Category Archives: Perseverance

“Is Anybody Up There?”

Posted on May 26, 2023 by russellmckinney

Many of us have experienced times when we felt like the little boy who began his prayer by saying, “Hello, is anybody up there?” The times when God seems distant are bad enough, but the times when He seems downright … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Timing, Impatience, Patience, Perseverance, Prayer, Prayer Requests | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rejoicing in the Lord Always

Posted on April 21, 2023 by russellmckinney

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4, N.K.J.V.) Many years ago, in Germany, a young man was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. The prognosis was that the cancer would spread unless the tongue was … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Complaining, Contentment, Depression, Disappointment, Heaven, Joy, Perseverance, Praise, Reward, Salvation, Thankfulness, The Tongue | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A True Masterpiece

Posted on March 4, 2023 by russellmckinney

An artist visited a museum where one of his masterpieces was on exhibit. He approached the painting and noticed that the museum had placed one of his earlier, lesser-known works beside it. As he stood there comparing both paintings, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Atheism, Belief, Bible Study, Children, Church Attendance, Disappointment, Doubt, Evangelism, Faith, Giving, God's Work, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Salvation, Scripture, Service, The Bible, Trials, Trusting In God, Witnessing, Youth | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Year by Year

Posted on February 24, 2023 by russellmckinney

As the story in 1 Samuel chapter 1 begins, a woman named Hannah is barren. She has a husband, Elkanah, who loves her very much, but she cannot give him children. Perhaps that is why he has a second wife. … Continue reading →

Posted in Disappointment, Encouragement, Faith, God's Love, God's Timing, God's Provision, God's Will, Impatience, Needs, Patience, Perseverance, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Feeling Kind of Small?

Posted on January 27, 2023 by russellmckinney

You’ve probably heard of Solomon’s temple, that beautiful, majestic house of worship that served as the centerpiece of worship in Israel. That temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonians in 587 B.C. To make that destruction even worse, Nebuchadnezzar deported the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Church, Contentment, Criticism, Disappointment, Doing Good, Encouragement, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Impatience, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Patience, Perseverance, Service, Trials, Trusting In God, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Delays Are Not His Denials

Posted on January 23, 2023 by russellmckinney

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. (Psalm 130:5, N.K.J.V.) A little boy asked his father to buy him a gold watch. When the father didn’t seem to acknowledge the request, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Faith, God's Timing, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Will, Needs, Patience, Perseverance, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Find Things for Which to Be Thankful

Posted on December 30, 2022 by russellmckinney

A subway car was overly crowded, causing several people to have to stand. Naturally, most of them were griping about the situation. As the car pulled into another station where still more people boarded, one standing man said to those … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Complaining, Contentment, Disappointment, Perseverance, Problems, Salvation, Suffering, Thankfulness | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“My Cross Is Too Big for Me to Bear”

Posted on December 9, 2022 by russellmckinney

A Christian woman was forced to continually deal with a ongoing problem in her life. Eventually, she faded into total self-pity. Time and time again she told people, “My cross is too big for me to bear.” One night she … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Complaining, Contentment, Depression, Disappointment, Encouragement, Perseverance, Problems, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

In Training to Be Used Mightily

Posted on November 28, 2022 by russellmckinney

A budding young soloist went to a great Italian musician for voice training. The master handed him a piece of music and said, “Practice this for one full year and then return here.” The request seemed a bit strange, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Commitment, Disappointment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Timing, God's Omniscience, God's Will, Impatience, Ministry, Music, Obedience, Patience, Perseverance, Rebellion, Reward, Submission, Teaching, Temptation, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

God Knows What He is Doing/ He Maketh No Mistake

Posted on November 22, 2022 by russellmckinney

For a post today, I decided to do something a bit different by combining a couple of short items I’ve had in my files for some time. The first one is a little story that offers one example of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Comfort, Disappointment, Discipleship, Dying To Self, Faith, God's Omnipotence, God's Omniscience, God's Will, Humor, Patience, Perseverance, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment