Bend, Stretch, But Don't Break, 9/2/2026

 Good Morning,

One steaming hot cup of Door County Toffee Pretzel Coffee is making it's presence known and I am ready to write.

Photo Credit Magnific and Freepik

In the past year we have had to replace the siding on our home. We have had to repair the chimney, repair the generator and then the air conditioning. We will be replacing the overhead garage door today. On Friday of this week we will begin replacing the roof. The first floor inside the house needed painting. New carpeting was installed . One electrical breaker went bad and had to be changed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not despairing. 9. Persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed. 

You could say that we have been busy for a year and it looks like it is coming to a close very soon. 

What's my point for the day? It is this. Project after project we never failed to pray and ask God for patience with the contractors, the building supply emporiums, weather, and there were days that were very stressful. There were times when we both could have easily flown off the handle. But after all is said and done we are still married and looking forward to spending  some time away in a couple of weeks. 

Prayer was the key in holding us together during some tense times. We bent and never broke. Prayer adds elasticity to relationships and situations and should be in every marriages tool kit for survival. With God and prayer, the relationship can bend or stretch successfully, and never snap. 

Food for thought.

Marty

Saying Goodbye To The Mosquitoes

 Good Morning,

I have sitting next to me a hot mug of Door County Toffee Pretzel Coffee and it is time to write. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. 

September 1st starts off my favorite time of year. I will be hunting in the next few weeks and will still have to contend with an overabundance of mosquitoes. This has been a long spring and summer fighting with the pesty bugs from hell. I am looking forward to October and a few frosty mornings and not being covered in bug repellent. 

One thing you can say about a January deep freeze is that you won't see any mosquitoes. Give me the cold weather any day! 

My point for the day is this. It's going to be a hot one where I live. I just returned inside from feeding the birds and I rejoice because I am one day closer to living mosquito free for a few months. So here it is. Each day that goes by we are one day closer to something else in our life. Changes within a year are numerous and not always welcome. But the point is, whatever season you are in, a change is right around the corner. Hang in there and never quit. 

May God bless you and keep you as you wait on Him.

Love to all. 

Marty

Cherish The Quiet 8/31/2026

 Good Morning,

I poured a hot cup of Door County Autumn Spice Coffee a few minutes ago. The aroma from the coffee brewing is a real pleasure today. It is time fo me to write.

Luke 5:16 NKJV So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. 

This morning a woke up to the sound of thunder and rain. The sky held some heavenly fireworks in the form of lightning. The rain and thunder have stopped for now and our home is totally quiet. I used the quiet for my prayer time and Bible reading. Prayer and reading from my Bible for some reason just seems to be sweeter when it is totally quiet. 

I think the appreciation for quiet is just another one of my quirks. But it seems to go even better with a hot cup of coffee added to the peace. 

My thought for the day for all who read this that you can find a place of quiet, pour yourself a cup of coffee, pray and let God whisper to you through some Scripture verses . This is more than a thought for the day. It is a prayer of mine for all the readers. 

Numbers 6:24-26 NIV "The Lord bless you and keep you;

25. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;

26. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. 

Peace, Joy and Love to all.

Marty

A Husband And Wife Need To Work Together 8/30/2026

 Good Morning,

I have a cup of Door County Bourbon Vanilla Cream with me and it needs to be warmed up. It seems as if this one has grown cold. It is time to write. 

Proverbs 19:21 NLT You can make many plans.  But the Lord's purpose will prevail.

If I were to offer some advice to couples who are planning to wed this year or couples who have been married for a long time, it would consist of two thoughts.

1. Devote yourselves individually to God and keep Him as Lord over your marriage. Your walk is yours and yours alone. If each of you is walking with God, He will always lead you to a stronger marriage even during trying times. 

2. Then as a couple form a plan for now and the future. Let the plan be understood fully. Focus your part of the marriage on the plan. Now and then plans will be interrupted by events that need to be attended to. Sit down together, pray and adjust the plan.. I will give some examples.

1 Continued education. Yes but for how long?

2. Children. Yes or no and how many?

3. Rent or purchase a home. When? Build or buy a finished home?

4. Retire or keep working?

5. Is God still using us and if so what is the plan for ministry service?

Bathe your plan in prayer and adjust only if the two of you agree. 

My wife Rene and I when we were first married planned on building a home in five years. We purchased a small home that was more than affordable and it was PLAN ON. Yet the move in for the home we built took seven years, not five. There was a building boom and every piece of land was snatched up before we could act. We started looking again at newer and bigger existing homes, but yet nothing happened. We stayed patient and we were able to add money to our Building Savings. We followed the plan to stay in that little house and scroll away some more cash. Once committed to build we needed to sell the old home. That home was sold to our neighbor with a hand shake. He gifted his daughter our home. We did not have any real estate commissions to pay. What we saved in commision fees we actually needed for handing unforeseen issues in our building process. 

