A Handshake Makes It A Deal for Me 9/22/2026

 Good Morning,

I have at my side a hot cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee and I am ready to write. 

Matthew 5:37 NKJV But let your Yes be Yes and your No, No. Whatever is more than these is from the evil one. 

I know  the world turns on contracts and legalities' for business. I prefer the old days when your word was your word and you could look another man or woman in the eye, shake hands and the deal was done. And your word was solid. 

I am here to say that even with all the contracts one can sign it still takes an honest heart and and good word to seal a deal. And the deal is not done until the work is completed to satisfaction.I found out the hard way over the last few months that business etiquette  is no longer followed by everyone and a man's word and a hand shake  doesn't mean snot to a lot of people. 

My wife Rene and I learned that even with a 15 page contract for service your chance of hiring someone with integrity  is quite slim. We needed some repairs and upgrades to our home and it took a year to get them done. Through that we were subject to shoddy work, schedules that were never met and excuses after excuses. Not all service was poor, but some companies will not be recommended or used again. I found that a man's word even with a contract is not taken seriously. Sales from large big box supply stores is impossible to claim a warranty without pulling teeth. 

Our roof was recently replaced and we have used this company once before, many years ago. The owner meets with you. He shakes your hand and looks you in the eye and promises that we will be satisfied. He has a short contract with a spot for two signatures, his and mine. Everything and more that he promised came on time and true. His crew was on time and worked for the hours allotted for the day. He will be recommended with high praises and if needed used again. 

How good is your word? Can those you contract with count on you? Beware of the long; long contracts and subcontracting. Ask plenty of questions and of course pray for wisdom before you sign and spend your money. 

Food for thought!

Marty

You Foolish People 9/21/2026

 Good Morning,

I forgot last night to set the coffee maker up with fresh grounds and water. Thus, no fresh coffee for me today was brewing when I hit the kitchen floor. I just poured some of yesterday's Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee into a mug and it was microwaved for a minute.I am at times my own worst enemy.

Galatians 3:1You foolish Galatians. Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to early Christian churches in Galatia who were turning away from the message of grace. A lot like the Israelites who were rescued from Egypt started to complain about the long walks and the dietary menu during their trek to the promised land. They Israelites mumbled and grumbled and sought to go back to slavery. 

Paul calls the Galatians foolish which is harsh language for the time and implicates them as stupid people who abandoned the message of grace. Paul also uses the term bewitched meaning spiritually misled into relying on human effort rather than faith. 

They were resorting back to works for their forgiveness which was sacrifices, seeking forgiveness through men not on faith. 

My point for the day is this. Have you embraced the love of Christ who provided the way of salvation and living life with grace? A good example would be to still sin and then throw some extra cash into the collection plate at church thinking the cash could compensate for your sins. Or continuing in sin such as gossip and hurtful language, drunkenness or anger and then ignoring it. People often excuse their language as "good for the church" thus condoning gossip. 

So my friends if you long for the days of you controlling your faith and spiritual destiny.  I suggest you turn your eyes upon Jesus and His grace for the day.

Marty

Some Guilt Can Be Useful 9/20/2026

 Good Morning,

I just sat down to write with a hot, stiff cup of Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee. The chair is way too comfortable and could make for a lazy Marty. 

I often wonder. When God looks at me what does He see? According to Scripture God sees Jesus in me first before He sees the rest of this shamble of life 

Colossians 3:3 NIV For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

We have been forgiven of our sins and Jesus died and paid the price of atonement with His life. Yet from time to time the feelings of guilt overtake our heart and mind. I believe that not all guilt is a bad thing. God can use a measured amount of guilt to wake us up from sin. 

Max Lucado said, " If guilt causes us to experience indignation, alarm, longing, concern, readiness to see justice done it is God given guilt." 

2 Corinthians 7:11NIV See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 

If we are forgiven, why do we still experience feelings of guilt. I believe God uses measured doses of guilt and regret to keep us from sin and change us. 

On the other hand Satan's guilt attacks are designed to enslave us to a life of regret and shame. 

My thought for today is this. If guilt has shackled you from feeling worthy to be forgiven and claim a clean slate through Jesus Christ, pray for strength and make Satan flee from ruining your days. Resist him and he will flee. Do you trust Christ your Advocate or the Accuser your enemy?

