daily devo February 2010

February 2010

2/2/10

I want to share with you something that happened during ministry with someone very dear to me. I did receive permission from this person before writing this, but I will change the name for the sake of this person’s privacy. I pray that in sharing this many will receive freedom.

Let the Suitcase Go!

My dear friend, Mary, came to our ministry wounded from a failed marriage that included many hateful words and actions on the part of the former spouse. As we were ministering to her, she told us that her husband had taken some things from the house that they hadn’t agreed on. One of the things that upset her the most was that he took one of her mother’s suitcase. Her mother will never use it again, and Mary has a brand new set of suitcases for herself. It really was the principle of the matter. He had taken something that didn’t belong to him and more importantly something that didn’t really belong to Mary either. Her lawyer had said that anything he took that wasn’t his would have to be given back.

Now I don’t know if you have ever had to hire a lawyer, but they cost about $250 an hour on average. So naturally, consider that in order to get this suitcase back, it would cost at the very least, one hour of the lawyer’s time worth $250 not to mention that the former spouse could simply say that he didn’t have it. The likelihood of actually getting it back was slim, and pursuing it would cost more than buying a new one. Have you ever been in a place where it made no sense to fight for something, but it was the principle of the matter and the wrong you suffered that kept you from letting go?

Now as we ministered to Mary, we told her to forgive him for stealing the suitcase and to let the suitcase go. She would reply, “But he stole it! He should have to give it back! The lawyer said he did!” We spoke to her about the torment she was enduring by holding onto the suitcase and that she needed to forgive him. She would get very angry and say, “I do forgive him, but I want him to give it back. What he did was wrong!” We shared scripture with her and explained that spiritually that suitcase was packed with anger, resentment, and unforgiveness. We kept repeating, “Let the suitcase go!” We shared with her that emotionally holding on to that suitcase was tormenting her. Her flesh was screaming, “It’s my right! I don’t deserve this! It’s not fair! He was wrong!”

All that was true, but Jesus said in John 10:17-18, "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." Jesus willingly gave up his rights. He didn’t deserve what happened to Him. It wasn’t fair, and they were wrong to crucify Him. We can also. We can release emotional baggage by letting it go. In doing so, we are free to walk in new life.

If we want to know Jesus and walk in victory, we are going to have to crucify our old nature, and that involves suffering. Death comes before resurrected life! Philippians 3:10-11 says, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” We need to let go of our suitcases that are packed with the wounds from our past. They are hindering our walk with the Lord and slowing us down. They are too heavy to pull behind us on our journey.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

My precious friend did reach the point she was able to let the suitcase go and with that came a release of hurt, pain, and bondage! As she cleansed herself of the toxins, the Lord was able to fill her with love, joy, and peace. It was glorious. Praise the Lord for freedom! He is so good!

What is in your suitcase? Is it jealousy, pride, betrayal, abuse, hatred, bitterness, spite, pettiness, or vengeance? The only person it is holding back is you. It is time to forgive and let your suitcase go! When you let go, your hands are free to receive what God has for you instead.

Let go and receive!

Blessings,

Janet Fairbrother

2/3/10

Happy Birthday!

Today marks three years of “According To Your Faith” devotional. We started out with just a handful of friends and family and have grown to now sending out the devotional to 25,000 people a week in 180 countries around the world. We at FOFM would like to say “Thank you” to our Lord and also to all of you; our evangelists. “Thank You” for helping us to grow, for supporting us in prayer, finances, and the Philippine children’s sponsorship program. May God’s grace, mercy, and blessing be upon you and may God continue to grow all of us in Him!

Thank You…….FOFM

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Fullness of Christ

There is an interesting Greek word that appears thirteen times in the New Testament. "Pleroma" (play-ro-mah) is generally translated fullness and is often used in conjunction with Christ.

So what? Who cares? What does an obscure Greek word have to do with experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life?

I'll answer that by showing you some of the Scriptures pleroma appears in and then I'll answer the question.

John 1:16 NIV
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Romans 15:29 NIV
I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

Ephesians 1:22-23 NIV
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Colossians 1:15-20 NIV
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

In Christ is all the pleroma (the fullness) we will ever need.

I want to live my life open to the pleroma that God has to offer to us. To be open to His plans, His will and His blessings.

At the risk of creating another label (which isn't my goal) I want to be a pleromatic Christian.

Seeking God's pleroma crosses all Christian labels, theological points of view and denominations. It's more than pentecostal, charismatic, meditative, contemplative, mystic, evangelical, liberal, dogmatic, formal, informal, traditional, contemporary or any other name you can think of. It's the best of each of them without the excesses and errors.

It's not the one hour on a Sunday, come out of obligation, hurry up it is lunch time Christianity. It is life changing, affirming and radical

So what is the fullness of God? Here are a few of my thoughts:

· Truly understanding the forgiveness of our sins

· Fully experiencing the peace that surpasses all understanding

· Seeing all people as God sees them and loving them as much as He loves them

· Being fully open to all the gifts of the Spirit (not that every person will have every gift, but truly being open to the gifts He wants to give us)

· Experiencing the fullness of joy that comes from receiving unconditional love

· Contentment in all circumstances

· In every situation truly loving God with all our hearts, minds and soul and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

· Loving ourselves as God loves us.

· Fulfilling the potential that God has given each of us

· Being completely open and obedient to moves of the Holy Spirit

· Laying aside all the sin that hinders us

· Being able to worship God without reserve

· New levels of intimacy with Him

· A full understanding of His Word and its application to our lives.

· To be able to be truly still and wait on God

· To be open to dreams, visions, the prophetic and the spiritual side of Christianity

· It is true unity and fellowship

That is just a tiny taste of the faith walk I desire. I am a long way from it, but with His guidance and strength, I draw a little closer to it each day.

That is my desire for you, that in your everyday life, you walk in the fullness of Christ's love, joy and blessings. The search for the fullness of God is a journey but it is the only journey that will last for all of eternity.

Until next time, may you experience a taste of God's pleroma every day and may it give you a hunger for more. May you be a pleromatic Christian!

Darrel Mason

2/4/10

Hard Words

I was reading through the words of God as spoken by Isaiah the Prophet this morning. I came upon a familiar but in some ways troublesome passage about Jesus the messiah.

Isaiah 53 NIV
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

There are parts of this prophecy that we are quite fond of quoting, such as he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Yet there are a couple of disturbing things if we stop and think about them.

Who made Christ suffer? God did, "we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted".

A God who causes suffering that flies in the face of the image that many people have of God and His love. Yet it is clear that the son suffered as a result of God's direct will. ...it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer Some translations render it "It pleased God..."

How could God allow His own son to suffer? How could He cause Him to be tormented? How could it be God's will to permit such an atrocity?

We need to remember several things to answer this question.

Firstly, Christ consented to come and humble Himself. Christ cried out in the Garden that it was nit his but the Father's will which needed to be done.

Secondly, all sin must be punished. Evil must be held accountable.

Thirdly, although we separate God from Christ in many ways in our thinking we serve a triune God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit make up one God. They are the same in nature, one God.

The Father is in essence punishing Himself that we might not suffer.

He takes it all on for you and me. God loves you so much that it was His pleasure to take on the penalty of our sin. The penalty was not pleasurable. Inflicting the penalty brought Him no pleasure. Being able to shield us from the penalty brought Him pleasure in the same way that getting hurt ourselves to save a child from harm has a pleasure to it. We don't like the pain but we make a conscious choice to do so, we will it.

Next time you sin stop and think about what God did for you that day on the cross on Calvary.

Until next time may you be heartbroken about your sin and rejoicing in the love of the Father.

Be blessed,

Darrel Mason

2/5/10

Life is Hard

He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good,

and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45

Let’s face it; life is hard. There are simply days that are difficult and painful. There is no way around it. Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jesus came to save us from our sins not from our trials and tribulations. He knew there would be times that come and try to steal our peace; times that feel as if they are overcoming us. His response was that in Him we can be at rest when the world all around us is in chaos. That in Him we can be comforted knowing that He has won the victory and that in Him we are co-heirs with Him in that victory.

Psalms 34:19 tells us, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” If the Lord must deliver us out of the afflictions then we are found in them when He comes. Sometimes God steps in and lifts us right out of afflictions, but most of the time, He walks with us through them. The Lord was seen in the lion’s den with Daniel, and He was seen in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Elisha and his servant saw the great army of the Lord with them when the Syrian army surrounded them. The Lord held back the waters of the sea as the Israelites passed through on dry land with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit.

In each of these events, God received great glory even from the mouths of the gentiles. He was made known among the nations through the afflictions of His people. Likewise, His people came to know Him in His power and might. Sometimes, when God’s glory is to be seen as with Moses, God must place us in a small, tight, dark place as in the cleft of the rock. We can’t see Him, but all the time His hand is covering us. We are asked to stand on the Rock, knowing though maybe not feeling, that His presence is right beside us. In time, His hand is removed and we come back into the light, seeing that all the time He was passing by protecting us, so that we might live! Surely His goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!

On those days when life is hard, pour out your heart to God, be strong and courageous, be of good cheer, let patience have its perfect work in you, pray without ceasing, and having done all--stand! Your God has not and will not leave you nor forsake you. You will see the goodness of your God. You are an overcomer because He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world!

1 John 5:4-5 clearly tells us, it is our faith in who Jesus Christ is that assures our victory:

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Blessings,

Janet Fairbrother

2/8/10

Wilderness

The wilderness in the Scriptures is a literal place. I've never been there but from the people I have talked with, the books I have read, the photos I have seen and the video I have watched it is a harsh and inhospitable place. It takes special skill sets to live in such a harsh environment with its extremes of temperature and geography.

It's more than a physical place though, it is also a metaphor. It is the metaphor for a faith walk.

The people of Israel spent many years traveling in the wilderness and desert as God sorted out the believers and the doubters. The wilderness surrounded them even in good times and in bad times they were often driven there.

Jesus was driven into the wilderness by Holy Spirit to face his time of temptation.

Few of us likely live adjacent to the type of the physical wilderness that is described in the Bible, but all of us have spent time journeying there. Some people spend more time in the wilderness than others before coming to faith. Some people wander into the wilderness at times during their faith walk when they turn their backs on God.

Still other people are put into the wilderness by God to prove and strengthen their faithfulness.

A faith that has never been tested can fail. A faith that has never been put to the test isn't much more than a wish.

Not all trials are from the enemy. God frequently allows them to come upon His people to allow them to see His faithfulness in all situations and to cause them to trust.

Hebrews 12:4-13 NIV
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Sometimes, God sends us out into the wilderness as shepherds to seek and save those that are lost out there.

If you are a believer and you suddenly find yourself in the wilderness, examine your heart. If it is sin that has taken you there repent, accept the discipline and let Him lead you home. If it is because He has you there for His own purposes, rejoice and trust Him to walk with you.

A time in the wilderness isn't always a bad thing. It could be the very thing God is using to teach and empower you.

Wow, who would have thought the thing I dreaded the most, disliked the most and fought against the most would be the thing that was the best for me.

Trusting Him for the best for me!

Darrel Mason

2/9/10

On The Carpet- #664

I came across an archaic English term that I had to look up to be certain of the meaning. The term was "carpet knight".

A carpet knight is one who has been given the title of knight not because of battlefield valor but because they have won the favor of the court. It fell out of favor as a term when increasing numbers of knighthoods were granted to non- military personnel.

One can be knighted for their success as a song writer, a business person, an actress, a favor to the crown and more. I don't follow such things but I wonder when the last time the queen actually knighted someone for their military prowess.

A carpet knight has the title but in many ways will never be a true knight of the realm, at least in the traditional sense of the term.

I see a similar phenomenon in the church. Many people profess to be Christians but are in fact (to borrow and modify the term) nothing more than carpet Christians. They are Christians in name only.

Statistics shows that nearly 1/3 of the population of this planet have ties to the Christian faith in some way and/or identify themselves as "Christian." I don't believe it. If 1/3 of the world's population were true Christians the world would be a much different place.

Christian doesn't mean having grown up or living in a so called Christian country. It doesn't mean having or presently attending a so called Christian church. It doesn't mean having a family heritage that has ties to the Christian "religion".

You cannot be born a Christian. Christianity is not inherited.

Having an upright moral character doesn't make you a Christian. Many Hindus, Muslims and atheists have moral characters that should make many Christians blush with shame. Becoming a Christian should make your character better and your living more moral.

Being a Christian means accepting the fact that you are a sinner, repenting of your sin, believing that Jesus came as a man, was born of a virgin, lived a sin free life, died on the cross as penalty for your sin and was raised from the grave. It means believing and then throwing yourself on His mercy and submitting to His Lordship.

A Christian isn't always perfect because God is still working on them. Still, there is a definite point in time one becomes a Christian just as there is a point in time when one is knighted.

A carpet knight can trot out his title and be called sir and many will be impressed. A carpet Christian can trot out their title just as easily and many will be impressed and many will be fooled. God isn't fooled though he knows our hearts.

Psalm 94:11 NIV
The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.

