January 31, 2010 ~ INSIDE STORY

Peter's words remind us to keep our priorities straight...

If you like many others in our area had worship service canceled due to weather please use our media link below to listen to our weekly sermon "Is Love For Grownups?" and special music provided by Coffey Anderson.

Rev Patrick Muston

Today's Scripture:

It is not fancy hair, Gold Jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you - The beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God.

1 Peter 3: 3-4

The women of ancient Rome were much like many women today. They worked hard to be beautiful. Elaborate hairstyles made up of tiny knots plaited with Gold and jewels and then piled high on the head were all the rage. One drawback was that fashionable Roman women feared going to sleep lest they muss their hairdo. But those women wholeheartedly believed that their passion for fashion was worth the extra effort, because beauty was what was going to keep their husbands faithful, satisfied with them alone.

Fashion trends today tend toward plastic surgery, excessive dieting, and a closet full of haute couture. Women's (and even men's) motivations haven't changed much in two thousands years. People strive to look beautiful so that others will perceive them as valuable and desirable. The apostle Peter directed his readers to refocus from external beauty to internal beauty. From what fades to what is eternal. From what pleases God.

Selah people' and friends true lasting beauty is found in a heart that rests secure in God's love. That gentle and quiet spirit doesn't need to strive for attention. It is adorned with spiritual instead of physical riches. Authentic inner beauty, and not artificial glamour, attracts others to what is truly valuable - the unique person whom God holds precious in his sight.

"Peter's words are not a call to dowdiness. They are merely a reminder to keep your priorities straight when it comes to becoming a beautiful person. Concentrate on what matters most - the inside my brothers and sisters, not the outside."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

Listen to our music special and sermon message each week via our Selah media website:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com

Share a daily scripture and devotion at our church blog:
http://selahchurch.blogspot.com

January 30, 2010 ~ God's Dwelling Place

Are you fit for eternity do you keep your temple holy?

Today's Scripture:

You should know your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit who is in you. You have received the Holy Spirit from God. So you do not belong to yourselves, because you were brought by God for a price. So honor God with your bodies.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

In Paul's day, the city of Corinth was infamous for sexual debauchery and decadence. There was even a slang Greek verb that meant "to act like a Corinthian," which implied that one took part in sexual immorality. The church of Corinth, though filled with true believers in Jesus, continued to struggle with the sinful excesses of its culture. In response to the church's repeated failure to set itself apart for God instead of blending into Corinthian society. Paul directed his comments in a letter to this struggling church. His words today, as well as then, are a good heart-and-body check for every believer.

Thanks to Jesus' sacrifice, your body is now God's home. In the Old Testament, God's presence stayed physically close to his people by dwelling in an elaborate temple complex every detail of the temple's construction, as well as strict rules on how to keep it holy and fit for his use. God's Spirit dwelt in an especially sacred part of the temple called the Holy of Holies. In Greek, this place was called naos. Paul uses that same word here. Your body is God's Holy of Holies.

Selah people' and friends when a guest comes to your home, you honor that guest by putting things in order and doing all you can to make that person feel comfortable. By taking care of yourself physically and steering clear of sexual sin, you are doing the same for God. You are giving your heavenly Father a warm welcome home.

"Your body is a sacred place where God's Spirit dwells. How you treat yourself physically is a reflection of the kind of dwelling place you desire to offer the Father who love you."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC
http://selahchurch.com

Listen to our choir special led by Lee Ann Higgins and our sermon message each week via our Selah media website:
http://selahmedia.tripod.com

Share a daily scripture and devotion at our church blog:

http://selahchurch.blogspot.com

January 29, 2010 ~ Empty Tombs

Jesus resurrection is evidence that we

like Christ can live beyond the grave

Today's Scripture:

If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

1 Corinthians 15:17

The moment Jesus rose from the dead, everything changed. How God related to people in the Old Testament (by speaking to the whole nation through prophets) gave way to the New (by speaking to people individually through his Spirit). God forgave the sins of those who chose to follow him. Death was defeated. Eternal life was certain. There was absolute proof Jesus was who he said he was, God and Savior.

The apostle Paul's words to the Corinthian church removes the option of believing the Bible is a collection of morality myths. It does not allow for Jesus to be regarded as a prophet or a good teacher.

Either Jesus rose from the dead, proving he was who he said he was and that he did what he said he would do, or your faith is useless.

Paul, the writer of 1 and 2 Corinthians, goes on to say that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then Christians are to be pitied as the most miserable people on earth because they have based their faith, their hope, and their life purpose on a lie.

Selah people' and friends history says otherwise, however. More than five hundred witnesses saw Jesus alive after he died on the cross. The bodies of other great religious leaders, such as Buddha and Mohammed, remain dead in their graves. Only Jesus lives beyond the grave. This important verse is a suitable reminder that because of Jesus, one day you will too.

"Though Jesus' death paid the price for people's transgressions, Jesus' resurrection is evidence of God's acceptance of that payment. Let Paul's words help keep you grounded in the historical facts that support your faith."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC
http://selahchurch.com

Listen to our choir special led by Lee Ann Higgins and our sermon message each week via our Selah media website:
http://selahmedia.tripod.com

Share a daily scripture and devotion at our church blog:

http://selahchurch.blogspot.com

January 28, 2010 ~ Watching And Waiting

I see the image of the farmer patiently waiting.

Today's Scripture:

See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:7-8

God's timing is always perfect. He parted the Red Sea when his people needed it most - when they were trapped between the rushing waters and an approaching army. God allowed the water to flow again, but only after Moses and the Israelites had made it safely across. God provided what the people needed at the precise moment that it would make the greatest difference.

From a human vantage point, it isn't always easy to recognize that opportune moment. Waiting for God's answer, when you own internal timer has already gone off, can make you feel as if God isn't listening or he simply doesn't care. When you find yourself in that situation, take a lesson from this important verse in James and put yourself in a farmer's shoes. You can't rush a perfect harvest or an answer to prayer. As a farmer waits for the fruit of his labor, he doesn't just sit around complaining about how long the growing season is. He continues to work. He trusts God, and his patience grows right along with his fruit.

Selah people' and friends James provides a valuable tip for those who wait. He advises you to establish your heart, which means "to firmly plant your life and expectations in the fertile soil of God's truth." There is a bountiful harvest as certain as the fulfillment of God's promises: the Lord will return; the hard times that you and I face will end; and

God will answer your prayers when the time is right.

"The image of a patient farmer provides an encouraging visual picture for prayer. I can see my wife's Uncle Eldridge as he shared with me one time that he need not even speak verbally to God when his field is dry he just looks up and knows that God here's his prayer. Join me in picturing every prayer as a seed planted in God's will. As you wait, picture them ripening, trusting in God's perfect harvest time."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

Listen to our choir special led by Lee Ann Higgins and our sermon message each week via our Selah media website:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com

Share a daily scripture and devotion at our church blog:
http://selahchurch.blogspot.com

Story of Faith in the middle of tragedy - Haiti Quake

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=227e1273143fb8ad01d6&utm_source=newsletter012710&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos

CNN supporting those who continue to search for information on those in Haiti and an inspiring story of one brother who was touched by the scripture in Psalm 46:2 while waiting on news of his two missing siblings. May God continue to touch those in need and may you continue to join me in praying for all those suffering.

In Christ Service,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC ~ http://selahchurch.com

January 27, 2010 ~ Piecing Life Together...

Join me as we like Paul pray for a more complete life!

Today's Scripture:

May God himself, the God who makes everything Holy and whole, make you Holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul, and body- and keep you fit for the coming of our master, Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

A jigsaw puzzle is made up of multiple parts. It is only when these parts are put together, when the puzzle is whole and complete, that you see the picture it was designed to display. Your life is the same way. Your life is made up of many complex components: family life, job, hobbies, physical experiences, hopes for the future, relationship with God. It would be easy to feel that your life is fragmented, like unconnected pieces of a puzzle that don't seem to fit. But, that isn't the way you were designed.

God designed you and I to be whole and complete, where every part of your life interconnects with his love and his plan.

This doesn't happen automatically or overnight. That is why the apostle Paul asked God to help the people in the church at Thessalonica to continue to move closer toward wholeness in their lives. He recognized that people cannot achieve the process of maturity that leads to wholeness through self-effort. It requires the power of God. Paul's prayer is one you need to pray for yourself.

Selah people' and friends ask God to help pull the pieces of your life together according to his original design. As you choose to keep God at the center of your life, you'll find your own unique "picture" becoming more complete. Your job, your relationships, and your dreams work together, linked to one another because they are each solidly linked back to God.

"Let Paul's prayer make you more aware of the big picture behind what's going on in your life. Ask God to help you get a better glimpse of what that really is."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC
http://selahchurch.com

Listen to our choir special led by Lee Ann Higgins and our sermon message each week via our Selah media website:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com

Share a daily scripture and devotion at our church blog:

http://selahchurch.blogspot.com

January 26, 2010 ~ Job Description: Excellence

Where ever God has placed you

he wants you to DO YOUR BEST!

Today's Scripture:

In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.

Colossian 3:23

Work is a noble calling. God commends people for doing it well, and he also does work himself. I have learned much over the years beginning as a young scout, today as a senior pastor and in my secular work as a member of management at the pickle company. I have really come to learn that work regardless of what we do is not for the church, the company, for credit or for a payday. When God created the world, he worked. The excellence of his work is evident in everything he made and did. He even took a day off to review the results of his efforts and declared them "good." God continues to work, sustaining what he created that very first week in the world's history.

Since God created you and I in his image, work should be a part of our lives. Doing it reflects God's creativity and character. We work where He places us until He moves us in a new direction. You see it is easy, however, to lose your motivation when a job is difficult or you become bored or frustrated with dealing with the same thing day after day. Paul's words to Colossians can help you keep your work in its proper perspective.

Working the best you can literally means working "out from the soul."

You are not working simply to pay the bills, please your boss, or pass the time of day. God set this job in front of you. When you do your job well, God notices, even if no one else does.

It does not matter your position be it low or high. In my first green season at my company I was a seasonal worker making minimum wage working for the superintendent Ken Powell. It did not matter about the degrees from two different colleges I had hanging on the wall what mattered most was the work I did each day. God encourages us to work hard doing the best we can, where we are, with what He has given us and to do so in His name.

Selah people' and friends the section of Colossians I have shared with us today was originally directed toward slaves. It encouraged them to remain positive and productive, even if they were working in bondage under a tyrant. If a slave, who could be beaten even if he did a job well, could strive for excellence by maintaining a Colossians 3:23 perspective, that should inspire us in our jobs.

"Continually refocus on God's perspective throughout the day to help keep your efforts on the right track. Remember who we really work for and who "the man" really is."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

Listen to our choir special led by Lee Ann Higgins and our sermon message each week via our Selah media website:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com

Share a daily scripture and devotion at our church blog:
http://selahchurch.blogspot.com

Are you tired and in need of rest?

Click link for video on Tangle.com:
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=47f598bde7d37a5f655b

Scripture:
Matthew 11:28: ...I will give you rest.


SONG OF THE DAY: "All Ye"

Have you had your Coffey' today? Do feel beat down and unable to keep going it alone? Bring all your burdens as the scripture In Matthew reminds us to Him and he will give us rest. God be with you and your family as you battle the challenges that we call life. You are not alone!

In Christ service,
Rev Patrick Muston

January 25, 2010 ~ Stop, Look, Listen, And Trust

Remember always to trust in God our refuge...

Today's Scripture:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea..."Be still, and know that I am God."

Psalm 46: 1-2

The Psalms are a tapestry of human emotions. The poetry of prayer weaves together anger, fear, joy, longing, despair, praise, and passion. As a teen I can remember reading through Psalms while sitting in the infield during each of our track meets. Track is a team sport but most of our events were you all on you own to either be triumphant or more times than not come up a little short. Various times I would read a Psalm and think to myself how right on time the thought or emotion was with the way I was feeling. Anxieties would melt away knowing that someone else had experienced just what I was feeling and that the same God who helped pen the words in the scripture was with me awaiting my next event. You and I can see in this verse how it sums up God's response to those prayers. Its truth is the thread of peace and comfort that runs through the entire book of Psalms, as well as the rest of the Bible - and the life of every individual who walks with God.

God's answer to those who are emotionally troubled is brief and straightforward: STOP AND REMEMBER WHO IS ON YOUR SIDE.

Psalm 46 talks about earthquakes felling mountains, cities being destroyed, nations being in an uproar, kingdoms crumbling. I can't help but think of moments that we have experienced in recent years such as 911, the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the recent destruction in Haiti. This word speaks about the final destruction of the world itself. The overall tone of the psalm is anything but quiet and still. One sentence, however, says to "be still," and the focal point of emotion changes from outside chaos to internal rest. That's why the psalm was written as a song. It proclaimed a message everyone needed to hear.

Selah people' and friends let the truth of this verse find a home in your heart today. When life gets busy or chaotic, it's easy to get distracted. You wind up focusing on problems instead of the One who holds the answer to your problems in his hands. When that happens, stop. Focus on who God is and how much he loves you. Share your own heartfelt psalm of prayer with the God of power and compassion. Be still and know God is near.

"The words in Psalm 46 hold incredible power when it comes to knowing God is near in any and every situation. Memorize them. Mediate on them. If you feel led sing them as you may do popular songs. Sing them to our Lord. Keep them close at heart for when you need them most. Wither it be your next jump attempt on the pole vault or a project at school or work."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC ~ http://selahchurch.com

Listen to our choir special led by Lee Ann Higgins and our sermon message each week via our Selah media website: http://selahmedia.tripod.com

Share a daily scripture and devotion at our church blog:

http://selahchurch.blogspot.com

January 24, 2010 ~Justin Timberlake-sings "Hallelujah"-Hope for Haiti

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=8723df473d8a8ee6907a

Please join myself and our Selah Church family as we continue to pray and support those who are facing terrible tragedy and destruction in Haiti. We took up a special offering for http://www.weekofcompassion.org/ to send and will take up one more special offering again on January 31st. Are simple gifts and prayers can be very powerful in the lives of those in need and our missionaries, military and red cross who are there trying to help.

In Christ service,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC ~ http://selahchurch.com/

Listen to our choir special and sermon each week via our Selah media website: http://selahmedia.tripod.com/

Daily scripture and devotion available through our church blog:
http://selahchurch.blogspot.com/

January 23, 2010 ~ Living Life To The Fullest...

Today's Scripture:

Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

John 10:10

Jesus often used parables and metaphors to help people like you and I to get a better picture of the principles and truths he was talking about. He referred to himself as the Good Shepherd. He wanted his followers to understand the difference between how a good shepherd cares and sacrifices for the benefit of his sheep, while thieves and hired hands only use sheep to benefit themselves. Jesus wanted them to know he was a leader who always had his followers' best interests at heart.

Jesus proclaimed the end result of this tender care for his sheep, which makes the verse one of the most important verses in the Bible. It is Jesus' statement of purpose; it is his promise to those who follow him. That includes you. What Jesus promised is life. Not just ordinary, breathing in-and-out, making-it-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-life, but an authentic, eternal hang-onto-your-seats-because-another-miracle's-coming abundant life.

Selah people' and friends:

The kind of abundance that Jesus promised is a measure of the quality of life, not the quantity of possessions.

You can't measure this abundance in square footage or bottom lines. Jesus promised to provide a surplus of what makes life worth living-things like love, grace, guidance, forgiveness, and joy. These are Jesus' gifts to you, a life that is overflowing with riches of the heart that no one can ever take away.

"Keeping in mind Jesus' promise to you of an abundant life gives you reason for constant hope and thanks. It also fosters contentment by helping you find joy in the abundance of what matters most."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC ~
http://selahchurch.com

Listen to our weekly music special and sermon online via our media site:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com

Top Baseball Prospect Retires to Enter Priesthood - What is your Higher Calling?

What is God calling you to do today...?

I talk with so many people who on the outside may seem to have it together and be successful, but when we get deeper they are struggling for something more. I share this news article of a man who made a choice to read the word and enter seminary instead of entering the majors and possibly making millions. In the end it was his injuries that he shared were blessings to allow him time to think and make the right choice for him.

May you find the joy that our God has for you today.

In Christ service,
Rev Patrick Muston
Selah Christian Church ~ Four Oaks, NC


Top Baseball Prospect Retires to Enter Priesthood - Local News News Articles National News US News - FOXNews.com

Posted using ShareThis


Listen to our music special and sermon message online 24/7/365 via our media website:
http://selahmedia.tripod.com

January 21, 2009 ~ Are you secure on the internet?

A friend shared this with me and I thought as many of us who use our Internet for paying bills, purchasing gifts or even donating money to Haiti relief we must be aware of predators who are out to steal from us. I feel led to share this information you may already be aware of. Hope you find this useful in being safe and a better steward of what God has entrusted to us.

Have a blessed day!

Rev Patrick Muston


The Difference Between http and https

Maybe you already knew this, but I thought it was important enough to send even if you already know.FIRST, MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF The main difference between http:// and https://.

It's all about keeping you secure - HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transport Protocol.

The S (big surprise)stands for "Secure".

If you visit a website or web page, and look at the address in the web
browser, it will likely begin with the following: http://.

This means that the website is talking to your browser using the regular 'unsecure' language. In other words, it is possible for someone to "eavesdrop" on your computer's conversation with the website. If you fill out a form on the website, someone might see the information you send to that site.This is why you never ever enter your credit card number in an http website! But if the web address begins with https:// that basically means your computer is talking to the website in a secure code that no one can eavesdrop on. You understand why this is so important, right?If a website ever asks you to enter your credit card information, you should automatically look to see if the web address begins with https://.

If it doesn't, there's no way you're going to enter sensitive information like a credit card number.PASS IT ON (You may save someone a lot of grief).

January 20, 2010 ~ Praying Like Jesus

Can we put Jesus' example into practice?

Today's Scripture:

You should pray like this: "Our Father in heaven, may your name always be kept holy. May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. Give us the food we need for each day. Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us. And do not cause us to be tempted, but save us from the evil one."

Matthew 6:9-13

These verses are some of the most often-repeated words in the Bible. Various Bible translations differ on a word here or there, but the heart of the Lord's prayer remains the same. When Jesus' followers asked how they should pray, Jesus provided this example. The irony is that right before Jesus shared how to pray, he emphasized how not to pray. One of the things he said not to do was repeat the same words over and over again with thinking about what is being said. That's exactly what many people do with the Lord's Prayer.

Use the Lord's Prayer the way Jesus intended.

Let it help you better understand, and put into practice, three vital elements of prayer: praise, petition, and confession.

Jesus' prayer began with thanks for who God is, a Father deserving honor. Then Jesus requested help by sharing personal honor. Then Jesus requested help by sharing personal needs, both physical and spiritual. He asked for the basic provision of food, as well as for the protection and the strength necessary to do what God wanted. He also prayed for the needs of others, asking that their lives would align more with God's desires.

Selah people' and friends Jesus had nothing to confess, but he knew those listening did, so he modeled how to ask for forgiveness. Confessing where you've failed keeps communication with God honest and open and helps you become more merciful to those who fail you. As Jesus demonstrated, prayer is simply inviting God to play an active role in your life. Follow his example every day.

