Is There An Artist In The House ?7/24/2026

 Good Morning,

My hot mug of Door County Heavenly Caramel Coffee is just what I needed this morning. 

If you are this type of person or you live with one or more who show immense patience and choose to be kind at all times. You have an artist in your home.They choose to color the day day with peace, love grace, and joy. Their paint brush colors their world in a way that makes you feel good just by being around them. They leave many situations painted with hope, where there was none. Their work is a beautiful thing that  brings music to the soul where there was none. They change the dark colors of life into brighter amd joyous colors.

If you know someone like this you will find their color palette has all the colors of someone who loves God and has a close relationship with Jesus Christ. They paint with peace, not anger or vengeance. 

Romans 12:12 NIV Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Maybe today we can put away all forms of evil and malice and concentrate on painting our world with all the colors of love, peace, joy and happiness.  Food for thought!

Have a great day. God Bless.

Marty

Star Gazing 7/23/2026

 Good Morning,

I am sitting upright and enjoying a hot mug of Door County Heavenly Caramel Coffee and it's time to write. 

Photo Credit Dominick Doyle. 

Last night before I went to bed I let both of our dogs outside for a few minutes to roam around and do what dogs need to do. 

For the first time in weeks it was actually cool outside and the lack of smoke from wildfires to our North enabled  me to see a few stars. I spent some time out there just looking at the stars. It was a good show and the price of admission was free. While being quiet and watching the stars my ears were more in tune with the evening as well. The owl who now resides in one of our bigger trees was hooting and making his presence known. 

When my soul is troubled or I am emotionally drained I tend to gravitate to spending a little more time outside. I see the stars at times. I can hear an owl. I can feel the rain. I can listen to thunder and experience a lightning flash. Or I can just sit and listen to my own heartbeat. 

Genesis 15:5 And the lOrd brought Abraham outside  his tent into the night and said "Look now toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.". 

I believe that when we devote time to prayer and reading God's word we experience God and He brings out the family miracles and reminds us just how awesome and powerful He is.

So maybe tonight, if the skies are clear , get out there with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy a  little bit of quiet time with God and His miracles. 

Have  great day! 

Marty

Change Your View. 7/22/2026

 Good Morning,

The desk chair seems a little stiff today as I write and sip on some Door County Irish Cream Coffee. 

If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest. Corrie Ten Boom

It doesn't take long for me to listen to the news and then walk away depressed and distressed these days. Wars, natural disasters, and hatred abound. It just makes you want to be a recluse and build yourself a shelter and only come out if it is absolutely needed.

But there is one constant that we can count on and that is Jesus Christ. He told us we would see days like this and we should find comfort and safety for our souls in him.. The more time I spend in prayer with Jesus, the less the world seems to depress and distress me. 

Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. 

The lesson today is this. God first and when we look to Him  we cannot see through Him, around Him, over Him or under Him . His awesomeness blocks out the view of hatred, anger , lack of harmony,, lack of peace and offers hope for hope for tomorrow. But we must seek Him first.

Food for thought!

Marty 

Everything Tastes Better In A Mug 7/21/2026

 Good Morning,

My day began with prayer and a hot mug of Door County Irish Cream Coffee. It is time to write. 

Today I just want to share my thoughts on favorites. I have said it before and I am sticking to my statement.  I prefer spring, fall and winter. Summer is just something to fill the gap between spring and fall.  

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in it's time.

A few cookouts in the summer and I had my fill of sausages, burgers and chicken on the grill. I have been known to grill out even in the dead of winter. So summer just occupies calendar space for me. I have had enough attacks from over populated mosquitoes. 

We tend to eat more cold food in the summer on chilled plates. But for my money give me a serving of hot soup, chili. stew, oven roasted beef roast and oatmeal for breakfast. 

We have all kinds of dishes to eat from for any season. But to me everything tastes better in a large mug. A mug tends to old the heat longer and has a handle. 

So right about now you are asking yourself, "What is wrong with this clown this morning?" No, I did not bang my head or anything like that. I haven't suffered a heat stroke. I know that this is the day the Lord has made and I am to rejoice over it. But if I had my choice it would be colder as far as the climate goes. I would be wearing flannel and have both hands on my mug of coffee for warmth. 

