It Can Be Easy To Get Lost In The Busyness Of The World 12/21/2023

 Good Morning,

My wife Rene and I woke up in Franklin Kentucky this morning and I am without my hot mug of Door County Candy Cane Coffee. We are taking a short trip to visit our daughter in Georgia. Travel plans did not work out exactly like we had planned, but we are safe and sound and will arrive on time today.

I am going right to the root of this blog today. It can be very easy for a person to draw away from life, God, family, church, work, or friends. When invited to attend a function they tell you thank you, but "I have to work". So they miss out on whatever you asked them to do with you. Next they stop attending family functions and they have a decent excuse for their absence. They come to work, but aren't seen at lunch or any after work gatherings. They start missing church regularly and they certainly don't come to prayer meetings. 

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant. 

Soon after these behaviors start, the person is seen less and less and it seems as if the world has hidden them and they can't be found. They decide to hide from the world and go it alone. Worst of all, hiding from the world can be done very easily. 

When we see this happening, we should never dawdle or procrastinate on reaching out to them. We should move quickly and offset the battle of depression they are exhibiting. Don't wait for things to get better on their own. Act immediately and reach out and challenge the person who feels they are fighting alone. 

You should never trim the importance of reaching out to someone who is depressed. Depression can be a stealth opponent and can be deadly. If you know the person impacted by these bouts of depression, act quickly and act out of love. 

God bless,

Marty

A Much Needed Trip 12/20/2023

 Good Morning,

It took a long time to get to this day and I am starting it with prayer and a hot mug of Door County White Christmas Coffee. It is time to write. 

We will be making a Christmas trip to Georgia to visit our family for a few days. Our Nephew Nick is house sitting. Thus our dogs don't need to be kenneled for the next week. This morning we leave and our goal is to stop along the way so my wife Rene can shop for antiques. all I ask is for one stop at the Waffle House for some smothered hash browns. 

This trip is overdo and hopefully our prayers for a safe and fun journey will be granted. We will attend church while we are out of town and I am counting on being spiritually fed by whichever preacher is there. I am counting on some chicken soup for my soul. 

My point for the day is this. When you travel, make time to attend church and see what another town and their churches have on the spiritual menu. I have found that when I make a sincere effort to feed my soul while away from my home church God meets me where I am, and even though 11 hours from home, the message from the pulpit is always worth the drive. So make a trek to another land, but go to the land that God shows you and meet Him there,.

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.

Psalm 27:4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

James 4:8 Draw close to the Lord and He will draw close to you.

Food for thought!'

Marty

I Don't Believe In A Coincidence 12/19/2023

 Good Morning,

I am headed out shortly for a busy day. My Door County Jingle Bell Java Coffee will be working overtime today. It is time to write. 

Have you ever had something occur that you just can't explain. For instance you are on the phone and the conversation you are having with someone is just not going good. In fact it is unpleasant. Yet, just when you are ready to lie and make an excuse to leave the conversation, another call comes in and you can take the call without lying, thus ending the torture of the first call. 

You say to yourself, "that was lucky'. Later you realize that the person who called you has been praying for you and for some reason they knew God wanted them to call you. And they did! Was it a coincidence?

No! God protected you because He watches over you. The Holy Spirit nudged someone else to call and rescue you. 

Psalm 121:3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 

God protects 24/7 He knows what you need, when you need it, and before you need it. 

Matthew 6:8 For your father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him

When you are in prayer and others are praying for you, nothing is ever a coincidence.

Have a great day!

Marty

The Sound Of Music 12/18/2023

 Good Morning,

My day started with prayer and a hot cup of Door County Christmas Coffee. It is time to write.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

Last night one of the television networks was airing in entirety the musical The Sound Of Music. My wife Rene let me know earlier in the day that our television would be viewing this "classic". We do have another television in the house and can stream via the computer. But the announcement was made that if you are to be anywhere near our living room you will be watching "The Sound Of Music" . This classic actually beat out the Hallmark channel, which is a feat in itself. 

What amazed me was this. My wife could sing along with all the songs and knew all of the words. She knew most of the lines from the screen play by heart. 

My point is this. The musical has survived for many years and was considered wholesome entertainment in 1965 and it is still wholesome entertainment today.  In our lives we will encounter good and wholesome things that are for entertainment or instruction. There are also foods that are good for us and some that are not so good for us. It is up to us to choose what we view, eat and listen to. If garbage goes into the brain and the heart, only garbage can come out. Fill your life with good and it will last a lifetime. 

God bless,
Marty

Stand By Me 12/17/2023

 Good Morning,

I just sat down with a large, very hot cup of Door County Christmas Coffee and it is now time to write. 

Isiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great will be the peace of your children.

On today in 1978 I was received a blessing that came wrapped in a blanket. It was a snowy December day when my wife went into labor and then a short time later our daughter was born. I was handed this small bundle of joy for me to hold and I could not help but wonder what she would look like later in life. What will she do and accomplish? Basically what would the future hold for our child.

I think, every parent has those thoughts run through their heads on the day their child is born or soon there after. 

Here's what I will say about the many things that have passed and that have gone on in her life. If I were ever in the battle of my life and needed a friend or relative to stand by me through thick or thin. I would want our daughter to be the there. She is loyal, compassionate and can be counted on when the road of life gets muddy. She has the heart of a warrior and at the same time that same heart beats like a puppy dog waiting on others and handing out love.

Yesterday I hunted with a young man named Mario and it is always nice to see the younger generation embracing the sport I love, willing to learn the tricks of the hunting and folklore. Our daughter never caught on to the love of hunting, she would be the one to take my hunted game to the veterinarian because it had been shot. She is a person who when you are down, regardless of who you are she is there to lend a hand. And in all she does she is a hard working soul.

So today as I think about her, I thank God for the daughter who is a blessing to me and to others. I think God did a great job with my gift in 1978! and will continue to work through her for as long as she has a breath to take. 

God Bless,

Marty

I Remember When 12/16/2023

 Good Morning,

Hey I am drinking a hot cup of Door County White Christmas Coffee and as always it tastes better while drinking it outside. and that's just where you will find me this morning. 

Matthew 18:20  For where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am among them. 

A few years ago when the Covid crud took the world by storm many churches closed and went to video services, or limited seating or you sat with five miles in between your friends and families. It was the was the approach at that time to limit the spread of the contagious virus. Oh my did I hear a lot of people whining about not being able to attend church and gather with friends and family, especially at Christmas. It was inconvenient and certainly was not a lot of fun visiting nursing homes and standing outside in the cold while you spoke through a screen to your loved ones. 

Truly that virus was something that caused a lot of inconvenience and hardships. I am not sure the world has yet to recover from the totality of the event. We certainly see it in the inability to find our work force and get back to what was normal in productivity and supply issues. 

Back to the church and Christmas. Are there plans in your life to attend church to celebrate Christmas? We are traveling and the first thing I asked was where can we attend church in the town, we will be staying in. I did not like the isolation that Covid brought to my world and it was one of the happiest days for me when we could gather again. Sometimes you just don't appreciate what you have until it is gone.  

I also want to say that you can't cure loneliness through a video. Not all folks have a family to be with with on Christmas. If you know someone who will be alone for Christmas , open your home and add one more to the table. Don't go back into isolations tactics. I remember those days and they weren't very nice.

Marty

I Say Merry Christmas 12/15/2023

 Good Morning,

I just sat down with a hot mug of Door County Naughty Or Nice Grog Coffee. It is a new flavor to their lineup this year and I must say that I am enjoying it immensely. It is time to write. 

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 

Most new trends that become popular start with the youngest generation at the present time. I have observed some trends come and go throughout my 66 years on this planet. What is funny is when you see the new trend and you remember it from fifty years ago. For instance, bell bottom pants. I never thought I would see those again, but I am seeing them once more. 

But here is one that I noticed making a return and I am glad to say it can return and I hope it stays. I am hearing more young people saying "Merry Christmas" once more. I always thank the folks who work in the grocery store who are checking me out at the payment line or packing my groceries. Lately they say you are welcome with a big smile and "Merry Christmas". I walk out of the store and there are some teens manning the red bucket for the Salvation Army and as I dropped a couple dollars in they greeted me with "Thank you and Merry Christmas Sir". 

I needed to purchase some gasoline and I cannot resist going into the fuel emporium to purchase a breakfast sandwich when I am on the road. I was thanked for my purchase by a young fella and again I heard "Merry Christmas". I always smile back and give them a big old Merry Christmas in return. 

Not one to be a trend setter, but this trend I will support forever. I find myself saying "Merry Christmas' as a greeting more than I have before. Those kids are rubbing off on me. Does that make me a groupie? Ha!

Once Christmas is over I hope to see this upturn in pleasantries stay on and then return to Merry Christmas next December. In the last few years it has been said that to say Merry Christmas to folks is not politically correct. I fought that trend and was actually corrected by a few folks who said "You must say "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. Well, too bad. I want to smile and enjoy exchanging greetings, If someone said to me a greeting with their observed holiday like Happy Hanukah they would receive "Happy Hanukah" in return. I feel that one should be polite and greet each other with a smile. They are sharing a greeting important to them and I in return could and should acknowledge kindness. 

So as for me, it is "Merry Christmas" from this old man who wears a funny hat and who has been called unapproachable. 

God bless,

Marty