Aunty Betty 8/31/2018

Good Morning.
I hope you have time set aside to wake and have a cup of coffee before you go anywhere. I am starting my day with a cup of Door County Irish Creme Coffee.

I have an Aunt who lives in Florida. She lives alone in a nice home within a gated community. She is in her eighties. But she goes like the Energizer Bunny. She has been like that for as long as I can remember. As kids we were blessed to be able to live next door to her, my uncle and cousins. She will read this and want to smack me one but Florida is a long way from Wisconsin so I believe I am safe. She doesn't think we paid to much attention to what she was doing. But we did!  She held down a job and she and Uncle John raised my two cousins. Of course their door was always swinging open for us because we would check out both meals, our and theirs.
Well, Saturday was always cleaning day and her Kirby was humming very early. She had the whole house moving and cleaning!
If it was summer she would be planting her gardens. Flowers and vegetables. She does not like onions at all and some evil nephew loaded her garden with onions one year. (That one still cracks me up)
Many mornings she would take the city bus to work and come home on Fridays very late from her job. What I learned from her was that people should work.

She is also very generous with her money and has helped us all at one time or another. I also learned that people should share.

I also watched her fry a pound of bacon so my two year old daughter could feed the dog by throwing bacon from her high chair. This was amusing to a toddler and my Aunt. I also learned that people should laugh. I could tell you more stories but she would be on a plane here and really smack me one! But some of them are hilarious.

Just not long ago she finally retired from working. She really enjoyed being with people and helping others.

She takes a few weeks here and there to visit her daughter, and grand kids. Somehow she finds time to visit us also. Just the same as her parents did. They traveled long hours on the train to visit us on the holidays or important life time moments. I learned that family is important.

She is getting up there in age and I felt it was time to write and let you know about her. If you have an older relative pay the respect due to them. Take time to learn from them before it's too late. Enjoy them, recall the memories. Laugh. Aunty Betty talks to me about the long hours I work. I wonder where I learned that one?

 Leviticus 19:32

New King James Version (NKJV)

³² ‘You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man or woman, and fear your God: I am the Lord. 

1 Peter 5:5    

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Have a wonderful Friday.
Marty

The Duke Of Earl On Hummingbird Lane 8/30/2018

Good Morning,

The kitchen is calling me with a mug of Door County Tanzanian Peaberry Coffee and I sure could use some this morning.

Last night while I was working on some of my duck hunting equipment I was listening to some Doo Wop Oldies in our garage. I have some music recorded so that I can listen to my favorites. It was getting late and Rene came outside with a glass of sweet peach iced tea for me and reminded me that it was time to call it quits. She walked around my equipment and gave it a motherly look that signaled it was time for me to pick up my toys and get ready for bed.

Just then one of my all time favorite songs started to play. It was the Duke Of Earl I grabbed my broom and busted out my dance moves. Those moves would have made any antique man proud. Rene started to laugh very hard and she said that I should give up my dreams of being on Dancing With The Stars.

Much to our surprise, when the music ended there was some applause coming from the street. Two people out for a walk stopped and were watching my best Fred Sanford dance moves. They were laughing and said "dance on". I was laughing so hard, never expecting to be seen in my moment of random silliness.

Proverbs 17:22 New International Version (NIV)

²² A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

There are three thoughts that I can share about this. 1. Dance while you are able and enjoy your moments of silliness. 2. You just never know who could be watching you and first opinions are hard to overcome. I am sure this couple thinks that I am nuts. My wife already knows that I am and I believe she dated me out of pity.

Lastly enjoy some humor now and then. Life is too short not to laugh. Laughter is an amazing ability that God gave us all. Laughter helps us cope with sadness and life. Laugh on!


