October 9, 2009 ~ Working on Your Masterpiece

How can you build your faith today?

Are you looking for the blocks

that will build you into a new creation?

Today's Scripture:

Because you have these blessings, do your best to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge.

2 Peter 1:5

In 1932, a carpenter began to use his off-season to make children's toys. Pretty soon, the toys were selling so well that he dropped the carpentry business. One of his creations is on of America's all-time favorite toys - something you probably played with when you were a child: LEGO construction toys. The object of LEGO is that you attach plastic bricks to other plastic bricks and keep adding more bricks to the previously laid bricks until you build a wonderful masterpiece.

What a good analogy of a woman or man's spiritual life. As a Christian strives to be closer to God, and to be more like him, we are building. Our foundation is having a relationship with God as we place are faith in him. On top of our faith, a woman builds goodness - she develops qualities such as decency, morality, and kindness.

To make our faith more well-rounded and effective, a woman or man adds knowledge - they study the Bible and learn more about God.

Building faith doesn't come automatically, so a person has to work at it sometimes. You can have fun as you look for ways to be examples of God's goodness here on earth. And you can enjoy learning more about God and his grace and his love for people. It might even be as rewarding and enjoyable as, well, as building something with LEGO bricks. For you it may be dancing for Jesus "My Number One", It may be singing alone or with a friend or group just for him "Blessed Be the Name", it may be just being all that he created you to be and allowing him to use your gifts to build up others.

Selah people' and friends as you move through your life today, look for ways to build your faith. Have your own spiritual treasure hunt, looking for those blocks that will make you stronger and more beautiful than ever.

"May the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow be your foundation as we build ourselves and others up in Christ Jesus."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via mobile: Mount Olive, NC

October 8th, 2009 ~ The Straight Scoop

God doesn't need to offer 32 flavors...He gives us the strait scoop every time!

Today's Scripture:

Jesus Said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

John 16: 33

When you want to calm people's anxiety, elaborating on their current problems and then reminding them that more trouble is headed their way is usually not the recommended modus operandi. But that's exactly the approach Jesus took with his disciples at the Last Supper. He explained that he would be leaving them, that there was a betrayer in their midst, and that all of them would abandon him in his time of need. Jesus told the disciples they'd be hated and persecuted and would even face death because of their faith in him.

Jesus' telling his disciples to "be of good cheer" after all of this sounds like a coach telling his losing team to "look on the bright side." However, in ancient Greek telling someone to "cheer up" was not a verbal pat on the back. It meant to take courage in the face of danger.

Jesus didn't offer his closest friends pessimistic predictions or optimistic platitudes. He simply told them the truth.

Part of that truth was that both peace and victory could be theirs even when the world seemed to be falling apart all around them. Jesus challenged his disciples to be over comers rather than to be overcome by their problems. Just like the disciples, you will have trouble in this life. Jesus guaranteed it. However, by focusing on God's power, promises, and presence in your life, you, too, can find the courage and comfort you need to face any trouble that comes your way.

Selah people' and friends the Bible never sugar-coat the fact that life isn't easy. Its overall message, however, is one of hope and healing. You can always trust God to be honest about the good and the bad.

"May we listen to what God has to say good or bad and praise Him for the "Straight Scoop" each and every day."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via mobile: Mount Olive, NC

October 7, 2009- The Hand That Steadies The Plate...

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=acb9bc99fea1ba5eb0fe

"Wonderful story of true love. To see through the mess of others just as Christ does for us all."

http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=60928caa552278feef5e

This woman defines "Holy Boldness" and exemplifies one being ready and armed with the word of God.

God works in us in through us in so may ways. How has God used you lately?

Are you ready at any time and in any place...how about Wal-Mart?


Rev Patrick Muston, Pastor
Selah Christian Church Disciples of Christ
Four Oaks, NC

October 5th, 2009 ~ Tempered For Transformation

When we like the metal of a sword are tempered God gives us new strength!

Today's Scripture:

When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death. So, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the wonderful power of the father, we also can live a new life.

Romans 6:4

My fraternity ΣAE brother, college football teammate and friend Warrior Host and Special Forces Veteran Terry Schappert shared some wonderful examples of both weapons and men that were tempered by being put in the fire either literally or the fire of battle and those weapons as in ancient Greece, when the metal smith "baptized" hot iron by dipping it into water. This act tempered the metal, strengthening it and helping set the specific shape the smith had chosen for the iron to take. In some respects, that's what baptism does for those who believe in God. It tempers them. It helps strengthen how closely they identify with God and their new form of life in a public yet personal way.

The New Testament records many instances of baptism, including Jesus' own baptism in the Jordan River. That's what early Christians did.

Early Christians were immersed in water as an outward sign of the inward change God had brought into their lives.

Time and again in Scripture, one of the first things people did after choosing to believe in God was to ask to be baptized. They wanted to demonstrate to God and to those around them that they were serious about their new found faith. As you and I reflect on this thought today I must ask "Are you serious about your faith?" and "have you been to the water?" Today is yet another opportunity to do so and if you have already been "baptized" in whatever form do you remember what it was all about and are you living out what God has shaped you to be?

Baptism is a symbolic illustration of what Jesus went through to bring about your new spiritual life. Being lowered into the water symbolizes Jesus' death and burial in a tomb. Being raised from the water is a picture of Jesus rising from the dead and beginning a new kind of life, one that doesn't end in death. According to the Bible, baptism doesn't wash away your sins or gain you entrance into heaven. I remind each person young or old that I have opportunity to participate in this solemn act. What it does however is demonstrate your desire to fully live the life God created you to live.

Selah people' and friends different churches have different traditions about how and when people are baptized. Why you want to be baptized, and not the method in which your baptism takes place, is what matters to God. Our true baptism is in the spirit of an everlasting God.

"Join me today in rising up to be the instrument that God has created you to be and may we complete great things in His Holy name."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Mount Olive, NC

October 2, 2009 ~ "NO FISHING"

With God we can live free from guilt with no need to reel in our past mistakes...

Today's Scripture:

He has taken our sins away from us as far as the east is from the west.

Psalm 103:12

If you're like the rest of humanity, at some time or another, you've probably done something wrong. One of the worst things about committing a sin is that humans have memories. Long after a woman or man asked God and others to forgive them for what they have done wrong, the memories linger. Your memory plays them over and over again, pounding out our joy and confidence. This is much like I remember back on Friday nights in high school or Saturdays in college while playing quarterback if you ever made an errant pass throwing an interception or coughed up a fumble you just had the lingering feeling that it was going to happen again. If you could not let it go and refocus then it surely would happen again and again. While God does want a person to ask for forgiveness when they have sinned and to decide to do right, he never intended for anyone who loves him to carry the shame and guilt of sins and mistakes forever. In fact, Psalm 103:12 says that when a person has asked God to forgive them for their wrongdoings, he doesn't leave those sins heaped in a pile around the person. Instead, he takes those sins out of their presence; he takes them as far away from us as he can - as far as east is from west, which basically means eternally.

I once shared a story in a sermon message on Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust concentration camp survivor, who used to say that when a person has asked forgiveness for sins, God throws those sins into the deepest sea, where they are irretrievable. Then, according to Corrie, he puts up a sign that reads "NO FISHING."

God has no interest in dredging up your sins that he has already forgiven.

He has no interest in making you pay for your sins over and over. After all, that's the reason why Jesus Christ lived and was crucified ~ so you can be released from every wrong word, thought, and action you've ever hosted.

Selah people' and friends if memories of past sins and errors are dogging you, make your own little "NO FISHING" sign to remind you of what God has done. And enjoy living in freedom from guilt. (Link provided below to your own sign...if you want to print one out for your home, office or locker http://www.proshieldsafetysigns.co.uk/signs/3615_signs.jpg)

"May today be the day we stop fishing for past mistakes and instead reel in the reassurance that God loves us, forgives us and wants us to move forward and closer to him."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via Mobile: Mount Olive, NC

October 1, 2009 ~ Conquerors Extraordinaire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkdaqwmzi0

In Christ be it victory or defeat we can grow

as we depend more on His strength not our own!

Today's Scripture:

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels or principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8: 37-39

Consider what people dread most in life. The list could include things like war, betrayal, famine, abandonment, poverty, pain, sickness and death. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul presented a similar list. However, what Paul addressed as the most serious of all concerns is that facing tumultuous times could build a wall between God and those who believed in him. Turmoil could cut people off from God's love.

Jesus' followers in Rome were facing difficult times firsthand. Paul offered them comfort, encouragement, and hope by following his list of worst-case scenarios with the best news he could deliver. No hardship in life could prevent God's love from reaching them and leading them to victory. When Paul wrote "I am persuaded," he meant "I'm absolutely convinced. You can stake your faith and your life on this fact."

The assurance of victory God promises through the words of Paul doesn't mean you'll get every job you apply for, always end your financial year in the black, or never contract or go through a tragic and painful disease.

God's promise of victory is specific to the role he's given you to fill in this life.

When you're faced with hard times, it won't be your intelligence, your talents, or your perseverance that will eventually ensure your victory. It will be God's love, working through you to keep you close to God's side and to help you rise above whatever has you down.

Selah people' and friends remember that facing hard times can lead you to become more than victorious because hard times make you depend more on God and on his strength than your own.

"May we join together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Whether in victory or defeat and in giving all that we are and all that we have to the one who made us!"

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via mobile: Mount Olive, NC