August 31, 2009 ~ First Things First

During my run on Sunday I passed the family pond and thought...

many people dream of waterfront property. What is your dream?

Today's Scripture:

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

Dreams have a variety of forms. Your dreams could take the form of a personally designed house on several acres in a rural setting like the one above, or of getting through college with at least a 3.75 GPA, or of landing a coveted job that comes with prestige, a high salary, amazing perks, and a company car.

Nothing is wrong with dreaming. God wants you to dream and dream big.

God has plans to knock your socks off with the blessings he want to give you, both in this world and the next.

But dreams also have their place. Matthew 6:33 reveals the kind of prioritizing that God desires you to make in placing your dreams in context. In Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, he clinched the issue of where your priorities should be. He told his listeners that they all needed food, drink, and clothing, and that they worried about these things constantly. He told them how they could make sure they got them - by giving priority to God's kingdom and God's work in the world.

Seeking God's kingdom means many things to many people. But as a start, be sure you become involved in a church and reach out to your neighbors with the gospel. Write that letter to the editor on the local issues important to you as women and men of faith. At the same time, let God know about your dreams, hopes, needs, concerns. He will supply them as you work with and for him.

Selah people' and friends when you pour yourself into God's concerns, you discover that God give you the things you most desire and need. Trust him to come through for you, and keep your eyes on the priority.

"May we all look out on the reflection of the water of life and see what God truly desires for us in our lives. It is my humble prayer for you and I that we allow God to lead our hearts in that direction."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via mobile HTC Touch Pro...Mount Olive, NC

August 30, 2009 ~ Who Can Understand God?

I sat down today in a different sanctuary spending time with God...
listening to what God had to say. We all should try it more often!

Today's Scripture:

The Lord says, "My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55: 8-9

Experience is wonderful. Teaching your kids to ride a bike or drive a car will remind you of that fact. So will training an inexperienced new employee or the new students that are all back to classes.

Experience is a terrific tool. But no matter how much experience, knowledge, and understanding you have about life, you, and understanding you have about life, you, and all humans, still fall way short of God. He is on a plane higher than mortals can even fathom. His thoughts aren't the same as yours. Sometimes people get caught in the trap of thinking that God is like them-only smarter. But a couple verses I'd like to share with you come from Isaiah say that the best of human brains aren't even on the same playing field as God. God isn't just smarter; his thinking is beyond anything humans are capable of. If women are mentally from Venus and men are mentally from Mars, well, then God is from heaven.

For you as a man or woman, this means that when your path appears blocked, God sees a way. When you see the finite world around you and the challenges it brings, God sees beyond them. God sees far beyond your world. God is totally superior to humans. You can trust God, and you can turn to him when you need someone bigger, someone whose knowledge is all-encompassing.

God promises to come through in your life in a way that will work for you and satisfy you.

Selah people' and friends when you don't know what decision to make, when you feel stymied or oppressed, remember God. He can carve a path through that problem. Find your quiet place see where God wants you to go.

"Remember it is not our ways but God's ways that we need to strive for...it is not how sparse or lush our worship is but how deep the word gets into each of us."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via the family farm.

August 29, 2009 ~ The Antidote for Fear

What would you do if you like many children had no fear?

Today's Scripture:

Where God's love is, there is no fear, because God's perfect love drives out fear, so love is not made perfect in the person who fears.

1 John 4:18

Fear can strike at anytime. You might be driving down the highway when a truck suddenly veers into your path. Only a quick reaction and swerve can save you from death and destruction. Whew!! Just a split-second made a difference. How your heart pounds and your pulse races when something like that happens.

Still, other fears can seem bigger, more threatening, and there is no end to them: fear that someone you care about will die, fear that a son or daughter will go wrong, fear that you will lose your job, fear that you'll lose your health, fear that you'll lose your retirement or investments, fear that you will lose your spouse our your best friend or another loved one.

You needn't live a life of fear. Bad things will and always do happen in this world. No one can control bad things, and your problem may not be fixed immediately. But fear - sitting in a room and worrying, fretting over what might happen, living with deep anxiety- can be dealt with. Undoubtedly, the most important verse for a woman who lives with fear is 1 John 4:18. Love drives fear away, and knowing you are loved perfectly means you needn't be afraid of anyone or anything. The God who loves you also rules over everyone else.

God has the power to deal with whatever causes you fear, and you can place your confidence in him.

Selah people' and friends when you know you are loved, and when you respond to others with love, fear disappears. When you know you are loved, God's grace, power, and presence embrace you. You know you are always in God's hands of love.

"Lift up all your cares to God and live with the peace that passeth all understanding."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ In the pickle capital of the world...Mount Olive!

Perseverance....Inspirational quote by J.Andrews

"Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth."

My friends may you continue to look ahead and not give up...fight the good fight. You are not alone and God will give you all you need to accomplish the task at hand.

May you have a blessed day.

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via Mobile ~ Mount Olive,NC

August 27, 2009 ~ The One-Stop Wisdom Source

Our Lord is all-wise and is seeking to share knowledge with you...

Today's Scripture:

If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to all people, so he will give you wisdom.

James 1:5

Women need friends, and it helps to have friends for different aspects of life. For instance, one of Susan's closest friends is Rhonda. After years of being a career woman, Susan got married and had kids. Rhonda was raising four kids during all those years when Susan was in an office. So when Susan needed parenting advice, she called on Rhonda. Susan found Rhonda to be a great sounding board and a good source of wisdom on family matters. A few years later, Rhonda decided to reenter the work force she'd been out of for twenty years. This time, at odd moments during the day, Susan's phone would ring. Rhonda would call, asking how to deal with office politics.

It is wonderful to have friends who can give you wisdom in various areas of your life. They can give you reassurance and comfort for the challenges you face. But even your wisest friends can help you only so much. Their wisdom is limited. But God's wisdom isn't.

God knows everything there is to know about all areas of your life.

And he wants to pass his wisdom on to you. He is willing to share his intellectual and spiritual wealth with you.

God is all-wise, and God shares that wisdom with you. God promises that if you ask him to help, he won't lecture, scold, or think less of you.

Selah people' and friends a woman is wise to call in a consultant for matters she can't handle ~ especially the Divine Consultant.

"Join me today in being thankful for our Lord being there always for us with His wisdom. Also for all the people God has put in our lives to be His hands, feet and mouth. Also may we take responsibility as His disciples to be there for others."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston

WHO IS YOUR JESUS? Something to think about...‏

We all are at different places along the road of life. Take a moment to think about where your at and where you have been. God is here for you and once you accept Him He will never forsake. Reaffirm your faith and lift up a brother or sister who may be struggling with where they are at along the road to eternity.

Your pastor & friend,

Rev Patrick Muston

August 26, 2009 ~ The Spiral Stopper...

Can you be the one to respond with a gentle touch?

God can give you the power to overcome anger with peace.

Today's Scripture:

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

Disagreements often go like this: "Why didn't you take the trash out like I asked?" "Oh I forgot." "You forget everything." "No, I don't/ I remembered ~" "No, you're the most forgetful person I ever met." "You're just mean." "Oh, you want to see mean, I'll show you mean." And on it goes.

Arguments often start over minor issues - someone forgot to do what he promised, or someone forgot to say he or she'd be a little late, or someone did or didn't do something else - but these little issues can escalate from the inconsequential into accusations, put-downs, and painful words that both parties remember long and regret at their leisure. There is a way to break that spiral and to keep an argument from becoming nasty.

Proverbs 15:1 ranks high among the all-time great solutions for women who can't seem to end the quarrel spiral. The solution is to answer gently, even if it is easier or our nature to speak defensively. I know for me this is something I have had to reprogram from the way I grew up.

A gentle answer can bring an argument to an abrupt halt.

Instead of shooting a comeback that stings, say something gentle; perhaps even agree wit the other person. "I'm sorry." "I'll try to do better." "Please forgive me." Such mild answers of taking ownership of your part defuse an argument and bring it to a halt. Even if your antagonist responds with something like "You always say that," keep speaking those easygoing sentences. Stifle a mean comeback. Eventually this tactic will work.

Selah people' and friends the gentle response can cool off a hot situation and turn it into a time to learn, to grow, and to better understand others. Remember not everyone has grown up or had the same experiences as you have. Often others are hurting about something completely different than the situation at hand. A peacemaker always wins God's blessing.

"Join me as we strive to be the "Peacemakers" of our world, relationships and community. It is amazing what God can do when we allow Him to give us that gentle spirit."

Your pastor,

Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via Mobile ~ Mount Olive, NC

Audio Sermon link for August 23, 2009 can be found on our media site below...

Sermon: "THE REALITY OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE"

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12

Note: this week's special music is our hymn of invitation: Draw Me NearerClick link below.

http://selahmedia.tripod.com/