Love your enemies...

Today's Scripture:

Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

Matthew 5:44

There's nothing more earsplitting than the feedback you get from a microphone held too close to a speaker. The speaker amplifies any sound picked up by the mike. The mike picks up the amplified sound and sends it back through the speaker, where it is amplified again and sent back through the loop, and in a matter of a couple of seconds, you've got a noise so shrill and loud that nobody can stand to be in the room.

The hatred of two enemies is like that. Enemy number 1 picks up the meanness of Enemy number 2 and sends it back a little louder and a little shriller.

Enemy 2 gets the new, exaggerated meanness from Enemy 1 and sends it back with even greater force. The loop of hatred quickly produces something so loud and shrill that no one wants to be around the two combatants.

But a feedback loop is easy enough to correct. You just turn off the mike or hold it farther away from the speaker so it can't feed back the noise. The loop is broken. Everything falls silent. And the relief of everyone in the room is so great you can almost touch it.

When Jesus intructed his followers to love their enemies, he was teaching them to break the feedback loop of hatred.

When you do good to those who hate you, when you pray for those who treat you badly, you break the cycle of hatred and meanness, and peace prevails. Selah people' and friends can you picture someone or something in your life that is in this terrible loop? Can you break this cycle today and end all the noise and pain? I think you can, if you listen to the verse that Christ has laid before you today.

Who are your enemies? Pray for them right now. Do something good for them or at least be proactive in stopping all return of hate that they are anticipating. Return love and kindness instead as they will never see that coming. You can break the feedback loop of hatred and move one step closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"His peace he gives to you and today I challenge you both as your pastor and friend of Christ to share it this day, as you grab another and let them know that God Loves them".

In Christ Love ~ Your pastor,

Rev Muston ~ (PreacherPatrick)

He will have your back and defend you...

Today's Scripture:

The Lord is with me like a strong warrior, so those who are chasing me will trip and fall; they will not defeat me.

Jeremiah 20:11

Do you ever feel picked on ~ like someone is out to hurt you? Maybe a teacher, boss, fellow student or co-worker has it in for you. Maybe a gossip is spreading lies about you or someone close to you. Maybe a bully has chosen you for a target; I remember as a kid being both one of the youngest and yes the smallest boy in my class...always a target and always having to stand up for myself and sometimes fight or be a victim.

Jeremiah knew a thing or two about that. The powers that be in his society didn't appreciate his style of truth-telling, and he found himself on their bad side. In fact, they threw him in an empty cistern - a big, dark underground tank for storing rainwater - and left him there to die (until a friend came to rescue him). Another time he was thrown into the stocks for public humiliation. That's when Jeremiah spoke the words:

"The Lord is with me like a strong warrior, so those who are chasing me will trip and fall."

God was Jeremiah's defender, in spite of the trouble Jeremiah found himself in. God is your defender too, your strong warrior. It is good to know that God is your bodyguard, not so much in a physical sense, but more in the sense of helping you know how to handle tough situations.

As you rely on God to protect you when you are hurting, he will direct and strengthen you to get through any situation.

Your enemies will trip and fall while you stand firm. It may not be today, but you can trust in God's justice. Where you are in fear lay it aside a our Lord has your back and will help you say what you need to say and do what you need to do, if only you put your trust in him. Bring those close to you closer and those who are trying to harm you to submission.

My Selah people' and friends choose today to lay your troubles before God, and see how he delivers you. I will be in prayer for you and you be in prayer for me. Stop by our website to check our calendar of upcoming ministry opportunities at http://www.selahchurch.com/ also a quick link to our audio library of sermons at http://cid-af7ecca57d126f50.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Selah%20Christian%20Church%20Sermons%202008 .Special thanks to our Ski trip planning board', which met last night...looks like 46 eager travellers so far heading to the mountain for this fellowship opportunity.

"His peace I leave with you and you grab someone and share that peace and be sure to tell them that God Loves them!"

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

One day, No more tears...

Today's Scripture:

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone.

Revelation 21:4

Chapter 21 in the book of Revelation is a visual and emotional masterpiece describing heaven. I have been blessed to have been taught classes on this by my former Pastors Rev Jim Murphy and Rev Neal Wingfield, also by our own Dr. John Tart and at Barton College by Rev. Jerry Burton. There are layers of precious stones found there including sapphire, emerald, topaz and more that form the foundation of the city. The city walls are pure gold. The streets are pure gold so polished that they appear to look like glass. There will be light everywhere. The light will come from God himself. The most incredible part of heaven may not be what you and I see; it may be what is missing that most demands our attention.

In heaven you will not find sin, Satan, or death. Anything in your present life that causes you pain, sadness, or even difficulty will vanish. Ignorance, idle gossip and words of untruth and misunderstanding will give way to complete understanding. Fear will be replaced by peace. Complete healing will occur, restoring every person. Nothing will wear out or decay; everything will be made whole and perfect. There will be no more good-byes. Best of all, death, both natural and violent, will cease to exist. Tears will no longer be needed.