Here's my point for the day. We can do nothing to control the weather. We get what we get and we need to make the best of it. Fall will be here soon and then winter. The mugs in our home as well as the crock pots will be getting a workout. Some of you will be saying, "why doesn't he move to a colder climate?" 

Well we can't have everything our way and a move is out of the question now. And then I would not have anything to whine about. So for now. Everything tastes better in a mug!

Know this. You were just prayed for and are loved. So enjoy that mug of coffee and have a blessed day.

Marty

I Run For Help 7/20/2026

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Irish Cream Coffee and I am now ready to write. 

Psalm 46:1 NKJV God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

New born babies cry out  wen they are hungry and for a short time in life they cry out when they need to be cuddled by one of their parents. Or just when something has changed in the order of what life has been for them. 

A toddler who is running and falls and scrapes a knee will immediately look for Mom or Dad to ease the sting of their wound. They trust that mom or dad will know how to comfort them.

I learned a long time ago, that our parents are here to be the comfort you can actually see and touch. But then the toddler grows up and when there is trouble in life such as pain, sorrow,or loss we are to run to God and He supplies the comfort and support we so need desperately.

Good parents are there in the moment to comfort their child. As adults, God is there to supply needs, physical and spiritual. He is ever present with the first aid station open 24/7.

Friends, don't go through tough times alone. Don't let your pride keep you from calling on the ever present God. 

Food for thought. In reality I guess we never grow up! I am thankful for that!

Marty

Looking Through The Eyes Of Others 7/9/2026

 Good Morning,

A quick cup of Door County of  Cherry Creme Coffee is helping me to get underway this morning. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant. 5. or rude. It does not insist on it's own way; it is not irritable or resentful. 

At times two people can look at a problem and see two opposite ways to approach and solve the problem. It is not until we know all of the facts about the situation and the circumstances for the person who thinks differently, for reasons unknown will we be able to uniformly solve anything.

I once chaired a small work group with a very diverse make up. We had an issue to solve and could not agree as to how long we should be spending on the solution. One of the members of the group wanted to stay super late for the next two days and finish the problem early. He was adamant as to finishing before Friday. The rest of us were content to be finished by Friday afternoon. The one person who was becoming a pain to work with finally confided in me. "I can't work Friday. "I promised my spouse that I would be home for three days straight and then  we would take a mini vacation with us and the kids.

Once he told me what the rush was, and to be honest, vacations were few and far between for all of us at that time.  We saw his plight and we understood by looking through his eyes and knowing how we all needed some time off, we dedicated ourselves for him and we had the job finished and he went on vacation early!

Is an unruly child a product of bad parenting? Or is that parent single, and working two jobs just to pay the rent? 

It's easy to become unglued at people who don't share our same vision. But if we listen and ask about their reason for driving everyone else batty we then begin to see things through their eyes. 

Food for thought. To enlist help from others we need to see why they can't give over 100%

Don't believe people walk around aimlessly looking how to help you. And they have nothing better to do. Food for thought. Look at each other in a work group and be honest. Listen as to what slow downs might arise as to block their ability to conform to your ideals.

Form opinions on facts only aad look at their productivity through their eyes. Show patience and love . Some day, it might be you who needs a little grace.

Food for thought.

Marty

Married And The Plan Is To Stay That Way 7/18/2026

 Good Morning,

My cup is close to running over with my Door County Country Morning Blend Coffee and it is time to write.

Later today I will be officiating a wedding vow renewal ceremony. Two friends of ours are celebrating 40 years of marriage and today is also their anniversary. It is an awesome privilege to be doing this on a hot Saturday in July. 

So for today I will be short in the mouth for the blog. I want to just say a word about vows in general.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 ESV  when you vow a vow to God , do not delay in paying it, for He has np pleasure in fool. Pay what you vow. 5. It is better that you should not vow, then that you should vow and not pay.

Everything we vow is said before the Lord. Our word should be good whether it is made to God or others. God requires us to keep all vows we have made. It is better not to vow at all than to break a promise.

Today's lesson is to remind us to all think before we speak. You are only as good as your word is blameless.

Food for thought!

Marty