God bless,

Marty

Only The Strong Survive . He Is My Strength 8/29/2018

Good Morning,

Looking forward to a cup of Door County Cherry Crème coffee this morning. I had someone ask me again where they could obtain Door County Coffee. Here is the link. www.doorcountycoffee.com

Only the strong survive? I once owned a Dodge Ram Charger 4 wheel drive with a lift kit and knobby tires. In the window I placed a decal that referenced the words "Only the Strong Survive". I was going through a rough time in my life and had vowed that the world would not beat me down. I was convinced that through hard work, personal strength and plain old mean self  would carry me through. I was fighting the good fight but it seemed I was losing the battle on every front. I did not see any hope nor did I expect to find any. Circumstances wore me down. Then I received an invitation. The invitation was a Bible verse.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

That was the final blow. I read that verse and that one verse took the fight right out of me. I realized that without Jesus and His help I was drifting alone in a huge sea of despair. I guess that when I thought I was defeated the cross was all I needed.

The fighter surrendered his heart. What some would think was a loss in the battle was actually the victory. I had somewhere to take my troubles to, someone cared, someone would listen. That someone was Jesus. In my weakness He made me strong.

Romans 8:31 (NKJV)
³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

 

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

 

¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

No longer an army of one but one who has the Ultimate Leader. Oh life gets tough sometimes this is true. But when I look up from the battle there is the assurance that I am never alone. And then I can say "Only the strong survive"

  

Philippians 4:13(NKJV)

¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) 
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Go ahead, Have no fear. Jesus is there to bring rest for the weary and carry the battle.

Love to all.

 Marty

Where No One Stands Alone 8/28/2018

Good Morning,

The sound of Door County Death's Door Coffee can be heard from the den and it won't be too long before I pour one large cup of it to sip on while I write.

Church membership has benefits as well as duties. Life events bring some dark times to people and no one will argue that point I am sure. But some of the life events experienced by us can have an emotional crippling impact. As hard as one fights to make it we need some help from now and then. The benefit of being a member of a functional church is that no one should ever stand alone.

Exodus 17:8-13 New International Version (NIV)

⁸ The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. ⁹ Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
¹⁰ So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. ¹¹ As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. ¹² When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. ¹³ So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

We see that Moses needed assistance in holding up the staff of God. Aaron and Hur answered the need of a brother. It was their duty to help within their congregation. It is our duty as church members to not let anyone stand alone. Just recently a member of our church lost her husband when he passed away. This weekend she told us about her son only having three months to live. A younger lady reached over and hugged her immediately and kind of adopted her for the night. No one should ever stand alone in turmoil.

Can you be counted on to fill the gap? Are you a true church member or just one who goes to church? Only you can answer that question.

Marty

Eating Ice Cream For Dinner 8/27/2108

Good Morning,

There is a cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee waiting for me in the kitchen and now after prayer I am ready to write.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 New 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.

Ecclesiastes 3:1New International Version 

 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Yesterday was a day of small chores which included, yard work, cleaning items used in our church picnic on Saturday and making pasta sauce to freeze for next winter. Tomatoes from our garden were collected and soon afterwards a big pot of pasta sauce was cooking in the kitchen. We will enjoy the fruit of that labor sometime this coming fall or winter.

I mentioned in yesterday's blog that we grilled a lot of corn, and burgers at our church picnic. Somehow I came to close to the grill and I ended up with some burns on my stomach, They blistered and were al little larger than I had first thought. Rene performed some first aid on me Saturday night and they seem to be doing better today. But as it would go, I found myself with a low fever late yesterday afternoon. Rene had me start pushing more cold fluids and she cleaned up the blisters again, applying some antibiotic ointment.

Later she thought it would be a good idea to just dine easy. Rene is always the one with the best ideas and she said "Let's go outside of normal and eat ice cream or frozen custard for dinner. It will taste good and it will help to cool that fever down." We did exactly that. We enjoyed a cold treat and a sunset.

Friends, we all get into ruts and now and then it is fun to go outside of what is considered normal.  Why eat meatloaf every Wednesday? Go big and eat pancakes instead. Why not let the kids run in the fresh rain as long as it is warm enough? When was the last time you stopped their school work to take the kids out and have a snowball fight or make a snowman. Why rush off to bed without seeing the sunset as a family, maybe drinking some hot chocolate while doing so?

When was the last time you slipped a note under the pillow of the grandkids so they would find it when they went to bed?  It is ok to go outside of normal and enjoy life.

Food for thought.

Marty

When You Experience A Miracle. Say Thanks 8/26/2018

Good Morning,

The picnic table in our yard has given me a great place to write to all of you today. Rene is sleeping and on top of the table sitting next to my Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee is our Dog Gibbs. His eyes are on the sky watching the birds fly around. Gibbs learned a few of his antics from our last dog Fritz. Frits thought he owned the picnic table.  This is a great setting to be still, write and listen.

Job 28:25-27

"When He imparted weight to the wind And meted out the waters by measure, When He set a limit for the rain And a course for the thunderbolt, Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out.
                                                                      

Matthew 8:26-27

He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

Yesterday our church held it's annual picnic and it was open to the community. Everything served was  free. In addition to great food, games and acrobatic entertainment there was a classic car show. Many and I do mean many car owners showed up with there old and new automobiles. The event was advertised and the only thing that would keep these car owners away would be rain. All week long I listened to the forecast for Saturday and it promised some rain storms for Friday night into Saturday morning, but clearing by noon. Even if that happened and it cleared by noon, most of those cars were not going to show. There would have been a lot of food with no where to go. People refer to weather events as "Mother Nature" acting up. I will tell you this and we won't spend too much time on it. God controls all that happens and the reasons He allows weather events to happen is a lesson in theology that would take several days to explain. There is no such thing as "Mother Nature".

But we were faced with storms and we knew it. I believe in asking God for things and I also believe that how He answers that plea is up to Him and I will accept the answer. But as a church we were all praying for God to spare us from the storms. We prepared a back up plan to hold the event today on Sunday if we had to. I have to say I wasn't thrilled with the back up plan and I think God taught us a lesson. I think that lesson will be learned for awhile. First of all the picnic date was chosen after prayer. Right after that was done God owned it. If it rained, He supplied the rain and for a reason.

I as well as many others prayed for God to come through and show the weather forecasters that He moves storms. The rain never touched us. The morning haziness blew away and we were given a day of sunshine and a nice breeze. We saw a miracle happen. I want to thank God for hearing our voices and allowing us to reach out to the community and have them celebrate with us.  God moved the rain storms and showed us that He is the Planner of all events. Our back up plan which I will say was foolish never needed to take place. I sit here humbled by My God and Creator.

Don't forget to say thank you for the miracles you experience.

Marty

My Door County Coffee Story Part 2 8/25/2018

Good Morning,

Saturday showed up and I am headed to church for our annual picnic. It is the yearly celebration of our start up as a church.
So today I will begin my day with a hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee. I am looking forward to grilling corn for the church members and a some hamburgers too.

Here is part two of the "Coffee Story". A couple days later we were still in Door County Wisconsin. I was up early as usual reading and drinking some more Door County Coffee that we had purchased in a small shop in Fish Creek. My wife mentioned to me that she wanted to check out a candle shop on Hwy 42 to see if they were open. I felt good enough to go along and said "maybe we can eat breakfast out today?". We both thought that was a good idea.

We found the shop my wife was looking for and I looked up and saw a sign that read. "Door County Coffee Company". We were right there! I could smell the coffee coming out from the door when it opened. We went in and wandered through the different coffee selections and purchased a few.

There were some tables there and they served breakfast pastries. That was just what we wanted. While I sipped on my coffee my wife looked up and said. "You have had me worried. I want you to take better care of yourself. I don't want to lose you." I realized that I had been sick for a long time and I put off going to the doctor. I looked into her eyes and saw that she had aged in the past two weeks and it was because of me. It sank in just how much she loved me and how much I loved her. I have always loved my wife and I admit not being the "perfect husband". But on that day over a cup of coffee I fell in love with her all over again. I then began writing about my daily coffee in my blog and haven't switched brands.

Matthew 19:4-6

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

We have been back to the coffee store many times and I really do enjoy their coffee. But when I drink a cup of Cherry Crème Coffee  I remember the coffee, the day, and who I was with. My wife , my best friend.

 

God bless,

Marty

My Door County Coffee Story Part 1 8/24/2018

Good Morning,

Good Morning,

I will be starting my day with a hot cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee in a few minutes.

I promised someone that I would tell how I got started drinking Door County Coffee and why I write about it in our devotional. It will take two days to complete the story.

I was very ill in the winter of 2010. After a brief hospital stay My wife knew what was best for me and that was medication and rest. She prescribed a get away to Door County Wisconsin. She rented a suite with it's own kitchen, fireplace and hot tub. My orders were to rest, read my Bible, rest some more and relax. The place where we stayed  gave us a basket of Door County Goodies to eat and drink during our stay. Cherry jam, salsa, bread, and some packs of Door County Coffee graced our taste buds.

My wife and many others were very concerned for my health. In February there is not a lot to do in Door County. Her plan worked. I slept a lot, watched the Olympics, read my Bible in front of the fire place and worked on what would be a long recovery. (Until July)

I woke up early and made the coffee one day. I broke open a pack of Door County Cherry Crème  Coffee and let it brew. I tasted the coffee for the first time, free of stress, and opened my Bible and began to read. The aroma from the coffee permeated the suite and it was such a great experience on a very cold morning.
My wife walked in and said "you look rested today. How do you feel? Has anyone told you yet that you are loved?" Well it was just the two of us and I told her yes, "God beat you to it."

That morning with a hot cup of coffee that tasted so good and my Bible open I read.

Isaiah 49:15-16

New King James Version

¹⁵ “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
¹⁶ See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

 

I knew that morning  God had spoken to me and  although I was afraid, worn out and ill like never before I was not alone and God loved me.

 

I knew then that I wanted more of that coffee and the hunt for the company would be on. The rest of the story tomorrow.

 

God bless,

Marty

Drawing Without An Eraser 8/23/2018

Good Morning,

Thursday arrived right on time and it is leading off for Friday and the two heavy hitters, Saturday and Sunday. My mug was just filled with some very hot Door County Highlander Grog Coffee and it is now time to write.

I heard a quote from an unknown author that "Life is like drawing without an eraser". Like many things that a run across or into, this quote sent my mind whirling. Drawing without an eraser is not easy to do. It means that once a mistake is made on the paper, it is there forever and the best any artist can do is to incorporate the mistake into the finished product and try to make something good out of the mistake.

Proverbs 22:3 English Standard Version (ESV)

³ The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.

So if I may interpret this quote "Life has mistakes, they will come no doubt. But it's what we learn from the mistakes or how we overcome them that counts. Can we make some good out of a mistake?". For instance while playing dodge ball as a young boy at school, I threw the ball and it broke a window. The window was broke and it had to be replaced. It cost me my hard earned money but the lesson I learned was not to play ball near windows.

Mistakes are not made to happen again. A fool returns to the mistake and makes it again. Mistakes cannot be erased but should be a learning experience. The learning experience causes maturity to grow within us.

Mistakes are good things to avoid if possible, but they will happen, it's what we make of them that counts. We can't live life without mistakes. If we hid from adventure, some of us would never have experienced the love of a spouse. We ventured out, took our time and met the spouse God intended for us. Jobs are an adventure and a half. If we were afraid to try a job fearing a mistake we would starve to death. My third real job in life was a year and a half of total misery. But I learned how I would never manage if I were in charge. I have applied that lesson learned.

So today, learn from your mistakes and try to avoid making them again. "Stupid is as Stupid does." (Forest Gump)

Have a great day!

Marty

A Prayer For When You Are Starting Over, Fundamentals. 8/22/2018

Good Morning,

Here comes Wednesday and I raise my cup of Door County Tanzanian Peaberry  Coffee to salute another day given to me by God.

There are times when each of us just feels like we have to start our life over or we are forced to start over. For instance I had a surgery on my shoulder a few years ago and for my mind I thought it went well. The rehabilitation went very well and I am able to do most everything just like when I was younger. One thing I haven't tried much of is throwing a ball. I don't know why but I decided to pull a football out of the garage and toss it around last night,. Ha, I dropped back to pass like an NFL quarterback and I let her fly. Yuck! The ball went  about twenty yards , wobbled all the way and had no speed on it at all. I need to start that throwing arm all over I guess. So I paced off about ten yards, hung a tire in a tree for a target and went. back to basics. I planted my foot and threw over my head with slow velocity for about ten throws. That went very well, Then I massaged my arm. I threw five more with picture perfect form allowing to experiment with the speed. I wasn't ready to accelerate the speed of the throws. I had to be content for the night. I started over with my arm, but needed to go back to what I learned about developing a throwing arm. I had to humble myself and accept that I need some help with that arm. I had to forgive myself for letting the arm get into that kind of shape.

Our lives experience times when we need to start over for one reason or another. God has given us Psalm 25 which I have used as a prayer to get me going on a new start. It also contains excellent instructions for starting over.

Key elements in starting over are forgiving and being forgiven. Trust in God is the next important element. Being teachable is the next element. Hope must be present to be able to start over. Hope in God and hope in yourself. Receiving guidance and following it are the next two elements of  a successful life restart. Humility is a main ingredient to a new start. Realizing that God loves you is the most important element of starting over.

 

Psalm 25 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 25:1-11

Of David.

¹ In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.

² I trust in you;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
³ No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous without cause.

⁴ Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.
⁶ Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
    for they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth
    and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.

⁸ Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
⁹ He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.
¹⁰ All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
¹¹ For the sake of your name, Lord,
    forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

 

If you are starting over and find yourself wondering if it is worth it, ask others to pray for you.

James 5:16 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective,  fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

God bless,

Marty

Listening To The Storms 8/21/2018

Good Morning,

How did I forget to have the Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee set to brew at 4:30AM? I am not sure where my plan went wrong last night, but now I must wait for that java delight. Oh well, time to write.

I had to do a little traveling last night and my wanderings had me driving through a couple of storms. The storms I was traveling through weren't all that bad, but at times God put on a great electrical show. A couple of times the rain was coming down so hard that It was hard to see.

As I drove along my mind wandered to my fear of God. I know He loves me and He has done some amazing things for me throughout the years, but I still fear Him. Anyone who can paint the sky with the power and strength I witnessed in the storms and yet can handle me with love and care is awesome. I believe my fear of God keeps Him in my highest regard. I believe to fear Him, shows respect for Who He is. I believe to fear Him is a the first step to wisdom.

I pondered the world and the antics that go on each day and I asked God why things are so screwed up. Later, as I was studying and preparing notes for my blog, God spoke through His Word and the answer was clear. The world does not have a healthy fear of Him. We are unwise and do not treat Him as holy nor do we show Him the reverence He deserves

 In the same way a child would in relation to their parents. God can be gracious, or if we are in rebellion and lose our view of fear he can also judge. The fear of God, is having an awesome reverence that can only come from knowing Him by experiencing His presence and seeing His work in our lives. When God's awesome holiness is sought and understood one cannot help react in the fear of God.

Scripture tells us that God is to be feared.

Job 28:28 And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.'

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom

Solomon wrote, Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The answer was this. The world is foolish and despises wisdom from above. Thus we try to control a world without the One who made it. Simple enough.
This lesson was brought to you by a storm that God provided and a curious mind.

God bless.

Marty

Transformation 8/20/2019

Dear Friends,
Good morning facing my Monday with a cup of Door County Death's Door Coffee and some
time spent at the throne of God. It is a great combination for starting the day. My message for this Monday is short and to the point.

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of

your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable, perfect will of

God.

So what does that mean?
God's perfect will is that none should perish but have everlasting life.  God has created two eternal homes so that no one is left homeless. He has created heaven and hell. For those who have received Jesus as Savior, heaven awaits. Well, the second part to that is for those who have not received Jesus, hell awaits.

Each day we are bombarded with the things of this Earth and choices to make. Before they take a
foothold in our life the above verse tells us to renew our minds. A backslidden Christian cannot prove the "perfect will of God" and therefore they are not real convincing when they preach Jesus.

So, daily we should pray, read our Bibles, and have someone hold us accountable for life choices. This keeps us transformed and going in the right direction.

God bless,
Marty

The Little Lady And Her Story 8/19/2018

Good Morning,

This morning finds me drinking a hot cup of Door County Dublin's Delight Coffee and I can't help but look out at our yard and wonder where the summer has gone.

 

Philippians 4:19 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Our apples are just about fully ripened and the tomatoes are being picked a dozen at a time, signaling that summer is about to close and soon.

Last night during our weekly Saturday church service one of the ladies from our congregation spoke to us and told us her story. ( Some refer to this as giving her testimony). She is small in stature but delivered her message with power and grace,. I don't believe that there was anyone who was not touched by the message of her journey.

I knew most of the story and had asked her to speak because of it. Our friend was blessed with two special needs children. There was a time that she was left homeless, slept in a car with the kids and just scratched out enough to be able to eat. She told us about her struggles that were many, and how one day God sent her a message in a box. The box contained a Bible that was hers and was being returned. She embraced God's Word and through the Holy Spirit began to embrace God. She still had struggles , but knew she was not alone and as she embraced the struggles, God sent believers her way to assist.

Her children are adults now and they are two of the most polite and friendly young adults I have ever met. They both are quite accomplished in school and are a testimony to their mom and step dad of what a family can be no matter what.

It is an amazing journey that she has traveled and if anyone had a right to complain, she certainly did. What I told the congregation after she spoke was this. " I have known this lady for quite a few years  and not once did I ever hear her complain".

Friends, God is bigger than any complaint we have and if He brings you to it, He will bring you through it. I think about the little things I whine about and I am ashamed to banter about my frivolous complaints. I am considered to be a tough guy, a man's man, but I am not even close to being as strong and tough as this 100 pound gal.

So today as my mother always said, "quit complaining, someone has it worse than you", pray for those around you who are on a rough, hard road and count your blessings. You don't know their story.

Happy Day,

Marty

A Change Of Taste 8/18/2018

Good Morning World.
This morning my cup is filled with Door County Irish Crème Coffee.

2 Corinthians 5;17 
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become a new.

As a young boy coffee was not what I preferred to drink in the morning. It seemed that it was bitter and just not as good as grape juice or cola products.  As I got older I found that working outside presented some difficulties like "cold weather". Hunting seemed better with a warm cup of something. I became a coffee drinker. You see my taste started over.

People who are  "Born Again" in Christ experience a regeneration that becomes evident in a "change of taste".
R. A. Torrey writes.
"We get new tastes instead of the old tastes, new loves instead of the old loves. Instead of loving any longer the things that displease God, we now love the things that please God. The things we once hated, we now love, and the things we once hated we now love". (The Holy Spirit , Who he is and What He does.)

The first step to a "taste change" is to listen to the call of the Holy Spirit who leads you to salvation in Jesus.
The second step is two admit that we are all sinners and Jesus is the only way unto  God the Father.
Third step. Ask for forgiveness of our sins.
Fourth step. Accepting the free gift of forgiveness.

Then watch your tastes change. You may have thought the Bible was foolish like I did for many years. Now I cannot wait to read it every day.
Drugs may have ruled your life but now you desire fresh air and a fresh body.

But first, you have to start. Pray to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.

If you are already there and find that some of your old preferences are coming back. Well, renew and get someone to hold you accountable for your "change of taste". Pray often and read the Word of God. Join a Bible Teaching Church. These are good steps in keeping your tastes fresh and pure.

As my mother used to say when teaching me to eat new foods. "Just try it"

God bless,

Marty

Time Well Spent 8/17/2018

Good Morning,
The old coffee cup is filled with Door County Tanzanian Peaberry Coffee this morning. Hot day in Wisconsin to say the least. Happy Friday!!

Can we all agree that in this world we are busier than ever before? We have electronic calendars just to keep our appointments.
Think about your daily schedule. How would you describe it?
Nuts?
Crazy?
Impossible?
Busy?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Seems as if there just aren't enough hours in the day anymore. I don"t have a solution to the problem. Sometimes you have to drop something or neglect something else. But I can tell you two things that cannot be dropped off the schedule.

#1. You can't drop time with God.
Matthew 4:4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

#2  You can't drop time with your kids.  You see kids grow up fast. Before you know it they are gone on to their own lives. Spend time with the kids. They need you. This is time you can never get back. Make time!
Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

What will your spouses, kids, nieces, nephews, or grand children say about you when you are gone? "He sure was busy. Must have been a great worker, he was always there. He left us some money, wish I knew him better."

What will your legacy say about you?

God bless,
Marty

When The Drain Plugs Up 8/16/2018

Good Morning,

Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee is brewing in the kitchen. The aroma is way too good for me.

There have been many times when I just wanted to rewind the day and do it again because it was very special or nice. Just one of those days that you wanted to relive as soon as possible. Yesterday was not one of those days. While putting my shoes on yesterday morning I slipped a little and my left knee gave out. It ended up being very sore all day long. I didn't really sleep much so when I missed my mouth with my coffee mug the java went right down my white shirt.

Everything was a struggle yesterday and I was pretty useless to those around me for some reason. Later in the afternoon a dear friend and coworker let me know that she was moving on to a different hospital. That one took most of what was left of the wind in my sails away.

Then after dinner I started to make a big bowl of coleslaw for a luncheon today. My cabbage shredding got a little bit away from me and before long I had a plugged up drain on our kitchen sink.  Rene gave me the look of" Now what did the village idiot do?"  An hour later the drain was unplugged and the salad was finished. Guess who slipped on the wet floor and popped that knee out again?  I wanted to just bury my head in the sand and hide from the rest of the night. I just wanted to turn on my old record player and play the Beatles song "Yesterday"

There was only one thing left to do besides ice packs on my knee. I grabbed a Bible and started to read and then I prayed. I soon was convinced that I needed to do exactly what my tee shirt has written  on it. "SUCK IT UP BUTTER CUP" . No time for whining or crying over spilled aftershave. Oh, by the way that happened too.

But I did take some time to look up and share some Bible verses you can use when the day seems to be going bad like a snowball on a July day. They soothed my soul.

1.) Remember, the Lord is near.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted    and saves the crushed in spirit.
~Psalm 34:18

2.)  God is with you and He loves you.

The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
~Zephaniah 3:17

3.) You are in a spiritual battle – be strong in the Lord!

Be strong in the Lord
and in the strength of his might.
~Ephesians 6:10

4.) You are not alone.

It is the Lord who goes before you.
He will be with you;
he will not leave you or forsake you.
Do not fear or be dismayed.
~Deuteronomy 31:8

I was led to some peace and I remembered that other people were having a much worse day than I was having and I had no right to complain. That is just the cold hard facts. Just the facts.

Marty

Getting Back On Your Feet 8/15/2018

Good Morning,

There is a blessing out there today, somewhere, somehow I know you will be a blessing to someone today. I just poured a large mug of Door County Mocha Mint Coffee and now it is time to write.

Numbers 6:24-26 New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

Life has a way of knocking us down once and awhile. Sometimes the beat down comes from the consequences of our own choices. I learned that lesson the hard way many times. I remember a time when I just did not know how I was going to pay my bills let alone survive. Jobs were just not to be found. Of course I prayed every day for a job, but nine months later I was still unemployed. I did anything and everything I could to earn an honest dollar.

It seemed as if I would never make it. But God heard me cry out and He waited until I was willing to say "Lord any job please. I will do anything". I hadn't wanted to do anything outside of construction and plumbing. But along came a health care job and the rest is history. God had a different plan.

But during that time when I was trying to get on my feet, I learned how to sew my jeans, and how to grocery shop for deals. I learned to say no to things I did not need and couldn't afford. My friends used to ask me to go with them on fishing trips. I really wanted to go, but just could afford it. I had bills to pay and neglecting my creditors was not feasible or right. So no had to be the answer. I met a friend who helped me do side jobs. He taught me to tithe and pay taxers on the cash jobs. When you need to get back on your feet, there are no shortcuts. I learned to appreciate a job and not slack off. It has paid dividends to be a good worker.

My point is this. When you reach rock bottom, there is only one way to go but up. But in order to go up, one must look up and embrace  Jesus. Then it is one lesson at a time to get on your feet spiritually and emotionally. Your ship might have taken on water, but it isn't sunk. God and you are a majority.

Think this through. Are you ready to receive the hand of God who wants to help you find Him?
It all starts with the first look up.

Marty

When What Goes Around Finally Comes Around 8/14/2018

Good Morning,

It was a long night and waking up wasn't hard to do when you were awake since 2AM. It was one of those nights when I just couldn't sleep and my mind wandered from prayer to other things. Concentrating just didn't work. So this cup of Door County Irish Crème Coffee has to thaw out a numb mind.

