Easter Sunday a Resurrected Life. 3/31/2013

Good Morning. What a thought! Jesus is Risen.
It is a little chilly here in Wisconsin. So our fireplace is crackling and my coffee is hot. I am drinking today some Door County Blueberry Cobbler coffee.

While I was praying about what to write, tears rolled down my cheeks. I lost a good friend to death a couple weeks ago. He used to read these devotionals every day. He did not like to go on the web for them so he received a copy via email every morning. Once in awhile if I missed a day or it did not arrive early he would call to say "hey where is your story for the day"? I just found myself emailing it to him out of habit yesterday. I wish I could call him and say "how did you like the story'?

As I think of him and others who have passed from this world I recall a night quite a few years ago when this same man was sitting on a hospital bed. I went to visit pretty late as visits would go. He was facing a heart procedure the next day. I asked him if he was afraid. He replied "a little". I then asked "if this doesn't go right tomorrow and you don't make it is there anything I can do for your family?" He gave me some instructions and I wrote them down. I then asked what about you? "oh they will have to bury me I guess" he answered. I said "where will you go after life ends"? He looked dazed and bewildered. "I don't know" was his reply.  I gently explained sin and how it separates us from God and that we all are sinners. I explained that Jesus died on the cross, was buried in death and resurrected in power over death in atonement for our sins and that salvation was a choice. He needed to ask the Savior in. He prayed and invited Jesus into his heart. He was a different man from that time on. I still remember the verse the Holy Spirit used that night to convict him that this was the time for him.

Revelation 3:20 Ne (NIV)

²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

I still miss him and will for as long as I am around this world. But the tears are not of sorrow they are of joy. My friend is spending his first Easter in heaven with the resurrected Jesus. The One who paid the price for all of us. I can only imagine what he is witnessing right now. My tears are that I wish I could see it too.

Friends, we all will wait on the Lord to call us home. But you can have a glimpse of heaven here. If you have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by calling upon His name for salvation and asked to be forgiven of your sins You ARE saved. But live like you are resurrected. Shed the sorrow, and put on the joy of salvation. The great football coach Vince Lombardi did not like touch down show boating. He challenged the Greenbay Packer team to "act like you have been there before" upon arriving in the end zone for a score. What I challenge you all to do is "act like you know where you are going". I have watched many a football players faces as they start to know for sure that they will reach the end zone. A smile breaks out on their face! They are going home. So today as you celebrate Easter let's smile and let people know where you are headed. Enjoy the resurrected life that Christ gave you. It only gets better from here!

God bless you with love, peace and joy. I can only imagine!
Love you all.
Marty

Quiet time with God 3/31/2013

Good Morning Dear Friends,
This morning I am sipping on some Door County Cherry Creme coffee.

I really like Saturdays. This one does not have too much for me to do today. I plan on relaxing in prayer and Bible study. You might wonder how one relaxes by praying and studying. Well the praying will lead me to God's Word. The Holy Spirit will illuminate the Word for me, teach me, correct me, comfort me, or guide me. In that I will know that I am loved because the King will have spoken to me in my kitchen, while in my sweat pants and tee shirt. Now that is resting in the arms of God.

I looked up some verses that might help you to have a quiet relaxing time with God.

James 4:8  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.        

Psalm 1:2   But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Matthew 14:22-23     Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,        

 

Psalm 46:10    “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

        

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

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Psalm 119:28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Ephesians 6:10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.

Isaiah 40:31  But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Go ahead. Time spent with God is always a pleasure, productive and peaceful.

 

Have another cup. Open your Bible and chat with our Father.

 

God bless,

Marty

Why is it called Good Friday? 3/29/2013

Good Morning.
Friday once again. But this day is different. As Christians we refer to this day as "Good Friday".
So as I drink my cup of hot Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee at 4 am I will attempt to answer "why do we call it "Good Friday"?

Good Friday Why?

Good Friday is the day commemorating Jesus Christ's death on the Cross, which is probably to be dated April 3, A.D. 33. In the liturgical calendar of the Western church, it is the Friday before Easter. The exact origins of the name are uncertain; some argue it stems from the use of "Good" as an adjective applied to the day, which is an Old English synonym for "holy." Others argue it is a corruption of the word "God," in the same way that "Good Bye" comes from the phrase "God be with ye."

