chelan rene’ russ

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Archive for the category “About Chelan {or Ricky}”

25 May 2012

Freedom From vs. Freedom To ~ What Drives You to Obedience is the Key to Freedom

Some may disagree with the take Matt Chandler has on “once saved, always saved – & if you think you’ve ‘fallen away’ form the grip of salvation, you were never actually saved to begin with” belief. But don’t let that throw you for a loop…regardless of that & what we believe (I’m still hashing that out, spiritually, as to what I believe about it) – Chandler is rock solid in his grasp of the Word and teaches it with clarity & some loving sarcasm – which Ricky & I are totally drawn to for some reason! He’s not just a teacher, he’s a preacher.  And we love to go back to his sermons here ~ http://www.thevillagechurch.net/resources/sermons/ when we want or need a great dose of truth.

This particular sermon dives into what that scripture means when it says “It is for Freedom that Christ set us free”. (from Gal. 5:1-7).  He talks about what we are free FROM…and also, what we are now free TO…!

One big take-away I got from it this morning, is that my acts of goodness & right living should be done because of the love inside of me for the Lord & others. As if it is pouring out of me from the overflow of love in my heart toward my God. NOT because of fear, insecurity or feeling threatened by another’s good deeds.

I want to also teach Braylon & Angel to love and show acts of love because they are motivated inwardly, by God – not from the motivation of fear.  But I think I have a challenge before me – it seems almost more effective to get Braylon to obey because of fear that if he doesn’t, ____________will happen.

Heavenly Father, in your patience and abounding love for me, show me how to help my children find joy in obedience to authorities & to You – by teaching them that the motivation for right behavior & obeying… should be LOVE. Their actions should reflect their measure of faith, expressing itself to others, all day long, in LOVE. (Gal. 5:6)

Here is That Message.

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15 May 2012

Moving Beyond Intention

Tonight as I was pulling my espresso shots, God spoke to me.

See, we were going to move out of our home. We’d decided we would do it. I struggled with the idea of downsizing to an apt half the size, because I knew it meant selling much of what we owned. But as time went by, He showed me where I was holding on to things too tightly. He led me to the place that I thought I would not be able to go: Read more…

Posted in God is teaching me..., Ricky & Chelan ~ memories of a love-life since 1995, Winks from God | Leave a Comment
04 Mar 2012

Crazy “Hot” Love

Funny how God works sometimes. I was able to go to The 2012 Justice Conference Feb.24th,25th, and after the final main session when Francis Chan spoke, I texted Ricky how similar their thoughts are. Many things Francis said from the stage, I’ve heard escape Ricky’s lips as well. Well, when he heard that, he surveyed our tiny bookshelf for the one Francis Chan book we own, Crazy Love.

He’d read through just the first part of it once before, but was in a completely different spot, emotionally. It was in Austin, just after he quit SCBN. It never engaged him. A few years has passed since then, and his heart is in a whole different place now. So much opportunity has come his way. He’s been given a wonderful job at Fidelity National Title, and even better, lately he has been given new perspective. One much more eternal. And Francis Chan’s book, Crazy Love, has been a huge part of that new perspective.

So if I’d not been able to attend that conference, he would’ve not been inspired to re-read that book, his perspective would’ve been fresh and right, but not really what God had in mind for him right now. Now it is extreme and self-less and generous and compassionate, and more understanding of God’s glory and love for us.

I’m asking God to prepare my heart, as I dive into the same book…for any lifestyle changes ahead. I’m asking God to set the stage of my heart so that I am willing to fully support my husband, not be so self-seeking or clingy to the material and tangible, but trusting that he wants to make these new changes and decisions for the good of his family, and the glory of his God.

This is a perfect example of extremism that has taken root in our Russ men! If they do it, they do it 100%. If they’re hurt along the way, it’s all downhill for them and everyone in their vicinity. Just watch any time Braylon falls down or gets tripped, and you know just what I mean. It’s all or nothin’ with these guys. Which in one sense, is a great thing. It’s a recipe for a tumultuous roller-coaster life, but makes me thankful. Why? Revelation 3:16 says in essence, because you are lukewarm, neither hot or cold, you make me want to vomit. God is saying this!
I’m thankful that my man is rarely lukewarm, and that he is right now, HOT, on fire for God’s will. Listening, changing, & letting faith lead him.

Braylon, Angel and I are still along for the ride, no matter what…trusting God, and thanking him for this man he’s put in our lives to lead & teach us.

20120304-151131.jpg

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22 Jan 2012
1 Comment

The Voice

Tonight we hopped in Rick’s car to go pick up mine, which had been sitting in the Panera Bakery parking lot for about 24 hours…to my surprise, with the overhead light on.  He zoomed out of the lot just as I tried turning my key to this gawdawful clicking sound. With no time to spare – none to even check my purse for my cell – I jumped out, spotted his car still within reach, ran down the hillside (of muddy grass) with my heels on might I add, and  HAD to get his attention. FAST. But how? I started waving my arms about like a crazy woman in the middle of opposing traffic lanes & approaching the middle of a busy intersection. When I was still 50 ft. away & gaining on him as he sat at the red light to turn left, I was determined to not let him get away. I started yelling.

“Riiiiick!”

“Riiiiiiiiick!”

And in a blessed moment of relief, I watched his light turn green & his car U-turn back toward me.  He pushed mine into a spot where he could help Braylon maneuver some jumper cables onto it, and before you could say “Psychotic Yelling Woman with a Dead Battery”, I turned that key again & heard the vroooomy growl I was yearnin’ for.  Later, I asked Rick if it was my hysterical run-dance that got his attention, or if it was my voice, and to my surprise, he replied, “it was your voice”.  He knew my voice.

