Two Different Things To Lace Together 12/7/2024

 Good Morning,

The Door County Candy Cane Coffee resting next to me is very hot and tasty. It is time to write. 

Today in the United States we observe a somber day. December 7th 1941 was the day that the United States was attacked by Japan and we were drawn into World War Two. I had uncles who fought in WW II. So I bow my head and  honor those who fought and lost their lives that day. As long as I live I will always observe this day with sadness in my heart. 

Now my second thought of the day is happier. Yesterday I went in search of a new artificial Christmas tree. In the process of assembling the one we purchased twenty years ago, I noticed that some of the lighting wires were cracking. So off I went from store to store looking for one that I could bring home and not let my wife down. I found one and it was a good deal, so the purchase was made. 

Yesterday, later in the afternoon we started the assembly and the decorating of the tree. It is 90% complete. Some button garland will be added tonight. It did me good to see my wife decorating the tree. It was just a few weeks ago that she was ill and could not have done this type of work even if you paid her to. She tackled the job like a linebacker on a old slow running back. 

So I praise God for showing me the cracked wiring. I praise God for healing her up. And I praise God for Christmas. My Christmas present this year came to me on a ladder. 

Psalm 107:1 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 

Have a great day!'

Marty

Remember Those Who Hurt.12/6/2024

 Good Morning,

A very hot cup of Door County Candy Cane Coffee is steaming next to me and it is time to write. 

It is quiet in the house and my prayer time was also quiet and somber. We are approaching Christmas and the hard cold reality is that tough times and illnesses do not stop and observe the holidays. I am asking that those of us who are doing well and getting along just fine, be observant, and conscious of those who are struggling through tough times. 

Reach out to those who's travels have them on the road of less desirable and remember them. Maybe you could invite them to join you for a holiday meal. How about sending a Christmas card, or giving them a small gift? Don't forget to pray for them as well. Let's put Christmas into action.

James 2:14-20 What does it profit my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16. and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, and be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 

God bless,

Marty

It's A Great Day To Have A Great Day 12/5/2024

 Good Morning, 

A hot cup of Door County Naughty Or Nice Grog is keeping me company this morning.   Our dogs are sleeping on the floor behind me. It is time to write.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Yesterday I was able to use some of my plumbing skills to help  dear friends replace a water heater in their home. I left for home right after the the work was declared leak free. Later I received a text message that they had "Hot Water"! Amen.

This morning I have some desk work to finish and then tonight I will be watching a football game while trimming the Christmas tree with my wife. 

It sounds like a mundane kind of day. But I have set it in my heart that despite what can happen in any day, today  is a great day to have a great day. In my heart there is a melody, my coffee is hot, our home smells great from bread rolls in the oven. I have prayed for a few people this morning and there is a fire in the hearth. I am upright and pretty much pain free. I have so much to be thankful for and I just thanked God for this day that He has given to me. 

It takes very little effort to to look at the small things and appreciate them with gusto ( I haven't used that word in a long time) and make an ordinary day a great day!

Looking closely at your blessings and being thankful for them makes any day a great day.

God bless,

Marty

The Christmas Coats 12/4/2024

 Good Morning,

I hot cup of Door County Candy Cane Coffee is steaming in a cup next to me. It is time to write. 

As we approach Christmas, my mind often wanders to memories from many years ago. Two of my grandparents always gave our parents money to purchase Christmas gifts for us kids. It was too hard for them to travel by train with a load of gifts. So they would send a check in the mail and our parents would shop for them. My parents followed the directions given to them by our grandparents. 

Proverbs 11:25 Whoever brings blessings will be enriched and one who waters will be himself watered. 

The one year I have in mind was from the 1960s. It was just my sister and I at that time. Our brother came a few years later. While visiting our grandparents at Thanksgiving, grandma and grandpa noticed that our winter coats were worn a littlie thin. For Christmas, they instructed our dad to purchase winter coats. Grandma knitted mittens and stocking caps for us. Financially things were tough at that time for my family and you just made do with what you had. 

Of course as a young boy I wasn't too excited about receiving a coat, mittens, and a hat. I was picturing a fishing pole or something like that. 

One day in January, while walking home from school, it was super cold outside. The wind was horrible. I only had a six block walk to home. ( Not the two miles uphill story that I heard from my dad)  We will discuss that some other time. 

That cold and wind did not really impact me all that much. The warm coat, hat, and mittens kept me warm all the way home. As I think about the love that went into the purchase of necessities it warms me once more in my heart. 

A gift of a wanted desire is nice. But one to meet necessities is also very nice. Choose wisely as to what gift should be given. I can still see that coat in my mind and the thoughtfulness that was behind the scenes. Of course it was bought one size bigger than needed so it would last for two years. 

God bless. 

Marty

Flying Together. 12/3/2024

 Good Morning,

I have with me at my desk a large, very hot mug of Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee and two sleepy Springer Spaniels sitting on my feet. 

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves . 4. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

A few years ago my wife Rene and I visited Hawaii. One of the last things we did before coming home was to take a ride and view Oahu from helicopter. It was one of the things on Rene's bucket list and it was my pleasure to take that flight with her. The day was perfect as far as the weather and winds. So it was a smooth ride. Once on the ground we boarded a plane about three hours later and headed home to Wisconsin. 

The whole trip was very nice and we have a neighbor to thank for helping us plan it out. But what I saw from the helicopter was something that Rene had wanted to do for years. One of her dreams came true and I was there to see the tears roll down her face as we took off for a view from the sky. It was more of a view to see her that happy than the waterfalls and seaside landscape. 

It is important that as couples we can appreciate our spouse's bucket list and try to make it happen if possible. When they said I Do you married them and they shared their dreams with you. You are at times the Keeper Of The List. 

Sharing their dreams with you should never be taken lightly nor poked fun of. A dream shared is a moment of intimacy as they show you their heart and mind. 

So it takes a dedicated heart on your part to listen with your ears, mind and heart. 

Food for thought!

Marty

Oh No! Finish What You Started 12/2/2024

 Good Morning,

I am running extremely late today. I have been away hunting ducks with my good friends in some extremely cold weather. I went to bed early last night and ended up sleeping for about ten hours. My mug is full of Door County White Christmas Coffee and it is time to write.

We have a bird feeder in our front yard and usually the feeder is filled before sunrise or the night before. Since I was late today the birds were a little confused. The doves that populate the feeding grounds were sitting on our approach to the front door staring in the window. 

This worked as a reminder that once you start something you need to finish it. And if you say you are going to do something, you do it. It's called follow through. Our words of commitment are important to God.

Numbers 30:1-2 Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel. "This is what the Lord commands. When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said."

I tend to have friends who are those type of guys. They are follow through men. As I hunted over the last few days you could see the dedication of the guys for it to be a successful hunt for everyone. Items were shared as needed and an extra hand of help was there if you needed it as well. 

As we head into December and calendars get busier, don't let that busyness keep you from fulfilling your standard commitments. Be a "follow through" person  and although you have added to your already busy schedule, keep your word and finish what you started. 

Have a great day!!

Marty

Christmas Is Just Around The Corner 12/1/2024

 Good Morning,

Last morning to duck hunt and then we are headed for home with a three hour drive ahead of us. A little Door County White Christmas Coffee is going to set the tone for the day.

Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. 

I am not at home but I can tell you for sure, that the inside of our home is an unorganized mess as my wife has already started decorating the inside of our house for Christmas. She has a display of stuffed snowmen that will be placed on the stairs to our second floor and the loft area. Rene started this tradition many years ago and she sees it one way and I see it a totally different way. She loves to see the snowmen at night with the lights from the Christmas tree twinkling in their button eyes. A fire in the hearth adds to her feeling of Christmas. She has snowmen everywhere!

My view is that these December invaders wore out their welcome after two days. I think I have watched too many horror films and it seems to me that these Creepy Little Turds are staring at me at night. What is my point in this? What is good for some is not always good for others. My wife tolerates one whole room with dead animal trophies and so I must bite the bullet and tolerate her Frosty Display. 

So as December rolls in like a sled out of control, don't let differences of opinions ruin the Spirit of Christmas. Bend your opinions and maybe keep them to yourself. A relationship that can bend doesn't break.

Have a great day!!! Food for thought.

Marty