Becuase He Lives 11/30/2014

Good Morning Friends,

I just received notice that two of my friends were blessed last night with the arrival of a baby boy. All is well with both mother and child. An early Christmas gift from God for them. How nice is that? Also this weekend a dear friend of mine fell down a flight of stairs injuring herself and will be recovering for a long, long time. How sad is that?

My mug is filled with Door County Christmas Coffee. I sit back and wonder about the blessing and the fall as I sip this hot java. It's times like these that I very often find myself singing an Old Hymn of reassurance. "Because He Lives" gets sung in the shower. Yes I am a shower choir member. No one needs to hear this noise but God. This will be the last day for us to look at and share some of these old songs for awhile. So enjoy this one. Go to a used book store or a church that might have these old hymns in print. Pick up a hymnal and keep it. They are all going to be scarce soon. Not many churches have them around anymore. The music is all shown on a video screen, and has beautiful new music for us. But these treasures will be lost some day if not preserved. One sits on our fireplace mantel.

HYMN
Because He Lives

(Verse 1)
God sent his son
They called him Jesus
He came to love
Heal and forgive
He lived and died
To buy my pardon
An empty grave
Is there to prove
My Savior lives

(Chorus)
Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives

(Verse 2)
How sweet to hold
A newborn baby
And feel the pride
And joy he gives
But greater still
The calm assurance
This child can face
Uncertain days
Just Because he lives

(Chorus)

(Verse 3)
And then one day
I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death
Gives way to victory
I'll see the lights
Of glory and
I'll know he lives

 

Hebrews 7:25          Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Have a great day. God Bless,

Marty

Without Him 11/28/2014

Good Morning,

Up early to shop for a Christmas present and then off to work. I did not post a blog yesterday. I took Thanksgiving off and spent extra time with family and friends. I am pretty tired from this past week. I am downing plenty of Door County Candy Cane Coffee as we head out into some pretty cold temperatures.

I am going to linger on the subject of Old Gospel Hymns for a couple more days. I love these old hymns and especially if they are sung by an artist that I enjoy hearing. Today I want to share the lyrics of "Without Him" with all of you. This song is an anthem of my life.

Without Him. Written By Mylon R. LeFevre


"Without Him"

Without Him I could do nothing
Without Him I'd surely fail
Without Him I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail

Without Him I would be dying
Without Him I'd be enslaved
Without Him life would be worthless
But with Jesus thank God I'm saved

Oh Jesus, oh Jesus
Do you know Him today
Please don't turn Him away
Oh Jesus, my Jesus
Without Him how lost I would be
Without Him how lost I would be

John 3:3New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
³ Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. No one can see God’s kingdom without being born again.”

Think about it. Your life without Jesus Christ.  How lost would you be?

God bless,

Marty

Softly And Tenderly 11/26/2014

Good Morning,

My Door County Cherry Crème Coffee is brewing and filling the house with a sweet aroma. This is a day I have been looking forward to. A little field hunting with our grandson Dominick and our Springer Gibbs.

 

 

For the next few days I would like to take a look at some of my favorite old Gospel Hymns. Today I would like to share the words from "Softly and Tenderly". By Will Thompson

 

1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
   Calling for you and for me;
   See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
   Watching for you and for me.
   
   • Refrain:
     Come home, come home,
     You who are weary, come home;
     Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
     Calling, O sinner, come home!
2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
   Pleading for you and for me?
   Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
   Mercies for you and for me?
3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
   Passing from you and from me;
   Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
   Coming for you and for me.
4. Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised,
   Promised for you and for me!
   Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
   Pardon for you and for me.

 

 Mark 10:49New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call for him.”
So they called out to the blind man, “Cheer up! Get up on your feet! Jesus is calling for you.”

So what do you say? Is Jesus calling softly to you?

God bless,
Marty



Going My Way 11/25/2014

Good Morning,

Tuesday has arrived and I am already looking forward to a day in the field with our Grandson Dominick on Wednesday afternoon. We have hunted hard for the last few days and have not been successful. My hat is off to this young teen. He is hanging in there waiting for his time to produce some wild game at the end of a good shot. My coffee this morning is Door County Maple. Out the door I go with hope for tomorrow.

