I Tried To Think And Nothing Happened 2/28/2019

Good Morning World!

I just finished praying and walked into the kitchen as the Door County Light House Blend Coffee was finished brewing. It didn't take long to fill my mug and put a warm spot of coffee down the hatch.

Yesterday I was swarmed at work with questions that needed answers. It continued after I made it home. There came a time during the day when the questions and problems were coming so fast that I tried to think and nothing happened. That phrase comes from the Three Stooges and I use it now and then.

My brain went into overload and it shut down for a few minutes.  I closed my office door, let the phone ring and asked God to clear my head. The same thing happened when I got home. A phone call from a fella that I had called to bid on new air conditioning  for our house came in and he was asking to change our appointment time. Little did I know he was two houses away and would be there in seconds. The driveway needed snow removed. Rene had made an appointment to get a price on new garage doors and that guy showed up. "I was in the neighborhood and took a chance". My brain just froze. We got through it and I found myself retreating to the den for quiet time. No television, just soft music. soft lighting and it was time to pray. I asked God to lead me to His word on "Brain Overload".

I might be the only one that this happens to, but just in case I am not, here's what He had to say.

“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.” ~ Philippians 4: 8 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” ~ Ephesians 6: 10-12

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” ~ Matthew 6: 34

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.” ~ Psalm 119: 105

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” ~ 1 John 4: 18

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.” ~ Psalm 139: 14

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands….” ~ Isaiah 49: 16

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” ~ Psalm 23: 4

After reading these verses I was less overwhelmed and my soul was less burdened. My brain went back to work and I was able to make some good decisions last night regarding repairs for our home.


God bless,

Marty

Anyone Ever Been Lonely? 2/27/2019

Good Morning World!,

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

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

Psalm 27 New King James Version (NKJV)

An Exuberant Declaration of Faith

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

² When the wicked came against me

To eat up my flesh,

My enemies and foes,

They stumbled and fell.³ Though an army may encamp against me,

My heart shall not fear;

Though war may rise against me,

In this I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I have desired of the Lord,

That will I seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord

All the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord,

And to inquire in His temple.

⁵ For in the time of trouble

He shall hide me in His pavilion;

In the secret place of His tabernacle

He shall hide me;

He shall set me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!

Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

⁸ When You said, “Seek My face,”

My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

⁹ Do not hide Your face from me;

Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

You have been my help;

Do not leave me nor forsake me,

O God of my salvation.

¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me,  NOW THAT IS ABANDONED!

Then the Lord will take care of me.

¹¹ Teach me Your way, O Lord,

And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

¹² Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;

For false witnesses have risen against me,

And such as breathe out violence.

¹³ I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

That I would see the goodness of the Lord

In the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!

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

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

God bless,

Marty

Med Sled Rescue 2/26/2019

Good Morning World!

Tuesday is here, right on time. I just heard the Door County Vanilla Creme Brulee Coffee start to brew. It's time to rise and shine!

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

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

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

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

Psalm 18:2New Living Translation (NLT)

² The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;

    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.

He is my shield, the power that saves me,

    and my place of safety.

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

God bless,

Marty

When You Find It Hard To Pray 2/25/2019

Good Morning World!

This blog comes today from my heart to yours. I am blessed to be drinking a mug of Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee. I am ready to face a Monday.

From time to time I find myself struggling to be able to pray for whatever reason that might be. It is at that time I realize I need to pray more than ever.

I have borrowed an article, very well written for those times when prayer seems difficult to do with a little advice. Maybe I am the only one this applies to and I am writing to myself. But, I doubt that it is the case. Dr. Joel Badal wrote this article. He did an excellent job of writing this and I don't need to add a thing.

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf. (Romans 15:30)

"In my Christian life, I have found that prayer is a difficult discipline. And I concur with others that praying moves through different seasons. My posture may change, my prayers may change.
But whatever season I am currently facing, my specific prayers are often marked by experiences. If I am doubting, I pray for faith. If I’m hurting, I pray for healing. If I lack wisdom, I ask God to give me discernment. If this true for you, we are together in the difficult discipline of prayer, for I am no saint when it comes to fervency of prayer. Prayer is a lagging discipline that needs constant shoring up.

