Just Ask

When we arise from the water we open our spirit to allow God to lead us...

Today's Scripture:

If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - ask him, and he will gladly tell you.

James 1:5

Doing what God wants you to do is a wonderful thing. It honors God, adds joy to you life, and can make a positive difference in the world. However, knowing what God wants you to do in any given situation isn't always clear. Reading the Bible can give you some general guidelines, but knowing how to apply what you learn takes more than just diligence and good intentions. It takes discernment.

Discernment is the ability to make wise decisions when you're facing difficult circumstances. God holds an endless supply of the wisdom you need to be discerning. In the original language, the author James used words that identify God with a banker. James explained that when your own account of wisdom falls short, God will loan you some from his abundant supply. Unlike stingy money leaders who would belittle those who needed to rely on their services, James said that God is more than happy to share all of what he has with you- at no interest.

This isn't a promise that God will give you a windfall of wisdom the first time you ask for it.

The word ask actually means "to keep on asking." By continually turning to God for wisdom every time you need help, you will learn to discern the right thing to do when the pressure is on.

Selah people' and friends instead of God giving you an exact blueprint of what he wants for your life, he draws you closer to him by supplying what you need it - as you rely on him.

"Joy awaits each of us just for the asking."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

Life-and-Death Issues

Is the road you are on a road of life or of death?

Today's Scripture:

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."

John 11: 25-26

Martha had a firm grasp of reality. She knew her brother, Lazarus, was dead and buried. She also knew that for some reason Jesus didn't come as soon as she and her sister, Mary had called to ask for his help. Martha believed in a heavenly resurrection, but Martha's faith in Jesus's power and love was so strong she believed there was still hope for her brother.

That's when Jesus made a bold statement. As he'd done previously, Jesus referred to himself with the words "I am," a name reserved by the Jews for God alone.

When Jesus spoke about how someone may die, then live, yet whoever lives will never die, Jesus wasn't playing semantic word games.

He was talking about two different kinds of death-physical and spiritual. Though everyone faces physical death. Faith in Jesus and his resurrection raises a person's spiritual life up from the grave, instantly and permanently.

By being both the resurrection and the life, Jesus could do more than simply restore life. He had the power to maintain it, to return it to what God originally designed it to be. Jesus demonstrated this power in a visible way by bringing Lazarus back to life. Although some day Lazarus would die again physically, thanks to his belief in Jesus Lazarus never had to face death spiritually. He would be with God through out his life on earth and beyond.

Selah people' and friends you cannot determine the day of your death, nor can I, but we can determine the day you truly come to life by believing in Jesus. Consider what resurrection means to you in a spiritual sense.

"Peace be yours as you find Christ in your life and start down the narrow road of everlasting life."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

Love Rules

Jesus said "Love your neighbor as you love yourself "

Won't you be my neighbor...

Today Scripture:

One of the teachers of the law...asked Jesus, "Which of the commands is most important?" Jesus answered, "The most important command is this: 'Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second command is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' There are no commands more important than these."

Mark12:28-31

Teachers of the law, called scribes, were Pharisees who spent much of their time debating the meaning of Scripture. One question they were frequently divided over was "Which of God's rules is most important?" The scribes didn't debate just God's Ten Commandments, they argued over 613 rules that they derived from the first five books of the Bible, 248 "thou shalts" and 365 "thou shalt nots." To settle this argument, or perhaps to try to drag Jesus into the debate, one scribe asked Jesus this popular loaded question.

Jesus began his answer by quoting the Shema: "Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord." (The Shema is a traditional confession of faith that is still recited today every morning and evening by devout Jews.) After demonstrating his knowledge of tradition and Scripture, Jesus demonstrated his wisdom. He boiled down the Ten Commandments, and even the 613 precepts, to one life-changing principle: love.

Instead of focusing on rules, Jesus told the scribe to focus on relationship. By loving God and others, every one of God's rules is fulfilled. Loving God with everything you are - with all your emotions, intellect, and energy - is what gives you the desire and the wisdom you need to love others well. Anytime you're in doubt as to what God wants you to do in a given situation, ask yourself, "Right now, how can I love God and others best?"

Selah people' and friends the word neighbor literally means "the one near you." As you go through your day, consider how many neighbors you encounter, both physically and emotionally, and what you can do to love them well.

"Peace and happiness be yours and mine as we follow God's rule of Love and truly become neighbors with all whom we come in contact with."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

God's Secret to Succes

Often when we someone mentions meditation this is our vision...But Joshua was told to allow God's words to deeply take root in his life and apply them to what he learned.

Today's Scripture:

The Lord said to Joshua, "Always remember what is written in the Book of Teachings. Study it day and night to be sure to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything.

Joshua 1:8

Moses led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, guided them safely through the parting of the Red Sea, brought them God's commandments from Mount Sinai, and led them through the desert to the boundaries of the land God had promised to give them. Then Moses died. Joshua was God's choice to lead the Israelites after Moses's death. Following in Moses's footsteps meant Joshua had big sandals to fill.

Before Joshua ventured into the Promised Land, God shared with him the secret to future success and I pass it along to all who are reading this blog. God didn't offer tips on military strategy or financial stocks or stimulus plans nor did he promise Joshua he'd receive miraculous powers. God simply reminded Joshua to let Scripture influence his life. In the original Hebrew language, God encouraged Joshua to do more than just study his words. He told Joshua to meditate on them. This kind of meditation is different from what is practiced in Eastern religions. It means to allow God's words to deeply take root in your life by turning over God's truths in your mind and applying what you learn.

