The Aroma Actually Woke Me Up. 3/9/2026

 Good Morning,

I just sat down at my desk to write and next to me on the floor are three Springer Spaniels We have a visitor with us for a few days and what a circus it is. I also am enjoying a hot mug of Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee.  My prayer time was good and I am ready for the day.

In my effort to keep busy and actually do something that produces a decent return for my work, I have been drying different foods for consumption. It seems as if I have mastered making apple chips I have a salty version and one that tastes like apple pie.  

Last night I prepped a batch of apple slices for the dryer and set the timer to run through the night. I awoke to the aroma of dried apples this morning. In another hour they will be finished. I have been known to share some of these with a few folks.  They are a good source of munchies in the turkey or duck blind

My point for the day is this. As you approach each day, find something that you can do that has a positive outcome/impact on others and for yourself. Especially those of us who are retired. Don't waste another day wondering what you are going to do. My wife and a few others recycle aluminum cans.  They use the money from the cans to support charities of their choice. Still working? Your coworkers have birthdays. Bring them a card and celebrate their day. 

Many years ago a friend of mine who was hospitalized and dying from cancer called me from his bed and asked for a favor. He wondered if I could bring to him a copy of our Church directory He wanted wo use his last time on this earth to call each person or family from our church and pray with them. I did as he asked and imagine how  surprised I was when I received a call from him asking me what he could pray about for me and my family. I will never forget that call. He died the next day. 

So, don't be bored with your day. There is always something you can do to take a dull day and make it a positive experience. I woke up to that sweet aroma and it will have an impact that goes beyond this morning.

Food for thought? God bless.

Marty

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Maybe All You Have To Offer Are Your Problems. It's Ok 3/8/2026

 Good Morning,

I am sitting at me desk and all I see from the window is darkness. I am not so sure as to how I like Daylight Savings Time, if at all. My cup is filled with Door County Cherry Creme Coffee and it is time to write. 

Maybe at this time you have a heart filled with hurt, pain and sorrow. You desire to reach out to God and you feel like all you have to offer are your woes. You try to bundle your faith into a nicely woven package and make it seem like you have it all together. Yet you just can't seem to fit the mold within your mind as to what a life of faith should look like or feel like. I am here to tell you that you don't need a thing to embrace God. He is there with open arms.

In 1981 I was a broken man who had nothing whatsoever to offer God as I somehow found myself walking in to a small Baptist church on a Sunday morning. . I felt like I did not belong there at all. I couldn't recite the names of the 66 books within the Bible. I did not know how to pray or what to say if I even tried. I only had a couple of dollars to put in the plate. 

Think this through for a moment. All you might have to offer are your problems. God just asks for you to place your faith in His Son Jesus Christ and give your problems to Him. He wants to walk through your days with you. If I waited until I had something to offer a church before I joined or attended, I would still be sitting on the outside, looking in. If  I waited until all the strings of my life were wrapped into a neat and tidy bundle,  you wouldn't be reading this today. If I waited until I could preach or pray like R A Torrey to come to a saving faith and join a church I would never have entered the doors of a building with a steeple.

All God asks for is your faith no matter how weak it is. So you assess all that you don't have regarding faith and decide you will wait until things are better aligned with your idea of a church member is. You step back and go on hurting, wandering, and feeling left out.

Mark 5:34  Daughter your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.

The lady mentioned in this passage wasn't mentioned because of what she gives financially to a church or what service she can offer. Don't let issues like those block your view of what really matters. God wants your faith in Him to be enough that if all you have to offer are your hurts, He is waiting for you to dump them out and let Him help.

Food for thought. It is never too soon to step into a life of faith and join a church. God doesn't need anything you can provide. He desires to be living within your heart. He has enough of everything else.

Marty

Don't Miss The Train 3/7/2026

 Good Morning, 

I have been looking forward to my hot cup of Door County Cinnamon Hazelnut Coffee since I set it yesterday to brew at 4:00AM  today.

Ephesians 1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

We all know someone who has done something for us once or many times over and over again. It is a real shame when we miss the opportunity to recognize their thoughtfulness, or kindness by truly letting them know that you appreciate what they did or do for you. We should never assume that there will be a better time to say thank you than the immediate time right after a kindness was bestowed upon you. 

It seems like the "Thank You Train" moves on pretty quickly and before you know it the perfect time has disappeared. When God places it on our heart to provide a special thank you like a card, flowers, a fishing lure, we should act immediately and not wait to bestow a gift of our feelings of thanks to whoever has gone out of their way for us. A thank you should be as immediate as you can make it. One that is months in the making is not really as sincere as it should be. I am not here to educate you today on ways to say thank you.  This is just a reminder not to miss the Thank You Train. It  might be too late to jump on.

Food for thought. God bless.

Marty

Settle In To Friday 3/6/2026

 Good Morning,

What a way to start a morning. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Inn Keepers Blend Coffee and it is time to write. 

Sometimes life gets to be a little too much to handle. Life seems to pile up a big ration of confusion, hurt, anger or makes us aware of all of our mistakes. Somewhere along the way we just decide to move on from the sorrow, anger, emotional pain, embarrassments, or issues that seem to last a lifetime. 

We get our dander up and we just move on and put all that garbage into our rear view mirror. But is that what God really wants us to do? Running away, starting over, or hiding from the past might not be His plan. There are times when the escape route get's blocked and God returns us right back to where we were running from. Or He clearly wants us to move on and we in doubt and fear crawl back to the relationship or issue that we were escaping from which is really no good for us. 

In the book of  Genesis, God clearly wanted Lot and His family to move on from Sodom and Gomorrah.

But Lot's wife looked back after being instructed not to even take a peek. What we leave behind is not worth going back to or it is toxic to the soul.

Genesis 19:26 NKJV But his wife looked back behind him and she became a pillar of salt. 

On the other hand, there are times when we are running away, but God takes us right back to where we began running from, which at times is the right choice and better option.

Luke 15:17-18 NKJV But when he came to himself, he said, "How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger.  18. I will arise and go to my Father and say to him. Father I have sinned against heaven and before you. 

The key to the story today is to know God's plan for you and then follow it. Do we go back and mend fences or move on and build new fences?

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 

Food for thought. I think I will go and enjoy the heat from the fireplace and have another cup of coffee.

God bless. 

Marty

What Kind Of Friend Are You? 3/5/2026

 Good Morning.

I am very content with my seat at my desk and the hot cup of Door County Country Morning Blend Coffee that is steaming next to me. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.

We all in one way or another desire to have friends, or to be friendly ourselves.  I have friends who pray for me whenever God leads them to and most of the time I don't even know that they prayed for me.  They are faithful with their prayers. Others will pick up the phone or send a text to ask how I am doing. 

In praying for a friend, God may lead you to go above and beyond a little bit. I asked in today's title 'What Kind Of Friend Are You"? Are you one with a soft heart for people? Are you willing to ask God what to do for your friends? Can you be stirn with a friend if they need  some chastising? Can you be called upon late in the night? 

A good friend sees a need and is there without even being asked to do so. They are friendly 24 hours a day. They put others first and do not expect anything in return.  So be friendly and let God lead you as to how to be a friend today.

God bless,

Marty 

Deep In Thought Today 3/4/2026

 Good Morning, 

My choice for my morning beverage is Door County Almond Toffee Coffee and it is time to write.

I have a lot on my mind today and for many reasons. I for sure will be in prayer and quiet as I sort out my thoughts, and emotions. I am missing a family member who is no longer with us, it would be his earthly birthday today. I envy his birthday experience in heaven this fine morning. 

Romans 12:2 NKJV And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

I will relive some memories in my mind for awhile today and then pour myself into the day God has given me. Basically I will give my self a reboot spiritually, and emotionally.I often perform a reboot by sitting back and counting my blessings. Then giving thanks for those blessings gets me back on track.

Food for thought.

Marty

Exhale, Breathe, And Trust 3/3/2026

 Good Morning,

My hot cup of Door County Almond Toffee Coffee is sitting next to me and the aroma is leading me to drink some more this morning. 

On a global scale we have war raging in Iran this week. Oil prices are high so everything that requires shipping will be more expensive. Dear friends of mine are watching their bed ridden son slowly die from the impacts of a lifelong battle with cancer.  Some home will be undergoing a family split. Two more shootings took place just in my part of the world. What went up up up with the stock market seems to want to go down, down down. Some flag draped coffins will be finding their way back home and a families will be hurting like never before. 

I don't know about you but it seems like the world is out of control. I found myself looking for comfort within God's word as I asked "Hey God Are You Out There?"

It is not that God isn't out there. It is the fact that I am judging Him not on trust but on what I see. Shame on me. God's word is clear that we need to trust in God despite what we see. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge and submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.

Our plans might not always work out. But God's plans never fail 

Isaiah 5:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Trust in God will help us to navigate through these uncertain times. Pray my friends. 

God bless.

Marty