Love you all.

Marty

Remember a little God given guilt can be a good thing. Food for thought. 

What A Breakfast It Was. 9/19/2026

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of  Door County Sunrise Roast Coffee and it is warming me up from the inside out. 

If I could only eat one meal a day it would be breakfast. I don't like eating breakfast alone. It always seems to taste better when I dine with family or friends. 

Yesterday morning i found myself hunting doves and geese with one relative and three friends. One young fella promised us the night before that He would cook breakfast in the field for all of us. The rest of us brought some of the items to make the breakfast menu full. Bacon, eggs, hash browns and fresh jalapeno peppers sauteed with the bacon and hot coffee made up a breakfast fit for a king. The weather was perfect and a man could not but feel blessed for having been there. 

Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me. 

My point is this. If at all possible have a meal with friends or family. This breakfast was far from fancy, but it was "heart healthy". Not necessarily in the medical sense. But it did my heart good to be there and tip my coffee cup to a good bunch of fellas. Try breakfast with friends or family. See if it doesn't taste better when it is seasoned with the blessing of someone at your table.  Even if the table is in a ragweed field. We prayed before we hunted and I just couldn't help but think that our small group of hunters was visited by God yesterday. 

Marty

Many Chapters 1 Book 9/18/2026.

 Good Morning. 

I just filled my insulated bottle with Door County Sunrise Roast Coffee and I am ready to write. 

We only get one life. There are many days in a lifetime and sometimes very few days. But it is important to remember in your life every chapter (day) is in itself a part of the story of your life. 

My thought for the day is this. If every day is part of the story of your life, then know this. There aren't any dress rehearsals in the story of your life. Each day is one and done.  Life is not a dress rehearsal and at the end of the day it is added to your story. Was that chapter a bummer or a classic day in your life?

You can know how to handle each and every morning. 

Romans 12:1-2 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship. 2. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good pleasing and perfect will.

Food for thought!

Marty

Using The Spare Pump 9/17/2026

 Good Morning,

My day began with the need to change out one of the basement sump pumps and as soon as I am finished writing I will pray again and begin the project.

Our sump crock has a spare pump in it and one of them is broken. So we are running on the spare pump. We always keep another new one on the shelf for moments like these. You could say that we have a "back up to the back up.". Once I am finished with the installation of the new pump I will be headed to the supply warehouse and I will pick up another one to rest on the shelf for times like these. 

Proverbs 22;3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself , but the simple go on and suffer for it. 

I am supposed to be away in Georgia visiting our daughter. My wife was staying home. This would have occured while I was not home. The back up plan of having two pumps in the crock would have sufficed until I got home. Rene could have called a nephew or two or several friends who can change out a sump pump. All the supplies to do so are in the room where the crock and pumps are housed.  I would have called on family or friends to help her out. Although the plan worked as designed, having only one pump operational would have driven her to worry. There are heavy rains in the forecast for today and tonight. 

Here is my point. God kept me home instead of taking the visit South. Once a plumber always a plumber. We had a plan and it was prayed over and it worked. I will make up that vacation trip as soon as I can. And the old pump will be scrapped, a new one set in place on the shelf . God cares about us being dry, and safe. He watched over us and used one bad situation for good. I was home because my brother was very ill and recovering from a major surgery. That was the bad news that worked for our good. 

Think about it. Do you have plans for emergencies in your home,and life?

Have a great day!

Marty

What's For Dinner? 9/16/2026

 Good Morning.

My mug is now half full with Door County Spiced Apple Pie Coffee and it is time for me to write. 

John 4:34 "My food" said Jesus  "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work. 

Jesus was explaining to His disciples after they offered Him some food to eat that His true food was doing the will of God and finishing His work here on Earth . In doing that Jesus was finding a deep spiritual fulfillment  and sustenance in serving others rather than eating physical food.

We put a lot of time into planning our next meal, cooking it to perfection and then savoring the flavor of our efforts. When was the last time you skipped a meal or just ate something light, because you want to complete a task that God gave you such as making a meal for  someone else? Is God's will bigger that your own stomach?

Food for thought? What part of the Word of God are you dining on today? What act of service might be on your plate for tomorrow?

Have a great day!

Marty