Dominic & Lindsay Russo

Are you spiritually Fat?

2011-04-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

So, the other night we decided to have our first “cookout” of the summer due to the fact that it was almost warm (meaning it was almost not freezing.) Although the guest list totaled 4, we were quick to cook up 5 hamburgers, 4 hotdogs and a chicken breast for the picky eaters. We opened 5 bags of chips, ate corn on the cobb, cheese dip prepared especially by yours truly, and topped it off with Root Beer floats. What’s a cookout without a Root Beer float?

After the gorging we waddled over to the couch (God forbid we go and play the game of tennis we had planned on playing after dinner – that would have required movement and quick reflexes, all to which were now impaired by carbohydrates in our bloodflow.) As we flipped on the TV we came across the Discovery Health channel which was playing something that we could simply not ignore. Show title? “600 Pound Mom”. Before you tune me out, keep reading.

As we began to watch this woman who had allowed documentary cameras into her home, we learned a little bit about her personality. Being of Haitian descent (I love Haitians!) she had grown to love all of that marvelous Haitian food. She was the mother of 4 beautiful daughters and reminisced on the life she used to have before being bedridden in her Miami home, never to see the light of day. Day after day, routine after routine, she had slowly lost touch with the things that didn’t matter to her and slowly began to hold onto things that made her feel comfortable. She stopped walking outside because her children were grown and no longer required play dates at the park. She no longer had to work to care for her children as they were grown and now taking care of her. She had everything she needed and everything she loved right there in the comfort of her own home. And after a while, she ended up in her current state of immobility without even noticing the danger signs. In fact, on several occasions, she said “I have no idea how I got to be this way.”

To be honest, I just could not get a few things off of my mind after watching that program.

Is there anything that I am doing that is causing me harm without me even knowing it?

Is there something I am blind to in my own life that everyone else sees but me?

Am I fighting for my life mission or am I laying back and “cheating” to make my life easier?

So many times as Christians I think we lose sight of the big picture, to put it plainly. We become so comfortable with our day-to-day routines that we often forget why God gives us life and breath to start a new day. Are we here to wake up, make coffee, go to the office, come home, watch American Idol, check Facebook and go to bed?

I have been stirred to the core lately about why I am here. Why was I born? And am I working towards that assignment every single day of my life? How many people around the world am I supposed to be helping that I am not? Whose lives am I supposed to be impacting that I am not?

I am vividly aware more than ever before that there is a cry coming from all 4 corners of the earth. For some of you it may sound like a lost and dying American nation. For others it may sound like your own family members who are caught in a downward spiral of abuse or addictions. For me, it is the sound of 25 millions of orphans in India who are living without a home and 600,000 baby girls who are being “rid of” by their families, simply because they are girls. I believe that cry is the reason that I was born.

I would hate for myself or anyone else to wake up one day and realize that they’re stuck. To realize that what they’ve been doing the last however many years have gotten them absolutely nowhere other than a few more miles on the car and a little deeper in debt.

Hillsong Australia pastor Bobbie Houston recently said “It is not good enough to be awake…we have to GET OUT OF BED!”

How perfect is that? Not only do we have to be conscious of the world around us, but we have to DO something about it. It’s not enough to think about it, to care, or to shed a tear. It’s time to work our spiritual muscles, get out of bed, and start to change our world so we don’t wake up one day having won no one to the Kingdom of God, having never shared the love of Christ with anyone, and consumed with a fruitless life saying “I have no idea how I got to be this way.”

“Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits. … It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see… Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of bed and Christ will show you the light. Make the most of every chance you get!

Ephesians 5:11-16 The Message

Lindsay

my heart goes out to haiti

2010-01-14T07:55:00.000-08:00

as the whole world tunes in to news stations, radio stations and internet websites to see the destructive damage from the 7.0 earthquake that occurred in haiti this week, i cannot help but see something so much different.

the pictures i see hit me to the core and cause me to be sick to my stomach, because just six weeks ago we held a crusade in petionville, haiti -- the center of the earthquake. we walked the streets, the parks, the schools, the public plazas, and even walked to the top of the mountains to share the love of Jesus.

when in haiti, we noticed so many things. first of all, you would never see a woman on the street without a 3-foot bundle of "stuff" being carried on her head to sell, as well as arms loaded with items, such as clothes, fruit, etc. the people of haiti are unfortunately in a place where there is no system and no organization to daily life. they set up shop on the street corner, or walk miles a day to sell their items to anyone and everyone who wants them, just to be able to feed their families at night. i saw a young boy who couldn't have been over the age of 2 holding a 2-foot knife. my instinct was to grab it from him! it was SO dangerous. but as i watched him carefully hold the knife and walk away, i saw him go back to work. work. a two year old was first of all working, second of all working hard with a 2-foot long knife. it devastated me.

here's the bright side of the story. we went to petionville. we walked the streets and prayed for the sick. we climbed a mountain for 2 hours just to get to a school of children who are otherwise unreached and told them how much Jesus loves them and cares for them. we held a massive service and told 40,000 people about the kingdom of God, then watched as thousands and thousands gave their hearts to Christ.

you see, just 6 weeks ago, we gave all we could. we gave hope, we gave life, and we gave Good News to those who otherwise would not have heard it. i'll never know how many people that i knew were injured or even killed in this devastation. i'll never know just how many people from our crusade crowd, our hotel staff, or acquaintances on the street didn't make it. but i do know this: we gave all that we had, and God took care of His children.

please visit www.dominicrusso.org/helphaiti.html to see a video and donate!

Jesus in Disguise

2009-12-18T10:13:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday, Dominic and I decided to go to a late lunch down the street at Max & Erma's. While we were driving, it started to blizzard. It was terrible out! As we sat at our table and ate our meal, I noticed a man sitting in the booth across the aisle from us who was probably in his late 70's. This man had shiny white hair that was neatly combed, and his turtleneck was tucked into his nicely pressed pants. He was so cute, all dressed up like that. It broke my heart because I took note that he wasn't all dressed up to meet one of his kids, a friend, or even his wife. He sat alone.

As I ate my meal, I couldn't help but to keep glancing over at him. He ordered a coffee and a cup of soup and just stared out the window at the falling snow. My mind started to race as I was consumed with figuring out his situation. I don't know any details for sure, but something in my heart was stirring. He looked like a man who wasn't used to sitting alone, and it made me wonder if he had just lost a loved one, or even his wife.

I looked at Dominic and he was thinking the same thing. We decided to buy his dinner in some small effort to give back to someone who had braved the storm to just get out of the house. We paid anonymously, and although we didn't wait to see his reaction, we didn't have to. Our waitress had a tear in her eye - she had also been thinking the same thing.

I say all that to say this -- what can you give? Coffee and soup is such a small cost, yet can have such a great impact. You never know who around you is going through a rough time or needing a blessing. Maybe that man was just hungry and wanted soup and his wife didn't wanna get out in the snow -- who knows! The point is this: listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and BLESS SOMEONE this Christmas season! God gave his LIFE, the LEAST we can do is give back to mankind in some small way.

1 John 3:1617

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or a sister in need but shows no compassion -- how can God's love be in that person?"

More than half of the earth wouldn't be able to pay for someone's soup. More than half of the earth lives for only $1 a day. Out of a shear miracle, you were born here, now, and with wealth that is far above the standards of the rest of the world. When I speak of wealth, I'm not talking about a lot of money. I am talking about any amount of money. Use what God has blessed you with for someone in need.

Matthew 25:37-40

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Jesus gave his LIFE for you. Do your part to show the love of God in this Christmas season!

Lindsay

2009-10-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

Romans 8:28 (The Message)

"...The moment we get tired in the waiting, God's spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than ourselves...that's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."

Today I have such a burden in my heart for those who are facing extremely difficult situations. Maybe its God preparing my heart for the women of Haiti, or maybe it's for one of you. I want to break down this verse into the specific things God is weighing on my mind.

