Category Archives: Trusting In God

God’s Provision

Posted on January 5, 2024 by russellmckinney

I’ve never been a wealthy man, but there have been times when I was financially better off than usual. One such time was when I served as the pastor of a certain church. That church paid me a larger salary … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Encouragement, Faith, God's Guidance, God's Provision, God's Will, Money, Needs, Personal, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Abraham, Ishmael, & Obedience

Posted on December 4, 2023 by russellmckinney

Most of us know the story of how God tested Abraham by asking him to offer up his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-19). However, in Genesis 21:1-21 we find another story in which God asks Abraham to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Commitment, Decisions, Desires, Disappointment, Discipleship, Disobedience, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Word, Obedience, Submission, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Galatians 6:9

Posted on November 25, 2023 by russellmckinney

Robert Raikes was the father of the Sunday School movement that swept over England in the late 1700s and spilled over into the United States in the early 1800s. As the editor of the Gloucester Journal, Raikes became greatly burdened about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Children, Church, Commitment, Disappointment, Doing Good, Doubt, Dress and Appearance, Encouragement, Evangelism, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Work, Impatience, Influence, Ministry, Missions, Patience, Perseverance, Problems, Reward, Service, Sowing and Reaping, Sunday School, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting, Witnessing, Youth | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Don’t Be Fooled by Those South Winds

Posted on November 21, 2023 by russellmckinney

The main point of today’s post takes a little bit of time to set up, so I hope you’ll bear with me as I lay all the groundwork. That groundwork involves a brief overview of Acts chapter 27. In that … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Counsel, Deception, Decisions, Discernment, God's Will, Problems, Seeking Advice, Temptation, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting, Weather | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Life on the Island

Posted on November 17, 2023 by russellmckinney

In his book 1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching, G. Curtis Jones tells a story from the life of Methodist pastor Roy L. Smith. As the story goes, Smith had a deep concern for an elderly couple who lived by themselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Children, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Comfort, Family, Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Omniscience, Love, Marriage, Motherhood, Priorities, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Three Factors in Determining God’s Will

Posted on November 15, 2023 by russellmckinney

Like a lot of preachers, I have an extensive collection of file folders where I keep illustrations. For example, in my “A” files I have folders for: “Abortion,” “Alcoholism,” “America,” “Angels,” “Animal Rights,” “Astrology,” and “Atheism.” Next, the “B” files … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, God's Guidance, God's Will, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Transitioning Into the Afterlife

Posted on October 23, 2023 by russellmckinney

An old Scot lay on his death bed, and his family called for their local minister. As the minister entered the room and sat down in a chair next to the bed, he saw that another chair was pulled up … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Comfort, Death, Discipleship, God's Love, Heaven, Prayer, Reward, Salvation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ducking Those Spears & Arrows

Posted on October 20, 2023 by russellmckinney

In The Making of a Man of God: Studies in the Life of David, Alan Redpath gives us a wonderful quote concerning the man of God in relation to the people of the world. He writes: It is impossible for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Commitment, Courage, Criticism, Disappointment, Doing Good, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Love, God's Provision, God's Work, Ministry, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Service, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Need for Faith When Engaged in Spiritual Warfare

Posted on October 13, 2023 by russellmckinney

A boxer was getting absolutely pummeled in a title fight. His trainer knew how bad things were going, but he felt that it was his job to keep his fighter encouraged. So, when the boxer staggered back to the corner … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Angels, Demons, Discipleship, Doubt, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, God's Omnipotence, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, The Devil, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bread & Stone

Posted on October 6, 2023 by russellmckinney

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Complaining, Desires, Disappointment, Family, Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Omniscience, God's Will, God's Work, Husbands, Marriage, Ministry, Parenting, Pastors, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Priorities, Service, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments