Feeling The Hard Feelings 5/5/2026

 Good Morning,

The Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee at my right side is my trusty morning wake up tool today. Waking up seems a little difficult today, so the process just needs to take place at a sloth's pace. Oh well, it is time to write.

Proverbs 17:17 NIV A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. 

Being and elder in our church affords me the luxury of having people show that they care about me, by bringing good books to read. I think they see me as studious in front of our fireplace at night or a dimly lit desk in our den. They might picture a cup of hot coffee next to me or a glass of peach iced tea while I read and take notes. 

That is a long way from the truth. Last night it was warm in the den and when I sat down to read it was with a big glass of sugar free Kool Aide. The flavor was grape. It was a little too warm in the house so my bath robe was no where to be found. I was dressed in an old t-shirt and a pair of gym shorts that have seen better days. 

I am surrounded by an impressive library of books for pure enjoyment, spiritual instruction, and growth as well as school books that I thought might be important later in life. 

I was lent a book to read written by Mattie Jackson Selecman. The title is Lemons On Friday. It is the true story of a young lady and her journey of grieving the death of her husband . They were married less than a year when tragedy struck.

I wasn't totally charged up to read it, but something kept calling me to open the pages. I am a few chapters into the book and I am enjoying it and it has made me think. If a book challenges me to learn and share, I tend to read it. If after 5 chapters or less I haven't been challenged, educated, or calmed in my heart, I usually place it on the shelf of Some Day I will finish this book . And in reality they just collect dust after that. This book is challenging, good for the soul, and is hitting me in a spot that I thought was gone. So I recommend this one as a good read.

I am borrowing one passage that I read last night. "Feeling the hard feelings". This is  what I could not do when I lost my grandson a little over a year ago. I would not let myself feel down, depressed, and lost. I avoided the subject when well wishers offered their sympathy. I sealed the barrel on my loads of anger. I found myself a year later, that I was not doing any better in the grieving process. I hadn't allowed myself to feel the hard feelings. I kept them hid by my macho bravado.

Point for the day is this. When you don't know what to say when someone is grieving, it is ok to say little at all. What's most important is that when needed you show up and are there.  

There is a lot to this book and it sends you to God for help. And when we feel the hard feelings we can lean on select others and it is ok to grieve. 

If you are going through a rough time grieving and someone says to you. What can I do for you? Tell them, and just let them be there for you.

Marty

1957 And The Year 2026 Not Too Much Is Different

 Good Morning,

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

I am here to say that not too much is different from the year I was born in 1957 compared to today 2026. Obviously inflation over the years has the price of things very different. 

But We still eat bread and in 1957 the cost for bread was 18-25 cents a loaf. Now it ranges from a dollar at times to  over $2.50 for us to purchase this sandwich starter. Eggs in 1957 cost us 55 cents per dozen now they are over $2.99 per dozen. We still eat eggs!

We all have experienced lower pricing on the items we purchased in 1957 and still purchase  today, only at much higher prices. Automobiles, gasoline, clothing, books, school, and the list goes on and on. Nothing has really changed with our needs, wants and desires in 69 years except for prices. Brands come and go but cereal is still purchased as well as milk for that cereal. 

One thing that has never changed is God's love for us. He loved us from the beginning of time and loves us today. And the price of that love never changes either. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

The need for a Savior never changes nor does the price. It is a free gift from God. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved , through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works,  so that no one can boast.

Romans 10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

So in closing, you can take that to the bank and value is priceless.

Have a great day!!!

Marty

Flying To The Airport 5/3/2026

 Good Morning,

I am finally sitting down with  hot cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee and it feels good to be at the desk this morning ready to write. 

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

Earlier this morning I had an appointment with my nephew to drive him from his place to the airport. He was flying out for work in The New York area. We do this quite often so it is not unusual for us to be on the road very early on our way to the airport.

Like most people he checks to see if his flight is on time or if there are any flight delays. What we did not check was the  automobile route to his place and then to the airport for delays. We really should have done that. The road closures and the re-routes were definitely a challenge. Although at that time of the morning, traffic wasn't an issue, but road construction was. We did make it on time with a little to spare, but we had to hurry and drive a little faster than desired. You could say "we flew to the airport". 

My point for the day is this. Don't always assume that over night things don't change. Those road route changes took me totally by surprise. 

I prayed this morning but just took for granted that there would be no issues in getting to the airport. So that part of my day wasn't prayed for. My bad!

We need to put everything to prayer. In the future I will turn on the GPS system while at home when I first wake up and check for local road delays. I will do this AFTER I PRAY.

Food for thought. 

Marty

Living With Purpose 5/2/2026

 Good Morning,

There is a hot cup of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee next to me and I believe it is time for me to write. 

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

When I was younger and still in the workforce I would wake up every day at the crack of dawn and drive to work. My employer and co-workers counted on me to fulfill my role in the daily operations of health care. My purpose each day was to do a good job, earn my pay, pay my bills, and put away some money so I could retire some day. 

I wanted each day to serve God and make Him Lord of all my efforts. You could say that my main effort was to please God in all I did and still do. 

Waking up to something to do for God and others gives me a heavenly purpose that makes it easier to get out of bed and get moving daily. My hope is to keep this mind set right up until my last breath on this earth. 

I had a friend who is passed on now for several years. While he was in a hospice setting, I called him and said I would be visiting and asked if he needed anything that I could bring. He replied to me "Yes, bring me a copy of our church phone directory" I did what I was asked to do. 

When I arrived at the hospital I asked him what he was going to do with the directory. His response is one I will never forget. "I am going to call everyone at church and offer to pray with them before I die. I might as well accomplish some good while I can." 

I am here to say that my friend accomplished his goal and passed away two days later.  

He had a purpose right up to the end and saw his last task through to the finish. 

What's your purpose for today? What has God given you to do for His Kingdom? What act of kindness might make another's day? 

Food for thought.

Marty

A Growling Dog 5/1/2026

 Good Morning,

I am wide awake and ready to face the day. A prayer of thanks was said for God's provisions for someone I have been praying for who needed to receive some work. And it is time to write. 

Psalm 37:3-4 Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. 4. Delight yourself also in the Lord. And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath. But a harsh word stirs up anger. 

If you have heard the expression "I am dog tired" You might appreciate the thought behind what I am writing today. Dogs are often seen sleeping.  Puppies will wear themselves out just by being playful puppies. Our two dogs like to find a spot in the house where the sun comes through a window and they nap there for a couple of hours each day. Some dogs are tired because they are active, barking at every car that passes the house or yard. 

If "I am dog tired" is the expression that best describes your life and attitude. Maybe you are tired from growling all day long. 

Nothing is ever right in your eyes and you complain. No one can meet your standards of service. Everyone but you is stupid. Someone asks a question of you and you growl and snarl back at them. You become somewhat unapproachable, like a sleeping dog who when awakened growls and let's you know of their crabbiness.

So my friends, if this describes you and your life, I suggest you read Psalm 37 and then apply it to your life. See if you can avoid barking and growling for awhile.

Food for thought. 

Marty

Doing Right Even When It Is Painful 4/30/2026

 Good Morning.

My hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Cup Coffee is a much needed kick in the pants this morning. I am slow moving today and the kick start might help me fight off a little arthritis bout this morning. 

From the time we were little children we began to learn right from wrong. We also found out that doing the right thing at times can be painful. It is especially difficult to do right, when it's not something you want to do. You know the right thing to do but you just don't desire to follow the path of right. 

The right choice may have a bitter pill to swallow that calls for us to leave a habit, or leave someone who is not good for us. We struggle to let go of something, or someone who is toxic to to hearts and souls. We know the right choice to make but our heart says one thing and our mind tells us another thing. 

There is one way to gauge the decision to be made. Check the habit against Scripture. If your actions or habits violate God's Word in any way run from the struggle with both legs churning. If people you trust and know to be righteous, counsel you to make changes, you should consider their counsel .

Most of all remember this passage. James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. 

To do what is right in the eyes of God, will never be wrong. Although the decision may be painful, the fruit of being right in the eyes of God is priceless.

Food for thought.

Marty

Good Problems? 4/29/2026

 Good Morning,

It is damp and cold this morning and it really makes me appreciate my hot cup of Door County Vanilla Cappuccino Coffee even more than usual. It is time t write.

Psalm 50:15 "And call on me in the time of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me"

Even the most insignificant problem is still a problem. For instance you forget to change the air filter on your furnace. The furnace shuts down and you have no heat on a Frigid January day. The furnace has shut down and it is due to a lack of air passing through the furnace. Hopefully you pray before you call a friend, who tells you to check the filter and change it. What you learn from that mishap is to keep a log sheet on your furnace with the date of the last filter change out. You might even schedule a filter change and log it onto your calendar. 

My point is this. You made a mistake. There was a problem. You prayed and God came through for you. Thus preventing a future freeze up while you are gone skiing for the weekend. Your water pipes freeze and then burst. The water is running the whole time from a second story bathroom, wiping out the floors below. 

That small problem of a plugged air filter taught you a few things, keeping you safe in the future. The lesson learned from the plugged air filter saved you from a headache in the future. There is value in problems, if we learn from them. 

Food for thought! God is good and is always there to lend a hand in all that we do.

God bless,

Marty