The kind of success that results from allowing the Bible to come alive in your life differs from the world's definition of success. God isn't promising automatic health, wealth, and happiness as a reward for your obedience.

What he's saying is that by becoming better acquainted with Scripture, you'll succeed in filling the unique place he has set aside especially for yo in this world.

Selah people' and friends take time to meditate on God's words to Joshua. Ask God to show you how he wants you to apply them to your own life situation.

"Don't wait another day to use God's secret to success."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

Learning to Live as One

We are called as Jesus's followers to work together...

Today's Scripture:

Jesus said, "I pray for these followers, but I am also praying for all those who will believe in me because of their teaching. Father, I pray that they can be one. As you are in me and I am in you, I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me."

John 17: 20-22

The night before Jesus died, you were on his mind. As Jesus's last supper with his disciples drew to a close, Jesus prayed aloud to his heavenly Father. He didn't pray about what lay ahead for him. Instead, he shared what his desires were for those he left behind.

Jesus's prayer for the unity of his disciples, both present and future, reveals some important truths about how God's church is supposed to function. Jesus's example of what interaction between his followers should look like was the relationship between his Father and himself. The unique relationship of the Trinity, where the different attributes of the Father, Son, and Spirit all combine to make one God, is the perfect picture of unity. For humanity, this kind of supernatural bond isn't possible. The principle behind this example, however, is that people can work together as equals toward a common purpose while they retain their individuality.

To work together, God's followers have to actually spend time together. As you choose to spend time with other people who believe in God, consider Jesus's prayer for you. Ask God for help in doing what you can to draw people together. Choose to build others up, instead of gossiping about their weaknesses. Search for common bonds, instead of arguing over petty differences. Strengthen your love by serving and readily forgiving.

The unity you have within your church may be the most powerful sermon those outside your church will ever hear. I feel this strong bond with my church family at Selah.

Selah people' and friends the book of Acts gives numerous examples of how Jesus's followers worked together after Jesus's resurrection, freely sharing their resources and their lives. Read Acts 2:26-47 for a glimpse of this unity in action.

"May unity abound not just in your church but in your daily life, with your family and friends and most importantly between you and God."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

The Circle of Joy

Can you see the light at the end of your tunnel?

Today's Scripture:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Anytime the Bible talks about God's will, what God wants for your life, it is time to pay close attention. There are three things God wants you to do all the time, in all circumstances - rejoice, pray, and say thank you. While each of these actions is important on its own, together they provide the secret to a joy-filled life.

In the original language, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is the shortest verse in all Scripture. The charge to "rejoice always" seems to need no explanation, except that many life situations don't seem to be cause for rejoicing. However, while happiness ebbs and flows in relation to your situation, genuine joy remains constant regardless of what's going on around you. Your feelings of joy may rise and fall, but your reasons for joy remain steady and strong. That's because the joy the Bible speaks about is rooted in your relationship with God, not in your circumstance.

Rejoicing is putting that joy into action. You can express it through your attitude, actions, and communication with God and others.

As you choose to rejoice, prayer and gratitude naturally follow. This cycle enables you to be thankful in every situation.

That doesn't mean you're thankful for every situation. God doesn't ask you to thank him if you lose your job - or your child. Yet he provides reasons to be thankful even in the midst of tough times. Responding to those reasons deepens your joy, leading back to the never-ending circle of rejoicing, prayer, and thanks.

Selah people' and friends In Greek, "pray without ceasing" literally means "pray without intermission." That means there's never a major break in your communication with God. Expressing your joy in prayer helps keep your communication with God consistent.

"Keep your eye on the prize today and don't lose sight of it know matter what tomorrow brings you."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

100 Percent Pure...

When you go to the mountain top what will you bring down with you?

Today's Scripture:

Now that you are obedient children of God do not live as you did in the pas. You did not understand, so you did the evil you wanted. But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy.

1 Peter 1:14-15

The God of the Bible is unlike any false god people worshiped through the centuries. Early pagan gods were portrayed as bloodthirsty and sexually immoral. Roman gods were vengeful, adulterous, and deceitful. The God of Israel was, and is, absolutely holy. This means his character doesn't waver from a perfect moral standard. He's totally pure, true, and good.

The fact that God is holy is comforting, until you take a look at your own moral standards in light of his. Even if in the world's eyes you live the life of a so-called saint, you still are not as perfectly holy as God. Yet the Bible seems to say that's exactly what God expects you to be.

To be holy is not a one-time transformation from depravity to perfection. It is more of a becoming. It is a lifetime of moment-by-moment decisions where you choose God's moral standards over what current culture says is acceptable.

Only with the help of God's Spirit will you have strength to consistently follow through and do the right thing.

That doesn't mean you'll never make a mistake. Look at the life of the author of this letter, the apostle Peter. He tried to walk on water, but when he took his eyes off Jesus for just a moment, he instantly began to sink beneath the waves. The closer you grow to God, the easier it is to keep your eyes on him and the more your character will grow to resemble the holiness of his own.

Selah people' and friends through you can make choices that honor God, you holy can't be truly holy without his help. Daily ask God too change your heart, as well as your actions, to be more pure.

"Peace and joy be ours as we strive for 100% pure."


Your pastor,


Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick) Home from the mountain top...