Category Archives: God’s Sovereignty

The Mechanic

Posted on February 13, 2019 by russellmckinney

As an old story goes in the early 1900s a husband and his wife purchased one of those newfangled Model T Fords. They took it out for a drive one day, but something happened to the engine and the car … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Creation, Dying To Self, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Individuality, Needs, Problems, Reconciliation, Salvation, Submission, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Will Explain Later

Posted on February 4, 2019 by russellmckinney

In his day, Dr. Thomas Guthrie was one of Scotland’s most popular and respected preachers. On the subject of the Christian life oftentimes being difficult, perplexing, and downright confusing, Guthrie said: A man standing on the summit of a lofty … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Commitment, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Eternity, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Heaven, Impatience, Loneliness, Patience, Persecution, Problems, Salvation, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s Hard to Be Still

Posted on February 1, 2019 by russellmckinney

Be still, and know that I am God… (Psalm 46:10, N.K.J.V.) Royce was our child who couldn’t sit still. He was hyper, fidgety, squirmy, active, and all sorts of other wiggly. He could sit and play his PlayStation for hours, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Children, Church Attendance, Comfort, Contentment, Courage, Depression, Doubt, Dying To Self, Faith, Fear, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Word, Impatience, Joy, Needs, Parenting, Patience, Peace, Personal, Problems, Revenge, Spiritual Warfare, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God & Evil

Posted on January 14, 2019 by russellmckinney

Mathew 5:48 says that God is “perfect.” 1st John 1:5 says: “…God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” James 1:13 says: “…God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” Genesis 1:31 says … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Addiction, Adultery, Adversity, Aging, Alcohol, Angels, Anger, Creation, Death, Demons, Depravity, God's Omnipotence, God's Sovereignty, God's Work, Greed, Lust, Lying, Man's Freewill, Persecution, Polygamy, Pride, Problems, Racism, Rebellion, Satan, Sickness, Sin, Slavery, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, Suicide, The Devil, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can Prayer Change God’s Mind?

Posted on January 8, 2019 by russellmckinney

A reader, Paula Jarvis Garland, wrote to me: “Here’s my question: If everything is predestined, then how does prayer change things? Can our prayers cause God to change his mind?” The question is actually two questions, one concerning predestination and … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Desires, Election, Eternal Security, Eternity, Faith, God's Omnipotence, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Work, Heaven, Influence, Man's Freewill, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Reward, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Most Shocking Convert Ever

Posted on November 16, 2018 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #15) Imagine Osama Bin Laden becoming a Christian and asking to speak in Christian churches. Imagine Adolph Hitler converting to Judaism and asking to speak in Jewish synagogues. Imagine the Grand Wizard of … Continue reading →

Posted in Brokenness, Change, Church, Conscience, Conviction, Dying To Self, Evangelism, God's Sovereignty, God's Work, Ministry, Missions, Persecution, Salvation, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Service, Submission, The Gospel, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How God Brought Good Out of Persecution

Posted on November 14, 2018 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #14) It takes quite a bit of time and energy for a mob to literally stone someone to death. Coats and outer garments must be taken off so that rocks can be gathered … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Church, Contentment, Evangelism, God's Guidance, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Work, Ministry, Missions, Persecution, Problems, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, The Gospel, Trials, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

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

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