Does your walk match your talk?

Do you live out what you profess?

Is it just s Sunday thing or for a week, month, year or lifetime?

Is your heart right before God or are you just kneeling on the carpet?

Darrel Mason

2/11/10

Mountain Top

We all love those mountain top moments. You know the moments when we feel very close to God and everything seems wonderful. As great as they seem, most people don't spend a lot of time on the mountain tops.

Most of the time we're on our way up the mountain, down the mountain or in the valleys.

From the top of the mountain we can experience the closeness of God and sometimes we can see the next mountaintop. We don't however get to spend our time tripping from one mountain top to the next.

That's a good thing because it gets cold and dry on the top of the mountain and things don't grow.

It's below the mountain top that we hit the tree line. It's in the valley that we see the flowers, the pastures and the streams. It's in the valley where things grow the best.

If we spent all of our time up on the mountain, we'd wither and die. Things might seem harder down in the trees or deep in the valley but it's where we grow and it’s how we move from one mountain to the next.

When we find ourselves in the valley we can rejoice. God has not abandoned us. He has moved us to more fertile ground so we can be shaped to be more like Him.

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

When we find ourselves tested we can rejoice.

James 1:2-4 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything

When God disciplines us we can rejoice.

Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

When we're on the mountaintop the joy is obvious. When we're in the valleys it might be less apparent but can still be very real for us.

Rejoice in whatever circumstances you are facing because God is walking with you and shaping you through it all!

Be Blessed

Darrel Mason

2/15/10

There is a special need we would ask your help with. It has been 3 years since we have asked our readers for contributions for a special need. This involves a little girl named Leona. She was born with a cleft pallet. She desperately needs our help. To repair the cleft pallet will require several operations which are done at no cost by contributing doctors in the Philippines. Praise God for their time and skill in helping those like Leona.

Through this surgery this can be repaired and Leona can go on to live a more normal life, being able to eat, drink and breathe properly. What we need are contributions for aftercare, medications, transportation and accommodations for during and after the surgery. This is where we need your help, your family, friends and church to step in and help. Please prayerfully consider the best gift you can give for this cause. God Bless…Darrel and FOFM.

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES! (please mark Leona in memo)

Fury of Faith Ministry

9512 Woodland Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87112

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#666-Memorial Stones

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalms 126:5

Do you ever see people so in love with Jesus that you think to yourself, how did they develop that kind of relationship with the Lord? How can they be so full of faith?

Well, let me tell you, it develops from surviving places that without God, would have been utter despair! The places where I have grown the most came out of places where I have sown in many tears. Times that I told the Lord, “I can’t do this anymore; I won’t survive.” His response was to make sure I went through it again with the words, “You can do all things through Me who gives you strength.” Times when I wept before the Lord and said, “How could you allow your child to be treated this way?” He gently responded, “It may appear as if I don’t care, but I do; I’m collecting every tear.”

It is as if I have memorials set up all along my faith journey. I could take you on a tour and tell you, “This is where I learned that even my righteous acts were as filthy rags. This is where I learned I couldn’t afford not to tithe. This is where I understood He alone was my provider. This is where I fellowshipped with Him in rejection. This is where I learned that my words have great power. Here is where He revealed to me that He loves my children more than I do. This is where I learned that without Him I can do nothing. This is the place I learned that my heart was more important to Him than my rights. In each of these memorials is a painful life event.

The good news is that out of all the painful events, He turned my mourning into gladness. He taught me more about Himself and His character, and when I came out of those places, I was stronger and more confident in my God! If people want to argue about His existence, His ways, His love, or His abilities, it doesn’t cause me to doubt or waver. I know better!

Are you feeling pressed, perplexed, persecuted, or struck down? God’s intention is to show you His power in you. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed —

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 17) His glory will shine through this time and you will know Him deeper than before and grow in maturity.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

Blessings Always,

Janet Fairbrother

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Please respond today to help this child!

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES! (please mark Leona in memo)

Fury of Faith Ministry

9512 Woodland Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87112

2/17/10

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES! (please mark Leona in memo)

Fury of Faith Ministry

9512 Woodland Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87112

Linked to our secure website using Paypal

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#667- In The Beginning

I've been pondering the first few words of Genesis.

Genesis 1:1 NIV
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

There is no attempt to prove God. His existence is self evident from the beauty and order of the world around us, so much so that in the New Testament we read

Romans 1:20 NIV
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

In the beginning, God...

Before the beginning ... God

When all is finished in the world as we know it ... God

WOW! That's profound when we stop and think about it.

That means the world doesn't revolve around you or me. It means that no person is the centre of the universe. It means God is the focus of all that ever existed or will exist. He is the creator and sustainer of everything.

When there was nothing else there was God. When everything was created God is still there. When I think of the incredible size and power of the universe it takes my breath away. When I realize God spoke it all into existence I'm overwhelmed by a sense of His power.

Mankind in all of our wisdom and knowledge is not even a blip on the scene of the universe. With all of our power and wisdom, we've managed to create weapons that could destroy our little planet, but on a cosmic scale, planets and stars come and go. Our going would be hardly even noticed.

Nothing that is, except for the fact that God put us here and cares for us. That even astounds the angels. The Psalmist declared:

Psalm 144:3-4 NIV
He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.

It truly is a puzzle, but I'm glad that He cares for us.

I confess that sometimes, I try and get God to do things "my" way and in "my" time. When I ponder God and His power I have to laugh at myself. If I were to try and put myself in His place with ... "In the beginning Darrel..." it shows me how ludicrous it is for me to presume my ways are better than His.

I can't control the smallest thing around me yet I want to dictate the way things should be done to God? What arrogance. I don't even have the right questions let alone the answers.

Our worship of self and the idea that we can become "gods" is so far -fetched as to be laughable if it weren't for the tragic consequences of people playing god. We chase self-esteem rather than seeing ourselves through His eyes. We demand our "rights" when as created beings we have none; we're fully subject to the creator.

Our inflated self sense of self importance would likely made God laugh if it wasn't for the fact that it is sin and rebellion of the worst kind.

Until next time rejoice that God is in control, not you or me.

Learning to release my hold and control so God can show me the way things really should be done!

Darrel Mason

2/18/10

UPDATE

Leona was seen by the doctors and given antibiotics for chest congestion and an upper respiratory illness. The doctors will see her again next week. When she can pass her physical and lab work she will be admitted immediately for surgery. She will be in the hospital for 3 days if there are no complications. This surgery can occur at any time so we ask for quick response to get your donations in. I have posted links to our secure website for those wanting to use their credit cards instead of sending a check. Please help us to help this little girl. This will be the first of at least two surgeries (1) to close her pallet (2) to repair her lip and outward appearance.

This is where we need your help, your family, friends and church to step in and help. Please prayerfully consider the best gift you can give for this cause. God Bless…Darrel and FOFM.

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES! (please mark Leona in memo)

Fury of Faith Ministry

9512 Woodland Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87112

Linked to our secure website using Paypal

______________________________________________________________

#668- Not My Will But Yours

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:16-18

I’m going to make a point and then present to you through scripture how I arrived there:

If we are walking in the Spirit, we cannot choose our will over God’s will, because we are God in the flesh, and He cannot deny Himself.

The ongoing battle, our flesh verses our Spirit man! How do we win? Paul describes the internal, battle well in Romans chapter seven. He ends by saying, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Yes, the only way to win is to walk in the Spirit. Of course that is easier said than done. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sweat blood wrestling with His flesh. He knew mankind needed a savior; He knew He was the sacrificial lamb that would be slain for the world’s atonement; He prayed earnestly and an angel strengthened Him. When the men came to seize Him, the disciples reacted out of fleshly desire to protect Him and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus responded in Matthew 26:53-54, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

Jesus had a choice. He could fulfill the lusts of the flesh or He could do the will of His Father. Jesus had spent many hours in prayer preparing Himself for what was ahead. He was taking the needed time to crucify His flesh and make it submit to His Spirit, so He could fulfill the will of God the Father. Where His human nature was weak, God strengthened Him in Spirit. His Spirit is one with the Father, so His Father’s will became His purpose which He could not deny. In 2 Timothy 2:13 it says, “He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

So it is with us also. As Christians, we have the Spirit of God living in us. Christ came in the flesh, yet He said, “The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me.” (John 14:10-11) We too, are a fleshly body, but “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

In Galatians 2:20-21 Paul says it this way: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

When we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Why? –Because we are living in Christ and He remains faithful and cannot deny Himself! Our job is to walk in the Spirit. It is only then that “in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) It is then that we will fulfill the will of the Father. In John 6:40, Jesus tells us God’s will: “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” The more we walk in the Spirit, the greater the harvest will be!