Christians believe the day is "good" because the message of Easter is of Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil; as the Apostle Paul wrote: "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." ( 1 Corinthians 5:7)It is our belief that, in Jesus' death on the Cross, He took once and for all the sins of all mankind upon Himself, in our place. This gift He extends to everyone who will believe in Him. Believing in the Good News of the Gospel is our hope. Jesus, the Son of God, who died for our sins, was raised again for our justification, we who believe being made in right standing with God.

Ponder the good in this Friday.
Happy Fish Fry. God bless.
Marty

The impact of the cross.3/28/2013

Good Morning,This morning's cup is filled to the top with Door County Hazelnut Creme Coffee. Just what I needed. We are approaching Easter. Sunday will soon be upon us. This week I have been concentrating on things we can learn from the crucifixion.  LOOK AT THE ROMAN SOLDIERS MENTIONED IN THE CRUCIFIXION ACCOUNT.

 There was the crucifixion guard.  They were there for two purposes.

They carry out the crucifixion, execute the criminal.  To maintain order. They would be there to keep anyone from interfering in the execution, either to free a prisoner or to torment him physically.

Their purpose there was simply to obey orders. They did not have an emotional stake in the proceedings. Whomever the ones being crucified on that day, either the Son of God or a wicked criminal, meant nothing to them. These soldiers could be expected to be coarse and vulgar, having no sympathy for Jesus.

 John 19:2-3 "And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. {3} Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands."  Luke 23:36- "The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,"

There was the commander of the crucifixion guard.

 He would be a centurion, normally in charge of a hundred troops, he would be delegated to make sure that the crucifixion was carried out properly without any complications.  He would be a career soldier who had worked his way up through the ranks by virtue of courage and intelligence.  He would be expected to be cold and efficient. His first task would be to carry out the orders of his superiors. Jesus had contact with an earlier centurion, who desired for him to come heal one of his servants.

 Matthew 8:5-10
⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed,suffering terribly.”
 ⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
 ⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
 ¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

 LOOK AT THE REACTION OF THE SOLDIERS TO THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS.

 The guard seemed to have absolutely no pity for Jesus and his agony.

They went about their task with cold precision. There were only four legionaries there. There would be no need for more. There would be no mob rush to save the Son of God.
John 19:23- "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece."  

 As the custom was, the crucifixion guard would divide among themselves the meager possessions of the condemned criminals. While the Son of God hung naked for all to see and mock at, they cast lots for his seamless coat that was used to cover the entire body.

 John 19:23-24- "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. {24} They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore the soldiers did these things."

The Centurion was different.

Somewhere along the way, he became impressed with Jesus.

 It could have been the way he held up under the anguish of the cross. It could have been the way he lovingly made allowance for his mother's care.  It could have been how Jesus prayed for their, and specifically his, forgiveness. He had almost certainly never heard such a prayer from a cross.

It was also, no doubt, because of the signs that took place during the crucifixion.

 Matthew 27:51-54- "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, {52} and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; {53} and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. {54} So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!""

He went on to express a belief in Jesus' innocence.

  Luke 23:47- "So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!""

 It could well be possible that this centurion was like the centurion earlier, and Cornelius in Acts chapter 10, in that he was a believer in the one true God. Notice that he "glorified God."

One can't but wonder about how coming in contact with Jesus affected the soldier's lives.

 Did they become Christians?

The Pulpit Commentary relates the tradition that the centurion's name was Longinus and that he became a devoted follower of Jesus, preached the gospel and died as a martyr. b. We do not know if any of them ever became followers of Jesus.

          We can be sure that their lives would never be the same after seeing
         The Son of God on the cross.

                 TWO LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THESE ROMAN SOLDIERS.

 Even the most holy and spiritual activity can appear carnal to those who are not spiritual.

 Titus 1:15-16- "To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. {16} They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him,
being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." Here was a man giving his life without complaint, without pleading for mercy, and the Roman soldiers were casting lots for his meager possessions. We should not be terribly surprised when those who are not Christians do not see the great spiritual significance to the Lord's Supper, baptism, etc.

 Romans 8:5-8- "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. {6} For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. {7} Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. {8} So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
 

The cross of Jesus has the power to change the individual. The centurion began a Roman officer overseeing a crucifixion, but ended the day acknowledging that Jesus was the Son of God.
Have a beautiful day.
Marty

Love Kept Jesus on the cross. 3/27/2013

Good morning,

Today I am drinking a hot cup of Door County Coconut Crush Coffee. I am enjoying it immensely.

When I was a little boy and I learned that Jesus was the Son of God and heard about some of the miracles He performed, I often wondered why He did not come down from the cross and prove right then and there that He was who He said he was.

Did nails hold him there?
Did the Roman guards keep him there?
Did physical weakness from his suffering keep him there?
Did fear keep him there?
Did ropes hold him there?

No! None of these. Not one of these at all. Love, and only love kept Him there.

Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. 9 And they made His grave with the wicked-- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Love for who?
You and me!

God bless,
Marty

CSI Jesus 3/26/2013

Good Morning,
Monday and the coffee today is Door County Peanut Butter Crunch.
 What did the cross do to Jesus?

Hung completely naked before the crowd, the pain and damage caused by crucifixion were designed to be so devilishly intense that one would continually long for death, but could linger for days with no relief.
According to Dr. Frederick Zugibe, piercing of the median nerve of the hands with a nail can cause pain so incredible that even morphine won’t help, “severe, excruciating, burning pain, like lightning bolts traversing the arm into the spinal cord.” Rupturing the foot’s plantar nerve with a nail would have a similarly horrible effect.
Furthermore, the position of the body on a cross is designed to make it extremely difficult to breathe.
Frederick Farrar described the intended, torturous effect: “For indeed a death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and death can have of horrible and ghastly—dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, tetanus, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wounds—all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured at all, but all stopping just short of the point which would give to the suffer the relief of unconsciousness.”
One doctor has called it “a symphony of pain” produced by every movement, with every breath; even a slight breeze on his skin could bring screaming pain at this point.
Medical examiner, Dr. Frederick Zugibe, believes Christ died from shock due to loss of blood and fluid, plus traumatic shock from his injuries, plus cardiogenic shock causing Christ’s heart to fail.

What did the cross do for us?

John 1:12-13
¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

God bless,
Marty

My God My God Why Have You Forsaken Me 3/25/2013

Good Morning,

Monday and I am starting the day with a hot cup of Door County Cherry Creme coffee. As Easter approaches I still stand in awe of the crucifixion of Jesus, His death, burial and resurrection. No matter how old I get I love to study and reflect on it. While doing this I find that my thankfulness for the gift of eternal life in Jesus through His death, burial, and resurrection grows more and more. I thought I would share some information on a question I used to ask myself.

Why did Jesus cry out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"

This is from Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry

In Matthew 27:45-46, it says, "Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" If Jesus is God, why would He say this?
First of all, Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 which begins with, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?". Jesus quoted this Psalm in order to draw attention to it and the fact that He was fulfilling it there on the cross. Consider verses 11-18 in Psalm 22:

Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help.¹² Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. ¹³ They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and a roaring lion. ¹⁴ I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. ¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And Thou dost lay me in the dust of death. ¹⁶ For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. ¹⁷ I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; ¹⁸ They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.

The term 'dogs' was used by the Jews to refer to Gentiles (cf. Matt. 15:21-28). His heart has melted within Him (v. 14). During the crucifixion process, the blood loss causes the heart to beat harder and harder and become extremely fatigued. Dehydration occurs (v. 15). Verses 16b-18 speak of piercing His hands and feet and dividing his clothing by casting lots. This is exactly what happen as described in Matt. 27:35.
Psalm 22 was written about 1000 years before Christ was born. At that time, crucifixion had not yet been invented. Actually, the Phoenicians developed it and Rome borrowed the agonizing means of execution from them. So, when Rome ruled over Israel, it became the Roman means of capital punishment imposed upon the Jews whose biblical means of execution was stoning. Nevertheless, Jesus is pointing to the scriptures to substantiate His messianic mission.

A further comment

2 Cor. 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." It is possible that at some moment on the cross, when Jesus became sin on our behalf, that God the Father, in a sense, turned His back upon the Son. It says in Hab. 1:13 that God is too pure to look upon evil. Therefore, it is possible that when Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24), that the Father, spiritually, turned away. At that time, the Son may have cried out.
One thing is for sure. We have no capacity to appreciate the utterly horrific experience of having the sins of the world put upon the Lord Jesus as He hung, in excruciating pain, from that cross. The physical pain was immense. The spiritual one must have been even greater.

Friends, the question you might ask is why would Jesus do this? Because God loves you and desires the no one should perish but have eternal life with Him.

Romans 5:8 New International Version (NIV)

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Peter 3:9 New International Version (NIV)

⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Have a great day
Think about it awhile today. God loves you.
Marty

Pheasant Hunting 3/24/2013

Ahhhhh Saturday.

Sleeping late today? My Coffee is some Door County Cherry Creme today. God bless your weekend.

Nothing like spending some time with good buddies and a few dogs chasing pheasants. That is what I did yesterday.

 

 

Everyone needs some friends. I enjoy hanging with mine. I have some friends that I can count on, laugh with, and pray with. These guys bring out the best in me and each other. The Bible tells us what to look for in a friend.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15). Jesus is the pure example of a true friend, for He laid down His life for His "friends." What is more, anyone may become His friend by trusting in Him as his personal savior, being born again and receiving new life in Him.

There is an example of true friendship between David and Saul's son Jonathan, who, in spite of his father Saul's pursuit of David and attempts to kill him, stood by his friend. You will find that story in 1 Samuel chapter 18 through chapter 20. Some pertinent passages are 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19: 4-7; 20:11-17, 41-42.

Proverbs is another good source of wisdom regarding friends. "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17). "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). The issue here is that in order have a friend, one must be a friend. "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses" (Proverbs 27:6). "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17).

 

God bless,

Marty



 



Watersmeet Michigan 3/22/2013

Good Morning,

Friday at a last. No Door County Coffee for me today. Hotel Coffee for me this morning.

My Dad used to live on a small Lake in Watersmeet Michigan. This is the view from his deck last fall before he passed away. I remember that day very well. It was crisp and cool outside. We were heading out to do some partridge hunting. But look at that view. I was the only one on the deck with a cup of coffee of course, admiring God's creation. I remember thinking. After seeing this who could say "there is no God".  God painted quite a picture that day. But in order to see it, the picture had to be created. The trees had to be seeds, the seeds had to grow, the sun had to shine, the skies had to rain. The temperature had to change the color of the leaves. All that and more God put into the picture I saw.

   John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.     

Psalm 19:1      To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Colossians 1:16-17          For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

What will God show you today in Nature? How about on the weekend?

God bless,
Marty

Chicago Northwestern Railroad and Grandpa 3/21/2013

Hey it's Thursday and we won't complain today.

My day is starting with a hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee.

My Grandfather worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. He retired as a section foreman. He and his crew repaired and installed track and railroad crossings. He was very proud of what he did. I used to spend some summers with my grandparents in Watersmeet Michigan. After he retired we did a lot of fishing. He preferred live bait. Minnows were his choice. We did not purchase bait. We dug our worms and trapped our minnows. The minnow ponds were in marshy areas along the same railroad tracks that he traveled and worked on for years. We would walk down the tracks to check our traps. He would tell me stories of snow storms, beaver dams, washed out tracks and rail gradients. He said he was always proud to see the tracks run straight and true. He told me that tracks were like a man. They should run straight and true. God has something to say about that also.

Proverbs 12:19         
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

A man like a train will get off track if he relies on lies and untruths to travel through life.  Keep your train on track by being truthful. Here's to you Grandpa

God bless,
Marty

Baseball Spring Training 3/20/2013

Good Morning,
Starting my day with some Door County Cherry Creme Coffee. I drink many flavors, but I must admit that when I want  a cup of comfort coffee I go to the Cherry Creme.

It won't be long until baseball season begins. All the teams are now participating in "spring training".
When I think about baseball and picture a game I see a pitcher and a hitter squaring off. I see 8 other players in the field, three bases and a home plate. The goal of the hitter is to hit the ball and go base by base until he gets to home plate. At each base the hitter can be called out as he heads to the next base. He strives to get to home plate. Once he steps on home plate he is home and scores. The score cannot be removed. He is safe!

I see a person's journey in life the same way. We start at the plate and go through life. We know there will be an end but we all want to get home with a score.

For me heaven is the safe home. A hitter can jog around the bases not worrying about being tagged out if he hits a home run. Jesus hit that home run for us.

John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Why worry about making it home? Invite Jesus in today.
Pray and invite Jesus into your heart today.
"Jesus, I believe that you are the holy Son of God. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and that you rose from the dead. You are my salvation. Please wash all my
sins away and make me a child of God. I give my life to you today.

Have a great day.
Marty

Dunkin and God 3/19/2013

Good Morning!!!!!!!

Rise and shine. Get your coffee on. Mine is Door County Cookie Dough.

Luke 10:38-42     
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

A couple weekends ago I wrote in the devotional that my wife and I had been working on some muffins for a conceal carry event at our church. What I forgot to mention was that some of them did not survive. They burned and were not good enough to serve. Too many batches died! Although the house did smell good and we enjoyed the night serving God together we were short some much needed bakery. It ended up being too late to recover. I was stressed!

Plan # 2. Go early to Dunkin Doughnuts and purchase four dozen to make up the difference. God had other ideas. I did arrive at the sweet shop on time. Placed my order with a young lady after waiting in line, checking my watch to see if I would be on time.

She asked "are you having a party this morning?" "No" I replied. "We are holding a conceal carry class at my church." I checked my watch again hoping she would hurry so I would not be late.
"Guns and church?" she asked. I explained that we were a Bible based church and believed in protecting our families and doing it legally.  I checked my watch again. I was in more of a hurry now.
She stated. " I should go to church". I knew right then and there that this meeting was appointed by God and I should concede that He did not care if I was on time. He had something for me to do.
She asked, "Do I need to own a Bible to go there? I don't have one."? I replied "No, but you will have one in a minute." The week before a lady was attending a prayer service with me. She gave me a brand new Bible to give away. It was still in my car. I ran out and right back in with the Bible for her. This Bible was equipped to lead seekers to Jesus. I left and made it to church. Guess what???????????? On time!!!!!

Friends, God does not adjust His work to our schedules. We must adjust His work to ours.

Peter 3:15         
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Have a great day. Don't pull a Martha.

God bless,
Marty

Peace and Quiet 3/18/2013

Good morning,

Starting the Monday with a very hot cup of Door County Cherry Creme Coffee. Many of you have asked where I get the coffee from so I will share the link. http://www.doorcountycoffee.com/
Some have asked me "where is Door County"?

Welcome to Door County, Wisconsin; a place synonymous with 'rest and relaxation' to be sure, but for you? We've got a lot more in store depending on what interests you most. There's five state parks, eleven light houses and 300 miles of shoreline waiting to be explored spread across a 70-mile sliver of land stretching out into sparkling Lake Michigan. Perhaps you'd enjoy the hundreds of shops and galleries teeming with unique and special items from our local artists. Or would you rather sample our food and wine scene? Or our music scene? Or our theatre scene? Or maybe you really are seeking out some well earned 'R&R,' be assured we've got plenty of that.

I'll bet you are asking, "what is this a travel site, or a devotional?

Devotional is the answer. You see I have found a place where my wife and I can go for a short vacation. We can find peace and quiet there. We spend time together and wind down. It was in Door County while reading and relaxing that God convinced me that I should do something that I had not done before. That something was to start writing emails of encouragement, which has led to this blog.

Everyone needs peace and quiet from time to time. Let's see what the Bible has to say about it.

 

Proverbs 17:1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
Psalm 62:1         
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

Psalm 1:2     
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

It is OK a good to get away. Quiet time spent with God can be awesome. Do you have a place of rest? A park, a bench in your back yard, a lake, your car, are all places where we can rest and get recharged by God.

Are you tired and worn? Get away! Go somewhere! Jesus did.
Matthew 14:22-23     
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

God bless,
Marty


 

Saint Patricks Day 3/17/2013

Good Morning,
 Sunday, and I started my day in prayer and with a cup of Door County Hazelnut Creme Coffee.

Today many people will celebrate Saint Patrick's Day. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. It is said that the shamrock was a teaching tool that Saint Patrick used to explain to people the Holy Trinity. Whether he started the use of the tool or not is debated by many. That is not what is important.

I could spend a month teaching the doctrine of the Trinity in the blog and have studied it immensely. I would challenge everyone to do so. I would recommend the "Moody Handbook of Theology".

But today many will wear a shamrock, dress in green, eat corned beef and cabbage. Some will consciously decide that the celebration is more important than remembering that today is Sunday. After doing a little Google Study and finding out what the shamrock was used for by Saint Patrick I can't help but believe that he would have cancel the Sabbath to celebrate a day in his memory. You see God clearly states two things.

Exodus 20:8-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Ecclesiastes 3

New King James Version (NKJV)

Everything Has Its Time

3 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

² A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
³ A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
⁴ A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
⁵ A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
⁷ A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
⁸ A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

Friends, my wife and I will be cooking corned beef and cabbage today. But my challenge to you is to remind someone that the shamrock was used as a symbol to represent God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And that Sunday should have God first at all times. Go to church, worship and praise God. Then eat some cabbage and corned beef. Bring someone over to dine with you. Eat with the family. Clearly that would be honoring God.

