November 4, 2011 ~ Unhindered Prayers...

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"...Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered"
1 Peter 3:7

TODAY'S WORD:

Did you know that the way you treat people has an impact on the effectiveness of your prayers? The Bible says that the prayer of the righteous person is powerful, but if we aren't treating others with honor, kindness and respect, then we aren't allowing His righteousness to operate in us. When we don't treat others the way we should, it closes the door to God's power and hinders our prayers. Isn't this information we need to know, that our actions could truly effect God's answer to our prayer needs.

This is especially true in a marriage relationship. Marriage isn't just an agreement between two people to live life together. Marriage is a God-ordained institution that helps us understand love and unity. When two people are married, they become one physically, spiritually and emotionally. This particular passage is directed toward husbands, but it applies to all believers as well. We should always treat others "with understanding," which means considering their needs above our own. We should always aim to treat others with kindness, dignity, and respect and quickly choose forgiveness.

Selah people' and friends today, choose love. Choose to treat others with respect. Let righteousness flow through you and open the door for His power in every area of your life!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for another day to worship You and become more like You. I submit my heart, mind, will and emotions to You. I choose to treat others with love and respect which shows that I honor You. Have Your way in me and teach me to prayer effectively for Your glory, in Jesus' name. Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

November 2, 2011 ~ A Picture of God

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us"
1 John 4:12

TODAY'S WORD:

If you're like most, you have photos in your home, in your wallet and or on your phone or PC with moments captured of the people who mean the most to you. You may enjoy showing these photos to others and reliving the special moments captured. This day and time we can instantly upload to Facebook and 500 to 1000 of your closest friends can enjoy them is well…that cool. But have you ever thought about having a picture of God in your house, your wallet or on your iPod, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Blueberry or whatever other wonderful gadget you can't live without?

Now It may not be in a frame on the shelf, but today's scripture tells us that when we love others, we are creating a picture of God. We are showing others what He looks like because God is love.

Understand today that God wants us to know Him, and He wants to reveal Himself to the world through us. He wants us to display His love and share it with others. First Corinthians 13 tells us what love looks like. Take a few minutes each day and let that scripture sink down into your heart.

Selah people' and friends remember, you are never more like God than when you are loving others. Love is the greatest thing. Everything else will fade away, but His love is a picture that will last forever!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father in heaven, today I invite You to show me Your everlasting love. Reveal Yourself in and through me. Help me to love others the way You do so that my life can be a perfect reflection of You, in Jesus' name! Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

November 1, 2011 ~ Be Full of It…

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full"
John 15:11

TODAY'S WORD:

Jesus came to give you joy and joy to the full! When your joy is full, it can be seen by others. Joy is supposed to be displayed. As believers, we should have a smile on our face and a spring in our step. We should be kind and friendly. We should be fun to be around. We should be full of His supernatural joy!

Have you allowed the pressures of life to push you down and bully you? Have you been more focused on your circumstances than on your God? If you're not enjoying your life or relationships, it's time to refocus and tap into the full joy within. It's time to draw the line in the sand and say, "That's it. I'm not going to live another day negative, discouraged, sour or grumpy. I'm going to put a smile on my face. I'm going to let my joy be seen so I can brighten somebody else's day. I'm going to live my life happy and full of joy!"

Selah people' and friends, when you take that step of faith and choose to trust God with your future, something changes on the inside. Your feelings will soon line up. Your faith will tap into His supernatural joy. And when you tap into joy, you tap into His strength and victory so you can live the full, abundant life He has prepared for you!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for the gift of joy. Thank You for lavishing Your love and grace on me. Fill me with Your power, strength and virtue so that my joy will overflow and be a blessing everywhere I go in Jesus' name. Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

October 31, 2011 ~ Answer the Door!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning"
Psalm 30:5

TODAY'S WORD:

When you wake up each morning, God sends you a special delivery of joy. It's like it comes knocking at the door of your heart every day. The problem is that some people never answer the door. It's right there, month after month, year after year saying, "Come on! Let me in! You can be happy! You can cheer up! You can enjoy your life!" The way to answer the door is to get up and choose an attitude of faith and expectancy by declaring that "today is going to be a good day." When you start the day like that, you are choosing to receive the gift of joy that God sent to you. I encourage you as my brothers in sisters in Christ to get off your butt of misery and get on your feet to live the joyous life God intended for everyone of His children you and I are the only ones holding back that joy.

Selah people' and friends today, make up your mind to answer the door to joy! Get up every morning and say, "Father, thank You for another beautiful day. I'm going to be happy. I'm going to enjoy this day because You are faithful. I'm going to brighten someone else's life. I am choosing to receive Your gift of joy and passing it on to others because I love You, and I know that I am called for Your purposes!"

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for the gift of joy every single morning. I choose right now to set my focus and heart on You. Help me, by Your Holy Spirit, to put You first each and every day so that I can know Your love and joy in everything I do in Jesus' name. Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

October 28, 2011 ~ Do You Want to Live Happy?

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes"
Psalm 19:8

TODAY'S WORD:

There is a young man, very talented, very athletic. He is going through treatment for cancer. If I did not know he had cancer I would have never known anything was wrong. He never complains. He's always friendly, upbeat and enjoys life. When asked how he could keep such a good attitude during such a difficult time. He responded, "When I get up in the morning, I ask myself, 'Do you want to be depressed today or do you want to live happy?' I choose to live happy."

Selah people' and friends understand that if you're going to be happy, you have to be happy on purpose. Happiness is not going to fall on you. You have to choose it by choosing right thoughts and focusing on the Father. You have to set your day in the direction that you want to go. You have to choose to meditate on His Word because His Word lights your path and gives joy to your heart. Today, choose to live happy, set your focus on Him, and embrace the blessing He has in store for you!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, today I set my heart and mind on You. I receive Your Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I will store Your Word in my heart and receive the joy it brings me. Today I choose to live happy in Jesus' name! Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

October 27, 2011 ~ Why God Laughs?

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"He Who sits in the heavens laughs..."
Psalm 2:4

TODAY'S WORD:

Have you ever imagined God laughing in the heavens? Think about it for a moment. Right now, God is on the throne. He's not mad. He's not worried about the economy. He's not upset with us. No, God is full of joy and laughing on the throne. It goes on to tell us in Psalm 37 that He's laughing because "He can see the destruction of the enemy coming." In other words, the reason God laughs is because He knows the end of the story. He knows the final outcome. The good news is that you and I win. God always causes us to triumph!

Imagine watching the Super Bowl when you already know the outcome. You already know who is going to win. No matter how far behind the winning team falls, no matter how bad it looks for them, you wouldn't get upset. You wouldn't be worried. Why? Because you've got inside information.

Selah people' and friends you know the final outcome. That's what God is saying to us today. When it gets tough and things don't look like they're going to work out, we know that with God we are on the winning team! Today, you can laugh with Him knowing that He has favor, strength and victory in store for your future!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father in heaven, I choose to rest and trust in You. Thank You for bringing victory in every area of my life. Give me opportunities today to share Your joy and love with the people around me. In Jesus' name, amen."

In Christ service,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

October 26, 2011 ~ The Bridge to Your Breakthrough

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!"
Habakkuk 3:17–18

TODAY'S WORD:

Habakkuk knew what to do when things seemed completely hopeless. His world was literally falling apart around Him. There was destruction everywhere he looked. But Habakkuk knew that God was bigger than his circumstances! So what did he do? He invited God into his circumstances by rejoicing and praising the Lord. He made the choice to be joyful knowing that it would connect him to the One who would deliver him! I attach a picture of the Stella Bridge I remember from my youth that is near my hometown of Swansboro. I use this image as a reminder to me and to you that whatever we are going through God will carry us over, through or around all those obstacles. Even if what you are battling today seems impossible don't give up the fight and continue as Habakkuk did to praise Him.

My friend are you facing a situation that seems dark or hopeless?

No matter how difficult things may seem, God has a plan to bring you out into a place of victory and not leave you hopeless and in despair. Your praise is the bridge that will carry you into your land of promise. The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people, and when the presence of God manifests, the enemy has to flee! The Bible also tells us that there is fullness of joy in His presence. His joy empowers us to walk through any difficulty we may be facing.

Selah people' and friends no matter how things may seem in the natural, you can rejoice today because God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you praise Him, He will fill you with His joy and pour out His abundant blessing in every area of your life.

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father in heaven, I come to You trusting that You are my deliverer. No matter what is going on around me, today I choose to bless and praise Your name. I choose to connect to You, knowing that You are the source of my strength, hope and peace. In Jesus' name, amen."

In Christ service,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com