When The Day Is A Mixed Bag 8/18/2026

 Good Morning,

I am ready to pour myself a hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and then start to write. 

One thing I can say is that I am never bored. My life can be quiet one moment and then turned over like a tornado hit it. If I were to write an autobiography I could not describe my life as dull or boring. 

Psalm 16:11 ESV You make known to me the path of life; In Your presence there is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

God has blessed me with a life that is filled with something happening almost every day and at times hour by hour. The book would be "scatterbrained" at best with at times no rhyme or reason. But it is my life and God has blessed me with ups and downs. It has been a rollercoaster ride of ease at times, fear at other times, stress, hurt and rest all in one day. 

I have had blessings and corrections at the same time.  But the last thing I have ever been is bored. How can one be bored when God leads you through the life He has given you.?

Here is how you can be bored. Don't share your life with others. 

Some of the more beautiful things I have seen have been seen with my wife or daughter next to me. Some of the morning sunrises that take your breath away I have witnessed with family and friends.  

God gave you a life to share with others. Good or bad. It is the day God has given. And even bad times are easier to bear when you allow family or friends to travel that day with you.

You have been given a life. Enjoy it. Look for God in the good and the bad. Every day is a blessing!

Marty

More Than You Think 8/17/2026

 Good Morning.

My hot cup of Door County Heavenly Caramel Coffee is at my side. I have three Springer Spaniels at my feet. It is time to write. 

I have written many times on the thought that God is always near us and is faithful. Today I will use that reminder once more. I will share a thought on just how close and special we are to God. 

Isaiah 49:16 Behold I have carved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are continually before me. 

My wife and I often leave notes for ourselves reminding us to do things that need to be done or an appointment to be kept. I have many times thought to myself "Hey that could be shared in your blog." But by the time the next morning comes, I have forgotten what it was that I was going to say and write about. I should have made myself a note to remind me of what I was thinking at the time.

God never forgets us and He doesn't need a post it note to remind us of our existence. He uses the statement in Isaiah 49:16 to let us know just how much we are loved and that we are forever in His heart and on His mind. His care for us is permanent, like a scar that never fades. 

An engraving is deep and does not fade. Hands are always near and easy to see showing that God keeps us on His mind.

Food for thought. God loves you with a love that is ever present.

Have a great day.

Marty

Are You Where You Are Supposed To Be? 8/16/2026

 A good cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee is keeping me company on this fine Sunday morning and it is time to write.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you future and a hope. 

Yesterday found me getting some assistance with a project I am working on for our church. Once again I found myself at my dear friend's house borrowing his time and the use of his drill press. Us two have partnered in church work (ministry) for many many years, through thick and thin. We took some time as always just to chat and discuss world events and our church. 

We both easily admitted that our best ministry years are now behind us. 

Every year in September I take time to review my year ( September is the new fiscal year for our church.) So I start with the help of others to plan for the following year. September is just around the corner and the start of the new year for one of the ministries I provide "elder oversight," to will be diving into the study of the Holy Spirit. The weekly operations of that ministry are now in the hands of a younger and very capable guy. 

Back to September.I ask God to show me the paths in which I should follow regarding ministry work and by January I have a general idea as to what God wants me to do. If and when I don't receive a definitive answer as to where God is leading me, I continue in the direction I have been going in until He leads me in a different direction. 

It is important for us to stay where and what God has called us to until He moves you. 

My point for the day is this. It's your life, but God has the plan. There is no doubt that we are all to serve Him. Be sensitive to His call and directions. The right path is the only path.

Have a great day!

Marty

Mining For Golden Nuggets 8/15/2026

 Good Morning,

I just sat down at my desk with a hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and now I am ready to write.

Psalm 19:9-10 NKJV The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever,

The judgments are true and righteous altogether 

10. More to be desired than gold. Yes then much fine gold.

Sweeter also  than honey and the honeycomb

who wouldn't want to find some gold on your property? If you did find gold on your property, I would place a bet that says you would find a shovel or buy one so you could dig deeper and find more gold.You would mine deep and wide on that piece of land for more golden nuggets. 

Now let's apply this to life. Many people enjoy a good Christian daily devotional book. I am all for that, but doesn't the devotional leave you wanting more? 

Most devotionals contain a passage or two of Scripture. Do you mine for more? Do you read the passages before and after the given passage in the devotional? Do you dig deeper into the Word, so as to better understand and apply what you have read.? Do you share your gold, or do you hoard for yourself what you have learned or pass on the comfort the passages supplied?

The Bible is filled with pages breathed by God and is there 24/7 for you to open the mine and extract what you need, for emotional comfort, direction, peace and correction.

Food for thought. When was the last time you opened the mine and dug into an hour or so of Scripture?

God bless? Marty

The Job Is Under Rated , Or Is It Over rated? 8/14/2026

Good Morning,

My Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee just splashed into my cup and it is time to write.

Today I would like to talk about one of the unsung heros and most churches have one. It is the person they call the "Youth Pastor". Typically they are fresh out of school or still in school when they answer the call. Then they are quite often underpaid and many times have to work a secular job as well to make ends meet. They exist on too much pizza and candy. 

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 

As a youth pastor they spend a lot of time away from home where very often they have a wife with some babies to take care of. They are often last to be considered during the annual budget talks. 

I have said this and haven't even mentioned the teens just yet. They might range in numbers of 6-60 or even more. The youth pastor must develop his own volunteer leaders within and then be responsible for them as they work with the teens. 

I know a lot about being the youth pastor , youth director. I did that job for twenty some years. within three churches. I was blessed to have a secular job that paid well so my wife and I did not need or draw any pay from the churches we served. For the longest time we did not even have a departmental budget. We organized fund raisers that the teens supported with their labor. Car washes, rummage sales etc were the source of income needed as it is with many churches. My wife worked side by side with me for all those years. In youth pastor school they never tell you that your spouse is also part of the package. Your spouse is a new wave of indentured servant because they married the youth pastor. 

Then you give the you pastor a mixture of kids, from the church brats that often think they are God's gift to you, different races, checkered pasts, sweet kids, distressed kids and then you make sure to tell them "We Are Praying For you" All different ages, raging hormones, mood swings. Every teen is welcomed in. You then attend sporting events or musicals to show your teens support. And you are happy and proud to do so. You come to meetings at church and fall asleep. You often look like the teens kept you up all night long. Your spouse wonders if the couch snores all the time? Your spouse and you attend the God forbid,  funerals of teens that for some reason or another pass away often from tragedy that befalls a teen. You visit hospitals where the run aaway resides while getting mental health help. You comfort parents who have a runaway teen.

My point is this. Don't forget to truly pray for that youth pastor, their spouse, the leaders that serve with them and last but not least, pray for the teens that attend  "Youth Group". Give words of encouragement and be thankful that you have a youth pastor doing the job that most people could never do.  

Food for thought.

Marty 

Where The Decision Ends 8/13/2026

 Good Morning,

I just tasted my cup of Hot Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee and it definitely put a smile on my face. It is time to write. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof . for correction, instruction in righteousness, 17. That  the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The world debates a lot of things and even goes to war over ideals, customs, and outright lies. A lot of battles and arguments could be over i a hot minute if we just used God's Word (Bible) as the ultimate authority over right and wrong. It is the moral compass to those who believe. 

It is the judge and jury of right and wrong. But yet we people use judges to make our decisions as to what is right and wrong. Judges with their own opinions and ideas and temptations decide who is right and who is wrong. What is good and what is bad! 

The last time I checked judges are only human, and not infallible. Yet we accept answers from the less than godly to impact our lives and families. 

My point for today is this. Before rendering a decision in your life, your families  and to the public, the decision should be weighed against the Truth of the Bible. 

Food for thought!

Marty

The Time It Takes Is Really Nothing 8/12/2026

 Good Morning,

I am sitting at me desk with a hot cup of Door County Cinnamon Hazelnut Coffeea nd it is time to write. 

My wife Rene came through again for me yesterday. I want to publicly acknowledge her for what she did for me. 

Proverbs 16:24 ESV Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Yesterday I was working as a poll voting worker in my city. Our work team all contributed to bringing something to eat for a pot luck lunch and dinner. I volunteered to bring smoked pork and some toppings. We had so much food with sweet treats besides, that we could have stayed a week if push came to shove. We all knew that we were going to work into the night and probably close to midnight. I assessed the fact that hauling all the stuff I needed to keep the food hot and served up just right was doable for sure, but it would be nice if I could get it home earlier. 

I gave Rene a call and within minutes she responded and loaded all the stuff that needed to go home and was gone in a flash. I introduced her to all of the folks that I worked with and then she was gone as fast as she had arrived. While there she received many words of sympathy from my working friends for being married to yours truly. She thought that was hilarious. Funny funny!

When I made it home after that 16 hour day Rene was still up and wanted to share with me some things that she did while I was gone and what appointments that had been made, 

I made sure to say thank you for bailing me out, which allowed me to get to sleep sooner. 

It only takes a moment to make eye contact and deliver a sincere thank you. Some flowers might just land on the dining room table today.  

Please and thank you go a long long way in being genuine. So mind your manners today and always. A kind request and a kind thank you doesn't take but a moment. 

Food for thought. 

Marty