd think that if you look at the data just right , maybe if you squin...

  So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up   Ephesians 4:11-12  Imagine for a moment, an endless line of people in a factory making widgets. Yep, you have to use your imagination because a widget isn’t a real thing, but stick with me here. Everyone is making widgets, but there’s no one to box them up, or put them on a truck, or drive them to a store, or work in a store to sell them, or anyone to buy them for that matter, because everyone is just making widgets. Maybe a widget maker is the best, coolest job ever, but if everyone is a widget maker, their job is meaningless because no one is enjoying the widgets they make!   God has given us each gifts. They are personalized to who we are, because God made us so He knows exactly which gift will be used best by us. They are also personalized for what He has called us to do. He know...