" The Lord's Prayer is Jesus' most concrete lesson on prayer. Pray as Jesus did. Share your deepest concerns with God, and invite God to make your heart and your will more like his."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

Listen online via our media site 24/7/365:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com

January 19, 2010 ~ Coffey Video- Come to your senses

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=c29d769f2594a73842e4

I think this short song from Coffey Anderson hits home to many of us regardless of our age going through life and living for just the moment. Don't look back with regret of what might have been or wishing you would have chosen to do something different. Join me today in come to our senses and living a life the reflects our savior Jesus Christ! Live a life with hope for the future.

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC ~ http://selahchurch.com/

Listen to our weekly sermon message and special music via our media site 24/7/365:
http://selahmedia.tripod.com/

January 18, 2010 - Easter...are you ready?

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=a53a06b9d77d9c6c9348&utm_source=newsletter011910&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos

Do you remember the sacrifice made for you and for me? Jesus arms wide open for us! Don't let it stop here. Take up his cross and share the good news.

In Christ service,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC ~ http://selahchurch.com

Please listen to our service online 24/7/365 at our media website:
http://selahmedia.tripod.com

Share in our daily blog:
http://selahchurch.blogspot.com

January 17, 2010 ~ Blade Of Truth

Join me in keeping God's word alive...pick it up and allow it inside

Today's Scripture:

God's word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center or our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.

Hebrews 4:12

The Bible is not your ordinary book. Like a surgeon's scalpel, it has the power to slice through lies to expose raw truth. It can prick a guilty conscience, heal a broken heart, or open eyes that have long been blind to God's existence. The verse in Hebrews is like the Bible's warning label. It lets you know that what you're holding in your hands should be handled carefully - and that it will leave a reader or listener a changed person.

That's because the Bible is much more than merely print on paper. The Bible is alive with the power of God's Spirit. Like Jesus, its genesis is both fully human and fully divine. Though ordinary people wrote it, God worked through those writer in an extraordinary way. Throughout the Bible's sixty-six books of history, prophecy, and guidelines for living, written over a period of six hundred years by more than thirty authors using three languages, there is consistency of purpose about God and his plan that mere coincidence could ever achieve.

Selah people' and friends the Bible is not a reference book to teach you about God.

The Bible is an invitation to connect with God in a personal way - and to learn more about yourself in the process.

The more time you spend reading the Bible and meditating on how God wants you to apply what you've read, the more you'll learn to recognize the whisper of God's Spirit in your life and to see his hand at work in the world around you.

"Get to know God better by becoming better acquainted with the Bible. Reading one psalm and a chapter from one of the Gospels each morning is a great way to begin."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

January 16, 2010 ~ You Are the Guest of Honor

It is great when you allow God to fill you up until you overflow...

Today's Scripture:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:5-6

You are invited to a party, a surprise party. For whom? For you. Don't be too amazed. It is going to happen. The party will be thrown in your honor to show the whole world what kind of woman you really were in life. All the marvels of your great thoughts, words, and deeds will be shown for all to see and praise. Many people will be stunned to find out how much God thought of you, because some said your life didn't really amount to much. Nonetheless, God saw things no one else did, and that's why he is throwing the party.

It is going to happen, and the grand truth is expressed in Psalm 23. God will sit you down before all people from all nations, places, times, and races. He will serve you the best meal possible- filet mignon, swordfish steak, whatever you most like. He will anoint your head with a fine perfume, showing not only respect and love but the fact that you are royalty in his house.

God will fill your cup till it overflows.

Selah people' and friends you may wonder long and hard about when this will happen, but God assures his beloved saints in these verses the wonderful truth that he will never embraces you, put you down, or humiliate you before others when you get to heaven. Rather, he spreads his feast before you for you to enjoy. He even honors you in front of those who may not have liked or respected you. You will dwell in God's house forever.

"One day you will sit before all creation, and God himself will honor you. That is what he does for all his friends. Join me as we join Him...remember He wants you to be the guest of honor and I want each of us to share with others as our cup overflows."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC ~ http://selahchurch.com

January 15, 2010 ~ Have you had your Coffey this morning?

Run This Town (Christ Mix) - Not Jay-Z but artist: Coffey Anderson

www.icoffey.com

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=c0027f034223c056f697&utm_source=newsletter011510&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos

Join me in praising his holy name...Hope this lifts you up today!

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ~ Web: http://selahchurch.com/

January 14, 2010 ~ Special Delivery

Have you received the Word that God has for you?

Today's Scripture:

The Word became a human and lived among us, we saw his glory - the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father - and he was full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

The day God came to earth is much more than a sweet tale on which to base a holiday. It is a miracle of dynamic proportions, and John tells of the wonder of it all. God himself came to live with us on earth. That is the heart of the Christmas story. The God of the universe made his home here on earth so that people could better understand him, connect with him, and experience his kindness. The Word is God's most intimate, and informative, communication with those whom he created.