Have you ever wondered when the person or persons who get on your last nerve will finally get a dose of their own medicine? Maybe they are people who do you wrong all the time and just don't seem to care. It might be the contractor who cheated you and besides hoping that their arm pits get infested by fleas you wish that they would lose their business,. And when the fleas begin to roost and the business collapses, we throw a huge celebration party called "They Had It Coming".

As much as I like to subscribe to that theory I must call it the way God sees it. His Word speaks to the contrary of what we should do.

Luke 6:27-36 New International Version (NIV)

Love for Enemies

²⁷ “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.
³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

If you think about it God has one more Word at least to say about this, probably more.

 

John 13:35 New International Version (NIV)

³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

That pretty much sums it up. We should never rejoice when our enemy experiences misfortune and we should pray for them like we would pray for a brother.  Hard cold facts to chew on, but God has laid this one out for us.

Marty

Spread Your Wings 8/13/2018

Good Morning,

I am looking forward to accomplishing a lot this week. But first, right after my prayer time I will be pouring a large mug of Door County Irish Crème Coffee and I am sure going to enjoy it.

Fall will soon be here, the kids will be going back to school and churches are gearing up for another year of Bible study, mission trips,children and youth programs, as well as holiday productions.

Isaiah 40:31 New 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.

It is a busy nine months for churches. Here's the question. How about you? Are you ready to dive in and try something new? How about working in those children's ministries, or the nursery? When was the last time you committed a weekly promise to bring bakery for the teens? Better yet, how about joining the tired youth pastor in his ministry? Can you paint? How about working on the props for the Christmas programs? Maybe you have always wanted to sing in a choir. Now is the time. If we commit our calendars to the Lord, we are placing our hope in Him to arrange time for us to serve. We will have what we need including the energy to do what we were called to do. An eagle cannot soar unless he spreads his wings. Maybe you like to clean. Every church can use people who clean. How about letting God help you to spread your Spiritual Wings and experience Him through service to His Kingdom? How about giving Him ten days of your life on a short term mission trip next summer? Use the next nine months to prepare for it.

Over the years Rene and I have answered the call and believe it or not I actually worked in the nursery at church a few times. I never regretted on minute of learning something new and seeing how God can use a clown like me in His work.  Friends, all it takes is a yes answer.

 

Joshua 24:15 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Pray it through, and don't fear a thing. God will use a cheerful heart. And I am sure that heart is yours.

Marty

Finding Your Significance 8/12//18

Good Morning,

Immediately after I finish writing I will pour myself a big cup of Door County Highlander Grog Coffee and then I will take our dog Gibbs for some swimming and retrieving training. Man and his dog!

 

 

I find that my subject today is one we all struggle with from time to time. Identity Crisis 101. Last night in my message to the church I mentioned searching for your significance and finding it as being a child of the King.

— 1 Peter 2:9-10 —

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

People often base their self-significance on their accomplishments. But our relationship with Christ is far more important than our jobs, successes, wealth or knowledge. We have been chosen by God as his very own, We have been called to represent Him to others. Remember that your value comes from being one of God's children, not what you can achieve. You have worth because of what God did, what He still does, not because of what you do or what you own, or what you look like.

 

Happy Sunday. God bless and you be a blessing to someone today!

 

Marty

Four Wheel Traction 8/11/2018

Good Morning,


That first cup of Door County Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee is going to sit just fine with me.

 Living in Wisconsin does allow me to experience snow storms. My vehicles of choice have four wheel drive. And believe me it comes in handy. During those storms I try to travel roads that are well known to me. The four wheels keep me on the right path. But I could choose not to use the four wheels and drive roads that are not familiar. I would be on the WRONG path and headed for trouble.

— Psalm 16:8 —
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

By saying I "will not be shaken," David was talking about the unique sense of security felt by believers. God does not exempt believers from the day to day circumstances of life. Believers and unbelievers alike experience pain, trouble, and failure at times (Matthew 5:45). Unbelievers have a sense of hopelessness about life and confusion over their true purpose on earth. Those who seek God, however, can move ahead confidently with what they know is right and important in God's eyes. They know that God will keep them from being moved off of his chosen path.

How many of your wheels are engaged with God? Are you on the right path today?

 

God bless,

Marty