It is that time of year when I start to look over the television channel guide to watch some of my favorite old movies with a Christmas theme. I am very fond of the movie "Going My Way" starring Bing Crosby.

The movie is heart warming and delivers a message of love and respect, with kind actions sprinkled throughout. This reminds me of what Thanksgiving and Christmas should be all about. Putting our faith into action. Christians are the face of God on Earth. God often shows himself through the actions of others.

James 2:14-26English Standard Version (ESV)

Faith Without Works Is Dead

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good^[a] is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰ Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Tis the season to get active and get going for Christ. He's asking "Going My Way?"

Have a great day.

Marty

Pasta Sauce And Family 11/24/2014

Good Morning,

This morning has a full schedule of events today. A little hunting, a little car repair, a little stop in the office and then finally home I go! So of course the morning will start with a little Door County Christmas Coffee and an apple cider donut.

 
I started to make Italian pasta sauce on Saturday. It was a new recipe that calls for fresh tomatoes if you had them. I used some frozen tomatoes that we put up a couple months ago from our garden. That was blessing number one for the day.

Hebrews 6:7New International Version (NIV)
⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.

The second blessing came from a neighbor. We had performed  a plumbing favor in the early fall for her and she made us a big batch of garlic bread and lasagna in return. There was way too much garlic bread to eat so we vacuum sealed it and froze it. We thawed it out and it was added to the feast last night. We never intended to receive a gift as a thank you. But I guess the favor went full circle and we were blessed twice from her huge gift.

Mark 12:31         
 ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The third blessing was to be able to spend time with our grandson and have the three of us dine together. How nice it was to be together.

Proverbs 17:6New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

 

I think we all can take some time to count our blessings. It only took a couple minutes for God to show me all that He provided. We are blessed and I am truly thankful.

 

Happy Monday,

 

Marty

Staying Up Late 11/23/2014

Good Morning,

Time to wake up and smell the coffee. Mine is door County Caramel Apple. I hope your cup is overflowing with blessings today and that you are well rested.

Rene and I are total opposites when it comes to sleep. If she has a day off her idea of a good time is to stay up late and then sleep in the next day. I however am a creature of habit. I like to go to bed at a reasonable hour no matter what and rise early to greet the day.

But there are times when I can't sleep because something or someone is on my mind. Many times it is a work situation that I am trying to solve or a church need. A loved one in trouble or who might be ill causes me to miss some sleep too. I think we all can relate.

Psalm 121:3–4
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

I have come to the conclusion that on my own in the middle of the night I have very little chance of solving anything. I can however go to God 24/7 and ask Him to solve the issues and if He desires to He can grant me rest. I can read the Bible and ask Him for wisdom and peace  in the middle of the night. I am never alone. With technology being what it is I can also look at my computer and see if there are friends or family awake. I can pray for them. If they see that I am active on-line they can contact me to chat.

But the important thing to know is that on my own, I just worry for nothing. My worry cannot solve a thing. Going to the Lord anytime is the best solution to any worry or fear.
Well, let me reassure you. God is wide awake and tuned in to your situation.

Rest well, rest often.

Marty

Ice Skating 11/22/2014

Good Morning,

This has been a weird month for weather. Some states have seen 6 feet or more of snow. I keep hearing about global warming. I can't say that I am really convinced that it is warmer. It seems as if winter last longer. My coffee this morning is a hot cup of Door County Candy Cane. Hunting is on hold because of an ice storm this morning. Better to be safe than sorry. I am convinced that the time at home was allotted by God so I could spend some time on the phone with a dear friend who was awake very early like I was. Early morning prayer just seems to be the best!

When I was a kid it was very popular to ice skate during the winter. Our city had plenty of frozen ponds or flooded fields which the park commission actually groomed for kids and adults to enjoy. I really never learned how to skate very well. I was usually bruised and sore from my outings. But it was good exercise and great fun socially. I did learn that if one wanted to skate better it was important to keep your skates sharpened.

Our brains work better when we exercise them also. I find it harder and harder to remember things. Have you ever set your car keys down and then wondered where you left them 10 minutes later? I read that a good exercise for keeping the brain sharp is memorization. OK, if I have to exercise my mind and train it to remember, than why not memorize a Bible verse or two?

Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” That is a beautiful way of saying, When the heart full of God’s love can draw on the mind full of God’s word,  blessings can flow from your speech.

Exercise and keep your mind fit.

God bless,

Marty

Rescue Sleds 11/21/2014

Good Morning,

Friday at last. We are looking forward to a visit from our grandson today. I will be watching the clock all day until we head to the airport.
My coffee this morning is extra hot and very much needed for warmth. I am enjoying a big cup of Door County Cherry Crème.

Yesterday at work we practiced emergency stair evacuations in the hospital using rescue sleds designed to slide people down stairwells using straps and clips. I asked for volunteers to be placed on the sleds so we could practice. I have to tell you that not everyone wanted to volunteer. But a few brave souls raised their hands so their co-workers could practice the process. This is a process that I hope no one ever has to do. The staff performed well but this would be a last resort to save lives in a catastrophe like a fire or tornado.

Now our volunteers were brave but yet you could see a little fear and doubt in their eyes as they were lowered down the stairs by people smaller than them. It all went well and the practice drill was perfect. When the drill was completed they admitted their fears, but said once they were on a flat landing (solid ground) their fears were gone. They disliked not having control of the situation and being strapped into a sled going down the stairs.

Isn't life like that also? Now and then life sends something our way that takes us right off of our feet. We fear the worst and can see no hope for the future. But like our volunteers, we look for a landing that is solid and reliable to calm and take away our fears.

Friends, we always have a rock that we can lean on when life sends us on a slippery slope of fear and doubt. Jesus is that rock who we can give our fears to. He holds the straps of our sleds in life.

Psalm 18:2New Living Translation (NLT)

² The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.

 

Trust Him today. It makes that slide easier to handle.

 

God bless,

Marty

Bacon And Eggs 11/20/2014

Good Morning,

Today is starting earlier than usual for me. My coffee is Door County Candy Cane. It is very cold this morning and I am so thankful for a Jeep with heat. There was a time in my life when we could not afford to repair the heater in my car and I decided to go through the winter without it. So every cold morning that I get into my car and it starts and just a little later starts producing heat makes me say a little prayer of thanks.

I have been known to enjoy a good plate of fried eggs and bacon with a side of toast and jelly. I like heavily smoked bacon, preferably smoked in cherry wood. Now that is knowing what you like. I like my bacon crisp, but not burnt. add some fried potatoes with onions and I have the perfect breakfast. Add the Door County Coffee to wash it all down and it went from perfect to superb!

Now you would think that all that food would be enough to make a great day. Something is missing in that menu for me. I need to hear from God in the morning. I need to spend time in prayer. I need my spiritual plate filled more than I need bacon and eggs. To hear from God, one has to open His word, pray, read and listen for the Holy Spirit to speak through what you read.

Deuteronomy 8:3New King James Version (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.


Charles Spurgeon the London pastor from a century ago, said,

Our seasons of fasting and prayer at the Tabernacle have been high days indeed; never has Heaven's gate stood wider; never have our hearts been nearer the central Glory.

Heaven's gates are open wide and God desires to spend time with us. We just need to take time and make Him the priority.

 Jeremiah 29:12-14English Standard Version (ESV)
¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you, declares the Lord,

We just served up some food for thought. Hungry anyone?

Marty

Giving It That Little Extra 11/19/2014

Good Morning,

Oh Friday where are you? I am enjoying a big cup of Door County Christmas Coffee today as I sit at the desk writing to all of you. I consider it all joy to remember you in prayer. Some of us have never met, maybe we will some day here on Earth, or in Heaven. We will have much to talk about.

