4983 Times 9/25/2026

 Good Morning,

Yesterday I was unable to put a pen to my thoughts because of personal reasons and a spirit that was in plain rebellion to just about everything and anything. 

Micah 6:8 NIV He has shown you, O, mortal what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and love mercy.

and to walk humbly with your God. 

As I set up to write my blog this morning I was notified that this morning I would be publishing number 4983. I started writing in 2012 So roughly speaking this labor of love is 14 years old. 

I have invited the readers to share  in my choices of coffee, my heart and mind as well as the food menu in our home. I have shared times of joy and times of sorrow. Times of anger and depression  have been shared as well. You know the names of our dogs and what I am hunting for. I have taken the readers with me on vacation. 

Today I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Wisconsin Blend Coffee. You might ask me as to why I started writing in the first place.  Our church admin assistant had the idea that we could have a daily devotional written each day by our pastors and elders.She was politely ignored due to a myriad of reasons, some good and some not so good. I didn't want to hurt her feelings so I took a shot at it and have been writing ever since. I stayed with this call and some day I will receive the call from God to rest up and drink my coffee alone.

I have never taken the time to thank you readers for your comments, good or bad. I have never said thank you for reading and some of you read this daily.  Thank you. It is your faithfulness and God's call to write that keeps me at my desk and wanting to serve Him.

Again thank you. And God bless you all. I will be back and focused tomorrow. 

Marty

When You Can't Be There Send Prayer And Good Thoughts. 9/23/2026

Good Morning,

I just finished my last cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee and it is time to write. 

Before writing this morning I had a small chore of love to do. I have been marinating two pork loins in the refrigerator for two days. I have two of my nephews headed out to opening day of duck season in the Northern part of our state this Saturday. They will be leaving for the hunting hot spot on Thursday. I was invited to go, but due to an upcoming anniversary and a few other solid commitments I need to stay home. 

Colossians 3:14 ESV And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 

It bothered me that I can't go and I would have enjoyed a weekend of solid hunting, but I need to stay back. So this uncle will send the guys off with prayer and pork to warm up and eat after the hunt or during the hunt. That part is all up to them. They have two friends joining them and there is enough meat for all of them. A bottle of barbecue sauce will be sent along to accompany and compliment the pork. So the pork is now slow roasting in the kitchen and won't be done until late this afternoon. 

My point is this. I know the guys will be cold and warm food will be welcomed at their campsite. I can't be there but my love for those guys will be sent and that makes me feel like part of the team but just absent at roll call. 

If you can't be there send your love and prayers to your family today. It's not like being there, but they will know your heart. Make the call. 

Have a great day!!!

Marty

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