Purposeful Peace

How do you encourage those around you?

Today's Scripture:

Those who plan peace have joy.

Proverbs 12:20

You have the power to set others up for greatness. When friends and coworkers share their aspirations with you, your words and actions regarding their dreams can be a conduit of inspiration. In a competitive world in which candidates are pitted-against one another to receive promotions, people can become envious. Envy causes deceit and conceit toward others. But when you are self-confident and rely on God for all your promotions, you do not have to be intimidated by the success of others. You then can just encourage others and help them succeed, and at the same time be a winner yourself.

When you choose to take actions of peace, you build others up. You can help others achieve their dreams by equipping them with methods and motivation that will lead to success. If colleagues share a new product, idea, new ministry opportunity or new service project with you, help them brainstorm through the possible design and promotion ideas without expecting a return on your efforts.

The knowledge that you had a part in the achievement and the success of others is itself a joyful reward.

Find ways to motivate your personal and professional peers. Be confident enough to let others use your expertise to achieve their own goals. Find enjoyment in the success of others by planning for their peace.

Selah people' and friends ask a colleague to share his or her aspirations with you. Then ask how you can be supportive in achieving that goal. Be sure to encourage and empower your colleague along the way to success.

"Remember today my friends that we do not need to step on others or push them down to lift yourself up. God encourages us to work together because it takes the efforts of many to make impossible feats possible. May you find that Purposeful Peace today."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston Via mobile ~Mount Olive, NC

Burning Desire

Check your fire today...do you need to reignite the burning desire God put in you?

Today's Scripture:

I remind you to keep using the gift God gave you...let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire.

2 Timothy 1:6

Good Boy Scouts know how to start fires. Although there are reports of using such strange items as a soda can or a chocolate bar, there are several common elements required to ignite any fire. You need something to create a spark, material to use as tinder to turn the spark into a flame, and kindling to generate a fire from the initial flame.

Igniting passion in yourself and others is much the same as starting a fire. God gave you what you need for the spark. He created you with the gifts found in your talents, skills, and abilities. Your responsibility is to take that spark and turn it into a flame. You can find the tinder of opportunities for using your gifts all around you. But using your gifts once in a lifetime or once in a while is not enough to maintain a fire. The flame must be continually kindled to keep the fire going.

The more you put your gifts to work, the more you feed the flame within you.

Passion is that fire within. It is that burning desire to make a difference in the world around you. Passion can be more than a temporary spark or excitement. As you fan the flame of the God-given spark within you, you can maintain zeal to achieve great accomplishments in life.

Selah people' and friends check your fire. Does it need a little kindling to energize it? If so, put one of your gifts to work in your church, work or community service project and recapture your enthusiasm.

"Grab someone and shake their hand, give them a hug and let them know that God loves them. Don't let your fire burn out but instead reignite your passion for doing God's work."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ via mobile Mount Olive, NC

Saddle Up...

"Come, let us go." With God's help we too can be opportunistic!

Today's Scripture:

Come, let us go.

1 Samuel 14:1

Jonathan was the king's son. Like the other men in the army, he was to get his directions for battle from the king. But the king was afraid and so was his army. They all sat down under a pomegranate tree to consider their options for fighting the Philistines, who outnumbered them. But Jonathan had a notion. He and his assistant sneaked away from camp to survey the situation. He asked for God's direction in helping them identify a good opportunity to attack the enemy. When the moment arrived, Jonathan responded, "Come, let us go."

Jonathan was optimistic and opportunistic. He believed that with God's help, he could make a difference in the battle. He had a victor's attitude. But he did not react impulsively. He examined his situation and looked for the right opportunity. Then he seized the moment to succeed. God did help them win the battle. In fact, once his father the king saw the battle was under way, he led the troops to help fight.

You can take advantage of opportunities that others do not even see.

When you look at the glass of water and see it as half empty, view it as an opportunity to add fresh water to the mix. If God can enable two young men to battle an army of thousands and win, he can help you and I accomplish incredible feats in leadership.

Selah people' and friends target an opportunity that has lain dormant. Pray for God to show you creative ways to take full advantage of its possibilities. Then take a step of action and implement one of the strategies. Don't put it off like Jonathan when the moment arrives "Saddle up" and let's ride...Yee-Haw!!!

"Choose to start taking better advantage of the wonderful opportunities God reveals to you."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

Automatic Doors

God gives us a door ready to open...

Today's Scripture:

I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

Revelation 3:8

Imagine that you have just completed conducting a daylong seminar. You have packed your materials, loaded your laptop & projector, stacked you briefcases, and are scurrying out to catch the cab you've called that has arrived. You prepare to leave the building, holding one briefcase in hand and another under your arm, while pulling a cart with the other hand. As you arrive at the door you stop. How am I going to push this door open without dropping everything? You groan, finding no one to help you. How exhausting to manage your load and struggle to get the door open too. Those are the times you hope for an automatic door - one that will just fly open as you hope for an automatic door - one that will just fly open as you move toward it, allowing you to exit with ease.