Colossians 1:24-29 sums it up! “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”

Prepare yourself to walk in the Spirit. Pray, praise, worship, study the word, forgive, love, learn to recognize the voice of your Father, so you can do His will that He may be glorified! The enemy will do what he can to keep you in the flesh, because he knows when you walk in the Spirit, you will always do the Father’s will, because He lives in you and He cannot deny himself!

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.

2 Corinthians 4:7,11-12

Thank you Lord for rescuing me! Work through me to rescue others! In Jesus name.

Janet Fairbrother

2/19/10

Thank You

to those giving, praying and

coming to the help of Leona!

_____________________________________________

UPDATE

Leona was seen by the doctors and given antibiotics for chest congestion and an upper respiratory infection. The doctors will see her again next week. When she can pass her physical and lab work she will be admitted immediately for surgery. She will be in the hospital for 3 days if there are no complications. This surgery can occur at any time so we ask for quick response to get your donations in. I have posted links to our secure website for those wanting to use their credit cards instead of sending a check. Please help us to help this little girl. This will be the first of at least two surgeries (1) to close her pallet (2) to repair her lip and outward appearance.

This is where we need your help, your family, friends and church to step in and help. Please prayerfully consider the best gift you can give for this cause. God Bless…Darrel and FOFM.

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES! (please mark Leona in memo)

Fury of Faith Ministry

9512 Woodland Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87112

Linked to our secure website using PayPal

______________________________________________________________

#669-The Fog

There are winter mornings here where the fog seeks to hide the mountains. There are winter mornings while driving through the snow in near white out conditions it’s hard to see and realize other drivers are there struggling also to see.

At many of the intersections, I have to wait for the vehicle ahead of me to clear the intersection before I could see if it was safe to proceed or not. Once the vehicle cleared, I could see the traffic lights and any oncoming traffic. Once I got moving, I would be fine again until I had to stop for the next light.

It's a strange feeling to know there is a vehicle only a few feet in front of you but nor be able to see it. If I trusted my eyes, I could have ended up in several accidents. To stay safe I had to operate by what I knew to be true, not my feelings, or by what I could see (or couldn't see).

But here we are today on a bright clear morning and the fog isn’t on the mountain or in the city; the fog seems to be rolling in on my life once again. Situations and circumstances not going the way I thought they would has moved into my line of sight trying to block off my view of God. The fog no matter how it appears or how it comes in always seems to have the same effect.

I know but I can’t see and the test is to move carefully and circumspect fully so I don’t make a wrong decision or turn in the midst of my challenge.

Our faith walk is like that. Sometimes we can see God's hand at work and sometimes we don't, but we know from His Word that He's always at work. We have to trust that knowledge.

Sometimes we feel condemned rather than forgiven. We have to operate on the truth that Christ has forgiven us as His Word promises, rather than the way we feel.

Feelings and experience is often not the best guide. When it comes to decided to operate by feelings or experience or by God's Word. I'll choose the Word every time.

We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV

There may be some of you out there today who feel like the fog is winning the battle.

There may be some out there right now going through something maybe it's been a time of loss, of grief, of doubt, and confusion, maybe a prodigal loved one, marriage issues or just no answers. Maybe you've been walking through a fog where evil seems to be winning; where injustice seems to be prevailing. Maybe it's covered the joy you once had with a sense of sadness and fear and maybe even thoughts of giving up.

Today as God has given to me I give to you;

Psalm 112:4, "Even in darkness light dawns."

"Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man." Don't let the darkness change the kind of person you are. Your mission is to keep on keeping on, being gracious, keep on being upright, and keep on being compassionate. Don't let the light inside you go out.

Psalm 112 goes on to say: "Good will come to him...surely he will never be shaken...he will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord...in the end he will look in triumph on his foes."

Just remember with me right now that the fog that seems so impenetrable right now actually stands no chance against the rising sun of your Lord's breakthrough.

The evil may have its hour of filling your horizon, but the Son's going to win! The grief will not last forever. Your prodigal will one day be carried home on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd. The doubts you're having in the darkness can't change what you heard from God when it was light. The answers you need will break through your confusion and struggle. The sadness of the fog is going to succumb to the joy of God's much more powerful sunlight.

Yes, the fog's been billowing up, it's been filling your view and maybe even making you forget the sun sometimes. But the fog can never ultimately win.

Don't lose hope now.

Don't stop trusting now.

Don't stop doing what you know is right just because the fog has rolled in.

The light may have been delayed, but there's no way it can be cancelled.

The sun's coming up, and the fog doesn't stand a chance!

There for I believe,

I will trust,

and

I will not turn back or turn away!

I do have the evidence of things not seen and with the eyes of faith I do see beyond the fog!

Darrel Mason

2/23/10

Thank You

to those giving, praying and

coming to the help of Leona!

_____________________________________________

UPDATE

Leona went to the doctor yesterday. I hope to have a report tomorrow.

Surgery needed for Leona!

This surgery can occur at any time so we ask for quick response to get your donations in. I have posted links to our secure website for those wanting to use their credit cards instead of sending a check. Please help us to help this little girl. This will be the first of at least two surgeries (1) to close her pallet (2) to repair her lip and outward appearance.

This is where we need your help, your family, friends and church to step in and help. Please prayerfully consider the best gift you can give for this cause. God Bless…Darrel and FOFM.

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES! (please mark Leona in memo)

Fury of Faith Ministry

9512 Woodland Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87112

Linked to our secure website using PayPal

______________________________________________________________

#670- Sheep

When I think of all the animal metaphors that can be used for people, I think "sheep" has to be one of the least flattering.

Little lambs are cute... for a while. But full grown sheep? They're not very bright. They can't look after themselves well. They are easy prey for most predators. They stink. They bite. They make a lot of noise over nothing. They'll follow almost any leader no matter how bad. They don't think well for themselves.

Unfortunately "sheep" is also the most accurate metaphor for us. All the disagreeable characteristics I just listed apply equally well at times.

Certainly, being created in God's image we have moments where we are not like sheep. We have moments where we soar like eagles and stand our ground like a ferocious momma bear protecting her cubs. Most of the time though we're just smelly old sheep.

The plus though is that the Lord is a shepherd. He knows how to care for sheep.

What amazes me though is that He wants to care for us sheep. After all we can be rebellious, stubborn, slow to learn and quick to find ourselves in trouble.

Yet as our shepherd He is faithful despite our foibles.

It takes a special kind of affection to take care of four legged sheep. It takes an even deeper love to look after the two legged kind.

The Lord has just that kind of love. In fact only He has it. Sometimes we get a taste of it and are able to love each other because of His love for us, but without Him we're not very loving. Our sheep instinct takes over and we don't do so well at shepherding each other.

That's why we have to make allowances for each other, being quick to forgive and slow to take offense. Under shepherds like pastors do the best that we can, we're given the position by God and equipped to some degree to do it, but we're flawed sheep too so we're bound to mess up. That's why we must trust Him to be our ultimate leader.

We're the sheep. Christ is the Shepherd. We must follow Him.

John 10:11-18 NIV
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me -- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

David knew what he was talking about when he penned the words

Psalm 23 NIV
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Until next time, celebrate the goodness of the Shepherd.

Darrel Mason

2/24/10

UPDATE

Leona was seen by the doctors again yesterday. She still has an upper respiratory infection. She was given a different, stronger antibiotic and will be seen again in a week. She will be scheduled for surgery as soon as she can pass her physical and lab work.

This is where we need your help, your family, friends and church to step in and help. Please prayerfully consider the best gift you can give for this cause. God Bless…Darrel and FOFM.

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES! (please mark Leona in memo)

Fury of Faith Ministry

9512 Woodland Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87112

Linked to our secure website using PayPal

______________________________________________________________

#671- Image

Sometimes, I think that as Christians we know what we believe but we don't actually stop and think through the ramifications of those beliefs.

Let me give you an example of something we all know but don't often think about what it implies.

Genesis 1:26-27 NIV
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Humankind is created in the image of God. That's good to know but have you ever pondered what it means or the implications of it?

I'm not going to give you the answers but let me give you a few questions.

God has no body, He is spirit, so what does it mean that we are created in His image?

What changed (if anything) about us in the fall? Are we still in the image of God? Is His image simply distorted in us?

That's tough enough to wrestle with. Now, let's see where the rubber of your beliefs (your theology) hits the road of your reality (application of those beliefs).

If humankind is created in the image of God what does that imply for:

· for us as individuals?

· in terms of the differences between men and women? I know it's hard to believe but there are differences between men and women even though the lines keep getting blurred.

· for us as Christians?

· in terms of living in community?

· when life begins?

· When life ends?

· about the sanctity of life? Is it ever right to take a life and if so when? Is euthanasia ever okay?

· the intrinsic value of each individual person?

· the relationships between people and animals?

That's just a few random thoughts about being created imago dei (in the image of God).

We haven't even stepped out of the first book of the Bible or moved into the area of some nebulous, questionable doctrine. We're still in Basic Christianity 101.

As Christians what we believe should impact everything we do if our lives are to be consistent with what we believe. That means we have to ponder it and wrestle with it. That pondering and wrestling is called theology.

Theology isn't just some strange science for those locked up in ivory towers with nothing better to do. It is the study of God. It's what everyone, even non-Christians do every day. The question is: are we good theologians or bad theologians? Does our theology line up with our beliefs?

One of the biggest stumbling blocks for non-Christians is they hear us stating that we believe one thing and then live completely opposite. I know that the ideals of the Christian world are impossible for us to keep fully but there should be some consistency.

God tells us to worship Him with all of our minds. That means thinking through our beliefs, understanding them and figuring out what it means to follow them.

Yes we are to have the simple trusting faith of a child but that doesn't mean we're to have a childish immature faith. God gave us minds for a reason.

Reason should never trump our hearts and faith but it is an important part of our faith. Our faith cannot be simply intellectual, it must also be lived.

Let's know what we believe, why we believe it and live accordingly. It will impact the world.

Darrel Mason
______________________________________________

Please respond today to help Leona!

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES! (please mark Leona in memo)

Fury of Faith Ministry

9512 Woodland Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87112

Linked to our secure website using Paypal

2/25/10

Thank You

to those giving, praying and

coming to the help of Leona!

_____________________________________________

UPDATE

This is where we need your help, your family, friends and church to step in and help. Please prayerfully consider the best gift you can give for this cause. God Bless…Darrel and FOFM.

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES! (please mark Leona in memo)

Fury of Faith Ministry

9512 Woodland Ave NE

Albuquerque, NM 87112

Linked to our secure website using PayPal

______________________________________________________________

#672- Tightrope

People are by nature, formulaic, at least most people. We like to know that if we do X...Y...Z we get a set result.

We like to know the rules and boundaries. That doesn't mean we always like to follow them, but we do like to know what they are.

That tight structure or rules and regulations is part of what makes the cults attractive. With the cults you generally have a long list of do’s and don'ts with fixed consequences. Do this and you're in. Do that and you're out.

With Christianity it isn't always that simple. Christianity is about a relationship not a formula and that can make it difficult at times. It is akin to walking a high wire.

To fill in the gaps many Christians tend to get very legalistic about a lot of things. Like the Pharisees of old we add man made rules, then interpretations of those rules and interpretations of the interpretations.

I understand the desire to do that, after all we want to be in a right relationship with our Lord. Yet in our very effort to get right we erect walls that keep us distant.

On the other side of the coin are those who claim to be Christians but want to throw out all rules. There is no right and wrong and everything goes because we're forgiven. I understand the desire to walk in God's grace but instead they end up cheapening and abusing it.

Christianity is a tension between law and grace. There are clearly things that are sin. We are also clearly under grace. Walking in both can be a challenge. It makes Christianity different.

Outside of some clearly delineated norms such as the Decalogue (fancy word for the Ten Commandments) there are many gray areas that are a matter or culture on conscience. In those cases what is sin for one may not be sin for another.

Take dance for instance. Much of the blatantly sexual stuff that calls itself dance today is strictly lustful and inappropriate. Yet, a non-sexual waltz between a married couple is something different. Some churches use dance as a form of worship. Other churches would see dance of any form in the church as akin to having Satan himself in for a service. David danced naked before the Lord. Where do we draw the line? Each of us might draw it someplace else and have to live with the choices.

If you find worship is enhanced with appropriate dance, so be it. If you think all dance is a sin, that's your call for your life. Yet you cannot condemn someone with a differing view.

Liberty with responsibility. That's part of the Christian ethos. It's part of our tension.

It's what Paul was speaking of when he talked about food sacrificed to idols.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 NIV
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

Paul is speaking specifically in the context of meat and idols but the spiritual principle of liberty with responsibility comes through in all areas.

Too often we break fellowship with each other and fight over areas of conscience ignoring the places we are united in God's truth and grace. There are places we cannot compromise but there are many where we should but do not.

Until next time, may you manage the tightrope as you walk the Christian walk. Keeping the rope taunt by the support of the scriptures- God’s infallible word.

Walking the walk balanced by the Holy Spirit and God’s word.

Darrel Mason

__________________________________________________________

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