msgbox (" (insert text) ")

Tom,

If you use the msgbox, it requires that the user press a key, and
discontinues processing while waiting.

You could use a modeless userform that has your message:

Load UserForm1
UserForm1.Show vbModeless
'Other code here
UserForm1.Hide
Unload UserForm1

Or write your message to the status bar:

Application.StatusBar = "This is my message"
'other code
Application.StatusBar = False

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP

Tom,

If you want the macro to stop and wait for a response, use MsgBox.  If you
want it to keep running, you can make your own UserForm and show it modeless
(xl2000+):

UserForm1.Show vbModeless

Or you can put stuff on the status bar as the macro marches on:

Application.StatusBar = "Doing stuff"
.
.
Application.StatusBar = "Doing other stuff"
.
.
Application.Statusbar = False ' resets status bar to Excel control

Chip Pearson has a neat "Alerter" in which you can put various messages into
a box as your code runs.  www.cpearson.com