Now imagine that in the midst of your struggle God has set before you an automatic door. As you move toward it, the door just flies open with no effort from you. Why would he do that for you? He says that he will do it because he knows that you have little strength, and yet have obeyed his word and not denied his name.

Continue to imagine. What struggle leaves you with only a little strength? It is important to remember that you do not have the power to open some doors of opportunity; but God does.

When you honor God by following his ways, he honors you by sharing his power, which opens doors with an automatic ease in ways you cannot.


Selah people' and friends acknowledge God's name as the source of strength in your life. Wait for the door to open automatically, divinely, using his strength instead of your own to move forward.

"May we remember today that as we stand at the door Christ is ready and able to open up opportunities to a wonderful future, if only we will allow Him to do so."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via mobile: Mount Olive, NC

Impressing the Boss

Often we struggle for approval from our boss and others...
Problem with this is that it is just temporary and never lasts!

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.

Colossians 3:23

It has been said that you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can never please all of the people all the time. Trying to do so will only bring you frustration and discouragement because you are striving to achieve the impossible.

Approval from other people is not enough to motivate you to continued success. Man's approval is not consistent. You may please Jim today, but he may disagree with your next decision. Such temporary gratification is fleeting. Also, approval from people is not significant eternally. While he was on earth, Jesus was less concerned about whether people liked him than he was about fulfilling his purpose. You cannot measure your success based on whether others are pleased by your decisions. You cannot even rely on how well you impress your boss.

Instead, gauge your success by how well you complete the goals that God has inspired in you. Your motivation must be intrinsic and purposeful if it is to be sustaining.

Bill Cosby once stated, " I do not know the formula for success, but the way to failure is to try and please everyone." Your audience is not the crowd around you. Your most important audience is God. If you seek to please Him in all that you do, he will persuade the onlookers and convince them of your success. Find your motivation through satisfying God.

Selah people' and friends in the next tough decision that brings concern of what people will think about you, weigh the value of their opinions carefully. Then ask yourself if God will be pleased with you too.

"May we turn our focus today off of what everyone else wants us to do and instead focus on what will please God. He will work out the rest!"

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via mobile: Mount Olive, NC

Oops!!!

photo credit to: despair, inc via www.despair.com

Sometimes our mistakes are part of a bigger plan beyond just us!

Today's Scripture:

Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.

Psalm 32:1

Mistakes are part of life. Some are so small that consequences are unrecognized by others. Unfortunately, other mistakes are of grand proportion, affecting many other people.

But sometimes you can be surprised to find that a mistake is a blessing in disguise.

The only way to guarantee no mistakes are made is to prohibit trying to accomplish anything. Even though no one likes to make a mistake, this is not a viable solution. Instead, controlling your reaction to your own mistakes and those of others can revolutionize your organizational environment. Whey you accept mistakes as a part of innovation, you allow others to liberate their creativity. In a risk-taking atmosphere, people are not afraid to try new discoveries, inventions, and ideas. Understanding that mistakes are not only tolerated but embraced can ease your stress and compel others' originality.

Without someone appreciating the value in mistakes, you would not have been able to ever use sticky notes, eat chocolate chip cookies, or drink sodas. All these products were actually mistakes. Post-it note adhesive was slated to be a tape adhesive; chocolate-chip cookies were supposed to be chocolate cookies, but the chocolate didn't melt; and Coca-Cola first failed as medicine. But each inventor saw the potential of another use for his or her product. Some of them did not discover the value of their product for years. You cannot mistake-proof your life, church or organization, but you can fail-proof them by allowing yourself or your team to become creative innovators through risk taking without fear of reproof.

Selah people' and friends think of a mistake that you have made recently. Stretch your imagination to think of a creative or innovative way to recycle the idea, message, process or product into a new creation. Just as Christ and take sinners like us and use us to do His work so too can He help us take our mistakes and turn them into victories.

"Seize the opportunity that comes your way today in the form of your failures. Remember God is in control and we must have faith that we can do all things through Him."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via mobile: Westbrook Park Mount Olive, NC

Selah Choir & Sermon link from May 31, 2009

Hope this finds each of starting off a wonderful new week. May God Bless you and use you to be a "sermon in shoes" walking and talking the message that Christ has for you to share with all his people you meet outside the four walls of the church.



If you missed church and need our bulletin insert "Bits And Pieces" visit our church website at:
http://www.selahchurch.com/ Click below for link to audio link to Choir special & sermon...once you enter just click on icon with the musical note and it should download and play:



Peace be with you,
Rev Patrick Muston ~ Selah Christian Church Disciples of Christ