It is interesting that such a pivotal verse about Jesus does not even contain his name. That's because Word was a powerful symbol in both Greek philosophy and Jewish tradition. The Greeks referred to logos or Word as the creative force that brought the world into being. Everyone at that time understood that referring to Jesus as the Word was the same as calling him the eternal Creator.

Selah people' and friends if you're going to believe in this eternal Creator, you need to understand who he is. The biggest mistake people make about Jesus is to minimize either his deity or his humanity.

In his earthly life, Jesus was both fully God and fully human.

My pastor Rev Neil Wingfield shared as he was completing his full ordination the question was posed why we light the two candles on the alter at the beginning of the service? He shared that in all his time at Duke divinity school he could not remember that being taught. The answer lies in our message today...each candle represents Jesus one representing Jesus' humanity and the other His divinity. John emphasized this point as well throughout his entire Gospel. Although both the Old and New testaments are filled with important verses about Jesus, John 1:14 clearly states who Jesus is and what he wants to impart to you and to me.

"Jesus' humanity enabled him to relate to your human problems and sufferings on this earth, while his divinity gave him the power to help you overcome them. My prayer for each of us today is that we not only receive the Word but that we will truly receive the special gift of Jesus in our daily life."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Four Oaks, NC ~ http://selahchurch.com/

Visit our media site online 24/7/365 at: http://selahmedia.tripod.com/

Church blog: http://selahchurch.blogspot.com/

January 13, 2009 ~ American Idol or The One And Only...?

Have you given up on the God who rescued you?

Today's Scripture:

You must worship no other gods, but only the LORD, for he is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.

Exodus 34:14

The Israelites saw God part the Red Sea and save them from captivity in Egypt. But soon afterward, they gave up on the God who'd rescued them. They chose to worship a golden calf instead. Brothers and sisters I ask you today in 2010 what is your golden calf? Is it money, clothing, gadgets? Is it your job, school or other people like your spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends? When Moses returned from receiving the Ten Commandments, he saw the Israelites - God's people - engaged in idolatry. Moses threw the tablets to the ground, shattering them just as the people had shattered God's first commandment - to worship only God.

God is a God of second chances, however. God gave Moses new tablets and reiterated his commands. Those commands are as important today as they were for the Israelites. Not because God is a strict disciplinarian who demands that you follow an arbitray list of rules "or else," but because God designed his commands to build relationship with him and with the people around you. Obeying God's commands helps you to love well.

Selah people' and friends the first commandment, that God alone is to be worshiped, is at the heart of them all. God doesn't ask for worship because His ego needs stroking. He asks it because worshipping him alone is the best thing that could happen to you. You don't have to kneel before a golden calf to worship idols.

An idol is anything for which you have a deeper devotion than for God.

An idol could be power, money, comfort, pleasure, even religion. I get some strange looks from people as a pastor when I tell them I am not a "religious" person, meaning I don't try to get tangled in denomination and driven by mere liturgy. Worshiping God above everything else keeps life in the proper perspective. God is passionate about His relationship with you. Worshiping Him alone helps you become more passionate about Him.

"Consider what's important in your life today. Weigh your relationship with God in light of everything else. Ask God to help you identify anything to which you give higher priority than getting to know him better. May you and I continue to grow spiritually in 2010 as we continue to walk with our Lord."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC ~ http://selahchurch.com/

Church Blog: http://selahchurch.blogspot.com/

Media site: http://selahmedia.tripod.com/

January 12, 2010 ~ Are You a Part Time Christian?

Are you looking for the easy way just wanting to be happy?

Link to video: WANTED: PART TIME CHRISTIAN ~ The Devil's Advocate

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=c3694750e49affbf6e92&utm_source=newsletter011310&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos

Friends I hope this video opens up your thinking about where you are at in your personal walk. Do you and your friends and family just want to be happy? Do you just want to talk about trivial things and not really commit to anything or anyone and truly love one another? God warns us about those who are just luke warm. Look at what you are really seeking and what true joy really looks and feels like. It is my hope that as we grow spiritually together in Christ we will come to be "all in" and not just "Part time"!

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christan Church
Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com/

January 11, 2010 ~Sharing Your Strength

We can often help share our knowledge and make others better...

Today's Scripture:

I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.

Romans 1:12

God is not the only One with the power to bless. You, too, can build others up by showing them special favor, which is what a blessing really is. I see this each week as my brother Matthew and I get together to train hard in mixed martial arts. No we are not John Hackleman and Chuck Liddell but as we move from our cardio, strength training, to boxing and jiu jitsu we push each other way beyond where we could go alone. We are there for each other to support and encourage one another. One way we all can share such a blessing is through the gift of encouragement. Paul expressed his desire to share this valuable gift with other believers who lived in Rome. He'd never met them, and neither had any of the other apostles. But that didn't stop Paul from longing to comfort and strengthen others who shared his faith in God.

Paul's words are a practical example of God's love at work.

Love cannot exist in a vacuum. You have to share it.