It is great comfort to know there will be a time and a place as God has promised where the worst of your present circumstances will be gone.

Selah people' and friends for you, all the questions will be answered, and your faith will be complete. He will touch your face, wipe your tears, and welcome you to a joyful and abundant eternity.

Happy endings are not just a fairy tale. Ending up with God guarantees that you and I will live happily ever after and eternally with the One who loves us the most.

"His peace be with you today and always, as I once again ask you to share his love with another who may be experience the tears of today."

Stop in and visit our church website to keep up with our weekly ministry opportunities: http://www.selahchurch.com/ .

In Christ service...Your Pastor,

Rev Muston ~ (PreacherPatrick)

You Have the Look!

Today's Scripture:

God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.

Genesis 1:27 NCV

Clear skin. A perfect body like the olympians we discussed a couple Sunday's back. The right clothes. If your like many at whatever age, but especially the 12 to 22 year olds, you spend a lot of time thinking about your appearance. That goes for guys as well as the gals. Your peers have a habit of judging one another by appearances. On top of that, the media seem determined to convince you and I that our looks are the most important part of who we are. Think of how many of the ads on TV or in magazines are for things that are supposed to make you look better. TV shows and movies are full of beautiful people. Magazine covers feature the most attractive guys or girls.

It may be hard to believe sometimes, but ultimately it doesn't matter what other people think about the way you look.

You are made in the image of God. You are patterned after the Creator of the universe, but not in the way you look. After all, you can't see God. It is your inner self that reflects God's image ~ your character, your creativity, your capacity for love.

I was reminded of this yesterday after church when my wife and I planned a renovation of our office at home. We wanted to make the space more kid friendly and when I got into it I found what needed to be done first was to purge what was within. From working on this last night with each file, book and item I removed from the space was a cleansing of clutter and things no longer needed there. I think often when we look at things on outside appearance alone it can all look good, but often within if were not happy or clean then we can't get to the image that God has intended for us. This ties in with the saying of... "Get your own house in order, first,"as it is a must if you are going to be able to reflect God's true image to others.

Make it a habit to correct your "vision" when you check your image. Learn to see God in you. (He is there, look deeper!) Learn to see what God loves about you. Learn to remove what stands in your way of seeing Him clearly.

When you look in a mirror, the image you see reflected there isn't the real you ~ certainly not the whole you. The most important reflection is not the one you see in the mirror; the most important is the reflection of God's image in your life. You have a lot to show the world: your heart and soul reflect the God of the universe. That's an image you can be proud of.

You Selah people' and friends are more than what you see in the mirror. If you really want to make an impression on people, show them what you have on the inside!

Please be sure to check out our church website and calendar of events at http://www.selahchurch.com/ and for a link to our recent sermons from Selah Christian Church try: http://cid-af7ecca57d126f50.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Selah%20Christian%20Church%20Sermons%202008 . Thanks for stopping by and please come again.

"Peace be with you and remember you "have the look", so share that and a hug with someone today and let them know that Jesus Loves them."

Your Pastor ~

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

Find God!

Today's scripture:

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.
Isaiah 55:6 NKJV

You're probably somewhat young if you are reading the Selah blog today. You have a lot of life ahead of you. So when is a good time to get serious about seeking God? There's no better time than the present. "Seek the Lord while He may be found," said Isaiah. There's an urgency to that message. God is very findable. Seek him. Don't let him get away~or rather, don't let your life get away from you. The habits you establish now will be hard to break later. Get into the habit of seeking God now; if you don't -if you get settled into habits that don't include God~he might not be so easy to find later.

Make it a habit to seek God in your daily activities. I had a chance to listen to a sermon preached by my friend and mentor Rev Frank Purvis this week and he reflected of his time he spends each morning for devotion and connecting with God. I echo his concern for people who have no relationship with God, what do they do when trials come? Whom do they turn to? Today, we are reminded to seek God when you wake; seek God when you study or play or like we discussed in our worship yesterday, to seek him when we work. Seek God when you're with your friends and when you're among strangers.

At a conference, camp, or a retreat, inside the prison as in the KAIROS ministry in which our own Michael & LeeAnn serve. God seems to be everywhere. At home afterward, when you dig into the busyness of work, or school and everyday life, it may seem as if God is hard to find.

This verse reminds us that God is near and that you can always find him. Remember God does not abandon us, we abandon Him.

It is important for you to know that God is near and will never leave you. God is near you at school and at home.

"God is near you even though no one else can see Him or no one else is looking for Him."

God is near when your friends are there for you and when your friends leave you hanging' and they are gone. God is near you by the lockers, at the dorm, around the coffee pot at work and alongside the gossipers. God is everywhere, no matter where you are.

How can you find God right here, right now? It is easy. God is near you this very minute. I am certain that God can speak to you Selah people' even in a crude blog from a young growing pastor like myself. He helped David as a shepherd boy to slay a giant and show His power using a week Disciple. I ask that he remind us today that if we "Find God" and keep him close by he will slay the giants in our lives. You will find a listening ear and find God when you pray or just talk with God like the true friend he is.

"Peace be with you and remember to grab someone and tell them how much God loves them, just as much as he loves you!"

In Christ service,

Your Pastor ~ Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

You Can Do It!

Today's Scripture:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Phillippians 4:13 NKJV

"Rise up and Fly like the Eagles" ~ Don't Hold Back!

Swansboro Pirates 1986 QB/SS Patrick Muston

With open wounds from recent beatings, Paul wrote his fellow believers from prison. While thanking them for their prayers, he assured them that he would be all right. By depending on the strength of God rather than on his own strength, Paul knew he would be okay.

After surviving a shipwreck and starting a fire to warm himself, a snake jumped from the wood and bit Paul. Paul was miraculously uneffected by the bite. In one of the prisons Paul was confined to, the walls fell down, the chains around Paul's legs fell off, and he was freed.

According to another letter written by Paul, he was beaten repeatedly, almost stoned to death, and shipwrecked three times, risking his life constantly to teach about Jesus. Pauls was a strong person who acknowledged that his strength came from God.

You may be facing circumstances beyond your control. Maybe there is something you want to do, but you can't imagine doing it on your own.

It's vital for you to realize that you can allow God to be your strength. In our sermon message today we talked of "rising above the storms of life, like the eagles."

Tell God when you feel weak, and talk to him about your dreams. Remember Paul's story if you are struggling to overcome an addiction, suffering the pain of a relationship that ended badly, or just trying to get through another long day. Ask God to provide the strength to survive the shipwrecks in your life. With God's help, Paul went from being a persecutor of Christians to one of the greatest heros of the faith. With God, you and I can do anything. Let us work each day as if we worked directly for our heavenly father.

God offers his greatness so you and I can live a life with endless possibilities. Allow your mind to explore all the things you could do by relying on the strength of God. I wish all those travelling for labor day weekend safe journey and excuse the delay on my post as I was blessed to spend the day with my family. Be sure to also check out our church website at http://www.selahchurch.com/ and if your near us please come worship with us Sunday school at 10am & worship at 11am. Special thanks to Denny Tart for his technical assistance in this.

Peace be with you Selah family and please remeber to grab someone, anyone and tell them that God loves them!"

Your Pastor~

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

God Protects Us

Today's scripture:

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who trust in Him.

Nahum 1:7 NKJV

The People of Nineveh had messed up once before, and a hundred years later they were again choosing to live their own way. By indulging their desires at will, they had removed themselves from the safety and protection of God. At first having our own way has a certain appeal because it seems to offer freedom, fun, sensuality, and excitement. The appeal however, is lost once we realize that our way may not be as good as God's way for our life. God's way includes boundaries, but they are designed for our safety.

Choosing to live according to God's will reminds me of the story of the three little pigs, as we must choose a safe shelter or home for our life. The Hebrew word for stronghold used in Nahum 1:7 is "ma'owz", which means "a place of safety, protection, refuge."

Imagine two houses. One house is more like a castle with a moat, tall solid walls, and thick wooden doors designed to keep anyone inside safe from harm. The other house has just basic doors, walls, and windows. Living in God's will is like living in the castle, compared to living in just a regular common house.

The people of Nineveh drifted back into the bad habit of doing things their own way and ignoring God. As a result of ditching and ducking God's ways, they left themselves unprotected and open to attack from the enemies of the world. Speaking through Nahum, God called them back to the protection of his will. God will always be there for you when pain, tragedy, disappointment, and frustration threaten to invade your life. When you feel like you are under attack, whether at home, at school, or at work, God always offers you his protection.

Nahum's message was this:

"God is good. Living within God's loving will puts you and I in the most secure position we can be."

If you choose to live outside God's boundaries, in a sense you're choosing also to live outside his protection. As your pastor and a man of God I can confess in my lifetime and walk with the Lord I too must constantly check myself and ensure I am within those boundaries. As brothers and sisters in Christ it is our call to watch out for each other and alert each other when we will one of us is crossing the line and endangering that protection.

I leave you with a final question for you to ponder...What areas of your life need to be brought within the walls of God's stronghold?

Thanks for stopping by and please share this link http://selahchurch.blogspot.com/ and more importantly share God's blessing with someone else today.

"Peace be with you and grab someone and tell them that God loves them"!

In Christ service,

Your pastor ~

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)