There Is A Good Reason 2/9/2026

 Good Morning, 

It is time to enjoy my hot cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee and write down a couple of thoughts.

Psalm 28:7 ESV  The Lord is my strength and my shield; In him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults. 

First let me state that I believe that God has a reason for everything. Since 1981 I have tried to accept all that happens, or is allowed to happen, has a God given reason that it occured. I have been asked many times "why does God allow bad things to happen to good people"? Honestly I don't have a good answer for that. Sin entered the world with the fall of Adam and Eve and nothing short of heaven will ever be right again until Jesus comes back and takes us to heaven where there is no sorrow, no tears and no pain.  

I know that I am to trust in the Lord fully in all things until the day of no sorrow. That is some pretty heavy thoughts to start a week, but as you go through today and the rest of the week, know this, trust in the Lord and know that He will carry you through.

Be kind to each other and pass the meatballs.

God Bless,

Marty

 

There's A Melody That Needs To Play 2/8/2026

 Good Morning,

There is a hot cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee sitting in front of me and it is time to write.

Philippians 4:8 NKJV Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever thing are noble,whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, what ever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy , meditate on these things.

Sunday morning arrived right on time. Last night a couple of inches of snow blanketed the area where we live, which means once it is daylight I will need to clean up the driveway and sidewalks. 

I really don't mind cleaning up snow. I actually enjoy being outside with our dogs and every now and then I toss a snowball their way just to see them run and bark at me. There is a song lyric that says "life is a dance that you learn as you go". Well, in order to dance there needs to be some music. Within each person there is a heart and the easiest way to dance is to a tune that you like. Your heart stores the melody within you and the outlook you have for the day. 

Think about a happy time in life , or how you want to rejoice in this day. Let your heart play the melody that surrounds your happiness. Zone into that happy place and let your heart provide the music for you. Be grateful to God for this day and the fact that you reunited with Him this morning and let that melody play loud and clear.

Food for thought,

Marty

A Heart That Speaks 2/7/2026

 Good Morning,

My day is beginning early and it will be assisted by a hot cup of Door County Cherry Creme Coffee. It is time to write. 

Our heart which often goes unbridled is connected to our mouth which in turn lacks discernment in speech. Our mouth can cause a lot of doubt, anger and fear when not filled with discernment. Our heart does not reflect an alignment with God's truth and love. We forget to slow down and speak only after thinking our statements through and through again.

Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil. 

One who practices discernment is considered to be wise and in touch with God. Does your heart spew forth  thoughts in line with God's love and moral compass? Or are you lacking control of heart and mouth?

Food for thought,

Marty

The Sharp Sting Of A Skinned Knee 2/26/2026

 Good Morning,

I am moving kind of slow this morning as I sit down with a hot cup of Door County Raspberry Almond Coffee and write.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, 17. pray without ceasing. 18. In everything give thanks. For this is the will of God  in Christ Jesus for you. 

My mind took a trip down memory lane today and it stopped on a typical hot  summer day back in the 1960, s. The day might consist of a cold popsicle or a drink from the garden hose. It almost always had meeting with friends to play some baseball or some touch football. Chores were worked into the daily routine and almost always were completed before the daily summer olympics started. 

Most all of my activities were held on our school playground or in the sort of dead end street near our house. Later in the 60's I noticed that girls just seemed to be abundant and all of a sudden they were part of the summer escapades. My bicycle was as my mode of transportation and believe it or not we walked most everywhere. 

But somehow, some way, reality set in and at least once a summer or more than once your, knees or elbows were introduced to the concrete of your summer. I can still recall the sharp sting of my knees scraping across some concrete and coming up with a severe case of "road rash". Skinned knees and healing wounds were just some sort of Red Badge Of Courage. Although that fresh wound stung like all get out, you went right back and played on the unforgiving slab of torture. 

My point for the day is this, Even though some days hurt and  the roadway rises to introduce itself to you, sometimes the bruises are worth it. I always found that on a hot day, I would be wearing shorts. And the positive of that was I did not put another hole in my pants. My knees would heal, but the torn blue jeans always needed and explanation to my parents. They didn't seem to mind a little blood. 

Friends, take time to relive those popsicle, hot sunny days, and by now you should be able to afford some knee pads. Most of all,  look for the positive in each day. 

God bless,

Marty

Everyone Needs A Friend. 2/5/2026

 Good Morning, 

A hot cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee is in front of me and it is time to write.

Hebrews 13:2 NKJV Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 

A few weeks ago we made a day trip to an antique shop that was about an hour and a half away from home. I made mention to my wife Rene that I was hers for the day and we could browse antique shops until she was tired. 

By the end of the antique hunting we found ourselves in a shop that had a rest area and a nice couch to sit on. Usually I am the tired one and I need the rest. But Rene was shopped out at the last stop. She spied the couch  and sat down. I was making arrangements to place one large item into our truck with some help, when I noticed a small dog had crawled up on Rene's lap and both were starting to fall asleep. It seemed like these two were long lost friends. Yet they had just met and formed a friendship.

My point for the day is this. We encounter people wherever we go. And sometimes strangers are our new best friends, even if our encounter is for just a few minutes. So don't always shun strangers. A stranger might be a friend you haven't made just yet.

Food for thought.

Marty

Thank You Lord 2/4/2026

 Good Morning,

A hot mug of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee is warming my body this morning and it is time to write.

Let me go down my morning check list. 

1. I woke up. I am not in hell and it is more than I deserve. 

2. I am walking upright.

3. The coffee tastes great. Breakfast iwas simple.

4. Medications taken.

5. Dogs have been outside and were fed.

6.The house is still standing and is warm. 

7. My wife is still asleep and seems to be fine,

I have concluded that I need to be thankful for another day on this planet. As I look at my list of things, all of my duties are blessings that I don't deserve and really can't earn. For sure, I can't buy my way into heaven. I can't earn enough points to be allowed in. I am probably not good enough to be worthy of entry. No one can pray me into heaven. Without God, my life would be short on hope for today and eternity.

Once again, I cannot gain entry into heaven on my own, It is a free gift. God has secured my future.

Ephesians 2:8-9ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing.; it is the gift of God, 9. Not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

I think I will drink a big glass of shut up juice and just be thankful for today and make the best of it! 

God bless,

Marty

Tough To Chew 2/3/2026

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and it is going down in fine fashion. It is time to write. 

1 Peter 4:10 ESV As each has received a gift , use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. 

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It  has been a long long time since I have made Beef Jerky or jerky from wild game. But I tried it anyway the other day. I used to make some pretty good Beef Jerky back in the late 1980's and I don't know why I stopped. In over 30 years the equipment sat until I started drying apples in the last few years. 

Any how I started a small batch of beef jerky with some new equipment and I have to say that the first batch was terrible. I know jerky is supposed to be a little tough to chew, but this first batch was like plywood and shoe leather in a spicy mixture. I believe where I went wrong was with the temperature and the time. 

My point for the day is this. If you have a skill set and you don't use it, it is bound to whither a little by the next time you need it. In other words, practice makes perfect. I have never claimed to be good at carpentry and I avoid it at all cost. The other day my week skills had me using a saber saw, drill, screw gun and glue. I told myself that my efforts to make a repair to shelving had me looking like a bear cub with boxing gloves on trying to pick up marbles. 

Don't put your skills on a shelf and take the risk of losing them. Use your skills to enjoy having them. If possible use them to bless others. Keep the skill set sharp and usable. It makes for a great day to see your work and someone else enjoying it. 

God bless,

Marty