Salty Zebra

 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...

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”   Romans 5:1 “yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”  Galatians 2:16   Last time I wrote about sanctification. Turns out I got a little ahead of myself because that’s tomorrow’s topic! The team that put together Firm Foundation did a fabulous job of structuring it so that the topics build on each other well. Today we look more deeply into something I alluded to last time, justification. According to the real Webster , justification is, “In theology, remission of sin and absolution from guilt and punishment; or an act of free grace by which God pardons the sinner and accepts him as righteous, on ...

   I'm currently on my ninth consecutive day crossing the Atlantic Ocean. I'd be inclined to say that I've seen it! The reality is though that I've barely scratched the surface, literally. According to Brittanica , the average depth of the Atlantic Ocean is 11,962 feet. That's over two miles deep on average! In some places it can be as deep as 27,493 feet.   By comparison, Mount Rainier is 14,400 feet. I could literally be sailing over mountains, actually I guess I have. I crossed over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, also called the Mid-Ocean Ridge, at some point on my journey. This is the most extensive chain of mountains on earth  stretching nearly 40,390 miles. What I'm getting at is, there's a lot below me.  Between me and the ocean floor are fish of all kinds, plants, all sorts of plankton and micro thingys. While I feel like I've seen all there is to see of the Atlantic Ocean, there's so much more that I can't even conceptualize it.   Where am I go...

  “Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out,”   Acts 3:19 “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9  I set out this morning on a challenge. The verses I was given deal with repentance, which I acknowledge is crucial both in our salvation and in walking out our life with Christ. But why? The more I looked at these verses, the more I felt like they applied to unbelievers and their coming to Christ. So what is the role of repentance in a believer? What does the Bible have to say about that?   But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgi...

  “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.”   Hebrews 1:1 “because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.”   Romans 10:9-10  Disney taught us that all we need is, “Faith, Trust and Pixie dust!” I wouldn’t let my children watch that version of Peter Pan because I didn’t want them getting that idea into their heads. Of course, I didn’t think they’d really believe that if they could get their hands on some pixie dust they could fly, but I didn’t want their idea of faith to be mixed up with this clearly impossible thing. I get a lot of flack for what I didn’t let my kids watch, but my heart was in the right place. I wanted to guard them from the lies of this world and keep their hearts focused on the God who ...