The Circle of Joy

Can you see the light at the end of your tunnel?

Today's Scripture:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Anytime the Bible talks about God's will, what God wants for your life, it is time to pay close attention. There are three things God wants you to do all the time, in all circumstances - rejoice, pray, and say thank you. While each of these actions is important on its own, together they provide the secret to a joy-filled life.

In the original language, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is the shortest verse in all Scripture. The charge to "rejoice always" seems to need no explanation, except that many life situations don't seem to be cause for rejoicing. However, while happiness ebbs and flows in relation to your situation, genuine joy remains constant regardless of what's going on around you. Your feelings of joy may rise and fall, but your reasons for joy remain steady and strong. That's because the joy the Bible speaks about is rooted in your relationship with God, not in your circumstance.

Rejoicing is putting that joy into action. You can express it through your attitude, actions, and communication with God and others.

As you choose to rejoice, prayer and gratitude naturally follow. This cycle enables you to be thankful in every situation.

That doesn't mean you're thankful for every situation. God doesn't ask you to thank him if you lose your job - or your child. Yet he provides reasons to be thankful even in the midst of tough times. Responding to those reasons deepens your joy, leading back to the never-ending circle of rejoicing, prayer, and thanks.

Selah people' and friends In Greek, "pray without ceasing" literally means "pray without intermission." That means there's never a major break in your communication with God. Expressing your joy in prayer helps keep your communication with God consistent.

"Keep your eye on the prize today and don't lose sight of it know matter what tomorrow brings you."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

100 Percent Pure...

When you go to the mountain top what will you bring down with you?

Today's Scripture:

Now that you are obedient children of God do not live as you did in the pas. You did not understand, so you did the evil you wanted. But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy.

1 Peter 1:14-15

The God of the Bible is unlike any false god people worshiped through the centuries. Early pagan gods were portrayed as bloodthirsty and sexually immoral. Roman gods were vengeful, adulterous, and deceitful. The God of Israel was, and is, absolutely holy. This means his character doesn't waver from a perfect moral standard. He's totally pure, true, and good.

The fact that God is holy is comforting, until you take a look at your own moral standards in light of his. Even if in the world's eyes you live the life of a so-called saint, you still are not as perfectly holy as God. Yet the Bible seems to say that's exactly what God expects you to be.

To be holy is not a one-time transformation from depravity to perfection. It is more of a becoming. It is a lifetime of moment-by-moment decisions where you choose God's moral standards over what current culture says is acceptable.

Only with the help of God's Spirit will you have strength to consistently follow through and do the right thing.

That doesn't mean you'll never make a mistake. Look at the life of the author of this letter, the apostle Peter. He tried to walk on water, but when he took his eyes off Jesus for just a moment, he instantly began to sink beneath the waves. The closer you grow to God, the easier it is to keep your eyes on him and the more your character will grow to resemble the holiness of his own.

Selah people' and friends through you can make choices that honor God, you holy can't be truly holy without his help. Daily ask God too change your heart, as well as your actions, to be more pure.

"Peace and joy be ours as we strive for 100% pure."


Your pastor,


Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick) Home from the mountain top...

A Father's Favor

What gift are you expecting...don't anticipate God will take care of you.

Today's Scripture:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:17

A gift is a tangible expression of love. That's why the best gifts you receive are usually given by those who know you well. These people know your likes and dislikes, your needs and your wants. They know your favorite color, perfect size, and what makes your heart sing. God is the ultimate giver of good gifts. His knowledge of who you really are is as limitless as his love for you.

The way God gives is as perfect as each gift he chooses to send your way. Coming down literally means "God's gifts keep on coming."

There is no end God's generosity. In the same way that the sun keeps on shining even when the earth obstructs its light at night, God keeps on giving even when you don't notice what he's sending your way.

And since God's character never wavers, you know his gift-giving habits will never change. You can trust he will continue to deliver wonderful surprises throughout eternity.

One of the devil's most effective lies is that God is not totally good, that he is holding out on you. It was this lie that Eve fell for in the Garden of Eden. Remembering the true nature of God and his gifts - will keep your heart filled with hope and gratitude, and your eyes open to blessings big and small that God chooses to send your way.

Selah people' and friends not all of God's gifts seem perfect and gift wrapped at first glance. Some are tough to accept wholeheartedly, like those that teach patience or humility. Trusting God's goodness will help you embrace every gift he sends.

"Let us be thankful of the gifts God sends today even if we are not sure what good they are."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston (via mobile at the Manor house Glade Springs)

Lessons from a child

Do you value the children in your life...?

Today's Scripture:

Jesus said, "Be careful. Don't think these little children are worth nothing. I tell you that they have angels in heaven who are always with my Father in heaven."

Matthew 18: 10-11

As Jesus gained notoriety, so did his disciples. All the attention could have become a source of pride, which may be why the disciples asked Jesus who would be the greatest in his kingdom. Jesus's response was to call over a small child as object lesson humility. But Jesus didn't end this message with his admonition to become as open, unassuming, and teachable as a child. He also shared how important children were to God.

In the culture of the time, both women and children were viewed more as possessions than people. In contrast, Jesus treated every human being, regardless of sex, race, or age, as valuable. Through today children are generally treated with much higher regard than they were back then, they are still weak, helpless, and often unable to speak up for themselves. They depend on the adults for them for protection, provision and love.

Throughout Scripture, God has revealed his tender heart toward those who are dependent on others, such as widows and orphans.

Some believe that Jesus's lesson to his disciples means that every child has a guardian angel who watches out for his or her welfare. Whether that is true or not, one thing is certain. Children matter deeply to God. In turn, the way in which they are treated should matter deeply to you.

Selah people' and friends whether you're a parent or not, daily life provides plenty of opportunities to share your love with a child. Being patient, approachable, and attentive when you're with kids is one way of sharing God's love.

"Peace be yours as we love Christ like a child and with our children."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick) via mobile Orange County, NC with van load of Selah youth!

Set Apart for a Purpose...

God's Spirit has set us apart for a reason...

Today's Scripture:

Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.

1 John 2:27

In Old Testament times, pouring olive oil on something or someone was a sign that what was being anointed was being set apart for God's special use. High priests, rulers, and objects used in God's temple were all anointed and viewed as sacred. Jesus himself was often referred to as the "Anointed One," which is the meaning of Messiah in Hebrew and Jesus in Greek.

Through Jesus's sacrifice, you, too, have become an anointed one. Instead of being anointed with oil, you have been anointed with God's own Spirit. You've been set apart for God's use in this world. In the Old Testament, God occasionally anointed people like David and Saul with the gift of his Spirit. But before Jesus came to earth, this kind of anointing wasn't permanent. God's Spirit could be taken away, as it was from the ruler Saul when Saul became lax in how he followed God.

Thanks to Jesus, the anointing of God's Spirit will never be taken away from you.

God's Spirit sets you apart and becomes your personal teacher and trainer.

He helps you understand Scripture, see things more clearly from God's perspective, and discern between God's truth and others' religious-sounding lies. However, you can experience only a part of God's Spirit while you're here on earth. That means your understanding of God, the Bible, and his ways is still imperfect. But God's Spirit will help lead you where you need to go in this life.

Selah people' and friends although God's Spirit is your primary teacher, you can still learn a lot about God from other people, as long as they have his Spirit working in their lives so they can recognize truth.

"Peace be yours and mine as we recognize the anointing of God."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

First Things First

When we glorify God and give Him the glory the prizes will come...

Today's Scripture:

Jesus said, "The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you. So don't worry about tomorrow."

Matthew 6:33-34

During the height of Jesus's popularity in Israel, crowds followed him everywhere, hungry for a word of insight or a touch of compassion. At that time, Jesus spoke at length (probably over several days) the words of what has come to be known as the Sermon on the Mount. Seated on a hill, Jesus shared practical lessons based on spiritual principles relating to everyday concerns. Jesus spoke about anger, revenge, and greed, the importance of building strong relationships, and God's provision for everyday needs, such as food and clothing.

Just like people today, the people of Jesus's time must have struggled to put all this into perspective. They must have longed to "get their priorities straight." Jesus's answer was simple:

Put God first, and everything else will fall into place. This life principle is as powerful today as it was back then.

Relationships, goals, responsibilities, and desires are constantly competing for your attention. Only by looking at them from God's perspective can you make wise decisions on how to use your time and energy in the way that makes the most positive and effective difference.

By continually choosing to live out your life in a way that reflects the priorities of God's kingdom in heaven, your concerns about things that are out of your control lose their grip on your heart. Your dependence on material provisions is transformed into a deep dependence on God. That's when you discover that whatever God provides is enough.

Selah people' and friends throughout the Bible, dependence on God is always balanced by personal responsibility. As you do what God wants, he works through you to provide what you need.

"Peace and Joy will be ours when we remember to put first things first."

Your pastor,

Rev Muston (PreacherPatrick)

Church Leaders Intelligence 2-25-2009

Hello friends of Christ!

Hope this report finds each of you having a blessed week. This is a very insightful tool especially with the overwhelming amount of instant information we are bombarded with daily via mainstream media from TV, Radio and the Internet. Just a simple newsletter format of Christian topics and current events.

In Christ service,

Patrick

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

http://selahchurch.com

Church: 919-689-3782