God’s Delivery March 6, 2011

Once again I have been completely awed and humbled by God’s faithfulness. Last Sunday during RISE, we prayed corporately for different areas of our church. I was in the group that prayed for the offering and that we would use those funds to God’s glory and be good stewards of His money at our church. Our group shared some incredibly humble and thankful prayers and I truly felt awesome afterward.

After the 10:30 service, I walked over to the finance office to check on the volunteer counting team and was blown away to find that our offering was in excess of $7,000.00!!! This is the largest offering I have ever witnessed at Dutch Fork in my 9 years here. God delivered an answer to prayer as He always does, but I was amazed that He answered so positively. I know that He is blessing our church because we have been following His commands with our offerings and I am so thankful to Him and to all of the prayer warriors that keep our church family in prayer without ceasing.

Hi, My Name is Ray Kussro December 7, 2010

Hi, my name is Ray Kussro, and I am a sinner saved by Grace.  This is something that I need to let everyone know up front so that they understand the predicament that I found myself in and the way out that Jesus Christ provided for me.  I do not talk about my sin life very often.  I know that my friends and family get to see it firsthand sometimes, but that it about the extent that it is seen.  You see, I am pretty good at hiding and masking the sins that keep me tied up.

I suffer from anxiety and it manifests itself in a number of ways in my life.  I worry about things in an unhealthy way, often to irrational levels.  I worry about finances for my family.  I stress about the remodeling projects that I have going.  I sometimes freak out about the state of things at church and why God has allowed me to be in a position of leadership.  These fears usually start the moment I wake up and think about what I have to do that day.  I have this random whirlwind of thoughts and what-if scenarios running all day long.

To cope with these thoughts and fears I have found a few things that have given me relief.  I have found food.  Fast food.  Unhealthy food.  Eating has been an escape.  Procrastination is another way that I act out as a means to avoid the things that I am worried about.  I will get “busy” doing things that distract me from the things that I need to be doing.  I will avoid the work I don’t want to face by acting busy doing something else.  Television is another escape for me.  What better way to shut my mind down for a few hours than to escape into mindless channel surfing.  It is so relaxing because I do not have to think about it at all.

This sin life has a devastating effect on my family.  I am stressed out and out of shape.  I am tired and overwhelmed a lot.  The crazy part for me is that I know the answers to my problems and yet so often I refuse to do the things that I need to do to get on track.  My wife Gina is a woman with an extraordinary amount of patience and grace toward her troubled husband.  I am so thankful for her as well as friends that truly have kept me afloat when things seem there worst.  With help I have managed to keep upright for the most part, but I want so much more!

I know that I need to confess my sins and repent.  I have told a friend and now I am telling you that I am giving up fast food.  I have tried dieting before because i wanted to lose weight, but never as a means to grow closer to God.  The Kussro’s are giving up cable television.  We will try to limit the amount of watching tv that we have been accustomed to.  I want to read the Bible more, pray more, exercise more, and spend productive time with my family.  I have been praying over 1 Peter 5 and I have copied it below.  It speaks to so many areas in my life!  I want the Word of God to transform me more and more into the likeness of my Savior Jesus Christ.  Please pray for me as I continue down this road of sanctification. May my life truly be a sacrifice of praise.

I thank you in advance for your prayers.

1 Peter 5: 1-11

5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, [1] not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; [2] not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

submitted by: Ray Kussro

submit your story: mystory@dutchfork.com

 

Suffer Well November 25, 2010

To Suffer Well. These words have been rattling around in my head all
week. I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around them, understand exactly
what they mean.  I understand them each separately, but putting them
together has got me thinking and questioning. Is there really a way to
suffer well?

Joel asked on Sunday for those that have suffered to stand. So, I
hesitated but then I stood with the others. I have suffered, but when
Joel told those seated to look at us standing and that we are examples
of suffering but more importantly examples of suffering well. I have
to admit, I wanted to sit right back down. You see, for awhile I let
“my suffering” define who I was. I let it engulf me. I blamed my
failures on it. I used it as an excuse to justify my behaviors.  I
pushed people away because of it. I was selfish because of it. I
questioned my faith because of it.

So, you see, I don’t think I “suffered well” and I certainly don’t
feel like I should be an example to others on what to do when
suffering but maybe more of an example of what not to do. So those
words have been resounding in my head and in my heart “suffer well.
suffer well. suffer well.”  Even as soon as I sat down in church, I
began to feel guilty and ashamed.  That’s not me.  I shouldn’t have
been standing. I should be the one that is looking at those that were
standing and seeing how they did it. It weighed on me and I carried it
around for the next few days. “suffer well. suffer well. suffer well.”

So I got out my bible and looked at Romans 5 again … “we can rejoice,
too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help
us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character,
and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation…” was what
spoke to me. Strengthens our confident hope of salvation – I like
that. So I let that part rattle around in my mind with the “suffer
well” and just prayed that it would all make sense to me.

Well, it wasn’t till last night as I sat with some very dear friends
that I finally began to see things a bit more clearly.  I shared with
them my “rattlings” of late. I stated what I felt about not being an
example of “suffering well” and I said that I wouldn’t want for anyone
to suffer what I had suffered or go through what I experienced while
suffering. I even said that I was glad that God had put all of that
suffering on me instead of someone else and at that moment I realized
that my suffering, my journey through suffering had been and still is
strengthening my “confident hope of salvation”.  I suffered my story
because He knew that through my suffering I would grow. I was forced
to face trials of fear, guilt, shame, anger, loss and sadness. I was
tested on my confidence, my trust, my strength, my independence, my
love and my faith. He knew that I would endure. And I have to say that
from where I am standing today, at this moment …. things are well.

submitted by: Gaby Barnes

submit your story: mystory@dutchfork.com

Planting A Seed November 16, 2010

The discussion from our small group meeting last week was fruitful for me. We had small attendance and a new couple to the group, which directed the conversation in many new ways for us. We spent some time talking about loving people who have left our lives. Either leaving the church we spent time together in, or just the phase of life we use to share. The conclusion was that it is our job as Christians to still love those who have “left”, even if we don’t like their reasons. That can be hard  because we as emotional beings can develop anger and resentment.  If we don’t love these people how can we expect they will respect us as people working on walking in Jesus’ likeness.

I have a relationship in my life that is, well ,  we’ll just say, interesting. The ups and downs of the relationship have been very very difficult for me ,  I’m sure for the other person also. We have know each other closely for about 2 years now. A great intimate relationship in the beginning .  What relationship doesn’t have the honeymoon stage!   As time moved forward changes were being made in our lives.  Changes that moved the closeness further apart. I came to know Jesus in a more intimate way. I strived to live my life in a better way. She was intrigued to know Jesus.  When I made real changes in my lifestyle because of my new commitment to the Lord, she was fearful of change.  Unfortunately she ran away  from  me emotionally. She became angry. She began to question The Word. She became judgmental, and very negative.  Not just negative towards me as a person of faith, but negative towards life. Things were not going well in her life and so she took the hard times as a sign there was no God. During these struggles in her life I desperately wanted to be there and support her and show how God gives strength. She pushed and pushed and pushed. I finally got the hint and backed away. Hurt, angry, and crushed, I moved further and further away from her and her life. I shared with her  that I was sad  we couldn’t be close but that her negativity was just too much for me or be apart of. We  finally came to an understanding after a few months.  I’ve struggled with all this though. I  was very angry with her, but I forgive her because we are told to so in the Bible. She’s lost, I’m suppose to be a light. My heart says she’s confused she needs my understanding and forgiveness and compassion  which God gives it to me each and every day.  My mind says, she doesn’t want it, don’t push it.   At this time, I am planting  a seed, someone else’s job may be to water  it.

Sometimes I still feel like: I’m not getting hurt again. She’s really out in left field with some thoughts  and I can’t even sift through what’s going on when she speaks, at times. I’ve got a family, a full time job, kids to raise,  and a church community I’m involved in. I don’t have time for dramatic negativity. I have my own husband, 2 young boys and a job that can be pretty stressful. I’m not going to go out and ask for more! I’ll just stick to my great church friends and my wonderful family! Yeah that’s all I need, a nice safe bubble of love from other believers. COMFORTING!

WAIT?!?!  Who am I?  No effort to further the Kingdom, no effort to further my own faith.

I felt God’s disappointed voice saying ,  ”things aren’t suppose to be   warm and fuzzy all the time.”  I will be ridiculed for my love for Him. I will be judged and “stoned”. I have to find my way to work through that.

So I spend more time in the Word, more quiet time.  With all this, I have heard Him saying I am to just love. Sounds easy enough, ha!,  What  about those emotions. Well I’m working on it. Great direction from Sunday mornings, wonderful discussions from small groups, healthy support from fellow brothers and sisters. I’ve been working with all this for a few months now. I’ve found peace in the transition. I’ve felt growth of my soul. It’s a nice feeling.

So I drove this person to get her car from the shop the other day. She saw my Bible in the center console. She commented on how it was a very pretty cover. We spoke briefly about different versions of the Bible, what I read where I shopped. She quietly said, “I should put that on my Christmas list.  I should ask my mom for a Bible”. I didn’t comment then, but it was great to hear that. So I went out of a leap of faith, and purchased a Bible for her. I gave it to her the other day saying “I was just thinking about you”. She was very grateful. It  was nice to see her face light up. We didn’t talk further about it, we let the kids run around together a bit. Then said good-bye. Later that night I got a text message, “Thanks again for the bible, it means a lot to me, that  you had me in your thoughts. I plan to see you on Sunday morning…xoxo”.

submitted by: Desiree Spencer

submit your story: mystory@dutchfork.com

 

Praying…together. November 1, 2010

I was reading something a few weeks ago in a book by a pastor and theologian I’ve come to really respect. He was discussing the new “Emergent Church” and why it’s dangerous, and he was talking about a particular pastor of the emergent church movement. He told a story about how this pastor was a part of a religion conference recently that included representatives from all different faiths, and he was there to represent the Christian faith. While he didn’t mention Jesus Christ once while there, he did refer to the Dalai Lama as “Your Holiness”. He then preceded to participate in a communal prayer with the representatives there from other faiths.

I’d wondered about that before, as far as praying with people of other faiths, because it had never felt right. So it was good to hear someone I trust, and with loads of Scripture to support what he says, clarify the issue and explain that we are not praying to the same God, and therefore God is not being glorified and it’s not okay to participate in those prayers.

I kind of just read all that in passing, thinking to myself how glad I was to hear something on that topic and for that clarity, but I didn’t really think too much about it until I was at church that next Sunday.  As we all prayed together at various times throughout the service, I thought “Thank you God, for providing a place where I can come to you with other people and lift up our prayers together”. And I thought the same thing the next Sunday, and on the recent overnight trip that Joel and I took with his parents when we prayed over our meals together. It’s given me an entirely new perspective on praying. I very much took for granted the fact that we are all able to gather together and lift up praises and confess our sins and ask God questions together.

Communal prayer truly is a privilege we’ve been given by our Father, and He has really just been stirring up in me a sincere appreciation for it that I’ve never had before. I’m grateful to be able to gather with Dutch Fork on Sunday mornings and any other time during the week to pray with a group of people who serve the only true, sovereign God.

submitted by: Amanda Boyce

submit your story: mystory@dutchfork.com

A Food Court Lunch Loved Him… October 19, 2010

It’s great to think you are doing the right thing with church as far as what and how we do things but it is glory to God when you see it in action. I spoke to a fellow after church who wanted to praise God and thank the servants who served in Rise, service, and our main worship service at 10:30. It was great to know that God was praised and he was blessed. The back story is awesome! He is a pastor and a chaplain in the National Guard and is here at Fort Jackson at the Chaplain’s school for training. How wonderful that he could travel 1500 miles and sit with fellow believers and worship! Praise God! How awesome for God to use us that way! Praise God! Seeing a visitor, Art and Marilyn invited him to lunch and then small group. I was so excited to see him and hear how we, as a body, could minister to him. God uses us in so many ways it is so important to not pass them by …a correct website time brought him to us…a friendly smile and handshakes included him…a lunch at the food court loved him…a small group of different people looking at God’s word embraced and emboldened him to be strong as he learned how to be a more effective Chaplain for our soldiers. This is what our vision statement looks like…Discovering God…Developing relationships…Demonstrating Love…I have the feeling God will use you to do His will today and this week and be open to God’s will and seek out how he can and will use you.

Submitted by: Andrew Barbone

submit your story: mystory@dutchfork.com

Mercy Is Yours October 19, 2010

A child’s voice is pure.

A child’s voice singing is precious.

A child’s voice singing Praises to God is PRICELESS!

That’s what I experienced this past Sunday.  My youngest son got out of the van singing, “You’re not filthy anymore. You’re not guilty anymore, I love you, Mercy is yours….”

He sang the entire chorus with correct words (all except “Captain” instead of “captive” but nonetheless it was music to my ears!) I stopped short on my front steps.  I wanted to cry, shout for joy, join in his singing and dance all at the same time! He had truly experienced Rise.  He had listened…he listened intently and learned a song during worship.  Now at age 6, he may not understand its full meaning….yet. I had just been given a gift.  My son was singing God-breathed words with his own breath…from his heart.  I had been given an opportunity to talk intimately with him about the song’s meaning; about how it applies to my life; About how it “speaks” to me, about how the song’s words are how God talks to me….to his Dad…to his brother…and to him ~ a 6 year old!  He is starting to get it!!!  Not because of me; rather because of the many people committed to and involved in Rise service.  He sees his parents, friends, and his parent’s friends joining together as “remnants” to be one unified group.  Although this service is “less fluffy” in terms of production, it is all the more full of intimacy and the sweet fragrance of Jesus.  I explained earlier to some others that it felt like a “fireside chat.”  For just a moment, think of how warm and inviting a fireside chat has been to you or could be to you.  If you have experienced Rise, I certainly hope you have shared in a similar feeling.  If you have not yet experienced Rise, I earnestly pray that you come to see how it will impact you.  It has definitely impacted me.  It is an intense yet intimate time to give your heart, attention and worship to God.  And you may even be given a priceless gift ~ the gift of hearing a child singing praises to God!   “It is well with my soul!”

submitted by: anonymous

submit your story: mystory@dutchfork.com

 

Scheduling Life October 11, 2010

I like things scheduled, organized, predictable … me in control. I
have lived this way for about 20 years now.  I have a calendar that I
carry around with me – everywhere. I always have and I clearly
remember when this started for me.  My freshman year at Carolina –
with my first Mortar Board. Now I’m not sure if USC still has them,
but for me it became my life. I looked forwarded to getting one each
school year – writing in events, birthdays, even school work. It had
my life mapped out, planned, organized. I looked forward to the end of
the week when I could fold down the page and know that it was
complete. I had followed “the plan”, crossed off my “to dos”. It was
the schedule of my life. I relished in buying a new calendar each year
and as the years went by they became more detailed, each day now had
time slots not just a block of white space.  I could plan my life out
in 30 minute increments – how fantastic! I was a happy girl. So there
I went through life, planning, organizing, and scheduling.  And I was
good at it. I had my check list, my plan for life and as the years
went by I began to check things off my list. Graduate from college –
Check. Get married – check. Have 2 kids – check. I even scheduled my
pregnancies. I had this thing called life figured out.  Even after my
first divorce I still felt like I was somewhat in control. This was
just a slight bump in the road. I could plan around this. So back to
my calendar and lists I went. Move back home – check. Find a job –
check. Buy a house – check.  I kept my calendar close and continued to
plan my life, for I was in control.

Well, we all know how that works out. We are not in control and I have
to be honest and tell you I hate that. I struggle with it each day.
About two years ago my life got turned upside down.  Nowhere did I
have it written down to get another divorce, to bury my dad, to lose
my job and all at the same time. NO NO NO … these were certainly not
scheduled events, not items on my list. But there they were –on my
list. Dates on my calendar now said things such as – dad’s funeral,
meet with the lawyer, interview at 2 … I was still trying to plan my
life. Even after all the signs telling me that I wasn’t in control, I
still didn’t believe it.  I wasn’t letting go. I was still trying to
schedule my life, my future, my happiness. I scheduled interviews,
after school activities, meetings with lawyers, even scheduled in
church. If every minute of every day was planned then there was no
room or time for sadness, guilt, shame, crying, pity. I at least
wanted to look like I had it all under control.

Now my journey as a Christian is very new and I have a lot to learn. I
have not read the Bible completely and some days I look at it sitting
in my bag or on the counter and I don’t even know where to begin –
again I think I need a plan. That my journey with God has to be
planned out, written down and has to follow certain steps or I won’t
get it right.  So this process, this transformation in me being able
to let go and not plan is still evolving. Some days I have difficulty
with it and some days are easier.  You see, I still have my calendar
of events and appointments and I still have a list of to dos. But, now
in my bag next to my calendar is my bible. Now the first book I TRY to
pick up each day is not my calendar but my bible. The book I try to
turn to when I feel overwhelmed, sad, lonely, angry isn’t my calendar
of planned events and to do lists but my bible. I don’t always do that
and some days I still find myself with my calendar jotting in things
and flipping ahead months. But I just read that “Happiness is
something you stumble over on your way to serving Jesus”.  I like
that. Think I’ll go write that down on the top of my to-do list.

submitted by: Gabrielle Barnes

submit your story: mystory@dutchfork.com

More Than Enough October 7, 2010

God is so amazing in the ways that He chooses to work in our lives even when we don’t trust Him. Our current family goal is to be sent to Africa to be apart of spreading the Gospel to unreached people groups. This goal is going to require major self-discipline in the area of money. I am a true free spirit and do not like the idea of not being able to express myself through random and unnecessary purchases. (Which really boils down to a lack of surrender to the Lord) One item in our lives that we felt called to lower the payment on was the ungodly amount we have been paying for rent. Needless to say with 3 children, two animals, and way too much stuff I was already dreading the packing process. We already were shopping around for less expensive places when our neighbor came to us and gave us the idea to call our landlord and tell her about our missions desire and the need to save money. I was really uneasy with the idea and had already convinced myself that she would say no, so there was no need to even ask. (Real optimistic, huh?) After chewing on it for a week and finally laying down to the Holy Spirit’s call for obedience, Brooks called her on his way home from work. When Brooks pulled into the driveway I anxiously ran out to meet him and was prepared to throw my arms up and say, “What now God?” after he told me she said no to our money saving idea. Quietly he approached me and said, “She said yes!” He explained the details to me and we both felt that a burden had been lifted financially and logistically. We now are saving 50% of what we were paying. Despite my lack of trust God does not change. He is faithful and I am thankful that I have a loving Heavenly Father who desires the best for His children even when we refuse to surrender and trust Him when they cannot see. God is bigger than any obstacle we face.

submitted by: DeAnne Boswell

submit your story: mystory@dutchfork.com

God’s Timing September 23, 2010

My story truly is an intersection of “My Story, Our Story” as it
pertains to my role as the finance manager at church.  My faith has
been strengthened as I have seen first hand how God cares for Christ’s
bride, the church.  Summertime is always a tough time financially and
this summer has been no exception…rather even greater as we have
been in a period of change and transition.  We’ve had several weeks in
the last 4 months that I just KNEW that WE couldn’t meet the week’s
financial obligations only to see GOD meet those needs.  One week in
particular stands out in my mind how God provided what we needed,
exactly when we needed it.  It was a week we had several bills and
also payroll taxes dues.  We needed to have a $4798 weekly offering
which is already about $1000 more that what our weekly average is.
Finance elder, JP Marcella, counted the money after church and it was
$4200.  I told JP that I would hold back something to make up the
difference (not sure what!!) and was thankful that God had provided
that much for us.  The next day I went to the post office and there
was a check from a member for $722!  So instead of not getting enough,
God provided $124 more than needed.  It is just amazing to see that if
we wait for His perfect timing, He will provide what we need exactly
when we need it.  The memory verse for the children’s church that week
was Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall meet all your needs according
to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  In all ways God is caring
for DFCC and I am thankful that I have been able to witness it and
have had my faith strengthened by it!  Praise God!

submitted by: Laura Roddy

submit your story: mystory@dutchfork.com