Beware Of Beauty That Can Sting You. 7/9/2026

 Good Morning,

I just warmed up my cup of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee and it is time to write. 

This morning I would like to spend a moment delivering  a message that is good for both genders and all ages. 

                                                    Photo Credit Ray and June Puls

At one time or another in life our eyes have seen something desirable to us and our minds wander toward obtaining the object despite the dangers of possessing it. 

Men, God has created woman to tbe please to our eyes. But those married or in a committed relationship, wandering eyes can lead to hurt, sorrow or at times even danger. This goes for the ladies as well. The stud on the Hallmark channel never seems to burp or fart nor do they smell from mowing the lawn. Wandering eyes and then acting upon those thoughts of "Life could be better if I had that one next to me," has ruined many many relationships. 

That purse which costs a months rent and the matching shoes can deplete a monthly budget in a fast minute. The truck which you own and is paid for, doesn't look that great anymore, but is faithful to start and works just fine, doesn't need a loan or a monthly payment.

All things might look good and are enticing to the eye, mind or heart , but they have hidden circumstances /costs that come with looking first and then acting upon your lust and desires. But like the beautiful flower in the photo above there are hidden thorns and a sore thumb is the first step in being warned of the danger in pursuing your desires and lust. 

Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed,which is idolatry.  

Colossians 5:16 So I say,"walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 

Debt, lust, anger, and greed often come wrapped in attractive packages but buyer beware, there is always a cost to your desires. 

God bless. 
Marty

Advice Given. Advice Not Taken 7/8/2026

 Good Morning,

I am having drinking some of the last of my Door County Christmas flavors . It won't be too long before I run out of the Christmas brews.  So today I salute Christmas in July with a hot cup of Door County Naughty Or Nice Grog.

Proverbs 18:2 ESV A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. 

Galatians 2:10 ESV Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. 

One thing that gets me irritated is people who just pounce at any opportunity to hand out advice. Now advice is a good thing, but at times it is not solicited for. There are people who pass by and hear part of a conversation and then feel that they should jump in with their opinion and their solution to your issue. It doesn't even really need to be an issue. They throw in an opinion to any situation you are in. They are those folks who, start in the conversation, with "You could do this. You should have done this. Did you try that? Or why not do it this way.?

These are the folks that surgeons can't wait for the patient to be asleep because they don't need advice from the patient and his or her peanut gallery.

These same folks are never seen actually in the mud with a shovel, but they have a plan on how you can remove it. Or you can't take them seriously because they are habitually late, but yet they have an answer and a comment before they are even greeted.. This is what I call "All hat and no cattle." Or another one. "All skirt and no knickers."

My good friend and buddy shared a quote with me from an unknown author.

"Why would I take criticism from someone who I would not take advice from?"

During a murky situation a wise person offers help by saying. "Is there anything I can do to help.?"It's hard to take them serious when all they offer is criticism and unsolicited advice".

Food for thought today. Are you a helper or a yelper? If you just can't resist criticizing another person's efforts make sure your own grass is dog poop free.

Have a great day. 

Marty

Time For A Self Examination 7/7/2026

 Good Morning,

My Door County Christmas Coffee is tasting mighty fine today. Nothing like a hot coffee and a fire to start your day. It is time to write. 

In today's medicine you can check your own blood sugar levels with a small meter. You can monitor your blood pressure also with a small meter. Your body temperatures are very easy to take now. There are a lot of things you can do to monitor your own health. This information helps your physician to adjust medications if needed. It also let's you know if your body is functioning properly. It is amazing what you can do for yourself in managing your health care. 

Our hearts are the main muscle that keeps blood flowing and is vital to many facets of our physical health. Our heart is also our emotional gauge. 

One other thing that we should monitor now and then is how our heart loves others. There is a self test we can perform to see how our heart is functioning and treating others. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy. love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5. does not behave rudely, does not seek it's own, is not provoked, thinks no evil. 6.does not rejoice in iniquity; but rejoices in the truth; 7. bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

If you take this passage and look at each love category within the Scripture and score yourself honestly on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the high score and 1 being the lowest score, you will have done a "Love examination"

If there are areas where you need improvement you can ask God Our Great Physician to show you your issues and also show you how to improve.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties: 24 And see if there is  any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting. 

Food for thought. Are you brave enough, and tough enough to let your spouse or family score you on their clipboard of your heart?

Have a great day! Gos bless.

Marty 

You Are A Rose To Someone!7/6/2026

 Good Morning, 

I am running late today. I was up earlier and sat down to pray and read my Bible before writing. And guess what? I fell asleep while reading. The chair I was sitting in was too comfortable. I don't think I will make that mistake again. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Candy Cane Coffee and it is time to write. 

Isaiah 35:1-2 NKJV The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. 2. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with singing. 

Yesterday Rene and I hosted a small cook out with my side of the family. It is kind of easy to do. Our family is small, so it does not take much of an effort to host a meal. The weather cooperated and everyone made it to the meal. An announcement was made to let us all know that there will be a wedding next June. We talked and planned for Thanksgiving

We have experienced tough times together as a family and a few times I wondered if we would survive as a group. But like a rose that can be found in a desert, somehow God brings us back as a group. 

Point for the day. You might feel like no one cares and you are in a barren dry land. But remember you are a rose to someone who does care. You are a bright spot to others.

Have a great day! God Bless,

Marty

If If If But But But7/5/2026

 Good Morning, 

Nothing like a hot cup of Door County Naughty Or Nice Grog Coffee to start the day. I am ready to write. 

Ecclesiastes 5:3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fools voice with many words. 

I do believe that as humans we often allow ourselves to play the If game. This game has us speculating on what could have happened , should have happened, and the actual what happened. "If they had only done this, things would be better."  Whatever has taken place is now a part if history and you can't change it.You can correct the future by learning from a mistake made and applying that knowledge to the future. 

Once we have second guessed our every step, we advance to the line of But But But. This is the game of excuses. We sound like a cheap old outboard motor starting up on an icy cold November day. Once we start applying "But" to the circumstances or failure it becomes a quick emotional bandage for our egos. 

People like to apply both words into a situation. "If they or  you had done this differently, but if it fails we we can correct it "If"  It is a vicious circle of continual correcting mistakes without rally correcting anything. A dream is not a fact. It is a dream. 

Today, try not using the words If and But. We spend too much time changing things in our minds without making changes. We spend too much time and effort justifying a bad choice. 

Have a blessed day. 

Marty

A Tragedy Marks The 4th Of July 7/4/2026

 Good Morning,

I am still observing Christmas in July. Therefore I am drinking a hot cup of Door County Naughty Or Nice Grog. It is time to write.

Psalm 33:12 ESV Blessed is the nation, whose God is the Lord. The people who He has chose as His heritage

Yesterday severe storms ran through a portion of our state. Warnings were being sounded and it was time to watch the sky. The storms did not cut through our property. So no tragedy here. 

Just an hour away from us the story is not so nice. A family was boating on one of our large inland lakes. I am not going to second guess what happened at all. The terrible news was that 3 children died when their boat capsized.  No matter how it happened this tragedy is ugly and my heart goes out to those who survived the high winds and large waves. Yesterday was a day they will never forget. I have been in prayer for the families who lost a child or children. 

I am asking those who read this to stop, look up and pray with me for these families impacted. Pray for the first responders who will take this memory with them also. We often forget the impact tragedy has on those who have to say. "He or she died. We did our best to save the victim." They pass by those waiting for a miracle and they don't have the words to make the situation better. They carry their hurt with them silently. 

Today in America we celebrate our Independence day. I know this. 250 years ago we declared our independence and joined 13 colonies together and formed one great nation. I will celebrate like everyone else. Our flag flies nicely over our home and I am proud to be an American. I will recall my history lessons and know that our independence did not come easy . On July 4th 1776 someone heard those words. "We could not save him."

Celebrate America and hold on to the freedom we enjoy and cherish.

Marty

There Is Always More To The Story 7/3/2026

 Good Morning,

I am still keeping up with my July tribute to Christmas. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Christmas Coffee and I am now ready to write. 

Mathew 7:1-2 NKJV Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 

A few years ago my wife, our daughter and I went out  East for a week's vacation in Virginia. It was a great time and one I like to recall in my mind now and then. 

During our trip we traveled to Shenandoah National Park, We were in awe of the skyline view of the mountains and we stopped very often for photo opportunities. 

In addition to what is above ground, our day trip took us to the Luray Caverns. How beautiful were the views of the rock formations hidden under the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

So that brings me to my point for the day. We often carry the weight of judging others and their situations. Too often we burden our hearts and minds by playing God and judging others. Leave God's work to God. We are not always aware of the whole story and very often we judge without knowing everything.  Just as the top of the mountains told half of what we saw that day, underneath the Earth there was another story to make our trip complete. 

Proverbs 18:13 NIV To answer before listening -that is folly and shame.

Food for thought??? 

God Bless,

Marty