Proverbs 21:5New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,
    but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

 

As we were laying out a spread of duck decoys this weekend my partner said to me, "this was a little extra work to put out more decoys and arrange the spread. But hard work with a good plan will usually pay off." He was correct and we were able to attract some ducks that eventually made it to our frying pans. Our plan to put forth more effort paid off.

 

I wonder how many people approach the work day, their marriage, their children, their church, their home, with a half of a plan and then barely put forth an effort to see the plan through? Or worse yet, they quit before completing their plan when faced with a little opposition. It takes pressure to take coal and turn it into a diamond. It takes extreme heat to refine gold.

 

A friend of mine always said "any job big or small, do it right or not at all."

 

How are you going to approach the day? Can you give it "that little extra"?

 

Love to all,

Marty

Controlling Your Tongue 11/18/2014

Good Morning,

The coffee is brewing and soon will be filling my cup with Door County Apple Cobbler. It is cold, cold, cold outside this morning. My warm wool coat and my wool hat accompanies me today.

James 3 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Untamable Tongue

3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Can you believe some of the things that come out of our mouths? We can drive cars, train dogs, fly airplanes, and bake cakes, but to control our tongues seems impossible. Our tongues can actually start wars that never end.

Controlling the tongue starts with prayer, and ends with prayer, layered with being in God's Word. This solution keeps us in sharp contact with the Holy Spirit who will remind us that we are headed into trouble before we speak, during our speech, and after we mess up. Remember as with all temptation, God provides a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Our little tongue, can be controlled, we just need to get BIG HELP.

God bless,
Marty

Think Before You Speak 11/17/2014

Good Morning,

The coffee swirling in my mug today is Door County Red Velvet Mocha. Really looking forward to some family time at the end of the week. I foresee the possibility of some snow tubing as well as a little hunting.

 

Have you ever thought to yourself after hearing or reading a comment from someone else "why don't they think before they speak"?

 

Actually the Bible has a lot to say on that subject.

 

Proverbs15:28

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

 

God expects His children to be slow to speak and study their answer before speaking. I believe that this also implies that once studied it might be best to not comment at all. I believe that many uncomfortable situations or blowups could be avoided if people would think before they speak.

 

James 1:19

¹⁹ So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

Maybe you are the one who spouts off before thinking and your mouth causes anxiety for others. God sees that as evil.

Tomorrow we will continue looking at our habits of speech.  So until then. Have a great day.

Marty 



Taking A Nap 11/16/2014

Good Morning,

Today started with an early morning duck hunt, donuts, and Door County Cherry Crème Coffee.

I hunted pretty hard this weekend and intend to go out again this afternoon for geese. I finished a lot on the home front also. To say the least, I am a little tired.

My goal later on is to take a short nap and rest before Rene comes home from work. Our bodies were designed to let us know when we should rest. We can see from Scripture that we should rest. If all the work is done, family attended to, ministry complete then a nap is called for.

Mark 6:31         
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

Psalm 55:6

Oh, how I wish I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!

So rest my friends!

Marty

Ducks With Nick 11/15/2014

Good Afternoon,

My coffee earlier today was Door County Candy Cane. It filled my thermos and kept me warm as I hunted ducks with my nephew on a somewhat frozen lake in Wisconsin. The funny part of the coffee was this. I was just taking a nice drink of the brew when the ducks came in. I dropped the cup and started shooting.

I was hunting today with my Nephew Nick. You could say he lives to hunt. This morning as Gibbs was bringing in the last of the three ducks we shot I couldn't help but see the big grin on Nick's face. It reminded me of a time when he was a baby and tasted his first Pepsi. That was a site to see. Nick eats what he shoots. Nothing goes to waste. He won't shoot what he won't eat.  I think we should all think about how much we waste from time to time. We should be good stewards of what God has given us. Wasting anything is a sin. Let's waste less and share more. How much bread gets tossed out before the loaf is eaten because the bread is green with mold? Maybe purchase smaller loaves.???? Or if you can buy two and give one to the poor. But one and give half to a friend.


Think about what you are about to waste. Freeze it, dry it, can it, SHARE IT but don't waste it.

Leviticus 19:9-10        
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

Apple Wood 11/14/2014

Good Morning,

Happy Friday to all. I just broke out the holiday coffee. My first pot of the season is Door County Jingle Bell Java.

Deuteronomy 4:9         
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—


I guess I am a holiday kind of guy. The Mrs. has already started to break out the Christmas decorations. Bring on the Christmas shopping.

Over this last year I have written about our apple trees and the great spring blossoms. Then I wrote about the large harvest of fruit that will be enjoyed all winter.

Now it is time to trim and prune the branches. In the cold of winter some of the dead branches need to be removed so the trees will continue to blossom and produce fruit. Even some of the good branches need to be cut in order for the sun to hit the apples in the center of the tree next summer.

My wife asked me if I wanted her to haul the branches to the local dump for disposal. I explained to her that I will be saving them for a purpose. I will cut them up into smaller pieces and use them for smoking meat. I love smoked pork loin and smoked pheasant.

Even in it's death the apple tree leaves a sweet taste. What about you? If you died tomorrow how would you be remembered? In your passing would you still produce fruit?

This is written to grandparents. Grandma and Grandpa you have big responsibilities to stand in the gap in this busy life and pass on to your kids and grandkids what you have learned. You have the job to set the example of Godly living. Your legacy lives on through your kids and grand kids. What will it be?

Have a great day.

Marty

Chili Time 11/13/2014

Good Morning,

My Coffee this morning is a very hot cup of Door County Red Velvet Mocha. The brew is going down very well today as I head off to work. I do enjoy the colder weather. The coffee always tastes better and I can eat the foods I really enjoy.

Soups and stews just seem to taste better when it is cold outside. Rene and I have some soup mugs that we fill up and then add some crackers to our chili. She likes some shredded cheese on her chili. I like to add some sour cream to the top of mine. As we eat, our hands surround the mug which warms our fingers. We discuss our day, pray a thanksgiving prayer and just enjoy our supper together. There are many times when we light a fire in the fireplace while dining on a bowl of chili or soup.

To me those nights are priceless. They are simple and pretty much describe our lives together. We keep it simple. Simple seems to make us most content. It can be snowing and blowing outside and we just don't seem to care. We are together, warm, fed well, and talking.

Ecclesiastes 9:9English Standard Version (ESV)
⁹ Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

Last week a someone said to me that their marriage "will be over once their son is 18. No need to stay together". Then he said "I wish we could be happy like you". This statement saddened me. I told this young man that with plans like that he would never be happy and that he will miss out on the plan that God has for young men and marriage. You see, we are now much older than we were when we first married. But I am still enjoying the wife of my youth. As we get older the earlier days are memories we can share, laugh about and appreciate the growth together. The same chili we enjoyed many years ago is the same chili we enjoy today, and maybe even more.

Proverbs 5:18-23New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.¹⁹ A loving doe, a graceful deer—
    may her breasts satisfy you always,may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

Now you can see just how simple God intends it to be. Eat chili, hold hands, enjoy talking and listening, make a fire, watch it glow and go out.

Enjoy the day,

Marty

Have You Ever Been Lonely? 11/12/2014

Good Morning Friends,

Blessings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I hope your coffee is hot and tasty like my Door County Cherry Crème is this fine cold morning.

Have you ever been lonely? Ever felt abandoned by family and friends. Have you ever felt like your co-workers treated you like you had the plague? The writer in Psalm 27 describes one of the worst cases of fear and loneliness I have ever read about. Yet in the end he knew that he was never alone nor abandoned. I have highlighted some key words to show the despair and then the victory. Red will highlight the despair and blue the victory.,


Psalm 27 New King James Version (NKJV)

An Exuberant Declaration of Faith

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
² When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.³ Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
⁵ For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
⁸ When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
⁹ Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me,  NOW THAT IS ABANDONED!
Then the Lord will take care of me.

¹¹ Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
¹² Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
¹³ I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

 

Go back and read this again. Note that there is much more victory compared to despair. And even in the midst of his enemies the Psalmist knows he can praise God and wait on Him.

 

Friends, you are as lonely as you choose to be. You are as blue as you allow yourself to be. Choose God to guide and comfort you.  He's is only a cry away.

 

God bless,

Marty

Veterans Day 11/11/2014

Good Morning,

I am getting this day started with a hot cup of Door County Hawaiian Hazelnut Coffee. The temperature outside is getting colder and we are preparing for the freezing weather that is on our door step. I just placed my order for some holiday coffee flavors from the Door County Coffee Company. Look out holidays here I come!

Today in America we honor our veterans. For me the veteran closest to my heart is that United States Marine I call Dad. This old warrior still salutes the flag, says he would be ready to fight again, and faithfully serves at every funeral for the veterans who pass on in his area. I guess he never really stopped serving.

Dad likes a good steak with fried potatoes, doesn't mind Spam, and enjoys his coffee. Until he recently stopped hunting, always shot his deer with one shot, right in the neck. He believes that if you are able, you should work. He also believes in sharing with those who can't work. That's my veteran.

But as with all veterans that I know, they don't want much from those they fought for. You might not even know a veteran but they all called you FRIEND. I guess that is what they desire most and that is to be acknowledged as "Friend". They all laid it on the line for us. Say thanks today and consider them your best friends.

John 15:13King James Version (KJV)
¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

God bless our veterans.

Marty

When Your Back Is Up Against A Wall 11/10/2014

Good Morning,

I don't know about you, but I had a very nice weekend. It sure seems to me that the weekends just are not long enough. My mug is filled with Door County Apple Cobbler Coffee as I start out on this cold Monday.

Have you ever felt like you were backed up against a wall with no where to turn? I know that I have experienced that feeling. It could be a health thing, a finance issue, family problems or depression. The Israelites were facing complete annihilation at the hands of the Egyptians. They were helpless. but notice that God came through. He heard the cries of His people. When they were at their weakest, God was at His best. What do you need to place in God's hands? What have you been trying to do on your own? Let it go and admit that you have no where else to turn except to God. Let Him show you the way.

"Lord, was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; who made the depths of the sea a pathway for the redeemed to cross over?" Isaiah 51:10

Exodus 14 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Red Sea Crossing

14 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ² “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. ³ For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.’ ⁴ Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

⁵ Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” ⁶ So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. ⁷ Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. ⁸ And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. ⁹ So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.
¹⁰ And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. ¹¹ Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? ¹² Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
¹³ And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
¹⁵ And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. ¹⁶ But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. ¹⁷ And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. ¹⁸ Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
¹⁹ And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. ²⁰ So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.
²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. ²² So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. ²³ And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
²⁴ Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. ²⁵ And He took off^[a] their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”
²⁶ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” ²⁷ And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. ²⁸ Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. ²⁹ But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
³⁰ So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. ³¹ Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.

Have a great week,

Marty

Sunday Morning Coffee 11/9/2014

Good Morning,

Nothing better than some biscuits and gravy with this hot cup of Door County Cherry Crème coffee, my Bible and some prayer to start a Sunday before I hit the field with the dog and my nephew.

I am an early riser and hope to keep it that way for as long as I am alive. I love to watch my portion of the world wake up. I can hear the geese honking in the distance today and a train rumbling through the road intersection East of us.

Each morning brings a new day. A new day of experiences will come my way. Yesterday is gone and just a memory. There might be a challenge or two today or blessings unforeseen. But today is new. My den is quiet except for Gibbs nudging me to "get going". He has hunting on his brain.

I am blessed to see another morning. How about you today? Can you let go of yesterday and embrace today? Good or bad, to be alive and see the sun come up is a blessing.

Psalm 148 New King James Version (NKJV)

Praise to the Lord from Creation

148 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
² Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
³ Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
⁴ Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!

⁵ Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.
⁶ He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
⁸ Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
⁹ Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
¹⁰ Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
¹² Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.

¹³ Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
¹⁴ And He has exalted the horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him.

Praise the Lord!

