A Beautiful Gift 5/10/2026

 Good Morning,

I began this day with a smile on my face and a hot cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee in my hand. It is time to write. 

First order of the day is to wish all the mothers out there a big heartfelt "Happy Mothers Day".

Our family received a gift from God yesterday. God gifted us with the birth of our Great Niece Adeline. Mom and baby Addie are doing well. Dad must be ok. We haven't heard of any face cramps from that big smile on his face. Our family just became a sweeter place to belong to.

Psalm 127:3 Children are a heritage from the Lord , offspring a reward from Him

I want to thank God for this honor of gray hair and the gift of being able to pray for her future.

By the way. Real men don't cry, we just have a lot of hay fever attacks. 

God bless,

Marty

Making My Morning Comfortable 5/9/2026

 Good Morning,

I am in Door County Wisconsin enjoying a hot cup of Cherry Creme Coffee in front of the fireplace in our hotel room. Totally quiet and warm inside so I can say I am ready to write. 

My wife Rene and I are enjoying some quiet time away. My prayer time does not need to be rushed nor do we have anything pressing to do today except to take in the beautiful scenery and dine on the local treats. 

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NLT So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13.And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor for these are gifts from God. 

I don't feel guilty whatsoever about slacking off a little this weekend. It has been a more than busy month for two retired folks.

There is a time made for us to sit back and enjoy the fruit of our labors and it is ok to do so.  It will end tomorrow once we arrive home and that it ok. I do have on my mind a special prayer for the arrival of a new baby to our clan coming very very soon. As a sit back and pray I can't help but call this life of mine blessed. 

So in a little while Rene and I will forage for a couple of cherry donuts and more coffee and say thank you to God for a great weekend. 

God bless, 

Marty

Have A Cup Of Coffee And Pass The Biscuits Please 5/8/2026

 Good Morning,

I am sitting at my desk. I am ready to write and sip my Door County White Chocolate Cranberry Coffee. So let's get started.

Everyone who knows me well, knows that I like a nice plate of biscuits, smothered in sausage gravy or drizzled with some tasty honey.  My wife Rene and I throughout our marriage have led the charge on many church breakfasts which included a few hundred biscuits per event. 

There were times when some of the teens from our church youth group would come to our house and  assist with the baking of the golden delights the day before the event. That was always a lot of fun and a floury mess. 

Joshua 24:15 NKJV And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 

The biscuits turned out pretty good and anyone of them that didn't look just right was devoured immediately with butter and honey. 

Those were the good old days for sure. Every time I make some biscuits I think of those kids and say a prayer for them. They are forty years old now or close to it and they never know they are prayed for while I am munching on a biscuit. 

My point for the day is this. We all should serve God at some form of ministry in our home or churches. Some of my fondest memories are making 700 large pot pies to fund a mission trip for the teens with those teens. We were united in a cause for God and never once did we have any personality issues or petty strife enter the efforts, because we knew Who we serve.

So today. Whether it be at home or at church. Who do you serve? God or yourself? 

Let's move into this day. Pass a biscuit please.

Marty 

Who Do You Run To? 5/7/2026

Good Morning, 

There was a little frost on the ground this morning and I welcomed the cold weather this morning with a hot cup of Door County S'mores Coffee. It is time to write. 

Job 5:8-9 NKJV 8."But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit my cause. 

9. Who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number."

This passage found in the book of Job is often interpreted as a call to faith and prayer, especially during difficult times. 

All to often during difficult times we rely on others to pray for us and that is a great practice in faith. But we tend not to go directly to God ourselves for our dilemma. 

Why wait on others to do what we can do ourselves? When people ask us to pray for them we should accept the opportunity to pray for them and it is an honor to do so. But always remind them to personalize their request to God by going to Him directly. The person going through the challenging time can share their heart and their feelings openly and hear from the Lord directly. 

Food for thought? Always direct people to a personal relationship with God.

Have a wonderful day. God bless,

Marty

Timing Is Everything 5/6/2026

 Good Morning,

I write to you all this morning with a hot cup of Door County S'mores Coffee next to me and two sleepy Springer Spaniels at my feet. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven. 

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

A couple days ago I was making breakfast for my wife and I. I was a little on the lazy side and had opened a can of biscuits. I read the directions and it said to place the biscuits in an oven at a temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes. 

I somehow got sidetracked  and it was 14 minutes later when I opened the door to the oven and my biscuits were burned and already hard. We did not have a breakfast of sausages  and biscuits. We ended up with toast and and sausages. No big deal, but it helps me make my point for today. 

Out mouths are often like an oven that when baking something too long and not observing the directions can burn others and us socially, professionally or with our families. We forget to temper our mouths and sometimes we get burned by our own words. Or our poorly timed words can open a 10 pound can of trouble for us and others. 

I guess my point is this. 

1. Know your audience and what can or cannot be tolerated. 

2. Think before you speak and if what you are going to say, should be said at all. 

3. Are a few words worth losing a friend or family relationship?

4. Is this the right time to speak your mind? 

5. If you don't know what to say at the moment wait for a better time and evaluate what you are going to say. Or maybe don't say anything at all. 

Here's some food for thought??? Timing is everything!!

God bless,

Marty 

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