3+ week, 6+ day ago (1008+ words) When the lights go out in Washington, the darkness stretches far beyond the marble halls of government. A federal shutdown is not just a bureaucratic failure. It is a moral mirror. It shows who we have become as a people when paychecks stop coming, safety nets strain, and those who serve our nation find themselves standing in food lines. America, the land of plenty, now watches her own servants waiting for groceries in church parking lots and community centers. That should make each of us pause. This is not only a political crisis. It is a spiritual one. It exposes the sickness that has spread quietly through our schools, our entertainment, our politics, and even our pulpits. We have forgotten that man is not his own master. We have replaced reverence with rebellion and conviction with convenience. Across the nation…...

3+ day, 25+ min ago (383+ words) As people around our nation gather around dinner tables with friends, family, and loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving, I am reminded of President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation. In 1863, the United States was in the middle of the Civil War. Even when division was at an all-time high, President Lincoln called upon the nation to celebrate a day of thanksgiving, praise, and prayer. He believed that a grateful nation was a stronger nation, and that acknowledging God's provision helps unite us in purpose and hope. Take a moment and read this excerpt from the proclamation below: The unfortunate truth is that we live in a fallen world. While our nation still wrestles with division and hardship, Thanksgiving calls us back to gratitude. This holiday reminds us that even in brokenness, we serve a steadfast, unchanging, and gracious God. Just as President…...

3+ day, 4+ hour ago (513+ words) The Bible commands us to "pray without ceasing." A vital part of prayer is the giving of thanks. We should give thanks without ceasing, and not just on one day a year. Not just on "Turkey Day" but every day. Instead of just a day of thanksgiving, a lifetime of "thanksliving." The word "thanksgiving" is not in most dictionaries. Maybe it should be. It means a continuous attitude of gratitude " a daily (or more) counting of our blessings. Thankfulness is a choice and much more than a feeling. It is at the heart of our faith, and we know that if we can experience a thankful heart, our lives will be more abundant. There is an old Southern hymn that sings of thanksgiving as a lifestyle: "When upon life"s billows you are tempest tossed, And you are discouraged thinking…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (113+ words) Living Life on Purpose Tony and his wife Kathy have been married over 30 years have two wonderful adult, married daughters and three grandchildren. In this episode, Tony shares incredible testimonies of Jesus where signs, wonders, and miracles shaped his faith, and those around him. Tony has an incredible heart for the Lord, and for others to know His love. This message is full of hope, love, and encouragement. Listen and be inspired. Matt Wilson " 4 weeks ago Matt Wilson " September 16, 2025 Matt Wilson " September 03, 2025 Matt Wilson " August 12, 2025 Matt Wilson " July 11, 2025 Matt Wilson " June 17, 2025 Matt Wilson " June 08, 2025 Matt Wilson " February 20, 2025...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (281+ words) Church of the Highlands, Alabama's largest congregation, is continuing its growth with a major expansion to the state's Gulf Coast. According to AL.com, the church scheduled a land dedication ceremony in Daphne to celebrate plans for a new permanent campus serving the Eastern Shore region. The event was held at the corner of DISC Drive and U.S. Highway 181, where the church has acquired about 27 acres for approximately $4.6 million. Plans call for a 50,000-square-foot facility that will function as a hub for church ministries and community outreach throughout coastal Alabama. The new campus is scheduled to open in 2026. Until construction is complete, worship services will continue at the Daphne Civic Center, where between 850 and 900 people attend each Sunday. Established in 2001 by Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands has expanded to more than 20 locations across Alabama and Georgia. Its main campus sits…...

6+ day, 3+ hour ago (687+ words) Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. In fact, while a few other countries have a national day for prayer or thankfulness, nothing truly resembles our Thanksgiving Day. Europe, with its more established countries, scoffs at such a notion of commemorating the virtue or emotion of thanksgiving. To be thankful is to acknowledge vulnerability. Giving thanks notes that whatever success or achievement an individual or nation may have obtained was not accomplished alone. To celebrate thankfulness is to pause and reflect on all things, both good and bad, and realize that in the midst of it all lies an achievement resulting from the assistance of someone or something else. The distorted perception of self-made people is that they made it all by themselves. They see their achievements as something of their own making and discount the assistance of others. They become…...