Batman, Robin, Starsky, Hutch, Lone Ranger and Tonto. 3/4/2015

Good Morning Dear Friends,

Today's coffee is Door County Cherry Crème. I tip my cup and wish our grandson a happy birthday.

I have watched all of the television shows with the characters listed above in the title. Each of the shows featured two partners that fought crime and injustice together. From what I remember of the stories portrayed in the scripts, from time to time one partner would be in a near death experience, and just in the nick of time his crime fighting partner would show up and save him. Many times in the dialogue the partner that was rescued would say " I knew you were coming." "What took you so long"? Or, they looked each other in the eye and without saying a word hugged or nodded an affirmation of trust.

Proverbs 18:24New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother

 

I believe we all have a friend that we just know will be there when the chips are down. One who doesn't care how we look when beat up by the world. We have the kind of friend that would charge into a fire with a squirt gun just to rescue you. That certain someone you can count on for anything.

Someone who can cheer you up when no one else can like Lucy and Ethel, is just a phone call away.

 

 

Proverbs 27:17New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

 

 There is that friend who makes you a better person, one who will hold you accountable for defeating work weaknesses. A friend who will carry you during your weak moments.

 

I believe a man has many friends, but each man or woman probably can probably only list one or two who are your side kick, besties, BFF, partner, confidant or mentor. Having one or two friends like that is a blessing from above. Make sure they know how you feel. I am sure they do. But it never hurts to tell them.

 

So friends go out and fight injustice, change hot water heaters together, laugh at your high school picture together, fish all day and exaggerate about the fish together, mourn together, grow together, but make sure to thank God for that friend.

 

God bless,

Marty

Sober Minded 3/3/2015

Good Morning,

My taste buds are being pleased this morning by my cup of Door County Mocha Mint Coffee. At times I believe that our kitchen is nothing more than a fine emporium of great coffee.

The Bible has much to say about not being intoxicated or drunk. Here are several verses dealing with sobriety.

1 Peter 5:8         

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

         

Galatians 5:21    

Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

         

Proverbs 20:1    

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

         

1 Peter 4:7         

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

I think we can safely say that being intoxicated with strong drink or drugs alters a person's mind and impedes their ability to think straight.

But what about intoxicating thoughts, or intoxicating actions? For instance someone who is controlled by pornography is intoxicated with lust and cannot think straight. For instance someone who is controlled by pride, who works day and night for recognition and is not a good parent or spouse is intoxicated with pride. They cannot concentrate on what is really important. How can we concentrate on God and our walk with Him if we are intoxicated with thoughts that are of the world?

1 Peter 1:13

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

We need to guard our minds by concentrating on our Savior Jesus Christ. Our eyes need to be fixed on Him. Then and only then is there less room for the intoxicating lifestyle and intoxicating thoughts to gain a foothold in our lives.

Sobering thoughts?

God bless,

Marty

Monday! Back To Work. 3/2/2015

Good Morning.

Today starts with a big cup of Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee, prayer and some Scripture reading for me.

Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

If you are going to work today, whether it is a secular job or if it is in Christian ministry, have you ever considered who you are working to please?

God is interested in our daily tasks and how well we do it. We might work to please or employer so we can obtain a raise or promotion. We might do it just to obtain respect from our peers and colleagues. We might do a great job just to please ourselves, because we are really proud of our work.

But if we were to punch in for God and do what we do, just to please Him, it raises our performance to another level.  It gives our daily tasks a spiritual dimension. This means that our faith is demonstrated  in our life, not only in what we say, but in what we do. Our faith and deeds become one.

Whom do we work to please? Our employers, ourselves, our families, or God and all of them?

God bless, Let's hit it hard today and give God something to smile about.

Marty

Crock Pot Sunday 3/1/2015

Good Morning Dear Friends,

I am sitting in my den looking at a new blanket of snow that fell last night. It isn't enough to cause a fuss but for some reason it makes my Door County Christmas Coffee taste all that much better. I have to head into work today for a little while. I am content and at peace this morning. Our Saturday evening church service and prayer meeting later was Spirit filled to say the least. Our supper of cheddar broccoli soup was just what was needed to top off the night. The crock pot will be used today to slow roast some duck breasts for a stir fry later. Everything will be in a slow motion today. Even the cooking process will be slow.

 

 

Psalm 90:10

¹⁰ The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

 

 

I have declared that although I have things to do today I will not rush through, just to get them done. Each one will be given the time needed to start and finish the task or pleasure. For instance I will drink my coffee just a little slower so I can enjoy the aroma and flavor. Once the crock pot is filled I will stop by now and then to sniff the feast of duck breast and Chinese spices. I am going to spend more time today with our dog. I am making time to sit with my wife and tell her that she is loved. I will not over pack this day. Tonight I will read a couple chapters from a book I am studying and I will read them slowly. My prayer time will be slower and uninterrupted.

 

Aren't we all just a little too busy? Declare a day for yourself to slow down. Who ever said on their death bed, "I wish I would have spent more time working"? I agree we need to work so we can eat. But each day is a gift from God. How about slowing down a little to enjoy the work, the crock pot, the coffee, the family or the dog.?

 

Have a slow day!

 

God bless,

Marty

 

 



The Soil Of Love 2/28/2015

Good Morning,

This has been a busy morning already. The coffee is done and the new flavor for me to try today is Door County Chocolate Caramel Truffle. The jury is out on this one. Maybe I will be able to decide after the second cup if this one will make it back into the cupboard again. A pot of cheddar broccoli soup is simmering slowly in the kitchen. Supper will be grand tonight.

 

 

1 John 4:18New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.


As I gaze out the window of my den I still see piles of snow covering our vegetable garden. The soil has produced many vegetables throughout the years. Certainly nothing is growing there right now, but the potential is there, after it warms up and the soil is tilled and seeds are planted.

Love is a lot like soil it needs to be warmed, tilled and planted in order to produce good fruit. The prefect unconditional love of Jesus Christ ; Romans 5:8New King James Version (NKJV)
⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. is perfect love. We often miss out or are unable to love other people out of fear. The love that Jesus has for us is sacrificial love. He took away the fear of eternal death for those who are saved in Him. That is the ultimate fear for all. So what is there left to fear? Why do we find it impossible to love others?

Well maybe they have betrayed you. Haven't you betrayed Jesus at one time or another? Jesus still loves you. Can't we forgive and choose love?

Maybe some how they hurt you. Haven't you hurt the Son of God with your sins? Jesus still loves you. Can't we forgive and choose love?

Perfect love has no fear. Like soil it needs to be tilled. You have to try love and stick with it in order for it to produce fruit. If I just stare at my garden all summer and wait for tomatoes to grow I might get one plant from a wild seed left over from last year, but that is highly doubtful. Even if it does grow it will be choked by weeds if I don't protect it and nurture the soil.

"Whatever a person may be like, we must still love them because we love God." ( John Calvin)

We often miss out on healing an emotional wound or finding a new friend out of fear. The fear of being hurt again, or the fear of being rejected can and does paralyze our hearts from experiencing the prefect love that Jesus so much wants us to have for others.

You and I need love each day. Jesus loves you but wants you to love perfectly which might be hard for you to do. But that sacrificial perfect love is a step toward removing the fear of risking your heart in love. Go for it. No where in the Bible do I find that Jesus ever regretted loving us.


God bless,

Marty

Treasures That Last Forever 2/27/2015

Good Morning,

Friday at last has arrived. As I leave the house my mug is filled with Door County German Chocolate Cake Coffee. I will be trying a new flavor tomorrow. Sometimes you just have to shake up your Saturday.

 

Matthew 6:19-21King James Version (KJV)
¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Last night we had a leadership meeting for this summer's church mission trip. I will be writing about more of the details later this year. As I was driving to the meeting destination memories of all the previous trips I have led or participated in flooded my mind. There are so many great God experiences and wonderful memories of people, places and miracles to remember. During most of those trips I was able to take some photos or bring home a souvenir. As I write this I can look up on the top shelf of my desk and see framed pictures of a few of the trips. A rain stick from Peru sits to my right. I hope it never happens, but if a fire would occur in our home or a tornado struck I would probably lose all of those things. But no one can rob me of the memories or the people I will meet in heaven some day that I met one time in a foreign country and Jesus rocked their world with His love. Those are heavenly treasures that I cannot lose.

Corrie ten Boom said "I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."

When was the last time that you laid up for yourself a heavenly treasure? What holds you back from service that just might rock the world with Jesus? What is your excuse? It's never too late to get started.

God bless,
Marty

Temptation Coming Through The Door 2/26/2105

Good Morning,

The cup sitting next to me, steaming away is filled with Door County Pumpkin Spice Coffee. My lunch is packed and I am off to work in a few minutes. Gibbs is telling me how much he loves me by wagging his tail. Nice way to wake up.

Philippians 1:9-11New King James Version (NKJV)
⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

It has been said that "temptation usually comes through a door that has been deliberately left open."  There is another old saying, "The devil makes work for idle hands". Spiritually you are most at risk and vulnerable when you have little or nothing to do.  The Christians at Philippi were reminded of this by Paul as he made use of their willingness to be his partners in sharing the Gospel. Paul was in prison as he wrote this but reminded them of what was truly important. Stay busy for the Lord. Idle time is dangerous. We can take Paul's advice and apply it still today. If you forge ahead and continue to help others, lead in prayer, participate in the building of the Kingdom, you have very little time for sinful things. You won't be moaning or complaining. There isn't time for that when you are occupied with good deeds. In other words, "use your time wisely lest you fall."

God bless your day. Chin up, pray up and don't give up.

Marty