Rain, Rain Go Away. 6/22/15

Good Morning,

Job 38:28   

Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew?

Job 37:6 (NIV)

⁶ He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

Sunday and I am up early, drinking Door County Chocolate Meltdown Coffee. My thoughts this morning are prayerful. I am remembering our church mission team who is in Brazil for a short term trip to represent Jesus Christ and start the building process for a small church.

I have tried to figure out this weather we have been experiencing so far this summer. It has been raining now for about a week. Everyone is wondering when it will stop for awhile.

I have the answer. The answer is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When God wants it to. We might be experiencing more rain so the Great Lakes can provide water for people to drink. Maybe there is a drought coming and this is the way God is filling up the reservoirs. Maybe God loves mosquitos.

I am not sure what He has planned, but I know this, He has one. So I will trust that He knows best.

So enjoy your day. This is the day the Lord has made.

God bless,
Marty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spicy Hot Wings 6/21/2014

Good Morning,

Saturday is here and time for an extra coffee this morning. My flavor today is Door Count Peanut Butter Crunch. I will be meeting with a dear old friend today to shoot some clay targets. I am looking forward to the time.

Last night for supper we made a little bit of everything that all three of us might like to eat. I mentioned before that our Grandson Dominick is here for an extended visit. He really likes chicken wings. So for his third of the supper we cooked up some buffalo hot wings. From across the room I could smell that they were pretty spicy. But in the interest of being a team player I downed a couple myself. I think that sweat running from my face proved to him that the spices were hot enough. Dom ate a plateful and at this time I am still chewing Tums. There was a time in life when the food was never spicy enough for me. But as I get older just a little dash of pepper is enough.

I have to admit that I can't eat the things I used to. I have to become more disciplined to say no to these spicy foods that cause discomfort.

Great thing about the Bible. There is a verse for every cause or issue. The story above is true. The lesson is this. Seek out all answers for life in the Bible.

Proverbs 23:2         
And put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.

Now that is a severe answer!

God bless,
Marty

Complaint Department Closed 6/20/2014

Good Morning,

Friday has arrived and right on time. I have a lot of driving to do today so I am starting my day with some extra strong Door County Cherry Crème Coffee.

I was listening to a lot of people this week talk about the weather. There's too much rain. It's too hot, and then the inevitable, it's too cold. There is a saying in Wisconsin " if you don't like the weather wait fifteen minutes and it will change.

My belief is this. In general, people like to complain. My car is old. My husband isn't affectionate. My kids don't understand me. My job is boring. Winter is too long. The summer is too hot. The Packers played terrible even though they won. My feet hurt. We all just love to complain. Try to take note of what you say for the first four hours of today. Then see how many times you complained or whined. Listen for the complaints of other people. Add them up, the amount will surprise you.

Friends, the Bible has some wisdom to share on complaining.

Philippians 2:14        

Do all things without grumbling or questioning,     

Ephesians 4:29        

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.       

James 5:9        

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.       

Numbers 11:1-4        

And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them. Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat!

The bible has much to say about complaining. Here is the truth. God does not like it when we complain. So for the rest of today. Close your complaint department. Try it. You might just find yourself happier.

God bless,
Marty

Ketchup and Fries 6/19/2014

Good Morning,

Thursday and I can see Friday just over the top of my glasses. My coffee this morning is Door County Red Velvet Mocha. It has been a tough couple of days in our area of the world. Severe storms tore apart the Midwest the last two days.

So last night we pampered ourselves with some frozen custard at one of the local emporiums. While we were munching on our frozen treats I could not help but watch a toddler across from us eating away on a bag of French fries. He had his own unique style. He would dip his fingers into the ketchup and then pick up some fries and eat them. Besides being amusing to us, I found that he was very proud of his technique and quite satisfied with life.

I got to thinking about his style. I said to myself, " who says that the little guy is wrong"? It seems to work for him and he would rather dip his fingers than his fries. At the moment all that mattered to him were his fries and ketchup. He had no idea what a war was, our what it meant to go to work, he hadn't broken up with a girlfriend yet. He had no idea what abortion is, murder or rape.

I paused and looked up and prayed for that kid. "Lord I do not know his name, but please spare him from seeing the ugly side of life."

You know if we all thought like a little child wouldn't the world be just a little easier to stomach? We would just sit down eat our fries, share some, and down a Coke. Is that too much to ask?

Matthew 18:2-4

New International Version (NIV)

² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Have a great day. Be a kid.

Marty

Take Off Your Shoes 6/17/2014

Good Morning,

I am writing this morning with a song in my heart and a cup of Door County Hazelnut Crème Coffee in my mug. We are really enjoying some great time with Dominic our grandson. He has been a big help.

After a long day at work the first thing that comes off after my tie are my shoes. After a long day of hunting the first thing that I take off after coming home are the heavy boots I wear. There is just something nice about walking with bare feet in the summer or in a pair of heavy socks in the winter. Better yet my camouflage slippers let me know for sure that I am home. We are sending a Mission Team to Brazil to build a church and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They will be doing a lot of walking. I will be praying for their comfort and safety as they leave this Friday. Although they will have tired feet, their feet are blessed.

Romans 10:15 (ASV)

¹⁵ and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!

So next week when you get home and pull your shoes off and rub your feet, pray for those you know who are out on the mission field walking for Jesus. Let your feet be used as reminders to pray.

God bless,
Marty

Aiming High 6/16/2014

Good Morning.

Monday again and I don't quite see Friday in my glasses just yet. My coffee this morning is Door County German Chocolate Cake.

I had a wonderful time yesterday shooting sporting clays with my grandson Dominic. It was his first time out and he was a little apprehensive at first. He was a little disappointed at the first stand. But the apprehension left when he popped that first clay target on the next stand. I must admit that the course was pretty tough yesterday. As we were teaching Dom to anticipate the targets path and shoot above, below, or swing through laterally I did say that on the next shot to "Aim High". We told him to follow through and let his eyes lead his arms.

Hebrews 12:1-2a “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

That is how it should be in our Christian walk. We should always be aiming high to be more like Christ every day. We all have a starting point in life, and God isn't finished with any of us.

We need to "Aim High" and try to achieve the goal.  Take a look at where you are in your walk. Where would you like to be?

Like Dom, we can hit the target for our walk as long as our eyes are on Jesus. Follow through.


God Bless.
Marty

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.6/15/2014

Good Morning,

Coffee outside on the patio on our trusty picnic table. What a great way to start my day. My coffee of choice this morning is Door County Red Velvet Mocha. My wife and our grandson are both still sleeping, our Springer Spaniel Gibbs is sitting right next to me forever watching the sky for that first sign of fall. It is Father's Day here in America.  I sit back and reflect and  I am thankful for the hard working man I call Dad.  My brother and his boys are visiting him today and I will see him in a couple weeks. I look forward to that time. Our grandson will be with me and the three generations will share in a few days of fishing.

The prayer that Jesus gave us is called the Our Father. In the title for today I just wrote the first part of the opening statement. The second part of the opening verse is Hallowed Be Thy Name.

I am pretty sure that I cannot do written justice to those statements at all. First of all Jesus gave them to us. What could be added? Secondly they stand out alone as two of the most loving verses in the Bible.

The fact Christians can say "Our Father" at all is amazing. This right of adoption into God's family was paid for by suffering and love that surpasses all understanding. The next point is "Who Art In Heaven". Who doesn't want to see their Dad? This means that  we have a trip ahead of us and the family will be there. God will only take us to the best place. But then comes the "Hallowed Be Thy Name". We are reminded of Who loves us. Our Father is Holy, and deserves to be called in the most affectionate names. As we chew on that today, we are reminded how many times the name of God is abused and used in vain. When this is done by us or others it is speaking slander and malice toward our Loving Father. So as you observe Fathers Day today remember our Heavenly Father desires to be loved, respected and obeyed. That's all He asks for. So if you haven't sent a card yet and you really can't just open your mouth and say. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

It has instant delivery and is never late.

God bless,
Marty