Monthly Archives: September 2025

True Freedom

Posted on September 20, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

But through the Spirit, we can put to death the misdeeds of the flesh. We don’t have to live gratifying the desires of the flesh. The life of Christ in you promises something better: Freedom to do what is good and right. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged freedom, grace, law of love, legalism, liberty, license, obedience, relationship with Jesus, serve one another in love, what is true and right | Leave a comment

Who is Waiting?

Posted on September 19, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

But most of the time he is teaching us how to trust Him in the dark—to press ahead in trust when we struggle to understand the path ahead. Don’t be discouraged in the process. Remember that he is gracious and he longs to bless you when the time is right. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged answers to prayer, bible, blessed are those who wait, christianity, dark night, faith, God, God hears, God listens, gracious, Hope, Jesus, silence, the Lord longs to be gracious to you, this is the way walk in it, waiting, when the time is right | Leave a comment

Christ Formed in You

Posted on September 18, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Paul points us to the alternative: Christ being formed in them—Christ living his life out through them. It’s a life lived by grace through faith. It’s a life of freedom and joy. And it’s all found in a dynamic, ongoing, intimate relationship with Jesus. As we spend time with him, as we pursue spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible study, we are formed spiritually. We become more and more like Jesus. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged children of God, Christ-like, Christian maturity, formed into the likeness of Jesus, freedom, freedom and joy, intimacy with God, liberty, relationship with Christ, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation | Leave a comment

Practicing His Presence

Posted on September 17, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Open your heart to Jesus, enjoy fellowship with Him today. Rejoice in his presence as you begin the day, and you can walk in it the rest of the day. More importantly, you can walk with Him–Jesus, our Emmanuel. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged adoration, Amen, amen doesn't have to be the end of our prayer, Emmanuel, enjoy God's presence, intercession, Listening Prayer, Practicing the Presence of Jesus, Worship | Leave a comment

The Real Thing

Posted on September 16, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The key to living the Christian life is not trying hard to live by the rules in my own strength and power. Rather, it is all about a grace based relationship with the one who loves me most—Jesus. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged Christ in me, Christ's life in me, freedom in Christ, grace based relationship with Jesus, in CHrist, Jesus, not legalism, Open your heart, self-life | Leave a comment

Stealing Freedom

Posted on September 15, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

But real Christianity is not about trying hard to live by the rules. It is about recognizing that I can’t live by the rules on my own and crying out to God for help. Entering into a relationship with Christ, he strengthens me by his Spirit to find the freedom to walk with God on this adventure of faith. As we walk together, I learn, I grow, I fall down, He picks me up, and I learn and grow some more. It’s all about a relationship with Christ. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged adventure of faith, don't let them steal your freedom, freedom in Christ, Galatians, gospel, Jesus, legalism, liberty, license, relationship with Christ, the real thing, true christianity | Leave a comment

Good News

Posted on September 14, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The gospel is good news for all people. We should not do anything to confuse or pervert it. We should not add to it. We should not make it more difficult through adding rules or condemnation. We should not exclude those unlike us. In fact, we should go out of our way to eliminate the distractions and let the simple truth shine through. The gospel is meant to be good news for all people of all cultures. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged freedom, Galatians, good news for all people, gospel, gospel of grace, Jesus, legalism, liberty, license, new creation | Leave a comment

Passing the Test

Posted on September 13, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Paul reminds us that we sometimes need to check our progress in the faith. Are we growing up in the faith? Are we becoming more and more like Jesus? Or are we just drifting along without any apparent progress, or worse, losing ground? Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged check our progress, fruit of the Spirit, growth, he who began the good work, Jesus Christ is in you, maturity, perseverance, progress in faith, test yourselves | Leave a comment

The Big Picture

Posted on September 12, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

When what we see with our eyes doesn’t seem to make sense, it is time to look at the big picture—to get an eternal perspective. For Isaiah, that meant pointing to the hope of the coming Messiah. In earlier chapters he warned of judgment, but even in all that he points to the hope that one day the Messiah will come. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged a branch will bear fruit, bible, big picture, christianity, faith, God, Isaiah, Jesus, kingdom of God, Messiah, rule and reign, shoot from the stump of Jesse | Leave a comment

He Will Reign

Posted on September 11, 2025 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Until that day, we live in a battle zone. Evil is very much a part of our reality. Yet God is still on the throne and he is still accomplishing his purposes, even in making good of tragedy (Romans 8:28). Yet all creation looks to the day Christ will return to rule and reign with justice and righteousness forever and ever. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged 9-11, 9-11 cross, He Will Reign, kingdom of God, second coming of Christ, September 11th, the cross still stands, when everything else falls | Leave a comment