Getting tired in the waiting:

Wow. Haven't we all been there? When you're at the point of actual desperation when you don't think you can make it another second. I know I've been there. I love what the verse says that "God's Spirit is right alongside us helping us along." Today, let God carry you in the midst of tragedy or confusion. Remember that you are never alone, because God will never leave you or forsake you. (Deut. 31:6) He cannot leave you empty handed, because He promised to be all that you need, and more than enough.

Don't know how or what to pray:

"He does our praying in and for us." Sometimes, words just don't seem adequate. I urge you to let God do the praying for you. It's okay to sit in silence and let him speak to you and it's okay to be emotional. He understands because he knows every thought and feeling you're experiencing. Turn on worship or open your Bible and don't say a word, just let Him speak to you.

He knows your pain:

"He knows us far better than we know ourselves" It's hard to imagine, but its true. God created us, and put us together exactly how he wanted. He made us this way! Because of that, as I said before, he knows exactly what you're going through. Not because he hears your prayers, but because he knows your heart. Never feel guilty for the way that you are or because of the circumstances you face. They're not your fault! We know that God doesn't want anything tragic or bad to happen to us, but I do know that God won't bring us into a situation that we can't handle. Of course, we can't handle it on our own, and that's why we have to cry out to him to walk us through it.

Every detail is for something good:

The reason I chose to present this verse in the Message version is because of this ending, "We can be sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." This is definitely a loaded statement. It does not say "every detail of our lives is good" or "everything that happens to us is meant for something good." When we are out of the will of God, He doesn't promise that its part of his plan! Sometimes, when we do what we want, we get ourselves into situations that were never meant to happen. So what does that mean for us? That we have to just expect the worst without His help? Absolutely not. The verse says "every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." I know you've heard this before, but how you handle situations determines how you exit them. Lean into God. Let him handle your situations for you and He will work it into something good. Even if you take a 'detour', God can use absolutely every situation to lead you to your next promotion. Don't get bitter and don't blame God, because that is not out of love for God. Let him help you and let Him carry you, because he promised to work it into something good, even if you can't see what that is right now.

My prayer is that you will completely hand your situation over to God. Whether it be in prayer or in silence, let him know you can't do it alone and you need his guidance! I promise things will start to look up and you will have a peace from Him that you cannot even understand. Let him make himself real to you!

-Lindsay

get well soon

2009-10-07T20:50:00.000-07:00

Time for a new post! It's fall and since it's getting colder I'll be writing a lot more due to the feet and feet of snow that will soon pile on my doorstep.

Tonight, I don't have anything profound or amazing to say, I just want to give a quick *thanks* to my Jesus who has brought us through the storm. It's interesting how sometimes in your life you'll endure things with great pain, but other times you'll endure with great joy. It doesn't mean the 'endure' part is any less hard, but it does mean that God's grace is sufficient for absolutely any situation. God does not will that anything bad should happen to his children, however, if we seek Him in the valleys, we will see His face even when it hurts to even open our eyes.

I urge you to remember these verses:

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

and

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Sometimes words cannot explain what's going on inside. Let God quiet your mind and your anxiety, and let Him fight for you. In Ephesians 6 it says that since we do not struggle against flesh and blood (other people), we cannot fight our own battles. We have to let God fight for us. In the meantime, we have to remember that God will 'quiet us with his love' -- I just love that!

There's a Kari Jobe song that I have probably listened to 1,000 times. I urge you to learn the lyrics and let God speak to your heart when you're feeling anxious or worried.

Sometimes, you just have to tell yourself to be still...

(Listen here)

"He is here for the broken and life to the one who is undone

He is peace to the wounded and hope for the helpless one

He is here, He is here

Be still my soul, be still
Be still my soul, be still
Wait patiently upon the Lord
Be still my soul, be still

When the waves rise against me and the wind tries to draw me away
I will stand on the mountain, safe in Your arms I will sing I will sing
Be still my soul, be still
Be still my soul, be still
Wait patiently upon the Lord
Be still my soul, be still

Be still I know He is God
He is here, He is here
Be still I know He is God
He is here, He is here

So be still my soul, be still
Be still my soul, be still
Wait patiently upon the Lord
Be still my soul, be still
Wait patiently upon the Lord
Be still my soul, be still"

Lindsay

NIC09 : Mid-Week update

2009-07-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

The team is doing amazing this week! I wanted to post some pics of the things they are doing. I am overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and talent. We have been able to reach literally thousands of people face-to-face so far. I was with one of our nine teams yesterday, and I counted that we ministered to over 700 kids and teenagers...and that's in just one afternoon! Now, imagine all 9 teams doing the same thing every day all week long!

In addition, we have been able to be on the top 3 national television stations, as well as Enlace (Spanish TBN) and radio stations. God is really opening doors for us to be broadcast in the entire nation, on both christian and secular stations.

To give you an update on the crusade, the staff have been on the ground working for literally 9 months now. We have over 1,000 Nicaraguan churches that are partnering with us for this campaign. They have all united in the hopes that this campaign will bring peace to their country and into the entire region of Central America. We have rented 700 buses to bring people to the services each night, and every day pastors and church leaders are calling and telling us they need more! We are so thankful for the response that we have gotten from the people of Nicaragua.

Thank you so much for your continued prayer support for the team. It means the world to us!

Lindsay

NIC09 : Sunday Update

2009-06-28T15:33:00.000-07:00

WE MADE IT!

We want to thank each and every person who have partnered with DRM and made it possible for us to be here in Managua, Nicaragua.

Dominic and I are SO excited -- we already have 200 of our team here, and we'll be joined by 27 more on Wednesday. This week has been burning in our hearts for an entire year now, and we are so excited that it is FINALLY HERE!

The momentum is amazing when you have over 200 people who have dedicated the last 6 months of their lives to pray and prepare for this outreach. We have teams from all over the US, including Michigan, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Colorado, Connecticut and Georgia.

Please keep us in your prayers this week as we go and reach thousands of people for Jesus Christ!

Again, thank you all.

From the bottom of our hearts,

Lindsay

(I will be posting pics and/or videos every night so stay tuned for more exciting updates!)

fearful responsibility

2009-06-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

devo - 06.19.09

I was reading the other day in 2 Corinthians where it talks about being an "Ambassador for Christ." I don't know about you, but to me that sounds like a mouthful! What does it mean to be an ambassador? In the literal sense, an ambassador is an "authorized messenger of the highest rank sent as a representative for a specific mission." (I cheated, dictionary.com) I have heard so many preachers speak about being Christ's ambassador and going to the nations of the world to give food to the hungry, clothe the needy and so on. Although these things are wonderful (and we're heading to Nicaragua to do just that in 1.5 weeks!) I want to know what it looks like to be Christ's ambassador on a day-to-day basis. Other than the obvious, like trying our best to posses the fruits of the spirit (or as many as we can pick that day! ) what exactly does it look like?

2 Corinthians 6:3-8 states it very well:

"We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind... We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us...We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander or praise us."

Okay, I know that was loaded with a lot of controversy, but just think about it. I don't know about you, but I haven't experienced things half this bad and still didn't show patience and kindness! I think it is so profound that the only way that we can endure these things with the right attitude is with the Holy Spirit within us. We cannot do it alone! I cannot do it alone! And if you think you can, God bless ya, but I don't want to try!

The Bible also says that living this way is considered a "fearful responsibility" (2 Cor. 5:1) and we shouldn't take it lightly, because God will shine through us even in the worst of times. Have you ever noticed that people always seem to be looking at you under a microscope when things aren't going your way, just to see how you react? What we do during challenging situations quite possibly could be one of our greatest witnesses.

This week, think of the verse above and pray for God to fill you with patience, kindness, understanding and sincere love for others, especially the ones who do you wrong. You never know how you may change someone's life just by letting the Holy Spirit react for you instead of your own emotions!

-Lindsay

still waiting...

2009-06-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

the definition of wait: 1. to remain inactive or in a state of response, as until something expected happens 2. to be available or in readiness 3. to remain neglected for a time 4. to look forward to eagerly

Let me just start off by saying that I hate to wait! Especially when it pertains to something that I am extremely excited about or looking forward to. Time literally stands still as the hours, days or even weeks pass painfully slow until I experience what I am waiting for. (I probably wasn't the right person to have an 11 month and 3 week engagement!)