God bless,
Marty

How to Shoot Sporting Clays 3/16/2013 Devotinal and Tip of the day.

Good Morning,

Saturday and my coffee is Door County Peanut Butter Crunch ! Just a little goes a long way.

This morning I will be joining some of my friends ( Male and Female) to shoot clay targets on a sporting clays course. We will all have our shot guns and ammo. Of course each individual will be hoping to shoot better than he or she did last time we were out. So how does this fit into a Biblical Devotional? Here goes.

Each time a target is launched, the shooter must be in a proper stance, ready to swing the shot gun, follow through, and direct the shot with eyes set on the target. We would never shoot with our eyes closed. You must view the target at all times in order to hit it.

Life is like that too. We must aim and keep our eye on the target. The Target is Jesus Christ.

Matthew 14:22-33

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Walks on the Water

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
²⁹ “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”⁽ he said, “why did you doubt?”
³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”⁽

Notice when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink. We too must keep our eyes on Christ at all times so when life's storms come along we do not get swallowed up. Truly He is the Son of God.

Have a great day!
Marty

Here is a tip for shooting sporting clays. There are many but safety with guns is important. I recommend before doing any shooting, if you are a beginner, take a hunters safety course, and take a lesson from a pro or qualified instructor.  In all shooting, practice safety first. Always wear hearing and eye protection. Keep your gun unloaded and the action visibly open until you're ready to shoot. Once you are finished shooting, make sure the gun is once again empty and the action is open. Always keep the gun's muzzle pointed down range away from anyone.

Thank God it is Friday 3/15/2013

Good Morning Friends!

Friday and I am drinking a big cup of Door County Highlander Grog coffee.

TGIF Thank God it is Friday, has been used on many a party invitation for people who want to unwind on a Friday.

This Friday will be March 15th 2013.  There will only be one March 15th 2013. There have been plenty of March 15th's, but only one in 2013.

Psalm 84:10
 A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

Psalm 118:24

²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

A day spent without time with God is just another Friday in history. But what God might do with you today if you spend time with Him might just impact eternity for someone. So thank God it is Friday and ask. "What are we going to do today God?"

 

Have a great weekend.

Marty

 

What is in a name? 3/14/2013

Good Morning!!!

I hope your coffee is hot or your juice cold and tasty. My coffee this morning is Door County Cherry Creme.

I just found out that you can actually purchase a book that has over 1000 names that you might want to consider when naming your child. I never knew that there was such a book. Inside they actually explain the meaning of the names in several languages.

But what does God have to say about names?

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. – Proverbs 3:3-4

Do you want to win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man? Put others before yourself. Be diligent and prompt at work. Love others despite their faults, always looking for the best. Be a friend when others run out. To have love and faithfulness bound around your neck means that these qualities can be seen in you always. You will be very valuable to your family, your church, your profession, God and your friends.

You may have a name given to you by your parents. But what names would others call you?

God bless,
Marty

How to renew your mind. 3/13/2013

Good Morning.

Wednesday already!! My coffee today is Door County Orange Creme.

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice12 Therefore, I urge you,^(A) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(B) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform^(C) to the pattern of this world,^(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(E) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(F)—his good, pleasing^(G) and perfect will.

How do we renew our minds? There are two ways. And when used together we can renew our minds from the polllutants the world tends to place there.

1. By reading God's Word daily.

Deuteronomy 8:3  (NKJV)

³ So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

2. By praying.
Psalms 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalms 9:12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Psalms 21:2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.

Psalms 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.

Psalms 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

We do not have to be discouraged by the world. We just need to get the world out of our heads.

How about it. Will you try it? God's word never fails.

Isaiah 55:8-11
⁸ “For my thoughts^(AB) are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”^(AC)
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,^(AD)
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.^(AE)
10 As the rain^(AF) and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,^(AG)
so that it yields seed^(AH) for the sower and bread for the eater,^(AI)
11 so is my word^(AJ) that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,^(AK)
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose^(AL) for which I sent it.

Go for it!
God bless,
Marty

Dating your wife. Antiques the way to the heart?3/12/2013

Good morning!!

