Home Again 4-22-2023

 Good Morning, 

A Thermos bottle is packed with Door County Toffee Pretzel Coffee  for me to drink later as I turkey hunt for a little bit today.

Ecclesiastes7:1 A good name is more valuable than precious ointments.

I traveled to Albany New York for a family funeral this week. We lost a young cousin this time around. 

The tribute to her life was very touching and it reminded me of the word Legacy. 

If we were to pass from this life, what would our legacy be? What would people say about us? I knew this young gal was special, but it was affirmed repeatedly all afternoon long by friends and family.

The best thing was that never once did she do something for others, expecting anything in return. The legacy of "Giver and "Unselfish" was the theme carried throughout the day. 

What is your legacy going to be? Only you can write it. 

God bless.

Marty.

My Blog Will Be Down From 4/20/2023 Until 4/23/2023

 Be well and God bless. I will be back with you all soon. 

Blessed Are The Pure In Heart.

 Good Morning,

I am ready to write a little bit earlier today. I am waiting for the Door County Cherry Creme Coffee to finish brewing and I will be filling my travel mug very soon.

I had a man tell me how he just doesn't see God at work in his life. He feels abandoned and claims to be depressed. He continually worries about things that are no real concern of his and has anger outbursts that can be measured on the Richter scale. At a time when He does need to see God at work in his life he has distanced himself from God because he allows himself to walk a path of anger, malice, crude talk, untruths and a mind full of self pity.  

There is only one person responsible for our walk with God and that is ourselves. We are responsible for how close we are with Him. And we are as close to Him as we choose to be. Only you can choose the path that leads to God. 

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts you double minded. 

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Have a great day.

Marty

Enjoy The Victory 4/18/2023

 Good Morning,

The busyness of this week is accelerating a little bit and I find myself in a hurry to get some extra work done today. With that in mind I just poured a hot mug of Door County Cherry Cream Coffee and it is time to write. 

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We want to make sure to thank God and consider it important to do so. The Apostle Paul is giving thanks for the victory Christ has won, triumphing over death and releasing us from the bonds of sin. It's this ultimate victory and the prize of heaven that we can enjoy and anticipate. We should enjoy this victory that can never be erased nor taken away from us. Just a little food for thought as you sit down to pray today! Say Thanks!

God bless,

Marty

When I am Angry With God. I am Really Angry With Myself. 4/17/2023

 Good Morning,

Door County Pecan Cinnamon Ice Cream Coffee just warmed me up and set my feet on steady ground and I am ready to write. 

I was conversing with a wonderful lady at church yesterday and the subject came up that she is worried about a family member who might be angry with God. I was reading my Bible last night and a daily devotional led me to read Psalm 73. 

I did some soul searching and recalled some times in my life when I was angry with God and found that each of those times had something in common.

1. In many instances my unhappiness, was caused by my own poor choices and my anger was misdirected.  I was really angry with myself and yet to save face to my inner being I blamed God from not rescuing me from the consequences.

2. The second thing on my list that made me at times snarly toward God was my lack of contentment. Jesus was sent to die for my sins. Isn't that enough? How dare I be dissatisfied with life and ask for more? So much awaits us in heaven. But yet there is only One who I need to thank and is the first One I want to see. 

Psalm 73:21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22. I was senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you. 23. Yet I am always with you. You hold me by my right hand. 24. You guide me with Your counsel. And afterward you take me into glory. 25. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. 26. My flesh and my heart fail , but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Deep down inside I know that I have no one to blame for most of the troubles I have gone through in life except myself. 

God bless,

Marty

The Spring Sprung 4/16/2023

 Good Morning,

Door County Mocha Mint Coffee filled my cup this morning and it is doing a fine job of warming me up. It is time to write. 

Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.; You stretch out your hand against the wrath of the enemy. 

Yesterday had a lot of things going on for both my wife and me. Late morning I received a call from a dear old friend. I have known him since the 2nd grade and about once a month we reach out to each other. Our talk usually always consists of bringing each other up to speed on the things going on with us and our families. 

Yesterday was no different except for the fact that he wanted to share news about a huge blessing he received. My friend is a man of prayer and prays for others and his own family. 

He began his news with, "God protected me". He then went on to explain that he was traveling down the interstate and as usual he prayed for safe travels before hitting the highway. While enjoying the great sunshine that day and having a peaceful ride, a car in front of him lost a rear leaf spring. He couldn't avoid driving over it. This large piece of metal pierced the under carriage  of his automobile and  was stuck like a spear in a wild hog with sparks flying and bouncing along the highway. The metal missed all the vital components of the car, like brake lines, fuel lines, radiator, the gas tank, and the transmission. He just said to me. "It pays to pray and God was watching over me." He did say that a service center had a plan to to repair the large hole in the bottom of his car. 

Here's the point, the first thing he did when sharing the story was to praise God for His protection. The second thing he did was to credit prayer and the habit about praying before traveling. He said the large spring was a reminder to pray and praise God for the good and the bad. 

Just some food for thought before I head out on the highway to church.

God bless,

Marty 

Time To Trim The Branches 4/15/2023

 Good Morning,

What a nice week it has been in our part of the world and as I sit drinking a hot cup of Door County Mocha Mint Coffee I just need to smile and thank God for the warm weather and sunshine He gave us for several days.

John 15:1-4 I am the True Vine and My Father is the Gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while very branch that does bear fruit, He prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit itself, it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. 

It's that time of the year as I wait on the trees in our yard to blossom. I will then survey what branches are actually dead and hopeless. I will be trimming those branches so that new life can sprout from the main limbs. I will be doing that real soon.

The main point to my thoughts today is that we need to be aware that God surveys us like a gardener does his orchard and for our own good cuts away the limbs that rob the good fruit of water and nutrients. As God surveys us he often trims away the things that keep us from being fruitful within the church, our families and our work. 

I can tell you for sure that some of the branches from our trees, (the bad ones being removed) won't be able to protest, object or lobby to stay on the tree. In the same way, when God starts pruning us we are wise to accept the pruning and not fight it. The pruning process gives our trees more access to the sun. God's pruning removes all things that keep us from having a clear view of Jesus His Son

Food for thought. Out comes the saw!

Marty