"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!