They Were With Jesus 5/28/2014

Good Morning,

Wednesday and I am starting the day with a big cup of Door County Red Velvet Mocha coffee. I went to bed late last night. My mind was like a train station with thoughts coming and going like trains at Union Station. My mind finally slowed down and I was able to sleep a little. So the coffee is going to hit the spot in a big way.

Acts 4:13

¹³ Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

We see in our Scripture, that after Pentecost, Peter and John anointed with the Holy Spirit were different. What the Roman leaders noticed was "they had been with Jesus". Many Christians go through life and cannot be recognized as Christians because no one sees a difference in them from their former life. They show no evidence of having spent time with Jesus. Spending time with Jesus through prayer and reading our Bible is the key to being different. Spending time cultivating our relationship and accepting His love causes us to want to be different. An old preacher once said "if you is where you was, you ain't."

I think if we were all to spend more time with the Savior we would find that we would be different and want to keep it that way. As we see from the example of Peter and John, Jesus brings out the best in people.

Love to you all.

Marty

Generator Repairs

Good Morning,

Today is starting with a hot cup of Door County Heavenly Caramel Coffee. Last night was very unusual. A small storm rolled through and knocked out our electrical power for a few hours. I welcomed the rain but did not think that the storms were strong enough to impact the power.

Our neighbor was having difficulty starting his generator. A couple of us went over to help. A little starting fluid and a few pulls and the generator sputtered and started.  It seems as if the gasoline in the generator was a little old and he had not run his generator for awhile. We added fresh gasoline, prayed and went home.

I think life is like that too. We get comfortable and busy. Next thing we know our prayer life gets slack, Bible time reduced and then something happens and we fall apart. We need some starting fluid to get a dead engine going. Or better yet a reminder from someone to not to neglect the engine in the first place.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17

The fact is, we were never meant to walk this life alone. God made that very clear when he stated it as His very reason for creating a partner for Adam in Genesis 2:18, “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.’” After God repeatedly says “it is good,” we get our first picture of what God deems to be “not good.” But why is it “not good” for man to be alone? Because we were created for community.
To hold each other accountable and make each other strong is not an option, it’s a command of Scripture. Paul commands in Galatians 6:2, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” This begs the question, “How does sharing your burdens allow you to obey the law of Christ?” Because when you have someone encouraging you to do what is right, and kicking your butt when you screw up, you’re going to be walking in the Spirit and following His law.

We need to take care of our spiritual engine before it becomes hard to start.

Think about it. Do you have an accountability partner?

God bless,
Marty

Honoring Our Fallen . 5/26/14

Good Morning.

I am writing today a little later than usual. I did fill a thermos with Door County Highlander Grog coffee to stay with me throughout my adventures. My day started early with a little scouting for duck season and some time later to honor our fallen American Veterans. A grateful nation says thank you.

Thank you for fighting and giving your life for our freedom never seems to be enough. As I go through life and discover veterans as I go, or active military members, I make sure to say thank you to them. I have had several say "it was my honor to serve you". And they always reply with a thank you in return. This always amazes me. They say thank you for a thank you. I am proud to say that I am the son of a veteran who is still alive. He still salutes the flag, removes his hat during the singing of our national anthem and places his hand over his heart. He always says that war was not anything he would wish on anyone but that he would do it all over again if asked to.

Today let's pray for the families of the fallen, the older veterans we are blessed to still have with us, the new veterans and the men and women currently serving. Let's pray for peace that we might not have to lose anymore.

John 15:13

King James Version (KJV)

¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Have a wonderful day.

Marty

Watching The Sun Come Up 5/25/2014

Good Morning,

I am starting the day with a cup of Door County Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti Coffee. Today is my wife's birthday. I wish her many, many more. There will be a little outing tonight to try a new food emporium that opened recently to celebrate her life.

Genesis 1:14

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;


I was up early today. It seems as if my internal clock does not recognize those days when I could grab a little more sleep. Well that's what naps are for. There might be one in my future today.

As I awoke today, it was still dark outside. The coffee had just finished brewing and I grabbed one of my favorite mugs, filled it and headed out to the back yard. It was cool outside and as I was sitting there in a pair of gym shorts questioning my intelligence level for not wearing sweat pants, when the sun started to rise in the East.

It came up slowly and started to shine on the lilacs and apple blossoms in our yard. I could see the tomato plants that were recently planted in the vegetable garden. Birds were starting chirp and coo. Two mallard ducks flew over so low that I could hear their wings in the still morning. One of them gave out a hearty quack as to say "Good Morning". My portion of the world was at peace today and busy at dawn.

I thought about some of the places I have been on mission trips and a few of the people I met along the way in different countries. The sunrise made me think about how many places I have been and that it was always the same sun that greeted me and warmed me up each day. Now I will admit that a few of the tropical places were "well heated" and the heat wasn't always appreciated. But there was one trip where the climate at night was very cold and the shelter we were using did not have heat. In the middle of the night I would look at my watch and say to myself "only a couple hours until I warm up". I knew I could count on that sun rising and the impact it would have.

Each day the sun rises and gives us warmth and light. I know that there are places in the world where the sun stays up and there isn't any night for up to 85 days in Alaska.

But can you imagine days upon days without the sun's light? Each day when the sun comes up we are reminded that God our Creator knew what the Earth and we would need. Each sunrise is a gift from God and shows us that He cares. God was well ahead of the technical revolution. He never uses still pictures. My morning was in full color and  moving. God let me see a live shot of His love and power. 

So in ending today. Take the time to enjoy a sunrise. Get up a little earlier on a day when you don't have to rush off anywhere and enjoy the video that God has planned just for you.

God Bless,
Marty

Fighting Temptation 5/24/2014

Good Morning.

My coffee today is Door County Heavenly Caramel. I have to work for a couple of hours this morning so I will be headed out soon to return to some yard work later.

Temptation. Everyone has a week spot that we are tempted to cave in to.  It could be anger, jealousy, list, greed, alcohol, drugs, lust, over eating, laziness or being rude. If you read these again you will notice that anyone of these if acted upon can open up a can of seven kinds of crazy and start problems for you and those around you. Make it worse by combining a couple of these and you have "Disaster". Now you don't have to own both of the weaknesses to start the disaster, you might be prone to laziness and your spouse has an anger issue. When we give into the temptation to be lazy and our spouse gives into a burst of anger the calamity begins.
Temptation does not come from God.

James 1:13-18

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. ¹⁸ Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.

Satan knows our weaknesses. Out a plate of cocaine in front of me and there is no temptation. Put a duck hunting trip in front of me at the same time as a family gathering and I am tempted beyond belief.

There is a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMP)

¹³ For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

 

We can use one of the first words we learned as a child. NO. we can say no and then run to the right choice. We must resist.

 

James 4:7

King James Version (KJV)

⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Not only are we to resist but submit to God. We must learn and memorize Scripture to battle the devil. There is power in the word. Submission to God is declaring our love for Him. Loving God and is the first defense against giving in to temptation. We don't want to sin against someone who loves us enough to send His Son Jesus to die for our sins.

This lesson is fool proof. Try it. God guarantees it.

God bless,
Marty

 

What To Plant In Your Garden. 5/23/2014

Friday and it came just in time. Good Morning to you all. My coffee today is Door County Chocolate Meltdown.

This weekend the United States will be observing a holiday. It is our Memorial Day. It is the day that we remember those who have given their life on behalf of our country and it's freedom. I will devote more time to that on Monday.

It is also a time that for many is the time to plant their garden. Much time and study goes into what flower, plant or vegetable will be best in the soil you have to work with. As for us we have both types of gardens. One small vegetable garden and a few flower plots. Tomatoes and onions seem to do best in our climate and soil. The two are also favorites of ours.

We usually do harvest more tomatoes than we can preserve or eat. But we have decided that when we harvest more, we have more to share with neighbors and friends.

So when deciding what you are going to plant whether it be flowers, fruits or vegetables plant what you like most. But plant enough to share. It makes that sun burn on your bald head all worth it when you can give a neighbor of family member a few tomatoes or a jar of salsa.

Hebrews 13:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.


God bless, plant much, plant often.

Marty

Scripture Verse on the Moon 5/22/2014

Thursday Morning and it is one more day until Friday.

My coffee this morning is a big cup of Door County Red Velvet Mocha. It looks like it is going to be long one.

I was listening to a radio show yesterday and the radio evangelist was talking about the moon landing that the United States performed in 1969. One of the items that the astronauts left was a placard with Psalm 8 transcribed on it.

Psalm 8  (NKJV)

The Glory of the Lord in Creation

To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath.^[a] A Psalm of David.

O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,^[b]
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
⁷ All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
⁸ The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth

 

I was thinking that Psalm 8 was probably the best Scripture that could have been left on the moon. It was very appropriate and really honored God.

 

But then I thought " Hey the Word of God is On the Moon" That was followed by "that's nice but God was there too. Now that's a bigger deal."

 

Psalm 139:7-8

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;

 

As men we might even travel to Mars some day. But God was there first and will be there when we get to Mars. Now that's amazing!

 

God bless,

Marty