chelan rene’ russ

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Archive for the category “God is teaching me…”

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.

Posted in About Chelan {or Ricky}, God is teaching me... | Leave a Comment
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
13 May 2012
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Sonic Slushes for the Hard Workers at the Wilsonville Exit

Sometimes when Angel and I have nothing in particular to do, we just do what seems right. We were driving around one afternoon a few days ago by these construction workers, and I thought, “man, if I worked that job on a hot day, I’d sure like a stranger to come up to me and give me a Sonic Slush.” It sounded good to me. So we wasted no time. Off to Sonic we went, photo’d the Slush flavor choices, and after several detours, walked up to this bunch of guys and said,

“Hi! Would you guys like to have something to drink… like maybe a Sonic Slush? I’m making a SLUSH-RUN.” They looked confused at first, but then smiled and said, “Uh, yeah sure! Who….do we have to thank?” Angel and I just smiled, “I guess just us. You’re welcome. Just mark what flavor you want and I’ll be back.”

What’d they order? Well, out of all those flavors, 5 chose Watermelon and 1 chose Blue Coconut!  We walked back to our car, got the awesome beverages from our carhop on rollerblades, and drove back, parked, walked up to them with their order and they were so grateful. One asked why I did it. I said simply because they work hard and it’s a hot day.

Angel was giddy with excitement the whole time. It was like a little adventure to her. I think that’s what life can be for anyone who takes a little time to seize every-day opportunities to do to other people what you’d like them to do to you. It brings so much joy.

It has the power to not only make someone’s day, but change a whole community.

I think I will make a habit out of it.

Posted in About Angel - our little girl, God is teaching me...
17 Apr 2012

The Wendy’s Jason

Today I went to Wendy’s with Angel. Jason, the manager hooked her up with a kids meal & frosty, when all I ordered her was nuggets!

He’s been the nicest guy to my kids whenever we’ve gone in there. Gives them focused attention. When we talk about him we always say… Wait, which Jason? And the other person will say, The Wendy’s Jason. “Oh, yeah. Ok…”

After our meal, I thought we should talk to him some more, semi-privately, and I said 2 things:

1. We may be seeing less of him cause we’ll probably be moving the West Linn, but will stop by as much as possible. This somehow led to him telling me how he has a burden for those who are involved with trafficking, & also those who suffer from Spina Bifida. He sees a little girl come in to order food there regularly – and how much pain she has to endure, and it tears him up.

2. Is there anything Ricky and I can be praying for you about?

This was surprisingly comfortable for me to ask!

He leaned in closer and said, Heh…EVERYTHING.

I laughed and told him that was pretty general… and he repeated it, louder. I still dug deeper, “What… Relationships? Finances?” to which he nearly cut me off with a nodding “YES. Why you think I keep m’self so busy around here?!”

My Healer, Sustainer and Comforter will hear from me about some new
things tonight.

I’m so thankful He listens.

This post is to be continued…

Posted in God is teaching me..., TLT ~ The Little Things and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment
16 Apr 2012

I’m a Struggling Mom

The other day, I was talking to a friend and she said her ex had a issue with her letting me watch their little girl. She said he asked her, “isn’t Angel’s mom … isnt she that struggling mom?” Later when she asked him to explain why he said that, he said something about a birthday party, and I immediately remembered what he was referring to.

Their little girl had a birthday party a few months ago to which I showed up without a gift. I still don’t recall if the reason was because I ran out of time or didn’t want to spend our money on buying a gift for a little girl that, at the time, I didn’t know. I remember being exhausted that day and driving away from the party feeling inadequate and a little guilty, but hoping that it wouldn’t matter.
I’d asked that man a day prior, if she had a certain Barbie movie which I had already wrapped up ready to give her, but he looked at me, smiled and replied to the affect of, “yep, I’m afraid so. I think she has all the Barbie movies.”

So it looks as if he, many months later remembered that about me… perhaps it was in combination with another judgment based off of something else…maybe how I look or what I drive (not sure) and found it appropriate to assume I was struggling mom. I don’t know why, but that just didn’t sit well with me for several days.

I realized that I had this pride welling up inside me that fueled a desire to call this guy up and rattle off how we’re making more money than ever (possibly inadvertently interject a figure there), and how I used to teach preschool and early childhood development classes in Texas, and how dare he even conclude that because a parent doesn’t show up to your child’s party with a gift, they must be struggling and therefore probably unfit to watch your child… (and whatever else my big ol’ pea brain could come up with as a defense against his unfair label).

But how foolish. So many times when I’ve thought of words to use to retaliate, they are nothing but prideful and just… LAME.

God is teaching me a fresh level of humility. One that forces people to make a judgment of me by my lifestyle – not by whether I bring a gift to a party, and not by my words (praise God!). But to be still, be quiet, and be a light by the way I live.

These are some scriptures that have come to my mind:

…so they may see your good works and glorify God who is in heaven…

…if any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition…

…think of others more highly than yourself…

…pray for those who mistreat you…

You know, I can’t help but wonder if this kind of snap judgement was also revealed to me to prepare me for what is to come when we move into a smaller place soon out of obedience.

There will be assumptions made as to why we downsized so dramatically. I need to be more prepared. But since God is then one who is asking us to make these life changes, I will only answer to God (and in that, to my husband who God has put over me).

Let them think what they will… and let me boast in my riches – not of any material wealth, but of my rich relationship with the One person I should seek to please. Closeness with Him and how he speaks to me – stories of his faithfulness – these are the boast-worthy things of life!

Yeah… I’m a struggling mom. I struggle all the time with my reactions to people and most recently, to my God and all that he requires of me as his follower.

I may struggle, but that’s OK. I’m learning to be OK with it. As long as I’m leaning on the Lord, being transparent, and trying to be obedient.

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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.

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Posted in God is teaching me..., Ricky & Chelan ~ memories of a love-life since 1995 and tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment
31 Jan 2012

Believe the Best

You know, you can believe the best about others…and not have high expectations. It is a way to love them. Love believes the best. That people can achieve amazing things, make great decisions, follow through.

When they let you down, you have a choice to make: give them grace, or be offended and let that offense sit in your heart.

CHOICE A: If you choose grace, you will notice something intriguing. Other people will usually give you grace when you  mess up. You have a free sense about you. You allow yourself to move on and focus on other things ~ serving others, or on how God has been so gracious and merciful to you and your family, or on ways you can make your day fulfilling and productive and joyful.

CHOICE B: If you choose to be offended, you will notice something, too. The offense will not be content with sitting there grumbling under its breath, “I’m offended”. It will grow like a saturated demon-possessed sea monkey. It will obsess, it will growl, it will rob.  It will nag you with all your perceived entitlements.  It will blind you to that person’s unique and delightful qualities.  It will not relent, but will wait with long suffering until their next offensive move. Then still unsatisfied, will boast with a hundred “I KNEW IT”s that will not quench nor satisfy for long. It will divert your attention from the good in others…and worse, the good in God. It will lie and tell you abstract, distorted generalizations about groups of people. Lies about children or women or men or the church or married life or people who grow up a certain way you did not.

Even when it is SO difficult to do, do it. When it seems you have much to lose, do not believe it. The only time you lose is when you harbor offense.

Instead, risk it. Pray for help, and love people in a way that Paul told the Corinthians to love. In an unassuming, forgiving way that is unnatural to do over and over and over, but is rewarding ten times over:

Choose to believe the best.

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27 Aug 2011

My Dream

On August 25th, I woke up from a dream – one that was still clear in my mind. A week or so before, I’d prayed that God give me a dream – one that would be easy to understand.

In the dream, I was visiting a Bible college to hear Louis Palau speak. After his sermon, there was great worship & I was caught up in the Spirit…lost in the moment. As I was leaving the sancuary, a long time friend of mine, Beth, approached me and said, “I have to ask you something. Do you know a Frank?” I replied Yes. And she said, “I feel like God wants me to tell you that his health is failing and that he wants to forgive.”

As I made my way to the lobby and sat in a comfy chair, a young teen Asian girl behind me I realized lost a necklace pendant. She had dropped it on the floor and was looking for it & others were helping her. I heard them searching and heard the word “wicca” as she was trying to describe it.  She found & snatched it up, and as she was standing back up with it held tightly in her hand, she looked me straight in the eye with intent.

She quickly, almost forcefully extended that hand with the satanic pendant in it toward me, but still held it tight. I knew she was trying to put some kind of hex or curse on me. I tried to speak, “I WILL NOT be cursed. I will be BLESSED in Jesus’ name.” But my mouth would not open. It felt glued shut. She did it a second time & I tried a second time to say those words in response. But got the same result. She “threw” it toward me a third time and frustrated as I’ll get out, I tried a third time & this time, my mouth was opened wide and my words came out clear as a bell.

“I WILL NOT be cursed. I will be BLESSED in Jesus’ name!”

 

…and I woke up.

 

Posted in Spiritual Warfare; attacks & their relation to ministry and tagged , | Leave a Comment

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