A Thanksgiving Message from Mattaniah
This week, I have been reading again through the Old Testament historical record of Nehemiah. It is full of names and genealogies, and I am learning to pay attention to...
45 Days of Praise
The coming holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas reminds us of both the goodness and grace of God. Turkeys and trees, family and festivities, gatherings and gifts are all peripheral...
Hymn History: Count Your Blessings
Hymn History: Count Your Blessings “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not...
Hymn History: Now Thank We All Our God
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 We are thrilled to share a series of brief...
Hymn History: He Keeps Me Singing
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." - Job 13:15 We are thrilled to share a series of...
3 Things To Remember At The End of This Year
The end of the year is often a reflective time. Dr. Frank Sells, one of my favorite Bible teachers, used to warn us of becoming "morbidly introspective." If our reflection...
How To Say “Thank You”
Several years ago I had the joy of speaking to a large group of children on the subject of thanksgiving. In preparation I learned how to say thank you in...
Thankful In Difficult Days
Thankful In Difficult Days God’s people are commanded to give thanks at all times and in all circumstances - not when we feel like it. Praise is a choice and...
5 Books To Read On Music
Let me begin by saying that I am not a musician! The books that I am recommending are not related to the technical aspects of music, but rather to the...
3 Lists You Should Make Today
We live by lists! Grocery lists, to do lists, lists to keep up with our lists. At this particular time in our world people are more reflective. God has providentially...
The Danger Of Discontent
A friend remarked to me recently that men often struggle with discontentment. It is one of the deceiver's ways of leading us to things that God has not chosen for...
Thanksgiving Meditations
Through the years I have written a number of brief articles on the subject of gratitude. From time to time we all must be reminded how good God has been...
Don’t Just Serve The Lord!
When the Queen of Sheba came to visit King Solomon it was not just his riches and wisdom that she observed with amazement. It was his servants. She noted, "Happy...
Grateful People Are Always In The Minority
All month on Enjoying the Journey we have been studying the life of thankfulness. Around many tables today people will share a list of things for which they are grateful....
My New Favorite Way To Say Thank You
Many years ago I learned how to say thank you in a variety of different languages. I am no linguist. The languages that I have taken have not taken on...
A Season Of Thanks
There are many commands given to God's people. Each of the Lord's commands are given for our good and His glory. This is certainly the case for the command most...
Did You Hear What God Did?
This week I had the joy of hearing a couple of reports that were overwhelming. In a world of bad news it is encouraging to hear of definite answers to...
“Thank You, God, For 13 Years”
Today is my son's 13th birthday. We have had a wonderful time celebrating this week as a family. How could we have three teenagers?! I asked Grant to lead us...
Do You Have A Favorite Hymn?
We were in the middle of a service several weeks ago when a fine young man leaned over and asked me, "Do you have a favorite hymn?" I did not...
Praise God For Preachers
Thank the Lord for faithful preachers of God's Word. We need them more than ever and we need more of them! As I travel my appreciation for the Lord's servants...
Taken For Granted
Taken For Granted We take family for granted…until they are gone. We take health for granted…until it is broken. We take sleep for granted…until it refuses to come. We take...
Thursday’s Thought: “FOR THANKSGIVING DAY”
I must be getting more sentimental in my old age. Over the last few years I have developed a great love for poetry. In so many ways it expresses the...
Wednesday’s Thanksgiving Thought: Why I Am Grateful For What I Never Got
Families will gather around tables this week and briefly mention the many blessings for which they are grateful to God. For most of us the emphasis will be on the...
Monday’s Thanksgiving Thought
Gratitude begins vertical and becomes horizontal. As we offer thanks to the Source of every good gift, we are reminded of the many channels that He uses to deliver them....
Making the Most of the Evening Hours
Making the Most of the Evening Hours Through the years I have written a number of things about making the most of the mornings. (You may read several articles about how...
An Item for Praise and Prayer
An Item for Praise and Prayer Yesterday I had the privilege to speak to a group of pastoral staff men in the church where I am preaching. It was a...
What I Have Learned in My First Year of Evangelism
What I Have Learned in My First Year of Evangelism It has been a privilege this week to take part in a special conference on revival and evangelism. I have enjoyed...
What’s On Your List?
Some time ago my wife challenged each member of our family to share three things for which we were grateful each night as we went to bed. It is easy...
A Good Resource and A New Song
A Good Resource and A New Song Several weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking in a pastor's fellowship where Evangelist Byron Foxx was singing. He has been a...
Daily Thanksgiving (Daily Living – Part 3)
I love Thanksgiving. But for too many of us, thanksgiving is a day of the year instead of a way of life. We have established a tradition without applying the...
Why I Thank God for My 6th Grade Teacher
Teachers are powerful people. This month thousands of teachers will be recognized. Few will be appreciated as they deserve. As I think over my elementary, junior high, high school, college,...
Snow Alerts
Since I was a boy, growing up in the mountains of West Virginia, I have always loved the snow. There is something almost magical, intensely beautiful, about snow. This morning...
Will You Thank God Tomorrow?
Will You Thank God Tomorrow? Recently, an ad on the front page of the USA Today read, "WHO are you thankful for?" When most of us list the things for...
My Thanksgiving List in One Sentence
Early this morning, I woke up with one phrase on my mind. It is repeated often in the Scripture - a familiar refrain. One psalm in particular uses this powerful...
