When The Flame Goes Out 5/24/2015

Good Morning,

This morning I find myself talking up where I left off last night. My cup is filled with Door County Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee. I am located on the patio listening to Old Gospel Hymns with our dog Gibbs at my side. The aroma from the last of the lilacs is permeating the yard. I am blessed.

Last night found me sitting out here listening to Old Country Tunes. Rene has to work this weekend and her shift at the hospital starts at 4:00AM . So after church we had a quick supper and soon it was off to bed for her. Even when the weather is snowy and cold you can find me out here when time affords me the luxury to be here. I love a slower pace and the peace and quiet I find in the yard.

I sat here last night until my oil lamp ran dry and the flame flickered out. Which made me think about what I would write today.

I have lived a life that has been full of adventures. It has been a full life. I am sure there are a few adventures left in this one. Just waking up and going to work is a daily adventure. But there is one final adventure that I will make some day.

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 King James Version (KJV)

5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
³ If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
⁴ For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
⁵ Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
⁶ Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
⁷ (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
⁸ We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

1Thessalonians 4:13-18
¹³ But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.^[b]
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Some day the flame of this Earthly body of mine will run out of oil and burn out. My soul will then be present with the Lord. Then some day after that when the trumpet sounds my soul will be reunited with my resurrected body. This will happen for all believers in Christ Jesus. Those still alive will be raised up to the clouds with Jesus. We will be reunited with family that have gone on before. The Lord may come back today, if He does the believers who are alive will be reunited with our Christian loved ones in God's presence. Our separation is not permanent! (and then secondly there will be a reunion with Christ). One day the Lord will come back and Christians who are alive will be caught up to join the resurrected bodies of those who have died. "And so shall we ever be with the Lord."

But as with most adventures we need to be prepared. That preparation starts with a life that has been surrendered to Jesus Christ and who have asked to be forgiven for their sins. The realization for the need of a Savior and the acceptance of the free gift of Christ's death, burial and resurrection as pardon for our sin comes first. Then and only then are you ready for your lamp to flicker out.

Hope to see you there. It's a choice for all to make. Well a little rain has decided to rearrange my morning.

God bless,
Marty

What Is God Doing Today? 5/23/2015

Good Morning,

A beautiful morning has just popped up in my part of the world. All is quiet here with just the birds letting their lungs exercise with an orchestra of cooing and chirping. My mug is filled with Door County Coconut Crush Coffee.

Psalm 121:3–4
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep

John 5:17New King James Version (NKJV)
¹⁷ But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working

We can see from the verses written above that God never sleeps and is always working. God is busy doing something right now as I sit here plucking at keys on the computer. This weekend is a three day holiday weekend in the United States. It is devoted to remembering our fallen men and women who have fought for our freedom and for the freedom of others.

So it seems that many of us have some extra time to observe God and see what He is doing. So now I am looking out my window and I am not seeing God do anything but raise the sun. That is a huge feat and He certainly does not need me to help him perform that.

But what I can do is be prayerful the next few days (HOPEFULLY EVERY DAY)  and ask God to show me what He is doing and inquire to see if I can join in. For instance you might be enjoying a picnic somewhere and you see some people walking by. Does God want you to offer a drink and some food? Ask Him! The Holy Spirit will let you know in your heart. My friend Steve and I once went to a local area where homeless people congregate after God laid it heavy on my heart to share some food and coffee with them. It wasn't a huge amount of people we encountered that day, but a couple received a sweet treat and some coffee. We were obedient to what God wanted done. Maybe someone needs a ride to church. God wants them to be there, you could assist.  While walking and getting in your cardio workout for the day, maybe God tugs at your heart to turn left instead of turning right. You might encounter someone who needs a smile of encouragement.

In order to do this you have to pray, listen and be obedient to the call from God.

Your day could be  "ordained from above" if you want it to be. You might be the answer to someone's prayer if you are willing to ask.

How about putting this in your "day planner"? God can do all things without us. But wouldn't it be nice to be working right along side of Him?

God bless,

Marty

Wasted Times, We All Have Them. 5/22/2015

Good Morning,

Friday at last has popped just over the horizon. My mug is filled with Door County Raspberry Butter Crunch Coffee.
This weekend could not come too soon.

James 4:14   
Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Last night I traveled over to a house where I have spent some really good times through the years. My nephews used to live there. As I pulled up there were some little boys playing in the street with a soccer ball. My mind went back 12 years or so and it seemed from a distance that I was watching the boys with their friends once more. We used to shoot baskets in the drive way, throw the football, or play kick ball. Many a night was spent wrestling with those two Shriners on the living room floor. Birthday parties and other milestones were celebrated there. Christmas and Easter dinners were a hoot. We would all bet as to exactly when the younger one would spill his Mountain Dew.  I can still see the older one wearing shorts and cowboy boots asking me when I would take him hunting some day.

Now the house is for sale and the boys are headed in two good directions in their life and I am proud to be their uncle.

I have wasted a lot of time in my life, but none was wasted when it was spent with "the guys".

Time spent with family is never wasted.

God bless,

Marty

How To Have Healthy Teeth. 5/21/2015

Good Morning,

Wow another cold May day in Wisconsin. Still wearing a coat to work and drinking some hot Door County Highlander Grog Coffee to warm up.

I think that there are only three basic rules for having good teeth. I am sure many dentists would add a few more but I think that for today's blog, this approach will make it's point.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12New King James Version (NKJV)
¹¹ that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, ¹² that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

How to have good teeth.

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
2. See your dentist twice a year.
3.Keep your nose out of other people's business.

Wouldn’t it be great if everybody would mind their own business?
Wouldn’t it be great if everybody did what he or she was supposed to do?
Wouldn’t it be great if there weren’t so many busybodies?
People who were more concerned about your affairs than their own.
I believe that more could be accomplished and more would get done if people would learn to mind their own business.
It is amazing how much wisdom people have about other people’s affairs and so little interest in their own.
God actually tells us to mind our own business. Why?
Because there are too many are busybodies meddling in the affairs of others.

Try today to mind your own business and refrain from butting into others. See if at the end of the day you aren't happier and more at peace?

God bless,

Marty

All Dressed Up And No Place To Go 5/20/2015

Good Morning,

How about a big cheer for Wednesday? I am so looking forward to the weekend. I believe my cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee was the perfect choice for this cold May morning.

  John 3:16New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world ( ME YOU US) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

This verse says it all for me. This world is not my home, I am just passing through. Some day I am heaven bound. I believe in God there is no doubt.

When I look at nature I know God created all. There is no such thing as goo that turned into you.

 

My heart goes out to atheists. I wonder if their tomb stone will read?

Here Lies An Atheist

All Dressed Up

And No Place To Go

 

Pretty sad statement. But God said it best when He said I Am.

 

Have a great day. If you know where you are going after death and it is heaven, rejoice. If not, take Jesus at His word and call out to Him.

 

 

Romans 10:13King James Version (KJV)

¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

God bless,
Marty

Nudity And Television 5/19/2015

Good Morning,

How are you all today? My coffee is a fresh cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler. It goes down smooth and is just right with my morning devotional.

Comedian Phyllis Diller once said "there's so much nudity in films that this year's Oscar for clothing design will probably go to a dermatologist."

Modesty, is a word that I believe will soon be extinct in the dictionary. I am an older guy and not too old fashioned to understand the need for a swim suit or shorts. I really do believe people should wear underwear. but I don't believe that seeing a model or celebrity in theirs will persuade me to purchase one brand over the other. The commercials have gone from "Hey all under garments on sale this week" to models strutting their assets on stage leaving nothing to the imagination.

While we are on the subject I have been thinking of turning to a life of crime. I could easily rob most young men of their money and they couldn't catch an old dude like me because their pants will fall down. Come on guys, we are all tired of looking at your underwear. Be big boys and wear a belt. Pull up your pants.

Christians have a greater responsibility to dress in a modest way. As a Christian your behavior sets the tone for how others see you and your faith. Being modest in your appearance is just as great a witness to those around you as your words. One issue many non-Christians have with believers is that they tend to be hypocritical. If you are preaching purity and modesty to others while wearing revealing clothes you may be seen as a hypocrite. By being modest you allow people to see your inner faith rather than your outer appearance.
1 Peter 2:12 - "Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." (NLT)

Well that's my blog for today. And I am sticking to it.

Have a fun day.

Marty

Without Love, I Have ? 5/18/2015

Good Morning,

I need to rest from this weekend, but that just doesn't seem to be in my sights just yet. So time to put on my big boy pants and coffee up. My coffee of choice this morning is Door County Blueberry Crunch.  Now for a question. Without love??? I have what???


1 Corinthians 13 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Greatest Gift

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
ANSWER
I have nothing, Nothing at all do I have.

Have a great day and pursue love.

God bless,

Marty