Shoes That Keep Walking Back 11/14/2023

 Good Morning,

It is a day that will last a long time. So I am filling a travel insulated bottle with Door County Caramel Apple Coffee and it is time to write. 

Romans 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, I do not do. But what I hate, that I do. 

Have you ever wondered if you have purchased boots or shoes that have a mind of their own? You decided that something in your life is not good for you and can easily be classified as wrong, not right, or call it what it is, a sin. You are convicted to do something about it. You swear to God that you are quitting. You tell others of your choice to free your heart from some ugliness and purge your mind of evil thoughts. For awhile, you are on the road of abstinence and life is good.

But just when you think you are free from the soil of sin , those doggone boots turn you around and walk you right back to the cesspool of your life. 

Honestly, we can't blame our footwear for taking us back to issues we thought we left behind us. We can blame ourselves however for not having a plan to succeed. 

The plan should include the following. 

1. Daily prayer aimed at your issues.

2. Scripture is memorized to help you fight off the attack of Satan. He wants you to fail.

3. Accountability to someone who will get on you when you are headed back to your old pattern of behavior. They will tell you what you don't want to hear. 

Without a plan to succeed, most efforts fail, and the consequences are often worse every time you fail.

Get rid of those shoes that walk you right back to sin.

Marty

Hang In There.11/13/2023

 Good Morning,

I am enjoying a quick cup of Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee and it is time to write. 

Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 

There is a prayer that goes with this passage of Scripture. I thought that I would share it with you.

Dear God, Thank you for the hope and comfort that you provide to us, especially during difficult and painful times. We ask that you give us the strength to persevere and trust in the promise of your future glory. 

Friends, if you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior this is a gentle reminder that the best is yet to come to you for eternity. If you have not called upon Jesus for your salvation and assurance of heaven, do so today. Reach out and call upon the name of the Lord. 

Let go and let God.

Marty

A Quiet Sunday Morning 11/12/2023

 Good Morning,

I just sat down to write. My mug is filled with Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee and all is well this morning in our home.

Our church has a Saturday night service. My wife and I both attend the evening service and it fits our need to worship with others and serve in our church. 

Then comes Sunday mornings. I find that it is the best day of the week for my quiet time with the Lord. I am hardly ever rushed  to complete my blog and get anywhere. Many days have been experienced writing my blog from the duck boat or blind on a Sunday morning. We usually will have a breakfast that requires a little more work than just adding milk to some cereal. A better than usual meal is prepared for lunch or dinner and there have been many a Sunday that I plan on spending more time with my wife and acknowledging God's gift of her to me.  Some Sundays contain a picnic lunch, eaten at a roadside rest area while we travel to an antique shop. We are both grateful for those quiet Sundays.

It is the only day of the week that I allow myself to listen to some soft music as I write and dine on the Word of God. I have more time to pray and consider things of life. Many of you were prayed for on these quiet Sunday mornings. God made the Sabbath. It is a day of rest and a time to reflect on God. I also believe that God truly made the Sabbath for us.  He allows us to make it holy by observing it in His name. 

Mark 2:27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

So take time to observe the Sundays of your life. Keep God first on every Sunday. Allow Him the time to soften and speak to your heart. Enjoy this gift and cherish the time. This time was made for you. You are a close to God as you choose to be. 

Marty

Thank You For Your Service 11/11/2023

 Good Morning,

No coffee for me this morning. I have somewhere to be and I am somewhat in a hurry. I will double up on the coffee tomorrow morning. 

Today in the United States we are observing Veterans Day I personally want to say thank you to those who wrote the check that had them give their time to serve a grateful nation. They paid a price for their commitment, in time, sweat, and many times with blood. Some paid for our safety and freedom with the ultimate sacrifice of their life.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

My dad always observed Veterans Day with a passion. He felt that there wasn't enough information being taught in the schools or in the media as to what a veteran is, what they do, and what they did. It was a lesson that me and my siblings were taught from little on. With that lesson we were taught to respect the flag and our nation as well. 

I am proud of my Dad and that small town he came from where they still honor the veterans, the flag and our nation. 

Marty

Anger That Eats Up Our Insides 11/10/2023

 Good Morning.

It is a good day to be sitting at the desk, sipping on a hot cup of Door County Toasted Praline Coffee and I am ready to write. 

There is a lot of literature written about anger. I wasn't surprised to read that the inability to manage anger can have an impact on personal health.

Credit Better Health Channel.

Some of the short and long-term health problems that have been linked to unmanaged anger include.

. Headache

. Digestion problems, such as abdominal pain.

. Insomnia

. Increased anxiety

. Depression

. High Blood Pressure

. Skin problems, such as eczema

. Heart attack

. Stroke

So the negative actions that anger can lead to, such as arguments, fights, murder and destruction of property also can take a toll physically and mentally on our bodies. 

In summarizing my thoughts, it seems that anger is probably not good for so many reasons that it should be avoided like a case of typhoid. 

The only ones that really benefit from unrighteous anger and sin are the pharmaceutical companies.

So if you find that you are "dog tired". It could be the result of growling in anger all the time. 

Remember we are to take care of our bodies. 

Luke 21:34 Watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? 20. For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Food For Thought 

God Bless,

Marty

Don't Give In To The Anger 11/9/2023

 Good Morning,

The day for me began about a half an hour ago. I was outside with our dogs while the Door County Toasted Praline Coffee was brewing in the kitchen. 

I want to take some time today to talk about anger. It seems that anger within people is growing out of control. There have been more and more instances of brawls at sporting events between the fans of two opposing teams that I care to count. It seems as if security teams are now doing animal control. Viscous fights are now normal at games. Alcohol and uncontrolled anger seem to fuel these eruptions. tempers just seem ready to boil over and spill their consequences all over. 

Road rage in itself is bad enough, but now it turns into a shoot out. Groups of teens have an issue with one another and out come the guns and at times innocent bystanders are hurt or killed. More and more domestic violence cases are reported each day. The fuel of passion is not a reason to harm someone or to even allow your anger to spill over. Recently, a five year old was beaten to death by two people who said he annoyed them. 

Bullying in schools or in the work place is wrong. Yet the bullied person does just what they have experienced and turns into the bully when they decide to lash out and kill their classmates. 

Anger that is unleashed truly displays to the world the true heart of the person who is lashing out at others.  Respect, dignity, and kindness are tossed out of the realm of being the controlling attributes of a person. Substituted for common sense, this uncontrolled anger just spawns violence and more reprobate hearts. 

In the next two days I will be writing abut anger and I guess that I will not solve anything. But I can vent, pray and maybe it will stop just one person from acting out in anger. A short search produced 100 Bible verses on anger, it's impact and what God thinks about all this uncontrolled anger.

Proverbs 14:29 But whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Psalm 37:8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself, it only causes harm. 

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word sirs up anger.

James 1:20 The anger of a man does not produce the righteousness of God. 

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

Ephesians 4:26 Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger. 

There is a time and place for anger, but when it causes you to sin you have crossed the line. A line that seems blurred to many. When I wrote about respect, dignity and kindness being gone, they are the result of a heart that does not fear God, respect Him, and does not listen to or obey Him. These attributes, once they are gone, lead to hearts that overflow with anger, and work to pollute the mind and destroy the clear thoughts of people. Disaster and mayhem are soon to follow when the heart does not beat for God. Walk away from anger. It will turn on you and make you miserable. 

More to come tomorrow. All these thoughts on uncontrolled anger ruined my taste for my coffee.

Marty

The Bible Study Was A Cease Fire 11/8/2023

 Good Morning,

I am sitting at our desk in our den listening to the wind. I have next to me a very hot cup of Door County Autumn Spice Coffee and it is time to write. 

Proverbs 27:17-19 As Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. 18. Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat it's fruit. So he who waits on his master will be honored. 19. As in water, face reflects face, so a mans heart reveals the man. 

Listening to the wind, makes me appreciate a nice warm house even more. What is left of the leaves on the trees are coming down pretty fast right now. Winter is coming. 

Last night I was fortunate enough to be able to attend our weekly Men's Bible Study held in our church. The coffee was hot and the guys were all in a mood to learn and share thoughts and opinions. I originally had planned on not attending. A work event was in the way of me attending. But that changed, and Bible Study was where I needed to be. I usually lead the study but in planning not to be there, I asked one of the guys (Ray) to lead in my absence. Ray stepped in and did a great job in leading and stimulating the discussion. Sitting in a chair and participating was nice. I had some fun and came home most satisfied in my mind, heart and soul. I also learned a few things, which is never a bad outcome. We took prayer requests from the guys and prayed in earnest before leaving for the night. That study, was right where I needed to be. Life has been a little heavy lately and going to the study made me feel like I had just called a cease fire on life and all was quiet on the war front for an hour or so. Taking a break from leading the study and just partaking in it was like Chicken Soup For The Soul. 

Of course when I reached home the cease fire was over and the schedule for the next day lay before me.  I prepared for today and set my aim high and wondered if I had what it takes to finish this work month strong. But for awhile, I was with some good men studying the Good Book and there is where I needed to be. 

Men. it is a good idea to study your Bible with other men. We have a rule. What is prayed for there and said there, stays there. A guy can open up his heart and soul to these guys and not worry about what they think about you or that what you said confidentially will ever leave that room. 

Join a weekly cease fire from the world and spend it with God's men and His word. 

Have a great day!

Marty