The Difficulty of Prayer

Prayer is a spiritual discipline that needs cultivation. The ground needs to be turned over. Seeds need to be planted and watered. We wait like the farmer, trusting the seed will sprout and multiply its blessing.


Prayer takes effort and constant fine-tuning. We learn to pray. We learn what not to say. At one point, Paul commended Epaphras on his fervent prayer life, calling him a struggler in prayer: “Epaphras greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers” (Colossians 4:12). I like this descriptor that the apostle uses—prayer is indeed a struggle

The great theologian and pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones once commented on the struggle of prayer. He said,

When a man is speaking to God he is at his very acme. It is the highest activity of the human soul, and therefore it is at the same time the ultimate test of a man’s true spiritual condition. There is nothing that tells the truth about us as Christian people so much as our prayer life.¹

Paul, likewise, shared his personal struggle. He said, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1). Paul’s intense passion for lost people is evident here, and the struggle to pray evangelistically is clearly identified by his words.

Three Reasons Prayer Is Difficult

I believe there are at least three main culprits that inhibit true fervency in prayer.

1. Our flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41).

We have difficulty suppressing physical tiredness and challenges. Perhaps there are days when our mind grows tired. Or we’re physically exhausted from work, from our children, and possibly from weakness due to an illness.
I find that physical weakness is often connected to spiritual weakness (though not always connected). For when the body is weak, our minds can think wrong thoughts about God, and our hearts can begin to believe these thoughts. Prayer time can become ineffective because our minds are distracted and wander to different themes.
I’ve caught myself falling asleep like the disciples. In these moments of lapse, I awake and find myself embarrassed or troubled in spirit that I did not labor in prayer. So I pray, “Lord strengthen my body and mind to pray.” Remember that even simple prayers can be launching pads for effective, fervent prayers to the Lord. 

2. Our faith is weary (Mark 9:24).

We sometimes encounter seasons where faith is diminished. Seasons of pain and trials can be factors in a diminished faith. Unanswered prayer can be difficult to understand. When God’s promises go unanswered, we wonder if He is even listening to our requests.

Believer, during seasons of unanswered prayer, remember that God hears you. He is at work. We must fight to believe and trust the Lord, even when we cannot see him at work. “God, help my unbelief” is a simple prayer to say. Sometimes, we have no ornate or theological verbiage to pray. Simple and sweet. Straightforward and honest. So we fight weariness with prayer.

Spiritual challenges in other people also keep us from praying effectively. People’s burdens can be difficult to manage alone. I’ve found that small groups, Bible study groups, and other discipleship groups are great opportunities for believers to pray together. Burden-sharing builds unity and lightens the load. Still, the burdens can be unbearable, and we need the Lord’s help. I’m thankful for Romans 8 that says the “Spirit bears witness with my spirit,” for he speaks on behalf of our inability (Romans 8:26-27).

3. Our pattern is wrong (Matthew 6:7).

Sometimes, we approach prayer with the wrong pattern. We spend more time focusing on personal needs than addressing “our Father who is in heaven.” God is to be glorified. He is to be adorned, and he is to be worshiped. 
Following a pattern for prayer is helpful and keeps us from becoming distracted by a personal wish list. Patterns direct our thoughts back to God. For the disciples, prayer was a difficult discipline that needed refinement. They grasped their need to pattern their prayers, so they watched Jesus pray. The Teacher provides them (and us) a helpful pattern to be modeled and exercised. Read through The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 and notice how God is exalted, sins are confessed, and needs expressed.

There are contemporary models that can serve as tools for your prayer life, like Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (ACTS). Or you can simply walk through the Lord’s Prayer by reflecting line-by-line on its main features and applying them specifically to your prayers.

How to Pray Effective Prayers

Why not start with praying Scripture as a simple way to cultivate fervency and effectiveness in prayer? While reading through my Bible, my motivation to pray earnestly grows. Maybe read one verse or passage each day, respond in prayer, and repeat as needed. Here are several starting places:

• Nehemiah 1:5-8
• John 17:9, 11, 17, 23
• Ephesians 1:16-19
• Philippians 1:9-11
• 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Praying for needs is also effective when a person knows exactly what to pray for. Churches can manage and store prayers, develop a prayer list in their bulletins, and send prayer requests through emails. Individuals can collect prayer needs on a list, praying through it and updating it regularly. (It’s important for us to keep our lists up-to-date and to follow up with people.)

There will be seasons when prayer lacks intensity or fervency. It may be right now that you are experiencing prayer’s greatest fight. How about returning to prayer today, by the strength God supplies? He helps you, and he hears you."

I find myself in one of theses seasons. And I thought I would pass this on. God Bless,

Marty
....

Letter Of Recommendation 2/24/2019

Good Morning World!

It is good to be moved back into my den after all those weeks of working from the kitchen table. The journey up the stairs is a little slow yet and the journey down even slower. But I call each trip therapy! I am enjoying a cup of Door County Irish Creme Coffee and watching it snow as I write. It's the little things that make life normal again.

Today I have the privilege of writing a letter of recommendation for a young man who used to be a member of our church. He called yesterday and politely asked if I would consider doing so. He has the opportunity to practice and study in his field of learning in the country of Kenya. I have no problem whatsoever giving him a recommendation at all.

Proverbs 22:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

^[a]And when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go,

Why is that?
1. He will represent God. himself and his family in a way that all three in a way that all three will end up being proud.
2. I have witnessed him being faithful to duties at church and at home for many years.
3. He is an excellent student.
4. I have never known him not to be trustworthy.
5. This opportunity is right in the field of his passion.
6. I know for sure that he and his family have prayed about this.
7. Lastly he called and asked in person for the letter. He did not hand out my email address, phone
    number, or just send a form to the house expecting a letter to be written. He asked. 99% of the
    I am surprised when I receive a call from prospective employers or schools asking questions about
    a candidate who used me as a reference without asking me. This also shows me how this young
    man was raised. He has manners and is polite enough to ask, without assuming.
8. He completes what he starts.

Proverbs 22 :1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Value of a Good Name

Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

The Lord is the maker of them all.

But the simple pass on and are punished.

Are riches and honor and life

22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

² The rich and the poor have this in common,

³ A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,

⁴ By humility and the fear of the Lord

His parents have done a great job and he is a credit to them and to God.

Friends, we take for granted now and then that everyone sees us as worthy to hire, promote or extend and opportunity to. Before you ask, for a recommendation and ask before you assume. think about this. Would you hire yourself? Do this before putting friends or family on the spot, not wanting to hurt your feelings by telling the truth. How does the resume of your life look to you?

Marty

The Benefit Of The Harvest, Goose Chili 2/23/2019

Good Morning World!

My mug was just filled with Door County Cherry Creme Coffee. It's one of what I like to call my "Comfort Flavors". Last week was a rough one. The last two days of returning to work took their toll and I am moving slow today. But with each day, these old legs are getting stronger. Rene and I did more rehabilitation work at the gym last night and where I was two weeks ago has long been laid to rest. The numbers are looking better and I face the ultimate opinion with my physical therapist and doctor next week. I still have a long way to go, but the road is shorter and more steady now.

Last night was a special one for me. I decided to call it harvest night. We dined on chili made with goose meat, the tomato base was from our garden last summer. The onions were from the same garden. Our dessert was ice cream, which we had to purchase, but the apple topping came from the abundant crop of last fall.  The goose meat was harvested while hunting with friends and family. I recalled one major bang up of a day, who I was with and how much we were blessed to harvest a lot of geese.

Of course, before we ate , we gave thanks to God who really was the One who provided everything at the table.

Psalm 107:1 New International Version (NIV)

    his love endures forever.

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

What I am trying to spit out today is that the dinner was special. I have returned to work after 8 weeks of double knee replacement surgery and rehabilitation.  I survived the first two days of work. Rene announced her retirement date this week and today and tomorrow will be  days of rest. So it was a celebration and we ate what we planted and hunted. It was a very simple dinner that reminded me of blessings from last year and how grateful we should be.

It felt good just to wander back in my mind and picture, the hunt, the tomato vines hanging heavy with the red ripe vegetables, pulling the onions and then freezing them.  My favorite memory was remembering  the apple trees loaded beyond loaded with fruit. I was quiet during our meal, which is unusual for me. Rene asked me if I was OK. I just replied, "the food is great, the memories are better. I am counting our blessings Babe"

Take time to be grateful. Enjoy the good memories today.

Marty

Back To Work, But Prayer First 2/22/2019

Good Morning World!

I started this Friday with prayer and a cup of Door County Vanilla Creme Brulee Coffee. Friday here I come.

Ephesians 6:18 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

Yesterday was my first day bavk to work after my knee replacements. It was eight weeks before I could walk in and man, my desk, phone, computer and issues of the day at the hospital. I am going to admit it and be honest. I anticipated seeing myself getting a ride home in an ambulance or the day being so tough that I would be loading my pant legs with ice and tying the bottoms closed with surgical tape. I expected to be a wreck.

It was a normal day, and all the people I work with were gracious to walk slow with me. I am still not up to full speed. We had a team lunch with my staff and before I knew it 4:30 PM arrived and I was headed for water therapy. I was walking on my own and my steps were still pretty lively. I have a goal of being able to duck hunt in October.

I said it was a normal day, but there was one difference. My phone rang early before I left and there was a text message wishing me well on my first day back. My nephew prays for me often and I knew he had just done that when he sent the message. Then I was instructed the day before by my friend to call him when I was about to pull out of the driveway. I did and he was up, out of bed and he prayed with me for a safe, productive day. I prayed for his healing with him. He has been laid up with a bum shoulder and is recovering from surgery. This guy, could have slept in, but thought prayer with me was more important. It was.

I made it through the day on the power of prayer. I went to the gym and ran laps in the pool and actually swam a few laps. I needed some small ice therapy after the workout. But through the day I felt surrounded by angels and prayer. I found out later that this same guy prayed for me throughout the day. When Rene and I were eating dinner she told me that she too was praying for me all day. I knew others were praying for me also. Somehow you could just feel the protection around me.

I didn't tell them but they will read this. I prayed for them too as well as my friends wife. Later yesterday I was told that she wasn't feeling well. I then knew why I was praying for her.

Funny thing, that "power of prayer"!

Marty

Disregard For Rules 2/21/2019

Good Morning World!

I have just started going back to work today. Eight weeks of knee replacements surgery and recovery is closing out in the next few days. Things are going well. I will see how I feel tonight after a full day on my feet.

Yesterday I had a small chore to complete. I made a trip to the local Social Security Office in search of some information. I arrived early and was one of the first seven in line. An armed security officer welcomed us and as he opened the door he explained several rules to us. The two most important ones that were emphasized repeatedly were that your cell phone had to be in the silent mode and that all voices were to be whispers.

The acoustics in the building are terrible. I could see exactly why they were requiring a quiet atmosphere. This allowed people at the window to converse privately and be heard. I silenced my phone and took a drink of be quiet juice.

It wasn't two minutes after the explanation on phones and quiet voices, that cell phones started ringing and people were conversing so loud that you couldn't hear if it was your turn for service. Both security officers kept reminding people to turn the cell phones to silent and if they received a call use "quiet voices". One man in particular ignored the "silence your phone decree three times". While on the phone his voice decibels were way too loud. He was warned and warned again.  You should of seen how upset he became when the officers escorted him to the door. They did give him a second chance to behave, but he had to go to the back of the line. He left angry and drove away in his car like a racer leaving the pits at the Daytona 500.  What did that accomplish?

I am noticing that more and more members of society have no regard for rules. They believe that the rules are for others, not for everyone. More and more people ignore stop signs, dress codes, and other what they believe are unimportant rules. It is illegal to buy a gun in my state for someone else. Yet people are still doing it. Rules, left unchecked allows for lawlessness to eventually break out.

