Category Archives: Mercy

The Jonah Path

Posted on August 7, 2026 by russellmckinney

Question: “What is the Bible’s only book that ends with a question?” Answer: “Jonah.” Jonah 4:11 closes the book by way of God asking the prophet Jonah: “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Anger, Backsliding, Church, Church Attendance, Complaining, Contentment, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Honesty, Mercy, Ministry, Missions, Obedience, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer, Preaching, Problems, Rebellion, Service, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Holiness, Mercy, Grace, and Wrath

Posted on October 24, 2025 by russellmckinney

Statement #1: God is a God of perfect holiness. Statement #2: Each human being is a sinner. Statement #3: Therein lies the problem. Fortunately for us, God is a God of love in addition to Him being a God of … Continue reading →

Posted in Assurance of Salvation, Belief, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Comfort, Eternity, Faith, God's Holiness, God's Love, God's Wrath, God's Mercy, Grace, Mercy, Salvation, Sin, The Gospel | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Charcoal Fire

Posted on June 25, 2025 by russellmckinney

Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. (John 18:18, N.A.S.V.) On the night of … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Brokenness, Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy, Ministry, Rebellion, Repentance, Restoration, Seeking Forgiveness, Service, Sin | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Profound Question

Posted on December 16, 2024 by russellmckinney

A missionary was once asked if he liked his work in Africa. His reply was as follows: Do I like this work? No. My wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonably refined sensibilities. We do not like … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Children, Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, Giving, God's Will, God's Work, Love, Mercy, Ministry, Perseverance, Problems, Prosperity, Sacrifice, Service, Stewardship, Suffering, Sunday School, Trials, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Incident on a School Bus

Posted on September 13, 2024 by russellmckinney

During some of my college years, I had a part-time job driving a school bus for elementary and middle school students. Since I myself hadn’t been a kid for a while, that job served to remind me just how cruel … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Children, Doing Good, God's Work, Influence, Mercy, Ministry, Personal, Service, The Sermon On The Mount, The Tongue | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Miss Thompson & Teddy

Posted on June 5, 2024 by russellmckinney

Today, I feel led to share a story that I picked up years ago from well-known pastor and author John Ortberg. It’s Ortberg’s story put into my own words. The story has always been a blessing to me, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Christmas, Doing Good, Encouragement, Evangelism, Friendship, God's Love, God's Work, Influence, Mercy, Ministry, Motherhood, Service, Teaching, Witnessing, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Got Mercy?

Posted on April 17, 2024 by russellmckinney

“The Beatitudes” series: (post #5) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7, N.K.J.V.) The Greek noun our New Testaments translate as “mercy” is eleos. Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines the word as being: the outward manifestation of pity; it … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Grace, Humility, Mercy, Revenge, Salvation, Series: "The Beatitudes", The Sermon On The Mount | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Does God Hear the Prayers of Lost People (part 3)

Posted on September 23, 2022 by russellmckinney

The New Testament stories of God hearing the prayers of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48) and the tax collector from Christ’s parable (Luke 18:9-14) shouldn’t surprise us. I say that because even in the Old Testament we find examples of God showing … Continue reading →

Posted in Brokenness, Children, Grace, Humility, Mercy, Prayer, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Does God Hear the Prayers of Lost People? (part 2)

Posted on September 21, 2022 by russellmckinney

In Luke 18:9-14, we find another example of a lost man who, like Cornelius, had God hear his sincere prayer. His prayer is what some call “the sinner’s prayer.” Actually, the man isn’t a literal person but is, instead, merely … Continue reading →

Posted in Brokenness, Grace, Humility, Mercy, Prayer, Salvation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Different Way to Preach the Gospel

Posted on September 7, 2022 by russellmckinney

An army private became a Christian and began to experience some persecution from his fellow soldiers. One rainy night he came in very tired and wet, but he still got down on his knees and prayed before he went to … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Doing Good, Evangelism, Extending Forgiveness, Humility, Influence, Mercy, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Salvation, Trials, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment