Category Archives: Thankfulness

How Can You Give Thanks for Bad Things?

Posted on November 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20, N.K.J.V.) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Complaining, Death, Disappointment, Faith, Perseverance, Problems, Sickness, Suffering, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Trials | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Prayers Don’t Have to Be Perfect

Posted on April 30, 2019 by russellmckinney

Acts 12:1-19 records the story of Peter’s prison break. The story begins with Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, having Peter arrested and incarcerated in a Roman prison in Jerusalem. Herod is riding high because he has … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Angels, Belief, Comfort, Confession, Discipleship, Doubt, Dying To Self, Encouragement, Faith, Fatherhood, Fear, God's Love, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Work, Grace, Honesty, Influence, Needs, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Repentance, Submission, Thankfulness, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When God Doesn’t Seem to Care

Posted on April 24, 2019 by russellmckinney

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Children, Christ's Death, Comfort, Complaining, Depression, Disappointment, Discernment, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Faithfulness, Fatherhood, God's Love, Honesty, Needs, Parenting, Pastors, Persecution, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Suffering, Thankfulness, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Problem With Chasing “It”

Posted on December 28, 2018 by russellmckinney

There once was a man who was constantly searching for “it.” When he was a child, “it” was the cookie jar on the shelf. When he became a teenager, “it” was a nice car. When he got a little older, … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Christ's Death, Contentment, Desires, Impatience, Sowing and Reaping, Thankfulness, Waiting | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Noticing Old Faithful

Posted on November 21, 2018 by russellmckinney

Christian author Philip Yancey tells the story of his first visit to the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park. As he and his wife ate a meal inside the dining room of the Old Faithful Inn, which overlooks the … Continue reading →

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“This Is Good!”

Posted on June 23, 2018 by russellmckinney

A king in Africa had a close friend who had a habit of looking at any situation and proclaiming, “This is good!” One day, as the two were hunting, the friend had the job of loading the king’s gun. Unfortunately, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Balance, Comfort, Complaining, Contentment, Death, Decisions, Depression, Disappointment, Discernment, Divorce, Divorce & Remarriage, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, Friendship, God's Foreknowledge, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Grace, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Restoration, Sickness, Suffering, Thankfulness, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Contentment

Posted on May 16, 2018 by russellmckinney

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6, N.K.J.V.) How content are you right now? You might as well tell the truth. After all, God knows the correct answer, anyway. Are you content with your spouse? Are you … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Children, Christ's Death, Church, Complaining, Contentment, Desires, Disappointment, Dress and Appearance, Family, God's Love, God's Provision, Greed, Impatience, Jealousy, Marriage, Money, Parenting, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Prosperity, Suffering, Thankfulness, Trusting In God, Work, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Strange Prayer Request

Posted on April 9, 2018 by russellmckinney

A man and his wife joined a local church. Since the couple was out of work and had precious little food and clothing, it wasn’t long before they asked the church for help. The church lovingly obliged by providing plenty … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Faithfulness, God's Love, God's Provision, Husbands, Money, Pastors, Prayer Requests, Priorities, Prosperity, Repentance, Service, Stewardship, Thankfulness, Wives, Worship | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving

Posted on November 21, 2012 by russellmckinney

A man bought a talking parrot that had once been a bar owner’s pet. Sitting in that bar every night, the bird had learned some, shall we say, interesting words. More than once it embarrassed its new owner by squawking … Continue reading →

Posted in Thankfulness, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My Post-Holiday Funk

Posted on January 12, 2012 by russellmckinney

Financially speaking, this month of January tends to be a more trying month for me and Tonya than other months. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce the reason: Christmas hangover. It’s not that we go wild with … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Christmas, Dieting, Gluttony, Money, New Year, Personal, Thankfulness, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments