24/7

Do you meditate on the word day and night?

Today's Scripture:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8

You have only so many hours in the week. You work more than forty hours; perhaps you volunteer or help out with church projects several hours per week; eat, sleep, hopefully spend quality time with your family in the remainder. You seemingly do not have much time left, certainly not 24/7, to meditate on the Bible. Balancing life is challenging for many people. The truth is that by embracing the truths of the Bible, you actually can live more accordingly with God's plan, which breeds prosperity and success.

The solution to balancing life is the ability to multitask. I share this with as a chronic multi-tasker I speak from which I have known most of my life...from age 8. In our spiritual lives we can be just as creative to help make our time more productive.

You can employ many strategies for meditating on the Bible by integrating it into other tasks and areas of your life.

By listening to worship or Christian praise music while preparing for your day, you not only energize your spirit but learn the Bible too. Whether you carpool or catch another type of ride or transportation be it bus, subway or in your car, you can listen to Scripture or spiritual meditations via CD or on you Ipod or mp3 player or by playing inspirational audio books during your commute to and from work.

Sharing a family memory verse is another way to meditate on the Bible with your family. I had some old blank business card stationary for my home office printer that worked great for this...just put the verse and where it came from on the card and you could print out several for you family to carry with them during the week. Often if you have them your children or grandchildren can provide the verse from one they learned in their Sunday school class at church. This makes them fill vested in your family's spiritual growth. You can review the verse daily at breakfast or at the dinner table. Dinner talk can be a great time for informal devotions with your spouse or family. In business, you can put this into practice through your company newsletter, thought-of-the-day email, or some worked into that weekly staff meeting. I find that if I ask of special needs or friends or family members with needs I always have the moment of spiritual connection with my workers.

Selah people and friends think creatively to find ways to incorporate your desire to learn the Bible into your other priorities in life. Determine at least one strategy and put it into practice this week.

"Today is the best time to start incorporating God's word into more parts of your life daily."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Take a Load Off...

Be willing to trust God is the key to our success.

Today's Scripture:

Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3

God's will for you to love, forgive, and encourage others is reveled in the Bible. But what about some of life's questions, such as whether or not you should accept a job offer? Life would be easy if you could simply turn to Scripture and get a yes or no answer. In fact, the answers to many of life's questions can be found if you commit your work to God.

First of all, you should not work for your own interest, but for God's purposes. Your plans and achievements are not yours alone. You share them with God. You can trust him with them. Allow God to be glorified in your hard work. Plan your steps and set goals, but maintain a loose a grip on them. Be willing to make adjustments as needed.

Trust that in success or challenge, God is faithful and sovereign in your life.

When you maintain a willingness to trust God with your dreams and commit your plans to him, he will help you align those dreams to his plan for you. Notice that he does not bend his will to your thoughts; rather, he molds your desires to his will. You can trust that your dreams and desires are God's will for you when you think from the conviction of your heart along with the reasoning of your mind.

Selah people' and friends think about and list three of your biggest goals or dreams that God has put on your heart and mind. Pray about each one and commit it to God and his will. Then make a flexible plan of action to accomplish each.

"You have given a precious gift of God's dream and plan for your life, choose today to work hard all that God has for you and then you can lay your head down and take a load off knowing that you did your part in His plan."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Favor

Journal a list of good things that you'd like for God to help do in your life then highlight the ways that God extends his favor to you each day.

Today's Scripture:

Remember this is my favor, O my God.

Nehemiah 13:31

You get to know others by learning their favorite things. You may discover their favorite foods, hobbies, book, or television programs. You may even have favorite friends that you prefer to spend time with. With those friends you may not mind asking for a favor. The word favor means "good things." You might give your spouse a list of ideas for your birthday gifts, but to ask God to show you a favor? It almost sounds presumptuous.

God can be your closest friend though if you will let him in. Throughout the Scriptures, he gives you permission to ask for good things from him. Because of Christ, you can approach God and stand in his favor. He is ever-present in your life, waiting and wanting to respond with favor. You do not have to be invited to the right party or business luncheon to make a connection.

You can link up to God through prayer 24/7/365. He has all the connections you and I will ever need.

If you need to be noticed at a school, sports, work or a meeting it is OK to ask God to show you favor. If you need to sell more products or be more efficient about getting a project or paper done, you can request God's assistance. God can open opportunities in unexpected ways for you. He can give you the wisdom, creativity, and innovation to make the right impressions. When you ask for God's favor, you may find that you get what you ask for from him.

Selah people' and friends journal a list of good things you would like for God to do in your life. Prayerfully consider each. Be ready to highlight the ways God extends his favor toward you in your journal or on your calendar. You'll be amazed what God can and will do. The word reminds us we have not cause we asked not.

"Choose today to remember as one of God's children you have his "Favor" just waiting for you to have faith and believe."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via mobile in Dobbersville, NC

Rich Generosity

Often when you give not expecting anything

in return you will be blessed...

Today's Scripture:

There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

Proverbs 11: 24-25

You give, yet you receive more. You are generous, yet you are made rich. The principle is puzzling. However, look at the number of organizations such as Shriner's Hospitals, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and St. Jude's Children's Hospital that give away free services to children in need of serious help. They give generously of their services, but they receive abundantly from others to further fund their giving of more services to others. The principle works: generosity makes you rich.

Many people think of generosity as giving money. But generosity is making what you have to offer available to others, and that can be more than just money. Whatever you have in your hand can be offered. Florida had a record number of hurricanes tear through many counties within only a few weeks' time. Many homes and businesses were without electricity, water, even rooftops. The amazing thing about the news reports was that instead of showing people looting those buildings, the majority reported that neighbors were sharing homes, generators, and water. When they compiled all that they had together, they all benefited from each person's contribution.

You are generous, yet you are made rich. The principle is puzzling.

What you have to offer is of value to someone, whether it is as simple as water or as extravagant as a new car or truck as was given in the movie "Facing the Giants" to the coach who was in need. As you find ways to become more generous, you can expect to be blessed too.

Selah people' and friends others need what you have to offer. It could be as simple as a call,an email or text, a cake, a call or a visit, maybe just a handshake or hug. Whether your wealth lies in your expertise, creativity, or encouragement, extend a gracious offer to help others. Don't wait until someone is in a crisis to be generous.

"How has God blessed you? How can you be a blessing to someone else? Remember it is not just money it may be just giving of yourself that will help touch the life of someone else. Do it for Christ and the blessings will be abundant."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

I've Fallen And Can't Get Up...

Reach out today to help others in trouble?

Today's Scripture:

Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

God's math doesn't always seem to make sense. if two people work together, you would reason that twice the work could be accomplished. Since this is the Bible, the principle must be universal, and so it seems it is. A team brainstorming new ideas can formulate a more exhaustive and creative list than one person alone. Partners that conquer projects together can finish in a fraction of the time that one could finish the job. In manufacturing I have found that production lines seem to multiply the expected production exponentially beyond the number of workers on the line.

Everyone has moments of falling. Some people fall behind in their workload. Others fall apart in difficult situations. Having a friend to help you in those times where a free fall is impending is not only comforting, but can also help you maintain your focus on being productive. When you have a friend beside you, he can help keep you from falling in the first place by supporting and encouraging you. Then, if you do begin to slip, he can catch you or help you back onto your feet.

The key to partnership accomplishment seems to be altruism: which is the willingness of one to reach out and help the other. God said in Proverbs 18:24 that if you want friends, you must show yourself to be friendly. I'll never forget early in my own ministry I went on an Emmaus Walk weekend at Surf City and one of the lay speakers said the words "to have a friend, be a friend and lead a friend to Christ." To this day I carry that in the back of mind reminding me as I meet new friends and God gives an opportunity to just help them move a little further down the road of their spiritual walk, not overwhelming them but just being a helping hand and a good friend, just as Christ was the "good shepherd". Friendship is truly a reciprocal collaboration.

Selah people' and friends if you have a business coworker, partner, friend or spouse, consider how mutual your assistance and encouragement are for each other. Reach out to him or her with a helping hand today.

"Carpe Diem, "seize the day"...God is so good and how great it is for you and I to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need today. It really helps you see how blessed you are when you can help others."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ via mobile Jen's VW headed to Smithfield for lunch

Money Isn't Everything

Seize the chance to choose wisdom over wealth...

Today's Scripture:

How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Proverbs 16:16

Money seems to be the bottom line for so many decisions in business and in families. The quality-versus-quantity debate is discussed between teenagers and their parents and among executive boards and upper management of manufacturing companies.

At times you must make a decision between the potential of wealth and the opportunity of learning.

Chick-fil-A my favorite fast food restaurants is a n ideal example of this challenge. For over sixty years, the company's founder, Truett Cathy, has kept a "never on Sunday" policy in place. The organization firmly believes that their employees should have an opportunity to enjoy family and worship on Sunday if they choose. Although it has been suggested that the company is jeopardizing profits, Chick-fil-A is satisfied as the nation's second largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain reporting more than 1.7 billion dollars in 2004 system-wide sales. Another area where Chick-fil-A has been questioned concerning profit possibilities is their franchise opportunities. The company is quite selective in allowing franchises. Over the last year, they approved fewer than one hundred applicants out of a pool of more than ten thousand interested buyers. The company is confident that maintaining their standards and values is more important than attaining a higher bottom-line profit.

You may not be in a position to close your business on Sunday, but you may have a choice of whether or not to work on your day of worship. Consider the possibilities, come up with alternatives, weigh your options, and make your decision.

Selah people' and friends opportunities to choose wisdom over wealth are all around. Examine your recent choices between earning money and gleaning insight. Be sure you are budgeting your life wisely.

"Take time today to choose wisdom over wealth and invest in your relationship with family, friends and most importantly your relationship with God."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Selah Christian Church ~ Sermon Link from Sunday April 26th, 2009