Author Archives: pastorjeffsneighborhood

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.

Scarecrows in a Melon Patch (Oct 8)

Posted on October 8, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Something within each of us cries out for the eternal. As Pascal wrote, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in each of our hearts.” Yet many of us, instead of worshiping and serving the Creator, worship and serve created things. We, then, exchange the glory of the Almighty God for lesser gods. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged greed, idolatry, idols of the heart, materialism, worship God | Leave a comment

A New Wardrobe (Oct 7)

Posted on October 7, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Sometimes the old clothes just don’t fit anymore—but I don’t mean that the clothes are too small. Sometimes we need a new wardrobe because we change positions. The young lawyer fresh out of law school usually has a major wardrobe update, for example. He could get by with Jeans and T-shirts in school, but not in the courtroom. The old way of dressing just doesn’t suit him anymore in his new position. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged character of Christ, new wardrobe, old way of life, put on Christ | Leave a comment

Let Them See Your Hand (Oct 6)

Posted on October 6, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

he psalmist finds himself in a difficult place. He describes his situation: “I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.” Beaten up by circumstances and, especially by people—accusers, he calls them— he fasts and prays and desperately seeks the Lord (23-25). But he hasn’t given up hope. He looks to the God of hope. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged answered prayer, let them see your hand, marvelous answer | Leave a comment

Fully Mature in Christ (Oct 5)

Posted on October 5, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Why is Paul struggling and working so hard to teach and preach and plant churches? This passage makes his motivation clear. He wants the believers to grow up in their faith and become fully mature in Christ. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged fully mature in Christ, maturity, spiritual maturity | Leave a comment

Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding (Oct 4)

Posted on October 4, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Paul is thankful and encouraged by the progress of the Colossian Christians. Yet he knows that there is much more that God wants to do in their lives. So he continues to pray for them. The prayer he prays is a powerful one; one that could become a regular part of your prayer life. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged intercession, Paul's prayers, prayer, Spiritual Wisdom, understanding | Leave a comment

Unexpected Peace (Oct 3)

Posted on October 3, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

We all have times when we are tempted to worry. Yet, worry is counterproductive. It consumes our attention; it saps our energy and creativity; it takes away our peace, our hope, our joy. Paul suggests an alternative to worry: prayer. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged anxiety, guards our heart and minds, peace, unexpected peace, worry | Leave a comment

Knowing Christ (Oct 2)

Posted on October 2, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

When it came to religious heritage, Paul had a lot of things going for him: He was a faithful Jew with good family connections, zealous for the law, a Pharisee who counted himself blameless. Yet, an encounter with Jesus forever altered his whole life and calling. So much so that he considered all his impressive religious credentials as loss for the sake of knowing Christ. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged do you know Jesus?, Eternal Life, I want to know Christ, Knowing Christ, relationship with Jesus | Leave a comment

Watchmen (Oct 1)

Posted on October 1, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Through Isaiah, God has given a glorious vision of what Jerusalem is to become. But as with any God-given vision, it must be prayed into existence. Isaiah had the hard work of praying to receive the vision. The Watchmen had the hard work of praying the vision into reality. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged intercession, persistent prayers, praying vision into reality, watchmen | Leave a comment

Humility (Sept 30)

Posted on September 30, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

titude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross! Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged exhalation of Christ, humility, humility of Christ, the cross | Leave a comment

Learning to Pray from Paul (Sept 29)

Posted on September 29, 2021 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

September 29 Learning to Pray from Paul Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 107:10-16 | Isaiah 57:14-59:21 | Philippians 1:1-26 | Proverbs 24:9-10 Today’s Scripture Focus: Philippians 1:1-26 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in … Continue reading →

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