Just Believe

Today's Scripture:

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"


Mark 9:24

A boy was possessed by a demon that caused him to have seizures and hurt himself physically. The father of the boy had tried for years to find help for his son. Ready to give up hope, he brought the boy to Jesus and begged him to do anything he could to help. Jesus replied that everything is possible for someone who believes. At this point the father asked Jesus to help his unbelief. Most people, at some moment in life, find themselves saying just what this father said: "I want to believe; help me believe. "

Reading the Bible, going to church, and praying are merely activities until you come to a point in your life where you can't deny that God is working in your life and that God loves you no matter what. There will be times when you want to believe, but the situation your are in will indicate no hope is left. When you're up against that proverbial wall, keep your mind and your heart fixed on the power of belief. Remember the father's prayer to Jesus, and ask God to help you.

Cry out to God by journaling, blogging, praying, or writing a song or poem about how you feel. Tell him you want to believe. God will provide the faith you need. Believing in God means going beyond what you think you know or what you think you see. I spoke with a woman at the hospital yesterday named Betty who asked for prayer and telling me how she tries her best to do right but the bumps in the road keep knocking her off track causing her to stumble in her belief. I shared with her that believing means saying God is right and God is good even when the circumstances or "bumps" as she called them we are going through in life are not . Faith is believing even when the details of your life say give it up.

Selah people' and friends your doubt is not a weakness; it is a desire for more of what God has already shown you. God always has more faith to give you! Allow him to flood you with His love and care today and "Just Believe" when everything of the world tells you to give up.

"Peace be with you and yours today as we commit together to believe that all we need do is call on our Lord and He will make a way."


Your pastor,


Rev Muston(PreacherPatrick)

Love One Another...

Today's Scripture:

I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you.

John 13:34

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where two different people are friends with you, but they can't stand each other? It stresses you out doesn't it? You wish each person could see what you see in the other. You wish they would be friends just for your sake, if for no other reason.

Jesus said, "Love each other as I have loved you." He might have said, "See one another as I have seen you."

God loves you. And don't forget, he also loves that person you can't stand the sight of.

Think about what that means. When God looks at that person, he sees past all those things that drive you crazy. God loves that person in spite of his or her habits of using a bad choice of words, smacking gum or constant whining or the tendency to say mean things about you behind your back. Friends, you know exactly what I'm speaking of and at times this could be describing you...And it grieves God when you choose to see only the shortcomings in another person.

"Love one another as I have loved you." That person isn't the only one who has shortcomings. God looks past some faults in you, too, when he looks at you. What would happen if God judged you as harshly as you judge other people? You've heard people say, "Any friend of so-and-so's is a friend of mine." That's a good policy to adopt with people who are loved by the same God who loves you: "Anybody loved by God is loved by me." You know that covers EVERYBODY.

Selah people' and friends there are probably people in your life toward whom you aren't very loving. It's time to start seeing them as people whom God loves. I recently experienced several requests to be a friend to "friends-of-friends" on facebook. I noticed during the election both candidates had pages and followers. As I continued to see these opportunities pass me by I saw a familiar friend Buzz whom I had lifted with & trained triathlon with, we worked together and I had opportunity to mentor him in his calling to Christ and call him brother. I knew as we have forever connected that any friend of his is a friend of mine, just as any friend of God should be as well. Remember that God sees past yours' and my failings. Why don't you choose today to do the same and see past others failings? God calls us all to "Love One Another!"

Be sure to keep up with all that is happening at Selah Church by visiting our website at http://selahchurch.com/ ...also if you missed a service you can listen or download our sermons and also view photos of recent events, or view our prayer list there as well. If you have prayer need just fill out request online and our prayer warriors will lift it up. If you have a more private need contact me and I will be happy to assist.

"Peace and His Love I leave with you today as we all choose to love each other as Christ first loved us."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston(PreacherPatrick)

Get Along...

Let us rock to the tune of Christ and let us sing a new song of Unity!

Today's Scripture:
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

Titus 3: 1-2

The Christians on the island of Crete faced an intense situation with the Roman government. The government ruled with force, especially when it came to groups they considered turbulent and non compliant. Paul told them to maximize the qualities they saw in the life of Jesus.

Your life is changing so fast in many ways. Many of young people are expected to act like a grownup, but you aren't necessarily given the chance to take responsibility for yourself. You feel like you are ready to drive to a concert in the next town, but your parents say it is too far for someone your age to drive. I know for our high schoolers' and college aged Selah folks that it's a crazy time as your mom and dad give the job of parenting their last-ditch effort to prepare you for the real world. At the same time, your parents are acting weird because they feel they are losing you.

As a Christian young adult or teenager, you may be held to a higher standard than other young people who don't claim any particular positive belief system. Paul had some advice. Respecting authority God has placed over you and doing your best to get along with others will save you a lot of hassle. Paul said to firmly apply God's standards to your life. Your love, kindness, and compliance will stand out as evidence of your maturity and as a witness to your faith. Doing this will smooth out your relationship with the people whom God has chosen to guide and direct you.

Selah people' and friends rebelliously uphold the standards of God. Take kindness and respect for authority seriously. Surprise the people who oversee your life with radical compliance and respect. You'll be amazed not only who it will make others respect you, but also how much more you will be able to look in the mirror and respect yourself. Why can't we all just get along?

"Peace be with you as you choose this day to be more compliant on the little details and more connected with Christ."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston(PreacherPatrick)

Honor Your Father and Mother

Today's Scripture:

The commandment says, "Honor your father and mother." This is the first commandment that has a promise with it - "Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on earth.

Ephesians 6: 2-3

Sometimes it seems as if your parents can't possibly remember what it's like to be a teenager. The restrictions they put on you, the expectations they have - do they have any idea what it's like to have somebody telling you what to do all the time? A lot of things have changed since your parents were your age? And, yes it's possible that they have forgotten a few thing about what it's like to be a teenager. As a young dad myself with a daughter approaching this time my memory is being refreshed. So maybe our parents may not be as out of touch as we think.

Your parents have lived through many of the experiences you're struggling through now. They have even been through things and to places you and I have not yet seen. They may not have had mobile phones, PDAs or Ipods and instant messaging when they were growing up, but they did have final exams, homework and heartaches and all the exhilaration and insecurity of becoming an adult. What looks to you like an effort to control every aspect of your life may actually be your parents' desire to save you from to learn things the hard way - maybe the way they had to learn themselves.

Your parents make mistakes. Everybody does yes even the preacher...often. But you relationship with them will go a lot more smoothly if you remember that they want what's best for you, even if you're not sure they're going about it the right way. Honoring your parents doesn't mean agreeing with them all the time, but it does mean respecting their authority and trusting that their motives are good.

Selah people' and friends what is a trouble spot between you and your parents? Initiate a calm, loving conversation on this subject; tell your parents that you trust them, and ask them to help you understand their side of the issue. Who knows? Maybe your respectful approach will lead to a compromise.

Ann and Irv ...I mean Mom and Dad I am thankful that God gave me two special people like you to parent me. I know that when I was growing and learning I didn't always see what you were trying to teach me, but I'm glad you never gave up on me. I see that you too were growing with me and had seen and done much of what I had to go through and have yet to experience now as a parent myself. I love you both and this blog I share as a small token to honor you.

"Peace and honor be directed to all fathers and mothers. Remember it is God's first commandment for a reason."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston(PreacherPatrick)

Purity

Today's Scripture:
How can a young person live a pure life? By obeying your word.

Psalm 119:9

The potter's wheel is spinning. You feel the pot begin to take shape between your thumb and fingers, just as your art teacher said it would. The lump of formless clay is starting to look like something useful and beautiful. The soft smoothness of the clay feels good to your fingers. But then something hard brushes against your thumb. A split second later, on the next rotation, you feel it again, a little more solid, and then again. Before you realize what has happened, a pebble embedded in the clay has ripped through the wall of your pot and left it a crumpled mess.

Impurity embedded in your life can have a similar effect. To keep your heart and mind clean means that you make a concentrated effort to avoid dwelling on sexual, violent, or evil thoughts. Purity means making a commitment to refrain from having sex until you are married. It means accepting responsibility for checking television shows, videos, video games, and music in plenty of time to make a clear choice before exposing or repeated exposing yourself. Purity is a continuing, daily process.

And it's not just a matter of keeping bad things out. Purity is also about filling your heart and mind with good things. Reading the Bible daily will trigger good choices about the things you do, the things you watch, the things you listen to, and the things that you say. As I heard my daughter share in a message at our youth and young at heart "Words can hurt". Making this commitment is how you can succeed at living a life of purity. You are being shaped into something useful and beautiful. Don't let impurity spoil it.

Selah people' and friends examine what is in your bedroom, dorm room or home. Are there CDs, magazines, books, video games or DVDs that don't reflect God's idea of clean living? Maybe it is time to clean your room in a new way and thus clean your heart and open yourself up to a life of purity and life committed to Christ.

"Peace and purity be with you as you clean not only your home but also your heart."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston(PreacherPatrick) Via Mobile...

Fearless

" What can stop you if God is with you?"

Today's Scripture:

I trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?

Psalm 56:11

Fourteen year-old competitive Surfer Bethany Hamilton was featured on a program called Fearless. The program is about people who push the limits in outdoor sports. A shark attacked Bethany while she was surfing. Her left arm had to be amputated just below the shoulder. A few months after her recovery, she went back in the water and placed fifth in the National Surfing Championship. In later interviews, Bethany credited Jesus for her survival and her witness. Nothing and no one can take you away from God. Bethany knows this intimately. Throughout the unbelievable horror of being attacked by a shark, she was not alone. God was with her. God promises to be with you through every circumstance.

God may not remove the circumstance or the fear, but he will be with you through it.

When you are afraid, remember to trust God. Trust him because of who he is. It takes a lot more than courage to get back in the water if you have been bitten by a shark. For Bethany, her strength comes from her trust in God. There may be all kinds of bad things swimming around in your life. It may seem like danger and disaster are circling all around you, ready to attack. Trust God to be with you. God is stronger than anyone or anything that might hurt you. You don't have to live in fear.

God is bigger than any problem or person who might threaten you or the great life God has planned for you. You can live life without fear by putting your trust in God. Be sure to check out our Veteran's day photos, upcoming events and more at http://selahchurch.com .

"Peace be over you and make you Fearless just knowing He is with you all the way."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston(PreacherPatrick)

Church Leaders Intelligence Report 11-12-2008