I know what you're thinking -- no one likes to wait. Why, then, does God sometimes make us wait before He answers our prayers? I can think of many circumstances that I've had to wait for, like knowing what to do after high school, finding my husband, or trying to figure out God's master plan for my life.

Although it would be nice to get quick and immediate answers (and sometimes we do), God often takes us on a journey of waiting in order to either teach us something along the way or to build anticipation for what's to come.

I am reading an amazing book called Nurture by Lisa Bevere. There is a chapter in the book that deals with waiting as it relates to Hannah in the Bible. She waited on God to bless her with children for a longgg time. (I don't like to wait days for God to answer me - let alone years!) Lisa says something profound that really opened my eyes to the concept of God's timing:

"God will use a barren season of life to increase our capacity for more. Hannah cried out for a single child and in addition to Samuel the prophet, she was given a household."

Although the timing seemed painfully long, God not only fulfilled His promise to her, but He also fulfilled it exceedingly and abundantly more than she could ask or think!

Please take a moment to read the following poem with an open heart and mind - there might just be something that God is trying to do inside of you while you're waiting.

"The Wait Poem" by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cred; Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied. I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate…and the Master so gently said, “Wait.”

“Wait? You say wait?” my indignant reply. “Lord, I need answers, I need to know why! Is Your hand shortened? Or have You not heard? By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming Your word.

My future and all to which I relate hangs in the balance and You tell me to “Wait?” I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign. Or even a ‘no’, to which I’ll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe, We need but to ask, and we shall receive. Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry: I’m weary of asking! I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate as my Master replied again, “Wait.” So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, and grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting…for what?”

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine…and He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign. I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be. You’d have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me. You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint. You’d not know the Power that I give to the faint.

You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair; you’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there. You’d not know the joy of resting in Me when darkness and silence are all you can see.

You’d never experience the fullness of love when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove. You would know that I give, and I save, for a start, but you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night, the faith that I give when you walk without sight. The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask from an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You’d never know should your pain quickly flee, what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee. Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, but oh, the loss if I lost what I’m doing in you.

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see that the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me. And though oft My answers seem terribly late, My most precious answer of all is still ‘WAIT’.”

Enjoy the journey!

-Lindsay

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

2009-06-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

Devo - 06.09.09

The Book of Hebrews opens with this straightforward statement, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.” Hebrews 1:1,2a

In no uncertain terms, this passage communicates that God unveils who he is and how he operates to this “last days” generation through the life and ministry of His Son Jesus Christ.

If Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God, it always amazes how little people focus on what he said and how he acted. Several months ago I was talking with my wife. I said Lindz if we really truly believe Jesus was God in the flesh why don’t we spend hours pouring over his words and more time carefully studying his life.

Jesus said something so simple, yet so profound to his disciples one day. "Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40

First of all, look at that word “IF.” To Christians all over the world, Jesus still says “IF.” He says “IF” because there are only a handful who really BELIEVE. To BELIEVE deals with the disposition of your heart and mind. It means you truly have a confident expectation of God’s activity in your future.

“If you believe, you would SEE the glory of God.” In that single word, SEE, we find that the Glory of God Jesus is referring to is not some mystical substance or intangible presence. Jesus says the Glory of God is something you can SEE.

I believe what Jesus is referring to when he says the “Glory of God” is God intervening in our lives in a notable, undeniable way. One day when Jesus saw a blind man, the Religious leaders insisted he was blind because of a sin. Jesus insisted it was so that the “GLORY of God” would be revealed in his life, then he healed the man (John 9:3 – 7). The “Glory of God” was God intervening in that man’s life to fix what was broken.

Now more than ever, I am hungry for the Glory of God in my life. I want him to intervene in an undeniable level like only He can. Jesus is saying to me and to each of you looking for the same thing. Only BELIEVE. Keep the disposition of your heart in the place where you are confident and expectant of God’s intervention, and we WILL see His glory.

- Dominic