Too Many Passwords, Combination Locks And Keys 3/7/2023

 Good Morning,

The sound of coffee brewing in the kitchen woke me up this morning and right after that sound came the aroma of some Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee directly to my nose. 

Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship in in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

In the days of much needed security, physical and cyber, I find myself at times so secure that I can't even get into my own business. 

We have alarms on the house. An alarm for my wife's health. The vehicles can be locked down tight with after market equipment. My guns are in a vault with a lock that befuddles me now and then. Every different business transaction has personal information and a user name with what else a "Password!!!"

I keep a list of the passwords at our bank in a safe deposit box. Ones that are used more often are memorized or written down and locked up elsewhere. Last time I could not remember one I also could not remember where I hid the key. The dogs are chipped in case they go missing or are stolen. 

My point for today is that we have too much to remember and no wonder people blank out under stress from just plain old living. 

Some day when God calls me home I will be in a land where there are no combinations to remember and I won't need a password. People will be honest and we will have no worries. Imagine that my friends, a place with no sin. 

I just thought I would share this fact today. No sin in heaven. Not a care in the world. We are just passing through this world.  I hope this thought lightens your load and gives you hope to carry on today. 

God Bless,

Marty

Face The New Week. But Not Alone 3/6/2023

 Good Morning,

Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee greeted me in the kitchen today and It is highly regarded!

So we start this week as always with Monday. Most people know their schedule for the week before Monday arrives. You know what you face and some of the details for the week. For some it will just be another week without much difference than the other 51 weeks. Others will be facing some challenges. It could be financial, health, work load, changes in family structure, or loneliness. 

I heard this verse on a pod cast yesterday morning and it struck home that we all need to be reminded that whatever we face we don't face it alone. And no evilness will overtake us. 

2Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever amen. 

No matter the attack, you are never alone and in someway, somehow, we will be rescued from it. 

God Bless,

Marty

You Really Don't Gain Any Height. 3/5/2023

 Good Morning,

I just filled my mug with some Hot Door County Peanut  Butter Crunch Coffee and I am ready to write. 

2 Timothy 3:2-4 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to authorities, ungrateful, unholy, 3. heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not loving good, 4. treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure than lovers of God,

Some people are not happy unless they are making others feel small and insignificant, They try to increase their stature in the world at the expense of others. I have news for those type of people. No one ever increases in height at the expense of others. 

As a matter of fact they decrease in stature each and every tine they open their mouth. They usually become very lonely because others avoid contact with them. Mother always said this. "Those are the type of people that you would like to buy for what they are worth and sell them for what they think they are worth."

I find it easier to be around people who are uplifting, positive and unselfish. I would say that most of us would rather be lifted up than put down. 

So, I ask. What kind of person are you? Do you love others as much as you love yourself? Does money rule your world?  Are you proud to a fault? Are you arrogant, abusive, and disobedient to authorities? Are you ungrateful, reckless, heartless, unholy, slanderous, and out of control? Are you puffed up and not lovers of God?" 

If you were holding yourself accountable and that last paragraph were a test, would you receive a passing grade?

The world tears people down and you building them up?

Food for thought on a Sunday. 

The First Response Isn't Always The Best One 3/4/2023

 Good Morning!

My day started very early with a hot cup of Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee and prayer. 

I strive for one goal a lot and somehow, someway, I always fall short of what I think should be an easy goal to achieve. I am thinking that if I could accomplish this one goal, it might be possible to string another day after the first day. Hopefully it could become a positive habit and frame of mind. 

Philippians 2:14-15 Do everything without grumbling or complaining, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars.

I would like to go 24 hours straight without complaining or grumbling. I almost made it last week until I was asked about the weather and in a split second I was complaining about the snow we received. Instead of "I am happy and blessed to own a snow blower. Or that snow will fill the rivers and lakes which have been down on their levels." It just seems that in 24 hours I always find something to complain about. 

I do most of the cooking and now and then I will dig out a cook book and try something new, just to have a variety of meals. While were were dining on a new dish my wife complimented me on the chicken. Wouldn't you know it? I replied with "it was ok, but a little dry." Her reply to me, was "I would bet you wouldn't complain if they just dug you out of earthquake rubble after 7 days in Turkey. I bet this chicken and some water would taste pretty good." 

So today in an effort to grow in my walk, I am trying once more to go 24 hours without grumbling or complaining. I challenge everyone to also count your blessings instead of whining and complaining. 

Let me know how it works for you!

Marty

It's Only Make Believe 3/3/2023

 Good Morning,

Friday is here and the sky is cloudy and we really aren't sure what the weather will bring today. But with a hot mug of Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee at my side and sitting at my desk, it is time to write. 