Matthew 24:12 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

My point. Once upset because he was held accountable, the man drove away on a slippery road, swerving and sliding like an idiot. This also could have cause an accident where he or someone else got hurt or killed.  So the term lawlessness applies. He was caught breaking a rule, reprimanded and then became lawless.

We are to respect the authority over us.

Obey Those in Authority Romans 13:1-7

13 All of you must obey those who rule over you. There are no authorities except the ones God has chosen. Those who now rule have been chosen by God. ² So whoever opposes the authorities opposes leaders whom God has appointed. Those who do that will be judged. ³ If you do what is right, you won’t need to be afraid of your rulers. But watch out if you do what is wrong! You don’t want to be afraid of those in authority, do you? Then do what is right, and you will be praised. ⁴ The one in authority serves God for your good. But if you do wrong, watch out! Rulers don’t carry a sword for no reason at all. They serve God. And God is carrying out his anger through them. The ruler punishes anyone who does wrong. ⁵ You must obey the authorities. Then you will not be punished. You must also obey them because you know it is right.

⁶ That’s also why you pay taxes. The authorities serve God. Ruling takes up all their time. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them. Do you owe taxes? Then pay them. Do you owe anything else to the government? Then pay it. Do you owe respect? Then give it. Do you owe honor? Then show it


Marty

Stop The Civil War In Your Heart And Home. 2/20/2019

Good Morning,

Wednesday morning  and the coffee flavor today is Cherry Creme from the Door County Coffee Company. I will be returning to work tomorrow. The knee replacements surgery has me able to return, although being back to totally normal will take a few months. Returning to work is doable.

Two of my nephews live very close to us. I have watched them grow from diapers to suits. When they were little you could tell them anything and they would believe it. I used to pull their legs on a lot of stuff. One of them was doing something for school once on America's Civil War. The war took place in 1861 through 1865. Our nephew was proud of what he was learning in school and he asked me if I knew what he was talking about. ( Testing my history knowledge). I pretended to tear up and say that I knew more about the civil war than I cared to. I explained to him that I was just a young boy and had fought in the war as a drummer. (I was born in 1957) He then asked "what side were you on?' Both was my reply. "I was so scared that I switched sides daily to be on whatever side was winning".  This same kid also believed that I was on the Titanic later in his history training. Now I don't condone lying, because we did tell them the truth after they asked in what year I was born. They also took math classes.

But friends I have witnessed civil wars. There are wars in the homes of many who come to the church for help. I have seen marriages torn apart, teens out of control, and raging parents who beat their families. Fortunately they turn to our church and other churches for help. We always start by turning them to Jesus. But just like the American Civil War, although the battles stopped the healing takes a long, long time. I love the ministry I do, but the civil wars within homes are one part of the ministry that I dread at times. Many times the war rages on for months or even years. It causes so much damage that it takes forever to repair. A broken heart mends slowly.

If you are in the midst of a war right now. Choose today to stop the bleeding. Get help from a local Bible believing church. Do what they tell you to do. Unite and turn the war around and know that you are fighting against Satan not each other. Join in with God and give Satan a butt whooping.

Psalm 37:8 (NKJV)

⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;Do not fret—it only causes harm.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4                        

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

It is time to save your family. It starts with you and Jesus.

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,    For they shall be called sons of God.

God bless your day.


Marty

When God First Visited You. 2/19/2019

Good Morning World!

It's cold out this morning and my cup of Door County Vanilla Creme Brulee Coffee is doing two jobs. It is assisting with waking me up and warming me up. What a nice way to start today.

62 years ago my mother's biggest problem entered the world at 7lbs , 21inches. Her life was never the same. She gave birth to her oldest boy. We said goodbye to Mom some years ago now. I am grateful for the life she gave me. I am sure there were times when she wondered what she had done by bringing this kid into the world.

Of the three kids in our family I gave her the most grief. I am surprised my parents never gave up on me. Now the world once again is debating abortion. It is tearing up friendships and is still stopping beating hearts. I have always been Pro-Life, but I thought I would share the Bible Passage that sealed the deal for me with all of you. God visited me and you in our mother's womb. He says before we were formed. He knew us.

God’s Perfect Knowledge of Man Psalm 139

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

139 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

² You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

⁵ You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”

Even the night shall be light about me;

¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

¹³ For You formed my inward parts;

You ^[covered me in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

¹⁹ Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!

Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

²⁰ For they speak against You wickedly;

Your enemies take Your name in vain.

²¹ Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

²² I hate them with perfect hatred;

I count them my enemies.

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

That womb is holy ground. God never made anything that was a choice for us. The sun comes up and we don't stop it. The seas experience the movement of the tides. We live with it. We don't stop it. He gave the command to be fruitful and multiply.

So as I celebrate this 62nd year of life. I thank my Mom for bearing me. My parents for raising me. And God for the first visit.

Marty

The Fourth Quarter Is Ours 2/18/2019 Good Morning World

Good Morning,

I just started my day with prayer and a mug of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee. It's time to write.

When I was in high school, our varsity football team started practicing a couple weeks before school started in September. All the schools in our conference did the same. Most, but not all of the schools had two practices a day or only one. Our school announced one year that we would be going to three practices a day. The coaches said that the third practice would help us to be prepared to win in the fourth quarter in a close game. We would have more steam left to play hard and own the last quarter. We would chant while running " The Fourth Quarter Is Ours" I only recall two times when it happened that we were in a dog fight and needed that extra energy to beat two opponents in the fourth quarter.  But it was true, we wore them down and came out on top in the last few minutes.

Friends as I get older, I realize that I am in the fourth quarter of my life. I also acknowledge that all the work I put in on mission trips and other church activities has prepared me to keep going and finish strong. There is coming a day and no one knows when  Jesus will return and take those who belong to Him back to heaven. Some will not go and be reunited body to spirit. That is on them, and it was their choice to not follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.

So we need to own all four quarters of our life and apply what God has done through us and tell others of the saving grace of Jesus. We can't slow down because of age. Once retired from work, you have more time to work at spreading the Good News of Jesus. The Fourth Quarter Is Ours.

 Thessalonians 4:13-5:1-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Hope of the Resurrection

¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words.

5 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. ² For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. ³ When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

⁴ But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.⁵ For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. ⁶ So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. ⁷ Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. ⁸ But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
⁹ For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. ¹⁰ Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. ¹¹ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Friends, it doesn't get an plainer than the verses above. It's just how it is going to happen. And when the end comes there will be no over time extra quarter. Keep that in mind when someone asks you to teach Sunday school and you say no. Maybe one kid, will listen to you while teaching. But in the end, that one kid will be grateful for whatever you taught that led them to Jesus.

Food for thought,

Marty

Love Endures.2/17/2019 Good Morning World

Good Morning  World,

I must apologize for not writing yesterday. Computer difficulties are hindering my success. So as I sit here writing from my phone I am enjoying watching a substantial snow fall and drinking a cup of Door County Lighthouse Blend Coffee.

In 1 Corinthians 13:7 it says love endures all things.

Enduring implies that there are times that come along that just don't  seem to go away or never will. It also implies that this might be faults within another person. To endure means that we will stick it out hoping for the best but that we won't  quit. 

I am convinced that Jesus endured the cross out of obedience to the Father's  plan. Yet I also believe that his perfect love kept him there. Out of love for us He did not quit. God asks of us to imitate Jesus. To imitate Him we would also want to imitate Him in love for others enduring trials without breaking. 

Just something short and sweet from the telephone today.

God bless.

Marty

Candy Was Just A Penny Back Then. 2/15/2019 Good Morning World!

Good Morning World,

Friday already. I hear another cold spell might be in store for our region this weekend. I am headed off to physical therapy  with a cup of Door County Jamaican Me Crazy in my hand. It sure tastes good today.