 

God bless,

 

Marty

 

 

Crazy Little Thing Called Love 11/8/2014

Good Morning,

Saturday has arrived and we have a cold damp day in Wisconsin. It is safe to say that winter has arrived. I do believe that the cold weather takes great coffee like my cup of Door County Apple Cobbler and make it taste even better.\

Last night was the annual Men's Ministry Steak Feed at our church. About two hundred guys showed up to grill a big beef steak and eat potatoes, beans and garlic bread. The night is capped off with a guest speaker who challenges men with a message. I saw two hundred men stand up last night to say that they wanted to be "real men of God". It was heart warming and for some it was their first experience with God. It was a night that changed eternity for some.

All that being said it took a big effort to pull this event off. Several men worked for three days to prepare for the event and then clean up a mountain of dishes, pans and silverware. One fella actually worked on the event with passion and should have been in the hospital. We found out later he was admitted and is very ill. Needless to say he is in our prayers.

What makes men want to give up this much time and work so hard into the late night? The answer is this. They know who and what they were before Jesus entered their lives. They love their Savior Jesus Christ and want to exalt God the Father. They are driven and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

I know this. It's a crazy little thing called love. They love God and their fellow neighbor.


Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]. 1 John 4: 7

It's men like these that inspire me to not be in a field or marsh this morning but to have worked late with them and now rest a little. It's knowing that some men  will be safe in heaven for eternity that will make my hunt tomorrow that much sweeter.

God bless,

Love someone today.

Marty



Happy Birthday Dad 11/7/2014

Good Morning,

Friday at last. Boy,  yesterday was a long day. This morning my coffee is Door County Pumpkin Spice.

Today is my Dad's birthday. I can't help but feel a little melancholy today. My dad is getting on in years and so am I. There are a lot of fond memories to think about today. But each year about this time I go back in my memory vault and can picture Dad painting a bedroom and he was singing a Doris Day song. Only people my age or older will know the song. I was a very little boy about that time. Happy Birthday Dad. Love ya!



"Que Sera, Sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be"

He liked to sing and he sang songs throughout the day. But this one stuck with me. "The future's not ours to see" is so true. We don't know from one day to the next what the future holds. But I know this "I know Who holds the future".

 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

We all try to think ahead and make a road-map for our lives. I am here to tell you that God has declared in his word that He already has plans for your life. So don't worry about tomorrow, today has it's own worries. Live each day, one day at a time.

God bless,
Marty


Gentle On My Mind 11/6/2014

Good Morning,

I am enjoying a big cup of Door County Maple Coffee. It seems as if I am moving a little slower today with these sore knees. I am hoping they are better by Friday. Just need to be patient and content.

Country Western singer Glen Campbell sang a song "Gentle On My Mind". I heard the song once again last night on the Country Music Awards show. It made me think about a what goes through my mind all day and sometimes into the night. There are work issues every day, hunting decisions, illnesses, taxes, who to vote for, family considerations, balancing schedules and many, many, other things each and every day. Sometimes my mind seems like Chicago's O Hare Airport and I am the only air traffic controller on duty.

But there is one thing and one thing only that is always Gentle On My Mind. That one thing is the thought of how much God loves me. That one thought is always easy to think about and never causes any stress.

Zephaniah 3:17New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ 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.”

 

Just to know that God is there with me is gentle on my mind. Sit back, close your eyes and know He loves you. Watch your mind ease up a little.

 

God bless,

 

Marty

 

 

Isaiah And His Dad 11/5/2014 Isaiah And His Dad 11/5/2014 ====

Good Morning,

I awoke in anticipation of a long day. Second set of knee procedures this morning will take place good and early. My coffee is Door County Cherry Crème today. looking forward to some ice packs tonight.

1 Timothy 4:12New King James Version (NKJV)
¹² Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

On Tuesday evenings our church's Men's Ministry gathers for Bible study. The ages of the men in the group are all over the place from young to old. We just finished studying the 2 epistles written to the Thessalonians. The study was very interactive and I learned a lot.

What I enjoyed most is a kid named Isaiah who attends with his dad. Isaiah is about 14 and comes with his dad to our study. He is very polite and quite thoughtful. Isaiah comes with his dad because he wants to. He spends an hour and a half with guys 5 times his age. He listens to the lesson and offers his thoughts when he has something to share. He is not intimidated by the older guys and is accepted as "one of the gang". We are all glad to have him there with us.
Our group will be sponsoring the annual steak outing for a couple hundred men on Friday. Isaiah will be there, not only to pound down a steak but also to help with the set up and clean up.
I have known Isaiah for quite a long time and have watched him grow into a very nice young man who loves the Lord and has a burden for lost souls. His folks have done a good job of raising both of their kids.

Here's what I know about their formula. They spend time with each of them. They pray with their kids, not at them. They share the Bible with them. They take them to church. They correct them when they need it. They are parents, not their kid's friends. My friend has had his son hanging around the men of our church for a long time. Many guys shared time and a kind word with Isaiah. You see the parents are doing their job and not relying on the church to do it for them. They set the example and the church assists.

Way to go Isaiah. We are proud to have been a part of your life and hope to be a part for a long time.

God bless,

Marty

I'm In A Hurry, But God Isn't 11/4/2014

Good Morning,

My day is beginning with a hot steamy cup of Door County Autumn Spice coffee. Out of the door, into the Jeep listening to my favorite Gospel radio station. Amen!

Phillips Brooks wrote "The trouble is that I am in a hurry, but God isn't."  We can all admit that at one time or another it has been hard to wait on God. The hard cold reality is this. Despite the circumstances we can do nothing whatsoever to hurry God. All things are done in His time and His way. Waiting on God during a trial and weaknesses can show just how God carries us through especially if His answer to our situation is no. The Apostle Paul wrote;

2 Corinthians 12:9-11New King James Version (NKJV)
⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This statement from Paul came after he petitioned God to relieve a burden that he carried and the answer was no. God assures Paul that He carries us when we are in need and with His strength to uphold us we have power to endure.

Slow down and quit emphasizing the rush and need. Slow down and experience God carrying you. To focus on the need and rushing God's answer robs us of time with God where He wants to show us how in Him we can be strong and carry on.

Faster is not always better.

God bless,
Marty

Take Cover! 11/3/2014

Good Morning Dear Friends,

My coffee this morning is an old favorite. Door County Cherry Crème is filling my cup this fine Monday morning.

The picture you are looking at is my faithful hunting companion Gibbs. Gibbs is actually between my legs in a layout hunting blind. It is like a glorified camouflage sleeping bag that you lay in and blend in with a corn, or an alfalfa field. Gibbs goes in lays down and waits for me to shoot. He then on command leaves the blind and retrieves the duck or goose that we shot. He is safe and concealed in the blind. He stays dry and warm. A second bonus  is that he is like a little heater for me too. It is very important that he does not come out too soon and interfere with the shooting. Gibbs is still young and we have had our battle of wills over this lesson. He, like any dog wants to see what is going on. He has to wait for my command to spring into action. Many times this is done in the dark of early, early morning. Now for a dog like Gibbs that is extremely hard to do. But for the hunt to be good and safe for all he must rely on my word and trust me.

Friends life is just the same for us. We often walk in the darkness of the world. But we have a Source we can trust.

Proverbs 3:5-6New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,

 Psalm 119:105King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

 

We can know the way and wait on a word to keep us on track. God is in command and we need to listen.

God Bless,
Marty

Good Night, Sleep Well 11/2/2014

Good Evening,

The weekend is gone and it seems to have sped by at warped speed. My coffee this morning is now a memory. The flavor of the day was Door County Apple Cobbler. The wife and I were very busy between ministry duties, family duties, and making the final preparations for winter. I hear my prayer time and the bed calling me as I write tonight. I want to leave you with a thought before you go to bed. Was the Lord the lord of your home this weekend? On a scale of 1-10,  1 being no not at all and ten yes sir He's My Lord what would you say?

I call Psalm 127 my "why worry, God wants you to sleep Psalm".  I leave this one with you and say good night.

Psalm 127 New King James Version (NKJV)

Laboring and Prospering with the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
² It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Love

Marty