Category Archives: Problems

How to Properly Appreciate Heaven

Posted on August 6, 2022 by russellmckinney

Charles Spurgeon, Victorian England’s most famous preacher, wrote the following concerning why the Christian has difficulties in this life: We would never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched or enjoy the juice of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Encouragement, Eternity, Heaven, Perseverance, Problems, Reward | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What to Do About Clouds

Posted on July 15, 2022 by russellmckinney

I miss Patrick Swayze. He was one of my favorite movie stars. I always liked watching him, no matter what part he was playing. Swayze and his wife Niemi were both pilots, and they enjoyed flying airplanes together. On one … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Bible Study, Choices, Decisions, Discernment, Faith, God's Will, Perseverance, Problems, Scripture, The Bible, The Holy Spirit, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Delays

Posted on June 6, 2022 by russellmckinney

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “God is taking too long,” you come from a large tribe. I, for one, am very impatient. You know that you are impatient when microwaves, fast food restaurants, and remote controls are too slow for you! … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Christ's Miracles, Doubt, Evangelism, Faith, God's Timing, God's Will, Impatience, Patience, Perseverance, Prayer Requests, Problems, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Prayer Worth Praying

Posted on May 30, 2022 by russellmckinney

My friend Malcolm Woody once sent me an e-mail that included an awesome prayer. The prayer came from John Baillie, the Scottish theologian who wrote the classic book A Diary of Private Prayer. The prayer goes like this: Teach me, O’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Courage, Disappointment, Fear, God's Sovereignty, Humility, Loneliness, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Problems, Sanctification, Sickness, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Word to Parents

Posted on May 18, 2022 by russellmckinney

One day a man happened upon the cocoon of a budding butterfly. Realizing what the cocoon was, he became excited at the prospect of getting to watch a beautiful butterfly ultimately emerge from it. And, sure enough, he only had … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Character, Children, Disappointment, Fatherhood, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, Motherhood, Parenting, Perseverance, Problems, Trials, Youth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Maybe So, Maybe Not

Posted on May 7, 2022 by russellmckinney

In my previous post, “Let’s Get Real,” I pointed out that God allows Satan to win a lot of battles, even though God has already won the eternal war. That post was all about being honest with God when we … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Complaining, Contentment, Disappointment, Faith, God's Omnipotence, God's Foreknowledge, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Work, Patience, Perseverance, Problems, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Let’s Get Real

Posted on May 5, 2022 by russellmckinney

I’m fascinated by the story found in Luke 13:10-17. It’s the story of a woman who was stricken with a “spirit of infirmity” for eighteen years. The result of the infirmity was that she was constantly stooped over, unable to … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Anger, Complaining, Demons, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Grace, Honesty, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Satan, Suffering, The Devil, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Dry Land

Posted on April 4, 2022 by russellmckinney

When a drought hits a land, springs go dry, wells stop working, and creeks run low. There is, however, another kind of drought, one that is mentioned in Psalm 68:5-6. Those verses say: A father of the fatherless, a defender … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Backsliding, Bible Study, Change, Character, Choices, Confession, Decisions, Disobedience, Doing Good, Dying To Self, God's Chastening, God's Love, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Pride, Problems, Rebellion, Repentance, Reward, Scripture, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Submission, The Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Father Runs the Trains

Posted on March 23, 2022 by russellmckinney

Railroad tracks snake their way through the heart of the town in which I live. I’m not talking about old, decrepit tracks that haven’t seen any action in years. These tracks are alive and vibrant with the sounds of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Desires, Disappointment, Encouragement, God's Omnipotence, God's Timing, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Needs, Problems, Trials, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fleas

Posted on March 9, 2022 by russellmckinney

Corrie ten Boom was a Jewish Christian who lived in Germany during World War II. She and her older sister, Betsy, were rounded up by the Nazis and taken by train to one of the worst concentration camps in all … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Complaining, Contentment, Disappointment, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Omnipotence, God's Foreknowledge, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, Patience, Persecution, Perseverance, Prayer, Problems, Suffering, Thankfulness, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment