Reach for your True Blessing

Today I am sending you encouragement, and the blue print to being truly blessed. Psalm one is the blueprint.
 1) Be careful who you surround yourself with. 
2) Be careful of what you let rent space in your mind.
 3)Be sure to gauge your production. 
4) Be sure not to waste time on unlike minded people. This is the key to unlocking a truly blessed life.

New International Version (NIV)

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of theLord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Be well, Love P.J.

A Loving Reminder

Titus 31-11

The Message (MSG)

He Put Our Lives Together

3 ^1-2 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous.

^3-8 It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.
^8-11 I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone. Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print in the law code. That gets you nowhere. Warn a quarrelsome person once or twice, but then be done with him. It’s obvious that such a person is out of line, rebellious against God. By persisting in divisiveness he cuts himself off.

Greetings in the name of God our awesome creator. Today's text from the epistle to Titus is a loving reminder from the Apostle Paul with final instructions to people of faith and the way. It was important then and is still important now that we take time often to stop and remind ourselves of who we are, where we have come from and what God has done in our lives. So that when we step out each day we will be lovingly patient and wise enough to cutoff situations and people who are hellbent on negativity and chaos.

So today take time to reflect and remember the person and mindset that you used to have. Then praise God for the person and mindset that currently occupies you now. Finally live out your love and understanding so that it may be contagious to others you encounter today.


Be Well, Pastor Sirchester Jackson 

Why Are You Studying, What Are You Studying?

John 5:31-40 (NIV)

Testimonies About Jesus

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 

37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 

38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 

39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 

40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Today's text reminds us just to stay focused! We study the bible because the bible points to God through Jesus. Through Jesus we live forever.

Love Pastor Sirchester, Be Well

Liberating Moments!

1st Samuel 16

Samuel Anoints David

1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

² But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

On this day of March 24th 1837 Canada gave Black people the right to vote and they were celebrating a liberating moment! All the while right next door in America the relatives of those same Black people were still enslaved in chains. In today's text I want to look at two brothers Eliab and David. Eliab was the oldest of the eight brothers sure to one day gain his fathers blessing and majority of the inheritance, while David was the youngest brother and did not have much to look forward to in the future except working for and serving his brothers. Surely David knew that his portion of the inheritance would be little if any and by default he would look to his brothers for generosity. All of this would become the norm except God! God sends the prophet Samuel to mix things up, God sends Samuel to liberate David from the least among his family to the King of God's people. This transformation does take some time but it happens nevertheless and soon David's liberating moment leaves Eliab behind still serving his father Jesse and still serving in the Kings Army under Saul and then David.

It's Amazing how God can transform our situations because of where our hearts are. David indeed had a heart full of love and compassion for all creation. I'll leave you with this...what happened to David's youthful heart? After slaying Goliath, viscous pursuits from Saul, troubling conversations with Jonathan and hiding out in caves? What condition is Davids heart in when he later sees Bathsheba in 2nd Samuel 11? John Dalberg-Acton pinned these words "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."  Family we must first allow our hearts to be filled with LOVE, secondly we must guard that love always from each and everything that seeks to corrupt it, this will ensure our eternal liberation.

Be Well, Love Pastor Sirchester

What Happens When Things Don't Work Out Like We Planned?

Philippians 2:12

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

What happens when thing's don't work out like we have planned? If we are truthful to ourselves then we can admit that there are many times in our daily lives when things do not go as we have planned them to. Every day we make schedules and set plans in motion, some go on exactly as we pictures while others experience major detours.  

For those who believe in God and choose to live for God the same detours pop up in our spiritual lives. Each day we awaken truly deciding to walk in righteousness with our creator and then the detours pop up, detours of temptation and sin, detours of anger and vanity. The Apostle Paul writes reminding the Church of Philippi and the Church of today that each and every day we must continue to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling".  Paul's instruction remains very valid.  Each believer must be careful to always strive to be better daily while walking in fear of becoming over confident and arrogant in our salvation. We must also know ourselves enough to walk in trembling avoidance of the things that test and tempt us. 

Dear God, gives us the strength to truly look inside of ourselves and be honest with what temps and test us. So that we may be able to work out our salvation daily, enabling us to always walk in righteousness with you. Amen.

Be Well, Love P.J.  

Well Informed Voters... Election Day

 2 PETER 1 (NIV)

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Today many informed voters are making there way to polling places and ballot boxes eager to make their democratic mark in selecting their favorite or choice political official. Many people like myself enjoy the opportunity/ right to take part in this system. Voters hope that the candadite they select will have our best interest and concerns at heart. 

God is 

Day of Ashes (Ash Wednesday)

Job 42

New International Version (NIV)

Job

42 Then Job replied to the Lord:

² “I know that you can do all things;
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
³ You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.

⁴ “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.’
⁵ My ears had heard of you
    but now my eyes have seen you.
⁶ Therefore I despise myself
    and repent in dust and ashes.”

 Usually in most Western Ash Wednesday service marks the beginning
of the Lenten season following Fat Tuesday, the Church invites the congregation to come and receive the imposition of ashes, before to receiving the Holy Communion. The ashes are then impositioned (applied) in the shape of the cross on the forehead of each person, while speaking the words, from dust you are and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19). The words God spoke to Adam and Eve after they had eaten of the forbidden fruit in the garden leading to the fall and sin of humankind. For us Ash Wednesday's imposition of ashes reminds us each of our sinfulness and mortality. Therefore each of us needs to repent and  and grow closer to God. The cross of Easter reminds us of the good news that through Jesus Christ crucified there is forgiveness for all sins, all guilt, and all punishment, which if we choose can lead us to eternal life.

 This day of Ashes what are you repenting for, what are you turning away from? How are you turning and growing closer to God? In the text from Job verse 6, after Job has been questioned by God he responds by admitting his lack of knowledge and guilt. Job has to remember his role as created verse God's role as creator, and he responds by saying he will repent in dust and ashes. Other examples are found in Ester 4, and Ezekiel 27:30 of repenting and mourning through wearing ashes and sackcloth.

As for me, I wear ashes today to remember the sacrifice that Christ made and the sacrifice that God has called me to make as a Christian. Today for me is one of true repentance for my failures and sin as well as reminder that God has created me for a special purpose which I must continue to press toward.

Be Well, Love Pastor Sirchester.

Do we ever play favorites in Church? Share what you think?

James 2

New International Version (NIV)

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourseequality whom loves us. Therefore we must be people of love, justice and equality. are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Family remember we serve a God of justice and equality

What's On Your Mind?

Finance/Money, Bills, Relationships, Career, Repairs, Family,Health, Afterlife, God, Lust, Desire, Food, Possessions? What's on your mind?  In our modern society we are almost force fed various images daily on top of the regular issues and situations we already have to deal with. Thanks be to God who always has a handle on things even when our mind is wondering God remains in control.



“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV.


Here in Deutero-Isaiah, we see the prophet writing during exile reminding
the people to remain hopeful and faithful. Isaiah is encouraging the people to trust that God has not left them and despite the current circumstances of chaos, there is a brighter future destined for them from the one who truly provides. God!  

Sometimes we allow our mind to wonder in the same ways, and God even today uses others to remind us that we must also remain hopeful and faithful. Indeed there is a brighter future destined for you and I also from the one whom truly provides, our Savior GOD!


Loving God, today relax our minds and ease us from the anxieties, worry, stress and various things that take our focus away from you. Allow us to have peace and rest in you, keeping our relationship with you on our minds. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.