Patty Russo: A Matter of Life or Death

Bio

I was in my residency in Orange County California for podiatry. On March 3, 1995, my boyfriend and I boarded a plane for San Blas Mexico to do medical work. Two other doctors boarded the neighboring plane both at John Wayne airport. Both planes took off but only one plane made it.

For several days, no one knew the whereabouts of the other plane. Then the day after our return from Mexico, the Orange County Register had a picture on the front page (March 7, 1995) showing pieces of metal strewn on a hillside in the restricted area of Camp Pendleton. The other plane crashed shortly after takeoff and the pilots and doctors were dead.

The story in the newspaper also included photos and information on the doctors’ families who were left behind. When I saw the face of one of the little boys who would live without his dad and the story of one of the doctors’ wives who was expecting a child, I broke and fell to my knees in prayer (for the first time in my life a prayed with my whole heart, broken like that).

I asked GOD why HE let me live, why did I get on the plane that didn’t crash. Afterall, I was living with my boyfriend, fighting every week, while those men were with families and noted to be philanthropic. I asked GOD to make my life count from now on and if HE had a purpose for my life, I wanted to live it out from now on. I felt that my life had to have significance from this point on.

Well, time went on and the shock of the story and the families subsided and “life” went on as before. But, GOD says in HIS Word in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, HE remains faithful; HE cannot deny HIMSELF.” So GOD was still working on my behalf to answer that prayer I prayed 3-7-95 with my whole heart.

In 1996, my boyfriend and I (still the same one) moved to Elkhart, Indiana to start practicing medicine. While in practice, GOD started sending to me particular patients who knew HIM. These people had one common denominator: they were all in relationship with JESUS CHRIST. They were of all different denominations; it is not about where we go, it’s about WHO we know!!

Then, on 7-21-99, my last patient of the day led me to the LORD. I had already let the staff go for the day and he and I were talking. He asked me if I knew if when I died if I would go to Heaven. I didn’t. He said I could by asking JESUS into my heart and making HIM my LORD and SAVIOR and by repenting of my sins against HIM. It was that easy because JESUS did all the hard work by taking my sins upon HIMSELF and dying on the cross for me. I accepted HIS gift of mercy and grace that night and my relationship with HIM has been growing ever since and will continue to grow until HE brings me home.

Now, I no longer practice medicine, as of 5-25-2006. GOD called me out of medicine to do music. This is my purpose. So you see, GOD is still answering my prayer from 3-7-95. But, GOD is doing it, not me. HE gave me seven songs and a cd and even allowed one of the songs to be in the top ten of the semi-finals in the Gospel Music Association song competition of 2008, last August (“Out in the Wilderness”). GOD did it and all I do is stay in relationship with HIM by talking to HIM (prayer) and reading HIS HOLY BIBLE to hear from HIM. HE will speak to us through these ways, among other ways. Walking with HIM is an adventure! Please consider asking HIM into your heart. You will not regret knowing HIM and besides, HE says in Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 13:24-27 that you must know HIM to be always where HE is, even after our death.

Always remember, GOD loves you. JESUS loves you!!

pattyrussomusic@gmail.com

Today I learned that my sister, Sharon and my parents were almost killed in an auto accident this weekend. Sharon drove my parents down to their winter place in Arizona this weekend. While on the trip, someone a car ahead of them missed their exit and proceeded to hit the brakes to "go back" or something. Sharon said the car right in front of her came to a screeching halt and the rear of the car elevated to a degree and her car stopped not far behind them. Fortunately, no one crashed. It wasn't until Sharon looked in her rearview mirror and saw a semi-truck coming full-speed at them that she knew trouble was upon them. She heard the semi honking and watched the entire scene unfold from the rearview. She watched in horror and told my parents, "we are going to die". Suddenly, at the last possible moment, the semi veered into another lane and they were safe.
As she was telling me this story today, her eyes welled with tears, as did mine. GOD saved my sister and parents that day. GOD gave them more time on earth, as HE did for me over 14 years ago.
GOD gave us more time, not because we deserve it, but because HE is so generous and merciful. This morning I was reading in the book of James, chapter 2. It says that "Mercy triumphs over judgment." (James 2:13) Mercy is defined as unmerited favor, undeserved kindness. We definitely are undeserving, but GOD so desires to be known and wants us to get close to HIM in friendship, that HE'LL divert an accident for us to have more time to get to know HIM so we can be with HIM now and know it, and be with HIM eternally. I've been praising HIM all day for many reasons, especially for saving some of my family members.
I met GOD through JESUS CHRIST when I was led to understand that HE loved me enough to spare my life March 3, 1995. But I learned after I met HIM that HE did it so that by being in friendship with HIM, I could be saved. I call it being saved to be saved. Look in Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 13:24-27. JESUS told people who came up to HIM that did not know HIM personally, to be gone (they were banished to hell) because HE never knew them. This is what saves us.
If you don't know HIM personally, please ask JESUS into your heart and ask HIM to forgive you all your sins. Make HIM your personal Savior. Make what HE did on the cross personal to you. After all, if you are someone who knows GOD spared your life from dying in your past, you know that GOD is taking your life personal, too. Get to know HIM. Become friends with HIM. He is my very best friend. I can't explain this incredible friendship, but it is real. GOD loves you so much!

Patty Russo

Bio

A Matter of Life or Death

Get Flash now!

Contact me

Upcoming Events

Follow me