2 Corinthians 5:7-8 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8. Yes we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

When I started up my lap top this morning, I had the date staring me in the face and I had to deal with it. March 3rd is my sister Laurie's birthday. She would have been celebrating her 63rd birthday today. Cancer riddled her body and after a good fight she was taken to heaven. I can't help but recall some of her life today and of course I am a little sad. Prior to my brother being born it was just Laurie and me in the brood. For a few years our family hit some hard times with our mother's health. We always had food and shelter but our mother was unable to provide consistent care for us and we relied on relatives a lot. I am grateful for each one that helped us out and loved on us. 

I am the oldest of us kids and was supposed to mirror my dad and at times I just could not be a manly seven year old. The shoes were hard to fill. My sister would often try to encourage us both with her imaginary tea parties and luncheons. One day in particular after a rough couple of days and mom being hospitalized for what we knew would be a long time, I was sitting outside on the house steps. Laurie came outside by me and asked me to come to her tea luncheon. She would set a small table with her play dishes and we would drink water from the cups and pretend we were eating cake. I went along with her charade thinking she too felt lousy and afraid. I asked her why she had set three plates and the four year old replied. One is for Mom. Let's make believe she is here and this goes away fast. We rarely ever discussed those days in the future. We just chose to enjoy the better days that came along and it was like they did not happen. 

Here is my thought for today. Life delivers some harsh blows now and then and we really can't make believe they aren't here. But as I am a little melancholy today and missing that sister of mine,  I know her faith and where she resides now is in heaven. I know she was ushered in by Jesus with her last breath on Earth. So being realistic I know she lives on and some day I will see her again. I will raise a toy cup to salute her birthday in heaven. And the tears I have running down my face are only make believe. So my friends, cling to the good memories and they work to erase the bad memories and sometimes it's like the bad things were only make believe.

Marty

Choose Your Friends Wisely 3/2/2023

 Good Morning,

This morning finds me at my desk with a hot mug of Door County Vanilla Cream Brulee Coffee and two dogs at my feet. It is time to write. 

In recent days as I was watching the nightly news there was once again an incident involving some teenagers, a stolen car, and a joy ride that killed people. I am sure that no one involved, the guilty nor the innocent thought that their trip that night would involve someone dying. But stealing a car and then driving at very high speeds usually doesn't have a good outcome.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Don't be misled. " Bad company corrupts good character.

Maybe all the teenagers in the stolen car were of like minds, yet somewhere along the way the group was assembled by choice. A choice was made by each and everyone involved to hang out with the wrong people. They chose to be with those who think lawlessness is a good time. Before these incidents of mayhem and death, there was an opportunity to say no and walk away. Oh I am sure there are times when a kid gets into a car and might not know that it is a stolen vehicle. They aren't the driver and are stuck being part of a crime and tragedy. But ultimately they chose the wrong friends. 

This also applies to the rest of us. We choose our friends and who we associate with. If at times you have to tolerate less than good behavior while in the company of your friends or family and you find that you have been included in a bad situation, it is time to find new friends. 

We all have the ability to choose right from wrong and when we are prodded to accept less than right, we made the wrong choice in friends. Choose wisely your companions so they don't rub off on you. Be wise in the companions you keep.

Marty

Don't Be So Quick To Fire Back. 3/1/2023

 Good Morning,

My Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee is very hot this morning and It feels good as I hold the mug with my hands. It warms from the inside and the outside. 

I for one want to say that we have a quick witted society that can cut you up with just a few words. We are gun slingers of the mouth and very good at it. A lot of people fire back after a verbal insult in Nano seconds with a response that cuts to the bone marrow of our hearts. Just watch some of the sitcoms of recent past and the here and now. The Roseanne show is a perfect example of a family that could reply to any comment with a sharp return answer of nastiness. 

It is a natural reaction to repay an insult with an insult. "You hurt me, I hurt you back". But God calls us to the "Unnatural".  It is not natural to absorb hurt, pain and ridicule, yet Jesus set the example by not responding to the insults hurled at Him on the day He was crucified. He actually asked God the Father to forgive them. 

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 

When we lash out to others who have insulted or verbally attacked us we have become just what they are, no better or no worse, but like minded. To the world we are no different and fail to live the life we were called to. 

This is hard not to do and at times almost impossible. But yet we are better for not having returned nastiness for nastiness. It is not good for us to harbor responses in our hearts like a peaceful battleship afloat on the ocean just waiting to unload on the next person who picks on us. Instead of firing back with an equal measure of meanness we can pray for that person and ourselves. It takes practice and determination to not live "Naturally". 

Food for thought today, 

Marty