March 13, 2011~ Anxiety Cured? Do not cling to your own understanding...

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

TODAY'S WORD:

Anxiety—don't carry it, walk with it, eat with it, chew gum with it, live with it, go to bed with it. Don't entertain it, support it, encourage it—not in big things or little things, present things or future things, pressing things or perplexing things. It is a foe not a friend, a downer not an edifier, a binder not a freer. It will quickly introduce you to its close cousins, fret and fear.  When anxiety knocks at the door of your heart or mind, be sure to renounce it, reject it, and refuse it any place.

Instead of being anxious about anything my friend, you can begin to pray about everything. Prayer means that you have a God to go to and to talk to, who hears and answers prayer. Mix your prayers with thankfulness. Thanksgiving reflects an attitude of gratefulness to God for inviting you to come to Him, and it shows that you truly trust Him to take care of you, regardless of your circumstances. I echoed these thoughts to my 7 year old Luke last night after our bedtime story while we were saying our prayers goodnight. He could not find his DSi (video game) after church, he thought he had thrown it on the bed just before running to Grandma Bonnie's house for lunch. At bedtime none of us could find it and blame, doubt and ANXIETY had consumed his young mind. Tears in his eyes he prayed for God to help it return and for God to punish whoever took it with guilt. I helped him modify his prayer with a "perfect" teacher adjustment as the Gracie's teach in jiu jitsu. Sure enough his older sister had hidden the game in anger and left for church unknowing of the pain and worry it would cause. In the middle of the night he awoke and asked me "Daddy, has my game been found did Maddie know where it was?" I reassured him she did and yes it had been found and his prayers answered.

Selah people' and friends as you pray today about your burdens and begin to trust God to work, He will give you the assurance that He is in control. He will do this by giving you His peace. God doesn't give you circumstantial peace, but His peace, a peace which remains constant and undisturbed through every circumstance.

God's peace is His answer for anxiety. His peace will quiet you and calm you; it will minister health to your nerves and rest to your spirit. God's peace is more powerful than anxiety, fear, or worry, and His peace will defeat any foe that tries to attack your heart and mind. At the heart of these attacks is an attempt to have you to turn your faith away from God and to focus instead on your needs and circumstances. God's peace strengthens you from these attacks by giving you the assurance that God is for you and that no weapon formed against you will prosper.

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"My prayer today is that I may never again turn away from God's peace. Yield and surrender my heart and mind to His peace. My I say with my words and my heart, "Yes, Lord, I receive Your peace." I know now I do not need to understand why certain things are happening in order to have God's peace.I know now that His peace transcends my own understanding. God's peace is the same peace that Jesus said He would give to me and that It is a peace that the world cannot give me. His peace belongs to me because I belong to Him."

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

In Christ service,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

March 14, 2011 ~ Seeing the Way God Sees...

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free..."

Colossians 3:11

TODAY'S WORD:

Brothers and sisters when God looks at mankind, He doesn't see us as different races. I know for some this is hard to understand as perhaps you were raised and programed all your life to think differently. I share this from his word as it is the way and the truth. He doesn't see different social standings. He doesn't see color or creed. God looks past all the superficial things that our culture seems to magnify — what we wear, what we drive, if you are a blackberry', android or iPhone and He has no worry of what we look like — and He sees us all the same; not black, brown, mocha or white, just His beautiful creation. Not upper class or lower class; just one big family.

Selah people' and friends sometimes people make the mistake of judging a whole race by a few people. We make sweeping generalizations, and it keeps us from enjoying the people God places in our lives. Today, if you've been looking at others through the traditions of the world, why don't you open the eyes of your heart and see others the way God sees them! We are all here by His design and called according to His purposes. When we see others through His eyes, we can come together in unity and receive the blessing He has prepared for us!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father God, today I release every prejudice and judgmental attitude to You. I ask You to fill my heart with Your love and help me to see others the way You see me. Thank You for doing a work in my life and opening doors of blessing and increase before me. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

In Christ service,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

msnbc.com video: Search, rescue become priority in Japan

Prayers continue for all those hurt by this disaster and those serving in their aid. Rev Patrick Muston, pastor Selah Christian Church ~ Search, rescue become priority in Japan ~

Suzy Defrancis of the American Red Cross describes the relief efforts being made by the Japanese Red Cross, and touches on how her organization will be assisting people in Japan following a massive earthquake Friday.

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/42045925#42045925

March 11, 2011 ~ He Makes Up the Difference

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"...for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength)"

2 Corinthians 12:10

TODAY'S WORD:

No matter what weakness you think you may have, no matter what inadequacies or setbacks you've encountered, God wants to give you His divine strength! He wants to make up the difference and put you further ahead than you ever thought possible. He can help with all our failures, enemies of all kinds that battle to bring us down. Remember my brothers and sisters no enemy or problem is too big or too small for God to help us crush them out of our lives..

One time in the Old Testament, God simply multiplied the sound of four men's footsteps and caused them to sound like a mighty army. When their enemies heard them, they took off running. There were thousands of enemy troops running for their lives, scared to death, thinking they were being attacked by a massive army when, in fact, it was just four people! What happened? God made up the difference. Do you feel small in your present situation? God can make your footsteps bigger and louder to defeat your enemy today just as he did in the Old Testament!

Selah people' and friends, God can make you seem bigger than you really are. He can make you look more powerful. He knows how to multiply your influence, your strength, your talent and your income. You don't have to figure it all out; all you have to do is put your trust in Him. If you will release your faith for a supernatural year and wake up every day expecting God's far and beyond favor, then you're going to see God show up and make the difference in every area of your life!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Heavenly Father, today I commit every area of my life to You. I trust that You will make up the difference and supply everything I need to fulfill Your purposes in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen!"

In Christ service,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

May 10th, 2011 ~ Earnest Prayers...

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]"

James 5:16

TODAY'S WORD:

God loves it when you come boldly to Him! When we pray with an attitude of faith and expectancy, it shows that we believe God and His Word and that opens the door for Him to move on our behalf.

Today's verse tells us that when we pray earnestly and continually that it makes tremendous power available. Think about a little child asking his mother for something he really wants. That child doesn't just ask once. Or twice. He asks continually! He doesn't just walk away if he doesn't get an answer right away. That child builds his case and gives every reason he should get what he is asking for! Remember this is not just a single wish that is blown away with the wind.

Selah people' and friends scripture tells us to come to God with the faith of a child.

It's not that we have to beg Him, but our determination is an expression of our faith in His goodness. When we build our case with the Word of God, we are setting ourselves up to partake of His divine blessing.

Today, my brothers and sisters whatever you need, make your requests known to God. Come to Him with the faith of child. Pray earnestly and continually and watch His power work on your behalf! As we have entered into the season of Lent don't just give up something, give Him your heartfelt prayer and those needs will be answered.

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father God, today I come boldly thanking You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life even when I have come up short. I lift up my heart in faith to You knowing that my earnest prayers open the door for Your power to move on my behalf! In Jesus' Name. Amen."

In Christ service,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

March 9, 2011 ~ God Works for Your Good

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose"

Romans 8:28

TODAY'S WORD:

God has a plan to take every adversity and every hardship you go through and use it. He's not going to beat you down and make your life miserable. No, God's dream is to take that difficulty and supernaturally turn it around and use it to bring you good. He will use those tough times to bring you out stronger, more mature and prepared for promotion! Goodness, mercy and unfailing love are God's plan for you!

Selah people' and friends you may not understand everything that's going on in your life right now, but I encourage you to keep your head held high. Know that God is working in your life. Keep being faithful. Keep doing the right thing, knowing that in the end God is going to turn things around in your favor.

Remember my brothers and sisters If God is for you, who can be against you? No one. Greater is the One who is in you than anyone who can be against you. Yes, I have fears but because of my Savior I fear no man or circumstance. No matter what's going on around you today, you can put your shoulders back and put a smile on your face because God is working things together for your good because He loves you!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father in heaven, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. Thank You for all You've done for me in my past and for what You are preparing for my future. Help me keep my eyes on You and stand strong as I look for Your goodness all the days of my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

In Christ service,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

March 8, 2011 ~ Handpicked by God

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"[In His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy..."

Ephesians 1:4

TODAY'S WORD:

Before you were ever born, before the very foundation of the earth, God knew you, planned for you and chose you! He approved you and called you His own. You may have been overlooked by people in your life; maybe you were passed up for a job or overlooked by someone whose opinion you valued, perhaps the last day, week, month, year or decade has not gone as you would have liked it to. But remember, God won't ever overlook you! In fact, He handpicked you. He chose you to be holy, or set apart, for Himself. You and I belong to Him and He will not forsake you.

Join me as we meditate on this truth today: You are God's most valued possession. You are special. You are the apple of His eye. He knows everything about you; He even knows the number of hairs you have on your head. He has given you the gifts and abilities that you have for a purpose. You carry great value and significance. Don't ever lose sight of the treasure He's placed within you.

Selah people' and friends remember my brothers and sisters, you are handpicked by God. Meditate on His goodness today knowing that nothing can change His love for you!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me today. Help me to understand Your love so that I can extend that love to those around me. Let me see others as valuable the way You see me. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

In Christ service,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com