Category Archives: Adversity

The Church’s First Martyr

Posted on November 12, 2018 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #13) I take no pleasure in reporting that much of what a lot of Christians believe about God really doesn’t stand up to the test of scripture. “God wouldn’t let me remain sick.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Christ's Death, Church, Commitment, Death, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Heaven, Ministry, Obedience, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Service, Sickness, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, The Old Testament Law, Trials | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Repairman Cometh

Posted on October 1, 2018 by russellmckinney

Well, it’s Monday, a day I’ve been dreading since this past Saturday. I say that because Saturday was the day I found out that Monday would most likely be the day when the repairman would come to fix our home’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Comfort, Courage, Creation, Depression, Disappointment, Entertainment, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Human Life, Needs, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Salvation, Sickness, Submission, Temptation, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Holy Spirit as Comforter

Posted on September 26, 2018 by russellmckinney

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Death, Depression, Disappointment, Encouragement, Fear, God's Love, God's Omnipresence, God's Provision, Inner Peace, Peace, Perseverance, Problems, Restoration, Suffering, The Holy Spirit, Trials, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Story About the Value of Waiting Just a Little Bit Longer

Posted on September 24, 2018 by russellmckinney

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say on the Lord! (Psalm 27:14, N.K.J.V.) In his booklet When Everything Goes Wrong, Adrian Rogers tells the story of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Solzhenitsyn, who was … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Conviction, Decisions, Depression, Faith, God's Timing, God's Foreknowledge, God's Guidance, God's Will, Impatience, Patience, Problems, Suffering, Suicide, Temptation, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

He Will Make It Plain

Posted on September 19, 2018 by russellmckinney

In his wonderful little book, The Red Sea Rules, Robert J. Morgan shares a story from the life of William Cowper. Cowper was a famous English poet and hymn writer who struggled with severe mental issues, bordering on insanity, until he … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Timing, God's Guidance, God's Mercy, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Patience, Perseverance, Suffering, Suicide, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Joy Comes in the Morning

Posted on September 14, 2018 by russellmckinney

…Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5, N.K.J.V.) English missionary James Hannington was the first Anglican bishop of East Africa. His initial missionary visit to Africa only lasted a few months because he … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Comfort, Courage, Death, Depression, Disappointment, Encouragement, Eternal Security, Eternity, Heaven, Human Life, Inner Peace, Missions, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Restoration, Reward, Salvation, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Classified Falsely

Posted on September 10, 2018 by russellmckinney

Private First Class Alan Barton, an American soldier fighting in the Vietnam War, was reported missing from his base in South Vietnam on July 28, 1970. 32 days later his commanding officer notified his mother that her son was now … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Coming Judgment, Criticism, Deception, Eternity, God's Judgment, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, Heaven, Justice, Patience, Persecution, Reward, Suffering, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

I’m with You

Posted on September 7, 2018 by russellmckinney

An elderly grandfather took his little grandson for an afternoon walk. After they had walked a while, the old man asked the boy, “How far do you think we’ve walked?” The boy answered, “I don’t know, grandpa.” The grandfather asked, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Assurance of Salvation, Comfort, Contentment, Doubt, Eternal Security, Eternity, Faith, Fear, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Guidance, God's Provision, Greed, Money, Needs, Problems, Prosperity, Sickness, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Depression

Posted on August 22, 2018 by russellmckinney

Depression is a real thing. According to the website http://www.healthline.com, it’s estimated that 21 million adults in the United States have at least one major bout with depression each year. Of course, that number is probably low given the fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Brokenness, Depression, Discipleship, Encouragement, God's Work, Humility, Loneliness, Ministry, Perseverance, Preaching, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Trouble with Family

Posted on August 15, 2018 by russellmckinney

The Ishmaelites were descendants of Abraham through Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant (Genesis 16:1-16). The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through Keturah, the wife he took after the death of Sarah (Genesis 25:1-2). Over the course of time, the Ishmaelites and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Children, Family, Fatherhood, God's Sovereignty, Husbands, Motherhood, Parenting, Perseverance, Polygamy, Problems, Slavery, Wives | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment