Gossip Is A Dangerous Fall 3/14/2020

Good Morning,

I am enjoying a large, hot mug of Door County Toasted Pralines Coffee this morning and having enjoyed some solid sleep I am ready to write this morning.

I am taking a break from writing about the coronavirus. Just remember to wash your hands and don't touch your face. Most of all pray for the pandemic plague to be gone.

That being said, let's talk about another venomous entity called gossip. I have seen situations in my life when something happens to a person or family that it actually was made worse by having people spread the news to others. The incident was bad enough but when the gossip mongers took over and spread some additional uninformed news the situation became worse for the people involved. As a matter of fact what was a bad situation became an all out attack on the people involved as misinformation caused more of a lynch mob attitude.

Today with social media being where most people get their news from the misinformed rumors and gossip can spread around the world in seconds. Now, especially for the teenagers and young adults gossip has become in some instances deadlier than a gun. Cyber bullying by spreading gossip has caused many a suicide among this age group.

People make mistakes and then others take their dirty laundry and hang it out for the world to see. Friends, gossip is a sin and we forget that God is everywhere and hears us spread the gossip or juicy news. And we forget that God knows everyone of our thoughts and hears everything we say. What if He posted  your secret thoughts ( which you shouldn't be having) on social media? How long would it be before you were socially ruined. Two Bible verses come to mind when I think about gossip and it's attractive trap.

Proverbs 26:27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone will have it fall back on him.

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

God gives us a pretty stiff warning in these two verses. Gossip, and the tables can be turned right back to you. Until recently I had never given a thought to the fact that gossip can be deadly. Not only can it cause someone to take their life, but it kills the spiritual life of the one spreading the gossip.

So live well and remember what you say might just come back to you someday and it could hurt.

Wash your hands and be well. Love you all.

Marty

Toilet Paper Apocalypse 3/13/2020

Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Toasted Praline Coffee and I am quite content. It is now time to write.

It seems that the coronavirus has now caused a toilet paper shortage. Our home is usually pretty well stocked with toilet paper. I saw the shopping list and my wife had listed among other necessities the need for a few rolls of toilet paper. While she was watching the morning news, she called me to let me know that there was something declared in the media which was causing people to rush to the store and stock up on toilet paper. This created a panic and the rush was on to purchase more disinfectant scrubs, bottled water, food diapers, etc. I saw a lady with two shopping carts full of toilet paper running to check out. She either had an intestinal episode going on, or she was making a wedding dress from toilet tissues. The hard cold facts were this. She was hoarding toilet paper against this butt wipe apocalypse. She wasn't going to let anyone have even 1 roll. The stores looked like bombs had gone off and the shelves were bare of all kinds of supplies. Later I saw this same lady standing on the street selling the toilet paper for 5$ a roll. I went home without a roll and said we have enough for a couple days. Let's see what happens. 

Rene asked me what our back up plan was and I told her I didn't have one except for one she wouldn't like. I told her that since she was the one who left us "wiped out" without. We needed to take her shirts and cut off all the sleeves and use them as toilet paper. I could tell that she wasn't amused at all.  Later I went out to a store that had time to restock and purchased a bundle of toilet paper. The same size we always buy no more, no less.  I did not feel the need to purchase a lifetime supply of toilet paper since I don't know how long I will live. I did however think of a couple of people I would will some of my toilet paper to if I died. 

Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 22:37-39

Yesterday I saw ugly at it's best. People were ready to fight over toilet paper. I for one had plenty of leaves still on the lawn and an over abundance of catalogs that could be used to keep "my hiney clean".  People were not going to share or make sure that there is enough supplies to go around. They had only their self on their mind.  Ugly, ugly, ugly.

God expects us to be kind in all circumstances and to put others first. Yesterday I saw selfishness in it's prime.

Let's do better today.

Marty

Cut To The Bone 3/12/2020

Good Morning,

This morning is void of any interference or noise in the house. Our two English Springer Spaniels are sleeping on the floor next to me. I am enjoying the quiet and have been praying for awhile now. A hot cup of Door County Highlander Grog joined me for this devotional.

I read and study Scripture daily and I rarely miss a day of time in God's Word. When I do miss spending time in the Word I find that something seems to be lacking all day long. There is something missing and  it is that intimate time spent listening to God through His word.  My day just isn't right until I read, study and dine on the Word of God.

I truly believe that although I am breathing, walking, talking and taking in nourishment on those days, I am not really living unless I hear from God and let His Word penetrate my soul and stubborn heart. Two Bible verses eat at my heart when I am away from the Word.

Deuteronomy 8:3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your father know, that He might make you know, that man shall not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. 

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God, is living and powerful, it is sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Friends, when I open my Bible I know that every time I do there is something there there to teach me, confront me, calm me or equip me. In some instances it has pierced my heart to the core and has driven me to repent, change or move forward. The Word has kept me from mistakes and has led me through changes that came along in life.

I was pondering once again this coronavirus  and it's heavy mortality rate. There is some panic and a lot of fear to this new stage in the life of the world. But the Word of God has spoken to me once again.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.

Friends I am asking for you to pray. Not just in the United States, but also those who read this blog that are around the world, Italy, China, England, Korea both North and South, Japan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Germany, Brazil, and more.  I am asking that if you are quarantined, pray in your homes. God is there. If you can make it to church and can corporately pray with others do so. Follow the rules the authorities have established and show them the respect that is due their position. This too is Biblical.

You see the Word has cut me to the bone and has drawn my attention to do something. God is alive and well. Let's humble ourselves before Him and pray.

God bless,

Marty

When We Make God Small 3/11/2020

Good Morning,

I am convinced that mornings are the best time of the day. When I wake up with the alarm clock I still haven't screwed anything up. But later in the day when my pile of excuses, mistakes and wrong choices are plied up, I wish I could go back to the morning where the day hadn't been touched by me.
My coffee this morning is Door County Highlander Grog and it is time to write.

Joshua 24:14-15 English Standard Version (ESV)

Choose Whom You Will Serve

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

I can pile up a lot of different things that can slow down my day or weigh me down with anxiety or frustration. When I feel hopeless and want to just sit and not move I realize that I just made my problems and my choices bigger than God, which just can't be done. God cannot be contained, measured or be made incapable of delivering me from the anxiety that I choose to let stress me out.

When we make God a choice in our lives we make Him small in our minds and hearts. A small fake god is easy to overlook and make him a choice. When we make God a choice or an option He really becomes no option at all. Our desires and our fears have become our god , not the Creator of all things who cannot be contained and who can see the heart of each man. We stutter to justify our poor choices and often we look to others poor spiritual lives to make ourselves look better.

But God knows our hearts and the idols we place before Him. His wrath is worse than His bark and when he removes His hand from us, we wallow in our own choices.

So today, when you wake up be sure to make God the choice of your day and give Him the time He deserves. You will know when He decides to let you have the choices you chose over Him. Misery loves company but companions in misery are hard to find.

Marty

Coronavirus What I Am Going To Do About It. 3/10/2020

Good Morning,

I believe this cup of Door County Vanilla Creme Brulee Coffee is just what my body needed for a jump start to the day. It is time to write.

Wow this virus that has gripped the world has really wreaked havoc on the stock market, world health, and peoples nerves. Someone asked me what I was doing about it in my personal life. I replied that I wasn't going to do much of anything differently. The puzzled look back I received was almost hilarious.

I am pretty good at hand washing so I will continue to do that.  My finances are in the hands of a finance specialist, but in the meantime I will continue to work. I will follow the rules if any are set by the government and if I must not attend professional baseball games I will obey and watch them on television. In other words I will obey the authorities put over me and my family.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, but by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving , make your requests known to God.

I will not panic because I know that God is in control and I trust in Him. Now what I will do that some won't, I will pray for the virus to lose it's grip on us. I will pray about our finances. I will pray for those who are ill. I will attend church and pray some more. I will ask others to join me in prayer. I will pray for those who have had this virus take lives important to them.

Friends. I will pray and I invite you to do so also. Oh by the way, I am not adding prayer to my life. It has been there for a long time. I just need to add this virus to a prayer list that already exists. Some call on the CDC, I will call on God and pray "His Will Be Done".

Marty

You Might Not Like It. You Just Need to Respect It 3/9/2020

Good Morning,

I feel the need for more prayer today. My first stop for work has a one hour drive time so more prayer it will be. I will however take some Door County Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Coffee to sip on while I pray and drive.

Romans 13:7 Pay to all what is owed to them; taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed; honor to whom honor is owed. 

Last week my cousin and her two daughters came to town for a funeral. We had the distinct pleasure to have them stay with us for a few days. My cousin is a little older than I am and has lived on the East Coast for many years. Truthfully I have met her daughters a couple of times but never interacted with them as much as I had the pleasure to do on this trip. They are both lovely people.

So the big worry of the week was the fact that politically, the oldest daughter and I are on the opposite side of the world with our political views and preferences. Everyone warned us both not to talk politics with each other. I found this quite amusing.

A wise young man told me once, "you don't have to like it. You just have to respect it." And that is what we did.  It is amazing when you decide to respect the differences and opinions of another person and treat them the way you would want to be treated.
 You have already found a common ground to stand on. We did exchange ideals and preferences on a few things but chose to just enjoy the time together. I can tell you for sure that we both knew neither of us would change political views no matter what. But for me being heard and listening with respect helped me to find that we actually agreed in theory on at least one thing. It was actually pleasant watching some primary election returns together.

Respect can actually lay the groundwork for peaceful resolutions on many things. I believe respect is the key to wisdom.  Wisdom applied and used in a spirit of cooperation  and for the betterment of all can lead to great outcomes. But it all starts with respecting others regardless of whether we agree or not.  Not everything will always go your way, but in a system of free voting you just wait and change things when you vote. Insulting one another just makes family gatherings a misery that no one wants to share.

So my friends, we will always have differences but we also need to respect the other person and their views.

Marty

That First Step 3/8/2020

Good Morning,

I am out of bed and sitting at the desk praying for the world today. My cup of Door County Almond Toffee Coffee is steaming next to me and one dog is sleeping on my feet. It is time to write.

There are times when people who have continued to go down the wrong path in life finally throw up their hands in frustration and want to give up. They can't see a way out of their troubles and if they do see a way out, the road to freedom seems to be too hard to travel.

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands and make your hearts pure. Don't be double minded.

I have been there myself and just did not believe that God could ever straighten out a clown like me. Never did I think in a million years that He thought my life could be of value to anyone. My heart aches for people who are in that situation.

In many instances the first step to a new life is just what I called it. "The first step". I once had to leave a sinking boat and that first step out of the boat didn't take me safely to shore. It only took me deeper into ice cold water and a mud that felt like quick sand. But I knew I had to take that first step in the right direction toward the safety of the shore. That first step bogged me down but eventually I made it to shore, injured and freezing. But I made it to the next step.

Friends we often end up in our own sinking boats and see no where to turn. Our lives have been void of a relationship with God and we see no solid future. But God is faithful and always welcomes us back to the shore of His love and assurance. When we turn to Him with that first step He draws closer to a repentant heart and walks with us step by step out of the quagmire of life we created. But notice, I said step by step. By faith we follow the Good Shepherd and He walks with us through the next step and then the next one after that.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters I will be with you; when you cross the river the waters will not sweep you over; when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned I will be with you. 

When I was coming out of the mud that weighed my exit from the river down, each step was a step to freedom from the zombie grip that mud had on me. Each step taught me how to better navigate the following step without falling in deeper. God does not always pluck us out of the mess we made or find ourselves in. He allows us to rest a little and learn from the process step by step.

The first step is to admit you need to step in the direction of God and get yourself right with Him. Then allow Him to lead you to the next step and the next after that. But start with a healed and forgiven heart. One step toward God is all He wants you to take and He will draw closer. The second step might be painful, uncomfortable or frightening. But you won't make that step alone.

This was a pretty heavy message for a Sunday, but I know some folks that need encouraging today. Take the step and find peace.

Marty