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
Genuine or Counterfeit? When given a choice, do you prefer the real thing or an imitation? Genuine money or counterfeit? An actual rainbow in the real sky, no matter how faint … or a colorful, gaudy fake representation, short on colors and substance? A plant that actually bears a harvest or one that looks just
Do you desire for the “garden” of your life to be flourishing, but find that destructive critters keep digging up everything you try to plant? Do the challenges, failures and set-backs of this life find you hiding FROM Christ, or is your life hidden WITH Christ in God? Let’s explore that today… Song of Songs
This week’s blog and podcast is taking a bit of an unexpected turn once again. Perhaps I should start getting used to that! The Lord seems to steer things in a different direction so often, and it does make it interesting at times, to say nothing of getting a little figurative whiplash! This is a
Blossom as His Garden Grows Read More »
Deep and Lasting Work God does indeed work in mysterious ways. When your life and ways are submitted to Jesus, He is faithful to accomplish His work. Even in the midst of our inability to always hear Him clearly or perfectly follow His every leading, somehow for those who are “called according to His purposes”
Empty or Full? Are your sails empty or full? And while we’re at it, how’s your tire pressure? Have the tires that help you navigate the rocky roads of this life become deflated? Has the wind in your sails become so seemingly non-existent that you’re sitting out in the middle of the lake of life
In case you haven’t gotten to watch the replay of last week’s “Third Thursdays at Three” in-home concert, I will put a link to the video below. This month’s concert actually went up online successfully, PTL! I reposted the video after increasing the volume a little, and thankfully, the video saved to my computer had
April 18-2024 Concert Read More »
This blog post is associated with the podcast that can be found here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shining-river9/episodes/11-Wake-Up-e2ib09u Sorry this blog entry took so LONG to get posted! Taxes caused an extra delay, but now, this is ready to be posted after an important housekeeping issue: This week is a bit different than my normal routine, because TOMORROW (4/18/2024)
Wake Up–Can You Hear Him NOW? Read More »
What is Meditation? Have you noticed how our culture and the “world” seems to increasingly attempt to co-opt certain terms that Christians use to apply to “good” things? Words like “meditate” or “woke” (as opposed to being “awake”). Today, let’s “meditate” on meditation:). The Bible often speaks of meditating, but not in the way that