Salty Zebra

 “and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”   2 Timothy 3:15 “So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.”  James 1:21  What was your Bible study like today? What passage did you look into? Do you even remember it? James 1:23-25 has a very interesting analogy I’d like to look deeper into today… For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out - he will be blessed in what he does.   (James 1:23-25 NET)   I have struggled with the metaphorical aspect of th...

 You wake up feeling pretty good. Sure, you've got some soreness and getting out of bed takes more energy than you think it should, but you're better than most days. As you head to the bathroom, you notice a basket of towels and think, "I really should run some laundry today!" And you do. In fact, you start tackling lots of little tasks as you see them. As you clean up from breakfast you do a bunch of dishes. When you walk through the living room you see the clumps of dog fur on the carpet and grab the vacuum for a "light cleaning" that might become a little more. Then you see the sink in your son's bathroom and... Well, you get the idea. Next thing you know it's lunch time and you definitely don't have the energy your started the day with. In fact, you're noticing some of those warning signs that a flare is coming on and you're about to be down for the count, possibly for days. But you had that important dinner with friends tonight!  Thi...

  This January (2025) I had the blessing of being able to cruise in a Club Balcony Suite on Norwegian Cruise Line. I've been conceptually familiar with these cabins, but I've never sailed in one and I wanted to see what the differences were. What makes a Club Balcony Suite different from a Balcony cabin?  First off, lets dispel this "Suite" misnomer. The Club Balcony Suite is not considered a Suite. You do not get the major suite perks like a butler, concierge, special breakfast restaurant, and extra Latitudes Rewards point per night. They do include a few suite perks though, perhaps that inspired the name? These are treats delivered to your cabin on two days of the cruise (one day you get sweets and another bite-sized sandwiches) and a bottle of sparkling wine. You also get one free bag of laundry per cruise.    Club Balcony Suite Bathroom Balcony Bathroom  How about the differences in the cabin itself? The primary difference you'll find will be with the bathro...

 “The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.”  Psalm 19:7 “Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.”  Proverbs 30:5   Last Time , we talked about all the proofs that make us comfortable trusting God’s Word and seeing it as the Authority in our lives. One of those things, the many copies and versions of texts that have been found, helps us also to believe in the inerrancy of God’s Word, or the fact that there are no errors in it. When we talk about this, we are referring to the original texts, or as close to it as we can get these days.   The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. Until the invention of the printing press in the 1400s in Europe, the Bible was copied by hand and passed down from generation to generation. These original language texts continued to be copied and passed down even afte...

Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17  Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet's own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.  2 Peter 1:20-21    Christians look to the Bible as the Word of God.  We trust that what it says is God speaking to us. But how do we know this is true? Let's take a look today at how we can trust the authority of God's Word.   There are two types of evidence regarding the Bible: internal and external.   Internal evidence is what the Bible says itself. In today's verses (above) we read that all scripture is God breathed.   The prophets didn't imagine it or make it up, it came from God.   ...

     Bandana Print Shirt Collar Button Through Blouse – BloomChic  My brain surgeries, and perhaps the tumor itself, had more than a few unexpected side effects. Two of these were me becoming pre-diabetic and having high cholesterol. These both changed shortly after the surgery and without any change in my diet. My doctor has been working with me for quite some time to address these issues - my body is not cooperating so far - but in the meantime I have gained a significant amount of weight, about 50lbs. I weigh more now than I ever have in my life, even when I was pregnant. As you can imagine, that is a challenge for both my physical and mental health. Adding on to the mental side of this, none of my clothes fit anymore. Kick a girl while she's down why don'tcha?    V Neck Crocheted Cut Out Jumpsuit – BloomChic  My husband, in his precious compassion and wisdom, encouraged me to find some new clothes that I would enjoy. I kept seeing ads pop up on Fac...

   I'm writing to you this Valentine's Day from a cruise ship docked in Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica. I was supposed to be on a shore excursion called Real Coffee, Chocolate and Sarchi today exploring a coffee plantation, sampling their wares, learning about Sarchi and hand painted ox carts and having a local luncheon. But instead, I'm sitting in the lovely and comfortable Observation Lounge on the ship typing on my computer. Why? I'm just not 100%. As my husband pointed out, I'm never 100%, but I mean my 100%. For you that might be 60% or even 40%, but I'm trying to say I'm not at my  best. I'm looking very much forward to visiting family in Panama City in two days and then transiting the Panama Canal, and I don't want to miss either of those for not having taken care of myself beforehand.   It was a difficult decision for me because I was looking forward to the shore excursion too. We had also invested in it, it was not cheap, and you have to cancel ...

 Ok, friends. I know some of you are NOT snake enthusiasts, and I apologize for any discomfort that the next video brings, but the analogy was just too strong for me to pass up!   “For this is God’s will: that you become holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality.”   1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.”  Hebrews 10:14  This morning as I considered sanctification, that progressive growing to be more and more like Christ, I was given the image of a snake shedding it’s skin. I didn’t want to go there, snakes having the bad reputation that they do…, I even researched hermit crabs and lizards to find a suitable alternative. But, eventually, I found the video above and it was clear that this is what God was trying to teach me.   As a snake grows, it’s skin does not stretch like ours. The snake within the skin grows larger, but the skin stays the same size causing it to feel tight and constr...

Pictured: Bruschetta made with GF bread - delicious!  When you are having to avoid certain foods, cruising can be your best travel option! For those with severe allergies, say to peanuts, where even having them in the air can be dangerous, I'm afraid this isn't the case. But for those who simply need to make sure that gluten or dairy or meat is not in their  meal, then this is for you! When you travel regularly, flying somewhere and staying in a hotel, you're having to visit a new restaurant for each meal and try to assess whether their preparations are safe, what menu items are available to you, and how to communicate with the staff. If you are in a place that speaks a different language this can be really tricky! Pictured: GF Flourless Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Compote (I was so excited to eat it that I took a bite before I remembered to take a picture!)  On a cruise, you not only unpack once and get to visit lots of places, but you also only have to sort out the d...

Hey there! I'm an Amazon Associate, which means I earn a commission when you click one of these links and buy something. This does not change your cost at all.  As I was packing up for my most recent trip, I thought you all might be interested in some of the things I keep in my personal bag. What's a personal bag you might ask? Most airlines allow you to bring one personal item on the plane with you. Some (sometimes for a fee) will allow you a carry on and a personal item. But do you really take advantage of what that personal item can be? Let's just say when you're packing for your trips primarily as carry on only, you learn to use what's available to you!  On Alaska Airline's website they state, "One small personal item such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop bag, and medically necessary items will be allowed on board." The thing is, "purse" and "laptop bag" have LOTS of different definitions! Some would think of this mini:  Whil...