"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."James 1:25

How many times have we left a job, a project, a church, an important relationship because we just didn't find it good enough? Some of us make a lifestyle of it! But God wants us to be the kind of remarkable people who don't criticize, complain and go out looking for something better all the time. He wants us to be a people who determine to make a difference in the lives of the people and situations He allows us to face! Your job is boring and you need a change? Ask the Lord how you might grow in your giftings there. Ask Him to help you come up with a creative solution and maybe even improve your workplace altogether! Do you want to leave your church because it doesn't have an exciting children's ministry? Perhaps the Lord is calling you to help start one up! Brothers & Sisters, let's be doers! Let's be people of vision! There's much too much to be done for the Lord to be sitting around criticizing. Let's determine to stop being complainers and go forth and do great things for Him! JUST DO IT!

"lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."2 Corinthians 2:11

A Factory manager in Zimbabwe used to tell of a time when there was a wave of petty theft in the Factory. To curtail this, the authorities put guards up around the factories. At a timber works in Eastern Boarder Highlands, one guard knew the workers in the factory very well. The first evening, out came John Chimuti with a wheelbarrow containing a great bulky sack with a suspicious-looking object inside. "All right, John," said the guard, "What have you got there?" "Oh, just sawdust and shavings," John replied. "Come on," the guard said, "I wasn’t born yesterday. Tip it out." The worker tipped and nothing came out but sawdust and shavings. So he was allowed to put it all back again and go home. When the same thing happened every night of the week the guard became frustrated. Finally, his curiosity overcame his frustration. "John," he said, "I know you. Tell me what you’re smuggling out of here, and I’ll let you go." "Wheelbarrows, my friend, " said John, "wheelbarrows." Brothers & Sisters, is your attention being diverted? Think about it. Are you (allowing yourself to be) preoccupied with something that seems innocent, while the real, significant, substantial matter is slipping by every day, unnoticed? The strategies of Satan to divert our eyes onto “sawdust” and miss "wheelbarrows" are many. What is the "sawdust" in your life, in mine? For some of us, it might even be a fascinated preoccupation with Last Days events, which diverts us from the mandate to make disciples...for others, it might be neglecting our children for the sake of "ministry". If we take the time to look, each of us really knows how we miss the "wheelbarrows" for the "sawdust". But just like that guard, we ought to wise up quickly and identify the problem. Right? WATCH THE WHEELBARROWS!

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."Isaiah 64:6

An artist went searching the streets of Harare City for a model to pose for a portrait he wanted to call -- 'The Prodigal'. One day was passing Harare gardens and saw an impoverished beggar lying on a bench and thought: 'He's perfect! That man would represent the prodigal son beautifully in my painting.' He asked the beggar if he would be willing to sit for his painting and he would gladly pay him for his time. Naturally, the beggar agreed. On the day and time appointed, a man knocked on the door of the artist's small studio. Excitedly, he answered his door only to find a clean-shaven young man dressed in a suit and tie standing before him. Disappointed, he said, "You must have the wrong door sir, the law office is down the hall". "But you made an appointment with me," the man replied, "No," said the artist, "I don't believe I've ever seen you before. I made an appointment to meet with a beggar here at this hour." "Well," said the man, "I am the beggar." "You?" said the artist, "You're the beggar?" "Yes, he replied. After you left me last week, I found some money and thought I would get a new suit of clothes before you painted me." "Oh," replied the artist, "Well, you're just not right for the job." The beggar wanted to show himself a masterpiece before the artist -- but the artist wasn't looking for that. He wanted to create the masterpiece himself! Likewise, when we come to God, we must not come in our own garments of self-righteousness. We must come before him transparent, with no inhibitions, or worries, or pride. God has already seen our weaknesses and faults. We're not hiding anything from Him anyway. Brothers & Sisters, the Master Artist has an appointment with us today. Let's not come disguised as someone else. Let's come as we are so that He can make a priceless masterpiece. COME AS YOU ARE!

"Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon."Isaiah 55:6-7

It was a bright Sunday morning in 18th century London, but Robert Robinson's mood was anything but sunny. All along the street there were people hurrying to church, but in the midst of the crowd Robinson was a lonely man. The sound of church bells reminded him of years past when his faith in God was strong and the church was an integral part of his life. It had been years since he set foot in a church years of wandering, disillusionment, and gradual defection from the God he once loved. That love for God -- once fiery and passionate -- had slowly burned out within him, leaving him dark and cold inside. Robinson heard the clip-clop, clip-clop of a horse-drawn cab approaching behind him. Turning, he lifted his hand to hail the driver. But then he saw that the cab was occupied by a young woman dressed in finery for the Lord’s Day. He waved the driver on, but the woman in the carriage ordered the carriage to be stopped. "Sir, I'd be happy to share this carriage with you," she said to Robinson. "Are you going to church?" Robinson was about to decline, then he paused. "Yes," he said at last. "I am going to church." He stepped into the carriage and sat down beside the young woman. As the carriage rolled forward Robert Robinson and the woman exchanged introductions. There was a flash of recognition in her eyes when he stated his name. "That’s an interesting coincidence," she said, reaching into her purse. She withdrew a small book of inspirational verse, opened it to a ribbon-bookmark, and handed the book to him. "I was just reading a verse by a poet named Robert Robinson. Could it be…?" He took the book, nodding. "Yes, I wrote these words years ago." "Oh, how wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Imagine! I’m sharing a carriage with the author of these very lines!" But Robinson barely heard her. He was absorbed in the words he was reading. They were words that would one day be set to music and become a great hymn of the faith, familiar to generations of Christians: Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace’ Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. His eyes slipped to the bottom of the page where he read: Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it— Prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above. He could barely read the last few lines through the tears that brimmed in his eyes. "I wrote these words—and I’ve lived these words. ’Prone to wander…prone to leave the God I love.’" The woman suddenly understood. "You also wrote, ’Here’s my heart, O take and seal it.’ You can offer your heart again to God, Mr. Robinson. It’s not too late." And it wasn’t too late for Robert Robinson. In that moment he turned his heart back to God and walked with him the rest of his days. [Ron Lee Davis, Courage to Begin Again, (Harvest House, Eugene, OR; 1978), pp. 145-147] Brothers & Sisters, is this you? A devoted Christian deep in your heart, who has wandered from the faith? Your loving Father will orchestrate your return to Him. THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY TO RETURN!

"Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few." So his armor-bearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart." And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armor-bearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armor-bearer killed them. That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land. And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling."1 Samuel 14:6-7; 13-15

The setting in 1 Samuel 14 is war between the Israelites and the Philistines; and while King Saul relaxed under a pomegranate tree [1 Samuel 14:2], his son Jonathan along with his armor-bearer left the camp quietly to see if the Lord would fight the battle on their behalf. Jonathan had no idea what he would face out there, how many Philistines he would encounter, their battle skills or strategies. He only knew that if God delivered the enemy into his hands he would be victorious. And he was. “Nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few”, is Jonathan's faith statement to his absolute conviction that victory is not determined by numbers but by God. But notice that Jonathan didn't fight the battle alone; his trusted companion, his armor-bearer was with him. We don't know his name, we don't have much information about him, except this one sentence, "Go then; and here I am with you!" Jonathan rose up, a man with divine initiative, a sense of spiritual adventure, and a total conviction that God was with him. He was a leader whose name is forever memorialized by deeds of valor. And then, there was this nameless fellow who accompanied him with deep loyalty doubtless inspired also by the Lord and his knowledge of Jonathan's faith and character. Brothers & Sisters, when the judgment of our works is given there will be those who were known and those who were "nameless"; loyal armor-bearers standing alongside their leader/friends whose loyalty, faith and bravery will be honored and recognized in full. Be sure of it! ARE YOU AN ARMOR-BEARER?

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: Finally, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me on that day: and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing."2 Timothy 4:7-8

The devil uses our own "sin-hounds" to hunt us relentlessly -- past and present sins, he uses, to keep us from our crown, our position with Jesus, and the rewards which will follow a life of abiding in Him. But we also have a way of escape! Entering into the river of God which flows with the blood of Jesus, being totally cleansed, the "hounds of sin" cannot touch us, and we too, can come out on the other side, free, and ready to reign with Him! Brothers & Sisters, allow your sins to be washed away -- swept into eternity by the cleansing flow of the blood of Christ, and walk in the freedom that Jesus provided 2000 years ago. Let your past with all its sins be washed downstream, realizing that a crown of righteousness awaits you, and every other saint who loves His appearing! IT'S WASHED AWAY!

"And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, and heirs according to the promise."Galatians 3:29

This amazing passage defines all true believers in Messiah as "Abraham's seed and heirs according to God's promise". Abraham was known as the first Hebrew -- literally, "one who crosses over!" Before he crossed over into the promised land, we know from the scriptures that Abraham lived in a deeply idolatrous society and that even his own father was an idol worshiper. (Joshua 24:2) But one remarkable day, a call came to Abraham....a call from the Most High God -- and he became one who "crossed over" from idolatrous polytheism into a personal knowledge of the one true Creator God. So leaving his past behind, he entered a new life of spiritual truth and holiness and a new land of promise; a profound transformation, and for us, a beautiful picture of our own "crossing over" into the new life of Jesus the Messiah. Now looking at Abraham's story, do we see that his life was free of obstacles and troubles once he reached his destination in Canaan? No way! Here are a few major events: he felt forced to go into Egypt to escape a famine, where his wife, Sarah, was held captive in Pharaoh's harem for an undisclosed amount of time; after being liberated, Sarah continued barren until old age; then, Abraham was required by his own deep loyalty, to rescue his worldly nephew Lot and his family, risking his own life and the lives of his men; again he was tested when following Sarah's advice, Abraham conceived a son with Hagar, whom he deeply loved but was required to send into the desert with his Egyptian wife/mother. And of course, he probably faced the greatest test of faith when God asked Abraham to sacrifice the son of promise, Isaac, Sarah's only son, for whom they both had waited all their lives! Isn't it interesting that we know nothing of Abraham's life trials before he crossed over into Canaan? Only after he crossed over do we read of the successive testings of this great man of faith -- and in fact, because of those tests Abraham is considered the "father" of faith. (Romans 4:16) Brothers & Sisters, we are called to bear our crosses daily, and also to respond with faith to whatever may come our way. And, praise God that when we do, we also will be known as those who "crossed over" and overcame every obstacle and trial of faith...having held firm to every great promise of God! WE HAVE CROSSED OVER, NOW LET'S HOLD ON!

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us."Psalms 2:1-3 ; "Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."Acts 4:25-28

When Peter and John had gone up to the Temple for prayer [Acts 3], they saw a man who was lame from birth, and were moved to heal him in the name of Jesus. Immediately the religious leaders laid hands on them [Acts 4:3] and kept them imprisoned for a day. The following day, with boldness, they declared this miracle was done in the name of Jesus. I love what the "religious" leaders said next --- "they perceived that they were unlearned men and they marveled at their boldness!" Why were they bold? They had been with Jesus, and the leaders took note of that! It is no surprise that the world rages against the Messiah. Psalm 2 declares it clearly. Every year there are tens of thousands of believers suffering and dying for their faith, in large part because the kings and the rulers of the earth RAGE against the Lord and His Anointed. As followers of the King, we should expect this and be prepared for it when it comes. Brothers & Sisters, but, the examples of Peter and John, and every other true Christian martyr are there to inspire and encourage us that if and when the time of persecution comes for us, we too can be bold as a lion. And this boldness is no merely human bravery, but an unction from the Holy Spirit Himself. So, though the kings of the earth will rage, our simple faith and Holy Spirit boldness will testify that we too have been with Jesus! REACT WITH BOLDNESS!

"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."Isaiah 43:19

It is among popular "Christian" belief that an abundance of material and other blessings follow those whose hearts are truly after God and that those who seem to consistently struggle to that end, cannot possibly be in God's perfect will. I want to submit to you a realization I had about this very thing. I think we might have it all backwards. Almost all the great men of faith I've read about in the Bible had to spend some time in the wilderness. Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, just to name a few. God had to make them desperate. He had to cause them to be quiet and undistracted enough to hear His still, small voice. He had to make them hungry and thirsty enough to cry out for a miracle. Interestingly, the word for wilderness, in Hebrew, is "meed-bahr". And meed-bahr comes from the word "leh-da-behr", which means to speak. Hmmm. Some of us are walking through the desert right now. It's hot by day -- there is only rugged, thorny, sandy terrain for miles and miles and there seems no end. By night, the wind is unbearably cold and we stumble over things we can barely see. Snakes and scorpions live here. It seems like a lonely place. But this is actually a place of blessing! It is for our growth, and ultimately for our prosperity that God has brought us here! Like it or not, the wilderness is where He can speak to us most effectively. It is the place He can most easily get our attention. It is the place we will cry out to God and truly listen for His voice. Brothers & Sisters, know that God is with you today! He is walking along with us through this wilderness and longing to comfort us! If we would only cry out to Him and heed His voice! The promised land awaits! EXCUSE ME, COULD YOU DIRECT ME TO THE PROMISED LAND?

"How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the Lord brings back Zion."Isaiah 52:7-8

In the 4th century lived a Christian named Telemachus, in a remote village, tending his garden, and spending much time in prayer. One day, he believed he heard the voice of God telling him to go to Rome, so he obeyed, setting out on foot. Some weeks later, weary from his journey, he arrived in Rome about the time of a great festival.The little man followed the crowd surging through the streets into the Colosseum. He saw the gladiators standing before the Emperor and proclaiming, "We who are about to die salute you." Then Telemachus realized that these men were going to fight to the death for the entertainment of the cheering crowd. So he cried out in a loud voice, "In the name of Christ, Stop!" Yet the games began, so he pushed his way through the crowd, climbed over the wall and dropped onto the floor of the arena. The entire Colosseum watched this tiny figure rushing toward the gladiators, crying, "In the name of Christ, STOP !!!" The gladiators thought it was part of the show and began laughing. But in a few moments, they realized it was not part of the show, and then the crowd became angry. Telemachus stood his ground, insistently pleading with the gladiators to stop their bloody show, when one of them plunged a sword into the saint's body. He fell to the sand. As he was dying, his last words were, "In the name of Christ, STOP!!!" Then a strange thing happened. The gladiators stood there looking at the tiny Christian lying there dead. A hush fell over the Colosseum. Way up in the upper rows, a man stood and made his way to the exit. Others followed. In dead silence, one by one, everyone left the Colosseum. The year was 404; and that day saw the last battle to the death between gladiators in the Roman Colosseum. Telemachus' martyrdom initiated an historic ban on gladiator fights by the Roman Emperor Honorius. Never again in the great stadium did men kill each other for the entertainment of the crowd. One tiny man's bold voice -- one voice -- reshaped Roman history, and saved thousands of lives, by fearlessly proclaiming the truth in God's name! Brothers & Sisters, you may be a little man, or woman, spending time alone with Jesus. And He may be preparing you in the quiet place, for a moment when you will be called to raise your voice in some public square or stadium, to fearlessly stand for His truth, even if it might cost your life. Remember Telemachus, whose voice changed the world because God's word was behind it. Boldness is not bravado, but is rooted in deep conviction based on deep relationship and unswerving obedience. And it's effects resound through history. So cultivate that intimate relationship with Him, and be ready to be launched into the arena of death-dealing humanity. Your lack of fear and your love for others will reveal the Jesus whom you love, to many souls. BE A BOLD VOICE FOR HIM!

"When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."Proverbs 16:7

A young reporter approached an old man on his 100th birthday. "Happy birthday, kind Sir! Can I bother you to answer one question? In all your years, of what are you most proud?" he asked. "Well," said the man, "I don't have a single enemy in the world." "Really?!" shouted the reporter, "That's just incredible -- how inspiring to us all!" "Yep," added the centenarian, "outlived every darn one of 'em." Sadly, each of us has acquired an enemy or two in our lives. While it's our human nature to find fault in others and make an occasional unnecessary enemy, sometimes it has nothing to do with us! I mean, you wouldn't believe the kind of hate mail we get from people we've never met! What can we do to make peace with enemies like those? "He" is the operating word in the verse above. Did you catch that? He, that is, the Lord, makes even [a man's] enemies be at peace with him. All we have to worry about is making sure that our ways are pleasing to the Lord and He will do the rest! The word "deh-rech" in Hebrew, is 'way' in the verse above. Derech can also mean journey or path. When our path is straight, and God is the focus of our journey, then our ways will please Him and He will make even our enemies be at peace with us. Brothers & Sisters, let's rededicate our lives to the Lord again today and see Him bring the victory. SCATTER YOUR ENEMIES!

"And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." Exodus 15:23-26

Murmuring or complaining is one of those sins that are overlooked. Sometimes we get so focused on the "big sins" such as murder and adultery that we overlook this sin -- but the Lord doesn't give this sin a free pass -- quite the opposite. It's a hidden killer! This sin unleashed a plague that killed thousands of Israelites! [Numbers 16] In this passage, we read how the Israelites, who were desperately thirsty, looked only at the fact that the water they had come to was bitter and undrinkable. How quickly they forgot their God who had led them out of Egypt with signs and wonders. They had just witnessed His dividing of the Red Sea and destruction of those who had enslaved them. And yet, so quickly they returned to looking only with their natural eyes at the problem in front of them, completely forgetting the miracle working power of their God! And so they murmured against Moses. But honestly, weren't they really murmuring against God? Once again, Moses interceded for them, revealing the faithfulness of His God to answer every impossible dilemma and provide for every need; and again, setting them the example: they simply needed to go to the Lord! So often, just like the Israelites, we focus on our desperate situation with our physical eyes, and not with eyes of faith, and then fall into the trap of complaining. And if you're like me, once I start, it can be really hard to stop...until the Lord stops me, right in my tracks, and He reminds me –- aren't you really complaining against me? I have to remember to see that I actually hinder the Lord's answers to my problems by unbelief...which leads to the sin of murmuring! Brothers & Sisters, let's not allow this sin to gain a foothold -- because it can easily become a stronghold! The same wonder working God that led the children of Israel out of Egypt, is still at work today -- but are we hindering Him? If we are grumbling and complaining, the answer is, "YES"! And in so doing, until we stop, we are missing out on His answers and blessings which are waiting in the wings to meet our faith in Him! BEWARE OF THE SILENT KILLER!

"Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."John 8:3-5, 10-11

Jesus knew the heart of every man and woman. As a totally pure and righteous human being, His experience of every other sin-filled person is really impossible for us to imagine. He knew that every repulsive thought, attitude and action of every person in the world would soon fall on Him, and that He would carry them...away. And so Jesus did not come with a spirit of condemnation -- but with a spirit of grace and truth. Caught in the very act of adultery, and brought into His presence, the woman's sin was immediately exposed and her conviction was absolute. The sin was condemned.... but not the sinner. Her accusers wanted to stone her, to sacrifice her life, and use the law of Moses to condemn Jesus, out of their jealous hatred of Him. But the Lord, in His beautiful, understated way, quietly wrote in the sand, and then turned their hatred into deep conviction. The whole world is convicted in Jesus' presence. But only the ones who really appreciate His grace are filled with amazement and gratitude. Can you imagine how this woman must have felt? Her mind had been filled with voices of accusation, rejection, and condemnation. Jesus didn't feed the frenzy, but calmly observed, "He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone." When no one did, the Lord freed the convicted sinner and restored her life, saying, "Go and sin no more. Brothers & Sisters, voices of accusation, rejection and condemnation will rise against you in the presence of your sins -- but Jesus will write in the sand and expose the hearts of your accusers. Confess your sin, and stand amazed and grateful, for His grace. WHERE ARE YOUR ACCUSERS?

"Bear with each other, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against anyone: even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love (agape), which is the bond of perfection."Colossians 3:13-14

After the Chimurenga War, I visited my Grandma in Mukaro, Gutu, Masvingo who took me to the remains of a once beautiful old tree in front of her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Soldiers artillery fire. She looked to me for a word condemning the Rhodesian forces. I least sympathize with her loss. After a brief silence, I said, "Cut it down, my dear Grandma, and forget it." The enemy is constantly attacking the body of Messiah. Some of his most effective tactics are anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness, which are often based on real, sometimes deep, wounds we have received from others in the faith. Paul wrote that we should not be ignorant of the enemy's schemes (2 Cor. 2:11), that bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness give him an opportunity to quench the Holy Spirit and destroy our fellowship with God and one another. So the apostle urged forbearance, forgiveness, and above all else, the kind of love which Jesus showed to us; a love which covered our sins against Him, forgiving and restoring relationship. This is not a love which is natural to us. Our nature is to hold on to offenses, to desire justice, recompense, or even revenge. Do we realize that the love we need to truly forgive is from another Source? The beautiful old tree in the woman's front yard might symbolize something very dear, beloved and precious in your life....something which was terribly damaged by an enemy you feel justified to hate. Whatever is left of that "tree" in your life or in your memory is a constant temptation to nurture hate and unforgiveness. Is this how you want to live? Will this "tree" become a memorial unto hatred and revenge, or hardness of heart and a never-ending cry for "justice"? If so, you will find yourself bound to that tree, as if you were chained to it. "Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it." "Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord, I will repay." So, not only can you afford to forgive and leave justice in His hands, but the freedom and joy of loving the way God loves, will also be yours. Brothers & Sisters, Jesus has forgiven us. We should forgive others as we've been forgiven. Let's cut down the battered trees in our lives, choose forgiveness, in the Spirit of Jesus, and put on (agape) love. IT'S TIME TO CUT DOWN THE TREES!

"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed."Romans 13:11

Do you ever feel like you're listening to a broken record? "Go to Hell, go to Hell, go to Hell, go to..." There are probably several messages we could draw from this funny little sequence, but what spoke to me most was this, that in recent years we've heard the message repeated over and over again like a broken record, "The end is near, the end is near, the end is near, the end... and, "The Lord's return is at the door..."; Brothers & Sisters, yet, the fact is that we are very near to the Lord's return and there are many signs of His soon coming. So if the message sounds repetitive perhaps it's because the Lord's return is much nearer now than when we first believed -- even at the very door. And the whole point of thinking about and dwelling upon Jesus' return is that we want to be ready, keeping close accounts with Him, living holy and fruitful lives...spotless, blameless, at His coming. Our bridal love for Him will keep us looking up and listening for the cry; "Behold, the bridegroom comes!" DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LISTENING TO A BROKEN RECORD?

"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."Proverbs 22:6

I ran across a profound story that shows what happens when the family structure breaks down -- but this didn't have to do with people -- it had to do with elephants. In Kruger National Park in South Africa a group of adolescent bull elephants whose family members had been gunned down during a culling operation were transported to another wildlife reserve. While at the other reserve, the young elephants embarked on a killing spree that lasted several years leaving more than 100 animals dead, including 40 white rhinoceroses. To stop the killing, a strategy was implemented to ship in older male elephants from Kruger to establish a new male hierarchy which would keep the adolescent elephants in check. Thus the killing stopped. Like human society, the elephant family defines established roles for training and discipline in family life. And like humans, young elephants require a prolonged period of nurture with family units to prepare them for adult life. Damage and loss in family life will produce painful and sometimes devastating results. In this situation the loss of the mature males was catastrophic. Many of us in the body of Messiah have not had healthy parental role models, and some have had none at all; but our life as a believing family will generally begin to improve, correct, and heal the results of broken family life which many suffer from. Mature believers ought to be role models and examples, not only to our children, but also to younger believers. Ideally, Christian leaders will be healthy role models, but many are themselves, deficient and unhealed in certain ways. We all ought to have grace when it comes to this area of body life. Our expectations will not always be met and may even be severely disappointed. Our saving grace -- and it is truly an amazing one-- is that we all have a Heavenly Father who is a perfect parent, and who can love and nurture us in both male and female ways, and who is also able to provide human role models and healers to help bring us to wholeness. Brothers & Sisters, be thankful for any good parenting you have received; forgive all that was negative or deficient. Then ask your Heavenly Father to parent you by His personal parental love and providence in your human relationships. This will free you from deep resentment and bitterness, and will begin to move you toward maturity and peace, and will prepare you to be a good parent and role model for others. GOOD PARENTING WORKS; LOOK TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER!

"A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."Proverbs 17:17

A careful reading through the life of the Apostle Paul will yield insight concerning those who surrounded him. In this brief devotion, I want to focus on two of Paul's friends -- Luke and Demas. Luke was a true and faithful friend to Paul, staying with and supporting him to the very end of his life, even through the worst adversities (2 Timothy 4:11). Then, there was another friend, whose name was Demas, about whom Paul wrote positively at first, (Col. 4:14; Philemon 1:24) but who did not remain faithful to the end. Paul records that Demas forsook him because he "loved this present world." (2 Timothy 4:10) As the end of the age approaches, we also will be tested as to where our love lies; with the Father, or with the world. The apostle John writes, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) I do not believe that Demas lost his salvation, but he did lose his capacity to sense and express the love of the Father, which damaged his testimony, his spiritual relationships, and undoubtedly cost him heavenly rewards. What kind of friend will we be to God? Will we be faithful, or will we allow the love of this world to quench our fire, and compromise our relationships? Brothers & Sisters, my encouragement to you is to be faithful until the end. Don't forget that Jesus gave a warning to end-time saints, saying, "because iniquity abounds, the love of many shall grow cold." Become a friend like Luke, and learn from the life of Demas -- do not allow love for the world to quench your love for God. Don't forget, a true friend loves...at all times! BE FAITHFUL TO THE END!

"Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him."Isaiah 40:10 ; "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."Revelation 22:12

Isaiah tells us that the LORD'S Arm shall rule for Him and that He is coming with reward -- and a similar passage in Revelation declares that the Lord Jesus is coming to reward His saints. We live this earthly life recognizing that we are “strangers and pilgrims” [Hebrews 11:13] in this world -- but are working now in full expectation of a heavenly future. "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world!" We know we were made for another world, where the treasure we have stored while working here will neither rust nor corrode, nor be stolen. If you're looking for a pat on the back now [not that praises shouldn't be given or received], you've missed the point of ministry. This reminds me of a story. There was a husband and wife who served many years in the ministry as missionaries in a far away land. As they returned to the States, the arriving ship was greeted by a brass band. Their initial thought was that this was an arranged greeting to honor them -- but soon discovered that a dignitary was also on the ship. They collected their luggage and booked a cheap motel room. While sitting on the bed, the husband started to cry and said, "We've served God for many years. We've got no money, no house, and when we've returned home, there's not even anyone to meet us!" His wife looked at him and said, "Hon, we're not home yet!" Brothers & Sisters, we're not home yet! Don't believe for a minute that your work in this world is going unseen in Heaven. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that, ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister." [Hebrews 6:10] Let's be earnestly seeking His praise that when we see Him face to face, He may say to all of us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!" A true homecoming...and a true reward! YOUR REWARD IS BEFORE YOU!

"But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me."Ruth 1:16-17

When Ruth pledged her alligence to Naomi and to the God of Israel, it wasn't based on, "What ifs?" or circumstances. It was a faith rooted in her devotion to Naomi and God even to the point of death! So often, I've received emails from people wondering why? "Why this?" or "Why that?" But honestly, "His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts" -- and I don't have easy answers for much of the horrendous stuff that happens to us! But what I do know is our faith is not based on "if this" circumstance was changed then I could serve -- or "if this" problem didn't exist then my life would be so much easier! We tend to look at our circumstances, our problems, our status, our situations -- however the faith we're called to have is a "whatever and where ever" faith! Brothers & Sisters, let's stop looking at the "what ifs" and "why that" and start looking to the "Who" of your life! The "who" of your life should be Jesus -- and when He is the "Who" of your life -- then the rest of your life is "whatever and where ever" for your good and His glory! WHATEVER AND WHERE EVER!

NDIMA DZIRI MUBHAIBHERI DZINOTAURA NEZVE RURIMI

MAVHESI EMUBHAIBHERI ANOTAURA NEZVERURIMI Mwari akatiudza nezve Shoko rake kuti rurimi rwunesimba rinoshamisa. Tinogona kushandisa rurimi kuunza makomborero nehupenyu kana kuzvituka uye nerufu. Panekutaura kunoti "matanda nemabwe anogona kupwanya mapfupa angu asi mashoko haambofi akandi rwadzisa" uku kunyepa. Rurimi rwedu rwunogona kuva chinhu chinogozha kukodrola rwuchibva rwatisiya tichizvituka kana tikashandisa mashoko edu kutuka. Pane tariro! Bhaibheri rinotiudza kuti nerubatsiro rweMweya Mutsvene tinogona kuva nesimba pamusoro perurimi rwedu. Verenga maBhaibheri verses anotaura nezve rurimi ugokurudzirwa kutanga kutaura mashoko ohwupenyu neokurapa nhasi! 1 Petro 3:10 Nokuti, “iye anoda upenyu nokuona mazuva akanaka,ngaadzore rurimi rwake pane zvakaipa nemiromo yake pakutaura zvokunyengera Vakorose 4:6 Kutaura kwenyu ngakuve nenyasha+ nguva dzose, kwakarungwa nomunyu, kuti muzive mapinduriro amunofanira kuita. VaEfeso 4:29 Shoko rakaora ngarirege kubuda mumuromo menyu, asi shoko chero ripi zvaro rakanaka, kuti rivake sezvingava zvichidiwa, kuti ripe zvinofadza kune vanonzwa. Zvirevo 10:19 Pamashoko mazhinji hapashayikwi kudarika, asi munhu anodzora miromo yake anoita nokungwara. Zvirevo 15:4 Kudzikama kworurimi muti woupenyu, asi kusarurama kuri maruri kunoreva kuputsika kwomudzimu. Zvirevo 15:28 Mwoyo womunhu akarurama unofungisisa kuti upindure, asi miromo yevakaipa inobudisa zvinhu zvakaipa. Zvirevo 17:9 Munhu anofukidza kudarika anotsvaka rudo, uye uya anoramba achitaura nezvenyaya yacho anoparadzanisa vaya vanoshamwaridzana. Mateo 15:11 Zvinopinda mumuromo hazvisi izvo zvinosvibisa munhu; asi zvinobuda mumuromo ndizvo zvinosvibisa munhu.” Zirevo 21:23 Munhu anochenjerera muromo wake norurimi rwake anochengeta mweya wake pakutambudzika. Zvirevo 26:20 Kana pasina huni, moto unodzima, uye kana pasina munhu anochera vamwe, kukakavara kunopera. Zvirevo 31:26 Anoshama muromo wake nouchenjeri, uye mutemo womutsa worudo uri parurimi rwake. Mapisarema 34:13 Chengetedza rurimi rwako pane zvakaipa, Nemiromo yako pakutaura zvokunyengera. Mapisarema 141:3 Haiwa Jehovha, isai murindi pamuromo wangu; Isai murindi pasuo remiromo yangu. Tito 3:1-2 Ramba uchivayeuchidza kuti vazviise pasi uye kuti vateerere hurumende nevanhu vane masimba sevatongi, kuti vave vakagadzirira kuita mabasa ose akanaka, 2  kuti varege kutaura zvinokuvadza pamusoro pomunhu chero upi zvake, kuti varege kurwa, kuti vave vanonzwisisa, vachiratidza unyoro kuvanhu vose zvizere. Zvirevo 18:20-21 Dumbu romunhu richaguta nezvibereko zvomuromo wake; iye achagutawo nezvibereko zvemiromo yake. 21  Rufu noupenyu zviri musimba rorurimi,+ uye munhu anoruda achadya zvibereko zvarwo. Zvirevo 17:27-28 Munhu anorega kutaura mashoko ake ane zivo, uye munhu ane ungwaru akadzikama. 28  Kunyange benzi, parinenge rakanyarara, richanzi rakachenjera; munhu anovhara miromo yake, achanzi anonzwisisa. Zvirevo 12:6 Mashoko evakaipa kuvandira ropa, asi miromo yevakarurama ndiyo ichavanunura. Zvirevo 12:13-14 Munhu akaipa anoteyiwa nokudarika kwemiromo, asi munhu akarurama anobuda mudambudziko. 14  Munhu anogutswa nezvakanaka zvinobva pazvibereko zvomuromo wake, uye zvinoitwa nemaoko omunhu zvichadzoka kwaari. Zvirevo 12:18-19 Kune munhu anotaura asingafungi zvinobaya sezvinoita bakatwa, asi rurimi rwevakachenjera runoporesa. 19  Muromo wechokwadi ndiwo uchasimbiswa nokusingaperi, asi rurimi rwenhema ruchangovapo kwenguva duku. Zvirevo 15:1-2 Mhinduro, kana iri nyoro, inodzora kutsamwa, asi shoko rinorwadza rinomutsa hasha. 2  Rurimi rwevakachenjera runoita zvakanaka nezivo, asi muromo wemapenzi unobudisa upenzi. Mapisarema 119:171-173 Miromo yangu ngaipupume nokurumbidza, Nokuti munondidzidzisa mirau yenyu. 172  Rurimi rwangu ngaruimbe zvamakataura, Nokuti mirayiro yenyu yose yakarurama. 173  Ruoko rwenyu ngarundibatsire, Nokuti ndakasarudza mirayiro yenyu. Zvirevo 6:16-19 Kune zvinhu zvitanhatu zvinovengwa naJehovha; chokwadi, zvinhu zvinomwe ndizvo zvinosemesa mweya wake, zvinoti: 17  maziso anozvikudza, rurimi runoreva nhema, maoko anoteura ropa risina mhosva, 18  mwoyo unoronga mazano anokuvadza, tsoka dzinokurumidza kumhanyira zvakaipa, 19  chapupu chinonyengera chinoreva nhema, uye chero munhu upi zvake anoita kuti pakati pehama pave nokukakavara. Zvirevo 18:1-8 Munhu anozviparadzanisa nevamwe achazvitsvakira zvaanoda zvoudyire; acharwa nouchenjeri hwose hunobatsira. 2  Benzi harifariri kuva noungwaru, kunze kwokuti kana zviri mumwoyo maro zvikabudiswa pachena. 3  Panosvika munhu akaipa, kuzvidza kuchasvikawo; uye ruzvidzo parunovapo, kushora kunovapowo. 4  Mashoko omuromo womunhu imvura yakadzika. Tsime rouchenjeri rukova runoyerera. 5  Kusarura uchifarira munhu akaipa hakuna kunaka, kana kutsausa munhu akarurama pakutonga. 6  Miromo yebenzi inoita kuti pave nokupopotedzana, uye muromo waro unoita kuti rirohwe. 7  Muromo webenzi ndiwo unoriparadza, uye miromo yaro musungo kumweya waro. 8  Mashoko omunhu anochera vamwe akaita sezvinhu zvinomedzwa nokukara, zvinopinda mukatikati medumbu. Jakobho 1:19-26 Zivai izvi, hama dzangu dzinodiwa. Munhu wose anofanira kukurumidza kunzwa, anonoke kutaura, anonoke kuva nehasha; 20  nokuti hasha dzomunhu hadziiti kuti pave nokururama kwaMwari. 21  Nokudaro bvisai tsvina yose nechinhu chiya chisingadiwi, ihwo uipi, uye gamuchirai nounyoro kusimwa kweshoko rinokwanisa kuponesa mweya yenyu. 22  Zvisinei, ivai vaiti veshoko, kwete vanzwi chete, muchizvinyengera nokufunga kwenhema. 23  Nokuti kana munhu ari munzwi weshoko, asiri muiti, iyeyu akafanana nomunhu anotarira chiso chake chaakazvarwa nacho mugirazi. 24  Nokuti anozvitarira, oenda, obva akanganwa kuti iye munhu akaita sei. 25  Asi iye anonyatsotarira mumutemo wakakwana worusununguko uye anorambira mauri, munhu iyeye achafara paanouita, nokuti haana kuva munzwi anokanganwa, asi muiti webasa. 26  Kana munhu chero upi zvake achizviona somunhu anonamata zvakarurama+ asi asingadzori rurimi rwake, achiramba achinyengera mwoyo wake, kunamata kwomunhu uyu hakuna zvakunobatsira. Jakobho 3:1-12 Hama dzangu, havasi vazhinji venyu vanofanira kuva vadzidzisi, zvatinoziva kuti tichawana mutongo mukuru. 2  Nokuti tose tinokanganisa kazhinji. Kana munhu asingakanganisi pakutaura, iyeyu munhu akakwana, anokwanisawo kudzora muviri wake wose. 3  Kana tichiisa matomu mumiromo yemabhiza kuti atiteerere, tinodzorawo miviri yawo yose. 4  Tarirai! Zvikepe, kunyange zvakakura kwazvo uye zvichifambiswa nemhepo dzine simba, zvinodzorwa nechidzoreso chidukuduku kuti zviende kunoda munhu anenge achidzora. 5  Saizvozvowo, rurimi inhengo duku asi runozvikudza kwazvo. Tarirai! Zvinoda moto muduku sei kupisa sango guru kwazvo! 6  Naizvozvo, rurimi moto. Rurimi rwakafanana nenyika izere nezvinhu zvisina kururama pakati penhengo dzedu, nokuti runosvibisa muviri wose rwopisa mararamiro enguva dzose uye irwo rwozopiswa neGehena. 7  Nokuti marudzi ose emhuka dzomusango neeshiri neezvinhu zvinokambaira nezvisikwa zvomugungwa angapingudzwa uye akapingudzwa nevanhu. 8  Asi pavanhu hapana kana mumwe chete anogona kupingudza rurimi. Irwo chinhu chisingadzoreki chinokuvadza, chakazara nouturu hunouraya. 9  Narwo tinorumbidza Jehovha, ivo Baba, asi narwo tinotuka vanhu vakavapo “vakafanana naMwari.” Zvirevo 26:18-28 Munhu anenge achipfuurawo zvake oshatirwa nokuda kwokupopotedzana kusinei naye akafanana nomunhu anobata nzeve dzembwa. 18  Sezvinoita munhu anopenga anokanda zvombo zvinoita zvokukandwa zvinobvira moto, miseve norufu, 19  ndizvo zvinoita munhu anonyengedza wokwake ozoti: “Handiti ndanga ndichingotamba hangu here?” 20  Kana pasina huni, moto unodzima, uye kana pasina munhu anochera vamwe, kukakavara kunopera. 21  Sezvinoita marasha kumazimbe uye sezvinoita huni kumoto, ndizvo zvinoita munhu anokakavara anokonzera kupopotedzana. 22  Mashoko omunhu anochera vamwe akaita sezvinhu zvinomedzwa nokukara, zvinopinda mukatikati medumbu. 23  Miromo inopisa pamwe chete nomwoyo wakaipa zvakaita sesirivha inopenya yakanamirwa pachimedu chomudziyo wevhu. 24  Munhu anovenga anoita kuti asazivikanwa achishandisa miromo yake, asi anoisa unyengeri mukati make. 25  Kunyange achiita kuti inzwi rake rive nenyasha, usamutenda, nokuti mumwoyo make mune zvinhu zvinomwe zvinosemesa. 26  Ruvengo runofukidzwa nounyengeri. Uipi hwake huchafumurwa muungano. 27  Munhu anochera gomba achawira mariri, uye anokungurutsa dombo—iro richamudzokera. 28  Rurimi rwenhema runovenga munhu anodzvinyirirwa narwo, uye muromo unotaura zvokubata kumeso unoparadza.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."Acts 2:1,4

However, the very first Pentecost took place fifty days after the Israel crossed the Red Sea. It was on this day according to Jewish tradition that the law was given on tablets of stone. Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, Pentecost was celebrated again when the Holy Spirit was poured out and the law of God became written upon the hearts of men. Just as God had promised in Ezekiel and in Jeremiah -- the law of God shall be written upon your heart. Pentecost is both a celebration of the God's faithfulness in the early harvest and an anticipation of the abundance of the final harvest yet to come. Just as three thousand Jewish people came to faith in Messiah on this day a couple thousand years ago, the day will soon come when the fullness of the Gentiles will be completed and then "all of Israel shall be saved!" Brothers & Sisters, let's celebrate how the Lord has provided for us today and be assured that this is only a glimpse of our awaited home in glory -- a home that the Lord has spent thousands of years preparing for us! HAPPY HOLIDAY!