I was just thinkin’, as I was reading to Braylon & Angel (from John 14) about how God has been speaking to me lately. And how great it feels to be able to communicate with my Heavenly Father…about anything. Any time. How special I feel in those moments that I actually hear his Spirit gently turn me away from harmful situations, reactions or thought patterns.

Maybe I can hear Him better because I’ve been on a fast. Maybe not. Maybe it’s because I’ve been worshiping more. But maybe not.

Ya know, maybe it’s because I’m a forgetful, needy, silly little sheep.

But hey, at least The Lord is my Shepherd. And I have all I need. I’m listening. The noise of this world is not going to have my attention. It will not drown Him out like it has before. I will take him at His word: His sheep follow him because they know his voice.

God, help me to stay conscious of your Spirit in me, day in and day out. To follow you without distractions. To listen & obey your majestic whispers immediately. No delay. Help me to follow your voice so that my children can follow mine with confidence and joy.

 

John 10:3-5 (NIV)

3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Psalm 28:8-9 (NLT)

 8 The LORD gives his people strength.
He is a safe fortress for his anointed king.
9 Save your people!
Bless Israel, your special possession.[a]
Lead them like a shepherd,
and carry them in your arms forever.

Posted in About Chelan {or Ricky}, Ricky & Chelan ~ memories of a love-life since 1995 and tagged , , , , ,
13 Jan 2012

Muffins – Devourable Blueberry Muffins: Breakfast of Champions

So easy, even a 9 year old can make it! (if watched like a hawk) – These muffins are the bomb. I like using frozen blueberries but can subst. with frozen blackberries & raspberries too… which thaw out & get all juicy in the baking process, making the muffin even moister.

Totally stole the recipe from online – but since we liked it so much here, thought I’d blog on it!  Here’s a photo I took as I pulled them out of the oven…

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup butter, cubed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
  2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
  3. To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
  4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.
PS – I always cut 3 minutes off the lowest oven time – so baked mine for 17 minutes and they were perfect. I left a few in there for 3 more min.s to see the difference, and they were too done.
Enjoy ‘em like we did:
Slice one open shmear a slab of cream cheese on it & closed it up again. Hang out for a minute while the cheese softens and …devour.
Posted in About Chelan {or Ricky}, Recipes and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
08 Jan 2012

You Always Have a Way

Today my husband got the kids ready for church just like he always does when I’m singing that morning. It’s so cute. Braylon showed up in an awesome new hair style he came up with, to look like Freddie from iCarly. He was simple adorable.

He did what he could with Angel … she came  in a matching summer dress (mind you, it’s January 8th), tights and white summer wedges (which she still calls “marches”). Her hair wasn’t brushed, but it was pulled away from her face with a pink headband & she donned a print, fleece jacket so she wouldn’t get cold.

It’s always entertaining to see how the kids show up on Sundays I’m ‘”on”. :)

The song I sang today was “I Will Worship You Lord” by David Crowder. I was happy to have been asked to sing this one. It was anointed & the last one of the set, so I got to have everyone “hang out” on it for a minute after it was supposed to end. After some adlibbing, I looked @ the lyrics and noticed a part in the 2nd verse, I wanted to revisit.  The instruments quieted for a moment as we sang:

be all my hopes

be all my dream

be all my delight

be my everything

…and we sang that 4 times and then went back into the chorus, “I will worship you, Lord, only you, Lord. And I will bow down before you, only you Lord”…ending it in one last chorus with just the voices of all the worshipers there. It was so peaceful. And so beautiful to hear those few hundred voices expressing worship to the same great God. What an honor it was to lead that song. Sometimes I just get lost up there. In the best way.

~~~~~~~

Ricky’s & my relationship lately has been… well, the best word I can think of right now for it is fragile. So after service, at home in our kitchen when he came up to me quickly with a smile, it made me smile too. Then he held me close to him for a second and told me, “you always have a way of blessing me when you sing”. And he finished the moment off with a kiss.

That feeling I felt when I heard him say that and really mean it … just…

melted my heart.

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04 Dec 2011

Rick & Chelan’s lil Seattle Getaway

As the Lord is helping us build up some weaker parts in our relationship, He gave us this opportunity: a 2-day, 1-night stay in Seattle where we got to go (kid-free) to a football game, eat some great food, stay at an adorable (well-heated!) Bed & Breakfast, share a delicious latte from Seattle’s Best, shop Pike’s Market, & just enjoy each other’s company. On the drive home, I was just in awe of the how the sunlight hit a truly majestic Mr. Ranier & made it shine.

Rick could’ve chosen someone else to go with him, but he chose me this time ~ bought me a special Eagles jersey-T shirt & then called me his “Sea Gal”  (?!)  I’m just  happy that we got to go together. Who knows?  Maybe it’ll become a tradition.

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14 Nov 2011

The Case of the Unidentified Panties

Friday night, Ricky took Braylon with him to the Woodburn outlets while I stayed at home with Angel to do some housework. Not a typical Friday night, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. So I’m taking the clean clothes out of the dryer (mostly Ricky’s clothes he’d transferred from the wash, to dry) and I come across a pair of panties I don’t recognize. Read more…

Posted in Ricky & Chelan ~ memories of a love-life since 1995 | Leave a Comment

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