Merry Christmas! “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15) Amen! In all the “gift-giving” busy-ness of this season, have you stopped for a moment and focused on the One who gave the greatest Gift of all (Jesus), so that you could experience life-eternal? The gift of God’s grace is amazing. In […]
Greatest Gift-Giver Ever Read More »
Is Forgiveness Even Possible? Does (My) Sin Matter? Intriguing question, no doubt. And of COURSE, the answer is “yes”. Today, let’s dig a little deeper to understand more of the significance of that question. Also, read to the end where I’ll be sharing a link to another one of my songs from the day I
Does (My) Sin Matter? Read More »
Have you ever noticed that God often seems to take His own sweet time in fashioning our lives and hearts? Perhaps like any true masterpiece, painstaking patience is often necessary when aiming at perfection. Mysterious, Methodical Manifestations For now, suffice it to say that often in the Christian walk of faith, God’s ways seem somewhat
Mighty Works in Progress Read More »
Have you ever noticed that the “hardest” words to hear are often the truest, most profound and ultimately life-giving? Your Best Life The internet is absolutely FULL of people promising you your best life, success and phenomenal growth if you follow a certain success formula. Not to say that that type of growth DOESN’T happen.
Brace Yourselves for Your Best Life Read More »
Have you ever been tempted to ask the age-old question, “Why me?” Has the Holy Spirit within you ever prompted you to ask in return, “Why NOT me?” I recently had an interesting personal experience that some would see as somewhat catastrophic. I’ll tell the story here, but suffice it to say, the Lord has
It is Well With My Soul Read More »
What Do You Bring to the Table? If you were invited to a pot-luck dinner, what would you bring? We’ve recently had a couple of those types of events at our church, and the spread of food was abundant, varied and delicious, as each person contributed what they could to make it a blessing to
What are You Offering? Read More »
Have you ever gotten to the point in your walk with Jesus, when you realize He’s been SO good, and SO faithful for SO long, that you almost HAVE to testify about it? Centuries and Millenia Surely, He has been faithful to so many people for hundreds and even thousands of years. People groups, that
Faithful for Half a Century Read More »
Do you feel about as useful as a cellphone that is about to run out of power, and you’ve just realized the recharger has been hopelessly misplaced? Could You Use a Spiritual Recharge? Here’s a brief story about a simple instance of a lost phone recharger, and how the Lord graciously used it to illustrate
Where’s Your Recharger? Read More »
Wow, these past few weeks have been FULL! I hope you had a blessed Holy Week last week! I hope that this audio replay of my “Third Thursdays at Three” in-home concert (from 4/17/2025) will continue to set your heart on Jesus Christ and all that He did for us on that day when He
Holy Hymns for Holy Days Read More »
Do you love the simplicity and purity of old hymns sung with an acoustic guitar? If that resonates with you, then read on…. Sometimes it’s the simplest things that minister to our hearts most easily. I enjoy singing (and learning) old hymns, not only because they often bring back encouraging memories for people, but also
Inspiring Christian Hymns Read More »
Flying Blind Have you ever sensed that as you are “flying blind” as you go forward in what God has asked you to do? Like a pilot flying in the fog, and trusting that your cockpit instruments are telling you the truth, you go forward, even though you can’t see your destination. How often our
Learning to Trust Jesus Read More »
It was two years ago today (as I write this on 2/6/2025) that my sister and I sat beside our Dad as I softly sang (a capella) “Daddy’s Little Girl(s)…” and he breathed his last. A moving moment indeed. One that has surely been echoed in many other lives over the past few years. It’s
Could you use some inspiration and encouragement? Join me in this replay of an in-home concert from 1/16/2025. This concert is part of the “Third Thursdays at Three” concert series. Songs include: Fill Me Up Song of Songs 2:14-15 Good Morning Lord Grace Greater Than Our Sin Worthy of Honor and Praise Holy One of
Christian Concert to Lift Your Spirit Read More »
Merry Christmas!!! Wow, what an incredibly busy month it has been. As Christmas is a couple of days away (as I write this), here are a couple of encouraging and inspiring videos with some Christmas Carols/Songs that will hopefully bring extra joy to you this season. If you enjoy simple acoustic Christmas Carols, feel free
Christmas is such a wonderful time, filled with warmth, joy and hope; especially when children enter into the picture… Only Son And that Christmas was no different. In fact, Christmas had taken on a new wonder, ever since the day our only son was born. Most notably because he entered our “world” just a couple
Have you ever been so frightened that you were almost immobilized by your fear? Have you ever felt like the evil one was intimidating you so he could stop you in your tracks, and keep you from doing not only the thing that you wanted to do, but the thing that God wanted you to
Set Free From Fear Read More »
Here is a link to a replay of last Thursday’s livestream concert (including several of my original songs and hymns). It’s got better video resolution and audio that is more consistent in terms of volume. I pray that you will draw near to the Lord as you listen/watch/worship along with me. No matter what you’re
In-Home Concert Replay 10-17-2024 Read More »
Do you find yourself wanting to be transformed into the image of Christ as He desires, yet sometimes feel more like you’re getting sucked in to the ways of the world? Let’s examine that comparison briefly, and then share some time in prayer and encouragement. This week’s Manna From My Father’s Hand podcast was recorded
Intoxication or Transformation? Read More »
Are you contented with the way that God made you? Do you need some encouragement to simply be who you are, in Him? The Bible says in Psalm 139:14 that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made“, yet it often seems that we are simply dissatisfied with the way God made us, and we would prefer
In-Home Concert Replay from 9-19-2024 Last week’s Third Thursdays at Three Livestream in-home Concert was a blessing. This Manna From My Father’s Hand blog post is the audio played for the most recent podcast, which can be found on my podcast page here: https://manna.shiningriver.com/podcast/ If you would prefer to WATCH the video, (rather than simply
How Does Your (Spiritual) Garden Grow? Do you seek the abundant life mentioned by Jesus in the Bible? Let’s take a few minutes and look in the Scriptures to find some clues as to Who is truly in charge of this thing called “Life”. At the end, I’ll share another one of my featured songs,
The Master’s Garden Read More »
Is the “lawn” of your spiritual life planted purely with the best grass seed, resulting in a beautiful green, softly carpeted landscape, or is it filled with a variety of weeds of every shape and kind, spreading by seeds above ground when the wind blows, and creeping underground by the roots, so that it feels
Want some increased clarity and discernment in your daily life? Do you have a hard time hearing the “still small voice” whispering to you because there’s a horrendously loud and shrill ringing in your ears? Is the true intent of your heart not getting through to others because your conflicting attitudes and actions are drowning
How do you discern the will of God? Do you long to follow after Jesus, yet you’re not sure how to figure out which way He is leading? Have you ever had a big decision to make and weren’t sure which way God would have you go? Shifting Gears For this week’s blog, we’re going
Discerning the Will of God Read More »
Have you ever noticed that it takes no effort whatsoever to grow an abundant crop of weeds in your garden, but it takes much planning, focus and effort to keep your garden beautiful, healthy and fruitful? Does that tendency remind you at all of your own life, the Church or even our government/society? In continuing
Thorns and Thistles Read More »
This week’s Manna From My Father’s Hand Blog and Podcast are going to focus on my recent “Third Thursday’s at Three” concert. I will link below to a video of the replay where you can watch AND listen, as well as to the podcast version where you can simply listen to the entire concert. For
Concert Replay 7-18-2024 Read More »
Do you know that your way is not hidden from the Lord? At times it can surely feel that it IS hidden from His sight. Have you ever felt that way? Do you know that He can spread the fragrance of Christ in the midst of the deepest, darkest valley of your life? The God
Freedom This week, in carrying on with our gardening theme and celebrating our Independence Day (July 4) in the United States, it seems timely to discuss a little bit about the freedom that we celebrate in the earthly realm, in our “free” country, which affords us the opportunity to even speak of these types of
Have you become a “new creation”, changed to your core and in your very essence, by One who has planted the seed of His Holy Spirit deep in the soil of your heart? Do you believe that God can not only make YOU into someone who reflects the image of His Son, but also work
The Choice is Yours So many choices in life. Whether to have cereal or eggs for breakfast? Whether to go to college or get a job after high school? Whether to plant or whether to uproot? Whether to go out or stay home? Whether to speak the truth in love or remain silent? Whether to