December 30, 2011 ~ Do You See It?

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen..."

Romans 1:20

TODAY'S WORD:
All around you, God's goodness is on display. The question is do you see it? The scripture talks about how God was in the midst of people, but they knew Him not. Too many times, God is working in our lives, showing us favor, protecting us, sending us healing, but we don't recognize His goodness. For example, if you're in a crowded parking lot and a car backs out so you can get a front row space, that's the goodness of God. If you're going through a difficult time and a friend stops by out of the blue and cheers you up, that's the goodness of God.

We have to remember not to take the little things for granted. All through the day we should be saying, "Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness. Thank You for my health. Thank You for my spouse. Thank You for the opportunity that You have given me."

Selah people' and friends today, be on the lookout for His goodness. Remember, what you seek you will find. Seek Him and thank Him for His faithfulness and blessing upon every area of your life!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father God, thank You for every good and perfect gift that You have given me. Thank You for ordering my steps and guiding me with Your Word. I love You and praise You today for Your faithfulness and look forward to the good things You have in store for my future in Jesus' name. Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

December 23, 2011 ~ In This Together!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
"I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ"

Philemon 1:6

TODAY'S WORD:
As believers, we are called to work together to build His kingdom. We are partners together and heirs of His precious promises. In biblical partnership, we operate as one in the eyes of God. That means, when you pray for us and invest time and resources into our ministries at Selah, you will be credited in heaven for every life touched and changed by the work of God's ministry. At the same time, we are standing with you, praying for you, truly their for you and your family just a call, text or email away and we are believing for God's very best in your life.

As partners and heirs of Christ, we are in this together! Nine years ago when we came to serve as pastor and you spiritual leader and counselor one of the youth lifted up a prayer request for "spiritual growth" since that Sunday it has become our mission for all age groups and all people in our church and community members and non-members, for believers and non-believers alike to help as many as we can in as many ways as we can experience spiritual growth.

Selah people' and friends this Christmas 2011, Jennifer and I want to say thank you for standing with us and laboring with us in the kingdom of God. Many lives around our community and beyond have been forever changed because of your partnership with us. Just as you reap benefits in the natural when you labor physically, you will receive supernatural blessings when you invest your time, talent and resources in the kingdom of God. We love you and believe God has much blessing and joy ahead as you continue to grow with Him!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father, thank You for the gift of partnership. Thank You that we can stand together stronger and more effective in building Your kingdom and growing your disciples through spiritual growth. Your Word says that when we dwell together in unity, You command blessing. Today I receive that blessing as I follow Your commands in Jesus' name. Amen."

In Christ humbler service...Merry Christmas!

Patrick, Jennifer, Madeline & Luke Muston
http://selachurch.com

December 21, 2011 ~ Dream It, Believe It, Live It!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"
Philippians 1:6

TODAY'S WORD:

Learning to walk in the destiny God has for you is a process. The first step is to get a vision, a clear picture from God that you can see. The next step is to trust Him — to believe in faith that it will happen. And then finally, you take a step of faith and live out what God has promised no matter what your circumstances or people around you have to say.

First you dream it, then you believe it, and then you live it. Every dream I've ever received from God has followed this same pattern. We see in scripture that even the great men and women of the Bible walked through this process. They too had to overcome doubts, they struggled on their journey, but they held fast to what God said knowing that He is faithful to complete what He started in us!

Selah people' and friends today, if you are having a hard time believing what God has promised will come to pass, understand that you are in a process. Don't empower doubt with your words. Instead, keep declaring that He who promised is faithful! Keep the vision in front of you knowing that it is for an appointed time. Dream it and believe it because it won't be long until you are living the blessed life God has prepared for you!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for choosing and equipping me to fulfill my destiny. I receive Your promises by faith knowing that You who began a good work will be faithful to complete it in my life. Thank You for Your peace and guidance every step of the way in Jesus' name. Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

December 16, 2011 ~ Change Your Life

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
Romans 12:2

TODAY'S WORD:

If you watch television for any length of time, it won't be long before you see products and pills advertised to make you thinner, firmer, smarter, younger looking, more intelligent, more successful and ultimately claim to change your life. But the truth is all you need in order to change your life is already in your hand. God has given you the ability and the power to be transformed into the person He created you to be without any artificial or man-made enhancements.

I heard somebody once say, "Sight has to do with what we can see, but vision has to do with what we can be." The reason some people are stuck at the same level is because their vision is limited. They don't see themselves growing, increasing, being promoted or getting healthier. All they see is more of the same. More lack. More struggle. More defeat. More doom & gloom. They're producing what they're seeing.

Selah people' and friends, don't let that be you! Instead, let the Word of God wash over you this very minute and renew your thinking. See yourself the way God sees you. See yourself rising higher, rising above all the sin, pain and hurt of this world. See yourself becoming stronger, healthier, wiser and yes better looking to all who see your renewed light upon your face. Change the picture you have of your life, and you will change your life. See yourself the way God sees you and receive the wonderful blessings He has in store for your future!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father God, thank You for the seed of the Word which will not return void in my life. I receive Your truth which sets me free. Help me to see my life the way You see it so I can boldly embrace the blessings You have in store for me in Jesus' name. Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

December 14, 2011 ~ Be All that You Can See!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Then he touched their eyes and said, 'According to your faith will it be done to you' "
Matthew 9:29

TODAY'S WORD:

God created us as visual beings. He is a creative God, and He's given us the ability to create as well. It all starts with what you see in your mind's eye. Everyone has their own mental picture of the way they see themselves, their family and their future. This picture determines what kind of life you live. If you have an image of success, victory, health, happiness and abundance, you will naturally gravitate toward that. But if you have an image of lack, defeat and mediocrity, that negative mental picture will keep you from God's best. What kind of picture defines you today? Choose today to begin a new image of victory and success in your life.

Selah people' and friends remember, if you're going to be successful, you have to first see yourself as successful — the way God sees you. According to your faith, it will be done to you!

Faith comes by hearing the Word. That's why it's so important to take time every day to study and meditate on God's promises. Let His truth sink down deeply into your heart. Open your eyes of faith so you can see yourself rising higher. Choose to have a vision of victory and be all that you can see!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father God, I pray today that You would open the eyes of my heart and reveal Yourself to me. Show me Your ways. Show me Your love. Help me to see myself the way You see me so that I can be all that You have created me to be in Jesus' name. Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

December 12, 2011 ~ Dreams in the Making...

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

"Here comes that dreamer!' they said to each other"
Genesis, 37:19

TODAY'S WORD:

In scripture, Joseph was a dreamer. His dreams were so real that he just had to tell others about them. Not everyone was as excited about Joseph's dreams as he was, but that didn't keep him from dreaming. It didn't keep him from believing what was in his heart. When opposition came, when his family turned their back on him, when he was falsely accused and thrown into prison, he kept on dreaming. His life didn't take the route he had expected, but God was working behind the scenes realigning his steps until those dreams in his heart became reality.

Selah people' and friends today, I want to encourage you, no matter what route your life has taken, no matter who has turned their back on you, no matter what anyone else has said about you, those God-given dreams in your heart are still in the making. I have seen personally God move me to places I never thought He could take me and even in my many failures He has always brought me out on the other side to a much better place. God has done this without me really doing much other than just fighting the good fight and keeping the faith. I guess I'm saying little is much if God is in it and you just continue to do your part however little or insignificant it may seem.

Remember my brothers and sisters your part is to keep believing, keep forgiving, keep following your heart, and stay obedient to His Word. As you stay in faith, just like Joseph, God will take you from the pit to the palace. He'll order your steps and fulfill those dreams and desires He has placed within you!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:

"Father, thank You for the dreams and desires You've placed within me. Even when I can't see it, I trust that You are working behind the scenes. I choose to tune out the negative voices and press into You. Keep me close and guide my every step in Jesus' name. Amen."

Your brother in Christ,

Patrick

Rev Patrick Muston, Senior Pastor

Selah Christian Church

Four Oaks, NC

http://selahchurch.com

December 9, 2011 ~ It’s Never too Late...

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
"...Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised"

Hebrews 6:12

TODAY'S WORD:
Recently watching one of my favorite cartoons Peanut's A Charlie Brown Christmas. It made me look at all my own failures in my life and the things I just have not done as I would like. When you start focusing on your failures or situations you find yourself in you can become discouraged thinking you will never get out this rut.

Sometimes, it's easy to look at your circumstances in the natural and think, "I've missed my opportunity. I'm too old. I'm too dumb, I'm out of shape, I've made too many mistakes or committed too many or too great of sins in my past or present, It's just too late, stick a fork in me and turn me over cause' I'm done. Seriously, I've messed up too much." But you see with God, there's always another opportunity. He created you on purpose and for a purpose. He's the one who placed those dreams and desires on the inside of you. He hasn't given up on those dreams, and you shouldn't either! It's never too late for God, which means it's never too late for you!

I don't know about you, but I have never heard of a single story, not in the Bible nor in our time, where God gave someone a dream and fulfilled it on the same day. No my friend, our lives are designed with seasons and processes to build our faith and prepare us for the next step. It takes faith, it takes obedience, and it takes patience to see God's promises come to pass.

Selah people and friends today, no matter where you are in your journey of faith, just focus on moving forward. God hasn't given up on you! Trust that He has you in the right place at the right time. Trust that He is working all things together for your good. Trust that new doors are opening. Choose faith and patience, and you will inherit His promises because it's never too late for you to embrace the good things God has in store for you!

OUR PRAYER FOR TODAY:
"Father God, thank You for loving me. Thank You for renewing the fire in me. I trust that You are ordering my steps and making a way where there seems to be no way. Keep me close to You always and reveal the good plan You have for me in Jesus' name. Amen."

In Christ service,
Patrick
http://selachurch.com