How Is The Welcome To Your Home? 6/1/2026

 Good Morning,

My cup was just filled with Door County Toffee Pretzel Coffee and it is time to write.

Philippians 2:3 NKJV Let nothing be done through selfish ambition and conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 

Today as I write I am challenged by my own thoughts. I believe that the one person this is intended for is me. How do we  or just me greet those who come to your door? Do they get the impression that they are an inconvenience to your day or do they feel welcome enough to stay for awhile? Do you answer the door with a smile or a frown? Do your neighbors know that your home is open and can be a source of help and refuge? Does a stranger feel like they would want to come back after visiting with you?

As you read this and I write this, you and only you know if it truly applies to you. That is between you and God. But it is truly truly food for thought.

Hebrews 13:1-2 NKJV Let brotherly love continue. 2. Don't forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some unwittingly have entertained angels. 

I will leave the porch light on!

God bless, 

Marty

Judge Not. 5/31/2026

 Good Morning,

The air is cool and crisp this morning. My hot cup of Door County Hazelnut Coffee stepped up to warm up my morning. It is time for me to write.

Quite a few years ago I went to pick up my wife Rene from work. We were going to shop for a new car for her. The day was super hot outside and before I picked her up I decided to purchase a cold Dr. Pepper for her.

Matthew 7:1 NKJV Judge not that, you be not judged .

I pulled into the parking lot of a Walgreens and as I approached the front door a man with a sign greeted me. The sign said "In Need Of Food. Please Help." 

I had a five dollar bill in my pocket and felt that I should help this man out. He had a white cane and was wearing dark glasses. He played the role of being totally blind. When I greeted him, he asked me how much I was dropping into his collection can. He said, "I cannot tell how much you have given me. So I don't know how much I have to spend for food. I am blind. Change is easier to tell how much is in the can by the size of the coin." 

I did not have any change and offered to go into the store to obtain coins. He told me not to bother, just knowing there was five dollars was good enough. He thanked me and I went in for the Dr. Pepper.

When I came back outside I now had 50 cents in change and was going to donate that as well. But my blind poor soul was driving away on a bicycle into extreme traffic. He wasn't blind at all. I was scammed. 

My wife was happy to have that cold soda. She listened to my account of the smarter than me beggar and how I was angry. "I said to her "this guy is probably just going to buy some drugs or alcohol with my money." Rene said to me. "Just be glad that you never had to ask for money and scam other people. Don't be so quick to judge. You don't know what brought the man to need to beg. Just be glad that you never knew what it was to be addicted to something or just plain out of work and needing something to eat." 

I never knew that my kind act to the not so blind guy was going to get me chewed out by Rene.

The point for the day is this. I jumped to a conclusion without knowing why a man was desperate enough to lie and beg. It really was none of my business. I was out 5 dollars or was I? I helped someone for the right reason and learned a lesson on not judging others. The whole scenario was between God, the beggar and I believe I was included to see what kind of heart I had without writing my own conclusions.

Look before you leap.!!

Marty

Credit Given Where Credit Is Due

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Hazelnut Coffee and it is enticing me to a pour a second cup. I am positive I will cave in to the pressure.

Proverbs 3:27 ESV Do not withhold good to those to whom it is due, when it is within your power to do so. 

Our yard has started to take shape as far as the the greenery and shrubbery is concerned. My wife Rene has been working on it at a steady pace. Our grass is another story. For some reason or another the harsh winter caused a lot of lawn damage. That will be fixed in the fall and that is my job. 

Back to the flowers. I cannot take any credit for the way the flowers turned out. Rene did all of that on her own and the best is yet to come. She worked diligently and all I was there for was to lift the potting soil bags from the truck to a work table in the garage. She pots the flowers in junk she has collected. She has an eye for repurposing things. 

The point for the day is this. when someone does something and it turns out great, make sure to give them some credit or applause for what they accomplished. Always share a compliment and a thank you for a job well done. Most of the time, people will not blow there own horn and are pleased just to admire their own work. But extend a word of praise and gratitude and watch the smile you receive in return. 

I am enjoying a great view this morning and all I can say is this. "Nice job Babe.

 Marty

You Are Missed 5/29/2026

 Good Morning,

My coffee mug ws just filled with hot water this morning. I am doing a medical fasting for some routine blood work so no coffee for me until later. The hot water is a placebo and is warming me up on this cool morning. 

Yesterday I attended a retirement celebration for a former coworker of mine. I am so glad that I attended it, and to say the least I had a very nice time. Also attending were many other former coworkers of mine. It has been a few years now since I have seen some of them. The farewell was more of a reunion. 

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 niv  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13.That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil. This is the gift from God

As a drove home from the party, I could not help but to pray and ask God to bless that group as only He can. There were a few empty places from some who decided not to attend or just could not make it. I can say this, until last night I never really thought too much about being retired from a company who employed me for 39 years. My job was a good one and the pay and benefits were nice. 

But last night made things clearer for me as I pondered the event. The best part of the job was working with good people. It was the  interactions with all those who crossed my path. As I sit here writing today, I see now, more than ever that it was those folks and there were many who I interacted with over the years that God blessed me with experiencing. The party was nice, but it also triggered the emotions of just how much I miss working with those folks. 

I look up with a wet eye this morning and a smile. If I worked with you, you were and still are a blessing to me.

Have a great day!

Marty

Are You Anchored? 5/28/2026

 Good Morning,

My mug was just filled with Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee and it is time to write. 

Our neighbor is a lady of prayer and yesterday she sent my wife and I a quote she came across. 

"I want to be so anchored in Christ that chaos around me does not produce chaos within me." Mindful Christianity Paul Bane.

In today's world it can be so easy to come unglued from the stress of world events, such as wars, civil unrest, monetary woes, and danger from plain old lawlessness. 

A few years ago while vacationing in Virginia, we toured the USS Wisconsin. The Wisconsin is a World War 2 battleship docked in Virginia and is by far one of the biggest ships I have ever seen. I was amazed at the size of the sea anchors and chains that were used to stable the ship when needed and hold it in place. 

This quote made me think about the anchor that Christ is in our lives.It wouldn't take too much for people to spin out of control these days and then be fodder for chaos to enter our hearts, minds, and souls. Yet we are wrapped in the arms of His love and guided through troubling times. Jesus can keep us steady during times of despair, anger, doubt and fear. 

But in order to have that stability we  need to let Jesus drop His anchor and let Him steer the ship of our days, weeks, months and years. 

Hebrews 6:19 NIV We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.

Food for thought. Are you anchored in Christ Jesus? 

Marty

I Think I Will Be Biblical And Go Fishing, 5/27/2026

 Good Morning,

I am happy to say that I am content with my breakfast of Granny Smith Apples and a hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Cup Coffee and it is time to write.

John 21:1-3 NIV  Afterward Jesus appeared again to His disciples, by the Sea Of Galilee. It happened this way. 2. Simon Peter. Thomas (also known as Didymus) Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3. "I am going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

                                               

Let's take a look at this. The disciples had just seen Jesus die on the cross. They lost someone they loved. Three days later He arose. Confusion now mixed in with their time of grieving. Jesus appeared to them in the upper room. More confusion mixed in with bewilderment and confusion.

Peter decides to withdraw and go to do something else besides thinking and grieving. Not only does he announce that he is going fishing, some of his friends are going to join him. 

Note, at times it is best to just hang around with the right friends and do something positive to relieve grief and confusion. Even while catching nothing, it is best when nothing is biting to be with a good friend or friends. 

My point for the day is this. Staying busy is good while you are searching, hurting, or confused . But not all the time has to be looking for the next profound thought. Sometimes you just need to wet a line and laugh with buddies. 

Food for thought. 

Marty

Finding Your Way In This World 5/26/2026

 Good Morning,

A hot cup of Door County Irish Creme Coffee awaits me in the kitchen after I am finished writing. 

Psalm 119:105 They word is a lamp unto me feet, and a light unto my path.

I am amazed at just how much portable lighting has improved throughout my years on this planet. My first memories of a flashlight was a silver metal type with 2 D Cell batteries. It was light! But not like we have today.

                                               

I own a few different styles of portable lighting and I use them especially when I am venturing out in my boat and headed into a marsh to duck hunt. There is security in being able to see ahead and sometimes behind you. 

One of my lights is equipped with the ability to send up an SOS signal in an emergency. Most all of these new lights are also rechargeable. So no need to carry spare batteries. 

As much as I rely on my fancy new lights to get me around in the dark, they cannot lead me through this dark world of choices, temptations and doubt.

For clear directions in this dark world I rely on my Bible. God's word for me never needs recharging. It can guide me, correct me, calm me, and show me the way to my eternal home.

Why trust anything else to pull you through this world and it's traps, snares, and hurts? 

If you could go back in time and needed a light for travel and could choose something from Amazon with tons of candle power, or rely on an old lantern with a weak battery is an easy choice. In a dark cave you would embrace the greatest light available. Why not take the greatest source of light and instruction through your walk in life every day. 

Food for thought!

Marty