God was in our plan from conception to finish. We both worked to attain the goal and God has used this home to accomplish His work. 

Back to the plan. Either one of us can call a meeting to discuss the plans. But both of us need to know the plans clearly and and change nothing unless the plan has been saturated with prayer. 

A home without a plan that includes God as the "CEO" is set up to fail. Do you have a plan? Did God stamp the plan as approved? 

Food for thought?

Marty

Getting Ready To Hunt Some Geese Very Soon 8/29/2026

Good Morning,

I am enjoying a hot cup of Door County Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee and it is time to write.

Hunting season crept in and it will be here in a couple of days. Our season in Wisconsin starts with doves and geese. Later this morning I will be joining some friends to put the finishing touches on a goose blind that we started a couple of months ago. 

Philippians 1:3-5 I thank my God in all remembrance of you, in every prayer of mine making my requests for you with joy. 

There is nothing like a few hunting buddies getting together to work on anything that has to do with hunting. If you have experienced hunting with a group of guys that you look forward to being with and sharing stories, and shooting fowl. you have been blessed by the Almighty. 

An occasional donut can make it your way while sitting and drinking a cup of coffee. It never fails. The minute you pour that hot liquid into a cup, the geese start coming in. I have had many hot cups of coffee be tossed just in time to shoot. There have also been times that the cup spilled on my leg. Hunting, can sometimes be a circus. 

You get out of bed very early to be there on time. A nap later is a must. Getting out there early affords you the luxury of seeing some mind blowing sunrises. 

My point for the day is this. If you have a hobby that can include others, don't forget to thank God for that blessing. I know for sure that I am blessed to hunt with some great guys and family members. 

And I witness some great hunting dogs work at their craft. Have you ever considered that you are your dog's hobby? The dogs get together like every day is a great day, no matter how many geese we shoot. 

Food for thought!

Marty

Yesterday I Saw A Smile 8/28/2026

 Good Morning,

I am sitting at my desk with a hot cup of Door County Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee and I am very content this morning. The coffee is just what I needed!

Psalm 77:14 NIV You are the God who performs miracles.Y0u display your power among the peoples.

I have been busier than normal lately and it looks like today will be a little lighter on the schedule. I have been working on hauling home some firewood that my brother helped me to cut last week. I have a large amount that needs to be split yet. I have enough already for this winter and I am actually working on the wood for next year. I like to be a year ahead. 

Our nephew and his family live about 15 minutes away from us and they gifted us a tree that had fallen down for the "Let's keep Marty and Rene warm foundation." I will be splitting firewood later in the month when the new log splitter arrives. Yesterday found me hauling the wood home. I was still at their home when my nephew came home from work and had their baby with him. She is just a wee little one. I peeked in at her sitting in her car seat and saw a smile on her little face for the first time. 

I was all sweaty and full of saw dust and I did not realize just how much a little smile from a baby could make a difference in an attitude and impact a heart like that one did. 

I took the wood home and while driving and recalling the smile I found myself smiling as well. Her smile is contagious and God used hers to impact a grumpy old man. God knew what I needed for the day and He delivered it though the smile of a baby.

Today my friends turn your frowns into a smile. It just might have an impact on the world!

God bless.

Marty

Like It Or Not. We Need A Ladder 8/27/2026

 Good Morning,

I just started to drink my cup of Door County Bourbon Vanilla Cream Coffee and it is time to write. 

1 Peter 5:6 NIV Humble yourselves, therefore, under, God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 

Yesterday I started moving things around in our garage to accommodate the installation of a new garage door next week. Several items have graduated to the "We Don't Need This Anymore List" and either have found a new home or are headed to the town dump. 

In our garage we have three ladders an each one serves a purpose. We actually use all three, so they get to keep thier happy home. I am not very tall and find that 4-5 inches more on my stature would make life a lot easier. But I am what I am. 

Where am I going with this? Every now and then one of our ladders comes into play when I need a lift up to help me with whatever I am doing. I can't get up into the rafters of our garage to obtain some hunting equipment without the use of a ladder. I can stretch and jump all that I want, but nothing goes up into the rafters or comes down without the help of a ladder. 

As I age, the need for a little assistance now and then for things I used to be able to do without help gets to be more and more every year. Emotionally what never bothered me before, but now gets to me is more every year as well. 

On those particular days when my mood is pensive or withdrawn I find I use my Bible more and more to give me a spiritual lift. I guess I need a spiritual ladder to keep me headed in the right direction and not become a lump of uselessness to others.

I believe we all can use a spiritual lift at times and should never stay low and forlorn when a lift is there at our fingertips. Friends use the spiritual ladder God gave us to assist us on those days when we seem to be low enough to play handball with a curb.

Food for thought!

God bless, Marty