Author Archives: pastorjeffsneighborhood

Unknown's avatar

About pastorjeffsneighborhood

Born and raised in Minnesota, I have served in churches in Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon and California. I am a graduate of Crown College (MN) and George Fox Evangelical Seminary (OR). I have also done additional graduate studies in New Testament Studies at the Center for Advanced Theological Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary (CA). I am also a graduate of the College of Prayer. Having served as the Academic Dean and Program Director at Horizon Institute of Los Angeles for several years, I have returned to the pastorate and serve as Pastor of Big Trees Community Bible Church in Arnold, CA.

Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

The tongue is a powerful force for evil or for good. James encourages us to be people who bless rather than curse with our tongues. He does so by illustrating the power of the tongue. Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mirror, Mirror

Did you look in the mirror this morning? What did you see? Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wisdom

God loves to give us his wisdom. He wants us to ask him for it. He never gets tired of our coming back again and again to ask for it. He never faults us for asking over and over again. Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Through Us and In Us

The blessing for God to work “through us” and the blessing for God to work “in us” are not isolated blessings. Most of that which will enable us to do his will and work through us, will be provided by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit “in us”. As he changes us from the inside out, he prepares us for each and everything thing he intends to accomplish “through us.” Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Practical Holiness

As Christians, we are called to a life of holiness. But what does that mean? Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Keep Running

The life of faith is a marathon requiring great determination and endurance. The race is filled with difficulties. The heroes of faith at the end of chapter 11 sacrificed much for their faith–sometimes everything. Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Faith that Passes the Test

Your faith will be tested. For Abraham it was a test of “willingness.” Would he be willing to sacrifice his only son even though it made no earthly sense and seemed to contradict everything he knew about God and his promise? Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Even When We Don’t Know Where We Are Going

Faith is the foundation for all of our life as Christians. But it isn’t always easy. Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Spurs of Encouragement

We all need encouraging words. Often those words of encouragement are ones that we want to hear such as a word of hope when we are going through a tough time; a word of affirmation when we are discouraged. Yet, encouragement doesn’t always mean flowery words of praise for another. Sometimes encouragement requires a spur–a painful poke in our backside that spurs us on to action. Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Standing in the Gap

What a haunting verse. I was looking for an intercessor, a prayer warrior, someone to stand in the gap, but I found none. Continue reading

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged , , | Leave a comment