Church Leaders Report ~ 5-13-2009

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God's Blessing on you and our community.

In Christ,

Rev Patrick Muston, pastor

Selah Christian Church ~ Four Oaks, NC

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Giving to help others can be so much more than just giving of your money...

Today's Scripture:

Freely you have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:8

Giving is more than funding charitable causes. Giving is stewardship of your time, talents, and treasure to impact others. Your time is possibly your most valuable resource. Unlike other resources, it cannot be recycled, replenished, or recaptured. Once it is given, it is gone. Yet, even with such great worth, time is often overlooked as a worthwhile investment in giving. Consider spending time with a cherished colleague, lonely acquaintance, or even an inquisitive new staff member.

Talent is another precious resource that can be freely given to benefit others. Talent is more than being artistically or musically inclined.

Skills, abilities, and giftedness are all forms of talent.

You may not be able to volunteer as the director of a large project but your skills may make you perfect for another task...recently we had several people who could bake that helped raise funds for Relay for life. That's right a cake that was used to help another. View your abilities and skills as assets given from God and choose to share them with others.

Jesus stated that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. So your treasure is also important to share with others. Whether you are tithing to your local church,donating money to a homeless shelter, or buying or making gifts for underprivileged children or men and women serving in our military, your treasure can be a significant source of encouragement to others. Be willing to give of yourself freely to others through your attention, your abilities, and your assets.

Selah people' and friends set aside five minutes to list as many of your talents, skills, abilities, hobbies, and interests as you can. Then think of ways that you can share one of your assets with others. Remember they are your brothers and sisters and they need you and the gifts that God has given you to share.

"God grace and peace be yours when you and I learn to share the fruit that God has given us."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston (via mobile ~ Westbrook Park ~ Mount Olive, NC)

Pineapple Perspective

How do you serve others and display true hospitality like Christ?

Today's Scripture:

Let us try to do what makes peace and helps one another.

Romans 14:19

Especially in southern states like ours, passersby recognize homes with displayed flags and stone monuments depicting pineapples as the symbol of hospitality. The southern tradition dates back to Colonial America. During that era, dinner parties were a main source of entertainment in the community. An exquisite host would display a pineapple as the central tabletop feature, as it was an exotic rarity. The pineapple became the icon of welcome and warmth that showed quests they were honored and loved.

You may not need to hold a pineapple dinner party, but you can show your hospitality to others in creative ways.

Whether someone is a guest in your home, your business, or as I see some times people touring our facility from another state or country, you can add the special touches that make them feel welcomed in such a way that can only happen in your community.

One simple way to create a warm environment is to shake a hand or give a hug, make eye contact, and welcome each person by name if you know it or they have a name tag, often if they don't I welcome by introducing who I am and ask their name personally. If you have a small meeting of say four, this is simple, if however it is a larger seminar style which we have at times, you might need to station people at the entry areas and have them greet your guests to keep that personal contact with each one. Offering refreshments, providing conversation, and helping others connect by introductions are other ways to make people feel at ease.

The pineapple my friends is not the only icon of hospitality. Jesus displayed a hospitable lifestyle of serving others. When you show your care for others in a way that serves them, you not only honor them, but you are following the example of Christ.

Selah people' and friends assess the first impression that your church facility, personal office or workplace displays to visitors. Add a personal touch of an unexpected decor or landscape or special refreshments. Create a warm and inviting atmosphere to greet your guests.

"May today be a new chance for us to offer hospitality to all we come in contact with."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Prosperous Plan

Know that God is planning your future even when

you can't see what good is to come from it!

Today's Scripture:

"I say this because I know what I am planning for you," says the Lord. "I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah shared encouragement with people who were being held captive in Babylon. They had been told that they would reside there for at least seventy years. These people could not see a happy ending from where they were standing as prisoners. They felt hopeless. But Jeremiah provided a different perspective for them to grasp.

Being in a difficult place does not seem that it would stimulate hope.

But hope is a by-product of problems.

Challenges produce patience; patience produces character; and character produces hope. A new military recruit may not enjoy every day of boot camp, but on graduation day the recruit appreciates the skill, endurance and courage that the rigors of training have refined. An office manager may not covet the training process of learning and using new software, but when the processes are more effective and efficient, the manager appreciates the increased profits. For the recruit and manager alike, fleeting moments of doubt and discomfort and even sometimes discouragement can be replaced by confidence and enthusiasm when the result hoped for becomes evident.

God allows you and I to understand the value of blessings through your circumstances that take you on the journey to hope. So, when God promises hope, realize that it may come from an unexpected process and may even be painful. Have hope in God, believing that his heart is to do what is best for you. Hope will never disappoint because it remains optimistic. When God is the source of your hope, you can believe in a better future that prospers your efforts. We can do this even when we have no way to see what the future really may hold for us. Be you encouraged to cling to the plan that God has for you.

Selah people' and friends identify a challenge you are facing. Instead of focusing on the difficulties of the challenge, reflect on the benefits of succeeding in the situation and what it will be like to come out in victory on the other side. Speak or write your hope for the future out in prayer and remain optimistic until it comes to be.

"Remember today when God is the one doing the planning we do not have to doubt that where and how He is taking us is definitely the way we need to go. Our goal then is to believe that His way is also the best way to get there."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ via mobile - Mount Olive, NC ~ Westbrooke Park

No Yes-Men Needed

I'm so thankful Mom told it like it was...

Today's Scripture:

Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth.