When you encourage others by your loving example, actions, words, or prayers, you'll discover that your gift comes with a bonus. You will, in turn, be encouraged. In the Greek language, to encourage means both "to share your strength with others" as well as "to be mutually comforted." The more you take the opportunity to cheer on and support those around you, the more you'll experience the joy that love can bring.

Selah people' and friends God has used Paul's words and the example of his life to strengthen and inspire people for more than two thousand years. You never know when a simple word of encouragement or pat on the back for a friend or even a stranger will cause a ripple effect that will be felt throughout eternity. Put the principle behind Paul's words to the test today.

"God can turn your simple gift of encouragement into an Ultimate' blessing. Be encouraged, and act on what you've learned. Strengthen others by sharing how much they mean to you and to God."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC ~ Church Office: 919-689-3782

http://selahchurch.com/

Listen to sermon online via our media website 24/7/365:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com/

Daily devotion and blog:

http://selahchurch.blogspot.com/

January 10, 2010 ~ Missing The Mark

How close are you to hitting the mark?

Today's Scripture:

All have sinned; All fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.

Romans 3:23-24

As I remember from my days in high school track when one competes in the pole vault, we are focused on doing one thing - jumping higher than the mark where the bar has been set. Once you have Jumped, there can only be two outcomes. You either cleared the mark or fell short. If you failed in your attempt to clear the bar, whether you've missed by an inch or a foot doesn't matter. You stilled failed.

The same is true with sin. The Hebrew word for sin literally means "to miss the mark." Everyone sins by choosing to go his own way instead of God's way. Some people miss God's mark by an inch; others miss by a mile. How close you come doesn't matter. Close isn't close enough. The moral bar God has set for you to clear is a high one; it is so high that it's impossible to continually clear it on your own. A perfect, holy God can't embrace anything less than perfect. The good news is that this perfect and faultless God is also loving. That's why he provided a way for you to clear the bar more consistently, as well as a means for you to avoid penalty when you miss the mark.

Selah people' and friends it is important to recognize that everyone sins. Shift your focus to the future, not to the past. Because of Jesus, guilt and the fear of punishment no longer weigh you down. You are free to jump higher than ever before.

"When you miss the mark, ask for God's forgiveness, learn from your mistake, and keep moving forward."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com/

Listen to our weekly sermons via our media website 24/7/365:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com/

January 9, 2010 ~ Mt.Olive Pickle on TV

Mount Olive Pickle Company Inc. ~ Check us out on TV...

Just a heads up for all you Mt. Olive fans out there... Mt. Olive Pickle will be included in the premiere of a new History Channel show, Food Tech. It will air next Thursday, January 21 at 9 p.m.

Our Hamburger Dill Chip production will be included in the hour-long “Cheeseburgers and Fries” episode, which kicks of the new series. Filming for this show was done at Mt. Olive in July 2008, and show host Bobby Bognar was here for the shoot. Read about the new show at:
http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=detail&episodeId=531066

And, as a reminder, our fourth appearance on the Food Network’s Unwrapped will be aired Monday, February 15 at 9 p.m. That episode, “Deli Counter” will feature our Kosher Dill Spears.

Visit us online at www.mtolivepickles.com

Warm regards and don't forget to take a pickle out for lunch,

Patrick

January 8, 2010 ~ Silent Monks Sing Halleluia?

Shout to the Lord!!!

Link to video:
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=2184ee986d65d0c7a980&utm_source=newsletter011210&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos



How can you and I lift our voices today? Remember even when you think you can't be heard God can always make a way through prayer and faith in him. Join me as like these silent monks we shout to the Lord and let others know whom you serve today!



Your pastor,



Rev Patrick Muston



Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC



Email:

patrickmuston@msn.com



Web:

http://selahchurch.com/



Blog:

http://selahchurch.blogspot.com/

January 7, 2010 ~ A Must-See Inspiration- Patrick Hughes

Inspirational Link to video:

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=1eb7bdee8bf166a62585&utm_source=newsletter011110&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos

How challenged are you today? Listen to the music of Patrick Hughes hear the melody of opportunity and the sound of potential. May you and I be thankful for the blessings that God has given to us. Thanks to Patrick and his father for sharing an inspiration to mothers, fathers and students everywhere.

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Church website:
http://selahchurch.com/

Blog:
http://selahchurch.blogspot.com/

Online audio via our church media site 24/7/365:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com/

January 6, 2010 ~ Joint Venture

God uses all parts to complete us and enable us to work for Him...

Today's Scripture:

What we have is ONE BODY WITH MANY PARTS, EACH ITS PROPER SIZE AND IN ITS PROPER PLACE, NO PART IS IMPORTANT ON ITS OWN.

1 Corinthians 12:20

Your body is the perfect picture of how God designed community to work. Every part is interdependent and is vital to the health and strength of the other parts. If your lungs took the day off, your brain would cease to function. If your muscles went on strike, your feet wouldn't be able to get you out of bed and off to work or school.

Paul's picture of the cooperative human body illustrates how every individual is vital to the health of God's church as a whole. It also demonstrates how every part is significant. One part isn't more important than another. You should not regard the person who preaches on Sunday morning like myself as more important than the one who cleans the building or turns on the heat or air before the service. Each individual is necessary.

Every gift God gives has a purpose and a place to help fulfill his perfect plan and to allow us to experience "Spiritual Growth".

Selah people' and friends we often encounter two pitfalls when we evaluate our significance by com pairing our gifts with others:

1. We may believe our gifts our too small or too big, or

2. We may feel that what we do really doesn't matter or that everything would fall apart with them.

Paul's words in 1 Corinthians guide you and I toward true measure of significance. Though we are of eternal significance to God, our significance on this earth comes solely from what we are a part of - God's body here on earth. Friends please know the we are the body of Christ. You and I may be the only Jesus some people will ever meet and the only church some of closest friends, family and coworkers will ever experience in their life.

"Understanding your significance, and the significance of others, will help you keep a humble, realistic view of yourself. It will also enable you to work more harmoniously in community with others. Join me in being the true body of Christ!"

January 4, 2010 ~ This Year Will Be Different!

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=2138a94d38c6487c099b&utm_source=newsletter010610&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklytopvideos

Will this year really be any different? In our sermon we were reminded that God's resolutions always come through...ours not so much. May we put our faith in God and not our own resolution.

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church
Four Oaks, NC
http://selahchurch.com/

Listen online 24/7/365 via our media site:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com

January 2, 2010 ~ How Is Your Heart?

Our God sees deeper than just the organ we call the heart...

Today's Scripture:

The Lord said to Samuel, "Don't look at how handsome Eliab is or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of person, but the Lord looks at the heart."

1 Samuel 16:7

Linda sat with her mother and spilled out her thoughts and feelings. She tried hard to articulate all that was in her heart, and she found her mother's smiling prods and encouragement empowering. As she talked, her mother said, "I understand. Yes, I get that. I've felt that way too." When she finished, she exclaimed, "You really do understand what I'm talking about." "I've been there too, darling, " was her mother's reply. What a difference it makes I know for me as a husband, father, friend and yes as pastor when I can truly empathize with some letting them know I've been there and know how you feel...it goes beyond sympathy to understanding.

The heart - not the organ, but the center of the emotions and personality - is delicate, mysterious element of the human psyche. It receives, records, and responds to all the data that come at it in a day. What Linda was experiencing is something all people know: no one can really know exactly what goes on in your heart unless you tell them. But when you do, the light of understanding and identification comes on. It is a wonderful feeling to find someone who agrees with you and comprehends the feelings you may be trying to express.

Selah people' and friends in the same way, God sees the heart of each person and knows its deepest thoughts, longings, hopes, and fears. Cling to 1 Samuel 16:7 to realize that God knows you better than any other person. God sees not just the outward appearance, which varies greatly woman to woman and man to man, but he sees the true center of existence, the heart.

"When you feel frustrated that you can't articulate a feeling or concern, or when you wonder if anyone really knows the depth of your feelings, find hope in God. He knows you all the way through to the heart."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church Disciple of Christ

1332
Selah Church Road

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com


Listen online to our sermon via our media site:


http://selahmedia.tripod.com

January 1, 2010 ~ For Such a Time as This

As we begin a new year may we be on

the look out for what God has in store for us.

I have had taken several days away from our blog to rest and reflect on 2009. I feel led at this time to continue blogging in 2010 as part of my devotion. I thank all who have shared in this time of study and thinking about God's word. To all my Selah members and friends I prayerfully look forward to what God has planned for us in 2010.

Today's Scripture:

If you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther was a beautiful woman - inside and out. So it wasn't a suprise when she was chosen to be the queen. She seemed to enjoy this position-until one day she learned that the king's adviser planned to annihilate all the Jewish people. The thought that your husband is destroying a whole race is shocking enough. But for Esther, it had an extra traumatic twist. The king and his advisor didn't know she was Jewish.

Esther could have been concerned only about saving her own neck. But her uncle pointed out the fact perhaps God had put her in a position of power to be his tool for rescuing his people, that God might have put her in the palace "for such a time as this."

Esther's reaction reveals that she was wise as well as beautiful. Instead of panicking, she prayed. She gathered other Jewish people to fast and pray. She engaged every bit of the femininity and brains God had given her, and God used her to save her people. She truly was in the right place at the right time for a reason.

Selah people' and friends just as he had a place and a purpose for Esther, God has a place and a purpose for you and I. You are a part of His divine design. You may be involved in a certain school or organization, not by chance, but for some reason that only God knows about at this point. You might have formed a new acquaintance for a reason you know nothing about.

"Keep serving God and looking for his guidance. He will keep you in the right place at the right time and use you to make a difference. What looks like normal circumstances to you may actually be divine appointments."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com/

Listen online 24/7/365 at our media website:

http://selahmedia.tripod.com/