When I was a little kid large chain grocery stores had not really arrived on the scene. Most grocery stores were small Mom and Pop places located on a corner within the neighborhood. It was amazing how much and how high they owners could stack items on shelves. Isles were crammed and two grocery carts could not pass each other without yielding a right of way. I used to do the shopping each Saturday with my Dad. At the one and only check out lane was a rack filled with candy. It was sold for a penny each. Some of the candy was sold "two for a penny".  My dad would let me pick out two pieces for myself and then two for my sister. That was a real treat for us. Those are good memories. But it wasn't the candy that was the treat. It was spending time with my dad, learning how to tell a good piece of beef from a bad one, adding the dollars to know how much we were spending, and then watching as he paid the bill. I always wondered why he paid more for the groceries than what we purchased. I asked him one day. "Dad if we bought $15 worth of groceries how come they charged us $22?" He replied "because we owed $7 more." Dad explained that during the week if we needed something and my mother sent me to the store (which was safe to do back then) and they gave it to me, they gave it to me on credit. It never dawned on me that I left the store without paying. But Dad explained that it was very important to go in each Saturday and pay our bill. "Good credit is important to have as well as a good name."

That has always stuck with me. It is a lesson that we can all learn from yet today and it certainly is a Biblical practice that is best to adhere to.

Romans 13:8         
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Psalm 37:21                    
The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

I have learned a lot from my Dad. I do remember the candy, but I remember the life lessons on money and how to enjoy a good cut of beef! Pay our bills on time and have a good name.

God bless,
Marty

Let Me Call You Sweetheart 2/14/2019 Good Morning World!

Good Morning World!

Today is Valentines Day in the United States, and I started mine by having breakfast made for my wife. She has to work today and I am in my last full week of knee surgery recovery, and will be home today. So sausages wrapped in biscuits with a banana on the side was my way of showing my love today I kept my eyes open with a cup of Door County Dublin's Delight Coffee.

Mark 10:7-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁷ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

There will be a few men who will pop the marriage question today and ask their lady to marry them. An engagement ring will be given and then the poor fella has to wait, what seems to be an eternity for a yes or no answer from the lady.  Ladies, this takes great courage in some instances and for some it is easy, because they just know the answer will be yes.

In both cases the decision to ask someone to marry you or say yes to the question is a huge step, one that should never be taken lightly. Both people have one thing in common. God has given them their own life. It could last 30 years or 100 years. Only God knows that answer. Each person was created with a brain and in almost all cases they are self sufficient. They both might already have careers and good jobs. We will take for granted that they are fed and clothed. God designed us so in all reality, we really shouldn't need anyone else. Although I will concede that God did say that it wasn't good for man to be alone. ( Genesis 2:18) Before we were married Rene and I were both able to live on our own. We both had friends and made a decent living without each other. We enjoyed being together and grew to fall in love with each other. Yet  a decision had to be made by both of us.

The decision to take the one life God has given us and invite someone into it to share the next however many years we have, is the most unselfish decision I ever had to make. For Rene. it was the same. She wasn't saying yes to marry me out of need, it was that she decided to share her God given life with me.

Asking someone to be your permanent sweetheart and receiving an answer of yes is a gift that two people can give to each other that means so much. You are saying that I choose to share my God given gift with you, no matter what lies ahead. You both are accepting an unknown future. But it is the greatest gift you can give. I wish more people looked at it this way. So today as I look across the table I see someone who sad yes to my question and I am grateful that she allowed me to call her Sweetheart forever. But it was her choice to share her life with me and I with her. What started out as to single lives, has really become one life to live out together through the good and the bad.

So enough of this sappy chat. Cherish the life God gave you. Share it when you know it is the right time. Not out of need, but out of the desire to give the most precious gift you can give.

Marty

Good Morning World Preparing For Valentine's Day 2/13/2019

Good Morning World!

Today has started slowly for me me and that is just fine. My mug was just filled with Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee. My plate has a couple of eggs on it and two slices of heavily smoked bacon.

Tomorrow, Valentine's Day will be celebrated in the United States. I am not sure if it is observed elsewhere in the world or not. But right after the New Year has begun in the States, you start seeing more jewelry commercials, telling you to give the gift of gold or diamonds to the one you love. Displays of chocolates adorn the stores, lingerie, and cards expressing devotion and love are signaled out with adds in the news papers and on the Internet. Teddy bears are at an all time premium price. Roses are sold everywhere. The best restaurants are booked already and perfume is sold by the gallons. Nine months from now the Labor and Delivery wings of hospitals will be busier than normal. It is a day devoted to telling people how special they are to you. Young hearts and old hearts alike will flutter with new memories or recalling days of old.