Proverbs 16:13

If honesty is the best policy, why are some people so afraid to tell (or hear) the truth? Many

times the truth brings disagreement or even conflict. In an endeavor to avoid the truth. But ignoring the truth does not change it. Pretending that all is well when trouble is brewing does not make all well. Instead, it causes distrust, frustration, or disaster. Even though confronting with the truth may be difficult, all conflict is not to bad.

Some conflict, such as disagreement on a project idea, initiates discussion or debate that may produce creativity, innovation, passion, and challenge. Although conflict is present, it spurs you on to function more effectively. This type of functional conflict can even become a creative zone for your team. Your task in constructing a creative zone to provide an environment in which people are free to discuss their ideas in a nonthreatening atmosphere. People will not speak openly and truthfully if they fear repercussions or retaliation. As people see you respect and consider their ideas, they are more likely to freely contribute their honest thoughts.

A confident leader doesn't need a bunch of other people always in agreement with him.

Rather, a confident leader needs others to challenge his ideas, convictions, and methods so that fresh insight may be revealed. As your team embraces truth telling, you will gain the sincere feedback you need to be effective in leadership and also allow others to grow in the tasks that you encourage by listening and nurturing.

Selah people' and friends target procedure, method or policy that needs to change. Initiate a discussion and cultivate a little creative conflict to stir enthusiasm and imagination. Challenge the group to negotiate their ideas about a change that is needed. Choose to grow yourself and those around you by not just sitting back and agreeing, also don't be offended when others have different ideas or ways of doing it. Keep the main thing the main thing...it should be about what God wants and not about ourselves.

"Mom really was a tell it like it is person who could also encourage you to share your ideas. Let us not be just agreeing robots but take what Mom taught us into our daily lives as students, parents, workers or everywhere Christ takes us."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Shining Stars...

Do you accept the responsibility God gives you to shine your light?

Today's Scripture:

You will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God's children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world. You offer the teaching that gives life.

Philippians 2:15-16

An amazing thing about gazing at stars on a dark night is that the blanket of darkness does not cover the stars, but actually enhances the beauty of the brightness. The display proves that light is more powerful than darkness. Just as a candle disrupts the cloak of darkness in a room, you are to be the light that interrupts the darkness in another person's world.

Being a shining star carries the responsibility of offering light to those who are hopeless or heartless. By living a lifestyle of holiness, you offer the teaching that shines God's love and light for others to see. Holiness I know sounds intimidating to some people. I know for myself and my wife when God first called me into ministry I thought I am not Holy or good enough to stand a the front of the church or talk to the people on the street or in the hospital and tell them how to live. For my wife I know when she married me I was no where near a preacher so how could I then expect her to carry the burden of being the preacher's wife.

What we both have found as we have grown in Christ and our faith life is that holiness is not the same as legalism, religion, or even conservatism.

Holiness simply means that you are striving to live an uncompromising life that pleases God.

This does not imply that you are better or higher...just that you are trying to live and shine the light that God has placed in you.

When you allow God to use you by showing others consideration where you are at as a pickle worker, teacher, coach, student, retiree or whatever your position in life, you are offering life-giving principles to them. Express godly character by extending mercy when it is not expected or by offering a joyful response to a negative situation. Holiness isn't hard. It can be a simple as an expression of hope to someone facing a challenge in life. Being a shining star may not bring you personal gain or fame, it may cause people to fear you, but regardless when you shine the light God has placed in you it will give others around you the life and hope that God offers to brighten their gloomy world.

Selah people' and friends let your light shine! Share the credit for success, congratulate a colleague or coworkers who have done a great job on a project or broke a record, or send an encouraging card or email to an ill coworker. Seek out ways to express God's love through your actions.

"Remember God has placed the light within each of us and it is our responsibility to share it with others and be true Shining Stars that he has made us to be in this dark world. Will you join me today in shining our light for Jesus?"

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ via mobile Westbrooke Park Mount Olive, NC

God's Stress Test

What condition is your heart in?

Today's Scripture:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.

Psalm 139:23

Cardiologists often use a stress test to reveal the condition of a patients heart. The exam will indicate if enough oxygen is flowing to the heart. It can also predict whether potential risks of serious problems are present. The procedure of the stress test is for the patient to walk on a treadmill for several minutes. While on his or her stationary journey, the walker speeds their pace on a progressive incline as the doctor increases the demand for performance. The physically demanding test pushes the heart to a stress point to detect problems and weaknesses.

God sometimes gives a stress test too. Like a doctor, he examines your heart to reveal your weaknesses and surface potential illness.

Often your heart can be tested by the challenging situations that anger you. When you are pushed to your limit of patience, your words can reveal the condition of your heart. Painful situations can also test your heart's strength. When you are hurt or betrayed, your willingness to forgive is an indicator of a healthy heart.

The purpose of a stress test is to examine the condition of the heart before any damage is done to it. The test reveals what corrections and preventive methods need to be put into place to maintain optimal health. Regular heart checkups, both physical and spiritual, can keep you in a strong condition to fulfill your purpose. So you should guard the condition of your heart.

Today I experienced a day that would qualify as a stress test with the progressive incline of challenges. Some where past the middle of the day when I had worked through lunch, then through break I reached the peak and as I was about lose sight of the prize God reminded me of my weakness and where I can improve. Once that moment occurred I was able to carry on and nothing else that came at me was going to stand in my way. Often when we' pay attention to
God's test and the results we can move forward with a heart that God intended.

Selah people' and friends ask God to look deep into your heart. If you detect unforgiveness, stress, or anxiety, begin a wellness plan today. Seek ways to decrease your anxiety and increase your peace.

"God knows your heart and thoughts so choose today to learn and grow from the weaknesses that God reveals in the tests of life."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston