Burning The Candle At Both Ends 6/30/2017

Good Morning,

Tomorrow brings with it  the month of July, where has the time gone?  I started this morning with a large cup of Door County Autumn Spice Coffee and an apple. Easy, but nice.

Ecclesiastes 8:15New International Version (NIV)
¹⁵ So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

July comes tomorrow and it just seems like it was April. This year is flying by too quickly. My wife Rene and I just were talking about our summer bucket list which is meager and yet not accomplished. It seems that we have too much going on to enjoy the summer. We both decided to dedicate a couple of days to rest and some fun. One thing we are going to do is use our picnic table before we put it away for winter.

I looked at both of us and saw in our faces that some picnic table time is in order. Nothing fancy, but time that will be well spent.

How about you? Are you getting enough family time? Are you dating your spouse? Do your kids know who you are. If you answered no to any of these it is time to slow down a little and smell the roses.

Have a great weekend and make it count.

Marty

Waking Up Happy 6/29/2017

Good Morning,

I am up and at it early today and I just poured a big cup of Door County Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend Coffee. I have a busy couple of days coming up and I need to stay in a good mood despite the volume of things needing to be done.

I asked myself this question. Can you do all of this, tire yourself out and stay in a decent mood? That was more than a question. I decided that I need to focus on staying approachable and kind. But how am I going to do that?

Here's the plan.

1. Rest when I can.
2. Eat power foods and keep them light. Lots of salad and fruit. Protein will be nuts and chicken.
3. Specifically pray about being in a good mood.
4. Count my blessings when I get out of bed over the next three days.
5. Read Scripture with power verses.
6. Get plenty of fresh air.

In counting my blessings when I first wake up I need to acknowledge that I woke up. I am not in hell and it is more than I deserve. Be thankful for what I eat, where I sleep, for my family, friends and a job. Most of all I need to thank God for watching over me and sustaining me.

I looked up some verses on power and strength and they will go with me.

Ephesians 6:10New International Version (NIV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Philippians 4:13New King James Version (NKJV)
¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.


Isaiah 40:29-31New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

 

In order to wake up happy, and stay that way I need a plan. This one looks good to me.

 

Have a great day!

 

Marty

 

This Is My Son 6/28/2017

Good Morning,

There is a fresh pot of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee brewing in the kitchen. I was awake for some time now, waiting for the sunrise. I fed our dog Gibbs and he ran around, and now he went back to sleep as I write and then get ready for work.

Matthew 3:16-17New King James Version (NKJV)
¹⁶ When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. ¹⁷ And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Have you ever wished you had been in a certain place at a certain time during the Earthly life of Jesus? I have several instances that I would have liked to be a witness to. The resurrection of Jesus being one. But one that I go back to as thinking it would have been neat to see, is the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. I often wonder what I would have done when the heavens opened and a dove descended and God spoke from Heaven.

I cannot attend or perform a baptism without thinking about this verse. What an example of obedience and humility for the Son of God to be immersed like everyone else, giving us the example of why He came.
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior and the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to His faith in the final resurrection of the dead. .
The word for baptize in Greek is baptizo, which means "to dip, plunge, submerge, or immerse."
Jesus submitted to John's baptism (Matt. 3:16) not to demote repentance but to authenticate John's ministry, to set an example for His followers, and to dedicate Himself publicly to His redemptive ministry. In so doing Jesus symbolized His death, burial, and resurrection.

I wonder why so many believers have not followed through as adults and been baptized by immersion and publicly identify with Christ?

If it was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me.

Have a great day!

Marty

Respect Is Earned 6/27/2017

Good Morning!

This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. I am starting this day with a breakfast of peach slices, grapes and a big cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee. Let's get going.

I hear a lot of young people shouting out this statement. " I was disrespected. They disrespected me." So I want to say right from the start that this has nothing to do with bashing young people. I believe that all people regardless of age, race, gender, and beliefs, are to be respected as a person created by God in His image. But respect is to be earned, by practicing it yourself.

I asked my grandfather his thoughts on this subject when I was about twelve years old. His reply did not surprise me. He told me that I should respect my elders, parents and those in authority. I asked him when he thought that I should be respected and he laughed. His reply to that question is what I want to talk about today. Here is what he said. "You will get respect when you are known for respecting others. By respecting others you start to earn respect. Work hard at what you do and you will earn respect. Feed your family and teach them to respect others and you earn respect. Be honest and you earn respect. Don't look for a hand out or think that anyone owes you anything and you earn respect. Remember why you go to church and you earn respect. When you can be disrespected and walk away from a fight you earn respect. If you must fight, fight to win, you will earn respect. He said never look down on someone for what they don't have, and you earn respect."

That diatribe was a little more than I asked for and was delivered in a harsh manor. I never forgot that day on the lake fishing for bass and learning a life lesson. It wasn't until later in life that his statements really rang a bell in my noodle of a brain.

I see t young people as well as older folks demanding respect in ways that are disruptive, rude and in some cases illegal. That type of action often harms their respectability. How can you disrespect someone and then demand respect? God has something to say about this. It is called the "Law Of The Harvest" Sow disrespect and disrespect will return to you.

Galatians 6:7New International Version (NIV)
⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

This is very simple to understand. Plant a bean and bean will sprout up. Practice planting the seed of respect from early on in life and you will be respected.

It doesn't get any easier to understand than that. Choose to practice respect for others today and start filling your personal bank with respect in return.

Marty

Walking Together 6/26/2017

Good Morning,

My mug is filled with Door County Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti Coffee on this Monday morning.  I pray you are all well and filled with peace.

Many couples who have been married for a long time often wonder why they married the person who sits across the table from them.Time can erode relationships if we let it. We need to remember that at one point we couldn't imagine being without that person. We might even blame that person for the erosion of the relationship. My friends, a relationship takes work and needs to be nurtured.  We need to take our vows seriously and look within to see our part in making a relationship work.

Amos:3:3 Do two walk together, unless they agree to meet. 

God brought you to one another. He can bring you through the hard days in relationships.

God bless.

Marty

Rules Are Rules. Rules Are To Be Observed.

Good Morning,

I am awake, but barely. Sleep seemed to be running ahead of me all night. I just couldn't catch up to it last night.

Rene and I live in a quiet rural neighborhood and a for the most part it usually stays that way. Our home does sit where I can observe the most popular intersection of our subdivision roads. One road that runs East and West has a pretty good slope to it. Kids on bicycles love to fly down that hill. The road does have a stop sign at the bottom. But the kids always blow by it and don't stop. The road that the hill intersects with runs North and South. This road has a speed limit of 25 MPH. All too often vehicles on this street are traveling in excess of the speed limit.  Needless to say,  we have seen our fair share of near misses of tragedy. In 1994 we saw the real thing. A child on a bike did not fair well when he collided with a car. It was ugly to witness. I do know that the child survived  the crash, but it left some permanent damage to his body. The driver of the car quit driving for a long time even though it was determined not to be her fault.

The issue is this. The children and we also see many cars just  ignore the stop sign. People just are ignoring authority put in place for our safety. Parents have not taught their children to obey or understand the traffic laws. Everyone seems to be rushing to the next tragedy.  I pray that we aren't here to witness another one.

Friends, rules are rules and we are to respect the authority put over us. Scripture is clear on God's expectations.

Roman 13:1-2

1. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2. Therfore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Let's have a safe summer. Rules are rules. Let' follow them and teach the kids to do so also.

Have a great day.

Marty

Playing Above The Rim 6/24/2017

Good Morning,

Welcome to Saturday. If you were here with me, we would be enjoying some biscuits and honey, with fresh peach slices. Our cups would be filled with Door County Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend Coffee and we could pray together.

Today I will be using a basketball metaphor to make my point. Being short in stature, but still liking basketball as a sport, I played a little B-Ball back in the day and can easily say that I wasn't very good at it. I did learn a lot about life though, playing on the court with friends and in a few leagues. The main thing that I learned was that those fellas that could play above the rim of the basketball hoop seemed to score the easier baskets. Those guys could reach higher and had more opportunity to score. You are saying to yourself right now, " Really Einstein? You figured that out all by yourself"?  Hear me out. When I watch basketball and see a tall guy who has the ability to play above the rim but isn't consistently there I usually see him warming the bench sooner than later. For whatever reason he doesn't stay up above and plays down below where there is less chance to be successful.

2 Corinthians 8:21New International Version (NIV)
²¹ For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

In life, we all have the chance to play above the rim, and not be held in the quagmire below. What I am speaking of is playing the game of life above the rim of the world with honesty and integrity. The choice to not be swallowed up by the temptation of the easy way out of taking the short cuts of justifying sinful actions. For instance, everyone is doing it, is a cheap justification of accepting sin as a choice to move ahead in an action that seems to make things easier. Adding a few tax deductions, because we were sure we donated to some charity but yet do not have a receipt to show for it seems acceptable but is not right.

Honesty is marked as being free from deceit or untruthfulness, being sincere. The Christian life should be one marked with integrity and honesty, yet because we all sin and find it easy to do so, honesty is something we must work hard at! An honest life is important on so many levels from relationships with spouses and children, at our workplace, and interacting with our neighbors. Matthew 7:16 tells us that we are known by our fruit. Let us be examples of a God of truth and life by living lives of integrity and truthfulness. This applies to individuals, organizations and churches.

These small allowances of not playing above the rest, above the rim, really just leave us with a legacy of being in the game of life, but not willing to play above the cut.  I think it would be best to be known as a "straight shooter" who's handshake was firm and meant that the deal was sealed when we shook hands and you can count on it. I would want to be the guy that finds twenty dollars in the stairwell and works to at least try and find the owner.   Playing above the rim, allows for you to walk with a clean conscience and soothed soul.

So my question is this. Are you honest in all you do? Because God surely requires it.

God bless. Go ahead and shoot that three pointer today!

Marty


mmmm

A Few Bible Verses On Hope Part Two 6/23/2017

Good Morning,

Friday is here and I am embracing it in a way that makes me look forward to even doing yard work. The old mug is filled with Door County In Keepers Blend Coffee and I am content.

Yesterday's blog on Hope was well received and God laid upon me the need to share a few more verses on looking to Him for help and hope. For those of you who know someone that might need a boost, please share these as God directs you to do so.

Proverbs 3:5-6New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.^[

Isaiah 40:31New International Version (NIV)

³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

 

 1 Thessalonians 5:11New International Version (NIV)
¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing.

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)

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.

 Psalm 147:11New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ the Lord delights in those who fear him,
    who put their hope in his unfailing love.

 

Tomorrow I will be posting some new thing that God has placed on my plate. But for today here is a dosage of Hope. God bless,

 

Marty

A Few Bible Verses On Hope 6/22/2017

Good Morning,

I am back at home today and it feels good to wake up to a familiar shaggy buddy waiting to be let out and fed. The Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee is brewing in the kitchen and I see that my wife remembered to take her lunch. This day started out aces up.

I attended our church elders meeting last night and as we prayed through a list of sad happenings I really just wanted to leave, go home and read my Bible. I was thinking about what and who we were praying for and all I wanted was to hear from God and have Him shed some light and hope.

I went home and found what I was looking for and I thought I would just share the simplistic message of a few verses I read on hope. You might not need these, but you just might know someone who does.

John 14:27New International Version (NIV)
²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Isaiah 41:10New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Joshua 10:25New International Version (NIV)
²⁵ Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

 Isaiah 43:2New International Version (NIV)

² When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.

 

 There are many, many more verses that inspire hope and I think that I will write another day's worth tomorrow. One can never have too much hope.

Enjoy my Dear Friends and pray for one another.

God Bless,

Marty

When Tomorrow Never Comes. 6/21/2017

Good Morning!

I sure am glad that I brought some Door County Cherry Crème Coffee with me for my short road trip today. Now that was some good thinking ahead, even for a forgetful guy like me.

Matthew 5:37New King James Version (NKJV)
³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

I think we have all experienced a broken promise or two. I am sure we all have missed on keeping a promise ourselves now and then. Even though they might be infrequent, the broken promises often leave a lasting impression, especially on children.

We need to be people who keep their word. Children are very forgiving but when promised that you will do something with them tomorrow and tomorrow never comes except to offer excuses, they soon seek others who can keep a promise. Very often these "word keepers" are using some slick talk to gain something from a child which all too often is not the best for the child. When you promise to be there with them after work, but one or more beers prevent you from coming home and keeping your promise, time after time, that young forgiving heart soon turns hard. It is better to not have promised than to have to break a promise. A hard heart is very difficult to soften, when it has been scarred by broken promises.

A promise to a child is a vow we make and every vow is witnessed by God. We tend to forget that. A man or woman is known for their word.

Psalm 89:34English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁴ I will not violate my covenant
    or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

Kids imitate what they witness?  What are you teaching them? Are you teaching them to be straight shooters or to be untruthful in their word to others?

God bless,

Marty

Sincere Love Again 6/202017

Good Morning,

Now is the time for all hard workers to get up and face the day. The day is easier to face after some prayer time and a cup of Door County Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti Coffee.

I have written about the subject of love many times. Today I tackle "Sincere love". I find that now and then we all need a reminder of what love doesn't do. Sincere love does not keep a score card in a relationship. It does not keep a mental diary of all the wrongs or perceived injustices. It doesn't make forgiving a process. It doesn't seek revenge.

We claim to love one another but yet we hold grudges until a groveling, mind boggling apology is delivered and then half heartily accept it, eking out some sort of revenge by prolonging the hurt.

That's not sincere love and I find that all too often we rewrite Scripture to suit our needs for our own self righteous  gratifications. God commands us to forgive differently, not making the episode a process that ends when we decide it should end.

Colossians 3:13New International Version (NIV)
¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

The longer we take to forgive, the longer we carry that burden with us. God forgives the minute we seek forgiveness through faith.

1 John 1:9New International Version (NIV)
⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Notice He does not mention a delay in the process. Shouldn't we love and forgive like God?

Food for thought!

Marty

Fishing With Friends 6/19/2017

Good Morning,

I pray that all of you are well today and in a good frame of mind. I just pored a cup of Door County Swedish Lingonberry Tart Coffee and it is steaming next to me. Part of drinking a good cup of coffee is to enjoy the aroma.

I mentioned in the opening line today that I hope you are in a good frame of mind. Have you ever just had to say STOP to your world and then go and find your mind? That happens to me now and then when I get too busy, or life just doesn't make sense. I need to take some time and get my head on straight again. I did that this weekend. I went fishing with 5 friends on Lake Michigan. We were on a very comfortable boat, the weather was perfect and it was seasoned with a nice breeze. The boat had a very comfortable chair and it was positioned just right so I could feel the breeze across my face. The sun was warm but not too hot and before very long I stopped participating in the bantering among friends and silently started to pray. It wasn't long after I started praying that I fell asleep. I felt safe, content and at peace. Each of us was blessed to take home some beautiful fish filets and we shot a few pictures. But I walked away knowing that I restored a depleted body and soul. Jesus would often get away with His friends and pray. He knew it was important to be in prayer and also Jesus knew to rest. I have  for that last few weeks had someone on my mind and have committed myself to be in prayer without ceasing. It has led to a few sleepless nights.

Mark 6:30-32New International Version (NIV)
³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

During my adventure/retreat yesterday I was able to pray and then God closed my eyes and let the wind whisper on my face.

Every now and then we need to retreat and realign our minds, thoughts, and our heart. Rest should not be a stranger to us. We need to break through the clutter of our hearts and minds. We need to "unclutter".

Only you and God know when you need rest. When we invite God to our rest area He provides the sleep. He knows that we need to rest. He invites us to rest and He watches over us while we do.

Have a great day.

Marty

Instructions For Fathers 6/17/2017

Good Morning,

I had a quick cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee and I am headed out of the door for an adventure. More on that tomorrow. Happy Fathers Day to all those Dads, Uncles, Step Dads, and Grandpas out there.

Deuteronomy 6:5 New International Version (NIV)
⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

In order to be all that we need to be as the men in the lives of our families, we need to start with Deuteronomy 6:5. The key to being that man who God designed ,is to start with loving God above all else, who all else and above self. This love relationship with God is the number one step in being able to love our families correctly and nurturing them as God intended. To love God is to love others. To love God is to love His Word. It is easier to understand a book when you know and love the Author.

Men we have a tough job to be what God intended us to be. Our job description is impossible without God being at the center of our lives.

So this morning, before you are bombarded with breakfast in bed or kids jumping all over you, or the phone ringing, take time to refocus and make sure that God and you are where you need to be in your relationship. Then go ahead and start the grill for a big family dinner, because that is what we do!

God bless,

Marty

Psalm 46. Be Still In The Midst Of Chaos 6/17/2017

Good Morning,

May Saturday greet you like a long lost friend and my you rekindle your relationship with some rest and relaxation. I salute Saturday with a large mug of Door County Dublin's Delight Coffee.

I choose today to write about chaos in the world and how we can look to God's Word to lead us right to Him

Psalm 46

¹ God is our refuge and strength,  This is a positive statement our place to run to,
    an ever-present help in trouble. There is never a time when God sleeps, He is always ready.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way. We have no reason  to fear.
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, God knows when the Earth quakes.
³ though its waters roar and foam  He sees the surge of rivers and oceans.
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, God is on His throne and will always be.
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; His Kingdom will last forever.
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.  He has great power.

⁷ The Lord Almighty is with us; He is as close to us as we allow Him to be.
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

⁸ Come and see what the Lord has done, Look at all that God does.
    the desolations he has brought on the earth. Fear him and serve Him with obedience.
⁹ He makes wars cease  He can bring peace to the world and individual hearts.
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire. To fight with God is futile.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;  In this chaotic world we need to be quiet and listen.
    I will be exalted among the nations,  God can be trusted,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” All the earth will know and every knee will bow to Him,

¹¹ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. He saves us for eternity through Jesus Christ and no one can   

                                                        snatch us from Him.

Read Psalm 46 today. Let God assure you of His presence. Let God ease any fears you have. Let Him fill the voids of loss. Take some time to rejuvenate your heart and soul.

God bless,

Marty

Obedience Is A Gift 6/15/2017

Good Morning,

Friday is upon us and mine came in like a wrecking ball. It seems that I just fell asleep when the alarm went off this morning. So I wandered to the kitchen and grabbed a mug of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee and a banana. Time to write.

1 Samuel 15:22New International Version (NIV)
²² But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams

People search and search and work and work to experience the perfect worship experience on Sundays. When all they have to do is to truly change their attitude toward obedience. When we choose to disobey God in any way, our worship cannot be wholehearted or sincere.

For instance how many people do you know that will twist and manipulate Scripture to meet their need for the moment, knowing fully well that they are disobeying the intent of the command of God? How can we go to worship, looking for a spiritual high, when we have just disobeyed God's Word? When we are fully obedient to God we set our hearts on a path of true worship. God can only use us to the degree that we are obedient to Him. The more deeply we love Him, the more we will want to do what He asks and the more we will end up pleasing Him, which is true worship.

What do you say! Does your attitude toward obedience lessen your worship experience?

Love to all,

Marty

You Think You Have A Headache! 6/15/2017

Good Morning,

Here we go Thursday. I have always been a fan of Thursdays, because they lead to Fridays. So I raise my cup of Door County Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti Coffee in a salute to Thursday.

There are times in my life that the headaches I have are from stress. When I take the time to see what caused the stress I often find that in many instances I have caused my own headaches. Doing a self-diagnosis often shows that I missed the warning signs or took shortcuts that were ill advised and caused harm. Shortcuts can be handy if the shortcut does not weaken or diminish the wanted result. Some things are set into motion when we take shortcuts. Our actions may have far reaching consequences, possibly spanning across generations. Beware of taking shortcuts: Beware of taking the easy way out!

Proverbs 21:5New International Version (NIV)

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead to profit
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

 

Have a great day! Don't run to a shortcut, think it through. It might be the shortcut that seems to last a lifetime!

 

Marty

I Look To The Hills 6/14/2017

Good Morning,

The old mug is filled with Door County Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend Coffee and my plate has some nuts and grapes on it for breakfast. I am blessed beyond measure.

Over the years I have traveled on many short term mission trips, to many different countries. Only one place in my travels did not offer a hill or a mountain for scenery. But the hill is only a view, of where my mind took me when I needed to consult with God or bring my worries to Him. There were times when I wondered what the next day would bring, because the day I was living had been tough and I felt alone at the helm.

As I look at my oldest travel Bible, I see the many dates where I turned to Psalm 121 for comfort and reassurance. I would often find myself staring up at a hill as I read this Psalm praying out loud some request of mine. I was lifting my head to the heavens. Some people must have thought I was praying to a mountain or hill. Not at all. I was looking up as a little child would look up to their Daddy for help and a pat on the head. I wanted to be told that all was ok and not to worry. I wanted my spiritual armor shined up so I could re-enter the battle. I found comfort in the Word of God and the time spent with Our Father.

Today I would like to share Psalm 121 with you. Pray before you read it. Clear your heart and mind from all worldly thoughts and walk away after reading, knowing that our God does not sleep and has His eye on you.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

I myself prayed this Psalm as an intercessory prayer for someone near and dear to me yesterday. You could do the same for someone, or share this passage with them. Many times in a hot climate I could feel a God sent breeze just before I fell asleep. Many times I should have stumbled and fell, but I did not. Many times the enemy sought to scare or discourage me, Satan never won. I thirsted but was always quenched.

I wish you all a great day, with blessings from above. I pray your walk would be peaceful.

Marty

Time Passes By Too Fast 6/13/2017

Good Morning,

I am a little foggy eyed this morning. I started work early yesterday and came home late. I retreated to the garage where I am working on wooden project for Rene. I stayed at it a little too long. Before I knew it, Rene was reminding me that it was pretty late and that getting up in the morning might be a chore. She was right as always. So here I am sipping a cup of Door County Chocolate Cherry Coffee and hoping for the best.

Last night I buried myself in a project just to let off steam and to try and finish my endeavor. Most cabinet makers or wood workers would have been done by now, but I am not a craftsman in their class. I do enjoy making things or restoring them no matter how long it takes. Where did the time go. Well 20 minutes was spent looking for a tool that I misplaced. It should have been put back where it belonged the last time I used it.

God designed the day to be 24 hours and no matter how we try we cannot change 24 into 25. I have tried that stunt all of my life and never succeeded even once. I have found that when it seems like the days just pass by too fast and I don't get done all that needed to get done and it is a repeat day after day it is time to evaluate my expenditure of time. I found that all too often I was my own worst enemy. I needed to rearrange the way I do things.

For instance, I decided to close my office door for an hour yesterday and let the phone go to voice mail. No interruptions for an hour helped me to finish what I estimated as a 1.5 hour duty in 45 minutes. No one got hurt, no one missed out on anything, and I plan on doing it again.

Next I rearranged my desk to be more productive. This was a chore, but when I could reach for the current project report in a second, I was thrilled.

God has a little to say about time management and being organized.

1 Corinthians 14:40English Standard Version (ESV)
⁴⁰ But all things should be done decently and in order.


Ephesians 5:15-16 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

 

I had to look at my own schedule to see where I could make better use of my day. What I found was that I allowed myself and others to steer me away from my goal, I own that one! How about you? Can you gain some time in the day by challenging yourself to look at the schedule and how you approach it?

 

Have a blessed day,

 

Marty

 

 

Tender Care For A Child 6/12/2017

Good Morning,

Here comes my cup of Door County Swedish Lingonberry Coffee, a small bowl of grapes and banana for breakfast. Now with some prayer and Scripture reading, I should be powered through the day.

Matthew 18:10English Standard Version (ESV)
¹⁰ “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Our gardens are going into full bloom mode now and I am especially pleased about one rose bush that was successfully cut out from a larger bush and nursed along and planted. I have been babying that one along for weeks and it looks like it has paid off. My little buddy has it's first blossom. It took a lol of tender loving care including spraying with powder to remove some parasites that were eating the leaves. My goal was for this tender shoot to survive.

But that being said, I want to talk about protecting and nurturing little children. Several states are in a heat wave now and the local and national news casts are reminding people not to leave their children in the car for fear that they will overheat and die. This reminder unfortunately is all too necessary. Every year we hear about how many children are left in scorching automobiles and then are found dead. Nothing is so important that a child should be left alone in a car. Little children must have someone to watch over them and protect them. Parents, this is your duty to protect your children at all times. It is a crying shame that we need to be reminded to practice common sense. Like the delicate rose in our garden, it doesn't take much to harm a child. We need to protect, feed, and educate the children God has blessed us with. In addition,we all have the responsibility to watch out for children, even if they are not our own.

(CNN)Summer is not yet here, but so far nearly three times as many children have died after being left in hot cars this year compared to this time last year, the National Safety Council said Thursday.

Let's hope that we can stop this stupidity. Let's pray for a safe summer, filled with common sense. Act on behalf of a child if you need to. Stand up and be counted.

Marty

Are You An Enabler? 6/11/2017

Good Morning,

Oh how nice it is to be sitting on the patio in a pair of shorts and a tee shirt drinking my morning cup of Door County Swedish Lingonberry Tart Coffee. This is nice! I pray your day begins as nicely as mine, if not better.

In this world we will find that there are many people with many different needs. It is our Christian duty to help those people when we can. You will never hear me argue against it. We are to love one another and share. This is elementary Christianity at it's best. I for one have been on both ends of the spectrum. I have received and I have given. Both were a blessing.

1 Timothy 5:22King James Version (KJV)
²² Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

But there comes a point when we need to ask ourselves if were are helping or are we enabling a weakness. For instance, parents often help their children out financially with a dollar or two from time to time. This is normal and accepted behavior. But when it becomes a habit and Junior finds it easier to ask and receive than go to work, we have enabled a habit of laziness. Now we can all be duped now and then also. We give money to friends and relatives who are in need, only to find that the money is going to pay for drug or alcohol abuse. When we continue to support this habit we are an enabling the sickness and sin to continue. To “enable” sin is to embolden someone to continue in sin, to empower his ability to sin, or to make it easier for him to sin. In our stand for righteousness, we want to avoid enabling the sins of others. Human relationships can be complex, and there are many situations that can lead to involuntary participation in the sin of another. In a marriage, one spouse can be drawn into sin in an effort to appease the other. Friends and family are the avenues that Satan often uses to entice us to participate in a sin we would otherwise avoid

I was driving to a store the other day and saw a young man holding a sign stating that he was homeless and in need of assistance. I stopped and I legitimately had $100 dollars worth of light work needed at our home. I was willing to take him the short distance and pay him for about 6 hours of light yard work. He looked physically able. I proposed the offer and he politely declined and said that he had no need for work, he just needed some quick cash. He put his hand out and I shook it, prayed for him and left. I would have enabled a panhandler.

I have begun a practice that I should have adopted a long time ago. Before I hand out anything, I stop for a moment to pray and ask God for wisdom. It might of helped me when I stopped to give money to a blind man begging for money. Only to come out from my appointment to see him riding away on a bicycle. It is amazing how they can teach a blind man to ride a bicycle in heavy traffic.

I was taught at an early age to work and pay my bills and not to expect or to rely on hand outs. We do need to help, but we must also be willing to say no, when our help enables sin or laziness. If we are in a position to offer work and the needy one can do so, we should offer work and be willing to work along  with them. If we can teach someone to work or learn a skill we should do so. There is an old saying, "Give a man a fish and you fed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him forever."

Friends, walk a fine line, with open eyes and a generous heart. Be part of a solution not a part of the problem.

Marty

Cornbread And Contentment. With a Recipe 6/10/2017

Good Morning.

This rambling is a repeat from a few years ago. I have been in a memory lane mood for most of the week and last night last night as I made cornbread I could not help but look up my blog history. I just knew that somewhere or sometime I wrote about cornbread. I was correct, so I decided to share this one again. Not out of laziness, but out of love and respect. So I will enjoy my cup of Door County Inn Keepers Blend Coffee and read it again. Back to memory lane. You will have to guess what I am eating. It shouldn't be too hard.

My mother had an aunt named Hazel. Hazel lived in the Milwaukee area and was more like an aunt to us than she was to our mother. Hazel was a strong Christian who believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior. She loved to play board games, especially Parcheesi. As kids we would visit and there would be some long nights playing Parcheesi with the family.

Just before she passed on and I was visiting, we were actually recalling those nights and laughing together. She asked me what I liked best about those nights. I hesitated to tell her what it really was. But there was no time like that moment to be honest. I told her that I always looked forward to having a piece of her corn bread when we visited. Hazel could make corn bread like no one else I know. She said " I know. We used to watch you and when we ate our meal your corn bread was gone first. And if you asked for seconds on anything it was always the corn bread.". I guess my love for corn bread didn't fool anyone. She told me that she enjoyed corn bread too. She went on and reminded me that our mother had been sick quite a bit when we were younger and that she always thought that game night, and a meal with some corn bread would be a treat and comfort for a young family. As I get older I can see God at work in our lives even when we were little kids. He provided a jolly, laughing lady with corn bread to brighten my day. I can't help but eat a piece of corn bread without thinking about her. You might not be a corn bread expert but you can be a person who shows compassion. Hazel was one of many who showed our family compassion. Ask God to open your eyes and show you something you can do for someone that would be "their corn bread." You see what she did lasts a life time. When I eat a piece of corn bread and think of those great times I find that the things bothering me, leave for awhile and I find contentment. Here is the secret to being content.

^{Philippians 4:6-9
6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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. And the God of peace will be with you.

Won't you be the corn bread for someone today?

God bless,
Marty

Ingredients

 Hazel's Cornbread                                        

Original recipe makes 9 servings                    

Makes servings USMetricAdjust Recipe (Help)

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan.
2. Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.