Favorite Bible Verse 3/1/2026

 Good Morning, 

The Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee woke me up and placed a call to me to come to the kitchen for my first cup. It is time to write. 

I was taking a short survey and in the survey it asked me what my favorite Bible verse is. I find that to be difficult to answer. I have to say my favorite verse is the one I just read and it spoke to my heart. The one I like best is the one God led me to in that moment. The last one that just made me feel good, or instructed me is my favorite for that moment in time.

If I were to say that one Bible verse out of 66 books  is my favorite would make me whimsical at best. 

But for today I will take a shot at picking one. 

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you find rest for your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

My point for the day is this. You can't have a favorite verse if you haven't opened the book. Trust me. There is a least one in there for you.

God Bless,

Marty

I Can't Explain Why 2/28/2026

 Good Morning, 

There is a hot mug of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee keeping me company this morning and it is time to write. 

When I am driving in my truck alone, I hardly ever travel without music in the truck. There is just something about a moving vehicle and music that makes me feel good. My choices for music range quite wide. I enjoy older Gospel music especially when it is sung by Elvis. Then I might switch to the old Country Western music. If the drive is a long one I might turn the genre to some Beach music and 50s and 60's rock music. If I am still in the truck I will listen to some newer country tunes. 

You just formed an opinion as to what kind of guy listens to such a mixture of music. 

Matthew 7:1 Judge not. That you be not judged.  

James 3:5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 

I am sharing this with all of you, for what reason I do not know! My point for the day is this. Each person is different and music is just one arena of differences. But I don't really see or hear anyone spitting in the face of another person over a tune. 

Yes, we all have an opinion or choices in politics, but is it necessary to be so darn nasty to each other? The burst of anger you show today, might just come back at you and it might come back a hundred fold. When you purse those lips to spit, you might just have lit the fuse of an unneeded or unwanted confrontation. You are responsible for your own actions. 

Let's have a nice Saturday and promote love, joy, and peace. I am declaring my windshield as a no spit zone. 

God bless,

Marty

Call Out And ??? 2/27/2026

 Good Morning,

I am ready to start writing at my desk with a hot cup of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee and a small biscuit to munch on. 

Last night I received a call from my wife. She had gone out to check on her Mom after she was notified that Mom had taken a fall in her assisted living residence. After much ado the diagnosis that came back from the doctors is the one that no elderly person wants to hear. A broken hip is never a desired diagnosis. 

I am not sure what the outcome will be as there is some more information that needs to be discussed and decisions made. 

What I do know is that we will be praying tonight and for as long as it takes for clarity on how to proceed . I believe in miracles and it is at these kinds of times that we need to drop to our knees and ask God to heal and lead us as to a direction we should follow. 

I will be standing on this verse. Jeremiah 33:3 Call out to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things. 

Please keep us in your prayers. God bless,

Marty

Burning The Candle Till Dawn 2/26/2026

 Good Morning,

I just finished brewing some Door County Mocha Mint Coffee and it is warming me up from head to toe. It is time to write. 

Isaiah 40:28 ESV Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.

Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed 

I just completed writing a study guide on the life of Lot, the nephew of Abraham. I have been working on it for a couple of months and last night I couldn't sleep. I needed about another four hours to complete my work. For some reason I just felt compelled  to finish it last night into this morning. 

I built a fire to keep the house warm while I studied and worked. I used a couple of candles as my light sources along with the light form the computer screen. 

The work went slow and as morning approached I found myself dozing off a couple of times. My journey stalled out a couple of times as I struggled with the last three paragraphs. They were rewritten a few times and then settled on just before my alarm clock was set to go off. 

My point for the day is this. As lonely as the study/work scenario might sound I wasn't really alone. God was watching over me  and kept me going until the work was finished. We are never really alone. I chose to do the work in peaceful solitude. But I really wasn't alone. 

Maybe you work the late shift or just can't sleep. Maybe you are sitting with a sick loved one and you feel very alone. Remember, feelings are not facts. The fact is, God never sleeps and we are never alone.

Food for thought. God Bless.

Marty

Throw Yourself A Party 2/25/2026

 Good Morning,

My cup of Door County Mocha Mint Coffee is already half gone and getting cold. Time for a refill and a warm up. 

Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save: He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Today I have declared as "Let's celebrate you" day. Give this a little thought for a minute. From the time you were born right up to today you have been accomplishing things. Yes you might celebrate your birthday, but the rest of the 365 days in a year you probably do something that are accomplishments. 

Each day you are special to someone else, especially God. Today might be take a walk with your dog and greet someone along the path day. . If they returned your greeting or you received a smile you caused them to to react. Maybe you cooked breakfast today for yourself or your family.  You accomplish things hourly and daily. You are a child of the King and are worth more than you know! Celebrate you!

Take some time to acknowledge yourself. God made you and set you on your path in life. To Him you are special enough to have His Son die for your sins. Think about that before you ever see yourself as not worth celebrating. 

Food for thought. God Bless.

Marty

When Your Pride Gets The Best Of You 2/24/2026

 Good Morning,

I just filled my cup with Door County Vanilla Almond Kringle Coffee and it it time to sit down and write. 

Psalm 138:6 NIV Though the lord is exalted , He looks kindly on the lowly, but the proud He sees from afar.

This might be painful for some of us today so grab another cup of coffee and buckle up for the ride.

Our pride that we display is at times to be commended. For instance " Marty has already cut most of the firewood he will need for next year already.". This shows that Marty is not afraid of work. He likes to be prepared for the future. And He probably got the firewood for free, so he is thrifty.  On the other hand, it could be said that "Marty cut wood in excess of what he needs and now it sat so long it rotted.   And he missed out on a family dinner  just because hecould not pass up a good deal. 

Or our pride gets in the way of us admitting we made a mistake. Some people just can't admit when they should move on from a turn they took in the road of life and cut their losses. In some instances they are loyal to their mistakes and their reputation suffers. It causes harm to their family or friends. And they miss opportunities because their pride has become mixed with stubborness. Pride can get in the way of good judgement when we can't take good advice and we stick to a decision despite the consequences. 

Pride can be good. And pride can be ugly. You have to decide to swallow that pride now and then.

God bless,

Marty

When It Rains --Pours 2/23/2026

 Good Morning, 

I am waiting on a hot cup of Door County Vanilla Almond Kringle Coffee to finish brewing. But it is time to write anyway. 

Photo credit Morton Salt Museum

I heard a quote many years ago that applied to my new walk with the Lord . "I am not what I am supposed to be. I am not what I will be. But thank God I am not what I used to be." 

I cannot take any credit for the lifestyle changes in me. It was and is all God's work. In my walk since 1981 I can honestly say that there have been many trials which at times just made me want to toss my walk with God. But every time I was on the brink of giving in God came and poured out wisdom or endurance, or grace, or correction or more love. It seems as when the rains of life rage, God pours more of Himself into us. He is the salt salt that keeps my walk with Him  clear of slippery paths

1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me. 

1. Corinthians 15:10 NKJV " But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 

When it rains, He Pours.  Food for thought.

God bless,Marty