1 Corinthians 13:13 New International Version (NIV)

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

My goal is not to defend this holiday or bash it. My wife gave me the inspiration for this blog today. While at work the other day, Rene was asked what we might have planned for this occasion. She smiled and said that we observe Valentine's Day every day. She went on to explain that, each day we both take care of each other and it is more than once a year flowers come home, or cards are exchanged. It is more than once a year that a special jar of mustard is purchased for her mustard expert. we both enjoy a good personal fragrance so bottles of aftershave or cologne are gifts given all year round.

So my advice to all is to celebrate the day or not celebrate the day. That is your choice. But I do recommend that you treat every day as a gift from God and work often to make the day special for those you love. If your wife has to wait a year to be told she is special, or your husband has to wait a year to get a bottle of aftershave. Two things could happen, he won't smell that great, and men you run the risk of having someone else tell your wife or girlfriend how special they are.

God Bless,

Marty

February Blizzard 2/12/2019

Good Morning World,

I am sitting at the kitchen table where I am contemplating the weather and how to match my coffee flavor to the blizzard outside. I have decided that Door County White Christmas Coffee will be the flavor of the day.  It seems appropriate.

It is not uncommon to have a blizzard in February where we live so for me it means I just go with the flow. The snow will melt and go away and then spring will come with a ton of yard work to do. That's life where we live.

Psalm 107:28-29 English Standard Version (ESV)

    and he delivered them from their distress.

²⁹ He made the storm be still,

    and the waves of the sea were hushed.

²⁸ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

But! Yesterday I watched the preparations for a snow event. Whitetail deer were moving toward more winter cover for the night and they were foraging for more food than normal. The local gas station had more cars than normal filling up with gasoline. The gas is always nice to have for two purposes. You never want to run out of it in a snow storm and the added weight of the liquid helps to keep your car from sliding around. The squirrels were busy loading up on grub also. The bird feeders had an ample supply of winged visitors.

My wife, Rene set the alarm clock to go off earlier than normal so she would have more time to drive to work. She refused to let me drive her in today. So she put on her big girl pants and "games on"!

Where is this babble taking us? Well, in life the blizzards or storms come each day. Families are busier than ever. Schedules are packed and stacked. If it's not one kid, it's two that need a little more attention on certain days. And it's usually on the day that one of the cars has a flat tire. My advice it not always easy to swallow or follow. But as the animals knew that a storm was coming and prepared the day before, we too knew it was coming. Whenever possible be prepared for something to change during the day. But, better yet, try to get those calendars under control. Learn to say no to some events that can take a no answer. For instance, kids and sports. Limit the sports. Does a child have to play football, basketball, and then track or baseball? Not really. Add two or more kids to the list and you have a "family circus". Learn to limit yourself to make sure you aren't grocery shopping at midnight. In all of the hustle and bustle, I wonder if people have enough time to pray. 

Last night, I placed the frying pan out on the stove. The ham was chopped, and the eggs mixed, and the butter was ready. In the event something happened or the storm was worse cereal was the back up plan for Rene's breakfast. Now this was done without the television turned on last night, so I could prepare for my part of Blizzard Tuesday.  Something had to go in order to adjust to the snow issue of the day. We have learned too much to multi task. I was listening to a young man tell me about his blood pressure last night, but he's too busy to take care of himself. I over did it yesterday in my exuberance to recover from knee replacements. I could have backed off a little, knowing that today was going to be a rough one. So as I sit here writing, I am wearing ice packs on two sore knees. Fortunately I made sure there was plenty of frozen assistance in the freezer before going to bed last night. I made a few trips to the freezer in the middle of the night and was glad that I was prepared.

So the word of the day is slow down! Trim the schedules. Take back your life, so you can think clearly and then when a storm or problems come, you can address them with a level head. Try to limit the "oops, shouldn't have done that" whenever possible.  Take time, make time for daily prayer and Bible reading. Keep in touch with the Master of all days.


God bless,

Marty