What Gift Can We Give To God? 12/11/2018

Good Morning,

Tis the season to shop and later this month exchange gifts with those we love. As I think about that for a minute I will sip on my cup of Door County White Christmas Coffee.

I sat last night looking at all the gifts God has blessed Rene and I with. We have much to be grateful for, especially the gift of one another. So I pondered exchanging gifts at Christmas and I asked myself this question. If I were able to give God a gift what would I bring to Him? I certainly would not bring Him a pan of our best lasagna. He can make His own and it would be better than anything I could make. One doesn't bring God a pair of socks or a tie He doesn't need.

What we give God should be the gift that glorifies Him. How we respond to life and other people will be rooted in how we respond to God. Do we fight Him or do we glorify Him? How do we know? The answer is in how we are with our attitudes and mindsets; are we humble or proud? If we are proud, we are serving the devil, even though we may think we are serving ourselves. If we are humble, then we are serving our Lord. This strikes at the root of our mindset and motives for life.

The first gift we can give is the willingness to Submit. To submit means to obey, which means to line up under. It is a military term that means to "get in line" under the leadership of those who are more mature and capable. It is the surrender of our lives to God so we are in His will. We are urgently called to accept the absolute authority of God. We are under His authority whether or not we acknowledge Him. It does no good to fight God. 

James 4:7 English Standard Version (ESV)

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

1 Peter 5:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

So instead of fighting with God, give Him the only gift that glorifies Him. Give Him your heart.

Have a great day!

Marty

The Cure For That Bug That Is Going Around 12/10/2018

Good Morning,
My coffee today is Door County Wisconsin Harvest Blend. And I am glad that it is extra hot this morning.

I must say that I am feeling a little bit under the weather today. There is a bug going around and I am doing my best to avoid it. So how do we turn this event of mine into a devotional?

I can only speak for me but I am sure that many of you do the same thing. I burn the candle at both ends. It seems that I cannot remember the last time I slept for seven hours. Busy, busy, busy. Going here, doing this or that, work, church, family, hobbies and just plain old stress. Then it comes. The fever, the aches, the runny nose or runny other ends. Yuck.

What does the Bible say?

Psalm 127:2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Sleep and rest. We need to be recharged. God set the example when after creating the world and all in it. He rested on the seventh day. God loves you and created us to be tired. It is the signal for us to sleep and rest. That is exactly what I did last night. Why read God's Word and not obey? I figure if God could create this world He sure can give me advice on how to stay healthy.

God Bless,

Marty

Look Who's Watching 12/9/2018

Good Morning,

It's cold outside, but yet we go another day without snow, while other parts of the world who usually do not receive any snow are being pounded with a huge snow storm. I for one feel like they have stolen our winter. I guess it is best to be content and drink my cup of Door County Christmas Coffee and write to all of you.

Proverbs 22:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

And when he is old he will not depart from it.

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

Last night we held our annual Christmas Caroling event at our home. We did take gifts and song to two homes for the elderly. Then we returned to our home for fellowship, which always includes food and beverages. It was an awesome time of fun and service. There were about twenty people including us who were partakers in the evening.

1 Peter 4:9 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁹ Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Within the twenty people there were two children. The kids are nine and ten years old. One accompanied her grandparents and the other one was with his mom. First of I would like to say that these two behave very well and are a credit to those raising them. They both participated in the singing, the giving of gifts and then the time of fellowship. I did not think much beyond the fact that they participated and how well behaved they were until I prayed for them this morning.

Hebrews 10:24 New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

After I prayed, the thought of what they witnessed last night crossed my mind.

1. They saw respect for their elders being shown and practiced.
2. They saw prayer in action. (We prayed before we went out and while with the elderly)
3. Rene and I are the only ones who see these elderly folks regularly. So the kids witnessed being        kind to strangers.
4. They witnessed a group of Christians coming together for a cause and working to pull it off.
5. They witnessed adults and kids bringing the love of Jesus to others.
6. Rene and I open our home to this event annually. The kids witnessed hospitality.
7. The listened and were partakers in the fellowship filled with conversation and laughter.
8. They saw inclusion at work. These two participated and were not treated as "kids" to be seen and not heard.

Believe me when I say " these two great kids were also watching us". They saw how Christians can come together and accomplish much in the name of God. They saw a group of people gathered for a holy cause have fun in the process. I hope I live long enough to see the byproduct of last night. I believe these two received a lesson that they can choose to practice as they mature and maybe they will apply what they saw in school now. Time will tell. But last night they were set on the right path.

Friends, remember this. Those young eyes, we tend to forget and take for granted are always watching. What lesson are you teaching them?

Marty

Christmas Carols And The Elderly 12/8/2018

Good Morning,

It's a typical cold December day in this part of the world. I have a warm fire crackling downstairs in the fireplace, a cup of Door County Candy Cane coffee, next to me and our dog Gibbs is asleep on my feet. Only one thing is missing, and that one thing is a blanket of snow.

Tonight a few of  us from our church will go out and sing Christmas Carols at two homes for the elderly after our evening service This is an annual event and afterwards Rene and I open our home to a time of fellowship. The fellowship is a byproduct of the singing. There will be hot soup and some other munchies served with hot chocolate and coffee.

Now the details of the fellowship time and the actual caroling is not really what is important here. Yes, serving the elderly and bringing them a couple of gifts is nice and more than appropriate. But it is the "Why" of the event that is important.

The reason for any of this tonight is to show the love of God and just how great He is. Now God does not need us to toot His horn for Him. The Uncreated Creator of all things  stands on His own glory. Yet it is in appreciation of His great gift to us, Jesus Christ which brings us to sing His praises by caroling. This time of caroling is a continuation of our worship which was started at our evening church service. The caroling is is a form of Biblical worship to our great God. Now some of us, especially me sing off key, but it doesn't matter. We will lift up God in song and He won't mind how it sounds. He loves an effort that comes from the heart.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart… (Ephesians 5:18-19)

God’s people are more than just invited to sing; we are commanded to sing. When we sing, we’re doing what God asks of us. He teaches us what he likes.

So get out there and sing for the Lord. You will enjoy it and it is Biblical.

Marty

December 7th 1941 Beware Of Surprise Attacks 12/7/2018

Good Morning,

A big cup of Spicy Nutcracker Coffee from the Door County Coffee Company awaits me in the kitchen when I finish writing. Today we remember the attack on Pearl harbor 12/7/1941.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack, also known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor, led to the United States' entry into World War II.

What can we personally learn from the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor? Answer. We must grasp the importance of being alert to surprise attacks in our personal lives.

2 Corinthians 11:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Jesus calls the devil a thief, Paul refers to our adversary as an "angel of light," and Peter sees him as a prowling lion. If we live in delusion about this we will suffer the surprise attack that brought down many Godly people including evangelists and pastors.

1 Peter 5:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour

We become numb to the craftiness of Satan and what started as what could be termed as innocent, leads to a downfall of epic proportions. Counseling, leads to coffee just to help. Coffee leads to hugs, hugs lead to more and shazamm we have the "more" which leads to hurt, embarrassment and destruction of families and lives. One drink won't hurt and then it is one a day. Then the "more" happens. What can be innocent turns ugly.

Missing church to rest up and sleep in become easier with each absence. Soon we are ashamed to come to church. We believe that God cannot forgive us and that people are looking down on us when we return to church. If people are looking down at you, I suggest that they have already succumbed to their own sneak attack called a "bout with self righteousness."

We can and must learn from Pearl Harbor.

I also want to remember those who were there that day 12/7/1941. We thank you for your service, This writer is proud to be from the United States. You will not be forgotten.

God Bless,

Marty

Saying I Love You With Action 12/6/2018

Good Morning,

I just heard the Door County Mocha Mint Coffee begin to brew in the kitchen. Very soon I will be going downstairs to sip that first cup and then head off to work.

A dear relative of ours  announced to all of us a few weeks ago that she is in a battle with pancreatic cancer. This floored all of us and for a time I was speechless. I thought that I if ignored it, the bad dream of this cancer attack would just go away. It didn't.

James 1:22 New King James Version (NKJV)

²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 

Of course we all started praying and many prayer warriors have been called upon to help with the prayers. It isn't a disease that we can do much about and our help is limited to caring and assisting any way we can. This is in the hands of God, the doctors and the nurses.

This bad news made me think about our childhood and how I sat across from my siblings eating bacon for breakfast. Bacon and toast would often be the beginning staples of our day, way back when. The word cancer causes many emotions and many actions. For me it has caused me to reminisce about better days and fond memories. Eating bacon for breakfast just happens to be one of those. This relative taught me to eat bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches.

I asked my wife Rene about sending her something that says we are thinking of you. She replied "send something that reminds you of past better days and of better days yet to come." A shipment of specialty bacon was ordered and sent last night.

Friends, sometimes we need to put our faith and love into action. Now even if this little gal does not eat the bacon her family will. We might feel helpless, but there is always something we can do to love, encourage or bring good cheer. We just can't wish it happens, we have to make it happen.

People won't always know they are loved unless we show it. Cards, letters, and small gifts are all tangibles that go with the words "I Love You."  It is important to say it, but we can also show our love in actions.

God bless.

Marty

Do You Need The Great Heart Surgeon? 12/5/2018

Good Morning,
Pretty cold here in Wisconsin today. My coffee cup is filled with Door County White Christmas Coffee.

Just a little trip back into history.
Groote Schuur Hospital was placed centre stage in the world's spotlight when Professor Christiaan Barnard performed the first human heart transplant on the third of December 1967.

Heart transplants have been taking place now for 51 years. Many times over these surgeries have given new life to someone.

Ezekiel 36:26  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

God is also in the business of heart transplants. He takes even the hardest of hearts and transplants a new one spiritually. The heart is the spiritual center of every person. When God's Spirit becomes the center of peoples lives, Scripture says they are "born again". The new heart gets a new start.

A loving person where there was an angry mean person before.
A sober person where there once was a drunkard.
A caring and unselfish person where there once was a self centered and selfish person.
A patient person where there once was an over anxious person.
A servant where there once was a ruthless tyrant.

Only the Spirit of God can perform a transplant like those listed above. No self effort can jump start a dead life. Only God's gift of His presence can jump start a heart into a permanent change.

In order to receive a new heart from God one must consent to the change and allow the Great Physician to do His work on the heart of stone. What do you say? How about surrendering the part of your heart that needs a change? Allow God in to heal your heart and help it to beat for Him and others.

God bless,
Marty