The Storms Had One Dog On Edge 3/31/2023

 Good Morning,

Friday arrived right on time and if I peek over my glasses I can see Saturday coming right behind it. I just poured a hot cup of Door County Pecan Cinnamon Ice Cream Coffee and it is time to write. 

Earlier this morning some thunder storms rolled through our area and they were just loud enough to wake me up. I couldn't help but notice that both of our English Springer Spaniels found there way to our bed. Leo the youngest one was glued right to me and Gibbs the old man of the two just came along for grins.  Leo was a restless fur ball and to say the least the storm had him a little on edge. I finally had enough of the rest without any sleep and I got up and made the coffee. I fed both dogs and now they are sound asleep next to my feet on the floor. 

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your anxieties on Him for He cares for you.

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid I put my trust in You.

Leo just wanted to know that he was not going through a storm alone. He was right next to Gibbs and that seemed to be a comfort to him. They both were very content to be around me, because after all, I am there to protect them. 

Friends, today you might be going through a personal storm in your own life. You might know someone who is going through a storm in their life that just seems to be rolling ahead and rolling over them. We have two choices. If you are in a rough season, turn you cares over to God by faith and know that He is with you and you are never alone. 

The second choice, is if you know of someone battling through a season of despair they should be in your prayers and you can see what can be done to assist, care and lessen the load. Often when God is called upon for folks he uses others to show mercy, kindness, and love. He blesses by sending others. This gives people a tangible piece of their faith that they can see in action. 

Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort my people says your God. 

So the two choices are these. Call out to God and then allow others to bless you as He sends them to you.  Secondly don't pass by someone in the storm of their life without reaching out to them in love, kindness and companionship. 

Food for thought,

Marty

Trimming The List 3/30/23

 Good Morning,

I am running behind this morning and the hot Door County Vanilla Almond Kringle Coffee is  a good friend to me as I venture into this day.

We have a list on a bulletin board in our kitchen. On the list is the name and telephone numbers of people that I feel can be counted on in an emergency. The list was developed many years ago when I started leading short term mission trips. The "List" was made so my wife Rene could call on these folks if something went wrong with the family, house, dogs or her. The list was well thought out as to location, ability, trustworthiness, truthfulness, and faith. The list gets prayed over every year and gets adjusted now and then. It has been a long time since names were added or subtracted. This year the list was adjusted due to changes in lifestyle, and 1 death. Their names were removed and one name added. 

I take this seriously, because I have peace knowing that if Rene would need assistance I can count on them to make good decisions with her, pray for her, and watch over her. 

Psalm 101:6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me. He who walks in the way, that is blameless, shall minister to me. 

Psalm 101:7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies. 

I always ask for permission to keep their name on the list. I believe in my heart that these folks would assist her in a time of emergency if I am not around. 

Friends, we know not what each day holds. We at times go away for short periods. Bless your loved ones with a "List". It makes both them and you feel secure. 

Marty

Grateful For The Little Things 3/29/2023

 Good Morning,

I just sat down to write and next to me is a hot cup of Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and two lazy English Springer Spaniels. 

To get to my desk I have to climb some stairs as our den is on the second floor of our home. As I was making the trek to the desk with my coffee in hand I recalled a making this trek a few years ago and it was a chore to do so. This morning as I took the stairs one by one I remembered what it was like to simply walk up the stairs prior to having my knee joints replaced. To be honest about it, at that time I was considering moving the lap top permanently to the first floor. 

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father.

But today as I climbed the stairs pain free and basically one two three, I was very thankful for being able to do so. It humbled me to recall a time when doing the stairs was almost impossible without hurting,

Today I am going to try to be more thankful for even the little things, I already have less of a burden on my heart and it feels good to be able to acknowledge God for it all. I have clean scrub clothes to work in at the hospital, they smell nice and not only am I thankful for the clothing, I am thankful for the wife that washed them and packed them nicely for me.  I believe as I look at being grateful and thankful today, I will be less likely to be in the midst of a misery pity party that I have thrown for myself.

I am glad to be here!

Marty

Don't Rob Others Of A Victory 3/28/2023

 Good Morning,

My old cup is filled with Door County Peanut Butter Crunch Coffee and a prayer filled my heart this morning. 

Proverbs 22:8 Whosoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.

Today I will be short on words, but hopefully can still make an impact on your daily journey . It seems as if people like to spread pain and sorrow to others for some reason. Especially, when a person is going through a tough time and is handling that time very well. Despite the situation, they are allowing God to lead them and they are following God's word and His instructions. They are experiencing victory over trials and despair. Awesome. 

But inevitably, someone will come along for whatever reason and decide that now is the time to unload on the person who is going through enough right now. They will disguise their action with "I need to protect others. Or  I need to protect myself." I tell you this, that in the name of self righteousness they add a heap of hurt on to an already overloaded plate. For whatever reason they seek to consider themselves first and others last. 

If this is you and you can't just be silent and pray, I ask that you self examine your heart and see what your motive would be to heap more of a load on others and just don't do it. 

God bless,

Marty

There Was Peace In The Valley 3/27/2023

 Good Morning,

Monday arrived even after I asked it not to. So it is time for me to write and drink a hot cup of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee. 

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. 

Saturday night a phone call came in at a late hour from a dear friend of ours. I had fallen asleep and did not hear the phone ring. Rene heard it and saw who the caller was and because of the late hour she made sure to get me the phone. This is a guy who doesn't call at a late hour just to chat. 

Once we got into the call I knew from the tone of his voice that something had happened. He explained that he had checked on his elderly mother and he found that she passed away a few minutes ago. We prayed and he did what was necessary to keep the ball rolling and take care of his elderly father, 

Yesterday morning I called my friend and we chatted. He seemed pretty well put together and you could just hear the strength in his voice. He had a plan to make plans for her funeral and was keeping those plans one hour, one day at time and he was as steady as I have ever heard him to be. 

I quote. I know people are praying for us. God has my mother now and she is no longer old and feeble. God will strengthen my dad and I to get through this some how, some way. 

His voice was peaceful and as I listened to him speak, I found joy in his peace. If you are going through a low valley today, my prayers are with you. My friend allowed God to give him a peace like no other. I pray that for you. Despite the valley, my friend and you are not alone. 

Marty

Hunt For The Cure 3/26/2023

 Good Morning,

I just poured a hot cup of Door County Breakfast Blend Coffee and my heart is in the right place to write. So let's write. 

Later today I will be traveling about an hour and a half North from our home to pick up a gift certificate. The certificate will be good for one pheasant hunt at a game farm for next fall or the winter 2024. My wife Rene and I are donating the hunt in a raffle basket to raise funds for research and a cure for Huntingtons Disease. In May there is a walk/run being held for the cause. This disease hits home for us as our niece in law has the rare disease within her family. I am not trying to sell the hunt here nor ask for money for the cause. Nor am I tooting my horn to say "see what we are doing". 

We are a busy family and at times it is hard to even get our small family together for a meal. But this disease impacts our nephew's wife and her family. Thus it impacts us. I am writing this today so Lauren knows that her family is in our thoughts and prayers. Her dad has active Huntingtons Disease and we pray for him often and the impact it has on his family. 

Friends, don't always assume someone knows that you love them and care about them. Yes I understand that sometimes you just know you are loved. But friends, it is important to tell them now and then that they are prayed for, and they are loved.  

Don't assume anything when it comes to love. Show it, say it and cherish it.

Have a great day.

Marty

Huntington's disease is a rare, inherited disease that causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells in the brain. Mayo Clinic .Org

On Sunday May 22nd the 2nd Annual Guzi’s Hunt for the Cure 5K

Them Dry Bones 3/25/2023

 Good Morning,

I just sat down to write with a hot cup of Door County Churro Coffee next to me. I just came in from the outside and we have a spring snowstorm starting to pound on us this early Saturday morning. The coffee is taking the chill out of this old body! It is time to write.

Tonight, Lord willing, if the snowstorm doesn't cancel our Saturday night church service ( I very rarely cancel a service) I will be preaching a lesson from Ezekiel 37. It has been a long time since while watching the evening news that I haven't heard about some murder or mass shooting. It seems that young people are now killing more young people. These kids disagree about something and out come the guns and it's bang bang bang. 

Ezekiel 37-1-3 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3. He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

When I look into society, locally and within the world I see dry bones everywhere. I see a cities overcome with crime, and lawlessness. I see wars that should have never started. There are spiritual revivals taking place on some campuses and there are some who would want to shut them down. The dry bones of society cannot come back to life unless the Holy Spirit blows life back into hard hearts of the many people who are driven by violence, cheap money, and debauchery. 

So my question for you today is this. When you look in the mirror, do you see a life that cares enough to pray for the societies surrounding us? Does your life live to promote a God fearing world? Or do you see a set of bones that are complacent and non caring, lacking a true spirit filled life? 

You are either a part of the solution or you aren't. Does your prayer life show that you care about people you will never meet? You can change your status from DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) to Full Code which implies that everything should be done to sustain life. You will go from not caring to being burdened to pray for others which includes the world and the societies we live in. 

Food for thought.

Marty