It's Tuesday wake up sleepy heads. Rejoice in the day that the Lord has made. My coffee today is Door County Cookie Dough.

Last week while chatting on Face Book with a friend she said that she enjoyed reading the devotionals even if they were from a guy's perspective.

So here goes! Let me try this without as much testosterone in the message. My wife enjoys antique shopping. I have mentioned that before. She loves to spend hours searching for things to add to her collection of pink depression glass. I spend many hours with her and I am usually the one who ends up spending money.  If you have ever been in an antique shop you know that unless you check every nook and cranny you might miss something. So my my job is to scour the area a point out potential finds for her. The day almost always ends up with a lunch together or at least an ice cream cone.

Sometimes we find a treasure or two. But what is more important is the time spent together. We talk, discuss finances, laugh, and sing to songs on the radio. The treasures have a price, but our time together is priceless.

Ephesians 5:25-33

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives,^(E) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her^{(F) 26} to make her holy,^(G) cleansing^[a] her by the washing^(H) with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself^(I) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.^{(J) 28} In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives^(K) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body.^{(L) 31} “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[b](M) 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife^(N) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Now how did Christ love the church? He sacrificed His life for us! Men we are to sacrifice for our wives. Give them time. Love them with sacrificial love. And note. Jesus loved us without complaining.

How was that Liz?

God bless,
Marty

Understanding the Bible 3/11/2013

Good morning,
Monday and the start of a new week. My coffee today is Peanut Butter Crunch from the Door County Coffee Company. It is one of my favorite flavors.

I use study guides quite often when I read my Bible. Many scholars of the Bible have 2-6 versions of the Bible open when they study. One of them might be a Greek study guide so they can get to the purist form of the vocabulary used. There are countless Bible study guides and I do use them and recommend them. I do however recommend another step that should be first.

Love the Author! In order to understand the Word a love relationship is necessary first. Let's see what the Bible has to say about the subject.

2 Timothy 3:16 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(A) and is useful for teaching,^(B) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^(C)

Luke 10:27 New International Version (NIV)

²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[a];^(A) and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b

John 14:26 New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ But the Advocate,^(A) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,^(B) will teach you all things^(C) and will remind you of everything I have said to you

Now lets take a few minutes to put this together. We must love God, He gave us the Bible and the Holy Spirit is the one who illuminates the Word for us. How do we get there?

John 14:6-7 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus answered, “I am^(H) the way^(I) and the truth^(J) and the life.^(K) No one comes to the Father except through me.^{(L) 7} If you really know me, you will know^[b] my Father as well.^(M) From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus By accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, His gift of sin atonement, allows us to enter into a love relationship with the Father.

John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved^(A) the world that he gave^(B) his one and only Son,^(C) that whoever believes^(D) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

You see this is somewhat like an Algebra problem. The solution to understanding the Bible is Jesus. He is the key to the Holy Spirit and the Father. Accepting Jesus leads us to a love relationship with the Author. That is the best way to understand the Bible! Love the Author.

God bless,
Marty

Heaven's remedy for sleep. 3/10/2013

Good evening,

Sorry I did not have time to post earlier today. My day started early and went well into the late afternoon at church. But I did not forget you all. I leave you tonight with a verse and a promise for tomorrow. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. My prayer is that you all sleep well tonight.

Philippians 4:8-9

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.^(A) And the God of peace^(B) will be with you.

God bless,
Marty

Down Hill 3/9/2013

Good Morning.
Happy Saturday to all of you. Trying a new flavor today for my morning coffee. Door County Highlander Grog is in the cup.

Have you heard the expression that after you turn 50 years old it is "all down hill"? People are referring to their health usually when they use the expression. Well that's me tubing down a hill last winter and I am in my fifties. My wife and I enjoy the outdoors as much as possible. And yes the aches and pains are there. But we try to get outside as much as we can. Why? Well for me I can see God in nature. You know God is everywhere and He cannot be confined to just one spot. So while you are sitting on a beach in Florida and I am screaming down a snow covered hill, He is there. So while I am out, I look at what I see and thank God for giving me what I have just seen. He knew just what I would be looking at and I figure He painted that part of the day just for me. It makes me feel loved, special and happy.

When I have doubts, fears, I am lonely, depressed or just wonder where God is, I go outside and read these passages. Try it!

Musician. A Psalm of David. 139
 

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
⁵ You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall^[a] on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

God bless,
Marty